3-Wide: Which team had the best draft?
3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.
Who will have a better season: Peterson, Charles, or Lynch?
Michael McClymont: Of the three star backs resurfacing with new teams, Marshawn Lynch is slated to have a better season in every sense. Not only is he supremely motivated to put on for his hometown, he'll be running behind the superior offensive line with a team expected to contend for a championship. Whether it be through individual statistics, team accomplishments, or personal joy, Lynch will be smiling the widest at season's end.
Mitch Sanderson: Unlike Peterson and Charles, who both have significant injury issues, I can't think of many legitimate reasons to doubt Lynch. Yes, he just turned 31 years old, but everything about his running style says he should have flamed out after two or three seasons, yet he just kept getting better. I see Lynch like a player who just missed a season due to a long-term recoverable injury, minus the injury part. He'll be behind the best O-line he's ever had, and has the added motivation of playing for his hometown team.
Arun Srinivasan: Adrian Peterson joins a crowded Saints backfield, but he'll likely best Jamaal Charles and Marshawn Lynch by process of elimination. Lynch sat out for a year, and it'll be difficult for him to regain his 2014 form after undergoing sports hernia surgery in 2015, while Charles hasn't played a full season since 2012. Peterson is the rare athletic marvel that won't be slowed down during his age-32 season, and a change of scenery could prove to be invigorating.
Which current player would be the best broadcaster?
Srinivasan: Steve Smith and Tony Romo have entered broadcast roles, while Jay Cutler reportedly agreed to join FOX on Friday, continuing the trend of former players jumping in the booth. Richard Sherman would excel on television once his career is over, with an excellent ability to articulate ideas on a wide range of subjects. He's known for his detailed work in the film room, and can translate football parlance into layman's terms for the casual fan. Once he retires, networks should be lining up to add the four-time Pro Bowler.
McClymont: Who wouldn't want to hear about a game from Philip Rivers' viewpoint? His unbridled passion for football and Alabama accent make the Chargers quarterback an ideal choice to share his views from the broadcast booth. Plus, it'd be fun to hear him suppress cuss words on live television.
Sanderson: Joe Thomas has endured 10 dreadful seasons with the Cleveland Browns, yet remains one of the most honest and funny players in the league. Thomas has shown he can be objective and in touch with fans through Twitter, and has experience with his own online show, "The Joe Thomas Hour."
Which team had the best draft?
Sanderson: When you consider John Lynch had never worked in a front office prior to this winter, the San Francisco 49ers had an amazing draft. They arguably won the first round by trading back from Pick 2 to 3, still landing their man in Solomon Thomas, and also grabbing Reuben Foster at 31, and continued making key additions to cornerback, running back, pass-catcher, and quarterback in the following rounds. Many expected Lynch to fall flat on his face in Year 1, but he navigated the 2017 draft as well as anyone.
Srinivasan: In a steep departure from Ryan Grigson's tenure, the Indianapolis Colts nailed their first draft under Chris Ballard's watch. The Colts picked a potential All-Pro safety in Malik Hooker and fortified their secondary with cornerback Quincy Wilson in the second round. Indianapolis received outstanding value with running back Marlon Mack in the fourth round and linebacker Anthony Walker in the fifth. If the Colts surge through the AFC South, Ballard's first draft will be remembered fondly.
McClymont: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won nine games last year with an offense consisting primarily of Jameis Winston throwing to Mike Evans. They realized they couldn't proceed with that game plan, and fortified the offense with the top tight end prospect in O.J. Howard and speed threat Chris Godwin. Do-it-all rusher Jeremy McNichols was a steal in the fifth round and safety Justin Evans was a necessary second-round selection. They should each be immediate contributors.