“If Odell Beckham Jr. is healthy, and everything I heard about his workout with the Giants last month suggests he is, nothing I saw today would indicate that there’s no room for him in this WR group,” Art Stapleton of North Jersey stated on his X account.

The Giants may turn Malik Nabers’ injury into a major opportunity for Malachi Fields and the rest of the wide receivers on the roster. Regardless, they’ve entered organized team activities (OTAs) with a rather thin group, and Beckham Jr. could offer a solution.

Beckham’s potential role

Beckham Jr.’s return to the Big Apple has often been portrayed as something that could complicate matters, and while it would indeed raise questions about salary cap space and his exact role in John Harbaugh’s offense, the veteran wideout could still provide value simply through his presence.

In addition to Nabers’ absence, Darius Slayton—the longest-tenured receiver in New York—is sidelined after undergoing sports hernia surgery. The wide receiver’s group could benefit greatly from a veteran voice like Beckham’s, and so could the rest of the locker room.

Beckham Jr. would obviously benefit as well. After spending the entire 2025 NFL season out of the league, he has plenty left to prove and may need every rep he can get in May if he hopes to make an impact once August and September roll around. The Giants may feel no urgent need to sign Beckham Jr. right now, but they could be wise to prepare for a rainy day. After all, clouds are starting to form over the Manhattan skyline.

NY Giants face trouble in WR room

Indeed, the receiving corps in East Rutherford hasn’t changed much, but the Giants are already facing early concerns in a WR room that still carried question marks to begin with. New York believes it has enough depth to withstand the bumps and bruises that inevitably come with an NFL season, but recent setbacks have served as an early reminder that teams can never have too many options.

Fortunately for the Giants, that lesson arrived early enough for them to act on it. Nabers is sidelined, and although the organization is targeting Week 1 for his return, not even Harbaugh would stake his reputation on that timeline. Harbaugh may be new around town, but he knows his way around the NFL. He understands better than to make promises he may not be able to keep—especially regarding injuries that remain out of his control.

NY Giants face decision

If the pitch still wasn’t convincing enough, Darius Slayton is expected back by training camp. In the meantime, though, who exactly are Malachi Fields and the rest of the young receivers supposed to lean on for on-field guidance?

If only there were a seasoned candidate available who just so happens to be familiar with both the organization and the new head coach in Bergen County. Whether the New York Giants want to admit it or not, all roads may lead back to Odell Beckham. Passing on him might prove costly.

Speaking to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rudolph said, “We’re trying to win now. You don’t bring back Aaron Rodgers if you don’t want to win now.” The message is clear, the Steelers feel capable to win it all this year.

While Rudolph has to fight for a spot on the roster against Drew Allar and Will Howard, Aaron Rodgers is clearly the starter. However, Rodgers confirmed 2026 will be his last NFL season before retiring.

Rudolph also hinted that he will be on the final roster

It’s been hinted by Mike McCarthy that the four quarterbacks could make the cut in the final 53-man roster. However, he also admitted he’s been communicated that he will have less reps, as Rodgers needs to get ready for his final season, and the Steelers want to develop Allar and Howard.

“I’m here to learn my offense,” Rudolph said. “My plans are to be here and to be on this team and to help in whatever fashion I can — and will.” Rudolph has been his whole career in Pittsburgh, barring a lone season in Tennessee.

Rudolph’s numbers with the Steelers

Excluding his time on the Titans, Rudolph has played 26 games across six seasons for the Steelers. During that time, he has 3,395 yards for 21 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions on 64.6% completion. He has a passer rating of 86.8 with the Steelers.

Dropped passes may be something the team has to work on going forward. At least, that was an aspect that caught Harbaugh’s attention and the Super Bowl-winning coach couldn’t get out of his mind. As he addressed media after practice, he made that clear.

“[In OTAs] the football shouldn’t hit the ground too often,” Harbaugh said, via Ryan Dunleavy of New York Post. Considering drops tend to drive coaches crazy—and fans, as well—Harbaugh did come up with a subtle way to let his players know it’s something that needs fixing.

