by: Menachem Ickovitz

On Thursday afternoon the Houston Texans fired head coach David Culley after just one season on the job. He became the eighth coach to lose his job from the 2021 season. With the numerous head coaching vacancies in the NFL this off-season, we decided to rank the jobs from worst to first.

8. Houston Texans

The most recent job to open up is one currently ranked last on our list. After a 4 ”“ 13 season which was played with QB DeShaun Watson on the sidelines, without being injured, the Texans fired Culley. Rookie quarterback Davis Mills had some good games but is still considered a developmental quarterback.

One of the biggest negatives going for the Texans is Jack Easterby who was a driving force in trading away receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals. Many fans in Houston don’t like or trust Easterby and would have liked him fired along with (or instead of) Culley.

7. New York Giants

The New York Giants were a once-proud franchise that has fallen on tough times. They have had three coaches in the last six years and the fans are hoping that Giants ownership doesn’t screw this one up as well.

There is some optimism, as the Giants are also looking for a new General Manager after the “retirement” of Dave Gettelman. Additionally, there are some young and talented players on the roster, however, there are questions surrounding quarterback Daniel Jones and his ability to lead the Giants to where they want to go.

6. Miami Dolphins

The Miami job being available was a bit of a surprise, especially when you consider that after firing Brian Flores, he became one of the hottest names out there for other teams to hire.

The Dolphins are saying they are committed to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa but he has not done enough yet to make you feel confident that he can lead the Dolphins. Perhaps the right coach can get the best out of him, but for now the job is ranked where it is due to his inconsistency.

5. Denver Broncos

The Broncos situation may actually be better than fifth; however, the top four teams on the list all have a better quarterback situation at the moment. Give the Broncos a quarterback better than Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock and they will make the playoffs.

Denver was named as one of the potential landing spots if Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers leaves Green Bay. If that were to happen, Denver becomes the best job available. An interesting possibility is the Broncos hire Green Bay OC Nathanial Hackett as their new head coach and bring Rodgers in as their new quarterback. If that were to happen, the Broncos go from the fifth best job available to Super Bowl contenders.

4. Minnesota Vikings

Ziggy Wilf, the owner of the Minnesota Vikings does not make changes for the sake of making changes like some NFL owners. Former coach Mike Zimmer was with the Vikings for seven years, some more successful than others.

This is one of a few jobs that also has a General Manager search going along with it. To some that makes the job more attractive; to others, less. The Vikings have offensive firepower and key contributors on defense, so this might be more of a “re-tool” than a “rebuild” which is very attractive to potential coaches.

3. Las Vegas Raiders

2021 was a difficult season for the Las Vegas Raiders, but it did end with a playoff appearance. For that reason, the job is more attractive than some of the others on the list.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that quarterback Derek Carr’s future is tied to who the new head coach will be, meaning that there is no guarantee that Carr is back. Obviously, if Carr doesn’t return this job is less desirable as not only did Carr lead the Raiders to the playoffs, but he was what kept the team together during their tumultuous 2021 season.

Other than Carr, the Raiders have an array of top-level talent, including TE Darren Waller, RB Josh Jacobs and DE Maxx Crosby. A new head coach will have a lot to work with.

2. Chicago Bears

What the Bears needed this year was a coach to bring out the best in rookie quarterback Justin Fields. When that did not occur, this job became one of the best available. Additionally, the Bears have a good defense highlighted by Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith.

In a previously written article, I suggested that current Bills defensive coordinator and former member of the ’85 Bears, Leslie Frazier would be a good fit for the Bears job. If they do go with a defensive-minded head coach it will be imperative to bring in a smart offensive play-caller to develop Fields.

The Bears are also looking for a General Manager and one downside for this job is the lack of a first-round pick.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are a young team; they have great draft capital and plenty of cap space. Most impressively, quarterback Trevor Lawrence started to play better towards the end of the season.

The Jaguars need a good leader after the Urban Meyer debacle and like many other teams on this list, a good offensive-minded coach like Byron Leftwich or Bill O’Brien would be a great fit.

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By: Menachem Ickovitz

What a wild and crazy season we just endured! But now comes the real fun, the playoffs. In this article we will take a look at which playoff teams will be Super Bowl bound.

Looking back at the season, each team had some weird losses that made no sense. From Week 1 when the Green Bay Packers lost to the New Orleans Saints, to the Week 9 game where the Buffalo Bills lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars. So to say that any team can win any week is a bit of an understatement.

Another aspect of why it is difficult to predict the teams going to the Super Bowl correctly is injuries/Covid. A team can be favored in their matchup, but a Covid outbreak could derail their season. This happened to a few teams during the season and it would be a big shame if it would be the reason it decides who heads to the Super Bowl.

