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PGA Tour 2K23: Beginner Tips Guide

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You don't need to be an expert to golf, learn the clubs, customize your clubs in the locker, grind xp and coins, allocate skill points to the essential clubs, tweak the settings, experiment with the archetypes.

Tiger Woods has once again revived the world of virtual golf with PGA Tour 2K23 , the latest installment to the universally acclaimed sports saga. Like before, players are invited to swing for stardom as an up-and-coming pro golfer over a series of dynamic courses, tournaments, and global events in its ever-evolving MyCareer mode.

PGA Tour 2K23: The 10 Best Golfers

Luckily, PGA Tour 2K23 has a litter of in-depth tutorials and starter challenges to help you take your first steps out on the green. Learning to master the sport, though, is another story, and one that involves a fair amount of trial and error backhand swings, putts, and tee-offs. But where do you begin in a world like PGA, and how exactly do you build up a certain repertoire that puts you on par with the poster children of the sport?

Updated November 21, 2023, by Sean Murray: These PGA 2K23 Tips are sure to get your golfing career off to a great start. We've tweaked this guide's formatting slightly and also given it more links to other helpful PGA 2K23 topics.

PGA Tour 2K23 does a remarkable job at accommodating both newcomers to the series and seasoned veterans who've followed it since its 1990 debut. Because of this, it's fair to say that you don't need to be an expert with all the answers to hit the grass running.

Of course, previous experience is a major plus in a series like PGA Tour, especially if you're looking to challenge others in its online multiplayer mode. That said, you can learn all there is to learn without having an existing wealth of knowledge already stowed away under your belt.

If this is your very first rodeo with PGA Tour, then rest assured that 2K doesn't expect you to be an elite golfer to make a mark on the green.

It's no secret that a lot of newcomers to the series fail to make their shots because of the clubs they choose to bring to the course. Make no mistake that missing a shot can boil down to a number of factors, but selecting the wrong club is a definite no-no in PGA Tour , and can consequently cause you to struggle to make par.

Therefore, before you hit the green, be sure to experiment with each of the varied clubs until you've grasped the basics.

PGA Tour 2K23 offers a generous selection of clubs, all of which come loaded with their own purpose. The good news here is that your caddie will determine which club you need whenever you're about to tee off.

That said, just because the caddie hands you a club doesn't mean you should always follow up with it . The more you learn about the clubs and their capabilities, the more you can test your caddie's knowledge out on the green by switching up the defaults.

You can change your club by pressing up or down on the D-Pad .

PGA Tour 2K23: All MyPLAYER Archetypes, Ranked

Your default clubs will only take you so far in a game like PGA Tour 2K23, which is precisely why you should build up enough coins to shop for upgrades . These upgrades come in the form of Fittings , which can be applied to any of your clubs in the Locker section.

You can only apply up to three Fittings for each club , and each one is scaled by rarity .

It goes without saying that adding just one of these Fittings to a club can boost your game when out on the green. Each Fitting has a number of attributes, including shot power , timing , swing path , and shaping .

Applying only the rarest will definitely give you the upper hand when fending off opponents in any of the game modes.

To make it anywhere in MyCareer , you're going to need a lot of top-shelf cosmetics . Unfortunately, cosmetics come at a price, and unless you've stashed away a whole treasury of coins, you won't be able to equip them to help triple your A game.

Therefore, you're going to want to grind XP and coins , which can be done by competing in global events and challenges .

Of course, taking part in any round will help you gain a foothold on the ladder, but to truly make an impact, you're going to want to win events and challenges . Like in PGA Tour 2K22, the higher the difficulty setting, the more XP you will acquire on completion .

Claiming consecutive wins will rack up your XP Multiplier , which will, in turn, fast-track your character to superstardom.

As you shovel your way through MyCareer, you will earn XP from beating events, which can be used to unlock a variety of perks for each of your acquired clubs . However, if you dump XP into skill trees for clubs that aren't used all that much, then you're only shooting yourself in the foot.

It's always best to prioritize allocating points to the essential clubs .

When it comes to building up your skill trees, you will want to focus on the driver , irons , wedge , and putter . As these are the clubs you'll be using the majority of the time, it's best to cram as much XP into developing their attributes and leveling up the tiers.

