This coaching cycle was filled with big-time names and the candidate pool was large. There were some surprises along the way (see Ben Johnson) and some interesting hires. With that said, let’s break down each new coaching hire and offer grades for them.

Raheem Morris – Atlanta Falcons

It’s a full-circle moment for former Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris. Morris spent 5 years in Atlanta and filled in as head coach when Dan Quinn was fired in 2020. He spent the last three years in Los Angeles as the defensive coordinator for the Rams. Morris was part of the Rams Super Bowl winning season in 2022.

No matter where he has been one thing is certain, the players love Morris. Over the years he has had several endorsements from players including this year when cornerback Jalen Ramsey praised the hire. The offensive staff will be key for Morris in Atlanta and the Falcons recently hired Zac Robinson to fill that role. Robinson worked with Morris in LA and was the quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator.

For Morris to have success in Atlanta it will come down to the quarterback position. The Falcons will likely look at the draft to address this but it appears Desmond Ridder‘s time in Atlanta is over. This is a solid hire for the Falcons as Morris is already familiar with the organization and we already know he will get the best out of his players.

Grade: B

Dave Canales – Carolina Panthers

One of the first coaches to be hired this offseason was former Buccaneers OC Dave Canales. Although raw, Canales was excellent in his role coordinating the Bucs offense. He also helped resurrect the career of quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield is now likely to sign with the Tampa Bay long term thanks in large part to Canales.

In Carolina, Canales will look to do the same for former #1 pick Bryce Young. Young had a disappointing rookie season but due to the coaching turnover and turmoil, it’s tough to judge his on-field performances. Next year will be different for Young. Canales will work with his strengths and get the most out of his talent. If Young fails again then it won’t be on coaching more so his limitations.

For me, this is an underrated hire for the Panthers. They didn’t go after the big name but instead found the next great offensive mind. The only part I didn’t like about this hire was the 6-year contract. It’s likely that Panthers owner David Tepper needed to add the extra year to seal the deal.

Grade: B+

Antonio Pierce – Las Vegas Raiders

When Antonio Pierce took over for the fired Josh McDaniels he wasn’t given much of a chance to keep the job long-term. As the season went on though it became clear Pierce was an excellent leader and he led the Raiders to a 5-4 record down the stretch. That was good enough for 2nd in the AFC West and once the season ended it was up to ownership to make the move.

Like Raheem Morris, Pierce received several ringing endorsements for current Raiders players. None bigger than Maxx Crosby who essentially stated he would want to be traded if the Raiders didn’t bring on Pierce long term. Las Vegas ownership heard the chatter loud and clear and decided to bring on Pierce full-time.

This is another solid hire and I give credit to the Raiders leadership for listening to their players. Pierce is a natural leader and will get the most from his players. There are also indications that Las Vegas will bring in Kliff Kingsbury as their OC which is a smart move.

Grade: B+

Jim Harbaugh – Los Angeles Chargers

Perhaps the biggest name on the market this offseason was former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh had just won the National Championship and there were many indications that this was the year he would jump back to the NFL.

No matter where he’s been, Harbaugh has proven to be a winner. From Stanford to San Francisco and eventually at Michigan, Harbaugh has been successful at each stop. The former Chargers quarterback will now get a chance to coach one of the best young quarterbacks in the league Justin Herbert. Herbert still has untapped potential and Harbaugh will teach him how to be a winner.

To me, this is the best hire of this coaching cycle. Harbaugh and the Chargers are the perfect match and I expect them to compete for Super Bowls. The only downside is how long he will last in LA. Harbaugh has a tendency to not stick around long at any of his stops. If the Chargers can get a Super Bowl out of him it won’t matter in the end.

Grade: A

Jerod Mayo – New England Patriots

After it became clear Bill Belichick would not be back in New England owner Robert Kraft had a choice to make. He could either go out and find a fresh face in the coaching pool or stick with the Belichick tree and hire within. Kraft ultimately decided to hire within and promote Jerod Mayo to head coach.

Mayo spent the last 5 seasons in New England as the inside linebackers coach. Like Antonio Pierce, Mayo was praised by former Patriots players including Tom Brady who called him an excellent leader. At just 37, Mayo is still young and if he works out the Patriots will be set long term.

