Graziano's bold-but-realistic predictions for all 32 NFL teams: Don't be surprised if ...
Dan GrazianoSep 2, 2026, 06:30 AM ET
- Dan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now. He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels.
I love surprises. They're my favorite part of sports. People sometimes ask if I'm upset that I got a prediction wrong, and I tend to answer no. If I knew what was going to happen ahead of time, I don't think I'd enjoy watching the games. I watch them because I know they can surprise me. I strongly believe that surprises are the main reason watching sports is fun.
However, I recognize that not everyone feels this way. Many of you like to have some ability to predict what's going to happen for, let's say, profit-related reasons? Hey, I get it. I play a ton of fantasy football, and surprises can mess with that. I understand the appeal of any information that can help put me in the best possible position to at least anticipate what's likely to happen, if not get all the way to certainty.
So every year, right before the start of the NFL season, we do this all-32 list in which I go through every team and pick out one potential surprise. This is based on the reporting I've done throughout training camp, talking to people with and around these teams and trying to figure out what the plan is for each franchise. They aren't predictions in the strictest sense. They're more tidbits that I think could signal things you might not be expecting. (They're also generally more informative for people who aren't fans of the specific team to whom they apply. I get that some people follow these teams far more closely than others, and that what might be a surprise to someone on the outside might not be to those who've been gobbling up every training camp play-by-play and news conference sound bite.)
Anyway, that's enough with the disclaimers. Enjoy these. Come back in a few months and tell me where I was right and where I was wrong. I promise I won't mind even if it's the latter. That's the fun part of the NFL season, after all.
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Don't be surprised if ... rookie safety Caleb Downs never leaves the field.
What I'm hearing: OK, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but the Cowboys believe they can use Downs in a ton of different ways. In their ideal world, he and veteran safety Jalen Thompson are interchangeable in the safety and nickel roles. Downs got a lot of work at nickel during camp, and Dallas has faith in his ability to play deep safety. The Cowboys believe in his ability to cover top receivers if that's what they need from him, and they think he will be instantly capable of communicating at a high level and helping keep things organized on the defense.
The Cowboys drafted Downs hoping they could plug and play him on defense in Year 1, and to their absolute delight, he has shown himself to be just that in every situation they've thrown at him so far. They're counting on him to handle a key role in the revitalization of their defense under new coordinator Christian Parker, and I expect him to play a ton.
New York Giants
Don't be surprised if ... tight end Isaiah Likely is a breakout star in New York.
What I'm hearing: Giants coaches light up when talking about Likely, the free agent signee who came over from Baltimore with coach John Harbaugh. They believe he'll be a real asset for Jaxson Dart as a receiver and think he can win in both man and zone coverage. And they love the way he has embraced and evolved his relationship with Dart since he has been in New York. Likely is a regular visitor to the quarterback room, and the connection he has formed with Dart on and off the field could pay major dividends. Likely is a strong candidate to be the team's second-leading receiver this season and could be even more than that if top wideout Malik Nabers needs time to get up to speed coming off his injury.
Philadelphia Eagles
Don't be surprised if ... they have the best defense in the NFL this season.
What I'm hearing: The questions on offense in Philadelphia are myriad and totally legitimate. The new coordinator, Sean Mannion, is a first-time playcaller and in just his third year as a coach at any level. Longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland's departure leaves a void, too. The Eagles also traded their best receiver to the Patriots in A.J. Brown. And on and on. Regardless, the Vic Fangio defense should be an absolute monster.
Sure, the Jonathan Greenard pec strain is a blow to the pass rush, but he shouldn't be out too long, and the Eagles expect guys such as Moro Ojomo to contribute there in the meantime. Jihaad Campbell should make an impact in his second season at linebacker, too. The secondary, fortified by the free agent addition of Riq Woolen, is ascending and already Super Bowl-tested. The interior defensive line duo of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis is a strength. And the continuity under Fangio is a big reason to believe this unit will only be better. The Eagles look like the kind of defense that can carry a transitioning offense through early-season growing pains.
Washington Commanders
Don't be surprised if ... quarterback Jayden Daniels struggles to regain his brilliant rookie-year form.
