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  • Real Madrid beat Dortmund to win 15th European Cup

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NFL

? Quarterback questions for all 32 teams

  • Dan GrazianoJun 11, 2025, 06:55 AM ET

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      Dan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now. He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels.

You’ve got quarterbacks, we’ve got questions.

No matter how rock-solid your favorite NFL team’s quarterback situation is right now, there’s still something about it that cries out for an answer this offseason. It might be about how he will play in 2025. It might be about the caliber of the offensive group around him. It might be about his contract. And it might even be as simple as the QB1’s identity.

As we inch closer to the start of training camps and the 2025 regular season, let’s provide answers to our annual 32 questions about 32 quarterbacks.

Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

Can the Kyler Murray-Marvin Harrison Jr. connection deliver on its first-round promise in Year 2?

Harrison’s rookie season was fine — 62 catches, 885 yards and eight touchdowns. But as the fourth pick of the 2024 draft and given his college performance, he was supposed to take the NFL by storm right out of the gate. Instead, he was the No. 2 option in the Cardinals’ passing game behind tight end Trey McBride.

More is expected in Harrison’s second season, and the same can be said of Murray in his seventh. Arizona made almost no changes on offense this offseason after finishing ninth in offensive EPA in 2024. The Cardinals beefed up on defense, hoping that will be enough to make them contenders. But Murray and the offense have to take a step forward if that’s to happen, and a breakout for Harrison will help.


Is there any shot we could see Atlanta go back to Kirk Cousins at some point, absent a Michael Penix Jr. injury?

The bulk of the offseason has come and gone, and Cousins is still with the Falcons — even though they’ve openly said Penix will be the starter in his second season. Cousins is making $27.5 million this season (and has $10 million guaranteed in 2026) to be a backup. If Penix struggles early — four of Atlanta’s first five games are against 2024 playoff teams and three of the team’s first six are in prime time — it could be tempting to go back to the veteran Cousins even after he disappointed last season. It’s the main reason the Falcons should have worked harder to unload Cousins this offseason.


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When will the next

Does Josh Allen need to repeat as MVP for the Bills to get to the Super Bowl?

Last season should have put to bed the questions about whether the Bills have enough around Allen on offense, as they finished second in the league in points (30.9 per game) behind only the Lions. Still, it’s inescapable that the only first-round offensive player they’ve drafted since taking Allen in 2018 is tight end Dalton Kincaid. The wide receiver group includes Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer. It’s on Allen and offensive coordinator Joe Brady to get the most out of this group, as they did a season ago.


Are we buying Bryce Young’s mini resurgence in the later parts of 2024?

In case you missed Carolina’s somewhat forgettable 2024 season, Young — the first pick in the 2023 draft — struggled so badly that he got benched for Andy Dalton early in the season and got the job back only because Dalton hurt his hand in a car accident. But from Week 8 to the end of the season, Young posted a solid 60.8 QBR and threw 15 touchdown passes to six interceptions. (He also ran for five touchdowns in that span.) Young got better as the season went along and finished with 10 total touchdowns and no interceptions in his last three games.

If you believe in Carolina coach Dave Canales, who revitalized Baker Mayfield as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator in 2023, then you have reason to hope Young’s breakout second half was a sign of things to come.


Is it already now or never for Caleb Williams?

Well, no. Williams was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft and has two more fully guaranteed years (plus an option season) on his contract after this one. Even if this year is a disappointment, Williams is likely to get more chances.

But it’s also fair to say the honeymoon period was very short and is officially over. Once it came out publicly that he didn’t want to play for the Bears at the start of the draft process, it was clear that the fan base won’t stay patient with him if he doesn’t seem to be getting it. A seemingly loaded offense with an improved offensive line under new coach Ben Johnson means Williams should have more than enough around him to succeed sooner rather than later.

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1:21

Peter Schrager: The pressure is on Caleb Williams in Year 2

Peter Schrager talks about the pressure Caleb Williams will face in his sophomore season with the Bears.


Is the Bengals’ defense improved enough to support Joe Burrow if he repeats his 2024 performance?

Burrow was ludicrously good in 2024, completing more than 70% of his passes, posting a higher QBR than anyone but Allen and Jackson (74.7) and throwing 48 touchdown passes to just nine interceptions. But a defense that finished 27th in defensive EPA rendered the offense’s performance irrelevant, as the Bengals finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs.

New defensive coordinator Al Golden should be able to overhaul some things and make improvements. But if the Trey Hendrickson contract dispute drags into the season, it’s going to be tough for Cincinnati to stop opposing offenses once again.


Can any of the Browns’ four QBs actually emerge as the answer?

Anything’s possible, but the minimal extent to which the Browns have invested resources in the quartet of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders leaves them in a position to recover if the answer turns out to be no.

