The 2022 Philadelphia Eagles were a rare breed, pulling off the historic accomplishment of appearing in two Super Bowls in a six-season span despite having a new starting quarterback and head coach. They are only the fourth team all time to pull off the feat, and while they fell just a handful of plays short of joining the 1976-1980 Raiders as the second team ever to win two Super Bowls in a six-season time period with a different starting quarterback and head coach, the Eagles clearly demonstrated why they were very deserving of playing in the Big Game.

Even though the Eagles lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, the way they have built their roster has them primed to contend for years to come since only eight of the Eagles' 22 offensive and defensive starters weren't acquired through the draft or undrafted free agency. Having secured the vast majority of their starters through the draft means most of their top players are either on cheap rookie deals or they have come to terms on relatively fair contract extensions with Philadelphia without testing the free agency market.

Three of those eight that were acquired via trade or true free agecy -- linebacker Haason Reddick (16.0 sacks, tied for second-most in NFL with Myles Garrett in 2022), wide receiver A.J. Brown (his 1,496 receiving yards are fourth-most in the NFL in 2022 and broke the Eagles' single-season record), cornerback James Bradberry (his 44.5 passer rating allowed was the lowest in the NFL in 2022) and cornerback Darius Slay (made Pro Bowls in each of last two seasons) -- are under contract through at least the 2024 season. Philadelphia is one of two teams in the upcoming 2023 draft that simultaneously made the playoffs this season and have multiple first-round picks, including one in the top 10. The other is the Seattle Seahawks, who secured the Denver Broncos' fifth overall by trading longtime face-of-the-franchise quarterback Russell Wilson to the Rocky Mountains in exchange for three players (QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant and DL Shelby Harris) along with five draft picks (two firsts, two seconds and one fifth).

The past two seasons in Philadelphia were spent recentering the offense around 2022 NFL MVP runner-up Jalen Hurts' dynamic, dual-threat abilities, and they'll remain mostly intact on that side of the ball with the exception of left guard Isaac Seumalo, and Pro Bowl running back Miles Sanders. The defensive side is a different story as Super Bowl starters like defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, linebacker T.J. Edwards, and both safeties -- C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps -- are now on different teams. It would be shocking if general manager Howie Roseman doesn't spend the bulk of Philadelphia's picks filling out the defense especially after making Jalen Hurts the NFL's highest-paid player with a five-year, $255 million extension.

The Eagles own their own first-, second-, and third-round picks in addition to having the New Orleans Saints' 10th overall pick thanks to a trade back in last year's first round. They are missing their fourth-round pick thanks to their acquisition of defensive end Robert Quinn from the Chicago Bears at the 2022 season's trade deadline. The same goes for their fifth-round pick that was part of a preseason trade that netted them Gardner-Johnson from the New Orleans Saints. Their sixth-round pick belongs to the Jacksonville Jaguars thanks to a trade back in 2021 for cornerback Josiah Scott. Philadelphia is in possession of their own seventh-round pick in addition to the Texans' seventh-round selection that they acquired via the Minnesota Vikings when they dumped their former first-round pick wide receiver Jalen Reagor. Here's a look at how they should utilize those selections in the 2023 NFL Draft in order to continue to have one of the NFL's best rosters.

Eagles' team needs: CB, RB, S, LB, WR, DT, Edge (via Josh Edwards)

Here's who the Eagles will take with those two first-round picks, according to CBSSports.com's latest mock drafts:

Draft a top cornerback prospect
The reasoning behind the Eagles selecting a cornerback with their top pick is two-fold, partly addressing the aging curve at the position as well as the direction the NFL is trending as a league stylistically. The 29-year-old Bradberry, a player whose 44.5 passer rating in coverage was the best in the NFL in the 2022 regular season among 49 players with 75 or more passes thrown their way, and Pro Bowler Darius Slay, 32 years old, are significant pieces of Philadelphia's defense. In case either show signs of aging or perhaps suffer an injury, Roseman can do what he's done on their offensive and defensive lines, draft young replacements before the starter is past their expiration date.

It's also worth noting Super Bowl LVII became the third-highest scoring Super Bowl all time and the first ever where both teams scored at least 35 points. The way the rules have shifted in favor of passing offenses cannot be understated, so having young, high-end talent at one of the premier positions tasked with slowing down the Patrick Mahomes' of the world is a must.

Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon, CBS Sports NFL Draft writer Ryan Wilson's projection, makes a ton sense at 10th overall given that one of his top strengths is the way he plays in zone coverage. The Eagles would be a schematic fit given they ran zone on 71.7% of their defensive plays. Witherspoon possesses fantastic field vision, anticipating throws and jumping passing lanes by reading a quarterback's movements. Listed at 5'11 1/2" and weighing 181 pounds at the NFL Combine, he is extremely agile in coverage downfield with plenty of speed to keep up on vertical routes. Witherspoon plays with an attitude and plenty of energy as a willing, physical tackler, not something that can be said of all cornerbacks. His hit against Indiana this season showcased strong form and his ability to become a heat-seeking missile in the open field.

Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., CBS Sports NFL Draft writer Chris Trapasso's projection at 30th overall, also would be a fit here for the in-state product. Porter Jr., the son of retired four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Joey Porter, has high-end physical traits for a cornerback, standing at 6-foot-2 while weighing 194 pounds. That type of size and strength will allow him to physically match up with some of the NFL's best wide receivers starting in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season since he takes advantage of his frame well in press man coverage. That length also allows for him to quickly reach around potential pass-catchers to knock the football away, something he did 11 times in 2022, tied for the third-most in the Big Ten Conference.

Draft Robinson if available at 30; if not address RB in Round 3
Here's a look at the base salary of the last 14 Super Bowl winners' leading rusher in the Big Game, courtesy of Pro Football Focus' Marcus Mosher.

Since 2009, no Super Bowl victor's top rusher in the NFL's title game had a base salary above $2.5 million, meaning they were able to get the production they needed from running backs on rookie contracts or relatively team-friendly deals. With Sanders totaling career-highs in rushing yards (1,269, the fifth-most in the NFL) and rushing touchdowns (11, the eighth-most in the NFL), the soon-to-be 26-year-old is set to receive a contract that will likely pay him well above $2.5 million annually.

Given that likelihood, should 2022 Doak Walker Award winner Bijan Robinson -- college football's top running back -- slide to the bottom of the first round where Philadelphia has the 30th overall pick, he could be a dynamic and affordable player running the Eagles' run-pass-option heavy offense alongside Hurts. Robinson comes in at 6-feet while weighing a sturdy 220 pounds. He's built to be an every-down running back right away with great vision and explosion. His 113 tackles avoided were the most in the country and the most by any college football player in the last five seasons. If Robinson is off the board at 30, Auburn's Tank Bigsby, Robinson's Texas running mate Roschon Johnson, or TCU's Kendre Miller could be fits in the third round. Even with the signing of former Seattle Seahawks first-round pick Rashaad Penny to a one-year, $1.4 million contract, the Eagles need a steady core at running back to keep their ground game going while preserving Hurts' legs since those are the legs of the NFL's highest-paid player.

Draft a top safety if Robinson's gone at 30, or in Round 2 latest
Another hole the Eagles will have to fill this offseason is safety as both Epps and Gardner-Johnson -- the NFL's co-leader in interceptions with six in 2022 -- have moved on to other teams. There's a solid chance that one of the NFL Draft's top two safeties, Alabama's Brian Branch and Texas A&M's Antonio Johnson, could be one the board at 30th overall when the Eagles will be up once again in the first round, this time with their own pick.

It's probable that Johnson will be the one available at that spot given that the latest Branch is projected to be picked by CBS Sports mock drafts is 30th to the these Eagles, according to Pete Prisco. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, he's an incredible versatile player able to play either nickel cornerback or safety, but safety is the best place for his long-term, NFL value. Johnson was ballhawk last season, forcing three fumbles, tied for the third-most in the SEC and tied for the eighth-most in the entire NCAA. He finished his collegiate career with a bang, totaling 10 tackles and a forced fumble in the Aggies' 38-23 upset of then-ranked No. 5 LSU. Hall of Famer and Eagles legend Brian Dawkins delivered soul-crushing hits from the safety spot in Philadelphia for 13 seasons, and the City of Brotherly Love would certainly appreciate more high-level safety play. Read More

The 2022 Seattle Seahawks were like finding a crumpled $20 in your jeans pocket after taking them out of the washing machine -- a pleasant surprise.

After trading Russell Wilson, once their longtime face-of-the-franchise quarterback, to the Denver Broncos in exchange for three players (QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant and DL Shelby Harris) along with five draft picks (two firsts, two seconds and one fifth), it appeared as if the team was punting on the 2022 season. However, with Wilson's former backup, Geno Smith, outplaying Seattle's only Super Bowl champion quarterback in Year 1 of the divorce, Seattle snuck into the seventh and final NFC playoff spot at 9-8, becoming one of only two teams this season to reach the playoffs and have multiple first-round picks, joining the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.

With Wilson and now-former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett not jelling, Smith had an incredibly low bar to clear in order to outplay his predecessor last season. However, he did more than just outplay him: Smith played at a top-10 quarterback level to earn the first Pro Bowl selection of his nine-year career at 32 years old. Simply an unfathomable outcome at this time one year ago. The longtime backup led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%), set the Seahawks' single-season passing yards record (4,282) and ranked in the top five in the entire league in both passing touchdowns and passer rating. While initially viewed as a stopgap, Smith earned himself a big-money deal: three years for a total of $75 million.

The other reason for the Seahawks' unexpected playoff berth was the unprecedented, immediate impact of their 2022 rookie draft class. Seattle rookies combined to start 70 games this season, tied for the most by any playoff team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, tying the 2018 Indianapolis Colts. Only the Houston Texans, the team with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, had more rookie starts than the Seahawks, and the 5,641 snaps played by the Seattle rookies were the second-most in the NFL behind only the Chicago Bears, the team with the first overall pick in the 2023 draft. The Seahawks had the rookie leader in starts, snaps played, rushing yards, forced fumbles and interceptions in 2022, meaning general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll can take a victory lap as they evaluate how well they cleaned up in the most recent draft.

The Seahawks own all of their own picks and have extra first and second-round picks, thanks to the aforementioned Russell Wilson trade. Seattle also added a fifth round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. Here's a look at how they should utilize those 10 selections in the 2023 NFL Draft in order to have a well-stocked, fresh-faced core that could lead the Seahawks into a new run of contention under the youthful Pete Carroll, the oldest coach in the NFL.

Seahawks' team needs: Edge, CB, LB, DL, WR, G, TE, OT (via Josh Edwards)

Here's who the Seahawks will take with those two first-round picks, according to CBSSports.com's latest mock drafts:

Draft their top remaining D-line prospect between Carter, Anderson

The Seahawks should secure a top-flight defensive lineman or edge rusher. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud isn't falling past the third overall pick, and the Seahawks don't need to reach for Florida's Anthony Richardson or Kentucky's Will Levis given they have Smith under a new, multi-year contract. There is also a strong likelihood that quarterbacks could go in the first four picks if a quarterback-hungry team trades up to the third overall pick in a deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

Selecting one of the top two prospects in the entire draft in Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter or Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. would be a huge boost for the Seahawks. Carter led the back-to-back national champions in quarterback pressures (66), quarterback hurries (48) and tackles for loss (15.5) across their two historically great seasons. Anderson has the most quarterback pressures (207), quarterback hits (71), tackles for loss and sacks (34.5) in the nation across his three-season collegiate career. His 34.5 sacks are also the second-most in Crimson Tide program history behind only Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas (52.0).

That type of dominant player could help elevate their pass rush that generated a 33.3% pressure percentage on opposing quarterbacks' dropbacks, barely above average at 15th in the league. This pick would also solidify the Seahawks' atrocious run defense, allowing 150.2 rushing yards per game, the third-most in the entire league. Signing defensive end Dre'Mont Jones to a three-year, $51.5 million contract helps, but Seattle needs to follow the lead of the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles, 2022's top two NFC squads, and make their defensive front a top-shelf strength.

At pick 20, it would be smart for the team to double down with another edge player or defensive lineman like Nolan Smith, one of the most explosive defenders for back-to-back national champion Georgia, or Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, who avoids blockers in rush defense with relative ease thanks to strong athleticism. Defense was the Seahawks' weakness in 2022, allowing the eighth-most points per game in the entire league (23.6). Getting two strong players along its defensive line could make everyone's life in the middle and back end significantly easier. If there is a run on defensive players prior to pick 20, a case could be made for the Seahawks taking the plunge on Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, who is the most athletically-gifted player at the QB position in this draft. He is also the one who likely needs to sit out a year and refine his craft as a passer the most. Sitting him behind Smith while the Pro Bowler plays out his potential franchise tag could also make sense. However, Richardson isn't projected to fall out of the top 10, so this scenario is highly unlikely.

Look for a starting-caliber safety in the middle rounds

While the Seahawks appear to be set at cornerback long term with the 2022 draft hits of Bryant, whose four forced fumbles were tied for the third most in the NFL, and Woolen, whose six interceptions were tied for the most in the entire league, Seattle may need a young safety to grow along with its corners. One of the Seahawks' safety spots is in good hands with Quandre Diggs, who has made three consecutive Pro Bowls. The other spot will be manned by Jamal Adams, but the three-time Pro Bowler who the team traded three picks to acquire, including two firsts, is looking to come back from a torn quadricep tendon that ended his 2022 in Week 1. The highly-compensated defensive back, whose average annual salary of $17.5 million is the third highest among safeties, could come back a step or two slower as he turns 28 in mid-October. Plus, Adams was never known for his play in coverage, but rather as an explosive athlete who could sprint sideline to sideline like a whirling dervish. While Seattle did add New York Giants safety Julian Love on a two-year, $12 million contract, half of his deal is guaranteed with no guaranteed salary in 2024. That's not a firm commitment that he is a long-term part of their plans down the road.

Drafting a safety in the draft would be addressing a potential need before it becomes a problem whether the Seahawks feel like they need to move off Adams or Love in 2024 or 2025. Adding Texas A&M safety Antonio Johnson, Alabama safety Jordan Battle or Florida State safety Jammie Robinson in Rounds 2-4 could be a significant help. That could allow the Seahawks to deploy Adams more as a hybrid linebacker/defensive back near the line of scrimmage while the incoming rookie could handle more of the coverage responsibilities opposite Diggs. Carroll's coaching specialty has always been defensive backs, so this would be a worthwhile pick for Seattle.

Add depth along the interior offensive line
The Seahawks were a below average pass-blocking unit, allowing pressure on 34.1% of dropbacks, ranking 19th in the league. Their offensive linemen also get beat by the defender they lined up against on 20.4% of snaps, the 10th-highest rate in the league. Seattle is secure on the outside with Cross and Lucas manning the tackle positions, but upgrades could be made at the center and guard spots. Thanks to its three Day 2 picks -- two seconds and a third -- Seattle has the ability to upgrade at safety, guard, and center all in the first three rounds. The Seahawks signed versatile, interior offensive lineman Evan Brown, but he's a stop-gap journeyman on his fifth NFL team, joining Seattle on a one-year, $2.3 million contract in free agency. The Seahawks need offensive linemen they can plan on for the long haul.

At guard, the top offensive lineman for national runner-up TCU, Steve Avila would be a steal in the second round. His fast-twitch burst is some of the best in the country among the linemen in this year's draft while standing at 6-4, 330 pounds. He kept his quarterback, Heisman Trophy runner-up Max Duggan, clean and relaxed all season along, allowing only 10 pressures on 515 pass-blocking snaps. He also played some center in college as well.

Here he is continually dominating at the Senior Bowl this week:

Avila also locked down Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith, one of the better defensive tackle prospects in the upcoming draft, in the Horned Frogs' CFP semifinal win against the Wolverines.

Avila isn't just a pass-blocker, he's also ferocious as a run-blocker, seen here shoving a Texas Tech defensive tackle out of the way this past season. The Seahawks offense would benefit in both the run and the pass elements of their offense by adding him on Day 2. Read More

The Green Bay Packers discovered how the majority of the NFL lives in 2022, missing the postseason for the first time under head coach Matt LaFleur. The team had a rash of injuries to a number of key players -- back-to-back NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, linebacker Rashan Gary, All-Pro linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, and cornerback Eric Stokes -- that contributed to breaking its three-season streak of 13-win campaigns, the longest such streak in league history.