Giants’ drops in 2025

Though it appears to have been an area New York struggled with during its open-to-the-public practice session, drops were not exactly a headache last season. Considering not much went the Giants’ way in 2025, it is noteworthy that they were far from the worst team in the league at securing possession.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Giants registered 19 drops throughout the 2025 NFL campaign. That is not too bad considering the Jacksonville Jaguars led the league with 45 dropped passes, while the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots had the safest hands with just 13 drops each.

Big Blue’s receivers dropped just 3.6% of their targets, recording 19 drops on 526 targets. Moreover, 9.4% of the team’s incompletions were the result of dropped passes, with the Giants totaling 203 incompletions overall. The remaining 90.6% can be blamed on the throw or credited to the defense.

NY Giants’ revamped WR room

Even though their numbers from a year ago—actually, just months ago—are quite encouraging, the Giants are looking quite different. Harbaugh has brought in several new weapons, and the wideouts room, as well as the depth additions to the running back and tight end groups, mean these are not the same G-Men from the 2025 NFL campaign.

Furthermore, players like Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Cam Skattebo continue to recover from injuries and were all missing from action during OTAs. Thus, Big Blue’s receiving corps featured new faces, many of whom have yet to prove themselves to the Giants.

Perhaps the current group is indeed one that has trouble keeping the pigskin off the dirt. If that is the case, it might be wise on Harbaugh’s part to tackle the issue head-on.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Deshaun Watson “believes he isn’t against staying in Cleveland beyond 2026 if things go well.” If the Browns opt to release Watson next year as a post-June 1 cut, they would have to swallow the second-largest salary cap hit in NFL history ($86.2 million).

Now, they could still do it as it would spread over 2027 and 2028, but if things go well, they still have to pay so might as well pay him while he is delivering on the field. Having said that, Todd Monken says nothing has changed in Browns QB battle between Watson and Sanders.

Monken has been critical of the Browns QBs so far

During a Wednesday media appearance, Monken was visibly bothered that his quarterbacks threw interceptions while making 7-on-7 drills, noting that it’s unacceptable due to having no pass-rush. He was not in the mood for discussing the QB battle.

Monken is in his first job as head coach. Still, he has worked in recent years with none other than Baltimore Ravens star QB Lamar Jackson. Hence, he will suffer a downgrade in the position no matter what. Monken’s mission is to make it work with the Browns, but the QBs available are his first roadblocks.

Cleveland has given its QBs all the help possible

By drafting an offensive lineman, and two of the best wideouts in the NFL Draft, the offense could look incredibly different. KC Concepcion could be a volume receiver, while Denzel Boston could serve as a certified deep threat.

“We’ve definitely got four that we love, I can say that,” the head coach said to the press. “You always have to develop the room. That’s always been the approach. We’re hoping that (general manager) Omar (Khan) can get the roster expanded to 55 and we can keep four. It’s a really good room. This is a good place to be, having four guys that can play.”

Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph represent the veteran presence. Will Howard and Drew Allar might be the future. It is no coincidence that all four are together this season: Steel City is going all in with A-Rod while also keeping their eyes on what could happen beyond 2027.

Mike McCarthy wants to develop the youngest talent

Aaron Rodgers’ return somehow benefits Will Howard as well as Drew Allar. With Mason Rudolph also on the roster, Mike McCarthy aims to fully develop and maximize the talent of his two young players at the position.

“Mason has a lot of experience,” the Steelers head coach said. “We’re trying to develop Will and Drew as well as we can. Will is ahead of Drew, just based on the fact that he’s been here.” Howard enters his second year in the NFL after not playing a single snap during his rookie season. Drew Allar, meanwhile, is taking his first steps in the league and will need to absorb as much information as possible to get up to speed.

Steelers have a HC who knows how to work with quarterbacks

Throughout his coaching career, Mike McCarthy has built a stellar reputation as a true quarterback guru with a proven track record of maximizing passing talent. This pedigree was solidified during his defining tenure with the Green Bay Packers, where he took over a young, raw Aaron Rodgers and meticulously developed him into a mechanical masterpiece and a future four-time MVP.

