16. Miami Dolphins- Vegas odds: 40/1
What’s good: Bill Parcells is in the front office, Jake Long should be a solid left tackle.
Question marks: Everywhere else. Parcells has a history of rebuilding teams, but this is a major project. That said, the Fish should be improved in 2008, but that’s not saying much.
15. Kansas City Chiefs- Vegas odds: 50/1
What’s good: Larry Johnson has had a productive career, although he struggled a year ago. Dwayne Bowe has star potential at wide receiver.
Question marks: Coaching is questionable, Brodie Croyle at quarterback? Offensive line was terrible a year ago, and they traded away their best defensive player in Jared Allen.
14. Baltimore Ravens- Vegas odds: 25/1
What’s good: Terrell Suggs is a great player, Ed Reed is one of the best safeties in the game. Haoli Ngata is a solid defensive tackle, Willis McGahee is coming off a 1200+ yard season.
Question marks: Big hole at the quarterback position, they struggle to score points, defense isn’t as good as it once was, especially at corner. Starting quarterback could be a rookie.
13. New York Jets- Vegas odds: 40/1
What’s good: The Jets spent a lot of money on both lines, they have two good young corners in Darelle Revis and Justin Miller, and a fantastic safety in Kerry Rhodes. New York also has a solid running back in Thomas Jones.
Question marks: No reliable quarterback, not enough playmakers offensively and defensively, will the free agent acquisitions (Alan Faneca, Damien Woody, Calvin Pace) work out? Will Kris Jenkins be healthy?
12. Oakland Raiders- Vegas odds: 30/1
What’s good: Oakland has some young defensive stars in Thomas Howard, Derrick Burgess, DeAngelo Hall, and Nnamdi Asomugha. They could have the best player in the draft in Darren McFadden.
Question marks: Inexperienced quarterback in JaMarcus Russell, culture of losing, dissention among the coach and owner. Questionable free agent spending in both Javon Walker and Tommy Kelley.
11. Denver Broncos- Vegas odds: 20/1
What’s good: Explosive receiver in Brandon Marshall, the best corner in the game in Champ Bailey, and a good head coach in Mike Shanahan.
Question marks: Is Jay Cutler going to take the next step as a quarterback? Offensive line was bad a year ago, no featured running back.
10. Cincinnati Bengals- Vegas odds: 20/1
What’s good: Great quarterback in Carson Palmer, excellent set of receivers in T.J. Houshmanzadeh and Chad Johnson. Good running back in Rudi Johnson when healthy.
Question marks: Is Chad Johnson going to be a huge distraction? Cincinnati lost their best defensive end (Justin Smith) and their best safety (Madieu Williams) from a terrible defense a year ago. Team doesn’t seem to have much unity.
9. Tennessee Titans- Vegas odds: 20/1
What’s good: Great head coach in Jeff Fisher, impact defensive tackle in Albert Haynesworth, great pass rushing end in Kyle Vanden Bosch, very good linebacker in Keith Bullock. Very physical offensive line.
Question marks: Can Vince Young throw at the NFL level? Are any of the highly drafted running backs going to work out? Will the losses of Antwan Odom, Randy Starks, Travis LaBoy, and Benji Olsen hurt the team? Very poor set of receivers.
(ODDS COURTESY OF BODOG)
Charlie Bernstein is the Editor-in-Chief of Sports Media Interactive, covering multiple teams in the National Football League, NCAA, and National Basketball Association. Charlie is a regular syndicated contributor to FoxSports and Sirius NFL Radio, and has been featured on the NFL Network. Charlie is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Feel free to contact him -HERE- with questions or comments.
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