That second overall pick could dictate what they do for the entire draft, and that’s what makes it so interesting. The front office has accumulated draft capital by trading away some talent, but it’s coming to fruition in April. The Jets will have six picks in the first 100 and plenty of ammunition to move anywhere they want on the draft board.

So with some work still to do and some possible moves to still be made, there are many options for the Jets heading into the draft. This could all be for nothing if a Deshaun Watson trade pops up on Adam Schefter’s Twitter in two seconds, but, for now, we will assume the Jets keep their first-round picks.

Justin Fields – QB, Ohio State

Remember this?

That’s when I thought it was destiny for Trevor Lawrence to end up in the Meadowlands. Alas, it was not meant to be as the Jets ended up winning a football game in 2020 ON PURPOSE.

So, with the second pick, they will have the chance to draft Justin Fields. The Ohio State quarterback isn’t viewed as a sure thing like his Sunshine counterpart from Clemson, but he’s got all the tools to make it at the NFL level.

Drafting Fields will mean that New York has or will move on from Sam Darnold, and that’s not a bad thing. New Head Coach Robert Saleh brought Mike LaFleur with him from San Francisco and will surely implement some aspects of Kyle Shanahan’s offense to the Jets system in 2021. Fields will thrive in that style of offense. His accuracy, decision-making ability, and overall poise will lead to a fruitful relationship in the Big Apple.

Zach Wilson – QB, BYU

While Fields may be the safer choice among the remaining quarterbacks, no one can argue Zach Wilson having a higher ceiling. The BYU standout rocketed up draft boards during the 2020 season and has gone from selling car insurance to incoming first-year students in Utah to a top-five lock in the 2021 draft.

His ascension is similar to Joe Burrow from last season, but Wilson is nowhere near as polished as the now-Bengals signal-caller. His skill to keep plays alive will be alluring to any NFL GM, and especially the Jets. Their fans watched Mark Sanchez and Sam Darnold manage their offense over the last decade, and adding an explosive leader like Wilson could do wonders for this franchise.

Ja’Maar Chase – WR, LSU

There is an arms race to grab a rookie quarterback this season. The Jets already have a quarterback in Sam Darnold. It’s not a secret that Joe Douglas is still deciding between keeping Darnold or starting over. If the former happens, the Jets should trade down (still inside the top-10) and take the best available receiver for Darnold’s future.

For now, we will say that Ja’maar Chase makes it to wherever the Jets pick. The football world seems to have forgotten what an incredible receiver he is after sitting out 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. During LSU’s title-winning season, Chase corraled 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns in 14 games. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! That kind of weapon does not come along in every NFL draft, and the Jets would be wise to add him to their arsenal should they get the opportunity.

Adding Chase to a receiving corps with Denzel Mims, Jamison Crowder, and newly-signed Corey Davis would vault the Jets up the rankings for pass-catching talent. If this team is really set on building around Sam Darnold for the foreseeable future, they HAVE to give him the type of talent to succeed at the pro level.

Asante Samuel Jr. – CB, Florida State

The Jets have a second, first-round pick this year after trading Jamaal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks last offseason. With that pick, they should desperately address the defensive side of the ball. Pulling the trigger on a defensive player at the top of the first round is not a good use of resources. There is too much offensive talent to pass up. Therefore, the 23rd pick would be an ideal spot to bolster their defense.

Asante Samuel Jr. was a top-10 corner in the country. He would instantly start for a Jets secondary that was terrible at outside coverage in 2020. Across his sophomore and junior seasons at Florida St., the defensive back recorded 79 tackles, 20 pass defenses, four interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.

Pro Football Focus has Samuel Jr. as the fourth-best cornerback in this draft and the 29th-best prospect overall. Finding young, athletic playmakers is the name of the game in the NFL, and Samuel could be an immediate difference-maker in Robert Saleh’s defense.

