We saw the Panthers go from Super Bowl participants to a team that couldn’t reach .500 in a matter of one season. Their drop-off was shocking, but in hindsight, it’s easy to see why it happened. Cam Newton regressed as a passer, the running game wasn’t good and the defense allowed nearly 100 more points than it did in 2015.
Entering this season, the Panthers haven’t done much to help fix those issues. The running back position is a huge question mark, the defense hasn’t added any playmakers outside of 37-year-old Julius Peppers, and Newton still lacks reliable receivers on the outside.
Fortunately, the Panthers have a good amount of draft capital, which should be spent on a running back, receiver and defensive end.
Joe Flacco is past his prime, and that’ll become even more evident this season with a significant lack of playmakers at his disposal. Steve Smith is retired, Breshad Perriman can’t stay healthy, and their running game does nothing to help Flacco as a complementary piece of the offense.
Additionally, the Ravens are quickly getting older on the defensive side of the ball. Terrell Suggs isn’t the same player he once was, Eric Weddle isn’t getting any younger, and one of their best young players, Zach Orr, retired at 24.
The Ravens need to nail their draft picks and add a stud pass rusher in order to better their chances of winning a Super Bowl in the next year or two.
The Cardinals nearly saw their window slam shut this offseason when Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald talked retirement. It’s just barely open, which is crazy to think about after seeing them go 13-3 in 2015. The reason there’s still time to win a championship is because of two things: the defense, and David Johnson.
Although Arizona lost a bunch of playmakers in free agency – namely Tony Jefferson and Calais Campbell – the draft is loaded in the secondary, so there are playmakers to be had. And on the other side of the ball, Johnson carries the offense.
He did so last season, but it wasn’t even good enough to get Arizona above .500. Injuries and a terrible offensive line played a part in that, which is why the Cardinals still have time. They should be better in that regard next season, assuming they draft well.
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