{"id":686345,"date":"2026-05-22T01:47:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T01:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/686345\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T01:47:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T01:47:11","slug":"nfls-most-improved-position-groups-that-can-swing-the-season-from-rams-cbs-to-patriots-pass-catchers-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/686345\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL&#8217;s most improved position groups that can swing the season, from Rams&#8217; CBs to Patriots&#8217; pass catchers and more"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>An improved position group \u2014 and not just an outright offensive or defensive (or special teams!) unit \u2014 can help drive a team to the top. These improvements can pave the road to a Super Bowl championship, or at the very least keep the road smoother than it would have been otherwise.<\/p>\n<p>Turning a weakness into a strength, or even into just something resembling average, can swing a season. Not giving opponents, especially playoff opponents, an advantage to pick at and hyperfixate on keeps a season alive and sometimes is the main reason for winning a football game. (Think of the Seahawks\u2019 offensive line from 2024 to 2025, going from travesty to something resembling average as the season wore on.)<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at some of the moves, some big, some small, that can help swing the 2026 season.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll start with one of the biggest moves of the offseason.<\/p>\n<p>Rams cornerbacksChris Shula\u2019s defense can maximize oddball personnel<\/p>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/article\/trent-mcduffie-reaches-record-4-year-124-million-deal-with-rams-after-trade-including-100-million-guaranteed-002620827.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Rams sent their 2026 first-round draft pick for Trent McDuffie;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Rams sent their 2026 first-round draft pick for Trent McDuffie&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Rams sent their 2026 first-round draft pick for Trent McDuffie<\/a> and then double dipped on former Chiefs cornerbacks when they signed <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/34199\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jaylen Watson;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Jaylen Watson&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jaylen Watson<\/a> in free agency. <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/teams\/la-rams\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Los Angeles;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Los Angeles&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Los Angeles<\/a> has made the most out of its oddball personnel under defensive coordinator Chris Shula, constantly blitzing and dropping defenders, moving players before and after the snap, and inverting roles in an attempt to confuse quarterbacks.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/fantasysports.yahoo.com\/pickem\/2026-soccer-pickem\/picks\" data-i13n=\"slk:Play 2026 Soccer Pick &#039;Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world&#039;s biggest soccer tournament;cpos:2;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Play 2026 Soccer Pick &#039;Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world&#039;s biggest soccer tournament;slk:Play 2026 Soccer Pick &#039;Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world&#039;s biggest soccer tournament;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Play 2026 Soccer Pick &#039;&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Play 2026 Soccer Pick &#8216;Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world&#8217;s biggest soccer tournament<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Shula\u2019s Rams blitz at a healthy clip, majoring in zone blitzes that attempt to trap the quarterback into making a bad decision after getting heated up. They also use simulated and creeper pressures at a high rate \u2014 defensive calls that \u201cblitz\u201d an off-ball defender but still using only four pass rushers because of another defender dropping from the line of scrimmage. With the constant switching of roles between cornerbacks, safeties and front-seven players, versatility and intelligence can be attributes just as valuable as size, speed and athleticism.<\/p>\n<p>As well as cornerbacks have played under Shula, getting the most out of Day 3 selections like <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/34098\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Cobie Durant;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Cobie Durant&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cobie Durant<\/a> and retreads like Emmanuel Forbes Jr. points to strong coaching and game-planning that maximized those players.<\/p>\n<p>The issue that the Rams ran into last season was when they lost the straight talent battle against the league\u2019s better wide receivers. Or \u201cout-blue chipped\u201d as my colleague Charles McDonald likes to say.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Where Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson fit into Rams\u2019 scheme<\/p>\n<p>This is where McDuffie and Watson come in. Not only are both talent upgrades, but McDuffie has All-Pro ability when playing in the slot and on the outside. And both have experience playing in a defense that likes to blitz and throw a lot of funk at quarterbacks and offensive lines under Steve Spagnuolo in <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/teams\/kansas-city\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Kansas City;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Kansas City&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kansas City<\/a>. The Chiefs and Rams both have similar rates of split coverage (i.e. running two different concepts on each side) over the past two seasons, with a similar rate of Cover 2, a common coverage call behind inverted or simulated looks to make quarterbacks think they\u2019re getting heated up before catching them with a \u201csofter\u201d coverage look.