2020 Wish List for All 32 NFL Teams
We have finally arrived at Super Bowl week and by Monday morning, we will be without NFL football for several months. While we should enjoy this final week, it’s already time to look forward at what the 2020 NFL season could look like. We have the combine at the end of February, free agency in March, and of course, the 2020 NFL Draft in April. Stay tuned to The Fantasy Headliners all offseason, as we’ll be here covering the combine in Indianapolis and the draft in Las Vegas on location.
For now, though, all our writers got together and collaborated on one article for all 32 teams for the upcoming offseason. You could say this is our wish list for each team, containing potential free agent signings, draft picks, personal changes and much more. What could the perfect offseason look like for each team? Lets find out…
Arizona Cardinals (Chris Chous)
Kyler + Kingsbury = Exciting!
When we discuss the Arizona Cardinals and how they chose to perform a full rebuild in consecutive seasons, we must applaud the move. Hiring Kliff Kingsbury and drafting Kyler Murray to create a foundation, to begin with, was questionable, but we must promote positives where we find them.
Kyler Murray was one of our favorites coming out of last year’s draft as we truly believe in the skillset he possesses. The largest issue on this offense has to again be the inadequate forming of this offensive line, and the complete drop off of their star running back David Johnson. While we’ve witnessed this script far too many times with young quarterbacks, the Cardinals need to start this offseason in finding appropriate protection for their young passer if they hope to get better on the field. Furthermore, seeing Johnson take such a decline would normally force the offense into a complete downward spiral, acquiring Kenyan Drake from Miami kept the ship afloat.
Adding to that, this Cardinals defense also requires a great level of refinement, but for our appetite, if the situation presents itself in the NFL draft-how good would CeeDee Lamb look on this offense? While the great Larry Fitzgerald has already confirmed his return for the 2020 season, passing up an elite talent like Lamb would be ill-advised. Lamb has the potential to be in the Julio Jones category, which would leave the Cardinals with a spectacular situation for many years to come. In our opinion, Arizona should shop Johnson to help improve the offensive line, draft Lamb at eight overall (if there), and secure more talent on the defense in the rest of the draft and free agency. There are many things to like on this team, but building a future will be very important starting this offseason.
Atlanta Falcons (Chris Chous)
Elite Underachievers!
Whenever we get into a conversation about the Atlanta Falcons, we always seem to be flabbergasted in how to appropriately assign evaluation. In reviewing this roster as a whole, there is no question the multitude of talent that exists. This offense which is led by Matt Ryan and Julio Jones rarely disappoints to giant levels, but always leaves us feeling we want much more.
Heading into the 2020 offseason having failed to reach the playoffs, we had thoughts of a massive firing spree for the coaching staff. At this point, they have basically remained the course which we view as positive. Continuity counts for a lot with the Falcons especially when it comes to Ryan. Looking to have kept their offensive coordinator for another season to build from, this roster is literally one season away from being blown up and fully rebuilt.
Offensively the Falcons still hold many elite talents but require more offensive line assistance. On paper, the unit appears to have enough, but on-field action would suggest a different opinion. While we have no issue with the pass catchers on this team, adding a running back to potentially replace Devonta Freeman is something we can surely endorse. Though Freeman remains a talented player, injuries have made him difficult to trust and we’d be searching for an upgrade 100%.
From the defensive side of things, many holes continue to be overlooked by general manager Thomas Dimitroff, but should become a priority this offseason. Adding fuel to the fire, the Falcons are in real cap trouble holding a mere 10.7 million on the books with high-value players to resign. While we would like to witness more defensive assistance added, the money will be a massive problem that could leave the Falcons looking much the same in 2020. In our eyes, there is one year left of this regime as a whole, and ownership will bring down the gauntlet.
Baltimore Ravens (Chris Kennedy)
Upgrade the Pass Rush
The Ravens had a great run this season, pun intended. Where they lacked was in their pass rush. Losing only three games all year, (including the divisional-round game against the Titans), Baltimore was only able to generate one sack per game. They ranked 27th in overall pass rush according to PFF. Matt Judon was their most productive pass rusher this year and he will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. If Baltimore can’t re-sign him, then their need for a pass rusher will become that more obvious.
Baltimore has the 28th pick in the first round of this year’s draft. I think targeting an edge-rushing outside linebacker with this pick is the way to go. Three names they should keep their eye on are Julian Okwara from Notre-Dame, Yetur Gross-Matos from Penn State and Jon Greenard from Florida.
Buffalo Bills (Chris Chous)
Very Bright Future!
When you look back at the past two seasons for the Buffalo Bills under Coach Sean McDermott and General Manager Brandon Beane, it’s difficult to not see the promise. “Trust the Process” has been the mantra for this club since McDermott took over the position, and the way in which this roster has been manipulated, a very bright future is on the horizon.
Starting with Josh Allen and his year-over-year progression, he has definitely made strides to improve the overall fabric of his game. Accuracy issues were the problem coming into the NFL, but in year two, Allen managed a healthy six percent improvement in that category while decreasing his interception rate – all sound positives. While this offense could use more offensive line help, we would love to see Buffalo add more dynamic receiving weapons to aid in the potential power they could eventually become. John Brown definitely had a breakout of sorts, but adding a true number one receiver would make all the difference.