What’s interesting about the New England situation is that Mike Vrabel wasn’t considered. Vrabel seemed like the perfect successor to Belichick. For whatever reason the Patriots decided not to pursue him and it may come back to bite them. By all accounts, Mayo seems like a solid hire but I fear the Patriots will once again be looking for a new coach in just a of couple years.

Grade: C

Mike Macdonald – Seattle Seahawks

One of the hottest names of this coaching cycle was Ravens DC Mike Macdonald. He did wonders for Baltimore’s defense and shut down some of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL this year. Before his stop in Baltimore, Macdonald spent 1 year as defensive coordinator at Michigan.

Although only 36, Macdonald has also been praised for his leadership qualities. He will have big shoes to fill in Seattle taking over for Pete Carroll. The Seahawks have a bunch of young talented players on defense and solid pieces in place on offense. The question for Macdonald will be if he decides to keep Geno Smith.

In all, I am a fan of this hire for the Seahawks. Seattle targeted him early on and eventually got their man.

Grade: B+

Brian Callahan – Tennessee Titans

In Tennessee, it’s the end of the Vrabel era. This was perhaps the most surprising of the offseason firings. Although they had a down year the Titans were respectable with Vrabel at the helm. Former Bengals OC Brian Callahan will step in his place.

Callahan has been with Cincinnati since 2019 and helped to tutor quarterback Joe Burrow. He is somewhat of a quarterback whisperer as he was able to do wonders for Jake Browning who filled in for the injured Burrow this season. If the Titans decide to stick with Will Levis I expect to see a big improvement in his game.

I am somewhat neutral on this hire. It’s not flashy by any means but Callahan will come in and elevate the Titans offense. The big question is if he is a good leader as he will be replacing Vrabel who is known for his leadership.

Grade: B-

Dan Quinn – Washington Commanders

For Washington Commanders fans this offseason got off to a perfect start. The new ownership group led by Josh Harris was now fully in control and they took no time hiring new GM Adam Peters. Peters knows how to build NFL teams as he helped build the 49ers into a championship contender.

Many expected the next move for Peters and the Commanders was to hire Ben Johnson as their head coach. As we all know that didn’t happen as Johnson decided to stay in Detroit. We don’t really know what happened behind the scenes and perhaps Johnson was never their preferred choice but in the end, Washington decided to hire former Cowboys DC Dan Quinn.

Now Quinn was not the most popular candidate on the market but it’s hard to ignore what he has done for the Cowboys defense. Quinn completely turned around that side of the ball and will need to do the same for the Commanders. Like the other defensive coaches that were hired, Quinn will need to pick the right staff to run his offense. So the next few hires will be key.

By all accounts, Quinn seems like a great leader of men and should help change the culture in Washington. I am just not sure about the fit. I would’ve liked to see the Commanders go after a young offensive mind. Washington is going through a full rebuild and I think they should’ve gone outside of the box on this hire.

Grade: C+

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The Good

When the Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill they gave up a boatload of draft picks. It was a bit of a risk for Miami as they mortgaged their future to win now. The aggressiveness of the Dolphins front office makes sense. They are looking to capitalize on Tagovailoa’s rookie contract and surround him with weapons. Hill pretty much exceeded all expectations in his first season for Miami. He racked up 1,710 receiving yards and 8 total touchdowns. Hill and fellow WR Jaylen Waddle have quickly become one of the best receiving duos in the NFL. You can expect similar numbers in 2023 for Hill and Waddle as they continue to grow together.

The Bad

If you’re looking for a weakness on this Dolphins roster it has to be at the tight end position. Mike Gesicki is no longer with the team as Miami has decided to invest in other positions on offense. It makes sense for the most part. Head coach Mike McDainel has stated in the past that the TE position is not a big part of their offense. While I agree to a point, having an elite TE can open up an offense even more. Think of what Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews have done to their offensive units. Teams will focus their defense more on the outside instead of having to cover the middle which a good TE would occupy.

To no fault of their own, the Dolphins will be thin at the cornerback position until Jalen Ramsey returns. The aggressiveness I touched on earlier by the front office landed the Dolphins Ramsey this offseason. Having Ramsey opposite Xavien Howard will give Miami two lock-down cornerbacks. The hope is for Ramsey to return from injury later this year and hopefully in time for the playoffs. In the meantime, CB Kader Kohou will need to step up for Miami but there are concerns there.

