Tampa Bay’s defense surged with energy Saturday, flashing a faster, more dynamic frontline as Bowles challenged his young edge rushers to grow. Chris Braswell Jr. stood out, delivering the kind of early impact the Buccaneers’ depth has chased all offseason. The unit’s speed contrasted with an offense missing key pieces, underscoring why TB prioritizes a versatile front seven. Bowles praised the quartet of Braswell, Jose Ramirez, Markees Watts and Warren Peeples Jr., while stressing that growth must be mental as much as physical. With the preseason finale against Buffalo upcoming, the spotlight remains on whether this young crop can translate practice tempo to real-game snaps and push the rotation forward.

The Buccaneers have quietly fortified edge and linebacker depth this offseason, building a squad capable of multiple looks. Skylar Thompson’s athleticism was noted as part of the performance against the Steelers, while Bowles emphasized the need for players to put together the complete package—mentally, then physically. Buffalo looms on the road as a stern test, and how TB handles the Bills’ high-powered offense could shape early-season expectations for the edge group. The takeaway: the next steps are clear, and the next game will be telling for this developmental cohort.

Arizona Cardinals waived Kelly Akharaiyi after signing him just last week, signaling another shuffle as they pare the roster ahead of the final preseason game. With 53-man cuts looming, the team is poised to address depth questions, particularly after Akharaiyi didn’t see action in the Broncos game. The move underscores the Cards’ focus on tight competition at receiver while also keeping an eye on fortifying the interior line as Hayden Conner deals with a knee injury.

Two interior offensive linemen reportedly auditioned for the Cardinals, a clear sign they’ll be adding protection and depth up front if Conner’s knee limits his availability. The WR depth is sufficient for preseason reps, so Akharaiyi’s exit doesn’t immediately sting the rotation. The 53-man decision timeline looms large, and Cards coverage via Rise Up, See Red will continue to track who survives and who lands elsewhere after Tuesday’s roster finalization.

Josh Allen remains fantasy’s anchor for Buffalo, but the Bills’ supporting cast has real upside. Keon Coleman, a bigger-bodied rookie, has flashed in practice and looks like a breakout candidate around Round 7-8, offering a dynamic pairing with Dalton Kincaid, who is healthy and drawing early targets. James Cook remains a three-down threat, while Amari Cooper and Josh Palmer provide veteran reliability on the outside. Khalil Shakir’s growth adds another layer of depth. In the Bears joint practice, the first team showed signs of a more efficient passing attack, with Coleman beating double teams for multiple touchdowns and Allen flashing improved rhythm with his targets. If Coleman cements himself as a top option, Buffalo’s ceiling for 2025 expands, with Kincaid and Cook providing high-end upside, and Cooper/Palmer offering a firm floor. The Bills’ coaching staff is keeping expectations flexible, hinting at a plan that can pivot based on opponent and health, but the trend toward a more potent passing game is clear.

Tampa Bay is rooted as the season’s big story in Connor Orr’s projection, pegged for a memorable 12-5 run that lands the Buccaneers as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The forecast emphasizes a sneaky-deep roster capable of pulling off marquee wins against legit contenders—Philadelphia, Detroit, and Buffalo—while noting a late-season stretch against weaker opponents that could fuel consistency down the stretch. The NFC South looks thin beyond TB, with Atlanta at 9-9 and Carolina at 6-11, sealing a divisional playoff drought for the other teams. For fantasy managers, Tampa Bay’s position hints at a stable, high-floor offense with potential playoff-growth momentum, even as intra-division dynamics tilt expectations elsewhere. The broader takeaway: TB’s path to fantasy relevance is tied to depth across the lineup and timely performances against strong foes, rather than relying on a single star-making run.

The piece also sketches a ripple effect across the conference: Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Detroit are highlighted as standout programs TB can’t simply run through, making Week-to-week scouting and matchup play crucial as the season unfolds. With the rest of the NFC South underwhelming by Orr’s lens, the Bucs’ path to the postseason is framed as a win-now, balance-of-roster affair, rather than a pure miracle month. Fantasy implications center on identifying value across TB’s backfield and receiving corps as the offense spreads opportunities, while monitoring late-season opponents who could shape the playoff push.

The narrative style remains grounded in roster depth, schedule shape, and a belief in Tampa Bay’s ability to win big games away from the expected, rather than relying on a single superstar to carry the load. For fantasy players, this means potential late-season leverage from TB’s depth pieces and a cautious eye on enemies TB might exploit in pivotal divisional showdowns. The result is a cautiously optimistic blueprint for a season-long run with meaningful fantasy upside and strategic rostering decisions that hinge on timing and opponent fit.

The Patriots turned in one final walk-through before the preseason finale, still in helmets and shoulder pads as competition remained fierce. Christian Barmore and Milton Williams anchored a disruptive interior that flashed the disruptive edge the team hoped to unlock this season. Drake Maye endured pressure from a stout front as pass protection continued to be a concern, with Ben Brown plugged into guard/center spots to stabilize the line. Keion White started hot but drifted to the second unit, while Robert Spillane piled up sacks and Jabrill Peppers added a sack as Terrell Williams leaned on blitzing from safety and corner. The kicking race between Andy Borregales and Parker Romo remained a coin flip, both thriving in a tight battle. Offense touched the ball as well with Henry, Hollins, Diggs, and Dobbs all contributing. A game plan rehearsal looms as New England heads to East Rutherford for the final tune-up.

Pass protection remained a narrative thread. Barmore and Williams consistently found disruption in the backfield, challenging Drake Maye and keeping the offensive line under pressure. Will Campbell and the rest of the line showed flashes, but the unit’s ability to keep Maye clean will be critical for the preseason and beyond. On defense, Spillane’s two-sack day followed a previous interception spree, signaling a potential high-volume role in the regular season. Peppers leveraged blitz opportunities, hinting at a more aggressive use of safeties in coverage and pressure packages. In the kicking duel, Borregales and Romo split the 4-for-4 mark, underscoring how evenly matched the competition remains as the roster edges toward Week 1 considerations.