You might think you know what's going to happen in the 2023 NFL season, but the fact is nobody does. There are always surprises.
Predicting surprises can feel a little a silly. If we could predict them, they wouldn't be surprises, after all. But the point of this annual exercise is to take some things I've come across in my offseason reporting and turn them forward to predict stuff you aren't expecting that might just happen. We do one for every team, which is always fun because I never know which fan base is going to be mad -- although I know at least one will. We hit on a few of these each year, and this year's set of potential surprises includes offensive breakouts, depth-chart sleepers, trade possibilities and stat leader candidates.
Let's get started in the AFC East, which includes a few running back nuggets.
Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
Don't be surprised if ... running back James Cook becomes a star in this offense.
What I'm hearing: The Bills were 20th in rushing attempts last season (430), but they were second in yards per rush (5.2). And you're saying, "Yeah, but that's because of Josh Allen." But the Buffalo's running backs were actually tied for first in yards per rush last year at 4.9 yards per carry, and Cook averaged 5.7.
Second-year offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey knows he needs to tweak the approach. And even if they don't run more, Cook is a really good pass-catcher and can contribute there. He has drawn rave reviews throughout training camp. Cook was the 63rd pick in the 2022 draft, well ahead of Rachaad White and Dameon Pierce -- two players I know you're more fired up about drafting in fantasy than you are about Cook. But the last time the Bills rook a running back that high was C.J. Spiller in 2010, and before that, it was Marshawn Lynch in 2007. Buffalo has all kinds of incentive to get Cook the ball and let him showcase his big-play ability.
Miami Dolphins
Don't be surprised if ... Miami stands pat at running back.
What I'm hearing: Yes, the Dolphins played around on Dalvin Cook and talked to the Colts about Jonathan Taylor, but they weren't willing to stretch for either. They let a division rival pay Cook's price and didn't meet the Colts' asking price on Taylor. Would the Dolphins have enjoyed adding one of those potential game-breaking backs? Of course. And it's certainly not out of the question that they still could bring in someone. But that they decided they'd do it only at their terms tells you they're happy with the backs they have.
Raheem Mostert is likely to be the starter, with Jeff Wilson Jr. filling a prominent role and rookie De'Von Achane in the mix, as well. Miami will be open to opportunities to add difference-makers to the offense at any position, including running back. Just don't expect the Dolphins to blow up their plan or their budget to do it.
New England Patriots
Don't be surprised if ... wide receiver DeVante Parker has a big season.
What I'm hearing: Parker, a first-round pick by Miami in 2015, is having an outstanding summer as the Patriots' top wide receiver and could be poised for a great year in Bill O'Brien's offense. Now, yes, I'm well aware that we've heard this kind of stuff before on Parker. Somewhat amazingly, he's headed into his ninth NFL season. In only one of the previous eight has he managed to stay healthy enough to play every game. He has always seemed to have the ability to be a No. 1 wide receiver, but he has never really sustained that level of performance.
But little seems to be expected of this Patriots offense this season, and if you're looking for a spot where they could surprise, take another look at Parker, who averaged 17.4 yards per catch with New England in 2022.
New York Jets
Don't be surprised if ... running back Dalvin Cook is the Jets' leading rusher in the first half of the season.
What I'm hearing: The Jets still love Breece Hall, and I think the plan is for Hall to be the lead guy in the backfield by the end of this season. But he's also coming off a season-ending knee injury, and one of the reasons for the Cook signing was so New York could take the pressure off Hall's recovery timetable.
The Jets view Cook as the ideal runner for their scheme, as well as a guy who can make big plays as a receiver out of the backfield. They like his ability to block in the passing game. He likely will open the season as something close to a three-down back and remain that at least through September, while the team increases Hall's workload carefully and gradually.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
Don't be surprised if ... wide receiver Zay Flowers is the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
What I'm hearing: Flowers' ability to create separation is really standing out in training camp. Other than tight end Mark Andrews, there's no one in the Ravens' receiving corps who has a ton of experience with quarterback Lamar Jackson, so there's nothing stopping the rookie from becoming his second-favorite target. Once upon a time when I was covering the Giants, I remember Eli Manning telling us a rookie receiver named Odell Beckham Jr. was doing a great job of getting open in practice. Beckham went on to set rookie records. If you're open, you're the QB's best friend, and Flowers can get open.