Flacco’s guaranteed money is $3 million. Pickett’s is a little over $2.6 million. Neither is signed beyond 2025. Gabriel was a third-round pick, while Sanders was taken in the fifth round. Sure, the Browns still owe Deshaun Watson $92 million over the next two years, but there’s nothing they can do about that now, and they’re clearly looking for a post-Watson answer. Picking up an extra 2026 first-round pick in their draft day deal with the Jaguars puts them in position to move on from their entire QB room next year if they want to do so.


Which version of Dak Prescott will we get this season?

The Cowboys hope it’s the healthy version. Prescott has played six fully healthy seasons in his nine-year NFL career, and the Cowboys won the NFC East in four of those seasons. Even after losing Prescott to a hamstring injury midway through last season, Dallas still managed to finish 7-10.

Prescott is expected back healthy to start training camp, and the team added WR George Pickens to pair with top wideout CeeDee Lamb and expand Prescott’s options in the passing game. If the post-Zack Martin offensive line holds up the way the Cowboys expect, Dallas has plenty of reason to think it can contend with Philadelphia and Washington in the NFC East.


Can Bo Nix be the quarterback who ends Patrick Mahomes’ streak of seven straight AFC West titles?

Many have tried, all have failed. The Chiefs have won the division each of the past eight seasons, the past seven of which Mahomes has been their starting quarterback. Nix and the Broncos were a blocked field goal away from winning in Kansas City last season, and they made the playoffs with a 10-7 record.

This offseason, Denver has added veteran tight end Evan Engram and second-round rookie running back RJ Harvey to the offense, and a pair of Super Bowl-seasoned former 49ers defensive players in Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga to an already strong defense. The offensive line is good. The young WR group around Courtland Sutton shows promise. Nix shouldn’t have to worry about last September’s rookie growing pains anymore, too. The Broncos (as well as the Chargers) look poised to offer a real challenge to the Chiefs in what could be a very tough division.

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1:09

Why Graziano believes Chiefs will get challenged in AFC West this year

Dan Graziano and Mike Tannenbaum debate whether the Chiefs will win the AFC West for the 10th consecutive season.


Can Jared Goff overcome all of the changes in Detroit?

Three of Goff’s top four QBR seasons came the past three years with Ben Johnson as his offensive coordinator, and Johnson has left to coach the Bears. Several other members of the Lions’ coaching staff have moved on to other jobs, too. Center Frank Ragnow just retired.

The Lions have had a lot of success since Goff and coach Dan Campbell got there, and they should still be expected to be one of the top teams in the league. But things will look significantly different around Goff in some key aspects this season, and he’ll need to answer some of the questions himself.


Can Jordan Love reach another level?

Love has been very, very good as the Packers’ starter the past two years. He finished last season fifth in QBR (69.3) and threw 25 touchdown passes. But Green Bay’s 11-6 record in 2024 led only to a third-place finish in the brutally tough NFC North. The Packers lost in the second round of the playoffs two seasons ago and then the first round last season.

Again, Love has been very, very good, and the Packers have been very, very good with him. But they would certainly like to be championship good and progress toward that goal would be nice to see from Love and Green Bay in 2025.


What do the offensive coordinator and O-line changes mean for C.J. Stroud in Year 3?

Stroud’s outstanding rookie season came under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who conducted head coach interviews in the 2024 offseason as a result. But a surprising step back by the offense resulted in Slowik’s even more surprising firing this offseason, and Nick Caley comes in with a new scheme for Stroud to learn. Houston also overhauled its offensive line after allowing 54 sacks and finishing 22nd in pass block win rate. Gone is veteran left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and Stroud’s protection will look significantly different in 2025.

You could argue that all of this has to be a good thing, considering the way the offense performed last season. But this is still a lot of change for a QB who has won playoff games in each of his first two years and is expected to help elevate Houston into the top tier of AFC contenders sooner rather than later.


Have we seen the last of Anthony Richardson as the starter in Indianapolis?

The Colts already brought in veteran Daniel Jones to compete with Richardson for the starting QB role, and now Richardson is dealing with an injury to his throwing shoulder — the same one that ended his rookie season early in 2023. If Richardson continues to struggle with health issues and Jones shows he can operate the offense, it’s possible the Colts roll with Jones this season and look into moving on from Richardson — the fourth pick in the 2023 draft — as early as next offseason.

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1:28

Why Daniel Jones is Peter Schrager’s favorite’ for Comeback Player of the Year

Peter Schrager shares why he believes Daniel Jones could thrive in Indianapolis and take home Comeback Player of the Year honors.


How could Liam Coen jump-start Trevor Lawrence’s game?

QB-centric coaches often say that the first thing they work on when they get with a new quarterback is his feet. To that end, Coen has this offseason emphasized an overhaul of Lawrence’s footwork.

The idea is that everything about the offense works off the quarterback’s ability to time up his feet with the play that’s called. If Coen and Lawrence are already making positive progress on footwork, that bodes well for Lawrence’s chances of getting back on track.


What needs to happen for Patrick Mahomes’ stats to return to an elite level?

Well, it would certainly help if the Chiefs could protect him better. Can the combination of free agent signee Jaylon Moore and first-round rookie Josh Simmons help shore up the tackle position? Will second-year lineman Kingsley Suamataia be better at guard than he was last season at left tackle?

Getting Rashee Rice back from his knee injury will help the WR corps, as should a full season from Hollywood Brown. The Chiefs may never again be as explosive as they were in the early Mahomes days with Tyreek Hill, Kareem Hunt and prime Travis Kelce. But the offense has shown it can be efficient and effective when the O-line is right.


What should we expect from the Geno Smith-Chip Kelly pairing?

The Raiders acquired Smith, the well-traveled veteran quarterback, from the Seahawks in one of the sneaky-strong moves of the offseason. Based on the way he played the past couple of seasons in Seattle, Smith is probably the best QB addition any team made this spring or summer. Kelly, making his return to the NFL as Raiders’ offensive coordinator, has hit it off early with his new QB, with whom he’s apparently had a relationship for some time. And coach Pete Carroll was the Seahawks’ coach when Smith took over the starting QB job from Russell Wilson and outplayed everyone’s expectations.

This AFC West division had three playoff teams last season, and all three of them seem to be better this year, so it’s an uphill climb for the Raiders. But don’t be surprised if they make it tough on the teams that finished in front of them last year.


Is Justin Herbert’s protection going to be good enough?

The Chargers are working on a contract extension for left tackle Rashawn Slater, and while there doesn’t seem to be any reason to think it won’t get done, the longer it drags on, the more concerning it becomes. Newly signed Mekhi Becton is being counted on to be an upgrade at right guard, while Zion Johnson and Bradley Bozeman are rotating between left guard and center this offseason. Right tackle Joe Alt played well last season as a rookie, but there are some questions elsewhere along the line.

It feels like we can trust coach Jim Harbaugh and coordinator Greg Roman to get it figured out, especially if the Slater negotiations don’t result in any kind of holdout. A strong and reliable line is key to getting the most out of Herbert and his run game.


Catch up on the NFL offseason

• Offseason dates | OTAs and minicamps
• 10 lingering questions | 2025 schedules
• Draft pick analysis | Kiper’s draft grades
• Free agency grades | Top remaining FAs
Draft | Free agency | Coaching hires

Is this definitely the final year for Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles?

Remember when the offseason started with questions about whether Stafford was going to be traded to the Giants? Fun times. He wasn’t dealt, of course. He stayed with the Rams on a new contract that’ll pay him $40 million this year and then allow him and/or the team to go their separate ways next offseason. Rinse, repeat.

Stafford will turn 38 in February, and if he decided to retire, it’d be hard to blame him. But to try to predict what will happen feels foolish in a situation where the player and the team seem to have agreed to take it year-by-year. If the Rams had a clear-cut replacement on the roster, that might be a clue, but they don’t. Having two first-round picks in next year’s draft gives them the ability to find said replacement if they so choose. It’s hard to really answer the question of whether Stafford has one year or more than one year left, and there’s certainly no reason to say anything is definite.


Is this a make-or-break year for Tua Tagovailoa?

Not really, since he has $54 million in guaranteed money coming in 2026. But the Miami offense took a step back last season, and the Dolphins missed the playoffs for the first time in three years under coach Mike McDaniel. Tagovailoa’s 60.3 QBR ranked 15th. How and whether Tagovailoa and McDaniel recover from a down year will go a long way toward determining how pointed next offseason’s questions will be about Tagovailoa.


Should we expect immediate success for J.J. McCarthy just because of the Kevin O’Connell effect?

Kirk Cousins had one of the better seasons of his career in 2022 under O’Connell, who was in his first year as the Vikings’ coach. O’Connell got something out of guys like Joshua Dobbs and Nick Mullens after Cousins got hurt in 2023. Sam Darnold revived his career under O’Connell last year. So it’s clear why hopes are high for McCarthy, even after he missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury. We have no reason to doubt O’Connell based on what we’ve seen in his first three seasons in Minnesota.


Does Drake Maye have the supporting cast to make the Patriots a playoff team in Year 2?

After landing Mike Vrabel as their coach, the Patriots got to work building up the roster infrastructure around Maye, who showed a great deal of promise after taking over as the starting QB six weeks into his rookie season. The offensive line looks like it will be a lot better (it sort of has to be, right?). But there are still questions about the wide receiver group after the Pats swung and missed on Chris Godwin in free agency and ended up with Stefon Diggs off a torn ACL. Joining Diggs are DeMario Douglas and rookie Kyle Williams.


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Is this a real QB1 competition?

When the Saints drafted Tyler Shough in the second round and then Derek Carr retired a few months later, it certainly was fair to assume Shough would be in line to take over as the starter. And he absolutely might be the QB1. But there are people in the Saints’ building who like Spencer Rattler and want to give him a chance to compete with Shough for the starting job. And so far this offseason, Rattler has shown improvement over his poor 2024 rookie performance.

As of now, expect the Saints to set up training camp as a true competition between Shough and Rattler. Could Shough have the edge as the player the new coaching staff drafted with the 40th pick? Absolutely. But it doesn’t sound like anything is already a done deal.


Can the Giants resist Jaxson Dart temptation all season?

Every year, it seems there’s at least one team telling us it wants to sit its rookie quarterback as long as possible — all year if necessary. The Giants signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to make double sure they had capable veteran options while Dart developed into an NFL-ready starter.

But the reality is, it rarely works out. Last season’s Patriots were starting Jacoby Brissett and saying many of the same things, but they were so bad early on that Drake Maye took over the starting job in Week 6. Unless the Giants are scoring points and winning games at a surprising rate early in the season, it feels inevitable that they reach a point where it’s time to see what Dart can do.


Is Justin Fields a bridge to the 2026 draft … or a potential longer-term solution?

It sounds like the Jets are going to give Fields a real chance to answer this question, one way or the other. They certainly haven’t ruled out the idea that he can be their long-term starter at quarterback. He’s still only 26 years old and has a unique combination of experience and upside. That said, the $10 million in guaranteed money on his contract for 2026 won’t stand in the way of the team drafting or acquiring someone it sees as a better option next spring if Fields doesn’t play well enough to convince it otherwise.


How will the Eagles’ annual coordinator change affect Jalen Hurts this time?

The 2022 Eagles reached the Super Bowl with Shane Steichen as offensive coordinator, but then Steichen got hired to coach the Colts, and Hurts and the Philly offense regressed badly in 2023 under Brian Johnson. The Eagles brought in Kellen Moore last season, built one of the all-time great run games and won the Super Bowl as a result. But now Moore is coach of the Saints, and Kevin Patullo has been promoted to offensive coordinator.

Underestimating Hurts is clearly a foolish endeavor at this point, but he and the team are surely hoping things go better than they did the last time they promoted from within to fill the coordinator spot.


Does Aaron Rodgers really make the Steelers an AFC contender?

Honestly, I don’t see how Rodgers’ signing makes a big difference. If the Steelers really think their 2025 season just got saved by signing a QB who was 25th in QBR, 26th in completion percentage and 13th in TD/INT ratio last season, won five games and got released by the Jets, they have to step back and ask themselves what they’re doing. A 41-year-old Rodgers may not make the Steelers substantially better than they were without him, and even if he does, they’re likely to still be looking for their QB answer next offseason.

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2:01

RC: Rodgers is an upgrade, not a championship solution for Steelers

Ryan Clark weighs in on Aaron Rodgers being an upgrade for Pittsburgh to compete, but not enough to win a championship.


Is all the pressure on Brock Purdy now that he got that contract?

It was an offseason of change in San Francisco, where the 49ers said goodbye to receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and a couple of key defensive stars. The Niners are carrying more than $92 million in dead money on their cap this season for players no longer on the roster, as they decided to use 2025 to reset their spending while granting a five-year, $265 million contract to Purdy.

The whole plan indicates that they’ll be asking even more of Purdy, who has been more than they ever could have expected when they took him with the last pick of the 2022 draft. This roster still has Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, so it’s not like it’s all on Purdy’s shoulders. But this offseason of change is a sign of things to come. Those guys won’t all be around forever, and the pivot into the future will depend on Purdy’s ability to continue to deliver as a high-level franchise QB — even as the players around him shift and change.


What happens if the Sam Darnold resurrection wasn’t real?

The somewhat tepid market for Darnold in free agency indicates that there was a fair bit of skepticism around the league about the sustainability of his breakout 2024 season. Seattle got a pretty nice deal — three years, $100.5 million and just $37.5 million guaranteed — and if Darnold does play the way he did in Minnesota, it’ll look like a massive steal. If Darnold reverts to the jittery, turnover-prone ways of his early career, Seattle is likely in for a rough campaign. But at least the Seahawks aren’t committed to him beyond this season.

Drew Lock and third-round rookie Jalen Milroe are the other options on the roster if Darnold falters. As of now, coach Mike Macdonald has been very clear Darnold is the starter and that it would take an injury to change that. Expect Darnold to get the year, or at least the bulk of it, to prove that 2024 was not a fluke.


Is Baker Mayfield underpaid?

The three-year contract that Mayfield signed with the Bucs last offseason pays him $33.3 million per year. He has $30 million coming this season and $40 million in 2026, though none of the 2026 money is guaranteed. The deal is certainly nothing to sneeze at, but consider that the top of the QB market right now is $55 to $60 million per year. Consider also that no quarterback in the NFL has thrown more touchdown passes over the past two regular seasons than Mayfield (69).

If Mayfield has another big season — with a third different offensive coordinator in three years — he could be in line for an even bigger contract extension next offseason.


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How soon can Cameron Ward live up to his No. 1 draft pick status?

The Titans were convinced on Ward early in the process. Coach Brian Callahan was instrumental in Joe Burrow’s transition to the league when he was the Bengals’ offensive coordinator in 2020. Is Ward’s rookie season going to look anything like Burrow’s first year did before suffering a season-ending knee injury? Is Ward going to struggle to acclimate? Have the Titans built a strong enough infrastructure around Ward to help him succeed early in his career? And what would success even look like for this season’s Titans?

Tennessee is at the beginning of something, but the fans and the coaching staff certainly would like to see a glimpse this season to give them confidence in a quick turnaround.


Will we be talking about Jayden Daniels in the MVP race this season?

The second pick of the 2024 draft, Daniels was a revelation as a rookie, leading the Commanders all the way to the NFC Championship Game. Washington added Laremy Tunsil at left tackle and Deebo Samuel Sr. at wide receiver. It kept the coaching staff together. And it now enters Daniels’ second season with high hopes to go even further. (Not that there’s much further it could go!) Will the league figure out Daniels in Year 2, or will he build on his historic rookie season and establish himself as one of the NFL’s elites right away?

NFL

Run-heavy Steelers aim for balance with Rodgers

  • Brooke PryorJun 11, 2025, 05:04 PM ET

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      Brooke Pryor is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2019. She previously covered the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and the University of Oklahoma for The Oklahoman.

PITTSBURGH — Even football marriages are all about compromise. Under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the Steelers had the fourth-most rushing attempts in 2024. Meanwhile, new Steelers quarterback — and newlywed — Aaron Rodgers attempted the second-most passes in his previous stop with the Jets in that same span.

Smith, though, downplayed concerns about marrying the two seemingly different offensive philosophies now that the two coexist in Pittsburgh.

“You’d love to be more balanced,” Smith said, speaking publicly for the first time since Rodgers signed. “You’re not obvious in how you want to attack this defense, what you think their strengths and weaknesses are. That’s the game that’s played every Sunday. … we didn’t bring Aaron in here — and signed DK [Metcalf] for all that money — to go run the wishbone. So, you know, you try to play to the strengths of your team.”

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Though the Steelers leaned on the run game, they weren’t especially efficient. The team averaged just 4.1 yards per carry, tied for 26th in the league last season. The Jets offense averaged 4.3 yards per carry, but they ran the ball 170 fewer times.

Some of that, of course, is dictated by game circumstance, and the Jets frequently played from behind during the 2024 season. But during Rodgers’ tenure in Green Bay, his offenses were also heavy on pass plays. From 2008 to 2022, the Packers ran the fourth-fewest run plays in the league, according to ESPN Research.

Still, Smith expressed confidence in adapting his offense to this year’s roster.

“Our job, especially as a coach, is to play to the strengths of your players,” Smith said. “We have our foundation things that don’t change, but whether you lean into certain schemes, year after year, you adapt again to the personnel you’ve got. That’s what we try to do, ultimately, to win games and set guys up for success.”

Smith not only is working to adapt his scheme to Rodgers but also will be tasked with deciding just how much freedom Rodgers has to change the playcalls at the line of scrimmage.

The quarterback’s ability to do that in Smith’s offense last season was a point of contention. Smith, though, disputed that narrative Wednesday.

“I know that’s a hot button issue here,” Smith said. “… Every quarterback is different. Every offensive scheme is different. … our issue at the end of the year was we weren’t good enough. And as a leader, you take accountability, and that’s on you, but there’s multiple issues, and we have to be playing our best at the end of the year. … That’s where you have to be accountable as a leader. And so obviously, we’ll have a different setup this year. Roster-wise, obviously new players, DK, Aaron, some of the other guys we brought in:

As he worked with different coaches in his previous stops, Rodgers was vocal in wanting to maintain the ability to adjust the calls as needed. On Tuesday, though, in his first news conference as a Steeler, the quarterback bristled at a question about being able to call audibles in Smith’s offense.

“I don’t understand that last term, ‘take over when I see fit,'” Rodgers said, responding to the question. “I’ve called some two minutes over the years. But the idea that somehow I need to, or have spent most of my career playing outside of an offensive system, is just not correct.

“I’m going to learn the offense, and Arthur and I are going to talk a bunch this summer. If there’s things that I like that I’d like to see in the offense, Arthur, I’m sure, is going to put it in. He knows how to call a game. I know how to get us in the right spot based on what’s called. There’s two or three plays called in the huddle sometimes. My job is to get us in the right play.”

NFL

Saquon hurdles Mahomes to lead in merch sales

Jun 11, 2025, 01:04 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley hurdled to the top of the NFL’s year-end list for retail sales, the NFLPA announced Wednesday.

The Super Bowl LIX champion and 2024 NFL rushing leader became the first running back since 2017 to finish No. 1 on the chart, which tracked the sales of officially licensed player products from March 1, 2024, to Feb. 28, 2025.