What I'm hearing: This isn't about Daniels himself. He's an absolutely awesome player, and assuming he can get through the season healthy, I expect him to perform at a high level. It's what's around him that has me concerned. He has a thin and aging group of wide receivers. He has question marks at running back. And the offensive line issues, especially with left tackle Laremy Tunsil going down with a training camp injury, are too significant to overlook.
Earlier in the offseason, I was high on the Commanders' chances to rebound and contend in the NFC East. But the concerns that arose during camp are giving me pause. The fact that they have a young, first-time offensive coordinator in David Blough adds to the mystery (as, to be fair, it does with the first-time OC in Philadelphia and the first-time defensive coordinator in Dallas). There could be significant growing pains early in the season, if not longer. And even if things work out better than they look right now, Daniels' 2024 rookie season was one of the best we've ever seen. Washington could be pretty good and still not bounce back to that level.
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
Don't be surprised if ... the Bears still trade for an edge rusher.
What I'm hearing: Chicago is thin on defense, especially on the back end. But it's up front where the team is still looking for a strong edge presence opposite Montez Sweat. The Bears added veteran Marcus Davenport a couple of weeks ago, but that move doesn't appear to be working out; they let Davenport go in their initial cut down to 53 players over the weekend before bringing him back on the practice squad. Bears GM Ryan Poles has been an active and aggressive trader in his time with the team, and he'll turn over every rock he can looking for an impact player up front. The Bears' health issues on defense might be more concentrated on the back end, but improving the pass rush would help the secondary, too.
Detroit Lions
Don't be surprised if ... Jameson Williams is the team's leading receiver.
What I'm hearing: No disrespect to Amon-Ra St. Brown, one of the most consistent pass catchers in the entire league. But I think this Lions offense is going to hum this season, and Williams is the player poised to take the biggest leap. For a few years now, the coaching staff has been pushing Williams to expand his route repertoire and contribute as more than just a deep threat. And in Drew Petzing's offense, he could be poised to do just that. The Lions' schedule of opposing defenses sets up well for Williams, and if he proves himself to be a trustworthy target for Jared Goff, he could be in for a career year.
Green Bay Packers
Don't be surprised if ... MarShawn Lloyd takes the starting running back job and -- pun intended -- runs with it.
What I'm hearing: The Packers have had high hopes for the oft-injured Lloyd for a while. Josh Jacobs is opening the season on the commissioner's exempt list amid allegations of domestic violence, and his future with the team is uncertain. It seems Lloyd will get the first crack at the starting job, and the coaching staff likes what it has seen from him throughout the offseason and training camp.
Even if Jacobs is cleared to come back (and there's certainly a world in which he is not), he has no more guaranteed money left on his contract after this season, and the Packers could be transitioning at running back anyway. If Lloyd shows he can handle the job and stay healthy, he could keep the RB1 role.
0:53
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Minnesota Vikings
Don't be surprised if ... edge rusher Dallas Turner ranks among the league's sack leaders by the end of the season.
What I'm hearing: Turner, the Vikings' other first-round pick from the 2024 draft, had three sacks as a rookie and eight last season, including 6.5 in his final eight games. And in talking to people with the Vikings, it sounds like Turner has reached another gear this offseason and should be positioned to flourish in his third year in Brian Flores' defense. The Vikings need Turner to be a dominant presence off the edge, and during the offseason and training camp, he has impressed teammates and coaches alike with his command of the defense and the advances he has made in technique.
While fellow 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy's long-term future with the team appears to be in question, Turner could take a big step toward securing his own future in Minnesota with a career-best season in Year 3.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
Don't be surprised if ... the Falcons are in the quarterback market again next spring.
What I'm hearing: There's still time for Michael Penix Jr. to show he can be the guy moving forward, and the fact that he was finally cleared for 11-on-11 team drills last week after an offseason of injury recovery is a good sign. But this is a new front office and coaching staff, different from the one that drafted Penix. Throughout the offseason, the sense we got was that the Falcons were leaning toward starting Tua Tagovailoa over Penix, even if both are healthy. The problem was that Tagovailoa struggled, and now Atlanta isn't sure he's the guy for this season, let alone the future.
