Which teams changed draft strategies following free agency?
With free agency followed by the draft, the months of March and April are perhaps the busiest of the NFL’s year-long calendar.
With the first wave of free agency dying down, teams are all-in on pro day visits, scouting trips and pre-draft meetings. With the 2023 draft one month away, here’s a look at which teams may change draft strategies after making moves in free agency:
Dallas Cowboys
Prior to free agency, it could have been argued Dallas’ two biggest needs were receiver and cornerback. But after adding Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore via trade, the Cowboys now have more flexibility with pick No. 26.
If Dallas drafts for need over best player available, a tight end such as Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer, Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, Georgia’s Darnell Washington or Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave in Round 1 doesn’t seem out of the question with Dalton Schultz bolting to Houston.
Other possibilities include offensive and defensive line with Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence, Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith and Northwestern defensive end Adetomiwa Adebawore all names to watch.
Detroit Lions
Adding cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley plus safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson helped shore up a Detroit secondary that allowed the highest yards per completion (12.6), third-most passing yards (4,446) and eighth-most touchdowns (26) in the NFL and likely took cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez (Oregon) and Devon Witherspoon (Illinois) off the table with the sixth-overall pick.
Detroit could trade the No. 6 pick to move back and acquire more draft capital or it could start building one heck of a defensive line with DTs Jalen Carter or Byran Bresee or DEs Tyree Wilson or Lukas Van Ness to pair with 2022 No2 pick Aidan Hutchinson. With the No. 18 pick, a tight end like Mayer or Kincaid makes sense as a T.J. Hockenson replacement.
Philadelphia Eagles
While Philly kept some of its top free agents (James Bradberry, Darius Slay, Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox), the team lost defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, linebacker T.J. Edwards, safeties Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps and running back Miles Sanders.
Addressing the interior defensive line is now a must for the Eagles, which have picks No. 10 and 30. Pittsburgh defensive tackle Kalijah Cancey or Clemson’s Bryan Bresee or Myles Murphy all make sense to slot in Hargrave’s old spot. Alabama’s Brian Branch and Texas A&M’s Antonio Johnson could be options at safety, and Texas running back Bijan Robinson could be a wild card with the 10th pick to replace Sanders.
Tennessee Titans
In adding tackle Andre Dillard and guard Daniel Brunskill in free agency, the Titans may have lessened the need to take an offensive lineman with the No. 11 pick (however if Ohio State’s Paris Johnson or Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski is still on the board, it may be awfully difficult to pass either one up).
But the Titans now have the flexibility to either move up and take a quarterback (likely Will Levis or Anthony Richardson), draft for need (WR or CB), or simply take the best player available. With Bud Dupree gone, an edge rusher like Wilson or Nolan Smith makes sense.
Cutting Robert Woods could mean TCU’s Quentin Johnston or USC’s Jordan Addison is the pick. Or maybe new GM Ran Carthon thinks Gonzalez, Witherspoon or Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. would make a nice complement alongside Kristian Fulton and Roger McCreary in the defensive backfield.
