The New England Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars have made their free agency decisions this week, and they have some intriguing names.
Here are five that we think you should keep an eye on. 1.
New England (from Miami): The Patriots have been looking for a quarterback, and that’s a big one.
They’ll have a quarterback-needy New York Jets team, so it would make sense for them to move on from Fitzpatrick.
The Patriots also have two more veteran players who could potentially replace Fitzpatrick: defensive end Mario Williams and defensive tackle Dontari Poe.
If the Patriots make a run at a quarterback in free fall, they’re in great shape.
The Falcons and Seahawks are also interested in a quarterback.
2.
New Orleans: The Saints are still in rebuilding mode after their Super Bowl loss, but they’ll have the opportunity to rebuild in the off-season with new coach Sean Payton.
If Payton can make his offense work, New Orleanians will be in a position to compete for a playoff spot in 2018.
If they’re going to do that, it’ll be with a new quarterback.
3.
Indianapolis: The Colts have been trying to rebuild their roster for a while.
That includes moving up in the draft and getting a quarterback of their own.
They’re also in the market for a veteran defensive end.
If this happens, Indy will be able to compete with the other AFC South teams for a postseason berth in 2018 if they can continue to do their job.
4.
Seattle: The Seahawks are hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
They have two quarterbacks and a few other veterans on the roster, but that’s about it.
If any team can win it all, it’s the Seahawks.
5.
Jacksonville: The Jaguars have to make some decisions on defense, and one of the candidates for the position is safety Donte Whitner.
He’s one of their top young defensive backs and would give them depth at cornerback, along with some other talent.
If he makes the roster and they’re able to win a playoff game, it could be a major boost to the Jaguars defense.