Here are my awards for the 2019 NFL season.
MVP: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: Jackson had a sensational second season in the league after many people questioned if he can be a successful quarterback in the league. He led the Ravens to an incredible 14-2 record, although they laid an egg in their home playoff defeat against the Tennessee Titans. I think Jackson could still succeed for the next decade, although his game is based with his legs despite his improved passing.
Runner up: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Offensive Player of the Year: Jackson. See: MVP.
Runner up: Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers: There are some interesting candidates for this award and I think Bosa has been super impressive, let alone as a rookie. He is a transcendent talent and a big part of the Niners being this good and into the Super Bowl.
Runner up: Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Josh Jacobs, Oakland Raiders: Jacobs has had a great rookie season, despite not being healthy at the end of the season. Before his injury, he helped a Raiders team that was dealing with in house turmoil with the Antonio Brown situation stay relevant and in the playoff hunt in December.
Runner up: Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Bosa. See: Defensive Player of the Year.
Runner up: Ed Oliver, Buffalo Bills
Coach of the Year: Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers: Not many teams can say they went from having the second overall pick in the draft to the Super Bowl. Enter the 2019 San Francisco 49ers. Shanahan has done an outstanding job handling his team this season and helping develop Jimmy Garappolo into the quarterback he's become.
Runner up: John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Comeback Player of the Year: Jimmy Garappolo, San Francisco 49ers: When Garappolo came over in a trade over two seasons ago and took over the Niners starting quarterback job, they became a different team. Last season, he tore his ACL and it ruined any hope the Niners had of being successful. He comes back this season and plays very well helping lead his team to the Super Bowl.
Runner up: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Friday, January 31, 2020
Super Bowl LIV Prediction
This should be a fantastic game between two teams that are pretty even. Here is my prediction for Super Bowl LIV.
Sunday, February 2nd
(A2) Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) vs (N1) San Francisco 49ers- 6:30, FOX: This game has many intriguing storylines and subplots to it and it will be so intriguing to see it all unfold. The Chiefs have been a team throughout the playoffs that got off to slow starts and rebound from them courtesy of their lights out offense led by Patrick Mahomes and a defense that isn't great, but got stops when it mattered. The 49ers have been resilient all season long and are capable winning games in many different ways. Mahomes's weapons around him such as Damien Williams, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce have been stepping up (although Kelce is not healthy). Jimmy Garappolo's stats in some playoff games have not been great, but he's been smart with his decision making and it shows how much they rely on their run game led by Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, and Matt Brieda. Deebo Samuel, Emmanuel Sanders, Kendrick Bourne, and George Kittle have all stepped up making big plays as well. The Chiefs offensive line is rock solid led by Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Their defense has stepped up in big moments led by Chris Jones and Frank Clark in the pass rush and Tyrann Matthieu, Kendall Fuller, and Daniel Sorensen in the secondary. The 49ers offensive line has been solid led by Joe Staley, Mike McGlinchey, and Weston Richburg. Their pass rush is sensational led by Nick Bosa, former Chief Dee Ford, and Kwon Alexander and their secondary is very good too led by Richard Sherman. This game is reminiscent to the Denver/Seattle and Denver/Carolina Super Bowls with the great offensive team versus the great defensive team with the better defensive team winning, I think a third time is a charm and the 49ers win their first Super Bowl title in twenty five years in what should be a closer game than those two Super Bowls I alluded to.
Prediction: San Francisco 27, Kansas City 23.
Super Bowl MVP: Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, February 2nd
(A2) Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) vs (N1) San Francisco 49ers- 6:30, FOX: This game has many intriguing storylines and subplots to it and it will be so intriguing to see it all unfold. The Chiefs have been a team throughout the playoffs that got off to slow starts and rebound from them courtesy of their lights out offense led by Patrick Mahomes and a defense that isn't great, but got stops when it mattered. The 49ers have been resilient all season long and are capable winning games in many different ways. Mahomes's weapons around him such as Damien Williams, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce have been stepping up (although Kelce is not healthy). Jimmy Garappolo's stats in some playoff games have not been great, but he's been smart with his decision making and it shows how much they rely on their run game led by Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, and Matt Brieda. Deebo Samuel, Emmanuel Sanders, Kendrick Bourne, and George Kittle have all stepped up making big plays as well. The Chiefs offensive line is rock solid led by Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Their defense has stepped up in big moments led by Chris Jones and Frank Clark in the pass rush and Tyrann Matthieu, Kendall Fuller, and Daniel Sorensen in the secondary. The 49ers offensive line has been solid led by Joe Staley, Mike McGlinchey, and Weston Richburg. Their pass rush is sensational led by Nick Bosa, former Chief Dee Ford, and Kwon Alexander and their secondary is very good too led by Richard Sherman. This game is reminiscent to the Denver/Seattle and Denver/Carolina Super Bowls with the great offensive team versus the great defensive team with the better defensive team winning, I think a third time is a charm and the 49ers win their first Super Bowl title in twenty five years in what should be a closer game than those two Super Bowls I alluded to.
Prediction: San Francisco 27, Kansas City 23.
Super Bowl MVP: Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
2020 NFL Mock Draft: Second Edition
Here is the second edition of my 2020 NFL Mock Draft.
1. Cincinnati Bengals- Joe Burrow, Quarterback, LSU: After what was a breakout season which led to a Heisman Trophy, Burrow emerged as the favorite to go first overall in this upcoming draft. The Bengals probably want to move on from Andy Dalton and start fresh here with Burrow, who second year coach Zac Taylor could help develop into the franchise quarterback the team is looking for.
2. Washington Redskins- Chase Young, Defensive End, Ohio State: Young is the best player in this draft and he falls one spot due to the Bengals quarterback need. The Redskins need a lot of young talent on both ends of the ball and Young would have an immediate impact in the league chasing the likes of Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, and Daniel Jones twice a season.
3. Detroit Lions- Jeff Okudah, Cornerback, Ohio State: This is an interesting spot because this is a spot where someone could trade up for a quarterback and the Lions could get a nice haul back. The Lions are a team that's in dire need of secondary help and Okudah is the best defensive back in the draft.
4. New York Giants- Andrew Thomas, Offensive Tackle, Auburn: The Giants have a ton of needs and what should be important to them is to address the offensive line so Daniel Jones could be protected and Saquon Barkley could find holes. Thomas is the best offensive lineman in the draft and he has potential to be an instant impact.
5. Miami Dolphins- Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback, Alabama: Many people thought at this time six months ago we'd be writing this selection.... except in the number one spot. Tagovailoa drops to fifth obviously due to his hip injury he suffered in November that ended his college career. If he reaches his potential, the Dolphins get a steal here with the guy they've coveted for a year now.
6. Los Angeles Chargers- Justin Herbert, Quarterback, Oregon: Phillip Rivers's contract is up at the end of this season and there's speculation that they can make a run at free-agent-to-be Tom Brady. If Rivers retires and Brady doesn't come to town, then they can look to the draft to draft their quarterback of the future. Herbert is someone that could have declared last season but stayed at school one more season to try to improve his stock, but I feel that he would have been a first round pick last season too.
7. Carolina Panthers- Isaiah Simmons, Linebacker/Defensive Back, Clemson: After the unexpected retirement of Luke Kuechly, the Panthers suddenly have a gaping hole in their front seven. Enter Simmons, someone who is versatile due to his ability to rush the passer and defend the pass and the Panthers do have a secondary need too, which this could help fill two needs.
