The NFL All-Offseason Buzz Team

There is nothing like a few non-padded practices to get hype trains moving. They are little more than buzz generators for the NFL, but fans are hungry for positive stories about their teams.

Every year a few of these offseason stars break out or go from good to great, but many don’t. It’s important to know why players are generating the buzz and try to parse through them for the real gems.

What else are we going to do with six weeks until the start of training camp tham? Here’s a whole team of players who are generating the most offseason buzz.

Note that since there is supposed to be no contact during the offseason, defensive players are at a huge disadvantage when it comes to making lists like this. There isn't a safety or a middle linebacker generating considerable buzz, but there are a half dozen wide receivers that aren't on this list that could be.

Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans

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The hype for rookies in the NFL is amazing when you consider the average first-year player usually isn’t that good. There are exceptions, especially at the league’s most premier position: quarterback.

The Tennessee Titans hope Marcus Mariota is a rookie who can come in and make a huge impact right away. If the buzz coming out of Tennessee is legit, then they won’t need to worry.

"He is deadly accurate," said Titans receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. “He’s the real deal…he’s got the goods.”

Jefferson cited Mariota’s accuracy, the way he’s grasped the offense and the way his teammates have responded to him in the locker room as key reasons why he believes the rookie is the total package. It would seem that Jefferson is not alone.

"The thing that he does well is he throws the ball right when you come out of your breaks," tight end Delanie Walker added. "For receivers, that's what you want. That gives you an opportunity to get the ball before the defender can break on us. He does some good things."

A report by NFL.com’s Jeff Darlington suggests that at least one veteran player agrees. In an unsolicited comment about Mariota, the veteran called him the “real deal” because he’s a “stud player with a great arm” and a “perfect attitude.”

That’s a lot of high praise for the No. 2 overall pick.

John Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals

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Larry Fitzgerald isn’t the player he used to be, so someone on the Arizona Cardinals is going to have to replace his production at receiver.

After catching 48 passes for 696 yards and five touchdowns as rookie, John Brown is the most likely candidate. The 5’10” wide receiver slowed down toward the end of the year but was productive early on.

To get better, Brown gave up fast food, per Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. He started taking better care of his body and added 10 pounds of muscle, although the Cardinals still list him at 179 pounds.

Quarterback Carson Palmer has taken notice.

"I expect huge things from him this year," Palmer told NFL Network’s Alex Flanagan. "There is something different about him."

If you believe the buzz, Brown could supplant Fitzgerald as the Cardinals’ No. 1 receiver.

Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders

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As you would expect from the first wide receiver off the board in the NFL draft, there is a lot of buzz around Amari Cooper. The Oakland Raiders are thrilled about their new offensive playmaker, something the offense has been missing.

It’s been nearly a decade since the Raiders had a receiver reach the 1,000-yard mark (Randy Moss in 2005). The expectation is that Cooper can reach that level as a rookie, so he’d better be good right away.

He seems ready to accept the challenge. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr sent some video to his older brother David Carr, who raved about him on 120Sports.com:

"

If you are an Amari Cooper fan, go out and buy the jersey because I’m seeing the routes this kid is running and it’s unbelievable the separation that he’s getting. I understand it’s OTAs and it’s early, but he’s so crisp in and out of his cuts…you got to see this guy on film, he’s an unbelievable player...there is 10 yards separation on some of these routes, which is unheard of in the NFL.

"

According the ESPN’s Adam Caplan, early word from the team has also been overwhelmingly positive. Per a team source, Caplan tweeted, “Real deal. Almost no mental errors. Runs great routes, consistent route runner.”

Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports piggybacked Caplan’s report, tweeting that the agent of another rookie receiver was “in awe” of Cooper’s skills at rookie minicamp. The buzz is getting around.

It’s probably to be expected given Cooper’s draft position, but you can’t blame the Raiders for getting a little giddy considering how long it has been since they had an exceptional receiver.

Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce wasn’t the starter all of last year, but he still caught 67 passes for 862 yards and five touchdowns. The Chiefs’ situation at wide receiver was so ugly that Kelce had to contend with safety help over the top and double coverage in the red zone.

He had to share snaps with tight end Anthony Fasano, block and be a decoy so wide receivers could catch passes. It wasn’t the perfect offense for him, but he put up solid numbers anyway.