Tagovailoa could end up having to start Week 1 just because Penix might not be fully ready, but it's clear the Falcons are uncomfortable with their QB situation. They kept backups Cooper Rush and Jack Strand over the weekend when they pared their roster to 53 players, so they have four quarterbacks on board. Again, Penix could rise above the rest. It's also possible Tagovailoa will play better than he did in the preseason. But those are only possibilities at this point, and neither seems strong enough to ward off the likelihood that Atlanta's 2027 quarterback isn't on its 2026 roster.
Carolina Panthers
Don't be surprised if ... running back Chuba Hubbard leads the team in rushing yards.
What I'm hearing: I know, it's not what fantasy managers who have been excited to draft Jonathon Brooks want to hear. But the Panthers like Hubbard a lot -- as a runner, as a locker room leader, as many things. They're excited about Brooks, but his health history means they will be extremely careful with him. He offers a lot of potential and explosiveness, but only if they can keep him on the field.
That's why, to my understanding, the plan is for Hubbard and Brooks to split carries this season. If Hubbard stays healthy, he's the one in whom they've built up more trust, so I'd expect him to be the one the Panthers lean on to try to grind out games when they have the lead. The split should be pretty close, but it would not be a surprise at all to get to the end of the season and see that Hubbard got the majority of the work.
1:11
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New Orleans Saints
Don't be surprised if ... the Saints field a top-10 rushing offense.
What I'm hearing: So much of the focus is on promising young QB Tyler Shough and the passing game. But I believe coach Kellen Moore will focus on getting the run game to where it needs to be -- especially with first-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson set to miss a good chunk of the season with a hamstring injury. The Saints made it a focal point of their offseason, signing running back Travis Etienne Jr. and guard David Edwards in free agency and then drafting tight end Oscar Delp in the third round.
Remember, Moore got this job after orchestrating an all-time great rushing offense behind Saquon Barkley as the offensive coordinator during the Eagles' Super Bowl run two years ago. Moore knows how foundational the run game is to what he wants to do offensively. And although he might not have the personnel he had in Philly a couple of years ago (who does?), he should have more tools than he had last season to make the run game go. New Orleans was 31st in the league last season at 3.7 yards per carry.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Don't be surprised if ... they vault right back to the top of the NFC South.
What I'm hearing: Sure, the Saints are the trendy pick, and Carolina won the division last season. But there was a three-way tie for first place at 8-9, and the Bucs were part of it -- which means they've finished either first or tied for first in the division five years in a row. The last year that didn't happen was Tom Brady's first season in Tampa, when the Bucs ended up winning the Super Bowl anyway.
This is a good organization -- one that's used to being underrated. The Buccaneers' injury issues last season were as bad as, if not worse than, the ones the 49ers managed. The only reason we don't talk about them is that the Bucs didn't overcome theirs to get to the playoffs the way the Niners did. Mike Evans is gone, which still seems weird, but the Buccaneers have been drafting in anticipation of that for years and have plenty of depth in the wide receiver room. Add in inevitable improved health on the offensive line and for running back Bucky Irving, plus the addition of pass-catching running back Kenny Gainwell, and the offense should be just fine with a ticked-off Baker Mayfield running it in a contract year.
On defense, the Bucs lost another stalwart in linebacker Lavonte David to retirement. But they fortified that position by signing veteran Alex Anzalone and drafting Josiah Trotter in the second round. Up front, they're incredibly excited about 2026 first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. and 2025 fourth-round pick David Walker, who was impressing everyone in the building last summer before suffering a season-ending injury early in camp. The Bucs look kind of loaded all across the roster, and assuming better injury luck this year (which almost has to happen), they should be back among the NFC contenders.
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Don't be surprised if ... edge rusher Josh Sweat gets moved before the trade deadline.
What I'm hearing: The Cardinals are telling interested teams they aren't planning to trade Sweat, and I believe that to be true. No team has won or lost any games yet. Sweat is an important part of the Cardinals' defense, and if they still plan to be competitive (as most teams do at this point), the right move is to keep him. They've already paid a $7.22 million option bonus for this year and owe him $9.78 million in base salary for the season.
However ... there certainly exists a world in which the Cardinals fall out of contention between now and the trade deadline. There have been several reports this offseason about Sweat being unhappy in Arizona and possibly wanting out. He has no guaranteed money in his contract beyond this season, and a team that hypothetically trades for him halfway through the season would have to pay him only about $5 million.
