The Biggest Spot Up for Grabs in Every NFL Training Camp
Rejoice, football fans. The 2016 NFL training camp season is finally here. This means that we're just over a month away from the return of meaningful football games and that this next month is going to be full of preseason excitement.
The most intriguing aspect of this time of year is watching teams come together and form their rosters for the coming season. Over the next several weeks, teams are going to figure out what they have, which players they want to keep and where positions can be improved.
Though teams vary greatly both in quality and in philosophy, the goal for each of them is to put together the best group of 53 men possible. This means that some intense positional battles are about to take place on the 32 teams around the league.
Uncertainties, after all, lie on the rosters of even the most well-constructed franchises.
Today, we're going to take a look at one key position on each NFL team that is available to be won in training camp. We'll be focusing on positions that could heavily impact the 2016 season—and since every position is important, we'll be basing our choices on factors like roster depth, player potential, coaching, team makeup and prior position-holder.
Teams are listed in alphabetical order.
Arizona Cardinals
1 of 32
Center
The Arizona Cardinals should have a good chance of defending their NFC West title this season, as there aren't a lot of notable weaknesses on the roster. Ideally, the few holes the team did have last year will not be issues in 2016.
For example, Arizona addressed an underwhelming pass rush by trading for Chandler Jones this offseason. The Cardinals produced just 36 sacks as a team in 2015. Jones produced 12.5 on his own.
The next notable challenge will be strengthening the center spot. Last year's starter, Lyle Sendlein, was rated just 57th overall among centers by Pro Football Focus. Only five centers allowed more than the 20 quarterback hurries Sendlein allowed last season.
This year, the competition at center will include veteran A.Q. Shipley, versatile backup Earl Watford and rookie fourth-round pick Evan Boehm.
Boehm figures to perhaps be the future at the position, but head coach Bruce Arians made it clear that he won't play until he is ready to handle the job. Arians, per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com:
"I think A.Q. has proven he can play. Earl did a nice job in the spring of giving us a guy who can play five positions, and Evan’s just got to learn. If you figure about offensive linemen and [have] rookies playing, you’re going to be struggling. There’s too much volume for them to learn, plus the techniques. He’s going to be a hell of a player, but it ain’t going to be next week.
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Though the center position is often overlooked, it could prove very important for the Cardinals this season. This is a team looking to push further into the postseason, and the center spot is one of the few that can dramatically affect both the running game and the passing game on offense.
Atlanta Falcons
2 of 32
Middle Linebacker
The Atlanta Falcons made it a priority to add speed and range to their defense in this year's draft. Presumably, adding the likes of safety Keanu Neal and linebacker Deion Jones should help improve a defense that ranked 16th in the NFL (347.6 yards per game allowed) last season.
Jones' entry into the defensive game plan could be particularly interesting. He is competing at middle linebacker with 2015 starter Paul Worrilow. Though Worrilow should be better in his second season under head coach Dan Quinn, he left a lot to be desired last year.
Pro Football Focus rated Worrilow just 122nd overall among inside linebackers for the season.
Still, it could be a slow process for Jones to consistently get on the field in the middle of the defense. Though the LSU product appears to have far greater upside, Worrilow dominates in the experience department. Jones has just one year of college starting experience under his belt.
Early in training camp, the Falcons seem to be experimenting with moving Worrilow around in the defense, particularly in nickel formations. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Falcons have been moving Worrilow to weak-side linebacker in nickel in order to get Jones onto the field with him.
“We are just trying to create more versatility with [Worrilow],”Quinn explained, per Ledbetter. “That was the real goal there knowing that Paul is also not only going to have a role at (middle), (weak side) and (special) teams, all of the things that we are doing.”
Getting Jones on the field in passing situations makes sense because his speed—he ran a 4.38-second 40 at his pro day—can be an asset in coverage. However, getting him ready and on the field on a consistent basis could bolster the defense even more.
Watching Jones' development and battle with Worrilow should be one of the highlights of Falcons camp.
Baltimore Ravens
3 of 32
Tight End
The Baltimore Ravens inked veteran tight end Benjamin Watson to a two-year, $7 million deal in free agency this offseason. Despite possessing the deal and a strong 2015 campaign—825 yards and six scores—Watson isn't a lock for the starting tight end job.
The reality is that Baltimore has a number of intriguing options at the tight end position. The Ravens took Minnesota product Maxx Williams in the second round of the 2015 draft and would undoubtedly like to get him into a consistent role. Crockett Gillmore is also in the mix after producing 33 receptions, 412 yards and four touchdowns in 2015.
Gillmore is dealing with a pulled hamstring. However, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports that the injury isn't expected to be too serious.
Dennis Pitta, who has missed the majority of the past three seasons with various hip injuries, is in the competition as well.
"I don't feel like I've lost a step," Pitta recently said, per Hensley. "I don't feel like I'm any slower or do anything different than I did a couple of years ago, in my opinion. That's my goal. I want to be the lead guy."
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is returning from an injury of his own, having suffered a torn ACL last year. Having a quality outlet option or options at the tight end position will only aid him in that return. Tight ends coach Richard Angulo is hoping that the right options rise out of the competition.
“Potentially. What I just want to see is each guy pushing each other. From the top of the depth chart to the bottom, they are all good players," Angulo said, via the team's official website. "I just want to see this group take off.”
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Buffalo Bills
4 of 32
Right Tackle
The Buffalo Bills fielded a powerful overall offensive line in 2015. As a team, the Bills were rated 11th overall in pass blocking and ninth overall in run blocking by Pro Football Focus. There was a weakness on that line, however, and it existed at right tackle.
Seantrel Henderson started 10 games at right tackle, but eventually saw his season ended prematurely due to Crohn's disease. Jordan Mills started five games at the position and appeared in 10 contests. Unfortunately, neither player really shined.
Pro Football Focus rated Henderson 121st overall and rated Mills 112th overall among all offensive tackles for the season.
Henderson underwent two surgeries this offseason to help treat his illness, and he will have a chance to recapture his starting job once fully healthy. However, as Tom Martin of News 4 Buffalo reported, Henderson opened training camp on the non-football injury list.
The competition in camp will likely be between Henderson and Mills, but both players should also challenge themselves to be better than they were in 2015. If the Bills can find a way to upgrade the right tackle position, it will go a long way toward fielding a more efficient offensive unit.
Though he has primarily been a disappointment as a pro, former second-round pick Cyrus Kouandjio could also be in the mix.
Carolina Panthers
5 of 32
Cornerback
One big reason why the Carolina Panthers were a generally dominant team in 2015 was a defense that was rated first overall in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus. The Panthers were masters at defending the pass last season, but things have changed a bit since.
Pretty much everyone now knows that the Panthers released emerging cornerback Josh Norman this offseason and that he is a member of the Washington Redskins. However, the Panthers also parted ways with contributors like Charles Tillman and Cortland Finnegan.
This is why the battle for playing time at cornerback is likely to be intense.
Carolina brings back Bene Benwikere, who finished the 2015 season on injured reserve with a broken ankle. The team also brings back Robert McClain, who was signed after Benwikere's injury last year. The team drafted cornerbacks James Bradberry, Daryl Worley and Zack Sanchez.
Benwikere, though, opened camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
“It gives him an opportunity to continue his rehab,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said of Benwikere, per Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. “I think the thing that everybody needs to understand is what he did was very traumatic to that ankle. And it takes a matter of time. We don’t want to just throw him out there.”
This could leave much of the competition taking place between rookies during camp. There have been some positive early reports on those rookies, at least, and the Panthers seem to believe they will come along just fine.
"Eventually, I believe you'll see them make more and more plays," head coach Ron Rivera said, per Bryan Strickland of the team's official website. "They're gaining confidence in the skills that [defensive backs] coach [Steve] Wilks is teaching and the defense of Sean McDermott, and you're seeing them getting closer and closer to the ball."
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/nfl-blog/article92221742.html#storylink=cpy
Chicago Bears
6 of 32
Left Guard
The Chicago Bears enter camp with competition along the interior of their offensive line. The most critical battle could take plate at the left guard spot, where rookie second-round pick Cody Whitehair is trying to win a job.
The left guard position saw some shuffling in 2015. Matt Slauson appeared in 11 games there last season and generally performed well. However, he left in the offseason to join the San Diego Chargers. Patrick Omameh and Vladimir Ducasse each appeared in three games at left guard.
This year, Whitehair's main competition for the job appears to be Ted Larsen and Amini Silatolu.
Larsen is also in the competition for the center spot, a position Slauson often played last year after then-rookie Hroniss Grasu struggled. Slauson finished the 2015 season rated 15th overall among centers by Pro Football Focus. Grasu finished the year rated just 53rd overall.
Larsen isn't lacking in confidence about his fight for a starting job, either.
“I’m not scared of any rookies or younger guys,” Larsen said, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “I’ve played a lot of games. I played some playoff games. I have a lot of experience in this league.
The competition at left guard is vital because if Whitehair is up to the challenge of starting, it could allow Larsen to man the center spot. This combination could help make the line a better overall unit in 2016.
Cincinnati Bengals
7 of 32
Cornerback
The Cincinnati Bengals decided to bring back veteran cornerback Adam Jones this offseason, which means that one of the team's starting corner spots should be secure. However, there are some legitimate questions remaining in the secondary.
Fellow veteran Leon Hall remains unsigned. Though he was mostly a role player in 2015, Hall was still a valuable piece in the Cincinnati secondary. Pro Football Focus rated him 27th overall among all cornerbacks.
Cincinnati has a lot of young talent at the cornerback position—including recent first-round selections like Dre Kirkpatrick, Darqueze Dennard and William Jackson III. However, Jackson is a rookie, Dennard is still very much unproven and Kirkpatrick hasn't played up to his draft status. Though he was allowed to start 15 games last season, Kirkpatrick was generally one of the few weak spots on the Bengals defense.
Pro Football Focus rated Kirkpatrick 216th overall among all cornerbacks for the 2015 season.
The Bengals don't typically thrust young cornerbacks into action. However, as Jay Morrison of the Dayton Daily News recently explained, Jackson could break that trend:
"That could change in 2016, however, as first-round pick William Jackson could push Kirkpatrick, who struggled in his first year as a starter in 2015. Jackson has been impressive in OTAs and mini camp, and if he continues to shine during training camp, the Bengals will ask him to do more than just contribute on special teams this season.
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This competition is important because the Bengals play in an AFC North division with dangerous opposing quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger. If Cincinnati cannot find the right combination of players in the secondary, it could become increasingly difficult to return to the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season.
Cleveland Browns
8 of 32
Right Tackle
Realistically, the competition to become the next quarterback of the Cleveland Browns is probably the most important of training camp. However, that battle appears to be all but over.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Browns head coach Hue Jackson has made it clear that he'll name a starter before the team's first preseason game on Aug. 12. Most expect that starter to be offseason acquisition Robert Griffin III.
With that competition out the proverbial window, we're going to focus on the fight for the starting right tackle job. This is a position that could be in store for a major decline after the offseason departure of Mitchell Schwartz, who was graded as the top right tackle in football by Pro Football Focus last season.
Guys battling for the starting job include Alvin Bailey, Austin Pasztor and rookie Shon Coleman.
Bailey, previously of the Seattle Seahawks, and Coleman appear to be the early favorites in what could be a spirited competition.
“It’ll always be a battle because you’ve got two talented guys lining up at the same position and they’re competitive and very tough, and they want that position,” Browns offensive line coach Hal Hunter said, per Patrick Maks of the team's official website.
Protecting Griffin will be key if the Browns hope to help the former Heisman winner revive his pro career. Cleveland has a top-tier pass protector in Joe Thomas. Now they need to find his counterpart.
Dallas Cowboys
9 of 32
Defensive End
The Dallas Cowboys have a unique camp battle this year. The team has promising young players at the defensive end spot in Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence, but those guys are going to be suspended for at least the first month of the season.
According to Todd Archer and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Gregory could be facing an even longer ban because of another violation of the league's substance abuse policy. He was given a four-game suspension earlier in the offseason, while Lawrence got a four-game ban for violating the PED policy.
Since the Cowboys decided not to retain Greg Hardy this offseason, this leaves guys like David Irving, Ryan Russell and rookie Charles Tapper fighting to receive playing time in the first month and perhaps longer.
Though the group is largely unproven, players like Russell have confidence that they can rise to the challenge.
"We have enough pass rush out here to be the best defensive unit in the league and the best defensive line in the league, and I truly believe that," Russell said, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. "We're very young and we're all very ambitious. No one is looking at us. No one is really worried about us, so we have nothing to lose. The talent is phenomenal."
We're not sure just how phenomenal the talent is at the end position in Dallas right now, but we know that this competition is going to be huge. The Cowboys need contributors who can help bolster the pass rush throughout the season, and they need bodies just to man the end positions when the season opens.
Denver Broncos
10 of 32
Quarterback
The Denver Broncos have an opening at the quarterback position. This is obviously going to be one of the biggest camp competitions in the league this year because Denver is defending Super Bowl champion and quarterback is the most important offensive job on the team.
Both of last year's starting quarterbacks, Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, are gone. This training camp, the team is trotting out a three-man competition consisting of journeyman Mark Sanchez, rookie first-round pick Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian.
The starting job could realistically go to any of the three.
"It's going to be wide open," Broncos executive John Elway said of the competition, per Mike Klis of KUSA Denver.
According to Klis, Sanchez has seen the majority of the first-team work this offseason and will get "first crack" at the starting job in camp. However, head coach Gary Kubiak has echoed Elway's sentiment about an open competition.
"The bottom line is we're going to give them equal reps," Kubiak said, per Klis. "It's an open competition. We've laid out our plan of how we're going to rep them so that we're getting an equal look at all of them."
The good news for Broncos fans is that this is a team that can survive some midseason hiccups at the quarterback position. The team won a league title last year, despite starting signal-callers rated 26th overall (Osweiler) and 65th overall (Manning) among all quarterbacks by Pro Football Focus.
Denver obviously wants to pick the best candidate for the starting job, but the team should feel confident in its ability to consistently win without an elite presence under center.
Detroit Lions
11 of 32
Offensive Tackle
The Detroit Lions spent a first-round pick on former Ohio State lineman Taylor Decker this offseason, and his fight for a starting spot along the offensive line will be worth following. The biggest battle could come at left tackle, where Decker may be pushing former first-rounder Riley Reiff out of a job.
Reiff is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Lions could be looking to move on from him after the season. It's worth noting, though, that Reiff is coming off a fairly strong season. Pro Football Focus rated him 32nd overall among all offensive tackles in 2015.
For now, Reiff has moved over to the right tackle spot and Decker has been penciled in for the left. Of course, it's early in camp and rookie struggles could easily cause the two to swap places by the start of the regular season.
Reports seem to indicate that Reiff is excelling in early camp. Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports that Reiff was seen dominating defenders and driving them to the ground in padded pass-rush drills.
"He broke two facemasks today out there," Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said of Reiff, per Meinke. "So it was a pretty rough day. I know one broke, I'm not certain what happened to the other, if it was a malfunction or not. But I told him he broke two."
This is a competition that is likely to heat up later in camp and in the preseason. The Lions will be hard-pressed to let Decker protect quarterback Matthew Stafford's blind side if he struggles during the preseason.
The good news is that Decker can likely still upgrade the line from the right side. The Lions didn't have a consistent right tackle in 2015 and the best of them, Michael Ola, was rated just 77th overall among tackles by Pro Football Focus.
Green Bay Packers
12 of 32
Wide Receiver
The Green Bay Packers should have their top two receiver spots covered with Randall Cobb returning and Jordy Nelson again healthy. However, there is going to be a fierce competition to be the team's No. 3 wideout.
Former second-round pick Davante Adams held the role in 2015, but he floundered as often as he flashed. Pro Football Focus actually rated him as the second-worst receiver in the entire NFL.
Adams is going to have a fight on his hands if he wants to retain a spot in the lineup. Guys like Jared Abbrederis, Jeff Janis, Ty Montgomery and rookie Trevor Davis will be gunning for his job.
Finding the right configuration of depth at the receiver position will also be important for the Packers. The team saw some struggles last season due to a lack of reliable receiving options. With Nelson sidelined with a torn ACL, there was no one to really stretch the field or to create openings for other pass-catchers. Hopefully Green Bay won't face any such situation this year, but filling out the depth chart with reliable young talent would still be beneficial.
The good news is that even though many of these receivers are lacking in experience, they're getting to practice with one of the game's best in quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“The way he’s been able to communicate with those guys every single day, it’s just going to help them be more successful,” Packers receivers coach Luke Getsy explained, per Jason Wilde of ESPN.com. “They’re all sponges and trying to get as much information from a guy like that as they can.”
The next step will be for Green Bay's young pass-catchers to take what they're learning and apply it to the playing field.
Houston Texans
13 of 32
Wide Receiver
The Houston Texans made the bold move of signing quarterback Brock Osweiler to a hefty four-year, $72 million deal this offseason. The young gunslinger showed promise with the Broncos in his seven starts last year, but he's going to have a different team around him in Houston.
In order to ensure the Texans get the most they can out of Osweiler, the team needs to put the right pass-catchers on the field. Now that star wideout DeAndre Hopkins has decided to end his brief holdout, one of the receiver spots is solidified. The depth chart behind Hopkins, however, is a bit on the murky side.
Houston spent a first-round pick on speedy Notre Dame product Will Fuller to help stretch the field. However, Fuller is a speed specialist who lacks consistency in the receiving department. He may be best utilized in a situational role as a rookie.
Other receivers competing for playing time alongside Hopkins include Cecil Shorts, Keith Mumphery, second-year man Jaelen Strong and rookie Braxton Miller.
As Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle recently explained, the race for the starting outside job could be a two-man competition between Strong and Fuller:
"Fuller and Jaelen Strong are the top candidates to complement Hopkins' explosive game, assuming he ends his holdout. Fuller is more of a deep threat, but Strong had an outstanding spring and has gotten himself into outstanding shape and made a ton of big plays during the spring. The Texans use plenty of three-wide receiver sets, so both figure into the game plan.
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Since the Texans do utilize three-receiver sets frequently, the battle at slot receiver could become nearly as interesting as the competition to complement Hopkins on the outside.
Indianapolis Colts
14 of 32
Running Back
Running the football was often a struggle for the Indianapolis Colts a season ago. Not only did the team finish a disappointing 29th in rushing (89.9 yards per game), but the lack of a consistent ground game often placed extra pressure on the quarterback and the passing attack.
One of the biggest issues was the lack of a reliable change-of-pace option behind aging veteran Frank Gore. Though Gore did finish with a solid 967 yards rushing, he averaged only 3.7 yards per tote and he failed to top the 100-yard mark in any game.
Gore is expected to again lead the rushing attack for Indianapolis, which is why the fight for playing time behind him is going to be critical.
During the offseason, the Colts added guys like Robert Turbin, Jordan Todman and undrafted rookie Josh Ferguson.
Gore has been impressive in the early days of camp, so he may just be able to handle the load on the ground.
“I think Frank defies all the stereotypes about an aging running back,” Colts quarterback Andrew Luck said, per Reggie Hayes of the News-Sentinel. “He must have a fountain of youth down in South Florida that he visits. Incredible. He works his butt off so it’s not surprising he’s always in shape and ready to go and runs as hard as he does.”
The trick will be for Indianapolis to identify a back who can provide a change of pace on the ground and someone to catch the ball out of the backfield. Ahmad Bradshaw finished second among backs behind Gore with 10 receptions last season, and he appeared in only six games.
Jacksonville Jaguars
15 of 32
Left Tackle
The Jacksonville Jaguars made a number of notable moves in free agency and the draft this offseason. One move that might prove to be incredibly impactful is the signing of offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum to a five-year, $45 million deal.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers starter is coming off a torn ACL, but he is just 27 years old and was a productive player before the injury. Pro Football Focus rated him fifth overall among all offensive tackles for the 2014 season.
Beachum was brought in to provide competition at the left tackle position, arguably the most important spot on the offensive line. He's battling with former second-overall pick Luke Joeckel, who has been a major disappointment as a pro.
Pro Football Focus rated Joeckel a mere 118th overall among offensive tackles last season.
Though Beachum may not be all the way back to pre-injury form, he is healthy enough to compete in camp and he welcomes the challenge.
"I think it's going to be a great competition," Beachum told the team's official website. "And I'm looking forward to competing, looking forward to doing whatever it takes to make this team the best that it can be."
Beachum—or Joeckel, for that matter—can make the team dramatically better by upgrading the left tackle position and better protecting quarterback Blake Bortles.
Bortles has been sacked a whopping 106 times in his two pro seasons, which is obviously not good.
Kansas City Chiefs
16 of 32
Cornerback
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters was far from perfect as a rookie in 2015, but he definitely showed a lot of promise. While Pro Football Focus credits him with allowing 939 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, the Washington product also snagged eight interceptions.
If Peters can tighten up his coverage skills, he'll continue to be a difference-maker on the outside.
The problem for Kansas City is that the other outside corner spot is unsettled. Veteran Sean Smith—who was rated 17th overall among all cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus last year—signed with the rival Oakland Raiders in the offseason.
If the Chiefs cannot solidify that outside spot, it might not matter how much Peters improves in year two. Teams could end up with the freedom to avoid him altogether.
Right now, it's looking like Phillip Gaines has the inside track at the starting job. He missed most of last season with a torn ACL, but appears to be healthy and ready to face camp competition.
“You know what? I thought he moved around great,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. “Took a lot of reps. Looks like he’s put on a little weight and strength. I was happy with what I saw.”
Other players vying for playing time at cornerback include Steven Nelson, Marcus Cooper, third-round pick KeiVarae Russell, fourth-round pick Eric Murray and sixth-rounder D.J. White.
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article92177732.html#storylink=cpy
Los Angeles Rams
17 of 32
Quarterback
Most folks expect that rookie quarterback Jared Goff will be the opening day starter for the Los Angeles Rams this season. After all, he was widely viewed as the most pro-ready signal-caller in the draft and was selected with the first overall pick.
However, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher has made it clear that Goff still has to earn the job.
"I said we’ll start him when he’s ready,” Fisher said in June, per Rich Hammond of the Orange County Register. “I didn’t say that to imply that he was going to start the opener. I said, we have options. He can start anywhere from the opener to whenever, and we haven’t changed our philosophy on that."
Goff is competing with fourth-year quarterback Case Keenum for the starting job. Keenum earned five starts in 2015 and performed well enough to earn a first-round tender from the Rams as a restricted free agent.
Keenum also entered camp as the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart. While it's beyond obvious that the Rams want Goff to take over at some point, Keenum believes he has a legitimate chance stay atop the depth chart through camp.
“There’s a lot of scenarios,” Keenum said, per Steve Dilbeck of ESPN.com. “That’s kind of training camp. It’s a time to compete. Time to compete against your position group, time to compete against the defense.”
This is a battle that isn't likely to be settled until late in the preseason. L.A. needs to ensure it makes the best decision for this season and for the future of the franchise.
Miami Dolphins
18 of 32
Guard
The offensive line has been an issue for the Miami Dolphins in recent years, especially along the interior and in the running game. Pro Football Focus actually rated Miami dead last in run blocking for the 2015 season.
This is why the competition at guard will be vital to the team's offense in 2016.
Miami has some intriguing options in its guard competition—including longtime veteran Jermon Bushrod, Kraig Urbik, Billy Turner and even first-round selection Laremy Tunsil.
According to James Walker of ESPN.com, the former Mississippi offensive tackle has spent time at guard during early camp.
The Dolphins could use an upgrade at both guard spots, so there are realistically two jobs up for grabs here. 2015 starters Turner and Dallas Thomas were rated fourth-worst and worst overall among all guards by Pro Football Focus, respectively.
Turner, though, seems confident in the group Miami has overall.
“I think anyone that knows football knows that we have the potential to be the best offensive line in football," Turner recently said, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Right now, the Dolphins should focus less on having the league's best overall line and concentrate on finding a pair of starting guards who were better than what the team had last year.
Minnesota Vikings
19 of 32
Right Tackle
The Minnesota Vikings dealt with some struggles at the right tackle position last year because starter Phil Loadholt tore his Achilles during the preseason. This year, the team could again have struggles, but not because of another Loadholt injury.
The Oklahoma product recently decided to call it a career.
This likely leaves T.J. Clemmings—who started 16 games at right tackle in 2016—and offseason acquisition Andre Smith competing for the job. Both players will have to perform better than they did last year if they hope to improve the Vikings line.
Pro Football Focus rated Clemmings 129th overall among all tackles and rated 130th overall. When Loadholt played back in 2014, Pro Football Focus rated him 31st overall among all offensive tackles.
Since the Vikings brought in veteran guard Alex Boone in the offseason, the right tackle spot becomes perhaps the most uncertain on the team. Finding the right player to solidify it will be important for the continued development of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and for the functionality of the offense.
Right now, it appears Smith could have the edge. Though he filled in as a backup left tackle upon arriving in Minnesota, he has been running with the first-team offense at right tackle in training camp.
"I'm fine with right tackle; that's where I played most of the time for Cincinnati," Smith said, per Jim Rueda of the Free Press. "But, you know, T.J. [Clemmings] is right there, and there are some other guys in the mix, too. It will be a battle all through the preseason."
New England Patriots
20 of 32
Wide Receiver
The New England Patriots put a lot of effort into upgrading their depth at the wide receiver position this offseason. New additions include Nate Washington, former Bills wideout Chris Hogan and rookies Malcolm Mitchell and Devin Lucien.
While we're not sure any of these guys are going to replace Julian Edelman or Danny Amendola in the lineup, they do make the competition at receiver a heck of a lot more interesting this year.
Depth was an issue for New England in 2015, as the offense often struggled when Edelman and Amendola were injured. With the right receivers on the field with them and playing behind them, Edelman and Amendola might not face the same pressure or workload in 2016.
Guys like Hogan and Washington can also provide excellent injury insurance at the position.
The Patriots were rated sixth overall in receiving last season by Pro Football Focus. A deeper, stronger and fresher receiving corps should be a frightening thought for opposing defenses.
Edelman and Amendola both opened camp on the PUP list. This might be discouraging for Patriots fans, but it creates a wealth of opportunities for other pass-catchers fighting for roles.
"Any chance you get to be the field and get an opportunity to catch, run, whatever it is—whenever you’re on this field, everything is being evaluated,” Hogan said, per Nicholas Goss of NESN.com. “You need to make the most of any opportunity you get.”
This competition should be rather fun to watch, but it could also have a very significant impact on the coming season. New England is preparing Jimmy Garoppolo to start during Tom Brady's month-long suspension. With Amendola and Edelman out, these newcomers are the ones building chemistry with Garoppolo in camp.
New Orleans Saints
21 of 32
Edge-Rusher
The New Orleans Saints have one quality pass-rusher in Cameron Jordan, who produced 10 sacks last season. However, the Saints don't currently have a capable edge-defender to complement him on the roster.
For a team looking to turn the page on a period of defensive disaster, this isn't ideal.
Second-year pass-rusher Hau'oli Kikaha might have been able to fill the role this season, but he suffered a torn ACL in June.
This leaves guys like Bobby Richardson, Davis Tull, Kasim Edebali and Obum Gwacham vying for that pass-rushing role opposite Jordan. Gwacham received the highest rating from Pro Football Focus among returning Saints edge-rushers after Cameron, but he was rated just 140th in the league for 2015.
New Orleans appears confident that one of these guys can emerge, however. At least, this seems to be the reason why the team didn't target an edge-defender via trade, free agency or the draft.
Saints head coach Sean Payton recently explained the team's stance, per Larry Holder of NOLA.com:
"We were not going to create and just draft one [early] because that was a need. That'd be a mistake. Like I said, we have got some young guys. It's here. No one is coming here and sitting down at this press conference a week from now, [saying], "Ah he arrived!" They are here. And it is our job to coach them and get them ready. That's why we're here, and we're excited about it.
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The Saints staff may be excited, but fans are probably anxious about having so much uncertainty opposite Jordan. Hopefully, this competition can help settle things in a speedy and decisive manner.
New York Giants
22 of 32
Middle Linebacker
The New York Giants said goodbye to veteran linebacker Jon Beason this offseason when the oft-injured defender decided to call it a career. The team also parted ways with fellow middle linebacker Uani' Unga.
This leaves Jasper Brinkley, who started nine games for New York in 2015, as the leading candidate to start in the middle of the defense. However, it appears the team won't just be handing him the job.
“We have some veteran guys and some young guys that are in the mix right now,” head coach Ben McAdoo said, per Dan Salomone of the team's official website. “Jasper is a guy that played a lot there for us last year, but he has some competition. It’ll be interesting to see how it unfolds.”
Other players competing for the job include Keenan Robinson and rookie fourth-round pick B.J. Goodson.
McAdoo recently referred to Goodson as a "young guy that has a chance to get some reps and improve his game and be in the mix for the position," via the team's official website.
Finding the right man for the job will be important for the Giants because the middle linebacker often acts as a sort of defensive quarterback on the field. Whichever player wins the job will be directly in the center of New York's 4-3 base defense and could often be responsible for making on-field adjustments.
Based purely on last year's performance, it would seem that Brinkley is well-suited for the role. Pro Football Focus rated him eighth overall among all inside linebackers.
The Giants, though, appear happy to let this one play out.
New York Jets
23 of 32
Outside Linebacker
Now that the Jets have gotten Ryan Fitzpatrick back under contract, we can turn our attention away from any potential competition at quarterback. Now, the most important position battle likely comes at outside linebacker, where both starting spots are potentially up for grabs.
Calvin Pace and Quinton Coples are both gone. This leaves Lorenzo Mauldin, who appeared in 15 games as a rookie last season, as a probable front-runner at one of the starting spots.
He'll be competing with the likes of Freddie Bishop, Trevor Reilly, Deion Barnes and rookie third-round pick Jordan Jenkins.
Though rookie first-round pick Darron Lee projects as an inside linebacker, he might work his way into the mix as well—especially if he can exhibit some pass-rushing potential.
Connor Hughes of NJ.com mentioned Lee as one of the early standouts of Jets camp:
"With the Jets in pads for the first time, Lee flashed time and time again. He made the fullbacks and tight ends look silly in 1-on-1 blocking drills, blew past others during special teams and forced a fumble with significant physicality during 11-on-11s. It's early, but this may have been the turning point for the No. 20 pick in this year's draft.
"
The competition at outside linebacker will be worth following because it could heavily impact the coming season for the Jets defense. Though the defensive line might be the biggest strength on that side of the ball, the outside linebackers will still largely be responsible for the pass rush in 3-4 alignments.
If New York cannot get the outside linebacker situation sorted out, the defense could risk taking a step back in 2016.
Oakland Raiders
24 of 32
Nickelback
Thanks to some sound drafting in recent years and an offseason flurry of activity, the Raiders suddenly look like one of the deeper teams in the NFL.
There is still room for improvement, though—especially in the secondary. Oakland finished last season rated just 22nd in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.
The Raiders helped address their secondary by bringing in free-agent cornerback Sean Smith and safety Reggie Nelson. Smith should lock down a starting corner spot opposite David Amerson, and Nelson should help mitigate the loss of star Charles Woodson.
This leaves a hole and a significant competition at the nickel corner spot.
T.J. Carrie and former first-round pick D.J. Hayden appear to be battling for the nickelback job, though neither performed well at corner in 2015. Pro Football Focus graded Carrie 207th overall among cornerbacks while rating Hayden 215th overall.
Other players potentially in the mix include Neiko Thorpe and SaQwan Edwards.
Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio seems to like the idea of playing Hayden against slot receivers.
“He has terrific foot quickness,” Del Rio said, via the team's official website. “He’s intelligent. Those things are definitely factors that help you in that slot.”
