Latest news with #JoshSweat
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bryce Huff says Peace to the Eagles on social media after news of a looming trade to 49ers
The defending Super Bowl champions are moving on from Bryce Huff, as the Eagles are finalizing a post-June 1 trade with the 49ers that'll send the pass rusher to San Francisco for a mid-round draft pick. It's a disappointing end to a perceived upgrade after Philadelphia signed Huff to a three-year, $51 million deal to replace Haason Reddick. Huff spent the majority of the 2024 season injured or out of the rotation. Advertisement After news of the trade broke, Huff immediately changed his social media profile photo, showing the pass rusher throwing up the Peace sign. Bryce Huff Instagram avatar A prize-free agent signing this time last spring, Huff was a major disappointment in 2024 and saw limited playing time due to the rotation and injuries. Huff had 2.5 sacks, missed seven games, and was inactive for the Super Bowl. With Brandon Graham retiring and Josh Sweat signing with Arizona, it was assumed that Huff might take on a larger role in 2024 alongside Nolan Smith. Even after the Eagles signed Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari, Huff has stayed away with voluntary off-season workouts, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Bryce Huff wasn't at practice. In fact, the defensive end hasn't attended Eagles' workouts this entire spring, an NFL source said. That doesn't necessarily come as a huge surprise since he is unlikely to be part of the Eagles' plans for 2025. General manager Howie Roseman, when asked about Huff in early February, might have said his story 'is yet to be written,' but the fact that he was inactive for the Super Bowl said more about his future in Philadelphia. Advertisement Huff was entering the second year of that $51 million contract with $16.75 million guaranteed. He'll be reunited with Robert Saleh, the 49ers' defensive coordinator, and his coach in New York with the Jets when Huff had a breakout campaign. This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Bryce Huff reacts to looming trade from Eagles to 49ers
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Arizona Cardinals' Josh Sweat, Will Johnson named among 100 most important players in 2025
The Arizona Cardinals have a number of players they will be counting on in 2025. They added a number of players defensively, both veterans and rookies. According to CBS Sports, two new defensive additions, one veteran and one rookie, are among the 100 most important players in the NFL in 2025. Advertisement Pass rusher Josh Sweat and cornerback Will Johnson come in at Nos. 40 and 41. After having one of the poorest pass rushes in the NFL, the Cardinals signed Josh Sweat in free agency as part of a defensive overhaul, reuniting him with Jonathan Gannon. They also drafted Walter Nolen 16th overall, and the good parts of his film are as good as anyone's. But the rookie who might have a bigger immediate impact is Will Johnson. Viewed as a blue-chip talent (CB1 in the CBS Sports prospect rankings), Johnson fell to the second round due to medical concerns, but he is a major upgrade if healthy. Sweat will be expected to lead the outside rush for the Cardinals. His two best seasons in the NFL were when Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson will now have the opportunity to make an immediate impact as veteran cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting's season ended with a knee injury and landed him on the non-football injury reserve. Johnson could be the Cardinals' CB1 starting in Week 1. If both are as advertised, the Arizona defense will be much-improved, and an improved defense paired with an efficient offense, which is what Arizona's unit was a year ago, the Cardinals should be contenders in a tight NFC West. Advertisement Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 2 Cardinals defenders named among 100 most important players in 2025
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals' Josh Sweat, Will Johnson named among 100 most important players in 2025
