The biggest training camp battle for every NFL team

The Cardinals need to protect the quarterback better this season after allowing 52 sacks last year. The battle at center is wide open heading into training camp between A.Q. Shipley and Mason Cole, though the Cardinals also selected Lamont Gaillard in the sixth round.

Atlanta moved on from veteran Robert Alford, but he left a void the team needs to address. The battle for the third cornerback spot will likely be between fourth-round pick Kendall Sheffield and fifth-round pick Jordan Miller, as the Falcons try to fix their secondary issues from last season.

Baltimore's identity is built on defense, but there are some major questions heading into 2019, particularly in the pass rush. The team let Za'Darius Smith and Terrell Suggs walk in free agency, and their pass-rushing rotation is unsettled as we approach training camp. Third-round pick Jaylon Ferguson has intriguing upside, while Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams also have shown flashes early in their careers.

The Bills insisted Frank Gore was signed as a complementary piece for LeSean McCoy, but it makes you wonder, considering McCoy's recent struggles. McCoy averaged a terrible 3.2 yards per carry last season at age 30, a time when many running backs break down. Meanwhile, Gore had a strong year in Miami with 4.6 yards per carry, and the team also drafted speedy Devin Singletary.

Cam Newton is coming off shoulder surgery, and his late-season absence exposed a weak area for the Panthers last season. Carolina drafted West Virginia quarterback Will Grier, a highly productive pocket passer, and he will battle Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen for the No. 2 quarterback job. While Newton has been fairly durable during his career, he's entering his age 30 season and takes on as much contact as any quarterback in the league. It doesn't seem important at the moment, but finding a viable backup quarterback could be key to Carolina's playoff hopes.

Bears fans would like to forget how the 2018 season ended: a Cody Parkey double-doink that resulted in his release. The kicker battle has already been a big story all offseason, and the position is still unsettled between inexperienced kickers Elliott Fry and Eddy Pineiro. We also shouldn't rule out the Bears looking outside the organization if that pair isn't impressive during the exhibition season.

Cincinnati failed to make a big splash at linebacker this offseason despite an obvious need. The Bengals entered training camp likely choosing between third-year linebacker Jordan Evans and rookie Germaine Pratt. They are hopeful that spot becomes a strength as a result of the position battle, rather than a headache.

Former LSU star Greedy Williams is a shiny new toy for the Browns and has a chance to start from Day 1 for the Browns. Still, he will have to beat out veteran Terrance Mitchell, who has shown flashes with the Chiefs and Browns during his career. Cleveland would probably prefer Williams win the job, but that's not a certainty.

Connor Williams was inconsistent in his rookie season, and the Cowboys added competition at left guard when they drafted Connor McGovern in the third round. The young pair will battle for the starting spot on what is still one of the better lines in the league.

Joe Flacco was acquired to replace Case Keenum during the offseason and is the likely Week 1 starter. However, second-round pick Drew Lock could challenge him during training camp and shouldn't be overlooked considering how mediocre Flacco has played in recent seasons with Baltimore (24-27 with an 82.7 Passer Rating since 2015). Either way, it would be a surprise if Lock didn't find his way onto the field at some point in 2019.

Jarrad Davis was drafted in the first round just two years ago, but the new coaching regime hasn't exactly seemed enamored with his play. Its lack of confidence was magnified when the Lions selected Jahlani Tavai in the second round. The speedy rookie out of Hawaii could hurt Davis' snap count, at the very least.

The Packers have struggled to find a consistent No. 2 wideout since Jordy Nelson's departure last year. The return of Geronimo Allison from injury does give the team depth, which it'll need after losing Randall Cobb. Allison is set to battle Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown for snaps and Aaron Rodgers' attention. The fact that the team didn't address the position in the offseason speaks well for its confidence in the current group, no matter how it shakes out.

Deshaun Watson was sacked more than any quarterback in football last season, and the offensive line has been a problem in Houston for several years. The team spent first and second-round picks on offensive linemen, and that pair, Tytus Howard and Max Scharping, will figure into the battle at left tackle, along with Julie'n Davenport and Matt Kalil.

Indianapolis signed Devin Funchess before drafting Ohio State product Parris Campbell in the second round of the draft. Funchess floundered in Carolina last year, but his great size provides another notable red-zone threat for Andrew Luck. Still, his issue since entering the NFL has been his lack of breakaway speed, while Campbell was one of the speediest players in this year's draft. Rookie wideouts can be a crapshoot, but Campbell could find plenty of snaps if he molds well in the preseason.

Telvin Smith is set to sit out the 2019 season, which leaves a huge void for the Jags at linebacker. While Myles Jack has fulfilled his potential in the middle, there's uncertainty elsewhere. Rookie Quincy Williams and newcomers Jake Ryan and Ramik Wilson figure to play big roles, but it's unclear how the situation will resolve without Smith.

The Chiefs are transitioning to the 4-3 defense, with Anthony Hitchens and Reggie Ragland likely locked into starting spots. The strongside linebacker spot is likely to be a competition between 2018 third-round pick Dorian O'Daniel and former Jets first-round pick Darron Lee. Both linebackers have similar strengths as speedy coverage backers, and the situation is more an embarrassment of riches than a weak link. Still, it will be a key spot on the field with versatile running backs like Melvin Gordon, Phillip Lindsay and Josh Jacobs in the division.

