Board 8 > Board 8 National Football League League (B8NFLL) Season 15: The Offseason

(+) Yeah! (+)

SockoressKnight posted...

Figured KCF would target Leak rather than Young, but I'm kinda surprised no one else wanted him.

So, uh....will the cap be increased any?

Doubt it this season. KCF hasn't altered the cap once the season has begun. It wouldn't really be fair on the people that have already made moves based on the current cap. He did say on Discord that he would look at it in the future after a couple of us expressed concern (although realistically it's mainly just me whining).

People probably won't have gone after Young because he wanted 20m a year

I went 1/3, that really sucks
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I'm going to open PMs now, but first, I am going off the board to offer two contracts:

2 year defaults to G Steve Thomas and DE Datone Jones
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Round 2 of Free Agency
Bills sign WR Alex Wilson to a 1 year deal
Browns sign DE John Graham to a 3 year deal
Browns sign FS Kurt Coleman to a 2 year deal
Chiefs sign CB Demarcus McGuire to a 1 year deal
Chiefs sign MLB Fred Woodson to a 1 year deal
Cowboys sign QB Jay Cutler to a 3 year deal
Cowboys sign DE Vinny Curry to a 5 year deal
Cowboys sign OLB Bud Dupree to a 4 year deal
Eagles sign TE Akeem Frazier to a 4 year deal
49ers sign DT Demonte Bolden to a 3 year deal
Jags sign HB Eddie Lacy to a 1 year deal
Orcas sign G Steve Thomas to a 2 year deal
Orcas sign DE Datone Jones to a 2 year deal
Raiders sign FS Andrew Edwards to a 2 year deal
Seahawks sign OT Andrew Gardner to a 3 year deal
Seahawks sign DE Jason Jack to a 2 year deal
Seahawks sign OLB Luke Kuechly to a 4 year deal
Steelers sign C Fred Brown to a 4 year deal
Steelers sign DE Charlie Dishman to a 4 year deal
Steelers sign K Wil Lutz to a 3 year deal
Vikings sign DT Lorenzo Norris to a 5 year deal
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QBs
Ryan Perrilloux - 3 / $19.17 mil / $4.17 mil
Sam Bradford - 3 / $19.17 mil / $4.17 mil
Colin Kaepernick - 3 / $17.73 mil / $3.72 mil
A.J. McCarron - 4 / $23.64 mil / $4.96 mil
Michael Turner - 3 / $17.73 mil / $3.72 mil
Matt Ryan - 3 / $17.73 mil / $3.72 mil
Jake Christensen - 3 / $16.32 mil / $3.30 mil
Ryan Lindley - 4 / $21.76 mil / $4.40 mil
Ernie Smith - 5 / $12.10 mil / $1.95 mil
C.J. Trapp - 5 / $12.10 mil / $1.95 mil

HBs
Giovanni Bernard - 4 / $31.32 mil / $6.24 mil
Knowshon Moreno - 4 / $26.92 mil / $5.32 mil
Lynell Hamilton - 3 / $20.19 mil / $3.99 mil
Chris Johnson - 3 / $18.54 mil / $3.63 mil
Chris Ivory - 3 / $18.54 mil / $3.63 mil
Le'Veon Bell - 4 / $24.72 mil / $4.84 mil
Ben Slater - 4 / $22.48 mil / $4.36 mil
Tre Mason - 5 / $13.45 mil / $2.35 mil
Al Johnson - 5 / $9.20 mil / $1.45 mil

FBs
Joe Hanks - 3 / $3.09 mil / $420k
Anthony Lewis - 3 / $3.09 mil / $420k
Craig Moss - 3 / $3.00 mil / $390k
Anthony Montana - 3 / $3.00 mil / $390k
Gabe Reid - 3 / $3.00 mil / $390k
Clyde Johnson - 3 / $3.15 mil / $390k
Toby Hubbard - 3 / $3.15 mil / $390k
Jaret Lewis - 3 / $2.91 mil / $360k
Gary Johnson - 1 / $740k / $50k
Doug Lott - 1 / $580k / 10k

WRs
O.J. Murdock - 3 / $19.23 mil / $3.24 mil
Fred Rouse - 3 / $17.76 mil / $3.00 mil
James Jones - 3 / $17.76 mil / $3.00 mil
Marques Colston - 4 / $23.68 mil / $4.00 mil
Brandin Cooks - 4 / $23.68 mil / $4.00 mil
Andre Caldwell - 3 / $16.26 mil / $2.73 mil
Derrick Williams - 3 / $16.26 mil / $2.73 mil
Keenan Allen - 4 / $21.68 mil / $3.64 mil
Ian Shelton - 5 / $11.40 mil / $1.65 mil

TEs
Jace Amaro - 3 / $9.66 mil / $1.62 mil
Austin Sef Jenkins - 3 / $9.00 mil / $1.44 mil
Kyle Rudolph - 4 / $11.08 mil / $1.68 mil
Larry Donnell - 4 / $10.44 mil / $1.56 mil
Jermaine Gresham - 4 / $9.80 mil / $1.48 mil
Crockett Gilmore - 4 / $8.48 mil / $1.24 mil
Jeff Heuerman - 4 / $8.48 mil / $1.24 mil
Clive Walford - 4 / $8.48 mil / $1.24 mil
Antonio Jensen - 4 / $4.84 mil / $600k
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OTs
Tony Ugoh - 3 / $45.78 mil / $13.2 mil
Reggie Youngblood - 3 / $37.80 mil / $10.7 mil
Kelvin Beachum - 4 / $42.96 mil / $12.0 mil
Eric Winston - 3 / $30.36 mil / $8.46 mil
Joe Thomas - 3 / $26.61 mil / $7.29 mil
Eddie Earwood - 3 / $23.01 mil / $6.12 mil
Levi Brown - 3 / $21.24 mil / $5.55 mil
Russ Burke - 3 / $19.44 mil / $4.95 mil
Michael Walker - 4 / $6.12 mil / $720k
Trent Johnson - 3 / $4.59 mil / $540k

