Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010.
OXNARD, Calif. — As Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones spoke to the crowd before Saturday’s practice, a number of fans yelled some fashion of “Pay Micah!”
Yes, Jones heard the yearning for the Cowboys to sign Micah Parsons to a contract extension.
“I heard it light, but not compared to how I heard them say, ‘Pay Lamb [last year],'” Jones said on Sunday of the CeeDee Lamb negotiations from last year. “That was a faint little sound compared to the way they were hollering last year, ‘Pay Lamb.’ … Whoever’s not in, you can count on a few hollering that. But it was a big loud chant last year on Lamb.”
The Cowboys eventually signed Lamb to a $136 million contract in late August after the Cowboys returned to The Star in Frisco, Texas, from their summer home in Oxnard.
Jones was asked if there was an update on the Parsons talks after the organization signed tight end Jake Ferguson to a four-year contract worth up to $52 million on Sunday.
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“Really I don’t have anything to comment there at all,” Jones said. “Just no comment.”
Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the Cowboys would keep all Parsons discussions “in-house.” But he, too, heard the fans Saturday.
“It doesn’t change anything,” he said. “We want to pay Micah, too. He’s got to want to be paid, too.”
The Cowboys’ talks with Ferguson intensified not long before training camp before coming to an agreement Saturday night on a deal that includes $30 million guaranteed and a $12 million signing bonus.
“People say, ‘Oh, there’s other spots you could go,'” Ferguson said. “I remember sitting down, [thinking], ‘I don’t want to be anywhere else.’ Playing here is awesome. From the start, it’s been a privilege to wear this star.”
A fourth-round pick in 2022, Ferguson has 149 catches for 1,429 yards and 7 touchdowns in 47 games. His best season came in 2023 when he caught 71 passes for 761 yards and 5 touchdowns and was added as a replacement to the Pro Bowl for San Francisco’s George Kittle.
Ferguson and Jason Witten are the only tight ends in team history to record two 50-plus-catch seasons in their first three seasons. Last season, Ferguson caught 59 passes for 494 yards but did not score a touchdown. He suffered a sprained MCL in the season-opening win against the Cleveland Browns that limited him for most of the first half of the season. In the second half of the season, he missed two games with a concussion.
“We certainly have appreciated what he’s been in his career with us, not only as the player we want out there but he’s also a leader competitively,” Jerry Jones said. “What he does he really does juice it up for everybody. And that’s a consensus of all his teammates and coaches. So we’re glad to have him. He’s got a home here for his career.”
Ferguson is not the only player the Cowboys would like to have a home for their careers.
In addition to Parsons, the Cowboys have other players they would like to extend, like left guard Tyler Smith, who is under contract through 2026, cornerback DaRon Bland and potentially wide receiver George Pickens. Pro Bowl kicker Brandon Aubrey is set to be a restricted free agent after the season.
One football axiom is takeaways come in bunches. Could new deals come in bunches for the Cowboys?
“They can,” Stephen Jones said. “I mean we still obviously got a lot going on. You don’t really like to talk about them until they’re done. I would’ve told you this deal [Ferguson] may have gotten done before camp started. But you just got to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s. Everybody’s got to get comfortable, and you go from there.”
Matt Miller is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. A Missouri native, Matt joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Matt spent 11 years as a senior draft analyst at Bleacher Report.
There will be plenty of movement in the rankings between now and the start of the 2026 NFL draft next April, but teams are already setting up their boards. That’s where this exercise comes in, as I’m dissecting the early buzz and taking a look at the best players by position.
This isn’t my knee-jerk opinion. Along with doing my early film study of the prospects in this class, I talked to scouts and personnel executives around the NFL to form this list. In those discussions, I attempt to answer a few questions: Who’s on top of another deep edge rusher class? Which talented offensive tackle gets the nod right now? And we’ll address the Arch Manning phenomenon and whether he’ll be in the class of 2026.
Let’s get started at quarterback, where a few signal-callers are in the mix to be the QB1.
Jump to position: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | IOL DT | Edge | LB | CB | S
Quarterbacks
Before we get into it, let’s talk about Arch Manning. The Texas third-year sophomore is one of the hottest names in college football; he might be the face of the sport despite having only two starts under his belt. Manning is an electric talent and a promising pro prospect, but he has not proved himself NFL-ready just yet. Scouts agree, with every evaluator polled for this piece believing Manning will not leave Texas following the 2025 season — no matter the team’s level of success.
Now to the other quarterbacks. For the second year in a row, there is no clear-cut QB1 entering the season. This class doesn’t feature a prospect drawing the praise that Caleb Williams or Trevor Lawrence did, but we can’t forget about the rise of Jayden Daniels and Cameron Ward in back-to-back seasons as fifth-year starters. Scouts are keeping their eyes peeled for up-and-comers such as Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, but the current top quarterbacks both play in the South.
