Eddie Brown: What we still don't know about all 32 NFL teams

Welcome back to the NFL, where every veteran is “in the best shape of his life” and every rookie is ahead of schedule.

Optimism overflows in training camp, when hope and promise pass for hard currency.

Every offensive line has been rebuilt, the new offensive coordinator has simplified the playbook and the defensive coordinator is revealing nothing.

Coaches are praising players they may cut in three weeks, but September will soon remind everyone why depth charts are best written in pencil.

We already know the NFL’s central characters. Kansas City’s season hinges on Patrick Mahomes’ health. Buffalo and Josh Allen remain trapped between sustained excellence and postseason frustration.

Across the league, several franchises must determine whether the quarterback they drafted, developed or acquired is truly one they can build around.

August football is a dangerous place to draw permanent conclusions. Practices are controlled, preseason game plans are intentionally bland and the final scores are useful mainly for filling the bottom of the television screen.

Still, summer reveals plenty to those who know where to look.

These are the questions that could shape every team’s season.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills: Can Joe Brady turn Josh Allen’s prime into a Super Bowl breakthrough?

Brady knows the offense; now he must run the entire operation. Buffalo hopes fresh ideas can solve January, but transitions can often create problems before fixing them.

Miami Dolphins: Is Malik Willis a long-term answer or another bridge?

Miami stripped down its old identity and handed Willis an offense built around De’Von Achane. The tools are obvious, but the week-to-week command isn’t.

New England Patriots: Will Mike Vrabel’s turbulent offseason follow him onto the field?

Winning makes distractions disappear, but Vrabel’s program is built on accountability. The first losing streak could test whether his authority still carries weight.

New York Jets: Can the rebuilt defense finally create game-changing plays?

The Jets failed to record an interception last season, perhaps their most astonishing feat in 15 years. They responded by adding Minkah Fitzpatrick, Demario Davis, T’Vondre Sweat, David Onyemata and first-round pass rusher David Bailey — a start, but only if the overhaul produces takeaways.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: How much should Jesse Minter change?

Baltimore’s first-year coach inherits Lamar Jackson and a contender strengthened by Trey Hendrickson and Calais Campbell. A sharper defense could complete Baltimore’s championship push, while excessive tinkering could turn this into an unnecessary transition year.

Cincinnati Bengals: Is the defense finally good enough to support Joe Burrow?

Burrow has spent too many Sundays treating every possession like a two-minute drill. Cincinnati added talent, but unless the unit becomes trustworthy, the offense will again need to approach perfection.

Cleveland Browns: Who is Todd Monken’s quarterback?

Deshaun Watson represents sunk cost. Shedeur Sanders represents possibility, maybe. The worst outcome is extending the competition until neither owns the offense.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Can Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers manufacture one last run?

The Steelers paired two famous football minds with a short runway. It could look polished and dangerous, or like a reunion tour that lasted one stop too long.

AFC South

Houston Texans: Is the offensive line still a problem in Houston?

Everything about C.J. Stroud becomes easier if he isn’t negotiating collapsing pockets. Houston spent heavily up front, and now five pieces must become one functional unit.

Indianapolis Colts: How much mobility does Daniel Jones still have?

Jones is most dangerous when his legs change the geometry of the defense. If the Achilles injury makes him stationary, Indianapolis acquired a different quarterback than expected.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Where will Travis Hunter play?

Jacksonville plans to increase Hunter’s cornerback workload while using him situationally at receiver. The challenge is maximizing his rare versatility without overloading a player who is returning from knee surgery.

Tennessee Titans: Can Cam Ward make the Year 2 leap?

The highlights are already there. Ward must eliminate the sacks, late throws and chaos separating a fun quarterback from a franchise one. Tennessee’s rebuild advances only if he does.

AFC West

Denver Broncos: Is Bo Nix fully back?

Denver’s ceiling depends on whether Nix’s ankle allows him to play with the same rhythm and mobility. Jaylen Waddle raises the upside, but only if Nix can access it.

Kansas City Chiefs: Will Patrick Mahomes be Patrick Mahomes by Week 1?

It is the only question in Kansas City that truly matters. As long as Mahomes is upright and summoning football sorcery, the Chiefs can beat anyone.

Las Vegas Raiders: When should Fernando Mendoza take over?

Kirk Cousins should give Las Vegas a respectable floor at quarterback. Mendoza is the future, and camp must determine whether protecting the No. 1 pick is wiser than playing him.

Los Angeles Chargers: Can a healthy offensive line unlock Justin Herbert in Mike McDaniel’s scheme?

McDaniel can scheme space and easy throws, but Herbert needs time to access the entire field. Another patchwork line would once again reduce an elite arm to emergency problem-solving.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys: Can the defense become merely average?

That isn’t a punchline. Average may be enough for Dak Prescott and the offense to keep Dallas in contention, but the Cowboys will not advance until every Sunday stops feeling like a race to 40.

New York Giants: Can the Giants protect Jaxson Dart’s development?

A young quarterback cannot grow if every snap becomes an escape drill. Coach John Harbaugh must give Dart structure, healthy weapons and a chance to learn more than survival.

Philadelphia Eagles: Can Jalen Hurts reboot the passing game without A.J. Brown?

DeVonta Smith can carry a larger role at receiver, but Brown changed coverages before the snap. Hurts must prove the offense can become more varied or Philadelphia will again lean too heavily on the running game and defense.

Washington Commanders: Can Jayden Daniels stay healthy?

Washington has surrounded Daniels with enough receiving talent to become dangerous again. Another injury-plagued season would raise harder questions about how the Commanders protect and deploy him.

NFC North

Chicago Bears: Can Caleb Williams raise his floor?

Williams has validated Chicago’s belief, but the gap between his best and worst remains too wide. Ben Johnson needs quicker decisions and more routine execution without stripping away the creativity.

Detroit Lions: Can a rebuilt offensive line preserve the offense’s identity?

Detroit’s personality starts up front. If the new group blocks with the same violence and cohesion, the Lions remain elite; if not, the fireworks fade.

Green Bay Packers: Can the pass rush survive without Micah Parsons?

Parsons changes protections merely by existing. Until he returns, Lukas Van Ness and the rest of the front must keep the secondary from covering forever.

Minnesota Vikings: Is the QB competition actually real?

Kevin O’Connell says Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy are competing, but meaningful reps will reveal the truth. So far, Murray holds the clear edge.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: Who will be healthy enough to play QB?

Michael Penix Jr. is returning from another serious knee injury, while Tua Tagovailoa has already missed camp work. Continued uncertainty will complicate Kevin Stefanski’s installation of his offense.

Carolina Panthers: Is Bryce Young finally the answer?

Young improved enough to keep the conversation alive. Now he must turn those stretches into a season that makes Carolina stop browsing the quarterback aisle.

New Orleans Saints: Was Tyler Shough’s late surge real?

Every franchise can talk itself into a quarterback after one hot month. Shough has more help, but camp must show whether that finish was foundation or mirage.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Can Baker Mayfield carry the offense without Mike Evans?

Evans was the safety-blanket receiver, a matchup problem and a broken-play solution. Mayfield’s contract case depends on proving the offense can evolve without him.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals: Can Mike LaFleur make Jeremiyah Love the center of the offense?

The coach may not have a choice after Arizona invested the third pick and $53 million guaranteed in Love. LaFleur must feature the rookie running back without making the offense predictable — or exhausting its best weapon.

Los Angeles Rams: Will drafting Ty Simpson for tomorrow cost the Rams today?

Only if the championship contender falls short because it needed immediate help elsewhere. Every roster hole will sharpen the cost of using the 13th pick on Matthew Stafford’s successor.

Bonus question: Can the Rams lock in Aaron Donald before the Dodgers sign him?

San Francisco 49ers: Can the 49ers stay healthy?

The roster can win the NFC if its stars spend more time playing than rehabbing.

Seattle Seahawks: Can Sam Darnold do it again?

One breakthrough season changes a career, but repeating it changes a reputation. Seattle needs Darnold’s success to survive a new coordinator, personnel changes and the pressure to repeat.