Apologize for the late posting today. Lost about 24 hours there with exactly the same symptoms I had two weeks after the second Moderna shot ... did other people have that? Weird. Two weeks to the day. Happy mother's day to all our BSJ mamas...
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We'll get more in-depth with the AFC East a little bit down the road, but after free agency and the draft, taking stock of where things stand in the NFL, and exactly how much the Patriots have improved themselves after an offseason like no other for them.
For reference, PFF had the Patriots ranked 20th entering the draft, NFL.com has them 18th after the draft (up two slots), and NY Post has them 13th. Patriots finished 17th in record in 2020.
Starting from the bottom...
32. Houston Texans (4-12)
Projecting here that Deshaun Watson misses at least a portion of the season, if he's not traded before them, due to his off-field issues. Even if he's only suspended half a season, he's going to come back to a raging dumpster fire.
31. Detroit Lions (5-11)
They're building some things on the lines, but the receivers and secondary are not good ... Jared Goff needs a lot more help than that.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15)
Wouldn't expect an Andrew Luck-like bounce (2-14 to 11-5) from Trevor Lawrence because those Colts were competitive, just that Peyton Manning got hurt. The Jaguars are a complete rebuild. This is more like an expansion team.
29. New York Jets (2-14)
Robert Saleh's defense is simple, so it won't take long for them to get up to speed. Jets are just lacking enough talent.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (8-8)
This could be the end for Jon Gruden. The team blew playoff spots both of the last two seasons and the roster has gone backwards.
27. Philadelphia Eagles (4-11)
This team is relying on Jalen Hurts to make the whole better than its parts, and I'm not sure he's ready for that. The offensive line and defense are getting old and slow in a hurry.
26. Carolina Panthers (5-11)
Matt Rhule has this pointed, slowly, in the right direction, but now they've baked in the transition time for a new QB. Offensive line is an issue.
25. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1)
Yeah, they have Ja'Marr Chase now but the Bengals still don't have an offensive line and the pass rush and defense are lacking.
24. Los Angeles Chargers (7-9)
If key people stay healthy and new OC Joe Lombardi gets up to speed, the Chargers' offense could put up some big numbers. Those are big ifs. They better. The defense ... is still not good.
23. Atlanta Falcons (4-12)
You know how all the really good Patriots teams would have a 5-8 really good players, and then everyone else was solidly average and capable of a little bit more depending on how good the gameplan was? The Falcons are the exact opposite. A surprising amount of blue chip players, but a ton of cow chips with no middle class.
22. Tennessee Titans (11-5)
This team has lost a ton of talent, and Ryan Tannehill is not the type of QB to make more out of less. This could be a rough transition year.
21. Chicago Bears (8-8)
Justin Fields probably ended up in the right spot ... if Matt Nagy can really coach. The jury is still out on that. If not, Fields can handpick his next guy. Will they be playing the music of Manchester, NH native Ryan Day?
20. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
Vikings are like your fantasy lineup when you don't have to worry about lines or defense. This offensive line is bad, and the defense did not get better with aging Patrick Peterson.
This team has some real talent, but has a huge donut at quarterback ... hmm, I wonder who might be available to fill that. Let me think on that for a minute...
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
The defense is really good, but the offense is in rough shape with a declining offensive line and Ben Roethlisberger.
16. New York Giants (6-10)
The offense has a chance to be pretty good if the rookies work out and Daniel Jones is better than average. But the defense has some serious holes. Adoree Jackson isn't a big add at CB.
15. Dallas Cowboys (6-10)
Micah Parsons doesn't paper over the fact that the Cowboys are still awful on defense and are installing a new system.
14. New Orleans Saints (12-4)
The Saints are sneaky shaky at every offensive spot except for running back, and the secondary needs some players to step up.
13. Miami Dolphins (10-6)
New offensive coordinators, a QB lacking confidence, shaky offensive line, slow tight ends and some linebackers that are a bit overrated. They could be headed for a tumble.
12. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
Team Trade is going to have a reckoning with its cap and young talent on the team, and it could come as soon as this year. There are a lot of holes on the o-line and on defense. Matthew Stafford better be Superman.
11. New England Patriots (7-9)
It would be easy to look at this roster and say, "You can't have them this high with Cam Newton as their QB." You may have a point, but I choose to believe Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels will figure it out at QB, and that means Mac Jones at some point. Great offensive line. Good backs. Great tight ends. We'll see at WR. Great front seven. Good secondary. A lot to like here ... when they get QB figured out.
10. Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
The core players are among the best in the league. It's the middle and bottom of the roster that has fallen off.
9. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
Chris Ballard better have something up his sleeve on the offensive line because it stinks. Spend some money, man.
8. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
We'll see if Josh Allen has really arrived, or if he's a one-hit wonder. There is no excuse for him not to repeat last season with his OC and everyone else back.
7. Washington (7-9)
Speaking of donut holes at quarterback ... this team is really good, but I think the offensive line is overrated. How much does a QB matter? We'll see with Fitzmagic.
6. Cleveland Browns (11-5)
Some people think signing former Rams S John Johnson and CB Troy Hill were huge moves. I tend to think they're way overrated. I know Jadeveon Clowney is way overrated. Has been since he entered the league. On paper though, talented team.
5. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
With all their talk this offseason, doesn't Jimmy Garoppolo have to lead them to the Super Bowl? I mean, their roster is just sooo good from what I hear.
4. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Need more at receiver but the line was rebuilt quickly and the secondary should be very stout.
3. Green Bay Packers (13-3)
Hard to quibble with the Packers addressing needs with CB Eric Stokes and WR Amari Rodgers in the draft ... about that QB though.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)
The way the Chiefs rebuilt the offensive line this offseason was downright Belchickian ... chef's kiss.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
Everyone is coming back and Drew Brees is now out of the division. Mix in the easiest schedule in the league and it is very legit to talk 19-0. The only thing working against them is complacency. That's no small thing, but I'm sure TB12 has a cure for that too.
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NICKEL PACKAGE
1. Tom Brady hasn't always seen eye to eye with the union brass over the years due his failure to take top dollar and push contract limits out to the benefit of all players. But Brady was pro-union this week when he reportedly called "for unity among players in what Brady believes should be "very intense negotiations" with coaches on modifying offseason work rules. "There's no f---ing pro baseball player that's throwing 95 miles per hour in mid-December," Brady said, referring to the league's offseason activities as "overly competitive" prior to providing such an example, per NFL.com's Tom Pelissero.
2. Interesting that Brady, who organized pretty serious Covid workouts for the Bucs at this time last year, is pushing for this. Makes you wonder if it's because it aligns with his business and core beliefs about training. His name was on the lockout lawsuit, but Brady was not a fan of that.
3. The one comp I keep coming up with for RB Rhamondre Stevenson is Keith Byars, the great Eagles and Dolphins do-everything back. Similar body type. Good feet for a big back, and really soft hands. Not really the Patriots' usual type, but I'm interested to see how he fits.
4. Happy trails, Jason McCourty ...
Donating funds for a playground is my way to give back to the kids for the amazing support that I received while playing in New England. Excited to start planning it! We’re getting a big slide, kids!!! @esplanadeboston @massdcr @massgovernor @charityteams #gronkplayground pic.twitter.com/Qrw2LE2c3p
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) May 7, 2021