Blog Brav's Neutral Zone Distraction Blog - NFL stuff

Brav is back again! This time I'm covering the AFC North!

Baltimore Ravens
Primary Need: Defensive Line, Wide Receiver

Throughout the season, it seemed that the Ravens' offensive line was struggling with the loss of star guard Marshal Yanda. He's set to return in the preseason as well as other starting guard Alex Lewis. Their center Ryan Jensen has improved greatly over his disappointing 2016 season and is a worthy candidate to re-sign. However, finding additional receivers for quarterback Joe Flacco is a necessity. Wideouts Mike Wallace and Jeremy Maclin have posted solid numbers, but most others fall short of their expectations. First-round pick Breshad Perriman has remained in the IR list and under-performed when not. On the contrary, the defense is among the better in the league, however they have multiple aging stars such as safety Eric Weddle and linebacker Terrell Suggs. It would be a wise move for Baltimore to begin investing in another strong pass rusher to apprentice under Suggs for this upcoming draft.

Cincinnati Bengals
Primary Need: Quarterback, Cornerback

Quarterback Andy Dalton seems to have about equal measure in approval and disapproval around the league. He's led the Bengals for seven seasons and into four playoff games, however none of them came in victories. Cincinnati will select 12th in the NFL Draft (provided they don't trade) which can give them a fairly good chance to grab a first rounder. A new quarterback can take different approaches and renew a running offense with running back Joe Mixon. The Bengals could also possibly see about snagging a cornerback or two since starter Adam "Pacman" Jones is a possible cap casualty this offseason.

Cleveland Browns
Primary Need: Wide Receiver

In spite of going winless during the entire season, the Cleveland Browns are much more talented than their record suggests. Their defense is adequate, although just like any losing record team; having more playmaking defenders is always a good thing. However it is a big issue to revamp their offense. Quarterback DiShone Kizer's bigger issues were to make reads of a spread style offense, something that is a rarity due to its ineffectiveness within the NFL. Much of those risky deep passes Kizer attempts can be cut down if Cleveland grabs both a speed demon to attain yards after catch and a slot receiver for shorter route combos. Also see about strengthening the offensive line. Kizer was pressured immensely which forced the big number turnovers and sacks other teams attained.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Primary Need: Inside Linebacker

Ryan Shazier's spinal injury has left his return nebulous and his presence indicated he was the only viable option. Pittsburgh has an opportunity to grab a standard replacement through the draft or free agency. The Steelers primarily run a 3-4-3 defense and inside linebackers are crucial to its effectiveness. Also, don't be surprised if they go after a rotational offensive linemen that they can plug in case someone gets injured. Although star running back Le'Veon Bell is expected to be re-signed, they may make a play in the draft for a higher prospect if talks about a new contract fizzle.

Thanks everyone for reading! I'll come back next Sunday to cover the NFC North.

 

Brav is here again to cover the NFC North! In the meantime, the NFL Combine occurred over the weekend with some interesting results! Free agency is also 10 days away, so expect me to do some coverage on that frenzy!

Chicago Bears
Primary Need: Wide Receiver, Tight End

Rookie Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky has a tough task of bringing Chicago back to football relevancy. He's got an offensive line that isn't particularly flashy, but can buy him the protection he needs in order to make plays. However on the other end; the only viable Bear wideout is Cameron Meredith, who is coming off an ACL injury. That will leave three more spots for primary pass catchers. Look for them to dive into the wide receiver free agent market for anything they can get their claws on. A good start would be a speedy wideout such as Allen Robinson and a slot like Albert Wilson. Adding a solid blocking and catching tight end will not hurt matters either.

Detroit Lions
Primary Need: Defensive Line

Ziggy Ansah is certainly a talented edge rusher that can be hard to find nowadays. Yet he's had a history of knee and back injuries that kept him from playing and that may have Detroit's front office thinking long and hard about whether to sign him to a longer term deal or slapping the franchise tag on his name. If they do the unexpected and allow him to walk, there will certainly be another team...possibly the divisional rival Packers or Bears that may overpay for his services. The Lions can always use another powerful pass rusher regardless of what uniform Ziggy dons next season.