There is a total of 126 skills to choose from in PGA Tour 2K23, only 50 of which can be collected by leveling up your character. When it comes to picking skill trees to evolve, try and aim for the clubs you favor the most on the green .

PGA Tour 2K23: The 10 Best Courses

It may seem obvious at this point, but changing your settings to suit your personal preferences can definitely help you out in the long run. Although it is recommended that you play on a higher difficulty to maximize your chances of netting more XP, it doesn't mean you should never settle for something a little less threatening as and when needed.

If you navigate to the MyCareer Presets , you will find three adjustable sliders: Opponent Difficulty , Conditions Difficulty , and Rounds Per Event . If you're still learning the basics and aren't quite ready to dive into the deep end, then you can change the top two sliders to Very Easy , which will give you more leeway when playing rounds.

You still acquire XP for completing global events and challenges on the easier difficulties .

PGA Tour 2K23 lets you choose from five different archetypes , all of which come preloaded with their own abilities and perks. You can alter your character to accommodate any of these archetypes for free in MyCareer, and doing so can help you get a feel for each respective skill tree.

For example, the Powerhouse archetype is better suited for players wanting to drive the ball with speed and power, whereas the Greensman archetype favors putting over drive .

Before diving into any global event, you should aim to experiment with each of the five available archetypes, which are Powerhouse, Greensman, Rhythm, Sculptor, and Woodsman .

You can change your archetype between events by going to the MyPlayer menu and selecting Golfer . From here, scroll over to the Archetypes tab and pick the one that you would like to equip.

Next: Best Golf Games On PS4 And PS5

WHAT'S NEW IN PGAT 2K23

PGA TOUR 2K23 is bursting with brand new content! Stay up to date with the latest features and content dropping in game including Clubhouse Pass rewards, newest additions to the Playable Pros roster, and new courses.

CHOOSE YOUR EDITION

Welcome to the PGA TOUR 2K23 x NBA 2K23 Bundle!

Compete against golf’s finest and take your place on the leaderboard.

Show your stripes and attack the green with the Deluxe Edition.

See your destiny come to life in the Tiger Woods Edition.

FEATURED COURSE

PGA TOUR 2K23 features some of the PGA TOUR’s most notable courses, ranging from TPC Scottsdale to the Riviera Country Club and more, each boasting well-manicured greens, fairways, and bunkers. Throughout the PGA TOUR season, we’ll feature one of the many historic courses you'll find perfectly replicated in-game. Before you decide to attack the spotlighted course, take a moment to learn more about its dastardly hazards, serene setting, mind-bending dog-leg turns, and the mastermind behind the masterpiece.

UP YOUR GAME

Up your gameplay experience in PGA TOUR 2K23 with detailed guides and breakdowns from members of the HB Studios team. Learn how to become an expert putter, the mechanisms behind the game’s lifelike ball physics, and the must-know tips for generating spin, among other things. Up Your Game is the perfect place for new and experienced players to expand and improve their skills in MyCAREER and online.

CLUBHOUSE PASS

Clubhouse Pass Seasons are here for PGA TOUR 2K23!

Each Season, earn XP and claim new rewards and content as you climb your way up the Clubhouse Pass tier ladder! Clubhouse Pass is the best way to acquire new gear for your bag, boosts for your game, and new fits for your wardrobe. Learn how now!

CLUBHOUSE REPORT

PGA TOUR 2K23 CLUBHOUSE PASS: SEASON 7

Ring in the New Year with the PGA TOUR 2K23 Season 7 Clubhouse Pass, filled with the best items from every Season and all-new Smerf challenges to complete.

PGA TOUR 2K23 CLUBHOUSE PASS: SEASON 6

Tee it up in Season 6 and climb the leaderboard as you claim all-new rewards and compete against fellow players around the world in PGA TOUR 2K23.

PGA TOUR 2K23 CLUBHOUSE PASS: SEASON 5

The FedExCup Playoffs are officially underway! The top golfers on the PGA TOUR have fought for coveted FedExCup Points all year long, but who will be crowned champion?

PGA TOUR 2K23 CLUBHOUSE PASS: SEASON 4

Race to the top of the leaderboard and the Clubhouse Pass in Season 4 of PGA TOUR 2K23, and earn all-new rewards from Titleist and FootJoy.