The Packers started 2022 strongly, winning three of their first four games, but then lost seven of their following eight games from Weeks 5-12, setting the tone for the down year it was. Green Bay had a brief glimmer of hope following a four-game winning streak against the Bears, Rams, Dolphins and Vikings, but the Detroit Lions dashed those dreams by handing their divisional rival a 20-16 loss at home in the regular season finale. It was a disappointing performance in which the Packers offense couldn't get out of its own way.

With an 8-9 record, the Packers were an average team in the first year without first-team All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, scoring 21.8 points per game (14th in the league). That was expected as Rodgers attempted to gel with rookie wideouts Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, the team's second- and fourth-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. The bigger disappointment was the defense, expected to be a top-five unit with all the first-round picks and money invested in that side of the ball. The unit allowed 21.8 points per game, ranking 17th in the NFL. The Packers own all of their own picks, excluding their sixth rounder, and have four additional picks they acquired thanks to trades or compensatory selections. Here's a look at how they should utilize those 10 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft in order to get back on track.

Packers team needs: WR, TE, S, DT, EDGE, OG, LB (via Josh Edwards)

Draft a pass-catcher with their first-round pick

It's the thick of the NFL offseason in Green Bay which means it's time to whip out the draft statistic that makes Packers fans everywhere ask for another round at their local bar when the NFL Draft rolls around: Green Bay has not selected an offensive skill-position player (running back, wide receiver or tight end) in the first round since 2002 when it chose Florida State wide receiver Javon Walker with the 20th overall pick. The last time the Packers took an offensive skill-position player in the first round, Tobey Maguire's "Spider-Man" (the first one) was the world's top-grossing movie.

Twenty years of drafting and no offensive skill-position players is a testament to the front office's belief that Hall of Famer Brett Favre and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers could do more with less talent at their disposal, and both proved that theory to be correct for many seasons. However, one could argue that the Packers have also squandered some of both Favre's and Rodgers' twilight seasons by not surrounding them with more talent as their mobility and other skills slowly deteriorated.

With Rodgers not returning to Green Bay and the Packers transitioning to Jordan Love at quarterback, the team's first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, they could use another weapon or two in the passing game to complement Christian Watson, whose nine scrimmage touchdowns were tied for the most among all rookies with Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III. Those nine scores from scrimmage were tied for fourth-most in the entire NFL among all wide receivers with a few of the league's best: the Vikings' Justin Jefferson, the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase, the Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb, the Browns' Amari Cooper, and the Seahawks' Tyler Lockett. The Packers' Week 18 slip-up against the Lions showcased the need for another weapon or two, as the Lions double-teamed Watson or bracketed him with a safety nearly the entire game, daring another pass catcher to beat them. Romeo Doubs, the Packers' fourth-round pick receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft, is a player head coach Matt LaFleur has high hopes for, likening the 23-year-old's "movement skills" to those of former Packers All-Pro Davante Adams.

However, adding a third option, a true top-flight receiving option, could rapidly accelerate Love's growth under center. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense hit new heights in 2021 following the addition of Chase alongside receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. Higgins, the first pick of the draft's second round in 2020, has totaled over a 1,000 receiving yards in each of the two seasons since the Bengals drafted Chase fifth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. A first-round weapon at 15th overall could open things up for both Watson and Doubs in a somewhat similar fashion with both entering their second NFL seasons.

Financially, selecting a receiver or tight end 15th overall on April 27 makes the most sense for Green Bay when factoring in what trading Rodgers to the New York Jets will do to their salary cap. If the Packers trade Rodgers to the Jets prior to June 1, aka before the NFL Draft, Green Bay will take on $40,313,570 in dead cap space. Acquiring a first-round pass catcher allows for the Packers to have a young, cost-controlled asset for five seasons. That's significant for a team strapped for cash and had their No. 2 receiver, Allen Lazard (signed a four-year, $44 million deal with the Jets), their top tight, Robert Tonyan (signed a one-year, $2.65 million contract with the Bears), and their backup tight end, Marcedes Lewis, all move on this offseason.

Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who set the college football bowl game receiving yards single-game record with 347 against Utah in the 2021 Rose Bowl; TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston, one of the driving forces of the Horned Frogs' surprise College Football Playoff run as well as one of the top receivers in the draft; Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, who led all tight ends in receptions (180) and receiving yards (2,099) across the last three college football seasons; or Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid, arguably this draft's most fluid route-runner, would all be strong picks at No. 15.

The bottom line is the Packers need talent to find out if Jordan Love truly is the answer at quarterback, and they need to find out quickly. The decision deadline on whether or not to pick up his fully guaranteed, fifth-year option of $20.27 million is May 1. Realistically, the team needs to know if he's their long-term guy at the sport's most important position no later than the end of the 2023 season because that knowledge or lack thereof will shape the moves the Packers make that will have long-term ripple-effects down the road.

The only way to find out if Love is the guy is to surround him with talent because then it's easy to isolate his performance as the experimental variable if his supporting cast is well-stocked. Green Bay is loaded at running back with Pro Bowler Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. An additional impact pass catcher, wide receiver or tight end, could be a franchise-altering addition if that player positively helps alter the course of Love's career. Whichever one they don't pick in the first round needs to be addressed in Round 2 or 3.

Add depth at edge rusher

he Packers had the 10th-best pressure rate this season at 34.6% -- a strong year from a macro view in terms of bothering opposing quarterbacks. However, that figure is propped up by the first nine weeks of the season when their 39.8% rate was the second-best in the NFL. During that span, linebacker Rashan Gary dominated with 38 pressures, tied for fifth-most in the NFL, and six sacks. Once Weeks 10-17 rolled around-- after the 25-year-old Gary went down with a torn ACL – they plummeted with the sixth-lowest rate in the league (29.7%).

Green Bay's other outside linebacker, 30-year-old Preston Smith, had a solid year as one of 23 players in the NFL with at least 20 quarterback hits and eight sacks, but the Packers defense needs more than just those two, given the pass rush died when one of them couldn't play. The only move the Packers have made in free agency at the position is re-signing Justin Hollins, a rotational player who recorded two-and-a-half sacks, three tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits in six games played last season.

Some names to target in Rounds 2-5 could be Notre Dame's Isaiah Foskey, whose 11.0 sacks were tied for the fifth-most in college football this past season; Army's Andre Carter II, whose 15.5 sacks in 2021 were the second-most in the country behind only Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. and also more than current Detroit Lion Aidan Hutchinson; or Ohio State's Zach Harrison, one of the key pieces of a defense that nearly knocked off eventual national champion Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals. More reliable players in this area will do wonders for the Packers defense.

Look for a starting-caliber safety in the middle rounds
While the Packers are stacked at cornerback with Pro Bowl selection Jaire Alexander, ballhawk Rasul Douglas -- his nine interceptions across the last two seasons are tied for the third-most in the NFL -- and third-year, former first-round pick Eric Stokes. That's not the case with the position group behind them. Adrian Amos, who was one of the best safeties in football in 2020, continued a downward trend in his play from decent to needing to be let go in 2022. Amos surrendered six touchdown passes in coverage for the second straight season after only allowing two in 2020. He allowed a 102.8 passer rating in coverage as the primary defender, the 17th-highest in the NFL among defensive backs to play in at least 10 games. He's still unsigned on the free agency market this offseason.

Former first round pick Darnell Savage also regressed to the point that he was benched and then inserted back into the lineup to play in a reduced role at the nickel. He lost his safety spot to Rudy Ford, a player the Jaguars kicked to the curb on roster cutdown day prior to the start of the 2022 season. Ford re-signed with Green Bay on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, hardly a guaranteed starter's money. Texas A&M safety Antonio Johnson or Alabama safety Jordan Battle could be a huge help for the Packers in the Round 3-4 range. Read More

The 2023 NFL offseason is in full gear. Several big-name quarterbacks have already signed on for new homes and now many notable veterans have switched jerseys, with the exception of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who said Wednesday that he "intends to play for the New York Jets" regarding his 2023 plans. However, Rodgers said the Packers compensation requests are holding up the trade at the moment.

From eye-popping trades to unexpected signings, we've got your fill of each team's notable 2023 offseason pick-ups as well as grades for the signings and trades:

Arizona Cardinals: C-
Key additions: LB Kyzir White (Eagles), OL

Key re-signings: OT Kelvin Beachum, G Will Hernandez, K Matt Prater, RB Corey Clement

Despite having nearly $23 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap.com, and a new regime with new general manager Monti Ossenfort and new head coach Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals have been quiet. They lost a decent defensive lineman in 25-year-old Zach Allen to the Denver Broncos on a three-year, $45.8 million deal, according to NFL Media as well as one of their top cornerbacks Byron Murphy, who signed with the Minnesota Vikings on a two-year, $22 million contract. Otherwise, the team has reunited Gannon with Kyzir White, a solid but unspectacular starter from the Eagles' defense.

Atlanta Falcons: C
Key additions: QB Taylor Heinicke (Commanders), S Jessie Bates III (Bengals), TE Jonnu Smith (Patriots, via trade), DT David Onyemata (Saints), LB Kaden Elliss (Saints)

Key re-signings: G Chris Lindstrom, LB Lorenzo Carter, T Kaleb McGary, P Bradley Pinion

The Falcons made a number of big swings Monday to jumpstart free agency, but almost all of them were clear overpays. The decision to make former Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III, Cincy's leader in interceptions (14) and tackles (479) since entering the NFL in 2018, the fourth-highest paid safety in the NFL on an annual basis with a four-year, $64.02 million contract is their most defendable move. Atlanta was the league's sixth-worst total defense, 362.1 total yards per game allowed, in 2022, and they weren't getting much out of their secondary, the eighth-worst pass defense in the NFL (231.9 passing yards allowed per game).

However, a strong argument could also be made that Bates III's money may have been served for different positional compensation down the road. Getting ahead of the rising salary cap to keep your own starting-caliber players is wise, but it's unclear why the Falcons felt the need to reset the offensive guard market by giving Chris Lindstrom five years and $105 million dollars coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2022. The previously highest-paid guard was the Indianapolis Colts' Quenton Nelson, a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-Team All-Pro at four years and $80 million.

Similarly, taking on the final two years of one of the bigger tight end contracts in the entire league after acquiring Jonnu Smith from the New England Patriots for a seventh round pick is a head-scratcher unless the plan is to move third-year tight end Kyle Pitts, the highest-drafted tight end in the Common Draft Era (since 1967) after being selected fourth overall in 2021, to a wide receiver role opposite Drake London.

Adding former Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke as a backup to Desmond Ridder on a two-year, $20 million deal is good business should the second-year passer get hurt or falter as the full-time starter.

Baltimore Ravens: D
**Key additions: **N/A

Key re-signings: CB Trayvon Mullen, RB Justice Hill, S Geno Stone, RB Justice Hill

The reason the Ravens don't have an incomplete grade instead of a 'D' is simple; they have a no-brainer move sitting right in front them: sign MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson to a long-term contract extension. Alienating the face of your franchise in a staring contest over his second contract is bad vibes. Putting him on the non-exclusive franchise tag to show Jackson how no other NFL team is interested in signing him to a fully guaranteed contract is understandable. After almost 12 hours of free agency, Baltimore needs to send a better contract pitch as a peace offering and get this deal done. Instead, they're doing the opposite and looking into signing other quarterback as fallback options.

The Ravens are 45-16 and average 28 points per game when Jackson starts for them since taking him with the last pick of the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. They're 8-13 and average eight fewer points per game, 20.0, when any other quarterback has started from them across the last five seasons. Jackson is also the fastest player in NFL history to hit over 100 career passing touchdowns in addition to over 4,000 career rushing yards, 31 games quicker (67) than Randall Cunningham (98). Pay him what he's worth.

Buffalo Bills: B+
Key additions: RB Damien Harris (Patriots), WR Trent Sherfield (Dolphins), G Connor McGovern (Cowboys), WR Deonte Harty (Saints), QB Kylen Allen (Texans)

Key re-signings: S Jordan Poyer, LB Matt Milano, LB Tyler Matakevich, P Sam Martin

Reinforcing your superstar quarterback's offensive line is never a bad move, especially at Connor McGovern's three years, $23 million price tag. The other moves were also easy on the salary cap with All-Pro linebacker Matt Milano's two-year contract extension adding $6 million in room to 2023. Punter Sam Martin's three-year extension worth up to $7.5 million is a good distance away from the top of the punting contract market. All solid moves.

However, some more headline-grabbing transactions could be in the Bills' future with the restructures of quarterback Josh Allen's contract and linebacker Von Miller's contract Monday night opening up a whopping $32 million in cap space for this offseason. On Tuesday, the Bills opened up an additional $5.4 million in room with wide receiver Stefon Diggs restructuring his deal.

Buffalo has since used some of that money to re-sign All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer. to a two-year deal, $12.5 million contract. That's a big steal by general manager Brandon Beane. So perhaps there's still a chance to add Odell Beckham Jr.'s.

Carolina Panthers: B
Key additions: WR Adam Thielen (Vikings), QB Andy Dalton (Saints), RB Miles Sanders (Eagles), TE Hayden Hurst (Bengals), RB Miles Sanders (Eagles), DT DeShawn Williams (Broncos), Shy Tuttle (Saints), S Vonn Bell (Bengals), G Justin McCray (Texans), DT DeShawn Williams (Broncos), 1st overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft (Bears, via trade)

Key re-signings: C Bradley Bozeman

When the Panthers hired Frank Reich to be their new head coach, the team clearly took a look in the mirror at the quarterbacks they have been trotting out over the last five seasons and realized enough with the veteran stopgaps. Now thanks to trading their ninth overall pick (first round) and their second second-round pick (61st overall pick) in the 2023 NFL Draft as well as a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and 25-year-old wide receiver DJ Moore, they can choose whichever fresh-faced quarterback they want to lead their franchise into a new era. They also added veteran mentor Andy Dalton, 35 years old, on a two-year. $10 million deal. A wise investment in order for the new face of the franchise to learn how to carve out a long-term career in the league.

While that trade may have been perceived by some as reach because of what they gave up, the Panthers won't miss any of those picks if whoever they select between Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Alabama's Bryce Young, Florida's Anthony Richardson, or Kentucky's Will Levis becomes a Pro Bowl passer and gives the team some extended stability at the sport's most important position. Supplementing their defense with a couple defenders on the right side of 30 in defensive tackle Shy Tuttle and safety Vonn Bell are nice moves as well. Carolina could have a very bright future if they nail their first overall pick and add some receiving help in either the draft's later rounds or in free agency. Adding former first-round pick tight end Hayden Hurst on a reported three-year, $21.8 million deal is a start.

Bringing aboard former Eagles running back Miles Sanders on an affordable four-year, $25.4 million contract is a huge get as well. The soon-to-be 26-year-old made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2022 with career-highs in rushing yards (1,269) and rushing touchdowns (11). Those numbers made him only the fourth player in Eagles history with a season of over 1,000 rushing yards and over 10 rushing touchdowns, joining Hall of Famer Steve Van Buren (1947, 1949), Ricky Watters (1995-1996), and LeSean McCoy (2011). The Panthers signing a new, top wide receiver to lead their passing offense in Adam Thielen was a necessity after losing DJ Moore in the trade that gave them the 2023 NFL Draft's first overall selection. Even though the reported terms of three years aren't the greatest for a soon-to-be 33-year-old receiver, it was move that needed to be made.

Chicago Bears: B+
Key additions: RB D'Onta Foreman (Panthers), LB Tremaine Edmunds (Bills), LB T.J. Edwards (Eagles), G Nate Davis (Titans), 9th overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft (Panthers, via trade), 62nd overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft (Panthers, via trade ), 2024 first-round pick (Panthers, via trade), 2025 second-round pick (Panthers, via trade), WR D.J. Moore (Panthers, via trade), DE DeMarcus Walker (Titans), RB Travis Homer (Seahawks), QB PJ Walker (Panthers), TE Robert Tonyan (Packers), DT Andrew Billings (Raiders)

Key re-signings: LS Patrick Scales

The signings of two inside linebackers Tremaine Edmunds (4 years, $72 million) and T.J. Edwards (three years, $19.5M) will yield a positive impact for the Bears' defense. However, they could've simply extended 2022 First-Team All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith for a smaller cap hit than those two combined deals and retained one of the best linebackers in football. Instead, they traded him to the Baltimore Ravens.

