The NFL season is upon us, and with it comes our first preview of the year. There are innumerable story lines in all of these games, but I've tried to keep things short and sweet. At the end of the article I've also included some links that could prove useful to you as you get ready for opening day in the NFL. It's football season!

Sunday Night Football - 8:20 PM

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins

Favorite: Dallas by 3.5

There is a lot of drama swirling around the Washington Redskins, but they have all the pieces to beat Dallas at home if McNabb can stay healthy and Haynesworth gets on the field. The Cowboy's running game hasn't shown up in the preseason, and I don't think Tony Romo is going to get it done by himself. Washington's defense is ranked 8^th according to DVOA, and Donovan knows how to beat Dallas.

Prediction: Washington Redskins

Monday Night Football - 7:00 PM

Baltimore Ravens @ New York Jets

Favorite: New York Jets by 2.5 

You could make a case that this game will feature the league's two best defenses. Unfortunately for the Jets, Baltimore also features a very capable offense. Flacco, Rice, and company will make life difficult for New Yorks' star-studded defense. Despite all the hype, the Ravens pull off the upset and defeate New York.

Prediction: Baltimore Ravens

San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Favorite: San Diego by 4.5

The Kansas City Chiefs are projected to win the AFC West according to DVOA, but I'll believe it when I see it. The Chargers have still not signed Marcus McNeill or Vincent Jackson, certainly a significant loss on the offensive side of the ball. Still, I think Phillip Rivers is supremely talented and he will lead San Diego to a resounding victory on the road.

Prediction: San Diego Chargers

Get previews on Sunday's NFL games after the jump...

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Today's Know Thy Enemy post will cover the 49ers' Week 7 match-up against the Carolina Panthers. For more information about the Panthers, check out our free agency preview and free agency update.

It's hard to know what to expect from a Carolina team that started the 2009 season with high expectations, only to stumble out of the gate before turning their season around and finishing the year with a respectable 8-8 record. The emergence of QB Matt Moore could signal a return to their winning ways, which allowed them to win twelve games and reach the first round of the playoffs in 2008.

They have some dangerous players on their roster, but not much depth. As such, I think they will be at a disadvantage when these two teams meet at Bank of America Stadium.

More details on this match-up after the jump...

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It's been several days since our last installment in the Know Thy Enemy series, but you can expect to see more activity on this front in the coming days. To quickly recap what we've already covered, the San Francisco 49ers should beat the Chiefs and the Buccaneers. Easy.

However, this next match-up will likely be anything but easy. Come Week 4, the 49ers will make the long flight out to Atlanta, Georgia to face-off with a resurgent Falcons squad.

If you need a little refresher on what the Falcons have been up to this off-season, check out my free agency preview and the corresponding update dealing with Atlanta's roster moves.

The last time these two teams met, the Falcons embarrassed the 49ers' defense on their home field. QB Matt Ryan threw for 329 passing yards, while Michael Turner rushed for three scores. The end result was a 45-10 beat down of the 49ers in San Francisco. Perhaps the tables will be turned in 2010, or will Atlanta be able to dominate San Francisco yet again?

More after the jump...

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When all was said and done the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 2009 NFL season with just three victories. In fact, they did not record their first win until Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. The teams' spirited 38-28 upset of a playoff caliber team, on the road no less, gave fans a glimpse into what could be if Tampa Bay's young nucleus continues to develop and mature. However, the Bucs would not win again until they notched back to back victories against the Seahawks and Saints in Week 15 and 16.

On offense the bright spots included Cadillac Williams and Kellen Winslow, as well as the emergence of Josh Freeman. Williams proved that he could stay healthy and productive for an entire NFL season, while Winslow did nothing to diminish his status as one of the games most talented receiving tight-ends. Josh Freeman finished with a quarterback rating of just 59.8, but he displayed the raw ability that made him a first round selection and the franchise quarterback.

Defensively Barrett Ruud continued to excel, while Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber remain solid at the cornerback position.

You can find more information about the Buccaneers' free agent acquisitions in my earlier articles posted here and here.

Continue reading after the jump...

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Welcome to the first Know Thy Enemy post of 2010. I'll be using the same format as Fooch for this year's version, but feel free to let me know if there's something else you'd like to see in these articles.

