FOOTBALL SEASON IS [BASICALLY] UPON US.
Conservative estimates have NFL rosters with a year-over-year turnover rate of about 33%.
Without further ado, lets get into it.
Almost goes without saying, but the quarterback position is a major factor here.
Arizona Cardinals (Last Year: 15)
Check out their defense.
The front seven in particular.
Who are these dudes?
Im sure I dont know.
Like unless BJ Ojulari is an immediate double-digit sack guy, yall are in trouble.
Kyler Murray is also recovering from a torn ACL.
Even then, hes what?
A top-15 quarterback at best?
Losing DeAndre Hopkins doesnt help Arizonas outlook.
We know the Cardinals are in a rebuild.
With a strong 2024 draft class, they could move way up in short order.
Houston Texans (Last Year: 32)
Ballsy draft day trade by GM Nick Caserio to get C.J.
Stroud and Will Anderson Jr.
The defense looks OK on paper.
Just…OK.
30.
The defense is way too young and thin in the trenches to endorse.
Head coach Matt Eberflus needs to work his magic on that side of the ball.
No idea what to expect from Desmond Ridder.
The guy fell to the third round of the draft.
Played sparingly as a rookie.
Las Vegas Raiders (Last Year: 11)
Signing Jimmy Garoppolo without him passing a physical.
Not paying reigning rushing champion Josh Jacobs.
New York Giants (Last Year: 28)
Some might think this is disrespectful.
Now Saquon is planning to hold out, which puts real pressure on Daniel Jones.
Rookie center John Michael Schmitz should help stabilize a still-bad offensive line.
Minnesota Vikings (Last Year: 19)
Woof.
The receiving group outside of Justin Jefferson is ROUGH.
Made worse by Jordan Addisons recent citation for allegedlydriving 140 mph in a 55 mph zone.
Good luck backing up that 13-4 mark, SKOL Nation.
For whatever reason, I have more faith in Howell than, say, Desmond Ridder.
I feel like Im still overshooting a little with Washington.
Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson are among the most gifted receiving trios in the league.
Thats a big deal.
Question is, how much more wear and tear can he take?
Aaron Donald is a living legend.
Cooper Kupp won the receiving Triple Crown when the Rams ran to the Super Bowl.
Lots of injuries in 22 tanked LAs season.
If you look beyond Donald, though, their defense is in awful shape.
The departure of Jalen Ramsey leaves the secondary with pretty much nobody.
More than anything, this is just an old team.
Mike Evans appears to hobble more with each passing season.
Lavonte David turns 34 in January.
Three spots on the o-line are up in the air.
Oh yeah, and Baker Mayfield is under center.
Still, I like the Bucs defense overall.
Intrigued by Calijah Kancey joining Vita Vea in what could be a devastating d-line duo.
Indianapolis Colts (Last Year: 20)
Theres plutonium-grade explosive potential between Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson.
That Colts rushing attack is going to be a problem.
I hesitate to project too much when it comes to rookie classes.
Carolina Panthers (Last Year: 24)
Projecting a bit here that No.
1 overall pick Bryce Young will flourish as a rookie with a loaded coaching staff at his back.
Lots of solid-but-unspectacular across this roster.
Young will need to elevate it, especially because Carolina doesnt have a surefire WR1.
Tannehill can still play.
Maybe giving him decent blocking and DeAndre Hopkins will boost his confidence.
First-rounder Peter Skoronski is a plug-and-play starter to help protect Tannehill.
Then I like, dont love, Tennessees defense, headlined by dominant interior pass-rusher Jeffery Simmons.
Pittsburgh looks better on paper than I realized going in.
Kind of a compliment, kind of not.
Lets see how Kenny fares as an NFL sophomore before pumping the Steelers up too much.
Gifted passer of the football.
Beyond Deshaun, the offense looks good blocking-wise, pass-catching-wise and Nick Chubb-wise.
Dalvin Tomlinson and ZaDarius Smith add necessary beef to the defensive front.
Stellar defensive backfield, too.
