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2020 AFC PROJECTIONS (POSTED August 10th)

2020 AFC PROJECTIONS

Key: 16/8    Games played/Games started

UPDATES were posted when information was available.

Due to COVID-19 and the expectation that the 2020 NFL season may not even take place or that there will be a different season played than in past seasons, I am evaluating the teams a little differently for this season. There will not be a position by position evaluation on every team like in past seasons. Instead, there will be evaluations based on players that are added and subtracted from each team and how it affects that team going forward. Also, players that continue to excel and add extra value at particular positions will also be evaluated which without them the team’s performance would drop significantly.

 

NOTE: OPT-OUTS which are occurring with every team will be posted when they are available. They certainly will alter how a team performs and will alter their W-L record. However, the projections are based on full squads.   

AFC EAST

New England Patriots

For the 1st time since 2001, NE will start the season with someone other than Tom Brady as their QB. Brady bolted as a FA for TB & NE then later signed QB Cam Newton 2/2 to a one-year deal. Cam has a lot to prove whether he says so or not. People want to see if his shoulder is sound and he will be playing football Bill Belichick’s way, not his way. NE had a pick in the 1st round and it was assumed that they would take a QB but, they traded down and picked other position players instead. At RB, the same committee of backs is there again and will help Newton be successful. FB James Develin 2/2 retired and FB Dan Vitale 15/4 was signed from GB to replace him. At WR, Julian Edelman 16/13 leads the way for NE. WR Marqise Lee 6/1 was cut by JAGS after the season and signed with NE. He will look to be in the mix and resurrect his career. WR Damiere Byrd 11/3 was signed to a one year deal and will be in the mix with rest of the WRs. TE has been a problem since Rob Gronkowski retired after 2018 which left a void. TEs Ryan Izzo 6/4 & Matt LaCosse 11/8 have a year under their belt and should be better this season. TEs Devin Asiasi who was drafted in the 3rd round out of UCLA & Dalton Keene who was also drafted in the 3rd round out of Virginia Tech will look to get themselves into the rotation and get some touches. The O-LINE is slotted the same as in 2019 and is solid with a couple of rookies looking to find time in the rotation and make a name for themselves. The DEF runs a 3-4. NT Beau Allen 13/0 was signed from TB and will look to fill the spot left by NT Danny Shelton 16/14 who signed with DET. The LB crew will look a lot different in 2020. LB Jamie Collins 16/14 signed with DET. ILB Elandon Roberts 16/3 signed with MIA as well as OLB Kyle Van Noy 15/15. LB Brandon Copeland 12/3 was signed from NYJ and will be used in the rotation. OLB Chase Winovich 16/0 is penciled in as a starter after fitting nicely into the rotation and making an impact as a rookie in 2019. In the secondary, RCB Stephon Gilmore 16/16 is ALL-PRO and the rest are not too shabby either at shutting down opposing QBs. DB Duron Harmon 16/8 signed with DET. S Cody Davis 16/0 was signed from JAGS & Adrian Phillips 7/5 who was signed from LAC were signed for depth and will see time in the rotation. This season will be a challenge for HC Bill Belichick and OC Josh McDaniels as they don’t have the luxury of Tom Brady. Cam Newton brings his own style but, can he continue NE’s winning ways? Can he make run deep into the playoffs and how is his shoulder? The LB crew has seen some changes and they will respond will depend on how they are tested. We will see but right now NE still has a very good team with Newton and should continue their dominance in the AFC EAST.  

OPTED OUT: LB Dont’a Hightower, S Patrick Chung, OT Marcus Cannon, RB Brandon Bolden, FB Danny Vitale, OL Najee Toran, TE Matt LaCosse, WR Marqise Lee        

PROJECTED 2018 (13-3), ACTUAL 2018 (11-5), PROJECTED 2019 (13-3), ACTUAL 2019 (12-4), PROJECTED 2020 (11-5)

Buffalo Bills

BUFF has been a stable organization for three seasons under HC Sean McDermott. Now they have to get past the wild-card hurdle. Losing to NE seemed like a given when Brady was at the helm but now he is gone and the AFC EAST is up for grabs. BUFF is poised to take the lead. In 2019, BUFF lost three games that they could have won. Two were vs NE and the other was vs the NYJ. At QB, Josh Allen 16/16 grew and matured in his 2nd season and we should see more growth in 2020. He still likes to run but, picks his spots more wisely. At RB, Frank Gore 16/8 was not retained by BUFF and signed with NYJ. RB Devin Singletary 12/8 will be #1 with no one looking over his shoulder. RB Zack Moss who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Utah will fill in Gore’s spot and complement Singletary. At WR, Stefon Diggs 15/15 was acquired from MINN in a trade. He adds a lot of options and helps open up the passing game. WR Cole Beasley 15/10 is the slot guy and WR John Brown 15/15 is the other big threat. Past these three and WR is by committee. Not much experienced depth. At TE, Dawson Knox 15/11 emerged as the #1 but, has to limit his dropped passes. The O-LINE gave up a combined 40 sacks which is the same as the 41 sacks given up in 2018. The O-LINE needs to do better if the OFF is to be given a chance. At LT, Dion Dawkins 16/16 has emerged reliable after proving himself substantially in 2019. LG Quinton Spain 16/16 played well in 2019 after signing a 1yr deal and then signed a 3yr deal. Spencer Long 14/0 was released and is currently a FA. C Mitch Morse 16/16 is the anchor of the O-LINE. RG Jon Feliciano 16/16 is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle and is likely to be out all of 2020. G Brian Winters 9/9 who was cut by NYJ signed with BUFF. He will probably fill in for Feliciano. OL Daryl Williams 16/12 was not retained by CAR and signed with BUFF for backup and depth and may compete to start where RG Feliciano was. RT Cody Ford 16/15 is solid at the position. OL Ty Nsekhe 10/1 serves well in the rotation and is coming off an ankle injury. G/T Evan Boehm 13/8 was not retained by MIA after filling in nicely and was signed by BUFF for depth. The DEF runs a 4-3 alignment. The D-LINE looks to be the same solid four as in 2019 except DT Star Lotulelei 16/16 who has opted out. DE Shaq Lawson 15/0 was not retained by BUFF and signed with MIA. DT Jordan Phillips 16/9 was not retained by BUFF and signed with ARZ. DE Mario Addison 15/15 was not retained by CAR and signed with BUFF. He should fill Lawson’s spot. DT Vernon Butler 14/9 was not retained by CAR and also signed with BUFF. He should fill DT Phillips spot. DT Quinton Jefferson 14/12 was not retained by SEA and signed with BUFF. He will play a hybrid role. DE AJ Espinoza who was drafted in the 2nd round out of Iowa will see time in the rotation as a pass rusher. In the LB crew, SLB Lorenz Alexander 16/7 retired. In his place AJ Klein 15/15, who was not retained by NO, was signed by BUFF. WLB Matt Milano 15/15 & MLB Tremaine Edmunds 16/16 are solid. LB Tyler Matakevich 16/0 was not retained by PITT and signed with BUFF will play the inside and special teams. LB Julian Stanford 16/0 was not retained by BUFF and is currently a FA. In the secondary, CB Josh Norman 12/8 was not retained by WASH signed a 1yr deal with BUFF. He will be competing with CB Levi Wallace 16/16 for that starting spot. All three other secondary positions are penciled in as the same from 2019. CB Kevin Johnson 16/1 who was not retained by BUFF signed with CLEVE. How well QB Allen progresses into his 3rd season is hopefully on the uptick. He has plenty of weapons around him but, the O-LINE has to do a better job of protecting. This team needs to score points. On DEF, they didn’t miss a beat by adding veterans who can help out where others had left. The secondary needs to shut teams down. The real test will come OCT 15th vs KC to see how well they match up. This team should go deep into the playoffs after the lesson learned after the playoff collapse @HOU last year.

OPTED OUT: DT Star Lotulelei, CB EJ Gaines

PROJECTED 2018 (6-10), ACTUAL 2018 (6-10)√, PROJECTED 2019 (9-7), ACTUAL 2019 (10-6), PROJECTED 2020 (12-4)

