PFR Polls News & Rumors

Poll: Who Will Win The NFC East?

July 25th, 2014 at 4:59pm CST by Luke Adams

As is the case with most other divisions around the NFL, the team that wore the crown a year ago heads into the 2014 season as the favorite to do so again — last year, the 10-6 Eagles beat out the Cowboys and Giants for the NFC East division title, and Philadelphia is the frontrunner to take the division this year as well.

Few other divisions in football have been as balanced over the last decade than the NFC East, however. Within the last five seasons, all four teams have finished atop the East at least once, and in the last seven years, no club has won the division more than twice. While the Eagles, even without DeSean Jackson, are favored in 2014, their three challengers all have solid rosters, and could topple Philadelphia if things break right.

Last year’s runner-up – Dallas – has finished with an 8-8 record for three straight seasons, and the pressure will be on this season to improve upon that mark. The club had limited cap flexibility to make offseason upgrades, but made several signings on the defensive line, and added Zack Martin to a talented offensive line that already features multiple stars. There are question marks at a few areas on the field, particularly on the defensive side, where linebacker Sean Lee will miss the season. But the Cowboys have some upside.

So too do the Giants, who got off to a horrendous start in 2013 and couldn’t make it back to .500, as Eli Manning set a new career high in interceptions (27). With a new offensive coordinator and scheme in place, there’s optimism that Manning can limit the turnovers. And while there were plenty of veteran departures, the team was active in free agency adding replacements, including cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, running back Rashad Jennings, and guard Geoff Schwartz.

As for the Redskins, a 3-13 team a year ago, they aren’t viewed as a consensus cellar-dweller. Betting site Bovada.lv gives Washington 4:1 odds to win the East, just behind the Cowboys and Giants, and a healthy Robert Griffin III should singlehandedly boost the team’s win total. With receiving playmakers DeSean Jackson and Andre Roberts added to the mix, and a new coach and offensive coordinator on board, the Redskins’ offense could once again look like the exciting, dangerous unit we saw two years ago, during Griffin’s rookie season.

What do you think? Do any of last year’s non-playoff teams have the talent to take down the Eagles, or will Philadelphia become the NFC East’s first repeat division champion since 2004?

Previously:
Who will win the AFC North?
Who will win the AFC West?
Who will win the AFC South?
Who will win the AFC East?
Who will win the NFC North?
Who will win the NFC West?

Poll: Who Will Win The NFC West?

July 21st, 2014 at 2:23pm CST by Luke Adams

It was only a few years ago – in 2010 – that the 7-9 Seahawks won the NFC West, earning a playoff spot by virtue of a tiebreaker with the 7-9 Rams. The division may have been a punchline at that point, but much has changed since then. In 2013, the NFC West’s four teams combined for an impressive 42-22 record, while no other division in the conference even had a .500 overall record.

The Seahawks took advantage of a division win and a first-round bye, en route to a Super Bowl victory, and they’ll head into 2014 as the favorites to repeat. Having re-signed a handful of key contributors, including defensive end Michael Bennett, the club looks poised for another great season. But there are plenty of notable departures to consider as well – wide receiver Golden Tate, defensive end Chris Clemons, tackle Breno Giacomini, and cornerback Walter Thurmond were among the free agents who signed elsewhere, which could open the door for another team to take the division crown away from Seattle.

The top contender is likely San Francisco, a team that won 12 games of its own in the 2013 season and gave the Seahawks everything they could handle in the NFC Championship Game. Like their division rivals, the 49ers didn’t undergo a major roster overhaul in the offseason, with Antoine Bethea representing the club’s only real significant free agent addition. But there’s so much talent on both sides of the ball that the Niners enter the season as a legit Super Bowl contender without having made any major changes.

One of last year’s most surprising teams, the 11-win Cardinals, were unlucky to miss out on the playoffs, but turned plenty of heads by nearly keeping pace with the Seahawks and Niners all year long. While Arizona may be a candidate for regression in 2014, another strong season from Carson Palmer should keep the team competitive, and newly-signed tackle Jared Veldheer should help ensure that Palmer has the time he needs to find Larry Fitzgerald and co.