This week will focus on the Kansas City Chiefs. Their fans always leave great comments on my posts, so I'm excited that we're starting this series with them.

Earlier this off-season I wrote up a free agency preview, and a free agency update covering Kansas City. Those will help get you up to speed on the team, but I highly recommend that you visit  SB Nation's own Arrowhead Pride for more details on the Chiefs.

In 2009, the club was able to double their win total from the previous season. Head coach Todd Haley led the team to a 4-12 record in his first year at the helm. Kansas City defeated the Redskins, Raiders, Steelers, and Broncos en route to last place in the AFC West.

Still, there is reason to be hopeful about the future. 

The Chiefs have added two experienced assistant coaches at the offensive and defensive coordinator positions. Charlie Weiss will be running the offense, while Romeo Crennel has replaced Clancy Pendergast on the defensive side of the ball. Kansas City has a relatively young team, and adding two very knowledgeable assistant coaches will certainly go a long way towards coaching them up properly.

In addition to improving the coaching staff, General Manager Scott Pioli has added some talented play makers to the roster this off-season. The team boasts one of the leagues' most dynamic tandems in Jamaal Charles and Dexter McCluster. Both of these players are capable of breaking off a big play at any moment.

On defense, the secondary is expected to be much improved with the addition of Eric Berry at safety. The continued development of Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr is another positive in the defensive backfield.

Continue reading after the jump...

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This will be my final article covering free agency prior to the draft. Hopefully this series has given you a better handle on the teams we will be facing in 2010. A lot has happened since the end of 2009, and we will continue to keep you up to date with these clubs as we get closer and closer to the regular season.

Today's post is covering the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have spent this off-season focusing on re-signing their own players and solidifying their depth chart, which suggests that the team is committed to building through the draft.

Defense seems to be the biggest Kansas City's biggest need. Thus far they have come to terms with two very talented linebackers: Andy Studebaker and Derrick Johnson. Johnson had been a starter his first four years with the team, but was relegated to a reserve role last season. He has signed a 1-year $2.6 million contract, and may get a chance to regain his starting job. Studebaker showed some potential in the second half of the regular season, but he is most likely headed towards a reserve role.

Nickel back Maurice Leggett has also resigned with the team, but he is on the roster bubble.

GM Scott Pioli has invested a lot of money in the Chiefs offensive line. C Rudy Niswanger, T Ryan O'Callaghan, T Barry Richardson, and G Ikechuku Ndukwe have all resigned with Kansas City. None of these players are guaranteed a starting job in 2010, but at the very least their familiarity with Todd Haley's system should make them capable back-ups. The club is rumored to have interest in selecting an offensive tackle with their first selection in the draft.

There will also be some familiar faces in the Chiefs backfield. FB Mike Cox has resigned with Kansas City, after originally joining the team as an undrafted free agent. Cox has made 15 starts with the Chiefs. Backup quarterback Brodie Croyle will also be back with the club in 2010.

Team needs and 2009 Draft results after the jump...

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The Philadelphia Eagles finished the 2009 season with an 11-5 record, and they have made several moves this off-season to improve upon that. However, they will attempt to do so with a new starting quarterback. Donovan McNabb has been traded to the Redskins, and in his stead the club will look to Kevin Kolb to lead them back to the playoffs.

Philadelphia acquired the 37th pick in this year's draft as well as a conditional 4th round pick in 2011 in return for McNabb. During his 12 year career with the Eagles, Donovan amassed 32,873 passing yards. He was a leader in the locker room, and the face of the franchise. While Kevin Kolb has shown the ability to be a very good passer, it's hard to overstate the impact that McNabb has had during his tenure with the team. It will certainly be a strange sight to see him don Washington's crimson and gold in 2010.

Staying on the offensive side of the ball, the team has re-signed C Nick Cole. Cole is expected to start the season as the first team center. G Max Jean-Gilles has also been re-signed and seems headed for a reserve role.

Philadelphia has also added to its backfield by signing RB Mike Bell of the New Orleans Saints. Bell's straight ahead running style could make him a productive short yardage back in Andy Reid's offense.

There have been fewer moves of note for the defensive unit. Restricted free agent Akeem Jordan will return in 2010, and he is the favorite to start at weak side linebacker.

