By: Ladarius Brown

Looking at this division, you have a mixed bag of head coaching experience. Two head coaches have coached in a Super Bowl, one who is entering year two, and one who is a rookie head coach. That being said, here are my rankings of the head coaches in the NFC East. 

4. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles 

I am a believer in the importance of making the right first impression. If you are an Eagles fan, his introductory press conference made an impression for sure. Biggest takeaway: systems. Speaking of systems, I am curious to see what Sirianni brings to this Eagles team. He was the Colts’ offensive coordinator for the last three seasons under Frank Reich. One of the things that the Colts were good at offensively under Sirianni was scoring on their drives.  

In two of his years, the Colts scored on over 40% of their drives. In 2020, the Eagles were 31st in the league, scoring on just 27.9% of their offensive drives. It helped that Sirianni had some great running backs in Marlin Mack and Jonathan Taylor on the roster in Indy. In Philly, he has a pair of good running backs in Miles Sanders and Boston Scott. Given the state of their offense, the Eagles’ run game is the x-factor. 

Their pass game got better with drafting wide receiver DeVonta Smith of Alabama in the 1st round of this year’s draft. Smith joins wide receivers Jalen Reagor and Travis Fulgham as weapons for 2nd-year quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts will enter into the season knowing he will the guy under center after Wentz was shipped to the Colts.  

Sirianni and the coaching staff have the task of molding Hurts and there is a lot of talent to Hurts. Seeing Brian Johnson as the quarterbacks coach is an assurance in my estimation that Hurts has the right guy molding him. Johnson worked with now Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask while at the University of Florida. Hurts will pick up the “system” sooner rather than later. 

3. Joe Judge, New York Giants 

In his 1st year, Judge led the Giants to a 6-10 record, good for 2nd place last year. Their defense under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham finished in the top 15. The offense, however, was next to last in the league at 31st. This year, the Giants upgraded on the offensive side of the ball, signing wide receiver Kenny Golladay from the Lions and Kyle Rudolph from the Vikings. It is clear to Judge and everyone in the Giants organization that quarterback Daniel Jones has to take that leap in year three. If he does not, the gavel will drop on Judge. 

The Giants have fired the previous two coaches, Pat Shurmur and Ben McAdoo, after two years. One way Judge can get the 3rd year in the Big Apple is if the 2018 AP ROTY Saquon Barkley is healthy. Barkley suffered a torn ACL in his right knee along with the MCL and meniscus damage. There is a chance we will see him in the backfield come Week 1 versus the Broncos. Working under Belichick from 2012-2019 & Saban at Alabama from 2009-2011, Judge has learned under the greatest coach in NFL & college football over the last decade.  

Plus, the special teams improved as well. Kicker Graham Gano went 31/32 (96.9%) in 2020. Being a special teams coordinator under Belichick, Judge knows how important this aspect of the game is. If Daniel Jones can be that guy and Barkley is 100%, the Giants could sneak up on some teams. However, the jury is still out on Judge’s squad. 

2. Ron Rivera, Washington Football Team (WFT) 

Before I talk about Ron Rivera the coach, let me briefly talk about Ron Rivera the man. He beat cancer after being diagnosed in August 2020 with squamous-cell cancer detected in a lymph node. He still coached and his team won the division last year. You did not have to be a fan of the Washington Football Team to love his journey. Shifting back to coaching, Riverboat Ron is turning this team around. Statistically speaking, the WFT had the 2nd best defense in the league and defensive end Chase Young won defensive ROTY. Rivera’s defense allowed the 3rd fewest 1st downs (289) and 6th in 3rd down efficiency (37.5). 

As for the offense, they ranked 30th in the league and finished 28th in rushing yards per attempt (4.03). They started three quarterbacks: Alex Smith & Dwyane Haskins (six games) and Kyle Allen (four games). Combined, they had 16 passing touchdowns and 16 interceptions. This offseason, they re-signed quarterback Taylor Heinicke and signed Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick will likely serve as the bridge quarterback to either Heinicke or Allen since they did not draft one this year. Their run game with running back Antonio Gibson was a bright spot on this offense. He had 795 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, which was tied for 7th in 2020.  

The question mark for me is their offensive line. They allowed 50 sacks, which was tied for the 2nd most in the NFL. Signing left tackle Charles Leno Jr. after the Bears released him and drafting tackle Samuel Cosmi of Texas in the 2nd round were ways to shore up the line. The question is can FitzMagic finds its way into the nation’s capital? 

1. Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys 

Despite last season, McCarthy is atop this list mainly for his time with the Packers. He has a 17-26 in his last three seasons as a head coach. In his first season as the Cowboys head coach, he lost his franchise quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 5 at home versus the Giants to a dislocated and compound fracture of his right ankle. Throw in a slew of other injuries and it was a down year in Big D. I almost forgot: the defense was bad…I mean bad. 

The Cowboys allowed the most points in franchise history (473) and finished 31st in the league in run defense. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan switched the scheme from the 4-3 to a hybrid. Needless to say, Nolan and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was let go after the last season. They made a run towards the end of last season as the defense had 12 takeaways in the last four games after getting just 11 in the first 12. Last year, Dan Quinn was fired by the Falcons after Week 5, he was hired as the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator in the offseason. He was the defensive coordinator in Seattle as they had the No. 1 defense in 2013.  

If McCarthy and the Cowboys expect to compete in this division and be a possible Super Bowl contender, Quinn has to turn this defense around this year. The last time the Cowboys won a Super Bowl, Michael Jordan came out of retirement. If the Cowboys make it back to the Super Bowl, will HOF wide receiver Michael Irvin come out of retirement?  

The post Ranking the head coaches of the NFC East appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Ladarius Brown

This division has a brand-new coach in the Motor City and one who could be under immense pressure this season. Also, two coaches will have the chance to prove they can develop a quarterback. That being said, here are head coaching rankings for the NFC North.  

4. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions 

This is Campbell’s first full-time head coaching gig after being an interim head coach for the Dolphins in 2015 after the firing of Joe Philbin. He went 5-7 in this time there. The biggest goal that he has to accomplish is not so many winning games. Campbell has to change the culture there. Since 2000, they have the 2nd fewest wins in the NFL with 119 wins. The last time they won a division was 1993, six years before Campbell’s rookie season in the NFL. 

They traded arguably the best quarterback in their franchise’s history in Matthew Stafford and replacing him with Jared Goff. I am not saying Goff is the answer for the future of the Lions but given his age (26), he could be. There is talent on this roster, including RB D’Andre Swift, TE T.J. Hockenstein, and CB Jeff Okudah. Throw in the fact their offensive line has three 1st rounders (LT Taylor Decker, C Frank Ragnow, and their 2021 1st round pick: RT Penei Sewell).  

Campbell has former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn as his offensive coordinator, a move that I love. Lynn is a great offensive mind and what happened last season in Los Angeles was not 100% on him. Seeing how he works with Goff and what he can do with the run game. If the Lions want to turn it around, it has to be on the defensive side of the ball. Veterans such as LB Jaime Collins, DE Trey Flowers, and DT Michael Brockers, who was acquired via a trade with the Rams, will be leaned upon to turn it around. They might have to bite some kneecaps and wear racing helmets but it can be done. 

3. Matt Nagy, Chicago Bears 

Before diving in, Nagy won a division with Mitchell Trubisky under center and that, on its own, was great. When it comes to Nagy, I think he has won games despite having a general manager in Ryan Pace who is still somehow gainfully employed. Outside of trading the farm for All-Pro LB Khalil Mack and hiring Matt Nagy as head coach, the Ryan Pace era is nothing to write home about. Nagy has bailed out Pace since being hired. Why do I say that? Before hiring Nagy from the Chiefs in 2018, Pace was 14-34 from 2015 to 2018 as a general manager.  

Nagy inherited Trubisky and turned lemons into a palatable tasting pitcher of lemonade. Then, Pace trades for Foles because he was supposed to be an upgrade over Trubisky. Yet, it was the equivalent of trading in a unicycle for a bicycle: you can travel slightly further. Foles was not bad but it felt as though the Bears did not have direction at the quarterback position, a feeling that has been lingering for some time. However, in this year’s draft, something happened. 

The Bears traded up after quarterback Justin Fields was still left on the board and they drafted him. This was a move made more so by Pace at the behest of Nagy. Nagy wanted to bring in his guy, a luxury he was not afforded when he was hired. Nagy could be higher on this list but I cannot because of his play calling. The Bears’ offense was and is not a juggernaut but, in some games last year, it was bad and with Andy Dalton starting the season at quarterback and Fields somewhere along the way, he has to get it right in this department.  

2. Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings 

Zimmer is one of these coaches who I feel gets overlooked for some reason. Entering year eight as the head coach of the Vikings, he is the longest-tenured coach in the NFC North. In his tenure, his teams have never finished last in the division (two 1st place finishes, two 2nd place finishes, and three 3rd place finishes). One thing that I like about Zimmer is that for a coach with a defensive background, he is well-rounded and is evidenced by how he has drafted because, since 2014, the Vikings have had nine 1st round picks and, of those nine, five were on the offensive side of the ball and four on the defensive side.  

He has the 3rd most wins amongst Vikings head coaches all-time (64) behind Bud Grant (158) and Dennis Green (97). This year, he could win the division for the 3rd time in eight years because this team looks stronger on defense and, I almost forgot, they have RB Dalvin Cook. Cook has been a reliable back for Zimmer and this Vikings offense, especially the last two years. In 2019 & 2020, Cook had a combined 2,692 rush yards, 29 rushing touchdowns, and averaged 96.1 yards/game. He was 2nd to Titans running back Derrick Henry in all of the above stats in that timeframe.  

I can make a case that this could be Zimmer’s best team since 2017 because of the emergence of WR Justin Jefferson. Entering his 2nd year, Jefferson is coming off 1,400 yards receiving in his rookie campaign. Despite the youth of his defense, he has a strong veteran presence, led by safety Harrison Smith. It is no conjecture to say Zimmer could be a Coach of the Year candidate by season’s end.  

1. Matt LeFleur, Green Bay Packers 

When you have back-to-back 13-win seasons in your 1st two seasons as a head coach, that is pretty impressive. Also, having a future 1st ballot HOF quarterback in Aaron Rodgers helps too. This is not to say that LaFleur is not a great head coach because you can see how the Packers have improved entering year three. Under LaFleur, they are running the ball more as is evident by finishing in the top 10 in the league in average time per drive. They finished 1st in 2019.  

For further proof, RB Aaron Jones has two 1,000 rushing yard seasons (2019 & 2020). In his 1st two years in the league, he had 1,176 rushing yards combined. The defense improved from 18th in 2019 to 9th in 2020. Also, throw in that they have WR Davante Adams, an All-Pro last year with 1,374 receiving yards and 18 receiving touchdowns. There is a reason, an obvious one, as to why I mentioned these elements. 

If you were binging on Netflix or HBO Max, Aaron Rodgers stated he wants out of Green Bay or hinted at the possibility of retirement. Now, they have Jordan Love, their 1st round pick in 2020, taking the majority of snaps in OTAs. The longer Rodgers is a no-show, the greater the likelihood that Love will be the Week 1 starter at New Orleans. LaFleur will lean on his run game, his top 10 defense, and his All-Pro WR should Love be the guy. The biggest question surrounding this franchise is Can LaFleur mold Jordan Love enough to be loved by Packers fans.  

The post Ranking the Head Coaches of the NFC North appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Which teams are the favorites to win their respective divisions? Glad you asked because I will go division by division and give my favorites. Using the compass, we will start north with the AFC North.  

AFC North: Baltimore Ravens  

This division is about two teams (Ravens & Browns) with an outside chance for the Steelers. There’s always next year, the year after that for you Bengals fans. The Ravens get the edge because it’s the one team that I have the most confidence in. Head coach John Harbaugh has three consecutive double-digit winning seasons. (Steelers & Browns each have one). Their run game and that defense are still formidable.  