Arizona Cardinals' Josh Sweat, Will Johnson named among 100 most important players in 2025 CBS Sports includes Josh Sweat and Will Johnson in their list of the 100 most important players in the NFL in 2025. The Arizona Cardinals have a number of players they will be counting on in 2025. They added a number of players defensively, both veterans and rookies. According to CBS Sports, two new defensive additions, one veteran and one rookie, are among the 100 most important players in the NFL in 2025. Pass rusher Josh Sweat and cornerback Will Johnson come in at Nos. 40 and 41. After having one of the poorest pass rushes in the NFL, the Cardinals signed Josh Sweat in free agency as part of a defensive overhaul, reuniting him with Jonathan Gannon. They also drafted Walter Nolen 16th overall, and the good parts of his film are as good as anyone's. But the rookie who might have a bigger immediate impact is Will Johnson. Viewed as a blue-chip talent (CB1 in the CBS Sports prospect rankings), Johnson fell to the second round due to medical concerns, but he is a major upgrade if healthy. Sweat will be expected to lead the outside rush for the Cardinals. His two best seasons in the NFL were when Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson will now have the opportunity to make an immediate impact as veteran cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting's season ended with a knee injury and landed him on the non-football injury reserve. Johnson could be the Cardinals' CB1 starting in Week 1. If both are as advertised, the Arizona defense will be much-improved, and an improved defense paired with an efficient offense, which is what Arizona's unit was a year ago, the Cardinals should be contenders in a tight NFC West. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Sando: My favorite offseason move by every NFL team
With nearly all major NFL offseason moves complete, save for whatever happens with Aaron Rodgers and possibly Kirk Cousins, it's a good time to single out a favorite move for each team. From Arizona to Washington, we have every team covered. Adding Josh Sweat in free agency addressed Arizona's massive need for proven pass-rush help. Sweat's 43 sacks for Philadelphia since 2019 dwarf the totals for any Cardinal over that span. Arizona's most productive pass rushers since then — Chandler Jones (30.5 sacks), Dennis Gardeck (17), Markus Golden (16.5), Haason Reddick (13.5) and J.J. Watt (13.5) are long gone from the roster, save for Gardeck. Sweat carries risk with a knee that requires management, but his history with the Cardinals' coaches assures a solid fit. Advertisement The Falcons' double-barreled approach to addressing their pass-rush issues cost them a 2026 first-round pick, which seemed desperate. But unlike last offseason, when the Falcons committed $90 million guaranteed to Kirk Cousins before using a first-round pick for another QB, Michael Penix Jr., the move to draft pass rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. was not an either-or proposition. Both first-round picks can play at the same time. Getting a third-round pick back from the Rams in the trade-up for Pearce also enabled the selection of safety Xavier Watts, a likely starter. Re-signing Ronnie Stanley before free agency spared the Ravens from suddenly needing a left tackle in an offseason when there weren't great options at the position. This made it easier for them to use their first-round pick (No. 27) for safety Malaki Starks instead of chasing a tackle, which Kansas City felt compelled to do at No. 31 (Josh Simmons, coming off injury, was the Chiefs' pick there). Keeping quarterback Josh Allen happy on an extension worth $55 million per year, well below the $60 million threshold set by Dak Prescott, affirmed that the relationship between the team and its franchise quarterback remains strong. Buffalo was under no obligation to redo a deal that had four years remaining, but in a market where keeping superstars comes with some additional challenges, the Bills' thinking appeared proactive. Allen is everything for Buffalo. Safety Tre'von Moehrig, signed from Las Vegas on a three-year deal for $51 million, should upgrade a run defense that allowed 179.8 yards per game in 2024, most in the NFL since the 1987 strike-season Falcons (182.3). Moehrig ranked fifth among 50 qualifying safeties in PFF run defense last season, trailing Brian Branch, Julian Love, Kyle Hamilton and Derwin James. Advertisement An all-out effort to address the offense, led by Ben Johnson's hiring as head coach and heavy investments in the offensive roster, particularly up front, stands out for Chicago. All signs point to the Bears being in a better position to evaluate second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. That's critical. Re-signing superstar receiver Ja'Marr Chase had to be done, but there were no guarantees the negotiations would play out smoothly for the Bengals. Cincy took the receiver market from $35 million per year (Justin Jefferson) to $40.25 million (Chase), keeping quarterback Joe Burrow and Chase himself happy. That was important. Adding a 2026 first-round pick from Jacksonville in exchange for dropping from No. 2 to No. 5 in the draft stands out for Cleveland. Though the Browns could regret passing up Travis Hunter, the draft capital could help them land a quarterback in the future, which