Midwest Sports

 Will the Vikings let Sam Darnold walk in free agency and trade for Matt Stafford (LAR)? Kevin O'Connell was Stafford's Offensive Coordinator when the Rams won the Superbowl in 2021.

 Will Ben Johnson sign any of the Lions free agents? Defensive End Marcus Davenport, Offensive Guard Kevin Zietler, or Cornerback Carleton Davis? Bears could use all three. 

Will the Packers cut or trade Jaire Alexander? If/when they do, will the Vikings sign him?

Cleveland needs to figure out who they want their quarterback to be. The Deshaun Watson trade did not work out. They could sign Kirk Cousins (Atl) when he gets released. Cousins is familiar with Kevin Stefanski who was his offensive coordinator in Minnesota from 2018-2019. The Browns could target Sam Darnold (Min) who resurrected his career under Kevin O'Connell last year. Aaron Rodgers (NYJ) is going to be released by the Jets. He is another year removed from his achilles injury. Possibly sign him and trade for wide out Davante Adam's (NYJ).  With Elijah Moore set to hit free agency the Browns have Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman. It would nice to see them make a move to poach Tee Higgins (Cin) from a division rival. Running back Nick Chubb is a free agent. Jerome Ford is a good back. Cleveland has 12 picks in this year's draft so take another running back on Day 2.  The Browns are letting Jedrick Wills (LT) test free agency. Browns could sign Cam Robinson (Min) or Alaric J...

The Bengals offense was not the problem. They can score. They have to figure out if they want to give Tee Higgins (WR) a multi-year contract, tag him again, or let him walk. If they let Higgins walk then they can sign Chris Godwin (TB). Ja'Marr Chase had a huge year catching 127 balls, gaining 1,708 yards, and 17 touchdowns. Now he is looking for an extension that will pay roughly $40 million per year. Mike Gesicki (TE) is a free agent. If they don't resign him Cincinnati could sign Zach Ertz (Wash). The Bengals have Trent Brown (RT) set to hit free agency. They should try to resign him. They also can upgrade the guard position by signing Zach Martin (Dal), Brandon Scherff (Jax), Will Fries (Ind), or Kevin Zietler (Det).  On the defensive side of the ball, Cincinnati needs to be aggressive and sign a good cornerback. They can sign Charvarius Ward (SF) or Byron Murphy (Min). Linebacker Josh Sweat (Phi) would be a great asset as well. He had 8 sacks with the Eagles last year and ...

The Colts have a couple free agents on their offensive line in Guard Will Fries and Center Ryan Kelly. They need to resign at least one of them. Sign Kelly and then possible sign free agent Trey Smith (KC). Indianapolis has EJ Speed (LB) and Julian Blackman (S) hitting free agency. Resign Speed and then Jevon Holland (Mia), Talanoa Hufanga (SF), or Camryn Bynum (Min). Colts need a good Tight End and they can get one by drafting Penn State's Tyler Warren in this year's draft. Lastly, Indianapolis needs to find out if Anthony Richardson is their QB of the future. Bring in Justin Fields (Pit), Russell Wilson (Pit), or Daniel Jones (Min) to push him.

The Detroit Lions need to stay healthy. They had 22 players on IR. The next closest team was the Browns with 18 then the Dolphins & Giants with 15.  Detroit lost both offensive and defensive coordinators this offseason.  Lions have a number of free agents. Most notably Kevin Zeitler (RG), Carlton Davis (CB), Ifeatu Melifonwu (S), Derrick Barnes (LB), & Levi Onwuzurike (DT). Detroit should try and resign Davis, Barnes, and Onwuzurike. If they can't resign Davis then they could sign cornerback DJ Reed (NYJ) or Charvarius Ward (SF). If they don't sign Barnes they could sign linebacker Josh Sweat (Phi) or Khalil Mack (LAC).  Zietler will be 35 years old when next season starts. Lions could go younger at guard with Trey Smith (KC), Will Fries (Ind), or Mekhi Becton (Phi).  If Detroit wants to go all in this next season, trade a couple of first round picks to Cleveland for Myles Garrett. Who wouldn't love to see Adian Hutchinson and Myles Garrett on the same team?!...

