Chilo Rachal was once a 2^nd round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2008, but he has largely been a disappointment so far in his career. Rachal was once a starter in San Francisco, but lost his starting job due to poor play. Lack of work ethic and discipline were large contributing factors to his struggles. However, as a free agent this offseason, the Bears took a flier on him, needing major help on their offensive line.

Rachal seems to have responded, slimming down to 310 and putting himself in a competition for a starting job. Chris Spencer is currently the starting left guard, but he’s hardly an established starter moving over from center. Rachal could easily beat him out with Chris Williams moving over to left tackle to compete with J’Marcus Webb. Rachal could also beat out the disappointing Lance Louis at right guard. Roberto Garza will start at center and a hopefully healthy Gabe Carimi will start at right tackle in his 2^nd NFL season after going 29^th overall in 2011. Edwin Williams will probably be their 8th offensive lineman. He could compete at both guard spots, as well as center.

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The Seahawks are having a 3 way competition for quarterback between mediocre incumbent starter Tarvaris Jackson, free agent acquisition Matt Flynn, and 3^rd round rookie Russell Wilson. Flynn is currently the leader in the clubhouse thanks to his strong play in camp and the 10 million guaranteed he got this offseason. Wilson has also gotten a lot of praise from the coaching staff and the front office, who were both very high on him in the draft. All this has led to speculation that Jackson and his 4 million dollar salary could be cut.

ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard doesn’t second this sentiment, but suggests that Jackson could be asked to take a pay cut or else. This would allow the Seahawks to keep Jackson as a veteran backup and not force a rookie into action if there were any injury. In this scenario, if Jackson doesn’t agree, he’ll be cut. It doesn’t sound like the Seahawks want to pay Jackson 4 million dollars unless he somehow wins the starting job, but that seems pretty unlikely even though the three are still splitting 1^st team reps evenly.

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Chris Clemons has been noticeably absent from Seahawks’ OTAs and according to ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard, this is an “abundantly clear” sign that Clemons is seeking a new contract and could hold out into mandatory minicamps. Clemons is owed 4.5 million in the final year of his contract, which makes him highly underpaid.

Clemons has surprisingly emerged as one of the better defensive ends in the league over the last 2 years under Pete Carroll, combining for 24 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, and 97 quarterback pressures.However, the Seahawks won’t want to pay him for what he’s already done as he turns 31 in October so he might not get the big contract he’s seeking. The Seahawks also used a 1^st round pick on a defensive end, Bruce Irvin, in the 2012 NFL Draft with the intention of possibly having him take over in Clemons’ role long term.

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According to the Union-Tribune San Diego, the Chargers have “no immediate plans” to add another running back. The Chargers lost backup Mike Tolbert in free agency this offseason and did not add another veteran back to replace him. Right now they just have Curtis Brinkley and his 32 career carries, 7^th round rookie Edwin Baker, and fullback Le’Ron McClain behind lead back Ryan Mathews.

Norv Turner has talked Ryan Mathews up as a feature back extensively this offseason. Turner’s offenses typically feature 300 carry type feature backs and in his 3^rd year after going 12^th overall in 2010, it appears Mathews has Turner’s trust to be that type of back. Mathews has a career 4.7 YPC and Chargers’ running backs caught 104 passes and scored 16 times last year on a down year for the San Diego offense so there’s definite fantasy upside with Mathews, who Turner thinks can lead the league in rushing.

The report did leave the door open for the Chargers to add another running back closer to Training Camp by saying they have no “immediate plans,”  but any running back they sign will likely be a pure backup to Mathews. Any running back signing would be a vote of no confidence on Brinkley, Baker, and McClain as pure backups rather than a vote of no confidence on Mathews as a feature back, who seems to have all the confidence of the coaching staff. Mathews is currently my #3 fantasy back behind Arian Foster and LeSean McCoy.

