How the hip drop ban might affect some of the NFL's top contenders

As is the case when any new rule is implemented, the ban on the hip-drop tackle has already raised plenty of controversy. 

The big question isn't just how the game will change overall but whether teams will feel the effects equally. The answer is probably no — every roster is constructed and coached differently, with unique strengths and weaknesses for each squad. 

With that in mind, let's look at some teams that might be the most affected by the new rule.

San Francisco 49ers

It's not like the 49ers needed any more advantage over the rest of the NFC, but they are probably the biggest beneficiaries of this new rule. San Francisco's ball carriers are some of the league's toughest to bring down, including elusive running back Christian McCaffrey and big physical pass catchers like George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and, occasionally, Kyle Juszczyk. When these guys get some forward momentum, a hip drop is sometimes the only way to bring them down, a tool that will no longer be in defenders' arsenals.

On the other side of the ball, it's hard to say that there's a team with better open-field tackling fundamentals than San Francisco. Even outside of their star-studded front seven, led by tackling machine Fred Warner, the secondary has some great hitters like Talanoa Hufanga, pending injury recovery, and Charvarius Ward at cornerback. With great mechanics already in place, expect the Niners' tacklers to have little problem adapting, as they already do a great job of getting into position to make a strong form tackle. 

Miami Dolphins

It's not as if this new rule will make it tougher for the Dolphins to play their brand of football; it just slightly erodes a competitive advantage without boosting them as much, bringing them down relative to the rest of the league. Every team's yards after catch will take a step up this season, and Miami is one of the most YAC-reliant offenses in football. Speedsters like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert all create value by evading contact entirely, which will never be a bad thing, but is that skill going to be quite as valuable relative to the field with tackling made so much harder?

On the other side of the football, Miami is a below-average tackling team by most measures, and it's hard to imagine that trend improving this year. Specifically, their top priority is taking down the Bills, and there are very few players who are tougher to bring down without a hip-drop than big Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen.

Baltimore Ravens