We're on to the Edge position today and will be looking at the two guys on each team that will be attempting to bring down the QB during pass rush downs.
4. New England Patriots - Bradley Chubb, Carl Lawson. Let us start by saying all 4 of these teams have elite or soon-to-be elite pass rushers. What set's the Patriots at the back of the pack for now is they have the latter. Chubb has a very bright future and any team would be thrilled to build around him. He has all the tools to be disruptive in the pass game and he will likely increase upon his sack total from last year. We like Lawson too but he can't seem to stay on the field. There is little optimism he plays all 16 games so look for rookie first round pick Brian Burns to get some opportunities this year.
3. Miami Dolphins - Olivier Vernon, Whitney Mercilus. The Dolphins were busy this offseason with a flurry of trades. Two of these brought in a completely new pass rush tandem. Let's start with number one on the depth chart: Olivier Vernon. We were a little surprised to see the Giants move him, but when we remembered Dave Gettleman is running the ship up there, it suddenly all made sense. What Miami gets is an elite pass rusher who immediately makes the Dolphins defense that much scarier. Opposing teams will have to game plan for him which is something the team lacked last season at this position. If this were 2015, we would probably have this team at number one. However, Mercilus is on the downhill side of his career. The Dolphins are hoping he has just enough left in the tank to be an effective number two this year.
2. New York Jets - Trey Flowers, Haason Reddick. The Jets possess the best edge rusher in the 3GML in Flowers. They had to pay for him, but considering the value of the position, it was probably worth it. He comes from a team that ran multiple looks on defense, so considering the Jets are heading that direction too, we expect him to fit right in and disrupt the passing game with regularity. Reddick is the unknown here and the only reason New York isn't number one. On the positive, he is mainly going to be asked to rush the quarterback this season. We think Arizona played him out of position too much and kept him from doing what he does best. If the Jets can have him play to his strengths, it could get the former first round pick's career back on track.
1. Buffalo Bills - Myles Garrett, Harold Landry. What is amazing about this duo is they are both still on their rookie contracts. Buffalo is getting incredible value at one of the most important positions in the NFL. Garrett was a no-brainer number one pick for the Bills a few seasons ago, as he is everything they hoped he would be. Every year he has gotten better and has top 5 edge written all over him. He will continue to cause headaches for the offensive coordinators of the 3GML. When Harold Landry fell to the second round in last year's draft, Buffalo ditched their traditional draft-for-need strategy and went with the best player available. He has not let them down by quickly showing why most analysts had a first round grade on him. With Garrett likely to garner most of the attention, look for Landry to quietly put up big numbers.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 28
New England - 25
Miami - 20
New York - 17
Friday, June 7, 2019
Thursday, June 6, 2019
2019 3GML Positional Rankings - Linebacker
Today is where it gets a little interesting as defensive scheme (4-3 or 3-4) will play a role in the rankings. Linebackers are up and we will be looking at the three on each team that have responsibilities other than just getting to the QB. Outside linebackers who are primarily rushers will be ranked with the edges tomorrow.
4. Buffalo Bills - Jatavis Brown, Devin Bush, Zach Cunningham. Linebackers were a tough rating because they are asked to do so much and as a result have their strengths and weaknesses impact the game more. A true complete linebacker is hard to find and when you get one, you better lock him up. The Bills hope Bush is that guy moving forward and said so by taking him number 10 overall. He is going to get to play right away and will be asked to captain this group as a rookie. He can fly all over the place and will be a true three down backer. However, because we don't know who he is in the NFL just yet, the Bills land at number 4 on our list. Cunningham and Brown are both solid starters in the league but we consider them slightly above average and that's it. Buffalo will likely need to retool at outside linebacker in next years draft.
3. New York Jets - Avery Williamson, Darron Lee, Jamie Collins. Williamson is the strength of this group and should transition nicely to Gregg Williams new 3-4 hybrid defensive scheme. He is athletic, can cover ground and is excellent against the run. Darron Lee has never quite lived up to his first round draft status but will look to change that this year. Our big question for this team is Jamie Collins. He was never quite the player in Cleveland he was in New England and he now has the same defensive coordinator he had during those years with the Browns. Maybe the 3-4 will suit him better than the 4-3 he played last year, but we think his better days are in the rearview mirror.
