Each week during the regular season and occasionally during the offseason, our AFC North writers tackle the pressing questions and biggest storylines around the division. After a two-month hiatus, we’re back for a pre-training camp edition.

What area of your team do you feel better about since we last talked before the NFL Draft, and what area remains a concern?

Mike DeFabo (Pittsburgh Steelers): The Steelers continue to pour resources into the offensive line, drafting tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round and guard Gennings Dunker in the third round. It might take a little time for the rookies to see the field. But eventually (maybe sometime next year), a group full of youth and potential should be one of the better units in the NFL, even after 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones’ neck surgery that put his long-term future with the team in jeopardy.

On the flip side, the inside linebacker who stands next to Patrick Queen in the base defense is a question mark, and safety depth is a concern. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Steelers scouring the waiver wire on cutdown day to add to the secondary, preferably with a true free safety.

Jeff Zrebiec (Baltimore Ravens): You can question whether the Ravens should have done even more to upgrade an offensive line that struggled last year, but you can’t dispute that the group should be much improved. The selection of guard Vega Ioane in the first round and the recent signing of center Ethan Pocic, coupled with the early free-agent addition of guard John Simpson, likely completes the offensive line makeover. It was thorough. The Ravens added six offensive linemen between the draft and free agency. Plus, they hired coveted offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford. Pocic is not Tyler Linderbaum, but on paper, the Ravens are better at both guard spots, and Ledford has a strong reputation for developing linemen.

As for the concern, Baltimore still has a lot of questions with its defensive front seven. The Ravens’ interior defensive line, edge rusher and inside linebacker groups could be vulnerable if injuries hit.

Paul Dehner Jr. (Cincinnati Bengals): When we last talked, I was pointing out how absurd it would be to think Cincinnati would make a big swing, given its history and financial situation entering the draft. So, yeah, that has changed. The Bengals’ defensive line, generally, and pass rush, specifically, shifted from a debilitating weakness to a team strength this spring. Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen and second-round pick Cashius Howell all add to the mix. Give de facto general manager Duke Tobin and the front office credit; the Bengals’ defensive identity has been established.

As for what remains a concern, they didn’t add a single veteran player to the mix behind Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter at linebacker. Knight and Carter require a leap of faith to buy in. Positive development in that room is critical this August.

Zac Jackson (Cleveland Browns): The Browns have significantly upgraded their receiving corps with the additions of two rookies: first-rounder KC Concepcion and second-rounder Denzel Boston. Both will be immediate contributors, and Boston was arguably the most impressive player on the field in many spring practices.

Overall depth remains a concern, as does overall offensive competence. The Browns traded Myles Garrett because they’re playing more for 2027 and 2028 than the season ahead, and this is going to be one of the league’s youngest teams.

This question will probably be a lot easier to answer for Zac than the rest of us. What is your team’s most intriguing position battle/roster competition heading into training camp?

DeFabo: The Steelers have a quarterback competition, just not for the starting job. Aaron Rodgers will be QB1, and there’s no way they’d cut rookie Drew Allar. That appears to have set the stage for a competition between 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard and veteran backup Mason Rudolph for the QB2 job and, potentially, a spot on the 53-man roster. It could be a risk to go into the season with two backups who have never played an NFL game and a 42-year-old QB. At the same time, Mike McCarthy bet on himself by drafting Allar and could do it again by keeping the younger, unproven Howard with the hope of developing him.

Zrebiec: The crux of the competition is for backup jobs. The Ravens will probably have their fiercest position battle at cornerback. Jesse Minter loves loading the field with defensive backs, and the Ravens believe they have four capable starting corners in Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Chidobe Awuzie and T.J. Tampa. There aren’t enough starting snaps available for all four, obviously, particularly when safety Kyle Hamilton is often used in the slot. Behind those four are rookie fifth-round pick Chandler Rivers; 2025 draft picks Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam; and 2025 holdovers Marquise Robinson, Amani Oruwariye and Keyon Martin. It would be tough to keep more than six corners, so the competition for the final two spots figures to be well contested.

Dehner Jr.: Potentially the most impactful will be the jockeying for position at cornerback. We know the top two: DJ Turner and Dax Hill. Those outside Cincinnati probably haven’t heard of anyone else. Jalen Davis is penciled in as the starting slot corner, with third-round pick Tacario Davis, Josh Newton, DJ Ivey, Ja’Sir Taylor and Bralyn Lux all tossed into a mix behind them. Not exactly reliable depth, and how fast this could become a major problem should be top of mind for this front office. If nobody enjoys a quality camp and makes them feel better about what’s happening behind the top two, they will need to go outside and acquire a veteran via free agency or a trade.

Jackson: In Cleveland, it’s not just Deshaun Watson versus Shedeur Sanders for the temporary starting quarterback job. The offensive line is all new, the receiving corps is mostly new, and the only sure things are Quinshon Judkins as the lead runner and Harold Fannin Jr. as the lead tight end. Obviously, quarterback matters, and the Browns would like to stop playing the saddest game of musical chairs at that spot sometime in the next three seasons. But there’s a new offensive system and much work to be done for the talented young players to eventually take a step forward.