The big reasons for the B+ grade are because of how they've already helped young quarterback Justin Fields significantly, and the draft hasn't even started. Signing guard Nate Davis (3 years, $30M) and bringing in underrated, 25-year-old wide receiver D.J. Moore through the unloading of the 2023 NFL Draft's first pick is a great start to the offseason. Adding Panthers bruising running back D'Onta Foreman on a one-year, $3 million deal is a very affordable replacement for David Montgomery, who is now a Detroit Lion. The only way to find out if your quarterback is good is to surround him with a real supporting cast, and the Bears are on their way to doing so.

Cincinnati Bengals: B+
Key additions: T Orlando Brown (Chiefs), G Cody Ford (Cardinals)

Key re-signings: LB Germaine Pratt

Last offseason was where they addressed the major hole on their roster, their offseason line. Now, it's not nearly as much of an issue. However, that didn't stop Duke Tobin and the team's front office from continuing to turn the o-line into a strength by using the money they had earmarked for Jessie Bates III on Chiefs Pro Bowl left tackle Orland Brown as they signed him to a four-year, $64 million pact. Joe Burrow is surely sleeping soundly these days. This contract looks even better after Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil reset the positional market with a $25 million annual average value on his new extension.

Cincinatti also kept one of their defensive leaders in linebacker Germaine Pratt on fair, three-year, $21 million pact. Losing both starting safeties in Bates III, who signed with the Atlanta Falcons on a four-year, $64.02 million deal, and Vonn Bell, who signed with the Carolina Panthers on a two-year deal, when there isn't too much depth in the upcoming draft's safety class might be a real issue down the road in the 2023 season.

Now the real work begins for the Bengals: figuring out how to extend the core of their offense in Joe Burrow, wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, and wide receiver Tee Higgins. If the Bengals can reach deals for all three, this grade could soar an entire letter higher.

Cleveland Browns: B
Key additions: DE Obo Okoronkwo (Texans); DT Dalvin Tomlinson (Vikings), TE Jordan Akins (Texans), DL Maurice Hurst (49ers), S Juan Thornhill (Chiefs)

Key re-signings: C Ethan Pocic

With Jadeveon Clowney wading through the waters of free agency, it was important for the Cleveland to find a new pass-rushing partner opposite Myles Garrett. They did so by signing 27-year-old defensive end Obo Okoronkwo to a three-year, $19 million contract that could hit $22 million with incentives. A solid add at a decent price point for a player coming off a career year despite playing for the Houston Texans, the team in possession of the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, the Browns' defensive line re-tooling didn't stop there. Late into Monday, the signed defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson to a four-year, $57 million deal with $27.5 million of it guaranteed, according to NFL Media. These two signings could allow Cleveland to be a force up front, critical in a division with Joe Burrow and most likely Lamar Jackson still. Adding former Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill on a three-year, $21 million deal fills in the hole left by the release of John Johnson III nicely.

A restructure of Deshaun Watson's five-year, fully-guaranteed $230 million contract created $36 million in cap space for the Browns to work with this offseason, and they're making good use out of that additional cap room.

Dallas Cowboys: A
Key additions: CB Stephon Gilmore (Colts, via trade), WR Brandin Cooks (Texans, via trade)

Key re-signings: S Donovan Wilson, LB Leighton Vander Esch, OT Tyron Smith, QB Cooper Rush

The Cowboys were relatively quiet on Day 1 of free agency but made some noise on Day 2 by re-signing two key defensive players and adding another via a trade with the Colts. They had previously put running back Tony Pollard on the non-exclusive franchise tag. Pollard is certainly a player Dallas needed to keep considering his 5.9 yards per touch led the entire NFL this season among players with 200 or more touches. Pollard's yards per touch figure was more than Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor's league-leading 5.8 yards per touch in 2021 when he was the NFL's rushing champ.

Tuesday was the day of the big acquisition, acquiring a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year in cornerback Stephon Gilmore by sending a fifth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts. He'll be a rental at 33 years old, entering the last year of his contract, but Gilmore can be a strong CB2 opposite Trevon Diggs. That was a spot Dallas struggled to find continuity at between injuries and underperformance.

However, tying up nearly a quarter of their salary cap in their running back room between Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott isn't a winning formula, especially in 2023. Something Jerry Jones finally realized as he cut Zeke loose on Wednesday and freed up $10.9 million in cap space to address other roster needs. A shrewd move considering Elliott averaged 3.9 yards per touch in 2022, the lowest in the NFL among those with over 200 touches. Losing their second-most productive wide receiver after CeeDee Lamb, Noah Brown, to the Houston Texans on a one-year, $2.6 million deal hurts, but he could be replaced with a draft pick in April.

Finally, the Cowboys made their receiver splash on Sunday, sending two late round picks down to Houston in exchange for productive veteran Brandin Cooks. Dallas adding their much-needed number two wideout to complement Lamb without surrendering much in assets is a major victory.

Denver Broncos: B
Key additions: QB Jarrett Stidham (Raiders), RB Samaje Perine (Bengals), TE Chris Manhertz (Jaguars), G Ben Powers (Ravens), T Mike McGlinchey (49ers), DE Zach Allen (Cardinals), FB Michael Burton (Chiefs), CB Tremon Smith (Texans)

Key re-signings: LB Alex Singleton

The Broncos were one of Monday's biggest spenders, tossing quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who made the first two starts of his career in 2022 with the Raiders, a two-year, $10 million contract simply to be Russell Wilson's backup. Not to mention a slew of other high-dollar deals like four years, $52 million for former Ravens guard Ben Powers, five years, $87.5 million for former San Francisco 49ers tackle Mike McGlinchey, three years, $45.8 million for former Arizona Cardinals defensive end Zach Allen, and three years, $18 million for inside linebacker Alex Singleton. Signing Samaje Perine to a two-year, $7.5 million deal is a solid value add with running back Javonte Williams working his way back from a torn ACL.

New head coach Sean Payton clearly wanted the ownership to spend and spend big if he were to agree to leave his TV gig, and they certainly bellied up to the proverbial bar on Day 1 of free agency. The offensive line signings are defensible as far as positional need since Wilson was sacked 55 times in 2022, tied for the most in the NFL with Bears quarterback Justin Fields. However, the price tags, especially for McGlinchey, are high. The right tackle's contract is now the third-highest in total value in the entire NFL among those at his position, but considering the huge investment in Payton (acquired in a trade from Saints for a 2023 first-round pick and 2024 second-round pick) and Wilson (acquired in exchange for three players and five draft picks from Seahawks), the offense needs to work now.

Detroit Lions: B+
Key additions: S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (Eagles), RB David Montgomery (Bears), CB Cameron Sutton (Steelers), CB Emmanuel Moseley (49ers)

Key re-signings: RB Craig Reynolds, DL Isaiah Buggs, LB Alex Anzalone, DL John Cominsky, CB C.J. Moore

The Lions haven't made any gigantic moves, but they kept key cogs to the culture Dan Campbell is building in running back Craig Reynolds (terms undisclosed), defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs (two years, worth up to $6 millions), and linebacker Alex Anzalone (three years, $18.8 million). Swapping out running back Jamaal Williams (27 years old) for former Chicago Bears starter David Montgomery (25 years old) on a three-year, $18 million deal is a solid move.

They also addressed a key area of need in their secondary by snagging 28-year-old cornerback Cameron Sutton from the Pittsburgh Steelers for three years, $33 million. That total value dollar amount is equivalent to the rookie contract of their former third overall pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, cornerback Jeff Okudah, a nice value for a player with Sutton's recent production. He only allowed a 46.8% completion percentage when targeted in 2022, the third-lowest in the NFL among players who were targeted 70 or more times. The only players with lower completion percentages were the Eagles' Second-Team All-Pro cornerback James Bradberry (43.5%) and the New York Jets 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner (44.2%). Detroit continued to reinforce the position by snagging former, longtime 49ers corner Emmanuel Moseley on a one-year, $6 million contract.

Late on March 19, the Lions completed their full-on secondary makeover by signing former Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to a one-year deal worth $8 million. That's a total steal for the 25-year-old safety who co-led the NFL in interceptions last season with six.

Nice work by general manager Brad Holmes to patch the NFL's 30th-ranked pass defense (245.8 passing yards per game allowed). He can now make some real noise in the 2023 NFL Draft with multiple first round picks and many needs already addressed.

Green Bay Packers: Incomplete
Key additions: LS Matt Orzech (Rams)

Key re-signings: KR/PR Keisean Nixon, S Rudy Ford

As of this moment, Aaron Rodgers is still under contract with Green Bay even though the world is awaiting official word that he's been traded to the Jets. Until Rodgers' desired trade to the Jets goes through, Green Bay's offseason and grade is on hold. The package they receive in return will have a significant impact on how quickly they can get back to Super Bowl contention with Jordan Love and Christian Watson leading the way.

However, they did get a key piece of business done on Monday, re-signing 2022 First-Team All-Pro returner Keisean Nixon to a one-year deal worth $4 million. That's big deal since he led the NFL in kickoff return yards last season, 1,009, and gave a spark to the Packers' special teams return units perhaps not seen since the days of Desmond Howard in the 1990's.

Houston Texans: B
Key additions: TE Dalton Schultz (Cowboys), RB Devin Singletary (Bills), S Jimmie Ward (49ers), QB Case Keenum (Bills), RB Mike Boone (Broncos), WR Robert Woods (Titans), WR Noah Brown (Cowboys), G Shaq Mason (Buccaneers, via trade) TE Andrew Beck (Broncos), DL Hassan Ridgeway (49ers), DE Chase Winovich (Browns), DT Sheldon Rankins (Jets)

Key re-signings: C Scott Quessenberry, S M.J. Stewart, CB Tavierre Thomas

The Texans had to pay an above-market price for a post-knee injury, 30-year-old Robert Woods (two years, $15.3 million), but it was a necessary investment in order to have some receiving options for whoever the team selects at quarterback with the draft's second overall pick. Adding former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Noah Brown, Dak Prescott's second-most relied upon target, on a one-year, $2.6 million pact is good business. Quarterback Case Keenum (two years, $6.3 million) is a player who has seen it all in the NFL from leading a team to an NFC title game and subsequently signing a sizable free agent deal to floating around as a backup like he has the last few years. That's a nice value for a veteran mentor for the incoming future of the franchise.

Reinforcing the offensive line with guard Shaq Mason coming in a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by swapping a sixth rounder for a Tampa Bay seventh rounder and signing both tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Devin Singletary all represent decent additions in their quest to upgrade their offensive support system. Locking down three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil for another three seasons secures their future quarterback's blindside for the bulk of his rookie contract.

The same can be said for the Texans' signing of former San Francisco 49ers safety Jimmie Ward to a two-year, $13 million deal, according to NFL Network. That's an affordable, and important pickup for first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans, the former 49ers defensive coordinator. A veteran like Ward can be an extra coach on the field for a young Texans defense, helping accelerate the transition to Ryans' scheme. Getting multiple draft picks back for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, a player who clearly expressed his desire to be traded at last season's trade deadline, is a small win. The return would've been bigger had they made the move last season, but they did the best they could this offseason.

With extra draft capital over the next few years, thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade, this could be a team on the rise in a couple years.

Indianapolis Colts: C-
Key additions: QB Gardner Minshew (Eagles), DT Taven Bryan (Browns), LB Samson Ebukam (49ers), K Matt Gay (Rams)

Key re-signings: DE Tyquan Lewis, LB E.J. Speed, WR Ashton Dulin

After releasing quarterback Matt Ryan, new head coach Shane Steichen brought in a familiar face at the position in Gardner Minshew, whom he coached in Philadelphia last season. He could be a decent mentor to whatever QB they pick fourth overall in April. Chris Ballard's biggest contract moves will probably come in the form of extensions for running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. down the line. Although signing former Rams kicker Matt Gay to the largest free-agent kicker contract ever is a splash, especially for a team that's picking in the top five of the NFL Draft, far far away from the postseason. Adding the San Francisco 49ers No. 2 sacks producer from a season ago in defensive end Samson Ebukam is nice, but it's a little bit of an overpay at three-years, $27 million. Losing cornerback Stephon Gilmore for a fifth round pick for one of the better corners of the 2010's even though he is in a contract year feels like a letdown .

Jacksonville Jaguars: C
Key re-signings: QB C.J. Beathard, DL Roy Robertson-Harris, S Andrew Wingard

The Jaguars went on their free agency bender a year ago when they signed receiver Christian Kirk (four years, $72 million), receiver Zay Jones (three years, $24 million), guard Brandon Scherff (three years, $49.5 million), defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (three years, $30 million), linebacker Foye Oluokun (three years, $45 million), and cornerback Darious Williams (three years, $30 million) to multi-year, high-dollar figures. Naturally, they've had a much more low-key offseason, but retaining a quality starter in defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris (three years, $30 million) is good news. The biggest piece of the offseason for the Jaguars will be how much growth Trevor Lawrence has during the offseason as Jacksonville looks to build upon the divisional round playoff run they had in 2022.

Kansas City Chiefs: B
Key additions: T Jawaan Taylor, DE Charles Omenihu

Key re-signings: DE Tershawn Wharton

The Chiefs needed to figure out their plans at left tackle with four-time Pro Bowler Orlando Brown hitting free agency, and general manager Brett Veach got to work quickly on Monday. He promptly signed Jaguars offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, a 25-year-old former second-round pick, to a four-year, $80 million deal that includes $60 million guaranteed. Now that looks like an overspend with Brown signing with the rival Bengals for $16 million less, four years and $64 million.

While Brown has the better pedigree, Taylor actually had a better individual season in 2022, registering the third-lowest pressure rate allowed among offensive tackles last season at 2.5%, according to CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr. He allowed 16 pressures and five sacks this past season, and Brown surrendered 39 pressures and four sacks. Unclear how much of an upgrade that will be. Veach has made all the right moves as the Chiefs have won two of the last four Super Bowls, and if he can continue to find ways to fill out the margins of the Chiefs roster in a relatively inexpensive way, Kansas City could get close to an A- by the end of free agency. Losing JuJu Smith-Schuster to the New England Patriots on a three-year, $33 million deal isn't a big blow for Kansas City. Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore will just have bigger roles in 2023.

Las Vegas Raiders: C
Key additions: QB Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers), WR Jakobi Meyers (Patriots), S Marcus Epps (Eagles), CB Brandon Facyson (Colts), LB Robert Spillane (Steelers) TE O.J. Howard (Texans)

Key re-signings: RB Ameer Abdullah, T Brandon Parker, FB Jakob Johnson, DL Jerry Tillery

All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams' dreams of playing out the foreseeable future of his incredible career with college BFF Derek Carr went up in flames with Carr being released outright after not jelling with head coach Josh McDaniels. And now Darren Waller is gone after Las Vegas dealt him to the Jets for a third-round pick. But, the Raiders were able to relieve Adams of any quarterback uncertainty early on Day 1 of free agency by reuniting McDaniels with his former New England Patriots pupil Jimmy Garoppolo on a three-year, $67.5 million deal. They have also kept 2022 rushing yards champ Josh Jacobs around via the franchise tag, a smart move. Garoppolo being their starting quarterback in 2023 probably wasn't the Raiders' vision for the upcoming season, but it was a nice pivot regardless.

However, essentially swapping Darren Waller for wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (three years, $33 million), oft-injured tight end O.J. Howard and a third round pick so late it's essentially a fourth is a downgrade. Trading away your Pro Bowl tight end who is a beast over the middle after signing Garoppolo, who loves to throw over the middle makes no sense. Josh Jacobs agrees.

Los Angeles Chargers: C
Key additions: LB Eric Kendricks (Vikings)

Key re-signings: QB Easton Stick, TE Donald Parham Jr., DL Morgan Fox, J.K. Scott

It's been a much more quiet offseason in 2023 for the Chargers after grabbing headlines with the acquisitions of All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack and high-priced cornerback J.C. Jackson plus the re-signing of wide receiver Mike Williams in 2022. Kendricks is a nice veteran cog for head coach Brandon Staley's defense, and they still have $18 million in cap space in their pocket.