The dark horse in the West is St. Louis, the division’s only sub-.500 team last season. Because they’d acquired Washington’s first-round pick for the 2014 draft, the Rams were able to add potential stars on both sides of the ball, selecting offensive tackle Greg Robinson and defensive tackle Aaron Donald. In the NFL’s toughest division, the Rams will have an uphill battle to leapfrog the three clubs above them. However, the amount of talent on the roster, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines, will make St. Louis a tough team to play in 2014.

What do you think? Are the Seahawks headed for another division title, or can another NFC West club unseat them?

Previously:
Who will win the AFC North?
Who will win the AFC West?
Who will win the AFC South?
Who will win the AFC East?
Who will win the NFC North?

Poll: Which 49ers Will Get Extensions?

July 17th, 2014 at 7:46pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, the 49ers announced that they have extended left tackle Joe Staley through the 2019 season. Staley’s previous deal took him through the 2017 season and the additional two years makes it likely that the soon-to-be 30-year-old will finish his career in San Francisco. Of course, there’s still more work to be done for the 49ers as tight end Vernon Davis and right guard Alex Boone are demanding new contracts. Staley declined to comment specifically on the two players who skipped the 49ers’ offseason program and did not attend the mandatory minicamp, but expressed optimism that things would work out.

“Speaking on those players you’re alluding to, they’re very, very talented players,” Staley said, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “And speaking of Alex Boone, he’s someone that I have the upmost respect for, and really, really hope that we can play our entire careers together. He’s someone I have a ton of respect for. And want to see him here. “It’s his situation, and whatever he wants to get done, I have the confidence the Niners and him will work it out.”

While terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, it’s possible that Staley’s contract could be designed to give SF a little bit more breathing room in the short-term to get deals done for others. In addition to Davis and Boone, the 49ers have extension candidates in wide receiver Michael Crabtree and left guard Mike Iupati. Iupati, a two-time Pro Bowler, could be in line for a big payday if he explores his options on the open market after the 2014 season. Crabtree should be in line for a hefty deal himself and as Luke Adams explained earlier today, the deals signed by Eric Decker ($7.25MM per year, $15MM guaranteed) and DeSean Jackson ($8MM per year, $16MM guaranteed) should be a floor for him. However, it might make more sense for both parties to wait until after this season to work on a new deal for Crabtree. After an injury shortened season, a strong 2014 could boost Crabtree’s haul and give SF more confidence in offering a long-term pact.

So, we’ll leave it to you. Which of these players (if any) will receive new deals before the start of the season?

Poll: Impact Free Agents

July 12th, 2014 at 3:30pm CST by Rob DiRe

279 free agents changed teams this past offseason, but some will have more of an impact than others, writes Nathan Janke of ESPN.com. Jahnke has highlighted five players who have a chance to come in and immediately transform their team.

His top five are Branden Albert (Dolphins), Jairus Byrd (Saints), Eric Decker (Jets), Michael Johnson (Buccaneers), and Karlos Dansby (Browns).

The list seems to be missing key contributors at first glance, as big name players such as Darrelle Revis (Patriots), DeMarcus Ware (Broncos), Aqib Talib (Broncos), and Julius Peppers (Packers) fail to garner even a mention. When looking at impactful free agent pickups, even Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Giants) and Hakeem Nicks (Colts) could have been considered, as both have a chance to come in and prove their worth immediately.

