Every NFC team's biggest question mark entering training camp
NFL training camps are set to begin, and each club has question marks with the regular season weeks away.
Below is every NFC team's biggest question entering camp. Tap a team's abbreviation below to jump to its entry, and check out AFC camp questions here.
Jump to:
ARI | ATL | CAR | CHI | DAL | DET | GB | LAR | MIN | NO | NYG | PHI | SF | SEA | TB | WAS
How does the Kyler Murray to Marvin Harrison Jr. connection look?
The Cardinals used the fourth overall pick in April's draft to select the electric Harrison. Expectations should be high for the Ohio State product after he posted at least 67 receptions, 1,211 yards, and 14 touchdowns in each of his last two seasons with the Buckeyes.
Arizona hasn't had a wide receiver eclipse 1,000 yards in a season since 2020 when DeAndre Hopkins finished with 1,407 yards. Murray threw for a career-high 3,971 yards that season and could break that mark if he stays healthy.
Tight end Trey McBride emerged as a true threat last year and could set new benchmarks if defenses have to focus on limiting Harrison. Building offensive chemistry during training camp will be key as the team searches for its first winning season since 2021.
How does Kirk Cousins look rehabbing and with a new team?
Cousins expects to be at full speed when his new team takes the field for training camp, though the rehab of his torn Achilles will continue beyond that. His chemistry with wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts, and running back Bijan Robinson will be top of mind for many, but his comfort with the new playbook and other teammates will also be tested during practices.
The team is hopeful that first-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr. won't be needed immediately after handing Cousins a four-year, $180-million deal in free agency, but the Washington product could see extra reps with the first-team offense if Cousins experiences any setbacks.
Were the offseason moves enough to 'fix' Bryce Young?
To say that the 2023 season didn't go the Panthers' way is an understatement. Young completed just 59.8% of his passes for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 picks after Carolina traded a haul to move up to the first overall pick in last April's draft.
New head coach Dave Canales will look to help Young improve on his rough rookie campaign after helping the Seahawks' Geno Smith and Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield achieve some of the best seasons of their respective careers each of the last two seasons.
Carolina made a multitude of moves in addition to hiring Canales. The team added wide receiver Xavier Legette, running back Jonathon Brooks, and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders in the draft, traded for wideout Diontae Johnson, and signed guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt to help bolster an offensive line that allowed 65 sacks in 2023.
Can the offense stay healthy and produce?
Despite being one of the NFL's oldest franchises, the Bears lack much in the way of historically great offensive production. Erik Kramer's 3,838 yards and 29 touchdowns in 1995 represent single-season records for the club.
First overall pick Caleb Williams could threaten those marks as early as his rookie season if the offense can stay healthy and build rapport through camp. The former USC star is surrounded by impressive playmakers in D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, and D'Andre Swift, among others.
Breaking the franchise's single-season benchmarks would also threaten the NFL's rookie passing records. Andrew Luck's 4,374 yards with the Colts in 2012 and Justin Herbert's 31 touchdowns with the Chargers in 2020 are the top marks by first-year passers.
Are their big contracts handled?
Dak Prescott said he and the team have talked about a new contract, but nothing's been signed. Meanwhile, CeeDee Lamb skipped minicamp because he's seeking a new deal, and Micah Parsons could be the NFL's highest-paid defensive player when he inks a new contract. Handling all of these deals, for not just 2024 but future years as well, hangs over the Cowboys like a dark cloud.
The team has just over $12 million in cap space for 2024, according to Over the Cap. Extensions could give the team some more breathing room and the ability to move money around in future years, too.
Finalizing at least one of these contracts must be a priority for Jerry Jones and Co. as the Cowboys get ready for training camp.
Did the secondary overhaul work?
The Lions had an outstanding year in 2023, winning the NFC North for the first time ever and making it to the NFC Championship Game, but the secondary was picked on early and often. Detroit allowed 247.4 passing yards per game, the sixth-worst mark in the NFL. The team also ranked 23rd in scoring defense, allowing 23.2 points per contest.
General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell took note and aggressively added to the secondary over the offseason. The club selected cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in the first and second rounds of the draft, respectively, while also acquiring veterans Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson.
How those corners fit alongside safeties Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, and Ifeatu Melifonwu could determine whether the Lions make another deep postseason run in 2024.
Jordan Love looked the part of a legitimate starting quarterback in his first year as QB1, particularly in the latter half of the year, despite not having a bona fide elite wideout on the roster.
The draft and free agency have come and gone, and the Packers' pass-catchers look mostly the same, with Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed expected to lead the wide receiver group yet again. The team's decision to bypass adding any impact receivers will be tested as the wideouts match up with Green Bay's talented secondary during camp.
Adding running back Josh Jacobs could alleviate some of the pressure on the passing game, particularly in inclement weather, but the Packers' decision to not add any big-time receivers will be analyzed early and often.
How does the defensive front look without Aaron Donald?
Donald dominated the NFL for a decade before retiring this offseason. The defense will have to adjust now that the future Hall of Famer won't be commanding (and beating) multiple blockers on most snaps. Despite Donald's departure, L.A. has several interesting building blocks.
Kobie Turner had a strong rookie season in 2023, racking up nine sacks and eight tackles for loss en route to finishing third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Edge rusher Byron Young turned in an eight-sack rookie campaign, while Bobby Brown III played nearly double the number of snaps last year compared to 2022. Then the Rams added edge rusher Jared Verse and defensive lineman Braden Fiske in the first and second rounds of the draft, respectively.