2. Miami Dolphins - Raekwon McMillan, Jerome Baker, Shaquil Barrett. We like the addition of Barrett to the roster as he immediately becomes the best in the group. The Dolphins will be using him in a variety of ways in their 3-4 including asking him to rush the passer more than he may have in Denver. Baker is very athletic and uses that to make up for his lack of size. He gives Miami a linebacker who can cover, but we are not sure they will ask him to do this much. We expect him to continue his growth and believe his career trajectory is up. McMillan is fantastic on run defense and look for him to be used mainly in this way as his coverage skills are lacking. Overall a solid group if Miami designs a defense around their strengths.
1. New England Patriots - Danny Trevathan, Demario Davis, Joe Shobert. By far the group with the fewest holes. Each one of these players is solid in their own right. Shobert is an excellent coverage backer that gives New England's D more teeth in stopping the throw. Davis compliments nicely with his ability to stop the run. Trevathan is balanced and can do a bit of both. Pro Football Focus had all three of these players in their top 21 linebackers and while we know the Pats GM is not a fan of PFF and their analytics, we doubt he would disagree with their take this time.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 24
New England - 24
Miami - 18
New York - 14
4. Buffalo Bills - Jatavis Brown, Devin Bush, Zach Cunningham. Linebackers were a tough rating because they are asked to do so much and as a result have their strengths and weaknesses impact the game more. A true complete linebacker is hard to find and when you get one, you better lock him up. The Bills hope Bush is that guy moving forward and said so by taking him number 10 overall. He is going to get to play right away and will be asked to captain this group as a rookie. He can fly all over the place and will be a true three down backer. However, because we don't know who he is in the NFL just yet, the Bills land at number 4 on our list. Cunningham and Brown are both solid starters in the league but we consider them slightly above average and that's it. Buffalo will likely need to retool at outside linebacker in next years draft.
3. New York Jets - Avery Williamson, Darron Lee, Jamie Collins. Williamson is the strength of this group and should transition nicely to Gregg Williams new 3-4 hybrid defensive scheme. He is athletic, can cover ground and is excellent against the run. Darron Lee has never quite lived up to his first round draft status but will look to change that this year. Our big question for this team is Jamie Collins. He was never quite the player in Cleveland he was in New England and he now has the same defensive coordinator he had during those years with the Browns. Maybe the 3-4 will suit him better than the 4-3 he played last year, but we think his better days are in the rearview mirror.
2. Miami Dolphins - Raekwon McMillan, Jerome Baker, Shaquil Barrett. We like the addition of Barrett to the roster as he immediately becomes the best in the group. The Dolphins will be using him in a variety of ways in their 3-4 including asking him to rush the passer more than he may have in Denver. Baker is very athletic and uses that to make up for his lack of size. He gives Miami a linebacker who can cover, but we are not sure they will ask him to do this much. We expect him to continue his growth and believe his career trajectory is up. McMillan is fantastic on run defense and look for him to be used mainly in this way as his coverage skills are lacking. Overall a solid group if Miami designs a defense around their strengths.
1. New England Patriots - Danny Trevathan, Demario Davis, Joe Shobert. By far the group with the fewest holes. Each one of these players is solid in their own right. Shobert is an excellent coverage backer that gives New England's D more teeth in stopping the throw. Davis compliments nicely with his ability to stop the run. Trevathan is balanced and can do a bit of both. Pro Football Focus had all three of these players in their top 21 linebackers and while we know the Pats GM is not a fan of PFF and their analytics, we doubt he would disagree with their take this time.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 24
New England - 24
Miami - 18
New York - 14
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
2019 3GML Positional Rankings - Cornerback
We are now over halfway through our positional rankings and the overall rankings are starting to take shape. Will they stay the same moving forward or will there be a shakeup? Stay tuned as we move onto cornerbacks today. Side note: we are including the nickel in our rankings as it has almost become the base in today's NFL.
