The Most Surprising Move Every NFL Team Did NOT Make This Offseason

The Most Surprising Move Every NFL Team Did Not Make This OffseasonBy Ryan Riddle June 5  2014The 2014 NFL offseason saw every team working to implement its surefire team-building strategy in the hopes of making it to the big show in Santa Clara this January. Unfortunately, no general manager is perfect.Sometimes we know exactly what a team needs in order to improve heading into the next season, and the powers that be totally disregard what seems like the best thing for the organization. This can leave fans and media alike shocked and concerned.In this slideshow, we break down every team's most surprising move it did NOT make this offseason.  Arizona CardinalsNot Bringing in Josh McCown In the wake of the Daryl Washington year-long suspension, it would be easy to look back in hindsight and say the Cards should have never let Karlos Dansby go. But that would be unrealistic considering second-round pick Kevin Minter is poised and ready to shine after riding the bench for much of his rookie year.The real concern for the boys in the desert will be what happens if their veteran QB, Carson Palmer, who is nearly 35 years old, gets hurt.Over the years the already slow Palmer has become even more of a sitting duck. To make matters more worrisome, he will be standing behind a young, rebuilt offensive line that is both unproven and inexperienced. On paper it looks as if it's improved, but only time will tell the story.Should Palmer go down, his current backups are Drew Stanton, Ryan Lindley and rookie Logan Thomas. Thomas is already out of consideration considering he is one of the more raw QBs of his class. Neither Stanton nor Lindley instill the team with much confidence, and it would be hard to imagine Arizona competing for a playoff spot with either guy under center.The Cardinals should have pushed hard to aquire veteran QB Josh McCown during free agency to not only provide insurance to Palmer, but to compete for the starting job in an open competition.McCown had career year last season when he led the league in total QBR with an 85.1, according to ESPN.Atlanta FalconsNot Drafting Anthony Barr or Aaron DonaldThe Atlanta Falcons approached free agency and the draft knowing they desperately needed a pass-rusher and help on the offensive line. They signed guard Jon Asamoah and drafted tackle Jake Matthews but pretty much ignored the need for a rusher off the edge.The Falcons will are now forced to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks with Kroy Biermann, Jonathan Massaquoi and Osi Umenyiora from their new 3-4 defensive front. Biermann is a solid player coming off an injury, and Massaquoi is a younger player with potential.Umenyiora is well over the hill and completely unproven in a two-point stance. We shouldn’t expect him to contribute much. Free agent Tyson Jackson will help some inside but not by way of pressure on the QB. He only has nine total sacks in five seasons.There doesn’t appear to be a player on the roster who can rack up double-digit sacks next season, but Massaquoi and Biermann do have some potential.OLB Anthony Barr and DT Aaron Donald were the best available pass-rushing options when they opted for Matthews with the sixth overall pick. Offensive line is a huge need but one that could have been filled later in the draft. Dominate pass-rushers were off the board early this year, and the Falcons missed out on a key opportunity to address a critical need. New Orleans SaintsNot Adding More Pass RushThe New Orleans Saints will always be competitive as long as they have Drew Brees and Sean Payton calling the shots. But they could still use some help at several positions.Their biggest challenge will be trying to manufacture a pass rush from the outside linebackers on a consistent basis. Scheme and blitzes might be the only option with the current talent on the roster. Junior Galette and Parys Haralson are serviceable, but both are better utilized as depth pieces than as featured starters at a key position for the success of this defense.This offseason there were several viable options worth exploring in free agency, but it seemed as though the team was not interested in spending the money in that way. Adding a guy like Michael Bennett could have been a huge boost to the Saints' Super Bowl hopes. It’s incredible how defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was able to succeed despite so many deficiencies on that side of the ball. However, I seriously doubt the team can keep up the smoke-and-mirrors act for long. Pretty soon, the coaches on the other side of the ball are going to catch on to the act. Carolina PanthersNot Signing WR Hakeem NicksThe Carolina Panthers certainly addressed their defensive needs in the 2013 draft, taking defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short. What they failed miserably at addressing in free agency was providing Cam Newton with some bona fide weapons. Hakeem Nicks would have been a wonderful addition to this Panthers team and one it could have acquired at a bargain price. Carolina drafted Kelvin Benjamin with its first pick, and he will give Newton a reliable target, but the Panthers still need an additional receiver or two. Besides, Benjamin is raw and completely unproven as a guy who can fill the role as a No.1 WR. Adding WRs Jason Avant and Jerricho Cotchery was the least they could do. Those guys are reserve options on any other team besides the Panthers, who now will look to feature these marginal veterans out of a lack of better options. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Not Giving Rookie QB Brett Smith Some Time I understand many of you don’t know who rookie quarterback Brett Smith is. The kid went undrafted after declaring early for the NFL draft out of Wyoming.Apparently his style of quarterback play is something NFL teams are not interested in, evidenced by the lack of interest from around the league after the Buccaneers decided to release Smith after one minicamp with the team.I firmly believe this is a kid who belongs in the NFL and can have a lot of success under the proper tutelage.New offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford has a reputation for being great at developing quarterbacks.Brett Smith might not look like a star at first glance, but under the pressure of game-like conditions, this kid rises in the crop in a way few have the ability to do. His poise, courage and toughness in the face of chaos was unrivaled by the 2014 QB draft class.It’s a shame we won’t be able to see him perform in a Bucs uniform this preseason.For every team....link