Early NFL Predictions: 2021 Edition

NFC West

Seattle Seahawks 

Notable Additions: RG Gabe Jackson, TE Gerald Everett, DE Kerry Hyder, DE Aldon Smith, WR D’Wayne Eskridge, CB Tre Brown 

Notable Departures: RB Carlos Hyde, CB Shaquill Griffin, WR David Moore, LB Bruce Irvin, LB K.J. Wright 

X-Factor: Defensive Productivity

The success of the Seahawks this year is going to rely heavily on the defense. Russell Wilson is going to will his way to success regardless of who he has with him on the field. The question will be if the defense can consistently give him good field position. The defense has lost a few key players that they looked to fill through the draft, and they added some elite defensive line and edge talent. The Seahawks should be able to move forward defensively and set themselves up for a great season. Russell Wilson looked like the league MVP during the first half of the previous season and then was not in the conversation by the end of it. Consistency over the season is going to be huge for the Seahawks, and despite being in one of the tougher divisions this season, they have the veteran leadership to stay ahead of the competition.  

Prediction: 14-3 (1^st Place) 

Los Angeles Rams 

Notable Additions: QB Matthew Stafford, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Tutu Atwell, ILB Ernest Jones 

Notable Departures: QB Jared Goff, C Austin Blyth, CB Troy Hill, RB Malcom Brown, TE Gerald Everett, DE Derek Rivers, S John Johnson 

X-Factor: Is Matthew Stafford the Missing Piece?

The big move for the Los Angeles Rams this spring was the trading of QB Jared Goff for veteran star QB Matthew Stafford. With one of the most talented defenses led by DT Aaron Donald and CB Jalen Ramsey, this team is looking to get back to the Super Bowl where they were just a few seasons ago. Stafford has been one of the most underrated Quarterbacks in the NFL as he has lit up the stat sheet for over a decade, but has never had a playoff win in his career with Detroit. Stafford is going to have the most pressure of his career this year, stepping into a contention ready situation. This is going to be the most talented roster Stafford has every played on and he is going to grab the opportunity by the horns and get the Rams into the playoffs.  

Prediction: 11-6 (2^nd Place) 

San Francisco 49ers 

Notable Additions: C Alex Mack, QB Trey Lance, DT Zach Kerr, G Aaron Banks, RB Trey Sermon 

Notable Departures: CB Richard Sherman, RB Tevin Coleman, WR Kendrick Bourne, DE Kerry Hyder,  

X-Factor: Trey Lances Learning Curve

The 49ers were plagued with injuries last season. The team started 3 different Quarterbacks last year and never got into a flow offensively. The 49ers went and got some major help protecting the pocket adding Veteran Center Alex Mack to get the ball to Trey Lance, and added Guard Aaron Banks into the mix. The 49ers now have some stability at the Quarterback position, and Kyle Shannahan can now work the offense knowing what he has to work with. Their success is going to depend on how quickly Lance can catch up to the speed of the NFL game. There will be a night and day difference from last year to this year in San Francisco. It is not going to be an easy season and they will have extremely close games throughout, but the ball is going to fall their way more often than not and they are going to have a platform to build on moving forward.  

Prediction: 10-7 (3^rd Place) 

Arizona Cardinals 

Notable Additions: WR AJ Green, DE JJ Watt, CB Malcom Butler, C Rodney Hudson, K Matt Prater, RB James Conner, OLB Zaven Collins, WR Rondale Moore, CB Marco Wilson 

Notable Departures: CB Patrick Peterson, RB Kenyan Drake, OLB Haason Reddick, LB De’Vondre Campbell, CB Dre Kirkpatrick, C Mason Cole 

X-Factor: Kliff Kingsbury Schematics

The Cardinals were an active team this off-season moving a lot of new pieces into the mix. Big name players, such as JJ Watt and Malcom Butler, have made their way to Arizona. Kliff Kingsbury is going into his third season with the franchise and his hand-picked quarterback and the team has gone all in to let him succeed. This team is eerily similar to the “Eagles Dream Team” after a summer of bringing in a bunch of names who were past their primes. Kingsbury is going to drop the ball on this season and the hot seat conversation will arrive early and often. In the division they are in, they did not take the steps needed to take that next step and they are going to see the competition pass them by.  

