DALLAS

The Cowboys are saying not to worry about the walking boot that QB DAK PRESCOTT was seen wearing South of the Border.  ESPN.com:

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott recently suffered a minor right foot sprain that temporarily required a walking boot, a source told ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Prescott was seen in a walking boot while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas in a picture posted to X on Wednesday. It was unclear when the picture was taken, and he is no longer wearing the boot, according to the source.

The injury is not expected to impact Prescott when the Cowboys hold their first training camp practice on July 25.

It is not known how Prescott suffered the injury. The Cowboys last held an organized workout on June 5.

Prescott underwent season-ending surgery for a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in 2020 after suffering the injury in a Week 5 victory over the New York Giants. Prescott hasn’t injured his right ankle since the surgery.

Prescott is entering the final year of his contract which will pay him $29 million for the 2024 season.

More from Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com:

Dak Prescott, who has undoubtedly heard the noise regarding the status of his right foot, has decided to provide an update less than three weeks before the start of training camp.

Prescott, days after it was reported that he is dealing with a “very mild” foot sprain, shared the following image of himself walking without the assistance of a boot. Days earlier, an image of the Dallas Cowboys quarterback wearing a boot on his right foot went viral, followed by the report of his injury.

“Just some Boot Boys in Mexico,” Prescott wrote on social media while alluding to the previous image of him wearing a boot.

The report regarding Prescott’s foot had stated that he was no longer wearing a boot after being in one for a week. The injury isn’t expected to impact Prescott’s status for training camp.

It’s been an unusually noisy offseason for the Cowboys, who are no strangers to being in the spotlight. Among the headlines from Dallas this offseason has been the lingering contract situations involving Prescott, wideout CeeDee Lamb and star defender Micah Parsons.

WASHINGTON

Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com makes three trade proposals that would get WR BRANDON AIYUK to Washington from San Francisco:

The San Francisco 49ers want to keep Brandon Aiyuk, and the All-Pro pass catcher prefers to stay in the Bay Area. The two sides don’t appear close to a long-term contract agreement, however, and Aiyuk continues to tease a potential relocation, this time by sharing footage of himself reviewing Washington Commanders practice film.

Aiyuk, remember, specifically identified the Commanders as a preferred landing spot in the event he and San Francisco can’t come to terms on a new deal. While the former first-round draft pick is technically under contract with the 49ers through 2024, and the team has reportedly been resistant to trade inquiries, it’s not out of the question the club could look to auction the pass catcher if negotiations continue to stall.

In that case, here are three potential trade proposals the Commanders could make:

Proposal No. 1

Commanders get: WR Brandon Aiyuk

49ers get: 2025 first-round pick

Aiyuk by himself is probably worth a touch more than a first-rounder; the Philadelphia Eagles, for example, sent a first- and third-rounder to the Tennessee Titans for A.J. Brown in 2022, and unlike Brown at the time, Aiyuk is coming off a career year. The Brown deal occurred during the draft, however, and the Commanders aren’t in dire need of a splashy upgrade out wide, with Terry McLaurin already in tow. Couple that with the 49ers owning more leverage than Aiyuk in contract talks, and securing a Day 1 pick via trade might actually be considered a major San Francisco victory this late in the offseason. Seeing as Washington is just kicking off a new regime, the Commanders could end up owning an early or mid-first-rounder in 2025, enhancing the appeal of their pick.

Proposal No. 2

Commanders get: WR Brandon Aiyuk

49ers get: WR Dyami Brown, 2025 second-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick

In this scenario, the 49ers don’t net a coveted first-rounder, but they secure what figures to be a relatively high Day 2 selection, plus a fourth-rounder that’d give them a grand total of six picks in the first four rounds of the 2025 draft. Brown isn’t really a needle-mover after three underwhelming NFL seasons, but the former North Carolina prospect has specific traits (blocking aggression, deep speed) that could translate quickly to Kyle Shanahan’s offense, providing rotational depth behind Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and rookie first-rounder Ricky Pearsall.

Proposal No. 3

Broncos get: WR Jamison Crowder (Washington), 2025 third-round pick (Washington)

Commanders get: WR Brandon Aiyuk (San Francisco)

49ers get: WR Courtland Sutton (Denver), 2025 second-round pick (Washington)

Let’s get funky, eh? Denver is in a bit of a contract bind of its own, with Sutton contemplating a training-camp holdout as he seeks a pay raise entering Year 7. While Sean Payton may not prefer to part with his club’s most accomplished wideout, he could also use more resources for the long-term build around rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Crowder is aging, but his reliability as a possession target would probably appeal to Payton’s eye for efficiency. San Francisco, meanwhile, would essentially be renting a proven downfield starter in Sutton while also recouping a second-rounder by shipping Aiyuk to Washington.

