| Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com has counted it up – and 12 teams did not let their number one quarterback play a single snap in the preseason. The growing trend of NFL teams keeping their quarterbacks out of the preseason has reached the point where more than one-third of starting quarterbacks did not take a single snap in this year’s preseason. The reasons were different for different teams: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Colts quarterback Daniel Jones are recovering from season-ending injuries. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson haven’t played in the preseason in years, across multiple coaching staffs. Rams coach Sean McVay is perhaps the most cautious coach in the league when it comes to avoiding preseason injuries, so of course reigning MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford didn’t play. But the result is the same: If you’re tuning into a preseason game, you’re increasingly likely to see backup quarterbacks exclusively, and if you see a starter at all, it will typically only be for a series or two. Here’s the full list of teams that didn’t play their starting quarterbacks at all this preseason, via Mike Reiss of ESPN: Seahawks: Sam Darnold.Patriots: Drake Maye.Cowboys: Dak Prescott.Ravens: Lamar Jackson.Steelers: Aaron Rodgers.Colts: Daniel Jones.Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence.Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes.Eagles: Jalen Hurts.Lions: Jared Goff.Saints: Tyler Shough.Rams: Matthew Stafford. – – -Last week the SEC passed a rule, a rule that LSU voted for, that purported to ban Lane Kiffin and other SEC coaches from NIL’ing players who had been in NFL camps. A Louisiana judge, presumably at the behest of the aggrieved players (but with the spectre of Kiffin in the background), quickly issued a temporary restraining order preventing the enforcement of the rule and its penalties against rogue institutions. Heather Dinich of ESPN.com with the latest: Though the SEC said it will comply with a Louisiana state judge’s order that prohibits the league and commissioner Greg Sankey from punishing schools if they play a football player who returns to campus after signing a contract with an NFL team, the league said it plans to defend its legal rights in court Thursday. The temporary restraining order prohibits the SEC from enforcing a new rule it adopted last week that threatens stiff penalties — a half-season suspension for a coach, a fine that matches 50% of the sport’s annual budget and revocation of league voting rights — for any team that uses a player who previously signed a contract to play in the NFL, NBA or WNBA. “The order entered against the SEC and commissioner Sankey is a temporary restraining order, not a final ruling on the merits,” the SEC said in a statement Sunday. “The SEC and commissioner Sankey are prepared to contest the allegations in the plaintiffs’ petition at Thursday morning’s hearing and defend the SEC’s rights as a voluntary association to fulfill its mission to its member institutions. “In the meantime, the SEC and commissioner Sankey will continue to comply with the court’s order. Following the hearing, the SEC will carefully review the court’s decision and determine the appropriate next steps.” The league adopted the rule after tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris announced plans to join their former coach, Lane Kiffin, at LSU, after they were released by NFL teams. Former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn, who was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, also plans to return to the Tigers if he isn’t claimed by another NFL team. The players and their attorneys are attempting to force the NCAA and conferences to retroactively apply its five-year eligibility rule. Kiffin told ESPN’s Heather Dinich he would “absolutely” follow the decision of the court. Both Kiffin and the SEC said LSU’s program has adhered to the rules to this point. “I have been in communication daily with the SEC to make sure we are complying with the SEC rules,” Kiffin told ESPN. “I am way more concerned about our current team and their preparation for a really good Clemson team (Saturday in Baton Rouge). We are spending no time on this other situation.” The NCAA changed its eligibility rules in June, moving to a system where athletes can now compete for all five seasons during a five-year time span. The change created a group of outgoing seniors who were not eligible to play in 2026-27 based on the rules in place when they finished their college careers last season. The NCAA’s Division I board of directors decided not to grant those players an extra season, saying it would unfairly take away opportunities from incoming freshmen. Another athlete, star basketball player RJ Luis Jr., received a temporary injunction to play for LSU this season from a Louisiana judge despite having signed multiple NBA contracts. The judge also signed a show-cause order that requires the SEC and NCAA to explain during Thursday’s hearing why the new penalties associated with their pro athlete rules, which plaintiffs’ attorneys described as “draconian,” do not put them in contempt of court and in violation of the judge’s previous ruling in the case. The player with the most sacks in NFL preseason is anxious to join Kiffin. Jon Blau of NoLa.com: Is the NFL’s preseason sack leader bound for Baton Rouge? It’s entirely possible, as much as it might roil college football purists. Jack Pyburn, an undrafted free agent from LSU, was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. A court filing in an eligibility lawsuit filed in Baton Rouge said Pyburn planned to return to LSU for the 2026 season if he was granted a fifth year of NCAA competition and wasn’t on an NFL roster on Tuesday. If Pyburn clears waivers over the next 24 hours, the Tigers might have another late addition to their defensive end rotation. LSU’s season opens Saturday versus Clemson. It appeared Pyburn may have played his way out of a college return after he followed a two-sack effort against the Jets with another pair of quarterback takedowns in the Bucs’ preseason finale against the Jaguars. His four sacks in the NFL eclipsed the three Pyburn totaled in college with Florida and LSU. It was ultimately difficult for Tampa to keep a preseason overachiever because the franchise invested a first-round pick in ex-Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain in April and brought in Al-Quadin Muhammad after an 11-sack season in Detroit. The Bucs also returned fourth-year veteran YaYa Diaby, who had seven sacks in 2025, and Pyburn was behind eight-year veteran Anthony Nelson and recent fourth-round pick David Walker in the pecking order. Talking to reporters in Tampa after Friday’s preseason finale, Pyburn credited Bucs outside linebackers coach Larry Foote for taking his game to another level. “That is the biggest thing that I have worked on is timing the snap and getting off the ball as fast as possible,” Pyburn said. “His overall understanding of how an offense works has helped me so tremendously understand that at a deeper level.” Pyburn’s time in the NFL could be LSU’s gain. While he was working to make an NFL team, Pyburn remained on a list of 40-plus plaintiffs in a lawsuit in Baton Rouge challenging the NCAA’s decision to not allow Class of 2022 high school graduates to play a fifth season. The judge overseeing the case, William Jorden, granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA and, more recently, the Southeastern Conference, making Pyburn and his fellow athletes eligible to play in college. Surely, in the previous world, Pyburn would have joined Tampa Bay’s practice squad (if not, then another practice squad, after he put up preseason “tape”). But that pays a flat, collectively-bargained salary. LSU will be offering more – and the thrill of playing in actual games. So let’s assume that Jack Pyburn has the kind of year for LSU like EDGE REUBEN BAIN, Jr. did last year at Miami. What happens with the NFL in 2027? We’re seen three reports – he is still the property of the Buccaneers (but presumably not if he clears waivers), he goes back into the draft a second time or he is a free agent… |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOIn the final preseason game, WR ZAVION THOMAS shows up in a big way. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Bears rookie wide receiver Zavion Thomas missed the first two preseason games with a knee injury. When he finally got on the field on Saturday, he put on a show. Thomas caught a pass from Tyson Bagent and raced 97 yards to the end zone on his very first NFL play, and finished his first preseason game with five catches for 140 yards, plus a 31-yard punt return and a 22-yard kickoff return. Asked if anyone had a chance of catching him on his long touchdown, the speedy Thomas said he didn’t know which Titans player was chasing him, but answered, “Nah, he didn’t have a chance.” Thomas said that even while he couldn’t practice because of his knee, older players were helping him prepare for the moment when he would be on the field, so he expected to play well once he got medical clearance. “It felt amazing. The preparation put into it, it was something that I expected,” Thomas said. Thomas didn’t put up big numbers during his four years of college football (two at Mississippi State and two at LSU), but he put up an eye-popping number at the Scouting Combine: 4.28 seconds in the 40-yard dash. That got him plenty of attention, and the Bears took a chance on him in the third round. Bagent knows Thomas’s speed is a huge asset to the Bears’ offense. “Give Zavion a chance and then you’re able to see that speed, which is a big reason why he’s here,” Bagent said. “I think that was Zavion Thomas’s first play in the NFL, so greatest start in NFL history.” – – -Kevin Patra of NFL.com on the teams that have kept four QBs on their “final” 53, which of course is still in flux: For most of the offseason, we’d discussed the Pittsburgh Steelers’ plan to keep four quarterbacks as an anomaly. It turns out the Steel City footballers weren’t the only club to play the 4-QB card this offseason. Following cutdown day, four NFL teams kept a quartet of signal-callers on their initial 53-man rosters. Atlanta Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Cooper Rush, Jack Strand Minnesota Vikings: Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz, J.J. McCarthy, Max Brosmer Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee, Cole Payton Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, Drew Allar A fifth team, the Cleveland Browns, kept four QBs, but with Dillon Gabriel placed on injured reserve for a back injury, he doesn’t count on the 53-man roster. With Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Taylen Green the three on the active roster, sneaking Gabriel onto IR, with the designation to return, gives the club at least four weeks to sort out the position, should a trade partner materialize. The decisions to keep excess QBs on the initial 53-man rosters speak not only to the importance of the position, but the maneuverability provided by practice squad call-ups. In the past, clubs would have elected to keep fewer QBs on the roster, valuing those spots for potential special-teams players or as backups at positions that might be shallower but would be needed during a game. With the ability to sign veterans to the practice squad and move them up on game day, the need is less pressing than it was six or seven years ago. |
| DETROITShould we be concerned about PK JAKE BATES? Dan Campbell says he is not worried. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Lions kicker Jake Bates did not finish the preseason strong on Saturday. Lions coach Dan Campbell is not concerned. Bates did not attempt any field goals in the Lions’ preseason finale but did attempt three extra points, missing two of them. Bates is the only kicker on the Lions’ roster, so he’s in no danger of getting cut, and Campbell said the Lions have full confidence in him. “No, I’m not worried about Bates. He just pushed them a little bit. He’ll be fine. He’ll be fine,” Campbell said. Bates also missed a field goal in last week’s preseason game, and he wasn’t as good in 2025 as he was in 2024, when the Lions signed him out of the United Football League and he became one of the NFL’s best kickers. It wouldn’t be unreasonable for the Lions to have some concerns at kicker heading into the season, but Campbell insists he doesn’t. |
| GREEN BAYWisconsin prosectors have filed formal charges, a pair of misdemeanors, against RB JOSH JACOBS three months after his arrest – and an incident report gives us a little better understanding of Jacob’s behavior that precipitated the arrest. Zachary Pereles of CBSSports.com: On Thursday, the Brown County (Wis.) District Attorney formally charged Packers standout running back Josh Jacobs with two misdemeanors stemming from his May arrest. The charges — both Class A misdemeanors — are for battery and damage to property, per court documents. According to a police department release, authorities responded at approximately 8:37 a.m. on May 23 to a disturbance complaint involving Jacobs. He was originally arrested and jailed on five charges: battery, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct, all involving domestic abuse; strangulation and suffocation; and intimidation of a victim. The strangulation and suffocation charge was a felony, and the other four were misdemeanors. Jacobs turned himself in three days later and was released after one night in jail. He had previously denied the allegations through his legal team. In May, the police department did not release any further details. However, those details became available Thursday via an incident report. According to the report, Jacobs’ girlfriend — who is referred to as “ANM” — was going through Jacobs’ phone and became upset after seeing he was talking to other girls. When ANM attempted to retrieve her phone from Jacobs, “he did not return it, and instead, he grabbed her arm and began a physical struggle, which lasted several minutes.” Jacobs then drove away from the residence with ANM’s phone, and ANM took Jacobs’ other vehicle. Eventually, the two returned to Jacobs’ residence. When ANM attempted to use her second phone, Jacobs “called her a derogatory name” and “made some comment to the effect that he would ‘do something to her.'” Jacobs’ girlfriend tried to call the police but believed her phone service was down. She was in the garage attempting to go outside with her second phone when “Jacobs grabbed her and threw her to the ground and she struck her head, suffering an injury. Jacobs then took her phone from her while she was on the ground. ANM laid on the ground for a while and then struggled to walk back into the house.” While she was on the ground, Jacobs appeared to damage her phone. According to the report, “surveillance footage from the camera system within the garage of the … residence … corroborates the relevant portions of ANM’s statement that one would expect to have seen on video, including both ANM and Jacobs departing the residence in their respective vehicles and returning to the residence, as well as the altercation ANM described as taking place in the garage.” A police officer “observed redness to [the girlfriend’s] face and neck, and was able to feel that she had a bump on the back of her head,” according to the report. Jacobs’ legal representation issued the following statement after the charges were filed Thursday: “The Brown County District Attorney has reviewed evidence and elected to file misdemeanor charges against Josh that do not include domestic violence. The allegations will be addressed in court, and not in the media. Mr. Jacobs respects the District Attorney’s office and the process it followed.” The NFL is conducting its own investigation and has the ability to suspend Jacobs. It remains to be seen whether the league will act before the start of the season or wait until the legal process plays out. Jacobs is scheduled for an initial court date of Nov. 17, per ESPN. “We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Thursday. On Wednesday, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst addressed the possibility of a Jacobs suspension. “We’ll deal with that when it comes, but we’ve obviously been preparing for that in case that happens. But at the same time, I feel really good about the guys we got in that room, and I think we can survive that.” Jacobs’ top backup is Marshawn Lloyd, a 2024 third-round pick who has struggled to stay healthy through his first two seasons, appearing in just one game. Lloyd has had a strong preseason and training camp. Chris Brooks is behind Lloyd, and Pierre Strong Jr. could be a fourth running back on the roster if Green Bay chooses to keep four. Jacobs, 28, is a three-time Pro Bowler. In two seasons with the Packers, he has totaled 2,882 yards from scrimmage and 30 touchdowns. He spent the first five years of his career with the Raiders, winning the 2022 rushing title. This from Coach Matt LaFleur: “I fully anticipate him being a member of our team,” LaFleur said. “You’ve got to let everything play out.” But then this happened. Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com: Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner exempt list Sunday. The move comes three days after Jacobs was formally charged with two misdemeanors stemming from an alleged incident with a woman in May. It means Jacobs will not be on the Packers’ 53-man roster and cannot practice or attend games. He will be paid and, with the team’s permission, is allowed to be at the facility for meetings, individual workouts, medical treatments and other non-football activities. The NFL has said it is still reviewing Jacobs’ case. His initial court appearance is Nov. 17, but the league does not have to wait for the legal process to be completed before issuing discipline. Jacobs was charged with misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property. In a statement, Jacobs’ attorneys David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld and Clarence F. Duchac III said: “Josh Jacobs has been placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, which is an administrative procedure used by the NFL while a matter is being reviewed. It is not a final determination. Josh respects the NFL process, the Packers, and his Coaches and Teammates. He looks forward to his return to the team and the NFL.” The Packers were busy on cutdown day, making a trio of trades including one for a running back from the Steelers. Mark Oldacres of USA TODAY/Packers Wire: Cutdown day was even busier than usual for the Green Bay Packers. Not only were they occupied with chopping the roster down to 53 players, but they also pulled off three trades on Sunday, all involving offensive players as general manager Brian Gutekunst looked to plug some holes on that side of the ball. The first trade to drop was an outgoing rather than an incoming, as third-string quarterback was shipped off to Miami in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round pick, adding yet another former Packer to an ever growing contingent in South Beach. Green Bay has a well-earned reputation as a quarterback factory and has regularly turned other teams’ castoffs into serviceable players and ultimately returns on investments in the form of draft picks, with Malik Willis the latest example. They microwaved the process this time, as McCord signed a reserve/futures deal with the Packers in January of this year and fetched a pick seven months later after some strong preseason performances. That is a pretty good result for a player who they were never going to keep on the roster, with Tyrod Taylor entrenched as the backup. That extra pick will come in handy as the Packers turned pretty quickly and traded their own sixth rounder in 2028 to the Steelers for running back Kaleb Johnson. The other shoe dropped when Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, meaning he cannot practice or play until he is removed. This came after he was charged with two misdemeanors including one of battery. With that context, trading for Johnson, who was a third-round pick only last year and was expected by many to go a round earlier, was a smart pivot by Green Bay’s front office. He fell out of favor very quickly in Pittsburgh when he committed a special teams gaffe in his second game as a rookie, allowing the Seahawks to score a touchdown as he let the ball roll into the end zone on a kickoff. Johnson has never been given much of a chance to make an impact from scrimmage, carrying the ball only 28 times. He did not exactly make the most of it, putting up only 69 yards for an average of 2.5 yards per carry, but the Packers are gambling that he will be a better fit in their offense. The former Iowa running back put up over 1,500 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in his final college season in 2024, and only just turned 23 years old. Green Bay did not make a draft pick at the offensive skill positions this year, and now they essentially have, getting Johnson at a steep discount. It is a worthwhile shot to take for a player who is under contract through 2028, and theoretically complements MarShawn Lloyd well as a bigger back at 6-1 and 224 pounds. Whether the pair who have 34 NFL carries between them can replicate Jacobs’ impact if required is another question. Finally, the Packers made an attempt to solve a problem which has loomed since the start of the offseason, trading a 2028 seventh-round pick to the Rams in exchange for tight end Mark Redman. After the draft, Gutekunst admitted they hoped to add a true Y tight end, but the chips did not fall that way as they flew off the board early and often. The knock on effect of half the league loading up on tight ends is that at cutdown time, legitimately desirable players will be available. The Rams still kept five tight ends after they traded Redman away. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASMike McCarthy’s Steelers have shipped a recent Steelers first round draft pick to his former team, the Cowboys, for a pittance. NFL.com: The Steelers’ first-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft has a new home. Pittsburgh is trading offensive tackle Broderick Jones to the Cowboys, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Saturday. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Steelers are receiving a future third- and sixth-round draft pick in the deal, while the Cowboys also get a fourth-rounder in addition to Jones. Jones has made 38 starts and appeared in 45 games for the Steelers, but the writing was on the wall after Pittsburgh drafted Max Iheanachor at No. 21 overall in the ’26 draft, and especially once Jones played deep into the fourth quarter in all three of the team’s preseason games this month. Jones missed six games last season after sustaining a neck injury during a Week 12 loss to the Bears and underwent spinal fusion surgery in the offseason. Prior to his injury, Jones struggled to establish himself on the Steelers’ O-line. The 14th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Jones has allowed 22 sacks in his career, which is fourth among tackles since 2023, per Pro Football Focus. In 2025, Jones garnered a 57.7 overall PFF grade, which was 70th among 89 qualified offensive tackles, and the Steelers declined his fifth-year option earlier this offseason. He now gets a fresh start in Dallas. Veterans Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele are expected to start at tackle this season, but the Cowboys had been in the market for depth at the swing spot. |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSWith Donald out of retirement, the Rams are now overwhelming favorites to hoist Lombardi. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: The Rams were the clear Super Bowl favorites even before Aaron Donald came out of retirement. Now it’s not even close. The current Super Bowl odds have the Rams as +500 favorites to win it all. At the start of this month, when it was unclear whether Donald would return, the Rams were at +550. After trading for Myles Garrett, the Rams were at +600. Before adding Garrett, the Rams were +850. Betting on the Super Bowl favorites is usually a way to lose money, because most years, the preseason Super Bowl favorite doesn’t end up winning it all. Last year, the Eagles, Bills and Ravens were co-favorites heading into the season at +700. The eventual Super Bowl winners, the Seahawks, were tied for the 15th longest odds at +6000. This year’s odds now have the Bills and Ravens tied for second at +1000 to win the Super Bowl, followed by the Seahawks at +1200 and Chiefs at +1600. Super Bowl LXI will be played on February 14, 2027, at the Rams’ home field, SoFi Stadium. The last time the Super Bowl was there, the Rams won it all. They’re the favorites, but by no means a sure thing, to win on their home field again at the end of this season. A trio of ESPN writers on what Donald’s return means: Aaron Donald is back. The future Hall of Fame defensive lineman, who initially retired in March 2024 after 10 NFL seasons, has announced his return to the Los Angeles Rams after spending two seasons in retirement. The move came after the Rams traded for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in June and pairs the top two players in the NFL in tackles since 2015. The Rams are the only team to enter the season with multiple players who won multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, according to ESPN Research. Donald returns on a one-year, $20 million deal that with incentives could be worth up to $30 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport. Donald joins an already star-studded defense that, in addition to Garrett, includes cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, outside linebacker Byron Young and defensive tackle Kobie Turner. The Rams were already the Super Bowl favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook before Donald’s return. So, what does this mean for the Rams, Donald and the rest of the NFL? Rams reporter Sarah Barshop, NFL national reporter Jeremy Fowler and NFL analyst Ben Solak answer the most pressing questions. What does Donald’s return mean for Garrett and the rest of the Rams’ defense?When they are on the field together, Donald and Garrett will force opposing offenses to make a tough decision. According to ESPN Analytics/NFL Next Gen Stats, the pair are Nos. 1 and 2 in pass rush wins since 2017, which was Garrett’s rookie season. Despite not playing over the past two seasons, Donald still holds the No. 2 spot, even though he was double-teamed on the fourth-most pass rush plays in the NFL since 2017. His 276 pass rush wins against double-teams are still by far the most in the league since 2017. Garrett has been double-teamed on the second-most pass rush plays specifically among edge rushers since 2017, trailing only Denico Autry. Garrett and Donald’s pass rush win rate also impacts the entire defense. According to ESPN Analytics/NFL Next Gen Stats, Garrett has created 244 incompletions from pass rush wins in his career, the most in the NFL since 2017. Donald ranks third in that category. — Barshop What will Donald’s workload look like?While Rams coach Sean McVay had been clear that if Donald unretires he will want to be “all-in,” it seems unlikely that he will return to playing a high percentage of snaps in his return. Donald would likely be in spots in which he could be the most impactful, perhaps playing 20-25 snaps a game on mostly pass-rushing downs. — Barshop What are the challenges of unretiring after two seasons?Garrett said he thought the hardest part would be “getting back to that tempo.” The defensive end said it’s a challenge just trying to get back into football shape when he returns from the offseason, working to get his wind and legs back. “When you get on the field and things are flying around, you’ve got to find a way to get your conditioning back to slow down the game once more,” Garrett said. When asked about the specific challenges for a defensive tackle, Turner pointed to the “violence” of the game. “Nowhere else in the world are you used to taking on 600 pounds worth on double-teams and being able to put your foot in the ground and get going,” Turner said. “There’s just a lot of wear and tear, and it’s such a precise and violent game in the trenches. It’s like every little thing that you do is violent. It’s precise. It’s ‘how am I working my hands? How am I also working my feet?’ … I don’t know that you ever fully lose it, but you have to resharpen your tools.” — Barshop What does this mean for the Rams’ salary cap?The Rams had $15.45 million in available cap space prior to cutting their roster to 53 players, which has to happen by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Rams could make Donald’s contract fit under the cap and still have the money to get through the season, whether that’s by giving him incentives that are designated not likely to be earned (meaning they would count against next year’s cap), or giving him most of the money as a signing bonus and adding void years to spread out the cap hit. — Barshop True or false: Donald is once again the best defensive tackle in the league.False … for now. Donald led by a wide margin as the game’s premier defensive tackle, so regaining that status two-plus years after retirement should still be attainable. But it’s not a slam dunk. Even Donald has enough respect for the game to know how tough it is to roll out of bed at age 35 and dominate. But after an acclimation period and some game reps, can he return to one-of-one status? Probably. He has kept himself in phenomenal shape, and the Rams can manage his workload so that he’s a late-season closer. — Fowler In a Super Bowl or bust season, how does Donald’s return affect the Rams’ chances?The cool thing about Donald’s return is, yes, this is Super Bowl or bust — in the sense of how the Rams will use him. Donald is a 35-year-old defensive tackle who is two-plus years removed from his last NFL action. He is going to be a rotational player largely used as a pass-rush specialist, and I’d expect the Rams to keep his snap count well below that of starters Poona Ford and Kobie Turner as he slowly acclimates to football speed. So Donald’s greatest impact will be in punishing offensive lines that direct too many pass protection resources in Garrett’s direction, and those particular matchup-hunting moments will be more impactful in postseason ball. The Rams will be able to outclass most of their regular-season opponents without Donald’s thumb on the scale. If the margin between the Rams and Seahawks was razor thin last season, the Donald addition could quite literally flip the result of the eventual division title and NFC champion with just one third-down sack or drive-ending tackle for loss. — Solak |
| SAN FRANCISCOQB CURTIS ROURKE is San Francisco’s third QB, as the guy who played the most snaps in the preseason, QB ADRIAN MARTINEZ, gets the heave-ho. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: The 49ers didn’t see much of Curtis Rourke in the preseason as he missed the final two games with fractured ribs. They saw enough of him, though, to keep him as their third quarterback. The 49ers are releasing Adrian Martinez, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports, which leaves Rourke behind Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. Rourke started the team’s first preseason game and went 12-of-14 for 101 yards while rushing for 14 yards on three carries. He broke three ribs during the game, forcing his exit and sending him to the hospital. He is expected to return to practice this week. Martinez appeared in all three preseason games, completing 36-of-68 passes for 346 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, while rushing eight times for 35 yards and one score. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISWR KEENAN ALLEN, a recent Colts signee, is welcomed to Indianapolis with a DUI. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen was arrested in Indianapolis early on Sunday morning. Per a police report obtained by multiple media outlets, Allen was arrested around 1 a.m. on charges of driving while intoxicated (DWI) and DWI endangering a person. Both charges are misdemeanors and Allen has not been formally charged at this point. The Colts released a statement about the matter on Sunday. “We are aware of the incident involving Keenan Allen last night,” the statement said. “We are in the process of gathering more information and have no further comment at this time.” Allen signed with the Colts a couple of weeks ago and had one catch in Saturday’s preseason game. |
