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Assessing the offseason moves


It may be a little early, but I think we have seen enough of the team to give an early assessment of the team's offseason, including the free agent signings, the players we signed and the players we let go.

We will start with the draft, and with DeVonta Smith, who, to be perfectly honest, is basically the reason I decided to write on this topic.

Smith got his first action on Thursday, and he was everything we thought he would be. This team has been missing an outside receiver who can beat press coverage, and the early returns are we have found him. There are plenty of videos showing his route running, but this I believe is the best.

Nate Tice on Twitter: "Comparing and contrasting Jalen Reagor (top) and DeVonta Smith (bottom) on their respective Stop routes https://t.co/X1vZ1lswiL" / Twitter

Smith basically turns the corner inside out on a route that we run a lot, and it is easy to see that being an almost automatic completion for the team during the regular season. That to me has been the biggest thing lacking from the team the last few years. And I also don't think any other receiver in the draft gives us that.

Having Smith makes us able to use Reagor in different ways. He can run a shallow crossing route there, putting the LBs into conflict. He can go deep, putting the safety into conflict with the Watkins route. But having the knowledge that Smith is going to win that route consistently is a huge boost for the offense.

Milton Williams has also impressed, and it was notable that he was the first backup yesterday at DT when Cox was unable to practice. I honestly don't remember a rookie defensive lineman having such a big impact since Cox. For a third round pick, I think we hit it out of the park.

Kenny Gainwell has looked really good. For a fifth round pick, I don't think anyone can complain. The same with Patrick Johnson, who is clearly still learning the game. Tarron Jackson has been thrown into a tough spot, as he has played the bulk of the snaps, and he's been overmatched. But, at the same time, he's a sixth-rounder. The same with Marlon Tuipulotu. I want them to have shown more, but you have to be realistic that they might need some time to gain experience and add strength. These guys aren't ready to be NFL backups right now, but I could be talked into keeping them on the roster to see if they developed.

Zech McPhearson has been a mixed bag. It is notable that when Maddox and Nelson were on the field with him, Cam Newton never even thought about throwing anywhere but at McPhearson. Corner is a tough position, and we haven't had any pass rush when he's been on the field. And we are doing nothing as far as scheme on defense. But I would have liked to see a little more from him right now. The only thing saving him is that Jacquet and Scott have been worse.

Obviously we don't know anything about Dickerson or Stevens, but a draft that has already netted a starter in Smith and key backups in Williams and Gainwell is pretty good, even if McPhearson continues to struggle. We should get a decent look at Stevens this week, and I am hoping the other young guys can take a step forward.

As far as free agent pickups, we have to be really pleased at this point with the defensive additions. We rummaged through the bargain bin and came up with decent starters in Harris, Wilson and Nelson. I am assuming Kerrigan will be fine, though he seems like a bit of a wasted signing with Williams able to play DE and Jackson showing a little bit. But that is being pretty nit picky.

Our two biggest additions on offense were at qb, and they haven't been great. Mullens has obviously struggled, but as I noted in a previous post the scheme we use in preseason is a bad fit for him. Flacco hasn't been great. It makes me wonder if Nate Sudfeld on a vet minimum contract would be any worse. Other additions haven't really impressed me - Scott, Adams, Johnson, Howard, Clarks, but they are all obviously low cost signings for depth.

As far as our free agents we let fly the coop, so to speak, I am not really upset with any of those decisions. Jalen Mills has seemingly been replaced by Harris, and we have a lot of depth at safety. Carson Wentz wasn't really our decision, so it's tough to grade that departure.

Overall, I would say the offseason has been good. Which is important because, in previous years, I felt we made really bad decisions right out of the gate. I would say the most questionable decision we made was drafting Dickerson, and that story has yet to be written.

In a way, I view the front office like a cornerback who has been beaten for a bunch of deep passes, but who made an interception on the last play. Obviously I am unsure of whether or not he has improved, but at least the most recent results are pretty good.