By: Adam Hulse (@AdamHulseSports)

The 2021 NFL season is now less than a week away. The preseason has been completed and rosters are being finalized as teams prepare for week 1 of the regular season. Now is as good a time as any to start projecting how each team will perform this year. In particular for this article, let’s predict who the top five defenses in the NFL can be this season, counting down from 5th place and continuing all the way to the number one spot.

5. Buffalo Bills

The Bills were an average defense last year, ranking 14th in yards allowed per game with 352.5 and 16th in scoring with 23.4 points per game allowed. What’s encouraging is that they played much better defensively late in the season than they did earlier. For example, in their final six regular-season games following their bye week, they held four of their six opponents to under 20 points and then also held the Ravens to just three points in a playoff game. That gives reason for optimism heading into the 2021 NFL season, especially because head coach Sean McDermott is defensively focused. In addition, they addressed their lack of “true pass rushers” in the NFL Draft this year with first round pick Greg Rousseau and second round pick Boogie Basham. With the improved pass rush and renewed focus on defense, the Bills can get back to playing like they did in 2019 when they ranked 2nd in scoring defense at 16.2 points per game and 3rd in total defense at 298.3 yards per game.

4. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers suffered an extreme amount of injuries in the 2020 NFL season, including their top two pass rushers in Nick Bosa and Dee Ford. Despite the fact that neither of them played much at all, in addition to all of the other injuries as well, they still managed to finish ranked 5th in total defense at 314.4 yards allowed per game. They only recorded 30 team sacks in 2020 but that number should greatly improve with their overall health, as demonstrated by their 48 team sacks in the 2019 NFL season. Lead by superstar linebacker Fred Warner, the 49ers should have another great year defensively, even without Robert Saleh as the defensive coordinator anymore after he accepted the New York Jets head coaching job.

3. Washington Football Team

Last season WFT ranked 2nd in yards allowed per game with 304.6 and 4th in scoring defense with 20.6 points allowed per game. There is good reason to believe that they could be even better this season than they were last season because of the development and progress of their young and dominant front seven. Chase Young and Montez Sweat are already one of the very best EDGE duos in the NFL and should continue to improve as they mature a bit more. The team ranked 6th in sacks last year with 47 and that number will likely go up this season. The front seven was the biggest strength of the team last season but that didn’t stop them from using their first round draft pick on linebacker Jamin Davis out of Kentucky. As long as they can keep this unit together, WFT will have one of the top defenses for many years to come.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

The center piece to their defense, linebacker Devin Bush, only played in five games last season due to injury but the Steelers still ranked 3rd in both scoring and total defense with 19.5 and 305.8 respectively. They did lose pass rusher Bud Dupree to free agency but replaced him with a very capable veteran in Melvin Ingram. He was plagued by injuries last season, but from 2015 to 2019 he recorded 43 total sacks with the Chargers. He will pair with one of the best EDGE players in the NFL in TJ Watt, whose 15 sacks helped the Steelers lead the league in team sacks last year with a massive 56 total. In just four seasons, Watt has already accumulated 49.5 sacks and 17 forced fumbles. The Steelers have an absolute stud at all three levels of their defense, with Minkah Fitzpatrick on the back end to go with Watt on the EDGE and Bush in the middle.

1. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams were the most dominant defense in the NFL last season. Their 281.9 yards per game allowed was best in the league by a very wide margin of more than 22 yards per game. In addition, they lead the NFL in scoring defense at 18.5 points allowed per game and were second in team sacks with 53 total. They have, arguably, the best cornerback in the entire NFL in Jalen Ramsey and he’s not even their best defensive player. That is, of course, Aaron Donald. He is not only the best defensive player in the NFL but he very well may be the best overall player period. In seven season with Rams he has only missed two games total while accumulating 85.5 sacks, 19 forced fumbles, and 6 recovered fumbles despite being double or triple teamed on every single play. He is the “favorite” to once again win the Defensive Player of the Year award this season, as he should be favored every year. Based on their dominance last season, as long as they have Donald and Ramsey then there is no real reason to believe that they will regress as a defensive unit.

The post Predicting the Top 5 defenses this season 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

The post Expect the Lions, Eagles, and Texans to have the worst records in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Adam Hulse (@AdamHulseSports)

Taylor Heinicke is a very interesting player to keep an eye on heading into the 2021 NFL season. According to head coach Ron Rivera, Washington will head into training camp with an open competition for the starting quarterback job between Heinicke, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kyle Allen, and Steven Montez. While Fitzpatrick is the likely front runner for the job in week one, Heinicke should be right on his heels with a real chance to win the starting role at some point. The fact that the organization just gave him a two year contract extension despite signing the 38 year old Fitzpatrick in free agency is a clear indicator that they believe in the potential of Heinicke.

Career Numbers

Heinicke is already 28 years old and has a very small sample size to go off of when looking at his career statistics. In the regular season across eight games played, he has completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 467 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also demonstrated his athleticism with 9 carries for 55 rushing yards. His career 71.7 passer rating is underwhelming but hard to fairly judge given the lack of volume. He’s produced very mixed results to say the least.

The one game that really showed off his potential was the playoff game that he started against the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Bucs last year. Washington did lose the game but was very competitive in the contest, partially due to the best game of the young career of Heinicke. He completed 26 passes for 306 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for an additional 46 yards on six attempts and another touchdown. This performance is the main reason why he was given an extension to remain in Washington with aspirations of becoming the future starting quarterback.

Season Outlook

The biggest and most obvious question for Heinicke heading into the 2021 NFL season is if and when he will get his opportunity to play. That may depend more on the play of Fitzpatrick, if he does in fact get the starting job for week one of the season. Fitzpatrick chose Washington in free agency because he believes it is his best chance to be the starter on a contending team. He did not sign there to be a backup or a mentor to Heinicke. He believes he still has plenty left in the tank and his solid 2020 season backs that up.

Across nine games played in 2020, Fitzpatrick completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 2091 yards and 13 touchdowns while helping the Miami Dolphins compete for a spot in the playoffs. In addition to registering his highest completion percentage in a season, he also recorded his best ever total QBR at 76.8 and his 95.6 passer rating was the second best mark for a season in his long 16 year career. If he puts up a similar stat line or better to start the 2021 NFL season, it’s going to be hard for Heinicke to justifiably take over the job. Ironically, Fitzpatrick did lose his starting job last year to rookie Tua Tagovailoa despite his great efforts.

The Ceiling

If Fitzpatrick begins the season as the starter, he will be on a very short leash and head coach Ron Rivera could choose to switch to Heinicke at any time. In fact, there is still a decent chance that Heinicke could even win the QB competition in training camp and be named the week one starter any way. Washington is a team with hopes of returning to the playoffs this year so they will need solid quarterback play out of whoever the starter is.

