| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOQB CALEB WILLIAMS sent a special gift to Rome to a favorite son of Chicago. Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com: Pope Leo XIV added a new item to his collection of Chicago sports memorabilia. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams sent an autographed jersey to Leo, a Chicago native and the first American-born pope in the history of the Catholic Church. The jersey was gifted through Williams’ Caleb Cares foundation and presented to Leo by Brian Burch, the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, on July 4. Williams inscribed his No. 18 with “AMDG,” which stands for “Ad majorem Dei gloriam,” a Latin phrase that translates to “For the greater glory of God.” It is a nod to Williams’ high school, Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., which was founded by the Jesuits in 1821. Williams shared the photo of Leo and Burch on his Instagram story with the caption “shoutout DAAAA POPEEEE.” The white jersey with orange numbers are uniforms not typically worn by the Bears, which could be an early look at Chicago’s Nike “Rivalries” alternate uniforms that teams from the NFC North and AFC South will don during the 2026 season. Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost, has a close connection to his hometown Chicago sports teams. He was in attendance for Game 1 of the 2005 World Series between the White Sox and Houston Astros and received the ball from the final out from former Chicago catcher A.J. Pierzynski last month. He has also been gifted a signed Paul Konerko jersey and a bat used by White Sox great Nellie Fox. Williams’ No. 18 isn’t the only Bears jersey in Leo’s collection. The pope was gifted a custom Bears jersey from U.S. Vice President JD Vance days after being elected by the College of Cardinals during the 2025 papal conclave. He also received a Chicago Bulls jersey with No. 14 and “Pope Leo” on the name plate from Bulls radio broadcaster Chuck Swirsky in November. |
| DETROITReported criminal mastermind CB TERRION ARNOLD is now a free agent. ESPN.com: Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold, who is facing legal issues in Florida, cleared waivers Monday and has become a free agent. Arnold, released by the Lions last week after he was arrested on felony charges of armed robbery and kidnapping, is expected to visit NFL teams that have expressed an interest in signing him. Arnold was released from custody last Tuesday after he posted bond, which had been set at $1 million by Hillsborough County Judge Christopher Sabella in Tampa, Florida. He also added, as conditions of the ruling, that Arnold is not allowed contact with the six co-defendants or the witnesses in the case, and he was ordered confined to his residence in Tallahassee, Florida, except when he would be playing, training and traveling with an NFL team, or making court-related appearances or legal appointments. He also was forced to surrender his passport within 48 hours. Arnold, 23, turned himself in on June 24. Authorities accused him of orchestrating the abduction and beating of three men whom prosecutors believe he wrongly suspected of having stolen luxury goods and $100,000 in cash from him. According to prosecutors, the victims were abducted three days after cash and luxury items, including Rolex watches and Louis Vuitton bags, were reported stolen from Arnold at an Airbnb rental in the Tampa area. Prosecutors say that six of Arnold’s associates carried out the crimes by holding, beating and pistol-whipping the victims and that Arnold wasn’t there at the time. The Lions selected Arnold in the first round of the 2024 draft out of Alabama. He was scheduled to start on the outside opposite D.J. Reed before his release from the team. He had two years and $4.8 million remaining on his rookie contract. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| TAMPA BAYThe Buccaneers are in no rush to spend money on QB BAKER MAYFIELD and DT VITA VEA. Mike Florio: Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said early last month that he and the team were not close to an agreement on a new contract and that “we’re not doing contract stuff” after the start of training camp. The Bucs report to camp on July 28 and there doesn’t appear to be much change in where things stand for Mayfield. Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that “a lot of work needs to be done” before any agreement is reached with the quarterback. That is also reportedly the case for defensive tackle Vita Vea, who did not participate in the team’s minicamp practices as he moves into the final year of his contract. Mayfield is in the third year of a three-year, $100 million deal while Vea is set to make $17 million during the 2026 season. Garafolo adds that the Bucs feel “no rush” to wrap up negotiations with either player at the moment. That urgency could grow with the window before camp getting shorter, but it remains to be seen if all involved will find the middle ground needed to reach the finish line.