By: Adam Martin

The New Orleans Saints are in a transition period after the loss of multiple players this offseason. There is uncertainty over who will play QB and they are no longer the obvious winner in their own division. With that in mind they need guys to step up and Tre’Quan Smith could be that guy. He has shown glimpses over the last three years in New Orleans but now he has the chance to really breakout. Here we look at why Tre’Quan Smith could be a household name in 2021.

Given that TreQuan Smith has played in the NFL for three years it does seem weird to be expecting a breakout. However, there are plenty of reasons why this could happen. Smith has shown in the last few years that he is capable of making an impact. There has been plenty of change in New Orleans but Sean Payton is still the head coach. If you have a head coach that believes in you then that makes a huge difference to a player.

Why the stats can lie.

In his three years in the NFL Smith has never been amazing but has been a solid option for his QB. In 2018 he played in 15 games making 427 yards and five touchdowns with a 63.3% pass completion rate. It was hoped he would push on in 2019 but he only played 11 games due to injuries. He only managed to gain 234 yards and five touchdowns that year but had a career-high 72% pass completion rate. He then bounced back to 448 yards and four touchdowns in 2020 over 14 games played.

The stats can lie and make it look like he is not as good as he actually is but there are some averages that need to be taken into account. His pass completion rate works out to around 68% over his three years. This is a decent rate and shows that when he gets the ball he is likely to hold it. On top of that he has also shown that he is a touchdown target. Normally he will hit five touchdowns a season and with a potential increase in targets likely to come, that should go up.

Does he have the opportunity?

Now is the time that Smith has the opportunity to really kick on. When you look at the depth chart Michael Thomas is the clear number one wide receiver on the team. However, there is no one else thanks to the end of Emmanuel Sanders contract. Smith is the next man up with only the likes of Marquez Callaway and Deonte Harris having seen any significant snaps. On top of that, they did draft a seventh-round wide receiver but there is nothing to stop Smith from excelling.

With Emmanuel Sanders now gone it has released up 82 targets and Smith has to be considered a prime candidate for them. He won’t get them all because there are other candidates but if he can get 35 of them then you could see a huge increase. Chris Godwin had 84 targets last year and amassed 840 yards and seven touchdowns finishing at the number 30 wide receiver. Smith had 50 targets last year so could easily pick up the 34 targets and amass similar figures. If Smith was to hit these figures then he would be a player on more people’s lips by the end of 2021.

What about the loss of Brees?

The loss of Drew Brees will undoubtedly have a knock-on affect to the success of the Saints this year. However, he had been struggling over the last few years with injuries and arm strength. Over the last three years, there had been a noticeable drop-off when it came to pass attempts. The reason you have to look at the last three years is that is the time the Tre’Quan Smith has been with the Saints. In 2018 Brees had 489 pass attempts and that only got lower over the next two years after.

Currently, it feels like there is a genuine battle for the starting QB gig in New Orleans. It could be Taysom Hill or it could be Jameis Winston. This decision by head coach Sean Payton will have the biggest impact on Tre’Quan Smith and if he can vastly improve. If Payton decides to go with Taysom Hill then it will be tough for Smith to reach the numbers previously mentioned. If he starts Jameis Winston and sticks with him then the numbers will be reached.

Jameis Winston loves to throw the ball and wont shy away from any accuracy problems. The last time he started in 2019 with Tampa Bay he throw 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Not only did he show the strength of character to keep going he also had 626 pass attempts. That is a crazy amount of pass attempts and he probably wouldn’t reach them numbers again. However, he showed in his first two seasons in the NFL that he will throw much more than many QB’s.

He threw over 500 pass attempts in his rookie year and then his second year. Had he played a full season in his next two seasons he probably would of done the same again. With Brees only throwing 390 attempts last year the certain increase of pass attempts from Winston would mean that Smith would receive much more work.

Verdict

Given the lack of depth at wide receiver for the Saints this year you have to think that Smith can leap forward. He has the hands to make the vast majority of his catches count and has always been a touchdown threat. However, a lot of this will depend on who is starting QB will be. If its Taysom Hill he will improve but not significantly. If its Jameis Winston then the sky is the limit. The ability is there, the targets are there and hopefully for Smith, Winston will be there.

The post Why Tre’Quan Smith is one of the most slept on WRs appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Adam Martin

Khalil Mack has been one of the best edge rushers in the league for a few years now. He was drafted by the then named Oakland Raiders in 2014 before moving to Chicago in 2018. Although the Bears have not been the best team around they have been a strong defence for a few years now. This has mainly been due to Mack and his leadership in the front seven. With that in mind we look at if Khalil Mack is currently a top five defender.

Why Khalil Mack is in the top five

One of the biggest reasons that Kahlil Mack should be considered a top five guy is his consistency. The guy has played 16 games every season apart from in 2018 and even then he only missed two games. Its all well and good being on the field but Mack has also produced every year he has played. He has averaged 10 sacks a season throughout his career and there is no reason that wont continue. He has also averaged around 60 tackles a season showing that he produces all of the time.

Although you can look at Mack’s stats and say that he did more with the Raiders many years ago that was because he had to do more. Since being in Chicago he has been in a better team and more importantly a better defence. Having players like Robert Quinn will bring Mack’s numbers down compared to who he had helping him out at the Raiders. Mack’s numbers may have reduced but his quality is still high and he is still impressive.

