NFC North
Aug 22, 2020 16:22:09 GMT -5
Carolina Panthers (Justin) and New York Giants (Malachi) like this
Post by Cincinnati Bengals (Chris) on Aug 22, 2020 16:22:09 GMT -5
NFC NORTH
The NFC North was one of the most (If not the most) underwhelming divisions last year. Every team was down from their 2018 finish, save the Bears, who rose one spot, in what hardly feels like an accomplishment. Jaxon, in his second year in the league, committed to a full rebuild, and Christian, seeing the writing on the wall late in the year, opted for a rebuild on the fly. Matt, who previously won the championship in 2017, reclaimed the division from Christian in 2019, edging him by a game in the final standings, by virtue of winning the head-to-head. While Matt couldn’t replicate his 2017 or 2018 playoff runs, he did make it to the second round before being annihilated by the eventual repeat champion Eagles. 2020 holds a lot of uncertainty for this division, but in general, things look sunnier than 2019 (Though it’s still very clearly one of the worst divisions in the league). Will Matt be able to stay atop the standings, and capitalize on the down periods of his division foes? Can Christian regroup and mount a challenge with a refreshed roster? Will Jaxon keep trusting and embracing the process? And will Charlie’s five-year rebuild finally allow him to crest .500 in year-6? Let me know what you think about my projections and post you own comments. Also, DON’T FORGET to vote in the poll, as that’s the whole point.
Chicago Bears (Charlie)
Last year’s finish: 30th (Division: 3rd)
Outlook: Looking up and down the Bears’ roster, it’s clear that one-sided trades and inattention has taken its toll on the team. An insistence to trade away future draft picks in some kind of quixotic notion of competing, despite the full evidence of continual failure, has wreaked havoc on Chicago’s ability to replenish talent. While there are bright notes present, it is one of the most uneven rosters in the league. Charlie put one foot forward a year ago by investing in rookie Dwayne Haskins in the First Round of the rookie draft. While his first year produced rather discouraging results, it appears that he will have every opportunity to lead the offense for an entire year under a functional offensive system in year-2. At running back, it’s a who’s who of quasi-relevant names, headed by Melvin Gordon, whom Charlie parted with a first to mothball much of last season in favor or Peyton Barber (Who also still remains). Concerning about Gordon are his inability to break away from Austin Ekeler last year once fully re-acclimated from his holdout, his move to a Denver backfield where it’s arguable if he’s the most-talented back anymore, and his personal admission that he has been struggling with the Denver altitude. While it’s hard to knock the Bears for their depth at this position, and it’s likely that one or more of Barber, Jamaal Williams, Carlos Hyde, Darrel Williams (He whose selection as the second overall pick in our UFA Draft certainly turned some heads, but now looks like…well, not a completely terrible waste), and Bo Scarbrough, will have their moments, it’s also an incredibly crowded stable with only one truly relevant and projectable name as of now, assuming Gordon wins the lion’s share of Denver’s backfield reps. At wideout, it’s Will Fuller, and to a lesser degree Olabisi Johnson (Last year’s underwhelming fill-in for Adam Thielen), who is presently running with the ones ahead of First Round rookie Justin Jefferson (Significant due to how often the Vikings run 12 personnel). No one else really registers any serious threat of scoring points in a regular season game in 2020. Theoretically, the Bears present a fairly decent tight end room; though neither 35-year old Greg Olsen, nor Nick Boyle, project to be their team’s highest-scoring option there. Defensively, the problems are even more stated, as outside of the defensive line, where multiple top prospects reside (Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams, and now Javon Kinlaw), there is a dearth of high-level contributors. Scaled back versions of Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin, and Robert Quinn remain, as do unsigned free agent Clay Matthews, and perennial disappointment (And Matthews’ Rams replacement) Leonard Floyd. At best, this is a league-average LB corps. Lamarcus Joyner is the only DB on the team.
X-factor: Rebuilding. This team is nowhere near positioned to compete. It should be fully committed to a rebuild, like division-mate Green Bay. No more half measures.