If Jackson clicks in the new offense right away, Flowers -- who went for more than 1,000 yards and caught 12 touchdowns at Boston College last season -- could put up massive numbers.
Cincinnati Bengals
Don't be surprised if ... rookie running back Chase Brown carves out a role in Year 1.
What I'm hearing: The fifth-round pick from Illinois has been impressive throughout camp and the preseason, particularly surprising the Bengals with his abilities in the passing game -- a place where he didn't get used a ton in college (28 catches last year). Could he leapfrog Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams for the No. 2 running back spot behind Joe Mixon? Maybe as the year goes on, if not right away.
And although Mixon was found not guilty on aggravated menacing charges in connection with an alleged road rage incident in January, the NFL has made it clear time and again that exoneration by the legal system doesn't prevent the league from enacting discipline. It's not out of the question that Mixon will have to serve some sort of suspension this season, which would open up opportunities for all of the other RBs on Cincinnati's roster.
Fifth-round pick status doesn't guarantee that Brown is the Bengals' long-term answer at the position, but if he keeps impressing, he could build himself a prominent role for 2024 or even sooner.
Cleveland Browns
Don't be surprised if ... edge rusher Myles Garrett wins Defensive Player of the Year.
What I'm hearing: OK, so this is a repeat prediction from last August, and he didn't win it then, but everything I'm hearing from Browns camp is that Garrett has been on another level this summer.
A few years back, when Aaron Donald used to hold out of training camp over his contract, someone in the Rams' front office told me they thought Donald's absence actually benefited the offense because the O-line would become so demoralized going against him every day in practice and their confidence was higher when he was away. It sounds as if Garrett is instilling similar feelings in the Browns' offensive line. And with Jim Schwartz installed as the new coordinator and Za'Darius Smith there to complement him in the pass rush, Garrett could be in for a monster season. He had his second straight 16-sack season in 2022.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Don't be surprised if ... Jaylen Warren is the lead running back by the end of the season.
What I'm hearing: Yes, Najee Harris was the team's first-round pick in 2021. Yes, he has been a productive and reliable No. 1 back in his first two years, even as the offense overall struggled. And yes, he was coming off a foot injury at the start of last season, which helps explain why his production didn't live up to that of his rookie year. So Harris is still firmly in the Steelers' plans and opens the season as their top back.
But Warren's performance in practice and games has demanded a larger role for him than what Pittsburgh had planned a year ago. He has shown the ability to spell Harris whenever asked, and he has actually looked more explosive in some areas. Unless Harris looks more like the 2021 version of himself than the 2022 version, Warren's opportunity could increase dramatically as the year goes on. Warren, a 2022 undrafted free agent, took 77 carries for 379 yards last season.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
Don't be surprised if ... Houston plays pretty good defense.
What I'm hearing: The offense is likely to be a work in progress around rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and a largely untested receiving corps. Houston tried to reinforce the offensive line to help Stroud's transition as much as possible, but that unit came out of training camp in bad shape healthwise. It could be tough for the Texans to score this season.
But it could also be tough to score against them. New coach DeMeco Ryans has spent the offseason teaching the defense and establishing the kind of culture he wants on that side of the ball. The personnel has been reinforced with young, fresh players such as rookie Will Anderson Jr. and veterans such as Sheldon Rankins. Houston is at the beginning of a rebuild, but if it can manage to stay in some games by frustrating opposing offenses with tough, disciplined defense, that would be a good start.
Indianapolis Colts
Don't be surprised if ... quarterback Anthony Richardson leads the league in interceptions.