could be a top priority even after the team used third- and fifth-round picks on the position this year. Re-signing defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa was important for new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, whose scheme leans on strong play from the three-technique position. Eberflus struggled to fill the role with Chicago, where the Bears reached an agreement with free agent Larry Ogunjobi in March 2022, only to fail him on his physical, nixing the deal. Having an established young player at the position removes some of that uncertainty. Hiring Darren Rizzi as special teams coach rounds out a staff featuring Sean Payton as de facto offensive coordinator and Vance Joseph as defensive coordinator. That's a solid triumvirate of proven coaches in three key roles. Rizzi worked under Payton in New Orleans from 2019-21 and stayed in the role through last season, so the fit should be natural. The Saints ranked 12th in special teams EPA during Rizzi's tenure there (2019-24), including fourth on punts, punt returns, kickoffs and kickoff returns, per TruMedia. Advertisement Doubling up on interior offensive linemen after letting the 35-year-old Kevin Zeitler leave in free agency seemed smart for Detroit. The Lions used a second-round pick for guard Tate Ratledge and a fifth-rounder for guard Miles Frazier. The odds seem strong that at least one of the two will emerge as a starter longer term. Christian Mahogany, a 2024 sixth-round pick, also should be in the mix. Before adding flash in the draft with first-round receiver Matthew Golden, the Packers focused on adding toughness in free agency with guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs. Hobbs also brings versatility through his ability to play the nickel role. Both project as hard-nosed players and welcomed additions to the NFL's youngest roster. Remaking the receiver position by acquiring Christian Kirk and using two early picks for Jayden Higgins (second round) and Jaylin Noel (third) bought hope for the Texans after they subtracted Stefon Diggs and lost Tank Dell to injury. Those new receivers aren't going to help the pass protection, which remains a concern, but if quarterback C.J. Stroud can get the ball out of his hands quickly, Houston has some players who might catch it. Before owner Jim Irsay passed, he authorized an unusual (for the Colts) free-agent spending spree, helping Indy address its secondary with safety Cam Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward. The financial green light gave new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo a better chance against a schedule featuring games against offensive callers Mike McDaniel, Sean Payton, Sean McVay, Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan. There's no way to know whether Liam Coen is going to be a good head coach; his credentials are thin. I liked the way Jacksonville broke its pattern of pivoting with each hire. The team had gone from the intense Doug Marrone to nice-guy Gus Bradley to the intense Urban Meyer to nice-guy Doug Pederson with its previous hires. There was no pivot to a taskmaster this time. Coen, like Pederson, comes from the offensive side of the ball and would seem to be a player-friendly coach. I'm betting on defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo maximizing the top two cornerbacks Kansas City added: veteran Kristian Fulton, who played well for the Chargers last season, and third-round pick Nohl Williams, who can play nickel and safety. Both project as physical pieces for Spagnuolo to utilize. They are surer bets than the players Kansas City added to address its issues at left tackle. No team upgraded at the two most important positions — head coach and quarterback — more than the Raiders this offseason. The jumps from Antonio Pierce to Pete Carroll and from Aidan O'Connell to Geno Smith could allow Las Vegas to more than double its win total following a 4-13 season. The Chargers seemingly could have done more this offseason, but one of their biggest additions should help them build on their physical identity under second-year coach Jim Harbaugh. Free-agent addition Mekhi Becton, all 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds of him, slots in at right guard next to the similarly massive tackle Joe Alt. It'll be fun to see those two giants aligned next to one another (unless you're a defensive lineman). Advertisement With Matthew Stafford returning and Davante Adams arriving in free agency, the Rams are very much playing for the present. Their ability to land a 2026 first-round pick from Atlanta for moving back 20 spots in the draft lets them prepare for the future as well, specifically by enhancing their ability to acquire their next