2026 NFL Odds: Back Cowboys to Shine; Fade Cardinals' Win Total

We can't tell the future, but we can darn sure predict it. Now that each NFL schedule has landed, here are the two Over/Under win totals that stand out the most to me right now. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Arizona Cardinals Over/Under 4.5 wins There’s a strong chance the Arizona Cardinals have the worst record in the NFL next season. Not only are they weak at the most important position in the sport, but they have also been dealt an extremely difficult schedule. They have to play six in-division games against the Seahawks, 49ers and Rams, all of which are playoff-caliber squads. Then, the NFC West is paired with the AFC West and NFC East, so that adds the Chiefs, Broncos, Chargers, Eagles and Cowboys to that brutal gauntlet. All five of those teams will push to win their respective divisions. The Commanders should also be better this season and the Giants will be much improved with a new head coach. The Cardinals do get the Raiders, but not until Week 17, when the Las Vegas' rookie quarterback should be playing better football. That Raiders game could be the only matchup all season in which the Cardinals are favored, but as of now, Arizona is still listed as a 1.5-point home underdog in that game. What makes this schedule even more daunting is the Cardinals' quarterback room. Right now, it’s Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and newly drafted Carson Beck. Not ideal. Brissett and Minshew are capable backup quarterbacks, but are losing their effectiveness as the years go by. Additionally, I don’t expect much from rookie Beck if he gets a chance to play this season. In short, Arizona's roster isn’t dynamic enough to overcome poor quarterback play and that schedule. PICK: Arizona Cardinals Under 4.5 wins Dallas Cowboys Over/Under 8.5 wins I think the Cowboys are legit contenders to win the NFC. Let’s go through the checklist of winning teams, starting with the QB. Check. Dak Prescott is an above-average quarterback and I don’t think people want to believe it. He was seventh last season in EPA and just needs to stay healthy. The Cowboys also have an excellent offensive line and skill position players, which makes Prescott even more potent from the pocket. On defense, Dallas has drastically improved its pass rush with the additions of Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark last season, plus Rashan Gary this spring. It also drafted pass rushers Malachi Lawrence and LT Overton, and I love the addition of Caleb Downs at safety in the draft, as well as Cobie Durant during free agency. Additionally, Dallas' coaching staff showed last season it can win games and in Year 2, I’d expect improvement. The Cowboys' schedule is manageable for an Over win projection. Four games against the Giants and Commanders in which they will be the favorite, plus two against the Eagles, which they can split. They get the AFC South, so that includes games against the Colts, Titans, Jaguars and Texans. The Cowboys get the Cardinals, Bucs and Ravens as well. There’s not a game on the schedule Dallas cannot win. PICK: Dallas Cowboys Over 8.5 wins

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2026 NFL Schedule Release: The 5 Teams That Must Get Off To A Good Start

In a 17-game season, starting off slowly can be the difference between reaching the playoffs and making plans for vacations to warmer climates in January. Look no further than the Minnesota Vikings, who dealt with injuries to starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy early and started the year 4-8, but finished on a five-game winning streak and a half-game out of the postseason. The Vikings looked to rectify that issue this offseason by signing former No. 1 overall draft pick Kyler Murray to compete with McCarthy for the No. 1 quarterback job, providing a better opportunity to compete in the NFC North. A slow start could also cost head coaches and general managers their jobs. The Tennessee Titans needed just six games to determine that they saw enough of head coach Brian Callahan last season, while the New York Jets only needed five games to fire Robert Saleh during the 2024 season. So, now that we know what the schedule looks like for the 2026 NFL season, let's take a look at five teams that need a fast start to the upcoming year. After winning four straight NFC South titles, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and head coach Todd Bowles find themselves under pressure entering the 2026 season. The Bucs not only lost seven of their last eight games last season, missing the postseason and finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2019, but they're also replacing a pair of foundational stalwarts. Wide receiver Mike Evans left the team to sign with the San Francisco 49ers, and linebacker Lavonte David announced his retirement. So, Bowles will now enter the season on the hot seat while also having to replace a pair of franchise icons. Bowles has a 35-33 record and has taken the team to the playoffs in three of his first four years of the helm. But can he prove that last season was a blip? Bowles is on the hot seat after last season’s poor finish and needs a strong start to avoid a potential midseason firing. That starts with better play from quarterback Baker Mayfield, who began 2025 strong but scuffled down the stretch, finishing with just one 300-yard passing performance in his last 12 games. Mayfield has some added motivation this season, entering a contract year. A Week 2 matchup with the Cleveland Browns could also spark some extra juice for Mayfield. The Bucs added reinforcements in the draft to a defense that finished No. 27 in pass defense last year, selecting polished Miami (Fla.) pass rusher Rueben Bain in the first round, along with linebacker Josiah Trotter, safety Keionte Scott and defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart. The 49ers somehow managed to deftly navigate a rash of injuries and reach the postseason in the toughest division in football, finishing third in the NFC West. But San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan will have a tough time playing catch-up this season, facing four playoff teams in the final seven games, along with Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs and the John Harbaugh-led New York Giants on the road in the backstretch of the season. That’s why it’s important for the 49ers to start the season strong. They will have some adjustments to make, with Raheem Morris taking over for the departed Robert Saleh as the team’s defensive coordinator. The 49ers added edge rusher Romello Height and interior pass rusher Gracen Holten in the draft to help improve one of the worst pass rushes in the league. San Francisco starts the year with a tough international contest in Australia against the Super Bowl favorites, the Los Angeles Rams, and will log a league-high 38,105 miles during the season. That includes another international contest against the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City in Week 11. However, after the Rams, the 49ers have winnable games at home against the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals, so surviving that initial tough road game against Los Angeles and stacking some wins early will be important for Shanahan’s 49ers if they want to have a chance to push for the postseason late in the year. The second — and final — year of the Aaron Rodgers era is officially underway in Pittsburgh, with