Klubnik finished his junior season on a tear. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound passer is smart and can carve up defenses when he gets into a rhythm — much as he did against Texas in the College Football Playoff, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns in a loss. Klubnik finished the season with 36 touchdown passes and six interceptions, a massive improvement from his 19-9 ratio in 2023.
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Could LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina make a splash this season?
Kirk Herbstreit joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to break down why South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Florida’s DJ Lagway are two quarterbacks to keep an eye on during the college football season.
Nussmeier, whose father is Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, showed in his first season as a starter that he has the arm talent and moxie to make big plays down the field. With four years of experience, the 6-2 and 200-pound QB is a player scouts believe can break out as he gets more starting reps.
“Nussmeier is the one that I’m most excited about because he’s so accurate and quick with his decision-making,” an AFC East area scout said.
That scout, and the rest of us, will be watching Aug. 30 when the two quarterbacks face each other at Clemson.
“Klubnik needs to prove he can elevate that offense consistently and not just be a point guard,” an AFC South area scout said. “Nussmeier has the bigger arm, he’s more dynamic as a mover and his upside is higher.”
A scout from the NFC West added: “Klubnik may have the cleaner résumé, but Nussmeier has the NFL starter skill set.”
It is a wide-open race. For now, I’m rolling with Klubnik as the best of the bunch, but I’m excited to see Mendoza in a new offense and Sellers in Year 2.
My early pick for the top QB: Klubnik
Running backs
The running back class in 2026 is a fun one, headlined by a Notre Dame rusher coming off a 17-touchdown season — but he could face stiff competition for RB1.
Love returns to South Bend fresh off a 1,125-yard season, though a postseason right knee injury limited him to 68 yards in the team’s final three games. His 98-yard run against Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals showed the vision, power and burst he typically employs. Now healthy, Love has the total package to be an elite NFL prospect at 6 feet, 206 pounds.
“Love is far and away the best back in the class,” an NFL general manager said. “Probably in college, period. At least on offense, he holds the largest gap between prospect No. 1 and prospect No. 2 at any position.”
The RB2 is debatable, thanks to a plethora of talented backs, with many of them forming strong duos. Texas features Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter, while Penn State’s pair of Singleton and Kaytron Allen look to be the 2025 version of Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson.
Singleton appears poised to break through thanks to his all-around game. At 6 feet and 227 pounds, the senior has power for days and the downhill speed to run away from defenders. He also has three-down versatility, with 41 receptions for five scores last season.
“Love is the guy, but Singleton might be a sneaky RB1 for teams that want some power and pop but value the passing game,” said a former NFL GM who still consults for clubs. “Chicago or New England, for example, are ideal fits for him.”
My early pick for the top RB: Love
Wide receivers
If you believe we’ve been in a golden era of wide receiver prospects, I won’t argue. But after seeing another pass catcher drafted in the top 10 last year (Tetairoa McMillan at No. 8), we might get a break from elite wideouts in 2026, barring a major breakout season.
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There are multiple candidates to be that player, and the discussion starts with Tyson, thanks to his skills and the situation around him. At 6-1 and 195 pounds, Tyson is a downfield burner who caught 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns from quarterback Sam Leavitt.
Tyson’s biggest issue? Drops. He had seven last season and must clean that up to achieve WR1 status.
“Tyson makes the hardest catches look easy and the easiest catches look hard,” a rival Big 12 coach said. “He has legit NFL talent, first-round talent even, but that’s my holdup on proclaiming him a first-round guy.”
Battling Tyson for top honors is a handful of talented receivers, but no definitive competitor. That could change if Lemon lives up to the hype he has generated this summer. The 5-11, 190-pound junior showed flashes with 52 catches, 764 yards and 3 scores in 2024, but both he and the USC offense were inconsistent. That hasn’t stopped scouts from praising what he could become in 2025.
“Lemon is my pick for a breakout guy,” an NFC South area scout said. “He closed out so good last year [133 yards against Notre Dame, 99 against Texas A&M], and the USC offense should be better all-around this year. That’ll help him get more one-on-one looks.”
For now, Tyson gets the nod, but he and Lemon will see a push from players such as Isaiah Horton (Alabama), Antonio Williams (Clemson), Eric Singleton Jr. (Auburn), Denzel Boston (Washington) and Elijah Sarratt (Indiana).
My early pick for the top WR: Tyson
Tight ends
The 2025 draft saw two tight ends picked in the top 14 and five in the top 50, marking another strong year for the position. Though we are unlikely to see two tight ends drafted as early in 2026, the class should have plenty of top-100 talents.
Leading the class is Stowers. At 6-4 and 225 pounds, he might not have traditional in-line tight end size, but he has elite movement ability as a route runner and offers flexibility in his alignments.
A creative team can play Stowers anywhere from H-back to slot receiver. Scouts are torn on his ideal usage, though, and questions remain about his ability to win against top-tier teams.
