The struggles of the Steelers offense last year was, in large part, due to the offensive line’s inability to produce.  The team allowed a whopping 49 sacks and ranked 29th in yards per carry at 3.7.  The Steelers really struggled against teams who could get after the quarterback and they were simply lucky enough to face a team in the Super Bowl that did not have a very strong defensive line.  Pittsburgh is pressing its luck if it thinks Roethlisberger can stand up to that kind of beating for another season and win another championship.

Another thing to keep an eye on here in the early going is how much, if at all, the impending civil suit for an alleged rape against Roethlisberger affects both his and the teams preparation for the upcoming season and whether or not it spills over into the regular season.

Key Veteran Additions – Shaun McDonald (WR)

The Steelers have very few holes to fill on the roster and wide receiver Shaun McDonald is the only veteran acquisition likely to see any significant playing time.  With #3 wideout Nate Washington signing a free agent deal with Tennessee the Steelers signed McDonald away from the languishing Lions.  McDonald is coming off a disappointing year in Detroit but is only one season removed from his career year of 79 catches and 6 touchdowns.  McDonald should be a good fit for the Steelers in the slot provided Limas Sweed is not ready to be elevated on the depth chart.

Key Rookie Additions – Evander “Ziggy” Hood (DL), Kraig Urbik (OL)

Again with very little roster turnover this summer do not expect many of the Steelers’ draft picks to see signficant playing time.  Top pick Evander Hood played tackle in college but is expected to move to end in the Steelers’ 3-4 defense.  Hood is a very productive player who plays the run well and can get after the quarterback.  The biggest knock on him is his inability to shed blockers due to his lack of strength.  Essentially, if he does not beat his guy off the ball he can be taken out of plays.  However, with both starting ends on the wrong side of 30 Hood should get ample playing time in a reserve role to keep those guys fresh for the playoff push.

Given the horrid play of the offensive line last season there is a strong possibility that Urbik could grab one of the starting guard positions.  Urbik has pretty good instincts and can battle with the best of them and would probably benefit from some seasoning before being thrown into the starting lineup.

Key Position Battles

There really are not many interesting battles to keep an eye on in Steelers camp this summer.  The two key jobs up for grabs are at right cornerback and the #3 receiver positions.  With Bryant McFadden leaving via free agency the Steelers have an opening in their secondary.  The expectation is that third year man William Gay will finally be ready to assume a starting role for the Steelers and is considered the favorite to win the job.  If Gay is not ready for prime time Deshea Townsend, who once upon a time held the starting job prior to McFadden is still on the roster.

The Steelers are hoping that second year man Limas Sweed is done suffering through rookie year growing pains and is ready to assume the #3 wideout role vacated by Nate Washington.  Sweed has all of the physical tools teams love in their wide receivers but he struggled mightily last season with dropped passes and mental errors.  If Sweed is not yet up-to-snuff McDonald will fill in quite nicely.

The core of the Super Bowl from two years ago is still relatively in tact minus the wide receivers and they will be getting Osi Umenyiora back from a knee injury to help bolster the defensive front.  The Giants were able to add some quality depth via free agent signings and what looks to be a pretty solid draft class.  If the Giants find a rhythm with the passing game they could be as good as anyone in the NFC, if they don’t it could be a long frustrating season for Giants fans.

Key Veteran Additions – Chris Canty (DT), Rocky Bernard (DT), Michael Boley (LB), C. C. Brown (S)

Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield both solid last year but wore down towards the end of the season.  The Giants went out and signed Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard to add some depth at the defensive tackle position.  Bernard gives them a pass rush presence in the middle of the line while Canty gives them a someone with height and long arms who can disrupt passing lanes.  Look for both to battle Robbins and Cofield for playing time.

The linebacking core has basically been Antonio Pierce and little else the past couple of seasons.  Michael Boley gives them an upgrade in the athleticism department, is solid in coverage and has shown an ability to force turnovers in the past.  The biggest knock on the guy is he struggles to shed blockers when taking them head-on.

C. C. Brown will provide some veteran depth at safety behind Michael Johnson and Kenny Phillips.

Key Rookie Additions – Hakeem Nicks (WR), Clint Sintim (LB), William Beatty (OT), Ramses Barden (WR), Andre Brown (RB)

A lot could be riding on whether Hakeem Nicks can adapt and become a quality NFL receiver during his rookie season.  He catches just about anything he gets his hands on and ran a lot better at the combine than teams thought he would but he put on 14 pounds between the combine and his Pro Day raising some red flags about his dedication and conditioning.  He has a good thick frame, is tough to bring down, and runs well after the catch.  If he stays focused and in shape he could contribute to the Giants success right away.

Sintim gives them a guy who can rush the passer off the edge but his coverage skills are lacking quite a bit.  Sintim could challenge Danny Clark for the starting job but he will need to improve his coverage skills to do so.  He is likely to see action as a situational pass rusher off the edge.

William Beatty’s pay off is likely to be two or three years down the road once Kareem McKenzie and David Diehl start to lose a step.  Beatty was considered by some to be a first round prospect at left tackle and he should give them some depth and probably needs a year or two of seasoning before being ready to start at the NFL level anyway.

Checking in at 6′ 6″ Ramses Barden looks like Plaxico Burress in pads unfortunately he does not have the same skills as Plaxico does.  With the receiving corps being a mixed bag right now Barden could get a chance to contribute.  He catches the ball well and is adept at using his size and body to create separation from defenders.  The biggest knock on him is that his top end speed is adequate at best and he is not a very elusive runner after the catch.  It is doubtful that Barden starts for the Giants but he has the potential to be a very useful weapon in short yardage and goal line passing plays where his size can be used to his adavantage to catch fades and quick slants.

Andre Brown could potentially be a steal in this past draft.  Brown has all of the physical attributes teams love in running backs and he posted a 4.4 40 time at the combine which means he has the speed to go with it.  The only reason he slid as far as he did in the draft was his inability to stay healthy for an entire season during college.  If he stays healthy he could very well develop into a top flight back in the NFL the way Terrell Davis and Willie Parker did after injury-riddle college careers.  Brown could pick up Derrick Ward’s carries from last year.

Key Position Battles

The biggest question facing the Giants this summer is who Eli Manning is going to be throwing the ball to this season.  Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith are the top veteran hold overs from last year’s squad.  Hixon led the Giants in receiving yards last season and keeps teasing with his tremendous speed and play-making ability as a kick returner.  However, he has yet to put it altogether in the passing game and he tends to drop a lot of passes that he should be hanging on to.  Smith was a solid contributer in the slot last season but there seems to be a feeling that he is better suited as a secondary receiver in the NFL.  Hakeem Nicks is probably the most well-rounded player at the position and should earn a starting spot as long as he stays focused and learns enough of the playbook to be ready to go by week one.  Second year man Mario Manningham was not ready for prime time during his rookie season and could get a look provided he has put in the off season work to get there.  Expect Nicks and Hixon to come out of camp holding the starting jobs.

With the additions of Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard who will the starting defensive tackles be?  Fred Robbins’ big play ability almost makes him a necessity.  He started the season strong and ended with 5.5 sacks and 8 tackles-for-loss last season he just simply wore down as the season progressed.  Canty is a solid presence but it remains to be seen what he brings to the table now that he is going from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme.  Will the Giants just merely go with the pair of tackles that match up best against their opponent?  Go with Robbins and Bernard who are better pass rushers against pass-oriented teams and Canty and Barry Cofield against run-oriented teams.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out.  I do not really have a good feel for who the guy is going to be just yet.

With defense being a priority this offseason the Saints spent what few draft picks they had on defense, let several veterans go, and signed a bunch of free agents hoping to re-shape the defense.  Gone are veterans like Hollis Thomas, Brian Young, and Mike McKenzie and in are Rod Coleman, Jabari Greer, Pierson Prioleau, Darren Sharper, and Paul Spicer.  Payton is hoping that the mix of younger talent and veteran players helps to recharge the defense and get the Saints over the hump and back into the postseason.