– – -Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com does a nice series of team previews, counting them from 32 to 1. We’ve been remiss so far in including them, but here is #22: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked pretty good halfway through last season. The Buccaneers had some key injuries early on but thanks to some thrilling, close wins, they were on track to overcome them and take off over the second half. They were the rare team to beat the Seahawks, and did so in Seattle. Tampa Bay also won at Houston and beat the 49ers by 11 points. After beating the Saints 23-3 they went into their Week 9 bye at 6-2 with a two-game lead in the division. And they were getting some impact players back from injury (though other injuries were coming, which happens in the NFL). That’s what made the second half of the season so perplexing. The Buccaneers were supposed to run away with the division. They instead fell apart. Tampa Bay’s collapse was as bad as any in recent memory. The Buccaneers lost seven of their first eight games after the bye. The low point came on a Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons when Tampa Bay blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. Atlanta had a third-and-28 and then fourth-and-14 late in the game and the Bucs couldn’t get a stop to win the game. Tampa Bay beat Carolina in the regular-season finale but due to a three-team tiebreaker, the Panthers won the division at 8-9. The flop was so bad that there was speculation Mike Evans, one of the greatest and most popular players in franchise history, left in free agency for the 49ers because of head coach Todd Bowles, who was retained despite Tampa Bay blowing one of the worst divisions in NFL history. General manager Jason Licht said that had “zero to do with” Evans leaving. “I feel pretty strongly that — I’ve seen that theory — but that’s not it,” Licht said, via ESPN’s Jenna Laine. Even if Evans leaving had nothing to do with dissatisfaction with Bowles, that it needed to be addressed speaks to the complete failure of Bowles and the Buccaneers last season. Bowles should have one of the hottest seats in the NFL this season. There is still plenty of blue-chip talent on the roster. The offensive line has elite players. Receivers Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin have played at a high level, running back Bucky Irving had a great rookie season (but now has concerning injury questions), Vita Vea is a stalwart in the middle of the defensive line and Antoine Winfield Jr. is one of the best safeties in the NFL. Baker Mayfield played at a Pro Bowl level in 2024, though he was a major reason for the 2025 crash. If we could trust the Buccaneers to play to their talent level, they would rank higher on this list. They play in the NFC South, which in 2025 became one of five divisions in NFL history to send a losing team to the playoffs. They have the type of team that should win the division by multiple games, and be a potential problem in the playoffs. But after how last season ended, it’s hard to count on the Buccaneers taking advantage of the talent they have on hand. Offseason gradeThe Buccaneers said goodbye to two franchise icons. Receiver Mike Evans left in free agency to San Francisco and linebacker Lavonte David retired. Even though Evans dealt with injuries last season, he and David were still producing at a high level. Alex Anzalone was signed to help replace David, and defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson and running back Kenneth Gainwell were the other big-ticket free-agent additions. The Buccaneers had a big loss when cornerback Jamel Dean signed a three-year, $36.75 million deal with the Steelers. Tampa Bay didn’t add anyone to help replace him. The Buccaneers were fortunate in the draft when edge defender Rueben Bain Jr. tumbled all the way to them at No. 15. That was a perfect matchup of value and need and an easy pick. It was a ho-hum offseason in Tampa, but the Bain pick could end up making it a good one. Grade: C+ Quarterback reportBaker Mayfield wasn’t the only reason the Buccaneers went 2-7 in the second half of the season. It was a team-wide effort. But Mayfield’s play was much worse in the second half. The offense as a whole was a mess, which is a reason the Buccaneers fired coordinator Josh Grizzard and replaced him with Zac Robinson. That might help. But Mayfield, who has had his share of ups and downs through his career, now has to prove that his 2024 career year was closer to his true level. Various injuries, most notably a left shoulder injury, likely affected Mayfield’s play last season. As did the lack of continuity around him due to teammates’ injuries through the season. Whatever the reason, the Buccaneers can’t afford to have Mayfield play like he did in the second half of last season. Odds breakdownFrom Yahoo’s Ben Fawkes: “The Bucs are still the betting favorite (+175) to win the NFC South and own the highest win total (8.5) in the division, but it certainly feels as though the division has tightened from a talent level across the four teams. Tampa Bay was the NFL’s worst team against the spread last season (5-12 ATS), including a putrid 2-8 ATS as a favorite. The Bucs are favored in nine games, but only four by more than a field goal. How much first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. can improve Tampa Bay’s pass rush, could be the key to another playoff appearance.” Yahoo’s fantasy takeFrom Yahoo’s Scott Pianowski: “Emeka Egbuka had a fast start and a sluggish finish as a rookie last year, though a hamstring injury dogged him down the stretch. But circle him as a possible breakout player this season. Mike Evans is gone and Chris Godwin Jr. is now 30 — it makes sense for Tampa Bay to center its passing game around Egbuka. The current Egbuka ADP is a gift — you’ll find him just outside the top 50 in early Yahoo drafts. Stat to rememberThe Buccaneers didn’t have enough pass rush juice from the edge last season, which was a big factor in their defense being below average. YaYa Diaby had a nice season off the edge with seven sacks but no other edge rusher had more than three. Haason Reddick was brought in last season to help off the edge; he had just 2.5 sacks. This offseason Tampa Bay signed Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had 11 sacks with the Lions to help out. But Muhammad had just 15 sacks in his previous seven NFL seasons. That’s why Rueben Bain Jr. falling to the Buccaneers was so fortuitous. Bain started the draft process as a potential top five pick, but fell due to arm length that is shorter than usual for a pass rusher and perhaps also because he was part of a fatal 2024 car crash. The Buccaneers weren’t terrible on defense last season, finishing 18th in DVOA and slightly below average in most other categories. But the defense did blow several second-half leads and was a major reason the team missed the playoffs. Getting a pass rush from the edge is necessary if the Buccaneers want to improve their defensive numbers. Burning question: Can Bucky Irving bounce back?Irving, who had an outstanding rookie season at running back, had a rocky second season. His yards per carry went from 5.4 to 3.4 and he missed seven games due to injuries. He had foot and shoulder injuries, which probably affected his production late in the season when he returned. And head coach Todd Bowles’ offseason update on Irving’s status wasn’t great. “He’s coming along fine,” Bowles said in late May. “He’s working out, he’s rough. We expect him sometime back in the summer or the fall and we look forward to him when he gets back.” “Summer or the fall” is a very wide range for a return. Not being able to definitively say he’ll be back before fall is concerning. The Buccaneers signed Kenneth Gainwell, who can carry the running game if Irving isn’t ready for Week 1. Even if Irving is back for the season opener, Gainwell will help keep him fresh. Irving looked like a potential star for the Buccaneers a year ago, and now there are a lot of questions about him going into his third season. Best-case scenarioFrom the Buccaneers’ bye week in 2024 to their bye in 2025, they were 12-3. We’ve seen this group play at a very high level. If injuries were the reason for last season’s second-half swoon, that shouldn’t repeat. There’s enough star power up and down the roster, particularly on offense, to run away with a bad division. A lot has to go right, starting with Baker Mayfield playing like he did in 2024 and the first half of 2025. But there’s a reason the Buccaneers are the betting favorite to win the NFC South. They have the best roster in the division. There’s potential for the Buccaneers to be more than an eight- or nine-win team and win the NFL’s worst division. They could even win a game or two in the playoffs if they hit their peak. Nightmare scenarioWhen the Buccaneers were 4-1 to start last season, all of their wins were by three points or less. The four wins were by a total of nine points. If that luck went the other way, we could be talking about the Buccaneers coming off a 12- or 13-loss season. Even with that early luck in close games they couldn’t finish over .500. Baker Mayfield has been a great story, but there was also a reason his career as a starter was hanging on by a thread before the Buccaneers signed him to a scant $4 million deal in 2023. He’s up and down, and if there’s another down season the Bucs will have some questions about what to do at quarterback. The defense’s ceiling probably doesn’t sniff the top 10 of the NFL, which means Tampa Bay’s offense needs to have a big rebound. If the Buccaneers don’t win the NFC South, they might have to retool next offseason and that would likely include moving on from Todd Bowles as head coach. The stakes are high for many Buccaneers this season. The crystal ball saysIt’s hard to buy into the Buccaneers again. I was very high on them before last season after a strong finish to 2024, and that fell apart with a putrid second half to the season. But the Buccaneers have the highest upside of any team in the NFC South. A season with better health should help their offense, and Baker Mayfield in particular. Tampa Bay’s defense won’t be great, but good enough. I’m not repeating the mistake of being too high on the Buccaneers for this season, but they’ll win the NFC South and do so with a winning record. That’s not too much to ask. As you can see, Schwab has the Bucs highest among the four NFC South teams – but only at #22: Other NFL team previews: 32. Dolphins 31. Jets30. Cardinals 29. Browns28. Titans 27. Raiders 26. Falcons 25. Giants 24. Saints 23. Panthers 22. Buccaneers |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDNick Baumgardner of The Athletic takes a look at QB SHADEUR SANDERS on film in 2025. Purely from a football standpoint, Shedeur Sanders deserved to be more than a fifth-round prospect. As Sanders found out, however, not a single player in the league is viewed “purely from a football standpoint” when it comes to the NFL Draft. Sanders infamously endured a wild 2025 draft weekend that saw him fall much further than even his strongest pre-draft critics felt possible, all the way to No. 144 — he was the sixth QB selected. Sanders then spent his rookie season inside a strange Cleveland quarterback room that featured veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, along with fellow rookies Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green. Through it all, the former Colorado star still earned seven starts, and despite being the second of Cleveland’s quarterback selections in the 2025 draft, he proved to be the best young passer on the roster. Whether that means anything for his future remains to be seen. Before Sanders makes a potential run at pushing Deshaun Watson for the Browns’ starting gig in 2026, let’s unpack exactly how he performed as a rookie and figure out what type of NFL future might be in store for him. Rookie breakdownSanders should have been drafted toward the end of the third round of the ’25 draft. Ironically enough, that’s exactly where Cleveland selected Gabriel (No. 94 pick) — a player who carried more of an “undrafted” grade. At 6 feet 1 and 212 pounds, Sanders relied most in college on his arm efficiency and escapability. He’s an extremely polished, natural thrower who probably could’ve further followed in his father’s footsteps and been a good baseball player on some level. Sanders was one of the most accurate quarterbacks in college football over his final two seasons, and he carried that into the NFL. Among the 32 rookie starters since 2020, Sanders finished ninth (10.1 percent) in off-target rate. He also showed strong anticipatory skills in college, from the pocket and on the move, and flashed that ability last season. He ranked third among rookie starters since 2020 in yards per attempt between the numbers (8.55). Athletically, Shedeur Sanders is not his father (no one is). But you can absolutely tell he is Deion Sanders’ kid when you see his athletic instinct in tight spaces and his ability to smoothly deliver on the move. Like everything in his life, Shedeur’s football background is unique. His father not only was his head coach throughout college, but he also served as his offensive coordinator in high school. Every offense Sanders played in from high school through college was, more or less, designed to accentuate his strengths — quick-game and RPO situations, a lot of spread and plenty of freedom to freelance. His rookie year in Cleveland was truly the first time Sanders had to operate an actual pro-style offense that forced him to play on time and with consistent feet. He threw for 1,400 yards (56.6 percent completions), seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in seven starts, while playing on one of the league’s worst teams. His -.25 EPA/attempt (per TruMedia) ranked 26th among the 32 rookie starters since 2020 (tied with Gabriel); he ranked No. 1 in pressure rate (55.3 percent). Where he struggledThe biggest flaw in Sanders’ game remains the same: His instinct isn’t to play on time with the offense, it’s to play on “Shedeur Sanders time.” One of the biggest challenges for NFL quarterbacks is reading through an entire pass progression in just two and a half to three seconds. If a QB pops up looking to throw too early, none of his routes are going to be ready; if he’s too late, he’s going to miss previously open targets. This is why you hear so much from scouts and analysts about “footwork” — a quarterback has to be able to read through a five-step drop progression by the time he springs up from that fifth step or nothing is going to work. Sanders’ footwork remains inconsistent, but processing from the pocket was his biggest problem as a rookie starter. He tended to be either too indecisive or in search of the fastest possible outlet, regardless of the coverage. As noted above, Sanders had success over the middle last season. However, that doesn’t mean he was always confident operating there. Here’s an example of a potential layered throw that could have been dropped between defenders into a tight window — a throw Sanders is capable of making: Instead of coming up on time and confidently throwing the ball, he hitches, stalls and sort of freaks out. He’s not sure if he wants that shot over those linebackers and takes too long to decide, ultimately leading to a sack. Plenty of the sacks Sanders took last season were his fault (which was also a problem in college). He either got stuck on reads and bailed early or got lost and tried to fade backward, all of which stemmed from indecisive play in the pocket. He didn’t always trust his eyes or his play study, which led to a ton of off-platform plays that usually went nowhere. This is the worst part of his game, and it’s been that way since he first emerged as a prospect. Among NFL rookie starters since 2020, Sanders ranked dead last in average time to throw (3.20 seconds). There are supremely gifted passers, such as Caleb Williams or Josh Allen, who can live like that and consistently survive. Sanders simply is not among them. He cannot play that way and have a sustained NFL career, even as a backup. Sanders simply has to be better about playing within the structure of a pass concept, which means he has to be the best-prepared quarterback on his roster. He’s neither big enough nor talented enough to play with the margin for error he allows himself. This isn’t jazz — he needs to worry more about what’s designed for him. Where he thrivedNo one inside Cleveland’s offense can really claim to have “thrived” in 2025, but Sanders did have his flashes. Despite taking a lot of hits last year, Sanders — as he did in college — displayed an above-average aptitude for sensing the rush and, at times, smoothly and efficiently evading it. When he’s playing fast, he’s usually at his best. It doesn’t always work out, as he’ll sometimes use open space on a rollout as an excuse to freelance, but Sanders looked very comfortable as time went on last year delivering catchable and accurate throws on the move. Quite frankly, Sanders’ entire game versus the Tennessee Titans showed that he is capable of being a solid No. 2 NFL quarterback, at the very least. The Titans were terrible last season, but so were the Browns, and Sanders went 23-for-42 passing for 364 yards, three touchdowns (plus a rushing TD) and a pick in a narrow loss. Bottom lineWhen I see Shedeur Sanders the hopeful media tycoon, I see the son of an icon. When I see Shedeur Sanders the quarterback, I see Andy Dalton or Teddy Bridgewater. He’s not necessarily a year-to-year starter in today’s NFL, but he does look like a very capable thrower who, if his grasp of NFL offenses and defensive speed continues to improve, can be a reliable backup for a long time. He projects as the type of backup who can hold the fort for a few weeks if a starter gets hurt. The Browns had a strange draft in 2025. I still don’t understand taking Gabriel ahead of Sanders, but Sanders showed on the field last year that he is the keeper of that duo. Whether Cleveland starts Watson this season or drafts a future star early in 2027 (or both), there’s still a role for Sanders in Cleveland — and in the NFL at large. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| GUILTY OF MURDERWe don’t know how we missed this until now, but a former Titans scout is found guilty of murder by poison. ESPN.com: Blaise Taylor, a former defensive back at Arkansas State and NFL scout for the Tennessee Titans, was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend and her unborn child Wednesday in a Nashville, Tennessee, courtroom. The jury recommended a sentence of life in prison for Taylor, who will be formally sentenced Sept. 9. Taylor, who was arrested in 2024, was accused of poisoning girlfriend Jade Benning’s pink lemonade with cocaine in February 2023. Benning died March 6, 2023, on her 25th birthday, and her 5-month-old fetus, which Taylor is believed to have fathered, died on Feb. 27, 2023. Benning was rushed to the hospital on Feb. 25, 2023, after Taylor called 911, saying Benning was having an allergic reaction. Her condition quickly became critical, and she was unable to speak with police before she died. Taylor, 30, was found guilty of four counts — one count of second-degree murder of Benning, one count of first-degree murder for the unborn child, one count of first-degree felony murder of Benning and one count of first-degree felony murder of the unborn child. Taylor was working as a defensive analyst for the University of Utah at the time of his arrest. Before that he had worked in the Titans scouting department for four years. He was a four-year starter at Arkansas State (2014-17) and served as a captain and earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors as a defensive back and as a punt returner. |
| TOP 25 UNDER 25From Tyler Sullivan of CBSSports.com, he picks the top 25 players (not counting rookies) age 25 and under – and WR MALIK NABORS, RB ASHTON JEANTY and TE TYLER WARREN are among those not making the cut: One way to judge the health of a league is by looking at its collection of young talent. For the NFL, having a plethora of young players is essential, as they can not only carry the baton from the old guard and become the face of the league, but they also have the ability to lead their respective clubs to a championship. For instance, we’re coming off Super Bowl LX, where both teams playing for the Lombardi Trophy — the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots — were spearheaded, in part, by youth movements on their rosters. Players from both squads are represented here as we examine the NFL’s current crop of young talent and determine which players are the best of the bunch. Below, we’re identifying the top 25 players age 25 and under. Before we dive in, let’s go over the parameters that helped us construct this list. Age cutoff: Players who are 25 or younger when the 2026 regular season kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 9, are eligible for this list. Rookies: First-year players are excluded because this list centers on players who have already played in the NFL.With that housekeeping out of the way, let’s dive in. Note: Players’ listed ages are how old they’ll be at the start of the 2026 regular season. 25. Colston LovelandCHI • TE • #84Age: 22 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 10 (2025)It was a slow burn to begin Colston Loveland’s rookie season, but the Bears tight end came on strong down the stretch. His 58 receptions are the most by a Bears rookie tight end in franchise history, and 47 of those catches came over his final 10 regular-season games. If you project those final 10 games over a full season, Loveland was on pace for roughly 80 catches, 1,015 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns. He also kept that torrid pace going in the postseason, tallying 12 catches for 193 yards in two games. He’s primed to leap into superstardom during his sophomore season in 2026. 24. Joe AltLAC • OT • #76Age: 23 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 5 (2024)Joe Alt, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has developed into one of the league’s best offensive tackles. While his sophomore campaign was cut short by an ankle injury suffered in November, Alt still earned his first Pro Bowl nod, which shows just how dominant he’s become. The Notre Dame product has also shown positional versatility, playing both right and left tackle at an elite level. With Alt in 2025, L.A. went 5-1 and averaged 25.3 points per game. Without him, the Chargers went 6-6 and averaged just 18.3 points. 23. Sauce GardnerIND • CB • #1Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 4 (2022)The Colts gave up a haul last season to acquire Sauce Gardner, shipping two first-round picks and receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets. Gardner has the talent to be the best player at his position and already has two first-team All-Pro nods on his résumé. That said, there have also been some ebbs during his young career, which is why we’re keeping him in the bottom half of this list. If he lives up to the price tag Indy paid this season, he’ll reestablish himself as one of the NFL’s top young cornerbacks. 22. Cooper DeJeanPHI • CB • #33Age: 23 | Drafted: Round 2, Pick 40 (2024)Cooper DeJean is one of the faces of Philadelphia’s blistering secondary, which is one of the league’s best units. After winning the Super Bowl as a rookie, DeJean followed it up with a first-team All-Pro campaign in 2025, blossoming into one of the NFL’s best slot corners. In the slot, DeJean did not allow a single passing touchdown last season and tallied two interceptions. He also recorded 93 total tackles (second-most on the Eagles) and four tackles for loss (most among Eagles defensive backs). 21. De’Von AchaneMIA • RB • #28Age: 24 | Drafted: Round 3, Pick 84 (2023)Despite tearing the organization down to the studs around him, the Dolphins were steadfast in keeping De’Von Achane this offseason, and it’s hard to blame them. The Miami back is one of the league’s most electrifying players and will now be the centerpiece of the offense in 2026. That comes after a career year in which Achane rushed for a personal-best 1,350 yards, the most by a Dolphins player since Ricky Williams in 2003. His career average of 5.62 yards per carry ranks second in NFL history among running backs with at least 500 rushing attempts. 20. Trent McDuffieLAR • CB • #22Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 21 (2022)Trent McDuffie barely qualified for this list, as he turns 26 on Sept. 13. That said, he’s now the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history after the Rams signed him to a four-year, $124 million extension following his trade from the Chiefs in March. McDuffie is a heat-seeking missile, as his 31 quarterback pressures and eight forced fumbles are both the most by a corner since he entered the NFL in 2022. He’s also one of just four defensive backs with at least 25 pass breakups, 15 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss over that span. 19. Drake LondonATL • WR • #525 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 8 (2022)Atlanta locked Drake London up this offseason, making him one of the highest-paid receivers in the league with a four-year, $141 million extension. While London doesn’t exactly get the same shine as some other elite receivers, he’s every bit as talented. Even with this monster extension, one could make the case that he’s still underrated in league circles. London is one of just five players with at least 2,000 receiving yards and 15-plus receiving touchdowns since 2024. He’s done that despite lackluster quarterback play throughout his career. So far, London has yet to have the same starting quarterback from wire to wire in a given season, making those totals even more impressive. 18. George PickensDAL • WR • #3Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 2, Pick 52 (2022)George Pickens had long been considered one of the league’s most talented young receivers, but his reputation skyrocketed after the Cowboys acquired him last offseason. During his first season in Dallas, Pickens set career highs across the board, including 1,429 receiving yards, which ranked third in the NFL in 2025. Pickens is arguably the best deep-ball receiver in the league, as his 52 receptions on deep balls (20-plus air yards) are the most since he entered the NFL in 2022. The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Pickens this offseason, and if he has another season like he did in 2025, he could command top-of-the-market money next offseason. 17. Jalen CarterPHI • DT • #98Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 9 (2023)When Jalen Carter has his head on straight, he’s capable of being the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL. The Eagles defensive tackle has elite traits, which have flashed in the form of a second-team All-Pro selection in 2024, along with back-to-back Pro Bowl nods in 2024 and 2025. He didn’t take the step into superstardom that many expected last season, finishing with three sacks in 11 games. That said, the ability is there for him to do so in 2026. 16. Derek Stingley Jr.HOU • CB • #24Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 3 (2022)Derek Stingley Jr. is one of the faces of Houston’s elite defense. The former first-round pick out of LSU has been named a first-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons. In 2024, he allowed just 42.7% of passes thrown his way to be completed. That number remained elite at just 45.9% in 2025. Throughout his career, quarterbacks have posted a 42.9 passer rating when targeting Stingley. He’s elite in every sense of the word. 15. Quinyon MitchellPHI • CB • #27Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 22 (2024)Along with DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell is a mainstay in Philadelphia’s secondary, and the two form one of the league’s best young duos. In 2025, the Eagles arguably had the NFL’s best pass defense, allowing a league-low 56.8% completion rate and just 14 passing touchdowns, thanks in part to Mitchell. He was named a first-team All-Pro in 2025 after leading all defensive backs with a 39.6% completion percentage allowed. He did not allow a single passing touchdown last season. 14. Jared VerseCLE • LB • #8Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 19 (2024)Jared Verse was a key piece in the biggest blockbuster trade of the offseason. While most of the attention centered on Myles Garrett going from the Browns to the Rams, Verse is a strong consolation prize for Cleveland, along with the slew of draft picks included in the deal, including a 2027 first-rounder. Verse is a stellar pass rusher in his own right, logging the sixth-highest pressure rate in the NFL since entering the league. He’s also stout against the run, posting the second-best run stop win rate among edge rushers last season. He’s a well-rounded player with an All-Pro ceiling and earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first two NFL seasons. 13. Christian GonzalezNE • CBAge: 24 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 17 (2023)Christian Gonzalez is one of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL and was a central piece of New England’s Super Bowl run last season. The former No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was a second-team All-Pro in 2024 and is coming off his first Pro Bowl selection in 2025. Last season, Gonzalez allowed just 44.9% of passes thrown his way to be completed. He also allowed just one passing touchdown in 2025. For his career, Gonzalez has held opposing quarterbacks to a 54.8 passer rating. 12. Kyle HamiltonBAL • SAF • #14Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 14 (2022)Calling a player a “chess piece” is often overplayed, but that’s not the case with Kyle Hamilton. The Ravens safety can play deep and work near the line of scrimmage, doing both at an elite level. He’s been an All-Pro in each of the last three seasons and a Pro Bowler as well. In 2025, he logged more than 100 tackles and nine pass breakups for the second straight year. With Jesse Minter taking over as Baltimore’s head coach this offseason, Hamilton could reach another level, which is a frightening thought for opposing offenses. 11. Brock Bowers LV • TE • #89Age: 23 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 13 (2024)Brock Bowers was hampered by injuries in 2025, but he still has a claim as the NFL’s top tight end. Even in just 12 games last season, the Raiders pass catcher set a career high with seven receiving touchdowns and nearly matched his yards-per-reception average from his illustrious rookie season (10.7 in 2024 vs. 10.6 in 2025). Bowers is the first tight end since Jeremy Shockey (2002-03) to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons and has the third-most receiving yards by a tight end through his first two seasons in NFL history. With Fernando Mendoza installed as Las Vegas’ quarterback of the future and Klint Kubiak hired as head coach, Bowers has the supporting cast to reach even greater heights. 10. Devon WitherspoonSEA • CB • #21Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 5 (2023)By the time the 2026 regular season kicks off, there’s a good chance Devon Witherspoon will be the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. The Seahawks star is due for an extension, and his track record suggests it could reset the market. He’s just the third defensive back in the last 40 years to earn a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first three seasons, joining Charles Woodson and Patrick Peterson. Witherspoon excels in coverage, can get after the quarterback and is stout against the run, making him a key piece of Seattle’s top-flight defense that helped deliver a Super Bowl last season. 9. Jahmyr GibbsDET • RBAge: 24 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 12 (2023)Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the NFL’s most exciting players and is on a historic pace to begin his career. His 49 career touchdowns are the most by any player through his first three seasons in NFL history. He’s third in scrimmage yards (3,768) and first in scrimmage touchdowns (38) over the past two seasons. Gibbs is also just the second player in NFL history to average at least 5.0 yards per carry in each of his first three seasons (min. 150 rushing attempts per season). He’s the engine that makes Detroit’s offense go, and with David Montgomery traded to Houston this offseason, Gibbs is in line for an even bigger workload, setting up what could be an earth-shattering 2026 season. 8. Jayden DanielsWAS • QB • #5Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 2 (2024)Jayden Daniels was hobbled by injuries last season, and his numbers suffered because of it. He missed 10 games with multiple injuries, and the Commanders went just 2-5 in the seven games he started in 2025. Still, we’re giving him the benefit of the doubt with this high ranking. Daniels’ rookie season, when he led Washington to the NFC Championship and a 12-5 record, was awe-inspiring. That year, he accounted for 31 total touchdowns and just nine turnovers to go with a 100.1 passer rating. That quarterback is still there in Washington; he just needs to stay healthy. Now that he’s back to full strength and armed with a better supporting cast, including a revamped defense, it wouldn’t be surprising to see something closer to the 2024 version of Daniels in 2026. 7. Caleb WilliamsCHI • QB • #18Age: 24 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 1 (2024)Pairing Ben Johnson with Caleb Williams did wonders for the young quarterback. The former No. 1 overall pick broke out in 2025 and helped Chicago win its first NFC North title since 2018. Williams also became the first Bears quarterback since Sid Luckman to win a playoff game within his first two NFL seasons. His 3,942 passing yards last season also set a franchise record. Williams finally looked like the generational quarterback he was billed as entering the league in 2024 and delivered several clutch moments throughout the 2025 campaign. Entering Year 2 in Ben Johnson’s system, it’ll be fascinating to see how high Williams can climb among the NFL’s quarterbacks. 6. Will Anderson Jr.HOU • DE • #51Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 3 (2023)The Texans allowed a franchise-low 17.4 points per game and finished with the NFL’s No. 1 total defense (277.2 yards allowed per game) in 2025. Will Anderson Jr. was a key reason why. The pass rusher posted the league’s highest pressure rate (21%) last season. His 50 pressures on third down in 2025 were the most ever recorded in a single season. Anderson also set career highs in sacks (12), tackles for loss (20) and quarterback hits (23), which helped him land a three-year, $150 million extension this offseason. That made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. 5. Jaxon Smith-NjigbaSEA • WR • #11Age: 24 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 20 (2023)There were questions about how Seattle’s receiver room would fare following the departures of franchise mainstays DK Metcalf (traded to Pittsburgh) and Tyler Lockett (released) last offseason. It was expected that Jaxon Smith-Njigba would take on a larger workload, but it was jaw-dropping to see his production as the alpha of the Seahawks’ passing attack. The wideout won the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award after a stellar third season. Smith-Njigba recorded the third-most receiving yards in a season in NFL history, including the regular season and postseason (1,989). His 1,793 receiving yards during the regular season led the NFL and set a Seahawks franchise record. Now, he’s regarded as one of the NFL’s top receivers and became the league’s highest-paid player at the position this offseason after signing a four-year, $168 million extension. 4. Drake MayeNE • QB • #10Age: 24 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 3 (2024)A key reason the Patriots found themselves on a Super Bowl run last season was Drake Maye blossoming into an MVP-caliber quarterback. The second-year signal-caller finished second to Matthew Stafford in the 2025 MVP race. Maye led New England to a 14-3 record and became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to lead the league in completion percentage and yards per attempt in the same season. His playoff performance was muted by deficiencies along the offensive line, culminating in a dud in Super Bowl LX. That said, Maye enters 2026 as one of, if not the best, young quarterbacks in the league. He was arguably the NFL’s best deep-ball passer in 2025 and will now have A.J. Brown at his disposal, so he should only continue to ascend in Year 3. 3. Penei SewellDET • OT • #58Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 7 (2021)Penei Sewell is becoming the gold standard for offensive tackles in the NFL. He’s elite as both a pass blocker and run blocker. While Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery were lauded as a fantastic duo during their time together in Detroit’s backfield, Sewell has been a major X-factor in their success on the ground. He’s also been superb in protecting Jared Goff, allowing just three sacks last season, according to TruMedia. His 19 pressures allowed tied a career low, and he was beaten on just 2.1% of his snaps, also a career best. He’s been a first-team All-Pro in each of the last three seasons, and it’s not hard to see why. 2. Puka NacuaLAR • WR • #12Age: 25 | Drafted: Round 5, Pick 177 (2023)Pound for pound, Puka Nacua has an argument as the best wide receiver in the NFL. The Rams receiver led the league in receptions (129) and receiving yards per game (107.2) last season. His career average of 95.3 receiving yards per game is also the highest in NFL history. Nacua is a nightmare for opposing secondaries because he consistently finds ways to get open, and he’s shown the ability to completely take over games. He has dealt with some off-the-field issues this offseason, but when he’s right, he’s at the top of his position. 1. Bijan RobinsonATL • RB • #7Age: 24 | Drafted: Round 1, Pick 8 (2023)Bijan Robinson has turned into a cheat code. He’s arguably the best dual-threat running back in the league and has put together a start to his career unlike anything we’ve seen before. Robinson’s 2,298 scrimmage yards led the NFL in 2025 and set a new franchise record. So far, he’s compiled 5,648 yards from scrimmage, the most by a player age 23 or younger in NFL history. Those scrimmage yards also rank fourth-most through a player’s first three seasons in NFL history. As we noted with his teammate Drake London, Robinson has posted those numbers despite subpar quarterback play for much of his career, making them even more mesmerizing. When the Falcons give him the ball, Robinson is liable to make a house call at any moment and is one of the game’s true lightning rods. And he’s just entering his prime. Toughest cutsMalik Nabers, WR, New York Giants (22 years old)Nick Emmanwori, S, Seattle Seahawks (22)Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns (23)Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers (23)Tuli Tuipulotu, OLB, Los Angeles Chargers (23)Grey Zabel, OG, Seattle Seahawks (24)Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts (24)Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders (22)Darnell Wright, OT, Chicago Bears (24)Tyler Smith, OG, Dallas Cowboys (25) |
