Predicting Each NFL Team's Biggest Training Camp Revelation
The earliest veteran training camp to open up in the NFL will be the Green Bay Packers on July 25. That means in less than a week, we're going to begin to hear the coach speak on who is outperforming expectations this offseason.
NFL coaches are known for limiting their mistakes, almost trending toward too conservative. At times, that means keeping the same depth chart in tact instead of moving players up and down in-season based off of practice performances. This is one reason why young players are more susceptible to becoming offseason darlings.
With a month and a half of practices before the regular season, coaches are more likely to shuffle around and tinker with depth charts than in-season, giving players a fair shot to establish a pecking order based on talent. In an attempt to predict the unpredictable, we'll give a crack at who those players will be.
Some may be earning starting roles, while others are fighting to become national breakouts, but on-paper, there are a clear set of 32 young NFL players who are slated to get their due in the coming month or so.
Arizona Cardinals: Robert Nkemdiche
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If not for Robert Nkemdiche falling out of a hotel window before Mississippi's bowl game, the defensive lineman easily could have been a top-five pick in the draft. The questions then start from there. Do you think he's a habitual hotel diver? Does the possession of marijuana arrest that stemmed from the incident bother you?
Assuming he doesn't make the same hotel mistake twice, the Arizona Cardinals can quickly move to the second concern. With their history in safety Tyrann Mathieu, who was dismissed from LSU for drug-related issues, and their recent trade of edge defender Chandler Jones, who according to Christopher Gasper of the Boston Globe had an episode with synthetic marijuana last season, the Cardinals could nearly field a defense of once-"troubled" marijuana users. They do not seem to mind taking on that obstacle.
In 2015, they lacked a premier pass-rusher, which is one reason why they traded for Jones. Nkemdiche, a hybrid interior defensive lineman and edge defender, can reach even higher ceilings than Jones. According to Mock Draftable, on the relative scale of defensive tackles, Nkemdiche scored in the 96th percentile or higher in both jumping drills from the combine. Those drills measure explosion, and no position in the NFL needs to be more explosive than the defensive line.
If he's able to mesh in Arizona's culture, the former Rebel could have a Sheldon Richardson-like rookie season, contending for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. In one-on-one drills, where defensive players have a natural advantage, he should look great in camp.
Atlanta Falcons: Grady Jarrett
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A second-year, fifth-round defensive tackle is who Atlanta Falcons fans should be excited about? That's right. When Grady Jarrett left the Clemson Tigers football program, he was just a 21-year-old—two years younger than some of the other draft prospects who came out in 2015.
As a rookie, Jarrett started just twice, with 24 combined tackles and one sack, but he has the upside to be a three-down starter and an impact interior pass-rusher as an under tackle at the NFL level.
At the combine in 2015, Jarrett scored in the 88th percentile of defensive tackles with his 1.69-second 10-yard split and in the 81st percentile with his 7.37-second three-cone time, per Mock Draftable. Defenders in a 4-3 system largely live and die on their athletic ability, and Jarrett checks multiple boxes there.
The fact that Atlanta was even able to draft Jarrett in the fifth round was shocking last spring. After months of top-100 projections, the Clemson lineman slipped into Day 3 of the draft.
The team has flirted with the idea of playing him as a nose tackle—a 1-technique defender—for the past year or so, but once head coach Dan Quinn gets him into camp for the second time, it could be hard to keep him away from a 3-technique role, where he can try to mimic Aaron Donald or Geno Atkins.
Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Williams
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After starting 30 games in the past two seasons, it's hard to make the case that nose tackle Brandon Williams is some sort of hidden gem, but he's largely unknown to the general football-watching public. The fourth-year, third-round lineman out of Missouri Southern State may not be the biggest name, but at 335 pounds he's most often the largest player on the field.
If you look at his combine numbers coming out of college, they might not look impressive, but when adjusted for size he's one of the more explosive players in the league.
For reference, his top athletic comparison on Mock Draftable is Vince Wilfork, arguably the best nose tackle in the past decade. With coach Joe Cullen taking over the Ravens' defensive line, expect the 3-4 team to come out in one-gap looks—similar to how Cullen coached at both Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.
The team will take advantage of Williams' explosion, as the Ravens will essentially be playing a 4-3 defense disguised as a 3-4 defense. If there's anyone across the league who may be the next Dontari Poe, Williams is on the top of that list.
