At right tackle, Lomu is primarily working at a position he didn't play in college. Though he's projected to be the primary backup at both of the Patriots' tackle spots this fall. Lomu needs more weight to fill out his frame and help boost his play-strength. He's an excellent athlete with the length and movement skills in pass protection to develop into a solid starter as Morgan Moses' eventual replacement.

Despite losing John Franklin-Myers in free agency, the Broncos don't need Onyedim to start right away with Zach Allen, DJ Jones and Malcolm Roach still in the fold. But Denver's coaching staff is likely looking for the rookie to replace what Franklin-Myers brought as an interior pass-rusher. The Texas A&M product has the quickness and lateral movement skills to beat offensive linemen across their faces and contribute in that role right away if his use of hands improves.

Williams is an elusive run-after-catch threat, who projects as a productive slot receiver for the Commanders. His work to exploit and attack zone coverages will mesh well with the veteran receivers in that offense. Though Stefon Diggs' recent arrival likely tempers excitement for Williams since their skill sets overlap to a degree.

The Lions finding an edge rusher to play on the other side of Aidan Hutchinson has been a talking point for a few years now, and it appears as if they've gotten their guy in Moore. He'll still have to beat out free-agent signing DJ Wonnum, but the Michigan product's physical playing style should fit right in with the gritty culture that Dan Campbell has built over the last few years. Plus, it helps that Moore built on his pass-rush arsenal last year in Ann Arbor, allowing him to jump from four sacks in 2024 to 10 last season.

Perhaps one of the largest ranges of outcomes among the list comes from Jermod McCoy. He's one of the most talented players from the draft and was recently medically cleared by the Raiders. His explosive talent is a risk the Raiders needed to take for their secondary, and if he gets his feet under him, could be a lightning bolt for their defense.

While B/R walked away from the NFL1000 project more impressed with Cody Barton than expected, it's hard to deny the fact that the Titans have a new coaching staff and used a second-round pick on Hill. The Texas product's downhill run defense skills likely caught Robert Saleh's eye during the draft, giving him an opportunity to start right away and form a young, up-and-coming linebacker corps with Cedric Gray.

Already finding his footing with the Patriots offense, Eli Raridon will start the season as the likely "backup" to Hunter Henry. He's the logical choice to take the field in 12 personnel, and while Henry still has excellent chemistry with Drake Maye, expect Raridon to earn looks quickly.

Bell is a powerful pass-catcher who welcomes contact. He possesses a physical and dense frame, allowing him to pinball off would-be tackles in space. Once fully healthy after a torn ACL, he brings WR1-level physical talent and upside to Miami. The Dolphins desperately need someone to step up at wide receiver, too, since no one on the roster managed more than 317 receiving yards last season.

While he isn't cemented as a starter for the Giants, it won't be long until Colton Hood is playing alongside Paulson Adebo. He's a high-level competitor and will allow the Giants to play more man coverage, but he needs to grow as a zone corner. The first few games could be bumpy, but he's got a great chance to find his feet early on.

Skill-wise, Golday enters a great system where Brian Flores can take advantage of his versatility by lining up the former Bearcat on the edge, blitzing him or dropping him in coverage. However, Flores' system is very complicated and features a wide variety of looks, pressures and coverages that can be overwhelming for veteran linebackers. Let alone a rookie who is still new to the position after being an edge defender to begin his career, and whose instincts are still a work in progress.