#kevon stephenson

[fearsmagazine]

THE RETURN - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Uncork'd Entertainment

SYNOPSIS: Rodger returns home from college with his friends Beth and Jordan to settle the affairs of his recently deceased father. They begin to experience weird and unsettling occurrences in the house. Rodger’s strange childhood memories about a haunting by a ghostly presence begin to resurface. The memories boil over into reality culminating in an intense showdown with the terror that has returned.

REVIEW: THE RETURN is an old school horror film that combines classic story elements in a fresh and engaging film that features some impressive locations and solid visuals.

The story focuses on Rodger who has some serious family issues, memory loss, unresolved personal issues with his girl friend and best friend, not to mention the presence in his family home that might have killed his father. The plot is a mixed bag of elements as Rodger and his friends try to Scooby-Doo the mystery behind his past and the presence, which may be connected. The story has some nicely crafted characters that engage the viewer and pull them into the drama. The narrative slowly peels back layers to get at the mystery and the film offers up explanation through both dissertation and visuals. I thought the family background story was nicely crafted and developed to add another level of mystery and tension to the drama. AS the veil is lifted the story does an excellent job of moving Rodger from the outskirts of the storm to the eye. I thought the character of Rodger’s psychiatrist was a tad cliched, but still effective. An excellent balance of characters, story, and a nice hook at the end.

BJ Verot and his team have found some excellent locations. Rodger’s family home is a nice piece of architecture. The set dressing feels genuine and the layout flows so you don’t feel that some of the rooms, especially the basement, feel like a set, but an actual location. The visual effects had a bit of a cgi edge to them, but they were impressive in the scale and rendering. The film is nicely paced, some fluid transitions, and solid framing. I enjoyed the cinematography, but felt that night scenes could have a bit more softer tone to add a little more mystery, surreal feel to them. Overall, it was very impressive.

Verot has assembled an impressive cast. The performances, the relationships, their reactions to the unknown feel organic. I have to admit that at first I thought actor Richard Harmon was cast partially because he has that Robert Pattinson look, I mean they could pass for brothers. Once I got over it his performance drew me into the narrative and I was along for the ride. He had great chemistry with his co-stars and you believe their connections and issues. Actress Sara Thompson, who has done quite a bit of work on television, is sublime as Rodger’s girlfriend Beth. Her performance feels genuine and honest. Actress Echo Andersson plays Rodger's childhood friend Jordan. She was simply a delight to watch. She radiated a complex spectrum of emotions and she was able to emote so much with her eyes. I loved her performance and feel she has a long way to go before she’s tapped into the full potential of her talents.

BJ Verot’s THE RETURN is a film that looks and feels like a late 80’s studio genre film. It has a well crafted story, great cast, impressive visuals that make for a memorable viewing experience. While you might think you know where the story is going, Verot offers a few unexpected twists and turns to keep you guessing and keep the story fresh. I enjoyed this film, and I think I would have enjoyed it even more on a big screen with an audience. In the end I’m a fan of the film, BJ Verot, and this cast. Can’t wait to see what this talent group of Canadian filmmakers do next!

CAST: Richard Harmon, Sara Thompson, Echo Andersson, Marina Stephenson Kerr, Erik Athavale, Gwendolyn Collins, Zoe Fish and Kristen Sawatzky. CREW: Director/Screenplay/Producer - BJ Verot; Screenplay - Ken Janssens; Cinematographer - Brad Crawford; Score - Kevon Cronin; Editor - Jeremy Guenette; Costume Designer - Laura DeLuca; Production Designer - Chad Giesbrecht; Visual Effects Supervisor - Andrew Degryse OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/ak-UtnUTHf8 RELEASE DATE: VOD and DVD August 10th, 2021

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[lakersworld]

Complete list of 2019 unrestricted free agents

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An updated look (Compiled by Sam Amico) at the NBA’s unrestricted free agents, and those who can opt out of their contracts and enter unrestricted free agency, heading into the 2019 offseason (with age in parentheses).’

