NFL 2023 fearless forecasts: From MVP to sack leader to first QB benched, predictions in 19 categories

It’s time for some fearless forecasts. As a result of, properly, what else would you do in June?

Who will we like? Who don’t we like? What’s getting higher and what’s getting worse? Similar for people. Which golf equipment are progressing and that are regressing? Who’s about to win some particular person {hardware} (actual or imagined), and which groups are about to win some {hardware} (actual or imagined)?

And if we’re going to do that, then, dang it, let’s go daring. If we’re going to do way-too-early predictions and projections, then let’s go fairly excessive. Proper? Why not?

I’ve some ideas – a lot of ideas – about this upcoming season. So I’d as properly share them on this explicit discussion board, with the classes of my selecting. As a result of, once more, why not? A few of these would possibly really come true.

Okay, this isn’t going out on a ledge by any means. That is chalk, However chalk is critical right here. Dude threw 50 TDs his first season as a starter. And, properly, now he has a legit offensive line in entrance of him for the primary time in a very long time. He’s going to kill it. Simply settle for it.

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This man is about to breakout in a large means, and I get the sense the Payments already realize it. Greatest get this extension accomplished, ASAP. His pace and power and wingspan and steadiness and instincts are all other-worldly. He’s about to register the sort of statistics that achieve nationwide consideration and the mainstream acclaim that he’s worthy of. This protection is about to make one other leap ahead, and this would be the better of that bunch. Metrics meets manufacturing.

Offensive Participant of the 12 months: Russell Wilson

I don’t suppose he’ll play out this contract in Seattle and I’m not positive Russ will love all the things happening round him, however I do see 38 TD passes in his future and 5 extra on the bottom, and I think his future whereabouts in 2023 are each bit the story that Aaron Rodgers’ are in 2023.

Comeback Participant of the 12 months: Von Miller

Vic Fangio is now relaxed with what he has and slightly extra relaxed with being a head coach. Not that there aren’t some tough edges and points right here, however he has a whole lot of toys to play with at this level. After a misplaced season, and now within the remaining yr of his deal, it’s time for Miller to regain his place as one of many dominant move rushers within the recreation. Love the scheme and the array of expertise round him.

Offensive Rookie of the 12 months: Kyle Pitts

This man is a machine. Impervious to defenders and scheme and ache and the rest. Matt Ryan lives to throw to his tight ends and they are going to be trailing in a ton of video games as a result of they’re all the time trailing in a ton of their video games. They haven’t any protection, which can permit this wonderful younger expertise to rack up yards and scores in opposition to mushy defenses enjoying with a lead. And he doesn’t want that, as a result of he’s going to be an unstoppable drive it doesn’t matter what. However having these benefits baked into the cake as a rookie can’t presumably harm.

Defensive Rookie of the 12 months: Jamin Davis

The WFT protection is a factor, man. An actual factor. That entrance seven may be the nastiest within the NFL. They’ve edge rushers and pace guys and area eaters and they’re all younger and low cost and hungry. And so they have the sort of coach who can maintain them targeted and headed in the identical route. After which they add this linebacker who has distinctive attributes and pace and acceleration. I’m shopping for all of this, particularly contemplating how weak this draft was when it comes to surefire influence move rushers and defensive tackles.

Coach of the 12 months: Sean McVay

For the primary time in his head teaching profession, this kingmaker has a really elite NFL quarterback. He created Jared Goff and received extra out of Goff than nearly anybody else would have (maybe we don’t want the “nearly” on that final sentence). Solely, now he has the actual deal in Matthew Stafford and he has legit weapons round him. And if this offensive line can simply maintain up slightly bit we’re going to see a ridiculous marriage between play-caller and schemer and passer. Brace your self.

Offensive Participant of the 12 months, Half 2: Justin Herbert

I didn’t see this coming. The Chargers didn’t see this coming. Nobody at Oregon noticed this coming. It simply occurred. However man, it was no fluke. You watch the best way this child tailored to having to play far before anticipated, beneath averse circumstances, and the best way he flourished. And now he has a full offseason as a starter after a full season as a starter, a much better offensive line and a training employees much more prone to put him in the perfect possibilities to succeed. I discover myself falling for the Chargers, once more. Solely this time I don’t suppose they are going to make me appear like a idiot. If Russ isn’t the Offensive Participant of the 12 months, it’ll be this child.