In terms of a player comparison, the ceiling for Heinicke would be a Ryan Tannehill type. They both have similar skill sets with a comparable list of strengths and weaknesses. They can both be gunslingers at times who are willing to take risks in the passing game. They are both very athletic players who definitely prefer to pass first but can also beat a defense with their rushing abilities when necessary. Tannehill at this current stage of his career is a borderline top ten quarterback in the NFL, so if Heinicke can reach that level, the Washington organization is going to be very happy with their decision to give him a contract extension this past offseason.

The post What is the ceiling for Taylor Heinicke? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Daniel Racz @Danny___Dimes

Introduction

In fantasy football land, top-performing running backs are coveted. In the National Football League, efficient backs on rookie contracts are valuable. A sophomore running back still has three years remaining on their rookie deal, but often has the chance to produce at league-leading levels. Last year, Miles Sanders and Josh Jacobs were given pre-season hype from their coaches. These comments led the fantasy community to expect them to take the sought-after sophomore breakout. However, David Montgomery was the back that took the jump. Sanders and Jacobs were expected to receive more targets and secure a three-down role, but both did not meet expectations. Montgomery’s jump occurred after Tarik Cohen tore his ACL, causing Monty to receive most of the team’s running back targets.

The 2020 running back class is one of the best in recent memory. Though Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the only first-round running back, five other running backs came off the board between picks 35 and 66. D’Andre Swift, Jonathan Taylor, Cam Akers, J.K. Dobbins, and Antonio Gibson are all primed to be the lead backs on their team. In 2020, Taylor was the Colts’ premier runner once Marlon Mack went down with an Achilles injury during week one. D’Andre Swift is on a Detroit Lions team that can be described as a work-in-progress as best, so it is unlikely he becomes a star this year. Though Akers has the opportunity to dominate for the Rams, his injury-riddled 2020 season did not impress. However, the rest of those sophomores stand a great chance to lead their teams to the playoffs and bring fantasy managers to their championships.

Antonio Gibson

The Washington Football Team won the NFC (L)East with a losing record in 2020. Their defense played as expected, with star defensive lineman Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, and Daron Payne leading the unit. Despite lackluster Quarterback play, the weapons on the team excelled. Wide Receiver Terry Mclaurin proved that he was a premier outside playmaker, even if his Quarterbacks could not throw the ball more than 20 yards downfield. 

The Football Team made numerous additions to their offensive during the offseason. During Free Agency, the team signed Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, Wide Receiver Curtis Samuel and Offensive Tackle Charles Leno.The Football Team selected tackle Samuel Cosmi and Wide Receiver Dyami Brown during the 2021 NFL draft. All of this is to say that the new-look Football Team could be far better than we anticipate. 

If Washington’s offense improves, Antonio Gibson will be a key benefactor. Offensive coordinator Scott Turner has already said that he wants to prioritize getting the ball to Antonio in the passing game. Gibson, a former college receiver, was an afterthought in the passing game because JD McKissic, another college wideout, received a majority of the backfield targets. McKissic received a position-leading 110 targets last season with Captain Checkdown, Alex Smith, at Quarterback. McKissic’s slot usage will take a hit because of Curtis Samuel and Dyami Brown’s presence. There is a chance that McKissic is irrelevant altogether if Gibson takes on more receiving work. 

Antonio Gibson played his first year at running back in the highest level of professional football, and he fared pretty well. His natural athleticism, specifically his 4.39 speed at 228 pounds, came through on countless breakaway runs. Gibson will only get more comfortable at the position with more playing time and his first full offseason. If Washington’s offense takes a step forward and decides to unleash Antonio Gibson in the receiving game, the sky’s the limit for him.

Projected Statline: 272 carries, 1,306 yards, 70 targets, 61 receptions, 447 receiving yards, 12 total touchdowns

277.8 .5 PPR Fantasy Points (16.3 Fantasy Points Per Game)

J.K. Dobbins

The best pure football player coming out of the 2020 draft at the running back position was J.K. Dobbins. His blend of track star speed (4.30 Forty time) and impeccable vision make him a premier back in the National Football League. Dobbins rushed for a position-leading 6.0 yards-per-carry last year. The fact that he is not regarded as a top back in the league is baffling, yet understandable at the same time. On the one hand, Dobbins was a hyper-efficient running back on an electric offense with versatility as a receiver. On the other hand, Dobbins only carried the ball 134 times last season and barely eclipsed 800 yards while competing with Gus Edwards for touches. 

The Chiefs should have picked Dobbins over Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round of the 2020 draft, but Dobbins fell to the 55th pick in the second round. The Ravens saw how much success Dobbins had running beside Justin Fields, so they paired with their dual-threat quarterback, Lamar Jackson. Any running back benefits from a mobile quarterback, as it makes defenders key in on multiple potential runners every play. However, J.K.’s skillset relies on making defenders miss in short areas. If Dobbins only has one defender to beat to the edge, he can use his video game-like change-of-direction to juke them out and take any run to the end zone. 

Throughout the first few weeks of minicamp and OTAs, the Ravens vocalized their desire to use Dobbins as a wide receiver. Dobbins would undoubtedly improve the Ravens’ passing attack. However, there is a chance that the Ravens are giving the public “Coach Speak” and misleading the public. If the Ravens do only give Dobbins 1-2 targets a game, he will still be a solid contributor. 

However, the upside that Dobbins possesses can transform the Baltimore offense and boost your fantasy team. The chance to get targets in the most run-heavy offense in the league is rare, but the Ravens keep touting Dobbins. His 2020 season was littered with drops, but the Ravens’ confidence in the young man indicates that he will move past the rookie errors. Though Dobbins will not see a Christian McCaffrey, or even Antonio Gibson, type workload, he does not need to. The lead back in the Baltimore committee is undervalued, and you should take advantage before the public catches on.

Projected Statline: 231 carries, 1,331 yards, 48 targets, 38 receptions, 285 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns

246.6 .5 PPR Fantasy Points (14.5 Fantasy Points Per Game)

The post Why Antonio Gibson and J.K. Dobbins will dominate in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Trevor Stores

Three players for the team wearing Burgundy and Gold are going to have to use this upcoming season to show they deserve to be apart of the organization. One player is coming off a season-ending injury suffered last year; one is going into his third year with more uncertainty at his position; and the last is literally playing this season on a one year “prove it” deal. 

In the words of Ricky Ricardo “Lucy, you got some splainin’ to do!”

WFT Adds More To Safety Position, Landon Collins In Trouble?

The Washington Football Team did a little bit more than just improve the back end of the defense. They damn near reshaped the whole thing. Jack Del Rio and Co. drafted a safety, signed Bobby McCain who has major experience as the position, and already has second year standout Kamren Curl, who has planted his foot firmly into the stater discussion. 

With all of the new faces in town, that leaves Landon Collins on the outside looking in so to speak. 

