The NFL offseason is usually a time for hope.
Each crew makes its new hires and indicators its new gamers and brings in its long-term constructing blocks within the draft, and this time of yr, everybody needs to assume that all the pieces goes to work out simply fantastic. That is the case even as soon as we get rolling into the preseason video games, as a result of there’s nonetheless time for all of the kinks to be labored out.
However after all, we all know issues do not at all times work out for the most effective. There are at all times challenges that pop up or issues that should be overcome. That is why we’re right here. We would like to check out among the largest challenges or points going through every NFL crew this upcoming season.
We started yesterday by trying on the NFC and shut issues out with the 16 AFC groups at this time.
AFC East
Buffalo Payments: Defensive again
The Payments have some uncertainty at cornerback for the time being. First-round choose Maxwell Hairston is coping with an LCL sprain. The opposite choices at that spot are retreads in outdated good friend Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson, or 2025 sixth-rounder Dorian Sturdy. That spot could be very a lot in flux alongside Christian Benford on the skin and Taron Johnson within the slot. And Buffalo actually hopes to get higher security play out of the trio of Damar Hamlin, Taylor Rapp and final yr’s second-round choose, Cole Bishop.
Miami Dolphins: Cornerback
The Dolphins had been already skinny at cornerback even earlier than they traded Jalen Ramsey. They misplaced Artie Burns for the season. They misplaced Kader Kohou for the season. They signed Mike Hilton and Jack Jones off the road early in coaching camp to supply depth, and now these guys might need important roles. Elsewhere, it is 2023 disappointment Cam Smith. Kendall Sheffield, Storm Duck and possibly 2025 fifth-rounder Jason Marshall Jr. Sheesh. There are a TON of query marks right here.
New England Patriots: Drake Maye’s supporting forged
New England put Maye in an terrible scenario final yr, plopping him into the lineup behind an terrible offensive line and with a skill-position corps that left quite a bit to be desired. Issues must be higher this season after the Pats went out and remade the offensive line (Will Campbell, Jared Wilson, Garrett Bradbury, Morgan Moses) and added Stefon Diggs, TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams to the combo at huge receiver and working again. However there are nonetheless questions on how it will all work, and whether or not the Patriots did sufficient to place Maye in higher place to succeed than he was a yr in the past.
New York Jets: Move-catchers
It is a R-O-U-G-H group of receivers and tight ends after Garrett Wilson. New York’s ostensible No. 2 huge receiver is Josh Reynolds. Sure, that Josh Reynolds. After that it is guys like Allen Lazard, who was signed primarily as a result of he is Aaron Rodgers‘ man, Tyler Johnson, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley and fourth-round choose Arian Smith. It’s a very uninspiring group. And second-round tight finish Mason Taylor is already coping with an damage. Justin Fields is not the best passer to start with, and he would not have quite a bit to work with right here.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: Secondary turnover
Baltimore seemingly does this with its defensive backfield yearly, however the stress is on as soon as once more to construct half the secondary from scratch. Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton are mainstays at this level, however after the damage to Ar’Darius Washington, first-round choose Malaki Starks should play a giant position straight away. With Brandon Stephens shifting on, there’s a gap on the nook spot throughout from final yr’s first rounder, Nate Wiggins, and it will doubtless be stuffed by Jaire Alexander or Chidobe Awuzie, whomever stays healthiest. There’s loads of expertise, however we have now to see the way it all matches collectively.
Cincinnati Bengals: D-E-F-E-N-S-E
The Bengals had one of the vital explosive offenses within the NFL final season, however they had been sitting at residence throughout the playoffs as a result of their protection was an abomination. They’re hoping that new defensive coordinator Al Golden can change some stuff there, but when they do not get Trey Hendrickson signed and within the lineup, do not get first-round choose Shemar Stewart on top of things and do not get much-improved play from a bunch of their latest draft picks, they is perhaps left on the skin trying in as soon as once more. Joe Burrow and Co. can rating 30 to 40 factors, however they should not need to do it each week simply to offer the crew even a distant probability to win.
Cleveland Browns: Quarterback play
Effectively, duh. They are saying that when you may have two quarterbacks, you actually have none. Effectively, the Browns someway have 4 quarterbacks. So actually they may have negative-one? It appears extremely doubtless that Joe Flacco will begin the yr beneath heart, however the thought of him making it by way of the complete season would not cross the scent check. We’d get seems to be at each Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders earlier than the yr is up. And there’s actually no technique to know what to anticipate right here — apart from the Browns touchdown a prime choose in subsequent yr’s draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers is, at this level, a serious query mark for whichever crew he is on. Not simply by way of the standard of his play, but in addition his willingness to truly work contained in the construction of an NFL offense. His touchdown-to-interception ratio in New York final yr is wildly deceptive with regards to how he really performed. He was short-cutting the choices throughout the system repeatedly to keep away from getting hit, spraying throws beneath or deep down the sector on a whim relatively than going by way of his progressions and discovering the correct man with whom to pepper the ball. The concept that he will be a seamless match with Arthur Smith as a result of Smith as soon as coached with Matt LaFleur is … questionable to say the least.
