NFL Minicamp 2024: Teams, Rookies, and Veterans We’re Watching
The 2024 NFL season is just around the corner, and teams are gearing up for mandatory minicamps. This week, ten teams will take the field, including the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, and Houston Texans.
Minicamp is here!
Here’s what our NFL Nation reporters will be watching from each team that hits the field this week:
- Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams’ comfort level in the Bears’ offense
- Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins’ defense
- Tennessee Titans: How will the offensive line be reshaped under assistant coach Bill Callahan?
- Dallas Cowboys: Will CeeDee Lamb be in attendance?
- Detroit Lions: Has Jameson Williams truly improved?
- Minnesota Vikings: The quarterbacks
- Philadelphia Eagles: How quarterback Jalen Hurts is adapting to the new offense
- San Francisco 49ers: How is the defense coming along under new leadership?
- Indianapolis Colts: How will the Colts deploy their defensive line talent?
- Houston Texans: How the Texans incorporate wide receiver Stefon Diggs
Saquon Barkley
In other news, the NFL is expected to rule on the Eagles’ tampering allegations this week. The league has been investigating potential impermissible contact between the Eagles and Saquon Barkley. The Eagles have denied the allegations, and Barkley later claimed that his college coach, James Franklin, misinterpreted the situation.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles’ explanation is essentially the adult version of the Telephone Game, in which the original unfiltered information is modified as it’s passed from person to person. Notably, one NFL source from the New York side told SI.com’s Eagles Today that Philadelphia’s interest in Barkley was well-known throughout the league and dated back to last year when the Eagles were hoping the Giants would not put the franchise tag on the former Penn State star.
New York Giants
The Giants, meanwhile, are the latest team to be featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” History hasn’t been kind to “Hard Knocks” teams, at least when it comes to them winning the Super Bowl after being featured on the show. But realistically, “Super Bowl” and “Giants” don’t even belong in the same sentence. The focus on New York should be about how many games it can win next season, and something tells me that the Giants starring in an HBO hit show isn’t going to put them over the hump.
New York Giants
This is a team that hasn’t played consistent winning football since the 2012 season. In 2012, N.Y. won nine games, and that was a year after winning the Super Bowl. In the next 11 seasons, the Giants got to .500 just twice. In both of those instances, they made the playoffs. New York has gone under 6.5 wins eight of the other nine times during that span.
Daniel Jones
I’m going to be brutally honest here: Daniel Jones is just not a good quarterback. He’s entering his sixth season as a starter and without much success to show for it. It’s fair to place some of the blame on his previous coaching staff and on the lack of talent around him. He also has a history that includes two major neck injuries. But even when you consider all of that, there’s almost nothing on film or in the numbers to show that he’s anything better than an average quarterback, at best.
New York Giants
The Giants have just one proven “game wrecker” on offense — left tackle Andrew Thomas. He’s excellent. Rookie receiver Malik Nabers could be elite at some point in the year. Maybe Jalin Hyatt racks up some explosive plays at receiver. It’s possible former first-round pick Evan Neal blossoms at right tackle and that second-round pick John Michael Schmitz becomes top-tier in Year 2.
New York Giants
But New York’s real strength is its defensive line. Brian Burns, who was traded this offseason from the Panthers, is a game wrecker. So is Dexter Lawrence at defensive tackle. If defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux puts together another season like 2023, he’ll finish the year as one of those dudes. And that’s it on defense.
New York Giants
The Giants have quality players like linebacker Bobby Okereke and are hopeful that second-year corner Deonte Banks continues to improve. But it’s a back-seven on defense that’s just very mid right now.
New York Giants
Then, their schedule doesn’t cut them any slack, either. The Eagles and Cowboys — the NFC East’s top two teams — will be good. If Jayden Daniels ends up being to the Commanders what CJ Stroud was for the Texans, that spells even more trouble.
New York Giants
NYG also has some matchups against the AFC North, which we know is possibly the best division in football.
New York Giants
When I look at the schedule, I don’t see wins that you can pencil into the schedule. I think it’s going to be another hard knocks, bad season for the Giants.
New York Giants
PICK: Giants Under 6.5 wins