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Unrestricted free agents

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Centers

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Al Horford (33)

Andrew Bogut (35)

Tyson Chandler (37)

DeMarcus Cousins (29)

Dewayne Dedmon (30)

Pau Gasol (39)

Udonis Haslem (39)

Amir Johnson (32)

DeAndre Jordan (31)

Enes Kanter (27)

Kosta Koufos (30)

Kevon Looney (23)

Brook Lopez (31)

Robin Lopez (31)

Boban Marjanovic (31)

JaVale McGee (31)

Salah Mejri (33)

Greg Monroe (29)

Mike Muscala (28)

Joakim Noah (34)

Kyle O’Quinn (29)

Zaza Pachulia (35)

Ekpe Udoh (31)

Nikola Vucevic (29)

Tyler Zeller (29)

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Power Forwards

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Dragan Bender (22)

Marquese Chriss (22)

Dante Cunningham (32)

Ed Davis (30)

Kenneth Faried (30)

Channing Frye (36)

Taj Gibson (34)

JaMychal Green (29)

Jeff Green (33)

Tobias Harris (27)

Richaun Holmes (26)

Jonas Jerebko (32)

Tyler Lydon (23)

Luc Mbah a Moute (33)

Nikola Mirotic (28)

Marcus Morris (30)

Markieff Morris (30)

Mike Scott (31)

Anthony Tolliver (34)

Noah Vonleh (24)

Thaddeus Young (31)

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Small Forwards

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Al-Farouq Aminu (29)

Trevor Ariza (34)

Bojan Bogdanovic (30)

Corey Brewer (33)

DeMarre Carroll (33)

Vince Carter (42)

Wilson Chandler (32)

Luol Deng (34)

Jared Dudley (34)

Rudy Gay (33)

Mario Hezonja (24)

Wesley Johnson (32)

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (24)

Wesley Matthews (33)

Darius Miller (29)

Terrence Ross (28)

Thabo Sefolosha (35)

Lance Stephenson (29)

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Shooting Guards

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Reggie Bullock (28)

Alec Burks (28)

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (26)

Ian Clark (28)

Jamal Crawford (39)

Seth Curry (29)

Troy Daniels (28)

Wayne Ellington (32)

Tyreke Evans (30)

Danny Green (32)

Gerald Green (33)

Justin Holiday (30)

Rodney Hood (26)

Furkan Korkmaz (22)

Jeremy Lamb (27)

Patrick McCaw (24)

Jodie Meeks (32)

Quincy Pondexter (31)

J.J. Redick (35)

Austin Rivers (27)

Iman Shumpert (29)

Nik Stauskas (26)

Garrett Temple (33)

Klay Thompson (29)

Nick Young (34)

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Point Guards

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Kyrie Irving (27) ⠀⠀⠀

J.J. Barea (35)

Jerryd Bayless (31)

Patrick Beverley (31)

Trey Burke (27)

Jose Calderon (38)

Michael Carter-Williams (28)

Darren Collison (32)

Raymond Felton (35)

Tim Frazier (29)

Devin Harris (36)

Cory Joseph (28)

Jeremy Lin (31)

Shelvin Mack (29)

T.J. McConnell (27)

Elfrid Payton (25)

Rajon Rondo (33)

Derrick Rose (31)

Ricky Rubio (29)

Ish Smith (31)

Isaiah Thomas (30)

Kemba Walker (29)

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Players with player options

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Centers

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Aron Baynes (33) — $5,453,280 (Celtics)

Bismack Biyombo (27) — $17,000,000 (Hornets)

Marc Gasol (34) — $25,595,700 (Raptors)

Dwight Howard (34) — $5,603,850 (Wizards)

*Howard has picked up his player option

Nene (37) — $3,825,360 (Rockets)

Nerlens Noel (25) — $1,988,119 (Thunder)

Jonas Valanciunas (27) — $17,617,976 (Grizzlies)

Hassan Whiteside (30) — $27,093,018 (Heat)

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Power Forwards

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Kevin Durant (31) — $31,500,000 (Warriors)

Patrick Patterson (30) — $5,711,200 (Thunder)

Dwight Powell (28) — $10,259,375 (Mavericks)

Julius Randle (25) — $9,073,050 (Pelicans)

Marvin Williams (33) — $15,006,250 (Hornets)

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Small Forwards

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Harrison Barnes (27) — $25,102,512 (Kings)

Kent Bazemore (30) — $19,269,662 (Hawks)

Jimmy Butler (30) — $19,841,627 (Sixers)

James Ennis (29) — $1,845,301 (Sixers)

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (26) — $13,000,000 (Hornets)

Kawhi Leonard (28) — $21,329,752 (Raptors)

Khris Middleton (28) — $13,000,000 (Bucks)

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Shooting Guards

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Allen Crabbe (27) — $18,500,000 (Nets)

Tyler Johnson (27) — $19,245,370 (Suns)

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Point Guards

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Goran Dragic (33) — $19,217,900 (Heat)

Jeff Teague (31) — $19,000,000 (Timberwolves)

[buddyrabrahams]

10 NBA teams that have improved the most this offseason

Fans and analysts knew this NBA offseason could be crazy, with a number of big-name players potentially changing uniforms — and the league hasn’t disappointed. So far, we’ve seen the unsurprising (LeBron signed with the Lakers), moderately surprising (Paul George is sticking with OKC), and downright stunning (DeMarcus Cousins is headed to the Bay Area).