8. Arizona Cardinals- Jedrick Wills Jr, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: The Cardinals are another team with a lot of needs this offseason in a really hard division and here they land a good lineman. Wills is someone that's stock rose this season and could be picked higher than this and someone as mobile as Kyler Murray needs protection badly and Wills should help the Cards bad offensive line.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars- Derrick Brown, Defensive Tackle, Auburn: The Jaguars are a team that could go in a number of directions with this pick and this time I have them addressing the pass rush. Brown is somebody that excels at stopping the run and is rare for his size. Yannick Ngakoue is a free agent to be and Calais Campbell has a year left on his contract, so this choice makes sense.
10. Cleveland Browns- Tristan Wirfs, Offensive Tackle, Iowa: What severely hurt the Browns the most in their disastrous 2019 season was their offensive line. Wirfs is somebody who had a dominant season in college and could slide at either tackle spot due to his versatility.
11. New York Jets- Jerry Jeudy, Wide Receiver, Alabama: This would be a steal here for the Jets, who would get the best receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson over a decade ago. Outside of Le'Veon Bell, the Jets don't have many skill position guys and Jeudy would help Sam Darnold develop into the quarterback many people expect him to be.
12. Las Vegas Raiders- Cee Dee Lamb, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma: The Raiders have needs on both sides of the ball and here I have them snagging a great wideout prospect in Lamb. He is someone that has WR1 potential on any roster and he would make Derek Carr better and would make Hunter Renfrow and Tyrell Williams the team's WR2 and WR3 respectively.
13. Indianapolis Colts- Henry Ruggs IV, Wide Receiver, Alabama: The Colts are a team that has needs on both sides of the ball and here I have them snagging a talented receiver in Ruggs, who would make a nice tandem with TY Hilton. Ruggs was not even the top gun for Tua Tagovailoa in Alabama's offense due to the presence of Jerry Jeudy, so he'd be in a similar situation here.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- AJ Epenesa, Defensive End, Iowa: The Bucs are a team that had a solid front seven last year, but some of their key guys from the unit will be free agents. Epenesa is someone that is great on the edge and he'd be a nice fit with the young guys they have in place already.
15. Denver Broncos- Javon Kinlaw, Defensive Lineman, South Carolina: The Broncos obviously have Von Miller and Bradley Chubb on the edges, but putting someone like Kinlaw in the middle of them would be tantalizing. Kinlaw could go higher than this due to his versatility and size.
16. Atlanta Falcons- K'Lavon Chaisson, Defensive End, LSU: The Falcons could go in any direction with this pick and here I have them addressing their pass rush with Chaisson. He was a sack machine in college and could make an instant impact in the pros.
17. Dallas Cowboys- Grant Delpit, Safety, LSU: This would be a mega steal for the Cowboys considering Delpit was considered a top five pick before his injury this past season. The Cowboys biggest need is at safety and Delpit would make an immediate impact.
18. Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh Steelers)- Tee Higgins, Wide Receiver, Clemson: The Dolphins with their second selection (courtesy of the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade), take a receiver for Tua Tagovailoa to throw to. Higgins is someone that has the size, length, and athleticism to be a WR1 and has been one of Trevor Lawrence's best targets over the past two seasons.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago Bears)- Kenneth Murray, Linebacker, Oklahoma: With their second first rounder (courtesy of the Khalil Mack trade), address their front seven and take a standout linebacker in Murray. This pick may seem like a reach, but he is a freak athlete who was a one man show with the Oklahoma Sooners for three years.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)- Kristian Fulton, Cornerback, LSU: The Jaguars secondary needs to be addressed after the trading of Jalen Ramsey, so they use the pick they got in the Ramsey deal from the Rams to somewhat replace him. Fulton is someone that has size and athleticism and was overshadowed in LSU's secondary due to the prescience of Grant Delpit.
21. Philadelphia Eagles- Trevon Diggs, Cornerback, Alabama: The Eagles have two very noticeable weaknesses- wide receiver and cornerback. Howie Rossman decides to go with Diggs, who has shown physicality and imposing length to be a top corner on a team. He would certainly be an upgrade over what they currently have.
22. Buffalo Bills- Laviska Shenault, Wide Receiver, Colorado: What was noticeable in the Bills playoff defeat were two things: the offensive line needs help and Josh Allen needs more guys to throw to. Shenault is someone that has a ton of upside and has a lot of qualities to be an impact receiver.
23. New England Patriots- Jordan Love, Quarterback, Utah State: The last two seasons it has been noticeable that Father Time has caught up to Tom Brady, who is a free agent after this season and has publicly stated that he's not retiring. Whether Brady is back or not, the team should look to the future at the most important position in sports. Love is someone that is very raw and has high upside.
24. New Orleans Saints- Cole Kmet, Tight End, Notre Dame: The Saints could go in a number of directions with this selection, but here I have them taking who I feel is the best tight end in the draft. Kmet is someone who excels in blocking and is great in the passing game and that will help Drew Brees and that offense.
25. Minnesota Vikings- CJ Henderson, Cornerback, Florida: The Vikings secondary is a unit that is not what it once was a few years ago and many folks point to the decline of Xavier Rhodes. Henderson is somebody who's coming off a solid season in college and someone I believe can start right away in the league.
26. Miami Dolphins (from Houston Texans)- Mekhi Becton, Offensive Tackle, Louisville: The Dolphins third round pick is courtesy of the Laremy Tunsil deal and this pick they find a somewhat replacement with Becton. He's a tall dude, although he plays like he's shorter and he towers over many defensive lineman.
27. Seattle Seahawks- Bryce Hall, Cornerback, Virginia: The Seahawks heavy needs lie on the defensive side of the ball. Hall is someone that missed some of the season due to an injury, but he has crazy length and would fit nicely in a secondary that needs more bodies.
28. Baltimore Ravens- Terrell Lewis, Defensive End, Alabama: The Ravens really don't have that many needs, maybe a receiver, maybe offensive line, but they can use help rushing the passer. Lewis is somebody who is super talented and is an athletic freak.
29. Tennessee Titans- Curtis Weaver, Defensive End/Linebacker Boise State: The Titans do have a solid pass rush, but why not add another athlete? Weaver is somebody that is versatile and has been a productive player since his Freshman season at Boise State.
30. Green Bay Packers- Austin Jackson, Offensive Tackle, USC: Aaron Rodgers's offensive line isn't one the best ones he's had so why not get some young blood to keep Rodgers upright? Jackson is somebody that stood out this past season and could come in and start right away.
31. Kansas City Chiefs- Jonathan Taylor, Running Back, Wisconsin: The Chiefs could go in a number of directions with this selection and here I have them taking who I feel is the best running back in the draft. Taylor is someone that is an upgrade over their current running backs and could help Patrick Mahomes and that offense.
32. San Francisco 49ers- AJ Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson: The 49ers secondary isn't great although Richard Sherman is still around and playing at a very high level. Terrell is somebody that is big and physical and he would fit right in Robert Saleh's defense.
1. Cincinnati Bengals- Joe Burrow, Quarterback, LSU: After what was a breakout season which led to a Heisman Trophy, Burrow emerged as the favorite to go first overall in this upcoming draft. The Bengals probably want to move on from Andy Dalton and start fresh here with Burrow, who second year coach Zac Taylor could help develop into the franchise quarterback the team is looking for.
2. Washington Redskins- Chase Young, Defensive End, Ohio State: Young is the best player in this draft and he falls one spot due to the Bengals quarterback need. The Redskins need a lot of young talent on both ends of the ball and Young would have an immediate impact in the league chasing the likes of Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, and Daniel Jones twice a season.
3. Detroit Lions- Jeff Okudah, Cornerback, Ohio State: This is an interesting spot because this is a spot where someone could trade up for a quarterback and the Lions could get a nice haul back. The Lions are a team that's in dire need of secondary help and Okudah is the best defensive back in the draft.
