USA TODAY Sports Weekly

DRAFT NEEDS SHIFT AFTER FREE AGENCY

- Nate Davis @ByNateDavi­s USA TODAY Sports

Nearly two weeks after free agency officially commenced, many NFL rosters look decidedly different. As money and players move around, so do draft needs. That might be especially true for the four teams currently atop the draft board, each active once the new league year began.

1. CLEVELAND BROWNS

They have upgraded and reinvested in their offensive line while making a de facto swap of WR Terrelle Pryor for Kenny Britt. The Browns still don’t have a solution at quarterbac­k, but they do own four selections during the first two rounds of each of the next two drafts after deciding to swallow the remainder of Brock Osweiler’s deal in order to obtain the Houston Texans’ 2018 secondroun­d pick.

Now what? Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett still seems like a no-brainer with the first overall pick. But that doesn’t box the Browns into taking a quarterbac­k at No. 12. They could. They also can trade up to secure the rights to, say, Deshaun Watson, choose another of this year’s quarterbac­k projects later or balk entirely and wait until 2018 while using this year’s haul to build up other areas of a roster with deficienci­es. Cleveland has the draft equity to make a run at Jimmy Garoppolo, Kirk Cousins, AJ McCarron or another establishe­d quarterbac­k down the road. Bottom line, this franchise needs a lot of help, and there’s no reason to overpay for anyone right now when the Browns can continue to adhere to their preference of collecting young players, cap space (they still have more than $60 million) and additional draft picks.

2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Like the Browns, they remain unsettled long term under center. However veterans Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley are now on board to at least handle the job for 2017, providing more flexibilit­y than the franchise had just a week ago. New coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch targeted other midtier free agents such as WR Marquise Goodwin, DT Earl Mitchell, LB Malcolm Smith, FB Kyle Juszczyk and TE Logan Paulsen. WR Pierre Garcon is the biggest name to come aboard. But San Francisco has been prudent financiall­y and retains more than $80 million in cap space, most in the league.

Now what? The Niners could use the draft’s second overall pick on a rookie passer if they fall in love with Watson, Mitchell Trubisky or someone else. But given the issues that remain on the league’s worst defense (and elsewhere), the compelling talent at other positions, plus the possibilit­y Cousins could wind up here, it seems more likely that Lynch and Shanahan continue to import the best players available in the draft and worry about addressing specific needs in 2018 and beyond.

3. CHICAGO BEARS

They made a moderate splash by replacing QB Jay Cutler with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup Mike Glennon for three years and $45 million. But the Bears have been quietly busy elsewhere, adding two receivers with upside (Kendall Wright, Markus Wheaton), a blocking

tight end (Dion Sims) and secondary improvemen­ts (S Quintin Demps, CB Prince Amukamara).

Now what? Though moving on from Cutler had become imperative, Glennon is probably no more than a placeholde­r (his deal offers an out after one year), so the Bears find themselves in a position similar to the teams picking above them at quarterbac­k. But for a team that won three games in 2016, Chicago is hardly bereft of talent. A big-time receiver might make sense with Alshon Jeffery moving on and Kevin White still unproven. A stud defensive lineman definitely would make more sense than reaching for a quarterbac­k or left tackle at No. 3. But given the players GM Ryan Pace has already added, he might more comfortabl­y roll the dice if not consider trading out if the right value is offered.

4. JACKSONVIL­LE JAGUARS

A defense that was sneaky good in 2016 welcomes CB A.J. Bouye, DL Calais Campbell (both arguably the best free agents at their respective posts) and S Barry Church. This franchise has been unafraid to spend on veterans in recent years and remains in position to continue doing so.

Now what? Before free agency opened, the Jags might have felt compelled to roll with the best available player at No. 4, likely a defender. But new executive vice president Tom Coughlin sounds committed to helping QB Blake Bortles beyond supporting him with what appears to be a loaded defense. It would be tough for any tailback to replicate the impact of last year’s fourth overall pick, Ezekiel Elliott, but Coughlin would have to feel better now if he decided to pick Leonard Fournette or Dalvin Cook this high in an effort to establish the ground game Bortles has never had. Of course, if Coughlin and new coach Doug Marrone suspect they need a new look at quarterbac­k, they could opt for a replacemen­t to push Bortles, whose future remains uncertain as the team faces a May deadline to decide on his 2018 option.

 ?? MIKE DINOVO, USA TODAY SPORTS ?? The Bears and 49ers are in position to make major improvemen­ts in 2017.
MIKE DINOVO, USA TODAY SPORTS The Bears and 49ers are in position to make major improvemen­ts in 2017.

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