The Minnesota Vikings are fully committed to the Kyler Murray experiment.

The Vikings didn’t want to hand the job to Murray. They wanted him to earn it, and apparently, that’s what he did in these first few weeks of training camp — now set to start the season as QB1 in coach Kevin O’Connell’s system.

Murray beat out J.J. McCarthy, the 2024 10th-overall pick whose development has been startlingly minimal. And while he enjoyed the best training camp of his career, McCarthy couldn’t edge out Murray. The QB competition ended how everyone expected. Even in March, when Murray signed with Minnesota, everyone could see this decision coming.

Even safety Josh Metellus remembered that moment fondly.

“Man, I loved it,” Metellus told me last week at Vikings camp. “Kyler’s a guy we’ve game planned for a couple times, and I know how much hell that was to not only game plan but to actually play against him. So to get a guy like that on your team, it only elevates your team. We’re trying to be the best team in the National Football League.”

They’ll have to start with fighting to be the No. 1 team in the NFC North, a deep division that saw the Vikings finish third last season. But there’s no denying this offense’s potential.

O’Connell earned his clout as a QB whisperer by elevating Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold into next-level seasons. Now, he’ll have the opportunity to do the same with Murray. 

The former No. 1 overall pick may be far removed from his sensational 2020 season (3,971 passing yards, 26 passing TDs; 819 rushing yards, 11 TDs), but Murray is 29 years old and not yet out of his prime. The Cardinals parted ways with him this offseason — deciding to go a new direction at QB. But that doesn’t mean Murray can’t resurface with a little help from O’Connell. 

As soon as Murray stepped into the offense, running back Aaron Jones admitted Murray’s skills were different. Unique. Special.

“The way he’s able to speed up his arm and make throws,” Jones told me last week. “If he sees something and he wants to get it there, you can see him, in real time, speed up his arm. I don’t know if that’s the baseball a little bit or what it is, but you can see him speed it up and get it there. … I haven’t seen that often, where it comes out and it’s coming with zip, but somebody who can speed up their arm. So that was kind of new for me to see.”

This season will be new for everyone. 

For Murray. For O’Connell. For the entire Vikings offense.

The whole experiment with Murray is that the Vikings will do what the Cardinals could not.

Minnesota will make football easy for Murray. 

In Arizona, the QB labored to win games. He made sensational plays — but not often enough. Too regularly, he made game-wrecking mistakes. He injured himself doing everything for his offense. And it seemed like Murray finished his career with the Cardinals feeling that he had to do it all by himself.

That’s not the case for the Vikings.

Here’s what passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown said about what he wants from his starting quarterback.

“Don’t feel like you have to put your Superman cape on and win this specific down for us. You’re not going to win one game with one throw,” he told me, adding later, “Kevin’s an unbelievable play-caller, and so I tell these guys all the time: you got really great play-makers around you. You got a really great play-caller and good scheme, and so just play the law of averages. If it’s not there, the next one might be. If that one’s not there, the next one might be. Just play to that — and protect the football.”

Vikings name Kyler Murray starting QB. Is this the right decision? | The Herd

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Under O’Connell, the Vikings have never had a quarterback who is as mobile as Murray. That’s what he brings to the table that’ll require O’Connell to think differently about his system. Murray, however, hasn’t had to take a step back. To remove the ego from the equation. And let his system, his coaches and his teammates take over.

But there are millions of reasons why Murray, a former No. 1 overall pick, sees now as his chance to humble himself.

He’s standing on a razor-thin edge at this phase of his career. He has to succeed — or risk irrelevance. If he’s looking for an example, he needs only look at teammate Carson Wentz, who was once the King of Philly – and who is now one of the backups for Minnesota. 

“I was with a team [the Eagles] for so long that I thought it was going forever,” Wentz, a former No. 2 overall pick, told me. “And then I got kind of shipped out, so to speak, kind of like he was in a little bit. Just starting over. If anybody knows how that goes, I know what he’s been through. … I feel like I understand him. We’re very different people with different interests off the field and all that. But it’s been fun, just the little time we’ve had so far working together, get to know him, the quiet competitor that he is; I think he’s done a good job.”

