| Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com talks to a select panel of NFL execs – and they tell him who they think will win various NFL awards (no MVP votes for Lamar Jackson or Matthew Stafford): We asked league executives and scouts to sort out who will hold the hardware when the 2026 season ends. From MVP to rookies and coach of the year, few of the major awards offer a clear consensus at this early stage. The possibilities are endless and enticing. MVP: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati BengalsNone of the top quarterbacks in their primes are controversial picks. The top four passers between ages 29 and 30 — Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow — have been selected in this very exercise as MVP predictions from 2021 through 25. Only Burrow lacks the actual hardware. But he slightly edges the field here, despite a push from Los Angeles’ Justin Herbert and reservations about Burrow’s durability. In his last full season (2024) he threw for 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns. Health is the primary issue holding him back. “He senses the urgency this year and is talking like it — I think he’s ready to back it up,” an AFC executive said. “If he stays healthy. Big if.” The Bengals’ offense will evolve this year, featuring more under-center work, which could open up a running game that ranked 29th last year. Allen, meanwhile, is looking to join Aaron Rodgers, Jackson and Mahomes as active players with multiple MVPs. “I’m done banking on Burrow because of the injuries,” an AFC exec said. “I would, if not for health issues. Stafford won’t get it again, Mahomes is coming back from injury, and even though you can’t count out Lamar, he’s taken a step back. Allen is the safest bet.” As for Herbert, people inside the league value his work much more highly than some factions of the internet do. “Don’t think he got enough credit for everything he did last year when the OL got decimated by injuries,” an NFC exec said. “They get healthy and a proven, creative playcaller that can make his life easier and [offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel] hasn’t had a QB this gifted.” Also receiving votes: Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers), Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) Offensive Player of the Year: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit LionsRunning backs have won three of the past six OPOY awards, and Gibbs might be next. He has made back-to-back-to-back Pro Bowls despite averaging 225 carries per year as a 1A option alongside David Montgomery. He still managed 39 rushing touchdowns, or one every 17th rushing attempt. And he caught 77 passes for 616 yards last season. “He’ll rise to the occasion as the lead back, the Lions will be competitive and they’ll probably be in a lot of shootouts, which will help Gibbs’ production,” a veteran NFL scout said. It’s worth noting Detroit entered the week with minimal experience behind Gibbs. Backups Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors have combined for nine NFL rushing attempts. Veteran Isiah Pacheco is on injured reserve. Neither Gibbs nor Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson has won this award despite the duo jockeying for tailback supremacy. That could change this year. Also receiving votes: Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals), Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons) Defensive Player of the Year: Will Anderson Jr., Houston TexansAnderson can become the fifth edge rusher in the past six years to win this award. Fending off reigning champ Myles Garrett won’t be easy, but voters in such exercises often like to predict ascending young players breaking the mold. Anderson is 25, squarely in his prime and has improved his sack total in each of his first three seasons, from seven to 11 to 12. Houston has a realistic chance to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl thanks to a vaunted defense led by Anderson. “He can have the type of 15-sack season that will define him, especially with Danielle Hunter on the other side,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “You can’t double both. He can be the leader of that defense, which is just nasty.” Also receiving votes: Myles Garrett (Los Angeles Rams) Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jadarian Price, Seattle SeahawksThis was a close race among the top two running backs selected in the 2026 draft (both out of Notre Dame), an ascending player out of Cleveland and a QB2 in the AFC West. Price, the 32nd overall pick by the reigning champion Seahawks, has impressed head coach Mike Macdonald with his coachability and open-field vision. In fact, some in Seattle feel Price can add a new dimension to the running game, despite new Kansas City Chief Kenneth Walker III’s consistent production over four years. Price is playing for an elite team as a potential lead option. Seattle plans to use two or three backs as part of each game plan, but Price should be showcased a lot. “He’s the best they’ve got, and that offense is dedicated to running the ball,” an NFC scout said. “Zach Charbonnet isn’t ready yet.” Also receiving votes: Jeremiyah Love (Arizona Cardinals), KC Concepcion (Cleveland Browns), Fernando Mendoza (Las Vegas Raiders) Defensive Rookie of the Year: Caleb Downs, Dallas CowboysThe Cowboys have big plans for Downs, who instantly becomes one of Dallas’ most versatile players. When I asked head coach Brian Schottenheimer at training camp where Downs is best served on the field, he said “anywhere,” then pointed out that he can cover star receiver CeeDee Lamb up the seam. The Cowboys will play Downs primarily in the slot, where he can disrupt in the open field. “He will play in the middle of the defense so he will probably have some ball production and high tackle numbers,” an AFC executive said. “And if he helps turn around Dallas’ defense, he’ll be looked at as a catalyst.” The last defensive back to win DROY was Sauce Gardner in 2022, when he recorded two interceptions and 20 pass deflections. Ball production is a must in order to win this award. Also receiving votes: Rueben Bain Jr. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Mansoor Delane (Kansas City Chiefs), R Mason Thomas (Chiefs), David Bailey (New York Jets) Comeback Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City ChiefsThis one is set up for Mahomes like a well-blocked bubble screen. The three-time Super Bowl MVP has crushed his rehab from a torn ACL and PCL. He’s poised to play in Week 1. The offense should be better overall, with a Walker-led running game and a healthier receiving corps. And, perhaps for the first time in his career, a hint of doubt hovers over Mahomes and his place in the quarterback pantheon. He has had multiple down years (by his standards) statistically. “He’s such an elite competitor and player that I’m counting on him responding,” an AFC scout said. “He hears the noise.” Also receiving votes: Kyler Murray (Minnesota Vikings), Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams), Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) Breakout player: Matthew Golden, Green Bay PackersLast year was a roller coaster for Golden, who earned rave reviews in 2025 training camp, then spent the season as a tertiary option. He finished the season with 29 catches for 361 yards on 44 targets. All of those totals ranked outside of the top three among Packers weapons last year. The departure of Romeo Doubs opens a spot for Golden in the team’s three-receiver sets alongside Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. “I’m not really sure why they didn’t use him, but I loved him coming out,” an AFC executive said. “He can fly.” Also receiving votes: Omarion Hampton (Los Angeles Chargers), Colston Loveland (Chicago Bears), Calijah Kancey (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Abdul Carter (New York Giants) Coach of the Year: Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas CowboysThis race featured no runaway favorite. Last year’s prediction was Jim Harbaugh, who could be well-positioned to actually win it this year. But in a tight race, let’s go with a bit of a wild card: Schottenheimer, who has acquitted himself well in Dallas behind the scenes and has most of what he needs to win. “I think Dak [Prescott] will have a big year, we know they can score and the defense should be much improved,” an NFC scout said. “If they stay healthy, they have a good chance to win the NFC East.” Also receiving votes: Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions), Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers), Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams), Kellen Moore (New Orleans Saints), Jesse Minter (Baltimore Ravens) |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASA thumb injury has waylaid G TYRON SMITH. Todd Archer of ESPN.com: The Dallas Cowboys will be without Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith for at least the first four games of the regular season after he undergoes surgery on his left thumb Tuesday. Smith attempted to play through the injury, but he and the club came to the realization that surgery, which will repair a ligament tear, was the best option after trying different ways to protect the joint. The earliest Smith could return would be Oct. 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but that would be on a short week with a Thursday kickoff. The Cowboys play the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 18. “Unfortunately, when you’re an offensive lineman, grip strength and things like that are really important,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said Monday. “We know he’s a quick healer, and we want to get it fixed and he’ll be back for too long.” Smith, 25, has been named to the Pro Bowl each of the last three seasons, joining Larry Allen and Zack Martin as the only guards in franchise history to appear in three Pro Bowls in his first four seasons. He dressed but did not play in one game in 2025 with a knee injury and one game in 2024 with an ankle injury. He missed three games in 2023 due to hamstring, including the season opener, and foot injuries. In February, Smith had a clean-up surgery on his right knee. “He’s such a tough guy. I can’t say enough about Tyler,” Schottenheimer said. “I mean just the toughness, but at the end of the day we can’t pinpoint when it happened. It’s just one of those deals that at the end of the day made the decision that we all did that the best thing is to get in front of this thing and it’s a long season so let’s go get it fixed. T.J. Bass will replace Smith in the starting lineup. He has started 10 games in his first three seasons, but the Cowboys placed the second-round tender worth $5.7 million on him this past offseason as a restricted free agent. |
| NEW YORK GIANTSWR DARIUS SLAYTON is no longer the longest-tenured Giant. Jordan Ranaan of ESPN.com: – The New York Giants on Monday released wide receiver Darius Slayton, the longest-tenured player on the team. Slayton was a fifth-round draft pick of the Giants in 2018, the same year they took Daniel Jones with the No. 6 selection. Slayton had 296 catches for 4,435 yards receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in seven seasons in New York. The Giants signed Slayton to a three-year, $36 million deal before last season. He was due $13 million this season. The move creates just over $3 million in cap space for this year. “Grateful for my time in NY. 7 years a Giant nothing but love for one of the most prestigious organizations in the NFL. Excited to see what’s next,” he posted to X on Monday. Slayton, 29, had six seasons of at least 500 yards receiving for the Giants. But he found himself out of favor with new coach John Harbaugh this summer after undergoing core muscle surgery in the spring. Slayton started the summer strong but never seemed to quite get his footing in the new offense with a new coaching staff. The writing was on the wall when the Giants signed wide receiver Darnell Mooney in free agency. They later added Odell Beckham Jr. in the spring. Harbaugh has said the intention is for Beckham to play. He will be part of the “rotation” and in sub packages. With Malik Nabers eyeing a Week 1 return from his knee injury suffered last season, rookie Malachi Fields impressing and Mooney and Beckham ahead of him on the depth chart, Slayton was left in limbo over the past week. New York was open to moving him during final cuts, sources told ESPN. The significant salary made a trade difficult. “You kind of just figure out the league the more you’re around,” Slayton said last week. “At the end of the day, you