Chicago hired the best head coaching candidate this off-season in Ben Johnson. The Bears have Caleb Williams at QB and he'll be throwing the ball to DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. The Bears should sign another WR since Keenan Allen is set to leave via free agency.  The Bears need to shore up the offensive line. Teven Jenkins (LG), Coleman Shelton (C), & Matt Pryor (RG) all are set to be free agents. Chicago could try and sign Trey Smith (KC) to get the best free agent guard on the market.  It will be tough for Chicago as the other three teams in their division had a combined 40 wins this past season and all three made the playoffs. 

The Packers were the youngest team in the NFL for the second straight year. Jordan Love needs to stay healthy next year in order to make a playoff run. He had knee and groin injuries this past season that lingered.  Green Bay doesn't have many free agents, but they may lose cornerback Eric Stokes. I could see the Packers poach Byron Murphy from the Vikings. Jaire Alexander is a prime cut candidate. He has been injured 50% of his career.  Center Josh Meyers is a free agent. They can resign him or sign Ryan Kelly (Ind). Packers can upgrade the guard position by signing Trey Smith (KC). Rasheed Walker (LT) isn't a free agent until next year, but Packers may want to sign him to a long term deal. Last off-season, Green Bay signed running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier Mckinney. Both were worth the money the Packers paid them and became instant leaders of this team. Green Bay needs to hit on the right free agents this off-season as well. Signing wide receiver Tee Higgins (Cin) t...

The Vikings may lose its entire secondary with safeties Camryn Bynum and Theo Jackson set to hit free agency and Harrison Smith contemplating retirement. Cornerbacks Byron Murphy, Stephin Gilmore, and Shaq Griffin are all free agents as well. Minnesota should make it a priority to resign Murphy who had a good year. If they can't do that then Charvarius Ward (SF) should be on their list to call. Running back Aaron Jones, who had over 1,500 total yards and 7 total touchdowns in 2024 is a free agent. The Vikings and Jones moved his void date closer to free agency so it seems like they are working on resigning him.  The biggest question for Minnesota is do they resign Sam Darnold, tag him for insurance if JJ McCarthy isn't ready, tag him and try and trade him, or let him walk. I don't see the Vikings letting Darnold go for nothing and I don't see them signing him to a multi-year deal. They probably tag him. Darnold and McCarthy can battle for the starting quarterback spot c...

Kansas City's o-line did not hold up well against Philadelphia in the superbowl. The Eagles did not blitz once and yet Mahomes was sacked six times.  The answer you would think would be to look at the offensive line, but the Chiefs have a lot of money invested in the o-line already with Jawaan Taylor (RT), Joe Thuney (LG), & Creed Humphrey (C). Trey Smith (RG) is set to be a free agent and the Chiefs probably won't be able to afford to pay him.  Marquise Brown (WR) is a free agent. I would expect the Chiefs to resign him. I think the Chiefs need to sign a true number one wide receiver. They have missed that since Tyreek Hill left for Miami. Maybe they can get Hill back via trade or sign him if the Dolphins make the mistake of releasing him. If Travis Kelce retires then Kansas City will need a tight end.

 Can SGA lead the OKC Thunder with a deep playoff run? Can Anthony Edwards be the guy to bring a championship to the Minnesota Timberwolves? Can Giannis and Lillard stay healthy for the Milwaukee Bucks? Will the Cleveland Cavaliers be able to beat the Celtics in the East come playoff time? OR are the Indiana Pacers more of a threat to the Celtics? Why did the Chicago Bulls trade Zach LaVine? Will the Detroit Pistons make the playoffs? Thoughts?

I want to talk about Midwest, Small Market Teams. The under dogs! I don't want to hear about teams in New York, Boston, or Philadelphia. I hate that the Eagles won the superbowl. I don't want to hear about teams in LA or San Francisco. And I definitely don't want to hear about those damn Cowboys! Those midwest teams in the NFL include: Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, & Cleveland Browns. What do the Chiefs need to do after losing the superbowl? Do the Vikings sign Sam Darnold or roll with JJ McCarthy? Do the Packers make a trade offer for Myles Garrett?  Can the Bears sign some o-linemen to give Caleb Williams enough time to throw the ball? If the Lions stays healthy, how far can they go in the post season? Is Anthony Richardson the answer at QB for the Colts? Can the Bengals get some help on defense? What do the Browns do with Deshaun Watson? Are they really going to trade My...