Free agency marks the first sign of hope for improvement during the NFL offseason. General managers may opt to strengthen weak spots on the roster with a quick fix. Established veterans can provide immediate upgrades but come at a high cost.
At times, it's not the big-name free agents who change their team's trajectory. Average talents on the market on modest deals may outperform the hot-ticket pickups.
Last offseason, the Indianapolis Colts signed tight end Eric Ebron, who underachieved with the Detroit Lions. In 2018, he became one of the league's top red-zone targets with 13 touchdowns.