After just watching my way through the Disney+ show Marvel’s What If… I got to doing some thinking. What if some of the major storylines from the 2021 NFL offseason had happened or come to fruition? How different would the league look? Well, here is my take on how some of those storylines would have panned out 7 weeks into the season.
What if… Cam Akers didn’t get injured?
I am probably the biggest Darrell Henderson fan that you will find. I think what he is doing for the Los Angeles Rams is superb given the role that he was thrown into and expected to overtake. He currently sits at the RB13 on the season. But what if Cam Akers didn’t tear his ACL and didn’t have to miss the season? Henderson is averaging 4.34 yards per carry this season, a solid mark in comparison to other running backs. In his rookie season, Akers averaged 4.31 yards per carry and was even up near the 6.0 yards per carry mark towards the back end of 2020. With the upgrades on the offensive line and the ability to spread the ball around with Matthew Stafford, I believe that Akers would be a top 10 back, if not top 5. Akers showed big-play explosion in 2020 and break-away speed that is not common among all running backs. I truly cannot wait to see him take the field as the lead back again in 2022.
What if… Deshaun Watson was traded to Miami?
Well, this may not be that far out! It seems like there is growing momentum that a trade will get done at some point this season. As Tua continues to struggle to man the Miami offense, the urgency of this trade becomes higher and higher. Brian Flores is surely coaching for his job at this point and how can he guarantee job safety? Well, how about by adding a top 5 talent at the QB position that will immediately make the offense more potent. Watson certainly has off-the-field baggage that needs to be handled first, but if all things are clear then he will certainly be an upgrade for Miami. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, Watson finished as the QB5. He possesses big-play ability and is not scared to force the ball down the field, something that Tua has struggled with so far in his career. I think Watson would immediately make the Dolphins and better team and could help pull them back to .500 by the end of the season.
What if… Aaron Rodgers called the Packers’ bluff and retired?
Coming into the season, one of the major NFL storylines was about how unhappy Arron Rodgers was in Green Bay. He was looking for a new contract and some job security from an organization that he’s given his whole career to. Of course, things ended up working out and he was the Week 1 starter for the Packers, but what if he was never appeased? What if he really retired? Well, I think I can safely say that the Packers would not be 6-1 and atop the NFC North. Jordan Love would most likely be taking his lumps as the new face of the Pack and learning the ropes of a Matt LaFleur offense. I also do not think it would be the last time that we ever saw Rodgers lace up the shoulder pads. This is my own personal little plug here, but I think Rodgers will take over in Pittsburgh next season after Ben Roethlisberger retires. But who knows! That’s the beauty of What If…
