The NFL offseason just got underway and the player movement has been surprising. Star players seem to be changing teams daily and as the NFL world turns towards the Draft in late April, we can expect even bigger fireworks. Here are some of the most interesting and shocking offseason stories.
Legends Retire
Every offseason, the NFL bids farewell to historically great players. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald–arguably the greatest defensive player ever–announced his retirement after a first-ballot Hall of Fame career. He played ten years for the Los Angeles Rams, won a Super Bowl in the 2021 season and was named Defensive Player of the Year three times. Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox also called it a career after twelve years with the Philadelphia Eagles. He won a Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2017 and was named a four-time All-Pro. Cox may not get in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, but his teammate Jason Kelce will. Eagles Centre Jason Kelce also announced his retirement after a thirteen-year career with the Eagles. No one except the great Howard Mudd thought that Kelce would have the ability to maintain a starting role in the NFL Six All-Pro selections, and a Super Bowl later, Kelce is one of the greatest centers of all time, with a first ballot Hall of Fame position set.
Not to be lost is special teamer Matthew Slater, who retired after sixteen years with the New England Patriots. The eight-time All-Pro selections and three-time Super Bowl champion should reflect a Hall of Famer, but there is bias against inducting special teams players into Canton. The argument is that special team players do not actually impact the game enough to warrant the consideration. All I can say is that plenty of teams would have loved to have had a punt returner that did not fumble or make a crucial mistake when called upon.
The Denver Broncos are Hilarious
My Broncos are a meme. After alienating Russell Wilson this season, Sean Payton decided to cut him. The Broncos only traded for him two seasons ago and signed him to a five-year, $254 million extension. As a result of the cut, the Broncos will absorb a $85 million cap hit, the largest cap hit in NFL history. This past week, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Wilson for a paltry one-year, $1.2 million deal. So as a result, Wilson will make $40.2 million for the 2024-2025 season. The Broncos will pay $39 million so Wilson will not quarterback for them, while the Steelers will pay $1.2 million for Wilson to be their starter. Broncos country, let’s ride.
You thought that was it? Since the Broncos are still around $15 million above the cap after cutting Wilson, more casualties are needed. Jerry Jeudy is extension eligible, but has been underwhelming his entire career. As a result, he was traded to the Browns for a fifth and sixth round draft pick. CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson were drafted a few spots after him. Star safety Justin Simmons was released after eight seasons, where he was All-Pro four times. This one hurt because Simmons was a shining star in a lost half-decade for the Broncos. Star receiver Courtland Sutton will also likely be moved. The Broncos will likely endure a full lost-decade as a result of the Wilson trade. We rode off a cliff.
Introducing the Next Vice-President of the United States
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers started this off-season saying that the New York Jets had to get rid of all the distractions and get into the mindset of winning football games. Literally a week later, independent US presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. indicated that he may ask Rodgers to be his running mate. RFK Jr. is a controversial figure, as he has taken many positions that would be considered extremely polarizing. So it would make sense that the most egotistical and “free-man” in the league would decide to not deny the rumours. Rodgers is still recovering from the Achilles tear in the first quarter of the opening game of the season. The Jets went all in to acquire him, with the hopes of finally not being a laughing stock of a franchise. The fact that Rodgers may actually be quarterbacking on Sunday and attending a VP debate on Monday is hilarious. I guess he could use that photo of him running out with the American flag as part of the campaign strategy.
Running Backs Still Not Valued
The number of star running backs that have left their previous team has been somewhat shocking. Former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley had been in a contract dispute with the Giants the previous offseason. He has now joined the Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million deal. Former Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is waning, but was one of the most dominant runners of all-time during his prime years. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens on a two-year, $16 million deal. The Cincinnati Bengals traded running back Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans for a seventh round pick. The Texans would extend Mixon to a three-year $27 million deal.
Former Los Angeles Charger running back Austin Ekeler signed with the Washington Commanders on a two-year, $8.4 million deal. Former Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones signed with the Vikings on a one-year, $7 million deal. Former Eagles running back D’Andre Swift signed with the Chicago Bears on a three-year $24 million deal. Former Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs came out with the largest total contract, signing a four-year, $48 million deal with the Green Bay Packers. Literally all these running backs are star players. Their original teams did not want them at all. The running back position may never recover.
A Looming Three-Peat?
The Kansas City Chiefs will be entering the 2024-2025 season with the opportunity to be the first in the Super Bowl era. They are largely returning as the same team. Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce will provide the Chiefs with another season of Hall of Fame tight end play. Chris Jones is now the undisputed best defensive tackle in the league after Donald’s retirement. His five-year, $158 million extension is also the largest for a defensive tackle in the NFL. The Chiefs have already indicated that they will be trading star corner L’Jarius Sneed due to cap issues, but bolstered the receiving corps by signing former Arizona Cardinal Marquise Brown for a one-year, $7 million deal.
However, remember that the Chiefs are insulated to all the offseason moves that their rivals will make. They have Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has never not been in the AFC Championship game in his entire career. As long as Mahomes remains healthy and the coaching staff remains in place, a three-peat will happen. This is his NFL, we just live in it.