To be clear, you cannot ignore the Browns after their 1st winning season since 2007 and winning their 1st playoff game since 1994. The question mark here is can they duplicate, or even improve, from last year? They shored up some gaps in their secondary via both free agency and the draft. If Baker Mayfield can keep up his steady improvement, this division will be fun to watch.  

For the Steelers, it certainly looked as though Big Ben’s best days were behind him. Is the defense good enough after losing DE Bud Dupree to the Titans? As for the Bengals, Joe Burrow was a ROTY frontrunner before being injured and they drafted his LSU teammate, WR Ja’Marr Chase, as his new target. Overall, this division will come down to QB play and which defense is the best.   

AFC East: Buffalo Bills  

Josh Allen is a top 5 QB in this league. He was a huge part of their success last season, winning the AFC East for the 1st time since 1995. They return all five of their starting offensive line and if they are a strong tenacious unit this year, this is a Super Bowl contender. There is not a lot of gaps on this roster.   

The Miami Dolphins and their franchise is hinging on what QB Tua Tagovailoa can do in year two. Despite going 6-3 in his nine starts, there was still clamor that they should have pursued a starting QB. However, I have faith in Tua because of his accuracy (64.1%) and the ability to win down the stretch (two 4th quarter comebacks). Adding WR Will Fuller in free agency and drafting WR Jaylen Waddle along with WR DeVante Parker gives Tua a nice WR core to throw to. Plus, head coach Brian Flores and his defense drafted LB Jaelan Phillips out of Miami (FL) to replace LB Kyle Van Noy, who signed with the Patriots. They will be in the mix.  

Speaking of the Patriots, head coach Bill Belichick opened up the checkbook, especially on the tight end position. Hunter Henry got a three-year, $37.5 million deal, including $25 million guaranteed, and Jonnu Smith a four-year, $50 million deal with $31.25 million guaranteed. They also signed WRs Nelson Agholor & Kendrick Bourne, LBs Kyle Van Noy and Matthew Judon, and C Ted Karras. It is abundantly clear the Patriots are not rebuilding, given the Belichick is 69 years old. Even though they re-signed QB Cam Newton, they drafted Mac Jones of Alabama. Jones will play this season but when is uncertain.   

The Jets cleaned house by firing Adam Gase and hiring former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as their head coach. They drafted a franchise QB in Zach Wilson of BYU and OT Alijah Vera-Tucker to protect his blindside. They also went out and signed WR Corey Davis from the Titans, DE Carl Lawson from the Bengals, and S Lamarcus Joyner from the Raiders. The Jets are far from a contender but I love their upside because I like Zach Wilson and what he can do in this offense ran by OC Mike LaFleur.   

AFC South: Indianapolis Colts  

I am confident that this is a two-team for the division. The Colts went out and traded for QB Carson Wentz. They did not make a huge splash in free agency, but they did sign CB Xavier Rhodes from the Vikings to help in the secondary. If Wentz can stay healthy, the Colts. could sneak into the AFC Championship game. By the way, the Matt Eberflus-led defense with DT DeForest Buckner and LB Darius Leonard was great last year.  

Here is what I know about the Titans: Derrick Henry is a beast and traded for a future HOF WR in Julio Jones. I know the offense is great but can we talk about the defense for a second? They signed DE Bud Dupree and drafted CB Caleb Farley of Virginia Tech but is it enough to improve their defense? They were 28th in the NFL in total defense. Having an explosive offense is cool but can you stop anybody?   

The Jaguars have their QB of the future in Trevor Lawrence and 1st-year head coach Urban Meyer is looking to get the Jags back on track. As for the Texans, I feel bad for only two people: the diehard Texans fan and head coach David Culley. 0-17 is not out of the realm of possibility here.  

AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs  

Everyone feels this division is a lock because of the Chiefs’ success over the last three years (2 Super Bowl appearances and 3 AFC Championship game appearances). Also, having the QB Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid helps too. However, they might have some competition because the Chiefs can play down to their opponents. Nonetheless, they vastly improved their offensive line by signing Joe Thuney and Kyle Long, which was their Achilles heel last year. They are the favorite but do not sleep on the Chargers.  

The Chargers were plagued with injuries and losing close games, which cost Anthony Lynn his job. Hiring former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as their new head coach gives me a sense that they make a move in this division. Starting with their offense, QB Justin Herbert played outstanding, garnering the ROTY award. Throw in WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams along with signing C Corey Linsley from the Packers solidifies their offensive line. RB Austin Ekler could have a breakout year also. The Rams had the No. 1 defense in the league under Staley last season. He inherits DE Joey Bosa, S Derwin James, and drafted CB Asante Samuel Jr.   

The Denver Broncos passed on QB Justin Fields in the NFL Draft for CB Patrick Surtain II of Alabama. They traded for QB Teddy Bridgewater, making it a QB competition between him and QB Drew Lock. They signed CB Kyle Fuller from the Bears to play on the other side of Surtain II. The question is this: Do the Broncos have a Lock or a Bridge at QB?   

As for the Raiders, their turnover differential was ”“11, which was 30th in the league. Derek Carr is not the problem because this was a top 10 offense last season (8th) with a defense ranked 25th. I will contend that the head coach Jon Gruden is a great offensive mind but my concern will always be the defense with this team.   

NFC North: Minnesota Vikings  

My favorite here is based on one player: Aaron Rodgers. I believe that he might not play a down for them again. With Jordan Love under center for the Packers, they will not win this division. Rodgers moves the needle for me. Plus, they lost their C Corey Linsley to the Chargers and made no other free agency signings but did re-sign RB Aaron Jones and CB Kevin King. However, if no. 12 is not there, this team is going nowhere.  

Shifting to the Vikings, their drafts over the last two years have great, yielding WR Justin Jefferson, CB Jeff Gladney, OT Ezra Cleveland, and CB Cameron Dantzler in 2020. This year, they drafted OT Christian Darrisaw, QB Kellen Mond, and OT Wyatt Davis. Throw in that they still have RB Dalvin Cook in the backfield and a still productive QB in Kirk Cousins (still overpaid though). Plus, they still have Harrison Smith, Anthony Barr, and Eric Kendricks on defense.   

