SUBSCRIBE to our emails here:

_{By submitting this form, you hereby acknowledge and agree to receive email communications from A to Z Sports. We value your privacy and will handle your information with care. You will have the option to unsubscribe from our emails at any time through a link provided in each correspondence. Please review our Privacy Policy for more details about how we manage your information.}

---

Hot takes for each team in the AFC West

The takes are fresh and hot to start the week. Today, we kick off with hot takes/predictions regarding each team in the AFC West — the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers — coming from Destin Adams and Kyle Crabbs. Here’s what they came up with:

Bo Nix posts a top-5 all-time Broncos passing yardage season in 2025: “Peyton Manning. John Elway. Smokin' Jay Cutler. The Broncos have had some all-time slingers of the football. But in the grand scheme of single-season passing yard performances, I'm ready to project Bo Nix into the top-5. Manning holds the three best single-season marks, logging at least 4,569 yards or better from 2012-2014. Jay Cutler's 2008 season is the only other single season to surpass 4,100 yards (4,526), and Jake "The Snake" Plummer ranks 5th with 4,089 in 2004.

“Give me over 4,089 for Bo Nix in 2025 after he logged 3,775 passing yards as a rookie last season. The improvements to the weaponry should give Sean Payton the needed firepower to kick Denver's passing attack up a notch, and Nix now has a year of NFL seasoning under his belt. I like the mix.” —Kyle

Does Destin agree? Find out here

Travis Kelce retires after this season, whether the Chiefs win the Super Bowl or not: “It's always sad to see legends retire and move on to life after their NFL careers. Travis Kelce has been one of the most constant forces in the NFL for the majority of his career. After missing nearly all of his rookie season, he has recorded at least 800 yards in every season he's been in the league. His worst statistical season as a pro (outside of his rookie year, when he appeared in only one game) actually occurred last year, with him setting career lows in both yards (823) and receiving touchdowns (three).

“There are already rumors out there that Kelce seriously considered retiring last year, so it doesn't seem far-fetched at all that this could be his last ride. And if he shows even more regression on the field this season, I think the competitor in him will be ready to hang the cleats up and start focusing full time on him and his brothers' very successful podcast ‘New Heights.’” —Destin

Does Kyle agree? Find out here

Raiders defense finishes last in points allowed in 2025: “I'm sorry. I just can't find the excitement I need with this back-seven in the AFC West. Maxx Crosby has more riding on his plate in 2025 than any defender in football, with maybe Trey Hendrickson being the only other player in his stratosphere. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins has been in and out of a walking boot this offseason after missing more than three-quarters of the snaps last year. Malcolm Koonce is also coming back from a major injury. They've completely remade the linebacker room with summer cut Germaine Pratt and two downhill hammers in Devin White and Elandon Roberts. Eric Stokes and Darien Porter join Jakorian Bennett at cornerback, and the Raiders signed Jeremy Chinn at safety, who only showed signs of living up to his potential after joining Dan Quinn in 2024.

“Outgoing talent on defense? TreVon Moehrig is gone. So, too, are Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs at cornerback. Robert Spillane is off to New England, and Devine Deablo left for Atlanta. The Raiders' defense wasn't good last year, but are they even as talented this year as they were last? I'm not sure that they are. And that's before you even factor in the AFC West, with two top-12 scoring offenses from 2024…plus the Chiefs.” —Kyle

Does Destin agree? Find out here

Chargers RBs Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton combine for over 1,800 rushing yards in 2025: “The Chargers elected to give their RB room a complete makeover this offseason. They are going from JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards leading their rushing attack to Najee Harris and their 2025 first-round pick, Omarion Hampton. Dobbins and Edwards combined for over 1,200 yards on the ground together last season, but I think the expectations are much higher for Harris and Hampton. Harris has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first four seasons in the NFL, and the last two years he has even done so with a solid running mate also being in the fold.

“I think Harris will lead the team in carries, with Hampton being mixed into their game plan more and more as the year goes on. We all know Jim Harbaugh is gonna want the run game to be the engine of his offense, and with an elite offensive line in place, the sky is the limit for their rushing attack.” —Destin

Does Kyle agree? Find out here

---

Hot takes for each team in the NFC East

Continuing our hot takes series, Destin and Kyle also hit teams from the NFC East — that’s the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Washington Commanders. Here are their thoughts:

Rookie Jaydon Blue takes over as the Cowboys' starting RB by Week 11 after their bye: “I believe Jaydon Blue will take over as the Cowboys' starter by Week 11 for two reasons. First, I have a lot of faith in the player Blue can be at the NFL level, and second, I have very little faith in the veterans Dallas brought in this offseason. The Cowboys elected to give Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders a chance this offseason after they had failed to prove to their former teams that they can be a viable starting RB in the NFL. So why should I expect now to be the time they suddenly put it together?

“I'm sure the veterans will secure the majority, if not all, of the first-team reps in training camp, but as the year progresses, I think the Cowboys' coaching staff will struggle to keep Blue on the sideline due to his explosive skill set. Long-term, they will want to add a viable bruiser type of RB to pair with Blue. Right now, though, I think he is the Cowboys' most dynamic runner and will eventually get his chance to lead the room this season, and my guess is it comes no later than Week 11, following the team's bye.” —Destin

Does Kyle agree? Find out here

Jalen Hurts does not lead the Eagles in rushing touchdowns for the first time since his rookie season: “Saquon ALMOST got him last year! Hurts, for his part, has had double-digit rushing touchdowns in each of the last four seasons and led the team every year. But Saquon was within one score of Hurts last season, and based on what they're paying Saquon, one has to assume he'll push for 2,000 yards and nearly 400 touches again in 2025. With that kind of workload projection, I think Barkley's bad luck on the one-yard line will flip this season. Barkley was tackled on the opposing team's 1-yard line 11 times in 2024 — give a few of those to Saquon, and they're out of Hurts' touchdown count. I think the scales tip in 2025.” —Kyle

Does Destin agree? Find out here

Giants will trade two former first round picks before the trade deadline (Evan Neal and Kayvon Thibodeaux): “The Giants' decision to draft Abdul Carter shed some doubt on Thibodeaux's future with the team. After starting every game he's appeared in during the first three years of his NFL career, Thibodeaux is now set to be a rotational player for the Giants. For the Giants, having too many talented edge rushers is a great problem to have. Thibodeaux's personality, though, leads me to believe he isn't going to enter training camp with his head down, acting defeated; he's going to try to prove to the Giants that he deserves to be a starter still. However, with them investing a large contract in Brian Burns and the third overall pick in Carter, he has an uphill battle ahead. And if he indeed ends training camp outside of their starting lineup, I could see him requesting a trade out of New York.

“Thibodeaux isn't the only former Giants first round pick who is entering a pivotal training camp. Former tackle, now turned guard, Evan Neal will be competing to be the starting right guard. I think this move should be beneficial for his career, but it seems like his last chance to secure a role with the Giants and be part of their long-term plans. If he isn't able to beat out veteran Greg Van Roten and 2025 rookie Marcus Mbow, I could see the Giants trying to get something for Neal by trading him ahead of roster cut down day.” —Destin

Does Kyle agree? Find out here

Jayden Daniels once again leads the Commanders in rushing, but this time exceeds 1,000 yards on the ground: “Jayden Daniels' rookie season in Washington was one to remember — but the encore has a chance to be special. Daniels will lead the Commanders into 2025 with a lot of star power at his disposal, but also with several well-regarded pass protectors added to his line. I think that will only further tempt Kliff Kingsbury to keep the football in Daniels' hands.

“But there are plenty of times in which running as the quarterback is the right play, as Daniels illustrated last season when leading the team in rushing with nearly 900 yards. This year, I think he will surpass four figures, joining the likes of Mike Vick, Justin Fields, and Lamar Jackson as quarterbacks who have posted over 1,000 yards in a season.” —Kyle

Does Destin agree? Find out here

---

Only A to Z Sports newsletter subscribers get the rest of this email, which has the latest NFL news and more.

Don't miss out on next week's full newsletter: SUBSCRIBE to our FREE weekly NFL newsletter to receive updates on your favorite NFL team and the rest of the league straight to your inbox.

_{By submitting this form, you hereby acknowledge and agree to receive email communications from A to Z Sports. We value your privacy and will handle your information with care. You will have the option to unsubscribe from our emails at any time through a link provided in each correspondence. Please review our Privacy Policy for more details about how we manage your information.}