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NFL teams most likely to go from worst to first in 2020
We have talked a lot about the draft, biggest remaining needs for every NFL team, some breakout candidates and other stuff, so let’s now get back to more of a big picture and look at some teams from an angle of where could they go next season. In this article, I am analyzing those teams that finished fourth in their division this past year and why they could win it in 2020 or land at the bottom once again, plus an outlook where I actually see them. Of course much of this is about these eight teams and how much better or worse I feel about them than the general public, but it was heavily dependent on their three division rivals as well. The top half I could certainly see earn a playoff spot and surprise some people if everything goes right. After that a lot of my faith is more built around the lack of great competition and giving some hope to these respective fan bases. As the cliché goes – everybody is 0-0 right now. https://preview.redd.it/rs90lt6ckf751.png?width=720&format=png&auto=webp&s=3ddfc8945862472b52b5ef8c69076acde904c44c
1. Arizona Cardinals
Why they can win the division: Let’s just start with the main point here – this Cardinals squad has all the ingredients to make a big jump in 2020. I expect Kyler Murray to enter the superstar conversation in year two, after impressing with his arm talent and ability to extend plays in a (somewhat controversial) Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign. Steve Keim managed to unload a bad David Johnson contract and basically acquire an elite receiver in DeAndre Hopkins for a second-round pick. Kenyan Drake now has a full offseason to learn this offense and make himself a major factor once again, following up an outstanding second half of the season once the Cardinals traded for him with Miami. He perfectly fits into this offense with a lot East-West based rushing from shotgun sets and his involvement in the pass game, including those quick throws as an extension of the rushing attack. Arizona’s defense should be a lot better with run-stoppers being added in the draft that fit their 3-4 base front with Utah’s Leki Fotu and LSU’s Rashard Lawrence, since they can stay in those packages against the other teams in their division running a lot of 12 and 21 personnel probably. Add to that a do-it-all player with ridiculous range and overall athleticism in Isaiah Simmons at eight overall, plus all the other guys being in their second year under DC Vance Joseph. I love Budda Baker as a missile from his safety spot and I think some of the other young guys on that unit will take a step forward, like second-year corner Byron Murphy, who I talked about last week. Now let’s get to rest of the West – every other team in that division has some issues. The 49ers are facing the objects of a potential Super Bowl hangover and some limitations with Jimmy G at the helm. The Seahawks have question marks on the edge on either side of the ball with Cedric Ogbuehi and Brandon Shell fighting for the starting gig at right tackle and Jadeveon Clowney still on the open market, with a bunch of draft picks these last couple of years having to step up. And the Rams had one of the worst O-lines in football last season and they lost some pieces on defense. The Cardinals already gave all these teams issues in 2019 and have now added pieces that were clearly missing when last matching up against each other. Why they could finish last again: Most importantly, I am still not completely sold on the Cardinals offensive line, with D.J. Humphries being signed to a rather expensive deal as a below-average left tackle, third-rounder Josh Jones – while earning a late first-round grade from me – still needing an overhaul on his footwork before he can slide in at right tackle and guard Justin Pugh finally having played a full 16 games for the first time since 2015 last season. NFL coaches had a lot of time to study Kliff Kingsbury’s Air-Raid offense, which when you break it down is pretty simplistic in the amount of schemes they run. Yes, he diversified it a little as last season went along, going under center and running some pro-style rushing plays, but at its core, you can learn how to create some issues for all those mesh concepts and spread sets. As far as the Cardinals defense goes, it is more about pieces than proven commodities. Patrick Peterson is seemingly on the decline, they are thin in the secondary and could Chandler Jones follow soon, after he has been one of the most underrated pass-rushers in the league for a while now? You are staring the reigning NFC champs in the eyes, a team that was a few inches away from earning a playoff bye and another squad that went to the Super Bowl just two years ago. This is probably the best division in the entire league. Bottom line: I still believe the 49ers have done enough to repeat as division champs, re-tooling for all the losses they have suffered this offseason. However, I’m feeling pretty good about the Cardinals earning a wildcard spot. While I believe in the Seahawks quarterback and the Rams head coach respectively to not allow their teams to not have throwaway seasons, I also see enough issues with those squads to make me believe the Cardinals could have the second-best year of anybody in the West. To me they are pretty clearly the best of these eight teams, because they have a young phenom at quarterback, stars at pretty much every position, a different type of system around them and what I’d like to call “juice” coming into 2020. https://preview.redd.it/anrr9erfkf751.png?width=720&format=png&auto=webp&s=5655b4452baff2691a0e060e8d70918d58801a4c
2. Detroit Lions
Why they can win the division: Matt Stafford is back healthy and when he was in the lineup last season, this was a team that defeated the Eagles, Chargers and only didn’t finish the job against the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs because of some crazy stuff going on late. The veteran QB stood at 19 touchdowns compared to five picks and was playing at a near-MVP type level. However, Detroit’s identity will be built on the run game with re-investments in the offensive line as well as adding D’Andre Swift to form a dynamic one-two punch with him and Kerryon Johnson. Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones may be the most underrated receiving duo to go with Danny Amendola as a tough guy in the slot and T.J. Hockenson coming into year two as a top-ten pick a year ago, having shown flashes when he was healthy. The defense is finally starting to take shape with third-overall Jeffrey Okudah as an elite corner prospect being added to an underrated secondary, Jamie Collins being a chess piece in the front seven after already having worked well with Matt Patricia and some young guys up front trying to prove themselves to go with the versatile Trey Flowers. Maybe more importantly than the Lions themselves – Nobody else got that much better and none of the other three really stand out to me. Other than the Vikings probably – who had the advantage of making a record-breaking 15 selections – the Lions might have had the best draft within the division. Thanks to that last-place schedule, they get to face the Redskins in the East (instead of Eagles & Cowboys) and Cardinals in the West, who I just talked about taking a step forward, but are still a better draw than the reigning conference champions or possibly having to travel to Seattle. I believe that new regime in Detroit has finally built an identity on both sides of the ball with the heavy investments in the run game and back-seven on defense. Winning ten games might earn you a division title, if everybody plays each other tough. Why they could finish last again: Can these guys finally stay healthy? Matt Stafford to my surprise played a full 16 games in eight straight years before last season, but a lot of that had to do with his toughness to fight through pain and he had major issues with that shoulder early on in his career before basically breaking his back after putting the team on it for the last decade. Kerryon Johnson has missed 14 of 32 possible starts and he has never carried the ball more than 118 times a season. Their receiving corp has been banged up quite a bit too. More glaring even – how will all these additions of former Patriots players work out? Can Matt Patricia build a New England 2.0 in Michigan or is he just bringing in players he knows will listen to him and the way he wants things to be done? Detroit could also rely on a lot of rookies to be immediate impact players – possibly two new starting guards on offense, running back D’Andre Swift probably sharing the load with Kerryon, Jeffrey Okudah having to immediately become their CB1 and Julian Okwara being asked to become a much more consistent player if they give him major snaps. And I recently talked about how their uncertainty at punter could be an issue for their ball-control, defense-minded style of play. They also have an early bye (week five), which I’m never a big fan of, after facing the Bears, Packers, Cardinals and Saints, which probably includes three playoff teams. If Chicago can get any competent QB play, all these teams should be highly competitive. Bottom line: I don’t think any team in this division wins more than ten games. Unfortunately I don’t see the Lions go over that mark themselves either. The Packers won’t come out victorious in so many close games (8-1 in one-possession affairs), the Vikings have lost a few proven commodities and look for young talent to immediately replace those and the Bears still have a quarterback competition going on. So if Detroit can do any better than just split the season series with those three teams, I see them finishing above .500, but ten wins is the ceiling for me. In terms of the competition inside the division, the Lions may be my number one team in this conversation, but I see a much clearer path to things crashing down for Matt Patricia and them having another disappointing season than I do with the Cardinals. No team in this division may finish below that 8-8 mark. https://preview.redd.it/7ivo914ikf751.png?width=720&format=png&auto=webp&s=d029ddd274b78e78f5bc932d00086b8c697a466e
3. Miami Dolphins
Why they can win the division: When you ask the general public, the Buffalo Bills right now are the favorites to win the AFC East, but they haven’t done so since 1995 and they still have to prove they really are that team. The Patriots lost several pieces on defense and Tom Brady of course, which probably leads them to starting a quarterback, who over his four career pass attempts has thrown more touchdowns to the opposing team than to his own. The Jets are still building up that roster, with GM Joe Douglas trying to plant seeds on burnt earth, and they face a BRUTAL schedule. So Miami has a lot of things going in their favor for an organization that I believe in what they are trying to build. Depending on what happens at quarterback, you could have a veteran in Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was by far the best inside the division in several key categories last season and/or Tua Tagovailoa, who had one of the most prolific careers we have seen from anybody in the SEC. They added at least two new starters on the O-line, they now have one of the premiere cornerback trios in the league with the all-time highest paid player at the position in Byron Jones and first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene to go with Xavien Howard and with some added beef up front, they are finally looking a lot like what Brian Flores had in New England. DeVante Parker really broke out over the second half of 2019 and Miami should have a much better rushing attack because of the additions up front and two quality committee backs in Jordan Howard and Matt Breida being added. They have two other young pass-catchers ready to break out this upcoming season in tight-end Mike Gesicki and a UDFA receiver from a year ago in Preston Williams. Whenever Tua’s name is called upon, he will be a perfect fit for Chan Gailey’s horizontal passing game. Why they could finish last again: As much as I like what I see from this entire organization, it is probably just a year too early for Miami. So many young players could be thrown into the fire and a lot of them I look at as needing that experience – 18th overall pick Austin Jackson (USC) is more of a developmental tackle still with his footwork and hand-placement issues, 30th overall pick Noah Igbinoghene (Auburn) has only played cornerback for two years and was bailed out by his athletic tools at times, third-rounder Brandon Jones has to develop more of a feel in deep coverage and at least one more rookie lineman will likely start for them. Even outside of this year’s draft class, they already had several players on their roster that are still moving towards their prime. Whether you look at last year’s first-rounder Christian Wilkins, a lot of second- and third-year pass-catchers or their young linebackers outside of Kyle Van Noy. The Bills are entering year four of that turn-around under Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane, the Patriots still have the greatest coach of all time and will be a tough matchup solely based on that and the Jets at least have people playing for their jobs, plus a very talented young quarterback I still believe in. As much as I doubt Adam Gase, as long as Sam Darnold doesn’t get mono again, the offense should at least be competent, and the defense could potentially have a top-five player at every level with All-Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams, an 85-million dollar linebacker in C.J. Mosley and my number one prospect in last year’s draft on the interior D-line with Quinnen Williams. Bottom line: As I mentioned before, the Bills are the front-runners in this division for me. As much respect as I have for Bill Belichick, I haven’t seen enough from Jarrett Stidham to make me a believer and he shrunk in some big moments at Auburn. The Jets to me could be a lot better than they were in 2019 and still go 6-10 just because of the type of schedule they are up against. So the Dolphins to me could easily finish anywhere from second to fourth, depending on how some of the players on that roster progress. I wouldn’t bet on them actually making the playoffs, but they could absolutely be a pain in the butt for some of the better teams in the AFC and in 2021 they might be the pick here. https://preview.redd.it/nme3explkf751.png?width=720&format=png&auto=webp&s=3998c6026125c1b9b48438e3fc9afaf9601b116e
4. Los Angeles Chargers
Why they can win the division: First and foremost, this Chargers defense is absolutely loaded with no real hole that you can point to. Derwin James is back healthy after a first-team All-Pro rookie campaign, Chris Harris Jr. comes in to make this secondary one the elite units in the NFL to go with two more Pro Bowlers among it and they have some guys I expect to break out like Jerry Tillery, Drue Tranquill and Nasir Adderley. In terms of having matchup pieces and a versatile pass rush to challenge Kansas City, nobody in the league may be on the same level as these guys. Offensively, Ihave talked about how the left tackle spot is concern for L.A. with a battle between Sam Tevi and Trey Pipkins for the starting job, but the other four spots are as good as they have been in a while, acquiring Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner via trade, signing a top five right tackle in Bryan Bulaga and getting Mike Pouncey back healthy. Tyrod Taylor can steer the ship and even if Justin Herbert is thrown into the fire – which I wouldn’t recommend – they have the skill-position players and willingness to run the ball to take pressure off those guys. While the Chiefs return 20 of 22 starters from a year ago, this wouldn’t be the first time we saw a Super Bowl champion have some issues the following season and as much as we want to hype up the Broncos and Raiders, both their quarterbacks (and other players of course as well) have a lot to prove still. Outside of KC, the Chargers likely have the smallest changes to what they do other than moving on from Philip Rivers and we saw that formula work the year prior, when they challenged Kansas City until the very end for the division crown and the conference’s top seed potentially. While they probably would have liked to bring in Tom Brady over the offseason, the fact they decided against signing Cam Newton to a roster that is ready to win right now, shows you the confidence they have in that quarterback room. Why they could finish last again: I’m not a huge fan of Derek Carr, but the Chargers will probably have the worst quarterback in the division in 2020. And their starting left tackle could be the worst in the entire league. As good as their defense will probably be, you can not consistently win games in which your offense doesn’t put up 20+ points in the league today – especially when all these teams in their division have spent so much on acquiring offensive firepower these last couple of years. I believe all three of their division rivals got better this offseason and the Chargers spent their top draft pick (sixth overall) on a young quarterback, who might not even help them win games this season. As I already mentioned, Kansas City brings back almost their entire starting lineups and they went 12-4 despite Mahomes seemingly having his knee cap facing the sideline while laying on his back. I have uttered my thoughts on Denver several times now, which you can read up on later. As for Las Vegas’ new team, they did start last season 6-4 and just heavily invested into their two major issues – wide receiver and linebacker. And while I don’t like to talk about it – injuries have been a huge issue for this Chargers team in recent years and I don’t really know what it is even, but I can’t assume that they all of a sudden can stay healthy. Bottom line: In terms of talent on the roster outside of the quarterback position, you could make a pretty compelling argument that the Chargers are ahead of all the other teams on this list. That’s the reason they have a pretty high floor of finishing around .500 and if everything works out, they could absolutely be a playoff contender. However, for this exercise in particular, I believe their upside is capped by what they have under center. Tyrod Taylor can be a top-20 quarterback in the NFL this season and in terms of upside, Justin Herbert has all the tools to become a difference-maker once he steps on the field, but they don’t have the explosiveness the Chiefs or the Broncos have for that matter. With so much continuity on a team that has the best player in the entire league, I can’t go against the Chiefs and in the end we are evaluating the chances to actually win the division. https://preview.redd.it/rywropjokf751.png?width=720&format=png&auto=webp&s=ed77a7303af810b862abb2100c4f0b86841a2d38