Going beyond jersey sales, the rankings included more than 85 licensed products, including apparel, bobbleheads, accessories, figurines, wall decals, backpacks and drinkware.

“It is the most comprehensive and up-to-date snapshot of player-driven consumer demand, offering a strong indicator of the NFL’s most marketable and influential athletes — impacting everything from endorsements to overall earning potential,” the NFLPA said in a release.

Falling short to Barkley, just as his Kansas City Chiefs did in February’s Super Bowl, quarterback Patrick Mahomes was No. 2 on the list. He was in the top five for the seventh consecutive year.

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Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts finished third, followed by fellow signal-callers Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders), C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans) and 2024 league MVP Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills).

At No. 7, Lions pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson was the highest-ranked defensive player. Detroit teammate and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was next, with Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons and Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson rounding out the top 10.

The NFLPA did not provide specific sales figures.

NFL

NFL minicamp 2025 live updates: Saquon Barkley refreshed, ready to run it back

  • NFL NationJun 10, 2025, 06:10 PM ET

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      NFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.

The NFL’s 2025 mandatory minicamps have kicked into full gear this week. ESPN’s NFL reporters are on the ground to provide information on position battles, notable appearances from new faces, compelling quotes from coaches and players and give updates on injuries and holdout situations.

We will have updates every day of camp to keep you informed on all the latest Here’s what you need to know from Tuesday camps across the league:

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ATL | BUF | CAR | CIN | CLE
DAL | DEN | GB | JAX

LV | MIA | MIN | NO
NYJ | PHI | SF | TB | WSH

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What our NFL Nation reporters saw today

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow spent some extra time on the practice field getting some throws in after Day 1 of the team’s mandatory minicamp. When he spoke to reporters afterwards, he said the bonus throws were to help him get into a rhythm ahead of the upcoming season. And he also referenced the surgery on the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist in 2023 and how he is still working on his throwing motion.

“I talked about last year still wasn’t quite back to throwing it the way that I expect,” Burrow said. “That’s improved this year.” Burrow believes things such as his throwing motion and the efficiency in his release will get better with more reps. For Burrow, seeing that improvement is “addicting.”

“That’s exciting for me to feel that improvement. That’s what keeps you coming back,” he said. All of those things could play a key role in the Bengals playing well at the start of the season.


Bills quarterback Josh Allen returned to practice after missing voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) last week. The reason? The new jewelry on his left ring finger.

Allen married his fiancée, Hailee Steinfeld, on May 31, but said he’s used to wearing the band. “We’re back to football, got some hardware now,” Allen said smiling. If there’s an offseason competition, Allen is doing pretty well — also winning MVP and receiving a record-setting extension.

Coach Sean McDermott noted how it was impressive that Allen was the first one at meetings they had with players on Monday.

“It’s been fun to watch him grow, but really appreciate him being here, because this is his team,” McDermott said. “He is our unquestioned leader … and what he does is, first and foremost, lead by example.” — Alaina Getzenberg


Eagles running back Saquon Barkley set a career high with 345 carries during the regular season and added 91 more during their Super Bowl run, but said his body isn’t dealing the effects.

“I feel really good,” Barkley said as Philadelphia wrapped its one-day minicamp. “I feel like I’m entering my prime.”

Barkley said he took some time off and made sure not to overdo it in his training post-Super Bowl to recover from the long season. He set the all-time single-season rushing record, including playoffs, last season and capped the campaign by securing his first Lombardi Trophy, but remains hungry for more.

“The thing that drives me is the same thing that’s driven me since I was a little kid. I’ve said this since I’ve gotten into the league and I don’t mean it in an arrogant way: I want to be the best running back to ever play, or at least one of the best running backs to ever play. The love of the game, wanting to win and wanting to compete and wanting to be great is always going to push me no matter if we win four Super Bowls.” — Tim McManus


Broncos coach Sean Payton has consistently said how much he favors big-framed wide receivers in his offense and the benefits for quarterback Bo Nix were on display Tuesday. Courtland Sutton and rookie Pat Bryant — two of the six wide receivers on the current roster who are at least 6-foot-2 — made two of the most notable catches in drills in the first mandatory minicamp practice. The Broncos know opposing defensive coordinators will try to force Nix to work areas of the field he may not want to, so having physical receivers — plus new tight end Evan Engram — who can routinely win contested catches along the sidelines and in the red zone will help Nix navigate his second second year.

