Journal-Herald Sports Bold Offseason Predictions

by Brandon King

The NFL offseason has begun with former Raider Derek Carr going to the New Orleans Saints. Just last season Carr signed with the Raiders for three more years at $121.8 million dollars. Many thought he would be with the Raiders for his whole career, but Las Vegas basically ran him out of town after a poor 6-11 season, after having hopes of dethroning the Chiefs in the AFC West.

This won’t be the only major move in free agency which will likely include players like Saquon Barkley, Jordan Poyer, Tremaine Edmunds, and former Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki.

Former Penn State standout running back

Saquon Barkley, drafted by the New York Giants in 2018 with the second overall pick, was like lightning in a bottle his rookie season. No one could stop him. The running back totaled over 1,300 rushing yards and over 700 receiving yards with 14 overall touchdowns. His second season, he went just over 1,000 yards and 400 receiving yards with just 8 total touchdowns.

Then tragedy struck in 2020 when he tore his ACL in week 2. In 2021, he lacked his ability to cut and only had just over 500 rushing yards in 13 games.

This season, he returned to rookie form with over 1,300 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns with 338 receiving yards on top.

His best chance at keeping this success would to be to join forces with a team that plans for the deep throw.

Jordan Poyer and Tremaine Edmunds played their last few seasons with the Bills on what was considered a top defense… until playoff time. Both are considered top players at their positions.

Poyer is a strong safety. When he was on the active roster, the Bills were 12-0. Edmunds, 6ft 5in, plays middle linebacker but is coming off his worst statistical season in which he still totaled over 100 tackles the lowest he has had in his career and still impressive.

With money being a problem in western New York and the offense adding new pieces, the Bills will not be able to afford one, let alone both former Pro Bowlers. Poyer has also publicly voiced his opinion that the taxes in Buffalo and New York State are a big factor. He could end up with a team in Texas.

As for Edmunds, he has a brother that plays strong safety on the Steelers and it would only add to a nice linebacking corps of him, T.J. Watt, and Myles Jack.

Gesicki was the forgotten man on a dynamic Dolphins offense that featured Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. That offense is meant to be explosive and fast. Gesicki, a 6ft 5in 247 pound tight end, does not fit that mold too well. In 2021 he had over 100 targets with over 70 catches, 780 yards and 2 touchdowns. In 2022, he had just 32 targets and caught 17 of them for just over 300 yards and 5 touchdowns. Gesicki said he was unhappy at the trade deadline, so he’s moving on from the Phins. Gesicki could be looking for a rocket arm QB to help fit in the tight spots over the middle of the field, and who is better than 6ft 6in Justin Herbert of the Chargers? Last season Herbert looked elite and hit his group of tight ends for over 750 yards and 7 touchdowns. Adding an elite tight end like Gesicki would only boost these numbers.