2006 Record: 12-4, 1st AFC East.Key Losses: RB Corey Dillon.
Key Additions: WR Randy Moss, WR Wes Welker, WR Donte Stallworth, WR Kelley Washington, CB Tory James, TE Kyle Brady, RB Sammy Morris, LB Adalius Thomas, CB Brandon Meriweather.
Comment: The Patriots finally decided that having no-name receivers can ultimately cost you a championship, so they shored up in a big way, signing Stallworth and Washington, and trading for Moss and Welker. In addition, HC Bill Belichick added veterans Thomas and James to his defense, and drafted a defensive playmaker in Miami's Meriweather. The only question is, are Moss and noted thug Meriweather going to be disruptive in the clubhouse on a team of choir boys?
2006 Record: 9-7, third AFC West.Key Losses: RB Tatum Bell, QB Jake Plummer, DE Courtney Brown, CB Al Wilson.
Key Additions: CB Dre Bly, DT Dan Wilkinson, RB Travis Henry, TE Daniel Graham, QB Patrick Ramsey, DT Alvin McKinley, WR Brandon Stokley, P Todd Sauerbrun, LB Warrick Holdman, DE Jarvis Moss, DE Tim Crowder, OT Ryan Harris.
Comment: Most of the players the Broncos lost were marginal, in particular Plummer, who had already lost his job to 2006 rookie Jay Cutler. But the team picked up Henry, who revived his career with the Titans in 2006, and solid defensive help with McKinley and Holdman. And they added a solid pass rusher at the top of their draft in Moss. This was a team that made significant improvement early in the off-season, but now it appears New England has improved even more.
2006 Record: 4-12, fourth AFC North.Key Losses: RB Reuben Droughns, CB Daylon McCutcheon.
Key Additions: DE Robaire Smith, WR Tim Carter, RB Jamal Lewis, CB Kenny Wright, DE Antwan Peek, S Mike Adams, OT Joe Thomas, QB Brady Quinn, CB Eric Wright.
Comment: When the Browns drafted Thomas and then wound up trading up in the draft to land Quinn late in the first round, there was talk that Cleveland may have finally turned the proverbial corner as a sports town. But they also added Lewis, who has tormented them twice a year as a Raven and can't do that anymore, and also some help on the D-line in Smith and Peek. The Browns won't be contenders, but will be much improved.
2006 Record: 7-9, third NFC West.Key Losses: CB Sammy Davis, LB Renauld Williams, WR Antonio Bryant.
Key Additions: LB Colby Buckwoldt, LB Tully Banta-Cain, WR Ashley Lelie, S Michael Lewis, CB Nate Clements, LB Patrick Willis, OL Joe Staley, WR Jason Hill.
Comment: The Niners landed perhaps the best pick of the free agent litter in Clements, but didn't stop there. They also shored up their linebacking corps. by signing Buckwoldt and Banta-Cain, and by drafting tackling machine Willis out of Ole Miss with their first pick.
2006 Record: 2-14, fourth AFC West.Key Losses: QB Aaron Brooks, CB Tyrone Poole, WR Randy Moss.
Key Additions: RB Justin Griffith, RB Dominic Rhodes, QB JaMarcus Russell, TE Zach Miller, DE Quentin Moses, OT Mario Henderson, WR Johnnie Lee Higgins.
Comment: Did Aaron Brooks do anything in Oakland? Well, that doesn't matter now as the Raiders drafted a franchise QB in Russell. They also added a steady, if unspectacular, running back in long-time Colt Dominic Rhodes. The offense may not light up scoreboards, but at least the Raiders will be respectable.
Mike Farley is author of the blog I Miss Football Season
