Cam Newton wants the world to know he’s healthy and in good shape.

Newton, the free agent quarterback who was cut by the Panthers this offseason after playing in just two games last year, appeared to be moving around well and in excellent physical condition in workout footage he posted on Instagram.

It’s not hard to conclude that Newton wants the NFL world to know he’s healthy, and that he’s still hoping some team will make him a free agent offer commensurate with getting paid like a starting quarterback.

Whether that happens remains to be seen. At the moment, there doesn’t appear to be an NFL team that would offer him its starting job, and there may not even be many that would offer him a chance to compete for the starting job.

Newton still has a couple months before training camps are scheduled to open, so he does have time to find an interested team, take a physical and show up ready to work.

The DB is kind of “meh” on Newton at this stage – but we note that the following are presumptive 2020 starting QBs – DREW LOCK, JARRETT STIDHAM, TYROD TAYLOR, MITCH TRUBISKY/NICK FOLES, DWAYNE HASKINS/KYLE ALLEN and GARDNER MINSHEW.

DETROIT

The Lions are looking forward to incumbent RB KERRYON JOHNSON vs. rookie RB D’ANDRE SWIFT.  Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press:

Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia didn’t have to think twice when Georgia’s D’Andre Swift, arguably the best running back in this year’s class, was available in NFL draft’s second round.

He was all in.

And Swift’s addition has sparked quite the controversy. The most common debate surrounds the likelihood of him surpassing Kerryon Johnson as the team’s starting running back.

Patricia appeared on NBCSN’s “Rich Eisen Show” on Wednesday, where he discussed the competition with Swift in the mix.

“There’s competition at every spot, that’s how it’s determined when we get to training camp,” Patricia said. “I’m pretty sure I’m good with the quarterback spot, but beyond that, we’re going to go

Any competition, though, is contingent on the Lions returning to in-person workouts.

The Lions expect to complete Phase 2 of their offseason program by the end of the month, Patricia said. Phase 3, which is organized team activities, will likely need to be modified depending on the state and local governments.

DALLAS

Did the Cowboys make a sneaky good signing when they added DE ALDON SMITH?  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Aldon Smith has been reinstated to the NFL after a long substance abuse suspension, and despite a nearly five-year layoff, he says he can still be the All-Pro he once was.

Smith told TMZ.com that he sees no reason he can’t be the guy on the field who had 19.5 sacks in 2012, plus a better person off the field.

“I’m an overall better person,” he said. “I got 20 sacks — or 19.5, I say 20 because it was 20 — but, I was able to play at a high level with a lot of other things going on in my life. With how life is for me now, I’m just looking forward to seeing what I can do. My goal is to pick up where I left off. That just means I always work hard. I always play hard. I want the same thing out of my teammates and I’m sure those guys in the locker room feel the same way, and with that mentality, the sky is the limit. I think as long as we do what we need to do and everybody plays to their potential anything’s possible.”

Smith, who described himself as “extremely thankful for the Cowboys” for giving him another chance in the NFL, said that he feels great at 30 years old.

“God has blessed me with talent,” Smith said. “And one of the talents is my natural gift to play ball, to be an athlete. So, I still feel young. I don’t have the mileage on my body. I still feel great when I go to the gym. I still feel young and fresh. So, if anything, I’m looking forward to what I’m going to be able to do out there.”

Given Smith’s track record, it would be easy to question whether he can really stay on the right path long enough to return to his All-Pro form. If he can, the Cowboys just added an elite pass rusher to their roster.

TAMPA BAY

TE ROB GRONKOWSKI is heading back to playing weight.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

When Rob Gronkowski returned to the NFL following a trade from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to join his buddy Tom Brady, one question that percolated was how quickly the All-World tight end could put back on the weight he’d shed.

Gronk’s already almost there.

After getting down to 240 pounds during retirement — and looking every bit that skinny — Gronkowski told CBS Sports HQ this week that he’s nearly back to his expected playing weight.

“Yeah, baby, yeah. You know it,” Gronkowski said. “My lowest I got to was 240. And it felt good, you know. I’ve been above 260 pounds basically my whole entire life, since high school. Since senior year in high school, I was 260. I had never been under 260 since then. So, it felt good just to drop that weight, you know ease up my joints, let my body free. I kind of felt like that weight was loaded weight, too. So, it felt good to get rid of it.

“Now it’s time to build back upon it, put lean muscle on my body and get ready for the NFL season like I never have before. It’s a different way, a different type of training style I’m doing and everything. I’m about 257 pounds right now. Everyone thinks I’m like 240, 230, but I’m basically four more protein shakes away from being at my playing weight. I’m excited about that. I’ll definitely be at my weight when it’s time to go. I’ll be at 260 to 265 when it’s time to roll.”