In 2018 when he moved to Chicago he produced a total of 45 tackles and 12.5 sacks in a big opening year. However, since the 2019 season people have been saying that Mack is in decline which is just untrue. In 2019 he had 45 total tackles and 8.5 sacks and then in 2020 he had 47 total tackles and 9 sacks. Aaron Donald won the defensive player of the year with 44 total tackles and 13.5 sacks. Mack had more tackles in the season showing how consistent he was. Ok, he didn’t get as many sacks but your comparing him to the top defensive player in the NFL. Although they play in slightly different positions the stats still show how strong Mack is.

On the whole it shows that Mack is still a quality defensive player and is not far away from being the best in the NFL. He is on a team that has some other strong defenders that will help him keep them stats up. Mack is only 30 years old and has a few more years left in the tank at the top level. If the Bears have a good season this year, especially on the defence, he will easily be a top five defensive player.

Why Khalil Mack is not in the top five

The biggest reason anyone has for Mack not being a top five defensive player is the signs of decline. When he was at the Raiders he was producing some insane numbers. Now that he is at Chicago his numbers have slowly fallen although still good. During his four years with the Raiders he had 282 total tackles and 40.5 sacks. In his three years at Chicago he has only produced 137 total tackles and 30 sacks. He has no chance of reaching the numbers in Chicago in the same time as he did with the Raiders.

On top of the slide in stats in Chicago he is now 30 years old and that will only hinder his ability. He still has a few more years of potentially elite talent but normally players start to drop off now. There are so many players who are reaching the latter stages of their career and you see they cant do what they did. Mack is starting to show signs of this already and it could get worse quite quickly.

It is not surprising that Mack is starting to slow down given the amount of work he got through with the Raiders. Currently Nick Bosa is considered one of the best in Mack’s position but he didnt do anywhere near as much as Mack did. If you just take their rookie year Bosa had 42 total tackles and nine sacks in 14 games started. Mack was forced to play all 16 games with 72 tackles and four sacks. That was the story for all four years he was with the Raiders and now the burnout will be there to see.

Mack is a quality player but there is some serious competition at this position which might stop him being a top five player. Nick Bosa is expected to come back from a long injury and he could be back to normal. Za’Darius Smith has been excellent for Green Bay and will likely be a top five guy. Shaquil Barrett is back with Tampa Bay looking for another Superbowl. Plus there are guys like Chandler Jones, T.J Watt, Cam Jordan and Joey Bosa. It will be tough for Mack to get back to the numbers he previously produced in order to get back in to the top five defensive players.

Verdict

Overall you have to feel that Khalil Mack is still a quality defensive player but he is not what he was. He has shown in the last two years that he has declined and at his age it will be tough to get them numbers back. Also with the other defensive players around Mack wont make it into the top five defensive players.

The post Is Khalil Mack a top 5 defensive player? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Adam Martin

The Buffalo Bills showed how much they had improved by taking the AFC East title last season. After around two decades of domination from New England, it was an impressive year for the Bills. However, they didn’t make it to the Superbowl, losing to Kansas City in the AFC Championship game. Despite such an improvement, there are still areas that the Bills can get better. Here we look at the potential breakout candidates for Buffalo and assess if it will get them to the big game.

Zack Moss – Running Back

One area that the Bulls have struggled in over the last few years is in the running game. Two years ago they decided to make an effort during the draft to bring in some fresh young talent. In 2019 they bought in Devin Singletary, hoping he would become strong running back for many years to come. Unfortunately, this hasn’t really happened which is why they delved back into the draft in 2020. Zack Moss was the result and both guys played last year in a committee.

The reason that Zack Moss is likely to have a breakout next year is that the team hasn’t seen much improvement from Singletary. In 2019 he produced 775 yards and two touchdowns in a good rookie year for a rusher in only 12 games. However, in 2020 he could only rush for 687 yards and two touchdowns despite playing in 16 games. Not only that but he also had two touchdowns in the passing game back in 2019 but in 2020 he had none.

Moss didn’t have as big a rookie year as Singletary but he showed that he could rush in touchdowns when needed. He produced 481 yards and four touchdowns from the backfield in a solid first season. He also had reasonable production in the passing game with 95 yards and one touchdown. With both guys on rookie contracts still, it is unlikely that the team will bring in a running back in the draft. Also, you would expect the team to give Moss every opportunity this year in the hope of seeing him produce more. With more rushing attempts you would expect a better season for Moss.

Verdict : Zack Moss was ranked as the 43rd best running back last year. With some extra work he could move up them rankings quickly and become the main running back in Buffalo.

Gabriel Davis – Wide Receiver

Gabriel Davis might seem like an odd choice for a breakout but he does have the potential. When you look at the wide receiver core for Buffalo it is Superbowl ready. They have got a receiver, in Stefon Diggs, who could become the number one in the league. However, every defense is now going to be concentrating on Josh Allen’s number one target. Last season he produced 1,535 yards and 15 touchdowns. It will be tough to repeat that again this year.

The Bills have also bought in Emmanuel Sanders from the New Orleans Saints to bolster their ranks. Sanders is a model pro who has been around the league for many years. Last season he produced 726 yards and five touchdowns in a team with an aging quarterback. However, at the age of 34, you can only expect so much from him and the numbers may go down.

Another receiver for Buffalo is Cole Beasley who produced 967 yards and four touchdowns last season. Beasley is another aging receiver who can still produce but he might not see as much action. Isiah McKenzie also helped out with 282 yards and five touchdowns but he is more of a speedster who can break the line every now and then.

