Most Anticipated Player's Preseasons
Jordan Love QB Packers
Since there was no preseason in 2020, due to the pandemic, we have been able to see ZERO Jordan Love. We haven't seen him play a single snap which is what makes his preseason so exciting. There has been so much drama and controversy in the Packers organization this offseason. If Aaron Rodgers is really only the quarterback for one "Last Dance", then Packers fans need to get acclimated to Love being under center. This preseason could very well dictate the expectations for the future of the Packers. If Love flashes signs of greatness and can get adjusted to the game speed, that could intrigue Davante Adams to ultimately extend his contract. No quarterback has more pressure than Jordan Love this preseason and I'm here for it.
Jaelan Phillips EDGE Dolphins
This may be a surprise one, but Jaelan Phillips has the potential to be the future of the Dolphins defense. He was my highest rated pass rusher in this year's draft and he is explosive off the edge. If he can stay healthy for Miami, he could end up being a 15 sack caliber player. I want to see what he can do against veteran tackles and how creative his pass rush moves get. He had the best swim move in the draft, but what else can he do to get to the quarterback? At the University of Miami, his get off was lightning fast and he had a high motor. Does he get off the ball as fast as these other guys in the NFL or does it just look fast because he's going against a bunch of college linemen? I compared him to Jason Pierre-Paul and I think he could have a JPP-esque impact on the Dolphins defense.
CeeDee Lamb WR Cowboys
No player has had a more highlight filled training camp than CeeDee Lamb. He's making DeAndre Hopkins-esque catches against Tre'Von Diggs and Kelvin Joseph. There is a good chance that Lamb could end up being the next Hopkins. He's physically imposing, an athletic freak, and has reliable hands. I'm super excited to see what he can do in the pre-season this year. We get to see him in an additional game this year (hall of fame game) and I'm stoked to see what he can do in a full season with Dak Prescott throwing him the football. I expect Lamb to take the reigns from Amari Cooper and be the Cowboys number one receiver this year. If Lamb makes one highlight play in the preseason, Mike McCarthy should feel comfortable enough to say they have seen enough and don't want to risk him getting injured. I can't wait to see Lamb strap up and run routes this preseason.
JK Dobbins RB Ravens
The Ravens are always a fun team to watch in preseason and it's because they let their stars play. There's a bunch of guys I'm excited to see play in this offense: Lamar Jackson, Rashod Bateman, Marquise Brown, and of course JK Dobbins. With Mark Ingram (Big Truss) signing with the Texans, this is Dobbins' backfield. He could quietly be a top ten running back in the NFL this year. Dobbins was my favorite running back in the 2020 draft because of his tremendous contact balance. He just bounces off tackles so eloquently and I'm getting the jitters just thinking about how he plays. I'm expecting Dobbins to take a major sophomore leap and explode onto the scene for the Ravens this year.
Trey Lance QB 49ers
There is no player I'm more excited to see play in the preseason than Trey Lance. He's been a stand out player in the 49ers training camp thus far and every report I hear about him is about his explosiveness. He is able to exploit defenses with his legs and his deep ball. These are two areas that the 49ers offense has been missing since Colin Kaepernick. Kyle Shanahan's offense already causes defenses nightmares, but these are two new added dimensions. I just want a glimpse of his speed off the edge. Nobody has spent more time on his playbook than Trey Lance, according to the calculated minutes on the 49ers' I-Pads. If Lance shows out in the preseason, we could see him starting for the 49ers sooner than expected.