No one questioned Gronk’s ability to pack back on the poundage when needed. That he’s well on his way with months to spare is a good sign he could recapture his title of best all-around tight end in the NFL. The best blocking TE in the game when healthy, Gronkowski needs to be able to keep on the weight to battle defensive lineman and linebackers in the trenches when asked.

The weight question aside, how the year off affects Gronk will be an interesting sidebar to a crazy offseason in Tampa. Will he return refreshed and rejuvenated or, like many we’ve seen over the years, did he lose a little bit by stepping away from the game for a spell?

THIS AND THAT

RATING THE OFFSEASONS

Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com has unveiled his 32 to 1 ratings of the NFL’s 2020 offseasons.  We had the bottom 16, down to number 32 Houston, yesterday.  Now let’s count up to 1 (the comments below are heavily edited):

16. San Francisco 49ers

What went right: The 49ers stuck to their plan on both sides of the ball with their two first-round picks. After trading defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Colts for the No. 14 pick, they used that selection to draft his replacement, Javon Kinlaw. The 49ers then traded up six slots in the bottom half of Round 1 to add another weapon for Kyle Shanahan, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who gives Jimmy Garoppolo another playmaker who can threaten opposing defenses with the ball in his hands.

Later during the draft, they found the best possible replacement for the retiring Joe Staley by trading two picks for star offensive tackle Trent Williams. The two sides agreed to leave Williams’ contract on the table for future talks, but he was drafted by the Shanahan family when they were in Washington and should have no problem stepping in as a plug-and-play replacement on the left side of the San Francisco line.

What went wrong: Buckner was one of the NFL’s best defensive linemen, and while Kinlaw could develop into a superstar, that dominant 49ers line is going to miss Buckner’s talent. San Francisco also re-signed Arik Armstead to a five-year, $85 million deal, which is an awful lot of money for a player who has only one season in five as an impactful pass-rusher.

What they could have done differently: Aiyuk is a talented wideout, and I’m confident Shanahan will get the most out of his skill set, but the 49ers probably should have traded down to grab extra picks as opposed to trading up for a wide receiver in a class full of wideouts. General manager John Lynch said after the fact that Aiyuk was neck-and-neck with CeeDee Lamb atop the team’s board, but this was an incredibly deep wideout class, and teams often overestimate their ability to rank players before the draft.

What’s left to do: Extend George Kittle. San Francisco’s star tight end is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and after Austin Hooper became the first tight end in league history to sign a deal averaging more than $10 million per season, Kittle should push the market much further forward. A four-year extension should top $50 million.

15. Las Vegas Raiders

What went right: Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock got to work fixing a defense that has ranked 30th and 31st in defensive DVOA during Gruden’s second stint as Raiders coach. Carl Nassib and Maliek Collins add two solid rotation players up front. The Raiders flooded the secondary with free agents (Damarious Randall, Jeff Heath) and draft picks (Damon Arnette, Amik Robertson) and might be able to move 2019 signing Lamarcus Joyner back to his best position at free safety, which would upgrade multiple spots in the lineup. The centerpiece was signing Rams star Cory Littleton and potential Bears breakout guy Nick Kwiatkoski to heal the team’s wounds at linebacker, where they’ve been a mess for years.

With the offensive line set, Gruden was able to tinker and make interesting additions. The Raiders used their first-round pick on burner Henry Ruggs III, added 6-foot-3 wideout Bryan Edwards in Round 3 and then used another third-rounder on jack-of-all-trades playmaker Lynn Bowden Jr., who will start his NFL career as a running back. Jason Witten isn’t anyone’s idea of a burner these days, but he’s overqualified as the second tight end behind Darren Waller. Gruden and Mayock also brought in quarterback Marcus Mariota and paid the second overall pick from 2015 just enough money to make it seem like Derek Carr has something to worry about if he struggles.

What went wrong: I’m not sure the offense adds up. The Raiders’ top two wide receivers are both field-stretchers in Ruggs and Tyrell Williams, but Carr’s average pass traveled just 6.2 yards in the air last season, the shortest of any starting quarterback’s.

For the second year in a row, the Raiders used a first-round pick on a player who was regarded as a bit of a stretch. Last year, it was defensive end Clelin Ferrell at No. 4, a move whose wisdom was not immediately revealed during Ferrell’s rookie season. This year, it was taking Arnette in the first round (No. 19) when many expected him to be available in Round 2. Las Vegas didn’t have a second-round pick, but trading down would have been a viable option.

14. New York Giants

What went right: The Giants needed a lot this offseason, and general manager Dave Gettleman addressed many of the biggest concerns. Help in the secondary? They signed corner James Bradberry from Carolina. A fix for the rotating void at inside linebacker? Blake Martinez came over from Green Bay. Protection for Daniel Jones? They used the No. 4 overall pick on tackle Andrew Thomas, who should start his career at right tackle before replacing Nate Solder on the left side.

