The NFL is (almost) back, with training camps starting to open up Wednesday ahead of the 2025 season. The Los Angeles Chargers are the first to launch, with all other teams reporting over the course of the week ahead.
After a flurry of off-season moves league-wide, it’s time to see how things shake out in all 32 markets — and there’s still plenty of business still to come. From quarterback battles to contract standoffs, we’re highlighting one pressing question for each team, starting with the AFC.
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills: Will Bills brass give Cook a new contract?
We know Josh Allen can do it all — the 2024 league MVP now has the hardware to prove it — but the emergence and usage of James Cook last year showed us all what happens when the QB has a true RB1 on his side, with play-calling to match. Bills GM Brandon Beane isn’t known for handing out lucrative deals to running backs, but considering Cook’s elite production last year and the Bills’ win-now window as he enters his contract year, will he make an exception in the name of contention?
Miami Dolphins: Will Hill return to form?
Tyreek Hill sounded like he was done in Miami at season’s end, but changed his tune with a little time. His drop in production last year was just part of a long list of struggles in Miami last year as offence dried up. His resurgence this year would go a long way in re-establishing the club’s identity as a fast, fun force in the AFC East.
New York Jets: Will Aaron Glenn bring Lions-like grit to Gang Green?
Instability at both quarterback and head coach has plagued the Jets for years, and this season brings a new face at both positions. All eyes will surely be on new starter Justin Fields to see if the former Bears QB1 and Steelers QB2 can reprise his role as a starter, but how Glenn sets the tone at camp should tell us a lot about whether Jets fans can enter the season with renewed hope.
New England Patriots: What does “The Patriot Way” look like under Mike Vrabel?
Like Jerod Mayo, Mike Vrabel learned directly from the best during his time playing for Bill Belichick. After Mayo’s early exit following just one season as Belichick’s successor, Vrabel takes the reins. Belichick’s influence will likely still be felt, but how Vrabel kicks things off will mark a new era in New England.
AFC WEST
Kansas City Chiefs: Is Jason Kelce right about Josh Simmons?
Jason Kelce called the Chiefs’ first-rounder the “closest thing I’ve seen to a Trent Williams,” which is about the highest praise you can give a rookie offensive lineman. Considering the way Kansas City lost Super Bowl LIX five months ago, Simmons’ insertion into the lineup comes at a crucial time for the offensive line, which includes a newly extended Trey Smith.
Los Angeles Chargers: Who fills the WR2 slot behind McConkey?
Questions about the run game remain after the club lost J.K. Dobbins to Denver in free agency, but more pressing is the situation at receiver. Justin Herbert knows what he has in the sure-handed Ladd McConkey, but who is his next most reliable weapon?
Denver Broncos: What does the Nix-Payton duo look like in Year 2?
While second-year peers Caleb Williams and Drake Maye embark on sophomore seasons with new head coaches, Broncos QB Bo Nix has had an entire rookie season and off-season to hone his craft alongside head coach Sean Payton. Denver’s identity is all about defence, but a step forward for Nix could be dangerous for fellow AFC West contenders.
Las Vegas Raiders: How strong can the revamped run game get?
The Raiders’ run game is far from the only significant off-season change in Vegas — there’s a new head coach in Pete Carroll, a new QB1 in Geno Smith, and a new GM running the show, too — but considering the club had the worst run numbers last year, it’ll be a major focus at camp. How does rookie Ashton Jeanty look? How will Carroll use his new duo, with veteran Raheem Mostert also in the fold? Can the club take last year’s weakness and turn it into its biggest strength?
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens: Who steps in to kick?
The Ravens have a two-time MVP at QB, one of the most powerful running backs in the game, a deep cast of weapons and a top group of defenders that’s only getting better… and yet, we’re asking about… kicking? After the release of Justin Tucker, it’s an obvious team need for a club who took the position for granted for more than a decade, and if the competition doesn’t yield a clear winner, it’ll be a talking point into the season.
Pittsburgh Steelers: How long will Watt’s standoff go?
Between the long, drawn-out saga of signing Aaron Rodgers and the surprise trade that saw Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey land in Pittsburgh while Minkah Fitpatrick returns home to Florida, it’s been a weird off-season for the Steelers, to say the least. And through it all has been the underlying tension between team brass and its top defensive star, T.J. Watt, who is holding out for a new deal as he enters a contract year. How long will both sides wait this out? Parting ways isn’t a possibility… right?
Cincinnati Bengals: What’s next for Trey Hendrickson?
Watt isn’t the only top-tier edge rusher waiting on a new deal in the AFC North. He’s joined by last season’s sack leader, Trey Hendrickson, whose long-standing contract dispute with Bengals management has drawn up more than a little speculation he could be traded ahead of the season. The team not known for writing big cheques broke tradition by paying Joe Burrow’s top weapons, but are now in a tight spot. Can they afford to reward Hendrickson? Considering the state of this porous defence, can they afford not to?
Cleveland Browns: Who emerges from the packed QB room?
With Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dylan Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders all vying for playing time — and Deshaun Watson continuing his recovery from a torn Achilles — the Browns’ depth chart at QB reads like a choose your own adventure novel. That’s not exactly a promising way to open a new chapter in Cleveland, but the intrigue is undeniable.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans: Can Stroud regain form with a new OC?
The sophomore slump was real in Houston, though neither health nor schemes were on C.J. Stroud’s side. He’s got a new offensive coordinator in former Rams assistant Nick Caley, and we’re all about to find out whether Stroud’s third act can resemble his first.
Indianapolis Colts: Is Daniel Jones the front-runner for QB1?
Both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones could use a fresh start — Richardson, after struggling through injuries his first two years and Jones after five flawed years in New York. Colts management has stood by Richardson’s potential since drafting him early in 2023, but what does it mean if Jones passes him on the depth chart out of camp?
Jacksonville Jaguars: What side of the ball will Hunter spend the most time?
Rookie head coach Liam Coen has a special rookie in NFL unicorn Travis Hunter, who suited up as both a wide receiver and a cornerback in college. How he deploys him in camp, where on-field time is strictly monitored, will tell us a lot about which side of the ball the Jaguars value him most.
Tennessee Titans: How does Cam Ward look?
The No. 1 overall pick is set to start right out of the gates, opening up a new era for the Titans. Is he ready?