Projected division finish: 4th
Detroit Lions (Christian)
Last year’s finish: 13th (Division: 2nd)
Outlook: Within Detroit’s deadline dealing a year ago, existed a duality: a GM that knew he didn’t have all the pieces to seriously compete, but also that he did in fact have quite a great number of players who contained a fair degree of upside. Christian therefore made some big (But well-reasoned) gambles—gambles that placed an emphasis on upside, for a rebuild on the fly that closely resembles the offseason plan of the 2013 Boston Red Sox: Add a lot of good players, not one or two stars. For example, it’s hard to overstate the biggest and most noteworthy gamble that Christian is relying on this year, in one Cam Newton. When healthy, he’s been among the best quarterbacks in fantasy football (If not a few steps below that in real life). However, due to a litany of nagging injuries, he was the NFL’s worst quarterback over the last half of 2018, and the first few games of 2019. He now is wearing a different uniform for the first time in his career, and has the reigns of an offense that could surprise. The question is, is this the Cam Newton prior to midseason 2018, or is this the guy whose body is done? Christian also possesses Carolina’s quarterback situation, and I am told that he plans to offload them rather than Cam. At running back, the investment forfeited to acquire Josh Jacobs in last year’s draft paid off in spades, and powered Detroit’s offense for the majority of last year. With some better health, he may yet prove to be one of the top runners in the league. Behind him is the man giving the finger to Father Time, in Frank Gore. It’s always a question as to how much he has left, but despite a quite evidently sapped talent, Gore lives rent free in his new coach Adam Gase’s heart, and may end up getting a large share of a committee with malcontent Le’Veon Bell. At wide receiver, there is a lot of upside, but not much in the way of guaranteed production. Larry Fitzgerald has clearly lost a step or two (As evidenced by his decreasing stat line) but likely remains fantasy relevant piece due to the offensive system he works in. By that same token, last year’s puff piece Andy Isabella also stands to benefit, but couldn’t get on the field until late in his rookie season over some career nobodies, and, oh yeah, Arizona kinda just traded for maybe the best receiver in football. The wet bandits couldn’t dampen anything as effectively as DeAndre Hopkins’ arrival did the fantasy outlooks of those two. Behind them are speedster Scotty Miller, who seems to be in a three-way race to win Tampa Bay’s third receiver job—a position which would at least come with some fantasy relevance, despite the inhuman target share those top-two TB options are going to continue to post this year. Alex Erickson is also still on the Bengals, where he is loved by their coaching staff(s)—but for the first time since he arrived, may actually not make the team, as they are stocked with more talented, young options than at any time since he arrived in 2016. At tight end, 2018 surprise Chris Herndon, and rookie addition Cole Kmet give this the potential to at least hold up their end, and maybe more. Defensively, there’s also a lot to like. The defensive line has several high-upside players, in Carlos Dunlap, and 2019 rookie injury washout L.J. Collier. At linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch heads a unit that is short on established names, but also includes recent breakout Preston Smith. Defensive back includes established names like Earl Thomas, Adrian Amos, Marshon Lattimore, and Jordan Whitehead. It should be among the better defenses in the league, though probably not significantly above average.
X-factor: Cam Newton. As much as wide receiver and linebacker depth are looming concerns, this team will go as far as Cam can take (And maybe even carry) them. His health is paramount—both in terms of injury prevention, as he’s often been dinged up, but also in terms of recovery from the past two years. If he can shake off those maladies, and stay relatively healthy, I would venture a guess that Detroit is a playoff team in 2020. That could all change depending on any potential QB trade that DET makes, as well as what kind of return he can command.