“He’s just like Harold Fannin Jr. was last year,” one AFC West area scout said. “Small guy with good quicks, but he disappears when pressed, and he’s not a fit for a lot of schemes. He’s a big slot only. He’ll never play on the line of scrimmage.”
Others love Stowers’ versatility, with an NFC South scout calling him the “clear-cut TE1 in this class.”
With Terrance Ferguson’s success last season, Oregon’s offense is evolving into somewhat of a tight end pipeline to the NFL. Up next is Sadiq, a 6-3, 245-pound junior who showed potential last season while catching two touchdowns on 24 receptions as the team’s No. 2 tight end.
Sadiq’s experience as a high school receiver is apparent in his route running, and he’s too fast for most linebackers or safeties.
“If you want a breakout player, it’s [Sadiq]. Especially with Evan Stewart hurt [he tore a patellar tendon in early June], Sadiq is primed to blow up,” an AFC West scout said.
It’s a tough battle between two very different players, but Stowers’ résumé gives him the early edge.
My early pick for the top TE: Stowers
Offensive tackles
We saw three offensive tackles drafted in the top 10 in April, but the 2026 class might actually have better talent. And these three are the headliners of an exciting group.
“I loved last year’s class, but each of the top dogs were guys who might be guards long term,” an NFL general manager said. “This year? We’ve got real-deal tackles.”
The first of those real-deal tackles is Fano. An elite run blocker, Fano has played left and right tackle for the Utes. At 6-6 and 302 pounds, he has the balance and agility to man the edge of an NFL offensive line even if there are already whispers about arm length concerns. Fano, who has started 24 games, saw his sacks allowed drop from three in 2023 to only one in 2024, as he switched from the left side to the right.
Proctor is the biggest (6-7, 360 pounds) and strongest of the group, and the player scouts are the highest on if he can reach his upside. He has the ability to maul defenders in a way that no other tackle in the class can. Proctor’s evolution as a tackle prospect over the second half of the 2024 season has scouts thinking he turned a corner.
“If you watch him against Georgia or South Carolina, two teams with great defensive lines, he looked like a top-five pick,” one AFC South area scout said. An NFC East scout added: “It’s so rare to see someone that big move so well. There’s not a great player comp for him because of that.”
Proctor allowed three sacks last season, a marked improvement from the nine surrendered in 2023.
We can’t sleep on Mauigoa as a potential top tackle. In some ways, he’s very similar to Armand Membou in terms of agility and movement skills. A two-year starter at right tackle, Mauigoa allowed no sacks and was flagged only three times last season while protecting 2025 No. 1 pick Cameron Ward. Perhaps most impressive was Mauigoa’s blown run block rate of 0.06% — just two blown blocks in 13 games.
These three represent the top of the class, but there are others scouts are excited to see. Evaluators also mentioned Xavier Chaplin (Auburn), Drew Shelton (Penn State) and Isaiah World (Oregon) as potential No. 1 tackles. Proctor might lead the group right now, but this is a diverse tackle class with many potential risers.
My early pick for the top OT: Proctor
Interior offensive linemen
A battle for the class’ top interior offensive line spot will be a fun one between two very talented players.
Missouri developed Membou into a top-10 player in the 2025 draft, and sources within the coaching staff are equally high on Green entering 2025. The 6-5, 320-pound lineman enters the season as a two-year starter at left guard, and there has been some internal conversation about making him a left tackle because of his agility and tools. Green didn’t surrender a sack last season.
Slaughter has a chance to be the best run and pass blocker among interior linemen in the class thanks to his instincts, poise, power and agility. At 6-4 and 308 pounds, he doesn’t have elite anchor ability but moves exceptionally well and has range to pull, trap and get to the second level.
“What I love about both guys is they’ll face an absolute wreck of a schedule for most offensive linemen,” an AFC scouting director said. “They’ll be battle-tested by the end of November, and we’ll get some clean looks at their pro ability.”
Slaughter and Green are both talented, but Green’s versatility and résumé as a pass protector gives him the nod.
My early pick for the top IOL: Green
Defensive tackles
The 2026 defensive tackle class doesn’t have great top-end depth or many notable playmakers. It’s basically Woods against the field, and he is primed to go wire to wire as the top prospect.
“This is a pretty weak class,” an NFC South area scout said. “There are a few guys outside of Woods, but they’re nose tackle or 1-tech types. If you needed a 3-tech, I hope you got him last year.”
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Woods, a 6-3, 315-pound junior, notched three sacks and 17 pressures last season, proving himself as a top-notch run defender. He did that while splitting time between the edge and interior, a role that often limited his pass-rush advantages because he was expected to play in space. If unleashed on the interior, Woods has top-10 ability.
Challenging him will be Banks and a cast of characters waiting to break out. The 6-6, 329-pound Banks can play anywhere from a 5-technique to a nose alignment. He performed well last season, with 4.5 sacks and 20 pressures.
