NFL Training Camp 2024: Top Rookies Continue to Grab Headlines Ahead of Preseason
An actual football game is only one day away. Once action begins Thursday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, NFL action will appear on your television screen every week through January 9.
Preparation done now is vital to reach that final step.
While the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans get ready for their first preseason contest, the rest of the league remains in training camp. Pads are a'poppin. Reps are crucial. Players are showing who they are every single day.
Each practice is an opportunity to be productive, with plenty to accomplish. Coaches are also hoping to leave each practice without the roster enduring any injuries. Every day becomes an educated wish.
In Denver, the Broncos appear to have their guy behind center. The Las Vegas Raiders should be ecstatic about their new offensive weapon. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can be even better in Year 2 with Baker Mayfield. The Chicago Bears, meanwhile, shouldn't overlook an aging talent.
Let's bounce around the league to see the biggest takeaways from Wednesday's practices.
Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers Is Already Ahead of the Curve
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Brock Bowers was the most decorated and accomplished tight end to ever enter the professional ranks. His skill set appears to be immediately transitioning to an NFL field.
The two-time national champion and John Mackey Award winner may only be 21 years old, yet he appears fully prepared to become a Day 1 weapon for the Las Vegas Raiders offense.
"I think he already is [ahead of the curve]," head coach Antonio Pierce told CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones. "This guy is special. He gets it. He played the game at a high level in college. He's come here and taken his playbook seriously. He's taken his routines, his work, things from the meeting room to the practice field. He's not a repeat offender.
"Ball means a lot to this gentleman. That's all he cares about. He doesn't want to sing. He doesn't want to talk to the media. He even said, 'I just want to put on the pads and show everybody.'"
Even on a squad that already features a future Hall of Fame wide receiver in Davante Adams, Bowers has the potential to change the Raiders' offense.
Fellow tight end Michael Mayer managed only 27 receptions for 304 yards during his rookie campaign. He struggled to a degree. Whereas, Bowers should be a major target for whomever is behind center once the Raiders open the 2024 campaign, which will make that quarterback's life much easier.
QB Baker Mayfield Breaks Down Difference in New Buccaneers Offense
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Baker Mayfield is no stranger to change. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is working with his seventh different offensive play-caller since entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
Liam Coen now takes over responsibilities, after Mayfield experienced a career revival under the direction of Dave Canales, who subsequently took over as the Carolina Panthers head coach.
Mayfield did work with Coen previously during his short stint with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. Technically, Coen served as the Rams offensive coordinator that season, though head coach Sean McVay is the squad's offensive play-caller.
Coen's plan is to place more emphasis on the quarterback position.
"When it comes to the motions and lots more of responsibilities, we'll have certain play-calls and we'll have answers," Mayfield said during an interview on NFL Network. "It's not like we're going to show up at the line of scrimmage and feel handcuffed to whatever the defense is doing.
"When it comes to the motions and shifts, it's just giving [opponents] more eye-candy. How many different ways can we draw up what we're good at? How many different ways can we format it and get Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin] into different places to get them the ball as quick as possible?"
Change has been the only constant in Mayfield's career. He should settle in nicely during Year 2 of his Tampa tenure, with another play-caller who'll make his reads easier.
Will Indianapolis Colts Dip into Free-Agent Safety Pool?
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The Indianapolis Colts like their young defensive backs. Everyone on the outside remains curious why general manager Chris Ballard hasn't done more with the unit.
Second-year cornerbacks JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones played relatively well as rookies. Veteran nickel Kenny Moore II signed a new three-year contract this offseason. Dallis Flowers is returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon after opening last season as a starter. Ballard also drafted Jaylin Simpson in this year's fifth-round, with the intention of him converting from safety to corner.
Aside from bringing back Julian Blackmon on a one-year deal, the Colts did nothing at safety. Blackmon is a solid starter at strong safety. Free safety is far more nebulous.
"The Colts' situation at free safety right now is curious, at best," ESPN's Stephen Holder tweeted. "I was proceeding under the assumption they would roll with Nick Cross as the starter, only to have them now rotating in Ronnie Harrison and calling it an evaluation/competition."
