Innholdsfortegnelse for Pro Football Draft 2020 i Athlon Sports Football Bundle

1 Nick Bosa COLLEGE: OHIO STATE CLASS: Jr. HEIGHT: 6'3" WEIGHT: 270 STRONG POINTS: The comps to brother Joey are natural and, in this case, accurate. Nick Bosa is a big, explosive athlete with a relentless motor, capable of lining up with his hand in the dirt, standing up or reducing inside on passing downs. He has an explosive first step, capable of winning with quickness as a 3-technique. But he’s at his best working on the edge, due to his quickness, functional strength and, most of all, rare fluidity and flexibility for a man his size. He can dip and bend, and he is exceedingly slippery on inside counters. He’s a maestro with his hands, with a series of moves he can go to and unusual polish for a…

1ST ROUND 1. Cincinnati Joe Burrow, QB, LSU Second-year head coach Zac Taylor was hired to do for the Bengals offense what Sean McVay did when he took over the Rams three years ago. Burrow has the accuracy, pocket presence and playmaking ability to make good on that promise. 2. Washington Chase Young, DE, Ohio State Young is a no-brainer as the top prospect in this draft. The only question here is whether Washington’s new front office considers trading out of the spot to acquire more draft picks to address the numerous holes on the team’s bottom-tier roster. 3. Detroit Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State Detroit’s pass defense was a mess last season, and with CB Darius Slay entering a contract year, the Lions need to strengthen their secondary. Okudah…

Round 2 – Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona (Patriots) Arguably the greatest tight end ever and best player in the class of 2010, “Gronk” scored 80 total TDs in nine seasons while spiking and dancing his way to cult-hero status in New England and nationwide. The larger-than-life 6'6", 268-pounder was a rare two-way threat at tight end, dominating as both a blocker and receiver. The party boat DJ, part-time WWE wrestler and TV commercial star (“Tide Pods!”) was an invaluable member of Patriots teams that posted a combined 113–31 regular-season record with three Super Bowl wins during the Gronk Era. Round 3 – NaVorro Bowman, LB, Penn State (49ers) A four-time first-team All-Pro (2011-13, 2015) and 2013 NFL Butkus Award winner, Bowman teamed with fellow All-Pro inside linebacker Patrick Willis to…

