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2024 NFL Mock Draft

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By Sam Morris

Sam Morris is from Madison Heights, Michigan, and is an undergraduate student at BGSU majoring in Sports Management. He has a passion for sports writing and journalism. In his free time, he also performs, writes, and produces his own raps for the music industry club at BGSU.

April 24th, 2024

Overview

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan this year from April 25th through April 27th at the Hart Plaza. The event will feature Detroit-style concession stands, Motown music, youth activities, and a Play 60 Zone. Like recent drafts before it, the 2024 NFL Draft should be watched nationwide with considerably high ratings as NFL fans everywhere aren’t only excited to see who their team will pick but also what the rest of the league will do to improve their rosters.

As I did last year, in this mock draft I will predict who each first-round pick will be. I will also provide analysis and statistics as to why each player was selected at the spot they were taken and why it made sense for that specific team to draft that player into their organization. This mock draft won’t include any draft day trades and will be using rosters updated as of April 23rd.

Without further ado, the Chicago Bears are on the clock!

1. Chicago Bears

top team needs: QB, OT, DE

QB Caleb Williams  USC

Chicago finished last year with a 7-10 record but ended up getting the top pick in this year’s draft from Carolina due to the DJ Moore trade last year. Along with Moore, the Bears also picked up WR Keenan Allen in a trade with the LA Chargers this offseason, further bolstering their weapons for a future QB. After trading QB Justin Fields to the Steelers, the Bears will certainly be picking a QB with this 1st overall pick, and USC QB Caleb Williams is a clear frontrunner. Williams had a 3,633 yard, 42 total TD stat line in 2023 and an even better 4,537 yard 52 total TD stat line in his 2022 Heisman season. Williams’s arm strength and accuracy should make an immediate impact in Chicago’s rapid rebuild next season, but will he be enough to silence the Justin Fields loyalists?

2. Washington Commanders

top team needs: QB, OT, DE

QB Jayden Daniels  LSU  

One of the quickest risers up draft boards, LSU’s Jayden Daniels is easily the most versatile and athletic QB in this year’s draft class. Daniels was an Arizona State transfer before going to LSU and he ended up playing 5 years of collegiate football, giving him valuable experience. Last year was by far his best season, throwing for over 3,800 yards and rushing for over 1,000. He also had a spectacular TD/INT ratio, getting 50 total TD’s while only throwing 4 interceptions. Daniels should immediately improve Washington’s offense that has no #1 option at QB after sending Sam Howell to the Seahawks.

3. New England Patriots

top team needs: QB, OT, WR

QB Drake Maye  North Carolina 

It is highly likely that there will be three QB’s drafted with the top three picks in this year’s draft. This would be only the 4th draft in NFL history that this would occur, only after the 1971, 1999, and 2021 drafts. Like the Bears and Commanders, the Patriots traded away their previous young QB (Mac Jones). Jones will land as a backup QB to fellow 2021 draft class pick Trevor Lawrence while the Patriots are left with no true option at QB. After a failure to make a move for either Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson in the offseason, it is evident the Patriots will take a QB at 3. The question is whether they will take JJ McCarthy or Drake Maye at this spot if the top 2 picks are as I predicted. Despite New England being known to pick Michigan QB’s, I’m giving Maye the slight edge over McCarthy in that he is bigger, stronger, slightly more agile, and has been able to showcase his arm talent more at the college level. While not his fault, McCarthy played in a run-heavy offense. Maye’s UNC offense on the other hand ran through him and he rose to the occasion; amassing over 3,600 yards and 33 TD’s.

4. Arizona Cardinals

top team needs: WR, DE, CB

WR Marvin Harrison Jr.  Ohio State

The Cardinals badly need a wide receiver in their struggling offense. Their current depth chart has no true #1 wide-out as they have Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, and Chris Moore listed as their current presumptive starters. Marvin Harrison Jr. out of Ohio State is heads and shoulders above the rest of the 2024 wide receivers as a draft prospect and the Cardinals shouldn’t even hesitate on picking him here. Harrison Jr. was a 2023 Heisman finalist and put up back-to-back 1,200+ yard seasons while also getting 14 TD’s in each season! That type of production is unheard of through a 12 game schedule and the Cardinals would be getting a potential future superstar if they were to select him.

5. Los Angeles Chargers

top team needs: WR, DE, OT

WR Rome Odunze  Washington

Although the Cardinals got the first and best WR off the board in Harrison Jr, the Chargers are by far the team that needed a WR the most out of this draft. LA is losing both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in the offseason and will go into this draft with arguably the worst WR room in the league. I believe it will be between Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers with this pick but I went with Odunze, the Washington prospect, because he’s a taller, slightly faster option for Herbert to throw to over the top. While maybe not as good a route runner as Nabers, Odunze still put up a 1,640-yard, 13-TD season at Washington last year and will make a much-needed immediate impact in LA for Justin Herbert’s offense.

6. New York Giants

top team needs: OT, QB, WR

OT Joe Alt  Notre Dame

The Giants have the first “big decision” in this year’s draft. While the pick selections are up for debate in the top 5 picks the position should be pretty set in stone. However, when it comes to the Giants at 6, the rest of the draft could be determined by which route they decide to go. The two main options are to take a QB as Daniel Jones’ contract will run out or take an O-Lineman to help rebuild one of the league’s worst protecting units to help Jones. Although I could see them going either way with this, I think they will more likely pick the first offensive lineman off the board here. They paid Jones so much money and still have faith in him as an organization that he can win in the future. Alt will be an enormous (literally) help for the Giants to protect Jones. He is 6 ft 8, 315 pounds, and is extremely agile and quick on his feet. Although Alt is the big name O-Lineman in this draft, there are about 5-7 at the position that are of his caliber; this draft class is loaded with talented offensive lineman.

7. Tennessee Titans

top team needs: OT, CB, WR

OT JC Latham  Alabama

Speaking of offensive lineman, JC Latham becomes the first Crimson Tide player to come off the board in Nick Saban’s final year. Latham will immediately improve the worst-graded offensive line in the league with his 6 ft 6, 360-pound frame. He could easily slide in as the week 1 left tackle to protect Will Levis. The other direction Tennessee could go with this pick would be at CB, but at this high, I don’t think a CB in this draft is that talented to be justifying drafting them in the top 10. While Latham isn’t the flashiest brand-name player in the draft, I think 5-10 years down the road Tennessee fans could look back at the draft and be extremely happy with this pick.

8. Atlanta Falcons

top team needs: DE, LB, OT

DE Dallas Turner   Alabama

After signing Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney, and Ray-Ray McCloud in the offseason, Atlanta is quietly becoming a top offense in the NFC South. Their biggest struggles will be on the defensive side of the football, particularly in the fact that they have one of the weakest front 7 in the NFL. To combat this, Dallas Turner could make a mini-Alabama run in the draft here and help Atlanta out with his versatility to play both the defensive end and linebacker position. Turner is a fierce competitor who had a whopping 53 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 10 sacks last season as a junior. Turner is neck and neck with Verse and Latu as the top front- 7 player in the draft but Turner’s high ability to sack the QB will be enough to sway Atlanta to select him over the others.

9. Chicago Bears

top team needs: OT, DE, G/C

OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu  Penn State

At 6 ft 6, 320 lbs, Fashanu is slightly smaller than Alt and Latham, but strong in his own right. The Bears drafted RT Darnell Wright out of Tennessee with the 10th overall pick last year and he has solidified the right side of the line. However, in order to help the future QB on both sides, the Bears will need a LT of the future as Braxton Jones is seen as more of a temporary placeholder until his contract expires to free agency. Fashanu could be a great value pick at #9 for this future LT spot and he has all the intangible skills to succeed for Chicago.