However, the possibility of losing the NFL's scrimmage touchdowns leader in each of the last two seasons, running back Austin Ekeler, after he requested permission to reach out to the rest of the league about a trade rains on their entire offseason. It's understandable that a productive running back wants to get a fresh deal entering the last year of his contract, but until Los Angeles resolves this situation with one of the NFL's most versatile offensive playmakers, a cloud will be cast over the Chargers' offseason proceedings.

Los Angeles Rams: D
Key additions: TE Hunter Long (Miami Dolphins, via trade), 2023 third-round pick (Miami Dolphins, via trade)

Key re-signings: G Coleman Shelton

After years of going "all-in" in pursuit of a Super Bowl title, which they achieved in 2021 by winning Super Bowl LVI in their home stadium, the Rams are undergoing a teardown. General manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay realized the need to rebuild the roster after the Rams crumbled to a 5-12 finish in 2022, the worst by a defending Super Bowl Champion in NFL history. Their "pillars" quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, and defensive tackle Aaron Donald all suffered injuries that caused them to miss multiple games.

As a result, they've allowed for a talent exodus to occur this offseason, with linebacker Bobby Wagner, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and kicker Matt Gay, among others, to abandon ship. The trade of Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a third round pick and 24-year-old tight end Hunter Long was a sad reminder of what could happen when disregarding the draft in lieu of high-priced veterans for a five to six-year span. Los Angeles has until March 15 (Wednesday) to get back over the salary cap by the start of the new league year. At least they'll be able to pick in the first round for the first time in eight years in 2024.

Miami Dolphins: A
Key additions: QB Mike White (Jets), LB David Long (Titans), CB Jalen Ramsey (Rams, via trade), WR Braxton Berrios (Jets)

Key re-signings: RB Raheem Mostert, RB Jeff Wilson Jr., RB Myles Gaskin, CB Nik Needham

The Dolphins know they only have quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on his rookie contract for two more years, so they're making the absolute most of it by pairing Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard with All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey following their trade with the Rams in which they gave up some pocket change listed above. Those two corners, safety Jevon Holland, and Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb give new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio plenty of star power to work with. Signing Mike White on a two-year deal to be Tagovailoa's injury insurance is good business since he's a quarterback familiar with the AFC East from his time with the Jets, and he's a player who quickly won the locker room in New York. Two positive qualities for the new Dolphins backup.

However, general manager Chris Grier was also able to shore up his inside linebacking group at a fraction of what the position has been going for during free agency in 2023. While Tremaine Edmunds (four years, $72 million from the Bears), Bobby Okereke (four years, $40 million from the Giants), Alex Singleton (three years, $18 million from the Broncos), and Alex Anzalone (three years, $18.8 million), all got significant financial commitments this offseason, Miami signed their new inside linebacker David Long Jr, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, for a measly two years and $11 million. Not a bad deal at all for one of the NFL's top run defenders at the position, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats.

Minnesota Vikings: D+
Key additions: CB Byron Murphy (Cardinals), TE Josh Oliver (Ravens), DE Marcus Davenport (Saints), DT Dean Lowry (Packers)

Key re-signings: QB Nick Mullens, C Garrett Bradbury, K Greg Joseph, RB Alexander Mattison, OL Austin Schlottmann, LS Andrew DePaola

The Vikings currently have the least amount of cap space in the entire NFL, so there's not a whole lot they can do. However, giving former New Orleans Saint Marcus Davenport $13 million on a one-year deal even though he's coming off what may be the worst season of his career at 26 years old in 2022 is a whiff. Signing former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy to a two-year, $22 million contract is upgrade to what was the NFL's second-worst total defense a year ago (388.7 total yards per game allowed) behind only the Lions.

The signing of former Baltimore Ravens tight end Josh Oliver to a three-year, $21 million contract with a career stat line of 26 catches for 230 receiving yards and two touchdowns at 25 years old is insanity. Unless Minnesota plans to make an out-of-nowhere run at Lamar Jackson, this signing makes even less sense than the Davenport money.

New England Patriots: C+
Key additions: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, T Riley Reiff (Bears), RB James Robinson (Jets), TE Mike Gesicki, T Calvin Anderson (Broncos)

Key re-signings: OL James Ferentz, LB Raekwon McMillan, CB Jonathan Jones, S Jabrill Peppers, LB Mack Wilson, LS Joe Cardona

Not a whole lot of action of activity here, but Bill Belichick and company were able to dump the remaining salary from tight end Jonnu Smith's contract onto the Atlanta Falcons for a seventh round pick. That's a win. Retaining two of their more productive defensive veterans, another small victory. However, the Patriots allowed wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, the team's leading receiver in each of quarterback Mac Jones' first two seasons, to walk out the door in free agency. He signed a three-year, $33 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders aka Patriots West. New England offset that move by signing JuJu Smith-Schuster away from the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs on an identical deal. However that begs the question, why didn't they just Meyers, a player who already had great chemistry with Jones.

New England didn't stop at JuJu for offensive weapons, taking a flier on the 24-year-old running back James Robinson after a couple injury-plagued seasons. They also added former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki on an affordable $4.5 million deal for a year. It could raise to $9 million if all incentives are hit, per the Boston Globe. The Patriots fortunately have a real offensive coordinator this season in Bill O'Brien, so Jones should get his overall development swinging back in a positive direction.

New Orleans Saints: C+
Key additions: QB Derek Carr (Raiders, RB Jamaal Williams (Lions), DT Khalen Saunders (Chiefs)

Key re-signings: QB Jameis Winston, TE Juwan Johnson, DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, DB J.T. Gray, WR Michael Thomas

The Saints won the Derek Carr sweepstakes, snatching up the Raiders' all-time leading in passing yards (35,222) and passing touchdowns (217) with a four-year, $150 million contract. Bringing over the NFL's rushing touchdowns leader, running back Jamaal Williams who had 17 for the Detroit Lions in 2022, is a solid grab at the price tag of three years, $12 million. While their contract restructures and salary cap maneuvering of years' past has finally caught up them, the Saints were still able to sign the quarterback they wanted to lead them into a more positive light post-Drew Brees. They also acquired a 2023 first round pick and a 2024 second-round pick for former head coach Sean Payton, who didn't do any work for them last season. That's good business.

New York Giants: B-
Key additions: TE Darren Waller (Raiders, via trade), WR Parris Campbell (Colts) DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Buccaneers), LB Bobby Okereke (Colts)

Key re-signings: QB Daniel Jones, WR Sterling Shepard, P Jamie Gillan, RB Matt Breida, WR Darius Slayton, LB Jarrad Davis

The Giants finally have money to spend, and they got an elite, if oft-injured target for Daniel Jones in Waller, but they also overpaid on a couple critical signings. First, Daniel Jones' four-year, $160 million contract extension is a jaw-dropping reversal in the franchise's opinion of their former sixth overall draft pick and a gross overestimation of his future growth. General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll immediately assessed that Jones wasn't worth paying on a fully-guaranteed, fifth-year option, but after he threw 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2022, he's suddenly worth Matthew Stafford and Dak Prescott money?

Despite averaging the fewest turnovers per game (0.5) in 2022 among qualified quarterbacks, Jones' 57 career turnovers are still the sixth-most since he entered the NFL in 2019. This deal could put a Blake Bortles-like ceiling on the 2020's Giants like the former top five pick quarterback's contract extension did for the late 2010's Jaguars. Jones' reliance on Saquon Barkley also complicates extension talks for the former second overall draft pick whom the Giants have franchise-tagged. When Barkley plays, Jones has a passer rating of 91.4, but that figure drops to 77.3 without him. The revived rusher roared back to life with 1,312 rushing yards in 2022, the fourth-most in the NFL after struggling to create separation following a torn ACL in 2020. Since Jones is back long-term, it feels like New York almost has to pay up for their quarterback's security blanket.

Bobby Okereke's contract is also an overpay considering plenty of comparable linebackers like Alex Singleton, Alex Anzalone, and David Long Jr. all signed contracts for under $20 million in total value. Just because the Giants have money to spend, doesn't mean they need spend a significant chunk of it right now.

New York Jets: Incomplete
Key additions: WR Allen Lazard (Packers), S Chuck Clark (Ravens, via trade), OL Wes Schweitzer (Commanders), P Thomas Morstead (Dolphins)

Key re-signings: LB Quincy Williams, K Greg Zuerlein, DL Solomon Thomas

As long as Aaron Rodgers' situation remains in limbo for the Packers and the Jets, it's impossible to grade either of their offseasons. However, it is great news that Rodgers wants to join the team. Retaining starting linebacker Quincy Williams, the older brother of 2022 First-Team All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, was good business on and off the field since the Jets need to eventually give Quinnen a long-term, second contract.

Picking up a starting caliber safety in Chuck Clark from the Ravens for a seventh round pick in next year's draft was another nice move. However, nothing matters for the Jets if they don't get Rodgers to agree to a trade and come play for them. This is a top-five defense that is also stocked with explosive, young weapons on offense. They're ready to go right now. The path forward for the Jets would be awkward without Rodgers aboard after hiring his former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and many Jets' players tweeting their desire for Rodgers to join the team. The trade has to happen now with former Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard on board with a four-year, $44 million contract. With Carr, Garoppolo, and Jameis Winston off the market, Teddy Bridgewater would likely be Gang Green's top QB option for 2023 should the deal for Rodgers not reach the finish line.

Philadelphia Eagles: B
Key additions: RB Rashaad Penny (Seahawks), QB Marcus Mariota (Falcons), CB Greedy Williams (Browns)

Key re-signings: C Jason Kelce, DE Brandon Graham, CB James Bradberry, DT Fletcher Cox, RB Boston Scott, CB Darius Slay

The NFC Champion Eagles have locked down their offensive and defensive heartbeats for the 2023 season in center Jason Kelce and defensive end Brandon Graham. Kelce, who was considering retirement, is now back for another year after having the second-lowest pressure rate allowed in the entire NFL in 2022, 1.2%, among players with 500 or more pass-blocking snaps. Graham totaled a career-high 11.0 sacks in 2022, so getting his presence back for on and off field purposes was critical. Even better news is that Second-Team All-Pro cornerback James Bradberry decided to take less money and stay in Philadelphia on a three-year, $38 million deal that can reach $44 million with incentives. The 2022 NFL leader in passer rating allowed (44.5) remains with the E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles. Franchise legend, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, also took less money to remain in Philadelphia, coming back on a one-year, $10 million pact. Momentarily released Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay also re-signed on a three-year, $42 million contract. Making the Super Bowl is helpful to retain key veterans, who knew?

However, losing Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to the NFC runner-up San Francisco 49ers is a huge blow plus Philadelphia also lost linebacker T.J. Edwards to the Bears and safety Marcus Epps to the Raiders. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson could also join the list of former Eagles defensive starters playing for new teams in 2023. The Eagles' foundational elements remain the same, but there will some turnover in the starting lineup in 2023.

Pittsburgh Steelers: B+
Key additions: CB Patrick Peterson (Vikings), G Nate Herbig (Jets), LB Cole Holcomb (Commanders), LB Elandon Roberts (Dolphins), G Isaac Seumalo (Eagles)

Key re-signings: DL Larry Ogunjobi

While losing Cameron Sutton isn't ideal, replacing him with one of the NFL's active co-leader in interceptions, Patrick Peterson, is a solid pickup for two years and $14 million. Peterson totaled five interception this past season, the second-most in his entire career, and had a 79.7 coverage grade, the eighth-highest among all cornerbacks according to Pro Football Focus. .Linebacker Cole Holcomb, who comes over to replace former first round pick Devin Bush on a three-year deal, is a solid depth add.

The offensive line has been a weakness for the Pittsburgh Steelers for some time, but the additions of guard Nate Herbig on two-year, $8 million deal, and guard Isaac Seumalo on a three-year, $24 million contract from the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles are big wins for quarterback Kenny Pickett and running back Najee Harris. Seumalo allowed onlu one sack and received a 75.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus on 1,135 offensive snaps. That PFF grade was better than any of Pittsburgh's top linemen in 2022.

San Francisco 49ers: B+
Key additions: DT Javon Hargrave (Eagles), QB Sam Darnold (Panthers), DE Clelin Ferrell (Raiders)

Key re-signings: DL Kevin Givens, S Tashaun Gipson, LS Taybor Pepper, C Jake Brendel

The 49ers saw a glaring need at defensive tackle, and they filled that hole with free agency's top option, former Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. They signed him to a four-year, $84 million contract. He's coming off a career-high 11.0 sacks in 2022, nine of which came when has was lined up at the traditional defensive tackle spot along the defensive the line. That's tied for the most sacks when lined up at defensive tackle, which also led to the highest pressure percentage when lined up at the defensive tackle spot in 2022, 14%. The 49ers only totaled one sack and a seven percent pressure percentage out of their defensive tackle spot last season for comparison. Adding former top five draft pick defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell on a one-year, $2.5 million contract is a great depth pickup who could maybe reach new heights alongside the 49ers' top-tier talent.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's defense should be even scarier in 2023, which could lead to a different outcome if they see the Eagles in the postseason once again. The team may regret the length of the deal given that Hargrave is already 30, but it was the right move for the next couple years at least since quarterbacks Trey Lance and Brock Purdy won't be on their rookie deals for too much longer. Aggressive team building is admirable. What the 49ers have done here is turn their pass rush from a strength to arguably the NFL's best defensive front with 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa, Hargrave, and Arik Armstead all lining up together.

Seattle Seahawks: A
Key additions: DL Dre'Mont Jones (Broncos), DL Jarran Reed (Packers), OL Evan Brown (Lions), S Julian Love (Giants), LB Devin Bush (Steelers)

Key re-signings: QB Geno Smith, QB Drew Lock

The Broncos are the gift that keeps on giving for the Seahawks. Dumping quarterback Russell Wilson on them in exchange for five draft picks and three players brought the Pete Carroll Era back to life in Seattle as they got unprecedented, immediate impact from their 2022 rookie draft class. Seattle first-year players started 70 games as a group in 2022, tied for the most by any playoff team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, along with the 2018 Colts.

Seattle also has the fifth overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft thanks to Wilson's first-year flameout at Mile High Stadium, allowing them to potentially grab a quarterback of the future to learn under Geno Smith, who played like a top-five quarterback in 2022 en route to a three-year, $75 million extension this offseason. That contract puts the Seahawks in position to have some stability at the position while not sacrificing flexibility either. However, they could also just select one of the draft's top three draft prospects between Alabama's Will Anderson Jr, Georgia's Jalen Carter, or Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson. If the Arizona Cardinals trade down from their third overall pick spot with a quarterback-hungry team, the Seahawks could have their pick of any of those three.

Not to mention Seattle also took another key asset from the Broncos in defensive end Dre'Mont Jones, whom they signed on a three-year deal for $51.5 million on Monday, according to NFL Media. The 26-year-old has recorded a minimum of 5.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss in every season since 2020 after shifting to the defensive end spot from defensive tackle after his rookie year in 2019. Last season, Jones had a career year with 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss. The Seahawks are a good draft away from becoming a long-term contender in the NFC.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C
Key additions: QB Baker Mayfield (Rams), RB Chase Edmonds (Broncos), DT Greg Gaines (Rams)

Key re-signings: CB Jamel Dean, LB Lavonte David, CB Jamel Dean, DE Anthony Nelson

Somehow, they found just enough cap space in their couch cushions to re-sign cornerback Jamel Dean to a four-year, $52 million deal on Monday. It's a solid retention for a player who has a 49.4% completion percentage allowed when targeted in his career, the third-lowest in the entire league since he was drafted in 2019. Dean trails only 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (48.2%) and Falcons cornerback Casey Heyward (48.7%) among players with 200 or more targets in that span. Bringing back franchise legend Lavonte David on a one-year, $7 million deal is huge both on and off the field.

However, their QB room could being Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield in 2023 is a stark reminder that the Super Bowl aspirations Tom Brady brought with him from New England have vanished along with his football career as he enters retirement full-time.

