What priorities for new coaches during the Free Agency?

During the off-season, nine franchises changed coaches and will therefore open a new cycle with a new strongman. A few days before the opening of the Free Agency NFL, an overview of the situations of these franchises and what they could target in the free player market.

Chicago Bears

Matt Eberflus (ex-DC – Indianapolis Colts)

Arriving in Illinois with GM Ryan Poles to replace the Matt Nagy/Ryan Pace duo, Matt Eberflus will have several projects to manage. Defense specialist, the former defensive coordinator of the Colts will nevertheless have as a priority to build an attack around the young Justin Fields, absolute priority for the residents of the Soldier Field. The offensive line will be the main construction site with only two players from last year (Teven Jenkins and Cody Whitehair) tipped to stay, and Chicago should invest a significant part of its $36 million available to protect his young pitcher. The other priorities will be on the post of receiver, where Allen Robinson II should not return and where Darnell Mooney finds himself very alone, and that of cornerback, unconvincing and who will have to compensate for the possible departure of Artie Burns, agent-free.

In Summary: Offensive Line, Receiver, Cornerback

Denver Broncos

Nathaniel Hackett (ex-OC – Green Bay Packers)

By setting up a trade with Seattle to get Russell Wilson back, Denver has already succeeded in its offseason and fulfilled its main need. In fact, the neo-coach Nathaniel Hackett already has a very complete attack, and his era will most certainly open with defensive recruitments to consolidate the status of contender for the Broncos. It’s simple, the franchise can strengthen on all lines, but will surely prioritize a edge rusher to put pressure on the opposing quarterback, especially since his most productive sackeur last year, Shelby Harris, packed his bags in the direction of Seattle. Denver will also have to strengthen on the cornerback position, where almost the entire squad finds itself free-agent, to support the young Patrick Surtain Jr. and renew itself on the line of linebackers, its members having suffered too much against the race l last year.

In summary: Edge, Cornerback, Linebacker

Houston Texans

Lovie Smith (ex-DC – Houston Texans)

Promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach instead of David Culley, Lovie Smith will have to rebuild a franchise that looks more like a field of ruins than ever. To be clear right away, Houston can and must strengthen itself in almost all positions, but will have to manage a file that has dragged on for too long: Deshaun Watson. Recently cleared of the criminal complaints he was facing (he is still facing civil complaints and is therefore not yet completely cleared of all his charges, editor’s note), the quarterback could finally be transferred if Houston is less greedy than in the past, which would allow the Texans to finally return to their reconstruction. Once it is launched, the priorities for Lovie Smith will be plural, starting with surrounding Davis Mills well if the latter wants to have a chance to prove his worth at the quarterback position. Thus, the offensive line and the skills positions will have to be considered, while the priority in defense should be on the cornerbacks, Houston having one of the worst backfield defensive in the league and in dire need of a No. 1 cornerback who could act as a leader in this abyss-level defense.

In summary: Skills positions, Offensive line, Cornerback

Jacksonville Jaguars

Doug Pederson (Free)

The Urban Meyer chapter quickly closed in Jacksonville, and it is now Doug Pederson who will have the heavy task of developing Trevor Lawrence so that he expresses his full potential. To do this, the former Eagles coach – whom he had taken to the title during the Super Bowl LII – is going to have to surround his jewel better, bringing him more targets, Laviska Shenault Jr. being one of the only receivers under contract and the Jaguars having no major tight-end in the passing game. It will also be necessary to rethink an offensive line far from being catastrophic in 2021 but most of whose members will be on the market in a few days. Note that Jacksonville will also have to improve its defense and could use a significant part of its cap space to strengthen it, although one of the main needs of this side of the ball, the position ofedge rushershould be considered with the first choice of the next draft available to the Jaguars.

