With players from the first handful of teams reporting to training camp this week, the NFL is officially back. By Tuesday, players from all 32 teams will be in their respective camps, preparing for the 2026 season. That means the offseason is in the rearview mirror, but plenty of questions remain that will shape the preseason—from the potential unretirement of a future Hall of Famer to a few open quarterback competitions to big expectations for new head coaches and more. These are 32 questions, one per team, to get you ready for training camp.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Is Jim Leonhard a championship-caliber defensive play caller?
Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard was considered a rising star during his years coaching college football, and now that he’s landed his first NFL play calling job, we’ll get to see exactly what his scheme and his approach to stopping modern offenses will look like.
New Bills edge rusher Bradley Chubb has described Leonhard as a “mad scientist,” which should make Bills fans excited that they may have found their own version of Mike Macdonald or Demeco Ryans—the type of defensive-minded coach who can elevate the entire team. While the Bills defense hasn’t been great since 2021, it has the personnel to be as multiple and aggressive as a creative play caller wants it to be.
Miami Dolphins
Who will step up as the rebuild begins?
With nearly $180 million in dead cap charges this season, “rebuilding” feels like an inadequate term to describe the journey Miami is embarking on this year. There are currently 23 rookies on the Dolphins’ training camp roster, and Miami will need about half of those guys to be legitimate contributors in the regular season.
With so much youth on this team (as well as a first-year head coach in Jeff Hafley), this year is probably going to be messy at times. But having so much youth could make for one of the most competitive training camps in the league. The Dolphins drafted three receivers, two linebackers, two tight ends, and two edge rushers, a signal that there are open competitions all over the roster. Preseason games and training camp practices will give us some good insight on which first-year players are ahead of the curve.
And let’s not forget about Malik Willis, who is getting his first shot to be a Week 1 starting quarterback since he was drafted in 2022. Now that he’ll be asked to lead the way for an offense again, I’m fascinated to see whether the talent he flashed in limited playing time during his time in Green Bay will show up now that he’s leading an offense full-time.
New England Patriots
Have the Patriots done enough to make things easier on Drake Maye?
The Patriots’ offseason plan seemed focused on taking the offensive burden off Drake Maye and making sure that he won’t be under as much duress as he was in the playoffs, when he was sacked 21 times in four games. New England signed interior lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker in free agency, used its first-round pick on tackle Caleb Lomu to bolster the offensive line, and brought in receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs to upgrade its playmaking corps.
Now, can the upgraded Patriots offense create explosive plays within structure? Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has a superstar on his hands, and the coach needs to evolve his scheme to continue maximizing the young quarterback’s talent.
New York Jets
Who is worth watching on the 2026 Jets?
It’s hard to find many compelling story lines with this iteration of the Jets. Quarterback Geno Smith's return to New York, where he started his career in 2013, would be a better story if he hadn’t led the league in turnovers last season with the Raiders.
But maybe one of the young guys will emerge as a rising star. No. 2 pick David Bailey is a unique speed rusher off the edge, fellow first-rounder Kenyon Sadiq is an incredibly athletic tight end but has an unconventional body type for the position, and slot corner D’Angelo Ponds is a joy to watch on film but is difficult to project because of his small 5-foot-8, 180-pound frame. Rather than doomscroll the Jets during camp, I’ll be keeping my eye out for highlights from that trio.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
How much was coaching holding this team back?
Jesse Minter may be facing more pressure than any other new head coach in the league. The Ravens likely hope that Minter, a defensive guru, will be able to immediately fix that side of the ball, which was a disappointment the past two seasons. As training camp begins, I’m looking to see whether Minter will give this team a clear defensive identity. His Chargers defenses played with clear physicality and sound coverage, things that have been missing from Baltimore in recent years. Baltimore has the roster talent to be considered a Super Bowl contender; now it’s up to Minter to pull it together. It’s probably not enough for him to simply get the Ravens into the postseason. He was hired with the expectation that he’ll be able to get Baltimore over the hump in the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals
Can Dexter Lawrence fix this defense?
The Bengals traded for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in the offseason, a big swing that could transform their defense. That unit desperately needs help; that side of the ball has routinely cost the team games and wasted excellent performances from the offense in recent years. The Bengals also added safety Bryan Cook and edge rusher Boye Mafe this offseason in the hopes of raising the floor of this defense. Lawrence is one of the league’s elite interior defensive linemen, but will he (and the other newcomers) be enough to make the Bengals competitive against so many elite quarterbacks in the AFC?
Cleveland Browns
What is the point of this QB competition?
