| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTADan Graziano of ESPN.com ponders the Falcons’ quarterback position: Atlanta FalconsCurrent starter: Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr.Signed through: Tagovailoa, 2026; Penix, 2027 plus a team option for 2028 The Falcons are ostensibly having a competition this summer for their starting job between Penix, who was the eighth pick in the 2024 draft, and Tagovailoa, who was released by the Dolphins this offseason. The Falcons were able to sign Tagovailoa for a veterans minimum salary because the Dolphins are on the hook for nearly $55 million in guaranteed salary for this year. Penix was their starter at the beginning of 2025 but is coming off a torn ACL. Because Penix hasn’t been cleared for 11-on-11 team drills, this “competition” hasn’t really gotten off the ground. And unless Penix gets out there soon, Tagovailoa will become the Week 1 starter by default. Tagovailoa wasn’t good in the Falcons’ first preseason game last weekend, but the new coaching staff under Kevin Stefanski likes his fit in the offense and believes Atlanta can get him ready in time for Week 1. No matter what happens, though, there’s uncertainty beyond this season. Tagovailoa signed for only one year. Unlike Kyler Murray, who was in a similar situation when Arizona cut him with guaranteed money left on his deal and signed with Minnesota, Tagovailoa doesn’t have a clause in his contract prohibiting his new team from using its franchise tag on him after this season. So if Tagovailoa played well and the Falcons wanted to keep him, they could — but they aren’t committed to it. As for Penix, the Falcons have to decide by the first week of May 2027 whether to pick up (and fully guarantee) his option for 2028. They’ll need more information than they currently have on him before making that decision. Ideally, they’ll see him play at some point this season. It’s also worth noting that both of these players have significant injury histories. Tagovailoa has missed 20 games because of injury over the course of his six-year NFL career, and Penix suffered four season-ending injuries during his college career and then another last year in the NFL. Most likely outcome: Tagovailoa starts the season but struggles with health and/or performance, and the Falcons turn to Penix once he is healthy to continue their assessment of whether he can be their long-term answer. The new front office and coaching staff that took over following the 2025 season selects a QB early in the 2027 draft, either to develop behind Penix or to replace him if Atlanta has decided he isn’t the answer. Long-shot outcome: Tagovailoa turns out to be an excellent fit for Stefanski’s offense and has a good year. The Falcons win the NFC South for the first time since 2016 and make the playoffs for the first time since 2017. After the season, the Falcons and Tagovailoa agree on a Daniel Jones- or Baker Mayfield-style contract extension that keeps him there a couple of years more. |
| CAROLINAThe Jaguars let LB DEVIN LLOYD walk to a big contract with the Panthers. Mike Kaye of ESPN.com on his emergence as the “Green Dot” leader of the Carolina defense: – When linebacker Devin Lloyd returns to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars on Friday at EverBank Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) for the Carolina Panthers’ third game of the preseason, his helmet will not only be a different color but it will also have a new accessory attached to it. Lloyd will wear a green dot sticker on his helmet, an indicator of the headset inside, as the defense’s vocal leader — a responsibility the prized free agent rarely undertook during his four-year stint with the Jaguars. Lloyd, 27, earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods in his final season in Jacksonville. He cashed in during free agency in March, signing a three-year, $41.9 million deal with the Panthers. And while the money serves as a nice incentive, Lloyd was looking for other things with his second NFL squad: a chance to win and that green dot on his helmet. “I always practiced wearing the green dot in Jacksonville,” Lloyd told ESPN. “I played with the green dot in a couple of games — shoot, I love it. … That was a nonnegotiable in free agency.” Lloyd is the middle man between coordinator Ejiro Evero, who enters his fourth season leading the Panthers defense, and the other 10 players on that side of the ball. Like the quarterback on offense, Lloyd receives the playcall from Evero and then relays that information to his fellow defenders. The ability to speak efficiently in the huddle is vital, and Lloyd has impressed his coaches and teammates with his voice. “We knew what we were going to get in terms of the on-the-field player, and we do our research, so we knew he was a quality guy, smart … but the communication has been off the charts,” Evero said. “It seems like it comes natural to him,” veteran safety Tre’von Moehrig added. Lloyd’s communication skills have extended beyond the defense. He has become a sounding board of sorts for offensive coordinator Brad Idzik as well. Idzik, who has been with Carolina since 2024 but will enter the 2026 season as an NFL playcaller, has exchanged information with Lloyd throughout camp to get the linebacker’s insight into what he is looking at pre-snap and during plays. “I’m like, ‘OK, what’s giving it away that allows you to relate this receiver so quickly or this tight end so quickly? Help us get better, too,'” Idzik said. “He’ll give me a little bit if it’s not for the next practice — not going to hold him back — but I think going into the season those are going to be great conversations that carry over and help us as an offense.” Lloyd played safety and wide receiver at Otay Ranch High School in Chula Vista, California, before converting to linebacker at Utah. While he boosted his profile well enough to be drafted at No. 27 by the Jaguars in 2022, he still had a learning curve at the position. His background at other positions and his 6-foot-3, 235-pound frame helped him stay fluid on the field, but the mental aspect was a long-term undertaking that Lloyd turned into an unwavering passion for the game. That dedication shined through during his breakout 2025 season as he produced 81 tackles, 1.5 sacks, seven pass breakups and five interceptions. And Lloyd’s attention to detail was made apparent in his Panthers preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. He collected three tackles (one for loss) and a QB pressure in 12 snaps. “I was talking to him … last week and I was like, ‘Bro, what do you do outside of here?’ cause he strikes me as a guy that is all football,” Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn said. “And he’s like, ‘Nothing.'” An example of Lloyd’s dedication to his craft and leadership took place last week. As the Panthers hosted an event for players and their families, Lloyd instead chose to spend time working on his tackle-shedding moves in a 25-minute post-practice work “He’s got a real great urgency and focus about him,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. Lloyd credits his dedication as the primary reason for his ascension with awards and a lucrative free agent contract. His investment in improvement has made him a tough defender to fool, and he’s able to play his own cat-and-mouse game with the quarterback because of his ever-evolving football IQ. The Panthers are hoping that Lloyd’s presence, along with the addition of outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips, another top pickup, can improve last year’s 16th-ranked defense. “Devin Lloyd is playing the game within the game, and he’s trying to get a beat on your concepts, and he’s usually dropping to a spot to start but then relating to receivers,” Idzik said. “So, you’ve got to be wary of guys like that, where they run their white line on the page and they start to drift with the concept, so you can’t always trust that he’s going to be stagnant once he gets to the top of his drop.” Lloyd and the rest of the Panthers’ starters will have a healthy workload against his old teammates in Jacksonville during a joint practice on Wednesday. Following the shared workout, Lloyd will give the Jaguars a glimpse of what they let walk away in Friday’s preseason matchup in his former stomping grounds. While Canales wouldn’t commit to a playing time frame for Lloyd and other starters, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will get reacquainted with the linebacker throughout the week of work. Lloyd, who has turned himself into a versatile threat as a blitzer and a ball hawk, will need to be accounted for on every play against the Jacksonville offense. Lloyd admits there’s a bit of emotion heading into his reunion with former teammates and coaches, but he’s focused on getting better individually and as a team. “He just brings a leadership presence to the defense, and he’s just about his business, so guys are going to follow behind him,” Horn said. Lloyd has found his voice in Carolina, but he’ll let his work do the talking against his former squad. “I’m grateful to be in the situation I’m in right now,” Lloyd said. “Ultimately, what I do against them and what I do against other opponents, that’ll all speak for itself.” Why would Jacksonville let such an apparently valuable player leave? This is what we got from Google AI: Factors in the DecisionCap and Valuation Strategy: After declining his fifth-year option prior to the 2025 season, Lloyd responded with a Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro campaign. The front office was reluctant to commit top-market linebacker money, balking at a price point averaging $15 million annually. In-House Replacements: The team had internal depth prepared to step up, notably 2023 draft pick Ventrell Miller waiting for a larger role. Performance Nuances: While Lloyd excelled as a playmaker in coverage and as a blitzer in 2025, analytics suggested he still had inconsistency and below-average metrics as a run defender. |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCOThe “experts” ridiculed the 49ers for jumping the gun by drafting WR De’ZHAUN STRIBLING early in the second round. Now, Stribling looks like a steal. Luke Easterling of YahooSports.com: The San Francisco 49ers surprised many when they spent the first pick of the second round in the 2026 NFL Draft on Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, an under-the-radar prospect who was projected by most to come off the board later on Day 2. But two preseason games into his pro career, Stribling has been the 49ers’ go-to target in the passing game. In his NFL debut (a narrow defeat at the hands of the Tennessee Titans), Stribling led the team with seven receptions on eight targets for 63 yards, then followed it up with four catches on five targets for 46 yards in Thursday night’s blowout win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Are these early returns a sign that Stribling will be heavily involved in the 49ers’ passing attack once the regular season begins, or is this just another example of a rookie who goes off in the preseason before coming back down to earth once the real games start? Injuries have clearly played a role in Stribling’s place in the depth chart, with Ricky Pearsall Jr. already out for the season and future Hall of Famer Mike Evans nursing multiple ailments throughout training camp up to this point. Once Evans is back to full strength, and other veterans like George Kittle and Deebo Samuel get involved, it’s possible Stribling’s volume could recede to the point where he’s more of an ancillary option for Brock Purdy than the clear focal point of the passing game that he’s been through the first two exhibition games. That said, everything we’ve heard from head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch since Stribling was drafted points to high expectations for the No. 33 overall pick, so it’s possible this is just a preview of what 49ers fans will see when Week 1 rolls around. The organization clearly has a ton of confidence in Stribling, and it appears his new quarterbacks do, as well. From a physical standpoint, there’s no denying Stribling brings everything NFL teams are looking for in a potential No. 1 receiver. He’s big, fast, and physical, with strong hands and the ability to play through contact without getting knocked off his routes. He’s still learning the finer points of route-running and other nuances of the position that will need to be further polished if he wants to create consistent separation against the league’s best defensive backs, but the building blocks and natural talent are all there. Shanahan’s offense is well known for being one of the best in the NFL when it comes to scheming receivers open instead of just relying on them to win their 1-on-1 matchups with pure physical ability, something that should aid Stribling’s ability to make an immediate and significant impact. It’s also easy to imagine opposing defenses being more concerned with stopping proven producers like Evans and Kittle, rolling coverages to their areas of the field, and leaving even more room for Stribling to operate. In combing through Stribling’s film throughout the predraft process, I saw a receiver with a ton of promise due to his physical traits, natural talent, and physical style of play, and his competitiveness consistently jumped off the screen. He was particularly fun to watch when the ball wasn’t coming his way, as Stribling was always willing to use his size and physicality to his advantage as a downfield blocker to help clear the way for his teammates. Those kinds of intangible traits will ensure he gets on the field early and often, and teams love to reward those kinds of receivers with plenty of targets. He also backed up his tape at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash after measuring in at 6-2, 207 pounds. That combination of size and speed is always going to turn heads among league scouts and decision-makers because those numbers can instantly translate to on-field impact against NFL competition. There’s still a lot of refinement needed if Stribling wants to reach his full potential and become a complete receiver at the next level, but the college tape and his preseason performances show a player with a sky-high ceiling who landed in the perfect situation to put up some big numbers. If he maximizes all of those advantages, it won’t be surprising if Stribling proves to be a genius pick by the 49ers’ brass, and not just another preseason star who couldn’t replicate that same level of production and impact in the regular season. |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASPreseason Game 2 did not go particularly well for first overall pick QB FERNANDO MENDOZA. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: Fernando Mendoza took a sack, was hit four other times, threw a pick-six and led the Raiders to only three points. It was a rough night for the No. 1 overall pick against the backup defensive players for the Texans. The Raiders quarterback played the entire first half and went 8-of-15 for 86 yards, with a drop by Malik Benson for what could have been a big gain. The Raiders gained 55 yards on their opening drive, including a 22-yard pass from Mendoza to Jalen Nailor, before Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz stepped in front of Mike Washington Jr. Woodaz went 80 yards for a touchdown with the interception. Veteran edge rusher Maxx Crosby greeted Mendoza on the sideline with words of encouragement. “He’s been great,” Crosby said of Mendoza in a sideline interview with ESPN. “You come in as a rookie, and you’ve got to start all the way back at the bottom. He’d had the right attitude. He’s working his ass off. He’s in here every single day encouraging dudes and just working. That’s all you can ask for.” Matt Gay hit a 52-yard field goal to give the Raiders their only points of the first half. They trail 20-3 at halftime. Mendoza handed over the reins to Aidan O’Connell to start the second half. In his preseason debut last week, Mendoza was 10-of-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals. Despite the Pick Six and modest achievement, Coach Klint Kubiak is not prepared to name veteran QB KIRK COUSINS the starter for the opener with Miami. Chris Cwik of YahooSports.com: The Las Vegas Raiders are going to let their quarterback competition between Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza go down to the wire. Following the team’s Week 2 preseason win over the Houston Texans, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak declined to name a starter for the regular season, saying, “We got another week.” Kubiak added, “I don’t want anyone to be comfortable in their job.” Despite Mendoza being the No. 1 overall pick, reports have suggested the team could go with Cousins as a way to slowly break Mendoza into the NFL. The team offered a hint that was the case ahead of Thursday’s preseason game, announcing Mendoza would play the entire first half while Cousins rested. Some believed that meant the Raiders were trying to keep Cousins healthy ahead of a probable Week 1 start. That reasoning got a bit of a boost postgame Thursday, when Kubiak admitted Mendoza had “plenty to clean up” after his first taste of extended game action. The 22-year-old Mendoza turned in a middling performance during the contest, completing 8 of 15 attempts for 86 yards. His biggest mistake came early in the game, when Mendoza didn’t see Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz shadowing running back Mike Washington Jr. on a pass attempt over the middle of the field. Woodaz jumped the route, and returned the interception 80 yards for a touchdown. Despite being given the entire first half, Mendoza couldn’t rally the offense to a touchdown. The Raiders trailed 20-3 at halftime, at which point Mendoza was removed from the contest. The team needed a massive second-half comeback in order to rally and win the game. Though the team took Mendoza No. 1 overall, Kubiak previously indicated he would prefer not to throw the rookie into the starting role immediately. That’s likely why the team signed Cousins ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft … and why Cousins felt OK signing with the Raiders even though he knew the team was going to select Mendoza. The Raiders still have one more preseason game before Kubiak needs to make a decision, though it’s unclear if either Cousins or Mendoza will appear in that contest. It’s more likely that game won’t matter. Kubiak likely knows which quarterback is going to start in Week 1 and is just waiting until the last possible moment to make that announcement. If the decision is Cousins — as many expect — Mendoza can breathe easy knowing he’ll get his chance before long. The Raiders drafted him to be the quarterback of the future and have every incentive to see if he can live up to that billing as early as possible. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CINCINNATIBen Baby of ESPN.com on QB JOE BURROW and his big ambition for 2026. There are a couple of reasons Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow isn’t backing down from the championship chatter before the start of the new season. For starters, Burrow is hopeful that by talking about it enough, he can will a potential run to the Super Bowl into existence. The other reason? After two seasons of falling short after deep playoff runs, followed by three years of missing the postseason, enough is enough. Burrow is treating this season as a now-or-never year for Cincinnati. “You can keep pushing it down the road or you can talk about it now and say this is the year,” Burrow said Thursday. “You know, I’m tired of saying, ‘Next year, next year, next year.’ This is it. “Your life is too short to keep pushing things down the road. I’m trying to instill some urgency and some intensity in everybody to go and be great every day and try to make it happen.” That urgency has been a theme throughout the offseason and on Thursday following the team’s joint practice against the Chicago Bears. While both first-team offenses had their fair share of good moments during team drills, Cincinnati closed the day with a clean victory. In the final two periods that mimicked the last 3:30 of a game, the Bengals’ starters won both of them. Following a defensive stop, the offense moved the ball just enough to put kicker Evan McPherson in position for a field goal that won the period. In the second period, Cincinnati’s defense dominated. First, newly acquired defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II picked off a ball he batted into the air. Then, defensive end Myles Murphy got two sacks, including one safety, before cornerback Jalen Davis intercepted Chicago’s Caleb Williams as Williams remained under pressure a few yards away from his own goal line. It was exactly the type of showing the Bengals were hoping for when Cincinnati revamped the team after a 6-11 campaign last year. It was the first losing season since Burrow’s rookie year in 2020 and a far cry from the team that lost in Super Bowl LVI in Jan. 2022 and lost in the AFC Championship Game a year later. In recent months, Burrow has spoken about his title aspirations, even drawing comparisons between this year’s Bengals roster and the 2019 LSU team he led to an undefeated season and College Football Playoff title. That talk has been intentional. “I’m trying to put it out into the world,” Burrow said. “I’m trying to manifest it. I’m trying to show our guys the urgency that I have and that I want us to have as an organization to go and make it happen.” Since the end of last season, Cincinnati has operated as aggressively as it ever has. It signed linebacker Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million deal, and traded for Lawrence, which has already provided promising returns. After beating up on Cincinnati’s offensive line throughout training camp, he caused havoc against the Bears. “He’s an All-Pro guy,” said Williams, adding that Lawrence is in the same category as Kansas City’s Chris Jones. “He’s a force to be reckoned with, and that’s something that you go into a game week that you plan for him, that you plan to execute against him and doing things that aren’t necessarily in his favor.” Cincinnati’s front office held up its end of the bargain when it came to producing a championship-level defense. Burrow said on Thursday that he believes the side of the ball that struggled so much over the past two seasons is good enough to push the Bengals back to the Super Bowl. However, an offense that is tinkering with a more varied attack is still trying to find its footing as the preseason winds down. Burrow acknowledged as much on Thursday. “We have to be more consistent on offense,” Burrow said. “Our standard is so high, but it’s so high because of what we’ve done and what we can do.” Cincinnati still has three weeks until the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That’s when the Bengals will start to find out if it will finally be the year it all comes together — or what might happen if it doesn’t. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISThe Colts don’t have a non-loser in the battle for their second QB position. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: The Colts have not decided who will back up Daniel Jones this season with the competition between Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson continuing through the rest of the preseason. “Yeah, I don’t have a timetable on that,” coach Shane Steichen said Thursday, via Nathan Brown of the Indy Star. “I’m going to let that thing play out. Like I said, we’ve got two more weeks. We’ve got this preseason game. We’ve got practice, all that stuff and then we’ll see where it goes.” The Colts have made it a fair competition between Richardson, a first-round pick in 2023, and Leonard, a sixth-round pick in 2025. On Saturday, Leonard will lead the second-team offense in the first half. Richardson, who started last week, will play with the third team in the second half. Daniel Jones is not expected to play in the preseason, so Leonard and Richardson will get another game to battle for the job. “I thought they both had a good camp,” Steichen said of Richardson and Leonard. “I mean, there were some ups and downs, but I think you saw flashes of both of them, which was really exciting.” |
| JACKSONVILLEJeff Howe of The Athletic on 2026 and ATH TRAVIS HUNTER after a rookie season that was underwhelming before a season-ending injury. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ most electrifying playmaker had very little to do with their historic turnaround in 2025. So, in some ways, two-way star Travis Hunter’s sophomore season should carry even more hype — not less — than his disproportionately anticipated rookie season, which was cut short in a Week 9 practice when he tore the LCL in his right knee. The Jaguars traded an extra first-round pick to move up to No. 2 in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Hunter, but they didn’t get much bang for their buck. Hunter finished his rookie campaign with only 28 catches, 298 yards and one touchdown on offense, with three pass breakups and 15 total tackles on defense. He played an average of 69 snaps over seven games, 46 on offense and 23 on defense. It’s understandable why Hunter is no longer the one-man thrill ride everyone wants to talk about as he was a summer ago; the Jaguars and their opponents alike were fascinated by his combination of talent and utilization. However extreme, he was billed as football’s answer to Shohei Ohtani, yet Hunter closed the season as an afterthought. This year, the Jaguars are not eager to put too much pressure on Hunter and are happy to let him fly under the radar a little bit. “We’re really looking forward to seeing him just go play ball and let him do his thing,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen told The Athletic recently. Coen, the first rookie coach in history to lead a team from four wins to 13, has even adjusted Hunter’s plan. The Jaguars expect Hunter to play more cornerback than receiver this season, which they say is more of a nod to their depth chart than his skill set or development. To their point, the Jaguars need significantly more from their cornerbacks this season. Last year, they flipped Tyson Campbell for Greg Newsome in an attempt to find a better scheme fit, but Newsome struggled in the playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills before departing in free agency. This season, the Jags hope Hunter and Montaric “Buster” Brown can better solidify the position. The positional deployment might benefit Hunter, too. Before being drafted, teams generally believed Hunter was better suited to be a full-time corner and part-time wideout in the NFL, though the Jags saw it the other way. They wanted him to gain as much experience as possible in Coen’s offense while mixing in at corner. Now, Hunter is preparing to serve as the team’s No. 1 cornerback. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s zone-based system will likely keep Hunter to a side of the field rather than a receiver-based assignment, at least for a majority of the time. Hunter, who has added 10-12 pounds of muscle this offseason, will also greatly benefit from facing the line of scrimmage and attacking the ball with anticipation, which is one of his greatest strengths. That also aligns with Campanile’s schematic vision, as he took over a unit that ranked last with nine turnovers in 2024 and led them to 31 takeaways in 2025, second most in the league. Another boost: Coen ordered the construction of a virtual meeting room over the offseason, knocking down a wall and installing top-of-the-line software to aid the team’s mental reps. According to those around the Jaguars, Hunter has utilized the room more than anyone, and it’s not particularly close. He can walk into the room, listen to the defensive play call, move to his spot within the formation, watch the offense virtually line up and then handle the necessary checks and communication assignments from there. “He’s done so much work in the virtual meeting rooms, walkthroughs, (traditional) meeting room,” Coen said. “That’s been a huge part of his growth and maturation throughout this training camp. He’s put in a lot of time and built his body back up in a physical way, especially his upper half. Just getting him playing confident, to really go out and play. He hasn’t played football in a long time, so we’re really in that ramp-up process.” To be fair, there were concerns about Hunter’s durability before he entered the league, strictly out of skepticism that a two-way player could hold up with a significant jump in physicality from the University of Colorado to the NFL. It’d be unfair to connect those concerns with the knee injury, but it will be important for Hunter to get through a full season to alleviate any lingering doubts. The mental reset and added mass should conceivably help. Offensively, the Jaguars are preparing to pick Hunter’s spots. Aside from plays specifically designed around him, look for Hunter to draw much of his early work in crucial situations, including money downs and in the red zone. But they’re also getting Hunter ready to take on an expanded role in case Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington or Brian Thomas Jr. go down with injuries. There will also be games when the matchup calls for a more offensive tilt, so of course, the Jaguars have a generalized plan for Hunter’s usage. But they aren’t trying to pigeonhole him. The Jaguars’ ultimate goal is the same with Hunter; the path to it just might look a bit different this year. And for an organization that is trying to secure back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since the 1990s, Hunter’s newish look should be a boon in Jacksonville. “We expect him,” Coen said, “to really have a huge impact for our team.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| LATE FANTASY DRAFT PICKSAfter you’ve drawn a line through all the players that are selected in the early rounds of your Fantasy Draft – Jake Ciely of The Athletic has some names to know from the horde of late round candidates: Normally, this list has quite a few hits, and some really big ones. Last season’s included Kyle Monangai, Woody Marks, Elic Ayomanor, Isaac TeSlaa and Brenton Strange. Not exactly connecting a Game Genie to your fantasy team, but also not without value considering they were “free guys.” You are all getting more savvy, which is making the list of names even deeper than it used to be, but that’s not a bad thing! The entire point here is that these guys cost you nada, zilch, zero. They’re not drafted in the majority of leagues, but you should think about taking some with your final pick or two. After all, this list has regularly included players who end up in my early-season waiver columns; instead of draining your free-agent budget (FAB) on them, you can stash them for … free! Daniel Jones, IND: The simplest reason? Jones had 18 fantasy points per game (FPPG) last year before his injury, which was more than QB12 Jared Goff. Jones is “free” mainly due to concern over his 2025 Achilles injury. But everything points to his being ready for Week 1, and Jones already didn’t run as much between the 10s last year, so a free ticket on a potential fringe-QB1 is worth grabbing. Braelon Allen, NYJ: It’s surprising to see free-range Allen with the Breece Hall news. Maybe it’s the stink of the Jets or concern over Isaiah Davis also being talented. No matter what the perception, if/when Hall is out, Allen would be in the RB2 conversation, as Davis would likely remain a complementary piece … and Hall could be a goose egg to start the season with his current injury (I’m done with the farm puns). Keaton Mitchell, LAC: No, I didn’t knock Omarion Hampton for the talk about the Chargers using all of their running backs. Lest we forget De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert ranking as top-five FPPG running backs in 2023. Lest we also forget OC Mike McDaniel putting up “wanted” posters for Mitchell before he came to the Chargers. Mitchell can have standalone RB3/Flex value, with even more upside in a likely 50/50 split alongside Kimani Vidal if Hampton goes down. Mike Washington, LV: If you aren’t familiar with Washington’s ability, he’s a lot like Chris Carson or Jay Ajayi — smash that Madden truck stick with a turbo button to match. Does that mean anything if Ashton Jeanty stays healthy? Nope. Will everyone spring to the waiver wire if Jeanty gets hurt? Absolutely. MarShawn Lloyd, GB: I get it; we’ve been waiting Lloyd’s entire career for him to be healthy. Well, it’s happening, dot GIF. Not only is Lloyd healthy and looking as good as he did pre-injuries, but there are questions around Josh Jacobs’ availability. Additionally, Green Bay has regularly utilized two running backs. Even if Jacobs gets the majority of goal-line work, Lloyd could be a sneaky RB3/Flex. Nicholas Singleton, TEN and Demond Claiborne, MIN: Looped these two together because of similar situations. Both teams’ lead duos are free agents after the season. That alone opens the door to evaluating Singleton and Claiborne for significant roles in 2027. Between the two, I lean more toward Singleton. The Titans are more likely than the Vikings to hit the reset button first and before the final few weeks. Singleton could be a lead, and while Claiborne could be a threat to Aaron Jones this year, the rookie out of Wake Forest is more likely to be in a timeshare with Jordan Mason or whoever it may be next year. Jalen McMillan, TB: You might have forgotten that McMillan caught eight touchdowns as a rookie or that he was thought of as close in talent to teammate Rome Odunze at Washington. What you haven’t forgotten is that Chris Godwin looked like he was down to one heart on the health bar last season, opening the door for McMillan to push for the No. 2 role — one he would certainly have with an injury to Godwin or Emeka Egbuka. Isaac TeSlaa, DET: The elite handcuff of wide receivers. A Hail Mary TeSlaa start might net you a random touchdown, but you will have found a Mario Super Star if Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jameson Williams were to get hurt. TeSlaa will be a WR2 if either goes down. That’s as good as you can get for a final bench stash. Rashod Bateman and Ja’Kobi Lane, BAL: I’d still expect Rashod Bateman to be the No. 2, and we know the No. 2 has rarely been reliable for the Ravens. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has talked about moving Bateman around, which might help the WR be more than a random-TD-week guy. On the other hand, the preseason Lane drumbeat is getting more intense than the Megalovania track. If Lane can overcome his struggles with press coverage and get past Bateman, we could have a fun boom/bust WR4 on our hands. Zachariah Branch, ATL: Even though Tua Tagovailoa looks to have left what little arm he had in Miami, the No. 2 role in Atlanta is wide open behind Drake London. Branch has similarities to Xavier Worthy, and that gives him the chance to be another WR4 with weekly boom upside … assuming Tagovailoa eats some spinach for that arm or Michael Penix returns under center. Tre Tucker, LV: Speaking of wideouts who randomly pop in the box score, making you wish they were in your lineup for those 80 yards and a touchdown, Tucker makes the list. Along with Jalen Nailor, Tucker currently sits as a starting receiver for the Raiders. If the Raiders have some semblance of a passing game — similar to in 2024, when Jakobi Meyers produced a receiving line of 129-87-1,027-4 — Nailor and Tucker are in the conversation to benefit alongside Brock Bowers. Dontayvion Wicks, PHI: Even as someone who believes in Makai Lemon, I would be foolish to ignore Wicks. Lemon wouldn’t be the first rookie wideout selected in the first round who failed to hit immediately. It doesn’t help that he’s missed time in preseason with an injury, which has opened the door to Wicks being the No. 2 wideout to start the season. If Lemon fails to impress, Wicks could hold onto that role all season, and the Eagles have given us two top-20 wide receivers in FPPG every year from 2022-24 and two top-30 WRs last season. Adonai Mitchell, NYJ: It won’t be … can’t be … as bad as it was last year for the Jets, or Geno Smith, for that matter. Like when discussing others on the list, I’m looking for the No. 2 option, and all reports to date have Mitchell looking the best he has and easily holding off rookie Omar Cooper. In fact, Cooper sounds locked into the slot/No. 3 role already. There is some hope that Mitchell comes through on his ability and the former promise of Reggie Wayne, who told us to, “Just keep watching.” Malachi Fields, NYG: There are several paths to Fields becoming a WR3 option: Malik Nabers isn’t himself until 2027; Isaiah Likely doesn’t see the bump we want coming over from Baltimore; Fields is a touchdown target and produces even with a healthy Nabers and Likely. Of course, there are several paths to his being irrelevant, but again, it’s free to find out. Caleb Douglas, MIA: Douglas is getting some attention, finally. He drew my attention when the Dolphins surprised everyone by taking him in the early third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, ahead of Zachariah Branch, Ja’Kobi Lane, Ted Hurst, Chris Bell (even though he was hurt, and later taken by them) and more. Douglas should make you think of Cedric Tillman. That’s all of the potential and all of the risk, but Douglas also found the warp pipe to a top-two starting WR spot from Day 1. Terrance Ferguson, LAR: I’m throwing a tight end on the list, and there aren’t a ton of free options that catch my eye. In fact, the Rams don’t give me the warm fuzzies for any tight end with the likely heavy two- and three-tight-end use. Though, if one were to break through and push for 70+ targets and a top-12 finish, it would be Ferguson. It only happened in five games, but when Ferguson had 8% or more of the target share, he delivered a line of 18-9-204-3 and 8.6 FPPG, which would be good enough for fringe-TE1 value. |
| FIRST TIME PRO BOWLERSKevin Patra of NFL.com conducts this exercise – name a player on each of the 32 member clubs who could make the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2026. AFC RavensMalaki StarksS · Year 2Perhaps no player in Baltimore will benefit more from the hire of Jesse Minter than Malaki Starks. The second-year safety displayed versatility that should be used even more heavily under the first-year head coach. Starks gained a wealth of experience during his rookie season, positioning him to make a massive Year 2 leap under a defensive architect who is on the record stating that the 22-year-old “has the license to be as good as he wants to be.” BillsEd OliverDT · Year 8Ed Oliver looked like a Pro Bowler in the short time he was on the field last year. Unfortunately, injuries relegated the knifing big-man to just three tilts. The upside in new DC Jim Leonhard’s scheme is there for Oliver to make his Pro Bowl debut in Year 8. With Deone Walker’s ascension giving Oliver a running mate, the veteran should pile up stats if he can stay on the field. BengalsDJ Turner IICB · Year 4DJ Turner II’s play surged in 2025. Unfortunately, the rest of a moribund Bengals defense left him an afterthought. The sticky cover man netted a -6.2% CPOE, fifth-best among all CBs (min. 500 coverage snaps) and a -0.1 EPA per target, per Next Gen Stats. With an upgraded unit around the rising CB, Turner’s play should improve even more in 2026. BrownsCarson SchwesingerLB · Year 2Carson Schwesinger was a tackling machine in 2025, gobbling up 156 stops to go along with 11 TFLs, three passes defended, two INTs, 2.5 sacks and nine QB hits. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year is a menace in the middle of the Browns’ D and he’s poised to take his game to new heights — assuming, of course, the ankle injury that has kept the linebacker out of camp doesn’t follow him into the regular season. BroncosBo NixQB · Year 3I considered putting Jaylen Waddle in this spot, as he’s in position to mash in his first year outside Miami. But let’s be honest: If Waddle shines, Bo Nix will, too. The third-year pro has steadily improved in Denver. His ability to keep the offense flowing and splash big gains continues to grow. The early returns with new play-caller Davis Webb have all been positive. If Nix stays healthy and smooths out some of the dips the offense saw last season, he’ll push his way toward the top of AFC signal-callers. TexansDavid MontgomeryRB · Year 8In his first seven seasons, David Montgomery didn’t sniff a Pro Bowl. Now he’s in a position to change that. The 29-year-old is in line for a significant workload increase in Houston, and his ability to punch in scores from short range will be a boon to the offense. A lot of Montgomery’s production will have to do with whether the Texans’ offensive line is finally fixed, but he’ll get enough touches to pile up yards and points. ColtsAlec PierceWR · Year 5The Colts paid Alec Pierce like a Pro Bowler; now he has a chance to prove it as the clear WR1 in Indianapolis. The field-stretcher led the