| JACKSONVILLEApparently the Jaguars are not enamored with the idea of veteran NICK MULLENS taking over if QB TREVOR LAWRENCE goes down. And the Miami Dolphins didn’t see any need to keep QB QUINN EWERS around behind QB MALIK WILLIS. Bobby Kownack of NFL.com: The Jaguars have landed a new backup quarterback behind Trevor Lawrence. Jacksonville acquired Quinn Ewers from the Dolphins in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round draft pick, the team announced on Saturday. Ewers injured his groin in Miami’s opening preseason game against the Commanders on Aug. 14 and was certainly affected, going 1 of 8 for 27 yards and an interception. He did not take part in the subsequent two preseason games, but Jacksonville would have also gotten a good look at the 2025 seventh-rounder when he started the Dolphins’ final three games last year in what was a potential audition to be Miami’s QB of the future. Ewers, who went 1-2 as a starter with 622 yards, three touchdowns and three picks, will instead slot in as an important insurance policy for the Jags behind Lawrence. It remains to be seen what Jacksonville’s move means for Nick Mullens, Carter Bradley and Joey Aguilar, while Miami is currently left with Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski behind starter Malik Willis. |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOThe Bills have admitted that the current field at their new stadium isn’t up to snuff. When the Bills played their first preseason game at their new stadium two weeks ago, a “massive clump” of sod went flying, “roots, dirt, and all.” One unnamed player even said, “The field is ass right now.” So, basically, the grass is ass — and the Bills are getting out something more than a lawnmower. Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News reports that the entire surface will be replaced before the Week 2 Thursday night home opener against the Lions. It will be the first of three straight home games for the Bills. The Bills aren’t conceding that the current field, which passed pregame inspection for Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Steelers, is enough of a problem to require replacement. “You can be happy with the performance and playability and still make the change,” Bills chief operating officer Pete Guelli told Lysowski. “As an organization, we’re committed to having the absolute best possible playing surface for the players. If it’s even slightly better, we’re going to make the change and err on the side of performance.” The issue was divots. The goal will be to reduce their frequency and size. “It’s not a cure-all,” Bills senior director of grounds Aaron Ramella told Lysowski. “We’re still going to have divots. It’s a living grass field. We’ll be better than where we’re at now. There will be a random push or random divot. That’s football. We’re not playing on a rug anymore.” That’s the best news. But one of the realities (and expenses) of a grass field is that it takes effort (and money) to make it high-quality. Although an overwhelming majority of players prefer grass to artificial turf, most would prefer a fake field to shoddy sod. |
| NEW ENGLANDAn update on the contract negotiations with CB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ from Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Christian Gonzalez returned to Patriots practice last week, but the cornerback’s lack of a contract extension has led some to wonder if he might be off the field again as the team heads into their Week 1 game against the Seahawks. Head coach Mike Vrabel fielded a question about that possibility during an appearance on WEEI on Monday morning. “I expect him to be there today and I’m gonna focus on today,” Vrabel said. “I expect every healthy player to play and practice for our football team. That’s my expectation as a head coach.” PFT reported on Sunday that Gonzalez and the Patriots are still engaged in contract talks despite what’s believed to be a significant gap between what the two sides are proposing. Vrabel was also asked about where things stand on that front. “I don’t have anything new to add with Christian,” Vrabel said. “Whatever the events over the weekend or whatever happened over the weekend or didn’t happen over the weekend or what’s gonna happen today moving forward, I don’t think I have anything new to update you on.” Gonzalez’s status on and off the field will continue to be of interest until a deal comes together that secures his long-term future in New England. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| 15 NAMES FOR YOUR FANTASY DRAFTMichael F. Florio of ESPN.com: Jaxson Dart, QB, New York GiantsIn 12 games as a starter last season, Dart averaged 20.13 fantasy PPG, the fifth-highest average ever for a rookie QB. He did so despite losing top receiver Malik Nabers early on and undergoing a midseason coaching/playcaller change. I expect Dart to continue to run at a high rate, which gives him a high fantasy floor and ceiling, and with Nabers and Cam Skattebo healthy, he has better pieces around him than he did last season. His play style might scare some, but his ADP is low enough where you can take him and another QB such as Jared Goff, Jordan Love or Baker Mayfield. Kyler Murray, QB, Minnesota VikingsMurray has shown us he can be a reliable fantasy QB, even if he hasn’t always lived up to the lofty expectations. Last season was the first time Murray did not finish top 12 among QBs in fantasy PPG. His rushing ability gives him a safe floor, and now he has the best playcaller and pass catchers of his career. That adds the high ceiling we have been chasing since 2020. Malik Willis, QB, Miami DolphinsWillis has been a more effective passer than many realize. Over the past two years, he leads all QBs in passer rating, completion percentage, EPA per dropback and success rate. His rushing ability is what will make him special in fantasy. Since 2000, 44 QBs have run 100-plus times in a season, with 60% of them averaging at least 20 fantasy PPG. All but five averaged 17.4 points per game, which was the criteria to be a QB1 in fantasy last season. Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles ChargersHampton is set for a huge season in new OC Mike McDaniel’s system. McDaniel’s offenses throw to running backs at a much higher rate than former OC Greg Roman’s (16% to 12%). McDaniel also dials up way more outside zone runs (61% during his tenure in Miami, compared to 47% for Roman). Hampton averaged 5.5 yards per carry on outside runs last season, the sixth best of all RBs. He brings top-five overall upside in a high-scoring Chargers offense. Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville JaguarsTuten brings the right combination of talent and opportunity. Last season, he was top two among qualified backs in percentage of yards that came after contact and missed tackles forced rate. He had the seventh-highest rush success rate. On top of that, I simply trust the Liam Coen RB system. Last year, Travis Etienne Jr. saw 300 touches and was a league winner. The year prior in Tampa Bay with Coen, Bucky Irving started as a backup and blossomed into a league winner. The talent will rise to the top, and Tuten will turn into this year’s version of Coen’s league winner. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England PatriotsHenderson was my guy last year, and while it was an up-and-down road, he showed that he can perform at a very high level. He went for over 1,100 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns, and his ADP is lower than it was before he had ever played a snap. Henderson averaged over 20 fantasy PPG in games he had 15-plus touches. He is so explosive that he can break out even while sharing work, and he has league-winning upside if anything were to happen to Rhamondre Stevenson. Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina PanthersBrooks has been an ADP riser this summer, but he can still exceed the draft cost if he can reach his pre-injury form. Brooks ran for over 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 10 games in his final year in college in 2023. We haven’t seen him much since because of injuries, but he is healthy now and is expected to share work early on. Chuba Hubbard lost the starting gig to Rico Dowdle last year, and if Brooks can run away with the job, he has RB1 upside that you can draft as an RB3. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington CommandersCroskey-Merritt was top 10 among running backs in explosive run rate, yards after contact per carry and missed tackles forced rate. Those are three vital metrics when rating running backs. I expect him to take another step forward this year, with Jayden Daniels helping to open more running lanes. Rachaad White taking the passing downs could limit the league-winning upside, but there has been talk that Croskey-Merritt has taken a step forward there as well. He brings a high ceiling that you can get in the middle rounds. Malik Nabers, WR, GiantsNabers brings obvious upside. The talent is immense. I believe he belongs up there with Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and the top receivers in the league when healthy. Nabers has always had an elite target share while on the field, but the concern is health and how long it takes him to get back to his usual form. I am willing to roll the dice and take a shot on one of the most talented receivers in the league. He is my WR8 overall and brings upside to finish even higher. DJ Moore, WR, Buffalo BillsAlong with Tuten, Moore is “my guy” this season. Moore should be a much better fit with Josh Allen and Joe Brady than he was with Chicago’s personnel. Moore was the Bears’ top target last year on passes when Caleb Williams held the ball for at least 2.5 seconds; Allen has never averaged less than 2.9 seconds to throw. Moore has a history of success with Brady, including the 2021 season when he had 163 targets. In the range of outcomes, is Allen having a career year as a passer, in a more aggressive offense feasible? If so, Moore would reach league winner status. Ladd McConkey, WR, ChargersMcConkey struggled to live up to lofty expectations last year but should bounce back playing under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. With Miami, McDaniel funneled targets to his top options, often putting them in a position to run after the catch. That is something McConkey does well, as evidenced by his top-15 ranking in YAC over expectation last year. He also is a better deep threat than he gets credit for. McConkey breaks out as Justin Herbert puts up an MVP-candidate season. Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay PackersWatson has always flashed and now is coming off his best stretch as a pro. We saw his role, and route tree, expand last season. He remains one of the best field-stretchers, averaging the second-most yards per target over the last two seasons. He also should have a larger target share with Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks now playing elsewhere. Lastly, the Packers have said they want to run a faster-paced, more pass-happy offense. If that comes to fruition and Watson can stay healthy, his ceiling is a top-10 fantasy wide receiver. Terry McLaurin, WR, CommandersMcLaurin is coming off a down year, as both he and Jayden Daniels struggled to stay on the field. Do not forget, though, that McLaurin finished as the WR7 overall in 2024. He caught 12 of Daniels’ 25 passing touchdowns that season. McLaurin has been a top-25 fantasy WR in four of the last six seasons. His current ADP is WR23. That is much closer to his floor than ceiling. His ceiling with Daniels remains a top-10 fantasy receiver. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas RaidersBowers has the chance to break fantasy this season. The Raiders’ offense is now led by Klint Kubiak, who last season with Seattle showed that he will lock in on his top target. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had by far the highest target rate in the NFL (36% — no one else over 31%). Kirk Cousins targeted tight ends at the highest rate in the NFL last season. Bowers in this situation could outscore the position by 100-plus points, dominating like Trey McBride last year and Travis Kelce in his prime years. My bold prediction is Bowers becomes the first 1,500-yard tight end in NFL history. Isaiah Likely, TE, GiantsLikely is my breakout tight end pick this season. In 2024, Likely was top seven among tight ends in fantasy points per target, yards per catch and end zone targets. He also had the fourth-highest passer rating when targeted on passes of 10-plus air yards over the last two years, showing he can stretch the field. He should be the Giants’ second target behind Nabers and used frequently in the red zone. He is the TE9 in my rankings. |
| BOLD PREDICTIONSDouglas Clawson of CBSSports.com has what he thinks is a BOLD prediction for each of the 32 teams. If we think it is truly BOLD we will put it in boldface. If we both think it is BOLD and we like it will be in Green. If we think it is especially NOT BOLD we will make it Red. If we think it is OVERLY BOLD, beyond all reason we will make it PURPLE Last NFL football season presented some insane moments that would have even seemed outlandish before Week 1. Sam Darnold won a Super Bowl. The Patriots made the Super Bowl a year after a 4-13 season. Philip Rivers returned to the NFL after four years in retirement. The list goes on and on. And it will happen again this season. Clearly, nothing is out of bounds. Ben Johnson proved that recently. He wants the Bears to break the NFL record for points per game in a season while winning the Super Bowl. With that in mind, here’s a bold prediction for every team from record-breaking years to worst-to-firsts, coach firings, shocking benchings, 0-17 seasons and more. Seattle SeahawksPrediction: Rashid Shaheed will have 1,000 receiving yardsThe Seahawks are going to work Rashid Shaheed into the offense to the tune of a 1,000-yard receiving season. The gamebreaker became the fifth player in NFL history with 800+ scrimmage yards and at least three return touchdowns in a season last year (including playoffs), along with Gale Sayers, Troy Brown, Reggie Bush and Tyreek Hill. Now he’s going to break out after an entire offseason to get acclimated to the Seahawks playbook. Los Angeles RamsPrediction: No. 1 scoring offense and No. 1 scoring defenseThe Rams will become the third team since 1970 to have the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense and defense (the 1972 Dolphins and 1996 Packers). The Rams defense was terrible down the stretch last year (25th in defensive EPA in their last nine games) so they added Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. They will be the top unit in the NFL this year, thanks to those additions and now Aaron Donald’s comeback. San Francisco 49ersPrediction: Healthy core after substation theory debunkedThe viral substation conspiracy theory has been debunked, but the 49ers have still had a lot of banged-up players in training camp. Still, they will do a 180 and their entire star core will finish the season healthy. Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans, Trent Williams, George Kittle, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner will defy logic and all be a force heading into the postseason. That would be pretty crazy considering the 49ers six highest-paid players combined to miss more games (64) than they played (50) last season. They missed 25 more games than any other playoff team’s six highest-paid players. Arizona CardinalsPrediction: Trey McBride will lead the NFL in catchesTrey McBride set the single-season TE record with 126 catches last season as the Cardinals led the NFL in pass attempts and had ample garbage time to pad stats. He finished second in the NFL in receptions behind Puka Nacua (129). So what will he do for an encore? He will be the first TE to lead the NFL in receptions since Tony Gonzalez in 2004. Carolina PanthersPrediction: Bryce Young gets benchedBryce Young has slowly taken steps forward in the Panthers offense, capped by going worst to first in the abysmal NFC South last season. Perhaps the improvements have been exaggerated, though. He was 28th in the NFL in EPA per dropback last season and he will be benched in 2026 when he is unable to take Carolina to the next level. Patience will run thin, especially after the team made two big signings on defense in free agency (Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips). The team picked up his fifth-year option this offseason, but the Panthers’ brash owner David Tepper won’t put up with a step backward from Young. Tampa Bay BuccaneersPrediction: Rueben Bain Jr. will break rookie sacks recordShort arms (and AC sprain) be damned. First-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. will break Jevon Kearse’s rookie record (14.5 sacks in 1999) with 15.0 sacks in 2026. Production over projection will win the day this year as the Miami Hurricanes standout will spit in the face of the detractors who would point to how he had the second-shortest arm length among edge rushers drafted in the first round since 2003. Atlanta FalconsPrediction: Bijan Robinson will have 1,000 rush yards and 1,000 receiving yardsKevin Stefanski will lean heavily on Bijan Robinson, especially with Tyler Allgeier out of the picture and uncertainty at the quarterback position. Robinson will become the fourth player all-time with 1,000+ rush yards and 1,000+ rec yards in a season (Roger Craig, Marshall Faulk, Christian McCaffrey). He already had 820 receiving yards a year ago, so getting to 1,000 would not be a stretch. New Orleans SaintsPrediction: Tyler Shough will make the year two leapSure, not all year-two leaps are created equal; after all, Tyler Shough is older (age 26) than Trevor Lawrence. However, he will build on an excellent rookie season (he was top 10 in most passing stats since becoming the starter in Week 9 last year) by taking a Drake Maye-esque year two leap. The addition of first-round pick WR Jordyn Tyson and free agent RB Travis Etienne Jr. will only speed up Shough’s development. The competition in his division will help the cause, too. Chicago BearsPrediction: First NFL team history with 4K passer, 1K rusher & trio of 1K receiversBen Johnson already said he wants to break the 2013 Broncos NFL record for points per game in a season (37.9). The top 14 scoring teams in the Super Bowl era did not win a Super Bowl, though, so I’ll do Johnson one better. The Bears will be the first team in NFL history with a 4,000-yard passer (they’ve never had one!), a 1,000-yard rusher (D’Andre Swift) and a trio of 1,000-yard receivers (Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland) Green Bay PackersPrediction: Tucker Kraft will lead all TE in receiving yardsThe Packers gave extensions to WRs Christian Watson and Jayden Reed and would love to see a breakout from 2025 first-round WR Matthew Golden, but it’ll be TE Tucker Kraft emerging in the Packers offense in 2026. Kraft was one of the league’s most productive tight ends last year before tearing his ACL around the midway point of the year. He’s been the best tight end in terms of YAC on record (9.1 YAC per reception in his career), so he will explode this season and lead all tight ends in receiving yards. One thing that could hold him back is a limited workload at the start of the season. Minnesota VikingsPrediction: Kyler Murray will win NFL MVPKyler Murray will win NFL MVP. Sam Darnold took the success of reboot quarterbacks to a new level by winning the Super Bowl last season after the Vikings let him walk. Minnesota will make up for that by rebooting Murray, who will have a chip on his shoulder after his tenure ended with the Cardinals. We have seen him play like an MVP for parts of a season before, when he had DeAndre Hopkins, and now the pieces are in place for a historic rebound with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings in his WR room. Detroit LionsPrediction: Jahmyr Gibbs will break Chris Johnson’s scrimmage yards recordJahmyr Gibbs will break Chris Johnson’s NFL record for most scrimmage yards in a season (2,509 in 2009). Dan Campbell said Gibbs will be the “bell cow” in 2026 after Detroit traded David Montgomery (182 touches last year) to the Texans. Gibbs is already on a historic two-year run as the only RB all-time with 100+ scrimmage yards per game, 1+ scrimmage TD per game on fewer than 20 touches per game in back-to-back years. Imagine what he can do with say 400 touches, instead of the 320 he logged in 2025? He doesn’t even have a 30-touch game in the last two years. Add in an improved Detroit offensive line that added C Cade Mays (even though he’s out 8-10 weeks) and first-round pick RT Blake Miller and you have a recipe for a record-breaking season from perhaps the game’s most electric RB. Philadelphia EaglesPrediction: Nick Sirianni will be the first coach firedNick Sirianni will be the first coach fired this year. The Eagles have either gone one-and-done in the playoffs or made the Super Bowl in five seasons with Philadelphia. That trend will end, and the Eagles will quickly grow impatient after another slow start on offense, leading to Sirianni’s quick hook. It wouldn’t be that different from the Phillies firing manager Rob Thomson this past April or the Eagles canning Doug Pederson three years after winning a championship. Dallas CowboysPrediction: Caleb Downs All-Pro season, leads team in tackles, sacks and interceptionsThe Cowboys first-round pick Caleb Downs will lead the team in tackles, sacks and interceptions while doing his best Kyle Hamilton (and Nick Emmanwori) impersonation, splitting his time between slot corner, box safety and high safety this year. The last player to lead a team in all 3 categories was Joey Porter Sr. for the 2002 Steelers. Washington CommandersPrediction: The Commanders will use a WR carousel for the agesThe WR carousel had already begun in Washington as it’s a thin depth chart after Terry McLaurin. They signed Stefon Diggs, they have a potential rebound in Treylon Burks and a third-round rookie in Antonio Williams. I predict they’ll take a flier on Diggs, Tyreek Hill and DeAndre Hopkins (currently a WR coach at Georgia Tech) by season’s end. New York GiantsPrediction: The Giants will make the Super BowlThe Giants are going to make the Super Bowl in their first year with John Harbaugh. They have the talent between Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, Malik Nabers, Andrew Thomas, Francis Mauigoa, Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Arvell Reese and more. Now, they have the coach to bring it all together. Harbaugh made the AFC title game in 2008 with rookie QB Joe Flacco and won 14 games in Lamar Jackson’s second season, so I’m banking on a big year for Jaxson Dart as the Giants will be the Cinderella team of the 2026 season. They could follow in the 2025 Patriots footsteps. Both the 2025 Patriots and 2026 Giants were coming off 4-13 seasons, both hired a veteran coach (Vrabel vs. Harbaugh) and both had a second-year quarterback (Drake Maye vs Jaxson Dart). DB comment – We do see a lot of similarities between the Giants and the 2025 Patriots who we KNEW would improve significantly from the retched 2024 team. Better coach, 2nd year QB who showed promise as rookie, other young stars who could mature together. But we weren’t BOLD enough to think the Patriots would make the Super Bowl. The key to that achievement proved to be New England’s easy schedule making 14-3 the record, rather than say 11-6. The Giants don’t have two cupcakes in their division for four easy wins and the rest of the schedule is representative. New England PatriotsPrediction: The Patriots will start 0-5 and make the playoffsThe Patriots will be the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs after an 0-5 start. The only team to make the playoffs after an 0-4 start was the 1992 Chargers but New England will top that after recovering from a brutal schedule to open the year. They have the hardest strength of schedule through Week 4 by any team since the 1986 Eagles. They will play more 10-win teams (from 2025) through Week 4 this year (four) than they did in the entire 2025 regular season (three). In this scenario, they would lose all four games and collapse in Week 5 against the Raiders, prompting calls to fire Mike Vrabel. Instead, the Patriots will stay the course and embark on a historic turnaround. Buffalo BillsPrediction: GM Brandon