<\/p>\n<p>The Rams led the NFL in using dime personnel (six defensive backs) with 32.4% of their defensive snaps in 2025, the highest rate by an NFL defense since 2020. Three Rams defensive backs, <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/34167\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Quentin Lake;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Quentin Lake&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Quentin Lake<\/a>, <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/41452\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Josh Wallace;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Josh Wallace&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Josh Wallace<\/a> and <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/41447\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jaylen McCollough;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Jaylen McCollough&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jaylen McCollough<\/a>, played more than 100 snaps in the slot, and that\u2019s not even including the 89% slot snap rate that midseason acquisition <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/33990\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Roger McCreary;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Roger McCreary&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Roger McCreary<\/a> posted. McDuffie will start on the outside opposite of Watson, but <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/40033\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Forbes;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Forbes&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Forbes<\/a> is still on the roster, and McDuffie can kick inside and be used wherever Shula wants him to make the most impact on the play. It\u2019s not only a scheme and role fit, it\u2019s a gigantic talent upgrade. And Watson is no slouch himself on the outside; he rates as a slightly better than league average cornerback by both eye test and advanced metrics.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/betting\/article\/super-bowl-betting-odds-lines-for-every-nfl-team-to-win-super-bowl-61-after-schedule-release-001522723.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:3;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Rams currently sit as Super Bowl favorites.;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;The Rams currently sit as Super Bowl favorites.&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">The Rams currently sit as Super Bowl favorites.<\/a> Their offense is going to lead the charge if Sean McVay and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/article\/rams-qb-matthew-stafford-agrees-to-reported-1-year-55-million-extension-for-2027-233029752.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:4;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Matthew Stafford;cpos:4;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Matthew Stafford&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew Stafford<\/a> want to add another ring onto their fingers (and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl-owners-official-los-angeles-223047196.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:5;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:at SoFi Stadium again;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;at SoFi Stadium again&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">at SoFi Stadium again<\/a>, funnily enough). But shoring up their defense was paramount if they want to overcome the Seahawks and other new challengers in the NFC. McDuffie is much more talented than just a stopgap option (which is reflected with his shiny new contract), but it\u2019s as clean of a fit as a team could want when looking outward to upgrade their roster. The Rams just happened to want to do it twice.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t undersell <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/34088\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Romeo Doubs;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Romeo Doubs&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Romeo Doubs<\/a>\u2019 addition to this offense<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPass catchers\u201d is just my way to group in the tight ends here, and it\u2019s not just their receiving ability that could boost the Patriots\u2019 offense this season.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/breaking-news\/article\/romeo-doubs-signs-a-reported-4-year-80-million-deal-with-patriots-181846047.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:6;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:wide receiver the Patriots added already, Romeo Doubs;cpos:6;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;6&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;wide receiver the Patriots added already, Romeo Doubs&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">wide receiver the Patriots added already, Romeo Doubs<\/a>, is an upgrade that should slot everyone into more fitting roles. And the wide receiver the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/breaking-news\/article\/aj-brown-reportedly-not-expected-to-attend-eagles-voluntary-offseason-workouts-amid-trade-speculation-172446846.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:7;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Patriots are reportedly going to add, A.J. Brown,;cpos:7;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;7&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Patriots are reportedly going to add, A.J. Brown,&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Patriots are reportedly going to add, A.J. Brown,<\/a> is the ace to base the passing game around.<\/p>\n<p>Doubs has improved tremendously as a route runner and overall player from his days as a one-side-of-the-field-only wide receiver in Nevada\u2019s traditional Air Raid scheme. He developed an excellent chemistry with <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/32696\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jordan Love;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Jordan Love&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jordan Love<\/a> in <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/teams\/green-bay\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Green Bay;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Green Bay&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Green Bay<\/a>, particularly on out routes; 13.9% of Doubs\u2019 routes were out routes last season, per Next Gen Stats, which would have ranked first in the NFL. And while Doubs has size (6-foot-2, 204 pounds), he isn\u2019t a burner by any means, more thriving in the intermediate range where he can use his bulk, length and ball skills to box out defenders and snatch the football.