By: Jeremy Trottier

As most if not all of us know by now, former Cleveland Browns #1 overall pick Baker Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers this offseason.  With this, we will now get to see Baker with some more offensive weapons, such as Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore this season.  However, for those of us interested in fantasy football, he is somewhat of an enigma.  For two seasons he has been really solid, two seasons he has been very bad.

In this article, I will be covering the overall outlook of his season, both a ceiling and a floor, as well as my prediction as to what range of QBs he might score nearby.  So, without further ado, let’s start with his absolute peak:

Baker Mayfield 2022 Fantasy Ceiling ”“ Top 10 QB

The absolute ceiling of Baker Mayfield would be roughly what we saw in 2020, except give him more weapons on offense.  Baker can play up to the level of a top 10 QB, as in that season he put up the following stat line:

• 16 games played ”“ all 16 started (11-5 record)
• 305 completions on 486 pass attempts (62.8% completion rate)
• 3,563 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions
• 54 rushes for 165 yards and 1 touchdown

This is below his ceiling still, as that was with weapons that were good, but not amazing.  In order for Baker to hit his peak, he would need Christian McCaffrey to remain healthy for a good portion if not all of the season.  Having a top 5 back out of the backfield who is easily one of the best satellite backs in the league makes your job much easier as a quarterback.

The Panthers offensive line would also need to see improvements from last year, which it certainly should with the draft addition of Ikem Ekwonu.  They also need to find their true WR2, as Robbie Anderson is good, but had a down year last season without a doubt.  Potentially look for Terrace Marshall Jr. to make this leap next year and give Baker a shot at being this top 10 QB in fantasy football scoring.

Baker Mayfield 2022 Fantasy Floor ”“ APPX. QB25-QB30

The absolute worst I could expect Baker to do would be something like last year but partially worse.  There are a few reasons why this could happen:

1. Sam Darnold takes starts away from Baker at some point if he does poorly
2. Baker re-aggravates his shoulder injury and either misses time or performs at a lower level
3. Christian McCaffrey gets another injury and misses significant time
4. The coaching staff performs as badly as they did last season and utilizes Baker incorrectly or does not have faith in him. 

These would be the main four reasons as to why I could see Baker failing this season, or at least not performing at a high level for fantasy purposes.  His floor could go even lower than 25^th for sure if some combination of the above issues occur, specifically his injury being a bother and allowing Darnold or Matt Corral to start for a portion of the year. 

My expectations for Baker ”“ QB13-QB18

I personally believe there is a median between his ceiling and floor that is where he will find himself this season.  A new scheme to learn, a head coach who has not proven much at this level, and some question marks at TE and WR2 lead me to believe he will struggle early in the year.  However, there is a good shot he finds his footing later in the season and recovers his fantasy value, especially for the fantasy playoffs. 

Baker is a good player to pick up in a dynasty league if available in case he performs well this year, as he could be used as a trade piece or even be used in a rotation, potentially in a 2 QB league.  In re-draft, he holds some value as a backup in case your starter performs to a low level, but other than that I would not rely on him as a full-time starter unless proven otherwise. 

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By: Jake Rajala

The Cleveland Browns are looking to trade away their former first overall pick in Baker Mayfield. They recently shocked the league and acquired Deshaun Watson for a hefty price (five year – $230 million dollar contract). It appears true that Watson will enter the revolving door, while Mayfield will exit the door.

There have been a few teams rumored to land Mayfield since Watson arrived in Cleveland. The Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have been favorites to bring in Baker. With that said, I believe it would be uncharacteristic for Matt Rhule to reel in Baker. Here are a few reasons why the Panthers should not trade for Mayfield.

• long-term fit

I don’t believe Baker will ascend into being an elite QB or revolt to being an excellent game manager for the Panthers until the Panthers develop a 2022 rookie signal-caller or a 2023 first-year QB. I believe Rhule’s seat is HOT, but I believe they are trying to fix something that will stay broke. I’d prefer them to add more ammunition around Darnold with their cap space, bring in a rookie QB (hope he can start soon for Rhule’s sake), and then try to win more games than last season. I don’t believe the mediocre and unfamiliar Baker will automatically be a “quality bridge QB for CAR in 2022”. If the Panthers overpay and acquire Baker, they could have a similar outcome as the Colts with Carson Wentz in 2021.

• Please draft a QB in 2022

If the Panthers are hell-bent on drafting a QB in the 2022 draft like Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett, I believe it’s a terrible idea to bring in Baker. I really believe Willis or Pickett has a solid chance at beating out Baker in 2022 and likely 2023 at this moment. They should draft Willis in my opinion, let him compete with Darnold, and slowly incorporate him into game action in a “Taysom Hill-like role” in 2022. Willis could be a weapon with CMAC on option play early on, regardless of the pure starting QB.