PGA TOUR 2K23 CLUBHOUSE PASS: SEASON 3

Season 3 of PGA TOUR 2K23 is loaded with new rewards from PUMA and Cobra, competitions and challenges, and some notable names as playable characters.

PGA TOUR 2K23 PASS CLUB HOUSE: SEASON 2

Season 2 of PGA TOUR 2K23 welcomes prestigious new courses and rewards from your favorite brands!

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Ranked Matchmaking Improves Online Play in PGA Tour 2K23

This is a discussion on Ranked Matchmaking Improves Online Play in PGA Tour 2K23 within the Golf forums.

PGA Tour 2K23

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PGA Tour 2K23 Trailers

"A DOWNRIGHT BLAST!" | PGA TOUR 2K23 Official Accolades Trailer | 2K

The Invitation | PGA TOUR 2K23 Official Launch Trailer | 2K

Unleash Your Game | PGA TOUR 2K23 Official MyCAREER Trailer | 2K

PGA Tour 2K23 Screenshots

Critic reviews for pga tour 2k23.

There's not much to be excited about in PGA Tour 2K23, with poorly presented golfing on second-tier courses. It's fiercely accurate to the real sport but lacks personality and variety.

Read full review

Metro GameCentral

The basics of gameplay work tremendously well, but the game is bogged down by too many niggling faults and the sense that it'll take until at least next year to fulfil its potential.

GamesRadar+

PGA 2K23 is a fine golf game that builds on its predecessor in every way, with fabulous gameplay, shot craft, and depth.

PGA 2K23 vastly improves on an already great foundation with refined golf gameplay, customization, and an expansive suite of modes.

TheSixthAxis

PGA Tour 2K23 is a good improvement over its last iteration, making things more accessible with the 3-Click system and the Topgolf mode. There's still areas for improvement, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Thanks to a few, well done innovations, PGA Tour 2K23 confirms itself as the best golf simulation available nowadays.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Attack of the Fanboy

If you're willing to devote the time needed to this title, you'll find one of the most exciting sports games around. It's not going to hold your hand, but it's going to do what it needs to help shape you into the next face of the PGA Tour. The endless frustration of a barely missed putt, versus the excitement of a hole-in-one that you finally nailed is exhilarating.

God is a Geek

PGA Tour 2K23 features tight controls for those who want to master every swing, and does enough to bring players in from the last entry.

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How to Make the Most of Club Fittings in PGA Tour 2K23

Just as with real golf, it can take some time to find your shot in PGA Tour 2K23 . You’re bound to duff drives, shank irons, and hook wedges all over courses while you attempt to figure out the ideal tempo to keep shots straight.

If you want to avoid the roughs, bunkers, and water hazards that are eagerly waiting to gobble up errant shots, you’ll want to make sure that the clubs in your golf bag have been properly fitted to best assist you when out on the course. You’ll begin to collect fittings as you play rounds in the game, receiving them as rewards when you finish up your final hole.

The fittings are how to get the most out of the various club types (driver, wood, hybrid, iron, wedge, and putter) by maximizing particular attributes of theirs. Most clubs have six different attributes that you’re able to target with fittings: power, timing, swing path, transition, shaping, and lie range. However, putters only have two, putt weight and putt path.

Fittings also appear in five distinct colors depending on their effectiveness. In order of those with the greatest power to alter your clubs to the least, these are red, purple, blue, green, and grey. They have all been individually balanced though to come with pros and cons, meaning even the red fittings can boost certain parts of your game while decreasing others.

When you start out, it can be a little confusing to know exactly what to do with the fittings that you begin to accrue. It only gets more complicated strategically as your number of fittings grows and you have to consider which ones will give you the greatest advantage. To help you in your quest for the perfect swing with every club, here are some tips to bear in mind as you wade through the wonderful world of fittings in PGA Tour 2K23 .

Lean On Your Strengths

This is a good time to mention that so much of how you’ll want to use your fittings will depend on what kind of archetype you’ve chosen to use. For instance, if you’re someone who likes to slam the ball as far as possible by employing the powerhouse archetype, you might want to also outfit your clubs (or at least your driver) with power fittings. This will ensure that few will be able to hit the ball farther off the tee and will give you less distance on approaches, which will come in especially handy on those shorter par 5s.