McCarthy’s quarterback-friendly system and strict developmental protocols have consistently elevated signal-callers, helping them master pre-snap reads, refine their footwork, and play with high-level efficiency. It is exactly this history of elite mentorship that makes his current role so intriguing as he looks to work his magic once again on a new generation of quarterbacks.

Pittsburgh already looking ahead to the 2026 season

Returning to another Super Bowl is the number one ambition in Steel City. These will be the first matchups of the upcoming season that they will have to face:

• Week 1, vs Atlanta Falcons
• Week 2, at New England Patriots
• Week 3, vs Cincinnati Bengals
• Week 4, at Cleveland Browns
• Week 5, vs Indianapolis Colts

As reported by Dan Duggan of The Athletic, neither D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, nor Sam Roberts was spotted on the practice field for the Giants. All three defensive linemen were signed during the offseason ahead of the 2026 NFL campaign.

While Roberts was signed in March, both Harris and Reader were brought into East Rutherford after New York traded Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals. Still, neither was in action on Thursday, meaning John Harbaugh and the rest of his staff are still somewhat in the dark about them. In addition to these absentees, the fact that the Giants are facing early injury concerns in the DL room is far from encouraging.

Why were they absent?

Roberts is still recovering from offseason surgery and has yet to be cleared to return to the practice field. Needless to say, the Giants will not rush him back and are taking every precaution.

As for Reader and Harris, neither is listed with an injury, and their absence from OTAs is seemingly a decision between them and the coaches. It is not rare—in fact, it is quite common—for veterans to opt out of voluntary workouts.

Considering both Harris and Reader are new players joining the club, some may argue they are better off practicing with the team and getting early reps with the new coaching staff and teammates. However, it is a very long year, and veterans like them may have more to lose than to gain by stepping into the trenches in May.

Giants stay patient

The Giants should know better than to start second-guessing Harbaugh’s decisions right from the get-go, especially during OTAs. Right now, these practices are all fans and media have, but they will become a distant, irrelevant memory once the actual NFL season rolls around.

Still, those who wanted an early peek at the revamped defensive line without Lawrence—and with his replacements—instead got to see a unit that looked quite similar to its 2025 version, aside from a fair share of rookies and free-agency additions here and there.

Kubiak has officially taken over as the head coach of the Raiders. While he has plenty of work ahead of him in Las Vegas, he inherits a talented offensive foundation that should help ease his transition during his debut season.

With rookie Fernando Mendoza already mastering Klint Kubiak’s playbook and expected to compete for the QB1 spot, maximizing every available weapon will be crucial for the team’s success. The former Indiana standout is expected to rely heavily on Bowers, and Kubiak couldn’t be happier to have an elite tight end ready to support his young quarterback.

“He’s kind of a football robot, in a good way,” Klint Kubiak said of Bowers on Wednesday. “He’s a football robot from heaven. He’s a Cadillac out there. We’ve got to get the most out of Brock. Wherever he goes, he’s been successful in college and high school. Whoever has coached him, so I can’t say enough great things about him, love his work ethic. He’s a standard bearer.”

Brock Bowers will be key for Fernando Mendoza’s growth

For many rookie quarterbacks, the presence of a reliable tight end is essential to their development. Offensive game plans often shield young signal-callers from taking unnecessary downfield risks early on, making a dependable safety valve over the middle absolutely crucial.

Bowers is an outstanding tight end, and Mendoza will undoubtedly look his way to jumpstart the offense. While it remains uncertain if the rookie will secure the starting job for Week 1, the offseason program provides a vital opportunity for the two to build strong chemistry.

In just two years, Bowers has firmly established himself as one of the premier tight ends in the NFL. Despite a 2025 campaign that was slightly hampered by injuries, he has already racked up 1,874 yards and 12 touchdowns in 29 games—production that proves the future is incredibly bright for this Raiders offense.