New York Jets

NYJ have made a lot of moves in the off-season. Even though HC Adam Gase is GM Joe Douglas’s boy, if he loses the locker room and the team crashes and burns, Gase is out. At QB, Sam Darnold 13/13 is going into his 3rd season and needs to show that he has improved. So far, he hasn’t shown anyone that he is worthy of a starting job. Sam is the kind of guy that needs guys around him to excel because he is not one of those guys that can make things happen. QB Joe Flacco 8/8 was not retained by DEN and signed with NYJ to be the backup. However, he starts the season on the PUP list recuperating from Disc repair surgery. QB David Fales 2/0 is looking like the backup. At RB, Le’Veon Bell 15/15 had an off yr in his 1st season with the NYJ. RB Bilal Powell 13/1 was not retained by NYJ and is currently a FA. RB La’Mical Perine who was drafted in the 4th round out of Florida should see time in the rotation. RB Frank Gore 16/8 was not retained by BUFF and signed with NYJ. He should be able to bring veteran leadership to the team. RB/WR Ty Montgomery 16/2 was not retained by NYJ and signed with NO. At WR, Robby Anderson 16/15 was not retained by NYJ and signed with CAR. WR Quincy Enunwa 1/1 was cut 8/3 and is currently a FA. WR Josh Bellamy 7/0 is currently on the PUP list and will miss the entire 2020 season with an ongoing shoulder injury. WR Breshad Perriman 14/4 was not retained by TB and signed with NYJ. WR Josh Doctson 1/0 was cut by MINN and signed by NYJ. WR Denzel Mims who was drafted in the 2nd round out of Baylor should see time in the rotation. TE Chris Herndon 1/0 was injured most of the year but should be coming back strong. TE Ross Travis 3/1 was acquired off waivers from INDY but will have to show something to stick around. The O-LINE gave up a combined 52 sacks in 2019 which had QB Sam Darnold seeing ghosts. The O-LINE needs to do a much better job so that the OFF can have a chance. At LT, George Fant 16/7 was not retained by SEA and signed with NYJ. He is penciled in as the starter. LT Kelvin Beachum 13/13 was not retained by NYJ and signed with ARZ. OT Brent Qvale 3/1 was not retained by NYJ and signed with HOU. OT Kelechi Osemele 3/3 was cut by NYJ and signed with KC. RG Tom Compton 14/5 was not retained by NYJ and signed with SF. OT Brandon Shell 15/11 was not retained by NYJ and signed with SEA. OT Mekhi Becton who was drafted in the 1st round out of Louisville is penciled in as the starter on the right side. OG Greg Van Roten 11/11 was not retained by CAR and will play RG in the spot vacated by Brian Winters 9/9 who was recently cut and signed with BUFF. C Connor McGovern 16/16 was not retained by DEN and signed with NYJ to lead the O-LINE. He will start in place of C Jonotthan Harrison 16/10 who will be relegated to backup and finding time in the rotation. LG Alex Lewis 15/12 may have competition on the left side but has the inside track. OT Cameron Clark who was drafted in the 4th round out of Charlotte will probably find more time in the rotation at G. The DEF runs 3-4 alignment. DE Quinnen Williams 13/9 saw more time at the outside when DE Leonard Williams was traded. NT Steve McClendon 16/16 is a leader on the D-LINE. DE Henry Anderson 13/13 should see more results in the 3-4. DE Jabari Zuniga who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Florida should see time in the rotation. In the LB crew, LB Brandon Copeland 12/3 was not retained by NYJ and signed with NE. LB Patrick Onwuasor 14/6 was not retained by BALT and signed with NYJ. He will fill an OLB position. LB CJ Mosley 2/2 opted out after having an injury plagued 2019 season. LB Harvey Langi 16/3 may be in competition for that starting spot. ILB Avery Williamson who was out all of 2019 is recovering from a torn ACL and his timetable for return is unknown. RLB Neville Hewitt 12/12 has done a nice job and should stay a starter. LB James Burgess 10/10 has opted out for 2020. OLB Jordan Jenkins 14/13 is solid. The secondary has gone through some changes. CB Darryl Roberts 13/10 was not retained by NYJ and signed with DET. In his place CB Pierre Desir 12/11 was signed by NYJ after not being retained by INDY. CB Trumaine Johnson 7/5 was not retained by NYJ and is currently a FA. CB Quincy Wilson 9/0 was acquired by NYJ from INDY in a trade after the season. He will be competing for that starting CB spot. CB Brian Poole 14/10 has secured the slot position. CB Bryce Hall who was drafted in the 5th round out of Virginia is coming off an ankle injury and should see time in coverages and packages. CB Arthur Maulet 12/6 could see more time in the rotation if others lapse. On 7/25, NYJ traded SS Jamal Adams 14/14 to SEA for S Bradley McDougald 15/14. There were draft picks also involved in this trade. This is a step down at the position. S Rontez Miles 7/0 was not retained by NYJ and is currently a FA. S Ashtyn Davis who was drafted in the 3rd round out of California has great speed and also should see time in the rotation. FS Marcus Maye 16/16 needs to step it up a little. This team has a big question mark at HC and at QB. Can HC Gase get it together and put NYJ in a winning mode? Has QB Darnold improved enough to finally lead this team forward? How will the O-LINE hold up? The O-LINE needs to do a better job at protecting the QB. On DEF, not much change on the D-LINE but results matter, so they need to step it up a little. The LB crew has gone through some changes and may have some holes going forward and not much depth. Could NYJ sign someone to fill up the holes at LB? The secondary lost something when Adams was traded and they may have to help the LB crew which would then expose them. Also, there isn’t much depth in the secondary which may be a big problem if injuries start mounting. NYJ has a very tough schedule even w/o Brady in the division. Looks like a team that will be mediocre.    

OPTED OUT: LB CJ Mosley, OL Leo Koloamatangi, LB James Burgess

PROJECTED 2018 (7-9), ACTUAL 2018 (4-12), PROJECTED 2019 (8-8), ACTUAL 2019 (7-9), PROJECTED 2020 (8-8)

Miami Dolphins

Brian Flores had a dousy of a 1st season as MIA HC. The roster was gutted and draft picks were accumulated. But still, the team on the field that MIA put out there was usually a lot less efficient at winning games and being competitive. However, there were some bright spots. Beating the NYJ for MIA’s 1st win was fun as was beating PHILLY. But, the best game of the season for MIA by far was beating NE @NE in wk 17 to knock NE’s potential playoff seed from #2 to #3 and having them play in wild card week. NE lost in the 1st round of the playoffs. But, for gutting their roster and accumulating draft picks, MIA was able to reload in a lot of key areas and also sign some worthy FAs. At QB, Ryan Fitzpatrick 15/13 did his best job as a magician so far. QB Tua Tagovailoa who was drafted in the 1st round out of Alabama is the QB of the future for MIA but may have to battle Fitzpatrick for time in his 1st season. QB Josh Rosen 6/3 is still around even though his career in the NFL may be coming to an early end. At RB, Jordan Howard 10/4 was not retained by PHILLY and signed with MIA. He is penciled in as #1. RB Matt Breida 13/5 was traded by SF to MIA after the season for a draft pick. He should be able to complement Howard and give the OFF something extra. FB Chandler Cox 13/3 plays the position but may be forced to compete with LB Elandon Roberts 16/3 who was not resigned by NE and signed with MIA and at times played FB with NE. At WR, Albert Wilson 13/4 opted out as did WR Allen Hurns 14/7. WR DeVante Parker 16/14 is the #1 go to guy. WR Preston Williams 8/7 is coming off an ACL injury. WR Chester Rogers 12/6 was not retained by INDY and signed with MIA. He should give MIA some breathing room at WR as Hurns & Wilson are out. TE Mike Gesicki 16/5 had a nice 2nd season and should see more touches with Hurns and Wilson out. TE Durham Smythe 16/14 is the blocker that does the job. The O-LINE which gave up a combined 58 sacks in 2019 has always been a major problem for MIA. In 2018 the O-LINE gave up a combined 52 sacks, which is not much better. It’s been a disaster and they need to do better. It is a completely revamped O-LINE and they need to mesh better than the last O-LINE crews. At LT, Austin Jackson who was drafted in the 1st round out of USC is penciled in as the starter. He needs to impress right out of the gate. OT Julie’n Davenport 8/8 played LT in 2019 and is competing hard and looking to find time in the rotation. LG Michael Deiter 16/15 will be competing hard to fight off newcomers. LG Ereck Flowers 16/16 was not retained by WASH and signed with MIA. He has bounced around a little after floundering with NYG and needs to prove himself here to stick around. C Daniel Kilgore 13/13 was not retained by MIA and is currently a FA. He could see a return to MIA if injuries to the O-LINE mount. C Ted Karras was not retained by NE and signed with MIA to be the starter. RG/RT Jesse Davis 15/15 is solid and can play both positions. RG Shaq Calhoun 10/7 filled in nicely but may have to fight to stick around in 2020. OG Solomon Kindley who was drafted in the 4th round out of Georgia needs to work hard to find time in the rotation. OT Robert Hunt who was drafted in the 2nd round out of Louisiana is penciled in as the RT starter. RG Evan Boehm 13/8 was not retained by MIA after filling in nicely was signed by BUFF. The DEF has certainly gone through a transformation as well. At times, MIA runs a 3-4 alignment and is interchangeable with a 4-3. At DE, Shaq Lawson 15/0 was not retained by BUFF and signed with MIA. He is getting big money to produce here. DE Taco Charlton 10/5 was not retained by MIA and signed with KC. DE Charles Harris 14/5 was traded after the season to ATL for a draft pick. DE John Jenkins 16/5 was not retained by MIA and signed with CHI. DE Curtis Weaver who was drafted in the 5th round out of Boise State may have a hard time finding time in the rotation. NT Davon Godchaux 16/16 is solid but currently is on the COVID/RESERVE list. He should be back for wk 1. DT Raekwon Davis who was drafted in the 2nd round out of Alabama and may be competing for time with Davis. DE Christain Wilkins 16/14 needs to step it up in all ready crowded DL. DE Emmanuel Ogbah 10/4 had an injury plagued season but was not retained by KC and signed with MIA. He should add excitement to the outside. DE Jason Strowbridge who was also drafted in the 5th round out of North Carolina should see time in the rotation. DE Avery Moss 11/8 filled in nicely in 2019 but may need to show more in 2020 with a crowded DL. In the LB crew, OLB Kyle Van Noy 15/15 was not retained by NE and signed with MIA. He brings instant credibility and uplifts the LB crew. LB Andrew Van Ginkel 6/1 needs to impress to stick around. RILB Vince Biegel 15/10 looked solid and should see a lot of time in the rotation. ILB Raekwon McMillan 13/12 missed some games due to injury but is very good vs the run. LB Samuel Eguavoen 16/6 also may have to show more to stick around. OLB Jerome Baker 16/15 led the team in tackles. DL Trent Harris 11/3 is good for depth. In the secondary at CB, Byron Jones 15/14 was not retained by DAL and signed with MIA and he is an upgrade at the position. CB Xavien Howard 5/5 had an injury plagued season and is starting out on the PUP list. CB Nik Needham 12/11 plays slot corner well. CB Noah Igbinoghene who was drafted in the 1st round out of Auburn may be asked to fill in for Howard until he returns. DB Jomal Wiltz 14/6 could see a competition for starts with Howard out. CB Walt Aikens 15/0 was not retained and is currently a FA. At S Reshad Jones 4/4 had an injury plagued season and was not retained. He is currently a FA. S Eric Rowe 16/15 was converted from CB to S and showed that he can excel. S Bobby McCain 9/8 had an injury plagued season but has found a home at FS. S Brandon Jones who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Texas could see valuable time in the rotation. S Clayton Fejedelem 16/0 was not retained by CINNCY and signed with MIA. He is good for depth and is a special teams leader.          HC Brian Flores knows he has to do better in 2020 and can’t make any excuses. He got a pass in 2019 but now MIA has rebuilt this team with quality and they need to perform. How will the O-LINE do? This has been a constant disappointment for MIA for many seasons. Without a consistent O-LINE the OFF cannot be productive. They need to mesh and cut down on sacks allowed. The running game needs to get going to take pressure off of whoever is the QB. The D-LINE looks completely different and how they respond is anyone’s guess. They need to produce to stop the run and get to the QB. The LB crew has strengthened and should see improvement. The secondary has to make stops and not be picked apart. This team is building a foundation for the future. They are not playoff contenders yet but are planting seeds. They should be fun to watch and could upset some teams that don’t take them seriously.  

