The NFL is off to a WILD start, and therefore the Pick 6 is going to get wild this week also.
1. In 5 years, who will be the best QB in the league?
Kevin: There will be a lot new starters 5 years from now. Here’s a list of guys that will most likely be retired: Palmer, Brees, Brady, Manning, Rivers, Roethlisberger, Cutler (HAHA), and maybe Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers (both will be 38). I think Luck comes back healthy and will finally have his arm strength back, and that what makes me pick him. I really like Winston and Wentz and have them ranked 2 and 3 respectively. I’m trying not to overreact to Deshaun Watson’s fast start, but he can certainly be in contention also. And please Bill, don’t you dare say Jimmy Garoppolo!
Bill: Wow. I must say I LOVE the disrespect for Dak. He doesn’t even get mentioned here! I know Russell Wilson is not a gun slinger, but he does have the second-highest passer rating in NFL history and is only 28, so he deserves mention. I’m tempted to say Rodgers because he is the most talented person to ever play the position and we see what Brady has done at 38 (and 39, and now 40…). However, I cannot bank on another player to last that long at such an efficient level. I’ll take Derek Carr at number one, followed by Wentz, Watson, Prescott, and Winston in some order.
2. The NFL is the most popular league in America, but we all know ratings are down. Will it stay at #1, and if not, what sport will pass it and when?
Kevin: Baseball is obviously America’s pastime, and was #1 before football surpassed it, but I think basketball and the NBA has the most room for growth. I mean just look at the contracts that the players are receiving and you realize what is happening. Plus it is less violent than football and players can play for much longer. I will guess in 15 years the NBA will be the #1 league in the US.
Bill: I only did some quick research but I found a 2014 article that said of the top 50 most watched sporting events in 2013, the NFL had 46 of the events, including 35 regular season games. The MLB didn’t crack the top 50. I think the NFL will continue to dominate the ratings even though they are down this season. I have been predicting for some time that the game will likely cease to exist in about 50 years or so. The violence has moved past chronic physical pain into (probably) the realm of life-long mental deterioration. I agree that the NBA will be #1 someday, but it won’t be in the next 3 decades.
3. Let’s say we are picking teams to play against each other in the Super Bowl. You can pick any player from any team and you get the first 3 picks in the draft. Who are you taking?
Kevin: Well I think one position needs to be a QB and another needs to be a shutdown CB. The other needs to be a player that can change the game in multiple ways. I’m taking Rodgers for my QB, Patrick Peterson for the CB and he can also be the punt and kick returner. For the last spot it came down to Von Miller and Khalil Mack. Actually never mind, I just imagined having Mack and Miller on the same team. I’m taking Rodgers, Miller and Mack.
Bill: I think Rodgers and Mack are respectively the best player on both sides of the ball in the NFL. It’s also smart to choose Rodgers, even if you believe in Brady, because Rodgers is more valuable when you have no idea if your offensive line is good. I am tempted to pick Odell because I think he is the best non-quarterback in the league, but I think it’s a waste because Rodgers can make it work with anyone decent at receiver. I’m going to take Landon Collins because he is the best safety in the NFL and can make up for some defensive mistakes other players might make.
4. Running backs drafted in the first round are scarce, but Saquon Barkley will most certainly be drafted in the first round. How high will he be drafted?
Kevin: Of course I had to include a question about Saquon! He is an absolute freak and McShay just called him the best RB prospect since AP! Teams in the top 5 have a lot more needs than RB, but I don’t think you can pass on a guy like this. He will go top 5. He might be the first non-Eagles NFL jersey I wear since Terrell Davis, unless of course the Eagles draft him…
Bill: It is obviously going to depend a lot on who has the highest picks. However, I agree that he goes in the top 5. Someone will and should look past need to take him due to his incredible talent.
5. Who will be the 2018 NFL Champs?
Kevin: I picked the Patriots repeat, and I am sticking with it. Their defense looks atrocious, but they will figure it out. The Raiders are in trouble, and the Steelers are also having struggles. Pats will be fine and will win their division of course for the 15th season out of 16 seasons with Brady at QB, which is absurd.
Bill: It is mind boggling how bad the Patriots defense has looked. And they are 2-2! The good part about that is that their offense looks ridiculously good (as expected). I agree that Belichick and Patricia will figure this thing out. The Raiders and Steelers are the 2nd and 3rd best teams respectively. The Steelers just cannot figure the Pats out in the playoffs and the Raiders do not look good enough this year to bet on them. I’ll stick with the Pats as well. (Man, we disrespected the heck out of the Chiefs).
6. The Jets are 2-2, which is probably more wins than we predicted them to get all season. What will their final record be?
Kevin: I’m shocked. They play the Browns in Cleveland this week, but the Jets just aren’t a good team. I will say 3-13? But at this point who the hell knows, maybe Todd Bowles is a genius.
Bill: The Jets are 19th in defensive yards allowed and 19th in offensive yards gained. They are 21st in points scored and 21st in points allowed. Those are not the statistics of a .500 team… However, this is the NFL. I can see them winning 4 or 5 games this year.
PAT or Go for 2? (Bill leads 6-4)
PAT: Jaguars @ Steelers (Bill)
2 Point Conversion: Chiefs @ Texans (Kevin)
