1. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
2. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
3. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
4. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
5. Sean Payton , Denver Broncos
6. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
7. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
8. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
9. Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
10. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
1. Detroit Lions (10-1)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
3. Buffalo Bills (9-2)
4. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2)
6. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
7. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
8. Green Bay Packers (8-3)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
10. Houston Texans (7-5)
1. Detroit Lions (9-1)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)
3. Buffalo Bills (9-2)
4. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
7. Minnesota Vikings (8-2)
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)
9. Houston Texans (7-4)
10. Green Bay Packers (7-3)
1. Detroit Lions (8-1)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)
3. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
4. Buffalo Bills (8-2)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (7-2)
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-2)
7. Washington Commanders (7-3)
8. San Francisco 49ers (5-4)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2)
10. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)
New England Patriots (1-2) @ New York Jets (2-1)
The score did not reflect how utterly dominated the Pats were this game. They were out gained 400 to 139, had the ball for under 20 minutes, and gave up 7 sacks. The one silver lining is now we get a mini bye week so guys can get healthy and the team can (hopefully) regroup.
It’s sad to say but the Jets are much better than the Pats right now. Aaron Rodgers looks like his old self. He was avoiding pressure, throwing on the run, and slinging it with ease. The Jets RB duo of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen is great and Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, and Mike Williams give Rodgers a good receiving core.
The Pats on the other hand, have very little talent offensively. As we have mentioned, when the Pats get behind in a game and NEED to pass the ball, they simply cannot do it. The only way this offense is effective is if they can consistency run the ball and impose their will. They quickly went down 14-0 and the game was basically over at that point.
Drake Maye coming in was a nice surprise. He showed his toughness and athleticism, but we do not want him playing right now. Our offensive line is bad to begin with and is even worse due to all the injuries we have. The Pats also lack effective and consistent skill players to make Maye’s life easier. I think he will gain more from sitting for the time being.
There aren’t many bright spots on the Pats, but Christian Gonzalez is one of them. He is an absolute stud and could be one of the best cornerbacks in the league by the end of the year.
Baltimore Ravens (1-2) @ Dallas Cowboys (1-2)
The Ravens pulled out a win by the skin of their teeth to save their season. Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson combined for 238 yards rushing and 3 TDs – the kind of production Ravens fans were hoping for when they signed Henry.
The Cowboys deserve credit for almost clawing back from a 28-6 deficit with less than 10 minutes remaining. Tensions are high in Dallas and they need to avoid an internal collapse so early in the year.
San Francisco 49ers (1-2) @ Los Angeles Rams (1-2)
The 49ers really should’ve won this game. They outplayed the Rams and had a 10 point lead in the 4th, but ended up blowing the game.
Both teams played well in spite of missing so many pieces, but are still in precarious positions. They need to keep it together while their star offensive players recover from injury. As is, the Seahawks are quietly 3-0 and leading the division.
Game/Betting Picks Results
Game: 2-1 (7-3 This Season) (45-19 All-Time)
Spread: 3-0 (7-3) (46-17-1)
O/U: 2-1 (5-5) (34-29-1)
Baltimore Ravens (0-2) @ Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
Both teams are in desperate need of a win. The Ravens need one more than the Cowboys and they look like the better team despite being 0-2. I think the Ravens win, cover (-1), and the over (47.5) hits.
San Francisco 49ers (1-1) @ Los Angeles Rams (0-2)
Another game between two good teams who records don’t really reflect it. Both teams are missing multiple key weapons and are hobbling through the early part of the season. I think the 49ers win, the Rams cover (+6.5), and the under (43) hits.
1. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
2. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
3. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
4. Sean Payton , Denver Broncos
5. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
6. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
7. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
8. Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
9. Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys
10. Doug Peterson, Jacksonville Jaguars
So much success in the NFL is based on where you play, especially at quarterback. No matter how much talent you have, a terrible organization, coach, and team can derail a career. Now that we know where the top 6 QBs and a couple other top prospects are playing, below I predict how their careers will turn out.
Caleb Williams:
Going to Chicago has historically been where careers go to die for QBs. However, if one QB can buck that trend, it’s Williams. He is so talented and the fact that his pro comparisons are Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes tells you how good he is. Unlike with Justin Fields, the Bears have actually done a great job of surrounding him with amazing weapons and a solid Oline. How great he will be will come down to how well the coaching staff develops him. Regardless, the Bears history of never having a QB throw for 4,000 yards or 30 TDs will end soon.
