Miami Dolphins (12-4, 1st in AFC East, Rd.1 Bye)
(Susan Stocker/Sun Sentinel) Miami's defense is going to be the one defense that makes a huge leap in the NFL this season. |
Off-season Losses: RB's Knowshon Moreno & Daniel Thomas, DT Jared Odrick, G Darryn Colledge, C Samson Satele, TE Charles Clay, S Jimmy Wilson
Impact Rookies: WR DeVante Parker, G Jamil Douglas, CB Bobby McCain, RB Jay Ajayi
Strengths: Pass Rush, Receiving depth
Weaknesses: Linebackers, Special Teams
New England Patriots (12-4, 2nd in AFC East, #5 seed Wildcard)
Tom Brady is going to go off for one last MVP-caliber season this year. |
Off-season Losses: RB's Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley & Jonas Gray, CB's Brandon Browner & Darrelle Revis, DT Vince Wilfork, OLB Akeem Ayers
Impact Rookies: DT Malcom Brown, S Jordan Richards, G Tre' Jackson, C Shaq Mason
Strengths: Tight End, Offensive Line, Un-suspended Tom Brady
Weaknesses: Defensive Backfield, Running Back depth (not that this will ever be a problem under Bill Belichick), Everybody wants them out of the league
New York Jets (7-9, 3rd in AFC East, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, RB's Stevan Ridley (currently on PUP list) & Zac Stacy, WR Brandon Marshall, G James Carpenter, DE Stephen Bowen, CB's Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie & Buster Skrine, Head Coach Todd Bowles
Off-season Losses: QB Michael Vick, RB Chris Johnson, WR Percy Harvin, CB Kyle Wilson, S Dawan Landry
Impact Rookies: DE Leonard Williams, WR Devin Smith, OLB Lorenzo Mauldin, QB Bryce Petty
Strengths: Defensive Line, Offensive Line
Weaknesses: Quarterback, Tight End
Buffalo Bills (5-11, 4th in AFC East, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: Head Coach Rex Ryan, QB's Tyrod Taylor & Matt Cassel, RB LeSean McCoy, G Richie Incognito, FB Jerome Felton, WR Percy Harvin, TE Charles Clay, DE Alex Carrington
Off-season Losses: S Da'Norris Searcy, LB Kiko Alonso, TE's Scott Chandler & Lee Smith, RB C.J. Spiller, OT Erik Pears, LB Brandon Spikes
Impact Rookies: CB Ronald Darby, G John Miller, RB Karlos Williams
Strengths: Defense
Weaknesses: Quarterback, Offensive Tackles
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5, 1st in AFC North, Rd.1 Bye)
(Justin K. Aller/Getty Images North America) The defense might be awful, but it won't matter as long as Pittsburgh has these two and Roethlisberger on offense. |
Off-season Losses: CB Brice McCain, WR Lance Moore, DC Dick LeBeau, S Troy Polamalu, CB Ike Taylor, LB Jason Worilds, DE Brett Keisel, RB Josh Harris
Impact Rookies: LB Bud Dupree, WR's Sammie Coates & Tyler Murphy
Strengths: Offensive Weapons (Top-3 RB and WR in NFL)
Weaknesses: Defense, Center (Pouncey on IR/Designated to Return)
Baltimore Ravens (10-6, 2nd in AFC North, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: QB Matt Schaub, CB Kyle Arrington, S Kendrick Lewis