control what you can control and let the rest fall where it may.” Slayton is now a free agent. He’s not eligible for waivers as a vested veteran and is free to sign elsewhere. Slayton’s career with the Giants had its fair share of ups and downs. He struggled catching the ball during rookie minicamp but quickly found his way onto the field. The Auburn product had 740 yards and a career-best eight touchdowns his rookie season. But Slayton later found himself buried on the depth chart when coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen took over in 2022. Slayton still eventually worked his way back into the rotation and again became the team’s leading receiver that year. He was the Giants’ leading receiver on four occasions (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023). But he also struggled with drops and inconsistencies, making him a constant target for fans’ disgust. Slayton has 26 drops since entering the league in 2019, tied for 12th most among wide receivers. |
| PHILADELPHIAThe Eagles are being coy about who would go in if QB JALEN HURTS goes down. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman declined to say who the team has installed as Jalen Hurts’ backup quarterback last week and the team isn’t sharing that information this week either. The team’s depth chart for their Week 1 game against the Commanders lists both Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton as the second-string quarterback. Rookie Cole Payton is listed with the third team. McKee has spent the last three seasons with the team and has started in Week 18 the last two seasons. Dalton joined the Eagles in a trade with the Panthers this offseason and has extensive experience as a starter with five teams. If head coach Nick Sirianni does not name a No. 2 quarterback at some point this week, the revelation will likely come when the inactive list is released 90 minutes ahead of kickoff on Sunday. The Eagles will be hoping that whoever lands the gig isn’t needed for the meaningful portion of any games this season. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTAIs Grant Gordon of NFL.com on to something here with his Bold Prediction? Jack Strand takes over as Falcons starting QB.There’s bound to be some quarterback shuffling throughout the season, and there will be in 2026. By season’s end, Fernando Mendoza will take over as franchise QB for the Raiders; Cade Klubnik will be starting for the Jets; Taylen Green will be starting for the Browns; and undrafted free agent Jack Strand will be leading the Falcons. Atlanta will see Strand end the season with more starts than Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa. Strand will start more than half the campaign for Atlanta, showing some promise, but not enough to dissuade the Falcons from plucking a quarterback in the talent-rich 2027 NFL Draft. In case you weren’t following the Falcons in preseason, Strand is the undrafted rookie free agent from Minnesota State – Moorhead who impressed when given most of the game work in preseason. The 6-5 Strand was dominant at Moorhead in 2025, passing for 42 TDs as a D2 All-American. He was a four-year starter with an outstanding academic record (a degree in engineering physics). Despite likely D1 interest, he stayed out of the transfer portal. This is what Dane Brugler of The Athletic said about him prior to him not being drafted: Strand obviously faces a major jump in competition, but he has an intriguing developmental skill set with a whip for an arm, promising field vision and the processing to spread the ball around the field. |
| NFC WEST |
| ARIZONAAccording to this, you can start RB JERIMIYAH LOVE on your Fantasy team this week. Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com: Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur said Monday he is optimistic that first-round pick Jeremiyah Love will be able to play Sunday against the Chargers in Los Angeles, about four weeks after the running back suffered a high ankle sprain in a preseason game. “I feel good (about his chances),” LaFleur said. LaFleur noted that Love was “moving around” during the team’s walk-through Monday and overall is “progressing.” The Cardinals will issue their first injury report Wednesday. Love went down during a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Aug. 13 with a high ankle sprain and didn’t play or practice again the rest of the preseason. Love was at the Cardinals’ last open practice last week in street clothes. Arizona kept three running backs on its initial 53-man roster: Tyler Allgeier, Bam Knight and Love. It also signed running back Evan Hull to its practice squad. Love was the third pick in April’s draft out of Notre Dame. |
| SAN FRANCISCOFavorable injury news for the 49ers, for once, as the Australian dustup with the Rams looms. Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com: The San Francisco 49ers arrived in Australia with defensive end Nick Bosa and tight end George Kittle looming as their largest injury-related question marks heading into Week 1. And while there are still a few days before the Niners meet the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, all signs point toward Bosa and Kittle playing in Thursday’s game. On Bosa, who is recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee suffered in Week 3 last season, 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris left no room for equivocation. “Oh, he’s going out there,” Morris said. “Whatever you want to say, he’s going. We’re not hiding that.” While offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak wasn’t quite as definitive before practice here Tuesday, he offered strong hints that Kittle will be able to return against the Rams after tearing his right Achilles tendon in January. “Super impressed with how he’s looked considering the injury he had and how quickly he got back out on the field and just committed to his rehab,” Kubiak said. “And it’s been pretty cool to see Kittle out there looking like himself to me. Looking fresh. How that affects him on game day and what the workload is will be determined. “But he looks good to me. He’s practicing full speed, he’s getting a ton of reps, so I feel like we’re in good shape.” Asked directly if Kittle will play Thursday, Kubiak said the decision will be made official after the Niners wrap up their practice week — but that it’s heading in that direction. “We have got to see how he gets through the rest of the week, we’ve got two more practices, but Kittle looks good,” Kubiak said. Over the past few weeks, Bosa’s return appeared more uncertain than Kittle’s. Bosa started training camp by participating in individual drills then missed time with tendinitis and soreness. Bosa returned to practice last week before the Niners left for Australia and indicated afterward he’d had enough of a breakthrough that he would play against the Rams, so long as he didn’t have any sort of setback. The 49ers have remained cautious with the practice plan for Bosa, and it’s unclear how much he will play Thursday, if he is active. But Morris believes Bosa will be involved in some form. |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASA Bold Prediction (we’d say semi-bold) from Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com: Brock Bowers is first TE to lead NFL in catches in over two decades.This is purportedly the Year of 13 personnel, so you best believe a tight end will lead the league in receptions for the first time since Tony Gonzalez in 2004 and only the second time since Todd Christensen (!) in 1986. Trey McBride and Bowers have come close in recent years, but this year, Bowers will get it done, serving as Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza’s top pass-catching option amid average receivers. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CINCINNATIJohn Breech of CBSSports.com has an enjoyable season prediction column here with a nice balance of bold vision and common sense. At least Bengals fans think so as we excerpt his discussion of the Super Bowl: Super Bowl LXI at SoFi StadiumPlayoffs bold prediction: Bengals finally get their first Super Bowl win in franchise history That’s right, I’m picking a team that has never won the Super Bowl before (Bengals) to face a team that hasn’t made it past the divisional round in 30 years (Cowboys). This is either going to go down as the greatest preseason Super Bowl prediction of all-time, or it’s going to blow up in my face. There’s no in-between. Pete Prisco also has the Cowboys going to the Super Bowl, and I have to say, that was almost enough to get me to change my pick, but I’m STICKING with it. When I started making these predictions more than a decade ago, I promised myself I would never pick the Cowboys to go to the Super Bowl because they’re always overhyped and underdeliver, but here I am. I have the Cowboys in the Super Bowl. And then we have the Bengals, a team that hasn’t even made the playoffs in three straight seasons. To me, these two teams are almost mirror images of each other: Both teams are returning essentially every starter on offense, and both hope they did enough on defense this offseason to improve on last year. If you don’t remember what happened last year with these two teams, here’s a quick refresher: The Bengals defense gave up the second-most yards in the NFL, and the Cowboys gave up the third-most. Both teams also have an aging hands-on owner who is desperate to win it all. At 83 years old, Jerry Jones wants to see one more Super Bowl win in his lifetime. At 91, Mike Brown would definitely like to see his franchise win a Super Bowl for the first time. Both owners apparently sent the same memo to their front office this year, and that memo was: Make the defense better. The Cowboys added some fresh faces on defense with guys like Rashan Gary, Dee Winters, Caleb Downs and Cobie Durant. That group will be joining a defense that will get a full season with Quinnen Williams for the first time, and I think this unit could be really good. Not to be outdone, the Bengals made one of the biggest trades of the offseason when they sent the 10th overall pick to New York to acquire Dexter Lawrence from the Giants. They also signed Jonathan Allen and Boyd Mafe, along with two-time Super Bowl winner Bryan Cook. This might sound crazy, but I think the Bengals could have a top-10 defense this year, and that’s notable, because 11 of the 13 Super Bowl winners since 2013 have had a top-10 defense. The other reason I like the Bengals is that I’m pretty sure Joe Burrow has brainwashed me into thinking they can win it all. Over the past few months, Burrow has been doing his best to manifest a Super Bowl win into existence by talking about it nonstop. I’ve never heard a QB sound so confident before the season, and Burrow doesn’t usually talk like this. The QB has compared this year’s Bengals to his 2019 LSU team, which won the national title. Some quarterbacks will say the team’s “goal” is to win a Super Bowl, but Burrow is actually saying they’re going to win it. As long as Burrow can stay healthy, the Bengals should be a serious threat to win the Super Bowl, and I think they pull it off by winning the NFL’s first-ever Valentine’s Day Super Bowl. Super Bowl LXI prediction: Bengals 27-23 over CowboysWhen it comes to this year’s Super Bowl, a lot of people are picking the Rams to win it all, and I almost did the same thing, but I ended up going with Dallas. My only problem with the Rams is that if NFL history has shown us one thing, it’s that the expectations can sometimes overwhelm you when you’re a heavy favorite. The Rams are the 21st team over the past 30 years to have Super Bowl odds of +500 or shorter, which is notable because the previous 20 teams have gone 0-20 when it comes to winning the Super Bowl. The hype train always seems to go off the track. I like the Rams and think they could certainly win it all, but I won’t be surprised if they get tripped up in the playoffs. Finally, if my season predictions all pan out — and I’m sure they will — here’s what the top of the NFL Draft order will look like next April. |