4. New York Giants- Andrew Thomas, Offensive Tackle, Auburn: The Giants have a ton of needs and what should be important to them is to address the offensive line so Daniel Jones could be protected and Saquon Barkley could find holes. Thomas is the best offensive lineman in the draft and he has potential to be an instant impact.
5. Miami Dolphins- Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback, Alabama: Many people thought at this time six months ago we'd be writing this selection.... except in the number one spot. Tagovailoa drops to fifth obviously due to his hip injury he suffered in November that ended his college career. If he reaches his potential, the Dolphins get a steal here with the guy they've coveted for a year now.
6. Los Angeles Chargers- Justin Herbert, Quarterback, Oregon: Phillip Rivers's contract is up at the end of this season and there's speculation that they can make a run at free-agent-to-be Tom Brady. If Rivers retires and Brady doesn't come to town, then they can look to the draft to draft their quarterback of the future. Herbert is someone that could have declared last season but stayed at school one more season to try to improve his stock, but I feel that he would have been a first round pick last season too.
7. Carolina Panthers- Isaiah Simmons, Linebacker/Defensive Back, Clemson: After the unexpected retirement of Luke Kuechly, the Panthers suddenly have a gaping hole in their front seven. Enter Simmons, someone who is versatile due to his ability to rush the passer and defend the pass and the Panthers do have a secondary need too, which this could help fill two needs.
8. Arizona Cardinals- Jedrick Wills Jr, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: The Cardinals are another team with a lot of needs this offseason in a really hard division and here they land a good lineman. Wills is someone that's stock rose this season and could be picked higher than this and someone as mobile as Kyler Murray needs protection badly and Wills should help the Cards bad offensive line.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars- Derrick Brown, Defensive Tackle, Auburn: The Jaguars are a team that could go in a number of directions with this pick and this time I have them addressing the pass rush. Brown is somebody that excels at stopping the run and is rare for his size. Yannick Ngakoue is a free agent to be and Calais Campbell has a year left on his contract, so this choice makes sense.
10. Cleveland Browns- Tristan Wirfs, Offensive Tackle, Iowa: What severely hurt the Browns the most in their disastrous 2019 season was their offensive line. Wirfs is somebody who had a dominant season in college and could slide at either tackle spot due to his versatility.
11. New York Jets- Jerry Jeudy, Wide Receiver, Alabama: This would be a steal here for the Jets, who would get the best receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson over a decade ago. Outside of Le'Veon Bell, the Jets don't have many skill position guys and Jeudy would help Sam Darnold develop into the quarterback many people expect him to be.
12. Las Vegas Raiders- Cee Dee Lamb, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma: The Raiders have needs on both sides of the ball and here I have them snagging a great wideout prospect in Lamb. He is someone that has WR1 potential on any roster and he would make Derek Carr better and would make Hunter Renfrow and Tyrell Williams the team's WR2 and WR3 respectively.
13. Indianapolis Colts- Henry Ruggs IV, Wide Receiver, Alabama: The Colts are a team that has needs on both sides of the ball and here I have them snagging a talented receiver in Ruggs, who would make a nice tandem with TY Hilton. Ruggs was not even the top gun for Tua Tagovailoa in Alabama's offense due to the presence of Jerry Jeudy, so he'd be in a similar situation here.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- AJ Epenesa, Defensive End, Iowa: The Bucs are a team that had a solid front seven last year, but some of their key guys from the unit will be free agents. Epenesa is someone that is great on the edge and he'd be a nice fit with the young guys they have in place already.
15. Denver Broncos- Javon Kinlaw, Defensive Lineman, South Carolina: The Broncos obviously have Von Miller and Bradley Chubb on the edges, but putting someone like Kinlaw in the middle of them would be tantalizing. Kinlaw could go higher than this due to his versatility and size.
16. Atlanta Falcons- K'Lavon Chaisson, Defensive End, LSU: The Falcons could go in any direction with this pick and here I have them addressing their pass rush with Chaisson. He was a sack machine in college and could make an instant impact in the pros.
17. Dallas Cowboys- Grant Delpit, Safety, LSU: This would be a mega steal for the Cowboys considering Delpit was considered a top five pick before his injury this past season. The Cowboys biggest need is at safety and Delpit would make an immediate impact.
18. Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh Steelers)- Tee Higgins, Wide Receiver, Clemson: The Dolphins with their second selection (courtesy of the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade), take a receiver for Tua Tagovailoa to throw to. Higgins is someone that has the size, length, and athleticism to be a WR1 and has been one of Trevor Lawrence's best targets over the past two seasons.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago Bears)- Kenneth Murray, Linebacker, Oklahoma: With their second first rounder (courtesy of the Khalil Mack trade), address their front seven and take a standout linebacker in Murray. This pick may seem like a reach, but he is a freak athlete who was a one man show with the Oklahoma Sooners for three years.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)- Kristian Fulton, Cornerback, LSU: The Jaguars secondary needs to be addressed after the trading of Jalen Ramsey, so they use the pick they got in the Ramsey deal from the Rams to somewhat replace him. Fulton is someone that has size and athleticism and was overshadowed in LSU's secondary due to the prescience of Grant Delpit.
21. Philadelphia Eagles- Trevon Diggs, Cornerback, Alabama: The Eagles have two very noticeable weaknesses- wide receiver and cornerback. Howie Rossman decides to go with Diggs, who has shown physicality and imposing length to be a top corner on a team. He would certainly be an upgrade over what they currently have.
22. Buffalo Bills- Laviska Shenault, Wide Receiver, Colorado: What was noticeable in the Bills playoff defeat were two things: the offensive line needs help and Josh Allen needs more guys to throw to. Shenault is someone that has a ton of upside and has a lot of qualities to be an impact receiver.
23. New England Patriots- Jordan Love, Quarterback, Utah State: The last two seasons it has been noticeable that Father Time has caught up to Tom Brady, who is a free agent after this season and has publicly stated that he's not retiring. Whether Brady is back or not, the team should look to the future at the most important position in sports. Love is someone that is very raw and has high upside.
24. New Orleans Saints- Cole Kmet, Tight End, Notre Dame: The Saints could go in a number of directions with this selection, but here I have them taking who I feel is the best tight end in the draft. Kmet is someone who excels in blocking and is great in the passing game and that will help Drew Brees and that offense.
25. Minnesota Vikings- CJ Henderson, Cornerback, Florida: The Vikings secondary is a unit that is not what it once was a few years ago and many folks point to the decline of Xavier Rhodes. Henderson is somebody who's coming off a solid season in college and someone I believe can start right away in the league.
26. Miami Dolphins (from Houston Texans)- Mekhi Becton, Offensive Tackle, Louisville: The Dolphins third round pick is courtesy of the Laremy Tunsil deal and this pick they find a somewhat replacement with Becton. He's a tall dude, although he plays like he's shorter and he towers over many defensive lineman.
27. Seattle Seahawks- Bryce Hall, Cornerback, Virginia: The Seahawks heavy needs lie on the defensive side of the ball. Hall is someone that missed some of the season due to an injury, but he has crazy length and would fit nicely in a secondary that needs more bodies.
28. Baltimore Ravens- Terrell Lewis, Defensive End, Alabama: The Ravens really don't have that many needs, maybe a receiver, maybe offensive line, but they can use help rushing the passer. Lewis is somebody who is super talented and is an athletic freak.
29. Tennessee Titans- Curtis Weaver, Defensive End/Linebacker Boise State: The Titans do have a solid pass rush, but why not add another athlete? Weaver is somebody that is versatile and has been a productive player since his Freshman season at Boise State.
30. Green Bay Packers- Austin Jackson, Offensive Tackle, USC: Aaron Rodgers's offensive line isn't one the best ones he's had so why not get some young blood to keep Rodgers upright? Jackson is somebody that stood out this past season and could come in and start right away.
