Q&A With Chad Ochocino Johnson: Who Complains About Madden Ratings? Surprise Teams For '26?

As NFL teams open training camps this week, there are significant football numbers being unveiled. Yes, EA Sports celebrated "Madden NFL 27 Ratings Week," with a few elite players earning the rare 99 rating and everyone else complaining. The target of their disappointment is former Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco Johnson, who made six Pro Bowls in a colorful 11-year NFL career and has found a second chapter as a "ratings adjuster" for EA Sports, traveling to games and scouting players in person for his role in choosing their rating. Johnson took a few minutes to talk with FOX Sports about the seriousness and silliness of football video game ratings and his readiness to back up his numbers when players take issue. Chomping on a cigar and wearing an MLS soccer jacket, he talked about everything from a penchant for generous tipping to his favorite receivers to the World Cup and his love of McDonald's. What is your phone like on a day like today when players find out their ratings for the year? Johnson: In the past, when they didn't have someone that was in charge of the ratings, they could be upset. They could complain. You can't complain to me, because I can pull up and show you exactly what you are. I can show you why you're an 82. You see, this game, where you disappear because you're playing against one of the better players in the NFL. That's why you're rated where you are. Can you do it week in and week out against the best? You disappear; that's why you're not rated high. There's a reason Myles Garrett is a f---ing 99. I'm a former player that played at a very high level and was elite at what he did. This is why you're rated where you are: you disappear in f---ing games. I don't want you to name specific names, but is there a position that might complain the most about ratings? Johnson: Every position complains. I'm not going to call out names, but especially skill-position DBs and receivers. Oh man, yeah. The funny thing about this is a great thing: You have 17 weeks to show me otherwise. You have 17 weeks to show me and don't disappear. Listen, I understand you're going to drop the ball as a defensive back. You're going to get beat. It happens. I don't care who you are; it shouldn't happen often. But you can appreciate how much these numbers actually mean to players. Johnson: It meant something to me, because I'm a huge gamer. That's a reflection of who I am. Your ratings numbers are a reflection of what you do on the field. That's why it means so much. Your title is ratings adjuster. How much adjusting can you do based on your own opinion? Up or down a point? Two? Johnson: Yeah, I would say so. I think my input when it comes to adjusting, outside of those who are above my pay grade, my input matters, because I actually played the game. Not saying they're not worthy of being able to analyze and make decisions based on what they can also see. Our eyes are one and the same. Even if you haven't played the game, you can see: You know what? This guy, he's not really what he thinks he is, and this is why. Having me in there to give that input, it pays dividends. Everything is fair, based on where everyone is rated right now. If you don't like where you're rated, show me on Sunday. You get to take very seriously something that's still just a video game. Do you enjoy how seriously some people take it? Johnson: Absolutely, because it's more than just a video game. Your production is based on how you get paid, so we base your production on your rating as well. It might just be a video game to some, but to some, it's a serious matter. I know the 99s are elite, and you're careful in how you give them out. Who is someone who doesn't have a 99 this year, but is closest? Johnson: Easy, the quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes (93 rating this year). [Matthew] Stafford and [Josh] Allen are the only two [99s] this year. Mahomes, Lamar Jackson (94 overall), of course. Can you get it done in the playoffs where it matters most? Some receivers should very well be back in the conversation. Justin Jefferson (94 overall), now you have a quarterback. The inconsistency at play at the quarterback position is why you're not rated where you once were. Puka Nacua (98) has a chance this year to be a 99 at some point because he is really good. His body of work is phenomenal. You're on the road for 18 weeks straight during the season. Your schedule isn't set yet, but what's that like for you? Johnson: I'm ready for it. I'm excited. I love it, because it allows me to still be around the game. It still allows me to be integrated into the game in some sort. Anyone who follows you on social media knows how generous you are, leaving $1,000 tips at nearly any restaurant. When did that start, and why is it still so important for you to help people out like that? Johnson: That started for me back in 2001, when I first came into some money. I remember at times not being able to tip as much as I'd like in high school, going to IHOP, going to Denny's, hearing their stories on how the service industry or minimum wage wasn't enough. It wasn't a livable wage in general, and everybody, they say, 'Well, get a better job,' not understanding how difficult it is for certain people based on their circumstances to for one, have transportation for a better job. Everybody's in unfortunate situations they can't control. What I can control is the man upstairs being able to bless me in abundance, and me being able to make sure I'm going to make this individual's day. I started the $1,000 tipping in 2001, and I've been doing it now for the past 25 years. Shannon [Sharpe] and I had a funny argument on "Nightcap" about this. He tips based on service, and a lot of people jumped on me about, "Well, if the service is bad, I'm not tipping." The first thing I say is we've lived in this world a very long time, and we've all dealt with some goddamn idiots. So there's no telling what this server had to deal with before you. I'm always tipping $1,000 because you never know what the person had to go through, had to deal with before you got there. Do you think servers know who you are now? Are they fighting to get your table at places? Johnson: I like when they're not aware, but sure, especially when I'm in Miami and when I'm in Cincinnati, I go to restaurants, and they already know what's coming. I just left Charlotte after two days. They had no idea, but they knew once I left. It's something I will always continue to do as long as the man upstairs continues to bless me. I will always do that. I know you're a huge soccer fan, and you make a point to get to the biggest games. If I give you a chance to brag, who are the elite soccer players you've been able to meet in person? Johnson: That's easy. Multiple times, obviously the two best in the world, the GOATs, depending on who you ask, would be Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. I've met them since Messi was a baby. Not a literal baby, but at Barcelona, I was there when he debuted. Ronaldinho and I have met. We're friends now. Cristiano and I are friends since he was at Sporting Lisbon. [Mario] Balotelli, [Paul] Pogba, [Gerard] Piqué, Marcelo. Oh, my goodness! The list goes on and on. Son Heung-Min, meeting one of my favorite South Korean players who played for Tottenham. Sol Campbell, Thierry Henry, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic. Oh, my goodness. Samuel Eto'o. Let me think. Neymar, obviously. Brazilian Ronaldo, who I've met twice; he doesn't speak good English, but "That's Ocho, I know his face." Kaka and I became friends when he was here at Orlando City. Antoine Griezmann, who played at Atletico and for the French national team, he's now at Orlando City and I know him extremely well. Just to name a few. Every offseason, as soon as the season ends, I just leave and go to Europe and I hop from city to city. Because of me being with Reebok or when I was with Nike, they bridge the gap to meet the players easily. How proud were you of how the United States handled hosting a World Cup? Johnson: It was beautiful. It was beautiful. The fact that we did such a phenomenal job, Gianni [Infantino] having the World Cup here in the U.S. and all the parties and power that be were involved, converted a lot of people into loving the game of soccer. It's so difficult for us to appreciate here because we have so many other sports to choose from, but getting a better cultural aspect on how good and how awesome those games could be, especially for those able to attend matches in person. Listen, we love our sports here. We think we're crazy about them. They went crazy in New York about the Knicks winning a championship. Go to a regular game in Europe. We got a small sample size, an appetizer of what it's like for them culturally when it comes to the beautiful game. I think it was a great thing and we converted a lot of fans. I think the MLS will take over from here, continuing to grow the game here in the States. Unrelated: How many days out of 365 in a year are you eating at McDonald's? Johnson: Honestly, maybe 362. I just call that a fasting day. Always the same McDonald's? Johnson: Any time I'm in Miami, it's the same McDonald's. When I'm in Cincinnati, it's the same McDonald's over in Covington. When I travel, it's a little bit different. Wherever the closest one is to the hotel, that's where I frequent. I do eat other things. What do you think of this year's Bengals? The offense will be great, but what about the defense? Johnson: That's the problem. With the concerns, I'm hoping those voids are filled. Having Brian Cook come in, Dexter Lawrence to help with the run, we have some young linebackers who played somewhat well, had their ups and downs as rookies. I'm looking for them to make that next step. I'm excited for us. I'm not worried about us offensively. I'm worried about us defensively, and our defense has been our Achilles heel for a very long time. If we can have a good year defensively and we score 35 or 30 a game like we already did, if we don't allow the other team to score 40, I'm happy. I don't know what's going to happen. I know we made the improvements necessary to give us the best chance to win. You had one year with the Patriots. What's your favorite Tom Brady story? Johnson: My favorite Tom Brady story, I can't even tell. It's just personal. Athletes confide in you in a way that it would never get out, and that's something that you would never tell. But Tommy, Tommy is awesome, man. He's one of those guys you see on TV. To see him as a quarterback, it's like if God said, "You know what, I'm going to make the perfect person." Not only a person, the perfect football player that people can look up to. It is him, man. Words can't describe what Tom means to me, not as a teammate but as a friend. Who are your top five receivers in today's NFL? Johnson: That's easy. I'm always putting Uno first. Ja'Marr Chase always goes first. Justin Jefferson would be 2. Three is tricky. I'm going to slash it between Puka Nacua and JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba). The four and five get tricky because there are so many people worthy of that slot. We could go CeeDee Lamb. The way George Pickens played last year, we could put George there as well. What about A.J. Brown? What about DeVonta Smith? You know, it's so tough. I'm just going to name those four, because there are so many others that are worthy, and I'm not trying to piss anybody off. Last year, you were way ahead in picking the Panthers to win their division. Who are your breakout teams for 2026? Johnson: That's a great question. Can I go out on a limb and say the New York Jets? I'm not sure that limb is as sturdy as it was last year when I said the Bears and Panthers and stood on a table and beat my chest about them. They did exactly what I said they were going to do. I want to say the Jets. I think Aaron Glenn, in his second year, has a tremendous amount of change offensively, having a quarterback in Geno Smith with the arm talent like no other up there with Matt Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, regardless of what people may think about it. Garrett Wilson should have a year, and then for them to steer that ship, changing some of the bad tastes people have had in their mouths over the years.