Davis is the one receiver who can break out in a big way this year after an impressive rookie year. He produced 599 yards and seven touchdowns from only 35 receptions. With defenses looking at Diggs the most it will be Davis who gets to play against the weaker defenders. He has the talent and the pace to make that count and push on to become a big threat for the Bills.

Verdict : With Stefon Diggs a marked man, Josh Allen will have to spread the ball around more than last year. Davis does have plenty of competition but he showed how good he can be last season. He has the potential to finish higher than the 47th ranked wide receiver.

Dawson Knox – Tight End

Dawson Knox is not the most exciting tight end around but he does have the potential to break out this year. Firstly, the Bills don’t have much else at the tight end and Knox will be the main guy for that position in 2021. They have bought Jacob Hollister from Seattle but Knox is the guy to keep on the side. The only other players on the depth chart are Tommy Sweeny and Nate Becker. Neither of them will make any impact on Knox’s numbers.

Although Knox has never had big numbers in his two years at Buffalo he has shown his abilities. In 2019 he produced 388 yards and two touchdowns in a solid rookie season. In 2020 his yards fell to 288 but he did score three touchdowns, showing his RedZone capabilities. It will be tough for Knox to make a massive impact given the offensive talent in Buffalo but he could hit more touchdowns. It wouldn’t take much for Knox to move up the tight end rankings pretty quickly and 2021 could be the year he does it.

Verdict : With all the weapons in Buffalo it could be tough for Knox to break out. However, he has shown his red zone threat and Josh Allen is happy to use him. It doesn’t take much to become a top ten tight end and Knox has the situation to make it happen if it all falls right for him.

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By: Adam Martin

With free agency basically over teams are looking at the draft and how they can rejuvenate their roster for next year. However, there are still plenty of guys out there who can fill a whole on a team. One man who is still available is defensive end pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan. Kerrigan was drafted by the Washington Football Team back in 2011 and has been a starter ever since. However, with the emergence of Chase Young and Montez Sweat on either side of the defensive line, there is little place for Kerrigan. He is a four-time pro bowler and has amassed over 90 sacks in his career and although he is now 32 years of age he is still a quality player. With that in mind we have found five teams that need to sign Ryan Kerrigan.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in a full rebuild at the moment but you cant bring in great young talent everywhere. When you look at their draft picks you would expect Trevor Lawrence and a stud running back to come in. One area that they probably wont focus on in this draft is at edge rusher. With that in mind it makes sense that they pick up a quality free agent who they can bring in cheaply. Cap space is not a problem for Jacksonville who still have over $29m worth of money to play with.

Another reason that this would be a good move is that Jacksonville have a young defense. Although you don’t want an old defense you do need some experience and Kerrigan would be ideal for that. Having a guy who has been a four time pro bowler can only help the younger guys there. This move could also benefit Kerrigan as it would give him the chance to have a starters role, which is what he wants. Not only that but this could be his last big pay day in his career and the chance to finish his days in sunnier circumstances.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys had a tough season last year and the defense was shown to be needing a lot of help. Although most of the attention went on the season ending injury for Dak Prescott, the defense needs major improvement. Bringing in an experienced edge rusher like Ryan Kerrigan would not be the worst idea. They don’t have a large amount of cap space but they could get a deal done if they wanted to. A high quality, experienced player is something the Cowboys are in need of.

Also, most of the top edge rushers will go early in this years draft and the Cowboys need to fill many holes. It is rumored that they will go for a cornerback in the first round. If they do go down this route bringing in Kerrigan would be the smart move. On top of that the Cowboys are favorite to win their division so he could be playing in the playoffs next year. The only reason this doesn’t happen is that he decides he wont play for Dallas after a long career with rivals Washington.

LA Chargers

The LA Chargers are another team that could do with extra depth at the edge rusher position. The Chargers were decent on offence last year but struggled to win games, largely due to their defense. Finishing the season with a 7-9 record was ok considering they were in transition but they need to show improvement this year. Finding the money to bring in Kerrigan will not be an issue either as they have over $16 of cap space.

It is possible that the Chargers could draft an edge rusher this year but it would seem unlikely. The biggest area they need to improve is on the offensive line. They started this by bringing in Corey Linsley in free agency and a first round offensive lineman would make sense. The most important thing that the Chargers need to do is to protect new franchise QB Justin Herbert. With that in mind a cheap free agency pick up, like Kerrigan, makes a lot of sense.

New York Giants

The New York Giants are a team who are looking to make strides this upcoming season. It has been made clear by the Giants owner, John Mara, that the patience for success is drying up. There was some big money free agency signings this year but they still need some edge rusher depth. The defense looked much better last year but the offence struggled finishing the year at 6-10. Brining in an experienced edge rusher who could be a great team member will improve that defense further.

The main areas that the Giants need to improve is on the offence and that is where they are likely to go in the draft. If they are not going to bring in any young edge rushers then they need to bring in someone who is talented and affordable. Currently the Giants have got very little cap space but with a bit of accountancy trickery they could get Kerrigan in. However, it will depend if Kerrigan would be happy playing for another rival of Washington’s, where he has spent his entire career.

Houston Texans

This feels like an obvious team who would be interested in Ryan Kerrigan’s services. The Houston Texans are in a bizarre situation currently with a big overhaul of the team in a few years. In free agency they went on a spending spree bringing in over 20 players on short contracts. It feels like it could be a long time till the Texans get back to being a playoff team and so they need to improve. They are short in many places and edge rusher is one of them meaning that Kerrigan could help fill a hole for a few years.

