5 things to watch for in the lead up to the NFL season

The NFL preseason is officially over and the regular season is less than one week away! Roster cuts are coming this weekend and heavy helpings of NFL news will dominate the internet for the next six months. So, what should you be looking out for in the next week?

1. TRADES!

Last year, the NFL made a rule change that allowed teams to trade compensatory draft picks for the first time. That seemed to spark a big flurry of trades right ahead of the 53-man roster deadline. There will likely be more trades ahead of Saturday’s roster cuts. Most will be small but there could be a few noteworthy trades mixed in, too. Some will likely involve quarterbacks. AJ McCarron is a name to watch after the Bills had him play for the entirety of their preseason finale.

2. Dez Bryant watch

The former Cowboys wide receiver surely has some options, one being signing with the Browns. But Bryant may wait until the regular season begins to sign with a team. “I will play ball this year just might be a lil bit later in the year,” he tweeted this week. Regardless, we’re now on #DezWatch (again).

3. Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack receiving new contracts

Both defensive linemen are holding out while waiting for new deals. Word is Donald’s deal is almost done. There have been minimal updates on Mack, but a lot of trade rumors. Fans in Los Angeles and Oakland are on edge while waiting for news on each of these players.

4. Big-name cuts

Every year there are players who are surprisingly cut before Week 1, whether it’s because of their declining play, their cap hits, or another reason. By Saturday afternoon, those names will be revealed and by Sunday many will find themselves in new cities. Lions running back Ameer Abdullah, Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty, Ravens wide receiver Breshad Perriman, Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III, Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch, Cowboys tight end Rico Gathers, Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson and Dolphins linebacker Stephone Anthony are some names to watch.

5. Quarterback battles

There are surprisingly few quarterback battles ongoing across the league. The Jets have yet to officially name Sam Darnold their starter, though it’s inevitable. Sam Bradford is almost certain to win the Cardinals’ QB battle with rookie Sam Rosen taking the backup role. In Buffalo it’s likely to be Josh Allen winning the job, though Nathan Peterman certainly has a chance. Maybe the biggest quarterback battle is in Denver for the No. 2 role as Chad Kelly takes on Paxton Lynch for the right to back up Case Keenum. Even with most of these battles already decided, quarterback news will be coming in the days leading up to the season.

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