This from YahooSports.com:

When do NFL training camps begin?

The Chicago Bears are among the first teams to get activities underway this month, with rookies (including No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams) reporting Tuesday. Here’s when every team officially opens training camp:

Wednesday, July 17 — Houston Texans

Friday, July 19 — Chicago Bears

Saturday, July 20 — Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens

Sunday, July 21 — Green Bay Packers

Tuesday, July 23 — Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders

Wednesday, July 24 — Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers

When does the NFL preseason kick off?

The Chicago Bears and Houston Texans will meet in the 2024 Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. ET in Canton, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC.

The preseason ends on Sunday, Aug. 25, and NFL roster cutdown day is Tuesday, Aug. 27.

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With the help of the CBS Sports research department, Garrett Podell has a list of 50 Things To Know with 50 days remaining to the start of the NFL season.  The two that are

6. (Brock) Purdy and Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love joined Hall of Famer Kurt Warner (1999),  Patrick Mahomes (2018) and Justin Herbert (2020) as the only quarterbacks with 30-plus passing touchdowns and 4,000-plus passing yards in their first season as a full-time starter in NFL history. Full time starter in this case is defined as starting at least 50% of their team’s games. 

47. Both Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and new Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will be trying to bounce back from suffering torn Achilles injuries in 2023. Among four notable quarterback to suffer the injury — Dan Marino in 1993 (age 32), Vinny Testaverde in 1999 (age 36), Jim Miller in 2000 (age 29) and Trent Dilfer in 2022 (age 30) — only Marino threw at least 10 more touchdowns than interceptions through the completion of his career post-Achilles injury despite all four of them starting at least 19 more games.

CHICAGO

Without “official” representation, QB CALEB WILLIAMS still managed to make some innovative asks in his contract negotiations.  And the Bears might have listened, but the NFL stepped in and made sure the government got the taxes it needs.  Ryan Taylor of NBCSportsChicago.com:

After multiple reports revealed Tuesday evening that Bears rookie Caleb Williams had signed his first NFL contract, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio put the kibosh on those reports, reporting he had not signed his deal.

Why? Florio reported on Wednesday that Williams’ team was haggling with the Bears over final language for his first contract. Part of that negotiation, per Florio, included an attempt to keep the franchise tag off of Williams’ contract after he presumably finishes his fifth season with the team. The Bears declined.

But it didn’t end there. After the Bears announced Williams signed his deal, Florio revealed Williams’ camp made other attempts to help the rookie signal caller earn untaxed money.

According to Florio, Williams’ camp attempted to convince the Bears to pay Williams as an LLC (Limited Liability Company). In Illinois, LLCs have zero income tax filing requirements, meaning Williams wouldn’t have to pay taxes on his four-year contract worth $39 million.

Another attempt Williams’ camp made was earning a forgivable loan, which would have resulted in “Williams getting the money tax-free until the loan was forgiven, as many as 10 years into the future,” Florio reported.

The Bears, according to Florio, went to the NFL with both of these proposals, finding no evidence they were invalid in the NFL’s CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement).

But the league nixed both of the proposals.

The NFL told the Bears player’s money can’t go to a business entity other than the player, per the report. There was no reason given for why the league axed the idea of a forgivable loan.

The clauses Williams’ team pitched could’ve been historic. No rookie NFL player has ever notched a clause in their first deal to exclude the prospect of a franchise tag from the future. And no player has ever been paid in the form of an LLC or through a loan.

The ideas were creative and out-of-the-box. It’s no harm or foul for Williams’ team to try, either. Williams is a known businessman who tries to surround himself with the best business minds available. His father, Carl, worked for years in commercial real estate, too.

There could’ve been consequences had Williams not signed before the Bears training camp’s first practice unfolding this Saturday. If he hadn’t signed before then, he wouldn’t have been eligible to participate.

But the Bears got it done without guaranteeing Williams something that could’ve earned them risk from the deal.

DETROIT

One of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

46. The Detroit Lions became the second team in NFL history to have four players total 10 or more touchdowns from scrimmage, joining the 2013 AFC champion Denver Broncos. Detroit’s four in 2023 were running back David Montgomery (13), running back Jahmyr Gibbs (11), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (10) and tight end Sam LaPorta (10)

GREEN BAY

One of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

7. The Packers became the youngest team to win a playoff game since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger (average age of 25 years and 214 days) when they upset the second-seeded Cowboys 48-32 in the NFC Wild Card round.

MINNESOTA

One of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

50. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, whose career receiving yards per game average of 98.3 is the best in NFL history, became the third player all-time with 1,000 receiving yards in a season when playing 10 or fewer games, joining Jim Benton of the Rams (1945) and Wes Chandler of the Chargers (1982).

DALLAS

The Cowboys get four of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

40. The Dallas Cowboys are the first team in NFL history to have three consecutive 12-win seasons and no conference championship appearances in such a span. Their 36 wins since 2021 are the most ever in a three-year stretch without a conference championship game appearance.

41. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the first quarterback in Cowboys history to lead the NFL outright in passing touchdowns, and he is only the second quarterback ever to lead the NFL in passing touchdowns a year after throwing the most interceptions, joining Bob Waterfield who did the same thing from the 1945 to 1946 seasons.

42. Prescott is the only players with 200-plus passing touchdowns (202) and 25-plus rushing touchdowns (28) in any eight-year stretch in NFL history, and Prescott’s run of doing so spans across the first eight years of his NFL career.

43. Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons and Hall of Famer Reggie White are the only players with at least 13 sacks in each of their first three seasons

PHILADELPHIA

Two of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

44. The Philadelphia Eagles became the second team ever to finish with seven or more losses, including playoffs, (11-7) after a 10-1 start, joining the 1986 New York Jets.

45. New Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has 23 runs of 30 or more yards in his career, which is the second-most in the NFL since 2018 behind only Derrick Henry’s 24. Barkley’s 23 is more than all Eagles players since 2018 (20)

CAROLINA

One of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know – and it’s a dooz:

48. The Carolina Panthers, who had the NFL’s worst record in 2023 at 2-15, became the first team in NFL history to not lead in the fourth quarter in an entire season (both wins occurred as time expired)

TAMPA BAY

One of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

49. Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans can tie Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the longest streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons ever (11) with another 1,000-yard campaign in 2024. Evans’ already owns the record for the longest such streak to start an NFL career.

SAN FRANCISCO

Two of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

4. San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offenses average the most yards per play (5.9) and yards per pass attempt (8.1) among any head coach in the Super Bowl era, minimum 100 games as a head coach.

5. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy led the NFL in yards per pass attempt with 9.6, the most in a single season ever, minimum 350 pass attempts. He also led the league in yards per attempt on throws of zero-plus, five-plus, 10-plus, 15-plus, 20-plus and 25-plus air yards last season.

– – –

David Lombardi of The Athletic looks at the three main options facing the 49ers now that WR BRANDON AIYUK wants a trade:

Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has formally requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. The two sides have not been able to hash out a long-term contract extension — at least not yet — over this offseason. A soft deadline looms next week when veterans are slated to report to training camp, and Aiyuk would be subject to daily fines of $40,000 if he’s not in the building.

Where does this situation go from here? This is familiar ground for the 49ers, who have dealt with uncomfortable contract standoffs in each of the past two seasons. One was with receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. — who also requested a trade, but much earlier in the offseason — and the other was with defensive end Nick Bosa.

The 49ers have three general options. Here is an outline of each strategy.

Option 1: Do nothing and wait for Aiyuk to blink

Aiyuk is already under contract for the 2024 season at $14.1 million. Considering Aiyuk was one of the most efficient receivers in football last season — he led the NFL with 17.9 yards per reception — that’s a very favorable rate for the 49ers in a market where the top wideouts are now making over $30 million annually.

Aiyuk’s exact demands aren’t publicly known, although it has been reported the 49ers’ offer hovers at around $26 million per year. The team can stand pat and wait for Aiyuk to lower his asking price. Think of this as a game of chicken — with the 49ers driving a semitruck. Because Aiyuk is already under contract, they have the high ground here.

Although the league’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) allows the team to forgive Aiyuk’s $40,000 daily fines for missing training camp, financial penalties would only increase with time. On his $14.1 million deal, Aiyuk stands to miss out on about $829,000 per game if a holdout lasts into the regular season. The CBA would also allow the 49ers to fine Aiyuk up to that amount for every missed preseason game.

Beyond these short-term losses, Aiyuk faces potential longer-term financial damage with a prolonged holdout. Remember that 2024 for Aiyuk is a contract year for as long as he remains on his rookie deal. Given the situation, the receiver is more incentivized than ever to deliver statistically so that he’s best lined up for a payday when unrestricted free agency might come calling in 2025. That means Aiyuk is incentivized to be at training camp so he can hone rapport with 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, especially because the team features so much other receiving talent who will be competing for targets.

Contractually, the Aiyuk dynamic is set up to work in the 49ers’ favor. General manager John Lynch, knowing this, has stated the 49ers would be willing to let Aiyuk play 2024 on the fifth-year option. The 49ers can also use the franchise tag on Aiyuk for 2025 at a projected price of about $22 million.

It’s way too early to know if the 49ers would resort to that, but the mere threat of two more seasons of team control at a below-market rate does theoretically incentivize Aiyuk to take the 49ers’ offer or at least come closer to it.

Seeing the negotiating field tilted in their favor, the 49ers might disregard Aiyuk’s trade request and continue waiting for him to blink at the negotiating table. In fact, with the 49ers reportedly telling interested teams that they have no intention of trading Aiyuk, it appears that’s exactly what they’re doing.

Option 2: Sweeten the pot to avoid a holdout

Of course, the 49ers also have something to lose if this situation drags out.

Aiyuk is an excellent receiver and the team is objectively worse without him. Even if the distribution of leverage suggests the 49ers should win a prolonged staredown with Aiyuk, that can come at a significant cost to the team. Look back to last season, when Bosa acknowledged that missing all of training camp and the preseason negatively impacted his play for at least the first part of the regular season.

A team facing intense pressure to win a Super Bowl would prefer to not lose any bit of its edge. And the 49ers find themselves in that type of win-now boat. There certainly is some value in ensuring that Aiyuk is in the building from the start of training camp next week. The question is just how much Aiyuk’s presence would be worth.

That’s hard to calculate, but perhaps the 49ers would be willing to slightly sweeten their offer to push this negotiation across the finish line. Maybe this trade request is Aiyuk’s way of rocking the boat to see if the 49ers are, in fact, willing to do that.