Philip Rivers' toughness and footwork in the pocket limits the offensive line's exposure, but right tackle is still a critical spot going into training camp. Sam Tevi is the likely favorite, but 2017 draft pick Forrest Lamp and rookie Trey Pipkins will give him some competition.

The Rams are undergoing some changes along the offensive line, which could be key to their continued offensive success this season. Second-year player Joseph Noteboom is the favorite to start at the position, but rookies Bobby Evans and David Edwards present competition.

Josh Rosen immediately became the favorite to start at quarterback for the Dolphins when he was acquired from Arizona, but just judging by past performance, Ryan Fitzpatrick gives Miami its best chance to win in 2019. The Dolphins would like nothing more than for Rosen to develop into their quarterback of the future, but he has to show that he deserves the starting job first.

Minnesota addressed the offensive line in this year's draft, with first-round pick Garrett Bradbury set to step in at center. Right guard remains up in the air, as the team signed veteran Josh Kline and also spent a fourth-round pick on Dru Samia. One of those names is likely to be the starter in Week 1, though third-year player Danny Isidora also has a shot in the competition.

There are more questions than you'd expect from a Patriots team that is coming off another Super Bowl, and wide receiver is one of the biggest. Julian Edelman remains locked in at the slot, but the other two starting spots are up for grabs. The Pats didn't retain Chris Hogan, and Josh Gordon remains suspended. The team spent a first-round pick on N'Keal Harry and added Demaryius Thomas, Dontrelle Inman and Maurice Harris to a receiver room that also includes Phillip Dorsett. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Patriots play musical chairs at wideout this season.

Drew Brees certainly made due with New Orleans' injuries at wideout last season, so the competition for snaps opposite Michael Thomas is far from dire. The team is hoping Ted Ginn has something left, now at age 34, but young Tre'Quan Smith and Keith Kirkwood both showed promise last season. The Saints also still have Cameron Meredith and recently signed veteran Rishard Matthews.

The Giants have several personnel issues, but their most pressing position battle is at outside linebacker. The team will try to generate pass rush despite trading Olivier Vernon, with a group that includes Lorenzo Carter, rookie Oshane Ximines and Kareem Martin. Despite the limited starting experience among the group, the Giants are hopeful either Carter or Ximines emerge as a building block.

The Jets are set with high-priced Trumaine Johnson and new slot corner Brian Poole, but the other corner spot remains up for grabs. Darryl Roberts looks like the most likely candidate to start, but he's in competition with second-year pro Parry Nickerson and rookie Blessuan Austin.

Oakland clearly upgraded its offensive talent overall, but that's not the case at tight end. After allowing Jared Cook to walk in free agency, the Raiders have a competition at that spot between veterans Luke Willson and Derek Carrier, with fourth-round pick Foster Moreau as the dark horse. The position could be used as more of a blocking role this year, given the available skill sets.

Finding a surefire starting running back has been tough for the Eagles since Jay Ajayi got injured, but they have some intriguing talent this year. Philadelphia acquired former 1,000-yard rusher Jordan Howard from the Bears before drafting Miles Sanders in the second round. Sanders has a more complete skill set, but it remains to be seen if he will be ready at the start of the season.

Antonio Brown's shoes will be almost impossible for the Steelers to fill, but the team will try with newcomer Donte Moncrief and second-year wideout James Washington. Moncrief was productive for the Jaguars last season, but he doesn't have the explosive potential that Washington showed in college.

Even with Jerick McKinnon set to return from injury this season, the 49ers couldn't resist signing former Falcon Tevin Coleman. Coleman is familiar with Kyle Shanahan's offense and is likely the most capable short-yardage runner in the lot. However, the 49ers also still have Matt Brieda, who averaged 5.3 yards per carry last season. This is a good problem to have for San Francisco, but one that Shanahan will have to sort through in training camp and probably throughout the regular season.

With Doug Baldwin forced into retirement due to injury, Tyler Lockett is the new alpha dog as the starter in the slot for Seattle. The No. 2 and No. 3 jobs are very much up in the air, with the Seahawks adding D.K. Metcalf, Gary Jennings and John Ursua in the draft and veterans Jaron Brown, David Moore and Amara Darboh also trying to prove their worth.

Peyton Barber remained Tampa Bay's starting running back last season, but the Bucs would like nothing more than for 2018 second-round pick Ronald Jones to emerge. He had a lost rookie season, struggling to harness the offense, but the reviews have been glowing in the offseason. It says a lot that Tampa Bay failed to draft another running back this year.

2017 first-round pick Corey Davis started to emerge as a potential star last season, but the Titans paid a hefty price for slot receiver Adam Humphries. They also drafted Ole Miss wideout A.J. Brown in the second round, who is set to battle Tajae Sharpe and Taywan Taylor for a starting job. The rookie brings the most upside, but it wasn't long ago that Sharpe was looked upon as a potential building block.

Washington got bad luck when Alex Smith suffered a catastrophic leg injury last season that will likely keep him out for all of 2019. Perhaps the luck evened out for the team when Dwayne Haskins fell to it at 15th overall in the draft, and he will almost certainly see action in his rookie season. The question is whether he will be ready by Week 1, as Case Keenum and Colt McCoy are experienced signal-callers who could initially give the team a better shot to win.