31. Kansas City Chiefs- Jonathan Taylor, Running Back, Wisconsin: The Chiefs could go in a number of directions with this selection and here I have them taking who I feel is the best running back in the draft. Taylor is someone that is an upgrade over their current running backs and could help Patrick Mahomes and that offense.
32. San Francisco 49ers- AJ Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson: The 49ers secondary isn't great although Richard Sherman is still around and playing at a very high level. Terrell is somebody that is big and physical and he would fit right in Robert Saleh's defense.
Monday, January 13, 2020
2019-20 College Football Playoff: National Championship Prediction
Here is my pick for the 2019-20 College Football Playoff National Championship game.
(1) LSU Tigers vs (3) Clemson Tigers- 8:00, ESPN: Here we have The Battle of the Tigers in this National Championship game. The LSU Tigers are coming off a throttling over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Peach Bowl. The Clemson Tigers are coming off a thrilling victory over Ohio State Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl. LSU's offense is strong led by Heisman winning quarterback Joe Burrow. Clyde Edwards-Helaire seems to be healthy after not being a hundred percent for the Semifinal game. Receivers like Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, and tight end Thaddeus Moss must step up like they have all season long for Burrow. Their defense is pretty solid with the front seven led by Rashard Lawrence and K'Lavon Chisson and their secondary is awesome led by star safety Grant Delpit and cornerback Kristian Fulton. Clemson's offense is led by Trevor Lawrence, who is undefeated as a starter and is thought out by many to be the best college quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck. Running back Travis Etienne wasn't great against Ohio State, but I expect him to be better here. Receivers such as Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins are studs and will be heard from all game long. Their front seven is pretty solid led by Xavier Thomas and the versatile Isaiah Simmons, who also plays sometimes in the defensive back. Their secondary has sometimes shown vulnerability, but it's not bad and certainly much better than Oklahoma's with AJ Terrell leading the way. That said, the Tigers who have the more experience in this spot is Clemson and I feel Dabo Sweeney will motivate his players and they'll repeat as National Champions and win their third in four years so now we'll talk about this program as a possible dynasty in the making going forward.
Prediction: Clemson 41, Clemson 37.
Offensive MVP: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Defensive MVP: Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
(1) LSU Tigers vs (3) Clemson Tigers- 8:00, ESPN: Here we have The Battle of the Tigers in this National Championship game. The LSU Tigers are coming off a throttling over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Peach Bowl. The Clemson Tigers are coming off a thrilling victory over Ohio State Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl. LSU's offense is strong led by Heisman winning quarterback Joe Burrow. Clyde Edwards-Helaire seems to be healthy after not being a hundred percent for the Semifinal game. Receivers like Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, and tight end Thaddeus Moss must step up like they have all season long for Burrow. Their defense is pretty solid with the front seven led by Rashard Lawrence and K'Lavon Chisson and their secondary is awesome led by star safety Grant Delpit and cornerback Kristian Fulton. Clemson's offense is led by Trevor Lawrence, who is undefeated as a starter and is thought out by many to be the best college quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck. Running back Travis Etienne wasn't great against Ohio State, but I expect him to be better here. Receivers such as Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins are studs and will be heard from all game long. Their front seven is pretty solid led by Xavier Thomas and the versatile Isaiah Simmons, who also plays sometimes in the defensive back. Their secondary has sometimes shown vulnerability, but it's not bad and certainly much better than Oklahoma's with AJ Terrell leading the way. That said, the Tigers who have the more experience in this spot is Clemson and I feel Dabo Sweeney will motivate his players and they'll repeat as National Champions and win their third in four years so now we'll talk about this program as a possible dynasty in the making going forward.
Prediction: Clemson 41, Clemson 37.
Offensive MVP: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Defensive MVP: Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Thursday, January 9, 2020
2019-20 NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round Picks
Here are my picks for the Divisional Round of the 2019-20 NFL Playoffs.
Saturday, January 11th
(N6) Minnesota Vikings vs (N1) San Francisco 49ers (13-3)- 4:35, NBC: The Vikings are coming off a sensational overtime road win in New Orleans against the Saints in the Wild Card round. The 49ers have had a phenomenal season and earned home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. Kirk Cousins was awesome last week and threw the game winning touchdown to Kyle Rudolph, which looked to be offensive interference on the play. Jimmy Garappolo has been solid all season long and this is his first career playoff start. The Vikings defense was very good last week getting big stops against Drew Brees and that offense, but Xavier Rhodes has been terrible in the secondary. The 49ers defense has been a tale of two units, the first half of the season it was pretty awesome and was vulnerable in the second half of the season when injuries started to hit. That said, with the Niners getting back a few key defensive players and Vikings receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen are not a hundred percent, so give me the Niners to reach their first NFC Championship game in six seasons.
Prediction: San Francisco 27, Minnesota 16.
(A6) Tennessee Titans vs (A1) Baltimore Ravens (14-2)- 8:15, CBS: The Titans are coming off a great win in Foxboro to knock off Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Wild Card round. The Ravens have been the leagues best team in the regular season from a record standpoint due to the success of MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson. The Titans offense has been solid once Ryan Tannehill took over at quarterback and Derrick Henry has been the best running back in the sport this season and ran all over the Pats defense last weekend. The Ravens offense has been unstoppable when Jackson is on the field as well as guys like Mark Ingram, Marquise Brown, and Mark Andrews. The Titans defense got huge stops last week in their victory, but I'm not sold on their defense and it's success last week I feel had more to do with Brady trying to handle Father Time. The Ravens defense has been solid all season long and has a lot of Pro Bowlers on it. I expect the Ravens to come out and put the gas on the pedal and win this one easily as they go to their first AFC Championship game in seven years.
Prediction: Baltimore 38, Tennessee 17.
Sunday, January 12th
(A4) Houston Texans vs (A2) Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)- 3:05, CBS: The Texans are coming off a home win over the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round, coming back from a 16-0 deficit to do it. The Chiefs are awesome yet again and are flying somewhat under the radar due to the success of the Ravens and some of the NFC teams. The sexy thing about this game is the quarterback matchup of DeShaun Watson vs Patrick Mahomes, who (along with Lamar Jackson) will be the marquee big name quarterbacks within this new decade. Watson and the Texans offense started to find a rhythm in that comeback victory and I still feel this offense isn't great without Will Fuller. The Chiefs offense has been it's usual self once Patrick Mahomes got healthy after his scary knee cap injury in October. The Texans defense showed it's vulnerability before the remarkable comeback. The Chiefs defense has been lights out for a few weeks now and it's going to be tested this weekend. That said, the best unit on the field is the Chiefs offense led by Mahomes and Arrowhead is going to be rocking as they will go to their second consecutive AFC Championship Game.
Prediction: Kansas City 30, Houston 23.
(N5) Seattle Seahawks vs (N2) Green Bay Packers (13-3)- 6:40, FOX: The Seahawks are coming off a road win in Philadelphia against the Eagles in which Carson Wentz got injured during the game and the Eagles had a laundry list of injuries as well. The Packers have had a great season earning this first round bye and is in the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. The Seahawks have been carried by Russell Wilson all year long and last weekend DK Metcalf had some big catches. The Packers offense has been inconsistent throughout the year and Aaron Rodgers at times looked like his old self. The Seahawks defense was solid last week, but I think it was masked by the Esgles injuries. The Packers defense has carried them this season after all the additions they made whether it was in free agency or the draft. This should be a physical game and a game with some big catches every here and there, but I think Rodgers steps up and takes advantage of the Seahawks soft defense although Wilson can't be counted out here as the Packers get a big win to go to their first NFC Championship in three seasons.
