The Aftermath’s NFL Draft Podcast is back for another week, featuring Studs and Sleepers, as well as a new edition of Stock Up/Stock Down. Chris debates Iowa offensive linemen Tristan Wirfs’ best fit in the NFL and talks about the next group of running backs behind D’Andre Swift, Jonathan Taylor and Travis Etienne. Plus, check out which prospect matchups to watch this weekend in a jampacked Week 7 of college football action. You can find the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.
Football
2019 NFL Power Rankings: Week 6
And then there were two. With the Chiefs falling on Sunday night, only the Patriots and 49ers remain undefeated in the 2019 season. The ’72 Dolphins can cross another team off the countdown to open the champagne. After five weeks of action, we have seen tons of unexpected results and parity certainly reigns supreme. There is just about no such thing as a sure thing anymore, other than maybe just betting against the Jets and Dolphins.
The top five gets a reorganization again following Kansas City’s loss and an impressive win from New Orleans. While the bottom of the pecking order is pretty clear, even if there is some small movement, it feels like the middle of the pack is shrinking slightly, due to Atlanta’s struggles and Pittsburgh’s quarterback carousel. The middle part of these rankings feels just as murky now as they did Week 1. In fact, I think I probably feel less confident about my ranking of teams 9-22 than I did before the year started. Just goes to show how unpredictable this season has been. We will start with the only form of stability this league has to cling to, and let the madness unravel from there.
1. New England Patriots: 5-0 (Last Week: 1)
It was a slow start from New England as they emerge from Week 5 as the lone undefeated team in the AFC. No one is playing better than New England right now, but this schedule has been as soft as it gets. Wins over Pittsburgh, Miami, New York, Buffalo and Washington came in convincing fashion, but no one other than the Bills have even come close to testing the Patriots. And they won’t for a few more weeks. With games against the Giants and Jets coming up, we should expect the Patriots to be 7-0 heading into a matchup with the Browns.
2. New Orleans Saints: 4-1 (Last Week: 3)
Touchdown Teddy torched the Buccaneers defense to the tune of four touchdowns and 314 yards. Bridgewater followed a pretty simple gameplan: throw the ball to Mike Thomas. Thomas finished with an incredible 11 catches for 182 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions. The defense gave up a meaningless touchdown to make the scoreline look close at the very end of the game. Against a Bucs team that dropped 55 on the Rams last week, the Saints sacked Jameis Winston six times and shutout Mike Evans. This team is rounding into form, and all of this is happening without Drew Brees on the field yet.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: 4-1 (Last Week: 2)
Talk about a dud. After 25 straight games with 25 of more points scored, Kansas City managed just 13 on Sunday night at home against Indianapolis. Credit to the Colts defense for getting after Patrick Mahomes, but this was a troubling performance from the reigning MVP. He was banged up and he missed on a number of passes downfield. Travis Kelce dropped a couple of catchable balls as well. The defense played well enough for the Chiefs to win too. It’s not time to panic about this team yet, but Andy Reid needs to get this team back on track fast.
4. Green Bay Packers: 4-1 (Last Week: 5)
Green Bay loves traveling to Dallas and nobody loved it more than Aaron. Aaron Jones that is. The Packers running back overpowered the Cowboys defense for 182 yards from scrimmage and four rushing touchdowns. With Davante Adams out, this was the type of performance needed to win. The Green Bay defense earned a ton of extra possessions as well, intercepting Dak Prescott three times. Now it wasn’t a perfect performance as Dallas climbed back into things and Amari Cooper ran wild for 226 yards through the air. This team is still figuring things out, but winning in the process.
5. Seattle Seahawks: 4-1 (Last Week: 15)
This was exactly the type of performance I was waiting to see from Seattle. To this point, the Seahawks had squeaked past the Bengals and Steelers, lost badly at home to the Saints and handled the Cardinals. Not exactly a convincing slate of results. Even though it was a really tight win, it is still a massive win over a division rival. Russell Wilson turned in an MVP-level performance and the defense bottled up Todd Gurley. The secondary still needs some work, but at 4-1 the Seahawks are in a good spot to make a playoff run.
6. San Francisco 49ers: 4-0 (Last Week: 8)
So uh, this team might be pretty legit. San Francisco is 4-0 for the first time since 1990. The defense battered Baker Mayfield. Matt Breida got things going early for the offense, but after that it was a ball control offense that racked up 275 yards rushing. San Fran’s schedule hasn’t really been too tough, but this was a dominant showing against a supposedly explosive offense. There are still holes on this team, with a need for corner help and a developing receiving core. This is going to be a very interesting team to watch at the trade deadline.
7. Los Angeles Rams: 3-2 (Last Week: 4)
Back-to-back losses should drop the Rams a ton, but the rest of the NFL is a mess right now, so Los Angeles lands here instead. This secondary needs a shot in the arm after allowing eight touchdown passes in the past two games. Sean McVay has to reestablish the run game to take some pressure off Jared Goff. Given all the major areas of concern, a one-point loss on the road in October is not the end of the world. If the Rams win their next four games against the 49ers, Falcons, Steelers and Bengals to move to 7-2, we will barely remember these two games.
8. Dallas Cowboys: 3-2 (Last Week: 6)
Similar to the Rams, the Cowboys drop two in a row, but to good competition in both games. There is no question Dak Prescott needs to take care of the ball, but this was concerning for a lot of other reasons. The defense had no answer for Aaron Jones, despite the fact Green Bay was missing its best receiver in Davante Adams. No one else on that team should stop you from stacking the box to shut down the run. That is unacceptable. The Cowboys get the week off next week because they play the Jets, but after that is a trip to Philadelphia and this team will need to be playing better by then.
9. Philadelphia Eagles: 3-2 (Last Week: 9)
Sorry Philly fans, beating the Jets does not correlate to a move up the rankings. The Eagles looked very strong in doing so though, hounding Luke Falk and scoring a pair of defensive touchdowns. After a rocky start, Philadelphia is getting healthier and is back in the race for the division. The continuing improvement of Jordan Howard offers some hope that this offense is going to be more balanced. If they can find a way to sure up the secondary, this team will be in business.
10. Buffalo Bills: 4-1 (Last Week: 12)
It was an ugly win, but the defense showed up once again and dominated. It sacked Marcus Mariota five times and held the Titans to 3.8 yards per carry. Buffalo could have used a little more out of Josh Allen and the offense. After all, you can’t count on the opposing kicker to miss four field goals every week. That being said, the Bills now have the same record as the Chiefs. This defense is playing like the best in the league.
