With the NFL season wrapping up, we have four teams left. Heading into the season, two of the teams still here were relatively expected to get here (KC+LA), one was considered plausible (SF), and the other was a complete shock (Bengals). Last weekend may very well be the best weekend of NFL action ever, and with that said, let’s review how these teams have built their rosters to get the point they are at now.
San Francisco 49ers
Maybe the team with the most intrigue heading into Sunday, they knocked off the Packers amid the QB controversy that has hung over the team all year. The offensive play was poor, mustering only 6 points with the defense and special teams winning them the game. This team is built from the inside-out, as they have drafted 7 lineman in the 1st round since 2015.
How the QB Room Was Built
QB Jimmy Garropolo was acquired by the team from the Patriots on Halloween 2017 in exchange for a 2nd round pick. This was done after the team was looking for a new QB following the controversial Colin Kapernick debacle. While limited in some aspects as a QB he boasts a 35-15 record as the team’s starter, but the team has drafted his assumed replacement due to performances like Saturday and his extensive injury history. Trey Lance the team’s likely replacement was drafted 3rd overall last draft as they traded two 1st round picks and a 3rd round pick to move up and draft him. A high riser who only played one game his last year of college didn’t have too much college experience compared to most QB prospects but was drafted because of his upside. Time will tell if this move pays off and he is by many considered to be the starter as soon as next year. What would really be interesting would be what happens if the team wins it all this year with Jimmy G at the helm.
How the Running Backs Have Been Asseembled
The 49ers are definitely a team who feels that the Running Back position is a plug and play position, meaning they think it has more to do with their offensive line play than individual running back play. The teams RB1 heading into the year went out early with a season ending injury to Raheem Mostert. The team’s starting running back has been Elijah Mitchell, a rookie 6th rounder who wasn’t even the teams first drafted running back last year (3rd rounder Trey Sermon also has a season ending injury).
How the Recieving Corp Was Formed
The receiving crop for the 49ers would be one I call very top heavy. Deebo Samuel was named a First Team All Pro and George Kittle is a Top 2 TE in the NFL. On top of this, their WR2 in Brandon Aiyuk has been inconsistent. The only receiver really worth mentioning after is Jauan Jennings as their WR 3 who has been receiving some targets as of late. He was a 7th round pick by the team in the 2020 draft but hasn’t seen the field until this year. It may be worth noting that Mohammed Sanu will be activated from the injured reserve and be able to play Sunday, but it would shock me if the offseason free agent signing plays much. The teams main three targets are all homegrown draft picks Deebo (2nd round), Kittle (5th Round), Aiyuk (1st round pick 25). The 49ers are also one of the only teams who frequently employ a fullback in Kyle Juszczyk who just signed a five year contract with the team this offseason.
How the Offensive Line Was Built
Offensive Line has been a strength of this team for the past couple of years, especially in their first Super Bowl run, as in their NFC Championship that year against the Packers in which the team ran for 285 yards and Jimmy G only had to throw the ball 8 times. The team nabbed 6 time Pro Bowler center Alex Mack to a 3 year deal this offseason from the Falcons. The team also have who some have call the best left tackle in the game in Trent Williams, as with former great Joe Staley retiring, they trade for Williams on Day 3 of the 2020 draft for a 5th round pick. Since then, they have made him the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history. One of the teams first round lineman Mike Mcglinchy is on the IR but has been solid when healthy.
How the Defensive Line Was Built
The other side of the ball where this team’s strength has been seen for the past years is the defensive line. This has been done through the draft as its key guys in Arik Armstead and Nick Bosa were both top 10 picks. As soon as the team traded DeForest Buckner following the Super Bowl because he priced himself out, the team drafted his replacement in Javon Kinlaw in the 1st round who is on the IR.
How the Linebackers Were Built
The team’s best linebacker, a First Team All Pro in Fred Warner was a 3rd rounder in 2018 which has turned out amazingly. The team’s other star linebacker in Dre Greenlaw was also a later round pick taken as a fifth rounder in the 2019.