SCOUT CHECKLIST ✓ INITIAL QUICKNESS Quickness on start • Movement off the ball to gain an advantage ✓ KNEE BEND Natural or forced • Ability to bend and play football in a leverage position ✓ EXPLOSION Knee bender, not a waist bender • Leg drive • Rolls hips • Strength • Ability to stun defender • Fire, fit and follow through ✓ USE OF HANDS Placement • Punch, stab quickness • 6-inch punch • Controls defender ✓ BODY CONTROL/RECOVERY Can he redirect and shift weight quickly to defeat opponent? • Quick pivot and turn • Ability to regain body control and balance ✓ PASS PROTECTION Ability to quick set with body quickness • Change of direction and redirect with natural body control • Does he demonstrate attitude and aggression to…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES CB – Arizona allowed a league-high 109.9 passer rating last season, and its seven interceptions were tied for the fewest in the NFL. After serving a PED suspension, cornerback Patrick Peterson played at a much lower level than expected. He turns 30 this summer, and Arizona has to wonder if he can return to elite form. Byron Murphy, a second-round pick last spring, got torched while Peterson was suspended, and Arizona plans to move him to the slot in 2020. Second-year UDFA Chris Jones played significant snaps after pending free agent Kevin Peterson injured his shoulder, and Jones was arguably the team’s best cover corner in 2019. OT – Starting offensive tackles D.J. Humphries and Justin Murray both played on expiring contracts in 2019. Marcus Gilbert, acquired in…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES WR – The Bills’ 2019 wide receiver group was head and shoulders better than their pathetic 2018 corps, but additional talent is still desperately needed. Buffalo’s lack of trust in its receivers was a major factor in the overly conservative play calling that cost the Bills a 16-point lead in their playoff loss to Houston. John Brown posted career highs in receptions (72) and receiving yards (1,060) in his sixth pro season, but he profiles more as a deep threat than a high-volume chain-mover. Slot receiver Cole Beasley drew 106 targets, which is simply too many for an undersized, under-athletic receiver. Beyond them, Isaiah McKenzie was among the league’s least productive No. 3 WRs, Robert Foster disappeared after a strong finish to 2018 and former CFL star Duke…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES QB – After nine seasons, the Andy Dalton Era is coming to a close following a particularly terrible 2019. His 78.3 passer rating was a career low and the lowest among quarterbacks with 250-plus passing attempts. Ryan Finley, a 2019 fourth-round draft pick, was given a three-game audition and showed no signs of having starting-caliber skills. G – The inefficiency of Cincinnati’s offensive line derailed Zac Taylor’s first season as head coach and play caller. His route combinations were admired and parroted by coaches around the league, but the Bengals’ blocking rarely held up long enough for Taylor’s play designs to develop as scripted. Jonah Williams was drafted 11th overall last year but missed the season after shoulder surgery. He’s expected to return and help anchor the line…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES OT – Denver finds itself in need of an upgrade after an awful season of pass protection. On the left side, 2017 first rounder Garett Bolles continues to struggle, drawing an eye-popping 44 penalty flags in his three-year career. Ja’Wuan James, a 2014 first rounder, was signed to a four-year pact last March after leaving Miami in free agency. He was expected to be an asset at right tackle, but a knee injury limited him to just 63 snaps in 2019. Replacement Elijah Wilkinson floundered, allowing 10 sacks. The Broncos have to consider whether they want to move on from Bolles’ mediocrity and/or James’ injury vulnerability. WR – Wide receiver Courtland Sutton was outstanding in his second season, posting 1,112 receiving yards despite Denver’s erratic quarterbacking. With Emmanuel…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES CB – The Texans were neither the first nor will they be the last team made to look foolish by the Chiefs and QB Patrick Mahomes, but if they hope to compete for a title, they need to improve their secondary. No. 1 cornerback Bradley Roby is a free agent, as is soon-to-be-36-year-old Johnathan Joseph. Former first-round picks (by the Bucs and Raiders, respectively) Vernon Hargreaves and Gareon Conley were acquired mid-season, but there were good reasons why both were available. Conley showed some promise, but even if he continues to improve, there were no other starting-caliber CBs on the roster at season’s end. EDGE – Only the Dolphins generated fewer QB pressures (hurries, knockdowns and sacks) per dropback than the Texans during the 2019 regular season. Defensive…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES CB – After ranking 29th and 31st in pass defense in 2017 and 2018, respectively, K.C. showed drastic improvement in coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s first season, ranking eighth and allowing the fewest receiving yards to WRs (1,956) in the NFL. Maintaining a high level of play in the secondary is a priority, and with cornerbacks Bashaud Breeland and Kendall Fuller hitting free agency, reinforcements are needed. Charvarius Ward enters his third season as a potential No. 1 boundary corner, while 2019 sixth rounder Rashad Fenton played well enough to earn an increased role late in the year. Now K.C. must build depth around them. LB – No team allowed more receiving yards to running backs than the Chiefs’ 951 last regular season. Nobody in their corps of plodding linebackers…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES OT – Two years ago, no quarterback had a higher percentage of drop-backs lasting 2.5 seconds or longer than Jared Goff, and L.A.’s downfield, play-action passing game was clicking. In 2019, that rate dropped steeply as coach Sean McVay couldn’t trust his protection to hold up. Once a great screen-passing team, the Rams saw their running backs combine for just 260 receiving yards last year, the lowest total in the NFL. Formerly reliable right tackle Rob Havenstein played terribly for nine games before injuring his knee. LT Andrew Whitworth’s effectiveness also took a nosedive as the 38-year-old finally showed signs of decline in what has been a stellar NFL career. Bobby Evans, a 2019 third rounder, may be the long-term answer at one tackle spot, though he only…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES TE – Rob Gronkowski’s retirement last March left the Patriots with a void they never came close to filling last season. Only the injury-ravaged Bears and Steelers gained fewer receiving yards through their TEs than New England’s 419 last year. Apart from setting picks on crossing routes, the Patriots tight ends were rarely relied upon in crucial moments in the passing game. And nobody came close to replicating Gronkowski’s outstanding run blocking and pass protection. EDGE – The Patriots defense has been just fine in recent years without a premier edge rusher; New England is able to generate pressure with scheme rather than elite talent. But the Patriots need some reinforcements this offseason with their top three sackers from 2019 — linebackers Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES CB – The Jets’ awful cornerback play in 2019 canceled out the stellar performance of their young safety duo of Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye. Brian Poole was their best CB, but he rides that impressive performance into free agency. Trumaine Johnson, signed to a five-year, $72.5 million contract two years back, has been a complete disaster; it wouldn’t be surprising if the Jets cut their losses and released him this spring. Nate Hairston, a 2019 free agent acquisition, was only slightly better, while Bless Austin and Arthur Maulet profile as situational depth options as opposed to every-down players. OT – The Jets gave up 52 sacks in 2019 (fourth most in the NFL). Their run blocking wasn’t much better, leading the way for a meager 3.3 yards…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES S – The safety duo of Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt deserves plenty of credit for San Francisco’s ranking as the NFL’s top pass defense last season. When Tartt missed four late-season games with a broken rib, the team allowed more than twice as many passing yards per game as when Tartt was playing. Tarvarius Moore, a 2018 third rounder, started three games to open the season when Ward was dealing with a broken finger, but once Ward was healthy, Moore was demoted to a special-teams role. With Ward a free agent this offseason and Tartt’s contract up after this season, the Niners need to find short-term depth and long-term starters. OT – Left tackle Joe Staley has two years left on his contract, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES EDGE – Tennessee had the lowest rate of quarterback knockdowns per dropback in 2019. Twelve-year veteran Cameron Wake tallied 2.5 sacks in Week 1 but did not register another one all season before hitting injured reserve in late November. At 38, he’s unlikely to be retained at his $5.5 million salary. Tackle Jurrell Casey and cornerback Logan Ryan contributed 9.5 sacks between them, but aside from some effective moments from Harold Landry, the Titans were largely unable to generate pressure off the edges. G – If a chain is no stronger than its weakest link, then the right guard spot is surely to blame for Tennessee’s offensive line struggles in 2019, especially their league-high sack-per-dropback rate of 11 percent. Four-fifths of the O-line played well by most metrics,…