Who is the most notable player who is either on the roster bubble or has an uncertain future with the team?

DeFabo: Signing Nick Herbig to a four-year, $100 million extension has stirred up another round of outside linebacker speculation. Quality depth at this position is critical, especially if the Steelers are going to be in a win-now posture with a 42-year-old QB. I’d expect Pittsburgh to keep all three of its top edge rushers: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Herbig. But longer term, you have to wonder what the future holds. Highsmith will have just one year on his deal after this one, and Watt hasn’t exactly played up to his massive paycheck. They’ll have some decisions to make this offseason.

Zrebiec: If you’re talking about bubble guys, the team’s three “biggest” names in that category are probably guard Andrew Vorhees, who has started 20 games over the past two years; outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, a 2024 third-round pick who has zero sacks in two injury-marred seasons; and running back Rasheen Ali, the team’s No. 3 back for part of last season. In terms of uncertainty, the biggest question heading into Ravens training camp is when/if Pro Bowl defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike returns to the field. He played just two games last year because of a neck injury that required surgery in April. There was legitimate concern at the time that Madubuike’s career was over, but the sense of optimism on his status has grown considerably within the team facility. Madubuike still has to get cleared by team doctors. He seems determined to return.

Dehner Jr.: Perhaps the most notable would be 2024 second-round pick Kris Jenkins Jr. He was expected to eventually replace B.J. Hill at three-technique when the Bengals selected him out of Michigan. Now, not only did he fail to replace Hill (to whom the Bengals gave a three-year, $33 million contract in 2025), but they also were forced to add another expensive veteran in Allen. They also added a seventh-round pick to compete with him in Navy’s Landon Robinson, the AAC Defensive Player of the Year. That means it’s sink-or-swim time for Jenkins, who needs to make good on his potential or else be cut or traded.

Jackson: Because of the timing of the deal and the ongoing quarterback competition, the Garrett trade was a huge, immediate headline that quickly became kind of a background story. But there are ramifications, and there are also lingering questions about who’s next. The Browns probably should trade Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward, and they also face a decision on whether to extend safety Grant Delpit ahead of the final year of his current deal or move on from him, too. Carson Schwesinger and Jared Verse are poised to become the defense’s long-term featured players.

With three new head coaches and a few notable trades and big free-agent signings, there has been a lot of change in the AFC North. Which team in the division are you most curious about heading into camp?

DeFabo: I’m not just saying this because I cover them. The Steelers have a lot of intriguing storylines to follow. They’re replacing the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach, Mike Tomlin, with one who grew up just eight minutes from the practice facility. He’s reuniting with Rodgers, an all-time-great quarterback who will be riding off into the sunset after this season. It’s a wild story. We’ll just have to wait and see if it changes anything in the playoffs.

Zrebiec: It sure seems in recent weeks that the bandwagon for the Bengals is growing. As long as Joe Burrow stays healthy, you know what you’re going to get from that offense. The curiosity is with the defensive side. The Bengals have made some solid moves defensively this offseason, and it will be interesting to see just how much they’ve improved. As I’ve always said, the Bengals don’t have to be great defensively. Even a solid defense combined with that offense makes them a legitimate threat to come out of the AFC.

Dehner Jr.: I’m most curious about the Ravens. They’ve felt largely predictable over the last 10 years, and that is a compliment. You knew John Harbaugh would have them in the mix. You knew they’d be a contender with Lamar Jackson healthy. You knew the type of game you’d need to play to beat them. How much will change with Minter in charge? How long will it take a 30-year-old first-time play caller to replicate the success of Todd Monken? There’s reason for excitement in both respects, but being ready for those chairs and actually sitting in them are two different beasts. I’m extremely curious how long the transition phase will last for the Ravens this season.

Jackson: This is a tough one. At the schedule release, I know one website immediately had the Bengals favored in 15 games and the Browns favored in just two. Nobody thinks the Bengals are going 15-2, and nobody’s sure if the folks running the Browns actually plan to be better than 2-15. But in either case, this is a strange time for the division, and all four teams are interesting on multiple levels. If the Bengals keep Burrow healthy, they’re real contenders. If they don’t and they can’t make a few tackles, Zac Taylor’s time as the division’s longest-tenured coach could be short.

NBA Summer League is over after 94 games played in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Sacramento and Las Vegas over 16 days. The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies put in extra time, with both teams playing in a pre-Nevada invitational and then meeting in Sunday’s championship at Thomas & Mack Center, where the Warriors prevailed.

I can’t stress enough how unserious summer-league hoops can be. This year was made even sillier by implementing the G League free-throw rules, making it clear that these exhibition games are indeed closer to the developmental league than they are to what you will see when the rookie wall approaches the small percentage of these players fortunate enough to see rotation minutes to begin next season.

But summer league did provide a small sample size of organized team activities and a nice coda to an exhausting draft process. Let’s do what we have done the previous two years (2024 and 2025) and draw some takeaways on each player selected in June’s draft, with an eye toward potential roles coming out of training camp.