Let’s start with the AFC. The top-seeded Tennessee Titans have already beaten the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills this season. They are hopeful that Derrick Henry will be at full strength after coming off IR. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw for 3,734 yards with 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

The Kansas City Chiefs have represented the AFC in the last two Super Bowls and while it took them some time to look like the team we saw the last two seasons, they did finish with a 12 ”“ 5 record. As for the Buffalo Bills, they have been on the precipice of stepping into the upper-echelon of the AFC for a couple years now and perhaps this is the year they go all the way.

As for the rest of the AFC teams:

• Cincinnati Bengals have an explosive offense but their defense is suspect, not a great combonation.
• Las Vegas Raiders have had a crazy season and while they’ve proven multiple times this season that anything is possible, they did win a few games down the stretch against teams hampered by Covid protocols.
• New England Patriots can never be counted out when Bill Belichick is roaming the sidelines, but confidently picking them to go to the Super Bowl behind rookie quarterback Mac Jones is a bit of a reach.
• Pittsburgh Steelers needed a 2-win Jacksonville Jaguars team to beat the Indianapolis Colts to make the playoffs. The Steelers are the “just happy to be here” group.

Now let’s look at the NFC. The top-seeded Green Bay Packers and second-seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the elite teams in this playoff race. Last season the Packers and Buccaneers played each other in the NFC Championship Game with the Buccaneers winning in Green Bay. These teams look like they’re on a collision course to play each other again.

As for the rest of the NFC teams:

• Dallas Cowboys are the biggest threat to either the Packers or Buccaneers. They have an explosive offense and some big-time playmakers on defense like rookie linebacker Micah Parsons and cornerback Trevon Diggs.
• Los Angeles Rams have one of the best defensive players in Aaron Donald and got a breakout season from wide receiver Cooper Kupp. However, inconsistent play from quarterback Matt Stafford is going to hurt this team in the playoffs.
• Arizona Cardinals were the best team in the NFL at one point this year, but then injuries started to creep in and they dropped to the 5^th seed.
• San Francisco 49ers had a great Week 18 game to make it into the playoffs. They are two seasons removed from making it to the Super Bowl but they won’t have a long run this postseason.
• Philadelphia Eagles have a fun young team led by first year head coach Nick Sirianni. This playoff run, while it will most probably last just one game, could help them for many years to come.

So now that we have broken down each team, here comes the prediction. This year’s Super Bowl matchup will be the Kansas City Chiefs playing against the Green Bay Packers. Besides for the fun historic aspect of it being a rematch of the first Super Bowl, both teams are playing well and have enough playoff experience to make a run at the Super Bowl. With this matchup, I would predict a Chiefs victory, 34-31.

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By: Menachem Ickovitz

We have previously mentioned current offensive and defensive coordinators who would be good fits for head coaching vacancies this off-season. In this article, we will take a look at three former NFL head coaches who are currently not coaching who could return to coaching in 2022.

Marvin Lewis

Marvin Lewis is currently a special advisor at Arizona State, working alongside former NFL coach Herm Edwards. Prior to Lewis’ tenure at Arizona State, he was the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003 ”“ 2018.

His career record of 131 ”“ 122 ”“ 3 is good for a .518 winning percentage, but his 0 ”“ 7 playoff record is a big reason why the Bengals let him go after the 2018 season. Lewis’ was the last coach for the Bengals since Bill Johnson in 1978 to leave the team with a winning record.

Lewis is a defensive-minded coach, which some teams might be looking for. There is an ebb and flow to how coaching hires typically go and with the emergence of coaches like Robert Saleh of the New York Jets and Brandon Staley of the Los Angeles Chargers, there is a recent trend towards defensive coaches.

Doug Pederson

Doug Pederson is a Super Bowl-winning head coach. After a career as a backup quarterback, Pederson got into coaching. He worked for Andy Reid with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs before getting the opportunity to be a head coach for the Eagles from 2016 ”“ 2020.

A recent trend is for a fired coach to take a season off and “relearn” the NFL. Mike McCarthy did it and is currently the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Jason Garrett did not do that and now, after getting fired as the Offensive Coordinator of the New York Giants, it will take him some time to get back as a head coach.

Of the known/presumed options, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Las Vegas Raiders would both be excellent landing spots for Pederson. In both situations, he could bring his offensive coaching to teams with quality offensive players.

Jim Caldwell

Jim Caldwell is one of the best coaching candidates that doesn’t get talked about enough. He is an offensive-minded coach and has had success in the NFL with both the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions. After going 9 ”“ 7 for the Lions in 2017, he was fired and the Lions have been much worse since he left.

Caldwell started his coaching career in 1977 and besides his NFL head coaching experience, he was head coach at Wake Forest for eight seasons from 1993 ”“ 2000.

Caldwell coached Kerry Collins at Penn State, Peyton Manning with the Colts and Matthew Stafford while with the Lions. With that track record with quarterbacks, a team like the Jacksonville Jaguars or Chicago Bears, who will be going into 2022 with second-year quarterbacks, would be a good fit for Jim Caldwell.

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By: Menachem Ickovitz

John Madden’s impact on the NFL is still felt today. He was a head coach, announcer and what he may be best known for is the Madden video games. He coached some of the best while working for the Oakland Raiders and had a very good relationship with Raiders’ owner Al Davis.

Madden was an assistant with the Raiders in 1967 and 1978 and then went on to be head coach for the Raiders from 1969 ”“ 1978. In that time he won an AFL Championship as an assistant as well as a Super Bowl as the head coach. He never had a losing season and had a career regular-season record of 103 ”“ 32 ”“ 7. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

As an announcer he worked for the four major networks. His primary partner for many of those years was Pat Summerall. The Madden-Summerall duo had the best NFC games of the week which would often feature the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers or the Green Bay Packers. At this point is where the “infatuation” with Brett Favre started and was greatly lampooned by Frank Caliendo.

In 2002, Madden joined the Monday Night Football booth where he worked alongside Al Michaels. The Madden-Michaels booth was a great one and in 2006 they moved from Monday nights on ABC to Sunday Night Football on NBC. Madden was made for primetime and primetime was made for Madden.

His larger than life personality made him a great pitch-man for any number of products or an excellent guest star in movies like The Replacements or Little Giants.

One of the yearly highlights with Madden was the All-Madden Team. Being named to the All-Madden Team did not just mean you were the best player; it was given to gritty, hard-working guys who would continue to play through the pain. Some of the notable multi-time All-Madden players include Jack Youngblood, Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Mark Bavaro, Ronnie Lott and Jackie Slater. Of course Madden would reveal the team in an interesting way year after year.

Of course, to people too young to remember the man, he continues to be immortalized by the popular video game that bears his name. As time goes on, Madden will continue to be part of the NFL lexicon due to the popularity of the game and that helps connect young fans to the history of the NFL.

John Madden passed away at the age of 85. May all those who cared for him find solace in an appropriate time.

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By: Menachem Ickovitz

As the old adage goes, “Defense wins Championships.” With that being said, many teams will be looking for new head coaches this off-season and there are some very worthy candidates who are currently defensive coordinators.

Listed below are three defensive coordinators you should know about if your team is looking for a new head coach. Additionally, there will be a bonus defensive coach mentioned below, however, he is not the defensive coordinator for his team, therefore he goes in the “bonus” section.

Jonathan Gannon, Philadelphia Eagles

Jonathan Gannon might be young, but he has plenty of NFL coaching experience. Gannon is highly respected having coached under numerous head coaches and was one of the many options teams were looking at last off-season. Additionally, he has also served as a scout for the St. Louis Rams from 2009 ”“ 2011, so he has an understanding of all aspects of team building.

An interesting possibility consists of a team looking for a new general manager and head coach. Gannon would be a great fit with Ed Dodds, who is currently the assistant GM with the Indianapolis Colts. Gannon was with the Colts from 2018 ”“ 2020.

Leslie Frazier, Buffalo Bills

Leslie Frazier has the advantage of having been a head coach before so he understands everything that is involved. He took over for Brad Childress during the 2010 season with the Minnesota Vikings. While his 21 ”“ 32 ”“ 1 head coaching record is not good, he did lead the Vikings to the playoffs in 2012.

Frazier is currently the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills. The Bills’ defense is ranked first in points differential and yards differential. Additionally, they rank third in interceptions.

Frazier is the type of coach who will instill discipline and if given the opportunity to coach a team with a good quarterback, something he did not have in Minnesota, he can lead a team to the playoffs.

An interesting team to keep an eye out for is the Chicago Bears. Frazier played for the Bears from 1981 ”“ 1985. Additionally, teams often look for the opposite of what they just had as a head coach. The Bears currently have Matt Nagy, an offensive coach so they might look to replace him with a defensive coach and Frazier would be a good fit.

DeMeco Ryans, San Francisco 49ers

DeMeco Ryans is a rising star in the coaching ranks.He’s been with the San Francisco 49ers since 2017 and was named defensive coordinator in 2021 after former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was named head coach of the New York Jets.

As a player, Ryans played for the Houston Texans and the Philadelphia Eagles. In his 10 year career he compiled 939 tackles, 13.5 sacks and 41 passes defended. He was considered a smart player and good teammate, two qualities that have helped him in his young coaching career.

If he doesn’t get a job this off-season, be prepared to hear his name a lot next off-season.

Bonus Coach: Jerod Mayo, Inside Linebackers Coach, New England Patriots

The defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots is head coach Bill Belichick, however, Jerod Mayo is an intriguing head coaching candidate. Mayo has been the inside linebackers coach with New England since 2019.