“Banks could be this year’s Byron Murphy II, where you see the talent coming and then boom — he puts it all together and is unstoppable,” an NFL defensive line coach said.
Woods seems like a lock as the top defensive tackle, and that’s where he’ll start on my board.
My early pick for the top DT: Woods
Edge rushers
The tightest battle of any position outside of quarterback comes at edge rusher, where the talent in the 2026 class represents an exciting mixture of top-of-the-round talents and very good depth.
Parker put together a 12-sack season in 2024 while emerging as a well-rounded run defender. His quickness off the ball stands out, but scouts praised his ball-rush ability.
“Parker has the best tools of any of them,” an AFC East area scout said. “He sets up blockers well and finishes with a mean streak. And you need power to play in the pros.”
Like Parker, Faulk brings a combination of speed and power at 6-6 and 288 pounds. With seven sacks last season, he proved his skill set of length, power and quickness can produce in the SEC. Now, a big season is expected.
“Faulk is going to get the Arik Armstead comparisons, but I think he’s athletic enough to stay in space in the pros,” an AFC North area scout said. “But you love that he can kick inside, too.”
Parker, Faulk, Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), David Bailey (Texas Tech) and others are vying for the top spot in a group that could easily produce six first-rounders. Right now, Parker is the best of the bunch.
My early pick for the top Edge: Parker
Linebackers
The off-ball linebacker position has been devalued, but Hill’s versatility will have scouts buzzing about the next Abdul Carter or Micah Parsons-level prospect.
A debate has emerged about Hill’s best position. At Texas, he plays primarily as an off-ball linebacker, but the 6-3, 235-pound defender produced eight sacks last season with some elite blitzing skills. On 80 snaps as an edge rusher, he produced 11 pressures, and he has the body type to add the necessary weight to play in space on the end of the line.
“Hill is definitely getting drafted as an edge,” a longtime NFL scout said. “He’s a great linebacker, but he’s too valuable coming off the corner and getting the quarterback. I just hope Texas lets him do more of it this year.”
Allen will draw the most attention from teams looking for a traditional three-down linebacker. He emerged as a leader on the Bulldogs’ defense last season while racking up 71 tackles, 11 pressures, 1 interception and 7 pass breakups.
“Allen is a wrecking ball,” an NFC South area scout said. “That dude does it all, and he’s so fast at reading and reacting.”
We’re once again comparing two players who are listed at the same position but play it very differently. I’ll go with Hill, who has a chance to be a top-five pick come April.
My early pick for the top LB: Hill
Cornerbacks
The top cornerback in the country might not see the field early in the season, as McCoy tore an ACL during offseason workouts in January.
The 6-foot, 193-pound defender had four interceptions last season and showed the closing speed and reaction agility to erase wide receivers while being able to play the ball in the air. He has shutdown cornerback potential if he returns from injury in the same form as when we last saw him.
Terrell, the younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, has a complete game at 5-11 and 180 pounds that features quickness, stout ability in the run game and elite timing. He has a knack for knocking away passes at the catch point.
“McCoy is the best in the country, but he’s a question mark for us right now,” an NFC scouting director said. “If he’s out, Terrell is the cleanest in terms of technique, even if he’s undersized.”
We’ll agree. McCoy is the No. 1 corner until something changes.
My early pick for the top CB: McCoy
Safeties
No disrespect meant to Thieneman or the many other talented safeties in college football. But this one isn’t close.
Downs enters the season as my top overall prospect and a rare talent at safety. One GM told me Downs could be a first-round pick at running back if he wanted to go the Travis Hunter route and play both sides of the ball. At 6-foot, 205 pounds, Downs has size, strength, speed and versatility to play in the box or as a single-high defender.
“He would be a top-five safety in the NFL today if he was eligible,” the GM said. “He’s Kyle Hamilton but faster and more explosive.”
While Thieneman won’t challenge Downs’ standing, he’s a good player. A transfer from Purdue, he was handpicked by coach Dan Lanning to lead the back end of Oregon’s defense. Thieneman is a playmaker with alignment versatility. He is a potential first-round pick with elite ball skills and the closing speed to thrive as a free safety in Lanning’s defense.
Thieneman, Michael Taaffe (Texas) and other very talented safeties would be candidates for the top spot in most years, but Downs is a rare prospect holding it down as the top safety and No. 1 overall player in the class.
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.
Training camps have kicked off around the NFL, and our 32 team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. NFL Nation has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and, of course, the quarterback room.
Follow the links below to learn everything we are seeing and hearing at camp. We will update all 32 files often with the latest details. Who are the breakouts to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Be sure to keep checking back for more information until the first full week of preseason games begin Aug. 7.
Plus: We have updated depth charts for all 32 teams.
