By: Will Baptist

Trey Hendrickson will shoulder a lot of responsibilities after signing a 4 year $60 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. He will be the most talented pass rusher on the roster, and the Bengals need his presence to be felt immediately. After tying Aaron Donald for second in the NFL in sacks with 13.5 last season, he has become a force for opposing tackles to deal with.

Hendrickson has shown drastic improvement over the past two seasons and has blossomed into a dominant edge rusher. He has slowly started to take the field more often on early downs as he continues to develop as a run stopper. He played 53% of the Saints defensive snaps last year and if that number continues to grow, he can put up gaudy sack numbers. If he can successfully build on his breakout 2020 season, Hendrickson has a legitimate chance to compete for the Defensive Player of the Year award.

He will have his fair share of competition with Aaron Donald, T.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey and so on. Aaron Donald won the award last year while also racking up 13.5 sacks, and has clearly been the best defensive player in the NFL over the last few seasons. Donald played 85% of the Rams snaps, while Watt played 83% of the Steelers snaps last season and finished with 15 sacks.

Watt, Donald and Hendrickson all racked up similar sack numbers, but Hendrickson played about 300 fewer snaps than both of them. That amount of production in only 53% of the snaps is extraordinary and will push him to develop the rest of his game in order to stay on the field more. If he can play up to at least 70% of the Bengals defensive snaps this year, he could potentially hit 20 sacks on the season.

There have only been 12 instances where a player has racked up 20 or more sacks in a season since sacks have become an official stat. With the additional game this season, it could become slightly more common, but it still will be extremely rare. Hendrickson would be in an elite company if he could get to 20 sacks but it is not out of the realm of possibility.

He has to play close to 800 snaps and remain healthy, but he also needs the players around him to be dominant at their position. If he is constantly getting double-teamed due to his teammates struggling, then it will be tough for him to win the award.

Talent surrounding him

Hendrickson had a terrific defense around him with the Saints, and Cam Jordan on the opposite side of the line to wreak havoc. Jordan drew most of the attention throughout the year and finished with 7.5 sacks, but Hendrickson has now made a name for himself. For Hendrickson to win the Defensive Player of the Year award, he needs a lot of talent around him such as he did last year.

One dominant defensive lineman can only do so much, but luckily for Hendrickson, the Bengals defense is much improved heading into the season. The line should take a massive leap forward with the return of D.J. Reader clogging up the middle and stopping the run. Sam Hubbard will be the other starting edge rusher and he just inked a new contract and is poised for a stellar season.

Hubbard had a somewhat disappointing 2020 season with only two sacks, but he excelled at stopping the run. He can work his way back to being a great pass rusher like he was in 2019 when he racked up 8.5 sacks in his second season in the NFL.

The secondary will be much better with the additions of Mike Hilton and Chidobe Awuzie, along with Trae Waynes returning from injury. Hendrickson can tally up coverage sacks as he did with the Saints if the secondary can play up to their potential in Cincinnati.

The Saints were an excellent team last year and finished the regular season at 12-4. Opposing teams were often losing and forced to throw the ball considering how good the Saints offense was. This helped Hendrickson with the ability to constantly rush the passer due to the Saints leading in most of their games.

The Bengals will need similar offensive production to get early leads and give Hendrickson the opportunity to get after the quarterback. If the Bengals do not improve much from their 4-11-1 record, the opposing teams will be run-heavy, and this will not play to Hendrickson’s strengths. With Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon healthy, the offense should not have an issue jumping out to early leads. Which should also lead to winning a lot more games for the Bengals.

Hendrickson will have his work cut out for him in the stacked AFC North and the firepower on the offensive side of the ball in that division. Chasing around Lamar Jackson will be a daunting task, but he showed how great he can be last year, and this franchise clearly believes in his talents and ability to grow.

The Bengals will need to be much better in order for Hendrickson to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. All the stars are aligning for the Bengals, and Hendrickson has the best chance of any player on the team to secure the award. His knack for getting after the quarterback and his extremely high motor are traits that translate to any franchise and system.

The 26-year old can prove that he can be one of the best defensive players in the NFL, and make the Bengals fans forget about losing Carl Lawson in free agency. If he can accomplish winning this award, or even be in the discussion for it, then the Bengals hit the lottery with this signing. He has all of the tools to win the award, it is simply a matter of remaining healthy and growing as an all-around defensive end to stay on the field more often.

The post Why Trey Hendrickson is a serious Dark Horse DPOY candidate appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Will Baptist

Quarterback is the most important position in football, that is true in real life and in fantasy. Having a dominant QB is a crucial aspect of every successful fantasy football team, and as some aging QBs will be fading away, there is a new crop of superstar QBs.

For Dynasty leagues, there are numerous QBs that team owners should be looking to trade away before the season begins. Which also means there are plenty of QBs that every team owner should be vying for before the season begins and those QBs become untouchable.

Here are three QBs that every fantasy owner should be looking to trade for, along with three QBs that every owner should be looking to cut ties with before the year begins.

Three to trade for:

1. Justin Herbert

Justin Herbert is coming off one of the best rookie seasons that a QB has ever had. He finished the year as QB10 and averaged 22.2 fantasy points per game. He threw for 4,336 yards and 31 touchdowns, and rushed for 234 yards and five touchdowns. He did all of that with a terrible offensive line and injuries to key players on their roster throughout the season. The Chargers put an emphasis on protecting Herbert this year with the additions of Corey Linsley, Rashawn Slater and Oday Aboushi. Three new starters on the offensive line should be extremely beneficial in protecting Herbert and giving him more time to operate. He also has another offseason to build chemistry with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler. It is no secret that Herbert should be able to improve dramatically on his outstanding rookie season, so even if the asking price is high for Herbert, owners should go all in to acquire him.

2. Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow is poised for a breakout season, similar to Herbert. Burrow was able to show flashes of brilliance before his season was cut short due to his devastating knee injury. He averaged 17.4 fantasy points per game before his injury, and that consists of going up against Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Washington and Cleveland twice. Those are all dominant defenses and good overall teams that Burrow had to deal with, with a mediocre supporting cast. This season is much different, and the Bengals have done a much better job of surrounding Burrow with the pieces that he needs to be successful. They have improved their offensive line with the additions of Riley Reiff and Jackson Carman. Joe Mixon and C.J. Uzomah are healthy going into 2021 after battling season ending injuries last year. The Bengals also drafted Burrow’s college teammate, Ja’Marr Chase. All of these moves point to Burrow having a huge season. Owners might be able leverage his knee injury to offer less than usual in a trade for him, but either way owners should be trying to trade for him immediately.

3. Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield put together an efficient 2020 campaign where he finished the year as QB17. Some fantasy owners may be skeptical of Mayfield due to the run-heavy offense that Kevin Stefanski installed when he took over as head coach. Mayfield is still growing and after another offseason of learning Stefanski’s playbook, they will be inclined to give Mayfield more control of the offense. With Odell Beckham Jr. coming into the season healthy after missing almost 10 games in 2020, Mayfield has his number one option back. They struggled together in 2019, but they have a brand new coaching staff and are a much better overall team than in 2019. The Browns are not a surprise anymore, and they are a trendy pick to win the AFC North. This means opposing teams will have better game plans to deal with their rushing attack, and they might be forced to throw the ball more often. It should not take too much to trade for Mayfield, so every owner that desperately needs a QB should be looking into acquiring him soon.

Three to trade away:

1. Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers is still easily one of the best QBs in the NFL and in regular fantasy football I would not hesitate to draft him. Even with the uncertainty surrounding him and if he will report to training camp, that will scare off some owners and he could slip in the draft. In dynasty leagues, I would look to move him as soon as possible. He is coming off of an MVP season where he was QB3, and averaged 23.9 fantasy points per game. At 37 years old, his stock might not ever be higher than it is right now. If he does play this year, it will likely be his last season with the Packers. Even though we have seen aging QBs be extremely successful with their second franchise (Tom Brady), it is not wise to put all your eggs in that basket. His departure could get even more ugly and who knows what team he will be traded to and what his supporting cast will be. I expect Rodgers to have another dominant season this year, but his future is unpredictable. Trading him away before the season or right when the season begins could net the most in return, and I believe it is a smart move to move on from him while you still can.

2. Tom Brady

Tom Brady does not have much left in the tank at 43 years old. Yes, he is coming off of a Super Bowl victory and has Bruce Arians as a head coach, along with finishing 2020 as QB7. That type of production has to come to an end at some point, and trading him away while you can net the most return is the smartest move an owner can make. It is challenging to say how much some owners would be willing to give up, but there are always owners who feel they are one or two players away from having the best roster in their league, and Brady just grabs people’s attention. Brady will likely still have a stellar 2021 season, so you might have to wait until the year begins, when Brady reminds everyone that age is just a number. Having a backup QB is essential, and if you have a young QB in place, then moving Brady right now would be the best course of action for a dynasty league.

3. Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons could be parting ways after this season. After the Falcons moved on from Julio Jones, it seemed like Ryan could be the next domino to fall. Ryan has been a fantasy darling since 2010, and has thrown for over 4,000 yards every single season since 2011. He was QB12 last year and finished with a 17.5 per game average. He showed that he can still be a top-15 QB, and with the addition of Kyle Pitts that might not change this year. Which is why I would consider moving Ryan before it’s too late. He should have another great season and have games where he looks like one of the best QBs in the league, but I don’t anticipate that becoming the norm. He is 36 years old, and his tenure in Atlanta could be coming to an end soon. If they have a rough season, he could be on the trading block fairly quickly. I don’t trust Ryan to be a top-20 QB outside of Atlanta, so moving while his stock is at its highest is paramount.

The post Dynasty: Three QBs to trade for, three QBs to trade away appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Will Baptist

The Cincinnati Bengals finally have hope going into the season for the first time in a long time. The city is starved for a winner, and they may finally have the personnel and coaching staff to end the 31-year drought of not winning a playoff game.

First and foremost, the Bengals need to make the playoffs. That is a daunting task in the AFC North, which is arguably the toughest division in the NFL. The other three teams in the division all won at least 11 games and made the playoffs last season. The Bengals were 1-5 in the division last year, with their lone win coming against the Steelers in week 15 with Ryan Finley under center.

Joe Burrow was 0-4 in the division before suffering his season-ending knee injury last year, but he showed why he was the number one overall pick despite the losses. He struggled against the Steelers and Ravens, but he was outstanding against the Browns. In the two games against the Browns he completed 72 of 108 passes, 722 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception. Both of those games were a shootout, and showed the potential of the Bengals offense when they are fully healthy.

If the Bengals want to make a playoff push, being more competitive in the division is imperative. They have to win at least three games, or their division alone could knock them out of playoff contention. With how well Burrow played against the Browns last year, coupled with the question marks surrounding the Steelers, the Bengals have a legitimate chance to win at least three games in the AFC North.

They have made dramatic improvements to their roster on both sides of the ball, and with the development of their young budding stars: Burrow, Jessie Bates and Tee Higgins, they are poised to make a massive leap this year.

Defensive improvements

The Bengals defense was a major concern last year, and was a bottom-10 defense in rush yards allowed per game and total yards allowed per game. They showed signs of improvement as the season went on, but the new players in the building should have a major impact and will have to contribute immediately for the Bengals to make the playoffs.

D.J. Reader and Trae Waynes are two of the Bengals best players on defense but injuries derailed their first year in Cincinnati. Those two will act as additional free agent signings this year since Waynes didn’t play a single snap, and Reader had his season cut short in week 5 last year. Reader recorded a PFF grade of 69.6 in his limited snaps in 2020, but the Bengals expect him to play like the 2019 version of himself, when he recorded a PFF grade of 86.7, and was dominant in the middle of the defensive line.

