Bearded Twits NFL Franchise Rankings

Mar 23, 2018
22 min read

In this piece we will put each team in order from 1-32 based on performance last year and how they look for 2018 based on free agency signings and general improvements in the off season.

1. New England Patriots

It’s hard to bet against the Pats, they should win their division again and seemed destined for another appointment with Superbowl Sunday. Belichick may look to acquire Brady’s eventual replacement but Tom is fine for at least another year. Offensively, the Pats still have great weapons (Cooks, Gronkowski, Edelman) but they have lost Left Tackle Nate Solder and the reliable Danny Amendola. New England will also have to address the running game, possibly early in the draft, after the departure of Dion Lewis. Josh McDaniels returns to run the offense after flirting with the Colts job earlier in the year. On paper, New England’s defense looks fragile especially given Matt Patricia’s absence but Belichick will find a way to get the best out of un-fancied players as he did for most of last year. They have acquired former first round pick Danny Shelton from the Browns and he should sure up the D-Line. In the secondary, Malcolm Butler has gone but Jason McCourty comes in to join his brother, Gilmore & Chung to make up a formidable unit.

2. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings had a season to remember and one of the best in recent years with one win away from a Superbowl appearance. Early on in the season, Sam Bradford went out with a knee injury, propelling Case Keenum into the starting quarterback role. Its safe to say Keenum excelled. The Vikings offense in 2017 was something special with receivers like Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen turning up in a big way and making consistent plays. Their offense provided the protection Keenum needed to make plays from the pocket and were good opening up holes for the run game. Defensively, it didn’t get much better, the Vikings defense was ranked number 1 in the NFL during the regular season and played exceptional football. The coaching staff did a fantastic job and managed on and off field duties well. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings offense performs next season with the loss of Pat Shurmur to the Giants head coaching job. But with the addition of Kirk Cousins, there’s no doubt it will be a great year in Minnesota.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers look like a great team, possibly the best when reviewing like for like players at all positions, but they couldn’t put it all together last year and came up short. Roethlisberger, Bell & Brown are as good as it gets for a triumvirate at the key offensive positions and, with a really strong offensive line, they could/should dominate their division in 2018. The Steelers have a propensity for slipping in games they should win and it’s on Coach Tomlin’s shoulders to make sure this trend doesn’t continue. On the defensive side, there are a few gaps on the roster that could be addressed in the draft and the loss of Ryan Shazier, for at least this season, leaves a big hole in the Linebacking corps. Look for the Steelers to add secondary help through the draft and there should still be some decent corners available when they have their first round pick in April. A Steelers/Patriots Championship game would be a treat and it’s about time they supplanted their divisional foes.

4. Philadelphia Eagles

Clearly 2017 was the Eagles best season in their franchise history capping it off with a Superbowl win. Offensively they gelled Carson Wentz threw incredibly well until his season ending injury. Nick Foles proved the entire NFL fan base wrong by stepping up to the plate and running the offense with class and talent. Their offensive line blocked well and protected both quarterbacks well for the most part. They have had some big departures on offense, LeGarrette Blount has gone to the Lions and Trey Burton is now a Bear. No doubt they will have to draft well to replace key figures, but they are still in a great position on offense with players like Carson Wentz, Jay Ajyai, Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor and a superbowl winning back up QB in Nick Foles. Doug Pederson coached incredibly well last season and made some bold and daring plays, non-more so than the infamous philly special in the Superbowl. That ability to trust his players and be daring in the toughest situations really makes Pederson an exciting head coach to watch. Defensively, Jim Schwartz led them to become one of the best in the league in 2017. A nod has to go to rookies like Derek Barnett and Rasul Douglas who played outstanding as well as early 2017 acquisitions like Chris Long and Timmy Jernigan. The Eagles made yet more great free agency signings and have bolstered their defense more.

5. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams were by far the most improved team. They got rid of Jeff Fisher and introduced Sean McVay as the HC of which many people were sceptical given his tender age of just 32. However, the team came out fighting and instantly looked like a different team. Jared Goff looked confident and threw balls that were highly accurate. He handed the ball off to their stand out player on offense in 2016, Todd Gurley who had an outstanding season. If he keeps up that kind of productivity into 2018 they will be a team to be reckoned with on offense. Defense was just as good and their main standout guy came in the form of Aaron Donald who played some balls out football in 2017 solidifying himself as one of the greats. In free agency they signed some big names to their roster. Marcus Peters comes over from Kansas to replenish that secondary and is paired with Aqib Talib from Denver. If they can also land Ndamukong Suh, that defense will be a force to be reckoned with in 2018.

6. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons struggled throughout the 2017 season after their first three games, they then suffered three consecutive losses. Even with this, they put together 10-6 season securing a wild card spot in the playoffs. Their offense played well and Matt Ryan put up some good numbers with some great plays with Sanu and Jones. Defensively the Falcons also played above average and utilised their available weapons. There was concern surrounding the Falcons after their 2016/17 Superbowl loss to the New England Patriots and whether there would be any hangover from their devastating loss. They go into the 2018 season with Dan Quinn as HC, Steve Sarkisian as OC and Marquand Manuel as DC.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags probably surprised themselves by reaching the AFC Championship game in January and they probably surprised everyone else by how close they ran the Patriots to get within minutes of reaching Superbowl 52. The key for the Jags this year is to continue to surprise and Coach Marrone is a canny operator who can position his team well enough to keep winning. The defense should be a top 5 unit again with only Paul Posluszny not returning. The team can cover Posluszny’s play easily enough but his leadership qualities may be missed. Corners AJ Bouye and Jalen Ramsey are easily the best tandem at that position in the league and they should dominate again this year. Blake Bortles will be under center again despite widespread criticism and inconsistent play. Bortles isn’t elite by any stretch but he does provide continuity for this team and he has weapons around him to allow him to be successful. A division title and playoff run should be achievable again.

8. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have a great quarterback in Russell Wilson. However, he cannot perform at the level he is expected to when his line does not protect him. We saw Wilson scramble for his life nearly every snap in 2017 and it didn’t get better for the entire season. Their defense held up their end of the bargain, with some minor mishaps along the way, but really the troubles were all on the offensive line. They have made some signings in free agency and have added offensive guard, DJ Fluker which will help at that vulnerable position. But the Seahawks need to do more for Wilson. He needs a new Tight End, he needs some receivers and that line has to improve. The Seahawks will have to draft well to address those much-needed positions if they stand a fighting chance in 2018, especially in such a tough division, and overall tough conference.

9. New Orleans Saints

The Saints played great football in 2017 and that was partly them establishing an exceptional running game using rookie Alvin Kamara alongside veteran Mark Ingram to complement each other in exceptional fashion. That took the pressure of Drew Brees making the decisions he ultimately made the right ones. The offensive line protected Brees and opened up holes for Kamara and Ingram to run through. Their defence played well in breaking up the passing game, but struggled when it came to stopping the run. They have made some free agency signings at CB and ILB which will add to the defense. They will also need to draft intelligently and address positions that currently have a need. They looked good in the post-season until their unfortunate defeat to the Vikings following that mishap from Marcus Williams on Diggs. But 2018 looks good for the Saints, they have Drew Brees back for two more years and with that brings stability and focus along with the return of a solid coaching crew.

10. Los Angeles Chargers

I still want to call them San Diego!! The season ended too soon for the Chargers in 2017 as they finished strong and built a nucleus of players that should excel in 2018. Coach Lynn was impressive as he pulled the team around after a shaky start. Offensively, the Chargers have a number of weapons. Melvin Gordon is a good, productive runner and Keenan Allen a top end receiver. Hunter Henry should come out of the shadow of Antonio Gates to become one of the top Tight Ends in the league. The O-line looks strong with the boost of Mike Pouncey as center snapping to erstwhile QB Philip Rivers. Defensively, the strength is in the pass rush with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram amongst the league elite. Elsewhere, the Chargers could do with some upgrades and depth especially in the secondary. I like the Chargers for a playoff berth and it will be a great battle with KC for the division crown.