It remains to be seen whether Joe Judge will be up to the task as a first-time head coach, and his name didn’t exactly excite Giants fans, but new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was once one of the league’s most promising playcallers. (Remember that Garrett was the Ravens’ first choice to replace Brian Billick in 2008.) Recent league history is littered with guys like Pat Shurmur, Gary Kubiak and Todd Bowles, each of whom looked behind the times and overwhelmed as head coaches before revitalizing their careers when moved back into a coordinator role. Garrett could do the same in New York.

13. New York Jets

What went right: After a disastrous pair of offseasons saw the Jets buy big and get little out of stars such as cornerback Trumaine Johnson, running back Le’Veon Bell and linebacker C.J. Mosley, new general manager Joe Douglas went all the way in the opposite direction. The former Eagles executive didn’t make many headlines, but the moves he made were generally smart, one-year deals for moderate money, as Douglas brought back corner Brian Poole and linebacker Jordan Jenkins and signed defensive back Pierre Desir, receiver Breshad Perriman and linebacker Patrick Onwuasor. Johnson, meanwhile, was cut.

In an echo of what Brandon Beane did in Buffalo a year ago for Josh Allen, Douglas rebuilt quarterback Sam Darnold’s line by signing four offensive linemen and retaining Alex Lewis. Douglas completed the process by using the Jets’ first-round pick on massive offensive tackle Mekhi Becton. With his second-rounder, Douglas drafted wideout Denzel Mims. The most important thing for the Jets to do in 2020 is figure out whether they want to keep treating Darnold as their quarterback of the future.

What went wrong: I’m not sure some of the offensive linemen Douglas added are going to be able to protect Darnold.

I wish the Jets had added more at receiver, although they were likely hamstrung by the contract handed to injured wideout Quincy Enunwa.

What they could have done differently: If I had to pick one Jets move to take back, Fant sticks out. It’s tough to find starting tackles, but Fant was a below-average starter in 2016.

What’s left to do: Sign Jamal Adams to an extension.

12. Cincinnati Bengals

What went right: The Bengals added a guy coming off arguably the best season in college football history at the most important position in sports. Quarterback Joe Burrow is a great start for Cincinnati, which followed in the draft by adding Tee Higgins at the top of Round 2. With the organization retaining star wideout A.J. Green via the franchise tag, Burrow should quietly have one of the league’s most exciting wideout corps to target in 2020.

Everyone knew the Bengals were taking Burrow. What was really surprising about the offseason, though, was their foray into unrestricted free agency. In an attempt to fix a defense that ranked 30th in DVOA a season ago, they signed defensive tackle D.J. Reader from the Texans, cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes from the Vikings and safety Vonn Bell from the Saints. I’m pretty sure they spent more on defensive free agents this offseason than they did during Marvin Lewis’ entire tenure running the team.

What went wrong: Well, some of those deals weren’t very good. The three-year, $42 million deal for Waynes stood out as a dramatic contract for a player who was often frustrating in Minnesota. .

And while Burrow has plenty of wide receivers, the Bengals didn’t really add much to help along the offensive line. Jonah Williams, a first-round pick last year, will return after missing all of his rookie season, but the only other lineman the organization added was Xavier Su’a-Filo, who was a mess in Houston before spending the past two years as an injury replacement for the Cowboys. Burrow is a promising prospect, but if he doesn’t get protection, it won’t be any use.

What they could have done differently: The Waynes deal looked aggressive at the time and arguably looks worse now, given that the cornerback market was relatively mild.

What’s left to do: Sign Larry Warford. The Bengals should be at the front of the queue for the former Saints guard — Warford would be a massive upgrade on 2019 fourth-rounder Michael Jordan.

11. Washington

What went right: Washington landed Ron Rivera as its new coach, and the two-time Coach of the Year went right to work attempting to fix the defense. Washington brought back Kendall Fuller, reunited Rivera with longtime Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, and took one-year fliers on defensive backs Sean Davis and Ronald Darby and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis. The secondary has been a mess in Washington for years, and moving on from Josh Norman likely qualifies as addition by subtraction. The team topped the transformation off by using the No. 2 overall pick on pass-rusher Chase Young.

What went wrong: Most of the deals I mentioned were reasonable, but the four-year, $40 million deal given to Fuller was too generous for a player who has played only one above-average season.