How Was the Secondary Built
With some of their past notable cornerbacks either gone (Richard Sherman) or hurt (Jason Verrett), this team’s cornerbacks aren’t necessarily well-known. Emmaunel Moseley at cornerback has performed admirably at times this postseason run, especially given that he came out undrafted in the 2018 draft. The team did sign Josh Norman in the offseason but results have been mixed. The team’s star safety longtime vet Jimmie Ward was a late 2014 1st rounder and is on the back end of a three year deal with free agency to follow the season.
Overall, this roster is an interesting one, as they would likely be favorites over the Rams if they had an elite level QB talent like some consider Matthew Stafford. The two teams squared off twice this year and the 49ers won both, a blowout and a nail biter.
Los Angeles Rams
Many know how this team has been built, as the team mostly has disregarded its draft picks to acquire star players that can help them win now which is quite entertaining. This team has mostly prioritized having awesome starters in lots of areas in exchange for poor depth in certain position areas. Their window is closing with their salary cap situations and free agency situations. It is 100% championship or bust in LA. A win in the NFC Championship would give them a Super Bowl in their home stadium looking to win it again in their home stadium like the Bucs did last year. Their offense was humming for most of that game, however it concerns me thinking of them trying to hold leads as they are a pass heavy offense.
How Matthew Stafford Was Acquired
After losing in the Super Bowl and only scoring three points, Jared Goff’s leash definitely wore thin with offensive mastermind Sean McVay. The former 1st overall pick was essentially benched for no-name backup John Wolford in last year’s playoffs before injury led him back to playing. With that in mind, this offseason the Rams traded for Stafford from the Lions in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff, two 1st round picks and a 3rd round pick. This move made it clear the team is in win now mode.
How the Running Back Room Was Built
The team’s main running back in second year player and 2nd round pick Cam Akers is back after tearing his achilles in July and struggled last week against Tampa Bay averaging 2 yards per carry. He also lost two fumbles, the latter of which was costly as they were trying to running the clock out. He has been splitting carries with Sony Michel these playoffs, who the team traded a 4th and 6th rounder for just before the season’s start. Darell Henderson Jr the 2019 3rd rounder is expected to be available on Sunday, although likely won’t receive many touches.
How the Reciever Room Was Built
The team’s main receiver MVP candidate Cooper Kupp has been with the team since 2017 as a 3rd round pick, and inked a 3 year/$48 million in September. Opposite to him, Odell Beckham Jr was signed as a free agent from the Rams this October after the Browns released him which was helpful as Robert Woods tore his ACL in late November. The WR3 Van Jefferson is in his 2nd year as 2nd round pick and is somewhat serviceable. Tyler Higbee, the team’s main tight end has been with the team as 4th round pick since the 2016 season, and in 2019 signed a 4 year/$31 million extension which has since been restructured.
How the Offensive Line Was Built
The team’s left tackle Andrew Whitworth has been with the team since 2017 as he has signed two contracts since then. The teams right tackle Rob Havenstein was drafted by the team in the 2015 2nd round and has been with the team ever since.
How the Defensive Front Seven Was Formed
Given that the Rams run a 3-4 scheme on defense, it can seem like their linebackers might seem like defensive lineman. The team’s best player in Aaron Donald has been with the team ever since being 1st round pick in 2014 and after his rookie deal signed a 6 year/$135 million dollar contract. His pass rushing counterpart in Von Miller was traded for midseason in exchange for a 2nd and 3rd round pick emphasizing this teams win now, all in mentality. Two of the teams other notable linebackers in Leonard Floyd and Troy Reeder weren’t drafted by the team either although Reeder was signed as a UDFA.
How the Secondary Was Built
The team’s secondary first comes with the best cornerback in the league Jalen Ramsey who was acquired by the team during last year’s midseason in which they gave the Jaguars two 1sts and a 4th. Their starting safeties draft picks were on opposite spectrums as Taylor Rapp (2nd Round 2019 ) and Nick Scott (7th round 2019) have found themselves manning the back end.