Off-season Losses: DT Haloti Ngata, WR's Torrey Smith & Jacoby Jones, QB Tyrod Taylor, LB Pernell McPhee, RB Bernard Pierce, TE Owen Daniels, C Gino Gradkowski, S's Darian Stewart & Jeromy Miles
Impact Rookies: WR Breshad Perriman, TE Maxx Williams, DT Carl Davis, LB Za'Darius Stewart, RB Javorius "Buck" Allen
Strengths: Offensive Line, Linebackers
Weaknesses: Receivers, Defensive Backfield
Cincinnati Bengals (9-7, 3rd in AFC North, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: DE Michael Johnson, LB A.J. Hawk
Off-season Losses: QB Jason Campbell, TE Jermaine Gresham, C Mike Pollak, DE Robert Geathers, CB Terence Newman, OT Marshall Newhouse
Impact Rookies: OT's Cedric Ogbuehi & Jake Fisher, TE Tyler Kroft, LB Paul Dawson, CB Josh Shaw, DT Marcus Hardison
Strengths: Running Back, Offensive Tackle depth, Defensive Line
Weaknesses: Guards, Safety depth, Marvin Lewis's continued playoff failures
Cleveland Browns (1-15, 4th in AFC North, #1 pick in 2016)
USA TODAY Sports The #FailForCardale train starts here. |
Off-season Losses: QB Brian Hoyer, WR Miles Austin, TE Jordan Cameron, G Paul McQuistan, DT Ahtya Rubin, OLB Jabaal Sheard, CB Buster Skrine
Impact Rookies: DT Danny Shelton, OL Cameron Erving, LB Nate Orchard, RB Duke Johnson, DE Xavier Cooper, S Ibraheim Campbell, FB Malcolm Johnson
Strengths: Pass Rush, Offensive Line
Weaknesses: Quarterback, Receivers, Tight End, Too many potential busts still figuring things out (Manziel, Gilbert, Mingo)
Indianapolis Colts (9-7, 1st in AFC South, #4 seed)
Scott Kane - USA TODAY Sports The addition of Andre Johnson (above), Phillip Dorsett and Frank Gore doesn't magically give Indy a run-defense. |
Off-season Losses: RB's Trent Richardson & Ahmad Bradshaw, WR's Reggie Wayne & Hakeem Nicks, DE's Ricky Jean-Francois, Cory Redding & Fili Moala, C A.Q. Shipley, S Sergio Brown, CB Josh Gordy
Impact Rookies: WR Phillip Dorsett, CB D'Joun Smith, DL Henry Anderson, S Clayton Geathers, DT David Parry, RB Josh Robinson
Strengths: Offense, Leadership
Weaknesses: Defense (minus Robert Mathis, D'Qwell Jackson and Vontae Davis who are all very good at what they do)
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9, 2nd in AFC South, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: RB Bernard Pierce, KR/PR/WR Bryan Walters, TE Julius Thomas, OT Jeremy Parnell, C Stefen Wisniewski, DL Jared Odrick, LB Dan Skuta, CB Davon House, S Sergio Brown
Off-season Losses: RB's Jordan Todman & Storm Johnson, WR Cecil Shorts, C Jacques McClendon, DT Red Bryant, LB's Geno Hayes & J.T. Thomas, CB's Will Blackmon & Alan Ball, S Sherrod Martin
Impact Rookies: RB T.J. Yeldon, G A.J. Cann, S James Sample, WR Rashad Greene, DT Michael Bennett
Strengths: Potential, Tight Ends
Weaknesses: Defensive Backfield, Lost #3 overall pick (DE/OLB Dante Fowler Jr.) in first practice to Torn ACL.