11. Green Bay Packers

Green Bay’s troubles started when Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone in week 6. That kickstarted a miserable run for the Packers with Brett Hundley taking centre stage as QB. The Packers offence struggled all season and never gained any momentum with or without Rodgers. With Aaron Rodgers out, the Packers star receiver, Jordy Nelson struggled to produce under Brett Hundley. Their offensive line was married with injuries with both starting tackles out for the first time in Week 2 and the struggle continued throughout the season. The offense was not the only side of the ball that struggled in Green Bay, the defense did not turn up when it was needed and were ranked 23rd in passing defence and 17 in rushing defense in the league. Hopefully with Rodgers back to full strength and under a new offensive coordinator in Joe Philbin we may see the Packers win more games than the 7 from 2017. During free agency the Packers signed another weapon for Rodgers in Jimmy Graham and a new defensive weapon in Muhmmed Wilkerson at defensive end.

12, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas have a mixed offense of young and old. Prescott and Elliott will continue to grow and utilise the talents they have. Prescott didn’t play well in 2017 and everyone is looking at him to improve in 2018 as im sure Jason Garrett is to. Before Elliot’s suspension, his production was minimal, however on his return, he looked at the peak of his game. Dez Bryant is still a question mark for Dallas and his lack of production have been a problem the past two year and will be trying for the Cowboys. Wide Receiver is a position they need to look at in the Draft. Defensively Dallas rely heavy on the offense to produce, but with players like Sean Lee at linebacker making plays and elite pass rusher Demarcus Lawrence, their defense is in prime position to maximise plays. However, they produce where they need to, and propel the offense to the right position. Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones will need to draft well and ensure they address their key areas of need. I think the Cowboys improve on their 9-7 2017 record but not by a significant margin.

13. Tennessee Titans

The Titans seem to be setting themselves up for a run at a championship this year and who would bet against them. The offense looks 1 receiver short of being a top 5 unit led by Marcus Mariota who, at times, looked like an elite QB in 2017. The running game looks healthy, despite the departure of DeMarco Murray, as Derrick Henry should pick up lead duties and Dion Lewis has arrived as a change of pace option. Delanie Walker is one of the league’s top Tight Ends and provides a high number of catches as well as a redzone threat. The O-line is a really good group and all 5 starters, form 2017, return this year. The defense has some aged veterans but should be a good unit. Malcolm Butler has been added to an already decent Cornerback group and Kevin Byard broke out in 2017 as one of the better safeties in the league. Pass rush is provided by vets Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan and the D-Line looks strong behind Jurrell Casey. One area of concern would be Linebacker where they lost Avery Williamson to the Jets but, maybe, the current group of players can improve under the tutelage of new HC Mike Vrabel.

14. Kansas City Chiefs

As I’m writing this, I’m thinking a lot rides on Patrick Mahomes. The rookie of a season ago is relatively untested and that may be the problem here. If Mahomes lives up to his weighty billing then the Chiefs could win the division and progress through the playoffs. Mahomes will have help around him with Tyreek Hill, Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce and recently arrived Sammy Watkins providing the highlights. The O-line is fine although some depth may be needed here. The defense has a few holes but veteran players Justin Houston and Eric Berry, if fit, are high calibre peformers and recent additons, Anthony Hitchens and Kendall Fuller, should provide plus play. Andy Reid won’t be happy with how the 2017 season developed so expect to see a tougher, more resilient combined effort in 2018 to see the Chiefs as one of the stronger teams in the AFC.