4. Miami Dolphins - Desmond King, JC Jackson, Minkah Fitzpatrick. This is a really an exciting young core to build around. King is one of the best zone coverage guys in the game. He is a ball hawk who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Our question mark here is what happens when the Dolphins need to play man? That's just not who he is. We know they will run the right scheme for him to be successful, but there will undoubtedly be times they need to man up and may need to look to someone else for this job. Jackson has the build to be a top corner, but he just hasn't shown enough yet. He had flashes last season, but he also had some really bad moments too. Fitzpatrick needs to be on the field every play so look for him to bounce between safety and nickel depending on the defensive package. A very solid unit that in 2 years will be at or near the top of this list.
3. Buffalo Bills - Casey Hayward, James Bradberry, Budda Baker. Nothing about this unit says, "Wow." However, it's definitely above average and many teams would be happy with this group. Our problems? What direction is Hayward trending and who is James Bradberry going to be? Two years ago, Hayward was mentioned with the top corners in the game and Buffalo got an extremely team-friendly deal done to keep him in Upstate New York. Last season? We saw some regression and are wondering if father time is starting to play a role in his production. James Bradberry could be a solid number two, or he could give up a ton of touchdowns. We just don't know who he is based on the last few seasons of play. This is most likely his last season with the Bills as the exciting young Greedy Williams was drafted to take this job. This may even happen before season's end depending on which Bradberry shows up. Baker is the most exciting player in the group as he is a versatile player that can play all over the field. Buffalo needs to get this young man into more defensive sets.
2. New England Patriots - Marhson Lattimore, Ronald Darby, Byron Murphy. What put New England at number two on our list was having a true lockdown CB1 on their roster. When you look at the two teams below them, you aren't as confident in the players at the top of the depth chart to shut an elite receiver down. Lattimore can do this and it breaks the Pats away from the pack. Resigning Darby was wise as he is a perfect number two for this team. The question for the Super Bowl winners is who plays nickel? We have their first round pick Murphy slotted to get the job, but Chauncy Gardner-Johnson is a name to keep an eye on. Both have their strengths and could see time based on scheme.
1. New York Jets - Xavien Howard, Trumain Johnson, Jason Verrett. The Jets take their first positional rankings crown with this cornerback group. Howard is an up and coming elite corner who just got paid like one. The Jets made a splash with their trade for him and then smartly locked him up moving forward. He is already a top 5 player at the position and has all-pro written all over him this year. Trumaine Johnson will slide into the number two role for the Jets and we have wonder if he is a bit overpaid considering this, but we know the Jets feel much better having him on the field. Finally, we get to Verrett in the slot. This is quite the luxury as he would be on the outside for most other teams. Considering his injury history though, this is a great spot for him as he may not need to play as many downs. If the Jets can keep the wear and tear to a minimum, they have a group that will keep opposing receivers in check.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 23
New England - 20
Miami - 15
New York - 12
4. Miami Dolphins - Desmond King, JC Jackson, Minkah Fitzpatrick. This is a really an exciting young core to build around. King is one of the best zone coverage guys in the game. He is a ball hawk who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Our question mark here is what happens when the Dolphins need to play man? That's just not who he is. We know they will run the right scheme for him to be successful, but there will undoubtedly be times they need to man up and may need to look to someone else for this job. Jackson has the build to be a top corner, but he just hasn't shown enough yet. He had flashes last season, but he also had some really bad moments too. Fitzpatrick needs to be on the field every play so look for him to bounce between safety and nickel depending on the defensive package. A very solid unit that in 2 years will be at or near the top of this list.
3. Buffalo Bills - Casey Hayward, James Bradberry, Budda Baker. Nothing about this unit says, "Wow." However, it's definitely above average and many teams would be happy with this group. Our problems? What direction is Hayward trending and who is James Bradberry going to be? Two years ago, Hayward was mentioned with the top corners in the game and Buffalo got an extremely team-friendly deal done to keep him in Upstate New York. Last season? We saw some regression and are wondering if father time is starting to play a role in his production. James Bradberry could be a solid number two, or he could give up a ton of touchdowns. We just don't know who he is based on the last few seasons of play. This is most likely his last season with the Bills as the exciting young Greedy Williams was drafted to take this job. This may even happen before season's end depending on which Bradberry shows up. Baker is the most exciting player in the group as he is a versatile player that can play all over the field. Buffalo needs to get this young man into more defensive sets.