Similarly, if you’re someone who prefers the rhythm archetype for its focus on improving timing, you’re likely to gravitate to the timing fittings should you want to limit the instances that you miss the mark with shots. Just be sure to pay attention to any attributes of your clubs that you’ve raised all the way to 100 because you could be better served using your fittings elsewhere once you’ve maxed out.

Hide Your Weaknesses

Rather than using the fittings to enhance aspects of your game that are already fairly strong, you could try instead to achieve balance by using them to compensate for your weaknesses. With this strategy, someone using the rhythm archetype might want to add some power fittings to their clubs to avoid losing too much in distance against opponents. A powerhouse archetype could probably stand to straighten out their bombs some with a few timing or transition fittings.

Do you struggle hitting out of the rough? Look to add lie range fittings to remedy that. These weaknesses shouldn’t just be limited to ones accompanying the archetypes either. If you find it hard to achieve a consistently good tempo in general because of your stick skills (or lack thereof), it’s only going to be easier if you max out the timing on your clubs.

While it may seem like a smart idea to plan out your fittings meticulously, your plans can always go awry once you hit the course. That’s when you can always bring out the reliable trial-and-error method to find a combination of fittings that works. There’s no arguing with results and if you find an array of fittings that’s perfect for you, even if that’s only a placebo of sorts, it’s best to stick with that until it starts faltering. You’ll be surprised to find that sometimes a red fitting doesn’t have the impact you might expect while a purple fitting will get the job done better for you with a certain type of club.

Don’t be chaotic in your experiments though and go in with some sort of problem you’re looking to solve, especially since fitting a whole group of clubs like irons in your bag can get awfully expensive.

An interesting wrinkle to fitting your clubs is that the game gives you the opportunity to fit single clubs rather than an entire group of clubs. While you’ll usually probably want to keep your fittings uniform across a club group, there are times when there could be an upside to having a club or two with different fittings than the others. Perhaps you want to have your longer irons fitted with more power while you prefer the shorter irons to be focused on timing so you can dial in your approaches. Or maybe you have certain wedges that you’d like to use from the rough so you apply lie range fittings to help you make those clubs slightly more adaptable.

Trade In Lesser Fittings

A neat feature that PGA Tour 2K23 utilizes is allowing you to trade in fittings that you don’t need for better options. By trading in three fittings, you can choose a specific fitting of the same quality (purple to purple, for example) that might serve you better in any of the club types. This can come in handy when you have an abundance of quality fittings of one type or club group but are lacking in other parts of your bag. You also have the ability to trade in three fittings of one quality for a random fitting one tier better (purple to red, for example). As you start to acquire those premium red fittings on all your clubs, this exchange will be valuable to turn all your lesser fittings into other red options that might improve your game slightly.

EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR™ Patch Notes 12.0

Coming to the ea play list: discover new courses, play as jack nicklaus, and take on the augusta national par 3 course..

On April 2nd, EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR™ will receive an update that includes a new season, several gameplay improvements, and game-wide bug fixes. Read on to learn about what’s coming next.

Welcome to Season 11!

Season 11 launches as the largest content update to date for EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR™ with the release of four new courses and the ultimate Major champion of all time, Jack Nicklaus joins as the first playable golfer added since the game's launch. Moreover, starting April 4th, EA Play^ members can enjoy the EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR™ updates available via the Play List. As with all previous updates, the new courses and Jack Nicklaus are included with no additional purchase required. This now makes a total of 39 playable courses and 23 playable pro golfers.

Included as a 2024 Major Course, Valhalla Golf Course is located in Louisville, Kentucky, a modern, parkland-style course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Characterized by its wide fairways, large, undulating greens, and challenging water hazards, it has been the venue for multiple major championships, including the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup. Since it hosts the 2024 PGA Championship, Career mode has been updated to have the PGA Championship rotate every season between Valhalla, Oak Hill, and Southern Hills.

Pinehurst No. 2, the second 2024 Major Course to debut, is located in North Carolina and is a world-renowned golf course known for its crowned, undulating greens and strategically placed bunkers. Designed by the legendary Donald Ross, it has hosted more single golf championships, including the U.S. Open Championship and PGA Championship, than any other course in America. It will host the 2024 U.S. Open Championship, so Career mode has been updated to rotate the U.S. Open every season between Pinehurst No. 2, The Los Angeles Country Club, and The Country Club.