15. San Francisco 49ers

2017 saw Kyle Shanahan take over HC duties. Introducing a young offensively minded coach made all the difference. Their season was troubled at the QB position with Brian Hoyer under center. Their O Line struggled as well as their defense. However, the midseason signing of Jimmy Garoppolo revitalised the team. After Jimmy G took over, the 49ers who had only won one game at this point, won all 5 games. Towards the end of the season the 49ers defense ranked 4th in the NFL in total yards allowed per game drastically improving on their performance at the beginning of their season. They have made some great signings in free agency which will help both offense with Jerick McKinnon, the running back from Minnesota and Richard Sherman the all pro cornerback from Seattle. 2018 looks to be an exciting season for the 49ers and Jimmy G is onboard with one of the biggest contracts the NFL has seen.

16. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers started the season off by drafting weapons for Cam Newton. However, the offense really struggled in 2017 and never really found their stride. The offensive line had their own struggles and did not block effectively which meant Cam was running far too often. The Panthers replaced GM Dave Gettleman with Matt Hurney who made shockwaves by trading away Kelvin Benjamin mid-season. However, after that move, they receiving core started producing more and gelled slightly, although by this point it was too late to really capitalise on the momentum. Defensively they were middle of the pack and performed above average. They have lost some key players in free agency however, for example Andrew Norwell, starting offensive guard has now moved to the Jaguars and with him he takes a lot of experience and talent that will need replacing. The Panthers will have to make some important draft choices to ensure that the line holds up in 2018 and have added Zach Banner in free agency. More weapons for Cam are also needed.

17. Buffalo Bills

The Bills exceeded expectations in 2017 with a Playoff berth and they should be there or there abouts this year. Buffalo have jettisoned under valued QB Tyrod Taylor to the Browns and brought in AJ McCarron, it’s hard to know if that’s an upgrade and they may well look to the draft to add some competition in this area. LeSean McCoy returns for his 10th season but the receiving corps is underwhelming and will need bolstering through the draft. The O-line lost Cordy Glenn from the Left Tackle spot but the trade felt like a good move given his injury problems. It will be interesting to see how Sean McDermott does in his sophomore year, he should improve and the Bills would be wise to guarantee him a good couple of years to completely turn the franchise around. The Bills defense has been stellar in recent years and the D-line and Secondary should be good again. Buffalo could use improvement at the Linebacker position where, currently, the listed starters are average at best. A good draft, and a couple of other veteran signings, should see Buffalo in the mix again for 2018.

18, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens always feel like a team that are only a couple of players away from winning it all especially with Coach Harbaugh still in charge. Going in to this season, they might be a little short of that mark. Joe Flacco’s play at QB has been inconsistent but he lacks playmakers around him to take the pressure off his shoulders. Baltimore have added Michael Crabtree and John Brown to its receiving corps but they’ll need to address this position high in the draft. The running game should be good in 2018 with Alex Collins, Buck Allen and Kenneth Dixon making a nice 1-2-3. The O-line is a strength with standouts Marshall Yanda and Ronnie Stanley. The defense looks strong with most positions covered but they are collectively getting older and the team need to think about acquiring replacements for the likes of Terrell Suggs and Eric Weddle as well as adding much needed depth to the unit. Jimmy Smith is a good corner and Marlon Humphrey should improve further in to his 2nd season. Overall, a team that can get a winning record and push for the playoffs.

19. Chicago Bears

The Chicago bears played as well as could be expected in 2017. Offensively they had two standout rookies in quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and Running Back Tarik Cohen. They played well given the coaching challenges which ultimately led to the firing of head coach John Fox. Offensively there is a lot to be optimistic about going into 2018, especially with Trubisky looking good and gaining more confidence. Trubisky replaced Glennon in week 5 and played well in his first starting game, minus one pick towards the end. Defensively the Bears have a powerhouse in Kyle Fuller who really showed up in 2017 and hopefully will continue that drive into the 2018 season. With Matt Nagy taking over head coaching duties for the 2018 season as a new HC, it will be interesting to see how he holds up. Matt Nagy brings with him a huge amount of experience on the offensive side of the ball, which Trubisky and the Bears need in 2018 to propel them to a better season. The Bears kept hold of defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio which is considered a great move by fans and other coaching staff.

