It’s been an eventful two years for former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. After the Steelers went 3-0 down the stretch to close the 2023 season under Mason Rudolph , clinching a playoff berth in the process, the writing appeared to be on the wall for the University of Pittsburgh product. The Steelers signed Russell Wilson on the first day of the 2024 league year, which led to Pickett requesting a trade. Pittsburgh sent him to Philadelphia , and he was the backup quarterback to Jalen Hurts when the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. In the 2025 offseason, Pickett was traded once again, as he was dealt to the Cleveland Browns for a fourth-round pick. According to Pickett’s former college coach, Pat Narduzzi, the trade away from Philadelphia is a move that Pickett wanted very badly. “The Eagles did not want to trade him,” Narduzzi said on 99.9 The Fan . “He begged to be traded because he wanted to compete, and he felt like he wasn’t going to have a chance to beat out Jalen Hurts.” Pickett competed throughout the spring and summer of 2025 to be the Browns’ starter alongside Joe Flacco , Dillon Gabriel , and Shedeur Sanders . When it was made clear Flacco would be the starter, the Browns traded Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders . He now finds himself with the Carolina Panthers after signing as a free agent. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Ben Roethlisberger says Steelers should release Mason Rudolph Steelers’ Mike McCarthy named coach on hot seat in 2026 Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark releases statement following ESPN firing Steelers WR Roman Wilson listed as player with most on the line in 2026 Former Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell arrested in Ohio
NFL training camps open up this week, which means the fantasy football season is fast approaching. While most teams know who will be the starting QB come Week 1, others will be figuring that out in heated competitions. Yahoo analyst Matt Harmon poses the biggest QB questions for fantasy going into training camps. Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season Of all the quarterback battles we’ll discuss here, the one taking place in Minnesota is the least likely, in my view, to be a real competition. The Vikings are insistent that J.J. McCarthy will get an even shot to be the QB1 over Kyler Murray but I’m highly skeptical. My sentiment isn’t unique. Maybe Murray doesn’t hit as the starter; perhaps McCarthy can improve over an all-out flop season in his first showing as a pro. At this current moment, Murray, while a flawed player, is a better option heading into Week 1. McCarthy’s 4.31 adjusted net yards per pass attempt in 2025 ranked 40th out of 45 passers with 100-plus attempts. Murray ranked 37th with 4.72, by far the lowest mark of his career. Even in his worst season as a pro in a far inferior environment, Murray was objectively better than McCarthy. Unless McCarthy is just a dramatically improved version of the player we saw last year, I expect Murray to start the vast majority, if not all, of the games in 2026. As the starter, his rushing chops alone make him a clear QB1 candidate in fantasy but he’s also a strong fit in a Vikings’ passing game that’s extremely downfield oriented, even if he won’t access the middle of the field as much as Sam Darnold did for Kevin O’Connell in 2024. The Browns attempted to soft-launch the idea that Deshaun Watson would get another crack as their starter in 2026, despite missing all of last season. Coming out of OTAs, it sounds like Shedeur Sanders has closed the gap. That probably says more about Watson’s current lack of potency, which should be no shock considering how the last few years have gone for him. Now, Sanders wasn’t great in his own right last season. His 35.5% dropback success rate ranked 43rd out of 45 qualifying passers last season, besting only Jets UDFA rookie Brady Cook and his teammate Dillon Gabriel . I can hear an argument that he’s slightly better than those numbers and could even take a step forward with improved talent around him and a better play-caller in Todd Monken installed as the head coach. My guess is we see both Watson and Sanders make starts for Cleveland this season. We may even get a Taylen Green start toward the end of the season if the Browns want to take a look at the highly-athletic quarterback; get ready to see him in sicko waiver wire columns, if so. All this means is the Browns don’t have their 2027 quarterback on the roster but we should still track this situation since they do suddenly have an abundance of interesting young weapons. Other than the fact they’re both left-handed, it’s hard to get two more different stylistic passers than Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. Tagovailoa gets rid of the ball quickly and operates well over the middle, despite obvious arm strength limitations. Penix doesn’t throw over the middle much and has a laborious throwing motion but can access deep outside-the-numbers throws thanks to his aggressive mindset and howitzer of an arm. That sets the Falcons up for a quietly intriguing quarterback battle in camp, if Penix is healthy enough to push for the QB1 gig coming off an ACL tear. I’d bet that Tagovailoa opens the season as the starter, but we see Penix at some point. Given their disparate approaches to playing quarterback, it would be hard to argue that the specific starter won’t have an effect on how players like Drake London , Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts Sr. score fantasy points this season. It’s a little bizarre that we’re set to open training camps and the Cardinals still don’t have an agreement in place that satisfies both their desires and what Jacoby Brissett wants [... truncated ...]
By this time next week, all 32 NFL teams will have reported to training camp for the 2026 season. Camp content flooding the internet is a major indicator that fantasy football drafts are right around the corner. Before we start building championship rosters, it’s important to monitor training camp battles at each position for certain teams in order to get a grasp on the value of certain players. Let’s look at some key quarterback and running back training camp battles that are the most relevant for fantasy football purposes. Candidates: Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel Baker Mayfield in 2020 is the last time the Browns have had one quarterback start every game in a single season. Aside from Mayfield, Cleveland has had 12 different quarterbacks start at least one game over the last five seasons. That includes Deshaun Watson , Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel , all of whom will compete for the starting job in 2026, as well. New head coach Todd Monken did preview this training camp battle during OTAs stating that the Browns had “two starting-level quarterbacks,” referring to Watson and Sanders. To be blunt, it’s difficult to get excited about either of the two and, as a result, any of the pass catchers in Cleveland. Watson is returning from two Achilles tears in October 2024 and January 2025. Sanders started seven games last season, averaging just 193.2 passing yards per game. The Browns did draft KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston with the 24 th and 39 th picks, respectively, but Jerry Jeudy did draw 106 targets last season and, as of now, is still on the team. Harold Fannin Jr. had one of the greatest rookie seasons ever for a tight end, recording a 72/731/6 receiving line on 107 targets. He is probably the safest pick regardless of which quarterback is out there for the Browns. Fannin no longer has to compete with David Njoku for snaps. He also averaged 13.5 PPR points per game with Sanders at quarterback, compared to 10.5 points per game with a combination of Gabriel and Joe Flacco . Candidates: Fernando Mendoza, Kirk Cousins Las Vegas has a new face of the franchise in quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, they signed veteran Kirk Cousins just a few weeks before selecting Mendoza. This is significant especially in consideration to minority owner Tom Brady ’s opinion on rookie quarterbacks. He’s on record back in 2024 expressing his thoughts that it’s “a tragedy that we’re forcing these rookies to play early.” There’s really no reason for Mendoza to take the field as a rookie. Las Vegas is still a work in progress in regard to legitimately competing with the Chiefs, Chargers and Broncos in the AFC West. The Raiders also don’t have much beyond Brock Bowers in the passing game. Tre Tucker , Jalen Nailor and Jack Bech top the depth chart at wide receiver. So, while there is still an opportunity at a training camp battle between Mendoza and Cousins, it’s likely the latter who is out there in Week 1. Based on what we saw now Vegas head coach, but then Seattle offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, do with the Seahawks’ offense last season, Bowers and Ashton Jeanty are still priority picks for fantasy football even if Cousins starts the entirety of the season. Falcons candidates: Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr. Vikings candidates: Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy Tua Tagovailoa is owed $54 million in guaranteed money this season. However, the Miami Dolphins are on the hook for just over $52 million of it following his release. Meanwhile, the Falcons, who signed Tua to a one-year deal, paid just $1.215 million to do so. It’s a bargain for a team in desperate need of someone to support a star-studded group of offensive playmakers that includes Bijan Robinson , Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. While there may appear to be a training camp battle between Tua and Michael Penix Jr., it’s hard to imagine Penix as the Week 1 starter after tearing his ACL last November; the third of [... truncated ...]
Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson are engaging in what is expected to be one of the NFL's tightest quarterback battles ahead of the 2026 season. Despite the competition, Sanders insisted while hosting a free youth football camp in Brooklyn, Ohio, that the two have a good working relationship and are trying to help one another improve. "I would say it's the same thing that we've been saying from Day 1," Sanders said, per Cleveland.com . "We're both trying to be the best version of ourselves we could be. So we're not going to let anything get in between that. So it's a level of respect that we all in the quarterback room have for each other. "And we're not really emotional when it comes to things that we can't control. We mainly focus on and thrive on getting better in the work every day. So if I like something he's doing, I ask. If he likes something I do, then [he] asks. It's conversation, and that's what's most effective." OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs) RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions) WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears) OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs) RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions) WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears) Sanders is coming off a rookie season during which he started seven games for the Browns . He led the team to a 3-4 record in seven starts while completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The 2025 fifth-round pick had begun his time in Cleveland as a fourth-string quarterback before slowly climbing up the depth chart. By comparison, Watson didn't play at all in 2025 after tearing his right Achilles tendon twice in the span of three months. He spent the entire campaign recovering and has only played 19 total games in his four seasons with the Browns to date. Even so, first-year coach Todd Monken has been impressed with each quarterback. He noted in June that both "functioned at a high level" during offseason activities and that he wouldn't name a starter before training camp because of that. "They've both played well enough to earn the right to compete to start," Monken said at the time. But again, Sanders and Watson haven't let that competition get in the way of their relationship. In fact, they have used it as a springboard to try to build chemistry with their teammates, as the two co-hosted a passing camp in Miami ahead of training camp. Sanders referred to his experience working with his teammates during that camp as "truly amazing." "I think it was extremely important that us as a group, for whoever was available, was available to come down to Miami," Sanders said. "And there were a couple other players that schedules didn't align with it, but it's all good for those that came and stuff. It was truly amazing. And we felt a different type of bond just outside of the facility, outside of these things. "And we all vow to continue doing our part and keep it going while we're here. Those relationships and how funny it is when you have a lot of dialogue and in different situations where a lot of your teammates is very fun and it's exciting. You create these real memories, these real bonds, and it's irreplaceable. So I'm truly thankful that it happened. I know everybody that came was excited and we had a great time." Sanders and Watson will each be hoping the repetitions they got with their teammates in Miami will help them once Cleveland's training camp begins . Browns rookies are set to report to camp on July 23 while veterans will join them on July 28. This article origina
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One of the most intense quarterback battles will take place in Cleveland this offseason, as Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders will battle for the right to lead the Browns starting offense onto the field Sept. 13 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars . Watson is now finally healthy after tearing his right Achilles tendon twice in the span of four months. The $230 million-dollar man sat out the entire 2025 season and is looking to reclaim his title of QB1. His direct competition, Sanders, made the Pro Bowl as a rookie last year after going 3-4 in his seven starts, and is already one of the most polarizing players in the entire league. In about a week, both quarterbacks will take to the practice field in Berea, Ohio and try to win over new head coach Todd Monken. Sanders spoke about the ongoing quarterback battle while hosting a free youth football camp in Brooklyn, Ohio, this week, and said that he and Watson are fighting to be the best versions of themselves. Part of that means helping each other. "I would say it's the same thing that we've been saying from Day 1," Sanders said, via Cleveland.com . "We're both trying to be the