While the offense was much better overall, the talk around the league was and is the play of this defense. Already loaded with young talent, this unit was tops in many statistical categories. Led by Tre White, Tremaine Edmonds, Micah Hyde, and Ed Oliver – the Bills have fabulous pieces already housed. However, the Bills do have holes that should be addressed this offseason beginning with; adding edge rushers, another linebacker, and defensive back help to create shut down tandems. If the build continues properly, this defense could challenge to be the best in the NFL in 2020.
While teams can always improve, the Bills have a foundation built with steel and iron. With nine picks in the upcoming draft and over 80-million in free cap, Buffalo could rise faster then we think.
Carolina Panthers (Chris Kennedy)
Shore Up the Secondary
The Panthers didn’t have a terrible secondary by any means, ranking 11th in pass defense DVOA. Of the six cornerbacks on their roster, four of them are set to hit free agency this offseason. Three of those four (Cockrell, Bradley, and Elliott) combined to allow just three touchdowns on 182 targets this year. One of the corners that will still be under contract next year is Donte Jackson, and he was arguably the worst of the bunch, allowing 641 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2019.
Carolina has the seventh pick in the 2020 draft, and top cornerback prospect Jeff Okudah of Ohio State might not be there when it comes time for the Panthers to pick. So, they could address their need along the defensive line and then target a cornerback in the second round. Another option would be to trade back into the middle to late first round and grab their corner there. Here are some options to look at with both scenarios:
Second Round Corners: Damon Arnette, Ohio State and A.J. Terrell, Clemson
Mid-Late First Round Corners: C.J. Henderson, Florida and Trevon Diggs, Alabama
Chicago Bears (Chris Kennedy)
Clear the Lane for Monty
The Bears used the 73rd overall pick in the 2019 draft on Iowa State junior, David Montgomery. His usage by Matt Nagy had been questioned throughout the year, as Montgomery saw 20 or more carries just four times during the season. When he did get the ball, he didn’t have a lot to work with as his offensive line had just 3.86 adjusted line yards, fourth-worst in the league. Montgomery himself averaged just 3.7 yards per attempt. The Bears have weapons at the receiver position, and they don’t seem ready to move on from Mitchell Trubisky just yet. So if they want to really make this a well-rounded offense, then they’re going to need to improve the run-blocking. Chicago’s best-run blocker wasn’t even in the top 60 among offensive lineman, according to PFF.
The Bears are without a first-round pick in the 2020 draft, as they sent that to Oakland in the Khalil Mack trade, but they do have two picks in the second round. The Bears won’t be working with a ton of cap space (just over $20 million), so they could look to the draft to address their need for a run blocker or two. Some potential targets that they could land in round two of the draft this spring are Solomon Kindley from Georgia, Deonte Brown from Alabama and Ben Bredeson from Michigan.
Cincinnati Bengals (Kyle Richardson)
Just Don’t Screw This Up
Zac Taylor probably didn’t envision picking first in the 2020 NFL Draft when he signed on as Head Coach of the Bengals prior to the 2019 season. Here we are though, and the Bengals now have the opportunity to replace Andy Dalton with Joe Burrow, who is coming off the greatest single season for a QB ever. In case you missed the stats, Burrow threw for 5,671 yards while completing 76.3% of his passes and threw for 60 touchdowns compared to only six interceptions. It’s been a while since the first overall pick has been this cut and dry for a team.
In 2020, I just want the Bengals to not screw up this opportunity. Andy Dalton gets no love for his time in Cincinnati, but he could have been a lot worse. The time to move on is now and Burrow is a Day 1 starter in the NFL. He will have plenty of weapons with John Ross, Tyler Boyd and potentially A.J. Green if he returns. Joe Mixon in the run game will keep opposing defenses from playing the pass too aggressively and the offensive line will be much better in 2020. After several injuries occurred to start the season, including first-round pick Jonah Williams, it made the unit look much worse than it should have been this past season.
The Bengals could have a very good offense in 2020 under the direction of Taylor. Don’t overthink this, don’t trade the pick, don’t draft Chase Young. If the Bengal’s do anything with the first pick other than draft Burrow, they screwed up.
Cleveland Browns (Kyle Richardson)
Chubb is Your Best Bet
The Freddie Kitchens nightmare is finally over and it’s time for the Cleveland Browns to move on, hopefully to better times. Recently the Browns named Kevin Stefanski head coach after 14 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, last of which was as offensive coordinator. So, what do I want to see from the Browns in 2020?
While Stefanski relied on establishing the run with the Vikings last season, the same should be seen with Nick Chubb in Cleveland. As good as Odell Beckham Jr. is, Chubb is the best weapon the Browns have on offense and using him in the same way Stefanski utilized Dalvin Cook in 2019 will fully tap into the Browns potential. Expect Stefanski to utilize play-action early and often next year.
Kirk Cousins had 142 pass attempts when using play-action last season, 11th most in the league. Mayfield saw a dramatic increase in production in 2019 when using play action. Mayfield’s completion percentage went from 56.4% on non-play action attempts, to 66.5% on play-action attempts. His passer rating also saw a dramatic rise, going from 68.8 to 102.5. While most quarterbacks will see more success out of play-action, not many saw the dramatic difference Mayfield did. This offense should take a huge step forward in 2020.