The Prediction

I’m expecting the Miami Dolphins to battle it out with the Buffalo Bills for the AFC East title. In the end, the Dolphins will fall just short of the Division but will secure a wild-card berth. This is a big year for Tua Tagovailoa. If he does well, expect a contract extension. If not the Dolphins will likely be looking for a new quarterback next year.

2023 Record: 10-7 (2nd in the Division)

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The Good

Few defensive tackles have been as dominant as Aaron Donald over his 9-year career. The 7x All-Pro is a surefire Hall of Famer when he decides to hang it up. In the meantime like McVay, Donald considered walking away but in the end, decided to come back after a disappointing 2022. Although out of his prime Donald is still a force on the defensive line regularly blowing up offensive plays. The Rams will need all they can get from Donald in order for them to have a chance to rebound in 2023.

When healthy, Cooper Kupp is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Kupp had a dominant 2021 season with the Rams where he amassed 1,947 receiving yards. 2022 was a different story as Kupp was only able to play in 9 games due to injury. He is currently still dealing with a hamstring injury that the Rams are calling day-to-day. While this is troubling I don’t expect him to miss much time this season and LA will need him to be in top form.

The Bad

Other than Aaron Donald the Los Angeles Rams defense is lacking star power. This is due to the team moving on from Leonard Floyd, Bobby Wagner and Jalen Ramsey who was traded to the Miami Dolphins. The Rams will now rely on rookies and several unproven players on a defense that will have a tough time stopping anybody. Teams will be able to double-team Donald regularly and attack the young cornerbacks on the outside. It’s clear the Rams have decided to invest in the offensive side of the ball rather than the defense. If the offense struggles this could be another long year for LA.

The Prediction

It’s looking more like the Rams are in for another tough season. This may be the final year we see Matthew Stafford and Aaron Donald in a Rams uniform. There are just too many questions on the defense and not enough weapons on offense for them to be successful.

2023 Record: 5-12 (3rd in the Division)

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Buffalo Bills: Is This The Year They Go All The Way?

The Buffalo Bills have been one of the most consistent teams in the past few years and are always a contender with Josh Allen leading the way at QB. They were able to avoid any fires by being able to resign Shaq Lawson and Jordan Poyer to keep their defense intact. The running game has been added with the signings of Latavius Murray and Damien Harris. They added an extra weapon in Dalton Kincaid in the draft. This is what I call a successful offseason. The problem that always arises in the season is the missing running game which makes Josh Allen double the work but also increases the chance of injuries. Now, Josh Allen is built like a bull and is often the biggest guy on the field. All the hits will add up and Buffalo is one bad play away from disaster. If the running game looks decent, they have a good chance of moving past Cincinnati and Kansas City and hopefully playing for the Lombardi trophy.

Miami Dolphins: Is Tua Tagovailoa The Answer At Quarterback?

The Miami Dolphins have a lot of shiny weapons. They have upgraded with big names such as Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and now, Jalen Ramsey. Add in the leadership of HC Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins look like a perennial contender. The biggest question is at quarterback, however. Tua’s health and durability have been a concern ever since he was drafted coming out of college. Last season, the concerns got even worse as Tua suffered multiple concussions and people were scared for his safety. With all the weapons and a limited window, the Dolphins have to be guessing Tua’s future at QB as he is also maybe in the lower end of QB talent in the AFC. A disappointing season where they don’t make the playoffs could be a disaster for Tua’s future in Miami.

New England Patriots: What’s With All The Mac Jones Drama?

Mac Jones’ career has been a rollercoaster and we’ve only been in year two. He helped lead the Patriots in his first season to the playoffs and many looked at him as a young Tom Brady. The season after, they hired Matt Patricia to be the offensive play call guy. This move had some people guessing as Patricia is a defense guy and it showed. Mac Jones looked worse in year two and the Patriots didn’t make the playoffs. This offseason has been a little more mysterious as the Patriots brought in Will Levis and signs have shown that Mac wasn’t happy with what was happening. New England is known to be a very quiet and deliberate franchise. Now, they are in unfamiliar waters as they don’t seem to be the top dog they once were.

New York Jets: What Is A Successful Season For Aaron Rodgers?