Gs
Sebastian Vollmer - 3 / $25.86 mil / $5.43 mil
Robert Turner - 3 / $24.75 mil / $5.04 mil
Phil Loadholt - 3 / $24.75 mil / $5.04 mil
Clint Boling - 3 / $24.75 mil / $5.04 mil
David Stewart - 3 / $23.04 mil / $4.68 mil
Justin Geisinger - 3 / $21.33 mil / $4.32 mil
Jonathan Martin - 3 / $17.91 mil / $3.60 mil
Max Garcia - 3 / $17.91 mil / $3.60 mil
Marvin Glover - 4 / $4.28 mil / $560k
Gary Perz - 4 / $4.24 mil / $520k

Cs
Leroy Harris - 3 / $14.85 mil / $3.66 mil
Chris Myers - 3 / $12.48 mil / $2.82 mil
Matt Paradis - 2 / $7.94 mil / $1.76 mil
David Andrews - 2 / $7.18 mil / $1.54 mi
Mark Fenton - 3 / $9.63 mil / $1.98 mil
Chase Johnson - 3 / $9.63 mil / $1.98 mil
Mike Adams - 3 / $9.06 mil / $1.80 mil
Nick Martin - 3 / $8.49 mil / $1.65 mil
Anthony Stone - 3 / $3.09 mil / $330k
Bubba Carter - 4 / $4.00 mil / $400k

DEs
Brandon Siler - 3 / $22.02 mil / $4.98 mil
Nick Campbell - 3 / $18.96 mil / $4.11 mil
Vince Hall - 3 / $18.96 mil / $4.11 mil
Kyle Johnson - 3 / $15.93 mil / $3.24 mil
James Morris - 3 / $8.25 mil / $1.02 mil
Ted Beardless - 3 / $8.25 mil / $1.02 mil
Wally Springs - 4 / $6.72 mil / $880k

DTs
Matt Kroul - 3 / $17.07 mil / $3.27 mil
Beau Allen - 4 / $20.76 mil / $4.04 mil
Albert Newell - 3 / $14.07 mil / $2.76 mil
Dominic Lee - 3 / $12.57 mil / $2.52 mil
Randy Starks - 3 / $12.57 mil / $2.52 mil
Karl Klugg - 5 / $18.50 mil / $3.60 mil
Frank Okam - 3 / $11.10 mil / $2.16 mil
Nate Kennedy - 4 / $6.72 mil / $880k
Larry Grant - 4 / $6.44 mil / $800k
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OLBs
Justin Houston - 3 / $14.34 mil / $2.76 mil
Dannell Ellerbe - 3 / $12.90 mil / $2.43 mil
Anthony Chickillo - 3 / $10.08 mil / $1.83 mil
Manuel Carter - 4 / $8.88 mil / $1.44 mil
Kyle Van Noy - 4 / $8.52 mil / $1.36 mil
Jim Jones - 4 / $8.52 mil / $1.36 mil
Daniel Bush - 4 / $8.52 mil / $1.36 mil
Corey Westbrook - 4 / $6.08 mil / $760k
Daunte Baker - 4 / $6.08 mil / $760k

MLBs
Austin Zeppuhar - 3 / $19.89 mil / $3.96 mil
Reggie Outlaw - 3 / $16.80 mil / $2.94 mil
Rey Maualuga - 3 / $15.24 mil / $2.43 mil
Chad Carpenter - 3 / $13.65 mil / $1.89 mil
Taylor Smith - 3 / $13.65 mil / $1.89 mil
Mychal Kendricks - 3 / $12.09 mil / $1.38 mil
Ken Reid - 3 / $12.09 mil / $1.38 mil
Joey Kaufman - 3 / $10.53 mil / $870k
Clarence Howard - 2 / $4.16 mil / $500k
Courtney Samuels - 2 / $3.36 mil . $400k

CBs
Alterraun Verner - 5 / $13.10 mil / $1.45 mil
Jamar Taylor - 5 / $13.10 mil / $1.45 mil
Ladarius Webb - 2 / $5.24 mil / $580k
Allen Gamble - 3 / $7.86 mil / $870k
Captain Munnerlyn - 2 / $5.24 mil / $580k
Martin Brown - 2 / $5.24 mil / $580k
Darrell Cruz - 2 / $5.24 mil / $580k
Jon Mike Reed - 5 / $8.20 mil / $1.05 mil
Ken Bell - 4 / $5.96 mil / $720k

FSs
Mike Mitchell - 3 / $9.30 mil / $1.65 mil
Rob Jackson - 3 / $9.30 mil / $1.65 mil
Dorian Monroe - 3 / $8.88 mil / $1.53 mil
Kent Hicks - 3 / $8.88 mil / $1.53 mil
Jarius Byrd - 3 / $8.88 mil / $1.53 mil
Barry Church - 3 / $8.88 mil / $1.53 mil
J.J. Wilcox - 3 / $8.88 mil / $1.53 mil
Pete Rogers - 2 / $2.12 mil / $280k

SSs
Drew Kelson - 3 / $12.33 mil / $1.23 mil
Jeremy Brewer - 2 / $6.66 mil / $760k
Baccari Rambo - 3 / $8.79 mil / $1.08 mil
George Iloka - 3 / $8.79 mil / $1.08 mil
Adrian Amos - 3 / $8.79 mil / $1.08 mil
David Suggs - 3 / $8.25 mil / $1.08 mil
Mark Barron - 3 / $7.65 mil / $1.05 mil
Morgan Burnett - 3 / $7.05 mil / $1.02 mil
Lennox Floyd - 2 / $3.24 mil / $440k
Anthony Green - 2 / $2.60 mil / $300k

Ks
Cedric Grier - 3 / $4.90 mil / $690k
Ryan Succop - 3 / $4.56 mil / $630k
Jason Myers - 3 / $4.77 mil / $660k
Jason Robbins - 3 / $4.32 mil / $540k
Chris Boswell - 3 / $3.54 mil / $510k
Greg Zuerlein - 3 / $3.75 mil / $480k
Kevin Kelly - 3 / $3.75 mil / $480k
Stephen Lopez - 3 / $2.22 mil / $210k
Omar Terrell - 1 / $570k / $20k

