The first full weekend of preseason football is upon us, with NFL training camps underway across the country.
While true NFL stars rarely play in key preseason games, these games do give players a chance to gel with the team. Some players will feel more pressure than others to gel seamlessly with the team.
These are the five players who will be under the most pressure in 2024.
5. Daniel Jones, New York Giants QB
It’s almost a miracle Jones managed to stay with the Giants this offseason.
Before the NFL draft, they Rumored to be interested in just about every first-round quarterback.But they did land wide receiver Malik Neighbors.
With Neighbors and Saquon Barkley healthy, Jones has no excuse to underperform again in 2024. He played in just six games last season, throwing two touchdowns and six interceptions, and this will be his final year with the Giants unless Danny Dimes plays out his contract.
4. Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans WR
Stefon Diggs is currently Houston’s top prospect. Photo credit: Getty Images The Texans chose to go that route this offseason, but you can’t blame a team in their position for doing so. CJ Stroud is one of the most impressive rookie quarterbacks we’ve ever seen, and he still has a long way to go on his rookie contract.
The Diggs trade showed the rest of the league that the Texans were serious about competing in the AFC. They beat the Cleveland Browns in the NFL playoffs but then lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
Rumors of Diggs’ decline have grown as his production with the Buffalo Bills has dipped slightly at times throughout 2023. If the Texans want to compete with the Kansas City Chiefs with the best offense in the NFL, Diggs needs to get back on track.
3. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears QB
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) aims for a pass during the team’s minicamp at Halas Hall, Lake Forest, Illinois, USA, June 5, 2024. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski – USA Today Sports This may come as a surprise to some, but NFL pundits have raved about how good a job the Bears have done to set Williams up for success.
They added receivers Kenan Allen and Rome Odunze.
If Williams doesn’t at least win Rookie of the Year, Chicago is expected to lose the No. 1 overall pick. Williams will play in the preseason, so we’ll know soon enough if the Bears are for real.
2. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) reacts after making a catch during the fourth quarter of a Week 9 NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals at Paco Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in Cincinnati. It’s a contract year for Higgins. Need I say more?
The Bengals finished last in the AFC North last year with quarterback Joe Burrow sidelined with an injury, so Higgins has a chance to help the Bengals make a big splash in football’s premier division.
It seems unlikely that the Bengals will keep Higgins, and he has a great opportunity to show other teams that he’s worthy of being one of the highest-paid players in the league.
1. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys EDGE
Micah Parsons is the Dallas Cowboys’ top hope for 2024. Photo credit: AP First, let’s say Parsons is one of the best edge rushers in the league. He’s one of the front-runners for Defensive Player of the Year and it’s his turn to take home the award in 2024.
He’s been the most consistent player on a very shaky Cowboys team. Offensively, the contracts of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are in big doubt. If the Cowboys struggle early, it will call head coach Mike McCarthy’s job security into question.
Cowboys fans around the world are hoping Parsons will be the savior this season.
