Training Camp Notes for ALL 32 Teams: Position Battles, News, + More

[Music] Welcome back to the Adam Schaeftor podcast as we get ready to open training camps. And we today have a special treat in all 32 look at the 32 NFL teams as they get ready to descend upon training camps. On Tuesday, July 28th, every NFL team will be in training camp. We currently have all the rookies from the world champion Seahawks, the 49ers, the bills, the Panthers, and the Texans who already have reported to training camp. But at this time, next week, by Tuesday, July 28th, every NFL team will have reported to training camp. And to help us get ready with a look at all the major storylines at all the camps across the league, we welcome in my friend, my colleague, the co-host of the Pat McVees show, Toshmit to help us on an expanded weekly six back in eight pack. All eight NFL divisions and all the major storylines surrounding them. Welcome back to I. This week six pack, which this week is an eight pack is brought to you by Zippercruder. Try for free at zippercruder.com/Adam. Meet your match on Zippercruder. Thank you very much, Chef. It's great to be back with you. It's been quite a while, almost a month, I think, since we've been on the podcast together, whether it's vacation or, you know, a hectic week back to work, it's been a while. But hey, I'll tell you what, we came back in today this week. We're 50 days away from the actual start of the NFL season. Teams are reporting. This is the best time of the year. Now, we don't have to, you know, we don't have to go hunt for stuff to talk about. That stuff is right there in front of us. So our jobs and our lives get a little bit easier, but I can't wait. It's been a long off season, but I feel like we are, we're almost there. And I have to say, Ty, you look good. You look rested, refreshed, relaxed. It looks like you must have had a nice little summer break there. Yeah, absolutely. You know, when you have three young kids, I don't know how much of a summer vacation, it is, but it was good. It was good to spend time with them. My youngest, obviously, she's only 11 weeks, so she can't do much, but my two older daughters, they got to go to the beach and Massachusetts and play with each other and play in the ocean. And they've really got to do that yet. So that was really cool. That was a lot of fun. And then coming out of that, going right to the home run Derby and being down there on the field for that. And then New York to the SB's, it was a great first week back, but it feels good to be back in the Thunderdome with football on the horizon. And it kind of feels like the new normals about to set in again, which is nice. Before we get to the training camp store lines, I'm just curious if there was anybody you ran into at the SB's that you were particularly excited to meet. Oh, I'm trying to think. Anybody. I mean, it's tough to say off the top of my head because once we were in there, you're sitting down and we, you're not really communicating. I mean, you know what, we had Chris Burman on the show. I mean, anytime you get to see Boomer, especially someone like my age who, you know, or anyone in the office, we're all kind of around the same age, grew up in the same era. And we've obviously, we've got to talk to him a couple times on the show, but anytime you get to see him and sit down with him, it is kind of like a pinch me moment because I spent so much time growing up watching him on Sundays and, you know, so anytime you get to sit down with Boomer, it's a great day. And his line about AJ Hawk was tremendous. Yeah, exactly, exactly. Hi, John Chris. Sir. Speak less than Charlie Chap. Still got pretty good. All right, Ty. So let's, let's now move on to the training camp battles here. It's the mystery line, some of the things and headlines that are going on across the league. How do you want to do this, Ty? Let's start with the AFC East. We'll go team by team and we'll just go from there. Okay. So starting with the AFC East, let's go with the bills, Chefty. You know, listen, the Buffalo bills up until last year had one five straight AFC East titles. It was almost an automatic and yet last year they lost their grip on the AFC East though. Patriots won the division and so the Buffalo bills change coaching staffs. They hire Joe Brady. Huge deal. It almost feels like they're trying to do what the New York NYX did. They felt like Tom Tibidot took them as far as they could take them. They fired Tibidot. They hire Mike Brown. They win the championship. Now the Buffalo bills have Joe Brady taking over for Sean McDonnell. They're moving into a brand new stadium. I don't know that there's any team in the league that could be more excited, more rejuvenated than the Buffalo bills heading into the season with everything that's going on there right now. Perfect. Okay. Let's go to another team in the AFC East, fresh beginning, the dolphins. Well, this is a total rebuild. They are rebuilding as much as anybody. New head coach in Jeff Hathley, new general manager in John Eric Sullivan, new quarterback in Malik Willis. I will tell you that I felt like this team did a good job of assembling some good young parts and will have the chance to add more parts. Miami's a tough place to play early in the season and I know that people are not expecting very much from Miami and look, they're not going to make the playoffs this year, but I think they'll be a tough out because the new leadership there, because Malik Willis is probably a better quarterback than people realize and there's going to be some young hungry players on this roster determined to prove that they belong. Well said, let's go with the team that was last kind of last year's Cinderella. I guess maybe that's not the best way to put it, put the New England Patriots. I think this is all about the new weaponry for Drake May. AJ Brown, they trade for him. They sign Romeo Dobbs from New England. That is some added firepower on the offensive side of the football. Now I don't love some of the vibes around this team. What's going on on the off season? The first place schedule, some of the challenges, but here's the thing. It reminds me a little bit of when I covered the Denver Broncos back in the day. There were years where the team might not be as good in training camp. There were years where the Mojo might be off, where the momentum might not be real, but they always had John L.A. and this team always has Drake May. I believe he's in that great young quarterback category where even when things are off, he can help get them back on track. When you have Drake May and you have AJ Brown and you have Romeo Dobbs, I don't care how tough and challenging it is, you're going to have a chance, but it's going to be a tough year in New England and then the one the Patriots experienced last year in my mind. Yeah, without a doubt. Okay, Shethie, is there anything new that needs to be said about the jets that we haven't said a hundred thousand times before? Well, look, a lot of new young pass catchers. First-round pick, Kenyan Sedeek from Oregon. First-round pick, Omar Cooper, Jr from Indiana, to go along with Garrett Wilson. Look, they brought in a new offensive coordinator in Frank Reich. Frank Reich is a pro. Frank Reich is an adult. Frank Reich is a seasoned veteran and that is going to make a huge difference when you've got legitimate weapons, including breeze hole at running back. And living in the New York area, I've got a lot of people that stop me every day and they say, what's going to happen with the jets this year? And I'll say it right here, I was at a concert on Sunday night. I took my daughter and her friends to go see Noah Khan, great show, City Field. I'm sitting here and this woman walks up to me and she's like, I have a question to ask you. She's whispering like it's a big secret. How are my jets going to do this year? Like it's some secret and I get that question almost every single day of my life. Tell me about the jets. So I'm going to tell people about the jets right here. I think the jets are going to be a tough out. I think they're going to be competitive. I think with Frank Reich calling plays, I think they're going to win seven games this year, seven games, which you might say seven and ten. That's not very good for the jets right now. It is. And they're moving in the right direction. They're assembling some good young talent like Miami and watch out for the jets of Miami in a couple of years. You know, I know they have multiple first round picks next year. I mean, if I were, yeah, if I were a jets fan, though, I think seven and ten would be disastrous because they need to find, yeah, because they need to find a quarterback. You know, I think you want to be bad again unless you want to trade all those picks. I guess that's it. But again, you know, they've stunk for such a long time that like you said, seven and ten might feel like 12 and five. So you might be better off going 3 and 14. I agree. I agree. So we'll see what happens there. And I think you hit the nail on the head with the top of the division there. The Patriots Drake May, it's one of those things. I just, my expectation is he's just going to continue to get better and better and better. And he was the runner up to MVP last year. So you wonder how much better can this guy get? I think he can get a lot better. And then the bills, it'll be very interesting because I will, there's a lot of excitement right now with the new stadium and the new coach and all that kind of stuff. But but I tell you what, if they don't at least win 12 games or, you know, I mean, you can say what you want about McDermott, but he was consistent and they were going to win at least 12 games or so and they were going to go to the playoffs and they were going to have a chance. So if they don't kind of meet that bar at least, then it's one one of those things where it's like, well, boy, did you make the right decision? So we'll see, obviously you could go either way at the top there. All right, Chef, let's stick in the AFC and go to the AFC North and start with the Ravens. Well, I think the first thing you look at new coaching staff again, head coach Jesse Mentor, offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, Max Crosby is not in Baltimore, but Tray Hendrickson is. And it feels like we haven't talked about that. Maybe as much as we should because the Ravens past rush has been off and they're hoping that Tray Hendrickson can revitalize it. Not only that, but it looks like they're going to get back NAMDI, Mattabike, their defensive tackle, who's a double digit sack guy who's been dealing with a career threatening knee injury. Now, there always could be a setback in training camp, hopefully not, but the doctors reports so far are encouraging. And as good as Declan Doyle is as an offensive coordinator, he's still isn't cold again yet at the NFL level. And I would say this about Declan Doyle just as I would say about any first time play caller, whether it's anybody that's taking over this year, we got a lot of new offense coordinators. But if they have not called an NFL game before, I think there's a question as to how they will respond. But Declan Doyle is a highly respected young coach and ascending young coach. He's on his way up to becoming a head coach. And he is now in charge of the Ravens offense. And Lamar Jackson has responded very well to new offensive coordinators in their first year. Every time he gets one, it feels like he wins an MVP award. Yep, absolutely. Okay. Shaddee, let's go to a team that's getting well, they every year, they get a lot of hype around this time of the year. What about the bangles? I really think they're poised to have a big year. I really do. The schedule is so soft. And if Joe borrows days healthy and he struggled to do that for a variety of reasons, a lot of it bad luck, a lot of it, the protection the team has had of him. But if they can just protect Joe borough and keep him healthy, they have revamped their defense. They have added to the defense, put a lot of energy and resources into it. I think Cincinnati could get back to not only competing for a playoff spot, but make a legitimate Super Bowl run. That's how good I think this team can be. But if they are not, there's going to be a lot of questions about Joe borough's future. They struggle again because the losing will start wearing down on him and we'll see how he responds. But it should be, I think, a big year for the bangles. Okay. Let's stay in Ohio and go to Cleveland Browns. Four quarterbacks on the roster right now, Ty. Four. And there will not be four quarterbacks when the season starts. I don't believe. Maybe they can carry all four, but right now they've got the Sean Watson, who's going to be there. They've got Shadour Sanders. They've got Dylan Gabriel and they have rookie quarterback Taylon Green. So there's four quarterbacks and the headlines of that camp without question are going to be who wins the starting quarterback job. Is it going to be to Sean Watson? Is it going to be Shadour Sanders? Are they going to keep the other two quarterbacks? Could they find a trade partner for Dylan Gabriel and not only that, but no miles Garrett for the first time in a long time. Jared verse steps in and Jarrett verse a great young player. I don't know if he's miles Garrett. Nobody is, but Jarrett versus damn good on his own and we'll see how he can help replace a Cleveland sporting legend. Okay. Let's wrap up the AFC North with the Steelers. Well, look, Mike McCarthy comes home and we bumped into him the night before the NFL draft in Pittsburgh. And all I could tell you is what it meant to him and everybody saw this. It is opening press conference. What it meant to him to be back in Pittsburgh to coach the franchise that he grew up rooting for? Honestly, there can't be a coaching job that means more to anybody than it does to Mike McCarthy right now. It's a personal thing. It's going to be Aaron Rogers last season. We would expect we thought last year was and he's come back for one more. It looks like he's made some amends. He was the one that posted about his family this week on social media. Is this strange family that he took pictures with this past week? It looked like his mother's fault. You love to see that. And it looks like he's coming in with some mental peace there. So you would think that should be a good season in Pittsburgh, New Hey coach quarterback questions. Again, also there in Pittsburgh. How that's going to work out, but I think that they feel like they're in a good spot with Aaron Rogers and who backs him up. Is it going to be Mason Rudolph? Is it going to be Sam Howell? Is it going to be Drew Aller? Like how they going to work that out behind Aaron Rogers also is interesting to me. Yeah, I don't know how this division is going to pull the play out because the bangles stuff, I get it. And it seems like every year, I mean, we know they can score points. Can they stop anybody? We'll see. Can Joe Burles stay healthy? We'll see. So yeah, this is a massive year. Not only for him, that entire coaching staff you would think is, you know, it's kind of win or get out of town. The Ravens. I like Jesse Mentor. You know, I mean, it was really weird what happened with the Ravens last year. And I don't expect that to happen again. Browns, you hit the nail on the head there. And then the Steelers, it's one of those things I agree with all the Roger stuff. I think him coming into the season with inner peace and just kind of ready to go and understand. And hey, this might be the last go around. Say what you want about the Steelers, they always find a way to make the playoffs. Now can they make any noise in the playoffs? Can they beat anyone in the playoffs? We'll see, but they revamped that offense. We know what their defense can be when healthy. So and this is a this is a blood and guts division. You know, I could see several tea. I could see it coming down to week 18 in terms of who's who's going to win this division. It seems like that happens every single year. All right, Chefty, let's move to the AFC South and start with the Texans. Well, first of all, I think the big question is, some will be if and when they can get an extension, done a contract extension for CJ Stroud, who was great early on, who was good last year, had a terrible playoff game that everybody remembers. That's the lasting image. And so we can hear an extension for CJ Stroud. Yeah, I think they want to keep them there in Houston and won't surprise me if they tie him up. And this defense is so good. So will Anderson, I know people talk about him, but I think he's right there with Miles Garrett to be perfectly honest like that guy will Anderson is a beast. And he is the heart of that Texans defense that should be about as good as any defense in the league. They also have to get their offensive line issues under control. They put a lot of energy effort and resources into that offensive line. We'll see if they can protect CJ Stroud. What about the Colts? Is Daniel Jones going to be right now? He said he's been cleared for contact at training camp looks like he is. And if he is, then this becomes a formidable team. When he played last year as you know, they were really good with with Daniel Jones at the helm. When he went out, Jonathan Taylor took a step back. The receivers took a step back. The team took a step back. But that's why they made the efforts. They did to keep them there in Indianapolis. Resign him because they know that if he is upright and healthy that this team is going to be competitive. And right now it looks like it's all systems go for the early quarter training camp. Okay, what about the Jaguar? Is another big surprise team last year? Amazingly inactive during the off season. Just kind of sat back and didn't make a lot of additions. But they believe in their roster. And it's interesting because Travis H&N, they're running back. Who used to be called Travis HDN? Who corrected everybody and said his name is now pronounced Travis H&N. He went to New Orleans. So that leads Bishal Tutan, Chris Rodriguez and Laquan Allen as the Jaguars running backs. But Liam Cohen, the Jaguars head coach, is so determined to run the ball that he will make that committee work. And those guys, by the way, are very good when two came out. That was the player that they loved in the draft for Shal Tutan. And when it hit free agency this year, they resigned Chris Rodriguez where they brought him in. He played for Liam Cohen at Kentucky. They like Laquan Allen. So they like these backs more than the public realizes. And they're leaning on them to bounce back from last year. Last year they had 13 wins. The second most in franchise history. So the people there have done a great job. All right. And let's finish out the AFC South with the new look Tennessee Titans. The new look Titans are the New York New York Titans because they brought in Brian Debal as their offensive coordinator. They brought in Robert Salah as their hit coach. They have two former New York hate coaches. Then they go out and add a bunch of former New York players. They trade for the Jets pass rusher, Draman Johnson. They sign Wondale Robinson. If you look up and down this roster, it's filled with former Jets and Giants. And despite all the New York coaches and players, it still comes back to the New York, the former New York Giants had good Brian Debal getting the most out of cam ward. The former number one overall pick. I think they really like him. I think they think he's going to develop. And this is going to be a big year. We saw last year Drake May take a major step. We've seen some of these young quarterbacks that Caleb Williams take a major step. They need they need cam ward to take a major step. Yeah, absolutely. I think the Titans are one of those teams. A lot of people expect to maybe be better than everyone else thinks they have any business being the Texans. We know what their defense is. It's kind of can their offense put it together for multiple weeks at a time. I'll be excited to see if the Jaguars can do what they did last year. I mean, I don't know if anyone expects them to win 13 games again. You know, you have a win a lot of one score games. You know, the ball bounces your way. A lot they they created so many turnovers on defense. And then the Colts. It's kind of can Daniel Jones replicate what he did last year. Because if he said, if when he was healthy, you mentioned it, they were the best offense in the NFL through six weeks. weeks. You know, and it looked like they were on on pace to go to the playoffs and win the division. And obviously we saw how that whole thing ended. So and this is kind of a rubber meets the road year two for I think Chris Ballard. And I don't know about Shane Steichen. Maybe him as well. But there's a lot, a lot that's going into this cold season and a lot of guys who have a lot to play for. So it'll be interesting to see it'll be fun. You know, the energy around the city here, especially when Dan Jones was healthy was just much different. Once he got hurt, it was very deflating. So hopefully he is healthy and ready to go by the time the season starts. All right, Chefty, let's go to the AFC West and the Broncos. Well, I think we had a few things going on in Denver, right? He bonics is coming off his ankle surgery. Jalen Waddle comes and they traded their first round draft pick for the wide receiver. And then they have the ongoing legal issues for their linebacker Jonathan Cooper. Does he start the season on the commissioner's exempless or training camp? How does that play out? So Peyton calls offensive playmakers jokers. He's been looking for a joker, what he calls a joker in Denver. And I think that he views Jalen Waddle is a little bit of a joker now. A guy that can come in, make some plays, line him up in a few different places. And he got some big time endorsements, Jalen Waddle did from some key people that Sean Peyton spoke with. And I think it really resonated and resulted in them being willing to trade a first round pick. Now let's see if Jalen Waddle can help this offense take the next step. What about the Kansas City Chiefs? It's all about my homes, right? Guy tears his ACLs, LCL in mid-December. And you wonder how he's going to bounce back from that injury. He's already going through OTAs. He's back on the field. I don't think there's any question that the guy's going to be out there on opening night against the Denver Broncos from Monday Night Football. The real question is, is he 70% of my homes at that point, 80% and 90% is he running around less? Can he use his legs to make plays? He's going to look to do that less. So as not to put himself at risk, I think those are the kinds of questions we have to ask. But is he going to be out there for the opening Monday Night Game? I mean, I'd be shocked if he weren't out there. It looks like he'll be out there. And of course, they've got some question marks aside from the homes. They've got the two cornerbacks to replace. Trent McDuffy was traded to the Rams. Jalen Watson signed with the Rams. They have some running backs, but they also have a new cornerback, but they also have a new running back in Kenneth Walker. And it looks like they're going to really lean into this running game more so than they have in recent years. What about the Las Vegas Raiders? I feel like a lot of people, I mean, there's actually excitement around the Raiders for the first time in a long time. You know what? They've stabilized the quarterback position. They've stabilized the quarterback position and they have a head coach who knows how to handle quarterbacks in clean kubiak, who they hired away as the former offensive coordinator of the CX. You now have Kirk Cousins. I think he'll start the season as the Raiders quarterback. They're going to bring along their number one overall pick for Nando Mendoza, slowly. And it's a good combination. They know they have their present and future accounted for at the quarterback position. And then of course, there's the storyline of Max Crosby being back out there. I know some people have wonder if he'd still be on the market. I don't see that. I see him staying in Vegas, helping this team and being a Raider for life and we'll see how that plays out. Okay, then let's close out the AFC as a whole with the L.A. Chargers. I think one of the most intriguing storylines out there is one of the least sexy. And that is the return of the Chargers two offensive tackles. Roshan Slater, who last summer, becomes the highest paid offensive lineman football and then days later ruptures his Patel attendant. And Joe Walt, who is a force, a former topic who couldn't finish the last season due to the injuries that he was trying to play through. You get back Roshan Slater, you get back Joe Walt and you pair them with the rest of the offensive line that they've upgraded and fortified. And Jim Horrible always has said offensive lineman are weapons. He's got a lot of weapons this year. And if those weapons are healthy and they play the Chargers become a major player in the AFC. This division is going to be fun this year because I think the Raiders are going to be much, much better than a lot of people anticipate. I wouldn't be surprised if Mendoza is starting by week six, week seven. Now their schedule is very, very difficult. So we'll see. And you mentioned it with the chiefs. I mean, I think people have kind of just written off the chiefs. They're done. They're past their prime. Everyone else's. But we know better than that. The real question, well, where are they going to get all this production from? You can't rely on Travis Kelsey to have a 1200 yard season and catch 14 touchdowns. He could turn back the clock and do it. But how much are they going to rely on Kenneth Walker to kind of, you know, bring them along. And like you said, I mean, that was a massive part of their offense last year was my home's brushing. And I think that is going to be tapered down quite a bit coming off the injury. The Broncos, I mean, you know, there's we know how good their defense is. Jalen Wattles a huge get. And then the chargers. I mean, it's the same thing. I you could convince me you'd have to do a little bit more for the Raiders, but you could convince me that any of these teams could win this division this year, which, you know, I don't know how many divisions in the NFL, you can say that about. So I'm very excited to see how the AFC West plays out. All right, Chefs, he let's move to the NFC now starting with the NFC East and the Dallas Cowboys. Well, here's a team that has enough talent again to make a deep playoff run. And everybody knows the Dallas Cowboy defense has been under fire and in question. And what do the Dallas Cowboys do? They went out and they dramatically upgraded their defense, which has to give people hope. It's not just coaches, it's players. There's a new defensive coordinator, Christian Parker, who they hired away from Philadelphia. Christian Parker is learned under Vic Fangio. He's the Cowboys are hoping that he takes just some of Fangio's methods and madness to Dallas. They go out and they draft playmakers at the top of the draft. Caleb Downs to play safety. Malachi Lawrence to rush the passer. They added a safety and free agency, Jalen Thompson, who cannot be overlooked going to be a factor. New coaches, new players, new look defense. And if this defense is as improved as Dallas thinks, then Dallas becomes dangerous for the 2026 season. Okay, what about the giants? Malik neighbors. How is his knee? I know we saw cam scatterboot overrottate on that backflip this past weekend and wipe out. Okay, they need him to be healthy. They really need Malik neighbors healthy and they really need their quarterback Jackson Dork to stay healthy. Those are the two key offense cam scatterboot as a certain spirit and energy to this team. Just like Jackson Dork does. Like this team, if it has its young players is going to be amazing. Like they bring energy and juice, but there are durability and health question marks about them at this time. We'll see if they can answer them. They go get Arvel Reese in the draft. He should make a big impact as well. And of course, the new head coach, John Harbaugh, should make a big difference in New York. This should be a better team. Wouldn't surprise me if they make a playoff run. Okay, what about the Philadelphia Eagles? Look, everybody's talked about the new offensive coordinator Sean Mangan coming in. Everybody knew they needed to address that area. They went out and they hired Sean Mangan. But let me just say this, Sean Mangan still is not called an NFL game. He has not done that. We talked about it with Declan, Dorel and Baltimore. A lot of these new offensive coordinators. What do they do when the lights come on and they're actually in a game situation and they've never called a play? It's sort of like the first time you go on TV. You might know the material, but you've never been in front of a camera. You've never known what it's like to do a live shot. And now these guys are standing there and they're going to be underscrupening. Everybody's going to be watching what they're doing. And it's not just it's not just Sean Mangan. We need to remember that the Eagles lost their legendary offensive line coach Jeff Stoutlin as well. So they have a new offensive line coach coming in. That is one of the most difficult and important assistant coaching positions across football, the offensive line. No, no Jeff Stoutlin. Let's see how that impacts Philadelphia's offensive line. Okay, and let's close out the NFC East with the commanders. I think that they went out and they hired new offensive coordinator David Blow to help elevate Jaden Daniels. Last year was a massive disappointment. We know how good Jaden Daniels can be, but we've forgotten it almost because last year was such a bag year. He got hurt. The talent fell off. The defense was terrible. Team went out made a lot of changes. And this is a franchise that it completely turned it around. It felt like a step back last year. Time for this team to get back on track with Dan Quinn as the hate coach with Terry McClure and tab no issues. Like that was one of the major storylines last year. Terry McClure and missing camp, not happy. Wanted a contract. Got the contract. Wasn't healthy. Wasn't able to be integrated into the offense. That's not going to be an issue this year. I think McClure has a big year. Yeah, I feel like we talk about the NFC East the the same way every single year. You know, they're obviously the Cowboys did get much better. There's no question about that. Will this be the the year that dad. finally, you know, maybe wins an MVP or is at the end of the year in that conversation because yes, the defense matters, but ultimately, you know, like they're going to go as the offense goes. Now that, I mean, they can't be as poor on defenses they were last year, but their offense is so explosive. The Eagles, that's one of, I mean, we're going to, we're going to ride the wave of that every single week. You know, that chances are they're going to go 11 and six. The sky is going to fall multiple times during the season. The giants, I mean, kind of the same thing. I feel like we've been, and now granted, it is different with Harbaugh being there now. I think that it adds a level of legitimacy that they haven't had in several years. I think it would be better for the league as a whole if they make a playoff run. It's always better when you have a New York team that is kind of in the thick of the things. And like I said, the commanders, I mean, how we're not too far removed from them being in the NFC championship. So was that kind of just a fluke or is, is Jaden Daniels going to kind of take that next step? Because like you said, he was hurt for most of last year. I think he got hurt in that Thursday night game against the Packers in week two and was kind of just never the same after that. So we'll see, you know, we're definitely not going to be grasping its straws for things to talk about when it comes to the NFC East. So we'll follow this division very closely this year. Let's move on to the NFC North, Chefty. And let's start with the Chicago Bears. Well, let me say this before I get to the Bears since 2021, all four teams the NFC North have won the division. That's only the second time since 1970 that all four teams have won that division, every team in the division. So there's been a lot of balance. Any team is capable of jumping up and winning the division. And last year Chicago did it. And they did it largely because they forced a league high 33 turnovers. As good as they were, it's difficult to think that that's going to happen again, which tells me that Caleb Williams will have to play even better. And he should be better in a second year under hate coach Ben Johnson. They got to run the ball better with Deandre Swift and Kalmanon guy. And they did that great last year, but we'll have to be even better this year. They gave up 24.4 points per game last year. Got all the turnovers this year. I'll bet you the turnovers drop. And the points per game is going to also have to drop to keep up with what they did last year. Okay, what about the Detroit Lions? I think this is all about the Lions offensive line. Let's remember, Taylor Decker didn't want to come back. They moved Penne Soule to left tackle. They drafted rookie right tackle Blake Miller in the first round. And this is a team that was so close, you wonder, you wonder if it missed that window that it had a couple of years ago when they were in the NFC championship game in San Francisco. Should have won that game didn't get it done. And they haven't not been able to get back to that point yet. Again, a team with Jamira Gibbs and Aman Ross St. Brown and Jameson Williams and Penne Soule, they're loaded. They're loaded. But the division is tough. And I don't know if the Lions are just as good as they were a couple of years ago when they were ascending and rising up and dangerous. I still think they're really good team. Anyone come in the division, but they've got some questions to answer like everybody else. About the Green Bay Packers. Well, we're not going to get Mike Parsons back till later in the season. He's going to miss, I don't know, the first three, four, five, six games. Maybe start the year on pub, IR or whatever it is that they decide to do with Mike Parsons, while he recovers from his ACL. They know they need him for the second half of the season. Also, some major wide receiver moves here, right? Romeo, dobs, moves on to New England. They resign, Jaden, read. They resign, Christian Watson. I would imagine they're going to get a new deal done for Tucker Kraft at some point in time. This offense is going to need to step up in that regard. And of course, are there any lingering legal issues around Josh Jacobs? That was a murky situation. We still haven't heard the final resolution of it. Maybe it's something. Maybe it's nothing. I don't know yet. But they certainly need Josh Jacobs. If they don't, more Sean Lloyd becomes interesting because he's never been able to contribute anything, former second round traffic, very talented, never healthy, need him if Josh Jacobs is not there. And what about the Minnesota Vikings? All about the Vikings quarterback situation, right? I think everybody expects that Kyle Murray is going to be the guy in Minnesota. But I'm not ready to write off J. Jim McCarthy yet. He was hurt his first year, battled injury a second year, offensive launch struggled. Defense was not what it was. I think it was a team wide issue. Now, J. Jim McCarthy has to get better. I'm sure he knows he has to be better. But Kyle Murray looks like he also could be the latest reclamation quarterback project where we've seen Sam Donald Rehab his career maker Mayfield, Rehab his career Daniel Jones Rehab his career quarterbacks were written off in a certain French I was going to thrive elsewhere. Would anybody be surprised if that happened with Kyle Murray this year in Minnesota? I don't think anybody would. But again, they're saying it's an open quarterback competition despite the fact that I think a lot of people across the league believe that Kyle Murray will be the guy. Yeah, I mean, like like a lot of these other divisions, I think the NFC North is very similar in terms of how we talk about it every year. It would not sub, I think it would surprise me if the Vikings wanted vision outside of that Packers Lions Bears. I could see any of those teams winning the Lions. Like you said, they're about as talented as as a team as there is in the NFL. And last year was so disappointing with them not making the playoffs. The Bears, I agree. Everything. I mean, it's, you know, that's kind of the law of averages. You know, they're probably not going to turn the ball over or have teams turn the ball over against them the way they did last year. Their defense has to get better. But another year of Caleb Williams, he was unbelievable down the stretch with the Packers. You hit the nail on the head. They need Mike Parsons back. But also, you know, I, you look at the stats for Jordan love and he is right up there in the, you know, top five quarterbacks in the NFL. But they need to completely take the reins off and kind of give him the keys to the car. And he needs to go, he needs to have an MVP type season for them to go to the places they want to go to. So it'll be very interesting what happens with the Packers. And then I think you're right. I think we're all kind of just waiting to see what happens with the Vikings. And we all trust Kevin O'Connell. So whatever decision is made there at quarterback, I think we'll, uh, fans will be okay with it and we'll kind of agree. And let's also remember they made a change at GM. Quasig off the Mensa went back to San Francisco. They brought in Nolan Teasley from Seattle. He didn't draft. Here's your McCarthy. He didn't sign in Kyle and Murray. But he's there now. Let's see what happens. And if that is any type of influence over what they decide to do a quarterback. Exactly. Well said. All right, Jeff, let's move to the NFC South and let's start with the Falcons. I quarterback battle to a tongue of my lower Michael Pennix. Now Michael Pennix is coming up that knee injury. He was the former first run Draft pick. But again, their general manager in cutting him Matt Ryan, they didn't draft Michael Pennix. The head coach Kevin Stofansky didn't draft Michael Pennix. Those guys did acquire to a tongue of my lower. And I did hear Kevin Stofansky praise to a during the offseason, talking about how impressed he was with his accuracy and how accuracy might be the most important attribute a quarterback could have. When I heard Stofansky speak in glowing terms about to I said to myself, I think that's a little hint as to where this quarterback battle could be headed. We have to see how Michael Pennix is bouncing back from that knee injury. They'll have an open competition. But again, new regime, new staff, new everything. Let's see how that plays out. What about the Panthers? Look, they're bouncing off a big year last year. We have the Bryce quarterback situation. They did not sign him to a new extension yet. That is lingering out there. So is he the long term starter or is he in the last year? I think that's a big year for Bryce young to step forward. They also lose Rico Dowdell to the Pittsburgh Steelers and have Chuba Hubbard as they're starting running back. Now a lot of people forget the Chuba was outstanding. Like really good until Rico Dowdell cut into his workload. They have Jonathan Brooks, former high pick, bouncing back off a knee injury. Let's see the type of impact he has. And they have some good wider receivers. It's a pretty good team. And they won the division last year. The division last year we decided in the last week at a tiebreaker when Atlanta beat New Orleans, which was kind of weird. The Falcons beat the Saints, which enabled the Panthers to win the division over the box. But that tells you exactly how tight this division sometimes can be. And we'll see how it plays out for Carolina. Let's go down to New Orleans and the Saints. I like this team. I like this team is a sleeper this year. I like Tyler Schuck. I like some of the young receivers. They add Travis HN at running back to compliment Alvin Camara. The Saints to me feel a little bit like the Patriots last year. That's kind of the way I feel about them being having the potential to make a playoff run. Now it doesn't mean they will. Tampa's good. Carolina's good. Atlanta should be better. But I think the Saints can be one of these teams, one of the surprise teams that we get every year this season. And let's close out the NFC South with the Bucks. The Baker contract. It's an issue right now. He has put an artificial deadline of the starter trainer camp on the Bucks to resign him. Now Now the Buccaneers have a history of resigning players during camp. So is Baker going to be flexible? I can't imagine if they don't have them signed by the first day of training camp that if talks are heating up, he's going to say, no, I said it's the first day of training. No, all you have to do is say, look, we started talking. We're going to continue talks. And I would imagine they figure out a way both sides to get a deal done. The deal will be somewhere about $50 million a year. If I had to guess, they want to keep Baker. I think Baker wants to be there. As money's worth more and far to no state tax. So to me, they'll figure out a way to do it. It may not be by the start of training camp, which is the deadline that Baker has imposed. But I think they want to keep him. And the Vita Vaya one is also interesting because he also wants a new contract. And let's not forget that they're trying to replace Mike Evans, who's been such a long time fixture for this organization. He's now in San Francisco, so they need Ameca Abuca and Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan and some of these other young White receivers to step up. Yeah, I think it's easy just to say, hey, the bucks are the betting favorite win this division. We expect the bucks to win this division. They have a lot of talent. But I agree. I'm bullish on the Panthers and the Saints. I mean, I think the Saints, the way they closed the season last year, if they can get, if they can start decent. I mean, what was it last year? I think they lost their first six games. I can't remember what it was, but it was bad. But if you can get that fan base behind you, that is one of the true, legitimate home field advantages in the NFL when that stadium is rocking down there in New Orleans. I like the Panthers. I like what they've done. They're a tough team to play. A lot of people forget. I mean, they took the Rams to the brink of death in the playoffs. Probably should have won that game. And they didn't. They're not talking about them much differently had that happened because, you know, I think a lot of people thought during the playoff run last year, even after the Seahawks won. A lot of people thought the Rams were the best team in the NFL. So we'll see. This is going to be a fun division this year, I think, because this, again, this is one of those divisions where it feels like it comes down to the last week of the season. And there are three teams still in contention. We have these wild tie breakers and they have a lot to play for still. So I'm very excited to see how the NFC South plays out this year. All right, Chefty. Let's wrap things up with the NFC West starting with the Cardinals. Well, it's interesting, Todd, because on Wednesday, July 22nd, the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers become the first teams to report in full to training camp, which means that all Cardinals veterans are required to report on Wednesday, which means we're going to get some clarity on Jacobi Berset's situation. Didn't show up during the offseason program, other than to the mandatory mini camp. So he couldn't be fine. Look, here's what I think is going to happen. Jacobi Berset has to be there to avoid being fine. He's under contract. So he reports he may not go through drills, but he'll report new coaching staff. And these two sides have to figure out a solution so that Jacobi Berset can then go into camp. I would think he's the favorite to win the job, but they did sign Gardner Menshu. They did draft Carson Beck. They do have a few different quarterbacks there to go along with their new first round draft, but Jeremiah love. So there's some excitement there. You don't want to dampen it with a holdout of your leader and your quarterback. So these sides, I would think, will figure it out. And Jacobi Berset and the Cardinals are due into training camp on Wednesday. All right, let's go to the best team on paper in the NFL right now, the Los Angeles Rams. The single most intriguing storyline training camp question is whether Aaron Donald is going to come back and where we're currently at tie is this. Aaron Donald is essentially trying to get himself ready for the upcoming season. I don't think and it doesn't sound like we're going to get an immediate answer or an immediate signing of Aaron Donald. He is too busy trying to get himself back into football shape to try to regain some of the form that he might have lost in two years away from football. And he's not going to come back until he feels like he's ready to be Aaron Donald again, a version of Aaron Donald again. And so if it takes all summer long for him to get into football shape, train, run around, you may not hear about an Aaron Donald deal until later this summer. In fact, at this point, it sounds like it would be a surprise to see an Aaron Donald deal sooner. And not only that, he currently is under contract to the Rams for $30 million. And I don't know what the Rams are going to pay him $30 million as much as he'd like to make that. So if he wants to come back, all he has to do is say, I want to come back and then it would be up to the Rams to sit down with Donald to come up with a compromised contract solution that would work for both sides. So there's work to be done from both of them. Donald needs to get back in football shape, which it sounds like he is working to do and to make the determination that he can be the version of himself that he's comfortable with, that he's ready to put out there on the football field. And if he can do that, he'll come back. And if he can come back, then he and the Rams have to sit down and figure out a contract because he currently has a year and 30 million left on his current deal. So there are some unresolved issues. And it doesn't sound like there will be a solution to this. Any time by the start of camp. Yeah, that's the decision we're all waiting on with Bated Breath. And we will take it to do so. Well, I think we all feel like it's moving a certain way. Right. Right. Right. My point is there are steps to this. There are incremental steps and it doesn't sound like it's going to move fast. And we may not see Donald back in a Rams uniform until early this season. Okay. All right. Well, that's a good tidbit to have. Let's move on to the San Francisco 49ers. Look, a lot of unresolved issues here. We still have to see if Brandon I.U.K. is going to apply for reinstatement. George Kato is coming back from his injury and he feels like he's going to be ready for that regular season opener in Australia against the Rams. But the 49ers may be very careful. And let's see if he can make it back. I don't think it's a given just yet. They have a new defense coordinator in Rahim Morris, who will be their fifth different defensive coordinator in the past five years. Now they love Rahim Morris. They've wanted him to do that job for a while. I think Kyle Shannon is very happy to have him back there. But it's another new defensive coordinator as they try to work in with some of the other players coming back from knee injuries like their former first round draft pick, McKell Williams. A lot of players trying to bounce back, but they do have Mike Evans and that should be a big boost for the offense. All right, Chef Dean. Last but not least, the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. I think it's too obvious to purchase here, Ty. Brian Kubiak, the offensive coordinator goes and they bring in Brian Flurry, the Titans coach from San Francisco, who again, has been called plays in an NFL game. Notice the theme there. Brian Flurry may be a great offensive coordinator. Nobody knows whether he'll be a great play caller and how that will work on game day. Clint Kubiak was a great play caller. It got him the job as the Las Vegas Raiders head coach. And of course, Kenneth Walker, the Super Bowl MVP goes on to Kansas City. They draft Giderium price in the first round. They have George Halani. They have a manual Wilson, the free agent they signed from Green Bay and Zach Sharp, nice coming off an ACL. So this is a team that also has some offensive question marks that it has to handle, but we know how tough and how good Seattle is. They're defending World Champs. Yeah, and that's what's crazy is, you know, all off season. What's kind of all we talked about was the Rams and rightfully so you trade for Miles Garrett, you know, all the stuff with Ty Simpson getting drafted. They were the storyline of the off season. And that was before Aaron Donald considered coming out of retirement because on paper, they do look like a super team. They do look like the best team in the NFL, but lo and behold, I mean, it's not like the Seahawks overnight turned into a pumpkin. You know, they won the Super Bowl last year. Their defense is still very tough. They out outside of a few of those guys, you mentioned, they return a lot of the same guys. So once again, I can't wait to see how this division plays out because the 49ers are no slouch either. You know, they're tough out. We know these division games are always very difficult, but it does feel like this season is kind of the Rams for the taking, especially with the Super Bowl being in LA. Well, you know what Ty, here's the great part. We just listed all these training camp storylines and there's going to be something else that emerges that we don't even see. Like last summer, Terri McClaurne was the obvious one going in and all of a sudden lo and behold, in late July early August, it became apparent, whoa, Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys might not be staying together. And that was that last year. That was last year. That became the story of the summer. And I don't know what that's going to be. Like I think back to the time I'll never forget it because I was walking into a doctor's office for a doctor's appointment and I get a text that Teddy Bridgewater just went down in Minnesota. He goes down. That leads to the Sam Bradford trade. Like there's always something that happens that becomes sort of the story of training camp. And there'll be another one this summer and that's the beauty of it. We're about to get underway on Tuesday, July 28th. Everybody will be back in camp and we will see how it all unfolds and what does become. The major storyline aside from all the story lines that we just brought up today. Yeah, and like you said, we will get that stuff. Hopefully, obviously you pray, hey, no injuries. Everybody's going to stay healthy. We're going to go into this season with all the big names that we know and we love and we can't wait to watch play. but that's not the reality of the NFL. And there are gonna be some situations where, like you said, and in a month from now, we're gonna be saying, man, can you remember where we were on July 21st and where we are now on August 21st, a couple of weeks before the season starts? - You know what, it's like each week, me and a couple of buddies from work, we do these DFS golf rosters, okay? And you feel like you're rostering, you think you have it figured out. I like this guy, this guy, this guy. Like we all had Justin Rose in the British Open. And then the British Open starts, and Justin Rose is seven over, you know, through the first two days and ain't making the cut. And you're like, whoa, whoa, whoa. I thought this team was supposed, this guy was supposed to be good. This team was supposed to be good. Things happen, things change. It doesn't go the way you thought, in the end, Cam Young was there. I thought he might be there. Some of the other guys were there. You thought they might be there, but Ryan Fox wins the British Open. And there's gonna be a Ryan Fox in football. And there's gonna be somebody that we think is gonna be good. That's gonna be Justin Rose. And that's sports. It just never goes exactly the way we think. - And that's why sports are the best. Because we have all these plans. And ultimately, until we put the, until we spot the ball out there, none of this stuff matters. - And that's why we're gonna be in the spot every week to break it down with all the insights and information and interviews. All right, Ty, great job today. Looking ahead to the all 32s, training camp storylines for all 32 teams. Great job by you, great job by our producer Dan Stanzek, Ben Smith. And thank you to all the people tuning in to the Adam Schaefter podcast. Please remember to rate, review and subscribe to the Adam Schaefter podcast. We'll be back in this spot next week to go over some of these storylines as they unfold in training camp. And until then, have a great week everybody. And we'll stay safe. (upbeat music)