5. Washington Redskins
Why they can win the division: These guys are very reminiscent of the 49ers with their defensive line, in terms of having invested a lot of high draft picks into the unit these last couple of years and now with that second overall pick bringing in a true stud from Ohio State – this time in Chase Young. When you look at all those guys up front – with the Bama boys patrolling the middle, Matt Ioannidis capable of moving around the front, Montez Sweat looking to break out in year two and Ryan Kerrigan still being there as a productive veteran – they will wreak some havoc this season. Ron Rivera could finally bring some structure to this organization and help them turn it around on defense with the addition of an old companion in Thomas Davis, plus some high-upside players like Reuben Foster and Fabian Moreau looking to prove themselves. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins had a very underwhelming rookie campaign, but he clearly wasn’t ready to be out there and found himself in a bad situation in terms of the support system around him. I like a lot of their young skill-position players the front office has surrounded him with, when you look at Terry McLaurin trying to become a young star in this league, who produced despite shaky quarterback play last season, Kelvin Harmon and Antonio Gandy-Golden being two big-bodied targets I liked these last two drafts, Derrius Guice hopefully finally being able to stay healthy to lead this backfield and this year’s third-round pick Antonio Gibson being a chess piece that you can manufacture touches for. Somebody I forgot to mention in this discussion recently is Steven Sims Jr., who is a jitterbug with the ball in his hands. New offensive coordinator Scott Turner will implement a system that should make life easier on his second-year signal-caller as well, while relying heavily on the run game. Why they could finish last again: Haskins is by far the least proven QB of the bunch, with Daniel Jones even being head and shoulders above him in their respective rookie seasons. No pass-catcher outside of Terry McLaurin had any major production to speak. Counting on a 37-year old Thomas Davis to not only be a leader for them, but also make plays on the field, could create issues, and Washington lost some pieces in the secondary. This offseason is a challenge for any team, that is looking to implement a new system on each side of the ball, but I think especially for a motivator like Rivera, who can give his squad a heartbeat and push them to success, not being there in person with those guys will hurt. Most importantly however, this division to me will be a two-man race between the Eagles and Cowboys – as it has been for a while now. They both will likely have top ten quarterbacks, better receiving corps, better offensive lines and more experienced defenses. The Giants may not blow anybody away coming into 2020, but looking at the two matchups from last year between them and the Redskins, Big Blue beat them 24-3 the first time around, when Daniel Jones threw one touchdown compared to two interceptions and then he diced them up for five TDs and no picks in week 16. The one area Washington would have had the clear upper hand was with their front-four, but New York just invested a lot of draft capital into their O-line to prevent that. Just go through the Redskins’ schedule and show me more than six wins. I dare you. Bottom line: These last two sentences really say it all. Even if Philly and Dallas split the season series and Washington can get a game off either one of them, it will be tough to turn around this squad as quickly as this season – with reduced practice time and team activities – to a point where they can finish above both of them. Both of them could easily win double-digit games in 2020 and while I think the Redskins are on the right track if Haskins looks more like the Ohio State version of himself, other than their defensive line, no unit for them is ready to compete for the division quite yet. Just going through their schedule in an objective manner, it is tough to find any lay-ups and say Washington has some baseline of wins they count on. To not have them any lower than this is more due to the respect for Riverboat Ron and how high I was on a lot of the guys they drafted recently. https://preview.redd.it/szpawv9rkf751.png?width=720&format=png&auto=webp&s=62ca5fe882d8155d83eb3328e9bf1f1681a17384
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
Why they can win the division: I was going back and forth between my number six and seven teams, because the Jaguars are projected to pick first overall come next April for a reason – they did lose a lot of pieces. However, to me it came down to the fact that the AFC South might be won at 9-7 or 10-6 and this coaching staff actually has to win to keep their jobs. There is a lot noise about the Colts, but when you go back to last season, Philip Rivers was a turnover machine with serious questions about his arm strength. Bill O’Brien made some very questionable decisions for Houston and Tennessee is counting on a formula that is built on a 250-banger running the ball 25+ times and Ryan Tannehill finally repeating a career year, as they are coming off an AFC title game appearance. As far as Jacksonville goes, Gardner Minshew was the highest-graded rookie quarterback according to PFF and altogether I would have put him second only behind Kyler Murray. D.J. Chark broke out as one of the young star receivers and I had a first-round grade on Colorado’s Laviska Shenault if he can be healthy, because his talent is off the charts. I think the O-line would have benefitted from another tackle to kick Cam Robinson inside to guard, but those guys are some road-graders to make the run game work. Defensively the only real contributor from that Sacksonville group a couple of years ago who actually wants to be there is Myles Jack, but I really like their young duo off the edge in first-rounders Josh Allen last year and now K’Lavon Chaisson (LSU). There are some questions about the back-end, but they were built front-to-back with a lot of zone coverage behind it and depending on the development of ninth overall pick C.J. Henderson, they can roll away from him matching up with the opposing team’s number one receiver. Avoiding some of the better AFC squads altogether is pretty sweet as well, to go with facing no playoff team from last year outside their division until the middle of November. Why they could finish last again: I’m just not sure if all of these players are ready to fight for that coaching staff and organization. Two of their remaining veterans (Leonard Fournette and Yannick Ngakoue) have openly talked about how they want to be traded, they only have a few actually proven commodities on that entire roster and with the way they have unloaded big cap numbers, they have set themselves up for a true rebuild potentially, as they are expected to be in the Trevor Lawrence-Justin Fields sweepstakes come next April. Even if they can get a few breaks and the division is up for grabs, does this organization even want to win this season? If not for the injury to Jacoby Brissett in the middle of the season, all three other teams in that division would have almost certainly finished above .500 and the Colts are actually the team that improved by far the most among them. That Texans, who have actually won the South four of the last five years, including last season, may be the smallest challenge and still sweep Jacksonville. Vegas rarely misses completely and the Jaguars right now are the odds-on favorite to pick first overall come next April, with an NFL-low OveUnder of 4.5 wins on the season. And as favorable as the early portion of their schedule looks like right, check out this eight-game stretch after their week seven bye – at Chargers, vs. Texans, at Packers, vs. Steelers, vs. Browns, at Vikings, vs. Titans, at Ravens. Ouch. They might go winless over that period. Bottom line: The Jaguars to me are a very interesting team, because I believe they have accumulated a bunch of young talent, which gets lost a little when you see all the names that aren’t there anymore. There is a lot to like about this roster, when you look at what these players could develop into, but that doesn’t mean they will have success this year already. The Colts have the best 53 currently in the division (or 55 now), the Texans have the best quarterback and the Titans are coming off an AFC Championship game appearance. Gardner Minshew could make this kind of a tough decision if they end up picking anywhere after first overall and I think some of those other kids will put up pretty good numbers, but they are still pretty clearly fourth in the South as for now. https://preview.redd.it/5myv276vkf751.png?width=720&format=png&auto=webp&s=7fb25f47d0759e9b5a07876ea01787898c6cc817
7. Carolina Panthers
Why they can win the division: Nobody knows for sure what Matt Rhule and his new coaching staff will throw at them. Joe Brady gets to work with Teddy Bridgewater once again, who he already coached in New Orleans – so there will be familiarity for him in this system and they already “speak the same language”. That young receiving corp with D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, free agency addition Robby Anderson and even an up-and-coming tight-end in Ian Thomas is pretty underrated actually, plus of course they have one of the truly elite weapons out of the backfield in Christian McCaffrey, who is probably set to break his own RB reception record once again. The Panthers defense-only draft has brought them a monster in the middle in Derrick Brown (Auburn), a really talented edge rusher in Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State) on the opposite of last year’s rookie stud Brian Burns, a super-rangy safety with linebacker size in Jeremy Chinn (Southern Illinois), what I think is a starting corner in Troy Pride Jr. (Notre Dame) and some other pieces in the secondary. The talent is clearly there and now you bring in a scheme that is probably going to be unique for the NFL level as well, when you look at that 3-3-5 Baylor ran under Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow. As much as we want to praise our legends of the game, the quarterbacks of the two front-runners in this division will be 41 and 43 years old respectively and let’s not forget that Atlanta started out last season 1-7. Why they could finish last again: Especially this offseason, without certainty if there will be anything like training camp or even a real preseason, that completely new staff with new systems they are trying to teach will certainly have some growing pains. Bridgewater has been a top-20 starting QB maybe one year of his career and even when he was applauded for the way he filled in for Drew Brees last season, he finished dead-last in intended air yards among quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts. How will that mesh with a lot of vertical targets around him? When he has those guys running free on slants and dig routes, the ball will get there, but will he be willing to throw that deep post or give his guys a chance on go-balls? Defensively they are counting on a lot of young players and they have nobody to even come close to replacing Luke Kuechly, as well as making the switch to an unproven scheme possibly, if they actually use some of those 3-3-5 looks coming over from Baylor. When you look at Rhule’s track-record, it always took him until year two to show improvement and then in that third season is when those teams can really make some noise. And that was in the AAC and Big 12 respectively. Now he is in the NFC South with a team that just went 13-3 in the Saints and a Bucs squad that already was 7-9 and lost six of those games by one score, only because despite finishing fifth in takeaways, they ranked in the bottom five in turnover differential due to easily leading the league with 41 giveaways. That should get a lot better with Tom Brady coming in, who has never even quite thrown half of Jameis Winston’s 30 interceptions in any of his 20 years in the league. Even the Falcons – for as poorly as they started last season – went 6-2 after really coming together and making some changes in their bye week last season. Bottom line: The Panthers are clearly the most unproven team in this division. While new systems that haven’t been scouted yet certainly have an advantage in terms of game-planning early on, especially in this offseason with heavily limited live reps most likely, that might equal a net minus. You have to root for a guy like Teddy Bridgewater and the way he has worked his way up to a starting spot again, but I just don’t look at him as a surefire franchise signal-caller. The other three teams in the South all have top ten quarterbacks in the league in my opinion and much more continuity around them. Until the Panthers finally get to their bye week at the start of December, I don’t see them winning more than four of those twelve games. At that point they may have their eyes on a different goal already, if Teddy B isn’t the clear answer under center. https://preview.redd.it/y7agj2n2lf751.png?width=720&format=png&auto=webp&s=221af0a1f689d3b19d5e250fac0b58a35877edad
8. Cincinnati Bengals
Why they can win the division: We’re not that far away from 2015, when the Bengals won the AFC North with a 12-4 record as the fifth year in a row making the playoffs. Since then this is the first time I feel like there really is change happening with this team. Marvin Lewis was replaced by a young Zac Taylor, trying to prove himself to the league, they drafted Heisman trophy winner Joe Burrow first overall to replace as average a quarterback as we have had over the last decade in Andy Dalton and the front office finally spent some money in free agency. While you would think a quarterback going first overall usually comes into a situation, where he is devoid of talent around him, Cincinnati suddenly has one of the better group of skill-position players in the entire league, assuming A.J. Green is back healthy. Tyler Boyd is a stud in the slot, who will be Burrow’s version of Justin Jefferson, a 50-50 ball specialist in second-round pick Tee Higgins (Clemson) matches perfectly with Burrow’s expertise of winning with ball-placement and if they get anything from former first-rounder John Ross at least as a decoy with his speed, that’s a plus. I expect Joe Mixon to be among the league leader’s in running back receptions and be more effective in space with those receivers around him as well. The signings the Bengals have made on defense gives them a lot more talent and complements very well what they already had. D.J. Reader is one of the most underrated defensive linemen in the league and frees everybody up along the front, they completely overhauled that linebacker group, which was a major issue these last couple of years, they brought in a starting CB2 and nickel from Minnesota to pair up with William Jackson III, who is ready to announce himself as one of the best corners in football, and Von Bell is a great match with the rangy free safety Jessie Bates. Why they could finish last again: As talented as all those guys throwing, catching and running the ball may be, it all starts with what’s happening up front and the Bengals offensive line is still in transition. They could have two of the worst starters in the league at both guard spots and right tackle once again, with the prior ones close to reaching that bust status and Bobby Hart still somehow having a starting job. As great as Joe Burrow was last year at LSU and how clean his evaluation was, how much better than Andy Dalton will he be right away, especially going up against those scary defensive fronts inside his division? Defensively they could easily have six new starters, which obviously can be looked at as a positive sign, considering they allowed 20+ points in all but two games last season, but there is also a lack of continuity and reduced time to fit all those pieces together. Cincinnati’s coaching staff hasn’t really proven anything yet and they will be facing a massacre of a schedule, with three occasions of back-to-back road games and while three of their final four games of the season are at home, they will face the Cowboys, Steelers and Ravens, to go with a trip to Houston in-between. If they don’t beat the Chargers in the season-opener, they probably don’t get that first W until week four against the Jaguars and then they have to hope they can sneak out another one until their bye week. Baltimore is tied with Kansas City for the highest projected win total with reigning MVP coming into just his third season, Pittsburgh is favored to make the playoffs with Big Ben back under center and Cleveland was the offseason favorite in 2019, while fielding an even better roster this year. Bottom line: I feel bad for putting this team last, because I thought Joe Burrow was the top quarterback and definitely worthy of that number one pick and the Bengals finally spent big money in free agency to retool the defense. To me this is less about them than the Ravens, who just were the number one overall seed in the playoffs at 14-2 and haven’t done anything other than get better themselves, a Steelers team that made a run at the playoffs with the worst quarterback play in the league now getting Ben back and a Browns roster that is among the top ten league-wide in most people’s opinion. Still, there is a lot to like about this team at the skill-positions, which is probably behind only Cleveland in terms all the weapons they have, some young standouts on defense and hope that all of this brings a fresh breath of air. If you enjoyed this content, I would really appreciate if you could visit the original piece (with video clips) - https://halilsrealfootballtalk.com/2020/06/16/nfl-teams-most-likely-to-go-from-worst-to-first-in-2020/ You can also listen to my breakdown on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9kCcuPobNU
song 1 song 2 song 3 Post written by meles_b with contribution from -sup. While MAU military command anticipated a preemptive ("alpha") strike to cripple Dakota's ability to respond to a land invasion, we waited too long. Having begun their own invasion, the rogue state is in a more advantageous position, but still doesn't present a threat that we cannot handle. The massive air, naval, and land superiority of the Atlantic Armed Forces affords us a credible shot at victory. Operations conducted by the MAU to access internal Dakotan communications gives us almost instant warning of the attack. We're aware of their posturing before their arrival at our border, and so can put our defensive plans into action to protect our country and the life and liberty of those within.