11. Detroit Lions: 2-1-1 (Last Week: 11)
The Lions got a week off to watch the Bears lose, but now Detroit has to prove its hot start can be sustained. This might be the most competitive division in the NFL this season. With games coming up against the Packers and Vikings, the next two weeks could make or break the season. The secondary is going to need to find a way to step up, after allowing the third most pass yards per contest through their first four games. The time is now for Detroit to make a statement and a playoff push.
12. Houston Texans: 3-2 (Last Week: 14)
It’s hard to find any faults in the offensive performance after putting up 53 in a big win. Deshaun Watson put together an otherworldly statline with 426 passing yards and five touchdowns while completing 28 of 33 throws. Will Fuller played the game of his life as well, going over 200 yards receiving with three touchdowns. The defense did allow 15 points late in the game, but Houston dominated this contest from start to finish. Finally the offensive line kept Watson clean, and we saw how good he can be when he has time.
13. Baltimore Ravens: 3-2 (Last Week: 10)
Baltimore was lucky to escape with a win. Make no mistake about it, this was not a good showing from the Ravens. Even after Mason Rudolph left the game with a concussion, the defense needed a big play from Marlon Humphrey to set up a game-winning field goal in overtime. The bright side of this is now the Ravens are back in sole possession of first place in the division. Lamar Jackson struggled mightily, throwing three interceptions and just 161 yard. He also took five sacks in the game as well. Baltimore will need to clean up a lot of mistakes with their next three games against Cincinnati, Seattle and New England.
14. Chicago Bears: 3-2 (Last Week 7)
London is calling. The Bears will be all too happy to head home and regroup after a wild game across the pond. Chicago trailed 17-0 at halftime, then scored 21 unanswered to open the second half, only to allow the deciding touchdown in the final two minutes. Chase Daniel did the one thing he couldn’t do and that was turn the ball over. The Bears defense also picked a bad week to suddenly have its pass rush go missing, failing to record a sack. Chicago needs to find its identity after another disappointing showing.
15. Indianapolis Colts: 3-2 (Last Week: 18)
Will the real Indianapolis Colts please stand up? Indy lost Week 1 in overtime to a struggling Chargers team, beat the lowly Titans and Falcons, and then dropped a home game to the Raiders. So logically, they followed that up with a dominant defensive performance against the Chiefs. Give credit to this coaching staff for putting together an incredible defensive gameplan despite missing their best player in Darius Leonard. Malik Hooker was out as well. Thankfully, Justin Houston decided to put on a show versus his former team. It wasn’t a great game from Jacoby Brissett and the offense, so there is still room for improvement, but the Colts are now right back in the thick of the AFC South race.
16. Carolina Panthers: 3-2 (Last Week: 20)
The Kyle Allen experience continues as he moves to 4-0 in his career as a starter. Allen actually struggled quite a bit, but that didn’t matter because he got a lot of help from MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey. The former Stanford standout had 237 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in a dominant display. That dismal outing against the Buccaneers feels like a lifetime ago now as the Panthers are just a game back of the Saints in the NFC South. A rematch with those Bucs awaits, this time in London.
17. Minnesota Vikings: 3-2 (Last Week: 17)
Kirk Cousins took Adam Thielen’s advice and found him early and often all over the field. Thielen and Dalvin Cook ran all over the Giants defense. It was exactly the type of bounce back performance Minnesota needed after laying an egg against Chicago. There is still room for improvement as Cook fumbled at the goal line and the team as a whole committed 12 penalties. It is also a bit disappointing to not see the nearly 500 yards of offense turn into more points. The Vikings can take care of the lower tier, but questions remain about their ability to compete with quality teams.
18. Oakland Raiders: 3-2 (Last Week: 22)
Oakland looked untouchable in the first half and then collapsed after halftime. The Raiders did eventually pull out the win and prove that Khalil Mack is not crucial to winning football games. In fact, Mack and company failed to register a sack, while Oakland brought down Chase Daniel four times. In the process though, Jon Gruden sent a clear message, running the ball 39 times. Josh Jacobs handled 26 of those carries. Gruden clearly trusts his rookie running back and likes his team’s ability to control the clock. The Raiders had the ball for nearly 35 minutes. That formula takes pressure off Derek Carr and the defense, and can clearly lead to victories.
19. Cleveland Browns: 2-3 (Last Week: 16)
Oh Cleveland. After an offseason of hype and hope, the Browns crashed back down to Earth. Even after defeating the Ravens last week, Cleveland has not put to bed any of the concerns about its offensive line or it’s ability to show up in big games. Baker Mayfield put up a better QBR than just one player this week and that was Luke Falk. That’s not good company to keep. He completed just eight passes and spent a good chunk of the game picking himself up off the grass. Given all the injuries to the secondary, you would expect the pass defense to struggle. Instead, the run defense fell apart, giving up 275 yards on the ground. Cleveland has a lot of problems to solve before hosting the Seahawks next.
20. Los Angeles Chargers: 2-3 (Last Week: 13)
The Chargers could be in trouble. Philip Rivers is airing the ball out and completing passes at a high rate, but Los Angeles is not scoring touchdowns. The Chargers are fifth in passing yards per game, but 20th in points per game this season. Desmond King II scored LA’s lone touchdown against Denver on a punt return. It was easily the worst showing of the year so far for the Chargers’ offense, as they committed three turnovers and managed 2.2 yards per carry. It is going to take Melvin Gordon a little time to get up to speed, but this was a full unit meltdown, not just one player.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-3 (Last Week: 19)
Gardner Minshew, DJ Chark and Leonard Fournette create quite the offensive trio. If not for three fumbles by Minshew in this game, the Jags would probably be holding a share of the AFC South lead. The usually stout defense got shredded for 285 yards on the ground though. They did make life difficult on Kyle Allen, but had absolutely no answer for Christian McCaffrey. To be fair, not many people have, but when Jacksonville puts up 27 points, that should be enough given the amount of talent on the defensive side of the ball.
22. Tennessee Titans: 2-3 (Last Week: 21)
This is typical Titans football. The defense plays lights out, but the offense cannot find a way make it count. Derrick Henry carried the load once again as Marcus Mariota failed to do much of anything in the passing game. The offensive line had a rough day in Taylor Lewan’s return from suspension. Tennessee can play at a high level, but when it comes up against a decent defense, things seem to fall apart. Only one game out of the AFC South, there is time to turn things around, but it is starting to seem like the offense will never take that next step.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers: 1-4 (Last Week: 23)
It is incredible that Pittsburgh lost Mason Rudolph in this game and somehow managed to hang with the Ravens. Over the past few weeks, the Steelers defense has finally found its stride. The offense is still a bit of a work in progress, even beyond the quarterback position. For Pittsburgh, this running game really needs to get on track now facing playing with it’s third-choice (actually fourth-choice, they traded Joshua Dobbs earlier this season) quarterback of the year.