“Very long, great hands, it makes it tough … and they can line up anywhere,” Broncos safety Brandon Jones said. — Jeff Legwold


The arrival of defensive end Bryce Huff in last week’s trade with the Eagles has the 49ers dreaming of reclaiming the dominant pass rush they had in their 2019 run to the Super Bowl. The early returns indicate that Huff could bring a speed element off the edge the Niners have been lacking. In fact, both left tackle Trent Williams and coach Kyle Shanahan invoked the name of the last speedy edge rusher to truly complement Nick Bosa as a means of comparison for Huff. “When you talk about just getting off the ball and how fast he does it, he will be our best get off the ball guy we’ve had since Dee Ford,” Shanahan said. “It’s good to beat tackles that way, but also widens tackles to help with the inside pass rush and things like that and he affects the quarterback.” — Nick Wagoner


During team and seven-on-seven drills, the connection between quarterback Dak Prescott and newly-acquired receiver George Pickens was spot-on. They hooked up for five completions, including a deep out and a yards-after-catch on a drag that had Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb meeting Pickens well down the field. It was also a good day for receiver Jonathan Mingo, acquired midseason last year, who got a go ball from Prescott. — Todd Archer


Las Vegas Raiders starting left tackle Kolton Miller, who briefly held out of the voluntary offseason workout program due to a contract dispute, made a clear message after the first day of mandatory minicamp: He wants to be a Raider for life.

“I don’t want to go anywhere else,” he said Tuesday.

Miller is entering the final year of a three-year, $54 million contract extension that he signed in 2021. He has a cap hit of $15.68 million in 2025 but doesn’t have any guaranteed money left on his current deal.

Miller elected not to skip the team’s organized team activity practices and minicamp because he’s excited about the culture coach Pete Carroll is trying to establish and wants to continue his role as a leader on the offensive line.

Miller has been a solid presence on the Raiders’ offensive line since they took him in the first round of the 2018 draft. The former UCLA lineman has started in 107 of 109 career games in the Silver and Black.

“I’ve been here a long time. And Pete is preaching competition,” Miller said. “We got to make everyone better, including the young guys. So I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing and lead the guys.”

The Raiders have demonstrated a willingness to secure key players on long-term contracts. Defensive end Maxx Crosby, quarterback Geno Smith and punter AJ Cole have received contract extensions during the offseason. — Ryan McFadden


The first day of mandatory minicamp ended with Hunter Renfrow catching a deep pass over the shoulder from backup quarterback Andy Dalton. It’s another sign the former Raiders receiver is coming back strong from missing last season with ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune disease that almost ended his career. It’s also a sign of just how deep the Panthers are at receiver with Renfrow way down the list behind Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. “Every day you see him shine in different ways,” coach Dave Canales said of Renfrow.

“To see him attack a zone, attack leverage off of different releases, it’s so cool because you can coach off that stuff. He makes plays every day.” — David Newton

Panthers coach Dave Canales loves the way wide receiver Hunter Renfrow impresses in his comeback from ulcerative colitis. On Tuesday it included a catch on a deep ball to end practice. pic.twitter.com/bAr2Yfj79L

— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) June 10, 2025


The Packers might have a Travis Hunter of their own, and his name is Bo Melton.

The backup receiver, who has played in 22 games the last two seasons in Green Bay, not only played his regular position, but he also flipped over to the other side of the ball and played some cornerback during Tuesday’s minicamp practice. It was partially out of necessity after cutting Jaire Alexander and being down a couple of injured corners (Kalen King and Micah Robinson), but coach Matt LaFleur seemed to genuinely believe Melton could play both ways.

Sure enough, within the same team period, Melton caught a pass from Jordan Love and also tried to break up one intended for tight end Tucker Kraft.

Yes that’s receiver Bo Melton playing cornerback. He’s still wearing the white offense jersey. pic.twitter.com/ssv7aSSEE7

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) June 10, 2025

“That was definitely confusing,” Love said.

Melton’s brother, Max, is a second-year cornerback with the Cardinals, and Matt LaFleur joked that this was Bo’s chance to show he’s the better defender.

“I know obviously there’s a lot of attention with Hunter down there in Jacksonville with what he’s doing [playing both ways],” LaFleur said. “So we just kind of presented it to him and he said he was up for the challenge.” — Rob Demovsky


Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill caught passes in position drills — the first time we’ve seen him do so since he had surgery on his wrist earlier this offseason. Coach Mike McDaniel told reporters at the combine that the goal was for Hill to be ready by the summer, and he appears to be on pace for that. Hill didn’t participate in team drills but this was still a positive step forward for the receiver after a down year in 2024. — Marcel Louis-Jacques


Cornerback Marshon Lattimore attended an offseason workout for the first time during the mandatory minicamp. He and tackle Laremy Tunsil both participated after skipping the voluntary OTA sessions — though Tunsil had at least worked out here earlier in the offseason. Lattimore looked as you would expect: he got in trouble a couple times by aggressively biting on a fake — once vs. receiver Luke McCaffrey — and other times he broke hard on a receiver to take away an option. But the key for Lattimore — way beyond how he looks in June — is if he performs at a higher level in the season. And if he stays healthy. Lattimore has only played in 26 games the past three years combined. — John Keim

Marshon Lattimore in the tip drill: pic.twitter.com/6yU0kypCvC

— John Keim (@john_keim) June 10, 2025


The Saints got some key veterans back who weren’t at the team’s previous spring OTAs. Tyrann Mathieu and Alvin Kamara both returned after skipping the voluntary portion of the offseason, along with safety J.T. Gray and defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd. This is Mathieu’s first practice time since signing a renegotiated contract that lowered his salary.