2. New England Patriots - Marhson Lattimore, Ronald Darby, Byron Murphy. What put New England at number two on our list was having a true lockdown CB1 on their roster. When you look at the two teams below them, you aren't as confident in the players at the top of the depth chart to shut an elite receiver down. Lattimore can do this and it breaks the Pats away from the pack. Resigning Darby was wise as he is a perfect number two for this team. The question for the Super Bowl winners is who plays nickel? We have their first round pick Murphy slotted to get the job, but Chauncy Gardner-Johnson is a name to keep an eye on. Both have their strengths and could see time based on scheme.
1. New York Jets - Xavien Howard, Trumain Johnson, Jason Verrett. The Jets take their first positional rankings crown with this cornerback group. Howard is an up and coming elite corner who just got paid like one. The Jets made a splash with their trade for him and then smartly locked him up moving forward. He is already a top 5 player at the position and has all-pro written all over him this year. Trumaine Johnson will slide into the number two role for the Jets and we have wonder if he is a bit overpaid considering this, but we know the Jets feel much better having him on the field. Finally, we get to Verrett in the slot. This is quite the luxury as he would be on the outside for most other teams. Considering his injury history though, this is a great spot for him as he may not need to play as many downs. If the Jets can keep the wear and tear to a minimum, they have a group that will keep opposing receivers in check.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 23
New England - 20
Miami - 15
New York - 12
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
2019 3GML Positional Rankings - Safety
Today we move over to the defensive side of the ball and will be starting with the last line of defense: safety.
4. New York Jets - Vonn Bell and Marcus Maye. Unfortunately, the Jets have a long way to go to match the safety groups the other 3GML teams possess. Vonn Bell was a smart trade for this team to make as he was an upgrade in the position. We expect to see him in the box a lot with the new defensive scheme in New York. Maye is an exciting young safety with a high IQ but does need to clean up TDs allowed to really take the next step. Don't get us wrong, this isn't a terrible group by any means, but the other teams in our rankings are just that much better.
3. Miami Dolphins - Jamal Adams and Nasir Adderley. The lack of experience of Nasir Adderley is the only reason the 'fins are number three on our list. We like this young safety and think his future is bright. Many analysts had him as the number one safety on the board. Miami will be asking a lot of the Delaware product early as they hope to move Minkah Fitzpatrick to the slot. On the other side, the Dolphins boast the best safety in the 3GML in Adams. They gave up a lot of draft stock to bring him home, but everyone in the front office will tell you it was worth it. He will be the captain of this defense and his ability to get downhill and make plays makes him the type safety the Dolphins covet.
2. New England Patriots - Derwin James and Marcus Williams. New England was almost number one on our list. Every team in the NFL would love this duo on their team. The x-factor keeping them from the top: the regression of Marcus Williams in his sophomore season. He had a hard time staying on the field and when he was out there, he wasn't quite the same sensation he was his rookie year. We think he bounces back this year but in the loaded AFC East, small setbacks can be what keeps you from the top. Derwin James, on the other hand, is a top safety in the league after just one season. He fits perfectly with what New England wants to do on defense and will only get better in year two. He absolutely could be all-league at the end of this season.
1. Buffalo Bills - Adrian Amos and John Johnson III. The Bills traded away arguably their best defensive player in Jamal Adams this off season, but it's not like they got that much weaker at the position. Adrian Amos is one of the most underrated safeties in the league. His name isn't mentioned with the best but when you look at the stat sheet, his name is constantly near the top. Buffalo was happy to get him back after a year absence and with Miami taking on a lot of his contract due to the trade, the Bills may have the best value at this position in the league. John Johnson III has gotten better each year and when you put him next to Amos, you have a duo that isn't likely to let many offensive players get behind them. What makes them even more dangerous though, is both can come up and make plays upfield as well.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 21
New England - 17
Miami - 14
New York - 8
4. New York Jets - Vonn Bell and Marcus Maye. Unfortunately, the Jets have a long way to go to match the safety groups the other 3GML teams possess. Vonn Bell was a smart trade for this team to make as he was an upgrade in the position. We expect to see him in the box a lot with the new defensive scheme in New York. Maye is an exciting young safety with a high IQ but does need to clean up TDs allowed to really take the next step. Don't get us wrong, this isn't a terrible group by any means, but the other teams in our rankings are just that much better.