Green Bay Packers
Primary Need: Cornerback

All teams in the NFC could use cornerback help, but none as much as the Packers. Although 23rd ranked in pass defense and ahead of others like the Lions and Buccaneers, much of their secondary is either inconsistent or upcoming free agents. The only one who will remain starter is last year's second round Kevin King. Adding a second shutdown will help blanket the field better and prompt opposing quarterbacks to take fewer risks in longer passes.

Minnesota Vikings
Primary Need: Defensive Tackle

Minnesota is one of the possible destinations for top-tier free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins. All three have questionable futures and are almost certain that at least one will not be staying. Case Keenum's breakout of success should egg the Vikings into keeping him while Teddy Bridgewater's limitations and made-of-glass Sam Bradford has difficulty staying on the field uninjured. However another concern would go to the defense and the focus on keeping the core rock-solid.

Big thanks for reading everyone! I'll be heading out of town next week, so my coverage of the AFC South may be delayed to next Monday.

 

Here we go! Sorry it's a day late, but I've got the AFC South ready to roll! Free Agency is also this Wednesday, so expect to see a lot of transactions happen this entire week!

Houston Texans
Primary Need: Offensive Line, Tight End, Inside Linebacker

Now that the Texans have seemingly found their franchise quarterback Watson, who is expected to return from injury at the start of the season, Houston will need to give him the protection he needs in order to throw properly. DeAndre Hopkins is a solid number one and Will Fuller can fill a second spot. It's not hard to see Houston spending some money to improve their offensive line. They also let longtime inside linebacker Brian Cushing loose and seem to be searching both through the draft and free agency for his replacement.

Indianapolis Colts
Primary Need: Cornerback, Defensive Linemen

New head coach Frank Reich takes the reins and while Andrew Luck's return remains nebulous, manager Chris Ballard can focus on building up their struggling defense. Having released starting cornerback Vontae Davis and Darius Butler set to be a free agnet, they'll have to take a long look at their secondary and invest heavily for new faces. While they have parted ways with running back Frank Gore, it seems that having sophomore Marlon Mack will continue to carry an increased workload into the season.
Indianapolis picks third in the upcoming draft pending they don't trade, so they can easily grab top prospects off the board such as NC State's Bradley Chubb and 'Bama's Minkah Fitzpatrick to fill in the gaping holes.

Jacksonville Jaguars
Primary Need: Tight End, Wide Receiver

The surprise of the AFC last season, Jacksonville has poise to take the AFC South again with their stalwart defense. However this time around, they may not be big spenders for the free agency as some may think. Re-signing defensive lineman Calais Campbell would be a sound option, however many pieces will still be in place at least through the 2018 season.
With quarterback Blake Bortles given an extension, they'll need to give playmakers at wide receiver and tight end in order to help alleviate all the pressure and focus off running back Leonard Fournette. They've shown some interest in former Bills and Rams wideout Sammy Watkins and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how they approach the offseason in getting Bortles some new toys.

Tennessee Titans
Primary Need: Defensive Line

The Titans seem to be one of the better off teams coming into the offseason, possessing a well-rounded team with much of the same pieces still in place. They've released some big names such as running back DeMarco Murray, guard Quinton Spain and wide receiver Eric Decker. Adding an extra running back is interesting, however many speculate that Derrick Henry is ready to take over as the starter.
In the NFL, having too many pass rushers is never a bad thing and Tennessee has a nasty trio of lineman Jurrell Casey, linebackers Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo. Why not try and grab someone else if the price is right like recently released Ndamukong Suh?

I shall be back on Sunday to do the NFC South as well as Wednesday or Thursday to announce the free agency headlines. Expect a lot of madness to occur this week in the NFL!

 

Although the free agency period is not supposed to begin tomorrow, we've already seen some interesting transactions already take place. Here's the big names.

