Every NFL season there is a team that surprises the public and wins more games than they are expected. The Miami Dolphins were expected to be competing for the first overall pick and ended up winning five games. This isn’t a huge number, but they were better than people thought they would be.
There are a multitude of reasons why teams improve from one year to the next. The easiest explanation is that teams get an influx of talent. Other reasons could be that they had a rash of injuries the previous season and are finally healthy. Young players improving also helps teams make strides in how good they are.
There are many candidates for who could be 2020’s most improved NFL team. The Philadelphia Eagles, even though they won nine games and won their division, faced a rash of injuries last year and could be even better this year and a serious threat in the NFC. The Carolina Panthers lost Cam Newton to injury all last season and didn’t have a viable backup. They also had a terrible defense. They brought in first year head coach Matt Rhule and he added Teddy Bridgewater at QB for stability. They also spent their entire draft on the defensive side of the ball. They should be improved from last year.
In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills are everyone’s hot pick to win the AFC East if Josh Allen continues to improve. The Denver Broncos look to make a major jump if Drew Lock continues to improve.
While all this teams have the possibility to improve, the team that will be the most improved next year is the Cincinnati Bengals.
The easiest way to get better in the NFL is get better at QB and with the first pick in this year’s draft the Bengals did just that. Joe Burrow should be an immediate upgrade from Andy Dalton or anyone else the Bengals put under center last year.
The Bengals also get AJ Green back who missed all last year with injury. He is added to a very talented skill group that includes Joe Mixon, Tyler Boyd and John Ross. Star Clemson Tiger wide receiver, Tee Higgins was also added via draft.
In addition to adding offensive fire power via the draft they also solidified their defense. They drafted three LBs: Logan Wilson, Akeem Davis-Gaither and Markus Bailey. Khalid Kareem was also added to the front seven via the draft.
DJ Reader was added along the front via free agency giving the Bengals one of the best DT tandems in the NFL. Three new CBs were added via free agency as well.
The Bengals are going to look like a different team in 2020 and that is a very good thing for Bengal fans. If Burrow is what everyone thinks he is going to be and their new defensive pieces can meld together, they are going to be the most improved team in the NFL in 2020.
Jonah Williams will help one of the worst offensive lines in 2019. The Bengals are getting two first this year with Burrow and Williams.