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Three moves owner Steve Cohen should make to 'get the Mets right'
Steve Cohen made a massive splash when he bought the New York Mets for $2.4B in 2020, but the early returns from his purchase haven't been pretty.
After Cohen declared it would be "slightly disappointing" if the Mets didn't win a World Series "in the next three to five years" shortly after acquiring the club, his team has hardly lived up to expectations. New York finished the 2023 season 75-87, traded many of its star players and parted ways with several of its top brass, including manager Buck Showalter and GM Billy Eppler.
The Mets are in dire need of a tune-up, and nobody seems to understand this better than their owner. Following a recent investment into a New York team for TGL, a golf league backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, Cohen said he won't make other sports purchases until the Mets are fixed.
"I gotta get the Mets right," Cohen said Wednesday, per the New York Post. "Once I get the Mets right and get the model down, then I can think about doing something else."
Here are three moves Cohen and his front office should make to transform the Mets from a pretender to a contender.
Hire Craig Counsell
David Stearns began his reign as Mets president of baseball operations by firing Showalter for a "fresh start." His next move, however, may be to bring in the old.
Counsell, whose contract with the Brewers expires at the end of October, headlines the list of possible replacements for Showalter, namely because of his already-strong connection to Stearns. The pair spent many years together with the Milwaukee Brewers, with Counsell becoming manager in 2015 and Stearns joining him as GM shortly after.
Over the past nine seasons under Counsell's management, the Brewers boast a 707-625 record and have reached the playoffs in five of the past six seasons. Although there will likely be several teams interested in acquiring him, the Mets can set themselves apart as one of the highest bidders thanks to Cohen's deep pockets.
Sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Following the midseason departures of co-aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, the Mets could be in the market for a No. 1 pitcher. Yamamoto fits this mold.
The Japanese right-hander has dominated over the past several years in Nippon Professional Baseball, recording a 1.82 ERA and 9.3 K/9 in 172 games with the Orix Buffaloes. The two-time MVP is coming off a standout 2023 season in which he posted a 1.21 ERA with 16 wins and 169 strikeouts.
Yamamoto would nicely complement Mets pitcher Kodai Senga, who is coming off a stellar rookie campaign after the club signed him in free agency in the offseason. The pair were teammates on Team Japan and have additionally played together on an All-Star team.
The Mets seem to already have their eye on the 25-year-old, with several GMs informing the New York Post's Jon Heyman that they expect New York to be a high bidder.
Extend Pete Alonso
The Mets have dealt with many problems over Cohen's tenure as owner, but Alonso has rarely been one of them.
The homegrown talent and fan favorite has cemented himself as one of the best power hitters in the league, crushing 192 home runs with the Mets — tied for fourth most by a player in franchise history. Despite having a down year this season, the 28-year-old still finished with 46 home runs and a .821 OPS in 154 games.
Alonso is set to become a free agent after next season. The Mets would be wise to lock him up beforehand.
More must-reads:
- The Mets could land a former World Series-winning manager
- Mets star SS undergoes elbow surgery, expected to be ready for spring training
- The 'Multiple Cy Young Awards' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Chicago Cubs manager under fire for offensive decision in 2-1 loss to Blue Jays
The Chicago Cubs‘ anemic offense cost them the series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. Two days after recording four hits in a 5-1 loss to Toronto, the Cubs tallied three more hits than the Blue Jays with six, but only managed one run. Toronto made the best of their three hits and walked out of Rogers Centre with a 2-1 win in front of a home crowd of 43,270 fans. Chicago dropped a half-game to the Milwaukee Brewers and is now eight games behind for first place in the NL Central. The division is about out of reach for the Cubs, but they have a four-game advantage to take a spot in the wild card. Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is under fire Amid Chicago’s offensive struggles in recent weeks, Jesse Rogers of ESPN called out manager Craig Counsell for not giving third baseman Matt Shaw more plate appearances against the Blue Jays. “The Cubs are going through something at the plate. Today’s 8th inning sums it up: Down 2-1 with 2nd and 3rd and no outs, the next 3 batters — Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Carson Kelly — all strike out,” Rogers posted on X. “Ball game. Vlad homer the difference. Cubs 23rd in OPS since the break. “And the basbeall gods might be sending Craig Counsell a message: Their hottest hitter — Matt Shaw (1.100 OPS since the break) was left on-deck to end the game. The only hitter in the lineup who didn’t get 4 PA’s.” It’s sad that rookie Matt Shaw is the bright spot on offense Shaw went 1-for-3 at-bat on Thursday. The rookie, who struggled with offense early in the season, has five hits in his last 11 at-bats in the last seven days. He may be due to move up in the lineup over Willi Castro, Owen Cassie, and Dansby Swanson. The offensive woes are coming at a bad time for the Cubs, and it’s spreading all over the lineup. Where has Kyle Tucker been? The star right fielder went 0-for-4 on Thursday and has just three hits in 18 at-bats in the last seven days. The Cubs have a winnable three-game series upcoming against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates beginning on Friday. Chicago needs their bats to pick back up so they can sweep the Pirates like the Brewers did this week before they play a pivotal five-game series at home against Milwaukee, a last stand for a chance at the NL Central.