The Bears finally got their franchise QB in Justin Fields. Their defense is still good but not elite, especially after losing CB Kyle Fuller in free agency to the Broncos. They have a good chance to improve if the Packers don’t get Rodgers back. As for the Lions, QB Jared Goff needed a change of scenery and the Lions needed to restart their franchise after trading QB Matthew Stafford. The Lions have RB D’Andre Swift and TE T.J. Hockenson on offense and their defense has promise with CB Jeff Okudah, DE Trey Flowers, and DT Michael Brockers.  

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys  

On paper, the Dallas Cowboys have a talented roster. With a now healthy Dak Prescott as the signal-caller, they have the best QB in the division. The biggest issue I have is if the defense, now under new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, will improve. Last season, the defensive scheme of Mike Nolan was pretty bad and it showed. Plus, the injury bug hit them hard. If this defense takes some major strides, this division is theirs to lose.  

The Washington Football Team (WFT) won this division with a 7-9 record in 2020. This offseason, they signed WR Curtis Samuel from the Panthers, CB William Jackson of the Bengals, and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins. This was the second-best defense in the league last year with defensive ROTY Chase Young leading the way. Offensively, the only concern is the offensive line. They were tied for 2nd, allowing 50 sacks. Can FitzMagic stay upright to get this offense going?  

The Giants were all about building around their QB Daniel Jones, signing WR Kenny Golladay, WR John Ross III, and TE Kyle Rudolph in free agency. For GM Dave Gettleman, his job is tied to Danny Dimes. He drafted WR Kadarius Toney of Florida as well. With a healthy Saquon Barkley, this offense has to improve or it could over for Gettleman. As for the Eagles, it’s life after Carson Wentz with the Jalen Hurts era set to commence. New head coach Nick Sirianni has his cut for him as a rookie head coach trying to navigate a roster with talent but needs improvement big time.   

NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers   

When you re-sign every starter in the offseason and you won the Super Bowl, you are the favorite. If key players remain healthy, the Bucs could be in Los Angeles playing for another Super Bowl.   

The Saints lost QB Drew Brees to retirement and players like DE Trey Hendrickson, CB Janoris Jenkins, LB Alex Anzalone, and DT Sheldon Rankins to free agency. However, they still DEs Cam Jordan & Marcus Davenport, CB Marshon Lattimore, and WR Michael Thomas. To me, if Taysom Hill is the starting QB, I do have reservations because he has been a gadget player ever since he’s been in the league. He was a QB at BYU but maybe with a full offseason as a QB, he could adjust.   

The Falcons hired Titans OC Arthur Smith to be the head coach after firing Dan Quinn five games into last season. They traded away one of the best players to ever don a Falcons uniform, Julio Jones. They still have QB Matt Ryan, WR Calvin Ridley, and drafting TE Kyle Pitts of Florida, they are in a transition phase. On top of Pitts, GM Terry Fontenot has a great draft and is building for the future. This defense has to be better and new defensive coordinator Dean Pees has to maximize this talent to show gradual improvement.   

The Panthers, like the Broncos, passed on QB Justin Fields for a CB. This time, it was Jaycee Horn of South Carolina. It does help their secondary and they traded for QB Sam Darnold. It was clear that head coach Matt Rhule wanted to move on from Teddy Bridgewater and did so. The biggest question coming out of Carolina is if Darnold is the guy. If so, Carolina will pay him. If not, they look to the 2022 draft for their guy.   

NFC West: Arizona Cardinals  

I am high on the Cardinals. Every team in this division can win this division. I went out on a limb with the Cardinals is because they went out and got better on defense, signing DE J.J. Watt and CB Malcolm Butler. Last year, the Cardinals’ defense was 4th in sacks and a top-15 defense. Plus, signing WR A.J. Green to pair with DeAndre Hopkins gives QB Kyler Murray weapons at the skill position. The x-factor is head coach Kliff Kingsbury. If he can elevate this offense, this team could be dangerous come playoff time.   

The Rams upgraded at QB by trading for Matthew Stafford of the Lions. It seems GM Les Snead does not believe in the draft whatsoever, giving up a lot to get him. Their defense lost S John Johnson to the Browns but they still CB Jalen Ramsey and DT Aaron Donald. The concern is if new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris can keep this defense elite to compete for a Super Bowl.   

I am a huge Russell Wilson fan but the Seahawks have been leaning on him for some time now. That offensive line allowed 48 sacks, which was tied for 3rd in 2020. Defensively, head coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. need to shore up that secondary. They allowed 285 passing yards/game (2nd worse in the league last year). If they want any chance to win this division, this defense has to be better.  

Many people like the 49ers to win this division and I get it. Their defense is great and healthier and TE George Kittle is healthy. The biggest question mark I have is under center. Jimmy Garoppolo is not the answer and I feel Trey Lance is not the answer. I love their front office in GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. However, losing defensive coordinator Robert Saleh concerns me and uncertainty under center.   

The post Each Divisional Favorite in the NFL appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Ladarius Brown

As in every offseason, teams position themselves to be successful while keeping the salary cap in mind. The New Orleans Saints, who have historically been legitimate title contenders for the past decade, had an intriguing offseason that began with them losing some major players:  

• QB Drew Brees (retirement)  
• WR Emmanuel Sanders (signed with the Bills)  
• EDGE Trey Hendrickson (signed with the Bengals)  
• DT Sheldon Rankins (signed with the Jets)  
• DT Malcolm Brown (signed with the Jaguars)  
• LB Alex Anzalone (signed with the Lions)  

A major reason for these departures is the salary cap purgatory the Saints are in. Even still. GM Mickey Loomis and the Saints have the 5th highest dead cap space ($22.8 million). Overall, they have nearly $62,000 in cap space, which is the last in the league and nearly the annual salary of a high school teacher. Despite their cap situation, there are a few FA signings I liked and good draft moves.   

