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The NFL Draft is over.  Some teams are happy with their choices.  Some teams wish they had the infamous do overs.  And some are just oblivious to what just happened. 

Here are regrets for things done and not done.  In no particularly order, because face it regret is regret. 

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Daunte Fowler Jr.

This is a regret you could not have predicted.  Fowler tore his ACL and will be out for the season.  Fowler was a first round selection.  He was the edge rusher the Jaguars needed.  And now he is out. 

9. Denver Broncos: Jeff Heuerman

Another rookie another loss.  Heuerman also tore his ACL and is expected to be out for the season.  Heuerman was expected to be the tight end that could both block and be valuable in the passing game.  Another regret that could not be predicted. 

8. Philadelphia Eagles: Not getting the quarterback

So Chip Kelly reportedly kicked the tires on the prospect of getting his quarterback Marcus Mariota.  He reportedly shopped around a couple of players.  And he eventually found the price to be too high?  Does he regret not getting Mariota?  Or does he regret more the ruffled feathers of those who are still in the locker room?  The trading room fodder?  The expendables?

7. Dallas Cowboys: Not drafting a running back

An instant regret that may linger for awhile.  The Cowboys lose DeMarco Murray.  And then they acquired Darren McFadden in free agency.  So a durable running back in the draft?  Nah!  The Cowboys will stick to the belief that their offensive line can make a star out of anyone.  Anyone? 

6. Carolina Panthers: Leaving Cam Newton Out to Dry

Run Cam Run!  It seems that the Panthers believe Michael Oher can be a reliable left tackle.  Unfortunately, this is not a movie with a happy ending.  Yes, he does have another big receiving option.  Will that help when he is running for his life?

5. Indianapolis Colts: Wide Receiver Phillip Dorsett

This is not a knock on Dorsett, but a slap on the Colts.  The Colts' defense got bullied.  So you would expect them to go big on defenders who can make an immediate impact.  Alas, that didn't happen.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers: Senquez Golson

Golson sturggles against bigger bodies and he is raw against the run.  Did I mention he is also slight of size.  So yes, it worked with all everything Troy Polamalu.  But Polamalu is a rare gem.  And Golson is no Polamalu. 

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Wide receiver?

So the lack of production from the wide receivers in Kansas City requires drafting a developmental wide receiver in the draft?  First forget that they acquired ex-Washington Marcus Peters as their first choice.  He may be good.  He is good.  But he has some issues that have him labeled a character risk.  He might be a lockdown corner.  Then again the Chiefs wide receivers might get in the end zone this year?

2. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota

By all accounts Mariota is a great guy.  How many wins does that equal exactly?  What could the Titans have acquired for Mariota had they yanked on the Eagles chain a little?  Is this system the best fit for Mariota?   Is this a symbiotic regret?  Don't you think Mariota wishes he was in Philadelphia?

1. San Francisco 49ers: Arik Armstead

Armstead is a gifted athlete.  He is also raw.  Head coach Jim Tomsula admitted as much when he conceded Armstead will take time to adjust.  Just what you want to hear about a first round choice.  Especially on a team that is leaking retirements, defections and losses on both sides of the ball. 

Follow me on Twitter @neverenoughglt

The NFL Draft is over.  Some teams are happy with their choices.  Some teams wish they had the infamous do overs.  And some are just oblivious to what just happened. 

Here are regrets for things done and not done.  In no particularly order, because face it regret is regret. 

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Daunte Fowler Jr.

This is a regret you could not have predicted.  Fowler tore his ACL and will be out for the season.  Fowler was a first round selection.  He was the edge rusher the Jaguars needed.  And now he is out. 

9. Denver Broncos: Jeff Heuerman

Another rookie another loss.  Heuerman also tore his ACL and is expected to be out for the season.  Heuerman was expected to be the tight end that could both block and be valuable in the passing game.  Another regret that could not be predicted. 

8. Philadelphia Eagles: Not getting the quarterback

So Chip Kelly reportedly kicked the tires on the prospect of getting his quarterback Marcus Mariota.  He reportedly shopped around a couple of players.  And he eventually found the price to be too high?  Does he regret not getting Mariota?  Or does he regret more the ruffled feathers of those who are still in the locker room?  The trading room fodder?  The expendables?

7. Dallas Cowboys: Not drafting a running back

An instant regret that may linger for awhile.  The Cowboys lose DeMarco Murray.  And then they acquired Darren McFadden in free agency.  So a durable running back in the draft?  Nah!  The Cowboys will stick to the belief that their offensive line can make a star out of anyone.  Anyone? 

6. Carolina Panthers: Leaving Cam Newton Out to Dry

Run Cam Run!  It seems that the Panthers believe Michael Oher can be a reliable left tackle.  Unfortunately, this is not a movie with a happy ending.  Yes, he does have another big receiving option.  Will that help when he is running for his life?

5. Indianapolis Colts: Wide Receiver Phillip Dorsett

This is not a knock on Dorsett, but a slap on the Colts.  The Colts' defense got bullied.  So you would expect them to go big on defenders who can make an immediate impact.  Alas, that didn't happen.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers: Senquez Golson

Golson sturggles against bigger bodies and he is raw against the run.  Did I mention he is also slight of size.  So yes, it worked with all everything Troy Polamalu.  But Polamalu is a rare gem.  And Golson is no Polamalu. 

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Wide receiver?

So the lack of production from the wide receivers in Kansas City requires drafting a developmental wide receiver in the draft?  First forget that they acquired ex-Washington Marcus Peters as their first choice.  He may be good.  He is good.  But he has some issues that have him labeled a character risk.  He might be a lockdown corner.  Then again the Chiefs wide receivers might get in the end zone this year?

2. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota

By all accounts Mariota is a great guy.  How many wins does that equal exactly?  What could the Titans have acquired for Mariota had they yanked on the Eagles chain a little?  Is this system the best fit for Mariota?   Is this a symbiotic regret?  Don't you think Mariota wishes he was in Philadelphia?

1. San Francisco 49ers: Arik Armstead

Armstead is a gifted athlete.  He is also raw.  Head coach Jim Tomsula admitted as much when he conceded Armstead will take time to adjust.  Just what you want to hear about a first round choice.  Especially on a team that is leaking retirements, defections and losses on both sides of the ball. 

Follow me on Twitter @neverenoughglt

COMMENTARY - I wrote a bit about this before in an article that appeared over Super Bowl week, but in all honesty, it bears repeating. The NFL has a football problem and that problem was never more exposed than with the “Deflategate” saga that has unfolded.

The unfortunate thing in all of this is that more teams will continue to find ways to cheat and try to get away with it. One of the NFL’s more polarizing figures – Tom Brady – allegedly lied about being involved in a scheme to win a football game when the fact of the matter is my high school team could have beaten the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Title game.

Sorry, guys. I know the truth kind of hurts, but I had to say it.

Football has never been a game of whispers and golf claps, but it has assuredly seen better days.

As I wrote on February 1 for Football Nation, covering Roger Goodell’s State of the NFL Address…

As Goodell stood at the podium early this week and gave the State of the League Address, the tone was more about what was wrong rather than what was right. On the day of the biggest game of the year and the potentially the best Super Bowl of all time, the NFL is better than it was a year ago because of awareness, not because of correction. The Ray Rice case and debacle, followed by Adrian Peterson’s fall from grace just compounded the fact professional football has become more of a symptom of society where entitlement seems to be the norm rather than the appointed.

Can the league fix the fractured image of violence off the field with the ads of current players and celebrities that looks about as awkward as Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan laughing together? Can issues like “Deflategate” and illegal blocking be avoided? Will there be uniformity for illegalities across the board next season? And most of all, if the league is truly talking about expansion or movement to Los Angeles and Goodell knows there are four or five teams that may be in the mix, can he just tell us which teams they are so there is no call of B.S. on any level.

Goodell’s hard line stance was proven in the player lockout in 2012 and his reputation as a leader has been questioned and even challenged by the players and the league as a whole, not to mention the media that continues to wait for straight answers, not blinding avoidance at every turn.

Right now, my answer to the question of issues like this being avoided is a resounding, “NO.”

Football is not like baseball where for over a century there is the known “secret” that there is some amount of cheating that goes on (stealing signs, etc.) but the goal is not to get caught. Cases like “Deflategate” and “Spygate” involving the Patriots have been so blatant. Let’s not leave out New Orleans and “Bountygate” because the franchise wasn’t innocent by any means. There is no straight line for punishment in the “No Fun League” so players and teams push the edge of the envelope to see how far they can get before they are told to stop.

Frankly, Brady’s punishment and the Patriots organization as a whole was too light. The Saints – regardless of the rise from Hurricane Katrina story – is not one of the NFL’s darlings. Tom Brady, the Patriots, Green Bay, Dallas and Peyton Manning. We can start there and continue on.

I am a football fan first and a sports writer second. My love for the game causes me to write this article of pain. Actually, I am more pissed off. The Patriots win in Super Bowl 49, no matter how jaw-dropping and climactic it was, has to be tainted. Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the organization are now stained AGAIN. No matter how hard we as fans cry foul, there are fans out there who see nothing wrong with this – just like they see nothing wrong with the cases involving Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy. Brady is still headed for sainthood in Boston.

The NFL wouldn’t dare suspend its darling for the entire season and the $1 million slap on the wrist is actually being thought of as a joke by the fans who have started a GoFundMe campaign to pay the debt to the NFL. PLEASE ALREADY!

