15 players to watch during NFL preseason

The NFL preseason is here.

All 32 teams will be in action for the first time this week, starting with a trio of contests Thursday night. While exhibition games tend to be mostly a tease for us football diehards, there's plenty to learn from these August dress rehearsals.

Here are some players to keep an eye on over the next few weeks.

Getting our first look at a quarterback drafted No. 1 overall is always an exciting part of the preseason. It seems extra important this year since Cam Ward has zero competition for the starting job in Tennessee. He needs to be ready to go in Week 1, when the Titans visit one of the NFL's best defenses in Denver.

I was a big fan of Ward by the end of the predraft process, eventually concluding it was a no-brainer for the Titans to take him with the top pick. His arm and his creativity are special. But he'll need to make good decisions and become more disciplined in the pocket if he's going to enjoy a smooth transition to the NFL.

Ben Johnson's arrival appeared to set the stage for a major Year 2 breakout from Caleb Williams. That may still end up being the case, but anyone putting stock in training camp reports is probably a little less bullish on the sophomore quarterback now: He hasn't exactly gotten rave reviews from those in attendance.

Does it matter? Probably not. Williams is still an elite talent, and he was always going to experience some sort of adjustment period as he transitioned out of the circus offense we saw in Chicago last year. But the young quarterback and the rest of this unit will need to find their stride before Week 1. That could involve getting an extended look in preseason action.

I will continue to bang this drum: The rest of the league made a grave mistake by allowing Josh Simmons to fall to the Chiefs at the end of the first round. The Ohio State product was, for my money, the best pass-protector in this draft. He easily could have been selected ahead of Will Campbell if not for the knee injury that ended his 2024 season.

Medicals are an important part of draft evaluations, so it makes sense that Simmons slipped a bit. But all the way to No. 32? And the injury concerns may already be in the rearview mirror. Simmons has been a full participant at Chiefs camp. He's earned high praise throughout, and it seems like he's got the inside track to start at left tackle. Pressuring Patrick Mahomes off the edge won't be so easy if Simmons looks anything like he did in college. That could be a problem for the rest of the AFC.

There's a level of risk for Minnesota in handing the keys to J.J. McCarthy coming off a 14-win season. Even after making substantial upgrades to his supporting cast, it would be fair to expect some growing pains for a sophomore quarterback who missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury.

But the Vikings declined to bring in any sort of competition, which tells us everything we need to know about their confidence in McCarthy. And if he shows out the way he did in last year's lone preseason appearance, we'll probably be equally convinced that this offense won't miss a beat.

I wasn't a huge fan of the Bengals taking Stewart in the first round of this year's draft. It was a logical range for him considering the sky-high ceiling that comes with his freakish athleticism, but was a project lineman really a smart investment for a defense that needs to get better right now?

Stewart may now be even further behind in his development after a contract dispute kept him off the field for all of OTAs. Classic Bengals. Maybe I'm underestimating his chances of contributing immediately, but we'll find out soon enough: Stewart should get plenty of preseason reps in an effort to get him up to speed for Week 1.

This is a big season for Trevor Lawrence. An outstanding sophomore campaign seemed to put him on the path to superstardom, but that's not quite how things have played out. He was unable to take another step forward in 2023, and last season's struggles were enough for many hands to start hovering over the panic button.

The Jaguars are hoping that new head coach Liam Coen, the architect of a high-powered Buccaneers offense, can help him get back on track. Lawrence still has the talent to be a high-end starter. Looking comfortable in this new system could set the stage for a season in which he finally starts to live up to his lofty contract.

Fantasy football managers should keep a close eye on Jacksonville's backfield competition. Reports out of Jaguars camp suggest Tank Bigsby is the early favorite to lead the team in carries, and it makes plenty of sense. The former third-round pick quietly put together a mini-breakout season in 2024, posting 766 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns.

Bigsby would quickly become one of this year's most intriguing mid-round fantasy options at the position if he can successfully hold off Travis Etienne and rookie Bhayshul Tuten. While the Jaguars' offensive line is a far cry from the high-end unit Coen had in Tampa Bay, Bucky Irving's debut season presented a great example of how a lead back can thrive in this offense.

