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The Kansas City Chiefs got here up simply in need of going back-to-back in 2020, falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. Whereas the sting of that loss will seemingly final all through the offseason, the long run continues to be tremendously shiny all through the halls of Arrowhead Stadium. Because the NFL seems to be towards the 2021 season, Kansas Metropolis is viewed as the betting favorite to get again to the Tremendous Bowl and this time hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in the course of the Patrick Mahomes period.
With the Chiefs are seemingly not going away any time quickly, that signifies that the remainder of the AFC could have their work minimize out for them this offseason to attract even with Okay.C. in hopes of dashing their hopes of reaching the large sport as soon as once more. How can they try this? Glad you requested. Beneath, we will spotlight one factor that every workforce within the AFC might want to do that offseason to inch one step nearer to knocking off the Chiefs and changing into the highest canine within the convention by as early as subsequent season.
Key transfer: Add one other receiver for Lamar Jackson
The Ravens have an MVP caliber quarterback and have been knocking on the door of leaping as much as that elite tier of groups within the AFC for the previous two years. As long as they’re able to retain a few key free brokers on the defensive facet of the ball to maintain that unit among the many finest within the convention, the most important want for Baltimore is offering Lamar Jackson assist in the passing sport. Everyone knows the Ravens have a deadly floor assault with Jackson and J.Okay. Dobbins popping out of the backfield, however oftentimes the Ravens wanted extra stability by means of the air. Discovering an above-average pass-catching choice for Jackson both on the draft, free company, or by way of commerce this offseason to pair with Hollywood Brown and Mark Andrews will go a good distance in making Baltimore’s offense extra well-rounded.
Key transfer: Proceed the ascent
In the event you had been to guess on a workforce to dethrone Kansas Metropolis subsequent season, the favourite is probably going the Payments. Sean McDermott’s membership took a big leap in 2020 and that was largely on account of Josh Allen changing into an MVP caliber quarterback. So long as they proceed to have that needle shifting in the precise course they usually take no steps backward, 2021 may very well be an enormous yr for Buffalo. Because it pertains to the roster, solidifying the offensive line needs to be a excessive precedence.
Key transfer: Get Joe Burrow wholesome and construct a wall round him
In all chance, the Bengals are usually not going to have the ability to go toe-to-toe with Kansas Metropolis by subsequent season. They’re nonetheless just a few seasons away from professional rivalry within the AFC. That mentioned, they’ve the toughest a part of any rebuild full after drafting Joe Burrow with the No. 1 total decide final offseason. What they’re going to have to deal with this offseason is seeing that he recovers easily from his torn ACL and, within the meantime, construct a robust offensive line in entrance of him. In simply 10 video games performed, Burrow was sacked 32 occasions final season and in the end wasn’t capable of play by means of a complete season. He confirmed in these 10 contests that he’s able to main a franchise into the playoffs, however he will not be capable of if he is getting bombarded on a weekly foundation. If Oregon offensive sort out Penei Sewell had been to fall to them at No. 5, that’d be one heck of a begin in the direction of constructing a wall in entrance of their franchise savior.
Key transfer: Enhance the secondary
Cleveland was capable of make the playoffs for the primary time for the reason that 2002 season this previous yr, however could not get previous Kansas Metropolis within the divisional spherical. With Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill each going over 100 yards receiving, that loss confirmed that the Browns nonetheless have some work to do, notably within the secondary. Kevin Stefanski’s protection ranked twenty fifth within the NFL in opposition to the cross in DVOA final season. It needs to be acknowledged that the workforce was with out Denzel Ward for stretches and did not have and 2019 second-round decide Greedy Williams nor 2020 second-rounder Grant Delpit this season on account of harm. That being mentioned, getting these gamers wholesome and persevering with so as to add to that unit will probably be necessary for Cleveland to take that subsequent step in 2021.
Key Transfer: Improve from Drew Lock
Offensively, there’s a lot to love with Denver. The vast receiver trio of Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Tim Patrick (RFA) is promising and that is not even mentioning tight finish Noah Fant together with operating backs Phillip Lindsay (RFA) and Melvin Gordon. What that unit wants to totally ascend as a participant for the AFC, nevertheless, is an improve at quarterback. Drew Lock has proven flashes of potential, but when the Broncos can land a Deshaun Watson and even Sam Darnold, that needs to be checked out as important upgrades that would finally assist transfer them excessive.
Key transfer: Persuade Deshaun Watson to remain aboard
Many anticipate that Deshaun Watson won’t be on the Texans roster by the point we’re kicking off the 2021 season. Nevertheless, the quickest means for Houston to take care of the Chiefs is to determine a strategy to make him keep. There is a sturdy case to be made that Watson is the second-best quarterback within the convention and solely trying up at Patrick Mahomes. He has the expertise to deliver a workforce to the promised land however that workforce has to have a greater assortment of expertise than the forged from The Longest Yard, which Houston didn’t final yr. Once more, it seems unlikely that they’ll discover a strategy to preserve him, but when we’re speaking a few means for the Texans to compete with the Chiefs, they’re higher having Watson than being with out him.
Key transfer: Commerce for or signal an upper-echelon QB
Philip Rivers has referred to as it a profession, which means the Colts are as soon as once more trying to find a quarterback. Outdoors of below heart, Indy has the items in place to contend within the AFC, however this step is pivotal for them having the ability to advance within the playoffs. Given his historical past with Frank Reich, the Colts have been checked out as a participant for Carson Wentz, who’s trying to find a commerce out of Philadelphia. If Reich is ready to purchase him and get him again to the quarterback he was again in 2017, the Colts may very well be sitting fairly. Even when Wentz is not the reply, Indy does have a ton of cap area to assault that want, giving them loads of choices this offseason.