What I'm hearing: Don't take this the wrong way; I love Richardson's talent and think he has a chance to be a superstar. So do the Colts. In fact, they actually think he's further along than the pre-draft evaluations had us believe. There are going to be throws and drives and even whole games in which he does things other people simply can't physically do. But Richardson started only 13 games in college, and he will be developing while playing in real NFL games. He threw nine picks on 327 pass attempts in his final year at Florida. So he's going to make mistakes, bad decisions and head-scratching throws.
Indianapolis is throwing him in there right away because the Colts believe his character and makeup are such that the inevitable low points of a tough rookie season won't crush him or set back his progress. They know that he has the ability, inclination and desire to learn from his mistakes and that what he needs most is experience. But the Year 1 Anthony Richardson experience is likely to feel like a roller coaster. And that's especially true if he doesn't have running back Jonathan Taylor -- which he does not for at least the first four games.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Don't be surprised if ... wide receiver Christian Kirk's production takes a dip, even as the offense improves.
What I'm hearing: Calvin Ridley, who missed all of last year on a gambling suspension, has been the talk of Jaguars camp. He's a legitimate No. 1 outside receiver who has quickly established a rapport with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars' offense should be electric this year, and Lawrence could be an MVP candidate.
But with Ridley and Zay Jones best suited for outside receiver duties, Kirk is likely going to be confined to the slot even more than he was in 2022. Last year, 27% of Kirk's routes, 27% of his targets, 29% of his catches, 26% of his yards and 50% of his touchdowns came when he was lined up outside. If all of those disappeared, he still would have been a productive player (60 catches, 815 yards, four touchdowns). He just wouldn't have been the No. 19 wide receiver in fantasy points per game.
Ridley's arrival could make those outside opportunities for Kirk dry up. Buyer beware if you're having your fantasy draft this weekend.
Tennessee Titans
Don't be surprised if ... another team trades for quarterback Malik Willis.
What I'm hearing: The Titans were very pleased with the preseason performance of Willis, a third-round pick from the 2022 draft. There's still a chance he'll open the season as the backup behind starter Ryan Tannehill and ahead of 2023 second-round pick Will Levis. And if he's on the team this year and Tannehill has to miss time, Willis could very well get a chance to start before Levis does.
But the pick Tennessee used on Levis strongly indicates a belief that he can be the team's starter eventually, which would leave Willis as the odd man out. His ability and physical traits made him a highly regarded prospect before the 2022 draft, and there are definitely teams that would be interested if and when the Titans decide to move on from him.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
Don't be surprised if ... Samaje Perine is the Broncos' lead running back for a good chunk of the season.
What I'm hearing: Javonte Williams has been practicing and even got some preseason game time, which is remarkable coming off the right knee injury that ended his 2022 season early. But in talking to people close to that situation, it sounds as though Williams needs to be eased in. The Broncos signed Perine, a former Bengal, thinking he could be a complement to Williams once the latter got healthy, and because he's a potential major contributor as a third-down blocker and pass-catcher. But if Perine shows he can handle early-down work, that could help Denver take its time with Williams and bring him along slowly until he's fully healed. Perine rushed for 394 yards on 95 carries last year in Cincinnati.
Kansas City Chiefs
Don't be surprised if ... the Chiefs get off to a slow start.
What I'm hearing: Defensive tackle Chris Jones has missed a grand total of seven games over his seven-year career. The Chiefs' season-opener is one week from tonight, and Jones still hasn't shown up for camp because he's in a contract dispute with the team. He said on social media that he's willing to hold out until Week 8. At this point, even if the contract got done today and he showed up tomorrow, there's a decent chance he wouldn't play in Week 1 or maybe even Week 2 while he ramps up into football shape.
Jones is the Chiefs' pass rush, plain and simple. They have 215 sacks over the past five years, and he has 56.5 of them. (That's 24% of them. I did the math. You're welcome.) Jones' incredible ability to rush the passer from the interior is a major reason Kansas City has been able to patch things together on the edge in recent years, and without him, it's probably not going to work. It's why he's asking for so much money, of course, and unless he and/or the Chiefs relent at least a little, he could miss a chunk of regular-season games.
