Tyler Allgeier

"ESPN FantasyAug 26, 2026, 12:30 AM ETMultiple AuthorsEach year, at the conclusion of the ESPN Fantasy Football Marathon, ESPN Fantasy analysts and other ESPN personalities get together to conduct a mock draft.This year's 10-team PPR draft featured the following participants (in order of first-round selection): Adam Schefter, Eric Moody, Mike Clay, Liz Loza, Field Yates, Joe Fortenbaugh, Daniel Dopp, Keiana Martin, Dan Graziano and Tyler Fulghum.Early draft action saw running backs selected with 13 of the first 20 picks, which led to value at wide receiver. Though two tight ends went in the top 25, the first QB didn't go until Pick 40 and only three signal-callers were off the board entering Round 7.Below are the round-by-round picks, or skip directly to each team's full roster.Want to watch the draft play out for yourself? Check out the simulcast replay on ESPN's YouTube ChannelWant to do your own practice draft? Check out the Mock Draft Lobby.Round 11. Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (RB1) -- Schefter 2. Bijan Robinson, ATL (RB2) -- Moody 3. Ja'Marr Chase, CIN (WR1) -- Clay 4. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA (WR2) -- Loza 5. Puka Nacua, LAR (WR3) -- Yates 6. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (WR4) -- Fortenbaugh 7. James Cook III, BUF (RB3) -- Dopp 8. Christian McCaffrey, SF (RB4) -- Martin 9. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (WR5) -- Graziano 10. Jonathan Taylor, IND (RB5) -- FulghumRound 211. Kenneth Walker III, KC (RB6) -- Fulghum 12. De'Von Achane, MIA (RB7) -- Graziano 13. Ashton Jeanty, LV (RB8) -- Martin 14. Justin Jefferson, MIN (WR6) -- Dopp 15. Drake London, ATL (WR7) -- Fortenbaugh 16. Derrick Henry, BAL (RB9) -- Yates 17. Omarion Hampton, LAC (RB10) -- Loza 18. Jeremiyah Love, ARI (RB11) -- Clay 19. Saquon Barkley, PHI (RB12) -- Moody 20. Chase Brown, CIN (RB13) -- SchefterRound 321. A.J. Brown, NE (WR8) -- Schefter 22. Malik Nabers, NYG (WR9) -- Moody 23. Rashee Rice, KC (WR10) -- Clay 24. Brock Bowers, LV (TE1) -- Loza 25. Trey McBride, ARI (TE2) -- Yates 26. Nico Collins, HOU (WR11) -- Fortenbaugh 27. Chris Olave, NO (WR12) -- Dopp 28. George Pickens, DAL (WR13) -- Martin 29. Breece Hall, NYJ (RB14) -- Graziano 30. Garrett Wilson, NYJ (WR14) -- FulghumRound 431. Colston Loveland, CHI (TE3) -- Fulghum 32. DeVonta Smith, PHI (WR15) -- Graziano 33. Emeka Egbuka, TB (WR16) -- Martin 34. Ladd McConkey, LAC (WR17) -- Dopp 35. Javonte Williams, DAL (RB15) -- Fortenbaugh 36. Josh Jacobs, GB (RB16) -- Yates 37. Travis Etienne Jr., NO (RB17) -- Loza 38. Quinshon Judkins, CLE (RB18) -- Clay 39. Tetairoa McMillan, CAR (WR18) -- Moody 40. Josh Allen, BUF (QB1) -- SchefterRound 541. Zay Flowers, BAL (WR19) -- Schefter 42. Tyler Warren, IND (TE4) -- Moody 43. Cam Skattebo, NYG (RB19) -- Clay 44. Kyren Williams, LAR (RB20) -- Loza 45. Terry McLaurin, WSH (WR20) -- Yates 46. D'Andre Swift, CHI (RB21) -- Fortenbaugh 47. David Montgomery, HOU (RB22) -- Dopp 48. Tee Higgins, CIN (WR21) -- Martin 49. Bucky Irving, TB (RB23) -- Graziano 50. Jayden Daniels, WSH (QB2) -- FulghumRound 651. Jaylen Waddle, DEN (WR22) -- Fulghum 52. Jameson Williams, DET (WR23) -- Graziano 53. Harold Fannin Jr., CLE (TE5) -- Martin 54. Jadarian Price, SEA (RB24) -- Dopp 55. Lamar Jackson, BAL (QB3) -- Fortenbaugh 56. Davante Adams, LAR (WR24) -- Yates 57. DJ Moore, BUF (WR25) -- Loza 58. Rome Odunze, CHI (WR26) -- Clay 59. Luther Burden III, CHI (WR27) -- Moody 60. Parker Washington, JAX (WR28) -- SchefterRound 761. Bhayshul Tuten, JAX (RB25) -- Schefter 62. Drake Maye, NE (QB4) -- Moody 63. Kyle Pitts Sr., ATL (TE6) -- Clay 64. Carnell Tate, TEN (WR29) -- Loza 65. Jaxson Dart, NYG (QB5) -- Yates 66. Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (RB26) -- Fortenbaugh 67. George Kittle, SF (TE7) -- Dopp 68. Jalen Hurts, PHI (QB6) -- Martin 69. Tucker Kraft, GB (TE8) -- Graziano 70. Mike Evans, SF (WR30) -- FulghumRound 871. TreVeyon Henderson, NE (RB27) -- Fulghum 72. Joe Burrow, CIN (QB7) -- Graziano 73. Jonathon Brooks, CAR (RB28) -- Martin 74. Michael Pittman Jr., PIT (WR31) -- Dopp 75. Christian Watson, GB (WR32) -- Fortenbaugh 76. Wan'Dale Robinson, TEN (WR33) -- Yates 77. Trevor Lawrence, JAX (QB8) -- Loza 78. Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI (WR34) -- Clay 79. Jakobi Meyers, JAX (WR35) -- Moody 80. Sam LaPorta, DET (TE9) -- SchefterRound 981. Blake Corum, LAR (RB29) -- Schefter 82. Kenny Gainwell, TB (RB30) -- Moody 83. Courtland Sutton, DEN (WR36) -- Clay 84. Matthew Golden, GB (WR37) -- Loza 85. Michael Wilson, ARI (WR38) -- Yates 86. Jayden Reed, GB (WR39) -- Fortenbaugh 87. Alec Pierce, IND (WR40) -- Dopp 88. Jordan Addison, MIN (WR41) -- Martin 89. Brian Thomas Jr., JAX (WR42) -- Graziano 90. DK Metcalf, PIT (WR43) -- FulghumRound 1091. RJ Harvey, DEN (RB31) -- Fulghum 92. Josh Downs, IND (WR44) -- Graziano 93. Tony Pollard, TEN (RB32) -- Martin 94. Justin Herbert, LAC (QB9) -- Dopp 95. Rico Dowdle, PIT (RB33) -- Fortenbaugh 96. Jaylen Warren, PIT (RB34) -- Yates 97. Kyle Monangai, CHI (RB35) -- Loza 98. Dak Prescott, DAL (QB10) -- Clay 99. Chris Godwin Jr., TB (WR45) -- Moody 100. Brandon Aubrey, DAL (K1) -- SchefterRound 11101. Houston Texans DST (D/ST1) -- Schefter 102. Rachaad White, WSH (RB36) -- Moody 103. Bo Nix, DEN (QB11) -- Clay 104. Aaron Jones Sr., MIN (RB37) -- Loza 105. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, WSH (RB38) -- Yates 106. Dallas Goedert, PHI (TE10) -- Fortenbaugh 107. Xavier Worthy, KC (WR46) -- Dopp 108. Isaiah Likely, NYG (TE11) -- Martin 109. Jordan Mason, MIN (RB39) -- Graziano 110. Caleb Williams, CHI (QB12) -- FulghumRound 12111. Quentin Johnston, LAC (WR47) -- Fulghum 112. J.K. Dobbins, DEN (RB40) -- Graziano 113. Denver Broncos DST (D/ST2) -- Martin 114. Chuba Hubbard, CAR (RB41) -- Dopp 115. Pittsburgh Steelers DST (D/ST3) -- Fortenbaugh 116. De'Zhaun Stribling, SF (WR48) -- Yates 117. Brock Purdy, SF (QB13) -- Loza 118. Travis Hunter, JAX (WR49) -- Clay 119. Makai Lemon, PHI (WR50) -- Moody 120. Patrick Mahomes, KC (QB14) -- SchefterRound 13121. Dalton Kincaid, BUF (TE12) -- Schefter 122. Woody Marks, HOU (RB42) -- Moody 123. Matthew Stafford, LAR (QB15) -- Clay 124. Tyler Allgeier, ARI (RB43) -- Loza 125. Stefon Diggs, WSH (WR51) -- Yates 126. Kyler Murray, MIN (QB16) -- Fortenbaugh 127. Tyler Shough, NO (QB17) -- Dopp 128. Deebo Samuel Sr., SF (WR52) -- Martin 129. Chris Rodriguez Jr., JAX (RB44) -- Graziano 130. Jonah Coleman, DEN (RB45) -- FulghumRound 14131. Los Angeles Rams DST (D/ST4) -- Fulghum 132. Jake Ferguson, DAL (TE13) -- Graziano 133. Travis Kelce, KC (TE14) -- Martin 134. Seattle Seahawks DST (D/ST5) -- Dopp 135. Keaton Mitchell, LAC (RB46) -- Fortenbaugh 136. Rashid Shaheed, SEA (WR53) -- Yates 137. KC Concepcion, CLE (WR54) -- Loza 138. Zach Charbonnet, SEA (RB47) -- Clay 139. Jalen Coker, CAR (WR55) -- Moody 140. Jalen McMillan, TB (WR56) -- SchefterRound 15141. Mike Washington Jr., LV (RB48) -- Schefter 142. Baltimore Ravens DST (D/ST6) -- Moody 143. Philadelphia Eagles DST (D/ST7) -- Clay 144. New England Patriots DST (D/ST8) -- Loza 145. Cleveland Browns DST (D/ST9) -- Yates 146. Cameron Dicker, LAC (K2) -- Fortenbaugh 147. Terrance Ferguson, LAR (TE15) -- Dopp 148. Tre Tucker, LV (WR57) -- Martin 149. Los Angeles Chargers DST (D/ST10) -- Graziano 150. Juwan Johnson, NO (TE16) -- FulghumRound 16 151. Cam Little, JAX (K3) -- Fulghum 152. Will Reichard, MIN (K4) -- Graziano 153. Harrison Mevis, LAR (K5) -- Martin 154. Jake Bates, DET (K6) -- Dopp 155. T.J. Hockenson, MIN (TE17) -- Fortenbaugh 156. Jason Myers, SEA (K7) -- Yates 157. Ka'imi Fairbairn, HOU (K8) -- Loza 158. Eddy Pineiro, SF (K9) -- Clay 159. Tyler Loop, BAL (K10) -- Moody 160. Jordyn Tyson, NO (WR58) -- SchefterTeam rosters are presented in first-round pick order. Pick and Bye weeks are indicated in parentheses in this manner: (Round.Pick | Bye)Team SchefterQB1 Josh Allen, BUF (Pick: 4.10 | Bye: 7) QB2 Patrick Mahomes, KC (Pick: 12.10 | Bye: 5) RB1 Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (Pick: 1.1 | Bye: 6) RB2 Chase Brown, CIN (Pick: 2.10 | Bye: 6) RB3 Bhayshul Tuten, JAX (Pick: 7.1 | Bye: 7) RB4 Blake Corum, LAR (Pick: 9.1 | Bye: 11) RB5 Mike Washington Jr., LV (Pick: 15.1 | Bye: 7) WR1 A.J. Brown, NE (Pick: 3.1 | Bye: 11) WR2 Zay Flowers, BAL (Pick: 5.1 | Bye: 13) WR3 Parker Washington, JAX (Pick: 6.10 | Bye: 7) WR4 Jalen McMillan, TB (Pick: 14.10 | Bye: 10) WR5 Jordyn Tyson, NO (Pick: 16.10 | Bye: 8) TE1 Sam LaPorta, DET (Pick: 8.10 | Bye: 6) TE2 Dalton Kincaid, BUF (Pick: 13.1 | Bye: 7) K1 Brandon Aubrey, DAL (Pick: 10.10 | Bye: 14) D/ST1 Houston Texans DST (Pick: 11.1 | Bye: 8)Team MoodyQB1 Drake Maye, NE (Pick: 7.2 | Bye: 11) RB1 Bijan Robinson, ATL (Pick: 1.2 | Bye: 11) RB2 Saquon Barkley, PHI (Pick: 2.9 | Bye: 10) RB3 Kenny Gainwell, TB (Pick: 9.2 | Bye: 10) RB4 Rachaad White, WSH (Pick: 11.2 | Bye: 7) RB5 Woody Marks, HOU (Pick: 13.2 | Bye: 8) WR1 Malik Nabers, NYG (Pick: 3.2 | Bye: 8) WR2 Tetairoa McMillan, CAR (Pick: 4.9 | Bye: 5) WR3 Luther Burden III, CHI (Pick: 6.9 | Bye: 10) WR4 Jakobi Meyers, JAX (Pick: 8.9 | Bye: 7) WR5 Chris Godwin Jr., TB (Pick: 10.9 | Bye: 10) WR6 Makai Lemon, PHI (Pick: 12.9 | Bye: 10) WR7 Jalen Coker, CAR (Pick: 14.9 | Bye: 5) TE1 Tyler Warren, IND (Pick: 5.2 | Bye: 13) K1 Tyler Loop, BAL (Pick: 16.9 | Bye: 13) D/ST1 Baltimore Ravens DST (Pick: 15.2 | Bye: 13)Team ClayQB1 Dak Prescott, DAL (Pick: 10.8 | Bye: 14) QB2 Bo Nix, DEN (Pick: 11.3 | Bye: 10) QB3 Matthew Stafford, LAR (Pick: 13.3 | Bye: 11) RB1 Jeremiyah Love, ARI (Pick: 2.8 | Bye: 14) RB2 Quinshon Judkins, CLE (Pick: 4.8 | Bye: 11) RB3 Cam Skattebo, NYG (Pick: 5.3 | Bye: 8) RB4 Zach Charbonnet, SEA (Pick: 14.8 | Bye: 11) WR1 Ja'Marr Chase, CIN (Pick: 1.3 | Bye: 6) WR2 Rashee Rice, KC (Pick: 3.3 | Bye: 5) WR3 Rome Odunze, CHI (Pick: 6.8 | Bye: 10) WR4 Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI (Pick: 8.8 | Bye: 14) WR5 Courtland Sutton, DEN (Pick: 9.3 | Bye: 10) WR6 Travis Hunter, JAX (Pick: 12.8 | Bye: 7) TE1 Kyle Pitts Sr., ATL (Pick: 7.3 | Bye: 11) K1 Eddy Pineiro, SF (Pick: 16.8 | Bye: 8) D/ST1 Philadelphia Eagles DST (Pick: 15.3 | Bye: 10)Team LozaQB1 Trevor Lawrence, JAX (Pick: 8.7 | Bye: 7) QB2 Brock Purdy, SF (Pick: 12.7 | Bye: 8) RB1 Omarion Hampton, LAC (Pick: 2.7 | Bye: 7) RB2 Travis Etienne Jr., NO (Pick: 4.7 | Bye: 8) RB3 Kyren Williams, LAR (Pick: 5.4 | Bye: 11) RB4 Kyle Monangai, CHI (Pick: 10.7 | Bye: 10) RB5 Aaron Jones Sr., MIN (Pick: 11.4 | Bye: 6) RB6 Tyler Allgeier, ARI (Pick: 13.4 | Bye: 14) WR1 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA (Pick: 1.4 | Bye: 11) WR2 DJ Moore, BUF (Pick: 6.7 | Bye: 7) WR3 Carnell Tate, TEN (Pick: 7.4 | Bye: 9) WR4 Matthew Golden, GB (Pick: 9.4 | Bye: 11) WR5 KC Concepcion, CLE (Pick: 14.7 | Bye: 11) TE1 Brock Bowers, LV (Pick: 3.4 | Bye: 7) K1 Ka'imi