the Cal product agreeing to a one-year deal, reuniting with his old head coach, Mike McCarthy. Rodgers helped lead the Steelers to the postseason in 2025, which resulted in another early, opening-round exit for the Steel City. But how long will the Steelers stick with Rodgers if they get off to a slow start this season? Pittsburgh drafted Will Howard in the sixth round last year and Drew Allar in the third round this season as development prospects to groom behind the future Hall of Famer. Scouts I spoke with in the pre-draft process liked Allar’s upside, believing he has all the tools to develop into a starting NFL quarterback. If Rodgers struggles early, it increases the urge for McCarthy to hit the eject button on his 42-year-old quarterback and turn to the development of Allar or Howard, especially with the future Hall of Famer announcing that the 2026 season is it for him. Therefore, it will be important for Rodgers to get some wins early, much like Pittsburgh’s 5-3 start in 2025. And the schedule obliges, with only one game against a playoff team last season (New England Patriots) in Pittsburgh’s first eight contests. The Steelers also face the Cleveland Browns twice, and host the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts at home in the first five games. Speaking of the Colts, general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen are once again on the hot seat, missing the playoffs for a fifth season in a row after starting 8-2 in 2025. Indianapolis faltered after a rejuvenated Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear in December, leaving the desperate Colts turning to 44-year-old Philip Rivers in an attempt to rescue the season late in the year. The return of Rivers was entertaining and gave Indianapolis at least a fighting chance to win at the end of the season. However, a healthy return for Jones is imperative to the success of the Colts in a make-or-break season for Ballard, who's in the final year of his contract. It’s a daunting start for the Colts, who face four playoff teams in the first five games and an international game in Week 4 against the Washington Commanders in London. The expectation is that Jones will be ready for the start of training camp in August. Indianapolis re-signed receiver Alec Pierce and Jones to big money in the offseason, and both need to play to their potential — along with running back Jonathan Taylor — carrying the offense in a difficult first part of the schedule to start the year. New head coach Jesse Minter replaces John Harbaugh after the Ravens’ underwhelming performance last season resulted in Baltimore missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Under the defensive-minded Minter, expectations are high for the upcoming season. Minter is tasked with returning Baltimore’s defense to its tough and stingy ways. The signing of star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson away from the Cincinnati Bengals should help in that effort. The Ravens also added Missouri edge rusher Zion Young in the second round of the draft to help improve an underperforming pass rush. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will look to create an offense that gets the most out of Lamar Jackson, who played in only 13 games for the Ravens last year because of hamstring and back issues. A two-time MVP, Jackson's now on his second head coach, his fourth offensive coordinator and is skipping organized team activities this offseason. With Harbaugh gone, the pressure is on Jackson to lead this franchise. One of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl this season, Baltimore starts with four of its first six games on the road, including a Week 3 international game in Brazil against the Dallas Cowboys. However, the Ravens do not play a team that made the playoffs last season until a Week 8 matchup with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. So, the schedule maps out well for a strong start in Minter’s first season with the Ravens.

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2026 NFL Odds: Ranking All 32 Teams By Games They’re Favored In

One of the most interesting ways to evaluate the NFL landscape is by looking at how many games in which each team is favored. While win totals and Super Bowl odds often dominate the offseason oddsboard, the number of games in which a team is projected to be favored can reveal just as much about their expectations and schedule difficulty. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. By analyzing the lookahead point spreads for all 272 regular-season matchups, we’ve stripped away the public bias to rank every NFL team by a single, definitive metric: the exact number of games they are favored to win. With that in mind, here is a complete power ranking of all 32 NFL teams based on the number of games they are currently favored in entering the 2026 season. Number of Games Favored: 0 What to know: The Arizona Cardinals are the only NFL team not favored in a single game this season. That number aligns with their projected win total of 4.5 wins, which is tied for the lowest mark in the league. Number of Games Favored: 1 What to know: The Dolphins are favored in just one game this season — their Week 12 home matchup against the New York Jets. Number of Games Favored: 2 What to know: The Browns are only favored in their home matchups against the Raiders and Falcons. This number is well below their projected win total of 6.5. Number of Games Favored: 2 What to know: The Titans are only favored in home games against the Jets and Browns. This number is also well below their projected total of 6.5. Number of Games Favored: 2 What to know: This one came as a pretty big surprise. The Falcons are favored in only two games this season — their home divisional matchups against the Panthers and Saints. Number of Games Favored: 3 What to know: The Raiders are slight favorites in home games against the Dolphins and Titans, along with a road matchup against the Cardinals. Number of Games Favored: 3 What to know: This one is also a big surprise. The 2025 NFC South champs are only favored in three games, including on the road against the Browns and at home against the Saints and Falcons. This number does not reflect their win total projection of 7.5. Number of Games Favored: 4 What to know: The Jets are favored in three home games against the Browns, Dolphins and Raiders, along with a road matchup against the Cardinals. Their number of games favored aligns closely with their projected win total of 5.5. Number of Games Favored: 5 What to know: The Saints are the third NFC South team favored in five or fewer games this season. Despite that, there is still some optimism surrounding the team, as their projected win total sits at 7.5. Number of Games Favored: 5 What to know: Heading into John Harbaugh’s first season, the Giants are favored in five home games against the Titans, Cardinals, Saints, Commanders and Browns. They are not favored in a single road game. Number of Games Favored: 5 What to know: While the Commanders are favored in only five games, there are several matchups throughout the season in which they are currently listed as slight 1-3 point underdogs. Number of Games Favored: 6 What to know: Like the Commanders, the Colts are favored in only six games, but they are listed as slight underdogs in several other matchups throughout the 2026 season. Number of Games Favored: 7 What to know: In Mike McCarthy’s first season reunited with Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers are favored in only seven games. Their projected win total also sits at 8.5, signaling what could be the franchise’s first losing season since 2003. Number of Games Favored: 8 What to know: The Vikings are the only NFC North team that is not favored in a double-digit number of games. A major reason for this lower number is the expectation that the division will once again be one of the toughest in football. Number of Games Favored: 8 What to know: The 2025 AFC South champions won 13 games in Liam Coen’s first season, but their number of games favored suggests there could be some regression in Year 2. However, like several of the teams above them, the Jaguars are slight underdogs in many of the games in which they are not favored in 2026. Number of Games Favored: 9 What to know: The last NFC South team is off the board, and we are only at No. 17 on the list. That makes sense considering the NFC South champion has won nine games or fewer in three of the last four seasons. The Buccaneers were the only exception during that span, winning 10 games in 2024. Number of Games Favored: 10 What to know: After winning 14 regular-season games and representing the AFC in the Super Bowl in 2025, the Patriots are favored in 10 games entering 2026. However, in half of those matchups, they are favored by at least 6.5 points, showing that oddsmakers still view them as one of the stronger teams in the NFL. Number of Games Favored: 10 What to know: Like the Patriots, the Broncos, who also won 14 games in 2025, are favored in only 10 games entering the 2026 season. However, in the seven games they are currently underdogs, they are never listed at worse than +2.5. That said, Denver opens as an underdog in five of its first six games, signaling a very challenging schedule to start the season. Number of Games Favored: 11 What to know: After winning just seven games in 2025, the Cowboys are expected to significantly improve in 2026, as they are favored in 11 games entering the season. They are also favored in five of their six divisional matchups. Number of Games Favored: 11 What to know: There is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Chiefs due to Patrick Mahomes’ recovery from a torn ACL. However, Vegas still expects Kansas City to be one of the league’s top teams, as the Chiefs are favored in 11 games entering 2026, including each of their first five matchups. That aligns closely with their projected win total of 10.5. Number of Games Favored: 11 What to know: The Chargers are also favored in 11 games entering next season, and they are not listed as underdogs of more than 3.5 points in any matchup in 2026. Number of Games Favored: 12 What to know: The 49ers are one of three NFC West teams favored in 12 games or more entering 2026. San Francisco won 12 games last season despite missing multiple key players for large portions of the year. Outside their divisional matchups, the 49ers are underdogs in only three games: road contests against the Cowboys, Chargers and Chiefs. Number of Games Favored: 12 What to know: In Ben Johnson's first season, the Bears won double-digit games for the first time since 2018. In Year 2, Chicago faces the toughest schedule in the entire NFL, yet Vegas still favors it in 12 games. Number of Games Favored: 12 What to know: Vegas has the Packers favored in 12 games entering the 2026 season. Outside NFC North play, the only games in which Green Bay is currently an underdog are road matchups against the Patriots and Rams. Number of Games Favored: 13 What to know: After winning their last nine regular-season games last year, the Texans are favored in 13 games in 2026. They are favored in all six AFC South divisional matchups. Number of Games Favored: 13 What to know: The Eagles are favored in 13 games entering the 2026 season, including five of their six NFC East matchups. Their number of games favored is also notably higher than their projected season win total of 10.5. Number of Games Favored: 14 What to know: The Lions are favored in 14 of their first 15 games in 2026. The only matchups in which they are currently underdogs are Week 2 at the Bills, Week 17 at the Bears and Week 18 at the Packers. Number of Games Favored: 14 What to know: Coming off a 12-win regular season in 2025, the Bills are favored in 14 games entering next season. The only matchups in which Buffalo is currently an underdog are road games against the Rams, Patriots and Packers. Number of Games Favored: 14 What to know: The Ravens won only eight games last season, largely because Lamar Jackson battled injuries throughout the year. Vegas expects Baltimore to take a major leap forward in 2026. The only games in which the Ravens are currently underdogs are road matchups against the Bills, Texans and Bengals. Number of Games Favored: 14 What to know: The defending Super Bowl champions come in tied for third on the list. The only games in which they are currently underdogs are road matchups against the 49ers, Eagles and Rams. Number of Games Favored: 15 What to know: No, this is not a typo. A Bengals team that won just six games in 2025 is favored in 15 games entering the 2026 season. With Joe Burrow returning and a very favorable schedule, Cincinnati is currently an underdog in only two games: Week 2 at the Texans and Week 7 at the Ravens. Number of Games Favored: 16 What to know: The Rams are remarkably favored in 16 of their 17 games entering the 2026 season. Their only game as an underdog is a Week 16 Christmas Day road matchup against the Seahawks. Last season, the Rams lost to Seattle on the road in Week 16 and again in the NFC Championship Game. Los Angeles is currently the +800 favorite to win the Super Bowl.

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CeeDee Lamb On Giants HC John Harbaugh's 'Kick Cowboys' Ass' Line: 'That's Cute'

At this point, outside the opening night Super Bowl LX rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, it's safe to say that the Dallas Cowboys going up against the New York Giants in the Meadowlands on Sunday Night Football is the most anticipated Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season. Why's that? Earlier this week, new Giants head coach John Harbaugh said at a town hall event that piling up good practices will get them "one more step in the direction of being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys' ass." Cowboys star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb quoted a post on Instagram of Harbaugh saying that line by writing, "lol, that's cute." Of late, the Cowboys have dominated the Giants, winning nine consecutive matchups against their NFC East rival and 16 of 17 before losing on the road to New York in Week 18 of last season, 34-17. As for its other 2025 duel, Dallas and New York teamed up for one of the most dramatic games of the season, as it featured seven lead changes and ended with the Cowboys winning 40-37 on a walk-off, 46-yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey — who made a 64-yard field goal to force overtime — as time expired in overtime. Both teams missed the playoffs, though, with the Cowboys finishing 7-9-1 and the Giants going 4-13. In 12 career games against the Giants, Lamb, a five-time Pro Bowler, has totaled 71 receptions for 975 yards and four touchdowns. Lamb's reception and receiving yard totals against New York are career highs for him against any opponent. The two teams will meet in Dallas on Jan. 3, which can be watched on FOX and the FOX Sports app at 1 p.m. ET.