Kansas City, as usual, has one of the league's toughest schedules on paper, as ESPN's Football Power Index ranks it second in the NFL in strength of schedule. The margins in the AFC this year look very thin among the top teams. If a Jones absence costs the Chiefs even a couple of early-season games, that could be very costly to their Super Bowl title defense.
Las Vegas Raiders
Don't be surprised if ... you start to hear wide receiver Davante Adams' name thrown around as the trade deadline gets closer in October.
What I'm hearing: I'm not saying they'll trade him. I don't know if they'd even consider it. But the Raiders are likely going to be terrible this season, and Adams went there to play with a quarterback who got benched before Adams' first season with the team ended and is now in New Orleans. If he doesn't believe he fits in the Jimmy Garoppolo-led offense, and if the season in Las Vegas gets off to a bad start, Adams could absolutely start making noise about wanting out. And coach Josh McDaniels has never been shy about trading away players he doesn't believe fit his program.
It's far more likely Adams will get traded in the offseason, but October isn't out of the realm of possibility. He turns 31 in December and has $16.89 million in guaranteed salary on the books for 2024, so it wouldn't necessarily be easy. But if he continues to perform like he has, there should be interested teams. Just last season, he broke 1,500 receiving yards for a second consecutive year and caught 14 touchdowns.
Los Angeles Chargers
Don't be surprised if ... quarterback Justin Herbert sets statistical career highs across the board.
What I'm hearing: For the record, Herbert's current career highs include 2021's 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns and last season's 68.2% completion percentage. Why could he surpass those marks this year? Well, he's working with a new offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore.
Moore helped build Dak Prescott into a top NFL quarterback during his time in Dallas. It's no insult to Prescott to say Herbert has more raw talent, because Herbert might have more raw quarterback talent than anyone. Los Angeles coach Brandon Staley told me that he thinks Moore excels at not bogging down the QB with ancillary stuff and that it will allow Herbert to play faster and more aggressively this season. The Chargers believe that they saw evidence of this throughout camp and that their fourth-year signal-caller could be headed to another level.
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Don't be surprised if ... Dallas adds a running back at some point.
What I'm hearing: It's not likely to be an earth-shattering addition. The Cowboys weren't in on Dalvin Cook or Jonathan Taylor at the contracts those backs were commanding. They weren't even one of the teams that brought in Kareem Hunt for a workout when teams were doing that. If they add a big name to the RB room, it'll be at a significant discount. Regardless, with Rico Dowdle and undersized rookie Deuce Vaughn as the primary backups to Tony Pollard (whose workload the team wants to manage to keep him most effective), the room might benefit from a veteran back. Pollard's 193 carries ranked 23rd in the NFL last season while he shared work with Ezekiel Elliott, and he has not had north of 200 carries in any collegiate or pro season.
Fortunately for the bargain-hunting Cowboys, running back contracts are really low right now. If someone like, say, Leonard Fournette (just as an example, not to say they're interested in him specifically) were to decide he wanted to play for a contender on a low-level deal, that could make some sense.
New York Giants
Don't be surprised if ... tight end Darren Waller leads the team in catches.
What I'm hearing: Coach Brian Daboll remembers that it took a couple of years for the Bills to build a wide receiver corps around Josh Allen when Daboll was their offensive coordinator. The Giants have an intriguing wide receiver room, but no one in it has established himself as a true No. 1 target, and it's possible the team will still be looking for a WR1 next offseason.
In the meantime, Waller is the guy who can best create mismatches in the middle of the field and get open for quarterback Daniel Jones. He had more than 1,000 yards in 2019 and 2020 before missing time in each of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Jones has looked Waller's way often throughout the summer, and if Waller can put his injury issues from recent years behind him, he's the strongest candidate on the roster to emerge as the top receiver -- at least until Daboll finds whoever his Stefon Diggs will be in New York.