Ps
Jacob Richardson - 3 / $4.38 mil / $600k
Bradley Pinion - 3 / $2.79 mil / $540k
Ryan Quigley - 3 / $3.24 mil / $480k
Tim Reyer - 3 / $4.26 mil / $480k
Justin Vogel - 2 / $2.04 mil / $320k
Ty Long - 2 / $2.46 mil / $520k
Matt Bosher - 3 / $3.72 mil / $450k
Ivan Dockett - 3 / $3.21 mil / $450k
Neil Wells - 3 / $2.40 mil / $270k
Heath Irvin - 1 / $570k / $20k

The deadline to send me offers for the final period of free agency will be 5 PM ET on Thursday, June 17th
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Trade

Bengals receive:
K Dan Carpenter (88 overall, 30 years old)
Steelers S16 3rd round pick

Steelers receive:
WR Kenny Stills (80, 24)
Bengals S16 7th round pick

Bengals incur a $1.03 mil cap penalty to turn a $4.76 mil cap hit into a $1.76 mil cap hit

Steelers incur a $200k cap penalty to turn a $1.96 mil cap hit into a $3.73 mil cap hit

The Bengals get a future Day 2 pick by trading a reserve from a position of excess and also save several million in cap space. The previous version of this trade was not a valid one, so Carpenter was included to make it valid, and he will be cut when he is eligible to be cut.

The Steelers wanted to grab a WR as they plan to make cuts at the position.

Both parties demonstrated that they understood the what each team was giving up and receiving, the financial impact, the past histories of players, and what each team hoped to achieve.

This trade is now official.
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I'm done signing players, so I am just going to open PMs and input offers (without simming of course) to cut down on time.
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Will listen to trade offers

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TheSultanOfSlam posted...

Will listen to trade offers

Anything in particular you're after/looking to trade?
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Emeraldegg posted...

Anything in particular you're after/looking to trade?

Anything really could upgrade at wr or edge

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Final round of free agency

Bengals sign FB Gabe Reid to a 3 year deal
Bills sign C Leroy Harris to a 3 year deal
Buccaneers sign QB Bobby Reid to a 3 year deal
Buccaneers sign QB Ryan Nassib to a 5 year deal
Buccaneers sign C Chris Myers to a 3 year deal
Buccaneers sign G Roland Martin to a 3 year deal
Buccaneers sign FS Dorian Monroe to a 3 year deal
Buccaneers sign SS Byron Cook to a 3 year deal
Colts sign DE Pete Carty to a 4 year deal
Colts sign DT Kurt Manley to a 4 year deal
Colts sign CB Jon Mike Reed to a 5 year deal
Express sign DE Steve Octavien to a 2 year deal
Falcons sign QB L.J. Nixon to a 5 year deal
Falcons sign G Dallas Reynolds to a 3 year deal
49ers sign QB Ernie Smith to a 5 year deal
49ers sign HB Al Johnson to a 5 year deal
Packers sign HB Lynell Hamilton to a 3 year deal
Panthers sign QB Jake Christensen to a 2 year deal
Panthers sign WR Ian Shelton to a 2 year deal
Panthers sign MLB Reggie Outlaw to a 2 year deal
Rams sign DE Melvin Alaeze to a 2 year deal
Washington signs FB Anthony Montana to a 3 year deal
Washington signs DE Chase McKnight to a 3 year deal
Seahawks sign G Paul Soliai to a 2 year deal
Steelers sign OLB Daunte Baker to a 4 year deal
Vikings sign G Leroy Cox to a 4 year deal
Vikings sign DE D.J. Norris to a 2 year deal
Wildcats sign QB C.J. Trapp to a 5 year deal
Wildcats sign DE Wally Springs to a 4 year deal
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Cap spaces are updated even if contracts are not yet added and many still need to be added to the roster sheet. I am currently planning to sim the preseason on Friday the 25th, so to those that this applies to, make sure to get under the cap by then.
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If anyone needs a cheap WR to get under cap then let me know. I'll be cutting a back end roster WR to get under cap and it will be cheaper than the cheapest available FA WR. It will likely be WR Green who would earn 1.99m after I eat the dead money

I don't need anything in return, just trying to help people get under cap if necessary. Just send me whatever you were going to cut and I'll cut them for you.

The following are preseason Madden tiers based on the team rating. The tiers are ordered from best-to-worst and the teams within each are alphabetically ordered.

Will the Rams Finally Conquer Their Demons?
Dolphins
Pioneers
Rams

All the Orcas Needed Was a Human Touch and Moving to a New Country
Express
Orcas
Ravens
Vikings

Cowboys = Seahawks, Just As Everyone Expected
Broncos
Cowboys
Seahawks

Obligatory Half of the User Teams
Browns
Colts
Eagles
Giants
Jaguars
Jets
Packers
Raiders
Steelers
Titans
Washington

Not the Worst At Least?
Bills
Chiefs
Wildcats

NFC South and Friends
Bears
Bengals
Buccaneers
Falcons
49ers
Lions
Panthers
Patriots
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Coaching Strategies

Each user has an opportunity to alter some portions of how their team operates on the field. Here are the following categories you can change and what they mean.

Base Defense
You have a choice of 4-3 or 3-4. Under a 4-3, you start 2 DTs and 1 MLB. Under a 3-4, you start 2 MLBs and 1 DT.

Run-Pass Offense
The ratio of plays that will be run or pass plays on offense. This is on a sliding 100 point scale.

Conservative-Aggressive Offense
The ratio of plays that will be risk-averse or risky on offense. This is on a sliding 100 point scale.

Running Back Splits
How carries will be split among the top two RBs on your depth chart. This is on a sliding 100 point scale. That being said, I feel like coaches ignore whatever you put under this category and do whatever they please. That or RB2 actually refers to all HBs/FBs/QBs/WRs/TEs who may run with the ball and are not RB1.

Run-Pass Defense
The ratio of plays that will be geared more toward run-stopping or pass-rushing plays on defense. This is on a sliding 100 point scale.

Conservative-Aggressive Defense
The ratio of plays that will be risk-averse or risky on defense. This is on a sliding 100 point scale.
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To Do:
- Update Spreadsheet for remaining free agency signings
- Sim preseason
- Post-preseason divisional/conference predictions
- RotY race predictions
- Make new topic
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bump

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scrotum

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The preseason has been simmed. Injuries are up on the sheet. I did have to make two signings during the preseason.

The league leader sheet has been wiped. I am putting up the schedules on the sheet as we speak.

To Do:
- Update Depth Chart sheet
- Post divisional/conference/rookie predictions
- Post Week 1 stuff and eventually decide a starting date in July
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Of course my fullback got injured. Season over. Pack it in

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Seifer

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"Huh weird where'd all that extra cap come from?"

*Remembers how IR works*


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Backup RB for the season and newly drafted backup QB for a few weeks. Could be worse

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The Depth Chart sheet should now be updated for preseason events. Please, please, please look over it 10 or however many times it takes for you to fully comprehend what you are seeing. Without fail, at least one person is unaware of their depth chart and makes a comment at some point asking why so-and-so player is starting or why another player isn't. The depth charts are updated every season after the postseason as the game automatically re-orders it based on preseason performance and position battles. I have nothing to do it with it, so don't ask me why. Just ask me to update it if it bothers you.
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To Do:
- Post divisional/conference/rookie predictions
- Post Week 1 stuff and eventually decide a starting date in July
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AFC West Prediction

1. Portland Express
2. Denver Broncos
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Oakland Raiders

The Express won the division last season, and they are in prime position to do so again. QB Jacoby Brissett is coming off of a RotY season in which he was also a finalist for QB of the Year. He has adequate targets to throw to, but none are game-changers, which might explain why his YPA was below league-average. As long as he can provide the team with something similar from last season, the combination of a great OL and one of the league's best HBs in DeMarco Murray is enough to expect a floor of an above-average offense. The identity of the team though is this burgeoning defense that is on the youthful side. The secondary has made the biggest strides over the years, which is a good thing for the franchise as all four starters are 28 and under. The LB corps is perennially underrated, and what has been the weakest leak of late, the DL, showed promise last season with the breakout years for both DE Michael Johnson, the league's wire-to-wire sack leader, and DT Marcell Dareus. Rookie DE Vic Beasley takes over former starter Bobby Garlitz's spot in what should be a good situation for him. They do have a rough start to the season facing the three most recent SB winners (Pioneers, Vikings, and Dolphins) within the first five weeks, but those are all home games, and the schedule after the bye looks great. They also emerged from the preseason with no injuries, so they could be at or near full strength in those initial games.

The Broncos have just two losing seasons in their history, both 7-9 campaigns, with the most recent one being S7. I would be stunned if they have a losing record this season, but there are areas of concern. For starters, they have a new HB/QB combo. Longtime stud HB LaMarcus Coker is now replaced by recent Top 10 pick Kenyan Drake. Coker was one of the most consistent HBs in the league, efficiency-wise, and own's the second-best career YPC among active HBs. It would be unrealistic to expect Drake to be like Coker, especially in his first full season as a starter. The team hasn't had a high-powered passing attack in forever, maybe never at all, so the addition of Andrew Luck is a wild card and possibly the key to lifting the offense up. He's improved at each stop in his career, and he hasn't played behind a Top 5 OL (even if it has slipped a little) like the Broncos, so maybe he will have a career renaissance a la Kirby Freeman and the 49ers. The defense, even with losing a few studs to retirement and a suspect secondary that will be without CB Kevin Johnson for most of the season, should still be one of the most dependable units in the game. Luckily for them, the schedule is one of the easiest in the league. They get six home games to start the season against clearly inferior opponents. I think 4-2 is the floor here. There are a few challenging games beyond that, but even though this team is working on its offensive identity, they are in great position to post their 13th winning record and hopefully a consecutive playoff appearance.

I really don't know what to make of the other two teams, but because I feel a little bad about always picking the Chiefs last, let's put them third here. Losing G Grayling Love is a huge blow to the run game that made considerable improvement in his two seasons with the team, leaving the team with an underwhelming interior OL, with injuries to boot! That gives me concern as to what to expect out of HB LeGarrette Blount, who was arguably the league's best HB in the first half of last season. The passing game, even without stud WR Anthony Gonzalez for a quarter of the season, should be acceptable with an above-average QB Jimmy Garappolo and decent secondary weapons. The key player in Gonzalez's absence might be recent Top-10 pick WR DeVantae Parker. He was a massive disappointment his rookie season dealing with injuries and ineffectiveness, but he must have had an amazing preseason to win the #1 job. I'm slightly bullish on the defense this season, and it's less to do with the players themselves but their schedule features very few offensive heavy hitters that they could possibly take advantage of that amidst a talent deficiency. It's going to take a lot for this team to reach its ceiling for the season, especially since they eschewed acquiring talent this season to set them up to do so next season, but there is reason to hope for a competitive season.

The Raiders have a higher floor than the Chiefs, and like the rest of the division, they have to like their schedule as a whole, but two of the most critical areas of a team are the OL and DL, and I find the Raiders worrisome in those departments. I have brought this up seemingly often, but the Raiders OL has fallen into disrepair after once fielding three Hall of Fame candidates simultaneously not too long ago. The Raiders have had three 1st round picks the past two seasons and elected not to add a blue chip prospect along the OL, and they haven't grabbed a quality vet elsewhere. In fact, they have let multiple leave instead. This has had a profoundly negative effect on the passing game. HB R.J. Jackson hasn't really skipped a beat, but he's missed some games in recent years and the Raiders have terrible depth at the position. The possibility of a Bottom 10 or even 5 offense is very real here. On defense, the secondary and LBs are great, so they should have a decent floor, but the DL is an issue. They had a great run of DTs with players like Anthony McFarland and Babatunde Oshinowo, but the big free agent signing of Sione Fua has looked to be a poor fit after one season. Maybe he can turn it around, but I don't have much faith there. DE Dee Ford did emerge as a great run defender and below-average pass rusher last season, but I wouldn't want that kind of player to be my best DL. The other DE is rookie Danielle Hunter, but DEs tend to take a few years to get going, so I'm not expecting much out him this season. Having traded their top picks to the Bills, the Raiders have every reason to go for it this season, but they are lacking in the areas that they need to be strong in, so I have a hard time picturing them in the playoffs this season, especially with how much more improved teams that finished around them in the conference are.
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AFC East

1. Miami Dolphins
2. Buffalo Bills
3. New England Patriots
4. New York Jets

The Dolphins are one of the most talented teams in the league, and always make do on their talent, including having an absurd defensive season last year that had them allowing fewer than 100 passing yards a game. Their defense does have a little makeover with DT Kawann Short departing out west and 1st rounder Tyeler Davison taking over a starting spot as well as #4 LB Jatavis Brown heading to the reigning champs and being replaced by former 1st rounder Markus Golden. The secondary remains untouched, among starters anyway, and there are superstars all over the defense to where they shouldn't see a major dropoff from losing a few starters. The trio of QB Sam Keller, HB Jacquizz Rodgers, and WR A.J. Green is the best in the league, and their starting OL is healthy, for now, so they should be up there as one the league's best on that side of the ball once it is all said and done. They should be able to weather a tough schedule as a result en route to a fifth straight division title and a potential first round bye.

