Football's sabbatical is over. Players are reporting. Practices start in earnest.
We're on to training camp.
Camp and the preseason are where jobs are won and lost. Young players put a stamp on their future. Veterans fend off challenges from rookies. Coaches push to find the best 53 to open the season.
Battles litter training camps for all 32 clubs. Some positions lend themselves to more intriguing competitions, like at quarterback and receiver. You won't see defensive line on my list of most interesting battles, mainly because, with hefty rotations, those competitions are less impactful during camp and usually happen further down the depth chart.
With camps ramping up, I've picked through all 32 teams to highlight my top two dozen battles. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive list, but it encapsulates some of what I'll be tracking during camps and the preseason.
Aidan O'Connell vs. Gardner Minshew
This is looking like the one true veteran vs. veteran quarterback battle of 2024 training camp. O'Connell starts camp with a toenail of a head start after coach Antonio Pierce indicated he'd take the first snaps of the competition. Minshew was inked to be a bridge QB. The money and his history suggest the front office believes he can be a starter for at least a spell. If neither separates, O'Connell could get the first crack to open the season. If nothing else, the Raiders would find out exactly what they have in the former fourth-round pick.
Buffalo completely revamped the receiver corps, with Khalil Shakir being the only remaining holdover who logged significant playing time with the team in 2023. Questions abound for this group. Can Keon Coleman be a true No. 1 out of the gate? Only six second-round picks have ever passed the 1,000-yard mark in their rookie season, the last being A.J. Brown in 2019. Coleman could see enough targets to get there if everything falls right. How will the slew of veterans brought in by the Bills meld with Josh Allen? Curtis Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mack Hollins and Chase Claypool bring different skill sets. Justin Shorter, KJ Hamler and Andy Isabella are wild cards. It's an interesting mix without an obvious order.
There doesn't appear to be a clear alpha in the group. 2024 second-round pick Ladd McConkey could easily lead the Chargers in targets. How does Quentin Johnston rebound from a disastrous rookie campaign? Can Josh Palmer be more than a WR3? How much does DJ Chark, on his fourth team in three years, have left in the tank? Will Derius Davis, Brenden Rice or Cornelius Johnson carve out roles with good camp performances? It feels as if the entire passing operation outside of Justin Herbert is up in the air.
Wanya Morris vs. Kingsley Suamataia
I might have this higher than it should be. Patrick Mahomes makes his blockers better, but the uncertainty at this crucial spot on the line is stark heading into camp. Morris, a second-year pro, started four games as a rookie with mixed results, allowing 20 pressures in those tilts, with two sacks, per Pro Football Focus. Suamataia is a big man with talent, but can the No. 63 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft protect Mahomes' blind side? If neither stands out, K.C. could add a veteran here during camp.
Cornelius Lucas vs. Brandon Coleman vs. Trent Scott
The biggest question entering the season is the blocking in front of Jayden Daniels, particularly on his blind side. Lucas, an 11th-year pro, figures to have a leg up, having started 31 games in four years in D.C. He also started just four games last season on one of the worst lines in the league and appears to be a stop-gap at best. Scott could win the gig. The big question is whether Coleman, a third-round pick in April's draft, can step in from the jump and play such a key role. All three players received starting reps in 11-on-11 drills during the offseason program, a clear indicator that this job is up in the air. Ideally, Coleman proves the best option. But is riding with youth at LT ideal when there is a rookie under center?
You won't see "Steelers QB" on this list, because everything out of Pittsburgh suggests there won't be a true battle there. It appears to be Russell Wilson's job unless he falls apart. As much sense as it might make on a national level to pitch Wilson vs. Justin Fields as a camp competition -- we want to see it! -- one would have to ignore basically every beat reporter's assessment of the situation to do so. We're not going to do that here. Instead, we can highlight the much-anticipated WR2 battle that could decide the pecking order between rookie Roman Wilson, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin, Quez Watkins and Scotty Miller. There figure to be a lot of targets up for grabs. Is it too much to ask Wilson, a third-round pick who did not log a ton of volume at Michigan, to take on a massive role off the bat?
Jordan Morgan vs. Sean Rhyan vs. Jacob Monk
The big question is whether the Packers' staff wants to get Morgan, a first-round pick, onto the field early in his rookie season, or if they're comfortable with him as a swing tackle with future plans to be a starter. If Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker are healthy, the easiest path to playing time for Morgan is at right guard, in which case Morgan would battle with Rhyan for the starting gig. Toss Monk, a rookie drafted in the fifth round, into the competition, as well.
Carolina spent the offseason stocking up a backfield that the previous administration already poured resources into. 2021 fourth-rounder Chuba Hubbard outplayed free-agent acquisition Miles Sanders last year. The new brass (general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales) drafted Jonathon Brooks in the second round. Usually, rookies who were drafted early and are working with a new staff get an advantage, something that seems to be particularly true when it comes to running backs. Brooks should get a shot to earn the starting gig during camp and preseason. The Panthers also added wild card Rashaad Penny, who never found traction in Philly last year, and veteran Mike Boone. It's a crowded group that will surely see pruning.
The tackle spots aren't set in stone, but the expectation is that rookie Taliese Fuaga starts at one, and former first-rounder Trevor Penning gets every chance to earn a job, with Ryan Ramczyk being out for the season. Which side Fuaga and Penning ultimately end up on remains to be seen. The key question mark is left guard. Options include: second-year pro Nick Saldiveri, who played just 16 offensive snaps last year; Shane Lemieux, who recorded six starts over the past three years; Oli Udoh, who's made two starts the past two years; and Lucas Patrick, who started 15 games last year at center. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is installing his offense, and how the O-line spots pan out will go a long way toward determining the scheme's success.
Bo Nix vs. Jarrett Stidham vs. Zach Wilson
Let's run through the rookies battling for signal-caller jobs during camp. In light of how much Sean Payton has gushed about Nix since the draft, it seems likely the rookie wins the gig. Still, the Broncos split first-team reps this offseason, meaning Stidham has a shot to open the season as the starter, given his familiarity with Payton's scheme. If it's close, the rookie gets the nod. Finding out what they have in Nix should be paramount in a rebuilding year in Denver.
Jacoby Brissett vs. Drake Maye
Maye moved up to the No. 2 spot during minicamp, giving him a slight chance to unseat Brissett. Slight. Odds remain in favor of the Pats beginning the season with Brissett under center before transitioning to their QB of the future. However, we've seen rookies shine during camp and the preseason, forcing the coaching staff to change plans on the fly. Maye's preseason appearances should be some of the most hotly anticipated.
Kevin O'Connell made it clear Darnold is in the driver's seat for the starting gig. Nothing that happened during offseason workouts indicated McCarthy has more than a puncher's chance to win the Week 1 job. Still, the rookie QB is worth tracking during camp as he attempts to overtake Nick Mullens for the backup role. It's really a McCarthy versus McCarthy competition to see how much the rookie develops in the system over the next month.
Gus Edwards vs. J.K. Dobbins vs. Kimani Vidal
We're back to Los Angeles, where the backfield pecking order is worth watching. Edwards is in line to start, but he has never been a high-volume runner. Dobbins is more talented, but health is the biggest question for a runner who's played nine games in the past three seasons. Then there is Vidal, a sixth-round pick who could push his way into the rotation with a good camp. We know Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman want to pound the rock, so there are touches up for grabs. Again, there are a lot of questions about the Chargers' skill-position groups this camp.
Dax Hill vs. DJ Turner II
Cincinnati moved Hill from safety to corner, where he'll battle his former college teammate Turner for the spot opposite Cam Taylor-Britt. Hill had a rocky go of it at safety last season, so the Bengals inked safeties Geno Stone and Vonn Bell in free agency. Likewise, Turner had an up-and-down campaign. Hill ran ahead of Turner during minicamp. Transitions aren't easy in the NFL, and Hill acknowledged outside corner is new to him, but the Bengals will give the former first-rounder a chance to get on the field.
Kamari Lassiter vs. Jeff Okudah vs. C.J. Henderson
Another CB battle for a spot alongside an established player. Derek Stingley Jr. broke out last season as a true CB1. The question is, who will man the other outside corner spot? Okudah, Henderson and Lassiter, a second-round pick in April, all should get a shot at the job. Okudah and Henderson haven't lived up to their high draft status, and each has bounced around the league. Lassiter worked with the first-team defense during OTAs, and the door could be opened for the rookie to start out of the gate.
