In the recent NFL season, teams across the league showcased varying degrees of performance, setting the stage for strategic decisions in the upcoming draft. The Arizona Cardinals, Indy Colts, and Cleveland Browns are just a few of the teams looking to make big strides. This article takes a look at how these teams fared, the players that shined, and the draft prospects looking to help strengthen their rosters.
Arizona Cardinals' Passing Game: A Mixed Bag
The Arizona Cardinals weren’t as bad as they’ve been in past seasons within their passing attack, finishing right around league average in some areas. They only ranked 16th in the league in passing yards per attempt, at 7.1 yards. They had a tough time transforming those chances into scores. In so doing, they actually tied for 20th place in college football in touchdown receptions.
A look at the Cardinals’ passing statistics shows there’s clearly room for improvement. If they made it a priority to improve on their red-zone efficiency and field-goal-to-touchdown conversions, they would easily improve their offensive potency. The upcoming draft presents an opportunity for Arizona to address these shortcomings, potentially by eyeing prospects with strong offensive capabilities.
Colts Seeking Tight End Reinforcements
The Indianapolis Colts went through something entirely opposite. Last season their tight ends combined for the second-fewest receiving yards on the team. The Colts’ glaring need to address is the lack of production from the TE position. This issue has become their No. 1 priority as they head toward the draft.
The Colts need to find tight ends who can stretch the field and line up all over. These versatile players do wonders for creating mismatches and providing safe, reliable targets for their quarterbacks. Indianapolis is trying to build on their lead. They are looking to supplement their passing game and take their offense to new heights.
Spotlight on Promising Draft Prospects
With the draft just around the corner, a number of top prospects have opened eyes and separated themselves as the clear favorites for MLB clubs. Shedeur Sanders is one such player, known for his toughness, ability to make precise throws, and quick processing of reads in the pocket. That skill set combined with his experience makes him one of this offseason’s most sought after prospects by teams who need a quarterback with poise and accuracy.
Another impressive name is Ward, who has a thick, compact frame at 219 pounds, athleticism and great pocket presence. His size and athleticism have him as an interesting prospect for any team that wants to bolster their developmental quarterback ranks.
Green is yet another prospect that has seen a rise in his stock with the hype of his quickness and production last year. He managed to haul in a ridiculous 17 sacks while causing 52 pressures. He had two forced fumbles, as he was an elite playmaker and opponent disrupter.
Defensive Concerns for the Cleveland Browns
Their opponent QBR was 26th (59.2), while yards allowed per play was 24th (5.6). Most strikingly, their interception rate came in dead last with just a 0.8% mark. These figures emphasize a growing urgency for defensive help on their side of the ball.
Hopefully addressing these defensive woes will be high on the Browns’ priority list in the draft. Cleveland has doubled down on their desire to find players with + defensive potential and playmaking. This plan is to rejuvenate their amenity and increase total productiveness on that facet of the ball.
Challenges in the Secondary
Even some of the best teams dealt with holes in their secondary corps. Marshon Lattimore's performance has seen a decline, while Emmanuel Forbes Jr.'s tenure with Washington did not yield positive results, leading to his release last season. At the same time, with the Chargers signing of Benjamin St-Juste having changed the dynamic on the secondary market.
Each of these moves point to the need for teams to stock up on dependable cornerbacks and cover safeties in the draft. Teams are going to want to focus on players who have proven bodies of work. They look for talent that has room to grow to bolster their secondary units.
Jaxson Dart, a quarterback who has turned heads this season and recently been a hot name on draft boards. In Dart’s three years at Ole Miss, he was able to dominate in Lane Kiffin’s offense. He proved his massive upside when he threw 72 primo TD tosses. His play on the field this season has dramatically improved his stock with scouts at all levels.
At 6-2, 194 pounds Dart has great size and physicality at the quarterback position. His combination of skills and physical attributes makes him an attractive prospect for teams seeking a quarterback capable of making an immediate impact.
Mike Vrabel's Potential Moves with the Patriots
Now that Mike Vrabel has joined New England to be their new head coach, questions begin to swirl regarding his draft philosophy. The idea of Vrabel selecting a tackle harkens back to Jim Harbaugh's decision to draft Joe Alt during his first year with the Chargers. Adding Membou in the same vein would be a great tone-setting addition for Vrabel’s first draft with New England.
The Patriots' approach to the draft will be closely monitored as they aim to lay a strong foundation under Vrabel's leadership. Three strategic selections will greatly increase the chances that they’ll be successful going forward.
Baltimore Ravens Maintaining Defensive Strengths
The Baltimore Ravens again played to a powerful defense last year, coming in second in the league for sacks. Keeping this intensity is imperative as they get ready to battle it out amongst the kind of competition that the rugged AFC North division breeds. Putting in a concerted effort to improve their pass rush will be key to keep being the deepest threat to any offense.
By identifying prospects with strong defensive skills and sack production potential, Baltimore aims to sustain its defensive prowess and maintain its competitive edge.
Versatile Options for the Vikings
There’s a different feel with the Minnesota Vikings this season as they head into 2023. Beyond his youth, Barron’s versatility should make him an extremely valuable asset for the team. Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers have both recently signed aboard, and Byron Murphy Jr. returned as well. If these additions are made, Barron should fit in nicely with the team.
In this regard, flexibility is crucial to the Vikings’ defensive success. This allows them to have a more finely-tuned team that can pivot and handle adversity in different ways as the season goes on.
Jeanty and Carter: Defensive Powerhouses
Two defensive powerhouses have emerged as noteworthy prospects: Jeanty and Carter. Jeanty registered a mind-boggling 1,733 yards after contact last year, accounting for over two-thirds of his 2,601 total yards. He’s shown a unique ability to break tackles and gain extra yardage that can make him a special dynamic offensive threat.
Carter’s impact on defense was just as extraordinary. Last year, he pressured opponents on 18.5% of his PRs. This all out approach resulted in 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. His ability to wreak havoc on opposing offenses should make him an attractive choice to teams looking for those defensive playmakers.
Leave a Reply