This is the chance for Murray and O’Connell to get their grooves back.

Their desperation and talent make them a hard duo to bet against.

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New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan’s hamstring injury could linger into the regular season, coach Kellen Moore said Tuesday.

“We’ll take time and kind of evaluate where Cam’s at and see how it looks here through training camp,” Moore added.

Jordan’s injury occurred Thursday, before he traveled to Canton, Ohio, to attend former teammate Drew Brees’ Pro Football Hall of Fame induction over the weekend.

The 37-year-old Jordan has been remarkably durable since the Saints made him a first-round draft choice in 2011. Jordan has missed just two of 245 career regular-season games.

He entered this past offseason as a free agent before agreeing to a one-year contract with the hope of remaining in New Orleans for his entire career.

While Jordan has said this season could be his last, he would not rule out playing in 2027 if he felt good physically, believed he could be effective and a team wanted him.

Moore said the Saints training staff intended to “have some patience” with Jordan’s injury, “let it take its course, and we’ll collect more and more information as we go.”

While Jordan started all 17 games last season and led the team in sacks with 10 1/2, he played little more than half of New Orleans’ defensive snaps, down considerably from the bulk of his career, when his snap count ranged from 70% in 2023 to as high as 93% in 2014 and 2017.

New Orleans has several players vying for playing time on the edge this season, including Chase Young, Carl Granderson, Anfernee Jennings, Tyree Wilson and Fadil Diggs.

“We certainly feel good about our depth at that position,” Moore said. “We’ve got some really talented players on the edge and view that as a strength of our football team. We’re going to need multiple guys to play throughout the season no matter what.”

NOTES: The Saints lost an additional defensive lineman during practice when veteran tackle Davon Godchaux rolled an ankle. Moore said he was awaiting details on the severity of that injury.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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The NFL now does Christmas, and it does it big. 

Let’s check out the odds for the Christmas slate of games at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 11. 

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

DEC. 24 — CHRISTMAS EVE

Texans @ Eagles

Spread: Eagles -2.5
Moneyline: Eagles -135, Texans +114
O/U: 37.5

The Philadelphia Eagles are 2.5 point favorites against the Houston Texans on Christmas Eve (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images).

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What to know: Two teams that had high hopes coming into the playoffs last season, but fell apart at the seams come the postseason. The 2024 Super Bowl-champion Eagles fell to San Francisco at home in the wild card, and Houston lost at New England in the divisional round, behind four interceptions from C.J. Stroud. For Philadelphia, big changes on the offensive side of the ball have occurred since then. After firing Kevin Patullo, the Eagles brought in Sean Mannion as their new offensive coordinator as the former NFL QB looks to transform an offense that ranked 24th in yards per game a season ago. Philly also parted ways with A.J. Brown. To replace the three-time All-Pro wideout, the Eagles drafted Makai Lemon in the first round while also bringing in Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown. Meanwhile, Houston brings back a loaded defense that ranked first in the NFL last season. But ultimately, its long-term success will be on the shoulders of Stroud once again. 

DEC. 25 — CHRISTMAS DAY

Packers @ Bears

Spread: Bears -1.5
Moneyline: Bears -118, Packers -102
O/U: 47.5

The Chicago Bears are 1.5 point favorites against the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day (Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images).

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What to know: An epic Christmas Day slate begins with an old-fashioned, NFC North slobberknocker. The two teams split their regular-season matchups last season, before the Bears beat the Packers in the wild-card round 31-27, despite trailing 21-3 at halftime. It will be Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams’ second season together, after winning the division in their first. This historic rivalry has been fully restored, as all three matchups came down to the wire last season. Across those three games, Chicago outscored Green Bay by just three points. With both teams likely fighting for the division title and a playoff spot, this late-season showdown in the cold at Soldier Field should have major implications.