Six Raiders Who Owned the 49ers in Today's Joint Practice
HENDERSON, Nev.—The Las Vegas Raiders played host to the San Francisco 49ers today for what was a highly productive and intense time of work. It was a good day of work for both teams, but six Raiders in particular owned the field versus their opponent, and I will tell you who they are and what they did. You don’t want to miss this insider take on how the day transpired. The Condor Is Hunting The music was blaring, and the crowd was cheering, but from the first rep of practice against the 49ers, Maxx Crosby was, as always, entirely focused. You could feel his relief at being able to go up against someone not wearing the Silver and Black. Although the practice didn’t allow tackling, this was his territory, and he wanted everyone to know he wasn’t there to entertain. With the ease of a warm knife cutting through butter, Maxx Crosby spent just as much time in the 49ers' backfield as their quarterback, Brock Purdy. He made it clear to everyone on the opposing team that he would do what he wanted, to whom he wanted, whenever he wanted. I’ve said this all camp, and today was no different: he is the best player on the field every time he steps onto it. Kyu Making the 49ers Blu(e) No one on the Raiders team had as much to gain or lose today, especially during the game on Saturday, as Kyu Blu Kelly. Today, he performed outstandingly—no, he was excellent. He played with confidence and fluidity, making multiple plays against the top-tier 49ers. Without any ego, the Raiders' rising star not only looks the part but also plays the part, showcasing a significant improvement from the younger version of himself earlier this year. Carroll couldn’t help but rave about his performance. "I'm glad you noticed it because I'm noticing it, too. He's had plays every day for about the last five or six days out here. Mock Game Two, he's just been really active. Seems like he's really settling in, and his aggressive style of play has really shown up. So, I'm fired up for him. If you've noticed, I don't know if it happened today, but yesterday, he got work with the ones just to see how he fits in and all of that. Just a great example of a guy competing his butt off and try to make a statement." Brock Bowers Doing Brock Bowers Things Brock Bowers, the NFL's best tight end and one of the truly elite players in the game, has somehow managed to improve even further. While the addition of a new quarterback may play a role, it doesn't diminish Bowers' exceptional ability to manipulate defenders, make impossible catches, and perform physically extraordinary feats that leave onlookers in awe during every practice. It's almost as if Bigfoot has a poster of Brock Bowers on his wall; this young man possesses skills that seem practically divine, playing his position at a level never seen before. During today's practice, he once again showcased his talent with several touchdowns and impressive catches, but one play, in particular, stood out as otherworldly. Running full speed toward the sideline with a 49ers defender in perfect coverage, Geno Smith threw an impeccable pass into a six or seven-inch window. Bowers leaped to make the catch, and despite the momentum that would have carried any other player out of bounds, he somehow got his feet down and, defying the laws of physics, burst upfield. Isaac Newton would be turning over in his grave at what Bowers can do. Although he hasn’t even played a game in his second year yet, he is poised to completely redefine his position by the time his career comes to a close. This was just one of the many outstanding catches he made today. Please don’t feel bad, 49ers fans. No one can guard him. No one. Book(er) It Thomas Booker joined the Raiders in a trade for Jakorian Bennett, and John Spytek deserves recognition for successfully acquiring a starting defensive tackle from the Super Bowl champions. With his exceptional motor and drive, Booker has quickly emerged in the desert and is now the second-best defensive tackle on the team, poised to start alongside Adam Butler. His enthusiasm is a joy to watch, and he complements a defensive line led by Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce, alongside the impressive Adam Butler. The Raiders' defensive line is shaping up to be elite with their starting four. Today, Booker particularly stood out against a 49ers team that appeared disorganized. Carroll didn’t mince words praising his new defensive weapon today, "He's done really well. I mean, quick learner. Just pick stuff up right off the bat. He's right now battling to play a lot and that means he's going with ones quite a bit. He deserves to. He's already shown