First round

1. AJ Dybantsa, Wizards: Dybantsa only got two starts, one each at shooting guard and small forward, after primarily starting at power forward for BYU. The ball was in his hands for a heavy amount of time, leaving him with few opportunities to work for easier shots off the ball. That won’t necessarily be the case when he plays with point guards Trae Young and Bub Carrington.

2. Darryn Peterson, Jazz: Peterson played five games between two summer leagues, dropping more than 20 points in four of them. The Jazz experimented with Peterson at point guard, and the results were mixed: He averaged 5.2 assists per game to go with a ghastly 4.8 turnovers. Peterson will be sharing on-ball guard duties with Keyonte George this fall.

3. Cameron Boozer, Grizzlies: Boozer, an All-Summer League First Team selection, played eight of a possible nine games, including all of the games in Las Vegas. He had at least three assists in each game, and while he blocked only two shots, he had at least one steal in all but his first game. Memphis will slide him into the starting power forward spot seamlessly, and he could be the primary playmaker for the Grizzlies, as well.

4. Caleb Wilson, Bulls: Wilson, another All-Summer League First Team selection, was the starting power forward, a role that he could have in Chicago next season next to Matas Buzelis. Wilson was great at putting the ball inside the basket and getting to the free-throw line, aside from making the free throws themselves. He shot better from 3 (41.9 percent) than the foul line (33.3 percent) and added 1.3 steals and 2.5 blocks per game, but he had a horrendous ratio of three turnovers for every assist.

5. Keaton Wagler, Clippers: Wagler started three games at point guard, was held out of a zero-day-rest game, then started the finale at shooting guard. That particular bit of usage has heightened relevance, as Wagler was drafted with the intention of using him both on the ball at point guard and in tandem with Darius Garland. Whether it’s from better screeners, better shooters or more helpful on-ball presences, Wagler is going to need some early assistance in creating separation.

6. Mikel Brown Jr., Nets: Brown started all four of his games at point guard, and all of them were next to Egor Dëmin, last year’s Nets lottery pick. Brown wasn’t particularly efficient out of ball screens but was better when the Nets got him into handoffs, a staple of Jordi Fernández’s offense. Brown was also solid defensively, collecting five steals.

7. Darius Acuff Jr., Kings: Acuff started five games, and the point guard was quite aggressive, attempting 18 or more shots in four of those games. The efficiency wasn’t great, as Acuff had more shots than points in three games while having at least as many turnovers as assists in three games. Acuff will likely be Sacramento’s starter, but he’ll need to clean up some components of his game with fewer shots on the menu.

8. Kingston Flemings, Hawks: Of all of the guards taken in the top 10, Flemings was the only one who didn’t record a 20-point game. He struggled to convert from everywhere: 31.8 percent field goals, 28.6 percent 3s, 44.4 percent free throws. He did keep the turnovers down while averaging 6.8 assists and totaling six steals and five blocks in four games.

9. Morez Johnson Jr., Mavericks: Johnson played only two games, starting at center in both after starting at power forward last year at Michigan. The Mavericks aren’t going to ask Johnson to be a shot creator; he’s there to roll, cut and otherwise blow things up on both sides of the ball.

10. Brayden Burries, Bucks: Burries started games in both guard spots after being a shooting guard at Arizona, and he was superb offensively, attempting 26 free throws while compiling 18 assists and only three turnovers. He made 9 of 26 from 3 (34.6 percent) while adding 20 rebounds and eight steals. There are way too many guards in Milwaukee, but Burries, an All-Summer League First Team selection, showed that he can be ready to play both on and off the ball.

11. Yaxel Lendeborg, Warriors: My favorite player in this draft, the MVP of the championship game, the MVP of the whole summer event and worthy of the mononym YAXEL. The Warriors got an old rookie, but they got a rookie who is ready to play. Lendeborg, who turns 24 in September, started all eight games and racked up 32 assists while shooting 46 percent from 3. He’s going to fit Golden State’s system quite well.

12. Aday Mara, Thunder: Mara probably had my least favorite summer league among the lottery picks. He did, however, make 10 of his last 12 shots after starting 8-for-20 from the field, and he is certainly eager to show that he can pass and make shots outside of the paint. But Mara didn’t exactly impose his will on games, and for all of his skill exhibition, he didn’t make any 3s and still had more turnovers (17) than assists (16).

13. Nate Ament, Bucks: Ament got a late start due to his draft rights being tied to the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Ament started all five games in Las Vegas at small forward, but the only game in which Ament attempted more than 10 shots was the lone game he played without Burries in the lineup. The decision-making has to be better, as Ament had twice as many turnovers as assists, but he shot 50 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from 3.

14. Hannes Steinbach, Hornets: Steinbach came off the bench for three games while Ryan Kalkbrenner was starting at center, but when Steinbach got to start, he put up massive numbers in two games (49 points, 26 rebounds). Steinbach is going to have issues defensively; he’s not a natural shooter, and he’s a turnover machine right now. But he’s a strong finisher who inhales rebounds and can play with his back to the basket.

