2026 NFC South Preview

New Orleans Saints

Every season there’s at least one team that goes from last to first in their division and I think the Saints pull it off this season. The NFC South wasn’t great last year with a 3-way tie at the top with all three teams being 8-9. The Saints finished 6-11 but I think they look like a team on the rise. The coaching staff is in year two, the offensive line should be healthier and better, Tyler Shough looked like a legitimate starting QB, and the defense can be a little better.

Shough turned out to be a great investment of second-round pick. He wasn’t some all-world QB as a rookie, but he showed plenty of promise to make the team avoid looking for another QB this off season. The team added players to the offense to help round it out both on the offensive line and at the skill positions. Kellen Moore knows how to put together an offensive game plan and now they might just have all the pieces they need to really make it work. They are doing their best to give Shough what he needs to be a good QB, he has the skills, now he just has to put it all together.

Chris Olave was coming back last season from a number of concussions and no one was real sure what he was going to be last year, turns out, he was really good. He had 100 catches for over 1100 yards and he was basically a one-man show at WR. The team still has Devaughn Vele, who they like, but he’s coming off injury. They drafted Jordyn Tyson in the top ten despite some injury concerns, unfortunately those concerns have followed him and he starts the season on IR. Their other rookie WR Bryce Lance will start with Olave and Vele. TE Juwan Johnson is a good pass catcher and proved that last year with 77 catches. He shouldn’t have to carry so much of the pass game and the team signed Noah Fant and drafted Oscar Delp to remake the TE group overall. Johnson will still be a big part of the passing offense just hopefully not at such a volume.

The offensive line was pretty good last year when healthy, but they ran into depth problems when guys got banged up and guard was a sore spot. They signed LG David Edwards to fill the hole and putting him next to second-year LT Kelvin Banks should do wonders for that side of the line. Edwards is a reliable veteran presence they didn’t have next to Banks last season. They need C Eric McCoy and RG Cesar Ruiz to be healthy and be their best selves. They’re good players when playing at their best. RT Taliese Fuaga is a good RT, but he’ll be even better with more consistency from the whole group.

The big off season offensive signing for the Saints was RB Travis Etienne coming over from Jacksonville. Etienne had his best rushing season since his rookie year and looked like a good all-around back. The Saints still have Alvin Kamara but he’s 31 and just not as effective as he once was. They also have Kendre Miller as their third back, he’ll fill in fine while Kamara works his way back. Etienne is going to be an upgrade over what Kamara gave them in the run game last year and between the two of them, they should be deadly as pass catchers.

The defense is better than it gets credit for but it’s not one of the elite units in the league. If the offense can take a step forward this season, they don’t need the defense to be great, just be solid. Brandan Staley is the defensive coordinator and did a good job with the players he has to work with. They didn’t add much in the off season on defense so it’s up to Staley to get more out of the guys he has going into his second year with them.

Up front, the team re-signed Cameron Jordan who is 37 years old and probably shouldn’t be a full-time player at this point, but he played in 17 games last year and had 10.5 sacks. It’s hard to argue with that production. Davon Godchaux is the starting NT and for now Nathan Sheppard or Colby Wooden is the other starter. Wooden would be some youth up front because everyone is on the wrong side of 30. Bryan Bresee was the one younger starter but he’s out for season with an injury. The drafted DT Christen Miller and he should eventually supplant Godchaux as the NT.

At LB, Demario Davis signed with the Jets so there’s a big change happening inside. They return Pete Werner, but they also signed Kaden Ellis who comes back to New Orleans after spending a few years in Atlanta. Ellis is no spring chicken but he’s a talented player who brings a different skill set than Davis had. Ellis can be an incredibly effective blitzer if used properly. OLB Chase Young has never been the superstar he was supposed to be after going second overall in the draft, but he had 10 sacks last season and is good pass rusher and underrated all-around edge defender. On the other side, Carl Granderson is a solid player on the opposite side, but they also signed Anfernee Jennings as depth. They traded for Tyree Wilson from the Raiders, and he could figure in somewhere on the edge.

The secondary has some very good young talent. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry isn’t a top-level CB1, but he’s played pretty well since taking over that spot. Quincy Riley has potential as the opposite CB and Jonas Sanker was rookie last season who can handle the slot. Justin Reid and Julian Blackmon are the veteran safeties tying the unit together. Sanker should see more action this year as he develops. This group can be pretty good, and they’ll have some depth if Martin Emerson can be healthy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs were a MASH unit last season, and they did bring in some re-enforcements, especially on defense. On offense, they seem to be hoping they get healthy and that Emeka Egbuka can actually replace Mike Evans since he bolted in free agency. The Bucs might have the best roster in the NFC South but Todd Bowles as the head coach and Zac Robinson as another new offensive coordinator does not inspire confidence. Bowles seemed to barely survive as the coach last year and if he doesn’t get a Dave Canales/Liam Coen type of offensive player caller season from Robinson, he probably doesn’t survive the year. I have no reason to believe Robinson is that level of play caller.

Baker Mayfield started the season on fire last year, but it barely lasted a month and then the wheels came off. Injuries piled up on the offensive line and at WR and the running game was nowhere to be found after Bucky Irving was hurt. Mike Evans decided it was time to move on from the Bucs, and it felt a bit like he was bailing on the Todd Bowles experience. The Bucs may be bailing on the Baker Mayfield experience given their reticence to give Mayfield an extension as he turned 31 this spring and injuries may be catching up with him.

The WR group still has plenty of talent even with Mike Evans in San Francisco. Chris Godwin is trying to come back fully healthy after fighting a few ailments in the last few seasons. Emeka Egbuka looked like a star for six weeks or so last year and then things went sideways with the offense and he lost his mojo. That coincided with him having an injury too. Jalen McMillan is a good player and should get more time in the slot as they use Godwin in different ways. I even like Tez Johnson after last year and Ted Hurst is a nice pickup from the draft. TE Cade Otten was re-signed but they didn’t do anything else at TE.

The offensive line is led by LT Tristan Wirfs, one of the best offensive linemen in the entire league at any position. Wirfs was a little banged up last year but when he’s on, he has very few peers across the league. C Graham Barton is developing into a very good player too. RT Luke Goedeke is good when healthy and the team hopes RG Cody Mauch comes back healthy. LG Ben Bredeson is fine and holds down his spot for now.

The run game was a mess last year and a lot had to do with Bucky Irving just never being healthy. They let Rachaad White go in free agency and picked up Kenneth Gainwell who was excellent last year in Pittsburgh. He’s not a every down type of RB but he’s a very useful playmaker and will add an element to the run game. The team needs a better run game if they want the Robinson and Mayfield pairing to help fix the passing game.

The defense needed an influx of talent if they are going to keep running the same thing Bowles has been running for years. The scheme works but only if you have guys who can get the job done. I really like three rookies they added, not just for their talent but for the attitude they will bring to the defense. Bowles needs some tone setters, and they found some in the draft.

NT Vita Vea was unhappy with his contract before training camp and they compromised on a one-year fix but that’s just kicking the can down the road. Considering how important he is to what they do up front, they need him happy and playing. Calijah Kancey hasn’t lived up to his billing at this point and a lot of that has to do with injuries. When healthy, he’s solid. Logan Hall left in free agency, but they signed A’Shawn Robinson to fill the void. Robinson is a bigger body who should fill the role nicely.

The pass rush wasn’t good last year and counting on Yaya Diaby to be your top pass rusher isn’t where you want to be. The Bucs realized that and drafted Reuben Bain Jr. after he fell to them in round one, that was fortunate for them. Bain isn’t an ideal sized edge rusher but he’s a relentless player who’s going to be their top guy. At ILB, Lavonta David finally retired so they brought in some veterans to help fill the void. They still like SirVocea Dennis, but Alex Anzalone was signed to be the other ILB, and they also signed Christian Rozeboom. Drafting Josiah Trotter was also a big addition. He’s one of the tone setters they need. He’s a run stuffing demon and he’ll be excellent in his role early.

The secondary got most of its help last season with Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish being drafted in 2025. Those two should be starters this year and be counted on for bigger contributions. Zyon McCollum is their top CB and he’s solid if unspectacular. Antoine Winfield Jr. is the leader of this secondary and really this whole defense now that David is retired. Tykee Smith will start at the other safety spot; he’s a versatile defender they can use at nickel. The one draft pick I can see contributing is Keionte Scott from Miami. He’s not the biggest or fastest DB but he’ll bring an attitude that will fit right in with Bain, Trotter, and Winfield, the guys who have to set the tone if this defense is going to be any good.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers won this division last season by winning the lamest 3-way tie in NFL history and taking the division with an 8-9 record. Then they went into the playoffs and gave the Rams everything they could handle. They made some very important additions on defense that could have major upside for them. On offense, this team goes as far as Bryce Young takes them. That’s the issue, how far can they go with Bryce Young at QB? They need a clear answer this year, they need to know if they need to move on.

The good news is that Bryce Young has gotten better each of his first three seasons in the NFL, the bad news is his best seasons was 23 TDs, 11 INTs, and just above 63% completion percentage. Those numbers are pedestrian at best and even with a star WR like Tetairoa McMillan, he’s still just a guy. The team seems to win in spite of his limitations and it seems like they are preparing to move on if they don’t see a real leap this season, and I don’t think we get that leap.

Tetairoa McMillan won offensive rookie of the year with 70 catches and over 1000 yards and everyone understood how good that was considering his QB. McMillan is a legitimate WR1 and the team also loves Jalen Coker, the 2024 undrafted free agent WR who has been quite good for them. Former first round pick Xavier Legette has yet to live up to the hype, but he’ll be the other WR because they don’t have great options. They drafted Chris Brazzell II in round three this year but he’s already out for the year with an injury. At this point, Legette only has to hold off Jimmy Horn Jr and John Metchie III. Their TEs are Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and they signed Darren Waller hoping for the best.

The offensive line is a work in progress. LT Ikem Ekwonu will miss most of the year coming off a torn patellar tendon. The team signed Rasheed Walker as a free agent and drafted Monroe Freeling to cover their bases. Then RT Taylor Moton ended up with blood clots over the summer and he’s out indefinitely. That means both Walker and Freeling will start, Walker at LT and Freeling at RT. They get Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt back and guard and need both to be healthy. Luke Fortner resurrected his career in New Orleans last year as a fill in and now, he’s penciled in to start at center but he’s going to have to hold off rookie Sam Hecht.

The running game has Chuba Hubbard who is one of the more unsung heroes of the league, he’s just a good RB. He didn’t have a great season last year as he was banged up and they had Rico Dowdle who stepped in and played great. Dowdle left for Pittsburgh, so the ball goes back to Hubbard full-time. Jonathan Brooks is a talented back they drafted two years ago but he’s been injured a lot and there’s no guarantee what he can give them. Trevor Etienne is a nice option as a third-down back.

Ejiro Evero is a very bright defensive mind and it’s nice that the Panthers finally decided to invest in the defensive personnel to help him out. Derrick Brown has been very good when he’s been able to play and while the team lost A’Shawn Robinson, they have solid players beside Brown. Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton were two big free agent signings a couple of seasons ago and it would be nice if they paid off. However, Wharton is dealing with a neck injury, so rookie Lee Hunter is going to get a look up front. Cam Jackson is another big body they hope to use more this season.

The team wasn’t very good rushing the passer last season, and were mostly relying on rookies they had just drafted. This season they went out and spent big money to bring in Jaelen Phillips. Phillips has had his injury issues but he generates pressure and that is something this team needs, even if his sack totals aren’t great. Nic Scourton was supposed to be the other edge rusher, but he tore his ACL and is out for the year. That leaves Patrick Jones II and second-year man Princely Umanmielen trying to be the other guy. The team also invested heavily at ILB by signing Devin Lloyd. Lloyd is a massive upgrade. It looked like Claudin Cherelus was going to be the other ILB until the team signed Bobby Okereke just before the season. He’s a veteran who should play quickly once he picks up the system.

CB Jaycee Horn got a big contract extension before last season and he basically lived up to it, that’s some good news. The better news was that bargain veteran signing Mike Jackson played great at the other CB spot too. Horn and Jackson are an excellent duo, and they hope they have upgraded the safety spots to complement the CBs. Tre’von Moehrig was very good last year but they had a big hole next to him. The team signed Nick Scott as a veteran to play opposite Moehrig. They also drafted Zakee Wheatley, and they hope Lathan Ransom takes a step this season. Chau Smith-Wade handles the nickel duties, but the team also drafted Will Lee III in the draft and he’s the type of late round flyer who could really pay off. He’s an excellent outside CB and that could allow Horn to play some in the slot.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons season was all over the place last year and the organization made some wholesale changes in the off season. Matt Ryan is the new team president while Ian Cunningham is the new GM. Cunningham has a great reputation as a talent evaluator so that should help. They hired Kevin Stefanski as the new head coach; he’s a guy who did more with less in Cleveland and did the best he could with a bad QB situation. His QB situation in Atlanta isn’t much better, but they aren’t locked into anything long-term. It’s a transition year for the offense; the defense is looking to build on a solid year last season but it’s not off to a great start.

Michael Penix Jr. was a high draft pick for the previous regime and he’s coming off an ACL tear, he’s not exactly set up for the long haul in Atlanta. The team signed Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year deal as a stop-gap measure. He’s been banged up in camp too and he’s not exactly the picture of health. Stefanski knows what it’s like to have a bad QB situation but at least he’s not locked into either one of these guys like he was to Deshaun Watson in Cleveland. The Falcons will muddle through this season and figure out QB in the off season. For now, it looks like Tua was so bad in training camp that he may have lost the starting job to Penix, who didn’t really practice until about a week ago.

The team does have a legitimate WR1 in Drake London and they can build the passing game around him, but it would be nice if he had some help. When London goes crazy this season because his QBs suck, everyone give him a little grace. TE Kyle Pitts had a good year, and they brought him back and they need him to be a playmaker opposite London. The rest of the WR corps is suspect to say the least. They signed Jahan Dotson and brought back Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency, they don’t exactly scare anyone. Zachariah Branch was drafted in round three and should bring a nice speed element to the offense. He’s not very big and he’s not the most refined WR but he can make things happen with the ball in his hands.

LT Jake Matthews is 34 years old but he’s still the rock this offensive line is built around. He’s never been the flashiest player or the most dominant, he’s just always been good. LG Matt Bergeron is an emerging talent and just got an extension, he’s a good, young player. Ryan Neuzil is a guy they developed at center, and he does a good job. RG Chris Lindstrom is one of the highest paid guards in the league and he’s been very good in Atlanta. Kaleb McGary retired this off season after dealing with a lot of injuries throughout his career. They started Elijah Wilkinson last year when McGary missed the season, but he left for Arizona. They signed Chiefs castoff Jawaan Taylor, he’s not great but he’s not a terrible alternative. He should be at least as good as Wilkinson was and that’s at least playable.

The running game is in the very capable hands of one of the best RBs in the league, Bijan Robinson. They gave him a new contract, and he should be ready to go. They did lose Tyler Allegier who was a great short-yardage guy for them. They replaced him with Brian Robinson who spent last season in San Francisco. He didn’t play much behind Christian McCaffrey but maybe will get more carries in Stefanski’s offense. Tyler Goodson is a guy to watch out for, he outplayed Brian Robinson in the preseason and he signed to their practice squad.

Stefanski brought back defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich after he did a really good job with an undermanned defense last season. They were hoping to build on the young talent they drafted last season, but they are off to a tough start. James Pearce Jr. led the team in sacks last year as a rookie after they traded a first-round pick to move up to get him. He’s facing a lengthy suspension from his off-season criminal issues, and they could lose him for half the season. Then early in training camp, LB Jalon Walker tore his ACL and is out for the year, he was their other first-round pick that year and was another pass rusher they can’t afford to lose.

Up front, the team made an off season trade to pick up Maason Smith from Jacksonville to play NT, that’s probably not going to solve any problems. Then later in camp, they traded for Gervon Dexter from Chicago, he’s a talented player who can help once they get him up to speed. D’Shawn Hand is a good veteran to have around and Brandon Dorlus has looked solid in camp.

Losing Jalon Walker for the season and James Pearce Jr. for at least some part of the season puts the Falcons in a bind. Samson Ebukam, Azeez Ojulari, and Cameron Thomas are veterans they signed in the off season to give them depth, Ebukam will start with Thomas as a backup. Ojulari didn’t make the team. They signed Za’Darius Smith, who was retired last season, and he’ll start opposite Ebukam. Divine Deablo was a solid addition last year at ILB and this year they signed Christian Harris to be the other ILB. Both are undersized but are athletic and can run. They’re going to need the defensive line to keep them clean if they’re going to be effective. Without Walker and Pearce, rookie Harold Perkins could become an interesting piece. He was a pass rushing star early in his career at LSU, but he doesn’t have much size. If Ulbrich needs to be creative to create pass rush, Perkins may be the guy he looks to.

The secondary should be the strength of this defense. CB AJ Terrell is a legitimate CB1 in the league and he’s not even the best player in the backfield. SS Jessie Bates III is a star and one of the more underrated players in the league. They got him an excellent running mate in last year’s draft, FS Xavier Watts. Those two make life difficult for opposing QBs. The other CB spot was capably played by Mike Hughes last season but he’s just a solid veteran. The team drafted Billy Bowman to be their slot guy last year, he was playing well until he got hurt. They also drafted Avieon Terrell this year, he’s AJ’s brother and a very talented CB himself. He’s a bit undersized but he doesn’t back down from anyone. This group could be really great if the pass rush can help them out just a little.

2026 NFC East Preview

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles won the division last year and given the history of the NFC East that means they are unlikely to win it again, but they still look like the best team in the division. Last year wasn’t great on offense with their offensive line going through injury issues and their OC seemingly in over his head. Nick Siranni replaced his friend Kevin Patulo at OC with Sean Manninon, a guy who’s barely into his coaching career after a long career as a backup QB. Mannion is an unknown commodity as a play caller, but he can’t be much worse than what they had.

It will be interesting to see Jalen Hurts fit into Sean Mannion’s offense given Mannion is coming from Green Bay and Hurts doesn’t feel like a great fit in that style. The team also traded AJ Brown away and the best they can do to replace him is hope either Dontayvion Wicks, rookie Mekai Lemon, or free agent Hollywood Brown step into a prominent role. DeVonta Smith is going to be the new WR1 in this offense and he’s definitely talented enough to be that guy. It’s the group behind him that comes with questions. Dallas Goedert returns at TE and they drafted Eli Stowers, a truly elite athlete who has been called “unplayable” at this point, that’s not good. The passing game needs players to step up; the bigger question is whether Jalen Hurts can evolve as a QB and become the passer they need to make the offense work.

The offensive line was MASH unit last season, and it started with RT Lane Johnson and LG Landon Dickerson. When healthy those two are two of the best at their positions in the league and the dropoff to their backups is severe. LT Jordan Mailata had his worst year since he became a starter, and they are hoping he bounces back. C Cam Juergens is good, but the jury is still out on RG Tyler Steen. The biggest loss was offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. He left because they are moving to a new system and he was having to take a backseat to the new offensive staff. If the line has injury issues like last year or really misses Stoutland, things will go south quickly in Philly.

RB Saquon Barkley did his best behind a bad offensive line and in an offense that wasn’t exactly hitting on all cylinders. He had over 1100 yards but after his 2000-yard season a year earlier, it was a disappointing outcome. He’s still one of the most talented runners in football and Sean Mannion should be focused on getting the most out of him. Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are solid backups.

The defensive front for the Eagles has some of the best talent in the league. DT Jordan Davis stepped up last season when Jalen Carter was banged up and he played exceptionally well. The Eagles gave Davis a new contract and now it’s Carter’s turn to come back from his injury and show how great he can be. They gave Carter a new contract just before training camp and now he needs to stay healthy and show why he deserved it. Moro Ojomo stepped in for Milton Williams last season and played pretty well. Those three up front can be a dominate group.

The LB group can be great. ILB Zack Baun has been fantastic in Vic Fangio’s defense being used in many different ways. Jihad Campbell joins him as a full-time starter in year two and he’s another versatile LB who can be used all over the formation by Fangio. The team traded for Jonathan Greenard after losing Jaelen Phillips in free agency. Greenard was banged up last year but he’s very good when healthy. Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr. are two younger edge rushers the Eagles will be counting on opposite Greenard. Both are talented players who fill specific roles.

CB Quinyon Mitchell is emerging as one of the best in the game and they decided to get him some help, or at least they hope they got help. The other outside CB spot was a sore spot last year and they signed Riq Woolen to take the job. If he can hold it down, it allows Cooper DeJean to go back to being the nickel corner and this year the team plans on DeJean being a safety when they aren’t playing nickel. Marcus Epps and Andrew Makuba will be the other safeties the team uses. The team hopes with Mitchell, Woolen, and DeJean they can cover for any deficiencies they have at the other spots in the secondary.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys offense was fantastic last season under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer and first-time offensive coordinator Klayton Adams. On the other hand, the defense was atrocious and that’s why the team’s record wasn’t very good. Schottenheimer brought in Christian Parker from the Eagles to fix the defense and they made some significant moves on that side of the ball.

The offense didn’t make any significant changes. They franchise tagged WR George Pickens to be sure he returned and re-signed RB Javonte Williams. Dak Prescott is the engine of the offense and passing game should be a top unit again this season. Prescott and Schottenheimer seem to be a good partnership, and OC Klayton Adams has done an excellent job.

Pickens was fantastic last season and was actually more productive than CeeDee Lamb. The team isn’t looking to invest long-term in Pickens given his history but having him back this year is essential. Lamb missed some time last year and didn’t quite seem himself but he’s being paid like a WR1 and they should feature him again as long as he has no lingering issues. The passing game sets up everything for this team. TE Jake Ferguson is also a good weapon for Prescott, and they should continue to thrive with these guys back together.

The offense line still has some issues to sort out with LT Tyler Guyton and C Cooper Beebe having some injury issues. However, LG Tyler Smith is excellent, RT Terrence Steele bounced back a bit last year, and RG Tyler Booker was solid as a rookie. If the team can get the offensive line all playing together, the offense can be even better. They did trade for OT Broderick Jones from Pittsburgh, a former first-round pick, and he’s going to compete with Steele for the RT job. They also signed OT Wayna Morris who was cut by Atlanta as insurance, clearly, they aren’t sold on their OTs.

Javonte Williams resurrected his career after it was left for dead when he was in Denver. He carried the load for the team, and he still doesn’t have much help behind him. Williams has always been a talented player; in Dallas he is getting to showcase it. Second-year man Jaydon Blue was supposed to be the backup, but they cut him after camp, it was a bit of a surprise. They picked up Emari Demarcado who was cut by Kansas City, he’s a solid player but this is Williams’ job all the way.

While the offense didn’t need any outside help, the defense needed new blood at every level. Christian Parker studied under Vic Fangio for the last few years, and he knew he needed better players than the Cowboys had. Up front, the team traded for DT Kenny Clark before last season (the Micah Parsons deal), then traded for DT Quinnen Williams during the season, and signed Otito Ogbonnia in free agency. Clark is getting older but he’s still better than they had. Williams is still one of the better DTs in the league and Ogbonnia is a young DT who is still developing. These guys are an upgrade overall for the Cowboys.

They also traded for Rashan Gary as a new edge rusher. He hasn’t been as effective the last few years but he’s better than some of the guys the Cowboys have been using. Donovan Ezeiruaku had a good rookie season, but he had off season hip surgery so there is some question as to what he’ll look like this year. He’s an undersized edge rusher and if his speed or flexibility are compromised by his hip issue it could hurt his play. Rookie Malachi Lawrence and an aging Von Miller are the depth so Gary and Ezeiruaku need to be good. At ILB the Cowboys traded for Dee Winters and are hoping DeMarvion Overshown will finally be healthy. The ILB spot is going to be an interesting one for this defense.

The secondary has had a major overhaul. At CB, Colbie Durant will be one of the starting CBs, and the Cowboys hope DaRon Bland is the other, he’s had some injury issues. At safety, they signed Jalen Thompson in free agency and drafted Caleb Downs in round one. Downs is penciled in as the nickel for now but he’s too good to take off the field meaning there should be some three safety sets for this defense. Thompson and Downs should join Malik Hooker on the field plenty. Bland needs to rebound from a down year and Durant needs to be better otherwise the pass defense is going to suffer. The depth comes from Shavon Revel Jr. who is a talented player without much playing time and probably rookie Devin Moore, once they bring him off IR.

Washington Commanders

Everything went off the rails for the Commanders last season after making the NFC Championship game the year before. It started with Jayden Daniels getting injured and the season went downhill from there. Dan Quinn saw the writing on the wall, and he replaced both his offensive and defensive coordinators. It was probably the right thing to do but he replaced them with two guys who have never called plays on either side of the ball. OC David Blough is young, and they hope he’s one of the smart ones. DC Daronte Jones comes from Brian Flores’ staff in Minnesota; they need him to have a Flores-like effect on the defense.

David Blough’s job will be a lot easier if he can keep Daniels on the field, that’s easier said than done. Daniels is a supreme athlete but he’s also way too skinny to be taking the type of hits he takes on a regular basis. Daniels has to look out for himself better and realize how important he is to the offense. This offense only goes as far as he takes them, he can’t take them anywhere from the sidelines.

The offensive line was actually pretty good but now they have Nick Allegretti replacing Tyler Biadasz at center and Allegretti is a 30-year-old guy who’s never started at center before. He also missed a lot of training camp with an injury. Biadasz wasn’t a superstar, but he is a good center. LT Laremy Tunsil was fantastic last season, but he tore his triceps and will miss most of the year. Former starter, Brandon Coleman, steps back into LT and there’s a reason they replaced him at that position. RT Josh Conerly Jr. had his growing pains as a rookie last season, but he should continue to develop. RG Sam Cosmi is solid, and LG Chris Paul was fine last year.

The skill positions leave something to be desired. WR Terry McLaurin was a shell of himself last year dealing with injuries and they need him healthy and playing his best or this gets ugly fast. Treylon Burks was going to be the other starter, but the team wisely signed Stefon Diggs and he should be an excellent WR2 as long as McLaurin can return to form. He wasn’t flashy for the Patriots last season, but he was reliable and he’s always been that for young QBs. Rookie Antonio Williams is the third WR and will play in the slot, but that’s also a spot Diggs plays well from. At TE they signed Chig Okonkwo from Tennessee, he’s probably their third-best pass catcher at this point.

At RB, Jacory Croskey-Merritt won the starting job out of camp, and they have high hopes for him. He’s not the most talented player but he gives them a nice skill set to use. Rachaad White is the backup, he’s a pass catching back who’s solid on third down. Rooke Kaytron Allen is a guy I would watch out for; he’s a lead back type of player. He can handle a heavy workload and at the very least, he’s the short yardage back for now.

The offense definitely has some holes and that’s because the Commanders spent most of the off season overhauling their defense, that was a good idea. They were awful last season, and they return very few starters and most of the ones they do will have competition. Up front they return Javon Kinlaw and Daron Payne, but Tim Settle will likely be the other starter. Johnny Newton starts the year on IR; he could be an important piece if he ever puts it all together.

They completely overhauled the LB corps and will play more of a 3-4 so there’s lots of new faces at this level. On the inside, they drafted Sonny Styles in round one and he’s an immediate starter and it’s going to be his defense to run. Leo Chenal was also signed, and he’ll give Frankie Luvu some competition. On the edge they gave Odafe Oweh a big contract and signed K’Lavon Chaisson, who played well in New England last year. They might actually have a rotation of pass rushers this year once Dorace Armstrong returns from his one-game suspension.

Rasul Douglas steps in at CB with Trey Amos starting the year on IR. Amos was injured last year too so they will make do. Mike Sanristil, who plays wherever they need him to and does fine, will be the other outside CB. They signed Amik Robertson to give them some depth, that’s a solid move. Nick Cross joins Jeremy Reeves and Quan Martin to form a fairly benign safety group. Benign would be an upgrade over being bad again. There is no way to know how this defense is going to be this season. A new coordinator with a whole host of new players means anything is possible.

New York Giants

The Giants were terrible last year and Brian Daboll tried desperately to save his job by running QB Jaxson Dart into the ground, it didn’t work. Enter John Harbaugh off his firing from Baltimore. Harbaugh is a long-time NFL coach with a lot of success, but he made his way up the ranks as a special team’s coach meaning he needs a great staff. On the defensive side he hired Dennard Wilson, who coached with him in Baltimore before becoming the Titans defensive coordinator. Hard to tell how good of a coordinator he was given the lack of talent in Tennessee, he should have more talent in New York. On offense it’s a mis-mash of underperforming former OCs. Matt Nagy wasn’t re-signed by Kansas City, he’s the new OC. Greg Roman was fired by Jim Harbaugh, so John Harbaugh hired him after he once fired him in Baltimore, he’s the Senior Offensive analyst. Brian Callahan was fired as the Titans head coach last season, he was once the OC in Cincinnati (although he never called plays), he’s the Passing Game Coordinator/QB coach. It’s a less than inspiring group on offense and there isn’t a clear-cut scheme fit between the three new minds. The offense should be an adventure.

Jaxson Dart showed plenty of promise last season when he wasn’t being run headfirst in a brick wall. The offensive scheme has to find a way to take advantage of his impressive physical skills, including his running, and yet, not get him killed. Dart isn’t the dynamic speed athlete that Jayden Daniels is but a 6’2 223 lbs. he’s definitely built to take hits better than Daniels is in Washington. That still shouldn’t be the primary way to use him, and teaching him how to avoid taking big hits, instead of seeking them out, should be priority #1 for QB coach Brian Callahan.

Dart has the arm to be a good passer but much of the success of the Giants’ passing game is going to rest on the rehabilitated knee of Malik Nabers. Nabers missed almost all of last season with a bad knee injury but when healthy, he’s one of the most electric playmakers in the league. This team needs him because the other starters are rookie Malachi Fields and veteran Darnell Mooney. Darius Slayton has been demoted to a backup role, and the fifth WR is Odell Beckham Jr. coming back from a couple of years out of football. The second-best pass catcher on this team should be Isaiah Likely, who followed Harbaugh from Baltimore. He’s a TE with incredible athleticism who never quite dominated in Baltimore like his physical abilities would lead you to believe. They need to unlock him in New York. Theo Johnson is another athletic TE they need to use better.

The offensive line was a problem for a long time, but it has gotten better the past few years. If LT Andrew Thomas can stay healthy, he’s one of the better LTs in football. RT Jermaine Eluemunor earned a new contract this off season, he’s a solid RT. They drafted Francis Mauigoa in the top ten of the draft and he’ll start at RG, he’s an upgrade. C John Michael Schmitz and Jon Runyan aren’t being named to Pro Bowls, but they are solid veteran starters.

The running game got to see flashes of Cam Skattebo before he broke his leg last year. I’m not sure if he’s a true difference maker at RB, his style may mean he gets banged up a lot. Tyrone Tracy is a solid rotational player and does just fine when he has to start. They also signed Najee Harris as Skattebo insurance, he’s fine but he’s coming off his own injury issues. The running game will be better with a healthy offensive line (Thomas) and an ass kicker at RG (Mauigoa).

The defense last season was an example of the whole being LESS than the sum of its parts. Any defensive line that had DT Dexter Lawrence, DE Brian Burns, along with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter had no business being as bad as it was. It’s tough to imagine a team trading Lawrence and getting better up front but Dennard Wilson will institute a scheme change that should help the players they do have play better. They signed DJ Reader to be the NT, and they hope veteran Shelby Harris can be a stabilizer. They also are looking to get better play from second-year DT Darius Alexander who had a rough rookie season. Wilson comes from the Baltimore defensive system and should have some ideas to improve this unit.

The LB group gets an overhaul as the 3-4 Baltimore style takes over. Burns and Carter become the outside edge rushers with Thibodeaux as the third rusher, that doesn’t change personnel at all but the way they are asked to play will be different. The personnel changes come at ILB. Tremaine Edmunds was signed as a free agent after he was cut by Chicago for salary cap purposes. He’ll pair with rookie Arvell Reese to form a far more dynamic duo with athleticism, length, and speed that was missing from the LB group last year. Reese will likely be used as a blitzer at times too but he’s a serious upgrade at ILB, even as a rookie.

The secondary has a chance to be a real strength of this group with Wilson being a secondary coach by nature and the Baltimore system being one that uses defensive backs quite well. CB Paulson Adebo, S Tyler Nubin, S Jevon Holland, and nickelback Dru Phillips all return. These are all solid players who will benefit from a better scheme. Greg Newsome was signed to start as the other CB outside and he’s an upgrade over Deonte Banks who should be fighting for a spot on the roster, not starting. They signed Ar’Darius Washington, a former Baltimore safety who can play nickel, he’s a talent add. Rookie CB Colton Hood is a big, athletic CB who could push Adebo and Newsome if they faulter at all. Outside the talent at edge rusher, this secondary can be the strength of this team.

2026 NFC West Preview

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are the betting favorite for the Super Bowl heading into the season and while Seattle fans are upset by that, this is about the 2026 roster, it’s not about what you did last year. The Rams were built to win this year and that was before they traded for the record-setting reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. They certainly aren’t a lock to win the title, but they deserve to be the favorites. Sean McVay is a genius coach, Les Snead has been an incredible GM, and they have reigning MVP Matthew Stafford and Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, it’s an embarrassment of riches. Oh yeah, and just before the start of the season, Aaron Donald announced his return, maybe they are locks for the title.

Matthew Stafford won the MVP last season (even if I disagree because he was padding his stats with 1-yard TDs to Devante Adams all year), he did have a great year, and he stayed healthy. If he can stay healthy again, this offense will keep humming along. WR Puka Nacua has had some off-the-field issues, but it shouldn’t hurt his season. Nacua and Adams are a dynamic pass catching duo with very complementary skill sets. McVay hasn’t had a good WR3 and I don’t think Jordan Whittington is going to change that this season which is why he uses 3 TE sets so much. They have Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Tyler Ferguson, Davis Allen, and now rookie Max Klare to run out there at TE. McVay is an offensive mastermind, and he knows how to design a passing game with whatever personnel he has available to him.

The offensive line is stronger as a unit than they are as individual pieces. LT Alaric Jackson is solid but unspectacular. RT Warren McClendon III stepped in for Rob Havenstein last year and played well, now Havenstein retired and it’s McClendon’s job. Guards Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson are big and physical, and they make up for the lack of size and physicality from C Coleman Shelton. There’s not a lot of depth but after watching McClendon step in last season at RT and play well, it’s hard to question McVay about his offensive line.

The running game relies heavily on Kyren Williams and he never disappoints. He rarely stands out as a dynamic playmaker, but he always gets the yards they need and never backs down. They started to sprinkle in Blake Corum a little more last season and you will continue to see that as they lessen the load on Williams. Corum plays a lot like Williams so there’s not a ton of dropoff when he plays. As long as the scheme keeps working as it has for years for McVay, the run game will be fine.

The Rams defense was pretty solid up front last season and now they switched out Jared Verse, a very good DE for Myles Garrett, the best defender in football. Adding Myles Garrett to Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, and Byron Young is basically unfair. Garrett broke the single season sack record last year and that was on the Browns. He has a better group around him up front in LA than he had in Cleveland. The defense will have to be slightly different but defensive coordinator Chris Shula seems like a guy who can figure it all out. The addition of Aaron Donald at DT is just icing on the cake. Yes, Donald has been retired for a few years and he’s 35, but they won’t be relying on him as an every down player, they have depth.

The LB corps has never been a priority for the Rams when it comes to talent acquisition. Last year their big move was signing Nate Landman, and of course, he was quite good. They also have Omar Speights, an undrafted free agent from a couple of years ago, he does just fine too. It’s just the way the Rams roll when it comes to LBs.

The CB position was a problem last season and before the Rams ever traded for Myles Garrett, they made a major trade with the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie. McDuffie is one of the better CBs in football and he’s a massive upgrade. Then they signed another Chiefs starting CB Jaylen Watson to be the other starter, instant upgrade at both outside CB spots. The safety position is in good hands with Kam Kitchens and Kam Curl and Quentin Lake proved to be an excellent nickel last year. Between the improvement in coverage, they should get from McDuffie and Watson and the pass rush from Garrett, this defense is going to be very, very good.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks can be upset that the Rams are favored over them even though they won the Super Bowl last year, but this isn’t last year’s team. The Super Bowl MVP for the Seahawks plays for Kansas City now and they lost Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant out of the secondary, this team will be good but it’s not the same as last year. The loss of Klint Kubiak as the offensive coordinator could be huge if Brian Fleury, who’s never called plays before, struggles in his new role.

Sam Darnold had a solid season last year, but he was playing in Klint Kubiak’s friendly QB offense and there’s no telling what happens with Brian Fleury calling plays. They did re-sign Rashid Shaheed at WR and expect Tory Horton back from injury, so the entire passing offense doesn’t have to rest on Jaxon Smith-Njiba’s shoulders. Even Cooper Kupp is back. Fleury was the TEs coach in San Francisco so perhaps he will get even more out of AJ Barner and second-year man Elijah Arroyo in the passing game.

The offensive line was so much better under Kubiak just from the scheme change and Fleury should run a similar scheme considering his time with Kyle Shanahan. As long as LT Charles Cross and RT Abe Lucas have healthy seasons, they should be excellent on the edges. Jalen Sundell stepped up at center last year and while he’s not some Pro Bowl player, he played well for them. Gray Zabel had an excellent rookie year at LG and he should only get better. RG Anthony Bradford is everyone’s favorite whipping boy, and the team did trade back up into the fifth round of the draft to take Beau Stephens out of Iowa. He’s going to have a chance to unseat Bradford if he falters at all.

The running game lost Kenneth Walker III in free agency after his Super Bowl MVP performance. They also lost Zach Charbonnet to a knee injury in the playoffs and he’s not expected to be ready to start the year. Jadarian Price may have been a bit of a reach with the last pick of round one in the draft, but he was a necessary choice. The team needs the running game to take pressure off Sam Darnold. If Price can hold down the spot until Charbonnet is back, that would help considerably. If he does more than hold it down, he’s going to be a big piece of the puzzle.

Mike Macdonald proved to be one of the elite defensive minds in the game last year and put together one of the best defenses in the game and won a Super Bowl with them. The offense only has to be so good when the defense is this elite, now they have to sustain that level. The defensive front isn’t made up of a bunch of superstars; it’s made up of a bunch of guys all doing their jobs well and the team having waves of rushers. DT Byron Murphy might be the one guy who can ascend to elite status at some point, he had a heck of a year. Leonard Williams is still a very productive player even as he gets a little older. Jarran Reed is just a professional defensive lineman.

The team is counting on DeMarcus Lawrence to continue to fight off father time and for Uchenna Nwosu to stay healthy. They did lose one player from their pass rush rotation, Boye Mafe, and they replaced him with an aging and less effective Dante Fowler Jr. They still have Derick Hall and he’s a solid piece too. These rushers rotate around ILB Ernest Jones IV, who is the leader in the middle and he’s excellent. Drake Thomas is the other starter inside and he’s a solid young player.

The secondary has some excellent players in CB Devon Witherspoon, S Julian Love, and nickelback Nick Emmanwori. However, they took a couple of hits with Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant leaving in free agency. Woolen had fallen out of favor and was losing time to Josh Jobe, who they brought back but Jobe isn’t great, he’s solid at times but not great. For now, it looks like Ty Okada is penciled in at safety to replace Bryant and he was a college free agent three years ago and I’ve never heard of him. If the pass rush is compromised at all without Mafe and with Lawrence and Fowler’s age, any hole in the secondary could be exposed.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are such an injury riddled team that Kyle Shanahan got himself into a car accident just to be more like his players…okay…maybe that wasn’t the reason but still. Their WR corps was a wreck last year and Ricky Pearsall is already out for the year with knee surgery. At least he’s sparing us the fantasy football headache of where to take him when you know he’ll only play about nine games; you can just skip him this season. If it’s not the electrical substation near the practice facility causing these injuries they should really investigate to find out the reason, their injury luck is awful.

Brock Purdy carried this offense last season relying mostly on Christian McCaffrey and then receivers like Kendrick Bourne, Jauan Jennings, and TE George Kittle, until he got hurt. They signed Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in the spring and recently brought back Deebo Samuel, Evans and Kirk are already hurt. Kittle is likely to miss some time early but he’s making a remarkable recovery from a torn Achilles. That’s good, they’re going to need him. Right now, the most promising pass catcher they have is rookie De’Zhaun Stribling, that’s a concern.

The offensive line is more than the sum of its parts as LT Trent Williams is the only above average starter. Williams is still playing at a Pro Bowl level but the rest of the group is just a bunch of guys. C Jake Brendel and RT Colton McKivitz have been good in Shanahan’s system but the system really helps them look good. RG Dominik Puni might be a good guard and the LG is now in the hands of rookie fourth-rounder Carver Willis. He won an uninspiring camp battle for the job.

The run game is all McCaffrey all the time. He had over 300 carries and over 100 receptions, to say Brock Purdy peppered him with touches is a major understatement. He just turned 30 this summer but he’s still one of the most electric playmakers in the league. It would help him if they had some help around him so he isn’t the focal point for the defense. It doesn’t seem to deter him, but it would be nice for him. Rookie RB Kaelon Black adds a different player and they will use FB Kyle Juszczyk like no one else uses a fullback.

The defense wasn’t spared from the injury bug last season with both DE Nick Bosa and MLB Fred Warner going down for most of the season. Those are two All-Pro caliber players and the leaders of this defense. Robert Saleh did everything he could to patch the defense together and now he’s the Titans head coach. Raheem Morris comes in and he’ll try to rebuild this unit with healthy pieces. Having Bosa back and hopefully Mykel Williams at some point when he gets back. DT Osa Odighizuwa came over in a trade from Dallas, and he gets a starting spot. Alfred Collins should be the big-body DT next to Odighizuwa. They do have some decent depth this year; DT CJ West, DT Gracen Halton, and DE Keion White are a solid group. White will hold down the starting spot until Williams is back. Rookie Romello Height will be the designated pass rusher for now.

Fred Warner returning to the MLB spot is like getting Jordan back on Bulls. There is no way to describe how valuable he is to this entire defense. When healthy, Warner is the best MLB in the league. The team is bringing back Dre Greenlaw to pair with Warner after he spent last season in Denver (mostly injured). They need some young guys to step up but if they can get a healthy year out of Warner and Greenlaw, they’ll be fine.

The secondary isn’t teeming with overwhelming talent, but Saleh made it work and Morris has been an excellent defensive backs coach in his career so he should figure it out too. CB Renardo Green will try to hold off Jack Jones at one outside CB spot while Deommodore Lenoir handles the other. Upton Stout was a solid rookie nickel last year and they hope he continues to develop. Ji’Ayir Brown, Malik Mustapha, and Marques Sigle were the three main safeties last year and they will be again. Not a great group but they hold their own. The team signed Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs to be depth pieces and push the starters at CB, Hobbs went on IR so Jones is the only real depth. They also drafted Ephesians Prysock in round four, if nothing else, he has one of the cooler names in football.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals were quite bad last year, and they play in a division with three behemoths, so things are not easy for them. Jonathan Gannon is out and Mike LaFleur gets his first shot at being a head coach. I like some of the moves they made on offense and having LeFleur bring in his version of the McVay offense from the Rams can’t hurt. LeFleur kept defensive coordinator Nick Rallis who did a decent job with a pretty beat up group on that side. With some better health, the defense should get better.

The one major issue I have with what the Cardinals did on offense was how they handled the QB position. I’m not a Kyler Murray fan and it was time for him to go. However, keeping Jacoby Brissett as your likely starter, signing Gardner Minshew as your backup, and drafting Carson Beck with the first pick of the third round is just dereliction of duty. This offense could be solid if they have a QB, but we’ve seen Brissett fail as a starter, multiple times. Minshew isn’t a starter either, that leaves their hopes with Beck. I understand they are looking at a better QB crop in the 2027 draft, but they are wasting a year of Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. Those two could be good, if they had a QB. Wilson had a breakout season last year and I’m really looking forward to what a smart offensive mind like LeFleur can do with Marving Harrison Jr., the guy is still a talent. TE Trey McBride is one of the best in the league and he should thrive in this system, he’s too good not to.

They made a solid move signing LG Isaac Seumalo to fill a big hole in their line, he’s a good veteran addition. He’s going to make life easier for LT Paris Johnson Jr. who’s a very good player who’s been playing on an awful line his whole career. C Hjalte Frodholdt is fine, and RG was going to be a competition until Chase Bisontis got hurt. Isaiah Adams is fine but Bisontis has a higher ceiling. RT Elijah Wilkinson isn’t good but he’s better than the guys they were running out there at RT last season and LeFleur comes from the Shanahan/McVay tree which means he should be able to mitigate some of issues with the offensive line.

The Cardinals have taken plenty of heat for drafting a RB with the third pick in the draft when they aren’t likely to be very good. It was also strange considering they already had James Conner and had signed Tyler Allgeier as a free agent. That said, Love is a supreme talent and maybe once they get a new QB next year, Love will be a huge part of an offensive explosion then. Conner is coming back from an injury but he’s still solid and Allgeier is a great short yardage, power back. They shouldn’t have to tax Love too much this year.

Nick Rallis did a solid job with a defense that was beat up and mostly outmanned so he got to stick around and see if he can make them better with some healthy guys. Up front, he really needs Walter Nolan and Darius Robinson to be healthy and ready to play. Nolan is a game wrecker and Robinson is a big, physical athlete they could really use. Roy Lopez comes in as the NT and he’s a solid veteran addition.

Josh Sweat had 12 sacks last year and they need him to keep up that production. Zaven Collins, Baron Browning, and maybe BJ Ojulari need to give them something at the other edge rushing spot if the defense is going to make strides. If Nolan is healthy up front, he gives them some disruption but one of these guys has to step up. At ILB, Cody Simon and Mack Wilson Sr. are just guys, they aren’t moving the needle. The team signed Jack Gibbens as depth but he’s not doing it either.

The secondary was inconsistent last season because there were plenty of injuries and there’s a lot of youth. Will Johnson is real talent, but he only played 12 games last season. Garrett Williams might be good but he’s coming off an Achilles injury. Denzel Burke was a fifth-round rookie last year but might have been the most reliable CB they had. Max Melton is a still a young player who can add something to this CB room. At safety, Budda Baker is a menace, but they lost his running mate Jalen Thompson to Dallas in free agency. Andrew Wingard is penciled in as the starter opposite Baker, they should hope to do better. Baker is the one true constant on this defense and he will be again.

2026 NFC North Preview

Chicago Bears

In 2025 the Bears won 11 games and the division and while the NFC North is going to be a battle, there is no reason to think they can’t win it again. Ben Johnson proved he was worth waiting for as a head coach and he looks to build on the progress Caleb Wiliams made as a QB. Williams’ progression in the offense is a major reason for optimism along with Johnson’s ability to scheme up the run game.

They traded away WR DJ Moore but they hope for a return to health by Rome Odunze and the emergence of second-year WR Luthur Burden III will be enough to offset the loss of Moore’s experience. The team began to feature TE Colston Loveland more and more as last season wore on and his role should only continue to grow. Cole Kmet is still a useful TE and while they don’t have a clear #3 WR (sorry, Khalif Raymond doesn’t count), the passing game should be fine with Odunze, Burden, and Loveland doing the heavy lifting.

The offensive line was light year’s ahead of where it was in 2024 after importing an entirely new interior group; LG Joe Thuney, C Drew Dalman, and RG Jonah Jackson. Thuney and Jackson return but Dalman retired early and left a hole they had to fill. They traded for C Garrett Bradbury from the Patriots and then drafted Logan Jones from Iowa. It’s going to be Jones’ job at some point, but Bradbury won’t give it up without a fight. They should be fine there either way. LT is a sore spot, and they are hoping former starter Braxton Jones can recover from his injuries and take the spot back. Ozzy Trapilo was supposed to take the job, but he tore his patellar tendon late in the year so he shouldn’t be counted on. RT Darnell Wright is a rock, and he really played excellent ball last season.

The run game is a nice mix of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai who have perfectly complementary running styles. Swift is the quick and nimble guy and Monangai is the guy who will run through your face. Ben Johnson designs a very effective run game and uses the skills of his two RBs as well as anyone in the league.

The defensive front could be troublesome for the Bears if they don’t get better health and productivity out of some of their guys from last year because they didn’t add much help in the off season. DE Montez Sweat was his usual productive self, but he needs some help on the edge. Dayo Odeyingbo started the season opposite Sweat and then got hurt. Austin Booker was hurt to start the season and then returned right as Odeyingbo went down. They need both guys healthy and producing. DT Grady Jarrett returns, he’s the only guy they have that they know what they are getting. He’s solid but aging. They traded Gervon Dexter during camp and now it’s Neville Gallimore and rookie Jordan van den Berg who will play next to Jarrett. This team is counting on Odeyingbo and Booker to give them some more pass rush, and the defensive line could end up their downfall if this group isn’t better.

At LB, the team cut MLB Tremaine Edmunds in a cost-cutting move and replaced him with Devin Bush. Edmunds had his detractors, but this move is a downgrade. Bush had a nice year in Cleveland last season, but he was playing next to Carson Schwesinger and behind a very good defensive line, he doesn’t have players like that around him here. TJ Edwards is coming off an injury and none of the other LBs scare anyone. At this point, their best bet for an upgrade is for rookie Keyshaun Elliott to really emerge.

The secondary is one place they probably upgraded overall but again, they need guys to be healthy this year or their upgrades at safety won’t matter. CB Jaylon Johnson is a legit CB1 when he’s healthy, he wasn’t healthy last year. CB Tyrique Stevenson was banged up too and he’s a roller coaster under the best of circumstances. Nickle corner Kyler Gordon is one of the best when healthy, he also missed most of last year and is now in a bit of a contract dispute. Coby Bryant was brought in to give them a different look at safety and he’s smaller but quicker than the guys they had last season. He got hurt during camp so they signed veteran castoff Xavier Woods as a fill in. Rookie Dillon Thieneman will inject a level of athleticism at the other safety spot they can really use. If the CB group and Bryant are healthy, this secondary can be scary good, if not, this defense could fall apart quickly.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers finished second in the division last season because they went 9-7-1 and both Minnesota and Detroit went 9-8, that’s how close this division was last year. The Packers made no significant additions on offense, and they are counting heavily on two WRs who have had injury issues and two offensive linemen who are taking over new positions. The defense is hoping to get Micah Parsons back healthy and they’re counting on that and a new defensive scheme and coordinator to fix their issues on that side of the ball.

The Packers have Jordan Love at QB, and he’s been good for them, but his WR group thinned out this off season with Romeo Doubs leaving in free agency and they traded Dontayvion Wicks. That puts some extra pressure on Christian Watson and Jayden Reed to be healthy this season and for Matthew Golden to live up to his draft position. There’s talent there but the depth is gone. TE Tucker Kraft is also a special talent but he’s coming off a season lost to injury and they need him to be a playmaker. They did sign Jonnu Smith to give them another pass catching TE who can take some of the early season pressure off of Kraft as he gets back to it.

The offensive line is going to be shuffled a bit after Rasheed Walker wasn’t re-signed. Jordan Morgan will take over at LT, and second-year man Anthony Belton is slated to move to the RG spot full-time. Morgan played a little at LT, but he’s moved around on the line mostly and hasn’t been a full-time LT since his college days at Arizona. RT Zach Bako-Bewele (formerly known as Zach Tom) is a good player but he’s been banged up at times, and they need Aaron Banks to live up to his big contract at LG. Sean Rhyan played well enough at C to get a new contract there and that’s a positive.

The running game was supposed to be in the capable hands of Josh Jacobs, however, he had an assault incident over the summer and he’s starting the season on the Commissioner’s exempt list. That means he’s suspended with pay until his criminal case plays out. Marshon Lloyd is supposed to be ready to step in, he’s looked good in training camp and he’s healthy, for now. Jacobs’ suspension and Lloyd’s prior health issues led the Packers to trading for Kaleb Johnson from Pittsburgh. Johnson has been buried on the Steelers depth chart but he’s perfect for the Packers scheme and if he gets a chance to play, he could be a player for them.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley got the head coaching job in Miami, and the team is making the switch to former Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon as the new DC. He won’t run a system exactly like Hafley’s and that could be a good thing.

They need Micah Parsons to get back healthy this season if they want any chance of being a top-level defense. He’s the straw that stirs the drink regardless of the defensive scheme. They traded Rashan Gary to Dallas and lost Kingsley Enagbare in free agency which means they need Lukas Van Ness to step up on the edge. They signed DT Javon Hargrave and drafted Chris McClennen to import some new size up front, and both of them will be counted on.

LB Edgerrin Cooper played well last year but they lost Quay Walker in the middle and traded for Zaire Franklin to fill the spot. Franklin is older and a downgrade from Walker, but they hope Cooper’s play continues to grow. Ty’Ron Hopper and Isaiah McDuffie return as the backup LBs and give them depth.

The secondary is really good at safety and needs some guys to step up at CB. Keisean Nixon is supposed to be CB1 but he’s not an elite player. Carrington Valentine gets the job done at the CB spot but again, he’s not amazing. SS Xavier McKinney and FS Evan Williams were an awesome tandem last year, and Javon Bullard does a nice job as the nickel player. They signed Benjamin St-Juste and drafted Brandon Cisse at CB, so they clearly understand they need better play on the outside.

Detroit Lions

The Lions finished 9-8 last season, and it was a disappointing season given how good they have been for a few years. Dan Campbell took play calling duties away from his offensive coordinator during the season and then replaced him with Drew Petzing this off season. The defense has some major injury concerns at safety and still doesn’t have a true threat opposite Aidan Hutchinson at DE. If they can get healthy and get the offense back on track, they will compete for the division and a playoff spot.

Jared Goff is still a solid starting QB, but he and the offense took a step back without the wizardry of Ben Johnson calling plays. Drew Petzing did some solid stuff in Arizona but he’s not the most inspiring choice to re-establish this offense. There is plenty of talent to work with and Goff is a much more reliable player than anyone Petzing had in Arizona.

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best WRs in the NFL even if he doesn’t always get the credit as one. He’s one of the toughest covers in the league and can get open against just about anyone. Jameson Williams has become a very good deep threat and has added to his game over the years and he’s not just a one-trick pony anymore, he’s a legit playmaker. TE Sam LaPorta is a good third option in the passing game and team is hoping Isaac TeSlaa can turn his highlight reel catches into some consistent production this year.

The run game was essentially just Jahmyr Gibbs making plays on his own as he took over most of the important snaps as the year went on. The blocking up front was much less consistent with LT Taylor Decker being injured or banged up most of the season, an unsettled interior with C Graham Glasgow being a major downgrade at the position and two young OGs flanking him. This year, Penei Sewell is moving to LT to replace Decker, he’s such a talent that he should have no problem making the move. Rookie RT Blake Miller takes over Sewell’s old job, and they signed Cade Mays to take over at center. Mays is a bigger and better player than Glasgow and was meant to stabilize the line. Unfortunately, he sustained a wrist injury that is going to keep him out for months. Juice Scruggs was thought to be a throw-in from the David Montgomery trade to Houston but now, he’s a starter. Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany are good young guards who just need time to develop their game.

The defense will once again be led by DE Aidan Hutchinson up front. Hutchinson is one of the better DEs in the league and gives everything he’s got on every play. They have a new cast of characters opposite him at DE. Tyler Lacy is set to start with veteran DJ Wonnum and rookie Derrick Moore also added to the mix. Unless Moore really steps up, this is similar to other groups of guys they have run out opposite Hutchinson, that’s not a good thing. At DT, they are hoping Alim McNeil can return to form, he was underwhelming last season when he wasn’t hurt. Tyliek Williams will be the other DT, and they hope he’s better in his second year. The X factor could be Levi Onwuzurike, if he’s back from his injury, he can add some juice to the front four.

At LB, Jack Campbell has become one of the best LBs in the league and is a true difference maker in the middle. His job got a lot harder when the team lost Alex Anzalone in free agency and their big fix was signing Devin White, a guy the Raiders didn’t want back. White hasn’t been good in a while but he’s probably a better option than Malcolm Rodriguez or rookie Jimmy Rolder. Derrick Barnes is a solid third LB, but Campbell is going miss Anzalone and so is this defense.

The secondary was a mess last season with the inconsistency at CB and the injuries at safety. DJ Reed was supposed to be a replacement for Carlton Davis, but he was hurt for about half the year. Terrion Arnold was also unreliable and now he’s gone after his off-season trouble (it’s a crazy story). At this point, either Rock Ya-Sin or maybe rookie Keith Abney II will start opposite Reed, those aren’t great options. Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are one of the most talented safety duos in the league but both of them are coming back from major injuries. If they get back healthy it will go a long way towards this defense being not terrible, if they miss time, things could get dicey. For now, Avonte Maddux and Chuck Clark are set to start until Branch and Joseph return, that’s a massive downgrade.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings went 9-8 last season with some of the worst QB play you can possibly imagine, it has to be better this season, right? The Kyler Murray hype is a bit much for me. He certainly will be better than JJ McCarthy was last year but I’m just not a believer in Murray as a winner. He’s had multiple injuries over a number of different years, and I wonder about how it will affect his overall athleticism. His athleticism is the thing that separates him from others. If he has to win mostly from the pocket, that gives me pause when evaluating the Vikings’ outlook.

Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and the newly signed Jauan Jennings make for a nice trio of WRs, and TJ Hockenson is a good TE when healthy. They will all benefit from Kyler Murray playing instead of McCarthy. Even if Murray isn’t the athlete he once was, he’s still an upgrade over McCarthy. I don’t think the ceiling is as high as many are making it out to be because Murray still is a limited player because of his size and inconsistency. The rest of the offense is going to have to help carry the load.

The offensive line can be awesome if LT Christian Darrisaw and RT Brian O’Neill are healthy, but that’s a big if. Darrisaw is one of the most underrated LTs in football when he’s healthy, he’s fantastic. He just seems to get banged up every year. O’Neill is very good on the right side but he’s about to be 31 and the wear and tear is starting to catch up with him. LG Donovan Jackson is good, but again, another guy who missed some time. C Blake Brendel stepped in when Ryan Kelly was hurt last year and now Kelly is retired and it’s Brendel’s job. He did a solid job and the Vikings are rolling with him. RG Will Fries is still good but not as good as his peak with the Colts.

The running game is once again going to be handled by Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. Neither one set the world on fire last year and some of that had to do with a less than effective passing game. They hope Murray can give them more of a threat and open some things up, but Jones is 31 and doesn’t have the juice he once had. Mason has been a grinder his whole career, but his best year was playing for Kyle Shanahan and that can make any RB look better than he might actually be.

The Vikings defensive line underwent a major overhaul with Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen sent packing and team drafting Caleb Banks in round one and Dominique Orange in round three at DT. Jalen Redmond was a pleasant surprise last year as was Levi Drake Rodriguez but that is a lot of youth to count on. Two third-year players and two rookies up front means not a lot of experience to work with.

The LB corps is the opposite of the front four, three out of four starters are 30 or older. ILBs Blake Cashman (30) and Eric Wilson (will be 32) were a solid duo last year but the cliff could come at any moment. OLB Andrew Van Ginkle (31) is the type of hybrid player Brian Flores loves, and he’s been great for this defense. They traded Jonathan Greenard in a cost cutting move and to give Dallas Turner the full-time job opposite Van Ginkle. Turner can be a breakout player, but it leaves them short on the depth chart behind the starters. Rookie LB Jake Golday is penciled in to be a backup ILB, but Brian Flores is going to like Golday’s versatility, and I wouldn’t pigeon-hole Golday just yet.

The secondary will likely be without SS Harrison Smith for the first time since the Reagan administration, it seems he may finally be retiring (I’m not 100% sold he’s done yet, but it looks that way). That leaves Josh Mettelus, Jay Ward, and Theo Jackson as the three-safety trio Flores likes to use. Flores will scheme them up to be fine but it’s not an overwhelming group. CB Byron Murphy has been great for Flores and Isaiah Rodgers was a good value signing last year for them. They went after another value signing this year at CB with James Pierre and I’m not going to doubt that Flores will get the absolute best out of this trio at CB. They are going to need Flores to scheme up this entire defense as they rely on a lot of youth up front, some aging guys at LB, and a group of unspectacular players in the secondary.

2026 Iowa Football Preview

The Iowa Hawkeye football season is upon us and while there are still questions to be answered, there is reason for optimism with this team. Iowa is going to have their growing pains this season as this is a young group overall. That said, the offense looks stacked on both the offensive line and the skill position groups; RB, WR, and TE all look deep and talented. The QB question remains and may not be decided until Iowa has played a few games, and the bullets are flying for real.

The defense is mostly theoretical when it comes to the front seven, there’s not much proven talent there, but Phil Parker gets the benefit of the doubt. This defense may not be a top ten unit in college football this season but if the offense makes the strides I believe they can, the defense doesn’t need to be as dominant. The secondary should be really good with some experienced players like Zach Lutmer and DeShaun Lee, and a very talented group of underclassmen ready to step in.

College football seems to be in a constant state of change and one of those changes is the 5 years to play 5 rule, meaning there is no such thing as a redshirt anymore. Iowa has changed their roster, and they no longer list guys as freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, they list them as 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, and in Mike Myslinski’s case, 6^th, meaning what year they are in. On this depth chart I’m going to use those markers (1-6) to denote the players year but my brain may not process that as I write about guys and in context, calling someone a redshirt freshman should tell you that they are a 2^nd year player but didn’t play much if at all last season. It’s going to take time for everyone to get used to this and my suggestion would be for everyone to go to freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and fifth-year as the common way to describe players. It would still give the illusion that these guys are students in some sense instead of referring to what year they are professionally in college. If you’re a college football fan or just an Iowa football fan, bear with me as we navigate the constant changes to the sport.

It’s time to talk Iowa football and take a look at this year’s team. Let’s Go Hawks.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Starter: Jeremy Hecklinski (3) or Hank Brown (4)

Backup: Hecklinski or Brown or Jimmy Sullivan (2)

Depth: Ryan Fitzpatrick (2), Tradon Bessinger (1)

The coaches haven’t made a final decision on who the starter is going to be and even if when they name a starter for the first game against Northern Illinois, I highly doubt that’s the end of the competition. Hecklinski looked great at the open Kid’s Day practice, but it was only one practice and they have been neck-and-neck throughout camp. My head tells me Kirk would go with Hank Brown, but my gut says Tim Lester wants to give Hecklinski a chance against live competition. I think Hecklinski starts but even if he’s flawless against NIU, Brown will get to play in that game. Brown didn’t look good at the Kid’s Day practice but again, it was one practice on one particular day, they coaches aren’t going to give up on him that easily.

Jimmy Sullivan was the second-best looking QB on Kid’s Day and while that may have been because he was playing against backups on defense, he was also mostly playing with backups on his side too. I’m not sure Sullivan can actually push for the backup QB spot this season, there may just not be enough reps in practice for him to impress the coaches that much. He did look like he had a solid command of the offense that one day and if there is some catastrophe and he does have to play, I do think Lester could get a solid performance out of him.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is a good player and gives Iowa nice depth. Tradon Bessinger is the future of the position and he looks the part. He’s big, he’s athletic, and he has a cannon for an arm. Hopefully Iowa doesn’t need a fourth or fifth QB this season, however, there’s no redshirting issues to deal with so if Bessinger needs to play, they can play him. Between the two top guys, Sullivan and Bessinger, it seems like Iowa has solid options for this season and for years to come, now they just have to hold on to them.

Running Backs

Starters: Kamari Moulton (4), LJ Phillips Jr. (4)

Backups: Nathan McNeil (2), Xavier Williams (3)

Depth: Braeden Jackson (2), O’Lontae Dean (2), Brevin Doll (3)

Kamari Moulton will most likely get the start against NIU and the first carries of the game but I’m listing Phillips as the co-starter because he’s just that good. Ferentz is going to defer to Moulton because he’s earned that starting nod over the last two seasons, but Phillips is going to get plenty of carries. He’s a bowling ball rolling downhill in this offense and he won’t be stopped. He has more pop than Moulton does and that’s something this offense could use, some big plays from the running game. Phillps has speed but he also loves contact and isn’t going down easily. I would say this will be a fun duo but it’s not just a duo.

Nathan McNeil isn’t built like the other RBs at Iowa who mostly look like power backs, he’s more linear and looks like more of a slasher. His different running style is a nice changeup from Moulton or Phillips and McNeil is going to be used in this offense. Xavier Williams looked good early last year before he had an injury that hindered him a bit. He’s the definition of a power back given his size but if he’s fully healthy, he has more speed than a guy his size should really have. Iowa has four guys at RB they can comfortably start and at least three of them should get touches in any given game. Who that is will be determined by the matchups.

Braeden Jackson was a redshirt walk-on last season who really impressed the coaches and while Iowa doesn’t want to go five deep at RB, they could use him if they need too. Brevin Doll has actually been playing in practice so that’s a good sign, he’s finally not hurt. O’Lontae Dean is the definition of depth here, he’s not likely to play unless it’s on special teams.

Wide Receiver

Starters: Reece Vander Zee (3), Tony Diaz (3), Evan James (2)

Backups: Dayton Howard (4), KJ Parker (3), Jarriett Buie (3)

Depth: Brody Schaeffer (1), Xavier Stinson (1), Diondre Smith (1)

This is the one position on offense that Iowa has seriously upgraded over the last several years. The additions of transfers Tony Diaz and Evan James to complement a healthy Reece Vander Zee gives Iowa three dynamic playmakers at WR, that’s unheard of for the Hawkeyes. Vander Zee is the big, outside WR at 6’4 220 lbs., everybody wants to have. He’s still learning how to play the WR position and as he gets more experience he’s only going to get better. Diaz is the do-everything type that Tim Lester has been wanting for this offense. He’s a playmaker in every sense of the word and will give up his body to make a catch. He needs to pull back on the recklessness a bit in order to stay on the field. Evan James was fantastic at the open practice, and he’s got real speed you just can’t teach. He’s not a big guy, but his ability to separate is impressive. If Iowa gets good QB play, these three raise the level of Iowa’s offense considerably.

In any other year, Dayton Howard would likely be starting for the Hawkeyes. I really think he can be an excellent player. He has elite size at 6’5 215 lbs. and he has an incredible catch radius given his length. He’s only getting better as he refines his route running and understanding of the position. He’ll get snaps as they rotate guys at the position. KJ Parker has teased Iowa fans for years, being a guy who’s been talked about in practice but just hasn’t shown it in games. Maybe this is his year. Jarriett Buie was injured last year and is kind of the forgotten man, but he’s looked good during camp according to the coaches and he provides excellent depth.

The three true freshmen will wait their turn. Xavier Stinson has the size, speed, and athleticism Iowa doesn’t normally get at WR. Brody Schaeffer looked good in camp and may be ready to contribute early if needed. Diondre Smith is a smaller player who probably needs some time at Iowa to physically mature, luckily Iowa has the ability to give him that time.

Tight End

Starter: DJ Vonnahme (3)

Backups: Addison Ostrenga (5), Zach Ortworth (4)

Depth: Dylan Stecker (2), Michael Burt (3), Thomas Meyer (2), Mason Woods (2), Eli Johnson (2), Luke Brewer (1)

DJ Vonnahme emerged last season after Addison Ostrenga was lost for the season and Zach Ortworth got banged up too. He’s now the unquestioned starter and he’s shown so much growth he’s a top TE prospect for the NFL. He was a walk-on three years ago and wasn’t even a TE in high school, so he’s come a long way in a short period of time. He’s going to be featured in the passing game and that’s a good thing because he’s a matchup nightmare. Ostrenga is back and ready to contribute in his fifth year, he’s an all-around TE so he’ll be used plenty. Ortworth is going to have to fight off some emerging young talent. He’s a good player but not as dynamic as some of the up and comers.

One guy who seems to be emerging in camp is Dylan Stecker. He’s a walk-on who started out as a big WR but moved to TE this year and is showing his pass catching skills. Mason Woods is the other guy who is showing his pass catching skills and ability to be a weapon on offense. Thomas Meyer has impressed the coaches and will be more well-rounded than Stecker and Woods right now because he has the size to be a blocker. Michael Burt is another guy who has better size and could be a blocking TE for now too. Eli Johnson and freshman Luke Brewer are even more depth. Iowa has an embarrassment of riches at TE.

Offensive Line

Starters: LT Trevor Lauck (4), LG Leighton Jones (4), C Cael Winter (4), RG Kade Pieper (4), RT Jack Dotzler (5)

Backups: OT Cannon Leonard (4), OT Will Nolan (3), G/C Mike Myslinski (6), G/T Lucas Allgeyer (2), OG Trent Wilson

Depth: G/C Josh Janowski (3), OT Bodey McCaslin, G George Nahas (4)

Iowa’s offensive line lost three guys to the NFL draft and all three were multiple year starters. I’m not sure Iowa’s line can be better than last year’s Joe Moore Award winning line, but you can’t convince me they are going to be worse. LT Trevor Lauck emerged in the second half of the season last year as a force, he’s only going to get better. The team was ready to move Kade Pieper from RG, where he could be an All-American, to replace Logan Jones at center but Cael Winter has been excellent for them at center, so Pieper looks to be staying put. Leighton Jones played LG last year when Beau Stephens was hurt and no offense to Stephens, but no one noticed a drop off when Jones was in. Dotzler only lost the LT job last year because Lauck was so good and he filled in at RT for Gennings Dunker last season when Dunker got banged up. He may not be the mauling bear Dunker was, but Dotzler is a fifth-year player who has plenty of snaps under his belt and he should be fine at RT. If this line stays healthy, they have two potential All-Americans (Lauck and Pieper), one fifth-year guy (Dotzler) and fourth-year guy (Jones) who have playing experience. And they have a center who may be a walk-on, but he’s impressed the coaching staff enough that they aren’t moving Kade Pieper, a guy who will likely be a center in the NFL, to center. Pieper is on the pre-season watch list for the Rimington Award that goes to the nation’s top center and he’s not even going to be the center because Winter looks that good.

The backups are unproven, but they are mostly guys who have been in Iowa’s system for few years and have talent. OT Cannon Leonard is a giant man at 6’8 and it has taken him some time to add the weight and strength to his frame to hold up but he’s really filled out and the coaches like him. OT Will Nolan was a highly regarded recruit who had an injury that set him back but now he’s healthy and looks like he could play if needed. Mike Myslinski is in his sixth year and could be a center or guard whenever the Hawkeyes need him, he’s probably the top backup at all three interior positions. Lucas Allgeyer was true freshman last season who made the two-deeps early at RG, he fought for the starting job this year, and he may be in the competition for an OT job next year. Trent Wilson played at James Madison last year and is the only offensive line transfer the Hawkeyes took this year, he’s obviously a guy they like.

Josh Janowski is just coming back from winning his fight against cancer and everyone is pulling for him to become a contributor. He may have to wait a year to really compete for an interior spot but I’m not counting him out. Bodey McCaslin would likely be higher in the pecking order but Iowa has some real depth at OT behind the starters with Leonard, Nolan, and Allgeyer. He needs to just keep grinding to get his shot. I’m not sure George Nahas ever plays but right now, he’s Iowa’s 13^th offensive lineman who isn’t a freshman. I didn’t list the true freshmen because Iowa shouldn’t need them this year, but Carson Nielsen, Colin Withers, Owen Linder, Hudson Parliament, and Gene Riordan make one hell of a group of freshmen offensive lineman. The position is in great shape moving forward.

The offense has superior depth at RB, TE, WR, and o-line, it all comes down to the QB. Tim Lester has spent three years putting this offensive scheme in with the Hawkeyes and he’s the one who wanted to roll with this QB competition and let the winner be the starter. He wants a guy who understands the system better than a one-year starter and I think that’s a wise decision. Hecklinski feels like the higher ceiling guy while Brown feels like the safe choice. Lester doesn’t strike me as the safe choice guy. I think he’ll live with Hecklinski making a few mistakes if it means opening up this offense. The explosive plays need to come in the passing game this year and Hecklinski is the guy more willing to take the shots. Either way, whoever ends up at QB, they can’t blame a bad offense on their supporting cast, this is the deepest and most talented group of skill position players Iowa has had in a long time. Add in an offensive line that shouldn’t miss a beat, and the Hawkeyes can be very good on offense.

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

Starters: DE Kenneth Merriweather (4), DE Iose Epenesa (2), DT Bryce Hawthorne (4), DT Will Hubert (5)

Backups: DE Drew Campbell (3), DE Kahmari Brown (3), DT Devan Kennedy (3), DT Luke Gaffney (5)

Depth: DE Joseph Anderson (3), DE Chima Chineke (3), DT Brice Stevenson (4), DT Emmanuel Olagbaju (4), DT Brad Fitzgibbon (2), DL Lance Ingold (3), Maddux Borcherding-Johnson (4)

This is the biggest issue Iowa is going to have all season. While QB is the most important position, it feels like Iowa has two solid choices, the defensive line feels like a real mystery. Iose Epenesa has the bloodlines to be excellent but he’s still just a second-year player, becoming a starter for the first time. It is likely he will eventually be a good player, it’s uncertain that will be this season. Kenneth Merriweather has waited his turn at DE and hopefully has a breakout fourth year as a starter for the Hawkeyes. He’s quietly a leader for this front. Bryce Hawthorne has the most snaps of anyone returning on the line and he’s going to be counted on to be a force in the middle. Will Hubert is a fifth-year walk-on who has stuck it out and is going to get every opportunity to hold down a starting DT spot. If he can hold up, that would go a long way to helping the Iowa defense.

The interesting guy among the backup group is Drew Campbell. He missed last season with an injury but has started to emerge as a guy who can play inside and outside. He’s not big so he would be a smaller DT, but Iowa has used guys like him before on the interior. It would be huge if he can give them quality snaps both inside and out. Kahmari Brown is a transfer DE who comes in as an elite athlete who could really be a force off the edge. DT Devan Kennedy is a guy still growing into his DT body, but Iowa will need him on the interior this season. By all accounts, it looks like he’s ready to play and give the Hawkeyes some size inside. Luke Gaffney is another fifth-year walk-on who will need to contribute because of the lack of depth and experience the Hawkeyes have at DT.

Kirk Ferentz talked about using a heavier rotation this season of up to ten guys, defensive line coach Kelvin Bell seems to think more like eight. If two others are going to contribute my money would be on DE Joseph Anderson as a guy off he edge and transfer DT Brice Stevenson as a big body on the interior. It feels like Chineke, Olagbaju, Fitzgibbon, and Ingold need more time to adjust to the Big Ten and Borcherding-Johnson feels like he’s never going to get there. The freshmen aren’t going to be ready to contribute either, so I left them out.

Linebackers

Starters: MLB Cam Buffington (3), WLB Jayden Montgomery (5)

Backups: Nolan DeLong (4), Landyn Van Kekerix (5), Derek Weisskopf (3)

Depth: Preston Ries (3), Burke Gautcher (2), Carson Cooney (2)

Freshmen: Julian Manson, Billy Weivoda, Kasen Thomas

The Hawkeyes usually only start two LBs since they use their CASH spot which is basically a big nickel played by a defensive back. Cam Buffington is taking over the MLB spot and Jayden Montgomery is sliding over to the weakside. Montgomery played okay in the middle last year, and he’s a good leader, but he lacks the physical traits to be a standout. Buffington has all the measurables you want and is finally ready to step into his rightful place. Due to his size, he’s giving Jack Campbell vibes but that’s a lot to put on first-year starter. I think Buffington will be great but there will be growing pains. Montgomery will be in there for his leadership and understanding of the defense. He should ease the burden on Buffington to call everything perfectly. Montgomery may lose snaps though as Buffington gets more comfortable because there’s a boatload of talent at LB.

Seth Wallace has been coaching LBs at Iowa for a long time and he’s seen a lot of great talent, and he recently said this was the deepest group of LBs he’s ever had, he’s not lying. Nolan DeLong was a walk-on who just wouldn’t go away and now he looks like Buffington’s backup; he’s a good player. Landyn Van Kekerix has been a special team’s staple for several years now and in his fifth-year, he’s looking for some playing time. He could push Montgomery off the field. Derek Weisskopf is perhaps the guy who steps in at strongside LB when Iowa uses three LBs. Maybe it’s him, maybe it’s Van Kekerix, Iowa can’t go wrong with either.

Here’s where the depth really comes into play. Preston Ries was a highly thought of guy who has been banged up from time to time otherwise he might be pushing for a starter spot. He’s a good athlete who is going to make plays if he gets in the game. Burke Gautcher and Carson Cooney are two guys looking to make an impression on special teams so they can eventually get a shot to start. The problem for both Gautcher and Cooney is that Buffington, Weisskopf, and Ries are one year ahead of them and the incoming freshmen, one year behind them are really talented. Julian Manson, Billy Weivoda, and Kasen Thomas don’t look like guys who are going to wait their turn, they may be too good for that.

Defensive Backs

Starters: CB DeShaun Lee (5), CB Jaylen Watson (3), SS Tyler Brown (3), FS Zach Lutmer (4), CASH Jacob Wallace (2)

Backups: CB Rashad Godfrey Jr. (3), CB Darion Jones (1), SS Anthony Hawkins (3), FS/CASH Marcello Vitti (1)

Depth: DB Alex Mota (4), S Cody Haddad (2), S Ty Hudkins (3), S Xavier Styles (3), CB Ronnie Hill (1), S Kyler Gerardy (3)

The secondary may need to be the saving grace of the Hawkeye defense this year and if so, Phil Parker is set up well to do that. This group is deep, talented, and the variations Parker can use with his personnel feels unlimited. DeShaun Lee is a fifth-year CB who should have his best season. Jaylen Watson seems to have won the starting spot opposite him and it’s been a battle; there is depth behind him. SS Tyler Brown is nursing an injury and may not play in week one, but he shouldn’t be out too long so I’m still listing him as the starter. Once he’s healthy, he’ll be in there. He’s a transfer from James Madison and he’s been impressive when healthy. Zach Lutmer moves to free safety because Iowa has guys for the other spots and Lutmer can fill in any of the five defensive back roles. He’s the key to the defense and Parker will find ways to get him involved. Lutmer was the CASH last year, but Jacob Wallace is expected to be the CASH, Wallace can also play CB. They can mix and match guys as they see fit.

The backup CBs are Rashad Godfrey Jr., who pushed Watson for the starting spot, and he can also play CASH and Darion Jones. Jones is an incoming freshman who has risen up the depth chart quickly and he’s going to play this year. He’s one of the most talented freshman CBs Parker has had, and Parker doesn’t shy away from playing true freshman if they are ready. Fellow freshman Marcello Vitti is the backup at both FS and one of the guys who can play CASH. Between Lutmer, Wallace, Godfrey, and Vitti, Parker could put those four on the field and the offense wouldn’t know who’s doing what. S Anthony Hawkins has stepped up into the SS spot while Brown has been out, and he’ll likely start the first game. He’s a tall, rangy safety so he gives the Hawkeyes a different look at that position.

Iowa brought in transfer safeties Cody Haddad and Xavier Styles and both guys are developmental pieces they like. Ty Hudkins was a transfer last year who missed the whole season with an injury, and he’s there if needed. Alex Mota has never really found his spot, but he can help on special teams, as can walk-on Kyler Gerardy. Hopefully Iowa has enough QB depth that they don’t have to move Gerardy to QB as an emergency backup.

This defense is going to be a work in progress, but Phil Parker is one of the smartest defensive coordinators around and he teaches his guys the fundamentals. It isn’t the sexiest group up front, but they do have some depth and that gives them the chance to find a player where they weren’t expecting one, like Drew Campbell. The versatility in the secondary means they can disguise their defensive looks and move pieces around to confuse offenses, that’s always a good way to play. Buffington is going to be an upgrade at MLB over Jaden Harrell and Jayden Montgomery last year. Montgomery will start the year next to him, but I think the more talented guys will eventually supplant him. DeLong, Van Kekerix, Weisskopf, or Ries will be just too good to keep off the field.

Special Teams

Kickers: Eli Ozick (4) and Caden Buhr (2)

This competition may go into the season too if the open practice is any indication. Ozick was thought to be the leader but he had a rough day. Iowa may need to be willing to go for it on fourth down a little more this year if they can’t count on their kickers.

Punters: Tanner Philpott (3) and Boston Everitt (2)

Neither Punter looked particularly great but each had their moments. Philpott has actually played American football before so he probably has the edge but nothing is certain here.

The Hawkeyes start the year with three games they should win. Say what you will about the Iowa St. rivalry game but it’s at Kinnick this season and that team is in flux. A new coaching staff with a nearly complete turnover of their roster bodes well for the Hawkeyes. Then they start Big Ten play with a brutal stretch. At Michigan, Ohio St. comes to Kinnick, and then on the road at Washington for a Friday night game. All three will be tough games and Iowa need to win at least one of them. One of the more fascinating things about this schedule is that after starting with three home games, Iowa doesn’t have back-to-back home games the rest of the season. Rivalry games against Minnesota and Illinois are on the road but Wisconsin and Nebraska come to Kinnick. The schedule is manageable after the Michigan/Ohio St./Washington stretch. If they can get the QB thing and the defensive line thing figured out before the Michigan game, that would really help this team going into the Big Ten slate.

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