5 things you need to know for Friday

Good morning football fans! Here are the five things you need to know coming out of yesterday to get your morning started right:

The defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots headline Sam Monson’s list of teams that have improved the most over the course of the offseason, and that should terrify the rest of the league. The Patriots eschewed the draft in large part this season, but instead used draft picks to swing trades for proven veteran talents like WR Brandin Cooks, who brings a deep threat to this offense they haven’t had since the departure of Randy Moss.

After double-dipping on safety at the top of the draft, the Jets have released safety Marcus Gilchrist. Gilchrist played 819 snaps in 2016 as a member of an overmatched Jets secondary, but has been a capable starter over the past four seasons, and will likely have little trouble finding a new roster spot from somebody.

With rookie Detroit Lions rookie LB Jarrad Davis slated to play in the middle, that means Tahir Whitehead will move back outside and play outside linebacker in 2017. Whitehead was significantly better playing outside in 2015 than he was last season when he was lined up at middle linebacker for the Lions, so the team has potentially upgraded at two spots with one move.

The Rams have brought back DT Dominique Easley on a one-year deal. Easley has perhaps never become the player he has the potential to be, but he remains a productive part of a defensive line rotation and a good move for the Rams to make at such a bargain price ($1.8 million).

On the fantasy side of things, Daniel Kelley yesterday dove in on Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill, who was a big producer in 2016 partly on the back of his versatility, which included 267 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Receivers have had big years from a rushing perspective in the past… but they don’t often do it more than once.