Dallas Cowboys (Chris Kennedy)
Defense, Defense, Defense
The number one priority this offseason for the Cowboys will be to try and re-sign Amari Cooper, and that shouldn’t be too difficult because Dallas will have about $80 million in cap space. Outside of Cooper, the Cowboys need to focus on their defense and it’s not just a single area that needs help. The biggest needs will be at cornerback and safety as Dallas ranked 23rd in pass defense DVOA, allowing the second-most yards to tight ends this year. Some of the better free agents this offseason will be corners and safeties, and these are just a few of the names the Cowboys could target:
Anthony Harris (S)
Chris Harris (CB)
Byron Jones (CB)
Justin Simmons (S)
Dallas also has the 17th pick in the draft, so if they’re able to sign a free agent or two for their secondary, that would allow them to draft a prospect to join their front seven - specifically defensive tackle. Christian Covington struggled this season as an interior run stopper, so here are a couple of names that the Cowboys could target to try and shore up the interior of their defensive line:
Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
Raekwon Davis, Alabama
Denver Broncos (Jesse Hiatt)
It’s Go Time
To cap off the 2015-2016 season, the Broncos won the Super Bowl and Peyton Manning retired. The following season the team went 9-7, missed the playoffs, and team legend and General Manager John Elway was given a five-year contract extension. Since the extension, the team has won less than 40% of its games and hasn’t had a winning season in that span. So, with two seasons left on his contract and new ownership on its way (either by way of sale or inheritance/appointment), one way or another it’s go time for Elway.
Over the next two seasons, Bradley Chubb, Von Miller, Phillip Lindsay, Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, and Drew Lock all can be under team control, with Lindsay an RFA after the upcoming season. With Vic Fangio still aboard as Head Coach for a second year and Pat Shurmur now hired to be the team’s fifth Offensive Coordinator in as many seasons, Elway has his coaches and a core of players he plans to use to get the team above .500, back into the playoffs, and earn himself a new contract.
Now, needing to complete the rest of the roster to make the difference, going all out, who might those players be? Look for all major moves to be made through the draft, smart economical moves will be made in free agency, but nothing fancy. While the Broncos have above average cap space at the moment (projected as 11th most available as of today), it’s because Derek Wolfe, Chris Harris, and Justin Simmons are pending free agents and they’ll still need cap for the draft picks and down the road for keeping the core.
Goals in the draft? Two defensive backs (a corner and safety), a wide receiver to compliment Sutton, a beefy defensive lineman to eat blocks for Chubb and Von, every-down ball hunting middle linebacker, and offensive line help. With seven picks in the first four rounds, there are lots of opportunities. It’s a make or break draft, will Elway and Broncos go to the playoffs, or will Elway just go? If it was my draft, it might look something like this.
1st/#15–Kristian Fulton –CB -LSU
2nd/#46–Trey Adams -OT -Washington
3rd/#77–KJ Hamler –WR –Penn State
3rd/83–Jordan Elliot –DL –Missouri
3rd/#96-Cesar Ruiz –C/OG -Michigan
4th/(tbd/own pick/midround) –Malik Harrison/Paddy Fisher –LB –Ohio State/Northwestern
4th/ (tbd/SF pick/end of round) –Julian Blackmon –S -Utah
Detroit Lions (Kyle Richardson)
Time to Make Up for 2019
If you watched our live draft special on The Fantasy Headliners last season, you may have seen me get pretty upset over the Detroit Lions draft pick of T.J. Hockenson. That is in the past and now the Lions can make up for that pick by doing the correct thing with pick three in the 2020 NFL Draft. There are only two appropriate options for the Lions this season. The first one would be Chase Young falling to the third overall pick, but that isn’t likely to happen. Second of all, the Lions can make it up to me with one move - trading back.
With teams still confident that Tua Tagovailoa can be a franchise quarterback, the Lions should be able to see some action for their pick. The Dolphins are a popular choice to make the move up because of the draft capital they hold, but there are other teams who could offer lucrative proposals to get in front of the Dolphins. Even though Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn are on their last legs, they still need to keep the future of the franchise in mind. These are the types of trades that set up a franchise for years to come.
The strong performance from Justin Herbert at the Senior Bowl is also a big plus. Teams knowing they have a multiple options to trade up for could increase the suitors Detroit had for their pick. If a team doesn’t like Tagovailoa because of his hip injury, then Herbert may be the next option to come up and get. Detroit needs to knock this out of the park and then make sound picks. They cannot afford another draft with no game-changing players.
