Describing Every NFL Team’s Top Offseason Priority in 1 Sentence
Brad Gagnon@@Brad_GagnonFeatured Columnist IVMarch 6, 2024Describing Every NFL Team’s Top Offseason Priority in 1 Sentence0 of 8
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Sometimes, for the right perspective, you just have to boil it all down.
A lot of NFL teams have a lot of big tasks this offseason, but everyone has their priorities. And ultimately, years from now, how each handles its top priority will likely be all that matters.
With that in mind, let’s go team by team in quick-hit fashion.
Salary information courtesy of Spotrac
AFC East1 of 8
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Buffalo Bills: In order to remain competitive in the mighty AFC, rework deals belonging to Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs and Von Miller, who are due to cost them nearly $100 million in 2024.
Miami Dolphins: Work out a long-term deal with Tua Tagovailoa that costs them a lot less than the $23.2 million salary-cap hit he’s due to carry in 2024.
New England Patriots: Find their next quarterback, likely with the third overall pick.
New York Jets: Overhaul the offensive line, or there was never any point in going all-in on Aaron Rodgers.
AFC North2 of 8
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Baltimore Ravens: Iron out a long-term deal with Justin Madubuike, allowing them to free up more cash to retain at least a decent chunk of their impending free agents on defense.
Cincinnati Bengals: Go get Christian Wilkins, who could help bring the defense to the next level and put the team over the top.
Cleveland Browns: Find Deshaun Watson another reliable wide receiver, or that huge investment will continue to have a ceiling.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Find somebody to truly challenge Kenny Pickett (and we don’t mean Mason Rudolph).
AFC South3 of 8
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Houston Texans: Even with money to spend, don’t overpay potential one-year wonder Jonathan Greenard, because that’s how you find yourself in a hole down the line.
Indianapolis Colts: Work out a long-term deal with Michael Pittman Jr. so that there’s room for more support for Anthony Richardson.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Re-sign Calvin Ridley, because the wide receiver market is drying up and Trevor Lawrence needs more support rather than less.
Tennessee Titans: Move forward, with the understanding that doing so means ending the Derrick Henry era.
AFC West4 of 8
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Denver Broncos: Determine who will replace Russell Wilson, period.
Kansas City Chiefs: Find a way (playing off emotions?) to get discounts for Chris Jones and/or L’Jarius Sneed, but keep both because the defense has become the key in K.C.
Las Vegas Raiders: Maintain discipline and don’t sell the farm to move up in the draft for a top quarterback—something that almost never pays off.
Los Angeles Chargers: Make sure Justin Herbert, Jim Harbaugh, Greg Roman and Marcus Brady are all on the same page with the direction of the offense, because those are some extremely smart offensive cooks in the same kitchen.
NFC East5 of 8
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Dallas Cowboys: Lower Dak Prescott’s atrocious $59.5 million cap hit, or it will be extremely difficult to improve on a promising but still disappointing 2023 campaign.
New York Giants: Respect the process by avoiding any more inflated long-term contracts like the one they handed to Daniel Jones in 2023.
Philadelphia Eagles: Ensure that new coordinators Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio are on the right page with their units by September, because there’s little time to waste under current circumstances.
Washington Commanders: Determine who the right quarterback is, beyond likely No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
NFC North6 of 8
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Chicago Bears: Be as sure as humanly possible about Justin Fields, Caleb Williams or whoever else they consider to take the reins for 2024 and beyond.
Detroit Lions: Extend Jared Goff to create even more cap space in order to make the move to legit Super Bowl contender.
Green Bay Packers: Pocket more than $20 million by moving on from the unreliable David Bakhtiari find Jordan Love’s next blind-side protector.
Minnesota Vikings: Find Kirk Cousins’ successor, because the odds of him finally putting it all together for them coming off a major injury at age 36 are pretty damn low.
NFC South7 of 8
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Atlanta Falcons: Chase Russell Wilson, because the fit makes sense and they have the weapons to support the veteran quarterback.
Carolina Panthers: Shore up an offensive line that all too often left Bryce Young in tough spots as a rookie.
New Orleans Saints: Try to sell off Derek Carr, but at least restructure his deal and be prepared to cast aside or restructure fellow veterans Ryan Ramczyk, Marshon Lattimore, Cameron Jordan, Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara ahead of what should realistically be a rebuild.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Do not let Baker Mayfield get away, because there’s a real chance he is the long-term answer.
NFC West8 of 8
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Arizona Cardinals: If you’re all-in on Kyler Murray, give the guy an elite weapon—preferably Marvin Harrison Jr.
Los Angeles Rams: Keep Kevin Dotson on the roster, or you risk regressing or at least losing momentum.
San Francisco 49ers: Take Brock Purdy to the next level, with offensive line additions and plenty of work with Kyle Shanahan and Co.
Seattle Seahawks: Make a decision on the next quarterback, period.
