The NFL’s 5 Burning Questions of the Offseason
Free agency for 32 NFL teams gets underway on March 11th with “legal tampering.”
The NFL’s 5 Burning Questions of the Offseason
The Kansas City Chiefs took home the Lombardi trophy about two weeks ago and will hope to three-peat in 2024, a feat never accomplished by any team in the NFL. The Chiefs’ grand triumph also marked the official start of the offseason.
So, these are the NFL’s five burning questions as soon as now. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = the one that burns like none other).
5. Who’s the Big Free Agent Spender?
A few years ago, it was the New England Patriots and Houston Texans that broke the bank with free-agent adds. The Jacksonville Jaguars did so in 2022.
Every year, some team hops to the front of the list, emerging as the quintessential big spender of the free agent cycle. This time around, the Washington Commanders, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, and Patriots have gobs of cash.
Watch for a team to steal all the headlines. There’s usually at least one.
4. The Patriots’ Would-Be Trade Partner at No. 3
The aforementioned Patriots need a quarterback, two wide receivers, two offensive tackles, and an EDGE rusher heading into free agency. They could cross items off that list on the open market but may also flip their third overall pick, for example, to another team for two 1st-Rounders and two 2nd-Rounders.
If New England is selling, a quarterback-needy team or teams will pick up the phone for business. But which team will it be? That’s why this one is so fascinating.
3. The Kirk Cousins Sweepstakes
These are the betting odds for Cousins’ services in 2024:
- Minnesota Vikings: -200
- Atlanta Falcons: +300
- Pittsburgh Steelers: +800
- New England Patriots: +800
- Las Vegas Raiders: +1000
Some team will employ a 36-year-old recovering from a torn Achilles on a [probably] $40 million contract who will toss 4,000+ passing yards and 30+ touchdowns.
But as of February 24th, nobody knows which team it will be.
2. The QB Draft Order
The 2024 quarterback draft class is arguably the deepest in six years, and as many as six could go off the board in Round 1. However, most attention before the NFL Combine is focused on the top — in which order will Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels go off the board?
Williams might be a lock for No. 1 overall — probably to Chicago; more on that momentarily — but afterward, it’s a coinflip between Maye and Daniels.
If those three men, indeed, get drafted one-two-three, the teams after the third pick will draft some incredible football players, only pushed down the board because of the world’s emphasis on the quarterback position.
1. The Bears’ Decision
It all starts with the Bears’ mighty choice.
In theory — it feels unlikely as of late February — Chicago could retain Justin Fields for Year No. 4 and flip the draft’s first overall pick for supreme draft capital. Then, a mad dash to Ryan Poles’ cellphone would decide which team picked Caleb Williams.
The Bears could also opt to maximize roster-building around Fields, casting the NFL’s draft plans into disarray. It could happen. It just seems like Poles can’t pass up the chance to draft Williams, who many call “generational.”
Until the Bears end the mystery, this is the hottest offseason domino.
Vikings Make First Free Agent Move
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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