<\/p>\n<p>The Patriots\u2019 lackluster offensive performances in the playoffs shone a light on how few true needle-moving players this offense had. And that\u2019s before getting into the sometimes-archaic attack under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and offensive line coach Doug Marrone.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Doubs isn\u2019t a burner, but he had four offensive plays where he reached 20 or more miles per hour. The Patriots\u2019 top wide receivers \u2014 <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/28534\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Stefon Diggs;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Stefon Diggs&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Stefon Diggs<\/a>, Pop Douglas, <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/30231\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Mack Hollins;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Mack Hollins&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mack Hollins<\/a> and <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/40224\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Kayshon Boutte;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Kayshon Boutte&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kayshon Boutte<\/a> \u2014 combined for five total last season. (Last season\u2019s third-rounder <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/41864\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Kyle Williams;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Kyle Williams&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kyle Williams<\/a> has long speed, although his role was highly limited to straight go routes from the outside during his inaugural NFL campaign.) Doubs\u2019 top speed of 21.15 mph would have easily ranked first on the team, and Brown reached over 21 mph in 2024, something no Patriots receiver did over that time period.<\/p>\n<p>Diggs is gone, and while the remaining Patriots receivers aren\u2019t outright slouches, they perhaps spent last year playing in roles that were larger than suited. Doubs will now slot in as someone who\u2019s been effective against man coverage; only Diggs had better underlying metrics against man coverage from the outside last season, and he was asked to do it at about double the rate and on targets that averaged almost 3 yards further down the field.\u00a0Boutte was one of the NFL\u2019s most improved players and actually led the league in catch rate over expected (21.2%; more on CROE in a moment). He\u2019s also not a burner, but was still an effective target on the outside for <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/40881\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Drake Maye;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Drake Maye&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Drake Maye<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Maye was excellent for stretches last season before being overwhelmed as the Patriots\u2019 true talent deficiency showed its warts. He has no qualms with throwing into tight spaces or tight windows, with his completion percentage on tight window throws hitting the third-highest mark since Next Gen Stats began tracking the number in 2018. His 41 tight window completions trailed only the 43 from <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/29369\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Dak Prescott;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Dak Prescott&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dak Prescott<\/a>, a fellow tight window aficionado. And I think it\u2019s easy to argue that Maye completed those with significantly lesser talent.<\/p>\n<p>Potential A.J. Brown addition would really allow the pass catching core to thrive<\/p>\n<p>Brown is a proven difference maker against any type of coverage and in multiple offenses. I don\u2019t want to get ahead of myself before he\u2019s officially on the roster, which should happen around June 1. But while Doubs has been effective on outbreakers and stop routes, Brown fills out the rest of the route tree with his downfield ability and whenever he wants to tap into the Fountain of YAC in which he bathed himself at the beginning of his career.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen if Brown\u2019s drop in speed last year was because of injuries, age or disinterest, or maybe a combination. Perhaps fresh surroundings will help inject another surge in performance while playing with Maye. Even a slightly diminished Brown will be easily the most talented receiver on the Patriots\u2019 roster. And his downfield and explosive play potential on inbreakers will fit in perfectly with Maye\u2019s aggression, while also pushing the rest of <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/teams\/new-england\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:New England;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;New England&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New England<\/a>\u2019s pass catchers into better roles as complementary pieces.<\/p>\n<p>Mack Hollins, for example, as a dirty work blocker and auxiliary target is a much more appetizing proposition than running high-leverage routes in the Super Bowl.\u00a0And tight end <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/29269\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Hunter Henry;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Hunter Henry&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hunter Henry<\/a> \u2014 who commendably scraps as a run blocker even though it isn\u2019t his calling card \u2014 can take on a receiving role more reflective of his current ability, instead of a featured act meant to put you over the top.<\/p>\n<p>Patriots\u2019 TE room better suited to Josh McDaniels\u2019 play-calling preferences<\/p>\n<p>McDaniels has loved using heavier personnel groupings throughout his time as an NFL play-caller, with five seasons of using two or fewer wide receivers on over 50% of his offense\u2019s snaps, including in 2025 when New England\u2019s 50.2% rate ranked ninth in the NFL. The Patriots beefed up their tight end room in free agency by signing <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/40629\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Julian Hill;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Julian Hill&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Julian Hill<\/a> from the division rival Dolphins.