Maxx Crosby, Chris Jones, Patrick Mahomes, Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders –

Broncos

Broncos CB Damarri Mathis could be a player on the verge of being named this season and will need to have a strong training camp to make the team.

“We have great competition there,“Broncos HC Sean Payton said via Broncos Wire. “He played well as a rookie two years ago. These guys know it’s a tough position at corner. It’s probably one of the tougher positions in the sport. You have to have a short memory and some mental toughness. I think he’s got that determination. I really like his weight. I think he moves well. I know he’s been training quite a bit this offseason and cutting his weight. He’s impressed in this time here.”

• Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II said that he had high expectations if he was to seek a new contract: “I’ve been doing this my whole life… Living up to those expectations and making a name for myself is what excites me most.” (Ryan McFadden)

Charger

Daniel Popper of The Athletic wrote a mailbag just before the start of training camp answering some of the most important questions about the Chargers.

• Popper starts with UDFAs and calls UDFA OL Karsen Barnhart and UDFA TE Zach Heins as the two most likely to make the 53-man roster.
• According to Popper, the current starters in the secondary are CBs Asante Samuel Jr., Christian FultonAnd Yes, Sir Taylor with Derwin James Jr. And Hello Gilman in safety.
• According to an ESPN poll, the Chargers S Derwin James Jr. was voted the seventh best safety in the NFL.
• After a difficult season, an NFL offensive assistant noticed that coaches were no longer following his game plans as closely: “He’s probably the best in the box. He’s still a really good player, but he’s not the best on the scouting report when you play against them.” (ESPN)
• Popper’s biggest concerns are OL Trey Pipkins IIIs Switch to RG, the talent in the receiver room and tackling outside cornerbacks.
• Popper’s expected lineup for running back is RB Gus Edwards with RB right at the front JK Dobbins RB of the second and sixth round Kimani Vidal third.

Chiefs

• Former QB Tom Brady likes the joy Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes plays with: “When I see these young players, I see Patrick (Mahomes) out there as a quarterback, running around, laughing and having fun. I think to myself, ‘I used to be like that. What the hell happened?'” (The Pivot Podcast)
• According to an ESPN poll, Chiefs DT Chris Jones was voted the best DT in the NFL.
• An NFL executive explained Jones’ profile: “His size and consistent dominant effort make him so difficult to block. He’s so uneven because he’s so long and strong, and he can win from any position – the edge, over the middle, in the B-gap.” (ESPN)

robber

• According to an ESPN poll, Raiders DE Maxx Crosby was voted the fifth best edge rusher in the NFL.
• A rival NFL coordinator compared him to the Hall of Fame OLB Kevin Green: “He reminds me a lot of Kevin Greene – technically sound, best in the league, will outscore you in sacks. He doesn’t have the elite traits of some of the others, but his traits are still top-notch.” (ESPN)