Training camp battles are so hot right now. Everybody’s Rollie Fingers Jersey talking about them. Let’s divert in a more specific direction. What are the most important training camp battles that involve rookies, competitions that will have serious implications on quality teams in 2021?And I’ve purposely left quarterback off this article. Yes, vs. in San Francisco, vs. with the , and and duking it out in Chicago will, of course, be vital. Let’s dig deeper.Main competition: This is probably it for Cardinals GM Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona. That is, if the Cardinals don’t make the playoffs. Kingsbury’s crew has loaded up for not just an appearance in the NFC playoffs but potentially a deep run, thanks to the acquisition of and the draft selection of lightning bolt in Round 2.But, let’s be real — the cornerback room is in shambles. “Patchwork” may not even do it justice. There’s , who can play inside and out, but he’s hardly met expectations that come with being the first pick in the second round two years ago. Beyond him, there’s , who rebounded in 2020 after a brutal start to his tenure but is now 31, then gobs of uncertainty. For Wilson, he’ll have to fend off Alford, a typically reliable, highly athletic corner. Problem is, he hasn’t played since 2018 due to consecutive season-ending injuries. There’s fellow rookie , a sixth-rounder, and former first-rounder in the cornerback room.Wilson had a case as . Seriously. Tony Gwynn Jersey But he lasted until the fourth round because with all the athletic gifts in the world, why was his Florida film so wildly inconsistent? On an Arizona team that’s going to score points, defense may not be as critical as it’ll be for other teams. But with the Cardinals coach and GM in a vintage make-or-break season, Arizona’s secondary can’t be a sieve. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day’s big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the “Pick Six Newsletter” and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount’s . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. Main competition: Michael JordanThe Bengals are on the rise. Right? Well, they should be, mostly due to the – dynamic in Cincinnati. Is anyone ready to crown the Bengals as one of the top teams in the AFC? Of course not. But don’t forget, there’s always a collection of new playoff clubs every year, nothing’s more critical than quarterback play, and Cincinnati has a good one in Burrow. But he needs to be better protected on a more regular basis. And although I believe going Chase over was the correct determination for the Bengals organization, if Burrow is on his back a lot in 2021 after his torn ACL and Sewell is instant impact in Detroit, that draft-day decision will ominously hover over Paul Brown Stadium for a long time.Carman will always be remembered as the blocker the Bengals picked in Round 2 after pa sing on Sewell in Round 1 to pick Chase. And the former Clemson left tackle is bumping into guard in the . Will he be ready to play at a relatively high level in a new position right away? Unseating Michael Jordan shouldn’t be difficult — he was among the league’s most matador-like blockers a season ago. But confidently expecting a rookie to arrive on the scene and dominate from the jump is risky busine s. Cory Spangenberg Jersey If Carman is up to the challenge, he’ll be an underrated element of a Year 2 breakout for Burrow and this Bengals offense.Main competition: As the back-to-back AFC representative in the and a club that’s advanced to the AFC title in three-straight seasons, Kansas City is now a barbeque mecca and home to the team to beat in the American Football Conference. The Chiefs defense is naturally in the background because of , , and . However, there’s correlation between Kansas City’s defense being at its best and the Chiefs actually winning — not just getting to — the Super Bowl. When Mahomes won his Super Bowl, his defense finished . Mahomes’ two years as a starter in which he didn’t ride a booze-filled float through downtown Kansas City after the season, the Chiefs defense finished outside the top 20 in that comprehensive metric.And Kansas City’s collection of linebackers has been not of Super Bowl Chase Headley Jersey -caliber during the Mahomes era, a distinction marked by the free agent flop of the incumbent Hitchens, Bolton’s primary competition.While Bolton didn’t test particularly well at the Mi souri pro day, his 4.60 time in the 40 proves he moves pretty well for the linebacker spot. In college, he maximized his physical traits due to exquisite football IQ, block-shedding capabilities, and reliable tackling. Most importantly, he flashed in coverage. The latter area is where there’s plenty of room for him to separate from the more experienced Hitchens this summer. Main competition: , The Chargers have their quarterback. He embodies the new prototype at the position in today’s NFL. Naturally, the Chargers have gone berserk trying to construct a luxurious environment for him this offseason. Time-tested stud of a center was signed in free agency. Left tackle , of limiting in college fame, was picked in Round 1. Tight end was a third-round pick. Another blocker — — was selected on Day 3. And they’re now the trendy upstart team to advance deep into the AFC playoffs.And Palmer was grabbed 20 spots ahead of McKitty in Round 3 to bolster the secondary football-catching options after and high-pointing acrobat .At Tenne see, the nearly 6-foot-2, 210-pound Palmer was hindered by up-and-mostly-down quarterback play. It was at the Senior Bowl where he emerged as a serious prospect with route-running chops, deceptive speed and rebounding skills down the field. As for the distinct No. 3 wideout role, Palmer will have to fend off two former undrafted free agents — Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson — who both averaged nearly 20 yards per grab last season. In quietly what is one of the deeper receiver rooms in the AFC, Palmer will have his work cut out for him this summer, earning the trust of Herbert and a serting himself as a steady target in what should be an explosive Allen Craig Jersey offense.Main competition: The Vikings went from Gary Kubiak to his son, Klint Kubiak, at offensive coordinator so once again, their offensive philosophy can be roughly described as this — run, run, run, play-action off that run, then run some more. The offensive line is critical for Minnesota’s zone-blocking scheme and for the mostly stoic . When pre sured and when moved outside the