Mid-Atlantic doctrine on Dakota identifies their nuclear stockpile as an alpha priority target, commanding the destruction of their ICBM LCC's prior to the commencement of conventional operations. The high-priority targets will be F.E. Warren AFB, Minot AFB, and Malmstrom AFB. Thus, 30 B-21s of the Strategic Air Command, operated by the 11th wing out of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling will fly in a high arc over Canada as pictured, turning over the Hudson's Bay and heading south towards the Canada-Dakota border. Canada has no inward-facing early warning infrastructure, but the bombers will fly over unpopulated areas to minimize risk of detection, as well as other measures detailed below. In case of Canadian air command noticing our bombers, B-21 are permitted to break radio silence and explain the sensitivity of the operation and the possibility of nuclear winter enveloping Canada should their stealth be compromised. The aircraft will fly at night, skimming their service ceiling in a straight line formation spaced roughly 50km apart. As they approach the Dakotan border, they will assume a tighter formation to ensure the bombings of the silos are conducted simultaneously. This means that Wyoming group will move first due to being deeper into the country, while aiming Montana and ND groups to enter at the same time. In case of detection, B-21 will beeline to maximize damage. However, we know all stationary radars in USA, both knowing this area has no EW radars facing inwards, that Great Plains are extremely spaced which makes it easy to fly through unpopulated areas devoid of sentient life, like national parks or the entire state of Wyoming. Lack of air bases also plays in hand, as we will be able to skim through radar coverage we might be aware of using stealth to pass through the gaps. In case of E-3 patrols, we consider that they are spaced enough and still concentrated on our border, making it hard to detect until it's too late. Once B-21 are lined to strike, we will initiate attack. B-21 are carrying 4 BLU-119 bunker buster JDAM , 6 JASSM-X33 JSM and 4 JATM for A2A missions (totalling ~18t), in case of fighter or AWACS detection\anti-raditation mission. Our main target are 45 LCC controlling 400 ICBM. They are located deep in the ground, but we estimate based on our blueprints that BLU-119 should be able to penetrate earth, concrete and steel covering the pod. By killing all LCC in the base, we will be able to erase ability of Dakota to launch their ICBM. We estimate that with 10 B-21 targeting 15 LCC, them being quite close to each other and range of JDAM, we will be able to destroy all LCC in less than 10 minutes - far less than it'd take to respond. 40 LCC per 15 LCC means that we will have enough to spare, with the rest going to bases controlling LCC - F. E. Warren AFB, Minot AFB, and Malmstrom AFB. Dixie has literally everything thousands of km outside the bases, meaning they can't really respond even if they detect us, allowing B-21 to strike JASSM-XR with the range of 1900 km, or JSM with the range of 550:
Wyoming group, due to close range to Colorado, will use 330 JSM launched at Buckley AFB, Peterson AFB, Schriever AFB.
Montana group will use 60 JASSM-XR launched at Hill AFB, Utah(40), Ellsworth AFB, SD (15) and Tinker Air Force Base, OK (5)
ND group will use 50 JASSM-XR launched at Tinker Air Force Base, OK, MCconnel AFB, Vance AFB, Altus AFB and 55 JSM launched at Grand Forks AFB
After launching their missiles and bombs, B-21 will use JATM to strike at any advancing aircraft and retreat to either MAU through Canada or Superior, or Sierra.
Concurrent with the first strike against the AFBs, we will make sure to strike Midwestern Air bases, getting rid of their infrastructure and arsenal. While we hope to strike bombers while they are on the ground, even if we don't, we still have ground control, hangars and munitions to strike. With Midwestern bases holding nuclear bombs, we have to strike them at first priority. 20 B-21 will be launched, going through Superior due to bilateral defense agreement and to avoid most predictable angle of attack. B-21 will carry 40 JST and 10 JATM each, allowing to counter incoming fighters, use JATM as anti-radiation missile to destroy radars and strike retreating\launching aircraft, especially AWACS. Overall, 800 JST and 200 JATM are launched in this operation. Striking at all major Midwestern air bases, we have priorities:
Nuclear bombs located in Midwestern Arsenals
HM-2 launchers, if any are located
Planes on the ground
C2, Air Defense and radars
B-2 hangars
Runways
Whatever our pilots deem necessary
Army bases and their infrastructure
Whiteman Air Force Base is our first priority as a holder of B-2, yet other bases are also targeted, included but not limited to:
Wright-Patterson AFB
Grissom Air Reserve
Scott AFB
Offutt AFB
Midwestern IAP holding National guard aircraft
Other targets and bases our pilots can reach
Meanwhile, to ensure success, we will provide our B-21 with a coverup. Our Army has significant amount of hyper-sonic missiles, mainly RGM/MGM-190 Phantom with 430 km range and Mach 7 speed, and Precision Strike Missile with Mach 5 speed and 800 km range. We have 400 Phantoms and 375 of PSM launched on our M270 and HIMARS. We will strike 50 of Phantoms and 75 of PSM at Midwestern bases in our reach, striking advancing forces, planes and C2 to prevent invasion. HM-2 takes the highest priority, as part of specific operation:
Covering in addition to our previous operations, this is operation is planned to guarantee extermination of HM-2 missiles. With Lunar Clock covering Great Plains and Lunar Dial - Midwest, we can place priorities for these operations and add more munitions to ensure getting rid of HM-2 properly. While less dangerous due to extreme number of SM-3, THADD and Patriots, better safe than sorry. Thanks to our moles, time passed and knowledge of rough outline of the program (and to that research was done in diplo post without rolls on secrecy) we can estimate range of HM-2 as 1500 km. Deducing what our major targets are and extrapolating from the range, we can deduce that there is no way HM-2 are beyond MIMAL. By using our cybernetworks, spy satellites and NRO, we can determine location of HM-2 and strike them before they manage to launch. We will launch a massive areal attack on advancing forces of Dixie, with highest priority being destruction of HM-2, followed by mopping up bases in Dixie proper, followed by destruction of advancing forces. 20 B-21, 8 B-2, 8 B-52 and 20 B-1 are scrambled to launch enormous amount of ordnance, supported by PSM and Phantoms on land and naval strikes from the sea. While Luna Dial launches rather covert attacks from unexpected angle to sneak in and cause disrupt in bases, Flowering Night is oversaturation bombing, using hypersonic strikes to cause panic in Dixie ranks and act as SEAD, preventing them from reacting, allowing our operations to pass. From our air bases, maximum distance estimated distance is ~2000 km, and the closest is ~250 km. Our main weapon in this case is LRWH, 20 Mach missile with 3500 km range. By launching them from the base, we can reach our targets in 8,5 minutes, making it highly improbable to react. With overall payload capability of ~ 1,9 kiloton, we can launch ~1000 LRHW. However, due to LRWH being most suited for long-range attacks (from 750km), 750 LRHW will be launched from the air, targeting Dixie air bases, locations of HM-2 and other high-priority targets. Rest will be using 1000 JSM, striking at range of 550 km at advancing forces and bases in Alabama and Tennessee, and 800 MALD-X, overwhelming Dakotan air defense. Mainly, bases and forces close to MAU border in Deep South will be struck by artillery. 250 of Phantoms and 200 of PSM will launch at Dixie air bases, army depots, advancing forces and HM-2. 3 of the MAU's 7 Ohio-class SSGNs will strike from Gulf of Mexico ASAP. They will be equipped with UGM-190 Sea Phantom hypersonic missiles (22 per submarine, 66 total). Concurrent with the strikes against the missile fields and Midwestern air bases, the Sea Phantoms will be deployed against all in-range Dixie air bases and these army installations EXCEPT the right- and left-most ones. They are as follows:
Fort Polk (LA)
Fort Rucker (AL)
Anniston Army Depot (AL)
Redstone Arsenal (AL)
Pine Bluff Arsenal (AK)
[M] Just for clarity to whoever runs this, the right and leftmost icons on the map are bases owned by me and pepsi, respectively. I won't be targeting these for obvious reasons but I couldn't crop them out of the picture and have it still be readable. [/M] Overall, combination of these three operations in a decapitation strike should leave Dakota without nuclear arsenal and without base infrastructure, allowing our ground forces to destroy forces by ensuring air superiority.
While our bomber force will conduct their alpha strike, we need to ensure air superiority over MAU. We hope to scramble our air force before Dixie, in order to overwhelm them with superior numbers and superior quality. This will be the first test of our power multyplying system, and we hope it will pass greatly. We estimate Dixie overall force at 270 F-35, 155 4th generation fighters, 24 bombers. This is almost everything they have, but it's pitiful compared to MAU. 264 F-35C, 432 F-35A and 30 F-35B without recent Texan deliveries, 79 F-22, 1000 Skyborg drones, B-21 arsenal planes and 180 naval aviation 4th gen planes. Moreover, with battle going on for MAU airspace, we will have a major advantage of having radars and A2AD, allowing us to hit harder. Mainly, we will scramble our F-22 fleet and support it with F-35 air wings from nearby 4 carriers and F-35A on standby - 148 F-35C and 144 F-35. The fleet will be supported by 750 Skyborgs and 10 B-21 arsenal planes. Forming a defensive formation, our fighters will blend in with Skyborgs, with B-21 in the rear. With 50 Skyborg recon configuration comparable to F-22 in radar capabilities due to sharing radar module, we can detect fighters from safe range, allowing F-35 and F-22 to launch JATM from safer distance, highlighted by ground radars. The main course, first time in history, will be given to arsenal planes. Each of B-21 will carry 120 JATM (total contribution 1200 JATM), which is an enormous part of overall payload - F-22 will carry 6 JATM and 2 Peregrines (474 JATM and 158 Peregrines), F-35 will carry same (1752 JATM and 584 Peregrines), and Skyborgs will carry 1 JATM and 1 Peregrine (700 JATM and 700 Peregrines), making total loadout 4126 JATM and 1442 Peregrines. With their considerable range, we should be able to annihilate anything coming from Dakota, provided that those fighters and not ASF only, but also committing CAS and strikes, meaning less A2A loadout. In case of hostile attack, Skyborgs, standing in the front and around fighters, will intercept the missile and provoke locking on to them, supported by EW measures. On the ground, Patriots and Avengers will do whatever possible to destroy coming aircraft, concentrating on 4th gen and bombers, while 300 ATHENA laser point defense will provide cover against munitions and advancing missiles. Meanwhile, our Aegis Ashore systems will provide us with additional coverage and SM-6 missile coverage, totaling 294 SAM.
The MAU's unchallenged naval supremacy will be leveraged in the Gulf of Mexico to set the stage for an amphibious invasion of Louisiana.