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
AFC East
Site: St. John Fisher University, Rochester, New York
Site: Baptist Health Training Complex, Miami Gardens, Florida
Site: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Site: Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, Florham Park, New Jersey
AFC North
Site: Under Armour Performance Center, Owings Mills, Maryland
Site: Kettering Health Practice Fields, Cincinnati
Site: CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, Berea, Ohio
Site: Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania
AFC South
Site: Houston Methodist Training Center, Houston
Site: Grand Park Sports Campus, Westfield, Indiana
Site: Miller Electric Center, Jacksonville, Florida
Site: Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park, Nashville, Tennessee
AFC West
Site: Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit, Englewood, Colorado
Site: Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Missouri
Site: Intermountain Health Performance Center, Henderson, Nevada
Site: The Bolt, El Segundo, California
NFC East
Site: River Ridge Playing Fields, Oxnard, California
Site: Quest Diagnostics Training Facility, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Site: NovaCare Complex, Philadelphia
Site: OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park, Ashburn, Virginia
NFC North
Site: Halas Hall, Lake Forest, Illinois
Site: Detroit Lions Training Facility, Allen Park, Michigan
Site: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Site: Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, Eagan, Minnesota
NFC South
Site: IBM Performance Field, Flowery Branch, Georgia
Site: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Site: Ochsner Sports Performance Center, Metairie, Louisiana
Site: AdventHealth Training Center, Tampa, Florida
NFC West
Site: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Site: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
Site: SAP Performance Facility, Santa Clara, California
Site: Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Renton, Washington
Matt Bowen is a fantasy football and NFL writer for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2015, writes regularly for ESPN+ and spent multiple years on “NFL Matchup.” After graduating from the University of Iowa, Matt played safety in the NFL for St. Louis, Green Bay, Washington and Buffalo over seven seasons.
Training camps are underway in the NFL, and we’re starting to get a clear picture of what all 32 rosters will look like in September. Like most years, there has been plenty of turnover since last season after an exciting draft and major free agency signings. We even got a blockbuster trade at the end of June between the Steelers and Dolphins, resulting in new homes for Minkah Fitzpatrick, Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith.
What were the most impactful trades or signings this offseason? Which rookies have the best chance of immediately improving their new franchises?
Following Mike Clay’s lead from last year, I ranked the top 50 acquisitions — free agent signings, trade additions and draft picks — based on their expected impact for the 2025 season. The Steelers, Broncos, Patriots and Giants lead the way with four players apiece in the final list. And from April’s draft, six top-10 picks and one second-round running back made the cut.
Let’s get into the my full ranking, starting with a wide receiver who’s ready to make a splash in Southern California.
Jump to the most impactful … Signing | Draft pick | Trade acquisition
Adams is an immediate upgrade over Cooper Kupp given his ability to still shake press coverage and separate as the “X” receiver. Opposite Puka Nacua, Adams can isolate to win one-on-one or attack the schemed voids in Sean McVay’s pass game.
With five straight seasons of 1,000-plus receiving yards, he is at the top of this list because he can elevate a Rams team primed to make a run in the NFC playoffs.
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The
A culture-setter in the offensive line room, Thuney upgrades a critical need for the Bears on the interior of their front. With a pass block win rate of at least 98% over his past three seasons, Thuney is still viewed as one of the top guards in the league after a brief stint at left tackle for the Chiefs last season. And his presence will keep the pocket firm for second-year quarterback Caleb Williams.
With home run ability and high-end contact balance, Jeanty will see a heavy volume in Chip Kelly’s offense. His 2,601 rushing yards and 126 forced missed tackles led the FBS last season, and he also has the traits to produce as a receiver on backfield releases.
Given his role in an offense that will rely on the ground game, the No. 6 pick is the leading candidate to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Commanders gave up a total of four picks to acquire Tunsil, a five-time Pro Bowler who immediately upgrades the edges of Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive front. When healthy, he can close the door in pass protection, using his length, foot quickness and veteran technique to keep the pocket clean. That’s especially important for quarterback Jayden Daniels, whose championship window is now open with Washington.
The Cardinals were in need of more off the edge, and they found help from someone who played under Cardinals coach John Gannon in Philadelphia. Sweat is a long, angular mover who can win with speed-to-power. He also has built-in counter moves to disengage from offensive tackles.
Sweat had eight sacks and 33 pressures during the 2024 regular season. He added 2.5 more sacks in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win.
Sticking with the former Philly defensive linemen, Williams is my favorite of the Patriots’ additions after they totaled a league-low 28 sacks last season. He has the strength to displace blockers at the point of attack, with the light feet and short-area burst to slip interior offensive linemen.
After having five sacks and 18 pressures last season, Williams will now pair with Christian Barmore to give new coach Mike Vrabel two disruptive interior defenders.
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Why Booger sees the Patriots improving under Vrabel
Booger McFarland breaks down why Drake Maye and the Patriots will be one of the more fundamentally sound teams in the NFL this season.
After posting career-best numbers in Minnesota last season — 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdowns — Darnold is now in a system that caters to his traits under coordinator Klint Kubiak. With play-action throws off outside zone run action and schemed verticals, Darnold has the arm strength and mobility to produce with receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.
