2021 Team Capsules: Egypt Pharaohs

In a 12-part series, we take a look at each MFFL team, where they’ve been and where they’re going. We analyze the strength of their current roster build, what areas need improvement, and speculate what they might do in the coming months.

A look back

For the past three seasons, the Pharaohs have had a foothold in the South Division. Reigning division champions since 2018, the Pharaohs have controlled the South and have made the playoffs for three straight years. In fairness, Bangkok tanked two seasons ago and were not at full capacity last year, but that doesn’t take anything away from Egypt winning 8 games and claiming the crown. Last offseason, the Pharaohs were in dire need of an upgrade at wide receiver. They traded a first-round pick (in 2021) for Odell Beckham, and went on a spending spree in the auction, landing Marvin Jones, Jamison Crowder, Darius Slayton and Preston Williams. They did whatever they could to solidify the position, but in the end it was Robby Anderson, whom they had all along, who made the biggest impact at the position, finishing at WR18. With Patrick Mahomes locked up and playing like a star, and the team trading for tight end Evan Engram who churned out a low-end TE1 season, the season ultimately came down to the running back position. Unfortunately for the Pharaohs, they had some bad luck at the position. Joe Mixon played in just six games, while Adrian Peterson, Phillip Lindsay and Sony Michel all fizzled out. Only Ronald Jones, who finished at RB16, could be counted on consistently. The Pharaohs ultimately went one-and-done in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year, with hopes for a better 2021 outcome.

A look ahead

The Pharaohs got a jump-start on the 2021 season, leaving nothing to chance at the receiver position. Whereas last offseason the position was a big question mark, this year they have quite the depth, although they’ll need to solidify the top. The team has stud quarterback Patrick Mahomes returning along with a strong top of the depth chart at running back. They’ll be looking to upgrade the tight end position and possibly add another playmaker at receiver for Mahomes to throw the ball to. Egypt has six spots to fill and the fourth-most cash to do it, so look for them to make at least one or two big splashes. As mentioned, the Pharaohs only had Turkey to worry about in 2019 with Bangkok in the midst of a tank campaign. Last year, the Blitz were still unfurling their rebuild plan, so while they were competitive, they still weren’t ready for prime time. This year, it’ll be “game on” in the South Division with Bangkok attempting to wrest the crown away from the defending champions. In order to maintain control of the division, Egypt will have to be aggressive in filling out the remainder of their roster.

The Stock Report

Stock Up: Patrick Mahomes, QB/KC; Ronald Jones, RB/TB; Tyler Lockett, WR/SEA.
Stock Down: Joe Mixon, RB/CIN; Sony Michel, RB/NE; Deebo Samuel, WR/SF.

Quarterback analysis

The Pharaohs have one of the best quarterbacks in the business in Patrick Mahomes, and they have him locked in for another two seasons. With a high floor and an unlimited ceiling, the guy is clearly a game changer who can put up some huge performances any given week. Mahomes is the only quarterback under contract, but finding a backup for him won’t be too difficult. For if Mahomes were to go down, the ship would go down with its captain, anyway. There are a few veteran backups available on the market who can be had for cheap. The Pharaohs also have back-to-back draft picks at 20 and 21, which is a prime location to snag a rookie quarterback, should they choose to go in that direction. Whichever path the Pharaohs choose to take, it surely won’t be an expensive one as they don’t need to allocate too many more resources to flesh out the position.

Running Back analysis

As mentioned previously, the inconsistency at the running back position was the source of ultimate disappointment in Egypt’s 2020 campaign. Unfortunately for them, Joe Mixon suffered a season-ending injury after just six games. And when your top player at a fairly thin position goes down, it’s a devastating setback to overcome. The Pharaohs have placed the EFT on Mixon for the second-straight season. Assuming he can stay healthy, Mixon has the talent and surrounding cast to put up RB1 numbers. Backing him up will be Ronald Jones who, after two subpar seasons, broke out in a big way in his third year. Jones put up mid-RB2 numbers last year and will be looking to build upon that this year. Between Mixon’s uncertain health and Jones’ competition for touches, though, the Pharaohs could look to add another body to the depth chart. Currently sitting third on that chart is Sony Michel, who enters the final year of his rookie deal. The former 10th overall pick had moderate success in his first two seasons in the league before dropping precipitously last year due to injury and ineffective play, and it’s safe to say he has underperformed expectations. He has a $6.6 million salary this year and he could find himself as a cap casualty if the Pharaohs want to allocate that money elsewhere. Justin Jackson, meanwhile, is just a warm body. Second-year pro Anthony McFarland is sitting in the Rookie Corral, but he’ll need to show much improvement if he is going to get called up for active duty.