As much as fans revel in their teams’ greatest moments, football to a large degree is really always about next year. No doubt the fans in Kansas City had barely digested their celebratory brews ’n’ BBQ and swept the red and gold confetti off of Grand Boulevard in downtown K.C. before thoughts turned to how the Chiefs were going defend their title. A critical step in the process will occur on April 23, 2020, on the Las Vegas strip, as the champs stroll confidently to the podium to announce the 32nd pick in the first round of the NFL Draft. There’s no more important step in securing a team’s future than a successful draft haul, which is why the draft has in some ways supplanted the Super Bowl as the…

Moments after providing on-air analysis of a Wisconsin-Ohio State football game last fall, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt boarded a crowded elevator in Ohio Stadium. When a reporter asked him what he thought of defensive end Chase Young, Klatt blurted, “I just called him the best player in the country on TV — and I think it’s a pretty safe argument. He’s amazing.” Young went into the 2019 season with high praise and lofty expectations, and, sure enough, he played like an All-American throughout the first half of his junior season. But on that fateful October afternoon in Columbus, he morphed into some sort of newly discovered Marvel character — Captain Havoc, perhaps — and destroyed the UW backfield with six tackles (five for a loss), four sacks and two…

SCOUT CHECKLIST ✓ INITIAL QUICKNESS Quickness on start • Movement off the ball to gain an advantage ✓ KNEE BEND Natural or forced? • Can bend and play in leverage position ✓ EXPLOSION Knee bender, not a waist bender • Leg drive • Rolls hips • Strength • Ability to stun defender • Fire, fit and follow through ✓ USE OF HANDS Placement • Punch • Stab • Quickness • 6-inch punch • Controls defender ✓ BODY CONTROL/RECOVERY Can he redirect and shift weight quickly to defeat opponent? • Quick pivot and turn • Ability to regain body control and balance ✓ PASS PROTECTION The ability to quick set with body quickness • Change of direction and redirect with natural body control • Attitude and aggression to engage initial contact…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES CB – The 2019 Falcons got off to a 1–7 start, allowing an average of 31.3 points in those games. Their secondary play was one among many problems during that stretch. No. 1 cornerback Desmond Trufant had a down year by his standards, while Isaiah Oliver (a 2018 second-round draft pick) and Kendall Sheffield (last year’s fourth rounder) formed one of the NFL’s worst cornerback duos when Trufant broke his forearm. EDGE – Only the Dolphins had fewer sacks than the Falcons’ 28. Vic Beasley led the team with eight sacks, but he enters free agency after Atlanta declined his fifth-year option (having drafted him eighth overall in 2015). Adrian Clayborn, who tallied 9.5 sacks for Atlanta in 2017 and returned on a one-year contract after a season…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES DT – The Panthers had the worst run defense in the NFL last season, allowing the most yards per carry (5.2) and the most rushing TDs (31, and the next-highest total was 23). The defensive front needs to add young talent this offseason. Veteran tackle Dontari Poe has one year left on his contract, while Gerald McCoy (32 years old) is no longer elite and was only in Carolina on a one-year deal. Vernon Butler and Kyle Love played significant snaps in 2019 on expiring contracts, and neither played well enough to warrant a starting job this season. ILB – The sudden retirement of 28-year-old linebacker Luke Kuechly in mid-January left a gaping hole in the middle of Carolina’s defense. His 1,092 tackles are the most by any…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES OT – While head coach Freddie Kitchens’ managerial impotence and quarterback Baker Mayfield’s regression were major culprits in the Browns’ 2019 letdown, the offensive line deserves plenty of blame. There’s a reason why left tackle Greg Robinson has been on three teams in the past four seasons, and there’s a reason why right tackle Chris Hubbard was a four-year backup for the Steelers before signing with Cleveland in 2018. The Browns’ poor play at both tackle spots limited their chances to throw downfield and left Mayfield scrambling (and making poor decisions while doing so) too often last year. LB – The bargain rookie contract of linebacker Joe Schobert, Cleveland’s leading tackler in 2019, is up. His stats have been more impressive than his actual effectiveness, which may inflate…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES CB – No team allowed more air yards (receiving yards minus yards after catch) than Detroit in 2019, and the Lions intercepted 1.1 percent of pass attempts, the lowest rate in the NFL. No. 1 cornerback Darius Slay considered holding out last summer and went on to have his worst season as a starter, with spikes in completion percentage and yards per catch on passes thrown his way. This season is a contract year and might be his last in Detroit. Boundary CB Rashaan Melvin and slot corner