Every Team's Most Important Contract Extension Ahead of 2023 NFL Season
While most of the focus during the NFL offseason is on player acquisition and position battles, general managers and other team decision-makers are busy behind the scenes taking care of financial matters.
Contract negotiations might not excite fans the way that a coveted free agent, premier draft pick or intriguing camp competition will. However, they're a vital part of the franchise-building equation. Keeping the best players away from contract disputes and/or the open market is how smart teams build instead of rebuilding.
Earlier this offseason, for example, the Philadelphia Eagles ensured that Jalen Hurts would be their starting quarterback for the foreseeable future by inking him to a five-year extension. Signing Hurts a year before he would reach free agency also allowed Philly to get ahead of the growing quarterback market.
While not every franchise has an elite quarterback like Hurts to lock up, every team has at least one player with whom an extension should be a priority in the coming months—whether it's to rectify a contract situation, lock in savings or simply jump the 2024 free-agent market. We'll look at each player and the specifics of each individual situation below.
Arizona Cardinals: S Budda Baker
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Back in April, Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker requested either a trade or a new contract that would make him the league's highest-paid safety, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
We haven't heard much about Baker's situation since then, and the 27-year-old was present at mandatory minicamp, so a holdout seems unlikely. However, Baker has just two years left on his contract and, and it would behoove the Cardinals to do what it takes to keep Baker in the fold long-term.
The team is rebuilding under new head coach Jonathan Gannon, and Baker is one of the few true stars on the roster. He's a five-time Pro Bowler and one of the team's veteran centerpieces.
"We all know Budda's a huge leader," defensive back Isaiah Simmons said, per Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports.
If it takes an extension and a raise to keep Baker happy, the Cardinals should get it done. With $23.3 million in cap space remaining this offseason, they can.
Atlanta Falcons: CB A.J. Terrell
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Finding a candidate for the Atlanta Falcons was tricky because the franchise has done a good job of locking in veterans, and most of its 2024 free agents are players who were added this offseason.
After extending guard Chris Lindstrom in March, the Falcons may want to turn their focus to cornerback A.J. Terrell. The 24-year-old has two years remaining on his contract, including the fifth-year option, but extending him now would make some sense.
Terrell has blossomed into a quality starter for the Falcons. He started 30 games over the past two seasons and tallied 15 passes defended and three interceptions during that span. While Atlanta could wait until after Terrell's fourth season for an extension, as it did with Lindstrom, there's one big reason not to wait.
To put it bluntly, the price of starting-caliber cornerbacks will only go up. The league's top cornerbacks, like Jaire Alexander, Marlon Humphrey and Xavien Howard all make more than $18 million annually. That will probably become the floor for Terrell if he has a breakthrough Pro Bowl campaign this season. Getting ahead of the growing CB market and signing Terrell early would be sensible.
Baltimore Ravens: LB Patrick Queen
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Though they traded for Roquan Smith last year and drafted Trenton Simpson in April, the Baltimore Ravens insist that they'd prefer to keep linebacker Patrick Queen.
"We want Patrick Queen on this team; we want to keep him on this team. We will, at some point, try to get him signed, hopefully, to an extension if we can," general manager Eric DeCosta told The Lounge podcast (h/t Ryan Mink of the team's official website).
Assuming DeCosta is being forthright and not simply trying to leverage Queen's trade value, Baltimore needs to get an extension done before the start of the season.
While Queen hasn't quite lived up to his first-round draft status—and Baltimore didn't exercise his fifth-year option—he's a quality starter. He logged 117 tackles and five sacks last season while allowing an opposing passer rating of only 83.1 in coverage.
Another strong campaign will have Queen in demand on the 2024 free-agent market, and the Ravens are projected to have just $4 million in cap space next offseason. They have $10.5 million available now and can afford to work out an agreement with the 23-year-old.
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Buffalo Bills: Edge A.J. Epenesa
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The Buffalo Bills recently worked out an extension with defensive lineman Ed Oliver. They should set their sights on extending pass-rusher A.J. Epenesa next.
Epenesa wasn't much of a factor during his first two seasons, notching just 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks during that span. However, he had a bit of a breakout last year, recording 6.5 sacks, 14 quarterback pressures, five passes defended and 16 tackles despite playing just 38 percent of the defensive snaps.
