It was a weird season for the NFC where 10 win Philadelphia did not make the playoffs, but division winner Carolina went only 7-8-1, made the playoffs, then actually won a game there. Defending champ Seattle got within one yard of being the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions since New England did it, then, well, if you are reading an article like this, I’m sure you know how that turned out. But what about next year? We’ll take a look at all the teams who won at least seven games last year and what they need to do to hoist the Lombardi trophy.
Minnesota (7-9) When a team is as dependent on one player as the Vikings are with Adrian Peterson, you are playing with fire. It looked ok after Week 1 when they blew out the Rams, but then AP was under fire for child abuse and did not play again the remainder of the season. Not surprising that they only won 6 more games the remainder of the season. The plus side of that mess was that they got a good, long look at rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater, who was solid but not spectacular. People weren’t expecting him to light it up with Peterson out for the year and receiver Cordarrelle Patterson struggling to make the leap to be the #1 receiver. Greg Jennings was solid, but is 32 so it would be a big surprise to see Minnesota pass on a wide receiver in the draft. Surrounding a young QB with weapons is a must to see what you have. The name that jumps out at me is DeVante Parker, who played with Bridgewater at Louisville. Adding a familiar face to go with Jennings and Patterson will give Bridgewater plenty of options to throw to and, if they bring Peterson back, one of the top running games in the league.
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New Orleans (7-9) There are not many teams who have a better situation at the QB position as the Saints do with Drew Brees, but there is no team in worse shape when it comes to the salary cap. New Orleans will have to trim roughly $28 million in payroll just to get under the cap, so their offseason will be spent restructuring contracts and releasing players. Some of that $28 million can be converted to bonus money so it’s not really that bad, but forget about a splash in free agency. Beefing up on defense will be key as any offense with Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham isn’t exactly hurting. Junior Galette was the only Saint with double figures in sacks so that is where the Saints will start in the draft. A playmaker in the secondary should be next up with the Saints ranking near the bottom of turnovers created category despite having Keenan Lewis who proved to be a solid corner.
Carolina (7-8-1) The Panthers squeaked into the playoffs on the last week of the season due in large part to the inept season everyone in the NFC South had. Next year will be different as seven wins won’t be enough to make the playoffs. Expect their biggest move to be locking up Cam Newton to a long-term deal. But for Newton to succeed, Carolina will need to a) protect him and b) give him someone besides Kelvin Benjamin to throw to. Adding a speedy receiver like Torrey Smith, Jeremy Maclin or Randall Cobb (if the Packers are dumb enough to let him go) in free agency to pair with Benjamin and tight end Greg Olson should do the trick. Brian Bulaga would be a great pick-up if he becomes available, but they are more likely going to try to pick up their left tackle of the future in the draft and moving Byron Bell to right tackle.
San Francisco (8-8) That was not how 2014 was supposed to go for the 49ers. Three straight trips to the NFC Championship game, multiple All-Pros, a coach who has won at every level and a new stadium equaled an 8-8 season. Injuries played a big part with Navarro Bowman missing all the season and many, many others missing games or being placed on the IR at some point. Their offseason started as soon as Week 17 finished when they announced coach Jim Harbaugh would not be returning and was eventually replaced by Defensive Line coach Jim Tomsula in part to retain some sort of continuity to a team that has been so close to the ultimate prize. They are cap strapped, so free agency will not be for them other than to fill in the gaps. They will need to make a decision on All-Pro guard Mike Iupati and WR Michael Crabtree. Both are unrestricted free agents and will garner interest from many teams. Crabtree is less likely to be retained and will probably test the market. Iupati is a vital part of the offensive line that was instrumental in the success they enjoyed prior to 2014. Look for them to do what they can to bring Iupati back but replace Crabtree with a receiver in the first round in the draft. An under the radar story is whether they will retain all three of their inside linebackers. Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman were stellar when they are on the field together and Chris Borland proved to be a star in the making when filling in last season. Can they keep all three or will they look to move one of the two higher priced talents in Willis and Bowman?
(Photo Courtesy of AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Philadelphia (10-6) The Eagles could be the most interesting team this offseason. Nick Foles had a great season in 2013, then took a step back last year. It is no secret that coach Chip Kelly would love to get Marcus Mariota to run his NFL offense just like he did at Oregon, but what would it take to get him? The first question is weather he is better than Jameis Winston. That is important because it is all but certain that Tampa Bay will take a QB with the first pick, so the Eagles might be out of luck if the Bucs like Mariota better and refuse to trade that pick. If they like Winston better, then where will Mariota fall to? Trading up from #20 into the top 5 isn’t cheap, but if Mariota is the answer at quarterback, then he is worth the price and they should break the bank for him. The other need the Eagles need to fill is at cornerback. Should they mortgage the draft for Mariota, there are options in free agency in Byron Maxwell, Brandon Flowers and Rashean Mathis. Even if they miss out on Mariota and take a corner in the first round, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them sign one of those names as well.
