It seems like we progressed in some areas but regressed in others.
Not restructuring Allen or getting him to take a pay cut could hurt us.
I'm not sure Allen would have been willing to restructure and take a pay cut.
He got signed for a 3 year, $60 million dollar deal in Minnesota with $31 million guaranteed. I think this team was uncomfortable giving him that kind of contract. And he's not going to take significantly less than market value.
Overall, I actually like the DL better this year than last year, but they need to find one more piece, an edge rusher who can apply pressure to the QB and win matchups. That was Fowler last year, but he could ONLY do that. He was a complete liability in the run game.
My guess is that's where we go with one of our first 2 draft picks.
I don't think there are any areas which got worse.
QB: same
RB: so far, the same. But draft upcoming
TE: probably will be the same
WR: better (Deebo)
OL: better (Tunsil, and a few of the other additions could play, and we might still draft a guy)
DL: overall better, lacks edge rusher
LB: same
Safety: I think this is a question mark, but probably either the same. If there's one spot which might not be as good, this is it.
CB: better (Jonathan Jones)
ST (all the same)
Is it like leaps and bounds better? Maybe not. But I don't think it's worse, and I think the two things they set out to do, get another legit WR and stock up on guys who can stop the run, they've done.