Unless you’re a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, who won the Super Bowl, it’s never as good as it seems.
And unless you’re a fan of the Miami Dolphins, who had their first-round draft choice stripped for tampering and are $16 million over the cap, it’s not as bad as it seems.
The NFL’s “offseason” – that sliver of the year between the Super Bowl and the start of free agency – is over. Teams can begin using the franchise tag on Feb. 21 until March 7th. For players such as Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, let the financial games begin.
For teams, the first round of the NFL Draft will be held on April 28th in Kansas City, where officials from the other 31 teams can gawk at the Super Bowl trophy – and wonder how in the hell can they defend Patrick Mahomes. Thus far it’s a more closely guarded secret than the recipe for McDonald’s special sauce.
As the two-month window for teams to dramatically improve, BetBasics.com looks at the teams in the best position to improve. This is based on draft position, number of draft picks and available cap space.
CHICAGO BEARS, 3-14: (Draft: No.1; Cap space, No.1,
$94.4 million). No team is in better shape to improve than Da Bears. Not only does Chicago hold the No.1 pick but it also has the most salary cap space available. Unless the Bears don’t think Justin Fields is their franchise QB, Chicago can trade back, gain multiple picks, including another at least another No.1., and have Bears fan celebrating like its St. Patrick’s Day with all that green to spare. Now, about them trading Fields. Stranger things have happened. Odds to win NFC: +8000.
HOUSTON TEXANS, 3-13-1: (Draft: Nos. 2 and 12; Cap space, No. 5 ($37.6 million). Texans fans remain perplexed that their team won their season finale thereby losing the No.1 pick. Houston still will have its choice of Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud at No.2. There is no free agent the Texans should feel they must retain (DT Maliek Collins?) which is good because they have five picks in the first three rounds and need them all. WR Brandin Cooks has requested a trade which could add to that total. Odds to win AFC: +10000.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, 9-8: (Draft: Nos. 5 and 20; Cap space, No.8 $31 million). The gift that keeps on giving, aka, Russell Wilson, has put the Seahawks in the enviable position of having made the playoffs but still have two first-rounders and cap space. In fact, the Seahawks have two 1st and two second-round picks. Thanks Russ. All signs point to them resigning QB Geno Smith but what if Kentucky QB Will Levis is on the board? Hawks need improvement on both lines and Pete Carroll needs chewing gum. Odds to win NFC: +2500
ATLANTA FALCONS, 7-10: (Draft: No.8; Cap space, No.2, $56.5 million). Fields seems to have done enough for the Bears to feel good about having found their franchise QB. The Falcons can’t say the same about Desmond Ridder. If they don’t think one of the top three college QB prospects will still be on the board at No.8, they will have to consider trading up. Whoever plays QB, the O-Line needs help – lots of it. Remember, the NFC South is awful. The Falcons (7-10) can go from worst to first. Odds to win NFC: +3000.
DETROIT LIONS, 9-8: (Draft Nos. 6 and 18; Cap space, No. 11th, $13 million) – This is assuming the Lions are sold on QB Jared Goff, who had a terrific season, right? He had a 99.3 QBR at home with 23 TDs and three picks. Wow. But he has an 87.4 rating with six TDs and four picks on the road. If Goff is the guy, the Lions (9-8), who just missed the playoffs are in a great spot with five picks in the first three rounds. At 6 and 18, Detroit is perfectly positioned to address CB and DT. Odds to win NFC: +1200.
NFL KEY OFFSEASON DATES:
Feb. 21 – 1st day to apply franchise tag.
March 7 – Last day to use franchise tag.
March 13 – 1st day for teams to begin contract negotiations with unrestricted free agents.
March 15 – Unrestricted free agents sign contracts.
March 15 – Teams must submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents.
March 15 – Teams must be under the salary cap
April 28 – 1st Round, NFL Draft.
April 29 – 2nd and 3rd Rounds, NFL Draft
April 30 – 4th-7th Rounds, NFL Draft.