20. Houston Texans

Houston appear to be a team ready to step up in 2018. I’m not completely sold on Deshaun Watson yet but he should return healthy and, hopefully, pick up where he left off. De Andre Hopkins is one of the best receivers in the league but, after him, there’s not much else and Houston will have to add playmakers in the draft as well as a serviceable Tight End. Lamar Miller leads the rushing attack but he’s not elite and this may be an area of concern. The O-line looks inexperienced but could be OK, players will have to step up here and take their opportunity. The return of a fully fit JJ Watt on defense will be important to the Texans hopes this year but he has a decent supporting cast and this should be a strong unit. The addition of Tyrann Mathieu improves the safety positions and, through Jadeveon Clowney, the D should continue to pressure opposing QBs. Bill O’Brien will be hoping for a little more luck on the injury front and a return to Playoff action.

21. Detroit Lions

The Lions started the 2017 season making a splash with big contract news and the signing of Matt Stafford to the biggest contract in NFL history. With their investment in Stafford confirmed, it was up to him to produce. Sadly, the offensive line let him down in a big way in 2017. The additions of TJ Lang and Rick Wagner failed to boost the offensive line as much as was expected, that coupled with the early injury of Taylor Decker hampered them from the start on the line. Nowhere is this more visible than Stafford’s sack statistics, 47 in total. The lines production did not improve in the run game either, and the Lions finished dead last in rushing yards for the season. The defense struggled equally as bad as the offense in 2017. They were ranked 18th against the run giving up over 112 yards per game, they were 20th in sacks and 27th overall in yards surrendered. It’s clear some smart choices need to be made on defence. They have had a well-rounded free agency period with the additions of two new weapons for Stafford on offense in LeGarrette Blount at Running Back and Luke Wilson at Tight End. With Matt Patricia on board as the new HC, things are already looking up for Detroit.

22. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders underachieved in 2017 and, a short while after, our old friend Jon Gruden became head coach. Gruden fits the Raiders perfectly and he may be able to play on the ‘us against the world’ mentality that say them through in their heyday. On offense, most of the pieces are already in place for this team. The O-line should be one of the best with at least 3 potential pro-bowlers. Derek Carr and Amari Cooper both had down years in 2017 but they are too talented to continue on a downward trend. Jordy Nelson was added as a direct replacement for Michael Crabtree opposite Cooper but they’ll need a bit more receiver depth and an upgrade at Tight End. Doug Martin has arrived to join Marshawn Lynch in the backfield to make a nice pairing. The defense, however, is not in good shape and, if it weren’t for Khalil Mack, you’d be struggling to name anyone who contributes at a high level. The draft should focus heavily on D but they’ll still need the veteran players to step up if they are to challenge in a tough division.

23. Washington Redskins

Washington’s 2017 season was hampered by injuries on both sides of the ball as well as some questionable coaching decisions. Offensively, Cousins was at a disadvantage right from the beginning after a number of injuries hampered their performance. Three key offensive linemen, Spencer Long, Shaun Lauvao and Trent Williams were all out at the same time forcing the Redskins to play musical chairs on the line, with less talented linemen. That was further hampered by the loss of Cousins go-to targets, Chris Thompson and Jordan Reed along with the disappointing showing from Terelle Pryor. On defence, they were also hampered by injuries, most notably Matt Loannidis, Terrell McClain and leading tackler Zach Brown as well as the loss of their high draft pick defensive tackle, Jonathan Allen. There were however two standout performances in 2017 on D, which give some confidence to fans and coaching staff going into 2018. Kendell Fuller at Cornerback outshined elites Breeland and Norman, impressing everyone who watched him. The next surprise standout was 2nd year defensive linemen, Anthony Laniers. He had spent time on the practice squad in year one and stepped up big when given the chance in 2017. Coaching decisions were tormented by injuries, but one of the most disappointing was that of Greg Manusky as Defensive Coordinator and fans share this sentiment. Under Manusky, the Redskins defence ranked 26th in points allowed 21st in yards.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa bay suffered in 2017. Jameis Winston didn’t play at the level that was expected of him and struggled to find any rhythm behind that offensive line. In theory, the Bucs should have had a much better season if you were to assess them on talent alone but this simply did not come together as a unit. This was also true of the Running Backs and Doug Martin did not hit above 3 yards per attempt. The defense struggled also in 2017 due to a lack of playmakers and quality in the secondary. They have addressed this in free agency with a number of singings on defense for example Vinny Curry, Beau Allen and Mitch Unrein as well as John Pierre-Paul from the Giants in a recent trade.