Tennessee Titans: C-
Key additions: T Andre Dillard (Eagles), LB Arden Key (Jaguars), LB Azeez Al-Shaair (49ers), G Daniel Brunskill (49ers), CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (Buccaneers)

Key re-signings: LS Morgan Cox, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

The Titans appear to be gearing up for the potential of 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and USC quarterback Caleb Williams' presence in the 2024 NFL Draft. They've let four contributing offensive linemen walk out of their building with Andre Dillard and Daniel Brunskill brought in so far as a replacements. The Titans also let linebacker David Long Jr. go on down to Florida to join the Miami Dolphins on a two-year, $11 million deal. Not re-signing a quality defensive starter at the price tag speaks volumes. However, they have since secured the services of Arden Key, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Sean Murphy-Bunting on small deals too.

After finishing 2022 on a seven-game losing streak, Tennessee is gearing up for more of the same in 2023.

Washington Commanders: B
Key additions: QB Jacoby Brissett (Browns), T Andrew Wylie (Chiefs), OL Nick Gates (Giants), LB Cody Barton (Seahawks), CB Cameron Dantzler (Vikings), DT Abdullah Anderson (Falcons)

Key re-signings: DT Daron Payne, LB David Mayo, CB Danny Johnson, C Tyler Larsen

The Commanders have made a few mid-level moves in addition to making Pro Bowl defensive tackle Daron Payne the second-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL behind only three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. Adding Andrew Wylie for three years at $24 million gives new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy a familiar face to help coach up his new players on the scheme he's importing from Kansas City. Jacoby Brissett allows for Bieniemy to have an adult in his quarterbacks room since Sam Howell and Jake Fromm, the other two passers on the roster, have a combined three career starts between them. The rest of the acquisitions are solid depth fillers, nothing super noteworthy beyond that. Read More

With Aaron Rodgers' "intention" to play for the New York Jets, his legendary Green Bay Packers career certainly appears to be in the rearview mirror. That now provides the opportunity to factor him into the discussion regarding which NFL teams have had the best quarterback talent in the modern era -- aka the Super Bowl Era, which began in 1966. His career with the Green and Gold helps power the Packers to the top of this list, which includes NFL teams' Hall of Fame quarterbacks whose careers occurred since 1966.

Quarterbacks whose careers were still going during the Super Bowl era yet began prior to it are counted. That paved the way for Hall of Famers like Bart Starr, Johnny Unitas and Len Dawson to be included in this conversation. See where each of some of the most successful teams' quarterback groups stacked up below.

Only Hall of Famers or no-doubt-about-it Hall of Fame quarterbacks counted toward this exercise. Since this is about quarterbacks' individual talent, the gap in weight between a player's individual accomplishments and championships won -- a team statistic -- is smaller here than it is when you tune into any hot-take sports talk show these days.

(Note: Championships listed for players are championships won as starters. For example, the Super Bowls the San Francisco 49ers won with both Joe Montana and Steve Young on the roster count for Montana only in this exercise since he was the starter. NFL championships are counted for players whose careers ended in the Super Bowl era, but started prior to 1966 since the NFL is the league we have today. That's the standard operating procedure also used by the NBA.)

1. Green Bay Packers
QBs: Bart Starr (1956-1971; HOF Class of 1977), Brett Favre (1992-2007; HOF Class of 2016), Aaron Rodgers (2005-2022)
Group accolades: 7 NFL championships, 3 Super Bowl MVPs, 8 NFL MVPs, 1,069 TD-529 INT

No team in NFL history has a Hall of Fame quarterback trio like the Packers' Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Starr and Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi dominated the 1960s so thoroughly that the Super Bowl trophy is named after the head coach. Favre shattered NFL records, retiring as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and interceptions. He also still stands today as the only player in league history to win three consecutive NFL MVPs. Rodgers is the most efficient quarterback in league history with the highest career touchdown-to-interception ratio as well as the two best single-season passer ratings all time with a 122.5 rating in 2011 and a 121.5 rating in 2020. As it stands in 2023, this top spot is firmly secure in Titletown.

2. New England Patriots

• Hall of Fame quarterback "group" is one player*

QB: Tom Brady (2000-2019)
Brady accolades: 6 NFL championships, 4 Super Bowl MVPs, 3 NFL MVPs, 541 TD-179 INT

The Patriots being ranked this high goes against the "groups" concept, but Brady's career in New England, as evidenced above, can be chopped in half and still function as two Hall of Fame careers. Six championships and four Super Bowl MVPs are both the most by any player all time -- and that doesn't even include his one ring and Super Bowl MVP in the 2020 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brady's 541 passing touchdowns with the Patriots would rank as the third-most all time behind his entire career total of 649 and Drew Brees' entire career total of 571. Simply incredible. All three of his NFL MVPs came during his New England career, and they rank as tied for the third most in league history. Brady's efficiency also puts New England in the two spot as well since his 541 touchdowns and 179 interceptions with the Patriots ranks as one of top five ratios for a career all time.

3. Indianapolis Colts

Johnny Unitas played for the franchise when it was in Baltimore

QBs: Johnny Unitas (1956-1972; HOF Class of 1979), Peyton Manning (1998-2010; HOF Class of 2021)
Group accolades: 4 NFL championships, 1 Super Bowl MVP, 7 NFL MVPs, 686 TD-374 INT

If not for Brady's GOAT run with the Patriots, the Colts franchise would occupy the two spot. Their Hall of Fame duo of Johnny Unitas and Peyton Manning barely edge out the San Francisco 49ers' 1-2 punch of Joe Montana and Steve Young. The individual brilliance of Unitas and Manning (three more NFL MVPs, over 200 more passing touchdowns) moved the needle just enough to overcome Montana and Young's additional championship.

Unitas was a pioneer of passing consistency as his record of 47 straight games with a passing touchdown stood for 47 years before Drew Brees broke the mark in 2012. Manning revolutionized the quarterback position with his preparation and ability to act as a coach on the field, constantly audibling to get one move ahead in the chess match with opposing defenses. He retired as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards and pass touchdowns, and his four MVPs with the Colts is tied for the most with one team alongside Aaron Rodgers. Manning has an additional MVP trophy with the Denver Broncos that gives him the most in a career in NFL history.

4. San Francisco 49ers
QBs: Joe Montana (1979-1992; HOF Class of 2000), Steve Young (1988-1999; HOF Class of 2005)
Group accolades: 5 NFL championships, 4 Super Bowl MVPs, 4 NFL MVPs, 465 TD-209 INT

Prior to the careers of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers concluding, the San Francisco 49ers once held down the top spot in these rankings. The quarterback transition from Montana to Young remains the best in NFL history, but they're lacking in individual accolades and volume in comparison to some of the groups ahead of them. Montana is still No. 2 on the list of all-time quarterbacks, but in terms of team groups, he and his successor check in at number four.

5. Kansas City Chiefs
QBs: Len Dawson (1962-1975; HOF Class of 1987), Patrick Mahomes (2017-present)
Group accolades: 3 NFL championships, 3 Super Bowl MVPs, 2 NFL MVPs, 429 TD-227 INT

This No. 5 spot had long been occupied by the Denver Broncos, but Patrick Mahomes becoming the first player in NFL history with multiple league MVPs and Super Bowl MVPs in a five-season span rocketed the Kansas City Chiefs into a top-five post. Mahomes is also only the third player ever with multiple NFL MVPs and Super Bowl MVPs, joining that exclusive club with Tom Brady and Joe Montana. His accomplishments combined with Len Dawson's Hall of Fame career are just enough to push them past their AFC West rivals, the next team on this list.

6. Denver Broncos
QBs: John Elway (1983-1998; HOF Class of 2004), Peyton Manning (2012-2015; HOF Class of 2021)
Group accolades: 3 NFL championships, 1 Super Bowl MVP, 2 NFL MVPs, 440 TD-279 INT

John Elway is one of the best quarterbacks all time, but his inability to separate himself from his peers in the 1980s and 1990s leaves his career resume looking smaller than the eye test of his on-field greatness. Peyton Manning rebounded from what was once thought to be a career-ending neck injury to have the most prolific passing season in NFL history, setting the all-time single-season records for passing yards (5,477) and passing touchdowns (55) in 2013 for his record-breaking fifth NFL MVP. Denver reached two Super Bowls -- winning one -- in his four seasons, making him one of the best NFL free agent signings, if not the best, of all time. If Manning had been around longer at Mile High Stadium, perhaps Denver would be higher in these rankings.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers
QBs: Terry Bradshaw (1970-1983; HOF Class of 1989), Ben Roethlisberger (2004-2021)
Group accolades: 6 NFL championships, 2 Super Bowl MVPs, 1 NFL MVP, 630 TD-421 INT

The Steelers are tied for the second-most championships of any team quarterback group on this list with the New England Patriots, but Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger's individual accomplishments pale in comparison to the other quarterbacks on this list with only two Super Bowl MVPs and one NFL MVP between the two of them. Also holding the Steelers group back is that Bradshaw barely had more passing touchdowns than interceptions, with 212 passing touchdowns and 210 interceptions. Both had the privilege of playing with some phenomenal defenses, with Bradshaw suiting up alongside the Steel Curtain defense led by multiple Hall of Famers. Roethlisberger also took a backseat to his defenses for good chunks of his two Super Bowl runs.

8. Dallas Cowboys
QBs: Roger Staubach (1969-1979; HOF Class of 1985), Troy Aikman (1989-2000; HOF Class of 2006)
Group accolades: 5 NFL championships, 2 Super Bowl MVPs, 0 NFL MVPs, 318 TD-250 INT

The Dallas Cowboys' duo of Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman runs into a similar issue that the Steelers group does on this list: Not enough production to separate themselves as singular all-time talents among other all-time legends. Staubach and Aikman each benefitted from having their offenses led by Hall of Fame running backs in Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith respectively, a significant reason why their individual stats don't pop out as much in these rankings. Both passers oversaw a lot of winning, but neither was the leader of their offense to the point where their talents were able to shine historically bright among these other all-timers.

9. Miami Dolphins
QBs: Bob Griese (1967-1980; HOF Class of 1990), Dan Marino (1983-1999; HOF Class of 2005)
Group accolades: 2 NFL championships, 0 Super Bowl MVPs, 1 NFL MVP, 573 TD-361 INT

Bob Griese is a lot like Troy Aikman and Terry Bradshaw in that both oversaw historic levels of winning, but none of them popped as much individually thanks to the strong defenses and running games that surrounded them. Dan Marino retired as the NFL's all-time leader in touchdown passes, but the Dolphins' loss in his only Super Bowl appearance also holds Miami's pair of legends down in comparison to the quarterback groups ahead of them. Both had outstanding careers, but the success of the others on this list creates a high bar to clear.

Honorable Mention: New York Giants
Phil Simms and Eli Manning make the Giants' inclusion an honorable mention but not quite an official nomination on this list. Both have two Super Bowl rings on their resumes and three Super Bowl MVPs between the two of them. However, they combined for a grand total of six career Pro Bowl selections. Not once were either considered the best at their position throughout the course of their careers, which has led to Simms not being in the Hall of Fame, and Manning's candidacy being debatable.

Manning likely ends up in Canton because of his two Super Bowl MVP performances opposite Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in multiple Super Bowls, but he didn't play at that level consistently enough throughout the course of his career to lift the Giants higher here. Read More

The Los Angeles Rams powered their way to a Super Bowl LVI title in 2021 by throwing caution to the wind and exchanging multiple draft picks for big-money stars like Jalen Ramsey, Von Miller and others. Now, the bill appears to have come due in Southern California to the benefit of South Florida's team, the Miami Dolphins. The 'Fins are acquiring three-time First-Team All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Rams in exchange for the 77th pick in the 2023 Draft (a third round selection), as well as 24-year-old tight end Hunter Long.

This blockbuster deal is fresh off the grill, but there's now enough information to assess some trade grades.

Trade grades
Dolphins: A
Acquiring a 28-year-old superstar who is one of only seven players in the entire league to make each of the last six Pro Bowls is a significant win. Ramsey was Pro Football Focus' third-highest graded cornerback last season with a grade of 86.4, trailing only 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie Year of the Year and New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (87.9) as well as Denver Broncos 2022 First-Team All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II (86.8).

To be able to rebound from the failed move that was cornerback Byron Jones' five-year, $82.5 million contract to add Ramsey to a secondary with Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard and their promising, 23-year-old safety Jevon Holland gives Miami one of the best defensive backfields in the entire NFL. This is a big deal because the Dolphins will face Josh Allen's Bills twice, Mac Jones with an actual offensive coordinator twice, and potentially Aaron Rodgers' New York Jets twice. Shoutout to general manager Chris Grier for maximizing the salary cap window provided by having starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on his rookie deal for two more seasons as he has added All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill, Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb, and Ramsey via trade in the last 365 days. The cap may not look as pretty following the 2024 season, but as Grier observed from the Rams, that's tomorrow's problem.

Rams: C+
For Los Angeles, the bill for their Super Bowl LVI run is now due, and they are paying up. On Friday, general manager Les Snead referred to quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, and defensive tackle Aaron Donald as the team's "pillars." Ramsey was noticeably absent from that statement, indicating he was up for grabs. Following a 5-12 finish in 2022, the worst record in NFL history for a defending Super Bowl Champion, Snead correctly realized that their lack of depth brutalized any hopes of staying afloat after injuries to all three of the team's pillars last season.

So, he's now making amends to ensure the Rams are a deeper team in 2023 with the pick up of an additional third round pick plus 24-year-old tight end Hunter Long. He's a nice backup to Tyler Higbee, but the draft pick is the real prize here since the Rams' sixth overall draft pick belongs to the Detroit Lions this April because of the Stafford trade. Thanks to this deal, Los Angeles now has three picks in the draft's first three rounds, but they are one second round pick and two thirds. Snead can look forward to making a first round pick for the first time since taking Jared Goff first overall in 2016 in the 2024 NFL Draft. It would've been nice to get at least a second rounder back in the deal for a player of Ramsey's caliber, but the Rams aren't in a position with leverage entering this offseason. Read More

The 2023 NFL offseason is about to ramp up with free agency only a few days away. Legal tampering, when teams can start talking with pending free agents, begins on March 13. Trades can become official two days later. All four teams in the NFC West division have made the playoffs in the last two seasons, meaning any of the four could only be a few moves away from making real noise in 2023.

The Cardinals have a top three pick and a fair amount of cap space to retool their roster under their new regime of head coach Jonathan Gannon, formerly the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator, and general manager Monti Ossenfort, formerly the director of player personnel for the Tennessee Titans. The Rams, while lacking in draft picks and cap space, could return to form with better injury luck for their stars. The Seahawks could make the biggest leap forward of any team, making the playoffs a year ago and now in possession of two first-round picks as well as plenty of cap space. The 49ers should once again be one of the division's best teams with a little bit of cap space and one of the best rosters in football.

As we approach the free agency frenzy, here's where all four NFC West teams stand and what they could do to improve their roster before the 2023 NFL Draft.

Note: Projected cap space is per Over the Cap.

Arizona Cardinals
Team needs: OG, C, EDGE, CB, LB, RB, OT
Cap space: $28.6M (7th)
Top draft picks: No. 3, No. 34, No. 66

Making a regime change in the NFL, bringing in a new general manager and head coach, usually means a team is in rebuilding mode. Not the Arizona Cardinals. Their approach appears to be aiming to win now as some of the first words Gannon said to face-of-the-franchise quarterback Kyler Murray were "Let's go, let's go win!" If the intent was to shift to more of a youth movement, Gannon likely would've stuck to low-key pleasantries with something along the lines of "Looking forward to working with you," etc.

With that win-now approach in mind, the Cardinals pursuing a top-flight CB1 in addition to ideally retaining Byron Murphy to bolster what was the 24th-ranked passing defense makes sense. Especially since Eagles cornerback James Bradberry, whose 44.5 passer rating in coverage was the best in the NFL in 2022 among 49 players with 75 or more passes thrown their way, is set to hit the open market. The defense could also continue to improve quickly under Gannon with the selection of one of the top edge rushers in the draft, Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. or Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson. Retaining their own in 25-year-old defensive end Zach Allen, who's coming off a career year, shouldn't be too much of a financial burden.

