Every NFL Team's Biggest Position Battle and Potential Breakout Player

We aren't quite into the dog days of summer and padded practices, but players are actually on the field for all 32 teams with organized team activities (OTAs).

OTAs don't offer a comprehensive look at what a player can do. We'll have to wait until August to get that with training camp. But they do provide early insights into how rosters are shaping up across the NFL.

Throughout the offseason, we've been tracking team needs for every team in the league. The bulk of free agency and the draft should address most pressing needs on a roster, but we all know that doesn't always turn out to be the case.

There isn't always a lot to learn from OTAs. Teams aren't doing full installs and the pads won't come until August. But they do give us an early look at position battles and players who might become surprises in the fall.

Here, we'll break down where each team stands on that front by highlighting the most important position battle that is set to go down over the summer and one player who could rise up over the course of the offseason and preseason to outperform expectations.

Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Matt York

Top Needs: Right Guard, Wide Receiver, Linebacker

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Right Guard

The Cardinals didn't do too much on the offensive side of the football. The vast majority of their moves were spent fixing a defense that struggled last season. Signing Royce Newman to compete with Isaiah Adams at right guard is one of the few moves they made.

Newman hasn't been a full-time starter since his rookie season in 2021. It's probably not a great sign for Adams' development if he loses his job to the former Buccaneer. The hope here should be that Adams is ready to take a step forward in his second season and the Cardinals will have a solid offensive line.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: DL Darius Robinson

The Cardinals spent more resources on the defensive line than most teams threw at any position groups. Not only did they draft Walter Nolen in the first round, but they also signed Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell.

All of those new additions shouldn't overshadow Darius Robinson in his second season. He only played six games and notched one sack in an injury-riddled rookie campaign. However, head coach Jonathan Gannon remains optimistic about the Missouri product.

"I like where D-Rob is at right now, I like where he is trending. There is no doubt he is going to be an impact player for us," he said in February, per Darren Urban of the team's official website.

Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Top Needs: Cornerback, Center, Interior Defensive Line

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Cornerback

Cornerback is the most important position battle for the Falcons because they have to figure out if they need to add another veteran at the position. A.J. Terrell is obviously locked in as the team's best cover corner, but there are a lot of questions after him on the depth chart.

It would be nice to move Clark Phillips III inside. He's spent the first two years of his career as an outside corner, but at 5'9", 184 pounds, he's better suited for life in the slot. The Falcons are also planning on starting rookie safety Billy Bowman Jr. as a slot defender so he could come along as an immediate starter. Mike Hughes, Mike Ford Jr. and Dee Alford could also be involved.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: LB Divine Deablo

The Falcons definitely gravitated to a certain type of defender this offseason. Jeff Ulbrich's arrival as defensive coordinator signaled a shift to smaller, faster players on defense. They drafted two sub-250 pound edge-rushers and let go of bigger defensive tackles in Grady Jarrett and Eddie Goldman.

That's because Ulbrich is going to focus more on putting athleticism that can defend the pass on the field. It's the reason why Jamien Sherwood, a converted safety, was able to earn a three-year, $45 million contract in his defense last season.

It's also why Divine Deablo's coverage chops and ability to run sideline-to-sideline are going to stand out in Atlanta's summer program this offseason.

Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Top Needs: Linebacker, Cornerback, Interior Offensive Line

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Linebacker

It probably would have been best for all parties if the Ravens could have retained Patrick Queen in the 2024 offseason. It was clear that the symbiotic relationship between him and Roquan Smith led to better play on the field and the best version of the Ravens defense.

Unfortunately, they found that out the hard way as Malik Harrison and Chris Board tried to replace Queen and Smith and were not nearly as productive. This year, the Ravens will turn to third-year player Trenton Simpson and fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan to pick up the slack at the position.

Simpson was a liability in coverage, giving up a passer rating of 121.4 when targeted. However, expecting a fourth-round pick to start as a rookie is a big ask. The Ravens have to find out if the answer to the problem is on the roster.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: CB T.J. Tampa

The Ravens' depth at cornerback let them down last season. Few teams could withstand the rash of injuries they had at the position, and it was detrimental to the defense over the final stretch of the season.

T.J. Tampa was among those whose season was impacted by injury. He started the campaign inactive and played some special teams for a few games before an ankle injury left him unavailable for another seven weeks. Cornerback is already a volatile position. It isn't uncommon to see a big leap in production from year to year.

A healthy offseason should have given him the chance to improve and show he can be part of the solution in 2025.

Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Top Needs: Linebacker, Safety, Cornerback

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Cornerback

The Bills have every right to be thinking Super Bowl, but they won't get there if they don't have the secondary to compete with elite offenses. That's one of the biggest questions heading into summer team activities. Specifically, who is starting across from Christian Benford?

Rasul Douglas manned the spot last season, but he struggled late in the season and hasn't been re-signed. They brought back Dane Jackson and Tre'Davious White in free agency in addition to drafting Maxwell Hairston and Dorian Strong.

