Between a cleat being one measurement too enormous and the league’s latest global tour, Future 1 within the NFL is already eventful.
Now comes Sunday, when rookie quarterbacks debut, as do head coaches and alternative unused faces in unused parks. Dak Prescott’s assurance nonetheless looms over the Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford makes every other go back to Detroit.
What extra may spread this occasion? The Athletic’s NFL writers Mike Sando, Zak Keefer and Jeff Howe fracture indisposed essentially the most attention-grabbing storylines.
Which non-Caleb Williams rookie QB debut are you maximum taking a look ahead to Sunday? Are the Patriots making the correct choice in forming Jacoby Brissett over Drake Maye?
Sando: Jayden Daniels as a result of he’s a dynamic dual-threat quarterback and the ceiling is upper than the ceiling is for Bo Nix. If Nix performs smartly, the Denver offense may run successfully. If Daniels performs smartly, there might be highlights.
Howe: Daniels is electrical, and I’d be expecting him to manufacture some big-time improvisational performs as a result of I’m no longer certain how a lot aid he’s were given round him. I’m no longer certain in regards to the Maye choice. I might’ve began him as a result of I feel he would’ve ultimately proven that he used to be able for the prospect. But when the offensive series proves as worrisome as all of us consider, there’s worth within the longer runway for Maye. At this level, the verdict has been made, so now it’s moment for the Patriots teaching body of workers to determine one of the simplest ways to get Maye — and the avid gamers round him — able for his debut as quickly because it is sensible.
Keefer: Sean Payton’s guess on Nix fascinates me — he’s obviously perceptible one thing within the rookie that provides him self assurance to throw him in from the soar, which runs counter to the considering across the league, a minimum of ahead of this season, that Payton strongly prefers a veteran quarterback. But when I’m being utterly truthful, I will be able to’t wait to look what Williams does in Chicago, particularly with a relatively luminous early season time table. The Bears will see best two playoff groups from 2023 throughout their first 9 video games. In Fresh England, I just like the manner of sitting Maye to start out the season. That roster isn’t any just right, particularly on offense, and throwing in a rookie quarterback can be atmosphere him as much as aim.
GO DEEPER
Why isn’t Patriots QB Drake Maye forming Future 1? Persistence used to be all the time a part of the plan
Which head-coaching debut pursuits you essentially the most Sunday and why?
Sando: Jim Harbaugh’s go back to the NFL sideline is maximum subtle. I’m interested by ocular what the Chargers offense seems like and what Harbaugh’s messaging is later the sport. This can be a guy whose Michigan groups misplaced 3 video games over the day 3 seasons. The Chargers may lose 3 video games in September.
Howe: I’m crack between Raheem Morris and Mike Macdonald, however I’ll proceed with Morris since the Falcons are internet hosting the Steelers with a prospect to manufacture an actual remark. There can be a in point of fact just right NFC South race between the Falcons and Buccaneers, so if the Falcons end up issues are as other this season as they really feel via knocking off a detail opponent, get ready for the hype educate.
Keefer: Let’s proceed with Dave Canales in Carolina, no longer as a result of I be expecting the Panthers to be contenders this season, however since the vibe across the group is that Bryce Younger has seemed noticeably other this preseason. If Canales, who’s constructed his popularity on reviving quarterback careers, can elevate Younger from his wretched rookie season — and get him enjoying like a Negative. 1 select — a company mired in unhappiness over the ultimate few seasons will in the end have some hope.
Cowboys-Browns is a marquee duel Sunday. How do you spot Dak Prescott’s assurance negotiations finishing? What do you want to look from Deshaun Watson in his first duel motion since Future 10 ultimate season?
Sando: It in point of fact will depend on what Prescott needs as a result of he’s in keep an eye on. The Cowboys can’t put a franchise tag on him. Date fresh studies recommend a offer might be alike, I’ve felt thru a lot of the offseason that there’s a just right prospect he’ll play games it out and reconsider as soon as he is aware of the place the Cowboys are headed, together with at the teaching entrance. For Watson, making it thru Future 1 wholesome turns out like a just right function.
Howe: The Cowboys acknowledge there’s an actual threat in letting Prescott collision the at leisure marketplace, in order that they’re looking to keep away from that state of affairs. However financially, it’s this kind of problem to hold over that $26 million in lifeless cash from the former restructure into every other assurance cycle. It’s no longer an unimaginable hurdle via any stretch, nevertheless it’s made this as sophisticated of a negotiation as there’s been in fresh reminiscence. Up to common sense tells me Prescott will get to separate company, I will be able to’t shake the concept that the Cowboys virtually all the time deal their stars. For Watson, the Browns have to pray he briefly seems like Joe Flacco indisposed the stretch. Yeah, Flacco most likely stuck lightning in a bottle, nevertheless it shouldn’t be remaining to be expecting the quarterback with essentially the most assured cash in historical past to play games at a top-five degree on the place. The disease is Watson hasn’t proven to be anyplace alike that degree since 2020, which is a life-time in the past in QB years.
