The NFL season has officially ended for 2017. Congratulations to the New England Patriots or Philadelphia Eagles on winning the Super Bowl. Excuse the doubling on the winners, this is getting written on Friday before the game, so all the bases are covered.
But now the offseason begins, and all the chaos that comes with it. So, with a long 213 days until the next season kicks off, here are some predictions on what will happen in the 2018 offseason.
With the No. 1 pick, the Cleveland Browns select…
Josh Allen, quarterback, Wyoming.
With a bunch of quarterbacks floating together on draft stock, Allen fits the bill as a Browns quarterback.
Allen comes out of the Senior Bowl with good marks and gives the organization the opportunity to right the wrongs of two years ago. Allen has drawn many comparisons to Carson Wentz, with similar size and arm strength.
He also comes with a few of the similar question marks associated with Wentz. Coming out of Wyoming, he did not take on the most difficult of opponents in the Mountain West. He also struggled completing passes, with a 56.1 percent mark in his career.
With Allen off the board, the New York Giants take a quarterback, likely in the form of Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold, to learn behind Eli Manning for a year.
Indianapolis follows by taking defensive end Bradley Chubb from North Carolina State.
That leaves Cleveland back on the clock with Saquon Barkley, perhaps the most explosive offensive weapon in the draft on the board. But the Browns trade down, giving up a chance at the Penn State running back because …
Le’Veon Bell leaves Pittsburgh
And to really stick it to the Steelers, he heads to division rival Browns. Somehow, the Steelers can’t come to terms with Bell, and he hits the market. Cleveland, with their $111.6 million in cap space, make him an offer he can’t refuse.
With a steady backfield, Cleveland turns the tables, wins 10 games and makes the playoffs one year after winning nothing.
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback situation
With Case Keenum, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater all coming off the books, the Vikings need to tidy up the situation. Currently, Kyle Sloter is the only quarterback on the roster.
In a perfect world, Keenum signs a two-year contract, Bridgewater a one-year deal, leaving Bradford the odd man out.
There is just not enough information on Keenum and Bridgewater to know if they can consistently provide starter numbers. Keenum has the edge currently, but it is still hard to shake that “journeyman” label. Bridgewater’s knee is a huge question mark as well.
The wrinkle into the equation is Kirk Cousins. The former Washington quarterback is out of a job now that Alex Smith was traded to the Redskins, but there are a number of other places for him to go.
Cousins lands in Denver
John Elway finally finds his replacement to Peyton Manning. Add to that, would anyone pass up a chance to have a receiving duo of Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders? As Von Miller said, “Cousins would put us over the edge.”
While Cousins makes a big improvement to the Broncos, it may not be enough to push them to a Super Bowl victory. The AFC is still stacked, and even if Tom Brady does decide to retire. He isn’t going to though.