Ideally, Hairston would be able to win the job as a first-round pick. That would go a long way toward helping fans forget about the Kaiir Elam experience.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: WR Josh Palmer

Josh Palmer might not be a breakout player in the traditional sense, but he's someone who could have a bigger impact than most are anticipating. General manager Brandon Beane was adamant that the Bills had the right receivers on the roster after the draft. Adding Palmer is one of the reasons why.

He already has four years of NFL experience, including a 769-yard season in 2022. But he's still just 25 years old, and playing in a more established offensive ecosystem in Buffalo with Josh Allen could see him reach a different level.

Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Top Needs: Cornerback, Center, Edge-Rusher

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Edge-Rusher

The Panthers are going to have a hard time being a serious NFL defense if they don't get a significant improvement in the pass-rush department. They were dead last in pressure percentage last season (16.2 percent). The moves they made this offseason give them some hope, but they don't equate to a concrete plan yet.

The interior should help matters with the additions of Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III, but that still counts on free agents Patrick Jones II, and rookies Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen making an immediate impact. Both were ranked much higher on our big board than where they were selected, but they are both going to have to hit for the Panthers' pass rush to improve.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: WR Xavier Legette

Xavier Legette grabbed headlines for his soundbites last season, but his production fell a bit short of expectations. He had 49 receptions and 497 yards on 84 targets.

The first-round pick wasn't built to make an immediate impact, though. As his B/R scouting report noted in last year's draft cycle, "many of Legette's pain points come down to refinement. He is not skilled at battling at the line of scrimmage, nor is he a developed route-runner who can mix up his approach to keep defensive backs guessing."

It makes sense that he got off to a slower start as a rookie. With a full season and offseason to work on his route-running and the nuances of being an NFL receiver, he could emerge as a legitimate weapon this summer.

Chicago Bears

AP Photo/David Dermer

Top Needs: Edge-Rusher, Running Back, Safety

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Left Tackle

Left tackle isn't necessarily one of the Bears' top needs. Braxton Jones is a returning starter, but figuring out whether he's going to retain that job is one of the most important questions for Chicago under first-year head coach Ben Johnson.

Jones put together his best season last year, but he's going to be out for much of the summer with a broken ankle and Chicago spent a second-round pick on Ozzy Trapilo.

Johnson has said the plan is to keep Darnell Wright at right tackle, but he wasn't committed to the idea of Jones retaining his job.

"Anything's on the table, and we're going to let the plan play out, which is to keep them there for the time being and let these guys battle it out on the left side. We can decide to change course whenever we need to," he told reporters.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: LB Ruben Hyppolite II

The Bears made it clear they didn't care too much about anyone's big board with the selection of Ruben Hyppolite II in the fourth round in this year's draft.

The Maryland product wasn't on our Top 300 big board. He ranked 361st on the consensus big board compiled by NFL Mock Draft Database. So it was a bit of a shock when they took him with the 132nd pick overall.

Hyppolite ran a 4.39 at 5'11", 236 pounds. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was a fan coming out of the predraft process praising his maturity and self-awareness. The move was the biggest use of resources to replace Jack Sanborn as the third linebacker.

Hyppolite is in a great position to prove draft analysts wrong.

Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

Top Needs: Interior Offensive Line, Edge-Rusher, Safety

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Edge-Rusher

There's an argument to be made that the position battle for both guard spots could be more important for the Bengals. Both left and right guard spots are probably up in the air and they could be depending on rookie Dylan Fairchild and journeyman Lucas Patrick to man those.

However, this position battle is linked to the biggest storyline surrounding the Bengals right now. Trey Hendrickson has said he won't play on his current contract and Cincinnati still seems uninterested in giving him a new deal. The lack of production on the roster outside of the four-time Pro Bowler has them in a difficult spot.

Joseph Ossai managed five sacks last season, but he has been largely unspectacular in his first three seasons. Myles Murphy is a former first-round pick but has just three sacks in two seasons. Shemar Stewart was the team's first-round pick this season, but that was based on athleticism and upside.

Some combination of those three players emerging would allow the Bengals to get some leverage in the Hendrickson situation.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: Edge Myles Murphy

Stewart could prove everyone wrong, but it doesn't feel like he's primed to step in as a starter in his rookie season. He's going to take some time to refine his game.

Myles Murphy, on the other hand, has put in that work. He detailed back in April how he shifted his priorities and changed the way he trained this offseason.

Murphy was an immense talent coming out of Clemson. Sometimes it just takes time to be humbled and figure out how to succeed in the league. It appears he's gone through that process and could be a surprise asset for the defensive front.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Phil Long

Top Needs: Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Cornerback

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Quarterback

It's 2025 and 40-year-old Joe Flacco is taking first-team reps in a quarterback competition in the NFL. Yet, that's not even the most interesting thing about the Browns four-way competition to figure out who will play quarterback this season.

You have Kenny Pickett looking to follow in the footsteps of Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith as former first-round passers who end up salvaging their careers as starters. You have Dillon Gabriel looking to become the rare sub-six-foot quarterback to succeed in he league. Oh yeah, there's also Shedeur Sanders, whose fall to the fifth round was the biggest story of the draft.