Prior to coaching in New England he played for the Patriots from 2008 ”“ 2015. He had an excellent reputation for film study and working hard to be a better player. He may not get the chance to be a head coach this upcoming cycle, but he should be in consideration.

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By: Menachem Ickovitz

With the 2021 NFL Regular Season coming towards a close it’s a good time to look at potential head coaching candidates for next year. Currently, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders have already made coaching changes, and depending on how the next few weeks transpire, as many as seven more teams might be changing coaches.

Eric Bieniemy, Kansas City Chiefs

Bieniemy’s name has been put out there for the past few seasons. With the continued success of the Kansas City Chiefs, their offensive coaching staff is often amongst those mentioned for job openings. Bieniemy is a former NFL running back and has coached in both college and the Pros since 2001.

Former Andy Reid assistants Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy have parlayed their opportunity to be the OC in Kansas City to head coaching spots. Pederson went on to win a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, but is currently unemployed and Nagy led the Chicago Bears to the playoffs, but is amongst the current head coaches who may be losing their job.

If the Bears do fire Nagy, they might not be interested in bringing in another Reid disciple, but any other team looking for a new coach should be interested in Bieniemy.

Brian Daboll, Buffalo Bills

Brian Daboll has been an assistant coach in both college and the Pros since 1997. He has worked under Bill Belichick and Nick Saban, winning five Super Bowls and the College Football National Championship. Most recently, he has been the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills.

In 2020, Daboll was named the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year and the best thing he could point to is the development of quarterback Josh Allen. Daboll has been working with Allen since the Bills drafted Allen in 2018. Allen has improved each season of his career and Daboll is the reason why.

Kellen Moore, Dallas Cowboys

Kellen Moore is one of the young former quarterbacks who is currently a hot name in the offensive coordinator group. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. In just four seasons as an assistant coach, third as OC, Moore has already positioned himself as a top head coach candidate.

One big issue with Moore that would be less of an issue for some of the other options is who he will fill his staff with. He has only been coaching for four seasons and doesn’t have the same connections that someone like Bieniemy or Daboll has.

Dallas’ offense, with a healthy Dak Prescott at quarterback in 2021 is ranked 3^rd in point differential and 5^th in yards differential. With some capable players on offense, Moore has shown what he can do. Two teams that could be good fits for Moore are the Las Vegas Raiders or the Minnesota Vikings, if they move on from Mike Zimmer.

Kevin O’Connell, Los Angeles Rams

Much like Kellen Moore, Kevin O’Connell is a young former quarterback who is one of the hot names. The big difference between the two is that O’Connell has been an assistant coach since 2015 and has been with four different teams. Those connections from the different teams he has been with can be valuable when hiring a staff.

Currently, he is with the Los Angeles Rams, coaching under Sean McVay. Four of McVay’s former assistant coaches, Matt LaFleur, Zac Taylor, Jedd Fisch and Brandon Staley are currently head coaches. Three in the NFL and Fisch with the Arizona Wildcats.

Byron Leftwich, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Another former NFL quarterback and current offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich is one of the hottest names out there. Even before QB Tom Brady became a member of the Buccaneers, Leftwich had the Buccaneers offense moving in the right direction.

One of the worst kept secrets is that he might get hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team that drafted him in 2003. Leftwich might be perfect for the Jaguars for multiple reasons. Most importantly, he can help the development of rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Additionally, after the craziness that surrounded Urban Meyer, bringing in a coach who has a connection to the Jaguars would be very beneficial.

Wherever Leftwich ends up coaching, the team will be lucky to have a smart, young and accountable head coach.

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By: Menachem Ickovitz

To say the 2021 season has been tumultuous for the Las Vegas Raiders is an understatement. From Jon Gruden’s resignation to receiver Henry Ruggs’ DUI resulting in death, there have been plenty of bad headlines coming out of Las Vegas.

While interim Head Coach Rich Bisaccia has stabilized some of the issues, it is likely that Owner Mark Davis and GM Mike Mayock will be looking to clean the house from the “Gruden guys” and start the search for a new head coach.

The Raiders have some pieces in place that could make the head coaching job appealing to many. Quarterback Derek Carr has thrown for over 4,000 yards for the 4^th consecutive season. Tight end Darren Waller, while currently injured, has been a bright spot over the past few seasons and their defense played well against the Cleveland Browns in Monday’s game.

Whenever an article comes out about a team’s options for a new head coach the same group of names gets bandied about. The truth is it’s important to look at a team’s hiring history. The Raiders often hire coaches who have head coaching experience and have historically been at the forefront of minority hiring. They have also have given up-and-comers opportunities.

Todd Bowles

Bowles is currently the defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and if he’s interested in being a head coach again, he would be a great fit for the Raiders. Bowles has won a Super Bowl as a player, an executive with the Green Bay Packers in the mid-’90s and as an assistant to the Buccaneers last season.