OPTED OUT: WR Albert Wilson, WR Allen Hurns, OL Isaiah Prince

PROJECTED 2018 (7-9), ACTAUL 2018 (7-9)√, PROJECTED 2019 (6-10), ACTUAL 2019 (5-11), PROJECTED 2020 (8-8)

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh Steelers

HC Mike Tomlin should have won coach of the year for 2019 for the job he did after QB Ben Roethlisberger 2/2 went down in the 2nd game of the season. QBs Mason Rudolph 10/8 & Devlin Hodges 8/6 both came in but, both were inconsistent. At RB, James Connor 10/10 was limited because of injuries. RB Benny Snell 13/2 filled in where he could and showed he can backup Connor if necessary. FB Roosevelt Nix 3/0 who had an injury plagued season was cut after the season and signed with INDY. FB Derek Watt 16/2 was not retained by LAC and signed with PITT. He should be able to open up some rushing lanes. RB Anthony McFarland who was drafted in the 4th round out of Maryland has good speed and should see time in the rotation. At WR, James Washington 15/10 stepped up as a #2. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster 12/12 had an injury plagued season which limited him. WR Diontae Johnson 16/12 had a decent rookie season and filled in nicely for injured WRs. WR Chase Claypool who was drafted in the 2nd round out of Notre Dame is counted on to be the deep threat for PITT. WR Saeed Blackwell who played in the XFL was signed to PITT to be another viable target for Roethlisberger. At TE, Nick Vannett 16/7 who split time between SEA & PITT signed with DEN. TE Vance McDonald 14/14 had an off season which led PITT to sign TE Eric Ebron 11/2 away from INDY. Ebron had an injury filled season but, should be big competition for McDonald at the spot. The O-LINE which has always been known to be solid, gave up only 32 combined sacks in 2019. C BJ Finney 16/4 was not retained by PITT and signed with SEA. LG Ramon Foster 14/14 retired. In his place Stefen Wisniewski 11/2 was signed by PITT from KC to fill the void at LG. He will have some competition with OG Kevin Dotson who was drafted in the 4th round out of Louisiana. LT, C RG & RT have the same projected starter as 2019 and continue to do a good job. The DEF runs a 3-4 scheme. On the D-LINE DT Javon Hargrave 16/13 was not retained by PITT and signed with PHILLY. DT Dan McCullers 16/0 may have a shot at starting to fill the void left by Hargrave. DE Stephon Tuitt 6/6 had an injury plagues season and should bounce back. DT Chris Wormley 16/7 was acquired from BALT in a trade after the season and brings good depth. The LB crew is as solid as it gets as they employ four LBs who all make great plays at any time. LB Mark Barron 15/9 was not retained by PITT and is currently a FA. LB Anthony Chickillo 11/0 was not retained by PITT and signed with NO. LB Tyler Matakevich 16/0 was not retained by PITT and signed with BUFF. LB Alex Highsmth who was drafted in the 3rd round out of U of Charlotte should see time in the rotation. In the secondary, CBs Joe Haden 16/16 & Steve Nelson 15/15 set the tone. DB Mike Hilton 16/8 plays the slot. DB Cameron Sutton 16/0 should have a big year as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. CB Justin Layne 10/0 saw limited action in his rookie season but will strive harder for more time in the rotation. SS Terrell Edmunds 16/16 is solid. FS Minkah Edwards 14/14 became ALL-PRO after coming to PITT in an early season trade from MIA. FS Sean Davis 1/1 was on IR most of the season then signed with WASH after the season. S Antoine Brooks who was drafted in the 6th round out of Maryland can play hybrid LB as well which makes him versatile. DB Breon Borders 12/1 who split time between JAGS & WASH in 2019 was signed by PITT for depth. This team has a lot of talent as usual but has to stay away from the injury bug. If the DEF can stay consistent and not get off to a slow start, PITT can go deep into the playoffs. The OFF has added weapons at WR but Roethlisberger can’t do it alone. The RBs need to succeed when called upon. If Big Ben is 100%, the sky’s the limit for this team. Staying healthy for everyone is the key. Can we say SuperBowl?       

OPTED OUT: None

PROJECTED 2018 (12-4), ACTUAL 2018 (9-6-1), PROJECTED 2019 (11-5), ACTUAL 2019 (8-8). PROJECTED 2020 (12-4)

Baltimore Ravens

The 2019 season showed everyone how good this team could really be but, in the 1st round of the playoffs, BALT came out like a dud. They lost @HOME to TENN. There were many mistakes made by BALT and their DEF let TENN run all over the field. It was big disappointment after such a successful regular season. With this talented team, SuperBowl expectations are not out of the question. HC John Harbaugh knows this team must go deeper into the playoffs. At QB, Lamar Jackson 15/15 was MVP but faultered in the playoffs. He knows that he can get this team to the promised land and should do so soon. QB Robert Griffin 7/1 is the backup but, is there to get noticed and maybe resurrect his career. At RB, Mark Ingram 15/15 had a fine 1st year in BALT after coming over from NO. RB Gus Edwards 16/1 ran for over 700 yards as the main backup. RB JK Dobbins who was drafted in the 2nd round out of Ohio State may be battling Edwards for that backup spot. FB/DE Patrick Ricard 16/7 plays both sides of the ball very well and can block. WRs on this team don’t see as many touches as other teams because of the running abilities of Lamar Jackson and the RBs. But, they are a very capable bunch when Jackson is scrambling or attempting to pass. At WR, Seth Roberts 16/0 was not retained by BALT and signed with CAR. WR Devin Duvernay who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Texas has a chance to start even though the WRs position is loaded. WR James Proche who was drafted in the 6th round out of SMU may have to play special teams to stick around. All the other WRs are the same and are exceptional at catching the ball. At TE, Hayden Hurst 16/4 was traded after the season to ATL. TEs Mark Andrews 15/4 & Nick Boyle 16/15 are a good 1-2 punch at the position. The O-LINE did a very good job protecting and the QB and opening up running lanes for the QB & RBs. QBs were sacked a combined 28x in 2019. That was down from a combined 32x in 2018. LT Ronnie Staley 14/14 was ALL-PRO. LT Andre Smith 6/5 was not retained by CINNCY and signed with BALT. However, he opted out for 2020. OT James Hurst 16/2 was not retained by BALT and signed with NO. LG Bradley Bozeman 16/16 has fitted in nicely at the position. G Ben Bredeson who was drafted in the 4th round out of Michigan needs to show something to see time in the rotation. C Matt Skura 11/11 is rehabbing a torn ACL & dislocated kneecap which makes his return unknown. C Patrick Mekari 11/5 filled in nicely and will be starting at C until further notice. G Marshal Yanda 15/15 retired. G DJ Fluker 14/14 was not retained by SEA and signed by BALT to fill the spot vacated by Yanda at RG. RT Orlando Brown 14/14 is also solid. T Tyre Phillips who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Mississippi State will switch from T to G. The DEF runs a 3-4 alignment. DE Calais Campbell 16/16 was picked up in a trade from JAGS. He is still very effective and brings leadership. DT/NT Michael Pierce 14/14 was not retained by BALT and signed with MINN. DE Chris Wormley 16/7 was traded to PITT after the season. DL Derek Wolfe 12/12 was not retained by DEN and signed with BALT. DT Justin Madubuike who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Texas A & M should see time in the rotation. DT Broderick Washington who was drafted in the 5th round out of Texas Tech will add depth to a talented DL. In the LB crew, ILB Josh Bynes 12/7 was not retained by BALT and signed with CINNCY. ILB Patrick Onwuasor 14/6 was not retained by BALT and signed with NYJ. ROLB Matt Judon 16/16 is solid at the position. ILB Patrick Queen who was drafted in the 1st round out of LSU is penciled in as a starter in the inside. ILB Malik Harrison who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Ohio State is also competing for a starting spot. ILB LJ Fort 12/8 who ended the season with BALT will be fighting for a starting spot. OLB Jaylon Ferguson 14/9 was solid in his rookie season and should continue to grow. OLB Pernell McPhee 7/7 had an injury plagued season but was re-signed for depth. In the secondary at CB, Brandon Carr 16/16 was not retained and is currently a FA. CB Jimmy Smith 9/5 had an injury plagued season but continues to be a presence. CB Marcus Peters 16/15 was acquired during the season from LAR and was ALL-PRO. LCB Marlon Humphrey 16/15 was also ALL-PRO. CB Tavon Young was out all of 2019 with a neck injury but, is cleared to play. At S, Tony Jefferson 5/5 was not retained by BALT and is currently a FA. FS Earl Thomas 15/15 is solid. SS Chuck Clark 16/12 is also solid. S Geno Stone who was drafted in the 7th round out of Iowa will have to show something in a crowded and very talented secondary. This team is solid all the way around but has to learn how to beat KC. The last two seasons they lost to KC and they certainly will have to face them in the playoffs. Last year QB Lamar Jackson may have been nervous in his playoff game vs TENN because he made many errors that he didn’t make during the season. He needs to treat them like regular games. This team will be competing for a chance at the SuperBowl but the only thing stopping them is themselves and KC.  