Philadelphia Eagles
Don't be surprised if ... defensive tackle Jalen Carter wins Defensive Rookie of the Year.
What I'm hearing: Seen as potentially the most talented prospect in the 2023 draft, Carter fell to No. 9 for reasons that had nothing to do with football. (He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing in connection with a fatal crash.) The Eagles, who have spent the past two drafts collecting players from Georgia's two-time defending national championship defense, were happy to snatch him up.
Carter has been the talk of Philadelphia's training camp, and coaches and teammates believe he's ready to make an impact that reflects the ability of a No. 1 pick. He should be disruptive from the interior defensive line right away. Some in the building have brought up Aaron Donald comparisons, which seem like a little bit much but show you the kind of impression he's making. It doesn't hurt that he's surrounded by so many former college teammates. The Eagles' ability to fill in holes on their defense with young players will be key to their sustaining success. Carter is a major part of that plan.
Washington Commanders
Don't be surprised if ... wide receiver Dyami Brown has a real role in the offense.
What I'm hearing: Brown has been a standout in the offseason, even in a talented Commanders wide receiver room. Big things are expected of 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson, and Terry McLaurin is still looked at as the No. 1. But McLaurin suffered a toe injury in the final preseason game that could linger into the season, opening up opportunities for others further down the Washington depth chart.
The Commanders have been impressed with the improvements Brown has shown this offseason, and they like his ability to make contested catches and win in crowded parts of the field. And it absolutely does not hurt that he spent two years playing at North Carolina with newly anointed Commanders starting quarterback Sam Howell.
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
Don't be surprised if ... quarterback Justin Fields keeps running.
What I'm hearing: I asked a Bears official if the team wanted Fields to run less this season to avoid putting himself in harm's way. The response was, "Well, we want him to get hit less," which indicates it might not be as simple as running him less. In watching the 55 sacks Fields took in 2022, it seemed as if a lot of them were the result of indecisiveness in the pocket, which is understandable for a young QB and should be something that gets better this year.
The acquisition of DJ Moore has been a major improvement for the receiver room, and that upgrade plus another offseason of work should help this passing game evolve. But Fields isn't just a good runner -- he's a historically special runner at the QB position, picking up 1,143 yards on the ground last year. Look for Chicago and Fields to keep finding creative ways to use his running ability as an asset that keeps drives alive and occasionally leads to a really big scoring play.
Detroit Lions
Don't be surprised if ... Ben Johnson is the hot head-coaching interview candidate in January.
What I'm hearing: The Lions' 37-year-old offensive coordinator was on teams' interview lists this past January, but he politely declined the opportunities because he thought he could use more experience as a coordinator and liked what the team has going in Detroit. Johnson seems to have unlocked something with quarterback Jared Goff, who posted the second-highest Total QBR in the league from Weeks 10 to 18 last year (behind only Patrick Mahomes) and threw 15 touchdown passes and no interceptions while the Lions went 7-2 over that stretch.
Expectations are high for a big year in Detroit, and if Johnson and Goff can carry their momentum over into this season, Johnson is going to get even more attention from head-coach-needy teams next offseason.
Green Bay Packers
Don't be surprised if ... this is the year AJ Dillon overtakes Aaron Jones in the backfield.
What I'm hearing: The Packers love Jones, and they love using Jones and Dillon in tandem. And Dillon did disappoint a bit last season, when the Packers were imagining a bigger passing-game role for him that never came to fruition. But Jones is 28, which is an age at which the numbers tell us running backs start to decline, and he played through some ailments last year. Dillon is 25 and fits better long term with the young offensive core Green Bay is building around quarterback Jordan Love.
At some point this season, it wouldn't be surprising if Dillon is starting to get a bigger share of the workload than Jones, who has one non-guaranteed year left on his contract after this one and carries an untenable $17.17 million salary cap charge for 2024. (Of course, much of this changes if the Packers find a way to trade for Jonathan Taylor, whom they are/were interested in.)