10. New York Jets

top team needs: OT, TE, QB

TE Brock Bowers  Georgia

The Jets need another offensive weapon for Aaron Rodgers next season. They just got Mike Williams from the Chargers and have a plethora of running backs who can catch well, but the receiving core is still mediocre with just Garrett Wilson and Williams on the outside. Multi-talented, two-time national champion TE, Brock Bowers, would fit perfectly with this offensive makeup. Bowers would be able to help on inside, crossing, outside, and deep routes, and would be able to help protect Rodgers as a blocker as well, something that current TE Tyler Conklin has struggled with as part of his game. Bowers brings to the table three straight 700 + yard seasons as a TE and 31 total career TD’s in college.

11. Minnesota Vikings

top team needs: QB, CB, DT

QB J.J McCarthy  Michigan

The first of two picks in this year’s draft for Minnesota, the Vikings will be picking McCarthy as the 4th QB taken off the board. Minnesota had a very disappointing 2023 season finishing tied with the Bears in the division after winning the NFC North the previous year. As disappointing as the regular season was, the offseason may be looking even worse for Vikings fans right now as Kirk Cousins is now an Atlanta Falcon. On the bright side, Minnesota signed Aaron Jones to be the next starting RB and the WR duo of Jefferson and Addison is one of the best in the league. McCarthy will be able to help with this offense as he could either start over the newly acquired QB Sam Darnold or start on the bench and become the starter of the future. While the defense needs help in all three levels, a top 4 QB is urgent for Minnesota with a poor current QB room. McCarthy brings agility, underrated arm strength, and arguably the best accuracy in this 2024 draft class as he only threw 11 interceptions COMBINED in his three-year career at Michigan. This lack of turnovers will pay dividends in the NFL and will likely be the reason McCarthy goes in the top 5 QB’s drafted.

12. Denver Broncos

top team needs: QB, DE, DT

DE Jared Verse Florida State

There may not be a team (besides the Panthers) in a worse draft position than the Denver Broncos. Denver was essentially forced to let go of QB Russell Wilson so they will no longer be able to say “Broncos country, let’s ride.” Wilson’s absence means the QB room currently includes Jarrett Stidham as the QB1 and Zach Wilson as QB2. The dilemma for Denver is that by picking #12 they will most certainly have the #5 QB in the draft class if they were to select one. Denver also needs help pretty much everywhere in the front 7 on defense as well. Weighing these options, I believe that come draft night Denver will trade down in the draft and gain additional assets as opposed to staying and reaching for a QB at 12, such as Michael Penix Jr or Bo Nix. However, since I’m not doing trades in this mock draft, I believe Denver could also pick a talented Defensive end to help out with their atrocious run defense, and that player would be Jared Verse. Verse’s determination and work ethic are unmatched in this draft class as he skyrocketed from the University of Albany to Florida State in just 2 years. Verse put up monster numbers once he was in the ACC, getting 9 sacks each of the last two seasons, with 88 tackles combined between the two years. Verse will have a big impact on Denver’s run defense scheme.

13. Las Vegas Raiders

top team needs: CB, DT, QB

CB Quinyon Mitchell  Toledo

Another team potentially vying for a QB, Las Vegas has officially moved on from Jimmy G and straight into Aidan O’Connell. Poor DaVante Adams isn’t even playing with his Fresno State teammate Derek Carr anymore and instead has locked himself into a situation with a rocky QB battle. While many Raiders’ fans want the organization to look for a new franchise QB, O’Connell didn’t do too badly last year in the short sample size, and it is believed that he will continue to be tested this upcoming year, especially because they pick down at #13. With this being said, the Raiders need major help in their secondary (as they often do) and will do so by picking the speedy CB out of Toledo, Quinyon Mitchell. In a class loaded with CB talent, Mitchell stands out in that he ran a 4.33 40-yd dash while having exceptional route coverage skills to back up the speed. The concern with Mitchell is the lesser MAC competition, but the on-field skill should speak for itself and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he was the first CB off the board.

14. New Orleans Saints

top team needs: WR, DE, OT

WR Malik Nabers  LSU

The Saints need another weapon for Derek Carr to throw to as their offense became stagnant down the stretch of the season, causing them to have a mediocre 9-8 record and to miss the playoffs. Nabers would be a steal in the middle picks and he would compliment Chris Olave perfectly in this spread-out New Orleans offense. Nabers had back-to-back 1,000 + yard seasons in 2022-2023 and had 14 TD’s in 2023 as well. His collegiate production will hopefully translate to the NFL as a lanky red zone target for Carr to throw the ball up to in contested tight window situations.

15. Indianapolis Colts

top team needs: DE, CB, WR

CB Nate Wiggins Clemson

The Colts were one of the most surprising teams last season because they finished with a winning record without their top draft pick QB Anthony Richardson. Eager to build upon this success, Colts fans may want them to double down on offense here and build more of a receiving core. If Nabers doesn’t go a pick earlier I think Indianapolis would pick him here, but there is an enormous drop off from the top 3 WR’s in this class and the Colts still need another CB badly. Wiggins is the only CB to run a faster 40 yd dash time than the aforementioned Quinyon Mithcell at 4.28. This pick would help solidify two quality starters in the Colts secondary and allow them to build a back end of the defense based on speed and aggressiveness to match the powerful front 7 they already have in place.

16. Seattle Seahawks

top team needs: DE, DL, G/C

DT Byron Murphy II Texas

Byron Murphy II is one of the most fun-to-watch defensive players in this draft and his attitude perfectly encapsulates what the Seahawks have branded their defensive style as. At 300 pounds, he is big enough to take on NFL offensive linemen, but he is only 6 ft so he will definitely be playing on the interior in the NFL. That means this pick makes even more sense for the Seahawks since they have only 1 nose tackle on their entire active roster as it is currently constructed. If he is still available when Seattle picks, I would be shocked to see them pass him by (although this is what I said about Jalen Carter last year and they let him slip to Philadelphia, so what do I know?).

17. Jacksonville Jaguars

top team needs: WR, OT, DE

OT Taliese Fuaga  Oregon State

Jacksonville will be picking the 4th offensive tackle of the draft with this pick in Taliese Fuaga. Fuaga is 6 ft 6, 325 lbs, and has just over a 5-second 40-yard dash. One of the quickest o-lineman prospects, he will be able to efficiently protect Lawrence’s right side while Cam Robinson continues to protect his blind side. Last year’s first-round pick, RT Anton Harrison, struggled at times last season and could get moved into his natural position of interior guard. Adding Fuaga as an extra offensive line piece to a decent line already would give Lawrence and the Jags a huge advantage against other teams in the AFC South.

18. Cincinnati Bengals

top team needs: OT, DT, CB

DT Jer’Zhan Newton  Illinois

Newton will be filling a much-needed hole in the Bengals defense at nose tackle. A Sheldon Rankins – BJ Hill duo is probably not sending fear into many opposing QB’s eyes as their speed and agility just are not there. Newton would be able to improve this core defensive tackle group with his ability to sack the QB at a high clip. Newton collected 18 total sacks over 4 years at Illinois and he also had 112 total tackles. I foresee Newton in a rotation with Rankins as the starting nose tackle opposite BJ Hill.

19. Los Angeles Rams

top team needs: CB, G/C, OT

CB Cooper DeJean  Iowa

Coming off a surprising wild card playoff appearance in a supposed rebuild year, Sean McVay and the Rams are right back in the NFC hunt. The biggest issue last year in the regular season and in their playoff loss to Detroit was their secondary’s route coverage ability. Highly talented CB Cooper DeJean out of Iowa would help the Rams with this problem as a week 1 slot cover nickle-back type of starting CB.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers

top team needs: CB, OT, G/C

OT Troy Fautanu   Washington

The o-lineman trend continues with the Steelers as Fautanu will become the 5th offensive tackle already picked up off the board. The Steelers have a need at CB opposite last year’s draft pick Joey Porter Jr. This is especially true after trading Cam Sutton to the Lions last year (who I will be talking about later). Despite these secondary struggles, I think the left tackle position is the most urgent. Dan Moore Jr. just hasn’t been cutting it when protecting Kenny Pickett, and now that Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are in Pittsburgh, the Steelers will need a better option to protect for long scramble packages and designed runs. Fautanu presents a better option as he did just the thing for Michael Penix Jr’s designed runs and QB scrambles on deep fade routes.

21. Miami Dolphins

top team needs: OT, DE, G/C

DE Laiatu Latu UCLA

The Dolphins were one of the NFL’s hottest teams in the first three quarters of the season. However, once the calendar hit December, the usual winter curse plagued Miami. The Dolphins ended the season horrifically, especially with their run defense, and ended up not winning the division and losing 26-7 to the Chiefs, while their run defense struggled once more. Latu will be a quality addition to the defensive line and will hopefully for Miami fans get to Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers. Latu’s a big, strong, 6 ft 5, 265-pound man whose strength and speed allowed him to get double-digit sacks in each of the last two seasons, including 13 last year.

22. Philadelphia Eagles

top team needs: DE, CB, S,

DE Chop Robinson  Penn State

Fletcher Cox’s absence in the front 7 of the Eagles’ defense will be sorely missed for Philadelphia. This, along with the fact that Brandon Graham will probably be next to go means that it’s time to find the next generation of defensive lineman for Philadelphia. The first d-lineman for the Eagles should be picked in the first round because they got CJ Gardner – Johnson and Darius Slay back for the secondary. Chop Robinson is an intriguing Penn State prospect that has experience and a versatile run/pass defensive coverage skillset to match perfectly with Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter’s lack of experience. I think Robinson will be a big steal for Philadelphia this low in the draft.

23. Minnesota Vikings

top team needs: QB, CB, DT

CB Terrion Arnold Alabama

Since I have Minnesota taking a QB with their first pick, I believe that they will go on the opposite end of the spectrum with their second pick to address their many needs in the secondary, particularly at CB. With Mitchell, Wiggins, and DeJean off the board, Terrion Arnold becomes one of the next logical players to choose. While Arnold isn’t quite as fast as the previous three defensive backs already off the board, he was just as productive in the college game with a 5-interception, 63-tackle 2023 campaign.

24. Dallas Cowboys

top team needs: RB, G/C, DT

RB Jonathon Brooks Texas

Dallas came up short in the playoffs again and they have one glaring positional weakness heading into this year’s offseason: running back. Their current #1 RB on the depth chart is Rico Dowdle, with 5 ft 6 Deuce Vaughn as his backup. I know it’s the first round and teams don’t usually pick RB’s that high, but Dallas NEEDS the best RB they can find from this draft. That RB is fittingly enough a Texas player, Jonathon Brooks, who had a massive 2023 season. Brooks had over 1,100 rushing yards, 286 receiving yards, and 11 total touchdowns. His ability to be a power runner while also being able to catch the ball out of the backfield will be invaluable to the Cowboys now that Pollard is with the Titans.

25. Green Bay Packers

top team needs: CB, S, G/C

S Tyler Nubin  Minnesota

It was another disappointing end to the season for the Packers in 2023 that came at the face of a familiar foe, the 49’ers. However, last year felt different for Green Bay fans. They were surprised at the success QB Jordan Love had and the young team as a whole improved as the season went on. Fans went into the offseason hopeful and ownership delivered more hope with a Josh Jacobs signing. The biggest holes left in this quick rebuild are at safety and left tackle. I think Green Bay will end up going the safety route however as they would now be picking the 6th left tackle off the board, whereas they could get the best safety now and a decent offensive lineman later. Additionally, current left tackle Rasheed Walker is only 24 years old and could get another year or two to see if he improves. Minnesota prospect Tyler Nubin is the safety I think Green Bay lands. Nubin is worlds ahead of any other safety in this draft class with 13 interceptions over 5 years in college, 204 total tackles, 11 pass deflections, and 3 forced fumbles. The turnovers are especially what I think will stand out to the Packers as their secondary has been towards the bottom of the league in this category in recent years.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

top team needs: DE, QB, CB

DE Chris Braswell  Alabama

I think Tampa Bay will aim to get either Penix Jr or Nix in round 2 as a future QB to backup Baker Mayfield, but for now Mayfield has been doing fine, and he led them to a playoff win last season. Where Tampa Bay needs the most help is in their defensive line depth. Chris Braswell, yet another Alabama player, will definitely be able to make an impact with the Bucs out of the gate as he played every year in college at a high level. Braswell totaled 76 tackles in his 3 years, 4 forced fumbles, and 11 sacks (including 8 of them in the last year). Braswell is a threat to opposing offenses because he can be set up for Tampa Bay on the edge of the d-line or as an outside linebacker as well.

27. Arizona Cardinals

top team needs: WR, DE, CB

DE Austin Booker Kansas

Like Minnesota earlier, I think Arizona will elect to go with the offense’s biggest need first and then turn to the defenses. For the Cardinals, the defensive line pass rush is by far their biggest need. I picked them to get Will Anderson Jr. last year before there was the draft trade that gave the Texans the 3rd pick and Arizona this one because they needed defensive line help last year as well. Since it went un-addressed, it is important they get someone they can count on right away. I believe Booker can be that person for Arizona. Booker is 6 ft 6, 245 pounds. He is extremely agile laterally and he had a massive 56 tackle, 8 sack, 2 forced fumble stat line last year.

28. Buffalo Bills

top team needs: WR, CB, S

WR Brian Thomas Jr. LSU

Although all levels of the secondary, the interior defensive line and the interior offensive line are points of weakness with the Bills, it is their usual strong suit – wide receiver – that needs the most immediate attention. Stefon Diggs is now in Houston and Gabe Davis is in Jacksonville. With the top 3 WR’s gone so far, Buffalo needs to get someone at the end of the first round that other people may be sleeping on that they see #1 WR potential out of. For me, Malik Nabers’ LSU counterpart Brian Thomas Jr. is this “sleeper pick” that I would take if I was Buffalo’s GM. Despite playing second fiddle to Nabers, Thomas Jr still had a 68 reception, 1,177 receiving yard season with 17 touchdowns, the most by a WR in this mock draft. At 6 ft 4, Thomas Jr. will be a huge red zone presence for Buffalo for the upcoming future.

29. Detroit Lions

top team needs: CB, DT, G/C

CB Kool-Aid McKinstry Alabama

The second Alabama CB on this list, Kool-Aid McKinstry, will provide much-needed help at the CB spot for the Lions next year. I would be shocked if Detroit doesn’t pick a CB with their first-round pick considering Sutton and CJ Gardner-Johnson are gone now. McKinstry is a little slower laterally than some other CB’s higher up in this draft board, but he is still a terrific coverage guy, and he rarely gets stuck in one spot on a route. The Lions need a young and talented CB like McKinstry because their secondary has been slow in recent years and is just now reviving back up.

30. Baltimore Ravens

top team needs: LB, DT, OT

LB Junior Colson Michigan

Wow, talk about an offseason! It was a crushing loss to Kansas City in last year’s AFC Championship game for the Ravens, but to everyone’s surprise, they went out and got Derrick Henry from Tennessee for the next year. While Henry was a major addition to the team, Patrick Queen was a major subtraction to the linebacker core. Junior Colson is my pick for Baltimore because he is the top-rated true linebacker in the draft and because of the Harbaugh connection between brothers Jim and John that has brought many Michigan players to Baltimore in the past.

31. San Francisco 49’ers

top team needs: OT, DT, WR

DT Braden Fiske Florida State

San Francisco still has one of the deepest rosters in the league, but they do have a few glaring weaknesses that they need to address through the draft. If Aiyuk leaves, they will definitely need another WR, they need an offensive tackle to eventually replace future hall-of-famer Trent Williams, and they need to replace Arik Armstead in the interior of the defensive line. I think the interior defensive line is the most important to address first for the 49’ers because they run their heavy number of blitz packages through the nose tackles. Braden Fiske is someone whose energy level and attention to detail match what the 49’ers culture of accountability tries to teach its players. Fiske will be able to bring more pressure to the QB than the current Arik Armstead replacements would. He has 191 collegiate career tackles and 19.5 career sacks.

32. Kansas City Chiefs

top team needs: WR, OT, S

WR Ladd McConkey Georgia

Chiefs fans and the media are going crazy on the rumor that Kansas City wants to end round 1 by picking Xavier Worthy of Texas as a “Tyreek Hill part 2” with his world record 40-time. However, I don’t see Worthy helping the Chiefs’ real problem. Their problem is that the wide receivers that they do have can’t catch the ball and/or run routes correctly. Ladd McConkey fits this mold more. McConkey went to Georgia where his coach was always making sure he ran routes and caught properly, so he’d be perfect for Patrick Mahomes to throw to in the open field.

Which non-playoff NFL Teams Can Turn it Around, and When? 

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Green Bay Packers’ QB Aaron Rodgers leaves Lambeau after last loss of the season.

By Kalen Lumpkins

Kalen is a fourth year BGSU student from Toledo, Ohio. He is a sports management major with a minor in journalism. His primary sport interests include football and tennis, but he also has an interest in a wide variety in other sports, from baseball to hockey. His dream job outside of college is to be a sportswriter for an organization like ESPN or Sports Illustrated.

January 21, 2023

The NFL playoffs are upon us! They kicked off on Saturday, January 14th for ‘Super Wild Card’ weekend, and a trip to the Super Bowl has never been more uncertain. 

What is certain, however, is that not everyone will have the opportunity to reach the Super Bowl. 

As the dust settled in the last regular season games, the offseason for teams that missed the postseason began. Some teams ended the year with genuine optimism for the next season, while others ended with major concerns about the future. 

Here is where each of these 18 teams stands: 

COMING FOR THE CROWN

New York Jets 

Jets’ fans had to deal with plenty in their rollercoaster season. New York, led by Zach Wilson at the time, raced out to a 6-3 start, which included home wins against the Bills and Dolphins. 

All good, right? 

Well, yes, until Breece Hall tore his ACL in Denver. When he went down, the offensive flaws that the prolific rookie covered up were revealed, and they were ugly. After a 10-3 loss to the Pats, Jets’ coach Robert Saleh benched Wilson in favor of Mike White. Unfortunately, the points were still absent. The Jets would go without a TD in their last three games and end the season on a six-game losing streak. 

A disappointing end to a promising season, sure, but the Jets’ campaign proved that they are truly just a QB away from being contenders. With the potential offensive AND defensive rookie of the year on the same team, and the pending return of Breece Hall, New York has a plethora of weapons that will keep the QB of this team in a good position. Who that QB will be is the looming question this offseason, but if they get that question right, the Jets will be the last team you want to see on your favorite team’s schedule. 

Detroit Lions 

It is all coming together for Dan Campbell’s team. The start of the season was rough, as the Lions would lose 6 of their first 7 while allowing 31.7 (!!!) PPG. In the next ten games, however, Detroit went 8-2, allowing 20.2 PPG across that stretch while ending the year with the 5th highest-scoring offense. If the Lions did not take a stumble at Carolina, we would have seen Detroit in the playoffs, and they would have arguably been the best wild card team in the field. 

Despite the postseason miss, they jumped over plenty of hurdles like sweeping Green Bay and finishing with a +.500 record, among many others. There is also no need to look for another quarterback as Jared Goff has been ‘lights out.’ 

While this offense is fully capable of outscoring opponents in a shootout, the Lions should focus on their secondary to fully boost their Aidan Hutchinson-led defense. The fans can feel the atmosphere changing for their team, and Detroit is a quality 2023 draft away from being contenders. 

ALMOST THERE

Pittsburgh Steelers 

Just like last season, there was no reason that Pittsburgh should have been over .500 this season, but here we are. The Steelers started 2-6 in their first eight games and finished 7-2 in the final nine. Mike Tomlin and company found ways to win this year and the coach has yet to have a losing season in his 16-year tenure. 

Also, like last season, however, was the presence of the Steelers’ offense, or lack thereof. In Ben Roethlisberger’s last season, the Steelers scored 20.1 PPG. Replacing him with Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett has resulted in an offense that scored 18.1 points a game. It was hard to watch at times when the Steelers had possessions, but Pickett has shown massive improvement to close out the season. Along with Pickett, George Pickens has shown that the Pickett-Pickens connections will be a big part of Pittsburgh’s playbook. 

There is still work that needs to be done on both sides of the ball, but the Steelers are potentially a good draft or two away from returning to the franchise’s winning ways.  

Washington Commanders 

The Commanders sat in the last wild card spot for most of the final part of the season, and it seemed like their spot to lose. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened in Week 16.

If there is one thing that this season told the Washington organization, it is that the franchise QB may not be on their roster currently. Sam Howell showed out in the season finale, but that is a very small sample to go on when you are deciding who to hand the keys of the offense. 

At the same time, though, this may be their best option next season. The defense ranks in the top 10 of many categories while the offense has playmakers like Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, so Howell will not be thrown to the wolves. The plan in D.C. should be to see if Howell progresses throughout the next season. If he does, great! If not, the 2024 QB class is expected to be stacked with talent. 

Things may look a little grim for the Commanders right now, but there are options in the future.  Choosing the right one will determine whether Washington competes soon or goes into a full rebuild. 

New England Patriots

We need to tell the situation here how it is. Mac Jones needs help. He has put the Pats in positions to win, especially in divisional play, but the receiving core has let him down countless times. 

Yes, Tom Brady was able to go 12-4 in his last year with New England with arguably less, but the Pats still seem to have a hard time realizing that TB12 is not under center anymore. 

Now, let it not be mistaken, the Pats do not have a bad receiver room, they just need an elite weapon. That could potentially be Jordan Addison in the draft, or someone in a trade (Deandre Hopkins?). Whoever it is, that elite receiver will free up the playbook and allow Mac Jones to be stellar. 

50-50

Los Angeles Rams  

Long story short, it was not supposed to go this way. The defending champs started at a decent 3-3 record, but it was pretty evident that this team was not the same as last year’s championship team. Add in Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp’s injuries, and the Rams would finish the season 5-12. 

The Rams still have the pieces that won them a championship, but can they be healthy long enough? Age is starting to play a factor in the roster as well, as retirement rumors have swirled around names like Stafford and Aaron Donald. 

Even if everyone comes back, will they be able to compete at the same level? We have seen how good and how bad this team can be, and it will be interesting to see which team shows up come the 2023-24 season. 

Green Bay Packers 

The Cheeseheads are in the 50-50 category for now because how next season will go depends entirely on Aaron Rodgers. Losing a receiver like Davante Adams would be a blow to any quarterback, even if you are the great Packers’ QB. The remaining receiving core dropped many passes and was not on the same page as #12 to start the year. 

Then came the emergence of Christian Watson, which helped Green Bay go on a four-game win streak to set up a win-and-in game at Lambeau Field. 

Instead of making the playoffs, though, the Detroit Lions would give the Packers a hard slap back to reality. This was just the second time the Lions swept the Pack since 1991, and the season finale was a true testament to where the teams currently stand. 

Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson have shown that they can be legit wideouts, but last year’s draftees could be too little too late to keep #12. If he stays, Green Bay can contend. If he leaves, it could be tough sledding for a few years in Wisconsin.

Cleveland Browns

Yes, the offense did not click in Deshaun Watson’s six games played this season. However, the Browns are in the 50-50 category because a full offseason with the team could build chemistry and help the former Texan to get back to his prime play. Cleveland has all the weapons, including some they do not fully utilize (Nick Chubb, cough, cough) to help with this task. 

However, when you hand someone $230 million guaranteed, you expect results immediately. The AFC North is not going to wait around either, as the Bengals, Ravens, and Steelers are all looking to be legit contenders for the division crown. 

The story in Cleveland next year will be Watson’s progression, and if there is not any, the Browns will have to fix what could be the biggest mistake in the team’s history. 

Tennessee Titans 

The injury bug hit the Titans the hardest this season, but they were still able to fight until the final game of the season for the division crown. This is just a further example that Mike Vrabel continues to find ways to win. 

Of course, Ryan Tannehill should be back next season, but will that make a difference? The Titans’ seven-game losing streak showed that this team has needs in more areas than expected. The Tennessee defense allowed 274.8 passing yards per game, the worst in the league. The Tennessee offense passed for only 171.4 YPG, 31st in the league, and the offense scored 20+ points just six times in the year.

Again, Coach Vrabel does a great job adjusting, but there is only so much he can do. With the Jaguars gaining momentum into next season, it is make or break for the Titans in 2023-24. 

Denver Broncos 

What seemed like a match made in heaven when Russell Wilson signed with the Broncos quickly turned into a nightmare. 

This offense should have been lights out, but instead, they ended up as the lowest-scoring unit in the league. Wilson lacked chemistry with his receivers, but the coaching decisions also played a part in this. Nathaniel Hackett put the Broncos in poor situations during games all year and constantly made questionable decisions.

Management made the right choice in parting ways with Hackett, and a new coach is exactly what this team needs. The next person in line should have an offensive mindset to help Wilson strive and find use in all the weapons he has. There are plenty of options, like Sean Payton or Eric Bieniemy, that should be able to accomplish this feat, and the correct hire will change the atmosphere in Denver. 

PATIENCE, FANS

Carolina Panthers 

The fact that the Panthers were positioned to win the division in Week 17 shows that this team can compete… within the NFC South. The division was a slugfest all season long, and the division winner, the Buccaneers, only managed to win eight games. 

The Christian McCaffrey trade turned out to not be the rebuild call that we expected it to be thanks to D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard, but it did show the problems that McCaffrey’s play was able to cover.

Carolina started three quarterbacks this year, and none of them was able to spark the offense. DJ Moore tried his best to help the QBs out, but he cannot do it himself. 

The defense, however, has shown that they can be a legit unit. The play of Jaycee Horn and Brian Burns helped the Panthers stay in most of their games. 

This will be an intriguing unit for whoever takes over as the Panthers’ head coach, but they should be prepared to take a few seasons to rebuild the offensive side of the ball. 

Indianapolis Colts 

If the Colts’ historic collapse against the Vikings told us anything, it is that the veteran QB angle is not working. Philip Rivers had a good run, but the Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan eras have fallen flat. Ranking in the bottom half of the league in most offensive stats, Indy is in desperate need of a new face of the franchise. 

Luckily for them, there should be a quality QB prospect when to Colts come on the clock in April’s draft. The team is young, so a rookie QB to build with the rest of the squad should pay dividends later. 

Let us not sugarcoat it, though, this team needs improvement everywhere. Opposing receivers had career games against this defense, while the offense could not respond to opposing teams’ runs if their lives depended on it. 

This team is a good 3+ good drafts away from relevancy but drafting a QB with the fourth pick this year will be a good start for a rebuild.

Atlanta Falcons 

Marcus Mariota was the guy for the Falcons to start, but Desmond Ridder is the better choice going forward. 

The Falcons were helpless through the air, but they ranked 3rd in the league in rushing yards per game. That does help take some burden off your QB, but it is not a good recipe when you are trying to contend for the playoffs. 

The same goes for the defense that allowed 370.8 YPG and 22.7 PPG.

Ridder should be the future and building around him should be the team’s focus for the next few seasons. 

Chicago Bears 

There are rumors that the Bears may trade their top pick instead of being on the clock first. Neither would be a bad idea, but Chicago may be on the top of the draft board this time next year if the defense is not addressed. The biggest problem is that the Bears’ defensive line failed to pressure the opposing quarterback or stop the run.

Ironically, the Bears ranked last in rushing defense and first in rushing offense. The offense is thanks to Justin Fields, but he is still learning to be a consistent passer. The receiving core is not giving him much help, so there might be a few drafts before the Bears are back. 

Chicago fans, though, should be excited about Fields’ play and should look forward to his next steps. 

New Orleans Saints 

The Saints find themselves in the weirdest spot out of the other non-playoff teams. They have a road win over the #1 seed in the NFC, the Eagles, but also a loss to the 4-13 Cardinals. 

That alone should show the ceiling and the floor of New Orleans right now. 

There is a large question mark at the quarterback position, and some offensive weapons, like Alvin Kamara and Juwan Johnson, have not been able to consistently produce under Dennis Allen’s system. 

One thing that has stayed true is the Marshon Lattimore-led secondary, which only allowed 184 passing yards per game. 

Maybe a quarterback in the upcoming draft will fix the Saints (C.J. Stroud x Chris Olave reunion?), but we will not know the state of NOLA until the draft concludes. 

UH OH….

Las Vegas Raiders 

In a hectic season that saw Las Vegas blow leads, play down to inferior competition, and lose playoff-potential games among other circumstances, one thing remains. 

Raiders’ fans are fed up. 

How does a team have the rushing yards leader, a receiver with 1500+ yards with 14 TDs, AND a defensive end with 12.5 sacks on the year finish 6-11? 

The Raiders organization would point the finger at Derek Carr, hence why he was benched the last two games of the year with the full intention of moving on from the veteran. This move, though, could lead to detrimental consequences for the team. 

Davante Adams stated that Carr was the reason he went to Vegas in free agency, while Josh Jacobs has stated multiple times that he is tired of how the team is run. 

Those are just two of the huge question marks right there, along with some others. Who will be Carr’s replacement? Are the Raiders going to lose their star WR and RB all in the same off-season? How will they be able to afford to have them stay? Will the defense ever be fixed? 

As usual, there are more questions than answers when it comes to the Raiders. If Jacobs, Adams, and Carr all leave, though, the 2023-24 Raiders could be an ugly sight to see.  

Houston Texans 

For a 3-13-1 team, the Texans found themselves tough to beat this season. That is a great sign for a rebuilding team, but Houston still has a long way to go. 

The Texans have the #2 pick in the draft (due to a heavily criticized win over the Colts to close the year) and they will probably use that on a quarterback. Houston needs work almost everywhere, however, and fans should be prepared for a 3+ year process. There were promising signs, though, like the play of rookie RB Dameon Pierce and rookie CB Derek Stingley Jr. 

The most important action the Texans’ front office can take is to be patient with the next coach. The situation here is not ideal and changing head coaches every year is going to keep them at the starting line. Whoever gets the keys to the team next must also be fully willing to coach through slow progress. 

If Houston finds that coach, it will be exciting to see the rookies of this team grow into NFL stars. 

Arizona Cardinals 

Watching Arizona fall into the position they are in now has been disappointing, to say the least. Just last season, the Cardinals were off to a 7-0 start and had plans to win a Super Bowl. Ever since that start, Arizona has gone 8-19. 

This run has resulted in Arizona parting ways with Kliff Kingsbury, and the Cardinals suddenly find themselves in a hole. The health of Kyler Murray also comes into question as the former Heisman winner recovers from an ACL tear. Deandre Hopkins coming back to Arizona is not a lock either, so the Cardinals could be coming into next year with even fewer weapons than what they had last year. 

The Cardinals are slated to pick 3rd in the upcoming draft, and whoever they choose will be coming into a mess. Fans will continue to look at that 7-0 start and wonder what could have been because it is going to be a while before the Cards get to that point again. 

Ma-Home Alone

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By Ben Kelley

December 11, 2019

Ben is a first-year undergraduate BGSU student from Uniontown, Ohio. He is a sport management major and a journalism minor. His primary interests include professional and collegiate football.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs played up to the New England Patriots this week, with Mahomes leading his team to a 23-16 victory. However, the game almost resembled a Home Alone movie script rather than an NFL play-calling sheet.

Upon the Chiefs’ arrival in Boston last weekend, a container holding the equipment of thirty-five players went missing. The container was later found in Newark, New Jersey, and delivered to Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts before the game’s 4:30 start time. If the container had not been delivered, over half of the Chiefs’ roster would have been missing their helmets and shoulder pads (Schefter, 2019). Without the proper equipment, the players could not have played. If the players could not play, then the game would have ended in the first forfeit in NFL history (Farrar, 2019).

According to the 2019 NFL Rulebook, “If a team forfeits a game, the opponent will be declared the winner by a score of 2-0, but the points will not be added to the winning team’s record for purposes of offensive production or tie-breakers” (“2019 official playing,” 2019, p. 41). Doug Farrar makes note of this in his article “Chiefs avoid first forfeit in NFL history after equipment is diverted to New Jersey,” but other implications of the would-have-been forfeiture are not discussed by sports media (Farrar, 2019).

Both the win-loss records for the Patriots and Chiefs would have been affected by a forfeiture. The Chiefs victory would not have occurred, and the team’s record would have been 8-5. The Patriots would have gained a victory, and their record would move to 11-2. Playoff spots would not have changed, however, as each teams’ status as division leaders would remain the same. A record of 8-5 would still be good for first place in the AFC West, while the Patriots would have stayed as the AFC East winners with a record of 11-2. (“2019 NFL standings,” 2019).

A forfeiture would have also prevented one of the roughest outings for a refereeing crew this season. Multiple significant calls went against the Patriots, with two would-be touchdowns not being called. On one occasion, safety Devin McCourty punched the football out of Travis Kelce’s hands, and Stephon Gilmore picked up the football and began racing to the end zone. However, the whistles blew before Gilmore reached the end zone, signaling the end of the play.

The Patriots responded on the ensuing drive by scoring a touchdown to make up for Gilmore’s non-touchdown. Patriots’ receiver N’Keal Harry caught a pass, avoided stepping out of bounds, and dove into the end zone for six points. However, a referee blew the whistle when he thought Harry went out, and the play was not ruled a touchdown. Since Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick already had to challenge the referee’s decisions twice in the game, he was out of challenges to use. As such, the play was non-challengeable and since it was not ruled as a scoring play, the referees were not forced to review the play.

However, the referees showed little bias in the grand-scheme of penalty-calling.  Kansas City ended the game with ten penalties for a total of 136 yards against themselves. New England was only called for five penalties, with twenty-five yards against the team (“NFL Matchup,” 2019).

Ironically, the Chiefs shot a video of themselves as the actors from Home Alone two months ago. At least referees and Patriots’ fans alike can get some laughter out of the game.

References

Farrar, D. (2019, December 8). Chiefs avoid first forfeit in NFL history after equipment is diverted to New Jersey. Touchdown Wire. Retrieved from https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2019/12/08/chiefs-try-to-avoid-first-forfeit-in-nfl-history-after-equipment-is-diverted-to-new-jersey/

NFL Matchup. (2019, December 8). ESPN.com. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/nfl/matchup?gameId=401127930

Schefter, A. (2019, December 8). Chiefs get gear after it’s mistakenly sent to New Jersey. ESPN. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28252143/chiefs-get-gear-mistakenly-sent-new-jersey

2019 NFL standings & team stats. (2019). Pro Football Reference. Retrieved from https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2019/index.htm

2019 Official playing rules of the National Football League. (2019). NFL.com. Retrieved from https://operations.nfl.com/media/3831/2019-playing-rules.pdf

The Patriots Need to Protect Their Jewel(ian)

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Image result for julian edelman injury

By Ben Kelley

November 25, 2019

Ben is a first-year undergraduate BGSU student from Uniontown, Ohio. He is a sport management major and a journalism minor. His primary interests include professional and collegiate football.

The New England Patriots are desperate to get some sort of offensive consistency. Despite quarterback Tom Brady’s undisputed ability to throw the football, the Patriots have struggled to get players who can catch the football. The instability has meant that there’s a different set of receivers available to Brady each week, and the instability is seemingly growing.

At the beginning of the season, the Patriots lined up former Pro-Bowlers Antonio Brown, Josh Gordon, Demaryius Thomas, and Julian Edelman at the wide receiver position. By Halloween, Brown and Gordon were cut, Thomas was traded, Mohamed Sanu was acquired from the Atlanta Falcons, and two undrafted rookie receivers – Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski – were being thrust onto the field. Receiver Philip Dorsett has offered consistency; however, he’s currently nursing a concussion while Sanu faces an ankle injury (Mason, 2019). Olszewski’s season has ended due to injury, and rookie N’Keal Harry was recently thrown into the mix (Cox, 2019). In short, only one wide receiver has been available to Brady each week – Julian Edelman. Edelman has capitalized on the opportunity, with 112 targets, 76 receptions, 809 receiving yards, 4 touchdown catches, one touchdown pass, and 15 passing yards in twelve games (“Julian Edelman,” 2019).

Antonio Brown, on the other hand, has only played one game in 2019. (“Antonio Brown,” 2019). His season has been engulfed with drama-infused antics – including sexual assault charges. The NFL swiftly hit Brown with an investigation, and after his release from New England, NFL teams have avoided signing Brown. However, Brown is showing optimism that the investigation is siding in his favor. On November 19th, Brown posted an apology on social media to the Patriots organization for the drama he brought to the team. By November 21st, rumors started swirling that the Patriots are doing their due diligence on Brown, with the team possibly exploring bringing back a much-needed familiar face (Williams, 2019).

Brown’s possible return is already being labeled as the answer to Tom Brady’s growing frustrations with the offensive struggles. Against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, the Patriots had to rely on field goals, a trick pass from Edelman, and a stout defense to win the game with a  score of 17-10. After the game, Brady kept his press conference short and concise, with the media claiming that the addition of generational talent Antonio Brown would clearly help ease Brady’s frustrations (Brinson, 2019). However, the possible addition of Brown should not be looked at as a move for the sake of Tom Brady. It should be viewed as an addition for the sake of Julian Edelman.

Edelman arguably needs Brown more than Brady does. Edelman is currently on pace for around 100 receptions this season, and at 33 years old, he needs some relief (“Julian Edelman,” 2019). Aside from Edelman’s heavy workload this year, he was also nursing a minor shoulder injury ahead of the Patriot’s contest against the Dallas Cowboys (Mason, 2019). If Edelman suffers a more serious injury, the Patriots would be forced to get creative with moving the ball down the field at a time when the team already struggles with doing so. A deep playoff run without Edelman’s skill set or experience would certainly hurt the Patriots and possibly frustrate Brady even further. Adding in Antonio Brown would help relieve the pressure being put on Edelman and give the Patriots – and the defenses they face – a second receiver to focus on.   

References

Antonio Brown. (2019). Pro Football Reference. Retrieved from https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrowAn04.htm

Brinson, Will. (2019, November 19). Antonio Brown rumors: Everyone thinks WR coming back to Patriots after Brown apologizes to Robert Kraft. CBS Sports. Retrieved from https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/antonio-brown-rumors-everyone-thinks-wr-coming-back-to-patriots-after-brown-apologizes-to-robert-kraft/

Cox, Z. (2019, November 19). NFL rumors: Patriots plan to place Gunner Olszewski on IR to add Isaiah Wynn. NESN. Retrieved from https://nesn.com/2019/11/nfl-rumors-patriots-expected-to-place-gunner-olszewski-on-ir-to-add-isaiah-wynn/

Julian Edelman. (2019). Pro Football Reference. Retrieved from https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EdelJu00.htm

Mason, C. (2019, November 20). Julian Edelman returns to injury report, Phillip Dorsett and Mohamed Sanu didn’t participate in New England Patriots practice. Mass Live. Retrieved from https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2019/11/julian-edelman-returns-to-injury-report-phillip-dorsett-and-mohamed-sanu-didnt-participate-in-new-england-patriots-practice.html

Williams, C. (2019, November 21). Report: Patriots have “kicked the tires” on Antonio Brown. Pro Football Talk. Retrieved from https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/11/21/report-patriots-have-kicked-the-tires-on-antonio-brown/

The Robert Kraft Scandal

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By Jessica Rollins

Jessica is a third-year sport management student who minors in marketing and is from Laguna Beach, CA. After college, Jessica aspires to work for a professional sport team in community relations or marketing. Jessica is a fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams.

March 14, 2019

On February 22, 2019, the owner of the New England Patriots, Robert Kraft, was charged with “two counts of soliciting someone to commit prostitution” (Hanna & Maxouris, 2019, para. 17). Prior to these charges, Kraft was known as a well-rounded business and franchise owner. The community had much trust in Kraft.

Among two-hundred individuals, the 77-year-old billionaire has been linked to a Jupiter, Florida day spa and massage parlor. At the day spa, the Jupiter police claim that Kraft was one of many individuals that were caught under surveillance accepting the “paid acts” (Hanna & Maxouris, 2019). Although Kraft was caught under surveillance twice, the owner could face “up to one year in jail, a $5,000 fine and 100 hours of community service” (Seifert, 2019, para. 5). Surprisingly, one of the “paid acts” was filmed on the “night before and the morning of [the] AFC championship game” (“Robert Kraft visited,” 2019, para. 1).

Although scandals are standard involving the high-profile team, this story caught many by surprise. When the news broke, social media went into a frenzy. Fans explained how Kraft and the Patriots cannot be trusted. As the scandal develops, many are questioning their loyalty to the New England Patriots. One fan stated, “everybody in their life has done one thing, two things, that they really really would like to get a pass for, me, you, Robert Kraft, doesn’t matter how much money you have, human is human” (Burcham, 2019, para. 7). Another fan wrote, “I would never expect something like that from him…I mean, he has such a high reputation” (Burcham, 2019, para. 5).

Along with the charges, Kraft could face additional punishments from the National Football League. Since NFL owners are subject to the personal conduct policy, the NFL has an important decision to make. The NFL released a statement later that day which stated: “the NFL is aware of the ongoing law enforcement matter and will continue to monitor developments” (Hanna & Maxouris, 2019, para. 24). According to ESPN, “the policy covers ‘conduct by anyone in the league that is illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible, puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others in the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL’” (Seifert, 2019, para. 7).

Under the personal conduct policy, NFL owners should be held to a higher standard. Kraft is the face of the franchise. Owners should be “subject[ed] to more significant discipline when violations … occur” (Seifert, 2019, para. 7). Along with the controversy, many fans wonder if NFL commissioner, Rodger Goodell, will punish one of the “NFL’s most powerful owners” (Seifert, 2019, para. 12). As the story unfolds, the media will cover if the NFL sweeps this scandal under the rug or punishes Kraft for his unlawful actions.

References

Burcham, K. (2019, February 23). ‘Human is human:’ Pats fans react to charges against Robert Kraft. Boston25news. Retrieved from https://www.boston25news.com/news/-human-is-human-pats-fans-react-to-charges-against-robert-kraft/924216340

Hanna, J., & Maxouris, C. (2019, February 23). New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft accused of soliciting sex, police say. CNN.com. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/22/us/robert-kraft-solicitation/index.html

Robert Kraft visited parlor for sex on day of AFC championship game, authorities say. (2019, February 25). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-robert-kraft-prostitution-charge-20190225-story.html

Seifert, K. (2019, February 25). What charges could mean for Patriots owner Robert Kraft. ESPN.com. Retrieved from http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26056293/what-solicitation-charges-mean-new-england-patriots-owner-robert-kraft

 

Media Reacts: NFL’s First Month in 6 Years With No Arrests

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by Nicholas Muhl

The first month of the 2015 NFL regular season ended this past weekend. The end of September also marked the first month in 6 years that no NFL player has been arrested.

According to Reuters reporter Mike Rosenberg, the NFL has averaged “an arrest per week” since 2009. Rosenberg also reported that this is the first time in 15 years “the NFL went a calendar month during the season without an arrest.” The league has already had 33 total arrests in 2015, most recently San Fransisco 49ers Linebacker Ahmad Brooks who was charged with sexual battery at the end of August.

Alexandra Sifferlin reported the news for TIME and included a link in his article to USA Today’s NFL arrest archive. The archive contains a complete, descriptive account of a total of 805 NFL player arrests records dating back 15 years to January 24, 2000 when Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith was arrested for allegedly beating and choking his wife. It seems paradoxical that 15 years later we continue to see so many similar headlines. Katie Link and Christian Bryant of the Ventura County Star posed this question about the news of an arrest-free month, “should we view this ‘achievement’ as pathetic, or impressive?” On the other hand, the Dispatch Times referred to it as a “mind-blowing milestone.”  

Since 2009 the NFL has been subject to many media and criminal investigations regarding their many player arrests. Most notably is former New England Patriots Tight End Aaron Hernandez who was convicted of murder in April. Hernandez and other high profile players like former Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, San Francisco’s Ray MacDonald, Baltimore Ravens Ray Rice, and Viking’s Adrian Peterson have made national headlines and brought up many social issues outside of the sport of football; including rape culture, drug use, animal cruelty, and alcohol and drug abuse. 

The criminal history and violent backgrounds behind many NFL players is not an issue the media has shied away from reporting. However, it is important to note that news of the NFL’s arrest-free month quickly spread on social media, sports blogs and major media conglomerates. This differs from the issue of injuries which I detailed in my article last week, “Protecting the player’s or Protecting the Shield”. Approximately 15 percent of players in the league have experienced an injury this season. While on an individual level this has been heavily reported, injuries and their increasing totals have been a largely avoided issue. However, media and the league did not shy away from making sure (quite literally) that everyone knows it went through an arrest-free month. The NFL and it’s PR department have attempted to put some distance between itself and both the injury and conduct issues the league faces, and will jump at any opportunity they can to make the league look better as it and commissioner Roger Goodell continue to face extreme criticism for the way the league is currently being run. It remains to be seen whether real change is progressing in the league or if this month was merrily a statistical anomaly that further proves the major conduct issues the NFL faces.

Patriots 2015 Campaign: Out for Revenge?

By Josh Roeloffs

Before the Patriots preseason opener, Rob Gronkowski was asked, in response to deflategate, if he thinks Tom Brady is “more motivated and focused because of everything that is going on,” and Gronk laughed it off, making the point that Brady is always focused and motivated regardless of what’s going on.

How many times have you seen or heard the headlines, “Patriots Starting Revenge Tour” or “Patriots will be out to get their Revenge?” Obviously a Patriots’ player would have said that they were out for blood this season. The media wouldn’t just make this into an episode of the Road Runner would they?

When you take a closer look, a Patriots’ player has never even mentioned revenge once in an interview. Just like Gronk was practically asked if this would motivate Brady, he replied like it was obvious. It won’t.

Sure! The Patriots may have a little extra motivation, but is it necessary to label a season as a “season of revenge.” Possibly a more engaging story would be how Tom Brady’s start of the season could lead to an MVP and another deep push in the playoffs for his team; or if the Patriots can win another Super Bowl, how it will affect the Patriots’ relationship with the NFL or the fans.

So far this season, the Patriots have been phenomenal. Heading into their bye week, the Patriots are 3-0 and, first in the league in yards per game, second in the league in points per game, first in pass yards per game, and third in the league in interceptions. Already beating the Steelers, Bills, and Jaguars, the Patriots hope to keep this early momentum going.

Coming out of their bye-week, the Patriots will be facing the Cowboys on October 11th. The Patriots will be looking to improve their record to a perfect 4-0 in the first quarter of the regular season.

As the season comes closer to the mid-way mark and closer to a time in which the Patriots can truly make a statement, Tom Brady was asked about the whole situation by NBC sports, he replied by saying, “I need to be tough enough to overcome controversy.” It’s important when playing for a team as popular and publicized at the Patriots to keep composure like Brady mentions.

At the end of the day, the Patriots are heading into week five unbeaten and ready to play some football and compete at a high level in the NFL.

Nobody Wins: The Aaron Hernandez Trial

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By Kaleb Page

April 20, 2015

As I got back to my apartment from class Wednesday afternoon the anticipated verdict in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial was in. After many months of legal debate between the prosecution and defense, the verdict was here.

Hernandez was convicted of first degree murder. A sentence of life in prison without a chance at parole.

Quite the unforeseen ending in what early on seemed like a person with promise of a bright future.

Hernandez, coming out of the University of Florida, was looked at as a potential first round pick and had the upside to be a difference maker for many years to come. However, there were red flags involving drug use and the people that he would be around. This meant that the once first-round talent dropped to the fourth round.

Waiting there was the New England Patriots organization, an organization that could take the risk on bringing in a guy like Hernandez and possibly find a way to shape his life in a positive way.

“Personally, I’ve always had concerns. He’s still finding himself. With the right people around, if he keeps his head straight, he’ll do very well.” – Doug Pina, Aaron Hernandez’s high school football coach

That line of thinking seemed to be working as Hernandez grew into a fixture on the Patriots and grew as a better figure on and off the field. His accomplishments, coupled with his maturity, granted him a big contract extension.

The deal was made in 2012, and it was a deal to lock up the budding superstar tight-end. The deal was five-years at $40 million ($16 million guaranteed, $24 million incentives/other). This extension would allow Hernandez to be a Patriot for a long time and focus on being one of the best in the game.

“I just hope I keep going, doing the right things, making the right decisions so I can have a good life, and be there to live a good life with my family.” -Aaron Hernandez’s comments after signing his 5-yr $40 million extension

SI.com’s article broke down that quote further, and it just is bizarre to read that quote and see what the reality is today. Did he do the right things? Did he make the right decisions? Will he be there to live a good life with his family?

Across the board the answer is no.

I think it goes without saying that killing anyone is a horrible thing to do. Especially someone who is only at the age of 27 (Odin Lloyd). Odin Lloyd was a friend to Hernandez, a friend that was killed for what reason? As everyone searches for answers there seems to be none.

Simply a senseless killing that ruined many more lives than that of the defendant (Hernandez) and the deceased (Lloyd).

The list of those who are also essentially sentenced to their own version of life in prison could go on and on. Whether it is the mother of Odin Lloyd who raised her son by herself and held a close bond that made Lloyd tell his mother happy mother’s day and happy father’s day because she represented both figures to him. She is sentenced to a life without seeing or hearing from her son ever again.

It could be said too for the young daughter Hernandez has. A daughter that will really never know who her father is, and once she grows up to the point of where she can comprehend this moment in time; how will she view her father then?

It is sad to see these types of things happen in the world today. No matter if you are a friend/family member of the Hernandez family or a friend/family member of the Lloyd family, there is only one final verdict for all.

Nobody wins.

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Aaron Hernandez Sentenced to Life in Prison

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By Ellen Chlumecky

April 20, 2015

In the NFL, sometimes crime and domestic violence isn’t exactly solved with the utmost justice. These victims and their families of the lack of justice feel cheated, upset, and permanently scarred whether a small incident or large. However, this might be one of the exceptions. Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez was found guilty on Wednesday, April 15th, of first-degree murder in a late-night shooting and was sentence to life in prison. Hernandez was a player who used to hold a $40 million contract and an aspiring career ahead of him. Now all of that is gone because of his tremendous mistake.

Hernandez was announced guilty in the killing of Odin Lloyd. Odin Lloyd was a 27-year-old landscaper and semipro football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancée. Lloyd was shot six times in the middle of the night on June 17, 2013. He was shot in a deserted industrial park near Hernandez’s home in North Attleborough. The police accused Hernandez because they found the key of the car that Hernandez had rented in Lloyd’s pocket. The Patriots cut the player who was considered one of the biggest and best up and coming tight ends currently in the NFL. Prosecutors have suggested that Lloyd was killed because he might have known too much about Hernandez’s alleged involvement in a deadly 2012 drive-by shooting in Boston.

He was convicted with a mandatory sentence of life without parole and it automatically triggered an appeal to Massachusetts’ highest court. He was also found guilty on firearms and ammunition charges. The jury deliberated for 36 hours over seven days before rendering its verdict. About 135 witnesses were called to the stand during the nine-week trial. Hernandez was ordered to serve his life sentence at MCI-Cedar Junction in Walpole, Massachusetts.

The District Attorney Thomas Quinn made a point to mention that the fact that Hernandez was a professional athlete meant nothing at the end of the day. Even though the Patriots removed Hernandez from the Patriots they declined to comment on the verdict of his sentence. Brandon Spikes and David Nelson, former teammates of Hernandez, tweeted about the verdict and were surprised at the decision. Spikes made a comment about the justice system, while Nelson mentioned how that wasn’t the person he knew.

Mayor Ken Cocakyne was one of the main people speaking about the sympathy he felt towards the Lloyd family. He stated that it was unfortunate that this had to be someone who young children looked up to and that he crashed their dreams. He stated that no matter who you are, you still have to live within the law and respect others. While I agree, hopefully this type of action can be taken with all crimes committed in the NFL.

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Did the Media Cover the Wrong Story Following Super Bowl XLIX?

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By Nick Muhl

February 3, 2015

I feel the need to start out my story by saying this: what a fantastic Super Bowl.

It was truly a back and forth game, ending with a 10-point fourth quarter comeback by Tom Brady and the Patriots. Nobody said it was going to be easy, it never is for the Patriots in the big game.

The defending champion Seattle Seahawks did their best impression of the New York Giants, but came up short of repeating as champions and robbing Brady and Belichick of their fourth Super Bowl title.

Seahawks wide receiver Chris Matthews not only caught his first pass of the NFL season, but three more totaling 109 yards and a touchdown. Beastmode did as Beastmode does, Lynch ran for 102 yards and a 4.3 per carry average. The Legion of Boom’s defense held the Patriots to 57 rush yards.

Even then, Brady looked to have solidified his fourth title, joining Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw with his touchdown to Julian Edelman with 2:02 remaining.

Then came the insane catch by Jermaine Kearse, who was able to pull down a David Tyree-esque catch to bring the Seahawks in scoring range.

Second and goal following a Lynch handoff and the clock ticking under 35 seconds, Belichick trusted his defense and decided against calling a timeout and giving Brady and his offense another chance at a possible tying field goal.

We all know what happened next. Wilson threw the ball on a goal-line pick play, and Pats defensive back Malcolm Butler picked it off to seal the Pats victory.

Immediately following the electric turn of events, Chris Collinsworth and his fellow NBC Super Bowl broadcasters commented on their disbelief that Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll decided against giving their star running back Marshawn Lynch the ball on a second and one.

Social media, newspaper headlines, online blogs, all giving their input on the terrible job Pete Carroll did. From what I hear, there now crowning it “the worst play call ever”.

As football fans know, you can’t play the “if” game. Well IF this player didn’t get hurt, IF he caught that one pass, IF we had a different quarterback, ect. Consider it an un-written law of football fandom.

Sure, we could look at the play over and over again and wonder why didn’t Carroll run it with Lynch? It could be the fact that everyone thought that was the play call and he wanted to catch them off guard. It could be that the Seahawks have run that play call before during the 2014 season and is a standard inside the five yard line call for the Seahawks.

It could be a lot of things. The fact of the matter is, Malcolm Butler did his homework and the Patriots won the Super Bowl. However, it seems to me all the major media wants to discuss is the “what if” Lynch got the ball. Who says the New England d-line doesn’t claim Super Bowl glory and stuff Beastmode?

That’s the beauty of football.

“Worst Play Call Ever” will continue to be spread and numerous articles will continue to be written all criticizing Carroll’s play call.

Brady and Bellichick’s fourth Super Bowl, Brady’s 37 completion Super Bowl record, Bellichick trusting his defense, there all the second story. After the worst play call ever.

The media covered the wrong story.

And I haven’t even mentioned yet that the Super Bowl ended in a brawl.

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