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been a fan of Hill, an undrafted player out of Campbell, in his young career. He\u2019s a gritty blocker who is a solid enough athlete to be not a total nothing as a pass catcher. He should be asked to play a key role in getting the Patriots\u2019 outside run game going to create more explosives in an offense that felt too mucky, outside a few home runs from 2025 second-round selection <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/41823\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:TreVeyon Henderson;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;TreVeyon Henderson&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">TreVeyon Henderson<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/gametime.hnyj8s.net\/R0baDy\" data-i13n=\"cpos:8;pos:1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Find NFL tickets on Gametime;cpos:8;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;8&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Find NFL tickets on Gametime&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\">Find NFL tickets on Gametime<\/a> |<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/article\/2026-nfl-schedule-release-guide-kickoffs-matchups-broadcast-networks-for-all-32-teams-005129213.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:9;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:More NFL team schedules;cpos:9;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;9&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;More NFL team schedules&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\"> More NFL team schedules<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Patriots had the highest rate of outside runs getting stuffed (a gain of zero or negative yards) last year on early-down runs. A whopping 27% of those outside runs resulted in a gain of nothing or worse, a startling amount that had me double-checking the filters I was using on Next Gen Stats. The Raiders\u2019 abysmal run game was the only ground \u201cattack\u201d that was close.<\/p>\n<p>New England wasn\u2019t done in adding to the tight end room, selecting Eli Raridon from Notre Dame in the third round of this year\u2019s draft. I was high on Raridon; <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/article\/2026-nfl-draft-final-big-board-fernando-mendoza-is-no-1-jeremiyah-love-is-top-3-in-full-75-player-edition-204945765.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:10;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:he ranked as a top-50 player on my last big board;cpos:10;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;10&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;he ranked as a top-50 player on my last big board&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">he ranked as a top-50 player on my last big board<\/a>, and I think he projects as another true \u201cY\u201d tight end who can make a living as a blocker in-line next to the offensive tackle. His blocking tape was truly great in college, and when combined with his size (6-6, 248) and athleticism, it makes me optimistic to what he can grow into. Especially with the flashes of explosive receiving ability he had at Notre Dame, too.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>On top of that, the Patriots went out and signed another favorite of mine from another divisional rival when they plucked the always useful <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/33357\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Reggie Gilliam;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Reggie Gilliam&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Reggie Gilliam<\/a> from the Bills. Gilliam can line up at fullback or as a wing tight end, and has proven to be a solid checkdown option in the pass game. He was truly the rug that tied the room together at times for the Bills\u2019 offense. And that sheer usefulness should, give McDaniels more options and personnel groupings on the play-calling menu.<\/p>\n<p>The Patriots took advantage of an easy schedule to make a run to the Super Bowl last season, and the (projected) Brown signing will grab headlines. But I think the Patriots made some real quality moves to help fill in the cracks of their offense on top of the headline-grabbing move that is about to come. The holes and weaknesses they overcame last year are at the very least shored up with quality players rather than patchwork answers. A real tip of the cap by using every means possible to raise the ceiling and floor of their offense and team.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/teams\/la-chargers\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Chargers;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Chargers&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chargers<\/a> tight ends (with a dollop of Mike McDaniel)Run game could look as explosive as Dolphins\u2019 was under McDaniel<\/p>\n<p>First off: This is another section about a potential AFC playoff team adding tight ends to help out their outside run game.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Second off: The thought of <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/32676\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Justin Herbert;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Justin Herbert&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Justin Herbert<\/a> with offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has me like <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PWvQH82b3wE\" data-i13n=\"cpos:11;pos:1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Milhouse playing Bonestorm;cpos:11;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;11&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Milhouse playing Bonestorm&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\">Milhouse playing Bonestorm<\/a> for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s even more than Herbert, too. The thought of <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/41807\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Omarion Hampton;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Omarion Hampton&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Omarion Hampton<\/a>\u2019s explosive-play ability with a sprinkling of <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/40641\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Keaton Mitchell;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Keaton Mitchell&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Keaton Mitchell<\/a>\u2019s <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nitrous_oxide\" data-i13n=\"cpos:12;pos:1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:NOS;cpos:12;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;12&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;NOS&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\">NOS<\/a>-like speed for good measure with McDaniel has me giddy. It\u2019s also the thought of (hopefully healthy) <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/33401\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Rashawn Slater;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Rashawn Slater&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rashawn Slater<\/a> and <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/40876\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Joe Alt;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Joe Alt&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Joe Alt<\/a> pulling out in space on tosses and sweeps and reverses and screens.<\/p>\n<p>The Dolphins ran the third-most runs to the outside over the past two seasons, constantly getting <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/article\/running-back-revival-maybe-dolphins-were-ahead-of-the-curve-with-devon-achane-and-his-contract-160553857.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:13;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:De\u2019Von Achane;cpos:13;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;13&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;De\u2019Von Achane&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">De\u2019Von Achane<\/a> and other speedsters with momentum in space to turn on the jets and create explosive after explosive. And while <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/41951\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Oronde Gadsden;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Oronde Gadsden&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Oronde Gadsden<\/a> II had real moments as a receiver in his rookie year, he\u2019s currently a TINO (Tight End in Name Only) whose forays into blocking leave a lot to be desired.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Omarion Hampton (8) could shine in Mike McDaniel's new Chargers offense. (Photo by Ishika Samant\/Getty Images)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/dd66d54c-f64d-4f59-92e3-577d86e40b9e.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Omarion Hampton (8) could shine in Mike McDaniel&#8217;s new Chargers offense. (Photo by Ishika Samant\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p> (Ishika Samant via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>While there has been handwringing over the Chargers not adding a true high-end guard this off-season \u2014 though I did like the <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/32816\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Tyler Biadasz;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Tyler Biadasz&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tyler Biadasz<\/a> signing, and did like Jake Slaughter as a prospect, though more at center than guard \u2014 boosting their tight end room can bring a real upgrade to their run game, too. And it\u2019s no mistake that the Chargers not only brought over McDaniel favorite <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/32344\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Alec Ingold;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Alec Ingold&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alec Ingold<\/a> as the Swiss Army Knife fullback to help make the offense go, they signed two tight ends that can more than hold their own in-line in <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/34084\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Charlie Kolar;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Charlie Kolar&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Charlie Kolar<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/breaking-news\/article\/david-njoku-chargers-reportedly-agree-to-1-year-deal-after-te-hit-free-agency-for-first-time-122508253.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:14;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:recent addition David Njoku.;cpos:14;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;14&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;recent addition David Njoku.&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">recent addition David Njoku.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Both players will provide an advantage and help a run game that ranked 28th in success rate on early down outside runs over the past two seasons (32.4% compared to the Dolphins\u2019 39.6%). Hampton has the speed to take advantage of the huge opportunities that McDaniel should be able to provide with his run game designs; just watch <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tWnB6ijY5pE\" data-i13n=\"cpos:15;pos:1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Hampton\u2019s 12-carry, 128-yard performance against the Giants;cpos:15;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;15&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Hampton\u2019s 12-carry, 128-yard performance against the Giants&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\">Hampton\u2019s 12-carry, 128-yard performance against the Giants<\/a> in Week 4 last year to get an idea of what this might look like every week. Only 5.8% of the Chargers\u2019 early down designed runs have resulted in an explosive gain over the past two seasons, which ranks 29th in the NFL. It might not hit the 10.7% mark the Dolphins have achieved over that same time period (which ranks second), but I would not be shocked if the Chargers\u2019 explosive run mark was closer to that 10% number than the league average of 7.6%.<\/p>\n<p>Chiefs running backsKansas City desperately needs some RB production<\/p>\n<p>This one is pretty simple. The Chiefs\u2019 running backs for the past couple of seasons could get exactly what was blocked for them \u2014 but all too often not an inch more than that.