With the offseason in full swing and the majority of big-name free agents signed, it is more than safe to start projecting next season’s teams, which means it is the start of rankings season. Today, we are going to rank from 1 to 8 (best to worst) based on how tough each division is. This will be based on last year's success combined with projected success for the 2022 season. Let us dive into each division and why they are placed where they are.

1. AFC West (Chargers, Chiefs, Broncos, Raiders)

For the last few seasons, the NFC West has been known as the clear-cut best division in football. One massive trade changed that with QB Russell Wilson going from Seattle to Denver. With the Broncos being the worst team in the division last season, they are now clear postseason contenders, as well as the rest of the teams in this division. What made me put them first is that I believe this division has the highest floor, meaning the worst team may still win 10 games. You cannot say that about any other division in football. It also comes down to the quarterback play, in which there is not a quarterback outside the top 12 in this division. This is going to be a dogfight all season long, with predictions nearly impossible for who wins it.

2. AFC North (Browns, Ravens, Bengals, Steelers)

By the closest of seconds, the AFC North is next on the rankings. The Deshaun Watson trade to the Browns gave this division a massive boost, even though you can argue the division was loaded regardless. The worst team (on paper) is the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they made the playoffs last year with an aging QB Ben Roethlisberger. The Ravens will be getting QB Lamar Jackson back healthy, while the Bengals just made the Super Bowl. If it was not for the Wilson trade, the AFC North would be the best division by a landslide.

3. NFC West (Seahawks, Cardinals, 49ers, Rams)

With the Wilson trade, the NFC West loses a contending team in Seattle, bumping them to number three. This division features the reigning Super Bowl champion Rams, as well as two other playoff teams who look ready to make another push to the postseason. While there are massive question marks for both Arizona and San Francisco, specifically around their QB situations, both teams are playoff-ready, as well as the Rams, obviously.

4. NFC East (Cowboys, Eagles, Commanders, Giants)

While it was known as the NFC “Least” just two years ago, the NFC East is far from the worst division in football. Last season, they sent two teams to the playoffs (Cowboys, Eagles) and with the addition of QB Carson Wentz to the Commanders, they can be in the hunt too. I have them middle of the pack though because I do believe there is a ceiling for each of these teams come playoff time, but all three of these teams have a real chance to take the division. As for the Giants, they are in limbo with QB Daniel Jones and need to figure out how to rebuild their roster around him or someone else in the future.

5. AFC East (Jets, Bills, Dolphins, Patriots)

While much improved, there is still a ton of unknown with the AFC East. The Bills are the clear best team and should win the division by a landslide, but after that, it gets a little dicey. The Dolphins added Tyreek Hill and are coming off a 9-8 season, but can QB Tua Tagovailoa get them over the top to possibly 10, 11, or 12 wins? The Jets, on paper, had an incredible draft, but even if their draft picks hit, the fate of the team’s success is mostly based on QB Zach Wilson. As for the Patriots, for the first time in a long time, it seems like a massive question mark on what they are going to look like in 2022. With that being said, Bill Belichick is still the head coach and will find numerous ways to scratch out wins. This division may have three teams with a winning record, or it might have one team with over 7 wins, and that is the Bills who will probably win at least 11.

6. AFC South (Texans, Titans, Colts, Jaguars)

What pushed me to place the AFC South at sixth in the division rankings below the AFC East is that the East does not have a clear-cut bottom feeder. The AFC South has two in the Jaguars and Texans. While Houston is improved, they have massive question marks on both sides of the ball and are still in the air with their quarterback situation. As for Jacksonville, it is the reset again, something that has gone on for far too long in Duval. The two top teams are the Titans and Colts, who should both be fighting until the end for that division title. While both are good, they are similar to the NFC East in the fact that there is a ceiling on the playoff teams compared to the top divisions.

7. NFC North (Packers, Bears, Vikings, Lions)

The second to last division in the NFL is the NFC North. It is basically Green Bay and others at this point, with Minnesota being the second-best as of now. Detroit made some moves so they should progress in theory while the Bears are starting to jumpstart their process. Regardless, the Packers will be there in the end, and the Vikings are so Jekyll and Hyde that you never know what team you are getting. That risk gives them an extremely low floor, compared to teams like the Steelers, Patriots, etc. If Detroit does improve though and Minnesota finally plays to expectation, they can easily move up this list

8. NFC South (Buccaneers, Saints, Falcons, Panthers)

By far the worst division in football is the NFC South, which ironically carries the “G.O.A.T.” QB, Tom Brady. Even though the Buccaneers will most likely make the playoffs, the other three teams have a very slim chance. All three teams outside of Tampa Bay do not have their QB situation fully resolved, making those teams that much easier to pick against.

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-By: RIchie Dordas

Arizona Cardinals: Can Kliff Elevate Kyler?

In 2019, the Arizona Cardinals moved on from QB Josh Rosen and drafted Kyler Murray out of Oklahoma with the number one overall pick. Figuring Rosen barely has an NFL job while Murray is ascending, the Cardinals made the correct move. In two years, Murray has 46 passing TD’s to 24 INT, a very solid ratio. He also has 15 total rushing touchdowns to go along with that. The issue is his record, which currently stands at 13-18-1. While we all know wins and losses don’t fall solely on the quarterback, he is a part of it, as well as head coach Kliff Kingsbury and the rest of the team. Kingsbury has not proved to be a winner at any level with his teams playing a video game-style of football. You can win games with this, but when it gets tough, it is hard to adjust. The big question will be if Kingsbury can get the best out of Kyler Murray and the Cardinals as a whole. Arizona will compete for a playoff spot or even a division title if he can do that.

San Francisco 49ers: QB Competition?

Despite making the Super Bowl in 2019, the Jimmy Garoppolo tenure has not always been good. Garoppolo has repeatedly dealt with injuries, prompting the 49ers to draft QB Trey Lance with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Garoppolo will presumably be the starter to kick off 2021 the season, but he may not be there at the end of it. San Francisco has a roster that should make the playoffs when healthy and will be counting on their quarterback to get it done. Will it be Garoppolo, who has “been there before,” or Lance, a quarterback with little to no experience?

Seattle Seahawks: Can Seattle Win in The Trenches?

Year in and year out, the Seattle Seahawks are a playoff team but are not physical enough to be anything more than that. In other words, Seattle is a sexy team, but struggles in the trenches. Quarterback Russell Wilson is constantly one of the most sacked quarterbacks in football, and safety Jamal Adams was arguably their best pass rusher last season. Seattle has to win up front and establish an identity if they want to get over the hump and get back to the Super Bowl.

Los Angeles Rams: How Talented is the RB Room?

With the trade for quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Rams are ready to win now but will have to do it without their lead running back Cam Akers after he tore his Achilles this offseason. Now, it is Darrell Henderson’s backfield and with the play style of the Rams, this might not be enough. I fully expect them to make a move for a running back to join the locker room. Veterans like Le’Veon Bell and Adrian Peterson are available, as well as a possible reunion with Todd Gurley. This is their only true issue though, as the Rams look to raise the Lombardi in 2021-22.

Info from profootballreference.com

Writer

-By: Richie Dordas

Josh Gordon is suspended indefinitely 

Josh Gordon’s troubled NFL career may officially be over. The NFL announced on Monday that Gordon had been suspended indefinitely for violating the league’s substance abuse and performance-enhancing substances policies. It is the sixth time Gordon has been suspended since entering the league in 2012 and the fifth suspension related to illegal substances.

Gordon’s substance abuse issues have been a well-known shortcoming for the talented receiver since before he even entered the league. Gordon has admitted to using drugs and alcohol, even in football games, back in his high school days in Houston.

Gordon was suspended twice during his time at Baylor University — both times for marijuana-related offenses.

Despite off-the-field struggles, Gordon has always displayed raw talent at the wide receiver position. In his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns, Gordon finished with 805 yards and five touchdowns on 50 receptions, making him one of the top rookie receivers. 

He followed his rookie season with a league-best 1,646 receiving yards in 2013. He managed to lead the league despite missing the first two games of the season to serve a suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

This would, unfortunately, become the story of Gordon’s NFL career. An undeniable talent that is overshadowed by behavioral issues. Over the next five seasons, Gordon would play just 22 NFL games, serve an additional four suspensions, and voluntarily walk away from the league twice to deal with his personal issues. 

Half of the 22 games in that span came a season ago with the Patriots. Gordon racked up 720 yards and three touchdowns on 40 receptions in eleven games with the Patriots during the 2018 season. It seemed that the former Brown had found some traction with the successful New England organization. However, on December 20th it was announced that Gordon was being suspended indefinitely once more for violating the terms of his conditional reinstatement. 

Still, the expectations for Gordon heading into the 2019 season were higher than they had been in years. Gordon was reinstated in August of 2019, and he was given a chance to try to regain the rhythm that he and Tom Brady began developing the prior season. 

Despite inflated expectations, Gordon racked up 287 yards in six games for the Super Bowl champions before being waived from the team in October following a knee injury.

Gordon would land in Seattle in November, and would provide some impactful offense for his new team. 

A pair of big third-down completions helped propel the Seahawks past San Francisco in their epic Monday night showdown. 

This past Sunday, Gordon reeled in seven completions for 139 yards including a crucial 58-yard grab which set up a touchdown. The win clinched a playoff spot for Seattle.

Monday’s news came as a crushing blow to not only Gordon’s career, but to the Seahawks and their coach Pete Carrol.

“Our heart goes out to Josh having to face this again,” Carrol said. “The fact that he’s up against it and all poses a great challenge to him. Fortunately, he’ll have the benefit of all of the league’s resources to support him and to help him. We’ll wish him the very best in taking care of business. It’s very unfortunate.”

Coach Carrol has indicated that the team had no reason to believe that Gordon was still struggling to stay sober.

“We saw Josh really at a really high level the whole time he was here. The work ethic he brought was one, but he’s getting along with people and being good to work with and to talk to and all of that and to deal with on a regular basis, really he was great. We were not aware that there was anything to be concerned about other than the history, which we knew about.”

The league has not specified which substances were the cause of Gordon’s most recent suspension.

-By: Jonny Hart

Writer/Interviewer