that. I'm really excited about our chance to get him here, and he's an amazing kid. I can't wait for you guys to talk to him, to hear from him; he's really something." Jakobi Meyers, Pay the Man Jakobi Myers is one of the most underrated and, frankly, disrespected wide receivers in the game of football, unlike the drama that surrounded Davante Adams and the success that many expected from him—which ultimately did not materialize—this drama-free superstar knows how to win. Meyers is an egoless talent and the ideal teammate. Every single day, he makes impressive catches and contributes to plays, often selflessly blocking and making the position look easy. In a recent game against some of the best defenders from the 49ers, Meyers truly dominated the field. He executed perfect routes, and when Geno Smith moved, Meyers matched his movements flawlessly, finding open space to make plays. I have no idea where the misguided criticism of Meyers comes from, but knowledgeable football analysts recognize his value and contribution to the team. It's time to put an end to the doubt, Spytek. Pay the man. Carroll praised Meyers today, "He's so sure handed, so steady, so improvisational, that he can get himself open. With he and Brock [Bowers], it's tough to cover those two guys. And so, they complement each other in a great manner, but Jakobi [Meyers] has done a fantastic job every day we've come out here he's making plays." Is Michael Mayer the Incredible Hulk in Real Life? Michael Mayer has had an impressive training camp. Along with his coaching staff, he has found his rhythm and reemerged as the offensive threat the Raiders envisioned when they drafted him as the best tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, during today’s practice against the 49ers, Mayer showcased something we hadn’t seen during camp. He delivered a block on a 49er player that is sure to leave a lasting impression for years to come. Mayer was known for his physicality coming out of Notre Dame, but it hadn't fully materialized in Las Vegas until now. Today, he resembled the Incredible Hulk, demonstrating his comfort in the game with two impressive blocks that showcased his selfless nature in making plays, even when he wasn’t directly involved. Michael Mayer appears to be back to his form from South Bend, and that spells trouble for the rest of the NFL. Geno Smith’s Leadership on Full Display Geno Smith has been, without question, the best quarterback I have covered in my six years as a Raiders Beat writer, and it isn’t close. His ability to spin the ball, throw everyone open, and make every throw has been terrific. On a field with a quarterback on the opposing team making $16 million more dollars per year than him, Geno was without any doubt the best QB on the field. Multiple great throws at this point are taken for granted since he does it every year, but one thing he did shone louder than any of the other amazing things he had done. WR Tre Tucker has had an excellent camp, but started with three critical drops. Plagued during his rookie year with drops, it was the first time we had seen it since, but after the third Geno sprinted down the field, encouraging him. Leadership. All Tucker did was respond with multiple touchdowns and no more drops. It was a terrific example of this team embracing him. It doesn’t matter if you talk to your teammates; if they don’t respect you, they don’t listen. This team doesn’t like Geno; they love him and respect him. Geno Smith owned the field today, but more than what he did to the 49ers was what he did for his teammates. He led, and they followed. He tried to dismiss his actions when asked about his pep talk to Tucker, but the fact is his leadership is impressive. He said after practice about the interaction, “For sure, there's going to be ups and downs in this game, you're never going to be perfect. We strive for perfection, but we're all human. So, the main thing whenever a guy makes a mistake, or anything happens out there that we don't want to happen, it's about showing that we have each other's back. And so, whenever you can go up to a guy and pat him on the back, or give him a word of encouragement, that's what we're here for, and they do it for me as well. So it's not just a one-way street, it's a two-way street. I just want to continue to breathe life into my guys, because we got some really, really good players, and they work extremely hard. So when they mess up, it's okay. We move on to the next play and keep going." We'd appreciate it if you would follow us on X @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr , and let’s talk about the Silver and Black’s training camp and Pete Carroll’s comments.
