12 non-QBs under the most pressure for the 2024 NFL season: Cowboys, Jets, Steelers facing big questions

Every NFL season, all 32 teams are under some level of pressure. For contenders like the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, it’s basically Super Bowl or bust. For rebuilding clubs like the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders, even slight steps forward might be considered big wins.

But what about specific people? Think coaches, players, and others in between. Quarterbacks tend to draw the most attention, but here’s a look at 12 other key names who figure to be heavily scrutinized and/or burdened with high standards in 2024:

Baltimore boasted an elite defense in 2023 en route to its AFC title-game appearance, but Mike Macdonald is gone, leaving Orr to maintain a championship-level pace in his first gig as a defensive coordinator. Just 32 after only three years of experience as a position coach, the former Ravens linebacker is highly regarded but has plenty to prove as an entire unit’s play-caller.

New York also has Kayvon Thibodeaux to help the pass rush, but Burns got a lucrative commitment after arriving via trade; specifically, his $28.2 million-per-year average ranks third among all edge rushers, behind only Nick Bosa and Josh Allen, even though he’s had double-digit sacks in just one of four NFL seasons. With Brian Daboll’s offense still a work in progress, he could be critical to their trajectory.

10. Browns HC Kevin Stefanski

The two-time NFL Coach of the Year has done a relatively solid job over four seasons, especially considering Deshaun Watson’s lack of availability and/or reliability. But Watson cannot be fully detached from Stefanski, either; entering Year 3 of their polarizing partnership, it feels like now or never for the Browns coach to squeeze something worthwhile out of the oft-injured quarterback.

9. Broncos HC Sean Payton

There’s a difference between being under pressure and having little job security. Payton appears to have plenty of the latter,…


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Author : Cody Benjamin

Publish date : 2024-06-24 12:23:02

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