• Trade for a different QB

I would honestly like to see the Panthers acquire a QB like Jimmy G or Taylor Heinicke on a cheaper deal if they really want to add a modest veteran QB. I believe the potential and game management with Jimmy G in the Panthers offense outweighs Baker’s arm talent in Rhule’s aerial offensive attack. Garoppolo has a “Darren Sproles-like friend” in McCaffrey and he can also be lethal off the play-action game with Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore. If they aren’t in love with the ceiling of the 49ers veteran pocket passer, they should add a veteran QB that can potentially start in the near future on a cheaper contract like Heinicke.

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By: Jeremy Trottier

The Panthers picked a rare athlete and very self-motivated player in Luke Kuechly with their ninth overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. There’s an interesting question for him following his “early” retirement: Is Luke Kuechly a player that is deserving of going into the hall of fame?  I believe his production and impact should place him in the Hall of Fame and also place him as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Some people might ask why he should be in the HOF as he only played 7 seasons?  It is because those 7 seasons were simply some of the best seasons by a linebacker in NFL history. 

Being able to accrue over 1000 tackles in a 7-year span, and leading the NFL in tackles twice with over 150 each time makes you great.  Being able to fill the stat sheet overall the way he did every single year of his career makes him legendary.

Luke Kuechly was an absolute monster both in terms of tackling behind the line of scrimmage and in coverage, accruing the following over his career:

• 118 games played (all 118 were started, only missed 10 games in his career)
• 18 interceptions for 168 yards and 1 touchdown, 66 pass deflections
• 1092 tackles, 75 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 9 fumble recoveries
• 31 QB hits, 1 safety forced, 7,231 snaps taken in 7 years

There are very very few players, nevermind in recent memory that could produce a career like this.  To think that Luke could have played another 5-7 years if not for concussions is just mind-bending.  If the stats alone do not convince you, the accolades will.  Over his career, Kuechly acquired an absolutely massive list of achievements, including:

• NFL DPOY (2013)
• NFL DROY (2012)
• 5 time all pro (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018)
• 2 time second team all pro (2016, 2019)
• 7 time pro bowler (every season of his career but 1, 2013-2019)
• NFL all decade team (2010s)
• Most tackles in a game (24, tied)
• Number retired by Boston College
• Super Bowl appearance

There are not many players in general that were able to produce such a well-rounded Hall of Fame-ready career. Kuechly is arguably in the same category as Barry Sanders in terms of dominance and short career span. One player I can near guarantee will be a first-ballot will be the Panthers legendary defender Luke Kuechly. 

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The Carolina Panthers have a serious question mark at their quarterback position. The Sam Darnold experiment (and the Cam Newton idea) was not beneficial for them in 2021 and the days of citing the age of Darnold are getting old. It’s clear the Panthers want to insert a new QB that can utilize CMAC, Robby Anderson, and DJ Moore on a really high level.

Matt Rhule’s squad has had trade discussions for Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins. Unfortunately, Wilson is in Denver and the Vikings didn’t take the trade request for Cousins seriously. I don’t expect the Panthers wish to obtain a Pro Bowl-caliber QB to come to fruition.

I would really like to see the Panthers obtain the elite, dual-threat QB Malik Willis in the 2022 NFL Draft. Willis was rightfully dubbed the winner of the draft by NBC Sports. The Liberty QB didn’t run the 40-yard dash and he still had the best combine performance. He was superb with his deep throwing ability, interviews, and he was even courteous to broken people on the streets.

He threw 27 touchdowns, 2,857 passing yards, and ousted a 70.0 passer rating with Liberty last season, but he also unleashed 878 rushing yards. He was electric and he’s one of the best dual-threat QB prospects in the last several years.

There’s more reason to like the idea of Willis landing in Carolina. According to Jeremy Igo of Carolina Huddle, the Panthers scouts “are very high on Malik Willis”. It’s clear the Panthers aren’t only one of the top teams favored to pick Willis, but the Panthers staff is actually gushing over at this stage.

I believe the Kenny Pickett buzz revolving around Carolina is merely a smokescreen. The 49ers were rumored to be very serious about taking Mac Jones, but the true 49ers personnel knew Lance was the better fit. I also believe Willis should be favored over Pickett after his recent combine performance. I also don’t feel an overwhelming ceiling with Pickett. The Panthers should be confident in their ability to be creative and allow Willis to shine in the pass and run game.

His rushing ability combined with McCaffrey will really break down opposing defenses and help their ascending defense get more rest. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson were demolishing opponents with his arm and legs while helping their defenses get quality break time. The Ravens were third in time of possession, while the Bills were fifth in TOP. Willis isn’t only magical with his rushing ability, but he can also make routine big plays with Anderson in the deep passing game. He is truly the total package and he will continue to develop, as he’s done quite well over the past few seasons.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Carolina Panthers officially compete in the Tom Brady-less NFC South. The crowd that surfaced to hear ” the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything” in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, moved to the south to rejoice that TB12 is out of their beloved NFL division.

Matt Rhule’s NFL squad was 5-12 in 2021 and they clearly need to kick things up a notch in 2022. The NFL free agency period is around the corner and Rhule will surely have his sights set on adding a few quality faces. With that said, here are a few profiles that would be ideal fits for the Panthers.

Jadeveon Clowney

The former first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney would be the perfect complement to Haason Reddick. Clowney, who shook the earth with his hit against the University of Michigan in the Outback Bowl, really bounced back in 2021 with 9 sacks.

I sadly expect the Panthers to lose Stephon Gilmore to the 49ers, but I expect them to hit another home-run signing with Clowney. The Panthers play the loaded Buccaneers and Saints offense, so they could use more firepower in their pass-rushing arsenal. If the Panthers can find a talented QB this offseason and they can ink Clowney, the Panthers should be seen as NFC South favorites.

Jakobi Meyers

I believe Jakobi Meyers is the ultimate underdog in the free agent WR pool this offseason. Meyers somehow quietly unveiled 866 receiving yards and two touchdowns last season. The 25-year-old is in the shadow of wideouts like Allen Robinson and JuJu Smith-Schuster, but he can be a Pro Bowl WR in the right system. If the Panthers lose Robby Anderson, it would be wise to target Meyers. He could reunite with Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas, but he could attract a more lucrative offer from the Panthers team that already misses Curtis Samuel.

Riley Reiff

The 2021 AFC Champion Riley Reiff is a free agent in 2022 and it appears the Cincinnati Bengals will look to replace Reiff with a younger OT. Reiff has injury issues, but that’s why he could be a quality value pickup by the Panthers. He should be available for the Panthers beyond the early stages of free agency and that would be perfect for the OT-needy Panthers team.

Reiff can play LT and RT so that versatility could provide huge dividends for the Panthers. Reiff might be 33 years old, but he can play at a modest level for many more years at the age-less LT position.

Honorable mentions:

P.J. Williams

The Panthers are all too familiar with the talent of the Saints safety/cornerback P.J. Williams. The former Florida State defensive back had his best season in 2021, as he notched two sacks, three interceptions (including a pick-six against Tom Brady), four QB hits, and he routinely thumped wide receivers in the middle of the field. Williams would be a fine, versatile replacement for the Panthers if they can’t retain Gilmore.

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Jim Harbaugh has peaked in his time with the University of Michigan, as he exited a 2021 college football season with a record of 12-2 and an Orange Bowl appearance. It’s also worth mentioning that the Harbaugh-led Wolverines managed to edge out Ohio State University in a 42-27 thrashing of the rival, seventh-ranked squad.

We know Harbaugh has finally left his mark on the college football world. With that said, it appears that Harbaugh may take his talents elsewhere now that he’s on top of the rollercoaster in Michigan. Well, where could the former 49ers, Michigan, and Stanford coach take his talents? It appears that the Harbaugh twin could go back to his professional football coaching roots. 

According to The Athletic, there appears to be a real shot that the former NFL HC returns to the big league. Some have suggested that he could take over the reign in Las Vegas and NBC Chicago stated that Harbaugh “has really positive feelings” about the Bears.

It’s not clear if Chicago will realistically strike gold with the head coach, but it does seem like a logical fit. The Bears have a rookie quarterback with a lot of potential in Justin Fields. They also have significant talent on defense with All-Pro DE Khalil Mack and Pro Bowl snub Roquan Smith.

I can’t deny that the Bears fit well and seem to be a safe bet for landing the Big 10 coach. There are three reasons why they make sense. For 1. They will most likely have a head coaching opening. Second of all, they have the soon-to-be second-year QB Justin Fields. And the third reason would have to be there’s an emotional aspect for Harbaugh. Of course, the head coach played QB for the Bears in his NFL playing days.

Still, I believe there is a better fit talent-wise for Harbaugh and this said team could have a potential opening. This team is none other than the Carolina Panthers. I surely feel that Harbaugh would have more success and more robust, long-term potential with CAR.  

The future competitiveness of the NFC South should seem a lot more charming than that of the NFC North (even if it is dreadful now). In 2024, here is a realistic expectation of the NFC South QBs (excluding Carolina): 

Tampa Bay: Kyle Trask

New Orleans: Jameis Winston

Atlanta Falcons: a rookie or second-year QB

In the NFC North, the Packers could have their attractive ex in Aaron Rodgers for at least a few more seasons. Not to mention that he’s made it very clear that he owns the Bears. The Minnesota Vikings should be at least modest with a couple of holes filled plus the presence of two potential future Hall of Famers in Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson. The Lions have no light at the end of the tunnel, but they do fight hard. I will leave it there.

