One Big Question for Every NFL Team on the Verge of Offseason Chaos

This is the calm before the NFL offseason storm. 

The combine is just days away. The franchise tag deadline is two weeks out. All hell will surely break loose when free agency gets underway on March 12. 

Before it all really picks up, let’s ask one big question for each of the 32 franchises. 

Salary-cap information courtesy of Spotrac.

AFC East

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Buffalo Bills: Can they keep the band together despite one of the worst cap situations in the league? 

The good news is they don’t have a few prime impending free agents, and their primary AFC rivals aren’t exactly cap-rich either. The Bills, Chiefs and Ravens will likely come back to the field a little bit in 2025.

Miami Dolphins: Can they keep the band together despite one of the worst cap situations in the league? 

Yes, same question as above. It’s eerie how much these teams have mirrored each other while bringing young franchise quarterbacks along. But it’s more dire in Miami, where they’re coming off a losing season, have an injury-prone quarterback and risk losing Jevon Holland and Tyreek Hill.

New England Patriots: Who should they take fourth overall?

Sure, they have a lot of money to spend. But when you’re rebuilding and you have a top-five pick, that’s gotta be the top focus. The Patriots have to get this right, and they have the luxury of ignoring the quarterback class, which could give them a shot at the top player on the draft board. We’re watching Travis Hunter and Will Campbell. 

New York Jets: Who’s the next quarterback? 

This team isn’t devoid of talent, but they have to get this right. Maybe it’s a bridge like Tyrod Taylor or Kirk Cousins. Maybe they take a shot at Matthew Stafford or Sam Darnold. Maybe they do something dramatic in the draft. Nothing can be ruled out. 

AFC North

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Baltimore Ravens: What do they do at left tackle? 

This might seem somewhat micro, but impending unrestricted free agent Ronnie Stanley is responsible for keeping franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson upright. He has a spotty injury history, he’ll be expensive, he isn’t easily replaceable, and the Ravens don’t have a ton of money to spend. 

Cincinnati Bengals: Can/should they really bring back both Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase? 

The former will be very costly, and the latter is entering the option year on his rookie contract. Either could be tossed aside in a Sophie’s Choice scenario, especially because committing to both long term could make it difficult to bolster a liability of a defense.  

Cleveland Browns: Do they just hit the reset button entirely? 

In other words, trade Myles Garrett, bite the financial bullet on Deshaun Watson and admit the franchise once again needs a restart? Or do they bribe Garrett to stay happy and roll the dice again on Watson with bolstered support via the draft? The problem is they’ve got no money. It might be best to rip off the Band-Aid. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Who to invest in at quarterback? 

The team is decent enough to compete with strong quarterback play, but the Steelers won’t get as much of a discount on Russell Wilson this time around. Of course, they could also chase down Darnold, Cousins or Stafford. It’s not an easy call, but it’s critical. 

AFC South

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Houston Texans: Who to add to better support C.J. Stroud? 

The pass protection isn’t there for their franchise quarterback, and now Stefon Diggs is hitting free agency. They need to land more talent around Stroud, but they’re strapped for cash with limited draft capital. How they finagle this will determine if they can actually rise up and contend in 2025.

Indianapolis Colts: Insurance policy for Anthony Richardson? 

There are plenty of questions surrounding the third-year first-round pick at quarterback. The Colts have to ensure they’re prepared in the event he flames out in 2025. Plus, a good presence in the QB room could potentially help make or break Richardson. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: What to do with the No. 5 overall pick?

The Jags are positioned like the Patriots—top-five pick but a quarterback already on board. It’s a good spot, especially with a relatively talented roster. They need to hit on this pick, ideally with a top-flight defender. 

Tennessee Titans: Is Cam Ward the future? 

If the Titans are going to pass on the potential future franchise quarterback with the top pick, they’d better be damn sure that Ward doesn’t have it or that the other guy (like Hunter or Abdul Carter) does. This is the biggest decision the franchise has had to make in a decade. 

AFC West

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Denver Broncos: Where to find a legit No. 1 receiver for Bo Nix? 

The roster is pretty shored up, but Nix needs a shiny new weapon in order to keep progressing. That could come via the middle of Round 1, or in free agency. Could they steal Higgins or Amari Cooper from a conference rival? 

Kansas City Chiefs: Which key free agents to keep?

They likely can’t keep ‘em all, and the problem could be worsened if Travis Kelce doesn’t return. Regardless, for now, a team with very limited cap space and issues surrounding quarterback Patrick Mahomes has to decide what to do with Trey Smith, Marquise Brown, DeAndre Hopkins and Nick Bolton. How they approach that could determine if they can keep the dynasty alive in ‘25.

Las Vegas Raiders: Where to spend their money?

It’s a good problem to have, right? Still, stressful when you don’t have an answer at quarterback and are far from set in a lot of other areas. Only the Raiders and Patriots have more than $90 million projected salary-cap space, but Las Vegas has to use that combined with the draft capital associated with the No. 6 overall pick and land a new QB and some more support and weapons. 