Soon, the game will be gone of Manning, Brady, Frank Gore and Adam Vinatieri. New stars are emerging like JJ Watt, Dez Bryant and Teddy Bridgewater. The league needs these stars to step forward, create more rivalries and yes, become the face of the NFL. This is a league that worries more about the name on the front of the jersey than the player on the back. Unfortunately, fans identify with players first, teams second.

You cannot fix that in a day as social media, the age of electronics and the need for revenue are changing NFL and sports sensibilities. But issues like domestic violence and child abuse and even entitlement soil what is really the best thing going today.

And in this case, it seems you cannot get the stars we hold in such high regard from cheating to win a damn football game. What a stain this is for what has become America’s game.

General manager John Elway impressed us last year with his free agency prowess.  This year, not so much.  So we waited impatiently to see what he would do in the 2015 NFL draft. 

He was bold.  He was patient.  But what does that mean for the team.  We all know that the Denver Broncos are on a win right now pace.  After losing a home playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, it was time to re-evaluate.

First goes the coaching staff.  Then comes significant losses during free agency.  Specifically gone is tight-end Julius Thomas.  Gone is guard Orlando Franklin.  Gone is safety Rahim Moore.  And gone is defensive tackle Terrance Knighton.  It was brutal. 

So without significant gains in free agency it was on to the 2015 NFL Draft. 

General manager John Elway impressed us last year with his free agency prowess.  This year, not so much.  So we waited impatiently to see what he would do in the 2015 NFL draft. 

He was bold.  He was patient.  But what does that mean for the team.  We all know that the Denver Broncos are on a win right now pace.  After losing a home playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, it was time to re-evaluate.

First goes the coaching staff.  Then comes significant losses during free agency.  Specifically gone is tight-end Julius Thomas.  Gone is guard Orlando Franklin.  Gone is safety Rahim Moore.  And gone is defensive tackle Terrance Knighton.  It was brutal. 

So without significant gains in free agency it was on to the 2015 NFL Draft. 

General manager John Elway impressed us last year with his free agency prowess.  This year, not so much.  So we waited impatiently to see what he would do in the 2015 NFL draft. 

He was bold.  He was patient.  But what does that mean for the team.  We all know that the Denver Broncos are on a win right now pace.  After losing a home playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, it was time to re-evaluate.

First goes the coaching staff.  Then comes significant losses during free agency.  Specifically gone is tight-end Julius Thomas.  Gone is guard Orlando Franklin.  Gone is safety Rahim Moore.  And gone is defensive tackle Terrance Knighton.  It was brutal. 

So without significant gains in free agency it was on to the 2015 NFL Draft. 

Tennesse Titans

Round 1-Marcus Mariota QB, Oregon 

Round 2-Dorial Green Beckham WR, Missouri

Round 3-Jeremiah Poutasi, OG Utah

Round 4- Angelo Blackson DT, Auburn

Round 4- Jalston Fowler FB, Alabama 

Round 5-David Cobb RB, Minnesota

Round 6-Deiontrez Mount OLB Louisville

Round 6- Andy Gallik C, Boston College

Round 7- Tre McBride WR, William & Mary

The Tians went heavy on offense in this year’s draft, dedicating seven of nine picks to that side. The team’s overall success will depend on whether Mariota is able to adjust to the pro level. If not, the team will continue to struggle.

Best Pick: Cobb

Mariota won’t win games by himself. Cobb should be able to upgrade the Titans stable of runners. He may not unseat Bishop Sankey, but he does add versatility.

Worst Pick- Green-Beckham 

Green-Beckham has first round talent, but fifth round decision making skills. He was kicked off the team in Missouri and has admitted he will need support in order to stay on the straight and narrow. While it’s admirable that he’s admitted his shortcomings, the Titans don’t have the kind of leaders on their team to provide that.

Grade B 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Round 1-Dante Fowler DE, Florida

Round 2 T.J Yeldon RB Alabama

Round 3-A.J Cann OG South Carolina

Round 4-James Sample S, Louisville

Round 5- Rashad Greene WR, Florida State

Round 6-Michael Bennett DT, Ohio State

 Round 7-Neal Sterling WR, Monmouth

Round 7-Ben Koyack TE, Notre Dame 

The Jaguars got from this draft exactly what it needed: players can who contribute immediately.  Fowler should boost the team’s anemic pass rush and Yeldon could easily end up starting on opening. The Jaguars did improved their team more than anyone else in the division in this year’s draft.

Best Pick: Yeldon

The Jags struggled to run last year, which led to Blake Bortles throwing more than a rookie should. Yeldon, along with with Cann should help balance the offense.

Worst Pick: Sterling 

When your worst pick is a seventh rounder, you’ve done well. Sterling has the size to develop into a top flight receiver, but not the speed. He also needs to work on catching passes more consistently. 

Grade A-

Houston Texans

Round 1-Kevin Johnson CB, Wake Forest

Round 2 Bernardrick McKinney ILB, Mississippi State

Round 3- Jaelen Strong WR, Arizona State

Round 5 Keith Mumphery WR, Michigan State

Round 6 Rashard Cliett OLB, South Florida 

Round 6 Christian Covington DT, Rice  

Round 7 Kenny Hilliard RB, LSU

The Texans were aggressive in their pursuit to upgrade the team. After staying put in round 1 two select Johnson, the team traded up in rounds 2 and 3 their targets. The Texans fortified an already solid defense and added at least one offensive target who will contribute immediately

Best Pick: Strong

The Texans have completely revamped their receiving corp this offseason and Strong figures to be on the receiving end of a lot of passes from whoever eventually is named starter. He’s a big target with a knack for the big play. Getting him in the third round may prove to be a steal.

Worst Pick: Cliett

Cliett isn’t a bad pick, per se, but he is the pick to see the field least in 2015. He didn’t set the world on fire at USF but has shown a knack for special teams. if he’s going to make it on the field in 2015, it will likely be there.

Grade: B  

Indianapolis Colts

Round 1-Phillip Dorsett WR, Miami (FL) 

Round 2- D’Joun Smith CB, Florida Atlantic

Round 3- Henry Anderson DE, Stanford

Round 4-Clayton Geathers S, UCF

Round 5-David Parry DT, Stanford

Round 6-Josh Robinson RB, Mississippi State 

Round 6-Amario Herrera ILB Georgia

Round 7-Denzell Goode OG, Mars Hill

The Colts entered the draft with few needs, and they drafted like one. The Colts appeared to go with the best player available mentaility, which is how all teams should draft in theory. However, the team didn't address it's one gaping hole until the fifth round,which could derail their Super Bowl ambitions.

Best Pick: Parry

Parry is a big bodied, run stuffer who is capable of getting to the quarterback. The Colts were gashed repeatedly by inside running teams last season, especially the Patriots. Parry should be able to stop the bleeding a little.  

Worst Pick: Dorsett

The odds of Phillip Dorsett becoming a bust are very slim. He’s an explosive receiver who can turn any pass he catches into a touchdown. So what’s the problem with this pick, you ask? The Colts needed more receivers like Bill Belicheck needs more hoodies. Was Dorsett the best player available on the Colts board? Possibly. Will he contribute more to the team than a run stuffer like Malcom Brown who was still on the board when the Colts were on the clock? Not likely.

Grade: C

Quick recap of the 1st Round with an emphasis on the impact these players will have on Fantasy Football. As always, the landing spot for these rookies is just as significant as their talent/ability. We’ll wait until the Draft is complete to publish our initial rookie rankings. Until then, get to know this year’s 1st round picks. 

Quarterbacks: 

Jameis Winston, 1st Overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 

Despite some serious off the field concerns and maturity issues, the Buccaneers selected the former Florida State QB with the 1st overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. 

Fantasy Impact: With two super-star wide receivers already on the roster in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans, Winston won’t have to worry about the lack of weapons. Pegged as the most “Pro-Ready” QB prospect in this year’s draft, it would be a major shock if Winston isn’t starting under-center in Week 1. 

Marcus Mariota, 2nd Overall, Tennessee Titans

So much speculation and rumor based reporting heading into the draft led everyone to believe the Titans were willing to trade away the Number 2 pick to either the Chicago Bears or Philadelphia Eagles. But the Tennessee’s asking price for the 2nd second proved to be to expensive. The result? The Titans take the former Oregon QB and reigning Heisman Trophy Winner.

Fantasy Impact: Coach Ken Whisenhunt has proven to get the most out of his QBs and admitted in the off-season he would cater his offense to suit Mariota’s strengths. That being said, we’d be lying if we didn’t LOVE the idea of Mariota re-joining his former Ducks Coach from a purely selfish Fantasy Football standpoint. With Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter beginning to emerge as solid receivers, Mariota has a good supporting cast of playmakers that he can grow with at the start of his career. Will Mariota beat out the incumbent starter, Zach Mettenberger? Our guess would be a resounding YES!!!!

Running Backs:

Todd Gurley, 10th Overall, St. Louis Rams:

A clear decision to take best player available, the Rams selected former Georgia rusher, Todd Gurley who many consider the second coming of Adrian Peterson with the 10th overall pick. If it wasn’t for a torn ACL last November, Gurley may have very well been a Top 5 pick.

Fantasy Impact: At 6’1, 227 pounds, Gurley has the size of a bruising and punishing rusher but the sblazing peed and shiftiness of a smaller scat back. Plain and simple he’s the total package. The major question of course is the status of his surgically repaired knee. If everything checks out without any set backs over the summer, Gurley will be the starter in Week 1 and certainly has the potential to be a Top 12 RB right out of the gate. Tre Mason will take a back-seat to Gurley and Zac Stacy has already asked to be traded.

Melvin Gordon, 15th Overall, San Diego Chargers:

The Chargers swapped picks with the 49ers and moved up the board to nab the former Wisconsin rusher with the 15th overall pick. Teams were shying away from selecting running backs in the 1st round in the last few years, but Gordon was the 2nd RB taken in the Top 15 picks (Todd Gurley 10th overall).

Fantasy Impact: With the departure of Ryan Mathews, the Chargers needed a new work-horse RB. Danny Woodhead is coming off an ACL tear and once healthy will likely just take on a 3rd down role. Gordon didn’t display his receiving skills a lot during his College career but he sure as hell proved he can tote the rock. Gordon finished on top of all NCAA D1 RBs with an eye popping 2,587 yards.

Wide Receivers:

Amari Cooper, 4th Overall, Oakland Raiders

There were some draft pundits who ranked Kevin White (7th overall Bears) ahead of Amari Cooper, but with the 4th overall pick, the Raiders selected the Alabama standout. Thanks to his precise route running and body control, Cooper is the most “Pro-Ready” receiver in this year’s class and has drawn comparison to Reggie Wayne and former Raiders WR Tim Brown. 

Fantasy Impact: It seems the Raiders found their franchise QB last year with Derek Carr and now pair him up with their franchise WR. Cooper will have an instant impact in the Raiders passing attack which has lacked a few playmakers in recent years. Typically we would be bummed when one of our favorite rookie prospects ends up on a team like the Raiders, but Cooper (like a Sammy Watkins in 2014) should have no problem emerging as a solid WR3 in  Fantasy despite playing for a bad team. 

Kevin White, 7th Overall, Chicago Bears 

After a terrific showing at the NFL Combine and breakout season at West Virginia last year, White’s draft stock skyrocketed. In an effort to fill the void left by Brandon Marshall, the Bears invested their 7th overall selection in the 6’3 wide-out. 

Fantasy Impact: Given his size, strength, and speed, White has drawn comparisons to Terrell Owens. He’s blazing fast (4.35 40 yard dash), 36.5 inch vertical leap, and a solid muscular build (210 pounds) but his route running is a bit unpolished. He’ll join the Bears as the team’s Number 2 wideout behind Alshon Jeffery. Unfortunately a lot of White’s initial success is tied to Jay Cutler, which we aren’t  necessarily thrilled about, but there are much worse QB situations around the league that White could have landed in. 

DeVante Parker, 14th Overall, Miami Dolphins

The glaring need for a true Number 1 wide receiver led the Dolphins to select DeVante Parker with their 1st round pick (14th overall). A big bodied (6’3, 211 pounds) receiver, Parker displayed tremendous toughness at Louisville and consistently showed excellent body control and concentration. Seems Parker always won the “jump ball” over defenders, thanks to strong hands, superior leaping ability, and long frame. Drops won’t be an issue for Ryan Tannehill’s new target

Fantasy Impact: The Dolphins are making serious noise this off-season by bringing in some serious weapons for Ryan Tannehill. Tight End Jordan Cameron and receivers Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings were solid acquisitions. Now add in Parker along with second year PPR stud in the making, Jarvis Landry, and Miami has one of those offenses that may take that next step into the upper echelon in 2015. Parker may not win the starting job right away (seasoned veterans typically get the edge in camp), but likely will emerge as the starter by year’s end. 

Nelson Agholor, 20th Overall, Philadelphia Eagles

Dubbed the second best route runner behind Amari Cooper, the Eagles drafted Nelson Agholor out of USC with the 20th overall pick. Capable of playing in the slot and the outside, Agholor can also contribute on Special Teams as a return man. 

Fantasy Impact; The Eagles lost their leading receiver, Jeremy Maclin, in the off-season and you know dam well Chip Kelly wasn’t going to rely on Riley Cooper to start opposite of Jordan Matthews. So what do the Eagles do? Draft a Jeremy Maclin like clone with the former USC Trojan. Forget about all the trade talk non-sense with Marcus Mariota, the Eagles still have a solid offense even with Sam Bradford at the helm and Agholor will surely benefit from Chip Kelley’s receiver friendly offense. 

Breshad Perriman, 26th Overall, Baltimore Ravens

After missing the NFL Combine due to an injury, UCF’s Breshad Perriman set the NFL world abuzz after an insane 4.24 40 yard dash at his Pro Day. Combine the 40 time with his size (6’2) and a great 2014 season (1st team All-American Athletic Conference), Perriman is the type of receiver prospect NFL GM’s drool over. With an aging Steve Smith and void left by Torrey Smith, the Ravens drafted Perriman with the 26th overall pick.

Fantasy Impact: A bit raw in terms of running routes and a bit maddening with some of his dropped passes, Perriman’s potential outweighs his shortcomings. Great blend of size and speed, the Ravens needed a deep threat to take advantage of Joe Flacco’s big arm. Get ready to watch a lot of deep routes, long bombs, and Perriman blowing past defenders with ease. 

Phillip Dorsett, 29th Overall, Indianapolis Colts

Despite a boat load of talented receivers (TY Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncfief) the Colts stuck to their guns in the 1st Round and took best player available on their board regardless of positional need. The result? Indy drafts former Miami Hurricane wide receiver Philip Dorsett with the 29th overall pick.

Fantasy Impact: You’ll be hard pressed to find a team with more weapons on Offense than the Colts. They are LOADED!!!! With Hilton entering the final year of his rookie contract, a lot of analysts immediately pegged Dorsett has Hilton’s replacement. After all, the two are very similar in size and ability. Like Hilton, Dorsett is a speedster (4.33 yard dash) and great downfield threat, but at just 5’10, 185 pounds, he’s not a big red-zone target.

Quick recap of the 1st Round with an emphasis on the impact these players will have on Fantasy Football. As always, the landing spot for these rookies is just as significant as their talent/ability. We’ll wait until the Draft is complete to publish our initial rookie rankings. Until then, get to know this year’s 1st round picks. 

Quarterbacks: 

Jameis Winston, 1st Overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 

Despite some serious off the field concerns and maturity issues, the Buccaneers selected the former Florida State QB with the 1st overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. 

Fantasy Impact: With two super-star wide receivers already on the roster in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans, Winston won’t have to worry about the lack of weapons. Pegged as the most “Pro-Ready” QB prospect in this year’s draft, it would be a major shock if Winston isn’t starting under-center in Week 1. 

Marcus Mariota, 2nd Overall, Tennessee Titans

So much speculation and rumor based reporting heading into the draft led everyone to believe the Titans were willing to trade away the Number 2 pick to either the Chicago Bears or Philadelphia Eagles. But the Tennessee’s asking price for the 2nd second proved to be to expensive. The result? The Titans take the former Oregon QB and reigning Heisman Trophy Winner.

Fantasy Impact: Coach Ken Whisenhunt has proven to get the most out of his QBs and admitted in the off-season he would cater his offense to suit Mariota’s strengths. That being said, we’d be lying if we didn’t LOVE the idea of Mariota re-joining his former Ducks Coach from a purely selfish Fantasy Football standpoint. With Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter beginning to emerge as solid receivers, Mariota has a good supporting cast of playmakers that he can grow with at the start of his career. Will Mariota beat out the incumbent starter, Zach Mettenberger? Our guess would be a resounding YES!!!!

Running Backs:

Todd Gurley, 10th Overall, St. Louis Rams:

A clear decision to take best player available, the Rams selected former Georgia rusher, Todd Gurley who many consider the second coming of Adrian Peterson with the 10th overall pick. If it wasn’t for a torn ACL last November, Gurley may have very well been a Top 5 pick.

Fantasy Impact: At 6’1, 227 pounds, Gurley has the size of a bruising and punishing rusher but the sblazing peed and shiftiness of a smaller scat back. Plain and simple he’s the total package. The major question of course is the status of his surgically repaired knee. If everything checks out without any set backs over the summer, Gurley will be the starter in Week 1 and certainly has the potential to be a Top 12 RB right out of the gate. Tre Mason will take a back-seat to Gurley and Zac Stacy has already asked to be traded.

Melvin Gordon, 15th Overall, San Diego Chargers:

The Chargers swapped picks with the 49ers and moved up the board to nab the former Wisconsin rusher with the 15th overall pick. Teams were shying away from selecting running backs in the 1st round in the last few years, but Gordon was the 2nd RB taken in the Top 15 picks (Todd Gurley 10th overall).

Fantasy Impact: With the departure of Ryan Mathews, the Chargers needed a new work-horse RB. Danny Woodhead is coming off an ACL tear and once healthy will likely just take on a 3rd down role. Gordon didn’t display his receiving skills a lot during his College career but he sure as hell proved he can tote the rock. Gordon finished on top of all NCAA D1 RBs with an eye popping 2,587 yards.

Wide Receivers:

Amari Cooper, 4th Overall, Oakland Raiders

There were some draft pundits who ranked Kevin White (7th overall Bears) ahead of Amari Cooper, but with the 4th overall pick, the Raiders selected the Alabama standout. Thanks to his precise route running and body control, Cooper is the most “Pro-Ready” receiver in this year’s class and has drawn comparison to Reggie Wayne and former Raiders WR Tim Brown. 

Fantasy Impact: It seems the Raiders found their franchise QB last year with Derek Carr and now pair him up with their franchise WR. Cooper will have an instant impact in the Raiders passing attack which has lacked a few playmakers in recent years. Typically we would be bummed when one of our favorite rookie prospects ends up on a team like the Raiders, but Cooper (like a Sammy Watkins in 2014) should have no problem emerging as a solid WR3 in  Fantasy despite playing for a bad team. 