I don't feel confident about the order outside of the Dolphins, and I feel like I say that every year. The Bills finished second last season and while they didn't do anything to improve their team this season, let's go ahead and keep them at second for no real reason. I'm worried about them re-adopting their stars and scrubs approach to team-building that fucked them over for several seasons as they actually lacked stars, but their star power is slightly better than it was then. They have HB Todd Gurley, a trio of front seven studs in DT Babatunde Oshinowo, OLB Connor Barwin, and MLB Paul Worrilow, plus a few others that seem to be on the cusp of something. The schedule is rough, brutal even in the first half. I have to imagine that they will have a losing record when they reach the bye. The schedule is better in the second half but still has a dearth of likely winnable games. The best thing that they have going for them is that they left the preseason unscathed.

The Patriots might have had the worst passing game we've ever had last season, so by resetting at the position, they have an 80 rookie QB slated to open up as the starter to go along with their severely underwhelming group of pass catchers. To say I have little confidence in them turning things around there is putting it mildly. For the most part though, the rest of the team should be solid. They have a lethal combination of HB Dexter McCluster and one of the league's best OLs. Even with Hall of Fame DE Mathias Kiwanuka retired, they replaced him with Paul Freeney who is an average-to-above average player against the run and pass, so he should be able to supplement a great DL. While not an elite pass rushing unit, the LBs are great against the run and are still quite disruptive. The CBs have been improving after spending some Day 1 draft picks there, but with both of their starting safeties retired, I do have concerns about defending the pass when they have to deal with the Dolphins and NFC East for six games. If the defense holds tough, the running game/OL play like their usual selves, and the passing game approaches even below-average levels, they should definitely be in the thick of things in the playoff race.

Look, the Jets are cursed post-Fenny. We all know that by now. They are the second-best team in the division, and they consistently perform like one with posting offenses and defenses that rank in the top half of the league along with excellent turnover differentials and great special teams. Honestly, they weren't as fucked with preseason injuries as they normally are, so maybe that is a sign that the curse is being lifted, but I am bracing for disappointment as the injuries and otherwise terrible luck roll in. I hope not as we have a rookie GM heading their team, but history says that the Madden gods hate the Jets over the past several seasons.
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KCF0107 posted...

The Patriots might have had the worst passing game we've ever had last season, so by resetting at the position, they have an 80 rookie QB slated to open up as the starter to go along with their severely underwhelming group of pass catchers.

Challenge accepted!

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Mexico City Browns
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Ravens have an elite defense, a Top 5 OL, and one of the best HBs in league in Doug Martin. That is a winning combo as they are coming off of four straight 10-6, AFC North-winning seasons. Former QB Ben Roethlisberger wasn't the ideal fit for this team, and last season's Trevor Siemian was just okay. Now they have Kirby Freeman who resurrected his career with the 49ers. It isn't the highest bar to clear, but he could become the franchise's best QB. While WR Calvin Johnson just retired, they did sign Michael Crabtree who keeps getting better and better to be their #1. Even though they have their 1st round pick DT Adam Gotsis ready to step up, losing future Hall of Famer Claude Wroten for more than half the season really hurts, and their schedule is pretty tough during his absence, but I have a hard time seeing the Ravens outside of the playoff picture.

The Browns went hard after defensive improvements over the offseason, and that front seven looks quite formidable as a result, even if they lost OLB Aaron Curry in the process. There are three new starters in the secondary, but at least stud SS Jessie Daniels is sticking around for this season. The questions for this team are concentrated on the offense. They have stars at HB and WR, but the OL hasn't been anything special, and QB Dak Prescott has only marginally improved during his time in the league. One of the better receiving TEs in the game in Mercedes Lewis retired, and he has been replaced by a blocking TE in Cameron Brate. Without an ideal support system surrounding him, it will be hard to count on Prescott, putting the onus on HB Mark Ingram to have an impact like similar HBs in Doug Martin and Dexter McCluster. If he rises to the occasion, the Browns have a chance of ending the Ravens' run of division crowns.

I'm kind of optimistic about the Bengals this season. The Bengals improved by four wins last season and could very well improve this season to a winning record. One of the most improved units ranking-wise from S13 to S14 was the Bengals defense, and there's reason to expect them to play at a similar or even better level this season based on individual production last season and new additions over the offseason. I am concerned about DE though, which lowers their ceiling. On offense, Whiskey Nick would be happy to know that Colt McCoy has won the starting QB job. Jake Locker was an acceptable starter, but his turnover rates made him a league-average QB efficiency-wise. Former #1 overall pick Derrick Henry got his rookie season out of the way, so now there can be (tempered) expectations of increased efficiency and effectiveness in his second season. WR Mike Williams retired, but they do have Derek Hagan who wasn't special in Carolina but looked excellent in his half-season with the Bengals last year. The OL has depth but they all seem to be replaceable players. If the defense makes further strides and the new trio of McCoy/Henry/Hagan work well together, then I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bengals in the playoffs as their schedule has them playing most of their challenging games at home.