The Eagles also traded CB Sheldon Brown and LB Chris Gocong to the Cleveland Browns. In return they acquired LB Alex Hall, a talented pass-rusher, as well as a 4th and 5th-round pick in this year's draft. Hall will most likely be used in a reserve role.

The team currently has six selections in the first four rounds of the draft. The departure of Sheldon Brown means that at least one of these will be used on a potential starting cornerback. Brown's play is still solid, but the club was unwilling to give him a lengthy contract extension due to his age.

Team needs and 2009 Draft results after the draft..

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The San Diego Chargers made headlines early on this off season when they traded CB Antonio Cromartie to the New York Jets for a conditional 3rd-round pick in 2011. Since then, the team has remained active in both the trade and free agent markets.

In addition to Cromartie, backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst has also been traded away. Whitehurst was sent to Seattle for a third round pick in 2011. The Seahawks and Chargers will also swap 2nd-round picks in this year's draft, moving San Diego up 20 spots in the 2nd-round. Whitehurst has not completed a regular season pass during his 4-year career with the Chargers, so this looks like an excellent trade from their standpoint.

Veteran cornerback Nathan Vasher has been brought in to add depth at corner back. He will most likely compete for a job at the nickel back position. Vasher is a former Pro Bowler and has experience in Ron Rivera's defensive system. Still, his lack of speed should confine him to a reserve role.

The team has not shown interest in any of the available free agent running backs. Without the addition of a veteran stop-gap, San Diego may be forced to select a running back in the early rounds of the draft.

Team needs and 2009 Draft results after the jump...

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The Raiders have been rumored to have interest in Donovan McNabb and now Jason Campbell, but as of yet nothing has materialized. While the quarterback position remains an area of need, trading for a high profile player like McNabb or Campbell would require Al Davis to accept the mistake he made by drafting JaMarcus Russell. At this point he seems unwilling to do so, which means the team may be more likely to target another quarterback late in the draft.

Oakland has not signed or re-signed anyone who is expected to start in 2010. However, they have added some depth at weak positions. Linebackers Sam Williams and Ricky Brown should both contribute in a reserve role on defense, as well as on special teams.

Defensive linemen Chris Cooper and William Joseph are both familiar with the team's defensive scheme, but they have not been very productive players. At best they will earn a spot as a back-up. The team still needs to acquire at least one defensive tackle with enough talent to shore up Oakland's porous run defense.

In the secondary, the Raiders have brought back S Hiram Eugene to back-up Michael Huff. Eugene lost his starting job to Huff last season, and will now be paid $1.7 million to contribute in a reserve role.

As far as the offense is concerned, the only transaction of note has been the re-signing of offensive lineman Langston Walker. The 31-year old showed some ability at left guard in 2009, and he could find himself starting there again net season. The team still needs to find a replacement for G Cooper Carlisle on the other side of the line.

It seems likely that the Raiders will target an offensive tackle like Bruce Campbell or Trent Williams with the 8th pick in the draft. Who do you think Oakland will select?

Team Needs and 2009 Draft results after the jump...

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Our next free agency update covers the Green Bay Packers, who signed safety Nick Collins to a 3-year contract extension. The deal is worth $26.75 million, and includes $14 million in the first season. Collins is a very underrated player, and this extension is well deserved. He has picked off 13 passes in the last two years, and only missed five games due to injury since becoming a starter five years ago.

The team has also brought back offensive lineman Jason Spitz and tight end Spencer Havner. Spitz signed a 1-year $1.7 million contract, and is expected to compete for the starting left guard position. Havner was second on the Packers' depth chart last season, but his participation in the off-season program has been limited due to an injury he suffered in a motorcycle crash. He should be fine by training camp, so Havner's job appears secure.

Apart from these acquisitions, the only move of note has been the departure of Aaron Kampman. Kampman had a been a productive player throughout his career in Green Bay, but the club's move towards a 3-4 defense slowly phased him out of the picture. He has since signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It will be interesting to see if Kampman's production improves now that he will be playing in a more familiar 4-3 scheme.

The Packers' biggest need heading into the draft appears to be left tackle. Mocking the Draft has them picking OT Charles Brown from USC with the 23rd overall pick. Brown is a talented player from a pro style offense, and his selection would address one of Green Bay's most pressing issues.