Waynes will be the top corner on the roster with the departure of William Jackson, and he will have two new faces alongside him to secure the cornerback position. Mike Hilton and Chidobe Awuzie are massive upgrades over Mackensie Alexander and LeShaun Sims. They still have Darius Phillips, and signed Eli Apple for additional depth. With Vonn Bell coming off a strong first season in Cincinnati, and Bates emerging as one of the best safeties in football, the Bengals secondary could be one of the best in the AFC.

Trey Hendrickson was the biggest offseason addition for the defense, and replacing Carl Lawson will be a challenge. Letting Lawson go to bring in Hendrickson was a questionable decision, and it remains to be seen how that will play out. Nonetheless, Hendrickson is the best pass rusher on the roster, and his 13.5 sacks last year were tied for second in the NFL with Aaron Donald. That is elite company to be in, and Hendrickson will have to prove why he was worth the $60-million-dollar contract that he signed from day one.

The Bengals linebackers are all young, but extremely talented. Logan Wilson seems primed to be the leader and standout of the group. Overall, the Bengals defense looks completely different, and they are much more talented than the lackluster defense they had last season. They could be a borderline top-10 defense if the new faces they signed can produce up to their abilities.

Offensive improvements

The Bengals offense was decimated by injuries in 2020. Burrow, Joe Mixon, A.J. Green, Jonah Williams and C.J. Uzomah all missed multiple games last season, which led to their offense looking like a shell of what it could have been.

With a clean slate and clean bill of health coming in 2021, the Bengals offense will almost be unrecognizable. Mixon and Burrow are the leaders of the offense and they are on track to play week 1, and they should be much improved as they have another offseason to learn Taylor’s offense.

The offensive line has been the biggest concern for this franchise since week 11 of last season when Burrow got injured. There seems to be a misconception with how much they improved this group in the offseason.

The addition of OL coach Frank Pollack will do wonders for the line, Mixon and Burrow. Getting rid of former OL coach Jim Turner is probably the most important move of the entire offseason. He did not put the players in position to succeed, and that is the main focus of what a position coach is supposed to do. He made the line look much worse than it actually was, and he is now out of the NFL and is the OL coach at Texas State.

The Bengals also brought in veteran Riley Reiff to shore up their RT position. Last season, their worst offensive lineman was RT Bobby Hart. In his 3-year career with the Bengals he committed 22 penalties and allowed 20 sacks, and was a momentum killer for this offense. Second round pick Jackson Carman is set to become the starting RG next season, and could potentially be the starting RT of the future. Those two players, along with better coaching, will make the line formidable enough to show the potential of this offense.

Last but certainly not least, Ja’Marr Chase is a Cincinnati Bengal. There was a lot of criticism thrown the Bengals way after passing on Penei Sewell, and selecting a WR. Despite the Bengals needing a lineman, adding a WR was just as critical. Burrow was among the worst QBs at completing the deep ball, and Chase excels in this area. Chase and Burrow connected on 20 touchdowns in 2019 at LSU, and Chase averaged 21.2 yards per reception. The Bengals have one of the most talented and young WR corps in the league, led by Tyler Boyd, Higgins and Chase.

All signs point to the Bengals offense firing on all cylinders, as long as Burrow can remain healthy. They have all of the pieces in place to make a playoff push, and the coaching staff will be on the hot seat if they do not perform.

Almost every player from the Marvin Lewis regime is gone, which means Zac Taylor has no more excuses if the team plays poorly. These are the players and coaches that Taylor hand-picked, and the expectation to win games begins this season while Burrow is still on his rookie contract.

The post Can the Bengals make the playoffs this season? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Will Baptist

The Green Bay Packers could potentially be on the cusp of a complete overhaul of their roster. The Aaron Rodgers saga is far from over, but his departure seems inevitable. If Rodgers is traded, and Jordan Love plays poorly, then the premier Packers players could be looking to take their talents elsewhere.

The player at the top of the list would be star WR Davante Adams. Adams is arguably the best receiver in the NFL, and unquestionably one of the best route runners. Ever since 2016, Adams and Rodgers have been a lethal combination. In those five seasons, 52 out of the 58 touchdown receptions that Adams has caught, have been thrown by Rodgers. If Rodgers refuses to budge from his trade request, the season could be a disaster for Green Bay, and Adams could follow suite and request a trade.

Adams is in the final year of his contract and will become a free agent after the season if he doesn’t agree to an extension with the Packers. Considering his 2020 campaign, where he caught 115 passes for 1,374 yards, and a league-leading 18 touchdowns, the market would be astronomical for a playmaker of his status. Even if his numbers take a dip if Love is under center, that would likely not deter any teams from recognizing the talent he is.

The San Francisco 49ers could be the perfect fit for Adams, and that move could propel them to Super Bowl favorites in the NFC. Adams is from Palo Alto, California, which is only about a 45-minute drive from San Francisco. This could be an exciting proposition for Adams if he wants to play elsewhere.

How likely is a trade?

The 49ers would have to be proactive in trying to acquire Adams, because more than half of the NFL should be attempting to trade for him. A trade is obviously contingent on Adams requesting it, because there is no chance the Packers would willing part from their only productive receiver.

His contract status makes a trade somewhat tricky because he would have to agree to an extension with the team that acquires him since he is on a contract year. No team would trade valuable draft capital for a one-year rental of Adams. The Packers would be wise to move him if he does want out, considering they would lose him for nothing in the offseason if he clearly wants out of Green Bay. They could franchise tag him after the season, but Adams could decline to play on the franchise tag next season and decide to sit out.

