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19 NFL predictions for 5 years in the future of the league

By Zach Cohen

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers reacts against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers reacts against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 15: Head Coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins speaks with Tua Tagovailoa #1 during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium on November 15, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 15: Head Coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins speaks with Tua Tagovailoa #1 during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium on November 15, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

2. San Francisco 49ers will be a top team in the NFC

Speaking of the 49ers, I also said they’ll win a Super Bowl in the next five seasons. It’s not hard to see what’s so enticing about this team. They may be the second oldest roster in the NFL but young superstars like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa won’t even be 30 years old by 2026. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey is a stud on the left side of the offensive line, too.

If Shanahan can lead this team to the Super Bowl Jimmy Garoppolo, just think what they could do with his hand-picked heir in Trey Lance. It looks like a tough division for the next couple of years, but I’m fairly confident the 49ers could manage well enough.

3. Miami Dolphins will be a top team in the AFC

I also gave some praise to the Miami Dolphins in my article yesterday, saying they’ll reach a Super Bowl by 2026. With the 13th-youngest roster in the NFL, things are only looking up for Miami. Brian Flores has helped to turn a horrendous roster into a 10-win squad just one game shy of the playoffs, all before his third season at the helm.

Miami’s offensive line had some promising players last season like Solomon Kindley and Robert Hunt, while Raekwon Davis was quietly one of the best rookie defenders. That trio won’t be 30 for another six years, so the Dolphins could easily thrive off their prime.

Of course, the real X-factor here is Tua Tagovailoa. I’m not really sure why some are writing him off after one season, but I guess that happens when Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert already look like franchise quarterbacks. And even if Tagovailoa doesn’t pan out, general manager Chris Grier is no stranger to making moves. Indeed, the future is bright in South Florida.

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