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In opposition to vital odds, the NFL accomplished its 269-game season Sunday night time when Tampa Bay walloped Kansas Metropolis 31-9 within the Tremendous Bowl.
However the coronavirus pandemic isn’t going anyplace and can impression a second consecutive offseason. Free agent and pre-draft visits? Unlikely. A full set of on-field practices in Might/June? Ditto. An on-time reporting window to coaching camp in late July? Hopefully.
Add in a decrease wage cap (by as a lot as $18 million) and the onus shall be on basic managers and contract negotiators to enhance the roster with an eye fixed on the current and future funds.
Looking forward to the offseason, which groups are set to rise or fall? What are the highest storylines? And which free brokers ought to be on the Broncos’ radar?
Here’s a primer for the subsequent few months:
High Non-QB Storylines
Regular offseason program over? It positive sounds prefer it, which is unlucky for younger groups just like the Broncos, which wish to maximize each alternative to fulfill or observe. The pandemic may make the ’21 offseason program all digital once more; groups ought to hope for at the least some on-field time earlier than coaching camp.
Addition of seventeenth recreation: The league has the power to implement the 17-game schedule in ’21, however Commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned final week no choice has been finalized.
Wage cap gymnastics: The projected wage cap shall be $180.1 million, in keeping with ESPN, down from $198.2 million in 2020. Will it impression the big-money free-agent signings? Possibly, however not as a lot because the league’s center class of gamers, who shall be launched or requested to take pay cuts.
Packed pass-rusher market: Each workforce covets pass-rushing depth and subsequent month’s free brokers embody Shaq Barrett (Tampa Bay), Melvin Ingram (Chargers), Leonard Floyd (Rams), Yannick Ngakoue (Baltimore) and Bud Dupree (Pittsburgh).
Receivers altering locations: The glut of faculty receivers has allowed groups just like the Broncos to make use of the draft so as to add move catchers. However this can be a uncommon free-agent yr. Allen Robinson (Chicago), Kenny Golladay (Detroit), Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (Pittsburgh) prime the market.
Groups Who May Rise
Seven groups who missed the 2019 playoffs certified for the ’20 postseason: Tampa Bay, Washington, Chicago and the Los Angeles Rams within the NFC and Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Indianapolis within the AFC. A take a look at 5 groups that would rise in ’21:
1. Dallas (6-10): The Cowboys will get quarterback Dak Prescott (ankle) again, however the important thing shall be new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, employed to repair a unit that was thirty first towards the run (158.8) and twenty seventh in scoring (29.6).
2. Miami (10-6): If the Dolphins purchase quarterback Deshaun Watson, they are going to be in prime place to battle Buffalo within the AFC East. In the event that they don’t, an enchancment from Tua Tagovailoa shall be required.
3. L.A. Chargers (7-9): Be careful for the Bolts. Quarterback Justin Herbert enters his second yr and the protection will get security Derwin James again from damage. Ingram and linebacker Denzel Perryman are free brokers.
4. San Francisco (6-10): The 49ers’ NFC title protection was derailed by roster-wide accidents. If coach Kyle Shanahan can get higher play from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (or one other QB), they could possibly be again within the combine.
5. Jacksonville (1-15): Hey, why not? The Jaguars will draft quarterback Trevor Lawrence first general, which may observe a pleasant spending spree in free company.
Groups Who May Slide
New England, Houston, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Minnesota all missed the 2020 playoffs after qualifying in ’19. A take a look at 5 postseason groups that would slide:
1. Pittsburgh (12-4): Our final impression of the Steelers was getting rolled early (and semi-rallying) of their playoff loss to Cleveland. Yikes. Amongst their free brokers are Dupree, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and left sort out Alejandro Villanueva.
2. New Orleans (12-4): The Saints’ invoice for going for a second Tremendous Bowl title within the Sean Payton/Drew Brees period is about to return due. Is there sufficient cash to re-sign security Marcus Williams and outdoors linebacker Trey Hendrickson? And who performs quarterback?
3. Indianapolis (11-5): Had the Colts acquired quarterback Matthew Stafford, they wouldn’t be on this listing. They should discover replacements for Philip Rivers and left sort out Anthony Castonzo and make selections on receiver T.Y. Hilton and cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
4. Chicago (8-8): The Bears had been Exhibit A for not maintaining the 14-team playoff format. The Bears squeaked in regardless of a five-game dropping streak in November/December.
5. Tennessee (11-5): Don’t underestimate the lack of play-caller Arthur Smith, who left to be Atlanta’s coach. But additionally an enormous problem is the protection — the Titans had been twenty eighth in yards allowed (398.3).
Broncos Free-Agent Watch
The Broncos need assistance at backup quarterback, working again and all around the protection.
ILB Eric Wilson, Minnesota: It is smart to take a look at any Vikings free agent as a result of new Broncos basic supervisor George Paton was beforehand in Minnesota. A former undrafted free agent, Wilson is younger (26), sturdy (by no means missed a recreation), versatile (eight sacks and three interceptions) and productive (122 tackles in ’20).
CB Mike Hilton, Pittsburgh: He performed 45% of the Steelers’ defensive snaps and is arguably the league’s greatest at blitzing from the slot. If the Broncos signal Hilton, they’ll have the choice of maintaining Bryce Callahan exterior and a top-flight nickel if he breaks down bodily.
QB Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago: The second general choose in 2017 has data of 29-21 (common season) and 0-2 (playoffs) and the Bears seem able to let him stroll. He would test the field of the Broncos discovering an skilled backup in the event that they view Drew Lock because the starter.
QB Andy Dalton, Dallas: Prescott’s damage ought to drive the Cowboys to maintain Dalton, the long-time starter in Cincinnati. The Broncos, although, ought to discover signing him to a multi-year take care of a worth that will increase if he performs usually.
DL Leonard Williams, N.Y. Giants: OK, this can be a attain, but when the Broncos wish to focus their free-agent effort on a big-ticket participant, Williams ought to prime the listing.
Key Dates
Feb. 23-March 9: Groups can designate gamers with the franchise or transition tags. Final yr, the Broncos used the franchise tag on security Justin Simmons.
March 15-17: Groups are permitted to barter with the brokers of different groups’ unrestricted free brokers.
March 17 (2 p.m.): The beginning of the 2021 League Yr. Trades turn out to be official, unrestricted free brokers are allowed to signal contracts with new groups and the deadline for groups to tender restricted free brokers.
April 19: Relying on the pandemic, groups with returning head coaches can start their voluntary offseason program.
April 29-Might 1: NFL draft — spherical 1 (April 29), rounds 2-3 (April 30) and rounds 4-7 (Might 1). The Broncos have one choose apiece in rounds 1-6 and three within the seventh.
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