OPTED OUT: KR De’Anthony Thomas, OL Andre Smith

PROJECTED 2018 (10-6), ACTUAL 2018 (10-6)√, PROJECTED 2019 (6-10), ACTUAL 2019 (14-2), PROJECTED 2020 (13-3)

Cleveland Browns

HC Freddie Kitchens was let go after one season and a 6-10 record. At times he seemed overwhelmed and unprepared for the job. I said last year that he was a terrible choice. Also gone are OC Todd Monken & DC Steve Wilks. In their place you have HC Kevin Stefanski, OC Alex Van Pelt & DC Joe Woods. Stefanski has been with MINN his whole coaching career and in 2019 he was the MINN OC. Other changes were made along the lines of the coaching staff and the GM John Dorsey was let go in favor of Andrew Berry. A total house cleaning took place in the off-season so there is some hopes that CLEVE could turn the corner and start winning. At QB, this is a big season for Baker Mayfield 16/16. Can he learn from the mistakes he made in 2019 and improve his skill set? That is a big question and can he be patient in the pocket and not try to force things? QB Case Keenum 10/8 who has been with LAR, MINN, DEN & WASH the last four seasons signed with CLEVE in the off-season to be the backup. But Mayfield will be looking over his shoulder because Keenum is very capable of getting the job done especially with all these weapons available. At RB, Nick Chubb 16/16 had a breakout 2nd season. FB Andy Janovich 7/3 was not retained by DEN and signed with CLEVE. He should see a lot of time in the running game. At WR, Donovan Peoples-Jones was drafted in the 7th round out of Michigan but will need to show something to stick around. WR Ricky Seals-Jones 14/3 was not retained by CLEVE and signed with KC. The rest of the WRs are the same as in 2019 but, need to give that something extra to be even more dangerous. Plus, they cannot give up on their routes. At TE, Austin Hooper 13/10 was not retained by ATL and signed with CLEVE. He is a big playmaker and will see plenty of action in the OFF. TE David Njoku 4/1 is coming off an injury plagued season and is determined to rebound especially with Hooper now in the lineup. TE Demetrius Harris 15/6 was not retained by CLEVE and signed with CHI. TE Pharaoh Brown 9/6 who was acquired after the 2019 season started, is starting the season on the PUP list. TE Harrison Bryant who was drafted in the 5th round out of FAU should see time in the rotation unless he is a total dud. The O-LINE which gave up 40 sacks of Mayfield in 2019 went through a transformation in the off-season. At LT, Jedrick Wills who was drafted in the 1st round out of Alabama is expected to start right out of the gate. At LG, Joel Bitonio 16/16 has been solid at the position. C JC Tretter 16/16 is also solid. At RG, Wyatt Teller 15/9 will have competition from OL Chris Hubbard 14/13 who was displaced by RT Jack Conklin 16/16 who was not retained by TENN and signed with CLEVE. OT Greg Robinson 15/14 was not retained by CLEVE and is a currently a FA. C/G Eric Kush 16/7 was not retained by CLEVE and signed with LV. OL Evan Brown 4/0 was waived after the season by MIA and signed with CLEVE for depth. C Nick Harris who was drafted in the 5th round out of WASH will be looking at a depth situation at C. On DEF, CLEVE is keeping the 4-3 alignment. At DE, Olivier Vernon 10/10 & Myles Garrett 10/10 are the bookends. However, both need to stay healthy and both really need to step it up. DE Chad Thomas 16/8 is improving each season but also needs to step it up. DL Adrian Clayborn 15/1 was not retained by ATL signed with CLEVE for depth and backup. At DTs RDT Sheldon Richardson 16/15 & LDT Larry Ogunjobi 15/15 are both solid. DT/NT Andrew Billings 16/14 was not retained by CINNCY and signed with CLEVE for depth. DE Porter Gustin 6/0 played when Garrett was out and should see more time in the rotation. DT Jordan Elliott who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Missouri should see time in the rotation. On DEF the LB crew has been cleaned out and all three positions will see new faces in the rotation. At OLB, Christian Kirksey 2/2 was on IR most of the season and then signed with GB. LB Sione Takitaki 15/1 is good for depth and sees definite time in the rotation. RLB Mack Wilson 16/14 filled in nicely for the injured Kirksey gets the start in 2020. MLB Joe Schobert 16/16 was not retained by CLEVE and signed with JAGS. To fill the void MLB BJ Goodson 15/9 who was not retained by GB signed with CLEVE. LB Adarius Taylor 15/0 was not retained by CLEVE and is currently a FA. LB Jacob Phillips who was drafted in the 3rd round out of LSU is penciled as the starter at OLB. In the secondary, the three CB starters are the same as in 2019 as they all have roles in sub packages. However, TJ Carrie 16/6 was not retained by CLEVE and signed with INDY. CB Kevin Johnson 16/1 was not retained by BUF and signed with CLEVE to fill their nickel back needs. CB Donovan Olumba 1/0 was waived by DAL after the season and signed with CLEVE for depth. At S, Grant Delpit who was drafted in the 2nd round out of LSU is penciled in as the starter. He is replacing FS Damarious Randall 11/11 who was not retained by CLEVE and signed with LV. S Morgan Burnett 8/8 had an injury plagued season and is a currently a FA. DB Eric Murray 9/4 was not retained by CLEVE and signed with HOU. SS Karl Joseph 9/9 was not retained by LV and signed with CLEVE and adds leadership to the secondary. S Andrew Sendejo 15/3 split time between MINN & PHILLY in 2019 and then signed with CLEVE. He brings much needed knowledge and depth. A completely new coaching staff comes with a learning curve but Mayfield cannot make the same mistakes he made in 2019 and continue to be the QB. He has to show that he has learned from his mistakes and has become a better decision maker. This team is loaded with OFF weapons and Mayfield has to use them wisely. The TEs 1-2 punch will help the run game and take added pressure off of Mayfield. The O-LINE has gone through some sort of transformation and needs to mesh for protection. Yes, Mayfield is dangerous when he is scrambling but a blind side tackle could be devastating. All new LBs, how do they mesh and conquer? The secondary has definitely been upgraded and teams shouldn’t think that they can go to town against them because they are being taught to be aggressive. This team has certainly gone through some positive changes and should win some more games than last year but again, there is the learning curve for new coaches. This team should win more games than they lose but they are in a tough division and need to get some lucky breaks. 

OPTED OUT: G Drew Forbes, T Drake Dorbeck, DT Andrew Billings

PROJECTED 2018 (6-10), ACTUAL 2018 (7-8-1), PROJECTED 2019 (10-6), ACTUAL 2019 (6-10), PROJECTED 2020 (9-7)

