What’s new for NFL 2022?

By Cameron DaSilva | Posted 1 year ago

There’s never been an offseason in the NFL as exciting and unpredictable as the one 2022 brought us. Sure, it’s always fun to see where the top free agents will land and how the first round of the draft will shake out, but this offseason was the gift that kept giving.

 

There were blockbuster trades for star quarterbacks, some shocking deals for the best wide receivers in the NFL and a shift of power from the NFC to the AFC as a result of all the shuffling.

 

With only one month until the regular season begins, here’s a recap of everything that’s new in the NFL this year.

 

Broncos go all in for Russell Wilson

 

Arguably the biggest move of the offseason came when the Broncos acquired Wilson from the Seahawks in a massive trade that included two first-round picks and two second-rounders, as well as Noah Fant, Drew Lock and Shelby Harris. It was a much bigger haul than what the Lions got for Matthew Stafford a year prior, but the Broncos were desperate for QB help and clearly felt that Lock wasn’t the answer.

 

Now, Denver is one of the top Super Bowl contenders with Wilson at the helm. The AFC West is absolutely loaded, but the Broncos could do what the Rams did last year and the Bucs did the year prior: land a star quarterback and win the Super Bowl.

 

Browns acquire (and extend) Deshaun Watson

 

The Texans finally decided to trade Watson in March after a year-long standoff involving the quarterback. Between his refusal to play for the organization and an investigation into allegations of sexual assault levied against the quarterback, it took a while for a trade to happen. But the Browns were willing to take a shot and traded the farm for Watson, giving up three first-rounders, a third-round pick and a fourth-round selection.

 

Watson then signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Browns but has since been suspended for the first six games of the 2022 season for violating the personal conduct policy – though he wasn’t fined for it. So if healthy, he’ll be Cleveland’s starting quarterback for 11 games this season.

 

Baker Mayfield is gone now, too, after being traded to the Panthers, so he won’t be filling in for Watson during his suspension.

 

QB carousel spins for Falcons, Colts and Commanders

 

After missing the playoffs and finishing below .500 in each of the last four years, the Falcons decided to rebuild. That decision included parting ways with the franchise’s all-time leading passer and former MVP, Matt Ryan

 

The Colts, on the other end, needed another option after it became clear that Carson Wentz wasn’t their man, so they were in search of a replacement. Enter: Ryan, who they acquired from the Falcons.

 

That came after the Colts traded Wentz to the Commanders, a deal that Washington hopes will solve the franchise’s woes at the most important position in sports. 

 

Got all that? So it’ll likely be Marcus Mariota starting for the Falcons, Ryan leading the Colts and Wentz commanding the Commanders.

 

Raiders add Davante Adams, Chandler Jones

 

After sneaking into the playoffs and losing in the first round last year, the Raiders felt they were close to contending, and their offseason moves reflected that. They acquired Adams in a blockbuster trade with the Packers, only giving up two draft picks. Vegas also signed Jones to bolster the pass rush, pairing him with Maxx Crosby on defense. 

 

With Derek Carr and his host of weapons, as well as Crosby and Jones, the Raiders are in much better position to compete for a championship in 2022. Oh, and they have a new head coach in Josh McDaniels, who’s back at the helm for the first time since his failed attempt with the Broncos.

 

Chargers acquire Khalil Mack, sign J.C. Jackson

 

What an offseason the Chargers had after seeing their city mates win the Super Bowl in February. They remained aggressive and attempted to build around Justin Herbert while he’s still on his rookie contract by acquiring Mack in a trade with the Bears and signing the top cornerback in free agency, J.C. Jackson.

 

It’s hard to find a defense with more talent than the Chargers’, who also have Joey BosaDerwin James, Asante Samuel Jr. and Kenneth Murray. After reloading this offseason, we could see another L.A. team winning it all in the near future.

 

Chiefs trade Tyreek Hill to Dolphins

 

This one came out of nowhere. Hill let the Chiefs know that he wanted a new contract, one that would ultimately make him the highest-paid receiver in football. After the Chiefs declined, they found trading him would be in the best interest of the team. So that’s exactly what they did.

 

Hill picked the Dolphins after the Jets were also in the hunt, proceeding to sign a $120 million deal with Miami after the deal was done. Tua Tagovailoa now has his No. 1 receiver to go along with Jaylen Waddle, so this trade should tell us a lot about Tua’s future with the organization.

 

Eagles make big splash with A.J. Brown on draft weekend

 

If you look at the Eagles’ draft haul, it doesn’t seem rich with talent since they only made five picks. But that’s because they traded two top-101 picks for Brown, including the 18th overall selection in this year’s draft.