The release of Fasano and addition of Jeremy Maclin in free agency will make Kelce’s job a lot easier. He is getting a better situation and more playing time with a quarterback in Alex Smith who loves to throw to the tight end.

Sure, he’ll have to block, but he gained weight this offseason in order to do that. According to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star, Kelce is up to 255 pounds and hopes to be at his listed weight of 260 by training camp.

The stars are aligning for Kelce. Other than Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham, it’s hard to imagine another tight end producing more in the passing game in 2015. Kelce should have a huge year, so expect the buzz to continue into the regular season.

Joseph Randle, RB, Dallas Cowboys

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The starting running back job in Dallas is unique. Last season, DeMarco Murray ran roughshod over opposing defenses with a big assist from the Cowboys offensive line. He had an amazing 2,261 yards from scrimmage, but he left in free agency, and that much production is hard to replicate even if the offensive line is great again.

Now that Murray is gone, the starting job is up for grabs. It would seem that Joseph Randle is the front-runner. He was always the favorite to lead the team in carries, but running back Darren McFadden hasn’t been able to compete with him so far because of a minor injury. That means Randle has the chance to establish himself as the feature back.

The Dallas Morning News' Jon Machota thinks Randle will be better than Murray in short-yardage situations and hit more home runs. Todd Archer of ESPN.com thinks he’ll rush for 1,200 yards—only six running backs did that last year—because he’s a better fit in the offense and more durable than McFadden.

Clearly, the Cowboys like Randle or they would have done a lot more to bring in backups. With just 105 career carries, he should be ready to sustain a heavy load like Murray did without his body breaking down.

Evan Mathis, OG, Free Agent

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Evan Mathis is one of the best offensive guards in the league and has been for some time, but he wanted more money from the Philadelphia Eagles. They tried to trade him for two years, but the Eagles “never had an offer for him,” according to head coach Chip Kelly, per Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Media.

The release allows Mathis to test the market to see if he can get the contract he wants without that team also having to surrender a draft pick.

Maybe he wasn’t worth a contract extension at his age (33), but someone has to want the player Pro Football Focus graded as the top offensive guard in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and second in 2014. He’s good enough to make right around what he made in Philadelphia, which could be frustrating to him.

Either way, the buzz is building on Mathis as every team reviews his film and starts putting together a financial package that might woo him, with his agent already claiming "a lot of interest" to the Joe Rose Show (via CBS Miami). Which teams and how many become legitimate suitors will be interesting, but fans of just about every club are asking the same question: Can my team get Mathis?

When a player like Mathis becomes available this late in the offseason, the buzz is only natural.

Ty Sambrailo, OT, Denver Broncos

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Even before left tackle Ryan Clady tore his ACL, Denver Broncos second-round pick Ty Sambrailo was penciled in as a starter at right tackle. With Clady out, Sambrailo flipped to the other side, and the pressure is now on the rookie to be productive from Day 1.

“Ty is a very athletic young man; (playing left tackle) is a lot to ask of a very young player,” said head coach Gary Kubiak, per Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Cecil Lammey. “He’s not a rookie anymore. Today he’s about a four-year player, so we’ve got to get him going.”

Kubiak repeated that Sambrailo would be a quick study from a mental standpoint but that he’s going to have to compete physically. He gets to do that in practice against DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller, two of the better pass-rushers in the league.

“I couldn't have asked for a better situation to be thrown into in terms of learning as a young player going against a guy like that,” Sambrailo said of going against Ware, per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver. “I'm going to have my growing pains, but I think that ultimately it will make me a better player.”

Quarterback Peyton Manning is one of the best when it comes to getting the ball out of his hand before the rush arrives, so chances are he’ll make Sambrailo look good in pass protection. In the running game, Sambrailo’s intelligence will serve him well in Kubiak’s zone scheme.

The shift from the right to the left may have silenced some of the buzz about Sambrailo, but that shouldn’t take away from him. Before Clady went down, there was a lot of excitement about Sambrailo on the right side in Denver.

Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals

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Do you remember when Geno Atkins was one of the most feared defensive tackles in football? The Cincinnati Bengal topped Pro Football Focus’ defensive tackle grades in 2012 and followed it up by finishing a respectable 10th in 2013. In 2014, Atkins was 20th, but he was coming off a torn ACL.