SAN FRANCISCO

S TASHAUN GIPSON has not re-signed with the 49ers – and his search for a new contract took a blow with a 6-game suspension.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Free-agent safety Tashaun Gipson received a six-game suspension last week for reportedly violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

On Monday, Gipson released a statement accepting responsibility for the suspension while also noting that he intends to play in 2024.

“During this offseason, I took a supplement one time, which I thought to be completely safe and well within any of the NFL’s policies,” Gipson said. “It was in no way related to performance, training, or gaining an advantage of any kind at any time. I have competed at this level for a long time, and have nothing but respect for the game and the fraternity of players in it. The NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances is clear, and I take full responsibility for anything I put into my body. It is with great disappointment that I accept this suspension, and I do so knowing that I have never even attempted to cheat the game. I look forward to returning for my 13th NFL season and helping a team compete for a championship.”

Gipson, who turns 34 in August, spent the last two seasons with the 49ers. He tallied 60 total tackles with three passes defensed and an interception in 16 regular-season games in 2023. He then had 14 total tackles with a forced fumble and pass defensed in three postseason games.

Having entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2012, Gipson has appeared in 173 career games with 165 starts for the Browns, Jaguars, Texans, Bears, and 49ers.

PITTSBURGH

Although CB CAMERON SUTTON skated without serious charges after being charged with domestic violence in Florida in March (while he was a member of the Lions), he won’t be available to the Steelers until the end of October.

The NFL announced on Monday that Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton has been suspended without pay for the first eight games of the 2024 season.

The league noted in its announcement that Sutton violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy in March.

Sutton, 29, was released by the Lions that month — a day after the club learned a warrant was issued for his arrest in Florida for one count of domestic battery by strangulation.

The Steelers, who selected Sutton in the third round of the 2017 draft, re-signed the cornerback in early June.

Sutton spent his first six seasons with Pittsburgh before playing with Detroit last year.

In 101 career games, Sutton has recorded 44 passes defensed with nine interceptions.

Sutton will be eligible to be reinstated on Oct. 29 after the Steelers play the Giants in Week 8.

Initially charged with a felony, he was able to plead it down to a misdemeanor and a spot in an intervention program.

THIS AND THAT

FRANK SCHWAB’S POWER RANKINGS

YahooSports.com has a summary of Frank Schwab’s Rankings which are 32 to 18 at the moment:

32 – Carolina Panthers

The Panthers hired a new head coach, Dave Canales, coming off a very good season as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator. He did wonders for Baker Mayfield’s career, which had to catch the Panthers’ interest. Carolina spent $153 million on guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, traded for receiver Diontae Johnson and drafted receiver Xavier Legette, running back Jonathon Brooks and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. Those were the first steps in helping QB Bryce Young reach his potential.

It’s not like the dark cloud is gone. Team owner David Tepper is still around, bothering bar owners who take a shot at him, ready to make the Panthers U-turn all their plans when he gets impatient with losing again. Young has a long way to go and he might never come close to Stroud as a player or to paying off what the Panthers gave up in that trade. The roster still has massive holes on both sides of the ball.

31 – New England Patriots

The Patriots drafted North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, who along with head coach Jerod Mayo will lead the Patriots into a brand new era. The fact that multiple teams, including the Giants and Vikings, were very excited to trade up for that third overall pick should tell the Patriots that staying put and drafting Maye was the right thing to do. The Patriots need to restock the roster, but you don’t turn down a potential franchise quarterback. New England’s rebuild gets a lot easier if Maye is a hit.

Maye had plenty of buzz. He was the QB1 in this draft class for Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice. He has the entire package of skills to succeed, as long as his aggressive nature doesn’t become a big problem with turnovers. One issue is the Patriots still didn’t do much to improve the offense around him. They tried to get free-agent receiver Calvin Ridley, and while team owner Robert Kraft said Ridley chose the Tennessee Titans because his girlfriend wanted to be in the South, Kraft’s comment that “Part of it might be the quarterback situation as well” was probably more accurate. The Patriots aren’t a destination yet. That will take time. The first step has to be Maye becoming the type of QB other players want to join forces with.