Prediction: 5-12 (4^th Place) 

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Notable Additions: RB Giovani Bernard, S Raven Greene, OLB Joe Tyron, OT Robert Hainsey 

Notable Departures: N/A 

X-Factor: Beating Father Time

The Buccaneers decided to run the last season back again. After making minor adjustments and bringing majority of the roster back, the question will be if they can do it again. Everybody knows Tom Brady’s age, but returning impact players DT Ndamukong Suh and MLB Lavonte David are moving into their twilight years as well as WR Antonio Brown and TE Rob Gronkowski. The overall age of this team is moving past their glory days, but they showed they still had it last year. Looking at their schedule upcoming, they have one of the easiest schedules of all time. Their toughest road games include Rams, Saints, and Colts. The toughest home games include Cowboys, Bears, and Bills. The Bills will upset the perfect season in Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers will be red hot looking to add consecutive Lombardi Trophies to their trophy case.  

Prediction: 16-1 (1^st Place) 

New Orleans Saints 

Notable Additions: OLB Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE Payton Turner, ILB Pete Werner, CB Paulson Adebo 

Notable Departures: QB Drew Brees, CB Janoris Jenkins, WR Emmanuel Sanders 

X-Factor: Jameis Winston’s Eyes 

For the first time in 2006, the Saints will not have future Hall of Famer Drew Brees around to lead the team. Former Buccaneers QB and number 2 overall pick, Jameis Winston, now has the opportunity to take on a championship level team. The last time Jameis was the full-time starter for an NFL team he threw 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Jameis had Lasik eye repair to fix his near-sightedness, but will he be able to see the defenders before making throws? The Saints were in a tight spot financially this offseason and did not take advantage of a heavily talented draft. The biggest move of the offseason was Drew Brees retiring and going all in with Jameis Winston. The turnover bug is a serious concern looking at the Saints next season. Jameis will have had to completely grown as a player learning from Brees last season. Jameis is not going to be the comeback story for the ages, and he is going to continue to throw untimely interceptions and put his defense in unsalvageable situations. The Saints will be focused on finding a new QB1 following this season.  

Prediction: 6-11 (2^nd Place) 

Atlanta Falcons 

Notable Additions: S Duron Harmon, RB Mike Davis, S Erik Harris, TE Kyle Pitts, S Richie Grant, OT Jalen Mayfield, CB Darren Hall 

Notable Departures: C Alex Mack, LG James Carpenter, S Ricardo Allen, RB Todd Gurley 

X-Factor: Matt Ryan’s Time in the Pocket

The Atlanta Falcons were victim of multiple situations where they were winning, and then didn’t last season. This year, with a new coach, and some new pieces, they will be losing and then lose. The Falcons are going into this season with Quarterback Matt Ryan closing in on the end of his career, and losing noticeable protection on the offensive line. The addition of highly touted Tight End Kyle Pitts is not going to rise this team from the mud their tires have been spinning in. The Falcons did add some speed to their secondary, but it is going to be hard to win games without help on the offensive side of the ball. The Falcons will take a step backwards and transition to a full rebuild after this season.  

Prediction: 4-13 (3^rd Place) 

Carolina Panthers 

Notable Additions: QB Sam Darnold, DT DaQuan Jones, OLB Haason Reddick, WR David Moore, CB Jaycee Horn, WR Terrace Marshall Jr., OT Brady Christensen, TE Tommy Tremble, RB Chuba Hubbard 

Notable Departures: QB Teddy Bridgewater, OLB Stephen Weatherly, RB Mike Davis, WR Curtis Samuel, CB Rasul Douglas, LG Chris Reed 

X-Factor: How Many Games will Christian McCaffrey Play?

Carolina has now transitioned to another Quarterback following the Cam Newton era. Sam Darnold, former number 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft has been freed from the fire of the Jets organization. Darnold has had an underperforming career based on projections of many draft experts. Darnold now has a new scene and organization to change his career trajectory, but will his best weapon be available? There is no question Christian McCaffrey is one of the most talented players in the National Football League. But last season, McCaffrey played in just 3 games after an injury sidelined him for the entire year. McCaffrey is a work horse and will need the ball in his hands to impact the game, for a position that is known to get diminished by injuries, the Panthers are going to struggle to both get the ball to him impactfully and keep him available to play. The Panthers experiment with Sam Darnold is going to flop and they are going to have another tough year finding ways to win. This will be another team in this division searching for its Quarterback of the future following the year.  