3. Miami Dolphins - Jamal Adams and Nasir Adderley. The lack of experience of Nasir Adderley is the only reason the 'fins are number three on our list. We like this young safety and think his future is bright. Many analysts had him as the number one safety on the board. Miami will be asking a lot of the Delaware product early as they hope to move Minkah Fitzpatrick to the slot. On the other side, the Dolphins boast the best safety in the 3GML in Adams. They gave up a lot of draft stock to bring him home, but everyone in the front office will tell you it was worth it. He will be the captain of this defense and his ability to get downhill and make plays makes him the type safety the Dolphins covet.
2. New England Patriots - Derwin James and Marcus Williams. New England was almost number one on our list. Every team in the NFL would love this duo on their team. The x-factor keeping them from the top: the regression of Marcus Williams in his sophomore season. He had a hard time staying on the field and when he was out there, he wasn't quite the same sensation he was his rookie year. We think he bounces back this year but in the loaded AFC East, small setbacks can be what keeps you from the top. Derwin James, on the other hand, is a top safety in the league after just one season. He fits perfectly with what New England wants to do on defense and will only get better in year two. He absolutely could be all-league at the end of this season.
1. Buffalo Bills - Adrian Amos and John Johnson III. The Bills traded away arguably their best defensive player in Jamal Adams this off season, but it's not like they got that much weaker at the position. Adrian Amos is one of the most underrated safeties in the league. His name isn't mentioned with the best but when you look at the stat sheet, his name is constantly near the top. Buffalo was happy to get him back after a year absence and with Miami taking on a lot of his contract due to the trade, the Bills may have the best value at this position in the league. John Johnson III has gotten better each year and when you put him next to Amos, you have a duo that isn't likely to let many offensive players get behind them. What makes them even more dangerous though, is both can come up and make plays upfield as well.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 21
New England - 17
Miami - 14
New York - 8
Monday, June 3, 2019
2019 3GML Positional Rankings - Offensive Line
The big men in the trenches is our focus today as we rank and analyze the 3GML offensive lines.
4. New England Patriots - Marcus Gilbert, Andrew Norwell, James Daniels, Mark Glowinski, and Ju'wuan James. Let me start by saying the Patriots could have easily been number three or even two on this list. It was that close when it came to the offensive line. New England's interior is definitely their strength as Daniels and Glowinski are better than most people think. Norwell has taken a step backwards which, honestly hurt their overall ranking, but he is still a productive player at the position. Tackle has a much dimmer outlook for this squad. For starters they are asking Marcus Gilbert to play out of position at left tackle. We for one are not optimistic he can do a good job of protecting Luck's blindside. Ju'wuan James is a quality starter but we question the massive contract he just received. Will he live up to it? Only time will tell. We are excited to see the rookie Jawaan Taylor in camp as we think he is a dark horse candidate to sneak into the starting lineup.
3. New York Jets - Kelvin Beachum, Kelechi Osemele, Matt Paradis, Brian Winters, Andrew Peat. The Jets have the same DNA as the Patriots, a solid interior and questionable exterior. The inside, though, is stronger and by just enough to tip them into the number three spot on our list. The Paradis signing immediately makes this unit relevant as he he is a top 5 center in the league. Osemele and Winters are veterans with much left to contribute. If we were calling the plays, we'd feel very comfortable with A gap runs. Their tackle situation on the other hand is subpar. Beachum is too inconsistent, has some injury history and we haven't seen anything from Peat that would allow us to say he's lived up to the hype of a first round draft pick. They have some work to do moving forward to improve this position, but with Yodny Cajuste waiting in the wings, it might not be long before we see an upgrade.
2. Miami Dolphins - Laremy Tunsil, Cody Ford, Erik McCoy, Dion Dawkins, Marcus Cannon. The question we had to ask ourselves was what is more valuable, tackle or interior line? At the end of the day, we think every NFL GM would say tackle and that is what landed the Dolphins at number two. Tunsil is the best left tackle in the division and paired with Cannon, could make an argument for the best duo in the 3GML. On the interior, Miami obviously had huge holes to fill and drafted to do just that. Whether we can say those holes have truly been filled remains to be seen. Will Ford and McCoy pan out or will they be busts? We like the upside here and believe it will be the former. At right guard, Dawkins is currently the projected starter but Quinton Spain could absolutely steal the job in camp. Are the Run MIA days back in the Sunshine State? Stay tuned.