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Which NFL QBs Have the Most Help? Ranking All 32 Supporting Casts

There’s a reason quarterbacks are the highest-paid players in the NFL. Teams know they can’t win without a good one. And with very few exceptions in modern history, they can’t compete for a Super Bowl without one who is playing well. But the truth is, even the best quarterbacks can’t do it alone. They need a strong supporting cast around them. That includes game-breaking receivers, protection up front and a run game to help keep defenses off balance. A smart and talented playcaller with a strong offensive scheme certainly makes a difference, too. So which NFL teams have the best support systems in place for their quarterbacks heading into the 2026 season? We spoke to a handful of NFL scouts to help determine how all 32 teams stack up on offense — when the QB is taken out of the equation. The Dolphins have a really good center in Aaron Brewer and a speedy, dangerous running back in De’Von Achane. But, well, that’s really about it. Drafting OL Kadyn Proctor in the first round was a step in the right direction, but the line still isn’t good. And with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle gone, Miami's receiving corps is a mess. Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell are the penciled-in starters, along with Greg Dulcich at tight end, and that’s terrible news for new QB Malik Willis. The Dolphins drafted multiple WRs and TEs between Rounds 3-5, but it’s a lot to expect any of them to really help this year. "They have the worst receiving corps in the league, and it’s not even close," one scout told me. "All they can do this year is either let Willis run, or just get the ball to Achane and get out of his way." It’s hard to find a worse offensive line situation in the league, which is horrible news for a team with big questions at QB. The Browns are likely to have four new starters on the line, including first-round LT Spencer Fano, and may need most of the season to develop any consistency. And it’s not like they’re overflowing with weapons who can make up for their line deficiencies. Their best is probably wideout Jerry Jeudy, who is quite the enigma. He was dazzling in 2024 (90-1,229-4) but a disaster last year (50-602-2, 47.2% catch rate). The Browns do have some promising young position players like RB Quinshon Judkins and TE Harold Fannin. And they have hope for the two receivers they just took in the first two rounds: KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. "They have a couple of nice, young skill guys," one scout told me. "But it doesn’t matter. None of them are good enough to overcome all their other problems." It doesn’t help that most of the scouts viewed the switch from former coach Kevin Stefanski to new coach Todd Monken as a step backward. "Slightly," one scout told me. "Monken is good. But Stefanski is better." Every scout I spoke with said they liked the direction the Raiders were headed on offense. But they also all agreed, as one scout noted, "they have a very, very long way to go." Their line was terrible last season, but it should be helped by the addition of expensive center Tyler Linderbaum. And with a little improvement up front, RB Ashton Jeanty should have some room to show all the things he couldn't as a rookie. No one is sure what new coach Klint Kubiak will be able to get out of a very iffy receiving corps, though. A healthy Brock Bowers gives them an elite weapon at tight end, but Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor and Jack Bech are uninspiring. "Nailor’s a deep threat," one scout told me, "but not a No. 1 receiver." Another said: "They took the right first steps, but it’s still not a good spot for a rookie quarterback. That’s not a surprise. But they have to sit (Fernando Mendoza) for a while until Kubiak figures the rest of it out." The Titans added some weapons for QB Cam Ward in the offseason, but that’s not really the problem. "I wouldn’t put my quarterback behind that offensive line," one scout told me. "It was bad last season. And now it might be worse." The signings of center Austin Schlottmann and guard Cordell Volson probably weren’t enough to fix a unit that gave up 55 sacks last season. But their other additions were better. Drafting Carnell Tate No. 4 overall gives them a potential No. 1 WR. And even though WR Wan’Dale Robinson is 5-foot-8, he’s productive and fits perfectly in new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s scheme. Daboll can probably lean on his Giants years to figure out how to get the most out of his running backs (Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears) despite the line issues. "Dabes has always had a brilliant offensive mind," one scout told me. "He’s a really underrated playcaller. He’ll get the most out of that group. I just don’t know if there’s much there." There seems to be a belief in Washington that the return of a healthy Jayden Daniels will make everybody better. They better be right, though, because the Commanders didn’t do a lot to improve his supporting cast in the offseason. Their best weapon, by far, is still WR Terry McLaurin, who will be 31 in September and coming off an injury-plagued season. Their offensive line improved last year, but they haven’t replaced their center, who left in free agency. The only weapon the Commanders added in the passing game was solid (and underrated) TE Chigoziem Okonkwo. They did add veteran RB Rachaad White, who could make for a potent duo with Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who had a surprisingly good rookie season after being drafted in the seventh round. Don’t underestimate the loss of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, though. He got a lot of credit for helping Daniels post arguably the best rookie season ever for a quarterback. He’s now replaced by former quarterbacks coach David Blough, who has been an assistant for two seasons and has never called plays before. If they ever do find a quarterback, there is potential with this offensive group — though for the most part, it’s still only potential. The only proven commodities are WR Garrett Wilson and RB Breece Hall. "(Wilson) would be a top 10 receiver if he even had a mediocre quarterback," one scout told me. "And Breece can help any team in the league." But after that, there are mostly unknowns. The Jets drafted WR Omar Cooper and TE Kenyon Sadiq in the first round, so maybe they’ll have a little more offensive diversity for new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Maybe RB Braelon Allen can stay healthy and take some of the tougher carries off Hall’s plate. And maybe the offensive line, anchored by bookend tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, can continue to improve after a solid 2025. Those are a lot of "maybes." But maybe the offensive foundation is finally there. Every year they tinker with their offensive line, and they did it again this offseason, bringing in probably three new starters. But it’s not clear if it’s any better than the mess of a unit that kept QB C.J. Stroud under constant pressure last season. That’s a big reason why his numbers keep dropping, but it’s far from the only one. "Everyone