Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The Steelers need to add several pieces along the interior offensive line.
The Pittsburgh Steelers continued to re-tool the offensive line this season and by the end of the year seemed to have the guard situation in order with James Daniels and Isaac Seumalo. The center position however is still a work in progress and can stand an upgrade. Here is a look at the interior offensive linemen on the roster.
The Bucs may need to look elsewhere to replace these players if they leave in free agency:
NFL free agency is a dirty business where teams often leave players out in the cold after a disappointing season. While the Buccaneers surprised many with how successful they were in 2023, they still have some hard decisions to make about players coming to the end of their contracts.
Last season was rough on the Bucs’ cap situation, which included over $75 million in dead cap from their championship window. This forced Tampa Bay to make some bargain free agent signings and pushed off the potential extensions of players like Devin White.
While the free agent signings largely did not pan out, The deferred extensions may end up saving the Bucs money long-term, particularly given White’s regression on the field and the improvement of the linebackers behind him.
Here are three pending free agents the Bucs would need to replace to this offseason:
A listing of each team’s cap space to get a sense of where the Jets currently stand before getting the work begins in the offseason.
The offseason means fans get to take a hard look at what a team’s salary cap situation looks like at the outset and how much room they have to work with for free agency and the NFL draft. Obviously, the more room the better but we also need to keep in mind that restructures can and will happen to create more space. Teams must be under the salary cap — currently projected to be around $242 million — by the start of the new league year in March. This is just a starting point for the Jets and all teams.
This will be a list of each team and how much cap space they are currently looking at as we enter the offseason. Again, just a starting point but a good starting point. This will give you a sense of where the Jets stand compared to other teams nearing the end of January. All numbers of courtesy of Over the Cap.
The Bucs go into the offseason as NFC South winners, but they’ll have a few things to answer for if they want to get back.
The 2024 offseason came a little later for the Buccaneers than many expected and arrived with changes even fewer anticipated. Just one year after joining the Bucs, offensive coordinator Dave Canales took the head coaching job with the Carolina Panthers, once again leaving Tampa Bay without a play-caller on offense.
This quickly became one of, if not the, biggest dilemma facing the Bucs in 2024. The question of who becomes Tampa Bay’s next offensive coordinator could also affect the status of pending free agents Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans, who were the two most important players on offense this season. Even before the offseason began, the Bucs were going to need answers at edge rusher and along the offensive line.
Here are the three biggest questions facing the Bucs in 2024:
The Bucs would do well to extend these five players to ensure a competitive roster moving forward.
The Buccaneers surprised many across the NFL with their team-building strategy last offseason, opting to reload with limited cap space rather than go into a full rebuild. The bet paid off with a third consecutive division title and a playoff win. Now, several key players are heading into free agency, and while the Bucs have far more cap flexibility, Tampa Bay still has some tough calls to make.
The team has 18 unrestricted free agents heading into 2024, but that doesn’t mean they can’t extend players who aren’t hitting free agency yet, either. Here are five players the Bucs should consider extending this offseason before the season kicks off for 2024:
Zach Wilson is set to wear a new uniform in 2024
Zach Wilson’s time in New York is coming to an end. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Jets are expected to trade the quarterback at some point during this offseason.
From @NFLGameDay: #Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is open to the NFL interest that'll come… plus, the #Jets are expected to attempt to trade QB Zach Wilson in the offseason, which should come as no surprise. pic.twitter.com/oBx91fKrdQ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2024
According to Dianna Russini, the Jets made the decision when they initially benched Wilson and let him know of their plans. That discussion was part of the reason why Wilson was then reluctant to return to the starting lineup following the benching of quarterback Tim Boyle. Wilson then suffered a concussion in Week 15 against the Miami Dolphins.
Wilson was inactive for Weeks 16 and 17 and was placed on injured reserve Saturday, officially ending his season and, effectively, his career with the Jets.
Wilson will end up with a 12-21 in New York with 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in three seasons after being the No. 2 pick of the 2021 draft.
Jets 2024 salary-cap projection: What the Jets could have to work with next offseason
The Jets made their push during the 2023 season to try and strike in what they believed what a championship window with their young and strong roster, specifically on the defensive side of the football. They’ll tell you this wasn’t an all-in for 2023, but at least a two-year window. They needed that extra time after quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down with an Achilles tear four snaps into his Jets debut and the Jets having to turn back to Zach Wilson after they spent all offseason courting Rodgers to replace Wilson.
The Jets sit at 4-5 just past the midway point of the season and the offense has been stalling again, to say the least. The Jets still have hopes for a playoff spot in 2023, but may also have one eye on the 2024 season with a healthy Rodgers. They’ll also have their first-round pick since Rodgers won’t play enough snaps to meet the 65% condition of the trade with the Packers.
As of now, the Jets have about $6.5 million in cap space for this season and about $30 million for 2024.
Let’s put one eye to the future ourselves and take a look at the Jets’ salary-cap situation for 2024. All numbers and cap hits are courtesy of Over the Cap.
