The preseason is over, the roster churn has settled down, and the NFL is moving into real football mode. With cutdown day in the books and Week 1 on the horizon, the league’s latest pecking order is starting to take shape.
At the very top, the Los Angeles Rams have added another superstar to the mix and remain entrenched in the No. 1 spot. At the other end, the Cleveland Browns sit dead last, and the quarterback situation is the biggest reason why.
- Cleveland Browns
The Browns land at No. 32 because no team enters the season with a worse quarterback setup. Deshaun Watson is still projected to start, which is hard to wrap your head around after everything that’s already been said about the move.
It may be the first time in NFL history that an owner has publicly called a quarterback acquisition a mistake, only for that same player to be back in the starting lineup a year later.
There’s enough talent elsewhere on the roster to keep Cleveland interesting, but the quarterback spot is a full-blown problem.
- Miami Dolphins
Miami’s cutdown period was a busy one, and the team reportedly set an NFL roster cutdown record with seven waiver claims. That fits with a roster that looks very much in rebuild mode under new head coach Jeff Hafley.
Even with that reset underway, there are reasons to keep an eye on the Dolphins. Malik Willis flashed in relief with the Packers, the team’s 13-player draft class brings some intriguing weapons, and there’s been investment in the trenches.
It’s a work in progress, no question. But it could be a pretty entertaining one.
- Arizona Cardinals
Arizona feels like another team entering the year with a long list of evaluation points. The biggest one is obvious: how long does Jacoby Brissett hold the starting job?
Then there’s the rest of the puzzle. How soon does Carson Beck get a shot?
Can Jeremiyah Love stay healthy through his rookie season? And at some point, Marvin Harrison Jr. has to start living up to the hype that came with him before the draft.
The same kind of questions hang over the defense, where the Cardinals need players to step forward and become part of whatever the future foundation looks like.
- Las Vegas Raiders
The preseason made one thing clear for Las Vegas: Kirk Cousins was the right choice as the starting quarterback for 2026. Fernando Mendoza showed plenty of ability and upside, but he’s also walking into a situation where the Raiders earned that No. 1 draft slot for a reason.
Letting Mendoza sit, learn, and grow while the rest of the roster develops looks like the smart move from head coach Klint Kubiak.
The Raiders could be without star running back Ashton Jeanty to begin the season, but they did get a strong preseason emergence from fourth-round pick Mike Washington Jr., who looked like a stud.
In Other News...
Michael Wilson Deal Came Down To The Wire For Cardinals
Michael Wilsons future in Arizona went right down to the wire, with the Cardinals and the receiver ultimately striking a three-year, $75 million contract extension after a period of negotiations. For a team that has spent plenty of time trying to stabilize its passing game, keeping a young receiver in place matters beyond the headline number. It also gives the Cardinals some clarity as they keep building around their offense, even as the wider NFC West keeps handing out major deals of its own.
The market around the division only adds to the significance. Seattle just locked up defensive tackle Leonard Williams on a three-year extension with significant guaranteed money and bonuses, while San Francisco got Nick Bosa back on the practice field as he continues his recovery from the knee injury that wiped out much of last season. In that kind of environment, Arizonas decision to push through and retain Wilson until the last possible moment says plenty about how important he is to their plans. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Week 1 O-Line Question They Cant Ignore
The Cardinals head into the final stretch of preseason with a real question at right guard, as Isaiah Adams remains uncertain for Week 1 against the Chargers after suffering a knee injury before a preseason game. Head coach Mike LaFleur said Adams is progressing and doing well, but the next checkpoint is practice next week, when the team will learn whether he can get back on the field in time to protect a spot on the line.
For now, Jon Gaines is handling the snaps at right guard, and Arizonas margin for error is thin with limited depth behind him because of other injuries. It leaves the Cardinals in a familiar late-August spot: trying to keep the offensive line stable while waiting on an important starter, and hoping the answer comes before the opener rather than after it. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Fans Will Love The Hype Around This Rookie Back But Theres A Catch
The Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation already has a familiar shape heading into the 2026 NFL season, with Jeremiyah Love sitting near the top of the board and drawing plenty of attention from bettors and fans alike. He looks the part of a breakout rookie back, but the usual caution applies in this race: team performance and offensive line play can make as much difference as talent when the league starts handing out hardware.
Jadarian Price is another name getting a lot of traction because of the situation around him, and that is exactly why Cardinals fans are paying attention. Arizona is always looking for the kind of young runner who can change the tone of an offense, and the hype around a rookie back is easy to understand when the setup looks favorable. The catch is that award buzz can vanish fast if the offense around him does not give him the runway to cash it in. [Read more 🡒]