Fairbairn, HOU (Pick: 16.7 | Bye: 8) D/ST1 New England Patriots DST (Pick: 15.4 | Bye: 11)Team YatesQB1 Jaxson Dart, NYG (Pick: 7.5 | Bye: 8) RB1 Derrick Henry, BAL (Pick: 2.6 | Bye: 13) RB2 Josh Jacobs, GB (Pick: 4.6 | Bye: 11) RB3 Jaylen Warren, PIT (Pick: 10.6 | Bye: 9) RB4 Jacory Croskey-Merritt, WSH (Pick: 11.5 | Bye: 7) WR1 Puka Nacua, LAR (Pick: 1.5 | Bye: 11) WR2 Terry McLaurin, WSH (Pick: 5.5 | Bye: 7) WR3 Davante Adams, LAR (Pick: 6.6 | Bye: 11) WR4 Wan'Dale Robinson, TEN (Pick: 8.6 | Bye: 9) WR5 Michael Wilson, ARI (Pick: 9.5 | Bye: 14) WR6 De'Zhaun Stribling, SF (Pick: 12.6 | Bye: 8) WR7 Stefon Diggs, WSH (Pick: 13.5 | Bye: 7) WR8 Rashid Shaheed, SEA (Pick: 14.6 | Bye: 11) TE1 Trey McBride, ARI (Pick: 3.5 | Bye: 14) K1 Jason Myers, SEA (Pick: 16.6 | Bye: 11) D/ST1 Cleveland Browns DST (Pick: 15.5 | Bye: 11)Team FortenbaughQB1 Lamar Jackson, BAL (Pick: 6.5 | Bye: 13) QB2 Kyler Murray, MIN (Pick: 13.6 | Bye: 6) RB1 Javonte Williams, DAL (Pick: 4.5 | Bye: 14) RB2 D'Andre Swift, CHI (Pick: 5.6 | Bye: 10) RB3 Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (Pick: 7.6 | Bye: 11) RB4 Rico Dowdle, PIT (Pick: 10.5 | Bye: 9) RB5 Keaton Mitchell, LAC (Pick: 14.5 | Bye: 7) WR1 Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (Pick: 1.6 | Bye: 6) WR2 Drake London, ATL (Pick: 2.5 | Bye: 11) WR3 Nico Collins, HOU (Pick: 3.6 | Bye: 8) WR4 Christian Watson, GB (Pick: 8.5 | Bye: 11) WR5 Jayden Reed, GB (Pick: 9.6 | Bye: 11) TE1 Dallas Goedert, PHI (Pick: 11.6 | Bye: 10) TE2 T.J. Hockenson, MIN (Pick: 16.5 | Bye: 6) K1 Cameron Dicker, LAC (Pick: 15.6 | Bye: 7) D/ST1 Pittsburgh Steelers DST (Pick: 12.5 | Bye: 9)Team DoppQB1 Justin Herbert, LAC (Pick: 10.4 | Bye: 7) QB2 Tyler Shough, NO (Pick: 13.7 | Bye: 8) RB1 James Cook III, BUF (Pick: 1.7 | Bye: 7) RB2 David Montgomery, HOU (Pick: 5.7 | Bye: 8) RB3 Jadarian Price, SEA (Pick: 6.4 | Bye: 11) RB4 Chuba Hubbard, CAR (Pick: 12.4 | Bye: 5) WR1 Justin Jefferson, MIN (Pick: 2.4 | Bye: 6) WR2 Chris Olave, NO (Pick: 3.7 | Bye: 8) WR3 Ladd McConkey, LAC (Pick: 4.4 | Bye: 7) WR4 Michael Pittman Jr., PIT (Pick: 8.4 | Bye: 9) WR5 Alec Pierce, IND (Pick: 9.7 | Bye: 13) WR6 Xavier Worthy, KC (Pick: 11.7 | Bye: 5) TE1 George Kittle, SF (Pick: 7.7 | Bye: 8) TE2 Terrance Ferguson, LAR (Pick: 15.7 | Bye: 11) K1 Jake Bates, DET (Pick: 16.4 | Bye: 6) D/ST1 Seattle Seahawks DST (Pick: 14.4 | Bye: 11)Team MartinQB1 Jalen Hurts, PHI (Pick: 7.8 | Bye: 10) RB1 Christian McCaffrey, SF (Pick: 1.8 | Bye: 8) RB2 Ashton Jeanty, LV (Pick: 2.3 | Bye: 7) RB3 Jonathon Brooks, CAR (Pick: 8.3 | Bye: 5) RB4 Tony Pollard, TEN (Pick: 10.3 | Bye: 9) WR1 George Pickens, DAL (Pick: 3.8 | Bye: 14) WR2 Emeka Egbuka, TB (Pick: 4.3 | Bye: 10) WR3 Tee Higgins, CIN (Pick: 5.8 | Bye: 6) WR4 Jordan Addison, MIN (Pick: 9.8 | Bye: 6) WR5 Deebo Samuel Sr., SF (Pick: 13.8 | Bye: 8) WR6 Tre Tucker, LV (Pick: 15.8 | Bye: 7) TE1 Harold Fannin Jr., CLE (Pick: 6.3 | Bye: 11) TE2 Isaiah Likely, NYG (Pick: 11.8 | Bye: 8) TE3 Travis Kelce, KC (Pick: 14.3 | Bye: 5) K1 Harrison Mevis, LAR (Pick: 16.3 | Bye: 11) D/ST1 Denver Broncos DST (Pick: 12.3 | Bye: 10)Team GrazianoQB1 Joe Burrow, CIN (Pick: 8.2 | Bye: 6) RB1 De'Von Achane, MIA (Pick: 2.2 | Bye: 6) RB2 Breece Hall, NYJ (Pick: 3.9 | Bye: 13) RB3 Bucky Irving, TB (Pick: 5.9 | Bye: 10) RB4 Jordan Mason, MIN (Pick: 11.9 | Bye: 6) RB5 J.K. Dobbins, DEN (Pick: 12.2 | Bye: 10) RB6 Chris Rodriguez Jr., JAX (Pick: 13.9 | Bye: 7) WR1 CeeDee Lamb, DAL (Pick: 1.9 | Bye: 14) WR2 DeVonta Smith, PHI (Pick: 4.2 | Bye: 10) WR3 Jameson Williams, DET (Pick: 6.2 | Bye: 6) WR4 Brian Thomas Jr., JAX (Pick: 9.9 | Bye: 7) WR5 Josh Downs, IND (Pick: 10.2 | Bye: 13) TE1 Tucker Kraft, GB (Pick: 7.9 | Bye: 11) TE2 Jake Ferguson, DAL (Pick: 14.2 | Bye: 14) K1 Will Reichard, MIN (Pick: 16.2 | Bye: 6) D/ST1 Los Angeles Chargers DST (Pick: 15.9 | Bye: 7)Team FulghumQB1 Jayden Daniels, WSH (Pick: 5.10 | Bye: 7) QB2 Caleb Williams, CHI (Pick: 11.10 | Bye: 10) RB1 Jonathan Taylor, IND (Pick: 1.10 | Bye: 13) RB2 Kenneth Walker III, KC (Pick: 2.1 | Bye: 5) RB3 TreVeyon Henderson, NE (Pick: 8.1 | Bye: 11) RB4 RJ Harvey, DEN (Pick: 10.1 | Bye: 10) RB5 Jonah Coleman, DEN (Pick: 13.10 | Bye: 10) WR1 Garrett Wilson, NYJ (Pick: 3.10 | Bye: 13) WR2 Jaylen Waddle, DEN (Pick: 6.1 | Bye: 10) WR3 Mike Evans, SF (Pick: 7.10 | Bye: 8) WR4 DK Metcalf, PIT (Pick: 9.10 | Bye: 9) WR5 Quentin Johnston, LAC (Pick: 12.1 | Bye: 7) TE1 Colston Loveland, CHI (Pick: 4.1 | Bye: 10) TE2 Juwan Johnson, NO (Pick: 15.10 | Bye: 8) K1 Cam Little, JAX (Pick: 16.1 | Bye: 7) D/ST1 Los Angeles Rams DST (Pick: 14.1 | Bye: 11)"

"Last season was an injury-ravaged calamity for the Cardinals, who finished in a four-way tie for the NFL’s worst record (3-14) but had to settle for the No. 3 pick in the draft. Former franchise quarterback Kyler Murray, among the Cardinals’ many ailing players, appeared in just five games in what turned out to be his last season with the team. The Cardinals divorced themselves from Murray and head coach Jonathan Gannon in the offseason, though general manager Monti Ossenfort survived the ax. Ossenfort hired Gannon, who flopped, but he was not in place when the Cardinals drafted Murray first overall in 2019. Thanks in part to Murray’s injuries and inconsistency, the Cardinals have gone an abysmal 15-36 during the Ossenfort era. With that in mind, owner Michael Bidwill gave Ossenfort the benefit of the doubt and kept him around to select a second head coach. While previewing the Cardinals’ offseason in late February, PFR’s Sam Robinson went into great detail on their drawn-out HC search. In the end, a month and a half after Gannon’s dismissal, Ossenfort landed on former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. The Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay disciple also has past experience on the 49ers’ coaching staff, giving him plenty of familiarity with the NFC West. McVay’s Rams and Shanahan’s 49ers are perennial contenders, however, while the Cardinals are mired in a four-year playoff drought that is all but guaranteed to reach five in 2026. The 39-year-old LaFleur is tasked with turning the Cardinals around, but it will not happen right away in the NFL’s least forgiving division. The Rams are considered the Lombardi Trophy favorites, the 49ers should be in the mix, and the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks are aiming for a repeat. While expectations are through the roof for those teams, they could not be much lower for the Cardinals. Notable losses: Andre Baccellia, WR (released) Kelvin Beachum, T Aaron Brewer, LS Evan Brown, OL (released) Pharaoh Brown, TE Calais Campbell, DL Michael Carter, RB Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB (released) Josiah Deguara, TE Emari Demercado, RB (non-tendered) Greg Dortch, WR Matt Haack, P Darren Hall, CB Will Hernandez, G Zay Jones, WR Joshua Karty, K (released) Kyler Murray, QB (post-June 1 cut) PJ Mustipher, DT (waived) Bilal Nichols, DT (released) J.J. Russell, ILB Dalvin Tomlinson, DT (released) Jalen Thompson, S Channing Tindall, ILB Jonah Williams, RT Fresh off a Heisman Trophy-winning season at Oklahoma, Murray joined the Cardinals as their second consecutive first-round quarterback. Former GM Steve Keim took Josh Rosen 10th overall in what turned out to be a loaded QB class in 2018, but it quickly became apparent the former UCLA standout was in over his head. Keim flipped Rosen to the Dolphins shortly after he drafted Murray, paving the way for the latter to take the helm without any controversy. The Rosen choice was an obvious whiff, whereas Murray had moments of excellence in the desert. In his first few seasons, Murray won Offensive Rookie of the Year, earned two original-ballot Pro Bowl nods, and led Arizona to 11 wins and a playoff berth in 2021. Arizona was on the wrong end of a 34-11 rout against the Rams in the wild-card round, but there was optimism the Cardinals were just getting started. In handing Murray a five-year, $230.5MM extension in July 2022, the Cardinals made it clear they expected to contend for a while. Murray was going to be at the center of it. That isn’t how it worked out at all. The Cardinals went right back to the league’s basement in 2022, a four-win campaign in which Murray tore his ACL in Week 14. Keim stepped down for health reasons after the season, and Bidwill fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury. The Ossenfort-Gannon reign began without a healthy Murray, who did not make his 2023 debut until Week 10. By then, the Cardinals were 1-8. As Murray knocked off the rust, they closed the year 3-5 to wrap up a second straight four-win season. The 2024 season was more encouraging. With Murray playing his third full season and looking more like the dangerous dual threat he was before the knee injury, the Cardinals improved to 8-9 and scored 21 more points than they allowed. The arrow seemed to be pointing up for Arizona going into last year. The club even came out of the gates at 2-0, but it took three straight losses by a combined five points and never recovered. The last of those defeats, a 22-21 collapse against the lowly Titans on Oct. 5, was the final time Murray took the field as a Cardinal. He suffered a mid-foot sprain and missed the rest of the season, leaving the reins to backup Jacoby Brissett. In early November, when it looked as if Murray had an outside chance to play again, Gannon indicated Brissett would remain the Cardinals’ starter. Rumors regarding a potential Cardinals-Murray offseason split began popping up a few days later. After the speculation persisted for multiple months, it became clear the Cardinals would indeed move on from Murray. One of the Cardinals’ main offseason goals was to find a trade partner for Murray. Accomplishing that would have been much more favorable to their cap outlook than releasing him. However, Ossenfort came up empty when he shopped Murray around at the Combine in February. The exec wound up waving the white flag on a trade when he released Murray at the start of the new league year in March. The 29-year-old quickly accepted a veteran minimum offer from Minnesota, where he will start and shoot for a career renaissance. Designating Murray a post-June 1 cut leveled the Cardinals with $54.3MM in dead money; they are taking on almost all of it ($47.1MM) this year. The remaining $7.2MM in 2027 will be a relatively minor burden in comparison. Perhaps the Cardinals will have a new franchise passer by then, but they are going to ride things out with Brissett in the interim. Cardinals fans may not have an especially fond view of Murray, but the opposite is true of Campbell. The former second-rounder established himself as one of the franchise’s all-time greats from 2008-16, his first nine seasons in the league. He made five Pro Bowls and tallied 56.5 sacks in that stretch, helping him earn a place on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. Campbell left Arizona in 2017 to sign with Jacksonville, but after dividing eight years between the Jaguars, Ravens, Falcons and Dolphins, he rejoined the Cardinals in 2025. Although it was Campbell’s age-39 season, he still had plenty to offer. While starting all 17 games and playing 45% of defensive snaps, he produced 43 tackles, 16 QB hits, nine TFLs and 6.5 sacks. Along with his prolific counting stats, the 18-year veteran impressed Pro Football Focus, which ranked him as the game’s 23rd-best interior defensive lineman out of 127 qualifiers. Campbell suggested last August that he would hang up his cleats after the season. The six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro did mull retirement early in the offseason, but he decided on another go-around with the Ravens during the spring. Campbell may finish his career on a contending team in Baltimore, while Arizona’s already suspect defense took a hit when he exited. The good news for the Cardinals is that young linemen like 2024 first-rounder Darius Robinson and ’25 first-rounder Walter Nolen could not have had a better mentor than Campbell, a revered on- and off-field presence. In addition to waving goodbye to Campbell, the Cardinals’ defense saw another key starter in Thompson depart in free agency. Thompson began in Arizona as a fifth-round pick in the 2019 supplemental draft. The league has not held a supplemental draft since (to the chagrin of Brendan Sorsby, no doubt), but the Cardinals and Thompson benefited from it seven years ago. He eventually climbed to a full-time starting role in Arizona, where he paired with Budda Baker to make up a formidable safety duo. Although Thompson started in all 77 appearances over the past four seasons, the Cardinals allowed him to test the market. He went on to score a three-year, $36MM deal with the Cowboys. As we’ll touch on below, the Cardinals did not commit anywhere near that much money to safeties following Thompson’s exit. Free agency additions: Isaac Seumalo, LG: Three years, $31.5MM ($15MM guaranteed) Tyler Allgeier, RB: Two years, $12.25MM ($8MM guaranteed) Kendrick Bourne, WR: Two years, $10MM ($6.5MM guaranteed) Roy Lopez, DT: Two years, $10.5MM ($6MM guaranteed) Gardner Minshew, QB: One year, $5.75MM ($5.14MM guaranteed) Jack Gibbens, LB: Two years, $7.5MM ($3.75MM guaranteed) Elijah Wilkinson, T: Two years, $6.25MM ($3.08MM guaranteed) Andrew Wingard, S: One year, $3MM ($1.85MM guaranteed) Casey Kreiter, LS: One year, $1.49MM ($1.26MM guaranteed) Andrew Billings, DL: One year, $2.5MM ($700K guaranteed) Devin Duvernay, WR: One year, $1.85MM ($550K guaranteed) Oli Udoh, OL: One year, $1.4MM ($350K guaranteed) Isaiah Oliver, S: One year, $1.49MM ($287,500 guaranteed) Matt Pryor, OL: One year, $1.49MM ($187,500 guaranteed) Jonah Williams, DL: One year, $1.4MM ($187,500 guaranteed) Teagan Quitoriano, TE: One year, $1.24MM After dividing his first 10 years between the league’s two Pennsylvania teams, Seumalo became the Cardinals’ richest free agent signing in the offseason. An Eagle for seven years and a Steeler for three, Seumalo has been a full-time starter since his fourth season. Injuries have dogged the 310-pounder for a large portion of his career, though he has been effective when healthy. Over 14 starts with the Steelers last year, Seumalo played 770 left guard snaps and did not take a single penalty. Seumalo earned strong overall marks from PFF, which ranked him as the league’s 15th-best guard out of 79 qualifiers. The Seumalo pickup immediately made prior LG starter Evan Brown expendable to Arizona, which released him and saved $4.91MM in cap space. Wilkinson, previously a Cardinal from 2023-24, is back to join Seumalo as one of their new starters up front. Also a former Bronco, Bear and Falcon, Wilkinson was primarily a backup over his first eight seasons. That unexpectedly changed last year in Atlanta, where he was pressed into action after right tackle Kaleb McGary and backup Storm Norton went down with severe injuries during the summer. Along with starting every one of the Falcons’ games at right tackle in 2025, Wilkinson played all 1,096 of their offensive snaps. While PFF ranked Wilkinson’s play an underwhelming 53rd among 84 qualified tackles, he could provide some needed RT stability for Arizona if he stays healthy again in 2026. Prior starter Jonah Williams combined for 19 absences from 2024-25. Williams has gone unsigned since he became a free agent five-plus months ago. Wilkinson blocked for the 225-pound Allgeier last year, the running back’s fourth and final season in Atlanta. Allgeier rushed 210 times for 1,035 yards (4.9 per attempt) as a fifth-round rookie in 2022, but then the Falcons selected Bijan Robinson eighth overall in the ensuing draft. While Allgeier still managed 186 carries in Robinson’s rookie year, he averaged just 140 from 2024-25. Likely expecting more action in Arizona, Allgeier parlayed a career 4.3 YPC and 18 TDs into a raise with the Cardinals. He initially looked as if he would start ahead of James Conner and Trey Benson. A lot has changed in the Cardinals’ backfield since then. As we’ll touch on at length later, the Cardinals spent the No. 3 overall pick on Jeremiyah Love several weeks after signing Allgeier. That quickly put Allgeier in an almost identical situation to the one he left in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Conner is still recovering from the season-ending ankle injury he incurred last September, and Benson is in roster limbo. The Cardinals waived him with an injury designation Monday. The Murray-less Cardinals already had a prototypical veteran stopgap QB in Brissett, but they nonetheless sought another on Day 1 of the legal negotiating period. LaFleur initially targeted Jimmy Garoppolo, whom he coached in San Francisco and Los Angeles, but negotiations fell apart. Arizona then made a successful pivot to the 30-year-old Minshew, who has been up and down across a 47-start, five-team career. He is now backing up Brissett, but as we will explore below, the Minshew signing had unexpected consequences for the Cardinals. Brissett has a new target in Bourne, a 2017 UDFA who played his first four seasons in San Francisco. Bourne worked closely during that period with LaFleur, then the 49ers’ pass-game coordinator and WRs coach. With LaFleur’s help, Bourne developed into a useful complementary receiver in the pros. Returning to San Francisco last season after four years in New England, Bourne hauled in 37 passes for 551 yards (14.9) over 16 games and eight starts. Despite failing to find the end zone last season, the 6-1, 205-pounder has averaged three TDs per 17 games during his career. Depending on how often Brissett targets Love, Bourne will be the Cardinals’ fourth option in the passing game at best. All-world tight end Trey McBride and the receiver duo of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson are firmly ahead of Bourne. In need of a nose tackle after releasing Tomlinson in early March, the Cardinals pounced on Lopez when the market opened. The 312-pound Lopez, a Tempe native who played for the Cardinals from 2023-24, started in all 16 of his appearances in Arizona two years ago. Lopez went to Detroit last season for a $4.65MM payday, which ended up a good value signing for the club. He did not make any starts, but he played 17 games and chipped in personal bests in QB hits (five) and sacks (two). PFF liked Lopez’s work, grading him 18th at his position against the run and 33rd overall. If that continues, Lopez should boost a defense that gave up the league’s eighth-most rushing yards last season. Wingard spent his first seven years in Jacksonville, where he mostly worked as a backup. But the 29-year-old enjoyed more responsibilities last season under then-rookie defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, who deployed him as a full-time starter. While playing 16 games and leading Jaguars defensive backs with an 87.68% snap share, Wingard made 84 tackles, set a career high with nine pass breakups and pulled in one INT. He finished far below Thompson in PFF’s positional rankings (69th to 33rd), but Wingard earned the outlet’s 11th-best grade among safeties as a run defender. Notably, no team allowed fewer rushing yards than the Jaguars. In addition to helping limit opposing ground games, Wingard showed versatility in racking up 566 snaps at free safety, 276 as a box safety and 98 in the slot. Thompson spent even more time at all of those spots last season, but the Cardinals may have found a passable replacement at a much cheaper price. They will rely on Wingard and third-year man Dadrion Taylor-Demerson to fill Thompson’s void. Re-signings: Simi Fehoko, WR: One year, $1.4MM ($1.26MM guaranteed) L.J. Collier, DE: One year, $2MM ($750K guaranteed) Chad Ryland, K: One year, $1.85MM ($475K guaranteed) Blake Gillikin, P: One year, $1.91MM ($450K guaranteed) Starling Thomas, CB: One year, $1.48MM ($325K guaranteed) Zonovan Knight, RB: One year, $1.2MM ($25K guaranteed) Extensions and restructures: Revised QB Jacoby Brissett‘s deal, raising his base salary from $4.88MM to $15.5MM Agreed to two-year, $20MM extension with C Hjalte Froholdt RB James Conner, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting accepted pay cuts, freeing up $9.5MM in cap space In a move that created a headache the Cardinals did not foresee, they gave Minshew an almost fully guaranteed one-year contract to back up Brissett. It did not sit well with Brissett, who was owed significantly less guaranteed money ($1.5MM) than his subordinate. Minshew barely played last season in Kansas City, whereas Brissett started in all 12 of the Cardinals’ games after Murray went down. On a mission for a raise after the Minshew signing, Brissett stayed away from the Cardinals throughout the spring. However, during the months-long standoff, the Cardinals made Brissett aware they continued to view him as their starter. That probably gave Brissett leverage in talks, despite the fact that he went 1-11 as a starter last season. In Brissett’s defense, his production (64.9% completion rate, 23 TDs against eight INTs, 94.1 rating, etc.) suggests he deserved better than the awful record his hole-filled team mustered. Around three months into his impasse with the Cardinals, Brissett reported to mandatory minicamp in early June. Doing so prevented the team from fining Brissett, who only participated in individual drills. The two sides remained far apart in negotiations as training camp got underway in late July, but in a clear sign of progress, Brissett chose not to stage a hold-in. A couple days into camp, the Cardinals finally stopped holding out on a raise. They bumped Brissett’s salary by $10.62MM and guaranteed all $15.5MM, making it clear he is above Minshew in their QB hierarchy. Froholdt has now signed three two-year deals with the Cardinals, who added the former Patriot and Brown in 2023. The Danish-born lineman was a 17-game starter in his first season with the Cardinals, and he impressed the team enough to earn a two-year, $12MM extension heading into 2024. He remained a full-time presence at center in 2024-25 for the Cards, who awarded him a raise on Tuesday. PFF has ranked Froholdt anywhere from seventh to 19th among centers in his three years as a Cardinal. The outlet placed him a respectable 14th last year, when he led the Cardinals with a 98.77% offensive snap share. He is now in line to continue as the Cards’ No. 1 center through 2028. Arizona’s Week 1 starting running back in four straight years — after complementing Chase Edmonds to open his first Cardinals campaign — Conner saw the Cards create a deep RB group this spring via the Allgeier and Love additions. Prior to those signings, Conner agreed to stay in Arizona for a sixth season by reducing his 2026 compensation to $3MM ($2.1MM guaranteed). Entering the offseason tied to the two-year, $19MM extension he signed during the 2024 season, Conner saw his 2026 cap number drop from $9.83MM to $4.83MM via the pay cut. This came after he missed 14 games last season. The ex-Steelers third-rounder, however, had eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in 2023 and ’24; he also scored 18 touchdowns in his 2021 Cards debut. This could end up being the 10th-year veteran’s Arizona finale, as the team grabbed the top skill-position prospect available in this year’s draft. Draft: Round 1, No. 3: Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame) (signed) Round 2, No. 34: Chase Bisontis (G, Texas A&M) (signed) Round 3, No. 65: Carson Beck (QB, Miami) (signed) Round 4, No. 104: Kaleb Proctor (DT, Southeastern Louisiana) (signed) Round 5, No. 143: Reggie Virgil (WR, Texas Tech) (signed) Round 6, No. 183: Karson Sharar (LB, Iowa) (signed) Round 7, No. 217: Jayden Williams (T, Ole Miss) (signed) This class is off to a rough start from an injury standpoint. The Cardinals received terrible news on Bisontis, a premium pick who will miss his rookie season after tearing his MCL in their second preseason game. While Bisontis was behind Isaiah Adams on the Cardinals’ unofficial right guard depth chart, it would not have been a surprise to see the rookie crack the starting lineup at some point. Assuming Bisontis’ rehab goes well, he should be the favorite to start in 2027, but that’s of little solace to the 22-year-old or his team right now. As is the case with Bisontis, Proctor will not factor in this year. The 6-2, 291-pounder tore his meniscus during OTAs. Although LaFleur was not ready to rule him out for 2026 at the time, that changed when the Cardinals put Proctor on IR in July. Proctor may not have played a major role this season, but he at least would have gotten work as a rotational piece. Love and Beck, the highest-profile members of the Cards’ draft haul, also aren’t at full strength. Fortunately for Arizona, neither injury looks like a long-term problem. Love suffered a high ankle sprain in his preseason debut, but the Cardinals are hopeful he will be ready for their season opener against the Chargers on Sept. 13. Beck got off to a promising start in the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame game matchup with the Panthers on Aug. 6, though a rib injury marred his night. After missing the Cardinals’ past two preseason games, he remains limited in practice. Relatively minor injury aside, the much-hyped Love looked the part of a top-five pick in his pro debut versus the Raiders. The former Notre Dame star accounted for 72 total yards, including 58 on the ground, on 14 touches. Love averaged over 5.0 yards per carry, a rate the Cardinals should expect him to consistently approach or reach after they made him the league’s highest-drafted back in eight years. Not only that, but Love became just the fourth RB of the 2000s to go in the top five, joining Ronnie Brown (No. 2 overall, 2005), Reggie Bush (No. 2, 2006) and Saquon Barkley (No. 2, 2018). There is no doubt the Cardinals landed an uber-prospect in Love, who was borderline unstoppable as a two-year college starter. Both Dane Brugler of The Athletic and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com rated the 6-foot, 212-pound dual threat as the second-best player in the 2026 class. Nevertheless, it is fair to wonder if the Cardinals took the responsible path in the first round. Running back was not a glaring need for the Cardinals, whereas edge defender and right tackle stood out as a couple of obvious question marks (and still do). The Cardinals could have stayed put and drafted ex-Ohio State edge rusher/linebacker Arvell Reese, who was on their pre-draft radar, or perhaps traded down a few spots and come away with O-line help. Former Miami lineman Francis Mauigoa, a popular mock draft target for the Cardinals, probably would have been a plug-and-play RT starter in Arizona. The versatile Mauigoa instead went 10th overall to the Giants, who will use him as a starting right guard. While it is debatable whether Love was a luxury pick, it is inarguable the rebuilding Cardinals put themselves in a less-than-ideal situation with regards to contract value. The rookie wage scale, which dictates draftees’ deals, locked in a guaranteed $53.9MM for the third overall pick. Consequently, Love became the top-paid RB in the league before he ever played a down. Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson and De’Von Achane have since signed extensions and gone by Love in total value, but the rookie easily paces the position in guarantees. Conversely, had Reese gone third overall, he would have been far down the pecking order among edge defenders. Reese instead went two picks later to the Giants, who may get more bang for their buck from both he and Mauigoa than the Cardinals will from Love. The hope in Arizona is that Love and the rest of its offensive weapons will eventually team with a franchise signal-caller. The Cardinals were not in position to find one with their first pick this year, as the off-the-board Fernando Mendoza (No. 1 overall, Raiders) was considered the only QB worthy of a top-10 selection in this class. Ty Simpson was the consensus second-ranked player available at the position, but two weeks before the draft, there were questions as to whether he would fall out of the first round. The Cardinals did their due diligence on Simpson in the lead-up to the draft. Vegas even pegged them as the favorites to choose the Alabama QB prospect, but the rival Rams stamped out that possibility when they snagged the one-year Alabama starter at No. 13. The win-now Rams drafting Simpson in the first round, let alone at No. 13, came as a shock. The Rams had an offer to move down to No. 17 in a trade with the Lions, and they still might have gotten Simpson had they accepted it. However, they reportedly rebuffed Detroit amid fears the the Cardinals would trade back into Round 1, leapfrog them and nab Simpson. The Cardinals’ second pick didn’t come until No. 34, meaning they would have had to put together an expensive package to vault into the middle of the first round. Whether or not the Cardinals coveted Simpson, his arrival in the NFC West could have long-term ramifications. If he develops properly as a backup and turns into a legitimate starter in the next couple of years, the post-Matthew Stafford Rams should continue to roll. But if GM Les Snead‘s polarizing Simpson gamble flops, the Rams would finally take steps backward. The Cardinals can only hope. Fifty-two picks after commissioner Roger Goodell called Simpson’s name, the Cardinals tabbed Beck as a worthwhile developmental passer. Beck, part of a shallow QB class, was the first signal-caller taken after Simpson. Beck began his long college career at Georgia and sat behind Stetson Bennett, another of the Rams’ current backups, on two straight national title-winning teams from 2021-22. After Bennett’s exit, Beck took charge and held the job until he suffered a season-ending elbow injury in their SEC championship game win over Texas in 2024. Shortly after undergoing surgery, Beck declared for the draft, but a change of heart and a truckload of NIL money convinced him to stay in school for another year. He transferred from Georgia to Miami, which reportedly paid him upward of $4MM, and started all 16 games in 2025. Beck & Co. made it all the way to the national championship game, but they lost a 27-21 nail-biter to Mendoza-led Indiana. The Hurricanes had a chance to tie or go ahead late, but Beck threw a game-sealing pick with 44 seconds left. All told, the 6-4, 233-pound Beck combined for 43 starts with the Bulldogs and Hurricanes from 2023-25. Even though he entered the league as a battle-tested prospect, the soon-to-be 25-year-old was never going to start for the Cardinals right away. He is unlikely to ever rise above backup or spot starter status in the pros, Brugler contends. That may end up being the case, but it would behoove the Cardinals to get a look at Beck in regular-season games this year. Odds are the team will fall out of the race somewhat early, which could set Beck up to make at least a few starts. Other: Exercised $19.07MM fifth-year option for LT Paris Johnson Jr. Cardinals, WR Michael Wilson have discussed extension; deal not imminent OLB Josh Sweat has drawn trade interest; Cardinals not planning trade Director of college scouting Ryan Gold suspended for violating NFL’s gambling policy G Isaiah Adams arrested on gun charges Signed seven UDFAs Claimed DT Cam Horsley (Titans), RB Evan Hull (Texans) off waivers Ossenfort went into his first draft in 2023 holding the third overall pick. After making two trades — one positioned the Texans to draft Will Anderson Jr.; the other enabled the Lions to grab Gibbs and Sam LaPorta — Ossenfort made his first selection at No. 6. He chose Johnson, who has been a full-time starter from the get-go. Johnson, who spent his rookie year at right tackle, moved to the blind side in 2024. The 6-6, 325-pounder has held his own there, leading the Cardinals to pick up his option for 2027, though injuries limited him to 26 of a possible 34 games over the past two seasons. Johnson suffered what proved to be a season-ending PCL sprain last year in Week 14, at which point he was leading NFC tackles in Pro Bowl fan voting. Had Johnson gotten in on the original ballot, the cost of his option would have climbed over $24MM. Instead, he missed out entirely and may have lost a chance at an extra $5MM. While $5MM is a hefty chunk of change, it is miles from what it will cost to lock up the extension-eligible Johnson on a long-term deal. Johnson raised eyebrows in June when he expressed a desire to earn $40MM per season. Considering the Commanders’ Laremy Tunsil ($30.1MM) is the lone tackle averaging at least $30MM, Johnson is highly unlikely to break into the 40s. He seems to realize as much. When discussing his future in early July, Johnson acknowledged the “tackle market usually goes up by about one million over the next guy, and that’s just what it is … But my mindset is that elite guys who are rushing the quarterback — that’s what the market is for them. And I believe it takes an equivalent-level player to shut that guy down. So I’m not going out there thinking, ‘Pay me $28MM or $28.5MM.’” The option gives the Cardinals extra time to work something out with Johnson, but they do not have the same luxury with Wilson. Another member of Ossenfort’s first draft class, the former third-rounder is now in a contract year after an eye-opening 2025 effort. Wilson combined for 75 catches, 1,113 yards and seven TDs over 29 games from 2023-24 but went off for 78 receptions, 1,006 yards and seven scores last year. The quarterback switch did wonders for Wilson. In Murray’s five starts, Wilson caught just eight of 18 targets for 82 yards. A drastic turnaround ensued under Brissett, who targeted Wilson between 10 and 18 times in five games. Wilson thrice recorded double-digit catches and 100-plus yards, including a 15-reception, 185-yard extravaganza in a Week 11 loss to the 49ers. Suffice to say, he is likely pleased Brissett settled his contract dispute with the team. Wilson’s breakout came under a different offensive staff — 2025 OC Drew Petzing and receivers coach Drew Terrell are gone — but the wideout said during the spring that he is “excited every day to come to work” with LaFleur. He later expressed interest in playing his entire career with the Cardinals, while Ossenfort said “there’s no question” he wants Wilson around for the long haul. An extension still has not materialized. Perhaps the Cardinals and Wilson will find common ground, though it is possible the team is hesitant to hand out a substantial payday to someone who may only be the third option in its passing game. The well-compensated McBride is the lead dog, and the Cardinals continue to hold out hope Harrison will turn into the superstar he was billed as coming out of Ohio State. Ossenfort used the 2024 fourth overall pick on Harrison, then regarded as a can’t-miss prospect. Harrison put up a solid 62 catches, 885 yards and eight TDs during a 17-game rookie campaign, but appendicitis, a concussion and foot/heel injuries held him to 12 games in 2025. A hobbled Harrison was unable to make a Year 2 leap. Wilson’s most productive showings happened to come when Harrison was unable to play. If Harrison stays healthy this season, and if Love contributes as a receiving back to a notable degree, Wilson may not approach the 126 targets he got last year. Those are factors Ossenfort is surely considering as he weighs an extension for Wilson. He also has to think about a potential extension for Harrison, who will be eligible next offseason. On the other side of the ball, Ossenfort has to figure out what (if anything) to do with Sweat. Gannon was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator from 2021-22, Sweat’s first two seasons as a full-time starter. Sweat earned his sole Pro Bowl nod in that span and collected 36 QB hits, 22 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks over 32 games. Gannon then left to take the Cardinals’ HC job, but Sweat reunited with him and former Eagles LBs coach/current Cardinals DC Nick Rallis a couple years later. A few weeks after Sweat’s 2.5-sack performance in a blowout of the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, he left the Eagles for the Cardinals’ four-year, $76MM offer. Although Arizona was a bottom-feeding team in Year 1 of Sweat’s contract, he was a rare bright spot. Sweat played a full season and registered career highs in sacks (12) and forced fumbles (four), also adding 13 tackles for loss. He finished in the top 15 in the league in those departments and 30th in pressures (47), per PFF. With the price tag for high-end pass rushers continuing to increase, Sweat’s deal looks more reasonable by the day. He will play this year on an affordable base salary of $9.78MM, all of which is guaranteed, but there are no guarantees remaining after the season. While there is an argument the Cardinals should sell high on the 29-year-old, Ossenfort has turned away suitors in recent months. If Sweat is healthy in advance of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, Ossenfort will likely continue to receive phone calls from contenders in need of a pass-rushing boost. We’ll see if he is more open-minded toward moving Sweat then. Sweat has mostly lurked in the background as trade rumors have swirled around him. He skipped voluntary OTAs and did not participate in on-field work in mandatory minicamp, leading to speculation that he wanted out. When the Cardinals reported to training camp on July 22, they placed Sweat on the active/PUP list because of a knee injury. They finally activated Sweat on Monday, which should give him ample time to gear up for Week 1. Turning to troubling off-field matters, Gold’s long-running Cardinals tenure and career in the NFL may be over. In mid-July, the league hit the 13th-year Cardinals employee with an indefinite suspension for violating its gambling policy. At the time, he was just two-plus months removed from his first draft as the Cardinals’ director of college scouting. Gold has been accused of of leaking inside info regarding the Cardinals’ draft picks and making parlay wagers on NFL and college games. He has vehemently denied wrongdoing and is appealing the suspension. Updating the situation on Aug. 21, ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reported the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has launched an investigation into Gold’s alleged gambling activity. The Arizona Department of Gaming’s investigation is also still in progress. Gold’s appeal hearing with the league is scheduled for Sept. 23. Adams was arrested in his native Canada in July on four weapons charges. The 26-year-old is facing charges of possession of a firearm obtained by crime, possession of a restricted/prohibited firearm without a license, possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a prohibited device. The league could discipline Adams at some point, but he otherwise appears to have a firm hold on the starting RG job in the wake of Bisontis’ injury. Adams, a 2024 third-rounder, started five of 15 games as a rookie and 11 of 17 last season. Top 10 cap charges for 2026: Budda Baker, S: $19.22MM Josh Sweat, OLB: $16.39MM Jacoby Brissett, QB: $10.37MM Marvin Harrison Jr., WR: $9.65MM Jeremiyah Love, RB: $9.64MM Baron Browning, LB: $9.42MM Paris Johnson Jr., LT: $8.93MM Trey McBride, TE: $8.7MM Hjalte Froholdt, C: $6.96MM Isaac Seumalo, LG: $6.85MM Adding Love to an offense that already included McBride, Harrison and Wilson should make the Cardinals more fun to watch, but this remains a deeply flawed team that will struggle to win games. Having to face the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers six times further stacks the deck against the Cardinals, whose over/under win total (3.5) is tied with the talent-deprived Dolphins for the lowest in football. The Cardinals may be in position to pick a potential franchise QB if they end up near the top of the 2027 draft, but it is fair to wonder if Ossenfort will still be in place then. He has already overseen two seasons of at least 13 losses. Bidwill’s patience could run out if the Cardinals are similarly noncompetitive this year."

"Jahmyr Gibbs or Bijan Robinson are the ideal early choices: The gap between the top two running backs is so large that anyone with a top-two pick is at an advantage. Prioritize a top-eight tight end: Tucker Kraft is currently falling in drafts further than he could, and ideally, you can build your draft strategy around that value. Save on PFF+ for 5 Days Only: Get a full year of PFF+ for just $89.99 before the limited-time offer ends Aug. 25. This perfect draft strategy for 10-team, single-quarterback, redraft PPR fantasy football leagues is built on a consensus of current average draft positions (ADPs) from ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo. It's your round-by-round guide to building a winning roster. Last updated: Tuesday, Aug. 25 Round 1, Pick 2: Draft a running back In an ideal world, the person with the first pick selects Bijan Robinson or Ja'Marr Chase, allowing you to take Jahmyr Gibbs second overall. If Gibbs goes first, though, Robinson is an easy pivot. It will be easy enough to balance the roster in the ensuing rounds regardless of whether you start with a running back or wide receiver, so the best approach is to take the top fantasy player available. Top Target: Bijan Robinson Robinson has finished among the top-three fantasy running backs in each of the last two seasons, combining over 1,400 rushing yards and at least 60 receptions per year. Replacing Tyler Allgeier with Brian Robinson Jr. at backup is a lateral move at worst for his goal-line outlook. Kevin Stefanski's history of featuring a lead back heavily when the personnel warrants it is encouraging, as is his track record of prioritizing the running back position dating back to his time with Dalvin Cook in Minnesota. The Atlanta offensive line is the primary concern, with Jake Matthews posting a career-low PFF run-blocking grade and Kaleb McGary‘s retirement forcing Atlanta to sign Jawaan Taylor, who profiles more as a pass protector than a run blocker. Robinson is competing with Jahmyr Gibbs for the top running back spot, with Gibbs holding a slight edge due to Detroit's offensive track record and fewer questions up front. Possible Targets: Christian McCaffrey, De'Von Achane, Jonathan Taylor, James Cook III, Chase Brown Round 2, Pick 19: Draft a running back A running back is the right call in most second-round situations, regardless of who you took in the first round. A few teams have shown a firm commitment to a single running back in a strong offense, leading to significant consistency among the top running backs over the past two seasons. In addition, some teams have recently made major investments in a running back, either a first-round pick or a highly paid free agent. This creates a notable tier gap between the top 15 running backs and everyone else, and most of them will come off the board within the first two rounds or the early third round. That means roughly 12 or 13 of the first 22 or so picks will be running backs. Ideally, you'll be one of the teams with two of these backs on your roster, or even three if you're comfortable relying on several mid-round wide receivers."

"The offseason can really look like one big game of musical chairs. After teams pick up the pieces of last season, they begin building towards tomorrow. As they chart through the offseason, clubs use free agency, the NFL Draft and an array of trades to infuse their rosters with more talent, which can make the league look wildly different year over year. With that in mind and the 2026 season on the horizon, we use this juncture to take the temperature of where every roster in the NFL clocks in -- on paper. Below, CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani and Tyler Sullivan examined every team's roster and attempted to rank the starting lineups around the league. They also identified one good aspect of the roster, one bad aspect, and one lingering question. Here are their first rankings, from No. 32 to No. 17. 32. Miami DolphinsDepth ChartThe good: Running backs -- De'Von Achane has established himself as one of the premier running backs in the NFL, and led the league with 5.7 yards per rush last season. He actually has the second-most career yards per rush (5.62) by a running back in NFL history. Achane will be called upon to lead this offense, but he's got some intriguing running mates as well. Jaylen Wright possesses legitimate speed and ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine, while Ollie Gordon III is a bigger back that weights at least 20 pounds more than Achane and Wright, but is athletic in his own way. The bad: Secondary -- This Dolphins secondary, on paper, looks like the worst in the league. On their first depth chart, JuJu Brents, Jason Marshall Jr. and rookie Chris Johnson are listed as the starting cornerbacks, while Zayne Anderson and Dante Trader Jr. are the starting safeties. Storm Duck and Darrell Baker Jr. are expected to play roles this year as well, but they are sidelined with injuries. The question: Quarterback -- Malik Willis is going to get his opportunity to prove he's a franchise quarterback. The former third-round pick out of Liberty was impressive during his stint with the Green Bay Packers, although he made just three starts. His one start last year against the Baltimore Ravens was fantastic. He completed 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards and one touchdown, while also leading the team in rushing with 60 yards and two more touchdowns. So, is he a rising star in this league? 31. Arizona CardinalsDepth ChartThe good: Tight end -- Trey McBride has a claim to be considered the top tight end in the entire NFL after the season he just put together in 2025. The 26-year-old notched 126 receptions, 1,239 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns last season. Those receptions were the most by a tight end in a single season all-time. He's an anchor to what Arizona plans to do in the passing game. The bad: Quarterback -- Jacoby Brissett will likely start after the franchise officially moved off of Kyler Murray. While Brissett put up solid numbers in his 12 starts in 2025, Arizona went 1-11 in those games. Meanwhile, the organization took Carson Beck at the top of the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. At some point, they'll probably turn the keys over to him to see what they have in the rookie, but he isn't truly viewed as a future franchise centerpiece at the moment. The question: Running back -- Initially, the backfield was looked at as a strong area of the Cardinals' offense, especially after using the No. 3 overall pick on Jeremiyah Love. However, Love has since suffered a high ankle sprain, which puts his prospects to begin the season in doubt. While they have veteran Tyler Allgieir, who they signed this offseason, the depth is dwindling as James Conner is working his way back from an ankle injury and fellow back Trey Benson has a knee ailment. If Love can get healthy at the start of the year, this unit should be fine, but it's a bit clouded at the moment. 30. Cleveland BrownsDepth ChartThe good: Front seven -- We could just put "defense" here, and we are still going to cheat by listing the front seven. Even without Myles Garrett, the Cleveland Browns have a solid group. First-round pick Mason Graham and Maliek Collins are holding down the interior, with Jared Verse on the edge. Alex Wright, unfortunately, went down with a torn Achilles, but the Browns did add former first-round pick Derek Barnett to come in and help. Verse, who is a two-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Rookie of the Year, has taken it upon himself to be a leader for this unit despite being a newcomer. At linebacker, the Browns have veteran Quincy Williams, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold -- who is admittedly an unknown-- and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger. So, Cleveland has the last two Defensive Rookies of the Year on its front seven. The bad: Quarterback -- The Browns may have the worst quarterback room in the NFL. Deshaun Watson has been the worst starting quarterback in the league since he was traded over from Houston, ranking worst in completion percentage, yards per attempt, and TD-INT ratio, while Shedeur Sanders led the NFL in interceptions after his NFL debut in Week 11. His completion percentage (57%) and passer rating (68.1) ranked second-worst in the league as well. Watson is the starter, for now.The question: Offensive line -- The Browns are the only team since 1970 to lose their top five offensive line starters all in the same offseason. This unit wasn't very good in 2025 and was hit hard by injuries, so the question is: can this new group keep the quarterback upright? First-round pick Spencer Fano is expected to start at left tackle, Zion Johnson at left guard, Elgton Jenkins at center, Teven Jenkins at right guard and Tytus Howard at right tackle. 29. Atlanta FalconsDepth ChartThe good: Running back -- Of course, Bijan Robinson is the headliner here. The Falcons superstar enters 2026 as arguably the league's best back and just inked a three-year, $66.8 million extension this summer. Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards last season, while finding the end zone 11 times. His 5,648 career scrimmage yards are the fourth-most in a player's first three seasons in NFL history. While Robinson will command the lion's share of the touches, there is solid backfield depth. With Tyler Allgeier signing with Arizona this offseason, the Falcons inked Brian Robinson Jr. to a one-year deal. Robinson has been a starter in the past but will now take on the role of Allgeier's primary backup. The bad: Edge rushers -- Atlanta's pass-rushing unit was initially looked at as a strength, especially after double-dipping at the 2025 NFL Draft by taking Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in the first round. However, those two pillars have since crumbled as it relates to 2026. Walker suffered a season-ending ACL tear during training camp, and Pearce was just slapped with an eight-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. That's forced the Falcons to dip their hand in the free agent pool and lure 33-year-old Za'Darius Smith out of retirement.The question: Quarterback -- Atlanta is in the midst of a quarterback battle between incumbent Michael Penix Jr. and new arrival Tua Tagovailoa, who signed a one-year deal following his release from the Dolphins. Doctors just cleared Penix for 11-on-11s as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa has yet to truly grasp the job. If it is Tagovailoa who wins out, is he the latest veteran quarterback to enjoy a career resurgence with a change of scenery? Or will he continue to post subpar results? If it's Penix, can he stay healthy and put together more efficient numbers? Atlanta invested heavily in their skill-position players this offseason, but it'll only pay dividends with some stability under center. 28. Tennessee Titans Depth ChartThe good: Wide receiver -- We'll see if it's the most talented, but this appears to be potentially the deepest wide receiving corps in Tennessee Titans history. Mike Borgonzi selected Ohio State standout Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed Wan'Dale Robinson to a four-year deal in free agency. He racked up 1,014 yards receiving last season for the New York Giants, the most by a player 5-foot-8 or shorter since 1989. The Titans also have Calvin Ridley, who has reached 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons in which he played at least eight games. Plus, some talented second-year pass-catchers in Elic Ayomanor, who has been making waves in training camp after catching 41 passes for 515 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, and Chimere Dike, who was named a First Team All-Pro last year as a returner after breaking the NFL rookie record for most all-purpose yards. That's a solid five right there. The bad: Offensive line -- The Titans' offensive line has been subpar for years now. Left guard Peter Skoronski, who just signed the largest contract for an offensive guard in NFL history, is the lone bright spot. Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. hasn't exactly lived up to the $82 million deal he signed last offseason, while right tackle JC Latham hasn't lived up to his No. 7 overall draft billing. The Titans signed Austin Schlottmann to take over at center, while fifth-round pick Fernando Carmona is the frontrunner to start at right guard.The question: Quarterback -- Cam Ward's rookie season was tough to evaluate. He started slow with five total touchdowns and 11 turnovers in his first nine starts, but eventually found his footing, accounting for 12 total touchdowns and just three turnovers in his final eight starts. Tennessee didn't have much structure in 2025, but that's expected to be different in 2026. Not only did the Titans hire one of the best defensive minds in football, Robert Saleh, as head coach, but they also brought in an experienced offensive mind in Brian Daboll. So, the question is, can Ward run an offense? Can he operate out of structure and be accurate enough to keep the offense on the field? If he takes a second-year jump, this No. 28 overall ranking is too low. 27. Las Vegas RaidersDepth ChartThe good: Tight end -- Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza have some fun passing-game security blankets to utilize at tight end. Brock Bowers, of course, is a lot more than just a check-down option, as the versatile weapon will likely lead the Las Vegas Raiders in receiving this year if he can stay healthy. Former second-round pick Michael Mayer is a solid option in the receiving game as well, and caught the first touchdown of the preseason for Vegas. Ian Thomas and Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. are nice depth options, too. The bad: Wide receiver -- The Raiders had one of the worst wide receiving corps in the NFL last year, and all they added to it this offseason was Jalen Nailor and rookie Malik Benson. Vegas does have Tre Tucker, who led the team with 696 yards receiving and five touchdowns last year, and is hoping for big second-year jumps from Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. Bowers is going to be a pillar of this passing attack, but this wide receiver room is questionable at best. The question: Offensive line -- This unit was the worst in the NFL last year, but has a couple of new faces in center Tyler Linderbaum and left guard Spencer Burford. The Raiders made Linderbaum the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in free agency in NFL history with $27 million per year, while Burford comes over after four seasons spent with the San Francisco 49ers. How improved will this unit be? It needs to be much better if Cousins and Mendoza are going to find success. 26. New York JetsDepth ChartThe good: Wide receivers -- New York sneakily assembled a fascinating wide receiver room. Garrett Wilson remains the top option and one of the more skilled players at the position in the league, despite lackluster play at quarterback. He's looking to bounce back after being limited to just seven games in 2025. Behind him, Adonai Mitchell, who New York acquired as part of the Sauce Gardner trade with Indy, showed flashes last season. Then, there's 2026 first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr., who recorded the second-most receiving touchdowns (13) in the Big Ten last season. That's not a bad trio, provided someone can get them the football. The bad: Quarterback -- Geno Smith returning to MetLife Stadium doesn't exactly get the juices flowing. While the veteran stabilized his career in Seattle, his latest stop in Las Vegas left little to be desired, including a league-leading 17 interceptions. The Jets ranked last in passing yards per game (140.3) last season, and Smith's arrival should improve those metrics, but doesn't give them a high ceiling. The question: Pass rush -- Lost in the embarrassment of not recording a single interception last season was New York's inability to get after the quarterback. They ranked last in pressure rate (28%) and 31st in total sacks (26). To fix that, they used the No. 2 overall pick on edge rusher David Bailey and signed defensive end Joseph Ossai to a $36 million free-agent deal. Are Bailey and this new group of free agents that New York brought in to improve the defense able to apply pressure to the quarterback? If so, they might be able to finally create turnovers. 25. New Orleans SaintsDepth ChartThe good: Offensive line -- The New Orleans Saints have a solid offensive line in front of Tyler Shough. Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was the best rookie offensive lineman last year, PFF claims. Free-agent addition David Edwards fits in at left guard, and center Erik McCoy is a two-time Pro Bowler. Right guard Cesar Ruiz is definitely more of a question mark, but former first-round pick Taliese Fuaga is set to make a jump at right tackle if he can remain healthy. It's worth mentioning that this unit doesn't appear to be very deep, but the starting five is solid. The bad: Special teams -- The Saints showcased one of the worst special teams units in 2025, and it remains to be seen if the issue has been resolved. New Orleans gave former Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright $14 million to come in and boot the ball. However, he shanked a punt that went just 15 yards in his first preseason game. He did bounce back Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams.Saints kickers converted on 71.4% of their field goals last year. If we combined Charlie Smyth and Blake Grupe into one kicker, their average ranked 38th in the NFL. New Orleans was hosting a kicker battle between Smyth and Tanner Brown this preseason, but signed Daniel Carlson on Monday. Brown missed a 39-yard field goal on Saturday after going 2/2 last week, and Smyth missed a 52-yarder in Week 1 of the preseason. The question: Weaponry -- We could list the Saints' weaponry as the best part of this roster, but we can't exactly say that with running back Alvin Kamara (MCL sprain) and rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) both expected to miss at least a month! Is Chris Olave going to have to carry the wide receiver room again? Can Travis Etienne Jr. live up to his contract? I would feel pretty good about Shough's weaponry if it weren't for injuries. So will his group of playmakers remain healthy enough to help the Saints be the sleeper so many envision they are this year? 24. Carolina PanthersDepth ChartThe good: Cornerbacks- I like the Carolina Panthers' top two cornerbacks in Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson. Horn, who has made two straight Pro Bowls, recorded a career-high five interceptions last season, while Jackson is clearly underrated and tied for the league lead in passes defensed with 19, to go along with a career-high four interceptions last year.The bad: Tight end -- The Panthers have been trying to find a legitimate starting tight end for years now. They drafted Tommy Tremble in 2021, Ja'Tavion Sanders in 2024, and Mitchell Evans in 2025, but none have been legitimate threats in the passing game. If you want to know how Carolina feels about its tight end room, the Panthers just signed soon-to-be 34-year-old Darren Waller to come in and help. The question: Offensive line -- A team not having its starting left and right tackles to begin the season would spell disaster for most teams, but not the Panthers. Free-agent addition Rasheed Walker will fill in for Ickey Ekwonu at left tackle, while first-round pick Monroe Freeling replaces Taylor Moton on the right side. Carolina also has a new center in Luke Fortner, who takes over for Cade Mays. This unit was pretty good when healthy. How will it look with three new faces? 23. New York GiantsDepth ChartThe good: Pass rushers -- The New York Giants are going to find success pressuring the quarterback this season. Brian Burns ranked in the top four in the NFL in sacks (16.5), QB hits (31) and tackles for loss (22) last year, and Abdul Carter is a former No. 3 overall pick who got better as his rookie season went on, recording 3.5 sacks in his final five games. New York has another top-five pick in the fold with Kayvon Thibodeaux, who has gotten to the quarterback 23.5 times over four years. I'm also excited to see another top-five pick in linebacker Arvell Reese be deployed as a blitzer. The bad: Defensive interior -- With Dexter Lawrence II gone, Shelby Harris, DJ Reader and Darius Alexander are set to start on the interior. Remember, this Giants team allowed a league-high 5.3 yards per carry last season. The massive Reader was the most double-teamed player in the NFL last year, according to Next Gen Stats. He's 32-years-old now, and didn't record a sack in 2025. The Giants have been managing his workload, as they are with the 35-year-old Harris. Alexander, on the other hand, is the young buck at 25 years old, but has been far from a standout in the two preseason games. So, will this run defense be improved in 2026?The question: Quarterback -- Jaxson Dart is a fun quarterback, but can he be a good quarterback? He became just the third rookie to ever throw 10 touchdowns while rushing for eight more scores, but he is also about to start paying rent to the blue medical tent. Apart from needing to play smart, Dart's completion percentage also ranked outside the top 20 at 63.7%, and J.J. McCarthy and Spencer Rattler threw for more yards per game than Dart did. He'll need to be better as a passer, but he is certainly capable. 22. Washington CommandersDepth ChartThe good: Quarterback -- Jayden Daniels looked like he was about to take over the entire league as a rookie, as the No. 2 overall pick took the lowly Washington Commanders from 4-13 to 12-5 with an NFC Championship appearance. He became the second quarterback all-time to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season, including playoffs, and scored more touchdowns (37) than any rookie ever. Daniels needs to stay healthy, as he missed 10 games last season with multiple ailments while Washington crashed back to earth at 5-12. Daniels' absence wasn't the only reason Washington struggled, as the defense finished dead last for the second time in the last three years. Marcus Mariota, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and I've got a level of interest in rookie Athan Kaliakmanis as well. The bad: Cornerback -- Washington's cornerback room is a bit worrisome. The likely starters are Trey Amos, who played 10 games in his NFL career and broke his leg last year, Amik Robertson, who comes over from the disappointing Lions secondary, and Mike Sainristil, who, while feisty, is not exactly Darrell Green. I do like the veteran Rasul Douglas, who will likely play a role on this team in 2026. The question: Left side of the offensive line -- The Commanders lost star left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a torn triceps, and former left tackle Brandon Coleman gets the first crack to replace him. Coleman was battling Chris Paul for the starting left guard spot, so I'm curious if Coleman can be a legitimate starting left tackle, and if Paul can hold down left guard effectively. Washington also has Andrew Wylie as a backup option if Coleman struggles. 21. Indianapolis ColtsDepth ChartThe good: Offensive line -- If this unit remains healthy, the Indianapolis Colts' offensive line could be one of the best in the AFC. Bernhard Raimann is cemented at left tackle after he signed a $100 million deal last offseason, left guard Quenton Nelson is one of the best linemen in the league, center Tanor Bortolini was PFF's No. 3-graded center last year, right guard Matt Goncalves is a former tackle moved inside who is improving, and right tackle Jalen Travis is a second-year player also expected to make a jump. The bad: Linebacker -- With Zaire Franklin gone, the Colts are relying on second-round pick CJ Allen to replace him at linebacker. The Georgia product was viewed as a physical, versatile playmaker as a prospect, but can he be a consistent force at the second level as a rookie? His running mate figures to be Akeem Davis-Gaither, who made 117 tackles last year for the Cardinals. However, he was released by the club this offseason. Is this unit really an upgrade over Franklin and Germaine Pratt? The question: Wide receiver -- We could easily go quarterback here, but let's look a little deeper. The Colts gave Alec Pierce more money than any team has ever given a wide receiver in free agency, with $114 million over four years. He led the NFL in yards per reception in back-to-back seasons, but he will have to prove he can be a legitimate No. 1 wideout and is still not healthy. Indy made a notable addition last week in Keenan Allen, but he is now 34-years-old. Josh Downs has flashed in spots, but averaged 35.4 yards per game with four touchdowns in 16 games last season. Behind that top three are Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Anthony Gould, Laquon Treadwell and Deion Burks. Tight end Tyler Warren is going to play a big role in the passing game, but the Colts' wide receiving corps is a bit of a question mark to me. 20. Tampa Bay BuccaneersDepth ChartThe good: Defensive line -- With Vita Vea's trade request rescinded after agreeing to an extension with the Bucs, Tampa Bay now has one of the better defensive fronts in the league. Vea is coming off a 2025 campaign where he posted 51 total pressures and 4.5 sacks. He'll be working alongside Calijah Kancey, who is looking to rebound after an injury-plagued 2025 season where he was limited to just two games. Back in 2024, the former first-rounder did break out with 7.5 sacks and 39 pressures. On top of those two, the Bucs have Yaya Diaby (seven sacks in 2025) and Rueben Bain Jr. (No. 15 overall pick in 2026) headlining the defense off the edge. The bad: Cornerback -- The Bucs are slated to start Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morison at outside corner in 2026 after Jamel Dean left in free agency this offseason. Morrison was a second-round pick in 2025, but his rookie season saw him play just 61% of the defensive snaps (10 games played and three starts) due to injury. When he was on the field, he surrendered a passer rating of 112.2 when targeted. Meanwhile, McCollum, who is entering his fifth season in the NFL after being a fifth-rounder in 2022, has been a full-time starter for the Buccaneers over the past two seasons. Last year, he struggled a bit, allowing a career-high six touchdowns in coverage and a passer rating of 100.9 when targeted. The question: Quarterback -- As he enters a contract year, what version of Baker Mayfield will the Bucs get in 2026? At the start of last season, Mayfield was on an MVP trajectory, leading Tampa to a 5-1 record while notching 12 touchdowns and just one interception for a 108.5 passer rating. Things went haywire after that, in part due to injuries, and his passer rating fell to 80.6, and the Bucs went 3-8, missing the playoffs. If Mayfield can get back to his old self, Tampa Bay should be firmly in the mix to win the NFC South. 19. Pittsburgh SteelersDepth ChartThe good: Edge rusher -- The pass rush is still the bread and butter of the Steelers. T.J. Watt remains one of the more feared edge rushers in the league, even as his sack total dipped to seven in 2025. In 14 games, he still had 46 total pressures. Meanwhile, Alex Highsmith is coming off a 9.5-sack season in just 13 games played, and 2023 fourth-round pick Nick Herbig broke out with a career-high 7.5 sacks last year. The bad: Safety -- There are some durability concerns with this group. Pittsburgh inked Jaquan Brisker to a one-year deal in free agency, and while he played in all 17 games for Chicago last season and broke up eight passes, he has a history of concussions. Meanwhile, DeShon Elliott was limited to five games last year due to injury. To compound the concern surrounding their injury history is the lack of depth behind them. After Brisker and Elliott, the Steelers have seventh-round rookie Robert Spears-Jennings, Jack Henderson and veteran Rayshawn Jenkins. The question: Quarterback -- Aaron Rodgers already announced this season as his last, and it stands to wonder what Pittsburgh will get out of the 42-year-old. While his 24-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio was inside the top-10 in 2025, Rodgers' numbers beyond that were middling. He was 16th among 33 qualified QBs in completion percentage, 15th in passing yards and 27th in yards per attempt. Does that improve, decline, or stay the same in 2026? 18. Minnesota VikingsDepth ChartThe good: Wide receiver -- Kyler Murray has some nice weaponry to work with in Minnesota. Justin Jefferson is one of the best receivers in the NFL, having racked up more receiving yards (5,464) than any other player over the last four years. Jordan Addison is a great No. 2, recording 911 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2023, 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, then 610 yards and three touchdowns with the struggling J.J. McCarthy in 2025. The Vikings also have one of the best "No. 3s" in the NFL with Jauan Jennings. He emerged as a trusted target of Brock Purdy in San Francisco. Believe it or not, Jennings tied George Kittle for the most receiving touchdowns on the team over the last two years, and had the most receptions (47) and receiving yards (546) by a 49er on third down over the past two seasons. In fact, he led the team in red-zone (34), fourth-quarter (50), and third-down targets (69) over the last two years. Underrated. The bad: Safety -- The Vikings are beginning a new era on the back end with Harrison Smith now gone. Joshua Metellus and Jay Ward are slated to be the starters at safety. Metellus is entering his seventh season with Minnesota, and he recorded back-to-back 100-tackle seasons in 2023 and 2024. Ward has started in just five of 50 career games played for Minnesota and has one career pass deflection and zero interceptions. He did have that electric sack of Jaxson Dart in the first preseason game of the year, though. Then there's third-round pick Jakobe Thomas out of Miami, who I think could be a legitimate sleeper. Maybe he can quell concerns at safety immediately. The question: Quarterback -- If Murray returns to Pro Bowl form and is rejuvenated by this change of scenery, then the Vikings are a legitimate NFL sleeper. However, he has to prove that. Murray has missed 30 out of a possible 68 games over the last five years, and Jacoby Brissett looked like an upgrade over him in Arizona last year. Murray is also running a different style of offense, but Kevin O'Connell is encouraged by what he can be in this scheme. 17. Chicago BearsDepth ChartThe good: Tight end -- Colston Loveland is knocking on the door of superstar status entering his sophomore season. Chicago selected the Michigan product with the 10th overall pick at the 2025 NFL Draft, and he started to truly emerge down the stretch of his rookie campaign. From Week 9 to Week 18 (10 games), Loveland caught 47 balls for 597 yards and six touchdowns. That put him on a 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown pace over the course of a full regular season. He carried that into the playoffs as well, catching 12 of his 25 (!) targets over two games for 193 yards. Meanwhile, backup Cole Kmet is no slouch and has a 73-catch season on his résumé. The Bears also took Stanford tight end Sam Roush in the third round (69th overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft this past spring. The bad: Center -- One of the true stunners of the offseason was the retirement of Drew Dalman. He was (literally) at the center of Chicago's revamped offensive line and was a key piece to Caleb Williams' leap in Year 2. While the interior of the offensive line still has guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson to help Williams stay upright, there are some questions as to how the center spot will shake out. The Bears traded for veteran Garrett Bradbury, who was solid for New England last season, but doesn't have nearly the ceiling as Dalman. They also selected Logan Jones in the second round, giving them options at center. The question: Wide receiver -- The Bears traded away DJ Moore to the Bills, leaving the wide receiver room to the youngsters Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. The projections suggest that this should be quite the duo for Caleb Williams, but we're still in a wait-and-see phase. Odunze was limited to 12 games in his second season in 2025, and Burden was more of a complementary piece as a rookie, starting just five of his 15 regular-season games. If both of these players hit as they adopt a larger target share within the offense, they could each break out in 2026."