For Hayden to win the nickel job, he'll have to play a lot better than he did in 2015, though. Hopefully, whoever fills that role will be able to improve the position. Since slot receivers are such an important piece of modern passing attacks, a weakness at nickel could become costly.
Philadelphia Eagles
25 of 32
Wide Receiver
It seems like the Philadelphia Eagles are settling into training camp with Sam Bradford as the clear favorite at the quarterback position. If Chase Daniel or Carson Wentz begin legitimately challenging Bradford, then the quarterback spot clearly becomes the biggest one to be won.
As things stand, though, the biggest competition looks to be at wide receiver.
Aside from standout Jordan Matthews, there doesn't appear to be a surefire starter on the roster. This is a receiving corps that was rated worst in the league by Pro Football Focus in 2015.
Vying for playing time alongside Matthews are guys like Josh Huff, Rueben Randle, Chris Givens and 2015 first-round pick Nelson Agholor.
Randle and Givens were brought in as free agents.
Agholor's draft status will probably keep him employed, but his on-field work last season won't give him an edge in the competition. Pro Football Focus rated Agholor as the league's worst wideout.
Early reports from training camp seem to indicate that Randle is beginning to distance himself from the other wideouts. According to Jeff Kerr of 247Sports, Randle has been performing well, while other wideouts have been struggling with drops.
This competition could leave several receivers looking for work after the preseason, and it's going to be incredibly important for the rest of the offense. The group of pass-catchers the Eagles place on the field will have a direct impact on the success (or lack thereof) of whichever quarterbacks end up playing in 2016.
Pittsburgh Steelers
26 of 32
Wide Receiver
The Pittsburgh Steelers have an opening at the wide receiver position thanks to the indefinite ban handed to wideout Martavis Bryant. For repeated violations of the league's substance abuse policy, Bryant will miss at least the entirety of the 2016 regular season.
This likely leaves star wideout Antonio Brown and complementary receiver Markus Wheaton as starters with Bryant's vacated spot up for grabs.
Because of the large role Bryant has played in Pittsburgh's offense—he produced 50 receptions, 765 yards and six touchdowns last season—the competition to replace him will be vital.
The early pick to replace Bryant is second-year man Sammie Coates. The Auburn product was selected in the third round of last year's draft. Though he barely played in the regular season, Coates got an opportunity in the team's playoff game against Denver and caught two passes for 61 yards.
Other pass-catchers vying for playing time include Darrius Heyward-Bey, Shakim Phillips, Canaan Severin and Eli Rogers.
Rogers, a Louisville product who went undrafted last year, could find a spot on the team because of punt return ability.
According to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is "loving" what Rogers is doing on punt returns in training camp.
Rogers has spent some time with the first-team offense in the slot during camp, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. As the competition continues, he and Coates might just emerge as its two main participants.
San Diego Chargers
27 of 32
Center
The San Diego Chargers regularly struggled to run the football in 2015—as a team, they averaged just 84.9 yards per game on the ground, 31st in the NFL.
Much of the problem might have been due to inconsistency at the center position. Trevor Robinson was the team's primary starter and finished the year rated dead last among centers in the league by Pro Football Focus.
Enter free-agent Matt Slauson and rookie Max Tuerk.
Slauson spent last season with the Bears and finished rated 15th among centers by Pro Football Focus. Tuerk was a third-round pick out of USC.
The competition between these two will be important for a couple of reasons. For starters, an upgrade at the position should help the Chargers better execute interior running plays. It should also help keep the pressure off quarterback Philip Rivers and the passing game.
It seems that Slauson has held the early edge, and not just because Tuerk is still working back from knee surgery.
“[He] is a throwback player,” Chargers coach Mike McCoy said of Slauson during OTAs, via the team's official website. “You just love that. You turn on the film, coming from Chicago seeing him playing in a system that’s similar to ours…You see Matt make all the calls and do certain things the way you want it to be done."
Tuerk is on the field for camp, though, and has been participating in team drills. According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, undrafted lineman Spencer Pulley has also seen some work at center.
One thing we know for sure is that it'll be difficult for any of these guys to perform more poorly than what the Chargers saw at center in 2015.
San Francico 49ers
28 of 32
Quarterback
The Chip Kelly era is about to officially begin for the San Francisco 49ers, and there is still uncertainty at the game's most important position.
The 49ers didn't trade away quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the offseason, as many had anticipated. However, Kaepernick underwent a series of offseason surgeries and missed the majority of the offseason program.
This has meant the guy who finished last season, Blaine Gabbert, has stayed atop the offseason depth chart.
Kaepernick is now back on the practice field, however, and looking to make a major impression on his new head coach.
Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reported that Kelly split the first-team reps evenly between Kaepernick and Gabbert during the first practice of camp. The former Oregon and Philadelphia Eagles coach doesn't seem to be in a hurry to name a starter.
"I think sometimes if you put a preconceived date on it, it's not fair," Kelly said, per Wagoner. "I've been in them before. Obviously, you'd like to get it done sooner rather than later. But you don't want to get it done sooner and then make the wrong decision."
There's no guarantee that Gabbert or Kaepernick will be the quarterback of the future for San Francisco, but this competition is going to go a long way toward determining what Kelly has at the helm of his new squad.
Seattle Seahawks
29 of 32
Running Back
The entire offensive line appears to be in flux for the Seattle Seahawks, but since virtually every position is essentially in play with that competition, we're going to go in a different direction—running back.
The Seahawks are faced with the task of replacing longtime standout Marshawn Lynch at the running back position. This isn't going to be an easy challenge, as Lynch has been one of the league's top backs over the past six seasons.
Despite missing nine games due to injury in 2015, Lynch still played well enough to be rated seventh overall among running backs by Pro Football Focus.
The favorite to take over Lynch's role of featured back is Thomas Rawls, who rushed for 830 yards in 13 appearances as a rookie last season. Rawls, however, ended 2015 with a fractured ankle and opened training camp on the PUP list.
The uncertainty surrounding Rawls' health means there is an opportunity for another back to slip in and secure playing time over the next few weeks. Players vying for the chance include Christine Michael and rookie draft selections C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins and Zac Brooks.
Finding the right backfield combination will be very important for Seattle because so much of the team's offense is predicated on the running game. The absence of Lynch makes the challenge even more magnified.
"I’m excited about that entire group, and they understand what we have to do,” Seahawks running backs coach Sherman Smith said, via the team's official website. “They don’t want to be the ones, they don’t want to be the reason why. ‘We don’t have Marshawn’—no one wants to hear that."
Seahawks fans probably aren't going to forget about Lynch anytime soon, but hopefully, the new crew can lessen the impact of his absence on the field.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30 of 32
Center
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers struggled with consistency at the center position after starter Evan Smith went down with an ankle injury early last season. The guy who took over, Joe Hawley, finished the year rated just 56th overall among centers by Pro Football Focus.
Curiously, Hawley held onto the starting job even after Smith was again healthy. Smith, by the way, was rated a respectable 17th overall among centers by Pro Football Focus back in 2014.
Smith is getting the opportunity to reclaim his starting spot in training camp this year, but the Buccaneers are making him battle with Hawley for it.
"We're alternating Evan and Joe every couple days," Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter said, per Scott Smith of the team's official website. "Just as we said, there's competition there. We want competition like that at every position if we can get it."
The competition at center may well go overlooked because center isn't a glamour position. However, it will be incredibly important for the Buccaneers offense moving forward. The guy manning the middle of the line will be forming a relationship with and protecting second-year quarterback Jameis Winston. He'll also be a centerpiece of the interior rushing game.
Tampa made it pretty clear in the offseason by signing running back Doug Martin to a new five-year, $35.75 million deal that the ground game will be a priority in 2016.
Tennessee Titans
31 of 32
Wide Receiver
An inconsistent running game and a lack of top-tier receiving options helped lead to an up-and-down rookie season for Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota in 2015.
The Titans addressed the running back position by acquiring DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry during the offseason, and the competition between those two should be interesting in its own right. However, an even more exciting competition is likely coming at wide receiver.
This is because Tennessee has a host of intriguing options on its roster but no clear go-to guy aside from tight end Delanie Walker.
The Titans drafted physical phenom Dorial Green-Beckham in the second round last year with the hopes that he could become the team's No. 1 receiver. Green-Beckham certainly flashed potential as a rookie, yet he has yet to emerge as a complete receiver.
This offseason's brightest star has been rookie fifth-round pick Tajae Sharpe. The Massachusetts product has been working with the first-team offense and may lay claim to a starting job by the end of camp. Former Dolphins standout Rishard Matthews was also acquired during the offseason, and he may well join Sharpe in the starting lineup.
Other receivers competing for playing time include Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter, Tre McBride and the recently signed Andre Johnson.
The late signing of Johnson could throw a wrench in the whole competition. Early reports indicate that he has been performing well.
"Just to see him at the age he is and at the point in his career and see him learn some of the playbook so fast and go out and execute and make the plays he made, I think it's really exciting," Wright said, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. "He can make the group really competitive, and that's what we need."
The battle here should be meaningful and fun to watch. These are the guys who will be helping Mariota in his continued development in his second year in the league.
Washington Redskins
32 of 32
Running Back
For the last four seasons, Alfred Morris has led the rushing attack of the Washington Redskins—and he's done a commendable job. Morris racked up 4,713 yards, 29 touchdowns and a 4.4 yards-per-carry average.
However, Morris is now a member of the Cowboys.
This leaves a bit of uncertainty at the running back position in Washington for the first time in a long time. The team drafted Florida product Matt Jones in the third round last year to help strengthen the position. Yet while Jones showed some flashes, he also frequently stumbled. He finished his rookie campaign with an underwhelming 3.4 yards-per-carry average.
Jones will have to prove he can be consistently productive if he hopes to be Washington's primary ball-carrier. Chris Thompson—who saw just 35 carries but averaged 6.2 yards per rush last year—could potentially slide in and steal the job. Other backs like rookie Keith Marshall could also be in the mix for a notable role.
The Redskins might not be done adding backs, either. Head coach Jay Gruden recently explained, per Joon Lee of the Washington Post:
"We could [look at free agents]. There are some guys who looked pretty good during minicamp. Chris Thompson is coming back and looked good. Obviously, Mack Brown was on the practice squad last year. Robert Kelley is the rookie free agent we picked up. Keith Marshall we’re excited about. We have some guys that we’re going to look out for.
"
There should be two primary goals in Washington this season. The team obviously wants to defend its NFC East title, and the team needs to decide if quarterback Kirk Cousins is really a franchise-caliber quarterback.
Both of these goals will be difficult to accomplish if Washington's running game is ineffective.
All contract information via Spotrac.com.
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