NFL 2019: 5 teams that could go from worse to first

Every year, a team or two in the NFL come out of nowhere to win their respective divisions. While we’re far off from the start of next season — free agency and the draft say hello — here are five teams that could make the jump with some right moves and a little luck.

5. Detroit Lions

The Lions are a tough team to figure. Detroit looked overmatched for much of the season in Matt Patricia’s his first year as head coach, but the talent is there to potentially make a move. Matthew Stafford is a terrific quarterback, and the offensive line is excellent. The Lions desperately need to add some pieces in free agency and draft on the defensive side of the ball, but the NFC North isn’t locked down by a perennial force.

4. New York Giants

The Giants have to figure out who is playing quarterback in 2019. Is it Eli Manning? Is it Nick Foles? Is it a draft pick? Should New York end up with someone who can make plays, the rest of the offense is loaded with playmakers including Odell Beckham Jr., Evan Engram, Saquon Barkley and Sterling Shepard. New York is also bolstered by the fact that the rest of the NFC East is average at best. The Washington Redskins are without a long or short-term answer at quarterback, the Dallas Cowboys have a middling roster and the Philadelphia Eagles continue to lose pieces from the Super Bowl team of a year ago.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers have a new head coach in Bruce Arians, and if he can’t fix Jameis Winston, nobody can. Tampa Bay inarguably needs to add defensive players throughout all three levels of the defense for coordinator Todd Bowles, but the coaching staff and offensive firepower is there to play with the big boys. Factor in the New Orleans Saints having an ancient quarterback, and the Buccaneers are a player.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

This is really simple. The Jaguars still have one of the best defenses in the league led by Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye in the secondary. If Jacksonville can add any help under center, the Jaguars could instantly be one of the better teams in the AFC.

1. Cincinnati Bengals

The AFC North is wide open. The Pittsburgh Steelers are a mess. The Cleveland Browns are banking on Freddie Kitchens to go from offensive line coach to coordinator to head coach in less than a year. Meanwhile, the Bengals finally fired Marvin Lewis and while Zac Taylor is unproven, he provides real hope.