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It has been an exciting offseason for NFL free agent moves. There have been controversies over the franchise tag, record-setting contracts, trades, and big names changing teams.
Which free agent moves have put players in better situations for 2023?
Free agent signings will be the main focus of this article, but there are a couple of trades (Aaron Rodgers and D'Andre Swift) that are also included.
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Aaron Rodgers, QB- New York Jets
Regardless of whether the Jets' Gotham green is greener than the Packers' shade of green, the situation is definitely better. Although Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs were talented young receivers, they took some time to get comfortable last season.
Aaron Rodgers didn't trust them for most of the season, and even at their best, they came nowhere close to replacing Davante Adams. Now, Rodgers has Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson to throw to and some of his old teammates from Green Bay. Obviously, Rodgers joining the Jets is a significant upgrade for Wilson.
Baker Mayfield, QB- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Had Baker Mayfield stayed with the Carolina Panthers, he would have certainly lost his starting job to Sam Darnold. Fortunately, he is now the starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he'll be throwing to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. His only competition is Kyle Trask, who has shown to be worse than Darnold.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB- Las Vegas Raiders
If he had stayed in San Francisco, Jimmy Garoppolo would have been the backup to Brock Purdy. Now, he gets to remain a starter for one more year and throw to Davante Adams. As long as he can pass a physical, Garoppolo could be a viable option for Superflex leagues in case of injuries or bye weeks.
Jarrett Stidham, QB- Denver Broncos
Jarrett Stidham performed well in his starts during the final two weeks of the 2022 season. He completed 53-of-83 passes for 656 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions with the Raiders. In Week 17, he threw for 365 yards against the 49ers, surpassing Russell Wilson's yardage by 181 yards. It's worth considering that Stidham might be better than Wilson should he continue to struggle.
The Broncos have hired Sean Payton with the intention of improving Wilson's performance. This will provide Wilson with an opportunity to improve. However, if Wilson continues to play poorly and the Broncos' defense continues to excel, they will eventually contemplate a quarterback change. This would create an opportunity for Stidham to step into the starting quarterback role.
Samaje Perine, RB- Denver Broncos
The Broncos are hopeful Javonte Williams will be healthy enough to start in Week 1. Perhaps their confidence in this outcome is why they haven't signed any additional insurance running backs and why Samaje Perine is still the RB2. During his two starts as a replacement for the injured Joe Mixon in Cincinnati, Perine accumulated 164 rushing yards and one touchdown on 38 carries, along with an additional 84 receiving yards.
However, ACL tears can often require longer healing periods than initially anticipated. They can continue to affect a running back in their second year after the injury. If the Broncos receive unfavorable news regarding Williams, there remains a chance they could consider adding a veteran like Ezekiel Elliott or Dalvin Cook if they remain available.
Rashaad Penny and D'Andre Swift, RB- Philadelphia Eagles
Whichever running backs receive sufficient volume in the Philadelphia offense will generate significant fantasy numbers. The dilemma lies in not knowing which running back will start or if they will simply split carries evenly. Rashaad Penny and D’Andre Swift exhibit a relatively similar level of talent and production throughout their careers thus far.
Both players have been hindered by injuries. Swift achieved an average of 5.5 yards per carry last season, while Penny maintained a remarkable 6.1 yards per carry before sustaining an injury in Week 5. If they can remain healthy and are given sufficient volume, they will be in a great position to produce decent fantasy numbers.
Marvin Jones, WR- Detroit Lions
The last season Marvin Jones played in Detroit, he caught 76 passes for 978 yards and nine touchdowns. He achieved the only 1,000-yard season of his career in Detroit back in 2017. Now, he has returned to the Motor City following two slightly less productive years in Jacksonville.
Much has changed since his previous tenure with the Lions. Matthew Stafford was traded from Detroit to LA and went on to win a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021. Jared Goff, who was the quarterback for the Super Bowl-losing Rams in 2018, threw for 4,438 yards last season.
In 2020, Jones led the Lions in both receptions and receiving yards. Now three years older, he is expected to take on the role of the Lions' WR2 for the first six games of the season. This is a result of Jameson Williams' suspension due to gambling.
It's worth noting that Williams only made one catch in six games last season. Although Amon-Ra St. Brown is anticipated to be the alpha receiver for the Lions, this situation with Williams could lead to Jones being the Lions' WR2 for more than six games.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR- New England Patriots
In Kansas City, JuJu Smith-Schuster shared the field with several interchangeable wide receivers. This gave Patrick Mahomes the flexibility to throw the ball to anyone he desired on any given play.
Mac Jones had an impressive rookie season, throwing for 3,801 yards. However, in the 2022 season, he threw 800 yards less than his rookie season. This may be because the Patriots did not have an offensive coordinator. Instead, long-time defensive coach Matt Patricia held the title of "senior football advisor" and was calling the plays.
Even amidst the chaos of last season, New England's WR1 Jakobi Meyers gained 804 yards and scored six touchdowns. Now that Smith-Schuster has joined the Patriots, there is potential for him to become Mac Jones' preferred target. This season, the Patriots have replaced Patricia with Bill O'Brien, who has a track record of success as a play-caller. This bodes well for Smith-Schuster’s fantasy value.
Eric Kendricks, LB- Los Angeles Chargers
Eric Kendricks assumes a role in Los Angeles that presents ample opportunities for him to accumulate numerous tackles. In the previous season, Drue Tranquill recorded an impressive 146 combined tackles as the Chargers' primary off-ball linebacker.
Kendricks, having achieved 100 or more tackles in the past seven seasons, is expected to continue this trend. He will likely experience an additional surge in tackles this year, which will add value to the Chargers' defense.
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