But the above moves are just scratching the surface of all that’s happened. Other teams improved through the draft and through signing players who aren’t household names but should still make a big impact.

Which squads have made the biggest leap over their 2017-18 iterations? Here’s our take on the 10 teams that have improved the most so far this summer.

10. San Antonio Spurs

The biggest move of San Antonio’s offseason, of course, has not yet happened: the trade of Kawhi Leonard, which seems all but certain to occur. And even though they’ve lost Tony Parker and Kyle Anderson, the Spurs have still had a good summer to date. Marco Belinelli won a title with the Spurs in 2014, and they’re happy to have him back. He was a key piece on the Philadelphia team that at times looked unbeatable late in the season, and he’s one of the league’s best shooters. Snagging him at $6 million a year is a real value. R.C. Buford lucked out landing Lonnie Walker, a cold-blooded creator from Miami, at No. 18 in the draft – one of my favorite picks. He’s shown shades of Dwyane Wade.

9. Brooklyn Nets

The Nets haven’t made any big, splashy moves, but they’ve quietly improved. They made one of my favorite signings: Joe Harris for two years at $16 million. Harris simply gets the job done; he’s a reliable outside shooter, a decent creator, and a solid defender. Last season he averaged 10.8 points per game while hitting 41.9 percent of his outside shots. Furthermore, Brooklyn added veteran big Ed Davis at a perfectly reasonable price: one year for $4.4 million. Though the Nets didn’t have any high picks, they did well in the draft. They landed Dzanan Musa, a mature scorer, at No. 29. In the second round, they got a 6-foot-10 athletic wing in Rodions Kurucs, who may spend another year or two in Barcelona but should eventually blossom into an impact player in the NBA.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder didn’t change all that much, per se, but they are overjoyed to have Paul George back on a four-year max deal. Sam Presti knows OKC’s title window is now; he’s lost two stars before, and he didn’t want to lose another. Though George and Russell Westbrook are an impressive duo (and should play better together with time), the Thunder need another piece to compete with the Warriors, Rockets, Celtics, and Sixers. I like OKC’s addition of Nerlens Noel at two years and $3.5 million — that’s a no-to-low risk proposition for a guy with tons of upside. He could flourish when he’s only asked to do the small things. Though the hefty Jerami Grant signing (three years, $27 million) was head-scratching, OKC’s offseason has been a major net positive.

7. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets landed my favorite pick in the 2018 draft: Michael Porter Jr. at No. 14. He could have gone as high as No. 2, but his medicals gave teams pause. If his back doesn’t turn out to be a debilitating injury, we could look back on this pick and say, What were those other teams thinking? Like OKC’s Noel signing: low risk, high upside. Additionally, Denver brought back the much-improved Will Barton for four years (at $54 million). Barton is quietly the most explosive bench player in the entire league. He’s shown the ability to carry Denver’s offense when its stars are sitting. With Barton, Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris, and Jamal Murray in the fold, Denver should return to the postseason soon. Now, if only the Nuggets weren’t paying $29 million a year to Paul Millsap…

6. New Orleans Pelicans

It might seem strange that the Pelicans allowed DeMarcus Cousins to take off, but it’s understandable. New Orleans played well with Boogie in 2017-18, but better without him. Despite his talent, the Pelicans could afford to let him go. They replaced him with another former Kentucky Wildcats big: Julius Randle, much to Anthony Davis’ delight. Randle’s style of play complements Davis far better than Cousins’ did. The Pelicans’ two bigs should be able to do beautiful things with Randle running the fastbreak and banging inside and Davis doing, well, everything. I also like the Pelicans’ move to bring in Elfrid Payton for one year at $2.7 million. Payton’s career hasn’t gone as planned, but this is a nice short-term bet on a guy who could replace Rajon Rondo and will at worst provide spot minutes on a playoff team. With the pressure off, he should flourish.