best version of ourselves we could be. So we're not going to let anything get in between that. So it's a level of respect that we all in the quarterback room have for each other. "And we're not really emotional when it comes to things that we can't control. We mainly focus on and thrive on getting better in the work every day. So if I like something he's doing, I ask. If he likes something I do, then [he] asks. It's conversation, and that's what's most effective." Sanders and Watson even co-hosted a passing camp for their Browns teammates in Miami earlier this month, where they reportedly bonded with some time off the field. "I think it was extremely important that us as a group, for whoever was available, was available to come down to Miami," Sanders said. "And there were a couple other players that schedules didn't align with it, but it's all good for those that came and stuff. It was truly amazing. And we felt a different type of bond just outside of the facility, outside of these things. "And we all vow to continue doing our part and keep it going while we're here. Those relationships and how funny it is when you have a lot of dialogue and in different situations where a lot of your teammates is very fun and it's exciting. You create these real memories, these real bonds, and it's irreplaceable. So I'm truly thankful that it happened. I know everybody that came was excited and we had a great time." 61.2% 56.6% 177.1 175.0 19 7 12 10 6.0 6.6 80.7 68.1 Sanders said he improved how he does "everything" in his life this offseason, whether it's how he sleeps, breathes or even drinks water. His rookie season was a bit of a mixed bag. While Sanders did become the first Browns quarterback since 1995 to win his first NFL start and supplanted Dillon Gabriel , who was drafted over Sanders last year, he still struggled. Since his NFL debut in Week 11, Sanders has owned the second-worst completion percentage (57%) and thrown the most interceptions (10). His 68.1 passer rating ranked second-worst in the league, as did his TD-INT ratio (7-10). There are clearly areas where Sanders needs to improve, but he's not close to his ceiling. We can't say the same thing about Watson. Since that fateful trade in 2022, where the Browns sent the Houston Texans three first-round picks for their quarterback and signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed extension, Watson has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL. He has started just 19 games over his four years in Cleveland, winning nine of them, and owns the league's worst completion percentage, yards per attempt and TD-INT ratio since being traded. This was a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback who led the NFL in passing in 2020. The Browns front office is holding out hope that Watson can turn it around in the final year of his contract, and it w
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Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson are set to continue their competition to become Cleveland’s QB1 at training camp later this month. But before that, the two recently were down in South Florida training with some of the club’s skill players to prepare. At his youth football camp over the weekend, Sanders said that’s part of the attitude they want to put forth in the competition — they are willing to put everything aside to come together as a team. “I would say it’s the same thing that we’ve been saying from Day 1,” Sanders said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “ We’re both trying to be the best version of ourselves we could be . So we’re not going to let anything get in between of that. So it’s a level of respect that we all in the quarterback room have for each other. “And we’re not really emotional when it comes to things that we can’t control. We mainly focus on and thrive on getting better in the work every day. So if I like something he’s doing, I ask. If he likes something I do, then [he] asks. It’s conversation, and that’s what’s most effective.” Cabot noted that Cleveland’s top receivers Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond, Cedric Tillman, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston were among the attendees at the workouts in Miami. “I think it was extremely important that us as a group, for whoever was available, was available to come down to Miami,” Sanders said. “And there were a couple other players that schedules didn’t align with it, but it’s all good for those that came and stuff. It was truly amazing. And we felt a different type of bond just outside of the facility, outside of these things. “And we all vow to continue doing our part and keep it going while we’re here. Those relationships and how funny it is when you have a lot of dialogue and in different situations where a lot of your teammates is very fun and it’s exciting. You create these real memories, these real bonds, and it’s irreplaceable. So I’m truly thankful that it happened. I know everybody that came was excited and we had a great time.” Browns rookies are set to report to training camp in Northeast Ohio on July 23, with veterans reporting on July 28