However Jahnke justifies his selections by pointing out how each of the five teams he highlighted struggled in 2013, and how these five free agents were brought in specifically to turn that particular need around quickly. His reasoning pairs a statistic the team was at the bottom of the league in, with a free agent was near the top:

The Dolphins, for example, had a mess at left tackle with Jonathan Martin and Bryant McKinnie on the field, creating a revolving door for pass rushers to fly through. Albert ranks third in the NFL in pressures allowed per game since 2011.
Byrd was brought in to turn around a Saints defense that led the league in passing yards allowed by the safeties. Byrd’s specialty is eliminating plays of more than ten yards over the middle of the field, and turning the mistakes in that area into interceptions.
Decker was the fifth-best receiver in the NFL in terms of yards accumulated on passes 20 yards or deeper down the field. The Jets quarterbacks were last in the league in passer rating when targeting receivers in 2013.
Johnson is fourth in the league in pressures as a right defensive end since the beginning of the 2012 season. The Buccaneers defensive ends have missed more than twice as many tackles than the NFL average for the position.
The Browns were third worst in the NFL in passer rating allowed by inside linebackers in 2013, and dead last in yards after catch allowed. Dansby led the league in passes defended at the position the past two season.

Jahnke ranks them in that order, but there are other free agents to consider as well. Every team hopes the players they sign in the offseason will be able to close up the biggest weaknesses on their roster, and not all of them can live up to expectations.

Poll: Who Will Win The NFC North?

July 11th, 2014 at 1:58pm CST by Luke Adams

While the NFC North was home to the league’s tightest division race in 2013, it wasn’t exactly a thrilling ride — with the benefit of a tie, the 8-7-1 Packers eked out the division crown over the 8-8 Bears and the 7-9 Lions. It was the Packers’ third straight NFC North title, but it was by far the least convincing, in large part due to to an injury that limited Aaron Rodgers to only nine games.

Rodgers is healthy and will look to lead Green Bay to a fourth consecutive division title in 2014, but the Packers won’t have an easy path. Major changes were afoot throughout the NFC North this offseason, including a pair of elite veteran pass rushers joining division rivals. When Julius Peppers made the move from the Bears to the Packers, Chicago responded by signing former Viking defensive end Jared Allen.

Elsewhere in the division, the Lions bolstered an already dangerous offense by inking wide receiver Golden Tate to a lucrative five-year contract and selecting tight end Eric Ebron with the 10th overall pick in May’s draft. The Bears added not just Allen, but also defensive end Lamarr Houston and rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller, who will look to help stabilize the defense on a team whose offense features arguably the best duo of wideouts in the NFL (Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery).

Meanwhile, 2013’s last-place finishers, the Vikings, may find themselves on the outside looking in if it turns into a three-team race. But Minnesota’s offseason shouldn’t be dismissed. The team bolstered its defense by inking linemen Linval Joseph and Everson Griffen to long-term deals, then drafting linebacker Anthony Barr with the ninth overall pick. Throw in a potential franchise quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater and this is a roster with upside, even if the club may still be a year or two away from making any real noise.

What do you think? Will the Packers’ streak be snapped in 2014, or will Green Bay sit atop the North again at the end of the regular season?

Previously:
Who will win the AFC North?
Who will win the AFC West?
Who will win the AFC South?
Who will win the AFC East?

Poll: Will Geno Smith Finish The Year As Jets Starting QB?

July 10th, 2014 at 9:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Nothing is set in stone, but Michael Vick sounds resigned to serving as Geno Smith‘s backup for the Jets this season. Many expected the former All-Pro quarterback to immediately come to East Rutherford, New Jersey and supplant Smith as the starter, but he has said nothing but complimentary things about the rising sophomore and claims that he’s just there to be the No. 2 QB on the depth chart.

“I think it can happen this year,” Vick said last month regarding the prospect of Smith leading the Jets to a Super Bowl win, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. “I think Geno can take us to where we need to go. It’ll seal my legacy — for me, myself. For the public, I don’t know.”

Strangely enough, Vick might be one of Smith’s biggest supporters out there. In a recent poll of league executives, ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) found that Smith was voted as the NFL’s worst starting quarterback. Joe Namath also isn’t a fan of Smith’s, but then again, Broadway Joe seems to enjoy criticizing any Jets team that came after the 1976 season. Smith showed flashes of last season and helped lead the Jets to an 8-8 mark, but some questionable passing decisions left many observers wondering if he’s ready to be a starter and if he’ll ever be ready, period.