• The Atlanta Falcons have re-signed offensive lineman Austin Pasztor and cornerback Leon McFadden.
• The Arizona Cardinals have signed first overall pick quarterback Sam Bradford.
  
• The Baltimore Ravens re-signed their offensive lineman James Hurst to a 4 year extension.
• The Buffalo Bills have been one of the more active players in the offseason, re-signing defensive tackle Kyle Williams and adding Carolina's tackle Star Lotuelei on a 5 year contract to bolster the interior run defense, something the Bills desperately needed to address. They've also added running back Chris Ivory and cornerback Vontae Davis.
• The Carolina Panthers have been relatively quiet, but did opt to keep their kicker Graham Gano for 4 more years worth $17 million. New acquisitions include wide receiver Torrey Smith in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles and sent away cornerback Darryl Worley. Former Redskins cornerback Brashaud Breeland is also expected to sign with the team on a $24 million deal worth 3 years.
  
• The Chicago Bears are reworking their wide receiver corps, bringing quarterback Mitch Trubisky some new weapons. Among them are ex-Jaguars Allen Robinson and ex-Falcons Taylor Gabriel. They have also signed the Philly Special tight end Trey Burton.
  
• The Cincinnati Bengals agree to terms with defensive tackle Chris Baker for a one-year $3 million deal. They have also declined to pick up the option for starting cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. Left tackle Cordy Glenn will be given to the Bengals from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for draft picks. The teams swapped first round picks for the upcoming draft, meaning Cincinnati will pick 21st and Buffalo will pick 12th.
  
• The Cleveland Browns continue to be the most active team in the offseason. They have traded away quarterback DiShone Kizer to the Green Bay Packers, defensive lineman Danny Shelton to the New England Patriots and a plethora of draft picks for multiple players. Some additions include wide receiver Jarvis Landry from Miami, Tyrod Taylor from Buffalo and Demarious Randall from Green Bay.
• The Dallas Cowboys have franchise tagged defensive end Demarcus Lawrence and have granted cornerback Orlando Scandrick a release after the request was made.
• The Denver Broncos seem to be the likely landing spot for quarterback Case Keenum, who is coming off a career season with the Minnesota Vikings.
  
• The Detroit Lions have franchise tagged defensive end Ziggy Anah and have re-signed starting safety Tavon Wilson for an additional two years. New additions include former Giants linebacker Devon Kennard and Bears linebacker Christian Jones.
• The Green Bay Packers have obtained quarterback DiShone Kizer from the Cleveland Browns and is the intended destination for ex-Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham.
• The Houston Texans re-signed punter Shane Lechler and will lure away Jaguars cornerback Aaron Colvin to bolster the secondary. Colvin's contract is for 4 years.
• The Indianapolis Colts remain silent during the tampering period. However it was rumored that they were talking to the Buffalo Bills in a trade involving Indianapolis' 3rd overall pick in the upcoming draft.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars are keeping speedy wide receiver Marqise Lee in house and have added ex-Panthers guard Andrew Norwell in a 5 year contract. New face incoming are wide receivers Donte Moncrief from Colts. Longtime inside linebacker Paul Posluszny has also announced his retirement from the NFL. "Poz" is the Jaguars' all time leading tackler (815) and holds the record for most interceptions by a Jaguars linebacker with 11.
• The Kansas City Chiefs have released safety Ron Parker and linebacker Tamba Hali. They are also announcing the signing of Rams wide receiver Sammy Watkins and Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens. Fullback Anthony Sherman will remain with the team on a re-signing contract.
  
• The Los Angeles Chargers have granted cornerback Casey Hayward to a 3 year extension.
• The Los Angeles Rams acquire starting cornerbacks Marcus Peters from the Chiefs and Aqib Talib from the Broncos.
  