Offensively, the only key needs are on the line and at the backup quarterback spot. Cardinals quarterbacks had an average time to throw of 2.58 seconds, the third-quickest in the NFL. That statistic can be indicative of few things, positive and negative. It can be a positive like in the case of the Cincinnati Bengals, whose team 2.55 average time to throw showcases Joe Burrow's supreme confidence in his arm and his team's scheme. The other two in the top three in 2022, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2.44) and the Cardinals (2.58), illustrate a quarterback afraid to get hit and getting the ball out of his hands as fast as he can at age 45 (Tom Brady) and mostly a number of fill-in quarterbacks locking in on their first read while attempting to avoid being sacked (Colt McCoy, Trace McSorley, and David Blough).

Arizona's quarterbacks were still taken down 46 times, tied for the ninth-most sacks allowed by any team. Fortifying its front and finding a veteran who can hold things down until Murray can return from his torn ACL during the season will be priorities.

Potential veteran targets: Arizona Cardinals DE Zach Allen, Philadelphia Eagles CB James Bradberry, Miami Dolphins QB Teddy Bridgewater, Philadelphia Eagles G Isaac Seumalo, New York Jets T George Fant, New York Jets Connor McGovern, Washington Commanders G Wes Schweitzer, Miami Dolphins LB Elandon Roberts

Los Angeles Rams
Team needs: OG, TE, EDGE, CB, DT, QB
Cap space: -$16.0M (28th)
Top draft picks: No. 36, No. 69

The good news for the Super Bowl champions of yesteryear is they still have head coach Sean McVay back in the fold after there were retirement questions floating around. If quarterback Matthew Stafford is not traded and remains a Los Angeles Ram, this could be a team back in NFC playoff mix. The Rams also can't possibly have any worse injury luck than they did in 2022 with Stafford missing eight games (neck), 2021 Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp missing eight games (ankle), All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald missing six games (ankle) and the majority of their offensive line missing significant amounts of time. An average amount of injury luck could result in the 2023 Rams looking more like the teams McVay is used to, ones that regularly win at least 10 games and reach the postseason.

Restructuring some contracts could provide enough cap space for Los Angeles to be able to sign a few veterans on one-year, prove-it deals along the line and in the secondary. The draft will be difficult as the Rams don't possess their own first-round pick until 2024. Selecting a mid-to-late-round quarterback could be key for McVay to start grooming a new, long-term successor in place of the injury-plagued Stafford.

Potential veteran targets: Tennessee Titans WR Robert Woods, Arizona Cardinals G Justin Pugh, New York Giants G Jon Feliciano, San Francisco 49ers G Daniel Brunskill, Green Bay Packers TE Robert Tonyan, Cincinnati Bengals TE Hayden Hurst, Baltimore Ravens CB Marcus Peters, Las Vegas Raiders CB Rock Ya-Sin

Seattle Seahawks
Team needs: C, S, LB, DT, WR, OG
Cap space: $23.1M (8th)
Top draft picks: No. 5, No. 20, No. 37, No. 52

The 2022 Seattle Seahawks were like finding a crumpled $20 in your jeans pocket after taking them out of the washing machine -- a pleasant surprise. After trading Russell Wilson, once their longtime face-of-the-franchise quarterback, to the Denver Broncos in exchange for three players (QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant and DL Shelby Harris) along with five draft picks (two firsts, two seconds and one fifth), it appeared as if the team was punting on the 2022 season. However, with Wilson's former backup, Geno Smith, outplaying Seattle's only Super Bowl champion quarterback in Year 1 of the divorce, Seattle snuck into the seventh and final NFC playoff spot at 9-8, becoming one of only two teams this season to reach the playoffs and have multiple first-round picks, joining the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Having the fifth overall pick and the 20th overall pick allow for the Seahawks to bank on being able to acquire two instant-impact players on the cheap given the success of their 2022 NFL Draft Class. Their treasure trove of picks and the extra cap space that comes with it will likely go toward one or two other starting-caliber veterans potentially at wide receiver or defensive line. Head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have managed the salary cap so well that they still have a little over $23 million in cap space to play with even after re-signing Smith to new a three-year deal. However, that may not preclude them from selecting a top passing prospect with the fifth overall pick with Carroll saying the Seahawk are "totally connected to the quarterbacks that are coming out" in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Adding 26-year-old wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, the Patriots' leader in receiving in each of the last two seasons, as well as 30-year-old defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, coming off a career-high 11.0 sacks, to their locker room would address a couple areas of need. Those signings would allow Seattle to pick the best player available early in the 2023 NFL Draft instead of having to draft for need.

Potential veteran targets: Philadelphia Eagles DT Javon Hargrave, Cleveland Browns LB Deion Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers LB Devin Bush, New England Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers, Tennessee Titans WR Robert Woods, Detroit Lions WR DJ Chark

San Francisco 49ers
Team needs: C, OG, S, DT, WR
Cap space: $6.4M (19th)
Top draft picks: No. 99, No. 101, No. 102

The San Francisco 49ers nearly reaching the Super Bowl with the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft -- quarterback Brock Purdy -- leading the charge following injuries to 2021 third overall draft pick Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo is a testament to the outstanding shape of the 49ers' roster and head coach Kyle Shanahan's wizardry as a play-caller. If San Francisco is going to get any contributions from its 2023 draft class, that will start with players selected at the end of the third round at the earliest. That's because the Niners traded away their first-round pick in order to select Lance in 2021, and their second-, third-, and fourth-round picks were part of the cost to acquire Pro Bowl running back Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers.

Fortunately for the 49ers, they don't have too many gaping holes to address. Most of their offseason moves will likely be internal: deciding who will be their franchise quarterback moving forward between Lance and Purdy, extending 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa and figuring out whether or not to extend or trade 24-year-old wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Having the NFL's top scoring defense in 2022 and replacing defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, now the Houston Texans head coach, with former Panthers interim head coach and defensive play-caller Steve Wilks was a savvy move by Shanahan to keep the good times rolling on defense. If the 49ers can shore up the right side of their offensive line and keep their quarterbacks upright, there's no reason why they can't once again reach as far as the NFC Championship Game for the fourth time in five seasons.

Potential veteran targets: Arizona Cardinals G Justin Pugh, New York Giants G Jon Feliciano, San Francisco 49ers G Daniel Brunskill, Pittsburgh Steelers CB Cameron Sutton, San Francisco 49ers safety Jimmie Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds, Green Bay Packers safety Adrian Amos Read More

The Green Bay Packers, once a team that was almost always in playoff contention the last 31 years with Hall of Famer Brett Favre and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, missed the playoffs for the first time under head coach Matt LaFleur as a broken thumb derailed Rodgers' 18th season, his 15th as the starter. The rest of the roster around Rodgers joined him on the injury report in 2022 as maladies to All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, linebacker Rashan Gary, All-Pro linebacker De'Vondre Campbell and cornerback Eric Stokes also contributed to breaking the Packers' NFL-record, three-year streak of 13-win seasons.

Green Bay was an average team at 8-9 in the first year without first-team All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, scoring 21.8 points per game (14th in the NFL). That was expected as Rodgers attempted to connect with rookie wideouts Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, the team's second- and fourth-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. The bigger disappointment was the defense, thought to be a top-five unit with numerous first-round picks and considerable financial resources invested into that side of the ball. The unit allowed 21.8 points per game, ranking 17th in the NFL. The Packers own all of their picks, excluding their sixth-rounder, and was awarded a couple of compensatory picks on Thursday -- fifth- and seventh-rounders. Here's a roadmap to how Green Bay can take a step forward toward a brighter future in 2023 and beyond.

Rip off the Band-Aid and trade Aaron Rodgers to Jets
Even though NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported on Feb. 27 that the Packers would welcome Rodgers back with open arms, the writing is now on the wall at Lambeau Field since his reporting changed Thursday, saying his return is now "less likely." General manager Brian Gutekunst said "all options are on the table" in regards to Rodgers' future at the NFL Scouting Combine and a report surfaced that the team is done "begging Rodgers to return on his terms" on Monday. Given that Green Bay granted the New York Jets permission to talk to their four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XLV MVP, the longest-tenured player in team history, it's clear that they're more than comfortable moving ahead with 2020 first-round pick quarterback Jordan Love. That's a stark change in tone from just an offseason ago when the Packers gave Rodgers a three-year, $150.8 million contract extension and rebuffed the Denver Broncos' efforts to trade for their face of the franchise.

"We're excited about him," Gutekunst said about Love at the combine. "I've expressed to a lot of people that he needs to play. That's the next step in his progression. Jordan's done a great job, worked really hard so he's doing everything we're asking."

Even Jets players are envisioning Rodgers on their sideline as 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner said Thursday, via The Athletic, that many other players are poised to come to New York should Rodgers be traded to the Big Apple.

Even though the Packers' cap space would be dinged with around $40.3 in dead money ($15.8 million in 2023 and $24.5 million in 2024) according to CBS Sports' Joel Corry, Rodgers' contract would be off their books by 2025. Moving on from a living legend is difficult, but both the Green and Gold and their current all-time leader in passing touchdowns (475) are hoping to do things differently than the Favre saga that consumed the 2007 and 2008 offseasons. Time to retool the offense around Love and Watson in order to see if Love truly is a worthy heir in the Packers' line of succession from Favre to Rodgers as he enters the last non-option year of his rookie deal. If he is, Gutekunst and the Packers' faithful will likely pop a bottle of champagne in celebration. If he's not, 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and USC QB Caleb Williams as well as North Carolina's Drake Maye will likely be available in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Draft a pass catcher with their first-round pick
It's the offseason in Green Bay which means it's time to whip out the draft statistic that makes the rounds every year: Green Bay has not selected an offensive skill position player (running back, wide receiver or tight end) in the first round since 2002 when it chose Florida State wide receiver Javon Walker with the 20th overall pick. The last time the Packers took such a player in the first round, Tobey Maguire's "Spider-Man" (the first one) was the world's top grossing movie. It's also the longest drought in the common draft era (since 1967) without selecting a running back, wide receiver, or tight end in the first round. It's well past overdue.

More than 20 years of drafting and no offensive skill position players is a testament to the front office's belief that Favre and Rodgers could do more with less talent at their disposal, and both proved that theory to be correct for many seasons. However, one could argue that the Packers have also squandered some of both Favre's and Rodgers' twilight seasons by not surrounding them with more talent as their mobility and other skills slowly deteriorated.

Whether or not Rodgers returns to Green Bay, he or Love could use another weapon or two in the passing game to complement Watson, whose nine scrimmage touchdowns were tied for the most among all rookies with Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III. Those nine scores from scrimmage were tied for the fourth-most in the entire NFL among all wide receivers with a few of the league's best: the Vikings' Justin Jefferson, the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase, the Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb, the Browns' Amari Cooper and the Seahawks' Tyler Lockett. The Packers' Week 18 slip up against the Lions showcased the need for another weapon or two, as the Lions double-teamed Watson or bracketed him with a safety nearly the entire game, daring another pass-catcher to beat them.

TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston, one of the driving forces of the Horned Frogs' surprise College Football Playoff run; Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, who led all tight ends in receptions (180) and receiving yards (2,099) across the three two college football seasons; or Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid, perhaps the most polished route-runner of the 2023 NFL Draft's loaded tight end group, would all be strong picks at No. 15.

Sign a starting-caliber safety in free agency
The Packers are stacked at cornerback with Pro Bowl selection Jaire Alexander, ballhawk Rasul Douglas -- his nine interceptions across the last two seasons are tied for the third-most in the NFL -- and third-year, former first-round pick Eric Stokes. That's not the case with the position group behind them. Adrian Amos, who was one of the best safeties in football in 2020, continued a downward trend in his play from decent to needing to be let go in 2022. Amos surrendered six touchdown passes in coverage for the second straight season after only allowing two in 2020. He allowed a 102.8 passer rating in coverage as the primary defender, the 17th-highest in the NFL among defensive backs to play in at least 10 games. He's set to hit free agency this offseason.

Former first round pick Darnell Savage also regressed to the point that he was benched and then inserted back into the lineup to play in a reduced role at the nickel. He lost his safety spot to Rudy Ford, a player the Jaguars kicked to the curb on roster cutdown day prior to the start of the 2022 season.

"Our secondary is a little bit unsettled, Gutekunst said at the NFL Scouting Combine, via Yahoo Sports. "We have a couple of safeties that are moving on that were here last year."

With that much turnover on the back end of the defense, it would make sense for Green Bay to pursue an experienced safety to pair with Alexander, Dougals and Stokes. Currently with $24 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap.com, that's more than enough room to make a splashy signing at the position, especially considering what the New Orleans Saints did to sign quarterback Derek Carr despite being in the red in cap room. The safety position is one of the deeper groups in the upcoming free agency class. Jordan Poyer -- the only player with 20 or more interceptions (22) and 10 or more sacks (10.0) since 2017 when he joined the Buffalo Bills -- Jessie Bates III -- the Cincinnati Bengals leader in tackles (479) and interceptions (14) since entering the NFL in 2018 -- and Vonn Bell -- who ranks as one of the most physical safeties in the league since joining the Bengals in 2020 with eight forced fumbles (most among safeties since 2020) and four fumbles recovered (tied for second-most among safeties since 2020) -- are all free agents this offseason. Any one of those three would represent an upgrade in the Packers secondary.

However, should Gutekunst opt not to spend a significant chunk of the Packers' $16.5 million in cap space, Cleveland Browns safety John Johnson III, who played under Green Bay defensive coordinator Joe Barry with the Rams, or New York Giants safety Julian Love could be more affordable options.

Add depth at edge rusher through free agency and the draft
The Packers had the 10th-best pressure rate this season at 34.6% -- a strong year from a macro view in terms of bothering opposing quarterbacks. However, that figure is propped up by the first nine weeks of the season when their 39.8% rate was the second-best in the NFL. During that span, linebacker Rashan Gary dominated with 38 pressures, tied for fifth-most in the NFL, and six sacks. Once Weeks 10-17 rolled around -- after the 25-year-old Gary went down with a torn ACL -- they plummeted with the sixth-lowest rate in the league (29.7%).

Green Bay's other outside linebacker, 30-year-old Preston Smith, had a solid year as one of 23 players in the NFL with at least 20 quarterback hits and eight sacks, but the Packers' defense needs more than just those two, given the pass rush died when one of them couldn't play.

In terms of free agent targets, Yannick Ngakoue is the market's top pass rusher, but he could outside of Green Bay's price range. Lorenzo Carter could be a high-upside add on a one-year, prove-it deal at 27 years old. If Gutekunst is looking to add some older veterans on a cheap, one-year deals to help mentor some draft picks, there's a number of established veterans to choose from in this class, including Jason Pierre-Paul, Carlos Dunlap, Jadeveon Clowney, Melvin Ingram, Justin Houston, Robert Quinn and Bruce Irvin.

Some names to target in Rounds 2-5 of the draft could be Notre Dame's Isaiah Foskey, whose 11.0 sacks were tied for the fifth-most in college football this past season; Army's Andre Carter II, whose 15.5 sacks in 2021 were the second-most in the country behind only Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. and also more than current Detroit Lion Aidan Hutchinson; or Ohio State's Zach Harrison, one of the key pieces of a defense that nearly knocked off eventual national champion Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Re-sign Rashan Gary to a long-term deal now
As mentioned above, the Packers had one of the NFL's top pass rushes with Gary, their 12th overall pick from the 2019 NFL Draft, on the field creating chaos for opposing quarterbacks. Given that he's 25, plus the advancement of modern medicine, it's likely Gary is able to rebound from his season-ending knee injury and return to Lambeau Field as a game-wrecker once again. The Packers would wise to secure Gary's services long term now because his leverage isn't as high coming off an injury, and then the team can project future seasons' cap space situations with a core player secured.

The deal would be also advantageous to Gary as he would gain long-term security. Green Bay has shown a willingness to pay some of its top talent despite coming off a season plagued by injury. Look no further than Alexander -- the team's 18th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft -- who missed 13 games with a shoulder injury in 2021 and then was made the highest-paid cornerback on a per-year basis after signing a four-year, $84 million contract extension the following offseason. Alexander rewarded Green Bay's faith with a Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl season in 2022. No reason why Gary can't follow in his defensive teammate's footsteps.Read More

Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz, who received the franchise tag last offseason and is arguably the top player at his position in free agency this year, has a career arc that most resembles a roller coaster. Since Mike McCarthy arrived as the Cowboys head coach in 2020, Schultz is one of five tight ends with 2,000 or more receiving yards (2,000) and 15 or more receiving touchdowns (17) along with Chiefs' Travis Kelce, Ravens' Mark Andrews, 49ers' George Kittle and Vikings' T.J. Hockenson. While he has been a borderline, top-five producing tight end across most receiving metrics since 2021 -- ranking fourth in catches, sixth in receiving yards, and fifth in receiving touchdowns -- those ranks are slightly deceptive.