Wide Receiver analysis

The Pharaohs are losing Odell Beckham and Robby Anderson to free agency, as neither talented player is deserving of a franchise tag. Egypt acquired Tyler Lockett and Deebo Samuel in the midst of Christmas Island’s fire sale this offseason. The Pharaohs gave up a costly 1st Round Pick for those two players, so they’d better produce. They likely bought Lockett while his stock was at an all-time high. Lockett finished as the ninth-overall receiver last year, but is presently ranked all the way down at WR29. It’s hard to imagine he won’t surpass that ranking, but it clearly illustrates the steep price the Pharaohs paid for him, and how badly they need him to step up and contribute Top 20 numbers. Samuel, meanwhile, has battled injuries in his young career and thus far has underperformed expectations. Still a talented receiver, he has a lot to prove. Whether or not he takes the leap in his third season could determine not only whether the trade was worth it, but also the success the Pharaohs have this season. The Pharaohs have a lot of depth at the position with Marvin Jones, Jamison Crowder, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, but unless one or two of those players break out, it’ll be tough to count on them from a week-to-week basis.

Tight End analysis

Egypt traded a second-round pick for Evan Engram last year, and the fourth-year pro turned in a low-end TE1 season. Despite that, the Pharaohs did not place a tag on Engram this offseason due to its costly nature and will head into this offseason with a big hole at the position. The Pharaohs have just one tight end under contract at the moment, and that’s Dawson Knox, an underwhelming option who finished as TE38 last year and doesn’t project to be much better in 2021. Addressing the position is a clear need for the team this offseason. Whether they splurge on one in the auction or select one in the second round of this year’s draft, they have to add bodies to the depth chart and create better competition at the position.

Biggest Objective

The Pharaohs are strong at the top of their depth chart for quarterback, running back, and at least one wide receiver. From the depth at the receiver position, they can probably cross off one or two of the FLEX positions. Where the Pharaohs ought to focus most of their offseason attention is landing one of the top receivers available on the market to start alongside Lockett. Samuel just can’t be counted on as a starter until he stays healthy and produces consistently. It would be nice for the Pharaohs to add depth at running back, but with only one starter required, it’s not a necessity. Cutting Michel before June 1 would give the team more cap flexibility. Aside from a starting wide receiver, the Pharaohs also need to find a starting tight end with upside who can potentially defy expectations. There are three tight ends ranked as TE1s currently available in George Kittle (NFT), Mark Andrews (TT), and Logan Thomas (UFA). After that, the talent drops off into Evan Engram and Tyler Higbee territory. Beyond wide receiver and tight end, if the Pharaohs have the money to create more competition at the FLEX positions, they can and should attack those aggressively to make their lineup as competitive as possible.

“What could be…”

The South Division is headed for increased competition in 2021. When you’re a defending champion, a bull’s-eye is placed on your back. When you’re a three-time defending champion, a pack of rabid wolves encircles the camp. The Pharaohs have been known to trade away first-round picks in recent years, preferring to build with veterans rather than rookies. Without a first-round pick this year, they’re going to have to fill in the cracks through free agency. The Pharaohs have the fourth-most cap space available, but just ahead of them is South rival Bangkok, who has $11.6 million more to play with. It surely will be a heated auction with a lot of bidders vying for some of the best talent available on the market. If the Pharaohs can lock up a starting receiver and tight end, along with a couple FLEX options, they’ll be right there ready to defend their crown once more. If, however, the Blitz steal a potential free agent target or the Ewoks — with $73 million in cap space — swoop in and bump the Pharaohs out of the bidding, the holes in the Pharaohs’ lineup could become gaping and we could see a new South Division champ in 2021. As they say, only time will tell. Let’s see what Egypt does come August.

Next up: Ukraine Grainers