As the calendar speeds toward July (weren’t the Colts and Bears just playing the Super Bowl in Miami?), most NFL teams are conducting their voluntary mini camps this weekend or next, including the Redskins, who will work Friday through Sunday in Ashburn.
The league shuts down for most of July before training camp starts and the 28-week grind (six-week camp, 17-week regular season, 5-week postseason) begins.
Who had the best off-season? Who didn't help themselves at all? Who were the draft's winners and losers? Over the next two days, I'll look at each division. Today is the NFC; tomorrow, the AFC.
NFC EAST
Free agency/trades
Best off-season: Although the Redskins made some nice additions (Fletcher, Smoot, etc), Philadelphia really helped itself in free agency and trades. The Eagles added WR Kevin Curtis to replace Donte Stallworth and traded for QB Kelly Holcomb and LB Takeo Spikes.
Worst offeseason: The Giants made the playoffs last season but were clearly an average team. New York did little to augment its roster. They signed Reuben Droughns to replace Tiki Barber but their other signings – LB Kawika Mitchell, QB Anthony Wright and DT Marcus Bell – doesn’t exactly create excitement.
Draft
Best: The Giants used their first two picks on Texas CB Aaron Ross and USC WR Steve Smith. Ross will start right away and Smith will be a solid option as a rookie.
Worst: What were the Eagles thinking? When Brady Quinn plummeted into the second half of the opening round, the Eagles should have traded up to get him. Instead they trade out of the first round and take Houston QB Kevin Kolb. For a team that has thrived in the draft, it was a questionable move, especially when they could have went safety or linebacker.
The Redskins had the fewest picks but not trading away any future picks keeps them from securing this award.
NFC NORTH
Free agency/trades
Best off-season: I can’t believe I'm writing this, but ... Detroit. The Lions added RB Tatum Bell and OT George Foster in trades and signed CB Travis Fisher and G Edwin Mulitalo in free agency.
Worst off-season: Minnesota. The Vikings didn’t sign a quarterback to compete with and/or mentor second-year man Taravis Jackson. Their big receiver signing was Bobby Wade. And they handed TE Visante Shiancoe a multi-year contract. Just clueless.
Draft
Best: Chicago added two good players in the opening two rounds in TE Greg Olsen and RB Garrett Wolfe. Olsen gives Rex Grossman a new target and Wolfe will back up Cedric Benson, who is the starter following Thomas Jones’ trade to the Jets.
Worst: Green Bay's best chance at winning remains riding No. 4 and outscoring teams. So the Packers naturally drafted DT Justin Harrell in the first round. It was the first of several curious picks.
NFC SOUTH
Free agency/trades
Best off-season: On the basis of one signing, Tampa Bay gets the nod. The Bucs got QB Jeff Garcia and he will ignite an offense that has to had to rely too much on Carnell Williams the last two years.
Worst off-season: Unofficially, Atlanta because of the Michael Vick Episodes. In terms of player acquisitions, the Panthers didn’t do anything grand. Terrence Melton, Steve Williams, Deke Cooper, Dave Ball, Curtis Deloatch, David Carr and Aaron Moorehead don’t do much for me.
Draft
Best: Carolina made up for its sub-par March with a good draft, picking future starters with its first four picks –- LB Jon Beason, WR Dwayne Jarrett, C Ryan Kalil and DE Charles Johnson.
Worst: Tampa Bay went defense on six of its first seven picks. I'm not sold on DE Gaines Adams becoming a star.
NFC WEST
Free agency/trades
Best off-season: Seattle added DE Patrick Kerney, S Deon Grant and TE Marcus Pollard –- three solid players.
Worst off-season: The 49ers' spending spree will come back to haunt them. CB Nate Clements is worth a big deal, but S Michael Lewis ($10 million guaranteed), WR Ashley Lelie (two years, $4.3 million) and LB Tully Banta-Cain (three years, $8.7 million) were reaches.
Draft
Best: No team did anything earth-shattering, but Arizona made a smart pick in the first round with OT Levi Brown. He didn't deserve to go fifth overall but the Cardinals desperately need to run the ball better.
Worst: Seattle didn't have a first round pick (it went to New England in the Deion Branch deal). The Seahawks added Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson in the second round, but not a lot else.
