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Free agency marks the first sign of hope for improvement during the NFL offseason. General managers may opt to strengthen weak spots on the roster with a quick fix. Established veterans can provide immediate upgrades but come at a high cost.

At times, it's not the big-name free agents who change their team's trajectory. Average talents on the market on modest deals may outperform the hot-ticket pickups.

Last offseason, the Indianapolis Colts signed tight end Eric Ebron, who underachieved with the Detroit Lions. In 2018, he became one of the league's top red-zone targets with 13 touchdowns.

As the agreements become official Wednesday, we'll rank the top 10 acquisitions based on the player's past production, roster fit, projected impact and contract details if available.

Although teams expect to overpay for top players, it's important to spend wisely. It's logical to financially overcompensate for a quarterback but not necessarily at safety or guard.

Which teams opened the 2019 offseason with shrewd transactions during the legal tampering period?