While Epenesa is purely a situational pass-rusher at this point, he proved that he can be a valuable contributor in Buffalo's defense. He's also set to be a free agent in 2024 and could become a hot commodity with another campaign similar to his last one.
While the Bills only have $5 million in cap space, working out a new deal with Epenesa should be doable. He hasn't earned a big-money contract just yet and will carry a modest cap hit of $1.9 million this season.
Buffalo also has edge-rushers Leonard Floyd and Shaq Lawson slated to hit the market next offseason. Extending Epenesa on a team-friendly deal would help give the Bills some solidified depth on the edge ahead of 2024.
Carolina Panthers: Edge Brian Burns
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Carolina Panthers pass-rusher Brian Burns hopes to be one of the league's highest-paid sack artists—though he's not necessarily in a rush to get paid.
"I'm blessed to be in that [conversation] for an opportunity to have that [type of a deal]," Burns said, per ESPN's David Newton. "Right now, I'm enjoying the process and enjoying everything that comes with it."
Carolina should be eager to lock up Burns before the start of the season. He's been a consistent performer—with 38 sacks and two Pro Bowls in four seasons—but he's scheduled to be a free agent next year.
As is the case at most positions, the price for premier pass-rushers will steadily increase. Burns will get multiple offers if he reaches the open market, and the closer he gets to free agency, the less likely he'll be to simply re-up with Carolina.
The Panthers have $23.7 million in cap space now, which means they can afford to extend Burns, prevent him from hitting the market next year and avoid the franchise-tag conversation altogether. There's really no reason to wait.
Chicago Bears: TE Cole Kmet
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The Chicago Bears are looking to build a potent offense around third-year quarterback Justin Fields. They acquired wideout D.J. Moore in the trade that sent Carolina the No. 1 pick, added guard Nate Davis and rookie tackle Darnell Wright to the offensive line and signed D'Onta Foreman to replace David Montgomery at running back.
Extending tight end Cole Kmet, who will be a free agent in 2024, is the next logical step for Chicago. The 24-year-old emerged as Fields' most reliable target in 2022 and developed chemistry with his quarterback throughout the season.
Kmet led the Bears in receptions (50), receiving yards (544) and receiving touchdowns (7) last year. He also provided a quarterback rating of 105.0 when targeted. Over the past two years, Kmet has averaged 55 receptions, 578 yards and four touchdowns.
While the Bears did sign tight end Robert Tonyan Jr. this offseason, keeping Kmet should be among the team's top priorities. With a league-high $31.6 million in cap space, Chicago can and should extend him a year before hitting the open market becomes a possibility.
Cincinnati Bengals: QB Joe Burrow
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Joe Burrow is the first of several quarterbacks we'll examine on this list, and the Cincinnati Bengals should be eager to extend him before the others sign new deals.
Jalen Hurts signed an extension early in the offseason that made him the highest-paid player in league history in terms of annual value. When Lamar Jackson signed his extension, he topped Hurts' $51 million-per-year deal by $1 million.
Due to the next-man-up nature of quarterback contracts, whichever quarterback signs next is likely to earn more than Jackson, and the contract after that will probably be worth even more. The longer Cincinnati waits to extend Burrow, the more it will cost them, and the less money they'll have for other positions.
There's no reason to wait here, as Burrow has proved that he's an elite signal-caller capable of getting Cincinnati to a Super Bowl. Getting a deal done sooner than later should also be a priority because it will allow the Bengals to gauge their options with other players.
Wideout Tee Higgins and pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson, for example, will be free agents in 2024, while No. 1 receiver Ja'Marr Chase will be extension-eligible next offseason. The Bengals have to figure out their long-term financial plans, and it all has to start with locking in Burrow.
Cleveland Browns: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
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The Cleveland Browns took steps to revamp their receiving corps this offseason, signing Marquise Goodwin, trading for Elijah Moore and drafting Cedric Tillman. because of this, extending 2024 free agent Donovan Peoples-Jones may seem counterintuitive.
However, extending Peoples-Jones could be a vital part of maintaining offensive continuity moving forward. The reason is that Cleveland has a potential out with No. 1 receiver Amari Cooper next offseason.