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Sam Baker is a former 1^st round pick, but lost his starting job last season to Will Svitek, who didn’t play well. The Falcons have put him back as the 1^st string left tackle for now, saying that his struggles last year were the result of a back injury. However, Baker has been a disappointment throughout his career and the Falcons used a 3^rd round pick on a tackle in Lamar Holmes. All 3 of Holmes, Baker, and Svitek likely remain in the running to start at left tackle.

Left tackle might be the Achilles heel of the entire Falcons’ team, at the very least of the offensive line. Justin Blalock returns at one guard spot and talented 2^nd round rookie Peter Konz will play the other. Right tackle Tyson Clabo remains one of the best at his position. At center, the young Joe Hawley will compete with veteran Todd McClure. Hawley could also play guard and move Konz to center.

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Randy Moss was out of the league last year and the year before bounced around 3 teams, catching 28 balls for 393 yards and 5 touchdowns and barely playing down the stretch with the Tennessee Titans. However, the 49ers took a flier on him, needing a deep threat, hoping the now 35 year old Moss had something left in the tank. According to teammate Vernon Davis, Moss looks like the Moss of old, though it’s necessary to take Davis’ “report” with a grain of salt.

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It was reported earlier this month that Donald Driver would restructure with the Packers after he was done on Dancing with the Stars and that report turned out to be accurate. A week after winning Dancing with the Stars, Driver restructured with the Packers on a 1 year, 2.5 million dollar deal to return for his 15^th NFL season, all with the Packers.

The new deal is down from 4.3 million, so it’s a sizeable paycut. 500,000 of it was paid up front, a sign that the Packers do intend to keep him on their 53 man roster, despite the fact that he’s 37. Unless he really struggles in Training Camp, he’ll be on the roster this season as a 4^th or 5^th wide receiver. He’s definitely behind Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, and James Jones at this point and might get beaten out by 2011 2^nd round pick Randall Cobb.

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When the Redskins signed Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan this offseason, it looked like it could be the end for Santana Moss in Washington. Moss, 33, had clearly seen better days and the Redskins had 2 receivers coming in as free agents, as well as a promising young receiver in Leonard Hankerson. The Redskins instead cut Jabar Gaffney, which gave Moss some more roster security.

However, Moss is doing more than just making the roster so far in OTAs. He is currently impressing a lot. Mike Shanahan praised him and his conditioning, while Redskins beat writer Rich Campbell of the Washington Times said he looked like “the Santana Moss of old.” With Leonard Hankerson and Josh Morgan still not 100% because of injuries, Moss has a good chance to not just stay on the roster, but start opposite Garcon. It’ll be a battle to watch in Training Camp.

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Ryan Broyles is the FBS’ all-time leading receiver, but he fell in the draft because he was undersized and because he tore his ACL late last season. The Lions obviously saw he was far enough along in his recovery at his Pro Day, where he ran a 40 in the 4.60 range, that they used their 2^nd round pick on him even though they had no clear need for a wide receiver.

Broyles has been doing some limited positional drills at OTAs and according to a report from CBS Sports, the Lions believe that Broyles could be cleared to practice full time by Training Camp. According to the same source, the Lions are “expecting a contribution from him this year.” It sounds like there’s a good chance he’ll be out there week 1 and if he is, it’s only a matter of time before he leaps veteran Nate Burleson on the depth chart.

The Lions selected Broyles with the intention of having 3 talented, young receivers going into the future with Broyles, Titus Young, and Calvin Johnson. With Matt Stafford throwing to them, that would make for a very explosive passing offense year in and year out. Burleson, meanwhile, likely won’t be kept into 2013, when he’ll be owed 4.5 million at age 32.

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In preparation for his 2^nd NFL season, the Browns’ Greg Little has slimmed down about 11 pounds, getting him to around 6-2 210. Little is reporting turning many heads at Browns’ OTAs. Immensely talented, but raw as a rookie, Little is the undisputed #1 receiver on an offense that should be better this season. The 2011 2^nd round pick is a popular breakout pick and has a lot of upside in fantasy football.

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