Houston Texans (7-9, 3rd in AFC South, No Playoffs)
The team's only reason for not totally sucking will be the health of Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt. |
Off-season Losses: QB's Case Keenum & Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Andre Johnson, G Cody White, C Chris Myers, LB Brooks Reed, S's D.J. Swearinger & Danieal Manning
Impact Rookies: CB Kevin Johnson, LB Bernardrick McKinney, WR Jaelen Strong, DT Christian Covington
Strengths: Wide Receiver depth, Defensive Line, Linebackers
Weaknesses: Offensive Line depth, Quarterback, Safeties
Tennessee Titans (7-9, 4th in AFC South, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: RB Terrance West, WR Harry Douglas, TE Anthony Fasano, OT Byron Bell, LB's Brian Orakpo, David Bass & Steven Johnson, S Da'Norris Searcy
Off-season Losses: QB Jake Locker, WR Nate Washington, OT's Michael Roos & Michael Oher, CB Perrish Cox, RB Leon Washington, S's Bernard Pollard & George Wilson, LB Colin McCarthy
Impact Rookies: QB Marcus Mariota, WR Dorial Green-Beckham, OT Jeremiah Poutasi, DL Angelo Blackson, FB Jalston Fowler, RB David Cobb
Strengths: Tight Ends, Linebackers
Weaknesses: Inexperience, Too much turnover?, Running Back
Denver Broncos (10-6, 1st in AFC West, #3 seed)
(Justin Edmonds, Getty Images) Gary Kubiak disappointed in Houston, but starts a new era in Denver once again. |
Off-season Losses: RB's Montee' Ball & Jeremy Stewart, K Connor Barth, CB Tony Carter, G Orlando Franklin, C Will Montgomery, LB's Nate Irving & Steven Johnson, TE's Julius Thomas & Jacob Tamme, DT's Mitch Unrein & Terrance Knighton, WR Wes Welker
Impact Rookies: LB Shane Ray, OT Ty Sambrailo, OL Max Garcia
Strengths: Running Back, Passing Game
Weaknesses: Too much turnover for a playoff team, Defensive Line
Kansas City Chiefs (10-6, 2nd in AFC West, #6 seed Wildcard)
Mark J. Rebilas - USA TODAY Sports The return of Eric Berry will be what re-solidifies Kansas City as a top ten defense. |
Off-season Losses: WR's Dwayne Bowe, Donnie Avery & A.J. Jenkins, TE Anthony Fasano, C Rodney Hudson, DL Vance Walker & Kevin Vickerson, G Mike McGlynn, LB Joe Mays, S Kurt Coleman, OT Ryan Harris, CB Chris Owens, RB Joe McKnight
Impact Rookies: CB's Marcus Peters & Steven Nelson, G Mitch Morse, WR Chris Conley, LB Ramik Wilson
Strengths: Linebackers, Running Backs, Guards
Weaknesses: Defensive Line, Receiving depth
San Diego Chargers (8-8, 3rd in AFC West, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: WR Stevie Johnson, OT Joseph Barksdale & Chris Hairston, G Orlando Franklin, DT Mitch Unrein, CB Patrick Robinson, S Jimmy Wilson
Off-season Losses: RB Ryan Mathews, WR Eddie Royal, G Chad Rinehart, C Nick Hardwick, LB's Andrew Gachkar, Dwight Freeney & Reggie Walker, S Marcus Gilchrist, CB Shareece Wright, C Doug Legursky
Impact Rookies: RB Melvin Gordon, LB Denzel Perryman, CB Craig Mager
Strengths: Safeties
Weaknesses: Center
Oakland Raiders (4-12, 4th in AFC West, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: C Rodney Hudson, LB's Curtis Lofton & Malcolm Smith, DT Dan Williams, RB Roy Helu Jr., WR Michael Crabtree, S Nate Allen, OL J'Marcus Webb, TE Lee Smith, HC Jack Del Rio
Off-season Losses: QB Matt Schaub, RB Darren McFadden, WR Denarius Moore, C Stefen Wisniewski, DE Lamarr Woodley, DT's Pat Sims & Antonio Smith, CB Chimdi Chekwa, S Tyvon Branch
Impact Rookies: WR Amari Cooper, DE Mario Edwards Jr., TE Clive Walford, LB Ben Heeney
Strengths: Defensive Line, Interior Offensive Line
Weaknesses: Running Back, Receiving Depth, Linebacker Depth
Philadelphia Eagles (12-4, 1st in NFC North, Rd.1 Bye)