If the Packers are blown away by a trade offer, and it seems Love is not ready or not talented enough to lead this franchise, then the Packers should not hesitate to move Adams. The 49ers should be the first team calling the Packers regarding an Adams trade. They have an extremely talented roster, and they drafted their QB of the future in Trey Lance, who is currently the backup to Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers are in prime position to blow the Packers away because they likely feel they are very close to getting back to the Super Bowl.

It is unclear what exactly the market is for Adams, but the Julio Jones trade gives some clarity. Jones and a sixth-round pick were traded to the Titans for a second and fourth-round pick to Atlanta. Adams would command slightly more capital because his production, age and health are all slightly better than Jones. It could take a first and fourth-round pick to acquire Adams, but the 49ers should pull the trigger if that is the asking price. A trade will become more likely if the Packers struggle to begin the season, but before the season starts, Adams will not be going anywhere.

How does Adams fit with the 49ers?

The 49ers have two very talented and young receivers on the roster, in Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. Outside of those two, they are thin at WR, and severly lack experience. As gifted as Samuel and Aiyuk are, they have played in a combined 34 games, catching a total of 150 passes, 1,941 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns.

Adams is 28 years old and has played in 10 playoff games thus far. His experience and talents could be a huge boost in the development of Samuel and Aiyuk. He has already amassed 546 catches, 6,568 receiving yards, and 62 touchdowns in his career, and he is not slowing down anytime soon. He is another veteran presence in a locker room with lots of talented young players.

The 49ers also have one of the best tight ends in the NFL, in George Kittle. If the 49ers landed Adams, Samuel or Aiyuk can play in the slot, while Kittle is torching opposing defenses in the middle of the field. This could become one of the best offenses in the NFL overnight just by Adams walking through the door.

The fit is undeniable, and the only real question mark would be Garoppolo. He has had a lackluster tenure with the 49ers, but they have still been able to win lots of games with him and even went to the Super Bowl in 2019 with him under center. He has struggled mightily to stay healthy, and shown an inconsistency to throw the ball down the field. In his 31 games with the 49ers, he has just 51 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. Garoppolo could be a concern for Adams if he is eyeing the 49ers.

If Garoppolo fell short and didn’t live up to Kyle Shanahan’s expectations, they could turn to Lance, which could be more enticing for Adams. Shanahan is one of the best play-callers in the league, and with how great their run game is, defenses would almost be helpless in trying to slow down this offense.

The sky would be the limit, and they would be instant contenders with Adams in the building. If they are unable to trade for him due to the Packers being reluctant to give him up, they should be the first team vying for him in free agency after the season.

The post Why the 49ers make a lot of sense for Davante Adams appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Will Baptist

The 2022 NFL regular season is still months away, and every team is holding out hope that they can make a playoff push this year. For most of the mediocre teams, the playoffs are not a reality. About halfway through the season teams will be evaluating their young talent and projecting which players will be their long term, due to their season not panning out as they had hoped.

Just to get a head start, I have projected which teams will be picking in the top 10 in the 2022 NFL Draft. It is never too early for a mock draft, and there are superstars on the horizon that can change the future of a franchise. Here is the 2022 NFL mock draft for the first 10 selections.

1. Houston Texans: QB Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma

The uncertainty surrounding Deshaun Watson is looming over the Texans front office. He requested a trade, but now with all of the legal issues that he is facing, it is unclear what his future is in the NFL. This will force the Texans to draft a new franchise QB, and they should be in a prime position to do so after a tumultuous offseason. Spencer Rattler is deadly accurate and completed 67.5% of his passes in his first year as a starter. His mobility makes him an intriguing prospect and he is poised for a potential Heisman winning season at Oklahoma. If Rattler continues to grow as a leader, he could be just what the Texans need to inject life back into the organization.

2. Detroit Lions: QB Kedon Slovis, USC

The Lions will experiment with Jarred Goff under center after shipping Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams. Goff’s success was in large part due to the coaching staff and talent surrounding him, which he simply does not have in Detroit. The Lions will likely be on the market for a QB after this season, and Kedon Slovis is a perfect fit. Slovis will be starting for the third consecutive season, and he has grown dramatically in each of his first two seasons. In 18 career games thus far, he’s completed 70% of his passes for 5,423 yards and 47 touchdowns. His accuracy and arm strength will make him one of the most sought-after QBs in the draft. If he can put together another year of excellent tape, this pick is a no-brainer for an organization that needs some hope.

3. Philadelphia Eagles: QB Sam Howell, North Carolina

This pick will be contingent on how successful Jalen Hurts is in his first full year as the starting QB. Assuming that Hurts struggles, the Eagles will be on the hunt for another franchise QB. Sam Howell is the third-best QB in this draft class, but he has tremendous upside. He has been the starting QB since he arrived on campus at North Carolina, and in just 25 games, he has thrown for 68 touchdowns, rushed for seven touchdowns, and thrown only 14 interceptions. The Eagles have plenty of holes on their roster, but addressing the QB position is the most important aspect of becoming a winning team in the NFL, and the Eagles should do just that.

4. New York Jets: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon

The Jets new head coach, Robert Saleh, loves defense and dominant pass rushers. After signing Carl Lawson in free agency, they could still use another pass rusher to pair with him. Thibodeaux is head and shoulders above any other defensive end in this draft and is arguably the best overall player in this draft. Due to the other teams picking ahead of the Jets desperately needing a QB, they could hit the jackpot with this pick if Thibodeaux falls to them. He has freakish athleticism and strength that will translate immediately at the next level. His freshman season he was a humiliating opposing offensive lineman, and he finished with nine sacks on the year. He should be the next star pass rusher and the Jets defense will be a force if they can land him.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: OL Kenyon Green, Texas A&M

The Jaguars new priority after addressing QB in the 2021 NFL Draft, will be protecting the #1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence. They have some talented offensive lineman in place but Kenyon Green would be a huge boost to their line. Green can play all over the line and should be a starter from day one. He could start at either guard position when he arrives but he has the size and talent to transition to either tackle spot if they need him to. These are the type of versatile players that the Jaguars need to draft to ensure Lawrence stays upright for the foreseeable future.

