NFL free agency, draft favors defensive stars in 2019

If your team needs serious offensive help this offseason, it could be a rough go. Looking at the upcoming NFL free agency and draft, both are skewed towards the defensive side of the ball.

In NFL free agency, the edge rushers and safeties are particularly loaded. Demarcus Lawrence, Dee Ford, Jadeveon Clowney and Ezekiel Ansah are all scheduled to hit the market. Lawrence, Ford an Clowney are all prime candidates for their respective teams to franchise tag them. Although, there’s always the possibility they become available.

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On the interior, the best options are Grady Jarrett and Sheldon Richardson. Jarrett is coming off his rookie deal with the Atlanta Falcons. The consensus is that he has the potential to be a perennial Pro Bowler. If Atlanta decides it can’t afford his services, there will be a litany of teams trying to secure him. As for Richardson, he’ll be on his fourth team in as many seasons, but not because the talent isn’t there. He’s one of the rare defensive tackles who can play in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme, while stopping the run and getting after the quarterback.

In the secondary, the safeties are plentiful. Tyrann Mathieu and Tre Boston will be hitting the market for the second consecutive year despite being terrific players for multiple seasons. They will be joined by Eric Reid. Although Reid is controversial for his kneeling during the national anthem, he remains a quality player on the back end. That trio is joined by Landon Collins, who if not given the franchise tag by the New York Giants, should get a huge payday. Then there is Earl Thomas, who after winning a Super Bowl and playing in another with the Seattle Seahawks, will look to cash in as a 30-year-old.

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In the draft, the offensive line is strong at the top. However the crop of receivers, running back and quarterbacks are sub-par. Dwayne Haskins and Drew Lock are going to be first-round picks barring a significant surprise, although people who believe Kyler Murray will make it three signal callers are going again history. Murray would be the first quarterback taken in the first round who measures under six feet since 1953.

However, there are a bevy of edge rushers here as well, along with quality defensive linemen and corners galore, led by LSU’s Greedy Williams.

Ultimately, look for the big money to be spent on that side of the ball, with the occasional offensive player — think Golden Tate, Nick Foles and Le’Veon Bell — to cash in because of their talents, and because of the supply and demand at those positions.

Good time to need defense. Good time to play offense.