Philadelphiaeagles.com Kiko Alonso is back from an ACL tear and ready to lead his new team in tackles. |
Off-season Losses: QB's Nick Foles & Matt Barkley, RB's LeSean McCoy & Chris Polk, WR Jeremy Maclin, TE James Casey, G's Todd Herremans & Evan Mathis, DE/OLB Trent Cole, LB Casey Matthews, CB's Brandon Boykin, Bradley Fletcher & Cary Williams, S Nate Allen
Impact Rookies: WR Nelson Agholor, CB Eric Rowe, LB Jordan Hicks
Strengths: Linebackers, Running Back depth, Wide Receivers, Defensive Line
Weaknesses: Guards, Offensive Tackles, A ton of turnover
Dallas Cowboys (10-6, 2nd in NFC East, #5 seed Wildcard)
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports No matter which Running Back steps up (if any), Dez Bryant will always be the focal point in Dallas's offense. |
Off-season Losses: RB DeMarco Murray, WR Dwayne Harris, OT Jeremy Parnell, DE's George Selvie & Anthony Spencer, DT Henry Melton, LB's Bruce Carter & Justin Durant, DB Sterling Moore
Impact Rookies: CB Byron Jones, DE Randy Gregory, OT Chaz Green, OL La'el Collins
Strengths: Offensive Line, Defensive Line depth
Weaknesses: Running Back, Receiving depth, Defensive Backfield
New York Giants (8-8, 3rd in NFC East, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: WR Dwayne Harris, OT Marshall Newhouse, LB's Jonathan Casillas, Jasper Brinkley & J.T. Thomas, DT's Louis Nix & Kenrick Ellis, DE George Selvie, S's Craig Dahl & Brandon Meriweather
Off-season Losses: WR Jerrel Jernigan, G Adam Snyder, DE Mathias Kiwanuka, RB Peyton Hillis, C J.D. Walton, DT Mike Patterson, OT James Brewer, S's Antrel Rolle, Quintin Demps & Stevie Brown, LB Spencer Paysinger, CB's Walter Thurmond III & Zack Bowman
Impact Rookies: OT Ereck Flowers, S Landon Collins, DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa
Strengths: Wide Receiver
Weaknesses: Offensive Line, Linebackers, Safeties
Washington (3-13, 4th in NFC East, #2 pick in 2016)
Off-season Additions: DT's Terrance Knighton & Stephen Paea, CB Chris Culliver, S Jeron Johnson
Off-season Losses: RB Roy Helu Jr., WR's Santana Moss & Leonard Hankerson, OT Tyler Polumbus, DE's Jarvis Jenkins & Stephen Bowen, DT Barry Cofield, LB Brian Orakpo, DB E.J. Biggers, S Brandon Meriweather
Impact Rookies: OT Brandon Scherff, LB Preston Smith, RB Matt Jones, WR Jamison Crowder, G Arie Kouandjio
Strengths: Wide Receiver depth
Weaknesses: Everything Else
Green Bay Packers (13-3, 1st in NFC North, Rd.1 Bye)
USA TODAY Sports Will Green Bay be able to overcome the Jordy Nelson injury? Probably. |
Off-season Losses: QB Matt Flynn, WR Jarrett Boykin, LB's A.J. Hawk & Jamari Lattimore, CB's Tramon Williams, Davon House & Jarrett Bush
Impact Rookies: DB's Damarious Randall & Quinten Rollins, WR Ty Montgomery, LB Jake Ryan, CB LaDarius Gunter
Strengths: Depth at every position besides maybe the Guard position and Cornerback
Weaknesses: James Jones is not quite Jordy Nelson
Minnesota Vikings (8-8, 2nd in NFC North, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: QB Shaun Hill, WR Mike Wallace, CB Terence Newman
Off-season Losses: QB's Matt Cassel & Christian Ponder, FB Jerome Felton, WR Greg Jennings, G's Charlie Johnson & Vladimir Ducasse, LB Jasper Brinkley
Impact Rookies: CB Trae Waynes, LB Eric Kendricks, DE Danielle Hunter, OT T.J. Clemmings
Strengths: Linebackers, Special Teams, Running Back
Weaknesses: Offensive Tackle
Detroit Lions (6-10, 3rd in NFC North, No Playoffs)
Joique Bell has finally won the starting job and will share carries with Ameer Abdullah. |
Off-season Losses: DE George Johnson, DT's Nick Fairley & Ndamukong Suh, RB Reggie Bush, FB Jed Collins