The Browns appear set on holding a real quarterback competition between veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year pro Shedeur Sanders. This quarterback competition will be captivating, but for all the wrong reasons. That this battle seems to be evenly matched as camp opens should be viewed as a major indictment of Watson and a compliment to Sanders’s development.
What’s unclear to me is why there needs to be a competition in the first place, as neither passer seems to be a long-term answer for Cleveland. Watson hasn’t played like he was worth the massive contract the Browns gave him in 2022, even before he tore his Achilles tendon in 2024 and suffered a setback in his recovery from that injury. Cleveland is facing a long rebuild that could take years; just because Sanders is the starter in 2026 isn't a signal that he’s the man for this franchise’s future. But he could be the better, or at least more interesting, option for right now.
Pittsburgh Steelers
How watchable will the Aaron Rodgers–Mike McCarthy offense be?
Style points may not count toward wins and losses, but I damn sure am keeping a tally for my personal records. Pittsburgh’s offensive roster is built perfectly to embrace the NFL trend that favors getting the quarterback under center, using multiple tight ends to establish a run game, and setting up deep play-action passes. Tight ends Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth are ideal for that style of play, and big receivers like DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman make for great targets downfield. If any coach off the Shanahan-McVay tree were at the helm of this unit, we’d be expecting this offense to finish among the league’s best.
The problem? That’s not the type of scheme Mike McCarthy has coached or the type of offense Aaron Rodgers likes to play. It’s likely that the Steelers will instead play a spread-out dink-and-dunk offense. It might be a tough watch. Unless we hear that Rodgers is firing perfect passes all camp long, I won’t be confident that this offense will keep up with the rest of the league.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Will this offense finally stop asking C.J. Stroud to be a hero?
The common thread through each of the Texans’ past three playoff losses was an offense that asked too much of quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud was excellent as a rookie in 2023, but it seems clear now that his turnover-avoiding ability that season was an outlier. His style of play invites pressure, and he takes too many risks—yet the Texans have kept asking him to shoulder the load alone.
How much will the Texans’ offseason moves change that? Houston overhauled its offensive line and added veteran running back David Montgomery to alleviate some of the pressure on Stroud. Because of the elite defense and leadership of head coach DeMeco Ryans, this is a team that must be taken seriously. But it won’t be a legit Super Bowl threat until Stroud and the offense can do their part in the postseason.
Indianapolis Colts
Can Daniel Jones rev this offense back up after his injury?
There has been optimism this summer that quarterback Daniel Jones could be ready to participate in team drills when training camp opens. That would be huge for the Colts offense, which cratered after Jones suffered a broken bone and torn Achilles tendon last year. The biggest beneficiary of Jones’s healthy return would probably be running back Jonathan Taylor, whose production plummeted in the second half of the regular season when Jones was sidelined. Still, I wonder what the Colts offense will look like if Jones has lost any speed or agility. The strength of this offense in the first half of last year lay in the combination of Jones’s mobility and head coach Shane Steichen’s spread scheme. If Jones is not a threat with his legs, this offense will have to undergo major schematic adjustments to build an effective rushing attack that doesn’t involve him.
Jacksonville Jaguars
What is the plan for Travis Hunter?
As two-way player Travis Hunter rehabs from the knee injury that ended his rookie campaign, there are plenty of questions about how the Jaguars will use him in year two.
It’s possible that the former first-round pick will spend the majority of his time at cornerback, and that’s where Jacksonville needs him most. But he’s proved himself too dynamic as a receiving threat not to be used on offense at all. The question is what role he would take in the receiving corps after the trade deadline acquisition of Jakobi Meyers. Once Hunter’s healthy, Jacksonville needs to find a way to maximize his impact, whether that’s on one side of the ball or both.
Tennessee Titans
How much better will Cam Ward be in year two?
I find myself wanting to believe that new Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and quarterback Cam Ward are the right pair to work together to get the Tennessee offense on track.
Ward is clearly talented, but he is still raw in terms of his pocket management and the way he works through progressions against changing defensive coverages. Daboll’s offenses have been built to spread things out, simplify reads, and allow the quarterback to break structure and be a playmaker if the first read isn’t there. That sounds exactly like what Ward needs in year two.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Is Jaylen Waddle the missing piece Denver’s needed?
Denver didn’t change much about its 2025 roster, and understandably so. Had quarterback Bo Nix not broken his ankle in Denver’s divisional-round win over the Bills, the Broncos likely would have played in the Super Bowl. The one major addition to this team is receiver Jaylen Waddle, acquired in a trade with Miami ahead of the draft.