Kevin White, 7th Overall, Chicago Bears 

After a terrific showing at the NFL Combine and breakout season at West Virginia last year, White’s draft stock skyrocketed. In an effort to fill the void left by Brandon Marshall, the Bears invested their 7th overall selection in the 6’3 wide-out. 

Fantasy Impact: Given his size, strength, and speed, White has drawn comparisons to Terrell Owens. He’s blazing fast (4.35 40 yard dash), 36.5 inch vertical leap, and a solid muscular build (210 pounds) but his route running is a bit unpolished. He’ll join the Bears as the team’s Number 2 wideout behind Alshon Jeffery. Unfortunately a lot of White’s initial success is tied to Jay Cutler, which we aren’t  necessarily thrilled about, but there are much worse QB situations around the league that White could have landed in. 

DeVante Parker, 14th Overall, Miami Dolphins

The glaring need for a true Number 1 wide receiver led the Dolphins to select DeVante Parker with their 1st round pick (14th overall). A big bodied (6’3, 211 pounds) receiver, Parker displayed tremendous toughness at Louisville and consistently showed excellent body control and concentration. Seems Parker always won the “jump ball” over defenders, thanks to strong hands, superior leaping ability, and long frame. Drops won’t be an issue for Ryan Tannehill’s new target

Fantasy Impact: The Dolphins are making serious noise this off-season by bringing in some serious weapons for Ryan Tannehill. Tight End Jordan Cameron and receivers Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings were solid acquisitions. Now add in Parker along with second year PPR stud in the making, Jarvis Landry, and Miami has one of those offenses that may take that next step into the upper echelon in 2015. Parker may not win the starting job right away (seasoned veterans typically get the edge in camp), but likely will emerge as the starter by year’s end. 

Nelson Agholor, 20th Overall, Philadelphia Eagles

Dubbed the second best route runner behind Amari Cooper, the Eagles drafted Nelson Agholor out of USC with the 20th overall pick. Capable of playing in the slot and the outside, Agholor can also contribute on Special Teams as a return man. 

Fantasy Impact; The Eagles lost their leading receiver, Jeremy Maclin, in the off-season and you know dam well Chip Kelly wasn’t going to rely on Riley Cooper to start opposite of Jordan Matthews. So what do the Eagles do? Draft a Jeremy Maclin like clone with the former USC Trojan. Forget about all the trade talk non-sense with Marcus Mariota, the Eagles still have a solid offense even with Sam Bradford at the helm and Agholor will surely benefit from Chip Kelley’s receiver friendly offense. 

Breshad Perriman, 26th Overall, Baltimore Ravens

After missing the NFL Combine due to an injury, UCF’s Breshad Perriman set the NFL world abuzz after an insane 4.24 40 yard dash at his Pro Day. Combine the 40 time with his size (6’2) and a great 2014 season (1st team All-American Athletic Conference), Perriman is the type of receiver prospect NFL GM’s drool over. With an aging Steve Smith and void left by Torrey Smith, the Ravens drafted Perriman with the 26th overall pick.

Fantasy Impact: A bit raw in terms of running routes and a bit maddening with some of his dropped passes, Perriman’s potential outweighs his shortcomings. Great blend of size and speed, the Ravens needed a deep threat to take advantage of Joe Flacco’s big arm. Get ready to watch a lot of deep routes, long bombs, and Perriman blowing past defenders with ease. 

Phillip Dorsett, 29th Overall, Indianapolis Colts

Despite a boat load of talented receivers (TY Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncfief) the Colts stuck to their guns in the 1st Round and took best player available on their board regardless of positional need. The result? Indy drafts former Miami Hurricane wide receiver Philip Dorsett with the 29th overall pick.

Fantasy Impact: You’ll be hard pressed to find a team with more weapons on Offense than the Colts. They are LOADED!!!! With Hilton entering the final year of his rookie contract, a lot of analysts immediately pegged Dorsett has Hilton’s replacement. After all, the two are very similar in size and ability. Like Hilton, Dorsett is a speedster (4.33 yard dash) and great downfield threat, but at just 5’10, 185 pounds, he’s not a big red-zone target.

Quick recap of the 1st Round with an emphasis on the impact these players will have on Fantasy Football. As always, the landing spot for these rookies is just as significant as their talent/ability. We’ll wait until the Draft is complete to publish our initial rookie rankings. Until then, get to know this year’s 1st round picks. 

Quarterbacks: 

Jameis Winston, 1st Overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 

Despite some serious off the field concerns and maturity issues, the Buccaneers selected the former Florida State QB with the 1st overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. 

Fantasy Impact: With two super-star wide receivers already on the roster in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans, Winston won’t have to worry about the lack of weapons. Pegged as the most “Pro-Ready” QB prospect in this year’s draft, it would be a major shock if Winston isn’t starting under-center in Week 1. 

Marcus Mariota, 2nd Overall, Tennessee Titans

So much speculation and rumor based reporting heading into the draft led everyone to believe the Titans were willing to trade away the Number 2 pick to either the Chicago Bears or Philadelphia Eagles. But the Tennessee’s asking price for the 2nd second proved to be to expensive. The result? The Titans take the former Oregon QB and reigning Heisman Trophy Winner.

Fantasy Impact: Coach Ken Whisenhunt has proven to get the most out of his QBs and admitted in the off-season he would cater his offense to suit Mariota’s strengths. That being said, we’d be lying if we didn’t LOVE the idea of Mariota re-joining his former Ducks Coach from a purely selfish Fantasy Football standpoint. With Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter beginning to emerge as solid receivers, Mariota has a good supporting cast of playmakers that he can grow with at the start of his career. Will Mariota beat out the incumbent starter, Zach Mettenberger? Our guess would be a resounding YES!!!!

Running Backs:

Todd Gurley, 10th Overall, St. Louis Rams:

A clear decision to take best player available, the Rams selected former Georgia rusher, Todd Gurley who many consider the second coming of Adrian Peterson with the 10th overall pick. If it wasn’t for a torn ACL last November, Gurley may have very well been a Top 5 pick.

Fantasy Impact: At 6’1, 227 pounds, Gurley has the size of a bruising and punishing rusher but the sblazing peed and shiftiness of a smaller scat back. Plain and simple he’s the total package. The major question of course is the status of his surgically repaired knee. If everything checks out without any set backs over the summer, Gurley will be the starter in Week 1 and certainly has the potential to be a Top 12 RB right out of the gate. Tre Mason will take a back-seat to Gurley and Zac Stacy has already asked to be traded.

Melvin Gordon, 15th Overall, San Diego Chargers:

The Chargers swapped picks with the 49ers and moved up the board to nab the former Wisconsin rusher with the 15th overall pick. Teams were shying away from selecting running backs in the 1st round in the last few years, but Gordon was the 2nd RB taken in the Top 15 picks (Todd Gurley 10th overall).

Fantasy Impact: With the departure of Ryan Mathews, the Chargers needed a new work-horse RB. Danny Woodhead is coming off an ACL tear and once healthy will likely just take on a 3rd down role. Gordon didn’t display his receiving skills a lot during his College career but he sure as hell proved he can tote the rock. Gordon finished on top of all NCAA D1 RBs with an eye popping 2,587 yards.

Wide Receivers:

Amari Cooper, 4th Overall, Oakland Raiders

There were some draft pundits who ranked Kevin White (7th overall Bears) ahead of Amari Cooper, but with the 4th overall pick, the Raiders selected the Alabama standout. Thanks to his precise route running and body control, Cooper is the most “Pro-Ready” receiver in this year’s class and has drawn comparison to Reggie Wayne and former Raiders WR Tim Brown. 

Fantasy Impact: It seems the Raiders found their franchise QB last year with Derek Carr and now pair him up with their franchise WR. Cooper will have an instant impact in the Raiders passing attack which has lacked a few playmakers in recent years. Typically we would be bummed when one of our favorite rookie prospects ends up on a team like the Raiders, but Cooper (like a Sammy Watkins in 2014) should have no problem emerging as a solid WR3 in  Fantasy despite playing for a bad team. 

Kevin White, 7th Overall, Chicago Bears 

After a terrific showing at the NFL Combine and breakout season at West Virginia last year, White’s draft stock skyrocketed. In an effort to fill the void left by Brandon Marshall, the Bears invested their 7th overall selection in the 6’3 wide-out. 

Fantasy Impact: Given his size, strength, and speed, White has drawn comparisons to Terrell Owens. He’s blazing fast (4.35 40 yard dash), 36.5 inch vertical leap, and a solid muscular build (210 pounds) but his route running is a bit unpolished. He’ll join the Bears as the team’s Number 2 wideout behind Alshon Jeffery. Unfortunately a lot of White’s initial success is tied to Jay Cutler, which we aren’t  necessarily thrilled about, but there are much worse QB situations around the league that White could have landed in. 

DeVante Parker, 14th Overall, Miami Dolphins

The glaring need for a true Number 1 wide receiver led the Dolphins to select DeVante Parker with their 1st round pick (14th overall). A big bodied (6’3, 211 pounds) receiver, Parker displayed tremendous toughness at Louisville and consistently showed excellent body control and concentration. Seems Parker always won the “jump ball” over defenders, thanks to strong hands, superior leaping ability, and long frame. Drops won’t be an issue for Ryan Tannehill’s new target

Fantasy Impact: The Dolphins are making serious noise this off-season by bringing in some serious weapons for Ryan Tannehill. Tight End Jordan Cameron and receivers Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings were solid acquisitions. Now add in Parker along with second year PPR stud in the making, Jarvis Landry, and Miami has one of those offenses that may take that next step into the upper echelon in 2015. Parker may not win the starting job right away (seasoned veterans typically get the edge in camp), but likely will emerge as the starter by year’s end. 