Cincinnati Bengals

HC Zac Taylor’s 1st season as HC for CINNCY was a learning experience to say the least. Injuries mounted and the OFF & DEF were statistically at the bottom. Disappointment was a weekly ritual. The only place that CINNCY could go is up. At QB Andy Dalton 13/13 was released and signed with DAL. QB Joe Burrow who won the Heisman trophy and was drafted #1 by CINNCY out of LSU will have every opportunity to succeed in CINNCY. He is penciled in as the starter and will have the whole training camp to work with the OFF going forward. Hopefully with Burrow at the helm, CINNCY can one day make the playoffs and win a game. QB Ryan Finley 3/3 is the backup. At RB, Joe Mixon 16/15 & Giovani Bernard 16/2 are the 1-2 punch that can take added pressure off of Burrow. At WR, AJ Green 0/0 was lost for all of 2019 and the passing game for CINNCY suffered. With him fully recovered CINNCY will have a big WR threat that takes pressure away from Burrow. WR Tyler Boyd 16/15 was the go to guy with Green out. He’s a reliable target. WR John Ross 8/8 also had an injury plagued season but with all three healthy, Burrow will have a lot of choices. WR Tee Higgins who was drafted in the 2nd round out of Clemson gives extra depth to the position and a deep threat. WR Mike Thomas 16/0 was not retained by LAR and signed by CINNCY for depth and special teams. At TE, Tyler Eifert 16/4 was not retained by CINNCY and signed with JAGS. TE CJ Uzomah 16/16 showed that he is a sustainable replacement for Eifert. But behind Uzomah there are questions as to who will step up from what is on the roster. The O-LINE which gave up 48 sacks combined in 2019 is going to have to do better for QB Burrow in 2020 for him to gain confidence. He can’t learn the pro game if he is scrambling all the time and lying on his back. Therefore, the O-LINE has gone through a transformation for 2020 and there have been a lot of comings and goings. At LT, Cordy Glenn 6/5 had a shortened season due to a suspension was cut after the season. LT Jonah Willaims 0/0 who didn’t play in 2019 because of injury is penciled in as the starter. He needs to get up to speed. LG Billy Price 16/8 lost his C job to Tre Hopkins and Price then filled in at LG. C Tre Hopkins 16/16 was solid at the position and earned a new contract. OG Hakeem Adeniji who was drafted in the 4th round out of Kansas is good for depth and will look for time in the rotation on the right side. OG Fred Johnson 6/1 was claimed off waivers during the season from PITT and also will be looking for time in the rotation. LG Michael Jordan 13/9 was up and down as a rookie but needs to be more consistent. RG John Miller 13/13 was cut after the season and signed with CAR. RT Bobby Hart 16/16 is solid at the position. OG Xavier Su’a Filo 11/4 was not retained by DAL and signed with CINNCY and will fill the slot of departed RG Miller. The DEF runs a 4-3 alignment. At DE, Carlos Dunlap 14/14 is the leader on the D-LINE. DT Andrew Billings 16/14 was not retained by CINNVCY and signed with CLEVE. In his absence DT DJ Reader 15/15 was not retained by HOU and signed with CINNCY. DT Josh Tupou 16/7 is good for backup and excelled in his 3rd season. DE Khalid Kareem who was drafted in the 5th round out of Notre Dame will be looking to make time in the rotation. DT Geno Atkins 16/14 may be aging but is steady at the position. If he stumbles, a replacement may be needed soon. DE Sam Hubbard 15/15 excelled at the position in 2019 and looks to be a mainstay. DE Carl Lawson 12/2 is used in situations and is there for depth. In the LB crew, OLB Josh Bynes 12/7 was not retained by BALT and signed with CINNCY. He will replace OLB Nick Vigil 16/16 who was not retained by CINNCY and signed with LAC. LB Hardy Nickerson 7/0 has not been retained by CINNCY and is currently a FA/RFA. OLB Germaine Pratt 16/9 filled in nicely after LB Preston Brown was cut during the season. Pratt is penciled in as the starter. LB Logan Wilson who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Wyoming is penciled in as the starter at MLB. LB Akeem Davis-Gaither who was drafted in the 4th round out of Appalachian State can be used in the rotation for situation purposes. LB Markus Bailey who was drafted in the 7th round out of Purdue had 2 ACL tears in college but could be a steal if he is 100%. In the secondary, CB Trae Waynes 14/14 was not retained by MINN and signed with CINNCY. Waynes will replace CB Dre Kirkpatrick 6/6 who had an injury plagued 2019 and then was cut after the season. CB BW Webb 15/12 was cut after the season by CINNCY and currently is a FA. CB Darqueze Dennard 9/5 was not retained by CINNCY. CB Mackenzie Alexander 13/4 was not retained by MINN and was signed by CINNCY to replace CB Dennard in the slot. CB LeShaun Sims 14/2 was not retained by TENN and was signed by CINNCY for depth and special teams. CB William Jackson 14/13 ended the season on IR and needs to improve to keep his starting position bwhere he will have competition. S Clayotn Fejedelem 16/0 was not retained by CINNCY and signed with MIA. S Von Bell 13/13 was not retained by NO and signed with CINNCY. He will start as he did in NO. SS Shawn Williams 16/15 sometimes plays the LB position on different packages. S Jessie Bates 16/16 is a solid leader in the secondary. There is much depth at WR which is very good. But there is really no depth at TE behind Uzomah. This could be a problem very early on. A whole new O-LINE, how do they mesh? They need to sustain protection for Burrow so that he can learn the game and get confidence. The DEF also went through a transformation after being pretty bad in 2019. A lot of new names fill the roster and they need to start showing results from Day 1. This team should be better on the field but is not going to the playoffs in 2020. They will show improvement but it will be long term. This will be a losing season again but, there will be a glimmer of hope for the long term.      

OPTED OUT: OT Isaiah Prince, DT Josh Tupou

PROJECTED 2018 (8-8), ACTUAL 2018 (6-10), PROJECTED 2019 (8-8), ACTUAL 2019 (2-14), PROJECTED 2020 (7-9)

AFC SOUTH

Jacksonville Jaguars

Was the 2017 season just a fluke? After the last two seasons and so much promise, it certainly looks that way. EVP Tom Coughlin was relieved of his duties but HC Doug Marrone was given a shorter leash to work with. However, he needs to get this team going in the right direction. At QB, Nick Foles 4/4 was traded after the season to CHI. Gardner Minshew 14/12 was given the reigns and should look better with a full training camp as the starter under his belt. At RB, will the real Leonard Fournette 15/15 please stand up? He rushed for 1152 yds in 2019 and looked good but the team didn’t win. He needs to be consistent. RB Chris Thompson 11/0 was signed from WASH and catches passes out of the backfield. This should help Minshew. At WR, Marqise Lee 6/1 signed with NE to try to resurrect his career. WR Laviska Shenault who was drafted in the 2nd round out of Colorado is touted as the next star at the position. The rest of the WRs are the same as 2019. At TE, Tyler Eifert 16/4 who had his 1st season playing in all the games, in his seven seasons signed with JAGS from CINNCY. He is looking to get his career back on track after having an injury plagued career. TE Geoff Swaim 6/2 was not retained. The O-LINE gave up a combined 42 sacks in 2019 and improved from 53 sacks allowed in 2018. With the O-LINE staying the same for 2020 and getting that jelling experience, they should be able to improve on the sacks allowed total in 2020 and open up some more rushing lanes for RB Fournette. The DEF runs a 4-3 alignment. However, currently LDE Yannick Ngakoue 15/15 is requesting a trade and will not accept the franchise tender offered by JAGS. He wants out and JAGS are not willing to trade him. DE Calais Campbell 16/16 was traded after the season to BALT. DE Josh Allen 16/4 who had a nice rookie season moves into the slot vacated by Campbell. DT Al Woods 14/5 was signed from SEA to take the place of DT Marcell Dareus 6/6 who was not retained and is a currently a FA. DT Taven Bryan 16/8 keeps his starting spot for now but needs to step it up. DE Aaron Lynch 16/0 was signed from CHI for depth. DT Rodney Gunter 13/13 was signed from ARZ and will see time in the rotation. DT Davon Hamilton who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Ohio State should also see time in the rotation and may even start a few games. DE K’Lavon Chaisson who was drafted in the 2nd round out of LSU will certainly see time in the rotation. DE/SLB Cassius Marsh 16/3 was also signed from ARZ and can play either position well but is slotted for SLB. In the LB crew, MLB Joe Schobert 16/16 was signed from CLEVE and MLB Myles Jack 11/11 will move to WLB taking over for a combination of guys that played the position in 2019. In the secondary, CB AJ Bouye 14/14 was traded after the season to DEN. In his place rookie CB CJ Henderson who was drafted in the 1st round out of Florida and is slotted to start. CB Tre Herndon 16/14 stepped up after CB Jalen Ramsey was traded. CB Rashaan Melvin 13/12 signed with JAGS from DET, was added for depth. CB Tramaine Brock 14/11, who spen time between ARI & TENN signed with JAGS. He should give JAGS more veteran leadership and experience in the secondary. The Safeties stay the same. The OFF should get going with a full training camp with Minshew under Center. Minshew should learn from his mistakes in 2019 and be better in 2020. A productive RB Fournette would take a lot of pressure off of Minshew. Also, a healthy TE Eifert will certainly help Minshew when he is in a jam This team is definitely in a rebuild on DEF and there are a lot of new faces on the D-Line and the LB crew. Hopefully they are all on the same page come wk 1. HC Doug Marrone is on the hotseat and needs to show improvement with this team or otherwise he will be out the door. JAGS schedule has some rough spots but this group can certainly play better.        

OPTED OUT: DT Al Woods, LB Lerentee McCray

PROJECTED 2018 (12-4), ACTUAL 2018 (5-11), PROJECTED 2019 (10-6), ACTUAL 2019 (6-10), PROJECTED 2020 (9-7)