Bills @ Broncos

Spread: Bills -1.5
Moneyline: Bills -130, Broncos +110
O/U: 46.5

The Buffalo Bills are 1.5 point favorites over the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day (Perry Knotts/Getty Images).

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What to know: A rematch of their AFC divisional-round clash from last season, where the Broncos eked out a 33-30 overtime win. That was the game in which Bo Nix suffered a season-ending injury, which many believe cost the Broncos a trip to the Super Bowl. In their playoff game last season, Josh Allen had four turnovers in the hostile Denver environment last January. Denver added wide receiver Jaylen Waddle this offseason, while the Bills added D.J. Moore to their receiving corps. Buffalo also hired former offensive coordinator Joe Brady to replace Sean McDermott as its head coach. This game will also presumably have massive playoff implications. 

Rams @ Seahawks

Spread: Seahawks -1.5
Moneyline: Seahawks -130, Rams +110
O/U: 47.5

The Seattle Seahawks are 1.5 point favorites over the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day (Steph Chambers/Getty Images).

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What to know: Does it get any better than this? The Rams and Seahawks cap off an unbelievable slate of Christmas Day games with the third playoff rematch of the day, this one serving as the headliner on FOX. Arguably the two best teams in the NFL reside in the NFC West. Last year, they played twice in the regular season, with the Rams winning 21-19 in L.A. and the Seahawks winning 38-37 (OT) in Seattle. Then, in the NFC title game, Seattle pulled out a 31-27 victory, followed by a Super Bowl triumph over New England. Both games in Seattle were absolute thrillers last season and ranked among the best NFL games of the year. So, what will these two teams give us for an encore?The Rams enter the season as the +550 favorites to win it all. Seattle is fourth at +1100. After making two massive moves this offseason, Los Angeles is looking to flip the script on Seattle in 2026. The Rams made the biggest move of the offseason by acquiring reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. They also added two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to address a glaring weakness in their secondary from last season. Meanwhile, Seattle lost a lot, including Kenneth Walker III, Boye Mafe, Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen. Christmas games don’t get bigger than this.

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Colin Cowherd is ready to ask a question that some thought might have been unimaginable a year ago: Did the Dallas Cowboys actually win the Micah Parsons trade?

A day after the Cowboys extended four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to a three-year, $105.9 million deal, Cowherd thinks there’s momentum building toward the idea that Dallas won its trade with the Green Bay Packers. 

“People were freaking out about the Micah Parsons trade. I would make an argument by October or Thanksgiving, the Dallas Cowboys, it could be official, won the Micah Parsons deal,” Cowherd said on Tuesday’s edition of “The Herd.” “You got Quinnen Williams, a Pro Bowl defensive tackle. By the way, when they traded Micah, initially, the Cowboys got worse. That gave them a better draft pick. That draft pick became Caleb Downs, who, to me, is the steal of the draft. I think there’s an argument he could be the best player in the draft.

“You don’t get that if the Cowboys had two or three more wins [last season]. … We overvalue non-quarterback stars in this league.”

Quinnen Williams signs three-year extension; did the Cowboys win the Micah Parsons trade?

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The Cowboys acquired the star defensive tackle in a trade with the New York Jets ahead of the trade deadline last season, using some of the draft capital they got in the deal with the Packers for Parsons. Dallas received defensive tackle and three-time Pro Bowler Kenny Clark and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 from Green Bay for Parsons. Then, they traded a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to the Jets for Williams. 

As for the 2026 first-round pick the Cowboys received from the Packers, the Cowboys selected UCF Knights linebacker Malachi Lawrence with the No. 23 pick after a trade-back. Earlier in the draft, they traded up one spot to select Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs with the No. 11 pick.

The Packers, meanwhile, saw Parsons have an encouraging debut season with the franchise, logging 12.5 sacks, earning his third career All-Pro honor and finishing third among edge defenders in overall grade (91.9), according to Pro Football Focus. However, Parsons’ 2025 campaign ended after 14 games due to a torn ACL, which is expected to keep him off the field for at least the first month of the 2026 season.

With Parsons sidelined, the Packers lost their last five combined games of the season (regular season and postseason), ending with an NFC wild-card round loss to the Chicago Bears. The two teams actually faced off in Week 4 of last season, playing to a 40-40 tie. 

Granted, the Cowboys went on to miss the playoffs for a second consecutive season, and their defense finished last in points allowed. However, with the reinforcements Dallas has received thanks to the Parsons trade, Cowherd thinks the Cowboys are on the rise. 

“I look at the Cowboys’ roster, between Caleb Downs, Quinnen Williams and the roster flexibility, this is the best team they’ve had, in terms of overall talent, arguably in a decade,” Cowherd later said. “The Cowboys are in a good spot.”

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Baltimore Ravens cornerback and 2024 first-round draft pick Nate Wiggins was carted off the field roughly an hour into Tuesday’s practice after suffering a left leg injury.

Wiggins tangled with rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane during one-on-one drills and fell to the turf. He appeared unable to put weight on the leg as he entered the team facility.

Asked about the potential seriousness of the injury, first-year head coach Jesse Minter said Wiggins was still being evaluated.

“Not a whole lot,” Minter responded. “I think there’s optimism, but again, we’ll look at it, we’ll see where it’s at. It’s one of those plays, really not much between the two guys in the play. So whether it was hitting the ground or whatever it was, we’ll see what it looks like.”

Nate Wiggins started in all 17 games for the Ravens in his second season as a pro. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

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Wiggins’ injury comes two practices after two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers left Friday’s session with a thigh bruise. Flowers returned to limited action Tuesday after missing Sunday’s practice.

Wiggins started all 17 games and had three interceptions in his second season in 2025 after the Ravens selected him 30th overall in the 2024 draft out of Clemson.

He comes into the season as the starter on the left side and perhaps the team’s top cornerback, even in front of four-time Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey, who has transitioned into a slightly different role.

The Ravens made minimal upgrades at the position this offseason despite finishing 2025 tying for the NFL’s second-worst pass defense.

“I got a lot of confidence in the corner room,” Minter said. “I look at Marlon probably at his best couple days the last couple times out here. (Chidobie Awuzie), I mean, this guy’s played a ton of football, played at a really high level. I think he’s had a great camp up to this point. T.J. Tampa has done a lot of great things. Keyon Martin has done a lot of good stuff. Chandler (Rivers) has done a lot of great stuff.”

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Minter also confirmed that quarterback Lamar Jackson and other regulars won’t play during Saturday night’s home preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, but insisted there’s still value in preseason games.

“Every year that I’ve been associated with the NFL, there’s a guy in the first preseason game that you might not have real high expectations for, and then they go out in the game and play at a different level than maybe they practiced,” Minter said. “And so that’s what you want to see. You want to see guys take advantage of the opportunity, make plays.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant has undergone knee surgery following a recent training camp injury, significantly shifting his recovery timeline. 

Bryant is now expected to miss four to six months while recovering from the procedure, according to ESPN. Chicago remains hopeful that the veteran defensive back could return in time for a potential postseason run.

The updated timeline comes after initial reports suggested Bryant would avoid surgery. The safety sustained a hyperextended knee, a bone bruise and a small fracture during a one-on-one drill against tight end Cole Kmet during practice on Aug. 3.

Bryant was originally projected for a recovery period of eight to 10 weeks, which would have allowed Bryant to return during the regular season. However, the decision to proceed with surgery extended his recovery window.

Chicago acquired Bryant during the offseason on a three-year, $40 million contract after winning the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.

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Bryant’s extended absence creates additional depth concerns for Chicago’s secondary. Backup safety Cam Lewis, who stepped into first-team reps following Bryant’s initial injury, was reportedly carted off the field on Aug. 8 after suffering a right ankle or foot injury during training camp drills.