FA Signings  

Signing DE Tanoh Kpassagnon from the Chiefs was a signing that could have great upside if Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen can maximize his talents. Nielsen has been one of the best in the league over the last four years doing as such. The 6-foot-7, 289-pounder Kpassagnon is a former second-round draft pick who has started 23 games over the previous two years and has the adaptability to slip inside on downs using the pass-rush.   

He will possibly serve as a rotational backup behind starting DE’s Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport. However, the Saints have a great affinity to move bodies on the defensive line, needing more valued depth after losing DTs Malcolm Brown and Sheldon Rankins. Kpassagnon is still just 26 years old and has plenty of experience under his belt, logging more than 60 percent of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps last year.  

Another great signing is that of TE Nick Vannett. This takes care of one of the Saints’ more immediate needs after they moved on from their top two tight ends from last season: Jared Cook (signed with the Chargers) and Josh Hill (signed by the Lions). The Saints should be thrilled about the upside of their second-year TE, Adam Trautman out of Dayton, as both a pass-catcher and a blocker. Yet, they needed some veteran depth, and Vannett fills that role.   

The 6’6”, 261 pounds, Vannett has served primarily as a blocking tight end during his five-year career with the Seahawks, Steelers, and Broncos. Nonetheless, the former third-round draft pick out of Ohio State also has 75 catches for 686 yards and five TDs in his career.  

Draft Picks  

I will be honest here in saying that I did not see DE Payton Turner of Houston going in the first round but I understand why the Saints took him 28th overall in this year’s draft. At 6’6”, 270 pounds, Turner has potential that can be unlocked by the Saints defensive coaching staff. He possesses and formidable reaction time and athleticism along with how he creates and bursts into contact. Thinking about Turner playing alongside with All-Pro Cameron Jordan ought to excite Saints’ fans. Plus, if he can be as successful as another Payton, HC Sean Payton, Turner will work out great.   

They stayed on the defensive side of the ball in round two, drafting linebacker Pete Werner from Ohio State 60th overall. Werner was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference honoree including third-team honors in 2020. At 6’ 2”, 242 pounds, he played in 47 games as a Buckeye, started 35 times, and entered his senior season in 2020 with a stat line of 131 total tackles, 13.5 tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.   

Werner has lined up in the box, as an overhang player and a middle safety. Being a hybrid who plays in and out of the box is ideal in the NFL. He projects as a weakside LB in the 4-3 defense.   

One pick that I like that might shock some folks is their fourth-round pick out of Notre Dame: QB Ian Book. I understand they re-signed Jameis Winston (one-year deal worth up to $12 million) and Taysom Hill (four-year deal worth $140 million) but Book could be a steal here. HC Sean Payton “was drawn to his athleticism, accuracy, big-game experience, and track record of winning.” There is a handful of coaches who knows the QB position and Payton is high on that list.   

The Saints’ offseason was investing in the upside of players and seeking out veteran talent in FA. In the NFL, they went after players who either start day one or become starters within the next year or two. GM Mickey Loomis did his best Houdini impression, pulling some rabbits out of that gold & black hat.   

The post Why the Saints Made Fantastic FA and Draft Moves with Little Cap appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Ladarius Brown

Every season brings about a sense of opportunity for all 32 NFL teams to win the Lombardi Trophy (even you Texans & Lions fans). In reality, there are a handful of teams that are deemed to be top contenders. However, some could make some noise come playoff time. Here, three teams make some noise and can sneak up and get that No.1 seed.  

1. Arizona Cardinals  

Looking at the NFC West this offseason, there was a lot of talk surrounding QBs this offseason such as Matthew Stafford in, Jared Goff out in L.A., or Russell Wilson being a Seahawk. Through it all, the Cardinals signed former Bengals 7x Pro Bowler WR A.J. Green and 5x All-Pro DE J.J. Watt. Green adds veteran experience to a solid WR core, which includes 3x All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, and their 2nd round pick out of Purdue Rondale Moore.   

Speaking of QBs, I believe that Kyler Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, is due for a breakout season. He has improved from year one to year two in passing yards (3,722 in 2019 to 3,971 last season) & completion % (64.4 in 2019 to 67.2 last season). While assessing his stats, something else stood out to me. Murray took way fewer sacks (only 27 compared to 48 in 2019). Throw in that they traded for Pro Bowl C Rodney Hudson to anchor the offensive line, Murray may be untouchable.   

Defensively, J.J. Watt gives them an even more stout defensive line. As a unit, the Cardinals’ defense had the 4th most sacks with 48. They also signed CB Malcolm Butler and LB Markus Golden to add with LB Chandler Jones, S Budda Baker, and CB Robert Alford. DC Vance Joseph has talent galore on this side of the ball. By the way, they added K Matt Prater, who made 84% of his kicks in his seven-year career at Detroit. Kickers are important…right Bears fans? They are a playoff team to me but can easily be a Super Bowl contender.  

2. Los Angeles Chargers  

Staying on the West Coast, the Chargers’ 7-9 record could have been much better. They lost ten one-possession games and cost Anthony Lynn his job. Another factor was that many of their key players, especially on defense, were out for extended periods: S Derwin James, DE Joey Bosa, and CB Chris Harris, Jr. In January, the Bolts hired Rams’ DC Brandon Staley to replace Lynn. Last season, the Rams were the No. 1 defense in the entire league under Staley.   

In L.A., Staley inherits a defense that allowed the 10th fewest yards in the league and the reigning ROTY in QB Justin Herbert. Herbert had over 4,300 passing yards, threw 31 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, and had three game-winning drives. Like the Cardinals, they added stud C on the offensive line in Corey Linsley, once a member of the Green Bay Packers. His hands and mobility will be a great asset to the offensive line. They drafted T Rashawn Slater with their 1st round pick in this year’s draft and will likely be protecting Herbert’s left side.   