Indianapolis Colts

The 2019 started off with a bang because of the late and sudden retirement announcement of QB Andrew Luck. Jacoby Brissett was named the starting QB. However, the season didn’t turn out like everyone had hoped for. The experiment with QB Jacoby Brissett 15/15 was put on hold. QB Philip Rivers 16/16 was not retained by LAC and signed a guaranteed 1 year contract and to be the starter. Rivers had excelled when INDY HC Frank Reich & INDY OC Nick Sirianni were CHARGERS assistant coaches. Rivers is very acquainted with the INDY playbook which makes him a good fit. However, how much Rivers has left in the tank, is another question. Brissett will be the backup for now. QB Jacob Eason who was drafted in the 4th round out of WASH needs to refine his game to be an NFL QB. He may be a work in progress. At RB, Marlon Mack 14/12 broke the 1,000 yard mark in his 3rd season. He is reliable and takes pressure off of the QB. RB Jonathan Taylor who was drafted in the 2nd round out of Wisconsin should complement Mack. RB Jonathan Williams 9/1 was not retained by INDY and is currently a FA. FB Roosevelt Nix 3/0 had an injury plagued season and was cut after the season by PITT. He signed with INDY to provide blocking and help on special teams. The WR crew saw a lot of injuries that made Brissett’s job a lot harder in 2019. At WR, Devin Funchess 1/1 was mostly on IR and was not retained by INDY. He signed with GB. WR Chester Rogers 12/6 had an injury plague season and was not retained by INDY. He is also currently a FA. WR Michael Pittman who was drafted in the 2nd round out of USC is penciled in as a starter across from WR TY Hilton 10/10. At TE, Eric Ebron 11/2 had an injury plagued season and was not retained by INDY. He signed with PITT. TE Jack Doyle 16/16 does it all very well. TE Trey Burton 8/5 had an injury plagued season and was cut after the season by CHI. He signed with INDY but needs to show that he can stay healthy. The O-LINE gave up a combined 32 sacks. This is way up from the 18 sacks allowed in 2018. All five positions, LT, LG, C, RG & RT started and played all 16 games. OT Joe Haeg 16/0 was not retained by INDY and signed with TB. OG Josh Andrews 6/0 was not retained by INDY and signed with the NYJ. OG Danny Pinter who was drafted in the 5th round out of Ball State was a T in college and makes switch to G/C. The DEF runs a 4-3 alignment. DE Jabaal Sheard 13/12 was not retained by INDY and is currently a FA. DE Al-Quadin Muhammad 16/4 is looking to upgrade and get more starts. DT Margus Hunt 16/5 was not retained by INDY and signed with NO. DT DeForest Buckner 16/16 was traded to INDY after the season from SF for a 1st round pick. He upgrades the D-LINE vs the pass and also is a great run stopper. DT Sheldon Day 16/2 was not retained by SF and signed with INDY for improved depth. DE Justin Houston 16/16 is the anchor on the outside. DT Robert Windsor who was drafted in the 6th round out of Penn State needs to show something to see time in the rotation. In the LB Crew, SLB Bobby Okereke 16/8 needs to take another step forward in 2020. MLB Anthony Walker 16/16 & WLB Darius Leonard 13/13 are solid. In the secondary CB Pierre Desir 12/11 was not retained by INDY and signed with NYJ. CB Xavier Rhodes 15/15 was cut after the season by MINN and then signed with INDY. He should fill the void left by Desir. CB Rock Ya-Sin 15/13 is in his 2nd season and needs to take that next step up. CB Quincy Wilson 9/0 was traded to the NYJ after the season for a late draft pick. CB TJ Carrie 16/6 was not retained by CLEVE and signed with INDY for his leadership and experience. S Clayton Geathers 15/10 was not retained by INDY and is currently a FA. S Khari Willis 14/9 looks very good in 2019 and is penciled in as the starter in Geathers spot. S Julian Blackmon who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Utah is currently rehabbing from ACL surgery and will not be available until the late fall. How much does Rivers have in the tank? I guess we’ll see. The O-LINE needs to get back to 2018 levels of protection because Rivers is not a mobile QB at all. Otherwise this OFF will be in trouble. WRs need to stay healthy. The LB crew is tough but doesn’t have much depth. The secondary is very weak and could be picked apart. Look for some late signings to shore up the secondary squad. DEF needs to protect leads otherwise it will be a losing season.   

OPTED OUT: LB Skai Moore, DB Roland Milligan, DB Marvin Tell

PROJECTED 2018 (5-11), ACTUAL 2018 (10-6), originally PROJECTED 2019 (11-5), now (7-9)√, ACTUAL 2019 (7-9), PROJECTED 2020 (9-7)

Houston Texans

How HC Bill O’Brien still has a job is beyond me. If you are reading this, you know that I am no fan of O’Brien. His coaching and his personnel moves which we will discuss, are questionable at best and his coaching style is very conservative which limits the team. At QB, Deshaun Watson 15/15 is phenomenal but, takes a pounding. He was sacked 44x in 2019 but that was actually down from 62x in 2018. We’ll see how the O-LINE holds up. At RB, Carlos Hyde 16/14 rushed for 1070 yds but was not re-signed and signed with SEA. Then Bill O-Brien trades ALL-WORLD WR DeAndre Hopkins 15/15 to ARZ for the recently oft-injured RB David Johnson 13/9. Only if Johsnon regains his Pro-Bowl form and no injuries, is this trade a success for HOU. Otherwise it’s a dud. At WR, Brandin Cooks 14/14 was picked up in a trade. He is very good but has had a number of concussions in the last few years. WR Randall Cobb 15/6 was also signed from DAL. Other than these, the WR core is the same as 2019. At TE, Darren Fells 16/14 leads the way and is very reliable. On the O-LINE, LT Laremy Tunsil 14/14 got a whopper of a deal from HOU in the off-season. OT Chris Clark 8/7 was not retained. OT Brent Qvale 3/1 was signed from the NYJ for depth and a swing role. RT Tytus Howard 8/8 is slotted to start after an injury plagued rookie season. OT Charlie Heck who was drafted in the 4th round out of North Carolina is a swing tackle looking to find time in the rotation. The DEF runs a 3-4 alignment. DE JJ Watt 8/8 is coming off an injury plagued season but is still dangerous to opposing linemen. NT DJ Reader 15/15 signed with CINNCY. DT Ross Blacklock who was drafted in the 2nd round out of TCU is expected to make a name for himself as he sees time in the rotation. In the LB crew, OLB Barkevious Mingo 16/1 was not retained and signed with CHI. ROLB Brennan Scarlett 15/10 was put in their after Clowney was traded but will have to fight for the starting position this time around. OLB Jonathan Greenwood who was drafted in the 3rd round out of North Carolina is expected to battle for time in the rotation. In the secondary, CB Johnathan Joseph 14/11 was not retained and signed with TENN. CB/S Jaylen Watkins 14/3 was signed from LAC and will figure into certain package coverages. CB Gareon Conley 8/6 who was picked up mid-season in a trade with OAK will be slotted to come out starting. CB John Reid who was drafted in the 4th round out of Penn State should find time in the rotation. CB Bradley Roby 10/10 was rewarded with a big contract in the off-season and should be a leader in the secondary. SS Eric Murray 9/4 signed with HOU from CLE will fill in the spot vacated by SS Tashaun Gipson 14/14 who signed with CHI. S Jahleel Addae 16/3 was not retained and is currently a FA. S Michael Thomas 16/2 was picked up from NYG is a special teams captain but also gives good depth to the secondary. This team has gone through some revisions and if they don’t work out, HC Bill O’Brien will be gone and the owner will certainly do some house cleaning. He has made some questionable moves and if they don’t work out, he will certainly be fired. The O-LINE must find a way to mesh and bring down the sacks allowed even more to protect their QB. The LB crew has seen some personnel changes and needs to step it up. The secondary has been a weak spot and needs to play tighter. I don’t get excited by this team because of its HC. There is a lot of talent here but the HC holds it back. I don’t see them going deep into the playoffs and after the devastating loss @KC in the playoffs last season, there may be a hangover.      

OPTED OUT: DT Eddie Vanderdoes

PROJECTED 2018 (7-9), ACTUAL 2018 (11-5), PROJECTED 2019 (9-7), ACTUAL 2019 (10-6), PROJECTED 2020 (9-7)

Tennessee Titans

TENN HC Mike Vrabel should have a rosy future. 2019 didn’t start out great but ended up with a future that looks promising. At QB, Ryan Tannehill 12/10 didn’t start the 2019 season but ended it on a high note. QB Marcus Mariota 7/6 signed with LV after the season when it was clear that TENN would be moving forward with Tannehill as their starting QB. Tannehill signed a four year deal with TENN that will not have him looking over his shoulder. Tannehill seemed to resurrect his career. At RB, Derrick Henry 15/15 had an ALL-PRO season with 1,540 yards rushing. He also signed a new deal after the season. With Henry in the backfield, it takes a lot of pressure off of Tannehill to carry the team. RB Dion Lewis who can run & catch signed with NYG. RB Darrynton Evans who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Appalachian State is slotted in as Henry’s backup and will get every chance to succeed. At WR, Tajae Sharpe 15/6 signed with MINN. Basically, Tannehill will have the same group to work with at WR as in 2019 but, they need to work harder to get open for the sometimes nervous Tannehill. At TE, Delanie Walker 7/4 had an injury filled season and was cut after the season. Jonnu Smith 16/14 had a better season in 2019 should see a lot more touches in 2020. The O-LINE gave up a combined 56 sacks in 2019, not good. They need to improve their protection as they get better acquainted with Tannehill. LT, LG, C & RG are slotted to stay the same as in 2019 but, RT Jack Conklin 16/16 signed with CLEVE after the season. OT Dennis Kelly 15/4 is slotted to start at RT for the departed Conklin after being a backup for most of his career. The DEF runs a 3-4 alignment. DT Jurrell Casey 14/14 was traded to DEN for a draft pick after the 2019 season. DT Jack Crawford 16/4 who was signed from ATL is slotted to start where Casey was. NT Austin Johsnon 16/1 signed with NYG. DT DaQuan Jones 16/16 will fill the NT slot. DT Jeffery Simmons 9/7 who showed promise in his rookie season is slotted to start at DT. In the LB crew OLB Cameron Wake 9/0 was not retained after an injury filled season. LB Wesley Woodyard 15/2 was also not retained. OLB/DE Vic Beasley 16/15 signed a prove it contract with TENN from ATL to resurrect his career. Expect this guy to either have a great year or a lackluster year but really nothing in between. He is slotted to start where Wake was. ILB Rashaan Evans 16/16 filled in nicely and will continue in that role. ILB Jayon Brown 14/14 will continue to blossom after earning starting position. LB Nick Dzubnar 16/0 was signed from LAC for depth. In the secondary, there is no change at who will be starting from 2019 although CB Malcolm Butler 9/9 is coming off an injury plagued season. CB Logan Ryan 16/16 has not been retained and is currently a FA. CB Adoree Jackson 11/10 is slotted to be the starter going into camp. CB Johnathan Joseph 14/11 was signed from HOU for package coverages. I like HC Mike Vrabel because he thinks outside the box and will be aggressive at times. His play calling is not suspect and he goes with his gut. With a full training camp under center Tannehill should work out well with the OFF and get things rolling. A healthy Derrick Henry will take a lot of pressure off of Tannehill. The DEF is solid on paper but needs to stay consistent. Look for LB Beasley to have a nice season. This team will not surprise anyone this season but will win more games and should go deep into the playoffs.       