Minnesota Vikings
Don't be surprised if ... Jordan Addison leads all rookie wide receivers in catches.
What I'm hearing: The Vikings' offense will still center on Justin Jefferson, because how could it not? But they drafted Addison in the first round for a reason, and he has been nothing short of awesome all summer. He offers an upgrade over what Minnesota got from a 32-year-old Adam Thielen last season, and he can help diversify the passing game and take it to another level in the second year under coach Kevin O'Connell. I wouldn't be surprising to see Addison push the 80-catch mark in his rookie season, and I think he could do that without cutting into Jefferson's production very much at all.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
Don't be surprised if ... Drake London is the second-year breakout wide receiver of the season.
What I'm hearing: There's a ton of hype around Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Christian Watson, and all for good reasons. Those guys are all incredible receivers and bound for stardom if they aren't already there. But London was selected ahead of every other wide receiver in the 2022 draft. He got 117 targets (tied for 25th in the league) as a rookie in the run-heaviest offense in the NFL (51.1% of offensive plays) with Marcus Mariota at QB for most of the campaign, and he caught 72 of them for 866 yards.
The Falcons' offense is loaded with young skill position players, and rookie RB Bijan Robinson is the apple of fantasy drafters' eyes. But London was a favorite target of Desmond Ridder when Ridder got the starting quarterback job late last season, and I get the sense Atlanta doesn't want to be the run-heaviest team in the league again. If Ridder is a viable starter, London should become a superstar.
Carolina Panthers
Don't be surprised if ... wide receiver Jonathan Mingo is Bryce Young's favorite target.
What I'm hearing: One of the reasons the Panthers drafted Mingo, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound receiver out of Ole Miss, with the 39th pick in April's draft was because they believed he'd be a good fit with the quarterback they took with the first selection. Mingo is behind veterans DJ Chark and Adam Thielen on the depth chart at wide receiver, but there's opportunity for him to pass them early in the season if Young looks his way enough. In the Panthers' mind, Young and Mingo can grow together in their roles and form a strong connection for years to come.
Mingo caught 51 passes for 861 yards and five TDs in his final college season.
New Orleans Saints
Don't be surprised if ... the Saints are in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
What I'm hearing: Please don't get this twisted. I do not believe the Saints will be the best team in the NFC. I do not think they're in that conversation with the Eagles, 49ers, Cowboys, Seahawks and others. But they do play in the NFC South, and their schedule is -- on paper, at least -- cream-cheese soft.
New Orleans plays four games against teams whose current projected starting quarterbacks are rookies (Texans, Colts and Panthers twice). It plays three games against teams whose current projected starting quarterbacks are first-year starters (Packers and Falcons twice). The rest of the Saints' schedule includes just three quarterbacks who finished last season in the top 15 in Total QBR (Giants, Lions and Bears). They play seven games against teams that finished in the bottom seven last year in defensive efficiency and only two (Buccaneers and Patriots) that finished in the top 12.
The Saints believe that they've upgraded at quarterback with Derek Carr and that their defense is still among the league's best. If they're right, they should be able to pile up more wins than an offseason assessment of their overall roster might predict. And with the Eagles playing in a division with two other 2022 playoff teams, and the Niners likely getting challenged by the Seahawks in the NFC West, the Saints could sneak in as the conference's top seed when all is said and done.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Don't be surprised if ... one or both of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin end up in the trade mix.
What I'm hearing: Teams spent the offseason struggling for solutions at wide receiver, and not all of them found those solutions. The demand will continue as the season rolls along and as injuries set in. The Buccaneers are in rebuild mode after Tom Brady's retirement, and they're carrying almost $77 million in dead cap money this year, trying to dump as much of that hit as possible into this year so they can go back into acquisition mode next year.
Moving Evans or Godwin to a contender (assuming, as we are, that the Bucs aren't one) at the deadline would help with that project. Evans is the more movable one, because he's making just $13 million in salary this year and is a free agent at year's end, while Godwin has a (non-guaranteed) $20 million due in 2024. But you'll hear these names kicked around in October for sure.
