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Two years ago, the 14-2 Baltimore Ravens posted the best record in the National Football League, largely because quarterback Lamar Jackson exploded into superstardom. In just his second professional season, he not only broke the NFL record for rushing yards in a season by a quarterback with 1,206 but also led the league in touchdown passes with 36 while throwing for 3,127 yards with a 113.3 passer rating.
The 11-5 Ravens made the playoffs again last year, but both Jackson and the team took a step backward throwing the ball, fielding the worst passing offense in the NFL. Remedying that glaring weakness was Baltimore s biggest priority in the offseason, and while the team did a good job of adding some passing-game weapons and addressing personnel losses on the offensive line, there s a flip side to those additions:
The NFC East is up for grabs for the 2021 NFL season. That s nothing unusual. After all, this is a division that hasn t had a repeat winner since the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004.
As if that s not enough, none of the division s storied franchises managed to finish with a winning record last season, leaving lots of room for improvement.
The Washington Football Team is the default defending NFC East champion after finishing 7-9. But the Dallas Cowboys are still the early favorites, for seemingly the 20th consecutive year. Clearly hope annually springs eternal for Cowboy Nation.
It would be foolish to count out anybody in this unpredictable division, especially considering the major offseason moves made by Washington, the New York Giants and Philadelphia. As the odds note, every team is a contender, albeit some more popular with the general public than others.
ASHBURN, Va. Washington Football Team coach Ron Rivera noticed when the Kansas City Chiefs made their big move four years ago. He paid attention to the aggressive trades the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams made this offseason.
Those teams had their rosters ready; they just needed a quarterback they believed could take them further. And when they found that player, they struck: The Chiefs traded from the No. 27 pick to No. 10 to draft Patrick Mahomes in 2017, and the 49ers moved up nine spots this offseason to draft Trey Lance. The Rams outbid Washington for Matthew Stafford, offering the Detroit Lions two future first-round picks, a third-rounder in 2021 and quarterback Jared Goff. Washington had offered Detroit its first-round pick (No. 19 overall) in the 2021 NFL draft and a third-rounder.
Way too early 2022 NFL Mock Draft Roundup: 8 different QBs are mocked to Washington next year!
Who is Washington picking in 2022?
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One last mock draft roundup? Yes one last mock draft roundup, this time looking at the way too early projections for Washington s draft pick in 2022. The mock drafters do not think Washington will be successful next season, with a draft range from #8 - #23. Vegas has also set expectations below average with a starting line of 8 wins for Washington in 2021. Super Bowl odds are currently at 66/1.
This year’s team is in a lot better spot than it was following last year’s draft. Expectations were low from Vegas, and a lot of fans, as Ron Rivera took over a team coming off of a 3-13 season. A lot has changed since then, Washington got a new name and a new division title to hang on the mantle. The team is still looking for a franchise QB after cutting Dwayne Haskins Jr. last year, and parting ways with Alex Smith this
The 49ers decision to take Lance at No. 3 makes a hell of a lot more sense than going with Mac Jones would have. Still, the North Dakota State star brings plenty of risk, as he lacks experience against top-level competition. While he may need time to adapt to the speed of the NFL, he offers huge upside in both the passing and running games. By subsequently picking Banks, Sermon, Moore and Mitchell, San Francisco furthered its clear commitment to the ground-and-pound lifestyle. I like what the Niners did. Much of this grade is tied to the smart aggressive trade up for Lance s unlimited upside in Kyle Shanahan s offense as a big-time passer and runner with high football intelligence. Banks and Moore boost their interior blocking, while John Lynch found excellent safety values for the future in Thomas and Hufanga. Sermon and Mitchell reload Shanahan s always productive zone rushing attack with more big-play elements.