In terms of my prediction for the game, I like the Rams to win. I think things are really coming together as seen by their impressive first half against the defending champs. The pas rush was dominant for spurs against the Bucs and it is also very hard to beat a team three times in a year like the 49ers are attempting. I also like the matchups Cooper Kupp will be seeing on the outside. I think the Rams win this one by around a TD.
Kansas City Chiefs
Coming on Sunday will be the Chiefs hosting their 4th AFC Championship in as many years which is absolutely mind boggling in today’s NFL. Mahomes is in his first year of his mega-extension which won’t see him become a free agent until he is 37 years old! This team is built around his strengths, and attempts to field a respectable defense simply capable of doing enough to not lose games for Mahomes. However, at times this year the defense won them games in spite of the offense in wins over the Packers, Cowboys, and Broncos. In what was maybe the best two minutes of football the Chiefs came away victorious over the Bills in a game that will be remembered forever. If the Chiefs want to stay alive they can’t let their secondary melt down like they did last week.
How the Team Acquired Patrick Mahomes
It was quite fascinating as to how Chiefs acquired Mahomes. His draft profile was all over the place as Todd McShay recently proclaimed how Mahomes made him change how he evaluates quarterbacks. The Bills had the 10th overall pick in the draft before making a trade with the Chiefs that included Kansas City’s 27th pick, 2017 3rd round pick and a 2018 1st round pick. The move was done because of the ceiling they saw in their QB Alex Smith, who in three playoff appearances from 2013-2017 would only win once. This is what made them draft Mahomes and give him the keys to their offense.
How the Running Back Room Was Built
Clyde Edwards-Helaire who is supposed to be the main workhorse for the Chiefs at RB was taken as the last pick of the 1st round in the 2020 draft and has been serviceable but has not quite lived up to the hype. This is in part due to his smaller stature especially in short yardage plays, and he has been hampered with injuries. The team’s other RBs who have been getting time in Jerrick Mckinnon (Offseason Free Agent Signing) and Darrel Williams (Undrafted 2018) have both been receiving touches as well.
How the Reciever Room Was Built
The teams receiving threatsmostly come from WR Tyreek Hill and TE Travis Kelce. Both are homegrown talents as Kelce (2013, 3rd Round) and Hill (2016, 5th Round) have each signed extensions with the team following their rookie deals. Aside from the two, they have pedestrian receiving threats in Byron Pringle (2018 UDFA), Demarcus Robinson (2016 4th), and Mecole Hardman (2019 2nd round). The speedster in Hardman has underwhelmed his draft position as he was expected to be the team’s solid WR2 aside from Hill although he has shown flashes. However, it hasn’t affected the team too much given that Hill and Kelce both put up great receiving numbers.
How the Offensive Line Was Built
-Following last year’s Super Bowl in which the team’s offensive line was dominated in their loss due to injury and poor play, the team decided to revamp their offensive line in the offseason. From free agency the team added guards Joe Thuney and Kyle Long. They signed their center in Austin Blythe who has been supplanted by rookie 3rd rounder Creed Humphrey. The team also traded for left tackle Orlando Brown Jr from the Ravens in exchange for their 2021 1st round pick (31st overall), 3rd round pick (94th overall) and a 4th round pick (136th overall), along with a 2022 5th round pick while receiving a 2nd and 6th round pick back.
How the Defensive Line Was Built
The teams defensive Line is centered around two awesome defensive lineman in Chris Jones and Frank Clark. Jones was drafted in the teams 2016 draft in the 2nd Round and has since signed a 4 year/$80 million extension in 2020. On Day 1 of the 2019 draft the Chiefs traded for Frank Clark in exchange for a 2019 1st and 2020 2nd round pick to Seattle. Clark is currently amidst a 5 year/$104 million deal.