Odds are, Smith will be the starter in Week 1 against the Raiders, but who do you believe will wind up as the Jets starting QB for 2014 when all is said and done?

Poll: Will Finley Return To The Packers?

July 9th, 2014 at 8:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Tight end Jermichael Finley has been medically cleared by his personal doctor and says that he wants to resume his career in Green Bay. However, he still has some convincing to do with the Packers’ team doctor.

Finley, 27, registered 223 receptions for 2,785 yards and 20 touchdowns in 70 career games for the Packers, but the club is understandably cautious about bringing Finley back given his spinal issues. Still, if Finley can prove himself to be healthy, he could be a tremendous asset for Green Bay. The Packers will have Andrew Quarless, Richard Rodgers, Brandon Bostick, and Ryan Taylor to work with, but it’d be hard for any of those players to replicate some of Finley’s best seasons. Even Packers tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot readily admits that there isn’t a surefire star out of the bunch.

“I think we are pretty wide open at this point,” Fontenot said, writes Rob Reischel of the Journal Sentinel. “I think guys have shown some progress, and those guys warrant a much bigger look. And I think once we get to training camp, we’ll have an idea of a rotation, at least, and giving guys reps just to make sure they’re ready to start the season.”

According to Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com, Finley has visited the Patriots and Giants, and the Steelers, Raiders, and Dolphins have been linked to him as well. Ultimately, do you see Finley making his NFL return with the only team he’s ever known?

Poll: Who Will Win The AFC East?

July 8th, 2014 at 4:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the past decade, as teams across the NFL have risen and fallen in the standings from year to year, few – if any – teams were more consistent than the New England Patriots. In the last 11 years, New England has claimed 10 division titles. The only year the team didn’t finish atop the AFC East was 2008, a campaign in which Tom Brady went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 and the Pats still finished with an 11-5 record, losing a division tiebreaker to the Dolphins.

After an offseason that saw the Pats bring back most of their key contributors and add one of the best cornerbacks in football (Darrelle Revis), New England seems to be the safe bet to win the AFC East once again. But the rest of the division appears ready to compete in the short term, and won’t go down quietly.

The Jets, who finished 8-8 in 2013, had trouble scoring points last season, but revamped their offense this spring, adding Eric Decker, Chris Johnson, and Michael Vick in free agency. Johnson’s best years may be behind him, and Vick won’t necessarily get the chance to start immediately, but even so, the veteran additions could give a boost to a unit that lacked the ability to make big plays a year ago.

As for the Dolphins, the East’s other .500 team, their success may hinge on a revamped offensive line, which now features free agent signees Branden Albert and Shelley Smith, as well as rookies Ja’Wuan James and Billy Turner. Miami’s coaching staff, led by head coach Joe Philbin, may be entering a make-or-break year, so they’ll certainly be motivated to find a way to get the Dolphins a couple extra wins and playoff spot.

Finally, last year’s East cellar-dweller – the Bills – swung for the fences on draft day two months ago, trading 2015’s first-round pick to the Browns in order to move up to snag wide receiver Sammy Watkins fourth overall. Watkins should have an immediate impact and will make E.J. Manuel‘s life much easier, but it’s not clear yet if Manuel is ready to take that next step and become an above-average NFL quarterback. Additionally, the loss of Kiko Alonso to a season-ending injury will have a significant impact on a defense that saw its 2013 coordinator (Mike Pettine) depart in the offseason for a head coaching job in Cleveland. Although the Bills still have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, a lot would have to break right for the club to compete for a division crown.

What do you think? Will the Pats take the AFC East for the 11th time in 12 years, or will one of the three upstarts steal it away from New England in 2014?

Previously:
Who will win the AFC North?
Who will win the AFC West?
Who will win the AFC South?