Denver Broncos (Last Year: 9)
Yup.
Overshot on forecasting Russell Wilsons maiden season in the Mile High City.
By default, he should improve with Sean Payton calling the plays.
Dont particularly love the trajectory the Broncos receivers have been on.
Mike McGlinchey coming over from San Francisco will shore up the problematic right tackle spot.
Denvers defense is exceptional, led by lockdown corner Patrick Surtain II and free safety Justin Simmons.
Mixed feelings on the Broncos.
Can Jordan Love get him the ball effectively?
That is the question.
An excellent backfield duo of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.
Not a bad pair of running backs in David Montgomery and 12th overall pick Jahmyr Gibbs, either.
Between those skill guys and an elite offensive line, Jared Goff couldnt be in better position to flourish.
Detroits prospective defensive improvement is all conjecture.
I dont feel too strongly about their recent upgrades.
All I really know is, Aidan Hutchinson is a star.
Dont forget tailback Travis Etienne, either.
The receiving threesome of CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup has the chance to be special.
Micah Parsons masks any andallmost issues the Cowboys might have on defense.
Stephon Gilmore is a sneaky-nice addition to start at corner on the other side of ballhawk Trevon Diggs.
Should be a pretty formidable crew in Dallas.
Whether or not that translates to playoff prowess is another matter.
Thats not the point of this exercise.
Unless I was counting coaches as part of a roster.
In which case, Brandon Staley would knock the Chargers down several pegs.
Derwin James is an all-world, Swiss Army knife defender.
Cornerback is the only position I have major questions about.
Thats what essentially happened.
Lets see if Geno Smith can build on his breakout 2022 campaign.
Lamar Jackson got hurt down the stretch of the past two seasons.
Odell Beckham Jr. was out of football for a whole year.
J.K. Dobbins missed a season and a half with a blown-out knee.
Rashod Bateman has played 19 games since being drafted 27th overall in 2021.
WR2 Gabe Davis fell way short of expectations in 22.
Josh Allen is a beast.
He can only do so much to boost Buffalos stock.
New York Jets (Last Year: 22)
The Jets are stacked.
Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall are elite playmakers entering their second year.
Pass-rusher Carl Lawson will be another year removed from a torn Achilles.
Sauce Gardner is already in the conversation for best corner in the NFL, with a legit No.
2/alt CB1 in D.J.
Superstar d-tackle Quinnen Williams future is secure with a big payday.
Loving how the Jets are shaping up for a probable Rodgers renaissance.
However, Miami has at least a semi-viable backup in Mike White.
Oh yeah,andperhaps the fastest collection of skill position talent in the NFL.
Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert, DeVon Achane, Robbie Chosen?
Oh yeah, and Jalen Ramsey is CB1 with Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou already in the mix.
Jevon Holland is an excellent safety.
Then you factor in Christian Wilkins, Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb on the front seven?
The Fins are loaded, Im telling you.
Mahomes will dig deep for some improvisational magic whenever necessary.
Kelce will inexplicably be wide open on every single key down.
Kansas City will be fine.
JaMarr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd comprise the best triumvirate of receivers in the sport.
Dax Hill was a first-rounder in 2022 and will fill in one of those spots.
Then its between ex-Ram Nick Scott and Alabama rookie Jordan Battle.
Philadelphia Eagles (Last Year: 10)
No big surprise here.
I almost gave the Eagles the edge over the 49ers because of a clearer, more proven QB situation.
San Francisco just has more star power.
Time to stop doubting Jalen Hurts until further notice.
Philly has the NFLs deepest defensive line and just had a 70-sack season.
They also boast the greatest offensive line going right now.
Brown turned out to be a huge addition and a go-to guy for Hurts.
DeVonta Smith is a heck of a WR2.
The RB corps is stacked with DAndre Swift, Rashaad Penny and Kenneth Gainwell.
Could go on and on but isn’t this long enough?
1 with such a dubious situation at the most important position.
Irrelevant obscurity to star 49er.
Take your pick to praise the rest of the Niners lineup.
Huge names all over the place.