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Madden NFL 28: 11 Players Who'll Crack The Top 5 At Their Positions Next Year

The initial player ratings for the "Madden NFL 27" video game are live, and many fans are already thinking about how they could change when the season gets underway (they’ll be updated each week). But let’s take it a step further than that: What could the ratings look like by the start of the 2027 season, ahead of the release of "Madden NFL 28"? Here are my predictions for the offensive and defensive players who will crack the top-five at their positions by this time next year: Madden NFL 27 Rating: 92 Madden NFL 27 QB Ranking: 6th If having a top-four passing offense last season wasn’t enough, the Patriots added A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs this offseason to give Maye one of the NFL’s best wide receiver rooms. His protection should also improve with the additions of rookie first-rounder Caleb Lomu and free-agent Alijah Vera-Tucker. The MVP runner-up last season, Maye is poised to make another major statistical jump in Year 3. Madden NFL 27 Rating: 87 Madden NFL 27 WR Ranking: T-16th Olave is coming off a career year in 2025, catching 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns. Entering his second season in Kellen Moore’s offense and with the continued rise of quarterback Tyler Shough, don’t be surprised to see Olave produce like a top-five receiver in 2026. Having a talented receiver opposite him in No. 8 overall pick Jordyn Tyson will make it even more difficult for defenses to cover the former Ohio State star. Madden NFL 27 Rating: 90 Madden NFL 27 RB Ranking: 9th Tight end Travis Kelce will turn 37 this season. Top receiver Rashee Rice has played just 12 games over the past two seasons combined. There’s a very real chance that Walker, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, will be the engine of the Chiefs’ offense. His production could skyrocket as he no longer plays alongside Zach Charbonnet, who took carries away from him in Seattle. And Walker is the most dynamic running back that Kansas City has had in the Patrick Mahomes era, so expect Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to take full advantage of Walker's skill set. Madden NFL 27 Rating: 85 Madden NFL 27 OT Ranking: T-20th After missing 11 games last season due to injury, Alt is healthy and expected to return to star form. New OC Mike McDaniel’s wide-zone offensive principles should help alleviate some pressure protecting quarterback Justin Herbert. Madden NFL 27 Rating: 78 Madden NFL 27 IOL Ranking: T-35th The 14th overall pick, Ioane landed in the perfect spot with the Ravens — a physical, run-first-team that fits his playing style. He’ll be a starting guard from Day 1 and has a chance to establish himself as a lynchpin on the interior offensive line for Baltimore, which has Super Bowl aspirations. Madden NFL 27 Rating: 84 overall Madden NFL 27 TE Ranking: 10th Loveland came into his own down the stretch of his rookie season, posting 90-plus receiving yards in three of the Bears’ last four games, including the playoffs. The 2025 top-10 pick should continue growing as a focal point in Chicago’s offense with the departure of wide receiver DJ Moore. Madden NFL 27 Rating: 89 Madden NFL 27 CB Ranking: 9th A first-team All-Pro last season, Mitchell is a surprising exclusion from the current top-five, and it’s difficult to imagine him staying out of the top couple spots by this time a year from now. Over the last 10 weeks of last season, Mitchell allowed a completion rate of just 20.7% as the boundary cornerback, according to Next Gen Stats. With the Eagles adding another potential standout corner in former Seahawk Riq Woolen this offseason, it could lead to even more forced throws in Mitchell’s direction, creating more playmaking opportunities. Madden NFL 27 Rating: 82 Madden NFL 27 S Ranking: T-23rd Downs, tied with Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love as the highest-rated rookie, is poised to make an immediate impact on the Cowboys’ defense. Dallas plans to play him at nickel, but his versatility could put him among the best safeties in football by the end of 2026. Dallas has Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and depth at edge rusher (veteran Rashan Gary, 2026 first-rounder Malachi Lawrence, 2025 second-rounder Donovan Ezeiruaku), which will make Downs' job in the secondary easier. His defensive coordinator, Christian Parker, is also a defensive backs specialist. Madden NFL 27 Rating: 89 Madden NFL 27 DT Ranking: 10th Carter had a disappointing season in 2025, recording just three sacks and five tackles for loss after missing six-plus games. But a healthy and engaged Carter is one of the NFL’s most disruptive forces. The addition of former Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and cornerback Riq Woolen should create more plays for Carter. Madden NFL 27 Rating: 78 Madden NFL 27 ILB Ranking: T-38th An under-the-radar name nationally, Gray ranked second in the NFL last season in solo tackles (97), trailing only Miami Dolphins All-Pro Jordyn Brooks. For the Titans, Gray will be playing behind Robert Saleh’s deep and talented defensive line, paving the way for him to make more big plays. He’s also flashed in coverage, breaking up four passes in 2025. Madden NFL 27 Rating: 93 Madden NFL 27 DE Ranking: 6th In his first year back from a 2024 broken leg, Hutchinson registered career-highs with 14.5 sacks and 90 quarterback pressures. Look for the Detroit superstar to continue ascending in 2026. The Lions are expecting to get standout defensive backs Brian Branch and Kerby Josephs back from injury early in the season, and a Detroit secondary at full strength can force opposing quarterbacks to hold onto the ball, giving Hutchinson more opportunities to get to the passer.

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Sean Payton Emotional On Drew Brees HOF Call: 'Can't Believe You Just Did That'

If 100 people came up with an all-time New Orleans Saints team and coaching staff, each of those individuals would likely have Drew Brees as the quarterback and Sean Payton as the head coach. On that note, the legendary Saints quarterback wants his former head coach to be the one that presents him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Saints posted a video to X on Thursday of Brees Facetiming Payton, his head coach of 14 years (2006-11 and 2013-20), asking him to present the quarterback at his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in Canton, Ohio next month. "Honest to God, I can't believe you just did that," Payton said to Brees in the video, while holding back tears. Payton later said he'd "absolutely" present Brees, which was an opportunity he called "awesome," and that he "loves" the Saints legend. Brees is one of five players who are part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026, the other four being wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, running back Roger Craig, kicker Adam Vinatieri and linebacker Luke Kuechly. After five seasons with the San Diego Chargers (2001-05), Brees signed with the Saints in the same offseason the franchise hired Payton, who was previously the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys under Hall of Famer Bill Parcells, as head coach. And the rest is history. Brees went on to be a Pro Bowler in 13 of his 15 seasons in New Orleans, earn Offensive Player of the Year honors in two seasons (2008 and 2011), lead the NFL in passing yards seven times, completion percentage six times, passing touchdowns four times and passer rating twice. He threw for 5,000 yards in five seasons and is second in league history in passing yards for a single season, throwing for 5,476 yards in 2011; Brees is also sixth, seventh and eighth on that list. Brees and Payton's partnership was highlighted by the Saints winning Super Bowl XLIV, the first and only such triumph in franchise history. In all, the Saints went 9-8 in the playoffs with the two. Brees, who's first in Saints history in passing yards (68,010), passing touchdowns (491), passer rating (101.5) and completion percentage (68.8%), is second in NFL history (regular-season stats) with 80,358 passing yards and 571 passing touchdowns and third in completion percentage (67.7%). Meanwhile, Payton is first in Saints history with 152 regular-season wins, a 63.1% regular-season winning percentage and nine playoff wins. Furthermore, he's one of only three head coaches in Saints history to get the franchise to the postseason and one of just two to win a playoff game (the Saints went 1-1 in the playoffs under head coach Jim Haslett). Payton stepped down as head coach after the 2021 season and was later traded to the Denver Broncos after the 2022 regular season. In that coaching gap year (2022), Payton served as an NFL Studio Analyst for FOX. Ironically, Brees is now a color commentator for the network. The 2026 Hall of Fame enshrinement is on Sunday, Aug. 8.

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New Orleans Saints Over/Under Win Total: Ready To Take Next Step?

In 2025, the Saints finished 6-11 and in last place in the NFC South. New Orleans has not made the playoffs since 2020, but the franchise may have found its long-term answer at quarterback in Tyler Shough. After making several key additions and adding promising talent through the draft, the Saints are presumed to take a step forward this season. With that in mind, let’s break down New Orleans’ Over/Under win total odds for the 2026 season. 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. New Orleans Saints Over 7.5: -120 (bet $10 to win $18.33 total)Under 7.5: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total) What to know: Despite finishing 6-11 in 2025, the Saints showed plenty of promise down the stretch. They won four of their final five games, including a four-game winning streak before a close Week 18 loss. Much of that optimism centered around rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. In 11 games (nine starts), Shough threw for 2,384 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing nearly 68% of his passes. He also added 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Shough protected the football, was efficient in the red zone, and consistently delivered in key situations, providing hope that New Orleans has found its franchise quarterback under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. The Saints added more weapons for Tyler Shough this offseason, acquiring running back Travis Etienne Jr. and selecting wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the No. 8 overall pick. They join Chris Olave, who is coming off a 100-catch, 1,163-yard season, giving New Orleans another dynamic target in the passing game. Odds: This upcoming season, New Orleans is the +265 second choice to win the NFC South, the +3700 13th choice to win the NFC and the +9000 24th choice to win the Super Bowl.

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Kevin O'Connell Reveals How Vikings Will Split Reps Between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy

The starting quarterback audition that will shape this season for the Minnesota Vikings and perhaps define multiple careers is clearly the featured attraction during training camp. For as consequential as this competition will be, Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy and their teammates have no interest in intensifying the spotlight or indulging in feelings about the process. The players themselves are trying to keep things as cool as they can. "I’m not really too focused on the long-term vision of it," Murray said Wednesday before the team's first formal practice of camp. "I’m really just focused on process, and that’s day to day, trying to put my best foot forward, and proving to the guys and the coaches what I’m capable of." McCarthy brings a decidedly different resume, style and personality to this derby, but his public stance on his approach to trying to keep the same job he had last year sure sounded similar to Murray's. "It’s just refining every little detail, leaving no stone unturned and just trying to get better in every aspect," said McCarthy, whose injuries have limited him to 10 starts in two seasons since he was drafted with the 10th overall pick in 2024. "That’s a constant battle with yourself every single day until you hang ’em up." Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell was remarkably transparent in his news conference this week about the plan for dividing up drills in practice between the two. Murray went first with the first team Wednesday, but the repetitions were equally split. "It’s going to be more by certain periods," O'Connell said. "Maybe a guy’s gotten a little bit more third down work, so then we’ll make sure we try to even it out, but I will say this, and I told the quarterbacks: ‘We don’t need to make this 50-50.’ It’s going to be that way to start when we’re on a time crunch, but when we get into some longer practices and some move-the-ball periods, there’s some periods where the amount of plays is unknown sometimes as you really start to get into what real football is." Murray, of course, was the most seismic change after McCarthy's rocky debut. As the first overall pick in the 2019 draft with 87 starts and more than 20,000 passing yards in his career, Murray is the clear favorite to win this competition. But O'Connell has committed to opening it up, and McCarthy has said he believes him. "My job’s to make it right for either of them, so that’s kind of all I can focus on," right tackle Brian O'Neill said. "It’s just like any other guy and any other position battle. That’s really what it is from my perspective." Murray mentioned earlier the challenge of mastering a new offense without taking all of the turns with the first team, but he said Wednesday he feels much better about the playbook after going through spring practices and continuing to immerse himself in it over the last six weeks. McCarthy, too, said he has recovered from the time lost and the rhythm interrupted by his late-season injuries. "I felt like I was hitting that upward trajectory, and I’m certain it’s still been going up since then," McCarthy said. Reporting by the Associated Press.

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San Francisco 49ers Over/Under Win Total: Can S.F. Find Its Magic Again?

Since 2019, the 49ers have won 10 games or more five times, reaching the Super Bowl twice and the NFC Championship Game four times in that span. However, the name of the game for San Francisco, for a few consecutive seasons, has been injuries. How healthy will it be going into this season? And if healthy, can it overcome the two juggernauts in-division? Let's check out the 49ers' Over/Under win total odds for the 2026 season. 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. San Francisco 49ers Over 9.5: -146 (bet $10 to win $16.85 total)Under 9.5: +120 (bet $10 to win $22 total) What to know: Health. That was the one word that plagued the San Francisco 49ers last season. The Niners led the NFL by losing over $95 million in salary cap value to players on the injured list throughout the year. Remarkably, they still won 12 games in 2025 despite dealing with a plethora of injuries to several key players. Brock Purdy missed eight games, while Fred Warner and Nick Bosa both suffered season-ending injuries. George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall and Talanoa Hufanga also missed a significant portion of the season and Brandon Aiyuk never even saw the field. Even after overcoming those injuries and exceeding expectations, San Francisco’s projected win total has dropped entering 2026. Last year, the Niners won those 12 games in the toughest division in football. The Seahawks won 14 games and beat the Rams, winners of 12 games, in the NFC title game. San Francisco fell to Seattle in the divisional round. Odds: This upcoming season, San Francisco is the +305 third choice to win the NFC West, the +960 sixth choice to win the AFC and the +1900 11th choice to win the Super Bowl.

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Eagles GM Howie Roseman Says LeBron James Has Open Invite To Practice

There was business to discuss as the Philadelphia Eagles opened their sixth training camp under coach Nick Sirianni. They have a new offensive coordinator — yes, another one — and players in new roles and ones playing on hefty new contracts. So Jordan Davis, one of the biggest offseason beneficiaries of a contract extension, cut to the chase Wednesday and got straight to the topic of the day. "I will be asking the questions," Davis said with laugh as he took his seat for a news conference. "How we feeling about LeBron being in town?" Yes, in a sports city that each time this summer turns as green in team colors as the cash spent on Davis and fellow defensive tackle Jalen Carter, the Eagles have been overshadowed by the arrival of the most famous active American athlete in LeBron James. An image of the NBA’s career leading scorer could be seen on the video board outside the Philadelphia 76ers' arena across the street from the Eagles’ practice facility. The newest Sixers superstar had no immediate plans to travel to Philadelphia, but if he does, the Eagles will roll out the red carpet on the green grass for James. "He can come out to practice any time he wants," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. The Eagles welcomed him to Philly with arms as wide open as they are for James' pregame chalk toss. Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback Jalen Hurts and 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley both rank somewhere on the short list of most accomplished and most famous Philadelphia athletes. Even they turned into wide-eyed fans much like the rest of Philadelphia when they found out the 41-year-old James had indeed signed a two-year contract with the Sixers. "I think for what he represents in sports and sports culture," Hurts said, "it’s huge. And I think it’s huge for the city of Philadelphia. It’ll be exciting to have a figure like that in the city. What’s he done. One of the greatest to ever do it. I’m excited to be a part of that." James could do worse than duplicate Barkley's free-agent results when he left the New York Giants after six seasons and signed with the Eagles ahead of the 2024 season. He rushed for a franchise-record 2,005 yards and won a Super Bowl in his first try with the Eagles. Barkley pitched James at his youth football camp earlier this month on the appeal of playing in Philadelphia. "If you want to go out with a bang," Barkley said, "I feel like a great spot would be in Philly, and bringing a championship to Philadelphia, you’d be remembered forever." James already had the "remembered forever" stamp in sports thank to his peerless resume in the NBA. Barkley — who played golf with former President Barack Obama and also invited James on social media to " tee it up " — demurred when pressed on his influence in James signing with the Sixers. Playing with All-Stars Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown surely swayed James more than Barkley. The running back didn't care much how exactly James made his Philly decision, or if James was even aware of his endorsement. He's just thrilled James has joined Philly's star-studded athlete roster. "I think the city of Philadelphia is a super cool place to be for sports, with how involved the fans are," Barkley said at training camp. "Having LeBron here is just great for the culture." Barkley, Hurts and other Eagles players still on the roster from two seasons ago are among the relatively few in Philadelphia sports history with championship rings. The Eagles won their only two Super Bowls in the last 10 years. The Flyers haven't won the Stanley Cup since 1975 and the Phillies since 2008. James joins a 76ers franchise that has not won an NBA title since 1983. He's not here for second place. The Eagles say, go get 'em. "Looks like the Sixers are trying to go win one," said Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith, a Boston Celtics fan. "Can't be mad at that." Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones Highlight Positive Outlook Ahead Of Training Camp

The Dallas Cowboys typically arrive at training camp with some sort of off-field drama swirling around the team, often in the form of a high-profile contract dispute, but there are no such issues this year going into their traditional Southern California sojourn. It isn’t by design, according to Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, but the 83-year-old football maverick will take the appearance of calm over the alternative. "I don’t believe it makes one iota worth of difference on whether or not we block the guy or go off tackle, but I do like the perception that we’ve had a quite uneventful offseason, and let’s see how we can work in that," Jones said Tuesday at his annual precamp news conference. Compared with a year ago when the stalemate with standout defensive end Micah Parsons over a contract extension quickly devolved into a contentious hold-in and eventually culminated in his shocking trade to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys appear to have no financial concerns threatening to overshadow or undermine their on-field work over the next three-plus weeks. Instead, the main focus will be on shaping an overhauled defensive roster under a new coaching staff into a unit capable of helping head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s dynamic offense. The urgency to address that side of the ball, Jones said, is where the narrative of a calm offseason ends. "We’ve had a lot going on, and we’ve had to really scramble a lot," he said. "The kind of stuff you don’t see, but that should be that way. It’s supposed to be hard." The Cowboys hired Christian Parker from the division rival Philadelphia Eagles in January as their defensive coordinator, tasking the 34-year-old secondary specialist with fixing a defense that gave up the most points in franchise history (511) and ranked last in the NFL in scoring (30.1 points per game) and passing yards allowed (251.5). Dallas also used its first three draft picks on defense, including taking Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the 11th selection, and worked to address other personnel deficiencies in free agency. "We’ve made that bed when we brought in new scheme, new coaches, new players," Jones said. "We’re going with new right there, so I’ve bought into that." Getting that group up to speed to assist an offense led by the star trio of quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will be critical for the Cowboys’ hopes of returning to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Dallas went 7-9-1 in Schottenheimer’s first year, including a 6-1-1 record when scoring 30 or more points. "All those moves that we made, it was not a quiet offseason for us, and it was a great offseason for us," Schottenheimer said. Prescott seems to be embracing the idea that the Cowboys can put themselves in position to compete at the highest level. He arrived at training camp wearing a Super Bowl championship shirt from the last time Dallas won it all following the 1995 regular season, which was also the last time they reached the NFC title game. "I like the idea, thinking that positive about what we’re going to work for," Jones said. "We’ve got a long way to go, really having started in the spring. But that’s good to me to be positive, especially coming from him." Jones didn’t rule out making further moves to improve the roster on defense, saying he recently was in contact with another NFL owner over a potential trade. He declined to discuss the Cowboys’ possible interest in Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, citing league rules about tampering. A deal to send Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in March was scuttled because of a failed physical. It was a rare moment of caution from Jones, who has never shied away from expressing himself in front of the media. When asked if the Cowboys’ low-key offseason was intentional, Jones acknowledged his penchant for drawing out the spotlight. "I’ve never thought there was anything quiet or subdued about the Dallas Cowboys. I never thought of it that way, but I have been guilty of stirring it up. And you guys help me, and we have been a great team — I promise you that — for the last 30-something years," a smiling Jones said. Reporting by The Associated Press.

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NFL Catchup: Extensions Galore, Rodgers Makes Another Statement & Raiders' QB Battle

All 32 teams across the NFL have reported to training camp, and there's already plenty of news breaking around the league. Tuesday saw a pair of record extensions, with two stars resetting the market at the respective positions. Aaron Rodgers made another declaration, and the Las Vegas Raiders made a statement on their quarterback competition entering camp. While Tuesday marked the first day that several teams reported to camp, some other teams have already hit the practice field. Has A.J. Brown formed a connection with Drake Maye yet at New England Patriots camp? Here's what to know from Tuesday around the NFL: Three standout players got a lot richer on Tuesday. The Cleveland Browns might have traded All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett this offseason, but five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward isn’t going anywhere. The Browns and Ward have agreed on a two-year, $62.2 million extension, per NFL Network. The extension will make Ward the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL for the second time in his career. The deal includes $52.3 million guaranteed, which now ranks just outside the top 10 in cornerback guaranteed money. The Philadelphia Eagles also finalized an extension on Tuesday with star defensive tackle Jalen Carter. The extension is a four-year, $152 million deal that could reach $160 million in value and includes $106 million guaranteed, per ESPN. This deal is the richest for a defensive tackle in NFL history. Carter passed Tennessee Titans star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons for the highest average annual value at the position in league history ($35.3 million). Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings are solidifying the right side of their offensive line by locking up tackle Brian O'Neill. The two sides agreed to a four-year, $96 million contract extension, per ESPN. O'Neill, 30, is entering his ninth NFL season with the Vikings. He’s a two-time Pro Bowl selection and has been an everyday starter for the franchise since he was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Pittsburgh. Aaron Rodgers reported to his 22nd NFL training camp on Tuesday and confirmed that the 2026 season will be his last. He added there is "zero debate" about the possibility of playing another season after this one. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback added that he contemplated retirement following last season prior to the team hiring head coach Mike McCarthy. "I thought last year might be it," Rodgers said. "And then Mike got hired, and I talked to the wife and she said, 'You can do one more year.' I said, 'Well, we'll see if it works out.' And then it kind of all came together." The Fernando Mendoza era in Las Vegas may have to wait. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak announced that veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will open training camp as the team’s starting quarterback on Tuesday. "When we go out to practice tomorrow, Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback," Kubiak said. "He's the guy, and he deserves it because he's played really good football." Cousins, 37, enters his 14th NFL season having spent time with the Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and now the Raiders. Across 174 career games, he has completed 66.7% of his passes for 44,700 yards, 298 touchdowns, and 131 interceptions. Ever since selecting the Indiana standout No. 1 overall in this year’s draft, the Raiders have indicated a clear desire to let Mendoza sit and develop. Naming Cousins as the training camp starter only reinforces that long-term blueprint. The connection between quarterback Drake Maye and A.J. Brown is taking time to settle during New England Patriots training camp. Through four days of practices, Maye is 1-for-7 with an interception when targeting Brown in team drills, per the Boston Herald. The two are reportedly struggling to connect on deeper routes. It's early in the process, but it looks like the pair will need more time and reps to gel before the regular season. Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler, was traded to New England for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in April. As NFL training camps open across the league, the Green Bay Packers will begin their summer without edge rusher Micah Parsons on the field. The team officially placed Parsons on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Parsons starting on the PUP list isn't a surprise as he continues to recover from a torn ACL and meniscus damage suffered last December against the Denver Broncos. The injury occurred on a non-contact play while pursuing quarterback Bo Nix and required surgery later that month, putting him on track to miss the start of the regular season. If Parsons is on the PUP list to start the regular season, he'll miss a minimum of four games. Under league rules, any player placed on the reserve PUP list for the regular season must sit out at least four games before becoming eligible to return to practice or game play.