But it could also be that the two sides are too far apart for any pot sweeteners to do the trick, and if that’s the case, this isn’t a particularly useful option for the 49ers. It doesn’t seem that avoiding an Aiyuk holdout would be worth compromising their big-picture salary cap, which must consider a potential megadeal for Purdy and other big expenditures in the future.

The 49ers, because their books are already jammed with more A-list talent than any other NFL team, are very incentivized to hold the line where it is.

Option 3: Trade Aiyuk

What potential trade involving Aiyuk can the 49ers make that would improve their team this season? That’s the gold standard for the 49ers, who — given the Super Bowl pressure — are in no position to jettison a valuable weapon for assets that cannot help them this season.

With the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, it stands to reason that only a trade bringing another player could satisfy the 49ers’ goal of improving the team now. For argument’s sake: If the Los Angeles Chargers offered defensive end Joey Bosa to the 49ers, or if another team was willing to trade them a quality offensive lineman, Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan would be obligated to listen. Such moves would theoretically give the 49ers a chance to improve enough at one position to outweigh the loss of Aiyuk at receiver.

But such player-for-player trades are rare in the NFL, thanks in large part to how difficult it is to align contractual situations under the cap. Joey Bosa, for example, just received a lucrative signing bonus as part of a contract restructure. The Chargers probably wouldn’t be eager to ship the pass rusher away right after paying him such a large sum of money.

And despite the stalemate, let’s not forget how good Aiyuk has been for the 49ers.

His graded efficiency was off the charts last season. His ability to block is exemplary. His arc of improvement into stardom has been a quintessential success story of the 49ers’ developmental program. That all makes Aiyuk the exact type of player the 49ers want to keep around, one who won’t be moved unless the 49ers command a haul that makes it worth their time.

It’s very hard to see such a trade package coming to fruition, which is why Option 1 continues to be the team’s most likely course of action in this saga with Aiyuk. His request for Option 3 does not change that.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Two of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

8. Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua set the NFL all-time rookie records for catches (105) and receiving yards (1,486) in 2023.

9. Rams running back Kyren Williams became the first player to finish in the league’s top three in rushing yards (1,144, third-most in NFL) despite missing at least five games since Bull Karcis did so for the 1937 Pittsburgh Pirates. He led the NFL with 95.3 rushing yards per game in 2023, making him the third Rams players in the Super Bowl era to lead the NFL in rushing yards per game in a season. Williams joined Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Eric Dickerson.

DENVER

One of Garrett Podell’s 50 Facts:

39. The Denver Broncos have missed the postseason for eight consecutive seasons since winning Super Bowl 50 in 2015, the longest postseason drought all-time after a Super Bowl victory.

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The Broncos continue to put money into the offensive line.  Nick Kosmider of The Athletic on the extension for G QUINN MEINERZ:

The Denver Broncos are signing right guard Quinn Meinerz to a four-year, $80 million contract extension, a source briefed on the deal confirmed Tuesday, locking up a key piece of the team’s reconfigured offensive line.

Meinerz, a third-round pick by Denver in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is coming off his best career season. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate after starting all 17 games and allowing the fifth-fewest pressures (23) among all guards with at least 1,000 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

“Certainly, he’s a powerful, sticky run blocker. He does a lot of things extremely well,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said during minicamp in June. “I think he loves it. He loves the process, which is half the battle. So I love that he’s our right guard.”

The deal, which pays Meinerz $20 million annually and includes $45 million guaranteed, makes him among the top five highest-paid players at his position. Randy Mueller, the former NFL GM and current personnel analyst at The Athletic, said Meinerz would have been among the top free agents in 2025 had he hit the market.

“I think he’s a better player than most realize. His strength and physicality along with his ability to engage his lower body to get movement at the point of attack on contact sets him apart,” Mueller said.

The extension for Meinerz comes after the Broncos handed big contracts last offseason to right tackle Mike McGlinchey and left guard Ben Powers. Investing heavily in the offensive line has always been a part of Sean Payton’s team-building philosophy, and locking up Meinerz took on added importance after the Broncos allowed veteran center Lloyd Cushenberry to leave in free agency.

KANSAS CITY

Three of Garrett Podell’s 50 facts:

1. The Kansas City Chiefs are only the fifth team all-time with three Super Bowl wins (2019, 2022, 2023) in a five-year span, joining the 1970’s Steel Curtain Pittsburgh Steelers (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979), the 1990’s dynasty Dallas Cowboys (1992, 1993, 1995), the early season Brady-Belichick New England Patriots (2001, 2003, 2004) and the later seasons of the Brady-Belichick Patriots (2014, 2016, 2018).

2.  Kansas City is aiming to be the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls and join the Green Bay Packers (1929-1931 and 1965-1967) as the only squad to win three consecutive NFL titles.

3. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the fifth quarterback with three or more Super Bowl wins (Brady, Montana, Bradshaw and Aikman), the third with three or more Super Bowl MVPs (Brady and Montana and the first player with three championship MVPs in their first seven seasons in NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB history.

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Rookie WR XAVIER WORTHY will be good to go for camp Saturday:

Chiefs rookie Xavier Worthy, the former Texas wide receiver who broke the combine record in the 40-yard dash, missed most of spring practice with a hamstring injury but won’t start training camp on the PUP list, per NFL reporter James Palmer.