NFL in yards per catch in each of the last two seasons, including 21.3 per in 2025. The Colts are convinced the ankle injury that has kept Pierce off the field this offseason won’t hinder him come Week 1. The Keenan Allen signing doesn’t change the optics here. If he’s full-throttle, Pierce will be Indy’s top wideout and should see plenty of targets. JaguarsTravis HunterCB/WR · Year 2I’ll take the layup on this one. If the Jags are to repeat as AFC South champs, Travis Hunter will be a massive reason why. The dual-threat CB/WR was just coming into his own before injury cut short his rookie campaign. All signs indicate he’s picked up right where he left off. Hunter can step in as a No. 1 CB and owns the ability to make a slew of splash plays on offense — even if he’s not a full-time WR. The talent is there for Hunter to do something we haven’t seen in modern football. ChiefsKenneth Walker IIIRB · Year 5The Chiefs signed Kenneth Walker III with an eye on finally fixing a rushing attack that has been far too inefficient in recent years. The Super Bowl LX MVP is a slasher who can create big plays on the ground. Patrick Mahomes hasn’t had a home run threat out of the backfield in a while. I expect Walker to see a mammoth share of the backfield touches, and playing alongside Mahomes will give him lighter boxes to smash through. RaidersAshton JeantyRB · Year 2Ashton Jeanty didn’t have the rookie season he envisioned, rushing for just 3.7 yards per carry behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. Even with everything stacked against him, Jeanty still managed to nearly hit the 1,000-yard mark (975). With improved blocking (starting with the addition of center Tyler Linderbaum) and a much better offense, the back should find life easier in Year 2. I love his fit in Klint Kubiak’s offense. Even if rookie Mike Washington Jr. siphons away some reps as the season wears on, we should finally see the Jeanty we remember from his college days. ChargersLadd McConkeyWR · Year 3Ladd McConkey took a step back following his impressive rookie season, but I pin that more on offensive line struggles that hindered the passing game in 2025. The wideout should benefit from the arrival of new OC Mike McDaniel more than any of the Chargers’ other air weapons. McConkey’s ability to win off the line will be a boon to the quick passing attack, and his knack for gobbling up YAC should lead to explosive plays. This is the ideal combo of talent and scheme for McConkey to reach a new ceiling in 2026. DolphinsJordyn BrooksLB · Year 7Jordyn Brooks is a reminder that sometimes the Pro Bowl voters get it wrong and must be corrected. The linebacker was snubbed last year but rightfully earned first-team All-Pro honors. Brooks led all players with 183 combined tackles and 99 solo. The maven in the middle of the Dolphins’ defense should stack another superb season and will be recognized by the Pro Bowl voters this time around. PatriotsMilton WilliamsDT · Year 6Entering Year 6, the well-paid big man still hasn’t made a Pro Bowl. When healthy last season, Milton Williams proved he was worth the money, wrecking games and commandeering blockers to allow the rest of the Patriots’ defense to make plays. The 27-year-old’s penetrating ability will lead to more sacks in 2026 if he can stay on the field. His postseason play — three sacks in the team’s Super Bowl run — displays the type of force Williams can be. If he does it wire to wire, he’ll make his first Pro Bowl, easily. JetsGarrett WilsonWR · Year 5Garrett Wilson makes so many highlight-reel catches that it’s always a surprise to see he’s never been on a Pro Bowl squad. Thanks to quarterback struggles, the star wideout’s production has always been curtailed. Last year, injuries wiped out all but seven games. Couple that with a woeful passing attack, and Williams netted just 395 yards and four scores. He’s in for a massive bounce-back. The Jets’ offense has more weapons entering 2026, and Geno Smith, while not the perfect QB, will give Wilson plenty of chances to rack up yards. SteelersJoey Porter Jr.CB · Year 4Joey Porter Jr., who is waiting to be paid, continues to ascend, showing an ability to lock down opposing No. 1 receivers. In 2025, the physical corner allowed a -7.0% CPOE, second among all CBs (min. 500 coverage snaps), 0.8 yards per snap (tied with the likes of Derek Stingley Jr. and A.J. Terrell) and a -0.7 EPA per target, per NGS. I expect the 26-year-old to fit perfectly in new DC Patrick Graham’s scheme when he finally gets off the PUP list. TitansPeter SkoronskiLG · Year 4The $100 million guard should have the voters’ attention. Peter Skoronski has improved in each of his first three seasons, becoming one of the best pass-blocking guards in the league and a road grader in the ground game who can move big bodies. The former first-round pick earned his payday for what the Titans believe will be even better years to come. He proves them correct in 2026. The DB doesn’t see Jacksonville’s TRAVIS HUNTER as a layup. We don’t see him being one of the top five or six at either receiver or cornerback. We would go with former number one overall EDGE TRAVON HUNTER, who has had double-figure sack totals the last two years, as more likely to break out. The three running backs and three receivers are good choices, but it’s hard to believe all or most of them could make it, along with all the incumbent candidates. On to his NFC picks – CardinalsWalter NolenDT · Year 2Let me join the chorus of those believing that Walter Nolen can be a massive difference-maker in the desert if he can stay on the field. The 300-pound defensive lineman flashed massive upside in just six games last season. He’s able to push around offensive linemen and create havoc. He generated a 14% pressure rate last season, and we didn’t get to see it at full throttle due to injuries. But if Nolen stays healthy for a full slate, his star will soar. FalconsXavier WattsS · Year 2Xavier Watts was all over the field during his rookie season, showing extended range on the back end of the Falcons’ defense. The safety recorded five interceptions, 11 passes defended and 96 tackles in the ATL secondary. Watts’ ability to blanket every level of the field allows him to make plays. Entering his second season under DC Jeff Ulbrich, he’s just beginning to rise. PanthersTetairoa McMillanWR · Year 2Tetairoa McMillan was the obvious choice out of Carolina. The 6-foot-4 receiver displayed all the attributes of a go-to target in his first NFL campaign. A stellar route runner who can win at the point of the catch, T-Mac is just scratching the surface. En route to 1,014 yards, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year generated just two 100-yard games last season and was under the 50-yard mark eight times. Smoothing out the dips and adding more blowup games will aid the Year 2 leap. Additionally, five of McMillan’s seven TDs came