Los Angeles Chargers: Where to find a legit No. 1 receiver for Justin Herbert?

Yeah, similar to the rival Broncos. The good news is they have more than $65 million in cap space if they want to try to land Higgins, Cooper or even someone like Hill, Deebo Samuel or Cooper Kupp via trade.

NFC East

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Dallas Cowboys: How much will Micah Parsons get, and when will he get it? 

The Cowboys took their sweet time with extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last summer. It arguably became a distraction. It’s not their M.O. to let this linger into Parsons’ option year, but considering that the roster is generally locked in and there’s a new coach in town, how they go about negotiating with Parsons could have a big impact on 2025. 

New York Giants: Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback

They need one to pair with budding superstar Malik Nabers, and they hold the No. 3 overall pick but also possess more than $45 million in cap space. Could they go the blockbuster free-agent/trade route? Especially if Ward is out of reach (and possibly even Sanders too)?

Philadelphia Eagles: Do they check out the open market or just focus on keeping the band together?

Both approaches come with risks. They’ll have a target on their back with the status quo, and repeating ain’t easy. The Eagles will want to avoid complacency, but it’s probably important they focus first on bringing back key cogs Zack Baun, Josh Sweat, Mekhi Becton and Milton Williams

Washington Commanders: Where do they find another weapon for Jayden Daniels?

That’ll be the key to Daniels taking the next step and avoiding a sophomore slump in 2025. Washington has a ton of cap space and there are plenty of receivers who could soon become available via free agency or trade. It would be interesting to see longtime division rival Darius Slayton in this offense.

NFC North

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Chicago Bears: Where and how to fix the offensive line?

I think the entire interior line needs improvement for Caleb Williams’ sake. They should be all over experienced vets like Drew Dalman and Trey Smith. They certainly have the cap space, and I can’t think of a better way to spend it. 

Detroit Lions: Do they bring in more talent? 

Or do they save for a rainy day? The roster is already talented enough for this team to contend, and they’re tied to Jared Goff under center regardless now. They have plenty of cap space but will likely use most to retain in-house free agents. The question is whether they should drop some cash on one more big piece, or if they shouldn’t mess with a good thing. 

Green Bay Packers: What do they do with familiar names Josh Myers and Jaire Alexander?

Both have been around for years. Myers is hitting free agency, and while he’s a longtime starter, he’s not an upper-echelon player. Do they say goodbye and try to upgrade on the open market or in the draft? Alexander has star talent but hasn’t been reliable in recent years due to injuries, and they can save more than $17 million by cutting him with a post-June 1 designation. 

Minnesota Vikings: Sam Darnold? J.J. McCarthy? Both?

At times in 2024, Darnold looked like a franchise quarterback. At the end, he did not. Now, he’s still going to cost them oodles of cash if they decide to try to keep him. Or they could just cut bait and turn things over to their first-round pick from a year ago. It’s a call that will have ripple effects throughout the league this offseason. 

NFC South

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Atlanta Falcons: Kirk Cousins?

It’s that simple when a guy clearly isn’t the answer but will cost you $40 million unless you trade him. The key to a quick recovery from the bad decision to bring in Cousins is for Atlanta to somehow convince somebody else to do the same thing. 

Carolina Panthers: Add an impact defender? 

This was the league’s worst scoring defense in 2024. They need a major jolt for everyone’s sake, but money’s a little tight and they don’t want to sacrifice direct support for Bryce Young. They have to decide if it’s worth it to bring in someone like Jevon Holland or Nick Bolton.

New Orleans Saints: To commit to a rebuild or not to commit to a rebuild?

That is the question they’ve been asking themselves for years. Will the answer be different this time? We’ll find out as soon as they either part ways with Derek Carr or (potentially) rework his albatross of a contract. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: What do they do with familiar names Chris Godwin and Lavonte David?

They’re popular figures in Tampa, and they can still produce. But age and/or injuries have to factor in for a team that is transitioning from one core to a younger one. How they deal with those two veteran impending free agents will be telling. 

NFC West

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Arizona Cardinals: How big of a splurge to make on defense?

There should be no question a splurge is coming. The unit needs an influx of talent, and the window is open now with Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. on offense. Do they chase down Myles Garrett? What about stealing Baun and Sweat from the Super Bowl champs?

Los Angeles Rams: Does it stop at Cooper Kupp? 

Or do the Rams keep culling? There’s a chance they shy away from paying Alaric Jackson, or even move on from Stafford. The offense could look a lot different next year, just as the defense is coming around post-Aaron Donald. 

San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy’s extension

Or lack thereof? It’s not written in stone yet, and it’s entirely possible this gets even more complicated than the Brandon Aiyuk situation last summer. This probably boils down to how much they wind up paying him (and when) but a lot remains up in the air, and the franchise is sort of handcuffed in the meantime. 

Seattle Seahawks: Cut Tyler Lockett?

Lockett's a familiar and accomplished figure in Seattle, but he’s 33 and expensive, and the team is in a salary-cap jam. It seems like a relatively obvious call, but it won’t be easy nonetheless.