Howe: Intel on all 32 NFL teams, Russ skepticism, Davante Adams ...

After speaking with dozens of sources around the NFL this summer, I compiled intel on all 32 teams.

The information ranges from a broad overview of how a team could fare this season to other more specific tidbits regarding particular players and roster construction.

We have a lot of ground to cover, so let’s get right to it.

Buffalo Bills: Following the release of an anonymous poll of NFL players, there was some debate last week over whether quarterback Josh Allen may be overrated. That certainly isn’t a debate among the many league executives and coaches I’ve spoken with. He is still largely considered the second-best QB in the NFL behind only Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes.

Miami Dolphins: The league is down on the Dolphins, according to a poll of league coaches and executives that will be released this week by The Athletic. While they’re 20-14 with gaudy offensive numbers in head coach Mike McDaniel’s first two seasons, they’re also 0-2 in the playoffs. They’re fun and McDaniel is doing some innovative things in Miami, but the feeling among rival teams is the Dolphins need to start proving it against higher-quality competition before they’ll be viewed as a threat in January.

New England Patriots: There’s curiosity among rival teams with the way head coach Jerod Mayo publicly handled the quarterback battle between Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye. But regardless of all that, no one really felt strongly either way over who should have been the Week 1 starter because the offensive line is shaping up to be a potentially insurmountable problem. Maye will almost certainly take over as the starter at some point this season, but the variables between the team’s record and the line’s performance have made it a guess as to when that would happen.

New York Jets: They’ll believe it when they see it. That’s how rivals view the Jets as a potential contender. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has gotten some preseason MVP buzz, and that’s probably what it’s going to take for the Jets to return to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.

Baltimore Ravens: There’s belief in some circles that Kyle Hamilton will solidify himself as the league’s best safety this season — and maybe even one of the game’s best overall defensive players. The 2022 first-round pick tallied four interceptions and three sacks last season. But don’t discount the significance of losing defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

Cincinnati Bengals: A year ago this time, it looked like the Bengals were about to make a real charge at the Kansas City Chiefs, but quarterback Joe Burrow couldn’t shake the injury bug in 2023 and contracts are still an issue for wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Bengals are going to have to power through distractions and hope for better fortune in the injury department to contend in the AFC.

Cleveland Browns: Quarterback Deshaun Watson is physically on pace where the Browns expected him to be following a displaced shoulder fracture. The question, though, is where his performance will be this season. It’s been four years since Watson was viewed among the league’s top quarterbacks, and the offense sputtered this summer.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Quarterback Russell Wilson won the starting job, which was the expectation entering training camp. He needed to prove that he was over the early-camp calf injury before head coach Mike Tomlin named Wilson the starter over Justin Fields. Still, there’s concern among rival teams that Wilson is too far past his prime to be a difference-maker for an offense that has finished in the bottom 10 in total yards in five consecutive seasons.

Houston Texans: The C.J. Stroud hype is real, and it’s spectacular. The 2023 first-rounder is already viewed around the league as one of the premier franchise quarterbacks in the game. It’s impressive that’s he’s garnered so much respect from higher-ups across the NFL in such a short time.

Indianapolis Colts: The Colts won nine games last season despite quarterback Gardner Minshew starting 13 times and fielding a defense that allowed the fifth-most points in the NFL. There’s a reason why Shane Steichen is so highly regarded by his peers. If quarterback Anthony Richardson scratches the surface of his potential, rival teams believe the Colts will challenge for their first AFC South title since 2014.

Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars were intentional this past offseason about acquiring veterans with strong reputations as leaders who hailed from winning programs. They wanted to be better prepared to overcome adversity than they showed last season when they lost five of their last six games. Also, there’s a belief defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen will boost that unit with his aggressive attitude and energy.

Tennessee Titans: Brian Callahan wasn’t much of a headline-driver during the head coaching hiring cycle, but rival coaches are relatively optimistic over his scheme and leadership. Quarterback Will Levis should be the greatest beneficiary of Callahan’s arrival.

Denver Broncos: Rivals have a decent amount of faith in head coach Sean Payton’s ability to guide rookie quarterback Bo Nix to early success. Before the draft, there was belief Nix could be a solid distributor with enough talent around him. Payton’s scheme, at minimum, is likely to accelerate the learning curve.

Kansas City Chiefs: With former Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald in retirement, Chris Jones could strengthen his Hall of Fame candidacy by taking over as the league’s best defensive tackle. “Chris Jones is now in a league of his own on the inside,” a rival coach said.

Las Vegas Raiders: Still in the early stages of a rebuild after another quick regime change, there aren’t high expectations for the Raiders around the league. Barring an unexpectedly hot start, some around the league are wondering if the Raiders would move receiver Davante Adams at the trade deadline. They need to maximize their draft assets to find a franchise quarterback, and the 31-year-old Adams isn’t likely to be around when the Raiders are ready to make a playoff push.

Los Angeles Chargers: It already feels like the Chargers are taking on head coach Jim Harbaugh’s personality. They’re physical and aggressive, perhaps toeing the line of both characteristics during joint practices. We’ll see where the offense is after quarterback Justin Herbert missed most of camp with a plantar fascia injury — after already losing receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in the offseason — but the Chargers are shaping up to be a grueling team to play. General manager Joe Hortiz was well past due for this type of opportunity, too, so there’s belief he’ll succeed in this new role.

Dallas Cowboys: With so much focus on quarterback Dak Prescott’s contract situation, rival coaches and executives think there’s a more pressing issue as it relates to the Cowboys’ success in 2024. There’s a big change in scheme and personality as they’ve transitioned from defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to Mike Zimmer, and that group may take a step back — at least to start the season — as it adjusts. With head coach Mike McCarthy’s expiring contract, the Bill Belichick speculation, Prescott’s situation and the loss of Quinn, there are plenty of reasons why the Cowboys are among the favorites to take a step back this season, according to a poll of league coaches and executives The Athletic will release this week.

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New York Giants: They’ve got some impressive young receivers with Malik Nabers, Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson as high draft picks in recent years, but rival executives are skeptical quarterback Daniel Jones will get the best out of them. After general manager Joe Schoen tried to trade into the top three of the draft, it’s pretty clear the clock is ticking on Jones, who has two years but no guaranteed money remaining on his contract after this season. It’s hardly an obtrusive contract in 2025-26, especially in the current QB landscape, but Jones probably has to play well enough to keep it on the books after this season.

Philadelphia Eagles: Coach Nick Sirianni may be on the hot seat, but general manager Howie Roseman’s approval rating is still extremely high by his peers. Roseman continues to construct one of the better rosters in the league with smart contracts, and there’s a reason why assistant GM Alec Halaby has gotten interview requests from other teams. Expect fellow assistant general manager Jon Ferrari to also eventually draw interest.

Washington Commanders: There’s a lot of work to do in Washington, but the Commanders have well-respected leaders in place to try to get it done. Head coach Dan Quinn is revered by his peers, particularly among those who have worked with him, and general manager Adam Peters has an esteemed eye for talent. It’s been a long wait, but it seems as though the Commanders are finally heading in a positive direction.

Chicago Bears: Don’t be surprised if wide receiver Rome Odunze challenges quarterback Caleb Williams for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Both have looked like big-time draft hits in the early going, though Williams may understandably struggle with consistency — and perhaps worse if the offensive line doesn’t hold up. The Bears have everyone’s attention, and the lightning quick turnaround has assistant general manager Ian Cunningham on the brink of his own GM job somewhere.

Detroit Lions: Head coach Dan Campbell has the off-field charisma and on-field production to generate a lot of the credit for the Lions’ quick ascension, but don’t dismiss the front office’s importance. General manager Brad Holmes and his staff are widely viewed by their peers among the best executive branches in the league.

Green Bay Packers: This seemed to be pretty interesting. Even though Jordan Love isn’t yet necessarily viewed as a top-10 quarterback, there really weren’t any strong shrugs among rivals over his four-year, $220 million contract extension. That’s because there’s so much respect for general manager Brian Gutekunst’s rapid rebuild in the post-Aaron Rodgers era. Love’s deal, which is tied for the most in average annual value, shouldn’t be a hindrance, rivals believe.

Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s torn meniscus was a tough one to swallow. Prior to the injury, rival coaches and executives debated whether the Michigan product would’ve had the best season among the six first-round rookie QBs.

Atlanta Falcons: Head coach Raheem Morris has the vibes through the roof in Atlanta. One of the most infectious personalities in the league, Morris has injected plenty of optimism into the building, and it doesn’t hurt that offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and quarterback Kirk Cousins are poised to maximize the production of their recent investments in skill players. It was also a boost to add well-established defensive leaders like safety Justin Simmons and edge rusher Matthew Judon.

Carolina Panthers: While the primary objective is getting quarterback Bryce Young on track, it’s worth wondering how much help he’ll get from the running game. The Panthers ranked 20th in rushing yards and 27th in success rate in 2023, and rookie back Jonathon Brooks is opening the season on the physically unable to perform list as he continues his recovery from a November ACL tear. Plus, head coach Dave Canales’ Bucs ranked last in rushing in 2023.

New Orleans Saints: People around the league believe head coach Dennis Allen is opening the season on the hot seat. The Saints are 16-18 since Allen took over for Sean Payton, so a playoff berth and creating tangible momentum toward 2025 might be necessary for Allen to stay onboard.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: By the first week of training camp, the consensus opinion in the building is the Bucs already had more team chemistry than the 2023 team that won a playoff game. It also sounds like coordinator Liam Coen’s offense is ahead of pace from last year’s group under Canales. And remember, Canales turned last season’s performance into a head coaching job.

Arizona Cardinals: Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s scheme has drawn rave reviews around the league, and there’s widespread belief he’ll draw head coaching interviews after the season. Rival executives are also impressed by general manager Monti Ossenfort’s roster reconstruction in a very short amount of time. The Cardinals’ ceiling may be limited by a brutally difficult division, but they’re absolutely on the rise.

Los Angeles Rams: Quarterback Matthew Stafford’s handle on the offense is admired in the building. This might be a small example, but he made a slight adjustment with a play call during one practice this summer that had the entire offense gushing on the sideline, including coaches and players who were listening on the headsets. There’s so much respect around the league for Stafford and head coach Sean McVay that the Rams are expected to be NFC contenders once again.

San Francisco 49ers: There’s some intrigue over Brandon Staley’s potential impact on the Niners’ defense. While Nick Sorensen is the new defensive coordinator, Staley’s role as assistant head coach/defense is significant. He was an excellent defensive coordinator for the Rams in 2020, and this 49ers group has comparable talent.

Seattle Seahawks: Head coach Mike Macdonald has revitalized a defense that ranked 25th in points allowed a season ago. There may be some growing pains as he installs the new scheme, but the potential is there for a solid turnaround. Expect their last pair of first-round picks, cornerback Devon Witherspoon and defensive tackle Byron Murphy, to become impact performers.

(Photo illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos of Russell Wilson and Davante Adams: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images and Michael Owens / Associated Press

Jeff Howe is the NFL National Insider for The Athletic. A native of Lowell, Mass., and a UMass graduate, he previously covered the New England Patriots from 2009-21. Howe, who has been with The Athletic since 2018, is the author of “If These Walls Could Talk: New England Patriots.” Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffphowe