Top 5 NFL Franchises Poised for a 2015 Comeback

Every year the NFL goes through somewhat of a shift in power. The Kansas City Cheifs went from having the worst record in the league in 2012 to opening up the 2013 season 9-0. Sometimes all it takes is a good crop of free agents, or a successful draft, or a coaching/scheme change. Sometimes it takes all three, and sometimes a team is only a QB away from winning a super bowl (or atleast thats what Browns fans have been told). This is a purely speculative list on which teams will turn around a losing record in 2016.

5.) The Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars have been a team that has been on my "about to be good" radar for quite some time. Gus Bradley is a great coach, and I have been waiting for the roster to be less-than-horrible so that he can showcase his coaching skills. Unfortunately, due to a roster barren of any offensive prowess, the Jaguars have seemed to be allergic to winning. It seems like they have had the no. 3 overall pick in every draft the past 5 years, but have somehow avoided adding talent. (They drafted a punter over Russel Wilson in the 2012 Draft) But never fear. Finally, last year the organization did something that the entire fan base had been dying for by adding a franchise QB in Blake Bortles. Unfortunately, this franchise QB had the absolute worst grade by PFF in 2014 in QBs who started at least ten games. On the fortunate side though, the Jaguars towards the end of last season seemed to have a unit that looked...actually formidable? Gus Bradley is a defensive minded coach, and he has been able to turn a less then impressive defensive roster into a capable unit. If only he could do that with the offense. It has been rumoured that the Jags will surprise everybody Thursday night and select Amari Cooper with the 3rd overall pick. With the edition of WR Cooper, plus free-agent TE Julius Thomas and RT Jeremy Parnell, the offensive roster does not look so bad. They even hired ex-Bills HC Doug Marrone as assistent head coach, with hope that he can ignite the spark with an weak starting line up as he did in Buffalo one year ago.

4.) The Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders GM Reggie Mackenzie has been in win-now mode for as long as he has been the GM of the Raiders. Every year it seems like instead of a few solid contributors, he goes quantity over quality and signs many less-than-average vets who once had a name of recognition but are now worn out. Last year, after a great draft that netted them 2 franchise cornerstones in OLB Khalil Mack and QB Derek Carr, the raiders still managed to go 4-12. With the 4th overall pick this year, plus the addition of WR Micheal Crabtree, C Rodney Hudson, and RBs Trent Richardson and Roy Helu, the Raiders might finally be in a position to win.

3.) The Washington Redskins

The Redskins appeared to be all fixed by just one player after rookie Robert Griffin III had led the previously anemic offense to a 10-6 record and the no. 1 rushing offense. All it took was an introduction between Griffins fragile knees and 330 pound Haloti Ngata, and suddenly the Redskins were back at square one. Winning only 7 games over the last two seasons, (Thats been 2nd worst in 2013 and 5th worst in 2014, respectively) fans of the Washington franchise have began to pull their hair out. Many blame Griffin, and others blame the front office, namely owner Dan Snyder and incumbent former-GM Bruce Allen. Never fear, Skins fans. In what I would rank as the no. 1 move made by any team this offseason, the Redskins signed new GM Scot McClaughlin, who is tasked with building a talented roster as he once did with the 49ers and the Seahawks. Already, McClaughlin made this defense look like a top-10 unit with the edition of D-linemen Ricky Jean-Francis, Stephen Pae, and Terrance Knighton. Also added was help in the secondary, a unit that struggled heavily last year, with the edition of rising star CB Chris Culliver, former All-Pro S Dashon Goldson, and former Legion of Boom member S Jeron Johnson. All of those additions, coupled with new O-line coach Bill Callahan and the ownership of the no. 5 Pick in the draft, watch out for Washington to be a contender in 2015

2.) The Chicago Bears

The Bears of late have not been Da Bears of old. Blame it on the players or the coaching, but something was not right in chicago in 2014. Many blame QB Jay Cutler, and say he is the reason the team was not as good as it historically has been. I say, if you look at the entire roster from 2014 you will notice much more problems then just Mr. Cutler. Fortunately, the point of this article is to focus on the positive, and not the negative. The Bears made huge splashes with the signing of new HC John Fox, new Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio, and defensive additions such as OLB Pernell McPhee, MLB Mason Foster and S Antrelle Rolle. Look for them to grab WR Kevin White with the 7th overall pick if he is available, to line up next to Alshon Jeffery and new 2015 Bears addition Eddie Royal

1.) The Miami Dolphins

Kenny Stills is a beast