Rivera didn’t do enough to support second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins. The only veteran receivers Washington imported this offseason were roster fodder like Logan Thomas, Richard Rodgers and Cody Latimer, the latter of whom was arrested Saturday on five charges related to discharging his weapon in a Colorado apartment. The organization added Antonio Gibson in the third round and Antonio Gandy-Golden in the fourth round of the draft, but its move to give up a second-rounder to jump up eight spots last year to draft edge rusher Montez Sweat cost Washington a chance at adding a more notable wide receiver with the No. 34 pick.

What’s left to do: Extend Brandon Scherff. After losing Williams, the next thing for Washington to do to protect Haskins is to retain its star guard. Scherff was retained via the franchise tag on a one-year, $15 million pact, and I’d expect the Iowa product to top that figure on an average annual salary across a new deal. A Scherff extension would likely come in somewhere around five years and $75 million.

10. Los Angeles Chargers

What went right: The Chargers were able to add a number of veterans on what were team-friendly deals relative to the market. Offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga arrived on a three-year, $30 million deal. Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. left the Broncos for two years and $17 million. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph signed on a similar deal. The Chargers won the trade when they dealt tackle Russell Okung to Carolina for guard Trai Turner. They even franchised tight end Hunter Henry and locked up running back Austin Ekeler on a four-year, $24.5 million deal. Every deal here looks good.

What went wrong: The one position the Chargers didn’t fill was at left tackle; they dealt Okung and never acquired a meaningful replacement.

While it’s impossible to talk a team out of taking a young quarterback when they see one they like in the top 10, the trade for Kenneth Murray later in the first round is easier to argue. Off-ball linebackers just aren’t that hard to come by, and the Chargers essentially valued Murray as a top-15 pick by sending their second- and third-rounders to move up and acquire him. Murray has to turn into a Pro Bowl-caliber player for this move to work. The Patriots were the team that traded down, and teams that trade up with the Patriots usually regret their move.

What’s left to do: Sign Jason Peters. While Peters has been popularly linked to a return with the Eagles, L.A. is the best possible landing spot for the 38-year-old tackle.

9. New Orleans Saints

What went right: The Saints brought back Drew Brees! While the odds of Brees playing somewhere else seemed remote, well, ask the Patriots about remote odds. It was always going to be tough to keep Teddy Bridgewater as the primary backup, but the Saints were able to get a relative bargain in their one-year, $1.1 million deal with Jameis Winston. Even if Winston is just the inconsistent quarterback we saw over five years in Tampa Bay, that sort of money is well below market value for a borderline starting quarterback.

Nobody seems to squeeze out more cap space to add veterans on short-term deals than the Saints, who were back to their usual tricks this offseason. In addition to retaining players such as offensive lineman Andrus Peat and defensive tackle David Onyemata, Sean Payton & Co. were able to import safety Malcolm Jenkins, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and defensive tackle Margus Hunt. With $9.5 million in cap space remaining after cutting three-time Pro Bowler Larry Warford, they might not be done shopping.

What went wrong: After using the first-round tender on jack-of-all-trades Taysom Hill, they elected to lock up the BYU product through 2021 by handing him a one-year, $16.3 million pact that is almost fully guaranteed. Hill has yet to play even half of the offensive snaps in a single game, and there’s little evidence that he profiles as a viable long-term replacement for Brees. Hill turns 30 in August, and the Saints have trusted him to throw only 13 passes over the past two years, including one lone attempt over their five games without Brees in 2019.

What they could have done differently: Hill is more valuable to New Orleans than he is to anybody else and vice versa. It’s difficult to imagine that he would have earned this sort of money on the open market.

What’s left to do: Add an edge rusher.

8. Arizona Cardinals

What went right: Not only were the Cardinals able to get out of David Johnson’s underwater contract, they were able to use it as an asset as part of the DeAndre Hopkins trade. They are expected to give Hopkins a new contract, but getting a star wide receiver in the prime of his career for a second-round pick is a bargain when compared to trades past (Joey Galloway, Randy Moss) and present (Odell Beckham Jr., Stefon Diggs). Unloading the Johnson contract only makes the Hopkins trade an even bigger win for general manager Steve Keim.

Arizona still has to make the most out of his skills, but having do-everything defender Isaiah Simmons fall to No. 8 in the draft was exactly what coordinator Vance Joseph would have hoped for. Simmons should be able to solve this team’s biggest weakness in 2019 — its inability to cover tight ends.

What went wrong: It’s a testament to the Hopkins trade that the Cardinals rank so highly, because I don’t love their free-agent signings.

What they could have done differently: Using voidable years to pay a player like Drew Brees or Tom Brady while keeping cap space down is one thing, but to do the same to sign questionable defensive additions is just poor management. The Cardinals need to pay Hopkins and cornerback Patrick Peterson, but good organizations find players like Campbell and Kennard on the cheap.

What’s left to do: Re-sign Peterson.

