After the NFL Draft, it is always good to look at the teams who upgraded themselves enough to the point where they are being overlooked as a playoff contender. Teams who addressed needs and holes on both sides of the ball, and while they may not have been the best last year, could sneak their way into a division title or backend wild card spot. In this article, we will breakdown the 5 teams with the best chance to do just that.
5) New York Giants
The Giants were able to snag the 2nd best WR in the class, and consensus #4 overall prospect for good value at 6th overall. Nabers, out of LSU, will give quarterback Daniel Jones a brand new number 1 target in a major deciding season for his career. A playmaker was a huge need in the draft, especially with the expected retirement of TE Darren Waller after just 1 year in New York. Despite losing RB Saquan Barkley in the offseason to their neighbor Eagles, they were able to replace him with Devin Singletary, a less productive, but also less injury-prone runner.
Many fans across the league forget that this team made their way to the divisional round just a year and a half ago. And one of the reasons Jones struggled so much last year were his constant injuries. After missing the final stretch of the 23-24 season and over 6 months to rest before getting back to regular-season play, he should come back ready to prove everyone wrong, and Drew Lock provides good depth should they need it again.
4) New England Patriots
Mac Jones is gone, and every single sports fan in Boston can take a deep breath and thank the front office. After a masterful rookie season that had many thinking they had found Tom Brady 2.0, Jones' play dropped drastically in the following years as he was benched game after game for Western Kentucky product Bailey Zappe (who has had a similar career trajectory).
Once again, people are forgetting that with good Quarterback play, this team was a contender for the 1 seed. If UNC rookie Drake Maye is able to live up to his draft hype, there is no limit to where this team could go. Especially with the Bills gaping hole at WR(which they did somewhat fix in the draft), there are extra spots open in this years AFC wild card picture. Even if they don't make the playoffs, though, this squad will likely exceed experts win predictions and then some.
3) Tennessee Titans
Did they have the best draft? No. But they still have a well built out team with solid, offensive-minded coaching - exactly what you need to win in today's game. If second year quarterback Will Levis can build on what we saw last year, then this team could contend for a wild card spot. They have DeAndre Hopkins returning for his second year in Nashville, and threw money at Calvin Ridley to line up next to him. By surrounding him with strong, reliable playmakers, they have put themselves in position to improve next season.
In the draft, they were able to get a brand new starting left tackle in JC Latham, filling the biggest hole across their team with a giant blindside protector. Giving Levis more time is certainly important, but the new and improved offensive line will also help second year running back Tyjae Spears and newly signed Tony Pollard get downfield quicker. With the right coaching, this team could get right back in the heated race for the AFC South Division crown, and secure Will Levis as the future leader of the franchise.
2) Carolina Panthers
This team really needs a strong season. A good performance this year could protect Bryce Young's name and decide that he truly is the answer for this lost franchise. With the help of veterans like Adam Thielen, they could boost Young's confidence and let him play more freely and in turn better, and possibly return to the form we saw in college that made him the #1 overall pick.
Surprisingly enough, Carolina had a solid defense last year. The problem? The offense would consistently put up 10 points a game when the other team had 11. They need more firepower. They need the production that we sometimes see from Chuba Hubbard, but they need it all the time. Without offense, you cannot win football games, and this team clearly showed us that fact last season. With new coaching and a new general manager, Bryce Young has a fresh start. He has a brand new playmaker out on the wing in #32 pick Xavier Legette, and while they may not make the playoffs, he must play well in order to stay out of "bust" status. It's only year 2, but this is already a deciding year for Young.
1) Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenny Pickett is gone, and he really didn't last that long. A team that has been stuck in the middle for what seems like forever felt like they needed a change, shocker. They signed Russell Wilson in free agency, and later traded for Justin Fields, and didn't need to give up much. It was a smart move to secure a back up in Fields, as they know have a trustworthy plan B if Wilson doesn't work out.
In their draft, they were abe to secure O-lineman Troy Fautaunu to continue revamping their front 5 and secure a new protector for their Quarterback. It is a widely known fact that they will consistently have a top defense, so they didn't need to do much there. Overall, with two quarterbacks they can count on, a solid WR and TE core, and a great 1-2 punch at RB with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, this offense should do enough to get to at least 10 wins with one of the league's best defenses behind them.
Eli Knight
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