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Buffalo Bills: Reggie Ragland
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In Rex Ryan's first season as the Buffalo Bills' head coach, the team was 19th in the league in yards per game, a drop from their 2014 mark of fourth. This has caused some to heat up the seat the defensive guru is currently sitting on, but in Ryan's second year he's made some adjustments to his defense.
After turning edge defender Mario Williams into a cap casualty, the team drafted Shaq Lawson, a pass-rusher from Clemson in the first round. The franchise followed the selection with two more top-100 defenders in linebacker Reggie Ragland of Alabama and defensive tackle Adolphus Washington of Ohio State.
With the status of Lawson's rookie year in jeopardy, due to a shoulder surgery, the top impact addition to that side of the ball looks to be Ragland. At Alabama, Ragland was coached by some of the best college football has to offer.
Making consistent reads, the former Crimson Tide leader is an easy plug-and-play defender, which is exactly what Ryan needs behind his linemen-attacking front. Ragland's presence should be the biggest difference between Buffalo's 2015 and 2016 defenses, and that should show up in training camp.
Carolina Panthers: Kelvin Benjamin
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In 2014, rookie receiver Kelvin Benjamin was the Carolina Panthers' top pass-catcher. He led the team in both touchdown receptions—with nine—and receiving yards, with 1,008. Unfortunately for Benjamin, he never played a down in 2015 due to an offseason ACL tear.
While injured, his quarterback, Cam Newton, was able to produce an MVP season and led the team to the Super Bowl against the Denver Broncos. With Benjamin back in the mix, it's hard to imagine what the offense will be capable of.
In camp, the 6'5" wideout should be able to match up well with the Panthers' young cornerbacks, as they spent three draft picks at the position after allowing star Josh Norman to walk in free agency.
By early August, we could be hearing rumblings that the Panthers have the best offense in the league.
Chicago Bears: Cody Whitehair
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Quality offensive linemen can fall due to measurables, despite the incredibly nuanced technical aspect of the position.
One of the bigger examples of this in recent years was David Bakhtiari, a 6'3" fourth-round tackle who landed with the Green Bay Packers. After declaring a year early from Colorado, the bookend fell because he was an inch too short, even in a weak class. He's now heading into his fourth year as the Packers' starting left tackle, all while on a rookie contract.
This year's Bakhtiari is Cody Whitehair of the Kansas State Wildcats, who only fell to the second round of the draft before the Chicago Bears—the Packers' in-division rival—made a move for him. With Charles Leno and Bobby Massie playing tackle in Chicago, it's hard to imagine how Whitehair gets a starting job outside without an injury opening up a spot.
With that said, he and Kyle Long, who is moving back to guard this season, are a promising duo inside.
If you start hearing about the Bears running offense looking great this preseason, there's a good chance it's because they drafted a first-round linemen in the second round in Whitehair.
Cincinnati Bengals: Cedric Ogbuehi
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The Cincinnati Bengals are a draft-and-develop program that rarely demands much from rookies. Cedric Ogbuehi was a premier left tackle prospect from Texas A&M who tore his ACL during the bowl season before the 2015 draft cycle.
Not needing a bookend until 2016 at the time, when Andrew Whitworth's contract expired, it was smart of the Bengals to bring Ogbuehi in, teach him the system and sit on him as he grew as a professional.
Whitworth did sign a one-year extension in September, per ESPN Insider Field Yates, kicking the can on Ogbuehi's eventual left tackle takeover.
With the 21st overall pick last season, the team drafted the former Aggie. With their second-round pick, the Bengals drafted another current reserve bookend in Jake Fisher of Oregon, who saw time as a sixth offensive lineman and tight end. With Ogbuehi not cleared to practice until early November and not being activated on game days until later that month, the healthy Fisher quickly passed him on the depth chart.
Expect that to change this offseason.
With Andre Smith signing with the Minnesota Vikings, there's going to be a three-way battle to see who will start at right tackle, between Ogbuehi, Fisher and NFLPA president Eric Winston.
Ogbuehi's offensive line coach Paul Alexander told Bengals.com editor Geoff Hobson in April that he'd be "one of the five," which you can assume means the Texas A&M product is on the fast track to starting.
Now healthy, if Ogbuehi is half as talented as people in Cincinnati claim he is when they wax poetic about the bookend, we could be seeing the second coming of a Tyron Smith-level athlete, or at least a Terron Armstead-level tackle.
Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin
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It's not that Robert Griffin should be the breakout player in Cleveland next season—it's that he has to be the breakout player in Cleveland next season.
If he isn't able to win a starting job under first-year head coach Hue Jackson, who ran many run-pass option plays as an offensive coordinator in Cincinnati, then it could be the end of both of their seasons at the point of arrival.
Everyone knows the story of Griffin, the former Heisman Trophy winner who went No. 2 overall and won Offensive Rookie of the Year, then became injury-prone and is now a reclamation project. Looking at the top quarterbacks across the league, the only passers who were acquired via free agency to be "franchise quarterback"-caliber are Drew Brees and Carson Palmer. They both had to bounce back from injuries at various points in their careers.
Griffin's story is a long shot, but that's the best chance the Browns have for competing in 2016.
He should be given every chance to win the job in Cleveland, and that alone will bring in preseason eyes and attention. Fans of the 3-13 team are looking to climb their way out of the bottom of the NFL and, as they see it, Griffin holds the ladder.
Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott
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This is the biggest layup of the bunch. Ezekiel Elliott was the star at Ohio State for two seasons, and the running back, who played in a power spread offense for the Buckeyes, is now going to run behind the best offensive line in the NFL.
Expectations are through the roof in Dallas, as the Cowboys are attempting to make a run at the tail end of Tony Romo's career. Even with the bar set high, Elliott's talent can still match, or even surpass, the goals set for him.
As of now, Elliott has to be looked at as the consensus leader to win Rookie of the Year in 2016 after being selected with the fourth overall pick. As the highest-drafted true offensive skill player in the class, if there is anything but resounding praise for him in camp it will be disappointing.
Denver Broncos: Paxton Lynch
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The Denver Broncos have a three-way battle at quarterback to replace Brock Osweiler, who was supposed to replace Peyton Manning. As of now, the Super Bowl champions are either going to have Mark Sanchez, Paxton Lynch or Trevor Siemian start at the position.
After trading for Sanchez, the team was still in the market for a quarterback this offseason, flirting with a Colin Kaepernick trade and eventually drafting Lynch in the first round. It's hard to claim that they were willing to settle on a passer of Sanchez's caliber. Last year, Sanchez's four-touchdown and four-interception season was good for a 80.4 passer rating.
Even in the preseason, Siemian wasn't great. By simple juxtaposition, Lynch, a strong-armed, mobile 6'7" quarterback, is going to look the best in camp. When he rightfully wins the starting job, the narrative will be spun that he beat two "starting-caliber" passers in the path.
Detroit Lions: Ameer Abdullah
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In 2015, the Detroit Lions made Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah the fourth-highest-drafted running back in his class, picking him up with the 54th overall pick. Abdullah's 597 rushing yards did place him fifth for rookie runners last season, behind Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon and T.J. Yeldon, who were drafted above him, and undrafted Thomas Rawls.
The reason for Abdullah's limited touches, though, wasn't due to talent, but his inconsistent ability to hold onto the ball. In terms of yards per carry, only Gurley and Rawls averaged more yards on more carries than the former Cornhusker. Unfortunately, Abdullah had four fumbles on 143 carries, good for second in the 2015 class, and he also fumbled on a kick return.
When he was on the field, Abdullah was explosive. This was even evident on kick returns, where he led rookies with 1,077 yards, 33 returns of 20 or more yards and four returns of 40 or more yards. Despite those totals, Tyler Lockett, the Seattle Seahawks' rookie return man, was a Pro Bowler instead of Abdullah.
With an offseason to fix his fumbling mistakes, Abdullah has the potential to be a 1,000-yard rusher in 2016. The shifty 5'9" back has as good of a chance as anyone to be the best back in Detroit since Barry Sanders.
Green Bay Packers: Datone Jones
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Datone Jones was as hard to project coming out of college as any defender, at least in terms of position. Listed at 6'4" and 283 pounds at the combine, the collegiate 3-4 defensive end from UCLA was a head-scratcher. At 283 pounds, he was too heavy to play as an edge defender for most schemes, but he was also too light to assume that he'd hold up as a penetrating defensive tackle.