These young players will be called upon early and often to contribute during the regular season. They'll get a chance to build chemistry and work on their technique in camp as the team transitions into the post-Donald era.
How does the quarterback battle shake out?
It's unlikely that J.J. McCarthy sits for the entire season after he was selected with the No. 10 pick in the draft. However, it's far from a guarantee that he starts from Day 1. McCarthy's intriguing physical tools are likely to deliver several wow plays through camp, but it'll be consistency that gets him on the field early.
The Vikings added Sam Darnold in free agency, giving McCarthy the opportunity to sit and learn if he needs it. Darnold appeared in 10 games last season, starting the 49ers' final regular-season contest. He finished the year with 297 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and an interception.
Who separates among the crowded wide receivers?
There are a ton of question marks in the Saints' wide receiver room after Chris Olave. Rashid Shaheed, Cedrick Wilson, A.T. Perry, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Bub Means will all have the opportunity to jump ahead of their competition.
Shaheed is the most likely to come out on top, having posted 719 yards and five touchdowns on 46 receptions in 2023, but the speedster's 46.7% success rate and 61.3% catch rate leave something to be desired.
Perry might be the top sleeper pick to earn playing time. The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder appeared in 10 games as a rookie last year, recording three starts. While the sample size isn't huge, he hauled in 12 of his 18 targets for 246 yards and four scores.
Does the run game have any hope without Saquon Barkley?
Big Blue averaged 110.2 rushing yards per game last year, ranking 16th in the league. That was with Barkley playing in 14 games and totaling 962 yards on the ground.
Quarterbacks Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor, and Tommy DeVito ranked second, third, and fourth on the team in rushing, respectively. Veteran back Matt Breida ranked second at the position with 151 yards, while Eric Gray came in third with 48 yards.
Devin Singletary is expected to lead the backfield after Barkley's departure, but he's yet to hit 900 yards in a season. It'll likely take a big leap from him and the rest of the team's running backs to rank in the top half of the league's rushing offenses.
Will the 'tush push' still work without Jason Kelce?
It'll be some time before we see the Eagles attempt their signature play in a live game environment, but we expect Philly to practice reps of the "tush push" in camp.
Center Jason Kelce was a key component to the play's success, but his retirement paves the way for Cam Jurgens to start in the middle of the team's offensive line. Jurgens took 650 snaps at right guard last year but just four at center.
Skill-position players could wind up with more touches in the regular season, particularly in short-yardage situations, if the "tush push" loses some of its efficiency.
How does the wide receiver room shake out?
Between the drama surrounding Brandon Aiyuk's contract situation, Aiyuk requesting a trade, Deebo Samuel being the subject of trade rumors, and the addition of first-round wideout Ricky Pearsall, there's plenty to keep an eye on in the 49ers' wide receiver room.
Samuel remains under contract through the 2025 season, while Aiyuk's deal expires after 2024. Both eclipsed 1,100 scrimmage yards last season, with Aiyuk being named a second-team All-Pro.
Part of the puzzle will be determined by whether Aiyuk attends training camp at all. How snaps are split up between him, Samuel, and Pearsall could indicate how the team plans to utilize them during the regular season and what the future of the 49ers' passing attack could look like.
What's the team's identity post-Pete Carroll?
A coach not named Pete Carroll will lead the Seahawks for the first time since 2009 as Mike Macdonald gets ready for his first season as Seattle's head man.
Bringing in another defensive-minded head coach indicates a likely reliance on limiting opponents and relying on a strong run game led by Kenneth Walker - but the team's passing weapons are some of the best in recent memory. DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Tyler Lockett combine for one of the most intriguing wide receiver trios in the league, while Noah Fant provides athletic upside at tight end.
If there was ever a time for the franchise to push for a more pass-heavy identity on offense, it's now.
Do Mike Evans and Lavonte David still have it?
The Buccaneers' shot at an NFC South title will likely depend on a pair of important veterans not missing a step, with wide receiver Mike Evans being the key on offense and linebacker Lavonte David on defense.
Evans will look to extend his own NFL record for consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards or more to start a career as he enters his 11th pro campaign. Evans didn't appear to slow down at all last season, posting 1,255 yards and a league-best 13 receiving touchdowns on 79 receptions. Laying the groundwork for another 1,000-yard season will do plenty to help the Bucs.
David is expected to lead the defense for a 13th consecutive year when the new season kicks off. The 34-year-old has accumulated 100 or more total tackles in all but two of his NFL seasons, including 134 in 2023. It'll be imperative for him to keep that pace as Tampa Bay gets ready for the new year.
Can the offensive line protect anyone?
The Commanders allowed 65 sacks last year, tied for the second-most in the NFL. Tyler Biadasz should be an upgrade at center, and Sam Cosmi is a solid option at right guard, but the team's tackles still appear to be question marks.
Rookie third-rounder Brandon Coleman could start at left tackle from Day 1, and Andrew Wylie is expected to start again at right tackle despite allowing nine sacks and 42 total pressures last season. Coleman, meanwhile, didn't allow a sack for TCU last season but surrendered 17 pressures.
Jayden Daniels' mobility should help a bit, as should the addition of running back Austin Ekeler as a safety valve for easy dump-off passes, but there are still more questions than answers along Washington's offensive line.