Prediction: 3-14 (4^th Place) 

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys 

Notable Additions: S Keanu Neal, DE Tarrell Basham, ILB Micah Parsons, CB Kelvin Joseph, DT Osa Odighizuwa, CB Nashon Wright 

Notable Departures: DE Aldon Smith, S Xavier Woods 

X-Factor: Dak Earns His Check

The NFC East was the laughingstock of the league last season, and that was largely attributed to the season-ending injury to QB Dak Prescott. Prescott was playing at an elite level prior to a freak injury that took him out for majority of the year. With Prescott back in action, the Cowboys are primed to run away with this division. Owner Jerry Jones has not been quiet with how badly he wants to win, and he has made the moves to increase his chances. With the commitment to Dak Prescott long term, and adding new talent to the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys will start hot and stay hot throughout the season and look to be a tough team to beat in the post season.  

Prediction: 13-4 (1^st Place) 

Washington Football Team 

Notable Additions: LG Ereck Flowers, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, CB William Jackson, WR Curtis Samuel, ILB Jamin Davis, OT Samuel Cosmi, CB Benjamin St-Juste, WR Dyami Brown 

Notable Departures: CB Ronald Darby, OLB Ryan Kerrigan, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis 

X-Factor: How Many Games will the Defense Win?

Last year the Football Team was the best of the bunch last year, getting a playoff bid. Tough defense was a big part of that and losing some key pieces will be a blow for current success. But Washington acquired good talent in CB William Jackson from Cincinnati and bolstered their offensive line this summer to protect their new QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Washington clearly isn’t going for it all with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm, they are looking for a development year of young players while looking to position itself down the road. Fitzpatrick is a bridge player to the QB they will be looking to add next offseason. Washington has a good enough defense to ride the .500 mark this year and will be competitive in games, but they are not in contention to repeat as NFC East Champions.  

Prediction: 9-8 (2^nd Place) 

New York Giants 

Notable Additions: LG Zach Fulton, WR John Ross, WR Kenny Golladay, LB Reggie Ragland, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, WR Kadarius Toney, OLB Azeez Ojulari, CB Aaron Robinson 

Notable Departures: RG Kevin Zeitler, WR Golden Tate 

X-Factor-How Far of a Step Can Daniel Jones Take? 

The Giants will be looking for a big step from Daniel Jones. This will be a decision year for the franchise and will evaluate what the QB position holds for them moving forward. The Giants weren’t great at any particular thing last year, but were consistent enough all around to stay in contention for the division. With new weapons for Jones and a bolstered defense, they will be looking to see how high the ceiling goes for Jones. The Giants will be in games throughout the year and flow flashes of a solid team, but overall, they are not going to be a top player for this division race and will fall a few games short of the .500 mark.  

Prediction 6-11 (3^rd Place) 

Philadelphia Eagles 

Notable Additions: S Anthony Harris, LB Eric Wilson, WR DeVonta Smith, C Landon Dickerson, DT Milton Williams, CB Zach McPhearson 

Notable Departures: QB Carson Wentz, LB Duke Riley 

X-Factor: Jalen Hurts in Full Control

Midway through last season, Jalen Hurts took control of the offense, becoming the QB1 for the Philadelphia Eagles. With no time to throw, and a lackluster defense, the QB position was destined to fail regardless of the player taking the snap. With Carson Wentz officially in Indianapolis, it will be Hurts team and nobody to take that from him, so how far can Hurts take them? The Eagles did not grab enough help for a far less than average offensive line, it is going to be more of the same for the QB with one win as a starter. The addition of DeVonta Smith will help the offense but not enough to push forward. The Eagles will be looking to add prime offensive line help with a top pick in the 2022 draft.  

Prediction: 2-15 (4^th Place) 

NFC North

Green Bay Packers 

Notable Additions: CB Eric Stokes, C Josh Myers, WR Amari Rodgers, G Royce Newman 

Notable Departures: C Corey Linsley, RT Ricky Wagner, LB Christian Kirksey 

X-Factor- Was Rodgers Bluffing? 