#chiefs rookie WR Xavier Worthy, who suffered a hamstring injury and missed most of the spring, will not start training camp on PUP. He’s good to go, but will be eased back in. Not a ton of reps early, but he’s healthy which is big as he tries to establish chemistry with Mahomes.

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) July 17, 2024

LAS VEGAS

Two of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

37. The Las Vegas Raiders led the NFL in scoring defense (16.0 points per game) when new full-time head coach Antonio Pierce took over as the interim in place of Josh McDaniels from Weeks 9-18.

38. Raiders Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby is one of only two players with 12-plus sacks (14.5 in 2023) and 80-plus tackles (90 in 2023) in consecutive seasons since Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware did so from 2007-2008. Crosby also led the NFL with 24 tackles for loss in 2023.

BALTIMORE

No less than 5 of Garrett Podell’s Things To Know involve the Ravens:

20. Speaking of defense, the Baltimore Ravens became the first team all time to lead and/or co-lead the NFL in scoring defense (16.5 PPG), sacks (60) and takeaways (31, tied with the New York Giants) all in the same season. However, their squad will look to come close to maintaining that production without defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who is now the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

21. The 2023 Ravens were also historic in that they had a +178 point differential against teams with winning records last season, the best in NFL history. They became only the second team in NFL history to lead in the final two minutes in each of their first 17 games since the 2007 New England Patriots squad that went 16-0 in the regular season.

22. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is the youngest quarterback in NFL history at the age of his second league MVP at 27. He became only the third quarterback since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger to win league MVP without a 1,000-yard rusher or 1,000-yard receiver, joining Hall of Famer Brett Favre in 1996 and Hall of Famer John Elway in 1987.

23. Baltimore’s 2023 squad became the only team in NFL history to have the MVP at quarterback and the No. 1 scoring defense but not reach the title game. They were also the only team in NFL history to have the MVP at quarterback, the No. 1 rushing offense and the No. 1 scoring defense

24. Jackson is the only quarterback ever to have five seasons with at least 750 rushing yards, something he has done every year as the Ravens’ starting QB. However, he may not have to carry the load on offense as a rusher anymore after Baltimore signed Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry in free agency, who is only the 10th player all-time to rank top two in the NFL in rushing yards in at least four seasons, something he did in 2023 when he finished second (1,167 rushing yards) behind only 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey (1,459).

25. No player has more rushing yards (8,268) or rushing touchdowns (80) since 2018 than Henry did under former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

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Charles McDonald of YahooSports.com on the importance of RB DERRICK HENRY still having some gas in the tank:

Despite having a fantastic season that almost ended with a trip to the Super Bowl, the Ravens find themselves somewhat rebuilding on offense. Starting offensive linemen John Simpson, Kevin Zeitler and Morgan Moses moved onto new teams. Running back Gus Edwards rejoined his former Baltimore offensive coordinator Greg Roman with the Chargers. That’s a lot of experience gone from one of the better offenses in the league a year ago.

However, the Ravens still have the blessing of a two-time MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson who is joined by Derrick Henry at running back — which might be the most perfect run game pairing in the league. If the Ravens want to get back to the AFC title game, their effort must be on the backs of their superstar backfield.

The Ravens’ rebuilt offensive line has traded out experience for potential. Four of their projected starters (Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Ben Cleveland and Roger Rosengarten) are on rookie deals. Linderbaum is the only young player they have with extensive starting experience, which will undoubtedly be needed at center as they ingratiate a new group. Ronnie Stanley has been up and down due to injuries over the recent portion of his career, but if he’s moving back in the right direction that’s a huge plus for the line.

Expectations for the group up front should be low, which will put more pressure on the quarterback and running back. That’s a plan that might be able to work when the quarterback is Lamar Jackson and the running back is Derrick Henry.

Henry has been one of the few backs in the modern era to remain effective following sky-high workloads. Despite leading the league in carries in four of the past five seasons, he has never fallen below 1,000 rushing yards and has scored double-digit touchdowns in every season since 2017. That’s not the most scientific way to dissect efficient running back play, but it shows that Henry is still capable of carrying a big-time workload, which will probably be necessary again for him. Jackson’s presence will open things up for Henry, easing his transition behind this very green offensive line.

Beyond the backfield, the Ravens have questions they quickly need to find answers to. Tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely are certified as one of the top tight end duos in the league. Wide receiver is a bit shakier. Zay Flowers was a breakout star as a rookie and should see a ton of targets this season, but the Ravens still need improved versions of Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor to pick up where they left off from last season.

Jackson and Henry with the ball in their hands a lot will probably be the Ravens’ best way to attack and get around some of their shortcomings as they figure out what the next era of this offense looks like. Last season, their first with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, was a much-needed change of pace from the prior years in terms of how they were running the offense. Their success in 2024 will largely be based on how well Jackson and Henry can literally run the offense.

CLEVELAND

Two of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

26. No team since the AFL and NFL merged in 1970 reached the playoffs without their Week 1 starting quarterback, running back, left tackle and right tackle… until the Cleveland Browns did so last season. How did they do this? With the league’s best total defense (270.2 total yards per game allowed, the fewest since the 2014 Legion of Boom Seattle Seahawks and their 267.1 total YPG allowed.

27. The Browns 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year edge rusher Myles Garrett, the first player in franchise history to win the award, has 88.5 sacks in 100 career games, the third-most in a player’s first 100 games since individual sacks have been tracked (since 1982), trailing only Hall of Famer Reggie White (105.) and AFC North rival T.J. Watt (91.5).