 

Brown is certifiably one of the best receivers in the NFL and will make Jalen Hurts that much better this season. Having Brown paired with DeVonta Smith gives the Eagles a fantastic tandem on the outside as Philadelphia looks to get back atop the NFC East again. 

 

This was a huge move for the Titans, who got rid of Ryan Tannehill’s best weapon in a critical year for the quarterback.

 

Cowboys dump Amari Cooper in trade with Browns

 

For whatever reason, the Cowboys didn’t feel Cooper was worth his current contract, which paid him $20 million per year. Maybe it’s his injury history. Maybe it’s an indictment of their cap situation.

 

The Browns saw this as an opportunity to add a top receiver at a very low cost: a fifth-round pick. Certainly, Cooper is worth more than that, but the Browns had the cap space to make it work and the need for a wide receiver.

 

This deal left Dallas dangerously thin at wide receiver, even after re-signing the injured Michael GallupCeeDee Lamb might catch 150 passes this season without Cooper in the mix, but the Cowboys have to hope he (and Gallup) can stay healthy all year long.

 

Von Miller spurns Rams for Bills

 

It seemed like Miller was going to run it back with the Rams after winning Super Bowl LVI. He loved playing with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, and the idea of finishing his career in Los Angeles was enticing to him.

 

But then the Bills came calling with a $120 million offer, signing the veteran pass rusher to a six-year deal. While it wasn’t all about money, the Bills’ offer – both in guaranteed money and length – was something the Rams simply couldn’t match. So, he picked Buffalo in an attempt to win a third Super Bowl with his third team.

 

Miller’s arrival makes the Bills one of the best teams in the NFL, and he could just be the missing piece on their defense as they attempt to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

 

Rams bring aboard Allen Robinson, Bobby Wagner

 

After missing out on Miller, the Rams turned their attention to another player at a different position. They made a big splash by signing Robinson in free agency, landing the top receiver left on the market. And it sure is fun to think about what that offense will look like now with Cooper Kupp and Robinson lining up together.

 

The defending champions suffered more losses than additions this offseason, but between Robinson and Wagner, they certainly reloaded in pursuit of a second straight championship. Both players will have a major impact in Los Angeles this season.

 

Saints bring home Tyrann Mathieu 

 

Tyrann Mathieu was born and raised in New Orleans. He went to LSU, staying close to home for college. And now after nine years in the NFL with the Cardinals, Texans and Chiefs, Mathieu is back home in Louisiana. 

 

He signed with the Saints this offseason after the Chiefs opted not to retain him, giving the Saints a playmaker in the secondary. One of the best defensive backs in football, Mathieu should be a valuable addition for New Orleans, bolstering a defense that was already top-notch last season despite the team’s 9-8 record.

 

Bucs load up with Julio Jones

 

Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and now Julio Jones. That’s the receiving corps Tom Brady – who retired and unretired this offseason – has to work with this year. Jones sat on the free-agent market forever, but the former All-Pro still has some juice left and he gives the Bucs another weapon on the outside … as if Brady needed any more of those.

 

Jones isn't going to be the superstar he was with the Falcons, and he’s not going to be targeted 200 times in the Bucs offense, but as a No. 3? It’s hard to get much better than that. 

 

There’s almost no chance Jones would’ve made this decision had Brady stayed retired, either. TB12 is a huge draw for free agents.

 

Ben Roethlisberger retires, leaves Steelers searching for QB

 

The Steelers haven’t had a single season below .500 under Mike Tomlin. This year, that could change. Big Ben’s retirement has left the Steelers with no great options at quarterback. Mitchell Trubisky is not a starting-caliber quarterback, Mason Rudolph is, well, Mason Rudolph, and Kenny Pickett is a rookie who needs time to develop.

 

It’s hard to see the Steelers being very competitive this year, and if they are, it’ll be in large part thanks to Tomlin’s brilliance. 

 

Jimmy Garoppolo done in SF but not yet traded

 

The Garoppolo era in San Francisco is officially over. The 49ers have declared Trey Lance their starting quarterback, yet, Garoppolo remains on the roster. 

 

The 49ers still haven’t traded the veteran and finding a trade partner now will prove to be incredibly difficult. After all, the Browns got just a conditional 2024 fifth-round pick for Mayfield in their trade with the Panthers. 

 

It’s anyone’s guess what the 49ers are waiting for, but there’s no doubt they waited way too long to make this move.

 

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