1. Buffalo Bills - Jake Matthews, Will Hernandez, Dalton Risner, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Ramczyk. While the two through four spots on this list were very tight, number one was a run away. This line isn't quite as strong as the group in New York the last couple of seasons, but it comes pretty close. Ramczyk is an elite right tackle and Matthews is one of the best pass-blocking left tackles in the game. Together these two make things pretty tough on edge rushers and make Rodgers that much more dangerous as he will have a lot of time to make throws. While Buffalo lost two of it's longtime workhorses in Josh Sitton and TJ Lang, the Bills have a very exciting young core on the interior. Hernandez, Risner, and Nelson are all in their first or second year in the league. Nelson has already been a pro bowler and we see that potential in Hernandez and Risner as well. This group makes the Bills offense that much scarier.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 17
New England - 14
Miami - 12
New York - 7
4. New England Patriots - Marcus Gilbert, Andrew Norwell, James Daniels, Mark Glowinski, and Ju'wuan James. Let me start by saying the Patriots could have easily been number three or even two on this list. It was that close when it came to the offensive line. New England's interior is definitely their strength as Daniels and Glowinski are better than most people think. Norwell has taken a step backwards which, honestly hurt their overall ranking, but he is still a productive player at the position. Tackle has a much dimmer outlook for this squad. For starters they are asking Marcus Gilbert to play out of position at left tackle. We for one are not optimistic he can do a good job of protecting Luck's blindside. Ju'wuan James is a quality starter but we question the massive contract he just received. Will he live up to it? Only time will tell. We are excited to see the rookie Jawaan Taylor in camp as we think he is a dark horse candidate to sneak into the starting lineup.
3. New York Jets - Kelvin Beachum, Kelechi Osemele, Matt Paradis, Brian Winters, Andrew Peat. The Jets have the same DNA as the Patriots, a solid interior and questionable exterior. The inside, though, is stronger and by just enough to tip them into the number three spot on our list. The Paradis signing immediately makes this unit relevant as he he is a top 5 center in the league. Osemele and Winters are veterans with much left to contribute. If we were calling the plays, we'd feel very comfortable with A gap runs. Their tackle situation on the other hand is subpar. Beachum is too inconsistent, has some injury history and we haven't seen anything from Peat that would allow us to say he's lived up to the hype of a first round draft pick. They have some work to do moving forward to improve this position, but with Yodny Cajuste waiting in the wings, it might not be long before we see an upgrade.
2. Miami Dolphins - Laremy Tunsil, Cody Ford, Erik McCoy, Dion Dawkins, Marcus Cannon. The question we had to ask ourselves was what is more valuable, tackle or interior line? At the end of the day, we think every NFL GM would say tackle and that is what landed the Dolphins at number two. Tunsil is the best left tackle in the division and paired with Cannon, could make an argument for the best duo in the 3GML. On the interior, Miami obviously had huge holes to fill and drafted to do just that. Whether we can say those holes have truly been filled remains to be seen. Will Ford and McCoy pan out or will they be busts? We like the upside here and believe it will be the former. At right guard, Dawkins is currently the projected starter but Quinton Spain could absolutely steal the job in camp. Are the Run MIA days back in the Sunshine State? Stay tuned.
1. Buffalo Bills - Jake Matthews, Will Hernandez, Dalton Risner, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Ramczyk. While the two through four spots on this list were very tight, number one was a run away. This line isn't quite as strong as the group in New York the last couple of seasons, but it comes pretty close. Ramczyk is an elite right tackle and Matthews is one of the best pass-blocking left tackles in the game. Together these two make things pretty tough on edge rushers and make Rodgers that much more dangerous as he will have a lot of time to make throws. While Buffalo lost two of it's longtime workhorses in Josh Sitton and TJ Lang, the Bills have a very exciting young core on the interior. Hernandez, Risner, and Nelson are all in their first or second year in the league. Nelson has already been a pro bowler and we see that potential in Hernandez and Risner as well. This group makes the Bills offense that much scarier.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 17
New England - 14
Miami - 12
New York - 7
Sunday, June 2, 2019
2019 3GML Positional Rankings - Wide Receiver
Today we continue our look into the positional groups of the 3GML with wide receivers.