The biggest factor for the Packers success this year will be if Rodgers genuinely does want out of Green Bay or was it just a ploy to get more help offensively. Rodgers is not one who will sit out and not play, he is a competitor. When the whistle blows, he gives his all regardless of where his head is at. The Packers did lose two offensive line center pieces, but they brought in two more and Rodgers is known for being able to adjust outside of a broken pocket and still find success. The Packers will be a force this season, with CB Eric Stokes joining the defense, the Packers should be able to have success on both sides of the ball. The Packers have a tougher schedule, but drew home games against Seattle, LA (Rams), Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. They will get roughed up at Kansas City and Baltimore, but playing majority of their tough games late in the season in Green Bay will give them the advantage and will roll on with one of the best records in the NFC.  

Prediction: 15-2 (1^st Place) 

Chicago Bears 

Notable Additions: QB Justin Fields, QB Andy Dalton, WR Damiere Byrd, T Teven Jenkins 

Notable Departures: CB Kyle Fuller, CB Buster Skrine 

X-Factors When will Justin Fields Get the Nod?

The Bears have had QB troubles since Jay Cutler left Chicago. From drafting Mitch Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, to signing Mike Glennon and Nick Foles to largely undeserved contracts, the team has been one with a top tier defense with no offensive consistency. The Bears signed Andy Dalton from the Cowboys, who was less than impressive following Dak Prescott’s injury, but he will probably get the QB1 spot to start the season. It will be inevitable that Chicago turns to Fields who they traded up to grab inside to top 15 in the first round of the draft. Chicago will come out of the gates slow, hovering the .500 mark, but I expect them to tighten up following their Week 10 bye week and make a push for the wild card spot. Fields is going to come in and change the tempo of the offense after the bye week and will give hope to Bears fans that they finally have an elite Quarterback.  

Prediction: 10-7 (2^nd Place) 

Minnesota Vikings 

Notable Additions: CB Patrick Peterson, S Xavier Woods, C Mason Cole, CB Mackensie Alexander, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, T Christian Darrisaw, QB Kellen Mond, G Chazz Surratt, G Wyatt Davis 

Notable Departures: S Anthony Harris, LB Eric Wilson, LT Riley Reiff, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, DL Shamar Stephen, DL Jaleel Johnson 

X-Factor: Potential of the New Look Minnesota Secondary 

The Vikings were just a touch under .500 last year, and horrible kicking was a large part of that. Now that Dan Bailey can no longer be the scapegoat, who will be? The Vikings improved defensively adding much needed help to their secondary bringing in two top tier corners as well as Safety Xavier Woods. But losing Riley Reiff to the Bengals is going to be a huge blow to the offense. Mike Zimmer is going to have his hands full with a very tough schedule playing the Cowboys and Packers at home and going to Baltimore, LA (Chargers), and San Francisco in a 5 week stretch. It will be interesting to see if this stretch after the bye week leads to the question if Kellen Mond, newly acquired QB in the draft, should get some chances to prove his worth. The wheels fall off after a 5-game losing streak coming out of the bye week and the Vikings will not bounce back from it leading to few wins and the potential of a coaching vacancy before Week 18.  

Prediction: 3-15 (3^rd Place) 

Detroit Lions 

Notable Additions: QB Jared Goff, WR Breshad Perriman, IDL Michael Brockers, TE Darren Fells, T Penei Sewell, DT Levi Onwuzurike, DT Alim McNeill 

Notable Departures: QB Matthew Stafford, S Duron Harmon, WR Marvin Jones, K Matt Prater 

X-Factor: Jared Goff’s Long-Term Plan

The post-Stafford era has begun in the Motor City for the first time since 2009. Coach Dan Campbell is taking on the next chapter in Detroit’s history and that begins with Jared Goff. Goff has been a consistent QB in LA with head coach Sean McVay, but now that he doesn’t have that offensive mind running the system, the question will be how far his talent can take him. One offseason gift the Lions were rewarded was the consensus best Offensive Tackle in the draft, Penei Sewell, falling in their lap with the 7^th overall pick. Sewell will be the main piece of this offensive line moving forward, and Detroit grabbing him outside of the top 5 will prove wonders down the line. This is going to be a trying effort for the Lions and there is no doubt Campbell will get his players ready to play. The roster is not built for a championship, and is looking towards continuing a rebuild that was sparked moving on from Matthew Stafford. It will be another hard year for Detroit, but they will position themselves to continue building the next chapter of their story.  