Projected division finish: 2nd
Green Bay Packers (Jaxon)
Last year’s finish: 31st (Division: 4th)
Outlook: One of the true unheralded, under-the-radar teams is Green Bay, whose manager Jaxon, decided a year ago that he didn’t possess the pieces to contend, and instead of continuing the previous Packers' GMs practice of annual mediocrity, blew it up. Now he has an overwhelming talent pool, chock full of up-and-coming players, with draft capital (Both realized this year, and in future). Starting at quarterback, the Pack will roll with 38-year old Philip Rivers—an unsavory option, whose tape down the back half of last year, for some reason, went unheeded by league front offices. Now a threat to throw more interceptions in a game than he has kids, 2020 promises to be one of the most brutal seasons in the history of professional quarterbacking if he doesn’t suddenly make a massive improvement back to the mean—at 38, with severely declining arm strength, and a less-talented receiving corps. Otherwise, it may be in the best interests of Jaxon to begin investigating shares in Jacoby Brissett or some other team’s QB situation. That said, unless everything goes incredibly well, it’s unlikely to matter for Jaxon this year, as Green Bay’s vision is set on long-term competition. At running back, the projection is slightly sunnier. While there is no bell-cow present, Tony Pollard will continue to serve as Zeke Elliott’s breather back, and Marlon Mack should be a committee back—though very soon on the short end due to the vastly more-talented Jonathan Taylor. Nyheim Hines, who will return as Indy’s passing back, and is somehow still just 23, may lead the group in points this year, as he’s likely to be the recipient of many of the passes not thrown to Indianapolis opponents this year. Additionally, Darrynton Evans could find the field as the new Dion Lewis to Derrick Henry—though the Titans seemed to figure out late each of the last two years how asinine it is to take away snaps from Henry. At wide receiver, there is a ton to like, in what is quickly becoming one of the best young receiving corps in the league. Jaxon added First Round pick CeeDee Lamb in the rookie draft to all-purpose sensation Curtis Samuel, and with Josh Reynolds now likely to win the Rams’ third WR job, as well as data darling JuJuan Jennings. Those four cement the position group to that status, irrespective of the status of mentally ill deviant, Antonio Brown, who is likely to get yet another chance to blow up another real-life NFL team’s season this year. At tight end, second-year sensation Noah Fant came on down the stretch last year, and Taysom Hill, while technically listed as a quarterback, racks most of his points up at TE, and is therefore always a threat to be reclassified. The defense is, comparatively speaking, even younger--perhaps the league’s youngest even before this year’s draft picks are factored in. Larry Ogunjobi and Duke Riley are among the biggest highlights, and Antonine Winfield, Donte Jackson and Rayshawn Jenkins offer some measure of production (Though generally below replacement level). However, there are many more names to watch on this defense, and if some of them pan out, Jaxon could make a real dent in his pursuit of fielding a competitive defense, on the cheap (As most of his significant investment has come offensively).
X-factor: Defense and time. The time/development aspect, you cannot rush, and it appears that Jaxon is committed to seeing the process through. As for the defense, focusing future assets towards the development of that unit will be key to his continued progress.