24. New York Giants: 2-3 (Last Week: 24)
It was a tough week for the Giants defense. Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook had a field day. They allowed an outrageous 490 yards. Wayne Gallman went down with an injury, leaving Jonathan Hillman to handle the backfield duties. Sterling Shepard will miss some time with a concussion as well. Daniel Jones has not been quite as prolific as he was during the second half of his first start. There were always going to be growing pains with a rookie quarterback, but the injuries have not made it any easier.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2-3 (Last Week: 25)
How did the Buccaneers follow up shocking the Rams? They could barely find a way to move the ball against the Saints. A last-minute touchdown made the scoreline look respectable. Tampa could not find a way to protect Jameis Winston, giving up six sacks. Mike Evans went missing in action, failing to even reel in one catch. This team has shown flashes of being able to compete with the cream of the crop. It is tough to win divisional road games, but the Bucs gave themselves little chance of doing so with an uneven performance.
26. Denver Broncos: 1-4 (Last Week: 27)
Denver probably should be 3-2, but getting one in the win column is huge for a team that has struggled to get going out of the gates. We saw more signs of the Broncos defense of old with two interceptions and stifling run stopping. The offense still has a long way to go. Its 18 points per game rank tied with Buffalo for 27th in the league, only ahead of Chicago, Cincinnati, Washington, New York and Miami. Moving out of that group is going to be just as critical to the defense continuing to round into form.
27. Atlanta Falcons: 1-4 (Last Week: 26)
The promise that surrounded this team entering the season is gone. Injuries have once again derailed the Falcons, but so has poor defensive play. This seems to be a capitulation of all the struggles Dan Quinn has had on that side of the ball, allowing 53 points. Atlanta also became the first team to fail to bring down Deshaun Watson all year. Unless there is a major turn around, Quinn is going to be out of job. The Falcons have plenty of high-priced and highly-regarded pieces to be a competitive team, but already three games back in the NFC South with a floundering defense, this group seems destined for a top-10 pick.
28. Arizona Cardinals: 1-3-1 (Last Week: 30)
At last, the Kliff Kingsbury-Kyler Murray era nets a win. It wasn’t pretty. In fact, the Cardinals almost managed to flip the script on their Week 1 comeback to force a tie by blowing this game late. Arizona led 23-9 in the fourth quarter, but allowed Cincinnati to tie things up. Thankfully, the Murray played his most complete game of the year, completing 62 percent of his passes, not turning the ball over and rushing for 93 yards, to lead the Cardinals to a win. The Bengals do have one of the worst defenses in the NFL, but getting a win here is big for confidence and presents Kingsbury something to build on with a very young group.
29. Cincinnati Bengals: 0-5 (Last Week: 31)
The Bengals are moving up! Not really because of anything they did, but more because of how bad other teams around them have been. Sure Cincy is still winless, but they came a lot closer this weekend and showed some signs of life. Granted it took a while for the offense to get going, but that was without John Ross and A.J. Green. Once the latter returns, this offense should be a bit more dynamic and reliable. Zac Taylor certainly has his work cut out for him when it comes to finding ways to compensate an awful offensive line.
30. Washington: 0-5 (Last Week: 29)
Jay Gruden is gone. It was going to happen eventually, and honestly this might even be a little bit premature given the circumstances. I’m hard pressed to remember the last time a team fired the head coach just five games into the season. Washington actually played fairly well in the first half of the game, holding New England to just 12 points. Things got a lot more lopsided after halftime and it is clear to see this team is in need of a serious rebuild.
31. New York Jets: 0-4 (Last Week: 28)
I don’t think the league has seen a passing offense as inept as the one the Jets have rolled out since the turn of the century. Adam Gase does not have much to work with, as he is starting Luke Falk, who started the year on the practice squad, but this has been downright pathetic. Gase is not free from blame either, after giving Sam Darnold nearly all the first team reps this week. New York is averaging 179.5 yards per game. That’s nearly 50 fewer yards than the freaking Dolphins! The Jets have also scored two offensive touchdowns this year. After allowing nine sacks against the Eagles, the only way to go is up. Unfortunately, the Cowboys and Patriots are the next two teams up. It’s going to be a really long season.
32. Miami Dolphins: 0-4 (Last Week: 32)
Miami took a week off from getting blown out, but only because the league requires every team to have a bye. I don’t really expect it to make a difference, but given how little time Josh Rosen has actually had in this offense, perhaps it will allow him to settle in a bit more. The lack of talent around him certainly does not help either. The Dolphins are going to be drafting first overall, or at least the top three. In reality the focus should start shifting to how this team is going to rebuild with three first round picks this year, which you can see in my latest mock draft!
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2020 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins grab QB of the future
It’s the first Monday in October, which means it’s time for another 2020 NFL mock draft. A lot has changed since my first mock draft in September. The quarterback class has gotten a bit deeper given the play of Joe Burrow and Jacob Eason. This is still an incredible class for wide receivers and running backs as well. Mix in an elite edge rusher in Chase Young and you’ve got a fun-looking draft class. Now mock drafts are more about the NFL side of things, figuring out which positions teams need to address in the upcoming offseason. For more of a college football focused look at these prospects, check out my latest big board.
The draft order is being determined is by the Super Bowl odds heading into Week 5 from Caesar’s Sportsbook. Tiebreakers were decided by strength of schedule. Obviously, this draft order is subject to a lot of change, but after four weeks of the NFL season, (I didn’t take Week 5 into account yet because it is not finished yet) this is where all 32 teams stand. Let’s dive into this October mock draft.
1. Miami Dolphins (20000-1) – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Let’s not overthink this any more. Josh Rosen has no supporting cast, but this offense lacks a clear direction forward. A rebuild with Tua Tagovailoa as the center piece is looking more and more likely. Tagovailoa has been the best quarterback at the college level this year. His touch on intermediate throws downfield is elite. He is decisive and intelligent. He will be able to command an offense for years to come. With three first round picks, the Dolphins will be able to add some talent around him too.
2. Washington (5000-1) – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Washington could go a number of directions here, but with Trent Williams still holding out, Andrew Thomas is a logical pick. Washington desperately needs to find a way to keep rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins upright. Thomas is the best pass blocker in this draft by a mile and is improving against the run. He is battle-tested having played in the SEC and would be able to step in on Day 1 to protect Haskins’ blindside.
