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    2020 NFL Training Camp Nuggets: Stats, Facts You Need To Know 👈

    2020 NFL training camp nuggets: Stats, facts and what you need to know for all 32 teams

    ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)



    So many big-name quarterbacks are in new places. There were some huge offseason trades, too.


    With NFL training camps scheduled to start soon, ESPN Stats & Information compiled a handful of notes of interest on each team. Here are some morsels to chew on.


    Will Erickson (NFC North), Daniel Greco (NFC East), Kevin Pulsifer (NFC West), Lauren Phillips (NFC South), Joshua Boyd (AFC North), Kevin Haswell (AFC East), Zachary Pereles (AFC West) and Henry Buggy (AFC South) contributed to this story.

    AFC EAST


    Buffalo Bills

    2019: 10-6, second in AFC East; lost in wild-card round
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 10th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 10 | Defense: 10


    Nuggets to know


    1. The Bills acquired Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason. Since entering the league in 2015 out of Maryland, Diggs has 365 receptions (15th in NFL) and 4,263 receiving yards (14th) in the regular season, more than any Bills receiver in that span.


    2. Josh Allen enters his third season under center in Buffalo. Last season, Allen improved his completion percentage and touchdown-interception ratio, but despite that improvement, Allen's QBR took a step back to 47 in 2019, 24th out of 30 qualified quarterbacks.


    3. While the Bills struggled offensively, their defense was one of the best in the NFL last season. They ranked in the top five in points and yards allowed as well as defensive efficiency. Buffalo will bring back 10 of its 11 defensive starters from last season, setting up for another strong season under coordinator Leslie Frazier.


    Miami Dolphins

    2019: 5-11, last in AFC East
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 27th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 10 | Defense: 11


    Nuggets to know


    1. With the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the Dolphins selected former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa is recovering from a serious hip injury suffered last season. Tagovailoa's two seasons as Alabama's starting quarterback were among the best we've seen. Since ESPN's Total QBR first began in 2004, no player in college football has had a higher career Total QBR than Tagovailoa (93.5). Something worth noting: Between 1967 (the first year of the common draft) and 2019, 53 QBs were taken in the top five. Only three of them failed to start at least one game their rookie season. And of the 50 who did start, 39 did so prior to Week 6, including 26 in Week 1.


    2. After finishing in last place in the AFC East last season, the Dolphins spent a lot of money in free agency to address various holes. Miami led the NFL in free-agency spending this offseason, giving out $147 million guaranteed, $119 million of that on defense, the side of the ball coach Brian Flores was brought into turn around. The Dolphins struggled defending the pass in 2019, ranking 26th in passing yards allowed with cornerback Xavien Howard limited to only five games. However, the team overhauled that unit in the offseason, signing former Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones to a five-year, $82.5 million deal and drafting Auburn CB Noah Igbinoghene with their third and final pick in the first round.


    3. The Dolphins used a lot of resources this offseason to help out their offensive line. Miami finished last in the NFL in pass block win rate (41.2%), nearly 5% worse than any other team, this according to NFL Next Gen Stats data. The Dolphins spent $33 million in free agency on their offensive line (fifth most in the NFL) and drafted four offensive linemen.


    New England Patriots

    2019: 12-4, first in AFC East; lost in wild-card round
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 9th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 9 | Defense: 7


    Nuggets to know



    1. After 20 seasons in New England, the most by a quarterback with a single franchise, Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay. The six-time Super Bowl champion leaves as the NFL's all-time leader in wins (219) and the franchise's leader in passing yards (74,571) and passing TDs (541). Three different quarterbacks have started a season opener for the Patriots since Bill Belichick became the team's coach in 2000: Brady, Drew Bledsoe and Jimmy Garoppolo. There will be a fourth this coming season, seemingly former Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham or potentially a healthy Cam Newton.


    2. Following the signing of Newton, New England is now the co-favorite (with Buffalo) to win the AFC East (+120), according to Caesars Sportsbook. Entering 2020, New England has been favored to win the division in each of the previous 16 seasons. To put that in perspective, the next-longest active streak entering this season is just two years (New Orleans and Philadelphia). The Patriots have won the AFC East in each of the past 11 seasons, an NFL record.


    3. Despite having a historically good defensive season in 2019, the Patriots have lost a few key contributors on that side of the ball. Linebacker Jamie Collins, defensive tackle Danny Shelton, linebacker Kyle Van Noy and safety Duron Harmon all left via free agency. Belichick's defense led the NFL in points per game allowed, yards per game allowed and defensive efficiency.


    New York Jets

    2019: 7-9, third in AFC East
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 25th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 7 | Defense: 10


    Nuggets to know


    1. New York is looking for a jump in Season 3 for former first-round pick Sam Darnold. It was truly a tale of two seasons for the second-year quarterback. In the first eight games of 2019, Darnold made five starts, threw nine interceptions and posted a QBR of 33 (tied for worst in the NFL). He rebounded from the rough start and tossed 13 touchdowns to just four interceptions over the final eight games while posting a 51 QBR (19th in NFL). Darnold's improvement directly translated to wins for the Jets as they started the season 1-7 before winning six of their final eight.


    2. In his first season as the Jets' defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams turned the team's rush defense around. In 2018, New York was 26th in the NFL in rush yards allowed per game (126.3). Last season under Williams, the Jets allowed just 86.9 rush yards per game, the second-best mark in the NFL.


    3. The Jets have not made the playoffs since they lost in the 2010 AFC Championship Game, a span that now stands at nine seasons. That's the third-longest playoff drought in the NFL behind the Browns (17 seasons) and Buccaneers (12 seasons). They didn't get much help from the big signing of Le'Veon Bell, either. Among 47 qualified running backs last season, Bell was 46th in yards per carry, averaging 3.2.