15. Dailyn Swain, Bulls: Swain had a nightmare of a time in Las Vegas, missing 27 of 31 shots and all seven of his 3s. He’s a small forward. Maybe don’t put him at point guard, Chicago?

16. Bennett Stirtz, Thunder: Stirtz started all five of his games at point guard, where he’ll likely have a head start on injured former lottery pick Nikola Topić entering Thunder camp. Other than a 4-of-14 shooting game in Utah against the Hawks, Stirtz made exactly 50 percent of his shots in the other four games he played.

17. Ebuka Okorie, Pistons: Okorie was the undisputed starting point guard for the summer Pistons, and he will compete for a rotation spot in camp. It was a real struggle for Okorie to be efficient offensively (83 points on 88 shots), but he did have as many steals (12) as turnovers in five games.

18. Christian Anderson Jr., Hornets: Anderson was billed as one of the best guard shooters in the draft, but that did not translate to summer at all, as he made only 21.9 percent of his 32 3-point attempts. The Hornets started Anderson at point guard for all five games, and after a terrible 3:9 assist-to-turnover ratio through three games, Anderson finished up with an 18:5 ratio in the final two games.

19. Allen Graves, Raptors: Graves started at power forward in all four of his games, and he did what helped him get drafted by putting up outstanding numbers: averages of 16.5 points, three assists, 2.3 steals, one block and 2.8 3s while shooting 51 percent overall, 50 percent from 3 and 100 percent from the line. Toronto could easily slot Graves next to Collin Murray-Boyles in the second unit.

Allen Graves seems primed to see rotation minutes for Toronto next season. (Caleb Bowlin / Getty Images)

20. Jayden Quaintance, Spurs: Quaintance had right knee surgery, missed all of summer league and is possibly headed to a redshirt rookie season.

21. Karim López, Grizzlies: A left hamstring injury prevented López from playing all but one game for the Grizzlies, and he was the last first-round pick to sign his contract. But what a game that was, as López entered during a game the Grizzlies led 32-2 at the end of one quarter. He collected a steal and two blocks in 11 minutes.

22. Labaron Philon Jr., 76ers: Philon was the starting point guard for his four summer-league games, and he averaged 5.8 assists per game. It wasn’t the cleanest outing, with Philon making only 38.2 percent from the field, 25.8 percent from 3 and 62.5 percent from the free-throw line. He should be Philadelphia’s fourth guard behind Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Anfernee Simons.

23. Zuby Ejiofor, Hawks: Ejiofor started at center in all four of his games, and he filled the stat sheet, notably making six 3s. He struggled to finish inside the arc, though. Ejiofor should have the inside track to Atlanta’s backup center job.

24. Cameron Carr, Lakers: Carr started all seven of his games at small forward, and the Lakers were quite creative in getting him touches in optimal spots. He curled inside the arc to great effect on off-ball screens, while there were attempts to get Carr downhill on handoffs, as well. Carr drew heaps of fouls, kept turnovers down and shot well when his feet were set.

25. Sergio de Larrea, Mavericks: De Larrea racked up the dimes, dropping 35 assists in four games while splitting starts between point guard and the wings and showing a strong nose for the ball. Scoring was a real issue, though, as de Larrea had more turnovers (12) than buckets (9-of-33, 27.3 percent shooting).

26. Tarris Reed Jr., Spurs: Reed is a nuts-and-bolts center, but he has to be much better as a finisher, as he made only 40.9 percent of his field-goal attempts despite being mostly paint-bound. The Spurs will likely slot him in as a third-string center.

27. Chris Cenac Jr., Celtics: Cenac was a backup to Amari Williams in all but one of his four games, earning one start at center. He racked up rebounds (32) and blocks (11) but was a mess offensively, scoring only 38 points on 41 shots while totaling 12 turnovers against only four assists.

28. Joshua Jefferson, Nets: Jefferson’s draft rights were tied up in the four-team trade that sent Julius Randle to Brooklyn, and he only played three games, starting one at small forward while coming off the bench at power forward. The late start didn’t help him get involved much, as he had more turnovers (five) than assists (four) while missing all but one of his eight 3-point attempts.

29. Alex Karaban, Kings: Karaban didn’t play in Sacramento, then started all five games in Las Vegas at small forward. It took him a while to get going, but he went from only seven points on 15 shots in his first three games to 35 points on 13-of-27 shooting from the field. Karaban isn’t much more than a shooter right now.

30. Koa Peat, Suns: Peat was the starting power forward with the Suns in all four games he appeared, commonly lining up with 2025 lottery center Khaman Maluach and 2025 second-round forward Rasheer Fleming. While Peat had several looks on the ball, he was at his best as a cutter, and he has a long way to go as a shooter and decision-maker.

Second round

31. Bruce Thornton, Rockets: Thornton started at point guard and took on the bulk of scoring and playmaking duties while adding 13 steals in five games.

