The team that drafts Jameis Winston (and it’ll probably be Tampa Bay) will live to rue that decision. I envision a mixture of Tim Couch and JaMarcus Russell in Winston. Do I hold a wealth of animosity towards Winston? Of course. He showed no remorse for his alleged sexual assault. He showed no growth when he stood on a table in the middle of campus and yelled a misogynistic, stupid Internet meme? And he showed that he just doesn’t care about the rules when he stole crab legs from a supermarket and then, recently, came up with some unintelligible story about said crab legs.

The crab leg incident on its own is comical. The Internet meme thing is just a stupid college kid being stupid. But the sexual assault allegation is repugnant, when combined with the way that he and his university handled the situation.

I’ll root against Jameis Winston as vociferously as I can. And I think he’ll do a lot to help that on the field.

What I see in Winston is a sloppy quarterback with questionable athleticism who makes very poor decisions outside of the pocket. But he’s a “winner” you say? So was Craig Krenzel. And Ken Dorsey. And Chris Weinke.

On the other side of the quarterback dime, we have Marcus Mariota. By every account, a great teammate. Also a winner. A very accurate quarterback on the move and one who makes smart decisions in the pocket. But “the system,” you say. Have you seen the offenses teams are running in the NFL? This isn’t Bill Walsh’s National Football League.

There is no Andrew Luck in the 2015 Draft. But if you’re a quarterback-needy team (and note, I don’t think Tampa Bay is because I think Mike Glennon is a perfectly adequate bridge to a better QB in 2016 (Cardale Jones)) Mariota is the clear and obvious choice for my eyes.

All of that said, Tampa Bay is going to draft Jameis Winston first overall. And Marcus Mariota will go second overall to whomever slots in to that second pick (whether it be Tennessee or the team that trades Tennessee their future).

After that, I’m looking at a draft that will be reminiscent of the 2013 one, where the top picks have yet to make any sort of impact.

PLAYERS I LIKE

Amari Cooper (WR/Alabama): Comical, it is, that people are talking about Kevin White v. Cooper. White is a very high upside prospect out of West Virginia, looking to follow in the long line of Dana Holgorsen-coached WRs to go on to great success in the NFL, including…and also… I mean, Tavon Austin? Donnie Avery? Holgorsen’s system allows WRs to put up great numbers and White, in addition, has the measurables. But he’s raw. Cooper is refined and has a very achievable ceiling of Pro Bowl WR. Sure, Kevin White might become a Hall of Fame type player. But I’m better on no. And I’m betting on Cooper.

Leonard Williams (DT/USC): There’s not much to dislike about Williams. He’s an enormous presence on the defensive line and should plug in on Week 1 for whatever horrible team drafts him (likely Oakland at 4).

Trae Waynes (CB/Michigan State): A big, physical corner who has speed, can cover one-on-one and can tackle? Yes, sign me up for that please. Especially in a passing league. Do not understand why he’s a projected mid-first rounder and not a top 10 guy.

Shaq Thompson (S/Washington): Versatile, hard-hitter. Could wind up as a linebacker, a la Brian Urlacher, who played safety in college at New Mexico.

Landon Collins (S/Alabama): I like safeties. Especially supremely physical ones. Collins is not going to go one-on-one with Rob Gronkowski. But he might take Julian Edelman’s head off. So that has to count for something.

PLAYERS I DON’T LIKE

The rest of the first round, basically. If I’m looking to bet on a sure thing, I take the guys above. If I’m hoping that a supremely talented, off-the-field mess will work out, I draft Shane Ray (DE/Missouri), Dorial Green-Beckham (WR/Oklahoma…even though he didn’t actually play there), and Randy Gregory (DE/Nebraska). And if you’re just looking to hit the number right in roulette, well, enjoy the rest of the draft, my friends.

LATE ROUND SLEEPERS WHO I THINK WILL BE USEFUL NFL PLAYERS

QB: Pass. But I will predict that the Eagles will either draft or sign Bryan Bennett from Southeastern Louisiana. Also, I like Brett Hundley, but he’s not a “late round sleeper.”

RB: TJ Yeldon (Alabama). I mean, I’ve predicted that he’d win the Heisman Trophy every year since 1998, so I might as well keep riding the horse that hasn’t won me anything yet, right?

WR: Stefon Diggs (Maryland). Could catch on as a kick returner/punt returner and serve as a decent fourth receiving option. Likely to be a 6th or 7th round pick.

DL: Zack Hodges (Harvard). Loved watching him at the Combine. Great motor. Quick. Physical. Would serve as a three-down lineman.

LB: Kyle Emmanuel (North Dakota State). Played End in college but could move to linebacker (read: should) in the NFL. Another guy I loved watching at the Combine. Was a dominant player at NDSU.

DB: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (Oregon): Had his ACL not torn at the end of the season, Ekpre-Olomu would have been a first round draft pick. That’s reason enough to take a flier on him, which I would imagine Chip Kelly will do as he attempts to recreate the Oregon Ducks in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Sunday marks the beginning of the Major League Baseball season, aka the Longest Slog. As much as I truly love the game of baseball, I can’t help but look at the schedule as a whole as a daunting challenge. On a night-by-night basis, it’s refreshing. One game at a time. But as a whole, it’s an exhausting exercise. By the time August rolls around, everyone seems to be playing at half-speed. Attrition takes over and you wind up with the likes of Aaron Harang and Chien-Ming Wang making spot starts for World Series contenders (assuming both of them, currently with the Phillies and Braves, get traded).

Before burnout sets in, though, it is a time to rejoice and celebrate the return of spring and life and hot dogs and $8.75 Coors Lights. Unless you’re a fan of the Braves, Diamondbacks, Phillies, Twins, or Rockies.

A quick look at each division and the some thoughts:

AL East

1. Toronto Blue Jays

2. Boston Red Sox * WC

3. Baltimore Orioles

4. New York Yankees

5. Tampa Bay Rays

An absolutely bizarre division without a single balanced team. The Red Sox might have the best offense in the game, but probably the thinnest rotation of anyone in this division. Tampa has some high upside pitchers and an atrocious offense. The Yankees have the offense, but no pitching and the Orioles have a slightly better version of what the Yankees have. Toronto, a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since the first year of the Clinton presidency, is the most balanced, especially with young prospects Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris poised for very good seasons. I like them and Boston to advance to the playoffs from this division.

AL Central

1. Detroit Tigers

2. Kansas City Royals

3. Cleveland Indians

4. Chicago White Sox

5. Minnesota Twins

The Tigers’ offense is the best whole unit in this division and I think that’s what gets them to the playoffs (with a swift exit). Losing Max Scherzer in free agency and now Justin Verlander to a triceps injury only puts more pressure on David Price, but with the lineup Brad Ausmus can trot out there, a weak rotation and an incredibly shaky bullpen are still better than what’s happening elsewhere. Kansas City misses out on the playoffs due in large part to the continued managerial shortcomings of Ned Yost and a rotation lacking a David Price or even an Anibal Sanchez. If you’re combining the perfect team, but only from this division, you take Cleveland’s manager, Detroit’s lineup, Kansas City’s bullpen, Chicago’s rotation (if/when it has Carlos Rodon in it), and absolutely nothing from the Minnesota Twins, except maybe their pretty ballpark.

AL West

1. Seattle Mariners

2. Oakland Athletics * WC

3. Houston Astros

4. Los Angeles Angels (aka The Angels Angels of Anaheim)

5. Texas Rangers

I had to talk myself out of the Houston Astros as the AL’s second Wild Card team. I love the youth in their lineup with George Springer. I love the balance of contact/power (Jose Altuve/Evan Gattis and Chris Carter) in the lineup. Defensively, they’ve got range in the outfield. They have the best bullpen in the division thanks to the signings of Pat Neshak and Luke Gregerson (to go along with Tony Sipp and Chad Qualls). And they’ve got the most underrated ace in baseball in Dallas Keuchel, who finished last season in the American League with a sub-3.00 ERA, a FIP of 3.21, and a WHIP of just 1.17. Add to that the youth of Asher Wojeciechowski and Mark Appel, once he makes his debut and likely replaces Fausto Carmona in the rotation, and I really think you’ve got the makings for a very solid baseball team and one that might contend sooner than the SI prediction of 2017.

But given all of that, the Mariners are the most well-rounded team in this division and possess both the best starting rotation and the best all-around lineup. Say what you will about him, but the addition of Nelson Cruz will be a boon to that offense. Oakland sneaks into the Wild Card game after an offseason of strange rebuilding/reshuffling. Do I think the A’s are better today than they were last year at this time? No. But do I think the Angels and Rangers are worse? I do, as both of those teams lack the starting pitching (in both depth and quality) to really make an impact.

AL Playoffs

Wild Card Game: Boston over Oakland

ALDS: Seattle over Detroit, Boston over Toronto

ALCS: Boston over Seattle

NL East

1. Washington Nationals

2. Miami Marlins *WC

3. New York Mets

4. Atlanta Braves

5. Philadelphia Phillies

Atlanta and Philadelphia aren’t worth talking about. The Marlins and Mets are worth talking about in tandem. With Miami, I firmly believe that a healthy Jose Fernandez would be the difference between them just sneaking into the Wild Card game and winning the division. And yes, I think Miami is making the playoffs this year. There’s too much balance in their lineup for them not to. And I love the addition of Mat Latos to the rotation. For the Mets, there’s not enough offense to contend. The pitching, especially with the return of Matt Harvey, will be the show in Queens. But if you think that bullpen and a lineup that trots out Wilmer Flores and Juan Lagares every day is going to get to the postseason, you’ve got another thing coming.

Washington is every person’s favorite to win this division and for good reason. Nobody is going to contend with a rotation that sees Doug Fister filling out the #5 spot in the rotation (in a division that sees: Dillon Gee, Wandy Rodriguez, Jarred Cosart, and Sean O’Sullivan as the other #5 starters). The health of the lineup (already a question) will be key. The real test though should be the playoffs and how manager Matt Williams develops and adapts. A large quantity of the blame for the 2014 playoff loss to the Giants can be placed at Williams’ feet. He’s got an arguably better club in 2015. Second year or not, it’s time to do something with that club.

NL Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals

2. Milwaukee Brewers

3. Pittsburgh Pirates

4. Chicago Cubs

5. Cincinnati Reds

The 2-5 of this division could also be described as “the logjam towards mediocrity.” I would doubt that more than 8 games would separate these teams. I expect St. Louis to run away with this division by August. For those arguing that the Cubs are a contender, I’d ask them to take a look at their bullpen, for example, and explain to me how they’re going to close out games for the likes of Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks. I know that Jon Lester is there. And I know that Joe Maddon is at the helm. And I know and am very excited for the arrival of Kris Bryant. But lets pump the brakes a bit. Milwaukee and Pittsburgh are interchangeable: lineups capable of winning games/rotations with question marks at the back end (and, with Francisco Liriano in Pittsburgh, the front end). I give the slightest of nods to the Brewers, though I don’t expect either team to make it very far into October.

NL West

1. San Diego Padres

2. Los Angeles Dodgers *WC

3. San Francisco Giants

4. Colorado Rockies

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

No one’s offseason was more interesting than the deal-a-minute Padres, who completely revamped their team and did so in a way where I think they can contend for a World Series this year in what is a very strange Major League Baseball landscape, where the presumptive favorite (Washington) has a number of question marks. And San Diego could quietly get back a big piece if Cory Luebke returns in mid-July as expected from TJ surgery. Going into the playoffs, presumably, with their lineup and a four-man rotation of James Shields, Andrew Cashner, Luebke, and Tyson Ross could allow San Diego to make some real noise.

The only other contender in this division is the Dodgers, who just don’t have the starting pitching depth that you need for a 162 game slog. Of course, they’re much better than San Diego at the top with Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, but at the back end, they’re currently relying on Brett Anderson to hold up. Brett Anderson, who hasn’t started 25 games in a season since 2009 when he was 21 years old. In fact, since 2009, he’s started a combined 49 games. When he pitches, he’s a good pitcher. But he doesn’t actually pitch. And so beyond him, the Dodgers will have to rely on prospect Zach Lee or Joe Wieland or Juan Nicasio, especially while Hyun Jin Ryu misses time with an injury. Offensively, the Dodgers replace Kemp with the very exciting Joc Pederson who I expect to have a big impact on the club. Elsewhere, they’ll rely on the new up-the-middle combo of Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins to stabilize that area defensively and provide more on-base ability than Dee Gordon and a cast of others were able to.