    NFC EAST


    Dallas Cowboys

    2019: 8-8, second in NFC East
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 5th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 8 | Defense: 5


    Nuggets to know


    1. After he threw for 4,902 yards last season, which was second in Cowboys history, Dallas used the exclusive franchise tag, worth $31.5 million, on Dak Prescott. Since 1993, it's the sixth instance of a quarterback receiving the exclusive franchise tag, and all but one (Kirk Cousins) of the previous five signed a long-term deal in his tagged year. Since entering the league in 2016, Prescott's 40 wins as a starter trails only Tom Brady, and his 10 instances of a QBR of at least 90 in a game are the most in the NFL.


    2. After not coaching last season, Mike McCarthy takes over the Cowboys, who finished at .500 for the fourth time in nine full seasons under Jason Garrett. Since 2007, McCarthy has eight different seasons with at least 10 wins, tied for second most in that span. McCarthy really shines in the postseason: His 10 playoff victories since 2006 trails only Bill Belichick for the most in the NFL during that span. He is looking to become the first coach to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.


    3. In the past 10 seasons, the Cowboys have a win percentage of .538 and yet have reached the postseason only three times in that span. Dallas hasn't reached the NFC Championship Game in its past 10 playoff appearances (it most recently played for the conference title after the 1995 season), which is tied with the Chiefs for longest streak by any team since the 1970 merger.



    New York Giants

    2019: 4-12, third in NFC East
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 26th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 7 | Defense: 6


    Nuggets to know


    1. Quarterback Daniel Jones started 12 games as a rookie last season and it's his team now after Eli Manning retired following a 16-year career. There is optimism with Jones, who had five games with at least 300 passing yards, tied for second most by a rookie in NFL history (per Elias Sports Bureau research). He also had sevens passing touchdowns in tight windows according to NFL Next Gen Stats data, tied for third in the league. One area he needs to improve is his ball security, as he led the NFL in fumbles (18) and fumbles lost (11).


    2. The Giants have missed the postseason seven of the past eight seasons, and in the past three seasons have a .250 win percentage, worst in the league. In comes Joe Judge, who at 38 will be the youngest Giants head coach since Ray Perkins in 1979. He will become the eighth head coach who either coached or played under Bill Belichick with the Patriots. Of the first seven, only Bill O'Brien and Mike Vrabel have winning records.


    3. In 2019, the Giants allowed the second-most points in franchise history, so this offseason they made sweeping changes on defense. They signed CB James Bradberry, who according to NFL Next Gen Stats data allowed only 2.3 yards of separation when targeted, which tied for fifth among defensive backs since 2016 (minimum 200 targets). They also signed Blake Martinez, who racked up 299 tackles the past two seasons, most in the NFL.


    Philadelphia Eagles

    2019: 9-7, first in NFC East; lost in wild-card round
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 6th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 6 | Defense: 5


    Nuggets to know


    1. Quarterback Carson Wentz signed a contract extension last offseason that included $109.9 million guaranteed, then played all 16 games for the second time in his career in 2019. But he has played in only one postseason game, throwing a total of four passes in last season's wild-card round before getting hurt. When they took Jalen Hurts in the second round, the Eagles became the third team to take a quarterback in the first or second round within five years of drafting a top-two QB.


    2. Eagles wide receivers struggled last season, when they had the fourth-fewest receptions and second-fewest receiving yards in the NFL. Wentz became the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards and not have a 500-yard receiver. In the draft's first round, they selected Jalen Reagor, who had at least a share of the TCU lead in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs in each of the past two seasons.


    3. Last season no team had more receptions, receiving yards or targets by their tight ends than the Eagles. Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert were the only tight end duo to record at least 500 receiving yards last season, and Ertz has been Wentz's most reliable target since he came into the league. The two have connected 303 times, the fourth-most completions of any QB-receiver combo in the league since 2016.


    Washington Redskins

    2019: 3-13, last in NFC East
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 31st
    Returning starters
    Offense: 6 | Defense: 5


    Nuggets to know


    1. This offseason, Washington hired Ron Rivera, who spent nine seasons in Carolina and has the most wins by any coach in Panthers history. Since 1999, when Dan Snyder became the owner of the Redskins, they have had 10 different head coaches including Rivera and interims, tied for third most in the league.


    2. With all of the regular-season woes, it has been 28 seasons since the Redskins most recently reached an NFC Championship Game (since winning Super Bowl XXVI). That is tied for the third-longest active drought, trailing only the Bengals and the Browns. In that time, the Redskins have just three playoff victories, in the bottom five in that span.


    3. After finishing last season with 46 sacks, 10th in the NFL, the Redskins selected Chase Young second overall in the 2020 draft. With Young, the Redskins' front seven could feature five players who were drafted in the first round by the team. According to Elias research, the most homegrown first-round front-seven players to appear in at least one game was four, done last season by the Redskins.

    AFC NORTH


    Baltimore Ravens

    2019: 14-2, first in AFC North; lost in divisional round
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 2nd
    Returning starters
    Offense: 10 | Defense: 5


    Nuggets to know


    1. Reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson rushed for a QB-record 1,206 yards in 2019. However, none of the six other quarterbacks in NFL history to rush for 800-plus yards in a season reached even 600 rushing yards in the following year. Jackson led the NFL in passing TDs (36) and Total QBR (82) last season and would be the sixth player to throw 35-plus TDs in back-to-back seasons, joining Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Brett Favre.