6. Atlanta Falcons: QB Malik Willis, Liberty

This year could be Matt Ryan’s last season with the Falcons, and they will need to address QB in next year’s draft. Malik Willis is from Atlanta and would be a hometown favorite as soon as he gets drafted. He is easily the most mobile and elusive QB in the draft, but also has great touch and accuracy when throwing the ball down the field. Last season at Liberty he threw for 20 touchdowns and rushed for 14 touchdowns. He averaged 8.5 yards per completion and 6.7 yards per carry. He is dynamic in the open field and has a straight-line speed that is comparable to Lamar Jackson. Willis would be an excellent fit as the Falcons attempt to get younger and build for the future.

7. Green Bay Packers: WR Justyn Ross, Clemson

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers relationship is fractured beyond repair, but if they feel confident in Jordan Love moving forward, they need to draft a weapon for him. It’s quite ironic because that is part of the reason Rodgers is frustrated with the Packers because they have been reluctant to spend first-round picks on skill positions. Regardless, Justyn Ross is a can’t miss prospect and the Packers could pair him with Davante Adams to have one of the most lethal WR duos in the NFL. Ross would be an excellent complement to Adams because of his size and ability to high point the ball. Love would be set up for success with such dynamic WRs, if Rodgers does end up leaving Green Bay.

8. Las Vegas Raiders: CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU

The Raiders have struck out the year in and year out trying to address their horrid secondary. They have spent numerous first-round picks on defensive backs that have yet to pan out. Luckily for them, Derek Stingley Jr. is undoubtedly the best defensive back in the draft and could have been a top ten pick in the 2021 NFL Draft if he were eligible. Stingley is a ball hawk and grabbed six interceptions as a true freshman. He is extremely physical and has the size and speed to become one of the best cover corners in the NFL. He does not shy away from tackling bigger receivers, and he could finally turn the Raiders defense around once and for all.

9. Carolina Panthers: OL Zion Nelson, Miami

The Panthers are extremely young and have multiple needs that they need to address. After trading for Sam Darnold, they need to bolster their offensive line to make sure he doesn’t encounter the same issues he had with the Jets. Zion Nelson is arguably the best tackle in this draft class, and he could be the anchor at left tackle that the Panthers desperately need. At 6’5 and 312 pounds, he needs to continue to put on weight and build muscle, but he is already tenacious. He already has excellent footwork and quickness that will be extremely beneficial in his development.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: DE Drake Jackson, USC

The Bengals should be much improved this season if Joe Burrow can stay healthy. Depending on how their offensive line holds up, they could go with the best available offensive lineman, but their defensive line is as big of an issue. After having the worst pass rush in the NFL in 2020, they signed Trey Hendrickson to replace Carl Lawson, but that was their only big singing on that side of the ball. That should not deter them from continuing to build their defensive line by adding another excellent pass rusher. Drake Jackson has great versatility and can play all over the defensive line. He recorded 5.5 sacks in his lone year as a starter and showed flashes of becoming a force on that side of the ball. The Bengals need another lineman with Jackson’s combination of strength and quickness, so they should not hesitate to select Jackson if he is on the board.

The post 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Top 10 Selections appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Will Baptist

Matthew Stafford’s play has been somewhat erratic throughout his career, but being traded to the Los Angeles Rams will prove to be a blessing. The Detroit Lions are in disarray and have been one of the most dysfunctional organizations over the past 30 years. Stafford desperately needed a fresh start to prove that he can still be a top-10 QB in the NFL.

Stafford led them to the playoffs on three separate occasions, but was never able to secure a playoff victory. The Lions have not won a playoff game since 1991, and it seems they are starting all over once again.

Stafford was the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and has one of the biggest arms in the NFL. In his 12-year tenure with the Lions, he compiled 45,109 passing yards and 282 passing touchdowns and broke a multitude of records.

Stafford had some outstanding seasons with the Lions, and showed true greatness. His best season was back in 2011, when he completed 63.5% of his passes and threw for 5,038 yards, 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Stafford was one of the QBs in the NFL at throwing the deep ball, especially when Calvin Johnson was in Detroit.

The Lions simply never had a talented enough roster for Stafford to get them over the hump. They had a horrid defense throughout his time there, and never had a stable run game. Stafford is now with a proven coaching staff and offensive guru in Sean McVay, with a Super Bowl ready roster. Stafford will not have to force the issue, and he is now set up to have the best season of his career at 33 years old.

The talent on the Rams roster

The Rams are a drastically better organization than the Lions, and their roster is a perfect fit for Stafford to step in and dominate. Outside of Calvin Johnson, the Lions did not surround Stafford with much talent, while also having one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.

Cooper Kupp is one of the best slot receivers in the NFL, and he is poised for a huge season in 2021. He played in 15 games last year and caught 92 balls for 974 yards and three touchdowns. That was a down year for Kupp compared to his stellar 2019 season, where he caught 94 balls for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Robert Woods has been a model of consistency since arriving in Los Angeles. Over the past three seasons, Woods has 266 catches, 3,289 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. Last year was his first season under 1,000 receiving yards since 2017, but he should eclipse 1,000 yards easily with Stafford under center.

Van Jefferson was one of the Rams second round picks in 2020, but he was not used very often last season. All signs are pointing towards a breakout season for Jefferson, according to the reports from the Rams camp. McVay is extremely high on him and now that Josh Reynolds has left the team, Jefferson can step into that role immediately.

Cam Akers was the other second round pick in 2020 for the Rams and he is in line to be the every down back this season. He took over as the lead back for the last four games and their two postseason games and looked like a veteran. In the last six games, he totaled 561 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He is running behind one of the best offensive lines in football, which will help Stafford immensely as well.

