2020 non-playoff teams:
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Cincinnati Bengals
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
Denver Broncos
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Minnesota Vikings
Detroit Lions
Carolina Panthers
Atlanta Falcons
Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars lost their final fifteen games this season, but brighter days are ahead in Jacksonville. The Jags are poised to draft Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence is one of the best quarterback prospects in recent history and has all the makings of a franchise cornerstone for years to come.
2. Los Angeles Chargers: Even though the 2020 Chargers found inventive ways to lose games, the franchise has a home run draft pick in quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert should be the Offensive Rookie of the Year, and with possibly a new coach in 2021, Los Angeles will be the Chiefs’ biggest threat for years to come in the AFC West with Herbert at the helm.
3. Cincinnati Bengals: Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow saw his 2020 season cut short due to a torn MCL and PCL suffered in late November, but was able to lift a subpar supporting cast when he was on the field. Assuming Burrow will return to 100%, the Bengals will be a playoff team sooner rather than later.
4. Miami Dolphins: Miami had a great year, but just missed out on the playoffs in 2020. This offseason will be one filled with many questions for the Dolphins front office. Chief among them is if the team believes Tua Tagovailoa is the long-term answer for the team at quarterback. Head Coach Brian Flores benched Tagovailoa at crucial times this season, and Tagovailoa showed he is nowhere near as dynamic of a player as other rookie quarterbacks like Herbert and Burrow. The Dolphins’ future will hinge upon how they handle the 2021 draft, and if they decide to move off Tagovailoa after just one season in South Florida.
5. New York Jets: The New York Jets were in a perfect position to get the top overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft after going 0-13 to begin the season, but a late-season surge precluded the Jets from getting Lawrence. The Jets still have hope going forward though. The team can draft a top quarterback and trade Sam Darnold for draft picks, or they could keep Darnold and improve what is one of the worst rosters in all of football.
6. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers missed out on the playoffs after coming up just short of winning Super Bowl LIV against the Kansas City Chiefs last season. San Francisco was never able to overcome an injury-riddled 2020 season, but still have a great roster heading into next season. The team must figure out what to do at quarterback. Will Head Coach Kyle Shanahan and General Manager John Lynch cut bait with Jimmy Garoppolo for a veteran, or stick with Garoppolo going forward? San Francisco is sure to have a better 2021 regardless of who is under center for the team next season.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Las Vegas showed flashes of what a great team they could be in 2020, but were not consistent enough to be a playoff team. Vegas has great offensive talent but had one of the worst defenses in all of football in 2020. Another offseason, and with the Raiders making some moves to strengthen their defense, the team will be much improved in 2021.
8. New York Giants: Even though the Giants missed the playoff this season, Giants fans should be thrilled that Head Coach Joe Judge seems to be the right coach for the team. The Giants had one of the worst offenses in 2020, and this is an issue the team must address this offseason. Quarterback Daniel Jones was hobbled by a hamstring injury late in the season that sunk the team’s playoff chances, but Jones showed enough promise to at least get another year with the Giants.
9. Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings got off to a 1-5 start they were never able to overcome but are on track to bounce back in 2021. Even though Stefon Diggs is now in Buffalo, the team drafted Justin Jefferson out of LSU who looks like the best receiver in what was an unbelievably deep 2020 wide receiver class. The hallmark of the Vikings, their defense, regressed in 2020 but that is an issue that will be rectified this offseason.
10. Houston Texans: Quarterback Deshaun Watson had a terrible 2020 season. Not in terms of his stats, but regarding how he will be perceived around the league going forward. The Texans had a disastrous 2020. They fired their head coach, their top receiver got suspended for using PEDs, but Watson was unable to rise above the chaos to help the Texans win games. Watson is paid like one of the top quarterbacks in the league, but he simply is not, and 2020 proved that once and for all. Watson struggled when everything crumbled around him in 2020, and that is an ominous sign for the team going forward. Top quarterbacks can overcome poor coaching and mediocre supporting casts.
11. Carolina Panthers: Head Coach Matt Rhule acquitted himself nicely in his first year as an NFL coach. Carolina played teams close all year, but never had the requisite talent to be a contender in 2020. Running back Christian McCaffrey only being able to play three games in an injury-filled season handcuffed Rhule in his first year on the job. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was competent in 2020 and has some good offensive weapons to work with going forward.
12. Arizona Cardinals: Arizona had a win and you're in scenario entering week 17 against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, but the Cardinals were unable to get it done. Arizona looked poised to make the playoffs but faded down the stretch in large part because quarterback Kyler Murray was hobbled with an ankle injury late in the season. Cardinals management must decide this offseason if the Murray-Kliff Kingsbury partnership is one they trust going forward.
13. Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys had another underwhelming regular season. Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending ankle injury just five weeks into the season, and even when Prescott did suit up, the Cowboys played far below their potential. The Cowboys must decide what to do with Prescot, who is a free agent or go in a different direction heading into 2021.
14. Philadelphia Eagles: Rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts showed promise late in the 2020 season, but the jury is still out on whether Hurts can be a franchise quarterback. The Eagles need to completely rebuild this offseason and decide if they believe Head Coach Doug Pederson and General Manager Howie Roseman are the right men to oversee a complete overhaul of the roster.
15. Denver Broncos: Drew Lock proved in 2020 he is not the answer at the quarterback position. Once again, the Broncos must try and find a solution at the most important position in all of sports. Even though wide receiver Jerry Jeudy had a good rookie season and Von Miller and Bradley Chubb are still a fearsome combination rushing the passer, the Broncos need to find a quarterback soon.
16. New England Patriots: The Patriots found out what life was like in 2020 without Tom Brady, and it was not pretty. The Patriot offense is devoid of talent, and New England’s next quarterback does not seem to be on the roster. Head coach, and General Manager, Bill Belichick will have his work cut out for him this offseason as he looks to revamp a terrible offense.
17. Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons fell well short of expectations again in 2020, and it is time for a complete rebuild of the team. Atlanta should trade away former MVP Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones to a contender this offseason, and start from scratch with a new head coach. This iteration of the Falcons never lived up to their potential.
18. Detroit Lions: The Lions have absolutely no hope heading into next season, and starting from scratch is the only solution. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, and many of the other veteran players, should be moved before training camp.
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