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>So Kansas City sorted the available running back options in this year\u2019s free agency class by speed and went out and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/article\/nfl-free-agency-grade-chiefs-invest-in-rb-sign-super-bowl-mvp-kenneth-walker-iii-185227223.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:16;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:signed Kenneth Walker III;cpos:16;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;16&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;signed Kenneth Walker III&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">signed Kenneth Walker III<\/a>, fresh off his playoff run with the Seahawks capped by a Super Bowl MVP performance.<\/p>\n<p>The run game not creating anything outside of <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/30123\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Patrick Mahomes;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Patrick Mahomes&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Patrick Mahomes<\/a> scrambles has been a real issue over the past couple of seasons as the Chiefs offense has felt tighter and tighter with the pass catchers not being up to snuff and no one able to blow the whole thing open. Only 3.9% of the Chiefs designed run plays have resulted in an explosive gain (12 or more yards) over the past two seasons, easily last over that time period and further constricting an offense that has felt suffocating recently.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"562\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/screenshot-2026-05-21-at-50944-pm_0318.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The 2025 Chiefs offense ranked 755th out of 768 NFL offenses in explosive designed runs since 2002. And that 4% mark was an improvement over their 2024 number of 3.8%, which ranked 758th.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Chiefs\u2019 offensive line can provide for an effective run game<\/p>\n<p>The Chiefs\u2019 offensive line has talent, and they\u2019ve been able to consistently provide the push needed for an effective run game despite Andy Reid\u2019s propensity for the pass and a bottom-end running back room. <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/41817\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Josh Simmons;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Josh Simmons&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Josh Simmons<\/a> has Pro Bowl ability, while <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/40909\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Kingsley Suamataia;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Kingsley Suamataia&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kingsley Suamataia<\/a>, who just turned 23, greatly improved last year into a starting-quality player with even more upside to tap into. <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/33451\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Creed Humphrey;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Creed Humphrey&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Creed Humphrey<\/a> is a <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.nfl.com\/news\/bears-ol-joe-thuney-first-ever-nfl-protector-of-the-year-award\" data-i13n=\"cpos:17;pos:1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Protector of the Year;cpos:17;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;17&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Protector of the Year&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\">Protector of the Year<\/a>-type player, <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/33614\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Trey Smith;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Trey Smith&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trey Smith<\/a> can be inconsistent but also has stretches of high-end play, and <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/33543\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jaylon Moore;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Jaylon Moore&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jaylon Moore<\/a> should be able to step in at the right tackle spot after signing last year.<\/p>\n<p>While I\u2019ve previously mentioned teams upgrading their blocking tight end situation, the Chiefs weren\u2019t one of those teams, instead choosing to focus on upgrading their defense and trotting out the same players as before, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/breaking-news\/article\/chiefs-agree-to-terms-with-eric-bieniemy-bringing-back-oc-to-reignite-offense-231419248.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:18;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:with even \u201cnew\u201d coaches being retreads of prior Chiefs staffs.;cpos:18;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;18&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;with even \u201cnew\u201d coaches being retreads of prior Chiefs staffs.&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">with even \u201cnew\u201d coaches being retreads of prior Chiefs staffs.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>How Kenneth Walker III fits into Chiefs\u2019 offense<\/p>\n<p>This is where Walker comes in. Walker is an explosive player who can have inconsistent vision, sometimes relying too much on his speed, but those forays are worth tolerating because of the explosive plays he can create.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Mapping out below the rushing success rate and explosive designed run numbers for just RBs in 2025, and you can see how Walker\u2019s ability to create should be a welcome addition of explosive chaos for an offense desperately needing it. Walker is the red dot, and while his success rate is almost the same as the Chiefs\u2019 last year, his explosive run rate ranked second among the 21 NFL running backs with 200 or more rushes last year. And his 10% rate still ranked fifth among the 49 running backs with 100 or more rushes.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"558\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/screenshot-2026-05-21-at-51740-pm_9358.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Walker will also open up the Chiefs\u2019 screen game, with <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/42012\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Brashard Smith;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Brashard Smith&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brashard Smith<\/a> and fifth-round selection Emmett Johnson offering big-play ability that area, too.