Moderatoren Talk » ProFootballTalkChris Long’s decision to retire was

The Titans made it a moot point by beating the Texans.But the Raiders didn’t do the one thing they most needed to do to have a chance.The Raiders lost a 16-15 decision to the Broncos https://www.broncoslockerroom.com/authentic-von-miller-jersey , ending their own playoff chances and their history in the city of Oakland with their late fade.They lost five of their final six games this year to finish 7-9, and now head to Las Vegas with a number of questions about the future.Quarterback Derek Carr continued to struggle in cold weather, falling to 1-10 all-time when the temperature is below 45 degrees (it was 31 at kickoff in Denver).Carr finally got them to end zone in the final minute (after settling for field goals all day), but his two-point conversion attempt was batted down to seal the loss.The win was the fourth in five starts by Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock, who came back after recovering from a preseason thumb injury (and for some reason regaining their trust).The Broncos (7-9) found some reasons for optimism late in the season, specifically when they finally went with Lock.Between a quarterback with promise, and a draft class that yielded tight end Noah Fant, guard Dalton Risner, and defensive end Dre’Mont Jones, the Broncos have some things to keep them warm through a winter with no playoffs. How will we remember this class a decade from now?" Denver Broncos NewsDenver Broncos 2019 DraftBest and worst case scenarios for the 2019 Broncos draft classNew,22commentsHow will we remember this class a decade from now?MDTThis is my best attempt at relaying both realistic expectations as well as tempering some of the runaway hype that has already started to creep in for some of the 2019 class. One of the things that’s really easy to do this time of year is to drink the Kool-Aid on every one of the additions your favorite team has made. It’s fun and harmless, but can lead to a lot of disappointment without proper perspective. For the most part, I did not include injuries in these scenarios. One last thing: I found inspiration for this while digging into Alex Kozora’s version over at Steelers Depot, so if you’re interested in the Draft in general, I highly advise checking it out.Let’s get started.Round 1 - Noah Fant - TIGHT ENDBest case scenario: The “other” tight end at Iowa last year proves he’s every bit the athletic mismatch players like Eric Ebron and Evan Ingram have been at the NFL level. Early in training camp, it becomes clear that he has a preternatural chemistry with Joe Flacco that helps ease his adjustment to the more advanced route tree he’ll encounter in the pros and concerns over his ability to catch in traffic prove overblown. All the knocks on his blocking by the national media show how out of touch they are by following group think.Evaluations: NFL Draft TE Rankings - Fantasy ColumnsEven before the first preseason game, Fant emerges as TE1 on the depth chart and he sits when the rest of the first team does. Fans in Broncos Country are upset because they want to see what all the hype is about https://www.broncoslockerroom.com/authentic-phillip-lindsay-jersey , but have to wait until week 1 when 87 punks the Raiders Johnathan Abram on Monday Night Football. It’s only the beginning of a monster season as he settles in as Flacco’s favorite target and red zone threat, demanding enough attention in the middle of the field that Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, and Emmanuel Sanders get more favorite looks on the perimeter than they dared dream for in 2018.As the years go by, Fant becomes a huge fan favorite as one of the most versatile tight ends in the league. He can move into the slot, backfield, or play from the line, and he proves impossible to cover for safeties and linebackers alike. Worst case scenario: Fant’s lack of play strength is apparent in training camp as he struggles to separate against more physical coverage. He winds up playing behind Jeff Heuerman and is listed as TE2. The most optimistic in Broncos Country warn that it isn’t the end of the world, but the troubling signs continue into the preseason where Fant has a penchant for drops with bodies around him. Jeff Essary and I both do film dives to look into his issues and find his9.3% drop rate staring back at us. We conclude that Fant had many of the same issues at Iowa last year, which is a big reason why Hawkeye QB Nate Stanley didn’t target him in the middle of the field.The rookie tight end finishes his first season in the Broncos with less than 500 receiving yards and never really establishes himself as the kind of go-to red zone threat John Elway had envisioned when he passed up the chance on Devin Bush for him. Meanwhile, the Steelers linebacker looks like a superstar in replacing Ryan Shazier. 2019 concludes with Fant still clearly behind Jeff Heuerman on the depth chart. In a move to save money, Elway cuts ties with the veteran tight end in the off-season with the belief that it will only take one off-season of work for Fant to emerge. Instead, he finds himself in a tight competition with Jake Butt, who’s fully recovered from yet another injury. The two split duties in camp and neither really emerges as more than a tertiary target. Once his rookie contract expires, Fant is allowed to leave Denver. He signs on with the Oakland Raiders and turns into a superstar for Trevor Lawrence. Meanwhile, Devin Bush goes on to a Hall of Fame career.Round 2A - Dalton Risner - GUARDBest case scenario:Risner proves worth the immediate starting job he’s stepped into in OTAs and adjusts to more advanced assignments like the seasoned blocker he is. He’s a fish to water in Rich Scangarello’s zone blocking scheme, and while he isn’t the quickest player Phillip Lindsay Jersey White , he’s mobile enough to pull when called upon and strikes fear into second level defenders with his tenacity. In addition to his work with the 1s, Risner also looks like a capable depth player at tackle and center, which helps to solidify the depth at both. Mike Munchak molds Bolles and Risner into the most formidable left side of a line in football. Risner brings the kind of immediate pass protection prowess that places like PFF have been touting for months. With it, Bolles comes to trust his inside help more and looks like a worthwhile first round pick. The protection off the blind side is good enough that Flacco stays upright for an entire 16 game season and Royce Freeman, Phillip Lindsay and the Broncos’ running game is devastating. Worst case scenario: Turns out blocking Maurice Hurst, Jerry Tillery, Kenny Clark, and Akiem Hicks is a lot harder than Big 12 defensive linemen. While Risner’s positional flexibility is touted as a valuable asset, his stiffness makes him a weak fit in the Broncos scheme. He starts as a rookie because of the lack of competition on the 2019 Broncos, but is a weak link all season long.Going into his second season, he shows a great deal of growth but can’t overcome his physical limitations to turn into an even average starter. Because of this, Bolles (on his fifth year option) has to cover for him and both players look weak for it. Drew Lock spends his first full season as a starter running for his life. Newton, Bears among those in need of good luck in 2019 - NFL.comNFL LinksNFL Roundtable: What makes a quarterback a “franchise guy?” - Mile High ReportStuds & Duds - The 2019 NFL Offseason Edition | The Draft NetworkFMIA: Smart NFL People Share 25 Ways To Make Pro Football Better – ProFootballTalkProposed “tweak” of replay review for pass interference is more like an amputation – ProFootballTalkLos Angeles Chargers, Rams head NFL’s most complete teams - NFL.comNFL rumors: Adam Gase to pick Jets GM after Mike Maccagnan firing | SI.comJets GM job: Why minority candidates should say no to an interview | SI.comChris Ballard shrinking size of Colts draft board each year – ProFootballTalkPFF’s top 25 NFL players under 25 for 2019 | NFL Analysis | Pro Football FocusHigh-school sprinter accepts Ted Ginn’s offer – ProFootballTalkEagles: We were fortunate to have Chris Long – “complicated” – ProFootballTalkOakland Raiders 2019 Draft Mulligan | The Draft NetworkLos Angeles Chargers 2019 Draft Mulligan | The Draft NetworkSurprise playoff contenders for the 2019 NFL season | NFL Analysis | Pro Football FocusPFF is high on the Jets, Bengals and 49ers.NFL offseason agendas - Barnwell’s to-do lists for all 16 NFC teamsRavens TE Hayden Hurst drops the ball, asks Twitter for help finding the one who got away - Baltimore SunBig Ben ‘sorry’ for critical comments on Antonio Brown - NFL.comSo sorry he went to the media to make the statement.