The bulk of that production came in 2021 when Schultz totaled nearly the same amount of receiving touchdowns (8) that he has recorded in the other four seasons of his career combined (9).

However, the Stanford alum still has a number of productive years left as he readies to hit the free agency market for the first time at 26 years old. Here's a look at some of the most likely and/or most intriguing landing spots for the most proven tight end in the 2023 free agency class.

Dallas Cowboys
Obviously, the most natural landing spot for Schultz is back with the Dallas Cowboys. He has caught 15 touchdown passes from Dak Prescott, tied for the second-most touchdown connections with the Silver and Blue's face-of-the-franchise passer along with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's 15. Only current Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper, with 22 touchdown receptions from Prescott, has more.

Knowing how Jerry Jones likes to run his team like a family business, keeping the sentimental favorites on the roster, it would make plenty of sense for them to pay to have Schultz remain in North Texas. However, for a team that cried poor with the salary cap just an offseason ago when it jettisoned Cooper in a salary-dump move, it will be interesting to see if there's enough money to go around for Schultz, Tony Pollard, a potential Prescott extension, and likely future second contracts for Lamb, Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs.

Houston Texans
The Texans are drafting a quarterback with their second overall pick to be their new face of the franchise. Whether it's Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud or maybe even Kentucky's Will Levis, that rookie will need playmakers to throw to beyond a disgruntled Brandin Cooks. While Houston also has the 12th overall pick in the upcoming draft thanks to their trade with the Cleveland Browns that sent Deshaun Watson up to Ohio, it's unlikely a tight end is selected that high. Since the Texans became an NFL franchise in 2002, only five tight ends have been selected in the first 12 picks of a draft.

The Texans have the fifth-most cap space ($36,4 million) in the NFL, per OverTheCap.com, and it would make sense for Houston to use some of that room to acquire more receiving help. That way the Texans can use their second early first-round pick on another area of need because they have plenty of them.

Detroit Lions
The Lions are another team with two first-round picks, sixth overall and 18th overall, and they, too, could use an upgrade at tight end over Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra. The fighting Dan Campbell's have a solid, young core of wide receivers with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, but they could use a reliable chain-mover over the middle. Schultz would quickly become a reliable option for Jared Goff who has had strong, on-field chemistry with past tight ends like Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett and Hockenson.

Tennessee Titans
The Titans simply ran out of players, on both sides of the ball, for the second season in a row in 2022, cratering to a 7-10 finish after a 7-3 start. Whether Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis, Josh Dobbs, or someone else is the Titans quarterback in 2023, that person needs more options in the passing game than second-year wideout Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Kyle Philips. Schultz would become a top-two pass-catcher in Tennessee's offense upon signing a contract. Read More

Entering 2022, the New York Giants appeared to have a difficult, emotional decision -- but an clear-cut one financially -- concerning the second overall pick from the 2018 NFL Draft: Have running back Saquon Barkley play out his fifth-year option on his rookie deal and then let him walk in free agency during the offseason. The 26-year-old looked like his wheels were falling off in the 2021 season, his first one back after missing the final 14 games of the 2020 season with a torn ACL.

The 2021 production was the lowest of his career: 856 scrimmage yards -- his first year under 1,000 when playing at least 10 games -- while shaking off the rust from the knee injury. That season couldn't have been a stronger juxtaposition of what Barkley put on tape in his rookie season. He led the NFL in with 2,027 scrimmage yards in 2018, joining Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson (1983) and Edgerrin James (1999) as the only rookies in NFL history with over 2,000 scrimmage yards. He followed that fast start year with another solid season -- 1,443 scrimmage yards -- in 2019.

Barkley shattered all expectations in 2022 Coach of the Year Brian Daboll's first season in charge with 1,650 scrimmage yards, the second-most of his career besides his rookie year, ranking seventh in the entire NFL. All due respect to 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Geno Smith, who bounced back from being a career back-up until playing like a top-five quarterback this past season, but that award belonged to Barkley for putting the washed up allegations to rest. One of the more impressive factors of his bounce-back season is that opposing defenses were going out of their way to shut him down considering the Giants' receiving yards leaders were all players who were selected in the fifth round or later of the NFL Draft: Darius Slayton (724 receiving yards), Richie James (569 receiving yards), and Isaiah Hodgins (351 receiving yards).

After totaling a career-high 1,312 rushing yards last season -- five more than the 1,307 he had as a rookie in 2018, the fourth-most in the NFL in 2022, and the most by a New York since Tiki Barber's 1,662 rushing yards in 2006 -- it's clear that the G-Men are better off keeping Barkley around as he's set to become a free agent for the first time. His quarterback, Daniel Jones, is also set to hit free agency after a career year of his own in 2022, and it's unclear how high the Giants are willing to go in negotiations with their former sixth overall pick with reports out there that he wants a contract that would pay as much as $45 million a year. General manager Joe Schoen said, via SNY, at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday that he would like to avoid using the franchise tag if possible since he thinks it would be "better for the organization, Daniel and Saquon if we can get deals done without using the franchise tag."

If Barkley does get to the open market thanks to New York avoiding the franchise tag, he could have a number of suitors considering he's only 26 and had almost an entire season where he wasn't taking hits from NFL defensive players in 2020. Here's a look at some of the most likely and/or most intriguing landing spots for one of the highest-profile, in-his-prime running back free agents of the 21st century.

New York Giants
Barkley said he "wants to be part of the history and tradition here" when asked about his future with the Giants on Dec. 2. Given the success he had in Year 1 under Daboll, it would make sense for both parties to stick together on a fair per-year number across a three-year deal. Quarterback Daniel Jones has an 89.4 career passer rating when playing with Barkley and an 80.3 passer rating when not playing with Barkley. In order to keep their offensive growth moving up and to the right, New York needs to find a way to keep Saquon Barkley in their building.

Chicago Bears
Could you imagine the Chicago Bears read-option offense with quarterback Justin Fields handing the ball off to Saquon Barkley? It would be electric. Chicago has the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and they have the most cap space in the entire NFL at $98 million, according to OverTheCap.com. The Bears could easily sign Barkley and have plenty of opportunities to continue to reinforce their roster. One of the bigger reasons for leaps over the past few seasons by the Bills' Josh Allen, Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa and Eagles' Jalen Hurts were the acquisitions of superstar playmakers in wide receivers Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, and A.J. Brown respectively. Adding a Pro Bowl running mate for Fields in addition to other offensive additions could help him make the jump from a quarterback with a few fun, jaw-dropping highlights to a quarterback who can consistently win games for his team.

Buffalo Bills
It's unclear how likely the Bills could be as a Barkley landing spot given they're currently slightly over $16 million over the salary cap, but Buffalo is in great need of Barkley's services. They've tried to find a reliable rusher to save Josh Allen's legs from Devin Singletary to Zack Moss, Nyheim Hines, and James Cook, but none of them have stood out in a big way yet. Enter Barkley. Restructuring a few contracts could open up some room to sign a versatile back like the Penn State alum who is just as comfortable running between the tackles as he is going out and running routes is exactly what Allen's Bills need to become a more balanced attack.

Miami Dolphins
Two of head coach Mike McDaniel's former San Francisco 49ers rushers, Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr., are set to join Barkley on the free agent market in March. Instead of paying for two veteran running backs, the Dolphins could simply sign Barkley after making a few contract restructures of their own because like the Bills, they're a little over $16 million above the salary cap. If the finances worked out, McDaniel could scheme up even more game-breaking plays with a talent like Saquon running wild in all the space provided by wide receivers Tyreek Hill's and Jaylen Waddle's speed on the end of the line of scrimmage. Read More

While the Chicago Bears have likely fielded a number of calls for the top overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the likelihood that they find a deal they warrant fair enough to surrender the top spot is low. The No. 1 overall pick has not be traded since the Rams moved up from No. 15 overall in 2016 to select quarterback Jared Goff. Since this is a pre-combine mock draft, there will not be any trades below.

No one position truly separates itself in this draft with five edge rushers and five cornerbacks atop the positional leaderboard across the first round. However, the quarterback position, the most important position in sports, dominated the top 10 with four passers being selected in the first nine picks.

Keep reading to see all the first-round selections, and remember: There are only 31 picks in this mock draft because the Dolphins were stripped of their first-round pick due to tampering.

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In the game of life, six years can fly by in the blink of an eye. In the NFL, six seasons can feel like an eternity, as it was enough time for the Philadelphia Eagles to experience the league's complete circle of life.

They won their first Super Bowl in franchise history behind head coach Doug Pederson and backup quarterback-turned Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles to conclude the 2017 season. The next year, they lost in the divisional round. Then, the wild-card round. Rock bottom occurred in 2020, when the Eagles finished 4-11-1 as once-face-of-the-franchise quarterback Carson Wentz flamed out and then second-year rookie Jalen Hurts started the final four games.

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The past two seasons were spent re-centering the offense around Hurts' dynamic, dual-threat ability under first-time NFL head coach Nick Sirianni, which led to sneaking into the NFC playoffs as the seventh seed before failing to hang with Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Today, the Eagles are Super Bowl LVII favorites against the AFC's top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs, looking to complete the cycle with a completely re-tooled roster and coaching staff by hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy once again.

The way the Eagles have completely turned over their roster since their Super Bowl LII championship in the 2017 season is unique, as they have an entirely new team with the exception of seven players on its current 53-man roster: three offensive linemen, two defensive linemen and two special teams players. That type of roster churn highlights a willingness to part with key veterans who led them to past glory and/or put up big numbers. That's the opposite composition of their Super Bowl opponent, since the AFC champions have the same head coach (Andy Reid), quarterback (first-team All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes), and top pass-catcher (first-team All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce) from their Super Bowl LIV championship team in 2019. What the Eagles have done is NOT normal.

Not only does Philadelphia's return to the Super Bowl with a new team stand out in today's NFL, but also in league history: This season's Eagles are the fourth team ever with a different quarterback and head coach in two Super Bowls across a six-season span. They're the first team to accomplish this feat since the New England Patriots in the 1996 and 2001 seasons, and they're hoping to join the 1976-1980 Raiders as the only teams to win two Super Bowls in a six-year span with a different quarterback and head coach. Those teams were coached by two Hall of Famers in John Madden and Tom Flores respectively.

The Leap: From last team in to No. 1 seed

The Eagles' improvement over the past three seasons has been a straight line, up and to the right. How unlikely has their year-to-year turnaround under second-year head coach Nick Sirianni been? Well, he inherited a 4-11-1 unit and has regular season records of 9-8 and 14-3 in his first two seasons leading the charge, making the Eagles the first team in NFL history to increase their regular season win total by five or more games in consecutive seasons.

One of the reasons as to why this unprecedented growth has occurred is directly correlated to Philadelphia being good at essentially every element of football, whether it's passing or running the football offensively, blocking up front, rushing the passer or blanketing opponents in coverage.

A key contributor to the Eagles' well-roundedness is the growth of third-year quarterback Jalen Hurts, a second-round pick still on his rookie contract, which has allowed general manager Howie Roseman to bring in the following players:

Reddick, Brown and Bradberry -- all acquired this past offseason -- were named second-team All-Pros.

A well-rounded juggernaut

Aerial Fireworks: Eagles league's best deep passing team
When many think of Philadelphia's top-three scoring offense, they think of Hurts executing the read-option with Pro Bowl running back Miles Sanders and barreling into the end zone for another score. However, that preconceived notion could help catch some defenses off guard since the Eagles' dual-threat dynamo leads the NFL in passer rating on throws of 25 or more air yards (123.4) thanks to his league-leading 10 passing touchdowns on those throws.

T
he two major differences have been Hurts' scheme comfort and the acquisition of Brown from the Tennessee Titans. The Eagles quarterback has played for four different coaches and their staffs in his past five seasons of football: Nick Saban at Alabama (2018), Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma (2019), Doug Pederson with the Eagles (2020) and now Sirianni (2021-present). He expressed the importance of having continuity with his coaches back in the offseason.

"I think the biggest thing is just coming in with having the same coach consecutively, all the plays being in the same system, so I think that's been very pivotal going into the offseason and as we go throughout the plays," Hurts said at the Eagles' organized team activities in early June. "Just going through the plays and running them against our defense, just being decisive out there on the field knowing where I'm going to go with the ball based on the look that they give me. I think there's a natural maturation as I've always talked about. Just taking it day by day."

That confidence, combined with the addition of Brown, instantly clicked for the Eagles offense as the former Titan broke the Eagles' single-season receiving yards record and had seven receiving touchdowns of 25 or more yards. Seven receiving touchdowns of 25 or more yards downfield are the same amount Hall of Famer Randy Moss had in his record-breaking 2007 season with the 16-0 New England Patriots. Brown's deep-threat dominance is remarkable considering the Eagles had two such passing touchdowns as a team during the 2021 season.

Ground and Pound: Breaking a nearly 100-year rushing record
Another reason the Eagles are the best deep-passing team in the league is in part to their potent rushing attack, one that left NFL Defensive Player of the Year finalist and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons incensed after a primetime Week 6 road loss. They ran the third-most run-pass option plays in the NFL this season (218), two behind the Green Bay Packers' and Carolina Panthers' 220. That consistent confusion merged with Hurts and Sanders legs has led Philadelphia to 39 rushing touchdowns this season, including the playoffs, breaking the previous single-season rushing record of 38 that was held by the 1924 Frankford Yellow Jackets, a team whose final NFL season came in 1931.

Broad Street Bullies
The Eagles offensive line is, in a word, dominant. Three of Philadelphia's starting offensive linemen were named to the Pro Bowl, they ranked in the top three for both pass-blocking grade (83.8, first) and run-blocking grade (76.1, third) , according to Pro Football Focus. In addition, first-team All-Pro center Jason Kelce and first-team All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson had two of the four-lowest pressure rates allowed among offensive linemen with at least 500 pass-blocking snaps.

This unit can make a phenomenal case for being the biggest X-factor in the Eagles being only the fourth team in NFL history to have at least five games with over 300 passing yards and five games with over 200 rushing yards. The last team to accomplish this feat was the Super Bowl Champions of the 1989 season, the San Francisco 49ers, the fourth and final championship with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, Joe Montana.

Defensive Disruptors: A no-fly zone
The Eagles are the league's best pass defense through the conclusion of all but the NFL's final game, allowing the fewest passing yards per game (171.0) and passer rating (80.1). In addition to the stellar defensive back play they have received from Gardner-Johnson, Slay, and Bradberry, they have a historic pass-rush up front that allows the secondary to do what they do.

The Eagles have 78 sacks this season including the playoffs, the third-most in NFL history behind only the 1985 Bears (80 sacks) and 1984 Bears (82 sacks). The reason for this is that Philadelphia is the only team in NFL history to have four players this year who all recorded at least 10 sacks in the regular season -- Haason Reddick (16.0), Javon Hargrave (11.0), Brandon Graham (11.0) and Josh Sweat (11.0). Naturally, the Eagles led the NFL with an 11.2% sack rate in 2022, meaning they sacked opposing quarterbacks on more than 10% percent of their pass attempts. No other team had a rate above 9%. With a front and back end of a defense working so perfectly in unison, it's made the Eagles a team that loses only when it beats itself.

Postseason Destroyer

The Eagles haven't broken a sweat yet this postseason because of their no-weakness build, squashing the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers by a combined score of 69-14 on their path to becoming the NFC champions. This waltz to the Super Bowl is unparalleled, as Philadelphia is the first team in NFL history to score 30 or more points and allow fewer than 10 points in consecutive playoff games. It's also only the third team ever to enter the Super Bowl coming off back-to-back wins by 24 or more points, joining Joe Montana's back-to-back Super Bowl champion 49ers in the 1988 and 1989 seasons.

