STILL STRUGGLING
11.HOUSTON TEXANS
Key additions: QB Brian Hoyer, DT Vince Wilfork, CB Kevin Johnson (rookie), LB Benardrick McKinney (rookie), WR Jaelen Strong (rookie).
Key losses: WR Andre Johnson, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Analysis: The Texans still have DE J.J. Watt and are hoping to get a breakthrough from OLB Jadeveon Clowney. Houston was 15th in the NFL in total defense last year and should be a little better this season. Offensively, this team has hardly anyone significant outside of RB Arian Foster, and he is expected to miss the first six weeks after suffering a serious groin injury the first week of training camp. The key to the Texans’playoff shot is how they do against fellow bubble teams Miami, Kansas City, Buffalo and Cincinnati.
12.NEW YORK JETS
Key additions: WR Brandon Marshall, CB Darrelle Revis, RB Stevan Ridley, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, DE Leonard Williams (rookie), WR Devin Smith (rookie).
Key losses: WR Percy Harvin, RB Chris Johnson, QB Michael Vick.
Analysis: The Jets continue to flounder and that is unlikely to change with new coach Todd Bowles. They went 4-12 last year and managed one divisional win, the season finale at Miami. They have WRs Eric Decker and Marshall, but who is going to get the ball to them? QB Geno Smith likely will be out until October after being sucker-punched in training camp and breaking his jaw. The only reason for optimism is that New York was a top-10 defense last season and might get lucky if the Bills and Dolphins underachieve.
13.CLEVELAND BROWNS
Key additions: WR Dwayne Bowe,WR Brian Hartline, QB Josh McCown, DT Danny Shelton (rookie), C Cameron Erving (rookie), RB Duke Johnson (rookie), DE Nate Orchard (rookie).
Key losses: WR Josh Gordon (full-season suspension), WR Miles Austin.
Analysis: The main story line around the Browns continues to be QB Johnny Manziel’s on- and off-field missteps. Manziel seems far from ready to be a starting quarterback and is coming off an offseason that included a stint in rehab. If he has finally grown up, he has a chance to be good. But that probably will not be enough to propel a Cleveland team that finished in the bottom third of the league in offense and defense last season.
14.TENNESSEE TITANS
Key additions: WR Hakeem Nicks,WR Harry Douglas, QB Marcus Mariota (rookie), WR Dorial Green-Beckham (rookie). Key loss: OT Michael Roos (retired). Analysis: Mariota needed little time to supplant Zach Mettenberger as the starting quarterback, which is promising for Tennessee’s future. However, it seems unlikely Mariota will be ready to carry the team this early, especially with limited skill players around him. There is very little to like about the Titans coming off a 2-14 season that ended with 10 straight losses.
15.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Key additions: TE Julius Thomas, RB T.J. Yeldon (rookie).
Key losses: WR Justin Blackmon (full-season suspension), DE Dante Fowler (injured).
Analysis: The Jaguars think they finally have a quarterback in Blake Bortles after an encouraging rookie season. What else do they have? Unproven players all over the offense and an abysmal defense. They took a step toward fixing that by drafting ex-Gator Fowler No. 3 overall, but he tore his ACL on the first day of minicamp and will miss the entire season. Jacksonville has a great chance at landing the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft.
16.OAKLAND RAIDERS
Key additions: WR Michael Crabtree, WR Amari Cooper (rookie), DE Mario Edwards (rookie), TE Clive Walford (rookie).
Key losses: QB Matt Schaub, RB Darren McFadden, RB Maurice Jones-Drew (retired).
Analysis: If anyone has not been watching the Raiders for the past decade, they did not miss much. The re-re-rebuilding project continues. Oakland has not had a winning season since losing Super Bowl XXXVII and posted a total of 10 wins over the past three years. The casual football fan would have trouble naming this team’s coach or more than three of its players. It looks like at least another year or two before the Raiders are even close to the playoffs.