Cooper, who will turn 30 next offseason, is set to carry a $23.8 million cap hit in 2024. The Browns could save $12.4 million of that by releasing or trading him. Doing so could be necessary, as the team is projected to be $83.3 million over the 2024 cap.
While Peoples-Jones might not be suited to take over the No. 1 role, he emerged as a dependable second option last year. He finished with 61 catches, 839 yards and three touchdowns while providing a QB rating of 97.5 when targeted.
Peoples-Jones is the longest-tenured Brown in the receiver room and has spent his entire career under head coach Kevin Stefanski. He can take over as the veteran leader in the receiver room if Cooper departs, but the Browns run the risk of losing both wideouts if they don't extend him now.
With $17.2 million in cap space remaining, Cleveland can and should lock up Peoples-Jones now.
Dallas Cowboys: RB Tony Pollard
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The emerging trend in the NFL is to not pay running backs with lengthy contract extensions. We've seen Pro Bowlers like Miles Sanders reach free agency, and veterans like Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott released before the end of their extensions.
However, the Dallas Cowboys should think long and hard about extending franchise-tagged running back Tony Pollard before the July 17 deadline to do so passes.
If Pollard plays on the franchise-tag tender, which he has already signed, he'll be guaranteed $10.1 million for the 2023 season. While Dallas would likely have to guarantee more on a multi-year deal in order to entice Pollard, it could spread the money out and potentially even lower his 2023 cap hit.
And while Pollard is 26 years old and coming off of leg surgery, the 2022 Pro Bowler hasn't been a heavily utilized back to this point. He's logged just 510 carries in four years and doesn't carry the same risk of decline every-down backs like Elliott and Cook possess.
The Cowboys also have little proven depth behind Pollard, with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers castoff Ronald Jones II being the most experienced backup. Extending Pollard now would leave far fewer questions in Dallas' backfield next offseason.
Denver Broncos: LB Josey Jewell
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An argument could be made for wideout Jerry Jeudy here, as the 2020 first-round pick is extension-eligible. However, the Denver Broncos have already exercised Jeudy's fifth-year option and can afford to evaluate him for another year or two before committing long-term.
This leaves us looking at 2024 free agency, where linebacker Josey Jewell is one of only two key contributors the Broncos could potentially lose—Kareem Jackson, who just re-signed on a one-year deal is the other.
Extending Jewell would make sense, as the 28-year-old has become an integral part of the defense when healthy. He was a 16-game starter in 2020 before missing most of 2021 with a torn pectoral. He returned to start 13 games last season, finishing with 128 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions.
Jewell is still in his playing prime, and extending him would keep a good player in the fold while potentially generating a little 2023 cap space. While Jewel has $2.3 million in dead money remaining on his contract, part of his $4.5 million base salary could be converted to a bonus and spread over future years.
Detroit Lions: QB Jared Goff
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When he arrived with the Detroit Lions in 2021, quarterback Jared Goff was largely viewed as a throw-in by the Los Angles Rams in the Matthew Stafford trade. However, the 28-year-old has rebounded nicely with the Lions and is coming off his first Pro Bowl campaign with the franchise.
Goff has two years remaining on his contract and cap hits of $31 million and $31.7 million in 2023 and 2024, respectively. That's a fair rate for a Pro Bowl signal-caller, but the Lions are interested in extending him now.
"We've had dialogue with his agent and we're in a good place right now," general manager Brad Holmes told WXYT-FM (h/t Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
While Goff isn't going to get a record-breaking contract like Joe Burrow or Justin Herbert may land, the price of above-average starters is going up. Extending Goff early could save Detroit money in the long run, while ensuring they have adequate time to evaluate 2023 third-round pick Hendon Hooker.
Depending on how a new deal is constructed, an early extension might provide cap flexibility next year. Goff will have only $5 million in dead money remaining, and while the Lions have $49.2 million in projected 2024 cap space, they'll also be looking at extensions for 2021 draft picks like Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Green Bay Packers: Edge Rashan Gary
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Pass-rusher Rashan Gary is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and the Green Bay Packers would be wise to extend him early.
