Free Agency Frenzy is almost upon us! Which means we are entering the peak of the offseason as teams begin to look to fill the holes on their roster, whether that is a team beginning a rebuild, or a team looking to reload for a potential Super Bowl run, every team has needs and questions heading into next week. Throughout this week I will be doing an offseason preview for every division, the previews will look at the impending free agents of the team, the biggest questions heading into this offseason, some potential names to target next week, and what they need to accomplish before the season begins. All of the contract estimations are used from Pro Football Focus via Over The Cap.
Denver Broncos
Impending Free Agents
HB – J.K. Dobbins (1 yrs, $5.5m total)
TE – Adam Trautman
DT – John Franklin-Myers (3 yrs, $45m total)
LB – Justin Strnad (2 yrs, $8m total)
LB – Alex Singleton (2 yrs, $9m total)
S – P.J. Locke (1 yrs, $2.5m total)
Biggest Questions
Is Denver going to look to add to the Running Back room this offseason? They spent a second round pick on RJ Harvey last season, and while solid, he would probably be better with a stronger back playing with him, especially with Dobbins leaving in free agency. Every offseason the conversation will surround Payton bringing in his true “Joker” player at Tight End. Evan Egram was supposed to be that guy last year, but he is aging and has some injury concerns surrounding him. On the defensive side of the ball, they will need to add a linebacker or two, but they will probably address this during the draft as this is a relatively deep linebacker class.
Free Agents to Watch
Bringing in either Tyler Allgeier or Rachaad White to help compliment RJ Harvey would be a strong signing for the Broncos. Dallas Goedert or Darren Waller could both be in-play to fill the Tight End need as well. This is also the most likely landing spot for Taysom Hill, as Sean Payton used to be his coach in New Orleans and he could add another layer to the offense, but I feel like this would be unlikely.
Top Goals
Denver’s main goal this offseason is to stay consistent, they aren’t losing many key guys and they really just need to keep plugging any gaps and future-proofing the roster. The Broncos are in a very advantageous spot where they have a Super Bowl caliber roster and not losing many guys in free agency will allow them to continue to add depth so the positions don’t start to become holes in the future. You could make the argument they need a little more juice on offense, but this offense is solid and doesn’t need any vast changes.
Kansas City Chiefs
Impending Free Agents
QB – Gardner Minshew
HB – Isiah Pacheco (1 yrs, $2.25m total)
HB – Kareem Hunt (1 yrs, $1.65m total)
WR – Tyquan Thornton (1 yrs, $5m total)
WR – Marquise Brown (1 yrs, $6.5m total)
WR – JuJu Smith-Schuster
TE – Travis Kelce (1 yrs, $15m total)
DT – Jerry Tillery
ED – Charles Omenihu (2 yrs, $11m total)
LB – Leo Chenal (2 yrs, $12m total)
CB – Jaylen Watson (3 yrs, $15m total)
CB – Joshua Willaims (1 yrs, $1.25m total)
S – Bryan Cook (3 yrs, $36m total)
Biggest Questions
While writing this, the Chiefs made a blockbuster trade by sending Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a first round pick, a fifth and a sixth this year, and then an additional third round pick in 2027. So the big question is, what do they have planned moving forward? They might decide to bring in more weapons as Travis Kelce is a free agent and nearing the end of his career, and the off-field concerns with Rashee Rice continue to get louder and louder. With the extra first round pick, they could potentially add a game-changing weapon, whether that is Jeremiyah Love at 9 or drafting a receiver at 29.
Free Agents to Watch
With the McDuffie trade, re-signing Jaylen Watson is a must if this team wants to continue to have a strong secondary. They also should try to potentially add a wide receiver via free agency, some of the names to watch would be the re-signing of Tyquan Thornton, or signing Wan’Dale Robinson who could fit very well into the offense. If the chiefs want to sign a bigger-bodied receiver they could look to add Jauan Jennings as well, but Robinson is more likely.
