3 NFL teams that could tank in 2022 feat. Seahawks

The NFL has not done as good of a job as the NBA when it comes to de-incentivizing teams from tanking. The NBA has a system in place where teams with the bottom four records all enter a lottery.

NFL rules on draft picks always rewards the team with the worst overall record by giving them the No. 1 pick in the next draft. This will always be the reason why franchises make roster moves geared towards losing games.

In 2022, several NFL teams who, even at this point, don't appear ready to compete could utilize these methods. This will put themselves in a position to capitalize on a loaded 2023 NFL Draft.

Here are 3 NFL teams that could tank in 2022

#1 Atlanta Falcons

Despite playing in one of the weaker conferences in the NFL, the Falcons still don't appear prepared to contend in the NFC South, which also has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, and the Carolina Panthers.

Atlanta are completely behind the 8-ball defensively, and their offensive line figures to be as porous as it was a season ago.

There are some bright spots like rookie receiver Drake London and running back Cordarrelle Patterson. The Falcons are unlikely to be competitive considering they have a career backup under center in Marcus Mariota.

It probably won't be too long before Desmond Ritter auditions for the starting role. However, the NFL draft class of 2023 is where Atlanta may find their long-term answer at quarterback.

#2 Houston Texans

The Texans don't have an elite option anywhere across their offense. Their woes are particularly prominent at quarterback, with Davis Mills set to lead the charge.

This is what Smith had to say about Mills after being hired as head coach:

"If you look at all of my comments about Davis, I am a believer in him and what he's going to do. Eventually, he's got to do it all on the football field consistently where everybody loves him, every snap and all of that. Before a guy has played enough to do all of that, he shows up every day. Availability, he is available, and he has recruited other players to come here, and what the guys see him doing is just working."

"When I say I believe in him, (offensive coordinator) Pep Hamilton, second year in the system, all of these things. ... If you just go back and look at the plays that he made, throwing the ball downfield last year, so many good things that he did, and that's as a rookie."

As long as the Texans are sold on Mills as the starter, the franchise will be beholden to his trajectory. That could mean the team tanks down the stretch of the 2022 NFL season to get a favorable spot in next year's draft.

#3 Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks traded both Russell Wilson and their competitive advantage when they dealt away their 9-time Pro Bowl quarterback this offseason to the Denver Broncos.

Pete Carroll has two unproven options in Drew Lock and Geno Smith who are unlikely to be keepers. The skill positions are stocked with elite playmakers (D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Noah Fant). However, there's no capable arm to get them the ball. The defense is no longer at the same level as the 'Legion of Boom' days, so they won't be able to get by with a game-manager at the quarterback position.

All in all, Seattle is likely destined for the bottom of the standings. Hopefully Carroll doesn't take the grass being less green on the other side too harshly.