The South has firepower, but they have a few more wheelchairs via the age of the elite players. Let’s face it, Tom Brady and Gronk won’t be playing longer than a couple of seasons in the NFL. The Falcons will most likely have a new franchise QB in an offense missing Julio Jones and very likely Calvin Ridley. Then the Saints have Sean Payton, Alvin Kamara, but Cam Jordan, Demario Davis, and Malcolm Jenkins will all be 33+ years old next season. It’s not clear who the future QB will be and if Michael Thomas will be in the Big Easy with his rangy nature towards the team. Although, I do feel that the Saints have an optimistic long-term outlook if they properly address the QB situation this offseason.

The Panthers could dominate the South for years if they find a spark at QB around the talent they carry. They will honestly have a bit of a fixer-upper at their own QB situation. Although, it’s worth mentioning that Fields hasn’t been close to a proven first-round pick in Chi-town. But, the Panthers have a very impressive supporting cast around their QB situation. That’s why Harbaugh should also take his chances of finding the franchise QB in the Carolinas and not in the Windy City. 

Harbaugh could have one of the best all-purpose RBs in CMAC coming off of injury. He could rightfully help him return to being an OPOY type of back. He will at least have a season to experiment with him and see how explosive his ability post-injury is. The WR group is much more talented in CAR than Chicago, as well. Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore are arguably the most underrated WR duo in all of the league, while the two leading receivers for the Bears this season are RB David Montgomery and RB Khalil Herbert. Yes, you read that correctly. 

Harbaugh should ideally have his favorite landing spot in his head, but he could be surprised by another opening. If Rhule is really out (right after his OC), then Harbaugh could acknowledge the potential in CAR and be more intuitive by selecting the better strategic empty chair.

The post Why Jim Harbaugh should go to the Carolina Panthers appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Brady Akins

Hiding in plain sight, smack in the middle of the busy streets of Charlotte, North Carolina, lays a gold mine untapped by many, but bountiful for a few.

Not a literal gold mine, no. Something much better. An offensive football gold mine that goes by the name ”˜Carolina Panthers.’

This gold mine doesn’t have the reputation of the one in Kansas City, or attract as much attention as the one in Buffalo. But because of one man– that gold mine in Charlotte is set to become a hot commodity in a way that nobody can see coming.

That man is Joe Brady, the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator.

Despite a quiet offensive season in 2020, this Panthers offense is taking significant strides to this point.

”˜Quality’ of experience over ”˜quantity’ of experience

Joe Brady’s career resume is short. Like, really short. 

Brady, the 31-year-old, did not get his shot to lend his aid to a football coaching staff until 2013 when the William & Mary wide receiver made the transition to William & Mary’s linebacker coach following his graduation. 

As the years progressed, Brady bounced from being a position coach on an FCS team to an assistant on an FBS team in Penn State to an offensive assistant in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints until 2018. 

Two more years brought about two new roles for Brady, with the young coach stopping off in Baton Rouge for a cup of coffee and a national championship for the LSU Tigers, piloted by what might be the greatest offense in college football history. There, Brady helped the team as the group’s passing game coordinator– but got his first shot to be the sole coordinator of an offense just last year, when the Carolina Panthers rolled the dice on the young up-and-comer.

Like I said, really short. 

But the more you dig into the shortlist of Brady’s accomplishments, the more a trend begins to emerge. Where ever the Panthers’ offensive coordinator goes, success tends to follow in his wake. 

It happened with the Saints, where New Orleans went from a 7-9 team the year prior to Brady’s arrival to an 11-5 NFC South Champion that finished fourth in points per game in his first year as an offensive assistant. In  2018, Brady’s last with the Saints, New Orleans managed to get even better– improving to 13-3 and placing third in the league in points per game.

It happened with the LSU Tigers, where a previously passable offense morphed into that aforementioned powerhouse seemingly overnight. A 2018 Tigers’ team that featured Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Terrace Marshall Jr., and Clyde Edwards-Helaire concluded the season averaging 32.4 points per game– 38th in the FBS. The next season, well, things got better.

In Brady’s first and final year with the Tigers, that middle-of-the-pack offense went from a group barely in the top 40 of college football to the highest-scoring offense, well, ever. No, seriously. LSU’s 726 total points in 2019 weren’t just good enough for tops in the FBS, but tops in FBS history. All with the same ”˜good but not great’ core they had the season prior.

Joe Burrow became a Heisman-winning sensation in one offseason, Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase became sensations in the same time span, with both players finishing top three in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with Chase finishing fourth in yards per catch and Jefferson finishing the year first in total catches. 

And wouldn’t you know it, the Joe Brady effect carried over to the Panthers in 2020, as once again, Brady proved that he didn’t need much practice to nail what was essentially a brand new role. 

The team numbers won’t blow you away, but that’s kind of why this article needed to be written. Despite finishing 24th in points per game, despite seemingly stagnating in total yards per game, Brady’s offense flashed the potential to be a fantasy football goldmine heading into 2021. Consider the following two points.

Point #1: The Carolina Panthers did not receive much help on the offensive side of the ball in the 2020 offseason. In fact, Carolina made NFL history in the 2020 NFL Draft by becoming the first team in the modern draft era to only select players on the defensive side of the ball. 

You might think that would mean the Panthers took care of their offense through free agency. But, well, you would think incorrectly. Don’t feel bad– it happens to everyone.

Sure, Carolina brought in a starting quarterback and a wide receiver as free agents in 2020, a fact that, on a surface level, seems like a massive overhaul. That is, until, you realize the quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, hadn’t been a Week One starter since 2016, and the receiver, Robby Anderson, hadn’t had a season with 1,000 yards or 65 catches in the history of Robby Anderson’s existence.

Point #2: The biggest weapon Brady had to work with at the start of 2020, Christian McCaffrey, played just three games throughout the course of the season. Even the few and far between assets the Panthers did have on offense struggled with injuries.

The Panthers had a few nice pieces heading into the 2020 season, but lacked the overflow of talent that Brady had at his disposal with LSU. With a shallow receiving corps and an injury-prone, inexperienced quarterback, it would be nearly impossible for Brady to turn his team’s lesser-known players into stars. 

Except for that, Brady did exactly that.

Turning coal into diamonds

Anderson broke his trend of underwhelming receiving seasons in a major way– hitting 95 catches, a career-high by a mile, and doing so on a high volume of targets.

In fact, both Anderson’s targets and receptions numbers were top ten in the NFL, with both figures ahead of fantasy football powerhouses such as Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill, Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf and Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson. All three of those receivers finished as clear-cut WR1’s in standard-scoring formats.

The one thing holding Anderson back from playing with the fantasy big boys was a lack of touchdown receptions– a number that could have faltered due in large part to his quarterback, Bridgewater.

Yes, under Brady’s guidance, Bridgewater did shine relative to expectations, hitting career-best marks in completion percentage, passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and, well, you get the idea. But despite the ”˜Brady Bump’ (trademark pending) going in Bridgewater’s favor– that career-high in passing touchdown’s peaked at just 15, only the 24th most in the NFL.

Anderson wasn’t the only player affected by Bridgewater’s ”˜game manager’ approach to football, either. Both D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel, two wide receivers with two impressive seasons on the field, didn’t see much of that success play out in the realm of fantasy football.

Moore and Anderson teamed up to become the Panthers’ first two pass catchers (excluding Christian McCaffery, a freak of nature athlete but a dedicated running back) to break 1,000 yards in a season since 2014– when Brady was coaching linebackers at William & Mary. Only 18 players had over 1,000 yards receiving in 2020. The Panthers had two of them. Are the only other teams with multiple players at over 1,000 receiving yards? The Chiefs and the Seahawks.

Even Curtis Samuel had an impressive season in his own right– ending the year with over 800 receiving yards and adding 200 on the ground. With the yardage those three players had, coupled with the volume (118 targets for Moore, 118 touches for Samuel), the Panthers’ receiving trifecta was set up to become the Cerberus of fantasy football power. Scoring held them back, however, with Samuel’s five total touchdowns being the most between the three.

But the quarterback who struggled to find his receivers in the endzone is gone– replaced with a former first-round pick who has struggled in the past and could use the help of a certain wizard-like offensive coordinator to bail him out.

Turning diamonds into even more diamonds

Say what you want about Sam Darnold as a player, but at least he’s had seasons with more than 15 passing touchdowns.

Not that Darnold has lit up box scores in the past. In fact, his most prolific passing season peaks at 19 touchdowns. But take into account one simple dynamic– the shift from being coached by Adam Gase with the New York Jets, to Joe Brady and the Carolina Panthers.

That’s the exact reality Darnold finds himself early in the 2021 season. Freed from the clutches of Adam Gase, now as synonymous with coaching failure as he is with players finding individual success after breaking loose of his death grip. Players like Ryan Tannehill, Kenyan Drake, and our friend Robby Anderson have all gone on to have career years away from Gase. 

Darnold has shown really glimpses early in the season and he very well could be a steal for your roster. Darnold now gets Joe Brady, the mastermind behind the peak college football offense, the high-volume receiving seasons of newly exceptional receivers, and the guy who has helped just about everyone in his path reach new heights. All Darnold needs to do is get his guys to the endzone.