The Raiders face a very tough division

Even though the Chiefs weren’t at their absolute peak in 2025, they remain incredibly dangerous as long as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are leading the team. Meanwhile, the Broncos enter the year looking like the top threat in the AFC West, competing head-to-head with the Chargers for the crown.

The Raiders enter the 2026 campaign as the underdogs to win the AFC West. Nevertheless, the arrival of Kubiak—fresh off winning Super Bowl LX with the Seahawks—combined with the high upside of Mendoza has many believing that a new era is successfully underway in Las Vegas.

“DL Roy Robertson-Harris limped off very gingerly from 11-on-11. Trainers checking his right leg,” Dan Duggan of The Athletic reported on his X account. “WR Jalin Hyatt was riding the bike on the side. Appeared to tweak something running routes early in practice.“

Needless to say, watching two players go down with setbacks during OTAs—in which the aggressiveness and physicality are far from their maximum levels—may raise concerns for John Harbaugh and his staff. Furthermore, the Giants are quite thin at both positions, particularly during the opening stretch of OTAs and the NFL preseason.

Giants’ WR situation

New York is rolling into OTAs with an alternative offense. Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and Darius Slayton are all absent as they continue recovering from injuries. That opens up the field for unsung names to showcase themselves.

Hyatt, whose future in East Rutherford is up in the air, falls right into that category. However, he is of little use and can prove nothing to Harbaugh if he is on the sidelines riding a bike instead of running routes with the rest of the team. Based on his current role on the team, it feels as if Hyatt loses more by being injured than the Giants do by being without him. He has something to prove.

Although the Giants could turn Nabers’ injury into a positive by boosting rookie Malachi Fields, and Hyatt is reportedly at risk of being cut from the 53-man roster, New York needs all hands on deck, and another absence in the WR room would be costly.

Giants addressed D-line

Something similar is occurring within the defensive linemen group. The Giants appeared at OTAs without their main replacements for Dexter Lawrence. With Shelby Harris, D.J. Reader, and Sam Roberts unavailable, watching Robertson-Harris potentially suffer an injury is a scare Big Blue would have rather avoided this early in the offseason.

Finding the silver lining, however, some could argue it is better to have these scares early rather than in the middle of the NFL campaign. Regardless, there are questions to be asked.

New York brought in Reader, Harris, and Roberts throughout the offseason. The two former players were direct replacements brought in to fill the void left by Lawrence’s trade to Cincinnati. Thus, there is reasonable concern among fans if the players signed to address a problem are not even on the field.

Giants raise concerns

Roberts is injured, but no injury has been reported for Reader and Harris. Being longtime veterans in the NFL, there is an argument to be made as to why they are not on the gridiron this early in the year. After all, Harbaugh knows what he is doing.

However, fans can—rightfully—express their discomfort if the players supposed to replace one of the franchise’s best players of the century are not even practicing with the team on a warm afternoon in the Big Apple. Needless to say, it is not ideal for the Giants, especially not after the dramatic offseason they have been through.

This would be the perfect time to sell hope to the fanbase. The regular-season roller coaster will already take care of brewing storms. It would be best if the Giants did not bring them upon themselves, too.

Speaking to NBCSports Bay Area, Purdy said, “Obviously, we have what it takes to go all the way and win it, that’s when we’re at full strength and good to go. But even though we are at full strength and full health, that’s not guaranteed. That’s the cool thing about the guys we have in the locker room and organization: No one just sits there and says, ‘Oh, look at our roster and how beautiful it looks.’”

The 49ers have dealt with injury-plagued after injury-plagued season. Hence, the expectations around them have dimmed. But for Purdy, the team is still there, knocking on the door of a Super Bowl victory.

The 49ers have brought key pieces to win it all

The 49ers feel like they are just a few pieces away, so while they didn’t bring a lot of names, they did bring impact players to fill the holes on the roster. For instance, Jauan Jennings left the team and Brandon Aiyuk might do the same, but they brought in a massive upgrade in WR Mike Evans, and a veteran presence in Christian Kirk.

