2025-26 NFL Hot Takes!
In last year's edition of my hot takes, I went 0-5 (albeit was close on some!) on my takes. While these takes are all definitely on the outlandish and quite improbable side, I aim to improve my record from last year. One is all we need! Here are some crazy things that I think are within the realm of possibility for the upcoming season! Comment below some of your hot takes for the NFL season.
1. Garrett Wilson Breaks Single Season Receptions Record
Wilson will be far and away the primary weapon for the Jets this season. Beat reporters throughout training camp have reported that the passing game is Garrett Wilson and only Garrett Wilson. Wilson just signed a new extension, and will be the primary focus for new QB, Justin Fields. Fields play style should fit with the "give Wilson the ball" mentality. Fields is not the most dynamic downfield passer in the league which is ok. Wilson works the intermediate and short areas of the field better than anything else. Wilson has led the league or been near the top of the league in targets each season since he has entered the league and I expect this to continue. Aaron Glenn hired a familiar face as Tanner Engstrand steps in as the new Offensive Coordinator, reuniting with another former member of the Detroit coaching staff. Engstrand has been the Detroit Lions passing game coordinator since 2022 where we saw Amon-Ra Saint Brown dominate the league and be at the top of the leaderboard of the league's reception leaders. Amon-Ra did that with other weapons on the team. Wilson has no competitors on this Jets roster. WR2 Josh Reynolds and rookie TE Mason Taylor are probably the next threats in the passing game, neither of which strikes much fear into opponents. I look for Engstrand to force feed the ball to the newly paid Wilson more than anyone else in the league, enough for Wilson to break Michael Thomas's record of 149 catches in a single season. This would be a large jump from Wilson's previous career high of 101 receptions, but all signs point to the inevitability that the Jets are forced to give Wilson an insanely high workload.
2. We See A Team Go Winless
We have only seen 3 teams win less than 3 games since the 2020 season. The Jaguars and Jets in 2020 and the Panthers in 2023. This year we will see at least one team join them. I will even go as far as to predict that we may see a team go winless, joining just the 2008 Lions and 2016 Browns as the only teams to fail to record a victory since the turn of the century. The team that I feel is most likely to see this happen would be the New Orleans Saints, with the Titans, Colts, Browns, and Giants also being teams I can see struggling to string together wins.
3. The Browns Play All 4 Quarterbacks
Cleveland had quite the offseason when it came to addressing the QB position. They brought back Joe Flacco, traded for Kenny Pickett, and had a controversial draft where they drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round and snagged Shedeur Sanders in the fifth. If they want the best chance to win RIGHT NOW it seems like Flacco is their guy. That being said, they also traded away assets to go out and get Pickett, which would indicate that they have faith in Pickett to maybe be their guy. The organization has also heaped praise on their rookie out of Oregon, Dillon Gabriel, while the fans and many people around the league want Sanders and/or think he is the most talented of the rookie play callers. All of that is to say that the Browns QB room is just a hodge podge of mediocre at best! (Won't even mention the atrocity that is the #4) All of the QBs have had some sort of injury setback during training camp and preseason can give us some data and impressions, but it is often difficult to find the full story from preseason games. I predict that we see all of these quarterbacks START at least one game. There will be injuries of course, so that will play a factor. The biggest factor in my opinion, is the fact that none of these quarterbacks are very good. I think the Browns will lose lots of games and will want to try and see different things, and will probably see similar results despite who they throw out there. While it might not lead to much excitement on the field, the Cleveland QB battle is one of the storylines that intrigues me the most heading into the 2025 NFL season.
4. Three 1,000 Yard Rookie WR Seasons
In the last decade there have only been 12 WRs to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards. Last year we saw three (not including Brock Bowers) of those such seasons! I believe we see this happen again this year! Tetairoa McMillan should immediately be the biggest threat that the Panthers offense has to offer. All reports indicate that Travis Hunter is as good as advertised and even with Brian Thomas Jr I think Hunter will see plenty of targets. Chris Godwin's rehab is going slower than expected, which opens up the door for Emeka Egbuka, and I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up being the Buccaneers best receiver this season. McMillan, Hunter, and Egbuka will all join the shortlist of 1st year wideouts who surpass 1,000 yards.
5. Mike Tomlin Finally Has A Losing Record
6. Ashton Jeanty Does Not Lead Rookies in Rush Yards
No team in the NFL was worse in rushing offense than Las Vegas a year ago. They ranked last in rushing yards by nearly two hundred yards, were dead last in yards per carry, bottom five in rushing touchdowns, and only had four rushes over 20 yards. The Raiders addressed this issue by drafting blue chip RB prospect Ashton Jeanty, one of the most highly regarded running back prospects of the last 25 years. Jeanty enters the league with crazy high expectations and many think he may be amongst the best in the league from day 1. While the Raiders are improved, adding Pete Carroll and Geno Smith, I do not think they will have such a significant jump that allows Jeanty to have the historic rookie campaign many are projecting. While hopefully improved, I do believe their offensive line will be in the bottom half of the league. I think Jeanty will be good. I think he will have a great career. BUT...he will not have the best season on the ground by a rookie running back, at least statistically. Omarion Hampton will be that guy. All offseason it has been a lot of speculation about how long the Chargers first round selection will have to wait to take over as RB1 from Najee Harris. The 4th of July injury that Harris suffered has completely changed that. Hampton will be the main guy from Week 1 and I expect him to take full advantage of his opportunity. Hampton was an elite draft prospect as well, but simply was overshadowed by Jeanty during the draft cycle. Hampton has the talent, and more importantly a better situation. The Chargers project to be a run heavy team and even with the season ending injury to their Pro Bowl offensive tackle Rashawn Slater, I think they will dominate the run game. Perhaps the biggest thing that will separate the yards between Jeanty and Hampton is the fact I think the Chargers will win more games. The game script will allow for the Chargers to get a lead and extend the game slowly through the run game. I think the Raiders will need to throw more, as I do not think they will be leading near as much and will need to come from behind. This will simply allow for more ground opportunities for Hampton compared to Jeanty.
*BONUS: If Kirk Cousins gets traded, it will be to LA
The closer we get to the start of the season, the more nervous LA Rams fans should be. Matthew Stafford's back injury is seeing setback after setback and his true status is vague and murky. I project that if Stafford is not healthy, the Rams make a move for the veteran QB Kirk Cousins. Cousins signed a huge contract with Atlanta last offseason, but had a disappointing campaign and now is backing up Michael Penix. The Rams and McVay have shown they are not afraid to make splash moves. They have the roster to compete now and I could see them wanting to add Cousins in their search for a playoff run. Now this is only a fun prediction if Stafford cannot make it through the season. It is a bonus because I like entertaining the thought, but am not sure how they could get it done financially, but Cousins under McVay sure would be a fun midseason storyline.
I see many chances of getting one right this year...... the Cousins trade makes sense, and I definitely see the clueless Browns giving everyone a shot!
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