30 – Denver Broncos

Rookie Bo Nix isn’t guaranteed to start Week 1, but he’ll start soon. The problem is there isn’t much around him. Patrick Surtain II is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, the offensive line isn’t terrible, receiver Courtland Sutton scored 10 touchdowns last season and … well, that’s about it. It’s not a team that is equipped to win soon, even if the QB6 in this draft class is a hit right away. That’s what happens when you pay a heavy price for Russell Wilson and Sean Payton in trades. The Broncos somehow went 8-9 last season because Payton is still an excellent head coach but it’s going to be a challenge this season, next season and maybe 2026 as well.

None of this should have been a surprise. When Payton came aboard, everyone knew that a total teardown as the team suffered through the consequences of cutting Wilson was likely. One of these days, there will be something for Broncos fans to cheer about other than dusty memories of Peyton Manning and that 2015 team.

29 – Washington Commanders

Grabbing a coach who was in demand, a GM everyone wanted and a quarterback who practically everyone ranked second in the draft class is a good offseason. That’s the type of nucleus that can turn around a franchise very fast.

The problem with using the Texans as an example of a quick turnaround is they hit an unprecedented amount of green lights. They hired a great head coach in DeMeco Ryans who probably would not have looked their way if he was drafted by another team way back when. They didn’t have the first pick of the draft but C.J. Stroud fell to them at No. 2 and ended up being perhaps the greatest rookie quarterback in NFL history. Many young players broke out at the same time. It’s hard to replicate all of that.

28 – New York Giants

It’s hard to move on from quarterbacks, but the Giants could have done so with Daniel Jones without any complaint if they didn’t make the playoffs two seasons ago. That playoff appearance and win probably cost them $92 million in guaranteed money to Jones.

It might have also caused them to put off an honest assessment of the roster and how close they were to being contenders. With a clearer head they might not have made moves like trading a third-round draft pick, 100th overall, to the Las Vegas Raiders for 30-year-old tight end Darren Waller. He had 552 yards, one touchdown and then retired this offseason. When regression hit a little too hard and the Giants struggled to a 6-11 season, all of 2023 looked like a massive waste.

27 – Tennessee Titans

Even though former head coach Mike Vrabel did some good things in Tennessee, the new era won’t have much resemblance to the old one.

The Titans hired Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to replace Vrabel. Callahan didn’t call plays for the Bengals but has a good reputation as a sharp offensive mind. With former NFL linebacker Vrabel in charge the Titans relied on defense, running the ball with Derrick Henry and a low volume play-action passing game. Callahan’s Titans will be way more pass-heavy, with much of it coming out of the shotgun formation.

The quarterback position won’t be entirely new because Titans fans got a look at Will Levis late last season. There were high points, such a four-touchdown masterpiece in his debut against the Atlanta Falcons and a startling comeback against the Miami Dolphins. There were also games in which Levis looked like the wild, undisciplined player that got a lot of hype before the NFL Draft but fell to the second round. The ups and downs weren’t anything unusual for a rookie, but Levis comes into the season having to prove himself to a new coaching staff.

26 – Las Vegas Raiders

The best the Raiders can do this season is make sure whoever emerges as the long-term quarterback is put in a good situation when he arrives. Tight end Brock Bowers should be a foundational piece. Davante Adams is still in his prime and in Las Vegas, though the Raiders could trade their superstar receiver at some point. The defensive line should be very good with $110 million free-agent addition Christian Wilkins from the Miami Dolphins. And head coach Antonio Pierce could be a great fit for years.

The Raiders remain in a weird place. They’re transitioning to a new era with momentum, but a massive part of the rebuilding effort is still unsettled. They spent on Wilkins like they’re a contender but that might not happen for a while. If nothing else, at least Raiders fans aren’t suffering through the Josh McDaniels era anymore.

25 – Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals were the rare four-win team with some great wins. They beat the Dallas Cowboys early in the season. They won at the Steelers and Eagles, a couple of road victories against playoff teams. Arizona had four wins overall but more quality wins than some teams in the playoffs. The Cardinals might have been better but Kyler Murray missed the first half of the season as he recovered from a torn ACL. The season was far from a success but the Cardinals should have felt confident about some of the things they saw in Gannon’s first season.

The best news might end up being that none of those wins cost the Cardinals a shot at Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals fell to the fourth overall pick, but they got lucky the first three teams in the draft all needed a quarterback. That allowed the Cardinals, who are already paying Murray big money, to pick arguably the best player in the draft regardless of position. Harrison was a dominant force at Ohio State and one of the best college receivers in many years. He’s the rare receiver who could end up defining a franchise for a decade.

24 – New Orleans Saints

The way for the Saints to become something more than average is likely through Derek Carr. He wasn’t awful last season. In true Saints fashion, he finished 19th of 38 qualified quarterbacks in Pro Football Focus’ grades, right in the middle. Average generally won’t cut it for a $150 million quarterback in a new city. Perhaps the change in offensive coordinators from Pete Carmichael, who had been the Saints’ coordinator since 2009, to Klint Kubiak will give new life to the offense. That better happen, because the Saints have started the restructuring game with Carr’s contract. They saved $23 million on the cap in a restructure with Carr to solve a big salary cap problem. That pushed money into the future and might make it tougher to cut Carr if he doesn’t play well this season.

Something needs to happen. It has seemed for a while like the Saints need to tear things down but can’t bring themselves to do it. The hope that it will all suddenly click and they’ll take a big step is belied by the fact that the Saints had the oldest roster in the NFL last season (via ESPN’s Bill Barnwell). What the Saints have been the past couple seasons is probably what they’ll be again this season. They’re unlikely to be good enough to be a contender and probably won’t be bad enough to be forced into a big change. They’re just stuck.

23 – Los Angeles Chargers

At every stop, Jim Harbaugh has won. He had a 29-6 record at the University of San Diego, took a Stanford program that was 1-11 before he was hired and ended up going 12-1 with an Orange Bowl win in 2010, led the San Francisco 49ers to a seven-win improvement his first season there and nearly won a Super Bowl the next season, then eventually turned Michigan into a 15-0 national champion. Four head coaching stops, and four success stories.

The Chargers are hoping to get relevance and wins, in whatever order. Harbaugh should bring both.

The roster starts with quarterback Justin Herbert, an exciting talent who hasn’t helped the Chargers to much team success. Because of salary cap issues, the Chargers had to part ways with top receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. Running back Austin Ekeler left in free agency. They were able to retain Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack when the veteran pass rushers took pay cuts, but the roster probably isn’t as good as it was last season when the Chargers went 5-12.

22 – Minnesota Vikings

It had to be scary for the Minnesota Vikings to break up with Kirk Cousins.

There was comfort in having Cousins. Minnesota always knew that they’d have solid, steady quarterback play. That was reassuring even if the Vikings had to realize that reaching a Super Bowl with Cousins was never going to happen. They had more losing seasons (three) in the six-year Cousins era than playoff appearances (two). That wasn’t all Cousins’ fault, and even if he wasn’t taking the Vikings where they wanted to go, he was safe. That’s why Minnesota kept reworking his contract.

While those weeks before the NFL Draft must have been nervous for the Vikings, it all turned out OK. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy was a player who seemed to go way up and down in mock drafts, but he eventually fell to No. 10 and the Vikings made a low-cost move to trade up one spot to draft him. And while we have no idea if McCarthy will ever be as good as Cousins, you’d have to say the Vikings are in a better place now.

21 – Seattle Seahawks

Pete Carroll defined the Seahawks for more than a decade. It will be jarring to see someone else leading them.

Mike Macdonald will have a hard time replacing Carroll, but he was an exciting hire. He had two very good seasons running the Baltimore Ravens’ defense and players rave about his football mind. At age 36, Macdonald has a youthful energy (Carroll is 72, though energy was never a problem for him). Carroll was great, but perhaps it was just time for a change. Macdonald seems like a worthy successor.

If Macdonald gets the Seahawks back to the playoffs in his first season, it’s probably because Geno Smith played more like he did in 2022 than last season. Smith was a revelation in 2022, a 32-year-old journeyman without much NFL success who led the league in completion percentage and threw for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns. He got a three-year, $75 million contract from Seattle and then came back to earth a bit in 2023. The Seahawks brought him back for another season but he’ll have to play much better to last into 2025.

20 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield went from that one-year deal last year — to put it in perspective, Sam Darnold got a one-year, $10 million contract this offseason and Jacoby Brissett signed for $8 million over one year — to a three-year, $100 million contract with $50 million guaranteed.

Mayfield and the Buccaneers had a pretty good season, and it was out of nowhere.