Team needs and 2009 Draft results after the jump...

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The biggest move by the Broncos so far this off-season has been acquiring QB Brady Quinn. The former first round pick fell out of favor in Cleveland due to his inaccuracy, but he will now get a fresh start in Denver. The Browns received FB Peyton Hillis and two conditional draft picks in exchange for Quinn, who will have to beat out Tom Brandstater to win the back-up job with the Broncos. Regardless of where he lands on the depth chart, he will have an opportunity to develop under the watchful eye of quarterback guru Josh McDaniels.

The team has also been rumored to be discussing a possible trade with the Seattle Seahawks that would send WR Brandon Marshall to the NFC West. Despite rampant speculation, the trade has not materialized as of yet. If Denver were to select a wide receiver with their first selection in the draft, they may be more amenable to dealing the number one receiver on their depth chart. Be sure to vote in our poll concerning a possible Denver-Seattle trade involving Brandon Marshall, and let us know in the comments what you would want in return for Marshall.

However, they may be forced to select a center to replace the departed Casey Wiegmann. The Broncos could target a physical center capable of fitting into their new power running scheme in the first round of the draft. They have been rumored to have interest in C Kevin Mawae, but the aging Mawae is best suited for a back up role at this point in his career.

Incumbent right guard Chris Kuper will be back with the club in 2010, after a signing a 1-year $2.5 million contract. Kuper has started at right guard since the 2007 season. He could be in line for a long term contract extension if he continues his solid play in 2009.

Mocking the Draft has pegged NT Dan Williams as the Broncos number one pick. Denver holds the 11th selection in the draft, and Williams would be a good value at that point in the first round. The addition of such a talented nose tackle would certainly help ensure the team's continued success on defense.

Team needs and 2009 Draft results after the jump...

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The Panthers will be without two of their franchise players in 2010. Jake Delhomme and Julius Peppers have left the team, signaling the beginning of a new era in Carolina. Both players have been key to head coach John Fox's success, and their departure could foreshadow a more extensive rebuild if the team doesn't turn it around next season.

Delhomme and Peppers are not the only starters that have left the team. DT Maake Kemoeatu and LB Na'il Diggs have both signed free agent contracts with other teams. Their loss is mitigated by the fact that Diggs is an aging player best suited for a backup role, while Kemoeatu suffered a severely torn Achilles tendon.

Kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd has also left the club. He has been replaced by the cheaper Todd Carter, but the Panthers may miss Lloyd's tremendous touch back ability. He recorded 51 touch backs in the past two seasons.

The team has yet to acquire any impact players via free agency, despite several gaping holes on the roster. DB Marcus Hudson, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, has been brought in to serve as a gunner on special teams. Hudson is also capable of stepping in and playing at safety or corner back if need be. His versatility makes this a smart signing, but he is nothing more than a capable backup.

Defensive End Tyler Brayton has re-signed with Carolina. The veteran recorded five sacks opposite of Julius Pepper's in 2009, and his presence should help stabilize a defensive line in flux. He is the favorite to start at strong side defensive end in 2010.

Unfortunately for a team with so many issues, the Panthers do not possess a first round pick this year. Their pick was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, who will draft twice in the first round.

Team needs and 2009 Draft results after the jump...

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Here's a link back to my original article about Atlanta and free agency.

Coming into this off-season, the Falcon's biggest need was at cornerback. They have made it a point to address that position by re-signing incumbent Brian Williams, and signing free-agent Dunta Robinson. Robinson's 6-year deal could be worth up to $57 million, making him the second highest paid cornerback behind only Nnamdi Asomugha.

Dunta Robinson has proven himself to be a solid cornerback, with good range and coverage skills. His addition gives a huge lift to a pass defense that was much maligned a year ago. With the cornerback situation addressed, they will now be able to focus on other needs during the draft.

Mocking the Draft has them selecting DE Brandon Graham, from Michigan with the 19th overall pick. If they do decide to go with a defensive end, some other possibilities include: Everson Griffen, Carlos Dunlap, and Jason Pierre-Paul.

Needs and 2009 Draft Results after the jump...

