NFL: The Insiders

Zion Young, a second-round rookie, is part of the Ravens' defensive rebuild under new head coach Jesse Minter, who must get the defense right after Baltimore's defensive struggles last season.

Calais Campbell is part of the Ravens' defensive rebuild under new head coach Jesse Minter, who must get the defense right after Baltimore's defensive struggles last season.

Lamar Jackson's game is expected to reach another level under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle in Baltimore; the franchise quarterback is positioned to benefit from the coordinator change as the Ravens aim to break through in a crowded AFC field.

Cook led the league with over 1,600 rushing yards in 2025, anchoring the Bills' number-one rushing attack. Stacy Dales describes Cook as 'sensational' and notes the Bills' rushing dominance was a key part of their fourth-best overall offense.

Allen had an MVP-level 2025 season with 39 total touchdowns (25 passing, 14 rushing) under Joe Brady's offensive system. Stacy Dales notes the Bills' continuity with Brady as head coach is designed to maintain the trust and foundation between the play caller and the MVP-caliber QB, with the fourth-best offense in football last year.

Young is on the other edge opposite Cam Jordan and 'really came into his own last season' with big things expected from him in 2026. Judy Batista highlights Young's emergence as part of the Saints' strong defensive edge rotation.

Tyson was drafted in the first round by the Saints to address the need for explosive receiving options. Judy Batista notes the Saints 'got two guys who can really go' with Tyson and Chris Alave, and Deuce McAllister emphasizes the critical importance of adding speed on the outside to help the young QB and take pressure off the running game.

Alave is one of two top receiving options for the Saints alongside first-round draft pick Jordan Tyson. Judy Batista notes the Saints 'got two guys who can really go' with Alave and Tyson, addressing the need for explosive plays on the outside.

Etienne joins the Saints as a newcomer to pair with Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Deuce McAllister expects Etienne to add explosiveness to the Saints running game and take pressure off Kamara, giving the offense the one-two RB duo it has lacked in recent years.

Kamara reworked his contract to remain with the Saints in 2026 after his status was uncertain. Deuce McAllister notes Kamara 'still has something left in the tank' and will partner with Travis Etienne to give the Saints the one-two RB duo the offense has lacked. McAllister expects Kamara's partnership with Etienne to take pressure off Kamara as the lead guy.

Cousins is named the current starter for the Raiders by head coach Clint Kubiak, who coached him to a Pro Bowl in Minnesota. Stacy Dales notes Kubiak has stated Cousins will teach and mentor rookie Fernando Mendoza, with the expectation that Mendoza will eventually take over. Cousins is being paid to mentor and lead while Mendoza develops.

Mendoza, the Raiders' top draft pick, is expected to eventually become the starter despite Kirk Cousins being named the current starter. Mark Ross argues Mendoza 'has to be the guy' and that Clint Kubiak took the Raiders job specifically for Mendoza, not Cousins. Mendoza had significant college success and playing time, and recent rookie QB trends (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Drake May) show year-two success after year-one struggles.

Pitts is described as 'rejuvenated' in the Falcons offense and has shown good chemistry with Michael Penix Jr. Mark Ross highlights the connection between Penix and Pitts as part of the promising offensive potential.

London is part of the Falcons' receiving corps and has shown good chemistry with Michael Penix Jr. during the QB's limited time on the field. Mark Ross mentions the 'rejuvenated' connection between Penix and London as a positive sign for the offense.

Tagovailoa is competing with Michael Penix Jr. for the Falcons starting job after a disappointing 2025 season. Mark Ross notes Tua looked 'almost like a shot fighter' last year, lacking the quick mind and quick release he showed earlier in his career. Stacy Dales adds Tua is roughly 9 months into ACL rehabilitation (his third career ACL injury) and will need to be eased back in despite being cleared to throw in March.

Penix, drafted 8th overall by the Falcons, is competing with Tua Tagovailoa for the starting job. Mark Ross notes Penix showed promise in his limited time, particularly with connections to Drake London and Kyle Pitts, but the competition will come down to health—Penix is coming off injury and Tua has a long injury history.

Jefferson experienced a down 2025 season with career lows in efficiency despite staying over 1,000 receiving yards. Stacy Dales highlights his 12.5 yards per catch and just 2 receiving touchdowns as frustrating production, noting the key question for the Vikings is which QB (Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy) will have the best chemistry with Jefferson going forward.

McCarthy, drafted 10th overall by Minnesota, is competing with Kyler Murray for the starting job. The Vikings' investment in McCarthy at that draft position suggests they want him to be the long-term starter, but he's sharing 50-50 reps in training camp. Stacy Dales notes the reduced reps mean less room for error as McCarthy learns the new offense.

Murray is competing with J.J. McCarthy for the Vikings starting job and is viewed as giving Minnesota the best chance to win, especially given their strong defense. Mark Ross notes Murray needs to get more comfortable and consistent, but his playmaking ability is valuable. However, Murray is in an unusual situation sharing 50-50 reps as a veteran who has always been a starter.

