Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021 Pro Football i Athlon Sports Football Bundle

Once upon a time, my favorite football player was Joe Montana. (Yes, I was something of a frontrunner who liked rooting for winners. Sue me.) Joe Cool epitomized grace under pressure. It was impossible to envision the scarlet and metallic gold under anyone else’s on-field leadership. But as we all do, Montana started to age, and there was a guy standing on the sideline who was younger, bigger and arguably more physically gifted. In what was in retrospect an inevitable development, Steve Young emerged as the franchise-quarterback-in-waiting as Montana battled injuries. Understandably, Montana bristled at any perceived changing of the guard, and when it became clear that the franchise’s affections lay elsewhere, he ultimately requested a trade. Fortunately for Young, he was able to emerge from Montana’s shadow and fashion…

The differences in circumstances for players from one season to the next can impact their potential in drastic ways. At the end of the 2019 season, Tom Brady was a Patriots quarterback frustrated with his targets and facing an un-certain future. One year later, he’s got his seventh Super Bowl ring and his first with the Buccaneers, and his NFL future is eminently bright, though he’ll be 44 years old when the 2021 season begins. Jared Goff, on the other hand, was thought to be a rising young quarterback in a perfect situation with Sean McVay and the Rams. One year later, he’s on a Lions roster with precious little in terms of receiver talent, and his professional future is very much up in the air. It doesn’t take much…

1. DAVANTE ADAMS, GREEN BAY PACKERS There is no better receiver when it comes to beating press coverage than Adams. He’s such an astute route-runner that he’s able to fool aggressive cornerbacks with foot-fakes for days. That’s just one of the traits that have made him the game’s best receiver. Yes, Adams benefits from Aaron Rodgers’ presence, but no one does more with less talent around him. 2. STEFON DIGGS, BUFFALO BILLS Diggs led the NFL with 127 receptions and 1,535 receiving yards. Diggs was the alpha in a receiver corps that was drastically improved with his presence, in part because he’s a great route-runner who can tie any cornerback in knots. Look for him to grow as a deep threat in his second season with Josh Allen. 3. JULIO…

1. QUENTON NELSON, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Nelson is one of 14 guards in the history of professional football to be taken in the first six picks in any draft. Two of those guards — John Hannah and Tom Mack — are in the Hall of Fame, and at his current rate of performance, Nelson is well on his way to joining them. Nelson has allowed just three sacks and 43 total pressures in 2,073 career pass-blocking snaps, and he may be even more amazing as a run blocker. 2. WYATT TELLER, CLEVELAND BROWNS Teller allowed three sacks and 14 total pressures in 13 games, and when he missed five games due to injury, Cleveland’s protection fell apart in a relative sense. Teller came out of nowhere in 2020, but he’s no…

1. SHAQUIL BARRETT, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS The Buccaneers did some intelligent accounting after their Super Bowl win, signing Barrett to a new four-year, $68 million contract in March after franchise-tagging him the year before. One season after leading the NFL with 19.5 sacks, Barrett had 12 sacks in 2020 (including the postseason), and no edge rusher was able to top his 97 total pressures. 2. T.J. WATT, PITTSBURGH STEELERS Through his first four NFL seasons, Trent Jordan Watt has done everything possible to prove that he’s more than just J.J.’s little brother. Not only did the younger Watt lead the league with 15 sacks in 2020, but since 2017, only Aaron Donald and Chandler Jones have more sacks than Watt’s 49.5, and only Donald has more quarterback hits than Watt’s…

1. XAVIEN HOWARD, MIAMI DOLPHINS Howard led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 2020, becoming the first player with double-digit picks since 2007. But it wasn’t just the thefts that made Howard’s season special — he also allowed just 47 receptions on 90 targets for 695 yards, 294 yards after the catch, four touchdowns and a 53.0 opponent passer rating. 2. JAIRE ALEXANDER, GREEN BAY PACKERS If you were to poll NFL cornerbacks about their favorite at the position, Alexander might top the list. A technician who managed to transcend some “interesting” coverage concepts in 2020, Alexander allowed just two TDs from the start of the season through the NFC Championship Game — and one came in the first game of the season. 3. J.C. JACKSON, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Jackson…

