The Browns have unproven young players at a number of key positions.
(32) Cleveland Browns:
Why They’re Here: The Browns have some reasons to be happy in the near future as they are getting Myles Garrett back but they have too many issues at other key positions. DeShone Kizer has been mediocre at best this season and at this point they should be focused on if they should take Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen.
(31) Indianapolis Colts:
Why They’re Here: The Colts would be much higher on this list if they had a healthy Andrew Luck but at this point they are without their franchise quarterback and they have been a complete mess without him. It’s time for Chuck Pagano to go and they need to find a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball or get a running back to take pressure off luck (hint hint Saquon Barkley).
(30) Chicago Bears:
Why They’re Here: Mike Glennon has been atrocious for the Bears this season but if I were John Fox I would not want to throw Mitchell Trubisky into this mess as they have virtually no chance of making the playoffs and they mine as well redshirt Trubisky this year and let him learn. The Bears do have some talent on the defensive side of the ball and two great running backs if Trubisky can turn out to be a competent QB whenever he get’s on the field they could be a playoff team within a few years.
(29) Cincinnati Bengals:
Why They’re Here: Cincinatti has been a trainwreck this season and I wouldn’t be surprised if Mike Brown finally let’s Marvin Lewis go at the end of this season. Andy Dalton has not been great this season but I would not move on from him this year unless they are bad enough to get Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen. They have three solid running backs and some decent pieces on both sides of the ball but they just seem too dysfunctional this year.
(28) New York Jets:
Why They’re Here: The Jets have been mediocre this year but they are still better than I expected (I picked them to be the worst team in football). They have one of the worst quarterback situations in football and not too much to like on the offensive side of the ball but I am putting them ahead of a few teams largely because of Todd Bowles who deserves to keep his job and is a good coach.
(27) San Francisco 49ers:
Why They’re Here: San Francisco is about how I expected them to be so far this year and they are in major need of a franchise quarterback. If they are lucky Kirk Cousins becomes a free agent this year and reunites with his former offensive coordinator or they lose enough games to get Darnold or Rosen. The 49ers have a exciting young defensive line with DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas but their secondary could use some help.
(26) New York Giants:
Why They’re Here: I was very high on the Giants headed into the season but they haven’t been able to get their act together this year. Eli has been average this year but that is not really his fault as they have an atrocious offensive line and mediocre backfield. I still love the Giants defense but Ben McAdoo has been awful this year and he could be fired in only his second season as the Giant’s coach.
(25) Jacksonville Jaguars:
Why They’re Here: Jacksonville needs a new quarterback but they are set for many years to come at the running back position. Jalen Ramsey has been one of the best corners in all of football this year and Myles Jack has had a pretty good year as well, the crazy amount of money that Jacksonville throws at free agency is finally paying off this year and I have been fairly impressed with some parts of that team.
(24) Miami Dolphins:
Why They’re Here: Adam Gase is a great coach but unfortunately Jay Cutler has been pretty average this year. The Dolphins unlike most of the team’s towards the bottom have a decent defense but they just have had too many struggles this season.
(23) Los Angeles Chargers:
Why They’re Here: The Chargers should probably move back to San Diego but that is another story. Philip Rivers should demand a trade to get off this team and go to a contender like Denver. In the Chargers defense they did suffer some losses on the offensive line in the offseason but they are still too bad to be worthy of a top twenty spot.
(22) Baltimore Ravens:
Why They’re Here: Baltimore at this point is the Memphis Grizzlies of the NFL, not good not bad but pretty average. That also pretty much somes up Joe Flacco. They need some help in their receiving corps and they win the award of the second best team in the AFC North (that’s not saying much).
(21) New Orleans Saints:
Why They’re Here: I have no idea where this team would be without Drew Brees. Sean Payton deserves to keep his job and they have some talent on every offensive unit but that defense is not very good and they need to focus almost entirely on that next year. This team look’s like they will basically be the same team they were last year at this point.
(20) Arizona Cardinals:
Why They’re Here: Arizona is a very old team and they should have drafted a quarterback this offseason. Losing Calais Campbell has had an impact on this team but I have been very impressed with rookie linebacker Haason Reddick at the same time. Despite all of this I still have to put the Bruce Arians coaches team in the top twenty.
(19) Washington Redskins:
Why They’re Here: Washington has a franchise quarterback with Kirk Cousins and it is very unfortunate that they have not paid him the money he deserves. The Redskins have other reasons to be optimistic on the offensive side of the ball with Chris Thompson and Terrelle Pryor but it would have been nice if they kept Pierre Garcon.
(18) Tennessee Titans:
Why They’re Here: I don’t know the severity of Marcus Mariota’s injury. If Mariota is out for longer than a month this team drops about ten spots but if Mariota is out a few week’s at the most this spot seems about right. The Titans have a pretty impressive offense but their secondary has been awful this year and it seems like every quarterback that plays them torches that secondary. I have still been very impressed with how Jon Robinson has built that team but they need lots of help in the secondary.
(17) Buffalo Bills:
Why They’re Here: The Bills are bizarrely in first place in the AFC East a fourth of the way through the season as everyone expected. Sean McDermott has done a great job so far in his first season with the team and I am very impressed with this team. Tyrod Taylor has also had a great year so far and he is a fun quarterback to watch. The Bills have some talent on the defensive side of the ball as well and Tre’Davious White has been one of the best defensive rookies this season.
