The final handful of NFL teams officially open mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, with various reporting times. Yahoo Sports is your guide for all the top storylines across the league. Click on the storyline to jump to that section.
Advertisement
Chiefs, Ravens, Rams holding mandatory minicamp
Chiefs have every ingredient to contend yet again
Is this the year for Lamar Jackson, Ravens?
Matthew Stafford, Rams back together for one more shot
Seahawks enter their Sam Darnold era
Giants get best look yet at first-round picks
Shedeur Sanders’ next Browns reps will come at training camp
Micah Parsons talks Cowboys waiting to sign him
Bengals, Trey Hendrickson are talking again
Married Aaron Rodgers practices with Steelers as T.J. Watt holds out
Anthony Richardson dealing with injury, uncertain Colts future
This week’s mandatory minicamp schedule
Los Angeles Rams: June 16-18
New York Giants: June 17-18
Kansas City Chiefs: June 17-19
Baltimore Ravens: June 17-19
Seattle Seahawks: June 17-19
The Chiefs are still really good, guys
The last time we saw the Chiefs on the field, it wasn’t pretty. Philadelphia’s dominant victory in Super Bowl LIX ended rather quickly any hope Kansas City had of winning a third straight title. But say that last part again: The Chiefs were going for a third straight Super Bowl title. They still have Patrick Mahomes, and Andy Reid, and Steve Spagnuolo, and Chris Jones, and Travis Kelce. Trent McDuffie is back to help lead what should be another good defense. They invested in the trenches with their first three draft picks. The offensive line will be retooled. Rashee Rice’s return will boost the WR corps. Will it help them reach an eighth straight AFC championship game? No reason to bet against it at this point.
Can Lamar Jackson, Ravens finally break through and win it all?
There’s a compelling argument Lamar Jackson should have won a third MVP award last season. Derrick Henry is back, the defense should be even better, and now might be the time for Baltimore to get over the hump and win a third Lombardi Trophy. The Ravens have been knocked out of the playoffs by the Chiefs and Bills the last two seasons. There’s no shame in that, given how good those teams are, but if the Ravens want to win it all, they’re going to have to find a way through. Mandatory mincamp represents the first step.
Matthew Stafford, Rams back together for perhaps final shot at Super Bowl
There was a chance, however small, the Rams might have moved on from Stafford this offseason. Sean McVay admitted signing Aaron Rodgers was a consideration, as Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reported in February. Instead, the 37-year-old Stafford and the Rams are back together, now with what should be an improved defense starring Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse, plus Davante Adams in the fold on offense. Los Angeles gave the Eagles all they could handle in the divisional round. Will the Rams build on it?
Sam Darnold era begins in Seattle
The Seahawks have been good the past few seasons, including last year, their first under head coach Mike Macdonald. They decided good wasn’t good enough, so they made a bunch of big moves this offseason. Chief among them: signing Sam Darnold in free agency and trading away starting quarterback Geno Smith. Is Darnold’s resurgence just a mirage thanks to the Vikings’ weapons and coaching, or did he really unlock something? Will it matter if Seattle’s offensive line doesn’t improve? The Seahawks will be a fascinating watch this month.
Advertisement
Jaxson Dart, Abdul Carter take field for Giants
The Giants had two first-round picks they hope will alter their franchise. Abdul Carter joins what should be a ferocious pass rush with Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, and the real needle-mover might be quarterback Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall pick out of Ole Miss and second quarterback taken this draft. How will Dart look during his first mandatory mini? Can he become the starter sooner than later with Russell Wilson looking like the early QB1? The answer is our first clue toward what the Giants have with him.
Shedeur Sanders, Browns QB battle continues
“Everybody’s got to earn their keep,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry told Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein this week in Berea. That includes all four quarterbacks competing for the starting job, from current favorite Joe Flacco to much-discussed fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders, from veteran presumptive backup Kenny Pickett to third-round pick Dillon Gabriel. The next look we’ll get here is at training camp, and while Sanders’ chances of starting Week 1 still seem very slim, the path does exist.
Cracks showing in Micah Parsons-Cowboys situation
After participating in mandatory minicamp and speaking diplomatically about his quest for a mammoth contract extension, Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons said late last week “it’s going to cost them more eventually,” according to Clarence Hill of DLLS. It’s not exactly a controversial comment, but it does mark a slight departure from how cordial both sides were being. Let’s see how it further unfolds.
Bengals resume talks with Trey Hendrickson
While Cincinnati’s ridiculousness with first-round pass rusher Shemar Stewart seems set to simmer for a while, ESPN reported over the weekend that the Bengals have resumed talks with reigning NFL sack champion Trey Hendrickson. We’ll see if the team can get both in the fold before training camp.
Aaron Rodgers debuts with Steelers as T.J. Watt doesn’t report
Aaron Rodgers has officially practiced with the Steelers, and even revealed he’s a married man. And while T.J. Watt is missing mandatory minicamp in search of a new contract, the Steelers that Yahoo Sports’ Jay Busbee talked to this week in Pittsburgh didn’t sound too concerned. All’s well and good in Western PA. In mid-June, at least.
How bad is Anthony Richardson’s shoulder injury?
Richardson still has no clear timetable to return from a sore AC joint in his throwing shoulder. And this week news broke that he visited renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles about it. ElAttrache operated on that same shoulder in 2023, which sidelined Richardson for most of his rookie season. Richardson needs to beat out Daniel Jones for the starting job and show progress this season, or his time with the Colts could come to an early end.
