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The Teams To Beat Heading Into The 2018 NFL Season

Aaron Rodgers

The 2018 NFL season is a matter of months away now and the pundits are out in full force predicting their teams to beat next season.

Naturally, many are going with the 2018 Super Bowl finalists as the ones to watch, with both the Patriots and Eagles favorites with the bookies. Tony Romo, the former Cowboys Quarterback, has backed the Packers; however, given the work they’ve put in during the offseason.

They’ve beefed up their team by signing two cornerbacks in the draft. Both Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson have come into the side, but given the Packers injury woes last reason, they will still be wary.

Aaron Rodgers picked up a collarbone injury last term but is back to full fitness and could form a lethal pairing with Jimmy Graham. The offense is certainly set for success, with a young and hungry running back group.

It’s been eight years since the Cheeseheads picked up the Super Bowl for the second time, and many are predicting that it’s their year. Betting sites are placing them among the favorites at 10/1, alongside the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. Side note: Here’s a promo code for Unibet New Jersey.

Questions are still being asked of the Steelers in the offseason, and will be looking to bounce back following their playoff defeat to the Jaguars.

How they use Bud Dupree will be one of the biggest questions Steelers fans will want the answers for. He’s one of the quickest edge rushers in the league, but getting the very best out of him has been hard to come by.

Cameron Sutton and Mike Hilton will mean Dupree won’t need to drop back as much as he has been, which could transform him to double-digit sack man.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Steelers do come out come September. There’s a lot of talk about how they have strengthened, and they will be looking to get off to a good start.

The Vikings are also looking good and are likely to use their pass rushers and have a strong core defenwe. Danielle Hunter has had his contact extended after impressing, signing a five year deal. He took a total of seven sacks last season and 12.5 the one before, so there will be a large reliance on him.

A positive offseason is being had by a number of franchises so far, there is going to be some exciting football played. Roll on September.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.