Not only do they need quality players to come in they also have a problem when it comes to the draft. They don’t have a first or second round pick this year so they are limited to the quality they can bring in. If you cant get a good edge rusher through the draft then they have to go out and buy one in free agency. They have got around $9.5m cap space available to them and so have plenty of money to get Kerrigan in. If Kerrigan would be up for this move is another story though.

The post Top Fits for Ryan Kerrigan? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team always looking to compete for the Lombardi trophy but they need to bring in some young talent. They have some specific areas that they need to improve at and they will look to do it early. Can they find the right protection for Big Ben? Which running back will they take? Here we look at the first three rounds of the Steelers draft for 2021 and work out who they will go for.

1st Round

Teven Jenkins – Offensive-line

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been touted to bring in a running back with their first pick but there is another pressing need. One of the biggest problems that they had was trying to protect veteran QB Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers have backed themselves into a corner given the roster and they need to go for an offensive lineman. Unfortunately the best offensive lineman will have already gone but there is depth at the position. The obvious player at this point in the draft is Teven Jenkins from Oklahoma State. Jenkins is a man mountain at 6’6 and 320lbs and has shown during his college career how good he can be.

The former Oklahoma Cowboy has developed into one of the best blindside blocker in America. The other massive positive with Jenkins is that he plays in a nasty way. He is incredibly strong who has heavy hands and is more than happy to push a pass rusher to the ground. He still needs to be coached and polished into a high end NFL player but in time he could be. If ever there was a player who could represent his coach on the field it would be Jenkins for Mike Tomlin.

Overall he has many positives such as his instinctiveness to make the right move and incredible athleticism. He has great hands that he uses to his advantage and is quick to close the door on the defender. He does have some negatives like a lack of arm length for the position and footwork but most of this can be coached. Jenkins is exactly the type of player that Pittsburgh are desperate for to help keep Big Ben upright this season.

2nd Round

Kenneth Gainwell – RB

Kenneth Gainwell had a mixed time with the Memphis Tigers and that is why he will slip to the second round or even further. Gainwell barely played in his first year at Memphis but then had a massive year in 2019. He had 231 attempts rushing for 1,459 yards and 13 touchdowns in a standout year. Not only was he impressive in the run game but he also was a major contributor to the pass game with 610 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately due to Covid he decided to opt out of 2020 and so he has only really had one year of experience.

Due to his lack of experience he does come with some risks but he does have plenty of upside. The biggest positive with Gainwell is that he had a huge amount of work for one year and produced. He has the ability to read the defense well and is patient to wait and see where the gaps come. On top of that he has the footwork to excel and can make the cuts that he needs in order to break the defensive line. He has the ability to become a starter in the NFL but it will take some time and coaching.

His biggest negative is that he has only had one years experience and so may take time to get him NFL ready. Given the desperate need for the Steelers to get some offensive line help they may have to go for a running back like Gainwell. Another issue with Gainwell is that he is small for a running back. At 5’8 and 201lbs he is more of a pass catching running back for the long term instead of a big bodied back. The problem with this is that he gets taken out as an interior runner but the Steelers can bring in someone else for that.

3rd Round

Jamie Newman – QB

Jamie Newman is another player who is hard to work out exactly what you might get. He had three years at Wake Forest and finished with a good season in 2019. He had a 60.9% pass completion rate and threw for 2,868 yards and 26 touchdowns in that season. Also, he showed how good he can be with his legs by rushing for 574 yards and a further six touchdowns. After 2019 he then moved to Georgia but didn’t play for them in 2020 as he opted out due to the Covid pandemic.

Despite missing the whole of 2020 Newman is still worth a punt especially to a team with a veteran QB. Newman is a big bodied QB at 6’4 and 230lbs but has the speed to run it in at the goal line. He has the body to take hits in the pocket and has the arm talent to get the job done. He was limited by his college passing scheme at Wake Forest and so if given the chance he could show more. He has a stunning deep ball and with the type of receivers at Pittsburgh he could do well. If given the time to sit behind Roethlisberger then he could be a good choice for the Steelers.

Obviously if you are taking a QB in the third round then he must have some issues. The main one is that he didn’t play last year due to opting out and only had two solid seasons with Wake Forest. He does have a timing issues that will need time to be changed but that can be done through coaching. One of the biggest concerns with Newman is that he didn’t seem to feel any pocket pressure. This would mean that the Steelers would need to concentrate on bringing in top quality offensive lineman. However, if the Steelers were to take Newman then he would spend the year behind Roethlisberger and that would make a massive difference.

The post Pittsburgh Steelers 3 round mock draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Adam Martin

The New York Jets are in a big transition period and they have got lots of good draft picks. Since the arrival of General Manager Joe Douglas in 2019 it felt like the jets were in rebuild. This draft is the beginning of that and it will be very interesting to see who they pick. Here we look at the Jets picks in the first three rounds of this years draft and focus on who they are going to pick.

Round one

1.2 Zach Wilson

First up in round one the Jets have got the 1.2 pick after a dismal season last year. With the recent trade of Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers it confirms that the Jets will pick a QB. There are many to choose from but the one that is getting the most heat is Zach Wilson. He had a great year with BYU passing for 3,692 yards and 33 touchdowns. On top of that he only gave up three interceptions in a standout season.