Justin Coleman both surrendered passer ratings north of 100 when targeted in 2019, and Melvin is a free agent this spring. EDGE – The cornerbacks mentioned above aren’t entirely to blame for Detroit’s leaky pass defense, as the defensive front’s…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES EDGE – Defensive end Justin Houston played at an elite level in 2019, registering 11 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss. At 31 years old and entering the last year on his contract, Houston can’t be counted on much longer. With Jabaal Sheard hitting free agency at 30 (and coming off an injury-plagued and ineffective season), the Colts need a youth infusion on the edges. Ben Banogu, a 2019 second-round pick, and 2017 sixth rounder Al-Quadin Muhammad combined for just 5.5 sacks despite both playing in every game last season. They did not look like future every-down players. WR – Only the Ravens and Eagles got fewer receiving yards from their wide receivers than the Colts did last year. Injuries and a downgrade at quarterback are partly…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES EDGE – The Raiders amassed just seven sacks and forced only three turnovers in the team’s final six games (going 1–5 and falling out of the playoff picture). Fourth overall draft pick Clelin Ferrell showed well as a run defender, but Oakland has to be concerned about his lack of production getting after the quarterback. There is some hope in-house, however, as 2019 fourth rounder Maxx Crosby looks like a steal coming off a 10-sack rookie campaign. WR – Oakland’s razor-thin wide receiver group combined for just 1,858 receiving yards in 2019, the fourth-lowest total in the NFL. On the plus side, slot receiver Hunter Renfrow (a fifth-round pick last year) impressed. On the negative side, Tyrell Williams, in the first year of a four-year contract, continued to…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES QB – On a ragtag, rebuilding team, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s 5–8 record as a starter last season was truly remarkable. Having turned 37 last season, he’s not a long-term solution under center. Josh Rosen’s inability to win the starting gig over the grizzled veteran speaks volumes about how the Dolphins feel about 2018’s 10th overall draft pick. It’s time for Miami to find its QB of the future. OT – With 2016 first-round pick OT Laremy Tunsil traded to Houston in late August, the 2019 Dolphins featured a truly horrendous offensive line. Right tackle Jesse Davis would be on the borderline of most NFL rosters, and he was Miami’s “good” tackle in 2019. LT J’Marcus Webb was arguably the worst O-lineman in football last season and was benched…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES WR – Amidst wideout Michael Thomas’ record-setting 2019 season, the rest of New Orleans’ wide receivers disappeared, combining for just 717 receiving yards. Tre’Quan Smith, a 2018 third-round pick, has been a major disappointment thus far, while aging deep threat Ted Ginn Jr.’s 1.6 yards after catch average was by far the lowest in the NFL (among players with 25+ receptions) last season. While TE Jared Cook and RB Alvin Kamara can pick up slack in the passing game, the Saints’ lack of weapons was on full display in their playoff loss as Thomas was held in check (by his standards) and quarterback Drew Brees completed just one pass (for 18 yards) to his other wide receivers. CB – Janoris Jenkins and Marshon Lattimore give the Saints a…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES CB – Eight different cornerbacks started for Philadelphia last season, and none played very well. The coverage issues were on full display when Seattle rookie DK Metcalf went off for 160 receiving yards in the Eagles’ playoff loss. Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills played on expiring contracts, and no team should be viewing them as starting options this season. Rasul Douglas and Avonte Maddox were just as ineffective when pressed into action by Darby’s and Mills’ injuries. Sidney Jones, a 2017 second rounder, was relegated to a special-teams-only role in the playoffs, which says plenty about how little the Eagles trust him. S – The Eagles need to restock at safety. FS Rodney McLeod is a free agent with no in-house options looking ready to replace him, while…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES EDGE – Only the Dolphins had fewer sacks than Seattle’s 28 during the regular season, with no player tallying more than four. The Seahawks’ top pass rusher, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, was acquired from Houston in August with only one year left on his contract. Perennially disappointing DE Ziggy Ansah is also a free agent after contributing just 2.5 sacks in a part-time role. L.J. Collier, a 2019 first-round draft pick, barely saw the field as a rookie, offering little hope that Seattle has any in-house youngsters destined to become impactful edge defenders. CB – Shaquill Griffin, a 2017 third rounder, took a huge step forward in 2019, playing like a true No. 1 cornerback. Finding a comparably skilled CB for the other side of the secondary is…