They play in the same division as Patrick (not Pat) Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. I contend that if the Chargers could have closed games, they would have been in contention for the AFC West crown and Lynn would still be employed. Joey Bosa had 7.5 sacks last season in 12 games. Imagine what a healthy Joey Bosa can do in 16 games? The Chiefs have played down in some games, which can be to the Chargers’ benefit.  

3. Minnesota Vikings  

This pick here is heavily contingent upon Aaron Rodgers not playing for the Packers this season, which is likely to me. Looking at the Vikings’ schedule, it looks favorable to Minnesota, with no arduous back-to-backs, comparatively agreeable travel, and no real challenging matchups. GM Rick Spielman has drafted exceptionally well over the last two years and it is manifesting in many of the players.   

Look at their 2020 draft, they drafted WR Justin Jefferson of LSU & CB Jeff Gladney of TCU in the 1st round. Jefferson had 88 receptions, 1,400 yards receiving, and 7 touchdowns while Gladney started 15 games last season and had 63 solo tackles, which was 2nd on the team. This year, they drafted T Christian Darrisaw and will be a projected started. Also, one of the best picks in the entire draft, QB Kellen Mond of Texas A&M. They nabbed their quarterback of the future, learning under Kirk Cousins.  

Adding 3x All-Pro CB Patrick Peterson gives them a veteran in the secondary with S Harrison Smith, who could be DPOY. Head Coach Mike Zimmer, is a great defensive mind. He can coach up that side of the ball with the best of them. The biggest keys are if Cousins can play as he did in 2020: (4,265 passing yards, 35 touchdowns & 13 interceptions, and a 67.6 completion %) and if the defense can get to the QB (28th in the league with 23 sacks). Also, if the 1st and 2nd-year players can maintain how they played (I.e., Jefferson & Gladney) or exceed the expectations, you will Vikings fans exclaiming “Skol” in bars all across Minnesota. They probably do that anyway so… 

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By: Ladarius Brown

Since the NFL draft is over, many analysts are giving their favorites for the various awards such as MVP, ROTY, (Rookie of the Year), and OPTY (Offensive Player of the Year). However, I want to focus on a race that will be interesting in my eyes: the Defensive Player of the Year Award (DPOY). You have your usual list of players such as the L.A. Rams DE Aaron Donald (3x and reigning DPOY), Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett (6th in the NFL with 12 sacks), and the Miami Dolphins CB Xavien Howard (led the NFL with 10 interceptions). To me, there is a player that could be a strong contender at the season’s end for the award: Minnesota Vikings All-Pro safety Harrison Smith.

Entering his 10th season in the league, Smith is a very aware and composed game-changer who makes intelligent reads on the football field. He assesses the action adeptly then uses his solid speed and size (6’2”, 214 lbs.), and wingspan to either tackle those holding the ball or intercept passes. Smith owns an amazing all-around package of instruments to play secondary. Last season, he was tied for 2nd in the NFL with five interceptions.

Why do I feel strongly about his chances of winning DPOY? As mentioned earlier, he possesses all of the necessary tools for the safety position. Another one that is he is on the field on nearly every defensive snap. In 2020, he played 1,030 snaps, or 95.9%, of all the Vikings defensive snaps and the 7th most amongst strong safeties.

Overall, the Vikings’ defense was nothing to write home about as they were 27th in the league in total defense. However, Smith was a bright spot as he led the team in interceptions and 5th on the team with 54 tackles. This team is young on defense, which can benefit Smith because of his experience.
Most NFL teams exploit youthful defenses by throwing it more when the secondary is as young as the Vikings. Smith may not necessarily have the same lateral movement as he did a few years ago but his nose for the ball is still there. He had five QB hits (no other secondary had more than one). As this defense continues the youth movement, HC Mike Zimmer and co-defensive coordinators Adam Zimmer & Andre Patterson will be leaning heavily on Smith to make plays in every facet.

If the reports are true and Zimmer switches to a 4-2-5 defense, it fits what Smith can do. In a 4-2-5 defense, the free safety plays centerfield. The strong safety lines up as an “overhang” defender on one side of the box, and the Star (Safety) or Nickelback (not the band..I think) is on the other side.
The star or Nickelback defender, who may or not be Chad Kroeger, is an additional safety: someone who can play in coverage but is, as well, a superb tackler and productive in run defense, and who can also be a successful blitzer. Smith fits the role of that additional defender because of his superb tackling and productivity in run defense. Throw in the fact that he will have more opportunities to blitz and acquire more sacks.

Over the last ten years, defensive lineman has won the award the most. Defensive backs have won the DPOY two times in that span (SS Troy Polamalu ”“ 2010 & CB Stephon Gilmore ”“ 2019). If he continues to play between 95-96 of the defensive snaps as he did last season, he will be a contender to be the 3rd defensive back to win the award in eleven years.

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By: Ladarius Brown

For one reason or another, many of us have been doubted if we can succeed in our respective fields for numerous reasons. Overall, it is about silencing the said doubters or proving to yourself that you can make it. In some cases, it is both since, according to an NCAA study, there are 73,712 college football players. Of those, 16,380 are eligible for the NFL Draft and 254 will be drafted. In all, just 1.6% will make the transition from the NCAA to the NFL. The point: it is one of the toughest professions to enter. One player who knows the journey all too well is Tom Brady.  

Brady was a sixth round (199th overall pick) in the 2000 NFL Draft of the New England Patriots out of Michigan. In that draft, six quarterbacks were taken ahead of him:   

• Chad Pennington   
• Giovanni Carmazzi    
• Chris Redman   
• Tee Martin  
• Marc Bulger  
• Spergon Wynn  

Some of these names may not exactly roll off the tongue yet, for Brady, he still remembers these names, aptly called the Brady 6. Entering his 22nd season, this is what keeps Thomas Edward Patrick Brady motivated. Given his resume, he was a 1st ballot Hall of Famer years ago. However, the mere fact that 30 NFL franchises (excluding the Texans who became a franchise in 2002) passed on him drives him still. Throw in that this was his scouting report: “Poor build, skinny, lacks great physical stature and strength, and gets knocked down easily.”  