    2. Baltimore's team speed was on display often in 2019. According to NFL Next Gen Stats data, the Ravens registered 159 runs of 15-plus mph, 21 more than the closest team (Cardinals). The majority of those plays came from their QB, as Jackson had more runs at 15-plus mph (93) than 25 other NFL franchises. The rushing attack should be even more potent with the addition of J.K. Dobbins, as the Ohio State product should fit in nicely with Baltimore's scheme: Dobbins led FBS in rush attempts on zone-read plays last season, while the Ravens' 227 zone-read rush attempts were far and away most in the NFL (the Seahawks were next with 99 such plays).


    3. The Ravens had only 4.0 sacks last season from players listed as defensive linemen (NT Chris Wormley, now on the Steelers, led the group with 1.5 sacks). Baltimore brought in Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe to help increase production from its DL group. Campbell beat 16.4% of his pass blocks within 2.5 seconds, the fourth-best pass rush win rate among all players with 200-plus double-teams last season; meanwhile, Wolfe posted a career-high 7.0 sacks despite playing in only 12 games in 2019.


    Cincinnati Bengals

    2019: 2-14, last in AFC North
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 30th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 8 | Defense: 7


    Nuggets to know


    1. Joe Burrow was not born the most recent time the Bengals won a playoff game, in 1990, the league's longest active drought and second-longest drought (29 seasons) by any team to draft first overall in NFL history, behind the 1970 Steelers (35 seasons). Good omen for the Bengals: Pittsburgh drafted a QB from a Louisiana college, Terry Bradshaw, and won four Super Bowls with him in the '70s.


    2. The return of A.J. Green would be a welcome sight for any rookie QB, but how close to 100 percent will the star wide receiver be? The seven-time Pro Bowler has missed 29 games since 2016, including all of last season (missed only four games from 2011 through 2015). Over the past four seasons, Bengals QBs have posted a 53 QBR with Green on the field and a 38 QBR without Green. One way to help Burrow would be to improve Cincinnati's pass blocking. Over the past three seasons, Cincinnati ranks last among all teams in pass block win rate, as it maintained only 47.2% of pass blocks for 2.5 seconds.


    3. The Bengals allowed a league-worst 148.9 rush yards per game last season. That certainly does not bode well in a division with Nick Chubb, James Conner, and the vaunted Ravens rushing attack. Cincinnati has finished in the bottom five in defensive FPI in each of the past two seasons, and enters 2020 as the 32nd-ranked defensive unit per FPI.


    Cleveland Browns

    2019: 6-10, third in AFC North
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 19th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 8 | Defense: 7


    Nuggets to know


    1. With the hiring of Kevin Stefanski, the Browns are now on their 12th coach since returning to the NFL in 1999, most in the league over that span. Cleveland also enters 2020 with a new offensive coordinator (Alex Van Pelt) and a first-year general manager (Andrew Berry). The Browns own the longest active playoff drought, having missed the postseason 17 consecutive years. Stefanski will be the fourth coach for quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is entering just his third season.


    2. Much of Cleveland's playoff hopes rest on how well Mayfield can rebound from his subpar 2019. Last season, only Jameis Winston (30) threw more interceptions than Mayfield's 21, while his 59.4% completion percentage was ahead of only Josh Allen (58.8%) among qualified passers. FPI currently gives Cleveland a 47% chance to make the playoffs in 2020, and the Browns have a league-high 10.4% chance to get the new 7-seed.


    3. Both starting offensive tackles for the Browns last season ranked outside the top 40 among tackles in ESPN's pass block win rate using NFL Next Gen Stats. Cleveland addressed this by drafting Jedrick Wills Jr. with the 10th overall pick and signing Titans free agent Jack Conklin. In the past 10 years, only four OTs have signed free-agent deals worth $30 million guaranteed; the Browns are the only one of those teams to use a top-10 pick on another OT.


    Pittsburgh Steelers

    2019: 8-8, second in AFC North
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 12th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 10 | Defense: 10


    Nuggets to know


    1. The Steelers endured horrible QB play in 2019: Only the Panthers had a worse Total QBR and TD-interception ratio from their quarterbacks. After missing 14 games last season, Ben Roethlisberger is set to return under center. Pittsburgh is hoping Big Ben can recapture his 2018 form, which saw him lead the league in passing yards and rank in the top five in both Total QBR and passing touchdowns.


    2. After Week 2 last season, Pittsburgh traded its 2020 first-round pick to the Dolphins for Minkah Fitzpatrick, and the move drastically changed its defense. Through two games, the Steelers allowed 445 yards per game and 30.5 points per game; from Week 3 on, those figures improved to 284 YPG and 17.3 PPG. The pass defense allowed only 177 yards per game from Weeks 3 through 17, and Pittsburgh's 20 interceptions on the season trailed only the Patriots (25) for most in the NFL.


    3. Pittsburgh is returning 10 starters to a defense that finished last season ranked second in efficiency. They are led by T.J. Watt, whose 34.5 sacks since entering the league in 2017 ranks fifth. Watt is five sacks away from breaking the Steelers' franchise record for sacks in a player's first four seasons (39 by LaMarr Woodley). The Steelers enter 2020 with the third-rated defense in FPI's rankings; the last time they finished with the top-rated defense was in 2010, when the team most recently reached the Super Bowl.

    NFC NORTH


    Chicago Bears

    2019: 8-8, third in NFC North
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 21st
    Returning starters
    Offense: 3 | Defense: 4


    Nuggets to know


    1. The Bears' offense needs a jump-start in 2020. Last season, that unit finished 31st in the NFL in yards per play (4.7), its worst mark since 2007 (4.5), during which Brian Griese, Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton split time under center. After finishing coach Matt Nagy's first season with the ninth-highest scoring average in the NFL, the Bears' 8.8-point drop-off in scoring offense from 2018 to 2019 was the largest by any team.


