NFL 2015: The X-factor for all 32 teams
Sean Lee – Dallas Cowboys
Last year, many pundits were shocked when the Dallas Cowboys went 12-4 and won the NFC East. While the talent was there on offense, it appeared at times the defense was doing everything with the smoke and mirrors of defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. Part of this was because of the torn ACL sustained by inside linebacker Sean Lee in offseason workouts, ending his season.
Lee has been injured constantly throughout his five-year career, playing a total of 46 games. However, when he is on the field, he’s a game-changer. Having Lee behind Dallas’ front would provide Marinelli with another weapon in helping the Cowboys get past the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks. In 2013, Lee had 99 tackles and four interceptions. Production like that would go a long way toward a repeat NFC East title.
Byron Maxwell – Philadelphia Eagles
There are about 4,609 X-factors on the Philadelphia Eagles. Perhaps the largest one is wearing the headset on the sideline, but we digress. After changing the entire composition of the roster, Chip Kelly has left Philadelphia with a cavalcade of new players. None are more important than free-agent signing Byron Maxwell, who comes over from the Seattle Seahawks with a six-year, $63 million price tag.
Maxwell played the silent man in the Legion of Boom with Seattle over the past four years, racking up six interceptions. Last year, Maxwell graded as the 45th-best corner in the league, per PFF. The question is whether Maxwell can thrive as the top corner, or whether he was protected by Richard Sherman. If Maxwell is a bust, the Eagles have all sorts of problems in the receiver-heavy NFC East.
Victor Cruz – New York Giants
Sometimes, a team must realize its strengths and focus more on that than the weaknesses. With the New York Giants, the defense is likely going to struggle to curtail elite offenses throughout the season. Instead of worrying about that, focus on how to score more points. After watching Odell Beckham Jr. put together one of the most impressive rookie seasons in NFL history, the Giants have to hope for the healthy return of fellow receiver Victor Cruz.
Cruz was felled by a torn patellar tendon last year, an injury which left him in agony against the Philadelphia Eagles. Cruz has been working his way back and is expected to be active in Week 1, giving quarterback Eli Manning another top target. Before going down in 2015, Cruz had 23 catches for 337 yards in six games. If he can provide that second weapon to keep defenses from double-teaming Beckham Jr., New York could have a great offense.
Bashaud Breeland – Washington Redskins
Many outside of Washington D.C. are saying, who? No, Bashaud Breeland is not a household name by any metric, but he is a critical player for the Washington Redskins heading into 2015. After the team signed Chris Culliver in the offseason, Breeland became the second corner on a team which had all sorts of issues shutting down the passing attack in 2014.
Breeland is young at 23 years old entering his second year, but he must be better. The fourth-round pick out of Clemson struggled in man-to-man coverage and ranked 99th of 108 corners in PFF’s grades. The worst of the group? David Amerson, a reserve for Culliver and Breeland. If the Redskins are going to escape their doldrums, Breeland needs to become a solid player on the outside.
Next: NFC North X-factors