Take a look at any of his peripherals from his rookie yr. A rookie yr wherein Mark Ingram was nonetheless alleged to be the person. Dobbins has explosion and is in an ideal scheme within the pistol. His elusiveness and talent to adapt to a shifting and shifting meshpoint makes him a real game-changer in an offense that’s zigging when everybody else zags. Baltimore added some new coaches and wrinkles however will nonetheless run greater than any group within the NFL – by fairly a margin – they usually received’t need Lamar Jackson working 16-20 occasions a recreation as soon as he’s making $40M a yr.

He’s a dominant drive and will probably be as motivated as ever coming off a misplaced 2023. Damage alone is not going to sluggish him down. He’s targeted to a fault. He’ll lead the NFL in yards from scrimmage and mixed yardage by a large margin and choose up proper the place he left off in 2019. Aaron Jones will see a wholly totally different aspect of life if/when Aaron Rodgers is traded and I like the Eagles speeding assault, however McCaffrey is particular by any normal.

I already chronicled the sort of yr I consider Von Miller could have. However he’s not as younger and twitchy and in-his-prime as Chubb. Chubb has gone via two attempting seasons wherein issues haven’t gone his means and he has not had round him what was anticipated. That may change in 2023. He’ll grasp, totally, what Fangio has created for him and edge out Chase Younger for the sack lead. After which he’ll get a large payday. This Broncos protection has the makings of a really elite unit if the highest people take a step ahead, and I anticipate they do exactly that.

The Steelers move rush could slip some. They could simply permit the premier defensive backs to take a couple of extra possibilities and observe their instincts and attempt to capitalize. And none will accomplish that greater than Fitzpatrick. The Steelers made a uncommon commerce to land him, and he’ll proceed to pay dividends.

First QB Benched (non-injury): Andy Dalton

The Bears will go along with the veteran at first, as a result of dudes are attempting to avoid wasting their jobs there and play the sport to their benefit (at the least of their notion). And going to Justin Fields too quickly might undermine all the enterprise of shifting as much as draft him within the first place … and properly, perhaps, simply perhaps, they’ve realized one thing about that in Chicago after the Mitch Trubisky Expertise. Ultimately it received’t matter, and heads will roll, however I consider In Fields.

There are many good and clued in individuals who work in high-ranking spots with NFL groups who consider that Dolphins coach Brian Flores isn’t actually all-in on Tua. Who suppose he was actually a pro-Herbert man who won’t ever actually let that go and it’ll finally drag this franchise down and play out fairly awkwardly on Sundays. And, properly, the factor with Tua was far too unnecessarily bizarre final yr. So, yeah, watch this area.

The Saints have prolonged a slew of gamers and spent money over cap for years and accomplished a bunch of contracts that some thought couldn’t be accomplished. However that is one participant who has but to earn the mega-deal from them and I’m not positive that’s within the playing cards within the Huge Simple now. I think this group takes a couple of steps again in 2023 – which might solely be pure, and perhaps they flip this contract for future belongings.

Greatest Free-Agent Signing: Joe Thuney

The Chiefs had one huge space to deal with, they usually addressed it over and over and over. And none higher than with Thuney, including arguably the perfect guard in soccer and giving up nothing however cash in return. No different belongings. And with Mahomes taking a paltry $62M in new cash within the first three years of his team-friendly deal, properly, Clark Hunt might afford it. Particularly only a few years faraway from his first Tremendous Bowl. Spend on the fellows to guard the QB.

He has some numbers than would possibly make you suppose he’s a difference-maker, however a deeper dive reveals suspect outcomes. And now the group with perhaps the worst move rush in soccer that has repeatedly missed on draft prospects and free brokers on that aspect of the ball has nabbed this man as the reply to their most blatant deficiency. Good luck with that. Supplies nothing in opposition to the run, and wishes a whole lot of assist to ship the products within the pocket.

Oh, my, does he have a tendency to show the ball over. Oh, my, do the Giants require huge beneficial properties from him. Oh, geez, how they spend on new components for him on offense. Oh, no, I don’t suppose it should change a lot in any respect. And if this goes as poorly as anticipated, then heads will roll due to it, particularly as different NFL groups proceed so as to add younger low cost quarterbacks within the interim who far out-produce this one.

My, these two would possibly all the time be linked collectively in a technique, form or kind. Rosen’s star has tremendously light, with the returns on the trades for him dropping considerably by the yr. And, gulp, when David Tepper decides by 2023 (or, gulp, by November) that Darnold ain’t near the reply for all that ails them on the QB spot, properly, good luck getting greater than a mid-round choose in return. That’s the place I believe that is heading, and this very properly might be a declining asset.