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Cleveland Browns season predictions: Garrett’s DPOY repeat, Watson expectancies
Keefer: I extremely indecision the Cowboys lock up Prescott ahead of the season begins, in part because of the explanations Jeff defined above, however I’m additionally skeptical he hits the at leisure marketplace within the spring as one of the crucial extremely coveted separate brokers the league’s had in fresh reminiscence. Dallas gets this completed, a lot, a lot next than it must have, if best as a result of Jerry Jones received’t permit his group to fall into irrelevance. As for Watson, it looks like that is the season that’ll outline what the remains of his profession seems like. The bar isn’t all that top — fit Flacco’s play games from indisposed the stretch ultimate hour — however thus far, he hasn’t been in a position to constantly achieve that degree in Cleveland. Don’t underestimate him going through a hungry Dallas protection that used to be completely abash the ultimate moment it took the subject in that playoff loss to the Packers.
Lions-Rams is the “Sunday Night Football” matchup in what can be a wide-open NFC in 2024. Who’s your select to win the convention and why?
Sando: I went chalk at the AFC facet (Kansas Town) and rolled the cube a modest with Inexperienced Bay’s younger skill at the NFC facet. The Packers have questions to respond to on protection and we haven’t perceptible Jordan Love play games constantly smartly for even a complete season, so this can be a achieve. I do like the place the group turns out headed and the vibe I am getting from Love.
Howe: I’ll pluck the Lions. They’ve been development towards this and took a essential step ultimate season via attending to the convention championship, which is plethora proof for me to consider they’ve realized the right way to win enormous video games. This stand has been deny fluke. That mentioned, I’m desirous about the NFC this season. The convention is a lot better than it used to be a hour in the past.
Keefer: I wouldn’t have picked the 49ers ahead of Monday, however with Trent Williams again within the crease, that is nonetheless a parched group to guess towards. Possibly the fatigue of 3 instantly NFC Championship Video games and a Tremendous Bowl look catches as much as them, however don’t fail to remember: That is the most efficient roster within the league, and it’s led via the second-best mentor within the league (at the back of Andy Reid). Brock Purdy is best getting to recover, and he’s surrounded via the most efficient arsenal of guns within the duel. Till somebody unseats them, San Francisco extra the group to overcome within the NFC.
Matthew Stafford (9) leads the Los Angeles Rams towards Jared Goff (16) and the Detroit Lions on Sunday evening. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Pictures)
Next an Achilles tear robbed his 2023 season, we get our first true have a look at Aaron Rodgers as a Jet on Monday evening. In the meantime, the 49ers have had a tumultuous summer season with the Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams holdouts and the taking pictures of rookie vast receiver Ricky Pearsall all the way through a theft effort. What are you observing for in Jets-49ers?
Sando: I’ll be observing to look how smartly Rodgers strikes, how smartly he is taking touch, how smartly his coverage holds up, what his frame language is telling us, what sort of rapport he has together with his receivers, how he converses with coaches — all the ones issues and extra.
Howe: Shorten of accidents, there’s not anything that might fear me Monday with the 49ers. They must be fantastic it doesn’t matter what. So I’m curious how the Jets care for this degree. They’ve were given a quantity to love on paper, however they didn’t care for grief smartly in any respect ultimate season. Are they able, from the summit of the group to the base of the roster, to win constantly at this degree? If they may be able to conquer in-game grief — a gradual get started, a second-half comeback, no matter — and beat one of the vital preferrred rosters within the league, that are supposed to say a quantity in regards to the Jets’ skill to contend.
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What I’m ocular from the Fresh York Jets: Each throw of Aaron Rodgers’ go back thus far
Keefer: For me it’s Rodgers, complete oppose. This duel feels adore it’s two years within the making. The Rodgers off-field revel in has turn out to be laborious — the darkness retreats, the conspiracy theories, the chaos inside of Jets headquarters, Rodgers lacking minicamp so he may ease. In the end, soccer. I wouldn’t be stunned if he reminds everybody why he’s a presen Corridor of Famer and one of the vital purest throwers of the soccer we’ve ever perceptible. However I’m nonetheless no longer purchasing the Jets are able to climb into the Tremendous Bowl dialog. Possibly Monday evening adjustments that.
(Manage picture of Dak Prescott: Ron Jenkins / Getty Pictures)