Landon Collins

Landon Collins is about to start the third year of his six year – 84 million dollar contract he inked at the beginning of the 2019 season. During his first year, he logged two games with double digit tackles, one being in the team’s first win of the season against the Miami Dolphins, totaling 12 tackles. Collins ended the season with a total of 110 tackles in 15 games. 

Clearly this overall performance helped back up his monstrous deal he just signed. Then came the 2020 season, which everyone knows was plagued by the pandemic, where Collins season came to an abrupt end. The former Pro Bowler left Week 7 with a season ending injury of a torn achilles. 

Prior to his setback, there were a lot of rumblings and concern going around about Collins ability to tackle. He was questioned about said topic, but denied that it seemed to be a problem. In a virtual interview held by local media, this was his response to his missing tackles allegations. 

“Has my tackling been a problem? I think no,” Collins said. “I’ve been told I’ve missed nine tackles in the last six games. So nine missed tackles in the last six games? Yeah, I think I got like 40 tackles so no, I don’t think it’s pretty bad.”

Once Collins went down for the season, rookie 7^th rounder safety Kamren Curl was inserted and ended up being a solid replacement. So solid that some experts had Curl in major discussion of Defensive Rookie of the Year. This year rookie safety Darrick Forrest is already making plays during offseason activities, and Bobby McCain is there on a one year deal, which includes a chip on his shoulder to ball out.

Landon Collins, coming off a serious injury, needs to do whatever he did in 2019 and then some this year if he wants to show Ron Rivera and the rest of the organization that he is worth the super lucrative contract signed just three years ago.

Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries, and Dyami Brown Crowd Wide Receiver Room – Steven Sims Jr. Outside Looking In?

Steven Sims Jr. Is going into his third year with the Washington Football Team with probably, if not the most pressure of anyone at any position on the team. That’s because Rivera brought in his old pal Curtis Samuel, who can easily play the slot role if asked to due to his versatility. He also brought in a viable slot target that newly acquired quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick favorites, Adam Humphries. Humphries has played with Fitzmagic previously with the Tennessee Titans, so there’s an obvious connection. 

The undrafted third year wideout is looking to fit in the slot role on this offense. His rookie year play as kick and punt returner is where he got the most attention, being super shifty and having the speed to break a long return. Sims Jr. had 32 kick returns totaling near 1000 yards and one touchdown, with just one fumble via a punt return. At the receiver spot, he caught four touchdowns and even rushed 9 times for nearly 100 yards and one touchdown. In the 2020 season, his catches and total yards dropped and he only caught one touchdown. Sims Jr. totaled FIVE fumbles on 24 punt returns. That just simply cant happen, and fumbles create distrust between players and coaches.

The Football Team also drafted Dax Milne from BYU, who is looking to make the squad as a possible kick and punt returner if there is no real room for him as a starting wideout. Steven Sims Jr., the heat is on. 

FEAR THE BEARD

A new gunslinger has arrived in the Nation’s Capital, a la Ryan Fitzpatrick. This will be his 9^th team in the league he has suited up for. He comes in having signed a one year/10 million dollar contract. Why in the world is Ryan Fitzpatrick a starting quarterback for a new playoff team in 2021? Because he is fearless, he is very smart, and he’s got the intangibles and the heart to never give up. All of the traits and the impressive stats over the past few seasons, seem to be what Ron Rivera is looking for when it comes to choosing his point guard. 

Last season, Fitzpatrick only started 7 games out of the 9 he appeared in. There is one stat provided by Next Gen Stats that sticks out that is believe to have helped solidify his role with The Football Team. Out of all the quarterbacks that perform under pressure, Ryan Fitzpatrick is number one. That’s right, 38 year old Harvard graduate led the entire league last year with a passer rating of 98.6, and a 62.1 completion percentage. This “under pressure” statistic doesn’t solely fall on the quarterback’s shoulders. It can stem from playing behind a bad offensive line, extending the play or maybe holding onto the pigskin longer than allocated. 

The numbers may look appealing, but what you don’t see in between those lines are the chances Fitzpatrick takes. He’s known for his “IDGAF” style of play, making him a possible hero, or a possible villain for his team. This acquisition makes things a little more clear and comfortable for Rivera and his staff for the quarterback position, especially coming after the circus show at the spot last season.

After OTAs and minicamp, it was reported Taylor Heineicke has made a real push for the starting spot, causing true competition hype slated for training camp in late July. 

iHe may not be the most athletic or accurate quarterback in the league, but he has more than enough experience in true leadership, and he’s willing to put everything on the line in order for his guys to excel on and off the field.

If Fitzpatrick has playmakers surrounding him on his side of the ball, and a dominant defense behind him, there is no reason The Washington Football Team shouldn’t find success in 2021 and beyond. 

It’s not real, it’s FitzMAGIC. 

The post 3 WFT players with the most to prove in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Brady Akins

Back in April of 2021, the NFL franchise currently known as the Washington Football Team took a major step towards rebranding, sending out surveys to season-ticket holders on what to do about the team’s name. Or, in this case, lack thereof. 

The result? A list of 37 potential names for Washington. Some of them are solid. Most of them are”¦ well, if you don’t already know, you’re about to find out.

But being the kind-hearted philanthropist that I am, I decided to help out the Washington franchise by ranking all of their candidate names to help them narrow down the list and weed out some of the weaker suggestions. 

Without further fanfare, let’s take a look.

Aces

Why the Aces?

No, seriously, like why the Washington Aces?

The name doesn’t evoke a sense of fear or dread or authority in the way a traditional mascot would. It isn’t iconic or representative of a Washington D.C.-based landmark or feature, at least not to my knowledge. 

So again”¦ why? What are we doing here? The only conceivable benefit to this particular name change would be Washington fans finding themselves at the top of lists where the mascot is ranked in alphabetical order. That, and the name isn’t horrifyingly offensive.

(Also, the name is already taken)

Rating: 2/10

Ambassadors 

The name ”˜Ambassadors’ solves the issue of practicality and sensibility that the Aces name presented”¦ I guess.

What better way to represent the nation’s capital than naming its very own football team after an ambassador– a diplomat in a political capacity. If nothing else, the name makes sense.

The main issue with the Ambassadors is marketability. Of the 31 other NFL teams, 27 have mascot names that are either one or two syllables. Ambassadors has four. Somehow, the name ”˜Ambassadors’ would come across as less snappy and less catchy than the name ”˜Football Team.’

The only current NFL team to match the Ambassadors in syllable length is the 49ers– a team name often shortened to the ”˜Niners’ to the extent that San Francisco’s official team shop sells merchandise using the shorthand name. 

Washington could try shortening their lengthy name to ”˜Bassadors’ or something similar, but nothing in that vein quite rolls off the tongue. 

Rating: 5/10

Anchors

Close your eyes and picture Washington D.C. for a moment– now open them.

If you’re still reading, you clearly didn’t follow instructions. How would you know to open your eyes if you had closed them when I told you to?