It’s an odd year, so we won’t talk about the Giants.

Bringing up the rear are the Diamondback and the Rockies. For fun, let’s combine the two teams and see what that team would look like:

Rotation:

Jorge De La Rosa

Jon Gray

Josh Collmenter

Jeremy Hellickson

Kyle Kendrick

Catcher: Wilin Rosario

First Baseman: Paul Goldschmidt

Second Baseman: Aaron Hill

Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki

Third Baseman: Nolan Arenado

Right Fielder: Carlos Gonzalez

Center Fielder: Charlie Blackmon

Left Fielder: Corey Dickerson

I’m not even sure that team would be able to win this division.

NL Playoffs

Wild Card Game: Los Angeles over Miami

NLDS: St. Louis over Los Angeles, Washington over San Diego

NLCS: St. Louis over Washington

World Series

St. Louis over Boston (4-2)

Baseball’s most-well rounded team gets revenge for 2004 and 2013

AL Awards

AL MVP: Jose Bautista (OF/Toronto Blue Jays)

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez (SP/Seattle Mariners)

AL Rookie of the Year: Daniel Norris (SP/Toronto Blue Jays)

NL Awards

NL MVP: Giancarlo Stanton (OF/Miami Marlins)

NL Cy Young: Adam Wainwright (SP/St. Louis Cardinals)

NL Rookie of the Year: Joc Pederson (OF/LA Dodgers)

Five Trades That Should Happen Sooner Rather Than Later:

Philadelphia trades Cole Hamels to Los Angeles Dodgers for Julio Urias and Corey Seager (A lot to give up for the Dodgers in their two best prospects, but Hamels seems like he’d be a great fit in Southern California, even more so than in Boston. Meanwhile, a terrible farm system in Philly gets a huge upgrade in two very high-upside prospects.)

Washington trades Jordan Zimmermann to Boston Red Sox for Mookie Betts, Matt Barnes, and Trey Ball (Nowhere near the pitching upside that the Phillies would get for Hamels in Urias. That said, Ball and Barnes are former first-round picks who could use a change of scenery. Betts would give the Nationals the second baseman they’ve lacked since Jose Vidro and Zimmermann would give Boston the ace they so desperately could use. Zimmermann is not coming back to Washington after this season and with Tanner Roark wasting away in the bullpen, I see no reason why the Nats can’t stay focused on this year while looking toward the future.)

Atlanta trades Craig Kimbrel to Detroit for Devon Travis and Kevin Ziomek (Atlanta gets a middle infielder (the Tigers top prospect, blocked by Ian Kinsler) for their future and a 23 year old pitching prospect and the Tigers get an actual human relief pitcher)

Colorado trades Troy Tulowtizki to New York Mets for Noah Syndergaard, Brandon Nimmo, Dilson Herrera, and Rafael Montero (The Mets offense gets a huge upgrade, their Major League club gets no worse, they still have Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, and Zack Wheeler going forward, and they have baseball’s best left-side of the infield. Meanwhile Colorado gets to actually rebuild from the ground up and gets themselves out of Tulo’s expensive deal. When you’re not going anywhere, like the Rockies, it’s time to go somewhere)

Colorado trades Carlos Gonzalez to Seattle Mariners for Alex Jackson and Edwin Diaz (The Mariners can afford to bolster their lineup and what better place than replacing Dustin Ackley in left with CarGo. Do his home/away splits scare me a little? Sure. But Colorado isn’t a tiny park and he could serve as a useful doubles hitter in the similarly vast Safeco Field. Meanwhile, Colorado gets a stud outfield prospect in Alex Jackson and a still raw 21 year old starter in Diaz to add to a crop of young talent that would include Jon Gray, Eddie Butler, and Noah Syndergaard at the top end.)