You hear that knock on the door? It is the NFL preseason! Whereas we had a fast appetizer with the Corridor of Fame Sport, the total exhibition season kicks off this week with a full slate of contests. Not solely does this imply we’re inching ever nearer to the beginning of the common season, however we’re additionally about to get our first true glimpse of groups as they gear up for the 2025 marketing campaign. Technically, these video games do not depend when it comes to the win/loss column, however how some gamers carry out all through the following month might be telling for a way their groups will carry out when the lights activate for actual. In the meantime, the most important storylines surrounding the preseason typically do not have something to do with the video games being performed in any respect.
With primarily the whole preseason in entrance of us, we will spotlight the ten greatest storylines which can be at the moment looming over the league as we start these exhibitions. They’re going to vary from positional battles, some golf equipment merely shaking off the rust earlier than the yr and, in fact, some off-the-field drama.
10. Will James Cook dinner ink a brand new deal?
The Buffalo Bills operating again has continued to take a seat out of shape all through coaching camp, holding in as he seeks a brand new contract. Cook dinner is coming into the ultimate yr of his rookie deal, and it seems he will not take part till a brand new deal is agreed upon. Over the weekend, Cook dinner was noticed on the sector throughout Buffalo’s Sunday coaching camp session however didn’t take part as a result of what he described as “enterprise.” The 25-year-old is coming off his second-straight Professional Bowl season and piled up a league-leading 16 dashing touchdowns in 2024. He additionally rushed for 1,000 yards for the second consecutive yr and added 32 receptions on 38 targets final season. He has blossomed right into a key determine inside the Payments offense, and the longer this case goes with out a decision opens the door for Cook dinner to dig in even additional and presumably outcome on this bleeding into the common season.
9. Can the Bengals set themselves up for a quick begin?
In years previous, the Cincinnati Bengals have restricted their starters drastically all through the preseason. In an effort to get off to a sooner begin to start the common season, nevertheless, they’re altering course this summer time. Coach Zac Taylor informed reporters this week that he expects to offer the starters “a number of collection” all through the preseason, with the most important load anticipated to come back on Aug. 18 once they tackle the Washington Commanders. For reference, Joe Burrow performed a single collection within the preseason opener final summer time and tried seven passes earlier than being shut down till Week 1.
That’s anticipated to vary exponentially this time round, with the hopes that Cincinnati can keep away from one other sluggish begin to the common season. In 2024, the Bengals misplaced their first three video games of the season and had been 1-4 via Week 5, which immediately contributed to them lacking the playoffs. In 2023, they had been 1-3 over the primary month and 2-2 to start the 2022 season. With these points in thoughts, utilizing the preseason to whip themselves up into form might show to be one of many larger developments of the 2025 season if Cincinnati can come out of the gate firing on all cylinders.
These are the top 10 NFL players at every offensive position, plus teams that need preseason the most
Cody Benjamin
8. Browns QB conundrum
The Cleveland Browns QB room is crowded, however not precisely in a great way. The membership boasts Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders and Tyler Huntley on the depth chart. That is additionally not mentioning Deshaun Watson (Achilles), who’s sidelined indefinitely. Cleveland finds itself in a precarious place with this group, as Flacco, albeit at 40 years previous, probably provides them the very best probability to win video games in 2025, whereas the likes of Gabriel and Sanders present the potential of being long-term solutions on the place however might result in extra bumps early on. That presents an enchanting fork within the street for coach Kevin Stefanski. In the meantime, the room is already dinged up as Pickett and Gabriel are each recuperating from hamstring accidents. They are going to be sidelined for the preseason opener together with Flacco (veteran relaxation), in order that opens the door for Sanders to state his case early, with the Colorado product slated to get the beginning vs. Carolina.
Has there been a extra missed No. 1 total choose? It seems like Cameron Ward is flying fully underneath the radar regardless of the Miami QB being the highest choose within the 2025 NFL Draft and the clear-cut starter for the Tennessee Titans. A technique that Ward can carry his star standing much more into the nationwide limelight, nevertheless, is that if he flashes his potential all through the preseason. Whereas Tennessee is not anticipated to contend out of the gate throughout this Ward period, we have seen lowly organizations have their fortunes flipped in a single day with the arrival of the appropriate quarterback. Might Ward be that kind of expertise to hit Nashville?
Indianapolis is the place we discover one of many true quarterback competitions of the summer time, with Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones duking it out for the beginning job. Jones appeared to achieve a little bit of an edge again throughout offseason exercises as Richardson handled an harm to his throwing shoulder. Nonetheless, Richardson’s inventory does appear to be rising now that he is been in a position to get onto the sector throughout coaching camp. Indy’s former first-round choose will begin within the preseason opener in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens, and coach Shane Steichen famous that he expects Richardson to play about “1 / 4 and a half.” In the meantime, Jones is slated to play “half 1 / 4” within the opener, however is about to begin within the workforce’s second preseason game in opposition to the Packers. So, whereas Richardson will get the early nod to begin, it does seem to be this competitors is much from over. How these two carry out over these exhibitions might very nicely solidify who’s underneath heart come Week 1.