But regardless, for my rule-breakers out there, what do you picture when thinking of Washington? Likely the White House, Washington Monument, wheel and spoke patterned roads, and a plethora of other human-built landmarks.

Probably not many of you jumped to bodies of water large enough to require an anchor. 

The saving grace of this name is in the power associated with it. Anchors equals boats, which equals sailors, which oftentimes are associated with big, strong men with eyepatches and parrots and gold doubloons lining their pockets. Or, at least the first part of that is true.

The name is tough, but not much else about it makes sense.

Rating: 3/10

Archers

Now we’re getting somewhere.

This is a name that, perhaps surprisingly based on the previous potential names, checks all the boxes for a quality mascot. A short and sweet name associated with combat that maybe even loosely relates to the country’s battle for independence? Archers is as close to a winner as we’ve seen so far from the list.

There are, however, a couple of nitpicks. Archers being a bit more finesse fighters than the ”˜down and dirty’ image you would typically prescribe to a football team, and the name coming across a bit like a generic high school mascot from the Road to Glory mode in NCAA 14.

But time could be kind to this mascot. Out of the previous four names, it’s a clear front-runner.

Rating: 8/10

Armada

This name has most of the positives outlined in the ”˜Archers’ name, being short and aggressive the way all good mascots are. But this one comes with a few more downsides.

The biggest one being– how many people actually know what an ”˜Armada’ is? I would be willing to bet that most people know that it’s military-based, but do they know that it’s defined as a “fleet of warships?” Are we really going to make NFL fans Google the definition of their team name before opening kickoff? 

This also brings us back to the big issue with the “Anchors” name. There is water in the Washington D.C. area, but how many of us associate it with water. The Dolphins and Buccaneers can get away with it as Florida-based teams. Washington cannot. 

Rating: 6/10

Aviators

I have a fun exercise for you.

I know, I know, reading is a chore as is, but let me illustrate to you the biggest issue with this name through the power of demonstration.

Go to your search engine of choice and look up the term ”˜Aviators.’ What did you get? Sunglasses.

Yes, yes, I am aware that an Aviator is also a non-sunglasses-related word, but it’s the sunglasses that own the association. When you’re a football franchise, you likely want the first thing people think of when they mention your name to be your team.

Point being, the name is taken. 

Rating: 1/10

Beacons

This is a name that, for better and worse, leans heavily into the symbolism behind Washington D.C. 

Playing under the name ”˜Washington Beacons,’  the franchise would be paying homage to its American ties by representing the original idea of the country as a beacon of prosperity for everyone. 

That’s the point, anyway. Beyond its symbolism, the name is a bit bland, and there are likely more creative and exciting ways to illustrate that same idea of pride.

Not the best name. But as we’ve seen, far from the worst.

Rating: 6/10

Belters

What the hell is a Belter?

Rating: 1/10

Brigade

Similar to Archers and Armada before it, the Washington Brigade has direct ties to the military– making it an assertive option for a team name.

But Brigade shines as a name in a way those previous two falter. Archers is more associated with combat in general than specifically military combat, and Armada is tied directly to sea combat rather than land fighting. Brigade takes those missteps and turns them into positives.

Representative of the team’s location, aggressive in nature, unique and snappy. As a name– Brigade is a winner. Relatively speaking, at least.

Rating: 10/10

Capital City Football Club

This one works”¦ I guess. 

Capital City Football Club includes a nice homage to the significance of Washington D.C. but beyond that there isn’t much being offered here. 

It’s simple. Has a little charm. But overall feels bland in comparison to some of the other candidates.

Rating: 6/10

Commanders

A large portion of the list is made up of names based in combat. The Commanders is another, and it lands somewhere in the middle of the others in terms of quality.

It does check all the key boxes, even if it is a touch on the longer side. The biggest falt in this name is that a Commander feels like an individualistic title. Pluralize it if you want, but there’s a distinct lack of team cohesion here. Without a group of soldiers to command, a commander simply commands commands to other commanders too busy commanding commands to take in the other commander’s commands. 

Or something like that.

Rating: 7/10

Defenders

This team name is a lot like the Commanders. Makes sense, rolls off the tongue, all that good stuff we’re looking for here. It just has one distinct problem.

A mascot based on the root word “defense” would imply no offense. Which, at least in the current state of the roster, does make sense for the Washington Football Team. But I’m sure the marketing intention isn’t to label the team as one who only plays defense.

Imagine the team has just one bad offensive showing. The jokes write themselves. 

“Just 10 points, huh? Guess they’re called the Defenders for a reason.”  

“Defenders really living up to their namesake in playing absolutely no offense.” 

“They don’t call them the Offenders, folks.”

It would be a bloodbath. On the surface, this name works. But it cannot be allowed.

Rating: 3/10

Demon Cats

Demon Cats sounds like the name of a fake high school in Friday Night Lights. I think. I’ve never actually seen the show.

What I’m trying to say is that the name is bad.

Rating: 1/10

First City Football Club

I have, just, so many questions.

What does “First City” mean in this context? I’m no history major, but I can say with a fair degree of certainty that Washington D.C. is not the first American city. So what gives?

Why “Football Club?” Are we trying to class up the sport of American football by associating it with European football? 

Did you guys think that the alliterative ”˜FCFC’ was cool? Be honest. I won’t judge. 

What is the logo going to be? Are we going with just the letters ”˜FC’ on a helmet? And if that is the plan, will the ”˜FC’ represent ”˜First City’ or ”˜Football Club?’

So much confusion for such a terrible name.

Rating: 1/10

Football Team

Washington just spent an entire season being made fun of for playing 16 regular-season games of football with a placeholder name. They won the NFC East branding themselves as the ”˜Football Team’ because they couldn’t think of a new non-offensive name in time for kickoff.

But, they did almost beat the Buccaneers in the playoffs. So maybe it’s good luck.

Rating: 5/10 

Griffins

You can’t go wrong with Greek mythology– especially when the mythological creature in question has the features of an eagle, the symbol of American patriotism, and a lion, the symbol of ferocity in the animal kingdom.

This name runs the risk of being a bit too abstract of a creature for the mainstream. That said, the branding possibilities are endless. It’s a name that people would learn to love.

Rating: 9/10

Guardians 

”˜Guardians’ presents the same cost/benefit conundrum as ”˜Defenders.’

Guardians has ties to the military, making it a powerful name.

However, “I guess they can guard the endzone but not attack it.”

Guardians makes sense as a name given the team’s geographical location.

However, “Boy the Guardians sure could use some guardians on the offensive line with all these sacks.”

This name gets a rating bump over Defenders for the simple reason that many of the potential quips are comedic reaches. But it is something to consider.

Rating: 5/10

Icons

The Washington Football Team hasn’t had a 10-win season since 2012 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2005. The name ”˜Icons’ seems a bit ambitious.

