Latest news with #SuperBowl60
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Sports Illustrated's Super Bowl prediction won't play well with Eagles fans
Sports Illustrated's Super Bowl prediction won't play well with Eagles fans Sports Illustrated's 100 Bold Predictions has Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills defeating Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 60 Nothing moves our meters like stats, numbers, and a constant thirst for prognostication. Most have already predicted the Philadelphia Eagles' record for the coming season. Others have tossed Madden ratings around in their heads. Others have already constructed their Fantasy football draft board while predicting the following three Super Bowl winners. It wouldn't be an NFL offseason without bold predictions, and one of sports' most trusted platforms delivered with more than enough of them. The Super Bowl... Eh... While the expected matchup is very possible, Birds fans are going to hate how this story ends. SI predicts an Eagles loss to the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl 60. To a die-hard fan, there's nothing worse than seeing another who is believed to be riding a bandwagon. That's much of the reason why Eagles fans despise Dallas Cowboys fans so much. They seem to disappear when things don't go well. Though no support system is more loyal than that belonging to the Birds, there are a handful that a Philadelphia sports fan sees as loyal and respectable. One is a 'mafia' from upstate New York. Buffalo Bills fans have been through a lot, and if there's one fan base that the Eagles contingent wouldn't mind seeing win its first Lombardi Trophy, it's that of the Bills. Now, all of this goes out the window if Philadelphia is Buffalo's opponent. That seemingly goes without saying. Sports Illustrated sees that as the expected matchup on football's biggest stage. Connor Orr provides the details. "Predicting the Eagles will return to the big game is a begrudging move on my part, but it's a recognition that nearly all of the NFC front-runners have brutal schedules. Philadelphia is the one team that can handle the rigors of such a slate and win ugly consistently enough to make the dance." He continued by stating the following. "Meanwhile, the Bills have an amenable schedule that includes the Browns, Falcons, Panthers, and Saints, as well as multiple cracks at the bottom rung of the AFC East. This slate will keep Josh Allen healthy and in berserker mode for the playoffs when Buffalo needs him most. " A paragraph later, he goes on to state that Josh Allen wins Super Bowl MVP... Yeah... Again, we can see the matchup. It's one of three that ESPN predicted (Philadelphia represents the NFC in all three), but we disagree with the result of the SI take. SI's 100 bold predictions for the season pick up steam. It also forecasts Philadelphia's 'tush push' montage being one of the most-watched videos ever and Jason Kelce teaming up with Brandon Graham to rejoin the organization in professional roles. Now that we can deal with it. Think about it. That may mean free beers on game day for everybody!
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Chiefs never make Super Bowl excuses – a lesson the 49ers must learn
It's patently fair to think that both the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will be among the leading contenders to win Super Bowl 60 at the end of the 2025 NFL season. Both teams have star-studded rosters. They've combined for 11 appearances in conference title games over the past seven seasons – K.C. qualifying each of those years – a period when no other club has made it that far more than twice. And, of course, the Chiefs and Niners have met on two of the past six Super Sundays. Yet Thursday seemed to illustrate a – maybe the – major difference between these proud franchises and might even be the reason that Kansas City beat San Francisco in those Super Bowls while winning another and appearing in five overall since the start of the 2019 campaign. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl MVP, was asked about the challenge of resetting and resuming the relentless football grind after a Super Bowl defeat – February's blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles preventing Kansas City from becoming the first team to capture three successive Lombardi Trophies. 'I feel like I focus every year, because I know how special of a run that we're on and how many years left I'll have with all these great players and a great team,' said Mahomes. 'And every team is different and you don't want to miss an opportunity. 