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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. The value of running backs is constantly being disputed and Barkley did a lot to help his peers, and himself, out. Barkley was rewarded with a two-year, $41 million extension after winning NFL Offensive Player of the Year in his first year with the Eagles. The New York Giants didn't want to pay Barkley after six seasons with the team, so the Eagles took advantage of that, scooping him up in free agency in 2024. 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. Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler in his first four years in the league, became the highest-paid guard in the NFL in September when he agreed to a four-year, $96 million extension. He did play at left tackle for a bit, though, in 2025. 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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Philadelphia Eagles Sign Jalen Carter To Historic Contract Extension

Jalen Carter isn't going anywhere! The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday that they've signed the star defensive tackle to a four-year extension, which keeps him under contract through 2031. The extension is a four-year, $152 million deal that could reach $160 million in value and includes $106 million guaranteed, per ESPN. This deal is the richest for a defensive tackle in NFL history. Carter passed Tennessee Titans star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons for the highest average annual value at the position in league history ($35.3 million). Moreover, Carter's $38 million AAV is second in Eagles history, with quarterback Jalen Hurts' $51 million AAV (five-year, $255 million deal) first in franchise history. Carter, a Pro Bowler in two of his three seasons in the sport (2024 and 2025), totaled three sacks, seven passes defended and 33 combined tackles across 11 regular-season games last year (2025); he missed six games due to heel, shoulder and hip issues. Carter was second in the sport with six batted passes, according to Pro Football Focus. Philadelphia selected Carter with the No. 9 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, with the defensive tackle tallying two forced fumbles in 2023 and 2024, earning second-team All-Pro honors in his second year. Earlier this offseason, the Eagles extended fellow defensive tackle Jordan Davis to a three-year, $78 million deal. Last month, they traded wide receiver and three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. The Eagles are coming off an 11-6 season that saw them lose to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC wild-card round.

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Madden NFL 27 Ratings: Who Are The 10 Highest-Rated Rookies In This Year's Game?

Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza was selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, but that wasn't good enough to make him one of the 10 highest-rated rookies in "Madden NFL 27." The 10 highest-rated rookies in "Madden NFL 27" were revealed by EA Sports on Tuesday. Mendoza fell just outside the top 10 with a 74 overall player rating. Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love and Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs are among the highest-rated rookies from the 2026 NFL Draft class in "Madden NFL 27." The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys have two players each rated in the top 10. [Read more: The 100 People Who'll Shape The Upcoming NFL Season] Here are the top 10 rookies in Madden NFL 27, ranked: Offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa earned a 78 overall rating in Madden NFL 27. Mauigoa is the first of two New York Giants rookies included in the top ten overall ratings. Mauigoa started all 42 games at right tackle during a dominant three-year college career for the Miami Hurricanes. Edge rusher Malachi Lawrence received a 78 overall rating in Madden NFL 27. Lawrence is the first of two Dallas Cowboys defensive players in the top ten. Lawrence recorded 20 career sacks at UCF, making him just the 10th player in school history to do so. Selected at No. 9 overall, Spencer Fano earned a 79 overall rating in Madden NFL 27. Fano holds the highest rating among rookie offensive linemen for the Cleveland Browns. Fano won the 2025 Outland Trophy, which recognizes the nation's top offensive lineman. Defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor was selected No. 22 overall and received a 79 overall rating in Madden NFL 27. Mesidor joins the Los Angeles Chargers roster for the upcoming season. Mesidor finished his last season at Miami with 12.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles, earning first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American honors. Cornerback Mansoor Delane earned a 79 overall rating in Madden NFL 27. Delane enters the game as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs secondary. Delane recorded 45 tackles and two interceptions at LSU in 2025 following a four-interception season with Virginia Tech in 2024. Linebacker Arvell Reese received a 79 overall rating in Madden NFL 27. The New York Giants rookie is one of four players assigned a 79 overall rating. Reese recorded 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks during his final season at Ohio State, earning Big Ten Linebacker of the Year honors. Defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. earned an 80 overall rating in Madden NFL 27. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie is the fourth player in the class to reach an 80 overall rating. Bain recorded 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks at Miami in 2025, winning the Ted Hendricks Award as the top defensive end in college football. Edge rusher David Bailey received an 81 overall rating in Madden NFL 27. The New York Jets rookie holds the third-highest rating among all first-year players. Bailey recorded 14.5 sacks at Texas Tech in 2025, earning Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors and a unanimous All-American selection. Safety Caleb Downs earned an 82 overall rating in Madden NFL 27. Downs is tied with Love for the highest rating in the rookie class as he joins the Dallas Cowboys. Downs won the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott Trophy at Ohio State in 2025 after earning unanimous All-American honors. Running back Jeremiyah Love received an 82 overall rating in Madden NFL 27. Love shares the top rating among all rookies in this year's release as he begins his career with the Arizona Cardinals. Love won the 2025 Doak Walker Award at Notre Dame after rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns in his junior season.

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Brock Purdy Adapts To 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan-Less Start To Training Camp

Coach Kyle Shanahan's voice in Brock Purdy's helmet has been nearly a constant at practice during Purdy's first four seasons in the NFL. That has forced Purdy to adjust as he prepares for year five with the San Francisco 49ers with Shanahan starting training camp as a silent observer at practice rather than an active part of it following a serious car crash that left the coach with a concussion. "He’s our guy," Purdy said about Shanahan after practice on Monday. "He’s the one leading all the team meetings and stuff and going over just situational football, what practice is going to look like. He’s our leader. It has been weird in terms of not having that. But I will say I think the assistant coaches have done a good job with stepping up." As the starting quarterback, Purdy typically interacts with Shanahan as much or more than any other player on the team, whether it be at meetings or on the practice field where the coach typically calls in the play to the quarterback on a walkie-talkie. That role has been given to offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak to start camp this summer as Shanahan recovers from the concussion. Offensive line coach Chris Foerster is running the team in Shanahan's absence with help from coordinators Kubiak, Raheem Morris and Brant Boyer. Purdy said his contact with Shanahan since the car crash on July 14 has been mostly messages about Shanahan's well-being and a brief hug on the field at practice on Monday. Shanahan once again came out about midway through practice and watched alongside general manager John Lynch for the final 45 minutes. Shanahan even had to dodge an errant deep pass from Purdy to Mike Evans. "I saw it after and I was like, ‘Damn, I almost hit Kyle,’" Purdy said. "But I was mad we couldn’t complete the throw. ... Heads up coach." Purdy was able to joke about it in Monday but the emotions were much different when he first heard about it from Shanahan's wife, Mandy, shortly after the crash. Shanahan suffered a concussion, broken ribs, a broken nose and broken hand in the crash that sent him to the hospital. Purdy said he initially checked with teammate George Kittle to make sure the news was real and then focused on his coach's health. "It hurt really bad just reading that text," Purdy said. "First off, is he OK? What’s next? How is he and all that? I reached out to him and he hit me back up. Once he texted me back and stuff, I was, all right, he’s good. It’s a scary moment, because all you care about is life at that moment. Is he alive? Is he good? But after hearing Mandy and then what Kyle had said, I was like, all right, Kyle’s good. This is going to be a little process. I don’t know what the road to recovery looks like, but he’s going to be good. That’s all I cared about in that moment. I know he’s good, just seeing him talking to him and stuff. ... I have a lot of faith that he’ll bounce back quick." Rookie Romello Height Gets Hurt In Practice Rookie defensive lineman Romello Height was carted off the field after suffering cramps late in practice. Height was attended to for several minutes before being taken off the field on the cart. Four other players didn't practice after getting hurt in the first session on Sunday. Swing tackle Vederian Lowe has a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss a chunk of training camp. Receiver Christian Kirk (calf strain), rookie DL Gracen Halton (bruised knee bone) and DL Andrew Farmer (back) were also out on Monday. Cornerback Nate Hobbs returned to practice after sitting out the first session on Sunday. Reporting by the Associated Press.

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2026 NFL Preview: The 100 People Who'll Shape The Upcoming Season

Thousands upon thousands of people will have a role in how the 2026 NFL season will play out. However, only a small percentage of that group will control the storylines this fall and who'll play for the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14. Who will those people be? Well, we know that quarterbacks have the strongest influence over the final result on the field. But from star players to owners and NFL executives, there are many other people you should know about who'll shape the year ahead. So, as we say goodbye to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and begin the countdown to the start of the 2026 NFL season, here are the 100 people who'll shape the upcoming year. JUMP TO: QBs Bad Teams Are Competing To Draft Impactful Offseason Adds Impact Rookies | Breakout Candidates Intriguing New Hires | Coaches Who Must Make The PlayoffsFuture Head Coach Candidates | Power Brokers DPOY Candidates | OPOY Candidates Bounce-Back Candidates Who Will Shape The Trade Deadline The OL Who Can Win Games | Contracts On The Line 1 Celeb Who Could Impact The Season We start with the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, who led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes last year. With the Rams trading for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, there's a clear win-now push that makes their season very Super Bowl or bust, even with the defending champs in their division. Can Stafford stay healthy for another full season at age 38? That's arguably the biggest vulnerability for a Los Angeles team trying to win a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Maye was a breakout star in 2025, finishing as runner-up for both the MVP and the Super Bowl. The Patriots traded for A.J. Brown and signed Romeo Doubs, so he could easily surpass the 31 touchdown passes he had last season. Oddsmakers are expecting a step back from New England, facing a first-place schedule, so his challenge is validating his success with more of the same. If they're the team to beat in the AFC, that starts with holding off the Bills for the division title, or else the Patriots will be on the road in the playoffs. The Bills will have the NFL's first new stadium in six years, and fresh off his 30th birthday, the goal for Allen is to get playoff football games back to Buffalo. They had two thrillers on the road in 2025, winning at Jacksonville before losing in overtime at Denver. Allen's won at least one playoff game six years in a row, but lost to the Chiefs in four of those seasons. With D.J. Moore as a new weapon to throw to, can Allen get back in the MVP conversation, or lead Buffalo on a deep playoff run to show off that new stadium? It's hard to imagine a steeper two-year climb, going from journeyman backup to consecutive 14-3 seasons and a Super Bowl championship last year with Seattle. Darnold had five touchdown passes and no interceptions in the playoffs last season. Can he help the Seahawks hold off the Rams and 49ers in a stacked NFC West? Can he find the same success with a first-time coordinator as Brian Fleury takes over for Klint Kubiak? We don't have to explain how hard it is to repeat as a Super Bowl champ these days. Just how much will Mahomes be back once he's back? He's recovering from a torn ACL, but he also hasn't thrown more than 27 touchdown passes in any of the last three seasons, and the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. The Chiefs' division won't be easy, but Kansas City went 15-2 just two seasons ago, and Mahomes still has a 17-4 record in the playoffs. They'll be lurking in the Broncos' shadow (and maybe the Chargers’ as well), but if anyone can grab the NFL spotlight in a hurry, it's a healthy Mahomes. How much can a new head coach and offensive coordinator spark Jackson in his ninth NFL season? Limited by injuries, Jackson rushed for less than half as many yards in any season since his rookie year, and threw for 20 fewer touchdowns than in 2024. How much will he miss center Tyler Linderbaum, who's gone to the Raiders? A healthy, upgraded defense — welcome back, defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike — should put the Ravens in a better position to play with the lead and control the game on the ground. Could Williams possibly match last year's remarkable total of seven fourth-quarter comebacks? Williams' growth under Ben Johnson last year was impressive — of 47 quarterbacks ever to throw at least 800 passes in their first two NFL seasons, Williams had the fewest interceptions with just 13, four less than anyone else. Chicago has a young group of receivers and tight ends to throw to, including two rookies in receiver Zavion Thomas and tight end Sam Roush. Good chance he's the first Bears quarterback to throw 30 touchdown passes in a season. Is this the year Herbert breaks through with playoff relevance? He's played six seasons, has a quarter-billion-dollar contract to show for it, but is 0-3 in the playoffs with two total touchdown passes. He has no excuse this year, with Mike McDaniel in as coordinator and a revamped, healthy offensive line — both are huge boosts after a struggle in 2025. If Herbert wants to be seen among the elite under-30 quarterbacks in the league, he has to find a way to lead his team in January as other young quarterbacks have been able to do. Is there a more polarizing quarterback among his own fans? Hurts has one Super Bowl MVP and scored four touchdowns in another Super Bowl, and yet, he's the target for much of the Eagles' offensive issues. Another new offensive coordinator is in place with Sean Mannion — A.J. Brown is gone to the Patriots and the Eagles upgraded their depth by adding rookie Makai Lemon and veterans Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown. He set a career high with 25 passing touchdowns last year and could top that again in 2026. Three straight years without making the playoffs? Seems impossible, but that's Burrow and the Bengals, scuttled by a terrible defense. Burrow was also limited to eight games by injury last year. Can he get back to his prolific 2024 form, throwing for a league-best 43 touchdowns? Adding Dexter Lawrence will help that defense, but Cincinnati will still have to score in the 30s to beat good opponents. In the last two seasons, the Bengals have four games scoring 38-plus points and losing; the rest of the NFL has five such games, total. A fractured ankle kept Nix out of the AFC Championship Game, where a 10-7 loss ended Denver's season. Who knows how things change if he's healthy in that game. Nix threw more passes (612) than any quarterback in the NFL last year, but he finished 26th in passer rating with 25 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Still, Nix had impressive moments, leading the league in game-winning drives (seven). Denver added receiver Jaylen Waddle, giving Nix another top target, but with not many other additions. The Broncos will be hard-pressed to repeat their 14-3 record last season, and it’ll be on Nix to ensure that they remain a contender. The storyline for Purdy is the same as his team — staying healthy is a huge must for any success in 2026. Purdy was limited to eight games by toe and shoulder injuries last year and still threw for 20 touchdowns. Add a future Hall of Famer in receiver Mike Evans, and the 49ers are part of the best three-wide division race in the NFL, lurking behind the Seahawks and Rams. Purdy has won in Seattle in each of the last two seasons, but now has a $265 million contract and the high expectations that come with that. The Packers added almost nothing on offense and lost receivers Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, as if hoping a healthy Micah Parsons (eventually), an upgraded defense and Love can help them compete in a tough division. Love didn’t have the most amazing stats last season, throwing 23 touchdowns against six picks. But Green Bay scored 27 or more points nine times in its 9-3-1 start before scoring 27 or fewer in a five-game losing streak to end its 2025 season. Love will lean on a healthy Tucker Kraft and hope that Matthew Golden can take a big step in his second season. Prescott needs six touchdown passes to surpass Tony Romo for the Cowboys career record, and 12 wins to pass Troy Aikman for the Dallas record for a starting quarterback. The latter is what his legacy in Dallas hinges on — can he, with a record $60 million a year contract, be the guy to get Dallas to a conference championship to end a 30-year drought? He's 33, has two elite receivers in George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, and with luck, an improved defense. The big question: can he improve on a 2-5 career playoff record? Does Rodgers have one great season left in him at age 42? Rodgers hasn't made a Pro Bowl since 2021, hasn't won a playoff game since 2020, and this looks to be his last shot, back full circle with Mike McCarthy. He's averaged 26 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in his last three full seasons as a starter, not bad but not close to his prime. Pittsburgh has lost its last seven playoff games, so he'll either get to go out ending that streak, or finish a first-ballot Hall of Fame career with four wandering years for largely irrelevant teams. Detroit had a top-five offense last year in points, yards and a few other key stats, but it went 9-8 and missed the playoffs. Goff had 34 touchdowns against only eight interceptions, and he'll have a new offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing with a chance to get the Lions closer to their 15-2 record in 2024. The Lions' amazing 2023 draft class is getting very expensive very quickly, so there's a limited window to win with Goff ($53 million a year) before his supporting cast makes it hard to keep the depth you need to win at a high level. Manning — the nephew of Peyton and Eli and grandson of Archie Manning — will likely play his final season of college football at Texas this fall, and he enters the college football season as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2027. Several teams expected to struggle this fall, including the Cardinals and Dolphins, will be at the top of the draft and in need of a quarterback. Will Manning live up to the hype in 2026 after an underwhelming 2025? If he does, it'll make it easier for teams to accept losing down the homestretch. Moore was expected to be a top pick in the 2026 draft before his surprise decision to return to the Ducks. They'll be among the favorites to win the national title, especially as they get a quarterback of Moore’s talent back in the mix. Moore threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in his first year starting at Oregon, completing 72% of his passes. He'll have a new coordinator and lost a few key targets from last season, but keep an eye on speedy UAB transfer Iverson Hooks. If Moore can build on his 2025 success, he'll be a Heisman candidate and a potential top-five draft pick in 2027. Sayin broke out as a first-year starter in 2025, taking a talented receiving corps and completing 77% of his passes, with 32 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He'll still have Jeremiah Smith to throw to, as well as talented freshman Chris Henry Jr., so there's every expectation of continued success. Sayin's size — 6-foot-1, 208 pounds — will be a question mark, but his productivity at the highest levels of college football will keep him in the top tier of a talented 2027 quarterback draft class. It's not just giving up a first-round pick to get McDuffie from the Chiefs, as the Rams also gave him a new contract paying $31 million a year. He and Jaylen Watson are part of a new-look secondary, as the Rams remember Sam Darnold throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns to beat them in the playoffs. McDuffie could play outside and inside at nickel — with what he's making, he'll need to make a bigger impact in the turnover game than three total interceptions in his four years in Kansas City. Watch for forced fumbles, as he has eight in his four-year career. Can Hendrickson still get to the quarterback at age 31? Baltimore, having pulled out of the Maxx Crosby trade, gave Hendrickson four years and $112 million. So is he the player who had 17.5 sacks each in 2023 and 2024, or the guy who had four last year, limited to seven games by a core muscle injury. Baltimore went from 53 sacks in 2024 to just 30 last year, with no player getting more than five. Moving in the division means he gets a chance to face the Bengals twice and play a key role in which team wins the AFC North. It's not often a team deals a top-10 pick for a veteran non-quarterback, but the Bengals did that to land Lawrence, 28, from the Giants, even coming off a season with 0.5 sacks. Cincinnati ranked 30th in scoring defense and 31st in total defense, but even a modest improvement to around 20th would be enough. Pairing that with the Bengals' prolific offense to get them back in the playoffs and save head coach Zac Taylor's job. Adding Jonathan Allen and Boye Mafe to the starting front and safety Bryan Cook on the back end is a big help. You add the defending Super Bowl MVP to a franchise that's been to five Super Bowls (winning three) in the last seven years, and it's a no-brainer addition to this list. Kansas City hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Kareem Hunt in 2017, so Walker is a complement that Patrick Mahomes has largely played without in his time in Kansas City. Can that help get the Chiefs back to the playoffs? Walker's 313 rushing yards in the playoffs last year in just three games match the most any Kansas City running back has ever had in a postseason. The last time Brown got a fresh start with a new team, he went for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns, helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl. Last year was overshadowed by drama, and he finally