OPTED OUT: OL Anthony McKinney

PROJECTED 2018 (8-8), ACTUAL 2018 (9-7), PROJECTED 2019 (10-6), ACTUAL 2019 (9-7), PROJECTED 2020 (12-4)

AFC WEST

Kansas City Chiefs

HC Andy Reid legitimized his coaching career with a SuperBowl win in 2019. All three playoff games were come-from-behinders. I have never been an Andy Reid fan because of his playoff losses after having great seasons and I haven’t changed my tune. OC Eric Bieniemy should have a HC position by now, he is well deserving. At QB, Pat Mahomes 14/14 is doing a great job and at times he looks like he and the KC OFF can’t be stopped. QB Chad Henne was re-signed after being on IR the whole 2019 season for KC. At RB, Damien Williams 11/6 opted out. RB LeSean McCoy 13/9 signed with TB. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire who was drafted in the 1st round out of LSU looks like the immediate starter by default. FB Anthony Sherman 16/0 plays three roles. He blocks, plays on special teams and can catch when asked to do so. RB DeAndre Washington 16/3 was not retained by LV and signed with KC. He can catch passes which makes him a dual threat. At WR, Tyreek Hill 12/12 can’t be stopped. After him, it’s WR by committee. At TE, Travis Kelce 16/16 is certainly Mahomes’s go-to guy when he is in trouble. This guy catches everything. TE Blake Bell 15/7 was not retained by KC and signed with DAL. TE Ricky Seals-Jones 14/3 was not retained by CLEVE and signed with KC. He will give an added edge in a 2 TE set. The O-LINE which gave up a combined 25 sacks in 2019 did a very good job letting the OFF do its thing. At LT, Eric Fisher 8/8 is solid at the position but had an injury prone season. OL Mike Remmers 14/14 wasn’t retained by NYG and signed with KC for good backup and depth. OG Stefen Wisniewski 11/2 wasn’t retained by KC and signed with PITT. OT Cam Erving 13/8 was not retained by KC and signed by DAL. LG Martinas Rankin 6/5 has played well but has a patella injury that puts his status up in the air. RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif 14/14 has opted out which has opened the door for others to start. OT Lucas Niang who was drafted in the 3rd round out of TCU may find a starting job at either T or G. C Austin Reiter 16/16 has grown into a solid role on the O-LINE. OL Nick Allegretti 7/0 has the potential to compete for a starting role. LG Andrew Wylie 11/11 is solid and could move around to another spot. RT Mitchell Schwartz 16/16 is solid. OG Kelechi Osemele 3/3 was cut during the season by NYJ and then after the season was signed by KC. The DEF runs a 4-3 alignment. The front four are solid and looks the same going into 2020. DE Emmanuel Ogbah 10/4 wasn’t retained by KC and signed with MIA. DT Xavier Williams 5/0 wasn’t retained by KC and is currently a FA. DE Taco Charlton 10/5 was not retained by MIA signed with KC and should find time in the rotation. DE Michael Danna who was drafted in the 5th round out of Michigan should see time in the rotation as a pass rusher. DL Devaroe Lawrence 11/2 was cut by CLEVE and signed by KC for depth. In the LB crew, LB Reggie Ragland 14/7 was not retained by KC and signed with DET. LB Willie Gay who was drafted in the 2nd round out of Mississippi State is penciled in as the starter at WLB. MLB Anthony Hitchens 15/15 & SLB Damien Wilson 16/16 are the anchors in a thin LB crew. In the secondary, CB Bashaud Breeland 16/15 & CB Charvarius Ward 16/16 are the mainstays. CB Kendall Fuller 11/4 was not retained by KC and signed with WASH. CB Anthony Hamilton 16/2 as not retained by NYG and signed with KC. CB L’Jarius Sneed who was drafted in the 4th round out of Louisiana Tech should see time in packages with his skills. CB Bopete Keyes who was drafted in the 7th round out of Tulane could also see time in coverages. SS Tyrann Mathieu 16/16 has established himself as the leader in the secondary with an ALL-PRO 2019 season. FS Juan Thornhill 16/16 is the other mainstay. S Jordan Lucas 14/0 was not retained by KC and signed with CHI. S Tedric Thompson 6/6 had an injury plagued season and was cut by SEA after the season and signed by KC. This team is poised to make another deep run through the playoffs but, to say a repeat win in the SuperBowl would be tough because everything has to go their way. There can’t be any big injuries and the losses all of a sudden can’t pile up. The AFC WEST has gotten tougher but, not so much that KC starts losing. RB has suddenly become a weak spot. KC is also thin at LB. If KC stays healthy they could be back in the SuperBowl.   

OPTED OUT: OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff, RB Damien Williams, OT Lucas Niang

PROJECTED 2018 (6-10), ACTUAL 2018 (12-4), PROJECTED 2019 (12-4)√, ACTUAL 2019 (12-4), PROJECTED 2020 (13-3)

Los Angeles Chargers

LAC took a step backwards in 2019 after winning twelve games in 2018. There have been a lot of roster changes and there is pressure on HC Anthony Lynn to produce. He is entering his fourth season with the club and LAC will be playing in the new home shared with LAR. At QB, the Philip Rivers era is over. He was not re-signed and he officially signed with INDY. QB Tyrod Taylor 8/0 & QB Justin Hebert who was drafted in the 1st round out of Oregon will be battling for the starting position in training camp. Tyrod has led other teams to the playoffs but here in LA, he may be just a bridge until Hebert is ready. At RB, Melvin Gordon 12/11 who was looking for a long term deal and held out at the beginning of 2019, signed in the off-season with DEN. RB Austin Ekeler 16/6 steps into the #1 RB spot with Joshua Kelley who was drafted in the 4th round as the slated backup. FB Derek Watt 16/2 was not retained by LAC and signed with PITT. At WR, Travis Benjamin 5/2 who had an injury plagued season was not retained and signed with SF. WRs Keenan Allen 16/16 & Mike Williams 15/15 are the top receivers on this cluband should make things a little easier for whoever is the QB. WRs Joe Reed & KJ Hill who were drafted in the 5th & 7th rounds out of Virginia & Ohio State respectively, need to work hard to find touches in an all-ready talented crew. At TE, Hunter Henry 12/12 had a nice bounceback season after missing all of 2018 with a knee injury. TE Virgil Green 15/4 is used mostly as a blocking TE. The O-LINE only gave up 34 sacks in 2019 which is pretty good but, there were some changes. At LT, Russell Okung 6/6 had an injury plagued season and then was traded to CAR for LG Trai Turner 13/13 who takes over the position for LG Michael Schofield 16/16 who later signed with CAR as well. At LT, Trey Pipkins 13/3 gained a lot of experience but may have competition for the starting job. OT Storm Norton 0/0 who didn’t play in 2019 was signed for depth. OG Forrest Lamp 7/2 gives depth to LG Dan Feeney 16/16. C Mike Pouncey 5/5 had an injury plagued season but C Scott Quessenberry 16/9 filled in nicely. RT Bryan Bulaga 16/16 was not retained by GB and signed with LAC to be the starter at RT. RT/OT Sam Tevi 14/14 gained a lot of experience and may be competing with others for a starting job. LT Trent Scott 16/9 after starting many games may also be pushing others for a starting spot. The DEF runs a 4-3 alignment with sometimes running a 4-2-5 where as one of the CBs will do the job of a LB in a hybrid situation. Considering that LAC’s LB crew is rather thin, a CB may be playing the role of LB throughout the season unless someone steps up. At DE, Joey Bosa 16/16 was an all-star in 2019 after an injury plagued 2018. He is hard to stop and will be soon looking for a big payday. DT Linval Joseph 13/13 was cut by MINN after the season and signed by LAC. Joseph will be filling the void left by DT Brandon Mebane 13/13 who was cut after the season and is still a FA. DE Melvin Ingram 13/13 is in the last year of his contract, so look for him to have a great season. In the LB crew, LB Thomas Davis 16/16 was cut after the season and signed with WASH. LB Kenneth Murray who was drafted in the 1st round out of Oklahoma is penciled in as a starter because of the thinness at the LB position for LAC. LB Nick Vigil 16/16 was not retained by CINNCY and signed with LAC to help at LB. The secondary is stacked for LAC and in the off season they added CB Chris Harris 16/16 who was not retained by DEN and signed with LAC. He brings veteran leadership to a talented crew. This team is talented in many areas and Tyrod Taylor may be pushed to have the best season of his career because Justin Hebert is waiting in the wings. LT Tre Pipkins is not as good as the departed LT Russell Okung so opposing DEs may tee off. Pipkins may have competition for the position from the start. The DEF is stacked except for the LB crew which is a little thin. There are not many holes on this club and 2020 should be a nice bounceback year with a run into the playoffs.      