| CLEVELANDHas there ever been a team that started the season with four QBs on the roster/IR who were all viable to be the starter by the time the frost hits the pumpkin? Add rookie QB TAYLEN GREEN to DESHAUN WATSON, SHADEUR SANDERS and DILLON GABRIEL. Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com on how Green could see action Sunday in JAX. – Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken said Monday that rookie quarterback Taylen Green could have a package of plays on game day to utilize his athleticism. “Could be. There could be a package where we have him,” Monken said. The Browns open the season on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Monken, though, also said that “three’s a lot” when asked about making Green, Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders active on game days. Green, a sixth-round pick in April’s draft, made the Browns’ 53-man roster as QB3 after Dillon Gabriel was placed on injured reserve because of a back injury. Monken named Watson the starting quarterback on Aug. 24 after a competition in training camp between him and Sanders. Monken also previously named Sanders, a fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft, as Watson’s backup, but said Sanders and Green would split practice reps as the scout-team QB to continue aiding their development. The 6-foot-5, 227-pound Green had a record-breaking performance for a quarterback at the NFL scouting combine in February. He ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, the fastest by a QB since 2003, and also posted position-best marks in the vertical jump (43½ inches) and broad jump (11 feet, 2 inches). His athleticism has prompted questions about whether he could be moved to another position, but Green and the Browns have said the focus is on developing him as a quarterback. Green received scant reps in training camp behind Watson, Sanders and Gabriel but made his debut in the second half of the preseason finale against the New England Patriots. Green completed 5 of 7 passes for 27 yards and also ran for a game-high 66 yards on eight carries. “That’s what he is, just a tremendous athlete that [is] highly intelligent,” Monken said after the game. “You saw it. There’s a lot to work with there. We just got to refine it.” After the preseason finale, in which Gabriel threw three first-half touchdowns, Monken also said he did not envision that the performances would change his plans for starting quarterback or backup. “I don’t see it that way,” Monken said at the time. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISWe think this is a good example of a Bold Prediction (aggressive but not insane) from Chad Reuter of NFL.com: Jonathan Taylor runs for 2,000 yards.Last season, Taylor was on a tear before quarterback Daniel Jones went down with a season-ending injury. A healthy Jones throwing to Alec Pierce, Keenan Allen, Josh Downs and Tyler Warren should prevent defenses from focusing solely on Taylor and allow the veteran back to break off some big runs on his way to the magical 2,000-yard mark. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDWhen the Patriots take the field tomorrow night, CB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ will be playing with a new megadeal. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: The two sides cut it close, but in the end, they’ve gotten it done. According to multiple reports, the Patriots and cornerback Christian Gonzalez have agreed to a four-year contract extension. The deal is reportedly worth $135 million with $102 million guaranteed, which makes Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in league history. Gonzalez, the No. 17 overall pick of the 2023 draft, had been seeking a new deal throughout the offseason. There was some question as to whether or not Gonzalez would play in New England’s season opener against Seattle on Thursday night. Now that the contract is settled, Gonzalez has every reason to be on the field. Gonzalez, 24, was a second-team AP All-Pro in 2024 and a Pro Bowler in 2025. He had 10 passes defensed in 14 regular-season games last year. He also had seven passes defensed, a forced fumble, and an interception in New England’s four 2025 postseason games. New England and Seattle will kick off the 2026 season on Wednesday night at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.– – -Ben Strauss and Kalyn Kahler of ESPN.com try hard to make something new of Vrabel-Russini. It’s a long piece , we have some excerpts: As a new season of Super Bowl expectations begins, Vrabel’s close connection to players and his track record of success have allowed him to move beyond the offseason scandal in the locker room and organization. At the same time, aftershocks continue to ripple through the league, from team front offices to the coaching ranks, in some cases changing how men who work in the league interact with women who report on it. ESPN spoke with league insiders, reporters, players and coaches, most of whom spoke only on the condition of anonymity, about the Patriots’ offseason and how the Vrabel-Russini situation impacted the league. One woman who covers the NFL said that an assistant coach said he wouldn’t want to be seen meeting with her because of the optics after the Vrabel scandal. Several women reporters and coaches told ESPN they are more cautious now when interacting with each other because they feel more closely watched. They worry about the league’s annual scouting combine in March, an event defined by late-night intermingling between team personnel and reporters at bars that helps define coverage for fans. The Patriots declined to make Vrabel available for an interview and declined to comment for this story. In New England, multiple Patriots personnel and players followed Vrabel’s lead, declining requests to discuss how they navigated the offseason, and those who did talk shared few details. The team offered two players — running back Rhamondre Stevenson and safety Kevin Byard — to speak to ESPN. “We just tried to move on as fast as we can from that,” Stevenson said. At training camp, a group of players’ and coaches’ wives and girlfriends were watching practice when ESPN approached one coach’s wife to discuss the strange offseason. “I love chatting,” she said, “if it were any other topic.” “We love this team, and the Pats stick together,” she continued. “That’s all I’ll say.”– – –ABOUT TWO WEEKS after the Post published the first photos, Patriots players and coaches gathered for a regularly scheduled meeting, their first since February’s Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Some had followed the scandal and seen the photos. Vrabel spoke in the same serious tone that he used when addressing the team after a loss, according to a Patriots source. Three players in the room said Vrabel told them he was responsible for creating a distraction and bringing negative attention to the team. He said that challenges always come, but what matters is how people handle adversity when it hits, the players said. “He feels like he did wrong by us,” Stevenson said. Vrabel shared no details about his relationship with Russini, nor did he explain what he’d done to cause the distraction he acknowledged, according to five people in the room. Players asked no questions, and Vrabel quickly moved on to explain the team’s schedule for the day before the team broke off into smaller meetings. “None of the team was really even worried about specifics,” Stevenson said. Another Patriots player reached by ESPN, who requested anonymity to speak freely, offered a different perspective: “It’s difficult to explain to people outside the building how he approached it and how players took it,” he said. “Of course players care about [what happened]. Vrabel is a great leader. Sometimes you have to mess up to become an even better leader.” But simply addressing the distraction was enough accountability, four players said. “His leadership was never tied to how he lived his personal life,” said the Patriots source, who noted that things would be different if Vrabel were a pastor responsible for shepherding souls and exemplifying morality. “Ultimately football players care about respect, they care about accountability, and they care if you can make them better,” the source said. “And if you can do those things, you can be the weirdest person or you can be a stone-cold killer and they won’t care.” When players have off-the-field issues, a high-ranking executive for another NFL team told ESPN, team brass often discusses whether it should address the team. “And the answer is usually no. Players care about winning games and making money.” Shaun Smith, a former defensive end who played with Vrabel in the NFL, suggested there could even be a newfound relatability to the coach: “Some guys are gonna be like, ‘Hey, he’s a dirtbag like me.’ You might have some guys who want to high-five him.” When asked about Vrabel, players and colleagues spoke glowingly about both his coaching and his humanity. He sprints to the tunnel after every game to greet each player coming off the field. He also allows players the space to prioritize their families. Byard played for Vrabel in Tennessee, and in 2023, his newborn son spent five months in the hospital. He said Vrabel called to check on him repeatedly, even after he was traded to Philadelphia halfway through the year. Jahlani Tavai, a Patriots linebacker last year and now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, lost an unborn child last season and his partner fell into a coma. Vrabel called or checked on him every day, Tavai told ESPN. Stevenson called Vrabel a “father figure.” Ben Jones, a former offensive lineman who played for Vrabel in Tennessee, told ESPN: “Players know how much he cares about them. He builds relationships where a lot of coaches don’t.”– – -NFL execs contacted by Jeff Howe of The Athletic don’t think QB DRAKE MAYE is a flash in the pan: This summer, The Athletic surveyed 20 anonymous coaches and executives to name the best QB on a rookie contract. Maye garnered 12 votes to Williams’ five, while Daniels (two) and Bo Nix (one) also had supporters. Stroud, Bryce Young, Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough and Fernando Mendoza were other possible answers. Maye didn’t just win the vote. He also garnered praise that may spark a religious experience for certain New Englanders. “Drake has all the things you’d want at the position,” said an executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so he could openly discuss players on rival teams. “Being with (Josh) McDaniels and that offense, they’re grooming him to be like (Tom) Brady to win at the line of scrimmage.” McDaniels was Brady’s offensive coordinator or positional coach for 13 seasons, while Patriots coach Mike Vrabel played with Brady for eight years. They’ve got a clear institutional knowledge of how the position can be played at the most elite level, and they’re trying to impart as much of that onto Maye. It’s not just faint praise, either. A former head coach, who called Maye his favorite QB prospect of the past decade, agreed the Patriots are implementing some of Brady’s tools into Maye’s arsenal. “(McDaniels) is doing an excellent job of coaching him,” the coach said. Maye has already showcased proficiency under center and through his use of play action, as his ability to operate with his back to the line of scrimmage has accelerated his progression. The No. 3 pick in 2024 needs better protection from the Patriots’ offensive line to take the next step, and a defensive coach of another team wants to see Maye deliver with a touch more accuracy from within the pocket on throws between the numbers. Maye has drawn comparisons to Josh Allen since his time at North Carolina because the budding AFC East rivals have the prototypical size, strength and athleticism to play the position to the modern standard. But while Maye is a more polished passer than Allen was through three seasons, Allen still possesses a level of dominance no one else has replicated. Allen can uniquely put the Buffalo Bills on his back with a hybrid style of playground ball, while the Patriots are doing it a bit differently with Maye. “Josh Allen’s success is built around the athlete,” the executive said. “New England is taking the high-end athlete and building him into a quarterback. That’s the Brady piece.