Green Bay Packers (Chris Kennedy)
Upgrade the WR2 Position
It’s been a couple of seasons since the Packers have had a wide receiver, (not named Davante Adams), who have caught more than 38 passes in a season. Adams missed four games this year and still finished with 83 receptions for 997 yards and five touchdowns. While he’s clearly the number one option, Aaron Rodgers does need another receiver to complement Adams. Their estimated cap space this offseason is just over $29 million and there are solid receiving options in free agency. Rodgers is 36 years old so we don’t know how much more of a window he has in terms of competing for a Super Bowl. With that said, here are some names that the Packers could target this offseason without breaking the bank:
A.J. Green
Breshad Perriman
Demaryius Thomas
Now, if they decide to draft a receiver with the 30th overall pick, they should still have some very nice options to choose from:
Tee Higgins, Clemson
Justin Jefferson, LSU
Laviska Shenault, Colorado
Henry Ruggs, Alabama
The Packers haven’t drafted an offensive skill position in the first round since Aaron Rodgers in 2005, and maybe they wait until round two to address the wide receiver position. There are rumors that tackle Bryan Bulaga could test free agency, so maybe Green Bay goes after an offensive lineman in the first round. It’ll be hard to pass on the above pass catchers, though.
Houston Texans (Chris Kennedy)
Let Free Agency Be Your Friend
This season, despite a 10-6 record and winning the AFC South, the Houston Texans were a team of mediocrity. They finished middle of the pack in most offensive categories, and average to below average in most defensive categories. I feel there are a few areas that the Texans need to address this offseason but for this article, we’re just going to focus on edge rushers as I feel that takes top priority.
The problem is that Houston doesn’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, so they’ll need to try and find their needs in the second and third round, and also in free agency. The Texans will have about $60 million in cap space this offseason and there are some notable names that could help fill those much-needed voids. Let’s take a look at potential free agent edge rushers that could fit within the Texans scheme:
Jabaal Sheard
Shaq Lawson
Jamie Collins
Bud Dupree
And in the draft, here are some names that the Texans could target in the second and third rounds:
Terrell Lewis, Alabama
Curtis Weaver, Boise State
Josh Uche, Michigan
Indianapolis Colts (Chris Kennedy)
Draft a Playmaking Pass Catcher
Since 2014, the Colts have been in the top ten in offensive points scored every other year. This season they averaged 23 points per game, which was the sixth-lowest average in the league. Their star wide receiver, T.Y. Hilton, only played 10 games and the Colts had to rely on a platoon of young receivers to carry the load. This wasn’t an ideal situation for Jacoby Brissett, who was thrown into the starting role after Andrew Luck announced his sudden retirement during the pre-season.
Brissett may or may not be the quarterback of the future for the Colts, but as long as he is the quarterback he’s going to need some help. Indianapolis holds the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft and they could have the opportunity to grab one of the top two wide receivers in this class. Jerry Jeudy, from Alabama. At 6’1”, 192 pounds, and just 20 years old, Jeudy is considered one of the best route runners in this class. Jeudy averaged 1,239 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns his last two years at Alabama. He may not be available by the time the Colts pick, but it’ll be a steal for them if he is.
The other option is Oklahoma wideout, CeeDee Lamb. He’s about an inch taller than Jeudy and just as productive. Over his last two seasons with the Sooners, Lamb averaged 1,242 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. There are questions about his slim frame, but some time in the weight room will fix that. Lamb has excellent ball skills, great body control, and his hands are as sure as can be.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Kyle Richardson)
Pick a Starting QB…….Fast
Last offseason the Jacksonville Jaguars invested $88 million over four years to bring Nick Foles down from Philadelphia. The contract may have been short-lived because Gardner Minshew not only played well while Foles was injured, but he replaced Foles after he came back from injury and couldn’t perform. Have the Jaguars decided on who their QB will be at the start of the 2020 season? New offensive coordinator Jay Gruden will have a say and hopefully, he has his say sooner rather than later.
I am hoping the Jaguars make a decision on their QB during the off-season. It is going to be important for the starting QB to get their run with the first-team offense in Gruden’s system. Just because Foles and Minshew both have time with the starters last season doesn’t mean it’s not important for them to learn the new system together.
Minshew’s skill set is going to be the perfect fit for Gruden’s West Coast scheme that will utilize play-action much more often than last year. Foles has the upper-hand though because he has the money invested in him. Unfortunately, that’s why this may drag out longer than we need. As easy as the decision may look on paper, it will likely be much more difficult for the coaching staff and front office.
Kansas City Chiefs (Chris Kennedy)
Plug the A Gap
We all know that the Chiefs are known for their explosive, high-powered offense led by Patrick Mahomes. We also know that in 2017 and 2018 their defense ranked in the bottom half of the league in points and yards allowed. 2019 saw a big improvement in both of those areas, but it was their run defense that really struggled. In 10 of their 16 regular-season games, the Chiefs allowed over 100 rushing yards, and in five of those 10 games, they allowed at least 180 rushing yards. They won’t have a lot of cap space this offseason, (about $21 million in total), so they’re going to need to address this need in the draft.
The Chiefs will have either the 31st or 32nd pick in this year’s draft, depending on what happens on February 2nd at Super Bowl LIV. Some mock drafts have the Chiefs taking an offensive lineman or an edge rusher here, but the Chiefs have one of the best offensive lines in the league and their pass rush is still above average. I’m looking at defensive tackles with this first-round pick, and here are some names that could be available:
Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
Raekwon Davis, Alabama
Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
Las Vegas Raiders (Miguel Chapeton)
Ready to love again-a post-Antonio Brown story
Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden went all-in on Antonio Brown last winter and on the surface, it looked like a home run move for the Raiders. As we now know, Brown didn’t even make it out of training camp before being released and that ended one of the most tumultuous player/team marriages we have ever seen in the modern era.
