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Offenses that improved the most after free agency and the draft
Aaron Rodgers. Tom Horak-USA TODAY Sports

Five offenses that improved the most after free agency and the draft

As the NFL transitions from the draft to OTAs, plenty of teams came out of the early part of the offseason with a better roster than they ended with last year.

Now that the dust has settled on (most of) the free-agent frenzy and one of the more unpredictable drafts in recent memory, here is a look at five teams that improved their offense the most this offseason:

Buffalo Bills

Additions: Damien Harris, RB; Trent Sherfield, WR; Deonte Harty, WR/KR; Dalton Kincaid, TE; Connor McGovern, OG, O’Cyrus Torrence, OG; David Quessenberry, OG

Buffalo shored up the interior of its offensive line with three new guards including Torrence, who could be one of the steals of the draft at pick No. 59. Harris, who’s just one year removed from rushing for 929 yards and 15 touchdowns, is a strong backfield complement to James Cook, who is primed to take on a more sizeable role in Year 2. Snagging Kincaid at the end of Round 1 was a great move and it should help an already potent Bills passing attack become that much more dangerous.

Chicago Bears

Additions: D’Onta Foreman, RB; Travis Homer, RB; Roschon Johnson, RB; D.J. Moore, WR; Tyler Scott, WR; Robert Tonyan, TE; Darnell Wright, OT; Nate Davis, OG

General manager Ryan Poles said he was going to build around quarterback Justin Fields, and boy did he. Davis should be a plug-and-play starter at guard and Wright can be a Day 1 starter at right tackle. Behind the new blockers, Fields has three new backs to hand off to in addition to Khalil Herbert, and Johnson can serve as a real threat catching passes out of the backfield. Moore is a true, game-changing weapon and Scott is an excellent deep-ball target who can take the top off a defense. At 6-foot-5, Tonyan gives Fields a big target to throw to in the red zone.

Las Vegas Raiders

Additions: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB; Aidan O’Connell, QB; Jakobi Meyers, WR; Keelan Cole, WR; Tre Tucker, WR; Michael Mayer, TE; Austin Hooper, TE; O.J. Howard, TE

In addition to bringing back do-it-all running back Josh Jacobs, the Raiders found a new starting and backup quarterback. Meyers is a nice add to the receiver group that already features Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow, and though it will be tough to replace everything Darren Waller did, adding Mayer (who was a steal in the second round), Hooper (a former Pro Bowl TE) and Howard gives Las Vegas strong depth at the position and Garoppolo a healthy complement of weapons.

New York Giants

Additions: Eric Gray, RB; Matt Breida, RB; Jalin Hyatt, WR; Parris Campbell, WR; Darren Waller, TE; John Michael Schmitz, C

Gray and Brieda give the Giants nice depth behind Saquon Barkley, who missed a combined 22 games from 2019 to 2021, while Waller presents the first true top-tier tight end Daniel Jones has played with since entering the NFL. Hyatt adds a vertical threat the Giants offense has been lacking while Campbell should be a steady target following his 63-reception, 623-yard season last year. The duo should fit in nicely with Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson. Michael Schmitz could be New York’s starting center this year.

New York Jets

Additions: Aaron Rodgers, QB; Allen Lazard, WR; Randall Cobb, WR; Mecole Hardman, WR; Joe Tippmann, C; Carter Warren, OT

The Jets couldn’t be left off this list after adding a Hall of Fame QB, could they? Rodgers instantly legitimizes New York’s passing game, which should be miles better after adding Lazard (Rodger’s favorite target last year in Green Bay), Hardman (a speedy deep threat) and Cobb (one of Rodgers’ closest friends). Tippmann and Warren each could contribute as rookies as the Jets look to best protect their new MVP quarterback.

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