The start of NFL training camps is just around the corner. From rookie hopefuls to returning coaches to holdout concerns.

The start of NFL training camps is just around the corner! The 32 teams are coming together to prepare as best they can for the upcoming season.

Battle for the starting spot: QB duels loom

For some franchises, the quarterbacks are likely to be the focus of attention. The Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints currently have no clear starter.

At the Colts, newcomer Daniel Jones and youngster Anthony Richardson are battling it out for the starting spot. The latter is currently still recovering from a shoulder injury.

Meanwhile, in Cleveland, four candidates are vying for playing time. Veteran Joe Flacco and former first-round pick Kenny Pickett have a good chance, but so do rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Deshaun Watson is unlikely to play a role in the plans due to injury (and performance).

Following the retirement of Derek Carr, the quarterback question is also unresolved at the Saints. Second-round pick Tyler Shough is likely to have a good chance, but Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener are also still under contract.

In New York with the Giants and in Tennessee with the Titans, the pecking order is likely to be quite clear at the moment. Russell Wilson and Cam Ward are highly rated there.

Travis Hunter and the position question

With the second pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars secured Swiss Army knife Travis Hunter. In college, he played wide receiver and cornerback.

Over the next few weeks, we may get some initial insights into how the Jaguars plan to use the youngster.

Most recently, Travis Kelce, for example, expressed doubts that Hunter could permanently fill both positions in an NFL game.

New old head coaches back in the fold

While several of the newly hired head coaches will make their debut in this role next season, two veterans are also returning to the sidelines.

Pete Carroll is taking the helm at the Las Vegas Raiders. The 73-year-old brings a wealth of experience as a head coach. As head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, he won the Super Bowl and is now tasked with leading the Raiders back to success.

In New England, Mike Vrabel is tasked with stabilizing the Patriots. He enjoyed great success as a player with his current employer, and now he will try to do the same as head coach. From 2018 to 2023, he coached the Tennessee Titans.

Titans’ hopes rest on rookie QB

The Tennessee Titans selected quarterback Ward with their first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The youngster is expected to emerge as a long-term solution at the position.

He should already have his starting spot in the bag. Competitor Will Levis disappointed in his first two seasons and would have to improve significantly to send Ward to the bench.

“Ward has improved every day,” head coach Brian Callahan praised him during the rookie minicamp, adding: “He learns quickly and takes criticism to heart. When we go through a play again, he has already corrected his mistakes.”

Bengals and contract issues

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals are dealing with some contract issues. First-round rookie pick Shemar Stewart has not yet signed his contract, and a holdout is looming.

Star defender Trey Hendrickson is also pushing for a new deal. He could also stay away to apply pressure.

Away from the Bengals, the contract situations of Micah Parsons (Dallas Cowboys) and T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers) are also worth keeping an eye on. Both are also demanding new contracts.

Detroit Lions: Coaching legacy resolved?

Under head coach Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions have improved every year and are now one of the top teams in the league.

These achievements did not go unnoticed, and in the offseason, the Lions lost several good players as well as both coordinators.

Ben Johnson will be on the sidelines as head coach of the Chicago Bears, while Aaron Glenn has signed with the New York Jets.

In Detroit, John Morton will take over as offensive coordinator and Kelvin Sheppard as defensive coordinator. Can they successfully replace the two star coordinators?

Steelers and Rodgers in focus

Shortly before the start of training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed a one-year deal with Aaron Rodgers. The decision to sign the veteran signals that the Steelers want to compete at the top.

But how much quality does Rodgers still have at 41? He is, of course, one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, but he has rarely impressed in recent seasons, partly due to injury.

Can Rodgers flourish again under head coach Mike Tomlin and in a new working environment?