The Raiders went the whole year with Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow as there two main wide receivers and that’s not a duo that strikes fear in anyone across the NFL. This offseason its time for the Las Vegas Raiders to start a new, and one option might be AJ Green. Green missed all of 2019 with an ankle injury and has a history of injuries, so counting on a full 16 games is not a given from him. But on a short term deal to help mentor the young core before he retires, he could be a steal for them.
In the draft, the Raiders have the 12th and 19th pick in first and three third-round picks, so they have the ammo to reload at the position in a strong draft class. If CeeDee Lamb is there at #12 or Tee Higgins/Reagor at #19, as any would immediately take over the WR1 role (unless they sign AJG), and would be one for the young faces of the franchise for a team in a new city trying to attract a local fanbase.
However, they may choose to wait on the wide receiver position –especially if they sign AJG –so here is where the Raiders can get some great value at the position and Bryan Edwards would be my top target for them here. Edwards is entering the NFL at the tender age of 21 coming off a dominant Senior year at South Carolina where he posted a 40% Dominator Rating. Bryan Edwards looks like Michael Thomas clone and would be a great prospect to sit behind AJG for a year.
Los Angeles Chargers (Chris Kennedy)
Time to Look Towards a Rebuild?
For the third time over the last five years, the Charges have failed to win more than five games in a season. This recent debacle comes off a 12-4 season last year then eventually saw them eliminated by New England in the divisional round. Philip Rivers has sold his California home and has moved to Florida, stating that he wants to be “closer to home”. It sounds like his days as a Charger are over.
Among other star offensive players that will hit free agency this offseason, is running back Melvin Gordon, and budding star tight end Hunter Henry. You also have Austin Ekeler, who is a restricted free agent. I’m not saying that L.A. won’t re-sign Gordon, Henry, or Ekeler, but these are names that will be offered some large salaries by other teams and it might just be time for the Chargers to move on and look to rebuild.
With that said, they do have the sixth pick in the draft this year and where else to start a rebuild than at quarterback. Oregon’s Justin Herbert is a name that has been linked to this pick by a few mock drafts out there. I really hoped that he had declared after last season because he would have been a great pick for the New York Giants at number six, over Daniel Jones. While Herbert isn’t the most talented quarterback in this class, he has a great arm that teams love, though some scouts question his consistency as he underwhelmed towards the end of this season. If they don’t decide to grab a quarterback here then I think that defense will be the way to go, but my bet is still on Herbert.
Los Angeles Rams (Kyle Richardson)
Gurley Back to Being a Featured Back
The Los Angeles Rams have one job in 2020, it’s plain and simple. The Rams need to get back to using Todd Gurley as a featured back. After an injury limited Gurley down the stretch and in the playoffs in 2018, you could tell the Rams were being cautious with him at times in 2019. The Rams paid the man, now use the man
In 2017, Gurley saw 22.8 touches per game and in 2018, he had 22.5 touches per game. In 2019, that dropped dramatically to 16.93 touches per game. The Rams offense seemed off at times, especially when on the road. Even though most analysts contributed these struggles to Jared Goff and his inconsistencies, the argument could be made that missing Gurley as the main threat in the offense hurt Goff.
The Rams still have all the pieces needed to have an explosive offense and with an addition to the offensive line, they could be right back to their 2018 form. For that to happen, however, they need to lean on Gurley again and get the most out of him. You cannot be afraid that your running backs will get hurt, because they are all typically banged up. You paid the guy like one of the best in the league, now let him be one of the best in the league.
Miami Dolphins (Kyle Richardson)
A Second Chance to Draft the Future
For a team that was supposed to tank and get the number one overall pick this season, the Miami Dolphins sure did play a lot better than anyone expected. After finishing 5-11, the Dolphins will pick from the five-hole, but they also have the 18th and 26th overall pick. The Dolphins are widely expected to draft a quarterback early, but will they need to move up to do it? They have the draft capital to make it happen.
After a great showing in the Senior Bowl by Justin Herbert, teams may be tempted to wait for him to fall or possibly Tua Tagovailoa if his medical records aren’t outstanding by the time the draft gets here. The Dolphins need to focus on Tagovaila and move up to make it happen. They have Ryan Fitzpatrick to anchor the team in 2020 and still have Josh Rosen as well. If they take Tagovaila, they will be able to wait for him to get healthy and ready to roll.
More than likely, Tagovaila was the Dolphins top target to begin the season but since the emergence of Joe Burrow, the injury to Tagovaila and their unlikely ability to win five games, they did not fall out of the sweepstakes. Take this second chance to get your guy and make the move. Moving up two spots to three overall with the Detroit Lions won’t take a ton. If they can make it happen and only trade one first-round pick in the process, it’s a big win.
Minnesota Vikings (Miguel Chapeton)
Chicks Dig the Long Ball
The Minnesota Vikings made quite the 180 degree turn on offense this year after being a pass-happy team in 2018. However, one thing we learned was that if Diggs or Thielen get hurt, there is absolutely nobody behind them. Remember when Chad Beebe was a thing? So depth at the position is going to be key, but most importantly they need someone who can be a decoy and stretch the field to open the underneath lanes for Diggs and Thielen.