It may not be the best collection of four quarterbacks, but it is the most diverse.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: WR Jamari Thrash

Every team's draft tells a story. You can tell a lot about what a team thinks of their roster by who they take. You can also tell a lot from who they don't take.

In the Browns' case, the fact that they didn't take a wide receiver despite losing Elijah Moore this offseason says they like who they have at the position.

That would indicate confidence that a player like Jamari Thrash is going to step into a bigger role. He only had three catches as a rookie, but he's already been highlighted for a few catches in OTAs, and there's clearly a path for him to carve out a role alongside Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman.

Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Jerome Miron

Top Needs: Interior Defensive Line, Offensive Tackle, Safety

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Running Back

The Cowboys' backfield is going to be completely different in 2025. They took a surprisingly patient approach to the position in the draft, waiting until the third day to draft Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. And they will be pitted against free-agent signings Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders.

Blue might be the best chance they have at a big play back at this point in his career. Williams and Sanders have both been through career-altering injuries and have experienced waning production.

B/R's Dame Parson loved Blue's dynamic playmaking coming out of Texas.

"Blue is a speedy and explosive playmaker out of the backfield. He projects as a satellite back who spells the starter, bringing his big-play ability to the offense," he wrote in his scouting report.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: CB Kaiir Elam

Kaiir Elam's time in Buffalo was disappointing. The 2022 first-round pick had opportunities to emerge with the Bills and wasn't able to take advantage of those opportunities. But sometimes a change of scenery can spark a career revival.

Elam is going to have the opportunity to prove himself over the summer. Both Trevon Diggs and third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr. are working their way back from ACL injuries and Elam is already making plays in OTAs.

Elam's first-round pedigree could start to shine through in Matt Eberflus' defense. That would be huge as the Cowboys have to find a way to get through the early part of the season when Diggs and Revel might still be getting back to full speed.

Denver Broncos

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Top Needs: Tight End, Running Back, Wide Receiver

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Running Back

It's a lot easier to feel good about the Broncos' passing game in 2025 than it was going into 2024.

Bo Nix proved to be the right quarterback in Sean Payton's scheme. While there are still some questions to be answered at tight end and receiver, Courtland Sutton, Evan Engram and all the young receivers should be good enough for the quarterback to continue to grow.

The biggest question remaining is how the backfield will be split. The Broncos don't have a proven lead back on the roster right now. Jaleel McLaughlin is the most experienced returner but isn't built to be a lead back.

Rookie RJ Harvey and second-year player Audric Estime will have the opportunity to take on big roles. If the young guys don't show they are going to be ready to contribute right away, the Broncos would need to consider the free-agent and trade markets to add to the backfield.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: LB Drew Sanders

The Broncos spent a third-round pick on Drew Sanders in the 2023 draft. To this point, the return hasn't been great. He struggled to find the right role as a bit of a 'tweener between edge-rusher and linebacker. He also suffered a torn Achilles that cost him most of the 2024 season.

Dre Greenlaw's arrival could make it difficult for Sanders to crack the starting lineup. But the 28-year-old is also going to miss most of the team's summer work as he recovers from a quad injury. His age and injury history also make it somewhat likely the Broncos will have to tap into their depth eventually.

Sanders was drafted in part because of his excellent athleticism. Now that he seems to have found a home as an inside backer, he could finally take off and become a contributor.

Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Top Needs: Edge-Rusher, Linebacker, Interior Offensive Line

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Interior Offensive Line

The Lions are going to be dealing with quite a bit of brain-drain in 2025. They lost both coordinators in the offseason, and Ben Johnson's ability to put together an elite offense will be missed. Fortunately, new offensive coordinator John Morton is inheriting a roster that has a lot of answers.

Both guard spots are going to be important position battles to watch, though. The Lions lost both starting guards this offseason when they traded away Jonah Jackson and let Kevin Zeitler walk in free agency.

They added two rookies in Tate Ratledge and Miles Frazier. They'll join veteran Graham Glasgow and 2024 sixth-round pick Christian Mahogany in the competition for two starting spots.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

The Lions' cornerback room is bound to look different in 2025. Aaron Glenn's departure marks a new era for the defense, and Carlton Davis left in free agency. They added D.J. Reed in free agency, but he's a signing that establishes a certain floor at this point. The real upside lies in the development of the younger corners like Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Rakestraw's rookie year was marred by injury. Now he's healthy and already standing out to veteran players like Reed. The Lions added Avonte Maddox, so they have enough depth in the slot that Rakestraw should be able to focus on being an outside corner where he could shine.

Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

Top Needs: Edge-Rusher, Interior Defensive Line, Cornerback

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Offensive Line

It's hard to narrow down the Packers' biggest position battle to one spot on the offensive line. They are willing to shuffle players around to get their best five on the field more than most. That's going to be the case once again. On paper, they should have the talent to put together a good unit. It's just a matter of figuring out what the best combination is.

