One Move Each NFL Team Should Make Before the Regular Season Begins

One Move Each NFL Team Should Make Before the Regular Season Begins By Kristopher Knox Jul 20, 2015 Associated Press The 2015 NFL draft is firmly affixed in the history books, and the bulk of this year's high-profile free agents were taken off the market long ago. It's fairly safe to say, however, that teams are far from finished making moves.Plenty of unsigned players are still out there, and the pool will continue to grow as teams begin trimming rosters in the preseason. Even teams that don't need to bring in outside help have countless internal decisions to make between now and the start of the regular season.Today we're going to examine one move—be it a trade, free-agent signing, contract offer or internal roster decision—that each team should make before the regular season kicks off on September 10.Teams are listed in alphabetical order.Atlanta FalconsJohn Bazemore/Associated Press Grant Julio Jones a Contract ExtensionAtlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and he just watched receivers Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas receive new five-year, $70 million contracts from the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos, respectively.While the Falcons aren't under any sort of franchise-tag deadline like the Broncos and Cowboys were, giving Jones an extension with similar terms could prove beneficial to the team.For starters, a new deal would ensure the Falcons don't have to deal with any franchise-tag nonsense next offseason. It would also ensure that Jones can go into the coming season with a sense of financial security. Locking him in now might also be cheaper than doing it a year from now.A deal would also apparently make fellow receiver Roddy White pretty happy."If I was the GM, I would get a deal done with Julio now," White told ESPN's Josina Anderson last week. "I want to make sure he's paid. That's my guy."According to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, there is a "general sense around the team" that the Falcons could get a deal done by training camp.Now that a potential contract has been teased by the media, the Falcons should just go ahead and get a deal done to ensure everyone is smiling at the start of the 2015 regular season.Carolina PanthersChuck Burton/Associated Press Create Competition at Left TackleThe Carolina Panthers gave quarterback Cam Newton a shiny new $103.8 million contract this offseason. To protect their enormous investment, it appears the Panthers will rely on journeyman offensive tackle Michael Oher.Oher hasn't exactly been the blindside protector in his carer that the Panthers will need him to be this season. Oher was moved to right tackle early in his career, and he has even had some struggles on that side of the line. Last season while with the Tennessee Titans, for example, Pro Football Focus rated Oher 133rd overall among all offensive tackles.The "reassuring" news is that Oher at least ranked seven spots higher than former Panthers left tackle Byron Bell.Still, it would behoove the Panthers to put some pressure on Oher in training camp. Being one of the more lowly regarded players at your position is a bad thing, even if you look like an upgrade over the guy you're replacing.The Panthers can bring competition with Jonathan Martin or Nate Chandler. Though neither has proved to be a reliable NFL starter, both were rated higher than Oher by Pro Football Focus last season.Creating come competition at the position could at least push one of the players to improvement. If it doesn't, the Panthers might want to start looking at outside options.New Orleans SaintsGerald Herbert/Associated Press Sign a Tight EndThe New Orleans Saints traded away star tight end Jimmy Graham during the offseason, which dramatically downgrades the position.Benjamin Watson and Josh Hill return from last season, but the duo combined for a mere 34 receptions in 2014. That's 51 fewer receptions that Graham produced a season ago.The team also has former Bengal Orson Charles and undrafted rookie Jack Tabb on the roster. There is some reason to believe that this group can be serviceable. Watson is an accomplished 11-year veteran, and Hill came in at No. 33 overall among all tight ends, according to Pro Football Focus, in 2014. However, the Saints would be wise to strengthen the group before the regular season, if possible.Jermaine Gresham, who amassed 62 receptions and five touchdowns last season, headlines the current crop of available free agents. However, Gresham visited the Saints backs in June, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports, and a deal was not reached. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Saints did make an offer.Other veteran options include Zach Miller and blocking tight end Alex Smith. The Saints may also want to keep an eye out for other tight end options as teams begin trimming rosters in the preseason.After watching Graham shine over the past four seasons, it would be disppointing to see the Saints go into the 2015 season with the group it currently has without at least trying to find an upgrade somewhere.Tampa Bay BuccaneersChris O'Meara/Associated Press Showcase Backup Quarterback Mike GlennonThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to spend training camp and the preseason preparing rookie quarterback Jameis Winston for life as a pro signal-caller. If, however, the Buccaneers are confident early on that Winston is ready to start in Week 1, Tampa would be wise to devote at least a portion of the preseason toward showcasing backup quarterback Mike Glennon.Showing off what Glennon can do would make sense because there will almost certainly be a couple of teams that aren't completely sold on their own quarterback situations heading into the regular season. Cleveland, Buffalo and Houston could come calling with a trade offer if Glennon really wows on the preseason football field.If a team's starting quarterback suffers a serious injury in the preseason like Sam Bradford did in 2014, the pool of potential suitors will grow.Glennon is an enticing option for teams looking for a starter because he is young (he'll turn 26 this year) and has flashed some real ability on the field. He has a respectable career passer rating of 83.7. This is a higher career rating than that of EJ Manuel (78.5), Josh McCown (76.1), Brian Hoyer (76.8 and Geno Smith (71.5)—all players who could be Week 1 starters this season.NFL Media's Marc Sessler recently named Glennon the second-best backup in the league and placed him in the "starting material" category. If the Buccaneers are confident that Winston is their guy, they might want to see if another team feels that Glennon is starting material as well. The former North Carolina State standout has two years remaining on his current contract and could bring a starting-caliber player or high draft pick in a trade.This move only makes sense, though, if Tampa is sure that Winston is ready.For every team....link