Prediction: 2-15 (4^th Place) 

AFC South

Tennessee Titans 

Notable Additions: CB Janoris Jenkins, WR Josh Reynolds, DE Denico Autry, OLB Bud Dupree, CB Kevin Johnson, CB Caleb Farley, T Dillon Radunz, ILB Mony Rice 

Notable Departures: RT Dennis Kelly, CB Malcom Butler, S Kenny Vaccaro, TE Jonnu Smith, WR Corey Davis, CB Desmond King, DE DaQuan Jones, DE Jadeveon Clowney 

X-Factor: Time of Possession

The Titans are looking to build off of an impressive 11-win season last year, and from their offseason activity they are not slowing down. Tennessee added major talent to its defense with Janoris Jenkins to help in the secondary as well as edge rushers Denico Autry and Bud Dupree. Keeping the defense off the field and having the ball majority of the game did wonders for them and a defensive focus in the offseason proves that is their plan this season as well. Derrick Henry was one of the most impressive backs last season rushing for 2,000 yards and even a fraction of this productivity will put them in winning situations. Expect the Titans to be a better version of themselves this season and continue to run the ball consistently and control the tempo of the game with time of possession and strong defense. 

Prediction: 14-3 (1^st Place) 

Jacksonville Jaguars 

Notable Additions: QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, RB Carlos Hyde, WR Marvin Jones, S Rayshawn Jenkins, CB Shaquill Griffin, LB Damien Wilson, TE Chris Manhertz, CB Tyson Campbell, T Walker Little 

Notable Departures: WR Keelan Cole, TE Tyler Eifert, WR Chris Conley 

X-Factor: Running Back by Committee 

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been the center of attention since the conclusion of the 2020 season. After securing the number one pick and putting them in prime position to draft a generational talent in Trevor Lawrence, they went for a big-name coach and signed one of the best College Football coaches of all time Urban Meyer. This team is intriguing, especially following their offseason. Despite having a breakout year from undrafted Free Agent RB James Robinson, the team added RB Travis Etienne in the first round and signed Free Agent RB Carlos Hyde. It will be interesting to see how the carries are divided between 3 capable rushers with an elite arm at Quarterback. The Jaguars also spent money on the defense adding CB Shaquill Griffin and S Rayshawn Jenkins. The Jaguars will have a complete turnaround next season and will be in the hunt for a Wild Card bid to the playoffs.  

Prediction: 10-7 (2^nd Place) 

Houston Texans 

Notable Additions: CB Terrance Mitchell, CB Desmond King, TE Ryan Izzo, DL Jaleel Johnson, DE Shaq Lawson 

Notable Departures: WR Will Fuller, C Nick Martin, LG Zach Fulton, DE JJ Watt, LB Tyrell Adams 

X-Factor: How Long will Watson Stay? 

The Texans have been the talk of the town since it was reported that QB Deshaun Watson wants out of Houston. After allowing former Head Coach Bill O’Brien essentially ruin the team as far as assets and talent are considered, the Texans are in a bad spot. The Texans lost Watson’s key weapon, WR Will Fuller, as well as two starting offensive lineman and did nothing to replace any of these losses. The Texans are built to fail hard and the question will be if Watson is on the roster for the entire year, or if they look to move him for future assets.  

Prediction: 4-13 (3^rd Place) 

Indianapolis Colts 

Notable Additions: QB Carson Wentz, LT Sam Tevi, LG Chris Reed, DL Isaac Rochell, DE Kwity Paye, DE Dayo Odeyingbo 

Notable Departures: QB Phillip Rivers, LB Anthony Walker Jr., DE Denico Autrym, DE Justin Houston 

X-Factor: Is the Grass Greener for Carson Wentz?

Following the retirement of QB Phillip Rivers, the Colts looked to fill their spot with an experiment, QB Carson Wentz. Wentz has struggled with injury as well as consistent play throughout his career. After signing a huge contract extension with Philadelphia, Wentz underperformed and ultimately lost his starting job last season. Now in a new place, Wentz and the Colts hope a change in scenery will bring him to the level of expectation that has followed him his entire career. The Colts looked to help Wentz with new faces on the offensive line and the Colts still believe they’re a QB away from a Super Bowl. But Wentz will not be the player they are hoping for and despite the extra time in the pocket, Wentz is not skilled at reading defenses and is going to have the same struggles he did in Philadelphia. The Colts took a risk that will not pay off.  

