NFL training camp is not far away, which means that one team will be covered by HBO on "Hard Knocks." Here are the four candidates to appear on the show.
The start of the 2023 NFL regular season is not far off. Mandatory minicamps have begun for some teams as of this writing, which means that teams will go on a break before the start of training camp around late July. From there, all 32 teams will begin evaluating their rosters and bringing the total down to 53 for the start of the regular season.
As training camps commence and progress, one team will hold the distinction of being filmed for HBO's hit series, "Hard Knocks." The program follows one team throughout training camp, highlighting certain players and giving a behind-the-scenes look at how certain teams operate.
With training camp approaching, fans are probably curious as to which teams are eligible to appear on "Hard Knocks." Well, let's take a look at the four candidates, as well as a prediction as to which team will earn the nomination by the NFL.
Hard Knocks 2023 candidates
The four teams that are candidates to appear on "Hard Knocks" are the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Commanders.
When it comes to the most intriguing candidate, it's the Jets. They are a team on the rise who missed out on the playoffs because of their play at quarterback. This offseason, they made the blockbuster trade to acquire four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. With that move alone, fans are going to want to see how the team operates with Rodgers as its quarterback.
The Bears have the chance to make a huge jump in the NFC North, especially with Rodgers no longer on the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Justin Fields showed out in his second season, his first as the starting quarterback. This offseason, the team had the most cap space available, and used it to bolster the team and give them a chance to contend for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Saints have navigated the past two seasons looking for Drew Brees' successor. They tried Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill, and Andy Dalton, but those options didn't help the team make the playoffs. So, they got one of the top quarterbacks available in free agency Derek Carr, who was released by the Las Vegas Raiders. Seeing Carr build chemistry with his new team as they try to win the NFC South championship.
Then, there are the Commanders, who are in the process of being sold to the Josh Harris group. The Commanders were the lone team in the NFC East to not make the playoffs. Instead of making a big splash at the quarterback position, they placed their faith in Sam Howell, the former North Carolina Tar Heels signal caller. The team also added Jacoby Brissett, who played well for the Cleveland Browns last season as he filled in for the suspended Deshaun Watson.
Hard Knocks 2023 prediction
The NFL ultimately decides who appears on "Hard Knocks." The thing is, one representative each between the Jets, Bears, and Saints has said that don't want their teams to be on the show. The Commanders are the only team that hasn't provided an answer.
As for our prediction as to which team will ultimately be picked for "Hard Knocks," it has to be the Jets. This is the team that has received the most attention this offseason due in part to acquiring Rodgers from the Packers. It's hard to envision the NFL not picking the Jets. This team has the most hype entering the regular season, and they can add to it by putting them on "Hard Knocks" to give fans a preview of what to expect.