Detroit made big investments in the secondary this offseason. How will playing time shake out? Trade acquisition Carlton Davis is set at one corner spot. Other jobs look to be up for grabs. Everything seems to revolve around Brian Branch and how he's utilized. If he's at safety next to Kerby Joseph, that opens up slot reps for Amik Robertson, with first-rounder Terrion Arnold on the outside. If Branch continues to take a sizable amount of nickel snaps, then we likely will see Arnold and Robertson battle for the outside corner gig in camp. Ennis Rakestraw Jr. profiles as a rotational piece who would see his role grow if/when injury strikes. The other question is, what role does Emmanuel Moseley play when healthy?
Troy Fautanu vs. Dan Moore Jr.
The expectation is that Broderick Jones flips to the starting left tackle job, leaving Moore and first-round pick Fautanu to battle for the right tackle gig. Fautanu would seem to have the edge, but it appears the Steelers have greater trust in Moore than some might expect. It wouldn't be stunning to see the veteran win the gig to open the season before the job goes to Fautanu, who is moving over from playing the left side in college, similar to how they handled Jones last season.
Adonai Mitchell vs. Alec Pierce
Glowing reports out of Indy have been steady since the Colts drafted Mitchell in the second round. The rookie's skill set would seem to mesh well with Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. How much pushback will come from Pierce, a former second-round pick himself? It's easy to pencil in Mitchell now, but Pierce played a hefty role in Shane Steichen's offense last year, even though he saw just 65 targets. Will the third-year receiver show development and challenge Mitchell, or will the rookie win going away?
After a disastrous 2023 campaign along the line, the Titans are once again attempting to solve problems up front. Nicholas Petit-Frere has starting experience but played just three games in 2023. Leroy Watson IV was with O-line coach Bill Callahan in Cleveland, which could provide an advantage in the competition. Others like Jaylen Duncan, Geron Christian (who was also in Cleveland for a spell last year) and John Ojukwu could be in the mix. Keeping Will Levis upright this season is vital after he took a beating as a rookie, making this competition pivotal.
Much like Detroit, Philly made major investments to address problems in the secondary. Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox are likely locked in as starters. The question is how the rest of the group sorts itself out. Does Quinyon Mitchell win the starting gig? How does Isaiah Rodgers look after serving a year-long suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy? Where does Kelee Ringo wind up? Does Cooper DeJean play corner, backup safety, nickel or a little bit of everything? James Bradberry is transitioning to safety but is a potential cut candidate. How Vic Fangio handles his secondary unit during camp will be fascinating.
Ricky Pearsall vs. Jauan Jennings
Pearsall started camp on the active/non-football injury list, but NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported the first-round pick is not dealing with any major ailment. Jennings impressed during the postseason, which would imply he's in line for the slot work. However, Kyle Shanahan has gushed about Pearsall since the Niners selected him. The thought on draft night was that the Pearsall pick was about the future, but what if Shanahan sees more? Could he pass Jennings, who gained just 265 yards in 13 regular-season games last season? Brandon Aiyuk's trade request also hovers over camp, as Shanahan indicated after the draft that the Niners believe Pearsall can play inside and outside. Even if Aiyuk eventually gets on the field (with or without a new contract) and the status quo remains with Jennings the No. 3, I'm still intrigued by Pearsall in Shanahan's offense.
Dallas did little to upgrade its roster in free agency and didn't add a receiver until the sixth round of the draft (Ryan Flournoy). With Michael Gallup gone via free agency after an ineffective year, Dallas is once again set to lean heavily on CeeDee Lamb and 30-year-old Brandin Cooks. Jalen Tolbert enters camp in the lead, but Jalen Brooks flashed this offseason and will get a shot to swipe the role. KaVontae Turpin and Flournoy also figure to be involved in the battle. Dallas could add to the crew on the cheap after cutdown day.
Carrington Valentine enters camp as the likely starter across from Jaire Alexander after flashing for spells as a seventh-round rookie last season. However, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Packers brass give Eric Stokes a shot to win back the gig. After playing just 12 games in the past two years, Stokes "looks fully healthy" (as coach Matt LaFleur put it in May). If Stokes can finally play up to his first-round potential, it will solve a lot of questions in the secondary.
Does Dan Campbell trust the bigger-legged Jake Bates after he bombed field goals in the UFL? Does Campbell stick with Michael Badgley and simply continue to eschew long kicks in favor of going for it? For my money, Bates should get a chance to prove he has the mettle to kick in the big leagues. If he proves erratic, then Detroit can scramble to find a Badgley-type replacement, similar to how the Lions transitioned from Riley Patterson last year.