4. New York Jets - Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, and JJ Arcega-Whiteside. We like Anderson as a second option in most offenses but he'll be asked to be number one in the Big Apple. New York had to retain him because their receiving core without would have made things tough on Sam Darnold. Enunwa is going to need to step up for this offense if he is going to match his contract. He is the veteran in the receiving room which shows you how young this core is. Drafting Arcega-Whiteside filled a big hole for the Jets and we like the Stanford product's potential. He could be their WR2 before the season is through.
3. Miami Dolphins - Kenny Stills, Sterling Shepard, and Albert Wilson. Without the trade for Shepard, Miami was looking down the barrel of being the number 4 team on this list. His addition gives the Dolphins a legitimate number 2 option behind the dynamic Stills. Albert Wilson will slide into the slot role after bouncing back and forth between running back and receiver last year. These names don't exactly strike fear into opposing DBs, but together we expect them to keep the Dolphins offense on the field enough to give them a shot in most games.
2. Buffalo Bills - Brandin Cooks, Juju Smith-Schuster, and Josh Doctson. The Bills have two number 1 options in Cooks and Smith-Schuster, but neither are elite receivers just yet. Cooks is a burner who will keep the opposing defense's heads on a swivel, while Smith-Schuster is a solid route runner who knows how to get open. The issue for this team is WR3 and beyond. There is very little depth and the inconsistent Doctson will be asked to bring it this season. We wouldn't be surprised for this squad to bring in a savvy vet to help with their depth issues.
1. New England Patriots - Julio Jones, Tyler Boyd, and Nelson Agholor. Julio was the difference maker in these rankings. He is truly the only super-star receiver in the division. He commands double teams and in doing so opens up the field for the other offensive options. In the event you decide to single cover him, you are playing with fire and will undoubtedly get burned. Boyd has developed into quite the receiver and the Patriots would be wise to lock him up before he tests the market this next offseason. The champs were in a similar boat to the Bills this offseason, lacking WR depth, but they decided to address it by sending two 5ths to the Eagles for Agholor. This move helped solidify New England as number 1 on our list.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 13
New England - 13
Miami - 9
New York - 5
4. New York Jets - Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, and JJ Arcega-Whiteside. We like Anderson as a second option in most offenses but he'll be asked to be number one in the Big Apple. New York had to retain him because their receiving core without would have made things tough on Sam Darnold. Enunwa is going to need to step up for this offense if he is going to match his contract. He is the veteran in the receiving room which shows you how young this core is. Drafting Arcega-Whiteside filled a big hole for the Jets and we like the Stanford product's potential. He could be their WR2 before the season is through.
3. Miami Dolphins - Kenny Stills, Sterling Shepard, and Albert Wilson. Without the trade for Shepard, Miami was looking down the barrel of being the number 4 team on this list. His addition gives the Dolphins a legitimate number 2 option behind the dynamic Stills. Albert Wilson will slide into the slot role after bouncing back and forth between running back and receiver last year. These names don't exactly strike fear into opposing DBs, but together we expect them to keep the Dolphins offense on the field enough to give them a shot in most games.
2. Buffalo Bills - Brandin Cooks, Juju Smith-Schuster, and Josh Doctson. The Bills have two number 1 options in Cooks and Smith-Schuster, but neither are elite receivers just yet. Cooks is a burner who will keep the opposing defense's heads on a swivel, while Smith-Schuster is a solid route runner who knows how to get open. The issue for this team is WR3 and beyond. There is very little depth and the inconsistent Doctson will be asked to bring it this season. We wouldn't be surprised for this squad to bring in a savvy vet to help with their depth issues.
