From Comeback Year To Super Bowl: 10 Best Moments Of Drew Brees' Hall Of Fame Career

A Texas native, Drew Brees wanted to play football in his home state. But like the rest of his football journey, Brees took a fortuitous detour to Indiana, where he went to star in college at Purdue. After lighting it up for the Boilermakers, Brees eventually ascended to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL. So, it’s no surprise that Brees will have plenty of people to thank in his induction speech, set to take place in Canton on Saturday. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, his head coach at New Orleans, will introduce Brees at the ceremony. Joining Brees on stage as part of this year’s Hall of Fame class include Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri and Luke Kuechly. "The way I really look at it is, this is my opportunity to convey my appreciation, gratitude to so many of the people and places that were a part of this journey," Brees told reporters this week. "That’s what I’m most looking forward to, is all the people I’m going to have a chance to see and appreciate and let them know just how valued they are." Standing at exactly 6 feet tall and weighing 209 pounds, Brees did not have the ideal stature of a quarterback. But through grit, a relentless work ethic and cerebral approach to the game, Brees developed into a 13-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion. Brees pointed to creating a culture of connectivity that led to sustainable winning during his time in the league, which included stints with the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints. "So much of my thought process each and every season was how do you recreate so much connectivity and chemistry with the guys that are on your side of the ball," Brees said. "And then the team dynamics. How are we feeding off each other and how are we complementing each other? To me, that’s where a lot of the magic lies on a team is just how you build that chemistry. And how you build those relationships." Now, let's look at the 10 best moments from Brees' Hall of Fame career. 10. Winning Comeback Player Of The Year In 2004 Brees' tenure with the San Diego Chargers was a bit more successful than some might have remembered. After the Chargers took him with the first pick in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft, Brees earned the starting job a year later in 2002. He went 8-8 that year before going 2-9 as a starter in 2003. With Brees and the Chargers struggling in 2003, San Diego selected Philip Rivers in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. But Brees not only fended off Rivers for the starting job in each of the next two seasons, he also led the Chargers to the playoffs for the first time in seven years in 2004. He won the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award for his play that season before going 9-7 as a starter in 2005. Brees finished his time in San Diego with a 30-28 record as a starter. He completed 62.2% of his passes for 12,348 yards, with 80 touchdown passes and 53 interceptions. 9. Gold Jacket Connection: Brees Catches TD From LT An underrated athlete and accomplished basketball player in high school, Brees got to show off his skills when he caught a 21-yard touchdown pass for a score from fellow Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson during a Week 4 contest against the Raiders in 2003. It was one of seven touchdown passes the multi-talented Tomlinson threw in his NFL career, and it was one of the eight receptions Brees made in his career. 8. Eclipsing Johnny Unitas’ Record For Consecutive Games With A TD Pass Breaking a record by Unitas that lasted in the record books for 52 years, Brees completed a touchdown pass in 54 consecutive games between the 2009 and 2012 seasons. Brees threw the touchdown that broke Unitas' record of 47 games against his former team, the Chargers, in Week 5 of the 2012 season with a 40-yard touchdown to Devery Henderson in the Superdome, giving him 48 at that time. His record of 54 consecutive games with a touchdown pass still stands. 