    2. Chicago's defense was stellar in Chuck Pagano's first season as defensive coordinator in 2019. That unit finished top 10 in the NFL in both scoring and total defense, but ranked tied for 22nd with 19 takeaways after leading the NFL with a whopping 36 during in 2018. Chicago also struggled to create a consistent pass rush, finishing 22nd in the NFL in ESPN's pass rush win rate. The team did sign DE Robert Quinn, who led the NFL in that category last season, joining forces with five-time Pro Bowl selection Khalil Mack.


    3. It was a struggle for Bears running backs last season. They averaged 3.6 yards per rush, the third-lowest mark in the NFL, and their 20 rushes of 10-plus yards ranked next to last. David Montgomery, a 2019 third-round pick, struggled in his first season, ranking 39th out of 45 qualified backs with 3.7 yards per rush.


    Detroit Lions

    2019: 3-12-1, last in NFC North
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 28th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 3 | Defense: 3


    Nuggets to know


    1. Matthew Stafford faced some trade speculation during the offseason but will return to the Lions for his 12th NFL season. His 2019 campaign was cut short due to broken bones in his back, but Stafford ranked second in passing TDs (19) and fourth in pass yards (2,499) through Week 9. Without Stafford in the starting lineup from Weeks 10 through 17, Detroit went 0-8 while averaging 4.8 yards per play, the third-lowest mark in the NFL.


    2. The Lions traded Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay to the Eagles after they had the worst passing defense in the NFL in 2019. Their seven interceptions tied for the fewest in the league. Detroit will have fresh starters in the secondary this season, highlighted by CB Jeff Okudah, the third overall pick who was the first defensive back taken in the top three since fellow Ohio State product Shawn Springs in 1997. Detroit also acquired CB Desmond Trufant (two-year, $21 million deal) and S Duron Harmon (trade with the Patriots).


    3. Despite signing DE Trey Flowers in the 2019 offseason, the Lions failed to improve their pass rush, finishing dead last in the NFL in ESPN's pass rush win rate for the second consecutive season. The Lions acquired former Patriots defensive standouts DT Danny Shelton and LB Jamie Collins to help bolster their front seven, and also hope to get production up front out of third-round pick Julian Okwara.


    Green Bay Packers

    2019: 13-3, first in NFC North; lost in NFC Championship Game
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 15th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 4 | Defense: 3


    Nuggets to know


    1. The Packers made it to the NFC championship last season, but are they one of the league's best teams heading into 2020? They outscored their opponents by just 63 points, the lowest point differential for a 13-win team in NFL history. It also bears mentioning that they did this while facing the easiest strength of schedule in terms of opponent record. Of the previous 15 teams to lose in the NFC title game, 11 missed the playoffs the following season.


    2. The Packers' defense improved quite a bit last season thanks to free-agent signings Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith. Za'Darius Smith ranked eighth in the NFL in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric (21.9%) when lined up as an edge rusher, while Preston Smith ranked 10th in that same category (21.6%). In addition, Za'Darius Smith led the NFL with 63 pressures in 2019.


    3. Green Bay traded up in the first round to draft quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th pick, its first time selecting an offensive skill player in the first round since Aaron Rodgers in 2005. Many have questioned whether Rodgers' play has regressed in recent years, as he's 20th in the NFL in Total QBR (54.3) and 28th in completion rate (62.2%) in the past two seasons. On the opposite end of that narrative, Rodgers is the only player in NFL history to produce a 4,000-yard passing season with fewer than five interceptions, and he has achieved the feat each of the past two.


    Minnesota Vikings

    2019: 10-6, second in NFC North; lost in divisional round
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 13th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 4 | Defense: 4


    Nuggets to know


    1. The Vikings committed to the run last season running by design 47% of the time, the second-highest mark in the NFL after the Ravens (51%). They did this in large part because of Dalvin Cook's success. He led the NFL in rushing yards through Week 10 of the regular season and finished 2019 leading all RBs with 73 rushes reaching 15 mph, according to NFL Next Gen Stats data. Cook accounted for the fifth-highest percentage of his team's scrimmage yards in 2019 and enters the final year of his rookie deal eyeing a big contract extension.


    2. Minnesota finished 14th in the NFL in total defense last season after leading the league in that category from 2016 through 2018 (300.2 YPG). For better or worse, the Vikings moved on from key members of their 2019 defense, including CB Trae Waynes, DT Linval Joseph , CB Xavier Rhodes, CB Mackensie Alexander and DE Everson Griffen. They'll look to get back to their old ways with fresh faces in first-round CBs Jeff Gladney and Mike Hughes, as well as free-agent DT Michael Pierce and DE Ifeadi Odenigbo (7.0 sacks in his second season with the Vikings in 2019). They do return Danielle Hunter, who has recorded 29.0 sacks over the past two seasons, which trails only Aaron Donald (33.0) and Chandler Jones (32.0). In addition, he also produced the first pressure on 102 pass rushes in 2019, third in the NFL after Shaquil Barrett and Za'Darius Smith.


    3. After being "called out" by teammate Adam Thielen following the Vikings' loss in Week 4, QB Kirk Cousins ramped up his game. He ranked in the top five in the NFL in completion percentage (second), touchdown passes (tied for fourth) and yards per attempt (second) from Weeks 5 through 17. Cousins thrived on play-action as well in 2019, leading the NFL with 13 TD passes in that situation. He also earned his first career playoff victory and was given a two-year extension in March, keeping Cousins in Minnesota through 2022.