The Buccaneers were expected to struggle as they transitioned from the Brady era and had Brady’s dead cap hit to contend with, but they went 9-8, won the NFC South and then beat the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9 in the wild-card round. Mayfield threw for 4,044 yards and 30 touchdowns. He probably deserved more votes for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award that went to Joe Flacco, but nobody seems to know the criteria for that award. It was all a fun surprise for the Buccaneers, who came closer to eliminating the Detroit Lions from the playoffs than you remember. The Buccaneers and Lions were tied going into the fourth quarter of a divisional round game before Detroit pulled away. That speaks to how well Tampa Bay was playing by the end of last season.

It’s just hard to know how much of that is repeatable. And the Buccaneers can’t depend on the NFC South being terrible forever.

19 – Jacksonville Jaguars

If you criticize Trevor Lawrence, prepare to argue your case. There are many Lawrence guardians on social media who will perk up when the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback’s up-and-down NFL journey is mentioned.

But has Lawrence performed like a $55 million-per-year quarterback to this point? Even his biggest defenders would have to pause before answering.

Had Lawrence not suffered a high ankle sprain against the Bengals, perhaps the Jaguars wouldn’t have lost five of their last six games. Maybe they would have won the AFC South and some of the hype for C.J. Stroud would be redirected to Lawrence, who helped Jacksonville to the 2022 AFC South title. There might not have been such sticker shock on that contract extension.

There are ways to talk yourself into Lawrence being everything he was expected to be coming out of Clemson. The Jaguars seem convinced. Now’s the time for Lawrence to show he’s worth the money.

18 – Atlanta Falcons

All first-round picks in the NFL Draft are somewhat memorable. Some make you sit up in your chair a bit, but only a few are guaranteed to be talked about for years.

The moment the Atlanta Falcons selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick of the NFL Draft, it became a talking point for the next decade or more. Good or bad.

No team’s offseason was discussed more than the Falcons. They started it by changing coaches, firing the overwhelmed Arthur Smith and giving Raheem Morris a second chance. Then they made one of the rare big quarterback additions in free agency, signing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million deal. That led to weeks of excitement, reimagining the Falcons with a staff that understood it needs to use its best players on offense, with a quarterback that can get them the ball. If the offseason would have ended there, it would have been nothing but good vibes for the Falcons.

To be fair, the Penix pick could end up a win. Think about how everyone questioned the Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love pick for three years. Do you think the Packers look smart now? Of course. But the Penix pick was also different than the Packers picking Love, or most “quarterback in waiting” first-round picks we’ve seen over the years.

Hey, at least the Falcons gave us something to talk about this offseason.

2025 DRAFT

At ProFootballFocus.com, Trevor Sikkema matches an offensive college prospect for 2025 with an NFL team:

Let’s personalize the early-stage process by looking at each NFL team and one prospect to watch this college football season who could be on their radar a year from now.

ARIZONA CARDINALS: T EMERY JONES, LSU

The Cardinals did well to bolster their pass-catching group by drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. last season. Tight end Trey McBride should continue to be an impactful receiver, as well. Wide receiver Michael Wilson is poised for a big second season, and receivers Zay Jones and Greg Dortch bring good depth.

Projecting future needs, LSU offensive tackle Emery Jones would make for an excellent addition to this offensive line. Jones plays right tackle for the Tigers right now but could find a home at either tackle or guard in the NFL.

ATLANTA FALCONS: WR EMEKA EGBUKA, OHIO STATE

Now that the Falcons have quarterback Kirk Cousins — and his future heir in Michael Penix Jr. — their offensive focus will be to form an elite skill position group.

Atlanta’s backfield and tight end room already have a very high ceiling with Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts. Drake London is a nice WR1, but the team could use a certified WR2. In steps Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, a smaller but well-rounded receiver who could take Atlanta’s offense over the top.

BALTIMORE RAVENS: T KELVIN BANKS JR., TEXAS

The Ravens moved on from Morgan Moses this past offseason, leaving a vacancy at right tackle (perhaps to be filled by rookie Roger Rosengarten). Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is under contract for just one more season, will be 31 years old next offseason and has dealt with injuries over the past four seasons.

Offensive tackle will likely be high on Baltimore’s priority list for 2025. Kelvin Banks Jr. is still raw in his technique but is an incredible athlete for the position. He has all the tools to be a starting-caliber left tackle.

BUFFALO BILLS: WR TETAIROA MCMILLAN, ARIZONA

The Bills bid adieu to Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason, leaving their wide receiver room without a true difference-making WR1. They selected Keon Coleman in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and perhaps he could step into that role, but the team will likely be on the hunt for a top-tier receiver next offseason regardless.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound McMillan looks like a rare breed when he’s on a football field. His best play brings out shades of Mike Evans.