With Bryant sidelined and Lewis facing health uncertainty, the Bears will rely more heavily on rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, whom Chicago selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

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NASCAR is heading to Richmond for the Cook Out 400 on Saturday, Aug. 15, and the stakes are incredibly high for drivers still trying to make the cut for The Chase.

Only four drivers have secured their positions in the postseason — Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick.

Which driver takes the checkered flag at Richmond Raceway and gets closer to locking himself into The Chase?

Here are the early odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 11.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 2026

Denny Hamlin: +475 (bet $10 to win $57.50 total)
Christopher Bell: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)
Joey Logano: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
Ryan Blaney: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Kyle Larson: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
Ty Gibbs: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Tyler Reddick: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Austin Dillon: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
William Byron: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Bubba Wallace: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Chase Briscoe: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Chase Elliott: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Chris Buescher: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Ross Chastain: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Carson Hocevar: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Josh Berry: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)
Brad Keselowski: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)
Austin Cindric: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)

Ryan Preece: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Shane van Gisbergen: +7000 (bet $10 to win $710 total)
Alex Bowman: +7000 (bet $10 to win $710 total)
Daniel Suárez: +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)
Connor Zilisch: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Michael McDowell: +11000 (bet $10 to win $1,110 total)
Zane Smith: +13000 (bet $10 to win $1,310 total)
John Hunter Nemechek: +13000 (bet $10 to win $1,310 total)
Erik Jones: +13000 (bet $10 to win $1,310 total)
Todd Gilliland: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
AJ Allmendinger: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Riley Herbst: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Austin Hill: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Noah Gragson: +35000 (bet $10 to win $3,510 total)
Cole Custer: +35000 (bet $10 to win $3,510 total)
Ty Dillon: +40000 (bet $10 to win $4,010 total)
Josh Bilicki: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Cody Ware: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)

The Favorite

It wouldn’t be an early oddsboard if Denny Hamlin wasn’t at the very top. On the way to clinching his spot in The Chase, Hamlin has won four races, has 13 top fives and 15 top 10s. He’s coming into this weekend after running into brake trouble at Iowa. However, he was still able to pull off a fifth-place finish. At this race last season, he started fourth but finished 10th.

Bell The Bridesmaid

As unbelievable as it sounds, Christopher Bell has finished second in seven races this NASCAR season, including four in the last five races and six of the last 11. And even though he doesn’t have a win yet this year, Bob Pockrass placed him at the very top of his latest power rankings. Bell currently sits sixth in the standings and is close to clinching his spot in The Chase. In this race last season, he started eighth and finished 21st.

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Puka Nacua wasn’t able to participate for the entirety of the Los Angeles Rams’ joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, and it’s unclear why. 

The Rams’ star wide receiver left Tuesday’s practice with the team’s training staff. After practice ended, Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters he didn’t know the specific reason for Nacua’s early departure. The Rams’ public relations team also told our Eric D. Williams that the team didn’t have an update on Nacua.

Los Angeles was also without star edge rusher Myles Garrett for Tuesday’s joint practice with Dallas. Garrett has missed multiple practices over the last week, with McVay revealing on Tuesday that the two-time Defensive Player of the Year is dealing with knee swelling. However, Garrett is at “85%,” according to McVay. 

Kyren Williams on Aaron Donald’s possible return, Rams SBLXI favorites, Myles Garrett as teammate

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As for Nacua, he’s dealt with multiple injuries over the last couple of seasons. He missed a game in 2025 due to an ankle injury after missing six contests in 2024 due to a PCL injury. 

Nacua, 25, is entering a contract year as he potentially is set to become one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. He led the league in receptions last year with 129, while finishing in second in receiving yards (1,715). He also had 11 total touchdowns. 

But as the Rams enter the year as the Super Bowl favorite, they might be without Nacua for a bit of the 2026 campaign. Nacua could be suspended for his off-field conduct, ESPN reported Tuesday. Nacua was listed as the defendant in a lawsuit earlier this offseason for allegedly biting a woman in the shoulder and making antisemitic remarks. 