Nix has some limitations as a passer, but he has been held back by the receivers’ lack of run-after-the-catch playmaking. I’m fascinated to see how offensive coordinator Davis Webb, who is taking over play calling duties from head coach Sean Payton, will use the Broncos’ newest playmaker. Feeding targets to Waddle and letting him use his speed to open things up could give the Broncos a championship-caliber offense to match their loaded defense.
Los Angeles Chargers
Who will benefit most from the addition of Mike McDaniel?
Los Angeles badly needed a new approach to its offense, especially after being thoroughly crushed by New England’s defense in the playoffs. It’s made a drastic change, hiring Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator to replace Greg Roman. McDaniel, who was fired as head coach of the Dolphins, should bring a modern approach to the run game and a commitment to quick passing that the Chargers had been missing.
I watched several days of the Chargers’ minicamp in June, and now I’m excited to see which players or position groups will improve the most under McDaniel. The obvious choice is quarterback Justin Herbert, who’s never had a play caller with anything like McDaniel’s credentials, but it’s possible that the offensive line and running backs could be bigger beneficiaries if they wind up facing fewer loaded boxes.
Kansas City Chiefs
Can Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy build a real offense around Patrick Mahomes again?
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has raced through his recovery from a torn ACL and could be fully cleared for the start of training camp. A healthy Mahomes means that Kansas City immediately reenters the championship conversation. But it would be a mistake for Kansas City not to evolve offensively. It needs to find ways to generate chunk plays in ways that don’t require Mahomes to scramble and subject himself to unnecessary hits.
The Chiefs’ top priority must be getting Mahomes to January in one piece, and it will take revamping their rushing and play-action attack to get there. Training camp will be the time for head coach Andy Reid and new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy—who’s back for another stint with the Chiefs—to show that they are willing to lean on running back Kenneth Walker III on early downs.
Las Vegas Raiders
Can Fernando Mendoza force his way into real playing time?
The thought of rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza spending his entire rookie year on the bench while learning behind veteran Kirk Cousins sounds good in theory—but I’m advocating for something more dramatic this summer.
Cousins’s play has diminished over the past two years, and what he’s lost from his game—his agility, accuracy in bad pockets, and willingness to take risks downfield—are the things Mendoza can show during training camp to stoke the fires of a legitimate competition between the two. If Mendoza is able to learn head coach Klint Kubiak's offense quickly and flash the kind of high athletic ceiling Cousins can’t reach, I’m curious about whether the Raiders will cave to any pressure to get him on the field earlier than what’s reportedly currently planned.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Can the defense make a leap?
New defensive coordinator Christian Parker left Philadelphia to take over what was one of the league’s worst defenses. Can he bring some of the Eagles’ defensive magic with him? The Eagles thrive by eliminating explosive plays, and if the Cowboys can successfully do that in 2026, it’ll also help them be better against the run.
Parker’s scheme figures to be complex, and it is important that young players like safety Caleb Downs, edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, and defensive lineman LT Overton learn it quickly. If the young guys wreak havoc against what should be an elite Cowboys offense during training camp practices, it would be a sign that Dallas is a sleeper Super Bowl contender to watch.
New York Giants
What will this offense look like if Malik Nabers is sidelined?
There’s no certainty that receiver Malik Nabers, who is recovering from injuries to his ACL and meniscus, will be cleared to practice without restrictions at the start of training camp, and we should not assume that the Giants’ best offensive player will be ready by the start of the season. If he can’t go, the Giants will be trying to patch together a passing game with receivers like Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin III, Darnell Mooney, and Odell Beckham Jr. I don’t envision much explosive passing from New York until Nabers is back, and I worry about quarterback Jaxson Dart’s development without him.
Washington Commanders
Will the coordinator changes pay off quickly?
Head coach Dan Quinn made major changes to his coaching staff this offseason, and training camp will be the first extended look at the new offense and defense.
Offensive coordinator David Blough is an unknown commodity as a play caller, but there were signs in the offseason suggesting that Washington will try to incorporate more under-center looks for quarterback Jayden Daniels after its offense had the fewest in the league over the past two seasons. If that’s the case, it would indicate that Daniels won’t be asked to carry as much of the offensive load as he did in his first two seasons. Moving to a timing-based play-action passing game will put the onus on receivers to get separation, and it will be on Daniels to consistently deliver accurate passes. Blough needs to be a Ben Johnson–esque play caller to make up for the Commanders’ lack of talent at receiver (outside of Terry McLaurin).