One can expect to see few changes in the high-powere offense led by Drew Brees although fans are starting to wonder if, or when, Reggie Bush is ever going to amount to anything more than a situational back.  Three years after being one of the most hyped players coming out of college in recent memory he has yet to make a Pro Bowl or even register a 1,000 yard rushing season.  Bush’s inability to establish himself as an elite back led to some speculation leading up to the draft that the Saints were seriously toying with the idea of taking Chris “Beanie” Wells or Knowshon Moreno with the 14th pick of the draft.

Key Veteran Additions – Heath Evans (FB), Jabari Greer (CB), Darren Sharper (S)

Darren Sharper was the biggest name acquisition for the Saints defense this spring.  Sharper was once an elite safety in the league but has lost a step and no longer has the range he once did but he still has a knack for making plays in the secondary and is a very heady player that does not make many mistakes back there.  He should bring some stability and leadership to a secondary that has had a tremendous amount of turnover during the Payton Era.

Greer is a solid corner who has excellent speed and quickness and should challenge for one of the starting corner jobs.

With the departure of Mike Karney, Heath Evans is expected to assume the starting fullback role.

Key Rookie Additions – Malcolm Jenkins (DB), Chip Vaughn (S), Stanley Arnoux (LB)

Leading up to the combine Malcolm Jenkins was considered a potential lockdown career for years to come in the NFL.  Teams started to question that assessment after Jenkins posted rather pedestrian 40 yard dash times at the combine and OSU’s Pro Day workouts.  There are now some who wonder whether he will have to transition to safety in the NFL.  With the addition of Sharper and the presence of Roman Harper at strong safety Jenkins is expected to compete for a cornerback job for the time being.  Jenkins is likely to start the year as the nickle back but do not be surprised if he challenges for a starting job some where in the secondary.

Chip Vaughn and Stanley Arnoux are not expected to be major contributers during the up-coming season.  Vaughn has tremendous speed but lacks the instincts to play a lot in pass coverage right off.  Arnoux has good speed as well but may need to bulk up a bit to get significant playing time in the NFL.

Key Position Battles

Who will be the starting running back for the Saints this season?  Folks are growing weary of waiting for Bush to become the superstar he was expected to become coming out of USC and his job as the starting running back could be in jeopardy.  Pierre Thomas had a breakout year when Deuce McAllister went down last season and he really excelled in games where he led the Saints in carries.  Do not be surprised if Thomas becomes the primary ball carrier for the Saints this season as Bush does not seem to either have the ability or the interest in learning how to run the ball between the tackles in the NFL.

Who are the starting corners going to be?  Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter are seen as the favorites heading into camp.  Greer was signed away from Buffalo and Porter had a strong start last season before going down with an injury.  The team liked what it saw in Porter prior to his injury and he is a good bet to win one of the jobs.  Greer has never been anything special in Buffalo so do not be surprised if Jenkins beats him out for the other spot as long as he shows he can cover NFL-caliber receivers.

Despite winning eleven games the Pats missed out on the playoffs for the first time in six seasons and that has not set well with Belichick as the Pats went out and added key veterans to ensure they make it back to the playoffs this season.  Brady is expected to be back and ready to roll by week one.  However, if Brady goes down again this season the cupboard is bare in terms of a seasoned veteran backup as Cassel was shipped to Kansas City prior to the draft and are left with second year man Kevin O’Connell and third year man Matt Gutierrez as the backup quarterbacks.  As long as Brady remains healthy and knocks off the rust early enough the Pats should regain their rightful place atop the AFC East.

Key Veteran Additions – Leigh Bodden (CB), Joey Galloway (WR), Shawn Springs (CB), Fred Taylor (RB), Greg Lewis (WR), Alex Smith (TE)

The Patriots secondary allowed a whopping 27 touchdown passes, 31st in the league, and intercepted just 13 passes so the team made the secondary a priority during the off season.  The secondary will feature a pair of new starting corners with Ellis Hobbs being shipped to Philadelphia for a pair of 5th round picks and Deltha O’Neal being let go.  Veterans Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs were signed to man the corners for the Patriots this season.

At one time Springs was considered a top ten corner in the league but his career has seen better days and he has lost a lot of speed in quickness over the years due to leg and knee injuries.  He is still solid, consistent player and can hang with most receivers.

Bodden is a solid cover guy with a knack for turning the ball over and is not afraid to step up in run support.  He should flourish in the Pats’ Cover-2 coverage scheme.

Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis are expected to add some depth and compete for the 3rd receiver role vacated by Jabar Gaffney.  Galloway struggled to stay healthy last season and only caught 13 balls for the Buccaneers last season but he is only a year removed from a 3rd consecutive 1,000 yard season, but, he is 37 and could very well be starting to show signs of his age.  If healthy the Pats hope he can fill the role that Donte Stallworth did during the ’07 season.  Lewis has pretty good downfield speed, but he was just never able to put  it all together in Philadelphia and tends to drop some passes that he shouldn’t.

The Pats have grown weary of Laurence Maroney’s inability to stay healthy and brought in Fred Taylor from Jacksonville to compete for the starting job and add some depth to the running back stable.  Taylor is also one year removed from a 1,000 (1,202) yard season but is also 33 and last season’s drop in production could be due to age or it could be due to playing behind a mediocre line in Jacksonville.

Alex Smith was signed to add depth to the tight end position and could push Ben Watson for the starting job.

Key Rookie Additions – Patrick Chung (S), Ron Brace (DT), Darius Butler (CB), Brandon Tate (WR/KR)

With Rodney Harrison retiring to the broadcast booth top pick Patrick Chung could be a candidate to replace him at free safety.  Chung is solid in pass coverage and is not afraid to mix it up in run support and is one of those guys who plays faster than timed speed suggests.  He is a very physical safety and loves to bring the thunder but his over-aggressiveness can lead to blown coverages and assignments at times.

Darius Butler is likely to be the nickel back but could be given an opportunity to win a starting job if Springs or Bodden are not up to snuff.  Butler is a bit on the smallish side but he has good ball skills and closing speed in pass coverage.  He just needs to be a bit more aggressive and not let his size be a detriment in coverage.

Beefy Ron Brace is a hulking run stuffer who will afford the Pats to give Vince Wilfork more rest during the season in an effort to keep him fresh for the late season playoff push.

Brandon Tate had the looks of an early Heisman contender and was on his way to being a first round prospect last season prior to blowing out his knee against UConn during the fifth game of the year.  Prior to his injury Tate was a jack-of-all-trades averaging 23.5 yards per catch, 13.0 yards per carry, 22.6 yards per punt return, and 27.7 yards per kick return for the Tar Heels.  If he is fully recovered from his knee injury Tate potentially gives the Pats a multi-talented weapon on offense who is capable of making the big play and is used to lining up all over the field.  Tate, who also had 6 returns for touchdowns, could also give the Pats return game a shot in the arm with Hobbs being dealt to Philadelphia.

Key Position Battles

Laurence Maroney cannot seem to stay healthy, Sammy Morris is coming off the best season of his career but also has a history of injuries, Fred Taylor is the wrong side of 30 and coming off a down year so the question is who will be the starting running back behind Brady?  Maroney is clearly the most talented of the three but he has a tendency to be a bit lazy and seems to avoid contact at all costs.  Morris has the heart and determination but last season’s 156 carries were a career-high and he has never been able to show he can be the primary back over a 16-game season.  If Taylor shows he has anything left in the tank he will likely begin the season as the starting running back.  There is a school of thought that with Taylor, Morris, Kevin Faulk, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis on the roster that Maroney could get his walking papers if he does not step it up and the way his talent suggests he should.

Tight End Ben Watson’s numbers have steadily declined the past couple of seasons and the Pats have brought in Alex Smith to push him this summer.  Smith is a solid receiver but has never been anything special to-date but he could push Watson to step his game up in camp.

Who is going to step into outside linebacker spot vacated when Mike Vrabel was dealt to Kansas City?  The team is high on Shawn Crable’s talent and potential but he has yet to see any real game-time action and is likely to fill a reserve role for the upcoming season.  The team loves Pierre Woods’ potential as well and he is considered the front runner heading into camp along with Tully Banta-Cain who registered 5.5 sacks in a reserve role for the Pats in 2006 before signing with the 49ers.