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The Buccaneers have added a couple of players this off-season, but none of them look like long term answers at their position.

LB Jon Alston will add to the depth at outside linebacker, something they needed, but he is a backup caliber player. His biggest impact may be on special teams, where he has proven himself to be very productive.

The Cleveland Browns' S Sean Jones has also joined the club. He is expected to compete with incumbent Sabby Piscitelli for the starting strong safety job. Jones is a competent defender against the run, but he struggled mightily in coverage last season. While it seems unlikely that Tampa Bay would select a safety like Eric Berry with the 3rd overall pick after already signing Jones, they could still pick up a safety with more coverage ability later on in the draft.

One of the team's biggest needs is the wide receiver position. The Buccaneers have chosen to re-sign WR Mark Bradley, who they claimed off of waivers from the Chiefs near the end of the 2009 regular season. Bradley does not have much upside, and he has been injury prone throughout his career. Last season he dropped 25% of all passes thrown his way, making him an unlikely answer for Tampa Bay's wide receiver problems. I expect that the Buccaneers will continue to search for a player with the potential to be a number one wide receiver. Bradley seems destined for a back up role at best.

Given all the variables, Mocking the Draft has Tampa Bay selecting DT Gerald McCoy with the 3rd pick in the draft. McCoy is generally regarded as an elite talent, and the team desperately needs to improve against the run. A dominating player at the defensive tackle position would go a long way towards shoring up the front seven.

Who would you select with Tampa Bay's first selection?

Team needs and 2009 Draft results after the jump...

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Today's post will be a very short one, because the New Orleans Saints have not done much of anything this off-season.

Fan favorite Scott Fujita has left the team to join the Cleveland Browns. Fujita was solid, but unspectacular at outside linebacker. However, his departure makes the position an area of need heading into the draft.

New Orleans lost another defensive starter when they released DE Charles Grant. Grant's production tailed off badly as the season progressed, and he suffered a serious tricep injury. This is another position that the team may look to upgrade via the draft.

Running back Mike Bell has also signed with another club. The Philadelphia Eagles gave him a 1-year $1.7 million offer and the Saints refused to match. The club was reportedly concerned with Bell's late season struggles and the knee sprain that he suffered. New Orleans still has Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush on the roster, but they might miss Bell's more physical running style in 2010.

Veteran defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove will be back with the team next season, after signing a 1-year $1.2 million contract. He was very effective in a back-up role last year, racking up 42 tackles and five sacks. The Lions were rumored to have been interested in Hargrove, but they will have to trade for him now.

SB Nation's own Mocking the Draft has the Saints selecting DE Everson Griffen from USC in their latest Mock Draft. DE Carlos Dunlap is another possibility.

Team Needs and 2009 Draft results after the jump...

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The smart play for a team with as many needs as the Rams is to build through the draft. They are not just one or two impact players away from success, so it doesn't make sense for St. Louis to go out and spend a bunch of money on free agents. This is exactly the approach the team has taken this off-season, and it bodes well for their future.

However they have made a couple small moves, including adding some depth along their defensive line. DE James Hall and DT Fred Robbins are both aging, but they should be able to contribute as part of the defensive line rotation. Hall is already familiar with Steve Spagnuolo's defense, having played under him while in New York.

He is not the only former Giant to sign with the Rams this off-season. Cornerback Kevin Dockery had a disappointing 2009, but he could be a very capable nickel back if he is able to rebound in 2010. Dockery is expected to compete with CB Quincy Butler for the job.

Staying on the defensive side of the ball, SLB David Vobora has re-signed with the team on a one year contract. 2008's Mr. Irrelevant saw extensive action last season, and he turned out to be the team's best linebacker against the run. His solid tackling ability may have earned him the starting job in 2010.

St. Louis also added some depth along the interior of their offensive line. Hank Fraley signed a 3-year $3 million contract with the club, and he is expected to compete with incumbent John Greco for the starting right guard position. The former Cleveland Brown has 119 career starts, most of them coming as a center.

After the jump I will discuss the team's remaining needs...

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Undoubtedly, the Seahawks' biggest move this off-season has been the signing of Head Coach Pete Carroll. Carroll comes to Seattle after going 97-19 during his tenure at USC. Obviously that is a very impressive record, but there is a big difference between the Pac-10 and the NFC West.