Jordan Morgan is getting a shot at winning the left tackle job over Rasheed Walker. The winner of that battle could impact where everyone else is playing. Elgton Jenkins has been conspicuously missing from OTAs over his contract as the Packers have plans to move him to center. That has the potential to add an unexpected wrinkle in an important series of competitions to get the most out of Jordan Love in 2025.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: S Javon Bullard

The Packers double-dipped at safety in the draft when they took Javon Bullard in the second round and Evan Williams in the fourth. In a lot of ways, Williams outplayed Bullard. He gave up a passer rating of 77.8 when targeted while Bullard surrendered a 120.6. Bullard ranked 141st among safeties in PFF grade while Williams was 34th.

That doesn't take into account that Bullard had a much more nuanced role. He was asked to play in the slot, in the box and occasionally play deep. The Packers put a lot on his plate and the result might have been a player who was stretched a bit too thin. That likely made his learning curve a bit steeper, but it could pay off in his second season.

With more time to learn his role and a lot of talent returning in the secondary, Bullard might be able to blossom in Year 2.

Houston Texans

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Top Needs: Interior Offensive Line, Interior Defensive Line, Safety

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Offensive Line

The Houston Texans will undoubtedly be different than they were last season. That doesn't mean they will be better.

Houston's O-line was at the heart of many of the issues the offense faced last season. C.J. Stroud did not have good protection and the unit didn't pave great run lanes, either.

The Texans' approach to fixing the issue was impacted by the cap space available. They traded their best offensive lineman in Laremy Tunsil and utilized some of those savings to stock up on free agents in Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson, Ed Ingram and Trent Brown. Those four should provide competition to a young core that includes Blake Fisher, Juice Scruggs and Ed Ingram.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: WR Jayden Higgins

Jayden Higgins wasn't among the top names at receiver going into the draft. He was the 11th receiver on our big board, after all.

However, his landing spot in Houston is going to give him the opportunity to shine earlier than expected. For one, we've seen the damage Stroud can do with a big-bodied downfield target. Nico Collins' career has taken off with Stroud, and Higgins is a similar receiver at 6'4", 214 pounds.

Considering the severity of Tank Dell's knee injury, it's likely he will miss all of the summer and part of the regular season. The Texans brought in Christian Kirk and also have John Metchie III, but Higgins' frame and ability to track the ball downfield have him positioned to claim a bigger role than anticipated in the offense.

Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Top Needs: Interior Offensive Line, Linebacker, Quarterback

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Quarterback

The Colts certainly put Anthony Richardson on notice this offseason. After a year in which they made the controversial decision to bench the 2023 first-round pick, they signed Daniel Jones to a one-year, $14.5 million contract. That gives Richardson about 14.5 million reasons to prove he can be the franchise QB moving forward.

General manager Chris Ballard has made it clear he expects the competition to "bring out the best of both of them." That's a good proposition for Richardson as his development as a passer has been far from smooth.

Ideally, this will be the spark he needs to get things figured out. If Jones emerges as the winner of the competition before the season starts, the Colts will have wasted the fourth overall pick in 2023.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: Edge Laiatu Latu

Laiatu Latu wasn't terrible as a rookie, but wasn't as impactful as the Colts were probably expecting when they took him with the 15th overall pick. He ended up playing 54 percent of the defensive snaps with four sacks to show for it.

The Colts should be expecting much bigger things from him in Year 2. They let Dayo Odeyingbo walk in free agency, and they desperately need an edge-rusher who can get double-digit sacks every year.

Latu has the highest potential to become that player on the roster. He was more of a pass-rush specialist in his first season, but with a year to get stronger and adapt his game to the NFL, he could prove himself as a building block this summer into the season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

Top Needs: Safety, Tight End, Cornerback

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Running Back

The defense has some question marks, but the Jaguars clearly made fixing their offense a priority this offseason. From hiring Liam Coen as their head coach to drafting Travis Hunter to be a new weapon for Trevor Lawrence, they went in on getting better offensively. That includes several new offensive linemen in Patrick Mekari, Robert Hainsey and rookie Wyatt Milum.

Supporting Lawrence also means improving on a run game that had a 38.8 percent success rate. It makes the running back competition in camp an important one to watch. Tank Bigbsy was their most effective back last season, but Travis Etienne Jr. was still the lead back for much of the season. They also drafted fourth-rounder Bhayshul Tuten.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: RB Bhayshul Tuten

Don't count out Tuten from having a larger-than-expected impact on the running back race. Etienne missed an OTA. Coen told media it was due to a "flight issue," but it is notable that he was at the practice the day before. Regardless, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted "multiple people in the league who believe the new regime is not so high on Travis Etienne Jr., and Tank Bigsby has a fumbling issue."

That's interesting because Dame Parson noted Bigsby has had nine fumbles since 2023 and dinged him for ball security concerns of his own. That being said, Tuten's violent running style and home run speed are going to make him an OTA standout who could push Etienne out of the rotation.

Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Top Needs: Interior Defensive Line, Left Guard, Edge-Rusher

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Left Tackle

Left tackle was a sore spot for the Chiefs until they bumped Joe Thuney outside down the stretch last year. Now, he has been traded and the team has questions at both left tackle and guard. The good news is Kansas City spent resources to ensure it had new options.

Not only did the Chiefs give Jaylon Moore a two-year, $30 million contract, but they also drafted Josh Simmons in the first round. Moore looked the part as a spot-starter for the Niners. The money says the Chiefs believe he could play, but the fact that they drafted Simmons in the first round also says they aren't convinced.

