2024 NFL offseason topics that no one is talking about: Dolphins’ OL depth, Jaguars’ play-calling questions

O NFL the offseason moves quickly, in a sense. The quiet period between spring training and summer camp, however, proves that even the hottest stories can get tired: How many times, after all, can we dissect, say, anything Aaron Rodgers does without it being irritating?

On the other hand, perhaps there are other important stories that we are simply ignoring. Here are five to consider ahead of the 2024 campaign:

Forget Thy; What is the Dolphins’ backup QB and OL plan?

Yes, Tua Tagovailoa’s contract is a huge deal, regardless of whether you believe the quarterback deserves the market-inflated money. Lost in all the rumors about his value, however, is the fact that Miami enters 2024 with one of the most questionable backup quarterback and offensive line situations in the NFL. Where is the security blanket for Tua in front or the insurance behind him?

Left tackle Terron Armstead is talented, but he has also missed an average of 6.5 games per year (!) throughout his career. Gone are inside men Connor Williams and Robert Hunt, replaced in part by Isaiah Wynn, who played more than 10 games just once in his career. At backup quarterback? Mike White once captivated New York by simply not being Zach Wilson, but he won two of seven career starts and threw nearly as many picks (13) as career games played (14). For a team that probably considers itself a Super Bowl candidate, these are key points that lack depth.

The Seahawks Might Have a Top 10 Roster

Quarterback is a legitimate question here, as Geno Smith, 34, predictably comes back to Earth in 2023, a year after his revival as Comeback Player of the Year. The same goes for the offensive line, whose gaps have contributed to Smith’s recent bumps and bruises. Take a look at the skillful talent, however, and it’s hard not to call Seattle one of the deepest lineups in the NFL: the explosive Kenneth Walker III at running back and the three-headed monster of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba out.

Despite his turnover spurts, Smith has still shown a propensity for darts in crucial moments in 2023. And he should have even more help on the other side of the ball this year, with former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald taking over the command. employees. Macdonald’s presence alone boosts the stock of an underrated defensive depth chart with potential difference-makers at all levels, including Leonard Williams, Tyrel Dodson and Devon Witherspoon. A surprise NFC West bid could be on the cards.

Everyone has an opinion on Lawrence cashing in on a $275 million extension, but perhaps it’s time to find out exactly who will be responsible for orchestrating the former No. 1 overall draft pick’s offense. After shuffling Lawrence’s receiving corps this offseason, welcoming back Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. in favor of Calvin Ridley, the Jacksonville Jaguars have remained tight-lipped about their 2024 quarterback prospect, with head coach Doug Pederson repeatedly avoiding questions about the role this offseason.

Why is this relevant? Because Lawrence took a notable step back in 2023, offensive coordinator Press Taylor’s first year as a full-time player. Pederson has already shared decision-making with Taylor heading into 2022, which has many thinking the boss could claim responsibility for himself. Another layer here: Pederson’s relationship with Taylor was reportedly the crux of his abrupt split from the Philadelphia Eagles years ago; Once revered for his offense, Pederson’s unit became obsolete in 2019-20, and his insistence on making Taylor a coordinator contributed to the Eagles’ decision to move on.

Running backs are in fashion again

Just a year after running backs literally held meetings to discuss their severe devaluation in the NFL, ball carriers have quietly restored their place as a vital piece of the contemporary offense. It all started in March, when a huge crop of essentially free agents blew recent running back deals out of the water; seven different defenders signed deals worth at least $5 million a year — the most in half a decade — and Pro Bowlers like Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley commanded tens of millions of contenders. The Patriots also reached a four-year, $36 million extension with Rhamondre Stevenson.

That was just the beginning. In the draft, even more playoff contenders, including the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams, spent early-round picks to increase running back depth. Others, like the Carolina Panthers, have signaled rebuilding intentions around the ground game. And then the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers sealed the deal by rewarding Christian McCaffrey – the face of the position – with a new deal setting a new benchmark for annual earnings at the position.

The new starting rules are totally weird

Let’s be real: how many of you actually understand the new starting rules? How many casual fans have already forgotten that the new rules exist? There has been a lot of talk in NFL leadership circles about the potential impact of the league’s testing overhaul, which is designed to re-incentivize kick returns after years of essentially eliminating the kick return game from the game. We are probably not talking enough, however, about the intricacies of the new piecewith its “set-up zone”, “landing zone” and ball placements.

Some teams, like the Atlanta Falcons with Ray-Ray McCloud III or the Pittsburgh Steelers with Cordarelle Patterson, have been less than subtle in their efforts to get ahead of the curve by reinstating proven return men before the new-look debut. Even so, it’s a safe bet that in the preseason and especially in Week 1, thousands upon thousands will show up at stadiums or tune in on TV, only to demand a full update – or an initial explanation – as to why, e.g. A kick that does not reach the 20-yard line cannot be returned and automatically places the returning team on its own 40-yard line.