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NFL Offseason: Most improved position units after first wave of free agency

By Lou Scataglia

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Joe Burrow #9 #of the Cincinnati Bengals on the final offensive play of the game for the Bengals against the Los Angles Rams during the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Joe Burrow #9 #of the Cincinnati Bengals on the final offensive play of the game for the Bengals against the Los Angles Rams during the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NFL offseason
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is slow to his feet after being sacked in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 56 between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The Rams came back in the final minutes of the game to win 23-20 on their home field.Super Bowl 56 Cincinnati Bengals Vs La Rams /

After the first major wave of free agency has concluded, the NFL has seen a ton of movement. Which position units are the most improved so far?

The NFL free agency periods are always a fun time, and this year seems much more dramatic than others.  Major quarterback movement has dominated headlines, while shocking trades and other signings have contributed.

Teams always look to improve their roster during the free agency window.  Some teams make significant investments in their units while others stand firm and wait until the free agency board falls to them.

Many teams who had extremely glaring holes and needs filled them quickly.  Teams who most have strong rosters up and down decided to take cheaper options in free agency to fill out the backends of their roster.

Looking across the league at all 32 teams, there are a few position units that stick out as the most improved units so far.

While wave two of free agency is among us, the most notable changes are done and over with.

NFL Free Agency: Most improved units so far

1. Bengals Offensive Line

This was perhaps the biggest issue for any team as free agency started.  The Bengals offensive line wasn’t just bad, it was horrendous.  Joe Burrow took 51 sacks in 16 games during the regular season, an average of more than three per game.

He took 19 more sacks in his four playoff games as well, which is nearly five per game.

This is unsustainable, and a big reason why the Bengals invested heavily into this unit, with three free agent signings.

Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La’el Collins are the three new starters along the offensive line.  They essentially rebuilt the right side of their line and replaced their center.

I would expect them to add more, perhaps a depth piece or two during the final waves of free agency, and I would also expect them to add a starting-caliber left guard in the NFL draft.

Even if they start their season with no more additions, they drastically improved their most glaring weakness.

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