While the Ravens are perennially good and the Browns and Bengals are improving, the Steelers are going in the opposite direction. That offense looks especially rough. They might be this season's Patriots in the passing game with a dying Reggie McNeal and nobodies at WR. The offense will likely hinge on them getting the most out of new HB Christian McCaffrey, who at times looked promising in Toronto but ended his tenure there on a sour note. They have done a good job at getting the most out of HBs, so there's precedence there. The defense, while typically dependable, is no longer the elite unit it once was seasons ago as many teams have passed them up in terms of talent and production since then. I wouldn't be surprised if they finish last in the division on defense. Without any sort of edge, it's hard to see them getting the wins needed to make the playoffs, and I wouldn't be totally surprised to find them picking in the Top 10.
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AFC South

1. Columbus Pioneers
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Jacksonville Jaguars

The reigning champs have undergone a major defensive turnaround the past two seasons, and given the ascendance of players like MLB Kyle Kato, OLB Kyler Fackrell, and SS Vonn Bell, it appears that this elite unit will stay that way for the foreseeable future, even after losing three starters to retirement/free agency. The offense took a little hit last season after losing several OL to free agency/trades and Hall of Fame WR Mark Clayton to retirement, but they were still very good on that side of the ball. They have added two new starting OL over the offseason, so there's reason to believe they could bounce back to the elite levels of S13. While they play a first place schedule, including the lower half of the AFC West and the NFC South more than mitigates the troubles, so they should overall not negatively affected by it. They arguably improved more than any other team in the division, and when you are coming off of the seasons they have experienced in S13 and S14, they have to be among the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

The Titans defy logic. They have managed to go 17-19 the past two seasons despite having one of the league's worst teams on paper who did in fact perform woefully inept in critical areas of the game. Now they have added reinforcements on offense, including future Hall of Famer QB Vince Young. Their skill positions are still dreadful outside of Young and WR Mike Evans, and it isn't as if Young's running attempts will take a lot away from HB Melvin Gordon or that Young will throw exclusively to Evans. Losing their best defensive player for a third of the season is brutal though. Like the rest of the division, they get the Chiefs, Raiders, and NFC South. As long as they get something out of the non-Young/Evans/OL on offense and MLB Brian Cushing's absence doesn't result in the defense falling apart, they could be a fringe wild card team.

As we saw with the Pats and Colts last season, having an elite defense won't guarantee you a winning season if your offensive playbook is three-and-outs and turnovers. The Colts are effectively bringing the 32nd ranked band back together, so you have to understand that I am expecting more of the same this season. The defense sees a pair of new starters on defense (promotions from previous role), but unless the defense becomes the absolute best in the league while allowing fewer than two TDs a game, I can't see them stringing enough wins to find themselves in the playoffs.

The Jags are probably the second-best team in the division given their balance, but I don't think this is the season they pick themselves up. They lost three starters for half the season, including their best OL. The offense needed a major makeover, and they were in a good spot to do so with many of their problematic players on that side of the ball with expired contracts, but for reasons unknown to me, they re-signed most of them. It was then critical that their best offensive players stay healthy and play at their usual level, only for that to immediately fall apart in the preseason with C Kyle Young's injury. I am intrigued by the addition of HB Eddie Lacy (even if it does cause future issues, but that's something the GM will have to deal with next offseason). With the injury to RT Ty Sambrailo, a rising player in his own right, rookie OT Kolton Miller will get the opportunity to clear the low bar of doing better than former RT Reggie Youngblood. If the Jags are to remain competitive and attempt to get a wild card spot, it will have to be on the backs of the defense. There are holes throughout, but it is home to several star and ascending players that a return to their glory days could be not too far behind. With a fourth place schedule and the NFC South, it is certainly possible that the defense could considerably improve. I just don't envision it will be good enough in the end.
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AFC Seeding

Playoff Teams
1. Columbus Pioneers
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Portland Express
5. Denver Broncos
6. Mexico City Browns

Playoff Contenders
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Tennessee Titans
9. Buffalo Bills
10. New England Patriots
11. Indianapolis Colts
12. Pittsburgh Steelers
13. New York Jets
14. Jacksonville Jaguars

Better Luck Next Season
15. Kansas City Chiefs
16. Oakland Raiders

Dark Horse: Cincinnati Bengals
Dark, Dark Horse: New York Jets
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Riding in on a Dark Dark Horse

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Without an ideal support system surrounding him, it will be hard to count on Prescott, putting the onus on HB Mark Ingram to have an impact like similar HBs in Doug Martin and Dexter McCluster. If he rises to the occasion, the Browns have a chance of ending the Ravens' run of division crowns.

Given hes been a RB of the year finalist the last two years, I have hope!

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Jimmy G will take us to the promised land

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Damn no faith in my team at all lol

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KCF0107 posted...

The Raiders have had three 1st round picks the past two seasons and elected not to add a blue chip prospect along the OL

Hoping to see the 3 2nd round offensive linemen we picked up fill in.

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NFC West

1. St. Louis Rams
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. Toronto Wildcats
4. San Francisco 49ers

The Rams are one of the winningest teams in our history and have made the playoffs the second-most times. However, they haven't made the SB as they are 0-5 in the conference championship round. They are one of the oldest teams in the league, but their window should still remain open for the foreseeable future. They pair an elite defense with a very good offense. The defense could get even better depending on how well new DT Red Bryant fits in, but it's the offense that has a chance to turn a corner. Former HB Eddie Lacy was a nice starter, but after a few seasons in St. Louis, it was clear that he offered above-average running and receiving. While new HB Romance Taylor is probably down to his final season, he has demonstrated he can be elite in both areas. To help out Taylor, they brought in G Taitusi Lutui who is one of the premier run-blocking OL in the league. QB Ryan Tannehill has long been one of the better QBs in the league, and they have been able to wring out the most out of whoever comprises the receiving corps, so if they can be consistently formidable on both offensive fronts, the Rams might be the Super Bowl favorites not just in the NFC but the entire league. I don't even need to look at the schedule because they should be the favorites in just about every one.

The Seahawks were long one of the most underachieving franchises in the league before a three or four-season stretch where everything finally started to click. Then they fell back on hard times these past two seasons, including an injury-riddled S14 that saw them pick 2nd in the draft. They made one of the more impressively furious offseasons that left them with 10 starters new to the team and another that will start at their natural position. As much as I love what they did, I do have a hard time seeing them dethrone the Rams, but they are definitely in the wild card hunt, and having a last place schedule helps them.

I have thought that the Wildcats defense was going to break out for several seasons now, but they tend to hover around league-average. Losing SS Jabrill Peppers hurts them, but they have been led by their front seven for many seasons now, so I wouldn't be too upset over that. I feel like they will need to break out though to make the playoffs because I am not a big believer in the offense. WR Gonzie Massey is of course a star, but QB Aaron Murray has lost a chunk of time every season, and that QB depth is non-existent. The running game hasn't been the same since interior lineman Mike Wahle and Trevor Hutton retired. The talent and depth along the OL leaves a lot to be desired. It's one of the weaker ones in the league for sure. That makes the selection of HB Dalvin Cook in the first round very risky. The schedule isn't too bad with a third place schedule and facing the NFC South, but the margin for error is probably the thinnest for them out of any NFC West team.

I am optimistic about the defense. With a stalwart LB corps and a DL full of 1st rounders beginning to bloom, they can help make up for a mediocre secondary. I really don't know what to expect from the offense though. They have one of the league's best OL, but haven't had the skill players to take advantage of it. There are a lot of changes this season though. The team was backed into a situation to where they had to choose between Mitchell Trubiskey and Kirby Freeman and went with the former, who was a former Top 10 pick for them. Former HB Giovanni Bernard had a promising rookie season and followed that up with three seasons full of injuries, inefficiencies, and ineffectiveness. Instead of grabbing someone like Knowshon Moreno who has 1300+ rushing seasons on 4.4+ YPC with multiple franchises, they decided to promote Thomas Rawls who has a career YPC of something like 3.7, which includes many starts. They changed 3/4 of their WR group, but I'm still underwhelmed by them. They still have TE Martellus Bennett has shown nothing in his 10+ seasons in the league. They are going to face a lot of defenses that are great or have been on the upswing in recent seasons. I just don't think this offense can score enough points for them, and I think their defense might be another season away before it can really make some noise.
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NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. New York Giants
4. Washington

The Cowboys have been the league's best team since S7, but that could change now. The defense should remain elite thanks to its front seven, even with two new starters there, but the offense is quite different now. Future Hall of Famer and three-time MVP QB Vince Young is gone, and taking over for him is Cam Newton. Newton has done well, at least initially, in his previous two stops, and as a late-season injury signing last season, he excelled with the Cowboys. Whether he can perform well over a full season for them remains to be seen though. Hall of Fame HB Darius Walker while not a spectacular runner was an excellent fit with Vince Young. Now they deploy free agent signing Justin Vincent to take over. He is similar to Walker in that he's an average runner and good receiver. I am sort of rooting for him as he can become the first HB to rush for over 1000 yards with four franchises. WR Adam Thielen takes over for the retired Steve Smith, and there are two new starters along the OL. The Cowboys have a tough schedule, so if losing so many high-quality players proves to be too much, the schedule will expose them, but I will have to see it to believe it.

Losing QB Chris Leak is going to hurt. There's no question about that. With all due respect to Taysom Hill, who had a nice rookie season in limited time, Leak and WR Ted Ginn was the most prolific QB/WR duo in our league's history. Leak and Ginn made the offense special, and now, I don't know what to fully expect other than it will be worse than what we're used to seeing. It's good then that I am expecting better things from the defense. Sure, the DL outside of Morris Chambers is nothing to be scared about, but the LBs and secondary have been on the rise for awhile. The schedule is front-loaded, but if they can be above .500 or even a game below it, they are in a great position to have a torrid second half. Of the seven teams they will face, only one had a winning record last season, and nearly all of them have suspect offenses. As long as they don't lose too much beyond LT Sam Baker, I think they can remain in the thick of the playoff hunt and have upset potential for the division if the offense turns out way better than I expect them to.

Last season was one that the Giants hope to forget. I did say that I liked their draft, but it takes years for them to come into their own, so with five rookies currently slated to start (I have a PM from them that I haven't opened yet that might change things) and a couple others expected to get decent playing time, that's probably not a good sign for their prospects this season. The schedule does them no favors too even with finishing last in the division last year. Still, they left the preseason injury-free, and the defense has been pretty good the past several seasons. They should remain competitive at the bare minimum.

I'm kind of worried about Washington. They are losing more quality players than they are bringing in or developing, especially on defense, and it's bound to haunt them eventually. With the injuries they are already facing, and a tough schedule, things could get ugly this season, which is a shame because they have one of the best collection of offensive skill positions in the league. They have gone 21-11 the past two seasons, making the playoff in both, so it's possible I am totally wrong about them, but they did enter the playoffs with the league's lowest-ranking defense among playoff teams in both seasons. I can't see it happening a third season in a row.
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NFC North

1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions

The Vikings had a weird season. They were statistically one of the league's best but had to fight tooth and nail to make the playoffs, only to get the Rams in the Wild Card round when the Rams were screwed in getting a bye. Their weirdly-concentrated injuries were probably a big factor. They already have a rough injury in losing one of the best OTs in the league, Greg Robinson, for the entire year. They might be down two other offensive starters in the opening game at the Express. Not that one game should be the difference maker, but you sure don't want to begin the season in a bad situation. Still, I have a lot of faith in this team has a balanced one that has finished in the Top 10 on both offense and defense more than any other team.

The Packers are arguably the most offensively predictable team in the league, but they still have their way with their opponents more often than not. Their defense is also consistently good or even great. They left the preseason with only one injury to a reserve OL, and they are slated to have a new starting HB for the fourth consecutive season. Other than that 4-12 season in S13, the Packers have generally displayed a good floor in recent years. The Packers are weird to me man. I really don't know what to say about them. I feel like the Packers were able to take advantage of a weak conference and bizarre Vikings season en route to a first round bye but no playoff wins last season. I'm not sure how many teams actually improved in the NFC, but a most of them tried, so it's possible that they end up on the outside looking in come playoffs time.

While the Bears were very active this early this offseason, highlighted by the trade for QB Teddy Bridgwater, I'm sure they were disappointed to a degree in regards to the draft and moves they had to make post-draft. Now they lost WR Willie Snead for most of the season. Still, Bridgewater is the first legit QB they've had since David Carr, and you have to feel like the defense is bound to get closer to S12 I think when they finished with a Top 5 passing D and 11th overall. I don't want to be putting thoughts into anyone's heads about this team making its first playoff appearance, but there is a path to that this season. They will need to start out strong before the bye because the back part of the schedule is not looking too good.

The Lions went 6-10 last season, and they brought in 0 new starters this season. The defense might be in decent enough shape with a couple of stars and improving players in all three areas, but the offense is probably going to hold them back. QB Jared Goff's promising rookie season seems so distant now after seeing his passer rating drop about 10 points last season. Hall of Fame HB DeAngelo Williams now gives way to Ameer Abdullah and his career 3.5 YPC. The OL plays okay, but all the starters have lengthy injury histories. The preseason wasn't too kind to them, but at least they get an early bye. The schedule as a whole doesn't look too bad in a vacuum, but the Lions will have to overachieve to simply get in the playoff discussion, and while they did so recently in S13, it's just not something that you can really count on.
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NFC South

1. Atlanta Falcons
2. San Juan Orcas
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Falcons are worse on paper than they were a season ago, but their record has improved in each of the past three seasons, so history is on their side. QB Brian Brohm has won the starting job once again, and while he has helped the Falcons have the fewest giveaways since the start of S13, he doesn't really add much spice to the passing game, and the Falcons are paying something like $25 mil to their WRs this season. In general, the offense has major injury histories all throughout, and seeing as this isn't a high-powered offense to start, if the bodies start piling up (no offensive injuries as of this moment), scoring points could become a huge problem. The defense, while not elite, is pretty dependable as a whole. The Falcons are not a sexy team but are fundamentally solid. Things could unravel at any moment, and they will need to address what direction the team should go in sooner rather than later, but for this season at least, the floor should be high enough to remain in the playoff hunt.

The Orcas might be the most intriguing team outside of the Seahawks. They too underwent a huge makeover with eight new starters and beyond that, among the 24 offensive players on the team, 13 were acquired in the offseason. They made it a priority to remake the offense, and that they did. The ceiling for them is very high with two of the best at what they do in QB Chris Leak and HB LaMarcus Coker, a Top 10 WR in Antonio Brown, and one of the most talented starting OL in the league. On paper, they should all fit together, but we'll see when games are being played. The defense might be the surer bet with a suffocating run defense, which should be helped by replacing pass-rush specialist Brick Massey with, *sees who won the job for the first time*, Angelo McDowell! The pass D has been resurging, and with two new starters at CB, including two-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson, they could continue to make strides there and possibly field an elite unit. The Orcas have far and away the highest ceiling in the division, and Madden loves the team this season, but there is risk in adding so many new faces to starting or otherwise prominent roles. Not everyone is going to work out right away or at all. They could win the division or they could find themselves just outside of the playoffs. Either way, this should be the most competitive team this franchise has seen in awhile, maybe even ever.

The Panthers just never got going last season, and part of the reason was a woefully ineffective DL. They put significant resources in rectifying that by acquiring two new starting DEs. MLB Jonathan Vilma has sadly departed, but they did sign MLB Reggie Outlaw. He has just seven starts to his name and doesn't stuff the stat sheet, but he's been a seemingly great run-defender as a backup wherever he's gone, so maybe that translates when a starter. After seeing enough of QB Carson Wentz, they went out and grabbed Jake Christensen. He hasn't played a snap (or been on a team) since S10, but in his lone season as the full-time starter (S9) for the Colts, he did throw for over 3000 yards and 20+ TDs, which the Panthers haven't experienced since Matt Ryan in S8. I do have concerns about the departure of G Taitusi Lutui and the effect it will have on HB LeSean McCoy. As mentioned earlier with the Rams, Lutui is one of the premier run-blocking Gs in the league. In his place will be Cedric Ogbeuhi. I'm checking all the depth charts (AI teams are viewable), and I am not finding another starting G with as low of a run-block rating as him. The offense doesn't have a high ceiling to begin with, so they cannot afford for McCoy's efficiency to drop very much if they want to be competitive this season. With LT Jack Conklin out for awhile, things are already not looking too hot. The schedule isn't too tough, so there's a good chance they can match their win total from last season. I just don't think they can realistically reach the win total needed to compete for a playoff spot.

The Buccaneers may have had the worst record last season, but they were not the worst team last season. Still changes were needed to be made, and they certainly made a lot of them. I don't agree that QB should have been one of them, especially with how great of a tandem Teddy Bridgewater and WR Jarvis Landry were becoming. What's done is done though, so what they have is a marginally better team outside of the QB spot and an enigma instead of a Top 10 player at QB. They should end up better this season (it would be hard not to), but they aren't making the playoffs. The team is way too flawed for that to happen. They should really just be looking for signs of improvement in multiple areas and hope for better results starting next season.
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NFC Seeding

Playoff Teams
1. St. Louis Rams
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. San Juan Orcas

Playoff Contenders
7. Philadelphia Eagles
8. Green Bay Packers
9. Toronto Wildcats
10. Chicago Bears
11. New York Giants
12. Washington
13. San Francisco 49ers

Better Luck Next Season
14. Carolina Panthers
15. Detroit Lions
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dark Horse: Seattle Seahawks (they technically count)
Dark, Dark Horse: San Juan Orcas (as do they)
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Offensive Rookie of the Year Predictions
1. Seahawks HB Aaron Jones
2. Buccaneers QB Trevor Largent
3. Panthers WR Tyreek Hill
4. Giants WR Chris Conley
5. Patriots QB Mason Rudolph

OL are ineligible, but I usually substitute one in each season. Still, for the purposes of this, I stick with only eligible positions. QBs and HBs are highly prone to efficiency issues as rookies, but they put up the counting stats, so they tend to have a better shot than WRs and certainly TEs.

Defensive Rookie of the Year Predictions
1. Vikings OLB Jerome Baker
2. Giants MLB Eric Kendricks
3. Express DE Vic Beasley
4. Broncos MLB Ben Heeney
5. Giants SS Justin Reid

Madden loves LBs due to the eyepopping stats they provide, so the favorite each year usually is one.
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To Do:
- Post Week 1 stuff and eventually decide a starting date in July
- Make new topic
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I'm leaning toward a Wednesday/Friday or Thursday/Saturday schedule and we would begin on the 14th or 15th
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New topic
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/79550023
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This is the new, new topic
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/79550310
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Saving this because there's something that I want to check/do before letting it purge
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