If the Eagles can keep up this level of bully ball for just one more game, Broad Street will be lit up with joyous fans chanting "Fly Eagles Fly" all night long on Super Bowl Sunday. Read More

It's finally here. The Super Bowl LVII battle between the NFL's top playoff seeds and conference champions -- the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles -- will happen at State Farm Stadium tonight. Patrick Mahomes, fresh off his second NFL MVP award win, will be looking to snap a nine-game losing streak by league MVPs who play in the big game, while the Eagles are looking to become the second team in NFL history to win two Super Bowls in a six-year span with a different quarterback and head coach.

These are two teams that were constructed differently. The Chiefs, on one hand, have a number of their key contributors back from their Super Bowl LIV Championship team in 2019 with Mahomes, First-Team All-Pros Travis Kelce and Chris Jones, defensive end Frank Clark, and others. On the flip side, the Eagles only have seven players on their 53-man roster from their Super Bowl LII title team from the 2017 season: three offensive linemen, two defensive linemen and two special teams players. These teams boast both All-Pro quarterbacks, Mahomes and Jalen Hurts, as well as each conference's highest scoring offense in terms of points per game. Below, we will make five bold predictions about the big game between these two high-flying squads.

1. Quez Watkins scores the first touchdown of the game
Each of these teams has scored the first touchdown in 12 of its 19 games this season, and Hurts as well as Eagles Pro Bowl running back Miles Sanders have each hit as the first touchdown scorer a team-high three times. Other Philadelphia players to score a game's touchdown include tight end Dallas Goedert (twice) Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown (once), running back Kenneth Gainwell (once), running back Boston Scott (once) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (once).

However, the Chiefs run man-to-man coverage 28.1% of the time this season, the eighth-highest rate in the NFL, and Hurts was the third-most sacked quarterback (22 times) in the NFL against the blitz this season, behind only Russell Wilson (24) and Justin Fields (23). That means it wouldn't be surprising for Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to send a number of man-blitzes at Hurts. However, the Eagles offensive line is the best in the NFL, and one that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers called "one of the best offensive lines I've seen in the last 20 years."

So when the Chiefs blitz inevitably comes early, expect Quez Watkins, the speedy third-year wide receiver whose three receiving touchdowns have all been 20 yards or longer, to get open deep as the Kansas City defense keys on Brown, Smith, and Goedert. That will lead to Watkins waltzing into the end zone after Hurts, the NFL leader in passing touchdowns of 25 or more yards, uncorks another deep ball strike.

2. Patrick Mahomes gets sacked four or more times as Eagles pass rush makes history
The 2022 NFL MVP says his ankle will "definitely be in a better spot" after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the AFC divisional round against the Jacksonville Jaguars, thanks to gap between the conference championship round and the Super Bowl. However even with improved mobility, that won't be enough for him to get away from this Philadelphia pass rush. Mahomes' 2022 season-high for times sacked in a game is four, which is also his playoff career-high.

This Eagles pass rush is going to at least tie that figure on Sunday, giving them at least a share of the all-time single-season sacks record, including the playoffs. Philadelphia has 78 sacks this season including the playoffs, the third-most in NFL history behind only the 1985 Bears (80 sacks) and 1984 Bears (82 sacks). The reason for this is that Philadelphia is the only team in NFL history to have four players this year who all recorded at least 10 sacks in the regular season -- Haason Reddick (16.0), Javon Hargrave (11.0), Brandon Graham (11.0) and Josh Sweat (11.0). Naturally, the Eagles led the NFL with an 11.2% sack rate in 2022, meaning they sacked opposing quarterbacks on more than 10% percent of their pass attempts. No other team had a rate above 9%.

Unlike the Chiefs, whose top pass rush threat of Chris Jones is head and shoulders above the rest, double-teaming one guy doesn't work against these Eagles. Philadelphia will be able to get to ahead early -- their +137 point differential in the second quarter this season is the second-best of any team in the 21st Century behind only the 2019 Super Bowl Champion Chiefs' +138 mark, making the Chiefs offense more one-dimensional, a frightening proposition for Mahomes, who was last seen running for his life in Super Bowl LV against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after falling behind 14-3.

3. Travis Kelce's eight-game streak of having 75+ receiving yards ends
Travis Kelce is one of the best postseason receiving threats in NFL history. He trails only the receiving Greatest Of All Time Jerry Rice in all major playoff pass-catching metrics.

However, one playoff record Kelce has all to himself is the most consecutive postseason games with at least 75 receiving yards. The last time he had fewer than 75 in a playoff game was the Chiefs' Super Bowl LIV win over the San Francisco 49ers to conclude the 2019 season. Philadelphia's defense is well-equipped to slow down the hub of the Kansas City aerial attack given that they allow the fifth-lowest passer rating when passing to tight ends this season, 80.6, as well as what's tied for the fifth-fewest touchdowns allowed to opposing tight ends this season, three.

The reason for the Eagles' success in coverage against some of the bigger, more versatile pass-catchers in the NFL is almost every member of their secondary is near the top of the entire league at their respective position.

Philadelphia may surrender some yards along the way to allowing some touchdown drives, but it won't be because Kelce is beating them.

4. A.J. Brown catches TD, but doesn't put up huge numbers
A.J. Brown hasn't topped 100 receiving yards since Week 16 at the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Eve, and don't expect him to snap that four-game streak on Sunday either. The Eagles have been able to cruise in the playoffs behind their soul-crushing offense line and multi-faceted run-pass option game. Brown does have seven receiving touchdowns of 25 or more yards, tied for the second-most such touchdowns since 2006, so expect him to get loose deep for a big score and then otherwise have a ho-hum evening. The first-year Eagle broke the franchise's single-season receiving yards record with 1,496, so the Chiefs will be heavily focused on his whereabouts, limiting his overall yardage total.

5. The Eagles win the Super Bowl by 14 or more points
Philadelphia is currently a mere 1.5-point favorite over the Chiefs, which would be tied for the fourth-shortest Super Bowl spread of all-time. However, they are so well-equipped in just about every position group with Kansas City's only perceivable edge being that they have Patrick Mahomes. On Sunday, that won't be enough as the Eagles get ahead early and make Mahomes' run for his life as he scrambles to pass while attempting to evade Reddick, Graham, Hargrave, and Sweat. Philadelphia deals Kansas City its second consecutive Super Bowl defeat by multiple scores with time-consuming touchdown drives on offense thanks to its punishing offensive line and Hurts' dual-threat dynamism in addition to wearing down the Chiefs offensive line on the other side.

It'll be Eagles 34, Chiefs 20, as they join the 1976-1980 Raiders as the only teams to win two Super Bowls in a six-year span with a different quarterback and head coach. [Read More] (https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-super-bowl-five-bold-predictions-for-eagles-vs-chiefs-game-including-end-of-a-streak-for-travis-kelce/)

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles -- the top seed from each conference -- reached Super Bowl LVII, making it a dream matchup on Sunday. The game will also feature some of the NFL's biggest names, including the league's two All-Pro quarterbacks, first-teamer Patrick Mahomes and second-teamer Jalen Hurts. The matchup between the Chiefs and Eagles is brimming with top-flight talent.

However, championships aren't always won by the expected heroes.

No one would've thought that it would've been Chiefs running back Damien Williams scoring the go-ahead and game-sealing touchdowns in the Chiefs' Super LIV victory over the San Francisco 49ers to conclude the 2019 season. Nearly every Super Bowl spotlight brings out some unsung heroes and Super Bowl LVII will likely provide the same types of surprises.

With that in mind, here are five Chiefs who could emerge as surprise keys to victory on Super Bowl Sunday:

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Some of the surprise element faded from the former Green Bay Packer since he had season highs in receiving yards (116) and receptions (six) in the AFC Championship, but the first-year Chief can still be given the under-the-radar label since he now has as many receiving touchdowns in the postseason (two) as he had in the regular season. If Valdes-Scantling makes an impact on Sunday, it will likely be on the receiving end of a Patrick Mahomes deep ball since he leads the NFL in yards per catch since entering the league in 2018 with a 17.2 yards per reception average. MVS is a big-play threat as 76.2% of his catches went for either a first down or a touchdown, the third highest in the NFL behind only Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (80%) and Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (78.2%).

LB Nick Bolton
First-Team All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones and defensive end Frank Clark get the shine as the guys racking up sacks and pressures, but this defense doesn't get held together without Nick Bolton, whose 180 tackles this season were the second most in the entire NFL, only four off the league lead. He's the glue of Steve Spagnuolo's defense, having played 98% of defensive snaps this season. His shine could come with the Eagles facing fourth-and-short with the game hanging in the balance because Philadelphia, thanks to quarterback Jalen Hurts, is the best quarterback sneak team in the NFL. They went 31/35 on QB sneaks, the most conversions and attempts in the NFL. No other team attempted more than 20 or converted more than 17. Bolton being able to make a possession-ending tackle of Hurts could swing the game.

DE George Karlaftis
Playing the Eagles will be the ultimate test for the Chiefs' defensive front since Philadelphia has the best offensive line in the NFL, a group Aaron Rodgers called "one of the best in the last 20 years." In order for Kansas City to emerge victorious, the Chiefs need their defensive line to shock the world. As already addressed above, Jones and Clark are the stars of the Chiefs pass rush, but rookie George Karlaftis, the 30th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, will likely need to play like a Pro Bowler. He's shown some promise of late, registering at least half a sack in seven of the last nine games, and he's only one of two rookies to have at least six sacks (6.0) and eight tackles for loss (eight) this season, joining second overall pick and Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Playing strong in the run game will also be crucial as the success of Hurts and running back Miles Sanders sets the table for their deep passing attack. Karlaftis has also exhibited better chops in that area with at least one tackle for loss in eight of the last nine games.

K Harrison Butker
The usually reliable Chiefs kicker has had the worst season of his career, making under 88% of his field goals for the first time, converting 18-of-24 attempts in the regular season, good for a 75% rate. However, he has exhibited the ability to snap out of it in critical moments, connecting on all 10 of his kicks during the playoffs this year, a perfect 5 for 5 on both field goals and extra points, including the game-winning 45-yarder with three seconds left in the AFC Championship Game to send Kansas City back to the Super Bowl. Due to his struggles this regular season, he merits inclusion as an under-the-radar X-factor. Both of the Chiefs' playoff wins have been by one possession, so Butker has a very real chance of being called upon to be the difference on Super Bowl Sunday.

CB Trent McDuffie
McDuffie, the Chiefs' 21st overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, had a hamstring injury that caused him to miss six games this season. However, his 51% completion percentage allowed in the regular season ranked as the fifth best among rookies with 25 or more passes thrown their way. He doesn't have an interception in his career yet, so him coming up with his first could swing the big game Kansas City's way. The Chiefs secondary will have to play a near-perfect game to slow down A.J. Brown, Dallas Goedert and DeVonta Smith, putting McDuffie in a pivotal role on Super Bowl Sunday. Read More

The Kansas City Chiefs defense has already made recent history by reaching Super Bowl LVII, becoming only the second team in the last 15 seasons to allow the most passing touchdowns (33) in the regular season and make the postseason, joining the 2008 Arizona Cardinals. That team, led by Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, lost in Super Bowl XLIII to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, the Chiefs have something those Cardinals did not: a two-time Super Bowl champion defensive coordinator in Steve Spagnuolo. His past defenses have thrived when blitzing and flummoxing opposing quarterbacks with tidal waves of pressure, but across Kansas City's seven-game winning streak since Week 14, his defense has experienced a turnaround with less blitzing. They have the sixth-highest quarterback pressure rate (39%) and the 10th-lowest blitz rate (21%) in the NFL during the winning streak, which has resulted in opposing passers averaging the second-fewest yards per pass (5.8) in the league during that span.

One of largest reasons for that increased pressure despite sending fewer pass rushers is All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones' dominance in this stretch, totaling the second-most sacks (7.5) in the league since Week 14 behind only Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick (10.5 sacks) as well as the second-most quarterback pressures (43) in that time behind only Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (48).

Even though the Chiefs blitz on 24.6% of opposing quarterback dropbacks this season -- the lowest rate for Spagnuolo since becoming their defensive coordinator in 2019 -- he may have to go back to his historical bread and butter because Eagles Second Team All-Pro quarterback Jalen Hurts has a dramatic drop-off when blitzed. Hurts has the NFL's second-best passer rating (105.6) when not blitzed, but the 22nd-ranked passer rating when blitzed (90.0). His dynamic deep passing, combined with the NFL's best offensive line and historic ground game is a tall task for a defense to handle, but Kansas City head coach Andy Reid and the rest of Chiefs kingdom can sleep easy in the nights leading up to Super Bowl Sunday since Spagnuolo has overcome the odds to stop a number of top-five offenses in NFL playoffs past.

Here's a look at how Spagnuolo's defenses have risen up in the postseason to stop some of the NFL's top offenses en route to two Super Bowl titles with two different teams: the 2007 New York Giants and 2019 Kansas City Chiefs.

"He's [Steve Spagnuolo] the best, brilliant," Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan said on Tuesday when asked about his former defensive coordinator, via 100.1 FM Kansas City. "He would come up with schemes and see things on film that no one else would see. He did a great job of relaying that to the players and letting guys know that he believed in them. That's his greatest gift, he lets you know that he believes in you. You just don't want to let him down. ... He always a guy to say 'you're my guy', and he made each and every one of us feel that way. I just think he's a brilliant coordinator obviously."

After making quick work of the Jeff Garcia-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 24-14 wild card win, the Giants traveled to Texas to take on the NFC's top seed, the Dallas Cowboys. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had one of the best seasons of his career, throwing a then-franchise record 36 passing touchdowns with two First Team All-Pro pass-catchers on his side in wide receiver Terrell Owens and tight end Jason Witten. Spagnuolo's defense prevented Romo from finding a rhythm all game long, pressuring him on a season-high 50% of his pass attempts, which led to him putting up a stat line of 18 of 36 passing for 201 passing yards, one passing touchdown, one interception and a passer rating of 64.7, his fourth-lowest of the season. They blitzed him on 35% of his dropbacks, the fifth-highest rate he had seen in a game in 2007. The Giants only came away with two sacks that day, but the consistent pressure wore Romo and the high-powered Dallas offense out.

The following week at the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, the Giants and Spagnuolo's defense threw a change-up, opting to not blitz Hall of Famer Brett Favre, the 38-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback, and drop back into coverage. The adjustment worked as Favre tossed two interceptions, including on his final pass as a Green Bay Packer on the opening possession of overtime. He finished 19 of 35 passing with 236 passing yards for two touchdowns in addition to the two picks for a 70.7 passer rating, his fifth-lowest of the season. The freezing conditions and the Giants secondary were two hills Favre couldn't climb in Year 16 in Green Bay as the Giants advanced to the Super Bowl.

The entire world was ready to crown the 18-0 AFC champion New England Patriots as the greatest football team of all time. All they had to do was get past a team they had already defeated 38-35 in the final week of the regular season. Problem was, they couldn't block Spagnuolo's defensive linemen as Brady was sacked a 2007 season-high, as well as what's now tied for his playoff career-high, five sacks. Justin Tuck led the way with two while Strahan, Jay Alford and Kawika Mitchell each added another. The 2007 NFL MVP had a completion percentage of 60.4% (29 of 48), nearly nine points lower than his season average. Outside of their NFC Championship Game victory, pressure was the key to victory for Spagnuolo's "D."

The NFC champion San Francisco 49ers bulldozed their way to an appearance in Super Bowl LIV, defeating the second-seed Green Bay Packers 37-20 by throwing only eight passes and rushing for a combined 285 yards on 42 carries, a whopping 6.8 yards per carry. Running back Raheem Mostert ran for a historic 220 yards and four touchdowns, the second-most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in a playoff game all time.

In the Super Bowl, Spagnuolo went back to his roots, blitzing on 48.5% of Jimmy Garoppolo's passes and forcing him into throwing a season-high two interceptions on 20 of 31 passing for 219 yards and one touchdown as well. His 69.2 passer rating that night was his third-lowest of the season. Trailing 20-10 entering the fourth quarter, Spagnuolo's defense kept San Francisco off the scoreboard, allowing Patrick Mahomes to work his magic, which culminated in a Super Bowl victory.

Whether it's dropping back into coverage or pressuring the quarterback with a variety of blitzes, Spagnuolo's big-game experience is undeniable, and the Chiefs will need every ounce of wisdom from those experiences to come away with their second Super Bowl championship in four seasons. Read More