3. Denver Broncos (2000-1) – Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State
This is one of the toughest teams to mock because of the talent that exists already on the roster. With Bradley Chubb and Von Miller, there is no need for Chase Young. With Emmanuel Sanders, Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton, I can’t see the Broncos taking Jerry Jeudy either. Instead, Denver nabs the top corner in the class after watching the secondary struggle in 2019. Chris Harris Jr. is 30 and there are trade rumors swirling. Jeffrey Okudah has the potential to be the best lockdown corner the league has seen since Darrelle Revis in his prime. He closes so well on the ball and is an excellent tackler in space.
4. Arizona Cardinals (2000-1) – Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
Arizona would be ecstatic if Chase Young fell to them at No. 4. After trying to find some veteran solutions in Terrell Suggs this offseason, the Cardinals need to address the long term need for a pass rusher. Chandler Jones would be the perfect mentor for the latest Ohio State star defensive lineman. Young does an excellent job setting the edge against the run and has a full arsenal of pass rush moves to terrorize opposing quarterbacks. He would immediately take some pressure off the struggling secondary.
5. New York Jets (2000-1) – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
New York continues to have the top player on a lot of draftnicks boards fall to them. Jerry Jeudy is about as polished as a pro prospect can be coming out of Alabama. He fills a major need for New York and would be an upgrade over any player in their current receiving core. Sam Darnold needs a proven receiver to throw to if he is going to develop. Jeudy’s route running ability and consistency makes him a no-brainer here.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (1000-1) – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
I initially had Jake Fromm mocked here, who I have ranked higher than Justin Herbert on my big board. However, I think Zac Taylor would love the opportunity to work with the toolsy Herbert instead. He has a big arm, but he seems to have some accuracy and technical issues that need ironing out. Andy Dalton is a free agent after the 2020 season, giving Cincinnati the perfect situation to break in a quarterback with lots of potential, but who might need a bit of time before he is ready to take over the starting gig.
7. Atlanta Falcons (200-1) – D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
While the Falcons have a number of needs, Atlanta does not want to miss out on a player in their own backyard. D’Andre Swift is about as pro ready as running backs come, with prototypical size, good hands out of the backfield and plenty of college production. The thing I love so much about him is his elusiveness and the lack of mileage he has picked up in college. With just over 300 carries in his college career, Swift should be primed for a long career in the NFL.
8. Miami Dolphins via Pittsburgh Steelers (150-1) – A.J. Epenesa, DL, Iowa
After taking Tua Tagovailoa first overall, that means the Dolphins no longer need a quarterback. Pretty much every other spot is a position of need. A.J. Epenesa seems like a good place to start. At 6’6″, 280 pounds, he is built more like a defensive lineman than a true edge player, but don’t let that fool you. He is an elite pass rusher with the strength to push around opposing linemen. He uses his hands really well and shows a good motor. He is not going to be a speed rusher, but with his ability to dominant off the line, he won’t need to be. There is a reason people are comparing him to J.J. Watt.
9. Indianapolis Colts (125-1) – Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
While Indy does have a true WR1 in T.Y. Hilton, there is not a whole lot of depth behind him at receiver. The collection of Zach Paschal, Deon Cain and Chester Rodgers is far from the most productive group. Enter Tee Higgins, who would offer a big-bodied, downfield threat who can win jump balls all over the field. He is probably the best red zone receiver in this year’s draft and would provide a nice complement to Hilton. Higgins struggles a bit with creating separation, but has the size, skill and catch radius for that to not matter much.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (100-1) – Grant Delpit, S, LSU
This Buccaneers’ secondary needs an infusion of talent. Tampa has come up with it’s fair share of interceptions this year, but the Bucs gave up the second-most passing yards per game through the first four weeks of the season. Grant Delpit should help with that right away. He draws a lot of comparisons to former LSU standout Jamaal Adams. The two have similar playing styles, but Delpit is better in pass coverage. He hasn’t been the strongest tackler this year, but he diagnoses plays well and gets himself into good positions to be successful. If he can sure up his tackling, he has All-Pro potential.
11. New York Giants (100-1) – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
The Daniel Jones era is off to a pretty good start, but the Giants could use some more help at receiver. Sterling Shepard has been great this year, but he is best suited as a second option. No one else in the New York receiving core is above replacement level other than Golden Tate, who is 31. CeeDee Lamb is a complete receiver with the ability to take the top off a defense. He fights for extra yards and has excellent vision after the catch. He would give the Giants another explosive playmaker along with Evan Engram. An offense featuring Shepard, Lamb, Engram and Saquon Barkley sounds pretty legitimate.
12. Oakland Raiders (75-1) – Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
Oakland entered the season expecting Antonio Brown to be its top receiving option. Let’s just say that didn’t work out and now the Raiders could use an upgrade at receiver. Laviska Shenault hasn’t had the best 2019 season at Colorado, but his talent is undeniable. He catches the ball away from his body and he turns into a running back after the catch. He has good speed for a 6’2″ 220-pound wideout and excels making plays down the seams. He would offer Derek Carr (or perhaps another quarterback, keep reading) a great target to boost the offense.
13. Tennessee Titans (75-1) – Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
This feels like such a good fit for Jake Fromm. The Titans have a great offensive line, solid running game and a talented defense. Sound familiar to Fromm’s current situation? It’s time for the Titans to move on from Marcus Mariota. His contract is up after this season and he has not played consistently enough to warrant being brought back. Fromm is poised and intelligent. His accuracy has improved this season. He is the type of pro-ready quarterback a team like the Titans could use. He won’t turn the ball over and he has the arm talent to win games.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (50-1) – CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
Going into the year, I really thought the Jaguars needed to go after a receiver in the first round. With the emergence of DJ Chark in his second year, that need does not feel as pressing and Jacksonville can shift its attention to finding its successor to Jalen Ramsey. CJ Henderson has the size and ball skills to be an NFL corner. He needs to improve as a press defender, but he has shown flashes of lockdown play. He won’t fill the hole a Ramsey departure would leave, but he would certainly help ease the loss.
15. Carolina Panthers (50-1) – Walker Little, OT, Stanford
The string of injuries Cam Newton has suffered over the past few years makes me look at that offensive line as a place where help is needed. Carolina has invested a lot of draft picks in recent years along the line, but with none of them proving to be a permanent solution, it’s time to add Walker Little. There is injury concern here with him suffering a season-ending knee injury in the first game of this season. However, Little projects as a future left tackle in the NFL. He is 6’7″ and weighs 315 pounds. You can’t teach size. He moves well and would be in the mix to start the 2020 season for the Panthers.
16. Detroit Lions (40-1) – Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
After letting Ezekiel Ansah walk in free agency following an injury-riddle tenure in Detroit, it is time to find a replacement. Signing Trey Flowers helps, but adding the relentless Yetur Gross-Matos would make the pass rush a strength. He is excellent at keep offensive lineman from locking him with his hand usage. He has decent bend and is a punishing tackler. At 6’5″, 255 pounds, he has the versatility to stand up or get after the passer with his hand in the ground. He would be a fun player for Matt Patricia to work with.
