Sean McDermott refuses to discuss Super Bowl expectations before the Buffalo Bills host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. Looking ahead to the ultimate goal is unfair to players, McDermott explained, and, entering his ninth season as coach, his mission is to ensure everyone in his locker room is solely focused on the first game. Previous accomplishments don't matter once the 17-game schedule begins.
To predict future performance, however, we must reflect on 2024. Based on what these players and coaches showed last season, here's a rundown of award candidates, hot-seat watch and the assistant coaches who will be considered for top jobs:
Bills Ravens NFL Playoff Football (copy)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson threw an interception and fumbled during their loss to the Bills in the AFC divisional round. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
1. Josh Allen, Bills: The reigning MVP has the same play-caller as last season, when he had an NFL-best quarterback rating and totaled 34 touchdowns with just six interceptions. Most of his receiving corps is back, as well as his top three running backs and all five starters on the offensive line.
People are also reading…
Bills Ravens NFL Playoff Football
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) pumps his fist after a Ray Davis touchdown run against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football AFC divisional playoff game at Highmark Stadium on Jan. 19, 2025. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
2. Lamar Jackson, Ravens: The two-time MVP threw 41 touchdown passes and just four interceptions in 2024 while totaling a career-high 4,172 passing yards. As long as Jackson stays healthy, he's going to be a top candidate for the award. Jackson has most of his starters back, and they added DeAndre Hopkins.
3. Joe Burrow, Bengals: His top two receivers, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, got paid, and the offensive line has improved, but are the Bengals going to win enough games for Burrow to win the award? Their defense allowed 25.5 points per game, tied for the seventh-worst mark.
4. Jayden Daniels, Commanders: A revelation as a rookie, Daniels will need to take fewer sacks and play with more consistency, but he showed in 2024 he has MVP-level potential. He could easily surpass the 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns he threw for last season.
5. Bijan Robinson, Falcons: Yes, a non-quarterback hasn't won this award since 2006, but Robinson is in line for a special season. In 2024, the 23-year-old running back totaled 1,887 scrimmage yards with 15 touchdowns. He'll need more explosive runs to merit MVP consideration.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty
David Becker, Associated Press
Top rookies
1. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders: A 2,000-yard rusher at Boise State, Jeanty will be the bell-cow back for an offense that should be vastly improved with Geno Smith at quarterback and a competent offensive line.
2. Travis Hunter, Jaguars: Rookie GM James Gladstone didn't move up to the second pick to use Hunter primarily as a cornerback. He's considered one of the best receiver prospects in recent years, and the Jaguars will find creative ways to get Hunter to open space.
3. Abdul Carter, Giants: Good luck double-teaming any member of this defensive line. With Kayvon Thibodeaux coming off the corner and Dexter Lawrence pushing the inside, Carter is going to win plenty of one-on-ones as a rookie. He's a special prospect who should record double-digit sacks as an edge rusher.
4. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers: A top target for quarterback Bryce Young, McMillan has big-play ability and seems to catch everything. The former Arizona receiver should see plenty of targets because Carolina will need to score to keep up with its opponents.
5. Cam Ward, Titans: The No. 1 overall pick should have a reliable offensive line and running game, but he won't have the receiving options as a rookie. Ward was also prone to mistakes at Washington State and Miami, and it's fair to question if this coaching staff can develop him properly.
Bills Broncos
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix throws during the second quarter of the AFC wild-card playoff game against the Bills on Jan. 12, 2025, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Taking a step forward
1. Bo Nix, Broncos: The Broncos won't throw the ball enough for Nix to be an MVP candidate, but he's going to be among the AFC's best quarterbacks in 2025 because of Sean Payton's coaching, an improved receiving corps and a young, dynamic running back in RJ Harvey.
2. Jared Verse, Rams: A future MVP-caliber player entering his second NFL season, Verse is going to emerge as one of the best defensive players in the league. The edge rusher from Florida State was defensive rookie of the year with 11 tackles for a loss and 4½ sacks in 2024.
3. Caleb Williams, Bears: Another second-year quarterback, Williams is surrounded by talented playmakers and an improved offensive line, especially on the interior. He'll also have better coaching under Ben Johnson and a defense that should put him in beneficial game scrips.
4. Chop Robinson, Dolphins: As a rookie from Penn State in 2024, the edge rusher totaled six sacks and eight tackles for loss. Miami won't have a competent secondary, but Robinson is going to show that he's one of the best young defensive players in the NFL.