Azeez Ojulari – OLB, Georgia

Do you know what would help out a terrible secondary? A half-decent pass rush. The Jets didn’t have that in 2020, and adding Ojulari to their front seven would be a huge step in the right direction. Coming in at 6’5″ and 230 pounds gives him the frame to be the best speed rusher in the entire draft class. His measurements seem to be scaring teams, and getting him at 23 should be viewed as a steal.

Pro Football Focus rewarded his final season with a well-deserved 91.7 pass-rushing grade. He enters the pros as a red-shirt sophomore and was fantastic in his two full seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs. Ojulari produced 15 sacks, 15 quarterback hits, and 45 hurries over 24 games and showed exactly how he could torture NFL offensive lines as soon as this season.

Josh Allen isn’t leaving the AFC East anytime soon. Once the Jets get this franchise back to winning ways, taking down Allen and the Bills may be a final hurdle to jump in pursuit of a division crown. Ojulari can’t do it on his own, but he’s a solid addition to any team with pass-rushing needs.

The post Five Draft Targets For The New York Jets appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

NFL Free Agency officially opened on Wednesday, but the action has been flying since Monday morning. While we are still waiting for some of the bigger dominoes to fall, there is still enough going on to declare some early winners and losers.

Winners: Aaron Rodgers & Chris Carson

Aaron Jones re-signed with the green and yellow for four years and $48 million. It was a surprising move, given Green Bay decided to pass on the franchise-tag option for their star running back. However, this keeps the status quo in Wisconsin, and that should mean good things for the Packers. This is a franchise that’s been to four NFC Championships games since 2014 but hasn’t cleared the hump to the Super Bowl since 2011.

Getting Jones back in the mix gives the Packers a steady and reliable back to carry the load when Aaron Rodgers isn’t slinging it to Davante Adams. Over the last two seasons, Jones averaged over 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns in Green Bay. His return to Lambeau Field should be a boost for anyone invested in the Packers’ future fortunes.

As a result of Jones coming off the free-agent market before the race began, it opens the door for Chris Carson to become the most desirable ball carrier available. Buffalo, New York, and Miami should all compete for Carson’s services. The former-Seahawk was the No. 2 free-agent running back per ProFootballFocus.com, and he will have his pick of the running-back needy teams to call home for his next contract.

Losers: Allen Robinson

Woof! I picture Allen Robinson as Mario in his Nintendo 64 adventure trying to climb the never-ending staircase without enough stars. Just when he thought he would get out of Chicago and become a free agent, he gets slapped with the franchise tag. He hoped that the Bears would upgrade at quarterback and trade for Russell Wilson, but then the trade apparently falls through at the last second.

Can Allen Robinson catch a dang break?! This is a player that’s caught passes from Blake Bortles, Mitchell Trubisky, and Nick Foles in his career. Now, it looks like he will be catching passes from the Red Rifle, Andy Dalton, in 2021. Even if Dalton is the best quarterback to throw to Robinson in his seven-year career, this is not the “upgrade” he nor Bears fans were hoping for just a week ago.

Winners: Tampa Bay’s Repeat Chances

Chris Godwin? Tagged. Rob Gronkowski? Re-signed. Lavonte David and Shaquil Barrett? Both re-signed. It seemed like a tough ask for the Buccaneers front office to find enough cap space to bring all of these standouts back to Tampa Bay, but they found a way. Thanks in part to Tom Brady manipulating the salary cap once again to increase his chances at a Super Bowl ring.

Every year, we see more and more that a salary cap is literally just a number. Players and front offices on some of the best teams in the league become extremely creative in clearing acres of space in order to retain and obtain talent. Brady proves once again that he will take a pay cut if he believes it will help the team get to his ultimate goal: another ring.

Losers: Jonnu Smith & Hunter Henry Believers

Within the span of 24 hours, the fantasy football community changed from “Jonnu Smith TE 1 SZN,” to “What the heck are the Patriots doing?”. New England made some of the earliest splashes in the pass-catching market when they locked up Smith and Hunter Henry over the first two days of the legal tampering period.