Who will the Third receiver be behind Randy Moss and Wes Welker?  Lewis and Galloway are the two front runners with Tate being a darkhorse candidate if he is healthy.  Galloway is the more talented and established of the two and if he is healthy and has anything left in the tank he is the likely #3 guy if not then Lewis is likely the guy with Tate being mostly a special teams player for the time being.

If the unthinkable happens and Brady goes down again who is going to fill Matt Cassel’s shoes as the backup?  O’Connell and Gutierrez are the lone veteran quarterbacks on the roster after Brady.  The team is said to be very high on O’Connell and think he has the chops to be a quality quarterback in the league if given the opportunity.  Look for him to be listed as the backup QB on the opening day depth chart.

The Dolphins were also to do it by catching teams off guard with set of gimmick plays on offense it called its “Wildcat” package which is essentially a version of the spread offense with a running back or athlete taking snaps from center and running around trying to make something happen.  It was not long before the package caught on around the league and now just about every team has a set of plays of their own to run out of that formation.

The Dolphins are not going to sneak up on anyone this season they way they did last year and teams are surely going to be more prepared for the Wildcat packages than they were last year.  Pennington also needs to show that he can stay healthy for consecutive seasons which is something he has never been able to do.  The Dolphins are going to be very hard pressed to duplicate another AFC East title with the Patriots adding more weapons on offense and Tom Brady expected to be back and ready to go for week one.

Key Veteran Additions – Jake Grove (C), Gibril Wilson (S)

Jake Grove will step in and take over at center for Samson Satele whom the ‘Phins traded to the Raiders for a draft pick.  Grove is a solid contributer at the center position and is considered an upgrade over Satele.

Gibril Wilson, another import from the Raiders, led all defensive backs with 129 tackles last season and is an ace in stuffing the run.  He is also a solid cover guy and will fill in at free safety for Renaldo Hill who signed with Denver in the off season.

Key Rookie Additions – Vontae Davis (DB), Pat White (ATH), Sean Smith (CB)

The Dolphins ranked 25th in the league in passing yards allowed so with that in mind they spent two of their top three picks on defensive backs.  Vontae Davis was considered by some to be the top all around defensive back available in the draft.  There is some question as to whether he will play corner or be moved to safety to take better advantage of his athleticism and hitting ability.  He will, at the very least, see a lot of action at nickel back if he does not challenge for a starting job this summer.

Sean Smith is seen as a guy who could be a year or two away from challenging for a starting spot as he was converted to corner back from receiver in college so he is still learning to play the position.  He has tremendous size for a corner and the speed to keep up with most receivers however his lack of experience at the position catches up with him at times.

Pat White is the ultimate addition to a team looking to feature the Wildcat offense next season.  He ran the spread offense in college, has sub 4.5 speed in the 40 and can throw the ball down field.  He threw the ball a lot better during his workouts than teams had aniticpated which is probably why he ended up going as high as he did in the draft.  White should see the majority of snaps in the Wildcat set for the ‘Phins and could also see time at receiver when the Dolphins go to three and four-receiver sets.

Key Position Battles

The Dolphins did not make a ton of offseason moves in an effort to improve themselves most of the veterans they brought in were to fill a void left by a departing player.  One place where a battle could potentially emerge is at WR where Ted Ginn, Greg Camarillo, and Devone Bess caught 56, 55, and 54 passes respectively.  Ginn is likely to hang on to his starting spot as he is the only one of the three with elite speed and elusiveness to get down field and make guys miss in the open field.  Neither Camarillo or Bess are blessed with blazing speed but they both now how to get open and don’t drop many balls.  Bess may have the edge over Camarillo given the latter is coming off of ACL surgery that cost him the last five games of the season.  White could sneak in here if he is able to grasp the nuances of playing receiver quick enough but it seems unlikely that he will.

With Vonnie Holliday no longer on the team the right defensive end job is up for grabs.  Randy Starks and Philip Merling are the top two contenders for the job heading into camp.  Starks played well in spot duty last season but is really more of a defensive tackle than he is defensive end.  Merling is the likely favorite as end is his natural position and provides more of a pass rush threat than Starks does.

Former Patriots personnel guru Scott Pioli has been hired as the new General Manager and Todd Haley was lured away from the Arizona Cardinals to be the new head man.  Pioli did not waste any time in trying to upgrade this team by sending a mere second round draft pick to the Patriots in exchange for Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel.  The other major move Pioli made was by trading Tony Gonzalez, the long-time face of the franchise, to the Falcons for a second round draft pick in the 2010 draft.

Gonzalez is still arguably one of the top five tight ends in the league and his production and leadership will truly be missed in Kansas City this season.  But the stark reality of it is that by the time the Chiefs are serious contenders again Gonzalez is likely not going to be playing close to the level he is now.  The Chiefs have purged the roster of a lot of the old guard the past couple of years and are now in the process of rebuilding the roster with younger talent.

Key Veteran Additions – Monty Beisel (LB), Matt Cassel (QB), Bobby Engram (WR), Mike Goff (G), Zack Thomas (LB), Mike Vrabel (LB)

Matt Cassel was the biggest off season acquisition for the Chiefs.  Cassel is fresh off his breakout season with the Patriots in which he stepped in for the injured Tom Brady and guided the Patriots to an 11-5 record.  There are those who remain skeptical of Cassel and think he is more a product of the Pats system than an actual franchise QB and have been critical of the Chiefs decision to give him a six year deal worth more than $60 million before seeing how he is going to perform for them this fall.

With the anticipated switch to the 3-4 defensive front this summer the Chiefs went out and grabbed a couple of veteran linebackers who have experience playing in the 3-4 scheme.  Veteran Mike Vrabel was acquired in the Cassel deal form the Patriots and while he is past his prime he will give the defense some needed leadership and toughness and help boost an abysmal pass rush that recorded a paltry 10 sacks last season.

The aging Zack Thomas was brought in from Dallas to sure up the inside run defense.  Thomas does not have the range he once did but he is still a solid tackler and run defender.

Monty Beisel will provide some depth and veteran leadership and should see action spelling Thomas.

Bobby Engram is penciled in as the third receiver and could challenge Mark Bradley and Devard Darling for the other starting job at wide receiver.

The aging Mike Goff is expected to step in and start at right guard.

Key Rookie Additions – Tyson Jackson (DE), Alex Magee (DL), Donald Washington (CB)

Taking Tyson Jackson with the third overall pick was a bit of a surprise to some given the Chiefs overwhelming need for an elite pass rusher, offensive linemen, and linebackers.  Although Jackson was considered the best natural 3-4 defensive end available in the draft so it is not a shock they went this route.  Jackson is strong against the run and should occupy blockers the only major downside to him is he is not much of a pass rusher.

The Chiefs current plan of attack involves moving defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey to play one of the end positions in the new defensive front.  Alex Magee is expected to back him up and if Dorsey falters Magee could see signficant playing time this fall.

Donald Washington is considered a steal in the fourth round by some and is expected to challenge for the nickel back job.

Key Position Battles

Despite having the makings of a pretty bad team the Chiefs seem to be pretty set on who their starters are going to be which is probably more a testament to just not having any quality depth on the roster more than anything else.  One spot to keep an eye on will left end where Glenn Dorsey is trying to make the transition from defensive tackle.  Rookie Alex Magee will be right there if Dorsey cannot do it.

Another position to keep an eye on will be tight end where Haley will be trying to figure out who will be replacing Tony Gonzalez.  Brad Cottam is considered the front runner coming into camp but reports out of minicamps have him dropping a lot of passes thus giving Sean Ryan and Tony Curtis a shot to wrestle the job away from him.

A third key spot is at the wide receiver position opposite Dwayne Bowe.  Devard Darling and Mark Bradley split time there last season but neither did enough to establish themselves as the starter coming into camp.  Veteran Bobby Engram caught as many passes, 47, as Darling and Bradley did combined last season and he could push for the job in camp if neither Bradley or Darling looks to be significantly improved over last season.