He is smart and disciplined; something the Raiders would like in a new head coach. Also, with pass rushers like Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue, Bowles’ aggressive playstyle will fit perfectly.

While his first stint as a head coach ended with a 26 ”“ 41 record with the New York Jets, this Raiders team has a lot more talent than those Jets teams did.

Doug Pederson

Doug Pederson was most recently the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He compiled a regular-season record of 42 ”“ 37 ”“ 1 and won Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots. Prior to being named head coach of the Eagles, he was an assistant to Andy Reid in both Philadelphia and Kansas City.

Much like Mike McCarthy did a few seasons back; Pederson has taken the year away from the game. This not only makes Pederson a coach that teams will want, but it also doesn’t tie him to how a team is currently doing. For example, Jason Garrett will not be amongst the potential head coaches this off-season because he was fired by the New York Giants midseason. Pederson doesn’t have to deal with explaining a bad showing by his team, as he has no team to worry about. Just as Mike McCarthy’s past faded away.

He has gotten the best out of quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, so he should do well with Derek Carr. Also, Pederson offenses always highlight the tight end, which is great for Darren Waller.

Kellen Moore

Kellen Moore is one of the hot young names on the coaching market. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. In just four seasons as an assistant coach, third as OC, Moore has already positioned himself as a quality head coach candidate.

His ability to bring out the best offensively from his quarterback will be very appealing to the Raiders and Derek Carr. He will also get more out of the running game and Josh Jacobs than the Raiders currently are getting from that position.

The biggest question mark about Kellen Moore is who he can fill his staff with. He has only coached for four years and only with the Dallas Cowboys. While he has been under two different head coaches, he might not have the infrastructure that other potential coaches might have.

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By: Menachem Ickovitz (Twitter: @menudo_man)

With the 15^th pick in the draft, the New England Patriots selected Mac Jones, the quarterback from Alabama. They also resigned Cam Newton, who played for the Patriots last season. In this article, we will discuss why Jones and not Newton should start for the team in 2021.

The Patriots were busy this off-season bringing in players to help the quarterback play be better in 2021. Two of the top tight ends, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith are hoping to recreate the magic the Patriots had when Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez were playing tight end for them. Additionally, they brought in wide receiver Nelson Agholor, who has big-play speed and the ability to take the top off the defense.

There is a large discussion that needs to be mentioned here about how long different teams allow rookie quarterbacks to sit and learn. While some gain a lot by sitting behind a veteran many come in and take the league by storm. Usually, this has a lot to do with how the team is built around them and who the option is as a starter ahead of them.

Some will point to Patrick Mahomes sitting behind Alex Smith for an entire season and now Mahomes is a perennial MVP candidate. Others will point out that quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Justin Herbert sat behind Tyrod Taylor before Taylor sustained an injury. So why not give Mac Jones some time to sit and learn?

Below are three reasons why Mac Jones should start. After we go through the reasons we will give a final verdict as to what the Patriots will do at quarterback to start the season.

Reason 1: Cam Newton is who we think he is!

Cam Newton is a former MVP, three-time Pro Bowler and in college, he won the Heisman Trophy. He has been a dynamic player for many years and led the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2015. In his last two seasons in Carolina, he dealt with numerous injury issues which eventually led to Newton’s release.

In 2020, Newton played 15 games for the Patriots. He played well early, but after testing positive for COVID-19, his play was not on the same level. Newton had four games last season in which he threw for less than 100 yards which is no way to win in the NFL. He threw for a total of 2,657 yards with eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also added 592 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.

 Newton was on target for 74.6% of his throws but with an intended air yards per play at 6.8, it shows his inability to make big plays. At this point in his career, that’s what Newton is. He’s a solid quarterback option who is no longer capable of making the huge plays like he once was capable of doing.

Reason 2: Mac Jones is a good quarterback

When the San Francisco 49ers moved up to the third overall pick and people thought that Mac Jones was going to be the player drafted there, the Mac Jones “hate-train” started. However, if you look at Jones’ abilities he is a good player and the Patriots, along with their fans, should be excited he made it to them at the 15^th pick.

Jones is not like the new breed of quarterback who can use their athleticism to make or extend plays outside the pocket, but then again, neither was Tom Brady. What Jones does well is that he is accurate, has great poise and is efficient. While he did have some of the best weapons in the country around him at Alabama, he does have a team around him in New England that rookie quarterback’s dream of.

Finally, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Alabama head coach Nick Saban are long-time friends and coworkers, there is no doubt that Saban gave Belichick all the information he needed, not only to be comfortable taking Jones, but with how to utilize him best.

Reason 3: Long-term, the Patriots will be better with Jones starting now

Whenever Mac Jones gets his opportunity there is going to growing pains. So the question needs to be asked, would you like to make the playoffs in 2021 with Newton then replace him with Jones and miss out on the playoffs in 2022 because Jones needs to develop or would it be best for Jones to get his chance to play in 2021, miss the playoffs with their rookie quarterback but be in position to make the playoffs in 2022 and beyond?