1. St. Louis: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma St. Louis (2010-14), Philadelphia (2015), Minnesota (2016-17), Arizona (2018) After becoming only the second player to win the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, Bradford became a synonym for “injury-prone” at the next level. Only twice in his nine-year career did Bradford start all 16 games, losing significant time to knee and ankle injuries. In the end, though, it was unproductive play in his final stop — a poor three-game showing for Arizona at the start of the 2018 season — that effectively ended his career. Bradford went 34–48–1 as a starter, with no playoff appearances. 2. Detroit: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska Detroit (2010-14), Miami (2015-17), L.A. Rams (2018), Tampa Bay (2019) Suh was one of the most feared defenders in college football history.…

Anyone looking for a reason why the crop of receivers entering the NFL Draft is one of the deepest and most talented in recent years needs to head out to a high school field during the scalding days and sultry evenings of summer to find out. That’s where the foundation is being constructed for future classes of pass catchers. The 7-on-7 competitions that were once looked at as mere training exercises during the offseason are becoming vital parts of the growth of a sophisticated approach to the passing game that in turn has produced ever-deeper classes of wideouts up the football chain of command. Lining up with five wide and tossing it around in the heat benefits quarterbacks, sure, but it also helps the kids catching the ball to understand…

When Mike Mayock prepared for the 2019 NFL Draft, during which the Raiders’ rookie GM would have the opportunity to make three first-round picks, he felt more nervous than he had in many years. “That’s why I got back into [football],” the former Giants safety told NFL.com afterward. Mayock’s anxious moments made perfect sense, and not only because it was his first time making selections, after many years predicting and analyzing them for NFL Network. The Raiders had plenty of needs, and the 2019 draft was being looked at as a significant step forward for a franchise that had won four games the previous season and had played in just one playoff contest in the previous 16. “Whether you want to admit it, or people like it or not, we’re…