After a reality check in a 38–24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott did his typically expert job of blunt self-analysis. Yes, the Bills, thanks to a 13–3 regular season, won their first AFC East Division title since 1995 and, after winning two playoff games, had their closest sniff of the Super Bowl in nearly 30 years. But the gap between them and the two-time defending conference champion Chiefs remains significant. And what Buffalo achieved in COVID Year 2020 won’t have any bearing on what it does in 2021, when expectations will be sky high from Bills Mafia. OFFENSE Thanks to hitting it big with 2018 first-round pick Josh Allen and a block-buster trade for wide receiver Stefon Diggs, the…

The Jets are starting over yet again. They have a new head coach, Robert Saleh, for the third time since Rex Ryan was fired after the 2014 season. They have a new quarterback, No. 2 overall draft pick Zach Wilson, who will try to succeed where Sam Darnold, Christian Hackenberg, Geno Smith and Mark Sanchez failed — bringing the Jets their first championship since Super Bowl III. The Jets, coming off a 2–14 season, are a long way from being a Super Bowl contender, of course. But general manager Joe Douglas — hired after the draft in 2019 — has shown some encouraging signs in this latest attempt at a rebuild for a team that last reached the playoffs in 2010. This season and 2022 will be pivotal for Douglas…

After two decades of struggling to win much of anything, the Browns are back from the dead. With one of the league’s most talented rosters, they might be legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Really. The 2020 Browns rode a red-hot offense to 11 regular-season wins and a trip to the divisional round of the playoffs, and they prepped for 2021 by completely remaking their defense. It appears that there will be nine new defensive starters; only Pro Bowlers Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward will return to their usual spots. Last year, no lead was safe. This year, the Browns think their defense will hold up its end of things and the offense can be even better. With Nick Chubb running behind one of the league’s best offensive lines and quarterback Baker…

The Indianapolis Colts believe in their quarterback whisperer, head coach Frank Reich, who will have his fourth different starter in as many years. The Colts acquired Carson Wentz from Philadelphia with the hope that Wentz could regain his All-Pro form from 2017. His Eagles offensive coordinator that year was Reich. Last year, the Colts signed 38-year-old Philip Rivers after he threw 20 interceptions with the Chargers. Rivers thrived in Reich’s system, and the Colts finished 11–5 before losing 27–24 at Buffalo in the AFC wild card round. Reich has reached the postseason twice in his three years. Owner Jim Irsay, general manager Chris Ballard and Reich came away from the Bills loss convinced that the Colts are close to contending for the Super Bowl. Then Rivers retired. Now the keys…

One number explains everything: 10. The Broncos have used 10 starting quarterbacks since Peyton Manning retired. Only two have a winning record, Trevor Siemian and Brett Rypien. Drew Lock represented hope but fizzled last season. He tied for the league lead in interceptions and posted an NFL-worst 57.3 completion percentage. New Broncos general manager George Paton promised competition, acquiring Teddy Bridgewater. It has done little to soothe concerns in Broncos Country, as the fans wonder if a talented defense will be wasted by an offense that has not averaged more than 20.2 points per game in five seasons. OFFENSE The Broncos have not been a good offensive team since Manning walked away a champion. They possess young talent but need it to manifest into production. The lack of OTAs and…

The Chargers mentioned they were looking for innovation when they fired Anthony Lynn after a disappointing 2020 season. Brandon Staley was hired to provide creativity and finally get the Chargers over the hump when it comes to one-score games. It’s too early to tell how Staley will do in late-game situations, but his schemes are expected to fit today’s NFL and possibly set new trends. Staley was also brought in to take Justin Herbert’s development to the next level and turn him into a future MVP quarterback. But the Chargers can’t be all flash. They need to win games at SoFi Stadium to keep their L.A. fan base interested. They have the franchise quarterback and a roster filled with Pro Bowlers and promising players, but that’s what the pundits said…

When Dave Gettleman was hired at the end of the 2017 season, no one expected that his rebuilding project would last this long. But here the Giants are, entering Year Four, and the record under their general manager is 15–33. It’s worse than that, really. They’ve had double-digit losses in six of the last seven seasons, making this the worst stretch of Giants football in nearly 50 years. “It’s been a very difficult four- or five-year period for us,” says Giants president/CEO John Mara. “I’m tired of the losing and of having the postseason press conference trying to explain what went wrong and why. I think we’re moving in the right direction. But, obviously, it’s been brutal the last few years.” Yes it has, and while their 6–10 performance —…