Tennessee's groundbreaking Adidas deal a game-changer for college sports in NIL era
The Tennessee Volunteers are going back to Adidas as its primary apparel provider after a decade of wearing the Nike swoosh. On Wednesday, Adidas announced a $100M, 10-year deal to be the exclusive apparel provider for the school's sports teams. The deal is set to begin on July 1, 2026, following the expiration of the current agreement with Nike. On the surface, it's just another apparel deal between two popular brands, but in the era of NIL (name, image and likeness) in college sports, it's a game-changing agreement. As part of the agreement, Adidas will establish a fund for NIL deals between the University of Tennessee and student-athletes. The German-based company will provide Tennessee with at least $10 million annually for the NIL deals, which, as of now, is about half of the $20.5 million that schools participating in the revenue-sharing model are allowed to give directly to student-athletes. That figure will almost assuredly increase with each passing year, meaning both current and future Tennessee Volunteers will benefit directly from this deal. Adidas will aim to make top student-athletes brand ambassadors by giving them national marketing campaigns and signature shoe lines. With NIL deals becoming a centerpiece of how college athletic departments attract top recruits, this deal is a bellwether for how apparel deals will be renegotiated across the world of college sports. Of course, at the center of this deal is football, as it remains the most popular sport in the country. According to The Athletic, the Volunteers' football program is estimated to be valued at $1.37B, the ninth-highest valuation in college football. It's only natural, then, that Adidas wants to get its logo back on Tennessee football jerseys. Adidas sponsored the team for 20 years before the university switched to Nike in 2014. While some fans were hoping Tennessee would re-up their partnership with Nike, fans who remember the 1998 National Championship team will probably feel good seeing the Adidas logo on the jersey again. Adidas also sweetened the deal by providing assurances that Tennessee athletics can design its apparel in-house, in collaboration with the company. Aside from nostalgia and big business, Tennessee and Adidas both know that for the school to remain one of the top programs in the country, they'll need star recruits. Before the ascendance of NIL deals, recruiting top talent was a mix of promising top-of-the-line facilities and flaunting the pedigree of the program. NIL money has changed that equation and already impacted Tennessee. In April, star quarterback Nico Iamaleava shocked the school by not reporting to spring practice and transferring to UCLA. Reports suggested part of the disagreements between Iamaleava and the school was over his NIL deal. How Iamaleava plays this season will make Tennessee wonder if it should've allocated more NIL money to keeping him happy. If that's the case, it's safe to wonder if Tennessee will tap into this deal as much as possible to keep future stars away from the transfer portal. This deal with Adidas certainly opens new doors for athletes to maximize their branding and will test the NIL distribution system over the next decade. Expect these types of deals to become the norm, too, as universities seek every competitive advantage against one another.
