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http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl-new...-super-bowl-contenders-bengals-chiefs-packers
Five NFL teams one draft pick away from possible Super Bowl run
By Ron Clements
Omnisport
Every year the NFL playoffs have a handful of teams new to the postseason.
Chances are there will be a few new playoff teams this season, and probably a new Super Bowl champion. The Patriots were the last team to repeat in 2004 and 2005.
The Jets and Falcons looked like playoff teams for part of the season last year but were unable to finish. The Bills and Raiders are close to being playoff contenders, but they're not quite ready to make a push for the Super Bowl.
Assuming the Broncos, Panthers, Cardinals, Seahawks and Patriots are again Super Bowl contenders in 2016, there are a few teams ready to join them. Those teams might be able to find that difference maker in this month’s NFL Draft.
Here are those five teams that could wind up in Super Bowl LI at Houston’s NRG Stadium. (Sorry, Texans. You’re not one of them.)
— Cincinnati Bengals (12-4, AFC North champions, lost to Steelers in wild-card round)
The Bengals undoubtedly will use the draft to help offset the loss of receivers Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones, who left in free agency. The Bengals could replace one of them with TCU’s Josh Doctson in the first round, and they need to find a replacement for safety Reggie Nelson. But replacing players from last year’s team is one thing. Finding a difference maker not on last year’s roster is another. That’s where a player like Michigan State’s Shilique Calhoun comes in.
Calhoun would be a great second-round pick and give the Bengals another pass rusher to complement Geno Atkins inside. Calhoun has an excellent burst and is a dynamic edger rusher. The three-time All-American had 27 sacks and 44 tackles for loss in his Michigan State career. Adding Calhoun to veteran ends Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson would not only add depth to the rotation, but afford the Bengals the opportunity to have four pass rushers on the field at the same time in passing situations.
— Kansas City Chiefs (11-5, lost to Patriots in second round of playoffs)
The Chiefs blew out the Texans with a dominant defensive performance win the wild-card round, but the offense couldn’t hang with the Patriots. The Chiefs will want to fill a hole with another pass rusher to replace Justin Houston, who might miss the entire season because of a knee injury. Emmanuel Ogbah would be good fit there in the first round.
The Chiefs, like other teams, could always upgrade their offensive line. But where they really could make a difference is adding another receiver to complement the speed of Jeremy Maclin.
Kansas City lacks that big, possession receiver to convert a third-and-8. Tight end Travis Kelce is a good option, but adding a guy like Ohio State’s Michael Thomas to a receiving corps that includes speedsters like Maclin and 2015 draft pick Chris Conley could be the difference between a 27-20 loss in the second round and the franchise’s first trip to the Super Bowl in 47 years. Thomas is a strong, big-bodied receiver with tremendous upside. He led the Buckeyes in receptions each of the last two seasons.
Should Thomas be gone by the time the Chiefs select at 59, another option could be Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins, who is 6-1, 196 and set the CSU career record with 239 receptions for 3,649 yards and 31 touchdowns.
— Green Bay Packers (10-6, lost to Cardinals in second round of playoffs)
The Packers don’t make a lot of moves in free agency, but they made a big acquisition to sign tight end Jared Cook. While Richard Rodgers led the team with eight touchdowns, Cook has the ability to stretch the field and provides the Packers more options. Teaming Cook up with Rodgers gives the Packers one of the better tight end tandems in the league.
Jared Cook (Getty Images)
With that need taken care of, the Packers can turn their attention to the defense. Green Bay does not want Clay Matthews to play inside linebacker any longer. He’s a natural pass rusher and belongs on the outside, where he can be most effective. But the Packers moved Matthews inside after letting A.J. Hawk go because he was their best option. What the Packers need most is a stout middle linebacker who plays downhill.
Insert Alabama’s Reggie Ragland. He’s a 6-1, 247-pound thumper who recorded 195 tackles, with 17 for loss, and four sacks over the last two years. It’s a bonus that he has said he’d like to play for the Packers.
— Baltimore Ravens (5-11, did not qualify for playoffs)
The Ravens were supposed to be Super Bowl contenders last year, but injuries to starting running back Justin Forsett, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, wide receivers Steve Smith and Breshad Perriman, tight ends Crockett Gillmore and Dennis Pitta, left tackle Eugene Monroe and quarterback Joe Flacco ended those hopes.
The Ravens should get Suggs and Smith back this year, but Suggs is 33 years old and coming off an injury. Elvis Dumervil is 32. The Ravens need to upgrade a pass rush that ranked 17th in the league last year. To boost that pass rush, Oregon’s DeForest Buckner with the sixth pick would be a perfect fit.
Built like Julius Peppers and J.J. Watt, the 6-7, 290-pound doesn’t have great long speed, but he’s quick off the snap and knows how to use his hands to slap away blockers. Buckner is strong against the run and a formidable pass rusher who is NFL ready.
— Minnesota Vikings (11-5, NFC North champions, lost to Seahawks in wild-card round)
The Vikings ended the Packers’ four-year reign as division champs but lost their first playoff game. While the Packers and Vikings again will be the top two teams in the division, if the Vikings want to hold them off and make a run in the NFC, they need opponents to respect the pass game. The Vikings didn’t have a single receiver with more than four touchdowns last year and have to get more production out of the position.
That’s where a player like Notre Dame’s Will Fuller comes into play. Fuller has good length at 6-0, 186 pounds, and blazing speed to stretch the field. Giving young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater another weapon is a must for the Vikings. Fuller will be a nightmare for any cornerback to match up against and will open things over the middle for tight end Kyle Rudolph. The Vikings were hoping Cordarrelle Patterson was going to be their go-to playmaker at wideout, but that hasn’t happened. Patterson might have more success with another speedster on the outside.
Five NFL teams one draft pick away from possible Super Bowl run
By Ron Clements
Omnisport
Every year the NFL playoffs have a handful of teams new to the postseason.
Chances are there will be a few new playoff teams this season, and probably a new Super Bowl champion. The Patriots were the last team to repeat in 2004 and 2005.
The Jets and Falcons looked like playoff teams for part of the season last year but were unable to finish. The Bills and Raiders are close to being playoff contenders, but they're not quite ready to make a push for the Super Bowl.
Assuming the Broncos, Panthers, Cardinals, Seahawks and Patriots are again Super Bowl contenders in 2016, there are a few teams ready to join them. Those teams might be able to find that difference maker in this month’s NFL Draft.
Here are those five teams that could wind up in Super Bowl LI at Houston’s NRG Stadium. (Sorry, Texans. You’re not one of them.)
— Cincinnati Bengals (12-4, AFC North champions, lost to Steelers in wild-card round)
The Bengals undoubtedly will use the draft to help offset the loss of receivers Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones, who left in free agency. The Bengals could replace one of them with TCU’s Josh Doctson in the first round, and they need to find a replacement for safety Reggie Nelson. But replacing players from last year’s team is one thing. Finding a difference maker not on last year’s roster is another. That’s where a player like Michigan State’s Shilique Calhoun comes in.
Calhoun would be a great second-round pick and give the Bengals another pass rusher to complement Geno Atkins inside. Calhoun has an excellent burst and is a dynamic edger rusher. The three-time All-American had 27 sacks and 44 tackles for loss in his Michigan State career. Adding Calhoun to veteran ends Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson would not only add depth to the rotation, but afford the Bengals the opportunity to have four pass rushers on the field at the same time in passing situations.
— Kansas City Chiefs (11-5, lost to Patriots in second round of playoffs)
The Chiefs blew out the Texans with a dominant defensive performance win the wild-card round, but the offense couldn’t hang with the Patriots. The Chiefs will want to fill a hole with another pass rusher to replace Justin Houston, who might miss the entire season because of a knee injury. Emmanuel Ogbah would be good fit there in the first round.
The Chiefs, like other teams, could always upgrade their offensive line. But where they really could make a difference is adding another receiver to complement the speed of Jeremy Maclin.
Kansas City lacks that big, possession receiver to convert a third-and-8. Tight end Travis Kelce is a good option, but adding a guy like Ohio State’s Michael Thomas to a receiving corps that includes speedsters like Maclin and 2015 draft pick Chris Conley could be the difference between a 27-20 loss in the second round and the franchise’s first trip to the Super Bowl in 47 years. Thomas is a strong, big-bodied receiver with tremendous upside. He led the Buckeyes in receptions each of the last two seasons.
Should Thomas be gone by the time the Chiefs select at 59, another option could be Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins, who is 6-1, 196 and set the CSU career record with 239 receptions for 3,649 yards and 31 touchdowns.
— Green Bay Packers (10-6, lost to Cardinals in second round of playoffs)
The Packers don’t make a lot of moves in free agency, but they made a big acquisition to sign tight end Jared Cook. While Richard Rodgers led the team with eight touchdowns, Cook has the ability to stretch the field and provides the Packers more options. Teaming Cook up with Rodgers gives the Packers one of the better tight end tandems in the league.
Jared Cook (Getty Images)
With that need taken care of, the Packers can turn their attention to the defense. Green Bay does not want Clay Matthews to play inside linebacker any longer. He’s a natural pass rusher and belongs on the outside, where he can be most effective. But the Packers moved Matthews inside after letting A.J. Hawk go because he was their best option. What the Packers need most is a stout middle linebacker who plays downhill.
Insert Alabama’s Reggie Ragland. He’s a 6-1, 247-pound thumper who recorded 195 tackles, with 17 for loss, and four sacks over the last two years. It’s a bonus that he has said he’d like to play for the Packers.
— Baltimore Ravens (5-11, did not qualify for playoffs)
The Ravens were supposed to be Super Bowl contenders last year, but injuries to starting running back Justin Forsett, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, wide receivers Steve Smith and Breshad Perriman, tight ends Crockett Gillmore and Dennis Pitta, left tackle Eugene Monroe and quarterback Joe Flacco ended those hopes.
The Ravens should get Suggs and Smith back this year, but Suggs is 33 years old and coming off an injury. Elvis Dumervil is 32. The Ravens need to upgrade a pass rush that ranked 17th in the league last year. To boost that pass rush, Oregon’s DeForest Buckner with the sixth pick would be a perfect fit.
Built like Julius Peppers and J.J. Watt, the 6-7, 290-pound doesn’t have great long speed, but he’s quick off the snap and knows how to use his hands to slap away blockers. Buckner is strong against the run and a formidable pass rusher who is NFL ready.
— Minnesota Vikings (11-5, NFC North champions, lost to Seahawks in wild-card round)
The Vikings ended the Packers’ four-year reign as division champs but lost their first playoff game. While the Packers and Vikings again will be the top two teams in the division, if the Vikings want to hold them off and make a run in the NFC, they need opponents to respect the pass game. The Vikings didn’t have a single receiver with more than four touchdowns last year and have to get more production out of the position.
That’s where a player like Notre Dame’s Will Fuller comes into play. Fuller has good length at 6-0, 186 pounds, and blazing speed to stretch the field. Giving young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater another weapon is a must for the Vikings. Fuller will be a nightmare for any cornerback to match up against and will open things over the middle for tight end Kyle Rudolph. The Vikings were hoping Cordarrelle Patterson was going to be their go-to playmaker at wideout, but that hasn’t happened. Patterson might have more success with another speedster on the outside.
:rimshot:
