NFLMocks’ 5 for 5: Nick Sirianni Leads COTY Race, Jaren Hall Climbing NFL Draft Boards, and Dabo Swinney to the NFL?
By Hunter Haas
Headline No. 4: Five Bold Predictions for the Remainder of the NFL Season
•No. 1: The Patriots and Steelers Both Finish with a Top 5 Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft
Throughout the last 17 seasons, both Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin have served as the head coaches of the Patriots and Steelers, respectively. In 34 combined seasons, the duo has suffered only one losing season and even that was a 7-9 campaign from the Patriots in 2020. Things have changed around the NFL, though.
The Patriots and Steelers sit at 1-3 with holes on the roster and lackluster QB play thus far. Two fanbases that are used to winning will likely have a long season ahead. It’s not all bad; the 2023 NFL Draft is loaded, so one player could be enough to shift these teams into the playoff picture again.
•No. 2: Tariq Woolen Receives Defensive Rookie of the Year Votes
The Seattle Seahawks got the steal of the draft when they selected cornerback Tariq Woolen at No. 159 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. The former UTSA Roadrunner should have never fallen that far; the speedy cornerback is showing the 31 teams who passed on him exactly why.
Woolen already has two interceptions, even getting a chance to showcase his 4.2 speed when he returned one for a pick-six in the Seahawks’ week four victory in Detroit. He has yet to allow a touchdown as a rookie and deserves recognition if this play continues.
•No. 3: The Jacksonville Jaguars Win the AFC South
The Jacksonville Jaguars have won the AFC South once since the turn of the millennium. The run came in 2017 when their defense — still led by Jalen Ramsey — carried the team to an AFC Championship Game vs. the New England Patriots. The Jags fell short of making their first Super Bowl, but they are building something special in Duval again.
The rest of the division is playing uninspired football and has dealt with a bevy of injuries. The state of the division bodes well for Trevor Lawrence. He will make good on his sky-high expectations and take his squad to the postseason with a division title.
•No. 4: The San Francisco 49ers Win the NFC West
We keep going with the division-winning predictions here. The Niners lost Trey Lance for the season, and while he offers more upside than Jimmy Garappolo, one could argue that the veteran is better suited to lead the roster as it’s currently constructed.
He was a Jaquiski Tartt dropped interception away from making it 2-for-2 in his attempts to make a Super Bowl as a full-time starter. They are a bit older now, but the key pieces still reside in the Bay Area, and Jimmy G is steering the ship again.
•No. 5: Dameon Pierce Claims Offensive Rookie of the Year Honors
During his time with Florida, Dameon Pierce was criminally underutilized. The lack of usage resulted in too many folks sleeping on Pierce when he entered his name into the 2022 NFL Draft. The Houston Texans wisely snagged the gifted running back in the middle of the draft and are already benefiting greatly from this decision.
Dameon Pierce’s fresh legs and elite vision have already lifted him into the upper echelon of running backs through four weeks. The bell-cow running back is top 10 in the league in rushing yards (313). Pierce is a leading candidate to take home the award.