Prediction: Green Bay 26, Seattle 19.
Saturday, January 11th
(N6) Minnesota Vikings vs (N1) San Francisco 49ers (13-3)- 4:35, NBC: The Vikings are coming off a sensational overtime road win in New Orleans against the Saints in the Wild Card round. The 49ers have had a phenomenal season and earned home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. Kirk Cousins was awesome last week and threw the game winning touchdown to Kyle Rudolph, which looked to be offensive interference on the play. Jimmy Garappolo has been solid all season long and this is his first career playoff start. The Vikings defense was very good last week getting big stops against Drew Brees and that offense, but Xavier Rhodes has been terrible in the secondary. The 49ers defense has been a tale of two units, the first half of the season it was pretty awesome and was vulnerable in the second half of the season when injuries started to hit. That said, with the Niners getting back a few key defensive players and Vikings receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen are not a hundred percent, so give me the Niners to reach their first NFC Championship game in six seasons.
Prediction: San Francisco 27, Minnesota 16.
(A6) Tennessee Titans vs (A1) Baltimore Ravens (14-2)- 8:15, CBS: The Titans are coming off a great win in Foxboro to knock off Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Wild Card round. The Ravens have been the leagues best team in the regular season from a record standpoint due to the success of MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson. The Titans offense has been solid once Ryan Tannehill took over at quarterback and Derrick Henry has been the best running back in the sport this season and ran all over the Pats defense last weekend. The Ravens offense has been unstoppable when Jackson is on the field as well as guys like Mark Ingram, Marquise Brown, and Mark Andrews. The Titans defense got huge stops last week in their victory, but I'm not sold on their defense and it's success last week I feel had more to do with Brady trying to handle Father Time. The Ravens defense has been solid all season long and has a lot of Pro Bowlers on it. I expect the Ravens to come out and put the gas on the pedal and win this one easily as they go to their first AFC Championship game in seven years.
Prediction: Baltimore 38, Tennessee 17.
Sunday, January 12th
(A4) Houston Texans vs (A2) Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)- 3:05, CBS: The Texans are coming off a home win over the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round, coming back from a 16-0 deficit to do it. The Chiefs are awesome yet again and are flying somewhat under the radar due to the success of the Ravens and some of the NFC teams. The sexy thing about this game is the quarterback matchup of DeShaun Watson vs Patrick Mahomes, who (along with Lamar Jackson) will be the marquee big name quarterbacks within this new decade. Watson and the Texans offense started to find a rhythm in that comeback victory and I still feel this offense isn't great without Will Fuller. The Chiefs offense has been it's usual self once Patrick Mahomes got healthy after his scary knee cap injury in October. The Texans defense showed it's vulnerability before the remarkable comeback. The Chiefs defense has been lights out for a few weeks now and it's going to be tested this weekend. That said, the best unit on the field is the Chiefs offense led by Mahomes and Arrowhead is going to be rocking as they will go to their second consecutive AFC Championship Game.
Prediction: Kansas City 30, Houston 23.
(N5) Seattle Seahawks vs (N2) Green Bay Packers (13-3)- 6:40, FOX: The Seahawks are coming off a road win in Philadelphia against the Eagles in which Carson Wentz got injured during the game and the Eagles had a laundry list of injuries as well. The Packers have had a great season earning this first round bye and is in the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. The Seahawks have been carried by Russell Wilson all year long and last weekend DK Metcalf had some big catches. The Packers offense has been inconsistent throughout the year and Aaron Rodgers at times looked like his old self. The Seahawks defense was solid last week, but I think it was masked by the Esgles injuries. The Packers defense has carried them this season after all the additions they made whether it was in free agency or the draft. This should be a physical game and a game with some big catches every here and there, but I think Rodgers steps up and takes advantage of the Seahawks soft defense although Wilson can't be counted out here as the Packers get a big win to go to their first NFC Championship in three seasons.
Prediction: Green Bay 26, Seattle 19.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
2020 NFL Mock Draft: First Edition
Here is the first edition of my 2020 NFL Mock Draft.
1. Cincinnati Bengals- Joe Burrow, Quarterback, LSU: After what was a breakout season which led to a Heisman Trophy, Burrow emerged as the favorite to go first overall in this upcoming draft. The Bengals probably want to move on from Andy Dalton and start fresh here with Burrow, who second year coach Zac Taylor could help develop into the franchise quarterback the team is looking for.
2. Washington Redskins- Chase Young, Defensive End, Ohio State: Young is the best player in this draft and he falls one spot due to the Bengals quarterback need. The Redskins need a lot of young talent on both ends of the ball and Young would have an immediate impact in the league chasing the likes of Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, and Daniel Jones twice a season.
3. Detroit Lions- Jeff Okudah, Cornerback, Ohio State: This is an interesting spot because this is a spot where someone could trade up for a quarterback and the Lions could get a nice haul back. The Lions are a team that's in dire need of secondary help and Okudah is the best defensive back in the draft.
4. New York Giants- Andrew Thomas, Offensive Tackle, Auburn: The Giants have a ton of needs and what should be important to them is to address the offensive line so Daniel Jones could be protected and Saquon Barkley could find holes. Thomas is the best offensive lineman in the draft and he has potential to be an instant impact.
5. Miami Dolphins- Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback, Alabama: Many people thought at this time six months ago we'd be writing this selection.... except in the number one spot. Tagovailoa drops to fifth obviously due to his hip injury he suffered in November that ended his college career. If he reaches his potential, the Dolphins get a steal here with the guy they've coveted for a year now.
6. Los Angeles Chargers- Justin Herbert, Quarterback, Oregon: Phillip Rivers's contract is up at the end of this season and there's speculation that they can make a run at free-agent-to-be Tom Brady. If Rivers retires and Brady doesn't come to town, then they can look to the draft to draft their quarterback of the future. Herbert is someone that could have declared last season but stayed at school one more season to try to improve his stock, but I feel that he would have been a first round pick last season too.
7. Carolina Panthers- Derrick Brown, Defensive Tackle, Auburn: The Panthers once had a great defense, but now it looks like a unit that needs reinforcements. Brown is somebody who's rare for his size, but always was a steady player in college and someone that could go in the top five.
8. Arizona Cardinals- Jedrick Wills Jr, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: The Cardinals are another team with a lot of needs this offseason in a really hard division and here they land a good lineman. Wills is someone that's stock rose this season and could be picked higher than this and someone as mobile as Kyler Murray needs protection badly and Wills should help the Cards bad offensive line.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jerry Jeudy, Wide Receiver, Alabama: This would be a steal here for the Jags, who would get the best receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson over a decade ago. Outside of Leonard Fournette, the Jags don't have many skill position guys and Jeudy would help this offense regardless of who's at quarterback.
10. Cleveland Browns- Tristan Wirfs, Offensive Tackle, Iowa: What severely hurt the Browns the most in their disastrous 2019 season was their offensive line. Wirfs is somebody who had a dominant season in college and could slide at either tackle spot due to his versatility.
11. New York Jets- Cee Dee Lamb, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma: With Robbie Anderson being a free agent, the Jets suddenly have a need at wide receiver. Lamb is someone that has WR1 potential on any roster and he would make Sam Darnold better.
12. Las Vegas Raiders- Isaiah Simmons, Linebacker/Defensive Back, Clemson: The Raiders need more help on the defensive side of the ball and Simmons would be the ideal choice here. He has versatility and could help both the pass rush and the secondary, which makes Simmons an intriguing prospect.
13. Indianapolis Colts- AJ Epenesa, Defensive End, Iowa: The Colts have needs on both sides of the ball, so they should go with best player available who would be Epenesa here. Epenesa is someone that is great on the edge and the Colts need young blood in their pass rush, so this would be a nice match.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Yetur Gross-Matos, Defensive End, Penn State: The Bucs are a team that had a solid front seven last year, but some of their key guys from the unit will be free agents. Gross-Matos is someone that's stock has risen after a strong season in college and he would be a nice fit here.