The 49ers also traded for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. Free agency saw them sign defensive end Cam Sample, and cornerback Jack Jones. Those names will bolster the defense and give depth to the squad.

Brock Purdy and Mike Evans could be a problem

While some people are still not fond of giving Brock Purdy a good rating, numbers speak for themselves. Purdy is a winner, and while not an elite quarterback, he is excellent. Now he has a Super Bowl winner and future Hall of Famer in Mike Evans, and things could propel to the sky.

Evans is a certified threat, especially in the red zone. Purdy is very accurate. And, to make it better, defenses will still have to deal or worry about players like tight end George Kittle, running back Christian McCaffrey, and a certain Kyle Shanahan calling the plays.

“Yeah, he’s a professional. He’s played a lot of football. He’s a leader that we’re counting on right now,” the head coach told reporters on Wednesday. “You see that side of him when it gets competitive, that was fun to get that move the ball period and get guys off of scripts and see how they respond, and you see the fire come out, and that’s what I want from our guys.”

Klint Kubiak knows Kirk Cousins firsthand, and understands that his experience in the league could not only help the Las Vegas Raiders achieve strong results, but also help refine a young talent like Fernando Mendoza with an eye toward the future.

Kubiak and Cousins already know each other from Minnesota

When Kubiak took over the reins as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator in 2021, he and Kirk Cousins picked up right where the previous scheme left off, keeping that offense running like a well-oiled machine. Having already spent two years as the quarterback coach, he had a great connection with Captain Kirk, and it showed on the field.

Under his play-calling, Cousins put up some highly efficient numbers in that play-action-heavy system, throwing for over 4,200 yards, 33 touchdowns, and protecting the ball with just 7 interceptions. It was a smooth, high-execution partnership that not only kept the quarterback playing at an elite level but also helped fuel a massive 1,600-yard season for Justin Jefferson.

Fernando Mendoza awaits his moment

Even with a veteran like Kirk Cousins on the roster, the Raiders didn’t draft Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall just to let him sit on the bench forever. He is seen as the undisputed centerpiece of Las Vegas’ long-term future.

Coming off a historic, undefeated 16-0 season with the Indiana Hoosiers where he absolutely lit up college football—putting up a 72% completion rate, 3,535 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and only 6 interceptions alongside a Heisman Trophy—Mendoza has the elite pedigree of a true franchise quarterback.

Burrow appeared in a press conference on Wednesday, and he was asked if he’s targeting any individual accolades. It seems like the quarterback already had that question in mind as he was quick to reply. “I’m pretty close to the Bengals franchise touchdown record. I’m like 50 or something away, so that would be nice to break this year,” Burrow said.

And Burrow is actually closer, he is not 50 TD passes away, he is 47 away to tie Andy Dalton’s record with the Bengals. However, tying it this year is a tough feat. For instance, his personal record is 43 touchdown passes in a single season. He would have to break his own record, but he is not afraid of challenges.

Burrow wants all the glory with the Cincinnati Bengals

While it might seem selfish to focus on individual accolades, the fact is that if Burrow throws for 47+ touchdowns in a year, the Bengals will clearly benefit. Also, that was an isolated question, Burrow also said the Bengals have “everything (they) need” to contend for a Super Bowl once again.

Burrow has had a Super Bowl experience before, as they lost in 2021 to the Los Angeles Rams. However, he is more confident in the roster the team has now. In fact, Burrow said this is the best roster the Bengals have had since he is in the NFL. Major words from a major player with major expectations.

The Bengals have a big opportunity to make a splash

Not only is the roster looking pretty solid, with a high-octane offense and a revamped defense, but the AFC North is there for the taking. The Baltimore Ravens are entering a new era with rookie head coach Jesse Minter and new offensive coordinator as well.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering a new chapter with Mike McCarthy as HC, on Aaron Rodgers’ farewell season. Finally, the Browns are also getting a new HC in rookie Todd Monken, and don’t even have established a QB1, not to mention they lost defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. The Bengals should run away with the division.