Rosters can turn over quickly in the NFL. Just three seasons ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars played in the AFC Championship Game, and now they're one of the favorites to land the top quarterback in next year's NFL draft.
With the 2020 draft and free agency behind us, we're breaking down each team's roster using the Pro Football Focus database with an eye toward the projected starters. Using both the PFF grades from the 2019 season -- a number that is included for every projected starter -- and a more comprehensive look at each player's career using both PFF grades and statistics, here's how the 32 rosters stack up heading into next season.
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
1. Baltimore Ravens
Biggest strength: The Ravens' rushing attack was so good in 2019 that they were the most efficient offense in the NFL according to expected points added (EPA) per play while running the ball at a higher rate than any other offense. In the modern NFL, that just isn't supposed to happen. Lamar Jackson's unique skill set as both a runner and passer is what makes that possible. His 47 carries with 5 or more yards before contact was eight more than any other runner in 2019, and his 42 missed tackles forced was over double the next-closest quarterback. Simply getting a hand on Jackson is easier said than done.
Biggest weakness: Despite how well the offensive line played in 2019, the interior offensive line stands out as one of the Ravens' biggest weaknesses heading into the 2020 season. Marshal Yanda's retirement after 13 consecutive seasons with a PFF grade of 80.0 or higher leaves a battle between unproven options at right guard. Meanwhile, Bradley Bozeman and Matt Skura hold tenuous claims to the left guard and center positions, respectively. Outside of Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown Jr. at tackle, there are questions about this group this season.
X factor for 2020: Baltimore's addition of Calais Campbell is one of the biggest moves this offseason that has flown under the radar for some reason. He has picked up overall grades of 90.0 or higher in each of the past four seasons, dominating against the run and consistently bringing pressure at an above-average rate whether lined up on the inside or on the edge. Bringing one of the better defensive linemen in the NFL into the fold is only going to make what was a strong defense last season even better.
2. New Orleans Saints
Biggest strength: The Drew Brees-to-Michael Thomas connection has been something else since Thomas was drafted in the second round in 2016. Brees has completed 80.3% of his targets to Thomas since then -- over 5 percentage points higher than any other quarterback/wide receiver duo with at least 150 targets over that span. The fact that their 513 targets over that span falls second to only Matt Ryan and Julio Jones makes the efficiency even more impressive, as Ryan has completed only 65.3% of his targets to Jones.
Biggest weakness: It might come as a surprise given that he just re-upped on a contract with a total value of $57.5 million, but Andrus Peat has graded out as one of the worst starting guards in the NFL at PFF over the past few seasons. In fact, Peat comes in at 41st out of 41 qualifying left guards in overall PFF grade since 2018 (41.9). The Saints have one of the best offensive lines in the league, but Peat is a clear weak link at left guard.
X factor for 2020: The receiving load that Thomas shouldered for New Orleans this past season was unlike any other top option across the NFL. The addition of Emmanuel Sanders -- who sparked the 49ers' passing attack just a season ago -- gives Brees another proven veteran option to turn to at wide receiver. Sanders has some of the best hands in the NFL, dropping just one of his 96 targets last season, and it's hard to imagine he won't make a very good passing offense even better.