He isn’t the finished article but he has tremendous ball placement and great arm strength. Another benefit is that he is very good at moving defenders with his eyes and selling dummies well. He has the ability to make any type of throw from any situation, similar to Patrick Mahomes. However, he does need to work on his footwork and his time at BYU was against weaker opposition.

1.23 Teven Jenkins

Later on in the first round the Jets have got the chance to bring in another quality young player. After bringing in there brand new QB they will want to get someone to help protect him. The obvious player at this point in the draft is Teven Jenkins from Oklahoma State. Jenkins is a man mountain at 6’6 and 320lbs and has shown during his college career how good he can be.

The former Oklahoma Cowboy has developed into one of the best blindside blocker in America. The other massive positive with Jenkins is that he plays in a nasty way. He is incredibly strong who has heavy hands and is more than happy to push a pass rusher to the ground. He still needs to be coached and polished into a high end NFL player but in time he could be. If ever there was a player who could represent his coach on the field it would be Jenkins for Robert Salah.

Round Two

2.2 Asante Samuel Jr

Asante Samuel Jr would be a good choice for the Jets in a problem area for them. Samuel has the potential to go in the first round but is more likely to slip into the second. His main attributes are speed and agility that can help him to change direction and make big plays when he shouldn’t. He will have the ability to keep up with the fastest receivers in the NFL and has good recovery speed. Another area that Samuel excels is his ability to make a tackle and is quick to do it. He isn’t afraid to get in a receivers face and has some great rookie traits that can help him become a quality corner.

The Florida State graduate isn’t the complete package though and does have some issues. His main issue is something that Samuel cant change and that is his lack of size. At 5’10 and 183lbs he is smaller than the average corner and will struggle against taller receivers. On top of that his reach is a problem with smaller than average arms for the position. Another potential problem was that Samuel did give up quite a few holding penalties in college. With coaching this could change but if he is giving away penalties at college level it could get worse at NFL level.

Round Three

3.2 Chubba Hubbard

Chubba Hubbard has been a good running back during his time at Oklahoma State over the last couple of years. At 6’1 and 207lbs he isn’t the biggest back but he has produced for them. Over three seasons he has rushed 585 times for over 3,400 yards and 33 touchdowns. Hubbard has great footwork and the patience to wait for the room to become available. Although he might not be massive in size he is hard to bring down and will be capable of doing well in the NFL.

There are not many negatives to Hubbard but he will not be able to match his college production. His size is the biggest problem and he will need to be in a specific scheme. His best chance of success is to be in a committee and would be great for the Jets if they bring in a veteran to help him. The other negative to Hubbard is that he has been used quite a lot by Oklahoma. 585 carries over three seasons is a huge amount of work for a college running back. Although it probably wont affect him to much in the early days of his NFL career it could do later on.

3.23 Ronnie Perkins

Ronnie Perkins would be a great choice for the Jets given that there defense is desperate for edge rushers. He is fast of the edge and can easily change direction of his attack. He has superb footwork and has the ability to cover a large amount of area on the field. He is explosive, very sudden and is more than happy to run through anyone trying to stop him. Perkins is an underrated defender and passes the eye test very well.

One of Perkins biggest problems is that, for an edge rusher, he is lacking in size at 6’3 and 247lbs. He still has the ability to become an NFL starter but this is why he is a third round draft candidate. Another area of concern is that he has had some character issues but a strong head coach in Robert Salah can sort that out. Ronnie Perkins would be a quality addition to a defense that is desperate for young talent.

The post Mock draft for the New York Jets appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Miami Dolphins had an eventful Friday (26th March) when they made two trades. Firstly they dropped down to the number 12 pick after trading away their number three pick. Then they moved back up to the number six pick and gave away the recently acquired number 12 pick. By doing this it means that the Dolphins have got themselves an extra 1st round pick in 2023. Not only was it good for the future it is good for the present as they can still draft a player that they really want. Here we look at the top rumors going around about who the Miami Dolphins are going to take after this epic trade.

Who will the Dolphins pick at number six?

We all know that Trevor Lawrence is going to Jacksonville at number one and its looking likely Zack Wilson goes to the Jets next. San Francisco would only make this trade with Miami if they wanted a QB. So with that in mind the first three guys being drafted are QB’s. With Atlanta fourth and Cincinnati fifth they could take away two of the top options but it leaves Miami still able to draft a high end player.

The Dolphins have said they are looking to upgrade their offensive weapons over free agency and the draft. This has now put them in position to bring in a stud wide receiver at the number six spot. The top two wide receivers in the draft are Ja’Marr Chase and Devonta Smith who could be massive for any teams. Next up is one of the best tight ends to come out of college in many years, Kyle Pitts. All three options would be a massive boost to the Dolphins offence and at least one of them will be available to the Dolphins.

Ja’Marr Chase opted out last year but showed how good he is back in the 2019 season. He scored 20 touchdowns and 1,780 receiving yards in a standout year and is considered the best receiver in this class. Devonta Smith had a great 2020 receiving over 1,800 yards and 23 touchdowns which took him to the Heisman trophy. Smith was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman trophy since 1991 showing how good he was at Alabama. Kyle Pitts is a freak athlete at 6’5 and 240 pounds but is fast and showed it last year for Florida. He scored 12 touchdowns and 770 yards and could be a difference maker at his position.