Christian McCaffrey went down in yesterday’s Thursday Night Football matchup. It seems that he should miss noticeable time, but not significant time. However, CMAC has proved to be sharp when healthy this season. He notched 50 yards rushing AND 50 yards receiving in the same game where they blew out the New Orleans Saints.

Buy D.J. Moore. The Panthers WR1 has 6-80, 8-79-1, and 8-126 in three games at this point. He has shown to be a reliable target who is uncoverable for Darnold’s QB talents. With CMAC facing an injury, it only makes more sense to buy in on D.J. Moore.

Trust Joe Brady and his offense this 2021 season.

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By: Chris Thomas

Even though the 2022 NFL Draft is months away it is never too early to speculate about who could go first overall. Two weeks into the college football season it appears that a non-quarterback may go first overall since Myles Garrett was drafted in 2017. Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is the consensus #1 non-quarterback prospect. He is also thought of by many as the potential number one prospect of this entire draft. Here is why Thibodeaux could be the first overall pick in the draft in late April. 

Lack of premier quarterback talent

An NFL Draft class is defined by its quarterbacks. Over the last couple of seasons, it feels like there has been a premier quarterback prospect that has been on top of the class and went first overall. After the first two weeks of the college football season, none of the speculated upon top quarterback prospects have been over impressive. Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler had a brutal debut where he threw only one touchdown and two interceptions against Tulane. Oklahoma barely won that game. North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell had an even worse season debut against Virginia Tech. Howell threw for only 208 yards and one touchdown. He finished the game with three interceptions as well. Both quarterbacks bounced back in their second games of the season, but at this rate, none have looked like a first overall pick quarterback. The standard a quarterback must reach to be taken first overall for it to be worth it is Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, and Trevor Lawerence.

Recently there have been a couple of quarterbacks that have gone first overall that was not worth the selection. Some of these quarterbacks aren’t considered busts but during their respective predraft processes other non-quarterbacks were considered better prospects and turned out to be much better than the quarterbacks taken first overall. Those quarterbacks are Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff. Both are solid starters but both the Browns and Rams had better options available. Cleveland could have drafted Saquon Barkley, Quenton Nelson, or Bradley Chubb with the first pick in 2018. All three of which are considered more talented than Mayfield, when healthy. Then the Rams showed they regretted trading up for Goff in 2016 when they packaged him with two first-round picks to Detriot for Matthew Stafford. Los Angeles could have drafted Joey Bosa, Jalen Ramsey, Ronnie Stanley, DeForest Buckner, or Laremy Tunsil with the first overall pick. 

This draft class is shaping up to be similar to the latter where there may be multiple non-quarterback prospects who could end up being better than the quarterbacks in this class. Whoever lands the first overall pick may want to learn from the previous mistakes of those teams and take the best player available which is Thibodeaux.

Production

Kayvon Thibodeaux is the number one edge rusher in a loaded edge rusher class. He isn’t just the number one edge rusher prospect in the draft class like Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, or Dante Fowler Jr. Right now he is spoken about above the likes of Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, and Chase Young who were elite pass rusher prospects in their respective drafts. Thibodeaux has been placed in the same tier as Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett who were no doubt first overall picks in their respective draft class. He has been placed in that tier of player for good reason. 

During his first season at Oregon, Thibodeaux had 9 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. PFF gave him a 79.9 grade that season which was the best in the Pac-12 and ten points higher than any other freshman edge rusher in the Power Five. In seven games last season Thibodeaux had 3 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. Already this season Thibodeaux has a sack and forced fumble in one game played. He earned an 87.2 PFF grade for his sophomore season.

This is a player who has dominated college football over the last three seasons. Scouts have anticipated this season because Thibodeaux is now eligible for the draft. From what he has shown on the field, he is the type of player that scouts love the opportunity to analyze and potentially add to their roster. 

Multiple #1 pick contenders have a young quarterback

In a decent amount of cases when a team drafts a quarterback that team usually doesn’t improve dramatically from where they finished the season before. These are teams who selected quarterbacks early in recent drafts could be picking near the top of the draft and be in the range of this year’s top quarterbacks. These teams include the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals. They are a few teams who could be in range to select a quarterback in this upcoming draft but should be content enough with their quarterback play to not consider selecting another one early this year, especially in a potentially weak quarterback class. 

Other teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, Detriot Lions, and Las Vegas Raiders have a great enough quarterback in house to pass on a quarterback. Also, the Houston Texans have shown in recent history that they are willing to take a pass rusher first overall went they have to choose between an elite one and a quarterback from a weak class (Mario Williams 2006 & Jadeveon Clowney 2014). Since they took Davis Mills in the third round it is likely they want to give him a shot to be the team’s potential QB1 before taking one in the first round. 