32. Richie Saunders, Grizzlies: Saunders is recovering from a torn ACL and did not play in summer league.

We’re still waiting to see Richie Saunders on the court as a pro. (Chris Gardner / Getty Images)

33. Isaiah Evans, Timberwolves: Evans got a late start because of draft rights involved in the Randle trade, then struggled mightily in his four games (27.3 percent field goals, 20.5 percent 3s), though he was a little better in the last two games. He’s under contract.

34. Meleek Thomas, Cavaliers: He’s out there to get buckets, and he did that superbly, averaging 25.3 points in four games while adding 3.8 assists and two steals. Thomas was an All-Summer League First Team selection. He’s under contract.

35. Trevon Brazile, Nuggets: Brazile got off to a slow start and had a poor 1:8 assist-to-turnover ratio, but he scored 51 points in his last two games while flashing an intriguing blend of range and athleticism. He’s under contract.

36. Baba Miller, Clippers: Miller’s country won the World Cup while he showed some versatility as a starter at both power forward and center, though he was limited to spotting up and cutting instead of creating as much as his skills suggest he could. He’s under contract.

37. Ryan Conwell, Heat: Conwell played most of his games while the team was in Northern California, and he’s going to shoot the ball without asking questions. He’s streaky but was arguably more comfortable moving off the bounce than when his feet were set. He’s under contract.

38. Braden Smith, Pacers: Smith averaged seven assists but made only 26.5 percent from the field and looked diminutive on the court. He’s currently the highest second-round pick without a contract.

39. Jack Kayil, Knicks: Kayil wound up splitting playmaker duties with Dillon Jones, which he was adequate at, though his own offense suffered (33 points on 40 shots). He doesn’t want to be stashed but might have been drafted to the wrong team for that.

40. Dillon Mitchell, Celtics: Mitchell flew around and made plays on defense while starting at small forward. He even made three 3s, though he missed four of five free throws. He’s still unsigned.

41. Otega Oweh, Thunder: Oweh played the first two games and was uninvolved offensively before missing the rest of summer league with a left ankle injury. He’s the highest draft pick signed to a two-way contract.

42. Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Spurs: Gillespie is an absolute gnat on defense who racked up five assists per game as a starting point guard to go with 13 steals in seven games, though he made only 37.3 percent from the field. He’s on a two-way contract.

43. Tyler Bilodeau, Nets: It’s not complicated for Bilodeau, as 25 of his 40 shot attempts were made 3s at a 36 percent clip as a backup power forward. He’s a two-way contract.

44. Maliq Brown, Spurs: Brown put on his hard hat and hit the glass for 20 offensive rebounds and also had 13 steals in seven games. He started at power forward when Reed was playing and center when Reed was out, and he was 3-for-8 from 3, which will help him play with centers. Brown is on a two-way contract.

45. Emanuel Sharp, Kings: Sharp is a tenacious defender who had 18 steals (and 29 fouls) in seven games. He’s far more effective off the ball than on the ball as a shooting guard. He’s under contract.

46. Felix Okpara, Wizards: Okpara was the Wizards’ starting center, and he will need to be more efficient (46.7 percent field goals) given that he is not an on-ball option nor is he a shooter. He’s on a two-way contract.

47. Tyler Nickel, Knicks: Nickel is a small forward who knows what he’s out there to do, as 46 of his 56 shot attempts were 3s made at a 41.3 percent clip. He’s still unsigned.

48. Tobi Lawal, Mavericks: Lawal is a power forward and standout athlete who has pretty much no role whatsoever out there offensively. He’s on a two-way contract.

49. Bryce Hopkins, Nuggets: Hopkins started at small forward next to Brazile and was an effective primary scoring threat while converting 52.9 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3. He’s still unsigned.

50. Jaden Bradley, Raptors: Bradley came off the bench behind Chucky Hepburn for two games before assuming starting point guard duties. He’s solid defensively but missed his only two 3-point attempts while making only 32.4 percent from the field overall in what was a nondescript offensive showing. He’s on a two-way contract.

51. Izaiyah Nelson, Magic: Nelson fractured his left ankle in the third game and had surgery that will likely delay the start of his rookie season. He’s on a two-way contract.

52. Henri Veesaar, Hawks: Atlanta wanted to utilize Veesaar’s stretch capabilities, and he obliged, making 10 of 27 3s (37 percent) while blocking eight shots in eight games. He’s signed a four-year deal, with the first two years guaranteed.

53. Ugonna Onyenso, Pistons: Onyenso made 2 of 4 3s and had a five-block game but couldn’t score at all inside the arc (only 13 points on 15 shots as a center). He’s on a two-way contract.

54. Lajae Jones, Warriors: Jones only played one game in Las Vegas for more than 20 minutes, and he missed all four 3-point attempts in that game despite starting at shooting guard. He has enough athletic tools and on-ball utility to see if he can put something together at some point. He’s still unsigned.

55. Nick Martinelli, Clippers: Martinelli jumps on his free throws, but he is an absolute dawg who is clearly used to getting buckets even if he’s not the top option on the court (60.4 percent field goals). He’s on a two-way contract.

56. Vsevolod Ishchenko, Mavericks: Ishchenko is a whirling dervish of a player who drew an astounding 30 fouls in five games but also had a problematic 18 turnovers to go with 15 assists. He likely will be stashed overseas.