PITTSBURGH

Four of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

28. T.J.Watt became the only player in NFL history to lead the league in sacks in three different seasons after a league-leading 19.0 in 2023. Pittsburgh is 1-11 without Watt since drafting him in 2017.

29. Speaking of the Steelers, they became the first team in NFL history to acquire two quarterbacks in the same offseason that were each coming off of seasons with 20 or more total touchdowns in former Denver Bronco Russell Wilson and former Chicago Bear Justin Fields.

30. Pittsburgh was the first team in NFL history to finish with a winning record but also negative point differential in three consecutive seasons. They were outscored by 55 points in 2021 (finished 9-7-1), outscored by 38 points in 2022 (finished 9-8) and outscored by 20 points in 2023 (finished 10-7).

31. The Steelers can tie the Dallas Cowboys with a record 21 consecutive seasons without a losing record, something Tom Landry’s Cowboys accomplished from from the 1965 to 1985 seasons. Seventeen of Pittsburgh’s 20 such seasons during the streak have come under current head coach Mike Tomlin, which is the third-longest streak ever for a head coach.

HOUSTON

Four of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

32. The Houston Texans are the first team in NFL history to add a player coming off a season with 100-plus catches (Stefon Diggs), 1,000-plus rushing yards (Joe Mixon) and 10-plus sacks (Danielle Hunter & Denico Autry) in the same offseason.

33. Houston went all in on surrounding 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback C.J. Stroud and 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr., the fourth pair of teammates to win both Offensive and Defensive rookie of the year in the same season with this talent.

34. Stroud played like an NFL MVP as a rookie, leading the NFL in touchdown-to-interception ratio (23-5) and passing yards per game (273.9). That production put him in a club with 2007 NFL MVP quarterback Tom Brady and 1989 NFL MVP quarterback Joe Montana as the only three players in the last 50 seasons, minimum 10 starts, to lead the league outright in both such metrics.

– – –

Charles McDonald of YahooSports.com says the key to the further ascension of the Texans is defensive growth:

There might not be a team with more buzz and excitement this season than the Houston Texans. It’s easy to why: C.J. Stroud.

Stroud was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL as a rookie, and his season was so impressive that the Texans immediately entered “win now” mode. They made trades for Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon this offseason and retained the services of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who interviewed for several head coaching jobs.

Houston’s offense should be a great unit barring injury, but it won’t dictate the success of the entire season. For the Texans to get past teams like the Ravens and Chiefs in the playoffs, the defense needs to make a big improvement in Year 2 under head coach DeMeco Ryans.

In terms of coaching, the Texans shouldn’t be worried about where they are. Ryans is one of the more creative and well-renowned defensive minds in the league and got big seasons out of young players like Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr. The Texans’ youth and overall lack of depth (this team did go 3-13-1 in 2022) hurt them at times, but the framework for a sustainably good defense is there. They were about an average defense in 2023, which should be somewhat encouraging considering where they were prior to Ryans’ hire. To be fair to the Texans, they did add veteran star edge rusher Danielle Hunter, who should make a hellacious pass rushing duo with Anderson.

There are some points of concern for the Texans — especially through the defense’s spine. The interior line doesn’t appear to have any difference makers, even though that position group is filled with veteran talent. The linebacker room was inconsistent last year, but the Texans will be rolling with the combination of Azeez Al-Shaair, Christian Harris, and Henry To’oTo’o. If just one of those players significantly improves from last year, it would be a huge, needed boost for the Texans’ defense.

Houston’s cornerback room should raise eyebrows as well. Stingley is one of the best corners in the NFL. That position is locked in. After Stingley, the Texans are likely looking at rookie Kamari Lassiter and Desmond King to man down the other spots. Both have the profile of slot defenders, so it’ll be interesting to see how they decide to deploy those two considering the overlap in their skills. There isn’t much depth behind those three, so Houston will need a good fortune of health because there’s a severe talent dropoff in the position group.

This is the year Ryans will really prove himself as a talent developer. There’s a lot of potential here, but at the very least the Texans should be able to rack up sacks and turnovers due to their roster’s top-end talent. Down-to-down performance might need work, but that’s where Ryans can put his mark on this defense.

INDIANAPOLIS

One of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

35. Stroud’s AFC South rival and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson might have pushed him for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors had he stayed healthy. Prior to suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 5, Richardson became one of four players in NFL history with three-plus passing touchdowns and three-plus rushing touchdowns in their first four career games, joining Daunte Culpepper (2000), Cam Newton (2011) and Robert Griffin III (2012).

TENNESSEE

One of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

36. Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis is many things, but he’s certainly not lacking in confidence. His four passing touchdowns in Week 8 were tied for the most in NFL debut ever, but he then ended up throwing only four touchdowns the rest of the season (eight starts. His 10.3 air yards per pass attempt were the most in the NFL, showing a comfort in going deep, but he didn’t connect often as his 58.4% completion percentage was the worst in the entire league.

BUFFALO

Three of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:’

10. The Bills are the first team in NFL history to lose a player with 100+ receptions (Stefon Diggs) and a player with 10+ sacks (Leonard Floyd) from the previous season in the same offseason. Their 48 wins are tied for the second-most in any four-season span without a Super Bowl trip, trailing only the 49 by the 2017-2020 New Orleans Saints.