in the final seven games last year. As the clear-cut No. 1 target for Bryce Young, the 23-year-old is a prime candidate to make a leap. BearsCaleb WilliamsQB · Year 3Iceman made the cover of Madden NFL 27. Now, he makes his first Pro Bowl. Ben Johnson helped the former No. 1 overall pick surge in Year 2, and Caleb Williams has shown he can make the breathtaking play and lead furious comebacks. The next step is evening out the lulls. He boasts the talent and has the play-caller to become the Bears’ first 4,000-yard passer. Johnson wants the best offense in NFL history. That plan rests on Williams balling out weekly. CowboysDeMarvion OvershownLB · Year 4I’m excited to see a healthy DeMarvion Overshown in Christian Parker’s defense. When he’s on the field, the linebacker brings speed, length and playmaking to the middle of the unit. He’s like a magnet to the pigskin. Injuries are the only thing to slow the 26-year-old, causing him to miss 32 regular-season games over his first three years. With an improved scheme and significantly better surrounding players, Overshown profiles as the lightning bolt of the revamped D in Dallas. LionsAlim McNeillDT · Year 6Prior to his 2024 knee injury, Alim McNeill was a penetrating wrecking ball. After his midseason return last year, the 6-2, 310-pound defensive tackle lacked the explosiveness that got him paid. The further away from injury, the better things should get for the big man. His return to prominence is crucial for a Lions defense already dealing with injuries. If McNeill gets back to his pre-injury ways, Detroit’s defensive front is vastly more disruptive. PackersJordan LoveQB · Year 7Jordan Love continues to chug along, improving his areas of deficiency by the year and proving to be an excellent ball distributor in Matt LaFleur’s offense. In 2025, he cut down on the cringeworthy turnovers and was incredibly heady against the blitz. Given his O-line play down the stretch, the QB’s performance was even more impressive. Love finished tied for second in EPA per dropback last year with MVP Matthew Stafford. Reminder: Love is entering just his fourth season as a full-time starter. There is room to grow. RamsTrent McDuffieCB · Year 5During his time in Kansas City, Trent McDuffie earned first-team and second-team All-Pro honors, but he was ignored by Pro Bowl voters. Maybe the trade to Los Angeles will get their attention. The physical corner is just what the Rams needed in a secondary that struggled to get stops late last season. McDuffie isn’t coming off his best campaign, as he dealt with injuries, but he’s a bona fide stopper who can play any spot in the formation and isn’t afraid to stick his nose in the run game. He’s a premier battler from the corner position. VikingsChristian DarrisawLT · Year 6Christian Darrisaw was on his way toward a Pro Bowl nod in 2024 when injury struck. Last year, he never looked right in his return from knee surgery before eventually being shut down. Now, he’s on the record saying this is the “best I’ve felt in two years.” Minnesota getting a healthy Darrisaw in 2026 would be massive for Kyler Murray and the rest of the offense. At his height, the 6-5 blocker is a lane creator on the ground and a shield in the passing game. Darrisaw is back on the Pro Bowl path. SaintsChris OlaveWR · Year 5Even before Jordyn Tyson’s two-month injury struck, Chris Olave filled this spot. With the rookie sidelined, the veteran stands to get an even larger chunk of the targets early in the season. Olave showed a beautiful rapport with Tyler Shough down the stretch in 2025, as his final three campaigns went for 85, 148 and 119 yards. I’m not suggesting that Olave will pace out 1,995 yards in 2026, but that end-of-season streak showed what the QB-WR duo can do when it’s clicking. GiantsAbdul CarterOLB · Year 2It felt like far too many analysts dismissed Abdul Carter after it took time for the pass rusher to kick it into gear. In the final five games of 2025, the rookie generated 3.5 sacks and averaged 5.8 QB pressures per tilt, per Next Gen Stats. Carter’s speed and bend can make him a difference-making weapon in a retooled Giants defense. In new DC Dennard Wilson’s scheme, with better surroundings, the 22-year-old is primed for a leap year. EaglesDeVonta SmithWR · Year 6A.J. Brown’s exit opens a trove of opportunities for DeVonta Smith. Yes, the Eagles drafted Makai Lemon in the first round and buffered the unit with veterans, but Smith is the alpha. The sixth-year pro boasts route-running ability and can generate separation with the best of them. Smith is a WR1. There will be no question now. 49ersUpton StoutDB · Year 2Upton Stout was boom or bust early in his rookie season, before smoothing out his play down the stretch. The third-round pick proved to be one of the Niners’ most reliable secondary players. Now, the coaching staff anticipates a significant Year 2 leap. Playing the “star” role in new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris’ scheme should allow the DB to make even more plays in 2026. SeahawksNick EmmanworiDB · Year 2Injuries slowed the start of Nick Emmanwori’s rookie campaign, but by the end of the year and into February, the versatile playmaker was among the most impactful defensive backs in the game. In the mold of a Kyle Hamilton or Derwin James, Emmanwori has the ability to create havoc wherever called upon — a game-changing factor for Mike Macdonald’s unit. He’s already one of the league’s best slot corners, using his physicality to win while possessing keen blitz timing and linebacker-grade run-stuffing skills. Barring injury, he shouldn’t be left off the Pro Bowl ballot in 2026. BuccaneersEmeka EgbukaWR · Year 2Emeka Egbuka’s hot start to 2025 cooled into winter, as did much of the Bucs’ offense, with injuries derailing the early-season optimism. The talent, however, is undeniable. Egbuka owns the ability to get open with seeming ease and can create explosive plays. There are things to clean up, including eight drops, but the Ohio State product profiles as a clear-cut candidate for a Year 2 leap. And with Mike Evans no longer in Tampa, I expect Egbuka to grow into an alpha in 2026. CommandersOdafe OwehOLB · Year 6The Commanders signed Odafe Oweh to provide pop to a pass rush that faltered too much in recent seasons. The athletic edge boasts 17.5 sacks over the past two campaigns. In 2025, he took off in 12 games with the Chargers, recording 7.5 sacks after being traded by Baltimore. Oweh’s 15.8% pressure rate over the full ’25 campaign was in line with the top tier of edge rushers, tying him with Aidan Hutchinson and former teammate Tuli Tuipulotu. If Oweh can continue making that impact with increased snaps, his counting production should skyrocket. The Commanders’ defense needed an overhaul. A Pro Bowl campaign from one of the team’s key additions would go a long way to getting Dan Quinn’s squad back on track. |
