RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The NFL preseason is upon us, and this is where roster spots are solidified. Depth charts form and position battles are settled. All 32 coaching staffs use these exhibition matchups to figure out who fits their systems best and to unearth gems that went overlooked during the draft. Whether fans care or not, the preseason is important, and it's important for some teams more than others. There are first-year head coaches getting their feet wet, new quarterbacks in new situations and massive questions that need answering before things kick off for real in September.
Below, we will break down eight NFL teams that need this preseason the most for one reason or another.
New QB : The Miami Dolphins don't have a quarterback battle, but they do have a new signal-caller. Malik Willis flashed starting potential in limited action with the Green Bay Packers over the last two years, but it was a pretty small sample size. However, he proved he could run Matt LaFleur's system. Now, Willis is learning a new Bobby Slowik system and does not have the kind of weaponry he benefited from in Green Bay. These preseason reps are essential.
WR battle : Speaking of weaponry, who will be Willis' primary receivers with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle gone? That remains to be seen. Malik Washington is the returning leader, but Miami also brought in Jalen Tolbert and TuTu Atwell in free agency. Then, there are the rookies. In the third round, the Dolphins drafted the 6-foot-4 Caleb Douglas and then Chris Bell out of Louisville, who is coming off a torn ACL. Two rounds later, Miami landed Kevin Coleman Jr . out of Missouri, who was a productive slot weapon. So which one of these players is going to stand out the most?
Chance to look at the secondary: The Dolphins' secondary has some question marks and appears to be one of the worst in the NFL on paper. To make matters worse, several players on the back end are banged up right now as well.
New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan spent the No. 27 overall pick on former San Diego State corner Chris Johnson , who figures to start immediately. He was named the 2025 Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year after allowing the lowest passer rating (10.9) in the FBS last season. That cornerback room also includes Jason Marshall Jr., Darrell Baker Jr. , Storm Duck , Marco Wilson and JuJu Brents. Believe it or not, Marshall and Wilson are the only ones healthy right now.
At safety, Dante Trader Jr. , Zayne Anderson , Lonnie Johnson Jr. and Louis Moore are competing for spots. Also, keep an eye on fifth-round pick Michael Taaffe out of Texas. This was a First Team All-SEC player who could surprise some people despite his size. A lot to be sorted out in Miami's secondary.
QB battle : It's obvious. Instead of relying on Cleveland Browns reporters and social media, we finally get to see how this quarterback battle is shaping up for ourselves. I'm guessing Deshaun Watson probably has the inside track for the job, but at the same time, I don't have to tell you that he's been terrible ever since being dealt from Houston. Shedeur Sanders wasn't great as a rookie, but he did inject some hope into the franchise. It's clear his internal clock is slow, and that's something that has to change if he's going to be a legitimate starter in this league. I'm not going to change my initial prediction that Watson will win this battle, but I'd love to see Sanders make it a tough call for Todd Monken.
Remade offensive line : Did you know the Browns are the only team since 1970 to lose its top five offensive line starters all in the same offseason? Granted, this unit wasn't good in 2025 and was hit hard by injuries, but it's true. Cam Robinson , Joel Bitonio , Ethan Pocic , Wyatt Teller and Jack Conklin are gone. This year, first-round pick Spencer Fano is expected to start at left tackle, Zion Johnson at left guard, Elgton Jenkins at center, Teven Jenkins at right guard and then the versatile Tytus Howard at right tackle. All of these players are brand new to each other, so some live reps in the preseason will serve them well as a collective unit.
WR rotation : I've already written about why the Browns' wide receiving corps is one of the most interesting position battles in the NFL this season. Jerry Jeudy is the veteran in the room, but with his dropsies, he's no Justin Jefferson . No. 24 overall pick KC Concepcion was a First Team All-SEC player thrice over the last year as a Swiss Army Knife, then there's the big-bodied Denzel Boston out of Washington. He's 6-foot-4 and possesses these strong hands that make him an attractive target. Don't overlook Isaiah Bond either. He went undrafted out of Texas last year due to off-field issues, but possesses legitimate speed and is a weapon after the catch.
New coach and new roster : Not only do the Las Vegas Raiders have a new first-year coach in Klint Kubiak, but they also have maybe one of the most-improved rosters on paper. I mean that -- especially on the defensive side of the ball. Maxx Crosby has a new running mate in Kwity Paye , there are two new starting off-ball linebackers in Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker , and a new nickel in the veteran Taron Johnson . One of their rookies should play an important role as well. The Raiders drafted Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes at No. 38 overall and paired him with teammate Dalton Johnson in the fifth. Vegas also grabbed a potential steal in Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy at No. 101 overall. A lot of new players in Sin City.
Fernando Mendoza : If the Raiders won't give Mendoza immediate regular-season reps, he has to get them in the preseason. Sure, a young quarterback can benefit by sitting and learning behind a veteran like Kirk Cousins , but live game reps are where a player learns the most. This will be his only chance to experience those live reps before he's thrown into the starting lineup at some point this season.
Wide receivers : I thought the Raiders had maybe the worst wide receiving...
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