That said, dress for the job you want, not the job you have. The silver lining of this name is that it gives the team something to aspire towards. But there isn’t much else going for this one.

What’s the mascot going to be? Are you gonna slap a silhouette of the Washington Monument on people’s helmets and a JPG of Mount Rushmore on the 50-yard line and call it a day? 

Rating: 2/10

Majors

In cinema, sometimes you have a movie that has absolutely nothing wrong with it”¦ but also does absolutely nothing particularly well. Completely inoffensive as a product. Something you’ll forget about the literal second it’s no longer in your immediate view.

That’s what the Majors is as a name. As I sit here pondering my rating (Spoiler: leaning towards a 4 or a 5 here but we’ll see), I keep trying to think of reasons to justify giving it a low score– but I can’t. But I can’t think of one reason why it works either. It’s just so”¦ boring. Like the plain yogurt of football team names, if that makes any sense.

Rating: 5/10

Monarchs 

American patriotism seems to be the prevailing theme throughout these proposed name changes. Which, given that Washington plays in the nation’s capital, makes sense.

So then why, why, would the D.C.-based football team tie themselves to the monarchy. Somebody, please help me understand.

Rating: 3/10

Pilots

This one works well enough. 

Not necessarily a ”˜showstopping winner,’ nor a name that will go down as iconic or even particularly exciting. But it gets the job done. 

It’s snappy, catchy, easy to brand, and won’t leave anybody laughing at the team’s expense or groaning in displeasure. 

Which, given the last name of the Washington Football Team, is a step in the correct direction.

Rating: 7/10

Presidents

The prime example of a name making perfect sense, but still somehow managing to be awful.

I get it, Washington, I do. Presidents. Like the people who live and work in D.C. But don’t we think that maybe this one is just a touch too on the nose? And when you take the field on Sundays, do you really want your opponents associating you with William Howard Taft or Martin Van Buren over literally anything else?

Rating: 2/10

Razorbacks

I’m not entirely sure what a ”˜Razorback’ is.

But I do know that it’s taken.

Rating: 4/10

Redhogs

Bonus points will be awarded for each of the proposed names that manage to work the word “red” in somewhere. A nice homage to the franchise’s origins without being, you know, horrible.

That said, I’m not so sure that ”˜Redhogs’ is the route to take. Not that it’s entirely bad as much as it’s not entirely good. Kind of a middle-of-the-road ”˜couldn’t think of anything else’ type option. This one has the air of a low-budget high school team name than the iconic gravitas of an NFL team. Lacks the history of a name like the 49ers or the authority of the Titans.

Plus, I’m not even so sure that a redhog is a real animal!

Rating: 6/10

Redtails

The Redtails have been floated out as a possible name change since before the team even decided to play under the name ”˜Football Team,’ and for good reason too. This one, and I do not say this lightly, is an absolute banger.

This name serves as a historical nod to the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of primarily Black pilots in the United States Air Force who served in World War II. Making it fierce, geographically relevant, and just super cool. 

And it has the word ”˜red’ without being lazily thrown in! A borderline perfect name.

Rating: 10/10

Redwolves

Yet another name that has been thrown around as a possibility since early in the rebranding process, and yet another name that actually kind of slaps.

The possibilities to play ”˜Hungry Like The Wolf’ by Duran Duran are endless. The branding opportunities are unlimited. A nice, fun, spunky name suggestion.

The only downside is that I’m not sure that a redwolf is a real animal either!

And also that this name is already taken.

Rating: 8/10

Renegades

This one has some appeal. It’s tough in an ”˜80s teen drama ”˜too cool for school’ character type of way.

It can (very loosely) be tied to the Founding Fathers, who, in a historical sense, could be considered renegades. 

There are elements of a solid team name in here, for sure. But, when compared to the better names on this list, this one doesn’t quite hold up.

Rating: 7/10

Riders

It’s okay. 

Rating: 6/10

Rising

A miracle. On a list of potential names that includes ”˜Demon Cats, Icons, FCFC and Presidents,’ the Washington Rising somehow manages to upstage them all in terms of pure horribleness. 

Unlike those other previously mentioned terrible suggestions– I have no clue whatsoever what this name is attempting to accomplish. At least to my knowledge, it’s not a reference to anything, it’s not iconic or emblematic of some Washington D.C. area feature. It’s just”¦ kind of a random verb?

At least this name starts with an R so the team can use old throwback helmets?

Rating: 1/10

Royals:

Guys.

GUYS.

After all of the attempts to associate your franchise with American patriotism, why on earth do you keep dipping back into the well of outdated forms of authority? The Monarchs fails as a name because the area where the team plays stands as a symbol for the country’s effort to break away from the monarchy. 

Similarly, they play in an area that represents a form of government that should never and will never be based on royalty with kings and queens.

Also, this name is taken.

Rating: 3/10

Rubies 

The thing that bothers me the most about this name, aside from its general terribleness, is how it feels so lazy.

A team name that starts with an R and would be difficult to come up with a logo for”¦ hey, good thing the franchise already has generic helmets and uniforms with nothing but an R on them!

And what do you know, those same helmets and uniforms are also red! Like a ruby! 

Looks like they won’t have to put any effort into a rebrand. How lucky.

Rating: 1/10

Swifts

The number of people I could envision making Taylor Swift jokes every time this team is mentioned is astronomical. That said, Taylor Swift is a delight. 

That’s the one and only thing keeping this name from earning the lowest possible score.

Rating: 2/10

Warriors

About as generic as you can get– but there’s a reason for that.

Just because something is cliched doesn’t mean it’s bad. In fact, the reason things become a cliche in the first place is because they’re overused. And things become overused because they work. That’s the circle of life. 

This one is a little bit overplayed, a little bit lazy, but it’s a nice solid name. 

Even though it is already taken. 

Rating: 7/10

Wayfarers

Me: What on earth is a ”˜Wayfarer?’

Me: *Googles Wayfarer*

Me: Oh! Another team name associated with sunglasses over anything else! Neat.

I do like the alliteration here though.

Rating: 3/10

Wild Hogs

Another potential name with some association to pigs? What’s with that? What are we doing here? 

Is it like a ”˜pigskin’ joke? 

Regardless, I’m not sure that ”˜animal that rolls around in its own filth’ is quite the direction that should be taken when trying to create a fierce new image.

Rating: 4/10

Washington D.C. Football Club

Alright Washington, if your hearts are really set on doing the ”˜Football Club’ thing, this is probably the way to do it.

Not trying to get cute with the name, not trying to be fun with the alliteration. Just a solid ”˜hey, here’s where we are and here’s what we are’ and call it a day.

Although I’m not sure that not just going with a traditional mascot is the way to go.

Rating: 7/10

32FC

No.