The Verdict:

The Patriots, most specifically, Bill Belichick understands the big picture much better than most teams. More importantly, as Belichick has no less of a chance of being fired like many other coaches would be, he can stay true to himself and play the player who gives him the best chance.

Early on, that player is most likely going to be Cam Newton. Especially with the new weapons as well as the return of running backs Rex Burkhead from injury and James White from a down season that included dealing with his father’s untimely death and his mother being in critical condition after they were in a car crash.

I do think there are two ways Mac Jones gets to play early. The first is if Newton starts off the year poorly and Belichick feels Jones gives the team a better chance to win. The other is even more likely, an injury to Newton. Newton has had trouble staying healthy these last few seasons and there’s no reason to believe he can stay healthy through a 17 game season.

While I think it is smarter to start Jones from the beginning of the season, due to the reasons listed above, Belichick’s only concern is winning. If Jones does not give the Patriots the better chance to win, he will not play, no matter what anyone else thinks.

The post Three Reasons Mac Jones Will Be the Patriots Starting Quarterback appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Menachem Ickovitz (Twitter: @menudo_man)

With the countdown to the NFL Draft switching from weeks to days and now to hours, it’s a good time to look back at previous drafts. In this exercise we are ranking the 10 players drafted with the first overall pick from 2011 ”“ 2020. If you have not seen the rankings for the fourth, third or second overall picks, make sure to check them out.

Some of the things considered while making this list include but are not limited to:

• Pro Bowls
• All Pro Teams
• Durability

For teams with the #1 pick, drafting a quarterback is the typical thing to do. Of the 10 players on this list, seven of them are quarterbacks and the three that aren’t quarterbacks are at premium positions like left tackle and defensive end.

10: Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2015

Jameis Winston is as low on this list as he is for two reasons. The first is he has not lived up to his being picked number one overall and second because his upside is lower than players like Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.

Of positive note for Winston, he was named to the 2015 Pro Bowl and in 2019 he was the NFL passing leader, throwing for 5,109 yards. In that 2019 season, his last as a member of the Buccaneers, he also threw for 33 touchdowns and a league-leading 30 interceptions. He spent his 2020 season as a backup to Drew Brees in New Orleans and is poised to take over the starting role there in 2021.

9: Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams, 2016

Jared Goff is a two-time Pro Bowl player who led the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl in 2018. In his five year career he has thrown for 18,171 yards with 107 touchdowns and 55 interceptions.

One of the biggest “issues” with Goff is that we have seemingly seen his ceiling. In 2019 he signed a big contract extension which included $110 million guaranteed. After the 2020 season Goff was traded to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford.

8: Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals, 2020

Joe Burrow is ahead of Winston and Goff because of his potential because had we based it on what they have accomplished already in the NFL, Burrow hasn’t had as much of an opportunity. Burrow was playing well in 2020 when he got hurt during a Week 11 game against the Washington Football Team.

Burrow’s accuracy is one aspect of his game that people are very excited about. With an on target percentage of 75.3% in 2020 and having only thrown five interceptions in 404 passing attempts, there is a lot to be excited about.

The biggest concern Bengals fans should have is protecting Burrow. In 2020 he was sacked 32 times in only 10 games. During the off-season the Bengals signed tackle Riley Reiff, but will need to continue to build up the offensive line if they want Burrow to stay healthy.

7: Eric Fisher, OT, Kansas City Chiefs, 2013

The 2013 NFL Draft was one of the worst in recent history. While some later round picks like Travis Kelce and Le’Veon Bell and Tyrann Mathieu have emerged as excellent players, the top of the draft is full of players who never lived up to being drafted so high.

While not exciting, Eric Fisher was the right pick to go number one overall. He has had a nice long career which has included being named to the Pro Bowl twice and helping the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV.

In his eight year career, 2019 was the only season he played less than 10 games, which shows his durability. Additionally, in the over 7,000 snaps he has played in the NFL he has only been called for 54 penalties. He was recently released by the Chiefs and is currently a free agent.

6: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Houston Texans, 2014

This is probably one of the more controversial placements on these lists. Many people see Jadeveon Clowney as a total bust who should be at number 10 on this list, however, he has made it to three Pro Bowls, which is more than most players on this list.

Additionally, it’s important to understand who Clowney is. He is not a sack artist like Myles Garrett or Hall of Famer Bruce Smith, but he is a very good player. It is fair to say that he was drafted too high for his skill set, but the Texans clearly saw his athleticism and thought he would be the right player.

He has bounced around to a few teams these past few seasons and is currently a member of the Cleveland Browns. Getting the chance to play with Myles Garrett should give Clowney opportunities to play better than he has recently.