7. Becoming The First QB To Throw For 5,000 Yards In Over 20 Years Dan Marino was the first quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards, totaling 5,084 passing yards in 1984. But Brees became the second quarterback to accomplish that feat when he threw for 5.069 yards in 2008. And he produced one of the most prolific seasons three years later, completing 71.2% of his passes for a career-high 5,476 yards, with 46 touchdown passes and a 110.6 passer rating in 2011. Brees holds the NFL record by eclipsing 5,000 passing yards in five different seasons. 6. Setting The NFL's Single-Season Record For Completion Percentage Accuracy is an important statistic NFL scouts and talent evaluators consider when assessing if a quarterback can make the transition to the pros. And while smaller in stature, Brees was the gold standard for moving inside the pocket and finding throwing lanes between linemen to push the ball down the field. Brees holds the NFL record for completion percentage in a single season, completing 74.4% of his passes in 2018. Brees actually holds three of the top five season marks for completion percentage in a season. His 67.7% career completion percentage is the third-best mark in NFL history. 5. Leading Saints To Victory In First New Orleans Game After Hurricane Katrina Brees' first home game with the Saints was one their fans will remember for ages. After Hurricane Katrina displaced the Saints for the 2005 season, they returned to the Superdome for the first time in Week 3 of the 2006 season. They decisively defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 23-3, with Steve Gleason's punt block that led to a touchdown return serving as the memorable moment from that game. Brees didn't put up terrific numbers, but he gave New Orleans a steady hand that night. He threw for 191 yards, leading his team to four scoring drives. 4. Surpassing Peyton Manning For Most TD Passes Ever For about a year, no quarterback had more regular-season touchdown passes than Brees. In Week 15 of the 2019 season, Brees threw his 540th career touchdown pass on a throw to tight end Josh Hill. The touchdown pass broke Peyton Manning's record for the most regular-season touchdown passes in NFL history, and it came against one of Manning's former teams, the Indianapolis Colts. Brees' pass to Hill was also his 20th-straight completion in that game. Tom Brady wound up breaking Brees' record in 2020. 3. Breaking The NFL's All-Time Passing Yards Record A year before Brees set the touchdown passes record, he broke the NFL's all-time passing yards record. He also surpassed Manning for that record when he threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Tre'Quan Smith in Week 5 of the 2018 season. Brees would finish his NFL career with 80,358 passing yards, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 80,000 yards. When he retired in 2020, Brees was the NFL's all-time leader in passing yardage, completions (7,142) and passing attempts (10,551). Brady wound up breaking those marks in the following seasons. 2. Helping Saints Reach NFC Title Game In Year 1 Brees' tenure with the Chargers ended with him suffering a devastating shoulder injury, leading the team to part ways with him as a free agent in the 2006 offseason. But that opened the door for a move that helped change the course of NFL history. After the Miami Dolphins were urged by team doctors not to sign Brees due to his recent shoulder surgery, the Saints picked up the quarterback in March 2006. The Saints were rewarded for taking on a significant risk. He led the team to a 10-6 record in his first year and was named first-team All-Pro. Brees threw for 243 yards and a touchdown in the Saints' 27-24 divisional round win, helping the team secure their NFC Championship Game appearance. They lost to the Chicago Bears in that game. 1. Delivering First Super Bowl To New Orleans and Winning MVP The defining moment of Brees' career came in the 2009 season. Four years into his New Orleans tenure, Brees helped the Saints get over the hump when they defeated the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. His 32 completions were tied for the most in a Super Bowl at the time, and Brees won Super Bowl MVP as he threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in that game.

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Who Are The NFL's Highest-Paid Players at Each Position?