quarterback. That was the forward-thinking move that stands out for the Rams this offseason. Doubling up on guard acquisitions with veteran James Daniels and second-round draft choice Jonah Savaiinaea could deliver two immediate starters at a position where Miami needed to get better. Daniels suffered a torn Achilles tendon last season, so the risk could be heightened, but with the injury occurring in September, he could be ready for training camp. Daniels, who turns 28 in September, played 3,086 snaps at right guard over the 2021-23 seasons, fourth most in the NFL, per TruMedia. Extending coach Kevin O'Connell's contract ended speculation that his future might be elsewhere, locking in stability at one of the most critical positions in the organization. I was less excited about some of the personnel moves Minnesota made, primarily because the team added so many older players with injury concerns. Hiring Mike Vrabel as head coach and Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator was a strong 1-2 punch for New England. McDaniels could be the best coordinator in the league who isn't likely to become a head coach elsewhere. Having those two positions secured gives the Patriots a chance to implement a coherent vision for the long term. Getting Derek Carr to forfeit $30 million in previously guaranteed money upon the quarterback's retirement gives the Saints a chance to finally reset after four years of mortgaging the future without reaching the playoffs. Whether the Saints will actually refocus on the long term remains unclear, but the team is in a better position to do so with Carr's contract coming off the books in 2027. Selecting Abdul Carter with the third pick in the draft and still having their choice of available quarterbacks when the Giants selected Jaxson Dart at No. 25 showed the team read the market correctly. Whether Dart will succeed is another question entirely, and history is not on the Giants' side (in the salary-cap era, which dates to 1993, only three of 15 quarterbacks drafted in the first round after pick No. 19 signed long-term extensions with their original teams). Even so, the process seemed sound for the Giants, a welcome change from the previous two offseasons, which featured a Daniel Jones extension (2023) and Saquon Barkley's departure (2024). Ending the Aaron Rodgers insanity while continuing to draft for the offensive line — which now features three first-round picks, including both tackles, and a second-rounder — gives the Jets a chance to build something for the longer term. I wasn't a huge fan of paying Justin Fields what the Jets paid him, but another season with Rodgers would have felt untenable. There's a fresh start in Florham Park, and that's a good thing. Advertisement The Eagles' all-out effort to keep the tush push legal, complete with in-person lobbying from owner Jeffrey Lurie and former center Jason Kelce, helped Philly preserve its offensive identity, maintaining an important edge. Buying at least another year for the tush push felt like an upset victory for the Eagles after momentum built to ban the play. Getting a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth from Dallas for receiver George Pickens and a 2027 sixth might have been the Steelers' best move, especially after DK Metcalf's arrival signaled the end for Pickens in Pittsburgh. There hasn't been much to like about this Steelers offseason from a quarterback standpoint, no matter what happens with Rodgers. Acquiring and paying Metcalf didn't seem like the most logical move, either. But Pickens had to go, so getting decent value was a win for Pittsburgh. I liked the way San Francisco became less emotional with its contract decisions, making measured choices with veteran players. But the move to bring back Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator stands apart. Saleh gives San Francisco a true head coach of the defense after the team ran through three coordinators in three seasons on that side of the ball. The current defensive talent isn't as good as it was when Saleh filled the role for the 49ers from 2017-20, but San Francisco couldn't have landed a better fit. Klint Kubiak's hiring as offensive coordinator closes a gaping philosophical gap between coach Mike Macdonald, who wants to win the old-fashioned way, and 2024 coordinator Ryan Grubb, whose offense ranked fourth in pass rate on early downs, including when tied or leading. Seattle can now proceed with a unified vision for how to play on offense, leaning into the run game under its defensive-minded head coach. Signing Haason Reddick to a one-year, $14 million deal was a low-risk move that could give the Buccaneers high-end pass-rush production. Reddick averaged 12.5 sacks per season with three teams from 