keeps wondering why C.J. Stroud is regressing," one scout told me. "Well, it’s pretty obvious. Just look at what he has to work with down there." Really, his only dangerous weapon is WR Nico Collins. He’s a big one, to be sure, but beyond that there isn’t much help outside of Dalton Schultz, a high-volume TE who doesn’t provide big returns. The Texans are hopeful that the return of WR Tank Dell will give the offense a spark, but that’s a lot to ask considering he missed all of last season with a knee injury. Houston did trade for RB David Montgomery, who is solid overall and a strong goal-line runner. But he’ll pair with Woody Marks, who is coming off an unimpressive rookie year. So again, it’s really Collins or bust for this offense. There is no doubt that Tetairoa McMillan, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, is an explosive weapon. It’s the rest of the weapons that should cause concern. WR Xavier Legette, a former first-round pick, was mostly a non-factor last season. The Panthers are counting on Chuba Hubbard to again be their No. 1 back after he had to play a secondary role to the since-departed Rico Dowdle last year. Carolina got basically nothing in the passing game out of its tight ends in 2025. And the line has a lot of new pieces to integrate after the club signed LT Rasheed Walker and C Luke Fortner in free agency and drafted RT Monroe Freeling in the first round. McMillan should develop into an elite player. But QB Bryce Young is going to need a lot more than that. "I don’t know how you can expect him to develop into what they need him to be with a surrounding cast like that," one scout told me. Here’s a great argument for the importance of the QB in the NFL: "If you take (Arizona’s) skill players and put them in a place with a good quarterback, they’ll win," one scout told me. "They might win a lot." And that’s the problem with evaluating the Cardinals. There is talent here, even if the production hasn’t been great. WR Marvin Harrison Jr.'s production through two years has not matched his promise. Michael Wilson played like a solid No. 1 WR last year. Trey McBride is the best tight end in the NFL, ranking second in catches and sixth in yards among all receivers last year. And there were many scouts who thought RB Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick, was the best player in the draft. The Cardinals' line is a problem, however. They hope that signing Isaac Seumalo and drafting Chase Bisontis in the second round will help make their interior stronger, but it’s very much a work in progress. Overall, though, "they have such a great, young core there," another scout told me. "But with a bad quarterback situation, you can’t expect much at all." They had two major problems on offense heading into the offseason: They had a bad offensive line and very little help for WR Chris Olave. They seem to have solved the latter, signing RB Travis Etienne, who’ll be a terrific replacement for the almost-done Alvin Kamara. And they drafted WR Jordyn Tyson, who one scout called "the best receiver in the draft." They also still have dangerous TE Juwan Johnson, so young QB Tyler Shough and offensive whiz head coach Kellen Moore should have enough tools to work with. The line, however, is still an issue. Adding guard David Edwards in free agency was good, but what the Saints really need is improvement from their tackle duo of Kelvin Banks and Taliese Fuaga, both former first-round picks. If they don’t get that, the rest of the additions won’t matter as much as they're hoping. They certainly have given whomever is their quarterback some good receivers to work with. Justin Jefferson is as good as any in football when everything is working right with the offense, and Jordan Addison is a strong No. 2. The Vikings also went out and added the underrated Jauan Jennings to give the QB another option. And TE T.J. Hockenson is a big weapon in the passing game, too — at least when he’s healthy. Beyond that, though, they really have to lean into the mind of head coach Kevin O’Connell because there are some issues. The offensive line was not good nor healthy last season. And they lean way too much on 32-year-old, oft-injured RB Aaron Jones. That lack of a dependable running game is big. It’s why defenses could tee off on Vikings QBs, who were sacked 60 times last season — tied for second-most in the league. They went on an epic run in the second half last season, averaging 32 points per game over their last 11 (including their loss in the playoffs). It looked like they had all the pieces in place on offense. But did they? Brian Thomas Jr., their No. 1 receiver, badly regressed last season. Parker Washington emerged, the trade for Jakobi Meyers helped and TE Brenton Strange is good, but if Thomas keeps fading, there isn't an elite threat here for Trevor Lawrence. Now, as one scout told me, "That may not matter. Liam Coen is that good." In his first season, the Jags head coach sure did look like one of the best young offensive minds in the league. But he’ll have to prove it again, especially after losing bell-cow running back Travis Etienne in free agency. The Jags are taking a huge risk by counting on Bhayshul Tuten and/or Chris Rodriguez to replace him. "Together, they might be better than Etienne," another scout told me. "Tuten is elusive and Rodriguez is a power back. They’ll (complement) each other. But carrying the entire rushing attack? That’s a lot to ask of two guys who haven’t done anything in this league yet." If Malik Nabers hadn’t torn his ACL last season, the Giants would be higher on this list. Maybe much higher. They have a deep receiving corps without Nabers, especially after signing Darnell Mooney and drafting Malachi Fields in the third round this offseason. And the addition of Isaiah Likely gives the Giants potentially the most dangerous TE they’ve had in years. They also have what one scout told me is a "sneaky good" running game behind a much-improved offensive line. If second-year back Cam Skattebo can fully recover from his devastating leg injury, he’ll join Tyron Tracy and Devin Singletary in a potent rotation. All that may be enough for the offense to be good around second-year QB Jaxson Dart, "but Nabers changes everything," one scout told me. "I didn’t think he played great as a rookie (in 2024). He had too many drops and his quarterback play was awful. But look at the numbers he put up (109-1,204-7). With better quarterback play and help around him, he could be a monster." Of course, that’s when he’s fully recovered. Nabers recently had another procedure on his knee and his status for Week 1 is uncertain. The fact that they had the NFL’s 12th-ranked total offense is a miracle considering all the injuries they had last season, and they really believe that better health will get them back where they were. Maybe they’re right. Their line was terrible, giving up 60 sacks, but they were missing LT Rashawn Slater and, for most of the season, RT Joe Alt. RB Omarian Hampton, their 2025 first-round pick, missed half his rookie season, too. The return of those three should definitely help the ground game. But do they have enough weapons in the passing game for their new offensive coordinator? "For Mike McDaniel? Yes," one