That didn't stop the Green Bay Packers from drafting him in the first round in 2013. A good athlete for his size, many assumed that he'd find a spot in defensive coordinator Dom Capers' one-gap 3-4 defense. The problem for Jones wasn't ability, but surrounding personnel.
In the Packers' 3-4 defense, they basically field a true 3-4 defensive end, a run-stopper that Jones isn't, a nose tackle, which Jones isn't, a 3-technique and two edge-rushers on the line of scrimmage.
On the edge, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers held down roles. At 3-technique, Mike Daniels, who just signed a $42 million extension last season, emerged after the selection of Jones.
In his fourth NFL season, Jones will transition from being a backup 3-technique to the "elephant" role, which Peppers plays. Peppers is in a contract season, and with Matthews' history of playing inside linebacker and Mike Neal not re-signing with the team, it's within reason to expect Jones to either start or be in a healthy rotation at the position.
An explosive player for his size, he should look great early on in camp.
Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney
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Jadeveon Clowney just turned 23 this winter. Based on the past decade or so, it would be foolish to judge an edge defender before that age. For reference, his teammate J.J. Watt had 5.5 sacks when he was a 22-year-old. At 23, he posted 20.5.
Other pass-rushers, like Von Miller and Robert Quinn, nearly doubled their sack totals between the ages of 22 and 23. LaMarr Woodley went from a four-sack season to a double-digit sack season at the same ages. Coming into the league as a 22-year-old, DeMarcus Lawrence didn't record a sack, but last season had eight.
After missing 15 games over his first two seasons, Clowney is essentially a second-year NFL player in terms of experience. After going through the draft cycle and overcoming injury in his first two offseasons in the league, 2016 is the first chance he'll have to go through a schedule like the majority of veterans do.
With Watt and underrated pass-rusher Whitney Mercilus next to Clowney, he should be freed up in one-on-one matchups often. As long as an injury doesn't find a way to nag at him, the former first overall pick should bounce back to what he looked like at South Carolina, which was a generational talent.
Indianapolis Colts: Henry Anderson
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If you were paying attention last season, Henry Anderson caught your eye. Despite being a third-round rookie, he was able to start nine games for the Indianapolis Colts as a 3-4 defensive end. The long and strong 6'6", 300-pounder may finish 2016 as Indianapolis' premier defender.
Though he might not be ready for the start of training camp due to the recovery of a torn ACL, which ended his 2015 season, whenever he does return to the field, expect him to make a splash.
After investing so many years of draft picks to surround Andrew Luck with offensive talent, the Colts finally brought in a young quality defender in 2015.
In multiple looks, Anderson might be able to play 4-3 defensive end, too. Think of him not like J.J. Watt, but a young Chris Long. With his size, it's going to be hard to miss him, and he should be the focus when the Colts' first-team defense is scrimmaging.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack
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If you believe an alleged leak of the Dallas Cowboys' 2016 big board, Myles Jack was the team's sixth-highest-rated prospect this past draft, according to the rebuild and transcription that SB Nation's Blogging the Boys set up. That's the type of talent that the Jacksonville Jaguars were able to bring in with their second-round pick.
The former UCLA linebacker, running back, safety and edge defender played everywhere for the Bruins, as he was one of the more natural football players we have ever seen.
After losing the majority of his junior season due to a knee injury, Jack declared a year early for the NFL, leading to a draft cycle of volatile projections due to his health status. Now that he's found a landing spot in head coach Gus Bradley's 4-3 defense, where he compares to the Seattle Seahawks' Bobby Wagner, all of that is in the past.
John Clayton of ESPN even predicted that the linebacker will win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. In a league that now has more multiple, hybrid safety-linebackers, also tabbed "moneybackers," the position has never been so important. Jack can fill in as that new age position's poster boy as long as his knee holds up.
Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Jones
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Despite his off and on motor at Mississippi State, Chris Jones displayed premier traits in the Southeastern Conference. Not only could he beat linemen on one-on-one blocks, but he could get after the quarterback. Two years after his freshmen All-American honors, Jones felt ready to test out the professional level.
At the combine, per Mock Draftable, his body compared to Leonard Williams, the sixth overall pick by the New York Jets in 2015, and Muhammad Wilkerson, who signed an $86 million extension with the same team this week. It's a mystery as to how he lasted until the 37th overall pick of this past draft, but an incredibly deep defensive line class helped to push him down.
Without Justin Houston, a pass-rusher whose offseason knee surgery may keep him from playing in the regular season, the team is looking for a pressure player to lead its 3-4 front seven. Jones very well might be that exact defender.
Los Angeles Rams: Greg Robinson
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If you judge an offensive lineman two years into his career, you're often going to be disappointed.
After the quarterback position, there may not be a more nuanced unit in the sport. While offensive linemen are consistently considered safe, boring selections in the NFL draft they simply aren't. There's almost nothing in recent history that would suggest the early banking on first-round offensive linemen out of the spread-heavy college world is "safe."
In the 2013 draft class, eight first-round picks have made Pro Bowls, with none coming at bookend. Ten 2014 first-round picks have made a Pro Bowl, with none coming at bookend. In last year's rookie class, four first-year, first-round picks made the Pro Bowl, with none coming at bookend.
In the last three years, first-round picks D.J. Fluker, Justin Pugh, Brandon Scherff and Andrus Peat have converted from tackle to guard in some form or fashion.
At left tackle, Eric Fisher and Jake Matthews both struggled early on in their careers before bouncing back. It seems like only Lane Taylor, who plays right tackle, and Taylor Lewan have been out-of-the-gate ready at the position coming out of college.
The list of unproven first-round talent at the position, including Luke Joeckel, Ja'Wuan James, Ereck Flowers, Cedric Ogbuehi and D.J. Humphries, looking to be the next Fisher or Matthews, is where Robinson finds himself.
It's all part of earning your stripes and going through the growing pains of the NFL, though. The former second overall pick should get there eventually, but at just 23 years old at a position dominated by players five or more years older than the Auburn product, Robinson is at the correct progression rate for his age.
Miami Dolphins: Dion Jordan
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In 2013, Dion Jordan was an elite prospect. The former Oregon linebacker was a bit of an off-the-ball and edge-rushing hybrid, the type of player who could both get after the passer and drop into coverage to match tight ends with his 6'6" frame.
Three years into his NFL career, though, he has just three sacks.
After recovering from an offseason labrum surgery leading up to the draft, serving a four-game suspension for performance-enhancing substances in 2014 and serving a full-season suspension in 2015, he's finally on track to make an impact. According to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, there are whispers that the former Duck looks "brand new."
After losing edge defenders Olivier Vernon and Derrick Shelby to the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons, respectively, in this free-agency cycle, there is an opening for him to see the field.
The current starting defensive ends for the Dolphins are Cameron Wake, 34, and Mario Williams, 31. If Jordan can spell those aging players, lining up next to the monster that is defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, he could set himself up for the fast track to bounce-back success.
Minnesota Vikings: Danielle Hunter
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In the front seven, the Minnesota Vikings have a clear mantra: Keep drafting freak athletes. If it's not off-the-ball linebackers like Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr, it's defensive linemen like Sharrif Floyd or Danielle Hunter who come off the board early to the team.
As a mostly reserve rookie last season, Hunter, a defensive end from LSU, finished second among NFL rookies in sacks with six. That put him ahead of first-round pass-rushers Dante Fowler, Vic Beasley, Alvin "Bud" Dupree and Shane Ray, despite the fact that Hunter started the season as a 20-year-old third-round pick.
As of right now, Everson Griffen is "the guy" in the Vikings' pass rush, displaying one of the best spin moves in the game, but Hunter's early-career success almost surely sets him up for stardom. At his age, Hunter should be trying to see the field at a Power Five program, not dominating NFL linemen in limited reps.
Whenever Brian Robison, the 33-year-old who starts opposite of Griffen, is willing to give up his starting role, the 6'6" Hunter, who looks like the second coming of Jason Pierre-Paul, will be right there to snatch up the job.
New England Patriots: Trey Flowers
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Trey Flowers was a fourth-round pick by the New England Patriots one year ago, but he didn't even register a single tackle in the game he was activated. At Arkansas, the 6'2" defensive end was able to use his length, strength and leverage to his advantage, becoming somewhat of a consistent timer to force the ball out of quarterbacks' hands.
He's never going to be an edge-bender, but his strength was something rarely even seen in the SEC, which is why he left school with second-team and honorable mention All-SEC nominations.
This offseason, the New England Patriots shocked the world by trading double-digit sack artist Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals. Jones, in a contract season, was not expected to return to the Patriots long term, which must have been why they let the emerging star leave the Boston area.
