All of these teams are contenders. But how are they gonna get over the top?
12. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota had some of the highest expectations of any team last season. After rallying behind Case Keenum and making the NFC Championship Game, they signed Kirk Cousins to a big deal.
The feeling was that Cousins was better than Keenum, and they needed to take the next step to win. That didn’t happen at all last year. Minnesota missed the playoffs, and they were one of the most disappointing teams to miss the playoffs.
One of the main reasons they missed the playoffs was their offensive line. Minnesota gave up 40 sacks last year, and only averaged 4.2 yards per carry, 24th in the league. This offseason, it was a major priority to fix the offensive line first.
Minnesota elected not to get anyone big in free agency, but they did do two big things in free agency. First, they resigned Anthony Barr to a big deal. Barr was on the verge of signing with the Jets, but changed his mind and stayed in Minnesota.
The Vikings also extended star receiver Adam Thielen, who has been huge for them in the past few seasons. Thielen is Cousins’s favorite weapon and keeping him long-term was smart.
Minnesota had a decent draft, but two picks stick out. First, Minnesota took Garrett Bradbury, a center from NC State. Bradbury is a day-one starter and allows Pat Elflein to move to guard, which suits him better. The Vikings now can protect from the interior a lot better, which has been a problem. The Vikings also selected Irv Smith Jr., a tight end from Alabama. Smith has a lot of speed and will help Cousins push the ball down the field.
The Vikings aren’t done this offseason. They are strapped to the cap and need to cut or trade some key players. Minnesota has to make decisions on Xavier Rhodes, Kyle Rudolph, and Trae Waynes soon. Most likely, Rudolph and Rhodes go soon, and it will be hard to replace them. Regardless, Minnesota still has Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Danielle Hunter, Anthony Barr, Harrison Smith, and Linval Joseph back, and with an improved offensive line, I see Minnesota bouncing back this year.
11. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay wildly underperformed last year. After missing the playoffs the season prior, Green Bay had major expectations coming into the season, and Mike McCarthy’s job was on the line. The Packers bottomed out again though, and they fired McCarthy. Green Bay hired Matt Lafleur, an offensive-minded coach to go alongside Rodgers. The offense wasn’t always the problem though; it was the defense.
The front office identified this and made it a huge priority to fix the defense. First, they decided they needed to get more pass rush help off the edge. Green Bay signed Za’Darius Smith from the Ravens and Preston Smith from Washington. While these guys aren’t flashy names, both are long, powerful players. Both stop the run well and are major upgrades over Nick Perry and Clay Matthews. Green Bay also spent big to get Adrian Amos, but his deal is a bargain. Amos has been one of the best young safeties for a couple of seasons and is a clear upgrade over Haha Clinton-Dix, who they traded months prior. Amos helps solidify the safety position for Green Bay, which hasn’t been good for a long time.
Green Bay continued to go defense in the draft. At pick No. 12, they took Rashan Gary, a defensive lineman out of Michigan. Initially, I didn’t like the pick, but after some time, I love it. Gary can play anywhere on the defensive line and creates matchup problems anywhere. He turns Green Bay’s defensive line from good to great and has the ceiling to be a Pro Bowl player soon.
Green Bay also traded up to grab Darnell Savage, safety from Maryland. Savage has elite speed and can cover the entire field. He also presents elite ball skills, and he and Amos make the safety position for Green Bay a strength. They didn’t forget offense though, drafting Elgton Jenkins, an offensive lineman, and Jace Sternberger at tight end. Both of these guys will be big for Rodgers, who has wanted more help for years.
Green Bay has had some bad years, but it now seems as if they finally have a good defense to pair with Rodgers. The last time that happened, they won the Super Bowl. I expect Green Bay to be really good this year, and I wouldn’t want to play Aaron Rodgers in the postseason if I was an NFC team.
10. Cleveland Browns
Cleveland started last year poorly. After firing Hue Jackson midseason, Gregg Williams and Freddie Kitchens took over and led the team to a winning record late in the year. The Browns, after years of losing, showed incredible progress, to the point where they were close to winning. This offseason, they solidified that idea even more.
They started out by signing Kareem Hunt, the disgraced running back from Kansas City. Hunt is a Pro Bowl running back, but was cut midseason due to a tape being released of him assaulting a woman.
Hunt has since regretted his actions and apologized and has been suspended for 8 games this season. Once Hunt comes back, Cleveland will have Nick Chubb, Hunt, and Duke Johnson in the backfield, creating the best trio in the NFL.
Cleveland wasn’t done yet. GM John Dorsey traded for Odell Beckham and Olivier Vernon from the Giants, giving up Kevin Zeitler, Jabrill Peppers, and two picks. Odell will be a big-time weapon for Baker Mayfield, and Vernon will help Myles Garrett on the other edge spot.
