:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49811771/GettyImages-167980782.0.jpg)
Let's start with the guys fighting for a job this week and work our way up to guys who are early on their path towards the hall of fame.
Joe Licata - Cincy Jungle is doing their 90 players in 90 days and they see Licata as a long shot with his best case scenario being the practice squad.
90-in-90 Bengals Roster Breakdown: Who is quarterback Joe Licata - Cincy Jungle
Then, there's rookie Joe Licata who was signed by the Bengals on May 16th, a few weeks after the 2016 NFL Draft. The Bengals originally signed Matt Johnson out of Bowling Green State University after the Draft, but once the team tried out Licata in mid-May they waived Johnson in favor of Licata. So, who is Licata and what are his chances of making the roster?
Matt Weiser - Some Chargers fans wanted to know what Matt Weiser was brought into San Diego and Chargers TE coach, John McNulty, had this to say.
Evaluating the Tight Ends with TE Coach John McNulty | San Diego Chargers
Matt was exposed to a lot of things at Buffalo where he had to play on the line of scrimmage, block and run pro-type routes. He was exposed to a few different systems in college, and he’s got a great work ethic. He’s really smart, and he has a lot of toughness. Matt has made enough plays in the pass game that he can carve out a role. He just needs to keep working out in the weight room and get a bit bigger. He’s shown signs he can play in this league.
Josh Thomas - Thomas was a depth signing last year and faced an uphill fight. He had to overcome perceptions of him as a camp body and now he will have to overcome an injury.
Dallas Cowboys: Cowboys announce several roster moves
CB Josh Thomas was in a walking boot after suffering a right heel bruise Tuesday.
Steven Means - I believe Means has what it takes to be at the very least an effective utility pass rusher in the NFL. Things were going fine in Baltimore until he injured himself and for a short while it looked like that might hamper him. But as the Philadelphia Eagles camp he his showing well.
Eagles' OTA practice notes: Chase Daniel impresses | PhillyVoice
DE Steven Means was active today. He scooped and scored on a screwed up lateral throw attempt, and later batted a pass in the air that was picked off by linebacker Joe Walker and returned for a score.
Kristjan Sokoli - Sokoli was drafted as a project and used last season to start a conversion from the defensive to the offense. This year they Seahawks are expecting a bit more out of him.
Seahawks Twitter mailbag: The offensive line, Kristjan Sokoli, and UW receivers | The Seattle Times
Both head coach Pete Carroll and offensive line coach Tom Cable have talked about Sokili in pretty positive tones in recent weeks when asked. Sokili, recall, was a sixth-round pick in 2015 out of Buffalo, where he played on the defensive line. Since he was making a conversion to offense, the team knew he was more of a long-term project, and as such it was never really thought he’d make a big impact last season.
Branden Oliver - We're now into guys almost guaranteed to not only make their teams but play an on-field role this season. BO missed a lot of last year with a toe injury but he is all healed up and proving that Brandon "Oliver Twist" is back.
Chargers fight: Barksdale and Attaochu mix it up | SanDiegoUnionTribune.com
Branden Oliver showed little or no ill effects from a Week 8 toe injury that ended his 2015 season. With a cut against the grain, he zipped past a backup linebacker into the end zone.
James Starks - Starks will continue to be a vital part of GB's running back committee.
James Starks Can Meet Specific Needs For The Packers - TPS
Last season Starks flashed the same abilities he showed in both 2013 and 2014. At times he looked like the player fans fell in love with. His runs were explosive, his cuts were decisive. Perhaps most importantly, he was lethal in the screen game. While the Packers’ passing game was not good a season ago, they could rely on screen passes. More often than not, Starks was the primary target on these plays.
And Khalil Mack, who is only entering his thrid year in the NFL and already drawing comparisons to LT.
How does Khalil Mack compare to Lawrence Taylor? - Yahoo Sports
Khalil Mack is the cornerstone of the Oakland Raiders defense. That unit will follow him through the next decade or so. He is the unquestioned leader. When NFL media as a whole, finally pays actual attention, you know the player is special. In the era of comparison, people wish to equate Mack’s talent and production to all-time NFL greats. One name that zips to mind is Hall of Fame OLB Lawrence Taylor. A deeper dive into the comparison will prove to be enlightening. As someone who watched Lawrence Taylor closely, the similarities may not be as clear.