Verdict : The most logical pick is Devonta Smith who played with Tua at Alabama but both Chase and Pitts would be great choices as well. Chase could end up going before to the Bengals to team up with Joe Burrow and Miami already have a good tight end in Mike Gesicki. Smith had a great 2020 and the Heisman trophy winner will be the Dolphins new wide receiver.

The Dolphins wont take a RB at number 18

After picking up their stud wide receiver in Devonta Smith earlier in the first round everyone is expecting an RB to be taken next. The obvious choice is Najee Harris but that is not the only need for Miami. Although the Miami defense is a good young side they do have some issues that need addressing. One area that looks like it could do with some beefing up is at safety.

The standout safety in this draft is Trevon Moehrig who at 6’2 and 202 pounds can make a big difference to a defense. He led all safeties in pass breakups in each of the last two seasons with 12 in 2019 and eight in 2020. Not only that he only allowed 51% pass completion against him. He has a versatile skill set and this is why he is likely to go as high as the number 18 pick.

Although this move might seem like a surprise there has been rumors that the Dolphins could do this. The only reason they don’t go down this route is if the take a running back. Everyone is saying that the running back class is not strong this year but that isn’t true. The Dolphins will be better off as a team if they strengthen at safety and then they can move on later in the draft to address the RB position.

Who do the Dolphins go for in round two?

In the second round is where the Dolphins make their move for a starting running back. Chances are Najee Harris and Travis Etienne will have already been taken but they still have many good choices. Currently the Dolphins have Myles Gaskin, Malcolm Brown and Salvon Ahmed as their three main running backs. None of these are a strong number one running back and so another top player must come in. The Dolphins have got the number 36 pick and it would be surprising if they didn’t use it for a running back.

Choices include Chuba Hubbard, Michael Carter and Javonte Williams. Hubbard had a great 2019 but then opted out for much of 2020. In 2019 he rushed for 2,094 yards and 21 touchdowns for Oklahoma state and showed how good he can be. Carter is a bit smaller than the other guys but he is still tough and rushed for 1,245 yards and nine touchdowns last year. He is probably the most unlikely to be chosen this high but he is worth being in the conversation. Williams had a great 2020 for North Carolina rushing for 1,140 yards and 19 touchdowns. At 5’10 and 220 pounds Williams could be a big difference maker for a team.

Verdict : All three guys are talented running backs who could help Miami’s offense in an area that needs it. Out of the three Javonte Williams is the bigger guy and can be the bigger difference maker to a team. He would be a great addition to the Dolphins.

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By: Adam Martin

The New England Patriots have been on a massive $137.5m spending spree over this offseason. It feels like a surprising move given how the Patriots have been in the past. However, when the league zigs the Patriots like to zag and it will be interesting to see if this works out. Here we look at the Patriots free agency signings and rank them from best to worst.

Best – David Andrews

David Andrews is one of the best centers in the league and this deal is very team friendly. The 28 year old has been in the NFL for six years now and has shown how good he can be. He is only costing $19m for four years when other players as good as him are going for double the money at least. With him there the Patriots will have one of best o-lines in the game and that will be massive for Cam Newton and the run game.

Jonnu Smith

Jonnu Smith is potentially a top quality tight end who will improve now he is in the Patriots system. The Patriots are known for how they use their tight ends and after two years struggling to find one they have got a good one here. He has cost a lot at $50m for four years but he could be worth it if he settles. He is a big redzone threat and showed that with the Titans last year only receiving 448 yards but eight touchdowns. This is a good move.

Kyle Van Noy

Kyle Van Noy had a good time with the Patriots before his move to Miami last year. It didn’t work out in Miami but the Patriots know exactly what they are getting with Van Noy. The main reason he is so high is due to his price being so cheap. At only $12m for two years the Patriots are getting him cheap. Also with Dont’a Hightower back from his opt out they will make a great partnership again.

Matthew Judon

Matt Judon is expensive but the Patriots can afford him. $54.5m for four years is big but Judon has proved his worth whilst in the Ravens defense. He was the top for sacks since 2017 for the Ravens and is a two-time pro bowler who can translate that form to the Patriots. It would be surprising to see him flop with so many talented defenders around him.

Cam Newton

Cam Newton had a tough year last season but he isn’t costing the Patriots much. At $5m for a one year deal he is cheap for a starter. Newton showed with the Panthers that he likes big bodied tight ends and guys that can stretch the field quickly. The Patriots have gone out and got them and so Newton should succeed more this year then they did last year.

Hunter Henry

Hunter Henry is the second piece to the Gronkowski/Hernandez puzzle that the Patriots have been looking for. Jonnu Smith is not your typical tight end setting up all over the field but Henry is. Henry does come with injury risks but he is still a quality player who will play most games. Although he cost $37.5m for three years he is ideal for the Patriots and will be a major part of the offence.

Henry Anderson

Henry Anderson is exactly the type of player that Bill Belichick loves in his defensive line. Anderson is 6ft 6 and 310lbs and will make a huge difference to that line. Although he hasn’t got the greatest stats over his career he is cheap and that pushes him up this list. Anderson isn’t fancy but he is effective, just what the Patriots are always looking for.

Kendrick Bourne

The Patriots have been desperate for wide receiver talent and Kendrick Bourne is a decent addition. He is similar to Jakobi Myers but he is still someone you want on your team. The only downside to this deal is the price. Paying $15m for three years is steep considering the receiver market. However, they have obviously seen something in him and it will be interesting to see what he does.

Deatrich Wise

Deatrich Wise is on an incentive heavy contract and so has not cost much for the Patriots. He played well over his rookie contract and the Patriots believe the best is still to come with Wise. He looked better when the Patriots used a heavier front and it looks like they are going back to that. Wise is cheap and solid.

Ted Karras

Ted Karras is a two time Superbowl champion with the New England Patriots and is a quality offensive lineman. However, he didnt have a great year in Miami last year but he is coming back into a system he knows. Given the price of the contract, one year for $4m, he is worth bringing back to add depth. You cant have to many offensive lineman on your roster and Karras is one of the better backups in the league.

Davon Godchaux

Godchaux is so low on the list because he can only bring so much to the team. Although the Patriots had an awful run defence last year, which he will help to improve, that is all the Godchaux can do. He wont do much to stop the pass and in a pass heavy NFL that is a problem. Also, he has come in on a two year $15m contract which is expensive for what he can bring. Expect a restructure before his second year.

Jalen Mills

Jalen Mills has been bought in to take over from the retired Patrick Chung but this is still a strange choice. He was in Philadelphia for four years and he never looked great which makes you wonder why he was picked. His contract is for four years and $24m which also feels like a lot of money for a guy who hasn’t been great. When he was a corner he was poor but since transitioning to safety he has looked a little better. Belichick needs to work his magic to make this deal look good.

Nelson Agholor

Nelson Agholor feels like a strange move and a massive overspend by the Patriots. His contract is for two years and $22m with $16m guaranteed. It was only a year ago that the Raiders signed him on a veterans minimum contract. He had a decent year with the Raiders posting 896 yards and eight touchdowns. If he can repeat that for the two years then it might be worth it but if he slips back to his Philadelphia form then its way to big. Will Fuller cost $10m for one year and is much better.

The post New England Free Agent Acquisitions Ranked appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Adam Martin

After a crazy few days of ‘legal tampering’ we have seen lots of players make some big money moves. Joe Thuney moving to the Kansas City Chiefs on a 5 year $80m deal was one of the biggest deals. The New England Patriots went on a spending spree after bringing in players like Jonnu Smith and Matthew Judon. The LA Chargers signed Corey Linsley on a $62.5m deal and many many more. However, there are still plenty of quality free agents out there and we have put together the top 15 free agents still available.

Kenny Golladay

Kenny Golladay deserves to be top of this list and it is surprising that he hasn’t been taken yet. He had an injury plagued season last year but that doesnt matter as he was so good previously. Golladay towers over defenders and wins plenty of 1-on-1 matchups. Its just a matter of time before someone spends big on him.

Will Fuller

Fuller was on target for a great season in 2020 until he had a PED suspension. He has shown that when he is fit and healthy he can produce big numbers and make everyone around him better. Fuller has amazing speed and there are plenty of teams needing someone who has that. He hasn’t completed a whole season but that talent is there and someone will take a chance on him.

Juju Smith-Schuster

Juju Smith-Schuster is a high end number two but not quite good enough to be the main receiver for a team. He has shown how good he can be when he received 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns back in 2018. Smith-Schuster is a bit of a throwback who loves to do the dirty work and has great toughness. At only 24 he has many years ahead of him and any team would be happy to have him.

T.Y Hilton

T.Y Hilton has been a solid performer for the Colts over the years and is capable of being a good receiver for a few more years. He has had over 1,000 yards five times in his eight year career but will struggle to hit them heights now. He would be a decent number two for a team looking to kick on.

Justin Houston

Justin Houston has been a top end pass rusher for a decade now and he is capable of keeping it going. Although he is 32 he still managed to get eight sacks last year. He would be a good option for a team in need but he would need to be used sparingly as he gets older.

Carlos Dunlap

Another pass rusher is worthy of being on the list and Carlos Dunlap showed at Seattle he is good for a job. Dunlap is a good pass rusher but the Seahawks didnt want to pay $14m for him in this market. He was great for Cincinnati in 2019 and gave the Seahawks a push last year which shows he is still capable at 32.

Adoree Jackson

Adoree Jackson has not lived up to where he was drafted but he has shown that he can be good when not injured. He has had performances where he would be considered a top ten corner in the league. There isn’t many corners around for teams to bring in so Jackson becomes a top target for teams needing to fill that position.

Melvin Ingram

Melvin Ingram has been a quality edge rusher over the years but he has missed 12 games in the last two seasons. There are plenty of teams in need of a rusher and although Ingram might not be as reliable he is still good. He is still a force when he does play and will help any team become nasty to play against.

Chris Carson

Chris Carson is an undervalued running back who deserves a big contact but is unlikely to get one. He has a reputation of being injured a lot but he has suited up in 41 of his last 48 games. He finished as the number nine running back in 2019 and is more than capable of doing that again. Who wouldn’t want that in their backfield?

Eric Fisher

Eric Fisher is a perfect example of the cap space crunch as the Chiefs needed to make space. The former number one pick back in 2013 was having a good season but got injured in January. Although he is 30 years old you would expect a team to pick him up for a couple of years.

Malcolm Butler

Malcolm Butler just had his best season with the Tennessee Titans but would of cost to much to keep. As previously said there are not many quality corners in free agency so Butler becomes a great buy. He is highly competitive player and had four interceptions last year. He is worth a punt even if he is getting older.