A lot of offensive players had a down season for the Rams last year because of how poor Jared Goff played. His inability to throw the ball down the field made it much easier for opposing defenses to defend the Rams. Stafford is one of the most gifted quarterbacks in the NFL in terms of arm talent, which bodes well for all of the Rams skill positions to have a bounce back year.

Jared Goff’s production with the Rams

Goff was the first overall pick in 2016, but he did not live up to the hype. Stafford proved that he should have been taken first overall with his talent and production, while Goff was wildly underwhelming throughout his time with the Rams. Goff’s only good seasons with the Rams were 2017 and 2018.

In 2017, Goff led the Rams to an 11-4 record for the 15 games that he played. He completed 62.1% of his passes and threw for 3,804 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His play was up and down, but he kept the mistakes to a minimum and showed that he may have been worth the first overall pick.

Regardless of Goff being inconsistent, he was still able to have great production and lead his team to a Super Bowl in 2018. During that season, he completed 64.9% of his passes and threw for 4,688 yards, 32 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and led his team to a 13-3 record. He was atrocious in the Super Bowl in their 13-3 loss, and Bill Belichick laid out the blueprint on how to disrupt Goff by constantly getting pressure on him.

McVay set Goff up for success and surrounded him with extremely talented playmakers for those two seasons. He had Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods all making their presence felt, while McVay was a mastermind at drawing plays up that Goff could handle.

Goff showed flashes of being good throughout his time with the Rams, but overall his play was disappointing. If they had better quarterback play in 2018, they could have won the Super Bowl without question.

The Rams were one of the best offenses in the NFL during Goff’s time there, even though Goff was below average. Stafford is a much better player than Goff in every aspect, and with how genius McVay is at running an offense, the sky is the limit for Stafford in Los Angeles.

The post Why Matthew Stafford is set up for a career season appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Will Baptist

The Tennessee Titans are much-improved heading into Ryan Tannehill’s third season under center. They had a successful offseason, making multiple splashes via free agency and through a blockbuster trade. They now have the pieces in place to make a deep run in the postseason, and Tannehill has a legitimate chance to win the MVP award in 2021.

The Titans have a three-headed monster on offense after their trade for Julio Jones. A.J. Brown paired with Jones will be one of the best WR duos in the NFL, along with arguably the best RB in the NFL, Derrick Henry. This could be the most physically imposing offense in the NFL, and Tannehill should be able to torch opposing defenses with the weapons he has in place.

The Titans will also get back their star LT Taylor Lewan, who suffered a torn ACL in week 5 last season. The stars are aligning for Tannehill to have a dominant season in Tennessee, and with how effective and efficient he has been through his first two years, he should be able to make another leap in 2021.

Tannehill’s career thus far

Tannehill’s career has been rejuvenated in Tennessee, after six disappointing seasons with the Miami Dolphins. After being selected eighth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, Tannehill was the starter from day one in Miami. He never had much success with the Dolphins, partly because he had a poor coaching staff from the day he arrived, and because they never surrounded him with the type of talent that he has with the Titans.

The best season he had during his tenure in Miami was 2014. The Dolphins went 8-8, but Tannehill showed real improvement, completing 66.4% of his passes for 4,045 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His improvement earned him a new contract after the 2014 season, signing a six-year $96 million extension. It looked like Tannehill was on his way to being their franchise quarterback for years to come.

He went on to have three up-and-down seasons after his extension, and the Dolphins could never surround him with the right talent. After Adam Gase became the Dolphins head coach in 2016, Tannehill and Gase were never on the same page, and the blame was put on Tannehill.

In 2018, Tannehill struggled with a shoulder injury, and only played 11 games. He finished the season completing 64.2% of his passes for 1,979 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. It became clear that Tannehill needed a fresh start after never coming into his own and struggling with injuries for his last two seasons in Miami.

Tannehill’s career as a starting QB was in jeopardy, even though he was still relatively young. Along came the Tennessee Titans who traded a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick for Tannehill and a sixth-round pick. After the trade was completed, he agreed to a one-year deal worth $7 million, with up to $12 million in incentives.

He was the backup for Marcus Mariota when he arrived, but in week 6 of the 2019 season, Tannehill replaced a struggling Mariota at halftime and took over as the starting QB. The Titans lost 16-0 against the Broncos, but Tannehill showed promise. He went 13-16 for 144 passing yards and an interception.

After being named the starting QB moving forward, Tannehill never looked back. He propelled the Titans to a 7-3 record to finish the regular season, and was one of the most efficient QBs in the NFL. His strong finish led the Titans to the playoffs, where they beat the Patriots and the Ravens, before falling to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.

He completed 70.3% of his passes for 2,742 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2019. He led the NFL in passer rating, earned his first Pro Bowl selection, and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

It became clear Tannehill was part of the future after the 2019 season. He inked a new contract extension in the offseason for four years’ worth up to $118 million, with $62 million guaranteed. Tannehill had another stellar season in 2020, completing 65.5% of his passes for 3,819 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Tannehill has redefined himself, becoming an extremely accurate and decisive QB. He is extremely mobile, and is the perfect QB to pair with Henry in the backfield. He will look to build off his last two seasons and become even more lethal in the passing game in 2021.

Titans new Offensive Coordinator

The Titans had to find a new offensive coordinator after Arthur Smith departed and became the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. This happened in 2018 as well, when OC Matt LaFleur left the Titans and became the head coach of the Green Bay Packers.

The Titans believe in promoting within, and they did just that when they named Todd Downing their new OC. Downing was hired as the tight ends coach in 2019, and worked with Smith and already has an understanding of the personnel in place. Head coach Mike Vrabel praised Downing throughout the offseason, and he seems like a perfect fit to run this offense.

