This story was originally published by Dead Spin
NFL training camps are underway across the country as the first real weekend of preseason football is here.
While bona fide NFL stars rarely play significant preseason snaps, these games give players an opportunity to gel. There will be more pressure on some players than others to fit in seamlessly.
These five players are under the most pressure in 2024.
5. Daniel Jones, New York Giants QB
It’s something short of a miracle that Jones was able to hang on with the Giants this offseason.
Before the NFL Draft, they were rumored to have interest in damn near every first-round quarterback, but they landed on wide receiver Malik Nabers.
With Nabers and Saquon Barkley healthy, there’s no excuse for Jones to be bad again in 2024. He threw two touchdowns and six interceptions last season, playing only six games. Expect this to be Danny Dimes’ last year with the Giants if he doesn’t live up to that contract.
4. Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans WR
Stefon Diggs is now the top option in Houston. Photo source: Getty Images The Texans went for it this offseason, and you can never blame a team in their position for doing so. C.J. Stroud was one of the most impressive rookie quarterbacks we’ve ever seen, and he’s on that rookie deal for a long while longer.
Trading for Diggs showed the rest of the league that the Texans are going for it in the AFC. They beat the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Playoffs before being defeated by the Baltimore Ravens.
The rumbles of Diggs being on the decline grew louder as his production took a slight dip with the Buffalo Bills at times throughout 2023. If the Texans want to rival the Kansas City Chiefs for the best offense in the NFL, they need Diggs to return to form.
3. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears QB
Jun 5, 2024; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks to pass the ball during the team’s minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports This one might come as a surprise to some, but NFL pundits have raved about how great of a job the Bears did to set up Williams for success.
They added receivers Kennan Allen and Rome Odunze.Â
If Williams is not at least the rookie of the year on an improved Bears team, expect heads to roll in Chicago at the expense of their No. 1 overall draft pick. Williams will play in the preseason, so we’ll find out soon if the Bears have the real deal.
2. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals WR
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) reacts after completing a catch in the fourth quarter during a Week 9 NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. It’s a contract year for Higgins. Does anything more need to be said?
The Bengals finished in last place in the AFC North last year after quarterback Joe Burrow was sidelined with an injury. Higgins has the opportunity to help the Bengals make serious noise in the best division in football.Â
It seems unlikely that the Bengals will retain Higgins. He has a prime opportunity to show other teams that he’s worth becoming one of the top-paid players in the league.
1. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys EDGE
Micah Parsons is the Dallas Cowboys best hope in 2024. Photo source: AP Let’s start by stating that Parsons is one of the best edge rushers in the league. He’s one of the betting favorites to win Defensive Player of the Year. And it’s time for him to take that award home in 2024.
He’s the most stable piece on a wildly unstable Cowboys team. Offensively, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have major contract questions. If the Cowboys struggle out of the gate, head coach Mike McCarthy’s job security will be questioned.
Cowboys fans everywhere are counting on Parsons to be the savior of this season.