Sammy Watkins

Sammy Watkins is not the greatest receiver around but he can turn up and produce big games. The main area of worry is that he has missed six games in three of his last five seasons. Although you wont get a full season out of him he is still capable of being a decent squad player. Someone will pick him up on the cheap.

Casey Hayward

Casey Hayward has been a consistent performer for many years in the NFL and someone will pick him up. He had problems last year, which came out of the blue but he is more than capable of getting back to his usual standards. One of the most underrated corners is still worth his place at 32.

Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh has had a strong career since being picked at number two back in 2010. He finally won a Superbowl last year with Tampa Bay and he was a big contributor. He had six sacks last year and showed that although he is 34 he still can have a role for a contender. A team will pick him up on a one year deal.

James Conner

James Conner has struggled during his time in Pittsburgh but a team will take a chance on him. The biggest worry is his injury record and he hasn’t played a whole season in his career yet. However, the Steelers o-line has not helped him and he would make a good number two in a backfield.

The post Top 15 free agents still available appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

With free agency about to get under way this week it means the start of the season is here. One area that everyone is struggling with this year is to get their cap space down to the right amount. Some teams are sitting pretty with plenty of available money and some are struggling and having to make cuts. We look at how the teams are coping with getting their budgets down and why they need to make some moves quick?

Why are teams struggling to meet the leagues budget?

With the cap space budget decreasing this year it has left many teams scrambling around. The league has set the budget of $182.5m for this upcoming season. The previous year the budget was $198.5m. The reason behind this reduction is due to the Covid pandemic and the drop in money coming into the league. This is understandable given the lack of crowds and money coming in but it has caused a financial headache for many teams.

Another issue is that the decisions you make now can affect the finances of your team for multiple years to come. In the last seven years the salary cap has gone up around $10m each year. So not only has the cap reduced by $16m because of the pandemic but most teams would of expected an increase of around $10m. Decisions that were made back in 2018 before anyone knew about the pandemic will have an affect now.

For example the Cleveland Browns signed Jarvis Landry to a five year deal back in 2018 for $75.5m. When Landry signed his contract stipulated he would get certain amounts of money through different ways. He got $47m in guarantees and the rest as a mixture of different bonuses during his five year contract. However, each year a certain amount of that contract would go against the teams cap space. In 2018 it would be $15.5m and then in 2019 it was $14.05m. This year its going to be $14.75m and the team is going to have to pay it unless they can renegotiate with the player.

This type of contract is why many teams are struggling with the sudden drop in cap space. Back in 2018 most teams would of been used to having the regular yearly increases so would be happy to splash the cash. However, with the sudden problems the pandemic has caused you are seeing teams have to cut or renegotiate with players when they might not really want to.

How are teams figuring out the problem?

One common way of bringing the cap down and meeting the budget is to renegotiate a players contract. There are many ways you can do this by changing a players contract. A common way to reduce the cap is to use cash in the present and spread out the cap hit over multiple years. A way to do this is to give the player a new contract and move the money into a signing bonus. This wont count against the cap and the player still gets the same amount of money that was originally owed to him as long as its fully guaranteed.

Another way that the team can move money is by changing the players contract and putting in ‘voidable years’. This seems to be a very popular choice at the moment. The main benefit of putting in voidable years is that you don’t have to pay the bill now. However, you will have to pay the bill eventually and for most of these teams it will be in the next two or three years.

For example if you look at Tom Brady’s new contract that he signed with the Tampa Bay Bucs then you can see how the money moves down the road. The deal he had before was for two years and $50m now he has another year and will play in 2021 and 2022. The amount of money he will receive is going to be $50m again but he wont get it all over the two years. He will cost the Bucs $9m in 2021 and $16m in 2022 which is a lot less than the potential $50m. However, in 2023 the Bucs will lose $24m in cap space and there is a chance that Brady will of retired.

Why are teams willing to kick the can down the road?

So there are a few reasons that teams are willing to go down this route in the hope it will be all work out. The main reason is that hopefully the Covid pandemic will only last for so long and the money will come back. Once the vaccine programs have finished and everyone has protection there is no reason why you cant have a full stadium again. In the last seven years the cap has gone up around $10m every year and so the cap will increase in the future. Although some teams will have bigger problems it will help to pay the bills.

Another reason that the teams are willing to gamble their future is the incoming TV deals. Although fans haven’t been able to attend the games it has worked well for TV and all the games were played. Another positive is that by having games moved around, due to Covid, it has shown that people are willing to watch the NFL on multiple nights of the week. Also, with the arrival of Amazon and Nickelodeon showing games the extra competition will increase the amount of money coming into the league.

On top of that the new gambling laws in America will be another reason that money will come in. The NFL are likely to show games on a Tuesday or Wednesday night as it will increase betting revenue on individual games. The American gaming association estimated that $150bn was wagered illegally each year before the rules changed in 2018. Currently not every state allows gambling but more have recently and you can see it becoming even more soon. With more people gambling and the NFL willing to move games more money will come through to the NFL and therefore each team.

It is understandable why teams are willing to kick the can down the road but it is still a gamble. There are still many unknowns with what is going on in the world at the moment. We want full stadiums in time for this upcoming season but its not a cast iron guarantee currently. The NFL have not said they will have games on four or five nights of the week which would be great for the gambling industry. Also, we don’t know the exact figures for the latest TV deal. However, you have to feel that most of these are the next logical steps and that is what the teams are gambling on.

The post Cap Space Issues and How the Teams Are Getting Around appeared first on Pro Football Mania.