15. Denver Broncos- Javon Kinlaw, Defensive Lineman, South Carolina: The Broncos obviously have Von Miller and Bradley Chubb on the edges, but putting someone like Kinlaw in the middle of
them would be tantalizing. Kinlaw could go higher than this due to his versatility and size.
16. Atlanta Falcons- CJ Henderson, Cornerback, Florida: Henderson is somebody who's coming off a solid season in college and someone I believe can start right away in the league. The Falcons have some nice corners, but they could use help in their secondary, so this would be a fine pick.
17. Dallas Cowboys- Grant Delpit, Safety, LSU: This would be a mega steal for the Cowboys considering Delpit was considered a top five pick before his injury this past season. The Cowboys biggest need is at safety and Delpit would make an immediate impact.
18. Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh Steelers)- K'Lavon Chaisson, Defensive End, LSU: The Dolphins could go in any direction with this pick and here I have them addressing their pass rush with Chaisson. He was a sack machine in college and could make an instant impact in the pros.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago Bears)- Henry Ruggs IV, Wide Receiver, Alabama: The Raiders have an extra first due to the Khalil Mack trade and here I have them snagging a receiver that has a ton of potential. Ruggs was not even the top gun for Tua Tagovailoa in Alabama's offense so it should be interesting to see what he would turn out to be as a top option.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)- Kristian Fulton, Cornerback, LSU: The Jaguars secondary needs to be addressed after the trading of Jalen Ramsey, so they use the pick they got in the Ramsey deal from the Rams to somewhat replace him. Fulton is someone that has size and athleticism and was overshadowed in LSU's secondary due to the prescience of Grant Delpit.
21. Philadelphia Eagles- Tee Higgins, Wide Receiver, Clemson: The Eagles have two very noticeable weaknesses- wide receiver and cornerback. Howie Rossman decides to go with Higgins, who has the size, length, and athleticism to be a WR1. Higgins has been one of Trevor Lawrence's best targets over the past two seasons.
22. Buffalo Bills- Laviska Shenault, Wide Receiver, Colorado: What was noticeable in the Bills playoff defeat were two things: the offensive line needs help and Josh Allen needs more guys to throw to. Shenault is someone that has a ton of upside and has a lot of qualities to be an impact receiver.
23. New England Patriots- Jordan Love, Quarterback, Utah State: The last two seasons it has been noticeable that Father Time has caught up to Tom Brady, who is a free agent after this season and has publicly stated that he's not retiring. Whether Brady is back or not, the team should look to the future at the most important position in sports. Love is someone that is very raw and has high upside.
24. New Orleans Saints- Cole Kmet, Tight End, Notre Dame: The Saints could go in a number of directions with this selection, but here I have them taking who I feel is the best tight end in the draft. Kmet is someone who excels in blocking and is great in the passing game and that will help Drew Brees and that offense.
25. Tennessee Titans- Tyler Biadasz, Center, Wisconsin: Biadaz is the best interior lineman in this draft and the Titans snag him here at 25. Biadasz is someone that excels at blocking and will help Derrick Henry find more running lanes.
26. Minnesota Vikings- AJ Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson: The Vikings on paper have a solid defense, but the strength is their pass rush and their secondary isn't as good as it once was partly due to the fact Xavier Rhodes has had a rough season. Terrell is somebody that is big and physical and those are the types of defensive backs the Vikings like.
27. Miami Dolphins (from Houston Texans)- Austin Jackson, Offensive Tackle, USC: The Dolphins have a third first rounder courtesy of the Laremy Tunsil trade. With Tunsil gone, the Dolphins offensive line was a mess and Jackson is somebody that stood out this past season and could come in and start right away.
28. Seattle Seahawks- Raekwon Davis, Defensive Tackle/Defensive End, Alabama: The Seahawks could be facing major turnover on the defensive line due to possible free agent departures. Davis is someone that can come in and have an immediate impact due to his versatility, athleticism and size.
29. Kansas City Chiefs- Jonathan Taylor, Running Back, Wisconsin: The Chiefs could go in a number of directions with this selection and here I have them taking who I feel is the best running back in the draft. Taylor is someone that is an upgrade over their current running backs and could help Patrick Mahomes and that offense.
30. Green Bay Packers- Kenneth Murray, Linebacker, Oklahoma: The Packers do have a need at receiver, but I think snagging Murray here at another position of need is wise. Murray is a freak athlete who was a one man show with the Oklahoma Sooners for three years.
31. San Francisco 49ers- Paulson Adebo, Cornerback, Stanford: The 49ers secondary isn't great although Richard Sherman is still around and playing at a quality level. Adebo is someone who's athletic and can come in and help right away.
32. Baltimore Ravens- Terrell Lewis, Defensive End, Alabama: The Ravens really don't have that many needs, maybe a receiver, maybe offensive line, but they can use help rushing the passer. Lewis is somebody who is super talented and is an athletic freak.
1. Cincinnati Bengals- Joe Burrow, Quarterback, LSU: After what was a breakout season which led to a Heisman Trophy, Burrow emerged as the favorite to go first overall in this upcoming draft. The Bengals probably want to move on from Andy Dalton and start fresh here with Burrow, who second year coach Zac Taylor could help develop into the franchise quarterback the team is looking for.
2. Washington Redskins- Chase Young, Defensive End, Ohio State: Young is the best player in this draft and he falls one spot due to the Bengals quarterback need. The Redskins need a lot of young talent on both ends of the ball and Young would have an immediate impact in the league chasing the likes of Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, and Daniel Jones twice a season.
3. Detroit Lions- Jeff Okudah, Cornerback, Ohio State: This is an interesting spot because this is a spot where someone could trade up for a quarterback and the Lions could get a nice haul back. The Lions are a team that's in dire need of secondary help and Okudah is the best defensive back in the draft.
4. New York Giants- Andrew Thomas, Offensive Tackle, Auburn: The Giants have a ton of needs and what should be important to them is to address the offensive line so Daniel Jones could be protected and Saquon Barkley could find holes. Thomas is the best offensive lineman in the draft and he has potential to be an instant impact.
5. Miami Dolphins- Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback, Alabama: Many people thought at this time six months ago we'd be writing this selection.... except in the number one spot. Tagovailoa drops to fifth obviously due to his hip injury he suffered in November that ended his college career. If he reaches his potential, the Dolphins get a steal here with the guy they've coveted for a year now.
6. Los Angeles Chargers- Justin Herbert, Quarterback, Oregon: Phillip Rivers's contract is up at the end of this season and there's speculation that they can make a run at free-agent-to-be Tom Brady. If Rivers retires and Brady doesn't come to town, then they can look to the draft to draft their quarterback of the future. Herbert is someone that could have declared last season but stayed at school one more season to try to improve his stock, but I feel that he would have been a first round pick last season too.
7. Carolina Panthers- Derrick Brown, Defensive Tackle, Auburn: The Panthers once had a great defense, but now it looks like a unit that needs reinforcements. Brown is somebody who's rare for his size, but always was a steady player in college and someone that could go in the top five.
8. Arizona Cardinals- Jedrick Wills Jr, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: The Cardinals are another team with a lot of needs this offseason in a really hard division and here they land a good lineman. Wills is someone that's stock rose this season and could be picked higher than this and someone as mobile as Kyler Murray needs protection badly and Wills should help the Cards bad offensive line.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jerry Jeudy, Wide Receiver, Alabama: This would be a steal here for the Jags, who would get the best receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson over a decade ago. Outside of Leonard Fournette, the Jags don't have many skill position guys and Jeudy would help this offense regardless of who's at quarterback.