The money means next to nothing because he gave up nearly $60 million while with the Patriots in his 20 years there. He has always been team first. In his mind, he needs successful players to be a success himself. Brady feels as though he does not deserve the accolades. The term is called “imposter syndrome.”  

Conceived by clinical psychologists Dr. Pauline Rose Clance & Suzanne Imes, they allude to the term as:  

“High-achieving individuals marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud”. Despite external evidence of their competence, [they] are convinced that they are frauds and do not deserve the success they have achieved. Proof of success is dismissed as luck, timing, or as a result of deceiving others into thinking they are more intelligent and competent than they believe themselves to be.”  

In Brady’s mind, he cannot process arguably one of these best resumes not just in NFL history; but all of the sports because he feels that he will be somehow “exposed” as a fraud who does not belong. He continues to play the games to prove that he belongs. It sounds odd but when we think of the most driven of individuals, this is nothing new. His deep disproval has created insane habits.

Those exterior of Brady’s mind sees the continuous work to be the best, demanding it out those around him. We have seen him become a 7x SB Champ, 14x Pro Bowler, 3x All-Pro, and 3x MVP. For him, it is about the game within the game. Football to him is a reminder that many people did not think he could play it. Every day he wakes up, he was to be better than the next day. We can all sit here and say that he needs to retire because there is nothing more for him to achieve.   

For Brady, he plays to win like all great competitors. Yet, there will always be that one more thing to achieve, something not reflected in trophies or rings. Brady wants to proves in his mind he is better than Chad Pennington, Giovanni Carmazzi, Chris Redman, Tee Martin, Marc Bulger, and Spergon Wynn. As we speak, he still wants to prove every team wrong 21 years later. 

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By: Ladarius Brown

When drafting, some teams position themselves to get the player they coveted. In other cases, some players fall to teams as they slide down the draft, getting great value. Looking back at the 2021 NFL Draft, one such player of value was WR Rondale Moore out of Purdue. Falling to the Arizona Cardinals in the 2nd round, Moore was a major steal. In a draft loaded with great WR talent, he could very well end up being that 1st round value that many (myself included) for the Cardinals.

At 5’9” 180 lbs., Moore is on the short side for the position but what he may lack in height, he makes up for with his speed. With an unofficial 40-time of 4.29, he possesses the big play ability on deep routes. Looking at Moore’s game, he can be a Tyreek Hill-like player on offense for the Cardinals and QB Kyler Murray: speed for days. To me, if there is anything you cannot teach in the NFL, it is speed.

In his freshman year at Purdue in 2018, Moore led the nation in receptions (114), receiving yards (1,258 yards), and a consensus All-American. Plus, he led in broken tackles with 33. In 2019, Moore was limited to just three games with a hamstring injury and played in three of the Boilermakers’ six games in 2020 due to finger and lower body injuries. Since that 2018 season, he had 64 receptions, 657 receiving yards, and 2 TDs combined in 2019 & 2020. It largely explains why he fell to round two.

However, Moore fell to a great team in the Cardinals because of HC Kliff Kingsbury’s Air Raid-style offense. This is a major reason why Moore could be the biggest steal. This offense relies heavily upon WRs. Moore was a slot receiver and occasionally was spotted in the backfield of the Boilermakers’ offense. He was utilized in the short and middle zones of the field, with the offense using many passing plays created to generate chances for him to get the ball in his hands in open space.

Looking at the Cardinals’ likely depth chart at WR, he is a 2nd option at the slot position but, with a 17-game schedule, Moore has the opportunity to be a No.1 option there as the season progresses. He has all the tools to be a great slot receiver in the NFL: fast, agility, explosiveness, solid hands, and run after the catch. He can take pressure off of their 3x All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins and could very well develop into a No. 2 option on the overall depth chart.

I can potentially see him also as a kick return option based on that explosiveness with the ball in his hands. His 5’9” 180 lbs. frame and sub 4.3 speed are a reminder of a player. This player was 5’11, 190 lbs. that was pretty good with the ball in his hands on special teams: Devin Hester. My point is that Moore’s size is not as big as a detriment because of his playmaking capability. If the Cardinals get that 2018 production out of Moore, he will be a major steal and a great player for years to come.

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By: Ladarius Brown

Before their 11-5 record in 2020, the Browns had just two winning seasons since their reincarnation back into the NFL in 1999. Since 1999 and excluding the 2020 season, they had a .302 winning percentage, the worst win percentage in that stretch.   

Whether it was underwhelming 1st draft picks (Johnny Manziel, Brandon Weeden, Courtney Brown) or lack of structure in the front office and sidelines (10 general managers and 12 head coaches since 1999), success had eluded the Browns for over two decades.   

Fast forward to the 2020 season, it was arguably their best season since returning to the league and overall, since 1994, when they also went 11-5 under some coach named Bill Belichick. That 1994 team also lost in the divisional round. This current Browns roster could be the best one in the league. 

Offense  

The strongest part of this offense lies within the offensive line. It was abundantly clear that the focus of this side of the ball was in the trenches. They drafted LT Jedrick Wills, Jr. out of Alabama in this 1st round in 2020 while signing the Titans’ former RT Jack Conklin in free agency that same year. As for the rest of the line, LG Joel Bitonio was drafted by Cleveland in 2014 in the 2nd round, and C JC Tretter, signed in 2017, and RG Wyatt Teller, who was acquired via trade from the Bills made up the best line in the league.  

Conklin concluded last season as the highest-graded right tackle in the league at 84.3 overall, and the only right tackle in the NFL to allow a pressure rate under 3.0% on 250 or more pass-blocking snaps (2.9%). Moreover, the improvement of RG Wyatt Teller is telling.   

His 92.9 PFF (Pro Football Focus) grade in 2020 also led his position, and it served as a major year-over-year growth from the 56.7 overall grade from PFF in 2019. No guard earned a positive mark on a higher percentage of his run-blocking snaps than Teller did.  

Speaking of running, RB Nick Chubb had 1,494 yards on the ground behind this line, good for 7th in the league. It was the most rushing yards in a single season for the Browns since 1999, eclipsing Jamal Lewis’ total of 1,304 in 2007. In total, the Browns had 2,374 rushing yards, 3rd behind the Ravens and Titans.   