1. New England Patriots - Julio Jones, Tyler Boyd, and Nelson Agholor. Julio was the difference maker in these rankings. He is truly the only super-star receiver in the division. He commands double teams and in doing so opens up the field for the other offensive options. In the event you decide to single cover him, you are playing with fire and will undoubtedly get burned. Boyd has developed into quite the receiver and the Patriots would be wise to lock him up before he tests the market this next offseason. The champs were in a similar boat to the Bills this offseason, lacking WR depth, but they decided to address it by sending two 5ths to the Eagles for Agholor. This move helped solidify New England as number 1 on our list.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 13
New England - 13
Miami - 9
New York - 5
Saturday, June 1, 2019
2019 3GML Positional Rankings - Tight End
Our daily segment continues today as we examine the strengths of each positional group on the teams of the 3GML. Today we look at the security blankets for the passing game: tight ends.
4. New York Jets - Demetrius Harris and Jace Sternberger. A theme is developing here where we love the potential of the Jets positional group but we can't bump them up just yet. Sternberger was a very solid pick and we believe he can cause a lot of disruption in the seam for New York. The Harris signing gives Darnold and the offense a quality option while the rookie Jets develop. This team is obviously building for the future and isn't there yet, but look for them to still make some noise this year in the AFC East.
3. New England Patriots - Eric Ebron and Chris Herndon. Not the flashiest names in the league but two very solid players. Ebron is a red-zone magnet who will benefit from the addition of Luck. We wouldn't be surprised if he surpassed 10 TDs this season. Herndon had a very positive rookie campaign and will look to grow in year two as the Patriots deploy two tight end sets. Together these two will open up options for the passing game and be a critical component if the Patriots hope to defend their crown.
2. Buffalo Bills - Hunter Henry and Kyle Rudolph. The Rudolph addition immediately takes the Bills offense to a new level. What was an area of weakness is now a strength. How opposing defenses will stop the Buffalo passing attack beats us. Hunter Henry in an elite tight end in the making and is essentially a receiver in a tight end's body. The question for him is can he play 16 games? If he can, look for Rodgers to light up the scoreboard with a vertical attack. An interesting wrinkle to keep an eye on? Both are free agents at season's end.
1. Miami Dolphins - George Kittle and Mike Gesicki. There was just no way a team with the record-holder for receiving yards in a season from a tight end couldn't be number one. The acquisition of Kittle could be the difference from missing the playoffs last year to sneaking in this year. He's that good. We don't expect another record-setting season based on the offense Miami likes to run but he remains a game changer. Gesicki will compliment things nicely, but we expect this to be the George Kittle show in South Beach.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 10
New England - 9
Miami - 7
New York - 4
4. New York Jets - Demetrius Harris and Jace Sternberger. A theme is developing here where we love the potential of the Jets positional group but we can't bump them up just yet. Sternberger was a very solid pick and we believe he can cause a lot of disruption in the seam for New York. The Harris signing gives Darnold and the offense a quality option while the rookie Jets develop. This team is obviously building for the future and isn't there yet, but look for them to still make some noise this year in the AFC East.
3. New England Patriots - Eric Ebron and Chris Herndon. Not the flashiest names in the league but two very solid players. Ebron is a red-zone magnet who will benefit from the addition of Luck. We wouldn't be surprised if he surpassed 10 TDs this season. Herndon had a very positive rookie campaign and will look to grow in year two as the Patriots deploy two tight end sets. Together these two will open up options for the passing game and be a critical component if the Patriots hope to defend their crown.
2. Buffalo Bills - Hunter Henry and Kyle Rudolph. The Rudolph addition immediately takes the Bills offense to a new level. What was an area of weakness is now a strength. How opposing defenses will stop the Buffalo passing attack beats us. Hunter Henry in an elite tight end in the making and is essentially a receiver in a tight end's body. The question for him is can he play 16 games? If he can, look for Rodgers to light up the scoreboard with a vertical attack. An interesting wrinkle to keep an eye on? Both are free agents at season's end.
1. Miami Dolphins - George Kittle and Mike Gesicki. There was just no way a team with the record-holder for receiving yards in a season from a tight end couldn't be number one. The acquisition of Kittle could be the difference from missing the playoffs last year to sneaking in this year. He's that good. We don't expect another record-setting season based on the offense Miami likes to run but he remains a game changer. Gesicki will compliment things nicely, but we expect this to be the George Kittle show in South Beach.
We will be assigning cumulative points to these rankings to determine the best overall team in the 3GML.
Buffalo - 10
New England - 9
Miami - 7
New York - 4
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