5. Dallas Mavericks

At long last, DeAndre Jordan is a member of the Mavericks. The ultra reliable center signed a somewhat odd deal (one year, $24 million) — it seems Mark Cuban is sick of losing. Dallas also brought back serviceable big Salah Mejri (one year, $1.6 million). But the Mavs are really on this list because of their draft. Luka Doncic is a potential franchise cornerstone – a guy who will have a real shot at Rookie of the Year – and Jalen Brunson should stick around the league for a long time. With Doncic, Brunson, and Dennis Smith Jr., the Mavs have the most intriguing young backcourt in the NBA. After a miserable 2017-18 season, Dallas will be a fascinating “League Pass” team.

4. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers took the Cavs to the brink but couldn’t quite get it done. Nonetheless, given Victor Oladipo’s continued emergence and Myles Turner’s expected development, Indiana is a real threat to Boston, Toronto, and Philadelphia this season. Drafting Aaron Holiday No. 23 wasn’t my favorite move, but the Pacers made two free-agency additions I loved. Indiana locked up Tyreke Evans for one year at $12 million; Evans can carry the offense when Vic takes a seat with foul trouble, as he had to during the Cleveland series. Indiana also added Doug McDermott, who continues to improve on defense, for three years at $22 million. He’s another big shooter – you can never have enough of those.

3. Golden State Warriors

I’ve harped on low-risk, high-reward transactions throughout this piece, and Golden State’s signing of Cousins is the ultimate example of such a move. How could you argue with the Warriors replacing JaVale McGee with a four-time All-Star? Sure, Boogie is coming off of a devastating injury, but he can take his time returning; Golden State’s in no rush. Sure, there are concerns around the league about his locker-room presence – but if any team can fix that, it’s Golden State (see: McGee and Nick Young). Cousins is a monumental upgrade over McGee and Zaza Pachulia, and the possibilities with him on this team (at $5.3 million!) are dazzling. Quieter-but-also-positive moves: re-signing Kevon Looney at one year and $1.6 million, a deal far below his value, and snatching Iggy 2.0, Jacob Evans, No. 28 in the draft.

2. Phoenix Suns

We all expected the Suns to have a big offseason, and they haven’t disappointed. After adding coach Igor Kokoškov, Phoenix selected Deandre Ayton, the most dominant big man the college game has seen in some time, and made another good draft-night move by trading for Mikal Bridges. Bridges was Villanova’s best player (it’s true!) and should contribute immediately. Phoenix isn’t going all-in on rebuilding mode, however: the Suns ponied up for Trevor Ariza, giving him $15 million for one year. Phoenix has its own 2019 pick as well as Milwaukee’s first-rounder, but don’t be surprised if the Suns actually try to win this year. The Suns still need a point guard, but it isn’t outlandish to suggest this team could see a 10-15 win improvement this season.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

It’s the obvious choice, but the only logical one. The Lake Show had plenty of young talent, but won only 35 games last season. Adding LeBron vaulted L.A. instantly into title contention. Some of the team’s other signings – JaVale McGee, Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, and re-upping Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – were dubious, but LeBron reportedly signed off on the moves, and there’s no question L.A. should make a big leap this season. Moritz Wagner and Isaac Bonga are both projects but were solid picks as their position; I like Bonga in particular. We shouldn’t expect the Lakers to flourish immediately, but they’re already Vegas’ second favorite, behind the Warriors, to win it all. Credit to Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson for revamping the roster – but more changes are likely to come.

Aaron Mansfield is a freelance sports writer whose work has appeared in Complex, USA Today, and the New York Times. You can reach him via email at aaroncmansfield@gmail.com.

from Larry Brown Sports https://ift.tt/2KJpqSC

[junker-town]

NFL draft 2017: One position that each team needs to address

All 32 teams have spots on the roster that could use an upgrade.

It’s April and with free agency in the books, the 2017 NFL draft is the last real chance for teams to make significant changes to their rosters before training camp begins at the end of summer.

Of course, there are still some veterans who could be on the table to patch holes. At quarterback, Jay Cutler and Colin Kaepernick are still free agents capable of competing for a starting role, and players like Tony Romo, Jimmy Garoppolo, and AJ McCarron have been subject to trade rumors.

But if a team can find a rookie quarterback it feels good about and can build around, that’s a much less costly option and comes with more upside. That’s the value of the draft — a way to cheaply build up a team with the future stars of the NFL.