New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones comes to Washington after coaching under Minnesota’s Brian Flores, who is arguably the best defensive coach when it comes to getting the most out of a unit lacking in star talent. Jones will need to prove he can do more with less in Washington. I’m interested in seeing whether this team will find instant returns on these coaching changes, because Quinn needs Blough and Jones to help him get off the hot seat.
Philadelphia Eagles
How will Jalen Hurts play in a new offensive scheme?
Even after trading away receiver A.J. Brown, Philadelphia still has one of the league’s best rosters, along with a quarterback-friendly environment for Jalen Hurts. The Eagles offense will look different in 2026 under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who has previously coached under Sean McVay and Matt LaFleur. Expect more run plays from under center and a more consistent play-action passing game. Ideally, Hurts will be trusted to work through his progressions and throw into the middle of the field. The pressure is on for Hurts to have his best year yet. That starts in training camp, where we’ll get the first legitimate look at how he is able to handle the new scheme.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Can Caleb Williams play at an MVP level?
Caleb Williams is equipped with all the tools he needs to become one of the league’s best quarterbacks. He has an elite play caller in head coach Ben Johnson, a receiving corps full of versatile playmakers, and a consistent and explosive rushing attack.
Johnson, now in his second season as Chicago’s head coach, has been consistent in saying that he expects Williams to improve his accuracy. Now Williams needs to show that improvement during training camp. Now that the roster and coaching are in place and Williams has a better grasp of this offense, I expect to see him iron out the inexplicably missed throws we’ve seen over the past two years, which could put him in the MVP mix.
Detroit Lions
Will this be the true breakout season for Jameson Williams?
Wide receiver Jameson Williams is one of the most valuable downfield threats in football; he had an explosive reception rate of 48 percent last season. But Detroit’s inconsistency on offense under former play caller John Morton and bad luck in close games last season kept Williams from reaching his star potential. In training camp, I want to see what new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who previously called plays for the Cardinals, will do with a rare speed threat like Williams. Will Petzing cook up more deep throws from Jared Goff to Williams in the hope of forcing defenses to play with two deep safeties?
Minnesota Vikings
What will Kyler Murray do with the starting QB job (once he wins it)?
Three of Kyler Murray’s past four seasons were disappointing and inconsistent. Now he’s in Minnesota for a fresh start on a veteran minimum contract. Signing him to compete with J.J. McCarthy was a low-risk, high-value proposition for the Vikings offense. Yet simply beating out McCarthy (who had one of the worst rookie seasons in recent memory) is a low bar. While the QB competition should garner plenty of headlines throughout the next month, a more important question is how Murray will work in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense. I’m withholding any optimism until at least Week 1.
Green Bay Packers
Can this defense build consistency without Micah Parsons?
Edge rusher Micah Parsons will be out for a while as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered late last season. While he is sidelined during training camp and into the regular season, the Green Bay defense needs to find an identity that doesn’t rely solely on Parsons’s ability to get pressure on quarterbacks.
That starts with getting better play out of Green Bay’s cornerbacks. The Packers added depth at the position by drafting rookies Brandon Cisse and Domani Jackson, and they also brought in veteran Benjamin St-Juste to compete with them on the perimeter. Those three and the starting duo of Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine need to prove that they can consistently match up with receivers downfield, not just that they can jump routes and gamble for turnovers. The better Green Bay can play on the back end of the defense, the better it’ll be once Parsons is back to wreaking havoc on the edge.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Will this quarterback competition be decided in training camp?
Get ready for a messy and protracted quarterback competition in Atlanta. Michael Penix Jr. is recovering from his second ACL tear in five years—and his third ACL injury since he started college. He has fewer than 500 dropbacks in his NFL career, and when he was on the field, his play was unpredictable and inconsistent. He’s competing with newcomer Tua Tagovailoa, who was benched and then released by Miami after its offense unraveled in 2025. Tagovailoa struggled when the passing game wasn’t perfectly designed.
The Falcons have a new head coach in Kevin Stefanski, a new GM in Ian Cunningham, and a new team president in Matt Ryan, and none of them have deep ties to either passer. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Falcons take a fluid approach to their quarterback situation this summer and into the regular season.
Carolina Panthers
What’s next for Bryce Young?
Quarterback Bryce Young was one of the better stories in the league last season, leading the Panthers to a surprising NFC South title and taking the Rams down to the wire in the wild-card round. Now that he’s figured out how to take fewer sacks and commit fewer turnovers, he looks like a viable starter. The Panthers even decided to pick up the fifth year of his rookie deal, keeping him under contract through the 2027 season.