The third 2024 Major Course, renowned for its "Postage Stamp" eighth hole, is Royal Troon. Known as a world-class course, with traditional links located on the rugged coast of Scotland. Offering golfers challenging wind conditions, deep bunkers, large putting greens, and undulating fairways, Royal Troon is a frequent stop in the Open Championship rota, including this year. The Open will now rotate in Career mode between Royal Troon, Royal Liverpool, and St Andrews.

Further celebrating the tradition of Masters week, the Augusta National Par 3 Course will also be added to the game. The course is stunningly beautiful and serves as the traditional venue for the Par 3 Contest held annually on the eve of the Masters Tournament.

All four of these incredible courses are now available to play in Quick Play and Private Match and will be featured in Online and Tournament playlist rotations as well. As previous Ryder Cup hosts, Pinehurst No. 2 and Valhalla have also been added to Ryder Cup formats in Quick Play, Online, and Private Match.

Jack Nicklaus, often referred to as “the Golden Bear," is renowned for his powerful drives, precision iron play, and exceptional putting ability, which contributed to his record 18 major championship wins. Nicklaus's six Masters titles add to his legendary status as the greatest Major Champion golfer of all time. When playing as Jack Nicklaus, you’ll notice that he has his own set of golf clubs, four outfits to choose from, and his unique swing animation. Jack Nicklaus is available to play in any format that supports playing with pro golfers.

Season 11 Pro Pass** includes a wide variety of cosmetics in the premium tier including a selection of spring-themed apparel, Jack Nicklaus’ clubs, and one of his outfits. Completing Season 11 Pro Pass will earn you Jack Nicklaus’ '65 Masters Ball Spec in the free tier and the J.LINDEBERG “KV Tour - Azalea” outfit in the premium tier. Throughout the season you’ll earn tokens to level up your Pro Pass by completing live Quests and playing rounds in Online, Tournaments, and Career modes.

Challenges mode has been updated with two new challenge series. The “Drive Chip and Putt” challenges series offers a taste of what it feels like to compete in the famous junior golf competition. The “Jack Nicklaus” challenge series showcases the history of the Golden Bear, featuring some of the best rounds from his Major Championship victories, and a variety of other memorable moments from his legendary career.

Additional Patch Notes

• Jack Nicklaus’ swing animation has been added to the Store rotation.
• Added a “Starter Bundle” which includes a set of rare specs and a currency pack.
• New items added to the store rotation including the TaylorMade Qi10 Driver, Scotty Cameron Circle T putters, and several new apparel items.
• Increased matchmaking search timeout from 2 to 5 minutes.
• Updated the “Into Out” swing animation.
• Fixed the “TaylorMade MySpider - Red” left-handed version of the putter being colored white instead of red.
• [Kiawah] Moved several shrubs and bunker footprint decals that were incorrectly placed.
• [Career] Fix to enable changing outfits in Career mode lobbies.
• [Select Golfer] Updated Patrick Cantlay’s picture.
• [Store] Updated thumbnail icons for “In to Out” and “Sweep” swing animations.
• Additional crash and stability-related fixes.

** Pro Pass content requires gameplay to unlock. Requires EA SPORTS PGA Tour (sold separately) and all game updates to play.

^ Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See tos.ea.com/legalapp/eaplay/US/en/PC/ for details.

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR is available worldwide now. Stay in the conversation by following us on  Facebook ,  Twitter ,  Instagram ,  YouTube , and  Answers HQ . 

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Top three 2024 NFL free agents at every defensive position: Stephon Gilmore, Justin Simmons best available

These are the best defensive players still on the market.

A month into NFL free agency has come and gone as the league is past its second wave of the offseason signings. The  top players have already signed , and the next crop of free agents have found a home for 2024. There are still some good players available, but the market has significantly dried up over the past few weeks. 

Teams are focusing on the draft before free agency ramps up in its third wave, when compensatory picks no longer factor into the equation. Players who should be rostered are still available for the taking, if any team can't wait until after the draft. 

These are the top three free agents available at every position on defense. To see the top offensive players still available, click here . 