A year later the Jaguars enter training camp with a coach, Jack Del Rio, on the hot seat after a disappointing 5-11 season and a bunch of new faces after the team trimmed some of the fat in the off season.  Gone are players like Mike Peterson, Matt Jones, and Jerry Porter who seem to get in the news for the wrong reason which should go a long way in repairing the locker room chemistry which was said to implode after Peterson’s run-in with Del Rio.  The biggest off season development was the team rewarding Maurice Jones-Drew with a long-term extension culminating with the release of long-time face of the franchise Fred Taylor.  The Jaguars face a long road ahead if they want to get back into contention.

Key Veteran Additions – Torry Holt (WR), Sean Considine (S), Tra Thomas (T), Marlon McCree (S), Gerald Alexander (S)

Apparently Del Rio saw a need to sure up the safety position as the Jags have gone out and grabbed three veteran safeties in the past several months.  Sean Considine and Marlon McCree will battle it out at strong safety while Gerald Alexander is being brought in to potentially challenge Reggie Nelson to step up his game.  It should be noted that McCree and Alexander are coming off injuries and may just be relegated to back up duty for the Jags.

The Jaguars went ahead and purged their roster of just about every veteran receiver by releasing Matt Jones and deciding not to bring Reggie Williams and Jerry Porter back thus necessitating acquiring an established veteran of some kind for Garrard to throw the ball to.  Holt fills the bill and while he may not be the elite receiver he was two or three years ago he still has a bit left in the tank and should up better not having to play half of his games indoors on turf.

Initially Tra Thomas was signed to be the starting left tackle for the Jags but that all may have changed with the drafting of Eugene Monroe.  Thomas’ career has seen better days and he struggled mightily down the stretch for the Eagles and is probably better served as a backup and mentor to Monroe.

Key Rookie Additions – Eugene Monroe (T), Eben Britton (T), Derek Cox (CB), Rashad Jennings (RB), Jarrett Dillard (WR), Mike Thomas (WR), Tiquan Underwood (WR)

The Jaguars surprised many by passing on taking a receiver with one of their top picks by picking up a pair of bookend tackles in the first and second round.  Eugene Monroe figures to beat out the aging Thomas for the left tackle spot.  Monroe was considered by most as one of the top two tackles available in the draft who just lacks a mean streak.

Britton was considered a first round prospect by many and one of the top five or six tackles available in the draft.  With Monroe pencilled in on the left side Britton will be expected to man the right side and challenge Tony Pahsos for the starting job.

With the team devoid of any established talent at wide receiver rookies Jarrett Dilliard, Mike Thomas, and Tiquan Underwood will all get a chance to win the #2 and #3 spots behind Holt.  Thomas lacks ideal size and drops too many passes to be a starter at this stage of his career.  He likely projects out as a slot receiver and/or return specialist.

Dilliard catches just about anything he can get his hands on and has adequate size he just lacks the top end speed that teams look for in receivers.  At this stage he projects out as a third down/possession receiver.

Early minicamp reports have Underwood being better than anticipated.  Underwood’s college career was a bit of a disappointment.  He has the top end speed teams look for but is a bit on the sleight side and kind of reminds one of Todd Pinkston.  If he  learns to run better routes and control his speed better he could emerge as a candidate for the other starting job.

The burly Rashad Jennings looks to pick up Fred Taylor’s carries and serve as the short yardage back for the Jaguars.

With William James recently being released Derek Cox looks to challenge for the nickle back role.

Key Position Battles

The big question is going to be who Garrard is going to be throwing the ball to this season.  Holt figures to be one of the starting receivers and Mercedes Lewis will likely be the starting tight end.  From there it is anybody’s guess.  It was assumed that Dennis Northcutt was going to be the other WR up until he got traded to the Lions.  Former first round selection Troy Williamson has the most experience but has never been able to put it all together in the NFL and likely has the inside track to the starting job.

Will the young studs overtake the veteran tackles?  Monroe will most assuredly beat out Thomas for the staring job at left tackle.  Tony Pashos is a solid, if unspectacular, right tackle and if Britton does not win the starting job he could be moved inside to man one of the guard positions.

Wh0 will get the bulk of Fred Taylor’s carries?  Maurice Jones-Drew will be the main back but don’t expect him to see significantly more touches just because he got a new extension.  Drew works best when he has a guy like Taylor to share the workload with.  Veteran Greg Jones showed an ability to be able to handle 100 plus carries a season when he logged 151 carries but this was prior to him injuring his leg and missing all of the 2006 season and he seems to be a better fit at fullback.  The early returns on Jennings have him looking very good at the minicamps and emerging as the top candidate to be Jones-Drew’s backup.

Manning is a pro’s pro though and has always seemed to be adept at adapting and conquering in the NFL and Reggie Wayne has been one of the best wide outs in the league for the past two or three years so Harrison, who has struggled with injuries the past two years, likely will not be missed.  The other main concern for the Colts centers around the running game.  The Colts were 31st in rushing and last in the league in yards per carry.  Joseph Addai, once seen as a rising star, has seen his performance slowly decline in the two seasons since his rookie year and seems to do better when he rotates in and out with another back.

Key Veteran Additions

The Colts had very little turnover this spring bringing in linebacker Adam Seward and letting Marvin Harrison, Dominic Rhodes, and Darrell Reid go.

Key Rookie Additions – Donald Brown (RB), Fili Moala (DT), Austin Collie (WR)

Taking Donald Brown with their top pick is an interesting one for the Colts with a relatively young Joseph Addai already in the fold as the stariting running back.  However, Addai’s productivity has faltered and he has struggled with injuries.  Expect Brown to see his share of carries and he could challenge Addai for the starting job.  Brown is a good fit for the Colts offense he can handle a heavy workload and can catch the ball out of the backfield.  The only thing he is lacking is elite speed.

Fili Moala should step right in to the regular rotation at defensive tackle and could challenge for a starting job.  Moala is a good solid lineman who does not excel at any one thing but has no significant weaknesses in his game either.

With Harrison out of the picture the Colts have a need for a #3 receiver and Collie could fit the bill.  Collie does not have excellent speed but has makes up for it by running crisp routes and using his body to gain separation from defenders.

Key Position Battles

Brown and Addai could sqaure off for the starting running back job this summer as there is clearly some displeasure with how Addai is progressing thus far in his career.  Grabbing a running back in the first round is clearly sending a message to Addai that he needs to step up or step out.

Clint Session’s job at strongside linebacker could be in jeopardy if he does not demonstrate more heady play in camp.  The team loves his athleticism but he tends to overpursue and does not always wrap guys up.  Tyjuan Hagler is not as athletically gifted but is a much more steady player who does not get burned as often.

The Texans have done a tremendous job over the past several years hitting the jackpot in the draft.  The most noteworthy being the infamous decision to take Mario Williams over Reggie Bush.  Williams has emerged as one of the best young pass rushers in the league while Bush, ballyhooed as the next great superstar, has struggled to even win the starting job in New Orleans.  Last year’s top pick Duane Brown struggled at left tackle but looks to be much improved this season and third-round selection Steve Slaton, whom experts tabbed as too small to be an every down back, was arguably the biggest rookie surprise last season compiling 1659 yards of total offense and scoring 10 touchdowns.

With rising stars Schaub and Slaton to go along with Pro Bowlers Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels the Texans have a good core of talent at the skill positions to build around.  The question remains as to whether the defense will come together and be improved enough for the Texans to capture its first winning season in franchise history.

Key Veteran Additions – Shaun Cody (DT), Antonio Smith (DE), Cato June (LB)

Cody is expected to provide the Texans with some depth for Travis Johnson and Amobi Okoye and could see time in passing situations.

Antonio Smith figures to be the starting left end on defense and is seen as an upgrade over Anthony Weaver who the team elected not to re-sign.  Smith is solid against the run and is considered a better pass rusher than Weaver.

Cato June should compete for the weakside linbebacker job.  June has never been the same player since leaving Indianapolis for Tampa but the Texans are hoping he can re-capture some of the magic that made him one of the games most sought after free agents after the ’06 season.

Key Rookie Additions – Brian Cushing (LB), Connor Barwin (OLB/DE), Antoine Caldwell (C)

Brian Cushing is expected to be the starting strongside linebacker when camp breaks.  Cushing is a powerful, punishing tackler who is excellent at the point of attack and shows good instincts in run defense.  His pass coverage skills leave a bit to be desired as he is a bit stiff in the hips and can get caught out of position.

Barwin, a converted tight end, is likely to server as a pass rushing specialist for the Texans this season.  He is still learning the position and is a bit raw but explodes off the ball and has good closing speed.  He gets caught up in traffic due to his smallish size and can be uneffective against the run.  He really would have been better off going to a team that features a 3-4 defensive front.

Antoine Caldwell should get a chance to displace Chris Myers as the starting center.

Key Position Battles

The Texans’ do not have many starting jobs up for grabs as they head into camp this summer.  The biggest competition looks to be at weakside linebacker where the veteran June looks to compete with second year man Xavier Adibi for the job.  Adibi played showed some flashes as a rookie and recorded 32 tackles in the five games he started.

Another job that could arise in camp is at right cornerback where starter Dunta Robinson has yet to sign his tender offer as a franchise player and is threatening to hold out as long as possibly can.  If Robinson follows through on his threat then the battle could fall Antwaun Molden and rookie Glover Quin.  Molden would likely have the edge there being the returning veteran.

The defense ended up being the culprit for the Packers downfall going from a top ten defense statistically to the bottom third of the league.  As a result there is going to a new look to the Green Bay defense next year as it switches to a 3-4 front.  The team spent 5 of its 8 draft picks on defensive players the biggest issue facing the defense this season is a lack of personnel with experience in the 3-4 defense or that are suited to play in that defensive scheme.  It could be another frustrating season for the Packers as they transition to the 3-4 defense.

Key Veteran Additions

The Packers made no significant moves in the off season which is kind of surprising given the need to get some players versed in the 3-4 defense on the roster.

Key Rookie Additions – B. J. Raji (DT), Clay Matthews (LB), T. J. Lang (T)

Raji is an explosive player at defensive tackle and at the very least will spell Ryan Pickett and play in passing situations to take advantage of his ability to collapse the pocket and get to the quarterback.

Clay Matthews appears to be an early candidate to be the starting right outside linebacker.  Matthews is an explosive athlete on the outside who is a sure tackler and shows good instincts on the field.  He just needs to work on his pass coverage skills to become a more well-rounded defender.

Lang will get a chance to win the vacant right tackle job this summer.

Key Position Battles

With very little turnover from last year’s roster there are not a ton of questions as to who is going to be starting for the Packers this season.  Look for Raji to challenge Ryan Pickett for the starting job at nose tackle simply because he is a bit more athletic and had a knack for being a play-maker in college.

There is an open competition at right tackle heading into camp with Allen Barbre, Breno Giacomini, and T. J. Lang being the front runners headed into camp.  Of the three Barbre is the most experienced and seems to have earned Rodgers who has publically endorsed him for the job but Lang was reported to be the best of the bunch during minicamp.

After such a colossal failure of a season the Lions have a new head coach in former Titans’ defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz who hired Scott Linehan to re-shape the offense and Gunther Cunningham to turn the defense around.  The Lions cleaned house and let a lot of veterans go and have brought in a lot of new faces in hopes they can get the team headed back to respectability.

Key Veteran Acquisitions – Phillip Buchanon (CB), Anthony Henry (CB), Grady Jackson (DT), Bryant Johnson (WR), Eric King (CB), Julian Peterson (LB/DE), Terrelle Smith (FB), Cody Spencer (LB), Ronald Curry (WR), Dennis Northcutt (WR), Larry Foote (LB)

The Lions set a league record intercepting just four passes last year and with the secondary garnering just one pick all season the team is starting over with a fresh set of corners.  Phillip Buchanon, Anthony Henry, and Eric King were all brought in via free agency to help re-make the secondary.  Buchanon is a solid cover guy who is still prone to mental lapses that lead to big plays from time-to-time.  Henry is big and physical and has a knack for being around the ball, the biggest knock on him is he struggles to keep up with the faster wide outs in the league.  King played for Schwartz in Tennessee and of the three is the most likely to end up as the nickle back.

The Lions surrendered 2,754 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 5.1 yards per attempt on the ground last season.  The Lions are hoping Grady Jackson and Larry Foote can help resolve that situation for them.  Jackson is a boom or bust proposition at this stage in his career.  He has a history of weight and health issues, but when he is healthy and motivated he just swallows up blockers in the middle of the line.  The Lions are hoping Foote, coming over from Pittsburgh, can bring some toughness and leadership to the defense and he is expected to man the middle linebacking position for them.

Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson is a budding superstar and had a breakout season with 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns but after Johnson the cupboard was rather bare.  The next best receiver had a meager 35 catches for 332 yards.  Gone are players like Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey and in are Bryant Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, and Ronald Curry.  Johnson is a solid receiver who has yet to have that breakout year everyone keeps waiting for him to have and is the top candidate to be the other starter.  Northcutt is a solid slot receiver who is really a better punt returner than receiver.  Curry was once seen as a rising star after converting from QB to WR in the NFL but injuries and playing on some bad Raiders’ teams have sapped him of his career.  A change of scenery may just be what he needs to jump start his career again.  Curry is more of a possession type of receiver rather than a burner but if he is healthy and motivated he could steal the starting job.

Julian Peterson was acquired to potentially improve a pass rush that registered just 28 sacks last season.

Terrelle Smith is expected to clear the road for running back Kevin Smith.

Key Rookie Additions – Matthew Stafford (QB), Brandon Pettigrew (TE), Louis Delmas (S), Derrick Williams (WR)

The Lions hope the draft’s top pick, Matthew Stafford, can turn the franchise around.  The Lions have not had a franchise caliber quarterback in decades and they are hoping he will develop into that guy.  Just don’t expect him to come in and save the world right away Lions fans.  Stafford looks to be a bit of a developmental player and will probably take a couple of years to get up to snuff at the NFL level.

Brandon Pettigrew should step right in as the starting tight end.  Pettigrew was considered the best blocking tight end in the draft but his stock took a bit of a hit after he ran so-so 40s at the combine and during his workouts for scouts.  It remains to be seen if he has the chops to be a good receiving tight end in the NFL but he will, at least, provide an upgrade in the run blocking department.

Louis Delmas is expected to compete for the starting free safety job.  He brings a physicality and toughness to a secondary that is sorely lacking it.

Derrick Williams is quick off the ball and could compete for the slot receiver job.

Key Position Battles

The big question is who is going to be the starting quarterback?  One gets the sense that Shwartz would prefer that Daunte Culpepper begin the season as the starter just so Stafford can have some time to learn the game and not get his head pounded in right away.  The Lions are not likely to be serious contenders any way so there is no rush to get Stafford on the field this season.

Who will be the second starting receiver opposite Calvin Johnson?  Bryant Johnson is considered the favorite he has the size and speed teams like but he has never been able to put it altogether in the NFL.  If healthy Ronald Curry could sneak in and win the job with Derrick Williams being a dark horse due to his ability to get down the field and separate himself from defenders.

Who will be the starting cornerbacks?  Buchanon and Henry are the leading candidates but do not be surprised if King nabs one of the jobs.  He played for Shwartz in Tennessee and is familiar with the type of system he wants to run.

To start he offended then starting quarterback Jay Cutler by trying to trade for Matt Cassell, who eventually ended up in Kansas City.  Then he denied it to everyone who was listening ultimately shipping the disgruntled quarterback to the Bears for Kyle Orton and a bevy of draft picks. Just to add to the headaches wide receiver Brandon Marshall decided not to participate in any of the team’s off season activities and started making noise about wanting a new contract.  Marshall seems to have come to grips with not getting a new deal and says he will be in camp on time but it remains to be seen how long he stays quiet about not getting a new contract.

The roster has gone through a major makeover in the wake of Shanahan’s firing and it remains to be seen how everything is going to fall into place.  It is being reported in some circles that McDaniel’s lost a lot of the veteran holdovers with the way he handled the Cutler situation.