'When you lose a Super Bowl, I think there's sometimes in those workouts – you might be a little tired – (but) you have that extra, added motivation to finish even harder or finish even stronger.' NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where teams stand post-draft It was the latest insight into the mindset of Mahomes and his dynasty – and both might have a case as the greatest in league history by the time their runs conclude – especially in the face of their rare setbacks. And let's not forget, the 2024 Chiefs somehow won a franchise record 15 regular-season games and, then, the conference – even though they couldn't protect Mahomes (sacked a career-high 36 times), couldn't consistently run the ball and lost No. 1 wideout Rashee Rice to a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Compare that to the 2024 49ers, who followed up their overtime loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl 58 with a 6-11 campaign – their worst since 2018, when the team was forced to use three starting quarterbacks. And, yes, last season's Niners were stripped of several key players – Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Dre Greenlaw, Javon Hargrave – due to injuries for most of the year. Yet coach Kyle Shanahan, who previously signaled his most recent outfit was out of sorts from training camp on, admitted Thursday, 'I felt guys weren't ready to come back. And I understood that. But I told them how I won't really understand it this year.' The dreaded Super Bowl hangover, emotional debilitation or whatever you want to call it felt like the latest excuse for an organization that's had several as its championship drought now extends beyond three decades. There was former quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's fourth-quarter overthrow of wide open Emmanuel Sanders in Super Bowl 54, a game the 49ers probably win if the connection is made. There was safety Jaquiski Tartt's dropped interception in the fourth quarter of the 2021 NFC championship game – and if he hangs on, San Francisco (not the Los Angeles Rams) almost surely reaches Super Bowl 56. Then there was the late defensive collapse and Shanahan's controversial decision to receive the opening kickoff of overtime in Super Bowl 58 – which actually might have been the right call regardless – which Kansas City ultimately claimed 25-22 on a game-ending touchdown. The Niners have also been occasionally sideswiped by major injuries in recent seasons and always seem to be in the midst of significant contractual issues every summer – though that shouldn't be the case in 2025, especially now that Brock Purdy is no longer on the quarterbacking version of welfare. Still, funny how that stuff never seems to affect the Chiefs, who will reach the league's version of the final four no matter what roadblocks are thrown in front of them. Coach Andy Reid attributes much of it to his veteran leaders, players like Mahomes who don't skate during or skip out on the team's offseason program. 'All the good leaders have been here,' Reid said. 'It's good to have them there. When they're there, it's a certain energy that comes with it. Expectations from all the … new guys – free agent type or the college kids – and they set a tempo with that.' Meanwhile, Shanahan's just glad to have perfect attendance for a change after so many years of having the spring and summer sidetracked in some capacity by financial standoffs between players and the front office. 'I thought the coolest thing was everyone being there on the first day,' Shanahan said in reference to the start of this year's offseason program. 'We had every guy show up and I didn't have to call anyone and beg them, which said a lot.' Sure does, even if Shanahan intended it as a compliment to his current crew after several expensive veterans were purged in recent months as the team cleared room for Purdy's five-year, $265 million extension. Tight end George Kittle, who was extended along with Purdy and linebacker Fred Warner, says having the business side of football resolved should help on the field. 'I'm glad they decided to do that,' said the six-time Pro Bowler. 'That's awesome for us because now we have everybody in the building that's just focused on playing football and focusing on just getting a little bit better every single day. 'It's good for football because now all we're focused on is football.' San Francisco's stars paid, the team drawing the league's easiest schedule (the Niners' 2025 opponents had a collective winning percentage of .415 last season), McCaffrey apparently back to 100% and after an atypically long offseason to rest and recover, Shanahan knows this year's squad has little to rationalize. 'The year before last year coming off the '23 season was one of the shorter breaks that we've had, having that tough loss in the Super Bowl and coming back really just like six weeks later,' he said. 'It's never fun to have January off, but those extra five weeks add up a lot, and I think guys were itching to get back this time, excited to get back, ready to go for the first day, and it's been a lot more fun that way.' As for the Chiefs, saddled with another tough first-place schedule full of prime-time games plus a Week 1 pilgrimage to Brazil, they'll turn the adversity of an embarrassing Super Bowl showing into their own fun. 'I think it'll be good for us at the end of the day,' said Mahomes. 'I mean, obviously looking back you want to win the game, but a lot of those (younger teammates) hadn't lost one – hadn't ended a season on a loss that are on this team now. So I'm sure they'll be motivated to go back out there and try to find a way to get to the Super Bowl and win it this year.' A lesson the current 49ers have yet to learn and a goal they have yet to reach. All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Eagles land in all three of ESPN's most probable Super Bowl predictions
Eagles land in all three of ESPN's most probable Super Bowl predictions The Worldwide Leader in Sports has spoken, and the belief is the Eagles are the NFC's most likely representative in Super Bowl 60. Reaching the Super Bowl is tough. Every offseason, all 32 teams begin another quest with the same goal: to qualify for football's biggest game and win the Lombardi Trophy. Seeing as how only one team can accomplish that task, the probability seems slim, which makes the Philadelphia Eagles' accomplishments during the past eight NFL seasons more special. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1966, the Eagles have reached the grand stage five times. They've won two of their last three, and had there not been a slippery field in Super Bowl 57, we may be discussing six titles in total, three NFL Championships, and three Lombardi Trophies. If a repeat is in the cards, it seemingly won't be easy, but the Worldwide Leader in Sports seems supremely confident in the Birds' chances. ESPN names the Eagles as the NFC's representative in their three most likely Super Bowl 60 matchups. "The Philadelphia Eagles are the favorites to win Super Bowl LX -- but just barely, with a cluster of teams close to the reigning champs in terms of ability and chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy." Those are the words of ESPN's Seth Walder. He references the ESPN Football Power Index in his take on 2025 projections and Super Bowl chances. "The Eagles have a 12% chance to win the Super Bowl, according to the model, the lowest chance the preseason favorite has had to win it all since the model began outputting preseason projections in 2015." Philadelphia tops the 'elite tier' in the model. The familiar contenders follow them to round out the top five. For fans of numbers and stats, there's even better news. Philadelphia is the NFC's representative in the three most likely Super Bowl 60 matchups. They are as follows. Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs Eagles vs. Baltimore Ravens Eagles vs. Buffalo Bills The likelihood of them landing in all three of those games is 4%. The Eagles saw a mass exodus of talent during the free agency frenzy that began the league year in March, but they've retooled with inexpensive signings and a very impressive 2025 NFL Draft class. Most importantly, the roster's veteran and young core is intact, one that now has a championship pedigree. Chances at glory rest under the Birds' noses. All they seemingly have to do is work hard and give it a whiff.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Time is potentially running out for Trenton Simpson with the Ravens
Time is potentially running out for Trenton Simpson with the Ravens It's now or never for Trenton Simpson. There's nowhere to hide as the Ravens begin their quest towards glory. First impressions are vital because one never gets another chance to make a good one. Fortunately, people can be forgiving. Second chances in the NFL aren't common, but every so often, players get lucky. It's year three for Trenton Simpson, and he's perhaps one of the best examples of the previous statement. It's already make-or-break time. Drafted 86th overall by the Baltimore Ravens during Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft, he signed a four-year deal as a rookie. The coming campaign will be his third, but this may be his last opportunity to prove he should be a part of the organization's long-term future. Trenton Simpson may not have a better opportunity to secure his future with the Ravens organization. There's a theory that teams look for their starters in Rounds 1 and 2 of an NFL Draft, but the meat of the roster is built in Round 3. Sure, Pro Bowlers are discovered in every round. Scouting isn't an exact science, and there's a sense around Ravens land that there's a mini-spotlight being cast on one Trenton Simpson. Baltimore approaches another NFL season as the favorite to win the AFC North and one of the favorites to contend for a shot to play in football's biggest game during Super Bowl 60. There's much to iron out between now and then. That's what the offseason is for. Roster battles will help the Ravens answer some roster concerns. They must settle on a kicker. They need to figure out the bottom half of their depth chart at edge rusher. They need a starting left guard. Then, there are the linebackers. Baltimore doesn't have many weaknesses. Their quarterback is a two-time MVP. Their starting running back is one of the best at his position. They field a Pro Bowl receiver who somehow still flies under the radar, and even though Roquan Smith is one of the best LBs on the planet. He's going to need sme help, and that's where someone like Trenton Simpson comes in. Malik Harrison and Chris Board are gone. Simpson will have an opportunity to start, but he may have 2024 First-Team All-ACC nod Teddye Buchanan breathing down his neck. Trenton has experience on his side, and last season, he notched 73 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and four pass breakups. Simpson's most significant opportunity for improvement is as a pass defender. He was expected to be one of the favorites to replace a departed Patrick Queen. Things didn't work out as planned, and as he fell out of favor with his coaches, Harrison and Borad eventually surpassed him. This could be his last opportunity. This is a make-or-break season. He'll need to make the most of every snap, especially those given to him at OTAs. That could be the difference between entering the 2026 season on the hot seat or being viewed as a high-priority player that Baltimore must sign to an extension sooner rather than later.
USA Today
7 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.