Edge rusher

The best pass rusher available, Ngakoue is coming off a down season by his standards. He finished with career lows in sacks (4.0), pressures (34) and pressure rate (8.7%), snapping a streak of seven consecutive seasons with 8+ sacks.

Ngakoue signed later in the summer last season, so perhaps signing earlier could get him back to his 2016-2022 form. 

Ogbah had just 19 pressures and 5.0 sacks last season, but the numbers were deceiving as he had a 13.9% pressure rate. He played just 240 snaps in 15 games and still can get to the quarterback as a rotational pass rusher. 

An Achilles tear limited Lawson's productivity in New York in terms of games played, but he rebounded from that with 49 pressures and 7.0 sacks in 2022 (11.9% pressure rate). The Jets essentially relegated Lawson to a backup role after a back injury last August, as he didn't record a sack and played just 98 snaps.

A healthy Lawson would be a good find for a team needing pass-rushing help. 

Interior defensive lineman

While Campbell lines up on the edge and in the interior, the 37-year-old's ability to play both makes him the top interior defender in a weak crop of free agents left. Campbell had 42 pressures and 6.5 sacks last season with a 10.8% pressure rate, playing most of his snaps off the edge. 

Still strong against the run, this is where Campbell makes his presence in the A and B gaps. 

A former starter in San Francisco, Ridgeway played just three games in Houston before a torn Achilles ended his season. Ridgeway had a calf injury prior to the torn Achilles, having just one pressure in 27 snaps played.

If healthy, Ridgeway provides valuable interior depth. 

Mone sat out the entire 2023 season due to a knee injury, and Seattle released him in March. He's more than a year removed from the torn ACL, suffered after a 2022 season which he started three games. 

If healthy, Mone is worth taking a flyer on. He's still only 28 years old. 

Off-ball linebacker

Cunningham was a surprise at linebacker for Philadelphia last season after signing in August, finishing with 85 tackles and four passes defended in 13 games (10 starts). Still a starter in the league at 29, Cunningham's biggest issue is staying on the field. 

The former Pro Bowl linebacker played in just nine games for Pittsburgh last season, having 41 tackles (five for loss) and a sack as a No. 3 linebacker. Alexander is a solid reserve Mike linebacker at this stage if he can stay on the field. 

Woods started seven games for Arizona last season and had 61 tackles, showing he's more than a good special teamer. While Woods provides excellent play on special teams, he also showed he can get regular snaps on a defense. 

Howard isn't the cornerback who had 23 interceptions in a four-year stretch from 2018-2021, but the 30-year-old only allowed two passing touchdowns and a 64.2 passer rating in coverage last season. 

Still a starter in the league, Howard can still line up against the game's top wideouts. 

The 33-year-old Gilmore had another strong season in coverage, allowing just four pass touchdowns and a 60.3 rating while notching two interceptions. Opposing quarterbacks had just a 49% completion rate targeting Gilmore. 

Gilmore has been on four teams in three years, yet is still a starter. 

Nelson had his best season in coverage in 2023, a perfect time to get looks in free agency. He allowed just one passing touchdown and a 40.4 passer rating when being targeted, while earning four interceptions. 

Being 31 could be a reason why Nelson has not signed with a team yet. He might wait until after the draft. 

The best free agent left on the market, the 30-year-old Simmons is coming off a season which he finished with 70 tackles, three interceptions and eight passes defended. He earned his third straight Second Team All-Pro selection as opposing quarterbacks targeting Simmons had just a 58.4 passer rating. 

Simmons is the best safety in a deep crop of free agents at the position. 

Hyde's coverage skills have declined over the past two seasons (87.2 rating), yet the 33-year-old has started 128 games in 11 seasons. A neck injury limited Hyde in 2022, but he returned to have 54 tackles and two interceptions in 14 games. 

Hyde is still a good starter in the league and a natural leader on a defense. 

Just 28 years old, Adams has played in only 10 games over the past two seasons, thanks to a torn quad tendon and lingering knee issues. Adams had 48 tackles in nine games last season, playing primarily as strong safety. 

Injuries have significantly limited Adams, who can still attack the run. He also hasn't had a sack in three years after setting a record for defensive backs in 2020 (9.5). 

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