Once again, the Bears are faced with the question of whether the current team is closer to head coach Matt Nagy’s first group, which went 12–4 in 2018, or to the disappointing 8–8 models of the past two seasons. Hanging in the balance is the future of Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace, who are not expected to survive another mediocre campaign. The Bears have never had a losing record under Nagy and have made the playoffs in two of his three years. But the 2020 team only made the postseason due to an expanded format, and the window is closing on a stellar defense. Nagy will return to calling the offensive plays this year, a job he ceded last season after a poor start. Regardless of who calls the…

Mike Zimmer called last year’s Vikings defense the worst he had ever coached. But his unit in 2021 will be capable of functioning closer to its customary level alongside the best offense Zimmer’s had since arriving in Minnesota in 2014. The NFC North still runs through Green Bay. But with better health defensively, a stronger start by quarterback Kirk Cousins and fewer special teams meltdowns under new coordinator Ryan Ficken, Zimmer can continue his streak of making the playoffs in every odd-numbered year. (Of course, Zimmer also has a streak of missing the playoffs in every even-numbered year, including last year’s injury-riddled 7–9 season.) “This is a better football team than last year,” says GM Rick Spielman, who signed six defenders before the draft and used three of his top…

For the last 15 years, the New Orleans Saints were able to enjoy the thing that eludes most NFL franchises: stability. But time catches up with everybody, and the Saints are no different. A team that hung its hat on having the same head coach, general manager and quarterback in place since 2006 has undergone its most substantial turnover in a long time this offseason. New Orleans will have to prove it can win without future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, who announced his retirement in March after wrapping up his 20th NFL season, the final 15 of which were spent with the Saints. His departure was one of many. The front office lost one of its top executives in former pro personnel director Terry Fontenot, now the rival…

The Rams’ blockbuster trade for quarterback Matthew Stafford has souped up their offense and allowed them to dream of playing in the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium in February. But to match what the Buccaneers and Tom Brady did last season by winning a Super Bowl on home turf, the Rams need a lot more to go right than one fortuitous trade. They need free agent acquisition DeSean Jackson to stay healthy and provide the long-missing deep receiving threat, second-year running back Cam Akers to continue his progress and the offensive line to overcome age and injury worries. They need defensive tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey to maintain the standards of last year’s league-leading defense after opponents poached several of the unit’s on-field leaders and its innovative coordinator.…

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1. AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS Rodgers put up the third NFL MVP campaign of his estimable career, a resounding response to anybody who thought he was close to done. Rodgers had the NFL’s highest TD percentage (9.1 percent) and lowest interception rate (1.0 percent). At 37, he might be playing his best football. But can Green Bay keep him? 2. TOM BRADY, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS It took about half a season for Brady to fully get with Bruce Arians’ “grip it and rip it” philosophy. But once everything locked in, Brady was reborn as a deep passer on his way to yet another Super Bowl MVP award. No quarterback in 2020 had more deep attempts (119), completions (45), yards (1,515) and touchdowns (15). 3. PATRICK MAHOMES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS…

1. TRAVIS KELCE, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Kelce has gained over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his last five seasons, and over that time, he leads NFL tight ends by far in receptions (473), receiving yards (6,144) and TDs (38). The prototype for the new-age “Y-iso” tight end who can beat defenders either inline, outside the formation or aligned as a wideout, Kelce is particularly devastating in packages in which he’s Patrick Mahomes’ single backside read and Tyreek Hill is the inside slot receiver. Kelce is on a Hall of Fame pace, and he’s the best at his position in the business. 2. GEORGE KITTLE, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Following a 2018 season in which he set the then-single-season record for receiving yardage by a tight end with 1,377, and a…

1. COREY LINSLEY, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS In 2020, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award despite dealing with a lot of pressure, and a lot of it right up the middle. So, the Chargers signed Linsley, the former Packers All-Pro, to a five year, $62.5 million contract with $26 million guaranteed. In 2020, Linsley allowed one sack and just four pressures on 437 pass-blocking snaps — the fewest pressures allowed by any center playing at least 50 percent of his team’s snaps. 2. RODNEY HUDSON, ARIZONA CARDINALS Hudson was jettisoned by the Raiders in their offseason offensive line fire sale, getting himself traded to Arizona along with a seventh-round pick for a third-round pick. It’s chump change for one of the NFL’s best centers,…

