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The voluntary portion of NFL teams’ offseason workouts will soon be a thing of the past as players, coaches and front-office personnel dive into organized team activities (OTAs). Most teams begin OTAs in the third week of May, while teams with rookie head coaches will start a week earlier.
Every team has questions they'll need to answer before the season begins. These are 10 biggest questions around the league heading into OTAs.
How quickly can Dwayne Haskins overtake Case Keenum?
The Redskins had one of the best quarterbacks in the draft fall right into their lap at No. 15 overall. Dwayne Haskins passed for 4,381 yards and 50 touchdowns last season at Ohio State and will immediately challenge veteran journeyman Case Keenum for the starting job. If he wants to be under center in week 1, he'll need to impress head coach Jay Gruden early and often, starting with a strong performance in OTAs.
What will Baltimore’s offense look like this season?
The Ravens promoted Greg Roman to offensive coordinator thanks to his experience developing Colin Kaepernick, another dual-threat passer. He'll be tasked with installing a brand-new offense this season. The team signed Mark Ingram in free agency. Speedy receiver Marquise Brown and running back Justice Hill were added via the draft. There will be plenty of talent to work with in Baltimore. Roman just needs to put all of the pieces together.
Can Josh Allen take the next step?
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane deserves a lot of credit for reshaping the roster and giving second-year quarterback Josh Allen a chance to succeed in year two. The Bills significantly bolstered their offensive line and receiving corps in free agency. They also added dynamic running back Devin Singletary out of Florida Atlantic. The rest is up to Allen. If he can progress as a pocket passer, he could be the long-term answer for the Bills.
Will Matt LaFleur energize the Pack?
New head coach Matt LaFleur will be tasked with reigniting the Packers offense. If he and Rodgers click, Green Bay can still be one of the most dangerous teams in the league. If not, LeFleur's hire will be second-guessed and the voices questioning Rodgers' leadership skills will grow louder.
Will Joe Flacco give Denver a much-needed boost?
If Joe Flacco can give Denver’s offense the steady leadership and play it has been lacking from the quarterback position in recent years, the Broncos should get back to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. If not, it’s going to be another long season in Denver.
Can Houston cobble together a functional O-line?
The Houston Texans entered the NFL offseason with one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines. Deshaun Watson was sacked a league-worst 62 times in 2018. Houston addressed this by signing former first-round bust Matt Kalil in free agency. They then took a significant gamble by drafting Alabama State left tackle Tytus Howard. A team with Super Bowl aspirations, the Texans must be able to protect Watson if they want to be taken seriously as championship contenders in 2019.
Will Carson Wentz be healthy?
The Philadelphia Eagles are all in on Wentz after letting Nick Foles walk in free agency, yet it's hard to not to be worried if you're an Eagles fan. Wentz is still not fully recovered from the back fracture that cost him five games last season, and while the teams says it expects him to be ready for OTAs, Wentz’s health will be a huge storyline all year long.
Can Jon Gruden turn the Raiders around?
Jon Gruden has completely transformed the Raiders' roster. The offense added All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown, offensive tackle Trent Brown and running back Josh Jacobs. The Raiders also invested heavily in defensive talent via the draft. On paper, Oakland has what appears to be a competitive roster. Whether Gruden still has the magic remains to be seen.
Can Bruce Arians fix Jameis Winston?
Off-field problems , along with on-field mistakes, have marred Winston's first four years in the NFL. The good news for Bucs fans is that new head coach Bruce Arians has been a veritable quarterback whisperer throughout his career. If Arians can't make it work, then nobody probably can.
Will Josh Rosen overtake Fitzmagic?
Rookie head coach Brian Flores adamantly declared that there will be an open competition between 2018's 10th overall pick and veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick heading into the 2019 season. It’s going to be fascinating to see which quarterback emerges with the starting job.
More must-reads:
- 10 best moves of the NFL offseason
- NFL stars looking to rebound from a rough 2018
- The 'AFC East starting QBs since 2001' quiz
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