Ranking the Top 10 Free Agency/Trade Classes of 2022 (so far): AFC Rolls!

 With the first wave of major moves complete in the off-season and with the draft less than a month away, we thought now would be a good time to rank our top 10 FA/trade classes of the off-season so far. There are obviously still tons of moves to be made including several top FAs to sign like OBJ, the Honey Badger, and Stephon Gillmore. 

10. Washington Commanders

Notable Additions: Carson Wentz, QB (via trade) | Cornelius Lucas, OT (re-signed) | Andrew Norwell, OG (FA signing) | JD McKissic, RB (re-signed)

Washington came into last season with a lot of hope. They were fresh off of winning the NFC East the year before and gave Tom Brady and the Bucs all they could handle in their wildcard loss. This year had a lot of promise, but all hopes were dashed pretty quickly with a slew of inconsistent play and injuries. Now, they head in 2022 with even more promise. HC Ron Rivera swung and missed on Russell Wilson, but quickly pivoted to another really good option in Carson Wentz. Wentz is SO underrated in my eyes and feels like the missing piece of the puzzle to me. He is that athletic QB with a strong arm that Rivera has been looking for and he just found him. Carson is also set to have the best receiving core of his career around him with Terry McLaurin as a bonafide WR1 and then stud TE Logan Thomas and a top 12 draft pick to likely add one more target.

Aside from the huge move that was adding Wentz that propelled them into the top 10, re-signing Cornelius Lucas & JD McKissic was huge. Those are two major pieces to this offense that are going to make Wentz' life a lot easier. Bringing in former pro bowl guard Andrew Norwell will help with that as well. Washington looks a lot better already and feels like a playoff team in 2022 to me, especially in the weakened NFC.

9. Indianapolis Colts

Notable Additions: Matt Ryan, QB (via trade) | Mo Alie-Cox, TE (re-signed) | Ashton Dulin, WR (re-signed)

While the Colts have not made a ton of moves, their big move was enough to place them squarely inside of the top 10 due to how much I loved it. After moving Carson Wentz to Washington (above) for a package of good draft picks, the Colts then flipped just one of those picks back to Atlanta in exchange for former league MVP Matt Ryan to replace Wentz. I love it! Ryan may be older and some might say he's on the decline, but I don't care. He's still nearly an elite QB and will be the best QB that Indy has had in 5 years since the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck. With the team the Colts have in place, Ryan is going to succeed and make the Colts a true Super Bowl contender and likely the favorite in the AFC South in my eyes. 

Aside from the team changing move to acquire Ryan, the Colts main two other moves were re-signing pass catchers Mo Alie-Cox and Ashton Dulin which may not sound like much but both may have big roles this season and are overall pretty good talents. Keep in mind also, the off-season is just starting, the Colts are not done yet...(*cough cough*Julio Jones??)

8. Los Angeles Rams

Notable Additions: Allen Robinson, WR (FA signing) | Bobby Wagner, LB (FA signing) | Joe Noteboom, OL (re-signed) | Brian Allen, C (re-signed) | Matt Gay, K (re-signed)

The defending champs couldn't have asked for a much better start to the off-season. While they did lose a few big contributors from their SB run, they replaced pretty much every player they lost with someone nearly as good or better than what they had before. Von Miller signed a massive deal with the Bills, he will be their worst loss, but they couldn't afford to pay him what Buffalo did. Robert Woods was traded but he missed all of the season with an ACL tear and the team clearly could win without him too. 

Getting into the moves that get them into the top 10, they started out FA with a bang as they inked WR Allen Robinson to a large deal to bring him over from Chicago. That was a bit of a shocker. No one saw Robinson going to the Rams as many thought that other teams would simply out-price the Rams. Nope. Robinson is going to come in and instantly become of the very best WR2s in the NFL behind Cooper Kupp for Stafford to throw to. Then the Rams took from a rival as they somehow were able to reel in former All-Pro LB Bobby Wagner from Seattle once he was cut. That is going to take some getting used to but man, Wagner, Jalen Ramsey, and Aaron Donald on the same defense?? Sheesh. Aside from bringing in those two home runs, re-signing Noteboom, Allen, and Gay were three huge priorities that all got done as they were major contributors in the Super Bowl run. 

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Notable Additions: Tom Brady, QB (UN-RETIRED) | Chris Godwin, WR (re-signed) | Ryan Jensen, C (re-signed) | Leonard Fournette, RB (re-signed) | Russell Gage, WR (FA signing) | Shaq Mason, OG (via trade) | Carlton Davis, CB (re-signed) | Logan Ryan, DB (FA signing

The Bucs have made a flurry of moves to open up the off-season and while the team is going to be quite similar to last year's, it feels different. Tom Brady retiring and then un-retiring really put this team on a roller coaster, but they were somehow able to bring pretty much every FA they wanted back, most notably pro bowl wideout Chris Godwin, top young CB Carlton Davis, stud lineman Ryan Jensen, and pro bowl RB Leonard Fournette. 

Not only did the Bucs bring back everyone they needed, they added some big time talent. Russell Gage was such an under the radar get. Gage was one of the better WRs in the entire NFL to end out last season and now he's going to be the WR3 on one of the best offenses in football. He is going to get forgotten next to all of the talent around him on the offense and he is going to get OPEN. While there were so many major blockbuster trades this off-season, one that needs to get more hype is how the Bucs were able to add pro bowl guard Shaq Mason. Mason is still under 30, one of the best guards in the game, and somehow cost the Bucs just a fifth round pick! Robbery! The Bucs are poised to be a top 2-3 seed in the NFC again and have gotten not just back their players, but they've gotten better overall and still have more moves to make (including a first round pick). 

6. Cincinnati Bengals

Notable Additions: Alex Cappa, OG (FA signing) | BJ Hill, DT (re-signed) | La'El Collins, OT (FA signing) | Jessie Bates, S (re-signed) | Eli Apple, CB (re-signed) | Ted Karras, OL (FA signing)

The defending AFC champs came into the off-season with one goal really and one goal only: IMPROVE THE OFFENSIVE LINE. And they did just that. Literal seconds into the opening of FA they announced they had signed former Bucs' standout guard Alex Cappa to a nice contract and then a few days later they pounced on the recently released La'El Collins from Dallas. They also inked former Patriot interior OL Ted Karras to a deal. With those three added to the offensive line, this goes from one of the very worst OLs in the game to one of the better. Joe Burrow is finally going to have that time we've been waiting to see him with, and we can't wait!

The Bengals also struck big this off-season in re-signing their own key players back. Safety Jessie Bates who was probably their best or second best defensive player last season got the franchise tag and then the team went out and paid elite run defender BJ Hill handsomely to come back as well. I think Eli Apple isn't as bad as people say he is so getting him back as at least a depth option at corner was nice too!

5. Las Vegas Raiders

Notable Additions: Davante Adams, WR (via trade) | Chandler Jones, DE (FA signing) | Jayon Brown, LB (FA signing) | Demarcus Robinson, WR (FA signing) | Duron Harmon, S (FA signing)

With Russell Wilson heading to Denver and the Chargers beefing up big time (we will get to both shortly), and the Chiefs being the Chiefs, the Raiders could not afford to have a quiet off-season if they wanted to return to the playoffs again after getting back there this past season. It's safe to say that new GM/HC duo Ziegler and McDaniels were not quiet. They started out with a bang by reeling in one of the best pass rushers ever in Chandler Jones to a high paying short term deal. Pairing him up with Maxx Crosby will be LETHAL. Then, they shook the NFL world by trading a first and a second for Davante FRICKIN Adams. The arguable best WR in football. Adding Adams to elite route runner Hunter Renfrow and top tier TE Darren Waller makes this offense so intriguing and scary. Derek Carr is going to be killin' it this season.

Aside from those massive moves, they also made some quality smaller moves. Jayon Brown is a young LB who is really good and has a lot of potential, reeling him in is a great move. Demarcus Robinson is also an explosive third option behind Adams and Renfrow. The Raiders went crazy this off-season and are about to be in for potentially their best season of the 2000s. 

4. Denver Broncos

Notable Additions: Russell Wilson, QB (via trade) | Randy Gregory, DE (FA signing) | Billy Turner, OT (FA signing) | DJ Jones, DT (FA signing) 

Going into the off-season, no one knew what we were truly in for. Then the Broncos kicked things off with the most shocking trade of the century as they reeled in Mr. Seattle in Russell Wilson. What a move. Denver has been a QB away for years now, and they just got that guy. While they gave up a lot, it was mostly future picks, so it won't hurt them in the win-now area. Adding Wilson turns them from a bottom-feeder to a Super Bowl favorite. That massive move instantly brings them into conversation for having the best off-season.

But they didn't JUST add Wilson. Oh no. They made even more championship level moves. Somehow and someway they were able to steal star edge rusher Randy Gregory from Dallas in the 11th hour to bring in a guy who will excel next to proven stud Bradley Chubb off the edge. DJ Jones is also one of the very very best run stuffers in the NFL and they were able to bring him to town as well, helping to replace Shelby Harris who they lost in the Russell Wilson trade. These Broncos are about to be for real, and they are one of a few teams who really WON the off-season.