SCOUT CHECKLIST ✓ INITIAL QUICKNESS Quickness on start • Movement off the ball to gain an advantage ✓ KNEE BEND Natural or forced • Ability to bend and play in a leverage position ✓ EXPLOSION Knee bender, not a waist bender • Leg drive, rolls hips, strength, can stun defender • Fire, fit, follow through ✓ USE OF HANDS Placement, punch, stab, quickness, 6-inch punch, controls defender ✓ BODY CONTROL/RECOVERY Can he redirect and shift weight quickly to defeat opponent? • Quick pivot and turn ✓ PASS PROTECTION The ability to quick set with body quickness, change of direction and redirect with natural body control • Does he demonstrate attitude and aggression to engage initial contact with base, balance and knee bend? • Can he stay square with ability to…

1 Braden Mann (P) COLLEGE: TEXAS A&M CLASS: Sr. HEIGHT: 5'11" WEIGHT: 195 STRONG POINTS: Mann has an unconventional build for a punter, but his leg is spring-loaded. The more compact build helps as far as repeating his motion and drop and allows him to get the ball away quicker when needed. He’s at his best when he’s asked to simply unleash the ball downfield, often driving it over the head of the returner. He improved as far as deadening kicks inside the 20 last season — it’s still not a strength, but he was much better than he was in 2018. He was one of the best kickoff specialists in the country as well, finishing fourth in the nation with an average of 64.1 yards per kick in 2019.…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES LB – Though they certainly weren’t the only team to suffer such a fate, the Ravens’ defensive interior was unable to stop Titans RB Derrick Henry in their divisional-round playoff loss. Reinforcements are needed at stack linebacker, a group that included only former UDFAs last season. Patrick Onwuasor is a free agent coming off of a particularly poor season, while Josh Bynes played at a high level on his expiring contract. Thirty-year-old journeyman and special-teamer L.J. Fort flashed at times last year but was on the field for only 16 defensive snaps in the playoffs. The Ravens will add depth this offseason rather than expect Fort to ascend to a full-time role for the first time in his career. CB – Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey are one…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES QB – Only the Jets averaged fewer yards per play than the Bears’ 4.7 rate last season, and Chicago’s offensive woes began with the erratic play of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Trubisky’s 6.1 yards per pass attempt ranked dead last among passers with 200-plus attempts in 2019. Actions spoke louder than words when head coach and play caller Matt Nagy repeatedly called for screens and short dump-offs in third-and-long situations, as well as opting for long field-goal attempts late in games instead of trying to move the ball closer. With one year left on his rookie deal, Trubisky may have the reins of the offense entering 2020, but the Bears’ patience with his inefficient passing is close to done. S – Considering the money owed to safety Eddie Jackson…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES DT – All three defensive tackles who played significant snaps for Dallas in 2019 — Maliek Collins, Christian Covington and Antwaun Woods — did so on expiring contracts. Collins amassed 14.5 sacks in 61 games with the Cowboys, but he struggled in run defense, while Covington and Woods offered little in pass-rush situations. Even if the whole trio were re-signed, they’d be better used in situational roles. Trysten Hill, a 2019 second rounder, barely saw the field as a rookie, reportedly falling asleep during meetings and showing up late for practices. EDGE – Taco Charlton, a 2017 first-round bust, was released last September. Defensive end Robert Quinn revived his career with an 11.5-sack 2019 (the second-highest total in his nine-year career), but as a free agent about to…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES WR – The Packers have thrown some late-round draft darts at wide receiver picks in recent years, but they’ve yet to hit the bull’s-eye on a reliable No. 2 to pair with Davante Adams. Late 2017 picks DeAngelo Yancey and Malachi Dupre never saw the field for Green Bay. J’Mon Moore, a 2018 fourth-round pick, was cut last summer, while 2018 sixth rounder Equanimeous St. Brown missed all of 2019 with an ankle injury. Marquez Valdes-Scantling was relegated to a minor role as a deep threat last season, catching just 46 percent of his targets (lowest among players with 40+ targets). Geronimo Allison didn’t fare much better, gaining just 5.2 yards per target (lowest among WRs with 50+ targets). Allen Lazard earned a larger role late last season…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES LB – The Jaguars were left hanging when star linebacker Telvin Smith announced his retirement from football on social media last May. The defense slowly fell apart as Jacksonville allowed seven points per game more in 2019 than it did during a dominant defensive run in 2017 and 2018. Myles Jack played poorly as the cornerstone of the linebacking corps, eventually