11. Buffalo has led the NFL in scoring offense (28.6 PPG) and scoring defense (19.1 PPG allowed) in the 2020’s, making them the first team since the 1990-1993 San Francisco 49ers to lead the NFL in those metrics across a four-year span. Those 49ers didn’t make a Super Bowl in that four season stretch, but they did break through for their latest Vince Lombardi trophy in 1994.

12. The driving reason behind the Bills’ high-level play the last four years is quarterback Josh Allen and his 173 passing plus rushing touchdowns, the most in a four-season span in NFL history, breaking the previous record of 167 set by future Hall of Famer Drew Brees from 2011-2014.

MIAMI

Three of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

13. No team has a longer active playoff win drought than the Miami Dolphins, who last won a playoff game in the 2000 season. Miami is one of only three teams in the Super Bowl era, since 1966, with consecutive seasons averaging over six yards per play on offense and no playoff wins to show for it, joining the 2010-2011 San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.

14. A big issue for Miami is their performance against playoff teams. They went 1-6 against teams that made the postseason in 2023 with the sole win being a two-point victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16, a game they won on a field goal as time expired. The Dolphins, who wen 10-1 in all other games, registered a -110 point differential against playoff teams, the second-worst ever by a team to make the postseason along with the 1994 Chicago Bears (-112 point differential).

15. Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill is the first player in NFL history with multiple seasons of 1,700 receiving yards, and he has done so in each of his first two years with the Dolphins in 2022 and 2023.

NEW ENGLAND

One of Garrett Podell’s 50 Things To Know:

16. The New England Patriots hired former Bill Belichick assistant and linebacker Jerod Mayo as their new head coach, making him the 11th former Belichick assistant to become a full-time NFL head coach. The previous 10 combined to go 223-310-2 in the regular season, while totaling only 3 playoff wins (2 by Bill O Brien, 1 by Brian Daboll). Only O’Brien (52-48) and Al Groh (9-7) have a career record above .500.

NEW YORK JETS

3 of Garrett Podell’s 50 Facts:

17. The New York Jets missed the playoffs for the 13th season in a row in 2023, tied for the longest active streak among teams in the MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL. However, that could change if future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers is healthy in 2024. Without Rodgers, New York’s 18 offensive touchdowns were the fewest by any team since the 2012 Kansas City Chiefs.

18. The Jets defense allowed the fewest yards/play (4.6) and the third-fewest total yards per game (292.3) in the NFL last season. Rodgers will hope to join Tom Brady in becoming the second 40-year-old quarterback ever to throw 30 or more touchdowns in a season, something Brady did three times.

19. If he returns to that level, Rodgers will become the fifth quarterback ever to have 500 career passing touchdowns, something he is 25 passing touchdowns away from accomplishing, sitting at 475.

THIS AND THAT

TOP 10 NFL RECEIVERS

Per ESPN’s secret panel as compiled by Jeremy Fowler:

With 2024 NFL training camps on the horizon, it is again time for the league’s true insiders to make their voices heard. ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This is the fifth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players have moved up or fallen off last year’s lists.

The competition at wide receiver knows no rival.

The NFL’s deepest position breeds new stars every year. Greatness can come from anywhere. This year’s top 10 features a bevy of former first-rounders — and three gems from the fourth and fifth rounds of years past.

Putting up 1,000 yards isn’t enough to crack the elite. Twenty-seven different receivers surpassed that threshold just last season. Fittingly, 28 players earned at least one vote from league scouts, execs and coaches in this year’s Top 10 wide receivers, which featured a cheetah racing for the top spot.

In fact, 1,400 yards might not get you in the honorable mention on this list, which left out plenty of big-money stars.

Let’s look at some of the game’s top wideouts as ranked by sources around the NFL.

1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 3

Age: 25 | Last year’s ranking: 1

Jefferson is the wideout king for the second consecutive year despite a “down” year, by his standards, courtesy of a hamstring injury that cost him seven games.

But even Jefferson’s 10-game output — 68 catches for 1,074 yards and five scores — is better than most over 17 games.

“He’s the best route runner in all of football in my opinion,” an NFL wide receivers coach said.

Jefferson’s historic pace through four seasons places him on an early Hall of Fame track. Since his 2020 debut, Jefferson leads all receivers in yards per game (98.4) and most 100-yard games (29).

Nearly 37% of his catches went for 20-plus yards in 2023, one of the top clips in the NFL.

“Play speed. Constant production. Instincts. Elite hands. Do-it-all route runner,” a high-ranking personnel man with an NFL team said.

2. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 4

Age: 30 | Last year’s ranking: 4

Hill has been a revelation for Miami.

His 3,509 receiving yards since joining the Dolphins in 2022 leads the NFL during that span. After falling short of a 1,500-yard season over six years in Kansas City, Hill now has back-to-back 1,700-yard campaigns to his name.

Last year, Hill was well outside of the top three in our voting. This year, he pushed Jefferson for the top spot, with more than 25% of the first-place votes.

The reason is simple: He wrecks a game plan.

“His speed changes your preparation and how you have to play defense,” an NFC executive said. “Only a few people on earth can do that.”

Hill led the NFL in drops (10), but his elite playmaking helps offset that. And he handles a massive workload, leading the NFL with a 38.1% target share off routes run.