Detroit (11-5) The most important decision of the Lions offseason will be what to do with Ndamukong Suh. He is the centerpiece to a defense that can be downright dominating. If the Lions franchise tag him, he will cost $26.7 million plus the $9 million in dead money he will account for regardless of what team he is on and I can’t see the Lions coming up with the cash for him in a long-term deal. My bet is Suh ends up in Oakland, who has an absurd amount of cap space and a soon-to-be elite pass rusher in Khalil Mack to pair him with. Even though the Lions other DT Nick Fairley was found not guilty of DUI, his time is up in Detroit. I can’t see a scenario where they don’t either bring Suh back or spend their first pick on an interior defensive lineman. Someone like Carl Davis or Malcolm Brown makes a lot of sense in the draft. Stafford and Calvin Johnson Jr. are still stars on offense but solidifying the offensive line will make both better. Starters Dominic Raiola and Rob Sims are free agents and I’m sure they will bring at least one of those guys back, if not both.
Arizona (11-5) Arizona surprised a few people last year when they leap frogged San Francisco to finish second in the very deep NFC West. Coach Bruce Arians has turned the Cardinals into a contender during his two seasons as head coach and you get the feeling that they might just be one healthy, solid quarterback away from being a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They are relatively deep without any glaring need apart from the quarterback position. Carson Palmer says he is ahead of schedule coming off of a torn ACL, but betting it all on Palmer’s health may result in another quick exit from the playoffs, if they even get there. They spent a pick in last years draft on Logan Thomas, but he is raw and not ready to lead a team deep in the playoffs. Backup Drew Stanton also got hurt last season and is far from spectacular. The Cards don’t have much cap flexibility, especially with Larry Fitzgerald’s $23 million cap hit, so a veteran back-up/contingency plan seems like their best bet. Someone like Mark Sanchez, Josh McCown or Matt Flynn would fit that bill. Look for them to try to bring Antonio Cromartie back, who played well opposite of Patrick Peterson and helped the Cardinals finish in the top five in points allowed per game and turnover differential. In the draft, I expect them to try to add depth at linebacker, secondary and running back.
Dallas (12-4) Offseason priority #1: Sign Dez Bryant. Priority #2: Sign Dez Bryant. Priority #3: Sign Dez Bryant. You get the point. Bryant is an elite pass catcher who can take over a game. Guys like him don’t come around very often and when you find one, hold on for dear life. Bryant can do it all. He makes Romo better, opens up the run game and draw double teams from defenses, allowing other receivers to get open. If the Boys let him go, they will regret it for years while they try to find a replacement for him. What to do about DeMarco Murray is a little trickier. The trend in the NFL is that you don’t need a highly paid running back to succeed and Murray will definitely be looking for his payday coming off of his career year where he lead the NFL with 1,845 yards. In the current climate of NFL running backs, where a guy like Justin Forsett made the league minimum, yet finished in the top five in rushing, it’s hard to justify giving any running back a big contract. Having said that, Murray fits this team incredibly well, running behind one of the strongest offensive lines in the league as well as catching the ball out of the backfield. I see the Cowboys giving him something in the neighborhood of 2-3 years at $5 million per in order to keep the continuity of a dynamic offense and to show Murray at least a little bit of love. When it comes to the draft, the Cowboys have shifted from the flashy picks they made under Jerry Jones to the more sensible picks made by new draft guru Will McClay, as evidence by passing on Johnny Manziel and taking guard Zack Martin in last years draft. Look for more shrewd moves like that this year, but on the defensive side of the ball, especially the defensive line, to make that unit a more well rounded group.
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Green Bay (12-4) The Packers were one successfully fielded onside kick away from playing in the Super Bowl (who wouldn’t want to see a Rodgers/Brady shootout in the big game?) but when Brandon Bostick couldn’t come down with the ball, Seattle took that small window of opportunity and ran with it. But any team with Aaron Rodgers at the helm is going to be in the conversation for Super Bowl contenders. They already locked up Jordy Nelson to a long-term and Randall Cobb needs to be next. The two receivers are a dynamic duo for Rodgers to throw to and breaking it up would be folly. They have the cap space to slap the franchise tag on him, but young, explosive receivers don’t grow on trees so keeping him around for longer would be the smart move. Bryan Bulaga is a free agent and is the best offensive tackle on the market. Retaining him along with Cobb will go a long way in maintaining one of the top offenses in the league. Building the pass rush on defense is important with Julius Peppers getting up there in age.
Seattle (12-4) Oh so close. How frustrating it was for the Seahawks, who sat one yard away with Beast Mode in the backfield, but it was not meant to be as the Hawks came up short in the Super Bowl. Their offseason should be rather straightforward. Russell Wilson is finally eligible to sign an extension and it would be a shock to not see him get at least Colin Kaepernick money. Marshawn Lynch is a question mark as plenty of rumors swirl about him. He might retire, get release or signed to a long-term deal. Seattle would be foolish to let him go to another team and should do everything they can to talk him out of retirement. Without Lynch, a weak offense will take a monumental hit and if they can lock up both Wilson and Lynch, they can focus on the rest of the offense. The Percy Harvin experiment failed, leaving Doug Baldwin as the number one option for Wilson to throw to. Last year, they used their top pick on receiver Paul Richardson, but he torn his ACL and is hoping to be ready for next season. It seems inconceivable that they don’t spend the bulk of their picks and resources in the offseason on receivers and offensive line help. A couple of playmakers and a little extra time in the pocket for Russell Wilson will do wonders for an offense that struggles with consistency. Assuming all the injuries to the Legion of Boom heal, that unit should be back creating havoc with the top defense in the NFL.
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