While Gary is coming off a season shortened by a torn ACL, he has proved himself to be a budding star. He had six sacks in nine games last year and 9.5 sacks and 47 quarterback pressures the previous season.
If Gary shows that he's back to pre-injury form this year, his price point in 2024 free agency will skyrocket. Green Bay, which has just $7.8 million in projected 2024 cap space, must be cognizant of that fact.
Extending Gary now would ensure that he remains a piece of the long-term puzzle. It would also potentially save millions amid a rising pass-rusher market, which could be huge in a couple of years.
After signing an extension this offseason, quarterback Jordan Love is under contract through 2024. If he proves to be a worthy successor to Aaron Rodgers—admittedly a big "if"—the Packers will eventually have to figure out how to give Love top-of-the-market money.
Any money Green Bay can save in the interim will prove valuable if and when it's time to play Love.
Houston Texans: CB Steven Nelson
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The Houston Texans are in full-on rebuild mode, and if we're being honest, there just aren't many extension-eligible players who have shown they should be a part of the franchise's future.
Cornerback Steven Nelson is one notable exception. He signed a two-year free agent deal last offseason and proved to be one of the few bright spots on Houston's 30th-ranked defense.
The 30-year-old started 15 games in 2022 and played 94 percent of the defensive snaps in those games. He finished with 52 tackles, a sack, seven passes defended and an interception while allowing an opposing passer rating of only 80.5 in coverage.
It remains to be seen how Nelson operates under new head coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke. However, extending Nelson now would ensure that Houston keeps a quality veteran leader on its defense for the foreseeable future.
The Texans recently made a similar move with defensive tackle Maliek Collins, and Nelson should be next on their extension list.
Indianapolis Colts: WR Michael Pittman Jr.
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The Indianapolis Colts have two prime extension candidates in running back Jonathan Taylor and wideout Michael Pittman Jr. A strong case could be made for Taylor, who led the league in rushing in 2021, but Pittman should actually be the bigger priority.
Taylor is coming off a season hampered by an ankle injury, and he underwent offseason surgery. That adds some injury risk on top of workload concerns—Taylor logged 960 touches in college and another 860 since entering the NFL in 2020.
Letting Taylor play out his rookie deal and then using the franchise tag in 2024, if deemed necessary, could be the more prudent move for the Colts.
Pittman, meanwhile, has shown himself to be a reliable perimeter receiver. He's averaged 1,004 receiving yards and five touchdowns over the past two years and projects as rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson's No. 1 target moving forward.
Extending Pittman now would give Richardson a quality young receiver with whom to grow while also allowing Indianapolis to get out in front of an already pricey receiver market.
Plus, if the Colts are forced to franchise tag either Tayor or Pittman next season, Taylor will be the cheaper option. The cost of tagging a receiver in 2023 was nearly $9.7 million more than the cost of tagging a running back.
Jacksonville Jaguars: TE Evan Engram
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The Jacksonville Jaguars have until July 17 to work out a long-term extension with tight end Evan Engram, and they should. After that date, he'll be forced to play under the franchise tag and could potentially walk in 2024 free agency.
That would create a potential problem for the Jags and quarterback Trevor Lawrence—who developed a palpable rapport with Engram last season. The soon-to-be 29-year-old caught 73 passes for 766 yards and four touchdowns in his first season in Jacksonville.
The Jags tagged Engram to keep him off the free-agent market, and their initial plan was to work out an extension before the deadline.
"We're trending in that direction but we're not there yet," general manager Trent Baalke said, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
While Jacksonville did use a second-round pick on Penn State tight end Brenton Strange, they should still look to lock up Engram for at least a couple more years. He's shown himself to be one of Lawrence's most trusted targets, and until/unless Strange does the same, Engram should be kept in the lineup.
Kansas City Chiefs: DL Chris Jones
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Kansas City Chiefs standout defensive lineman Chris Jones is entering the final year of his contract, is angling for a new deal and was not at mandatory minicamp.
Presumably, Jones wants to be one of the league's highest-paid defensive tackles, and while he's due to earn $28.3 million this season, his annual $20 million value is less than those of Aaron Donald, Daron Payne, Jeffery Simmons, Dexter Lawrence, Javon Hargrave and DeForest Buckner.