Projected division finish: 3rd
Minnesota Vikings (Matt)
Last year’s finish: 8th (Division: 1st)
Outlook: The class of the 2019 NFC North, this looks to be the case even more so in 2020. There is talent up and down the roster at every position, and most positions are settled heading into the year. Quarterback, however, is the exception. Where previously he could rely on Jacoby Brissett for average to below average production, what was Philip Rivers’ gain is his loss. For now at least, Matt will have to find a trade partner, and soldier on with a set of backups that also includes strong-armed, risk-averse, and recently no longer legally blind, Jameis Winston, as well as another howitzer-like prospect, in rookie First Rounder Justin Herbert. At running back, Alvin Kamara is attempting to rebound from a perfectly good season with a return to the excellent. There is little doubt that he is capable of that, and more. Behind him, are Bryce Love, and Kalen Ballage—two talented, yet mercurial options (Love, a second-year pro who has yet to see the field due to a leg injury, and Ballage turned a promising rookie year into one of the least efficient rushing seasons in league history, behind a bogus line—though much of the issues were self inflicted). Matt swung for the fences in acquiring Love (And two others that we’ll soon talk about, in Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki) in a 2019 draft day deal that involved him flipping a future first for a current second--the type of deals that rarely work out. In Love’s case, however, the knee injury plummeted him down the draft boards, as he would’ve been a sure-fire top-5 pick in our draft the year prior, had he come out. He looks to get the first crack at being the long-term replacement for Adrian Peterson now that Derius Guice has finally been hold to account for his continual missteps. At wide receiver, the Vikings sport the league’s-best triumvirate of names, in Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, and Courtland Sutton. It’s a truly excellent group that can win games for Minnesota on a weekly basis. Beyond that, however, there is only Duke Williams, who presently looks unlikely to crack Buffalo’s 53-man roster. Tight End Hunter Henry will look to finally put together his first full season, after several of his promising campaigns were cut short over the span of his rookie deal. Defense, on the other hand, is where the Vikings sneak up on you. The defensive line of Frank Clark and Arden Key leaves a lot to be desired (One a Pro-Bowl level pass rusher, the other a promising college prospect that has yet to make any mark). At linebacker, however, it’s a cadre of significant names. Jarrad Davis, Rashaan Evans, Wilson, Germaine Pratt, Takitaki, and Nigel Bradham all figure to play significant roles (Though Wilson’s recent leg injury complicates the equation, as what was likely to be the Vikings’ top-IDP, may now miss the entire year). Even with sans-Wilson a possibility, there still should be plenty to spare at the position. The defensive backfield is full of players yet to make their mark, but who could also do so in 2020. It also includes Justin Evans, who was just beginning to do exactly that, when he suffered injuries that have derailed his career to this point. While he is on the PUP, look for him to potentially be the Vikings’ best DB upon his return.
X-factor: QB Situation/Rounding out the edges. Once the QB situation is handled, Matt will have to turn his attention to fortifying his offensive depth, and improving some of the weak points of his defense (Secondary DL and DB). While this team is nowhere near as impressive as the 2017 squad, there are some similarities that indicate this team is about ready to blow up again.
Projected division finish: 1st
Remember to watch out for the third of our divisional previews, this time the AFC South, which should drop early next week. Thanks again guys.
The NFC North was one of the most (If not the most) underwhelming divisions last year. Every team was down from their 2018 finish, save the Bears, who rose one spot, in what hardly feels like an accomplishment. Jaxon, in his second year in the league, committed to a full rebuild, and Christian, seeing the writing on the wall late in the year, opted for a rebuild on the fly. Matt, who previously won the championship in 2017, reclaimed the division from Christian in 2019, edging him by a game in the final standings, by virtue of winning the head-to-head. While Matt couldn’t replicate his 2017 or 2018 playoff runs, he did make it to the second round before being annihilated by the eventual repeat champion Eagles. 2020 holds a lot of uncertainty for this division, but in general, things look sunnier than 2019 (Though it’s still very clearly one of the worst divisions in the league). Will Matt be able to stay atop the standings, and capitalize on the down periods of his division foes? Can Christian regroup and mount a challenge with a refreshed roster? Will Jaxon keep trusting and embracing the process? And will Charlie’s five-year rebuild finally allow him to crest .500 in year-6? Let me know what you think about my projections and post you own comments. Also, DON’T FORGET to vote in the poll, as that’s the whole point.
