The Biggest Risk Every NFL Team Is Taking in 2019

Well, then Arizona will likely roll out former Green Bay Packers backup Brett Hundley or bring in a quarterback like Josh McCown or Mark Sanchez off the scrap heap.If that occurs, the Cardinals will be in a similar situation to the one they were in at the start of 2018, when Sam Bradford opened the season while Josh Rosen watched from the sideline.While injuries were the biggest issue the Atlanta Falcons had in 2018, a lackluster pass rush did the team zero favors. He had just 2.5 sacks for the New England Patriots last season and just 7.5 in the two seasons prior to 2017.The Falcons may get more production out of the pass-rushers they have, but they're taking a risk by expecting to do so.The Baltimore Ravens used a third-round draft pick on former Louisiana Tech pass-rusher Jaylon Ferguson. However, the Bills want second-year quarterback Josh Allen to become a consistent passer and not just a scrambler who throws the occasional beauty of a deep ball.Zay Jones or Robert Foster could always emerge as Allen's go-to receiver, but going into the season without an established No. 1 is a risk that could hinder Allen's development.The biggest risk to for the Carolina Panthers is quarterback Cam Newton's surgically repaired shoulder.Newton was far from 100 percent down the stretch last season, and the Carolina passing attack suffered in a big way. Chicago has Chris Blewitt, Elliott Fry and Eddy Pineiro on its roster and could bring all three into training camp, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times.The Bears are gambling on a training-camp kicking competition, and it's a risk that could carry over well into the regular season and beyond.If Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton doesn't perform well in Zac Taylor's offense, this could be his final season with the franchise. This is a risk because if Flacco flounders, it could derail the team's season.Yes, the Broncos also used a second-round pick on Missouri quarterback Drew Lock—who may well be the future. He served as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator for a season under Sean McVay.However, there's no telling if LaFleur really is another offensive genius or if he was simply in the right place at the right time to ride the we-want-the-next-McVay frenzy of the past year.This is a massive risk because if it doesn't work out, the result could be Rodgers wallowing in mediocrity for the last of his prime seasons.The Houston Texans have two sack problems on their hands. He caught 41 balls for 653 yards and five touchdowns.We're certainly not suggesting Los Angeles kept the wrong Williams—Mike is on a rookie deal for at least two more seasons—but the passing attack could take a step back if he and No. 3 wideout Travis Benjamin cannot replace the lost production.This may seem like a minor risk, but for a team as complete on both sides of the ball as L.A., it is noteworthy.A team as chock-full of talent as the Rams should have little trouble surviving a few offseason departures. Center John Sullivan is also gone, which means Los Angeles will rely on two new starters on the offensive line.The risk of taking a step back in the trenches is real.The Dolphins traded for 2018 first-round pick Josh Rosen during the draft. No. It's more likely this is a transition season in which Eli Manning plays out his final year or rookie Daniel Jones takes over the quarterback job.Laying a foundation for the future is important. He had 352 touches as a rookie, and a similar season would put him over 700 touches before his third year.The Giants are going to feed Barkley—that's why they drafted him—but they have to find a balance between utilizing his talent and preserving him for a time when the team is ready to make a postseason run.The New York Jets are in a situation similar to the one the rival Bills are in. However, going into the season with a pass-rushing unit that is still highly questionable is a sizable risk.Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz has finished each of the past two seasons on the sideline because of injuries. This is a big risk based on the histories of Ford, Bosa and Alexander.Ford has played only two 16-games seasons in his five-year NFL career and missed 10 games in 2017. Tennessee needs to determine if Mariota is the franchise quarterback, as he is in the final year of his rookie deal.If Mariota cannot stay healthy, it's going to be difficult for head coach Mike Vrabel and the Titans front office to be sold on the Oregon product beyond this season.The Washington Redskins scooped up Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins with the 15th overall pick in April's draft.