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According to Colin Cowherd, the Hall of Fame Game between the Cardinals and Panthers was “fantastic” and had some of the best rookie quarterback play he’s ever seen in that game. 

But according to bettors who backed the Cardinals to cover the 1.5 — well, they probably would’ve preferred a different overall outcome.

With all this in mind, preseason is officially underway. 

And with one exhibition game in the books, it’s time to look at how head coaches fare against the spread (ATS) during the action before the real action kicks off in September. 

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

BEST ACTIVE COACHES ATS
NFL Preseason

John Harbaugh: 41-22-1
Robert Saleh: 10-3
Sean Payton: 34-29-1
Sean McVay: 15-12
Jim Harbaugh: 13-10

WORST ACTIVE COACHES ATS
NFL Preseason

Dan Campbell: 6-9-1 
Zac Taylor: 8-11 
Dave Canales: 0-6 
Andy Reid: 36-43-1 
Dan Quinn: 6-21 

While the results might not matter much in the record books, bettors value knowing which coaches to back during preseason.

And John Harbaugh is money in this market. 

Will John Harbaugh add to his winning record against the spread in preseason Week 1? (Getty Images)

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At 41-22-1 — and all during his tenure as Baltimore’s head coach — Harbaugh has the best record against the spread as an NFL head coach in the preseason. 

Robert Saleh — Tennessee’s new head coach — is another name that might interest bettors. During his time with the Jets, he notched a 10-3 record ATS, which puts him at No. 2 on the list. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Kansas City’s Andy Reid. 

At 36-43-1, he has one of the worst records ATS for an NFL head coach during the preseason. 

Of course, when it comes to winning when it counts, he’s got that covered. As the Chiefs’ head coach, he’s got three Super Bowl rings (and another ring as an assistant). 

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Can the Lions top the division and return to the postseason after missing out last year? FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd thinks so. 

On Tuesday’s edition of The Herd, Cowherd predicted his top two teams for each division heading into the 2026 NFL season and he offered a bold perspective for the NFC North.

“In the NFC North … Lions, Bears is how I see it.” Cowherd said.

“Lions have the best roster. They upgraded at OC,” Cowherd said, referring to the recently hired former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as the new offensive coordinator in Detroit.

Cowherd also pointed to their previous campaign as proof of their ceiling under tough circumstances. 

“They won nine last year with a brutal schedule and a truckload of injuries.” With high expectations for their postseason trajectory, Cowherd stated, “I think Detroit could win the Super Bowl.”

The overall talent level on the Lions stood out to Cowherd across every major position group on the field. “Their skill positions: Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta—they are stacked.” 

He also praised the front office for maintaining strong investments along the offensive line to protect Jared Goff. Not only did Sewell receive a long-term extension two offseasons ago, but now they also added another tackle after drafting Clemson’s Blake Miller with the No. 17 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

“Penei Sewell is one of the best tackles in football. They addressed the other tackle during the draft,” Cowherd said, referring to 2026 first-round pick Blake Miller. “You know I love Goff. I think this roster is top three in the NFL. I’m going to take them to win the division.”

Cowherd wasn’t done there, as he also expects the Chicago Bears to remain competitive after making the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Not only did they make the playoffs, but they won a playoff game for the first time since 2010.

“The Bears’ first year with Ben Johnson, creating a culture and cleaning up a mess, made the playoffs,” Cowherd said. 

Cowherd sees steady growth coming for quarterback Caleb Williams alongside a talented surrounding offensive unit full of playmakers. After trading D.J. Moore to the Buffalo Bills, the Bears head into this season with pass catchers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III alongside tight end Colston Loveland.

“I think Caleb Williams will be more accurate,” Cowherd said. “He’s a young kid. He’s getting better, and I love their tight end, receiver, running back group.” Reflecting on Chicago’s foundation, Cowherd concluded, “Don’t like it, [I] love it.”

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