scout told me. "He’s a mad scientist. He’ll get the best out of those guys." Those guys include WR Ladd McConkey, who got off to a painfully slow start last season, former first-rounder Quentin Johnston, who's disappointed, and TE Oronde Gadsden, who had a promising but erratic rookie season. "Watch (McDaniel) turn (Johnston) into a star," another scout told me. "He’s got pieces there. And he’s the right guy to figure it all out." Justin Herbert is counting on it. Should the Bucs be evaluated on what they are, or what they should be? That’s the problem with this team. For example, losing WR Mike Evans is a huge hit because he’d been a staple of their offense for more than a decade. But he didn’t do much even when healthy last season. Emeka Egbuka looked like an ideal replacement, though — but only if you ignore the alarming drop-off during the back half of his rookie season. Chris Godwin could be the new No. 1, too, but he’s played just 16 games the past two seasons. Then there’s RB Bucky Irving, who was dominant as a rookie but played only 10 games last season and took a back seat to the since-departed Rachaad White. As for the line, should it be judged on its ugly season last year when the projected starting five played just a handful of snaps together? It all makes the Bucs offense a big mystery. There are pieces for new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, a Sean McVay disciple. But it’s hard to say what that puzzle will look like when completed around Baker Mayfield. No one can say the Steelers aren't doing everything they can to help 42-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers have one last shot at glory. They brought in WR DK Metcalf for him last season, then traded for the underrated (and big) Michael Pittman this offseason. They used a second-round pick on WR Germie Bernard, who’ll be a good No. 3 receiver. They protected Rodgers well last season with a young offensive line, and they just added right tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round. And they brought in RB Rico Dowdle, who should give a jolt to what was a bad rushing attack in 2025. "Dowdle was an underrated pickup," one scout told me. "Nobody knows better how to use him than (Mike) McCarthy," who turned him into a feature back in Dallas two years ago. Dowdle isn’t elite, but the combination of him and Jaylen Warren could be very good. Everything about this evaluation will change if — or, more likely, when — the Patriots complete their trade for WR A.J. Brown. He’s the No. 1 receiver the Patriots thought they were getting in Stefon Diggs last season, only he’s bigger and four years younger. But without Brown, the Pats currently have a bunch of role players in the passing game. Romeo Doubs is a solid No. 2. Kayshon Boutte is a deep threat. And Mack Hollins is a big target, but needs a reduced role at age 32. New England's strength is in the potent 1-2 RB punch of TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson. But the real key for this team will be the offensive line. It improved from 2024 yet still gave up a ridiculous 47 sacks in the regular season and a record 21 in four playoff games. There’s a good argument about whether those crazy numbers were more the fault of Drake Maye or his line. But it doesn’t matter. The young QB won’t survive another year like that, especially against a much tougher schedule. Make no mistake: This is a Josh Allen-centered offense. "His supporting cast doesn’t matter," one scout told me. "It’s all about him." Well, RB James Cook does play a role, too. And he emerged as a huge force last season when he led the league in rushing, thanks at least in part to one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. But the passing game is really all about Allen, and the Bills seem to treat it that way. "I’ll never understand why they just don’t go out and get (Allen) a No. 1 receiver," another scout told me. "Put him with a top-10 guy and who stops that team? He’ll break every record in the book." They did add D.J. Moore in the offseason, which is an improvement. But he’s 29 and three seasons removed from his WR1 days. Beyond him are mostly third and fourth receivers (Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Josh Palmer) and two serviceable tight ends (Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox). "They would be unstoppable," the first scout told me, "if they’d just get (Allen) some real help." There is potential for this to be a great supporting cast for QB Jordan Love. But right now, the Packers are lacking a No 1 WR. Christian Watson showed glimpses last season of being that guy, but he has to show he can stay healthy first. Several scouts told me 2025 first-rounder Matthew Golden has the talent to be a go-to option, but last season he was, in the words of one scout, "tragically underused." The Packers also have a game-breaking TE in Tucker Kraft, but he’s coming off a torn ACL. And they have a promising offensive line, though it's coming off a bad season and dealing with a lot of moving parts. So for the moment, the star is 28-year-old Josh Jacobs, a punishing running back who also has to find a way to stay healthy. There’s a lot here for HC Matt LaFleur to work with — when everyone's on the field. The best way to sum up the supporting cast in Kansas City was this statement, from one of the scouts: "Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes have won with a lot less." The reviews were generally good, if not great. Rashee Rice, if he stays healthy and out of trouble — he was sentenced to 30 days in jail Tuesday — can be a No. 1 receiver. Xavier Worthy has uncommon speed, though he hasn’t had the expected production yet. RB Kenneth Walker III is a huge upgrade to what the Chiefs have had in recent years, though it remains to be seen how Reid uses him. And then there’s TE Travis Kelce, back for another season at age 36. "He’s still good, but he’s nowhere near what he used to be," one scout told me. "They have to start moving the offense away from him." Either Rice or Walker might make more sense as the focal point of Reid’s scheme this year. It was unanimous among the scouts I spoke with that Bijan Robinson is the best RB, if not the best offensive skill player, in the game today. That’s a heck of a place for new coach Kevin Stefanski to start, no matter who starts at QB. "He’ll build everything around Bijan," one scout told me. "(Robinson) can’t get the ball enough." Robinson, in fact, was targeted on 37.2% of Atlanta’s plays last season. And "it should be more than that," another scout said. Though it’s not like there’s nothing else here. Drake London is a legit No. 1 WR and a huge target. TE Kyle Pitts finally had his long-awaited breakout season last year. Robinson, London and Pitts make for a great Big 3. The offensive line is only average, though. Helping Atlanta's cause is the fact that Stefanski, despite several years of QB Hell in Cleveland, is still a top-tier offensive mind. Having RB Derrick Henry in the backfield is probably more than enough support for Lamar Jackson, but that’s not all he has. Zay Flowers is emerging as one of the best receivers in the game, and TE Mark Andrews is still a weapon, especially in the red zone (at least as