In summary: Receiver, Tight end, Offensive line

Las Vegas Raiders

Josh McDaniels (ex-OC – New England Patriots)

Arrived from New England to (finally) become head coach, Josh McDaniels will have to confirm the unexpected good season of the Raiders last year by allowing in particular the attack and Derek Carr to continue to pass a course. With this in mind, the one who worked with Tom Brady in the past should prioritize the receiver position to bring more targets to his quarterback, who relies mainly on his tight-end Darren Waller and the slot receiver Hunter Renfrow. A fast profile capable of taking up space could be prioritized, in particular to compensate for the probable departures of Zay Jones and Desean Jackson. In defense, the arrival of Patrick Graham as coordinator will mark a change of system towards a 3-4, and Las Vegas will have to adapt on its defensive line where its five main players will be free of any contract. Also consider the cornerback position which will see two incumbents, Casey Hayward and Brandon Facyson, find themselves on the market.

In Summary: Receiver, Defensive Line, Cornerback

Miami Dolphins

Mike McDaniel (ex-OC – San Francisco 49ers)

Landed almost to everyone’s surprise, Brian Flores leaves a franchise in a more than correct state to Mike McDaniel, whose recruitment marks a shift in priorities towards attack. With a very complete defense where alterations should be minimal, the priorities lie in attack so that the new manager can work effectively with Tua Tagovailoa, who has the full support of his management. To put it in the best conditions, Miami will first have to improve its offensive line, one of the worst on the pass block in 2021 according to Pro Football Focus. The Dolphins will also have every interest in recruiting a good runner to take the pressure off their young pitcher, who was enjoying one of the least effective running games in the league. Finally, it might be wise to add a target alongside Jaylen Waddle, who should be more prone to two-ups in 2022.

In summary: Offensive line, Running back, Receiver

Minnesota Vikings

Kevin O’Connell (ex-OC – Los Angeles Rams)

The Mike Zimmer era is now over, and Kevin O’Connell will have the difficult task of reviving a team often mocked for underperforming compared to the talent present in the workforce. If the former right arm of Sean McVay at the Rams is an attack specialist, he will, with the new GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, surely prioritize recruitment in defense. With the end of the contracts of Patrick Peterson and Mackensie Alexander and in view of the level of play displayed last year, the position of cornerback will be an absolute priority to find a real number 1 to put alongside Cameron Dantzler. It will also be necessary to make choices among the linebackers where Anthony Barr and Nick Vigil will be free agents and leave Eric Kendricks alone on a line that lacks real starters. The rest of the reinforcements should be made according to the extension or not of certain players, but the Vikings could prioritize reinforcements on the inside of the offensive line to put Kirk Cousins ​​in better conditions and open more breaches for Dalvin Cook.

In Summary: Cornerback, Linebacker, Offensive Line

New Orleans Saints

Dennis Allen (ex-DC – New Orleans Saints)

The biggest chapter in Saints history is now fully closed with the departure of Sean Payton, one year after Drew Brees retired, who leaves the reins of the franchise to his former defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Architect of a very solid defense, he knows that his main project is on the other side of the ball, and that he begins with the quest for a quarterback. With only the versatile Taysom Hill and the young Ian Book under contract, New Orleans does not have a starter and will have to find a solution which could be to bring back Jameis Winston, free agent. Whoever will be under the center in 2022, it will also be necessary to offer him better receivers, even if Michael Thomas returns definitively from injury, and to succeed in finding solutions on the offensive line which should probably suffer from the loss of his left tackle Terron Armstead.

In Summary: Quarterback, Receiver, Offensive Line

New York Giants

Brian Daboll (ex-OC – Buffalo Bills)

Arriving in New York to try to finally get Daniel Jones’ career off the ground, Brian Daboll will have one of the tightest leeway – the franchise is in the red financially – while there are many points for improvement for the franchise. The top priority will be on the offensive line, the league’s worst squad on the pass block, where no one is untouchable apart from Andrew Thomas and which will absolutely have to be improved. Yet the team’s strong point, the defense will also have to be strengthened, starting with the group of linebackers, one of the lowest rated in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus and who could suffer from the cut of Blake Martinez, potential consequence of a search for liquidity by the franchise. Third and last priority the post of’edge rusherkey position in the system of the new coordinator Wink Martindale who did not really prove effective last year on the pass rush and could lose Lorenzo Carter.

In Summary: Offensive Line, Linebacker, Edge

Nine new coaches, nine different realities at the dawn of Free Agency 2022. The priorities will be diverse, and the strategies more or less aggressive when the market officially opens its doors in a few days now.

Feature image credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports