In most cases, it’s wise to forget about preseason performances. But sometimes it can offer a glimpse for what’s to come in the regular season.
Inexperienced quarterbacks such as Sam Howell and Desmond Ridder having some success in the preseason doesn’t answer many questions, because they haven’t played much in the regular season.
But there might be something to Kenny Pickett’s impressive preseason. He posted a 7–5 record as a starting rookie quarterback for the Steelers last season, and now he could be set for a breakout in 2023.
Also, the preseason answered many questions regarding contract situations and potential trades.
Before we get to the regular season, here are a few winners and losers from the preseason.
Winners
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Steelers’ skill players: Pickett has been so good in the preseason that now I’m expecting wide receiver George Pickens to be as good as Garrett Wilson, the Jets’ reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.
That’s certainly a bold take, but the 6'3", 200-pound Pickens excels in snagging contested passes, and he should see more opportunities downfield if Pickett remains aggressive in the regular season. Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick, had a perfect preseason with five touchdown drives in five tries.
Pickett’s improvements should also benefit wide receiver Diontae Johnson and tight end Pat Freiermuth, and especially running back Najee Harris, who might see fewer defenders near the line of scrimmage.
Josh Jacobs: The reigning rushing champion getting a pay raise of roughly $2 million was a rare win for running backs.
Jacobs didn’t lose money missing all of the Raiders’ training camp and offseason program because he wasn’t under contract until last week, when he signed his one-year, franchise-tag tender that was bumped from $10.1 million to $11.8 million in base pay with another $200,000 available in incentives.
More important, Jacobs would now be owed about $14 million for 2024 if the Raiders decide to use the franchise tag on him again. If they don’t, Jacobs would be available on the open market, and perhaps see more money with a long-term contract extension.
Now it’s on Jacobs to deliver another dynamic season to maximize his options, which he created by waiting to report to Las Vegas.
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Mac Jones: The Patriots’ third-year quarterback might be one of the biggest winners of the entire offseason.
Jones will likely have better coaching with Bill O’Brien as his offensive coordinator, the team improved its already dominant defense with a few notable additions and they recently signed Ezekiel Elliott, one of the best pass-pro running backs in the league. Also, Jones won’t have to look over his shoulder anymore because the Patriots recently waived quarterback Bailey Zappe, who quickly returned to the team’s practice squad. It says plenty that New England was willing to risk losing Zappe on waivers.
Now that the Patriots have given Jones a fair shot to succeed behind a stout defense, productive running game and a reliable play-caller, it’s on him to improve the passing game and prove to the organization that he’s the long-term answer at quarterback.
Texans: Houston’s decision-makers must feel good about the early results they’ve gotten from this year’s first-round picks C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr.
After a shaky preseason debut, Stroud earned the starting quarterback job by displaying command of the offense and making big-time throws. If Stroud continues to ascend in the regular season, the team might not dwell on whether it should have waited to take a quarterback in the first round. Plus, the 2024 class could be loaded with Caleb Williams and Drake Maye potentially entering the draft.
Also, the Texans essentially took themselves out of the race for Williams and Maye by trading their 2024 first-rounder to the Cardinals for the No. 3 pick, which they used on Anderson. That’s a lot of pressure on Anderson to develop into a dominant defender, but he’s off to a fast start after a productive preseason.
Losers
Colts: Without Jonathan Taylor, the Colts have the worst group of skill players in the league.
Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, who might be the biggest loser in this situation, will have more on his plate with Taylor missing at least the first four games of the season after the team kept Taylor on the physically unable to perform list after failing to trade him.
And judging from this messy situation, Taylor might never play again for the Colts, who still have the option of moving him before the trade deadline Oct. 31.
But there’s still time for the Colts to salvage this and come to some compromise with their star running back, the same way the Raiders were able to do with Jacobs, the Chargers with Austin Ekeler, and the Giants with Saquon Barkley.
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Panthers’ offensive line: Bryce Young had many opportunities this preseason to display his skills of being a soft lander.
Young showing good pocket awareness, escaping pressure and not taking the full brunt of hits are good qualities to have for an undersized quarterback. But the Panthers likely weren’t expecting him to take as many hits as he did in the preseason. The team boasted about retaining its entire starting offensive line from last season.
Obviously, we shouldn’t put too much stock into the preseason, but the Panthers played most of their offensive starters during the exhibitions. Carolina had better protection in the preseason finale against the Lions, Young’s best performance from the summer.
Trey Lance: 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said he wanted to do right by Lance, sending him somewhere he would get an opportunity to play.
Lance, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft, gets a fresh start with the Cowboys, but he might not play this year with Dak Prescott entrenched as the starter. His chance to play could come next year; Prescott has a cap hit of nearly $60 million, but it wouldn’t be easy for the Cowboys to get out of the final year of Prescott’s contract. Also, Prescott is a beloved leader throughout the organization, and if he plays well this season, he’ll likely receive another contract extension.
The 49ers went with the best trade offer, a fourth-round pick from the Cowboys, instead of sending Lance somewhere with a legitimate chance to see the field.
Broncos’ offensive line: Sean Payton has an uphill battle in Denver after a tumultuous preseason.
The offense struggled under Russell Wilson during two preseason performances. To make matters worse, the wide receivers were hit with a rash of injuries, including losing Tim Patrick for the season. Top wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has been sidelined the past week with a hamstring injury.
There’s also uncertainty on the offensive line with tackle Mike McGlinchey dealing with a knee injury. Upgrading the line was a priority for Payton in the offseason, and Denver signed McGlinchey to a five-year, $87.5 million contract.