5: Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland Browns, 2018

In Baker Mayfield’s three seasons as a starter for the Cleveland Browns he has had one and a half good years and one and a half difficult years. 2020 and the second half of his rookie campaign in 2018 were very good while the first half of 2018 and 2019 were less than ideal.

Of positive note for Mayfield, for the first time as a professional, he will have the same coaches for a second consecutive year. Additionally, the offense, which he kept looking more comfortable in as the 2020 season progressed, is bringing all the key players back.

A few of Mayfield’s accolades and accomplishments include, but are not limited to:

• Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) Rookie of the Year in 2018
• Held the rookie touchdown record until it was broken by Justin Herbert in 2020
• Most passing yards in a season by a Browns rookie with 3,725
• Most passing yards in a game by a Browns rookie with 397
• Most 4^th quarter comebacks by a Browns rookie with 3

\The Browns recently picked up Mayfield’s fifth year option and are hoping to sign him to a long-term deal. If he can stay healthy he is in a great situation to keep producing at high level on a yearly basis.

4: Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals, 2019

Even though he has only been in the NFL for two seasons, Kyler Murray is well-deserving of being this high on the list. He was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 2019 and a Pro Bowler in 2020. He has thrown for 7,693 yards with 46 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in his two seasons. He also has rushed for 1,363 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Murray was put into a perfect situation of having a head coach in Kliff Kingsbury who had a very specific vision for Murray. Had any other team, with any other head coach had the first overall pick in 2019, Murray would likely have not been the pick. Arizona’s offense is in a good spot and if the defense can play better in 2021 the Cardinals should be playoff-bound.

3: Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns, 2017

Myles Garrett is a difference maker on defense. In his four-year career he has 42.5 sacks, 83 quarterback hits and 10 forced fumbles. He has been named to the Pro Bowl twice and in 2020 he was a First Team All-Pro. While the incident that took place against Pittsburgh in 2019 will always follow him, it does not affect him for this list.

The Browns spent the off-season building up their defense and Garrett should be a major beneficiary. If he can continue his ascension, he should be one of the few players on this list who will be a future Hall of Famer.

2: Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts, 2012

When talking about number one overall picks there are usually three narratives. The first is the player who lived up to the hype, the second is the player who was a total bust and the third is players whose careers were cut short due to injury. Andrew Luck is the “Venn Diagram” of the first and third types of number one picks.

Luck started his career with three Pro Bowl seasons, but in his fourth season, 2015, the injuries started. He would miss most of the 2015 season, all of the 2017 season and retire during the preseason of the 2019 season.

In his career he threw for 23,671 yards, 171 touchdowns and 83 interceptions. In 2014 he had a career high of 40 touchdown passes. He was also a clutch performer, leading the Colts to 16 fourth quarter comebacks.

1: Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers, 2011

Generally speaking, we remember the most recent things we saw and when it comes to Cam Newton, his most recent play has been underwhelming. However, he is a former Rookie of the Year and MVP who holds multiple NFL records, including:

• Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 70
• Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season with 14
• Most rushing attempts by a quarterback with 1,071
• He is the only player in NFL history to with at least 30 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns
• Most passing yards by a quarterback in his debut with 422

Sadly for Newton, in his last three seasons, he has dealt with numerous injuries. Most notably, in 2019 he only played in two games after suffering an injury to his foot. He is currently about to start his second season with the New England Patriots.

The post Ranking Each 1st Overall Pick from the Last Ten Years of the NFL Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Menachem Ickovitz (Twitter: @menudo_man)

With the NFL Draft coming very soon, it’s a good time to look back at previous drafts. In this exercise we are ranking the 10 players drafted with the number three overall pick from 2011 ”“ 2020. If you have not seen the rankings for the fourth overall pick, make sure to check that out.

Some of the things considered while making this list include but are not limited to:

• Pro Bowls
• All Pro Teams
• Durability

Of the top four picks, the third pick might be the worst collection of players for the past 10 years. This list is almost in three tiers, the first tier is the player by number one, the second tier is players two and three and the third tier is the players listed from four until ten.

Also, the third pick has the most players amongst the top four who are no longer in the league. This will allow some of the younger players on this list to jump up multiple spots with one good season.

10: Trent Richardson, RB, Cleveland Browns, 2012

Trent Richardson was supposed to be the “next big thing.” Instead he played in the NFL for three seasons and has been trying to stay relevant by playing in leagues like the CFL, AAF and FAM, a football league in Mexico.

He did have a solid rookie season rushing for 950 yards and 11 touchdowns but was not worthy of the third overall pick. The best thing he did for the Cleveland Browns was getting traded to the Indianapolis Colts for a first round pick in 2014.