Finally, Cleveland signed Sheldon Richardson, a defensive lineman from Minnesota. Richardson is inconsistent, but alongside Larry Ogunjobi, they give Cleveland an elite front-four.
Cleveland didn’t have many draft picks, but traded up for Greedy Williams, cornerback from LSU. Williams has concerns about effort, but presents elite man coverage and ball skills, and gives Cleveland an elite young cornerback duo, alongside Denzel Ward. Cleveland lacked a good second cornerback last year, and Williams gives them the long-term ceiling to be a Pro Bowl corner.
Cleveland added a ton of talent this offseason. Do they still have needs? Yes, and they have plenty, such as linebacker, safety, and offensive lineman. No team is flawless though, and Cleveland solved enough needs to go into this offseason a playoff contender.
9. Chicago Bears
Chicago went into last year with a lot of talent, then traded for Khalil Mack, and everything changed. Under head coach Matt Nagy, the Bears made the postseason, only to lose tragically on a missed kick to the Eagles in the Wild Card. They didn’t have much cap space and draft picks, so they had to be careful on what they spent.
The Bears free agency period was pretty quiet, but they did sign Haha Clinton-Dix, safety from Washington. While he isn’t better than Adrian Amos, he is a lot cheaper, and still a good enough player to fill that need. Chicago also had very few draft picks, but did draft David Montgomery, running back out of Iowa State. Montgomery broke 99 tackles last year and flashes a style of running similar to Kareem Hunt.
Chicago is going under the radar by many of the top NFL writers, and I don’t understand why. While they lost some talent, they still have great young players on this team. Expect Chicago to compete again, and fight for a playoff spot.
8. Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis was awesome last year. No one expected them to be that good that fast, but they overcame the odds and made the playoffs. The Colts were led by Andrew Luck and an elite offensive line and showed great progress as the season went on.
Indianapolis had the most cap space in the league and a lot of picks. They didn’t spend a lot though. Even with over 100-million dollars in cap space, they were very conservative. First, they signed Devin Funchess to a one-year deal, worth up to 14 million. Funchess has been really inconsistent since coming into the league but flashes potential. The Colts’ biggest splash this offseason was the signing of Justin Houston from Kansas City. Houston signed a two-year deal of around 14-million dollars a year. Houston has his issues with health and effort, but still is a high-level player at his position, while only at the age of 30.
The Colts traded back in the draft as well, from pick 26 to 46. With three second-round picks, they took Rock Ya-Sin, a cornerback from Temple, Ben Banogu, a linebacker from TCU, and WR Parris Campbell out of Ohio State. All three of these players will contribute immediately, and be long-term prospects as well. Chris Ballard has done a great job evaluating talent in the NFL draft, and that didn’t change this year.
Even if the Colts didn’t sign anyone big this offseason, they were already gonna be better from last year. With Darius Leonard, Quentin Nelson, and Malik Hooker getting another year of development, plus Andrew Luck getting healthier, they are going to be formidable. Don’t be surprised if Indianapolis wins 2-3 more games next year, and while I don’t see them winning a Super Bowl, they will have a puncher’s chance.
7. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys were really similar to the Colts from last year. No one expected a ton from this team, and we were all wondering what direction they were going to go. Led by an elite defense and running game, they made it back into the postseason.
Dallas had a lot of cap space but didn’t sign many free agents, which made sense. With extensions looming for Demarcus Lawrence, Byron Jones, Amari Cooper, Ezekiel Elliott, Jaylon Smith, and Dak Prescott, they couldn’t commit a lot of long term money. Dallas did a smart job of staying conservative but also improving. The Cowboys traded for Robert Quinn, veteran pass rusher from the Dolphins. Quinn is past his peak, but still provides length on the edge, and plays with power. Dallas also signed Randall Cobb, a receiver from Green Bay. Cobb is also past his peak and has had major concerns with health. If Cobb stays healthy though, he gives Dak Prescott a threat in the slot.
Dallas didn’t have many draft picks but did capitalize on some of them. In the second round, they selected DT Trysten Hill out of UCF. Hill is raw, but plays with a high motor, and brings a solid pass rush from the interior. They also selected Connor McGovern, guard from Penn State. With Zack Martin being hurt a lot, they needed help from the interior, and McGovern provides that.
Dallas is similar to the Colts, where even if they didn’t add a single player, they were going to be better. Dallas has an amazing young core, and if guys like Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, Leighton Vander Esch, Byron Jones, and Jaylon Smith continue to improve, Dallas can be a contender. With smart moves this offseason, Dallas finally has rebounded to a contending team in the NFC.