Pickens brings explosive play ability and a vertical element to the Cowboys’ offense. He has 35 receptions of 20 or more yards over the past two seasons, tied for fifth most in the league. Opposite CeeDee Lamb, Pickens will operate on the boundary for Dallas, giving quarterback Dak Prescott two multilevel targets in the pass game.
The rookie has the physical tools to play a disruptive role early this season in coordinator Shane Bowen’s defense. With the off-the-ball quickness to attack offensive tackles, and the lower-body flexibility to run the arc, Carter is poised to make plays opposite Brian Burns. He has game-wrecking potential after 12 sacks and 61 pressures in his final college season.
Reunited with former coach Pete Carroll, Smith is a big upgrade for the Raiders at the QB position after throwing for a career-high 4,320 yards last season. He can drive the ball to every spot on the field when throwing from a clear platform, and he now has two targets who can get open in tight end Brock Bowers and receiver Jakobi Meyers.
Camp updates by 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
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner has a rare skill set to impact both sides of the ball. Hunter’s 15 touchdown catches and 23 receptions of 20 or more yards both tied for second in the nation last season, plus he had nine interceptions over his entire college career.
Opposite of Brian Thomas Jr. on offense, Hunter is an exciting wrinkle for new coach Liam Coen. I also see All-Pro potential on the defensive side of the ball for the former Colorado star.
A safety with multidimensional traits, Fitzpatrick fills a hole in the Miami secondary as a rangy free safety with coverage ability and ball skills. His numbers were down last season in Pittsburgh, but he has the instincts to make plays in Anthony Weaver’s defense. Fitzpatrick has 20 interceptions over eight pro seasons.
Metcalf enters the season as the Steelers’ No. 1 receiver after totaling 48 touchdowns through six seasons in Seattle. In Arthur Smith’s offense, Metcalf will attack the top of the route tree on play-action and isolation throws.
Plus, Metcalf will see quick-game targets from quarterback Aaron Rodgers on in-breakers and screens, which cater to his explosive, straight-line speed after the catch.
With his massive 6-7, 363-pound frame, Becton can overwhelm and move defenders in Jim Harbaugh’s power run game, plus he has the physical tools and footwork to win as a pass protector. He’s just entering his prime years and is a key addition for the Chargers between book-end tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt.
Reed was signed to upgrade a Lions defense that allowed 244 yards passing per game in 2024, the third most in the league. He is a highly competitive coverage corner with press-man traits and the transition speed to break on the throw.
More of a ball disruptor than playmaker, Reed has 40 pass breakups — compared with six interceptions — over his career. He will start opposite second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold.
Ramsey shouldn’t be viewed as a blue-chip player at this stage of his career, but he will bring versatility to Pittsburgh’s secondary. He can still pattern match in coverage on the perimeter, and he has the traits to bump inside as the slot corner in sub-package sets.
When playing inside, Ramsey has the forward vision to blitz and find the ball. He had one sack and 12 pressures with Miami last season.
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Does Jalen Ramsey move show Steelers are all-in this season?
Mike Tannenbaum and Dan Graziano react to the Dolphins trading Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers.
There are availability concerns with Bosa, as he has played only 28 games over the past three seasons because of injuries. But when he’s healthy, he is a savvy technician who can hit the quarterback.
The Bills needed an edge rusher who can close out games and also disrupt the pocket versus Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs. That could be Bosa, who has 72 career sacks.
Rodgers’ arm strength and field vision are still at a high level, which allows him to attack tighter windows and identify coverage rotations with ease. While his mobility and pocket poise are declining, he should be seen as an upgrade over Russell Wilson in Arthur Smith’s offense. The key here is how Smith game-plans with Rodgers, who threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns with the Jets last season.
A quality route runner who can create separation and produce after the catch, Diggs is set to become the top target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye — once he is fully healthy and cleared to play. Diggs had 47 receptions for 496 yards in eight games before an ACL tear ended his 2024 campaign. He had posted six straight seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards prior to last year.
With new Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, look for Fields to work in a pass game that is heavily schemed off play-action. Engstrand was the passing game coordinator last season with the Lions, who led the league with 204 play-action attempts.
Fields would benefit from more defined reads in New York, with a play sheet that maximizes his dual-threat skills. In six starts with the Steelers last season, Fields completed 65.8% of his throws and rushed for 289 yards with five scores.
Ward has the man-coverage ability to press or pedal off the ball, along with the backfield vision to make plays in zone. He posted career-best numbers in 2023, with five interceptions and 14 pass breakups. Although he didn’t have the same on-the-ball production last season, Ward’s experience and technique are an upgrade for the Colts’ secondary under new coordinator Lou Anarumo.
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Hampton has the profile to fit as the lead runner for Harbaugh’s team. He’s a downhill hammer with the short-area quickness to hit creases of daylight and the juice to create explosive plays. Hampton rushed for 1,500-plus yards in each of his final two seasons at North Carolina, and he plays with the lower-body balance and pad level to produce between the tackles in the Chargers’ run scheme.