Keeping Jones happy and on the roster should be a priority for Kansas City, both because of his on-field prowess—he had 15.5 sacks during his 2023 All-Pro campaign—and his leadership ability.
"He's one of the main reasons that we've had the success that we've had," quarterback Patrick Mahomes said, per PJ Green of Fox 4 Kansas City. "He's been that leader on the defense."
Extending Jones now might also provide some cap relief, depending on how his next deal is constructed. The 28-year-old has just $7 million in dead money on his deal and a base salary of $19.5 million. The Chiefs, meanwhile, have less than $1 million in cap space.
Converting a large chunk of Jones' salary into a bonus that is spread over several years could give the Chiefs a little financial breathing room heading into the summer.
Las Vegas Raiders: RB Josh Jacobs
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Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was given the franchise tag this offseason and may be content to hold out if it means eventually getting a long-term deal. The 25-year-old may have been hinting that he planned to push back against the declining running back market on social media earlier this month:
"Sometimes it's not about you," Jacobs tweeted. "We gotta do it for the ones after us."
If Jacobs is unwilling to play on the franchise tag this year, the Raiders have until July 17 to work out a long-term extension and get him into training camp. the question is whether that's what the front office duo of Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler want—and it might not be.
Jacobs has already logged 1,232 touches as a pro. McDaniels and Co. could be looking to squeeze one more heavy-workload season out of him before going younger and cheaper at the position.
However, this is an incredibly important decision that the Raiders have to make in the coming weeks. If they don't extend Jacobs, they might not have one of their best offensive players—and the reigning rushing champion—in 2023. That would leave Las Vegas leaning on more unproven backs like Zamir White and Brittain Brown while trying to properly evaluate a roster that is in the early stages of a rebuild.
Los Angeles Chargers: QB Justin Herbert
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It appears that the Los Angeles Chargers won't have to worry about Justin Herbert holding out if he isn't granted an extension this offseason. The fourth-year quarterback has stated that he plans to be at training camp.
"When it comes time [for training] camp, the role of the quarterback is to be out there for his team and to do everything he can to put that team in a position to win," Herbert said, per ESPN's Lindsey Thiry. "I understand that responsibility."
However, this doesn't mean that the Chargers should wait. As we've already discussed, the price of premier quarterbacks is consistently on the rise. Herbert has consistently shown that he's in that upper tier.
Through three seasons, Herbert has posted a 96.2 quarterback rating, completed 66.9 percent of his passes, been named Offensive Rookie of the Year, made the Pro Bowl and delivered a playoff berth.
Herbert is going to get top-of-the-market money, and Los Angeles should be in a race to extend him before his 2020 draft-mates, Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa, get their next deals. As is the case for the Bengals and Miami Dolphins, the longer the Chargers wait, the more they'll ultimately have to invest in Herbert.
Los Angeles Rams: WR Van Jefferson
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The Los Angeles Rams are in an odd place. Core veterans like Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald and Matthew Stafford are under contract for at least two more years. However, other veterans, like Jalen Ramsey and Leonard Floyd, were jettisoned as part of the rebuilding process this offseason.
The Rams aren't trying to get younger across the board just yet, but they do seem to be planning for the future. That's why locking in wide receiver Van Jefferson a year before he reaches free agency would make sense.
Jefferson missed a good chunk of the 2022 season with a knee injury but finished healthy. He was fantastic the previous season too, finishing with 50 receptions, 802 yards and six touchdowns. He provided a passer rating of 104.2 when targeted in 2021. He could have an even better 2023 campaign now that he's healthy and likely to take over the No. 2 receiver role.
"I know he feels really confident going into the season," Stafford said, per Skyler Carlin of Rams Wire. "We feel confident in him."
Jefferson will turn 27 in July, can be a long-term building block who can aid whichever quarterback comes after Stafford, and he's extension eligible. L.A. should consider signing him before his price potentially goes up.
Miami Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa
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The Dolphins' decision on whether to extend their quarterback early won't be as easy to make as it is for the Chargers and Bengals. Tua Tagovailoa can sign a new deal now and is coming off his best statistical season.