CAROLINA PANTHERS: WR LUTHER BURDEN III, MISSOURI

Without a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Panthers struggled to make major alterations to their offense, but they bolstered the offensive line in free agency and got three potential offensive starters in wide receiver Xavier Legette, running back Jonathon Brooks and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders.

Still, Carolina may be searching for more playmakers in the passing game a year from now. Few in college football are better than Missouri’s Luther Burden III. His game resembles that of D.J. Moore and Terry McLaurin as not the biggest receiver, but one who can take over any game before and after the catch.

CHICAGO BEARS: T ANTHONY BELTON, NC STATE

The Bears opted to draft wide receiver Rome Odunze over potentially upgrading at left tackle with the No. 9 overall pick — a positive decision, all things considered. They’ll ride with Braxton Jones for 2024 after he earned a 71.3 PFF overall grade in 2023.

Jones has two more years on his rookie deal, so maybe Chicago won’t go the tackle route in 2025, but I love the idea of adding the massive 6-foot-6, 340-pound Anthony Belton to the Bears’ offensive line, either at tackle or guard. His power and size are imposing.

CINCINNATI BENGALS: TE COLSTON LOVELAND, MICHIGAN

With no long-term deal for Tee Higgins in place, the Bengals could be looking to add a top pass-catcher next offseason, even after picking Jermaine Burton in the 2024 NFL Draft.

But rather than Cincinnati targeting a top receiver, why not go after the best receiving tight end in college football? Michigan’s Colston Loveland earned an 80.5 PFF receiving grade last season and placed in the 81st percentile for separation percentage against single coverage.

CLEVELAND BROWNS: RB QUINSHON JUDKINS, OHIO STATE

If quarterback Deshaun Watson plays closer to his talent ceiling this season, the Browns’ offense will hum with a decent receiver group, a good TE1 and one of the league’s better offensive lines.

The next big question mark for them is what running back Nick Chubb will look like after he suffered a terrible knee injury last season. When healthy, he is among the NFL’s top backs, but it is hard to envision that version of Chubb returning so soon. If Cleveland is looking for an RB1 next offseason, Judkins offers the size, speed and strength combo to fill the role after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons as a freshman and sophomore.

DALLAS COWBOYS: RB ASHTON JEANTY, BOISE STATE

Simply put: Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was the best running back in college football last year. With a wide receiver background, he is a true threat as both a runner and receiver. He recorded more than 1,900 all-purpose yards with 0.55 PFF wins above average, the sixth-highest single-season WAA score for a college running back in the PFF era. The Cowboys have the lowest-ceiling running back room in the NFL heading into 2024, and Jeanty would be an obvious fix.

DENVER BRONCOS: WR ISAIAH BOND, ALABAMA

Jerry Jeudy is with the Browns and Courtland Sutton is entering the final year of his deal with guaranteed money, so the Broncos could be looking for a difference-making pass-catcher in 2025.

Isaiah Bond, who played at Alabama the past two seasons and is now at Texas, brings world-class speed to the football field. He won state championships in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes in track. He is smaller at just 180 pounds and needs more nuance in his routes, but you can’t teach his explosiveness and top speed.

DETROIT LIONS: WR ELIC AYOMANOR, STANFORD

I am calling my shot here: I love this player-team fit. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Ayomanor tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus before Week 1 of his true freshman season, rehabbed during all of 2022, and came back in 2023 to showcase an all-around skill set that featured track background speed, nuanced releases and routes, and above-average blocking strength and mentality.

Get him in a group with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and Detroit’s offense will continue to cook.

GREEN BAY PACKERS: T JOSH SIMMONS, OHIO STATE

Simmons is a former three-star recruit who started his career at San Diego State before transferring to Ohio State to be the team’s left tackle. He’s a bit shorter than average, at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, but his arm length looks longer than his height suggests. Simmons also has great knee bend and balance, quick footwork and a patient pass-blocking style. I am a big fan of his potential and could see him being a Packers type of player if Jordan Morgan ends up at guard.

HOUSTON TEXANS: RB OLLIE GORDON, OKLAHOMA STATE

The Texans just signed Joe Mixon to a three-year deal, but he is 28 years old, and Houston could move on from him for cap space as soon as next season.