Now more than a year removed from surgery, Atkins is starting to get his burst back.

“It’s scary how fast and explosive he is right now,” said Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes, per the team’s official website. “I think he has the confidence that he has his legs under him. He feels like he did.”

If Atkins can regain his form from a couple of years ago, that could be huge for the Bengals, who play in one of the toughest divisions in football. When Atkins was dominating inside, they looked like one of the best defensive teams in the league.

Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther challenged Atkins publicly and privately at the end of last year, per the team’s official website, but he has been impressed with the way Atkins has responded.

"He looks as good as any guy we’ve got on our team," the coach said. "On the defensive side at least. … He’s real explosive. He looks strong. He looks as good as he’s ever had. I’m proud of the way he’s come back. He gives us a huge boost. Huge. You’re talking about one of the elite players in the league."

Atkins’ 2012 was the best ever graded by Pro Football Focus at defensive tackle. His 73.6 grade was double that of the leader in every other year since 2007, except for Gerald McCoy’s 48.8 in 2013. Atkins' grade in 2012 alone was also just a shade below Ndamukong Suh’s 79.4 mark over the last three seasons combined.

At age 27, Atkins is just entering his prime. If he really is fully healthy, watch out.

Khalil Mack, OLB, Oakland Raiders

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Khalil Mack is a “monster” according to veteran middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, per Bill Williamson of ESPN.com. Lofton should know since he’s been lining up next to Mack all offseason.

Another linebacker who's been on the field with him is Malcolm Smith, who also played on one of the best defenses ever with the Seattle Seahawks over the last few years. The Seahawks have a lot of good defensive players, but none like Mack, at least according to Smith.

"Obviously Khalil, he's one of a kind in this league," Smith said to Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan on SiriusXM NFL Radio last Wednesday, via 247Sports. "There wasn't anybody like him in Seattle. He's definitely his own beast, and it's going to be a special to also play with him."

Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. knows a thing or two about playing linebacker from his time as a Pro Bowler. He thinks Mack just scratched the surface of his potential as a rookie.

“If they’re thinking he’s this good and he’s done so little, imagine when actually does what he’s supposed to do,” Norton said on the team’s official website. “He has a ridiculous, ridiculous work ethic. In my experience again, that turns into really good football players.”

ESPN’s Mike Sando polled several NFL evaluators to recast the prospects from 2014, and Mack came out No. 1 overall. Per Williamson, the poll is based purely on projections of production moving forward.

Cooper and Mack should give Raider Nation something to watch this season, at the very least.

Byron Maxwell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles

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Who was the hardest cornerback Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews went against last year? According to him, it was then-Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, per Corey Seidman of CSN Philly:

"

I know, for me, he's been kicking my butt out here, it's great to be able to compete against him. Last year, if anybody asked me who was the hardest corner I went against, easily, easily 41 from the Seahawks. And then I turn on my TV and he's on my team. It doesn't get much better than that when it comes to competition.

"

Head coach Chip Kelly rebuilt his secondary this offseason with Maxwell as the centerpiece. He has been the target of choice for quarterbacks trying to avoid Richard Sherman over the last few years, but now he’s the No. 1 cornerback in Philly.

Defensive coordinator Billy Davis now has a cornerback who can follow around the opposing team’s No. 1 receiver, if that’s what Davis wants to do. In the past, he’s strictly had left and right cornerbacks, which allowed opponents to get the matchups they wanted.

“We can (let Maxwell follow the No.1 receiver),” Davis said, per Reuben Frank of CSN Philly. “I’m not going to say we are, but we can. We have that ability. Right now, we change them right and left every day, so they’re working on the right side, working on the left side.”

Many people have viewed Maxwell as nothing more than a No. 2 cornerback since that’s what he was in Seattle, but the Eagles see it a bit differently. They aren’t necessarily alone.

Last year, Maxwell finished 16th in Pro Football Focus’ grades between Patrick Peterson and Joe Haden, but he didn’t start until Week 13 and played only about half the snaps as other top cornerbacks. The Eagles think he can keep it up given more opportunity without the safety net of Sherman and free safety Earl Thomas.

Given Matthews' comments, maybe they are on to something. Given Davis’ willingness to consider letting Maxwell shadow No. 1 receivers, the Eagles think so too.