Perhaps a better indicator of his success is the 33-31 record he compiled as the Head Coach of the New York Jets and New England Patriots. While it is hard to quantify what kind of impact Carroll will have in his first year with the Seahawks, his signing will certainly bring some additional excitement to the division. Be sure to answer our poll and let us know what you think of Carroll's chances for success.

Thus far, there has not been a huge amount of turnover on Seattle's roster. One exception is the release of SS Deon Grant. The 31 year old was due $17 million over the next three years, and his declining performance made him a prime candidate to be cut. The team's safeties struggled mightily in 2009, and this move may have cleared the way for the Seahawks to select a safety in the early part of the first round.

On special teams, kicker Olindo Mare has been slapped with the Franchise Tag. Mare made 24 of 26 field-goals this past season, including a long of 47. He is a very capable player, and his franchise tender will make him one of the highest paid kickers in the league.

The Seahawks traded a 2010 3rd round pick and moved down in the 2nd round to acquire back up quarterback Charlie Whitehurst from the San Diego Chargers. After the deal was completed Whitehurst signed a 2-year $8 million extension. That is a very rich contract for a back-up quarterback who has not completed a regular season pass in the NFL, so it seems likely that they will want to see him on the field at some point this season.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is expected to be under center to start the 2010 season, but if he struggles out of the gate he could quickly find himself on the bench. Hassellbeck is 35 years old and is in the final year of his contract, making it past time that Seattle found a successor at the position.

Longtime back-up Seneca Wallace, was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a conditional pick in the 2011 draft, meaning Whitehurst is the most likely in-house option to replace Hassellback. However, the team also has last year's 6th round pick QB Mike Teel on the roster.

We'll examine the team's remaining needs and their 2009 Draft after the jump...

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Some of the biggest moves of the off-season have involved players leaving the Arizona Cardinals. This includes the Miami Dolphins' acquisition of ILB Karlos Dansby. Dansby is a very athletic playmaker, but the Cardinals were unwilling to pay him the kind of money he got from the Dolphins. He signed a 5-year $43 million contract.

Arizona also released FS Antrel Rolle. The move was an effort to avoid a $4 million roster bonus that would have brought his 2010 salary up to $12 million. While Rolle is a very talented player, he's certainly not worth that much. The New York Giants signed Rolle to a 5-year $37 million deal.

The Cardinals lost another big name when they traded WR Anquan Boldin to the Baltimore Ravens for a 3rd and 4th round pick in this year's draft. Boldin signed a 4-year $28 million contract with the Ravens. Arizona traded the 4th round pick they acquired in this trade to the New York Jets for FS Kerry Rhodes.

The team agreed to terms with QB Derrick Anderson after he was released by the Cleveland Browns. Anderson signed a 2-year $7.25 million contract, and he is expected to compete with incumbent Matt Leinart for the starting job. However, it appears that the starting position is Leinart's to lose. Anderson has only completed 47.9% of his passes the past two seasons, but he will be one of the highest paid backup quarterbacks in the league.

The only other free agent acquisition of note has been OLB Joey Porter, who signed a 3-year $17.5 million deal with the club. The contract also includes up to $7 million of additional incentives. Although Porter has been productive, this is a very rich deal for an aging 33 year old player. Especially when you consider that they did not want to pay Karlos Dansby.

Since joining the Cardinals Porter has had a run-in with the law. He was arrested in Bakersfield, California under suspicion of driving under the influence. But it turns out that the police were the ones at fault in this case. Porter will not be charged with a D.U.I., and the arresting officer is under investigation for police brutality.

Let's take a look at the team's needs and their 2009 draft after the jump...

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We're almost through the first week of free agency, and as promised I have a recap of all the transactions the 49ers' 2010 opponents have made up to this point. I have listed all of the losses and acquisitions for each team, and provided a short summary of their moves. Given the number of teams covered by this post, I kept the summaries short and to the point, but hopefully they will spark further discussion in the comments below.

Of the teams listed in this post, I would say the Falcons, Eagles, and Packers have done the best job of addressing their needs. But, it is early in the off-season and there are still plenty of good players available so that could change in the coming months.

Take a look at the transaction after the jump...