Key Veteran Additions – J. J. Arrington (RB), Correll Buckhalter (RB), Andra Davis (LB), Brian Dawkins (S), Ronald Fields (DT), Andre Goodman (CB), Renaldo Hill (S), LaMont Jordan (RB), Kyle Orton (QB), Chris Simms (QB), Nick Greisen (LB)

The Broncos seemingly had a goal of signing every available veteran running back on the free agent market this off season by adding J. J. Arrington, Correll Buckhalter, and LaMont Jordan to the roster and none of them are expected to even start.  It is almost comical the number of running backs the Broncos are carrying on the roster heading into camp.  One almost wonders if they are toying with the idea of running the wishbone next season.

Veterans Kyle Orton and Chris Simms are expected to compete for the starting job at quarterback now that Cutler has been dealt.  Orton is nothing special as a passer and to-date his career has been riddled with inconsistency.  Simms has struggled to live up all of the hype he had coming out of college and is still trying to come back from a ruptured spleen.

Safeties Renaldo Hill and Brian Dawkins are expected to be the starters when the season opens.  Dawkins is expected to move from free to strong safety and is still a good player but is not an elite safety any more.  He has lost a step in tends to be late in help coverage when picking up some of the better receivers in the game.  Hill is a solid but unspectacular defender.

Nick Greisen and Andra Davis are expected to fill the linebacker spots vacated when Boss Bailey was released and Jamie Winborn did not re-sign with the team.

Andre Goodman is a solid veteran corner who is expected to compete for the other starting job or the nickleback position.

Key Rookie Additions – Knowshon Moreno (RB), Robert Ayers (DE), Alphonso Smith (CB), Darcel McBath (S)

Moreno, the team’s top pick, figures to be in the mix at running back and will likely be given a chance to compete for the starting job.

With a big need for an infusion of talent along the front seven, especially defensive line, Robert Ayers is being pencilled in at left end for the time being.  Ayers is still something of a raw talent and after a solid college career was a late riser on a lot of team’s draft boards this spring.  Ayers is quick off the ball and excels at stopping the run but lacks that extra gear that elite pass rusher have to hunt down the quarterback.

Alphonso Smith figures to compete with Goodman for the other starting cornerback job opposite Champ Bailey.  Smith is a bit on the small side but had a penchant for making big plays in college and always seems to be around the ball.

McBath will serve as the understudy to Dawkins and Hill and is not likely to start unless one of them ends up hurt.

Key Position Battles

Who will the Broncos starting quarterback be opening day?  Josh McDaniel likes what he has seen on tape and Kyle Orton has been named the starter heading into camp but given his history of erratic play Simms has a shot at winning the job but as it stands right now it is Orton’s to lose.

The next biggest question is who is going to be the starting running back?  In addition to the aforementioned Moreno, Buckhalter, Arrington, and Jordan the Broncos also have Peyton Hillis, Darius Walker, and Ryan Torian on the roster.  Of those seven backs one will emerge as the starter.  Moreno is the most likely candidate to secure the job given Buckhalter and Jordan’s injury histories and Arrington’s inability to win the job in Arizona Moreno looks to be the back most suited to do the job.

Who will be the starting right cornerback?  Goodman and Smith are expected to duke it out for the starting job.  Goodman probably has the slight edge being the veteran player but the Broncos gave up a #1 pick in next year’s draft to nab Smith so McDaniel’s staff must be very high on him and he is likely to get every chance to lose the job.

Unfortunately for Cowboys fans they are stuck with Phillips for the time being but there were a couple of major changes made and it remains to be seen if they help or hinder the team.  The two biggest departures are that of Terrell Owens and safety Roy Williams.  Owens finally succeeded in wearing his welcome out in Dallas and was released because the team supposedly felt like he was hindering Tony Romo in becoming the leader of the team.  Williams was cut loose after requesting the team do so.  Williams has always been vastly overrated as a player but he was good for laying the lumber on backs and receivers going across the middle.  The biggest key t0 the Cowboys success will be whether or not Roy Williams’, whom the team got in a mid-season trade with the Lions, numbers were down because of having to defer to Jason Witten and Owens in the passing game or if he just is not a good fit for the Cowboys’ offense.  If he is unable to put up numbers akin to what he did in Detroit it looks to be another frustrating season for Dallas fans.

Key Veteran Additions – Keith Brooking (LB), Igor Olshansky (DE), Gerald Sensabaugh (S)

Keith Brooking will take Zack Thomas’ spot at weak-side ILB after the team decided against bringing him back for another year.  Brooking is still a solid tackler but is not as mobile or as good at shedding blockers as he once was.

Olshansky is expected to take over at right defensive end for Chris Canty who left via free agency to sign with the New York Giants.  Igor played for Phillips when he was the defensive co-ordinator in San Diego and is a solid run defender but do not expect much from him in terms of a pass rush.  His main duty will be to occupy blockers to give DeMarcus Ware a cleaner path to the quarterback.

Gerald Sensabaugh is being brought in to fill the strong safety spot vacated when Roy Williams was given his release. Sensabaugh is a s0lid player but like Williams he is not the greatest in pass coverage.

Key Rookie Additions

None of the Cowboys draft picks are expected to be key contributers for them this season.  Most of their rookies are either project players or special teamers.

Key Position Battles

Roy Williams has been annointed the #1 receiver, but who will be the other starter opposite him?  Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin are the leading candidates heading into camp.  Crayton has been a productive slot receiver for the Cowboys but it remains to be seen if he can line up on the outside and still be as effective.  Austin has the size and speed teams love in their wideouts but he has yet to put it all together at the NFL level.  Expect Austin to be given every opportunity to win the job as the team has been very high on him for a couple of years now.

With Adam Jones now completely out of the picture who is going to be the other starting cornerback opposite Terrence Newman.  Mike Jenkins is considered to be a favorite but early reports have Orlando Scandrick being one of the most improved players at mini-camp this season and he could end up being the guy.

The Browns saw no fewer than four quarterbacks start games for them last season.  Derek Anderson struggled to find any kind of a rhythm all season long and was eventually benched for Brady Quinn only to get re-inserted when Quinn got hurt and then Anderson got hurt as well.  Braylon Edwards struggled with dropped passes while Donte Stallworth and Kellen Winslow struggled to stay healthy enough to stay in the lineup.  As a result of the disappointing season and subsequent firing of the head coach the Browns have done a significant overhaul of the roster with a lot of old faces hitting the bricks and new faces taking their place.  The most significant of which being the deal that sent the enigmatic Winslow to Tampa Bay in exchange for a draft pick.  The Browns still have a bit of work to do if they want to get back to being the team on the rise that they were this time a year ago.

Key Veteran Additions – David Bowens (LB), Eric Barton (LB), Kenyon Coleman (DE), Abram Elam (S), John St. Clair (OT), Floyd Womack (OL)

David Bowens, Eric Barton, Kenyon Coleman, and Abram Elam lead a group of defensive players who played under Manginig in New York and are expected to contend for starting roles with the Browns.  Bowens will likely take the spot vacated by Andra Davis and Barton looks to be D’Qwell Jacskon’s partner at inside linebacker while Colemen looks to take the right end spot and Elam is expected to start at strong safety.

John St. Clair was signed away from Chicago to be the Brown starting right tackle.

Floyd Womack, if healthy, is expected to compete with Ryan Tucker and Rex Hadnot at the right guard spot.

Key Rookie Additions – Alex Mack (C), Brian Robiskie (WR), Mohamed Massaquoi (WR)

Top pick Alex Mack is expected to challenge Hank Fraley for the starting job at center.

With depth at the wide receiver position being thin Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi will compete for the other starting WR job opposite Braylon Edwards and the 3rd receiver spot.

Key Position Battles

The biggest question swirling around Cleveland this summer is who is going to be the starting quarterback.  Last year’s opening week starter, Derek Anderson, was benched halfway through the season after being relatively inconsistent and uneffective.  Brady Quinn took over the reins with mixed results as well and got injured during his third game and never really had a chance to show whether he has what it takes to be a NFL quarterback.  It is widely believed that Mangini is not a huge Brady Quinn fan and it was even reported that he tried trading Quinn leading up to the draft but nobody was willing to give up the asking price of a first round pick for him.  It should be an interesting summer in Cleveland as this battle heats up.

