All articles tagged with #secondary
Detroit safety Avonte Maddox will miss the 2026 season after foot surgery, forcing a reshuffle of Detroit’s secondary, prompting a veteran-safety workout and consideration of new options as Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch remain on PUP. Campbell signaled a broader shake-up, with opportunities for Chuck Clark, Izzy Harper, and others as the team retools behind a thin depth chart.
Arizona beat NAU 35-7 behind Noah Fifita’s efficient 22-of-29 for 262 yards and two TDs, including 13 straight completions in the first half, while Giovanni Richardson emerged as the WR1 with 96 receiving yards. Kedrick Reescano added two red-zone TDs as the O-line paved the way; defensively the front seven produced five sacks and Quinn Olson added an INT, but the new secondary, replacing five departed DBs, struggled with tackling and blown coverages, yielding 200 passing yards and -7 rushing yards overall. Arizona travels to BYU in Week 2.
Chicago fell 27-9 to Cincinnati in a rough preseason showing, with the starters opening on a positive note but the reserves collapsing on both sides. Sixth‑round DT Jordan van den Berg impressed along the interior, Roschon Johnson led the backfield, and Sam Roush offered depth at tight end, while Dontae Manning and the Bears’ secondary were repeatedly exposed by Bengals backups. Cairo Santos accounted for all scoring with three field goals, Tory Taylor pinned several punts well, and Braxton Jones had a tough night at left tackle.
Raiders training camp notes highlight a high-energy defense with Maxx Crosby flashing off the edge and interior competition heating up, while the secondary remains wide-open at outside cornerback and features Greedy Vance’s pick and Taron Johnson’s evolving STAR role. On offense, Kirk Cousins delivers without turnovers, connecting with Brock Bowers and Jalen Nailor, and Aidan O’Connell finds E.J. Williams Jr. as Mendoza earns praise from coaches and observers for his development amid a multi-faceted defensive scheme heading into padded practices.
With training camp looming, the Patriots face questions on edge depth (Dre'Mont Jones, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson, Jesse Luketa) and Gabe Jacas’s unsigned status after a mid-round trade-up, plus Landry’s knee rehab; Kevin Byard’s signing could signal a new look in the secondary as the young group is counted on to prove themselves this season.
Detroit’s new-look secondary impressed on Mandatory Minicamp Day 1 as Chuck Clark and Christian Izien anchored the back end and D.J. Reed fostered leadership through a film session that paid off with multiple interceptions and tight coverage. Rookie Jimmy Rolder and undrafted Aamaris Brown flashed with picks, Clark snagged a pass for a second pick, and several players added pass breakups, while the defense shuffled corners and linemen and even endured a brief on-field skirmish.
The Chiefs bring back cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to bolster a deep and versatile CB room, with potential trade value for Kristian Fulton, added pass-rush versatility, and a stabilizing presence in the slot as Kansas City looks to rebound defensively after a disappointing 2025 season.
L'Jarius Sneed had all charges against him dropped, lifting a year-long legal cloud. Now a free agent after a Titans release, his status adds an intriguing option for Kansas City as the Chiefs rebuild their secondary; whether Sneed returns remains uncertain amid a youth-filled, reshaped back end.
Las Vegas wrapped the 2026 NFL Draft with 10 picks, six on Day 3, highlighted by trading up to select Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy despite ACL concerns, and moving on from DE Tyree Wilson in a deal for Dalton Johnson. The Raiders fortified the secondary with Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson, and Hezekiah Masses while adding faster offensive weapons in Mike Washington Jr. and Malik Benson to complement top pick Fernando Mendoza, signaling a plan for a versatile, speedier offense under Robbie Leonard.
Seattle drafted two confident defensive backs—Bud Clark and Julian Neal—on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, hoping their ball skills, length and swagger boost Seattle's secondary. Clark, a TCU safety, calls himself a ballhawk inspired by Kam Chancellor, while Neal, an Arkansas safety, bills himself as the most physical defender in the class. Coaches stressed they fit Seattle's competitive culture and will earn snaps on a roster that already features top playmakers as they acclimate.
Despite chatter about selecting a WR or edge rusher in the first round, NFL evaluators suggest San Francisco could prioritize cornerback depth to shore up a thin secondary, with nickel as the base package and potential roster moves for Deommodore Lenoir and Upton Stout. A cornerback pick somewhere in the 24–32 range is plausible as SF aims to blunt high-powered offenses in a division with the Rams and Seahawks.
ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak outlines a three-part plan for the Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft: infuse youth into the secondary and defensive line with multiple picks, double-dip at those positions given Pittsburgh’s 12 selections, and add a developmental quarterback to the roster (options include Ty Simpson or Garrett Nussmeier) to prepare for life after Aaron Rodgers. With Rodgers’ status unresolved and internal optimism about Will Howard, the plan emphasizes long-term roster health and future depth over quick fixes.
After the first wave of 2026 NFL free agency, several teams still face notable roster holes: Cincinnati’s inexperienced linebackers need a veteran upgrade; New York Jets’ receiver group remains underwhelming after losses; Washington’s cornerbacks are a weakness; and Miami’s secondary is thin despite some additions. Teams are likely to pursue veterans or rely on the 2026 draft to patch these gaps.
Dallas signed veteran corner Cobie Durant to a one-year contract, adding outside/nickel versatility to a secondary that has already added safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke. Durant, 28, spent four seasons with the Rams and during 2025 appeared in 17 games (15 starts) with 40 tackles and 3 interceptions, including three postseason picks. At 5'11
After a 2025 defensive overhaul that included several signings and a coaching shift, New England added safety Kevin Byard to pair with developing corner Craig Woodson and standout Christian Gonzalez. The result could be the NFL’s best secondary heading into 2026, with Byard guiding the back end and complementing a group that already looked strong in the postseason.