7. Miami Dolphins

What went right: No team added more talent to its roster this offseason than the Dolphins. They handed out $123.5 million in guaranteed money to free agents, according to Spotrac, which was nearly twice as much as any other organization. They also held on to all of their draft picks, using three first-rounders and two second-rounders. Miami could line up 13 new starters in 2020.

I loved seeing this team try to start its defensive rebuild by focusing on making one position a point of strength; by adding Byron Jones and first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene to Xavien Howard, the Dolphins could have one of the best cornerback trios in football. They got their man by staying put and drafting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, of course, but they signed three starting offensive linemen in free agency and then used first- and second-round picks on two more.

What went wrong: Some of those contracts are unlikely to age well. The three-year, $30 million deal handed to Ereck Flowers seems ill-advised for a player who was nearly out of football a year ago.

I also can’t believe Miami went through the entire offseason without adding a single receiver of note. The offense will run it back with DeVante Parker, Allen Hurns, Albert Wilson and Preston Williams at wideout and Mike Gesicki at tight end. Parker finally had his breakout season, but after four middling years up to that point, is he a surefire No. 1 wide receiver? And even if he is, why not add more behind him with Williams and limited production from Hurns and Wilson a year ago? There’s a good chance the Dolphins will be back in the receiver market next offseason.

What they could have done differently: I would have tried to come away with at least one wide receiver from those five picks in the first or second round.

What’s left to do: Wait and see. .

6. Buffalo Bills

What went right: The Bills loaded up on defensive linemen and might have the NFL’s deepest line.

The headline move, of course, was trading four selections to the Vikings for star wideout Stefon Diggs. I saw it as a win for both sides, and I like the Bills taking a risk to add a guy who is one of the most talented receivers in football when healthy

What they could have done differently: The Bills used a third-round pick on running back Zack Moss, who should step in as a power back and quasi-replacement for Frank Gore. Given that they had a lot of faith in Devin Singletary and were using him as an every-down back for stretches last season, they probably could have found a power back later in the draft or in free agency for relatively cheap. That third-round pick could have gone toward a more significant contributor at cornerback.

What’s left to do: Extend their young core.

5. Dallas Cowboys

What went right: The Cowboys finally cut ties with Jason Garrett, and while the decision to hire Mike McCarthy didn’t necessarily excite fans, the organization was able to keep Kellen Moore to coordinate an offense that ranked second in DVOA a year ago. (I liked the addition of former Rams special-teams coordinator John Fassel.) Dallas had a wildly exciting prospect fall into its lap in the draft in wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, was able to re-sign Amari Cooper to a reasonable deal with two guaranteed years, and even brought in a cheap, reliable backup for Dak Prescott in former Bengals starter Andy Dalton.

Most of the work the Cowboys conducted involved rebuilding a defense that ranked 19th in DVOA. While they lost cornerback Byron Jones in free agency, they rebuilt their line by signing Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe. Dallas was able to land Trevon Diggs in the second round, who should help replace Jones in the years to come.

What went wrong: One year after returning from Guillain-Barré syndrome, star center Travis Frederick chose to retire.

The organization also hasn’t managed to get a long-term deal done with Prescott. History suggests that the Cowboys will make their best offer closest to the franchise tag deadline in July, but they need to accept that there’s little reason for Prescott’s side to cave in negotiations. History makes it quite clear that the price tag for starting quarterbacks only goes up.

What they could have done differently: They could have done more at corner, especially if they expect to compete for a Super Bowl in 2020. Logan Ryan is still a free agent, but it doesn’t appear that the Cowboys are particularly interested; that would have been a more significant upgrade than Daryl Worley, whom they signed on a one-year, $3 million deal. There would be some value in bringing a player such as Dre Kirkpatrick to training camp.

What’s left to do: Sign Dak. Simple as that.

4. Indianapolis Colts

What went right: Indy upgraded at arguably the two most important positions on its roster. At quarterback, it found a short-term replacement for Andrew Luck by signing Philip Rivers, who will move Jacoby Brissett back into the No. 2 role. The Colts still need to find their quarterback of the future — I’m not sure fourth-round pick Jacob Eason is that guy — but Rivers can flourish behind an effective offensive line after spending last season playing behind turnstiles at tackle. They also were able to convince star left tackle Anthony Castonzo to put off retirement for a two-year, $33 million deal.

Our Mike Clay pegged the upgrade from Margus Hunt to former 49ers star DeForest Buckner at defensive tackle as the largest any team made at any position this offseason. The trade for Buckner gives the Colts a two-way superstar in the prime of his career.

What went wrong: The Buckner trade was expensive for the Colts, who shipped off the 13th pick while handing the former Oregon star a four-year, $84 million deal with $56.4 million due over the next three seasons. Sacrificing the surplus value of the first-round pick and tacking it onto Buckner’s contract means they realistically paid north of $25 million or so per season for the interior disrupter. It’s still a defensible move, but he has to play like a superstar for this one to work.