25. Miami Dolphins

Miami still has some good players despite the departure of Landry, Suh, Pouncey etc. The return of Ryan Tannehill should be an improvement on the failed experiment we saw with Jay Cutler in 2017. Kenyan Drake looked good after Jay Ajayi left for Philadelphia, and a Superbowl, so the running game could be strong if the O-line play can improve. Miami will miss Landry’s catches but his yardage should be easy to cover. Adam Gase will need to figure out the best way for the offense to stay on the field and a decent Tight End will be needed if the offense is to truly flourish. Defensively, Miami have a good-looking set of pass rushers led by Cam Wake and off-season addition Robert Quinn. Last year’s first round pick, Charles Harris, will need to improve to see increased snaps in this unit. Elsewhere on defense, Miami has good, young talent (Davon Godchaux, Xavien Howard) and an all-pro Safety in Reshad Jones. Overall, Miami seems unlikely to push for the playoffs but an improved team culture and a good, sensible draft could put them in the mix.

26. New York Giants

The Giants had one of their worst seasons for years in 2017. Offensively saw troubles from every group, Eli did not play well in 2017 and was even benched in favour of Geno Smith by then head coach, Ben Macadoo. The outcry of that decision and the results led to the firing of Macadoo towards the end of the season. Offensive line is something that in 2017 showed severe holes in its line-up. Ereck Flowers has been given another chance, and he should count himself lucky for getting that, because he does not deserve it. The offensive line has an addition in Nate Solder for 2018 who has been the Patriots workhorse since 2011 and has put up some great production. Odell Beckham is back for 2018 following his fractured ankle against the Chargers early on in the season which will be music to Pat Shurmer’s ears. The will also get Brandan Marshall back after his season ending injury. Defensively they also need to improve massively. Last year was a struggle on both sides of the ball and the Giants hve two key departures in Jason Pierre-Paul and Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie. They have signed some good defensive players in free agency though to make up for these losses. It will be Pat Shurmer’s first season as a Head Coach, he has one hell of a job in front of him.

27. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are a tough team to judge at the moment but they seem like a team in decline that hasn’t yet decided to rebuild. I was expecting Marv Lewis to go after last year but he has stayed and, despite being an outstanding coach, I think that leaves the team in limbo somewhat. Andy Dalton is a decent QB but he’s struggled at times and he hasn’t elevated his game well enough to give Bengals fans confidence that he’s the man for the long haul. AJ Green is an exceptional receiver and Joe Mixon should be a feature back this year in his 2nd year. The O-line improves with the acquisition of Cordy Glenn but it’s still not an impressive looking unit. There’s youth and experience on defense but again a lack of true quality apart from D-Tackle Geno Atkins and Pass Rusher Carlos Dunlap. The secondary has some potential but needs improvement and more depth. I fear a losing season for Cincinnati and one where, probably later in the year, they realise they need to start rebuilding.