Nelson Agholor, 20th Overall, Philadelphia Eagles

Dubbed the second best route runner behind Amari Cooper, the Eagles drafted Nelson Agholor out of USC with the 20th overall pick. Capable of playing in the slot and the outside, Agholor can also contribute on Special Teams as a return man. 

Fantasy Impact; The Eagles lost their leading receiver, Jeremy Maclin, in the off-season and you know dam well Chip Kelly wasn’t going to rely on Riley Cooper to start opposite of Jordan Matthews. So what do the Eagles do? Draft a Jeremy Maclin like clone with the former USC Trojan. Forget about all the trade talk non-sense with Marcus Mariota, the Eagles still have a solid offense even with Sam Bradford at the helm and Agholor will surely benefit from Chip Kelley’s receiver friendly offense. 

Breshad Perriman, 26th Overall, Baltimore Ravens

After missing the NFL Combine due to an injury, UCF’s Breshad Perriman set the NFL world abuzz after an insane 4.24 40 yard dash at his Pro Day. Combine the 40 time with his size (6’2) and a great 2014 season (1st team All-American Athletic Conference), Perriman is the type of receiver prospect NFL GM’s drool over. With an aging Steve Smith and void left by Torrey Smith, the Ravens drafted Perriman with the 26th overall pick.

Fantasy Impact: A bit raw in terms of running routes and a bit maddening with some of his dropped passes, Perriman’s potential outweighs his shortcomings. Great blend of size and speed, the Ravens needed a deep threat to take advantage of Joe Flacco’s big arm. Get ready to watch a lot of deep routes, long bombs, and Perriman blowing past defenders with ease. 

Phillip Dorsett, 29th Overall, Indianapolis Colts

Despite a boat load of talented receivers (TY Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncfief) the Colts stuck to their guns in the 1st Round and took best player available on their board regardless of positional need. The result? Indy drafts former Miami Hurricane wide receiver Philip Dorsett with the 29th overall pick.

Fantasy Impact: You’ll be hard pressed to find a team with more weapons on Offense than the Colts. They are LOADED!!!! With Hilton entering the final year of his rookie contract, a lot of analysts immediately pegged Dorsett has Hilton’s replacement. After all, the two are very similar in size and ability. Like Hilton, Dorsett is a speedster (4.33 yard dash) and great downfield threat, but at just 5’10, 185 pounds, he’s not a big red-zone target.

Anyone who tells you they know how the New Orleans Saints 2015 season is going to unfold is either a psychic or a liar. I’m not a psychic, but I can pretend to be one after looking at the team’s official schedule. After a one year hiatus the team looks poised to make a chase for the playoffs, if for no other reason than the football gods decreed the NFC South face the AFC South in 2015. Here’s a closer look: 

 The team opens on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. Sean Payton wants his team to be tougher in 2015 and the Cardinals had one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. If the Saints can  keep Carson Palmer and his surgically repaired knees in check, they might be able to eke out a win. 

Cardinals 24, Saints 17

Week 2 Brings The Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Super Dome. Logic says this will be the Saints first crack at Jameis Winston, but the Bucs have never been one to let logic get in the way.

Saints 30, Bucs 24

Week 3 brings a date with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers won the division with a record of 7-8-1. The Panthers will enter the season as the favorite, but this division can be won by just about anyone. Except Tampa Bay.

Panthers 28, Saints 21

The Saints take on the Cowboys in Week 4 for a Sunday Night Football matchup. On paper, the Saints should lose this one pretty. However, the Saints save their best efforts for Al Michaels’ and Chris Collinsworth’s visits to the Super Dome.

Saints 41, Cowboys 35

The Philadelphia Eagles are the opponents in Week 5. The Saints will have to be for Chip Kelly’s QB trio of Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, and Tim Tebow. Rumor has it Kelly is working on plays to get all three on the field at the some time.

Saints 30, Eagles 20

 The Saints host the Falcons on a Thursday Night in Week 6. The Falcons are what the Saints used to be: a dynamic offense with an atrocious defense. New coach Dan Quinn will likely try to fix the latter issue. He would also be wise to solve the issue of keeping his wide receivers healthy for an entire season.

Saints 25, Falcons 21

Week 7 pits the Saints against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have one of the most dynamic passing offense in the NFL. The Saints had one of the worst pass defenses last year. New cornerback Brandon Browner, should help, but this could still be ugly.

Colts 41, Saints 34

The New York Giants are the opponent in Week 8. On paper, this should be a tough test. Super Bowl winning quarterback/coach combo. All-world talent at wide receiver. And yet…the Giants find ways to underachieve on a yearly basis that make the Saints seem like a model of consistency.

Saints 27, Giants 20 

The Titans come to town in week 9. This could be Zach Mettenberger’s return to Louisiana. Mettenberger played college ball at LSU. He wasn’t terribly good there. He isn't terribly good in Tennessee, either.

Saints 35, Titans 17

Week 10 is a matchup with the Washington Redskins. The Redskins are a lot like the Giants in that the expectations vs. results almost never matchup. The only difference is pretty clear why the Redskins fail: everyone hates each other. 

Saints 24, Redskins 10

After a bye, the Saints travel to Houston to play the Texans. The Texans run the ball extremely well and play excellent defense. In order to win the Saints will have to hope the Texans can’t find anyone better than Brian Hoyer to line up at quarterback

Texans 35, Saints 17 

A rematch with the Panthers awaits in week 13. Cam Newton seem to play his best games against the Saints. One of these days, the Saints will practice tackling mobile quarterbacks.

Panthers 37, Saints 20

The Saints take on the Buccaneers again in Week 14. Lovie Smith may or may not still be employed.

Saints 41, Buccaneers 20

The Saints played the Lions last year in an early season matchup where they completely fell apart in the fourth quarter. They will seek redemption in the Sunday night Home game. See Week 4 for analysis on the pick

Saints 38, Lions 21

Week 16: Saints vs. Jaguars. Drew Brees vs. Blake Bortles. Next!!!

Saints 30, Jags 10 

Week 17’s matchup with the Falcons could be for the division title or the sad end to a rebuilding year. Either way, it figures to relatively quiet in the Georgia Dome, Now that the Falcons aren’t allowed to pipe in artificial noise.

Falcons 31, Saints 20

Final Record: 10-6

Anyone who tells you they know how the New Orleans Saints 2015 season is going to unfold is either a psychic or a liar. I’m not a psychic, but I can pretend to be one after looking at the team’s official schedule. After a one year hiatus the team looks poised to make a chase for the playoffs, if for no other reason than the football gods decreed the NFC South face the AFC South in 2015. Here’s a closer look: 

 The team opens on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. Sean Payton wants his team to be tougher in 2015 and the Cardinals had one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. If the Saints can  keep Carson Palmer and his surgically repaired knees in check, they might be able to eke out a win. 

Cardinals 24, Saints 17

Week 2 Brings The Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Super Dome. Logic says this will be the Saints first crack at Jameis Winston, but the Bucs have never been one to let logic get in the way.

Saints 30, Bucs 24

Week 3 brings a date with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers won the division with a record of 7-8-1. The Panthers will enter the season as the favorite, but this division can be won by just about anyone. Except Tampa Bay.

Panthers 28, Saints 21

The Saints take on the Cowboys in Week 4 for a Sunday Night Football matchup. On paper, the Saints should lose this one pretty. However, the Saints save their best efforts for Al Michaels’ and Chris Collinsworth’s visits to the Super Dome.

Saints 41, Cowboys 35

The Philadelphia Eagles are the opponents in Week 5. The Saints will have to be for Chip Kelly’s QB trio of Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, and Tim Tebow. Rumor has it Kelly is working on plays to get all three on the field at the some time.

Saints 30, Eagles 20

 The Saints host the Falcons on a Thursday Night in Week 6. The Falcons are what the Saints used to be: a dynamic offense with an atrocious defense. New coach Dan Quinn will likely try to fix the latter issue. He would also be wise to solve the issue of keeping his wide receivers healthy for an entire season.

Saints 25, Falcons 21

Week 7 pits the Saints against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have one of the most dynamic passing offense in the NFL. The Saints had one of the worst pass defenses last year. New cornerback Brandon Browner, should help, but this could still be ugly.

Colts 41, Saints 34

The New York Giants are the opponent in Week 8. On paper, this should be a tough test. Super Bowl winning quarterback/coach combo. All-world talent at wide receiver. And yet…the Giants find ways to underachieve on a yearly basis that make the Saints seem like a model of consistency.

Saints 27, Giants 20 

The Titans come to town in week 9. This could be Zach Mettenberger’s return to Louisiana. Mettenberger played college ball at LSU. He wasn’t terribly good there. He isn't terribly good in Tennessee, either.

Saints 35, Titans 17

Week 10 is a matchup with the Washington Redskins. The Redskins are a lot like the Giants in that the expectations vs. results almost never matchup. The only difference is pretty clear why the Redskins fail: everyone hates each other. 

Saints 24, Redskins 10

After a bye, the Saints travel to Houston to play the Texans. The Texans run the ball extremely well and play excellent defense. In order to win the Saints will have to hope the Texans can’t find anyone better than Brian Hoyer to line up at quarterback

Texans 35, Saints 17 

A rematch with the Panthers awaits in week 13. Cam Newton seem to play his best games against the Saints. One of these days, the Saints will practice tackling mobile quarterbacks.

Panthers 37, Saints 20

The Saints take on the Buccaneers again in Week 14. Lovie Smith may or may not still be employed.

Saints 41, Buccaneers 20

The Saints played the Lions last year in an early season matchup where they completely fell apart in the fourth quarter. They will seek redemption in the Sunday night Home game. See Week 4 for analysis on the pick

Saints 38, Lions 21

Week 16: Saints vs. Jaguars. Drew Brees vs. Blake Bortles. Next!!!

Saints 30, Jags 10 

Week 17’s matchup with the Falcons could be for the division title or the sad end to a rebuilding year. Either way, it figures to relatively quiet in the Georgia Dome, Now that the Falcons aren’t allowed to pipe in artificial noise.

Falcons 31, Saints 20

Final Record: 10-6

The Indianapolis Colts 2015 schedule was finalized last week and it is softer than cotton. Based on the last year’s win totals, the Colts have the second easiest schedule in the NFL and will have back to back road games only once this year. Barring a major injury, the team should coast to a fourth straight playoff appearance. Here’s a closer look:

Week 1 kicks off with a trip to Buffalo to face the Bills. Last year’s Bills featured a solid defense and persistent run game. The team was doomed by its inability to get production from quarterback its quarterback position. Enter new head coach/defensive guru Rex Ryan. If anyone knows how to get a quarterback to reach his potential it’s….wait, never mind.

Colts 21, Bills 9

Up next is Ryan’s former team, the New York Jets on a Monday Night.The Jets are on the cusp of being an average NFL team with the return of Darelle Revis and the acquisition of Brandon Marshall. If rumors are true, this game could also feature Heisman trophy winner Marcus Mariota. If not, the assignment will go to former Texan Ryan Fitzpatrick. Either way, this is a winnable game as Andrew Luck avoids Revis Island

Colts 27, Jets 17

The quest for a 10th AFC South title begins in Week 3 when the Colts play the Titans on the road. The  Colts have won 12 of the last 13 meetings against the Titans. Anyone willing to pick the Titans in this one? Me Neither.

Colts 42, Titans 20 

The Colts host the perpetually rebuilding Jacksonville Jaguars in week 4. The Colts have won the past four meetings by a combined score 134-30.

Colts 38, Jaguars 17

Week 5 brings a Thursday night matchup with the Houston Texans featuring Adre Johnson’s return to his old stomping grounds. The Texans are the only team with a legitimate shot to unseat the Colts as division champs, but considering Brian Hoyer is most likely going to be the team’s starter, the division could be wrapped up by week 10.

Colts 24. Texans 10

Week 6 brings the first real test of the season: a Sunday night date with the New England Patriots. Prepare to be bombarded with more talk of deflated balls than should be allowed by the FCC. DeflateGate (worst scandal name.Ever) took the world by storm and every mind-numbing detail will be brought back to the surface.If you don’t like listening to the media beat a story into the ground, this may be the week to take the family on vacation.

Patriots 30, Colts 17

The Colts play the New Orleans Saints in Week 7. The Saints will march into town with several new faces after their offseason purge. Drew Brees under center keeps this team in any game, but the jury is still out on if their defense will be any better than the squad that was torched all of last season.  

Colts 38, Saints 37

The NFC South Champion Carolina Panthers are the opponents in Week 9. The Panthers made the playoffs last year with a dominating record of 7-8-1. The team hasn’t made many significant upgrades this offseason to the offensive line, so Cam Newton may likely spend the season running for his life. Again.

Colts 21, Panthers 13

Luck-Manning Bowl IV takes place in Indy in what could Peyton Manning’s last game vs. his former Luck leads the on field rivalry 2-1 while Manning is ahead in the annoying commercial battle one million to two.

Broncos 31, Colts 24

After a bye in week 10, The Colts take on the Falcons in Atlanta. This could be a shootout as the Falcons have the weapons to score on anyone. Unfortunately, those weapons are rarely  healthy enough to suit up week in and week out.

Colts 31, Falcons 28

The NFC South victory tour culminates with a Week 12 showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that we assume will feature Jameis Winston. Winston may one day become a great quarterback (I doubt it), but even if he does it won’t be in his rookie year  

Colts 28, Bucs 14

The Steelers are the opponent in week 13. The last time these two played,Ben Roethlisberger threw for 522 yards and 6 touchdowns. If the Colts can’t stop Antonio Brown from catching 10 of the 13 passes thrown his way, it could be a repeat performance.

Steeler 27, Colts 24

The Jaguars are back on the schedule in week.As mentioned before these, contests haven’t been close lately. However, at this point in the season maybe Blake Bortles  and Julius Thomas will have built up enough chemistry to keep things close.

Colts 27, Jaguars 20

The Colts host the Texans for the 14th time in week 15. The team has won all previous 13 home matchups. Unless Arian Foster runs for 300 yards,the streak continues.

Colts 23, Texans 14

Week 16 brings a trip to South Beach for the Colts when they take on the Dolphins. The colts offensive line had issues keeping Luck protected last season. Fortunately for the Colts, Luck runs with the grace of a gazelle being chased by a tiger. Still, it would be wise to get those issues cleared up before this game. Ndamokung Suh and the rest of the Dolphins front defensive unit are dangerous.

 Dolphins 17, Colts 13

The Colts end the regular season at home against the Titans, who will likely be in contention for another top 10 draft pick. The only drama in this game will come if the Colts rest their starters for the playoffs.

Colts 24, Titans 17

Final Record: 13-3

Anyone who tells you they know how the New Orleans Saints 2015 season is going to unfold is either a psychic or a liar. I’m not a psychic, but I can pretend to be one after looking at the team’s official schedule. After a one year hiatus the team looks poised to make a chase for the playoffs, if for no other reason than the football gods decreed the NFC South face the AFC South in 2015. Here’s a closer look: 

 The team opens on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. Sean Payton wants his team to be tougher in 2015 and the Cardinals had one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. If the Saints can  keep Carson Palmer and his surgically repaired knees in check, they might be able to eke out a win. 

Cardinals 24, Saints 17

Week 2 Brings The Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Super Dome. Logic says this will be the Saints first crack at Jameis Winston, but the Bucs have never been one to let logic get in the way.

Saints 30, Bucs 24

Week 3 brings a date with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers won the division with a record of 7-8-1. The Panthers will enter the season as the favorite, but this division can be won by just about anyone. Except Tampa Bay.

Panthers 28, Saints 21

The Saints take on the Cowboys in Week 4 for a Sunday Night Football matchup. On paper, the Saints should lose this one pretty. However, the Saints save their best efforts for Al Michaels’ and Chris Collinsworth’s visits to the Super Dome.

Saints 41, Cowboys 35

The Philadelphia Eagles are the opponents in Week 5. The Saints will have to be for Chip Kelly’s QB trio of Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, and Tim Tebow. Rumor has it Kelly is working on plays to get all three on the field at the some time.

Saints 30, Eagles 20

 The Saints host the Falcons on a Thursday Night in Week 6. The Falcons are what the Saints used to be: a dynamic offense with an atrocious defense. New coach Dan Quinn will likely try to fix the latter issue. He would also be wise to solve the issue of keeping his wide receivers healthy for an entire season.

Saints 25, Falcons 21

Week 7 pits the Saints against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have one of the most dynamic passing offense in the NFL. The Saints had one of the worst pass defenses last year. New cornerback Brandon Browner, should help, but this could still be ugly.

Colts 41, Saints 34

The New York Giants are the opponent in Week 8. On paper, this should be a tough test. Super Bowl winning quarterback/coach combo. All-world talent at wide receiver. And yet…the Giants find ways to underachieve on a yearly basis that make the Saints seem like a model of consistency.

Saints 27, Giants 20 

The Titans come to town in week 9. This could be Zach Mettenberger’s return to Louisiana. Mettenberger played college ball at LSU. He wasn’t terribly good there. He isn't terribly good in Tennessee, either.

Saints 35, Titans 17

Week 10 is a matchup with the Washington Redskins. The Redskins are a lot like the Giants in that the expectations vs. results almost never matchup. The only difference is pretty clear why the Redskins fail: everyone hates each other. 

Saints 24, Redskins 10

After a bye, the Saints travel to Houston to play the Texans. The Texans run the ball extremely well and play excellent defense. In order to win the Saints will have to hope the Texans can’t find anyone better than Brian Hoyer to line up at quarterback

Texans 35, Saints 17 

A rematch with the Panthers awaits in week 13. Cam Newton seem to play his best games against the Saints. One of these days, the Saints will practice tackling mobile quarterbacks.

Panthers 37, Saints 20

The Saints take on the Buccaneers again in Week 14. Lovie Smith may or may not still be employed.

Saints 41, Buccaneers 20

The Saints played the Lions last year in an early season matchup where they completely fell apart in the fourth quarter. They will seek redemption in the Sunday night Home game. See Week 4 for analysis on the pick

Saints 38, Lions 21

Week 16: Saints vs. Jaguars. Drew Brees vs. Blake Bortles. Next!!!

Saints 30, Jags 10 

Week 17’s matchup with the Falcons could be for the division title or the sad end to a rebuilding year. Either way, it figures to relatively quiet in the Georgia Dome, Now that the Falcons aren’t allowed to pipe in artificial noise.