Based on production and snap counts last season, one would assume that Jabaal Sheard, a 2015 free-agent signing, would replaced Jones' reps straight up, but after watching the 2016 offseason unfold, with the signings of former first-round picks Chris Long and Shea McClellin, New England will probably look more at a rotation of players than an individual for that task.
That's where Flowers comes in.
It should be a competitive battle for playing time with Sheard, Long, Rob Ninkovich, McClellin and 2015 third-round pick Geneo Grissom looking to fill two full-time roles, but you shouldn't count Flowers out.
Bill Belichick defenses often preach consistency over flash, and Flowers' strength at the point of attack makes him a force in the ground game.
New Orleans Saints: Obum Gwacham
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In the NFL, you're more likely to find an edge defender move to linebacker than the other way around. Examples of Vic Beasley and Bruce Irvin come to mind as high-profile players who moved off the line of scrimmage between their rookie and second years in the league.
Due to the overall lack of pass rushing on the New Orleans Saints roster post-draft, their second-year linebacker Hau'oli Kikaha did the opposite this offseason.
Kikaha had a history of knee injuries at the University of Washington, and that has come around again in 2016, as he's expected to miss this season, in which he was slated to be the team's starting defensive end, due to a torn ACL.
Someone now has to step up in the absence of Kikaha, and the name that emerged during organized team activities was Obum Gwacham, a second-year player from Oregon State. According to the Times-Picayune, Gwacham almost exclusively worked with the first team post-Kikaha's injury.
Gwacham didn't play on the defensive side of the ball until his final year with the Beavers, and at the combine he was measured as a 6'5", 246-pounder. The former receiver is now up to 270 pounds, according to Saints head coach Sean Payton, which was documented by Fletcher Mackel of WDSU in New Orleans.
With a few years of actual development under his belt, Gwacham might be making big strides, which we'll get a look at this summer. By fall, others may be wondering who the young, athletic pass-rusher is in New Orleans, but those who are paying attention see the strides already in motion.
New York Giants: Sterling Shepard
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There was not a receiver in the 2016 draft class who landed in a better spot than Sterling Shepard did with the New York Giants. In head coach Ben McAdoo's offense, precision and underneath ability is crucial, which is why star Odell Beckham Jr. has played so much in the slot when he was the offensive coordinator.
Shepard, at only 5'10" and 194 pounds, was noted for his route running at Oklahoma, but was looked at as a lesser prospect than some large pass-catchers because his size equates to a typical slot target, not an outside receiver. The 40th overall pick now plays in a system that will best use his strengths, potentially leading to a Rookie of the Year run.
As a first-year player, Shepard has the chance to perform in the slot like a top-five player at his position. After years of Eli Manning's receivers misreading defenses on the fly, leading to visible frustration by the quarterback, he's finally armed with a pair of wideouts who are tailored to play for him and McAdoo.
New York Jets: Geno Smith
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In 2015, New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith threw live passes in only one game, against the Oakland Raiders. In Week 8, he completed 64.3 percent of his passes for a 87.9 passer rating, a mark that eclipsed the season totals of Brock Osweiler, who signed a megadeal with the Houston Texans, and Jameis Winston, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Prior to that, the last time we saw Smith in the regular season was Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins in 2014, when he completed 80 percent of his passes and had a perfect passer rating of 158.3. Before IK Enemkpali threw a punch at Smith, he was slated to be the 2015 starter for the Jets. Lost in the divorce of Ryan Fitzpatrick, the team's 2015 starter who is still on the open market, is the fact that Smith can still play football.
For whatever reason, the media has forgotten about the former 39th overall pick in the 2013 draft. When training camp opens back up, expect to see the sobering reality sink in that New York may still have a starting-caliber quarterback on their roster.
Oakland Raiders: Bruce Irvin
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Bruce Irvin has gone through just about every narrative you can think of during his NFL career. In the predraft process, he was noted for being an overaged player, as he began his first season as a 24-year-old. Then he blew up the combine with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash.
From there, he was a surprise first-round selection, drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the 15th overall pick in the 2012 draft. He was "overdrafted" by the standards of most, but after recording eight sacks as a nickel pass-rusher, the rookie was later called one of the better picks of the draft.
Enter 2013, when the defensive end moved to off-the-ball linebacker, as his sub-250-pound frame was considered too thin to hold up on the line of scrimmage for three downs. He was also suspended for four games in his second season due to the NFL's substance-abuse policy.
Two years after that, with no fifth-year option executed by the Seahawks, Irvin signed as a free agent with the Oakland Raiders.
With Khalil Mack on hand but Aldon Smith suspended, it's conceivable that Irvin returns to a truer edge defending position in 2016, where he had the most success as a rookie. There's no reason the freak athlete wouldn't be a "practice player," and if he can find himself under head coach Jack Del Rio, he could be the closest thing to a poor man's Von Miller in the AFC West, if not the NFL in totality.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Matthews
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To be frank, the football world has been spoiled with young, talented receivers in recent years. Up until about the 2014 draft class, which Jordan Matthews was drafted in, no one expected much out of young pass-catchers, as it was viewed as one of the slowest-progressing positions in the sport.
In 2015, among 2014 draft-class targets, Matthews ranked ninth in receiving yards, behind Odell Beckham Jr., Allen Robinson, Mike Evans, Jarvis Landry, Brandin Cooks, Sammy Watkins, Allen Hurns and John Brown, even outdoing the likes of Martavis Bryant and Davante Adams.
Matthews isn't considered a superstar receiver like Beckham or Robinson, a regional fan favorite like Hurns or Brown, or even a fantasy favorite like Bryant or Adams were in 2015. The question as to why is puzzling.
As a rookie, he finished fifth in receiving yards in the 2014 class, only behind first-round picks. He also finished fourth and sixth in his draft class in receiving touchdowns the past two years, with back-to-back eight-touchdown seasons, despite playing for a franchise that just desperately mortgaged their future to improve at the quarterback position.
You shouldn't judge young players until their third year in the NFL, but Matthews has already been on the right track up to this point. If rumblings of "this is his year" start to bubble up in late July, it's just part of the plan.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Bud Dupree
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When you compare Bud Dupree to hybrid pass-rushers coming out of college, the top two comparisons on Mock Draftable are New England's Jamie Collins and Philadelphia's Connor Barwin. As a rookie, Collins had 43 total tackles and no sacks, whereas his second year in the league led to a 116-tackle season with four sacks thrown on top.
Barwin had 3.5 sacks as a rookie, but in his second season he had 11.5 sacks. This is all to say: Based on Dupree's body type, he should have a much better second year in the NFL than his rookie attempt, when he posted four sacks.
With high draft picks Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward on the defensive line and Lawrence Timmons and Ryan Shazier at inside linebacker, the Pittsburgh Steelers are just a quality edge defender away from having a fortified front seven on three different levels.
With Jarvis Jones now heading into his fourth season and Dupree being the young, on-pace defender, expect him to be the starter that attention gravitates toward.
San Diego Chargers: Jeremiah Attaochu
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After an offseason of mock drafts, the San Diego Chargers shocked the world with their third overall selection. It wasn't an offensive lineman or even DeForest Buckner, a true 3-4 defensive end, who they selected as the first non-quarterback in the draft, but Ohio State's Joey Bosa.
In San Diego's 3-4, Bosa will move around on the edge as a left defensive end like J.J. Watt in Houston's 3-4 defense and inside at 3-technique.
First of all, an increased number of quality pressure players in San Diego allows for cleanup attempts from lesser pass-rushers on the team. The combo of 2015 breakout Melvin Ingram and now Bosa make for a good atmosphere for a third defender to thrive. Second, with Ingram on the right edge and Bosa presumably playing base downs as a left end, that third defender will likely be the left-edge defender for the Chargers, a role played by Jeremiah Attaochu in 2015.
The 2014 second-round pick started 11 games in his sophomore season in the NFL, jumping from a two-sack total as a rookie to six sacks. While six sacks isn't something to praise in isolation, it was improvement, and under new conditions he has breakout potential.
San Francisco 49ers: Arik Armstead
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Last season, the San Francisco 49ers drafted Arik Armstead in the first round. The former University of Oregon defensive lineman was a big-time project but has big-time upside. As a rotational player in 2015, he flashed the potential to drive starting offensive linemen five yards behind the ball, but his inconsistencies kept him from starting 16 games.
As of now, Armstead and DeForest Buckner, his former Duck teammate, look to be the cornerstones of the 49ers' 3-4 defense. Under head coach Chip Kelly, who recruited the pair to Eugene, they will be given all the opportunities to make a difference for San Francisco, especially when their positional coach Jerry Azzinaro is also from the Kelly-Oregon tree.
In Philadelphia, Azzinaro's defensive linemen played more true 3-4 looks than just about anyone in the NFL, the same scheme played at Oregon. Both Armstead and Buckner look to be streamlined for NFL success based on their landing spot and chemistry. With the 6'7" Armstead transitioning into his second season in the NFL, you'd be cautious to not assume progress.
Seattle Seahawks: Frank Clark
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Positions matter little with the Seattle Seahawks. Their best pass-rusher, edge defender Michael Bennett, is best known for his ability to kick inside to defensive tackle on nickel looks. In obvious pass-rushing situations, it's not shocking to see three Seahawk defensive ends lining up on the edge, at under tackle and at nose tackle next to each other.
This is all to say: If you're one of Seattle's four best pass-rushers, you're going to see the field. With Bruce Irvin leaving the team, signing with the Oakland Raiders, that makes for an even easier path for second-year, second-round pick Frank Clark to see more reps in 2016.
Last season, you could have made the case that Clark was the most impressive preseason player in the league nationally. With the depth chart in Seattle, he was buried. That won't be an issue this year, and with more first-team reps under his belt this preseason, he's going to receive the on-field respect he warrants.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Donovan Smith
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As an Army All-American, Donovan Smith committed to Joe Paterno. By the time he left Penn State as a redshirt junior, he had played under four head coaches: Paterno, Tom Bradley, Bill O'Brien and James Franklin. Like many Penn State players, such as Allen Robinson and Christian Hackenberg, Smith chose to leave school early.
With a combined 6-10 Big Ten record in his last two years in State College, not including the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the sanctions that came with it, the reality of Smith's time at Penn State wasn't exactly what many expected it to be at the time of his recruitment.
What this meant was that the 6'6" bookend left school before he was truly developed enough to play in the NFL. A desperate Tampa Bay Buccaneers team looked at him as an opportunity, a player who they could get to a much higher ceiling than O'Brien or Franklin. That still rings true today.
In 2016, as a 23-year-old, Smith has yet to reach his potential, but with more reps in practice and a true first NFL offseason under his belt, he should make great strides. With no consistent pass-rusher to face in practice, Smith shining in practice can almost be assumed at this point.
Tennessee Titans: Dorial Green-Beckham
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According to Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com and his preview of Tennessee's receivers, the organized team activities movement of Dorial Green-Beckham was not due to "talent alone." Fifth-round rookie Tajae Sharpe and Rishard Matthews, who had eight touchdowns in four years in Miami, were the team's starters, but this seems more of a motivational tactic than anything else.
Green-Beckham was a two-time USA Today All-American in high school. The 6'5" wideout was supposed to take over college football in ways we hadn't seen since the likes of Julio Jones or Calvin Johnson. After getting kicked off the University of Missouri's football team for a violation of team rules, he transferred to Oklahoma, where he sat out a year and declared early for the 2015 draft.
As a rookie second-round pick, Green-Beckham was mostly a red-zone-specific target for the Titans, catching four touchdowns on just 32 receptions. That put him fourth in touchdowns for rookies, despite finishing 11th in receptions in the class.
With no true No. 1 wideout in Tennessee, Green-Beckham has the best chance to make an outside impact on the Titans passing game. If he can keep his head on straight, he has the chance to be the second-best skill player on the roster, behind pass-catching tight end Delanie Walker.
Washington Redskins: Preston Smith
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How talented is second-year outside linebacker Preston Smith? The Washington Redskins are moving Trent Murphy from 3-4 defensive end to get Smith on the field full time. Murphy was an All-American at Stanford who was drafted in the second round of the 2013 draft. In two years, he totaled 22 starts, and after Smith's rookie season that was all thrown out the window.
Smith, himself a second-round pick, compared similarly to Justin Tuck coming out of Mississippi State, and after leading rookies in sacks in 2015 he's expected to give Ryan Kerrigan a counterpunch on the edge. With that pairing on the outside of their tackle box, the Redskins could have two potential Pro Bowl defenders in the unit.
With the recent letdown of edge defenders like Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler and Vic Beasley in their early careers, and with few first-round prospects at that position this past class, Smith is the closest thing to a fringe-emerging star since Khalil Mack's breakout.
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