Smith left the Music City to sign a four-year, $50 million deal in Foxboro, while Henry followed him not a day later for three years and $37 million. There were immediate screams that Bill Belichick was trying to recreate the Aaron Hernandez-Rob Gronkowski tandem from the early 2010s, but that’s going to be a problem. There is only one Rob Gronkowski, and Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry are nowhere near what Gronk was when he was dominating the middle of the field during his peak years.

As a result of both Smith and Henry signing in Massachusetts, it’s slamming the ceiling on their fantasy upside. While they could be the hottest topic for debate all summer among fantasy analysts, it may just be wise to avoid the situation altogether. Another thing that made the Hernandez-Gronk combo so devastating? Tom Brady.

Cam Newton is not Tom Brady. While it’s admirable that the Patriots are willing to take a swing like this, there are huge questions about whether it will shake out the way Belichick hopes. He is trying to reload and retool the franchise on the fly as they look for an immediate return to the playoffs after missing out in 2020.

The post Overreactions: Early Free Agency Winners and Losers appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Euan Leith

After a 3-13 record in 2019, Washington made some changes. A new head coach (Ron Rivera) and a new team name seemed to clear the dark skies hanging over the franchise. It worked terrifically as the team finished a respectable 7-9 and surprisingly added an NFC East crown to their trophy case. A loss to Tampa Bay knocked them out in the Wildcard Round, but this team far and away exceeded any expectations of even the most optimistic Football Team fan.

Now, the franchise needs to build on its success. The defense is in a great spot with a fantastic front-seven, but the offense needs to hold up their end of the bargain as 2021 approaches. Terry McLaurin has been the go-to receiver in this offense over the last two years, but he needs someone to shoulder the load. In 2019, the second-best pass-catcher on the roster was Chris Thompson, a running back, and in 2020 it was Logan Thomas, a tight end.

Per overthecap.com, Washington has the fourth-most cap space available. It’s time for them to focus on the offensive side of the ball. They still need a quarterback of the future. However, if they add one of the following wide receivers, that quarterback will be in a great spot to instantly succeed as the franchise looks for its first back-to-back division titles since 1983/84.

Allen Robinson

2020 team: Chicago Bears

There are a lot of teams that should think about adding a receiver with Robinson’s skillset. Over the last two seasons, the 28-year old averaged 152.5 targets, 100 catches, 1198.5 yards, and 6.5 touchdowns. He is older than some of the high-profile pass-catchers on the free-agent market this month, but he will still command a large contract.

Without a quarterback, Washington could be a tough sell for the veteran looking to play with a competent quarterback for the first time in his career. However, that $54 million of cap space gives the Football Team enough leeway to overpay for a man of Robinson’s talents.

The 2015 Pro Bowler will make a fantastic 1A to Terry McLaurin’s 1B in the passing attack. It launches the entire unit into one of the best one-two punches in the entire NFL. Having to account for two elite receivers on the outside would also make life a lot easier for Antonio Gibson in the running game.

Adding Robinson is the type of move that continues the positive momentum this franchise began in 2020. There are plenty of receivers to choose from in this free-agent class, but Robinson has the longest track record and has proven he can excel in any situation.

Curtis Samuel

2020 team: Carolina Panthers

The connections between Samuel and the Football Team run deep. Ron Rivera was Head Coach of the Carolina Panthers when they drafted Samuel in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Under Rivera, Samuel broke out in 2019 with 757 total yards and seven touchdowns. He followed that up in 2020 with 118 touches for 1051 yards and five touchdowns.

Now, Samuel is in line to move up the pecking order of any wide receiver depth chart he so chooses. His versatility would make him an incredible asset to Washington’s offense. He has the ability to play your typical receiver role or carry the ball and catch passes out of the backfield. The 24-year old could be the No. 2 receiver behind Terry McLaurin and replace the role that J.D. McKissic had for the Football Team in 2020.

Nine receivers had 100 or more touches in 2020. Curtis Samuel was the only one to reach that mark with less than 125 targets, and he also led those nine receivers with a 79.4 percent catch rate.

Samuel won’t cost Washington as much as the top-tier of free-agent wide receivers this month. Spotrac.com predicts a four-year deal worth $50 million, while ProFootballFocus.com has him with a three-year deal worth $25 million. Regardless, Samuel is a dynamic talent that can open up the playbook for any team. It just so happens that his former Head Coach needs a second wide receiver to lift his offense to the next level.

Nelson Agholor

2020 team: Las Vegas Raiders

Signing Agholor would be a high-upside, low-floor move for the Washington offense. On the one hand, the 27-year old just posted a career-best year with 896 yards, eight touchdowns, and 18.7 yards per catch. On the other hand, he’s coming off that career-best season, and is that something you want to pay top dollar for?

Last season, Agholor signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Now, he’s expected to cost $7-9 million per year and will be looking for a multi-year deal. It’s a tough conundrum for teams, but that’s why they get paid the big bucks.

For Washington, the 2015 first-round pick would be a suitable complement to McLaurin without disrupting his status as the team’s No. 1 receiver. If they take a swing and miss one of the bigger fish in the wide receiving pool, they are many secondary options, like Agholor, to pick up.

Every fan base wants the big splash signing, but sometimes that’s not how you build a solid foundation for a franchise. Picking up Agholor would be another step in the right direction for Washington, but not as expensive as snagging Robinson or Samuel.

The post Three Free Agent Wide Receivers for the Washington Football Team appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Euan Leith

Rondale Moore burst onto the college football scene in 2018 with a ridiculous freshman season at Purdue. Since that phenomenal first year, he played seven games over his next two seasons as he dealt with a myriad of injuries and COVID-19 concerns. Initially, he would opt-out of the 2021 season but reversed that decision as the Big 10 and college football adjusted their protocols.

All in all, Moore’s freshman year was one of the better ones in recent college-football memory. He came away with Big Ten Freshman of the Year and made the All-Big Ten First team. After his three years as a Boilermaker, Moore’s college career line left fans wondering what could’ve been.

Now, he’s looking to take his talents to the NFL. His 5’9″ height and 175-pound frame make him smaller than desired by some teams, but Pro Football Focus still has a first-round grade on him. There, they have the Purdue standout landing with the Indianapolis Colts with the 21st pick. Meanwhile, NFL.com has him falling into the second round and going to New England.

So where is the 20-year old going to end up? He’s a dynamic playmaker that could be useful to many teams in this year’s NFL draft. Let’s break it down and look at the top three contenders who should want Moore in their uniform come May.

Indianapolis Colts

The Carson Wentz era is starting in Indianapolis, and what better way to welcome the new quarterback with an electric playmaker. To say Wentz’s weapons in Philadelphia were below average is an understatement. With Moore’s addition, the Colts bolster their young receiving core that already boasts Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell, and Zach Pascal.

Now, you may ask why the Colts would want to add another wide receiver to a team that has spent a second-round pick at the position in 2019 and 2020 on Campbell and Pittman, respectively. Well, they haven’t exactly exploded at the pro level.

Campbell, the 2019 second-rounder, has only played nine games in two seasons. He’s caught 33 passes for 198 yards and one touchdown. That’s not the production you want from a player going into his third year.

However, Pittman showed some flashes throughout his rookie campaign. The former USC-pass catcher logged seven catches for 101 yards in Week 10 versus the Tennessee Titans. Then, he popped off in the playoffs with five catches for 90 yards in their Wildcard Round defeat to the Buffalo Bills.

Moore may never be able to reach WR1 status for any team, but adding him to an already talented group would give him a soft landing spot in the NFL. It will give Wentz another weapon, and the Colts aren’t afraid to be creative with their skill-position players. See Trey Burton’s game logs from 2020 as further evidence.

New England Patriots

New England doesn’t have its quarterback of the future on the roster. Still, that shouldn’t stop them from providing that mystery man from immediately having capable playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. NFL.com has Moore going to the Patriots at 46th overall, and he would immediately become the most skilled player on that roster.

