NFL Defenses Boosted by Big Free Agency Moves

0:00For the NFL, it's March 17th. Here's what's happening. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an update. Free agency in the NFL has wrapped up its first big wave with teams making some standout defensive moves that could really shake things up. The focus here is on high profile signings and trades bolstering past rushes, secondaries and front lines for several squads looking to climb the rankings. The Carolina Panthers, who have struggled mightily with past rush for years, ranking near the bottom every season since 2021, landed edge. Russia Jalen Phillips and linebacker Devon Lloyd. Phillips brings elite pressure when healthy, ranking top 10 last year, while Lloyd had his best season yet. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens added Trey Hendrickson, a proven sack machine with double digits four times in five years, to pair with their star. Defenders under new coach Jesse Mentor. Over in Los Angeles, the Rams aggressively fixed their cornerback woes by trading for

1:02Trep McDuffy from Kansas City and signing Jalen Watson, then extending McDuffy on a huge four-year, $124 million deal. This upgrades a secondary that faltered in key games last season, giving coordinator Chris Shula better tools across the board. The New York Jets traded for safety. Nico Fitzpatrick from Miami and defensive tackle to Vandre Sweat, adding versatility and run-stuffing power to A, unit-needing leaders and stability. New England grabbed Raymon Jones as a pocket-pushing edge to complement their rushers, while San Francisco picked up Osa Odizua to line of next to Nick Bosa. These additions address glaring weaknesses and pair talent in ways that could turn middleing defenses into contenders. Things like these are betting big on immediate impact as they gear up for training camp. The Daily News Now is presented by our sponsor, Relax Deeper, Reset Faster, Comfort You Can Hear, S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com.