Rating: 1/10

The post 37 potential brand names for the Washington Football Team appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Intro

We are speeding into fantasy draft season come August. Every year there are players that intrigue us based on their role/situation with their current teams. I’d take a look at the quarterback position and dive into three sleepers at QB that should be looked into for redraft leagues.

Carson Wentz, Sam Darnold and Ryan Fitzpatrick are my QB sleepers heading into the 2021 NFL fantasy redraft drafts. Each one of these guys are now on teams and hoping a fresh start can start can get them into the upper tier of QB fantasy rankings.

Carson Wentz

Season 2020 stats: 12 games started, 2620 passing yards, 16 TDs and 15 Ints. Wentz went 3-8-1 in the 12 games started for the Eagles. Wentz scored 213.40 fantasy points in 2020 which was good for 22nd among all QBs. After having an MVP caliber season back in 2017, he has never been quite the same. For whatever the reasons might be, Wentz lost that magic touch.

Wentz was traded in the off-season to Colts is now re-united with his old offensive coordinator Frank Reich. The 2017 season was a breakout one for Wentz, he threw 33 TDs, 7 INTs, and 3296 passing yards before he tore his left ACL in week 14. Wentz was fifth-best fantasy QB that season with a total of 283 fantasy points.

I’m fully on board with the Wentz fantasy train this season. The reunion of Wentz with his old offensive coordinator will do wonders for his career especially this season. He also playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. Do not sleep on Wentz as a top 15 fantasy QB play for the 2021 season.

Sam Darnold

Season 2020 stats: 12 games started, 2208 passing yards, 9 TDs and 11 Ints. Yes, you guys read that correctly just nine passing touchdowns all season by Darnold! He was the 30th QB in terms of fantasy points with just 145.02. Just for context Dak Prescott had 138 fantasy points in just 5 games before his injury.

Darnold is an enigma of sorts. He has shown flashes of brilliance, making off-balance throws and escapability out of the pocket. The issue is that he’s just shown flashes. There have been way too many mind-numbing turnovers, head-scratching decisions, and just downright awful QB play. Now, Darnold was also playing with the worst offensive line unit in the NFL for the past three seasons. He had no standout play-makers who would scare the opposing defenses and the worst head coach the last two seasons.

However, that is all in the past. I am a believer in Darnold’s ability. After being traded in the off-season to the Carolina Panthers, he has a clean slate. With head coach Matt Rhule at the helm, Darnold is set to prove his doubters wrong. He has the best running back in the NFL in Christian McCaffrey, with a plethora of other offensive weapons including rookie wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr.

Darnold has the best supporting cast and coaching staff he has ever been around. There is no question that Darnold has the talent, it was always when he can put it all together and be consistent. Darnold in terms of fantasy relevance will be late round steal. Yes, let others in your draft snag the highly touted QBs while you build roster depth. A serviceable QB in the late rounds of fantasy drafts is a gold mine. Darnold will be a late round hidden gem.

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Season 2020 stats: 7 games started, 2091 passing yards, 13 TDs and 8 Ints. Ah, the ageless wonder himself, old man winter etc. the names can go on and on for Fitzpatrick but he just keeps on. Fitzpatrick was the 28th fantasy QB last season with 160.74 fantasy points.

Leaving the Miami Dolphins in the off-season for the Washington Football team is the best win-now scenario for Fitzpatrick. That defense is absolutely loaded and going to wreak havoc this upcoming season. As far as offensively, Fitzpatrick has arguably the best talent that he’s been around, maybe ever. Antonio Gibson is a rock star and Terry McLaurin is an absolute stud. The team signed all-purpose wide receiver Curtis Samuel and drafted rookie, Dyami Brown.

Under coach Ron Rivera, Fitzpatrick can flourish in that system with those play-makers on offense. The best part is that he knows that defense will back him up no matter what, so you could essentially see a looser Fitzpatrick not having to carry the entire team on his back. Look for Fitzpatrick to be another late round grab in fantasy drafts.

Sukhwant Singh

SinghisKing908

The post Top QB sleepers in redraft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Chris Thomas

Now that the NFL is in the midst of their mandatory minicamps, quarterbacks competitions around the league have officially begun. Every year a couple of teams will have two (or three in rare cases) quarterbacks compete for the starting job. Quarterback competitions could be between two veterans, a veteran & a younger player, or an incumbent starter & a rookie. Every once in a while, a quarterback who many believe will lose the quarterback competition has a great camp and can be awarded the starting job.

There are a couple quarterbacks who may seem like long shots to win the starting quarterback job, but may end up being the Week One starter. Here are three quarterbacks who can surprise the league and be the Week One starter for their team.

Washington Football Team: Taylor Heinicke

The quarterback situation for the Washington Football team is not as open-and-shut as many believe it is. According to ESPN staff writer John Keim, Washington will still have a quarterback competition after signing Ryan Fitzpatrick to a one-year $10 million deal. The competition will be between Fitzpatrick, Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, and Steven Montez.

After Fitzpatrick, the favorite to land the starting job is Taylor Heinicke. The former Old Dominion quarterback was back at school prepping for finals when Washington signed him to their practice squad. He was eventually promoted to the active roster and saw game action Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers. He completed 12 of his 19 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown in relief of Dwayne Haskins. Then when Alex Smith was ruled out for their playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Heinicke was named the team’s starting quarterback. During that game, he completed 26 of his 44 passing attempts for 306 yards and one passing touchdown. On top of that, he had six rushing attempts for 46 yards and a rushing touchdown. The most impressive part of that game was the fact that the Heinicke-led Washington team was within eight points of taking down the eventual Super Bowl champions in the first round.

After coming into the year as the team’s fourth quarterback last season he is the favorite to be the team’s backup behind Fitzpatrick. However, it wouldn’t be shocking if Heinicke was named the Week 1 starter. After his performance in the playoffs, the team has rallied around Heinicke. He also showed that he is capable of taking control of an NFL offense and will lay it all on the line for his team. If Heinicke outshines Fitzpatrick in training camp, he could be Washington’s starter Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Houston Texans: Davis Mills

The first draft selection of the Nick Caserio/David Culley era was former Stanford quarterback Davis Mills. Houston took Mills with the 67th overall pick in the third round. The selection was not a popular one because many thought Houston would have been better off taking a potential starter for another position of need with this selection over a project quarterback. But by selecting Mills in the first round the Texans administration feels that he could be their long-term starter and could even be their starter at this point this year. The Texans’ current quarterback room is made up of Mills, Tyrod Taylor, and Jeff Driskel. The belief is that former Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson will not play for the Houston Texans this season or ever again after his trade demands and his off-the-field concerns.

In a deep 2021 quarterback class Mills was considered a candidate to be the sixth quarterback drafted and the first one selected out of the first round. He ended up being the eighth quarterback drafted behind now-former Florida quarterback Kyle Trask who was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 64th overall and former Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond who was taken by the Minnesota Vikings with the 66th overall pick. According to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, the Texans were prepared for select Mond with the 67th selection before Minnesota took him with the selection before.