This past year, Tagovailoa led the NFL in both yards per attempt (9.2) and passer rating (105.5). He seemed to flourish in Mike McDaniel's offense—and with offseason addition Tyreek Hill—and entered the conversation of the league's best young signal-callers.
However, Tagovailoa was much less consistent before McDaniel's arrival, and he missed time with multiple concussions in 2022. This means that the 25-year-old has less than one full season of top-tier play on his resume.
Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert had played at a high level more consistently and for longer than Tagovailoa has. That's why extending them after three years is more logical for Cincinnati and Los Angeles than for Miami—which might want to ensure that 2022 was no fluke.
The Dolphins have to weigh this reality against the fact that if Tagovailoa is on his way to being an elite quarterback, he may eventually demand to be paid more than Burrow and Herbert if he's the last of the 2020 trio to sign. It's a tricky decision but an important one.
Minnesota Vikings: WR Justin Jefferson
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Technically, the Minnesota Vikings don't have to extend wideout Justin Jefferson this offseason. He's only entering Year 4 and doesn't appear to be considering any sort of holdout.
"[Negotiations] happen every single year," Jefferson said, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "It's not something that's new towards the game."
However, Jefferson deserves a new contract. He's racked up 4,825 receiving yards, 25 touchdowns, three Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro nod in only three seasons. He's only 24 years old, is arguably the best receiver in the game, and he'll eventually be paid like it.
Minnesota could delay paying Jefferson the proverbial fat cash, but waiting could present a problem. Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase—who has 2,501 yards, 22 touchdowns and two Pro Bowls in two seasons—will be extension-eligible in 2024.
If the Vikings wait until next year to extend Jefferson, they'll almost certainly have to top whatever deal Chase gets from Cincinnati. Minnesota has $19.2 million in cap space this offseason and should go ahead and extend Jefferson before the market for top receivers—currently led by Tyreek Hill at $30 million annually—goes any higher.
New England Patriots: S Kyle Dugger
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The New England Patriots used a 2020 second-round pick on safety Kyle Dugger, and he quickly emerged as one of the centerpieces of the Patriots' secondary.
Dugger started seven games as a rookie and 30 games over the last two seasons. He has logged 234 tackles and seven interceptions in three seasons, and with fellow safety Devin McCourty retired, Dugger becomes the leader of New England's safety room.
With Dugger entering the final year of his rookie contract, the Patriots would be wise to extend him early. Should the 27-year-old hit the open market in 2024, he'll almost certainly be one of the most in-demand safeties in a class that could also include C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Chuck Clark.
New England has a tendency to not overpay defensive backs it doesn't deem essential to the defense, J.C. Jackson being the latest example in 2022. However, Dugger has shown that he's a key piece on that side of the ball.
Extending Dugger before the season could allow the Patriots to avoid the prospect of paying top market dollar in free agency.
New Orleans Saints: Edge Cameron Jordan
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New Orleans Saints star pass-rusher Cameron Jordan is entering the final year of his contract, and the Saints are already thinking about an extension.
""He's going to be able to play for us as long as he wants to and as long as he can," general manager Mickey Loomis told SiriusXM NFL Radio (h/t John Sigler of Saints Wire. "Then when the time comes, his name will be up in that Ring of Honor and the Hall of Fame and all those other accolades that come with a player of his stature."
Working out a new deal for Jordan now is essential because he'll instantly become one of the top free agents on the 2024 market if he reaches it. Though he'll turn 34 in July, Jordan is still productive and coming off his eighth Pro Bowl campaign.
Using the franchise tag to keep Jordan next season won't be realistic, as New Orleans is projected to be $77.4 million over the cap. The Saints have $14.3 million now and should work out an agreement that gives them at least some cap flexibility in 2024.
New York Giants: RB Saquon Barkley
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Like the Cowboys and Raiders, the New York Giants have an important decision to make regarding a running back on whom they've placed the franchise tag.
Modern NFL wisdom suggests that New York shouldn't pay to keep 26-year-old running back Saquon Barkley long-term. However, the situation in New York isn't typical. Barkley is one of the league's best backs when healthy, and he's become the centerpiece of the Giants' offense.
Barkley also serves as Daniel Jones' security blanket out of the backfield (57 receptions in 2022), and the Giants are eager to see their recently-extended quarterback succeed. New York wants to keep Barkley in that role and has been working on an extension since last season.