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| UPCOMING DRAFTSJourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic has 15 Names To Know – young players primed to ascend: These are the NFL’s “Future Hits,” young players I believe will have a long-term impact either on their current teams, or in the league at large. Last year’s inaugural list included 32 players, one per team. This year, I was challenged to pare that down to 10. I couldn’t do it! Relying on the training camp practices I watched, insight gathered from our elite staff of beat writers and ongoing conversations with scouts and team executives from around the league — some of whose opinions and evaluations are reflected anonymously here — I eventually pared down my list of candidates to 15 Future Hits. These players are: rookies who were drafted in the second round or later. They have a little something special to them, a little extra “stuff” (my editors don’t let me swear here). They have an edge that stands out, a particular skill or certain traits that separate them from others. They might be in a very specific role this season and beyond, even complementing more established players — but when they do play, they will excel. They are not: starting quarterbacks or first-round draft picks (yes, we listened to your feedback from last year). Some of these players you may already be excited about if you are into following the fantasy football buzz of the summer months; some of these guys won’t help your fantasy football team at all (good!). These are the young players who, in my view, will be a blast to keep an eye on, root for and talk about with your friends in the seasons ahead. Denzel Boston, WR, Cleveland BrownsBoston and fellow rookie receiver KC Concepcion had such an impressive training camp that our Browns beat reporter, Zac Jackson, commented early in camp that they were “miles … galaxies … better than any of the other wide receivers.” Boston is a perimeter receiver who could eventually become a favorite target should the Browns ever facilitate competent play at quarterback. AFC scout: “The definition of an NFL X receiver. A perfect complement with KC Concepcion.” NFC executive: “Huge, talented, and makes it look easy when clean. Preseason best play certainly flashed of a better player than (only) a rebounder.” Brandon Cisse, CB, Green Bay PackersAs early as the first padded practice of Packers training camp, Cisse was thrown into the mix at outside cornerback with the starters. New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will have to lean on the cornerbacks and safeties to help manufacture pressure in the initial weeks of the season, until star edge rusher Micah Parsons returns from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season. Cisse may do well with more to do; he is an attacking cornerback who loves man coverage and can get in the mix in run support, too. AFC scout: “Sticky man cornerback and exactly what their secondary needed.” NFC executive: “LEGIT movement for a near-6-foot corner, even in a few preseason reps. Seems like he shored up a corner spot for them.” Bud Clark, DB, Seattle SeahawksClark broke his ankle in a preseason game this summer, but before that was on track to seriously contribute to Seattle’s talented defense this season. He will still do so in future seasons; the safety/third defensive back position is very important in Mike Macdonald’s scheme and it will be fun to see Macdonald collaborate with such a high-upside player. AFC executive: “Utility safety with nickel flexibility. Can play a variety of roles on defense. Has linear speed and excellent ball production. Played his best football last season. Older player, but makes a lot of plays.” Jonah Coleman, RB, Denver BroncosWhile the buzz out of Broncos camp is not quite that Coleman will start right away — he’s in a full position room with JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey — evaluators saw head coach Sean Payton’s fingerprints all over Denver’s fourth-round selection of Coleman. Dobbins’ injury history, plus Coleman’s natural ability to contribute in the passing game as well as the running game, are elements to monitor. AFC scout: “A ‘Sean Payton’ running back. Bowling ball, balanced, has vision, compact, efficient, tough. Shades of Mark Ingram?” NFC executive: “High floor runner, and he certainly showed that immediately in the preseason. He will be one whose usage and role, over the season, will be fun to track.” Ayden Garnes, CB, Tampa Bay BuccaneersGarnes is in a clearly defined backup role behind the Bucs’ talented starting cornerbacks — but to even get here as an undrafted free agent shows how much of an impact he made throughout training camp. It’s a familiar story for Garnes, who went from no-star recruit at Duquesne to eventual productive starter at Arizona — and I like taking a long-term view of a player in this exercise. AFC scout: “Great story, and he just continues to make plays.” NFC executive: “Had a good preseason; seems to have movement skills to ascend pretty quickly.” Bryce Lance, WR, New Orleans SaintsLance’s role will probably increase because of a hamstring injury to first-round pick Jordyn Tyson. In a joint practice with the Rams, the fourth-round pick out of North Dakota State (and younger brother of Chargers quarterback Trey Lance) showed a real ability to get open for Tyler Shough, including in the tighter red zone area. Shough hit Lance for two touchdowns that day. NFC executive: “Extremely green but growth (so far) is staggering. Highly intelligent, highly coachable. (His college) tape was hard to judge how quickly he could acclimate (to NFL) because he dominated so easily. Bet on (his) traits and makeup to say he would hit whatever ceiling he had.” NFC executive: “Size, speed and ball skills (especially tracking ability) are hard to bet against. Will be interesting to see if he can carve out a role before others return.” Eric O’Neill, OLB/edge, Detroit LionsWhile O’Neill will probably make most of his on-field contributions on special teams this season as an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers and James Madison, that’s clearly a route to head coach Dan Campbell’s heart. “He had to catch our eye every day and he did that every day,” said Campbell, who listed O’Neill first among players he felt proud of out of training camp when speaking to local reporters this week. “There’s not a coach on any given day that’s not saying something good about O’Neill. … And you can’t ignore it. … (Rookie) free agent, man, comes in and earned his right. It’s awesome. It’s what we’re about. And he’s a special teams player too, by the way. Guy can play special teams, man. … And then we’re not even talking about the defense. There are things on defense. He’s a smart player, especially for a rookie, man. He’s got high football intellect and plays hard and plays the run, plays the pass, can get an edge.” Eli Raridon, TE, New England PatriotsOn paper, the Patriots look like they want to live in 11 personnel this season, or possibly 21 personnel. But if Raridon emerges as expected, he and veteran Hunter Henry can make this offense a lot more multiple. Raridon is extremely athletic and has high-potential ball skills despite only catching 48 passes in four seasons at Notre Dame. AFC