Nate Davis

USA TODAY Sports

NFL training camps open en masse this week. As the NFC's 16 teams steam toward preseason, a final graded assessment of each club's offseason:

A-

Seattle Seahawks: The champs knew they couldn't keep everyone and weren't thrilled to lose WR Golden Tate or several starting linemen. But all-pro DBs Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas are now signed through 2018, while DL Michael Bennett and Tony McDaniel both returned. The draft didn't resonate, but GM John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have more than proven themselves on the player acquisition front. And rookie WR Paul Richardson is the speed threat QB Russell Wilson needed while Justin Britt may vie for one of the vacant jobs on the O-line. If WR Percy Harvin holds up, this team might be even better.

B+

St. Louis Rams: They couldn't do much in free agency but did re-sign G Rodger Saffold for less than the Oakland Raiders originally offered. But coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead made a splash in the draft, obtaining the best offensive lineman (Greg Robinson) and defensive tackle (Aaron Donald) plus an ideal nickelback (Lamarcus Joyner) before Michael Sam became the focus. Rookie RB Tre Mason should fit nicely alongside Zac Stacy. If QB Sam Bradford performs as he was before last season's knee injury — and gets more help from receivers like Tavon Austin — this team could make serious waves.

B

Arizona Cardinals: GM Steve Keim and coach Bruce Arians struck a nice balance between adding players who could vault a 10-win team over the playoff hump while finding others who should be cornerstones immediately or eventually. Keim badly needed a left tackle for immobile QB Carson Palmer and signed young Jared Veldheer for less than top dollar. Veteran Antonio Cromartie and first rounder Deone Bucannon bolster a secondary that should be formidable once injured S Tyrann Mathieu is ready. Right tackle could be an issue, and the season-long suspension of Pro Bowl LB Daryl Washington certainly stings.

Minnesota Vikings: Parting with DE Jared Allen and DT Kevin Williams was tough, but the Vikings allowed the most points in the league last year with the longtime duo in uniform. New head coach Mike Zimmer brings a highly regarded defensive mind and should nicely mold a unit now manned by incoming free agents Linval Joseph and Captain Munnerlyn and rookies Anthony Barr and Scott Crichton. If re-signed veteran Matt Cassel or first rounder Teddy Bridgewater can provide stability under center, the offense has enough firepower elsewhere to make this team a threat.

New Orleans Saints: They squeezed a $54 million contract for FS Jairus Byrd into their cap plans and snared dynamic WR Brandin Cooks in the draft. Re-signing underappreciated RT Zach Strief and adding vet CB Champ Bailey appear wise. To make room, several defenders from the '09 Super Bowl club were purged while offensive chess piece Darren Sproles was dealt, much to QB Drew Brees' dismay. But at least TE Jimmy Graham's protracted contract spat was resolved at the 11th hour, preventing him from what could have been a killer camp holdout.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A fresh start can be priceless. The Bucs got a needed one under respected coach Lovie Smith and rookie GM Jason Licht. The new tandem boldly recast the roster, including the surprising decision to dump CB Darrelle Revis, to better fit their vision. Licht spent aggressively on defenders (DE Michael Johnson, CB Alterraun Verner, DT Clinton McDonald) who matched Smith's scheme while swapping out several O-linemen. The draft was solely about adding pieces, including WR Mike Evans and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, for Josh McCown, himself a bold choice as the new quarterback.

Washington Redskins: Even though only one team (Vikings) allowed more points in 2013, the defense returns mostly intact. Notable additions include Pro Bowl lineman Jason Hatcher, who's coming off knee surgery, and S Ryan Clark, who should take over retired LB London Fletcher's captaincy. But it's the offense that's worth watching. Their two-year, $36 million salary cap penalty paid, the 'Skins shelled out for WRs DeSean Jackson and Andre Roberts to join Pierre Garcon. With QB Robert Griffin III fully healthy and new coach Jay Gruden calling the shots, this team should be explosive.

B-

Atlanta Falcons: QB Matt Ryan suffered a career-worst 44 sacks in 2013. Meanwhile, the Falcons gained the fewest yards on the ground while giving up the second most. So GM Thomas Dimitroff's mandate was to rebuild both lines. He re-signed several of his own for depth and poured millions into free agents DL Tyson Jackson, NT Paul Soliai and G Jon Asamoah. The draft brought blue-chip T Jake Matthews and DL Ra'Shede Hageman, possibly a Round 2 heist. Rookie RB Devonta Freeman could spark the run game. But there's no obvious replacement for retired TE Tony Gonzalez.

