Category: AFC NORTH

Ranking the 8 NFL divisions by starting quarterbacks

What division has the best collective quarterback quartet in the NFL? What has the worst?

There has been movement all over the NFL. Big names making big gains in the contract department. A look at how the eight divisions compare when it comes to their starting quarterbacks.

8. AFC East

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The AFC East took a huge hit this week when Tom Brady left the Patriots for Tampa Bay. That leaves you with Josh Allen in Buffalo, veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick in Miami, Sam Darnold in New York and, for the time being, Jarrett Stidham in New England. The Patriots could add a veteran arm rather than go with Stidham. That won’t erase the deficit created by Brady’s exit.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8

Andrew Billings: What the Browns are getting in their new defensive tackle

Andrew Billings: What the Browns are getting in their new defensive tackle

The new Cleveland Browns front office made another strong free agent move in signing DT Andrew Billings. Adding one of the younger and more impressive interior defensive linemen from a divisional rival is a win. Cleveland really focused on the offensive side of the ball during the first day of free agency, but the Billings signing will help ease a lot of minds.

Name: Andrew Billings

Height: 6-1

Weight: 311 pounds

Age: 25 years old

Previous Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Billings was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by Cincinnati and at the time this was viewed as an absolute steal. His career got off to a late start though, because his first season ended before it started — literally — as he tore his ACL in August before his rookie year. In 2017, Billings was in a reserve role at nose tackle and played very well, which led to him being named the full-time starter in 2018 and 2019.

The former Baylor Bear had a very solid season and even achieved a career-high 35 tackles in 2019. At only 25 years old, Billings has not yet reached his potential. He is already fantastic at taking up blocks, which will free lanes for rushers. Billings is also a reliable asset as a run stuffer. It needs to be noted that Billings has slowly improved since his devastating rookie injury and 2020 could be his best season.

The biggest concern with Billings is that when he does get a chance to reach the backfield he appears lost. He is also not the first person off the snap very often. Billings has also been caught leaning on offensive lineman and losing the leverage battle, but he plays the position like a bowling ball and can be an upper-echelon interior defender in Cleveland.

Browns will sign Bengals DT Andrew Billings

Browns will sign Bengals DT Andrew Billings

The Cleveland Browns continue to bolster the defensive front. Per his agent via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the Browns have agreed to sign former Bengals defensive tackle Andrew Billings as a free agent.

Billings, who turned 25 earlier this month, played his entire 4-year career with the Bengals. He was a fourth-round pick out of Baylor in 2016 but missed his rookie season with a knee injury. It was that same knee that caused him to drop in the 2016 NFL Draft, where he had been widely projected as a top-50 pick.

Billings started 30 games in the last two seasons in Cincinnati. He’s a nose tackle by trade, though he did manage 2.5 sacks in 2018.

Details of the agreement are not yet available.

[lawrence-related id=42923]

NFL Draft: Grading the 2017 first round as Mitchell Trubisky fades in Chicago

The Bears are ready to move on from Mitchell Trubisky. His grade from the 2017 NFL Draft is poor. How do the other first-rounders fare?

The Chicago Bears have reportedly acquired Nick Foles from the Jacksonville Jaguars for a compensatory fourth-round pick. That feels like a major admission trading up in 2017 to select Mitchell Trubisky out of North Carolina was a mistake. How has the rest of the first-rounders done from that year?

32. Saints: Ryan Ramczyk

 Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

He’s been solid for the Saints protecting Drew Brees. Ryan Ramczyk has not played in less than 95% of the New Orleans offensive plays in his three seasons. He’s been called for seven holding penalties as a Saint in 47 games. Grade: B

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13, Page 14, Page 15, Page 16, Page 17, Page 18, Page 19, Page 20, Page 21, Page 22, Page 23, Page 24, Page 25, Page 26, Page 27, Page 28, Page 29, Page 30, Page 31, Page 32

Who are the career scoring leaders for each of the 32 NFL franchises?

Who are the career scoring leaders for each of the 32 NFL franchises?

 

 

Who are the career leading scorers for each of the 32 NFL teams?

Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith lead their teams in career scoring. The other teams are led, of course, by kickers.

Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith lead the 49ers and Cowboys, respectively, in career scoring. Other teams’ career leaders are kickers.

Arizona Cardinals: Jim Bakken

Herb Weitman-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Bakken kicked for the St. Lous Cardinals from 1962-78. He scored 1,380 points with 534 coming on PATs and the rest on 282 field goals.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13, Page 14, Page 15, Page 16, Page 17, Page 18, Page 19, Page 20, Page 21, Page 22, Page 23, Page 24, Page 25, Page 26, Page 27, Page 28, Page 29, Page 30, Page 31, Page 32

Who are the career leading rushers for all 32 NFL franchises?

Who are the career leading rushers for all 32 NFL franchises?

 

Free agent offensive tackle pool just got deeper with Cordy Glenn, Rick Wagner releases

Both are free to sign with the Browns immediately if they choose

The free agent offensive tackle pool, one the Cleveland Browns figure to dive into headlong, just got a little deeper. Two veteran starters were released by other teams on Friday and are free to sign immediately.

Cincinnati cut veteran left tackle Cordy Glenn, while the Detroit Lions parted ways with longtime starting right tackle Rick Wagner. Both are capable starters who would represent immediate upgrades to their spots in Cleveland.

Glenn, 30, has battled injuries over the last four seasons, two each in Buffalo and Cincinnati. Even so, he’s remained an above-average pass protector on the left side and still has the athleticism that made him an instant starter as a second-round rookie in 2013. The Bengals dumped Glenn to save $9.5 million.

The Lions saved $6.1 million in cap room by dumping Wagner, their starting right tackle for the last three seasons. His play fell off in 2019 as he battled through an injury that ultimately cost him the final three games. Like Glenn, Wagner is better in pass protection than he performs as a run blocker. He is one month younger than Glenn.

Both can be signed by any team immediately.

 

Who are the career leading rushers for all 32 NFL teams?

Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith and many surprises are the career-leading rushers for each of the 32 NFL teams.

Who are the leading career rushing yardage gainers for each of the 32 NFL teams?

Arizona Cardinals: Ottis Anderson

Herb Weitman-USA TODAY Sports

Ottis Anderson went on to win a Super Bowl in his time with the Giants but he was rock solid with the Cardinals, though they were not in Arizona. He played eight seasons with the birds and rushed for 7,999 yards. Would have been nice if he could have gotten another yard to have averaged 1,000 year season as a Cardinal.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13, Page 14, Page 15, Page 16, Page 17, Page 18, Page 19, Page 20, Page 21, Page 22, Page 23, Page 24, Page 25, Page 26, Page 27, Page 28, Page 29, Page 30, Page 31, Page 32

Who are the career passing yardage leaders for all 32 NFL teams?

Who are the career passing yardage leaders for all 32 NFL teams?