Ship
Quantity
Embarkment / Air Wing (Per Ship)
Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier
2
72x F-35C Lightning II, 2x E/A-18G Growler, 2x E-2C Hawkeye
Wasp-class Amphibious Assault Ship
4
1x Marine Expeditionary Unit
Ohio-class SSGN
4
-
Virginia-class Flight III SSN
2
-
Ticonderoga-class Guided Missile Cruiser
1
-
Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA Destroyer
7
-
Avenger-class Mine Countermeasures Vessel
1
-
A Marine Expeditionary Unit consists of the following:
Unit
Quantity
Infantry (Marines)
2200
Landing Craft Utility
4
Light Armored Vehicle
16
Assault Amphibious Vehicle
15
M777 Towed Howitzer
6
AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopter
6
MV-22B Osprey Tiltrotor
12
CH-53E Super Stallion Transport Helicopter
4
Ram 1500
63
Our goal is to destroy all and any combat surface vehicles of Dixie, while also preventing submarines to escape. Carrier aviation will be utilized to ensure air superiority over the fleet and Dakotan coast, with backups being dispatched from Eglin AFB or elsewhere as required should this superiority be challenged. Civilian fleet is left untouched. SEAD operations will be conducted against the Dakotan Sixth Division, garrisoned in Mobile, Alabama for some reason, and following their path to our border. The Ohio-class SSGNs accompanying the blockade will be equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles (616 total), which will be deployed against Sixth Division targets identified by AWACS and drone surveillance, with the goal being complete eradication of the Sixth Division. Following the initial cruise missile strikes, MAU Black Company will begin moving west towards Alabama to counterattack and push them back. Once the limited stretch of Dakotan coastline and area within the blockade has been secured, with all enemy ships either surrendering or being sunk, the amphibious invasion of Louisiana will begin. The objective of the amphibious invasion is to secure New Orleans and the strip of coast between the westernmost extent of the Florida panhandle and the Dakota-FRA border. As amphibious forces move in from the south on the coastline of Louisiana, Black Company will move westward, pushing the front line across Alabama and Mississippi to meet up with the amphibious forces to the west of New Orleans. The exact location of the four independent amphibious landings will be based on geographical features and suitability of the soil to support military equipment. The final locations will likely be west of New Orleans as the area to the south is considered too marshy for effective amphibious operations. Air support will be provided to the advancing forces by Black Company's air component as well as the carrier air wing deployed with the blockade. The amphibious forces and black company will expand the MAU-controlled beachhead to here, at which point they will focus entirely on defending the beachhead from possible Dakotan pushback. As this represents a great strategic interest to Dakota in the form of their only coastline, significant resistance is expected. This also provides us with opportunity to secure Dakotan territory while they are advancing, creating a salient. Dakota's 5th division, garrisoned at Maxwell Air Force Base, will likely present major resistance to the amphibious landing. No incursions will be made by MAU forces inland, instead waiting for the 5th division to attempt a push south to either break the connected beachhead after its formation or to assist 6th division in defending from the initial amphibious assault. In either case, MAU's Blue Company will begin a southwestern movement to encircle the 5th division and any possible remnants of the 6th division. If all is executed correctly, 5th division will be trapped between the dug-in beachhead and Blue Company, and will be forced to surrender Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Overall, our land game is divided in three operations - successfully defend the border and surrounding areas until air superiority is won and bombers conduct strikes against advancing forces, counterattack, and push towards Dixie inland. With our divisions prepared and located at the border, we also need to consider that it's a small part of overall army. While our Companies are ready to strike, army will be mobilized to follow up. One of our major advantages, outside of terrain and home advantage, is technology. Dakotan exosuits won't come in until late 2036, while AWP is long since ready, with 15k suits and 30K Coomer drones. What's more important is the infantry equipment. Dixie hasn't done anything with their rifles. We have smart self-guiding ammunition since late 20s. With sensors and network-centric combat, we massively outrange the infantry, and with flying armed drones we can kill Dixie soldiers en masse, when it comes to leg infantry and urban warfare. availability of exosuits allows us to sustain fire and protect the vanguard. Dixie boasts about their tiny drones, but it's quite pitiful against MAU. MAU, after significant expansion, is the most protected force from drones. Our troops carry DroneGuns, our vehicles equipped with anti-drone modules, our cities are covered in net of stationary drone defenses, and our drones carry them too. This, coupled with our cyberdefensive measures, should efficiently protect us against LAWs. If possible, we will also conduct EW as per capabilities of our cyberwarfare and equipment. On ground, 200 ATHENAS will engage against drones and munitions falling on our troops, providing additional degree of cover. In air, we will rely on A-10 Warthog, F-35A in air-to-ground loadout and helicopters to provide comprehensive CAS. With introduction of AGM-179 JAGM replacing BGM-71 TOW, AGM-114 Hellfire, and AGM-65 Maverick, we will be able to get major superiority over Dakotan armor and vehicles - longer range and better navigation will give us an edge. Outside of JAGM, we will mainly use SDB II to destroy armor and advancing troops from long range. Mortar and artillery fire will obviously be present, now linked with battlenetworks of AWP to provide pinpoint accuracy of strikes. Outside of technological advantage, we also possess numerical advantage. Dixie has 500 tanks rolling, we have 1000 in Army and 250 in the Corps. We have more troops, more vehicles and more equipment, which makes defense much easier, as it's extremely hard to break superior force on the defensive. What is the most important part of the operation is lack of mechanization of Dixie forces. Overall, their push has 100000 infantry troops and less than 1000 vehciles capable to transport troops, while a single MAU Company has 12000 infantry occupying 1030 vehicles, not counting helicopters, which will be less useful in MAU air superiority environment. As a boon, MAU has 500 MUTT UGV - carrier unmanned vehicles delivering supplies through the front, which will speed up our mobile forces significnatly, allowing to outmaneuver and outflank Dixie. This is combined with logistics unrivaled by anyone on the planet, with dedicated supercomputer keeping track of status of the campaign and delivering supplies where they are needed most. Additional advantage is battlenetwork and upgraded Bradley Battle Command Vehicle. By keeping updated of our situation in real-time with major assistance from our bases, we can coordinate troops on tactical and strategic level, getting major advantage over soon to be disorganized Dixie troops.
Gold Company is located in an advantageous position to resist a Dakotan push from the north. Our goal is to push them from Pitt while they are advancing into the Forest, while using our air component (as a part of operation Rainbow Gatekeeper) to destroy their air force, then move north from Pitt to close them within the area, cut off supply and destroy them, putting them between Gold Company and mobilized Army reinforcements. Due to the size of invasion (next to non-existent) and size of our Companies, we can send a small detachment to mop up Northern Group and counterattack at Ohio, moving swiftly through undefended state and seizing Columbus, Cleveland, Wright-Patterson AFB and Cincinnati, connecting to KY and encircling Army Group Centre.
Meanwhile, our Red Company will be engaging Army Group Centre from the North. Located right behind the river, Red Company will be tasked with defense of the area before either crushing Army Group Centre and going into counterattack or waiting for reinforcements from Superior and Gold Company. Thanks to earlier preparations and closed border, all our bridges are already rigged with explosives. Depending on the status of the demining operations from Dixie, we will either blow them up the moment Dixie is crossing the river, taking vanguard with the bridge and leaving army group unable to advance, or somewhere in the middle of the process, cutting them off supplies and mopping them up, before counterattacking. Due to concentration of our forces in Fort Knox, Big Four Bridge will not be destroyed unless nessessary, instead opting to push Dixie from it by overwhelming force, and later, after demining, use it to cross into Indiana and link with Gold Company. After counterattack, Red Company will push into Midwest, as far as Indianapolis, Saint Louis border, and Springfield.
Dixie plan is to concentrate their forces at Tennessee and push into Carolinas and Virginia. Our goal is to stall the push while our forces are encircling undefended areas and army reinforcements are moving to assist Blue, Black and White Companies. We don't have Companies on the VA-TN border, but we have Green Company on the border with TN - something which isn't attacked by Dixie. It's objective is to rush towards Nashville (70 km from Ft. Campbell), connect and secure border with Georgia by seizing Chattanooga, cutting off both northern and southern operations from supply and concentrating forces on breaking Northern push. Then, reinforcements from Fort Lee and Front Bragg, as well as army bases from Maryland, WW, NE and entire Northern MAU should meet it from the other side, encircle and destroy the invasion force. Southern push receives similar treatment - with their supply run is broken before they even manage to ceize Atlanta, we will use Blue Company to push into Montgomery, Birmingham, and connect at Chattanooga, pushing back their defenses (as per operation "Ice Fairy of the Lake") cutting off southern push from all sides, allowing army reinforcements and White Company from Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart and Fort Jackson to break southern push. Southern Group is a major target of our bombing campaign, which makes the battle even harder for Dixie. Meanwhile, Black company will connect with Marines in Lousisiana and push north to take Fort Rucker and Southern Alabama, meeting retreating forces and encircling them. After breaking down their defenses and offenses, while taking most of Midwest, we can push to relatively undefended Dakota.
Generally, we expect several of our major cities to fall under siege of advancing Dixie troops. Overall, they are entering three megalopolices - Great Lakes megalopolis, Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion, and Northeast megalopolis. Moreover, several of their campaigns rely on taking major cities - namely Atlanta, Charlotte, Louisville, Pitt. Push into heavily urbanized region without preparation is a suicide, and we will remind them why. While Pitt has Gold Company, Charlotte has White Company and Louisville has Red Company, Atlanta is least prepared to invasion, due to it's Company located south. Still, we will prepare urban resistance in most cities on path, named and unnamed, and prepare unbreaking resistance. Thankfully, Dixie is not mechanized, is going into area heavily contested by air superiority and heavily armed citizens. One of our first priorities is evacuation of citizens and mobilizing resistance. National Guard and reservists are called:
Georgia National Guard will reinforce their garrisons, move and prepare for the Battle of Atlanta.
Pennsylvania NG will assist with defense of the Pitt
Virginias, Carolinas, and KY NGs will provide us with defense of the urban areas in their states.
Overall, while NG deployments are not numerous, and not as well-armed with vehicles and tanks, they are still highly trained, have smart rifles, know their territory and are responsible for evacuation and holding the line. Outside of NG, mobilization of volunteers will be ongoing in Atlanta. Mainly including police officers, SWAT teams, and verified volunteers will build the barricades, prepare ambushes and defend their homecity. With National Guard equipped with anti-tank and anti-air equipment against vehicles and helicopters, police armed with smart rifles, and volunteers with their own weapons, they can provide significant resistance to invasion force until Air Force breaks the spirit of Dixie and Army breaks their assholes. Dakota relies on their drones for recon and attack. However, our cities are under protection of 10000 of upgradedDroneSentrys. Providing us with some EW against radiodetonated munitions and drones, they are present in significant quantities in Atlanta - major city on the border. Thus, drones will be downed or EWd as per above-mentioned.
In order to protect our citizens from Dixie nuclear attack, we will mobilize our entire ABM. In Fortress Atlantic III, the Department of War purchased 40 THAAD systems and 250 MIM-104F Patriot systems. Aside from the 12 deployed to defend forward-operating Atlantic Army units, the remaining 28 THAAD are deployed to the following locations:
Location
Number
New York City
3
Washington
2
Philadelphia
1
Boston
1
Baltimore
1
Norfolk
1
Charlotte
1
Atlanta
1
Jacksonville
1
Orlando
1
Tampa
1
Miami
1
Santo Domingo
1
Puerto Rico
1
Pittsburgh
1
The Patriot systems will be deployed alongside THAAD in a 1:10 ratio, i.e. 1 THAAD = 10 Patriot. Alongside the Aegis Ashore and Ground-Based Midcourse Defense systems operated by the Strategic Air Command, the MAU should be blanketed by a high-quality ABM and air defense network and thus impervious to nuclear strikes. The MAU's vast navy will be employed for BMD in coastal cities. All Alreigh Burke and Ticonderogas not engaged in Africa and the Gulf will patrol the seas. With 75% of VLS taken by SM-3, we wield more than 3000 SM-3 missiles. Being rated to surely destroy IRBM and likely to destroy ICBM, we can hope to destroy whatever remains of Dixie nuclear arsenal. By having early warning radars facing inwards and knowing trajectories and timings, we can strike SM-3 the second silos are open or even before that, hoping to use SM-3 preemptively. Overall, SM-3 are a safe bet against HM-2, and can majorly assist against any ICBM attack. Despite the confidence in our defense systems, measures will be undertaken to protect MAU civilians. They will be instructed to move to the lowest possible points in their homes, underneath doorways or strong furniture, and those outside will be instructed to move indoors. This will be achieved through a purported 'nuclear missile defense test', billed as a nationwide practice opportunity in case of a nuclear strike. No indications will be made that the threat of nuclear war is imminent. These instructions will be relayed through mobile phones, smart home equipment, computers, billboards, and any other communications infrastructure accessible to FEMA.