The New York Jets made the biggest move in the offseason when they traded for QB Aaron Rodgers in a blockbuster deal. It looks like Zach Wilson‘s time is done as the starter for the Jets and a more mature face will be in charge of the Jets. One of the main differences between the AFC and the NFC is the star power at QB and the depth of the teams. In terms of QBs, he has to face the likes of Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, and Mac Jones twice per year. He’ll also face the AFC West which involves Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Justin Herbert, and Jimmy Garoppolo. There will not be a lot of easy wins to come by so they have to be on their A-game each week. Other than the star power at QB, the AFC is a much deeper conference in terms of talent. The Jets were 7-10 and last place in the division last season. They would be battling for a playoff spot if they were in the NFC South. Now, I don’t project them to win the AFC East as Buffalo is still the top team in the division. It’s also his first year with the Jets so some hiccups are expected. If the Jets get a wild card spot and look good in the playoffs, I think the season can be called a success.

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QB DAWG Of The Week: Tyler Huntley 16.58 FP

187 Passing Yards, 1 Interception, 10 Carries, 41 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD (Projected: 0 FP)

Tyler Huntley stepped up with Lamar Jackson going down with an knee injury in the win over Denver. Huntley completed 27 of 32 passes for 187 yards. He also rushed for 41 yards, including the game-winning TD. With Lamar most likely unavailable next week, look for Huntley to start at least one more game.

RB DAWG Of The Week: Cam Akers 19 FP

17 Carries, 60 Rushing Yards, 2 Rushing TD, 1 Reception (Projected: 5.97 FP)

Cam Akers surprisingly led the way for the Rams backfield against the Seahawks. Akers rushed for 60 yards and two TDs. After four bad games in a row, this play surprised everyone. Even with this performance, it’s very difficult to trust the Rams and Akers.

WR DAWG Of The Week: Davante Adams 37.70 FP

8 Receptions, 177 Receiving Yards, 2 Receiving TDs (Projected: 20.86 FP)

The top fantasy performer of the week goes to Davante Adams. Davante was unstoppable in the game against the Chargers as he had eight receptions for 177 yards and two TDs. His 177 yards is the highest he has had in a Raiders jersey. In the last five games, he has 4 games with at least one TD and 3 games with at least 2 TDs. He has a date with Jalen Ramsey next week.

TE DAWG Of The Week: Cade Otton 14.80 FP

6 Receptions, 28 Receiving Yards, 1 Receiving TD (Projected: 5.36 FP)

Has Tom found his new TE? Cade Otton, the rookie, stepped up in the comeback win of Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers TE caught six passes for 28 yards and a TD. When his snap percentage his above 80%, his production leads to 10+ FP in four out of five games. He can be a sneaky pickup for teams needing a TE in the playoffs.

DEF/ST DAWG Of The Week: Cleveland Browns 31 FP

7-13 Points Allowed, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Special Teams Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery, 2 Defense TDs, 2 Interceptions, 1 Special Teams Fumble Recovery, 1 Special Teams TD (Projected: 9.13 FP)

Start the defense that will play the Houston Texans until the finals. Cleveland scored 31 FP and accounted for 3 TDs in their 27-14 win. Donovan Peoples-Jones started with a 76-yard punt return TD that got the Browns on the board in the 2^nd quarter. In the 3^rd quarter, Kyle Allen fumbled and the ball was picked up by Denzel Ward for a TD. Last, Tony Fields had a pick-6 to seal the game. This was a big win for the Browns to keep them in the playoff hunt.

Thanks for reading! You can look forward to this series until the end of the season. You can check out the last installment of DAWGS Of Week 11.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Rams well-compensated & three-time first-team All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey was a stain on the Rams defense last night. Ramsey looked like the 2015 version of Brandon Browner – as he allowed six completions on seven attempts and two passing touchdowns. He literally gave up a perfect passer rating his way direction.

So, the question is: Is Ramsey overrated? I honestly can’t believe that Ramsey unveiled the worst performance on the field on Thursday. The mythical Aaron Donald ousted a sack, two tackles for loss, and one QB hit. AD clearly played lights out against the Super Bowl favorite Buffalo Bills squad.

It’s undoubtedly frustrating that Ramsey was a headache on the Rams defense —- even if it was “the first game of the season”. It should be noted that the Bills were one of the most important opponents to slay heading into the 2022 season and that they would be the ultimate test for the reigning Super Bowl Champions. If the Bills battle the Rams in the Super Bowl, it’s clear that BUF will have the most confidence in the big dance.