Mills was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and the top quarterback coming out that year. However, Mills only had 11 career starts at Stanford. Mill redshirted his freshman year and only had two passing attempts his sophomore season. During his junior year, he completed 65.6% of his passes throwing for 1,960 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions in eight games. He took a slight leap forward during his senior year completing 66.2% of his passes throwing for 1,508 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions. Mills also had three rushing touchdowns during his senior year.

It isn’t certain that Mills will become the Texans quarterback of the future. It is very possible that the team takes a quarterback in the first round next year and Mills becomes a high-end backup. However, after taking Mills with a high selection the Texans must give him starting reps at some point this season. He was taken as high as he was because of his upside. If Mills shows why he was such a highly regarded high school recruit and has flashes of the upside Houston saw in his tape during training camp, he could easily supplant Tyrod Taylor as the team’s starting quarterback next season as early as Week 1.

Philadelphia Eagles: Joe Flacco

After the 2020-21 NFL season it was believed that the Philadelphia Eagles would have a quarterback competition between Carson Wentz and 2020 Second Round pick Jalen Hurts to determine the team’s starter for this upcoming season. But instead, Philadelphia decided to trade Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts for a package of draft picks. Even with Wentz off of the roster new head coach Nick Sirianni still wants to have a quarterback competition to determine the starter for this upcoming season. The veterans that Hurts will have to compete with for the starting job are recently signed former 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens and former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.

It has felt like a long time since Joe Flacco was considered a borderline Pro Bowl quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. Eight years has passed since Flacco won the Super Bowl MVP winning Super Bowl XLVII against the San Fransisco 49ers. Since that point Flacco had been very average and then was replaced by Lamar Jackson late in the 2018-19 season after a neck injury.

He was traded to the Denver Broncos the following season for a fourth-round pick. He went 2-6 in eight games for the Broncos completing 65.3% of his passes and throwing for 1,822 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions. After injuring his neck Brandon Allen and 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock started the rest of the Broncos games that season.

Flacco was then released by Denver the next offseason and picked up by the New York Jets to be the backup to Sam Darnold. When Darnold missed four games due to a shoulder injury, Flacco played decently well as the starter. He completed 55.2% of his passes and throwing for 864 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions during that time.

After how Hurts played during his four starts last season it would be shocking if he was not the teams starting quarterback in year one. But if he has a rough camp and doesn’t show improvement in a new system with a healthy offense around him, Nick Sirianni may feel that the 13-year veteran may give them a better chance to win early on. It is important to note that Nick Sirianni has done a lot of more work with veteran pocket passers versus younger mobile quarterbacks like Hurts.

More backup QBs who can become starters later in the year

Minnesota Vikings: Kellen Mond

One of the biggest surprises of the 2021 NFL Draft was the Minnesota Vikings selecting Kellen Mond with the 66th selection in the third round. According to Mike Florio of ProFootball Talk, the Vikings were prepared to move up to the eighth overall selection to take Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields to eventually replace Kirk Cousins as the team’s starting quarterback. That didn’t work out and Fields ended up with division rival Chicago Bears. So their plan B was the take Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond in the third round to potentially fill that void. Similar to Fields, Mond is a mobile quarterback that may be rawer than Fields but has the upside to become an NFL starting quarterback.

In 2016 the Dallas Cowboys did not land Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch in the first round and settled for Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott in the fourth round. It is fair to say that their plan B worked out for them extremely well. That is what Minnesota could hope for in Mond. If the Minnesota Vikings struggle early in the 2021-22 season, they could turn to Mond and see if he could potentially be the team’s long-term future at quarterback.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Mason Rudolph/Dwayne Haskins

After the Pittsburgh Steelers crushing playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns the biggest question surrounding the team was how would the team be constructed and whether Ben Roethlisberger would return for another season. Roethlisberger decided to return for his 17th season after taking a pay cut. He is expected to be the team’s starter in Week 1, but at this point of his career, Roethlisberger may not be capable of competing at a high level for a 17 game regular season and potential postseason play. Pittsburgh may have to evaluate their options in the house and make the tough decision of replacing Roethlisberger midseason with one of the younger quarterbacks on their roster.

Their quarterback situation this season may be similar to what the Super Bowl 50 Champion Denver Broncos’ was during the 2015-16 season. 2021 Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning only played in ten games during his finals season in Denver and was relieved by Brock Osweiler midway towards the season. But Manning returned as the team’s starter right before the playoffs and had enough in the tank to win the Super Bowl. That should be the blueprint for the Pittsburgh hopes to achieve this season with their aging quarterback and the younger quarterbacks behind him on the depth chart.

The battle for the backup job in Pittsburgh is between Mason Rudolph and 2019 first round pick Dwayne Haskins. Both have underachieved throughout their careers, but feel that they could be the Steelers long term option at quarterback if Roethlisberger decides to retire after this season. In 2019 Rudolph went 5-3 as a starter, but only threw for 1,765 yards, 13 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Last season Rudolph threw for 324 yards two touchdowns, and an interception in five games (only one start).

Haskins spent his first two seasons in the league in Washington and was thrown in as the starter about midway through the season when he clearly wasn’t ready yet. In his first season, he went 2-5 as a starter, threw for 1,365 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The following season new head coach Ron Rivera made it clear early on that Haskins would have to earn the starting job and showed signs of not believing in him long term. Due to the lack of depth in the quarterback room, Haskins was named the starter and started six games for Washington last season. He went 1-5 as a starter, threw for 1,439 yards, five touchdowns, and seven interceptions. After a photo leaked of Haskins breaking COVID-19 protocol and attending a party with strippers, he was stripped of captain and later released after a brutal start against Rivera’s former team the Carolina Panthers. This offseason he signed a futures contract with the Steelers.

An interesting transaction that occurred this offseason is that the Steelers did give Rudolph a one year extension after this season worth $5 million. That is a sign that they view him as the potential replacement for Roethlisberger long-term or is comfortable with him competing for the job with Haskins or a rookie next season. It would be hard to imagine one if not both of these quarterbacks getting a shot at being the teams starting quarterback for a couple games this season to preview what their quarterback situation could look like next season and beyond.

The post Three quarterbacks who could be surprise Week 1 starters appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Washington Football Team were crowned champions of the NFC East last season for the first time since the 2015 season, despite their 7-9 record.

In a division no team has retained since the 2004 season, can the Washington Football Team go on to repeat their success from last season?

The Right Man In Charge

If any team is to be successful, then they need a top quality head coach. Ron Rivera is certainly the man to fulfil those requirements.

Rivera guided the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 record in the 2015 season, losing in Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos. His time in Charlotte ended in disappointing fashion but in his first season in charge of Washington, Rivera reminded everyone what a great coach he is.

Rivera is a leader who immediately attracts respect from his players to his coaching staff.