    AFC SOUTH


    Houston Texans

    2019: 10-6, first in AFC South; lost in divisional round
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 24th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 7| Defense: 7


    Nuggets to know


    1. The Texans made one of the biggest moves of the offseason, trading three-time first-team All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson. The trade also included a swap of draft picks. Since entering the league in 2013, Hopkins ranks third in receptions (632), third in receiving yards (8,602), and second in receiving TDs (54). Johnson joins the Texans looking to resurrect his career as one of the top running backs in the NFL. In his first two seasons (2015-16), Johnson ranked third in the league in scrimmage yards (3,156) and first in scrimmage touchdowns (32), but he has been limited to 30 games over the past three seasons due to injuries and ranks 69th in scrimmage yards (2,191) since the start of 2017.


    2. While the Texans traded away Hopkins, they acquired Brandin Cooks from the Rams. Over the past five
    seasons, Cooks ranks 10th in the NFL in receiving yards (5,180) while Hopkins ranks second (6,590). With the addition of Cooks, Houston now has three receivers who stretch the field (Kenny Stills, Will Fuller). Since the start of the 2016 season, Cooks, Stills and Fuller all rank in the top 12 in receptions on throws at least 30 yards downfield.


    3. This offseason the Texans picked up the fifth-year option on quarterback Deshaun Watson's rookie contract and the two sides have started "preliminary" discussions on a long-term deal. In 2019, Watson became the first QB in NFL history to record consecutive seasons with 25 passing TDs and five rushing scores.


    Indianapolis Colts

    2019: 7-9, third in AFC South
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 14th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 9 | Defense: 8


    Nuggets to know


    1. It's no secret the biggest storyline for the Colts entering the 2020 season is the addition of veteran QB Philip Rivers. Rivers recorded the second-worst Total QBR (49) of his career in 2019 and finished with the third-most interceptions (20) in the NFL, including tied for the most picks thrown into tight windows (10), per NFL Next Gen Stats data. So how much does the 38-year-old have left in the tank? One thing that should help in 2020 is an upgraded offensive line; the Colts posted the NFL's third-best pass block win rate (65%) while the Chargers ranked 19th (58%) last season.


    2. Last season, Marlon Mack recorded the most rush yards (1,091) by a Colts player since Edgerrin James (1,506) in 2005. Despite Mack's second consecutive season with 900-plus rushing yards and eight or more rushing touchdowns, the Colts added another playmaker to their backfield, drafting Jonathan Taylor in the second round. Taylor left Wisconsin with 6,174 rushing yards, fourth in FBS history. He is the only player in FBS history to rush for 6,000 yards in fewer than four seasons. How coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni elect to divide carries between the two talented running backs will be one of the top storylines to watch entering training camp.


    3. On the defensive side of the ball, the Colts traded their 2020 first-round draft pick to the 49ers for DeForest Buckner, then signed him to a four-year, $84 million contract extension. Buckner gives Indianapolis a durable defensive lineman who can make an impact against both the pass and run. Since entering the league in 2016, Buckner ranks third among all defensive linemen in snaps (3,347), second in tackles (262), and 21st in sacks (28.5). His 209 tackles against the run is also the third most of any defensive linemen over that span.


    Jacksonville Jaguars

    2019: 6-10, last in AFC South
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 32nd
    Returning starters
    Offense: 10 | Defense: 10


    Nuggets to know


    1. According to ESPN's Football Power Index, Jacksonville is the only team to not be favored in any game in 2020, and it has the highest chance (23%) to get the No. 1 overall pick in 2021. With Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence eligible to enter next year's draft, many are left wondering if "Tank for Trevor" has already started in Jacksonville.


    2. The Jaguars added two QBs to their roster this offseason, signing Mike Glennon in free agency and selecting Jake Luton in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft. Despite the moves, Gardner Minshew remains the favorite to retain the starting role this upcoming season. Jacksonville's 2019 sixth-round pick led the team to a 6-6 record as starting QB and finished the season with 3,271 passing yards, 21 passing TDs and six interceptions. Minshew's 3.5 TD-interception ratio was the highest of any rookie QB since Dak Prescott (5.8) in 2016, when Prescott won Rookie of the Year. In fact, Minshew's 3.5 TD-interception ratio was the best for a Jaguars QB since David Garrard (6.0) in 2007.


    3. It's no secret Yannick Ngakoue wants out of Jacksonville. The Jaguars applied the non-exclusive franchise tag to him on March 13, but he has yet to sign the tender. One thing is certain, though: Ngakoue is one of the NFL's best pass-rushers. Since entering the league in 2016, Ngakoue ranks 12th in sacks (37.5) and fourth in forced fumbles (14). With Ngakoue's future in Jacksonville in question, it's worth noting he is one of only three defensive starters (Myles Jack, Abry Jones) from the 2017 AFC Championship Game to remain on the team.


    Tennessee Titans

    2019: 9-7, second in AFC South; lost in AFC Championship Game
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 16th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 10 | Defense: 9


    Nuggets to know


    1. The Titans fully committed to Ryan Tannehill this offseason, signing him to a four-year, $118 million deal, which includes $91 million in guaranteed money, the seventh most among current QB contracts. Tannehill won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2019, leading the Titans to the AFC Championship Game while posting the ninth-best Total QBR (62) in the league. The question remains whether Tannehill will continue to play at high level or regress to the play that marked his tenure with the Dolphins. Prior to 2019, Tannehill had posted a Total QBR above 50 just once in his six seasons in Miami.


    2. The NFL's 2019 rushing leader, Derrick Henry, signed his franchise tender this offseason and is looking to become the first player to lead the league in rushing yards in back-to-back seasons since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006-07. Henry not only led the NFL with 1,540 rushing yards last season, he also led in rushes (303) and tied Aaron Jones for the most rushing TDs (16). He was key to the Titans' success, as Tennessee was 8-0, including the playoffs, when Henry amassed at least 100 rushing yards.