The Giants allowed Xavier McKinney to depart via free agency last season, which led to a lack of a playmaker over the top. Holland checks that box as a versatile safety with range and coverage skills. Yes, the splash plays were missing from Holland’s tape last season, but he did show up all over the stat sheet with 5 interceptions, 16 pass breakups, 5 forced fumbles and 5 sacks over his four years in Miami.
Alexander has played only 14 games over the past two seasons because of injuries, but he could prove to be a key addition for the Ravens if healthy. At his best, he can still match in coverage and has the zone instincts to bait quarterbacks. He is expected to play on the perimeter in nickel packages for the Ravens (opposite of Nate Wiggins) with Marlon Humphrey in the slot.
A major addition to the Vikings’ interior offensive line, Fries will improve both the run and pass game in Kevin O’Connell’s offense next to first-round guard Donovan Jackson and veteran center Ryan Kelly. Before a right tibia injury ended his 2024 season in Week 5, Fries had posted career bests in pass block win rate (92.4%) and run block win rate (74.3%).
He might lack high-end traits, but he has a fundamentally sound play style, the lower-body mobility to handle power rushers and an ability to sustain blocks on contact.
Engram joins a Broncos offense that has the pieces to be one of the most explosive units in the league. He caught 47 passes in nine games with the Jags last season, a year removed from his career-best 114 catches in 2023. Look for him to work the seams in Sean Payton’s offense, while being schemed as a matchup/motion target on catch-and-run throws from quarterback Bo Nix.
At 6-foot-4, McMillan has the frame and matchup ability to immediately become a boundary target for quarterback Bryce Young. Plus, he can bump inside as a power slot receiver. McMillian eclipsed 1,300 receiving yards and 80 receptions in each of his final two college seasons at Arizona. He should be a volume target in Year 1.
The revamping of Tennessee’s offensive front — through free agency and the draft — included Zeitler’s signing in March. The veteran guard is a physical inside presence with the power to displace defensive tackles and the movement ability to pull on gap schemes.
He routinely wins in pass protection, using his strong base to hold off interior rushers. Zeitler had a pass block win rate of 94.4% with Detroit last season, his 13th year in the league.
Samuel has the alignment and scheme versatility to fit in Kingsbury’s offense as a motion/movement player. He will likely see the ball on screens, fly sweeps and backfield touches just as he did in San Francisco. Samuel’s play speed and production dipped last season, but he had a strong 2023 campaign with 12 touchdowns and over 1,000 all-purpose yards.
The fourth overall pick in the NFL draft, Campbell steps into the left tackle position for a team that allowed 52 sacks (fifth most) and registered a pass block win rate of just 50.9% (31st) in 2024. Campbell has the movement skills, technique and play toughness to win in pass protection, and he will drive defenders off the ball in the run game. Campbell should be viewed as a building block for Vrabel’s team.
The Bears continued to address the interior of the offensive front with Dalman, the top center available in free agency. He wins his assignments with movement and leverage to offset a smaller frame (6-3, 300 pounds). He is a technician on the tape, best suited for the wide zone run game under new coach Ben Johnson in Chicago.
Dalman’s pass block win rate of 95.1% ranked ninth among centers with at least 500 snaps last season.
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0:36
Woody: Bears have eliminated all excuses for Caleb Williams
Damien Woody says the Bears have added all the necessary pieces to set Caleb Williams up for success this season.
With seven NFL seasons under his belt, Davis gives the Patriots a veteran presence at cornerback opposite rising star Christian Gonzalez. Davis is a willing tackler on the edges, with both zone and man traits in coverage. He can disrupt the ball too, with 11 interceptions and 69 pass breakups over his career.
At full strength, Greenlaw is a rangy linebacker with the pursuit speed to track ball carriers and the coverage awareness to close throwing windows. He had back-to-back seasons of 120-plus tackles from 2022 to 2023, but he appeared in only two games last season because of a torn left Achilles and subsequent calf injury.
Greenlaw is expected to healthy to start this season, with the traits to make an impact in Vance Joseph’s defensive scheme as an off-ball defender.
Banks slides in at the left guard position for the Packers. At 6-5 and 325 pounds, the 2021 second-round pick is built to create daylight for running back Josh Jacobs in the Packers’ gap run scheme. And he has the strength to anchor against interior bull rushers in pass protection. This is a big upgrade for Matt LaFleur’s offensive line.
An ascending player, Moehrig joins a Panthers team that lacked defensive playmakers last season. He notched five interceptions and 12 pass breakups over the past two seasons, and he had five tackles for loss in 2024.
Moehrig has deep range and is a tone-setter on contact when he spins down into the front. His strengths will allow Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero to disguise coverages with interchangeable safeties.