• The Miami Dolphins will sign wide receivers Danny Amendola from the Patriots and Albert Wilson from the Chiefs.
• The Minnesota Vikings seem to be the ideal signing spot for top free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins.
• The New England Patriots have acquired defensive tackle Danny Shelton from the Cleveland Browns.
• The New Orleans Saints will re-sign quarterback Drew Brees to two additional years.
  
• The New York Giants are supposedly signing Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart.
• The New York Jets have retained quarterback Josh McCown.
• The Oakland Raiders are re-signing defensive lineman Justin Ellis and have released cornerback Sean Smith. New players include wide receiver Griff Whalen and tight end Derek Carrier.
• The Philadelphia Eagles have obtained defensive lineman Michael Bennett from the Seahawks and Haloti Ngata from the Lions.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers placed the franchise tag on running back Le'Veon Bell.
• The San Francisco 49ers have been an active team in free agency; re-signing wide receiver Marqise Goodwin, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. They have also added center Weston Richburg from the Giants and interestingly longtime nemesis Richard Sherman from the Seahawks.
• The Seattle Seahawks keep defensive back Bradley McDougald for a 3 year deal.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be keeping backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and cornerback Brent Grimes for one additional season. Tight end Cameron Brate is also obtaining a 6 year extension with the team. This all comes after the mega deal for wide receiver Mike Evans, who inked an $82 million deal for 5 years.
  
• The Tennessee Titans have announced that they will sign Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler to a massive 5 year contract.
  
• The Washington Redskins have signed ex-Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson to a 5 year contract.

 

More free agency stuff!

• Another Patriot is going to the AFC South. The Tennessee Titans and running back Dion Lewis have agreed to terms. They have also re-signed offensive line anchor Josh Kline .
  
• The New England Patriots will be keeping running back Rex Burkhead in-house.
• Running back Carlos Hyde has signed with the Cleveland Browns. Former Raiders cornerback TJ Carrie has also signed a 4 year contract with the team. Longtime All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas has also announced his retirement from the NFL.
• Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will sign on for a year with the New York Jets. They will also bring in some defensive back help in former Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson and Titans linebacker Avery Williamson.
• The Arizona Cardinals have released safety Tyrann Mathieu after he had announced he refused a pay cut. They will bring in starting Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith.
  
• The Detroit Lions have released starting tight end Eric Ebron.
• Linebacker Todd Davis will re-sign with the Denver Broncos for an additional 3 years. Rumor is also circulating that teams are interested in trading for quarterback Trevor Siemian.
• New Orleans Saints are signing up Eagles cornerback Patrick Robinson and Jets linebacker Demario Davis.
• Blocking tight end Virgil Green will depart from the Broncos for AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers.
• Recently released wide receiver Jordy Nelson is garnering interest from the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks.
• The San Francisco 49ers now have a new running back coming from Vikings. Jerrick McKinnon.
• The Indianapolis Colts have brought in Raiders defensive tackle Denico Autry.
• Former Dolphins Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has a couple of potential new homes...the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks.
• The New York Giants will sign ex-Patriots offensive tackle Nate Solder.
• The Cincinnati Bengals are rumored to be in trade talks with the Oakland Raiders for a deal regarding linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

 

Okay everyone. I missed last week, so expect the AFC West to come on Sunday as scheduled. Here's the NFC South.

Atlanta Falcons
Primary Need: Offensive Line

The Falcons' offensive line is still in decent shape and much of their pieces elsewhere on the roster are under contract and expected to be re-signed again. Bringing back lineman Austin Pasztor was a good option, but now they should look to invest in some younger players with the flexibility and mobility to keep quarterback Matt Ryan protected. Ryan flourishes in the pocket and while it is one of the better O-lines in the league, there is always room for improvement considering Atlanta's aspirations to return to the Super Bowl.

Carolina Panthers
Primary Need: Offensive Line

Similar to Atlanta; the Panthers' offensive line struggled, evidenced by how their running backs rushed for the second fewest yards of any team this season. Two anchors, tackle Darryl Williams and center Ryan Kalil will be free agents at the end of the season and it can be expensive to have a solid protection wall for a quarterback. Carolina needs to add some depth in the draft regardless if those two men will remain on the roster come next season.