Moore will have a big advantage in this position battle. Not only does he have more NFL experience, but Simmons is working his way back from a knee injury that ended his final college season. Still, it's crucial the Chiefs get this one right.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: IOL Kingsley Suamataia

Thuney's departure has also opened the left guard spot for competition. That's good news for Kingsley Suamatia. To this point, he has been the prime example that throwing an early draft pick at a need doesn't automatically address it. He was supposed to be the answer at left tackle, but it just didn't happen.

There are plenty of linemen who find a move inside rejuvenates their career, though. Suamatia will compete with Mike Caliendo for the job, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him thrive inside where his run blocking could shine.

Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

Top Needs: Cornerback, Wide Receiver, Linebacker

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Cornerback

It feels like the cornerback position has been a work in progress for years for the Raiders. They've taken a few different approaches and it's still hard to feel confident going into the season.

Tashan Reed of The Athletic reported free-agent addition Eric Stokes and rookie Darien Porter have been taking the first-string snaps in OTAs. Reed also noted Jakorian Bennett will compete for a starting role when he gets back from the shoulder injury that ended his season.

The Raiders are making a series of high-stakes bets at the position. Stokes has dealt with serious injuries in his career, Bennett has been up-and-down since he was drafted, and Darien Porter has just one season of college production. They need two of the three to become legitimate starters.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: WR Dont'e Thornton Jr.

All eyes are going to be on second-round pick Jack Bech as the Raiders install Pete Carroll's offense. However, fourth-round pick Dont'e Thornton has the potential to make a name for himself as well. At 6'5", 205 pounds and a 4.3 40, he has all the size and speed you could want in a receiver.

However, Jakobi Meyers has been impressed with the other things Thornton does well as a receiver.

"He's not just a guy that can run fast. He's got some real receiver capabilities to him so I'm excited to kind of help grow him and help push him along," he said, per Jesse Merrick of News 3 LV.

Thornton could be the deep threat the Raiders' room doesn't have on paper right now.

Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Peter Aiken

Top Needs: Interior Defensive Line, Cornerback, Tight End

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Cornerback

The Chargers have the potential to put a strong defense on the field in 2025. Cornerback is one of the few position groups that could really hold them back, though. Kristian Fulton left in free agency, leaving them with one less answer on the outside.

Tarheeb Still showed he can be on the field, but he probably fits in best in the slot. Cam Hart showed flashes as a rookie, but he had multiple injuries including two concussions. The Chargers brought in Donte Jackson and Benjamin St-Juste.

They'll need to find three reliable corners out of the group or go looking for answers elsewhere.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: Edge Kyle Kennard

The Chargers took a big step toward a new era of pass-rushers when they let Joey Bosa walk in free agency. They retained Khalil Mack, but it's clear they will be relying on other players to step up with Bosa moving on.

Tuli Tuipulotu is going to carry a lot of that burden, but Kyle Kennard could prove to be worth much more than the fourth-round pick the Chargers used to add him.

Kennard led the SEC with 11.5 sacks at South Carolina last season. He has an explosive first step and a decent arsenal of moves already. He needs some work at setting the edge against the run, but he should show off his pass-rushing chops early and earn an immediate role on the defense.

Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Scot Tucker

Top Needs: Cornerback, Linebacker, Safety

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Linebacker

Cornerback is a bigger need because it's a premium position, but the Rams really need to figure out who is going to be in the middle of the defense in 2025. Troy Reeder and Omar Speights are the closest thing to incumbents, but their performance wasn't good enough to have their starting roles locked up.

Free-agent acquisition Nate Landman and fifth-round pick Chris Paul Jr. will be in on the competition. The former worked as a run-stuffing linebacker for the Falcons, but was a liability in coverage giving up a passer rating of 152.4. The latter was a top-100 prospect and LB5 on our final big board.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: LB Chris Paul Jr.

Sometimes a summer breakout comes at the intersection of talent, timing and opportunity. Paul slid to the third day of the draft, but his landing spot is going to give him an opportunity to shine right away.

The Rams have a clear need for more juice in the linebacking corps, and Paul is one of the few options who can bring it. B/R's Matt Holder put a third-round grade on the 'backer and noted his "high ceiling" in the league. It might not take long for that to start to show.

Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Top Needs: Cornerback, Offensive Tackle, Safety

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Cornerback

Cornerback is easily the biggest need on the Dolphins roster. It's a position that's going to somehow get even scarier if Miami trades Jalen Ramsey. That seems to be where things are headed for the star defender, and it will leave the team with even more questions in its secondary.

Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reported Storm Duck and Cam Smith are the "leaders in the clubhouse to replace Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller." There are questions beyond the top two spots, though. Fifth-round pick Jason Marshall Jr., free-agent signing Kendall Sheffield and Ethan Bonner could all factor into the equation.

Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver might have to get creative to get the most out of a questionable room.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: S Ifeatu Melifonwu

Injuries and a loaded depth chart kept Ifeatu Melifonwu from reaching his sky-high potential with the Detroit Lions. Cracking a rotation that featured Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch was much more difficult than the path to playing time he now faces in South Beach.

Melifonwu has a lot of potential to break out with the change of scenery. When healthy, he was a productive blitzer with the Lions but has the athleticism to make plays on the ball in the pass game when called upon. He could be a cheap replacement for Jevon Holland.

Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Stacy Bengs

Top Needs: Cornerback, Safety, Linebacker

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Cornerback

Brian Flores is one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. His ability to dial up pressures gives the Vikings a unique chance to build a strong defense even without an elite group of corners.

That being said, the Vikings still have to figure out who is going to play on the outside. They brought back Byron Murphy Jr., but they will need to figure out who is after him on the depth chart.

They signed Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah this offseason. Both come with questions as Rodgers was not a full-time starter with the Eagles and Okudah has bounced around the league to his fourth team in six years.

Mekhi Blackmon should be a factor as well. He missed the entire 2024 campaign with a torn ACL.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: S Theo Jackson

Safety is listed as a need here, but the Vikings don't seem to agree with that assessment. They lost Camryn Bynum in free agency and didn't really do anything to replace him. That's a pretty good indication that they believe his replacement is already on the roster.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert has already reported the Vikings brass views Theo Jackson as a starter at safety.

He has primarily been a special-teamer since the Vikings poached him from the Tennessee Titans practice squad in 2022. His performance in previous camps earned him a three-year contract this offseason. He should utilize this year's camp and preseason to generate plenty of buzz.

New England Patriots

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

Top Needs: Edge-Rusher, Wide Receiver, Cornerback

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Wide Receiver

The Patriots did a lot this offseason to bring their roster back to respectability. They might not light the world on fire this year, but they look a whole lot more competent. That's going to result in a lot less starting positions up for grabs this summer.

There are still a few that will need to be sorted out, though. Specifically, the receiver room needs to take shape over the next few months. Stefon Diggs is already making headlines for the wrong reasons, but he's the most proven option in the room. After him, there's a huge collection of promising young receivers, including Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Javon Baker and Ja'Lynn Polk.

The coaching staff has to be able to put together a functional group for Drake Maye to continue to progress.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: WR Kyle Williams

One player it's easy to see fitting into the wide receiver picture is third-round pick Kyle Williams. B/R's Brent Sobleski featured him as a potential steal ahead of the draft thanks to his speed and body control. Now he's in a receiver room that doesn't have an established hierarchy. The fact that he's a third-round pick isn't likely to impede his ability to get on the field.

Williams has the potential to easily outplay his draft spot as a rookie. After a disappointing campaign from last year's second-round pick in Polk, he could wind up being a much bigger part of the offense than expected.

New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Matthew Hinton

Top Needs: Quarterback, Edge-Rusher, Cornerback

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Quarterback

Derek Carr's sudden retirement has left the Saints with a quarterback competition. It's unfamiliar territory for a team that has had a veteran signal-caller under center for about the last 25 years. Spencer Rattler is the most experienced quarterback in the three-way competition. He had six starts last year, throwing four touchdowns to five interceptions and going 0-6.

If the Saints felt good about him, they probably wouldn't have drafted Tyler Shough in the second round of this year's draft. However, Rattler got the early reps with the first-string offense in OTAs, while Shough worked with the second team. That's bound to fluctuate in the coming months as the two will look to make sure Jake Haener is only vying for a roster spot.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: RB Devin Neal

It's almost an annual tradition that some Day 3 running back pick will emerge as an actual contributor for an NFL team as a rookie. Devin Neal is among the best bets to be that player this season.

He was the 136th overall player on our big board and the 13th running back. However, this was a deep running back class and it's easy to see how Neal could fit into the picture of the Saints offense. At 5'11", 213 pounds, he's a bigger back with the ability to gain hard yards between the tackles. Alvin Kamara is going to absorb most of the pass-catching responsibilities, but he could use a younger battering ram to take some of the workload.

That player is either going to be Kendre Miller or Neal. Miller could benefit from Kellen Moore taking over as head coach, but it was the new regime that brought in Neal.

New York Giants

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Top Needs: Quarterback, Interior Offensive Line, Linebacker

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Interior Offensive Line

There's some intrigue surrounding whether Abdul Carter or Kayvon Thibodeaux will start on the edge opposite Brian Burns, but it ultimately doesn't matter. Both players will be used. The interior of the offensive line, specifically right guard, is a little different. The Giants have two good options on the edge. They might not have any good options at right guard.

They will hope that's not the case, though. Greg Van Roten provides a reasonable floor as long as he hasn't fallen off an age cliff at 35 years old. Evan Neal will look to reignite his career after struggling at right tackle. There's potential there, but fifth-round pick Marcus Mbow also has some upside. B/R's Brandon Thorn gave him a third-round grade.

If the Giants have a strong winner at right guard, then the offensive line looks ready to help New York's offense be much better in 2025.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: DL Darius Alexander

The Giants could also use a breakout summer performance on the interior of the defensive line. Dexter Lawrence II is one of the more underappreciated talents in the league at defensive tackle, but the Giants don't have many answers outside of him.

