NFL training camp previews for all 32 teams.

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Dallas Cowboys: Taco Charlton is Defensive Rookie of the Year.
No rookie is in a better position to help his team immediately than Charlton -- and no team needs more help from a rookie than Dallas does from Charlton. The Cowboys recorded 36 sacks last season, a so-so figure made decidedly less relevant by the fact that opposing quarterbacks attempted 633 passes against them. Moreover, the team's leading "edge rusher" (a term I use generously), Benson Mayowa, garnered six whole sacks. Get excited. Charlton was an impact player at Michigan, a football powerhouse. He's a full-time player. He will also get every chance to play, and earn those Taco Bueno deals. Side note: They have the best bean burritos. Better than Taco Cabana or Taco Bell.

Detroit Lions: They win the NFC North.
Admittedly, this is a tough sell. Predicting the Lions will win a division they haven't ever won (the NFC North was formed in 2002) already feels shaky after two sentences. Yet, there are reasons to think Detroit could pull off beating out Green Bay for the top spot. Start with addition by subtraction, as the Lions signed former Packer guard T.J. Lang in free agency. General manager Bob Quinn further bolstered the offensive line by adding tackle Ricky Wagner. Each should help running back Ameer Abdullah stay on course. Abdullah merely needs to stay healthy. This team was on its way toward winning the NFC North last year until Matthew Stafford injured his middle finger. How many teams can survive their starter hurting his throwing hand in the midst of a playoff run? No major injuries and no Hail Marys might mean an end to the days of merely sneaking into the postseason.

Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers' production takes a dip.
Rodgers played lights-out the back half of last season. It was an epic run: 18 touchdowns and no picks over the last seven games. He averaged over 8 yards a throw, with nary an outing in which he completed less than 60 percent of his passes. That accuracy has additional meaning because he wasn't nibbling at the defense with 3-yard outs -- he was throwing downfield to anyone who would look up. So could he toss 40 touchdown passes again in 2017? Sure. But would that make Green Bay win more? Mike McCarthy knows the Packers need to run the football to close out games. Ty Montgomery has been switched to RB, while the club drafted three more backs. The Packers also play a tough schedule. So don't be surprised if Rodgers' numbers fade slightly.

Los Angeles Rams: Aaron Donald wins Defensive Player of the Year.
So you're probably thinking, This bold prediction isn't that bold. Yet, considering Donald plays defensive tackle, it really is a stretch. No interior lineman has won the top defensive honor since Y2K. Since the award became official in 1971, six defensive tackles have received the award. ("Mean" Joe Greene won twice.) However, as the NFL morphed into a 60-40 pass-run league, the impact of interior defensive linemen diminished. Fans and media look at sacks. While 10 sacks is a phenomenal number for a DT, it fails to stack up to the totals compiled by the likes of Khalil Mack (15 in 2015) and Von Miller (18.5 in 2012). That said, Donald's game has been noticed by everybody. Presumably, the Rams won't be terribly behind in as many games this year, meaning opponents will be running out the clock less and throwing more. Donald could increase his sack total (eight last year) while still blowing up plenty of run plays ... and entrenching himself firmly on everyone's radar.

 

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Minnesota Vikings: Teddy Bridgewater plays by the end of the year.
Unrealistic? Maybe. For Bridgewater to get in on more than just a few garbage-time plays in Week 17, 1) his knee would have to be strong enough to allow him to do more than simply drop back and throw (as he did in minicamp), and 2) Sam Bradford would have to be pulled for one reason or another. The former seems likely, but the latter does not. The Vikings should be in the wild-card race at least through December, meaning Bradford will be in the lineup, barring unforeseen circumstances (like, say, Bradford stinking up the joint). OK, so what's this prediction doing here, then? Well, if Minnesota is to make an informed decision for 2018 at the quarterback position, don't the Vikings need to see what Bridgewater can do? Also, I wouldn't be against the guy's want to.

New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees throws for his lowest yardage total of the decade.
A philosophical shift is gaining a foothold in Metairie, Louisiana, and it involves running the football more frequently. Recent drafts have focused on the defensive side of the ball, with the only two offensive players taken this year being tackle Ryan Ramczyk and running back Alvin Kamara. Let's see ... drafting a ton of defensive players, an offensive lineman and a running back, plus signing Adrian Peterson. Forgive the expression, as the man used to be Sean Payton's boss, but New Orleans is gearing up to play Parcells football. Bill Parcells won two Super Bowls with efficient quarterback play augmented by strong running games and even stronger defenses. Payton's group isn't there yet, and it probably will never be totally balanced, not with Brees present. But I'd expect Brees' passing totals to be more in the 4,300-yard range than 5,000. That's saying something for a guy who has led the league in passing yards three years in a row.

New York Giants: Evan Engram becomes the first rookie TE to make the Pro Bowl since 2002.
Rookie tight ends make the Pro Bowl about as often as new pop artists write their own music. OK, maybe that was a needless music-was-better-in-the-old-days comment (even though it was!), but it's not far off course. Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten, who have caught more balls than any tight ends in history, managed just 33 and 35 receptions, respectively, as rookies. Engram, however, could benefit from the defensive attention Giants receivers Brandon Marshall and Odell Beckham Jr. will command. So many people in this industry -- be it former scouts, analysts and fantasy gurus -- are excited about Engram's potential in this offense. Plus, who are the dominant TEs in the NFC right now? Witten is aging. Martellus Bennett is in a new offense in Green Bay. We're still waiting on Jimmy Graham to break out in Seattle. Washington's Jordan Reed has been hurt a lot. That leaves Carolina's Greg Olsen and -- maybe -- Engram in the Pro Bowl.

Philadelphia Eagles: They ride Carson Wentz and Jim Schwartz's defense into the postseason.
The Eagles last made the postseason in 2013, carried by Nick Foles' epic (?) season, LeSean McCoy rushing for 1,000 yards and a buoyant wideout (DeSean Jackson). Last year's receivers couldn't keep the passing game afloat, Darren Sproles evolved (or devolved) into Philly's biggest weapon on offense and the team sputtered down the stretch. Wentz's supporting cast was anything but, well, supportive. That's where Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith and LeGarrette Blount come in. The Eagles have the firepower to bump scoring by 20 percent while increasing their yards per play (28th in the NFL last year) with a few more vertical connections. Schwartz's defense should presumably play faster in Year 2 after being the team's backbone in 2016. Why not Philly?

 

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San Francisco 49ers: Brian Hoyer throws for 4,000 yards.
Kyle Shanahan developed an offense that pushed Matt Ryan from viable franchise quarterback to MVP of the league in 2016. Does that mean he can work wonders with Brian Hoyer? Perhaps not, but how much does he need to? While Hoyer has never been one of the NFL's premier quarterbacks, it isn't a stretch to say his career was unfairly marred by one dreadful playoff appearance in Houston. Hoyer was averaging well over 300 yards per start with the Bears last season in the four starts before he was hurt in the Packers game in October. He's smart enough to know where to go with the football, and he should benefit from Shanahan's penchant for getting everyone involved (particularly the RBs). With the proper offense, Hoyer might be better than everyone thinks, and certainly not the quarterback they saw in one wild-card game in the 2015 playoffs.

Seattle Seahawks: Eddie Lacy keeps weight under 260, churns over 1,000 yards.
This prediction is bold simply because we don't know what Lacy's workload will be. Here's what we can hang our hats on:
A) Last we checked, Lacy was slimmer than he was when he signed, and he seems to have the support of head coach Pete Carroll (not to mention, no coach is better at motivating his players).
B) Lacy has a stronger pedigree than fellow Seahawks backs Thomas Rawls or C.J. Prosise, and it includes a pair of 1,000-yard seasons for a pass-happy Packers team.
C) Prosise has been hurt a bit more often than Carroll or the Seahawks may have tolerance for.
D) Seattle wants to run the football and play defense, irrespective of the talent (and effort) of Russell Wilson. It's in the organizational DNA, from Curt Warner to Chris Warren to Ricky Watters to Shaun Alexander to Marshawn Lynch.
E) Although it seems like Lacy has been around for years, he is only 27 -- still in his prime.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: They make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
OK, so the Bucs won nine games last year. That doesn't mean they'll duplicate the feat this year, especially with the out-of-division schedule they face: Giants, Patriots, Cardinals and Packers. Arizona blew the Bucs out last time they linked up, while the Giants, Pats and Packers won 35 games between them in 2016. Still, coach Dirk Koetter is building a business around Jameis Winston, with great satellite offices in Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson and the Cameron Brate-O.J. Howard combo TE platter. The defense should creep toward being a top-10 unit. Tampa fans probably hate hearing this, but much could ride on Doug Martin's return.

Washington Redskins: Kirk Cousins leads the NFL in passer rating.
Cousins' brilliant play has almost become a sideshow to the drama over his contract. But over the last two seasons, Cousins has racked up 54 touchdowns against just 23 interceptions while completing over 68 percent of his passes. The numbers get even more impressive the further you dive in, specifically with regard to his last 26 regular-season games, in which the TD-to-INT ratio jumps to 48:15 and his passer rating hovers around 104. Cousins continues to improve, with the uptick in his play commensurate with having now started more than 30 games. With Josh Doctson, Terrelle Pryor and Jamison Crowder working outside and in the slot, and with Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson gone via free agency, most folks are expecting a regression. How about more efficient play instead? Cousins could spread the ball around and let Doctson (who posted an over-40-inch vertical), Pryor (called one of the NFL's best athletes) and Crowder (instant acceleration) use their physical tools to their advantage. Put another way: Cousins' career arc > the loss of two good veteran WRs.

 

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Gary Kubiak rejoins Broncos as senior personnel advisor.

 

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Cowboys, OT La'el Collins agree to two-year extension.

 

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Ravens' Kenneth Dixon done for season after surgery.

Kenneth Dixon's meniscus tear is more extensive than the Baltimore Ravens originally believed. The second-year running back is expected to miss the entire 2017 season after undergoing surgery to repair his medial meniscus on Tuesday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, via a source informed for the situation.
Before Dixon went under the knife, the Ravens hoped he would miss just a few weeks with a "trim" rather than a full repair. While Tuesday's procedure bodes well for Dixon's long-term health, the recovery timetable is four-to-five months.
A physical, tackle-breaking runner with above-average receiving ability, Dixon was expected to complement Terrance West on early downs and Danny Woodhead in passing situations. He was already slated to miss the first four games of the season under suspension for violating the league's performance enhancing drug policy.
His season-long absence is a significant blow to a beleaguered backfield that offered little in the way of big-play ability last season. Early this offseason, coach John Harbaugh raved about the former Louisiana Tech star as a young player with the potential to become a "top back in this league."
In the wake of Dixon's surgery, Baltimore has signed journeyman tailback Bobby Rainey to add depth behind West, Woodhead and Javorius Allen.
Should that quartet fail to live to expectations in training camp, perhaps the Ravens will take a look at available free agents such as Rashad Jennings, DeAngelo Williams, Khiry Robinson or James Starks.
If the team's brass is desperate enough to send out trade feelers, Carlos Hyde is a name to keep in mind. San Francisco's new regime has been reluctant to gift-wrap the starting job for the oft-injured power back. Hyde entered the league under former 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who is now a Baltimore assistant charged with revitalizing the ground attack.
The Ravens are confident they have a championship-caliber defense this season. To make it back to the playoffs, though, they're going to need marked improvement out of the running game.

 

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Buffalo Bills getting ready for work.

 

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He just became the highest-paid center in NFL history.

The Jacksonville Jaguars continue to invest in their offensive line.
The Jags signed center Brandon Linder to a five-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday. The extension is worth $51.7 million, with $24 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, according to a source informed of the deal.
The extension makes Linder the highest-paid center in NFL history, per Rapoport.
"It means the world to me," Linder said in a statement. "I'd love to play here my whole career. I fell in love with this city and we have big things coming, changing the culture, and now we start tomorrow for training camp. I couldn't think of a better place to play my career."
The former third-round pick was entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Linder moved to center in 2016, where he shined as one of the best young players at the position. Pro Football Focus rated Linder as their No. 5 center last season.
The 25-year-old excelled at guard as a rookie in 2014 before missing most of his second season due to injury. The switch to center went seamlessly last season, making it a no-brainer for the cap-space flush Jags to lock down their young blocker for the long-haul.