New Orleans Saints
Primary Need: Tight End

The Saints displayed their strengths in one of the strongest offenses in the league this past season and it's a Super Bowl or bust time for them. Quarterback Drew Brees has been re-signed for two extra years and is now approaching what appears to be the twilight of his career. He has a dynamic backfield in Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara and having a powerful hybrid tight end that can block and catch passes could put them as favorites to possibly win the NFC. While it was speculated that former Saint tight end Jimmy Graham could return, that was squashed after he had signed with the Packers. NOLA needs to look elsewhere for the missing piece.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Primary Need: Defensive Line, Running Back

The Buccaneers have two large priorities for the offseason however the larger glaring weakness is their defensive front. The holes were first exposed after defensive lineman Noah Spence dislocated his shoulder and it all went downhill from there. Injuries plagued the rest of the line team and linebackers corps, who floundered with the loss of their starters. First team All-Pro tackle Gerald McCoy will be unable to hold his own despite his threat to the offense. Thankfully Tampa's recent trade with the Giants for Jason Pierre-Paul and signing ex-Eagle Vinny Curry shows that they are addressing the need. This upcoming draft is also very rich in pass rushing talent, so they best take full advantage.

I shall be back Sunday to cover the AFC West! Thanks for listening

 

A day late, but who cares? AFC West coming right up!

Denver Broncos
Primary Need: Offensive Line

Case Keenum appears to be the guy calling the shots for the Broncos this upcoming season and it is certain he will still face some stiff competition from Paxton Lynch and Chad Kelly. Whoever goes under center will need a far better pass protection job than the 2017 line offered. Much of it has solid pieces, however finding an immovable right tackle would immensely strengthen the wall and improve Denver's atrocious running game. Menelik Watson is talented, but still limited when in the tackle position and in retrospect, could provide additional use in depth as a backup or utility at guard. Moving first round pick Garrett Bolles is also an option, however keeping him at left tackle is instrumental especially when facing division rivals who all have nasty pass rushing D-linemen and linebackers.

Kansas City Chiefs
Primary Need: Inside Linebacker

All teams could use some linebacker help whether it's outside or inside...however now nobody needs more inside linebacker help than the Chiefs. The release of longtime veterans Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson leave some gaping holes in which other teams can exploit. Their defensive scheme struggles against nimbler running backs. Finding an every-down inside linebacker that is smart and swift could bolster coagulating the defense together quicker. The Chiefs did sign former a 5 year contract with Cowboys inside linebacker Anthony Hitchens which could provide some stability. Hitchens is only 25 and one of the budding interior run defenders after his breakout season last year.

Los Angeles Chargers
Primary Need: Safety

Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley still runs his old style of play when he had the feared Seahawks defense prior to their Super Bowl victory. While he has talent across the field such as pass rushers Melvin Ingram, Joey Bosa and defensive back Casey Hayward and Jason Verrett (if he's healthy) The previous starter is Tre Boston, who has shown flashes of promise, but otherwise unspectacular and his free agent status is not one that the Chargers should bring back if it ends up breaking the bank. Finding an Earl Thomas-esque player can help Bradley obtain the missing piece that could make the Bolts' D one that can give opposing quarterbacks headaches.

Oakland Raiders
Primary Need: Wide Receiver

The Raiders have begun to address this issue with the signing of longtime Packer wideout Jordy Nelson, who is definitely a reliable catcher than the dropping-prone Michael Crabtree. Across from him, it seemed that fellow wideout Amari Cooper had the potential to become the next big thing especially with gunslinger Derek Carr calling the plays. Cooper had since been plagued by injuries and slippery hands of his own, thus leaving him as a WR2 at best if his seasons continue on the current path. If Oakland goes for a tall and durable interior route runner; it'll make both Cooper's and Carr's jobs much easier.

Final division NFC West coming next week! Thanks for listening!

 

Final division NFC West.

