With the 2018 NFL draft and the bulk of free agency in the rearview mirror, it’s time for the next chapter of the offseason.
At this point next week, all 32 NFL franchises will have started their organized team activities for 2018. There’ll be a lot to keep an eye on between now and the middle of June, when professional football takes a real vacation for the first and only time all year.
Between now and then, we’ve highlighted a dozen promising young players who are worth paying close attention to as OTAs get underway. Some are coming back from injuries, while others are learning new systems or preparing to play bigger roles, but they’re all looking to prove they’re ready to take the next step toward stardom.
That’s great news for Vikings fans who are anxious to see how Cook looks in his first full offseason as a pro, especially after the team lost versatile back Jerick McKinnon in free agency.
Two seasons into his career, Derrick Henry has scored 11 touchdowns on only 310 touches while averaging a solid 4.3 yards per carry. That might explain why the Tennessee Titans released veteran back DeMarco Murray in March, paving the way for Henry to serve in a much larger role in 2018.
I’ve been a part of Hard Knocks and when you experience it first hand, you come to appreciate the inside look it really gives fans, Browns coach Hue Jackson said in a statement. “I want people to see how much our players and coaches care, how hard they work and how badly they want to win for Cleveland.”
Beyond the presence of Mayfield, the brash Heisman Trophy winner, the Browns should provide a fair dose of other intriguing storylines — from Jackson, who is 1-31 in two seasons in Cleveland, to the additions of quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wide receiver Jarvis Landry.
The Browns also have a largely-reworked front office, now led by first-year general manager John Dorsey.
The storylines in Cleveland are compelling, which make the Browns an ideal partner on Hard Knocks, said Ross Ketover of NFL Films, which partners with HBO Sports on the series. “We’re looking forward to showing NFL fans around the world what the Haslams, John Dorsey, Hue Jackson and the coaching staff are doing to rebuild the team and reboot one of the most iconic franchises in sports.”
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