How the Back Seven Was Built
Two of the team’s linebackers have been recent 2nd round picks in Nick Bolton (2021) and Willie Gay (2020). Anthony Hitchens was signed as a free agent. The Chiefs two starting cornerbacks have absolutely outplayed their draft status as the starting corners in L’jarius Sneed (4th Round 2020 and Charvarius Ward (2018 UDFA) have been serviceable. The team’s star safety Tyrann Matheiu is a pending free agent after the season on the third year of his free agent signing in 2019 with the Chiefs. It will be interesting to see what Kansas City offers given the team’s cap situation.
Moving forward, it will be compelling to see how they choose to build around Mahomes given they know what his cap hits and salary will be for a very long time. They will likely go through a new roster phase entirely around Mahomes while he is still under contract. Andy Reid is no spring chicken either, but nonetheless the present is very nice for the team
Cincinnati Bengals
By far the most surprising team to be left, the Bengals were built interestingly. This is because of all the controversy of how the team drafted Ja’marr Chase over Penei Sewell and them trying to patch up the team’s offensive line problems through other means. I do feel some of the blame is to be Burrow’s fault as he has a tendency to hold onto the ball for too long. They’re about a TD underdog to the Chiefs which doesn’t shock me, considering they gave up 9 sacks to the Titans who only ranked 10th in sacks. I don’t expect them to win on Sunday, but regardless the team and fans will view the season as a successful one well ahead of their curve.
How the Team Acquired Joe Burrow
Following the team’s long tenure with Andy Dalton at the helm, Joe Burrow managed to fall into the team’s lap as the team finished with the league’s worst record following the 2019-2020 season netting them the first overall pick.
How the Team Built Their Backfield
The teams RB situation is composed of two college teammates, as Joe Mixon (2nd Round 2017) and Samaj Perine (acquired free agency in offseason) were an awesome tandem at Oklahoma.
How the Team Got Their Recievers
Maybe the main strength of the team, this team has three awesome WRs at their disposal. Obviously, it all starts with rookie star Ja’marr Chase who the team just drafted with the fifth pick over drafting an offensive lineman. They also drafted Tee Higgins with the first pick of the 2nd round in the same draft as Burrow. Tyler Boyd, the veteran of the group was drafted to the Bengals in the 2016 second round, and played well enough to earn a second contract starting in 2020 on a 4 year/$43 million contract.The team’s TE CJ Uzomah was drafted to the team in the 5th round of the 2015 draft but dosen’t give defenses many problems.
How the Team Built Their Offensive Line
The weakness of the Bengals by far. This is a team who gave up the third most sacks in the NFL. What’s interesting is aside from taking Chase, they spent a 2nd, 4th, and 6th rounder on offensive lineman, and none have managed to solidify a starting spot. They also did try to address the issues with former Pro Bowler in Riley Reiff who is on the IR. The team did draft Jonah Williams with the 11th pick in 2019 but he has been inconsistent and injuries have hampered him.
How the Team Built Their Defensive Line
The team’s biggest addition to the defensive line has to be the free agent signing of Trey Hendrickson from the Saints, who signed a 4 year/$60 million deal and it paid off with his 14 sacks. DJ Reader the team’s best run stuffer, signed a 4 year/$53 million deal in 2020 and was vital in slowing down Derrick Henry last round.
How They Built Their Back Seven
For the most part, most of the members of the secondary are new. As this offseason the team signed key players like cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie, Mike Hilton, and Eli Apple, all who have been key contributors. The team’s star back end player Jessie Bates III was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2018 draft and is quickly becoming one of the league’s best safeties. Awuzie also had a good year as the team’s CB1.
This Bengals team in the offseason will have a defined goal they need to improve, protecting Joe Burrow. They will need to pick up some offensive lineman or two. I would also think they may look to sign another edge rusher opposite of Hendrickson. While I don’t think they will win Sunday, they have had a great year regardless.