They could go the free-agent route and sign someone like Robby Anderson, whom we know has the dangerous speed that defenses fear and can also make the big play downfield. But given that the Vikings are currently projected to have $5M dollars in cap space I just don’t see this happening.
So instead they turn to the draft and use two of their picks to shore up a depleted wide receiver core that was forced to sign both Josh Doctson and Laquon Treadwell (twice) this season. The Vikings first pick comes in at #25 and they would be in prime position to take a guy like Henry Ruggs here. Ruggs should run 4.3 40 –rumors say he can run 4.2 –and he would be an instant dynamic piece that can really change the way the Vikings play on offense. Another 1st round option –although it would be a reach –is Brandon Aiyuk who also has elite-level play speed. Finally, on day three they should begin to draft Thielen’s replacement. While I love Thielen, he is about to turn 29 years old and is coming off a year where he was often injured. Devin Duvernay projects as slot wide receiver and would be a good fit behind Theilen to learn the ropes until his time comes.
Potential Free Agent: Robby Anderson
Draft Class: Brandon Aiyuk, Henry Ruggs, Justin Jefferson, Devin Duvernay
New England Patriots (Chris Kennedy)
Get Tommy Some Weapons
The 2019 season was a roller-coaster for Patriots fans. As hot as the team started, it just as quickly lost steam. There are a lot of reports that Brady played through various injuries during the second half of the season, but for anyone who watched the games, it was clear to see that the offense just wasn’t your typical Patriots offense. It was the first time since 2009 that they didn’t finish in the top five in offensive points scored and only the second time that they failed to crack the top ten in offensive yards. Yes, their offensive line was dealing with multiple injuries throughout the year, and Brady did look as though he was starting to slow down, but the man is 42 years old and he needed help that just wasn’t there.
New England has the 23rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, and depending on what they do with their pending free agents (Brady included), they’ll have about $40 million in cap space. Brady, D. McCourty, Van Noy, Slater, Dorsett, and Collins are all notable free agents that the Patriots will try to re-sign.
There are a few things they can do this offseason, at least things I think they should do. First, acquire a receiving tight end that won’t be a liability as a run blocker and a veteran wide receiver. You won’t find another Rob Gronkowski or George Kittle out there, but here are some tight ends and receivers that could fill a need for the Patriots offense:
Austin Hooper
Hunter Henry
Charles Clay
A.J. Green
Breshad Perriman
Robby Anderson
Another option would be to contact Tampa Bay and try to re-engage in talks for O.J. Howard. Bruce Arians clearly don’t have any intention of involving him in the offense, so maybe the Patriots can lure him away. If they want to look at the draft, here are some prospects for them to consider:
Cole Kmet, Notre Dame (TE)
Henry Ruggs, Alabama (WR)
Justin Jefferson, LSU (WR)
Tee Higgins, Clemson (WR)
New Orleans Saints (Chris Chous)
Window Closing!
Heading back to the start of the 2019 season, the Saints were one of our top choices to reach the super bowl. While that didn’t happen, the Saints bowed out in the first round of the playoffs, leaving many questions to be answered for this club.
Everything starts and stops this offseason at the quarterback position and if the great Drew Brees will again string up the cleats. The interesting aspect for this club was that Brees did miss time which opened the door for Teddy Bridgewater, and the Saints didn’t miss a beat. Nevertheless, Brees is still our choice when it comes to promoting this team as one of the league’s best next season and retaining him should be priority one.
While this roster is built with very sound pieces on both sides of the ball, one major issue this season was with the run game. Surprising to say, but Alvin Kamara was a giant disappointment by most accounts not generating the heavy production in having the lead role. It was clear as the year wore on in how important Mark Ingram truly was to this attack. The Saints tried to recreate the running tandem with Latavius Murray, but it never materialized to high-end levels.
While adding another runner to this offense could be seen as a priority, giving Michael Thomas that capable secondary receiving option should again be at the top of the list. Becoming that feared unstoppable force offensively is the goal and finally adding a weapon to move coverage from Thomas would be a welcomed sight.
While we fully believe that Brees will be back for one more kick at the can, adding playmakers to round out the roster to once again contend for the Super Bowl will be the notion. New Orleans is loaded, leaving small but important improvements on the horizon.
New York Giants (Chris Kennedy)
Bring Back the Nascar Defense
There was about a five year stretch during the late 2000’s to the early 2010’s when the New York Giants were known for their fast and furious pass rush, known as “Nascar”. This defense helped them win Super Bowls in 2007 and 2011, both over the New England Patriots. Over the last three seasons, the Giants have ranked in the bottom third of the league in defense points and yards allowed. They went out and traded for defensive end Leonard Williams, in the final year of this contract with the Jets. Williams will certainly be looking for a hefty contract and the Giants will certainly make a push to re-sign him. They’ll have some cap space to work with since they will no longer have Eli Manning’s $21 million on the books.
The Giants will have the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. One option would be to trade up to the second spot so they can acquire Ohio State’s Chase Young, but the Redskins also have a glaring need at pass rusher. Another option would be to trade back in the first round, acquire more picks, and then still take a defensive end. Here are some players they can target moving back, but still staying in the first round:
Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
A.J. Epenesa, Iowa State
Jon Greenard, Florida
The Giants also have other needs, but I feel that addressing the defense should be their top priority.