All of the teams listed could potentially land the first overall pick. If they land it they would likely have to choose between trading down to a quarterback-needy team or taking the draft’s best prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The post Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux can really be the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

Plenty of uncertainty surrounds the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Houston Texans going into the 2021 season. Their quarterback situations are far from clear and their overall rosters are mediocre at best.

The same goes for their head coaches, with all three going into their first seasons at the franchise. Neither of Dan Campbell, Nick Sirianni, or David Culley has been a full-time head coach in the NFL. Campbell is the only one to have some experience, with his spell as interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2015.

Here is why you should be expecting the Lions, Eagles, and Texans to have the three worst records in the league in 2021.

Saying Goodbye To A Franchise Legend In Detroit. Struggles For The Replacement

Matthew Stafford was the number one overall pick in 2009, with the entire city of Detroit hoping he would be the man to turn around the fortunes of the franchise. Despite three seasons of making the playoffs, the Lions and Stafford never won a single postseason game as the wait continues. The Lions remain the team with the second-longest period without a playoff win, their last taking place on January 5th, 1992.

Stafford had some great individual moments as a Lion, most notably his Mic’d up moment during his 2009 rookie season. In a week eleven game against the Cleveland Browns, he overcame injury to produce a moment of pure heroism. He played with a separated shoulder despite the efforts of the medical staff to keep him off the field, leading the Lions to a touchdown-winning drive.

Jim Caldwell guided the Lions to these playoff appearances but was not seen as good enough to take them to the next step. New England Patriots assistant head coach Matt Patricia was brought in but never took to life as head coach. The Lions had three consecutive losing seasons under the coaching of Patricia. They will hope that they have found their guy in Dan Campbell. His press conference was certainly not dull, with Campbell referring to “biting kneecaps”. As a former Lions player, he knows what it takes to play in the league. He also knows about the city of Detroit and his intentions are both positive and clear. If he is given time, he has the desire to bring the good times back to Detroit. However, he is inexperienced as a head coach and the roster is below average.

New quarterback Jared Goff has the potential to struggle. This is despite the drafting of offensive lineman Penei Sewell at seventh overall, a selection that had Campbell and new General Manager Brad Holmes very excited.

Despite his brilliant 2018 season that saw the Rams reach Super Bowl 53, Goff had a poor game and struggled in 2020 as he and head coach Sean McVay’s relationship deteriorated.

Goff struggled despite a plethora of offensive talent around him. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp form one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. He is going to a franchise that let go of their two best wide receivers and failed to replace them.

The Lions have a schedule that features the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns. There are also two games against their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears. The Lions do not have it easy.

Prediction: 3-14

Trouble In Philadelphia; Reason For Hope?

The Eagles have seen three years of gradual decline after winning Super Bowl 52. The 2017 season saw the Eagles lift the Lombardi Trophy for the first time after two previous attempts.

Doug Pederson was the head coach to guide the Eagles to a Super Bowl but was fired after the conclusion of the 2020 season. His decision to bench rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts in order to lose and gain a higher draft pick appeared to be the final nail in the coffin.

Carson Wentz had an MVP caliber season before an injury derailed hopes of winning the award. Backup Nick Foles stepped in and guided the Eagles to the Super Bowl 52 win. He also stepped in a year later and guided the Eagles to a shock Wildcard Round win against the Chicago Bears, with thanks also going to a Cody Parkey missed field goal.

Both Foles and Wentz are no longer Eagles players. Out of the starters in that Super Bowl 52 win, only seven remain with the franchise. Their decision to draft Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson continues to be mocked by rival fans and nobody knows how new head coach Nick Sirianni will do in the role.

The schedule is mixed for Philadelphia. Whilst they face the New York Jets, Lions, and twice play the New York Giants, they also have to face the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.. This is as well as facing a rising Washington Football Team twice as well as playing the Dallas Cowboys both home and away.

Reports have surfaced in recent days of the Philadelphia Eagles being the favourites for Deshaun, with talks said to be “heating up”.

This could be a move that transforms the franchise. However, Deshaun Watson had his best statistical season yet the Texans only managed four wins all year. This proves that whilst it is very important to have a good quarterback, you need more around to be successful.

Unless the Eagles do something in what remains of the offseason, they will continue to be mediocre if their roster continues to be this poor. If they get offensive or defensive talent in the next one or two offseasons, then they are a team that will compete for years to come. Otherwise, the Eagles will fail to be a threat to both the NFC and NFC East.

This is why Deshaun should avoid the Eagles at this present time. He will be going into a situation no different to what he experienced in Houston.

Prediction: 4-13

What A Difference A Year Makes

Where do we start with the Houston Texans? The 2019 season saw them take a 24-0 lead against the Chiefs in the Divisional Round. However, they allowed 41 unanswered points as they lost 51-31. What has unfolded since in the following nineteen months has been reminiscent of a Greek tragedy.

