The Biggest Question for Every NFL Team as Training Camps Begin - The Ringer

What the report says

The Ringer published a training-camp preview by Diante Lee on July 23, framing the opening of NFL camps as the unofficial start of the 2026 season. The piece says players from all 32 teams are set to be in camp by Tuesday and organizes the league-wide outlook around one major question for each franchise, ranging from quarterback battles and new coaches to rebuilds and Super Bowl expectations.

In the AFC East, The Ringer highlights Buffalo defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s first NFL play-calling role and whether his approach can lift a Bills defense that has slipped since 2021. Miami is portrayed as entering a difficult rebuild, with nearly $180 million in dead cap charges, 23 rookies on the camp roster and first-year head coach Jeff Hafley overseeing broad competition. The Patriots’ central issue is whether offseason additions, including Alijah Vera-Tucker, Caleb Lomu, A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, have done enough to support Drake Maye. For the Jets, the article points to Geno Smith’s return and several young players as the main reasons to watch.

The preview also identifies major AFC North storylines. Baltimore’s new head coach Jesse Minter is described as under pressure to restore a defensive identity for a roster viewed as talented enough to contend. Cincinnati’s question centers on whether offseason defensive additions, led by Dexter Lawrence, can correct a unit that has undermined strong offensive performances.

For Cleveland, The Ringer questions the purpose of a quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, given uncertainty about either as a long-term answer. The article begins to address Pittsburgh by focusing on how an Aaron Rodgers–Mike McCarthy offense might look, underscoring the broader theme: camps will begin turning offseason plans into visible on-field answers.