"Obviously, we've been going around with Saquon in communication since probably about nine months now, but that's above my paygrade in terms of divulging some of the stuff that we're going to keep in-house," assistant general manager Brandon Brown said, per Charlotte Carroll and Dan Duggan of The Athletic.
The challenge will be working out an extension with which the Giants' feel comfortable. Barkley has been special in two of his five campaigns but has battled injuries in the other three. New York has to have some sort of contract out if it is going to lock up Barkley at a top-of-the-market price.
However, doing so could potentially lower Barkley's 2023 cap number, depending on how the contract is constructed, which would be a benefit to a franchise with only $4.2 million in cap space.
New York Jets: S Chuck Clark
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Aaron Rodgers was the big acquisition of the New York Jets this offseason, but he wasn't the only one. The Jets also snagged safety Chuck Clark from the Ravens in a very favorable trade.
Acquiring Clark cost the Jets a mere 2024 seventh-round pick. He'll carry a modest cap hit of only $4.1 million this season.
However, Clark is also entering the final year of his deal, and New York would be wise to extend him before the start of the season. While the 28-year-old has yet to play for the Jets, he's a proven starter who logged 101 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery last season in Baltimore.
Clark is young enough to be a long-term staple on the back end of the Jets defense, and signing him now could be easier than trying to compete on the free-agent market—New York is projected to have only $3.1 million in 2024 cap space but has $21.3 million right now.
While Clark has said that he's content to play out the final year of his deal, the Jets have to at least consider extending him early.
Philadelphia Eagles: OL Jack Driscoll
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After locking up Hurts, the Eagles are left with very few viable extension candidates. Players like center Jason Kelce and edge-rusher Brandon Graham could be considered, but if the Eagles were determined to keep them beyond 2023, they would have signed them to more than one-year deals.
If general manager Howie Roseman is going to extend anyone early, backup lineman Jack Driscoll would make a lot of sense. While he's primarily a depth player, he can play multiple positions and is an extremely valuable insurance policy.
Driscoll has appeared in 37 games and made 16 starts since being drafted in 2020. He's entering the final year of his rookie contract, though, and it's worth signing him to a multi-year deal.
Every team with Super Bowl aspirations should value depth, and Driscoll should be available at a relatively team-friendly price. That could change, though, if Driscoll earns the starting job at right guard over Cam Jurgens and rookie Tyler Steen in training camp.
Former Eagles guard Isaac Seumalo landed a three-year, $24 million deal in free agency this offseason.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Edge Alex Highsmith
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Pass-rusher Alex Highsmith has emerged as an integral piece of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense over the last couple of seasons. The 25-year-old logged six sacks in 2021 before exploding with 14.5 sacks and 28 quarterback pressures this past season.
Highsmith helped keep Pittsburgh's pass rush afloat while T.J. Watt was sidelined by a partially torn pectoral in 2022. The Steelers have a tendency to keep their top players in the fold, and they are interested in retaining Highsmith long-term.
"The team has engaged with Highsmith's representation, but Highsmith has been coy on the exact progress between the two sides," ESPN's Brooke Pryor wrote.
Now entering the final year of his rookie deal, Highsmith is a prime candidate to receive an early extension. The timing is right for general manager Omar Khan to work out an agreement, just as he did with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick last offseason.
Getting a deal done before the season would be logical, as another season of strong sack production could have Highsmith eyeing free agency and a contract with which the Steelers are uncomfortable.
San Francisco 49ers: Edge Nick Bosa
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San Francisco 49ers pass-rusher Nick Bosa is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and he's entering the final year of his rookie contract. If the 49ers hope to keep Bosa for the foreseeable future, extending him a year early would be prudent.
The alternative would be using the franchise tag on Bosa in 2024 and likely eventually paying him more in a rising pass-rusher market.
Fans should expect Bosa to get his extension before the start of the season but perhaps not before training camp, as this has been the trend under general manager John Lynch.
".In recent years, the Niners have gone through their offseason business before turning their attention to big-money extensions," ESPN's Nick Wagoner wrote. "And all of those—tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and receiver Deebo Samuel—were completed either right before training camp or soon after it opened."
