Training camps are getting underway across the NFL, with some organizations already opening their doors and others starting up over the course of the next week.
After about six months of coaching hirings, roster renovations, scouting, drafting and assembling squads, it’s time for franchises to start seeing how all the pieces come together. It’s the season before the pre-season — the season of optimism, if you will, as every team begins preparations for a new campaign in which anything can happen.
So, it’s with that glass-half-full mentality that we look around the league and highlight a reason for optimism for all 32 clubs as training camps get underway.
NFC NORTH
Detroit Lions: The new-look secondary could fix last year’s biggest flaw.
The Lions’ second-half collapse against San Francisco in the NFC Championship exposed the team’s biggest weakness, and management wasted no time tackling it this off-season. They targeted the secondary in both free agency and the draft, and that’s got Dan Campbell pumped up (which means we should be, too).
Green Bay Packers: No one is questioning Jordan Love’s status as a star.
This time last year, there was a giant question mark hanging over the 2020 first-rounder as he approached his first season as QB1. After a shaky launch, he finished the year on a high — you’d be hard-pressed to find a more statistically sound quarterback than Love from Week 11 onwards — and aside from his somewhat murky contract situation, there’s little question about how he can build on that success.
Minnesota Vikings: It might not matter who’s starting at QB.
Sam Darnold? J.J. McCarthy? Nick Mullens? Year 1 of the post-Kirk Cousins era brings a job opening under centre, but little concern about the team’s top target. The newly extended Justin Jefferson has made a career out of making football look easy, and the top WR’s presence will make the team’s transition to a new No. 1 — whoever that may be — a lot easier.
Chicago Bears: The new guy is (finally) set up to succeed.
Caleb Williams alone cannot turn the Bears’ fortunes around, but here’s the good news: He isn’t alone. GM Ryan Poles has surrounded the No. 1 overall pick with talent — ninth overall pick Rome Odunze, veteran ex-Charger Keenan Allen, and running back D’Andre Swift join last year’s pickup, D.J. Moore. New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron is well-equipped to help this rookie-led offence sing.
NFC SOUTH
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jason Licht kept the core together.
While he lost offensive coordinator Dave Canales to Carolina’s head coaching opening, the GM ensured there’s plenty of familiarity in place as Baker Mayfield enters his second year as Tampa Bay’s starter. Last year’s success was built on his excellent connection with Mike Evans, and the duo returns for a second go-round in a very winnable division.
New Orleans Saints: There’s a wealth of talent at cornerback.
Sure, there are plenty of question marks throughout this lineup — particularly on offence — but the secondary isn’t one of them. The squad that held opponents to a completion percentage just shy of 60 (second best league-wide) and tied for second in interceptions (18) might be even better this year, thanks in part to the acquisition of second-rounder Kool-Aid McKinstry, whose presence will push the whole unit in what’ll be a competitive room.
Atlanta Falcons: There’s a much-needed upgrade under centre.
With young weapons like Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson leading the way, all they need is a competent QB to distribute the ball. They have that now. (Yes, they actually have two, thanks to a draft-night decision that still boggles the mind, but we’re being optimistic here!) There’s no question Kirk Cousins is a major upgrade from last year’s QB committee.
Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young got a little help.
There’s still a massive mountain to climb, but new head coach Dave Canales, who’s got a strong track record of helping QBs hit their strides, and a promising rookie weapon in first-round receiver Xavier Legette could get the second-year starter back on his feet.
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys: The band is back intact.
Yeah, we hear all the Dak Prescott talk, but three straight 12-win seasons tell us they’re doing a lot of things right. Let’s check in again come playoff time, okay?
Philadelphia Eagles: Saquon Barkley should be right at home in Philly.
A successful Eagles offence is one that excels on the run, and the arrival of former Giant Barkley could bring the spark Philly needs to turn things around after last year’s disastrous tumble down the standings in the second half of the season.
New York Giants: We should finally have an answer on Daniel Jones.
“This will be the year we know what New York has in Jones,” we tell ourselves each off-season since his first snaps in 2019. By bringing in a top receiving weapon in first-rounder Malik Nabers, maybe we actually will.
Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels opens his career with options.
Like first overall pick Caleb Williams in Chicago, No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels won’t be on an island when he takes his first snaps in Washington. The Commanders’ depth chart was already promising thanks to Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, but bringing in veterans like running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Zach Ertz should help Daniels thrive.
NFC WEST
San Francisco 49ers: The (almost) championship core is (almost) still intact.
Major questions will continue to swirl around the future of Brandon Aiyuk, who requested a trade earlier this week, but the many-pronged offence, led by newly extended Christian McCaffrey, do-it-all receiver Deebo Samuel, and Netflix star George Kittle, is otherwise all set to return — and is widely projected to be a Super Bowl contender again.
Los Angeles Rams: This might be the best receiving duo in the league.
Puka Nacua set rookie receiving records last year, and that was without Cooper Kupp opening up the field for him each week, as the veteran missed five games with injury. A full season’s worth of Nacua and Kupp on the field together, taking passes from Matthew Stafford and acting out Sean McVay’s creative playbook, will be incredibly fun.
Seattle Seahawks: Mike McDonald has new, talented toys in Seattle.
The former Ravens defensive coordinator emerged as a top coaching candidate after the football world caught on to his defensive genius in Baltimore. That he chose Seattle as his landing spot, and an opportunity to work with young defenders like Tariq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon, tells us a lot about this young core’s potential.
Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray-to-Marvin Harrison Jr. looks like a lot of fun.
All signs point to Harrison Jr. being a wide receiver capable of taking over a game. With Murray starting the season in good health after missing the first nine weeks last year, the Cardinals could be a thrilling watch this season.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens: Year 2 of Todd Monken promises more firepower.
The offensive coordinator needed only a few weeks to get his offence up and running last season, and Year 2 should see them hit the ground running from the start — literally, considering the Lamar Jackson-led run game got a major boost with the addition of Derrick Henry this year. Defences, you’ve been warned.
Cleveland Browns: Chubb is on the mend.
Here’s hoping we’re not in for another season of “this team is so complete, if only they had a capable quarterback” because Joe Flacco won’t be waiting around on his couch this time. As we learned last year, it’s the run game that’s even more important here anyway — and considering star RB Nick Chubb was just spotted squatting 500-plus pounds in the gym eight months after a devastating knee injury, Cleveland could be running free again.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Same strong defence, brand new offence.
The Steelers needed a clean slate on offence, and that’s exactly what they’re getting, with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields both in search of fresh starts of their own and a new offensive coordinator to help steer the ship. Could this get messy? Sure. But trust Mike Tomlin to make it all work.
Cincinnati Bengals: Three words: Burrow. Is. Back!
Armed with a clean bill of health after undergoing season-ending wrist surgery last summer and reunited with his top receiving duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Cincinnati should be ready to reclaim its spot amid the AFC’s stacked group of top contenders.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans: Stroud’s got a star-studded supporting cast.
C.J. Stroud was a revelation as a rookie last year, his chemistry with Tank Dell and Nico Collins helping him put together a historic season. Adding former Buffalo Bill Stefon Diggs to the mix, plus a legit No. 1 running back in Joe Mixon, brings a whole new dimension to this offence.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence has some fun new weapons.
Lawrence just inked a massive extension, and now he’s got to earn it. Luckily, management has brought new targets like first-rounder Brian Thomas and former Bill Gabe Davis into the receiving room to help Lawrence attack with consistency.
Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson gets a do-over.
We were just getting to know the Colts’ 2023 fourth overall pick when his rookie season was cut short by a shoulder injury, but what we saw was really promising. He’s “full-go” for camp, and should be poised for a breakout.
Tennessee Titans: There’s a Super Bowl champ leading the way on defence.
While second-year gunslinger Will Levis sets out to prove he’s the face of the franchise and new head coach Brian Callahan takes the reins, there’s a group of defenders — headlined by former Chiefs champ L’Jarius Snead, ex-Bengal Chidobe Awuzie, and new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson — that can form the rebuilding team’s identity.
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen is your quarterback.
The Bills are going to be just fine, as long as Allen is under centre. The loss of top weapons Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis brings a massive question mark about who will be catching his passes, but also an opportunity for a new star to rise in Keon Coleman.
Miami Dolphins: For better or for worse, we’re going to get an answer about Tua Tagovailoa’s future.
Here’s hoping it’s sooner than later, so we can enjoy this red-hot offence in peace.
New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers is healthy (and has a chance to stay that way).
As we’ve learned over the past few years, the Jets’ dominant defence can only take them so far. All eyes will be on Rodgers as the veteran looks to make good on his second shot in New York — this time, behind a fully reinforced offensive line.
New England Patriots: Belichick may be gone, but his defence remains.
The legendary coach leaves a mess on offence, sure, but you can’t question his defensive personnel. Even amid last year’s disastrous stats with the ball, the Patriots consistently posted elite numbers on the other side of it. That should continue under new head coach Jerod Mayo.
AFC WEST
Kansas City Chiefs: Mahomes has some speedy new weapons.
The Chiefs’ lack of explosiveness on offence didn’t stop the squad from winning its second straight Super Bowl. Bringing in first-rounder Zavier Worthy, who could probably compete at the track this summer in Paris, shows Kansas City is ready to sprint to a three-peat.
Las Vegas Raiders: This defence could be scary.
Maxx Crosby can single-handedly wreck an opponent’s game plan, and now he’s got a little more support. Malcolm Koonce is expected to make big strides this year, and the acquisition of ex-Dolphin Christian Wilkins could make Antonio Pierce’s club a sneaky-good squad.
Denver Broncos: The Russell Wilson era is over.
A less optimistic approach to this would be to point out that the Broncos are barreling towards yet another go-round on the QB carousel, or that there’s actually a pretty solid chance Zach Wilson will open the season under centre… but we’re being optimistic, remember?
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh brings a different kind of offensive focus.
It might not be pretty in the short term, but the Chargers’ new-look offence — one that’s focused on building up the trenches before stocking up on targets — should mean a more stable situation for Justin Herbert in the long run.
