NFL · 1 year ago

NFL Offseason 2024: 5 Storylines You Can’t Miss

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

How Does QB Market Re-Shift Heading Into the Fall?
Every offseason, all eyes always need to be on the quarterback market. After seeing Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, and Joe Burrow receive record-setting contracts last offseason, we look to be in store for another lucrative summer. Most notably, Dak Prescott is seeking a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid quarterback in football. Still, after the Cowboys repeated postseason collapses, it will be worthwhile to monitor how Jerry Jones approaches the situation. Elsewhere, Jared Goff is looking for a new deal, and while he won’t receive top dollar, it will be interesting to see the type of commitment Detroit gives him. Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins are free agents this offseason as well, so seeing how they reset the market for “rental QBs” will be noteworthy.
How Does Chicago Approach Top Pick?
The Chicago Bears have everything in front of them that they could want. They hold the No.1 overall pick in this upcoming draft, giving them the effective rights to draft Caleb Williams while also having Justin Fields, who many believe should be the Bears’ franchise quarterback. They cannot go wrong. On one end, they trade the top pick for a war chest of picks and assets, setting them up perfectly to build a contender around Fields, or they select Williams with the first pick and likely recoup another first-round pick from trading Fields. The quarterback market around the NFL is likely waiting for the Bears to reveal their intentions before we see some of the other names move, but the Bears are set up perfectly to take the next step in their rebuild.
Where Will Russell Wilson End Up?
Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos have essentially declared that they are moving on from Russell Wilson at quarterback after two disastrous seasons. However, teams around the NFL could still view Wilson as an upgrade over their current quarterback. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons stand out as the two teams that could be a quarterback away from the postseason next season, so it will be worth watching to see how teams view Wilson and how valuable he is still perceived to be.
Wide Receiver Market
Every year wide receiver value keeps increasing, but this offseason will be the craziest for them in recent years. Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb are due for contract extensions, and both are expected to reshift the non-QB contract market completely. Looking at the trade market, Stefon Diggs’s future in Buffalo doesn’t appear to be guaranteed, while it seems like a possibility that the Bengals’ extension talks with Tee Higgins could go south. Additionally, the Chiefs look primed to add a wide receiver to their roster, so it will be interesting to see how this shakes out. It would make sense for the Vikings and Cowboys to want extensions finalized before free agency. After that, anything goes.
Can Eagles Reload Enough?
Over the last month and a half, no story in the NFL was more explicit, obvious, and concrete than the collapse of the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the most disappointing and pathetic thing of the season. After starting 10-1, they wound up losing five of their final six games in the regular season in embarrassing fashion, then went on to get romped by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luckily, the offseason has brought about much-needed change already. They’ve seen a coaching staff change as Vic Fangio and Kellen Moore have been brought in as coordinators. Still, a big job is set for Howie Roseman, as this roster needs a ton of help. Defensively, they need to acquire multiple starters through the free agency and the draft, especially on the backend and at the linebacker position. At the same time, franchise icons such as Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham are set to become free agents. Offensively, not much needs to be done besides an answer on Jason Kelce’s future and maybe a new running back. However, with Jalen Hurts at the helm, the offense is screaming for continuity and consistency. This is a pivotal offseason for Philly as they were just in the Super Bowl 12 months ago, so it will be interesting to see how their offseason unfolds.
How Does QB Market Re-Shift Heading Into the Fall?
Every offseason, all eyes always need to be on the quarterback market. After seeing Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, and Joe Burrow receive record-setting contracts last offseason, we look to be in store for another lucrative summer. Most notably, Dak Prescott is seeking a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid quarterback in football. Still, after the Cowboys repeated postseason collapses, it will be worthwhile to monitor how Jerry Jones approaches the situation. Elsewhere, Jared Goff is looking for a new deal, and while he won’t receive top dollar, it will be interesting to see the type of commitment Detroit gives him. Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins are free agents this offseason as well, so seeing how they reset the market for “rental QBs” will be noteworthy.
How Does Chicago Approach Top Pick?
The Chicago Bears have everything in front of them that they could want. They hold the No.1 overall pick in this upcoming draft, giving them the effective rights to draft Caleb Williams while also having Justin Fields, who many believe should be the Bears’ franchise quarterback. They cannot go wrong. On one end, they trade the top pick for a war chest of picks and assets, setting them up perfectly to build a contender around Fields, or they select Williams with the first pick and likely recoup another first-round pick from trading Fields. The quarterback market around the NFL is likely waiting for the Bears to reveal their intentions before we see some of the other names move, but the Bears are set up perfectly to take the next step in their rebuild.