While we are moving our forces, we also need to perform comprehensive EW. The Atlantic Navy's five squadrons of E/A-18G Growlers will conduct electronic warfare operations alongside EC-130H Compass Calls operated by the Atlantic Air Force. Electronic warfare aircraft will be deployed as needed for SEAD operations across the entire theatre. They will provide radar cover and jam enemy targeting systems, which will be destroyed by accompanying F-35s or B-21s. SEAD is considered a top priority and will be conducted wherever anti-air emplacements are identified before the commencement of land or other air operations. Ideally, initial SEAD sorties will cripple Dakotan air defence during the fight and ensure total MAU supremacy in the skies. Our own air defence installations will be guarded against SEAD through placement under cover and within difficult terrain and prioritizing destruction of enemy electronic warfare aircraft. Being deep in the country, our AWACS and EW will be safe from AA. Once Air superiority has been won, our AWACS and EW will move towards first Dakotan troops, performing EW against their forces, and then onwards at defensive positions, supported by fighter escort, breaking down defenses. Combined with our cyberwarfare operations, we will be able to cause a serious dent in Dakotan network before they switch to offline.
Operation Love-Colored Master Spark (Long-range alpha strike at Dakotan bases over the country and advancing forces, with priority of HM-2 launcher destruction)
Unit
Quantity
B-21
20
B-2
8
B-52
8
B-1
20
MobilePhantom Truck Platform
100
M270 MLRS
50
M142 HIMARS
100
Ohio-class SSGNs
3
Operation Rainbow Gatekeeper (Battle for Air Superiority)
Unit
Quantity
F-22
79
F-35A
148
F-35C
144
Skyborg drone
750
B-21
10
Operation Ice Fairy of the Lake (Naval battle for the Gulf and additional strikes against Deep Southern States)
Ship
Quantity
Embarkment / Air Wing (Per Ship)
Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier
2
72x F-35C Lightning II, 2x E/A-18G Growler, 2x E-2C Hawkeye
Wasp-class Amphibious Assault Ship
4
1x Marine Expeditionary Unit
Ohio-class SSGN
4
-
Virginia-class Flight III SSN
2
-
Ticonderoga-class Guided Missile Cruiser
1
-
Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA Destroyer
7
-
Avenger-class Mine Countermeasures Vessel
1
-
Marine Expeditionary Unit Totals (4 MEU's Deployed)
Unit
Quantity
Infantry (Marines)
8800
Landing Craft Utility
16
Light Armored Vehicle
64
Assault Amphibious Vehicle
60
M777 Towed Howitzer
32
AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopter
32
MV-22B Osprey Tiltrotor
48
CH-53E Super Stallion Transport Helicopter
16
Ram 1500
252
Operation Group Necrofantasia (Land defense of the MAU and counterattack)
2020 NFL Draft Review - Analysis and Career Predictions for Each Team's Draft Class - AFC East
If you missed the first three installments of this 2020 NFL Draft review series, you can read the NFC East, AFC North, and NFC North. Every year after the draft, I write a way-too-long review of each team’s draft. The purpose of this draft review is to give predictions for the careers of each team’s drafted players. I’ve watched film of each player I’m commenting on. Draft grades are overly optimistic and unrealistic. Unlike the majority of post-draft coverage out there, I will pick busts. Keep in mind that 23.4% of all first-round picks bust. Let me preface this by saying: predicting the career of an NFL draft pick is a ridiculous exercise. There is so much unknown that goes into whether a player succeeds or fails at the next level. I can make educated guesses based on team situation, supporting cast, and research about the prospect’s character and work ethic, but there’s a reason teams make so many mistakes every year. You simply don’t know for sure how a player will react to being a pro. Injuries are also a huge factor in the fate of a player and impossible to predict accurately. Nevertheless, this is a fun exercise and gives us a chance to review how each team approached the draft.
Overview
Before we start, here are some of my general thoughts on the 2020 NFL Draft. Quickly on the broadcast - they did a great job given the circumstances. The production quality was great and they did more actual analysis than usual. My main gripe with draft coverage every year is that they don’t show incredible highlights (they somehow didn’t show the Aaron Dobson catch in 2013). This year, they showed more footage of actual football and I appreciated that. The only two negatives for me were the constant tragic stories and Booger McFarland. Oh, and if any poor soul bet on Justin Jefferson Under 21.5 draft position, ESPN should apologize to you. They showed him on the phone celebrating right before cutting to Goodell announcing the 21st pick - Jalen Reagor to the Eagles. Jefferson was of course on the phone with the Vikings, who took him at 22. Brutal beat. As for the draft, remember this tweet about mock drafts being “wronger” than ever? Funny, this was probably the chalkiest first-round ever in the internet age. Nothing was truly shocking to me, including the Packers trading up for Jordan Love (more on that here). I had Damon Arnette in the first round in my first mock draft this draft season. I wrote an article lauding Jordyn Brooks as an undervalued commodity. Noah Ibinoghene going in the first was surprising, I suppose. But there was no Clelin Ferrell at No. 4 or Tyson Alualu at No. 10. It speaks to how the media and internet scouts might be catching up to, or God forbid actually influencing the teams. So here is the first installment of my annual draft review. Each player will receive their career prediction in parentheses following their name. For example: Joe Burrow (5). Here's how the picks break down: 5 – All-Pro: Starter who has performed at an elite level at his position.4 – Above-Average: Starter who has been among the best at his position.3 – Solid: Starter or valuable back-up with significant positive production.2 – Replacement Level: Below-average starter or back-up who made minor contributions.1 – Bust: Player who didn’t amount to anything positive. Next up, the AFC East.
New York Jets
The Jets came into the draft with well-defined needs at tackle, wide receiver, and as usual, edge rusher. They moved around a bit and still filled those needs with the No. 12, No. 24, and No. 53 ranked players on my board. This Jets draft class will undoubtedly be defined by two of the riskiest boom-or-bust prospects in the entire draft. Their first and second-round picks arguably have the highest ceilings at their respective positions but are both extremely raw. Mekhi Becton (4) was my top-ranked tackle in a good tackle class. His film shows inconsistent technique, somehow getting driven back into his quarterbacks' lap by bull rushes. Becton's size-to-athleticism ratio is folklore at this point, and he has the physical traits of the best tackle in the NFL. One of my notes: "you have to teach him everything." Jets offensive line coach Frank Pollack has his work cut out for him, but Becton will be a dream to coach if he's willing to put in the work. Joe Douglas' strength is supposed to be offensive line, so in some ways, his reputation is at stake with this pick. Scouting draft prospects is not just about the film - NFL teams do a ton of research on projecting work habits, character, and intangibles. My main concern with Becton is keeping his weight in check. I want to believe in Douglas here. Trading back to 59 and still getting my No. 24 overall player in Denzel Mims (4) was one of the best moves in the entire draft. Mims' fall was one of the few things that actually surprised me, and it's interesting that even the team that ultimately picked him passed on him in the mid-second. I couldn't find any character or medical flags with Mims so why did a prospect who was super productive and aced the draft process fall so far? After watching his film, I just don't have an answer. He's sloppy and raw, but scouting is about traits, and he has the traits of a WR1. They teach the wide receiver position a little different at Baylor - round most cuts, find grass rather than run precise routes - so teams may have been spooked by Corey Coleman and the like. Mims is going to have to be coachable, but his ceiling is undeniable. His mix of strength, physicality, and ball skills pops off the screen, with frequent high-points and flashes of tremendous hands. There are very few reps that display 4.38 speed, but it's not like he's slow on film either. A huge part of route-running at the pro level is subtle hand fighting and push-offs. To me his mid-route handwork was advanced, and his traits to use his hands to gain separation make him a potential contested-catch warrior. The one trait that wasn't elite was his lack of suddenness, but his 6.66 3-cone suggests he has well above-average change of direction. Someone please explain to me why Denzel Mims lasted until pick 59. Ashtyn Davis (3) in the third was a curious pick and probably raised some eyebrows after months of Jamal Adams rumors. However, the draft isn't just about filling needs for the upcoming season, it's about building for the future, and it's clear the Jets are preparing for Marcus Maye to walk in free agency next offseason. A case can definitely be made that Davis was the best player available at pick 68. His film showed excellent speed, instincts, and the ability to play center field in single-high looks. He's a smart player with good tackling technique and showed nice pass-breakups and interceptions on film. His film wasn't flawless, as he took some bad angles in the Washington game, giving up a 4th-and-1 touchdown to their running back. I project Davis as a Jim Leonhard-ish starter down the road next to Adams. The Jets used their final day-two pick on a pass-rusher I wasn't high on in Jabari Zuniga (2). I also would have liked for them to add another receiver at some point. For the most part, however, they nailed this draft, mostly because Mims fell so far. Passing on CeeDee Lamb was probably a mistake, but if Becton and Mims live up to their ceilings, watch out. In three years it will be clear if Lamb/Josh Jones should have been the move instead of Becton/Mims.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins played the smokescreen game beautifully. The Chargers basically admitted they wanted Tua, and while there's no proof they had him ranked higher than Justin Herbert, common sense says they were fine with both but preferred Tua. After all the smoke about Herbert, a tackle, and trade-ups, the Dolphins stood pat at No. 5 and got their franchise quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa (4) is a fascinating study in draft value as it relates to risk. Every doctor or agent that came out declaring his injuries as non-stories had an agenda. There is no doubt that his durability is a huge question mark after suffering a myriad of ailments, including a very serious hip injury, over his short career. His injury history is horrifying, and if I was a general manager I would have been terrified to take him and terrified to pass on him. The main reason for concern isn't just about his history, it's about his tendencies on film to hold onto the ball too long or try to make plays that just aren't worth it. Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray are amazing at not taking unnecessary hits. They know how to contort their bodies, slide, step out of bounds, and just wisely give up when they need to. Tua does not have this sixth sense. The situation reminds me of RGIII coming out. Amazing prospect, but major concerns about his ability to stay on the field. As a football player on the actual field, Tua is special. His best trait is his ball placement, as he mastered the RPO-heavy attack at Alabama, routinely throwing dots to his star-studded receiving corps. He is athletic and creative outside the structure of the offense, making plays with his eyes downfield. He also has excellent mechanics which points to coachability. There are some on-field question marks - a terrible pick on the goal line against Tennessee and some missed throws against New Mexico State. However, his 69.3 career completion percentage and 87/11 touchdown-to-interception ratio are for real. I don't feel confident predicting his NFL career due to injury concerns as it relates to playing style. If he's healthy, he'll be a star. Austin Jackson (2) was a bad pick. He's young with some upside, but there were much better players on the board at 18. If any team can afford to take on a project it's Miami right now, but I would have preferred Ezra Cleveland or Josh Jones. I saw Jackson get beat by a spin move and generally struggle to place his hands. He has the size and physical ability, but I wanted to see more consistency. His kickset is natural but he turns his shoulders too much against speed rushers. I expect him to get victimized early and often. I don't think he's quick enough. 📷 My final note on Noah Igbinoghene (2): strong and long, get him in zone. Igbinoghene got beat twice by J'Marr Chase, but also laid the wood on Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He's physical enough, ran a 4.48, and returned a kick for a touchdown against Arkansas. His biggest weakness is that he doesn't get his head around down the field. He'll be much better playing facing the quarterback in zone coverage than in man. I would have taken one of the safeties over him at 30. Quick thoughts on their other picks: Robert Hunt (2) could start at guard but isn't powerful enough to be more than average. Raekwon Davis (3) was highly underrated for stupid reasons like stat production. He's a starting run-stuffer right away and has all the traits you want. I thought New England would take him. Brandon Jones (1) didn't strike me as a pro. He was a big-time recruit and has some speed, but got beat too much. I liked Solomon Kindley (2), but his body just might not work, and I noted Curtis Weaver (1) as "one-dimensional, only speed rush" so I'm not hugely surprised by his fall. He can bend and run the arc, but he has no moves in terms of handwork. Too jag-ish versus Colorado State for me. I expect people to warn us about sleeping on the Dolphins, but the reality is they traded a great young safety and great young left tackle that would have been building blocks for Brian Flores. I expect most of this draft class to underwhelm, but what matters most is Tua's health. If he can stay healthy, he'll be a franchise quarterback that will keep the Dolphins contending in the AFC East for years to come. What Flores did with that Miami roster last year was extremely impressive.
