5 non-playoff teams a solid draft away from being Super Bowl contenders
The 2017 New Orleans Saints provided a ray of hope for all teams that missed the playoffs last season by getting all the way to the divisional round after finishing 7-9 and missing the playoffs for a third straight year in 2016.
With Drew Brees entering the season at 38 years old, the Saints appeared to be in danger of wasting the quarterback's final years of elite play. However, general manager Mickey Loomis drastically turned things around in the draft, for both the immediate and long-term future.
New Orleans' 2017 class was headlined by Rookies of the Year Marshon Lattimore and Alvin Kamara, and supplemented by standout first- and second-round selections Ryan Ramczyk and Marcus Williams, respectively.
The rookies were instrumental in their first campaign, which culminated with a devastating loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round and may have convinced Brees to return for at least one more season.
Here's a look at five non-playoff teams from 2017 that could follow suit and emerge as Super Bowl contenders as quickly as this season:
Oakland Raiders
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
New head coach Jon Gruden will inevitably receive all the credit, or blame, for the Raiders' record in 2018, but general manager Reggie McKenzie has his own work to do to improve a team that fell well short of expectations at 6-10 last season.
The main focus in the draft should be fixing a defensive unit that ranked 26th in passing yards allowed per game while recording fewer interceptions than any other team. Cornerback David Amerson regressed from the prior year and was subsequently released. Defensive backs Minkah Fitzpatrick, Denzel Ward, and/or Derwin James are likely to be available at No. 10 after the early run on quarterbacks.
The Raiders reportedly had a free-agent visit with Ndamukong Suh canceled, showing a potential interest in addressing the pass rush beside Khalil Mack. Tremaine Edmunds, Marcus Davenport, and Vita Vea will likely be the top available options.
The team has a pick in each of the first four rounds, two in the fifth, four selections in the sixth round, and one in the seventh, allowing them to either take chances on high-upside bargains or move back up the board. Later picks should be used to gamble on intriguing running backs and receivers to address positional groups that are ill-prepared for injuries.
New York Giants
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
The Giants are in the unusual position of having to choose between sticking at No. 2 overall to address their long-term future and trading down for a collection of assets to help them right now.
Should they stay at No. 2, they're likely to have their choice of all but one of quarterbacks Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, and Baker Mayfield to be the heir to Eli Manning. Trading down with another QB-needy team could allow them to address other positions with a variety of picks and gear up for another title run in Manning's final seasons.
They need help on the offensive line to keep the 37-year-old healthy and find some semblance of a running game. The second concern will be fixing up a defense that ranked 31st in yards allowed and 29th in sacks last season.
San Francisco 49ers
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
49ers general manager John Lynch made a bold move last season that caused his team to plummet down the 2018 draft board. While doing so, he vaulted the team's rebuild forward by eliminating the need to use a top pick on an unknown quantity at quarterback.
Jimmy Garoppolo's impressive winning streak to close out the 2017 season resulted in the 49ers having to win a coin flip with the Raiders to land the No. 9 selection on April 26. Lynch then shored up the offense with the free-agent signing of running back Jerick McKinnon. Center Weston Richburg was added in free agency and right guard Joshua Garnett, a first-rounder in 2016, returns from injury to bolster an offensive line that allowed more sacks than all but 10 teams.
Lynch is left with nine picks, with two selections in each of the third and seventh rounds. The team is in position to take the best player available at No. 9, and address remaining areas of need with the second- and third-round selections. It'll need to strengthen a pass rush that recorded just 30 sacks last season.
Los Angeles Chargers
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
The Chargers were a dark-horse pick for Super Bowl contention last offseason, but an 0-4 start proved too much to overcome.
Much of the same cast returns on both sides of the ball for 2018, setting them up for success in a competitive but wide-open AFC West.
Finding Philip Rivers' successor should be a priority at some point, but the Chargers still have the luxury of waiting on a project or a higher draft pick than 17th overall in the coming years.
Help at linebacker, in the secondary, and on the offensive line should be priorities, while an upgrade for Brandon Mebane at defensive tackle would help fortify one of the league's top pass rushes.
Dallas Cowboys
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension was the biggest difference between the Cowboys' 13-3 record in 2016 and playoff absence last year.
While Elliott's contributions can't be understated, his inactivity in a key part of the season showed flaws in the Cowboys' roster composition and several areas of weakness.
An offensive line that has been the envy of the league in recent years ranked just 15th in pass protection by Football Outsiders. The right side of the line needs improvement, and while moving La'el Collins back to the left side could help, he's apparently uninterested.
Meanwhile, Jason Witten needs an heir at tight end, Anthony Hitchens needs to be replaced in the linebacker corps, and Maliek Collins should be upgraded on the defensive line.