2016 NFL Draft: 49ers and Jaguars are Worst for First

By Dan Salem | Nov 8, 2015

Only one awful football team will win first pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. We’re looking at you San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Game on. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Check out more of the brothers in Seesaw Sports Debate on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

We have already had a great number of discussions pertaining to the zenith of the league; the likely playoff contenders and the remaining undefeated squads. However, the race for the bottom is shaping up to be just as competitive this season as a number of teams look downright horrendous.

The race for the number-one draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft is wide open. Roughly halfway through the year, the Detroit Lions currently “lead” the way with a 1-7 overall record. In the AFC, the Tennessee Titans, having already had their bye week, aren’t far behind at 1-6.

ALSO ON SPINZONE: NFL Week 9 Power Rankings

However, a bunch more atrocious teams settle in on the tier just above, with two wins apiece. This group includes the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers.

I haven’t even included teams with just three wins, who are obviously still in the running for the league’s worst record. What do you make of this? It seems that half the league is bad and could vie for the first overall draft pick. Is there anyway to pick a favorite out of this bunch?

More from NFL

I actually think both Detroit and Tennessee find their way out of the bottom spot, especially once Marcus Mariota returns to the field for the latter. Instead, San Francisco and Jacksonville are the two teams I’m targeting as the ones with best first-pick potential.

With the benching of Colin Kaepernick, things in San Fran are in turmoil, but the team has been really bad with Kaepernick in there. At -98, the 49ers have the worst point differential in the NFL. Are we really expecting Blaine Gabbert to turn this around?

I don’t see another obvious win on their entire schedule. The easiest matchups (Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit) all come on the road, and even still, San Francisco would be the underdog at a neutral site.

As for the Jaguars, they are still in the running for the AFC South crown but only because the entire division is a joke. If a team can look this poor playing in this division, it has to be really bad.

Oct 25, 2015; London, United

King

dom; Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker

Telvin Smith

(50) celebrates with safety Johnathan Cyprien (37) after scoring a touchdown on a 26-yard interception return in the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills during NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

DAN:

With the playoffs out of the question for nearly every one and two win team, its only smart to want that number one overall draft pick. Many of those teams are not ‘bad’ enough to ‘win’ top honors on draft night, however. Unless more benchings occur, which is the only way an NFL team can ‘tank’ down the stretch, then we can easily eliminate the majority of these bad football teams.

You landed on San Francisco and Jacksonville, and I’m going one step further and singling out the 49ers for this dubious honor. Jacksonville can still win its division, being only two victories behind the division leading Colts. I’d be surprised if they pull it off, but they won’t lose enough to win the number one pick. Three wins will be too many. Only the 49ers will end with a mere two victories.

It’s nearly impossible to tank games in the NFL, but benching your starting quarterback is the closest thing to it. Kaepernick gives San Francisco the best chance to win, and he will be sitting on the bench this Sunday. They have some solid talent on their roster, but desperately need a young superstar to push them up the ranks in the NFC. Playing to win that number one overall draft pick is good for business, good for fans, and good for the team.

Next: 2016 Super Bowl Predictions - Packers Win it All

The 49ers have a real shot at winning one more game this season, but I don’t see it happening. Jacksonville should grab at least two more victories, likely within its own division. Same goes for the Lions, Titans, and Browns. We both identified the suckiness in San Francisco back in the preseason, but even I have to admit that their level of ineptitude has surpassed my expectations. Congratulations 49ers, you are the worst team in the NFL. You win.

Dan Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also Lead Editor, Staff Writer, and Featured Vlogger at BuzzChomp, and a New York Jets Analyst for Pro Football Spot. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Instagram.

Todd Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also a Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp, a Featured Columnist at College Sports Madness, and an Analyst for Tipster Labs, among others. Follow him on Twitter.