succumbing to a season-ending knee injury. Najee Goode and rookie Quincy Williams got far more playing time than their abilities warranted. Unless the Jaguars convince Smith to get back on the field, they’ll have to either replace his sideline-to-sideline athleticism or find a way to reconfigure their defense around the void he left. CB – The loss of elite corner Jalen Ramsey (traded to the Rams in…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES OT – The Chargers were a mess on the offensive line in 2019. Their two best linemen were both active for less than half the season, as tackle Russell Okung (blood clots, groin) and center Mike Pouncey (neck) weren’t on the field at the same time at all last season. Tackles Trent Scott and Sam Tevi consistently failed to give quarterback Philip Rivers a clean pocket, allowing a combined 88 pressures (only the Giants’ tackle duo allowed more). Trey Pipkins, a 2019 third rounder out of Division II Sioux Falls, saw some action at left tackle late in the year but was also routinely beaten by pass rushers. QB – Philip Rivers will not be the Chargers quarterback in 2020, but his days as a high-level QB seemed…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES CB – Last season was only the second time in Mike Zimmer’s six years as Minnesota’s coach that the Vikings finished outside of the top 10 for fewest passing yards allowed. Cornerback Xavier Rhodes, once a truly elite player, may have had the most surprisingly atrocious season in the NFL, allowing an absurd 123.4 passer rating when targeted (38 points higher than in 2018). He’ll be 30 years old by Week 1, and the Vikings have to wonder if he’ll ever return to top form. Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander are both free agents this offseason, and 2018 first-round draft pick Mike Hughes is trending towards becoming a bust. DT – Defensive tackles Shamar Stephen (29 years old) and Linval Joseph (31) both looked past their primes in…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES EDGE – The only Giants player to reach five sacks in 2019 was outside linebacker Markus Golden, who had 10 in a contract year. Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines — third-round draft picks in 2018 and 2019, respectively — each tallied 4.5 sacks last season, giving some hope for the future. The Giants could go a long way toward covering up their deficiencies at cornerback and linebacker by finding an elite edge bender to pressure opposing quarterbacks. OT – It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Giants cut their losses halfway through left tackle Nate Solder’s four-year, $62 million contract this spring. Mike Remmers, signed to a one-year deal last May, joined Solder to form one of the NFL’s worst pass-protecting tackle duos in 2019. Second-year UDFA Nick…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES EDGE – Outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree combined for 26 sacks, 12 forced fumbles and 30 tackles for a loss last year. Anthony Chickillo’s role as the No. 3 OLB represents a humongous downgrade at the position should he ever be pressed into significant action. Dupree played 2019 on the final year of his rookie contract, and Watt is two years away from breaking free of his rookie deal and scoring a massive payday. The Steelers, who have drafted a LB with their first pick in five of the last seven drafts, would be wise to invest in a young OLB who can provide depth at the position and potentially take over if the Watt-Dupree combo becomes too expensive. QB – When Ben Roethlisberger suffered a…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES EDGE – All three Buccaneers who tallied more than three sacks in 2019 were playing on expiring contracts. It’s unlikely that Tampa can afford to re-sign the trio of Shaquil Barrett (league-leading 19.5 sacks), Jason Pierre-Paul (8.5) and Carl Nassib (6.0) given the premium placed on pass rushers. It’s worth noting that none of the three was drafted and developed by the Bucs. OT – Left tackle Donovan Smith has missed only one game in five seasons while playing at a consistently mediocre level. With two years left on his contract, the Bucs will probably continue to roll with his middling pass protection and ineffectual run blocking. At right tackle, Demar Dotson had a decent contract year in 2019, but over the course of his career, he has…

OFFSEASON PRIORITIES OT – While left tackle Trent Williams held out for the entire 2019 season, 36-year-old free agent Donald Penn signed a one-year deal in June to replace him. Penn wasn’t a complete trainwreck, but his best days are clearly behind him, and he was a significant downgrade from Williams. Morgan Moses didn’t fare much better on the other side of the line. Only the Titans allowed more sacks per dropback than the 2019 Redskins, and rookie Dwayne Haskins was sacked on a whopping 12.5 percent of dropbacks as a rookie. Even if Williams is persuaded to don the burgundy and gold once more, Washington has to bolster its O-line and give Haskins a better chance to thrive in his second season. WR – Drafting wideout Terry McLaurin 76th…