"Welcome to Part II of my Red light/Green light series for 2026. The Green light: Players to target column dropped the other day and today I’m giving you some tough love – the players I’m trying to avoid. Draft season for redraft leagues is here at last, and if you decide to read anything to help you prep for your fantasy drafts, make it these two columns.Follow this link for my other preseason fantasy football content here at Big Blue View, including the Sleepers column: Fantasy Football Hub.Here’s what this column is all about. I’m not advocating that you cross off the players discussed. Rather, I’m trying to identify players whose current Average Draft Position (ADP) for redraft leagues is not offering good value. You’ll notice that my rankings on players listed in this column are mostly below market. This isn’t a “busts” column. It’s a listing of players who I think will underperform their current draft price, and who I probably won’t have much exposure to in redraft because I’ll pass on them at ADP. Would I draft some of them a round (or more) later than ADP? Sure, I would, although that varies by player.Sound fantasy drafting is all about value and getting good returns on your investment. Avoiding costly mistakes is part of the exercise. When you decide to click on Player X, you’re passing on others in the same range.NOTE: I’m mainly focusing on players going inside the first 130 picks (roughly, the first 11 rounds of a 12-team draft). Once you get past that point, overpaying doesn’t hurt you so much, because you’re taking players as depth and/or for potential upside if things break right, and you’re less likely to pass on difference-making players. For those who play in auction leagues, I’m looking to avoid the same players at average draft cost in that format, because I think they’ll be overpriced.ADPs listed are as of Aug. 24, 2026, are a consensus of several sites, and are for Half PPR scoring. Prior year rankings reflect Half PPR scoring, on a points per game basis, with Week 18 excluded. ADPs are a little all over the place right now – your mileage may vary.Red light players, 2026QuarterbackLamar Jackson (ADP 33, my rank 41), Drake Maye (ADP 51, my rank 57), and Joe Burrow (ADP 54, my rank 56) are ranked as quarterbacks 2, 3, and 4, and while they’re all studs, I’m not likely to pay up for them. Each could realistically challenge to be the QB1 when this season wraps up. I get that. Maye was a strong BUY and breakout candidate for me last season, at his much lower price. That was then, this is now. I’m not willing to burn a third rounder on Jackson, and the other two are fades for me in the first five rounds.Here’s why:This is about value, supply and demand, and whatever other Econ 101 terms I can throw at you. I’m tired of talking about how deep quarterback is this season. It’s like the ocean. The opportunity cost (another econ term, sorry) is just too great in the part of the draft where these guys are going, plus quarterbacks are the biggest names in the game and the top ones almost always end up getting pushed up and taken well ahead of ADP.Meanwhile, none of these three is a sure thing to finish as a Top-4 quarterback. Lamar ran a lot less last season, even when he was healthy, and he’s missed an average of three starts to injury across the last five seasons. While I love the A.J. Brown addition, Maye faces a tougher schedule this year plus his O-line is a question mark. Burrow has played 10 games or less in half of his six seasons.Pass, at cost. I like way too many quarterbacks with ADPs from late in Round 6 through Round 11 (see the Green Light column for more on that), and I’m happy to load up on backs and receivers while these three come off the board.Others: In 2-QB leagues, it’s easy to get two decent starters this year. Again, the depth of quality at the position is nuts and I’m good with most of the QBs ranked in the Top-24. Some of the lower-ranked QBs that I like less than others ranked near them are Patrick Mahomes (coming off a torn ACL which will surely limit his scrambling), Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, Cam Ward, and Bryce Young.Running BackHere’s a flex for you: I CRUSHED my red light running backs last year: Ashton Jeanty (who had an ADP around the 1-2 turn), Breece Hall, Alvin Kamara, R.J. Harvey, and Joe Mixon. Only Harvey was a value, thanks to 12 touchdowns. But don’t worry, I’m running him back for good measure.The 2026 list:Christian McCaffrey (ADP 5, my rank 8) is the headliner here, and it’s a tough call. I have CMC ranked a little behind where he’s going, and if my pick is in the middle of Round 1, I’ll probably fade him for a safer player. I don’t like taking on that much risk with my first pick, and no player offers a wider range of outcomes. McCaffrey finished as the RB1 in two of the last three seasons, sandwiched around a lost year. If he’s on the field, he’s an absolute fantasy destroyer, because he’s so devastating in the passing game. But there are legit concerns, and they go way beyond the substation and the 49ers’ ridiculous injury history. He led the NFL in touches last year (we saw how that worked out for Saquon Barkley after his league-leading 2024 workload), he’s 30, his efficiency declined in each of the last three seasons, and it wasn’t long ago that we wondered if his calf issues were going to end his career. I realize that passing on him can be costly.De’Von Achane (ADP 14, my rank 18). Achane might be my favorite player in the NFL. He’s absolutely electric and so fun to watch, and I’m a Miami fan. So this one pains me. Concerns about the change in ecosystem and the overall state of the Dolphins make it hard for me to click him at the top of Round 2. He led all backs in receptions over the last two seasons. Malik Willis is a running quarterback with a big arm and I’m assuming the receptions will fall off, as will the overall efficiency of the offense without Mike McDaniel. I hate fading him, but Achane is a little too risky for me at ADP.I don’t love Jeremiyah Love for this season. His ADP is now 26 (my rank, 37) which reflects a drop due to the high ankle sprain but it’s still way too high for me. He’s a pass at ADP for many of the same reasons I faded Jeanty last season. I love the talent, but I just don’t see him getting enough work and scoring chances (on what’s going to be a truly terrible team) for him to deliver on an ADP that’s likely to creep back up into Round 2 as the season approaches. The Cardinals still have a big crowd at running back. They paid Tyler Allgeier a lot of money and surely plan to give him a good chunk of the work. Love was a draft pick for Arizona’s future. Let someone else deal with him and an injury that could linger into September.Breece Hall (ADP 34, my rank 39). I’ll fade Hall again. I’m not taking him in Round 3 because I’m not taking ANY Jets player that high. I know he’s talented as both a runner and pass-catcher, and their O-line could be very good. I just don’t trust them to score enough TDs with a washed-up Geno Smith running the show (for now, it could get worse) and Aaron Glenn on borrowed time. I also think he’ll share the work more than you’d like.Bhayshul Tuten (ADP 54, my rank 62) and TreVeyon Henderson (ADP 51, my rank 55) are back-to-back fades for me at cost. They’re both in major timeshares and that’s not what I want in Round 4 or 5. Sure, an injury could open a pathway to an RB1 finish but that’s hard to bank on. Rhamondre Stevenson is still going to get his and is trusted by the coaching staff in big situations, and I can’t help but worry that Chris Rodriguez, who played for Liam Coen for a season at Kentucky, is going to be a season-long annoyance for those hoping Tuten is this year’s massive breakout.Others: I’m OK with most running back values in the Round 6-10 range, other than the Steelers’ duo who I’m happy to avoid, and R.J. Harvey. I’m all-in on Jonah Coleman stealing his lunch and am looking to grab him late wherever I can.Wide Receiver:Another flex: I had great results with my red light calls at receiver last year too (Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison, Jr., D.J. Moore, Rashee Rice, Chris Olave (I’m allowed one whiff), and lower down, Cooper Kupp and Brandon Aiyuk. Maybe it’s time for a paywall…The 2026 wide receiver red light district:Jason Smith-Njigba (ADP 6, my rank 10). This isn’t an indictment of JSN. He’s an outstanding receiver who dominated last season. I expect another good year. But he’s only done that once, Klint Kubiak is gone, the offense has major questions at running back, and a little regression across the board for Seattle (and for JSN) won’t surprise me. I still have him at the back of the first round, but he’s going very early and as with CMC, there are players I prefer in the middle of Round 1.Drake London (ADP 21, my rank 26). The Atlanta quarterback situation scares me, and that’s the main reason for this ranking, as London has been an ascending talent the last two seasons. The more games Tua Tagovailoa plays, the more balls will be thrown near the line of scrimmage, and the more targets will be funneled to the backs and tight ends. And Michael Penix, Jr. isn’t exactly a savior. As with JSN, I’m not “out” on this talented player, I just think his cost is a little rich, in this case given what I think is a capped upside. I’d rather take George Pickens, A.J. Brown, or Nico Collins in the picks 18-25 range of the draft, and they’re all ranked behind London.Davante Adams (ADP 58, my ranking 66). I’ve always been a huge fan of Adams. But despite his WR7 finish last season, there are red flags, including that he’ll be 34 in December. Adams effectively functioned as the Rams’ goal-line back last season, and that boosted his fantasy prowess. “He scored 14 TDs!”, you scream. True, but he did that on just 60 catches for 789 yards (his lowest totals for both since his second season, 2015). Almost a quarter of his catches were TDs, and most of those came from inside the 5-yard line. Over the last two seasons, his advanced metrics have shown a decline, including just a 57% catch rate. Could Adams repeat his 2025 success? Sure. But at a fifth-round price tag, I’d rather take an ascending player than bank on an aging player and outlier numbers that are hard to sustain.Carnell Tate (ADP: 72, my rank: 85). I’m way behind consensus on Tate. I do think Cam Ward will be better this season, but there could be a lot of target competition and I just don’t see the rookie doing enough this season to warrant a pick near the 6/7 turn.Others: I’ll pass on Parker Washington (ADP 70), D.K. Metcalf (ADP: 82), and Makai Lemon (ADP: 101) at cost. All are a little pricey for me given the downside case for each. Washington is a hot name after what he did down the stretch last season. But it’s a very crowded offense and if I’m gambling a late sixth-round pick on a Jags’ receiver, it’s Brian Thomas, Jr., not Washington.Tight End: Tight end feels like a “great or late” position once again this year, as there’s a very big drop-off after the Top-2 (or three or four, depending on how you feel about Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren). And there are a lot of late sleepers. Here are two of the higher-priced tight ends I’m mostly passing on:Tucker Kraft (ADP 65, my rank 71) and Harold Fannin, Jr. (ADP 67, my rank 74). I like both players. This is more about draft strategy. At the point where these guys are going as the TE5 and TE6, there are a lot of intriguing running backs and receivers that I’d rather take, and I’ll fill in a tight end as there are a bunch I like who are going 4-5 rounds later. There are also two elite dual-threat quarterbacks I’d consider if they fall to the 60s (see the Green Light column). Put another way: You can get better players at other positions in the same range, while not sacrificing that much by taking lower-ranked tight ends a handful of rounds later. In Fannin’s case, I also worry about the Cleveland QBs and the addition of two highly drafted rookie wide receivers.That’s it for my players to target and avoid in 2026. I’ll have my final rankings up soon, so keep it here!"