5. Tucker Kraft, Packers: A third-year tight end, Kraft will soon be considered one of the best at his position. Last season, he caught 50 passes for 707 yards and seven touchdowns. Kraft is arguably the most reliable target in this offense because of the young, inconsistent receiving corps.
Broncos Bengals Football
Bengals coach Zac Taylor walks out of the tunnel before a game against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 28, 2024, in Cincinnati. Jeff Dean, Associated Press
On the hot seat
1. Zac Taylor, Bengals: Cincinnati has missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons while ranking 21st or worse in points allowed. The Bengals have played their starters this preseason to avoid the slow starts that have plagued them since their Super Bowl appearance.
2. Brian Daboll, Giants: The NFL coach of the year in 2022 didn't forget how to lead. His general manager didn't give him enough talent to win the past two seasons, but the roster has improved through the draft. The St. Francis grad needs better quarterback play to keep his job.
3. Mike McDaniel, Dolphins: Tyreek Hill has an oblique injury and a strained relationship with teammates. Miami's secondary might be the worst in the NFL. There doesn't seem to be any semblance of a winning culture. The Dolphins seemed destined to crash out in 2025.
4. Shane Steichen, Colts: The former Eagles offensive coordinator is 17-17 in two seasons at Indianapolis, and he botched the development of Anthony Richardson. The offensive line lost some key pieces and, though Daniel Jones raises the floor of the offense, he also lowers the ceiling.
5. Raheem Morris, Falcons: Morris needs progress in Atlanta after going 12-16 over his first two seasons. His defense needs to improve, especially with the draft capital they spent on that side of the ball, and second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has to be the answer.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Minicamp (copy)
Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady looks on during rookie minicamp on May 9, 2025, in Orchard Park. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Coaching watch 2026
1. Joe Brady, Bills: Their offensive coordinator bypassed overtures to return as Allen's play-caller, and Brady will be a top candidate if Buffalo replicates the success it had in 2024. Allen was elite before Brady's promotion, but he'll be a target for teams that want to develop a young quarterback.
2. Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders: One playoff appearance in four seasons as coach of the Cardinals may scare away some teams, but Kingsbury is an excellent play-caller with a history of developing young quarterbacks. He'll get another shot as an NFL head coach.
3. Brian Flores, Vikings: An excellent defensive coordinator with an innovative scheme that puts stress on quarterbacks, Flores deserves to lead an NFL team, but the class-action lawsuit he filed against the league in 2022 will be problematic for some owners.
4. Todd Monken, Ravens: Baltimore's offense reached another level with Monken calling plays in 2024, though Derrick Henry's arrival also added another dimension to an already prolific attack. The Ravens must be better in the playoffs for Monken to be a candidate elsewhere.
5. Aubrey Pleasant, Rams: Entering his sixth season on Sean McVay's staff, Pleasant is Los Angeles' pass game coordinator and assistant head coach. He's considered one of the league's top up-and-coming assistants, and he worked previously under Dan Campbell in Detroit.
Browns Football
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku walks off the practice field at minicamp June 12, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. David Richard, Associated Press
Deadline dealings
1. David Njoku, Browns: You could list several Cleveland players because this team is going to be near the bottom, and it's likely to move on from aging veterans. Njoku is a talented tight end on an expiring contract, and the Browns drafted his replacement, Harold Fannin Jr.
2. Russell Wilson, Giants: This will be Jaxson Dart's team before long. The first-round draft pick is going to sit at the start of the season and develop under Daboll, but they'll eventually turn the offense over to him. Wilson can be a proven backup or can replace an injured starter.
3. Tyreek Hill, Dolphins: Miami may stink in 2025, and Hill's lack of leadership is part of the problem. He's not a free agent until 2027, but the Dolphins need to move on sooner than later. Perhaps the Chiefs will target Hill if Rashee Rice's suspension happens in the second half of the season.
4. Michael Pittman Jr., Colts: Indianapolis has second-year receiver Adonai Mitchell, and Pittman's health concerns are going to be his ticket out of town. He's a talented receiver who can help a contending team that's thin at the position. Pittman is a free agent in 2027.
5. Breece Hall, Jets: Bad vibes are coming out of New York because of the Jets' preference to rotate running backs rather than lean on Hall, who's coming off a disappointing season. This team lacks talent, so it could deal Hall for draft picks and start Braelon Allen at running back.
0 Comments
Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter
Sent weekly directly to your inbox!