1. BOBBY WAGNER, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Wagner has been among the gold standards at his position since the Seahawks selected him in the second round of the 2012 draft, and though Seattle’s defense has slipped in effectiveness over the last few years, Wagner has not. We’ll go ahead and say that Wagner is still the man to beat in overall excellence at the position. 2. LAVONTE DAVID, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS The 2012 second-rounder put up yet another 100-plus-tackle season in 2020 (his eighth in nine seasons), but it’s in coverage that the quick and agile David really shines. This was never more evident than in Super Bowl LV, when David did an outstanding job of matching Travis Kelce over the middle. The recipient of a new twoyear, $25 million contract in…

1. TYRANN MATHIEU, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Last season, Mathieu had 287 snaps at free safety and 399 as a box player or strong safety. And on those 686 snaps, Mathieu allowed 36 catches on 54 targets for 520 yards, 222 yards after the catch, six interceptions and a 70.5 opponent passer rating. Mathieu has the rare athletic talent to break up short and intermediate passes in the box and deal with deep-third coverage just as seamlessly. He is the most imposing do-it-all defensive back in the NFL today. 2. JUSTIN SIMMONS, DENVER BRONCOS The Broncos prevented Simmons’ impending status as the best defensive free agent in the 2021 class by re-signing him to a four-year, $61 million contract with $35 million guaranteed that made him the NFL’s highest-paid safety on…

1. Carolina: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn Carolina (2011-19), New England (2020) The 2010 Heisman Trophy winner and national championship quarterback at Auburn has been a compelling NFL presence (and fashion icon) for a decade now, earning 2015 NFL MVP honors and three Pro Bowl nods. Newton has passed for 31,698 career yards and 190 touchdowns, adding 70 rushing TDs as a plus-sized but nimble ground threat. He set numerous rookie records in 2011 — 35 combined TDs and 4,784 combined yards, among other marks. He led Carolina to Super Bowl 50 and has a 75–63–1 record as a starter. 2. Denver: Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M Denver (2011-20) Miller has fashioned a Hall of Fame career in Denver orange and navy blue. In Super Bowl 50, he got the better…

Top 10 Injury Concerns 1. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers The nearly universal No. 1 overall pick in 2020, McCaffrey ruined many a fantasy season. He played in just three games, and while he was excellent in those three, it wasn’t nearly enough for fantasy owners. He’s a great RB1 and likely a popular choice for the top pick again, but it’s no longer a decision that comes free from tangible risk. 2. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings Cook has yet to make it through a full season, although he has been more durable recently. He’s posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, so the production is clearly there, but Cook also is someone you need to have insurance for. 3. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants He’s had plenty of time to recover and rehabilitate.…

stunningly successful season crashed with a thud, a 56–26 defeat in Buffalo that ensured the Miami Dolphins would not make the playoffs, extending the franchise’s playoff win drought to a full 20 years. “We’re disappointed in our performance today,” then-second-year Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said. “It wasn’t good enough in any phase.” Still, as disappointing as the finale was, it shouldn’t put a damper on what the Dolphins did in 2020, rising from 5–11 to 10–6 and doing so while breaking in a rookie quarterback, shuffling multiple rookies on the offensive line and integrating several new players on a much-improved defense — all while dealing with COVID-19 and other distractions. Now, in the third year of the Flores/Chris Grier plan, no one is discussing tanking or even rebuilding. It’s…

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson exorcised some demons with his first playoff win last year after two straight first-round exits, but questions linger about how far this run-first offense can take the Ravens. They need to develop a more well-rounded attack, with better blocking, better passing and better catching. The offensive line has been manhandled in three straight playoff losses. Calais Campbell and Brandon Williams anchor a veteran but aging defensive line, while Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters lead a secondary that can wreak havoc. But can anybody get to the quarterback? There isn’t a returning edge rusher who had more than three sacks last season. When the game’s on the line, at least the Ravens know they have the most accurate kicker in NFL history. OFFENSE While other teams zig, the…

he window is closing on the Ben Roethlisberger era in Pittsburgh, but it’s not completely shut just yet. The veteran quarterback is back for his 18th season, and the Steelers did everything they could to construct the best team around him to compete in an absolutely stacked AFC North. Ultimately, that required weeks of salary cap gymnastics, including a big restructuring of Roethlisberger’s contract, just to prevent the number of departures from becoming even larger than it was. Still, when you factor what’s left, what’s joined the team through the draft and the coaching savvy of Mike Tomlin, the reigning division champions are to be viewed as an AFC North contender until proven otherwise. OFFENSE This isn’t the Roethlisberger of yesteryear, and it’s not even the Roethlisberger of a few years…

