The Miami Dolphins are playing themselves out of the running for the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Forget tanking, Miami has won two in a row and could find itself vying for a top-five spot if this continues. The top 10 in reverse order as the NFL finishes Week 10.
10. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have three victories over awful teams. The rest of the schedule is difficult, and the only game they appear to have a shot at winning is against Cleveland in the desert Dec. 15. Don’t be surprised if they wind up with a higher pick.
9. Denver Broncos
Denver has four road games left, and all are against teams that could make the playoffs (Vikings, Bills, Texans, and Chiefs). Don’t expect any victories out of those contests. The home games are versus the Chargers, Lions and Raiders. Is a five-win season possible?
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is where it gets interesting. Bruce Arians is going to have to decide if Jameis Winston can be the leader and quarterback of a team that one day can win playoff games. It’s reached a point where the Bucs have to think of someone else at quarterback. Winston has had plenty of chances to deliver and has yet to show he can win consistently in the NFL.
7. Cleveland Browns
Fully expect the Browns to play themselves out of the top 10. They get the Bengals twice and then the Dolphins and Cardinals — albeit on the road, but still. Cleveland could easily find its way to seven wins … or more.
6. Atlanta Falcons
Before Sunday, many would have thought another coach would have been in the war room for Atlanta on 2020 Draft Day. Go figure, as Dan Quinn rallied the troops off a bye, and they go in and knock off the Saints. The Falcons get the Panthers and Bucs twice each along with New Orleans, Jacksonville and San Francisco. It isn’t an easy schedule to the end of the season, but if the team that showed against the Saints plays every week, the Falcons could be looking at five or six wins.
5. New York Jets
Adam Gase would be best off in the NFC East. If the Jets can knock off the Redskins Sunday, that would make Gang Green 3-1 against the NFC East and 0-6 against the remainder of the NFL. The Jets also catch the Dolphins in a rematch and the winless Bengals. They could wind up with a handful of wins and play themselves into the bottom of the top 10, a place they don’t need to be.
4. Miami Dolphins
The four and five slots could easily get shuffled as Miami already has a win over the Jets, who get a rematch at MetLife Dec. 8. So, a couple wins in a row, and suddenly the Dolphins have to reconsider what players would be available to them if they manage to post a few more victories. So much for the so-called “Fish Tank.”
3. New York Giants
So, as of now, four of the top five slots in the 2020 NFL Draft belong to teams in the East. That would be a pair for the NFC East — Washington and the Giants — and a pair in the AFC East — Miami and the Jets. Big Blue won’t be going for a quarterback since it has Daniel Jones. It also has Saquon Barkley, who is enduring a rough sophomore season. Wide receiver? Defensive player? The Giants need plenty of help.
2. Washington Redskins
Washington announced Monday Dwayne Haskins would be its starter for the rest of 2019. That seemingly assures Washington will remain in contention for a top-three pick. Hard to see it winning many — any? — games with the former Ohio State star at the controls. Could Haskins be reunited with former Buckeye teammate Chase Young if the Bengals decide they covet a quarterback?
1. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals fell to 0-9 as Ryan Finley was sacrificed to the Baltimore Ravens in his first NFL start Sunday. LSU’s Joe Burrow left Ohio State for the Bayou. Could he wind up back in the Buckeye State if the Bengals continue their horrid run?