Arizona Cardinals
Primary Need: Wide Receiver, Quarterback, Offensive Line

The birdgang's new head coach Steve Wilks brings intensive blitzes in his strong defensive inheritance, leaving it in good hands with cornerback Patrick Peterson and pass rushers Markus Golden and Chandler Jones. On the other side of the ball; the offense has started to shamble. Signing quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon does give some stability at the position since both have experience, however neither are long-term solutions. Wide receiver legend Larry Fitzgerald has an uncertain future, the two Browns have moved elsewhere, leaving JJ Nelson as the only remaining sure starter.

Arizona does have an advantage with a clean slate from retired quarterback Carson Palmer. Modern-minded offensive coordinator Mike McCoy can now obtain more specialized pieces to fit his attacking scheme and nearly any kind of quarterback the Cardinals put under center. Look for Arizona to aggressively pursue pass catchers, protectors and possibly a young signal caller in hopes he can be the next franchise quarterback.

Los Angeles Rams
Primary Need: Strong Safety

This may be very much the Greatest Show on Turf 2.0. The Rams seem to be one of the best well-rounded teams in the league. Quarterback Jared Goff enjoyed a breakout season with wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Offensive Player of the Year running back Todd Gurley. Defensively, the Rams had made some of the best moves in the offseason, acquiring a pair of shutdown corners in ex-Chief Marcus Peters and ex-Bronco Aqib Talib. The front has been fortified with the addition of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

However there is always room for improvement. A good secondary works wonders with any defense, but defensive coordinator Wade Phillips employs a suffocating style, eliminating the passing game and forcing mismatches in his favor. While the defensive backfield has definite starters in Peters, Talib and free safety Lamarcus Joyner; adding a merciless strong safety with similar characteristics to the likes of Kam Chancellor or Eric Berry may just be the missing piece to make Los Angeles' defense the most feared in the NFL.

San Francisco 49ers
Primary Need: Offensive Line

The 49ers enjoyed a much more lucrative offseason than most NFL teams, however that does not mean that they are ready if the season begins tomorrow. Signing extension to a franchise quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was the first step in establishing a foothold and adding cornerback Richard Sherman puts a leader in the secondary to bolster a budding defense. In order for him to thrive though, Garoppolo needs to have the best possible offensive line he can get. San Francisco seems to be aware of that, snagging the Giants' starting young center Weston Richburg and guard Jonathan Cooper. With the departures of their center Daniel Kilgore to the Dolphins and guard Brandon Fusco to the Falcons, it does provide opportunity for coach Kyle Shanahan's offensive minded scheme to function. Longtime tackle Joe Staley is 33 and still stalwart, however he wasn't impermeable. San Francisco won't have to break the bank to invest in tuning up their O-Line, but making it that much better will broaden the dynamics of Garoppolo's playbook.

Seattle Seahawks
Primary Need: Cornerback, Defensive Line

The Seattle Seahawks most feared defense is now a shadow of its former self. Only a handful of defensive players remain from their Super Bowl winning team back in 2014 and several of them are mulling retirement over injuries. The Legion of Boom has dissolved with the loss of Richard Sherman and safety Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas have had career threatening injuries as defensive lineman Cliff Avril. Many other starting defenders such as linebacker KJ Wright and defensive lineman Frank Clark are also impending free agents come the end of next season.

Seattle will need a complete overhaul of its defense in order not to get left in the dust as many of these starters is difficult to replace. Look for Seattle to shop around for speedy players and get its defense together quick. In another couple of seasons, many of the offensive players will be sapping much of the bank away and need to be repaired.

That shall do it for my NFL offseason analysis. I'll be thinking of something different next time to address the blog! Thanks for tuning in to read

 

Breaking News: The Los Angeles Rams get a new toy for their quarterback Jared Goff in their highly productive free agency. They have received wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the New England Patriots for their first round pick in the upcoming draft. The Rams were one of the teams said to be a trading partner with the New York Giants for superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

 

Breaking News: Quarterback Robert Griffin III has returned to the NFL. Griffin has signed on with the Baltimore Ravens for a 1 year deal and will likely provide depth behind Joe Flacco.

 

@ShinigamiMiroku This should jog your memory

TBH, the signing puzzles me.

 

We are T-minus 10 days away from the NFL Draft! With the frenzy of the offseason finished, it's time to look forward to the new year in a little more than 3 months when preseason games begin!

In the meantime, the opponents for each team have been announced!

• 6 x inter-divisional opponents (one home and one away)
• 4 x inter-conference opponents (Two home and two away: AFC North vs AFC West, AFC South vs AFC East, NFC North vs NFC West, NFC South vs NFC East)
• 4 x cross-conference opponents (Two home and two away: AFC North vs NFC South, AFC South vs NFC East, AFC East vs NFC North, AFC West vs NFC West)
• 2 x placement opponents in divisions not played within the conference (one home and one away)

Sample: Opponents for the Seattle Seahawks in 2018 season
Seattle's placement within its division was 2nd in the NFC West.

• Arizona Cardinals (1 home and 1 away)
  
• San Francisco 49ers (1 home and 1 away)
  
• Los Angeles Rams (1 home and 1 away)
• Green Bay Packers (home)
• Chicago Bears (away)
• Detroit Lions (away)
• Minnesota Vikings (home)
• Denver Broncos (away)
• Kansas City Chiefs (home)
• Los Angeles Chargers (home)
  
• Oakland Raiders (away)
• Dallas Cowboys (home)
  
• Carolina Panthers (away)

But first there's training camps, schedule releases and of course the biggest event for NFL hopefuls coming in the next month!

This year's draft is going to be held in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas...home of the Dallas Cowboys! The draft begins on April 26th, 2018 and will run through the 28th.

Here is the draft order for the coveted first round as of today. Please note that this includes trades and transactions any of those teams have done prior.

1. Cleveland Browns
2. New York Giants
3. New York Jets - traded from Indianapolis
   
4. Cleveland Browns - traded from Houston
5. Denver Broncos
6. Indianapolis Colts
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Chicago Bears
9. San Francisco 49ers
10. Oakland Raiders
11. Miami Dolphins
12. Buffalo Bills - traded from Cincinnati
13. Washington Redskins
14. Green Bay Packers
15. Arizona Cardinals
16. Baltimore Ravens
17. Los Angeles Chargers
18. Seattle Seahawks
19. Dallas Cowboys
    
20. Detroit Lions
21. Cincinnati Bengals - traded from Buffalo
22. Buffalo Bills - traded from Kansas City
23. New England Patriots - traded from Los Angeles Rams
24. Carolina Panthers
25. Tennessee Titans
26. Atlanta Falcons
27. New Orleans Saints
28. Pittsburgh Steelers
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
30. Minnesota Vikings
31. New England Patriots
32. Philadelphia Eagles

 

To me; Carolina used to be in one of the most laughable divisions in the NFL. They were basically dominant when Drew Brees was inconsistent...Falcons were...a mess and the Bucs were being the Bucs as usual.

Now Tampa has the potential to be decent and New Orleans and Atlanta have two of the most powerful offenses in the entire League. If Carolina can't keep up, they're gonna be at the bottom of the division for a few years no matter what Newton does.

First up, they need to restock their O-Line. It's one of the worse ones in the league right now and it's a good thing Cam is a scrambling quarterback because he can evade some of the pass rushers to buy time. But he won't stay mobile forever and eventually it's gonna cost them if they rely on his scrambling ability too much.

That's why I think they should be putting at least a couple draft picks into Guards and Tackles. Beefing up the front five will help both him and Christian McCafferey in their awful running game. You can usually find offensive line gems in the second to fourth rounds unless you see someone who is an All-Pro worthy who needs to be grabbed in the first. They've got a 1st, a 2nd and two 3rds...you can easily grab at least one quality O-lineman within that slot.