    3. The Titans have some big holes to fill on defense following the departures of cornerback Logan Ryan and defensive lineman Jurrell Casey. Ryan led the team in tackles (113) in 2019 and was tied for third in the NFL in passes defended (12). Since 2001, there have been two instances of a defensive back recording 100-plus tackles, four sacks and four interceptions in a season, Landon Collins in 2016 and Ryan in 2019. The Titans traded Casey to the Broncos this offseason, sending Denver one of the 10 players in the NFL to record five-plus sacks in each of the past seven seasons.

    NFC SOUTH


    Atlanta Falcons

    2019: 7-9, second in NFC South
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 18th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 4 | Defense: 3


    Nuggets to know


    1. Few teams had a stronger end to the 2019 regular season than the Falcons. From Week 10 on, Atlanta went 6-2 (tied for fourth in the NFL during that span), and were fifth in total efficiency. The Falcons' only two losses in that final stretch were to division rivals New Orleans and Tampa Bay. However, they also beat both during that span.


    2. Over the past two seasons, Matt Ryan has been sacked 90 times; the only quarterbacks to be taken down more are Deshaun Watson (106) and Russell Wilson (99). Atlanta's offensive line had a pass block win rate of 53.3% in 2018 (ninth worst in NFL) which declined to 49.9% in 2019 (fourth worst in NFL).


    3. Running back Todd Gurley, who signed with the Falcons this offseason, had 40 touchdowns in 2017-18, the most by any player in a two-season span since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006-07. However, last season Gurley finished with a career-low 1,064 yards from scrimmage and didn't have a single 100-yard rushing game (after posting six in 2018). Atlanta finished with the third-fewest rushing yards in the league in 2019.


    Carolina Panthers

    2019: 5-11, last in NFC South
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 29th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 5 | Defense: 3


    Nuggets to know


    1. After firing Ron Rivera before Week 14, the Panthers hired Matt Rhule to take over in January. Rhule took Temple from 2-10 to 10-4 (2013-15) and Baylor from 1-11 to 11-3 (2017-19). Baylor became the fourth team since major classification began in 1937 to win 11 games within two seasons of losing 11. Rhule is the eighth coach to go directly from college to the NFL; of the previous seven, only Bill O'Brien and Pete Carroll stayed for more than four years.


    2. Running back Christian McCaffrey's 5,443 yards from scrimmage are the fifth most in a player's first three seasons in NFL history. If he posts another season of 2,000 yards from scrimmage, he'll put himself at fourth in a player's first four seasons in NFL history.


    3. Carolina lost several key defensive players, including Luke Kuechly (led team in tackles), Eric Reid (second on team in defensive snaps), James Bradberry (tied for team lead in interceptions) and Mario Addison (led team in sacks). Both of the Panthers' top draft picks were defensive players: Derrick Brown, who had an 11.3% pressure percentage when lined up at nose tackle (fifth in FBS), and Yetur Gross-Matos, who was one of eight FBS players with at least eight sacks in each of the past two seasons.


    New Orleans Saints

    2019: 13-3, first in NFC South; lost in wild-card round
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 4th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 5 | Defense: 3


    Nuggets to know


    1. The Saints have posted the best regular-season record in the NFL over the past three seasons yet have lost in the playoffs on an opponent's game-winning drive in each of those seasons; they're the second team in playoff history to be eliminated in three consecutive postseasons on the final play (2013-15 Packers). Out of the top three teams in win percentage over those past three seasons, New Orleans is the only one to have not won a Super Bowl.


    2. According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Saints have the highest chance to make (23%) and win the Super Bowl (13%) in the NFC. It's the second straight season they've entered as the NFC's Super Bowl favorite.


    3. Cameron Jordan returns as the Saints' defensive leader after recording 15.5 sacks last season (third in the NFL); he's one of two players with at least 12 sacks in each of the past three seasons. Jordan's disruptive impact is felt across the board; he created the first pass-rush win on 17 plays that ended in sacks last season, tied for third in the NFL.


    Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    2019: 7-9, third in NFC South
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 8th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 5 | Defense: 4


    Nuggets to know


    1. The Buccaneers signed Tom Brady, the league's all-time leader in quarterback wins. Brady has recorded more playoff victories and 30-touchdown seasons than all of the QBs in Buccaneers franchise history. He replaces Jameis Winston after Winston became the first quarterback to throw 30 interceptions in a season since Vinny Testaverde in 1988.


    2. Last season, Tampa Bay allowed the fewest rushing yards of any NFL team but allowed the third-most passing yards. The Buccaneers' defense is an ascending one, though; from Week 10 on last season, the unit allowed nearly 50 fewer passing yards per game and averaged an extra sack per game as well.


    3. Since 2015, the Buccaneers' best preseason chance to make the playoffs according to FPI has been 33.1%, in 2017. This season, FPI has given them a 62.9% chance to make the playoffs, good for second in the division (Saints, 82.5%) and fifth in the NFC.



    AFC WEST


    Denver Broncos

    2019: 7-9, second in AFC West
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 17th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 8 | Defense: 6


    Nuggets to know


    1. After starting the final five games of 2019, Drew Lock is the undisputed starter at quarterback entering the 2020 season, and there's reason for optimism: the Broncos went 4-1 in his starts. But Lock recorded only a 48.2 QBR, which ranked 24th out of 31 qualified QBs last season, and he has a new coordinator in Pat Shurmur. Lock averaged 6.6 air yards per attempt in 2019, 31st out of 38 players with at least 150 passes; Shurmur's Giants ranked 16th in 2019 (7.9).