Here is one position that each team can’t afford to miss out on in April:

Arizona Cardinals — Inside linebacker

The biggest concern for the Cardinals in their success is tied to players in the final stretches of their careers. Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald both reportedly mulled retirement earlier in the 2016 season before electing to come back, so the team would benefit from having players they can eventually turn to at quarterback and wide receiver.

But a more immediate impact could be found if the Cardinals draft a new starting inside linebacker after Kevin Minter left to join the Bengals. Arizona lost plenty of defensive talent earlier in the 2017 offseason — with Calais Campbell and Tony Jefferson also departing — and needs to find some help on that side of the ball in the draft, and the middle is a good place to start.

Atlanta Falcons — Edge rusher

Teams that make the Super Bowl typically aren’t filled with holes and that’s the case with the Falcons. Atlanta already made an effort to shore up its defensive line with Dontari Poe and Jack Crawford, and that means it has the luxury to do pretty much anything with its first-round pick.

Still, the way it could best fill out the roster for the future is to continue to find young players who can make an impact off the edge. The league’s No. 1 offense had to compensate for a defense that finished No. 27 in points allowed, and finding rushers is the best way to continue to build a foundation on that side of the ball.

Baltimore Ravens — Cornerback

Getting Brandon Carr makes the urgency to add to the cornerback depth less desperate, but Baltimore still has little it can really feel comfortable with after Jimmy Smith. The former first-round pick missed five games in 2016 and eight in 2014, and the secondary would be in trouble if Smith misses time again in 2017.

Buffalo Bills — Cornerback

Losing Stephon Gilmore leaves big shoes to fill, and the positional group only got thinner when slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman was cut in March — although his declining play warranted the move. Kevon Seymour looks like the likely starter opposite Ronald Darby, but the team could find a new starter in a class full of good defensive backs.

Carolina Panthers — Defensive end

Charles Johnson underwent back surgery, and the Panthers traded Kony Ealy away to the Patriots. The cupboard isn’t bare for Carolina with Mario Addison back on board with a contract extension, but the Panthers could certainly use some help at the position.

Chicago Bears — Defensive back

Now that the Bears have Mike Glennon, the team has a starter at quarterback for 2017. Whether he’s the future of the position for the franchise remains to be seen, but Chicago can turn its attention elsewhere on a roster that needs infusions of talent all over.

Adding Prince Amukamara gave the Bears a Band-Aid in the secondary, but the team needs more help than that. In a draft class stacked with talent at cornerback and safety, don’t be surprised if Chicago adds multiple young players to its secondary in April.

Cincinnati Bengals — Defensive end

There are a few holes for the Bengals to address as the team continues to get picked apart in free agency. It lost two starting offensive linemen this year and a running back, and cut into its linebacker depth by parting ways with Rey Maualuga.

But the team has had a need at pass rusher for a while and has really just been operating with Geno Atkins’ push from the inside and Carlos Dunlap coming off the edge. Expect the team to do its best to find a premier pass rusher early in the draft.

Cleveland Browns — Quarterback

A rebuild isn’t close to done until there’s a quarterback to build around, and that’s still the biggest hole that needs filling for the Browns. The team parted ways with Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown, only adding Brock Osweiler who likely won’t be with the team for much longer anyway.

Cody Kessler may have a future with the franchise, but if the Browns get a chance to take a quarterback they like, they can’t afford not to pull the trigger.

Dallas Cowboys — Edge rusher

A lacking pass rush looked like it was going to be a major problem for the Cowboys in 2016, but the lack of a double-digit sack artist didn’t slow the team down much. Still, Randy Gregory isn’t coming back in 2017, and Benson Mayowa led the team with just six sacks.

Replacing the production of DeMarcus Ware isn’t easy, but the Cowboys have to give it a shot and add another young player to the mix, if not more than one.

Denver Broncos — Offensive tackle

Donald Stephenson, Ty Sambrailo, and Menelik Watson are the leading candidates to battle for starting offensive tackle spots for the Broncos in 2017, but the team could certainly stand to find improvements. Finding a bookend left tackle could push the battle to the right tackle spot, where all three are likely better suited anyway.

Detroit Lions — Linebacker

With DeAndre Levy sidelined for the majority of the 2016 season due to an injury, the linebacker position was somewhat of a disaster for the Lions. While the team added former Falcons linebacker Paul Worrilow in free agency, that isn’t quite the fix for the entire position group, and adding another starter in the draft would be a boon to the Detroit defense.