Arizona is going to continue to get calls. Though I believe the team doesn't want to trade him, I also know these things change. And if Arizona is out of it in late October and/or Sweat indicates he doesn't want to be there anymore, you'll hear his name ahead of the deadline.
Los Angeles Rams
Don't be surprised if ... Blake Corum overtakes Kyren Williams as the team's lead running back at some point this season.
What I'm hearing: The Rams were ecstatic that they were able to keep both of these backs healthy last season, and they open 2026 likely to use a similar workload split if they're able to do that again. From my conversations around this situation, I believe the Rams plan to give Corum more carries than he got last season and bring it pretty close to a 50-50 split, with Williams still nominally in the lead role to open the campaign. But if Corum keeps running the way he did in the second half of last season, and if he closes the gap the coaching staff still believes exists between him and Williams in pass protection, he could emerge as the 1A to Williams' 1B before the season ends.
There's also the future to consider. Williams is signed through 2028, though the only guaranteed money in his deal after this year is about $2.3 million in 2027. Corum, the team's third-round pick in the 2024 draft, is signed only through 2027. A big year could put him in a strong position to secure a contract extension with the Rams next spring.
San Francisco 49ers
Don't be surprised if ... De'Zhaun Stribling leads all rookie wide receivers in catches.
What I'm hearing: Yes, free agent signee Mike Evans is likely to be the team's top wide receiver (but he's already dealing with injuries in training camp). Yes, veterans Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel Sr. have put in more time with this coaching staff and in this system. And yes, Kyle Shanahan's history tells us he's reluctant to put too much faith in rookie receivers. But all of that said, someone needs to catch the ball in San Francisco, and Stribling has been doing a lot of that in camp and the preseason.
The first pick of the second round of this year's draft, Stribling has a chance to make an impact as a rookie. Left tackle Trent Williams told me he expects big things from Stribling right away -- that he reminds him of former 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings in terms of the variety of routes he can run but with more speed. Brock Purdy could look Stribling's way early and often, and he could be a high-volume pass catcher.
Seattle Seahawks
Don't be surprised if ... defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is the next huge Seahawks defensive star.
What I'm hearing: This would be no small feat on a defensive line that includes the likes of Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence, but the Seahawks believe their 2024 first-round pick could emerge as the most disruptive of the bunch. Murphy has a stated goal of getting to double-digit sacks this season, and he had seven last year, so it's not far-fetched. He doesn't even turn 24 years old until next week. Murphy could be in for a breakout season that results in a big contract extension once he's eligible next spring.
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
Don't be surprised if ... tight end Dalton Kincaid plays his way into a nice contract extension.
What I'm hearing: Entering his fourth season, the 2023 first-round pick has struggled to stay on the field due to various injury issues and hasn't come especially close to matching the 73 catches or 673 yards he put up in his rookie year. But people inside the Bills' building say Kincaid has looked different this offseason. In particular, the coaching staff believes he's playing with more strength and physicality as a blocker in the run game. The Bills have always seen Kincaid as a player who could function as a high-level receiving threat in their offense. But when you hear coaches talk about a tight end improving his ability as a blocker, that's the kind of thing that makes you think he has a chance to be on the field more.
Buffalo picked up Kincaid's fifth-year option for 2027, so it has some time to decide what to do with him long term. But if he can deliver a fully healthy season and if his apparent offseason improvements carry into the season, he could be in line for a big payday next spring.
Miami Dolphins
Don't be surprised if ... wideout Caleb Douglas emerges as the star of the Dolphins' receiving corps.
What I'm hearing: The third-round rookie out of Texas Tech has been a consistent performer during training camp, and there is nothing but opportunity on Miami's depth chart at WR. The Dolphins traded top wideout Jaylen Waddle, so new quarterback Malik Willis (A) needs someone to throw to and (B) has had time to get used to targeting Douglas.
Also keep an eye on the Dolphins' other third-round rookie receiver, Chris Bell, who looks to be on track to play early in the season despite of tearing an ACL last November while playing for Louisville. The Dolphins likely are a rebuilding team this season, and they're extremely young at wide receiver. That means growing pains -- but it also means a chance for young guys to get valuable reps and make a splash early.
New England Patriots
Don't be surprised if ... the offense doesn't regress.
