Sportsnaut
NFL training camp is imminent, with players and coaches from all 32 teams making final preparations before reporting for summer practices. While there are plenty of things worth getting excited about at training camp, one of the best aspects of this time of year is the position battles.
There’s competition at various positions every summer for all 32 teams, with multiple starting spots up for grabs. Right now, we’re focusing on some of the best and most impactful competitions on the offensive side of the ball. Let’s dive into the top five position battles to watch in NFL training camp and our projected winners.
The Cleveland Browns have generated all kinds of headlines in the months leading up to NFL training camp because of their four-man quarterback competition. Two veterans (Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett) and two rookies (Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel) are seemingly competing to be the Browns’ starting quarterback in Week 1. However, OTAs and minicamp proved that this isn’t a true four-man battle. After all, Sanders isn’t receiving first-team reps, and Gabriel is well behind the two veterans in the order for opportunities to work with the first-team offense. So, it comes down to Flacco and Pickett.
While Pickett is reportedly building great rapport with top receiver Jerry Jeudy, it’s the coaching staff’s opinion that matters the most. Even at 40 years old, Flacco has been the standout physically and he’s received the most first-team reps. Furthermore, his success in head coach Kevin Stefanski’s system gives him another advantage over Pickett. Ultimately, the most physically talented quarterback who provides the most stability and can be the on-field leader in the opening stretch of the season will win the job. Flacco is expected to win this battle in August, which would allow Cleveland to trade Pickett, with its rookies taking the second and third spots on the depth chart behind Flacco.
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There’s an added layer to the New Orleans Saints quarterback competition as NFL training camp opens. Second-round picks, 30 of 32, are hoping to land fully guaranteed rookie contracts, as Jayden Higgins (Houston Texans) and Carson Schwesinger (Cleveland Browns) received. That’s why there should be even more focus on Tyler Shough, who could sit out since he hasn’t signed his rookie deal. This might give him some leverage, but it would also allow Spencer Rattler to dominate first-team reps out of the gate.
Ultimately, we expect Shough to sign and practice with a starting spot on the line. He’ll be 26 years old in September, so there should be added urgency to get him on the field. It’s also worth noting that Shough, the 40th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was hand-picked by head coach Kellen Moore. While Rattler does have a chance to...