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Don't be surprised if ... there are more trades to come for Arizona.
What I'm hearing: The Cardinals had a fascinating Aug. 24, when they traded former first-round linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons to the Giants and offensive lineman Josh Jones to the Texans, and acquired quarterback Josh Dobbs from the Browns. This is a brand-new front office and a brand-new coaching staff, and they're all thinking about 2024 and beyond. Arizona already has two first-round picks as a result of a draft-day trade with Houston, and it isn't going to shy away from amassing draft capital as it spins into a massive rebuilding project.
Safety Budda Baker already requested a trade this offseason. Would anyone be surprised if the Cardinals ended up giving him what he wanted sometime between now and the trade deadline? They can trade wide receiver Marquise Brown without any dead money hit at all, too. Could a team with a banged-up running back room be interested in James Conner? And what on earth is QB Kyler Murray's future in Arizona whenever he's able to come back from his season-ending knee injury?
I don't think there's much, if anything, that's off the table if it can help the Cardinals add to their draft pick stash.
Los Angeles Rams
Don't be surprised if ... defensive tackle Aaron Donald's name gets kicked around as the trade deadline creeps closer.
What I'm hearing: The Rams are rebuilding. They won't admit it, but they are. They're carrying almost $75 million in dead money on their salary cap this year as a result of big contracts they unloaded, and that's by design. They want to take the whole hit this year so they aren't burdened by any of it next year and can start adding again instead of subtracting.
Los Angeles might have the youngest team in the league. Matthew Stafford's wife, Kelly, said the quarterback can't connect with these dang whippersnappers, or something like that. The Rams' remaining veteran stars -- Donald, Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp -- don't seem to fit with the current plan, and if the team is scuffling, it's not hard to imagine (A) one or more of them wanting out and (B) the team deciding it's best to move on and unload even more salary.
I don't know Donald's mind, and I don't know whether he'd want to play the final two months of this season for a contender if Los Angeles isn't one. He might want to be able to say he played his whole career with the Rams, in which case, you can disregard this entire premise. But if he does want out in October, Donald could be the most exciting NFL trade deadline pickup of all time. And I'm just saying ... Aaron Rodgers didn't give the Jets $35 million in salary back just so they could sign Dalvin Cook. You wonder why teams clear cap space even when they don't have an imminent acquisition? It's in case something like this happens.
San Francisco 49ers
Don't be surprised if ... running back Christian McCaffrey has 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving.
What I'm hearing: McCaffrey has already accomplished this feat once in his career, with Carolina back in 2019, his second year in the NFL. He was 259 receiving yards short of doing it last year despite being traded to San Francisco midseason and having to learn a new offense on the fly. Left tackle Trent Williams told me when I was at Niners camp that it's amazing to see how much better McCaffrey knows the offense now than he did last season, and the 49ers expect to see him take off like a rocket ship as a result.
San Francisco will still take McCaffrey off the field more than Carolina did and use Elijah Mitchell and/or Tyrion Davis-Price in spots, because the Niners know McCaffrey's injury history and want to avoid overloading him. But the efficiency he should be able to attain in a full season in Kyle Shanahan's system could be enough to propel McCaffrey to new career-best numbers.
Seattle Seahawks
Don't be surprised if ... the Seahawks have a much better run defense this season.
What I'm hearing: Yes, the Seahawks made a bunch of changes up front personnel-wise (Dre'Mont Jones, Jarran Reed and Bobby Wagner), and they hope those will help a unit that allowed more rushing yards per game than all but two teams (150.2) last season and more yards per carry than all but six (4.9). But what really helps is that this will be Year 2 of the new defensive scheme installed last season.
Defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt told me he thought that one of last year's biggest problems was introducing a lot more split-safety looks into the defense than Seattle had run in the past, and that as a result, the run fits were confusing to the guys in the secondary. That should come a lot more naturally this year, and the Seahawks are expecting to be a lot better in that area as a result.