The 49ers have $11.4 million in cap space remaining, and it's likely that they use as much of that as necessary to get Bosa under contract for the next four-to-five years.
Seattle Seahawks: LB Jordyn Brooks
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2020 first-round pick Jordyn Brooks didn't see extensive playing time as a rookie but has emerged as a big-time contributor over the past two seasons.
In 2021, Brooks led the NFL with 109 solo tackles to go with 75 assists and a sack. Last season, he had 161 total tackles, 103 solo stops, a sack and five passes defended. While the 25-year-old can struggle in coverage (122.6 opposing passer rating in 2022), he's a big piece of Seattle's run defense.
The Seahawks declined the fifth-year option on Brooks' contract, meaning he's scheduled to be a free agent in 2024. While Seattle clearly wasn't comfortable guaranteeing $12.8 million in 2024 to a somewhat one-dimensional defender, it should be willing to extend Brooks at a lower annual price.
The 25-year-old showed that he could remain productive in defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt's 3-4 defense last season, and he's young enough to remain a key contributor for several years. The challenge would be paying Brooks to stay in free agency next year.
With only $7.7 million in projected 2024 cap space, using some of Seattle's current $8.7 million in cap room to extend Brooks now would be logical.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Devin White
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a few impending 2024 free agents for whom an early extension would make sense—including wideout Mike Evans and linebackers Devin White and Lavonte David.
Of the group, White is probably the player who should be the top priority. This is because the Buccaneers are likely looking at a rebuild in the wake of Tom Brady's retirement, unless of course, Kyle Trask or Baker Mayfield proves to be a high-level starter in 2023.
White will only turn 26 next offseason and is well-suited to be a longtime starter for the Buccaneers. Evans, meanwhile, will turn 30 in August, while David is already 33.
White did request a trade early in the offseason after extension talks stalled, but David believes that his younger teammate will be ready to play in 2023.
"Emotions got the best of him, but he's here," David told reporters Wednesday. "...he's getting himself ready for training camp. I talked to him throughout the whole process."
The challenge will be figuring out a way to extend White with only $2.4 million in cap space remaining. It's a very important task for general manager Jason Licht to tackle in the coming months.
Tennessee Titans: CB Kristian Fulton
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With both Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry set to hit the market in 2024, the Tennessee Titans are likely looking at a rebuild sooner than later. Keeping young ascending players like cornerback Kristian Fulton should be a priority as Tennessee looks to the future.
Fulton, a 2020 second-round pick, is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He has dealt with injuries during his three seasons with the Titans, but he's also been a strong performer when healthy.
Over his past two campaigns, Fulton recorded 19 passes defended and three interceptions while limiting opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating below 83.0 in coverage.
While Fulton's injury history cannot be dismissed—he's missed 20 games overall—his upside is undeniable. The 24-year-old has the potential to become a perennial Pro Bowler if he can stay healthy.
And if Fulton does stay healthy throughout the 2023 season, he's likely going to drive up his free-agency value in 2024. General manager Ron Carthon should consider locking up Fulton now with an incentive-laden deal that keeps the young corner in-house while protecting the team from future injuries.
Washington Commanders: Edge Montez Sweat
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The Washington Commanders have two pass-rushers slated to hit the 2024 market who could warrant extensions now in Chase Young and Montez Sweat.
Young has the draft status—he was the second-overall pick in 2020—but he's also had two seasons derailed by a torn ACL. The Commanders declined the fifth-year option on Young's contract, and they'll probably want to see him return to pre-injury form before talking about an extension.
Sweat, a 2019 first-round pick, is set to play out the final year of his rookie contract. Though Sweat did miss time in 2021 with a fractured jaw, he's been much healthier and much more consistent than Young. He's logged at least five sacks in every season, has 29 sacks total and is coming off a season with eight sacks and 31 quarterback pressures.
Extending the 26-year-old early would be a common-sense decision for most teams, but it's a bit trickier for Washington. The Commanders have already invested heavily in defensive linemen Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen, and they can only justify spending so much money on their defensive front.
However, Sweat has proven that he belongs, and if Washington is at all concerned with Young future with the franchise, extending Sweat now would be sensible.
*Cap and contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.
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