Gordon led college football with 1,732 rushing yards in 2023, and at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, he brings alluring size in addition to that elite production.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: TE MITCHELL EVANS, NOTRE DAME

The Colts’ offensive line bounced back in 2023, finishing the season with a 74.0 unit grade after recording a 68.4 mark the year prior. They also added Adonai Mitchell to their receiving room to complement Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs.

Indianapolis’ next offensive addition should come at tight end. Notre Dame’s Mitchell Evans will look to continue the long NFL tight end lineage the program has set up, and although he doesn’t appear to be as athletic as Michael Mayer or Cole Kmet, he is close and brings in impressive contested catches over the middle as a reliable first-down option.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: WR TETAIROA MCMILLAN, ARIZONA

McMillan is on this list twice. But when thinking about what quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ offense could look like with McMillan as a WR1, this fit makes too much sense.

Jacksonville signed Gabe Davis in free agency, drafted Brian Thomas Jr. and has Christian Kirk already in place. The 6-foot-5 McMillan would give the team a contested-catch and red-zone option it lacks right now. And McMillan can be much more than just that, too.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: WR TORY HORTON, COLORADO STATE

We could say the Chiefs should keep their eye on a top-three receiver in the 2025 class, but they are much more likely to pick near the end of the draft as they chase a three-peat.

Later in Rounds 1 or 2, Colorado State wide receiver Tory Horton may be on the board. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Horton can line up as an X or Z outside receiver. He has a slender build but good nuance to his routes and some of the strongest hands in the class. His skill set would pair well with the Chiefs’ existing speed.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: RB OMARION HAMPTON, NORTH CAROLINA

2024 will be a big prove-it year for Zamir White. If he can show good production and efficiency this season in a starting role, perhaps the Raiders won’t look at running back much in the 2025 NFL Draft.

In the opposite case, Omarion Hampton should be on their radar.

At 6-foot and 220 pounds, Hampton, who earned an elite 90.6 PFF rushing grade in 2023, has the build of a starting NFL back. He possesses the explosiveness and long speed for the role, too. He has truly elite leg drive for yards after contact but needs to be a bit more patient with his run lanes before lowering the shoulder.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: WR LUTHER BURDEN III, MISSOURI

Don’t give up on Quentin Johnston just yet, but if he doesn’t step up in 2024, the Chargers will be doing everything they can to acquire a top-tier receiver.

I love the idea of Luther Burden III pairing with Ladd McConkey. Those two would be a route-running nightmare for defenses to match up with every week.

LOS ANGELES RAMS: QB CONNER WEIGMAN, TEXAS A&M

Matthew Stafford is still a top-10 NFL quarterback. He signed a four-year extension in 2022, but this is the final year of any guaranteed money on that deal, and retirement rumors are lurking. Stafford is also 36 years old, so it’s safe to say the Rams will be looking for a quarterback sooner rather than later.

Weigman is a former five-star recruit and a former baseball player who brings good all-around talent to the position. He earned a 90.9 PFF passing grade in three-and-a-half games before missing most of the 2023 season with a foot injury. I’d love for him to get to work with McVay and the Rams’ receivers.

MIAMI DOLPHINS: IOL EARNEST GREENE III, GEORGIA

The Dolphins lost Robert Hunt in free agency this offseason, and soon-to-be 33-year-old Terron Armstead might not be in the league much longer.

Greene currently plays left tackle for Georgia, but his home in the NFL could very well be at guard due to his play style, prioritizing strength over finesse. Regardless, he could be a potential starter for the Dolphins at multiple spots.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS: TE LUKE LACHEY, IOWA

Yes, the Vikings have T.J. Hockenson. No, this isn’t a move to replace him; we’re setting up an impressive and impactful two-tight end offense that can complement wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Adding Lachey, who would have likely been a top-100 pick in 2023 had he not broken his ankle early in the season, would make for a legit heavy personnel group from which Minnesota could run or pass.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: T WILL CAMPBELL, LSU

The Patriots did the right thing by drafting Drake Maye at No. 3 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft instead of trading back for a haul of picks. But now they need to protect him.

Will Campbell is my top offensive tackle prospect heading into the season. He appears to have shorter arms than a player listed at 6-foot-6, but he makes up for it with a great blend of body density, patience and power. He has the tools to be a starting left tackle.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: T JOSH CONERLY JR., OREGON

The Saints drafted Taliese Fuaga to man one of their tackle spots for 2024, but with Ryan Ramczyk’s long-term future uncertain due to his potential retirement, they might be in the offensive tackle market again in 2024.