The Cleveland Browns face a quarterback competition between veteran Deshaun Watson and rookie Shedeur Sanders, while their wide receiver room is also a point of interest with new additions Tylan Wallace, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston. The article also touches on past disappointing trades and previews the tight end position for training camp
Training camp battles loom for several teams, particularly at tight end for the Chargers with additions of Charlie Kolar and David Njoku alongside returning Oronde Gadsden. In Carolina, Chuba Hubbard faces competition from a healthy Jonathon Brooks for the starting running back job. Meanwhile, the Browns will see Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders competing for the starting quarterback position
Who on the roster would bring back a 1st-round pick in a trade? (Thomas Moore) – “You make the call as general manager: which players currently on the Cleveland Browns roster would bring back at least one first-round draft pick in a trade?” Cleveland Browns training camp 2026: WR preview, Part 1 – Suddenly loaded with options? (Chris Pokorny) – “Next up on our Cleveland Browns training camp preview is the wide receiver position. It was one of the most ridiculed positions on the team last year, with many saying it was the worst group in football. Heading into this year’s camp, though, we’re mostly debating who the No. 4 receiver should be. Is that a good thing?” Sophomore Slump: Can Browns LB Carson Schwesinger repeat his rookie success? (Barry Shuck) – “Now that linebacker Carson Schwesinger is the darling of 2025, he is gearing up for the upcoming season. He is coming in with a sense of excitement to prove his worth and value and has familiarity, having played a year at the next level.” What are the expectations for TE Harold Fannin in year two? Browns Reacts Survey (Chris Pokorny) – “As we continue our Reacts polls leading up to Cleveland Browns training camp, now we focus on the team’s most potent weapon on offense last year: tight end Harold Fannin.” So, we meet again, Mr. Bond! Cleveland Browns 2026 training camp position preview: Quarterbacks (Beacon Journal) – “The biggest battle of training camp will be Deshaun Watson vs. Shedeur Sanders to be the starting quarterback entering the 2026 season. The likelihood this is settled before the end of August feels slim, just because of the format of the preseason.” Browns fans feel new hope ahead of 2026 training camp thanks to 3 main reasons (cleveland.com) – “Over the last two seasons of three and five wins, Cleveland Browns fans haven’t had much to feel optimistic about. Is that tide finally turning?” Assessing the Browns’ linebackers heading into the 2026 season (clevelandbrowns.com) – “The Cleveland Browns linebacker room is anchored by the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year in Carson Schwesinger and a new veteran in Quincy Williams , who has experience working with defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg.” New public group to own new Browns stadium (Fox 8) – “Brook Park City Council approved the creation of a new community authority to own and manage the Cleveland Browns new stadium complex now under construction. At a public hearing, some residents had questions about the authority.” Execs, coaches, scouts rank top NFL safeties for 2026 (ESPN) – “Modern safeties are versatile, and teams are deploying them in different parts of the field with frequency. The latest trend in the NFL is utilizing a safety with size as a “big nickel,” putting them in the slot to disrupt closer to the line of scrimmage. That has worked for the Baltimore Ravens thanks to the No. 1-ranked player at the position, and the Seattle Seahawks perfected it with a rookie who is almost a hybrid linebacker/safety.” Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald doesn’t ‘care’ about NFC West moves, feels no different after Super Bowl title (NFL.com) – “Mike Macdonald’s mentality hasn’t changed after raising a Lombardi Trophy in Seattle. The Seahawks coach simply endeavors to get the most out of his players each year.” Why A.J. Brown is the Patriots’ most intriguing player as they eye Super Bowl return (The Athletic) – “When the massive trade finally landed, and A.J. Brown was at long last a member of the New England Patriots, it didn’t feel like a huge blockbuster. That was in part because Myles Garrett was sent to the Los Angeles Rams on the same day and because Brown going to the Patriots felt inevitable for weeks. But that doesn’t diminish the significance of the trade.”
