OTAs happening means that everyone’s favorite time of year is getting awfully close. It’s the unofficial start of football season — the first chance to see who’s healthy, who’s sharp, and which storylines are worth tracking as we inch toward training camp.

This time of year always feels a bit like football cosplay: helmets on, but no real hitting. Still, these Organized Team Activities matter more than you think. They’re the NFL’s version of first impressions — who’s in shape, who’s still learning the playbook, and who’s about to make some real noise come camp.

And already, we’ve got drama: QB competitions heating up, rookies stealing the show, and some big-name veterans deciding they’ve got better things to do than show up for "voluntary" practice.

Dawg Fight Under Center: Browns Turn Four QBs Loose

Kevin Stefanski says he’s not running a quarterback circus, but Browns camp might be the closest thing to it right now. Cleveland has four quarterbacks in the mix — Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders — and they’re using a "two-spot" system in OTAs to keep everyone involved. Basically, they’re running two offenses at once, which means more reps and more chances to evaluate everyone without waiting for preseason games to start.

Right now, it’s Flacco and Pickett battling it out for the starting job. Both have been rotating first-team reps and are considered the front-runners. Then there are the rookies, Gabriel and Sanders, who aren’t pushing for the starting job yet but are quietly in a competition of their own that could end with one of them leapfrogging a veteran for the backup spot. Here’s where things stand with each quarterback:

• Joe Flacco: Flacco has looked exactly how you’d expect a seasoned veteran with a deep knowledge of the system to look — sharp, poised, and in full control, but with a clear ceiling. He’s alternating first-team reps with Pickett and continues to show off his trademark velocity on intermediate throws. One charted session had him going 9-for-14 with a touchdown and no picks, though OTA stats don't carry much weight at all. More importantly, the ball placement and timing have been consistent. He’s also reportedly earned praise behind the scenes for helping younger players with installs and reads, something he was criticized for in Baltimore. If camp ended today, Flacco might have the slight edge just from how reliable he looks day to day.

• Kenny Pickett: Pickett hasn’t been bad, but he hasn’t separated either. He started OTAs with the ones and has shared those reps with Flacco, but the coaching staff hasn’t seen enough yet to call this his job. There’s been progress in terms of decision-making and comfort within the offense, but the consistency isn’t quite there. And while he has starting experience, the fact that Flacco has a deeper handle on the offense from that playoff push a few years back, might put Pickett on notice. If things don’t click soon, there’s growing buzz that Pickett could be trade bait before Week 1 — especially if the team decides it wants to keep a rookie as the primary backup.

• Dillon Gabriel: Gabriel is currently holding onto his spot ahead of Sanders on the depth chart and has looked solid in team drills. In one session, he completed 11 of 16 with two touchdowns and one pick. He’s showing why the Browns used a third-round pick on him — quick decision-making, a compact delivery, and solid command of the timing routes. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees mentioned that Gabriel is getting more comfortable with each rep and is handling the operational side of things well.

• Shedeur Sanders: Sanders has had some really nice moments during OTA sessions. He hasn’t worked with the first team yet, but he’s making plays when he gets his chance. Rees really praised his preparation, especially on the mental side — mastering the playbook, reading coverages, and staying composed in the huddle. He's still behind Gabriel in terms of reps and experience, but the raw ability is flashing. If he continues on this path, he could seriously challenge for the QB2 spot by the end of training camp.

The Horseshoe Hustle: Richardson’s Shoulder Opens Door for Daniel Jones

The Colts sent a clear message to their former fourth-overall pick this offseason. Anthony Richardson was supposed to build on flashes from his rookie year and be locked in as the franchise guy. When that didn't happen last season, the Colts brought in another quarterback with a whole lot more starting experience to challenge him for the job.

That didn't last long. Early in OTAs, Richardson aggravated the same AC joint in his throwing shoulder that's already caused him to miss games, and the team has already ruled him out for next week’s mandatory minicamp. Head coach Shane Steichen didn’t sound overly concerned, but he also didn’t offer a guarantee that Richardson would be ready for the start of training camp.

That opens the door for Daniel Jones, who signed a one-year, $14 million deal this offseason and came to town, despite higher offers elsewhere, because he was going to be given a shot to win the starting role. Thanks to Richardson’s injury, that path to the QB1 job just got significantly easier.

General manager Chris Ballard was honest earlier this offseason when he said Richardson hadn’t proven he could stay healthy. Between shoulder, hip, back spasms, and other dings, he’s already missed 17 games in just two years.

Jones, for all his faults in New York, does bring a level of stability. He’s a career 64% passer who can use his legs when needed and generally avoids big mistakes when kept clean. That might be enough to earn him the nod if Richardson isn’t full-go by late July.

Jacksonville’s Unicorn: Travis Hunter Steals the Show

Travis Hunter has already got fans buzzing like it’s midseason. After just a handful of OTA practices, Jaguars faithful were joking about ordering custom "Hunter Mania" T-shirts, and honestly, who could blame them? The rookie’s been flashing the same kind of jaw-dropping ability that earned him both the Biletnikoff and Bednarik Awards at Colorado. The biggest highlight so far was, undoubtedly, a one-handed, spinning interception that had social media going wild.

How the Jags Are Using Him

Hunter’s doing something few players even dream of — practicing on both sides of the ball. During rookie minicamp, the Jaguars leaned into his offensive ability, lining him up at wideout to test his burst, footwork, and feel for route-running at the pro level.

But by the time full OTAs rolled around, they flipped the focus back to defense. Hunter’s been working as an outside corner and occasionally in the slot, showing off his elite ball-tracking and body control in coverage. At the same time, he’s still getting sprinkled into offensive sets — taking jet sweeps, lining up in motion, and running bubble screens.

The bigger picture here is that Jacksonville clearly sees Hunter as a true do-it-all weapon. They’re not rushing to label him strictly a corner or a receiver. With the team thin at corner behind Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams, the door is wide open for Hunter to make an early impact on defense. And if he can tilt the field with a pick or a forced incompletion once or twice a game, no one’s going to care how many targets he’s getting on offense.

Liam Coen and his staff seem committed to letting Hunter develop as both a playmaker and a positional chess piece. Whether it’s making Trevor Lawrence’s life easier with an explosive slot threat, or flipping the field with an athletic interception, Hunter looks like the kind of player who can do a little bit of everything — and do it well.

Music City’s New Maestro: Cam Ward Turning Heads in Tennessee

First overall picks are supposed to look the part. The pressure is higher, the spotlight’s hotter, and every throw in OTAs gets more scrutiny than it probably deserves. But if Cam Ward’s feeling any of that, he sure isn’t showing it.

Ward has looked comfortable and in control early on — like a guy who’s been leading huddles at this level for years. In Tuesday’s OTA, he went 11-of-17, including 8-of-10 in seven-on-seven drills. The numbers are solid, sure, but it’s the way he’s going about it that has people taking notice. He’s managing protections, calling out adjustments, keeping tempo up, and not locking onto his first read — even with Calvin Ridley running routes. That’s big. A lot of young quarterbacks try to force it to the big-name receiver; Ward’s been spreading it around while still building chemistry with his top guys.

Chemistry Class in Session

One of those connections is with Xavier Restrepo, an undrafted rookie wideout who played with Ward at Miami. Their old college rapport is translating to the league already. During one session, Ward found Restrepo on a layered throw between the flat defender and safety, and then later found him again or the score. They’ve been syncing up on crossers, short outs, and timing routes, and it’s clear that trust is already there.

Then there’s Ridley, the WR1 with over 1,000 yards last season, who’s been openly impressed. He said Ward “easy to vibe with,” and said he’s already asking the rookie for feedback after reps — something you don’t always see from a veteran with his resume.

Ridley also noted that Ward doesn’t get rattled and has a laid-back, calm presence that you want from your quarterback. Calm doesn’t mean passive, though. One Titans staffer described him as a “stone-cold killer” — and not just because of his game, but the way he leads. He’s got that steady pulse you want in a huddle.

Voluntary — But Kinda Not: Big Names Make Big Statement by Staying Home

The NFL’s OTA attendance always turns into a bit of a litmus test — who’s chasing a raise, who’s quietly making a statement, and who’s just skipping because they can. Sure, it’s all technically voluntary, but when big-name veterans skip out, people notice.

T.J. Watt, Steelers

T.J. Watt is entering the final year of his current contract, and even though he’s still producing like a top-tier pass rusher, he’s getting paid significantly less than guys like Nick Bosa and Myles Garrett. Watt’s sitting out OTAs this spring, opting instead to train on his own while negotiations — or at least tension — starts to simmer. Mike Tomlin isn’t raising any public alarms, but losing a guy with 17 sacks from the practice field is never a small thing. If this stretches into mandatory minicamp, it’s only going to get louder.

Terry McLaurin, Commanders

This one’s a bit more surprising. McLaurin’s known for being the ultimate professional — usually one of the first guys in the building and a constant in offseason workouts. But after a brief appearance early in OTAs, he’s been absent. Word is, he’s growing frustrated with how slowly long-term contract talks are moving. Second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels has said all the right things, but this isn’t ideal. McLaurin’s trying to get comfortable with a new wide receiver group, and doing that without on-field reps isn’t easy.

James Cook, Bills

James Cook is another young player looking to cash in. He’s coming off a Pro Bowl season and heading into the final year of his rookie deal, and he’s hoping to get paid like a top-tier running back. So far, no deal has materialized, and Cook hasn’t been around for OTAs. That’s given more first-team reps to Ray Davis and Ty Johnson, and offensive coordinator Joe Brady hasn’t made a big deal out of it publicly. But he also installed some new empty-back formations, which may be his way of quietly adjusting just in case Cook’s absence drags on.

Shemar Stewart, Bengals & Haason Reddick, Buccaneers

These two are in very different spots, but the outcome is the same: they’re not practicing. Stewart, a rookie defensive lineman, is at the Bengals’ facility but hasn’t taken the field yet while the team works through contract language. It’s a minor hang-up but still something that hasn't been hashed out yet. Not a great start for a player trying to make an early impression. As for Reddick, he’s a veteran who signed a one-year deal with Tampa this offseason and is reportedly sitting out OTAs because his contract doesn’t include incentives for attendance. After his debacle with the Jets last season, who knows what he's going to do. Neither situation feels like it’s about to boil over, but both are worth keeping an eye on as minicamps approach. These things have a way of dragging longer than expected if not handled right.

Mandatory minicamps start rolling next week, which means fines kick in and "voluntary" becomes "get here or pay up." After that, we hit the six‑week desert until training camp — plenty of time for beach workouts and anonymous sources stoking quarterback controversies.

For now, enjoy the seven‑on‑seven heroics and triple‑check every grainy sideline clip Twitter throws your way. Football is back — sort of — and the storylines are already in midseason form.