It is nerve-wracking that Ramsey was a liability on the Rams superb defense. LA already doesn’t boast Von Miller, so it was obvious that LA needed Ramsey to have the opposite of a mediocre season in 2022. It shouldn’t be said that Ramsey only struggled in one area or on one play – as he was burnt toast across the board. The Saints cream of the crop CB Marshon Lattimore gave up a five-yard touchdown to Stefon Diggs a season ago, but he wasn’t repeatedly a ghost in the four-quarter match-up, so his performance was mostly understandable. Yet, Ramsey was MIA in the entire Bills vs Rams showdown. Moving forward — the Rams need their gifted CB in Jalen Ramsey to shine — even if AD plays on another level.

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By: Jeremy Trottier

Canton, Ohio.  The place every NFL player wants to end up someday and walk up onto the stage to accept their golden jacket.  Many players make this ascension, but significantly more do not.  The first thing that your enshrinement comes down to is legacy”¦did you leave your mark on the NFL, both individually and as a contributor to your team/s?  Jalen Ramsey, at 27 years old, has already done both of these tasks and is right in the dead center of his prime.  But, when he eventually calls it quits in the future and hangs the cleats up, is he going to be a Hall of Famer?

Has Jalen Ramsey done enough to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Let’s just knock off the major achievements first to make things easy. Ramsey is a Super Bowl champion, 5x Pro Bowler and 3x All-Pro first team in 6 seasons, highest paid defensive back in league history at the time of his contract renewal, more than halfway in interceptions to the nearest Hall of Fame DB in Steve Atwater. 

He is, without a doubt, the best defensive back to play during this current time period.  He has been targeted 169 times in the last two seasons, would you like to know how many were completed?  94.  55.6%.  In those 94 receptions, he has allowed an average of 4.75 yards after the catch, which is astronomically low as it means he makes the tackle before the next hash mark is even seen on average. 

His average depth of target (how far he is downfield when targeted) is 8.4 yards in 2021, the lowest of his career.  This is because quarterbacks know they cannot get WRs to beat him deep very often and because he is so stout along the sidelines.  So, they throw under routes where the WR is facing away from him and even has a chance of making a catch. 

Never in his career has he allowed a completion percentage against him higher than 67.4%, which alone is astronomically low, but his lowest in a season allowed?  50.7%, barely half.  This was not even like half a season or a broken season, this was 2020, where he played 15/16 games and was targeted 71 times. 

Jalen Ramsey is without a doubt the best DB currently, and easily one of the most influential in his 4 seasons so far in the NFL.  With what is going to come in the next 5-10 years of his career, I can easily say he is Canton bound provided this trajectory stays how it has been going. 

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By: Andy Davies

The Jacksonville Jaguars will go into the 2021 season with a new head coach. Urban Meyer is the new man to take charge, hoping to be the guy to change the fortunes of a franchise that has struggled for many years. After drafting the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck in Trevor Lawrence this year with the number one overall pick, the Jags fans have rarely gone into a season this excited. The Jags have twice gone into a season on the back of reaching an AFC Championship game but with the addition of Urban Meyer and Trevor Lawrence, there is a real buzz around the organization and in the city of Jacksonville. However, Urban Meyer has never coached in the NFL. He is one of the most successful college head coaches of his generation. Can he translate this to the pros?

His Journey As A Player

Meyer was a walk-on in college as a defensive back for the University of Cincinnati, despite initially being drafted by Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves in 1982. Injury would deny Meyer the chance to make it as a professional player, but he showed signs of his coaching credentials whilst in college. He would go back to college, heading to Ohio State University where he studied sports administration. He would get a degree at both colleges, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Cincinnati and sports administration at Ohio State, which will have no doubt helped him massively during his time as a football coach.

He may not have made it to the NFL as a player but he showed signs of his credentials as a coach during his time in college. Meyer would often spend additional time in practice, learning how to run them and handle substitutions. These all prepared him for life as a coach. As a player, he was part of a Cincinnati team that finished 2-9, with Meyer saying that it “wasn’t a great experience. We weren’t very good”. This will help him be prepared for a Jaguars team that won just one game in 2020. His former coach in Cincinnati David Currey spoke of his coaching abilities.

“He was not a great player but you could tell he would coach for a living. He was a student of the game, always trying to learn about things”.