<\/p>\n<p>The Chiefs still need more, especially at the pass catcher spots, but their OL and run game has a chance to be a real driver to success for them until Mahomes returns from injury. Even using <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/33399\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Justin Fields;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Justin Fields&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Justin Fields<\/a> on what used to be packages for <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/26686\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Travis Kelce;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Travis Kelce&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Travis Kelce<\/a> as a de facto wildcat quarterback will add more venom to what\u2019s been a toothless aspect of the Chiefs\u2019 offense.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Other improved NFL units to watchVikings offense<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/article\/kyler-murray-vikings-marriage-isnt-the-cleanest-fit-ever-but-theres-intrigue-and-potential-abound-232637477.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:19;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:I wrote about Kyler Murray\u2019s fit with the Vikings;cpos:19;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;19&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;I wrote about Kyler Murray\u2019s fit with the Vikings&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">I wrote about Kyler Murray\u2019s fit with the Vikings<\/a> a couple months ago. The crib notes version: It\u2019s a fit I like, with parts I might even say I really like, even if it\u2019s not exactly perfect. They also added <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/32887\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jauan Jennings;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Jauan Jennings&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jauan Jennings<\/a>, an ideal fit for their two other starting wide receivers as a power slot that adds run blocking chops. Jennings is at the very least on the podium for best blocking wide receiver in the game right now, and can also play on the outside if needed. The Vikings\u2019 run game was the best it\u2019s been under Kevin O\u2019Connell in 2025, and they even added a Day 2 offensive tackle in Caleb Tiernan that has swing versatility to insulate themselves so that the entire season won\u2019t get derailed by offensive tackle injuries.<\/p>\n<p>Vikings defensive line<\/p>\n<p>On the defensive side, I love the swings <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/teams\/minnesota\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Minnesota;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Minnesota&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Minnesota<\/a> took with Caleb Banks and Dominique Orange. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/article\/nfl-drafts-most-fascinating-prospect-might-be-caleb-banks-a-planet-theory-specimen-who-struggles-with-1-major-thing-212058678.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:20;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Banks has game-wrecking upside and while he still needs to work on finishing plays;cpos:20;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Banks has game-wrecking upside and while he still needs to work on finishing plays&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Banks has game-wrecking upside and while he still needs to work on finishing plays<\/a>, his ability to disrupt will give him at least a tangible role earlier as he gets healthy and further refines his game. That ability to move in a big frame also applies to Orange. Orange was often asked to slant and move on defensive games as part of Iowa State\u2019s standard defensive plan. While it was a great way to highlight his light feet, it wasn\u2019t the best way to rack up box score stats. In Brian Flores\u2019 scheme, it\u2019s easy to project how the Vikings are going to use Orange, and the flashes he\u2019s shown to hold up on standard rush paths are also a glimpse at a plus-starter upside if he makes the most of his ability.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Bengals defensive line<\/p>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/article\/giants-trade-disgruntled-dt-dexter-lawrence-to-bengals-for-no-10-overall-draft-pick-002832178.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:21;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Bengals adding Dexter Lawrence;cpos:21;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;21&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Bengals adding Dexter Lawrence&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Bengals adding Dexter Lawrence<\/a> and <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/33995\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Boye Mafe;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Boye Mafe&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Boye Mafe<\/a> will provide heaps and heaps of disruption to both the inside and outside of their defensive front. <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/30130\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jonathan Allen;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Jonathan Allen&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Allen<\/a> will also be able to do the same for batches of snaps as he enters the back stretch of his career. All three players can blow up the offense\u2019s play right away, but all three can be inconsistent on finishing plays (or even going rogue at times when hunting those explosive plays in the backfield). If they had a steadier presence behind them at linebacker, I might be able to wave some of this away. But they don\u2019t have a steady presence behind the defensive line. I don\u2019t want to be too down here, because I do like aspects of what the Bengals have cobbled together on the defensive side of the ball. There\u2019s just a real chance of them still being boom and bust against the run. Perhaps that\u2019s enough to give their offense chances at the ball. The Bengals have a lot of possible outcomes this season. Their front seven kind of epitomizes what I think this team is: oftentimes explosive, sometimes frustrating.