was traded to the Patriots, where he could be a huge addition for Drake Maye. He averaged a career-low 12.9 yards per catch last season, with no catch longer than 45 yards, but should be able to add a big-play presence to New England's offense, which had only six passing plays of 40-plus yards last season, ninth-lowest in the league. One of the more surprising departures in free agency was Evans leaving the Buccaneers after 12 seasons and 108 career touchdowns. He was limited to eight games last year by hamstring and collarbone injuries, ending his streak of 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons, but now he gives the 49ers a clear-cut No. 1 receiver whose size makes him a red zone weapon. A bar trivia question that Evans could change the answer to: Who's the last 49ers receiver to catch 10 or more touchdowns in a season? It goes all the way back to 2002 and Terrell Owens. New Orleans hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Mark Ingram in 2017, and Etienne did that three times in four years in Jacksonville, so the Saints gave him $13 million a year to essentially supplant Alvin Kamara and upgrade their running game. Etienne also caught six touchdown passes last year, so he's a dual threat in the red zone. New Orleans won four straight in December last year after a 2-10 start, and the NFC South is wide-open enough that a consistent run game will go a long way toward giving the Saints a shot. Not many rookies are on this list, but Downs has a chance to do something special after falling to Dallas at No. 11 overall. The Cowboys had a historically bad defense in 2025 — giving up more than 30 points per game, the highest in the NFL and most in franchise history. Downs' presence in the secondary is just one of perhaps six new defensive starters, and one of five defensive players taken in the first four rounds. If there's a new defensive identity to have post-Micah Parsons, Downs is the kind of player who can set that tone. Las Vegas isn't likely to contend for a playoff spot in 2026, but Mendoza could put it on an upward trajectory. The Raiders were dead last in total offense and scoring offense last season, mustering only 14.2 points per game. Las Vegas still has a weak receiving corps, but it wouldn't be hard for Mendoza to exceed the 15 touchdown passes thrown each by the Giants' Jaxson Dart and the Titans' Cam Ward as rookies last year. First question: How quickly do they shift from Kirk Cousins to the rookie? No half of an NFL team may have as much change as Washington's defense, and with good reason. The Commanders gave up a league-high 384 yards per game last year, a huge part of why they flipped from 12-5 in 2024 to 5-12 in 2025. Styles went seventh overall to Washington — 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, running a 4.46 40, the kind of player you can rebuild a defense around. Inside linebacker is a devalued position across the league, but he could quickly establish himself as one of the league's best in the middle. Edge rusher is a tough position to make a splash as a rookie — when Atlanta's James Pearce had 10.5 sacks last year, he was the first rookie to get double-digit sacks in four seasons. Bailey is the first of three Jets first-round picks, with tight end Kenyon Sadiq and receiver Omar Cooper, and the one poised to make the biggest impact. New York will do well to stay ahead of Miami in the AFC East, but as it looks to become a contender down the road, Bailey is the kind of defensive star you can build around. How can Arizona do anything to define the 2026 NFL season, you ask? The Cardinals are fourth in the toughest division in the league, but if they're going to upset the Seahawks, Rams or 49ers, they'll need a big impact from the third overall pick in this draft. Love might be the non-factor that Ashton Jeanty was with the Raiders last year, but with perhaps the worst QB room in the NFL, first-year coach Mike LaFleur will lean on his run game and a retooled offensive line. Love will need an impact season to justify being picked so high. Remember the excitement surrounding Carter as a rookie? The third overall pick in last year's draft managed only four sacks as a rookie, but now has a chance to make a leap in Year 2 as part of a loaded defensive front that also includes Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and rookie Arvell Reese. Can new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson get more from a unit that was second-worst against the run in the NFL? If the Giants are to contend in the NFC East, they need to make even more progress on defense than they do on offense. From Week 8 through the end of the 2025 regular season, 33 NFL running backs had 100-plus carries, and Henderson had the second-most yards per carry out of that group (5.5), behind only Miami's De'Von Achane. New England found a potent 1-2 punch in the ground game with Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson, and that will be the case again in 2026. It's always tougher to run in the playoffs, and Henderson was held in check, totaling 76 rushing yards on 2.5 yards per carry in four games, but he could be a much bigger presence in this year's postseason. Dart made headlines off the field during the offseason, but he has a chance to build on a strong rookie season, with so much improved around him, from John Harbaugh as head coach to getting Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo healthy to adding pieces like Isaiah Likely and a ton of veteran receivers. Dart had 15 touchdown passes against only five interceptions as a rookie, plus another nine rushing touchdowns. His profile can rise the fastest by turning losses into wins and helping the Giants compete in the NFC East. Jeanty has to be better than he was last year, right? Remember how electric Jeanty was at Boise State in 2024? He rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns, then was ordinary as a Raiders rookie, rushing for 975 yards and five rushing touchdowns. Can new coach Klint Kubiak help him realize his big-play potential? A heavy dose of Jeanty is an easy way to make Mendoza's rookie year less overwhelming — the Raiders are almost assured to be last in the AFC West, but they can take a big step forward from 3-14 in 2025. Hampton was limited by injuries to eight games as a rookie, and he stands to benefit from the Chargers' offensive upgrades as much as anyone. To be a primary weapon in a Mike McDaniel offense makes him a fantasy sleeper and potential breakout star, playing behind a much-improved offensive line. He'll be more involved in the pass game and utilized like De'Von Achane was in Miami. Hampton is a microcosm for the Chargers — if he can just stay healthy, he can exceed all kinds of expectations this coming season. The Titans were a bad team last year, finishing in the bottom three in points, total yards, rushing yards, passing yards and third-down conversions. But Ward's finish was a reason for hope — after seven touchdowns and six interceptions in his first 12 NFL games, he had eight touchdowns against one pick in his final five starts. Add top rookie Carnell Tate and free agent Wan'Dale Robinson at wide receiver, and you should have a better offense in 2026 with Brian Daboll calling the offense. Not a playoff team, but much closer to being one. For all the excitement around Hunter as a rare two-way player, his rookie year was a dud, with one touchdown catch and no interceptions before a knee injury ended his season after seven games. Can the former No. 2 overall pick get at least comfortable on defense and become a playmaker there? The Jaguars had more losses than additions in the offseason, so they're trusting returning players to improve if they expect to match a surprising 13-4 record in 2025. Any impact on offense would feel like a bonus at this point. If only the Saints had given Shough the keys in Week 1 last year. Instead, they were 1-8 when he took over as starter, and he went 5-4. Throwing 10 touchdown passes in nine games (rushing for three more) isn't amazing, but an offense that scored 20-plus points just twice in the first 12 games did so in four straight games, and won all four. Now, Shough has rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson and running back Travis Etienne, with better talent to shine in Kellen Moore's offense. Can he lead the Saints to win a wide-open NFC South in 2026? As the Giants are looking for playoff consistency that’s eluded the franchise since their last Super Bowl win, Harbaugh has been a face of consistency. However, Harbaugh set the bar so high for himself with the Ravens that he was fired after failing to reach the playoffs this past year, allowing a Giants franchise with one playoff win in the last 14 years to land him. Can a veteran staff get more from Jaxson Dart and a healthy Cam Skattebo, not to mention a loaded defensive front that now has rookie Arvell Reese, second-year pro Abdul Carter and Brian Burns? Can they be a factor in the NFC East? As first-year head coaching opportunities go, Jesse Minter has a strong one, taking over a veteran team that just missed the playoffs with a former MVP at quarterback. The Ravens have been good-not-great for a long time, consistently getting to the postseason but not winning more than one playoff game in any season since their Super Bowl championship in 2012. Changing that in a first year as head coach isn't easy, but two solid coordinators (Declan Doyle on offense and Anthony Weaver on defense) will help him try to pull it off in 2026. The NFL rarely promotes to replace a fired coach, but Buffalo did just that, moving on from Sean McDermott after seven straight years with at least 10 wins. Joe Brady built a top-five offense around Josh Allen and James Cook and should have the same again, with new coordinator Jim Leonhard on board to try to improve the defense. The Bills had won five straight division titles before last season, so with the excitement of opening a new stadium, the key goals start with getting back ahead of the Patriots to host a home playoff game. Macdonald has 24 wins and a Super Bowl championship in his first two years as a head coach, and while the Seahawks took some hits in free agency, the best story in the NFL might be the three-way battle for the NFC West title. Seattle went 2-2 against San Francisco and Los Angeles in the regular season last year, then swept them in the playoffs. How well can the Seahawks fare with targets on their back all season as defending champs? This was the NFL's No. 1 defense and No. 3 offense last year, so don't overlook their balance and talent. Can the Bears improve on a breakout first year under Johnson? They went 11-6, won the NFC North and got their first playoff win in 15 years as Johnson brought out the best in second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. Chicago had so many last-second and comeback victories that it seems difficult to repeat, but emerging young talent like receiver Luther Burden and tight end Colston Loveland could improve what was already a top-five passing attack. Can his defense come close to leading the NFL in takeaways again? A tumultuous offseason put Vrabel in constant headlines, going from a Super Bowl appearance in February to having to step away from the team during the NFL Draft because of an off-the-field scandal. Getting back to football will help him push that away from the spotlight, but a first-place schedule has expectations down for New England, tied for the sixth-best odds to win the Super Bowl. A rematch with Seattle to open the 2026 NFL season will set the tone for what's ahead. McVay is eight wins away from recording 100 for his career, doing so by the age of 40, but his 2026 looks like a Super Bowl or bust season, given the investments to trade for elite players like edge rusher Myles Garrett and corner Trent McDuffie. Los Angeles' two losses to Seattle came by one point in overtime and four points in the NFC Championship Game — reversing those could be as simple as winning the NFC West and making sure a rematch with Seattle is played in Los Angeles, perhaps setting up home-field advantage in the Super Bowl in February. What Shanahan did last year to squeeze 12 wins out of an injury-depleted 49ers roster was commendable, and San Francisco added significant pieces — receiver Mike Evans among them — to try to keep up in the NFC West. However, the 49ers managed only three and six points in losses to the Seahawks in Week 18 and in the playoffs, respectively, and the defense lost Robert Saleh to the Titans job. If they're healthy, the 49ers will definitely be a contender in the division and for a championship, as part of a three-wide battle in the NFC West all season. The Chargers have gone 11-6 in each of Jim Harbaugh's two seasons in Los Angeles, but lost in the wild-card round both seasons while scoring 12 and 3 points. Adding offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will help, as will having two healthy tackles and a revamped interior on the offensive line. If the Chargers are a real contender, you'll know it from this daunting stretch from Weeks 3-10: at Bills, at Seahawks, vs. Broncos, at Chiefs, at Rams, vs. Texans, at Ravens. If they stay healthy, they should emerge as a strong team. Did a dynasty end last year when Kansas City missed the playoffs, or is that just a fluke fueled by injuries? The Chiefs won nine straight division titles with five Super Bowls and three championships in seven years. Will Patrick Mahomes get back to his elite self? Does Travis Kelce have one more big year left in him as he turns 37? Can a retooled secondary, including rookie corner Mansoor Delane, get the Chiefs back in the playoffs? Andy Reid and the Chiefs have a chance to be the NFL's big comeback story in 2026. Even-numbered years suit Sirianni, who led the Eagles to the Super Bowl in the 2022 season and then won in the 2024 season. He's 0-3 