RZ95 - My 10 Favorite Offseason Moves
by adelfish | 1 month ago | 0 Comments
My TEN Favorite Offseason Moves
Yes, it's me.
Yes, I know the allegations are rough, but the bit doesn't retire until that "Guilty" word is read in court.
I'm so back.
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So it's been a minute. 6 months to be exact.
Listen, I'm not going to make excuses, but it's been a busy ride here to end 2024 and start 2025. As most of you know, I coach hockey, which takes a ton of my free time. I also am a father of a 2 year old (TWO!!) girl and am having my second child in June. Back in the old days, I had hours upon hours to sink my teeth into DaddyLeagues and grind out articles and breakdowns for you animals.
I put my media career on pause this year, more than I usually do. To be honest, it was a nice break. But after witnessing the Media Contributor of the Year going to TOFN for putting out weekly pick-em polls, I decided enough is enough.
It's time to get back in the game. These are my ten favorite offseason moves in no particular order.
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Dolphins trade 2nd & 3rd Round Picks to Detroit for DE Aidan Hutchinson
Despite some signs of regression for Hutchinson, I blame that more on the Lions than I do the player. 2nd and 3rd round picks for a 29 year old stud rusher is a good deal in my eyes, although the Dolphins do need to re-up his contract.
Hutchinson gives the Dolphins a legit one-two punch on defense with Chop Robinson, and makes the Miami front seven one of the best in the AFC. For a team that is constantly chasing the Bills and Jets around, this was a great move.
Meanwhile Detroit continues their puzzling roster building. The defense has two premier players left; Justin Madubuike and Terrion Arnold. This is likely a 3+1 casualty, but it doesn't seem like enough for the former 2nd overall pick.
Packers trade 4th & 5th Round Picks for Pittsburgh's Season 96 1st Round Pick
I'm trying to not confuse this "Favorite Moves" with moves that I think were super one-sided, but I had to include this one. I hate this for Pittsburgh. I don't care how many seasons are left in the current cycle, sending a 1st for a 4th and 5th is embarassing.
Who did the Steelers draft with the 4th and 5th rounders they received?
You guessed it! Two 60+ OVR backups. Nice job Steelers!
Colts sign DE T.J. Watt - 2 Years, $27.2 Million
T.J. Watt may be 34 years old, but there has been no sign of decline in his play. In his two years with Seattle, he accounted for 33 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Signing him for less than $14 million per year is a really good deal, and helps bolster a Colts pass rush that desperately needed some help.
Who knows if Watt will see both years of this deal, but the Colts should get somewhere around 10-12 sacks at the minimum from Watt, and for the price tag that was certainly worth it.
Chiefs sign RB Jermaine Rogers - 4 Years, $31.2 Million
The Chiefs have always had success when they've been a run heavy operation, and with Isaiah Pacheco aging, the Chiefs saw an opportunity to add a young superstar back to the fold. Signing Rogers from division rival Los Angeles is a great move, and the price tag wasn't too hefty. Coming in a shade under $8 million per year, the receiving specialist will provide some needed juice to the backfield.
Rogers skillset as a receiver will give Gerry a new dimension on offense, look for him to be utilized all over the field, and give Patrick Mahomes a new safety blanket. I love this move for Kansas City.
Cowboys trade 3rd Round Pick to Detroit for WR Rudy Hayes
The second Lions trade is another great move for the team on the receiving end. The Cowboys lost Ceedee Lamb in a trade last year, and needed another high end weapon across from Garrett Wilson. Rudy Hayes is an extremely talented receiver, but always seemed to fit into the 3rd spot in Detroit, averaging 600 yards per season.
The speedster's potential should be unlocked in Dallas' high level offense. With Wilson at WR1 to take pressure away, Hayes should thrive underneath with Caleb Williams. It will be interesting to see how Hayes factors in to the 3+1 plan for Dallas, but he should be a great addition for this season, especially at the price.
Giants sign OT Joe Alt - 4 Years, $145 Million & OG Chris Lindstrom - 2 Years, $49 Million
The Giants have done a good job of rebuilding their offense this cycle. With young quarterback Nate Hardy, a solid group of weapons, and a strong left side of the offensive line, adding two proven star lineman makes sense. Joe Alt is a game changer, one of the best tackles in football, and creates one of the best tackle combinations in the league as he joins Andrew Thomas. Chris Lindstrom is a proven star veteran, and will line up next to Alt.
I love these moves for the Giants. Protecting your quarterback is everything, and Lindstrom and Alt provide stability and experience on the right side of the line. Expect to see a dramatic improvement for the Giants offense in all aspects this year.
Eagles sign RB Braelon Allen - 4 Years, $88.8 Million
Instincts tell you to look at $20 million a year for a running back and cringe, but this deal makes so much sense to me. Allen is one of the three best running backs in football, and is an absolute workhorse. Philadelphia is set up for him to have success, with their offensive line and passing game already in place. Allen should be able to slide right in, and contribute 20-25 touches each game with a very high ceiling.
If Allen had gone to a middling team for the same money, this deal wouldn't be placed in my top ten. The Eagles are a playoff team on paper, so Allen will be a problem come January. This is a huge boost to their championship hopes.
Packers sign C Creed Humphrey - 3 Years, $48 Million
Centers aren't sexy signings, but the Packers got a steal here with Humphrey. He is still one of the best centers in football, and he wasn't even the highest paid center in free agency this year! He comes in as an immediate upgrade at the position, and provides stability across the offensive line. For less than $20 million a year, this is a fantastic signing for the Packers.
Rams sign DT Bobby Shivers - 4 Years, $114.4 Million
Shivers may not have been the top defensive tackle on the market, but he was definitely the second most desired around the league, and with his age and potential, you could argue he may be the best when it's all said and done. Shivers was an absolute force for the Jets in the middle of their defensive line, developing into one of the best all-around defensive tackles in football.
Only 25 years old, Shivers still has room to grow. The Rams finally find someone worthy of trying to replicate Aaron Donald's production. This is a huge upgrade to the Rams defense.
Texans draft RB Tavon Mooney 2nd Overall
Is there a better match than Coach Ramesu and the Texans with the generation prospect Tavon Mooney? Mooney exploded up draft boards after his excellent combine and pro day, the former Buckeye making an argument to be drafted first overall, something that hasn't been done in a long time in Red Zone. The Bears passed on Mooney, and he heads to Houston, becoming the immediate favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
Per RZPFF, Mooney ranks only 2nd behind De'Von Achane in terms of pure speed, and tested off the charts with his juking ability in the open field. C.J. Stroud finally had a star running back in the backfield, and with the weapons across the Houston offense, it could be a really special year for Mooney. Who says running backs don't matter??
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I hope you enjoyed this article, it was fun to dust off the keyboard and get back into some Red Zone media. Keep an eye out for more coming soon!