scout: “Excellent all-around skill set; will become a dependable target for (quarterback Drake) Maye.” Jacob Rodriguez, ILB, Miami DolphinsRodriguez appears set to anchor one-half of the Dolphins’ starting linebacker spots this fall as the team continues its rebuild and gets young players on the field for valuable snaps. The second-round pick out of Texas Tech “has a very average size profile, but his athletic versatility has made him a more instinctive linebacker and helps him play decisively,” The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler wrote. AFC executive: “Former quarterback, self-made into a linebacker. Highly productive, instinctive, excellent character makeup. Turnover machine.” AFC scout: “Ball magnet. Don’t see it stopping in the NFL.” NFC executive: “Got fooled/moved a couple times in the preseason (and did not play a ton) but you can quickly see how much football makes sense to him and his feel for getting to the edges of blocks. Linebacker can be the hardest transition; he will be fun to monitor.” Landon Robinson, DL, Cincinnati BengalsRobinson, a seventh-round pick out of Navy, finished the preseason with eight tackles and 2.5 sacks. College football fans are probably accustomed to seeing him on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” (he made it three times), and Brugler noted that while Robinson is a smaller player for the position, “his quickness and energy lead directly to production.” AFC scout: “Excellent disruptor who could provide value to a good defensive line room.” NFC executive: “Was certainly on the radar. How does the (balance) end up working between rush flashes and run defense trust? Based on the preseason, (his) quicks and hands can impact as a rusher.” Sam Roush, TE, Chicago BearsThe No. 3 tight end position is important in head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme, especially if Johnson wants to play as much 12 personnel as he did in 2025 — and even more 13 personnel. Roush, a blocking tight end with big potential in the passing game, may eventually become the No. 2. AFC scout: “Versatile chess piece whose production won’t always show in the stat sheet.” AFC executive: “Excellent size. Physical run blocker that can function at the POA (point of attack). Strong upper (body) to wrench and steer. Unique in that he’s a true Y with size and good testing numbers.” NFC executive: “Certainly fits the (tight ends) trend in the league. Hands and run after (the catch) potential flashed in the preseason.” De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ersWith Ricky Pearsall out for the season after surgery on his right knee, Stribling will be asked to contribute immediately in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, in complement to veterans Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel. Stribling’s second-round selection by the 49ers was one of the biggest discussion topics among draft media and personalities this offseason, many of whom considered the pick a reach. However, evaluators see the 6-foot-2, 207-pound receiver as a total match for Shanahan and what the organization asks of its receivers. AFC executive: “Late riser in the process. Went earlier than expected but can see why. He has size, speed, play strength, good after the catch, very tough and aggressive play style.” NFC executive: “He has the size and speed that everyone talks about, but his strength through reroute contact and hand strength in contested catch situations stands out. A lot of rookies need to develop that; he has it.” AFC scout: “Perfect Kyle Shanahan receiver.” NFC executive: “The contested catch and radius certainly translated in the preseason. Would say his speed, grounded after-the-catch and blocking impact did not even necessarily get highlighted yet.” Jacob Thomas, S, Minnesota VikingsThomas was enjoying a breakout camp as an undrafted free agent out of James Madison, and looked poised to take on a real role in Brian Flores’ defense (a legitimate nod of respect from the veteran defensive coordinator, because of how complex and high-level that system is). Thomas suffered an ankle injury late in the preseason, but should still become a long-term impact player for this group. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis documented Thomas’ journey and ascension through training camp, writing that “Thomas’ signing as an undrafted free agent came with little fanfare. But even at the time, one NFC executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak openly about another team’s roster, pinpointed Thomas as a hidden gem. Months later, Thomas’ training camp performance is more than just a fun story. It’s an essential development for a Vikings roster lacking rangy safety options with the aptitude to operate the controls of (Flores’) scheme.” Keagen Trost, OT, Los Angeles RamsTrost injured his hamstring in the preseason but should be back by October. While he’ll back up starter Warren McClendon for now, McClendon is entering a contract year. Coaches and scouts were really impressed by Trost throughout training camp, with optimism that he could eventually be a longer-term starter in the vein of Rob Havenstein, the right tackle who played 11 seasons for the franchise before retiring last spring. AFC scout: “Big, strong and powerful. Another mid-round offensive lineman that L.A. will maximize.” NFC executive: “Proved (his) power is real and is calm, balanced and poised.” Mike Washington Jr, RB, Las Vegas RaidersWashington showed some good flashes in preseason games, but where I was most impressed was watching the fourth-round pick grind out a few positive runs against the fearsome Houston Texans defense in joint practices in August. Starter Ashton Jeanty dealt with an ankle injury in training camp but could be back by Week 1; still, it will be hard to keep Washington off the field, and maybe mixing him in will help maximize Jeanty’s snaps in the passing game. AFC executive: “Patient runner with good feet for a big back. Can adjust and find the run lane. Great fit in a zone scheme when he can build linear speed on his tracks. Will wear the defense down and then use his 4.33 speed to hit a home run when he gets a crease.” NFC executive: “Had a few of the bigger preseason highlights. Will be a great test case for the ‘traits versus trust’ conundrum that a lot of coaches face for game day.” |
