Pete Prisco is sticking his neck out early, and he’s not backing off. In the first NFL Power Rankings of the season, he’s got the Rams and Seahawks at the top to start, but his real headline pick is the Jaguars and Cowboys beginning in the top five. If that has people rolling their eyes, Prisco’s answer is simple: "Talk to me in February."
He didn’t leave much doubt about why he likes both teams. "The Jaguars are third in my rankings to open the season with the Cowboys fifth.
When I made the Super pick last week, people said I was either crazy, on drugs or just too damn old -- many in nastier tones than that. I just think the Jaguars, who won 13 games last year, will be a better team this time around.
The Cowboys were already good on offense, but now will be much better on defense with a new coordinator in Christian Parker and a lot of new, talented faces."
There’s already a wrinkle for Dallas, though. Three-time Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith is expected to miss four to six weeks after thumb surgery, a blow that could make it tough for the Cowboys to hold their spot near the top.
Elsewhere in the league, the Patriots made a massive move of their own. Christian Gonzalez has agreed to a four-year, $135 million extension that resets the market for cornerbacks. With $102 million guaranteed, the deal makes him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history by average annual value, and the highest-paid player ever to wear a Patriots uniform.
Atlanta also settled its quarterback question for Week 1. Kevin Stefanski announced that Tua Tagovailoa will start against the Steelers on Sunday.
Tagovailoa, who was released by the Dolphins in the offseason, got the nod by default because Michael Penix Jr. has been dealing with an injury and may not even dress in Pittsburgh. If Tagovailoa is going to keep Penix off the field beyond one week, he’ll need a much better season.
In New York, the Yankees are getting Aaron Judge back at exactly the right time. The club activated him from the IL on Monday, and he is slated to be in the lineup against the Rockies tonight. With the Red Sox close behind in the wild-card race, Judge’s return should give an anemic offense an immediate lift, though the Yankees still have important questions ahead as they push through the stretch run.
And for anyone who waited until the last minute on fantasy football, there’s still time to get sharp. The “Fantasy Football Today” crew has must-draft lists, Jamey Eisenberg has 12 sleepers for later rounds, and Heath Cummings has updated RB tiers for those trying to squeeze out an edge before the season starts.
In Other News...
Jaguars Still Face One Respect Barrier No Other NFL Team Does
The Jaguars have spent enough time in the NFL spotlight to produce some memorable players, but the leagues awards history still leaves them with a strange blank spot. Jacksonville is the only team without a major Associated Press regular-season individual award, a distinction that lingers even as the franchise has had players over the years who looked capable of breaking through the barrier.
This season offers a chance to change that conversation, with four Jaguars players carrying odds under 50-1 for an award. Still, for any of them to get serious traction, Jacksonville likely needs more than good individual numbers - it would take a strong regular season and a top AFC seed to put the team in the kind of position that usually drives this recognition. [Read more 🡒]
These Jaguars Will Decide How Far Jacksonville Really Goes
Trevor Lawrence remains the center of everything Jacksonville wants to do, but the list of players who can steer the Jaguars in 2026 stretches well beyond the quarterback. On defense, Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen are still the edge rushers who can tilt games, while Travis Hunters expanding role at cornerback gives the secondary a different kind of ceiling. Add the changes up front, where rookie Emmanuel Pregnon steps into the conversation and Anton Harrison moves to left tackle, and it is clear this roster is being built around a few players whose growth will shape the entire season.
Antonio Johnson is another name worth watching because the Jaguars are asking for more from him in the back end. The theme here is pretty simple: Jacksonville has enough talent to matter, but the gap between being competitive and being a real threat will come down to whether this group delivers in bigger roles, with Lawrence, the pass rush, and the rebuilt line all carrying extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face A Familiar Jared Verse Problem In Week 1
A familiar pass-rush problem is waiting for Jacksonville in Week 1, and this time it comes with a new uniform. Jared Verse, now with the Browns after being dealt by the Rams in the Myles Garrett package, is set to make his debut against the Jaguars, a matchup that brings back memories of how disruptive he can be when he gets downhill and starts winning off the edge.
Liam Coen has already had a chance to study Verses style, and the Jaguars know the challenge is not just the name on the back of the jersey. Verse has given Jacksonville trouble before, and with Cleveland building its opener around a player who can tilt protection plans on his own, the Jaguars will have to be ready from the first snap or risk seeing an old problem show up in a new place. [Read more 🡒]