If you're at all familiar with my draft takes, you'll know it gives me great pleasure to inform you that Anthony Richardson is not done. At least not yet. The former No. 4 overall pick's career is obviously off to a disappointing start. And after aggravating his shoulder injury in the spring, it seemed like he was destined to lose the starting job to Daniel Jones.

Well, not so fast. Those in attendance at Colts camp suggest that Richardson has made some legitimate improvements in the accuracy department. He'll have a shot at carrying that over into game action when he draws the start Thursday night. Jones is scheduled to get first-team reps the following week, so the Colts still appear to see this as an open competition. But their ceiling is immeasurably higher with Richardson under center. Can he earn the chance to prove it?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt was a favorite on my list of Day 3 hidden gems heading into this year's draft. The running back is an explosive, shifty runner who likely would have come off the board much earlier than the seventh round if eligibility issues hadn't limited him to one game in his lone season at Arizona.

He's been creating plenty of buzz at Commanders camp. While Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler remain atop the depth chart, that's hardly the most inspiring duo to spearhead this ground game. If Croskey-Merritt can put on a show in the preseason, the staff might have no choice but to get this intriguing rookie some opportunities when the games start to matter. He's a sleeper to watch looking ahead to your fantasy football drafts.

Thornton is another player from my Day 3 hidden gems who's making a strong impression during his first NFL training camp. He piqued my interest for a fairly simple reason: There aren't many 6-foot-5 receivers with 4.3 speed. Of course it would be worth a swing to see if he could develop his game as a route-runner.

That element of his skill set may be taking shape sooner than anyone expected. Thornton is making big plays in camp and drawing praise from Raiders players and coaches alike. His performance has even earned him a starting spot on the team's initial depth chart. Thornton could be an important playmaker for a Las Vegas offense that needs a field-stretcher on the outside.

Shedeur Sanders probably doesn't have a real shot at winning the Browns' starting job. Joe Flacco seems like the runaway favorite, and Kenny Pickett is the likely backup. At best, Sanders is probably competing with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel for the No. 3 role. He might even be facing an uphill battle there considering their respective draft positions.

But Sanders will get plenty of chances to demonstrate what he can do in the preseason. Hamstring injuries for both Pickett and Gabriel have the Colorado product in line to start Cleveland's exhibition opener Friday night. Can he prove that his stunning fall to the fifth round was a mistake? If not, is he even a guarantee to make this roster?

Seattle is quietly building one of the best defenses in football. That unit is poised to take another step forward in its second season under Mike Macdonald, and second-round rookie Nick Emmanwori could be a big part of that continued ascent. It'll be fascinating to see how the staff envisions a talent like this fitting into the system.

The South Carolina product offers a truly rare blend of size and athleticism. With Julian Love and Coby Bryant seemingly locked in as the starting safeties, Macdonald could seek out some creative ways to get his newest weapon on the field. Could that mean reps at slot corner, sub linebacker, or as a third safety? Why not all three?

I wasn't exactly high on Jaxson Dart coming into the 2025 draft. In my mind, he was a project who was going to need a lot of time and patience before potentially being ready to play at the next level. But hey, I'm willing to be wrong here.

We should get an extended look at New York's rookie quarterback throughout the preseason. And while the team is likely planning for him to redshirt this year sitting behind Russell Wilson, don't forget that the Giants are stuck with the NFL's hardest schedule. They might not have much to play for by November. Can Dart show enough in these early reps to help him get on the field if - or when - that time comes?

Kyle Williams was one of my favorite players in this draft. With speed to burn, advanced route-running skills, and an impressive release package, it seemed like he could quickly emerge as an impact receiver. Positive reviews from Patriots camp suggest that potential is real.

Continuing to build his connection with Drake Maye throughout the preseason could give Williams an opportunity to push for a starting role alongside Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas heading into Week 1. He should be on your fantasy radar.

Houston was busy reworking its offensive line this offseason. Preseason action should give us a decent sense of how the new group is taking shape. Will Cam Robinson bounce back from a rough season in Minnesota? Can second-round rookie Aireontae Ersery make an immediate impact?

The franchise is hoping that new offensive coordinator Nick Caley's more coherent vision will also go a long way toward setting this unit up for success, but we'll see. If the Texans can approach even average production from the front five, they have everything else they need to be a threat in the AFC.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.