Head coach Bill O’Brien, who also was general manager, made the unusual decision to trade star wide receiver, Deandre Hopkins. In exchange, the Texans received a running back past his sell-by date in David Johnson, one second-rounder and one fourth-round pick. O’Brien only lasted four games in the 2020 season as they finished the campaign with just four wins.

Since the conclusion of the 2020 season, franchise legend J.J Watt has left and there continues to be an uncertain future surrounding quarterback Deshaun Watson. Houston’s quarterback requested a trade in January before allegations of sexual assault arose. These have lingered throughout the remainder of the offseason. It is unclear if Watson will play in the NFL at all in 2021 but even if he does, it is unlikely that he will be wearing a Texans jersey.

Houston has said they would listen to trade offers for Watson, with the franchise said to be wanting three first-round picks. They have also acquired Tyrod Taylor via Free Agency and used their first pick in the draft on Davis Mills in the third round. Even if the Eagles stick with Hurts, there will be plenty of other suitors.

Even with Watson, the Texans are light on the ground when it comes to elite talent. Linebacker Zach Cunningham and Laremy Tunsil are talents and despite adding Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram to the running back room, the roster is one of the league’s worst.

David Culley has developed somewhat of a worrying reputation after his time with the Eagles, Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens. During his fourteen-season spell with the Eagles, his four seasons with the Chiefs, and two years with the Ravens, he had 0 wide receivers earn a PFF grade of 80 or above.

The Chiefs wideouts went an entire season without a touchdown under Culley. With a wide receiver room featuring Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins and Anthony Miller, this is not exactly a position of strength for the Texans. Culley is unlikely to see any of these receivers score high PFF grades.

Whilst the Texans might be playing the Jacksonville Jaguars twice and the Jets, they have a tough schedule. They will face the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks. Houston will also play the Los Angeles Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers as well as the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans twice.

They are unlikely to win many of these games. Fans should be expecting a difficult season.

Prediction: 2-15

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The Carolina Panthers defense was abysmal when it came to hunting down quarterbacks in 2020. The Panthers pass rush was a lousy 23rd in the league in sacks last season. 

Headed into the offseason, second-year head coach Matt Rhule knew he had to do two things: 1. Upgrade the quarterback spot and 2. Get better at chasing down QBs. Now that offseason has mostly eclipsed and training kick is underway, it’s safe to say the Panthers have answered those two offseason questions well. It’s well known that Sam Darnold will look to inject more firepower into the offense, but it’s less discussed how the Panthers front seven will be more imposing. In this outlook, I’m going to outline the strides that the CAR pass rush this offseason has taken and why they will be an electric force in the 2021 season. 

• Growth of Derrick Brown

It’s well known that DE Brian Burns will be entering his third year in the league and that he was terrific in each of the last two seasons. Burns notched 7.5 sacks as a rookie, then proceeded to collect 9 sacks as a sophomore. Indeed, he should be a double-digit sack player in his third year. 

Although, the x-factor and biggest difference-maker will come from second-year DT Derrick Brown. The team cut ties with veteran DT Kawann Short and it’s clear that they are relying on Brown to significantly step up. Brown may have recorded a mere 3.5 sacks as a rookie, but he led all of the rookies with QB pressures (34). It’s also very common for DTs and pass rushers to take a large step with QB sacks after the first or second year of being in the league. Mack and Watt both recorded less than several sacks as rookies, then proceeded to be All-Pros in their second year. DeForest Buckner, who is a Top 5 DT for the Indianapolis Colts, mustered only nine sacks in his first two years combined. With an uptick of snaps and more moves mastered that weren’t instructed in college, Brown should be the next QB hunter to take a big step early in his career.

• Signing of OLB/DE Haason Reddick

The Panthers made one of the most underrated free-agent signings this offseason. The team signed an elite player, who also carries lots of potentials. The 26-year-old Reddick signed a one-year six million dollar deal and if it bodes well, the team should have a long-term edge rusher in him. 

Reddick was tied for third in the NFL in sacks last season (12.5). He’s just entering his prime, but he has another year to prove that he can maintain that level of play. Expect the Panthers to get another elite season out of the former first-round OLB/DE. 

• NFC South competition

The Panthers pass rush has received a big favor in 2021. In the NFC South, Drew Brees will not be under the helm in New Orleans, and the Falcons offense will not have their “best overall player” in Julio Jones. 

Brees has routinely picked apart the Panthers secondary and allowed no time for the Panthers pass rush to get home. With Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston at QB, the CAR defense should feel a lot more confident getting QB takedowns. Hill has struggled majorly at reading defenses, while Winston has been one of the most self-harmed offensive players in NFL history. Expect the Panthers defense to have noticeably more sacks from the four combined divisional games against the Saints and Falcons.

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