Training camps are fun, but these exhibition matchups are more important when it comes to position battles and surprise standouts. The preseason is where quarterback battles are won and lost, and where roster spots are earned and fumbled. It's where undrafted players will stake their claim to the eventual "final 53," and where starting veterans can begin to give way to younger talents.
Now that we've reached the second week of August, each NFL team has released its first unofficial depth chart. These are not to be taken as gospel, and there are a lot of "ORs" featured. Depth charts will experience quite a bit of change over the next three weeks, but that won't stop us from overanalyzing them.
With that said, here's one takeaway from each NFL team's first depth chart. The Arizona Cardinals took a major swing in selecting former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Since he was drafted this high, Love automatically becomes the highest-paid running back in the NFL with $50.5 million guaranteed in his rookie contract.
Correct, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs don't have those kinds of guarantees in their new contracts. Still, new coach Mike LaFleur is going to make Love earn his starting spot, as free agent addition Tyler Allgeier is listed as the starter over him and James Conner. It's expected that Love will overtake Allgeier on the depth chart at some point, but the former Falcon will still have a role in this offense.
With Jalon Walker set to miss the 2026 season after tearing his ACL and the looming James Pearce Jr. suspension, the rest of the Atlanta Falcons pass-rush group is going to need to step up. The two players slated to start right now according to the depth chart are Brandon Dorlus and Cameron Thomas, with Azeez Ojulari and Samson Ebukam backing them up. Dorlus was a fourth-round pick of the Falcons in 2024.
In 15 games played with nine starts from the interior of the defensive line last season, he recorded 27 tackles and 8.5 sacks -- which ranked second on the team behind Pearce's 10.5. Thomas on the other hand comes over from the Cleveland Browns, and has limited starting experience with just three starts in 58 career games played. Rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane has been one of the biggest stories of training camp.
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