I’ve got a theory about the Browns’ quarterback competition. It’s a simple one, which is roughly the limit of my cognitive ability. It goes back to a clip that emerged early in the offseason program. The quarterbacks were doing a basic drill. Catch the snap, fake a pitch, make the drop into passing position, and throw the ball. Three times each. Deshaun Watson did it crisply and cleanly. For Shedeur Sanders, it was lackadaisical, especially with the fake pitch. Shedeur is a gamer. He performs when it counts. He has yet to embrace the process of checking various boxes in practice. And, in my opinion, new Browns coach Todd Monken is trying his damnedest to get Shedeur to do that. And so, early in the offseason, the indications were that Watson had emerged as the leader for the QB1 role. Near the end, it seemed that Shedeur was making progress. My guess — and it’s just a guess — is that, at some point, Monken explained to Shedeur that he can’t wait until the games to flip the switch. He needs to earn the right to have that opportunity by doing all of the little things when it’s not a live situation. If that’s what happened, it may have worked. The test will be training camp. Every day, every practice, every rep. Focus, effort, repeat. Along the way, Shedeur will become better prepared to perform when it’s time to do so. Watson will have a say in the process, too. If Shedeur does everything well, Watson will have to do it even better. But that’s the key. Full commitment to the process of learning, and executing, Monken’s offense. Of course, if Shedeur does it well enough to win the job, the challenge becomes doing it well enough to hold the job beyond 2026. The quarterback door in Cleveland has been revolving for years; as much as the team would like for it to stop spinning, they need someone who’ll play well enough, and win enough games, to get them to not keep looking for the next name to go on the back of the jersey that ran out of space a long time ago. Shedeur has shown he can be good. Monken’s goal will be to get Shedeur to make the full commitment to being great. Which means ditching any traces of a Brett Favre-style mindset of not caring about anything but the game and caring deeply about everything else
Browns training camp ticket availability announced, registration opens Wednesday (Jared Mueller) – Time for Cleveland Browns training camp is coming quickly, with ticket availability opening on Wednesday. Browns fans set low expectations for Jerry Jeudy (Chris Pokorny) – Browns fans are not high on Jerry Jeudy heading into the season. Browns roster: Safety depth chart and expectations (Thomas Moore) – Cleveland’s top three safeties are set for the moment. But how will the rest of the unit’s depth look in 2026? Browns: Veteran QB schooled rookies on substance over style (Thomas Moore) – Netflix series reveals Joe Flacco having some fun with Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel about life in the NFL. Can Harold Fannin Jr. build on record-setting rookie year with Browns? (Beacon Journal) – The breakout star of the Browns offense in 2025 was tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Can Todd Monken revive the Browns offense and field a winning team in his 1st year? (cleveland.com) – As Browns mandatory minicamp came to a close on June 11, Notorious B.I.G. blared over the loudspeakers to cap an afternoon full of bangers. Looking at the Browns’ defensive line ahead of the 2026 season (clevelandbrowns.com) – The Browns made a major change to their defensive line during the offseason with the blockbuster trade of Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams . So, who among the defensive linemen will take a step forward this season? 2026 NFL season: New coach-player scheme pairings to watch (ESPN) – Today’s NFL has more offseason movement than ever, and with that movement comes an abundance of new coach-player pairings. Half of the league has a new offensive playcaller this year, which in turn puts many incumbent playmakers in reimagined roles. Cowboys edge rusher suspended for the first 3 games of the year (Blogging the Boys) – A short time before training camp opens up for the Dallas Cowboys , we do have some roster related news as the NFL announced that reserve defensive edge rusher Charles Snowden has been suspended for the first three games of the NFL season. What can Patriots QB Drake Maye do for an encore after near-MVP season? (The Athletic) – It’s easy to forget or discount after their disappointing showing in the Super Bowl, but the New England Patriots produced the NFL’s best offense last season. They ranked No. 1 in expected points added per play, No. 1 in EPA per dropback, No. 1 in passing success rate, No. 1 in explosive play percentage, and second in points per game and yards per play
Welcome back to an annual tradition. We once again rank each NFL team's "triplets," otherwise known as their quarterback-running back-pass-catcher trio. It's a term that harkens back to the days of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, who led the Dallas Cowboys to a trio of Super Bowl victories in a four-year span. And we still use the phrase today. For the most part, the rankings defer to veteran skill-position players unless it is clear that a younger player would take the top spot, and it means erring on the side of caution when it comes to injuries. For example, Fernando Mendoza checked in at quarterback for the Raiders despite expectations that Kirk Cousins would start the year under center. Mike Evans represented the 49ers' top pass catcher ahead of George Kittle , while Malik Nabers remained the top option for the Giants . This is, incredibly, our 10th year ranking triplet groups. But in case you haven't read prior versions last year (2025) or the year before that (2024) or the year before that (2023) or the year before that (2022) or the year before that (2021) or the year before that (2020) or the year before that (2019) or the year before that (2018) or the year before that (2017), here's how the crew here at CBSSports.com recently set out to rank each team's triplets: John Breech, Tyler Sullivan, Jordan Dajani, Bryan DeArdo, Garrett Podell, R.J. White, Zach Pereles, Carter Bahns and myselt represent the decision makers. Without further ado... QB: Shedeur Sanders , RB: Quinshon Judkins , WR: Harold Fannin Jr . The Browns ranked 32nd in last year's rankings, and they check in dead last once again. Sanders was arguably the worst quarterback in the league, and it feels like this ranking is driven mostly by the expected production the Browns will get at that position because people have a pretty high opinion of Judkins despite his paltry 3.6 yards-per-carry average, and Fannin had a really nice rookie year. QB: Malik Willis , RB: De'Von Achane , WR/TE: ??? The group couldn't even come up with a pass-catcher to use for the Dolphins . Should it be Jalen Tolbert ? Tutu Atwell ? Malik Washington ? Greg Dulcich ? Rookie Chris Bell , who will likely miss a chunk of the season recovering from a knee injury? And yet, the Dolphins didn't even come in last here. That's mostly because of the respect that everyone has for Achane, who is one of the best and most explosive backs in the NFL , though Willis has his fans as well. Miami fell off 16 spots from last season, the largest drop in the league, thanks to the departures of Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill . QB: Cam Ward , RB: Tony Pollard , WR: Carnell Tate Ward's rookie season was a disaster, with horrid offensive line play and a struggling pass-catching corps undermining his performance. The Titans added a pair of wideouts in Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson , but Pollard is heading into his age-29 season, and there is little to point to in Ward's stat line that indicates that he's going to be a lot better. QB: Geno Smith , RB: Breece Hall , WR: Garrett Wilson IV The Jets fell six spots here despite replacing Justin Fields with Geno Smith. It feels like they're being punished for Smith's awful season in Las Vegas, which unfolded under horrendous circumstances in arguably the NFL's worst offensive environment. (Tennessee is the only team that has an argument for being worse.) Smith is also getting up there in age, though, so it's possible that he's just on the downslide of his career and will never get back what he had for a few years in Seattle. The Jets and the next three teams on the list were separated by a total of 0.2 points in the rankings. QB: Bryce Young , RB: Chuba Hubbard , WR: Tetairoa McMillan The Panthers moved up just one spot despite Young showing some improvement and McMillan putting together a very good debut season (70 catches for 1,014 yards and 7 touchdowns). This ranking doesn't show much faith in Young to take the next step as a passer, and tha
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The Cleveland Browns are facing numerous roster questions heading into training camp, particularly at cornerback, linebacker, and in finding a replacement for Myles Garrett. The team is also looking to integrate new defensive schemes and evaluate young talent. Key players like Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, and Shedeur Sanders are mentioned in discussions about the team's future
Deshaun Watson faces a battle for the starting QB job in Cleveland against Shedeur Sanders. Watson's career has been hampered by injuries and off-field issues, and he missed the entire 2025 season. Despite low expectations and a QB32 ADP, he could offer value as a third quarterback in superflex leagues if he wins the job and stays healthy in Todd Monken's offense
July has arrived, which means the commencement of training camps are just around the corner. As teams fine tune their rosters in the coming weeks in pursuit of their ultimate goal, winning a Super Bowl , which positional needs remain? Although it feels much longer ago, the Packers acquired Micah Parsons from Dallas in exchange for draft compensation and defensive tackle Kenny Clark last August. Although it did not have ramfications on last year's postseason, many expected that it would at the time of the deal. There were several other small-scale moves executed in exchange for draft considerations. The Dolphins claimed cornerback Juju Brents on waivers and now he is in line to start for the team this season. Center Luke Fortner was acquired by the Saints from the Jaguars. He spent most of the 2025 season blocking for breakout rookie Tyler Shough and parlayed that into a contract from the rival Panthers this offseason. Negligible transactions in the moment can make both short- and long-term impacts. Which positions could be of interest to your respective favorite NFL team ? Here is one perspective on the biggest need for each AFC team ahead of the 2026 NFL regular season: Cincinnati has several question marks on its roster, but there is young talent in some areas that just needs to play better: edge rusher, cornerback, linebacker, etc. The linebacker unit, in particular, stood to benefit from the addition of a veteran, but the team opted to run it back with last year's second- and fourth-round draft picks Demetrius Knight Jr . and Barrett Carter . The tackling up the middle needs to be a lot better in 2026. Without question, quarterback is the worst position on Cleveland's roster. Fans are convincing themselves that Shedeur Sanders pushing Deshaun Watson is a positive but, given how Watson has performed since arriving in northeast Ohio, isn't that a concern? Having said all of that, what options are available at the game's most important position? Instead, the attention is on the slot defender and defensive tackle. The slot position is minimized by the addition of safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren as the third safety. At defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. has yet to blossom and Maliek Collins is returning from injury. Mason Graham is the only known commodity. There are concerns all over Baltimore's roster. Lamar Jackson has missed at least four games in three of the past five seasons. It is easy to see a situation in which the offensive line is underwhelming. There is a lack of proven commodities with height in the pass game. Derrick Henry is 32 years old. Nnamdi Madubuike may or may not return from a significant injury this season and Marlon Humphrey , Trey Hendrickson average over 30 years old. And yet, I am buying new head coach Jesse Minter to make it work. Linebacker, opposite Roquan Smith , is a spot that stands out the most. Safety and running back were the two positions that came to mind. Although, linebacker could use more from Patrick Queen this season. Pittsburgh has been comfortable with Jaylen Warren at running back for quite some time and Rico Dowdle has been serviceable, if not good, when given the opportunity. Between those two and last year's third-round pick Kaleb Johnson , the Steelers should be able to get enough out of the position. DeShon Elliott and Jaquan Brisker have found success at points in their respective careers, but there have also been some lean times. Which version will the Steelers see this season? Indianapolis addressed its biggest need in 2025 with cornerback Sauce Gardner . Green Bay traded for Indianapolis' most productive linebacker ( Zaire Franklin ) and the position had already been a point of weakness. The Colts drafted CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher , but are otherwise relying upon traveled veteran Akeem Davis-Gaither , who has a history with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Wide receiver is a sneaky candidate as well, following the Michael Pittman Jr. trade. Indianapolis had an e
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This article discusses various aspects of the Cleveland Browns' roster and potential moves, including their defensive tackle depth, the possibility of signing cornerback Terrion Arnold, a 2027 mock draft featuring Jeremiah Smith and Drew Mestemaker, Johnny Manziel's reflections on his draft position, the impact of the NIL era on quarterback development, a hypothetical breakout candidate after a trade involving Myles Garrett, and the developing quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns' quarterback competition between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson is a major focus, with the starter likely to be decided after joint practices and the second preseason game. Tight end Harold Fannin is expected to have a breakout season, potentially reaching 100 catches. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins aims to build on a promising start before a leg injury derailed his season. The team also boasts a strong offensive line with new coaching and a promising outlook for first-round draft pick Spencer Fano
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