NFL backup quarterback ratings 2025: Assessing all 32 teams
A major injury suffered by a starting quarterback can ruin a season if an NFL team doesn't have a solid backup plan. Ahead of the regular season, which begins Sept. 4, Yardbarker NFL writers rate the backup QB situations of every NFL team on a scale of "1" (dynamic) to "5" (disaster). NFC East DALLAS COWBOYS | Rating: 4 | QBs: Dak Prescott (starter), Joe Milton III, Will Grier | Milton, acquired in an offseason trade with the New England Patriots, was subpar in a Week 1 preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams (17-of-29 for 143 yards, one TD pass and an interception). "I think our plan all along has been that we need to find out about Joe Milton," first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer told the team’s website. The 2024 sixth-rounder must show more for the rest of the preseason for the Cowboys to feel confident about their backup situation. NEW YORK GIANTS | Rating: 3 | QBs: Russell Wilson (starter), Jameis Winston, Jaxson Dart, Tommy DeVito | The Giants have assembled one of the league’s more bizarre QB rooms. Winston is much more entertaining than good, just as likely to throw two pick-sixes as 400 yards in a game. DeVito is competent but offers little upside, while 2025 rookie Dart is the wild card and should be the first name called if HC Brian Daboll pulls the plug on Wilson. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Rating: 2 | QBs: Jalen Hurts (starter), Tanner McKee, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Kyle McCord | McKee has made the most of his opportunities, including acing his most recent test in preseason Week 1, finishing a win over the Cincinnati Bengals 20-of-25 for 252 yards and two TD passes. The Eagles should feel confident that he can win games, but they should be skeptical of Thompson-Robinson or McCord. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Rating: 4 | QBs: Jayden Daniels (starter), Marcus Mariota, Josh Johnson, Sam Hartman | Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, was fine for the Commanders a season ago, completing 77.3 percent of his pass attempts with four TD passes and no interceptions in three appearances. But let’s be real: Washington will only go as far as Daniels takes it. The backup situation for the Commanders is bleak, with journeyman Johnson and 2024 undrafted free agent Hartman also offering limited upside. — Eric Smithling NFC West ARIZONA CARDINALS | Rating: 4 | Kyler Murray (starter), Jacoby Brissett, Clayton Tune | Brissett has learned from great QBs (Tom Brady and Andrew Luck) and has had success in spurts. He's not a game-changer, but he can keep the Cardinals in games and give a young team stability in case Murray misses time. If Tune plays, though, the season has gone drastically wrong. LOS ANGELES RAMS | Rating: 2 | QBs: Matthew Stafford (starter), Jimmy Garoppolo, Stetson Bennett, Dresser Winn | The Rams may already be thinking about playing Garoppolo because of Stafford’s lingering back injury. Garoppolo is accomplished, having nearly won Super Bowl LIV for the 49ers. Bennett flashed potential in the preseason opener against the Cowboys while working with second- and third-teamers. Winn is likely suited for a practice-squad role. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Rating: 3 | Brock Purdy (starter), Mac Jones, Carter Bradley | Jones has flourished in his first camp with the team. The 2021 first-round pick looks like he has been operating HC Kyle Shanahan’s system for years and could be the team’s next reclamation project success story. Bradley is just a camp body. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Rating: 3 | Sam Darnold (starter), Drew Lock, Jalen Milroe | Rookie Milroe boosts the ranking, as his stellar speed can directly impact any game. Lock is a serviceable option. The veteran is entering his second stint with the Seahawks. His decision-making is highly questionable, but he is an underrated passer. — Sterling Bennett NFC North CHICAGO BEARS | Rating: 2 | QBs: Caleb Williams (starter), Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum, Austin Reed | The Bears have faith in Bagent to keep the offense afloat if Williams misses time. The 25-year-old went 2-2 in four starts in 2023. Chicago might have the best third-string QB in the NFL in Keenum, who has started 66 games and has thrown for 15,175 yards. DETROIT LIONS | Rating: 4 | QBs: Jared Goff (starter), Hendon Hooker, Kyle Allen | Hooker attempted only nine passes in his rookie season in 2024, so who knows if he’s capable of running an NFL offense? As for Allen, he’s 7-12 in 19 starts with 26 TD passes and 21 interceptions, and he’s attempted only one