5 NFC Headlines To Watch Heading Into NFL Training Camp

NFL Training Camp is finally here, which means the preseason and Week 1 are right around the corner. With that, there are still a ton of storylines that we are following heading into the season. These are the top 5 NFC storylines that we need to pay attention to heading into Training Camp.

1.DEEBO SAMUEL’S TRADE REQUEST

Niners fans can now take a collective breath, as Deebo Samuel has managed to make his way to 2022 Training Camp. However, just as he did with Minicamp, Samuel may stage a hold-in, where he refuses to participate in any of the on-field practice sessions and only attends mandatory meetings. Samuel has been very vocal about his usage in the 49ers offense, more specifically out of the backfield, and the wear that it takes on his body. And if the Niners aren’t going to compensate Samuel for that right now, he wants to be traded to a team that will. And judging by how much offense Samuel accounted for in the Niners run/pass game, GM John Lynch might want to get his star receiver paid and back to practice if they want to get new QB1 Trey Lance started on the right foot.

2.DK METCALF’S CONTRACT EXTENSION

This story is less a major headline than the others, in the sense that DK has yet to verbally request an extension from the Seahawks. Yes he did skip Minicamp, but he was also rehabbing a foot injury. It’s been reported that the Seahawks are in contract talks with Metcalf, but he hasn’t openly threatened to sit out if a contract extension isn’t completed. And players have attempted to recruit DK, but he’s gone on record may times stating that he has no intention on leaving Seattle. What makes Metcalf’s situation intriguing is his agent, Tory Dandy; the same agent for former teammate and recently paid AJ Brown, as well as Deebo Samuel. If Deebo gets his deal done like he’s requesting, believe that Metcalf is going to want to get that bag sooner than later.

3.DANIEL JONES PROVE IT YEAR

Danny Dimes, Mr. 21.23 mph, Mr. Faster than a QB who could win MVP 12 times and still not be considered a real QB. What more could be said about Daniel Jones? Other than the fact that the Giants refused to pick up his 5th year option. There’s no secret that Jones has underwhelmed to this point, but is it really all Jones fault? The offense of the Giants never seemed to manifest, Saquan Barkley hasn’t been himself since his rookie year, and coaching has never been the teams strong point. Maybe this is the year that we see some, any kind of growth in QB1, maybe with the hiring of Brian Daboll. Whether or not Jones is at fault, 2022 better be a breakout year for the team, or the Miami Dolphins won’t be the only team in the market for a new QB in the 2023 draft.

4.WHAT’S NEXT FOR JIMMY G?

The two QBs who seemed to upset their teams enough to cause them to choose to move on from them were Jimmy G and Baker Mayfield. One of the two has already moved on, as Baker will be competing for the starting QB job in Charlotte, NC against Sam Darnold. Jimmy G is still on the trading block though, and it looks like his options are running very low, sans the Niners deciding to trade him to division rival Seattle. But even that seems unlikely, as Pete Carroll has repeatedly stood by Drew Lock as their 2022 starter. It seems the best that Jimmy can do is hope that a QB goes down sometime soon, like in training camp or in a preseason game. Or he can just suck it up and make $24.2 million while riding the bench behind Trey Lance.

5.BAKER MAYFIELD VS. SAM DARNOLD

The Battle of the First Rounders. The 2018 first overall pick vs the 2018 third overall pick. Two QBs who were abandoned by their drafting organizations, competing for relevancy, and maybe even a future in the NFL. You can call this whatever you want to, but what this really is is the last time we will see Sam Darnold starting for an NFL team. Baker Mayfield is going to win the starting the job. It may not be week 1, it may not be week 3, but trust that Baker Mayfield will get the start sometime in 2022, and for the remainder of the season. Baker is a serviceable QB, more than serviceable, above average, and has managed to take a flailing franchise to the playoffs for the first time in close to two decades, and then winning said playoff game. Darnold has done absolutely NOTHING after having been drafted, outside of “seeing ghosts”. This here is less a competition, and more a waiting game. I’m actually on my way to the casino to place may odds on Bakers starting week in 2022 as we speak.

What say you? Which NFC storylines are you most looking forward to following. Let us know in the comment section below!