Each NFC crew’s largest problem in 2025: Cowboys’ run protection, Bears’ expectations and extra points
Jared Dubin
AFC South
Houston Texans: Offensive line
Houston’s offensive line undermined its whole season final yr. The group up entrance, and the dearth of a plan offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and Co. devised to account for its weaknesses, drove the Texans’ offense right into a downward spiral. C.J Stroud regarded nothing just like the comfy, assured passer he was throughout his rookie season, and nearly all the pieces went awry. The Texans made large modifications to the road, however they did not essentially herald any surefire starters. As a substitute, it is quite a lot of what ifs and maybes and hopefullys. They badly want this group to carry up in entrance of Stroud to allow them to ship on their offensive promise.
Indianapolis Colts: Quarterback play
We wrote about the Colts’ quarterback scenario the opposite day. It is regarding, to say the least. An Anthony Richardson vs. Daniel Jones quarterback competitors wasn’t all that inspiring to start with. However now Richardson dislocated his pinky and we do not know when he’ll be full power. Even at full power, he is nonetheless a serious query mark at this level. And if Jones has to start out, then what are the Colts even attempting to perform within the large image apart from doubtlessly saving Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen’s jobs with a going-nowhere wild card playoff run? It is a crew that wants Richardson to hit large, or to only hit the reset button.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Managing Travis Hunter
Hunter is probably essentially the most distinctive participant to enter the NFL in an extended rattling time. We all know he’s going to play each huge receiver and cornerback. And that is nearly all we all know. We do not know the way usually he’ll do both or each of these issues, whether or not he’ll rotate by snap or by sequence or by sport or if he’ll simply be on the market for 90-plus % of the snaps like he was in faculty. We don’t know how it will work as a result of we have not seen a participant try it on a full-time foundation in many years. And the Jags are those that need to handle this uncommon scenario.
Tennessee Titans: Cameron Ward’s supporting forged
The Titans tried to beef up the offensive line in expectation for Ward’s arrival within the draft. They signed Dan Moore Jr. and Kevin Zeitler in free company and moved JC Latham again to his pure residence on the correct facet of the road. However this was nonetheless one of many worst strains within the league final yr, in order that they’re relying on quite a lot of enchancment. And the talent place corps exterior of Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard leaves quite a bit to be desired. We have seen groups really feel fairly good about their supporting forged and have it not work out (see Caleb Williams final yr), however others with casts that regarded shaky however ended up figuring out simply fantastic (see Jayden Daniels final yr and C.J. Stroud the yr earlier than). How will issues shake out for the Titans and the No. 1 total choose?
AFC West
Denver Broncos: Run sport
Denver’s offensive line was nice in cross safety final season, checking in first in Professional Soccer Focus’ pass-blocking grades and yielding stress on solely 28.3% of Bo Nix’s dropbacks. However the group up entrance was simply okay within the run sport, and the Broncos’ steady of backs did nearly nothing with the holes that they did create. The crew introduced in two new backs in JK Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey, and so they’ll need to do quite a bit higher than final yr’s group with the intention to give Denver the extra balanced offensive assault that Sean Payton usually likes to function.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: Playmaker accidents/suspensions
This was speculated to be the yr that the Chiefs lastly acquired again to being explosive. Hell, final yr was speculated to be that yr. However accidents to Hollywood Brown after which Rashee Rice after which Isiah Pacheco robbed the Chiefs of any alternative to rediscover that component of their offense. Effectively, quick ahead to this yr and Hollywood is already banged up in camp, Rice is going through a suspension stemming from his arrest final offseason, explosive rookie working again Brashard Smith has been off form and, properly, who the heck is aware of if we’ll ever even see the Chiefs at full power and again to cooking with the kind of fuel we noticed them hit throughout Patrick Mahomes‘ first few years within the league.
Las Vegas Raiders: Defensive again
The Raiders are beginning a ton of latest defensive backs this yr. Gone are guys like Nate Hobbs and Tre’von Moehrig and Jack Jones and Jakorian Bennett. Newly arrived are Jeremy Chinn and Eric Stokes and third-round choose Darien Porter. We all know that Pete Carroll can coach up defensive backs, however we additionally realize it did not look all that fairly on the again finish down the stretch of his time with the Seahawks. With a ton of turnover and never a lot in the way in which of elite expertise, the again finish is a giant query mark right here.
Los Angeles Chargers: (Out of the blue) offensive line
That is solely now changing into one thing of a query for the Chargers, who final week misplaced star left sort out Rashawn Slater (who not too long ago signed an enormous contract extension) for the season to a serious knee damage. Now, Joe Alt will slide again throughout the offensive line to the left facet. Meaning Trey Pipkins will doubtless get the primary crack on the proper sort out job. We have seen his work at occasions over time, and it is nothing to write down residence about. Perhaps if it would not work out, Jamaree Salyer will get an opportunity, or possibly Mekhi Becton kicks exterior, Andre James performs heart and Zion Johnson strikes again to protect. Who is aware of? The purpose is there are out of the blue questions right here, when per week in the past, there weren’t.