The Start Of Meyer’s Coaching Career

He started his coaching career in 1985 as a defensive backs coach for St Xavier High School in Ohio before becoming a graduate assistant for two seasons with Ohio State. He spent two years with Illinois State as an outside linebackers coach in 1988 and a quarterback and wide receivers coach in 1989. He would then spend eleven years as a wide receivers coach, spending six with Colorado State and then five with Notre Dame before getting his first head coaching job in 2001 with Bowling Green.

The Early Stages Of His Time As A Head Coach In College

Meyer only spent two seasons with Bowling Green but would leave the team with a 17-6 record in charge. Highlights of his time there was the 56-21 win over rivals, the University of Toledo Rockets. Whilst with Bowling Green, he transformer their fortunes. He joined with the team having gone 2-9 in 2000 to then go 8-3 in 2001 and 9-3 in 2002, before leaving for the University of Utah.

Utah hired Meyer and was an instant success, going 10-2 and winning the Liberty Bowl in 2003. They would go 12-0 and win the Fiesta Bowl in 2004. Whilst with the university, he coached safety Eric Weddle and quarterback Alex Smith, who went on to be the number one overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Smith would become an inspiration to everyone when he went on to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year during the 2020 season, returning the field after a life threatening injury in 2018.

Meyer openly claimed that he “made Utah competitive” during his time there. Morgan Scalley played as a defensive back under Meyer at Utah before going on to become a defensive coordinator with the college. He spoke of how Meyer changed everything.

“You could tell it would be different from the first session at the weight room. I never had butterflies going into a weight room and that had me going”.

Success With Florida and Ohio State

The Florida Gators then came calling in 2005, where Meyer would spend the next six seasons. He would coach notable players such as Cam Newton, Carlos Dunlap, Janoris Jenkins, Maurkice and Mike Pouncey, Tim Tebow and Trey Burton during his time in Florida as head coach. With an overall record 65-15 with the Gators, Meyer won Florida the Outback Bowl and the Sugar Bowl as well as winning two National Championships. He had a 5-1 record with Florida in Bowl games. Following a health scare, Meyer decided to leave the Gators after the 2010 seasons as he wanted to put focus on his family and “life away from the field”.

He soon returned to college football, becoming Ohio State head coach two seasons later. During his time with the team, he had an 83-9 record. He won one National Championship as well as a Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. His time there sadly ended in controversy, before leaving in 2018 due to health reasons. He spent time as a television analyst before accepting the Jacksonville head coaching position in January 2021.

His Coaching Style & The Spread Offense

Meyer is seen as someone who is competitive, fiery and resolute. His “juice” is said to fire his teams up, with his infectious personality an integral part of his head coaching success. During his time as an analyst, he often went through a breakdown of offensive systems, with one component of his style of coaching being his Spread Offense.

This is a scheme which features four receivers, resulting in the opposition defense attempting to cover these players. This system allows the run game to excel, with RPO and read option plays often used under this style of offense. In a modern day NFL, we are seeing plenty of college schemes being brought into the league. Meyer will look to bring this style of coaching into the NFL that worked so well for him in college.

Can He Transform The Jaguars?

This is not going to be an easy task for Meyer but as he showed in Utah, he is capable of turning a team around. Jacksonville has the talent on their roster but have never seemed to fulfil their potential. One of their aforementioned trips to the AFC Championship was in the 2017 season. Their defense named ‘Sacksonville” played a big part in their journey, where they had a ten point lead and were nine minutes away from reaching the Super Bowl. They would end up losing 24-20 in agonizing fashion.

The components of Sacksonville would slowly fall apart. Jalen Ramsey, Malik Jackson and Yannick Ngakoue all left in 2019, with both A.J. Bouye and Calais Campbell leaving in 2020. Quarterback Blake Bortles was seen as the player holding back the team, being released in March 2019 as the Jaguars looked to Nick Foles, who won Super Bowl 52 MVP just a year earlier. He was seen as the missing piece in the jigsaw but only lasted one season in a disappointing spell with the franchise.

Head coach Doug Marrone guided Jacksonville to the AFC Championship and a 10-6 record in his first full season as head coach of the franchise. Despite this, he couldn’t guide them to more than six wins in any of the three seasons that followed before being fired in January 2021. Issues off the field started to develop, with the players arrested on their annual trip to London in 2018 after an unpaid £50,000 drinks bill. Meyer won’t stand for any negative behaviour with his aforementioned fiery, competitive and infectious personality is likely to keep the players in check.