I would have liked to see Indy further address its secondary, which shed a pair of starters in Pierre Desir and Clayton Geathers.

What they could have done differently: In addition to going after a veteran cornerback, the Colts should have added more offensive line depth.

What’s left to do: Re-sign Ryan Kelly. Indy’s excellent center is approaching free agency, and while injuries have been a concern, this team should keep its offensive line together by locking up the last first-round pick of the Ryan Grigson era. Kelly could become the first center in football to top $12 million per season on a multiyear deal.

3. Denver Broncos

What went right: In a world in which we don’t really know whether Drew Lock is a viable NFL starter, John Elway did the best thing any general manager can do for a young, questionable quarterback: Go out and get playmakers for him.

I liked what the Broncos did on defense too. Letting cornerback Chris Harris Jr. leave, Elway traded a pair of picks for veteran corner A.J. Bouye and lineman Jurrell Casey, with the latter being stolen away from a Titans team that needed the cash and cap room for a seventh-round pick.

What went wrong: RB Melvin Gordon can be a valuable player, but he has been too inconsistent to justify the two-year, $16 million deal he took home. The move could marginalize Phillip Lindsay, and I’m not sure Gordon is actually a better back than the former undrafted free agent.

What they could have done differently: The Broncos could have waited out the perennially flooded running back market for a bargain. I suspect they could have signed someone like Devonta Freeman on a one-year deal for less than half of what they’ll pay Gordon in 2020, and while Gordon is probably the better player, the difference isn’t commensurate with the money involved.

What’s left to do: Bring in a challenger for Bolles. There aren’t many exciting options at left tackle available on the open market, but simply getting somebody who won’t commit three holding penalties per month would be a step in the right direction for the Broncos. Jason Peters might be out of their price range, but they could pretty easily justify signing someone like Kelvin Beachum or Cordy Glenn to compete for the job.

2. Cleveland Browns

What went right: The Browns corrected a lot of the mistakes that led to their much-hyped 2019 season falling flat on its face. Coach Freddie Kitchens and general manager John Dorsey were replaced by Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry. The new brain trust hired Bill Callahan to take over the offensive line, entrusting the weakest part of the 2019 team to arguably the NFL’s best offensive line coach.

After quarterback Baker Mayfield was left shell-shocked by subpar offensive line play, the Browns signed the top lineman available, Jack Conklin, and used their first-round pick on their left tackle of the future, Jedrick Wills Jr. Finally, in an attempt to surround Mayfield with playmakers before a make-or-break season, the Browns signed Austin Hooper to serve as their primary tight end. They even got pass-rusher Myles Garrett back from suspension and picked up an extra 2021 third-round pick from the Saints for trading down 14 spots.

What went wrong: As is the case for every other team with a new coach, the coronavirus-impacted offseason left the Browns without their typical practice time. They also lost Jarvis Landry to hip surgery, and the LSU product might not be ready for Week 1, leaving them with the likes of Rashard Higgins and Taywan Taylor behind Odell Beckham Jr.

What they could have done differently: I could see this team using a lot of 22 personnel early in the season with Beckham as the lone wideout, but there were probably opportunities for Cleveland to add a third option given the slow market and deep draft at the position. Even now, options such as Taylor Gabriel and Dontrelle Inman are around and not likely to cost much more than the minimum.

What’s left to do: Extend Garrett. The former first overall pick has been a superstar from the moment he arrived in Cleveland, and he was on pace for a 16-sack, 29-knockdown campaign before being suspended for striking Mason Rudolph with a helmet. With Garrett cleared to return, there’s little reason to think his future will be elsewhere. If anything, the controversy might bring down Garrett’s price, which would make this an even more attractive time for the Browns to negotiate a deal.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What went right: If you haven’t heard, boy, are you in for a surprise! The Bucs added quarterback Tom Brady to replace Jameis Winston. Getting even a declining Brady would be enough to push them toward the top 10, but they followed up those moves by convincing tight end Rob Gronkowski to come out of retirement and acquiring him from the Patriots for a pick swap. With a huge hole looming at right tackle, they then managed to protect Brady by using their first-round pick on Tristan Wirfs.

You knew about all of that already, but lost in the shuffle was the work Tampa Bay did to retain the core of a defense that ranked fifth in DVOA a year ago. It managed to bring back tackle Ndamukong Suh and ends Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett. The Bucs pressured opposing quarterbacks 34% of the time when all three of those players were on the field last season, which would have been the second-best mark in football over a full season. They got everything they could possibly have hoped for this offseason.