17. Buffalo Bills (40-1) – Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama
Buffalo has a championship level defense, but it needs to bring its offense up to speed. The best way to add speed is to draft Henry Ruggs. He might be the most explosive player in this class, with buzz about him potentially running a sub 4.3 40-yard dash. He would immediately provide Josh Allen a game-breaking receiver to complement the possession receivers they have in Cole Beasley and John Brown. Adding him to the offense would provide a big-play element Buffalo is definitely lacking right now.
18. Minnesota Vikings (28-1) – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Minnesota is fed up with inconsistent play from Kirk Cousins. His inability to complete deep passes downfield or show up in big games is maddeningly frustrating. Joe Burrow has shown he can do both of those things so far this year. His arm strength has been impressive and he looks sharp as a part of a rejuvenated LSU offense. He might not be ready to start Day 1 as there is likely going to be some time needed for him to transition to a true pro-style offense, but he wouldn’t be asked to do much right away. With a great running game and a top tier defense, Burrow would just be asked to take care of the ball. If he can keep playing at this level, he will lock himself in as a first round pick.
19. Seattle Seahawks (25-1) – Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Yes, the Seahawks traded for Jadeveon Clowney, but he could easily walk in free agency. Seattle can double down on the defensive line by adding Derrick Brown from Auburn. He is massive at 6’5″, 318 pounds. While he might have the build of a typical nose tackle, he moves a lot better than that. He had 4.5 sacks in 2018 and already has two heading into a game with Florida. Brown can generate pressure on the interior and is excellent against the run. Seattle has been trying to find talented defense linemen for a few years now and really struggled without Clowney on the field. Brown turns the line into an immediate strength.
20. Oakland Raiders via Chicago Bears (20-1) – Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
I told you it was coming! Cutting Derek Carr this offseason would save the Raiders $11 million in cap space and carries just $5 million in dead money. Oakland isn’t strapped for cash, but I don’t see Jon Gruden riding Carr into Las Vegas. Instead, he can get the strong arm quarterback he covets in Jacob Eason. Eason has had an interesting college career, losing his job at Georgia before transferring to Washington. He fits the size profile at 6’6″ and his improving accuracy has him trending into the first round. We have a small sample size of Eason playing at a high level, but if he continues to light up the scoreboard and demonstrate his ability to lead Washington through the Pac-12, he should hear his name called on Day 1.
21. Baltimore Ravens (40-1) – Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Baltimore made a decision in April to add more speed to the offense by drafting Marquise Brown. This offense could use a few more explosive players, so Baltimore nabs Jalen Reagor. He plays a similar style to Brown, but he is a little more physical. He has great burst, above average hands and plays much larger than his frame (5’11”, 195 pounds). While he primarily takes the top off the defense, Reagor had 72 catches as a sophomore. He is more than just a burner downfield. He hasn’t been as productive so far this year and, in a deep wide receiver class, that could cost him a spot in the first round.
22. Miami Dolphins via Houston Texans (33-1) – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
In this mock draft, the Dolphins have already addressed the quarterback position and defensive line. Now it’s time to protect that invested they made first overall. Tristan Wirfs is a right tackle, but he is a damn good right tackle. He is a punishing blocker who finishes his assignments. He holds up just well enough in pass protection. There is definitely some room for him to clean up his footwork. A good way to take pressure off a young quarterback is to run the ball. Wirfs will certainly help with that.
23. San Francisco 49ers (20-1) – Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
No team in the league (other than maybe the Eagles) is in need of secondary help in the short term than the 49ers. If San Francisco wins the Jalen Ramsey sweepstakes, then this pick becomes completely irrelevant. Because that hasn’t happened yet, the 49ers would do well to select Bryce Hall. He has the makings of a shutdown corner. At 6’1″, he will be able to take on just about any NFL receiver. He is a proven tackler and opposing teams have already learned its best not to throw at him. He has good positioning and tracks the ball well. He breaks well on the ball as well. Hall would fit well across from Richard Sherman as early as 2020.
24. Green Bay Packers (16-1) – Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State
It is time to give Aaron Rodgers some help outside of Davante Adams. Adams is an elite receiver, but after that, the Packers have a bunch of middling and unproven receivers. Tylan Wallace would help fix that. He is an explosive playmaker on the outside who can run past defenders and rise above corners to make plays. He is a decent route runner, with room for improvement. He put up 200-plus yards on both Texas and Oklahoma last year. Even though he is coming from a pass-happy offense, he is actually a good run blocker. He is a bit light right now listed at just 185 pounds, but if he can find a way to add a bit more muscle to his frame without sacrificing his speed, he looks like a future number one receiver.
25. Los Angeles Chargers (30-1) – Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
It is no secret Melvin Gordon will not be wearing a Chargers uniform next year. While Austin Ekeler has looked great this season, he is not your typical bellcow back that will run the ball 20-plus times a game. Jonathan Taylor could be that at the next level. He does it now at Wisconsin. In reality though, I think Taylor’s tough style of running and powerful approach would blend really well with Ekeler and give Los Angeles a similar combo to what it has now with Gordon and Ekeler. Just for way cheaper.
26. Cleveland Browns (25-1) – Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin
Someone needs to protect Baker Mayfield. The Browns signal caller took 12 sacks in the first four games of the season. Given the rest of the talent on this offense, it is time for Cleveland to address the offensive line. It could opt for a tackle here, but instead I think they grab the best interior lineman in the draft in Tyler Biadasz. He is a rock for the Wisconsin offensive line, rarely ceding ground. He does a nice job setting up his blocks in the run game and is about as consistent as they get in pass protection. Wisconsin regularly produces good NFL linemen, including Travis Fredericks, who has a real claim to the title of best center in the league. I think Biadasz might challenge him one day for that designation, making him a slam dunk pick for the Browns.
27. Philadelphia Eagles (16-1) – Krisitan Fulton, CB, LSU
As mentioned for the 49ers, the Eagles desperately need secondary help. Sidney Jones has been unable to stay on the field and the combo of Avonte Maddox and Ronald Darby isn’t cutting it. Kristian Fulton could be the latest superstar defensive back out of LSU. He needs just a bit of time to transition to the NFL. He has ballhawking corner potential, coming off a season where he had five interceptions. He uses his hands well, but still needs to work on some of his technique when jamming corners. He could rise up draft boards with games against Auburn and Alabama still on the schedule. If he performs there, he will be pushing much higher in the first round.