Third-round pick Darius Alexander could help in that department. B/R scout Matt Holder is high on the Toledo product and believes he "could easily become a first-stringer." He brings a good combination of play strength against the run with an explosive first step to be a disruptor.

New York Jets

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Top Needs: Wide Receiver, Interior Defensive Line, Quarterback

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Interior Defensive Line

Aaron Glenn was fortunate to coach a Detroit Lions defense with a stellar collection of talent on the interior of the defensive line. Alim McNeil, D.J. Reader and Levi Onwuzurike were a strong trio in the middle of his defense.

He doesn't have the same dynamic in the middle of the Jets front seven. Quinnen Williams is a dominant force, but there are a lot of questions about who will play alongside him. Derrick Nnadi has been a decent run-stuffer for the Chiefs, but Byron Cowart and Jay Tufele are largely unproven veterans they brought in. Leonard Taylor and Payton Page are younger players who could help.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: S Malachi Moore

Bringing in Glenn as head coach means the Jets should be expected to get the most out of their secondary. The first-year HC is coming off a season in which he helped Brian Branch have a great rookie year. It's notable that the Jets then spent a fourth-round pick on Branch's teammate, Malachi Moore.

 “I’m excited to have that player,” Glenn said after the draft, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. “He has some versatility, and I see him being utilized just like (Branch).”

Moore might have to beat out Tony Adams for a starting spot, but it wouldn't be surprising if he pulls it off. His ability to play in the slot and deep at Alabama should give him an edge to help this secondary out right away.

Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

Top Needs: Interior Defensive Line, Cornerback, Wide Receiver Depth

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Cornerback

The defending champions don't have many true roster holes to speak of, but the outside cornerback spot across from Quinyon Mitchell could be a concern. Darius Slay and James Bradberry were getting older, but losing both along with Avonte Maddox leaves the Eagles with less depth than they enjoyed before.

Philadelphia brought in Adoree' Jackson. He has 66 career starts, but a lengthy injury history. Kelee Ringo has already seen some action with the first-team defense in OTAs. The Eagles need one of them to emerge as a starter who can maintain the strength the secondary showed last season.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: Edge Jalyx Hunt

The Eagles lost a lot of pass-rush firepower this offseason. Milton Williams was an interior player, but he was a productive pass-rusher. Josh Sweat left in free agency. Bryce Huff struggled, but he's still one less pass-rusher on the roster after Philly traded him to San Francisco.

That leaves a fairly large vacuum for a player like Jalyx Hunt to step into. He played 25 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie with 1.5 sacks, but he played his best football in the postseason with another 1.5 sacks.

Philadelphia has always been adept at building a dominant pass rush. It's hard to believe it wouldn't have been more aggressive if it didn't believe Hunt has big things in store for 2025.

Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/John Locher

Top Needs: Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Cornerback

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Quarterback

There's a good chance the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback is not on the roster yet. If that's the case then the competition at wide receiver is going to be the most important.

For now, though, the Steelers are looking at Mason Rudolph or sixth-round pick Will Howard as their starting quarterback and that's an important decision to make.

Rudolph isn't an exciting option, but there's already proof-of-concept with him as the starter in Pittsburgh. He spent the first five years of his career in Pittsburgh and going 8-4-1 in the games they started. His last season he went 3-0 and posted a QBR of 70.8. However, Howard's upside as a rookie with experience at both Ohio State and Kansas State could make him intriguing competition.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: WR Roman Wilson

"We wouldn’t have done this if we didn’t feel good about the receiver situation, about our depth here," Steelers general manager Omar Khan told reporters after trading away George Pickens.

Translation: The Steelers feel like a breakout is coming from at least one of their young receivers.

The most obvious candidate is Roman Wilson. The Michigan product suffered multiple injuries that kept him off the field for much of his rookie campaign. With a cleaner bill of health this season, he could make a much bigger impact this year.

San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Top Needs: Cornerback, Interior Offensive Line, Interior Defensive Line

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Cornerback

There are a few areas on the Niners roster that need to be sorted out, but few are as important as cornerback. Replacing Charvarius Ward won't be easy, but it would appear Renardo Green is ready to take on that role after a strong finish to his rookie season.

Things will get interesting in the nickel spot, especially because the Niners aren't exactly solid at linebacker either. B/R scout Cory Giddings praised third-round pick Upton Stout as a player with the potential to be a "dynamic nickel defender with additional value as a blitzer."

However, he's only 5'9", 181 pounds so he'll need to show he can overcome his lack of size to show he's the best option. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh could also slide Deommodore Lenoir inside and play Tre Brown or Darrell Luter Jr. on the outside if Stout isn't ready.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: WR Ricky Pearsall

Ricky Pearsall had a mini breakout over the final two weeks of the season last year. He racked up 14 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns to give the Niners a bit of hope at the end of a tough season.

The second-year player is in good position to build on the hype over the summer. Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from the ACL and MCL injuries he suffered last season. It would be great to see fellow second-year receiver Jacob Cowing generate some buzz, but he only had four catches last season.

Pearsall should be developing chemistry with Brock Purdy, and there's a good chance he's going to test the corners who are trying to win a job.

Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Ryan Sun

Top Needs: Interior Offensive Line, Cornerback, Wide Receiver

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Interior Offensive Line

There's no question the Seahawks offensive line's faults capped the offense's potential last season. The poor pass protection is at the core of why they shuffled the entire deck on offense. There's a new quarterback, offensive coordinator and even wide receiver group going into 2025.

But the interior of the offensive line is far from settled. The Seahawks drafted versatile offensive lineman Grey Zabel in the first round. He'll need to show he can start from Day 1. Olu Oluwatimi returns as the starting center but could be pushed by Jalen Sundell while the right guard spot could be a three-way battle between Christian Haynes, Anthony Bradford or Satoa Laumea.

Either way, the Seahawks have to find answers and build some chemistry in the coming months.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: WR Tory Horton

Tory Horton put himself on the NFL draft radar in 2022 and 2023 with back-to-back 1,100-yard receiving seasons at Colorado State. Unfortunately, a knee injury limited him to six games in his final season and he slipped all the way to the fifth round.

Horton may come along slowly in early OTAs, but he has a great opportunity to make up for lost time as he gets healthier. The Seahawks have a completely remodeled receiver room outside Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and there's going to be space for him to show what kind of player he is.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Top Needs: Edge-Rusher, Linebacker, Guard

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Linebacker

The battle for who will be the third receiver in the offense is going to be fun, but it's ultimately not all that important. Both Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan are promising prospects.

The battle set to take place in the middle of the defense is a different story. The Bucs brought in Anthony Walker Jr. to compete with SirVocea Dennis to play beside Lavonte David.

This is an important battle because David isn't getting any younger and the Bucs need competent play at the position. It's not clear Walker can still deliver that in his age-29 season with waning production and injuries over the last few seasons.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: CB Jacob Parrish

The Buccaneers needed to take a few swings on the secondary in the draft. Jamel Dean is the only sure thing in the cornerback room, and he's going to be a cap casualty candidate in 2026. That's why it's not surprising the Bucs took Benjamin Morrison in the second round before circling back to take Jacob Parrish in the third.

Of the two rookies, it's Parrish who has already generated some buzz. He had a few interceptions in rookie minicamp and has reportedly continued to shine in OTAs. He could wind up being a useful nickel sooner than later.

Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

Top Needs: Edge-Rusher, Linebacker, Tight End

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Linebacker

Off-ball linebacker is an oft-overlooked position, but it's crucial for any defense looking to build its identity. The linebackers have to be great communicators and also carry big responsibilities in defending both the run and pass. That's why it's a fairly big deal that the only locked-in starter is Cody Barton, a free agent who signed a three-year contract with the Titans this offseason.

They didn't give him a three-year, $21 million deal to not be a starter. Who starts beside him will be where things get interesting. Cedric Gray provides the most upside. He was a fourth-round pick last year, but an offseason injury never let him get his rookie year going. Otis Reese IV could also be a factor and 2024 seventh-round pick James Williams is also lurking.

The Titans must find a suitable running mate for Barton as defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson tries to build a completely remodeled linebacker room.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: WR Elic Ayomanor

Based on experience and draft capital, you'd think the Titans will start the season with Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson as their three starting receivers. Elic Ayomanor might have something to say about that, though.

Ayomanor was a fourth-round pick, but he could easily outplay his draft slot. The 6'2", 206-pound receiver grew up playing hockey and that shows up in his physicality. He's not a burner, but his ability as a separator earned a second-round grade and a comparison to Chris Godwin from B/R scout Dame Parson.

If he's able to showcase some of that in the coming months, he will soon have a nice role in the Titans offense.

Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez

Top Needs: Edge-Rusher, Tight End, Linebacker

Most Important Position Battle to Watch: Right Tackle

Jayden Daniels proved to be a franchise-changing prospect in his rookie season. Now it's time to protect him at all costs.

The Commanders showed that's a top priority this offseason, trading for Laremy Tunsil and drafting Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round. Tunsil will obviously be the Week 1 starter on the blind side. The question is whether Conerly will be ready to start at the beginning of the season. He'll have some real competition.

Brandon Coleman is switching sides after starting at left tackle last season. He gave up nine sacks, according to PFF, but he may perform better on the right side where he has played before. Conerly will also be making that transition. He didn't play on the right at Oregon, but his athleticism was a big reason he was a first-round pick.

Andrew Wylie provides a decent floor for the competition. He has been the starting right tackle over the last two seasons, but if the Commanders were happy with his play, they wouldn't have made the moves they did this offseason.

Top Summer Breakout Candidate: WR Jaylin Lane

The Commanders brought in Deebo Samuel Sr., but there's still room for another receiver to emerge as part of the offense this summer. Noah Brown is a fairly niche receiver as the third option behind Terry McLaurin and Samuel. That's where third-round pick Jaylin Lane could wind up setting himself up for a successful rookie season.

Lane is a burner who should at least capture the role of return man throughout preseason activities. But he also has the potential to become a part of the offense.

ESPN's Field Yates noted Lane will have a chance to earn some receiver reps in addition to his impact on special teams.