Will Hill hit a wall in his 30s?

“He’s just so freaking different, man,” a veteran AFC coach said. ” I cannot see him getting slower but for injuries. He’s been so durable, so maybe his age shows with a few more nicks and bruises and he’s not 100% as often, but as far as his speed and quickness I can see him running fast to age 34 easily. Him slowing down just doesn’t compute to me.”

3. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 5

Age: 24 | Last year’s ranking: 3

Chase occupies a mystifying space in the receiver pantheon. Not many players scare defensive coordinators more than Chase, who can break a big play at any time.

But he hasn’t followed up his stellar rookie performance with a signature season, which both receivers ahead of him have. He got more No. 1 consideration last year than in 2024, when Hill overtook him.

He’s still clearly in Tier 1, with a big drop-off in voting after the top three.

“He’s still the league’s best vertical threat and yards-after-catch player,” a veteran NFL coordinator said. “The fear factor with him is thick.”

Maybe Chase’s 100-catch, 1,216-yard season should be commended because of Cincinnati’s quarterback upheaval. Joe Burrow began and ended the year unhealthy, and backup Jake Browning was not Burrow’s equal but performed admirably in seven starts.

Chase is the first Bengals player with a streak of three or more 1,000-yard receiving seasons since A.J. Green (2011-15). Chase did that despite missing five games due to injury in 2022.

But that rookie explosion of 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns raised the expectations.

“I think Chase is proof of how much targets, volume and QB play can affect even the best receivers,” an AFC scout said. “Chase’s play didn’t fall off at all. He’s in his prime.”

4. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: 10

Age: 25 | Last year’s ranking: 10

Our NFL polling group called its shot with Lamb.

Lamb cracked last year’s top 10, earning the 10th spot over the likes of Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans and Tee Higgins.

He validated that faith with a resounding performance, becoming the first Cowboys receiver with 1,700 or more yards in a season. He led the NFL in receptions (135) and finished second behind Hill in yards (1,749) despite constant attention from defenses as the No. 1 option.

Eighty of Lamb’s catches went for a first down, the second most in the NFL.

“He was able to move around the formation more this year, specifically outside, and he consistently won in critical situations over the course of the year,” an NFL scouting director said. “He proved to be a do-it-all receiver. Has great hands and outstanding pace to his routes and setup that gives defensive backs problems.”

Lamb is at his best with the ball in his hands, leading the NFL with 680 yards after the catch.

5. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked

Age: 31 | Last year’s ranking: 2

Adams was our back-to-back No. 1 in 2021-22 and finished No. 2 behind Jefferson last year.

The drop to No. 5 isn’t all his fault. Adams has played with five different starting quarterbacks since joining Las Vegas via trade in 2022, as multiple voters pointed out.

And he’s on a Hall of Fame track, with his 95 touchdown receptions since 2015 the most among NFL players over that stretch.

But his 11.1 yards per reception last season was his lowest average since 2015.

“He’s still a blue-chipper,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “Still can win on the outside and get you tough yards. But you wonder what you’re getting from him next year with the quarterback situation unsettled.”

Adams will be catching passes from second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell or veteran free agent signing Gardner Minshew next year.

“Still really good but failed to make a few plays I’ve seen him make and it seemed he was playing through a few nicks and bruises at the end,” an AFC offensive coach said.

6. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked

Age: 26 | Last year’s ranking: 7

Brown fought Lamb and Adams for the top five but didn’t record enough Tier 1 votes for consideration.

Regardless, he’s a matchup nightmare who’s the only Philadelphia receiver to post back-to-back 1,400-yard receiving seasons in his first two years as an Eagle. The last to do so in one season was Mike Quick in 1983.

“Rare blend of excellent size, athleticism and skill,” an AFC exec said. “That’s why the Eagles have paid him twice.”

Eagles GM Howie Roseman traded for Brown in the 2022 NFL draft, gave him a four-year, $100 million contract, then doubled down with a three-year, $96 million extension in April.

“Other receivers might be better all-around but if you need to win one-on-one on a slot fade or a slant, [Brown] can play through contact and makes contested catches better than just about anyone,” an NFL personnel evaluator said.

7. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked

Age: 24 | Last year’s ranking: Honorable mention

St. Brown famously watched 16 receivers get drafted ahead of him in 2021. From that group, only Chase has more receiving yards than St. Brown, whose Year 3 breakout vaulted him from the honorable mention category to Tier 2 alongside Lamb, Adams and Brown.

“Has elite football instincts for the position,” an NFL coordinator said. “Understands how to attack leverage. Runs hard every play. Plays inside and outside. Makes all the tough catches on high-leverage downs. Blocks, plays physical. The only thing he doesn’t do is win outside the red line [close to the sideline], but that’s not how the game works anyway.”

St. Brown’s 13 games with 100-plus receiving yards the past two seasons is tied for the third most in the NFL during that span.

St. Brown connected with quarterback Jared Goff for 1,515 yards in 2023, the fourth most in a season in Lions history, behind Calvin Johnson (twice) and Herman Moore. He recorded two drops on 165 targets.

This work earned St. Brown a massive four-year, $120 million extension this offseason.

The biggest issue with St. Brown is size (6-foot, 202 pounds), but he plays big.

“He’s really tough,” an NFC offensive coach said. “You know where the ball is going on third down and he’s usually coming up with it.”

