2022 NFL Discussion Thread

[sveumrules]

Previous NFL thread is coming up on 100 pages & it is 2022 now, so here's a new one.

 

Looks like Bengals/Chiefs is the early game Sunday followed by 49ers/Rams.

[jerichoholicninja]

What effect does a Tom Brady retirement have on the rest of the NFL?

 

If he does, Tampa Bay and the whole NFC South fall into a black hole of suck. All four teams are either mediocre or terrible. The Falcons and Panthers probably should be selling off players but with the division wide open do they go the other way? Does a Brady-less Bucs force the Saints to acquire an actual QB? More importantly, does Sean Payton stick around now? I'm sure there are plenty of teams hoping he takes a year off so they can go after him for their coach after 2022. Do any of these teams make a run at Rodgers or Russell Wilson?

[homer]

Tampa Bay has a great defensive front, two great receivers (assuming Gronk also retires), and Playoff Lenny. They have a nice core if they find someone to come in and at least manage a game.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Tampa Bay has a great defensive front, two great receivers (assuming Gronk also retires), and Playoff Lenny. They have a nice core if they find someone to come in and at least manage a game.

 

Godwin and Fournette are both unrestricted free agents, along with several members of that defensive front 7. The Bucs have plenty of work ahead of them to stay relevant if Brady hangs them up.

[nate82]

What effect does a Tom Brady retirement have on the rest of the NFL?

 

If he does, Tampa Bay and the whole NFC South fall into a black hole of suck. All four teams are either mediocre or terrible. The Falcons and Panthers probably should be selling off players but with the division wide open do they go the other way? Does a Brady-less Bucs force the Saints to acquire an actual QB? More importantly, does Sean Payton stick around now? I'm sure there are plenty of teams hoping he takes a year off so they can go after him for their coach after 2022. Do any of these teams make a run at Rodgers or Russell Wilson?

 

I think the Panthers are the only team cap wise that could possibly get Rodgers or Wilson. If Brady retires then his dead becomes his cap number which is currently more than what his cap number is for the Buccs.

 

The NFC South may completely suck for a year or two until the cap problems go away for those teams. The Saints are sitting at a -71m cap right now and that won't improve until 2023. But I think they will restructure some contracts to be able to get under the cap for 2022 but I don't think they have enough to get either Rodgers or Wilson.

[TURBO]

Tampa Bay has a great defensive front, two great receivers (assuming Gronk also retires), and Playoff Lenny. They have a nice core if they find someone to come in and at least manage a game.

 

Godwin (might not make it back for the start of the season due to injury) and Fournette are both free agents. They are not a lock to return, so basically, they have one proven WR in Evans, and no real back-up option for Fournette because Ronald Jones is also a free agent.

 

Their offense will be in shambles without resigning some guys or grabbing some guys in free agency. They need Gronk and Brady back, or they will be a doormat in looking at their 2022 schedule.

 

Losing a handful of key guys on D as well.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I believe Tampa has a ton of pending free agents and will likely be the team that just guts itself and goes full rebuild mode (at least for 2022) if Brady hangs up the cleats. They found a way to bring the band back together this past offseason, but they are a team that's long in the tooth and will have to pay the piper for their approach to last year's Super Bowl title. They can say retool, and they do have some core pieces to build around - but it will no longer be a team just in need of a quarterback once Brady retires. I thought for a hot minute they may be a potential destination for Rodgers via trade if Brady does indeed retire and Rodgers/Pack move on from one another, but after looking at their current roster construction I don't really see it being a good fit for 2022.

 

Not saying in any way it was the wrong approach because it won them a title - just that they knew the piper would need to be paid for it.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

If Tampa sucks, so be it. They got exactly what they set out to do when they brought Brady in. Mission accomplished. They would be doing the right thing to white flag it and suck with their trophy in hand.

[homer]

My point is that TB falling into a black hole of suck is not a foregone conclusion. They also have a great offensive line. If they choose to punt on everyone and start over that's a different story.

[homer]

Bears hiring Ryan Poles as GM. They like Ryans.

[homer]

Vikings hiring Browns exec Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to be their next GM

[jerichoholicninja]

My point is that TB falling into a black hole of suck is not a foregone conclusion. They also have a great offensive line. If they choose to punt on everyone and start over that's a different story.

 

It all depends on who they get to play QB. If they can't afford Rodgers or Wilson who else is there? Teddy Bridgewater? Nick Foles?

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Sean Payton has decided to "step away" from his role as head coach of the Saints, per Ian Rapoport.

[Fear The Chorizo]

My point is that TB falling into a black hole of suck is not a foregone conclusion. They also have a great offensive line. If they choose to punt on everyone and start over that's a different story.

 

I think some of those lineman that make their line great are set to be free agents, too.

[TURBO]

My point is that TB falling into a black hole of suck is not a foregone conclusion. They also have a great offensive line. If they choose to punt on everyone and start over that's a different story.

 

Probably losing Jensen on the OL to free agency, he's 31, not sure they will pony up for him, but I wish they would.

 

If Brady leaves, they are going to have to be all in on a re-build, if he stays, they will try to piece together another championship run team.

 

Brady stays, Gronk stays...

[TURBO]

Bucs defensive players who are free agents:

 

Suh

Gholston

Pierre Paul

Davis

Whitehead - this one will really sting

 

That is a lot of firepower right there...

 

Offensive players:

 

OL Jensen

OL Cappa

WR Godwin

RB Jones

RB Fournette

RB Benard

TE Gronk

TE OJ Howard

 

Some of these guys "might" be back, but the majority of those lists will be gone, they just can't pay them all... Those are just the higher profile guys, there are others as well.

 

Brady leaves, this team might not be recognizable next year, which is why I think there is a slim to none chance the Bucs consider trading for Rodgers.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

I think we now know why the seemingly immortal Tom "could play till he's 50" Brady is suddenly thinking so hard about spending more time with his family. That Tampa roster is going to take some hits this offseason.

[homer]

Buccaneers OC Byron "Played a Set of Downs in College on One leg" Leftwich is going to be head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars

[Fear The Chorizo]

Buccaneers OC Byron "Played a Set of Downs in College on One leg" Leftwich is going to be head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars

 

Good for him - hopefully he can take some of the concepts he developed with Arians/Brady to improve Lawrence's efficiency and see that team take a big jump in year #2 of Trevor.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

That one might have some merit as I haven't seen anything but high praise for Leftwich as a coach, but it sure feels like they make hiring decisions like a local high school.

[TURBO]

Leftwich is not a good OC.

 

No imagination, predictable, and basically has been on Tom Brady's coat tails the past two seasons. (Seriously, who do you think calls the majority of the offensive plays, Leftwich or Brady?)

 

You won't find many Buccaneer fans sorry to see him go, in fact, most will celebrate his departure.

[PeaveyFury]

If the Packers get through HC hiring season with their offensive staff intact, that will be a massive win.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

If the Packers get through HC hiring season with their offensive staff intact, that will be a massive win.

 

Feels like Denver is going to talk themselves into Hackett on the mere hope it might improve their chances of being the trade partner if Rodgers and the Packers mutually agree to part ways.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

If the Packers get through HC hiring season with their offensive staff intact, that will be a massive win.

 

Feels like Denver is going to talk themselves into Hackett on the mere hope it might improve their chances of being the trade partner if Rodgers and the Packers mutually agree to part ways.

 

I mean, Nathaniel Hackett was the OC for a Blake Bortles-led offense that made the AFC Championship game not too long ago, so it isn't like he doesn't have any bonafides.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

 

I mean, Nathaniel Hackett was the OC for a Blake Bortles-led offense that made the AFC Championship game not too long ago, so it isn't like he doesn't have any bonafides.

 

Right, definitely a legitimate candidate. With the added bonus of increasing your chances to land that missing QB piece. I would think unless someone else blows them away, it gives Hackett a big leg up.