Green Bay Packers — Running back

Eddie Lacy is gone. James Starks is gone. The top rushing options for the Packers are Ty Montgomery and Christine Michael, which is hardly a comforting duo for Aaron Rodgers to work with. Green Bay hasn’t been a team to attack needs in the draft and it typically takes the best player available, but there’s a strong crop of running backs at the top and one could certainly be available at the bottom of the first round.

Houston Texans — Quarterback

The Texans are as close to having a Super Bowl roster as any team but are missing the one piece that can make them feel truly comfortable about their chances. Sure, Bill O’Brien says the team is excited to have Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden, but it’s hard to imagine Houston is going to be OK with the pair and not want to add at least one more player who can compete for a starting role.

There’s still a few veterans who could fit the bill if the Texans don’t address the position early in the draft — *cough cough* Tony Romo — but the Texans could certainly pull the trigger on a passer if one they like is on the board at No. 25 overall.

Indianapolis Colts — Edge rusher

Erik Walden led the Colts in sacks during the 2016 season with 11, but he never lived up to the $16 million contract that Ryan Grigson gave him in 2013. And Indianapolis was fine with letting Walden reach free agency, where there hasn’t been much interest from other teams. Second on the team in sacks was Robert Mathis with five, but he announced his retirement at the end of the season. Third was nose tackle David Parry who just got arrested in February.

Adding Jabaal Sheard and John Simon is a start, but the Colts need to find players who can continue to add to their nonexistent pass rush, whether that’s from a linebacker or defensive end.

Jacksonville Jaguars — Tight end

The addition of Julius Thomas didn’t live up to the five-year, $46 million contract he received from the Jaguars in 2015 that made him one of the biggest free agency additions of the offseason. After back-to-back seasons with 12 touchdowns in Denver, Thomas had just nine in two seasons in Jacksonville and was traded for cheap to the Miami Dolphins.

Marcedes Lewis is about to turn 33, and the other options at the position are relatively unproven Ben Koyack and Neal Sterling. So the Jaguars look like a likely candidate to take a stab at one of the deepest and most talented tight end draft classes ever.

Kansas City Chiefs — Quarterback

Alex Smith hasn’t been a bad quarterback since joining the Chiefs in 2013, but he hasn’t pushed the team over the hump either. With his 33rd birthday coming in May, Kansas City has to start considering a future after Smith and that could begin in 2018 when his cap hit swells over $20 million or in 2019 when he becomes a free agent.

Los Angeles Chargers — Safety

The post-Eric Weddle era hasn’t been a smooth transition for the Chargers. Jahleel Addae and Dwight Lowery left plenty to be desired, and the Chargers defense allowed the fourth-most points in the NFL in 2016. While the offensive line could use help too, the team’s No. 7 overall selection could definitely be used to shore up the back of the Chargers secondary.

Los Angeles Rams — Wide receiver

The Rams tried to pair No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff with weapons during the 2016 NFL draft, taking wide receivers and tight ends with four of the next five picks. Unfortunately, all four were third-day selections and combined for 28 receptions for 228 yards and one touchdown.

Adding Robert Woods helps, but it doesn’t do much more than fill the hole left by the departure of Kenny Britt. The team could very much benefit from finding a legitimate No. 1 receiver who can be a top threat for Goff to work with and would complement Woods and Tavon Austin, although that may be difficult for Los Angeles to find without the benefit of a first-round pick.

Miami Dolphins — Guard

After trading Branden Albert to the Jaguars, the Dolphins will move 2016 first-round pick Laremy Tunsil from guard to left tackle — the spot he was drafted to fill. But that leaves a hole at a position the team has long struggled to fill. Finding a player to slide in between Tunsil and center Mike Pouncey would help an offense that found its rhythm during the 2016 season when it committed to a power running game centered around Jay Ajayi.

Minnesota Vikings — Offensive line

Only a handful of quarterbacks were sacked more often than Sam Bradford, but the Vikings offense was really hampered by its inability to run. Adrian Peterson, Matt Asiata, and Jerick McKinnon combined for just 3.2 yards per carry behind an offensive line that never made much room for them.

Signing Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers was a start but far from a complete fix. The team should look to continue to add talent up front.