Now that Young has some short-term job security, the focus must be on figuring out where he fits in the team’s long-term plans. Carolina has a good, young defense and a quality run game—two things that should help the Panthers stay in the playoff picture, provided Young doesn’t revert to his bad habits. If Young is struggling in camp—or if Carolina’s defense is thoroughly kicking the offense’s ass during 11-on-11s—we should be nervous about Carolina’s chances to make another trip to the postseason.
New Orleans Saints
Will the Saints continue their upward trajectory?
New Orleans overachieved in 2025 thanks to quarterback Tyler Shough and a surprisingly good defense. Finishing 6-11 without much top-end talent could be a great sign for this franchise.
But this team is mostly unchanged from last year to now, a result of over $112 million in dead cap charges on New Orleans’s books. That puts the bulk of the pressure on the shoulders of Shough and rookies like receiver Jordyn Tyson to add another layer to an offense that scored just 28 touchdowns last season and finished 27th in total offensive expected points added. I’m curious about whether New Orleans’s coaching staff is good enough to get this squad to overachieve once again—or whether this team will show signs of stagnation early in the preseason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Will Baker Mayfield get a contract extension?
Tampa Bay is in football purgatory: The Bucs clearly are not one of the true contenders in the NFC, but they aren’t bad enough to think about rebuilding through the draft. That puts the franchise in a tough spot as quarterback Baker Mayfield angles for a contract extension. Mayfield is likely seeking a deal worth more than $50 million annually, the going rate for a quality starter. He’s certainly been good for the Bucs, but the team should consider whether tying itself to a high-priced quarterback when it’s a long shot to win the Super Bowl is the right move. I’ll be tuned in to see whether this deal gets done and, if it doesn’t, how Mayfield plays in a contract year.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Does Mike LaFleur have any play calling juice?
Arizona’s season already feels over. This team lacks depth across the roster, has only a handful of stars outside of tight end Trey McBride and rookie RB Jeremiyah Love, does not have a long-term solution at quarterback, and plays in the best division in the league. That puts a lot of pressure on first-year head coach Mike LaFleur.
His challenge will be building an offense that can maximize its playmakers without the help of its offensive line or quarterback. For this team to have any shot to win even a handful of games, LaFleur needs to develop a creative approach to play calling on early downs that keeps the offense ahead of the sticks. If we don’t hear about major creativity in training camp practices, it’ll be hard to imagine the Cardinals being anything but an NFC West doormat this year.
Los Angeles Rams
Is Aaron Donald coming back?
At this point, the unretirement of defensive tackle Aaron Donald feels inevitable. And if (when?) it happens, Donald will be walking into a perfect situation. The Rams have enough depth on the defensive line for the 35-year-old future Hall of Famer to slide into a role as a pass rushing specialist while letting young interior linemen like Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske do the heavy lifting against the run on early downs.
Los Angeles had a busy offseason, trading for edge rusher Myles Garrett and cornerback Trent McDuffie, signing corner Jaylen Watson, and extending the contract of MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford. Now all that’s left to do is wait on Donald, whose return would cement the Rams as the closest thing to a Dream Team we’ve seen in the NFL.
Seattle Seahawks
How will the offense change under a new play caller?
The Seahawks won the Super Bowl in a blowout, but after a relatively quiet offseason in Seattle, they might be the least buzzy reigning champion in recent years.
I’m excited to see whether Seattle has any new offensive wrinkles in 2026. Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury has replaced Klint Kubiak, who is now the head coach in Las Vegas. Fleury’s unit will be operating without Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III, who left in free agency. Losing the team’s leading rusher puts more on the shoulders of quarterback Sam Darnold to carry this team through the regular season. Darnold should know by now that he doesn’t need to be a star—avoiding sacks and turnovers should be enough to keep the Seahawks among the ranks of the contenders, even if they are somehow under the radar.
San Francisco 49ers
What expectations are reasonable for one of the league’s oldest offenses?
On paper, the 49ers offense is loaded. But I’m having some trouble assuming that everything will break right for a team with so many aging stars. Receiver Mike Evans is the 49ers’ big offseason addition, but he has had hamstring issues in each of the past two seasons and isn’t as dynamic as he enters his age-33 season. Running back Christian McCaffrey recently turned 30 and is coming off a season with more than 400 touches. Left tackle Trent Williams is 38, and 32-year-old tight end George Kittle is hoping to come back from a torn Achilles this season.
If the 49ers can get through training camp without any of their key players going down, that’ll be the first win of the season, and I’ll revisit how I feel about this team based on the availability of their stars each week.
