Unlike the usual list of expected breakout players this is a look at players that their teams need to break out this season. Seven divisions down. One to go. It's finally the AFC South's turn.
Denver Broncos
Joe Flacco, QB
Joe Flacco feels like a better bridge quarterback for the Broncos than Case Keenum was last year. Bridge to Drew Lock? Perhaps. If it wasn't for his being able to pry Peyton Manning from every other team that wanted him, John Elway's attempts to find a quality quarterback for the Broncos have been a complete, total, absolute failure. Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch, Trevor Siemian, Case Keenum. Other than Siemian and Keenum, Elway seems to favor extraordinarily tall quarterbacks. At least he won a Super Bowl with Manning. The problem is that there has been enough talent on this team surrounding the quarterback to win a few Super Bowls. So, Elway's failure to find a quality quarterback is a significant one. The Broncos need Joe Flacco to play more like a franchise quarterback for a couple seasons than the bridge quarterback that he probably is. Elway really needs Flacco to play well.
Kansas City Chiefs
Tyreek Hill, WR
The Chiefs really need Tyreek Hill in their lineup. Unfortunately, he shouldn't be anywhere near an NFL field. Actually, what the Chiefs really need is a revision of their background search process. They currently don't seem to care what players do off the field.
Los Angeles Chargers
Melvin Gordon, RB
On paper, the Los Angeles Chargers look like one of the most talented teams in the league. They have a top notch quarterback, playmakers all over the offense, an improving offensive line, and multiple difference-makers at each level of the defense. Despite having so much talent spread so evenly across the roster, the Chargers need Melvin Gordon on the field. When he's out they simply aren't the same team.
Oakland Raiders
Derek Carr, QB
If there is any hope for NFL success, teams need their quarterback to play well. That's why I've tried to avoid picking quarterbacks in this offseason exercise. Doing so just feels like a substitute for actual thinking. Perhaps things are different in the building, but the Raiders decision-makers don't seem sold on Derek Carr as their quarterback of the future. He's certainly the quarterback of the present. Although, one can never really know what Jon Gruden is thinking about his quarterbacks. He probably doesn't really know what he thinks about his quarterbacks from one minute to the next. What are his options? Mike Glennon? Nathan Peterman? Carr is his quarterback for the moment. The Raiders need to know if he's their quarterback beyond this moment, this season, next season, eight seasons from now.
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