3. Cleveland Browns

Notable Additions: Deshaun Watson, QB (via trade) | Amari Cooper, WR (via trade) | Jakeem Grant, WR/KR (FA signing) | Anthony Walker, LB (re-signed) | David Njoku, TE (re-signed) | Jacoby Brissett, QB (FA signing)

The top 3 of my rankings is pretty interchangeable, but for now I feel like Cleveland is 3rd. What an off-season so far. Even without getting the crown jewel of their off-season in Deshaun Watson, this was a very high level period. They traded some late round picks to bring in Amari Cooper to be their WR1. That was a huge add and now even greater because of the Watson move. When Deshaun Watson's case was dropped and teams started showing interest, it did not seem like Cleveland was on Watson's list. Then, seemingly out of the blue, Watson informed Texans' officials that he would only waive his no trade clause for Cleveland, and shortly after, Watson was officially a Brown.

This may be the biggest move in Browns HISTORY. Finally, their long wait for a franchise QB is over. They suddenly have one of the top 5-6 QBs in the sport who happens to be just 26 years old and has his entire career ahead of him. The other moves listed above were great depth and stopgap talents and with Watson and Cooper as the main moves, Cleveland is now a top tier Super Bowl contender.

2. Miami Dolphins

Notable Additions: Tyreek Hill, WR (via trade) | Terron Armstead, OT (FA signing) | Chase Edmonds, RB (FA signing) | Raheem Mostert, RB (FA signing) | Emmanuel Ogbah, DE (re-signed) | Mike Gesicki, TE (re-signed) | Conner Williams, OG (FA signing) | Cedrick Wilson, WR (FA signing) | Teddy Bridgewater, QB (FA signing)

Yup. Look at this list of talent above. What an off-season it has already been for Miami as they look to go from middle of the pack to a true contender. If Tua Tagovailoa is going to be their guy, this will be his chance to prove it. The Dolphins made creating an elite supporting cast around him their top priority, and boy did they succeed. With loads of cap space and draft capital, the Dolphins turned over every stone in terms of loading up on talent wherever they could.

Their two biggest moves were getting arguably two of the very best players available for move in the entire NFL. I loved their trade for Tyreek Hill. If Tua isn't able to work with him, someone else will be. To only have to give up picks from this draft and still have a ton of capital for next year and beyond is huge, and they got one of the biggest match-up nightmares in NFL history. They also were able to get my no. 1 FA in Terron Armstead who is one of the elite pass blockers in the league and is just in his early 30s which is the beginning of a prime for offensive linemen in the NFL. Aside from adding those two elite talents, they then made tons of other amazing depth moves that will be big for them. RBs Mostert and Edmonds will help this offensive attack greatly, Connor Williams is a huge add for the interior OL. The list really seems to go on and on here and the Dolphins are one of the most improved teams so far of the off-season.

1. Los Angeles Chargers

Notable Additions: JC Jackson, CB (FA signing) | Khalil Mack, DE (via trade) | Mike Williams, WR (re-signed) | Sebastian Joseph-Day, DT (FA signing) | Austin Johnson, DT (FA signing) | Gerald Everett, TE (FA signing)

My no. 1 team of the off-season is the LA Chargers! They came into the off-season understanding exactly what their needs were and what they could do to fill them. Wow did they execute! The biggest and best move of this star studded FA class was bringing in my no. 2 overall FA in JC Jackson. Jackson is easily a top 3 corner in the NFL and he's just entering his prime at age 26 years of age. Many thought he was going to reset the CB market with his new deal, but somehow the Chargers were master negotiators and got him for around $16-17 million a year which is highway robbery for a player that good at this stage of his career. Jackson now pairs up with Derwin James in the secondary to give them some of the best DBs in the entire NFL. 

Aside from Jackson, another HUGE name added was Khalil fricken Mack. The former DPOY has been oft injured of late, but when he's on the field, there is no denying his all-world talent. Pairing him up opposite of perennial pro bowler Joey Bosa is going to be terrifying for any QB in the NFL. That arguably becomes the best edge rushing duo in the league, and Mack doubles as a stud run defender which was their biggest need coming in. The dual signings of DTs Joseph-Day and Johnson are bigger than you might think. Interior D-lineman who are stud run stuffers were the Chargers' largest need and they filled it masterfully with these two. Run defense was the death of this team last year, and now they just got a whole lot better there. I'm not mentioning re-signings much, but Mike Williams coming back on a mega-deal was about as big of a re-signing as can be. The Chargers have taken full advantage of adding elite talent with Justin Herbert still on his rookie deal, and now they are set up for success for the next 5 or so years!