Falcons 31, Saints 20

Final Record: 10-6

With the 2015 NFL Draft approaching, there are a few teams with very specific needs to fill that will require moving up the draft board. With that being said here are the five teams that will move up the draft board to grab a position of need.

Miami Dolphins– With the trade of Mike Wallace to the Minnesota Vikings, the Dolphins are void of a number one wide receiver. In order to fill that void, the Dolphins must trade up to put themselves in position to grab one of the two elite wide receivers prospects in this years class. They do not have the ammunition necessary to move high enough to grab Amari Cooper of Alabama, but they can move up to grab Kevin White of West Virginia. White offers the size and speed combination to be a dominant pass catcher for the Dolphins.

San Diego Chargers – The Chargers have a situation developing where Philip Rivers is starting to lose faith in the Chargers operation. Rivers does not support the franchises potential move to Los Angeles, and is going to play out the final season of his contract rather than sign a long-term extension. With Rivers unrest growing, the Chargers are left with very few options, which is why they will trade Rivers to the Tennessee Titans in order to be in position to select Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. Mariota allows them to grab their next franchise quarterback, and gives them a fresh face of the franchise in their bid to move to Los Angeles.

Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs did not throw a single touchdown pass to a wide receiver last year. The most pressing need for Andy Reid’s offense is a big play receiver with the ability to get into the end zone. Devante Parker of Louisville possesses these traits, but the Chiefs will need to move up a handful of spots to ensure his services.

Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck is the face of the National Football League for the next decade. Under Luck’s watch the Colts have inched one step closer to super bowl berth each season, this year losing in the AFC Championship Game. In order for the Colts to take that next step, they need to give Luck a competent rushing game. They failed in their attempt to do that with the Trent Richardson trade, but that will not deter them from moving up in this years draft for a running back. The running back they will be targeting is Todd Gurley from the University of Georgia. With the combination of Gurley, and Frank Gore in the backfield Luck will finally have a ground game that defenses will be forced to respect. With the addition of Gurley, the Colts will instantly become favorites to represent the AFC in the super bowl.

New England Patriots – While the Patriots are the favorite to trade out of the first round based on past history, this year they will shock analysts and move up significantly to land a player of top need. The Patriots will be looking to move up for cornerback Trae Waynes out of Michigan State University. Waynes is the top cornerback in this year’s draft, and fits perfectly into the Patriots single high safety press man scheme. Waynes brings the size and physicality to take over for the departed Darrelle Revis on the left side of the defense.

Each of these teams, move up the draft board and grab players that will help them immediately. The NFL Draft has always been very unpredictable and there is potential for many more trades to happen, but these five teams will move up to grab the player they want. 

Even without a pick in the first round of last year’s draft, the Indianapolis Colts still managed an incredibly successful season completing the second consecutive undefeated record within their division. With Andrew Luck at the helm, and the veteran offensive duo of Frank Gore and Andre Johnson on board, the Colts should be able to take the AFC South again with ease and make another playoff run.

The offense on the ground suffered greatly in 2014 with Trent Richardson continuing to struggle and Ahmad Bradshaw fighting through injuries. Daniel Herron eventually took over a majority of the carries to stop the bleeding but the addition of Gore should immediately add another element to the Colts attack. This will remove a lot of pressure from Luck who consistently faced defenses expecting pass.

The book closes on Richardson who heads to Oakland, disallowing the Colts from giving him any more undeserved chances at redemption after trading away their 2014 first round pick. While this deal may go down as one of the worst in recent history, Chuck Pagano’s squad was able to compensate and succeed, now with the luxury of moving past their mistake.

Through the air, TY Hilton continued his ascent to stardom with another excellent season totaling over 1400 yards. Hilton will also benefit from having the future hall-of-famer Johnson opposite him. Meanwhile Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen round out arguably the most capable tight end pair in the league, should Allen remain healthy.

While the offense should once again function quite well, we turn to the defensive side of the ball when projecting most of the 2015 draft choices. The defense is aging, with four projected starters over 30 years old and another handful just a few years behind. Safety, rush linebacker, and defensive tackle are the biggest question marks while little cornerback depth is also concerning. Newcomers Trent Cole and Kendall Langford are solid veteran reinforcements but the push could hugely benefit from a youthful shot in the arm.

I expect most of the draft moves to revolve around the defense, but improving the offensive line is also a priority while they might also add a late round runningback to take some weight off of Gore’s aging shoulders. Let’s take a look at some options for the Colts with their 29^th overall pick.

Cameron Erving, C, Florida State

Khaled Holmes was one of the three starting centers the Colts rotated through all season. Adding Erving, the best center in the draft, would instill stability at the position and create a powerful and young left side of the line with the reliable Anthony Castonzo (26) and second year guard Jack Mewhort (23). TJ Clemmings or La’el Collins would also serve the same purpose and would make a lot of sense

Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma

While Arthur Jones hopes to return after missing most of the season with a high ankle sprain, Phillips would add a run stopping presence to the middle of the Colts defensive line. The only other guy on the roster capable of starting is Josh Chapman who severely underperformed making nose tackle a huge target. Eddie Goldman is another player to look out for although I expect him to be gone, this late in the first round.

Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA

Neither Jerrell Freeman nor D’Qwell Jackson had their best year making it difficult to predict how desperate the Colts are for a linebacker, but they are in a nice spot at the end of the round to take Kendricks, who along with Denzel Perryman, nearly stand alone at the top of the inside linebacker rankings. Downhill aggressiveness combined with excellent burst make Kendricks a productive tackler which could certainly translate into NFL success if he could add some weight to his frame.

Damarious Randall, S, Arizona State

After LaRon Landry’s suspension, safety became a big hole in the Colts secondary with veteran Mike Adams luckily able to produce at age 34. Newcomer Dwight Lowery should also help but Randall is a guy who could start right away with good hands, speed, and aggressiveness. At 5’11”, Randall could also help out at corner if he relinquished a bit of his punishing attitude. This might be a reach for the Colts but Randall is the 2^nd best player at a position Indianapolis desperately needs.

Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia

This might be the biggest stretch with Harold projected in some mocks as early as #6 to the Jets. I don’t think he will land in the top ten but he has definitely emerged as a top 5 player at his position. Should he fall to the Colts, this could be a no-brainer with Trent Cole (32) and Robert Mathis (34) the remaining reliable options at rush linebacker. Former first rounder Bjoern Werner hasn’t seen much action in his first two years with fellow youngster Jonathan Newsome still learning the nuiance of the position. This leaves room for improvement on the outside where Harold could provide some consistent effort to complement long striding acceleration and agility.  

Houston Texans:

The Texans have a talented defense, but that unit stills lacks holes while their offense lacks playmakers. Quarterback is still a need with the unproven Ryan Mallett and shaky veteran Brian Hoyer expected to fight for the starting job, but there is no one worth drafting at their position and it would take too much to trade up and get whoever is available at the second spot. Possibly their biggest need is pass catcher, with no one outside of DeAndre Hopkins seen as anything more than average. On defense they added great players in Vince Wilfork and Rahim Moore and resigned Kareem Jackson, but they have holes at defensive end and outside linebacker, while inside backer and strong safety could be seen as holes too if the current incumbents continue to trent downwards. They will likely miss out on guys like Vic Beasley and Dante Fowler, but Bud Dupree and now Randy Gregory are fully expected to fall outside of the top ten, so they are options. Other possible picks are Malcom Brown and Arik Armstead, both of whom are very potent.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) Malcom Brown - DT   Texas

2.) Randy Gregory - OLB   Nebraska

3.) Bud Dupree - OLB   Kentucky

Indianapolis Colts:

The Colts had a productive offense despite the lack of a running threat and a reliable offensive line, while their defense held up in the pass without consistent pressure or depth in the secondary. They got short-term fixes at running back and pass rush with two veterans, Frank Gore and Trent Cole, but the other positions remain an issue. They can address their line if one of the first-round tackles are available or with center Cameron Erving if they see him worthy of a first-round pick. Corner is also an option, but the four guys worth a pick that early will likely be gone by the time the Ravens or the Cowboys are on the clock. What is the biggest need for them is a run stopper, whether it be on the line or a backer. Both positions though, are very deep in the draft, so the should opt to wait unless their first few options are off the board.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) T.J. Clemmings - OT   Pittsburgh

2.) Ereck Flowers - OT   Miami (Fla.)