I think he will be a really good to great QB in the NFL. He will make multiple Pro Bowls and help the Bears compete in a really tough division. My main apprehension with him is he seems like a diva type player. That’s fine with wide receivers like TO and OBJ, but when it comes to quarterback, that type of personality tends to not work out. Look at guys in the league who are star QBs: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, etc. They are not controversial and outspoken personalities. They always say the right things and are tremendous leaders. I just get the vibe that Caleb will not be a great leader and might causes some issues off the field similar to Kyler Murray and Aaron Rodgers. Once again, I think he’ll be really good to great, but will definitely cause some headaches for the Bears.
Jayden Daniels:
It’s great to see another LSU QB have a massive progression, win the Heisman, and be a top pick in the draft. That shows how great his work ethic is. His athleticism is off the charts and he will be one of the most athletic QBs in the league right away. It’s also reassuring that Daniels put up the numbers he did while playing in the best conference in college. He will be able to make an immediate impact and having an OC like Kliff Kingsbury is also a plus.
My one apprehension with him is that he is not super well built. This is something that can be fixed, but with a terrible Oline and being a guy that runs so much, it could be an issue.
Overall, he has a pretty good group of weapons around him with Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson at WR and Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr at RB. I think he has an average to solid career as a starter, but is not anything special.
Drake Maye:
I have super high hopes for Maye. He was my favorite QB in this draft, so the fact the Pats got him at #3 is a steal in my opinion. He reminds me a lot of Andrew Luck and Justin Herbert in terms of his combination of size, athleticism, and arm talent. He will just have turned 22 at the start of next season and will have time to develop under Jacoby Brissett. He is extremely tough, is a great kid, and played well through some perseverance and tough situations last year.
The biggest question with Maye has nothing to do with him, but the Patriots. First off, they have the worst roster in the league, especially when it comes to Oline and WR. They drafted some wide receivers and offensive lineman after Maye, but they still need to surround him with weapons and guys who can block. Also, how will the coaches develop him? Jerrod Mayo is a defensive coach so it will mainly be the responsibility of Alex Van Pelt, who is relatively unproven.
I believe he will develop into the Patriots franchise quarterback. He has the tools to succeed in New England, with a big frame and big arm that will serve him well in the terrible Foxboro weather. He obviously won’t be Tom Brady, but I think he can be a better version of Drew Bledsoe. He should be a multiple time Pro Bowler and lead the Pats back to contention for years to come.
Michael Penix Jr:
Easily the biggest shocker of the draft. I was initially shocked by what they did, but the Falcons explaining why they did it helped me make more sense of it. I just don’t agree with their reasoning.
Penix is going to be 24 before the season starts and is maybe the most “pro-ready” QB prospect in the draft. But they drafted him to be the developmental, eventual starter. He should have some good weapons around him when he does start, but when will that be?
They owe Kirk Cousins a ton of money and realistically can’t get out of the contact until 2026 when Penix with be 26 himself. Cousins isn’t amazing but he’s a good enough starter who probably won’t play himself out of the position. With all the uncertainty and an odd situation, I think Penix doesn’t end up being a long-term starter in the league.
J.J. McCarthy:
I like McCarthy, but easily think he was the most overrated player this draft. Compared to the other 5 QBs taken, I think he easily was the worst prospect and was benefited by his team more than any of them. With that being said, he is going to basically the perfect situation. He has a really good offensive coach in Kevin O’Connell, the best WR in the league in Justin Jefferson, a top 3 TE in TJ Hockenson, one of the best young WRs in the league in Jordan Addison, and new RB Aaron Jones. They even have a good offensive line. Furthermore, McCarthy can develop behind Sam Darnold if needed.
I think McCarthy will have a career similar to the man he is replacing – Kirk Cousins. His situation is just too good to be a complete bust. I see him putting up solid numbers but not being a guy who can win his team big games and take them far in the playoffs.
Bo Nix:
Nix lands in a spot with a good head coach, but a team that really lacks weapons. He’s accurate and has a ton of experience, but I just don’t think he has that high of a ceiling. Sean Payton has also been very impatient and critical of his QB and team since taking over and I don’t think that’s a great situation for any rookie QB. I think Nix ends up playing a good bit as a rookie, but I don’t think his career will mount to much and he won’t be a long-term starter.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
I think he is the best player in this class and the most exciting by far. Getting to play for a good QB in Kyler is also huge for him. He’ll be a Day 1 starter and should be an absolute stud for years to come.
