Predicting Winners of NFL's Biggest Position Battles After Preseason Week 1

Position battles are always one of the top draws of any NFL offseason. That remains the case in 2026, as there are still a slew of high-profile roles still up for grabs after several weeks of training camp and the start of preseason play.

While these competitions are still ongoing, several appear to be close to wrapping up. Whether a favorite cemented their status with a stellar week of practice or a dark horse candidate separated from the pack with a surprising effort in exhibition play, it's become easier to project the outcome of certain marquee position battles.

With that in mind, let's review five of these fierce competitions and predict the winners following Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason.

Atlanta Falcons QB: Tua Tagovailoa vs. Michael Penix Jr.

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The Atlanta Falcons' season-opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers is now less than a month away. Despite this, the team still has yet to name a QB1 for the contest and is running out of time to commit to a starter.

While the competition between free-agent pickup Tua Tagovailoa and holdover Michael Penix Jr. hasn't gone as planned due to the incumbent's ongoing recovery from injury, the new Kevin Stefanski-led regime can't keep stalling forever.

Because Penix has yet to be cleared for 11-on-11 drills due to a lengthy recovery from knee surgery, the 26-year-old is in real danger of being pushed into a backup role to open his third NFL season.

Tagovailoa could have made Stefanski's decision far easier with a strong showing against the Denver Broncos last week. The six-year veteran failed to move the needle in the contest, however, and completed just three of his five throws for 22 yards. Atlanta mustered one first down and punted in each of the two series Tagovailoa participated in.

The quarterback admitted he played poorly, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi:

"Frustrated and disappointed at the way things happened tonight as we went out there," Tagovailoa said.

Despite the letdown, Tagovailoa still has a distinct leg up in the race while Penix is sidelined. The incumbent has been limited to participating in seven-on-seven and individual workouts, losing out on precious developmental time and reps with the first-team offense.

It seems that Stefanski could be prepared to forge ahead with Tua as the starter. According to The Athletic's Josh Kendall, the head coach said he's "very comfortable" with the quarterback position as it currently stands.

While that doesn't spell the end to Penix's tenure as the starter, it's hard to envision the coach being comfortable thrusting him back into the lineup after missing so many reps this offseason. With a long week of joint practices coming up, Tagovailoa will have a golden opportunity to brush off his ugly preseason debut and put a stranglehold on the QB1 job.

Predicted Winner: Tua Tagovailoa

Cleveland Browns QB: Deshaun Watson vs. Shedeur Sanders

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The battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders for the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback job is one of the most intriguing competitions of the offseason. While there has yet to be an official winner declared, the first week of preseason play did bring some clarity to the situation.

Both Watson and Sanders participated in Cleveland's exhibition slate opener against the Chicago Bears. Watson drew the start in the contest and played the entire first half, while Sanders came in for all of the third quarter and a portion of the fourth.

Here's a look at how each signal-caller fared in the contest:

Player	Comp/Att	Yards	TD	INT	Sacks
Deshaun Watson	11/15	126	0	0	1
Shedeur Sanders	6/11	79	0	1	0

Both quarterbacks left something to be desired. Watson may have been more accurate on his throws and avoided being intercepted, but he was strip-sacked on a crucial 4th-and-2 play. A good portion of his yardage came on a screen pass to Dylan Sampson and none of his 11 completions went for 10 or more yards through the air.

Sanders was more aggressive during his stint under center, connecting with Luke Floriea on a deep 35-yard dart down the field. He missed his target badly early in the fourth quarter, however, and that Chicago interception wound up being the last sighting of the second-year QB for the evening.

Head coach Todd Monken provided an update after the game, revealing that both candidates will continue to split first-team reps for the remainder of the week before Sanders gets a chance to start when the Browns take on the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.

Assuming there aren't any major injuries or unforeseen events that influence the competition, Watson still looks to be in the driver's seat. He played relatively well given he hasn't appeared in an NFL game in nearly two years. More reps should only get him closer to the level of talent he displayed as a three-time Pro Bowler for the Houston Texans.

Sanders may have spurred Cleveland to a strong finish last year and even earned a Pro Bowl nod of his own for those efforts, but ultimately the sophomore lacks the stability and ceiling that Watson at his best provides. Sanders will likely have to settle for opening another season on the bench barring a truly impressive showing—coupled with a Watson collapse—against Buffalo this weekend.

Predicted Winner: Deshaun Watson

Detroit Lions RT: Blake Miller vs. Larry Borom

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The Detroit Lions have been working to stabilize their offensive line after the unexpected departure of longtime left tackle Taylor Decker early in the offseason. Decker's exit had ripple effects on the organization, including the shift of superstar right tackle Penei Sewell to the other side of the offensive trenches and the selection of top tackle prospect Blake Miller with the No. 17 overall pick.