With Starks and Kyle Hamilton at safety, Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr has more versatility within the defensive game plan. At Georgia, Starks showed the range and ball-tracking skills to make plays down the field, as well as an ability to patrol run alleys or match up underneath. Now, he joins a secondary that has the makeup to be one of the league’s best.
The Broncos needed a running back with elusiveness in space and the pass-catching skills to make Sean Payton’s offense go. Harvey has those traits as a rapid accelerator whose route tree will expand in Denver. He’s a matchup player for Payton, with the 4.4 speed to create explosive plays.
Hufanga is the final Broncos newcomer on this list, and he has been limited to 17 games over the past two seasons. If the former All-Pro stays healthy this season, he can be a disruptive force in Denver’s defense.
Through 49 career games, Hufanga has 7 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 1 defensive touchdown. He’s around the ball for a reason.
Smith was linked to the Steelers for a while, and he finally landed with them as part of the Ramsey-Fitzpatrick trade. With Smith, Pittsburgh can use more two tight end personnel, pairing the former Dolphin with Pat Freiermuth.
Smith caught a career-high 88 passes last season in Miami, which led to eight touchdowns. As an underneath target for Rodgers, he can be schemed off boot, screen and motion — from tight and flexed alignments — for serious volume this season.
With the retirement of Lions veteran center Frank Ragnow earlier this summer, the door is open for Ratledge to win the starting spot in camp. Ratledge allowed just one sack in each of the past two seasons while playing in the SEC, and his tenacious demeanor fits well with the Lions’ identity under head coach Dan Campbell.
Reddick’s 2024 season with the Jets was disrupted by a holdout and resulted in just one sack over 10 games played. However, he’s still a productive rusher off the edge when he’s dialed in.
Look for Todd Bowles to create one-on-ones for Reddick, while using stunts to get him an open lane to the quarterback. Before last season, he put together three straight campaigns with a pass rush win rate of over 20% — only seven players eclipsed that rate last season.
At 6-foot-6 and 286 pounds, Odeyingbo has the physical tools to play the defensive end position opposite of Montez Sweat in Dennis Allen’s scheme. Odeyingbo will also kick inside to rush the passer out of loaded fronts as a hard match-up for interior offensive linemen. He has played all 17 games in each of his past three seasons, racking up 16 sacks and 21 total tackles for loss over that stretch.
Wilson enters camp as the Giants’ No. 1 quarterback, but his game has changed significantly since his prime years in Seattle. Yes, Wilson can still throw with pace and touch downfield — he had the sixth-best off-target percentage (12.7%) out of all QBs last season. But with his reduced mobility, Wilson isn’t a natural creator outside of structure anymore.
Having a true No. 1 target in wide receiver Malik Nabers will help in New York, but rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart is patiently waiting if Wilson fails to produce in Brian Daboll’s offense.
Another addition to the Colts’ secondary, Bynum fits in both the single-high and split-field coverages that Anarumo will employ. He is a glider over the top who can also fill the alleys as a run defender.
Over the past two seasons, Bynum has 233 tackles, 5 interceptions and 12 pass breakups. He was always on the field for the Vikings in 2024, playing the second-most snaps among all Vikings defensive backs, per ESPN Research.
Dart may not be developmentally ready to take over the Giants’ offense early in the season, but he’s a few spots under Wilson here since I expect him to see playing time. He’s an anticipatory thrower with the mobility to extend plays and create as a runner. In his final season at Ole Miss, Dart threw for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns, adding 495 yards on the ground.
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1:18
Should Giants start Jaxson Dart over Russell Wilson in Week 1?
Dan Graziano and Mike Tannenbaum weigh in on whether rookie Jaxson Dart will be ready to start for the Giants in Week 1.
Injuries have limited Ojulari to 29 games over the past three seasons, but he has the length (34.5-inch arms) and burst to create disruption as a rational edge rusher in Vic Fangio’s scheme. In 11 games with the Giants last season, Ojulari had six sacks and 16 QB pressures. And his best football is still ahead of him.
Gardner-Johnson gives the Texans more playmaking and matchup ability in the secondary. He had six interceptions for the Eagles last season, and he can man-up over the slot or play top-down as run defender in the alleys. He’s an urgent mover on the tape who adds experience to Houston’s talented young secondary.
Zabel upgrades a Seahawks front that was talent-deficient at the guard position last season. The 6-6, 312-pound North Dakota State standout can generate movement off the ball as a run blocker.
More specifically, he has the mobility to combo block and climb in the outside zone game in Kubiak’s system. Zabel can drop anchor in pass protection, too. He will be a tone-setter for Seattle.
Green can be set up as a pass rusher in Baltimore, similar to the team’s current usage of Kyle Van Noy. That means schemed matchups — both off the edge and on the interior — with stunts out of multiple alignments. He can also drop into coverage, which gives Baltimore the ability to better disguise pressures. Green’s 17 sacks led the FBS in 2024, and I thought he was the most skilled pass rusher in the 2025 class.