New England Patriots
My next project is an even more comprehensive updated study on the value of draft picks, which will eventually lead to an evaluation of teams' drafting. My guess is that it will reveal what I have always thought: Bill Belichick is not a great drafter and is probably below average. He is the best coach in history and does a phenomenal job of developing a winning culture, but a lot of his draft picks have underwhelmed or busted. Part of that is due to a small draft board and focus on players that fit their organization specifically. I did not like this Patriots draft class. They took a division-two safety, situational edge rusher, the fifth-best player on Alabama's defense, two tight ends, and a probably racist kicker. Kyle Dugger (3) clearly didn't belong in D-II. He plays fast, can run and hit, and did some flat-out dominant things on film. His breaks on the ball were at a different speed, he knocked down tight ends, and had some pick-sixes that made him look like Deion Sanders. Obviously, it's all about how he'll react to a jump in level of competition. Dugger's great Senior Bowl week was definitely a huge factor in his ultimate draft slot. He's not fundamentally there yet, but being mentored by Devin McCourty and coached by Belichick gives him a real chance to develop into a pro bowl player. I did not see it with Josh Uche (1). The Iowa offensive line had no problem with him, and the only sack I saw in the games I watched was on a free rush. Michigan didn't even rush him in big spots. He's thin with no plan. His only translatable trait is a great first step, which is not that difficult to mitigate if he has nothing else. I actually like Anfernee Jennings (2) better. He's stiff and can't bend, but he's stout at the point of attack and can be a solid stand-up run defender right now. I thought the Patriots should have taken a shot with one of the quarterbacks, and they drafted two tight ends in a terrible tight end class. It will be fascinating to see how Belichick fares without Brady, but it wouldn't shock me to see them focus on player development and position themselves for a quarterback in next year's draft. Their roster just isn't that talented right now.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills traded their first-round pick for Stefon Diggs, adding a much-needed weapon for Josh Allen. They ended up getting huge values, landing the No. 16 player on my board a 54, the No. 54 player on my board at 86, and the No. 65 player on my board at 207! Teams that draft close to the consensus internet rankings usually end up with better drafts than teams that don't. A.J.Epenesa (3) has a high floor and terrific film but I wasn't shocked to see him fall to 54. His poor 3-cone time is extremely disturbing, and teams were clearly spooked by his lack of athleticism. However, "traits" doesn't always pertain to purely physical attributes, as his football traits are tremendous. Epenesa looks much twitchier on film than his testing numbers suggest, and his strength is unquestioned. He walked back the Michigan left tackle, displaying his obvious plus power. He has a good get-off and his physicality plays in the league. He can knife in on inside moves and uses his length to make plays. Probably more of a left end than right end, he's a solid pro edge in the mold of a bigger Patrick Kerney. Zack Moss (3) made the Utah offense go. He has the potential to be a true 1A running back for the Bills, but his long injury history clouds his future. Moss' film is fantastic. He has terrific burst, change-of-direction, and always falls forward. His technique is poor but he gets it done in pass protection and as a receiver. As a pure runner, he's right up there with Jonathan Taylor, and only lacks that home-run long speed. He's twitchy, patient, and shows quick jump cuts that play in the league. His lack of production against Texas and Washington did concern me. I still expect him to unseat Devin Singletary and emerge as a fantasy stalwart assuming he can stay healthy. I prefer Isaiah Hodgins (3) to Gabriel Davis (2) but I love doubling up on wide receiver in this loaded class. Hodgins having success would be somewhat of an outlier. He has the size and tremendous hands, but a lot of his film probably doesn't translate . He was a double-move beast, but his 4.61 shows. I'll take a stab with great hands. Davis played inches off the boundary as an outside receiver at UCF, so he'll need to adjust to real alignments and actual routes at the next level. He was incredibly productive but doesn't have the speed or technique of anything more than an average pro. He was schemed for one-on-one matchups against spatially-confused corners. 📷 With a solid head coach and talented roster, the Bills will enter 2020 as the favorites in the AFC East. Josh Allen's accuracy remains a concern, and with more weapons there will be no excuses. He needs a big year. The defense has building block pieces at all three levels and the solid additions of Epenesa and Moss should support the foundation. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more divisions in the coming days. AFC East Full Article with gifs: https://www.rotoballer.com/2020-nfl-draft-review-and-team-grades-afc-east/736202 NFC East: https://www.rotoballer.com/2020-nfl-draft-review-and-team-grades-nfc-east/735919 AFC North: https://www.rotoballer.com/2020-nfl-draft-review-afc-north/735564?src=cat_feat_9954 NFC North: https://www.rotoballer.com/2020-nfl-draft-review-and-team-grades-nfc-north/734932
I've been getting a lot of individual questions so I thought we'd do a mini-update for Offense and Defense respectively QB - 0 Current QBs: 3 (Ideal is 4) Potential Departures: 0-2 2021 Needs: 1 Overview: Alabama had a 2021 QB commited, got Bryce Young in 2020 and lost their 2021 QB. This basic dynamic is probably the biggest story of Alabama's recruiting: who wants to go up against Bryce Young. Alabama is actively recruiting both prospects and is a legit options for both
Name
Rank
Top Schools (List within the List)
Recruiting Buzz
Projections
Commitment Timeline
1. Miller Moss - EE
4* (#52, #5 PRO)
(USCAlabama,) UCLA
Moss is an California QB with a big arm and a sturdy frame. Moss has a final 4 of USC, UCLA, Alabama, and LSU. LSU has a QB commit and Moss hasn't visited Baton Rouge so they aren't a legit option. Current pulse favors him staying out West (Covid should have that effect on multiple kids this cycle). UCLA does not feel good (despite a mid confidence CB pick), given their past few years and Chip Kelly's allergy to recruiting. USC is the presumed favorite, due to proximity, peer connections, and personal rooting interest but USC already has a QB in the 2021 class in high 4* Jake Garcia. Moss himself isn't bothered by multiple QBs in the same class (Bryce Young isn't a deterrant either) but there is concern on how Garcia will react. Alabama and Steve Sarkisian has recruited Moss well, prioritizing him in this class and building those relationships, so much so that sources have said that if geography wasn't as much of a factor, he would already be commited to UA. USC makes the most sense today but I do think Alabama is close and realistic option that will be close to watch over the next few weeks.
40% USC, 34% Alabama, 25% UCLA
June (Next 2-3 Weeks)
2. Texas Commit Jalen Milroe
4* (#79, #4 DUAL)
(Texas) Alabama
Milroe is a dual threat QB playing at the highest level in Texas and thriving as a smooth operater. Milroe and Drake Maye were the final 2 for Alabama's QB commit last summer, Drake took that spot andMilroe went to Texas. Alabama has been in contact, alongside Miami, but Milroe seems pretty solid and has been an active peer recruiter for Texas. Would take a lot to flip, as of today.
85% Texas, 15% Alabama
Currently Commited
RB - 0 Current RBs: 7 (Ideal is 4-5) Potential Departures: 2 2021 Needs: 0-1 Overview: Alabama signed 3 RBs in 2020, so RB recruiting in 2021 is pretty far down the list. Alabama could lose its top 2 rushers and still have ideal numbers. Alabama would like a back in 2021 but it's not a requirement and I'd be hard-pressed to project any guy on this list, as of today.
Name
Rank
Top Schools (List within the List)
Recruiting Buzz
Projections
Commitment Timeline
1. Jaylin White
4* (#220, #13 RB)
(FSU,) Alabama
Jaylin is a in-state RB with a compact frame, quick feet, and a slippery frame. White runs low to the ground and doesn't heisitate in his cuts. I see Jaylin as the most likely RB addition and Alabama hasn't even offered (that should tell you how RB recruiting is going in 2021). FSU has an early lead but I fell Jaylin will wait on at least one of the in-state schools to pursue him.
50% FSU, 50% Alabama
Fall/Winter
Other Names
1. Donovan Edwards
4* (#37, #3 RB)
(Michigan) UGA, Penn State, Notre Dame, Alabama
Alabama has had success with Michigan RBs and Edwards is Coach Huff's top guy on the RB board. Originally seen as a likely Ohio State commit until they filled up. Michigan has surged, even ahead of UGA, and is the likely choice. I think he stays up north regardless.
50% Michigan, 30% UGA, 20% Penn State/Notre Dame, 5% Alabama
Fall/Winter
2. Camar Wheaton
5* (#16, #1 RB)
(Oklahoma, Texas) SMU, LSU, Alabama
Camar Wheaton is the nation's #1 RB; kid runs angry. General consensus is Wheaton doesn't want to go too far from home, which is why Oklahoma and Texas seems to be in a good spot alongside SMU of all schools. LSU and Alabama also have some buzz due to some campus visits last season but the current thought is staying close to home, particularly Oklahoma.
Johnson is another elite Texas RB and is a workhorse at the high school level. TAMU has surged here and though he does want to revisit UGA before commiting, this may not go past the summer
80% TAMU, 7% UGA, 7% Texas, 6% LSU
Summer or early fall
4. Kyree Young
3* (#458, #30 RB)
(Kentucky) Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, UGA, Michigan State
Kyree is a lesser known RB from Ohio. Not a ton of film at this point. Buzz is still on Kentucky
100% Kentucky
Preseason
WR - 2 Current WRs: 10 (Ideal is 9+) Potential Departures: 2-3 2021 Needs: 3-4 Overview: WR is a big priority position in the 2021 class and Alabama is in on numerous elite receivers. Alabama's got a great sales pitch for 2021, with recent elite production, playing time to offer, and a shiny new QB to pass the ball. It's key for Alabama to hit on WR in this class and there's a good feeling here.
Name
Rank
Commitment Buzz
1. Jacorey Brooks - ES
4* (#38, #3 WR)
Brooks reminds me a lot of Tee Higgins: Tall/long but still quick, great on contested balls, consistent scoring threat. Alabama beat out Florida at the last minute for a guy who could end up back in the 5* range at the end of the cycle. Well respected guy in South FL and should help in peer recruiting the area in 2021 and 2022
2. Agiye Hall - EE
4* (#74, #13 WR)
Hall is another taller WR who I think is one of the best athletes in the whole class. A little raw but the ceiling is so high if he buys in. Minor risk taken by Alabama but worth it IMO and in the opinion of the staff.
Name
Rank
Top Schools (List within the List)
Recruiting Buzz
Projections
Commitment Timeline
1. Brian Thomas Jr
4* (#63, #9 WR)
(Alabama, LSU) UGA, TAMU
Thomas is a Louisiana receiver with big-catch ability and a surprising amount of speed. As a Louisiana recruit, his top 2 is automatically Alabama and LSU. It's still Alabama-LSU, with a slight edge to the Tide due to deeper built relationships between Thomas as the UA staff
55% Alabama, 45% LSU
Fall/Winter
2. Christian Leary
4* (#130, #23 WR)
(Alabama,) Florida, Oklahoma, Auburn
Leary is a dynamic WR and wildcat QB for his high school team. This kid can fly when he gets going. Oklahoma, Alabama, Aubrun, and Florida are his top 4 and all 4are realistic options leading up to his commitment. Leary was considered a OK silent in the spring, along with Mario Williams and Caleb Williams but a lot of that confidence has dissapated. Alabama has really surged here, selling proximity (important to mama), a professional approach and a Jaylen Waddle comparision. Florida is always an option, as the closest school an a school that's really selling the upcoming NLI situation but it feels like Alabama/Florida to me and there's Bama buzz out there now.
Johnson is another speedy receiver who can play the slot, like Leary. Johnson has been very complementary of Alabama so far and in a suprising turn, Oklahoma did not make his top 8. Alabama could be seen as the early favorite but the other SEC Powers are in her also
Hilton is another Louisiana wideout of a similar build to those Alabama and LSU had success with last year: 6 foot even, shifty, speed, and effortless cuts to shake defenders. Unlike Thomas, Hilton is more likely a LSU lean but this is a close recruitment that Alabama is still very involved in. Hinton should commit soonish
Worthy is another recent addition to the WR, with near Ruggs-esque speed and acceleration. Michigan and Oregon are the front-runner at this time but Alabama could get in the mix, depending on how long this recruitment goes and its luck with the other slot targets.
Franklin is an elite west-coast receiver defined by one word: smooth. Franklin releasted a top 4 on Tuesday of Oregon, Washington, ASU, and Alabama. Oregon is the presumed favorite, due to a great recruiting staff and buzz as the Pac-12 contender of the future, followed by Washington, whose QB and WR commits are on the same team as Franklin. Alabama has gained ground here, selling a Smitty comparison, that was unheard of in the spring but it's still difficult to see him leaving the West Coast. A lot will be dependant on what Thomas does.
50% Oregon, 25% Washington, 15% Alabama, 10% ASU
December
4. Malik McClain
3* (#405, #64 WR)
TAMU, Tennessee, Alabama
McClain is a former Alabama resident with Julio Jones comparision (no, really). McClain is a behemith of a receiver, who catches over, around, and through defenders; I think he could make a hell of a TE if weight was added to his frame. TAMU and Tennessee have been the early names here but as a former AL resident and Julio fan, Alabama could be in a good spot.
Unknown
Fall/Winter
5. Jahlil Farooq
4* (#133, #23 WR)
(Oklahoma,) Penn State, Alabama, UGA, Maryland
Farooq is a DMV receiver that I'd call a poor man's Devonta Smith: good on the deep ball, good size, strong hands. Oklahoma is the heavy favorite, with Farooq being another Caleb Williams fan. Alabama has interest but not the connection Oklahoma has.
80% Oklahoma, 10% Penn State, 5% Alabama, 5% Everyone Else
Fall/Winter
6. Deion Colzie
4* (#45, #5 WR)
(UGA,) Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee
Colzie is another elite, tall WR native to Athens, Georgia. Until recently, Colzie was commited to Notre Dame. I am surprised he hasn't commited to UGA yet.
100% UGA
Maybe Summer
7. Caleb Johnson
3* (#583, #93 WR)
TAMU, Oklahoma, Alabama, UGA, LSU
A recent WR addition, Johnson is another slot guy Alabama likes. Pretty early in his recruitment so hard to say where he stands with Alabama or any other schools.
Unknown
Fall/Winter
TE - 0 Current TEs: 7 (Ideal is 5-6) Potential Departures: 2 2021 Needs: 1-2 Overview: TE is another priority position in the 2021 class, as Alabama has spent the last few seasons attempting to add an elite tight end to this dynamic offense. The question right now is more on talent than numbers but Alabama will lose 2 tight ends after the season but it's more key that Alabama gets at least 1 elite player at the position.