In Tannehill’s third season with the Titans, he will be on his second offensive coordinator. The offense will not change drastically and Tannehill will not have to learn new vernacular. This should not be an issue for a veteran such as Tannehill, especially under Vrabel’s leadership.

Smith did an excellent job in Tennessee, and Atlanta was one of the many teams attempting to hire him as a head coach. It will not be an easy task to replace such a talented play-caller, but Downing will not make any massive changes to their run heavy offense, and he can now put his twist on the offense.

Downing was the OC with the Oakland Raiders in 2017, which bodes well for him moving forward considering he has prior experience holding that position. With the plethora of talent that Downing has at his disposal, it should be an exciting season for the Tennessee Titans offense.

Breakdown of adding Julio Jones

After the Titans lost their WR2 Corey Davis in free agency, they had a massive hole. They did bring in Josh Reynolds from the Rams through free agency, who is a talented WR, but not a huge threat. It seemed they were satisfied with Reynolds becoming the second option to Brown, until the breaking news was announced on June 6.

Jones and a sixth-round pick was sent to the Titans for a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick. Saying that this trade fills the need at WR for the Titans is an understatement. Jones is one of the most dynamic and electric WRs in the NFL, and has been since 2011.

Jones has 848 career catches, 12,896 receiving yards and 81 touchdowns. His versatility will prove to be just want the Titans need to take their offense to the next level. He can line up all over the field and take any catch to the end zone.

Jones is going to walk into the Hall of Fame whenever he retires, but he seems determined to show that will not be retiring any time soon. The 7x Pro Bowler battled injuries throughout the 2020 season, and only appeared in nine games. Prior to that season, Jones only suffered minor injuries, and only missed more than two games twice, back in 2013 and 2011 (his rookie season).

He is 32 years old, which by NFL standards is fairly old, but Jones is one of the most athletically gifted talents that the NFL has ever seen. Jones and Brown will be a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators to game plan around, and they are two of the most physical WRs in the league.

Tannehill has never had a weapon like Jones, and even though the offense is run through Henry, the Titans now have the firepower to score with anyone. When opposing teams stuff the box in order to stop Henry, Tannehill can fire it overtop to Jones or Brown with ease.

2021 season outlook

Tannehill has all the pieces in place to terrorize opposing defenses and win the MVP award. This offense has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL if Tannehill can continue to improve. He already has the efficiency, and if the Titans look to throw the ball down the field more due to the addition of Jones, then Tannehill could put up monster numbers.

The Titans division is weak outside of the Indianapolis Colts, which puts them in a perfect position to win lots of games. The Houston Texans are in disarray and the Jacksonville Jaguars have a rookie QB and rookie head coach. They both have awful defenses, which is four games on the schedule for Tannehill to light it up.

The Titans are much improved on defense as well, and if they can win 12 or 13 games this season, then Tannehill should be in the discussion for MVP without question, assuming he improves his numbers from last season.

The post Does Ryan Tannehill have a real shot at winning MVP? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Saints lost some valuable pieces on their defensive line in free agency this offseason. Sheldon Rankins, Trey Hendrickson and Malcom Brown will all be contributing for other teams next season. With three players on the defensive line departing for other teams, there is plenty of room for another free agent to step in and have an immediate impact.

Kawann Short has battled injuries throughout the past two seasons, only playing in five games in the last two years combined, but if he is healthy he would be a great addition to the Saints. He would be a cheap option for them to look at, and he could come in and be a key rotational player if he can stay healthy.

Health is a big question mark for Short at this point in his career, but they could sign him to a non-guaranteed contract, and it could pay off big if he remains healthy. He would provide much needed depth with his ability to stop the run and rush the passer.

Short’s Career thus far

It has been a rough couple of years for Short, but prior to 2019, he was a model of consistency and durability. Short is 32 years old and is a 2x Pro Bowler (2015, 2018), with 32.5 sacks and 59 tackles for loss throughout his career.

In 2015, Short made a name for himself, earning his first Pro Bowl nod, and became an every down starter for the Carolina Panthers. He was a one of the most dominant forces on the defensive line in the NFL, while totaling 11 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and 18 QB hits, all career highs.

2018 was the last season where Short looked dominant, where he earned his second Pro Bowl nod, but totaled only three sacks, 12 tackles for loss and seven QB hits. Short still had a productive season and had to overcome lots of double and triple teams. Ever since that season, Short has struggled to stay on the field, but it is possible a new team and training staff could be just what Short needs to rejuvenate his career.

Short is skilled at stuffing the run and getting to the quarterback, and even though he has battled injuries the last two years, he would provide a veteran presence for the Saints. He would not be expected to be an every down lineman, and would be a great backup for Malcolm Roach and David Onyemata.

Adding depth to the front seven is never a bad idea, and if the contract was non-guaranteed there is essentially no risk for the Saints to bring him in. Short has recovered from the shoulder injuries that have kept him sidelined the last two seasons, and he appears to be drawing interest from numerous teams.

Once injuries begin for teams across the league, Short will not be a free agent for much longer. With OTAs under way, injuries are inevitable for every team, which means the Saints need to be proactive in signing Short before another team does.

The post Why the Saints should sign Kawann Short? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

It is no secret in Pittsburgh that they will be on the market for a franchise QB sooner rather than later. Ben Roethlisberger has started to decline, and after an abysmal playoff performance he showed last year in their loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers should be studying this draft class up and down for a quarterback.

Roethlisberger threw for 3,803 yards, 33 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and completed 65.6% of his passes last season. He played in 15 games and was much healthier than the prior season. Those statistics are not bad by any means, but after his four interception, playoff loss to their divisional rival, the end is nearing for Roethlisberger. His mobility and accuracy took another dip last year, and at 39 years old, he does not have much left in the tank.