OPTED OUT: NONE

PROJECTED 2018 (10-6), ACTUAL 2018 (12-4), PROJECTED 2019 (12-4), ACTUAL 2019 (5-11), PROJECTED 2020 (11-5)

Denver Broncos

HC Vic Fangio had an interesting 1st season as the HC of DEN. It certainly was a learning experience as DEN lost some games that they should have won and won some games they should have lost. DEN was #28 in TOT OFF & #12 in TOT DEF. QB Joe Flacco 8/8 didn’t last because he got injured and at other times didn’t look good behind center. He was cut after the season and signed with NYJ. QB Drew Lock 5/5 emerged as a potential starter going into 2020 as he finished the 2019 season 4-1. He will have a full training camp to work with the OFF and get in sync. He will have every opportunity to deliver. QB Jeff Driskel 3/3 was not retained by DET and signed with DEN as the backup. At RB, Phillip Lindsey 16/16 rushed for over 1,000 yds and RB Royce Freeman rushed for 496 yds. But, RB Melvin Gordon 12/11 bolted LAC and signed with DEN. This gives a rushing attack that has three capable backs and takes a lot of pressure off of QB Lock. At WR, Jerry Jeudy who was drafted in the 1st round out of Alabama is penciled in as a starter and should groom into a #1. WR KJ Hamler who was drafted in the 2nd round out of Penn State has great speed and should see many touches. At TE, Nick Vannett 16/7 split time between SEA & PITT in 2019 and then signed with DEN. TE Albert Okwuegbunam who was drafted in the 4th round out of Missouri is very familiar with Drew Lock and should see time in the rotation. The O-LINE gave up a combined 41 sacks in 2019, up from 34 sacks allowed in 2018 and needs to do better. DEN is poised for more of a two TE setup that allows the running game to get going. LT Garett Boles 16/16 is solid at the position. LG Dalton Risner 16/16 is also solid on that side. C Connor McGovern 16/16 was not retained by DEN and signed with NYJ. C Lloyd Cushenberry who was drafted in the 3rd round out of LSU is penciled in as the starter. RG Ron Leary 12/12 was not retained and currently is a FA. RG Graham Glasgow 15/15 was not retained by DET and signed with DEN and will take over where RG Ron Leary left off. RT Ja’Wuan James 3/3 looks to be steady in 2020 after getting his chances late in 2019. RT Elijah Wilkinson 15/12 did a fine job filling in 2019 and should see a lot of time in the rotation. The DEF consistently runs a 3-4 alignment. At DE, Derek Wolfe 12/12 was not retained by DEN & signed with BALT.  LDE Shelby Harris 16/16 had a great season after being a starter for the whole 2019. He should continue in that slot. NT Mike Purcell 13/7 adds power to the D-LINE for DEN. DE Joel Heath 2/1 was not retained by HOU and signed by DEN for depth. RDE Jurrell Casey 14/14 was not retained by TENN and signed with DEN. DE Adam Gotsis 9/3 was not retained by DEN and is currently a FA. OLB Von Miller 15/15 is a veteran leader on this club but can’t do it alone. ILB Alexander Johnson 15/12 emerged as hard hitter in his season of starts. ILB Todd Davis 14/14 & OLB Bradley Chubb 4/4 fill out the LB crew. Chubb had an injury plagued season but should bounceback nicely. That will take pressure off of LB Miller. OLB Malik Reed 15/8 had some nice starts when Chubb was injured, good for backup and depth but should see more time in the rotation in 2020. In the secondary, CB Chris Harris 16/16 was not retained and signed with LAC. His spot is filled by CB AJ Bouye 14/14 who was traded by JAGS after the season to DEN for a draft pick. DEN should see immediate results. CB Bryce Callahan 0/0 who didn’t play in 2019 due to injury played for HC Fangio in CHI and needs to stay healthy to return to form. CB Isaac Yiadom 16/8 performed well late in the season and is looking for a carryover in 2020. CB Duke Dawson 14/3 needs to show improvement to stay in the rotation. S Will Parks 14/7 was not retained by DEN and signed with PHILLY. FS Justin Simmons 16/16 has performed well under Fangio and should continue. SS Kareem Jackson 13/13 moved over to S after coming over from HOU and has performed well. This is a very young team but has the talent to get to the playoffs. Lock showed leadership in his starts and if he can improve his game then DEN’s future looks bright. He has a solid backfield which helps him out. The DEF needs to play consistent and all be on the same page. Fangio handles the DEF even though he is not listed as the DC but you know he has imput. If DEN doesn’t show improvement and get a wild card berth it could mean the door for GM John Elway.

OPTED OUT: DT Kyle Peko, RT Ja’Waun James

PROJECTED 2018 (8-8), ACTUAL 2018 (6-10), PROJECTED 2019 (8-8), ACTUAL 2019 (7-9), PROJECTED 2020 (10-6)

Las Vegas Raiders

So, the RAIDERS have officially made the move to Las Vegas. HC Jon Gruden has been trying to mold this team his way. He has gutted and added personnel to this team since he has been the HC and this off-season has been no different. This is Gruden’s 3rd season as the HC and there definitely needs to be improvement from the 7-9 season of 2019. Granted they are in a new state and new environment but a winning record is definitely on the minds of the owner and everyone else. At QB, Derek Carr 16/16 statistically had a very good season as compared to his other seasons. But he needs to win the big games.  QB Marcus Mariota 7/6 was not retained by TENN and signed with LV as backup to Carr. But, Carr should be worried about looking over his shoulder at Mariota because if he falters or gets injured, Mariota will be in there. At RB, Josh Jacobs 13/13 had a very nice rookie season and is the #1 RB. RB DeAndre Washington 16/3 was not retained by LV and signed with KC. RB/WR Lynn Bowden who was drafted in the 3rd round out of Kentucky can fill the slot voided by Washington. RB Devontae Booker 16/0 was nt retained by DEN signed with LV. FB Alec Ingold 16/4 helps open holes for whoever is behind him. At WR, Henry Ruggs who was drafted in the 1st round out of Alabama is expected to be a hot target for Carr. WR Bryan Edwards who was drafted in the 3rd round out of South Carolina will do as much as he can to impress and see time in the rotation. WR Nelson Agholor 11/10 was not retained by PHILLY and signed with LV. He brings experienced leadership to the WR crew. WR Tyrell Williams 14/12 had a disappointing season with aching feet but looks to bounce back. At TE, Jason Witten 16/16 was not retained by DAL and signed with LV. He brings a lot of leadership and determination to the position. TE Nick O’Leary 12/5 was with JAGS & MIA but signed with LV for 2020. However, he will probably miss the season due to an angioplasty in his heart. TE Darren Waller really became a life saver for QB Carr with 90 catches. The O-LINE which gave up only 29 sacks in 2019 did a very good job protecting Carr. This was way down from 52 sacks allowed in 2018. At LT Kolton Miller 16/16 has been a starter the last two seasons and has established himself at a very crucial position. LG Richie Incognito 12/12 has seemed to fill out nicely at the position. C, RG & RT stay the same as solid performers. OG John Simpson who was drafted in the 4th round out of Clemson will look to find time in the rotation. OG Eric Kush 16/7 was not retained by CLEVE and was signed by LV for backup and depth. The DEF runs a 4-3 alignment. DE Clelin Ferrell 15/15 had a nice rookie season and can only go up. DE Carl Nassib 14/8 was not retained by TB and was signed by LV for his pass rushing abilities. DT Johnathan Hankins 16/16 showed durability and was solid at the position. DT Maliek Collins 16/16 was not retained by DAL and signed with LV to start in the LDT spot. DT PJ Hall 16/12 didn’t show the consistency which LV coaches would have liked, so they signed Collins. Then PJ Hall was traded to MINN 8/3. DE Benson Mayowa 15/0 was not retained by LV and signed with SEA. In the LB crew, LB Tahir Whitehead 16/16 was not retained and signed with CAR. LB Nick Kwiatkowski 16/8 was not retained by CHI and signed with LV to be the MLB. LB Corey Littleton 16/16 was not retained by LAR and signed with LV to take on OLB. LB Nicholas Morrow 16/8 will be penciled in as RLB. LB Vontaze Burfict 4/4 was not retained by LV and is currently a FA. LB Ukeme Eligwe 0/0 needs to show something to stay on. In the secondary, CB Damon Arnette who was drafted in the 1st round out of Ohio State is penciled in a starter. CB Daryl Worley 15/15 was not retained by LV and signed with DAL. CB Trayvon Mullen 16/10 started the last 10 games and impressed enough to get penciled in as the starter for 2020. CB Amik Robertson who was drafted in the 4th round out of Louisiana Tech will look to find time in the rotation. S Karl Joseph 9/9 had an injury plagued season, was not retained by LV and signed with CLEVE. S Jeff Heath 13/13 was not retained by DAL and signed with LV. S Damarious Randall 11/11 was not retained by CLEVE and signed with LV to be the starting SS. S Lamarcus Joyner 14/10 needs to show something after a disappointing season to stay as a starter. This team needs to show improvement in Gruden’s 3rd season as HC. They have added guys and depth to the O-LINE and the DEF and should win some games that they didn’t before. This team is not winning the AFC WEST but should find itself in a wild card situation. If it’s a total bust there may be some house cleaning.    

OPTED OUT: DB DJ Killings, DE Jeremiah Valoaga, LB Ukeme Eligwe

PROJECTED 2018 (9-7), ACTUAL 2018 (4-12), PROJECTED 2019 (5-11), ACTUAL 2019 (7-9), PROJECTED 2020 (10-6)