New York Jets (Jesse Hiatt)
It’s Going to Get Worse Before it gets Better
What a roller coaster year it was to be a Jets fan. A year ago, one flew over the cuckoo’s nest when failed Dolphins Head Coach Adam Gase was hired to the same position by the Jets. Two months later excitement spikes though, as the Jets make not one, but two major free agency signings. Bringing in C.J. Mosley to help Jamal Adams bolster the defense and then sign one of the best every-down running backs in recent years, Le’Veon Bell. Fast forward another month to the draft, the excitement continues, Quinnen Williams blessed himself into fans’ hearts and Jachai Polite had the potential to not only be a steal, but the edge rusher New York desperately needed. Then it happened. GM Mike Maccagnan gets fired, Polite gets cut before the season, Mosley has a never-ending injury, pending free agent wide receiver Robbie Anderson goes to the trade block, and rumors of Bell and Adams being traded catch fire. Unfortunately, it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
I want to be the optimist here; it should absolutely be the time to buy in for the team. Put the #11 overall draft pick to use for a receiver like Ruggs or Higgins, or any number of offensive linemen. That comes after you do some more spending in free agency, and get a pass rusher like Clowney, Griffen, Fowler, or someone else. Despite the last off-season, the Jets still have the ninth highest amount of salary cap available.
Reality? Gase is not going anywhere soon. Bell likely is though and no one in this league gives up much in trade for a running back. Even if Bell stays, Gase will be allowed to bring in a running back he wants and be given the opportunity to succeed. To do that, it means draft or salary capital, capital that should be spent on a lineman, an edge, a receiver, and a corner. Here’s to hoping Gase has a Gruden type 2019 NFL draft, turning it around while we’re all mocking him. In actuality though, I expect it to be a McDaniels on the Broncos type legacy. Hang in there though Jets fans, it gets better. Eventually.
Philadelphia Eagles (Kyle Richardson)
Get Wentz Some Weapons
The Philadelphia Eagles have one goal this off-season. Bring in offensive weapons at wide receiver. One of the biggest issues the Eagles faced in 2019 was the lack of playmakers and depth at the position. The Eagles are set at tight end with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. They also have Miles Sanders at running back. The one thing they are missing is the big-time playmaker at wide receiver.
The wide receiver class in 2020 is loaded, but the Eagles should not wait on the position. There are several wide receivers that will go in the first round and even though cornerback is a much-needed position, the Eagles will need to score points in a division with the Cowboys, Redskins, and Giants. Alshon Jeffery can’t stay healthy and Nelson Agholor is a free-agent, but do they really want him back? J.J. Arcega-Whiteside didn’t make the impact in year one the Eagles would have hoped for. By the end of the season, they were relying on Greg Ward Jr. to make an impact at the position. Spend the first and get your playmaker to help your franchise quarterback. Focus on cornerback later in the draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Chris Kennedy)
A Changing of the Guard
The Steelers have a few issues this offseason. They don’t have very much cap space, they have some key defensive players on expiring contracts, and they don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft. Ben Roethlisberger still has two years left on his contract and I think the move here would be to draft a quarterback in the second round and let him sit behind Roethlisberger for a year before taking the reigns. It’s clear that neither Mason Rudolph or Devlin Hodges are the answers as the future signal-caller for the Steelers, so it’s time to start looking at this year’s draft for your next quarterback.
There are a couple of prospects that could be available in the second round when it comes time for the Steelers to make their move:
Jake Fromm, Georgia. Some scouts have knocked his arm strength, but he’s a good decision maker with an accurate arm. He’s not the most athletic guy, but stands tall in the pocket and goes through his reads with confidence.
Jacob Eason, Washington. Unlike Fromm, Eason has an extremely strong arm and throws the ball with a purpose. His biggest criticism is that he doesn’t have a lot of experience so he’s still raw and needs to show more consistency.
San Francisco 49ers (Miguel Chapeton)
Youth Infusion for the Secondary
The 49ers have one pick in the first three rounds, only $16M in cap space -as of today -and will have 23 free agents from their own team once the season ends. Needless to say, they have a lot of holes to fill and not a lot of resources to do it, so they better win the Super Bowl this year because they don’t seem to be set up for long term success right now.
The 49ers not only have limited high draft capital but a lot of their picks from John Lynch’s first 2 seasons have not panned out, most notably Solomon Thomas and Ahkello Witherspoon. Witherspoon was supposed to be our Richard Sherman, instead he’s been replaced by Emmanuel Moseley and looks like an absolute bust with each passing day.
Richard Sherman is 31 years old and will be a $9M cap hit next year. Despite his solid play the last 2 years, the fact that he’s going on 32 and cutting him next year could increase our cap space significantly, he’s a prime candidate that needs to be replaced sooner than later.