His decline forced the Steelers to restructure his contract, and bring in Dwayne Haskins. Haskins struggled mightily in Washington, and a fresh start could be the motivating factor that forces him to improve. The Steelers will not bank on Haskins becoming the franchise QB, and they should focus on finding the next QB to lead this organization in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Steelers will most likely have a pick in the latter portion of the draft, considering how good they have been under Mike Tomlin and the pieces they have in place. This should not deter them from trading up into the top five if they fall in love with one of the QB prospects.

These are three of the top prospects that the Steelers should target in next year’s NFL Draft.

1. Sam Howell, North Carolina

Drafting a QB from North Carolina is a terrifying proposition after seeing how the Mitchell Trubisky experiment ended in Chicago. Nevertheless, Sam Howell is a much different prospect, and should be evaluated as such. He walked on campus as a true freshman and earned the starting job at North Carolina, and threw for 3,641 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions. That is astounding for a true freshman, and he was still able to improve as a sophomore after a slow start to the season. He drastically improved his accuracy, while completing 68.1% of his passes as a sophomore compared to 61.4% as a freshman. His yards per attempt jumped to 10.3 compared to 8.6 as a freshman. Howell is one of the frontrunners for the Heisman and will be in the conversation for the number one pick in the draft. He has the arm talent and leadership abilities to be a franchise QB, and he would be a great fit for the Steelers system.

2. Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma

Spencer Rattler is more athletic and mobile than Howell. With the track record that Oklahoma head coach, Lincoln Riley, has with improving quarterbacks, Rattler could have a dominant season and easily be the number one pick in the draft. He is a very accurate QB, completing 67.5% of his passes in his first year starting. In 11 games, he threw for 3,031 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Sooners should be much improved this season, and we may see how Rattler handles himself on the big stage during the college football playoffs. Now that Rattler is the face of the Oklahoma football team, he needs to continue to develop his leadership skills, and decision making. If he can improve in his second season, and learn under Riley, Rattler could be the face of an NFL franchise for the next 10-15 years, and the Steelers would be a perfect fit.

3. Kedon Slovis, USC

Last season was a disaster for the Pac-12, due to the covid issues that they dealt with, which makes this upcoming season huge for USC star QB, Kedon Slovis. He stepped in as a freshman and was forced to play due to their starting QB getting injured, and he never looked back. In his career thus far, he has completed 70% of his passes, for 5,423 yards, 47 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. All of that production is in just 18 games, and Slovis should improve dramatically with a full offseason in preparation for a full season. Slovis worked with QB coaches, Jordan Palmer and Tom House to improve his mechanics and arm talent during the offseason. He is already extremely accurate and must improve his ability to throw the ball down field and his decision making. Slovis could be a star in the making, and he would be a match made in heaven for the Steelers.

Considering all these QBs will most likely go in the top ten in next year’s draft, the Steelers will undoubtedly have to trade up to grab one of them. If the Steelers are willing to do that, and mortgage some future first round picks, they will have their new franchise QB in place for years to come.

The post 2022 QB Draft Targets for the Steelers appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The departure of TE Zach Ertz from the Philadelphia Eagles seems inevitable, but at this point trade talks have dwindled. The Eagles asking price may be too high for opposing teams to pull the trigger on a trade, but when a team lands Ertz, they will be getting a difference maker.

Ertz has been one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL since 2015, and he could play a major role on a winning team. He is 30 years old and his 6’5 frame makes him a formidable red zone target. He is coming off an extremely disappointing 2020 campaign, but there was turmoil surrounding the Eagles and their quarterback situation that made it impossible for him to succeed.

He is a 3x Pro Bowler, First-Team All-Pro (2018) and a Super Bowl champion. He has 561 catches, 6078 yards and 36 career touchdowns and would be an immediate weapon for a team searching for a tight end.

Considering how inconsistent his quarterback play has been, he has surpassed expectations and has been a model of consistency. His best season of his career thus far was 2018, the year following the Eagles Super Bowl victory. He hauled in 116 catches, 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns.

These are three teams that are in need of a tight end, that would benefit immensely from an Ertz trade.

1. Green Bay Packers

The Packers trading for Ertz is not their priority with all of the uncertainty surrounding their star QB Aaron Rodgers. Part of the reason Rodgers is not happy with the organization is their lack of weapons, and commitment to helping Rodgers out on the offensive side of the ball. Ertz could go a long way in showing Rodgers how committed the Packers are, and Ertz would thrive in that offense. Ertz has never had a QB the caliber of Rodgers, and this could allow Ertz to get back to his dominant ways. This would make WR Davante Adams happy and take some of the pressure off of him, and give him more room to operate.

2. Buffalo Bills

The Bills are emerging as one of the best young teams in the NFL, led by QB Josh Allen. Their offense is dynamic, but they severely lack production from the TE position. The Bills will have to try and keep up with the loaded Kansas City Chiefs if they want to make a run at a Super Bowl, which means they should never be content with their roster. Adding a TE like Ertz would take a lot of pressure of WRs Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley. This would make the Bills one of the most potent offenses in the NFL, and they would be impossible to stop. Opposing defensive coordinators already got a glimpse of how great Allen and this offense could be, and adding a former Super Bowl champion TE could take this offense to another level.

3. Tennesse Titans

The Titans are in need of a playmaker on offense to pair with WR A.J. Brown. TE Delanie Walker is no longer in Tennessee, which leaves an opening for Ertz to come in and take over as the lead TE. The Titans also lost WR Corey Davis in free agency, and their main focus in the offseason was addressing their defensive issues, but they should be all in on pursuing Ertz. He would fit their scheme perfectly and would be QB Ryan Tannehill’s best friend from day one.

All three of these teams could use the services of Ertz, along with many others. It has been quite on the trade front for a long time now, but with OTAs starting up and training camp right around the corner, an Ertz trade will happen sooner rather than later.

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