Chicago Bears (Charlie)
Last year’s finish: 30th (Division: 3rd)
Outlook: Looking up and down the Bears’ roster, it’s clear that one-sided trades and inattention has taken its toll on the team. An insistence to trade away future draft picks in some kind of quixotic notion of competing, despite the full evidence of continual failure, has wreaked havoc on Chicago’s ability to replenish talent. While there are bright notes present, it is one of the most uneven rosters in the league. Charlie put one foot forward a year ago by investing in rookie Dwayne Haskins in the First Round of the rookie draft. While his first year produced rather discouraging results, it appears that he will have every opportunity to lead the offense for an entire year under a functional offensive system in year-2. At running back, it’s a who’s who of quasi-relevant names, headed by Melvin Gordon, whom Charlie parted with a first to mothball much of last season in favor or Peyton Barber (Who also still remains). Concerning about Gordon are his inability to break away from Austin Ekeler last year once fully re-acclimated from his holdout, his move to a Denver backfield where it’s arguable if he’s the most-talented back anymore, and his personal admission that he has been struggling with the Denver altitude. While it’s hard to knock the Bears for their depth at this position, and it’s likely that one or more of Barber, Jamaal Williams, Carlos Hyde, Darrel Williams (He whose selection as the second overall pick in our UFA Draft certainly turned some heads, but now looks like…well, not a completely terrible waste), and Bo Scarbrough, will have their moments, it’s also an incredibly crowded stable with only one truly relevant and projectable name as of now, assuming Gordon wins the lion’s share of Denver’s backfield reps. At wideout, it’s Will Fuller, and to a lesser degree Olabisi Johnson (Last year’s underwhelming fill-in for Adam Thielen), who is presently running with the ones ahead of First Round rookie Justin Jefferson (Significant due to how often the Vikings run 12 personnel). No one else really registers any serious threat of scoring points in a regular season game in 2020. Theoretically, the Bears present a fairly decent tight end room; though neither 35-year old Greg Olsen, nor Nick Boyle, project to be their team’s highest-scoring option there. Defensively, the problems are even more stated, as outside of the defensive line, where multiple top prospects reside (Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams, and now Javon Kinlaw), there is a dearth of high-level contributors. Scaled back versions of Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin, and Robert Quinn remain, as do unsigned free agent Clay Matthews, and perennial disappointment (And Matthews’ Rams replacement) Leonard Floyd. At best, this is a league-average LB corps. Lamarcus Joyner is the only DB on the team.
X-factor: Rebuilding. This team is nowhere near positioned to compete. It should be fully committed to a rebuild, like division-mate Green Bay. No more half measures.
Projected division finish: 4th
Detroit Lions (Christian)
Last year’s finish: 13th (Division: 2nd)
Outlook: Within Detroit’s deadline dealing a year ago, existed a duality: a GM that knew he didn’t have all the pieces to seriously compete, but also that he did in fact have quite a great number of players who contained a fair degree of upside. Christian therefore made some big (But well-reasoned) gambles—gambles that placed an emphasis on upside, for a rebuild on the fly that closely resembles the offseason plan of the 2013 Boston Red Sox: Add a lot of good players, not one or two stars. For example, it’s hard to overstate the biggest and most noteworthy gamble that Christian is relying on this year, in one Cam Newton. When healthy, he’s been among the best quarterbacks in fantasy football (If not a few steps below that in real life). However, due to a litany of nagging injuries, he was the NFL’s worst quarterback over the last half of 2018, and the first few games of 2019. He now is wearing a different uniform for the first time in his career, and has the reigns of an offense that could surprise. The question is, is this the Cam Newton prior to midseason 2018, or is this the guy whose body is done? Christian also possesses Carolina’s quarterback situation, and I am told that he plans to offload them rather than Cam. At running back, the investment forfeited to acquire Josh Jacobs in last year’s draft paid off in spades, and powered Detroit’s offense for the majority of last year. With some better health, he may yet prove to be one of the top runners in the league. Behind him is the man giving the finger to Father Time, in Frank Gore. It’s always a question as to how much he has left, but despite a quite evidently sapped talent, Gore lives rent free in his new coach Adam Gase’s heart, and may end up getting a large share of a committee with malcontent Le’Veon Bell. At wide receiver, there is a lot of upside, but not much in the way of guaranteed production. Larry Fitzgerald has clearly lost a step or two (As evidenced by his decreasing stat line) but likely remains fantasy relevant piece due to the offensive system he works in. By that same token, last year’s puff piece Andy Isabella also stands to benefit, but couldn’t get on the field until late in his rookie season over some career nobodies, and, oh yeah, Arizona kinda just traded for maybe the best receiver in football. The wet bandits couldn’t dampen anything as effectively as DeAndre Hopkins’ arrival did the fantasy outlooks of those two. Behind them are speedster Scotty Miller, who seems to be in a three-way race to win Tampa Bay’s third receiver job—a position which would at least come with some fantasy relevance, despite the inhuman target share those top-two TB options are going to continue to post this year. Alex Erickson is also still on the Bengals, where he is loved by their coaching staff(s)—but for the first time since he arrived, may actually not make the team, as they are stocked with more talented, young options than at any time since he arrived in 2016. At tight end, 2018 surprise Chris Herndon, and rookie addition Cole Kmet give this the potential to at least hold up their end, and maybe more. Defensively, there’s also a lot to like. The defensive line has several high-upside players, in Carlos Dunlap, and 2019 rookie injury washout L.J. Collier. At linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch heads a unit that is short on established names, but also includes recent breakout Preston Smith. Defensive back includes established names like Earl Thomas, Adrian Amos, Marshon Lattimore, and Jordan Whitehead. It should be among the better defenses in the league, though probably not significantly above average.