Prediction: 3-14 (4^th Place) 

AFC East

Buffalo Bills 

Notable Additions: LG Forrest Lamp, RT Bobby Hart, WR Emmanuel Sanders, DE Gregory Rousseau, DE Carlos Basham Jr., T Spencer Brown 

Notable Departures: RG Brian Winters, DT Quinton Jefferson 

X-Factor: Josh Allen’s Elite Status 

Josh Allen took the league by storm last season leading the team to its first division title since 1995. Allen proved to be a top arm talent and took a huge step forward last year. With Allen and WR Stephon Diggs looking to repeat their success last year, expect nothing but more success in Buffalo. The Bills added significant offensive line talent adding Guard Forrest Lamp and Tackle Bobby Hart, so look for Allen to make even better throws with even more time in the pocket. The Bills also added great defensive line pieces in the draft that will help them in an area they needed to improve looking to take that next step. The Bills are going to have a showing this season and prove that they were not a fluke team last year and that they will be a top team in 2021.  

Prediction: 13-4 (1^st Place) 

Miami Dolphins 

Notable Additions: WR Will Fuller, WR Jaylen Waddle, C Matt Skura, DE Jaelan Phillips, S Jevon Holland, T Liam Eichenberg, CB Jason McCourty, RG DJ Fluker, LB Duke Riley 

Notable Departures: LG, Ereck Flowers, OLB Kyle Van Noy, S Bobby McCain QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, DE Shaq Lawson 

X-Factor: Is it Tua Time? 

The Miami Dolphins are one of the most talented teams as far as young talent. Miami has gone all in to provide a successful season for QB Tua Tagovailoa, adding two speedy receivers in Will Fuller from the Texans and Jaylen Waddle out of Alabama. The Dolphins also improved across the board and will be looking to take the step with Tua as full-time QB1. With QB Ryan Fitzpatrick out, the franchise has put all their eggs in Tua’s basket, and he is going to run with it. The Dolphins will be the breakout team of the season with Tua leading the way, taking a step similar to their division-rival Bill’s QB Josh Allen. The Tom Brady era is over in the AFC East and the Dolphins are looking to become a player to replace them at the top.  

Prediction: 12-5 (2^nd Place) 

New England Patriots 

Notable Additions: C Tedd Karras, S Jalen Mills, TE Hunter Henry, QB Mac Jones, OLB Kyle Van Noy, DT Christian Barmore, TE Jonnu Smith 

Notable Departures: LG Joe Thuney, CB Jason McCourty, TE Ryan Izzo, WR Demere Byrd 

X-Factor: Mac Jones System Fit

Bill Belichick is known for the system he runs, and it is one similar to that of Alabama Football Coach Nick Saban. Bill has taken it upon himself to take a system Quarterback from one system to another in Mac Jones. The Patriots were able to scoop their guy in the middle of the first round and all eyes will be on him. The question is, when will those eyes turn to him. With Cam Newton back under contract in New England, it will be interesting to see if the Patriots look to let Mac take his time to develop before seeing the field. The Patriots added some talent with the money they saved for free agency, but did not make many major changes to the roster. Expect another subpar year in New England before they start looking to take back their throne.  

Prediction: 7-10 (3^rd Place) 

New York Jets 

Notable Additions: QB Zach Wilson, LG Dan Feeney, WR Keelan Cole, DE Carl Lawson, G Alijah Vera Tucker, WR Corey Davis, WR Elijah Moore, S Lamarcus Joyner 

Notable Departures: QB Sam Darnold, WR Breshad Perriman, DE Tarell Basham 

X-Factor- Zach Wilson or Sam Darnold 2.0?

If there is one thing to take away from the Jets offseason, they got rid of former Head Coach Adam Gase. The Gase tenure for the Jets was nothing short of a joke, but now the Jets have a legit head coach in Robert Saleh. Saleh will look to take the helm of a franchise that has had minimal success in recent history. The Jets also moved on from QB Sam Darnold and selected another QB in Zach Wilson with the number two pick in the NFL Draft. Wilson is going to be thrown right into the fire with the Jets, as there is no QB on the roster to bridge a transition. Time will tell if Wilson can be quickly developed unlike Sam Darnold who was clearly under developed and was thrown into the fire to fail. The Jets may show some promise on the field after making some significant pickups defensively, but ultimately Wilson is going to come in and struggle this season. There won’t be much winning in New York this year.  

Prediction: 3-13 (4^th Place) 

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens 

Notable Additions: RT Alejandro Villanueva, RG Kevin Zeitler, WR Sammy Watkins, WR Rashod Bateman  

Notable Departures: RT Orlando Brown, C Matt Skura, DE Yannick Ngakoue, WR Willie Snead 

X-Factor: Lamar MVP or Disappointment? 