2020-23 before his holdout-shortened year with the Jets. He'll be looking to produce Tampa Bay's first double-digit sack season since Shaq Barrett in 2021. Tennessee selected the consensus top quarterback in the draft, Cam Ward, who will almost certainly upgrade the most important position. That move carries more upside than any other the Titans made (13 of 19 QBs taken No. 1 in the salary-cap era received long-term extensions from their original teams, with Ward, Caleb Williams and Bryce Young not yet eligible). Acquiring Laremy Tunsil from Houston could solve the Commanders' left tackle position through quarterback Jayden Daniels' rookie contract and beyond. Tunsil, who turns 31 in August, has earned Pro Bowl honors five times in the past six seasons. He's younger than left tackles Duane Brown and Trent Williams were when Seattle and San Francisco acquired them, respectively. Brown and Williams were solid through their age-36 seasons. This could be a very good move if Tunsil holds up similarly. (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos of, from left, Ja'Marr Chase, Geno Smith and Abdul Carter: Kirk Irwin, Ethan Miller / Getty Images, Tork Mason / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
1 glaring weakness for every NFL team in summer 2025
1 glaring weakness for every NFL team in summer 2025 The 2025 NFL offseason has died down from a roar to a whisper. With free agency and the draft come and gone, most teams have settled into cutting talent rather than adding it. That doesn't mean every team can be happy with where it's landed, however. All 32 franchises still have weaknesses to address, whether they're the minimal concerns of a reigning champion or the dire straits of the Cleveland Browns. Let's try and break down what could be the fatal flaw for each of the 31 teams who'll stop short of hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the confetti falls on Super Bowl 60. What does every NFL franchise have to worry about heading into the doldrums of the offseason? Arizona Cardinals: The linebacking corps Consider this an overarching question about the team's pass rush AND ability to create stops from the second level. Adding Josh Sweat will punch up the league's 26th-ranked pressure rate, but his support will come from high potential/low production teammates like Baron Browning and Zaven Collins. The inside linebacker duo of Mack Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither won't help a defense that was a bottom-six unit against the run. Each brings concerns in coverage as well. Atlanta Falcons: The defensive front (particularly up the middle) The Falcons invested heavily to punch up a unit that finished 31st in the NFL in both sacks and pressure rate last fall. Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. will bring value in the pass rush, but they may not get a ton of help. Troy Andersen is still working to turn his prodigious athleticism into production at linebacker. Morgan Fox and David Onyemata are each on the wrong side of 30 years old, while Ruke Orhorhoro needs to live up to his second round draft billing from 2024. Baltimore Ravens: The edge rush (and kicker) Baltimore got the most productive season of Kyle Van Noy's career when he exploded for 12.5 sacks in his age 33 season. Even if he can do it again, this is a team whose 31.4 percent pressure rate ranked only 24th in the NFL. Drafting Mike Green should help on passing downs, but a Ravens team that doesn't blitz often may have to dial up its aggressiveness to maximize chaos in Maryland this winter. Also, Justin Tucker was released after his worst season as a pro, which the Ravens used as a shield to replace him rather than directly addressing the 16 masseuses who have accused him of sexual misconduct. Buffalo Bills: Safety Buffalo is hoping its wideout depth can make up for the lack of a true WR1 arrow in Josh Allen's quiver (pending any Keon Coleman leap). There's a different fix on the other side of the ball, where the Bills beefed up their pass rush (Joey Bosa, T.J. Sanders) to relieve pressure from a bottom 10 secondary against the pass. The biggest liability is the safety duo of Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin. Each gave up a passer rating of at least 103.0 in coverage. A glow-up from 2024 second round pick Cole Bishop would work wonders here. Carolina Panthers: About 70 percent of the defense Let's give Bryce Young the benefit of the doubt; he improved significantly over the back half of head coach Dave Canales' debut season. Now he's got a big life raft in the form of Tetairoa McMillan to help bail him out of bad situations. The defense, however, can rely on Jaycee Horn and a back-from-injury Derrick Brown. I'd put free agent addition Tre'Von