What I'm hearing: Much has been made about New England's soft 2025 schedule, and justifiably so. But that was far more about the run of substandard quarterbacks the Patriots beat than it was about the opponent defenses. The list of opposing starting QBs in the Patriots' regular-season 2025 wins includes Tua Tagovailoa, Bryce Young, Spencer Rattler, Cam Ward, Dillon Gabriel, Michael Penix Jr., Justin Fields, Joe Flacco, Jaxson Dart, Brady Cook and Quinn Ewers. They also beat Baltimore in a game Lamar Jackson left in the second quarter because of a back injury. Other than that game (which Tyler Huntley finished), the only two teams New England beat last season that finished in the top half of the league in QBR were the Bills (to whom they also lost) and the Buccaneers.
Meanwhile, Carolina, Buffalo, New Orleans, Cleveland and Atlanta finished in the top half of the league in total defense, and the Patriots beat them all (though, again, they also lost once to the Bills). In their postseason run, the Pats beat the teams that finished fifth, first and second in total defense before ultimately losing the Super Bowl to the team that finished sixth. Drake Maye's near-MVP season wasn't the result of playing cupcake defenses. Heck, he won a game in which Myles Garrett had five sacks.
The Patriots believe they've made major improvements to the offense with the additions of wide receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. They believe they've improved the offensive line and that the young linemen who struggled in the Super Bowl will be better this year. The Pats might take a step back defensively if they don't get the kind of luck they got last season with opposing QBs, but the offense should remain excellent.
New York Jets
Don't be surprised if ... the Jets have a fun offense.
What I'm hearing: I don't know what they're going to get out of quarterback Geno Smith, but it's reasonable to think he'll be better than he was last season in Las Vegas. Several QB-needy teams were interested in him this offseason, as many around the league believed the surrounding circumstances had more to do with the Raiders' 2025 offensive failures than Smith did. This summer, the Jets saw a lot more good than bad from Smith; he formed a strong connection with No. 1 wideout Garrett Wilson and No. 2 wideout Adonai Mitchell -- a talented player the Jets believe is poised to take a massive leap.
The contract the Jets gave Breece Hall tells us what they think he can be in their offense, and they also love running back Braelon Allen behind him. They've spent high draft picks on the offensive line in recent years and should be able to get the plays blocked. I'm not saying to expect the 1999 Rams here, but the Jets could score a lot more points than you might think, and they might not be an easy team to play.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
Don't be surprised if ... rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane is more than just a training camp wonder.
What I'm hearing: Lane can't be a huge surprise anymore after the hype that surrounded him and his highlight-reel catches during training camp. But inside the Ravens building, people are extremely excited about the 6-foot-4 third-round rookie. He'll likely join Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman on the field when the team goes to three-receiver sets, and his role could expand beyond that if Bateman is subject to discipline under the NFL's personal conduct policy following his June arrest on family violence battery and other charges.
Lane has work to do on his game. The Ravens would like him to be a better separator, especially at the line of scrimmage. But they've seen improvement in key areas throughout the offseason, and his size and ability to win 50-50 balls could land him a significant role in Baltimore's offense starting right away his rookie season.
1:10
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Cincinnati Bengals
Don't be surprised if ... third-year tight end Erick All Jr. becomes a big part of the offense.
What I'm hearing: All was a fourth-round pick in 2024, but the Bengals (and others) thought he was a talented player who fell in the draft due to injury concerns. Those concerns came up again in a big way during the 2024 season, when All tore an ACL. He missed the rest of that season and the entirety of 2025. But he has been healthy this offseason and has wowed coaches and teammates throughout camp.
Drew Sample has been a solid blocking tight end for the Bengals, and Mike Gesicki has been a productive pass catcher at the position. But All has a high-level skill set in both of those areas, and if he can keep himself on the field, he has a chance to emerge as yet another key playmaker for Joe Burrow and Cincinnati's high-level passing game -- while also helping Chase Brown and the run game with his blocking ability.
Cleveland Browns
Don't be surprised if ... Cleveland's first- and second-leading receivers are rookies.
What I'm hearing: Who knows how productive this passing offense can even be, given the grim reality of the Browns' quarterback situation. But to the extent that anyone's catching passes in Cleveland, rookies Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion look like they'll be important parts of the offense right away.
Concepcion is an elusive route runner and run-after-catch guy who could frustrate defenses if Cleveland can get him the ball quickly. He was so good throughout August that he won the Maurice Bassett Award, which the Cleveland media gives annually to the Browns' top rookie performer in training camp. Meanwhile, the 6-4 Boston profiles as a traditional X receiver who can win on the boundaries with his size and physicality. Jerry Jeudy is still there, the Browns still like Isaiah Bond, and second-year tight end Harold Fannin Jr. can be used in a variety of roles. But the rookie WRs have been camp standouts, and I don't believe coach Todd Monken will hesitate to ask a lot of them right away.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Don't be surprised if ... running back Rico Dowdle posts his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season.
What I'm hearing: Dowdle's first 1,000-yard rushing season was in 2024, when he was with the Cowboys. The Cowboys' coach that year was Mike McCarthy, who is the new coach of the Steelers -- who signed Dowdle this offseason to a two-year, $12.25 million contract. McCarthy knows Dowdle can be his lead back, and my understanding is that Dowdle is more likely to get the early-down work ahead of Jaylen Warren. Dowdle had just 235 carries in 2024 and 236 last season, but he did average 20.3 carries per game over the final seven games of that 2024 season in Dallas. Prorate that over a 17-game season, and it comes out to 345 carries. I don't think McCarthy will be shy in giving him plenty of work.
As for Warren, I believe he'll have a role, and a significant one. He caught 61 passes in 2023, which is 22 more than Dowdle has ever had in a season. And remember, running back Kenny Gainwell caught 73 passes for the Steelers in 2025 and now plays for Tampa Bay. Aaron Rodgers is definitely going to want to check the ball down to a running back to avoid sacks, and Warren profiles as more of a pass-catching back than Dowdle.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
Don't be surprised if ... edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. leads the league in sacks.
What I'm hearing: Nothing but incredible things about Anderson from the Texans, as usual. This was an elite defense last season that sounds driven to be even better this year. Anderson benefits from having Danielle Hunter on the other side of the line and a Houston defense that's stacked at all three levels. Anderson had 11 sacks in the 2024 regular season, 12 more in 2025 and 3.5 in each of the past two postseasons. He looked like an unstoppable game-wrecker against the Patriots in the postseason loss.
Wednesday is his 25th birthday, so it's fair to believe he's still on the upswing in terms of his production. There is a lot working in Anderson's favor. Armed with a new contract that places him at the top of the defensive player market, Anderson isn't planning to back off any time soon.
Indianapolis Colts
Don't be surprised if ... Josh Downs is the team's top wide receiver.
What I'm hearing: Alec Pierce got all the money in free agency, but he missed a ton of offseason and training camp work recovering from ankle surgery. As a result, the Colts haven't been able to carry out their plans to expand Pierce's responsibilities and role in the offense.
Downs, who has largely been a slot receiver, seemingly stands to benefit from the departure of possession receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (who was traded to the Steelers), but the Colts also want to use him on more downfield routes this season. Downs missed some time in camp recently with a calf injury, but he was back at practice Tuesday and seems on track to be ready for Week 1.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Don't be surprised if ... hybrid player Travis Hunter is pretty close to a full-time cornerback.
What I'm hearing: The Jaguars still believe Hunter can contribute on offense in addition to defense, and he sort of has to in order to justify the move they made to get him in the 2025 draft. But Hunter is coming off a major knee injury, and the team will be cautious about his overall workload this season. He has worked a lot more at corner than wide receiver this offseason, mainly because corner is where the Jaguars have more of a need. Last year, they believed they were thinner in the wide receiver room, and Hunter got more work on offense during camp.
But with Parker Washington having emerged and the team having traded for and signed Jakobi Meyers, the receiver room has a lot of capable bodies all of a sudden. Jags coach Liam Coen has cautioned against assuming Hunter will play only defense this season. It's certainly to Jacksonville's benefit for opponents to at least wonder if they'll see him on offense. But the prediction here is that, while Hunter might evolve into more of a two-way NFL player in future years, Jacksonville will try to keep things simple for him as he works his way back from last year's season-ending injury.
Tennessee Titans
Don't be surprised if ... they're really good on defense.
What I'm hearing: New coach Robert Saleh's fortunes in Tennessee will rest on how good 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward turns out to be at quarterback. But while we're finding that out, I'm confident Saleh will field a strong defense. It's all he knows. Look at what happened to the Jets' defense after they fired him as head coach. Look at what the 49ers' defense was able to do in 2025 despite losing Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to season-ending injuries. Saleh is that good.
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons should flourish under Saleh, and the Titans brought in a number of players -- such as John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson II -- who have played for him before and know his system. They should be able to hit the ground running in the new defense and make scoring difficult for their opponents early in the season, if not right away.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
Don't be surprised if ... rookie running back Jonah Coleman helps you in your fantasy playoffs.
What I'm hearing: The Broncos believe Coleman to be a perfect fit for Sean Payton's offense. They drafted him in the fourth round this year, even after taking RJ Harvey in the second round last year and bringing back J.K. Dobbins in free agency. Dobbins will be the starting running back, but he carries a significant history of injury. The belief here is that Coleman will overtake Harvey on the depth chart early in the season and is the top choice to step in as the lead guy if Dobbins has to miss games. The Broncos see Coleman as a pro-ready pass protector whose running style is similar to that of Dobbins.
Kansas City Chiefs
Don't be surprised if ... wide receiver Xavier Worthy has a major role in the offense.
What I'm hearing: The Chiefs had major plans for Worthy in last year's offense, but you might remember he got hurt on the third play of their season when he collided with teammate Travis Kelce and suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to miss Weeks 2-3. Worthy came back and played the rest of the season wearing a brace, but the coaching staff was limited in what it could ask him to do given his condition, and many of the plans for him had to be shelved. Worthy had surgery in January to repair a torn labrum, and a team source told me the surgeon said he was amazed Worthy had been able to come back and play at all.
The 2024 first-round pick went into training camp healthy this year, and coaches say he looks incredibly fast. They also believe they can give him more types of routes than he ran last season and find creative ways to incorporate him into the offense. Rashee Rice could still end up as the team's leading receiver, but his health and off-field concerns continue to limit the Chiefs' ability to count on him. And if his tumultuous offseason -- which saw Rice serve 30 days in jail immediately following his knee surgery -- has set him back in terms of being ready for the season, there's a big opportunity for Worthy to take over as a featured guy.
Las Vegas Raiders
Don't be surprised if ... we don't see rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza start a game before November.
What I'm hearing: Coach Klint Kubiak can play it as coy as he wants, but don't be fooled: The Raiders absolutely, 100% plan to start veteran Kirk Cousins in Week 1. They have been telling people since the combine that they don't want to play Mendoza right away. Team executive and part owner Tom Brady has an influential voice in the building and has argued strongly that young quarterbacks are better off when they can sit and learn behind a veteran rather than being thrust into a starter's role right away.
The Raiders want to make sure they don't play Mendoza until he's ready -- and until they're ready for him. They have issues to sort out on their offensive line and in their unproven wide receiver corps, and while they work through those questions, they believe the veteran Cousins is better suited to solve problems that might arise as a result. Las Vegas loves Mendoza and everything he has been since he got there, but the team wants him to be able to work on the parts of his game that need improving and for him to do it without feeling any pressure to rush.
If something were to happen to Cousins and the Raiders needed to go to a backup early in the season, I wouldn't be surprised if they turned to Aidan O'Connell ahead of Mendoza.
Los Angeles Chargers
Don't be surprised if ... the offensive line is just fine.
What I'm hearing: Yes, losing starting center Tyler Biadasz to a preseason knee injury is a tough blow. As soon as he got released by Washington in March, the Chargers abandoned their plans to pursue free agent center Tyler Linderbaum and signed Biadasz instead. However, they also drafted four offensive linemen, and second-rounder Jake Slaughter looks capable of handling the starting center job. He had been competing for one of the starting guard spots, so that now is likely to go to Kayode Awosika, who has had a strong camp as well.
The loss of the starting center on a team whose most recent season was done in by season-ending injuries to its starting tackles was the last thing anyone around the Chargers wanted to see happen. But they believe they're better fortified against such issues this season due to their depth, and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's blocking schemes do a lot to mitigate protection issues as well.
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