Name
Rank
Top Schools (List within the List)
Recruiting Buzz
Projections
Commitment Timeline
1. Hudson Wolfe
4* (#225, #9 TE)
(Ohio State, Alabama,) Tennessee, UGA, Ole Miss
Wolfe is a big-bodied in-line blocker, but runs well with the ball in his hands and gets physical with defenders. Alabama had been a long favorite here but current belle of the ball Ohio State has locked in on Hudson Wolfe for one of their final scholarship spots and has likely taken the lead. It will be critical for Alabama to get Wolfe back on campus before he commits; otherwise, he's all Buckeye.
55% Ohio State, 45% Alabama
Preseason, maybe early Fall
2. Robbie Ouzts
3* (#755, #35 TE)
(South Carolina, Alabama,) VT, Duke, UNC
Ouzts is a Carolina TE with a big frame and long legs. Ouzts has always liked Alabama but it remains to be seen how hard the staff will push. South Carolina is the early favorite but UNC is one to watch. Currently has a preseason commitment timeline but I would bet this goes into the fall
40% South Carolina, 30% Alabama, 30% UNC
Preseason
3. Gunnar Helm - EE
3* (#547, #24 TE)
Alabama, Auburn, LSU
Helm is a more recent addition to the TE board with an established connection, as his sister attends the University of Alabama, despite the family residing in Colorado. Another in-line blocker type, Helm reminds me of Hale Hentges, as a great blocker but a big rumbler with the ball in his hands. It is still pretty early in his recruitment but Alabama, Auburn, LSU would be some early realistic contenders
Unknown
Fall/Winter
4. Thomas Fidone
4* (#91, #2)
(Nebraska, Iowa,) LSU, Michigan, Alabama
Fidone is a midwestern prospect, with a big frame and WR receiving skills. Fidone is highly coveted by SEC programs such as Alabama and LSU, but has focused much of his recruitment of Big10 schools closer to home. Alabama would REALLY like to get him in on a visit and Fidone does have interest there but if he sticks to his current timeline, it would be tough to project UA as the selection. LSU could be a dark horse here.
60% Nebraska, 40% Iowa
August
5. Cal Commit Jermain Terry
4* (#200, #7 TE)
(Cal,) Alabama
Terry is a west-coast TE with jumbo size and big play potential. Terry is a coveted prospect for the Tide, despite being commited to Cal, and Steve Sarkesian is working hard to get him on campus in the fall. Definitely one to watch.
80% Cal, 20% Alabama
Currently Commited
6. Mizzou Commit Ryan Hoerstkamp
3* (#937, #47 TE)
(Mizzou)
A new addition, Ryan is a recent Mizzou commit and is an active recruiter for the Tigers. Not much to see here.
100% Mizzou
Currently Commited
OL - 0 Current OLs: 15 (Ideal is 15) - 7 OT/4 OG/ 4 OC Potential Departures: 4-5 2021 Needs: 4-5 (At least 2 OTs, 1-2 IOL, 1-2 as flex) Overview: OL is the most important position in the 2021 class, purely based on the potential number of departures and additions. Alabama is looking to bolster both the tackle positions, as well as the interior, and has numerous high-quality targets with high interest in the Tide
Name
Rank
Top Schools (List within the List)
Recruiting Buzz
Projections
Commitment Timeline
1. Tommy Brockermeyer - EE
5* (#5, #1 OT)
(Alabama, Texas) LSU, Auburn
Tommy is the top offensive tackle in the 2021 and with good reason, possessing an NFL-ready body, athletic pedigree, and advanced technical knowledge. As a Texas legacy, the Longhorns would always be a player in this recruitment but Alabama has taken a nice lead here, thanks to their simultaneous pursuit of Tommy's twin brother James (the rare legit Package Deal). The Brockermeyers like the winning pedigree, have hit it off with the new S&C staff, and had actually planned to take 2 OVs to Alabama, as they can attend as the brother of the other for each visit. Alabama's in the driver's seat for a recruitment that should not go past August.
75% Alabama, 25% Texas
Preseason
2. JC Latham
5* (#17, #5 OT)
(Ohio State, Alabama,) LSU, Oklahoma
JC Latham is amongst the top athletes amongst linemen in the 2021 class and a guy Alabama has surged for over the past few months. Ohio State and LSU were the early top 2 but success in the NFL draft and a relationship with Evan Neal has caused Alabama to move squarely into Latham's top 2 with Ohio State. Latham's family is in Chicago so proximity favors the Buckeyes but sources have said that Alabama has sold itself better to Mom so far. Latham likely won't commit without visits, which will be crucial for Alabama's chances.
Mims is a nice complement to Brockermeyer: Mims is a physical mauler and absolute specimen at the tackle spot. Mims has stated Alabama is his leader throughout the spring and heading into summer, citing his relationship with Coach Flood and earlier playing time at UA but most feel a kid that close to UGA's campus with so many UGA connections will still end up in Athens. Visits will be huge for Mims and helps the Tide, as he won't commit until October.
45% UGA, 40% Alabama, 10% Tennessee, 5% Auburn
October 14th
4. James Brockermeyer - EE
4* (#192, #1 OC)
(Alabama, Texas) LSU, Auburn
James is the twin of Tommy and is a high-quality center to boot. Same thing as Tommy: Alabama leads by a good bit for the twins but Texas will always be in the background. Look for a preseason commitment.
75% Alabama, 25% Texas
Preseason
5. Jager Burton
4* (#160, #10 OG)
(Ohio State, Kentucky, Alabama,) Oregon, Clemson
Burton is a midwester lineman Alabama likes a lot and one Alabama has surged for, placing themselves in good competition with Ohio State and Kentucky. Proximity and need favor the Buckeyes but Kentucky is a real contender. Despite this, sources say Alabama is right there behind the scenes.
40% Ohio State, 35% Kentucky, 25% Alabama
Fall/Winter
6. Terrence Ferguson - EE
4* (#52, #3 OG)
(UGA,) Alabama
Another big-time road grader on the interior, it's generally bad gambling to bet against UGA for an in-state offensive lineman but Alabama is definitely making things interesting, with serious interest from Mr. Ferguson around joining the Tide.
Parker is a Tennessee tackle that has more recently emerged as a more serious target. Parker lists Alabama as his dream school but both Alabama and Parker are taking things slow at this point. Tennessee is the biggest competition here so far.
80% Tennessee, 20% Alabama
Fall/Winter
2. Noah Josey
4* (#284, #17 OG)
(UGA, Alabama,) Ohio State
Josey is a Kyle Flood favorite, as another diamond -in-the-rough, blue coller, guard. UGA surged in the spring but it appears no team in his top 3 are ready to take his commitment.
33% UGA, 33% Alabama, 33% Ohio State
Fall/Winter
3. Ross Maseuli
3* (#618, #28 OG)
(USC) Michigan, Alabama
Maseuli is another Cali lineman who's a USC lean with Alabama interest. I know he was somewhat star-struck by the Alabama offer but I think a campus visit will be the real litmus test. Michigan is a realistic option also.
80% USC, 10% Michigan, 10% Alabama,
Fall/Winter
As always, feel free to ask any question that comes to mind. Defensive Update should come Fri morn.
The rise of Joe Burrow has been one to behold, and sort of reminds me of Baker Mayfield's rise up draft boards during his draft year. He's had an incredible year so far, and could cap it off next Monday with a National Championship victory over the defending champions. With Cincinnati needing an identity at QB, I can't see them taking anyone but Burrow. Plus, he's from Ohio and it will sell a lot of tickets.
2
Washington Redskins
OSU DE Chase Young
Washington is in a great place to grab perhaps the best player in the draft. New DC Jack Del Rio has said they're going to establish a 4-3 defense, Chase Young would be the perfect pick to bolster this defense. Ron Rivera's first year with Washington will have him taking a potential game-changing pass rusher to terrorize the rest of the NFCE, which should scare Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, and Daniel Jones.
3
Detroit Lions
Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons
This pick came down to OSU's Jeff Okudah and Clemson's Isaiah Simmons, but I went with Simmons in the end because I think he's the 2nd best player in the draft behind Chase Young, and a true captain of a defense. He can play safety or OLB, and play both positions well. I know the popular pick here is Okudah, but I am infatuated with Simmons and I think he's going to go a lot higher than people think.
4
New York Giants
Georgia OT Andrew Thomas
Gettleman has done some good things with the Giants despite the fact their record doesn't reflect it. Joe Judge as the next HC is a bit of a head scratcher, but I am always willing to wait before I cast judgment. Looking at this roster I see a lot of holes, but the #1 hole is the tackle position. I think kicking Nate Solder over to RT would be the best option, and then drafting the best LT in the draft, and to me that's Georgia's Andrew Thomas. Daniel Jones took a beating last year, and lot of his fumbles were due to bad tackle play. Solidify that tackle position and protect your franchise QB at all costs.
5
Miami Dolphins
Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa
Can I just gush about Brian Flores real quick? Everyone thought this team would be the "worst team in NFL history" after that shalacking by the Ravens week 1, and what did Flores do? Win 5 games with this roster -- unbelievable coaching performance. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been a good bridge QB, and he is under contract another year, which will be perfect for Tua as he rehabilitates his injury and gets ready to take over when he's ready. I'm a little weary about Tua due to his injuries, but the talent is undoubtedly there.
6
Los Angeles Chargers
Oregon QB Justin Herbert
Let me preface this by saying that I understand there are some glaring needs on this team, mainly OL. I think Herbert is the 3rd best QB in this draft, but has the potential to be the best with proper coaching. He won't be a day one starter, and I believe the Chargers will roll with a bridge QB for 2020 until Herbert is deemed ready, but with Herbert here on the board, the Chargers should act fast at finding their potential franchise QB. Rivers is old, hasn't looked great, and is a pending free agent. Barring a trade up to grab Tua, or a big free agent signing, I can't see them passing on Herbert if here's there.
7
Carolina Panthers
OSU CB Jeff Okudah
Derrick Brown is a popular pick here, but with Okudah falling due to 3 QBs going top 10, I can't see the Panthers passing on him. Okudah is a top 5 talent, and to grab him here at 7 is probably a dream come true for any team that could use a corner. Okudah is my #4 overall prospect behind Young, Simmons, and Burrow, and while IDL is the more pressing need, I can't justify Derrick Brown over Okudah.
8
Arizona Cardinals
Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy
I've seen a lot of mocks that have CeeDee Lamb going before Jeudy due to the Kyler connection, and while I totally understand that, I think if Jeudy is here and you had your pick of the litter, you can't pass him up. He's the best route runner in the draft, and probably the best WR prospect to come out in quite some time. Jeudy fits this offense like a glove and would give Kyler Murray a big time target to throw to.
9
Jacksonville Jaguars
Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb
Back-to-back receivers off the board as Jacksonville gives Gardner Minshew a big-time playmaker to throw bombs to. I suspect the Jaguars will double-down on the Foles mistake and have him compete with Minshew for the starting job, but this offense works so much better with Minshew. Foles is a tremendous back-up, but a low quality starter - Minshew showed a lot of potential last year, so getting him a playmaker such as Lamb would be a slam dunk.
10
Cleveland Browns
Alabama OT Jedrick Wills
People will disagree on the rankings of the top tackles, but for me Wills is my #2 behind Thomas. While they need help at both positions (Hubbard/Robinson are just abysmal), Robinson is the lesser of the two evils. Wills will start day one for this offense, and perhaps the Browns could try to get Trent Williams from Washington to replace Robinson? Or another FA tackle, but Robinson must go. Baker should take a step forward with a new coaching staff that (hopefully) plays to the strengths of the personnel. Why Freddie was calling long-developing plays with turnstiles at tackle still baffles me, but grabbing Wills here at the 10th pick is a perfect fit for this team.
11
New York Jets
Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs
How this team won 7 games baffles me, but hey, good for you, Jets! You got a talented young QB who basically willed this team to 7 wins despite the worst OL in the league, a terrible head coach, and a lack of offensive weapons not named Le'Veon Bell. Joe Douglas needs to protect his franchise at all costs, and with Wirfs still available I suspect he'd tear his quad running so fast to turn that card in. Sam Darnold is the truth, and you need to keep him upright so he can show why he's just that good.
12
Las Vegas Raiders
Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III
I firmly believe Ruggs will establish himself as the 3rd best WR in this class after his combine performance, and for a team like the Raiders who really need a playmaker at the receiver position, it just makes too much sense, especially with Okudah and Simmons off the board. Ruggs in Gruden's offense will be so much fun to watch, especially when you add Josh Jacbobs into the mix. The Raiders were so close to a playoff berth this year, and I think they'll be there this time next year.
13
Indianapolis Colts
Auburn DT Derrick Brown
Snagging Brown at the 13th pick would be perhaps the steal of the draft for the Colts. There's an argument to be made that WR is a more pressing need, but Ballard has done a fantastic job of grabbing talent in the later rounds, so I believe he will find a good WR day two, especially with how deep this class is. Brown is the BPA on the board, and will be a great fit with this defense.
14
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LSU S Grant Delpit
This seems like a really popular place for Delpit to be picked, and I can totally see why. I can see the allure of a QB here, especially if prospects like Jordan Love or Jacob Eason rise as the draft gets closer, but I think if Delpit is on the board he would be a great pick here for the Buccaneers. I could also see them taking SC DT Javon Kinlaw, but I went with Delpit due to him being a little higher on my own board.
