The Champ Drafted Four Quarterbacks, Somehow

Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry is a title-defense opening. Dak Prescott as the second starter is a genuine superflex answer, and Javonte Williams behind Henry gives the backfield two real bodies. Through four rounds the reigning champion looked like the reigning champion.

Then the ninth round happened. Harrison Mevis is a kicker, taken with six rounds still to play, in a format where kickers are the last thing anybody should think about. Six picks later came Tua Tagovailoa as a fourth quarterback, and Tua's story is the most fraught in the sport, a player whose career has been repeatedly interrupted by head injuries and whose availability nobody can promise. Four arms on a fifteen-man roster, one of them a lottery ticket that nobody enjoys buying, all while five bench spots have to also hold receivers.

The receiver room is where the season likely turns. DeVonta Smith, DJ Moore, Jordan Addison, Quentin Johnston and KC Concepcion is a collection of second and third options on offenses that have better first options. Nobody there commands a target share. Isaiah Likely is the tight end, a player who has spent his whole career being the more exciting half of a two-tight-end room without ever getting the snaps to prove it. Rhamondre Stevenson and Kyle Monangai add backfield depth behind a Henry who has been carrying the ball professionally for a very long time. The top is a champion's roster. The bottom is a kicker in the ninth.