AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
How will the Bills keep their roster competitive and try to compete with the Chiefs despite a tough cap situation?
The challenge for the Bills this offseason is continuing to build a roster that can compete in a tough division and conference, while not pushing too much money down the road or creating future issues. While the official cap number for 2024 hasn't come out yet, the Bills are estimated to be $51.8 million over, according to Roster Management System, with big contracts that could be restructured and some tough decisions to be made.
There are currently a variety of key contributors set to leave in free agency, including defensive end Leonard Floyd and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones. This is a team that is going to be trying yet again to get past the Chiefs in the postseason, and building the roster amid their cap concerns will be quite the task. -- Alaina Getzenberg
Miami Dolphins
Will the Dolphins extend quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's contract?
The NFL's 2023 passing yards leader says he expects a deal to get done, and general manager Chris Grier said the goal is to have Tagovailoa playing with the Dolphins at a high level for a long time. But the Dolphins are currently $56.7 million over the projected salary cap entering the final year of his rookie contract and have several critical players set to be free agents.
Tagovailoa's performance against Miami's better opponents this season was suboptimal, and his physical limitations were apparent late in the season. But he is capable of running the Dolphins' offense with machine-like precision, and his accuracy and anticipation are among the best in the league. We will see exactly how much the Dolphins value those qualities. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
New England Patriots
What position will the Patriots target with the No. 3 pick?
In a letter to season-ticket holders, owner Robert Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft called 2024 the "most anticipated NFL draft of our [31-year] tenure" -- mainly because they have never had a pick as high as No. 3. The possibility of a quarterback generates the most buzz, but the Patriots' offensive needs are wide-ranging. And they also have signal-callers Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe under contract, with Jones working out regularly at the team facility this offseason. -- Mike Reiss
New York Jets
Can the Jets repair their broken offense enough to save coach Robert Saleh's job?A healthy quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a big step in the right direction, but the offensive line needs an overhaul. They likely need two tackles and a guard, so look for them to sign at least one starter in free agency. They can draft a tackle with the No. 10 pick, perhaps Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu or Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga.
The Jets also need a WR2, who could come in free agency or via trade. They have two young stars in running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson. If they fail to build around them and take a major leap from last season -- they ranked 31st in total yards -- Saleh will likely be out of a job. -- Rich Cimini
(The Jets have just under $5M in cap space but can generate another $50M easily by restructuring 6 contracts)
Answering key offseason questions for every NFL team: Intel on free agency, QB decisions and draft options
Will Miami extend Tua? What's going to happen with Higgins? Our reporters take a closer look at the biggest questions for the 2024 offseason.
The Bills and Dolphins will likely lose some ground to the league because of their poor cap management for 2024. Their windows should be closing until they get better control
of their cap. One or both teams could decide to go all out for this year by pushing record amounts of money forward for a few years but that's risky. If it doesn't work to win a SB this year, the team will be in cap hell and their windows will be nailed shut for 3-4 years.
McDermott and Saleh are both on the hotseat this year. I expect Saleh to fired. If the Bills don't get to a SB, McDermott will also be fired.
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