New England Patriots — Defensive end

Chandler Jones was the best pass-rushing threat that the Patriots had, and the team hasn’t had much success finding a replacement since trading him to the Cardinals. The band-aids of Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long didn’t do much and are gone now.

The emergence of Trey Flowers gives the team promise at the position, but adding another threat up front will be a priority, although the Patriots currently don’t have a pick in the first two rounds to work with.

New Orleans Saints — Defensive back

Defense has been a problem for the Saints for a long time, and with some money to actually spend, New Orleans scooped up Manti Te’o, A.J. Klein, Rafael Bush, and Alex Okafor in free agency. But the team’s pass defense could use even more help after finishing No. 32 in the NFL in yards allowed.

New York Giants — Offensive tackle

The Giants invested heavily on the defense a year ago, and now it’s time to turn attention back to the offense. Quarterback, running back, and tight end could also be addressed, but the best place to start is up front.

Ereck Flowers hasn’t been the answer at left tackle, and D.J. Fluker is a patch at right tackle, at best. Still, the Giants insist they still believe in Flowers, so the team might look elsewhere for offensive upgrades.

New York Jets — Defensive back

There are plenty of reasons why the Jets struggled in 2016, and, ultimately, the team’s future will depend on its ability to identify a quarterback it can work with. But with Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty, and Josh McCown now in the mix too, it seems unlikely that the Jets will dive headfirst into a class that doesn’t have a clear top passer.

Instead, the team can look to improve upon a secondary that allowed 30 touchdown passes and hauled in just eight interceptions.

Oakland Raiders — Middle linebacker

The Raiders have poured money into the roster, and it has paid off for one of the most exciting young teams in the NFL. But those big free agent acquisitions haven’t addressed the fact that the Raiders are lacking at middle linebacker and have been for a while.

Perry Riley served as the stopgap at the position in 2016, but he was allowed to reach free agency where no team has been too interested in scooping him up. Getting a better option in the middle of the defense would upgrade a defense that was near the bottom of the NFL.

Philadelphia Eagles — Cornerback

Right now the best options for the Eagles at cornerback are a pair of Jaguars and Colts castoffs — Dwayne Gratz and Patrick Robinson — and 2016 seventh-round pick Jalen Mills. It’s entirely possible that the Eagles could find both of their starting cornerbacks for the 2017 season in a draft class that is deep with talent at the position.

Pittsburgh Steelers — Outside linebacker

The Steelers have put an emphasis on upgrading the defensive side of the ball, selecting a pass rusher and a cornerback in the first round of the last two drafts. But now Pittsburgh needs to find players to pair with Bud Dupree and Artie Burns.

James Harrison won’t be around much longer, and Ross Cockrell isn’t the most reliable option opposite Burns. But the need to upgrade the pass rush looks a tad more urgent than the need at cornerback.

San Francisco 49ers — Quarterback

New offensive-minded head coach Kyle Shanahan inherited a roster with four quarterbacks all leaving in free agency. While there were reportedly pushes for Kirk Cousins and rumors will likely continue until draft day, the only patches at the quarterback position for the 49ers have been Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley.

Finding a player to build an offense around is Shanahan’s top priority for now.

Seattle Seahawks — Offensive line

Protecting Russell Wilson with a discount squad of offensive linemen proved to be a bad idea in 2016, to say the least. There’s already been an emphasis on adding players up front with Luke Joeckel and Oday Aboushi signing in Seattle, but there’s more work to be done.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Safety

Adding J.J. Wilcox, formerly of the Cowboys, was a help for the Buccaneers at the position, but he was mostly a special teamer for Dallas who filled in as a backup safety. Chris Conte and Keith Tandy aren’t better options at strong safety either, leaving Tampa Bay with a spot that could certainly use an upgrade before the beginning of the 2017 season.

Tennessee Titans — Wide receiver

For a while, the Titans looked like the team that would land Brandin Cooks in a trade. Instead, Cooks went to the Patriots and the Titans didn’t add a pass catcher in free agency to make up for the miss. Marcus Mariota would certainly welcome the addition of a top receiving talent to complement Rishard Matthews.

Washington — Defensive tackle

There’s been a rotating door of interior defensive linemen scooped up in free agency, but the team has struggled to find a long-term answer in the middle of its defense. Ziggy Hood is the latest patch, but Washington was close to the bottom of the NFL in run defense. For some reason, the team seems to never draft defensive linemen early, but that’s a philosophy it may want to reconsider this time around.