15
Denver Broncos
Clemson WR Tee Higgins
Elway seemed to have found the QB he has longed for since Peyton retired with Drew Lock, and I think they have a solid offensive core to really build around. Courtland Sutton has been fantastic, and Philip Lindsay has had back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. Tackle is definitely the more pressing need, but with Higgins on the board, I can see Elway and company pairing him with Sutton to give Lock two dynamic playmakers to throw to. Henry Ruggs would have been a perfect pick here, but he went a few picks earlier to Las Vegas; still, Higgins is a beast and will do great things with that offense.
16
Atlanta Falcons
Iowa DE AJ Epenesa
Atlanta's biggest need is EDGE, and with AJ Epenesa dropping to them they should be ecstatic that he fell this far. This EDGE class is pretty top heavy with Chase Young being the #1 guy, but Epenesa is a great player and a fringe top 10 talent, so snagging him at 16 is tremendous value. Fills a huge need, and is the best player on the board - two birds one stone. Yadayadayada.
17
Dallas Cowboys
South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw
Depending on what happens with Dak and Amari, this pick could be all over the place. It could be a receiver, a QB, a corner, or even a safety, but I think they'll look at their board and see Kinlaw still available and take him. He does fill a need for this defense, and is a great prospect to boot. Mike McCarthy's first pick as the new coach of the Cowboys will be a safe one, but a great one nonetheless. It may not be flashy, but I believe it's the right pick.
18
Miami Dolphins (from PIT)
Penn State DE Yetur Gross-Matos
The Dolphins have 3 first round picks this year, and they already got their franchise QB with their first, and with the top 3 tackles off the board, I think they'll grab another glaring need first, then tackle... a tackle with their 3rd first round pick. Matos is a player I suspect will go top 20, and here at 18 with the Dolphins would be a really good fit for this team.
19
Las Vegas Raiders (from CHI)
Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray
The Raiders got a dynamic offensive playmaker with their first pick, and a dynamic defensive playmaker with their 2nd - another strong draft for Mayock and Gruden. This team is so close to being in the playoffs I can almost taste it, and if I were a betting man I would put money on the Raiders to be in the playoffs next year, especially if they have another great draft like they did last year.
20
Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR)
LSU CB Kristian Fulton
The Jaguars, much like the Raiders, have set themselves up nicely to add two playmakers for their team on both side of the ball. Kristian Fulton at 20 is a steal, as he's my 12th overall prospect - plus he fills a huge need after the trade of Jalen Ramsey. While Fulton may not be as good as Ramsey was/is, he will still bolster this Jacksonville secondary as a day one starter.
21
Philadelphia Eagles
Alabama CB Trevon Diggs
This team has two glaring needs - receiver and corner, but I rank corner as a more pressing need. Wentz had over 4,000 yards passing without a single receiver getitng 500 yards, which means Wentz was able to make chicken salad out of chicken shit. But this secondary? Yeesh. Upgrading there should be the #1 priority, and I think Howie can grab a really good receiver day 2 due to how stacked this class is. Diggs is my #3 overall corner prospect behind Okudah and Fulton, and he fills a huge needs for this team.
22
Buffalo Bills
Colorado WR Laviska Shenault
Hats off to Sean McDermott for getting this Bills team to the playoffs. They were just a few plays away from beating Houston and advancing to the divisional around, too. Getting Josh Allen a big-time target would do wonders for his development. Shenault has some injury concerns, but his upside is phenomenal. He's a big receiver at 6'2", 220, and will give Josh Allen some much-needed help offensively.
23
New England Patriots
Boise State DE Curtis Weaver
Tom Brady will be back next year, and I think it'll be with the Patriots. Their biggest need offensively is wide receiver and tight end, but I don't see Bill double-dipping at WR two years in a row in the 1st. Defensively, their biggest need is EDGE, and Curtis Weaver is the best left on the board. Bill will attack the offensive skill positions later on I suspect - at least, I hope so.
24
New Orleans Saints
LSU WR Justin Jefferson
Jefferson's stunning and dominant performance against Oklahoma made him skyrocket up a lot of boards - including mine. Now, is WR the biggest need for this team? No, but the thought of pairing Michael Thomas with another playmaker for Brees is just too good to pass up, especially with how the board fell. Jefferson and Thomas will cause even more trouble for opposing secondaries in the NFCS. Thank goodness the Panthers got Okudah, right?
25
Tennessee Titans
LSU DE K'Lavon Chaisson
After 5 years of mediocre QB play by Marcus Mariots, the Titans perhaps found their QB in... Ryan Tannehill? Color me shocked. Looking at my board and potential team needs, I think the Titans will go EDGE here, and Chaisson is the best EDGE left on my board.
26
Minnesota Vikings
Florida CB CJ Henderson
This team has perhaps the best overall roster in the NFL, but corner is probably their biggest need, especially after the disappointing year Rhodes has had. CJ Henderson can be a player that goes top twenty or the 2nd round - it depends on the boards. If he's there for the Vikings to pick, then I think he'd be a great fit with this team/defense.
27
Miami Dolphins (from HOU)
USC OT Austin Jackson
With their 3rd and final pick of the 1st round, the Dolphins hopefully solidify their line - and protect their QB of the future - with USC's Austin Jackson. He's my #4 overall OL prospect, and to grab him at the tail end of the 1st round is really good value, especially for a team that really needs help on the offensive line. Leaving the 1st round with Tua, Matos, and Jackson is a great haul for the Dolphins moving forward. Excited to watch this team next year.
28
Seattle Seahawks
Wisconsin OL Tyler Biadasz
Seattle is another team that could go a lot of ways. They could grab another receiver to pair with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, or take an EDGE prospect with potential (Julian Okwara/Terrell Lewis), but I think they'll go interior OL and take Tyler Biadasz if he's still on the board. He's a natural center, but I think he has the potential to play guard if needed. Either way, he will help this OL - which graded poorly most of the year, especially against the Eagles in the playoffs - and give Wilson some protection.
29
Kansas City Chiefs
OSU RB JK Dobbins
I know this is going to seem like a reach, but I'm going off what I watched last year and I feel JK Dobbins would be perfect in this offense. He can run as good as anyone, and was a playmaker catching the ball for the Buckeyes. Many have Georgia's D'Andre Swift as the better back, but I think Dobbins is better, personally. Dobbins adds so much to an offense, and imagining him taking screen passes from Mahomes to the house would give this Chiefs offense the link they've been missing since Hunt was released middle of last season.
30
Green Bay Packers
TCU WR Jalen Raegor
The Packers offense is basically Aaron Jones, Aaron Rodgers, and Davonte Adams, then a bunch of practice squad players. I think giving Rodgers another offensive playmaker, especially one as talented as Raegor, would be a homerun for the Packers in the 1st round. Pairing Raegor and Adams together would be quite the dynamic duo, especially with Aaron Jones as the lead back.
31
San Francisco 49ers
Alabama S Xavier McKinney
This is the BPA on my board, and I love the fit here. Robert Saleh has done a terrific job of making this defense one of the best in the league, and adding someone as good as Xavier McKinney would make an already stout unit even better.
32
Baltimore Ravens
Alabama DE Terrell Lewis
I could see the Ravens going WR early again, but they'll probably trade out of this pick to get more day 2 picks for depth. This team is stacked everywhere you look, and adding a quality pass rusher like Lewis at the end of the 1st would be a good selection for the team I believe will win it all this year.
ROUND 2
Pick
Team
Player
Thoughts
33
Cincinnati Bengals
Louisville OT Mekhi Becton
You got the QB, now give him some protection.
34
Indianapolis Colts
Utah State QB Jordan Love
I think grabbing a project QB here would be a good move for the Colts. I think Jacoby is a good bridge QB that a project like Love could learn behind. It's a low risk, high reward scenario for Frank Reich and Chris Ballard.
35
Detroit Lions
Stanford CB Paulson Adebo
Another playmaker for Matt Patricia's defense to go along with Isaiah Simmons. Something deadly is brewing in Detroit... I just hope they can put it all together because this team is talented.
36
New York Giants
Notre Dame DE Julian Okwara
2nd biggest need for the Giants gets filled with the talented pass rusher out of Notre Dame. Another solid choice by Gettleman and company to bolster this team that has a lot of holes.
37
Los Angeles Chargers
Houston OT Josh Jones
You got your QB, now give him some protection. Josh Jones is the best tackle remaining on the board, and will be a great value and pick here in the 2nd.
38
Carolina Panthers
Alabama DT Raekown Davis
Double dipping defense with their first two picks, the Panthers fill another need with this talented defensive lineman.
39
Miami Dolphins
Virginia CB Bryce Hall
A first round talent is taken in the 2nd, and the Dolphins continue to add great players to build their team. Tua, Matos, Jackson, and Hall would be a killer first four picks for Miami.
40
Arizona Cardinals
Auburn OT Prince Wanogho
You got your playmaker receiver, now grab some protection for your talented franchise QB Kyler Murray.
41
Cleveland Browns
Oklahoma OL Creed Humphrey
Double dipping OL is what the Browns should do here, especially when Humphrey is still on the board. They have a great center in JC Tretter, but I think Humphrey has the talent to play guard, and at the very least will be great depth for a team that desperately needs it.
42
Jacksonville Jaguars
Washington TE Hunter Bryant
Another weapon for whoever is the QB for the Jaguars in 2020, Hunter Bryant is my #1 TE in the draft.
43
Chicago Bears (from LV)
Oregon OL Shane Lemieux
No 1st round pick, but the Bears still grab a talented OL prospect to bolster their interior line for whoever is playing QB for the Bears next year.
44
Indianapolis Colts
Penn State WR KJ Hamler
Let's give Jacoby a weapon to pair with TY Hilton, and KJ Hamler is the best WR left on the board.
45
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington QB Jacob Eason
Another low risk, high reward pick, the Buccaneers grab a rookie QB that can potentially be their long-term starter. I suspect Winston will be with the team next year, but they should address the position in some way, whether that be free agency or the draft.
46
Denver Broncos
Washington OT Trey Adams
Upgrading the OL should be the 2nd priority for Elway and the Broncos brass, especially with how bad Garrett "holding" Bolles has been thus far.
47
Atlanta Falcons
Clemson CB AJ Terrell
You got Epenesa in the 1st, now grab yourself a stud corner to add to your defense.
48
New York Jets
Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk
Get Sam Darnold an offensive weapon now that you've got him a franchise tackle.
49
Pittsburgh Steelers
Georgia RB D'Andre Swift
A 1st round talent falls to the Steelers here in the 2nd, as they grab a member of #RBU out of Georgia. Many believe Swift can be the #1 RB in the class, and I can see why. I have Dobbins rated higher, but here at 49 is insane value.
50
Chicago Bears
Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet
I don't see the Bears taking a QB here with the second 2nd round pick, but grabbing a tight end would be a great piece to add to their offense.
51
Dallas Cowboys
California S Ashtyn Davis
I really love this pick, and it fills a big need for Dallas. They grab two stud defensive players with their first two picks - can't beat that.
52
Los Angeles Rams
Florida DE Jon Greenard
The Rams finally pick and the take a pass rusher to bolster their defense.
53
Philadelphia Eagles
Minnesota WR Tyler Johnson
Best receiver left on my board, and gives Wentz some much-needed offensive help.
54
Buffalo Bills
Oklahoma DT Neville Gallimore
BPA on my board, and fits in beautifully with this Buffalo defensive line.
55
Atlanta Falcons (from NE)
Georgia OT Isaiah Wilson
The Falcons add some meat up front to protect Matty Ice with a local prospect in Isaiah Wilson.
56
Miami Dolphins (from NO)
Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor
I love Taylor as a prospect, and having the Dolphins snag him with the second 2nd round pick is just... chef kiss. What a draft for the Dolphins!
57
Tennessee Titans
Georgia OL Solomon Kindley
Tennessee adds some depth for their offensive line with Solomon Kindley.
58
Houston Texans
TCU CB Jeff Gladney
Texans' first pick of the draft is to improve their secondary, and with great value at that!
59
Minnesota Vikings
Tennessee OG Trey Smith
Another team that could use some depth on their offensive line grabs a versatile player that can play inside or outside.
60
Seattle Seahawks
Utah CB Jaylon Johnson
Seahawks add a good piece to their secondary near the end of the 2nd round.
61
Kansas City Chiefs
Wisconsin LB Zack Baun
BPA on my board and fits in well with this Kansas City defense.
62
Green Bay Packers
Oregon LB Troy Dye
Packers filled a need with their 1st pick, and do the same here at the end of the 2nd round. Pretty good start for the Packers as they look toward the 2020-2021 season.
63
Seattle Seahawks (from SF)
Alabama DE Anfernee Jennings
Seattle adds some pass rush help to give them a boost on their defensive line.
64
Baltimore Ravens
USC WR Michael Pittman, Jr.
The final pick of the 2nd round is a talented pass catcher that will give the league MVP another weapon on their offense.
BEST REMAINING PROSPECTS
Clemson RB Travis Etienne
Purdue TE Brycen Hopkins
Texas A&M DT Justin Madubuike
Georgia QB Jake Fromm
Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts
Alabama RB Najee Harris
DISCLAIMER
I understand mock drafts aren't perfect, and I'm not saying mine is. If you disagree with a pick (which I am sure plenty of you will), please feel free to politely say what you would do instead - I don't think there's need for hostility for something as harmless as a mock draft. I hope everyone enjoys it; I put a lot of work into it. Thanks!
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