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Cowboys linebackers and defensive backs<\/p>\n<p>The Cowboys\u2019 back seven could only get better, and it did this offseason through the draft and the middle-class moves they made in free agency. All the players added are clean fits for new coordintor Christian Parker\u2019s defense to boot. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/article\/2026-nfl-draft-grades-giants-among-4-teams-with-an-a-while-a-super-bowl-contender-doesnt-do-so-hot-051100373.html#dallas-cowboys\" data-i13n=\"cpos:22;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Caleb Downs is going to be the cog in the middle;cpos:22;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;22&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Caleb Downs is going to be the cog in the middle&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Caleb Downs is going to be the cog in the middle<\/a> and <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/32623\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jalen Thompson;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Jalen Thompson&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jalen Thompson<\/a> will help shore things up as well. Cobie Durant isn\u2019t a great fit for everyone, but he fits well in zone-heavy schemes that let him use his awareness and ability to play the ball. Even a hybrid fit draft pick like Jaishawn Barham makes sense as an off-ball linebacker and edge defender based on the situation and look.<\/p>\n<p>Titans defensive line and linebackers<\/p>\n<p>The Titans\u2019 front seven is definitely grabbing my attention this season. There\u2019s an array of maulers and mashers up front, with a fun dynamic duo of linebackers in Cedric Gray and Anthony Hill Jr. behind them. That\u2019s worthy of getting a screen every Sunday (<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/article\/5-nfl-teams-didnt-get-prime-time-treatment-the-league-told-the-jets-raiders-titans-dolphins-and-cardinals-what-it-thinks-of-rebuilds-035431517.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:23;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:and only Sunday for the Titans this season;cpos:23;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;23&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;and only Sunday for the Titans this season&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">and only Sunday for the Titans this season<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Browns and Texans offensive lines<\/p>\n<p>Last but not least, I appreciated the Browns and Texans being so proactive with their offensive lines. Both overhauled their units, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/breaking-news\/article\/browns-reportedly-acquire-tytus-howard-in-trade-with-texans-sign-him-to-3-year-63-million-extension-130814301.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:24;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:at times thanks to each other;cpos:24;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;at times thanks to each other&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">at times thanks to each other<\/a>. And both should give their teams some things they desperately need. First, versatility for both. Second, for the Browns, something to assess the rest of their offense (<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/video\/is-todd-monken-leaning-toward-starting-deshaun-watson-230214720.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:25;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:and if Deshaun Watson is still worth anything at all;cpos:25;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;25&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;and if Deshaun Watson is still worth anything at all&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">and if Deshaun Watson is still worth anything at all<\/a>). And finally for the Texans, a way to improve one of the league\u2019s worst run games over the past few seasons and a real shot at winning the AFC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"An improved position group \u2014 and not just an outright offensive or defensive (or special teams!) unit \u2014&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":686346,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[28656,183208,64,63,75220,145518,133465,17470,33952,330635,222309,224840,1273,19980,51510,55397,5374,68580,6587,19985,190375,17597,330636,85890,85887,80738,17461,6582,245025,65950,213919,143736,5368,24606,13521,30576,93482,20794,93122,19367,5380,481,65106,6588,5387,5384,593,158818,15008,130308,6584,5348,224965,43812,312405,134188,26822,85,15203,45132,192694,14068,39786,6293,78982,257350],"class_list":["post-686345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-a-j-brown","tag-alec-ingold","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-boye-mafe","tag-brashard-smith","tag-caleb-downs","tag-chargers","tag-charlie-kolar","tag-chris-shula","tag-cobie-durant","tag-creed-humphrey","tag-dak-prescott","tag-david-njoku","tag-defensive-backs","tag-dexter-lawrence","tag-drake-maye","tag-forbes","tag-green-bay","tag-hunter-henry","tag-jalen-thompson","tag-jauan-jennings","tag-jaylen-mccollough","tag-jaylen-watson","tag-jaylon-moore","tag-joe-alt","tag-jonathan-allen","tag-jordan-love","tag-josh-mcdaniels","tag-josh-simmons","tag-josh-wallace","tag-julian-hill","tag-justin-fields","tag-justin-herbert","tag-kansas-city","tag-kayshon-boutte","tag-keaton-mitchell","tag-kenneth-walker-iii","tag-kingsley-suamataia","tag-kyle-williams","tag-kyler-murray","tag-los-angeles","tag-mack-hollins","tag-matthew-stafford","tag-minnesota","tag-new-england","tag-nfl","tag-offensive-line","tag-omarion-hampton","tag-oronde-gadsden","tag-patrick-mahomes","tag-patriots","tag-quentin-lake","tag-rashawn-slater","tag-reggie-gilliam","tag-roger-mccreary","tag-romeo-doubs","tag-sports","tag-stefon-diggs","tag-the-patriots","tag-the-rams","tag-travis-kelce","tag-trent-mcduffie","tag-treveyon-henderson","tag-trey-smith","tag-tyler-biadasz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/686345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=686345"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/686345\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/686346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=686345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=686345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=686345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}