regular-season pass since 2022. GREEN BAY PACKERS | Rating: 2 | QBs: Jordan Love (starter), Malik Willis, Sean Clifford, Taylor Elgersma | Willis stepped in for an injured Love last season and went 2-0 with four total touchdowns and no interceptions. He'll improve as he works more with HC Matt LaFleur. Clifford is a decent third-string option. MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Rating: 3 | QBs: J.J. McCarthy (starter), Sam Howell, Brett Rypien, Max Brosmer | Howell is a solid backup with 18 NFL starts and a gunslinger mentality, but his aggressiveness leads to too many turnovers. If anyone can get the best out of him, it's HC Kevin O’Connell. If Rypien or Brosmer play this season, Minnesota's in trouble. — Jack Dougherty NFC South ATLANTA FALCONS | Rating: 3 | Michael Penix Jr. (starter), Kirk Cousins, Easton Stick, Emory Jones | Cousins flopped in his first season with the Falcons, throwing one TD pass and nine interceptions over his final five starts before being benched for 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. The No. 8 overall pick’s development is crucial for the Falcons, who have little else behind him. Stick was sharp in preseason Week 1, going 15-of-18 for 149 yards and a TD in a loss to the Detroit Lions. CAROLINA PANTHERS | Rating: 3 | QBs: Bryce Young (starter), Andy Dalton, Jack Plummer | Dalton gives the Panthers a veteran presence behind incumbent Young, but is no more than a replacement-level player at this stage of his career. Plummer (no relation to retired former NFL QB Jake Plummer) is a 2024 undrafted free agent who ended his collegiate career as a fifth-year senior at Louisville, where he threw for 3,204 yards while leading the Cardinals to a 10-4 record. He didn’t take a snap during the last regular season. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Rating: 5 | QBs: Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, Jake Haener, Hunter Dekkers | The top three QBs on the depth chart (Rattler, Shough, Haener) are in a battle to start. They took turns turning the ball over in the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, with Rattler losing a fumble, Shough throwing a pick-six and Haener throwing another interception late in the fourth quarter. Three weeks before the regular season opens, New Orleans might not be any closer to deciding on a starter. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Rating: 4 | Baker Mayfield (starter), Kyle Trask, Teddy Bridgewater, Connor Bazelak | Trask, entering his fourth NFL season, is still an unknown with only 11 career pass attempts, but likely is more confident after a sharp preseason opener. Bridgewater hasn’t taken a regular-season snap since 2022, while Bazelak, a 2025 undrafted free agent after exhausting his college eligibility at six seasons, is practice-squad fodder. — Eric Smithling AFC East BUFFALO BILLS | Rating: 1 | Josh Allen (starter), Mitchell Trubisky, Mike White, Shane Buechele | In Trubisky, the Bills have one of the division's more experienced QBs (57 starts over eight NFL seasons). He and White each threw 13 passes and combined for three TDs in a preseason game against the Giants. Unless the Bills look to dump Trubisky’s $3.2M salary, these two offer Buffalo great depth behind Allen. MIAMI DOLPHINS | Rating: 5 | Tua Tagovailoa (starter), Zach Wilson, Quinn Ewers | Aside from Tagovailoa, Dolphins QBs were abysmal in the team’s first preseason game. Wilson was sacked four times, Ewers went 5-of-18 and neither threw for a TD. Wilson hasn’t taken a regular-season snap since going 4-7 with the Jets in 2023, and Ewers was the last QB taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. Considering Tagovailoa’s extensive injury history, Miami could be in deep trouble if it must turn to a backup. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Rating: 3 | Drake Maye (starter), Joshua Dobbs, Ben Wooldridge | An undrafted free agent, Wooldridge threw for 132 yards and a TD against the Commanders in the first preseason game. Dobbs, a five-year veteran and the NFL’s resident rocket scientist, would get the start should starter Maye miss time. Dobbs lost his only start with the 49ers last season but threw for 2,464 yards in 13 games with the Cardinals and Vikings in 2023 and started two games for HC Mike Vrabel when both were with the Titans in 2022. NEW YORK JETS | Rating: 4 | Justin Fields (starter), Tyrod Taylor, Adrian Martinez, Brady Cook | Taylor made the Pro Bowl after throwing for 3,035 yards and 20 TDs in 14 starts with the Bills in 2015, and has a 28-28-1 record as a starter in 14 seasons in the league. The 36-year-old will miss the preseason while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, but should still have a leg up on undrafted rookies Martinez and Cook. — Bruce Ewing AFC West DENVER BRONCOS | Rating: 3 | Bo Nix (starter), Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger | Stidham had a 1-1 regular-season starting record in his first two seasons with Denver, but looked sharp in its 30-9 preseason win against the San Francisco 49ers. The Baylor/Auburn product went 14-of-15 for 136 yards passing and two TD passes. Ehlinger last started for the Colts in 2022, going 0-3. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Rating: 4 | Patrick Mahomes (starter), Gardner Minshew, Bailey Zappe, Chris Oladokun | Minshew flopped with the Raiders in 2024, tossing more interceptions (10) than TD passes (nine) in 10 games. Zappe and Oladokun struggled in the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Rating: 2 | Justin Herbert (starter), Taylor Heinicke, Trey Lance, DJ Uiagalelei | Heinicke looked serviceable when playing for the Washington Commanders from 2020-22, going 12-11-1 in 24 starts. Lance, a flop with San Francisco and Dallas, may be improving. The third pick of the 2021 NFL Draft went 20-of-34 for 175 yards passing and two TD passes in his first two preseason games. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Rating: 3 | Geno Smith (starter), Aidan O’Connell, Cam Miller | O’Connell looks like a career backup after logging 3,380 passing yards in 20 games in his first two seasons with the Raiders. However, 2025 sixth-rounder Miller may be an intriguing developmental QB. The former North Dakota State star went 6-of-7 passing for 76 yards and one TD in a 23-23 preseason tie with the Seattle Seahawks, which impressed Vegas head coach Pete Carroll. — Clark Dalton AFC North BALTIMORE RAVENS | Rating: 3 | Lamar Jackson (starter), Cooper Rush, Devin Leary | Rush is a capable backup, but he's a very different QB from starter Lamar Jackson and would require a different offensive approach if he were to play. He threw for 1,844 yards and 12 TDs last season for Dallas when pressed into service for injured starter Dak Prescott. CINCINNATI BENGALS | Rating: 2 | Joe Burrow (starter), Jake Browning, Desmond Ridder | Browning had a solid run in place of Burrow late in the 2023 season and would have a lot of weapons to use in the passing game if pressed into action. He's not a long-term starter, but Cincinnati would be in good hands if he had to start a few games. CLEVELAND BROWNS | Rating: 4 | Joe Flacco (presumptive starter), Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel | Every option, including Flacco, is backup caliber. Even worse, none seems to be a solid option as a backup, too. PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Rating: 2 | Aaron Rodgers (starter), Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, Skylar Thompson | Rudolph would not be a great full-time starter, but as a backup, he is as solid as you can get. He has proved capable of winning games (9-8-1 as a starter), has a big arm and is not hesitant to stand in the pocket and make tough passes. — Adam Gretz AFC South HOUSTON TEXANS | Rating: 3 | C.J. Stroud (starter), Davis Mills, Kedon Slovis, Graham Mertz | Mills has not started a game since 2022 but has 26 career starts. (The Texans won just five of those games.) Mills has thrown for 35 TDs but also has 25 interceptions, so ball security is an issue for the 2021 third-round pick. Slovis and sixth-round rookie Mertz are unproven. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Rating: 4 | Daniel Jones (presumptive starter), Anthony Richardson Sr., Riley Leonard, Jason Bean | Jones is favored to win the starting job, but that could change before Week 1. Either way, the Colts will have a backup QB who has extensive starting experience in Jones or Richardson. The problem is neither QB is good, with Richardson having thrown 11 TD passes compared to 13 interceptions in 15 games. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Rating: 4 | Trevor Lawrence (starter), Nick Mullens, John Wolford, Seth Henigan | Mullens has 20 starts on his resume, but the results are poor (5-15 as a starter, 34 TD passes and 31 interceptions). In three starts with the Vikings in 2023, Mullens had eight interceptions. TENNESSEE TITANS | Rating: 5 | Cam Ward (starter), Brandon Allen, Trevor Siemian | With Will Levis out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, the Titans are relying on journeymen to back up rookie Cam Ward. Siemian has extensive starting experience, but most of it came in his first three seasons. He has completed just 58.5 percent of his passes in his career, slightly better than Allen’s 56.7 percent. — Steve DelVecchio
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