This summer, NFL Nation reporters are answering the biggest questions for every team in divisional roundtables.
Monday’s question: Who will be the best newcomer?
The rich kept getting richer. The New England Patriots acquired Brandin Cooks, who has the eighth-most receiving yards in the NFL since 2015. He’s an ideal wide receiver for the Patriots’ offense — undersized but explosive, capable of turning a short crossing route into a 30-yard gain. Read more
The Cleveland Browns need the answer to be Myles Garrett, the first overall pick in the NFL draft. Garrett had 31 sacks in college and is considered one of the best defensive prospects in years. But there are plenty of wide receivers who are new to the division as well. Read more
There is no consensus here. The Jaguars added potential impact players in defensive end Calais Campbell, running back Leonard Fournette and cornerback A.J. Bouye. They hope the influx of new blood helps them rebound from last season’s 3-13 finish. Read more
After a season off, Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch has the potential to be the best newcomer in the AFC West. AP Photo/Ben Margot
Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery comes to the Eagles from the Chicago Bears. When healthy, he’s a Pro Bowl player and a difference-maker who had more than 1,400 receiving yards in his second professional season. Others have a chance to make an impact. Read more
This is a tough question because there are a lot of players with similar levels of importance. Vikings running back Latavius Murray and Packers tight end Martellus Bennett top the list of candidates. Who else makes the grade? Read more
DeSean Jackson could be the impact receiver Jameis Winston needs to jump-start the Bucs’ offense. AP Photo/Chris O’Meara
The San Francisco 49ers did a ton of work to rebuild under a new GM and coach. Receiver Pierre Garcon, linebacker Reuben Foster and defensive end Solomon Thomas all have potential. The Rams also made a big investment at left tackle. Read more
With international commitments winding down and the clubs’ pre-season workouts gaining momentum, the summer transfer window is in full swing. Here, theScore catches a breath to assess the best pieces of business so far.
10. Mahmoud Dahoud (Borussia Dortmund)
Reported €12-million transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach
An all-action midfielder in keeping with Borussia Dortmund’s style and who has similar traits to a former Westfalenstadion favourite, Ilkay Gundogan.
How the inventive and industrious Dahoud left for a paltry €12 million doesn’t reflect well on Borussia Monchengladbach – if it was a suspected release clause, it should’ve been lifted a long time ago – but Dortmund is the beneficiary as it enters the Peter Bosz era.
9. Youri Tielemans (AS Monaco)
Reported €25-million transfer from Anderlecht
Tielemans has been on the radar of top European clubs for some time, and AS Monaco’s signing of the central midfielder proves the principality outfit isn’t prepared to rest on its laurels following the 2016-17 season’s adventurous march into the Champions League semi-finals.
The 20-year-old has proven his ability to fulfill a range of tactical roles, developed into a leader at Anderlecht, and can smash in beauties from distance.
8. Franck Kessie (AC Milan)
On loan from Atalanta with obligation to buy
One of the most sought-after players earlier this summer, Kessie wound up at AC Milan in a deal that should eventually cost around €28 million. Not bad, particularly when Chelsea and Manchester United threatened to start a bidding war for the Ivorian.
He’s just 20, and gradually turned from a ball-playing defender and into a physical box-to-box midfielder during a loan spell at Cesena in the 2015-16 season. In the last campaign, he was one of the best midfielder dribblers in Serie A, with his bustling style drawing comparisons to compatriot Yaya Toure.
7. Borja Valero (Inter)
Reported €5.5-million transfer from Fiorentina
A steady and experienced head taken aboard for just €5.5 million. Inter Milan’s approach in the transfer window appears more measured – or simply less mindless – than its tumultuous beginning to the disappointing 2016-17 venture.
Out of regularly deployed Serie A midfielders, 32-year-old Valero was fourth in total key passes (behind Marek Hamsik, Radja Nainggolan, and Valter Birsa – all of whom played more games) and is a technically gifted performer.
6. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
€42-million transfer from Roma
A goalkeeper, left-back, and centre-back should’ve been the first incoming players this summer, but Liverpool safeguarded its title as the most entertaining Premier League side flooding forward with the signing of Salah.
He was a menace when drifting inside from the right for Roma last term – scoring 15 goals and recording 11 assists – and will allow Philippe Coutinho more chances to drop deeper in Jurgen Klopp’s shape and therefore influence proceedings even more.
5. Bertrand Traore (Lyon)
€10-million transfer from Chelsea
Yet another youngster who’s been allowed to leave Chelsea and, just like Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and others, a departure that the west London lot could rue.
Traore blossomed last season on loan at Peter Bosz’s Ajax, making inroads from the right with his meandering runs and a level of strength that’s a hallmark of those who’ve featured in Chelsea’s youth-level dominance in recent years.
With some fine-tuning (he’s sometimes positionally naive and his inconsistent deliveries culminated in no Eredivisie assists in the 2016-17 term) he can wreak havoc for Lyon.
4. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal)
€53-million transfer from Lyon
Atletico Madrid’s loss was Arsenal’s gain after Lacazette was introduced to fans as the club’s new record signing for a potential £52 million last week.
Although new teammate Olivier Giroud gets the nod ahead of Lacazette for France in Didier Deschamps’ two-man attack, there’s no doubting that the ex-Lyon striker is more adept hassling the opposition’s defence as a sole frontman. This is just how Arsene Wenger looks to shape his strike force.
Related – Analysis: How Lacazette will kick-start Arsenal’s attack
3. Theo Hernandez (Real Madrid)
Reported €24-million transfer from Atletico Madrid
Hernandez struggled with the mandatory keepie-uppies at his unveiling, but don’t let that fool you.
He’s blessed with devastating dribbling skills and strikes a vicious delivery from the flank, and his six-foot frame means he’s doesn’t share the slight, vertically challenged traits of many of his full-back contemporaries. He should’ve been a natural replacement for Filipe Luis at Atletico Madrid, but Real Madrid exercised his €24-million release clause with Los Colchoneros.
With the superb Marcelo first-choice at left-back, expect Hernandez to be commonly deployed in cup games. He could challenge the 29-year-old for minutes very soon, though, as he showed he’s not one to buckle under pressure from his stunning free-kick for loan side Alaves against Barcelona in May’s Copa del Rey final.
2. Dani Alves (Paris Saint-Germain)
Free transfer from Juventus
Alves reuniting with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City made sense, and the transfer tattle gave every indication that it was a done deal.
But then Paris Saint-Germain swooped in for the 34-year-old.
Alves’ maverick status through his adventurous playing style, pursuit of fun, and glitzy suits will help bring the entertainment back to PSG after surrendering the Ligue 1 title to Monaco, but, most importantly, he’s credited with showing the utmost professionalism in training and maintaining his condition – this can only help the dressing room.
With Alves in tow, PSG has a player than can help exorcise the 6-1 demons from last season and, with a couple more additions, can aim to go all the way in the Champions League.
1. James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich)
On loan from Real Madrid with option to buy
James was only behind Alvaro Morata, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mariano in league goals scored per 90 minutes last season (he bagged eight in total), and he curated the most assists per 90 minutes (six overall) for those who regularly appeared for Real Madrid.
This is despite making only 13 starts en route to Los Blancos’ 2016-17 La Liga triumph.
Incredibly for a man who turns up in Bavaria with luggage weighed down by 17 medals from his club endeavours, James is only 26 and entering the peak of his powers. He’s a ready-made replacement for seasoned duo Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, and will reunite with a manager who perhaps best understood how to hone his talents away from the international scene.
Under Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, the Colombian was involved in 34 goals in 46 outings as he continued his devastating form from the 2014 World Cup. He’s able to slot into four separate positions of the Italian’s favoured 4-2-3-1 setup – a welcome reprieve from his toils to try and fit into a 4-3-3 and, latterly, a midfield diamond spearheaded by Isco.