Poll: Jordy Nelson Vs. Randall Cobb

July 7th, 2014 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

During the past two offseasons, the Packers have witnessed the departure of several of Aaron Rodgers‘ longtime pass-catching weapons. In 2013, Donald Driver retired and Greg Jennings signed a lucrative five-year deal to join the division-rival Vikings, and in 2014, James Jones headed west, inking a three-year pact with the Raiders. Additionally, Jermichael Finley, who is coming off spinal surgery, has reportedly not been cleared by the Packers’ team doctor, making a reunion with the free agent tight end unlikely at this point.

Two more veteran Green Bay receivers are on contracts that expire after the 2014 season, but Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb seem less likely to be playing elsewhere in 2015. The Packers reportedly have interest in locking up both players to contract extensions, ensuring that they’ll remain two of Rodgers’ top targets for years to come.

In Rob Demovsky’s latest mailbag at ESPN.com, he writes that the Packers may be inclined to reach an agreement with Nelson “sooner rather than later,” so that the team can subsequently move on to Cobb. While Demovsky doesn’t cite specific sources in his response to the latest Nelson/Cobb inquiry, he’s plugged into what the Packers’ front office is thinking, and his comments suggest that Nelson may be the club’s first priority.

Nelson established himself as the Packers’ No. 1 receiver in 2013, setting new career highs in receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,314), despite Rodgers missing a chunk of the season. So it makes sense that the team would prioritize a new agreement with him. On the other hand, Cobb, who had 80 receptions of his own in 2012, looked poised to take on a bigger role in the offense last season before he was sidelined with an injury of his own. Cobb doesn’t have the sort of size you’d expect for a prototypical top receiver, but he’s five years younger than Nelson, and his versatility allows the Packers to utilize him in a number of different ways — he has averaged an impressive 15 yards per carry over the last two seasons, for instance.

What do you think? When the Packers approach their wideouts about contract extensions, which player should the team be more intent on keeping? Who’s the No. 1 priority?

Poll: Who Will Win The AFC South?

July 5th, 2014 at 8:24pm CST by Luke Adams

No NFL team in 2013 won its division by a more significant margin than the Colts, whose 11 regular-season victories were nearly as many as the combined total of 13 compiled by the other three teams in their division. On the surface, a seven-win Titans squad that didn’t noticeably improve this offseason shouldn’t pose a real threat to Indianapolis in 2014, and the 4-12 Jaguars and 2-14 Texans would both have to pull off massive turnarounds to challenge for the division crown.

Still, as betting site Bovada.lv shows, although the Colts head into 2014 as the frontrunners to win the AFC South again, they’re not massive favorites. Vegas’ oddsmakers appreciated the work done by the Texans this winter and spring — while the team didn’t make many substantial free agent additions, it added No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney to a defensive line that already featured J.J. Watt. It’s safe to say Andrew Luck and other quarterbacks around the division aren’t looking forward to seeing those two fearsome pass rushers on the other side of the ball twice a season. This is also a Houston club that’s only a year removed from an 11-win season and seems poised for at least a moderate bounce back — the performance of new signal-caller Ryan Fitzpatrick may determine exactly how far the Texans can go.

The Titans, meanwhile, shouldn’t be overlooked, even though I think they’ll be hard-pressed to match even last year’s win total. A younger, more diverse backfield could easily be more productive than Chris Johnson was in his last season in Tennessee, and new coach Ken Whisenhunt has done good work with quarterbacks in the past — perhaps his influence will help Jake Locker exceed expectations in a contract year.

As for the Jags, they’re probably at least a year or two from making any real noise in the South, but the team made some nice, under-the-radar veteran additions in the offseason, including defensive ends Red Bryant and Chris Clemons, guard Zane Beadles, linebacker Dekoda Watson, defensive lineman Ziggy Hood, and running back Toby Gerhart. Like so many other teams, their fortunes will likely come down to quarterback play. While Chad Henne‘s upside is limited, No. 3 pick Blake Bortles could put more pressure on defenses if he gets a chance to play in his rookie year.

What do you think? Do any of the division’s other squads have a chance to unseat Indianapolis at the top of the AFC South this year, or will Luck and the Colts repeat?

Previously:
Who will win the AFC North?
Who will win the AFC West?

Load More Posts