NFL — 2026-07-23#
Watch First#
If you only have time for one video today, load up George Kittle on Shanahan & Kelce/Swift wedding | Chris Simms Unbuttoned (FULL Ep. 893) | NFL on NBC. Kittle delivers a fantastic interview that covers everything from inside stories about Kyle Shanahan wanting to fight him in Cabo to a deeply frustrating but necessary rant on the NFL’s dangerous artificial turf problem.
Highlights by Theme#
Draft & Prospects#
The rookie contract dominoes are finally falling, headlined by No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza inking a fully guaranteed four-year, $57.2 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. According to ESPN’s NFL Live crew, the Raiders plan to sprinkle Mendoza into first-team reps but are perfectly content letting veteran Kirk Cousins steer Clint Kubiak’s offense while the rookie marinates on the sideline. Over on Which rookies will stand out in training camp? | GMFB, the panel zeroed in on immediate impact defenders, singling out Bears safety Dylan Theamman as an elite center-fielder and Commanders linebacker Sunny Styles as a freaky athlete ready to dictate Dan Quinn’s defense.
Free Agency & Trades#
The New England Patriots are going all-in on Drake Maye following his near-MVP season, swinging a massive blockbuster trade for A.J. Brown to completely transform their passing attack. In Dallas, Jerry Jones is playing hardball; the Cowboys are forcing wideout George Pickens to prove himself on a $27.3 million franchise tag rather than handing him a long-term extension. In a concerning medical update, Tyreek Hill revealed he still has “no power” in his surgically repaired left knee 10 months after his devastating injury, throwing his effectiveness for the Dolphins into serious doubt in Can veteran WR Tyreek Hill overcome injury setbacks amid recovery? | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC. Out in Los Angeles, don’t hold your breath for Aaron Donald—the future Hall of Famer is skipping the start of Rams camp and won’t return until he’s fully convinced his body can handle another grueling run.
Game Analysis & Strategy#
Bill Barnwell’s FTN Almanac breakdown dropped some spicy projections, most notably backing the Houston Texans to boast a top-10 offense behind C.J. Stroud while projecting the Lions’ injured secondary to drag down their elite defensive front. In the NFC East, all eyes are on the Giants, where John Harbaugh’s widely mocked “New York Giants” hype speech sets the stage for a critical Year 2 for dual-threat QB Jackson Dart, whose ceiling ultimately hinges on getting star receiver Malik Nabers back from a torn ACL. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ defensive success revolves around new 34-year-old defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who brings a disguised shell scheme designed to fix an interior run defense that bled points late last season.
League News & Culture#
George Kittle absolutely unloaded on the NFL’s artificial turf epidemic, noting that World Cup players contractually demand grass but the league’s multi-billion dollar owners refuse to standardize a safer surface for their own stars in George Kittle shares thoughts on NFL’s grass vs. turf debate | Chris Simms Unbuttoned | NFL on NBC. In unexpected broadcasting news, Jon Gruden is stepping back into the booth to call the Bucs-Chiefs preseason game alongside Ronde Barber, despite his ongoing litigation against the NFL. Finally, Chris Simms is still taking heat for ranking Patrick Mahomes ahead of Peyton Manning in his “all-time primes” list on the Chris Simms and Dan Patrick debate Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning | Dan Patrick Show | NFL on NBC.
League Pulse#
As training camps officially open, the dominant narrative across the league is the tension between immediate expectations and long-term health. While fanbases are hyped for new franchise quarterbacks and major trades, the overarching anxiety is surviving August intact, from Tyreek Hill’s alarming knee update to the universal player disdain for field turf.