And then of course, there is Lawrence. One of the best college prospects in many years, he brings a lot of expectation with Jags fans pinning their hopes on him being the man to bring the good times to this franchise. He had not lost a regular season game since high school and reached the National Championship in two of his three seasons with the Clemson Tigers, winning one of those two.

He played 40 games in college and threw for 758 out of his 1,138 throws, giving him a 66.6 completion percentage. Across his time with Clemson, he threw for 90 touchdowns and 10,098 yards. Jacksonville have a real talent on their hands and they need to do everything they can to ensure he fulfils his tremendous potential.

Along with Lawrence, they have reunited their number one overall pick with his Clemson team-mate in running back Travis Etienne, who recorded 70 rushing touchdowns and 4,952 rushing yards during his four seasons in the ACC. He will join a running back room alongside James Robinson, who impressed highly in 2020 during his rookie year with 1,070 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. Etienne is said to also be working out as a receiver, which gives variety to the offensive side of the ball. Former Detroit Lions wideout Marvin Jones has joined the team via Free Agency to add depth to a wide receiver room already including DJ Chark Jr and Laviska Shenault Jr. Second-round pick Tyson Campbell gives depth to the Jaguars secondary, as will 65th overall pick Andre Cisco. 45th overall selection Walker Little will add protection to the Jags offensive line. Myles Jack is a survivor from the Sacksonville era and alongside fellow linebacker Josh Allen, they have the potential to cause problems for the opposition.

Jacksonville have a long rebuild ahead and fans should not expect an immediate transformation. Doubts remain over new Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz and whether he can get back to his 2017 form. The Tennessee Titans’ defense is seen as their Achilles heels and the Houston Texans are a mess. They will likely see their quarterback Deshaun Watson leave, which will result in years of struggles and mediocrity. This is not the toughest division in the NFL and the Jags will want to capitalise on this, but the improvement will likely be in either year 2, 3 or 4 of the Urban Meyer Jacksonville era.

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By: Adam Hulse (@AdamHulseSports)

It has now been two seasons since the Jacksonville Jaguars traded away their superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a package of draft picks. Now that those draft picks have all turned into selected players, it’s time to reflect back on the trade. There is a ton of value in draft picks, especially ones in the first round, for a rebuilding team like the Jags, while the Rams were a team built to win now and were seeking a finishing piece to help them make a potential Super Bowl run. The Rams could only make this move by sacrificing some of their future, so did they win the trade, or did the Jags make the better investment?

The Case for the Rams

The Rams decided to make a bold move when they acquired Ramsey by trading away their 2020 and 2021 first-round draft picks as well as one fourth-rounder. They believed it was worth it because they felt he would bring their defense to the next level and make them more of a championship-caliber team. They weren’t wrong about what they were getting with Ramsey as he has been outstanding since arriving on the team and has greatly improved their defense as a whole. Individually, Ramsey has been one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, as demonstrated by his two Pro Bowl selections as well as one All-Pro.

More importantly than the individual honors, Ramsey has contributed to making the Rams defense one of the top units in the NFL. In his first season with the team in 2019, the Rams were ranked in the top half of the league in most defensive categories including total yards allowed per game and passing yards allowed per game. In 2020 they made a big leap to being the best defense in the NFL, leading the entire league in yards allowed per game, passing yards allowed per game, and points allowed per game. The Rams goal was to significantly improve their defense, and acquiring Ramsey helped them to achieve that and more.

The Case for the Jags

Committing to a full rebuild, the Jags were looking for ways to acquire more draft picks. They were willing to sacrifice what they had in the short term for potential long-term benefits, as they should. At the time of the trade, Ramsey was still only 24 years old so he was definitely young enough to be a part of their future. On the other hand, he was clearly their most valuable asset who would bring the highest return in the trade market. So they decided to deal him to the Rams and received a solid package of two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder in return.

Picks are crucial to a rebuild, but the real value is what players those picks turn into. For the Jags, the three players that they selected with the draft picks they received from the Rams were K’Lavon Chaisson, Travis Etienne, and Jordan Smith. Chaisson was relatively unimpressive in his first season with the Jags but he still has plenty of time to prove his worth. Etienne is an electric prospect while Smith was a mid-round value pick, but they are both rookies so it’s still unknown how they will perform at the pro level.