Coming off of an MVP season in 2019, Lamar Jackson took a step back last season. The Ravens weren’t quite as dominating a year ago, but they are going to bounce back this year. With another year to develop, Lamar Jackson has the ability to rework his game to not only play to his strengths but to improve his weaknesses. The Ravens retooled their offensive line to better suit Lamar and allow him more time to process plays and not force a play that’s not there. The Ravens also added a few offensive weapons to help Lamar in the pass game with speedster Sammy Watkins and College standout Rashod Bateman. Lamar will have plenty of weapons and the defense was kept intact for the most part. The Ravens will take a leap forward and be a problem in the AFC all season.  

Prediction: 13-4 (1^st Place) 

Cleveland Browns 

Notable Additions: CB Troy Hill, S John Johnson, LB Anthony Walker Jr., DE Jadeveon Clowney, CB Greg Newsome II, ILB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, WR Anthony Schwartz 

Notable Departures: CB Terrance Mitchell, S Andrew Sendejo, LB BJ Goodson, DE Oilier Vernon, DT Sheldon Richardson, S Karl Joseph 

X-Factor: Reinventing the Defense

The Browns had their breakout year last year, coming within a loss to the Jets for being in a take all game against the Steelers for the division Week 17. The Browns have shown they are not the team that couldn’t win a game just a few years back and that they are a winning football team. The Browns run game with Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb was potent last season and expect more of the same there. With Odell Beckham Jr. Returning to the field, Baker Mayfield will have to prove he can spread the ball around and not force it to his star receiver. The defense is the biggest question however, their defense was the best part of their game last season and with the departure of multiple starters, they will hope the replacements they brought in will fit a similar mold they had success with. The Browns will be in a similar situation as last year, being in the race the entire year just to fall short. This division has competition but the Browns will still be a winning team regardless of winning the division or not.  

Prediction: 12-5 (2^nd Place) 

Pittsburgh Steelers 

Notable Additions: RB Najee Harris, TE Pat Freiermuth, C Kendrick Green, T Dan Moore Jr., OLB Quincy Roche 

Notable Departures: RT Alejandro Villanueva, C Maurkice Pouncey, OLB Bud Dupree, CB Steven Nelson, RB James Conner CB Mike Hilton 

X-Factor: Late Round Rookie Linemen

The Pittsburgh Steelers had an incredible 11-0 start last season, and then the wheels completely fell off. The Steelers finished their season with losses to the Football Team, Bills, Bengals and Browns before losing to the Browns again in the NFL Wildcard Round. With Maurkice Pouncey retiring and Alejandro Villanueva signing with the rival Ravens, the Steelers have questions on the offensive line. Instead of going for offensive line early in the draft, the Steelers decided to draft a Running Back and Tight End in the first two rounds, hoping that late lineman can come in and start. The Steelers are going to struggle to get offense going this season. Despite losing OLB Bud Dupree, they do still have a top defense. The defense will carry them to just above .500 but they will not be hunting for the playoffs in what looks like Big Ben’s last season.  

Prediction: 9-8 (3^rd Place) 

Cincinnati Bengals 

Notable Additions: LT Riley Reiff, DT Larry Ogunjobi, WR Ja’Marr Chase, S Ricardo Allen, T Jackson Carman, OLB Trey Hendrickson, DE Joseph Ossai, CB Mike Hilton 

Notable Departures: CB William Jackson, DE Carl Lawson, RT Bobby Hart, WR AJ Green, CB Mackensie Alexander 

X-Factor: Will Burrow Have Time?

The Cincinatti Bengals lost their number one overall pick last year to a devastating injury that derailed their whole season. The Bengals will be looking to bounce back with QB Joe Burrow healthy and the new addition of his college weapon WR Ja’Marr Chase. The Bengals also stocked up on lineman adding Tackle Riley Reiff as well as drafting Jackson Carman out of Clemson. This team is still a few pieces away on the offensive line and lost significant talent on the defensive side of the ball. This will be another rebuilding year for the Bengals as they are not positioned to compete yet. They are building a solid foundation to be a challenger in this division but they need to continue to bring in pieces to get them there.  