Impact Rookies: G Laken Tomlinson, RB's Ameer Abdullah & Zach Zenner, DT Gabe Wright, FB Michael Burton
Strengths: Tight End depth, Defensive Line
Weaknesses: Consistency
Chicago Bears (5-11, 4th in NFC North, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: LB's Pernell McPhee & Sam Acho, S Antrel Rolle, WR Eddie Royal, OL Vladimir Ducasse, DE Jarvis Jenkins, CB's Tracy Porter & Alan Ball, C Will Montgomery, RB Jacquizz Rodgers, HC John Fox
Off-season Losses: WR's Brandon Marshall & Josh Morgan, LB's Lance Briggs, Darryl Sharpton & D.J. Williams, OL Eben Britton & Brian de la Puente, S's Chris Conte & Danny McCray, TE Dante Rosario, DT Stephen Paea, CB Charles Tillman, HC Marc Trestman
Impact Rookies: WR Kevin White (eventually), DT Eddie Goldman, C Hronnis Grasu, RB Jeremy Langford
Strengths: Outside Linebacker
Weaknesses: Defensive Backs, No depth anywhere besides Linebacker
Carolina Panthers (9-7, 1st in NFC South, #4 seed)
David T. Foster III - The Charlotte Observer Carolina continues to sign past-their-prime defensive backs (like Charles Tillman) in hopes of shoring up a cap-friendly defense. |
Off-season Losses: OT's Byron Bell & Garry Williams, RB DeAngelo Williams, DE Greg Hardy, LB Chase Blackburn
Impact Rookies: LB Shaq Thompson, WR Devin Funchess, OT Daryl Williams, RB's Cameron Artis-Payne & Brandon Wegher
Strengths: Quarterback depth, Linebackers, Defensive Tackle depth
Weaknesses: Wide Receivers, Offensive Line, Defensive Backfield
New Orleans Saints (8-8, 2nd in NFC South, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: C Max Unger, LB Dannell Ellerbe, RB C.J. Spiller, DE Anthony Spencer, CB's Kyle Wilson & Brandon Browner
Off-season Losses: RB Pierre Thomas, WR's Robert Meachem & Kenny Stills, TE Jimmy Graham, G Ben Grubbs, C Jonathan Goodwin, DE Brandon Deaderick, DT Tyrunn Walker, LB Curtis Lofton, CB's Patrick Robinson & Corey White
Impact Rookies: OT Andrus Peat, LB's Stephone Anthony, Davis Tull & Hau'oli Kikaha, DT Tyeler Davison
Strengths: Running Back, Safety depth
Weaknesses: Receiving depth (although, I'm sure someone will break out with Drew Brees throwing to them)
Atlanta Falcons (7-9, 3rd in NFC South, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: WR Leonard Hankerson, TE Jacob Tamme, OT Tyler Polumbus, G's Mike Person & Chris Chester, FB Collin Mooney, DE's Adrian Clayborn & O'Brien Schofield, LB's Allen Bradford, Brooks Reed & Justin Durant, CB Phillip Adams, HC Dan Quinn
Off-season Losses: QB T.J. Yates, RB's Steven Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers & Antone Smith, WR Harry Douglas, TE Bear Pascoe, OT Sam Baker, G's Justin Blalock & Harland Gunn, DL Corey Peters, DE Jonathan Massaquoi, LB's Sean Weatherspoon & Prince Shembo, CB's Robert McClain & Josh Wilson, S Dwight Lowery, HC Mike Smith
Impact Rookies: LB Vic Beasley, CB Jalen Collins, RB Tevin Coleman, WR Justin Hardy, DT Grady Jarrett
Strengths: Wide Receiver depth
Weaknesses: Defensive End, Pass Rush, Tight End, Safety depth
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11, 4th in NFC South, No Playoffs)
Brace Hemmelgarn - USA TODAY Sports Jameis Winston will need to get used to being in this position behind Tampa Bay's offensive line. |
Off-season Losses: DE's Michael Johnson, Adrian Clayborn, Da'Quan Bowers & Lawrence Sidbury, OT Anthony Collins, LB Mason Foster
Impact Rookies: QB Jameis Winston, OT Donovan Smith, G Ali Marpet, LB Kwon Alexander
Strengths: Potential, Cornerbacks
Weaknesses: Offensive Line, Running Back depth, Safety
Seattle Seahawks (10-6, 1st in NFC West, #3 seed)
The Seahawks try to make it back to their third consecutive Super Bowl potentially without S Kam Chancellor. |