After they settle the quarterback quandry the next order of business is figuring out who he is going to be throwing the ball to.  With Winslow being traded to Tampa, Joe Jurevicius not being re-signed, and Donte Stallworth suspended indefinitely by the league Braylon Edwards remains the only experienced hold over from last year’s team.  Steve Heiden, who handled the duties when Winslow was hurt, is expected to be the starting tight end with free agent signee Robert Royal handling backup duties.  The aforementioned Robiskie and Massaquoi figure to battle veterans Joshua Cribbs, David Patten, and Syndric Steptoe for the second and third receiver spots.  Cribbs is unlikely to win either spot as he is more valuable to the Browns lining up as the QB in the wildcat formation and returning kicks, Patten is over-the-hill and just looking to latch on with a team and Steptoe is more suited to be a slot receiver.  Look for Robiskie to emerge as the other starting WR with Massaquoi winning the #3 receiver job.

However, things could be turning for the better this summer.  Palmer says he is healthy and ready to go, Ochocinco claims he is re-dedicating himself to being the best player he can be, and the team had what is potentially a pretty strong draft.  The Bengals do not appear to have the makings of a Super Bowl contender just yet but they appear to be turning it back around.

Key Veteran Additions – Laveranues Coles (WR)

Laveranues Coles represents the lone key acquisition for the Bengals this off season and is expected to take over the other starting WR spot vacated by T. J. Houshmandzadeh when he signed with the Seahawks.  Coles’ numbers have been in steady decline the past couple of years but that remains to be seen if that was simply a product of not being happy with his contract and/or playing for mediocre Jets’ teams.

Key Rookie Additions – Andre Smith (T), Rey Maualuga (LB), Michael Johnson (DE), Chase Coffman (TE), Jonathan Luigs (C)

Andre Smith did all of the wrong things leading up to the draft but still managed to get selected with the sixth pick by the Bengals.  Smith has the potential to be a boom or bust pick.  He was highly rated coming out of Alabama until his workouts at the combine and the Alabama pro day did not go as well as planned.  If Smith keeps his head on straight and stays focused he could develop into one of the best in the game, if not he will be out of the league by the time his rookie contract is up.  Barring any unforeseen catastrophes Smith will the be the opening day starter at left tackle.

Rey Maualuga was considered by many to be a first round pick who fell to the second round.  He should compete for a starting job right away.  The only given with the Bengals linebackers is that Keith Rivers will be starting on the weakside.

Michael Johnson is another boom or bust prospect that the Bengals are rolling the dice on.  At this time last year Johnson was considered the top pass rushing prospect in college football and was being touted as a lock to go in the top five of the draft.  His stock plummeted after a s0-so senior season and whispers about his lack of focus and dedication.  He is an amazing specimen only is just does not translate over the football field all the time.  Given the Bengals anemic pass rush last season he will be given every opportunity to win a starting job.

Bengals tight ends got 47 balls for a total 0f 330 yards and no touchdowns last season so expect Chase Coffman to be given every opportunity to start.  He is not the fastest to play the position but he has outstanding hands and holds the NCAA Division I record for most career receptions by a tight end.

Jonathan Luigs is expected to compete for the starting job at center.

Key Position Battles

The biggest question for the Bengals is who Carson Palmer will be taking snaps from.  Dan Santucci, Kyle Cook, and Andrew Crummey are the veteran holdovers but none of them has any real starting experience at the professional level.  Luigs is considered to be a favorite to win the job.

Can Chris Henry win one of the two WR jobs?  If Henry stays out of trouble and focuses on football this summer do not be surprised if he beats out Coles for the other WR job.  Something tells me Coles’ career peaked during the 2003 season and the Bengals have always loved Henry’s play making ability.

Will Reggie Kelly fend off Chase Coffman at tight end?  Kelly is the returning starter but given that he caught just 31 passes and averaged a paltry 6.7 yards per catch his job is clearly going to be in jeopardy this summer.  If the Bengals think Smith can handle the left side on his own without help from backs and tight ends helping to pick up the pass rush look for the Bengals to go with the more pass-oriented Coffman.

In an effort to jump start the offense Chicago made the biggest move of the offseason by dealing Kyle Orton and a bevy of draft picks to Denver in exchange for quarterback Jay Cutler.  On the surface this looks like a great move for the Bears who have had eight different quarterbacks lead the team in passing over the past 10 seasons except that they really do not have anyone for him to throw the ball to.  Unless someone emerges from the core of unproven talent at WR it could be another frustrating season of mediocrity for Bears fans.

Key Veteran Additions – Jay Cutler (QB), Orlando Pace (OT), Josh Bullocks (S), Kevin Shaffer (OT)

Landing Cutler was  huge coup for the Bears and he gives them the first legimate arm under center in years, if not decades.

The aging Orlando Pace was signed after being released by St. Louis and will be counted on to man the left tackle spot.  Pace’s career has definitely seen better days and picking him up is kind of a curious move given how many games he has missed due to injury in recent years.

Kevin Shaffer provides an insurance policy in the event Pace goes down or second year man Chris Williams is not ready to start at right tackle.

Free safety Josh Bullocks was signed away from New Orleans in hopes that something may click for him by playing in a new city.

Key Rookie Additions – Jarron Gilbert (DL), Juaquin Iglesias (WR), D. J. Moore (DB/KR), Marcus Freeman (LB)

A defensive tackle in college Jarron Gilbert is expected to move to end and provide some depth there.  He could possibly line up as a pass rushing tackle in passing situations a-la Darren Howard.

Juaquin Iglesias was a productive wide out in college but he lacks the elite top end speed to be a top receiver in the league.  He does provide them with some depth at the position but don’t look for him to emerge as the top receiver just yet.

Moore was once considered one of the top two or three defensive back prospects in the draft until he posted mediocre 40 times at the combine and his workouts for scouts.  He is not likely to see much playing time on defense given the Bears depth at the position but he was an outstanding return man in college and could see some action there.

Marcus Freeman could push for the starting job at strongside linebacker.

Key Position Battles

The biggest question surrounding the Bears this summer is who Cutler is going to be throwing the ball to.  Matt Forte lead the Bears with 63 catches out of the backfield and tight end Greg Olsen grabbed 54.  Devin Hester led the Bears with 665 receiving yards.  With Marty Booker moving on Hester and Rashied Davis are the top two returning WRs on the depth chart.  The Bears would love for second year man Earl Bennett to develop into a productive receiver.

Has Chris Williams recovered from his back injury to win the starting right tackle job or will Kevin Shaffer end up being the guy?

Will Hunter Hillenmeyer regain the starting job at strongside linebacker or will Nick Roach hang onto it?

Despite winning 12 games the season had a disasterous end as the Panthers were thumped by the Cardinals in a game that saw Jake Delhomme throw five intereceptions as the Panthers went down in flames 33-13.  The offseason had its share of drama with fans calling for Delhomme to be dumped and All Pro defensive end Julius Peppers asking to be traded after the Panthers put the franchise tag on him.  The biggest personnel change saw the team release Ken Lucas who was repeatedly beaten by Larry Fitzgerald in the aforementioned playoff game.  Will the Panthers be able to break their franchise hex and post consecutive winning seasons for the first time in its history?

Key Veteran Additions

The Panthers did not make any signficant veteran acqusitions this off season.

Key Rookie Additions – Everette Brown (DE), Sherrod Martin (DB), Mike Goodson (RB/KR)

The Panthers have been searching for someone to fill the left end position since Mike Rucker got injured and his play started suffer.  Everette Brown is the latest player the Panthers will look to to fill that role.  He should see time in pass rush situations and will get a chance to compete for the starting left end job.

Sherrod Martin is unlikely to start but with Richard Marshall expected to move into the starting cornerback job vacated by Ken Lucas Martin is a candidate to take Marshall’s spot at nickleback.

Mike Goodson gives the Panthers something they have not had in a while which is a third down back who can catch the ball out of the backfield.    They have two stud backs in DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart but neither is an exceptionally strong pass catcher.  Goodson should also contribute on special teams as a kick returner.

Key Position Battles

The Panthers managed to get 10.5 sacks out of Charles Johnson and Tyler Brayton but neither was able to establish himself as the full time left end.  Expect Brown to be thrown in the mix here as well.  It should be interesting to see who wins out here.

Will Landon Johnson or Dan Connor unseat Na’il Diggs as the starting strongside linebacker?

Will Dwayne Jarrett overtake Muhsin Muhammed as the other starting wide receiver opposite Steve Smith?  Muhammed had a strong season last year but it is being reported that Jarrett is looking better than he ever has since the Panthers drafted him.

During the offseason the Bills focused on bolstering an offense that ranked just 23rd in the league and scoring and failed to score a touchdown in 3 of its last five games.  The Bills snatched up Terrell Owens after he was released by the Cowboys and signed free agent Dominic Rhodes to bolster the running game.  The biggest move would be the trade they made with the Eagles sending left tackle Jason Peters to Philadelphia in exchange for a package of draft picks.  The fate of the Bills rests in how well the offensive line comes together and whether or not Owens can keep his mouth shut and not undermine his coaches and the quarterback.

Key Veteran Additions – Terrell Owens (WR), Drayton Florence (CB), Dominic Rhodes (RB), Geoff Hangartner (C)

Owens was signed to help bolster the passing game and give quarterback Trent Edwards someone else to throw to other than Lee Evans.  Evans is as good as any in the league but Josh Reed just is not cutting it as the second wideout and the team is hoping Owens gives the offense a much needed shot in the arm.  He will be a good addition as long as he keeps his mouth shut and concentrates on playing football.

The addition of Rhodes is an interesting one given they have a good young back in Marshawn Lynch and backup Fred Jackson was just signed to an extension and had a strong season for the Bills in 2008.  Rhodes is surely being brought in as a backup but one wonders how many carries he will see given who is front of him on the depth chart.

With Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin already entrenched as the starting cornerbacks Florence is being brought in to compete with Ashton Youboty and Reggie Corner for the nickleback job.

Geoff Hangartner is expected to anchor a re-made offensive line and is an immediate upgrade over Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston who shared the duties at center last season for the Bills.

Key Rookie Additions – Aaron Maybin (DE), Eric Wood (OL), Jairus Byrd (DB), Andy Levitre (OL), Shawn Nelson (TE)

Aaron Maybin is expected to come in and bolster a sagging pass rush that registered a mere 23 sacks last season.  He should earn a starting job right away.

Expect Eric Wood to move over from his college position of center and be plugged into one of the guard spots.

Due to his lack of straight line speed the Bills are expected to convert Jairus Byrd to safety in the hopes that he can claim the vacant free safety job.

Andy Levitre played all over the line in college but due to his lack of height he is expected to move inside and provide depth at guard and possibly compete for a starting job.

With Robert Royal no longer in the fold Shawn Nelson has a very good chance at being the starting tight end come September.

Key Position Battles

With Jason Peters being traded to Philadelphia and Fowler, Preston, and Derrick Dockery moving on the major question for the Bills is what is the starting offensive line going to look like?  It is expected that Langston Walker will move from right tackle to left tackle with Kirk Chambers being the front runner to start at right tackle.  Brad Butler started 13 games at right guard for the Bills and is expected to remain there while free agent signee Geoff Hangartner will start at center and Eric Wood is expected to be the starting left guard when the Bills break camp.

The Bills tried several different guys at free safety last season before ultimately settling on Bryan Scott.  There is likely to be an open competition for the job this summer with Byrd getting a look.

Chris Kelsay is going to have to step up his game this summer if he wants to keep his starting job from falling into the hands of top pick Aaron Maybin.

Second year head coach John Harbaugh hopes to build on last year’s 11-5 season and has eyes on de-throning the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers.  A lot of the Ravens success in the up-coming season hinges on how much veterans like Ray Lewis, Trevor Pryce, Samari Rolle, and Derrick Mason have left in the tank as the Ravens do not have a lot of young talent waiting in the wings at their positions to pick up the flag if one of them goes down for an extended period of time.

Key Veteran Additions – Matt Birk (C), Dominique Foxworth (CB), L. J. Smith (TE)

The Ravens lost starting center Jason Brown via free agency so they signed 6-time Pro Bowler Matt Birk away from Minnesota to take his place.  Birk is still one of the better centers in the league but he is starting to enter the downside of his career.

The Ravens released Chris McAllister believing injuries have caught up to him and also to save some cash.  Dominique Foxworth was signed in hopes that he would be able to compete with Samari Rolle for the starting cornerback job opposite Fabian Washington.

The oft-injured L. J. Smith will be injured with perenially injured Todd Heap at tight end.  Heap should remain as the starter and between the two of them Harbaugh should be able to get 16 starts out of them.

Key Rookie Additions – Michael Oher (T), Paul Kruger (DE)

With Willie Anderson recently going on the reserve/retired list and Johnathan Ogden having retired the Ravens are all of a sudden in need of an infusion of youth at the tackle positions.  The Ravens are hoping Oher can win the right tackle job and eventually grow into the left tackle job within the next couple of years.

Kruger could see some playing time at end behind Trevor Pryce but his lack of size makes him a more likely candidate to compete with Jarret Johnson for the other outside linebacker spot opposite Terrell Suggs.

Key Position Battles

Fabian Washington holds one of the starting cornerback jobs but who will lining up on the other side of the defense?  Foxworth and Rolle are expected to battle it out for the job.  Rolle was cut earlier this season only to be re-signed to a more cap-friendly deal.  The expectation is that Foworth will be the starter with Rolle sliding over to the the nickleback.

Tavares Gooden and Brendon Ayanbadejo appear to be the two favorites to claim the other inside linebacker job vacated by Bart Scott when he signed a free agent deal with the Jets.

However, the key to the Falcons will be whether or not stud running back Michael Turner experiences the typical drop off in production most backs who log 370 carries in a season experience.  Historically 370 or more carries is the beginning of the end for a lot of backs and Turner was a huge factor in Ryan not having to carry the load offensively in his rookie season at the helm.

Key Veteran Additions – Tony Gonzalez (TE), Mike Peterson (LB), Brett Romberg (C)

Tight End Tony Gonzalez is being brought in to provide some kind of production at a position that gave the Falcons little to nothing in the passing game last season.  The future Hall-of-Famer may not be the same player he once was a few years ago but he is still one of the best in the game and is infinitely better than the guys who were there last season.

Mike Peterson is expected to compete for one of the two outside linebackers jobs created when Keith Brooking and Michael Boley left town.

Brett Romberg could compete for the starting job at center and, at the very least, gives the team some needed depth on the offensive line.

Key Rookie Additions – Peria Jerry (DT), William Moore (S), Lawrence Sidbury (DE/OLB)

Peria Jerry is expected to be the starting nose tackle and help sure up what was a leaky run defense last season.  The Falcons allowed a whopping 4.9 yards per carry last season and ranked 25th in rushing yards allowed so fixing the run defense is a top priority heading into next season.

William Moore is expected to take over for the recently departed Lawyer Milloy at strong safety.  He has the size and speed teams love at the position and should help boost the run defense.

The Falcons have been desperately trying to find another pass rusher to pair with John Abraham and Jamaal Anderson has been bust thus far registering just two sacks in his first two seasons after being the 8th overall pick in the 2007 draft expect Lawrence Sidbury to get every opportunity to unseat Anderson as the starting left end.

Key Position Battles

The main competition looks to be at linebacker for the Falcons after losing starters Michael Boley and Keith Brooking.  Peterson will surely get one of those spots but who will win the other one?  Coy Wire and Stephen Nicholas look to be the two veterans competing for that spot.

The other key competition will be at cornerback.  Chris Houston will be manning one spot but with Domonique Foxworth moving on the team has an opening at the other corner spot.  Look for Chevis Jackson and Brent Grimes to duke it out with Jackson getting the nod coming out of camp.