Beane will be fired this yearNo, I’m not picking the Bills to win the Super Bowl. As much as I want that to happen, I think Buffalo will succumb to the pressure and fire GM Brandon Beane after a mediocre start. They stuck with him after parting ways with Sean McDermott but he didn’t do enough to fill needs at wide receiver (DJ Moore) or edge rusher (Bradley Chubb) this offseason, which will ultimately cost him his job. Miami DolphinsPrediction: The Dolphins will go 0-17The Dolphins are going to go 0-17 this year, becoming the first team to be winless since the 2017 Browns went 0-16. The ingredients are all there. This is a dumpster fire franchise that has not won a playoff game since 2000. Quarterback Malik Willis is a lottery ticket but Miami doesn’t have the infrastructure around him to help him succeed. Unbelievably, the Dolphins are spending more money for players not on their roster than actualy active members of the team. There’s an NFL-record $179M in dead money spread out between Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill , Jaylen Waddle, Jalen Ramsey, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Bradley Chubb and Terron Armstead. They won’t be able to win one single game with this JV roster. New York JetsPrediction: Garrett Wilson will get traded to the RavensThe Jets won’t be the worst team in the NFL just because the Dolphins exist, but they won’t be much better. The franchise will continue its roster purge at the trade deadline, following last year’s moves of Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. This year, it’ll be Garrett Wilson for a first-round pick as the Jets will tie their own NFL record with a fourth first-rounder in the highly anticipated 2027 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh SteelersPrediction: The Steelers will go from first to worst in the divisionAaron Rodgers’ swan song will flame out as the Steelers will finish in last place in their division for the first time since 1988. Mike McCarthy won’t be able to turn around a Steelers team that overachieved with Mike Tomlin. Baltimore RavensPrediction: The Ravens will win the Super BowlThis isn’t the Bills’ year, but it will be the Ravens. Lamar Jackson is going to bounce back from injury with rookie coach Jesse Minter to reach his first Super Bowl, where King Henry and company will power the Ravens to a title over the Giants in a revenge game with John Harbaugh. A deadline trade for Garrett Wilson will give Jackson another weapon at WR, and Trey Hendrickson will have a bounce-back year to help Baltimore’s defense round into championship form. Cleveland BrownsPrediction: Week 1 will be Deshaun Watson’s last NFL gameDeshaun Watson won the starting QB job in Cleveland, but it won’t last long (at all). He hasn’t been the same after leaving Houston and he’s dealt with a season-ending shoulder injury and two Achilles injuries with the Browns. The Browns will start an NFL-record six different QBs this year, including Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green. Cincinnati BengalsPrediction: The Bengals will have the NFL’s No. 1 defenseThe Bengals will be the top seed in the AFC after they go from 31st to first in points allowed, a defensive turnaround that the league has never seen. Veteran free agent additions Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, Kyle Dugger, Jonathan Allen and Bryan Cook will bring an edge to this defense while Cincinnati will finally get production off the edge from former first-round picks Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart. Jacksonville JaguarsPrediction: Travis Hunter will have a historic two-way seasonThe historic two-way season we were all expecting from Travis Hunter last year will come to fruition in 2026 after he played in just seven games as a rookie. He’s going to come out with a bang in Week 1 vs. the Browns with an interception while also hauling in over 100 receiving yards. When it’s all said and done, he will be the first player since Don Hutson in 1942 with 1,000+ receiving yards and at least four interceptions in a season. The Jaguars WR depth (Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr.) stands in the way but nothing an injury or two can’t change. DB comment – The whispers around the Jaguars are more negative than positive about Hunter for 2026. We don’t see him being more than a trinket in the offense. Houston TexansPrediction: C.J. Stroud will get benchedThe 2023 QB class is going to be a disaster in 2026. We won’t see Anthony Richardson Sr. play, plus C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young will both be benched at some point despite signing fifth-year options. Houston will send Stroud a message at some point in 2026 by benching him in favor of Davis Mills as the team has a Super Bowl-caliber defense but an offense that continues to underachieve. The Texans didn’t pull the plug last postseason when Stroud had five fumbles and five interceptions in two games, but their patience will run out in 2026. I hope this prediction doesn’t come true, but in a league where first-round quarterbacks are getting tossed to the curb at prolific rates, I wouldn’t be shocked if Stroud was the next casualty. Indianapolis ColtsPrediction: The Colts will trade for Mac JonesGeneral manager Chris Ballard is going to feel the heat once Daniel Jones gets hurt again in his comeback from a torn Achilles. I anticipate he will make a panic move by trading a first-round pick for Mac Jones at the deadline in hopes of saving his job and leading the Colts to their first division title since 2014. Ballard already went all-in by trading two first-rounders for Sauce Gardner last year, so he’s not going to go down without a fight. I don’t think it’ll be enough to save the Colts season or his job, but I wouldn’t fault him for trying. Tennessee TitansPrediction: The Titans will go from worst-to-first in the AFC SouthThe last two fired New York head coaches are going to lead the Titans from the ashes to a worst-to-first turnaround in the division. Yes, the contingent of Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll will lead Tennessee to a historic rebound as Cam Ward develops into a franchise quarterback with the help of rookie WR Carnell Tate. The Titans led the NFL in free agent spending this year, which will help the cause. Denver BroncosPrediction: Jaylen Waddle will have 130 catchesMichael Thomas caught an NFL record 149 balls in 2019 in a 16-game season with Sean Payton. I think Peyton will ride newly acquired WR Jaylen Waddle to at least 130 grabs this year after trading a first-round pick for the electric playmaker. Los Angeles ChargersPrediction: Omarion Hampton will win the rushing titleJim Harbaugh wants to run the ball. He doesn’t want to see Justin Herbert lit up for 50-60 sacks again, and he has Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back, plus additions of Jake Slaughter, Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange to the interior of the offensive line. That means Harbaugh is going to ride 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton to a rushing title. Kansas City ChiefsPrediction: The Chiefs will miss the playoffs againThe Chiefs failed to make an AFC title game last season for the first time since Mahomes became a full-time starter. Instead of rebounding to make another run this year they are going to miss the playoffs again as Mahomes won’t have enough help from his supporting cast. The Chiefs are amazingly the only team without a 1,000-yard rusher or receiver in the past three seasons. Rashee Rice can’t stay on the field, Xavier Worthy hasn’t turned all-world speed into production and Travis Kelce doesn’t have much left in the tank. Chris Jones is on the decline and the defense lost most of its starting secondary. It all adds up to another disappointing season in Kansas City and the need to reinvent themselves in 2027. Las Vegas RaidersPrediction: Maxx Crosby will win NFL Defensive Player of the YearMaxx Crosby is going to troll the Ravens by having a career year in 2026 after his trade to Baltimore was nixed because of a failed physical. That means close to 100 tackles and 15+ sacks as he wins Defensive Player of the Year. |