Brock Bowers:
I think Bowers fits into the Raiders mold well. The biggest question is who is gonna be the QB throwing him the ball and how good will they be. However, he’s so talented that he should make an immediate impact and he has other weapons around him so defenses can’t just key in on him. He should be a long-term starter and make a handful of Pro Bowls.
Other Quick Points
With 6 QBs taken in the first round and all these other amazing offensive players at marquee positions like WR and OT, I think this draft will go down in history as one of the best ever.
The fact that round 1 of the NFL draft had a higher average viewership than last year’s NBA finals once again shows why football is the king of sports in the US.
Xavier Worthy should be a great pick for Chiefs. He fits in so well with Mahomes and that offense. The Chiefs have rebuilt their WR corps into one of the better ones in the league in just one year, showing why they are the dynasty that they are.
It’s still so early, but the Bears – Panthers trade from last year might go down as the worst trade in NFL history. If Bryce Young ends up being a bust, while Caleb is a stud that’s bad enough. But on top of that, the Bears got one of the best WRs in the league, a starting tackle, a starting CB, and still have another 2nd round pick next year. This is something to keep an eye on.
Having a star edge rusher or interior defensive lineman who can wreak havoc is one of the most sought after weapons teams look for. Thankfully, there has never been more talent at these positions than there is now. Below is my ranking of these players:
1. TJ Watt EDGE, Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Myles Garret EDGE, Cleveland Browns
3. Micah Parsons EDGE, Dallas Cowboys
4. Aaron Donald, IDL, Los Angeles Rams
5. Nick Bosa EDGE, San Francisco 49ers
6. Chris Jones, IDL, Kansas City Chiefs
7. Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Las Vegas Raiders
8. Khalil Mack, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers
9. Trey Hendrickson EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals
10. Aidan Hutchinson EDGE, Detroit Lions
Below are my top 10 QBs in the NFL. I am not solely basing it off this year, but instead the last couple of years plus how I think they’ll perform moving forward.
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Do I even have to explain?
2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow had a tough year, first dealing with a nagging calf injury that hampered him the first 4 games, then going on IR after the 10th game of the year. During the 5.5 games he was healthy, he threw for 13 TDs and showed how good he is.
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen is the modern day Brett Favre. He is an absurd athlete who routinely makes jaw dropping plays. He will also go rouge every now and then and make you ask yourself what the hell he is doing. His 173 total TDs the past 4 years make up for those mistakes.
4. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar balled out and won his 2nd league MVP this year. He is one of the most athletic players we’ve ever seen and can do things at QB that no one else in the league can. He needs to play better in the playoffs though.
5. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert is insanely talented, but has struggled to win. The lack of coaching and injuries around him in the past is reasonable enough to blame. However, with Jim Harbaugh now his coach, there are no more excuses. He needs to start winning games and making runs in the postseason.
6. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts is a special QB and a great duel threat. He had some up and down moments this year, but the season ended on a bad note. He will need to shake it off next year.
7. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
This season did not go as he wanted it to, however, I am still a believer that this all-time great will come back with a splash next year.
8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak played great at times this year, but does not always bring it during big games.
9. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence struggled this year, especially when his team needed him down the stretch. He’ll need to work out some kinks this offseason to return to the player he was last year.
10. Brock Purdy, San Franciso 49ers
He is definitely aided by his coach and playmakers around him, but he still gets them the ball and plays great. My only concern is that he struggles to bring his team back if they get too far behind.
On the Bubble:
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
He’s a solid starting QB, but is limited.
CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
Stroud established himself as one of the best young QBs in the league this year. Should he continue to develop, he could easily enter the top 10 next year.
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Kirk’s absence shows the Vikings and the world how good he really is. He just doesn’t get it done in the playoffs.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
He’s a very similar QB to Brock Purdy. I give Purdy the slight edge, because I trust him more in big games.
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos
I still am a Russ believer. He played well this year despite the fact that he did not have that much talent around him. I think Sean Payton scapegoating him for all of Denver’s woes is laughable. He may not be at his peak anymore, but is still a good starting quarterback.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
He rebounded well this year and led a young team to the playoffs. I still think he’s slightly overrated.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler has all the talent in the world and he played well in limited action this season. I’m excited to see him back to full strength next year for an entire season.
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