In his freshman year at Purdue, Moore showed off a wide range of offensive skills. As displayed above, he snagged 114 passes for 1258 yards and 12 touchdowns in 13 games. However, he also ran the ball 21 times for 213 yards and two touchdowns while also averaging 20.1 yards per punt return.

Apologies to Damien Harris, but the Patriots haven’t truly hit on an offensive draft pick since Jimmy Garoppolo in 2014. N’Keal Harry has only been in the league two years, but his early returns aren’t impressing anyone. He was their 2019 first-round pick and taken ahead of A.J. Brown, DeeBo Samuel, DK Metcalf, Terry McLaurin, and Diontae Johnson. Yikes!

Adding Moore to this offense seems logical as New England looks to bounce back post-Tom Brady. A lack of weapons was a reason Brady left the franchise. If the Patriots want to return to the playoffs in a hurry, they need to retool and rebuild their offense without the greatest quarterback of all-time. Moore is not the be-all and end-all, but he’s a step in the right direction for a floundering wide receiving unit.

Green Bay Packers

So while researching this piece, I wanted to draw comparisons with Rondale Moore to Green Bay drafting Randall Cobb and Davante Adams. Green Bay drafted Cobb and Adams in the second round, which seems to be the sweet spot for Moore this year. Both of those veteran receivers are dynamic playmakers that ran and caught the ball earlier in their careers. WRONG! Davante Adams has never had a carry in his seven-year career. Nothing to really gain out of that, but I thought it was a fun tidbit of information.

After all that, I’m left with comparing Moore to Cobb. As previously mentioned, Moore has the ability to catch, run, and return the football. During Cobb’s time as a Green Bay Packer, he handled at least 10 carries in four seasons. During his rookie and sophomore seasons, he was the primary return man for Green Bay and produced some great results. Cobb had two punt returns for touchdowns and added another off a kick return.

Cobb is 5’10” and around 190 pounds, while Moore is currently 5’11” and 180 pounds. The draft prospect would have time to gain some muscle during OTAs and training camp, and the comparisons start to draw themselves.

The football world lost its collective mind when Green Bay didn’t address the receiver position in the 2020 draft. I don’t think they make that mistake for the second year in a row. While they may not take him in the first round, I think they make a move to acquire him in Round 2 and make sure that the Purdue Boilermaker remains in Big Ten country.

The post Top 3 Fits For Rondale Moore appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Euan Leith

Higgins was a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Colorado State. After playing out his four-year rookie deal, the 26-year old re-signed with the Cleveland Browns for the 2020 season as a bet on himself type of deal.

These things have a funny way of working out, and the chips fell in Higgins’ favor. His teammate, Odell Beckham Jr., suffered a season-ending injury in Week 7, and it opened the door for the receiver to post a career year. He started the final five games of the season and showed exactly what he could do when he gets his chance.

That 16-game pace shown above would blow away Higgins’ career highs in every category. Now, he’s got some recent tape to show the other 31 teams in the league exactly what he can do on the gridiron. So let’s see what teams could be in a market for a player of Higgins’ caliber.

Baltimore Ravens

Higgins joining another AFC North team is high on my list of possibilities. The current wide receivers on the Ravens roster caught 34 touchdowns from Lamar Jackson over the last two seasons, which only equals 53.1 percent of the team’s passing touchdowns. Baltimore isn’t turning into a college spread offense any time soon, but that number needs to trend in an upwards direction.

In a recent mailbag on baltimoreravens.com, Ryan Mink & Garrett Downing answered the fan’s question about the team’s passing offense.

I’m confident the Ravens will add a wideout or two this offseason. They could do it via free agency (there will be Tier-2 wide receivers released under a tightening salary cap)

Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com

Is Higgins a Tier-2 wide receiver? Maybe not, but he’s definitely towards the top of the next tier. The 26-year old only made $910,000 in 2020, and if a team like the Ravens came along and offered a fair deal, it would be tough to pass on a chance to play with an electric playmaker like Lamar Jackson.

Tennessee Titans

Ryan Tannehill showed the NFL world that 2019 was not a fluke and had another elite season at the quarterback position. It allowed stud receiver A.J. Brown to have an incredible season, but it also provided a career-best season for Corey Davis.

Davis will likely leave in free agency with a lot of teams looking for receiver help. With the Titans up against the cap before cuts and contract restructuring, they should be in the market for a Davis replacement at an affordable cost. Higgins can be a perfect running mate for Brown and Tannehill in 2021.

He doesn’t have the electric speed or playmaking abilities, but he uses the opportunities thrown his way to produce great results. The sixth-year receiver has caught at least 71 percent of his passes in two of the last three seasons. His sure-handedness would be a welcome sight in Nashville.

Cleveland Browns

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. After re-signing with Cleveland and coming through for the squad when OBJ went down, there’s a chance loyalty comes into play for the free agent.

Higgins returned to the Browns in 2020 under a new Head Coach, and it worked out for both sides. Cleveland won’t be able to snag him for the veteran minimum again, but preliminary contract negotiations were reported in early December. Nothing came of those talks, but that doesn’t mean the teams don’t want to reunite for the foreseeable future.

Higgins is extremely popular in the locker room and with the fan base. He is a constant for the franchise as they continue to build around Baker Mayfield at quarterback. A reunion isn’t the exciting option in free agency, but sometimes it makes sense for both sides.

The post 3 Potential Landing Spots For Rashard Higgins: A Return to Cleveland? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Euan Leith

By all accounts, the Miami Dolphins had a successful 2020 season. They leaped forward as a franchise to finish 10-6 and missed the playoffs on the regular season’s final day. Head Coach Robert Flores has a great thing going on in South Beach as they enter the new league year, but they could do with some upgrades on the offensive side of the ball.

Running back was a particular spot where the Fins lacked consistency. Five different ball carriers made a start in Miami’s backfield, and they had nary a single runner crack 600 yards on the ground or 1000 total yards.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa combined for five rushing scores last year. As a unit, the Dolphins running backs had 10. Adding a running back should be high on their list of priorities when free agency opens on March 17th, especially if the team wants to continue their current trajectory and make their first playoff appearance since 2016.

Aaron Jones

2020 team: Green Bay Packers

All signs are pointing towards Jones not playing for the cheeseheads when the 2021 season kicks off. Adding this type of three-down back to the Miami roster makes too much sense. There are ways to line this contract up to take advantage of Tagovailoa’s rookie deal without hamstringing the franchise’s cap space in the future.

Jones was a fifth-round pick in 2017 and will be looking to get paid in March. The former-UTEP product deserves a big payday after two elite seasons of production in the Green Bay backfield.

Wherever Jones plays next season, he will have the opportunity to produce just as impressive a statistical year. Miami is an ideal destination because they have a stable of complementary backs that could spell Jones as Jamaal Williams did for the two years.

Chris Carson

2020 team: Seattle Seahawks

This may be the most unlikely candidate to take his talents to South Beach because I believe Pete Carroll wants to get back to running the ball and I think he trusts Chris Carson. However, should a divorce be coming in the near future, I think the 26-year old would be an ideal candidate in Florida.

He is one of five players all-time (and the first since 1996) to be drafted in the seventh round or later and produce multiple seasons of 1300 yards from scrimmage with nine touchdowns. Those kinds of hidden gems don’t just grow on trees. Miami is looking for something special in their backfield, and I believe Carson fits that mold.

There seems to be a popular narrative that he is solely a runner, but that is false. He’s one of nine running backs in the league to catch at least 37 passes each of the last two years and one of six that achieved that plus ran for at least 500 yards both years.

What I’m getting at is Carson probably doesn’t have the name value or national popularity that Aaron Jones has, but he can be a Jones-lite version. Plus, it will allow the Dolphins to save some extra cap money and still utilize the talent they found in 2020 with Salvon Ahmed and Myles Gaskin to rotate with Carson when needed.