10. Cleveland Browns- Tristan Wirfs, Offensive Tackle, Iowa: What severely hurt the Browns the most in their disastrous 2019 season was their offensive line. Wirfs is somebody who had a dominant season in college and could slide at either tackle spot due to his versatility.
11. New York Jets- Cee Dee Lamb, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma: With Robbie Anderson being a free agent, the Jets suddenly have a need at wide receiver. Lamb is someone that has WR1 potential on any roster and he would make Sam Darnold better.
12. Las Vegas Raiders- Isaiah Simmons, Linebacker/Defensive Back, Clemson: The Raiders need more help on the defensive side of the ball and Simmons would be the ideal choice here. He has versatility and could help both the pass rush and the secondary, which makes Simmons an intriguing prospect.
13. Indianapolis Colts- AJ Epenesa, Defensive End, Iowa: The Colts have needs on both sides of the ball, so they should go with best player available who would be Epenesa here. Epenesa is someone that is great on the edge and the Colts need young blood in their pass rush, so this would be a nice match.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Yetur Gross-Matos, Defensive End, Penn State: The Bucs are a team that had a solid front seven last year, but some of their key guys from the unit will be free agents. Gross-Matos is someone that's stock has risen after a strong season in college and he would be a nice fit here.
15. Denver Broncos- Javon Kinlaw, Defensive Lineman, South Carolina: The Broncos obviously have Von Miller and Bradley Chubb on the edges, but putting someone like Kinlaw in the middle of
them would be tantalizing. Kinlaw could go higher than this due to his versatility and size.
16. Atlanta Falcons- CJ Henderson, Cornerback, Florida: Henderson is somebody who's coming off a solid season in college and someone I believe can start right away in the league. The Falcons have some nice corners, but they could use help in their secondary, so this would be a fine pick.
17. Dallas Cowboys- Grant Delpit, Safety, LSU: This would be a mega steal for the Cowboys considering Delpit was considered a top five pick before his injury this past season. The Cowboys biggest need is at safety and Delpit would make an immediate impact.
18. Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh Steelers)- K'Lavon Chaisson, Defensive End, LSU: The Dolphins could go in any direction with this pick and here I have them addressing their pass rush with Chaisson. He was a sack machine in college and could make an instant impact in the pros.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago Bears)- Henry Ruggs IV, Wide Receiver, Alabama: The Raiders have an extra first due to the Khalil Mack trade and here I have them snagging a receiver that has a ton of potential. Ruggs was not even the top gun for Tua Tagovailoa in Alabama's offense so it should be interesting to see what he would turn out to be as a top option.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)- Kristian Fulton, Cornerback, LSU: The Jaguars secondary needs to be addressed after the trading of Jalen Ramsey, so they use the pick they got in the Ramsey deal from the Rams to somewhat replace him. Fulton is someone that has size and athleticism and was overshadowed in LSU's secondary due to the prescience of Grant Delpit.
21. Philadelphia Eagles- Tee Higgins, Wide Receiver, Clemson: The Eagles have two very noticeable weaknesses- wide receiver and cornerback. Howie Rossman decides to go with Higgins, who has the size, length, and athleticism to be a WR1. Higgins has been one of Trevor Lawrence's best targets over the past two seasons.
22. Buffalo Bills- Laviska Shenault, Wide Receiver, Colorado: What was noticeable in the Bills playoff defeat were two things: the offensive line needs help and Josh Allen needs more guys to throw to. Shenault is someone that has a ton of upside and has a lot of qualities to be an impact receiver.
23. New England Patriots- Jordan Love, Quarterback, Utah State: The last two seasons it has been noticeable that Father Time has caught up to Tom Brady, who is a free agent after this season and has publicly stated that he's not retiring. Whether Brady is back or not, the team should look to the future at the most important position in sports. Love is someone that is very raw and has high upside.
24. New Orleans Saints- Cole Kmet, Tight End, Notre Dame: The Saints could go in a number of directions with this selection, but here I have them taking who I feel is the best tight end in the draft. Kmet is someone who excels in blocking and is great in the passing game and that will help Drew Brees and that offense.
25. Tennessee Titans- Tyler Biadasz, Center, Wisconsin: Biadaz is the best interior lineman in this draft and the Titans snag him here at 25. Biadasz is someone that excels at blocking and will help Derrick Henry find more running lanes.
26. Minnesota Vikings- AJ Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson: The Vikings on paper have a solid defense, but the strength is their pass rush and their secondary isn't as good as it once was partly due to the fact Xavier Rhodes has had a rough season. Terrell is somebody that is big and physical and those are the types of defensive backs the Vikings like.
27. Miami Dolphins (from Houston Texans)- Austin Jackson, Offensive Tackle, USC: The Dolphins have a third first rounder courtesy of the Laremy Tunsil trade. With Tunsil gone, the Dolphins offensive line was a mess and Jackson is somebody that stood out this past season and could come in and start right away.
28. Seattle Seahawks- Raekwon Davis, Defensive Tackle/Defensive End, Alabama: The Seahawks could be facing major turnover on the defensive line due to possible free agent departures. Davis is someone that can come in and have an immediate impact due to his versatility, athleticism and size.
29. Kansas City Chiefs- Jonathan Taylor, Running Back, Wisconsin: The Chiefs could go in a number of directions with this selection and here I have them taking who I feel is the best running back in the draft. Taylor is someone that is an upgrade over their current running backs and could help Patrick Mahomes and that offense.
30. Green Bay Packers- Kenneth Murray, Linebacker, Oklahoma: The Packers do have a need at receiver, but I think snagging Murray here at another position of need is wise. Murray is a freak athlete who was a one man show with the Oklahoma Sooners for three years.
31. San Francisco 49ers- Paulson Adebo, Cornerback, Stanford: The 49ers secondary isn't great although Richard Sherman is still around and playing at a quality level. Adebo is someone who's athletic and can come in and help right away.
32. Baltimore Ravens- Terrell Lewis, Defensive End, Alabama: The Ravens really don't have that many needs, maybe a receiver, maybe offensive line, but they can use help rushing the passer. Lewis is somebody who is super talented and is an athletic freak.
Friday, January 3, 2020
2019-20 NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Round Picks
Here are my picks for the Wild Card Round of the 2019-20 NFL Playoffs.
Saturday, January 4th
(A5) Buffalo Bills (10-6) vs (A4) Houston Texans (10-6)- 4:35, ABC/ESPN: The Bills have had a phenomenal season, despite losing their final game of the season against the New York Jets at home in a meaningless game. The Texans are also coming off a loss in a meaningless game at home against the Tennessee Titans in a game that the Titans had to win. This should be a low scoring contest and the Texans get back JJ Watt on defense, but Will Fuller isn't healthy on offense. The Bills are a team that is very well rounded and well coached and I think Josh Allen continues to succeed in big games as the Bills win their first playoff game for the first time in twenty four (!!!) years.
Prediction: Buffalo 23, Houston 17.
(A6) Tennessee Titans (9-7) vs (A3) New England Patriots (12-4)- 8:15, CBS: The Titans won their final game of the season in Houston against the Texans to earn that final AFC Wild Card spot. The Patriots are coming off a home loss against the lowly Miami Dolphins that dropped them to the AFC's third seed. The Titans season changed when they went from Marcus Mariota to Ryan Tannehill at quarterback and if they had Tannehill the whole season, they probably would have won their division. The Pats meanwhile have looked vulnerable in the second half of the season and Tom Brady has looked like Father Time has got to him. The weather is supposed to be brutal, which favors running games and the best running back perhaps in the game right now is Derrick Henry, who will run all over the Pats defense and I think he and Tannehill lead the Titans to an upset victory, which means it could very well be Tom Brady's final game in Foxboro in a Pats uniform (that could be the case if they win here too assuming they don't play at home again in the postseason).
Prediction: Tennessee 27, New England 20.
Sunday, January 5th
(N6) Minnesota Vikings (10-6) vs (N3) New Orleans Saints (13-3)- 1:00, FOX: The Vikings lost their final game of the regular season at home against the Chicago Bears in what was a meaningless game for them. The Saints are coming off a road win in Charlotte against the Panthers in a game that they played their regulars in due to the fact they still had a shot at a bye if things broke right. The Vikings are getting Dalvin Cook back for this game, which is huge for their offense and Adam Thielen is getting healthier as well and they will put up their points against a banged up Saints rush defense and a secondary that isn't great outside of Marshon Lattimore. The Saints will have no problems putting up points against a Vikings secondary that isn't as good as it once was and a run game that has looked better the last few weeks. This has all the making of a classic game in which it's high scoring with big time plays and I could totally picture either Kirk Cousins throwing a late game kick or Dan Bailey missing a field goal as time expires as the Saints win the Minneapolis Miracle rematch in thrilling fashion.
Prediction: New Orleans 35, Minnesota 33.
(N5) Seattle Seahawks (11-5) vs (N4) Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)- 4:40, NBC: The Seahawks are coming off a home loss against the San Francisco 49ers which put them in the fifth seed. The Eagles are coming off a road win in East Rutherford against the lowly New York Giants to win the NFC East. The Seahawks have been a team that has been lucky all season long winning a ton of close games and their point differential isn't good, so Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll deserves all the credit in the world for leading his team here. The Eagles are shorthanded on offense with a lot of key guys injured such as offensive lineman Brandin Brooks and receiver Nelson Agholor and some guys who might play that aren't at full strength are offensive lineman Lane Johnson and tight end Zach Ertz. If the Eagles offense was healthy, I'd pick them to win this game. Bottom line is that I don't trust guys like Greg Ward Jr and Boston Scott to step up when it matters and I think Wilson leads the Seahawks to the next round.
Prediction: Seattle 26, Philadelphia 16.
Saturday, January 4th
(A5) Buffalo Bills (10-6) vs (A4) Houston Texans (10-6)- 4:35, ABC/ESPN: The Bills have had a phenomenal season, despite losing their final game of the season against the New York Jets at home in a meaningless game. The Texans are also coming off a loss in a meaningless game at home against the Tennessee Titans in a game that the Titans had to win. This should be a low scoring contest and the Texans get back JJ Watt on defense, but Will Fuller isn't healthy on offense. The Bills are a team that is very well rounded and well coached and I think Josh Allen continues to succeed in big games as the Bills win their first playoff game for the first time in twenty four (!!!) years.
Prediction: Buffalo 23, Houston 17.
(A6) Tennessee Titans (9-7) vs (A3) New England Patriots (12-4)- 8:15, CBS: The Titans won their final game of the season in Houston against the Texans to earn that final AFC Wild Card spot. The Patriots are coming off a home loss against the lowly Miami Dolphins that dropped them to the AFC's third seed. The Titans season changed when they went from Marcus Mariota to Ryan Tannehill at quarterback and if they had Tannehill the whole season, they probably would have won their division. The Pats meanwhile have looked vulnerable in the second half of the season and Tom Brady has looked like Father Time has got to him. The weather is supposed to be brutal, which favors running games and the best running back perhaps in the game right now is Derrick Henry, who will run all over the Pats defense and I think he and Tannehill lead the Titans to an upset victory, which means it could very well be Tom Brady's final game in Foxboro in a Pats uniform (that could be the case if they win here too assuming they don't play at home again in the postseason).
Prediction: Tennessee 27, New England 20.
Sunday, January 5th
(N6) Minnesota Vikings (10-6) vs (N3) New Orleans Saints (13-3)- 1:00, FOX: The Vikings lost their final game of the regular season at home against the Chicago Bears in what was a meaningless game for them. The Saints are coming off a road win in Charlotte against the Panthers in a game that they played their regulars in due to the fact they still had a shot at a bye if things broke right. The Vikings are getting Dalvin Cook back for this game, which is huge for their offense and Adam Thielen is getting healthier as well and they will put up their points against a banged up Saints rush defense and a secondary that isn't great outside of Marshon Lattimore. The Saints will have no problems putting up points against a Vikings secondary that isn't as good as it once was and a run game that has looked better the last few weeks. This has all the making of a classic game in which it's high scoring with big time plays and I could totally picture either Kirk Cousins throwing a late game kick or Dan Bailey missing a field goal as time expires as the Saints win the Minneapolis Miracle rematch in thrilling fashion.
Prediction: New Orleans 35, Minnesota 33.
(N5) Seattle Seahawks (11-5) vs (N4) Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)- 4:40, NBC: The Seahawks are coming off a home loss against the San Francisco 49ers which put them in the fifth seed. The Eagles are coming off a road win in East Rutherford against the lowly New York Giants to win the NFC East. The Seahawks have been a team that has been lucky all season long winning a ton of close games and their point differential isn't good, so Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll deserves all the credit in the world for leading his team here. The Eagles are shorthanded on offense with a lot of key guys injured such as offensive lineman Brandin Brooks and receiver Nelson Agholor and some guys who might play that aren't at full strength are offensive lineman Lane Johnson and tight end Zach Ertz. If the Eagles offense was healthy, I'd pick them to win this game. Bottom line is that I don't trust guys like Greg Ward Jr and Boston Scott to step up when it matters and I think Wilson leads the Seahawks to the next round.
Prediction: Seattle 26, Philadelphia 16.
2019-20 NFL Playoffs: Schedule
Here is the schedule for the 2019-20 NFL Playoffs.
1/4- AFC Wild Card: (5) Bills at (4) Texans; 4:35, ABC/ESPN: Joe Tessitore, Joe Tessitore, Lisa Salters
1/4- AFC Wild Card: (6) Titans at (3) Patriots; 8:15, CBS: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson
1/5- NFC Wild Card: (6) Vikings at (3) Saints; 1:00, FOX: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Chris Meyers
1/5- NFC Wild Card: (5) Seahawks at (4) Eagles; 4:30, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michelle Tofoya
1/11- NFC Divisional Round: (6) Vikings vs (1) 49ers; 4:35, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michelle Tofoya
1/11- AFC Divisional Round: (6) Titans vs (1) Ravens; 8:15, CBS: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn
1/12- AFC Divisional Round: (4) Texans vs (2) Chiefs; 3:00, CBS: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson
1/12- NFC Divisional Round: (5) Seahawks vs (2) Packers; 6:40, FOX: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Chris Meyers
1/4- AFC Wild Card: (5) Bills at (4) Texans; 4:35, ABC/ESPN: Joe Tessitore, Joe Tessitore, Lisa Salters
1/4- AFC Wild Card: (6) Titans at (3) Patriots; 8:15, CBS: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson
1/5- NFC Wild Card: (6) Vikings at (3) Saints; 1:00, FOX: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Chris Meyers
1/5- NFC Wild Card: (5) Seahawks at (4) Eagles; 4:30, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michelle Tofoya
1/11- NFC Divisional Round: (6) Vikings vs (1) 49ers; 4:35, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michelle Tofoya
1/11- AFC Divisional Round: (6) Titans vs (1) Ravens; 8:15, CBS: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn
1/12- AFC Divisional Round: (4) Texans vs (2) Chiefs; 3:00, CBS: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson
1/12- NFC Divisional Round: (5) Seahawks vs (2) Packers; 6:40, FOX: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Chris Meyers
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