Top Goals
This isn’t so much of a rebuild for the Chiefs as a reload, a lot of the players who were contributors for the last six to seven years have begun to age and it might be time to move on and begin to build another young core. They will need to add depth along the defensive line, and at running back, since both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are not under contract next year.
Las Vegas Raiders
Impending Free Agents
QB – Kenny Pickett (1 yrs, $2.25m total)
HB – Raheem Mostert (1 yrs, $1.5m total)
T – Stone Forsythe
ED – Malcolm Koonce (1 yrs, $6m total)
LB – Elandon Roberts (1 yrs, $2.75m total)
LB – Jamal Adams (1 yrs, $1.3m total)
LB – Devin White
CB – Eric Stokes (2 yrs, $7m total)
Biggest Questions
The biggest questions by far is how will the Raiders properly build a supporting cast around Fernando Mendoza? And what are the Raiders going to do with Maxx Crosby? As of right now it sounds like Crosby being traded is the most likely outcome, since it appears Crosby doesn’t want to return. From the Raiders’ perspective you want to try and get as much value for him as possible, but getting two first round picks for him might be tough, but the Raiders should do their absolute best to try and get that compensation. They are definitely going to need to bring in at least two starting-caliber offensive linemen at guard and center, especially with Dylan Parham leaving in free agency. They will also need to add more receiving options to pair with Brock Bowers, Tre Tucker and Jack Bech. The defense is also incredibly thin so building a combination of veteran additions in free agency and using numerous draft picks to build a competent defense needs to be a goal.
Free Agents to Watch
Teven Jenkins could be a buy-low option for the Raiders, while he has battled with injuries, when he has been able to stay on the field he has played pretty well and could be a good starter for the Raiders. They could try and bring back Eric Stokes, who is still rather young, and there are some corners in free agency who might be able to be brought in cheap, such as Roger McCreary or Montaric Brown.
Top Goals
Every move this team makes should be focused on the future and making sure Mendoza has the tools he needs to succeed. The Raiders might still be two to three years away and must continue to build this roster with that in mind, while adding talent to the defense and building a strong surrounding cast around Mendoza.
Los Angeles Chargers
Impending Free Agents
HB – Najee Harris (1 yrs, $1.35m total)
WR – Keenan Allen (1 yrs, $5m total)
TE – Tyler Conklin
C – Andre James (1 yrs, $1.25m total)
G – Zion Johnson (4 yrs, $51m total)
T – Jamaree Salyer (1 yrs, $1.5m total)
T – Trey Pipkins lll
DT – Da’Shawn Hand (1 yrs, $2.5m total)
ED – Khalil Mack (1 yrs, $14m total)
LB – Denzel Perryman
CB – Benjamin St-Juste
S – Tony Jefferson (1 yrs, $1.3m total)
Biggest Questions
How are the Chargers going to build a competent offensive line? Last year, the o-line was by far the Chargers’ achilles heel and they will need three starters on the interior. The Chargers have a lot of cap space so a complete overhaul is a realistic outcome, similar to what Chicago did last offseason with bringing in players via trades and signings. On the defensive side, they are going to need to help reinforce the defensive line, as they could always use adding playmakers on the interior of the defensive line.
Free Agents to Watch
This might be the most realistic landing spot for Tyler Linderbaum, as the Chargers have a lot of cap space to play with and they could be a team that is willing to “overpay” for the best center on the market. If they don’t land Linderbaum, they can still pivot to Tyler Biadasz, Connor McGovern, or Ethan Pocic. Mike McDaniel is coming from Miami as the offensive coordinator, so adding a speed threat could be in-play next week as well. Names like Rashid Shaheed or Tyquan Thornton could be options as well.
Top Goals
It needs to be rebuilding the interior of the offensive line too, it was the worst unit on the roster, and potentially in the entire NFL. The Chargers have the money and there are enough viable options in free agency to join Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt on the interior of the line. If they add a defensive linemen or two as well, it could be considered a successful offseason for the Chargers.
Cover Image Courtesy of NFL.com