Mike Davis

2020 team: Carolina Panthers

Davis is my favorite running back to add to this backfield. Although it would drive all the fantasy football managers in the world insane, having Davis in Miami makes a lot of sense. Kyle Shanahan has shown how rostering and consistently playing multiple running backs is a formula for success.

Davis, Gaskin, and Ahmed could become a lethal rotation of backs in today’s NFL. They can all run and catch the ball effectively, and it would magnificently disguise the Dolphin’s offense from a player personnel standpoint.

Pro Football Focus projects Mike Davis to receive a two-year deal for about $4 million per season. If you’re telling me that I can get a back for two years with his talent and then spend those savings on the rest of the roster, then it’s a done deal.

Conclusion

Miami has the luxury of going in several directions this offseason. If they want to go big at the running back position, several candidates can fill that void. However, if they want to discount shop, there will be plenty of running backs available to pair with the two young ball-carriers they already have on their roster.

My final prediction is they come over the top and offer Aaron Jones a big check to make him one of the faces of their offense for the next few seasons. A legitimate running game with Jones will immensely help Tua Tagovailoa by taking the pressure off to deliver the goods immediately.

The post Three RB Targets For The Miami Dolphins appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

@EuanOrYouOut

The Pittsburgh Steelers stormed out to an 11-0 record at the beginning of the 2020 season and were among the midseason favorites to make a Super Bowl run. Ultimately, the team fell apart down the stretch with a 1-4 record and a Wild Card round exit to their division rival, the Cleveland Browns.

The organization is in a world of trouble with the salary cap for the upcoming season, and it is going to be extremely difficult for this franchise to reload and win back to back AFC North titles. Per overthecap.com, the team is already $30 million over the salary cap heading into free agency. With their offensive stars (James Conner & JuJu Smith-Schuster) heading to the open market, Pittsburgh will need to get creative if they want to maintain their current level of competitiveness in 2021.

Running Backs

Leonard Fournette

2020 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

James Conner is a free agent and leaves Pittsburgh with a hole at running back. Although they drafted Anthony McFarland with a fourth-round pick last season, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring in a veteran as the former-Maryland back continues to adjust to the NFL.

This signing would’ve been a lot more manageable before Playoff Lenny took over the postseason and won a ring with Tampa Bay, but he can run and catch the check-down effectively and will only be 26 when the 2021 season kicks off.

Le’Veon Bell

2020 team: Kansas City Chiefs

This would be quite the return to the scene of the crime story for the Steelers and Le’Veon Bell, but one that could make sense. Bell will be 29 by the time the season comes around, but his value has never been lower in NFL circles.

He was cut by the Jets mid-season and then saw his Kansas City role vanish in the playoffs. He’s proven that he can flourish in this Pittsburgh offense, and maybe this can become an absence that makes the heart grow fonder situation. If Bell ever wants a workhorse role in the NFL, Pittsburgh would be a fine place to look.

Mike Davis

2020 team: Carolina Panthers

Davis showed the NFL world what he could do as a three-down back in 2020 while taking over Carolina’s backfield during Christian McCaffrey’s absence. The six-year veteran started 12 games for the Panthers and performed admirably during his extended stint as the starter

The Steelers should be extremely interested in a back with Davis’ skillset. He would be the perfect complementary piece as Anthony MacFarland continues to learn and grow in the offense. Another plus for the Steelers is Davis’ lack of name-value compared to Fournette or Bell. It will depress his value in the open market and make him a steal (hopefully for Pittsburgh) when free agency opens.

Wide Receivers

Curtis Samuel

2020 team: Carolina Panthers

Pittsburgh’s offense could begin to be backup-Carolina North by the 2021 season if they go the route I’m thinking. Honestly, though, Samuel should be a huge priority for this team. He can bring it in the rushing and receiving game to provide a dynamic factor to the Steeler’s offense. In 2020, Samuel had 118 touches for 1,051 yards and five touchdowns.

Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool are more than capable of handling the outside receiver roles, and that would leave A LOT of room for Samuel to maneuver. There will be several teams after a player of Samuel’s ability and skillset, but he could be an excellent complementary weapon in the Steel City.

T.Y. Hilton

2020 team: Indianapolis Colts

Would Hilton leave Indianapolis if he thought Pittsburgh offered a better chance to snag a ring? He’s coming off back-to-back seasons with Jacoby Brissett and Philip Rivers tossing him the football. Roethlisberger would easily be his best quarterback since a fully healthy Andrew Luck in 2018.

It probably makes the most football sense for Hilton to return to the Colts and the team he has called home for his entire nine-year career in the pros. However, he would go from the No. 1 receiver to a complementary piece of the offense and could thrive in the middle of the field without the pressure and attention of being a primary pass catcher. Big Ben distributes the ball all over the gridiron, and Hilton could be a short-term receiver to boost the Steeler’s wide receiving corps during the twilight of Roethlisberger’s career.

The post Pittsburgh Steelers Free Agency: Running Backs and Wide Receivers Targets appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Euan Leith

The Pittsburgh Steelers stormed out to an 11-0 record at the beginning of the 2020 season and were among the midseason favorites to make a Super Bowl run. Ultimately, the team fell apart down the stretch with a 1-4 record and a Wild Card round exit to their division rival, the Cleveland Browns.

The organization is in a world of trouble with the salary cap for the upcoming season, and it is going to be extremely difficult for this franchise to reload and win back to back AFC North titles. Per overthecap.com, the team is already $30 million over the salary cap heading into free agency. With many of their current stars (Bud Dupree, JuJu Smith-Schuster) running to the open market, Pittsburgh will need to get creative if they plan to maintain their Super Bowl-contending status heading into the 2021 season.

Leonard Fournette ”“ RB

2020 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

James Conner is a free agent and leaves Pittsburgh with a hole at running back. Although they drafted Anthony McFarland with a fourth-round pick last season, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring in a veteran as the former-Maryland back continues to adjust to the NFL.

Signing Fournette would’ve been a lot more manageable before Playoff Lenny took over the postseason and won a ring with Tampa Bay, but he can run and catch the check-down effectively and will only be 26 when the 2021 season kicks off.

Le’Veon Bell ”“ RB

2020 team: Kansas City Chiefs

This would be quite the return to the scene of the crime story for the Steelers and Le’Veon Bell, but one that could make sense for both sides. Bell will be 29 by the time the season comes around, but his value has never been lower in NFL circles. He was cut by the Jets mid-season and then saw his role in Kansas City vanish in the playoffs.

He’s proven that he can flourish in this Pittsburgh offense, and maybe this can become an absence that makes the heart grow fonder situation. If Bell ever wants to return to a workhorse role in the NFL, Pittsburgh would be a fine place to look.

Kelvin Beachum ”“ T

2020 team: Arizona Cardinals

Another reunion for the Steelers and a former player could come in the shape of Kelvin Beachum. A seventh-round draft choice in the 2012 draft, the 31-year old played for four seasons in the black and yellow.

With their cap situation extremely tight this year, they will likely lose Alejandro Villanueva and Matt Feiler to the open market. This is on top of potentially losing Maurkice Pouncey to retirement. Bringing in a veteran on a cheap contract that is familiar with their scheme and organization should be a priority for the Steelers over the coming weeks.

Mitchell Trubisky ”“ QB

2020 team: Chicago Bears

Getting Trubisky to Pittsburgh would be the 2021 version of Jameis Winston with the New Orleans Saints. A former first-round quarterback jettisoned by the team that drafted him and is now looking to regain his value on a one-year deal. It would give Trubisky an opportunity to learn from a two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback without the pressure of leading a franchise.

Retirement whispers have circled Ben Roethlisberger for a couple of seasons. Having someone in house to take over for the six-time Pro Bowler would bring some smoothness to the transition process of losing one of the franchise’s greatest quarterbacks.

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