Conerly is a former five-star offensive tackle who is still raw in playing the position at a high level. He has impressive movement skills, and his second year as a starter will hopefully show some refinement in his pass-blocking anticipation.

NEW YORK GIANTS: RB TAHJ BROOKS, TEXAS TECH

While the Giants’ backfield combination of Devin Singletary, Eric Gray and Tyrone Tracy is intriguing, Saquon Barkley is no longer in that group.

New York will likely be looking to upgrade that position with fresh faces in the 2025 offseason. Brooks earned a 92.1 PFF rushing grade in 2023 with a 0.33 missed tackles forced average. He brings great vision to the position.

NEW YORK JETS: QB QUINN EWERS, TEXAS

Aaron Rodgers has one more year on his contract with guaranteed money, although the Jets may have him for another two seasons based on the void years structure. They could go all-in on the winning window, but they would be wise to keep their eyes on the 2025 quarterback class since they might not have to spend an early first-round pick to draft a player with good potential.

Ewers is a true gunslinger with a ton of arm talent. While his consistency isn’t at an NFL level right now, it could be by the time Rodgers retires.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: T AJANI CORNELIUS, OREGON

Oregon’s offensive line features two potential top-50 tackles, with one being Cornelius. He started his career at right tackle after being labeled a no-star recruit out of high school. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder has far outplayed that recruiting rank.

Cornelius is a powerful player who can move defenders in the run game. He could be perfect as a typical Eagles depth player with versatility who could eventually be a starter, inside or out.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: QB CARSON BECK, GEORGIA

Russell Wilson’s and Justin Fields‘ contracts expire after the 2024 season, and while the Steelers will be hoping one shows enough to secure the long-term starting quarterback job, that would be a surprise.

Beck was one of the more impressive quarterbacks in college football by the end of 2023. His arm talent, ball placement and pocket presence give him NFL starter potential. He will enter the year as many analysts’ QB1.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: TE TERRANCE FERGUSON, OREGON

Out of fairness to the rest of the NFL, perhaps we shouldn’t give yet another offensive playmaker to the 49ers.

They could look at wide receiver if Brandon Aiyuk is no longer there in 2025, but they did just draft Ricky Pearsall. One player they should keep an eye on is Terrance Ferguson from Oregon, an excellent potential depth piece behind George Kittle.

Ferguson is listed at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds and was a former four-star tight end recruit who also played basketball in high school. He separates well as a receiver (73rd percentile versus single coverage) for a player of his size.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: QB SHEDEUR SANDERS, COLORADO

With Geno Smith in the final year of his contract with guaranteed money, there is a world where the Seahawks are looking for a young franchise quarterback to invest in next offseason.

The projections for Sanders are all over the place. Some view him as a top-10 pick, while others believe he’s closer to a third-rounder. His play under pressure is impressive, but his arm talent might lead to inconsistent success in the NFL. Hopefully, a better offensive line in front of him will paint a clearer picture in 2024.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: TE OSCAR DELP, GEORGIA

When we say “a player for a team to watch,” that doesn’t necessarily mean they have to be first-round picks. Tampa Bay could very easily make another first-round investment in their offensive line in 2025, but Georgia’s Oscar Delp is an intriguing prospect at tight end.

Delp was a lacrosse player in high school, and those movement skills show up now as a 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end. He was primarily used as a blocker in 2023 due to the Bulldogs having Brock Bowers, but Delp has NFL-level skills as a receiver, too.

TENNESSEE TITANS: WR TRAVIS HUNTER, COLORADO

DeAndre Hopkins is 32 and on the last year of his deal, Tyler Boyd is on a one-year deal and Treylon Burks still has yet to solidify his role on the team. The Titans signed Calvin Ridley in free agency, but wide receiver remains a position of need.

Hunter is an insane talent; he could legitimately be a starter at cornerback or wide receiver in the NFL. If he picks wide receiver, this could be a fun fit, adding a lot of speed to Tennessee’s receiver room.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: T JOSH SIMMONS, OHIO STATE

We are double-dipping with Simmons on this list. Washington fans weren’t thrilled with the fact that their team didn’t address the offensive tackle position until selecting TCU’s Brandon Coleman in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, although he could be a starter for the team one day.

Simmons is about to enter his third straight season as a starter at left tackle, and I have been impressed by his blend of size, speed, length and technique throughout summer scouting.