Caleb Harris
Some of the main pillars of the NFL the offseason came and went: the draft, free agency and blockbuster trades. Now, with the 2024 calendar just around the corner, it seems as good a time as any to revisit some key questions ahead of the new season. To that end, we asked three of our CBS Sports NFL writers — Cody Benjamin, Jordan Dajani and Shanna McCarriston — to address seven offseason-related questions in a roundtable discussion.
Let’s go …
Which team made the best free agent signing?
Benjamin: It’s hard not to like the Houston Texans’ flashy investment off the edge, where Danielle Hunter gives them one of the NFL’s most imposing edge rushers to pair with Will Anderson Jr. Is he expensive? Clear. But as a short-term addition to a sudden competitor, you can’t do much better.
Dajani: Antonio Pierce and the Las Vegas Raiders have added one of the league’s best defensive tackles, Christian Wilkins. He is someone who can rush the passer inside, which will make life easier for Maxx Crosby and Tyree Wilson.
McCarriston: The Texans are growing quickly and are one of my top teams to watch next season. Four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter immediately improves her defense. The team’s big free agency shows its commitment to winning now. The Texans’ offense is strong, and to keep up with other powerful AFC offenses like the Chiefs and Ravens, they needed strong leaders like Hunter.
Which team made the worst free agent signing?
Benjamin: The Atlanta Falcons needed to add weaponry for new quarterback Kirk Cousins (and apparently Michael Penix Jr. as well?) but pay Darnell Mooney $13 million a year — nearly double what Marquise Brown received from the Kansas City Chiefs – feels a bit like spending just to spend.
Dajani: The Chicago Bears. He was an All-Pro safety not long ago, but Kevin Byard struggled after being traded to Philadelphia last year. When he became a free agent this offseason, the Bears quickly pounced on him, signing the former Titan to a two-year contract worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $15 million.
McCarriston: Does Ezekiel Elliott still have a lot left in him? And is that what the Dallas Cowboys need? They apparently think so and have reunited with the veteran running back, who spent last season with the New England Patriots. Zeke was the team leader in several categories in 2023, but that was on a horrible Patriots offense that had no stability, so it shouldn’t carry much weight.
Which negotiation will have the most return?
Benjamin: Adding Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears is a smart way to help Caleb Williams break into the NFL, but the Houston Texans’ trade of the pick for Stefon Diggs should pay more immediate and substantial dividends for their young quarterback, CJ Stroud. Even if it’s a one-year rental, the potential for fireworks is huge.
Dajani: The Tennessee Titans’ pass defense hasn’t finished in the top half of the league since 2018, but that will change with the addition of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.
McCarriston: Echoing Jordan here: The Titans added someone with playoff experience and someone who can come in and make an impact right away. Sneed is the perfect fit for the Titans, who needed help on defense.
Which trade will have the least return?
Benjamin: Some analysts praised the Atlanta Falcons for signing speedster Rondale Moore in a rare player-for-play trade that sent quarterback Desmond Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals. But this seems like it might not be a factor for both sides – the equivalent of switching vets who were already at risk of being cut.
Dajani: The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for one year of Justin Fields while already classifying Russell Wilson as QB1. Will Russ be good? Or perhaps the better question is: will he be bad enough to warrant a suspension? It seems to me that Pittsburgh gave up a draft pick just to create a quarterback controversy among their fan base.
McCarriston: I believe the Texans will be legitimate contenders this season, but the addition of running back Joe Mixon won’t make as much of a difference as they would like. Your cost will not equal your production next season.
Which draft pick will be the biggest bargain?
Benjamin: Cooper DeJean could easily have gone 22nd overall, where the Philadelphia Eagles prevented the surprise drop of another great cornerback, Quinyon Mitchell. Instead, he fell to No. 40 on Day 2, joining Mitchell in a remade Philadelphia secondary. The Eagles were in dire need of long-term prospects on the defensive end, but DeJean has the tools to make a difference in multiple phases of the game, whether as a slot corner, rotational safety or even a return specialist now that the NFL has reprioritized the game. special teams.
Dajani: Did you know that the SEC Defensive Player of the Year fell to the sixth round? And somehow it made its way to defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and the Cleveland Browns, where he will play behind one of the best defensive lines in the league? Linebacker Nathaniel Watson led the conference in tackles and sacks last year, making him the only SEC player to accomplish that feat in a season. Draft experts didn’t like him because he’s not a star at getting off blocks or anything like that, but you can’t ignore the kind of prolific production Watson has put up.
McCarriston: The draft dominated by early offensive picks was gold for teams with later first-round selections, who improved greatly on defense. Byron Murphy II was the second defenseman drafted, with the Seattle Seahawks taking him 16th overall, which will sooner or later look like a steal.
Which quarterback competition are you watching most closely?
Benjamin: The Minnesota Vikings have a sneakily interesting game considering rookie JJ McCarthy could break into a playoff-caliber lineup if he beats Sam Darnold right away. But count me in on the Pittsburgh Steelers drama. We all know Russell Wilson is a safe bet to open the year under center, but what if Fields somehow lights it all up this summer? The conversation about his potential promotion will remain, especially if Pittsburgh struggles early on.
Dajani: Let’s not kid ourselves, there’s only one quarterback competition this offseason, and it’s Gardner Minshew versus Aidan O’Connell. But then again, maybe the Raiders add another veteran arm like Ryan Tannehill.
McCarriston: I’m also very curious to know what the Steelers’ situation will be like. Russell Wilson didn’t sell me and I think Justin Fields has a chance to take over if the Super Bowl champion starts to fight. We’ve seen some glimmers of hope that Fields could be a starter, and if he gets the chance, with a strong coach, he could become a starter sooner than many expect.
After all the off-season activity, which team is best suited to threaten the Kansas City Chiefs?
Benjamin: The easy answer is: It’s still the San Francisco 49ers, because Brock Purdy is just hitting his stride and the setup is still elite. But here’s a trio of other favorites: the Cincinnati Bengals, who are lethal with a healthy Joe Burrow, the Houston Texans, who rightly dared to help CJ Stroud, and the up-or-down Philadelphia Eagles, but they remain an all-star unit on paper.
Dajani: The Detroit Lions. Last year was no fluke, and the front office did a good job this off-season, not only keeping their current talent happy with contract extensions, but also adding talent.
McCarriston: If we say that the team that faced them last season in Super Bowl It’s boring, so call me boring, but I like what the Niners did enough this offseason to give them this title. The 49ers have an excellent front office and continue to make good decisions, such as working to keep stars around and adding others. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins will be a difference-maker in an already solid group. While Purdy has doubts, he’s a quarterback who (with a little help) can lead his team to the promised land.