3.) Eric Kendricks - ILB   UCLA

Jacksonville Jaguars:

The Jaguars are one of the most talent-dearth teams in the league, with only a handful of quality starters on their team. Needs at running back, interior lineman, inside linebacker, and defensive back can all be filled more safely in the later rounds, while their two second-round picks from last year should develop some more in their sophomore year, so that leaves edge rusher. The Jaguars have enough holes to where a trade back could be seen as the better option, but whether or not a team would want to trade up to the third spot is questionable. Assuming the Jaguars are forced to stick, they will likely be looking at Florida's Dante Fowler and Clemson's Vic Beasley. Both players are raw but extremely athletic, with Beasley's case being more extreme in both categories. Fowler looks like the safer pick here, but Beasley's athleticism is incredibly rare and both players are boom-or-bust products.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) Dante Fowler - OLB   Florida

2.) Vic Beasley - OLB   Clemson

3.) Shane Ray - DE   USC

Tennessee Titans:

The Titans, despite picking one spot earlier, are in a better shape than the Jaguars in most positions. They however, still have far too many holes to be considered a contender anytime soon. Needs that they are expected to address later in the draft are wide receiver, inside linebacker, and defensive back, with quarterback and defensive end being possible options with their first-round pick. The deal with the Titans is whether or not they will trade back, and if they do not will they select Marcus Mariota. They should be getting suitors for the pick, with the Jets being the first to come up to mind, so signs are pointing to a Zach Mettenberger-led offense, but drafts are often filled with surprises. If they do get a trade off, how far do they trade back? If can trade back to six with the Jets and still get Williams, but if they trade all the way back to 12 with the Browns, they will miss out on Williams and have to settle for someon like Malcom Brown, possibly Arik Armstead if they trade back even further.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) Leonard Williams - DE   USC

2.) Malcom Brown - DT   Texas

3.) Marcus Mariota - QB   Oregon

Houston Texans:

The Texans have a talented defense, but that unit stills lacks holes while their offense lacks playmakers. Quarterback is still a need with the unproven Ryan Mallett and shaky veteran Brian Hoyer expected to fight for the starting job, but there is no one worth drafting at their position and it would take too much to trade up and get whoever is available at the second spot. Possibly their biggest need is pass catcher, with no one outside of DeAndre Hopkins seen as anything more than average. On defense they added great players in Vince Wilfork and Rahim Moore and resigned Kareem Jackson, but they have holes at defensive end and outside linebacker, while inside backer and strong safety could be seen as holes too if the current incumbents continue to trent downwards. They will likely miss out on guys like Vic Beasley and Dante Fowler, but Bud Dupree and now Randy Gregory are fully expected to fall outside of the top ten, so they are options. Other possible picks are Malcom Brown and Arik Armstead, both of whom are very potent.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) Malcom Brown - DT   Texas

2.) Randy Gregory - OLB   Nebraska

3.) Bud Dupree - OLB   Kentucky

Indianapolis Colts:

The Colts had a productive offense despite the lack of a running threat and a reliable offensive line, while their defense held up in the pass without consistent pressure or depth in the secondary. They got short-term fixes at running back and pass rush with two veterans, Frank Gore and Trent Cole, but the other positions remain an issue. They can address their line if one of the first-round tackles are available or with center Cameron Erving if they see him worthy of a first-round pick. Corner is also an option, but the four guys worth a pick that early will likely be gone by the time the Ravens or the Cowboys are on the clock. What is the biggest need for them is a run stopper, whether it be on the line or a backer. Both positions though, are very deep in the draft, so the should opt to wait unless their first few options are off the board.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) T.J. Clemmings - OT   Pittsburgh

2.) Ereck Flowers - OT   Miami (Fla.)

3.) Eric Kendricks - ILB   UCLA

Jacksonville Jaguars:

The Jaguars are one of the most talent-dearth teams in the league, with only a handful of quality starters on their team. Needs at running back, interior lineman, inside linebacker, and defensive back can all be filled more safely in the later rounds, while their two second-round picks from last year should develop some more in their sophomore year, so that leaves edge rusher. The Jaguars have enough holes to where a trade back could be seen as the better option, but whether or not a team would want to trade up to the third spot is questionable. Assuming the Jaguars are forced to stick, they will likely be looking at Florida's Dante Fowler and Clemson's Vic Beasley. Both players are raw but extremely athletic, with Beasley's case being more extreme in both categories. Fowler looks like the safer pick here, but Beasley's athleticism is incredibly rare and both players are boom-or-bust products.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) Dante Fowler - OLB   Florida

2.) Vic Beasley - OLB   Clemson

3.) Shane Ray - DE   USC

Tennessee Titans:

The Titans, despite picking one spot earlier, are in a better shape than the Jaguars in most positions. They however, still have far too many holes to be considered a contender anytime soon. Needs that they are expected to address later in the draft are wide receiver, inside linebacker, and defensive back, with quarterback and defensive end being possible options with their first-round pick. The deal with the Titans is whether or not they will trade back, and if they do not will they select Marcus Mariota. They should be getting suitors for the pick, with the Jets being the first to come up to mind, so signs are pointing to a Zach Mettenberger-led offense, but drafts are often filled with surprises. If they do get a trade off, how far do they trade back? If can trade back to six with the Jets and still get Williams, but if they trade all the way back to 12 with the Browns, they will miss out on Williams and have to settle for someon like Malcom Brown, possibly Arik Armstead if they trade back even further.

Top Three Prospects:

1.) Leonard Williams - DE   USC

2.) Malcom Brown - DT   Texas

3.) Marcus Mariota - QB   Oregon

After former general manager Phil Emery and head coach Mark Trestman failed miserably at transforming the Chicago Bears into the NFL's next unstoppable offensive juggernaut, the new front office regime has apparently decided to get back to focusing on defense. 

New GM Ryan Pace and new head coach John Fox kicked off the Bears 2015 season by trading star receiver Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets for just a fifth round draft pick.  The duo then clearly set their sights on revamping a defense that had, quite frankly, becoming a laughing stock under the previous administration.

Signing highly sought after free agent linebacker Pernell McPhee to a five year deal got things going.  In an effort to bolster their horrendous secondary, Bears brass said goodbye to their underwhelming safety Chris Conte and quickly inked 3 time pro bowl safety Antrel Rolle to a three year contract.

Additionally, nearly every NFL analyst and mock draft board points towards Chicago using their upcoming seventh overall pick in April's draft on either a robust defensive tackle or perhaps an explosive linebacker. 

After publically declaring the organization will indeed stick with turnover prone and controversial quarterback Jay Cutler, Bears officials have wisely shifted the focus back to building a ferocious defense.  Alleviating the pressure for Cutler to be a heroic gun-slinging, prolific passer could be just what the doctor ordered.

The Bears identity has always centered around their bruising, ball-hawking, team defense.  They even utilized that tried and true formula to nearly win the 2006 championship with lackluster QB Rex Grossman under center.   

Although they were unable to topple all-time great Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts in that soggy Super Bowl, the 13-3 NFC champion Bears proved that a dominant defense coupled with a capable offense could indeed succeed.

Clearly that philosophy has not been lost on the newest boss.  As the recent successes of the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks have proven, "Defense does indeed win championships." 

The Houston Texans went into this off- season in reasonably good salary cap shape. They had about $14 Million in cap space and had targeted some players with relatively high cap numbers for contract restructure or dismissal. Andre Johnson, Adrian Foster, Duane Brown and Johnathan Joseph were foremost among those headed for the “chopping block”.

Most NFL analyst believed the Texans would probably cut last years’ starting Quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, if they were confident that they could upgrade the position. So far, the Texans have been relatively quiet. During this lead up to Free Agency and the Draft, only the release of Wide Receiver Andre Johnson and the reported re-signing of Back-up Quarterback Ryan Mallett put the Texans on the news ticker.

Then, the rumors and reports that the Texans are likely to sign free agent Quarterback Bryan Hoyer began to creep across the bottom of the screen on ESPN, CBS and the NFL Network. Clearly, that news would seem to indicate that last year’s starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick, will indeed be given his “pink slip.”

While the probable release of the 32 years old Fitzpatrick isn’t surprising, releasing him without having secured an “upgrade” to the position is. If Hoyer is the replacement for Fitzpatrick, it is certainly not an “upgrade” and most analysts would likely agree that it is a slight “downgrade”.

 Fitzpatrick started 12 games for the Texans in 2014 before being placed on the Injured Reserve List with a season ending injury. While no one expected Fitzpatrick to suddenly become the Texans’ “franchise” Quarterback, he did play well enough for the team to post a winning record (9-7), and fall just short of the playoffs, one year after going 2-14 and having the first overall pick of the NFL Draft.

The former Harvard Quarterback played well for new Head Coach Bill O’Brien, leading the team to a 3-1 start. Then the team suffered three devastating losses to Dallas by 3 points, the Indianapolis Colts by 5 and the Pittsburgh Steelers by 7. Although Fitzpatrick played well in two of those games (Indianapolis and Pittsburgh - posting a 109.3 and 98.7 passer rating respectively), the team faltered and could never regained consistency for the rest of the season.

During the 2014 season, Fitzpatrick completed over 63 percent of his passes and only threw 8 interceptions, but despite that success, the Texans appear to be ready to cast him into the briar patch of free agency.

The move from Fitzpatrick to Hoyer does not seem to make much sense. When comparing the two QBs, Fitzpatrick has the better 2014 and career numbers. Fitzpatrick has more starting experience than the 29 years old Hoyer. Fitzpatrick was a “full time” starter in Cincinnati, Buffalo and Tennessee (89 starts). Hoyer, on the other hand, has only one year of starting experience (13 starts).

In 2014 (12 starts), Ryan Fitzpatrick had a pass completion rate of 63.1 percent; Hoyer could only muster 55.3 percent in 13 starts. Also during that season, Hoyer threw for almost 1,000 more yards than Fitzpatrick; yet, Hoyer only threw 12 touchdown passes while Fitzpatrick’s threw 17.

Last season, the Texans passed on drafting a “franchise” Quarterback (Bridgewater or Bortles). They also failed to make significant, meaningful “upgrades” to their receiving corps. This year they appear to be in the process of replacing a slightly older but more productive Quarterback (Ryan Fitzpatrick) with a less experienced and less prolific signal caller (Brian Hoyer).

None of these three Quarterbacks (Fitzpatrick, Hoyer or Mallett) will morph into the Texans’ “Quarterback of the future” but until Houston can find the gumption to pull the trigger on a prospect, they owe it to their fans to put the best player on the field. With this move (signing Hoyer and cutting Fitzpatrick), the organization does not seem to be putting the interest of its fans first.