Previewing the NFL's 25 Biggest Training Camp Battles
Organized team activities are in the books. Minicamps are completed. Summer vacation has officially arrived for the 32 NFL franchises.
Yet all vacations must come to an end, and by early August, each club will have reconvened for the start of training camp. The long, hot days of summer at camp locales around the country will set the stage for many of the most important positional battles yet to be decided.
In the following slides, we will provide a preview of the biggest of those battles as the NFL offseason hits the summer lull. Soon enough, these competitions will heat back up at training camp—the proving ground of preparation before the 2015 season.
Quarterback, Buffalo Bills
1 of 25
The Bills traded for Matt Cassel in March, drafted EJ Manuel in the first round in 2013 and signed Tyrod Taylor for decent guaranteed money ($1.2 million) this offseason.
Who has the edge entering camp? Probably Cassel, but Manuel's developing and thriving in August is probably Buffalo's best-case scenario. Taylor is the wild card.
Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles
2 of 25
Given that his knee is healthy, Sam Bradford will be the starting quarterback in Philadelphia. Head coach Chip Kelly needs to sort out the backups in August.
Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow and Matt Barkley are recognizable names but questionable talents. Sanchez is a near-lock, and Barkley is probably a better fit for Kelly's system, but the Eagles; innovative head coach just might be creative enough to make something out of Tebow's otherwise flatlined career.
Quarterback, Cleveland Browns
3 of 25
Despite a nightmare 2014 season in Tampa Bay, veteran Josh McCown will enter Browns training camp as the overwhelming favorite to start Week 1. He'd need to bomb August to lose his hold on the job.
The real interest here is if Johnny Manziel can revive his career and add some (real) drama to the competition. The former first-round pick needs to show some progress at camp, even if he doesn't win the spot.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Quarterback, Houston Texans
4 of 25
The Texans still don't have an obvious favorite between veterans Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett. That's a good thing for camp. The winner of this mostly underwhelming competition will get the opportunity to lead a playoff-ready roster.
Hoyer might be the better fit for Bill O'Brien's system, but Mallett made starts for the young head coach last season.
Running Back, Cleveland Browns
5 of 25
The Browns backfield might not feature big names, but this deep, talented group is expected to carry the Cleveland offense in 2015. Training camp will be used to determine the position's player-by-player usage.
Isaiah Crowell averaged 4.1 yards per carry and scored eight times last season, while Terrance West led the team with 171 carries. The draft brought rookie Duke Johnson, who has Giovani Bernard-like skills. Camp is needed to sort out the touches.
Running Back, Detroit Lions
6 of 25
Veteran Joique Bell—who has rushed for 18 scores and caught nearly 150 passes over the last three seasons—returns as Detroit's likely lead back. But with the departure of Reggie Bush came the addition of rookie Ameer Abdullah, an electric weapon capable of handling Bush's former role and stealing some snaps from Bell.
Also, don't sleep on Theo Riddick, who impressed while Bush was injured in 2014, or Zach Zenner, a ridiculously productive college runner who is capable of standing out once the pads come on. This is a deep group.
Running Back, Atlanta Falcons
7 of 25
The starting running back for the Falcons will be decided in camp, where second-year back Devonta Freeman will attempt to hold off rookie Tevin Coleman.
Freeman is 5'8" but tough as nails, and he's a more natural receiver than his rookie counterpart. However, Coleman is a home run hitter with huge upside as a featured back. It's certainly possible—if not likely—that the winner in camp will still need to concede a decent number of touches to the loser.
Running Back, Dallas Cowboys
8 of 25
The starting running back of the Cowboys is one of the most coveted jobs in football, but Dallas will still need training camp to decide who will get the call.
The likely winner is Joseph Randle, who averaged 6.7 yards per carry as DeMarco Murray's backup in 2014. He'll battle Raiders flameout Darren McFadden, oft-injured Ryan Williams and space back Lance Dunbar for the gig. The winner could post huge numbers behind a dominant Dallas offensive line.
Running Back, Buffalo Bills
9 of 25
The Bills didn't trade for LeSean McCoy to have him battle for the starting job. It's his. However, the snaps and roster spots behind him are up for grabs.
The Bills have four capable backs behind McCoy in veterans Fred Jackson and Anthony Dixon and youngsters Karlos Williams and Bryce Brown. Will Buffalo keep all five? Camp should decide who stays and who plays.
Running Back, St. Louis Rams
10 of 25
This could be one of the best battles of the summer, but only if first-round pick Todd Gurley (ACL surgery) is healthy and ready for camp. While the former Georgia star would then be the favorite to start, incumbent starter Tre Mason isn't going to go quietly. He proved big-play ability and the capacity to handle a full workload during an impressive rookie campaign.
Gurley's recovery timeline still clouds this battle, but the Rams could wage one heck of a fight at running back in August.
Running Back, New York Jets
11 of 25
Intentional or not, the Jets created a veteran logjam at running back this offseason. New York re-signed Bilal Powell, traded for Zac Stacy and signed Stevan Ridley. Chris Ivory, last season's leading rusher, also returns.
There's obvious talent in the group, but how will the snaps be split up? Ridley's recovery from ACL surgery complicates the camp competition, but New York will likely use August to figure out playing time for a position the Jets will lean on in 2015.
Receiver, Houston Texans
12 of 25
DeAndre Hopkins is on the verge of superstar status, but he now needs a running mate at receiver with Andre Johnson going to Indianapolis. Houston signed veterans Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts this offseason and selected Jaelen Strong in the second of April's draft.
Strong needs development, but he's more talented right now than Shorts, and Washington will soon turn 32. The rookie could win a big chunk of snaps with an impressive camp.
Receiver, Indianapolis Colts
13 of 25
An active offseason has Andrew Luck overflowing with receiving options within the Colts offense. Andre Johnson replaced Reggie Wayne and now teams with T.Y. Hilton, giving Indianapolis a top starting combination.
Behind those two, the Colts will need to determine snaps for 21-year-old Donte Moncrief, first-round speedster Phillip Dorsett, CFL star Duron Carter and former Charger and Raider Vincent Brown.
So much talent. Only one football. Poor Luck.
Receiver, Tennessee Titans
14 of 25
The talk of the Titans offseason has centered on Marcus Mariota and the quarterback position, but Tennessee is also suddenly deep at receiver. There are question marks, but the Titans have five or six receivers capable of making an impact in Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter, Hakeem Nicks, Harry Douglas, Dorial Green-Beckham and Tre McBride.
Who makes the most of training camp will likely decide the pecking order. The two rookies are especially intriguing.
Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
15 of 25
Who starts opposite Antonio Brown? The Steelers have stockpiled options with high draft picks, including Markus Wheaton, Martavis Bryant and Sammie Coates.
The depth chart will probably force offensive coordinator Todd Haley to have three or more receivers on the field for a high percentage of snaps, but training camp will still help Pittsburgh sort out playing time. Bryant probably has the best opportunity to make a splash.
Left Guard, Dallas Cowboys
16 of 25
The best offensive line in football has a chance to get better in 2015. Left guard Ronald Leary returns after a breakout season, but he'll face stiff competition in the form of undrafted free agent (but first-round talent) La'el Collins.
Many expect Leary to concede the spot, but the rookie has to earn it in August. Leary won't go quietly in camp.
Outside Linebacker, Chicago Bears
17 of 25
Any switch to the 3-4 defense requires talent at edge-rusher. Luckily, the Bears figure to enter camp with more than enough options at outside linebacker. Jared Allen, Willie Young and Lamarr Houston will be joined by free agent pickups Pernell McPhee and Sam Acho, and Christian Jones and Shea McClellin can play on the edge if need be.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio must use camp to determine his pecking order and how he wants to use those edge-rushers who are more comfortable in the 4-3 front.
Outside Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers
18 of 25
The Steelers lost Jason Worilds this offseason to an unexpected retirement, later using a first-round pick on Bud Dupree to fill the hole. Now, Pittsburgh has to figure out who plays at the critical edge position.
James Harrison is 37 but still around, and Arthur Moats played well when pressed into outside duty last season. Former first-round pick Jarvis Jones is the wild card.
Can Jones finally break out? And will Dupree win early snaps? Camp should provide some answers.
Inside Linebacker, San Diego Chargers
19 of 25
Inside linebacker snaps will be up for grabs at Chargers camp. San Diego returned Donald Butler and Manti Te'o, both starters inside a year ago. Still, the Chargers felt internally they could do better, hence the selection of Denzel Perryman in the second round.
The rookie will have his chance to win a starting job. Perryman's physical style could shine brightly during the dog days of training camp.
Cornerback, Minnesota Vikings
20 of 25
Budding star Xavier Rhodes will patrol one side of Mike Zimmer's defense, but who starts on the other side for the Vikings will likely be determined in camp. Captain Munnerlyn is a good bet for the slot, leaving Josh Robinson to battle with veteran Terence Newman and first-round pick Trae Waynes.
Zimmer's affinity for veterans who know the scheme might give Newman the edge. Waynes should eventually overtake the soon-to-be 37-year-old, though.
Cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals
21 of 25
Who should play opposite Leon Hall? The Bengals have two first-round picks vying for the job in Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard. Both appear capable.
The favorite is likely Kirkpatrick, but a standout camp from Dennard could flip the script. Veteran Adam Jones will also need snaps in a crowded but talented secondary.
Cornerback, New England Patriots
22 of 25
The Patriots will use the summer to identify replacements for Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, who both started at cornerback for New England in last year's Super Bowl win.
Logan Ryan would appear to have one spot on lockdown, but Malcolm Butler, Justin Green, Bradley Fletcher, Derek Cox and Robert McClain will battle it out at training camp for the other job. The Patriots are in a position to start the best player in August.
Cornerback, Cleveland Browns
23 of 25
Joe Haden needs a running mate at cornerback, and the Browns have options. Veteran Tramon Williams signed a deal this offseason, which suggest he will play a significant number of snaps.
Behind him, the Browns still have youngsters in Justin Gilbert, Pierre Desir and K'Waun Williams. Cleveland will hope Gilbert forces his way onto the field with a strong camp, but Williams and the position's overall depth should soften the blow if his development remains slow.
Safety, Minnesota Vikings
24 of 25
The Vikings are set with Harrison Smith—a Pro Bowl snub a year ago—entrenched at one safety spot. But finding his complement at the back end will require camp.
Incumbent starter Robert Blanton should have his hands full keeping the job, with Andrew Sendejo, Antone Exum and Anthony Harris all gunning for his position. Exum, a converted cornerback, is the dark horse to surprise in camp and win the job.
Safety, Philadelphia Eagles
25 of 25
Despite losing starter Nate Allen in free agency, the Eagles should have a hoard of options to play next to Malcolm Jenkins at safety. Earl Wolff, Jaylen Watkins and Walter Thurmond III all have a shot at the starting job in camp.
Just don't sleep on Thurmond, who could develop into a poor man's version of Devin McCourty.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
