San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have their answer at the quarterback position after flunking out with Alex Smith and Collin Kaepernick — though we know THAT story. San Francisco acquired Jimmy Garoppolo, and the man was instantly likable as he led the Niners to four-straight wins to close the season.
Now with a full schedule awaiting him in 2018, can Jimmy G keep his monumental success going as the face of the Niners? The front office thinks so, as they signed him to a 5-year contract worth $137.5 million with approximately $90 million guaranteed in his first three years.
With longtime ex-Seahawk Richard Sherman buying into San Francisco’s mentality of winning now, and the signing of former Viking Jerick McKinnon, the Niners have a roster that’s going to surprise some people.
Home Opponents: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, New York Giants.
Away Opponents: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings.
The Niners have a favorable schedule as well, and depending when they play certain teams, they could get hot and go on a serious run. It’ll start and end with Garoppolo, and it’ll be up to the rest of the league to give him his first career loss as a starter.
Prediction: 11-5.