“I probably could’ve went somewhere else, but I think for me, it’s all about my community, and my family, and just trying to pour into that as much as I can,” he said. “Outside of football, the big reason I’m here is community.”

Taysom Hill was also in attendance for the first time and watched off to the side with tight end Foster Moreau, both of whom are dealing with serious knee injuries. Kellen Moore declined to answer if Hill could participate in training camp in July, saying “that timeline is still pretty far away and we’ll worry about that when it gets there, but he’s been impressive through this whole process.” — Katherine Terrell


The Vikings got a welcome sight Tuesday on the first day of mandatory minicamp. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw participated in position drills for the first time since tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee in October 2024.

Darrisaw is not yet cleared to participate in team drills, and that isn’t likely to happen anytime soon. Initial timetables suggested that he would not be ready for a full practice at the start of training camp and would be pressed to be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. The Vikings signed a new swing tackle during free agency, Justin Skule, and he has been working in Darrisaw’s spot during 11-on-11 drills this spring.

As Vikings Entertainment Network posted, Christian Darrisaw was back on the field today at minicamp for the first time since tearing his ACL and MCL last fall. pic.twitter.com/22yAjvV4Pw

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) June 10, 2025

It’s not yet clear if Darrisaw’s recovery time has sped up. Every knee injury is different, but for reference, tight end T.J. Hockenson returned 315 days after suffering a similar injury to his right knee. — Kevin Seifert


Leaguewide, several players seeking new contracts are skipping mandatory minicamp. There’s none of that with the Jets. They have a handful of players who would like new contracts — most notably, cornerback Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson — but their Day 1 attendance was 100%, according to coach Aaron Glenn. The presence of Gardner and Wilson reflects the positive vibes that have emanated from Glenn’s first offseason. He’s trying to change the culture, and it certainly helps to have buy-in from two of the best players on the team.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about with other guys holding out (around the league), but our guys come to compete — and that’s who they are,” Glenn said. “Listen, I don’t take that lightly, either. I’m appreciative, but I know how they’re built, too. Those guys come to work.”

Wilson, in particular, had a good day on the field. Reunited with former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, Wilson made three sideline catches in the first 11-on-11 period, including a nifty toe-tap along the boundary on an off-platform throw by Fields. — Rich Cimini


Tight end Kyle Pitts was in the building Tuesday, but not outside practicing due to an injury, according to head coach Raheem Morris. Pitts has been banged up this spring and missed OTAs practices, as well. The mercurial former No. 4 overall pick, who has dealt with injuries and inconsistency, is going into a contract year and Morris said he feels good about Pitts and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. jelling in 2024.

“[Pitts] has very high standards for himself and I feel really good about those two working together and absolutely getting a better result,” Morris said.

Pitts had a historic rookie season in 2021, but has not found that level since. Falcons Pro Bowl right guard Chris Lindstrom said it’s a collective goal for Atlanta to have the best offense in the NFL this season. If that comes to fruition, Pitts will have to be a big part of it. — Marc Raimondi


Rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders continue to show improved comfort in the Browns’ offense as Cleveland’s four-way QB competition progresses into mandatory minicamp.

Sanders’ first pass of team drills went for a deep touchdown, while Gabriel threw one of his best passes of the spring, lofting a high-arching pass into the end zone for a score during red zone drills.

Gabriel up next. Finds Jamari Thrash for the TD. One of his best throws of the spring. pic.twitter.com/iGfci2Tiqq

— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) June 10, 2025

“These guys are all well coached when we get them, but there’s things in the NFL game, just the rules are different in some areas. So I think all these guys are making really good progress,” coach Kevin Stefanski said after practice. — Daniel Oyefusi


Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was dealing with what head coach Liam Coen called “general soreness” in his right arm, but Coen said there is no concern about an injury.

Lawrence — who had offseason surgery to repair a sprained AC joint in his left (non-throwing) shoulder — was still a full participant in the first day of the Jaguars’ three-day minicamp. He wore a sleeve on his throwing arm, which he also did last week.

“We threw a lot of balls last week and really leading up into he feels good [and] he said it wasn’t really an issue,” Coen said. “It was more sometimes when you just have something to keep it warm, just helps any type of thrower. So I think that was more just maintenance than it is anything that’s really bothering him.” — Mike DiRocco


The Bucs’ red zone defense won the day. Linebacker Haason Reddick notched what would have been a sack on quarterback Baker Mayfield working against Luke Goedeke. Veteran linebacker Anthony Nelson also notched a would-be sack, as did rookie Elijah Roberts. Plus, safety Tykee Smith was able to strip the ball from Jalen McMillan in the end zone to prevent a touchdown. — Jenna Laine

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