While Miller is clearly Detroit's long-term choice to bookend with Sewell, he's still in the process of earning a starting role. The Lions brought in Larry Borom to push the Clemson product, signing the five-year veteran to a budget one-year deal in free agency.

Borom, a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft, brings valuable experience to the Motor City. Although he was only a part-time starter during his first four years in the league for the rival Chicago Bears, he logged a career-high 11 starts for the Miami Dolphins in 2025. His production wasn't stellar—Pro Football Focus issued Borom a modest 60.7 overall grade for his efforts last year—but the 27-year-old can still provide serviceable protection when called upon.

Borom likely won't be needed to do so barring an injury, however, as Miller has been a standout throughout training camp and likely solidified a starting RT role during Detroit's preseason opener.

Miller logged 39 offensive snaps in his debut, giving up just two pressures on 24 pass-blocking reps. He didn't allow a sack and wasn't flagged for any penalties in the Lions' 16-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The 33rd Team's Al Karsten highlighted how Miller's PFF grade stacked up against both Decker and Sewell in their preseason debuts:

Considering how well both of those tackles went on to play for the Lions, the team appears to be in good hands with Miller locking down the right tackle position for the foreseeable future.

Predicted Winner: Blake Miller

Los Angeles Chargers LG: Five-Player Battle

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The most contentious position battle of the 2026 offseason arguably belongs to the Los Angeles Chargers and their starting left guard role. There are five candidates who each have a realistic chance to fill the vacancy, a list that includes incumbent veterans Trey Pipkins III and Kayode Awosika, 2025 practice squad member Branson Taylor, trade deadline acquisition Trevor Penning and rookie second-rounder Jake Slaughter.

Last week, head coach Jim Harbaugh revealed that Awosika was leading the race due to his consistency, but also pointed out that Slaughter—a center in college—was developing ahead of schedule and Pipkins stands out as one of the top linemen on the roster.

L.A.'s first preseason game—a 27-7 thrashing of the Houston Texans—provided a glimpse of where the competition currently stands. While Awosika continued to perform well and Penning tossed a key block on a touchdown run, Slaughter's showing was the most impressive. He started the game at center before sliding over to left guard for a stretch, faring well at both positions.

Despite matching up against a tough second-round rookie in Kayden McDonald, Slaughter allowed just one pressure on 30 pass-blocking snaps. He was a major asset for the ground game too, helping L.A.'s rushers rack up 104 yards and two scores on 29 totes.

The performance drew praise from Harbaugh, who commended the first-year offensive lineman after the game:

"To play center, then guard, he's handling it with aplomb, I'm going to be honest with you," Harbaugh said. "That's a hard thing to do for a first-year player. It's been a really nice progression for him…We really saw the confidence and play hit an inflection point five days ago…he's on an ascending path."

Given the team's early-Day 2 investment and his unique versatility, Slaughter has certainly done enough to warrant a starting role along a Chargers o-line that has desperately needed a jolt The rookie still needs to have another strong week of practice to secure the top billing at left guard, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Slaughter officially earn the title by playing well during the team's upcoming preseason bout with the San Francisco 49ers.

Predicted Winner: Jake Slaughter

New York Jets WR3: Omar Cooper Jr. vs. Isaiah Williams

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The New York Jets seemed to have their No. 2 WR position all but solved when they selected Omar Cooper Jr. in the first round of the 2026 draft. That hasn't been the case through the opening weeks of training camp and the first preseason contest, however, as it now seems that even a WR4 role isn't assured for the rookie.

Cooper has struggled to make waves during his first professional training camp, being described as "nearly invisible" for his lack of impact on the offense. ESPN's Rich Cimini confirmed Jets fans' fears when the insider reported that Isaiah Williams had usurped the rookie on the depth chart and performed WR3 duties against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday.

While Williams didn't secure a catch against the Bucs and Cooper reeled in two passes for 31 yards—including an impressive 26-yard reception—the rookie's presence with the backups confirmed his current placement in the pecking order. 

Williams, an undrafted free agent who landed with the Jets last season after failing to catch on with both the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals as a rookie, finished 2025 with 193 yards on 26 receptions. He was considered a potential cut candidate after the team drafted Cooper and brought in veteran Tim Patrick in free agency, but now appears to be in line for a sizable role behind superstar Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell—the promising but polarizing wideout who Gang Green nabbed at last season's trade deadline.

Although much could change between now and New York's opener against the Tennessee Titans on September 13, Cooper has a lot of ground to make up and is running out of time to do it. He's far from bust territory and will have plenty of opportunities to move up the depth chart, but opening the year as Gang Green's WR4 will make for a highly disappointing start to the Day 1 pick's career.

Predicted Winner: Isaiah Williams