With the new season upon us, some things will stay the same; nasty stiff arms and hurdles, bone crushing hits, hail mary’s, and Patrick Mahomes making magic. However, with young talent added through the draft, veterans hanging up the cleats, and coaching changes, the NFL has something new in store with every passing year.
Patriots
Last season, quarterback Mac Jones had a sophomore slump from his pro bowl level performance in 2021. Jones lost confidence in the offense while relations with the coaching staff soured, resulting in one of the worst units in the NFL. With former head offensive coaches replaced, Jones is expected to improve. The receiving corps were also revamped, giving Jones a strong receiving corps to cement himself as a solid starter.
Giants
With a slew of injuries and an overall lack of talent, the New York Giants ended the year with one of the worst receiving corps in the league, without a single receiver pulling in over four touchdown passes all season. General Manager Joe Schoen re-signed Isaiah Hodgins, newly signed slot receiver Parris Campbell, drafted Tennessee speedster Jalin Hyatt in the third round, and sent a third round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders to acquire veteran tight end Darren Waller. It is safe to say the Giants have an improved unit and should have a more dangerous offense.
Jets
While the offseason has been monopolized by Aaron Rodgers coming to New York, a sneakily underrated question has arisen: how good can Garrett Wilson get? The first round receiver out of Ohio State was the Jets most productive receiver and a much needed spark for a disappointing Jets offense. Wilson was voted Offensive Rookie of the Year even with the Jets quarterback carousel made up of subpar play callers.
Eagles
The Super Bowl losing Philadelphia Eagles are itching to get back to the big game. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is under contract for the foreseeable future, two defensive weapons out of Georgia, Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, added in the first round, and not enough can be said about the elite duo of A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. However, the offensive and defensive coordinators have both left for head coaching jobs elsewhere, leaving massive shoes to fill.
Bills
The Bills have been on the fringe of a Super Bowl berth for years now, but the offensive line has consistently been a let down. The left side of the line is solid however the right side has some uncertainties with rookie guard, O’Cyrus Torrence and the so far disappointing tackle, Spencer Brown. While the Bills are always a dangerous team because of quarterback Josh Allen, a rowdy Buffalo fan base can only wait so long to make it to the big game.
Commanders
Sam Howell is set to be the starting quarterback this season but insecurities on how well he will perform have already emerged. The Commanders brought in veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett as insurance if Howell struggles. If he booms, the Commanders have a cheap starter for the next three years and can open a window for a Super Bowl push. If he busts, we will likely see the Commanders drafting a signal caller soon.
Ravens
The Ravens have consistently been one of the more hyped up teams during the last few offseasons but offensive weaponry has kept the team from bringing the Super Bowl trophy back to Baltimore. Receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor were brought in through free agency, and a first round pick was spent on Zay Flowers out of Boston College. With all these new pass catchers, fans can expect the receiving unit to no longer be a weakness.
Steelers
Receiver George Pickens was a walking highlight reel last season making ridiculous catches with ease. While not grading as anything athletically special coming out of the draft, there is a ton of value in a receiver who catches just about anything within reach. Expectations are high for Pickens, as chemistry continues to develop with quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Bengals
Quarterback Joe Burrow was made the highest paid player in NFL history this offseason. Unfortunately, his legs have been subject to multiple knee tears and muscle strains, including one this summer leaving him inactive for much of the offseason. It is paramount to the Bengals’ success that Burrow is healthy and stays that way for the entirety of the season.
Browns
The Cleveland Browns have arguably one of the best rosters in the NFL, although quarterback Deshaun Watson is the main wildcard. He was easily a top five quarterback in his time with the Texans but a mix of legal troubles and a desire to leave Houston led Watson to sit out the entire 2021 season. With a complete offseason with the team Watson should be better than last season and if he can get back to old form the Browns could be a Super Bowl contender.
Chiefs
The 2022 Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are looking to repeat and get quarterback Patrick Mahomes a third ring. It is hard to bet against a team which seems to always be a contender, likely why most analysts are projecting the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl in a second straight year. However, the roster does have questions, particularly with the receiving corps.
Cowboys
With quarterback Dak Prescott coming off a season where he threw the most interceptions in the league, serious questions have arisen if he has enough to bring the Cowboys to the Super Bowl. With a talented receiving core, a top tier running back, and one of the best defenses in the NFL, the Cowboys have huge expectations. This offseason the Cowboys acquired potentially promising athletic quarterback Trey Lance and may be looking to replace Prescott as a starter
Dolphins
It has gotten scarier and scarier as the seasons pile up for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The concussions Tagovailoa sustained last season have put into question not only if he is going to lose time this season but if he can continue to play the sport. Repeated head injuries, like the ones he has sustained, are seriously harmful for a person’s mental health. It is a tragic reality for a promising young star, but reality nonetheless.
Vikings
The Vikings tout an impressive offense lead by perennial pro bowler, Justin Jefferson, with a less than impressive defense which ranked 28th in the league last season, according to Pro Football Reference. The Vikings defensive coordinator, was fired and replaced by Brian Flores after his brief stint in Pittsburgh. The hope for Vikings fans is that Flores can fix a team that was bottom three in passing yards, net yards per pass attempt, and total yards allowed.