28. New Orleans Saints (14-1) – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
The Saints have been trying to acquire linebackers for a few years now. They signed DeMario Davis last year and traded for Kiko Alonso this year. To help solve the problem long term, they should draft Isaiah Simmons. Simmons fits what New Orleans likes to defensively and would definitely increase the overall speed at the position. He is a converted safety who excels in coverage and is an above average blitzer. He is not going to rack up double-digit sacks, but he has the instincts and athleticism to make a lot of disruptive plays.
29. Los Angeles Rams (11-1) – Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
This Rams defense is not the one we saw a year ago. Aqib Talib will turn 34 in February and the secondary could use a boost. Trevon Diggs is big for a corner at 6’2″ and 205 pounds. He missed a lot of time last year after breaking his foot, but he has looked sharp so far in 2019. Diggs played a bit out of the slot last year and shows some good versatility. He doesn’t have the most fluid hips of all time and he definitely need to improve how he attacks ball carriers in space, but his size and long arms make him a player who can contribute early on and has room improve in the future.
30. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2) – Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
This would just be unfair. Travis Etienne has been one of the most explosive and elusive players in college football over the last two years. Him playing in an Andy Reid offense with Patrick Mahomes would be nearly unstoppable. Etienne is an improving pass catcher who doesn’t see a ton of targets. Given the injuries and overall rotation of the Kansas City backfield, Etienne would be a great pick. LeSean McCoy is is 31 and Damien Williams is probably best-suited to be a change of pace back. Etienne would provide stability at the position and give the Chiefs another offensive weapon for opposing defenses to worry about.
31. Dallas Cowboys (9-1) – Julian Okwara, EDGE, Notre Dame
Dallas has had a lot of success drafting Notre Dame players (see Zach Martin, Jaylon Smith). Adding another one, this time to the defensive line seems like a quality move. The Cowboys invested a lot of money into DeMarcus Lawrence, but they also took a one-year flier on Robert Quinn for a reason. Dallas needs someone to play across from Lawrence, and Julian Okwara can do just that. He plays down hill and uses his hands well to fight through blocks. He has the ability to bully smaller tackles and enough speed to chase down plays. He is a bit undersized, weighing just 240 pounds, but if he can put on some weight, he would be a great 4-3 end in this system.
32. New England Patriots (5-2) – Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State
Predicting what the Patriots are going to do is impossible. It is also pretty difficult to identify any of this team’s needs given how soft their schedule has been to open this season. Best bet is that Bill Belichick will continue to add to this defense. Curtis Weaver is a powerful pass rusher who has good technique and heavy hands. He also has 26.5 career sacks in 30 games so there is plenty of production and a larger sample size. He reminds me a little bit of Trey Flowers, who left the Patriots this past offseason in free agency. Given that he can play against the run as well, I think New England will find enough value to tab him at the end of the round.
For more NFL Draft coverage, check out the Aftermath’s NFL Draft Podcast, with new episodes every Thursday.
NFL Draft Podcast Episode 4
Check out the newest episode of the Aftermath’s NFL Draft Podcast, complete with a full first round mock draft. This is an inside look at the mock draft for podcast listeners. Also see who made the cut for this week’s studs and sleepers. You can find the show on Spotify and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
2019 NFL Power Rankings: Week 5
What happened to consistency in the NFL? It basically doesn’t exist any more. The Patriots have long been the only thing that defies the constant turnover in the league, but even they were tested in Week 4. Vaunted defenses got torn apart. Prolific offenses sputtered. As the dust settles on the first quarter of the season, only three teams are still undefeated as the Lions, Rams, Bills, Cowboys and Packers all lost. Parity has been the league goal for some time, but this is taking it to a new level.
I know I sound like a broken record, but it is so hard to rank these teams. The level of mediocrity in the NFL is at an all-time high (or at least I feel like it is). It is nearly impossible to figure out who the true contenders are outside of New England and Kansas City. Pretty much every club has its clear flaws, even the Patriots. As a result, we have a massive shake up in the top five and movement all over the rankings.
1. New England Patriots: 4-0 (Last Week: 1)
Buffalo pushed New England to the brink. It took an incredible effort from the Patriots defense to stay perfect. There were question marks around the offensive line heading into the year and those have not faded as injuries have mounted. Tom Brady threw for 150 yards, managed no touchdowns and tossed an interception. Brady posted a 19.5 QBR and spent much of the game running for his life. The defense continues to play better than anyone could have imagined, even if they gave up 6.1 yards per carry in this one. Coming up with four interceptions makes the job a whole lot easier.
2. Kansas City Chiefs: 4-0 (Last Week: 2)
The usually stalwart offense saved its best for last as Patrick Mahomes led a game-winning drive to top the Lions. It was a very atypical performance. Mahomes failed to throw a touchdown pass, but picked up 50 yards on the ground. Three different players fumbled for Kansas City in the contest as well. Bashaud Breeland returned a fumble 100 yards for a touchdown and that proved to be the difference. The Chiefs will need to clean up a lot of the mistakes they made in this one, but survived a good test from what looks like an improved Lions team.
3. New Orleans Saints: 3-1 (Last Week: 10)
No Drew Brees? No problem. Well not really, as the Saints won in a slugfest without scoring a touchdown, but they moved to 3-1. This group is still working to iron out some issues its had moving the ball offensively, but the defense is playing lights out. They bottled up Ezekiel Elliott and made Dak Prescott look pedestrian. New Orleans gets an up and down Tampa team coming to town next week. Judging by the amount of scoring the Bucs tend to do, Teddy Bridgewater will need to play better in Week 5.
4. Los Angeles Rams: 3-1 (Last Week: 3)
This can’t be what the Rams expected when they invested $134 million in Jared Goff. Goff committed four turnovers and struggled to identify where the Tampa pressure was coming from. He is not alone when it comes to assigning blame. Los Angeles gave up a ridiculous 55 points in their loss, the most the Buccaneers have scored in franchise history. Constantly taking the field in change-of-possession situations didn’t help, but that is unacceptable for a defense that held the Patriots to just 13 points in the Super Bowl last year.
5. Green Bay Packers: 3-1 (Last Week: 4)
So maybe the defense isn’t as fixed as everyone thought. Philadelphia racked up 176 yards on the ground for 5.3 yards per carry. Carson Wentz also torched the secondary for three touchdowns and never really felt the pressure, as Green Bay never manged to register a sack. The offense definitely deserves some blame too, after failing to find its way into the end zone on its final two red zone possessions. One close loss to the Eagles does not undo everything the Packers had accomplished to this point, but it certainly provided a wake up call to a defense that had looked so strong for the first three weeks.
