Which NFL teams would be most and least affected by canceling the season?

Not every NFL team would be as affected by canceling the 2020 season as others.

As the 2020 NFL season nears, COVID-19 continues to run rampant in the United States. With each passing day, it seems the world of sports is fighting a losing battle against the virus. Most recently, the MLB has dealt with COVID outbreaks on the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, causing them to postpone multiple games. College football is also in jeopardy with many teams,  including the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences, canceling their seasons.

Despite all this, the NFL is continuing to push ahead with the 2020 season with their damage control coming in the form of giving players a deadline to opt-out of the season. In total, 69 players elected to opt-out.

However, the future of the 2020 season is still up in the air, with a full-blown cancellation still in play as a real possibility. If that were to happen, though, some teams would be relatively unaffected while others would be dealt a tremendous punch. Let’s look at both sides of the coin to see which teams fall in each bucket.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

NFL teams least affected by a canceled 2020 season

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots were hit the hardest by the opt-out deadline, losing eight players in total. The Patriots dynasty was already in jeopardy with their perennial quarterback, Tom Brady, exiting in the offseason and a year break would give them a chance to develop newly acquired Cam Newton as well as get their numerous opted out players back.

Miami Dolphins

While the Dolphins were not hit particularly hard by the opt-out deadline, they did lose two wide receivers in Allen Hurns and Albert Wilson. Combine this with the fact their newly drafted quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, is still recovering from a 2019 hip injury and a year break may be just what the Dolphins need to enter the next season with their offense firing on all cylinders.

Washington Football Team

Washington is another team that only lost two players to the opt-out deadline. However, their offense is headed by second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who is coming off an abysmal rookie year.

Washington’s receiver depth is pitiful with essentially nobody besides Terry McLaurin. With Alex Smith’s health on the rise and the NFC East likely a two-team race, a year off could be beneficial in deciding where they want to take their offense in the future.

NFL teams most affected by a canceled 2020 season

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom Brady is 43 years old and, despite seeming immortal, is surely nearing his end. Rob Gronkowski quite literally came out of retirement for one last hoorah with his former signal-caller.  Therefore, it goes without saying that the clock is ticking on the Buccaneers chance to have a 2010s Patriots type season and a canceled season only shortens that time.

Kansas City Chiefs

Coming off a Super Bowl victory, the Chiefs have the most momentum of any team. Despite losing a few key offensive players to the opt-out deadline, they are still headed by the most talented quarterback in the NFL with an offense filled with young and veteran weapons alike. It only makes sense that the team favored to win Super Bowl LV has the most to lose by its season’s cancellation.

New Orleans Saints

Similar to the Buccaneer’s situation, the Saints are led by a 41-year-old quarterback. In addition, the Saints were not hit hard by the opt-out deadline. With Drew Brees retirement talks popping up in the offseason, cancelation of the season could be the end of his career. Coming off three consecutive solid seasons with disappointing endings, the Saints are bound to be contenders looking to break their playoff curse in the 2020 season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Though not as old as Brees or Brady, 38-year-old Ben Roethlisberger certainly seems to be nearing the end of his days. The Steelers also managed to be one of only three teams to not lose any players to the opt-out deadline. With an elite defense and solid offensive weapons, Roethlisberger — coming fresh off an injury — is poised for a strong playoff run.

Buffalo Bills

Even though the Bills lost two defensive players to the opt-out deadline, they managed to avoid losing star cornerback Tre’Davious White, who was on the fence about opting out. More importantly, the Bills are in a fantastic position to win the AFC East with the Brady-less Patriots losing eight players to opt-outs and the Jets and Dolphins being below-average teams.

Combine that with emerging offensive talent in Josh Allen and Devin Singletary and you have a clear path to the playoffs and a season the Bills would not want to miss.