What went wrong: Not much. You could make a case that they should have added a veteran running back, but they let Peyton Barber leave and only replaced him by drafting Ke’Shawn Vaughn in the third round, suggesting 2018 second-round pick Ronald Jones will have a big role.

What they could have done differently: Brought back the Creamsicle jerseys. I can’t think of any personnel decisions the Buccaneers should have handled differently this offseason. Even if Brady disappoints, there’s no way they could or should have turned down the opportunity to add him. If I have to come up with one just for the sake of being complete, maybe they should have added a better backup quarterback behind Brady than Blaine Gabbert?

What’s left to do: Sign one of the veteran backs. I don’t fully trust Jones as a pass-protector. There are still plenty of experienced backs available, with the likes of Devonta Freeman, Carlos Hyde, Lamar Miller and LeSean McCoy unsigned. The Bucs don’t have much cap space, but signing one of those guys won’t cost much more than the minimum.

ROONEY RULE EXPANSION

Terez Paylor of YahooSports.com on Rooney Rule expansion:

Ever since details of the NFL’s controversial proposal incentivizing teams to hire minorities first leaked last week, much of the coverage surrounding the league’s diversity issue has revolved around that very topic, so much so that it has been easy to miss the other significant development that sprang from the same fountain of inclusion.

That development, which was announced Tuesday, was the NFL’s decision to implement the most sweeping expansion to the much-maligned Rooney Rule since it was created in 2002.

Teams will now be required to interview at least two external minority candidates for a head coaching job instead of one. They will also be required to interview one external minority candidate for coordinator, general manager and senior football operations positions, as well as a wide-range of executive positions instead of none.

Additionally, clubs passed a resolution that will bar teams from blocking assistant coaches from interviewing for coordinator jobs with other teams, something that thrilled many assistants throughout the league, regardless of race.

This is a big deal, one minority NFL assistant coach told Yahoo Sports, because assistants who are under contract get blocked all the time.

“Hell, sometimes you don’t even know if a team has requested to interview you,” the coach said. “The organization won’t tell you that someone wanted to interview you. It’s long overdue.”

All this should be, in theory, a step forward for a league that is struggling with diversity. Still, a significant problem looms on the potential effectiveness of all these measures. The same people who created the NFL’s diversity problem are the same ones doing the hiring.

And to be sure, the NFL’s diversity problem is real.

For starters, there are only four minority head coaches and two minority general managers, numbers there are down significantly from only a couple years ago. That this could happen in 2020 is unconscionable, and that’s exactly what those who worked closely with the NFL on the revised Rooney Rule are trying to remedy.

One of those people is Rod Graves, a former executive for the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets. After a stint in the league office, Graves, 61, is now the executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, an organization that fights to increase minority representation throughout the NFL. Since February, Graves has been a part of a task force that includes former league executives and coaches, including Tony Dungy, the first black coach to win a Super Bowl, and several attorneys and academics. The group has worked hand-in-hand with commissioner Roger Goodell and the league’s workplace diversity committee to craft the changes that were implemented Tuesday.

“The one thing that I think we all have in common … is that we love the National Football League,” Graves told Yahoo Sports. “And to me, this is no different than taking a body that has some cancerous area and making sure that we’re going to work to remedy that part of the body.

“You know, this is a great game we have, and it’s been good to all of us. But this is an area that we have to fix in order for the league to be the best it can be. We can’t do it without it, and I think what we accomplished today was a significant first step.”

Graves understands why there is skepticism. Again, the same people who have failed so miserably to promote diversity — the team owners — will be the ones still doing the hiring, a fact that leads to no shortage of cynicism from minority employees scattered across the league’s 32 teams.

“Even if you have the rule in place, teams would have to be proactive,” one veteran minority personnel man recently told Yahoo Sports.

The positives of a Rooney Rule expansion

Graves is optimistic the Rooney revisions will eventually take. For one, he says he believes Goodell is sincere in his desire to push the NFL toward being more diverse. Additionally, the negative attention the NFL continues to get on this issue makes it hard for the league to be inactive.

“I think times have changed now — I think we’re in a period of time where people are asking more questions, and it’s not just the people who used to be cited as disgruntled,” Graves said, referring to minority employees throughout the league. “I think there’s an expectation of fans, of sponsors, of media and others … to ask the question, ‘Why aren’t there more minorities in leadership roles? Why are we still in an area where minorities can be used for the production of business but can’t lead?’ Those are tough questions that I believe the NFL has to answer.

“And so with that, I just think that the climate is different today than it was five years ago, than it was 10 years ago and certainly different than it was 20 years ago.”

And it’s because of that, Graves said, that he’s seeing a different level of commitment from the league.