9: Jeff Okudah, CB, Detroit Lions, 2020

With just one year of experience and having only played nine games in 2020, Jeff Okudah would not have been too high on this list. He did register 47 tackles and one interception in his rookie campaign. With a new coaching staff in the building, including new defensive coordinator and former NFL cornerback Aaron Glenn, Okudah is in a good position to move up this list pretty quickly.

8: Dion Jordan, DE, Miami Dolphins, 2013

Dion Jordan has played for four teams since joining the NFL in 2013. Of the 63 games he has played in his career, he has started only five of them. He has missed many games throughout his career, some due to injuries and some due to being suspended for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing substance policy.

In his time on the field he has had some flashes of good play, but it has been too inconsistent. In 2020 he played for the San Francisco 49ers and recorded three sacks to bring his career total to 13.5. He is currently a free agent and only time will tell if he will be on the field in 2021.

7: Solomon Thomas, DT, San Francisco 49ers, 2017

Everything was set up pretty perfectly for Solomon Thomas to be fighting for the #1 spot on the list. He was drafted into a great situation after being highly touted in college but he fell flat. In his four years with the 49ers he had 95 tackles and six sacks.

His 2020 season was spent on injured reserve after a Week 2 injury against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Thomas was one of many players who got injured that day and were lost for the season. Thomas has since moved on and is now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders.

6: Sam Darnold, QB, New York Jets, 2018

 Sam Darnold should have been much higher on this list. He was in consideration for the number one overall pick in 2018 and had players with less college pedigree than him in Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson drafted after him. But he is not higher, because he is not any better than sixth place amongst these players.

In Darnold’s defense, he has had injury issues, including getting Mono in 2019. Additionally, and more importantly to why Darnold deserves a bit of defending is that he had Adam Gase as his head coach. Gase has notoriously held players back, like QB Ryan Tannehill or WR Jarvis Landry, both of whom played for Gase in Miami.

Darnold does have a golden opportunity to move up this list quickly now that he has been traded to the Carolina Panthers and is teamed up with offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

5: Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2014

There are two reasons why Blake Bortles is ahead of Same Darnold on this list. The first is that Bortles has slightly better statistics than Darnold. The second is that Bortles led the Jacksonville Jaguars to the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots in 2017.

After playing for the Jaguars from 2014 ”“ 2018 he joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 to be the backup for Jared Goff. In 2020 he started the season with the Denver Broncos but was picked off their practice squad by the Rams when Goff got hurt. Bortles is currently unsigned and only time will tell if he will be playing in 2021.

4: Dante Fowler, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2015

Dante Fowler was part of a defensive front that helped lead a Blake Bortles led Jacksonville Jaguars team to an AFC Championship game in 2017. In 2018 the Jaguars traded Fowler to the Los Angeles Rams and he went from playing an end in Jacksonville’s 4 ”“ 3 defense to playing an outside linebacker in Los Angeles’ 3 ”“ 4 defense.

As a member of the Rams he got to start consistently and his play improved immensely. He also was finally getting the sack numbers that were imagined when he was drafted so high in 2015. He is currently a member of the Atlanta Falcons and with new defensive coordinator Dean Pees, Fowler should have another excellent season in 2021.

3: Quinnen Williams, DT, New York Jets, 2019

Quinnen Williams has been one of the bright spots on an otherwise underwhelming New York Jets roster. He has only played two seasons but in that short time he has played well for the Jets. He has missed a few games in each of his two seasons, so hopefully for the Jets and for himself, he can stay healthy and on the field.

His career total of nine and a half sacks seems low, but he’s still developing as a pass rusher. He has done an excellent job bringing pressure up the middle and now with new head coach Robert Saleh, Williams should have a defense that is more in line with his skill set.

2: Marcell Dareus, DT, Buffalo Bills, 2011

Having been drafted in 2011, Marcell Dareus should be ranked very high as he has had the most opportunity to be impressive. He has been a two-time Pro Bowl tackle and in 2014 was named an All-Pro. He spent six and a half seasons with the Buffalo Bills and two and a half seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, including the 2017 season, a year we have referenced before as a good one for the Jaguars.

Dareus was an extraordinarily consistent player. He only had two seasons where he played less than 14 games and due to his consistency, he is ranked higher than Quinnen Williams. As Dareus is no longer in the league, Williams should overtake him pretty easily; however, Dareus’ good play should not be forgotten.

1: Joey Bosa, DE, San Diego Chargers, 2016

In Joey Bosa’s five year career he has been named to three Pro Bowls, has been a two-time All-Pro and in 2016 he was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. In July of 2020 the Chargers signed Bosa to a contract making him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.

He has dealt with some injuries but has still done more than enough to be the highest-ranked player on this list. His 47.5 sacks are impressive but he is regularly around opposing quarterbacks applying pressure and knocking down the quarterback. If he continues to perform as he has in the past and can stay healthy, there is little doubt that he will one day be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The post Ranking Each 3rd Overall Pick from the Last Ten Years of the NFL Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.