Atlanta replaces Matt Ryan with Marcus Mariota

The Falcons continued on the madness of this offseason by sending longtime quarterback Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a third round pick. Atlanta fans will certainly be hurt by the move, but in the long run, I think it will work out for the best. Despite Mariota never panning out to be a top-notch quarterback in the league, he has continued to find himself on teams with a solid role. While he will never lead Atlanta to a Super Bowl, he serves as a good bridge-quarterback until the Falcons can find his replacement. The 2022 season seems as if it brings nothing but pain to Falcons fans, Mariota will spice things up and make this season one that isn’t too miserable for the loyal spectators of Atlanta. 

Ahkello Witherspoon stays in Pittsburgh

Witherspoon has been nothing short of a top ten cornerback in the NFL in 2021. Statistically, his coverage was better than that of J.C. Jackson, A.J. Terrell, Patrick Surtain II and Trevon Diggs. After coming over from Seattle in a trade, the former Colorado Buffalo made an immediate impact and was a much-needed spark in the secondary. By resigning Witherspoon, the Steelers continue to add onto a much-improved secondary that will pay dividends in 2022. The ball-hawk will certainly impact plays for the better alongside Levi Wallace this season. 

Ray-Ray McCloud III heads to San Francisco for cheap

McCloud was arguably the best return man in football last season. At just around $5 million a season, the 49ers got a steal in McCloud. The former Steeler does not serve a lot as a receiver (other than a depth piece) but constantly makes plays in the return game. He is quick, shifty and has above average footwork, elevating his return game to the next level. The 49ers got a lot better with this signing. 

Philadelphia bolsters their pass rush by bringing in Hassan Reddick

While the Eagles have been a consistent playoff contender over the last decade, they—aside from their Super Bowl win—have found almost no success come the postseason. This is largely in part to their weak pass rush. Yes, there was a time when Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham and Connor Barwin were at the top of their game. Now, years later, two of those three remain on the team with a lot more experience, but also a larger array of injuries and a decline of production. Alex Singleton had been solid for the Eagles, but he left the team during free agency, leaving the team’s edge rushing depth thinner than ever before. Signing Reddick in free agency is a major step in returning to the frightening defense that they once had. At just $15 million per season, the Eagles did not overpay for the young superstar. This was, all around, a massive triumph from Howie Roseman.

The Bears get a solid WR2 in Byron Pringle

While Byron Pringle was not the most highly touted of the Chiefs’ receivers, he served his role in a very high-powered offense. Pringle put his name on the map this past season with massive games against the Steelers (twice), Ravens and the Bills (in the playoffs). With the Bears losing Allen Robinson II to the Rams, they need another receiver to play alongside Darnell Mooney—and Pringle is the perfect fit. He’s not a flashy receiver, but is a great team player, always making plays for his team, especially in the clutch. Receiving just a one year, six million dollar contract, makes this move even better for Chicago.