57. Narcisse Ngoy, Clippers: The Clippers drafted Ngoy while already aware that he was committed to Auburn. He’s a domestic draft-and-stash and did not play in summer league.

58. Jaron Pierre Jr., Pelicans: Pierre started at small forward in his third and final game after coming off the bench. He only had 28 points on 37 shots while making only 17.6 percent from 3. He’s still unsigned.

59. Trey Kaufman-Renn, Timberwolves: Kaufman-Renn came off the bench for all five games behind power forward Enrique Freeman. He’s still unsigned.

60. Malique Lewis, Bucks: Lewis was the starting small forward in California with Ament unsigned, then played sparingly in Las Vegas. He had more shots than points and more turnovers than assists in four games. He likely will be stashed overseas.

It’s the question implicit in every conversation about buying, selling, and threading the needle, about walk years and team control, about assets and capital.

What’s it actually going to take?

What should the actual return look like for Tarik Skubal or Mason Miller or CJ Abrams to prompt their teams to contemplate selling them now? Unlike the typical talk-radio caller, the blanket “a couple of prospects” doesn’t work for executives.

To get a better sense of how some players on the trade block might be valued, I looked at their historical predecessors. Player X has produced at a roughly similar level to Player Y from a few years back; what did it take to acquire Player Y? I compare those players on their fWAR from this season through the All-Star break and their fWAR going back two additional seasons beyond that. Typically, though not always, the comparisons will align players with similar long-term control.

Stats are updated through Tuesday.

Tarik Skubal

Age: 29
Contract status: Owed $9.5 million in 2026, then a free agent
2026 stats: 6-5, 2.83 ERA in 82 2/3 innings, 2.2 fWAR (14.8 fWAR since 2024)

Comparison: 2015 David Price
Stats: 9-4, 2.53 ERA in 146 innings, 4.1 fWAR (13.7 fWAR prior two-plus seasons)

In the last decade, the only starter with a recent resume in line with Skubal’s who was moved at the deadline was Max Scherzer, traded from the Nationals to the Dodgers in 2021. But Scherzer was dealt alongside Trea Turner, making that trade a difficult comp for others.

So let’s go back to the last time the Tigers were holding a chip like this, with Price in 2015. That Detroit team had turned a decent start into a late-deadline decision to sell; this Detroit team faces similar uncertainty at the deadline, though thanks to a turnaround from a poor start.

In 2015, one year after acquiring Price at the deadline from Tampa Bay, the Tigers sent him to Toronto in exchange for Daniel Norris, Matthew Boyd and Jairo Labourt. Norris was the big get as a top-25 prospect in the sport. Boyd had just made his debut as a potential back-end starter, and Labourt had made the Futures Game despite pedestrian on-field results.

That trio didn’t click for Detroit, largely because Norris pitched below the league average during his tenure with the Tigers. Still, Detroit should be looking for a similar package this time around: a top-25 to top-50 prospect headliner, a valuable second piece that’s preferably in or close to the big leagues, and more of a lower-level flier.

Joe Ryan’s trade value evokes a comparison to José Berríos, who was dealt for two solid prospects. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Joe Ryan

Age: 30
Contract status: Owed $1.8 million in 2026, controlled through 2027
2026 stats: 6-6, 3.38 ERA in 114 1/3 innings, 2.5 fWAR (8.8 fWAR since 2024)

Comparison: 2021 José Berríos
Stats: 7-5, 3.48 ERA in 121 2/3 innings, 2.3 fWAR (9.9 fWAR prior two-plus seasons)

I assure you, the goal is not to compare every player to one his specific franchise has traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in the past. Berríos in 2021 and Ryan in 2026 have more in common than just the interlocking TC on their caps. Each had another year of team control remaining, two consecutive All-Star appearances, and ERAs within shouting distance of one another (3.38 for Ryan, 3.48 for Berríos in seven more innings).

Berríos landed Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson from the Blue Jays. Martin had been the fifth pick in the draft and was a consensus top-25 prospect in the sport; Woods Richardson was on some but not all top-100 lists.

(It’s actually a similar return to what the Mariners received a year later for Luis Castillo, another similar pitcher with one-plus year of control remaining. Noelvi Marté was the consensus top-25 prospect in that deal.)

If the Twins decide to move Ryan this summer, they can shop in the same aisle as the Tigers for a top-25 to top-50 prospect to headline the deal. The difference is Minnesota would probably only get one additional useful piece back rather than two.

CJ Abrams

Age: 25
Contract status: Owed $1.2 million in 2026, controlled through 2028
2026 stats: .279/.354/.538/.892 with 24 home runs and 76 RBIs in 98 games, 2.8 fWAR (7.8 fWAR since 2024)

Comparison: 2024 Isaac Paredes
Stats: .245/.357/.435/.792 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs in 101 games, 2.9 fWAR (9.5 fWAR prior two-plus seasons)

It’s awfully hard to find really good players with multiple years of team control left moved when they’re 25. So we’ll overlook that Abrams has two years of control left and compare him to Paredes, who had three when he was dealt from Tampa Bay to the Cubs two summers ago.

