Jim Trotter and Tom Waddle say that it's tough to analyze the Brock Osweiler trade until we see what the Browns have planned for him. (1:25)

The New England Patriots finished the 2016 season as the NFL's most exciting team on the field. They've been the most entertaining team in the free-agent and trading period even though No. 2 quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has faded into the background following weeks of speculation about whether teams might be able to acquire him.

Not every team has been quite as compelling, but conversations with coaches, executives and other league insiders showed there's plenty to discuss. Here's a 32-team look at free agency and the trade market through these insiders' eyes.

ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAC | KC | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | OAK | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WAS

Led by Calais Campbell and Tony Jefferson, the players Arizona lost during the first couple waves of free agency commanded more than $130 million in new contracts, including nearly $70 million in guarantees. No other team lost players valued so much in the market.

"I think it is kind of clear that Arizona is potentially in a free fall this coming season," an executive from another team said. "They could be in that, 'Oh my God, all of a sudden we have to build for the future, we are not really even that competitive right now.'"

That assumes the Cardinals already were plummeting while dropping from a 13-3 record in 2015 to just 7-8-1 last season. There is some evidence, however, that Arizona was essentially a nine- or 10-win team all along. The 2015 team scored 140 points off opponents' turnovers, the fourth-highest total among 128 teams since 2012. That helped Arizona set a franchise record with 13 victories. The inevitable regression that followed last season was going to show up in the standings. It took an implausible series of catastrophic failures on special teams to drag down the Cardinals even more than anticipated.

A more typical season on special teams could let Arizona remain competitive even if the defense drops toward the middle of the pack.

"I think it is kind of clear that Arizona is potentially in a free fall this coming season. They could be in that, 'Oh my God, all of a sudden we have to build for the future, we are not really even that competitive right now.'" An executive from another NFL team

Free agency can be about taking advantage of unexpected opportunities. The Falcons did that when Dontari Poe's market collapsed. They can feel better about their one-year, $8 million deal with Poe because they have some insight into the player through assistant GM Scott Pioli, who was GM in Kansas City when the Chiefs drafted Poe in 2012. There are still questions.

"I don't necessarily understand the fit for what I think they are trying to do," a coach who has studied both Poe and the Falcons said. "I think they are trying to build Seattle's defense, both front and coverage. They are adding a guy who is promising to get his weight down to 330 or 340 and could have back problems when they are a penetration front."

Poe is not the typical 350-pounder, of course. He has moved well enough to be a three-down player and can be a disruptive force.

"Dan Quinn is a D-line expert, so he obviously has a plan," the coach said. "Poe is at least 30 pounds heavier than the nose tackle he had in Seattle [Brandon Mebane]. I know he is a good player, but I did not know Quinn wanted to get that big."

The Ravens have had a hard time maintaining their roster since paying top-of-the-market money for mid-market quarterback performance. Their recently completed extension for Brandon Williams means the Ravens are also paying big money -- $10.5 million a year -- for a 3-4 nose tackle. That combination seems less than ideal in a league where quarterback play, outside pass-rushing prowess and cornerback coverage ability carry the most value.

The 340-pound Williams did play 48 snaps on third down last season.

"You don't pay nose tackles in a perfect world, but he is really a good, good player," an offensive coordinator said. "They are a top-five run-stopping unit, and without him, they are not. And he is young. So yes, I am down with that. They stayed true to what they said they are going to be."