Watson is favored to win the Browns QB competition over Shador Sanders despite Sanders' youth and recent flashes. Mark Ross notes the Browns' $233 million investment in Watson makes him the likely starter if the competition remains open, though Sanders showed promise in OTAs with improved mobility after back-to-back Achilles injuries.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara is back for another season with New Orleans, continuing his tenure with the team.

Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard suffered two injuries on MetLife Stadium artificial turf, part of a pattern of notable injuries on that surface that has reignited the debate over playing surfaces in NFL stadiums.

Jimmy Garoppolo suffered an ankle injury at MetLife Stadium on artificial turf, part of a pattern of notable injuries on that surface that has reignited the debate over playing surfaces in NFL stadiums.

49ers defensive end Nick Bosa suffered an ACL injury at MetLife Stadium on artificial turf, part of a pattern of notable injuries on that surface that has reignited the debate over playing surfaces in NFL stadiums.

Malik Nabors suffered an ACL injury at MetLife Stadium on artificial turf, part of a pattern of notable injuries on that surface that has reignited the debate over playing surfaces in NFL stadiums.

Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is referenced as having suffered an ACL injury at MetLife Stadium on artificial turf, part of a pattern of notable injuries on that surface including Malik Nabors, Nick Bosa, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Sterling Shepard.

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor voiced support on social media for natural grass fields in NFL stadiums, stating 'natural grass is an out of reach. Prioritizing players shouldn't be either. We are worth the cost,' advocating for player safety and natural grass installation.

49ers tight end George Kittle voiced support on social media for natural grass fields in NFL stadiums, stating 'Grass still looks great. Let's use grass instead of turf,' following the World Cup's use of natural grass at MetLife Stadium.

Packers tight end Tucker Kraft, coming off a torn ACL, is now a target for a contract extension from Green Bay. The hope is that at some point before the season, he will be the latest Packer to cash in on a huge deal, following Devontae Wyatt's recent extension.

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is healthy and competing against second-year quarterback Shadur Sanders in a true quarterback competition heading into training camp. Watson seemed to take an early lead in the spring, but Sanders made up ground, and coach Todd Monken wanted to see more work before naming a starter.

Vikings second-year quarterback JJ McCarthy is in a major training camp quarterback battle with Kyler Murray. The competition will continue throughout camp, preseason games, and up to the start of the season, with the outcome having wide-ranging ramifications for the organization.

Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray is part of a major training camp storyline involving a quarterback battle with second-year quarterback JJ McCarthy. The outcome of this competition will have wide-ranging ramifications for the organization and will go a long way in determining how the Vikings perform.

Cardinals backup quarterback Carson Beck could potentially challenge Jacoby Brissett for the starting job if Brissett does not take first-team reps due to ongoing contract negotiations. The extent to which Beck benefits from additional reps remains uncertain.

Cardinals starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been in contract negotiations with Arizona for several months, trying to secure more money as the team's starter. As of training camp, the Cardinals do not have Brissett under a contract he would want to play under, creating drama around whether he will take first-team reps and whether backup Carson Beck could challenge him.

Rams third-year edge rusher Byron Young is coming off a 12-sack season with 27.5 sacks in three years. With Myles Garrett on the other side drawing defensive attention, Young's sack numbers could continue to increase. However, at 28 years old, he is relatively old for a third-year player.

Packers defensive end Devontae Wyatt agreed to a new three-year, $57 million contract extension with $20 million in a signing bonus. Wyatt was coming off the best season of his career, overcoming a broken leg at the end of the prior season, and is now locked in as a budding star for Green Bay.

Goff is the established starting quarterback for Detroit entering the 2025 season after the Lions missed the playoffs in 2024 despite a 9-8 record. He emphasized the team's hunger to win the division and return to the playoffs, highlighting his collaborative relationship with new offensive coordinator Drew Pretzing and praising his weapons, particularly Amon Ross St. Brown, whom he called the best wide receiver in the league.

Jackson's ranking at 69 in the 2026 NFL Top 100 is viewed as too low by Garofalo; he remains a special player and is excited about the Declan Doyle offense, which could boost his ranking. The ranking is contextualized against his MVP-caliber status and the fact that he was voted the number one overall player just six years prior, suggesting the Top 100 voting process struggles to properly rank elite quarterbacks.

Waddle is positioned for increased deep-ball opportunity with the Broncos; he recorded 64 catches for 910 yards last year in a timing catch-and-run offense under Russell Wilson, but now plays alongside Courtland Sutton with Bo Nix, who leads the NFL in 20-plus yard throws since 2024. This schematic shift allows Waddle to utilize his speed on stretch plays and vertical routes, elevating his role as the number two wide receiver.

Higgins is cited as a top-tier number two wide receiver in the NFL conversation; last year he recorded 59 catches for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns alongside Jamar Chase for the Cincinnati Bengals, positioning him among the elite secondary receivers in the league.