One NFC executive countered: “That scheme and what [offensive coordinator] Ben Johnson has done makes him look really good. Not taking anything away from him, but he’s more dependent on the scheme than some of the other receivers on this list.”

8. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked

Age: 30 | Last year’s ranking: Honorable mention

Evans’ fall to honorable mention last season turned out to be an aberration. In 2023, Evans posted his fourth career season of 1,200-plus yards and led the NFL in touchdowns with 13.

“He still commands a double-team, he still can bully corners at the line of scrimmage or downfield, still makes tough catches,” an NFL personnel man said. “He’s been atop the Bucs’ game plan on who to stop for a decade.”

Evans’ nine drops were less than ideal, but he does just about everything else well, from red zone efficiency to physical plays on go balls.

The Bucs did a good job managing Evans’ workload to keep him fresh. He played 78.2% of Tampa’s snaps (863), less than receiving mate Chris Godwin (892).

“He’s been one of the most consistent players of the last decade, with uneven quarterback play,” an AFC scout said.

9. Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans

Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked

Age: 30 | Last year’s ranking: 6

One of the most polarizing figures on this list, Diggs’ presence — and complicated legacy — leaves voters torn.

He’s been one of the most electric coverage-beating receivers of the last half-decade, a player who elevated the play of Josh Allen in Buffalo with toughness and timely catches in traffic. His 445 receptions over four seasons with the Bills led the NFL.

But his production took a serious dip in the back half of 2023, when he failed to surpass 35 yards in six of his last 10 games, including playoffs. And he’s now worn out his welcome in two spots, Minnesota and Buffalo.

Some evaluators say the dip was a byproduct of Buffalo’s transition to a run-oriented attack. He still led the NFL in tight-window receptions (17).

“He still has some left in the tank and [I] didn’t see a dip in his overall ability,” an AFC executive said.

Not everyone agrees.

“I saw a little decline — I think his vertical speed has tapered off a bit,” another AFC exec said.

Diggs is now a Houston Texan. The team reworked his contract so that he’s a free agent in 2025. The pressure is on.

“I question the fit in Houston,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “They’ve already got plenty in the passing game with Nico Collins and Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz. And you wonder how his personality fits with a young nucleus.”

10. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked

Age: 26 | Last year’s ranking: Unranked

Aiyuk won a tiebreaker with Rams receiver Cooper Kupp thanks to his breakout 1,342-yard season in 2023.

Aiyuk has come a long way from starting his career in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse due to inconsistencies as a rookie. He’s worked his way into premier status.

“More downfield production, huge jump in yards per catch, quietly has almost 300 [career] catches,” said an NFL executive who voted Aiyuk top-three. “Excels as a blocker. Lower body ability is as good as anyone.”

Aiyuk, who has 269 career catches through four seasons, upped his yards per catch from 14.8 to 17.9 in 2023, trailing only George Pickens (18.1). More than 37% of his receptions went for 20-plus yards, tops in the NFL (minimum 100 targets).

In a loaded 49ers offense, Aiyuk has emerged as the top target with 218 targets, far ahead of Deebo Samuel (181) and George Kittle (176).

“Premier route runner with open-field juice,” an NFL personnel evaluator said.

Honorable mentions

Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams: Kupp ranks fourth in Rams history with 7,066 receiving yards. He’s been hampered by injuries the past two seasons but is still productive. “Hasn’t been quite the same as the player from that triple crown season (2021) but still a high-level player — will have a lower target share with emergence of Puka [Nacua],” an AFC executive said.

Deebo Samuel Sr., San Francisco 49ers: Still one of the best playmakers in all of football, averaging 8.8 yards after catch per reception, leading the field. “Durability has been a bit of a concern, but he’s the ultimate weapon,” an AFC exec said.

Garrett Wilson, New York Jets: Managed back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons despite anemic quarterback play. Could experience his true breakout with Aaron Rodgers healthy. “I think he’s the next young star,” an NFL personnel director said.

Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins: Remarkably consistent with 3,385 yards through his first three NFL seasons despite the presence of Hill as the No. 1 option. “Elite speed and an underrated route runner,” an NFL offensive coach said.

DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles: Similar to Waddle — an elite No. 2 with No. 1 abilities, a sure bet for 1,000 yards each year. “So smooth. Could be a No. 1 somewhere,” an NFC scout said. “Has held up physically, which was the knock on him coming out.

Nico Collins, Houston Texans: Breakout 1,297-yard season earned him a $72.75 million extension. “He’s awesome — combo of size, speed and RAC ability,” an AFC scout said.

Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns: Posted 1,250 yards with four different quarterbacks. His 14.22 air yards per target led the league among receivers with a minimum of 100 targets. “His game has aged well,” an NFC scout said. “Consummate pro. Always a good route runner.”

DJ Moore, Chicago Bears: An underrated playmaker with four 1,000-yard seasons despite uneven quarterback play throughout his career. Gave Chicago a bona fide No. 1 option with 1,364 yards in 2023. “Has the ability to take a game completely over,” an NFL executive said.

Also receiving votes: DK Metcalf (Seattle Seahawks), Keenan Allen (Chicago Bears), Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders), Calvin Ridley (Tennessee Titans), Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals), Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams), George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers), Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints), Michael Pittman Jr., (Indianapolis Colts), DeAndre Hopkins (Tennessee Titans), Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos)