NFL 2015: The X-factor for all 32 teams
Brandin Cooks – New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis changed the look of his team this offseason, mostly motivated by some serious cap issues. Loomis dealt All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks (while netting a first-round pick and center Max Unger) before trading receiver Kenny Stills. What’s left is a quality collection of offensive talent including future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Drew Brees, receiver Marques Colston and second-year speedster Brandin Cooks.
Last year, Cooks was productive from the start. The 2014 first-round pick caught 53 passes for 550 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games before sustaining a season-ending thumb injury. Cooks has elite speed and should be able to stretch the defense, allowing for more room in the seams and middle for Colston and tight end Benjamin Watson to work. If Cooks can become a star in Sean Payton’s offense, the Saints might find themselves back in the playoffs.
Tevin Coleman – Atlanta Falcons
Since seeing the days of Michael Turner, the Atlanta Falcons have been without a consistent presence in the backfield behind Matt Ryan. While Steven Jackson gave the offense some punch, he was clearly on his last legs for a bad team. Headed into 2015, general manager Thomas Dimitroff addressed the position with third-round draft pick Tevin Coleman out of Indiana University.
Unless a miracle happens, Atlanta is going to struggle defensively. With that in mind, it’s vital the Falcons can control the clock with the run game. Coleman has ample responsibility on his shoulders as a rookie, but showed he can play with 2,026 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns last year with the Hoosiers. At 5-foot-11 and 206 pounds, Coleman has a great blend of power and speed.
Michael Oher – Carolina Panthers
The last two seasons have seen the Carolina Panthers win the NFC South before falling in the Divisional round of the playoffs. While both campaigns were riddled with success, the hope is for the Panthers to take the next step in 2015 and challenge for a Super Bowl. Part of this vault required general manager David Gettleman finding a better left tackle to protect Cam Newton.
Gettleman’s answer to that was allowing Byron Bell to move on via free agency while signing Michael Oher, who was cut by the Tennessee Titans. Last year, Oher started 11 forgettable games for Tennessee, drawing the ire of the fans. Outside of Seantrel Henderson of the Buffalo Bills, Oher amassed the worst PFF grade of any right tackle who started at least 10 games. If Oher doesn’t improve dramatically in 2015, it could be a tough year for Newton and the Panthers.
Donovan Smith – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With the first-overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took their franchise quarterback in Jameis Winston. Winston, the national champion and Heisman Trophy winner from Florida State University, instantly gives the franchise credibility and pumps up a fan base desperate to see its first playoff win since Super Bowl XXXVII.
Enter Donovan Smith, the Buccaneers’ second-round pick. Smith will be the starter at left tackle and protecting the blind-side of Winston. As a rookie, this is a tremendous responsibility. Smith was a quality player for years at Penn State and could give Tampa Bay stability at the position for a decade. Forget Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. If Smith doesn’t play well, this ship is sunk.
Next: NFC West X-factors