6. Dallas Cowboys: 3-1 (Last Week: 5)
After a cupcake schedule to open the year, Dallas got punched in the mouth on Sunday night in NOLA. The offense had shown some signs of starting slow already this year, but this took it to a whole new level as the Cowboys managed 2.3 yards per carry and just one touchdown. Dak Prescott played better than the stat line would indicate. Crucial fumbles from Ezekiel Elliott and Jason Witten crushed a lot of early momentum. Thankfully, the defense still looks pretty strong, sacking Teddy Bridgewater five times. Dallas still leads the NFC East, but it is going to need more out of its offense if hopes of a Super Bowl run are going to come true.
7. Chicago Bears: 3-1 (Last Week 9)
For the second straight week I will ask, is this the seventh-best team in the NFL? I feel pretty confident in those top six teams. After that, it’s a total toss up. Chicago lost Mitchell Trubisky, but shut down the Vikings offense. Stopping Kirk Cousins isn’t all that impressive, but slowing down Dalvin Cook and sacking the quarterback six times is. Cook managed 2.5 yards per carry. Chase Daniel should be able to do enough at quarterback to win if the defense plays at this level again when facing Oakland.
8. San Francisco 49ers: 3-0 (Last Week: 14)
Take a week off and move up 6 spots? Yeah, that logic seems kind of flawed, but the NFL doesn’t make a whole lot of sense right now. San Francisco is alone atop the NFC West and while their competition hasn’t been great (Steelers, Bengals, Buccaneers), they are winning without playing their best football. With this team set to get healthier with the return of Tevin Coleman and Jalen Hurd coming soon. We will see if this team is for real with a Monday night visit from the Browns up next.
9. Philadelphia Eagles: 2-2 (Last Week: 12)
This might not have been the best game the Eagles have played this season, but it was a critical win on the road. Jordan Howard flashed some of the talent he displayed so often over the past two years in Chicago. The defense made just enough plays to come away with a win. Carson Wentz took care of the ball and the offensive line took care of him. Philly is looking for the next man up in a couple spots on defense due to injuries and will likely be without Avonte Maddox for a few weeks. Still, the Eagles are just a game behind the Cowboys for the lead in the NFC East.
10. Baltimore Ravens: 2-2 (Last Week: 6)
Giving up 33 points to the Chiefs is one thing. Giving up 40 to the inconsistent Browns offense is another. The Ravens defense is not looking as dominant as we are used to seeing in the past, allowing 25 points per game through four weeks. Lamar Jackson has also struggled following his incredible start, throwing two interceptions in this contest. Ball security is going to be important, but so is a higher level of play from this defense.
11. Detroit Lions: 2-1-1 (Last Week: 16)
Lose a game and move up? When it’s your first loss of the year and it was a final-minute defeat to the Chiefs, you betcha! I will admit that I have long been a Detroit doubter, but after four weeks, and wins over the Eagles and Chargers, its time to give them some respect. The Lions have definitely been the surprise of the season so far. Matt Stafford played his best game of the young season and the defense forced a number of turnovers to slow down that high-powered Kansas City attack. The Lions have rebounded very well from that opening week tie and now seem like a true playoff contender in the NFC.
12. Buffalo Bills: 3-1 (Last Week: 15)
That was maybe the best defensive performance anyone has ever thrown at Tom Brady. The Bills held Brady to just 150 passing yards and just 46 percent passing. Unfortunately, Buffalo’s offense could not do enough to pull out the win. The Bills are making a compelling case to be a wildcard team in the AFC this season. The issue now will be the status of Josh Allen after a scary hit to the head on Sunday. Matt Barkley will likely fare better against other defenses, but Allen gives this team the best chance to win.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: 2-2 (Last Week: 13)
For about 30 seconds, I got really worried about picking the Chargers in my survivor pool this week. Then I remembered they were playing the Dolphins and so did they. Los Angeles cruised to a 30-10 victory, nothing special when playing Miami, but it was the first time the franchise won in Miami since 1982. Yes, you read that right. The biggest concern is the running game. The Chargers averaged just 2.9 yards per attempt against a defense that came into the game giving up 5.4 yards per rush. Melvin Gordon is coming back, but will be eased in. Los Angeles opens it divisional slate with the Broncos visiting this week.
14. Houston Texans: 2-2 (Last Week: 7)
Can someone please block for Deshaun Watson? He does have a tendency to hang onto the ball too long, but he is often running for his life. This was a game the Texans really needed to win to take control in the AFC South. Instead, they are now tied with every other team in the division at 2-2. The defense did it’s job, allowing just 16 points. It did allow Christian McCaffrey to run wild, but the Texans offense needs to be able to win when the defense holds an opponent to just 16.
15. Seattle Seahawks: 3-1 (Last Week: 17)
Seattle picked up a solid win over a division rival. The defense got after Kyler Murray, sacking him four times and never allowed him to get into a rhythm. Jadeveon Clowney endeared himself to Seahawks fans with a pick-six as well. Chris Carson had his best game of the year, topping 100 yards rushing and hanging onto the football this week. Beating the lowly Cardinals does not build a ton of confidence in what is to come next, but it gives Russell Wilson and company something build off as they enter a tough three-game stretch, starting with the Rams.
16. Cleveland Browns: 2-2 (Last Week: 18)
Where was this team for the first three weeks of the year? The Browns offense exploded for 40 points against the Ravens. Cleveland played a much more complete game than any outing up to this point this year and showed much of the potential everyone believed it had entering the season. Nick Chubb looked like an absolute monster, gashing the Baltimore defense over and over to make things easy on Baker Mayfield. While this was a great sight to see, it’s hard to shake the memory of the blowout versus Tennessee or the dud against LA. It’s going to take another good performance for me to start trusting this team.
17. Minnesota Vikings: 2-2 (Last Week: 8)
I can think of $84 million reasons Vikings fans are fed up with Kirk Cousins right now. It was another brutal showing from the offense, who could not find a way to take advantage of the Bears playing their backup quarterback. Cousins did not get much help despite his own struggles. He was sacked six times and that explosive ground game completely disappeared. Minnesota is only one game out of first place in the NFC North, but the offense’s propensity to disappear makes this a tough team to get behind.
18. Indianapolis Colts: 2-2 (Last Week: 11)
Maybe this is a bit extreme following a seven-point loss, but when there are 13 teams at 2-2 right now, something has got to give. Indy lost a tough one missing their best two players. However, the concerns that cropped up didn’t really rely very much on the absence of Darius Leonard or T.Y. Hilton. The lack of a running game is shocking. Marlon Mack and company managed a pedestrian 3.5 yards per carry on 23 attempts. The Colts will not win too many games where Jacoby Brissett has to throw the ball 46 times. That run game needs to come back.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-2 (Last Week: 20)
Don’t look now, but Gardner Minshew has started a winning streak in Jacksonville. Leonard Fournette deserves way more of the credit after ripping off 225 yards on the ground, but Minshew has this offense headed in the right direction. He engineered the drive to set up the game-winning field goal. The Jags got just enough production out of their defense to pull out the victory. This team is about as middle of the road as it gets, but that might be all it takes to win the AFC South.