28. Denver Broncos

Vance Joseph now knows that being a head coach in the NFL isn’t easy. The Broncos losing season, in 2017, wasn’t just down to poor QB play although that certainly played a part. The arrival of Case Keenum, for me, doesn’t do enough to propel this team back to where it’s been as recently as Superbowl 50. Keenum played well in Minnesota last year but he will still need the offense tailored to suit him and he lacks the playmakers around him to thrive. CJ Anderson returns as an above average runner and Demaryius Thomas is an excellent receiver but they lack receiving depth and the Tight End position needs an upgrade. The O-line has decent starters but the Broncos should look to draft potential replacements for at least 2 positions (LG & RT). The defense is the strength of this team although they have lost vet Corner Aqib Talib to the Rams. Von Miller continues to be an elite pass rusher and he’s ably assisted by a number of other plus defenders. In a tough division, it seems unlikely the Broncos can make the playoffs this year.

29. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are another team that struggled in 2017. They were weak at both offense and defense this past season. Carson Palmer struggled to really find any momentum as he was nearing the end of his career. The offensive line struggled to protect Palmer and also struggled to make holes for the running backs finishing 31st in the league in rushing yards per attempt. Defense faired a little better and finished 6th in the league in rushing yards allowed. They have made some signings in free agency to address their offensive line in the shape of Justin Pugh and Andre Smith as well as signing QB Sam Bradford, on which the jury is still out. They have a new HC in Steve Wilks and 2018 will be a year of tests for the Cardinals.

30. Cleveland Browns

I’m going to try and keep this short but I could probably write a book on the Browns this off-season and heading in to the draft. Some nice trades and decent free agent signings gives this team hope for the first time in a long time. Tyrod Taylor arrives at QB, unless a rookie comes in and blows the coaches away in camp, and he’ll have weapons around him (Landry, Gordon, Coleman, Njoku). Carlos Hyde looks like the starting running back unless the team can somehow pull off drafting Saquon Barkley and the QB of their choosing. The O-line still looks strong but the retirement of Joe Thomas leaves a massive hole as it would for any of the 32 teams. The defense played nicely at times in 2017 and it has a lot of young talent (see recent high draft picks) as well as some sneakily good players that fly under the radar such as Joe Schobert at Middle Linebacker. Coach Jackson will have his work cut out piecing it all together but the winless seasons are hopefully over and the Browns can start competing again.

31. New York Jets

The Jets played well at times last year despite clearly being in rebuild mode and lacking star quality players. So far, in free agency and with the moves they’ve made, I don’t see enough of a potential improvement to think they’ll fair any better this year and Coach Bowles may well be on the hot seat. The Jets have moved up to #3 in the draft to apparently take a QB. As it stands, NYJ have Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown pencilled in for a battle to take signal caller duties. I like Bridgewater but he hasn’t played enough since major injury to suggest he can become a true franchise QB. The Jets lack playmakers on offense but the recent signing of Terrelle Pryor should help whichever QB goes under center and Robbie Anderson is an above average starter if he can stay out of trouble. On Defense, the Jets have some good young players especially in the secondary. Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye performed well as rookie safeties last year and they have added Trumaine Johnson to man the outside. There are too many holes in the roster on both sides of the ball at the moment to think that anything other than an outstanding draft will help them compete in 2018.

31. Indianapolis Colts

As it stands, I think the Colts will draft #1 in 2019. A few things could change that outlook and the main one is the return of a fully healthy Andrew Luck. Luck is a high end QB who can carry the team on his back but only when he’s fit and he hasn’t been for some time. Looking at the Colts roster, it’s hard to see much hope as most positions need upgrading. The Colts have moved down in the 2018 draft, to acquire more picks, and this gives them the opportunity to bring in multiple players to try and improve the team this year. In reality, this team is at least 2 years away from competing again and the new coach will have his work cut out to keep the motivation/effort at the optimum level. The Colts will need good seasons from young players such as Marlon Mack, Quincy Wilson & Malik Hooker especially as the AFC South is now one of the strongest divisions with the emergence of both Tennessee and Jacksonville as serious contenders. A long season ahead in Indy it seems.