The Cubs acquired Paredes for Christopher Morel, Ty Johnson and Hunter Bigge. Morel was slumping in 2024 but had 850 strong big-league plate appearances in the two years prior. Johnson was a 13th-round pick of the Cubs the year before in A-ball; he’s now a fringe top-100 prospect for the Rays. Bigge had just debuted in Chicago’s big-league bullpen at the time of the trade.

Often, it’s tough to draw out a comparison too much when major-leaguers go both ways in a trade, as they did in the Paredes deal. However, given where the Nationals are competitively, it could make sense for them to do something similar to Tampa Bay here: Trade Abrams for a return that includes a big-league replacement (preferably with more years of team control) alongside multiple prospects.

Mason Miller

Age: 27
Contract status: Owed $1.2 million in 2026, controlled through 2029
2026 stats: 2-1 with 25 saves and a 0.86 ERA in 41 2/3 innings, 2.6 fWAR (6.9 fWAR since 2024)

Comparison: 2016 Andrew Miller
Stats: 6-1, 9 saves, 1.39 ERA in 45 1/3 innings, 2.1 fWAR (6.1 fWAR prior two-plus seasons)

Look, I’ve only been tracking this stuff since 2014, and no reliever has been traded while performing all that close to Mason Miller’s current standard. Andrew Miller in 2016 is as approximate as you can get, as he was within one win above replacement for the current season and over the last three. (Even 2025 Mason Miller isn’t all that close to 2026 Mason Miller.)

In 2016, Andrew Miller was sent from the Yankees to Cleveland in exchange for Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, J.P. Feyereisen and Ben Heller. Frazier was a top-50 prospect, Sheffield a borderline top-100 prospect, Feyereisen and Heller near-ready relief prospects. (For what it’s worth, that those four players combined for 1.8 fWAR during their major-league careers has not dimmed the praise other executives still bestow upon that 2016 Yankees deadline sell-off.)

In 2025, Mason Miller (and J.P. Sears) netted the Athletics four prospects, headlined by Leo De Vries, a top-25 prospect in the sport.

Because Miller has been so thoroughly dominant as a Padre, he could probably bring San Diego back almost all of the value it sent out for him a year ago, even with one fewer year of team control. A three- or four-player package, headlined by a top-25 or top-50 prospect, should be in the cards.

Kevin Gausman

Age: 35
Contract status: Owed $6.7 million in 2026, then a free agent
2026 stats: 4-9 with a 4.51 ERA in 115 2/3 innings, 2.2 fWAR (9.3 fWAR since 2024)

Comparison: 2023 Jordan Montgomery
Stats: 6-9, 3.42 ERA in 121 innings, 2.5 fWAR (8.4 fWAR prior two-plus seasons)

Our Mitch Bannon was already all over this comparison this week. Gausman has more of a long-term track record than Montgomery did when he was traded (for the second deadline in a row) as a 30-year-old from the Cardinals to the Rangers in 2023. Still, they share similar production in the stretch leading into the deadline, as above-average starters who aren’t necessarily front-line guys. (This doesn’t mean they can’t serve in that front-line capacity; Gausman did for the Jays last October, Montgomery sure did for the Rangers in their championship run in 2023.)

In dealing Montgomery alongside reliever Chris Stratton, the Cardinals received big-league reliever John King and prospects Thomas Saggese and Tekoah Roby. Roby had moved on to some midseason top-100 lists by the time of the trade, and Saggese would make a top-100 list the following spring. King was a middle reliever with multiple years of control remaining.

Montgomery was the best starter moved at the 2023 deadline. Gausman wouldn’t be if the Tigers trade Skubal or the Twins trade Ryan. But if those arms stay with the current teams, the Blue Jays can look for the same kind of return: a pair of prospects sniffing around top-100 lists.

Francisco Lindor

Age: 32
Contract status: Owed $9.3 million in 2026, controlled through 2031
2026 stats: .233/.316/.401/.717 with six home runs and 16 RBIs in 45 games, 0.8 fWAR (14.8 fWAR since 2024)

Comparison: 2015 Troy Tulowitzki
Stats: .300/.348/.471/.818 with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs in 87 games, 1.2 fWAR (11.2 fWAR prior two-plus seasons)

Lindor has five years and $160 million left on his contract; Tulowitzki had five years and $100 million left on his deal when he was shipped from Colorado to Toronto. That deal included the Rockies taking back José Reyes’ contract (which had about $50 million left on it) in addition to landing top-100 prospect Jeff Hoffman, 20-year-old big-league reliever Miguel Castro and prospect Jesús Tinoco.

It is not an insult to Tulowitzki to say that, at the time of his move to Toronto, he was not the player Lindor is now. But the extra $60 million on Lindor’s deal means the Mets probably still have to take back a contract that’s underwater if they want any real prospect value to come their way.