20. Carolina Panthers: 2-2 (Last Week: 21)
Kyle Allen continues his undefeated run as the starter for the Panthers this year. It was not as impressive a showing as the week before, complete with three fumbles. This win is a credit to the Panthers defense. Carolina has the best pass defense in the league through four weeks. Christian McCaffrey, who might have the best nickname in the NFL, dominated again. The Panthers need to keep leaning on Run CMC as Cam Newton heals up. This isn’t college football, so style points don’t matter. Carolina is .500 and trending in the right direction.
21. Tennessee Titans: 2-2 (Last Week: 22)
I complained about consistency in the open and the Titans are the perfect example of what I was talking about. Marcus Mariota has toggled between being a quality starting quarterback and one of the worst passers in the league. Tennessee is 2-2 because it cannot find consistency right now. If the Titans get the most recent version of Mariota, this team would be hard to beat. The fifth year pro tossed three touchdowns and no interceptions in a convincing win over the Falcons. With Buffalo coming to town next, the offense will need to play well to earn a win.
22. Oakland Raiders: 2-2 (Last Week: 24)
So that’s what happened to the team that smacked around the Broncos in Week 1. The Raiders just seemed to take two weeks off from being competitive. Consistency nowhere to be found. But this was a big win for Oakland, who shutdown the Indy ground game and forced Jacoby Brissett to beat them with his arm. While Brissett did toss three touchdown passes, he struggled with efficiency and threw a back-breaking pick-six to now hero Erik Harris.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers: 1-3 (Last Week: 23)
Mason Rudolph picked up his first win of his career, but the defense was the story in this one. Pittsburgh sacked Andy Dalton eight times, intercepted him in the end zone and picked up an early fumble. The running game still hasn’t really gotten going, but those will be things the Steelers worry about at a later date. Right now, the focus is on building some momentum with Rudolph under center and continuing to climb back into the AFC North race. The Steelers could really shake things up with a win over the archrival Ravens.
24. New York Giants: 2-2 (Last Week: 26)
Going back to back. Well back-to-back wins at least. The key will be winning three in a row. That hasn’t happened since 2016, when New York reached the postseason. Playoff talk is a little premature, especially given Daniel Jones’ struggles against a bad defense, but Wayne Gallman filled in admirably for Saquon Barkley and suddenly Big Blue is one game back in the NFC East. There is no question the Giants have looked better the last two weeks, but with a test against Dalvin Cook and a much tougher Vikings defense coming up, the level of play will need to rise.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2-2 (Last Week: 27)
Once again, consistency remains elusive for an NFL team, this time the Buccaneers. I understand that the Bucs just waxed the Rams in LA, but they also blew an 18-point halftime lead the week before against a rookie quarterback in his debut. So which Tampa team are we going to see next week? Jameis Winston played about as well as we’ve ever seen him and the defense thrived on turnovers. Giving up lots of points and yards is still a major concern, but Bruce Arians seems content to win games in shootouts.
26. Atlanta Falcons: 1-3 (Last Week: 19)
The lowest ranked team that has a win on its resume? That would be the Falcons. Atlanta squeaked by a battered Philadelphia squad that missed a number of chances to win for their only victory of the year, but otherwise, has failed to show up in a meaningful way. The Falcons are wasting another season of Matt Ryan’s prime. There was no run game to be found for the Falcons either, as they managed just 58 yards. The offensive line also allowed four sacks and the defense barely bothered Marcus Mariota. Dan Quinn’s seat has to be getting a bit warm following this performance.
27. Denver Broncos: 0-4 (Last Week: 25)
The good news: the Broncos defense finally showed up! The bad news: Denver lost another heartbreaker on a last-second field goal. This team could very easily be 2-2, but there is no question Denver is struggling this year. The offensive line has not been good enough and the defense, while finally picking up a few sacks, is nowhere near as fearsome as in the past. Leonard Fournette ran all over them for 225 yards. This team needs to hit the reset button and reevaluate everything. A good place to start would be handing the ball to Phillip Lindsay more. He had 60 yards on 10 touches Sunday. He should be getting the ball more than that and the results support that fact.
28. New York Jets: 0-3 (Last Week: 29)
It wasn’t a great week for the rest of the AFC East, but that won’t matter much if Sam Darnold is not able to go in Week 5. The second-year quarterback is still working his way back from mono and his status will go a long way to determining if the Jets even have a chance against the Eagles. New York has a brutal three-game stretch out of the bye with Dallas and New England to follow Philadelphia. Things will almost definitely get worse before they get better.
29. Washington: 0-4 (Last Week: 28)
That’s not how you want to break in a rookie quarterback. With Case Keenum missing receivers all over the place, Dwayne Haskins made his first NFL appearance and it didn’t go well. He threw a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six, and could not find a way to punch in the ball from a 1st and goal from the two yard line. Not having Terry McLaurin definitely hurt, but the offense had the wheels completely fall off. Washington is hurdling towards a top-five pick.
30. Arizona Cardinals: 0-3-1 (Last Week: 30)
All the optimism that surrounded this team following the incredible Week 1 comeback to force a tie is gone. Kyler Murray struggled for the fourth straight week, forcing the ball into tight windows and taking costly sacks. The running game was fine, but that did not matter much with the defense putting up little resistance. Terrell Suggs is a nice story, racking up 1.5 sacks in the game, but the Cardinals have way too many holes along the offensive line and in the secondary for that to make a difference right now.
31. Cincinnati Bengals: 0-4 (Last Week: 31)
The Bengals should be thankful for the existence of the Dolphins with how they have been playing. While a lot of teams have been building week by week, Cincinnati seems like it is only getting worse as the year goes on. Andy Dalton got mauled and continues his trend towards being a backup quarterback somewhere else next year. The run defense finally showed up, but Mason Rudolph got in a groove. There is no question this team is heading towards a major rebuild. It’s time to start talking about who will be the team’s starting signal caller next year.
32. Miami Dolphins: 0-4 (Last Week: 32)
For one glorious moment, the Dolphins were leading in a regular season NFL game. It didn’t last long, but it did happen. Josh Rosen showed some early signs of improvement and the run game almost showed up. Miami is slowly getting better this year, but the gap between them and pretty much every other NFL team is fairly large right now. This team will spend the year seeing what it has in some young players and look to unearth a couple of diamonds in the rough to help them back to being competitive next year.
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