    2. The Broncos invested heavily in Lock's supporting cast. In free agency, they added running back Melvin Gordon and offensive lineman Graham Glasgow. The Broncos finished 27th last season in pass block win rate, sustaining their blocks for at least 2.5 seconds on 55% of dropbacks. Glasgow excelled last year, posting a 92.5% pass block win rate in single-team situations, 10th out of 77 qualifying guards. ESPN's pass-blocking metrics are powered by NFL Next Gen Stats.


    3. In the draft, Denver selected Jerry Jeudy 15th overall and KJ Hamler 46th overall, becoming the first team to use its first two picks on wide receivers since the 1996 Jets. Jeudy and Hamler led all 2020 draft-eligible FBS players in yards per reception in the slot over the past two seasons (minimum 75). After Courtland Sutton accounted for 33% of his team's receiving yards in 2019 -- only Michael Thomas had a higher percentage leaguewide -- the Broncos have more options heading into Lock's second season.


    Kansas City Chiefs

    2019: 12-4, first in AFC West; won Super Bowl
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 1st
    Returning starters
    Offense: 11 | Defense: 9


    Nuggets to know


    1. After winning the Super Bowl last season, the Chiefs are hoping that keeping the same core together results in a repeat. And that might not be a bad strategy: Kansas City led the league in offensive efficiency and posted the fourth-best point margin (plus-143) during the regular season despite quarterback Patrick Mahomes missing a pair of games. Every player who started double-digit games returns. According to Elias research, the most recent defending champion to have all such players return and play in at least one game the following season was the 1981 Raiders. That team went 7-9 and missed the playoffs.


    2. He won the regular-season MVP in his first full season as starter and Super Bowl MVP in his second, so what's next for Mahomes, who is the youngest player to win both of those awards? There are some areas in which he can improve. Mahomes posted an 18.4% off-target percentage last season, 20th out of 32 qualifying quarterbacks and worse than his 2018 MVP season (15.9%). On the flip side, according to Elias data, with another MVP award this season, Mahomes would join Jim Brown as the only players to win multiple NFL MVPs at age 25 or younger.


    3. While several major pieces of the Chiefs' secondary return, there are questions. Standout 2019 rookie Juan Thornhill tore his ACL in Week 17; he led Kansas City with a minus-17.7% catch rate below expected as the nearest defender, allowing nine completions on 29 targets, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who had an interception in the Super Bowl, was arrested in late April and could face a separate suspension for a substance abuse violation. Slot corner Kendall Fuller signed with the Redskins.


    Las Vegas Raiders

    2019: 7-9, third in AFC West
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 23rd
    Returning starters
    Offense: 9 | Defense: 6


    Nuggets to know


    1. Derek Carr returns as the Raiders' starting quarterback, but former Titans starter Marcus Mariota will join him in the Las Vegas QB room. Carr had a league-best 95.9 QBR against the blitz last season, but his play style also came with some drawbacks. Of the 15 quarterbacks to attempt 500 passes last season, Carr's 15 completions of 20-plus yards downfield was the fewest. His average pass distance was 6.2 yards downfield, the shortest in the league. Carr has lost a league-high 30 games over the past three seasons and has no guaranteed money left in the last two years of his contract following this season.


    2. In an attempt to produce some more big plays, the Raiders loaded up on wide receivers in the draft. They took three within the first 81 picks, most since the 1982 Saints picked three in the first 68 picks (this classifies Lynn Bowden Jr. as a WR, which was his pre-draft position). Henry Ruggs III was the first wide receiver off the board at 12th overall, and he could fit Carr's quick-passing style perfectly: In 2019, Ruggs caught four passes on slant routes and averaged an absurd 40.3 yards on those receptions, best in FBS (minimum three such receptions).


    3. In 2019, the Raiders played man-to-man coverage on 56.3% of opponent dropbacks, seventh in the league, but allowed 7.5 yards per attempt in that coverage, 26th in the league. So with their second of two first-round picks, they selected Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette. Among 28 FBS players who were the primary defender in at least 30 man-to-man situations last season, Arnette posted the best completion percentage allowed (24.4%).


    Los Angeles Chargers

    2019: 6-10, fourth in AFC West
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 20th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 6 | Defense: 8


    Nuggets to know


    1. For the first time since 2005, the Chargers will start someone other than Philip Rivers behind center; team and player agreed to part ways this offseason, and Rivers is now a Colt. Tyrod Taylor, who most recently started in Week 3 of 2018 for the Browns, is expected to start ahead of sixth overall pick Justin Herbert. Taylor's previous full-time starting job was in Buffalo from 2015 through 17, a stretch during which he rushed for 1,575 yards (second among QBs behind Cam Newton) and posted a 1.3 interception percentage (second behind Tom Brady).


    2. If Taylor or his team struggles early, though, expect the attention to shift toward first-round pick Herbert. In his final season at Oregon, Herbert's completion percentage jumped from 59% the previous year to 67%. He also threw for 15 touchdowns and zero interceptions on "go" routes in 2019, the second-most pass TDs without an interception on such routes in FBS. Herbert is the fourth QB the Chargers have taken in the top 10; the other three (Eli Manning, Ryan Leaf and Marty Domres) combined to win eight games as starting QBs with the Chargers.


    3. With the addition of 2010 All-Decade team member Chris Harris Jr. via free agency and the healthy return of 2018 All-Pro Derwin James, the Chargers should boast one of the league's best secondaries. Harris has allowed a 52% completion percentage as the nearest defender from the slot since 2016, best in the NFL (minimum 70 targets, per NFL Next Gen Stats data). Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Casey Hayward has 13 interceptions since 2016, tied for fifth in the NFL.