It took 18 years for the Jaguars to get their first franchise quarterback since Mark Brunell. But now they can build around a generational talent at the position with former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Attention this season will focus on whether Lawrence and head coach Urban Meyer, who came out of a two-year retirement to make the jump to the NFL, can return Jacksonville to relevancy. The Jaguars have enough of a veteran mix and young, emerging players to be more competitive than last season. But after nine losing seasons in 10 years, including an NFL-worst 1–15 record last season, this is not a quick fix. This season will be uncharted territory for both coach and quarterback. In 17 years…

Two seasons ago, the Chiefs snapped a half-century championship drought, so it might seem strange that returning to the Super Bowl should be considered a disappointment. But the sight of Patrick Mahomes scrambling endlessly and futilely for four quarters behind a patchwork offensive line during a touchdown-free offensive performance certainly soured an otherwise terrific 2020 season. The walloping Tampa Bay put on Kansas City also highlighted the importance of fixing Mahomes’ protection, which GM Brett Veach addressed via free agency, a blockbuster trade and the draft. The Chiefs’ offense is better and should be more balanced with a more imposing offensive line. If Kansas City’s pass rush rediscovers its mojo and the team stays healthy, the Chiefs deserve to be Super Bowl favorites again. In other words, the rest of…

Those fans who were disgusted by last season’s 4–11–1 performance and demanded change certainly got it during the offseason. Just three years removed from a Super Bowl win, the franchise underwent an upheaval that has dramatically changed its personality, firing head coach Doug Pederson and trading quarterback Carson Wentz, who was supplanted late last season by rookie Jalen Hurts. Other assorted veterans, including Alshon Jeffery and Malik Jackson, were jettisoned, and the team stepped into its transition with plenty of work to do. Leading the charge — at least on the field — is Nick Sirianni, who spent three years as Indianapolis’ offensive coordinator. He’ll preside over a roster that has plenty of holes and is unlikely to produce too many wins this season. OFFENSE As the season dawns, it…

The stay of execution lasted until Thanksgiving, but Lions ownership finally severed ties with the ex-Patriots they’d hired to build a winner. Bob Quinn was fired near the end of his fifth season as general manager, while head coach Matt Patricia was out after a 13–29–1 record. Yet it was more than the failures on the field that irked new owner Sheila Ford Hamp, who took the reins from her mother, Martha Firestone Ford, last summer. It was also the insular way Quinn and Patricia went about their business, which explains the 180-degree turn the Lions are now making with a charismatic young GM in Brad Holmes, a vibrant head coach in Dan Campbell and the word “collaboration” at the core of what is clearly a multi-year rebuilding effort now.…

On the hit Apple TV show “Ted Lasso,” the titular football-turned-soccer coach played by Jason Sudeikis has an inspirational message above the door exiting his office. It reads in big, bold letters, “BELIEVE.” It’s not hard to imagine that new Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot have a similar message above their office doors, but with three words added: “BELIEVE IN MATT RYAN.” With former coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff gone, the Falcons are on the journey back to NFL relevancy. The new regime already has made a major decision in passing on drafting a quarterback with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and hitching their future to Ryan, the former MVP, to lead them to winning ways. Will their…

Tom Brady’s first season in Tampa Bay ended with a celebration worthy of a true pirate — staggering into port after a drunken Super Bowl boat parade. By then, he had secured his seventh Super Bowl title and completed his final pass when he threw the Lombardi Trophy over the Hillsborough River to tight end Cameron Brate, who was stationed on another vessel. Blame it on the avocado tequila, Brady said, that he consumed on his $2 million, 55-foot Viva a Vida — the GOAT boat. He is no stranger to winning Super Bowls, but he never did anything like this in icy Boston. “If I had dropped that? I think I would’ve had to retire,” Brate says of Brady’s trophy pass. “That was amazing. He pointed it at me.…

The 49ers, the franchise of Hall of Fame quarterbacks Y.A. Tittle, Joe Montana and Steve Young, hope they have found a passer who will add to their rich legacy in Trey Lance. But even after drafting the North Dakota State quarterback with the No. 3 pick, they might not be in a hurry to find out if the rookie can follow in those footsteps. That’s because the big-armed, dual-threat talent made only 17 starts and threw 318 passes at the FCS level and has played in just one game since January 2020. Lance might need time to develop. And the 49ers can afford to be patient. They still have quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who helped lead them to the Super Bowl after the 2019 season. And the 49ers think they have…

WEEK 1 Thursday, Sept. 9 Dallas at Tampa Bay Sunday, Sept. 12 Philadelphia at Atlanta Pittsburgh at Buffalo N.Y. Jets at Carolina Minnesota at Cincinnati San Francisco at Detroit Jacksonville at Houston Seattle at Indianapolis Arizona at Tennessee L.A. Chargers at Washington Cleveland at Kansas City Miami at New England Green Bay at New Orleans Denver at N.Y. Giants Chicago at L.A. Rams Monday, Sept. 13 Baltimore at Las Vegas WEEK 2 Thursday, Sept. 16 N.Y. Giants at Washington Sunday, Sept. 19 New Orleans at Carolina Cincinnati at Chicago Houston at Cleveland L.A. Rams at Indianapolis Denver at Jacksonville Buffalo at Miami New England at N.Y. Jets San Francisco at Philadelphia Las Vegas at Pittsburgh Minnesota at Arizona Atlanta at Tampa Bay Dallas at L.A. Chargers Tennessee at Seattle Kansas…

1. DERRICK HENRY, TENNESSEE TITANS In 2019, Henry ran for more yards after contact than any other NFL back gained in total. In 2020, he nearly did it again, gaining 1,525 yards after contact; only Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook gained more total rushing yards with 1,557. Last year, Henry also led the NFL in runs of 10 yards or more and 15 yards or more. If you want to argue that there’s a more complete runner in the NFL today, good luck. 2. NICK CHUBB, CLEVELAND BROWNS Last season, in committee with Kareem Hunt, Chubb gained 1,212 yards and scored 12 TDs on just 221 carries (including playoffs), despite missing four games with an MCL sprain. Among backs with at least 20 percent of their teams’ offensive snaps last season, Chubb…

1. DAVID BAKHTIARI, GREEN BAY PACKERS Last November, the Packers signed Bakhtiari to a four-year, $92 million contract extension with $61.5 million guaranteed. His absence in the NFC Championship Game against the Buccaneers due to a torn ACL was a primary reason Aaron Rodgers was sacked five times, but as long as he’s fully healthy in 2020, Bakhtiari will continue to be a formidable blind-side protector. 2. TRENT WILLIAMS, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS The 49ers didn’t want to refurbish their quarterback situation without Williams dominating at the left tackle position. That’s why they re-signed him to a six-year, $138.06 million contract with $55.1 million guaranteed. It makes Williams the most expensive tackle in NFL history, but he’s been worth the scratch. In 2020, Williams was his usual impenetrable self, giving up…

1. AARON DONALD, LOS ANGELES RAMS One of the best D-linemen in NFL history, Donald has amassed over 100 total pressures in three of the last four seasons, including 2020; 80 pressures signify a great year for an edge rusher. Meanwhile, Donald’s mostly inside as the point of focus (i.e., double-teams) against every offense the Rams face. His 2020 was yet another amazing season, as Donald had 13.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hits and 73 quarterback hurries. 2. CAMERON HEYWARD, PITTSBURGH STEELERS Heyward had just four sacks in the 2020 season, but the tape shows no drop-off at all, and the dominant edge combination of T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree would not have been able to do what it did without Heyward’s presence all over the line. Heyward had 19 quarterback…

1. TYRANN MATHIEU, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Mathieu is the only player on this year’s list to be deemed the best player at two different positions — slot defender and safety — which speaks voluminously to his overall value. As a pure slot defender in 2020, he allowed 22 catches on 33 targets for 295 yards, 127 yards after the catch, one touchdown, three interceptions and a 67.1 opponent passer rating. 2. BRYCE CALLAHAN, DENVER BRONCOS No slot defender allowed a lower opponent passer rating in 2020 than Callahan’s 10.7, which is what happens when you give up just six catches on 14 targets for 41 yards, 12 yards after the catch, no touchdowns and two interceptions. When he’s been on the field for Chicago and Denver throughout his NFL career,…

Atlanta Falcons Old: Dan Quinn NEW: ARTHUR SMITH Previous Job: Offensive Coordinator, Tennessee Titans Pros: The son of FedEx founder Fred Smith, Arthur Smith more than delivered on his task of building a playoff-worthy offense in Tennessee. In 2020, his second season as offensive coordinator, the Titans ranked second in the NFL in total offense and fourth in scoring. He coaxed All-Pro-caliber play out of QB Ryan Tannehill and got two all-world seasons out of RB Derrick Henry. Cons: Smith will have to work his offensive magic in Atlanta without the caliber of running back he had in Henry. Last season, Todd Gurley II led the Falcons in rushing with only 678 yards. A first-time head coach, Smith still has much to prove after only two seasons at the NFL…