The Verdict

While it’s impossible to determine exactly what the Jags got from this trade, it’s extremely clear that the Rams accomplished what they set out to do when they acquired Ramsey. They wanted to improve their defense, and they did so in a huge way by being ranked the top defense in the NFL last season. Ramsey has been one of the key reasons for their success, and he is on the very short list of best cornerbacks in the league. It is possible for the verdict to change in the future, depending on what the three Jags players turn into, but at this current time, it’s safe to say that the Rams clearly won this trade.

The post Reflecting on the Jalen Ramsey trade: who won? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

by Michael Obermuller

If you were wondering whether or not the Los Angeles Rams have a first round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft ”” they don’t. In fact, the franchise that has not had a first round selection since drafting Jared Goff in 2016 is not scheduled to have another until 2024.

Rams general manager Les Snead has preferred trading his first rounders for proven NFL talent, which has had mixed results over the years. His most recent decision to acquire quarterback Matthew Stafford actually reversed a previous deal he made to move up for Goff in 2016 (a mistake that would normally get a GM fired), but the Rams sustained success has lengthened the leash on Snead’s strange tenure.

Now that the Goff era has met its end in LA, we all finally get to see what Sean McVay can do with a top 15 quarterback talent. Here are the other major ins and outs that the Rams have made so far this offseason.

As you can see, the cap-stretched Rams franchise has not had much flexibility in free agency after their recent trades for stars like Stafford and Jalen Ramsey. Necessary extensions for Aaron Donald, Robert Woods and others have not helped either. That all makes the NFL Draft crucial for Los Angeles, and they’ll have six picks to hit on from rounds two through seven (headliners are one second and two thirds).

With holes on the roster and not much money left to fill them, what areas should the Rams target with their top picks in 2021? Here are a few dream prospects for LAR in rounds two and three at positions of need.

3. Nick Bolton, ILB (Missouri)

Some analysts have Nick Bolton falling to the third or fourth round due to his 2020 season, while others rave about his consistency as a run-stopper and tackler at Missouri. Pro Football Focus has him as the second-highest graded linebacker behind Micah Parsons the past two seasons, so the potential is there so long as the pro-fit is right. I believe it could be in Los Angeles.

The Rams need an inside linebacker that does nothing but tackle, and Bolton totaled 198 of those during his Junior and Sophomore campaigns combined. During those two seasons, 16.5 of those stops were for a loss, with an added three sacks and three turnovers forced (two interceptions). Considering the Rams have been cycling through sub-par inside backers like Micah Kiser, Kenny Young and Troy Reeder for years now, Bolton could be an asset that immediately steps into a major role on this defense.

2. Creed Humphrey, C (Oklahoma)

With the departure of center Austin Blythe in free agency, Snead is left with a glaring problem at the heart of his offensive line. Brian Allen could be slated to start in 2021, but the former fourth round pick has yet to prove he can perform at the NFL level (58.6 PFF grade in 563 snaps in 2019). LAR needs to draft it’s center of the future, and that could be Oklahoma Sooner Creed Humphrey.

The 2020 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year did not allow a sack on 401 passing plays. His intelligence and toughness help project him as a prospect that should go somewhere from rounds two to four, and his durability marks another trait for the Rams to rely on (compared to a talent like Landon Dickerson out of Alabama).

1. Aaron Robinson, CB (UCF)

Assuming no trades occur, the Rams first selection in 2021 will be at No. 57 overall, and they should really consider using this pick on a versatile defensive back like Aaron Robinson. The UCF product generally lined up in the slot in college, but scouts think he could play outside if need be. He’s a 5’11” press-corner that thrives at in your face man-to-man coverage, and his intensity should get him some looks in the second round (15 pass breakups the past two seasons).

Robinson would slot in behind Ramsey and Darious Williams in 2021, as the Rams nickel CB (replacing Troy Hill). His style is similar to the All-Pro CB1 in LA, and Ramsey could even assist in the development of the rookie as a mentor of sorts. It’s possible Robinson may not make it to No. 57, but some other similar options at interior corner or CB/S hybrid include names like Asante Samuel Jr., Jevon Holland and Shaun Wade.

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