X-factor: Cam Newton. As much as wide receiver and linebacker depth are looming concerns, this team will go as far as Cam can take (And maybe even carry) them. His health is paramount—both in terms of injury prevention, as he’s often been dinged up, but also in terms of recovery from the past two years. If he can shake off those maladies, and stay relatively healthy, I would venture a guess that Detroit is a playoff team in 2020. That could all change depending on any potential QB trade that DET makes, as well as what kind of return he can command.
Projected division finish: 2nd
Green Bay Packers (Jaxon)
Last year’s finish: 31st (Division: 4th)
Outlook: One of the true unheralded, under-the-radar teams is Green Bay, whose manager Jaxon, decided a year ago that he didn’t possess the pieces to contend, and instead of continuing the previous Packers' GMs practice of annual mediocrity, blew it up. Now he has an overwhelming talent pool, chock full of up-and-coming players, with draft capital (Both realized this year, and in future). Starting at quarterback, the Pack will roll with 38-year old Philip Rivers—an unsavory option, whose tape down the back half of last year, for some reason, went unheeded by league front offices. Now a threat to throw more interceptions in a game than he has kids, 2020 promises to be one of the most brutal seasons in the history of professional quarterbacking if he doesn’t suddenly make a massive improvement back to the mean—at 38, with severely declining arm strength, and a less-talented receiving corps. Otherwise, it may be in the best interests of Jaxon to begin investigating shares in Jacoby Brissett or some other team’s QB situation. That said, unless everything goes incredibly well, it’s unlikely to matter for Jaxon this year, as Green Bay’s vision is set on long-term competition. At running back, the projection is slightly sunnier. While there is no bell-cow present, Tony Pollard will continue to serve as Zeke Elliott’s breather back, and Marlon Mack should be a committee back—though very soon on the short end due to the vastly more-talented Jonathan Taylor. Nyheim Hines, who will return as Indy’s passing back, and is somehow still just 23, may lead the group in points this year, as he’s likely to be the recipient of many of the passes not thrown to Indianapolis opponents this year. Additionally, Darrynton Evans could find the field as the new Dion Lewis to Derrick Henry—though the Titans seemed to figure out late each of the last two years how asinine it is to take away snaps from Henry. At wide receiver, there is a ton to like, in what is quickly becoming one of the best young receiving corps in the league. Jaxon added First Round pick CeeDee Lamb in the rookie draft to all-purpose sensation Curtis Samuel, and with Josh Reynolds now likely to win the Rams’ third WR job, as well as data darling JuJuan Jennings. Those four cement the position group to that status, irrespective of the status of mentally ill deviant, Antonio Brown, who is likely to get yet another chance to blow up another real-life NFL team’s season this year. At tight end, second-year sensation Noah Fant came on down the stretch last year, and Taysom Hill, while technically listed as a quarterback, racks most of his points up at TE, and is therefore always a threat to be reclassified. The defense is, comparatively speaking, even younger--perhaps the league’s youngest even before this year’s draft picks are factored in. Larry Ogunjobi and Duke Riley are among the biggest highlights, and Antonine Winfield, Donte Jackson and Rayshawn Jenkins offer some measure of production (Though generally below replacement level). However, there are many more names to watch on this defense, and if some of them pan out, Jaxon could make a real dent in his pursuit of fielding a competitive defense, on the cheap (As most of his significant investment has come offensively).