Round 2 – Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada (49ers) There were other solid pros selected in the second round, but no one made the seismic impact of Kaepernick, who led the 49ers to a Super Bowl XLVII runner-up finish and another NFC title game appearance. Kap also set the playoff record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game (181). In 2014, he signed a “record” contract extension worth up to $126 million, of which he received a reported $39 million. But it was Kaepernick’s decision to take a knee during the national anthem starting in 2016 that made him a household name. His protest against police brutality drew both anger and adoration, while effectively ending his NFL career. Kaepernick settled a lawsuit against the NFL for an undisclosed…

Top 10 Injury Concerns 1. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers Allen started his career as an injury risk but then proceeded to play all 16 games from 2017-19. He missed only two games (Weeks 16 and 17) last season with a hamstring injury. He’s 29 years old and has a history of durability concerns. 2. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Godwin broke his finger in Week 8. He missed only one game, but it was a rough return. He also missed a game with a concussion and two due to a hamstring injury. 3. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons Jones is 32 years old and played in just nine games last season because of a lingering hamstring injury. Jones’ elite WR1 days are a thing of the past. 4. Michael Thomas,…

Mac Jones is the future. Cam Newton is the here and now. Brady. Patriots Nation mumbled and grumbled throughout last year’s 7–9 campaign, lamenting every hiccup by Newton while still keeping their lonely eyes on Tom This season will be different, but the quarterback will remain the same. Despite spending a first-round draft pick on a quarterback for the first time in his career, Bill Belichick is committed to Newton — anointing him the starter just hours after Roger Goodell announced Jones’ selection. Newton signed early, an indication of the trust he has in the organization and the confidence he has in himself. With a full season in the program under his belt and a full training camp on the horizon, Newton will be much improved, and the Patriots’ victory…

The hard part is over. The Bengals have their franchise quarterback in Joe Burrow, who more than looked the part in the first 10 games of his career. Now, Cincinnati is in the early stages of the next step in the process: building a team around Burrow that can compete with the rest of an absolutely stacked AFC North. The work to do just that has been significant, as Cincinnati was uncharacteristically active in free agency and supplemented the roster with 10 more picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. But will it be enough to expedite the process? Burrow’s ability to bounce back from a serious knee injury and the productivity of the new faces around him will dictate whether the Bengals are ready today or are another offseason away…

The 2020 season was disastrous for the Texans, and 2021 could be worse. They also experienced the most tumultuous offseason in franchise history. After winning four AFC South titles in five years, the Texans plunged to 4–12 and fired head coach/general manager Bill O’Brien after an 0–4 start. After the season, quarterback Deshaun Watson demanded to be traded and threatened to miss the offseason program and sit out the season. Owner Cal McNair hired New England personnel director Nick Caserio as general manager to clean up the mess. Caserio hired David Culley, 65, as the head coach, and Culley is one of the franchise’s 17 new coaches. Caserio had planned to trade Watson before the draft, but then the quarterback was the subject of more than 20 civil suits accusing…

The time is now for the Tennessee Titans. All the big pieces are in place. Owner Amy Adams Strunk continues to build upon the legacy of her father, Oilers-Titans founder Bud Adams. GM Jon Robinson has yet again put together a roster that checks all the boxes, at least on paper. Head coach Mike Vrabel has a 29–19 record, an AFC title game appearance and a playoff win over Tom Brady and Bill Belichick on his resume after only three seasons. On the field, there is more name-brand star power wearing two-tone blue than in any era since Steve McNair, Eddie George, Jevon Kearse & Co. Expectations entering the 2021 season are AFC South title and playoff run. But really, all eyes are on the prize at Super Bowl LVI…

Even at their highest point last season, sitting at 6–3 and the playoffs a very real possibility, an awareness was rising inside the Raiders building that plenty of work still remained, specifically regarding a defense that, frankly, the Raiders were winning games in spite of. That makes their collapse over the last part of the season hardly surprising, and even less so the work they put in during the offseason. Between free agency and the draft, the Raiders provided new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley with 13 new players, four of whom should win starting jobs with a handful seeing extensive playing time. The objective is to create at least an average defense to complement an offense that averaged the 10th-most points in the league. If so, the expectation in Las…

The Cowboys again have Super Bowl aspirations despite not having come as close as even the NFC Championship Game since 1995, when they won their fifth Lombardi Trophy. They have reasons for optimism: Their quarterback, Dak Prescott, is coming back from a right ankle injury that ended his 2020 season prematurely; their starting tackles are returning after combining for only two games last season; former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn has taken over as defensive coordinator; and the Cowboys added 10 players in free agency and 11 others in the draft, with 14 of the 21 newcomers on the defensive side of the ball. “We’re going to put this thing together in a way that allows us to get in the big one and win a big one,” Cowboys owner…

Even by the standards of the Washington Football Team, the past year-plus was full of chaos, from head coach Ron Rivera’s cancer diagnosis to the controversy over the team name to Alex Smith’s ballyhooed return and rancorous exit. The 2020 season itself featured a five-game losing streak early, a four-game winning streak late and four different quarterbacks. But the trend-line was clear: In Rivera’s first season, the team went from 3–13 to 7–9 and an unexpected NFC East title. Having spent a full year restructuring and remodeling, the WFT brain trust — newly remade in Rivera’s image — is expecting bigger things in 2021. While the quarterback of the future is still TBD, the team made a shrewd signing in veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick as a placeholder, while a smart use…

As the 2021 NFL Draft drew to a close, it was clear Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst had succeeded at patching up many of the small holes on a roster that had been good enough to get his team to back-to-back NFC Championship Games — but not quite good enough to get the Packers back to the Super Bowl. He added three offensive linemen to replenish the depth up front. He bolstered a defense that has disappointed time and time again despite major capital investments. And he added an intriguing offensive weapon in former Clemson wide receiver Amari Rodgers, who might be the perfect versatile chess piece for head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense. Too bad no one really wanted to talk about any of that — and understandably…

The Carolina Panthers are deep into a rebuilding process, with their blueprints, bricks and mortar spread all over a messy job site in Charlotte. That’s what happens when you go 5–11 two years in a row. Since owner David Tepper bought the team in 2018, the Panthers have changed their head coach, general manager and starting quarterback (twice) while going 17–31. That’s not what Tepper had in mind, and the billionaire has turned over much of the organization in search of a winning formula. This year’s team features another new quarterback in Sam Darnold, who replaces Teddy Bridgewater, who replaced Cam Newton. The Panthers traded three draft picks for Darnold in April and hope the former New York Jet can find a groove that eluded him in three years at…

The honeymoon period is over for head coach Kliff Kingsbury. After going 5–10–1 his first year with rookie quarterback Kyler Murray and then finishing 8–8 in 2020 and missing the playoffs by losing their regular-season finale at the Rams, the Cardinals most likely need to make it to the postseason this year for Kingsbury to reach the fourth and final year of his current contract. After an aggressive offseason by general manager Steve Keim, who brought in multiple big-name veteran players through free agency and trades such as J.J. Watt, A.J. Green, Malcolm Butler and Rodney Hudson, Kingsbury will be under more pressure than ever to shape the team into a real contender. The pieces are all there, starting with Murray, who followed up his Offensive Rookie of the Year…

In their quest to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2015, the Seahawks had to address the pass rush this offseason. Stopping one and creating one. Russell Wilson not so subtly suggested that he needed better pass protection, since opponents have sacked him 394 times in nine seasons, or nearly 44 per season, putting him on pace to be the most sacked quarterback in NFL history. People wanted to know: Could this be the end of Wilson in Seattle, either by continually having to survive the game-day punishment or for taking this issue public? At the same time, the Seahawks determined that they needed another pass rusher on the order of past standouts Frank Clark or Michael Bennett, a disruptor who could make another quarterback feel…

With the introduction of a 17th game, it’s entirely possible that 2021 could serve as a record-setting season. For example, Michael Thomas’ receptions record (149), which he set only two seasons ago, seems like a prime candidate to be rewritten. That’s not to say every single-season record is in danger (Pro Football Hall of Famer George Blanda threw 42 interceptions in 14 games in 1962!), but another game with which to pile up the stats increases the likelihood that we’ll see history made in 2021. Let’s take a look at seven prestigious marks and assess whether the current record-holder should be nervous this season or not. Passing Yards Current Record: 5,477 yards (Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos, 2013) 2020 NFL Leader: 4,823 yards (Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans) Throwing for 5,000 yards was a…