in the playoffs in odd-numbered years, but here we are in 2026. Can his fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons (Sean Mannion) find the right chemistry with Jalen Hurts? Philadelphia ranked 24th in total offense last year, but a slew of new weapons in the passing game and a healthy Lane Johnson should help that. Can they make it three straight NFC East titles? Coen's first year was a wild success for Jacksonville, going 13-4 and winning a division title, even though the Jaguars lost in the wild-card round. Few teams stood pat as much as Jacksonville did, quiet in free agency and without its top draft picks — you could argue it didn't add a new starter in the offseason. Can Trevor Lawrence continue to grow and improve in Coen's second year? Can Travis Hunter be the impact player Jacksonville drafted him to be — on defense at least? Keeping up with Houston won't be easy. Two playoff wins in 2023, then a 15-2 regular season in 2024, but Detroit is just 9-9 since then, including the playoffs. Losing Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn in the same offseason will do that to a franchise. Can Drew Petzing get more from Jared Goff and the offense? Can they overcome the arrest and subsequent release of cornerback Terrion Arnold, taking away a former first-round pick for at least part of the season? The NFC North will be a four-wide battle, perhaps for only two playoff spots, so a healthy Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph could help the Lions return to the postseason. There are 36 new coordinators across the NFL, including 21 on offense. McDaniel is the most intriguing of the group, signing on to work with Justin Herbert and help get him his first career playoff win. Los Angeles went 11-6 last year, although its offense ranked 20th in scoring and 18th in passing yards, so McDaniel will try to get more out of a revamped interior offensive line. Second-year running back Omarion Hampton could have a monster season ahead, and watch out for speedy rookie Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson to complement its returning options. The London-born Durde enters his third year running Seattle's defense, underappreciated for his role in their championship run. The Seahawks won the Super Bowl while committing the second-most turnovers in the NFL last year, thanks to a defense that was No. 1 in points allowed and the league's toughest on third downs. If the Seahawks can repeat that dominance after losing a few key pieces in free agency (Boye Mafe, Tariq Woolen, Coby Bryant), then Durde will be a top head coaching candidate in the 2027 hiring cycle. Parker, 34, has arguably the NFL's biggest challenge, taking over a Dallas defense that was the only unit in the NFL to give up 30 points a game last year. He helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl two years ago, but is a first-time coordinator with all sorts of new pieces to work with. Can safety Caleb Downs make an immediate impact? Can edge rusher Rashan Gary and safety Jalen Thompson help forge a new identity? Parker must try to settle in and find himself faster than the three new offensive coordinators he'll face in the NFC East. Running Sean McVay's offense has been a stepping stone to head coaching jobs — Matt LaFleur, Kevin O'Connell, Liam Coen and Mike LaFleur all took that path. Scheelhaase, 35, was a hot candidate a year ago without ever being an NFL coordinator, but stayed in Los Angeles for a high-profile promotion. The Rams may have zero new starters on offense, so he's tasked with sustaining an elite level — No. 1 in points and total yards last year — and coming through in the playoffs with nothing short of Super Bowl expectations. August will mark 20 years for Goodell as NFL commissioner, just the third person to hold the job since 1960, following Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue. His tenure has been marked by incredible growth and success for the league, ramping up billion-dollar TV contracts and extending the NFL's lead as the most popular American sports league. The NFL is now at more than $23 billion a year, setting the standard for pro franchise values. What will be Goodell's next major move — 18 games for all teams or 16 international games each year? Mulugheta has more than 40 NFL clients as part of Athletes First, which has an NFL portfolio of roughly $4 billion in current NFL contracts. He has 13 players making $20 million a year or more, and the biggest clients include Packers quarterback Jordan Love and Green Bay outside linebacker Micah Parsons, with Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud among those who could be in line for major paydays during or after the season. With a few major agencies centralizing the NFL's biggest players, Mulugheta's a powerful part of the league. O'Reilly oversees the NFL's international development, growing rapidly every year and up to nine games for 2026. The league will add high-profile games in Melbourne and Paris, will return to Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Munich and have three more games in London. The eventual plan is to have 16 international games every year — one for every team — as the league seeks a global product and works to find the best way to implement that without taxing teams with unusual travel during the season. Japan and Scotland could be next, and having these games run smoothly is crucial to the continued growth. Tretter stepped into a difficult situation and has major issues on his plate, perhaps not realizing change during the 2026 season but still at the forefront of any talk of the NFL's future. Should the players embrace adding an 18th game each year, and what can they get as a concession for that? How will the NFL's increasing international footprint change the complexity of scheduling each year? Will they push back against the league's expansion into other days of the week? How will they navigate gambling issues amid the league's prominent relationship with gambling sites? Even if it isn't in 2026, he'll steer the NFLPA through major changes in the near future. Fanatics is a merchandise giant, working with the NFL as the league's official e-commerce partner, which means designing, manufacturing and distributing merchandise as well as handling online sales for 29 of the league's 32 teams. The league announced an expansion of its partnership in April, making Fanatics the on-site retailer at major NFL events ranging from the Super Bowl to the NFL Draft and the league's many international games. If you're buying NFL apparel as millions do, you're likely dealing with Fanatics. The NFL avoided a work stoppage in ratifying a new CBA for its officials, covering the next seven years, and new changes will include the creation of a 12-official "practice squad" to work with existing crews and be available for elevation to work NFL games. Officiating and replay will always be part of the NFL storyline, and the new CBA will allow for greater evaluation to be used in the selection of officials for playoff games and less on seniority. Fewell and NFLRA president Carl Cheffers want as few negative headlines as possible. Garrett set the NFL single-season sack record with 23 last year, and a monster trade sent him to the Rams, reinforcing them as Super Bowl favorites. The league's Defensive Player of the Year had one playoff win in nine seasons in Cleveland, so he'll immediately have a chance to show what he can do on a strong contender. Garrett's already at 125.5 career sacks and only 30 years old, so if he stays healthy, you can start talking about him challenging Bruce Smith's NFL career record of 200 by the 2029 season. Hamilton is only 25 and already has three Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro nods, and now he has a defensive-minded head coach in Jesse Minter. Can Baltimore stay healthy and be a more consistent unit on defense? The Ravens gave up 37 or more points four times last year, after only two such games against them total in the previous three seasons. An improved defensive front will free up Hamilton to be more like his breakout 2023 season, when he had four interceptions and 10 tackles for loss. Last season was a resounding return for Hutchinson after missing most of 2024 with injury, recording a career-best 14.5 sacks and as many forced fumbles (4) as he'd totaled in his first three seasons. His new deal pays him $45 million a year, and as Detroit works to get back to the playoffs in a super-tough division, he'll need to be at the top of his game. Much of the Lions' pass-rush depth is new, from rookie Derrick Moore to journeyman reserves like Peyton Turner and D.J. Wonnum. Anderson is yet to have more than 12 sacks in a season, but at 24, he's already the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history, getting $50 million a year on a new extension. Houston had the NFL's No. 1 total defense and No. 2 in points allowed, and that starts with Anderson and Danielle Hunter up front. The Texans have won a playoff game in each of Anderson's three NFL seasons and if they're to get beyond that this season, he and that defense will lead the charge. Watt has made eight straight Pro Bowls, but finished third on his own team in sacks last season with seven. At 31, he's making $41 million a year with the next two years fully guaranteed, so he's front and center leading the Steelers' defense with a new head coach and coordinator. Can Pittsburgh get back to a top-10 defense to stay ahead of Baltimore and Cincinnati? Having a winning season every year is remarkable, but the Steelers' last playoff win was in the 2016 season, the year before Watt was drafted. Can he help change that? Who is the best corner in the NFL? Stingley has a chance to make his case in 2026 to show he's worth the massive $30 million-a-year extension he got from the Texans. Houston has the best defense in the NFL, but that's usually credited to Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter up front. Stingley has at least four interceptions in each of the last three seasons — no other player in the NFL can boast that. Still only 25, coming off back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods, he can show he's elite by helping the defense carry the Texans in 2026. DeJean is still only 23 as he enters his third season, coming off a first-team All-Pro nod as part of a top-five Eagles defense. Philadelphia added a few new pieces — edge Jonathan Greenard and corner Tariq Woolen — and held its last 12 opponents to 24 points or fewer. DeJean played everywhere in the secondary last year, but is likely set now as a safety in base defense and inside in nickel, still showing his versatility while staying as an every-down playmaker, a key movable piece in Vic Fangio's scheme. Denver went 14-3 last year and had the AFC's top seed, led by a defense that was third in points allowed and second in yards. How do the Broncos improve on that? Takeaways. Surtain made his fourth straight Pro Bowl, but did so with only one interception, on a defense that had only 14 takeaways, tied for fourth-fewest in the league. The Broncos will have legit challenges within the division from the Chargers and Chiefs, so getting more turnovers is one way for the Broncos to hold their ground as a team to beat in the AFC. Which Seattle presence should be first on the list? "JSN" earned AP Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards, then had a massive game in the Seahawks' conference title win over the Rams. He landed a four-year, $168 million contract paying him what used to be considered elite quarterback money, so he'll need to play like the best receiver in the league to justify that. He only topped 100 receiving yards twice in his final nine games of 2025, so look for sustained success down the stretch. Gibbs will soon join the rare fraternity of $20 million a year running backs, as he well should. In three NFL seasons, he's made three Pro Bowls and averaged 13 touchdowns and nearly 1,200 rushing yards per year, as well as 60 catches. Detroit disappointed last year with a 9-8 record, but should be back as a playoff team in a difficult NFC North. Can Gibbs get back to his elite 2024 play with new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing? Will he take on an even larger role with David Montgomery off to the Texans and Isiah Pacheco as the new RB2? Cook led the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards last season, making his current four-year, $46 million extension look like a bargain as other backs top $20 million a year. He's still only 26 years old, and will have continuity with Joe Brady being promoted to head coach. And yet you'll often see him ranked outside the top five backs in fantasy football. Another year like his 2025 campaign or leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns as he did in 2024, and Cook will have a case for a new contract even with three years left on his existing deal. By on-field production, Nacua has put himself in position to challenge the biggest receiver contract in league history, having led the NFL in receptions with 129 in 2025, even while missing a game. His off-field issues have complicated that, though. Still, Nacua's averaged 120 catches per season and he'll be a central part of Matthew Stafford's passing attack as the Rams enter this season with the highest of expectations. Avoid trouble, and Nacua will be in line for $40 million a year as a highly coveted free agent if the Rams don't lock him up. McCaffrey stayed healthy for all 17 games last year, making him the glue on a 49ers team that had injuries everywhere else. He just turned 30, but is coming off 1,200 rushing yards, 100 catches and a combined 17 touchdowns. The 49ers are both a top-10 NFL team and seen as the third-best team in the NFC West. McCaffrey rushed for only 179 yards in four games against the Seahawks and Rams, but he had 31 catches in