Travis Hunter is essentially the most thrilling prospect to enter the NFL this season due to his uncommon dual-threat capacity. The Heisman Trophy winner dazzled on the collegiate degree as arguably the nation’s finest vast receiver and cornerback, and he is now trying to carry his skills on each side of the ball to the NFL. Nonetheless, we do not anticipate it to be a real 50-50 break up for Hunter on each offense and protection. He’ll probably main in a single facet and minor within the different. On Jacksonville’s opening depth chart, the membership does checklist Hunter as a beginning vast receiver and a backup nook, which means that he might see extra time on the offensive facet of the ball. How first-year coach Liam Coen deploys his first-round rookie all through the preseason ought to give us a clearer image of their plans for him throughout the common season.
To me, that is essentially the most underrated story within the NFL proper now. Had the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had higher safety in entrance of Patrick Mahomes — particularly at left sort out — they may have accomplished the NFL’s first-ever three-peat final season, and we might be speaking about them presumably rattling off 4 championships in a row in 2025. Mahomes was sacked a career-high 36 instances throughout the common season in 2024 and added 11 extra all through the playoffs, together with six in Super Bowl LIX. The membership tried to solidify the blindside sort out place this offseason by choosing Ohio State sort out Josh Simmons at No. 32 total. To date this summer time, Simmons, who’s recovering from a patellar tendon harm he suffered in school, has impressed to the purpose that he could begin for the membership in Week 1. In that case, that is a monumental growth. Meaning the Chiefs really feel like they’ve answered arguably their greatest difficulty from final yr’s workforce, and Mahomes ought to have higher safety in 2025. In the event that they’re proper, it could swing the steadiness of energy within the NFL again towards Arrowhead Stadium.
The Minnesota Vikings had been one of many shock groups of 2024, bursting onto the scene with a 14-3 document. Veteran Sam Darnold was underneath heart all through that prolific run via the common season that additionally featured a playoff berth. Regardless of that success, nevertheless, Minnesota opted to let Darnold depart in free company this offseason, turning the keys to the offense over to 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy. The Michigan product was sidelined all through his rookie season as a result of a meniscus harm, however is now slated to be QB1 of this high-powered Vikings offense. McCarthy did impress throughout his transient displaying final preseason, however he actually hasn’t performed a significant snap because the Wolverines’ nationwide championship win over Washington in early January 2024. How he seems to be this preseason will give us perception into whether or not or not Minnesota can proceed its success from 2024 or if the Vikings might be in additional of a transition yr as they develop their younger quarterback.
2. Will Terry McLaurin be traded?
The Washington Commanders and Terry McLaurin have been engaged in a contract standoff all through the offseason, and issues have devolved to the purpose the place the wideout has requested a commerce. Will the Commanders truly undergo with that request, or will cooler heads prevail with the 2 sides agreeing to some form of an extension? For the time being, McLaurin is incomes $23.2 million in common annual wage. 9 receivers are making a minimum of $30 million per season, together with DK Metcalf, who fetched a cope with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason that pays him roughly $33 million yearly. That is the form of deal that McLaurin might be eyeing from the Commanders, but it surely stays to be seen if the franchise is prepared to get to that $30 million-per-year quantity. There isn’t any denying McLaurin’s manufacturing over his tenure in Washington, however as he enters his age-30 season, the dearth of a brand new deal up to now additional fuels hypothesis of a doable commerce earlier than Week 1.
1. How will the Micah Parsons scenario play out
Talking of venomous contract disputes, we head to Dallas, the place Micah Parsons has severed ties with the group as he seeks a brand new contract. Together with breaking away from the workforce, Parsons has not too long ago requested a commerce from the Cowboys as a result of poor negotiations this offseason. Cowboys proprietor/basic supervisor Jerry Jones famous that he has not spoken to Parsons because the commerce request and added that he is not confident the star pass rusher will play Week 1. Parsons has a résumé that warrants him changing into the highest-paid non-quarterback within the NFL, which might imply a deal that exceeds the one which T.J. Watt simply inked with the Pittsburgh Steelers that pays him $41 million yearly. Does Jones shell out that form of dough, or does he look to commerce the 26-year-old phenom for what could be a king’s ransom? In the event that they do, it could dramatically decrease Dallas’ ceiling defensively for 2025 and possibly even take the Cowboys out of the operating of being a dark-horse candidate within the NFC playoff image altogether.