 

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He hasn't played in an NFL game yet... and he's ALREADY leading the NFL in jersey sales.

The man with the No. 1 selling NFL jersey in America is a player many fans have never even heard of. At least, not yet.
We're talking about James Conner, the former University of Pittsburgh standout who was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. How did the 105th overall pick, a rookie destined to serve as Le'Veon Bell's understudy in a best-case scenario, suddenly become so popular? As you might guess, there's more to the story.
Conner was a standout running back for Pitt -- the 2014 ACC Player of the Year, in fact -- who saw his life and football dreams upended when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. He won a furious battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, got back on the field for Pitt and led the team in rushing in his final season with the Panthers before turning pro. When the Steelers called his phone this spring, it was a fairytale come true for the hometown kid from Erie.
Conner's Pennsylvania roots and inspirational story merged to make the rookie's jersey a hot property. How hot? Conner No. 30 is now moving more paper than Brady No. 12.
No one knows where Conner's NFL career will take him, but he'll always have this. A very cool story.

 

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Hello New England!

 

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You know who the QB1 is. But a big battle is happening right behind him.

Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians doesn't seem interested in replacing his backup quarterback, Drew Stanton, but Stanton isn't resting easy with former first-round pick and ex-49ers starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert on the roster.
"You guys see the scouts out there," Stanton said, via the team's website. "They're not out there just for the heck of it. They're out there evaluating everything we do. We have to be our toughest critics as well. I'm charting every single throw I'm throwing in training camp. I'm trying to be accurate and trying to do all those little things."
"Everybody wants these jobs and there are only so many to go around."
While a quarterback "battle" like this might seem banal during training camp, consider what the Cardinals might be on the precipice of. Throughout the offseason, Arians talked up this year's rookie quarterback class while general manager Steve Keim discussed finding a potential successor for Carson Palmer. They did not pick one, setting themselves up for a potential first-round quarterback in 2018. In his book The Quarterback Whisperer, which came out this summer, Arians said he's "ready for at least one more season of NFL football -- maybe more." Key word maybe. Palmer nearly retired this offseason.
With all of this uncertainty floating around, it would be nice to have some vision of a bridge into the future -- something the Cardinals could very well have organizationally but don't want to announce publicly. No one is saying the seven-year veteran Gabbert is part of that bridge plan, but he is six years younger than Stanton with better career numbers. If Arizona has an eye on 2018 and beyond, it would make sense to give Gabbert a fair shake during camp to see if he's worth calling a year from now.
One of the worst parts about training camp for players and best for fans is that the layers of intrigue are endless. There are few safe jobs and Stanton is smart enough to know that extended snaps in next week's Hall of Fame Game in Canton could be meaningful.

 

[Greenbacks]

Hue Jackson: QB Cody Kessler to start with first-team.

Cleveland's quarterback competition will begin with Cody Kessler. Browns coach Hue Jackson confirmed Wednesday that his second-year signal-caller will march out with the first-team offense when the team opens camp on Thursday.
"Cody Kessler will walk out there first," Jackson said, per The Plain Dealer. "He deserves a chance to walk out there first."
Jackson offered few additional details on how the battle under center would play out in terms of snap count, saying only that he would "do it by feel" and hoped to name his starter by the first preseason game -- but wouldn't rush it.
Kessler makes sense to lead the way after starting eight games for the team as a third-round rookie in 2016. The Browns will also take a long look at rookie DeShone Kizer out of Notre Dame and veteran Brock Osweiler, who landed with the team through an unusual draft-day trade with the Texans.
"There will be markers as we go," Jackson said of the quarterback competition.
Kessler was competent as a rookie, but he hardly offers the built-in traits of an AFC North passer. It's Kizer who could win Jackson over with his strong arm and physical gifts, but only if he makes a lightning-quick adaptation to life in the NFL.
As for Osweiler, it wouldn't surprise us to see him start Week 1 or simply be released at some stage.
The pecking order in Cleveland will be monitored closely, but nothing will change for the Browns until they find an unquestioned franchise passer to lean on. Nothing today suggests they have one on the roster.

 

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Hellooooooooooooo Steelers.