those four games, so he'll be a central part of San Francisco's bid to keep up with those two. Robinson is in line for a huge payday — $20 million a year or more — and is playing for an offensive-minded head coach for the first time in Kevin Stefanski. With quarterback in flux as Michael Penix returns from injury and Tua Tagovailoa tries to reset himself as an NFL starter, Atlanta will want to lean on its run game. With Tyler Allgeier gone and Brian Robinson replacing him, Bijan could be in line for a larger role and one of the best fantasy options for 2026. Can he help the Falcons end their eight-year playoff drought? How vital is Taylor to the Colts' hopes of getting back to the playoffs? He led the NFL in carries last season, and no other Colts running back had 100 rushing yards. Getting Daniel Jones back healthy is a must, but Taylor's prolific play with a league-best 18 rushing touchdowns and 1,565 yards could give the Colts a real offensive balance. With the Texans and Jaguars both looking like playoff teams again, there's a limited window to catch them or this could be the end for Shane Steichen in Indianapolis. Losing Joe Burrow for half of 2025 took a big hit on Chase's production. After leading the NFL in catches, yards and touchdowns for a rare Triple Crown in 2024, he had 296 fewer yards on 10 more targets, with half as many touchdowns. Can a healthy Burrow get Chase back to elite play as he seeks a sixth Pro Bowl in as many seasons? The Bengals' defense is still a major concern, and if the plan is to try to outscore opponents again, that will mean plenty of Chase, who led the NFL with 185 targets last season. Still going strong at 32, Henry is coming off a 1,595-yard season with 16 rushing touchdowns. If he puts up another season like that, he'll move from 10th to sixth in career rushing yards and from fourth to third in touchdowns. All this with a new coach and coordinator and a challenge to get Baltimore ahead of Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in a tough AFC North. No player 32 or older has rushed for even 1,200 yards in the last 40 years, so Henry has a chance to reset the mark for running backs over the age of 30. Of all the incredible stats in the 2025 NFL season, few are more unbelievable than Jefferson playing an entire season and finishing with two touchdowns. Can he do for Kyler Murray what he did for Sam Darnold in 2024? Can the Vikings be closer to their 14-win dominance in 2024, or the disappointment of 9-8 last season? Jefferson is still only 27, but still seeking his first NFL playoff win. Minnesota’s offseason signing of Jauan Jennings to him and Jordan Addison gives the Vikings one of the league's best wide receiving trios. It's wild to think the 49ers went 12-5 and won a playoff game while getting only six games from their best defensive player, with Warner lost to a fractured ankle. His healthy return — along with the return of linebacker Dre Greenlaw and the acquisition of defensive tackle Osa Odighizua — should elevate the defense, which now has Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator as well. San Francisco should return to having a top-10 defense, which they'll need to keep up with the Rams and Seahawks offenses. How long before Parsons is able to return from the ACL injury that cut his 2025 season short? He'll miss at least the first month of the year and potentially more as he’ll get placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Having Parsons healthy for the playoffs will be crucial for Green Bay's defense (if it makes it there), which is now led by Jonathan Gannon after Jeff Hafley got Miami’s head coaching job. Lots of new looks in the Packers' front, from linebacker Zaire Franklin to defensive lineman Javon Hargreaves and rookie nose tackle Chris McClellan. Will Parsons play enough games to extend his double-digit sack streak? Jones was the surprise star of the first half of 2025, leading the Colts to a 7-1 start, throwing for 13 touchdown passes against only three interceptions. Then, right after the Colts began to struggle, Jones tore his Achilles tendon. He still got a two-year, $88 million contract, which shows the team's full confidence that he can get back to where he was. Can Shane Steichen survive a fourth year without making the playoffs? He's 25-26 in three seasons, so Jones needs steady play to keep the Colts competing with the Jaguars and Texans. A calf injury scuttled what looked like an all-in move by the Colts last year, giving up two first-round picks to land a 24-year-old All-Pro corner. Having Sauce and Daniel Jones healthy in 2026 gives the Colts a chance to show how they can compete with the Texans and Jaguars in a division that will likely produce only two playoff teams. Gardner is making $30 million a year, so he must stay healthy and step up as a leader as the Colts try to improve on a defense that ranked 31st against the pass and 26th on third downs. Everything about the Eagles' offense took a step back last year, and while quarterback Jalen Hurts takes the brunt of that, Barkley went from 2,000 rushing yards and 5.8 yards a carry to 1,140 and a 4.1-yard average, a huge decline. With a new coordinator and offensive line coach, can Philadelphia's run game get back to its 2024 dominance? The line returns intact and just needs to stay healthy. Philadelphia plays the entire NFC West in 2026, including Seattle and San Francisco in the final four weeks, setting up playoff previews. It's easy to forget how good Daniels was as a rookie, going 12-5 and leading the Commanders to two playoff wins before a humbling loss in the NFC Championship Game. Last year he was limited by injury to seven games, winning only two of those. An overhauled defense might have seven new starters, and it needed one after taking a step back in 2025. If Daniels can get back to his rookie form — 31 total touchdowns — he can help Washington contend in a deep NFC East race. Another year of struggle, though, and Daniels could have a new coach in 2027. Hill played only four games for the Dolphins before a significant knee injury, so now he's a free agent with an unknown timetable to return healthy. At 32, can he get back to anything close to his 2023 form, when he led the NFL with 1,799 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns? Hill made the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight NFL seasons, and won't cost nearly as much as his last contract, so one team will take a gamble on whether he can be healthy in the second half of 2026 and into the playoffs. As big swings go, it's hard to surpass trading a first-round pick and young star to land the reigning Defensive Player of the Year to pair with your returning MVP. Landing Myles Garrett came after the Rams gave up a first-rounder to land Trent McDuffie (and give him a huge contract) to set up the Rams as the favorite for this year's Super Bowl, which will be played in Los Angeles. This year's NFC West is an absolute crucible, and the Rams have added more and more talent to help them keep up with Seattle. Does that yield a ring? Will Snead make another big swing during the deadline this year, like he did when the Rams landed Von Miller in 2021? The blockbuster trade that wasn't saw Crosby dealt to the Ravens, only to have Baltimore nix the trade due to medical concerns. If Crosby can show in the first half of 2026 that his knee is fine, and he's still an elite pass-rusher, will Las Vegas trade him at the deadline? There's a limited window for the Raiders to show they can win and keep him, or else he's gone, and they have a 2027 first-rounder and more to help in their rebuild. Crosby's 90 tackles for loss over the last four seasons match the most in the NFL, and he's still only 28. Philadelphia has been to two Super Bowls in the last four years, but also has two first-round exits, and Roseman is revered as one of, if not the best, GMs in the league, aggressive in trades and signings to sustain their success. This offseason, that meant trading away receiver A.J. Brown, signing corner Tariq Woolen, dealing for edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and revamping his receiver room. Can lingering chemistry issues be resolved to hold off the rest of a talented division? Will they make even more trades after a busy summer? Wait, what? Could Donald come out of retirement and add to the overload of elite talent in the Rams' locker room? Every day he doesn't come forward and shoot it down, it makes more sense. He hasn't played since 2023, and he's 35 years old now, but a smaller dose of a 70% Aaron Donald is still an upgrade, not to mention a major clubhouse confidence boost. Donald doesn't need to be the amazing player he was to help the Rams get him — and them — a second Super Bowl championship. Jones, 83, is arguably the most prominent NFL owner, speaking with reporters after every Cowboys game, with a following of fans that remains huge despite going 30 years since their last conference championship appearance. Could this be the year Dallas ends the drought? He had to trade away one superstar last year in Micah Parsons, and now faces a tough decision on keeping receiver George Pickens, knowing he's already paying quarterback Dak Prescott $60 million a year and receiver CeeDee Lamb $34 million a year. Can their defense improve enough to get the Cowboys back in the playoffs as a first step to relevance to match their popularity? Will Jones make another move in-season to potentially ensure that Dallas will contend for a Super Bowl? We have so few offensive linemen on this list, and they deserve a bigger presence. Humphrey has made four straight Pro Bowls with first-team All-Pro nods the last two years, making $18 million a year with two Super Bowl wins at age 27. Keeping Patrick Mahomes healthy and upright is all the more important as he returns from a major injury — the Chiefs line will have a chance to show off their run-blocking chops with Kenneth Walker on board in free agency. Can the Chiefs get back under 40 sacks as they had in their title years? Sewell, arguably the best right tackle in the NFL with first-team All-Pro honors the last three years, now shifts to left tackle, trying to do what Tampa Bay's Tristan Wirfs did three years ago. That puts rookie Blake Miller at right tackle, with free-agent addition Cade Mays at center in a new-look Lions line. That's a central part of the Lions staying a top-five offense and getting back to the playoffs after just missing last year at 9-8. Sewell is only 25 years old, and a successful transition to the left only adds to his Hall of Fame trajectory in Detroit. Is Young the next young QB to get a massive deal worth $50 million a year or more? Carolina is already committed to paying him $26 million on his fifth-year option in 2027, and he led the Panthers to a division title, albeit with an 8-9 record last year. The glass half full? He has more touchdown passes than Trevor Lawrence had in his first 44 NFL starts, and one fewer interception than Josh Allen had in his first 44. Building on 23 touchdown passes last year is a must if the Panthers are to repeat as a playoff team in 2026. When we last saw Stroud, he threw four interceptions in the first half of a playoff loss to the Patriots — one fewer than he threw in his entire rookie season. Houston picked up his fifth-year option for 2027, so he's in much the same boat as Bryce Young, with an extended window to show he's good for a major extension. Three new starters on the offensive line, including rookie Keylan Rutledge, could help the offense get to a better place — improving on ranking 30th in the red zone is a must. Pickens was a breakout star after getting traded from Pittsburgh, totaling 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He'll play on the franchise tag in 2026 and would be one of the most coveted free agents at any position. Can the Cowboys afford him if CeeDee Lamb is already getting $34 million a year with guaranteed money through 2027? Dallas should have an improved defense to put them in position to return to the playoffs, but owner Jerry Jones must find a way to avoid losing another young superstar along the way. Will Mayfield re-sign with Tampa Bay? He is entering the final year of a three-year, $100 million deal and in line for a healthy raise. He's on his fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons in Tampa, but if Zac Robinson can get anything close to what his close friend Liam Coen did in 2024 — 4,500 yards and 41 touchdown passes — then Mayfield will be hugely coveted in March at more than $50 million a year. Mayfield has settled in as a team leader in Tampa, so don't be surprised if he values the continuity and finds a way to re-up with the Bucs. Murray and Tua Tagovailoa are in the same boat — high draft picks who earned monster contracts but struggled consistently enough that their original teams bailed on them. So, both are on league-minimum contracts with a chance to reset their reputations. Can Murray take advantage of having Justin Jefferson in his arsenal and get Minnesota back to playoff contention? If he does, he'll still be only 29 and one of the best free-agent options for QB-needy teams not picking high enough to get the best of the 2027 draft class. With Travis Kelce back at age 36 for his 14th and likely final NFL season, how much of his new wife will we see at Chiefs games this season? Her presence was a huge story in 2023 in Kansas City's last championship season, less so over the last two seasons, but with her enormous fanbase, she has brought a new casual audience to NFL games (and perhaps some annoyance from non-fans tired of seeing her cheering Kelce on from a booth). For perspective, the NFL's official account on Instagram has 32 million followers; Swift's has 273 million. If the Chiefs get back to being the Chiefs, expect even more crossover.

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