Reid Detmers, pictured, matches up well as a comp to the 2016 version of 2016 Drew Pomeranz. (Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)

Reid Detmers

Age: 26
Contract status: Owed $800,000 in 2026, controlled through 2028
2026 stats: 3-6 with a 4.16 ERA in 114 2/3 innings, 3.0 fWAR (4.9 fWAR since 2024)

Comparison: 2016 Drew Pomeranz
Stats: 8-7, 2.47 ERA in 102 innings, 2.4 fWAR (4.5 fWAR prior two-plus seasons)

Like Pomeranz, Detmers is a high first-round pick who’s bounced between the rotation and bullpen before finding what sure looks like sustainable success as a starter this season with two more years of team control left. In 2016, the Padres parlayed Pomeranz’s breakout All-Star campaign into a one-for-one deal with the Red Sox for Anderson Espinoza, then viewed as a top-50 prospect in the sport.

Under interim general manager John Mozeliak, the Angels have indicated they’ll at least listen on controllable players like Detmers. They should be able to infuse their farm system with at least one standout prospect in a Detmers deal.

Luis Arraez

Age: 29
Contract status: Owed $3.5 million in 2026, then a free agent
2026 stats: .323/.362/.450/.812 with four home runs and 36 RBIs in 95 games, 3.5 fWAR (5.5 fWAR since 2024)

Comparison: 2018 Eduardo Escobar
Stats: .274/.338/.514/.852 with 15 home runs and 63 RBIs in 97 games, 3.0 fWAR (5.0 fWAR prior two-plus seasons)

It’s almost shocking to think that, just like Arraez, Escobar was a 29-year-old, eight-year veteran when he was traded from the Twins to the Diamondbacks in 2018. It had taken that long for the jack-of-all-trades switch-hitter to break out with more than 3 fWAR by late July.

Thanks to his batting titles, Arraez has been a higher-profile player for much longer. He’s in the midst of his own kind of renaissance with San Francisco, authoring perhaps his best overall season with 3.5 fWAR — thanks in large part to a dramatic defensive improvement at second base.

In exchange for Escobar, the Twins received low-level prospects Ernie de la Trinidad and Gabriel Maciel alongside an emerging pitching prospect: Jhoan Duran. Duran was, as you’d suspect, the key to the deal, as he was viewed as a potential top-100 prospect if things broke right for him as a starter in the ensuing years. He slotted into the top 10 in the Twins system, just ahead of an infielder named… Luis Arraez.

Can the Giants get back a piece like Duran? Sure, but it’s noteworthy how many considerably higher-rated prospects in this story failed to reach their potential whereas Duran exceeded most anyone’s expectations for his own ceiling.

Freddy Peralta

Age: 30
Contract status: Owed $2.4 million in 2026, then a free agent
2026 stats: 5-9 with a 5.01 ERA in 109 2/3 innings, 1.1 fWAR (7.0 fWAR since 2024)

Comparison: 2023 Lucas Giolito
Stats: 6-6, 3.79 ERA in 121 innings, 1.7 fWAR (7.6 fWAR prior two-plus seasons)

I made this same comparison a few weeks back, noting that while Peralta’s fWAR this season and over the last three trailed those of Giolito in 2023, he should catch up over the next month. Instead, Peralta’s fWAR has actually gone down over his last few starts as a disappointing individual season is veering toward a disastrous one.

The Angels sent catcher Edgar Quero, then a top-100 prospect, along with pitcher Ky Bush, a recent second-round pick, for Giolito and Reynaldo López at the 2023 deadline. Had Peralta regained his footing in the month leading up to the deadline, he could have landed that kind of return on his own. Now, the Mets would have to pair him with a reliever like Brooks Raley to approximate that value, and I think that might still come up light. If Peralta is moved on his own, a fringe top-100 prospect or a player moving swiftly toward the top 100 this season is probably the best the Mets could hope for.

Luke Weaver

Age: 32
Contract status: Owed $3.2 million, controlled through 2027
2026 stats: 2-1 with a 1.98 fERA in 41 innings, 1.1 fWAR (2.5 fWAR since 2024)

Comparison: 2014 Andrew Miller
Stats: 3-5, 2.34 ERA in 42 1/3 innings, 1.3 fWAR (2.1 fWAR prior two-plus seasons)

All reliever trades must be compared to previous ones involving either Aroldis Chapman or a reliever with the surname of Miller.

Andrew Miller had not established himself as a late-game force when the Red Sox moved him at the 2014 trade deadline to the Baltimore Orioles for Double-A pitching prospect Eduardo Rodríguez. He was trending in that direction, though, and the bidding for his services was intense that July.

It should be the same for Weaver, who has been quietly dominant as the set-up man for a team going nowhere. Whereas Miller was an impending free agent, Weaver does have the extra year of team control at $11 million, which should boost his value. But the market largely coalesces to “near-ready mid-rotation starting prospect” in deals like this. Griffin Jax brought back Taj Bradley for the Twins last year (Jax had two extra years of control), David Robertson brought back Ben Brown for the Cubs in 2022, and Jonathan Papelbon, with the exact same $11 million owed him for one more year of control, brought back Nick Pivetta for the Phillies in 2015.