Prediction 6-11 (4^th Place) 

AFC West 

Kansas City Chiefs 

Notable Additions: C Austin Blythe, RT Orlando Brown, LG Joe Thuney, DT Jarran Reed 

Notable Departures: LT Eric Fisher, C Austin Reiter, CB Bashaud Breeland, LB Damien Wilson, WR Sammy Watkins 

X-Factor: Offensive Line Chemistry

Unlike the team they faced in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs decided to rebuild part of their offense. The Chiefs spent this offseason almost completely flipping their offensive line. After moving on from injury ridden Tackle Eric Fisher, they brought in Austin Blyth, Orlando Brown, and Joe Thuney who have all been proven starters in the NFL. The Chiefs are still looking dangerous and if the offensive line can find their rhythm this will be a team seeing few losses throughout the year. The Chiefs are the Chiefs and as long as they have Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Patrick Mahomes, they will still be the favorite to be in the Super Bowl every year.  

Prediction: 15-2 (1^st Place) 

Los Angeles Chargers 

Notable Additions: RT Matt Feiler, C Corey Linsley, LG Oday Aboushi, OLB Kyler Fackrell, T Rashawn Slater, CB Asante Samuel Jr. 

Notable Departures: LG Forrest Lamp, RG Dan Feeney, LT Rayshawn Jenkins, TE Hunter Henry, CB Casey Hayward 

X-Factor: Justin Herbert Development

The Chargers became a much tougher team towards the end of last season. Justin Herbert was given the nod right at the kickoff of the Week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs and Herbert stepped up and played well from that point on. Herbert had some growing pains in his rookie season, but he is going to take a giant leap this year and bring his team into playoff contention. The Chargers reworked their offensive line bringing in 3 new linemen to help protect Herbert. The Chargers already had a solid defense, but the addition of CB Asante Samuel Jr. In this year’s draft is just going to add to that success. The Chargers are going to be another surprise team this season but the way this team is built is a breakout season at Quarterback away from the best Chargers season in a long time. Herbert has the skillset to be an elite talent in this league and it will be on full display this season.  

Prediction: 12-5 (2^nd Place) 

Denver Broncos  

Notable Additions: CB Kyle Fuller, CB Ronald Darby, CB Patrick Surtain II, QB Teddy Bridgewater, RB Javonte WIlliams, G Quinn Meinerz, DL Shamar Stephen 

Notable Departures: N/A 

X-Factor: Which Quarterback Takes Control? 

The Denver Broncos were all over the place last season. The team had a WR starting at QB for a game due to Covid contract tracing, the defense looked like a shell of itself giving up yards like we haven’t seen in years. The team needed some adjustments. The Broncos brought in two high level starting corners in Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby as well as bringing in top CB prospect Patrick Surtain II in the draft. The secondary for this team is deadly and teams will have a long day if they plan on passing the ball. The downside to this team is the decision as to who will be under center. The Broncos have been riding with Drew Lock, who is a young talent but had struggles in the previous year. They have also brought in veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater, who has been serviceable during his career. Neither QB option is an elite talent so the decision could be tough, and will also be inconsistent. Expect the defense to be dominant as we are used to seeing, but don’t be surprised if we see multiple QB Changes throughout the season leading to poor play from that position.  

Prediction: 7-10 (3^rd Place) 

Las Vegas Raiders 

Notable Additions: C Nick Martin, T Alex Leatherwood, CB Rasul Douglas, CB Casey Hayward, DE Yannick Ngakoue, S Karl Joseph, RB Kenyan Drake, WR Willie Snead 

Notable Departures: C Rodney Hudson, RG Gabe Jackson, S Lamarcus Joyner, S Erik Harris, WR Nelson Agular 

X-Factor: What is Their Plan? 

The Raiders have been mediocre at best since the $100 Million hire of Jon Gruden. The team is looking to continue to move forward with QB Derrick Carr and will be looking to turn the ship around after years of trying to do so. After reaching on Tackle Alex Leatherwood in the draft and losing Safeties Lamarcus Joyner and Erik Harris, it is curious as to where they are going to find production on the field. The signing of DE Yannick Ngakoue will help bring pressure, something they haven’t had since trading away Khalil Mack, and Karl Joseph will fill a hole in the secondary but this team did not do nearly enough to improve. Look forward to another mediocre year in Las Vegas and wondering what the plans for this franchise are from a roster standpoint.  

Prediction: 3-14 (4^th Place) 

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