X-factor: Defense and time. The time/development aspect, you cannot rush, and it appears that Jaxon is committed to seeing the process through. As for the defense, focusing future assets towards the development of that unit will be key to his continued progress.
Projected division finish: 3rd
Minnesota Vikings (Matt)
Last year’s finish: 8th (Division: 1st)
Outlook: The class of the 2019 NFC North, this looks to be the case even more so in 2020. There is talent up and down the roster at every position, and most positions are settled heading into the year. Quarterback, however, is the exception. Where previously he could rely on Jacoby Brissett for average to below average production, what was Philip Rivers’ gain is his loss. For now at least, Matt will have to find a trade partner, and soldier on with a set of backups that also includes strong-armed, risk-averse, and recently no longer legally blind, Jameis Winston, as well as another howitzer-like prospect, in rookie First Rounder Justin Herbert. At running back, Alvin Kamara is attempting to rebound from a perfectly good season with a return to the excellent. There is little doubt that he is capable of that, and more. Behind him, are Bryce Love, and Kalen Ballage—two talented, yet mercurial options (Love, a second-year pro who has yet to see the field due to a leg injury, and Ballage turned a promising rookie year into one of the least efficient rushing seasons in league history, behind a bogus line—though much of the issues were self inflicted). Matt swung for the fences in acquiring Love (And two others that we’ll soon talk about, in Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki) in a 2019 draft day deal that involved him flipping a future first for a current second--the type of deals that rarely work out. In Love’s case, however, the knee injury plummeted him down the draft boards, as he would’ve been a sure-fire top-5 pick in our draft the year prior, had he come out. He looks to get the first crack at being the long-term replacement for Adrian Peterson now that Derius Guice has finally been hold to account for his continual missteps. At wide receiver, the Vikings sport the league’s-best triumvirate of names, in Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, and Courtland Sutton. It’s a truly excellent group that can win games for Minnesota on a weekly basis. Beyond that, however, there is only Duke Williams, who presently looks unlikely to crack Buffalo’s 53-man roster. Tight End Hunter Henry will look to finally put together his first full season, after several of his promising campaigns were cut short over the span of his rookie deal. Defense, on the other hand, is where the Vikings sneak up on you. The defensive line of Frank Clark and Arden Key leaves a lot to be desired (One a Pro-Bowl level pass rusher, the other a promising college prospect that has yet to make any mark). At linebacker, however, it’s a cadre of significant names. Jarrad Davis, Rashaan Evans, Wilson, Germaine Pratt, Takitaki, and Nigel Bradham all figure to play significant roles (Though Wilson’s recent leg injury complicates the equation, as what was likely to be the Vikings’ top-IDP, may now miss the entire year). Even with sans-Wilson a possibility, there still should be plenty to spare at the position. The defensive backfield is full of players yet to make their mark, but who could also do so in 2020. It also includes Justin Evans, who was just beginning to do exactly that, when he suffered injuries that have derailed his career to this point. While he is on the PUP, look for him to potentially be the Vikings’ best DB upon his return.
X-factor: QB Situation/Rounding out the edges. Once the QB situation is handled, Matt will have to turn his attention to fortifying his offensive depth, and improving some of the weak points of his defense (Secondary DL and DB). While this team is nowhere near as impressive as the 2017 squad, there are some similarities that indicate this team is about ready to blow up again.
Projected division finish: 1st
Remember to watch out for the third of our divisional previews, this time the AFC South, which should drop early next week. Thanks again guys.