Moehrig in the circle of trust as well. Everyone else in the lineup will be tasked with improving a defense that ranked 32nd in points allowed, yards given up and expected points added (EPA) allowed per play in 2025. Chicago Bears: The run game Ben Johnson left the Sonic & Knuckles David Montgomery/Jahmyr Gibbs platoon in Detroit for D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. Those are decent enough runners, but in 2024 the Bears ranked 28th in rushing play EPA (-0.142) and 30th in rushing yards over expected (RYOE) per attempt (-0.3). Swift and Johnson return in 2025 with a better offensive playbook and vastly upgraded offensive line (hello, Joe Thuney). Can they capitalize? Cincinnati Bengals: Pass rush, especially if they keep toying with Trey Hendrickson Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks in 2024. The rest of the Bengals' roster combined for 18.5. Despite this, concerns about his age and massive spending on Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have left Hendrickson without a contract extension in what's likely his last chance at a massive multi-year contract. He'd like out of Ohio, and even if he stays his running mate/eventual successor is rookie first round pick Shemar Stewart... who despite a mountain of potential, had 4.5 career sacks at Texas A&M. Cleveland Browns: Quarterback The roster includes: Kenny Pickett, a 40-year-old Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders and an injured Deshaun Watson, who was accused of more than 20 counts of sexual misconduct and what the NFL itself described as "predatory behavior" in his time as a Houston Texan. It's bad. Dallas Cowboys: The run game The Cowboys performance on the ground was similar to the Bears' in 2024; 26th in EPA and 30th in RYOE. Then their 1,000-yard rusher, Rico Dowdle, left in free agency. He wasn't spectacular, but his 0.3 RYOE were 23rd-best in the NFL. His free agent replacement, Javonte Williams ranked 43rd out of 44 qualified runners in the same metric (-0.6). Flier pickup Miles Sanders clocked in at -0.8. It's a good thing Dak Prescott got George Pickens, because he's gonna get minimal support from his run game this fall. Denver Broncos: Depth at the skill positions Who can Bo Nix rely on outside of Courtland Sutton? A soon-to-be 31-year-old Evan Engram who ranked 25th among all tight ends in yards per target last fall? Marvin Mims Jr., whose average target distance came 0.7 yards downfield (484 of his 503 receiving yards came after the catch)? The young trio of Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant? A tailback platoon led by RJ Harvey and Audric Estime? There's talent here, but someone will have to emerge from this peloton of potential to make the Broncos' offense a true playoff threat. Detroit Lions: The coordinators How much were Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson pushing Dan Campbell forward? We'll find out in 2025, as 2024's hottest coordinators were each scooped up for head coaching roles (Johnson to the Bears, Glenn to the New York Jets). In their place come John Morton (offense) and Kelvin Sheppard (defense). They have one season of NFL playcalling between them -- Morton's 2017 stint as head of the New York Jets, where his starting quarterbacks were Josh McCown and Bryce Petty. Now *there* is a man who deserves a second chance. Green Bay Packers: Trustworthy cornerbacks who create confidence to blitz The Packers quickly developed a top 10 defense under new coordinator Jeff Hafley in 2024. One thing his unit did not do well, however, is get to the quarterback. Green Bay ranked 20th in pressure rate despite 45 sacks thanks in large part to Hafley's aversion to the sending extra attackers; the team's 16.8 percent blitz rate was second lowest in the league. That's part design and part necessity. Jaire Alexander played only seven games last season and Keisean Nixon, despite developing as a corner who can play wide or in the slot, wasn't quite in the circle of trust when it came to being left on an island. Alexander is healthy in 2025, Nixon returns and offseason addition Nate Hobbs can handle slot duties full time. If they rise up, does that mean Hafley can send more blitzers and create the negative plays that allow the Pack to beat contenders this fall? Houston Texans: Offensive line cohesion Houston worked hard to overhaul its blocking after CJ Stroud's pressure rate rose to nearly 39 percent in an underwhelming sophomore season. That's led to the following arrivals: Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson, Ed Ingram, Trent Brown and Aireontae Ersery. They'll slot in some form around Tytus Howard and Blake Fisher, but there's a lot that needs to come together before this is more than simply a collection of offensive line parts. If they can't jell quickly, it's going to keep Stroud from building meaningful connections with new wideouts Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and Christian Kirk. Indianapolis Colts: Quarterback It's Anthony Richardson vs. Daniel Jones for the QB1 role. Richardson's career completion rate is a robust 50.6 percent. Jones' completion rate on throws that travel at least 10 yards downfield the last three seasons is 50.4. It could be a long, long season in Indiana. Jacksonville Jaguars: Most of the secondary, depending on how Travis Hunter is deployed A Hunter-Tyson Campbell pairing at corner has potential for greatness, even if Campbell's play has declined concerningly since his breakthrough 2022. Behind them, however, things get dicey. A Darnell Savage/Eric Murray combination means two aging starting safeties who are vulnerable in coverage. Jourdan Lewis can handle his business in the slot, but he'll be 30 years old before the season starts. Last season's 32nd-ranked passing defense should be better in 2025, but potentially not in a way that matters. Kansas City Chiefs: The left side of the offensive line Joe Thuney is a Chicago Bear, leaving Kansas City without an All-Pro left guard and a pretty solid left tackle fill-in. Those roles will now be filled by some combination of Wanya Morris, Kingsley Suamataia, free agent signee Jaylon Moore and first round draft pick Josh Simmons. There's a lot of raw talent there, but any hiccups on the way to meeting this potential would be bad news for Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes was sacked six times in a Super Bowl 59 blowout and pressured on nearly 40 percent of his dropbacks. If his blindside protectors can't rise up, opponents will have a chance to collapse his pockets without sacrificing extra blitzers up front. Los Angeles Chargers: Receiving depth Secondary depth is a concern, but it was in 2024 as well and Jim Harbaugh still strung together a top five passing defense. Let's look at the offense instead, where Justin Herbert continues the quest to match his potential to his NFL output. Ladd McConkey outperformed expectations as a rookie. Quentin Johnston began to come around, bumping his yards per route run (YPRR) from a frustrating 0.94 as a rookie to 2.04 in 2025 -- 30th-best among qualified NFL wideouts. After that, Herbert will be left to rely on second round rookie Tre Harris, a 30-year-old Mike Williams, Derius Davis and a tight end corps headed by Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin. Los Angeles Rams: Cornerback Darious Williams allowed a 101.7 passer rating in 2024 -- the highest of his career. Akhello Witherspoon's play declined after a better-than-expected 2023 and, like Williams, he's on the wrong side of 30. While Cobie Durant acquitted himself well in his first season as a full-time starter last fall, concerns exist across the secondary, particularly with a safety rotation that struggled to be the over-the-top eraser Los Angeles needs. Las Vegas Raiders: LInebacker Geno Smith solved Las Vegas' biggest problem. But behind a useful defensive front is a linebacker corps that will rely on Devin White and Elandon Roberts in the middle of the field. White went from All-Pro to Tampa Bay Buccaneers castoff and made a single start for the Texans last season. Roberts is 31-years-old and that's depleted his already iffy coverage skills. There will be room to operate in the second level if you're an AFC West offense. Miami Dolphins: The secondary This goes from "concerning" to "OH NO" quickly if Jalen Ramsey gets the trade he's requested. As is, he and Kader Kohou both bring above-average skills to their positions and Storm Duck proved to be more than just a great name (but maybe less than a full-time starter, we'll see). But the safety spot has been revamped with offseason signings of Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu -- two players who started a combined four games last season. Pair that with a lack of depth and things can get dicey against AFC quarterbacks very, very quickly. Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback experience Whatever concerns may come at running back will be resolved with an in-season trade for or signing of Cam Akers. Rebuilding on both sides of the line has reinforced Minnesota in the trenches. But J.J. McCarthy is the great unknown; a quarterback with zero regular season snaps to his name. New England Patriots: Edge rusher No team in the NFL had fewer sacks than the Patriots last season. Milton Williams will help from the inside and Harold Landry still has juice left to be squeezed. But the Patriots only return a single player who had more than 2.5 sacks last fall (Keion White) and may lack the personnel to be the balanced, aggressive force new head coach Mike Vrabel wants. New Orleans Saints: Quarterback Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener. That's the depth chart, in no particular order. Oof. New York Giants: The right side of the offensive line A Jermaine Eluemunor/Greg Van Roten combination is experienced but uninspiring. Center John Michael Schmitz has struggled to live up to his draft status. With an iffy quarterback rotation of Russell Wilson/Jameis Winston/Jaxson Dart and a receiving corps light on folks who can create their own space (outside of Malik Nabers, who is great), the Giants need stability to keep the pocket clear. New York Jets: Wideout depth Well, they've got Garrett Wilson. That's nice. Their second-most productive returning wideout is Allen Lazard, who will request his release as soon as Aaron Rodgers signs somewhere. Other wideouts and tight ends on the roster include Josh Reynolds, Tyler Johnson, Malachi Corley and 2025 second round tight end Mason Taylor. Good luck, Justin Fields. Philadelphia Eagles: Secondary depth and safety, kinda? The defending champions don't have too many weak spots -- though a cornerback competition between Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks and Adoree Jackson is much higher on potential than production. The help over the top leaves questions. Sydney Brown is a thumper with limited reps. Reed Blankenship put up solid numbers in 2024 but posted a 14 percent missed tackle rate. Second round rookie Andrew Mukuba may be asked to contribute immediately if Philly's gonna be the first repeat NFC East champs in two decades. Pittsburgh Steelers: Quarterback It's Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and Will Howard competing for snaps. And maybe Aaron Rodgers, which is like losing your home in a tornado, then rebuilding with studs made of graham crackers. San Francisco 49ers: Interior offensive line The secondary could see some issues as a young group takes over following the departures of Charvarius Ward and Talanoa Hufanga (as well as the useful linebacker coverage of Dre Greenlaw). But the 49ers, vitally, need to get their offense back up and running, particularly with Brock Purdy barreling toward a lucrative contract extension. That means lots of yards after the catch, true to Kyle Shanahan form, but also a dynamic running attack to suck defenders toward the line of scrimmage, create believable play-action scenarios and generally create room for the team's playmakers to thrive. Dominick Puni thrived as a rookie, but the spots next to him clearing room for Christian McCaffrey remain iffy. Seattle Seahawks: Receiving depth Sam Darnold is going from Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a 32-year-old Cooper Kupp and Noah Fant. Kupp remains a chain-moving presence (more than 2.0 YPRR each of the last two seasons) but he hasn't played a full 17-game slate since 2021. Tight end Mason Taylor could help, but the learning curve is steep, even for a second-round rookie in a deep class. Smith-Njigba could be Darnold's huckleberry -- and could be lined up for a ton of contested catches through double coverage. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Linebacker Lavonte David may well play until the heat death of the universe. Still, he's 35 years old and has more than 200 NFL games under his belt. If he loses a step, Tampa will be relying on guys like SirVocea Dennis, Deion Jones and Anthony Walker to step up. That's an invitation to attack the middle of the field. If it means drawing Antoine Winfield closer to the line of scrimmage for support it also takes him away from being the big play eraser he's meant to be. Tennessee Titans: Pass rush, wide receiver The Titans have plenty of holes to fill. Cam Ward will be throwing to a lineup that will be headed by Calvin Ridley and potentially starting two different Day 3 rookies depending on how Van Jefferson, Treylon Burks and Tyler Lockett perform. The pass rush is similarly dire. Arden Key and Jeffery Simmons are the only returning players who have recorded more than 2.5 sacks last season. Washington Commanders: The pass defense Washington fielded 2024's 22nd-ranked passing defense and made it to the NFC title game anyway (please do not ask what happened next). If Marshon Lattimore still has juice left to be squeezed he'll be an asset in the secondary, but that's a tough bet given his recent injury history. That puts extra pressure on the Commanders to create pressure without leaning on the top-six blitz rate that carried them through 2024. The team's defensive front is more "nice pieces" than "star disruptors;" if they can consistently create chaos with a four-man rush, it would be a boon to an overtaxed unit.