Off-season Losses: C Max Unger, TE Zach Miller, G James Carpenter, DE/OLB O'Brien Schofield, DT Kevin Williams, LB Malcolm Smith, CB Byron Maxwell, S Jeron Johnson
Impact Rookies: DE Frank Clark, WR Tyler Lockett, G Mark Glowinski, CB Tye Smith, RB Thomas Rawls
Strengths: Defensive Backfield, Defensive Line depth, Running Back
Weaknesses: Offensive Line, Linebacker depth
St. Louis Rams (9-7, 2nd in NFC West, #6 seed Wildcard)
Getty Images I really don't trust either the Rams nor Nick Foles, yet they still sneak into the playoffs. |
Off-season Losses: QB's Shaun Hill, Austin Davis & Sam Bradford, RB Zac Stacy, OT's Jake Long, Mike Person & Joseph Barksdale, G Davin Joseph, DE Alex Carrington, DT Kendall Langford
Impact Rookies: RB Todd Gurley, OT's Rob Havenstein & Andrew Donnal, OL Jamon Brown, QB Sean Mannion, LB Bryce Hager
Strengths: Running Back (once they are all healthy), Defensive Line depth
Weaknesses: Quarterback, Wide Receiver
Arizona Cardinals (7-9, 3rd in NFC West, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: RB Chris Johnson, TE Jermaine Gresham, C A.Q. Shipley, G Mike Iupati, DE Cory Redding, DE/OLB Lamarr Woodley, DT Corey Peters, LB Sean Weatherspoon, QB Matt Barkley
Off-season Losses: QB Ryan Lindley, WR Ted Ginn Jr., TE Rob Housler, G Paul Fanaika, C Lyle Sendlein, DL Tommy Kelly & Darnell Dockett, DT Dan Williams, LB's Sam Acho, John Abraham, Marcus Benard & Larry Foote, CB Antonio Cromartie, S Chris Clemons
Impact Rookies: OT D.J. Humphries, DE Markus Golden, RB David Johnson, DT Rodney Gunter
Strengths: Guards, Safeties
Weaknesses: Cornerback depth
San Francisco 49ers (7-9, 4th in NFC West, No Playoffs)
Off-season Additions: HC Jim Tomsula, RB Reggie Bush, WR's Torrey Smith & Jerome Simpson, OL Erik Pears, CB Shareece Wright
Off-season Losses: HC Jim Harbaugh, RB Frank Gore, WR's Michael Crabtree, Brandon Lloyd, Kassim Osgood & Steve Johnson, OT's Anthony Davis & Jonathan Martin, G Mike Iupati, CB's Chris Culliver, Chris Cook & Perrish Cox, LB's Patrick Willis, Chris Borland & Dan Skuta, DE's Justin Smith, Aldon Smith & Ray McDonald, P Andy Lee, All hope
Impact Rookies: DL Arik Armstead, S Jaquiski Tartt, DE/OLB Eli Harold, TE Blake Bell, RB Mike Davis, P Bradley Pinion, WR DeAndrew White, RB Jarryd Hayne
Strengths: Safeties, Running Backs
Weaknesses: WAYYYYYY too much turnover, Defensive Line
MY OFFICIAL SUPER BOWL PREDICTION
Packers 38 - Patriots 20
Super Bowl picks are almost never exciting if you want to be at least close to 100% correct. Last year's New England v. San Francisco pick was close, but my "boldness" in picking San Francisco seriously backfired. Green Bay didn't do anything obviously amazing this off-season other than re-sign their most important players (Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga) and with one tragic preseason injury, they've basically replaced Jordy Nelson with James Jones (although Jones' role will be much smaller and Davante Adams is more likely to take the place of Nelson). New England lost a bunch of key help in their Super Bowl XLIX win, but I'm done doubting Bill Belichick or Tom Brady (especially pissed off Tom Brady). Even though I have picked Miami to win the division, I have the Dolphins losing in the AFC Championship game because I did not want to be THAT bold this year (clearly).
Super Bowl MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers
AP Photo/Michael Dwyer In a year of Super Bowl re-matches, Green Bay re-defeats New England in a re-match of Super Bowl 31. |
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