Harrison has moved between safety and linebacker for most of his professional career. He's never been a true free safety, which places Cross' development in question. When the Colts drafted Cross in the third round two years ago, he was the class' youngest player. He's still 22 years old. The physical tools are evident, but a lack of consistency has limited his overall effectiveness.
If the situation doesn't clear up through camp, the Colts still have quality free-agent options, specifically when proven veterans like Justin Simmons and Quandre Diggs remain available. It shouldn't matter how much Ballard and Co. like their young DBs. They should have already dipped into the free-agent pool months ago to solidify what's a tenuous situation.
New England Patriots Secure Long-Term Plans Along Defensive Interior
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The New England Patriots may be led by a new braintrust after Bill Belichick's departure earlier this year, but those now in charge aren't overlooking the pieces the team already had in place. Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux is the latest to benefit.
Godchaux and the Patriots agreed to a two-year, $21 million contract extension on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The seven-year veteran originally joined the Patriots as a free agent prior to the 2021 campaign. The 29-year-old is now signed through 2026, when he'll turn 32.
Earlier this offseason, fellow defensive tackle Christian Barmore agreed to a four-year, $92 million contract extension. The Patriots are now set up along their interior with a consistent starter at nose tackle and a difference-maker next to him.
New head coach Jerod Mayo fully understands the value of a strong defensive front, after playing seven years at middle linebacker.
More importantly, the Patriots are keeping valuable contributors happy. As the Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan noted, Godchaux wasn't thrilled with his contract status and made his stance public. Within five days, the Patriots and the defensive lineman's representation reached a new deal.
He's the 10th Patriot to sign a new contract extension this offseason.
As the franchise rebuilds with a different vision, the Patriot Way must evolve. Players are no longer going to take less just to join the team. But they will still want to play for the franchise if treated properly.
Keenan Allen Could be Next Bears WR Getting a Contract Extension
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The Chicago Bears finally understand the assignment. Everything they do from this point forward is to build around quarterback Caleb Williams.
The process began before the draft, though. On March 14, the Bears acquired veteran target Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers for a fourth-round draft pick. Allen has five 100-catch, 1,110-yard seasons under his belt, including last year.
The 32-year-old Allen is the offense's old head, who happens to be entering the final year of his contract.
D.J. Moore signed a four-year, $110 million contract extension on Monday. One of his first thoughts was to keep the Bears' offensive core together long term, while politicking for Allen to also get a new deal.
"I did that yesterday," Moore told reporters. "I was like, 'Man, listen. What's your number? Let's get it done.' And I mean, I'm going to leave his number out of it. But I think we can get it done. So it should be interesting."
Stability can be a huge indicator of a young quarterback's success. The Bears have Moore, rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze, running back D'Andre Swift and tight end Cole Kmet signed through at least the 2027 season.
Allen on more than a one-year deal can be the veteran presence to lead the way and provide Williams with a security blanket in 2024 and beyond.
"If you look at our team, I'm six years, Rome's five, Caleb's five ... we've got Cole for four," Moore added. "Everybody's here for the long haul on the offensive side. That's pretty secure to me."
Bo Nix Impresses, Takes Control of Denver Broncos Offense
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Bo Nix looks more and more like the right fit for the Denver Broncos with each passing day.
"He takes a lot of pride in not screwing things up—or if he does once, he's not going to do it again," right tackle Mike McGlinchey told reporters on Monday. "... Bo has been an impressive person in our locker room."
This year's 12th overall pick has been impressive on the field as well.
"Nix operated the first-team offense over four periods of 11-on-11 and thrived with efficient production," the Colorado Springs Gazette's Kyle Fredrickson reported on Wednesday. "Nix worked the sideline with extra zip on his passes and avoided mistakes. Coach Sean Payton said that Nix "overall did pretty well."
A relatively smooth transition shouldn't be unexpected. Nix may have been the sixth of six quarterbacks selected in this year's first round. But he was also the oldest and most experienced, with time at two different programs under multiple coordinators.
Technically, the Broncos have an ongoing quarterback competition between the rookie, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. Still, everyone understands it's Nix's job to lose. If this year's 12th overall pick starts stacking multiple good days together, an eventual announcement will occur sooner rather than later.
With Sean Payton calling plays and a talented surrounding cast, expectations for Nix should be much higher at the end of training camp than when the Broncos selected their new franchise quarterback.
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