2024 NFL offseason primers: All 32 teams’ needs, free agents, draft picks, cap space, and more
The 2023 NFL season is over. Now 2024 can begin.
What are your team’s top needs? What free agents might they lose? How much cap space do they have? Who in the draft might help? What could move the fantasy needle?
We’ll answer all those questions for you in our team-by-team primers. 32 franchises, one goal — which starts now.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Further over the cap than every other team, Buffalo may lose several defensive starters to free agency. Luckily, Josh Allen and other important pieces are still around.
Miami Dolphins
Will quarterback Tua Tagovailoa receive a contract extension? And how do you fix the offensive line with one of the league’s worst cap situations?
New England Patriots
The post-Bill Belichick era begins with a premium draft pick in a good quarterback draft, as well as a ton of cap space.
New York Jets
The offensive line and wide receiver room need upgrades if New York wants to maximize a big year ahead with Aaron Rodgers returning from injury.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
One of the NFL’s best teams last season has its core pieces in place, but faces a challenge in retaining several key free agents.
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow should be healthy again, which is promising, since Cincinnati has major cap space to bolster one of the AFC’s best teams.
Cleveland Browns
There’s a Super Bowl-caliber roster here, and it mostly hinges on which version of Deshaun Watson they get.
Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s unwise to expect Mike Tomlin to have his first losing season, but quarterback is a glaring issue that needs resolved.
AFC South
Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud had arguably the best rookie QB season ever, Will Anderson Jr. was defensive Rookie of the Year, and Houston won the AFC South. How can things get even better?
Indianapolis Colts
It’s all about building around Anthony Richardson in Indy. Here are the ways they could go about it.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The pressure’s on after a disappointing collapse to end 2023. Jacksonville isn’t blowing things up, but there are a couple big free agents to contend with.
Tennessee Titans
Change is in the air in Tennessee, where Brian Callahan has replaced Mike Vrabel as head coach, and QB Ryan Tannehill and RB Derrick Henry might be gone soon too.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Sean Payton already benched Russell Wilson late last season. Now the question becomes: How do they actually move on from him?
Kansas City Chiefs
The roster may look very different from the one that just won a second straight Super Bowl, but it might be even better in pursuit of an unprecedented third.
Las Vegas Raiders
Antonio Pierce got the full-time gig as Vegas’ head coach. Now he needs to find his franchise quarterback.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Bolts made arguably the biggest and best hire of the head coaching cycle in Jim Harbaugh. Which is good, because they need a ton of work.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Another good regular season, another early playoff flameout. 2024 is an “all-in” year, per Jerry Jones. Here’s how his team might go about it.
New York Giants
Year 1 under Brian Daboll was a rousing success. Year 2 thudded back to Earth. How will Year 3 turn out?
Philadelphia Eagles
You won’t find many seasons that sour quicker than Philadelphia’s in 2023. Fortunately, there’s still an NFC contender here.
Washington Commanders
The new ownership group made two key hires in head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters. Who they pick at QB at No. 2 overall might be the biggest move yet.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
The offseason’s major crossroads is in Chicago, where the team needs to decide if it’s drafting a QB at No. 1 overall — or sticking with Justin Fields and open for business.
Detroit Lions
There aren’t many glaring needs in Detroit outside of cornerback and secondary pass rusher. There’s also a ton of cap space. This team is close.
Green Bay Packers
The bad news is, cap space is limited. The good news is just about everything else in Green Bay, which has surrounded yet another franchise QB with a promising roster.
Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins, or a fresh face at quarterback? That’s the big decision in Minnesota, which can return to the playoffs with the right signal-caller.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Desmond Ridder doesn’t appear to be the answer at QB, which means new head coach Raheem Morris has his No. 1 task for the offseason set.
Carolina Panthers
New head coach Dave Canales and GM Dan Morgan have the NFL’s biggest rebuild on their hands, and no first-round pick to get it started with.
New Orleans Saints
Home of one of the NFL’s worst salary cap situations, New Orleans well into the red, which will hinder efforts to improve upon a good-not-great team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Evans is officially back, now the attention turns toward Baker Mayfield and running it back after a surprise NFC South title.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Wins were scarce in 2023, but optimism wasn’t, with Kyler Murray returning strong, first-year head coach Jonathan Gannon getting buy-in and now tons of resources through which to improve.
Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and Co. returned to the playoffs behind resurgent seasons and a number of hits in the draft. Can they climb back into genuine title contention?
San Francisco 49ers
Despite another gut-wrenching Super Bowl loss, San Francisco will retain one of the NFL’s best rosters for another run toward a title.
Seattle Seahawks
Mike Macdonald takes over for Pete Carroll, who oversaw the most successful period in franchise history. Questions start on defense — and maybe at quarterback too.