    NFC WEST


    Arizona Cardinals

    2019: 5-10-1, fourth in NFC West
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 22nd
    Returning starters
    Offense: 7 | Defense: 6


    Nuggets to know


    1. DeAndre Hopkins was acquired from the Houston Texans in March in exchange for David Johnson. Hopkins is the NFL's most-targeted wide receiver over the past five seasons and ranks second in the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in that span. He joins teammate Larry Fitzgerald, who ranks fifth in receptions in that time.


    2. The acquisition of Hopkins should bode well for second-year QB Kyler Murray. Murray averaged the fewest air yards (8.8) on passes to wide receivers last season. He still finished with the highest Total QBR (56) by a rookie quarterback since Dak Prescott (78) in 2016.


    3. The Cardinals completely overhauled their defense in free agency and the draft, highlighted by versatile first-round pick Isaiah Simmons. Arizona struggled at every turn last season, allowing the most yards in the league and ranking in the bottom five in points per game allowed, time of possession and defensive efficiency. Simmons can anchor a team in many ways, as he was one of two players in FBS last season with at least seven sacks and three interceptions; he also took 100-plus snaps at outside linebacker, inside linebacker, cornerback and safety.


    Los Angeles Rams

    2019: 9-7, third in NFC West
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 11th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 8 | Defense: 6


    Nuggets to know


    1. The Rams' starting running back job appears to be open after the release of Todd Gurley; Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson return alongside draft pick Cam Akers, and they all have something going for them. Brown was a short-yardage back in 2019, as one of only two RBs with five rushing touchdowns on fewer than 100 carries. Over 12% of Henderson's touches went for 10-plus yards. And Akers has history as a blocker in college, being involved in 165 pass blocks last season, fifth most by any FBS back.


    2. New offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has a tough decision to make with personnel. In 2018, the Rams thrived in three-wide receiver sets to the tune of 8.4 yards per attempt and over 5 yards per rush, but that dropped to under 7.3 yards per attempt and 4 yards per rush last season. Cooper Kupp works mostly inside (only 28% of his receptions have come out wide), so O'Connell needs to find a way to work Kupp into two-WR sets or improve their three-WR sets to get the most out of his offense after the Rams dealt Brandin Cooks this offseason.


    3. There was also some upheaval in the defense, with 72-year-old Wade Phillips being replaced by 37-year-old Brandon Staley (Phillips was the Saints' defensive coordinator when Staley was born in 1982). Staley will get to use Jalen Ramsey in his first full season in L.A. as he hopes to turn around a unit that was in the bottom half in the league in third- and fourth-down efficiency and fifth worst in red zone efficiency.


    San Francisco 49ers

    2019: 13-3, first in NFC West; lost in Super Bowl
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 3rd
    Returning starters
    Offense: 7 | Defense: 9


    Nuggets to know


    1. The 49ers are trying to become the third NFC team to lose the Super Bowl and reach the game in the following season (1971 Cowboys, 1974 Vikings). The past few teams to fit this mold? The 2015 Seahawks, 2016 Panthers, 2017 Falcons and 2019 Rams. None won more than 10 games, two missed the playoffs and the other two lost in the divisional round.


    2. Raheem Mostert tore it up in the playoffs with 336 rushing yards and five TDs in three games and appears to be in line to start for the 49ers this season. Mostert has averaged 6.1 yards on 231 career rushes including the postseason, but has yet to start in 51 games played.


    3. Given a stellar defense, talented running game and efficient offense, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo hasn't necessarily been forced to take over a game very often. In last season's playoffs, Garoppolo had just 27 pass attempts entering the Super Bowl, the fewest by any QB since Bob Griese for the 1973 Super Bowl-winning Dolphins. In Super Bowl LIV, Garoppolo went 3-of-11 with an interception in the fourth quarter after going 17-of-20 with a touchdown and an interception in the first three quarters.


    Seattle Seahawks

    2019: 11-5, second in NFC West; lost in divisional round
    2020 preseason FPI rank: 7th
    Returning starters
    Offense: 6 | Defense: 6


    Nuggets to know


    1. The Seahawks have been a run-first team recently, and in the wake of notable RB injuries (Chris Carson -- broken hip -- and Rashaad Penny -- ACL), they signed Carlos Hyde this offseason. It remains to be seen how the veteran Hyde will be used (now on his sixth team in four years), but it's worth noting he reached 1,000 rushing yards last season with Houston. He's also one of four players with three seasons of 900-plus rush yards since 2016.





    2. DK Metcalf played on 83.6% of snaps in his rookie season, but that number ticked up drastically as the season went on, with the wide receiver playing over 90% of snaps in every game from Week 16 through Seattle's divisional-round loss (including 99% in Week 16 and 98% in Week 17). Metcalf recorded 160 receiving yards in his playoff debut last season, most ever by a rookie, per Elias Sports Bureau research.


    3. The Seahawks' defense had been a strong suit for years, but last season Seattle allowed 24.9 PPG, its most in a season since 2010 (25.4). Making matters worse, the Seahawks are unlikely to bring back free agent Jadeveon Clowney, who had 23 more pressures than the next Seattle defender. Even with Clowney last season, the Seahawks generated pressure at the third-lowest rate (23%).

  2. #2
    jjgold
    jjgold's Avatar Become A Pro!
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    I hope you see the camps but right now not going to be camps

    We need to get a hold of Corona

  3. #3
    Chi_archie
    GASPING FOR AIR
    Chi_archie's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 07-22-08
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    Lots of good NFL info in there, thanks

  4. #4
    Chi_archie
    GASPING FOR AIR
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    I think this could be a sneaky year for the Browns following last year's hype, they come in under radar with everything else going on and over achieve with less pressure

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