While there are some decent CB options on the market (see below), look for San Francisco to draft their CB1 of the future with their lone pick in the first 2 days. Paulson Adebo will likely be tied to 49ers due to the fact that every single major Stanford player always is, given the school’s proximity to the team. Adebo is 6-1 184 and had a very good 2018 season, 2019 he took a bit of a step back but given the fact that he’s ranked as a mid-1st rounder he likely won’t make it to the 49ers at picks 31/32. However, CB’s Bryce Hall or Trevon Diggs are ranked 20th and 25th, there is a chance one of them falls to the 49ers with one of the last picks in the 1st round. Any one of them should hopefully be an upgrade over Witherspoon as the heir to CB1 throne.
Seattle Seahawks (Chris Chous)
Offense vs Defense!
Once again we don’t have many negatives for how the Seahawks offense has been built and preforms. Continuing to be that run first club, the talent of Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny was clearly on display and didn’t disappoint. The unfortunate aspect of how the 2019 season ended for the Hawks came down to injuries and their inability to stop teams on the defensive side.
At this point, we can make arguments to suggest improving more so offensively, but for everything we witnessed from this club, the defense is the greatest concern. Long gone are the days of the Legion of Boom, but they still hold many positions of top tier talent. Adding more viable playmakers to the defense will provide even more opportunity to Russell Wilson and this offense. Locking up Jadeveon Clowney should be a top priority, to say the least.
With that said, we still would like to see another wide receiver added to this offense to create something of a powerhouse. With DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett already proving they are worth the price of admission, having that steady high-end possession receiver would make them virtually unstoppable. We could also make a case for Seattle to hedge their bets and find another running back as Carson’s injury history is less than favorable. Nevertheless, the Hawks have a good amount of money under the cap and should be able to once again add talent and contend for a shot at next year’s super bowl.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Kyle Richardson)
Is the QB Decision Really That Tough?
30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Wild throws and beautiful bullets. Exciting endings but frustrating beginnings. Jameis Winston has been a mixed bag of results all season long, but the Buccaneers need to understand he is their best bet right now. Bringing in another quarterback through free agency would mean a quick fix to their problem, but still no long-term solution to the position. So, with that, the Buccaneers have a very important decision to make.
If Bruce Arians and the Tampa Bay front office seriously don’t consider Winston the future QB of the franchise, then they need to make their move for a QB in the draft this season. Right now, their target would likely be Justin Herbert, who still could be the QB3 in this class. They would have a better chance of moving up from 14 to make that pick. That could be difficult though because they don’t have much capital in this year’s draft and a lot of other positions to fill.
Considering all of that, the Bucs need to re-sign Winston this off-season. He already knows the system and has the talent around him to help bail him out of some deficiencies he continues to show. The Bucs can then address all their other needs including the offensive line. Yes, it may make some Bucs fans sick. Yes, it may give you high blood pressure to watch their games. Signing Winston to another deal makes the most sense right now.
Tennessee Titans (Chris Chous)
Real or Pretend?
When we review what the Titans were able to accomplish this past season, it’s hard to not be excited at the future prospects. However, this offseason will tell a grand tale on what direction they will move.
Starting back at training camp, I had gone on record to suggest this club would be far better if they benched Marcus Mariota and promoted Ryan Tannehill as the team starting quarterback. While it took six weeks for Coach Mike Vrabel to feel the same, the transition was made and the rest is history. Now with the recent past having the Titans falling to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship, many questions will have to be answered.
First and foremost, do the Titans open the bank and pay their tank of a runner Derrick Henry to a long term big-money contract? Based on the production in 2019 and into the playoffs, we could see Henry locked up and continuing to be the focal point on this offense. The same situation rests at the quarterback position as both Tannehill and Mariota are both set to hit the open market. For our appetite, both players (Henry & Tannehill) have earned another shot to lead this franchise and Tennessee can focus thereafter on filling depth holes and secondary positions.
If the Titans stay the course and resign Henry and Tannehill, the future does look very bright with AJ Brown rounding out the trio which could become very productive and hard to stop. Adding more to the defense would definitely help the overall outlook of this club, but as it stands, the path forward should include Tannehill and Henry in 2020.
Washington Redskins (Chris Chous)
Youth Movement!
When Alex Smith was lost to that catastrophic leg injury, the Redskins basically were forced back to the drawing board. Selecting Dwayne Haskins to be the future of the franchise in last year’s draft, we weren’t overly convinced he would be able to translate into the NFL.
While our initial thought looks to be clearly incorrect, Haskins did improve a great deal as the season wore on. With his receivers Terry McLaurin and Steven Sims Jr making fabulous steps in the right direction, this roster isn’t as dire as some may believe. The largest concern in our eyes is the continuing injury issues with what should be their lead tailback - Darius Guice. If Guice can finally get healthy and back on the field, a great tandem could be formed with Bryce Love also recovering from injury.
With yet another head coaching change in Washington, this time hiring Ron Rivera to lead the ship, we actually like the potential this team could have in 2020. Everything will be contingent on the progression of Haskins, but adding more weapons to this offense is surely not out of the question. Tight end is also a massive concern as Jordan Reed looks to have played his last snaps in the NFL to his concussion problems.
In holding the number two overall pick in this year’s draft, selecting Ohio State standout Chase Young should be a formality and the start of something extremely positive in DC. The youth movement is real and the Skins will be on the rise under much better tutelage with Coach Rivera.