In the NFL, the bar is always rising. Each offseason, superstars reset the market, altering the salaries that the best players at each respective position expect to receive. Well, as we approach the start of the 2026 NFL season, deals are still being made that are setting the bar at positions around the league. Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Carter and Cleveland Browns Pro Bowler Denzel Ward became the latest players to receive a record-setting contract. Carter agreed to a deal that made him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league, while Ward agreed to an extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the league. Carter and Ward join an illustrious list of players to be the highest-paid player at their respective position. So, who does he join on the All-Highest-Paid-Player-Per-Position Team?  Here are the NFL's highest-paid players at each position, per average annual value (AAV), via Spotrac: Mahomes is the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL again. He usurped Dak Prescott for the honor after he signed a two-year extension in June, bringing the total value of his deal to $504.75 million. Prescott had been the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL for nearly two years before that, signing an extension in September 2024 that pays him $60 million per year. Two days after Bijan Robinson signed the wealthiest contract for a running back, Jahmyr Gibbs slightly topped it. Gibbs and the Detroit Lions agreed on a three-year, $75.8 million deal ($67.5 guaranteed) on Thursday. The Lions selected Gibbs with the 12th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he's appeared in 49 games over three seasons. Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase held the honor of being the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history for roughly a year, thanks to a contract that paid him just north of $40 million per season. But Smith-Njigba's memorable 2025 campaign helped him usurp Chase for that honor. Smith-Njigba has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seahawks. Smith-Njigba won Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, leading the league in receiving yards (1,793). His dominant regular season preceded Seattle's run to a Super Bowl title, which saw Smith-Njigba put up a 153-yard performance in the NFC title game. A few days after the 2025 NFL Draft ended, Kittle agreed to a four-year, $76.4 million extension with the 49ers. His new deal is worth an average of $19.1 million, surpassing the contract Trey McBride ($19M AAV) signed with the Arizona Cardinals earlier in April of that year. However, Kittle might be facing his toughest test yet following another injury-plagued season in 2025. He missed time due to a hamstring tear before tearing his Achilles in the playoffs. Tunsil agreed to a two-year, $60.2 million extension at the start of the 2026 offseason that made him the highest-paid offensive tackle. The 31-year-old took that honor from Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, who signed a five-year, $140.6 million extension in 2024. Tunsil has been one of the game's top offensive tackles since he entered the league in 2016. He's been named a Pro Bowler five times, and was graded as Pro Football Focus' sixth-best offensive tackle in 2025. Skoronski became the highest-paid guard in the NFL in August when he agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension with the Titans. The Titans selected Skoronski with the 11th overall pick in 2023, and he's started 48 games over the last three seasons. Linderbaum became the NFL's highest-paid center in March after signing a three-year, $81 million deal to join the Las Vegas Raiders. He passed Chiefs center Creed Humphrey for the honor, as Humphrey signed a four-year, $72 million extension ($18 million AAV) in August 2024. Carter became the NFL's highest-paid tackle when he agreed to a four-year, $152 million extension with $106 million guaranteed. He received the contract after earning his second Pro Bowl nod in 2025 as he was also a key part of the Eagles' Super Bowl team in 2024. Carter usurped Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones for the honor, as Jones is getting paid $31.75 million per year on a five-year, $158.75 million deal. Anderson only needed three seasons to earn a contract that made him the highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL. He signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Texans, which included just over $100 million guaranteed. Packers star Micah Parsons was previously the highest-paid edge rusher, signing a four-year, $186 million extension ($46.5 million AAV) in August 2025. Of the defensive positions, inside linebacker has the cheapest average annual value contract leader. Still, Warner is making a pretty penny. He reached a three-year, $63 million extension ($56 million guaranteed) when he re-signed with the 49ers in May 2025. Warner is one of the longest-tenured 49ers, having played seven seasons with the team since he was drafted in 2018. He is arguably the NFL's best inside linebacker, and if not, he's at least the most consistent. He had been named to three consecutive All-Pro teams before an injury cut his 2025 campaign short. Warner was also the engine of San Francisco's defense during its run to Super Bowl LVIII. He had recorded at least 118 total tackles in each season of his career prior to his injury-shortened 2025 season. Ward became the other player to set the standard at his position on Tuesday. He agreed to a two-year, $62.2 million deal with the Browns, making him the league's highest-paid cornerback. Prior to Tuesday, Trent McDuffie was the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. He agreed to a four-year, $124 million extension with the Rams shortly after Los Angeles traded for him, giving him $31 million per year. In a good deal of contract maneuvering, James slightly beat out Ravens' star Kyle Hamilton to become the NFL's highest-paid safety. The Chargers' star signed a three-year, $75.6 million extension in May after earning his sixth All-Pro nod in 2025. There are two kickers who can claim to be the highest-paid player at the position. Both Aubrey and Boswell are making $7 million per year, as both players are also on a four-year, $28 million pact. Aubrey is receiving more guaranteed money, though, as his contract has $15 million guaranteed to Boswell's $10.5 million guaranteed. Stout was one of a few members of the Ravens' organization to follow head coach John Harbaugh to the Giants, and he was paid handsomely for doing so. Stout received a three-year, $12.3 million deal at the onset of free agency this offseason. Stout was named first-team All-Pro in 2025, with his 44.9 average net yards per punt leading the league.

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Stefon Diggs On Washington Commanders: 'They Got A Lot Of Talent'

Put Stefon Diggs in the category of people who won't be surprised if the Washington Commanders have a bounce-back season. "They got talent. They got a lot of talent," Diggs said about the Commanders on Friday afternoon after his first practice with the team. "[Dyami] Brown, he's been to a couple teams. I see that he has a lot of potential; he's made some plays. Terry [McLaurin], obviously, Trey Burks, he was in Tennessee. He's been in the league for a little while, too. And then, you got the young guys, [third-round pick] Antonio Williams can hoop a little bit. He's got some game, and, hopefully, I can be a piece in that process that can kind of build this team and lead this team in the right direction because, at the end of the day, I just want to win. "Winning is the main thing for me. We had a lot of that last year [with the New England Patriots], and I kind of want that to just carry over, and all I bring is my experience and the things that I've done and my leadership." Diggs, who was released by the Patriots in March, signed a one-year deal with the Commanders worth up to $12 million earlier in the week. The partnership with the Commanders is a homecoming of sorts for Diggs, who grew up roughly 35 minutes north of Nortwest Stadium, the Commanders' home stadium, in Gaithersburg and played college football for the Maryland Terrapins, whose campus is located roughly 15 minutes north of Washington's home turf. Coming off a 2024 campaign that saw Washington win a playoff game for the first time since 2005 and reach the NFC Championship Game for the first time since winning Super Bowl XXVI (1991 season), the Commanders went 5-12 in 2025. Washington's offense was 24th in the NFL in passing yards (184.1 per game), tied for 22nd in points (20.9 per game), 22nd outright in total yards (318.8 per game) and fourth in rushing yards (134.7 per game). Moreover, quarterback Jayden Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, was limited to seven games due to knee, hamstring and elbow injuries. As for some of the Commanders' offseason moves, they selected Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed linebackers Odafe Oweh (four-year, $100 million deal) and Leo Chenal (three-year, $24.75 million deal), defensive tackles Javon Kinlaw (three-year, $45 million deal) and Tim Settle (three-year, $24 million deal), cornerback Amik Robertson (two-year, $16 million deal) and tight end Chig Okonkwo (three-year, $27 million deal) in free agency, among other moves. Regarding Diggs, the 2020 All-Pro led the Patriots in receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,013) last year in a season that saw them reach Super Bowl LX. The Commanders are Diggs' fourth team in as many years, as the Buffalo Bills traded the now-32-year-old receiver to the Houston Texans in 2024, and he signed with the Patriots after the 2024 season. Diggs spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings (2015-19) before being traded to the Bills, with whom he earned each of his four career Pro Bowl nods, in 2020.

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Packers HC Matt LaFleur On Hot Seat Despite Extension? Colin Cowherd Explains

When the Green Bay Packers hired Matt LaFleur to replace Mike McCarthy — who was fired during the 2018 regular season — in 2019, it was to squeeze out another Super Bowl run with Aaron Rodgers. Well, to date, Green Bay hasn't advanced past the NFC Championship Game under LaFleur with both Rodgers (2019-22) and Jordan Love (2023-present) under center and has been eliminated in the NFC wild-card round in back-to-back years (2024-25). And while LaFleur signed a new contract in January, could he actually be coaching for his job this season? "Matt LaFleur has been in the league a while, and he's probably on the coolest hot seat any coach has ever been on," Colin Cowherd said on Friday's edition of "The Herd." "It's not your usual hot seat, but two things are working against the Green Bay coach. No. 1, his division has Ben Johnson [Chicago Cubs] and Kevin O'Connell [Minnesota Vikings], brilliant offensive head coaches, top of the league, and then, the ultimate alpha-dog coach, Dan Campbell [Detroit Lions]. Over the last two years, the NFC North has won seven more games than the next division. It is probably or arguably the best coach division in football … "Here's the other thing: Matt LaFleur has now developed a reputation, and the Packers' front office knows it, and they're watching the last couple of playoff losses, where they get that big lead, very smart, sophisticated game plan, and then they're not tough enough to finish the game off." The Packers, who began last season 9-3-1, lost their last four regular-season games before blowing a 21-3 halftime lead to the archival Chicago Bears in the wild-card round, marking five combined losses to end the year. Under LaFleur (2019-25), the Packers are a combined 76-40-1 in the regular season, 3-6 in the postseason and have won three division titles (2019-21). His 76 regular-season wins and 65.4% winning percentage each rank fourth in team history. Regarding this season, Green Bay has a new defensive coordinator in former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, who replaces Jeff Hafley, who left to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Gannon's defense will begin the 2026 campaign without superstar defensive end Micah Parsons, who tore his ACL in Week 15 of last season. As for their competition, one could argue the Packers' division, the NFC North, is the best in the sport. The Bears are coming off their first division title since 2018 and are entering their second season with Johnson as head coach; the Lions missed the playoffs last season, but they won 15 games in 2024 and have posted a winning record in four consecutive seasons (2022-25); the Vikings, who won 14 games in 2024, still went 9-8 last season in a campaign that saw them start three different quarterbacks (J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer). "Smart gets you a lead in pro football. Toughness gets you the win," Cowherd said about LaFleur's Packers. "At the end of games, eight, 12-play drives; no passes; head down; you're bloodied; you pick up a third-and-1 three separate times, and I think that's the question about Matt LaFleur and Green Bay. And I don't think it's a cheap shot. I think we got some data that it's probably true."

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Another New Highest-Paid RB: Lions Agree To Record Extension With Jahmyr Gibbs

First, Bijan Robinson signed an extension. Then, it was Jonathan Taylor. Now, it's Jahmyr Gibbs — and the Detroit Lions star is making history with his deal. Gibbs has agreed to a three-year, $67.75 million extension with $51.5 million guaranteed with the Lions, NFL Network reported on Thursday. With a $22.25 million average annual value, Gibbs is now the highest-paid running back in NFL history. This deal comes mere hours after the Colts reportedly signed Taylor to a two-year, $44 million extension and two days after the Falcons signed Robinson to a three-year, $66.75 million extension ($22.5 million AAV), which made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history at the time. Gibbs, a Pro Bowler in each of his three seasons in the NFL (2023-25), has rushed for 1,317.5 yards and 14.5 touchdowns per year on 5.3 yards per carry over the last two seasons (2024-25). Over that span, he has also averaged 64.5 receptions for 566.5 yards and 4.5 touchdowns per season. Last season, Gibbs was third among running backs with 62 forced missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, the Lions star back led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024. The Lions selected Gibbs with the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Earlier this offseason, they also extended linebacker and 2025 All-Pro Jack Campbell, who was in the same draft class as Gibbs (No. 18 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Iowa), on a four-year, $81 million deal. Detroit is coming off a 9-8 season that saw it miss the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

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7 QBs Among Top 11 NFL Players Who Have The Most To Gain In 2026

Finding NFL players with something to prove this season — or in any season — is not difficult. But of those currently navigating contract years or looking to move past 2025 hiccups, who has the most to gain in 2026? Here's my top 11 in descending order, ranking players not only by financial compensation at stake but also their perception in the eyes of the league: Williams established himself as one of the league’s brightest young quarterbacks last season, delivering in the clutch and leading the Bears to their first playoff victory in 15 years. If he builds on what was an impressive second season, he sets himself up for what could be an extension that resets the quarterback market in the 2027 offseason. The 31-year-old Mayfield is entering a contract year after he and the Bucs failed to reach an extension agreement before training camp. A bounce-back campaign in 2026 — Mayfield’s numbers regressed across the board last season compared to his first two years in Tampa — should earn the former No. 1 overall pick a deal that ranks comfortably in the top 10 of quarterback contracts. Nix has been a good quarterback through two NFL seasons, helping lead the Broncos to back-to-back playoff appearances. If he makes the leap to elite in Year 3, it not only would mean a record-setting contract for the 2024 first-round pick next offseason, but would also make Denver a legitimate Super Bowl contender. If Pickens once again performs like a true WR1 in 2026, a top-end wide receiver contract awaits him from the Cowboys or someone else in the spring. The former second-round pick will play in Dallas this season on the franchise tag, which will pay him $27.3 million fully guaranteed. After an injury-riddled 2025, Daniels needs to show the Commanders that he can stay on the field. Doing that, and picking up from his historic rookie season two years ago, would all but guarantee him a deal that resets the benchmark for quarterback contracts. The talented Woolen is coming off a season in which he lost his starting job. After three years with the Seahawks, he’s now with the Eagles on a prove-it, one-year deal worth $12 million fully guaranteed. If he can recapture Pro Bowl form from his rookie season, he’ll be able to secure a contract that will rank among the richest cornerback deals. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick, Young’s career has been marked by inconsistency, including a benching in 2024. But he’s coming off his best season as a pro — he posted career-highs in completion rate, passing yards and touchdowns, and guided the Panthers to their first playoff appearance in eight years. Another step forward in 2026 will cement his place as Carolina’s long-term quarterback. After playing just 12 games over the past two seasons combined due to suspension and injury, Rice is now in the last year of his rookie deal. If he’s on his best behavior and produces like a WR1 this season, the former second-rounder is in line for a lucrative second contract. Texans general manager Nick Caserio has said the team has had "productive" extension talks with Stroud, but there’s a possibility that the QB plays this season without a new deal, given his playoff struggles last season and general regression since his rookie year in 2023. A bounce-back Year 4 would not only cement Stroud’s status as Houston's long-term quarterback, but also earn him a mega extension in 2027. Murray signed a league minimum, one-year contract with the Vikings after his release by Arizona. If he wins Minnesota’s starting quarterback job and regains Pro Bowl form, a top-end QB deal will be waiting for him in the spring. Football-wise, Nacua already deserves a second contract that would be the richest for a wideout in league history. He led the NFL with 129 catches last season and his 95.3 receiving yards-per-game career average is the most all time. But after a few off-field controversies dating back to last season, the All-Pro receiver must rebuild the Rams' trust in him to earn that mega extension. The former fifth-round pick is slated to make just over $5.6 million in base salary in 2026, while a new deal would be expected to start at over $42 million in average annual value.

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Breakout Candidates: One Player From Each NFC Team Poised For A Star Turn

The hope for every NFL team ahead of each season always comes down to one truth: the belief that they have a player (or players) who will finally exceed their expectations. Someone, they think, is about to become a star. And they believe the whole team will be carried along for the ride. So who's primed to break out in 2026? Some are familiar names. Some have flown way under the radar. Here are 16 breakout candidates — one for each NFC team. NFC EAST His career has been a disaster of injuries, from a torn ACL keeping him out as a rookie to another one prematurely ending his second season and ruining his third. But in between, Overshown did have five sacks in 13 games in 2024, where he showed off his speed and explosive playmaking ability. Presumably healthy now, the 6-2, 220-pound linebacker could be a star on a Dallas defense that needs one with Micah Parsons now long gone, especially with a rebuilt defensive line playing in front of him. Overshown has the sideline-to-sideline skills the Cowboys have been lacking of late. There were huge expectations for the No. 3 overall pick of last year’s draft, but his headline numbers didn’t match them. He didn’t have his first full sack until Week 13 and finished with just four overall. But buried behind that disappointing total were 23 quarterback hits and, according to PFF, 66 quarterback pressures, which led all rookies. Those are huge numbers, which indicate there's a lot more to come. He still has fellow pass-rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux to draw attention, and a new defensive coordinator in Dennard Wilson to presumably find better ways to use him. Double digits in sacks wouldn’t be a shock for Carter. When Howie Roseman traded fifth- and sixth-round picks for Wicks this offseason, it looked like a depth move for a team that was about to trade A.J. Brown. But it could end up being a lot more than that. Yes, DeVonta Smith is the Eagles’ No. 1 receiver, and first-rounder Makai Lemon is the favorite to be No. 2. But Wicks could put up a fight for that spot in the short term. He was underused in Green Bay, despite catching 60% of the balls thrown his way and averaging 12.3 yards per catch. He’s also only 25, so his best might still be in front of him. Lemon has more upside, but Wicks has the experience and played in the system new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is bringing with him from Green Bay. Wicks will have a chance to help fill Brown’s shoes, especially early in the season. In Jayden Daniels’ spectacular 2024 rookie season, 19% of his passes went to tight end Zach Ertz, who was his second-leading receiver (66-654-7). Ertz is gone now, replaced by the 26-year-old Okonkwo. He averaged 54-522-1 over the past three seasons for some bad Titans offenses. The Commanders do have a new offensive coordinator (David Blough), but Daniels clearly loves to throw to his tight ends. And he doesn’t have a lot of other great weapons to choose from in Washington anyway. All of that should mean an increase in workload for Okonkwo, who potentially has huge upside with a better quarterback. NFC NORTH He went a long way toward establishing himself as an elite tight end last season when he caught 58 passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns. But it’s how he finished that truly showed off his potential. He exploded after catching just 11 passes for 116 yards over the first six games of his rookie campaign. In his final four games alone, including two in the playoffs, he had 28 catches for 378 yards and two touchdowns. If he even comes close to replicating that over a full season, he might be the NFL's top receiver at his position. The Bears do have Cole Kmet to take away a few catches, but Loveland is firmly established as Chicago’s No. 1 tight end. There aren’t many more electric than him in the entire league. The Lions looked like they had a budding star in the middle of their defense in 2023 when McNeil had five sacks through the first 13 games and was proving to be a tough run-stuffer. But then his season was derailed by a knee injury. The Lions still gave him a four-year, $97 million extension, but the next year he had 3.5 sacks in 14 games before tearing his ACL. He’s presumably healthier now than he has been in three seasons. And with a healthy Aidan Hutchinson and Tyleik Williams alongside him, the Lions' line could be more dangerous than ever. McNeill won’t get a lot of attention from blockers, which could give him the room for his pass rushing numbers to shoot back up. The Packers didn’t give the 2022 second-rounder a four-year, $110 million contract in the offseason for more of the same from a player who’s never topped 41 catches or 620 yards in any of his four NFL seasons. Nor would they have traded away Dontayvion Wicks or let Romeo Doubs leave in free agency for a middling player. What they did was clear the deck for the 27-year-old to finally fulfill his promise in what surely will be a larger role. Matt LaFleur’s offense has never been high volume for the passing game, and it has always encouraged spreading the ball around, save for some seasons involving Davante Adams. But there are fewer weapons for quarterback Jordan Love to target now, and Watson has the talent to be the best of the smaller bunch. The 23-year-old edge defender recorded eight sacks last season, but even more was expected when the Vikings traded up to get him in the first round in 2024. He didn’t do much as a rookie, or in the first half of last season. But the former SEC Defensive Player of the Year had 6.5 sacks over the final eight weeks of 2025, which could be a sign of things to come. The Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to Philadelphia, clearing the way for the speedy Turner to be the top edge rusher in Brian Flores’ blitzing scheme. If the second half of last season was any indication, he could eventually be one of the best pass-rushers in the league. NFC SOUTH After picking off 13 passes in his final two seasons at Notre Dame, everyone knew Watts had ball-hawking instincts. The lone conern was whether he had the skills to do it in the pros. Well, there’s no question now, after the third-round pick had six picks in his rookie season and finished fourth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. The only question now is, how high is his ceiling? Watts had 11 pass breakups, 96 tackles and a fumble recovery as a rookie, showing he’s got an all-around game. He has the potential to be a regular among NFL interception leaders and an anchor in the Atlanta secondary for a long time. He’s competing alongside the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in front of him (Tetairoa McMillan) and another former first-rounder (Xavier Legette). But there is still room to grow with the Panthers for this former undrafted rookie (2024). The proof was in Coker's playoff outburst — a nine-catch, 134-yard, one-touchdown performance in a first-round loss to Rams. Coker was actually already beginning to emerge over the final five games of the regular season (19-244-3). And he's yet to drop a pass in his short career. The 6-3, 213-pounder likely opens the season as Carolina’s third receiver, but if quarterback Bryce Young continues to improve, Coker has a chance to put up sizable numbers in that role. That’s why the 24-year-old just got a new three-year, $55 million deal. He was the best rookie quarterback last season, even though the second-rounder started only nine games for a bad Saints team. He put up some impressive numbers in those starts, completing 69.2% of his passes for 2,256 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also led the Saints to a 5-4 record, including a 4-1 finish that nearly got them into the playoffs. This offseason, New Orleans beefed up its offensive line (with free agent guard David Edwards), drafted a first-round receiver (Jordyn Tyson), and added a top free-agent running back (Travis Etienne). In other words, the 26-year-old Shough is set up for even more success with offensive-minded head coach Kellen Moore again calling the plays. Playing in a bad division, Shough could quickly emerge into a star. He absolutely exploded onto the NFL scene as a rookie last year with 25 catches, 445 yards and five touchdowns over his first five games. But he seemingly hit a wall after that and played himself right out of Rookie of the Year contention. He still finished with a respectable 63-938-6 stat line, but he was on pace for so much more as the centerpiece of the Bucs' passing game for much of the season given the injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. No Buc had more targets (127), yet Egbuka caught only 49.6% of those passes. Assuming he improves at getting into the right spots and finishing plays, he will have a chance to put up elite numbers, especially with Evans no longer in the picture. NFC WEST He has 103 catches, 1,493 yards and 12 touchdowns since the Cardinals drafted him No. 4 overall. It's about what would be expected of him if that had come in one season instead of two. Harrison, however, has been hampered by injuries and a terrible quarterback situation in Arizona. Entering Year 3 … well, hopefully his health has at least improved. If so, expect new coach Mike LaFleur to add some creativity to an offense surely built around this potentially dominant receiver. His numbers should spike, even if the Cardinals’ QB situation remains a mess. He had 12 sacks last season, so maybe it could be argued that he already had his breakout season (and really, most of the powerful Rams already have). But last season, he was the big man on the edge of the L.A. defense. Now, opposing offenses will have to deal with Myles Garrett (and perhaps Aaron Donald again). With the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year on the other end, it’s safe to say Young won’t see many double teams this year. He was already a top-10 pass-rusher in most categories, and with Garrett drawing most of the attention now, Young’s pressure rate and sack totals should only increase. He came into the NFL in 2024 with a reputation for locking down college football’s best receivers, and late in his rookie season he began to flash that potential. But last season was a step back for the former second-rounder, who wilted at times under the pressure created by the 49ers’ lack of a pass rush. That rush should be better this season, and accordingly, the 25-year-old Green could be right back on track. He has the speed, physical style and elite instincts to develop into one of the NFL’s elite corners. He just has to put it all together. For three seasons, the 6-1, 214-pounder has been the perfect handcuff in Seattle for Kenneth Walker III and a bruising option at the goal line. With Walker now in Kansas City, the 25-year-old Charbonnet is in prime position to be a bell-cow back. The good news is, he has shown over the years he’s more than capable of handling that. The bad news is, he’s never really been asked to expand his role for more than a few games at a time. He’s been fairly durable while averaging 4.1 yards per carry and has caught 82% of the passes thrown his way. Considering that 2026 first-round pick Jadarian Price had a limited role at Notre Dame, he’s not really a threat to steal too many touches right off the bat. Don't be surprised if Charbonnet puts up Walker-like numbers as Seattle's unquestioned No. 1 back.

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