Grading The 2021 Offseason For The NFL’s 2020 Last-Place Teams

The current National Football League is constantly in flux. Consistency is hard to achieve with free agency and a salary cap. Some organizations do it better than other. And some continue to have their ups and downs.

Here’s a look at the eight clubs that finished last in their respective division this past season. Five of the teams have hired men that have never been NFL head coaches. Others are getting a second chance. So has how the offseason worked out for each franchise with training camp on the horizon?

AFC East

New York Jets: B-

The team last made the playoffs in 2010, the longest active drought in the league. The club has moved onto a new head coach in San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. General manager Joe Douglas dealt away 2018 first-round draft choice Sam Donald to Carolina and used the second overall pick in April for BYU quarterback Zach Wilson. The offensive line should benefit from veteran tackle Morgan Moses and rookie guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.

AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals: A-

Don’t be totally fooled by the teams’ 4-11-1 finish this past season. The Bengals have finished in the AFC North basement three years in a row. But the club made definitive strides last year – despite the fact that promising rookie quarterback Joe Burrow went down after 10 games. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson (Saints) upgrades the pass rush. The key to a major resurgence will be how fast a young offensive line gels this summer.

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AFC South

Jacksonville Jaguars: B-

First-time NFL head coach Urban Meyer inherits a club that has made just one playoff appearance the past 13 seasons. The Jaguars also bring a 15-game losing streak into 2021. The club added some much-needed help on offense in a pair of ex-Clemson teammates in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne, the latter providing a nice compliment to fellow running back James Robinson. But the defense still has some huge holes to fill.

AFC West

Denver Broncos: B+

The franchise has always been pretty consistent but is in the midst of a four-year stretch of losing campaigns. The team’s last postseason appearance came in their Super Bowl 50 win over Carolina. Vic Fangio is back for his third season and John Elway brought on a general manager this year in George Paton. The Broncos appear to be a talented team with the exception of questions at quarterback, a sore spot for the club the past five seasons.

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NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles: C-

It’s hard to fathom how a team that won a Super Bowl in 2017 could plummet as fast as these Birds. The new head coach is Nick Sirianni, formerly with the Colts. The Eagles did not do a lot during free agency but they’re hoping that second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts can take a step forward after starting four games a year ago. The club used a first-round draft choice on Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith. The defense needs to rebound as well.

NFC North

Detroit Lions: A

The team was part of one of the bigger trades of this offseason as veteran Matthew Stafford was sent to the Rams and the Lions obtained quarterback Jared Goff and some high draft choices. Dan Campbell is the team’s newest head coach and the coordinators are Aaron Glenn (defense) and Anthony Lynn (offense). The latter should boost an offense that has lacked balance for far too long. Brad Holmes has done a solid job adding talent.

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NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: B

After five-plus seasons at the control, Dan Quinn didn’t make it through a sixth season as the club’s head coach. And now it’s former Titans’ offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to the rescue. The Falcons dealt away veteran wide receiver Julio Jones but still have Calvin Ridley and promising rookie tight end Kyle Pitts (Florida). But perhaps the biggest addition was defensive coordinator Dean Pees out of retirement. Can he help the club find a pass rush?

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers: A-

One year after reaching Super Bowl LIV and owning a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter against the eventual champion Chiefs, it’s been somewhat of a nightmare for the team due in large part to injuries. The team used the third overall pick in April on Trey Lance to learn behind Jimmy Garoppolo. Nick Bosa is back after missing the final 14 games in 2020. Re-signing tackle Trent Williams and adding center Alex Mack will pay major dividends.

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