Lions
The Detroit Lions ended last season on a high note in a serious push for the playoffs but came up short. The Lions have a young roster which should only improve with more NFL caliber coaching and experience working as a unit. However, the roster has a few question marks particularly with the receiving corps, consistency of the run game, pass rushers not named ‘Aidan Hutchinson,’ and the secondary’s performance.
Packers
With Aaron Rodgers out of Green Bay, the job is all quarterback Jordan Love’s to embrace. Love has all of the physical traits: height, arm strength, and athleticism, but has needed time to work on decision-making and footwork. This season is the young quarterback’s chance to put his name on the map and show the NFL what he can do.
Bears
It is year three for quarterback Justin Fields and time is ticking for him to prove himself. He has dealt with some of the worst receiving corps in the league and poor offensive line play, however, the Bears have worked this offseason to not give Fields any more excuses by overhauling the receiving corps and offensive line. The sky’s the limit for Justin Fields and it is time for him to put it all together.
Saints
The news in New Orleans has been all about the acquisition of quarterback Derek Carr. However, in his last season in Las Vegas, he was a liability for the Raiders offense. A 60.8% completion percentage had the gunslinger struggling to command the offense even with running back Josh Jacobs leading the league in rushing yards. It is up to Carr to get his career back on track, and a change in scenery might be exactly what he needs.
Panthers
The Panthers were given the worst odds to win the Super Bowl in their division and tied for the fourth lowest in the league. Quarterback Bryce Young was taken with the first overall selection to immediately improve the position with veterans brought in all across the roster to develop the young talent on the team. The new talent brought in this offseason gives the Panthers a genuine chance to win their division and clinch a playoff berth.
Falcons
When you think of top tier running backs, Christian McCaffrey or Saquon Barkley may come to mind. Both were drafted with very valuable first round picks, similar to the Falcons first round rookie, Bijan Robinson. Robinson, from the University of Texas, put on a clinic his entire college career and was given the same draft grade as McCaffrey and Barkley by leading NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah. The Falcons O-line is also a bright spot on the roster led by All-Pro guard, Chris Lindstrom.
Buccaneers
After the retirement of all time legend, Tom Brady, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed journeyman quarterback Baker Mayfield as his replacement. However, expectations are low with multiple ‘Way Too Early’ mock drafts from sources like Pro Football Focus and Sports Illustrated projecting the Buccaneers to replace Mayfield with a quarterback in next year’s draft.
Jaguars
The Jaguars surprised analysts and fans last season by not only making the playoffs after having the #1 overall pick but also winning a playoff game. However, the offensive line needs to improve to complete this roster and two unproven players will be starting at both tackle positions. Left tackle Cam Robinson is also suspended for the first four games which shakes up the projected starting unit.
Titans
As of recently, quarterback Ryan Tannehill has not been as effective. A weak offensive line and suspect receiving corps has made the once efficient passer struggle immensely with his completion percentage, yards, and touchdowns decreasing while ‘interception worthy’ plays are seeing a rise.
Texans
The Texans were the recipients of the #2 overall draft selection last season. There is a ton of athletic talent on the roster so this is a team on alert to shatter expectations, but the team is still clearly in rebuild with low expectations of making the playoffs this season.
Colts
The pro bowl running back Jonathan Taylor is currently on the ‘Physically Unable to Perform’ list leaving him inactive for the first four games of the season. The Colts are another team in the rebuilding stage so expectations are low for this season.
49ers
San Francisco touts a stellar defensive unit, an elite tight end, an underrated receiving corps, and a fantastic run game. Unfortunately, injuries and a lack of athletic upside at the quarterback position have held the team back.
Seahawks
Quarterback Geno Smith came out of nowhere to be a pro bowler in his ninth season in the league. He aired the ball out to receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett all season long bringing Seattle to the playoffs. The Seahawks added another potential weapon: Jaxon Smith-Njibga.
Rams
The Rams gambled their future for the Super Bowl victory in 2022 and the roster has felt the consequences since. Much of the roster is not made up of big names and expectations have only lessened over the offseason.
Cardinals
Quarterback Kyler Murray tore his ACL in week 12 of last season and has been in recovery for months, physically unable to play. Though Murray was named a captain of the team, some wonder if he should even come back for this season when so many have already projected it as lost.
Chargers
The Chargers spent their first round draft pick on receiver Quentin Johnston. With his skillset, he can be a perfect complement to the other weapons the Chargers have at their disposal and add a new dimension to an already potent Chargers offense.
Broncos
After a disappointing season, the former head coach was fired and the Broncos traded a first round pick for promising new Head Coach Sean Payton. With loads of talent on the roster, there the Broncos have every reason to improve from last year.
Raiders
With tough divisional and conference rivals, the Raiders have one of the lowest odds to win the Super Bowl. Despite this, the Raiders are looking to shatter the low expectations placed upon them with last season’s leader in rushing yards, a top tier receiver, an elite pass rusher, and tons of young talent itching to break out.