“There are teams out there who get it, who are doing a very good job with respect to diversity,” Graves said. “But we have not mobilized on a league level [like this] to address this issue, and that, to me, is what’s different [this time]. I believe it’s there now, and I think it’s going to become even stronger as the weeks and months progress.”

N. Jeremi Duru, a sports law professor at American University who wrote a book on the creation of the Rooney Rule called “Advancing The Ball: Race, Reformation, and the Quest for Equal Coaching Opportunity in the NFL,” largely agrees, noting that in theory, the Rooney Rule revision expands it in a positive manner.

“But whether the rule has teeth is untold — that will be seen when we look at [the league’s] enforcement [of it],” Duru told Yahoo Sports. “Because there have been multiple times over the years where there have been determinations made by clubs with respect to the interview processes that the league has viewed as being compliant with the Rooney Rule … that a lot of folks have felt has been non-compliant with the rule. So there hasn’t been enforcement where a lot of folks have felt that enforcement should have come to pass.

“And so, if indeed we see the league truly scrutinize the interviews to ensure they’re meaningful interviews, to ensure that interviewees of color are getting the same experience as interviewees who aren’t of color, then we’ll know that the rule has more teeth.”

One positive, Duru noted, comes in the fact that these Rooney Rule revisions were implemented at all.

“Two years ago, all of these proposals with respect to expansion of the rule were roundly rejected, and two years later, they’re accepted,” Duru said. “So that indicates to me that the NFL is serious about this, and thinking about this as a bit more of an emergency than they thought it was two years ago. And if that’s the case, then I think true enforcement could follow.”

What to watch in enforcement of the revised rule

The onus falls on the league office to do so, especially after a conference call with reporters on Tuesday where Goodell said the league is “not satisfied with where we are” on diversity, and added that “we know we can and should do better.” Goodell also said the league will continue to look at additional steps to improve the now-tabled plan to incentivize teams to hire minority candidates with the lure of improved draft picks.

Meanwhile Troy Vincent, an African-American former player who is the NFL’s head of operations, also worked with the task force to develop the revisions that were recently implemented. He pledged on the same call that the fight for equality within league ranks is not over.

“This fight has been going on for a long, long time,” Vincent said. “The facts are, we have a broken system, and we’re looking to implement things to change the direction we’re going.”

There’s now a comprehensive plan to fix it, Vincent added, one that should be buoyed by the fact the league office has figured out how to measure the retention of women and other minorities throughout the league by collecting centralized data.

“Now, as employees, we’re all held accountable to do the right thing,” Vincent said.

Teams in the league still have to prove they can do just that. Like many veteran, minority personnel men who spoke to Yahoo Sports last week, Graves sees Tuesday’s development as a step to improve diversity in the NFL, but acknowledges there’s still much work to do.

“It’s going to be a period of monitoring and adjustments and coming back and trying to get it right, because anything that you see passed today may not necessarily be in effect a year from now,” Graves said. “Hopefully, if it’s not, we’ve got a better approach — we’ve identified a better solution. I see this system as a comprehensive approach that will involve a number of steps to make sure that it is sustainable for the long haul.”

UNLOCKING THE LOCKDOWN

Here’s hoping we at least get the Ohio State plan this fall.  Heather Dinich of ESPN.com:

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said Wednesday that his athletic department has run several social distancing models to consider having fans in the stands at games this fall, and Ohio Stadium, with a normal capacity of more than 100,000, would hold a crowd closer to 20,000-22,000 fans and up to 40,000-50,000 “if guidelines are relaxed.”

“We’ve played with that a little bit as a framework to start as we move forward and think about what we’d ultimately be allowed to do,” Smith told reporters before later clarifying the low-end estimate in a tweet.

“We’re fortunate, with 100,000 seats in the stadium,” he said. “So could we implement the current CDC guidelines, state guidelines around physical distancing, mask requirements and all those types of things in an outdoor environment and have obviously significantly less fans than we are used to? I think it’s possible. I just feel like we have the talent and skill and space capacity to provide an opportunity for a certain number of fans to have access to our particular stadium. Of course, that wouldn’t be true across the country because of capacity. But I think we can get there.”

With seating capacity of 102,780, Ohio Stadium is the fourth-largest on-campus facility in the nation, according to the school’s athletic website.

To determine who would get priority access to the limited seats available, Smith said the athletic department would first turn to the points system already in place but also would consider faculty, staff, students, donors, media, parents and other groups.

“We have to look at those and come up with some strategies within those groups,” Smith said. “Our point system has held the test of time, so that would probably be one. Then, of course, the parents and the guests of our student-athletes and coaches would be a high priority. We’d come up with a strategy, but we haven’t nailed that down.”

On the scale between Free and LockDown, Ohio (with a Republican governor and a Democrat health secretary) have been somewhat in the middle, so this might be a good projection as to what most states will find reasonable.