Their WR core is deep behind multiple Pro Bowlers Odell Beckham Jr. & Jarvis Landry. Entering his 6th year in the league, Rashard Higgins had the 2nd most receiving yards in 2020 behind Landry. He was tied for 2nd with four TD receptions. Donovan Peoples-Jones, their 6th round in 2020 out of Michigan, only had 14 receptions but has tremendous upside. Plus, drafting WR Anthony Schwartz in the 3rd round in this year’s draft gives them a potential starter down the road.   

TEs Austin Hooper, David Njoku, and Harrison Bryant are no slouches either. Combined in 2020, they had 886 receiving yards and 9 TDs. Even though most of those stats complied are from Hooper, it does not change how all three can be contributors again this season.  

Lastly, QB Baker Mayfield is a player that showed me last season that he was the guy worthy of the 1st overall pick back in 2018. He cut down on his interceptions (8 in 2020 vs 21 in 2019) and improved his completion % (62.8 vs. 59.4 in 2019). HC Kevin Stefanski wants Baker to be smart with the ball, trust his O-Line, and run game. If he can take another step, this is a complete offense.  

Defense  

The talent on this defense sells itself but I will resell it to those who do not know. Starting on the defensive line, it begins with their All-Pro DE Myles Garrett. Since arriving in Cleveland in 2017, he has 42.5 sacks, which is 5th in the league. In 2020, he was 6th in the league with 12 sacks. On the other side of the line is former No.1 overall pick, Jadeveon Clowney. If DC Joe Woods and this defensive staff can get that three-year stretch (2016-2018) of his career where he had 24.5 sacks and 57 TFL (tackles for loss), the Browns win big.   

Throw in former Falcons’ 2017 1st round Takkarist McKinley and the Seahawks’ 2017 2nd round pick Malik McDowell, there is great depth here.  

The interior of the line has DT Malik Jackson gives this line nine years of experience and 35 career sacks, and 61 TFL. DTs Jordan Elliott and Andrew Billings give the line youth and tremendous upside capable of being one of the best defensive lines by the end of the 2021 season.  

Their LB core of SAM’s (strong-side LB) Sione Takitaki and Malcolm Smith do not miss a lot of tackles. Middle LBs like Anthony Walker have a chance to shine with more playing time and MLB Mack Wilson can cover the field. The WLBs (weakside LB) of Jacob Phillips and their 2nd round pick, who was a steal in my eyes, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah can be immediate contributors.   

Lastly, their secondary got better via free agency with John Johnson III could be the best signing of the offseason backed up by getting CB Troy Hill a little later in the process. The Browns’ secondary was abhorrent in 2020. Tackling those issues was of great importance. Johnson has earned no less than an 82.9 PFF coverage grade in each of his healthy NFL seasons and will be an impact player at the strong safety position. Hill will likely be a Nickelback player: not a bass player for the band, just a football player.   

Entering the draft, they had the 2nd or 3rd best roster in the league. After the draft, they have the best roster with an amalgamation of youth, experience, and depth all over the place. The Dawg Pound has something to be proud of with this roster.   

The post Why the Cleveland Browns have the most talented roster in the league appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Ladarius Brown

Some teams are looking for depth on their rosters as a means for either competition or needs. To be more precise, the Bears could use some at the WR position. Last season, HC Matt Nagy’s team had the 8th most passing attempts but were 22nd in the league in receiving yards with 3,925. Now that they have drafted their QB of the future in Justin Fields, they need weapons. One potential option is one of their best WRs over the last 20 years: Alshon Jeffrey. Here are a few reasons why GM Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy need to bring him back.  

A Complementary WR for Allen Robinson  

Since joining the team back in 2018 after four years with the Jaguars, Robinson has 3,151 receiving yards. This is slightly over the double the next WR in that same stretch with the team: Anthony Miller with 1,564. As you can see, there is a discrepancy between the No. 1 & 2 WRs on the team.   

At this point in his career, Jeffery can be a No. 3, maybe a No. 2 guy in this league because he was a solid No. WRs for these same Bears. From 2012 to 2016, Jeffery had 4549 receiving yards and 26 TDs with the team. Since then, his production has been reduced by over less than half. With the Eagles, he had 2,237 receiving yards with 20 TDs in four years.   

A combination of Robinson & Jeffrey can be formidable, especially if Jeffrey can reach anywhere near his 1st time in Chicago.  

Bears Depth at WR  

When looking at the WRs projected to make the Bears 53-man roster, it is an interesting mix: Allen Robinson, Darnell Mooney, Anthony Miller, Javon Wims, and Dazz Newsome. The WR core, outside of Robinson, is young. Mooney is entering year two, Miller and Wims are entering year 3, and Newsome is their 6th round pick out of North Carolina. Adding a veteran like Jeffery gives this core much-needed experience.  

Jeffery has nine years of NFL experience under his belt and deserves to hit a decade. As mentioned, he still has enough to compete in the league while being a mentor as well. It gives Nagy a player who he can lean on in this offense and be an on-field coach. Injuries have derailed him but he can still contribute to this team.   

Low Risk, High Reward  

Back in 2017, he signed a 4 yr./$52 million extension with the Eagles. Fast forward to March of this year, he was given a post-June 1st release. If I told you that you can sign a player who averages 14.3 yards per reception and started in 89% of their games, you would be interested. Throw in he is 31 years old is and you sign him to a 1 yr./$8-9 million deal while making over $20 million last year.   

Currently, the Bears are in the red cap space-wise but if they can restructure a few deals of their veteran players like Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, and Nick Foles, it would help. Plus, cutting TE Jimmy Graham would give them the space to sign Jeffery.   

If he can play anywhere near those five years in his previous time with the Bears, it is a great signing. However, if you get the Eagles version of Jeffery, no big deal. Overall, he is well worth the risk.   

The post Why the Bears Should Bring Alshon Jeffery Back appeared first on Pro Football Mania.