Chicago Bears: GM Phil Emery's draft wasn't breathtaking, but he did what had to be done, devoting four of his first five picks to update what was probably the worst defense in 94 years of Bears football. High-revving DE Jared Allen may prove a better fit than castoff Julius Peppers, and the versatility of under-the-radar DL Lamarr Houston should be a pleasant surprise for Chicago fans. Safety still appears to be a weakness. The offense may be even more dangerous in Year 2 under Marc Trestman, though losing oft-injured QB Jay Cutler's backup, Josh McCown, is a red flag.

Green Bay Packers: GM Ted Thompson stepped out of character by signing street free agent Julius Peppers, who could re-energize the pass rush for a defense that's struggled to make big plays lately. Rangy rookie S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix also has game-changing ability. But Thompson is relying on less heralded players to step up for more established ones he let go, a list that includes C Evan Dietrich-Smith, TE Jermichael Finley and WR James Jones. Having QB Aaron Rodgers and OLB Clay Matthews fully healthy is an obvious plus. WRs Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb still need new contracts with free agency looming in 2015 for both.

New York Giants: For a team that typically builds through the draft, the Giants were uncharacteristically active in free agency, importing more than a dozen veterans. The biggest names were CBs Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond and RB Rashad Jennings. Both lines swapped aging starters for younger, stopgap depth, though Monday's retirement of Pro Bowl G Chris Snee was a blow. Rookie WR Odell Beckham, C Weston Richburg and RB Andre Williams should quickly plug into the lineup as difference-making assets for QB Eli Manning, who was overrun while trying to carry this team by himself last year.

C+

San Francisco 49ers: A stacked roster only got deeper and may be the NFL's best 53-man collection of talent. Stevie Johnson and rookie Bruce Ellington join re-signed Anquan Boldin in a wideout group that now has more diverse options. Free agent S Antoine Bethea is probably a step down from Donte Whitner, but rookie Jimmie Ward may compensate there. The draft brought an exciting 12-player haul, though some may be stashed for a year. But the Niners have worries, including the knee of ILB NaVorro Bowman, and the off-field controversies that followed coach Jim Harbaugh, QB Colin Kaepernick and OLB Aldon Smith, who faces NFL discipline after resolving weapons and drunken driving charges in court last week.

C-

Philadelphia Eagles: Tough to evaluate, though judging how the offense adapts without WR DeSean Jackson should be easier than determining how locker room chemistry responds. But the hasty release of the Pro Bowler will remain highly scrutinized for many more months, maybe years, especially if Jeremy Maclin can't replicate Jackson's production. Free agency (S Malcolm Jenkins) and the draft (OLB Marcus Smith) brought needed defensive reinforcements. GM Howie Roseman also poured money and picks into his O-line and wideout corps but wasn't banking on RT Lane Johnson's month-long suspension for violating the NFL's drug policy. But with Michael Vick gone, what happens if Chip Kelly must use Plan B and C QBs Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley?

D

Dallas Cowboys: Was DE DeMarcus Ware experienced or old? Either way, he was expensive, and the Cowboys no longer had the cap room to keep the premier name on a defense that ranked last in the NFL in 2013. Maybe it won't matter given his lack of impact last year, but will reclamation projects Henry Melton, Anthony Spencer and Jeremy Mincey fix this unit? Patching the void left by MLB Sean Lee's torn ACL also seems an exercise in futility for the capped-out Cowboys. Reaching up for DE Demarcus Lawrence in Round 2 cost Jerry Jones his third rounder, a price he could hardly afford. But adding first-round G Zack Martin looks smart in light of QB Tony Romo's deteriorating back.

Detroit Lions: Aside from the maybe too rich deal to WR Golden Tate, this team doesn't look markedly different from the outfit that crumbled after a 6-3 start in 2013. New coach Jim Caldwell's ability to affect culture change may be the determining factor for a successful 2014. The draft brought a surplus at tight end (promising Eric Ebron) but not the impact player that might have made a bigger difference behind the vaunted D-line, which now features a pair of starters at D-tackle (Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley) who have unresolved contract issues.

D-

Carolina Panthers: They lacked the flexibility to spend much but earmarked $13 million to franchise emerging DE Greg Hardy, who later made news for the wrong reasons off the field. GM Dave Gettleman made the controversial choice to cut WR Steve Smith while watching his wideout and secondary depth charts evaporate. QB Cam Newton underwent ankle surgery and lost Pro Bowl LT Jordan Gross to retirement. Gettleman signed low-level replacements and used his Round 1 pick on raw WR Kelvin Benjamin. But unless the journeymen and rookies shine, the NFC South champs don't appear well-armed to defend their crown.

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