long as he’s healthy). There isn’t much help beyond that, but this is a ground-based attack, so the key is the offensive line. The loss of center Tyler Linderbaum is an undeniable hit. Drafting guard Olaivavega Ioane should help the interior, but center is now a big question mark. So is the hiring of 30-year-old Declan Doyle as the new offensive coordinator. He was the OC in Chicago last season, so at least he has experience watching Ben Johnson run his scheme. For much of last season, their passing offense was a one-man show, but what a phenomenal show it was. Jaxon Smith-Njigba might be the closest thing to Ja’Marr Chase west of the Mississippi. Even with a full season of Rashid Shaeed, which should help diversify the passing attack, the Seahawks might need even more out of JSN this season. There’s just no downplaying the loss of running back Kenneth Walker III, who was huge during their Super Bowl run. RB Zach Charbonnet is good enough to pick up some of the slack. Seattle also made a big first-round bet on RB Jadarian Price, who was the backup running back at Notre Dame. But there’s one other issue for QB Sam Darnold. "Losing Kenny Walker is going to hurt," one scout told me. "Losing Klint Kubiak is going to hurt more." The Seahawks' former offensive coordinator is now coaching the Raiders, and first-time coordinator Brian Fleury has some huge shoes to fill. There are some mixed opinions on the makeup of this offense around Daniel Jones. There is no tougher runner in the league than Jonathan Taylor, but he’s a one-man show who led the league in carries last season (323). He’s got one of the NFL’s best offensive lines in front of him. The Colts also have maybe the best young TE in the league in Tyler Warren. The questions concern the wide receivers. The Colts traded away Michael Pittman and made Alec Pierce a very rich man in free agency. But, as one scout told me, "Pierce is not a No. 1 receiver. There’s no better deep threat in the league, but he’s not going to put up big numbers as the focus of the offense." Slot receiver Josh Downs won’t be the focus, either, which could create a big hole in the passing attack if Pierce doesn’t prove he can do more than he’s been asked to do over his first four years. They were on the verge of a Super Bowl last year with an offense that was good but not explosive. The addition of WR Jaylen Waddle changes all that. He and Courtland Sutton form an elite tandem, and Troy Franklin can be one of the better No. 3 receivers in the league. Quarterback Bo Nix is also supported by possibly the best offensive line in the league and a solid, grind-it-out rushing attack (though that part depends on the always-iffy health of J.K. Dobbins). Add in the brilliant offensive mind of Sean Payton, and there’s not much more Nix could ask for heading into his third season — assuming, of course, that he’s fully recovered from the fractured ankle he suffered in the playoffs. He’ll be well-protected whenever he returns, so he’ll have plenty of time to execute what are always well-conceived game plans. The additions of wideouts Mike Evans and Christian Kirk really could put the Niners' offense over the top, especially since they still have WR Ricky Pearsall and TE George Kittle catching passes and OT Trent Williams protecting the blind side. And, of course, everything in this offense revolves around RB Christian McCaffrey, a perennial MVP contender. But every one of those guys comes with big injury concerns. "They have so many guys with health and age issues," one scout told me. "If they’re healthy, they’re loaded, but how many games do you really think they’ll all be on the field together?" It’s a good question, and if history holds, they won’t like the answer. But QB Brock Purdy still has one other big advantage: head coach Kyle Shanahan. "He’s a nightmare to play against," one scout told me. "You can’t out-scheme him. No matter what he has, he’ll get the most out of it." He always does. Everything with the Bengals starts with Ja’Marr Chase. "Nobody knows how to stop him," one scout told me. "He can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants." And he has help from Tee Higgins, who, one scout told me, "might be the No. 1 receiver on 20 other teams." They also can lean on RB Chase Brown in the passing game, where he had 69 catches to go with his 1,019 rushing yards last year, making him one of the best dual threats in the NFL. The Bengals are really top-heavy, though, because they don’t have much beyond their Big 3. And they're surprisingly returning all five starters from an offensive line that wasn’t very good last season. Considering nothing is more important for the Bengals than keeping QB Joe Burrow healthy, this was a curious decision. But Burrow’s intelligence and quick release might be able to compensate for that. And if it does, he’s got enough weapons to score a ton of points. Veteran QB Jared Goff has a trio of elite skill players, which is a great place to start. Amon-Ra St. Brown has become unstoppable, Jameson Williams is one of the best big-play receivers in the NFL. And Jahmyr Gibbs is a remarkable combination of power and elusiveness. But there are potential issues in Detroit. Gibbs and David Montgomery have made quite a combo in recent years, but the latter is now in Houston and was replaced by Isiah Pacheco. "He’s a good replacement," one scout told me, "but only if he’s healthy. That’s really a big risk." Another risky bet is TE Sam LaPorta, who's coming off back surgery and hasn’t been able to duplicate his success as a rookie in 2023. The Lions also needed to fix some holes on their offensive line, which they hope they did by drafting RT Blake Miller and signing C Cade Mays. So the talent is there for new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who takes over an offense that was inconsistent last season yet still ranked fifth overall in scoring and total yards per game. They looked so dysfunctional all last year, but it was never because of a lack of talent around QB Jalen Hurts. The truth is, Philly is still loaded on offense. Saquon Barkley has 2,000-yard potential. The offensive line is the envy of most teams, despite coming off a relative down season. Dallas Goedert, as long as he stays healthy, is a reliable and dangerous tight end. And even if they trade A.J. Brown — which seems increasingly likely — they have a deep and dangerous receiving corps. DeVonta Smith is a worthy No. 1. In fact, he could become a top-five receiver once he’s out of Brown’s needy shadow. The Eagles also traded for Dontayvion Wicks and drafted Makai Lemon in the first round, and they signed Hollywood Brown, who is still only 28. All three wideouts could contribute a lot. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is younger than some of his players and has never been a coordinator before. But he sure has a lot of talent to work with in his first year. They look frighteningly like the Lions of a few years ago, led by a dangerous 1-2 punch at running back, a field-stretching tight end and an offensive game plan that’s hard to predict. That’s the brilliance of head coach Ben Johnson, the former Lions offensive coordinator. "His mind is on par with McVay’s," one scout told me. "He knows what his players can do better than any coach in the league." That’s great for QB Caleb Williams, who is protected by a top-three offensive line and has a thunder-and-lightning backfield with Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift. "You can game plan to stop one," one scout told me, "but not both." What Williams really needs is for a wide receiver to emerge so that tight end Colston Loveland doesn’t have to be his top target. Either Rome Odunze or Luther Burden could fill that void, though the former must first show that there aren't any lingering issues in his foot after suffering a stress fracture late last year. Wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens have a chance to put up some scary numbers in this offense if they can both stay healthy. Both are explosive enough to be considered top 10 in the league. And Dallas has other weapons, too, such as tight end Jake Ferguson and deep threat KaVontae Turpin. What really vaults the Cowboys on this list, though, is their commitment to Javonte Williams and the running game. "(Williams) surprised me with how strong a runner he was," a scout told me. "But I was even more surprised by how much he was used. He really takes the pressure off the passing game." It also helps that Dak Prescott has a top-tier line protecting him. If left tackle Tyler Guyton and center Cooper Beebe can stay healthy, Dallas might have one of the best lines in the league. No quarterback has more around him than 38-year-old Matthew Stafford. His line gave up only 23 sacks last season, tied for the fewest in the league. And it’s hard to find a more lethal wideout duo than Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, who remains strong and reliable despite his age (33). Kyren Williams is an elite running back and Blake Corum gives the Rams a 1-2 punch that is hard to stop. And while they may not have an elite tight end, the trio of Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee and David Allen combined for 92-897-14 last season, which any team would gladly take. That’s a lot to work with before factoring in head coach Sean McVay — "by far the best offensive mind in the league," as one scout told me. "They can attack you from anywhere, anytime. And (McVay) knows where your weakest spots are."

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Ravens' Coach Jesse Minter Dismisses Concern Over Lamar Jackson’s OTA Absence

Lamar Jackson was absent from a voluntary practice for the Baltimore Ravens, and that usually raises eyebrows. New coach Jesse Minter didn't seem to be sweating it. "Lamar’s been one of our leaders of the offseason program, and he had a couple things going on yesterday and today, and I do expect him to be back soon," said Minter, who replaced John Harbaugh after last season. "We’ve had some great conversations. I know when he’s going to be back and again, I’ll probably leave those between me and Lamar." Jackson's attendance at these types of OTAs has been sporadic over the years. It's hard to say how much that matters, but it's certainly an issue critics have pointed to from time to time. His contract, with two years remaining, has also been a significant topic lately after he and the Ravens did not agree to an extension before the start of free agency. Baltimore instead restructured Jackson's deal to create cap space. Jackson was at Minter's first minicamp with the Ravens last month. That camp wasn't open to reporters, but Tuesday's OTA was, and it offered a chance to see how the new coach handled practice on a hot day in Owings Mills. At the end, the team took part in a little game in which players from the offense and defense competed at throwing medicine balls. Minter said that's part of preparing the team to play well in the most important moments, something the Ravens have struggled with the past few years. "We end practice every day (with an) ‘At our best when our best is needed’ period, and so that could be anything different. Today, we decided to do a little friendly competition," Minter said. "Right now, you can’t really do the football competition, and so I thought it would be something different, something fun. I try to get guys to not know what’s about to happen and answer the bell when their number’s called, and it’s as simple as that. That’s really all we’re trying to get done with that and make it fun, have the guys pull for each other." Earlier, there was a scary moment when running back Derrick Henry banged knees with another player and stayed down on the ground for a bit. He was able to resume practicing shortly thereafter. "The ground felt like a bed for a little while," he said. "And I saw you all (reporters) looking hot and bored, so I was like, ‘I need to give them something to tweet and write about.’" Reporting by the Associated Press

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Vikings Will Host 2028 NFL Draft at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis-St. Paul

The Land of 10,000 Lakes is preparing to welcome the next generation of football stars. In 2028, the NFL Draft will officially head to Minneapolis-St. Paul, turning the Twin Cities into the center of the football world for three unforgettable days. NFL owners voted Tuesday at the league’s spring meeting to award the 2028 NFL Draft to the Vikings, the team announced. The Twin Cities become the third NFC North market to host one of the league’s marquee events within a five-year span, joining Detroit and Green Bay. "Minnesota knows how to show up for big moments, and we've seen it firsthand," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "This is a market that delivers at the highest level. Working with the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Sports and Events, we look forward to bringing the 2028 NFL Draft to this great community, driving positive economic impact throughout the region, and hosting an incredible experience for fans and the next generation of the NFL." Minnesota previously hosted Super Bowl LII in 2018 and has continued to establish itself as a destination for major sporting events on the national stage. "For three days, Minnesota will become the center of the football world," co-owner and president Mark Wilf said. "The 2028 NFL Draft will give us an opportunity to showcase not just U.S. Bank Stadium, but the energy, hospitality and pride that define Minneapolis-St. Paul and the entire state and region. We have no doubt the community will deliver a world-class event that is unique to Minnesota." With the NFL Draft heading to Minnesota, it will join a growing list of cities turning the league’s offseason showcase into a nationwide celebration. Backed by U.S. Bank Stadium and passionate Vikings fans, it will blend spectacle with football tradition. As things stand, the Vikings are set to hold all seven rounds of their draft picks and should remain active as the host. They will follow the Washington Commanders, who are scheduled to host the 2027 NFL Draft. By the time the first pick is announced in 2028, the Land of 10,000 Lakes will once again be in the national spotlight, welcoming the football world for a weekend expected to blend tradition, excitement and a uniquely Minnesota atmosphere.

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