Key transfer: Set a robust basis round Trevor Lawrence
The Jaguars are usually not going to go from worst to first in 2021, however they’ve a really thrilling future. They will choose Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 decide on the 2021 NFL Draft, giving them the best touted quarterback since Andrew Luck. Not solely that, however they employed City Meyer as their subsequent head coach and have essentially the most cap area within the NFL this offseason. Whereas they will not content material in 2021, this offseason is all about organising a basis round Lawrence to have Jacksonville pushing for the playoffs as early as 2022. If Lawrence is as marketed, this may very well be a fast rebuild.
Key transfer: Pour sources into fixing the protection
The Raiders had the twenty eighth ranked protection in DVOA in 2020 which was, partly, the reasoning behind the membership shifting on from defensive coordinator Paul Guenther in the direction of the top of the yr. They’ve since employed Gus Bradley to lead the unit going forward, however they’re going to now have to double-down on that addition with personnel. There will probably be loads of discuss probably shifting on from Derek Carr this offseason, however I do not see him — or the offense — because the obvious drawback in Vegas. If they’ll probably commerce backup quarterback Marcus Mariota for assistance on protection whereas additionally utilizing their draft capital to fill holes on that facet of the ball, it’d go a good distance in serving to Carr, Darren Waller, and the remainder of the Raiders offense not having to match Mahomes throw-for-throw twice a yr.
Key transfer: Play smarter, permit Justin Herbert to develop
The Chargers are a workforce on the rise after Justin Herbert proved to be a real franchise quarterback out of the gate over his rookie season. They merely want to permit him to develop extra to really be a yearly contender. They do have numerous big-name free brokers (Hunter Henry, Melvin Ingram, and so on.) however the greatest precedence surrounding Los Angeles is just enjoying smarter soccer in 2021. Below now-former head coach Anthony Lynn, there have been numerous expensive errors made all through the season that in the end led to losses. Particular groups was a transparent subject all year long, which is usually an indication of poor execution from a training standpoint. With former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley now in place as the top coach, he’ll have to implement a extra disciplined membership and weed out these self-inflicted miscues.
Key transfer: Give Tua each likelihood to take the leap
As long as Miami would not make a splash for Deshaun Watson or one other quarterback, all eyes will probably be on Tua Tagovailoa subsequent season. The Dolphins 2020 first-round decide did not stay as much as expectations over his rookie season, however it additionally appeared just like the teaching workers was reluctant to take the coaching wheels off of their younger signal-caller. For Miami to really know what they’ve in Tagovailoa and get one step nearer to contending within the AFC East and within the convention, they’re going to have to let the quarterback unfastened subsequent season to see what they’ve. Whereas swapping him out for Ryan Fitzpatrick late in video games final season helped earn a few wins, Brian Flores must sink or swim with Tagovailoa in 2021 to permit him the prospect to stay as much as his potential. If he does, Miami has the items able to take a leap.
Key transfer: Discover a high quality quarterback and provides him weapons
New England’s points stretch past simply discovering a quarterback. As we have seen during the last two years, it would not matter if it is Tom Brady or Cam Newton: the pass-catchers on the Patriots roster are subpar. That provides them two issues to focus on this offseason. First, they’re going to have to determine and purchase a top quality quarterback. Is {that a} reunion with Jimmy Garoppolo or kicking the tires on Marcus Mariota? It in the end stays to be seen. Nevertheless, once they do deliver him aboard, they’re going to then want to make use of their cap area and draft capital to search out pass-catching weapons for them on the open market. Tight finish Hunter Henry and receiver Curtis Samuel appear to be stable and sensible choices. While you pair that with Invoice Belichick and a nonetheless stable protection, New England has an opportunity to get pleasure from a stable bounce again from a dreadful 2020.
Key transfer: Commerce for Deshaun Watson
There have been some reports suggesting that Deshaun Watson’s most well-liked touchdown spot is the Jets. If that proves to be the case, New York must put the full-court press on the Texans to pry him away from Houston. By buying Watson, the Jets give themselves arguably the second-best quarterback state of affairs within the AFC and have a robust counter to Josh Allen in Buffalo. From there, New York might use its cap area to proceed to construct round Watson, who will surely entice numerous free brokers.
Key transfer: Get higher quarterback play from Large Ben
Pittsburgh arguably has the perfect protection within the convention and has proficient pass-catchers, however they merely fell aside down the stretch after beginning the yr out 11-0. A part of that was a numerous variety of drops made by Steelers pass-catchers, however Pittsburgh additionally wants higher quarterback play from Ben Roethlisberger as he gears up for what might find yourself being his last season within the league. Based on Soccer Outsiders’ DVOA metric, Roethlisberger ranked twentieth amongst 33 quarterbacks who’ve thrown at the very least 200 passes final season. For reference, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Tom Brady — all quarterbacks who reached the convention championship final yr — made up the highest 4 on that listing. Roethlisberger must be extra environment friendly if Pittsburgh desires to contend in opposition to Okay.C. in 2021.
Key transfer: Enhance the protection
Edge rusher and the secondary are huge wants for Tennessee this offseason after rating thirtieth in opposition to the cross in DVOA final yr. Signing the likes of J.J. Watt may very well be a begin in the direction of addressing the cross rusher spot, however contemplating the veteran is on the back-nine of his profession, he seemingly will not be capable of repair this unit alone. In the event that they had been to make main splashing by buying Yannick Ngakoue or Shaq Barrett, that would show to be large additions to assist get after the quarterback subsequent season and put them in rivalry with the Chiefs. As for the secondary, choices like Richard Sherman may very well be intriguing to pair with the corners Tennessee already boasts.
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