PITTSBURGH
STEELERS
Trade Antonio Brown for defensive help
The conventional wisdom is the Steelers - tired of Brown's
antics and intent on fixing their locker room issues - will trade the All-Pro receiver
for at least a first-round pick. However, Pittsburgh is built to win right now,
and it was the defense, not the offense, that let the team down late in the
regular season. The Steelers should attempt to land a blue-chip defender for
Brown instead of draft capital that might not pay immediate dividends.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Draft a No. 1 receiver
Lamar Jackson set the league ablaze during the final stretch
of the regular season as part of an unstoppable Ravens rushing attack. But the
rookie quarterback was exposed in the playoffs for what is still a very raw
passing game. Jackson just turned 22 years old, so it's logical for the Ravens
to turn to the draft to find him a No. 1 target to grow with and give the
offense the right balance to pair with an already championship-ready defense.
BUFFALO BILLS
Spend big in free agency to boost defense
It's probably unwise (and likely detrimental to his
development) to ask Josh Allen to carry a team at this stage of his career.
However, that doesn't mean he can't be one of the main ingredients in the
winning formula for Buffalo, so long as another element is a top-tier defense.
The Bills were the second-ranked defense in Football Outsiders' DVOA
metric and could be even better in 2019 with free-agent reinforcements. They
should look to the team that finished above them - the Chicago Bears - for a
blueprint on how to win with a defense-first approach.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Hire an actual general manager to run the team
Mike Brown isn't selling the Bengals anytime soon, but the
team's owner needs to loosen his iron-clad grip on the franchise - especially
after firing Marvin Lewis - if it's to escape mediocrity. Brown acts as
Cincinnati's de facto GM, which might be a more difficult situation to navigate
with incoming head coach Zac Taylor's lack of experience. The Bengals need a
talent infusion across the board if they hope to sniff the postseason, and that
won't happen unless Brown hands over the wheel to a superior football mind.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Trade for Odell Beckham Jr.
Of course, every team in the league would benefit greatly
from acquiring a player as talented as Beckham. But no one would welcome it
more than the Browns and, in particular, quarterback Baker Mayfield. Under
Freddie Kitchens, Cleveland is going to keep throwing the ball downfield, and
Jarvis Landry is ill-suited to be the top target. The Browns have the cap space
and draft capital to pull off the move, and while the Giants have committed to the
All-Pro receiver, their resolve could be tested with a big offer.
DENVER BRONCOS
Trade up for Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins
John Elway desperately needs to find his ... well, John
Elway. Case Keenum wasn't the answer, as Denver's GM admitted, and potential
free-agent options such as Teddy Bridgewater and Joe Flacco will only keep the
cracks papered over. Haskins isn't a prospect on the level of Mayfield or Sam
Darnold, but he's the best shot at a franchise passer in this draft and would
give Denver a solid chance at an instant turnaround.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Fix pass protection
It's a minor miracle Deshaun Watson made it through the
entire season unscathed. The Texans allowed their franchise quarterback to be
sacked an NFL-worst 62 times and hit an additional 133 times. Watson already
suffered a torn ACL in his rookie season and continuing to risk his health
behind a group of journeymen would be coaching malpractice. Houston needs to
explore every avenue, from free agency to the draft to the waiver wire, to find
better protectors for Watson.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Find a No. 2 wide receiver
With Andrew Luck back healthy and firing on all cylinders,
the Colts' offense thrived under the guidance of head coach Frank Reich. But
Indy was unable to compensate when T.Y. Hilton was slowed by an ankle injury
late in the season. The Colts must find a running mate for Hilton, whether in
the draft or through free agency. They were among the worst teams in terms of
yards after the catch, so the shifty Golden Tate might catch GM Chris Ballard's
eye.
JACKSONVILLE
JAGUARS
Sign Teddy Bridgewater in free agency
The Blake Bortles experiment is mercifully over, but with an
expensive roster full of seasoned veterans, the Jaguars likely don't have time
to wait for a rookie quarterback to develop. Jacksonville should do what it
should've last season and roll the dice on Bridgewater, who has the talent to
unlock the offense's potential.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Sign Earl Thomas in free agency
Patrick Mahomes and Co. are Super Bowl ready, but the defense
needs significant changes, as evidenced by the Patriots' ability to move up and
down the field at will in the AFC title game. Coordinator Bob Sutton has
already been shown the door, and Kansas City should bring in an elite weapon
for his replacement to gleefully deploy. Thomas is one of the NFL's true
game-changers and his deep-ball coverage skills are unrivaled. Even if it means
parting ways with Eric Berry, the Chiefs should go all-in on Thomas, presuming
he's recovered from the broken leg that ended his season.
LOS ANGELES
CHARGERS
Hire a sports psychologist
Talent has rarely been an issue for the Chargers during the
Philip Rivers era, and this iteration has more than enough playmakers to make a
Super Bowl run. But the Chargers have lacked mental fortitude - as well as luck
- in critical situations for years, spanning the tenures of both Mike McCoy and
Anthony Lynn. Addressing their issues by investing in sports psychology - in a
similar way to the Colts, who hired Vision Pursue to assist in mindfulness
training for their players, according to The Ringer's
Robert Mays - might be the way the Chargers finally get over
the hump.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Trade for/sign Nick Foles
Admittedly, it's going to take a lot for the rebuilding
Dolphins to even make the playoffs due to the Patriots' presence in the AFC
East. Finding a way past New England is priority one, two, and three for Miami,
so why not turn to one of the only men who's stared down the dynasty and won?
Foles would be a significant upgrade on Ryan Tannehill, and his leadership
qualities could galvanize Miami's locker room.
NEW ENGLAND
PATRIOTS
Don't let Tom Brady or Bill Belichick retire
Presuming to know what's best for a team heading into its
third straight Super Bowl appearance is farcical. All the Patriots need to do
to make it four in a row is keep the Brady-Belichick tandem intact. That's it.
NEW YORK JETS
Sign Le'Veon Bell in free agency
Like the rest of the non-Patriots of the AFC East, the Jets
are a long way from Super Bowl contention. But they do have a quarterback who
flashed elite potential in his rookie season. Darnold breaking out in a similar
fashion to Jared Goff could happen if he's paired with star running back Bell,
who's set for a big payday in free agency. The duo has the potential to make
the Jets the shock success story of 2019.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Hit big on all three first-round picks
Jon Gruden hit the reset button on the Raiders almost
immediately upon his return to coaching. Trading away two Pro Bowl players in
2018 tells us Oakland isn't expecting to win next season. The Raiders are left
with three 2019 first-round picks, though, and if all can be difference-makers
from Day 1, they might return to the postseason sooner than most expect.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Invest in the offensive line
Thirteen weeks into his third season, Derrick Henry was
dangerously close to being hit with the "bust" label. Instead of the
breakout year many expected, the former second-rounder failed to rush for over
60 yards in any of the Titans' first 12 games before exploding for 585 over the
final stretch. A pounding running game to lean on is exactly head coach Mike
Vrabel's vision, so Tennessee would be wise not to let its inconsistent O-line
hold back what could be an intimidating offense now that Henry has found his
fire.
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