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Several weeks and over 13,000 words after we started we have finally arrived at our final free agency preview, and once the signing period officially starts we will have plenty of coverage for you on all of the major transactions.

For this preview we will be discussing the Green Bay Packers. They had a rocky start to the season, but put it all together during the stretch run leading up to the post-season. Despite losing to the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs, Green Bay had a lot of success in 2009 and they have a strong foundation on which to build on for the future.

After the jump we'll take a look at the Packers impending free agents...

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It seems like every off-season there is speculation about Donovan McNabb's departure, and this one is no different. Given his history it seems likely that the rumors of his impending trade will eventually blow over and he will start the season as the Eagles' quarterback, but it's also possible that the team will look to trade him and get something in return rather than just letting him walk as a free agent in 2011.

If they were to trade Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia has a talented cast of young playmakers on offense who could potentially replace his production. Their most intriguing quarterback prospect is backup Kevin Kolb, but they also added a former starting quarterback last off-season in Michael Vick.

While Vick was clearly not ready to step in and play quarterback last year, who knows how much he will improve given a full off-season of preparation. He has admitted to being lazy during his time in Atlanta, so perhaps a revitalized work ethic can restore him to a legitimate starting quarterback.

Kolb on the other hand only has two career starts under his belt, but he played well in both appearances. The 25 year old is the youngest of the three quarterback options, and he could be a potential long-term solution if his development continues.

All three of these men are scheduled to be free agents in 2011, so the team will have to start making these tough decisions on the quarterback position sooner rather than later.

Let's take a look at the Eagles' 2009 free agents after the jump...

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Today's free agency preview is new and improved with (hopefully) no typos. Now that we're getting closer to the actual start of free agency, teams have started making tender offers to players. As such, I've been able to include that information in this preview. Hopefully, I'll be able to go back and compile a list of all the tender offers made by teams.

We'll be taking a look at the San Diego Chargers, and all that free agency has in store for them. In my estimation their biggest concern, outside of finding a running back, should be locking up Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill. Both of these players received a 1st and 3rd-round tender offer so it seems likely that they will be back for at least 2010. However, I think it would be a smart move if the team locks them up long-term this off-season. Obviously there are always risks involved in a situation like this: mental make-up, character flaws, injury concerns, but these two guys have proven that they can produce so why not keep your foundation in place?

Aside from that, there is the obvious storyline of the running back exodus from San Diego. Sproles and Tomlinson will both be playing elsewhere in 2010, something I will talk more about in the summary.

Also, I'd like to get a read on what people think about Shawne Merriman. His stock seems to have plummeted recently, but he is not happy about being tendered a contract. It's clear that Merriman wants a lucrative free agent deal, but is he deserving of one? Should he take his 3+ Million dollar salary and be quiet? Let us know in the poll below.

We take a look at the Chargers' free agents after the jump...

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Last off-season the Chiefs transformed into New England Patriots West, but the championships have yet to follow. The team has since added yet another member of the Patriots brain trust, one Charlie Weiss, who will be assisting Head Coach Todd Haley with the teams' struggling offense.

The biggest concern for Haley and the Chiefs heading forward has to be the offensive line, which ranked among the league's worst in 2009. They have some capable playmakers in Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel, but if they are going to have any success Kansas City will need to get more production out of their linemen.

The Chiefs have invested several high draft picks on the other side of the ball, but the majority of them have not panned out. Defensive ends Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson both received lucrative rookie contracts in the hope that they would terrorize opponent's backfields for years to come, but while they have shown steady improvement, the production has not lived up to the hype.

Look for the team to invest heavily on the defensive side of the ball as they continue their transformation to a 3-4 defense.

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To the casual observer 2009 was just like any other year. The days came and went, the seasons changed, and the Raiders were still terrible. However, there is hope for the future. While it didn't necessarily show up in their win-loss record, Oakland managed to be pretty competitive this season.

Their biggest move so far this off-season was using their franchise tag on Richard Seymour. He recorded four sacks and a forced fumble in his first year with the team, after the Raiders traded away their first round pick to get him. It would have been a big blow their run defense, which is already ranked near the bottom of the league, if they had lost him to free agency.

Aside from locking up Seymour for another year, most of the headlines regarding Oakland have to do with JaMarcus Russell. While it is believed that he and Bruce Gradkowski will compete for the starting job in 2010, the Raiders would do well to bring in another player to add into the mix. After all of Russell's struggles we will find out just how loyal Al Davis is to him this year. If JaMarcus doesn't improve his work ethic and his production on the field, his days in Oakland could be numbered.

Let's take a look at the Raiders free agents after the jump...

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If you missed the last installment in this series, we wrapped up the NFC South by covering the Carolina Panthers. Now we're heading to the AFC West, starting with the Denver Broncos.

Much like the Panthers, the Broncos have a big decisions to make concerning their superstar pass rusher. Elvis Dumervil had a career year under the tutelage of the recently departed Mike Nolan, and he is set to be a restricted free agent this off-season. Despite his diminutive frame, Dumervil made himself into a household name this season by recording a franchise record 17 sacks. He will certainly a sought after commodity, but Denver is expected to do all they can to keep him.

Outside of Dumervil, the teams only other big name free agent is wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Marshall professes to have a good working relationship with head coach Josh McDaniels, but the two seemed to be up and down all season. While Marshall has proven to be a very productive wide-out, there may come a time when his production is not worth his temperament. It was not that long ago when McDaniels was winning Super Bowls in New England with a bunch of no name receivers, so don't be surprised if Denver looks to trade their number one receiver.

After the jump, let's take a look at the rest of Denver's free agents...

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Coach John Fox was on the hot seat for much of 2009, and he's going to need to turn things around in 2010 if he wants to stay in Carolina. The first step in that process is the off-season, and like everybody else the Panthers have plenty of decisions to make concerning their future.

The most pressing issue is presented by Julius Peppers' imminent free agency. Peppers has been a fixture on the Panthers defensive line, and he has played a big role in making their Tampa-2 scheme successful. Carolina's defense relies on pressuring the quarterback with their front four, and Peppers has proven himself to be amongst the league's most explosive defensive ends. Despite this it seems likely that he has played his last game as a member of the Panthers. If the team does not use the Franchise tag on him, then Peppers will likely become one of the most sought after free agents this off-season.

While Peppers has been grabbing all of the headlines, Carolina also has holes along the interior of the defensive line and at the wide receiver position. Look for the team to focus on those position via the draft and in free agency.

Let's take a look at which Panthers are eligible for free agency after the jump...

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For this edition of the Free Agency Preview I have included a few links at the bottom of the post. One will take you over to the Falcon's SB Nation blog and the others are columns by an Atlanta beat writer. I'll be including links for the remaining previews as a way of giving you guys some more background information. As always, if you have a link or anything else to add to the discussion please post in the comments section below.

The team in question today is the Atlanta Falcons. They were the darlings of the NFL in 2008, but fell back to Earth this past year. Matt Ryan struggled like a real human, and the pass defense was shredded resulting in an 9-7 record and no playoffs. While the Falcons failed to reach the post-season for a second consecutive year last season, they were hardly terrible and they do not have any big name unrestricted free agents.

A smart off-season could go a long way towards getting back into the playoffs.

Let's take a look at Atlanta's free agents after the jump...

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found themselves at the bottom of the league after a disappointing 3-13 season. Still, they are one of the youngest teams in the league and they showed potential against some tough opponents.

Having locked up their franchise quarterback, the focus of this off-season will be giving him the tools he needs to succeed. If they can lock up some playmakers for Josh Freeman to throw to, they could surprise some people in 2010.

The Bucs do have some decisions to make concerning a couple of their key players. Antonio Bryant (UFA) and Carnell Willliams (RFA) are both set to be free agents this off-season. Both guys have been productive when healthy, but their health has been a very big issue throughout their careers. Tampa Bay will take a wait and see approach with Bryant, so he may or may not be back with the team. I think most clubs will shy away from Carnell Williams given his injury history, so he will most likely be back with the Bucs.

On the defensive side of the ball, Tampa Bay needs to figure out what they're going to do with Barrett Ruud. Ruud is a restricted free agent this year, and he has been vastly underpaid given his production. The Buccaneers do have some cap room, so I expect that the two sides will work out a long term deal sometime this off-season.

Take a look at the rest of Tampa Bay's free agents after the jump...

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