“He’s definitely one of the pillars of my success. I always wanted to go out there and work for him, make him proud and show him that I’m going to capitalize on the opportunity that he presented me and he gave me. It’s deeper than football. He’s a great coach, but he’s a better man. That’s what really separates him from other coaches”, said Efe Obada, who got his chance in the NFL under Rivera.

“Ron means a lot to a lot of guys in here for a lot of things outside of football. The biggest thing you hear from current players, former players and guys who played for him in different organizations, is how much he meant to guys aside from just the fact that he was their football coach”, said former Panthers tight end Greg Olsen.

Quarterback Issue Resolved, For Now

There was one area of the field that held this team back in 2020, the quarterback position.

Washington’s defensive line excelled with Jonathan Allen and Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin had an excellent season and will be accompanied by Curtis Samuel, who brings flexibility to the position. Running back Antonio Gibson was also brilliant in 2020, with 795 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.

However, quarterback was a problem for Washington. 2019 fifteenth overall pick Dwayne Haskins started week one but only started five more games before eventually being released. 

Kyle Allen was reunited with Rivera but injury would end his season prematurely. Alex Smith had the brilliant story, coming back after life threatening injury and Taylor Heinicke had his moment in the Wildcard Round to eventual Super Bowl Champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Smith has since retired and whilst Heinicke deserves a chance to be a starter, Rivera clearly feels he will not be the answer over the course of the whole season.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has come in this offseason after a two-year stint with the Miami Dolphins. After arguably one of the best seasons of his career, Fitz will hope to keep this momentum going into the 2021 season.

Fitzpatrick has been notoriously inconsistent during his sixteen NFL career. If Washington can get the one we saw in 2020 and the Fitz that threw for 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions with the New York Jets in 2015, then Washington have their QB resolved.

However, there is likely only to be one or two seasons left of Fitzpatrick’s career. Whether or not Heinicke or Allen prove themselves, Washington may look at taking a quarterback in the 2022 or 2023 NFL Draft.

Can They Win The NFC East?

Washington have some talented players and have the nucleus of a young up and coming team.

The Dallas Cowboys will be the favourites for the division, with Dak Prescott’s injury likely to have been a reason for them not winning it. They have attempted to address their defensive issues in 2021 but head coach Mike McCarthy could hold them back.

A difficult season in 2021 is expected for the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants, despite a good offseason, still have their own issues at the quarterback position despite their promising head coach.

There is a feel good atmosphere in Washington once again after a difficult few years both on and off the field.

With the health of Dak and the question mark around Dallas’ defense and head coach, there is a tremendous opportunity for this Washington team to capitalise and win the NFC East once again.

The post Can Washington retain the NFC East appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Noah Nichols

When the Washington Football Team played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs last season, nobody expected a close game.

Everyone predicted a blowout win for the Buccaneers. After all, the starting quarterback for Washington was a little-known player named Taylor Heinicke. Expectations were low for Washington as the game began and even lower for Heinicke.

Instead of a blowout loss, Washington was within eight points of tying up the game. Ultimately, they fell short, due to injuries and drops by receivers. However, the loss did not quite feel like a loss. Washington had seen a star rise that night.

Taylor Heinicke nearly led Washington to a victory against the heavily favored, more talented, Buccaneers that night. He threw for 306 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 46 yards, and one of the most spectacular rushing touchdowns ever seen.

Heinicke had to push through a separated left ACL joint, that he played with throughout the entire night. He also was not helped out by his receivers, who had five drops that night. Thus, the reason for the hope that rose that night in Washington. Heinicke showed real potential.

Whether he starts as the quarterback next season for Washington or not is uncertain. Heinicke flashed potential that night. Perhaps he won’t be the starter. But as Ron River said, “He (Heinicke) has created an opportunity for himself.” Even if Heinicke is not the Starter, perhaps he could be like another quarterback in his conference, Taysom Hill.

What exactly would Heinicke do similarly to Hill? Hill is the more athletic player of the two, but Heinicke showed that he was faster than his combine 40-time of 4.7. Heinicke is arguably the better passer, being the only quarterback of the two to throw for over 300 yards in a game. And he did it against one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Heinicke could come in for packages like Hill does and be a threat to run or pass the ball. Washington has upgraded their receiver core, and defenses would have to respect the passing game. And the thing is, Washington has no clear number one quarterback.

So not only could Heinicke be brought in for packages, he potentially could win the starting job. And even if he did not win the starting job, Heinicke would be a great backup for whoever won the starting job. Defenses could not prepare for him, because they would be focused on planning for the starting quarterback.

If he were the starter, then the question is, can Heinicke be good enough to win, week in and week out? Perhaps. Look at what the New Orleans Saints did with Taysom Hill as the starter last season. The Saints were 3-1 with Hill. Sure the Saints have a great offense and defense, but the teams are not as far apart as you might think.

Washington might have the best defense in the NFL. They have a young, exciting receiver group led by Terry Mclaurin. And Antonio Gibson is a growing star player at running back. So Washington has all that it needs to surround Heinicke with talent.

It really is up in the air how well Heinicke would play as the starter, or even as the Taysom Hill role player. Heinicke could come in for special packages, and provide splash plays that way. But he would have to do it more with his arm than his legs. He just is not as good a runner as Hill. So if Heinicke were to come in and run the ball himself, most likely he would not provide splash plays the way Hill does on the ground.

However, Heinicke the Buccaneers game provided a glimpse of potential as a runner. Heinicke did well against the best linebacker tandem in the league. The question is, can he do it for a season, even as just a package player. There is no way to know the answer to that question. We just have not seen enough of Heinicke to know.

But Heinicke could come in to pass the ball, while still providing a little bit of a threat to run. He has shown that he can do it. However, there is no reason to bring Heinicke in to pass the ball in special packages, unless he is a serious threat to run the ball.

Sean Peyton does not bring Hill in to pass the ball, he has Hill pass the ball on rare occasions because he takes advantage of defenses playing the run. Unless Heinicke can offer potential as a runner, there is no reason for Heinicke to come into the game to pass the ball. 

So, Washington could bring Heinicke in a game to be the “Taysom Hill” of the offense. But unless Heinicke has grown as a runner, that probably won’t happen. The only thing that helps Heinicke in this regard is how bad Washington’s quarterback room is. They do not have a clear starter. So Heinicke could win the starting job, as a passer, and still provide some sort of threat as a runner.

Will Heinicke be the next Taysom Hill? No. And the only way he starts for Washington is if he outplays all the other quarterbacks on the roster, which is certainly possible. But even Ron Rivera did not name Heinicke as the starter. Otherwise, Heinicke is most likely a capable backup. But he won’t come into the game as a “Taysom Hill” type player unless he can become a threat on the ground. Otherwise, Washington has no reason to put Heinicke into a game.

The post Could Washington use Taylor Heinicke like Taysom Hill? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.