What NFL Teams Need To Win The Offseason?

The Super Bowl is over, a new champion has been crowned and now the NFL offseason has officially begun. With the new league year starting on March 12th, every team will be trying to maneuver themselves into range of being a contender. Some teams do it successfully, others crash and burn trying.

Amongst the 32 teams are between five-to-ten teams who need it more. These teams are often ones facing an uncertain future, where a tear down could be in the works. Sometimes it staves off a change in directions, sometimes it accelerates it, but in the end, it goes a long way in determining destiny.

So which teams need to win the offseason?

 

Cleveland Browns

Under the Andrew Berry- Kevin Stefanski regime, Cleveland has been on a wild ride. A 4-12 floor with an 11-6 ceiling, two playoff appearances, with probably the most questionable trade on the books (Deshaun Watson) and multiple folk heroes (Joe Flacco, Anthony Walker, Jameis Winston) were born: many memories, good and bad have been shared.

However, in the wake of Watson’s injury setback and defensive end Myles Garrett’s trade request, the stage is set for the most telling offseason in this regime’s tenure. If they can figure out the quarterback situation, as well as fix holes in the backfield and back half of the defense, they’ll at least buy themselves another year. If they can’t, one or both may be gone, capping off one of the most successful and stressful eras in Browns’ history.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

January 15th, 2017, Arrowhead Stadium…this was the time and place where Pittsburgh won their last playoff game. Since then, they’ve gone on a six-game losing streak in the postseason, which is tied for the longest with the Miami Dolphins. In the time since, they’ve had players that fans have turned on (George Pickens, Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, etc.), multiple quarterback changes (Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson) and good seasons end in collapses.

Despite the circus, Pittsburgh has remained one of the most successful regular season teams. Even with that, some members of their local and national media have questioned if head coach Mike Tomlin has peaked. The one way to silence these critics is to take their roster construction to the next level.

Is anyone at risk of being fired? Probably not, but getting that monkey off their back is crucial in them taking the next step.

 

New York Giants

In the later half of this past season, New York Giants fans were paying someone to fly a banner over their training facility demanding changes. What started out with so much hope under general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll has rotted away with core pieces like running back Saquon Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney departing due to questionable decision making.

It’s not hard to see Giants fans want better. The days of Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin are long gone, and the team hasn’t sniffed the same success ever since. The fans have softly turned on the team. One more horrible season could make it a hard turn and force the team to make changes.

 

Miami Dolphins

As mentioned earlier, the Dolphins are tied with the Steelers for the longest playoff win drought at six. What’s worse with them however, is that their last playoff win was in 2000. Head coach Mike McDaniel has elevated the offense to a whole new level, but with multiple head injuries to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and some inconsistencies, the team hasn’t lived up to expectations.

Miami needs to get over that hump and soon. One of the first things they absolutely need to do is teach Tagovailoa to protect himself better. The talent is there but when you’re face down on the turf every year, you’re not doing the team any favors. Other than that, improving the rushing offense is a must.

 

Cincinnati Bengals

Quarterback Joe Burrow may be the next to experience what happened to Andy Dalton and Carson Palmer. Despite pleas with the front office, wide receiver Tee Higgins is about to hit free agency and Ja’Marr Chase is in line to follow suit next year. After seeing the success of former running back Joe Mixon with the Houston Texans, they may long for those green pastures.

There’s been questions about head Zac Taylor’s future with the team as of late. While people are quick to bring up his Super Bowl appearance and back-to-back AFC Championship game appearances, it’s been four years since that Super Bowl appearance. While Burrow’s injuries can be blamed, it’s at a point where the team needs a dominant season and it has to start in the offseason.

 

Dallas Cowboys

Let’s be honest here, on paper, is Brian Schottenheimer really the end game to replace Mike McCarthy as head coach? With quarterback Dak Prescott’s struggles before the injury and the running game being ineffective as concerns, it bears mentioning that both were under Schottenheimer’s watch.

While it doesn’t make sense for this to be a one-and-done hire, if Dallas can’t come out of the gates hot, there will be some major questions that need to be answered. When those questions arise, that’s usually the sign of changes coming. Dallas lost out on nearly all of the major coaching prospects because of the McCarthy saga. Unless they make the playoffs, there’s a real possibility that Schottenheimer could be a one-and-done.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On the surface, Tampa Bay has looked like a good enough team to not make this list. The problem is, when you dig deeper, that’s when the warts start to show themselves.

While the offense has carried themselves behind the resurgence of quarterback Baker Mayfield and the two offensive coordinators, their defense has been problematic, ranking in the bottom half of total yardage allowed, passing yards allowed and points allowed. It also doesn’t help that they gave the ball away five more times than they took it away. Making the playoffs does help dampen that a bit but when your head coach is defensive minded, it’s not a great look.

Add to it the three-straight playoff exits in the divisional round or earlier and you have to start wondering about the team’s ceiling. They have great talent, they should be at least making the NFC Championship games. Instead, they’re falling early.

 

Tennessee Titans

There are so many questions with the Tennessee Titans that need to be answered. Who will be the quarterback next year? Is the combination of Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears effective enough at running back? How can this team be more effective on defense? How do you fix this offensive line?

With the change at general manager for Tennessee, these questions will not only become louder, but they’ll ultimately fall into the lap of head coach Brian Callahan. If Tennessee was willing to fire Ran Carthon after two seasons, it wouldn’t be out of the question if the team struggled enough, that they cut bait with Callahan as well.