Building Perfect NFL Offense in 2024 Around QB on Rookie Contract

So, you’ve got yourself a quarterback on the rookie wage scale, which means you have some room to work with elsewhere on the roster.

In a perfect world, what does the remainder of your offense look like right now?

You’re going to want a few common elements:

• A mix of reliable veterans to guide the quarterback and younger, cheaper players who can grow with the signal-caller in question.
• Players on staggered rookie contracts to avoid having too many bills come due at the same time.
• Vets willing to potentially give discounts in order to be part of something special with your young core.

With that in mind, let’s build the perfect offense for a starting QB in the first few seasons of his rookie deal.

In doing so, we’ll also be conscious of the salary cap. Teams spend just over 50 percent of their payroll on offense, which comes to $127 million in 2024, according to Spotrac. That’s for about players, but nearly half will make something within reaching distance of the league minimum salary ($795,000). If we count a dozen of those at about $1 million each and leave some breathing room, it’s safe to allot around $115 million for the other half.

Now, let’s meet that proposed group.

Starter: C.J. Stroud

2024 cap hit: $8.2 million

This is hypothetical, but we should at least establish a baseline. The quarterback we’ll use for this particular exercise is C.J. Stroud. He’s not a rookie, but he’s also not too close to any sort of extension. Relatively established based on his strong debut season, and a first-round pick with a manageable cap hit on his rookie deal.

Backup: Marcus Mariota

2024 cap hit: $6 million

He’s got significant starting experience without being a threat to the young starter’s job. He can hold things down in a pinch, and you owe nothing to him beyond this season. That’s a solid insurance policy, even if it’s odd to have a backup making nearly as much as the starter.

RB1: Breece Hall

2024 cap hit: $2.5 million

He’s talented, versatile and cheap. That’s a requisite for a lead back nowadays, because they run out of gas too quickly. Breece Hall, who is also a productive receiver out of the backfield, just turned 23 and is under contract for two more inexpensive seasons.

RB2: Antonio Gibson

2024 cap hit: $3.2 million

This gives you some insurance along with extra leadership, and the soon-to-be 26-year-old is one of the strongest pass-blockers at the running back position.

WR1: Tyreek Hill

2024 cap hit: $31.3 million

This is where you make a splash. Equip the young quarterback with a superstar top target with the ability to stretch the field like almost no other, even if it costs you an arm and a leg. This is a man who played an instrumental role in making Patrick Mahomes what he is today, and his blockbuster contract is somewhat flexible after this season.

WR1: George Pickens

2024 cap hit: $1.8 million

This is a no-brainer because he’s so young, cheap, productive and reliable. Only four qualified receivers averaged more yards per target last season, and only eight had lower drop rates. He can also move into the slot if needed. It’s the perfect scenario considering he’s just 23.

Slot WR: Jayden Reed

2024 cap hit: $1.6 million

In his rookie season with the Packers, the athletic 24-year-old proved to be productive, versatile and trustworthy. He fumbled twice in the first half of the season but got it sorted out beyond that, and he dropped just three of the 94 balls thrown his way.

TE: George Kittle

2024 cap hit: $12.2 million

Coming off one of the best seasons of his career at age 30, Kittle is a critical safety valve but also a tremendous presence in the locker room. Worth every penny, and under contract for a couple more years only if he starts to decline.

LT: Tristan Wirfs

2024 cap hit: $18.6 million

You have to be willing to pay a premium here. It’s not worth risking the short-term health and long-term psyche of your young quarterback. Wirfs isn’t cheap, but he’s entering a walk year at age 25, and you can give him a nice, long new deal with plenty of early-year cap wiggle room. Regardless, he’s a proven star with plenty of years ahead of him.

RT: Penei Sewell

2024 cap hit: $8.2 million

Ditto for Sewell, who might be the best young right tackle in football. He’ll soon become a lot more expensive with that new long-term contract, but you do have the ability to let Wirfs walk and move the 23-year-old to the blind side in the next year or two.

G: Chris Lindstrom

2024 cap hit: $18 million

Another premium here, but Lindstrom has been to back-to-back Pro Bowls and is in his prime at 27. His contract doesn’t get much more expensive and keeps him in place through 2028.

G: Tyler Smith

2024 cap hit: $3.7 million

Coming off a Pro Bowl sophomore season in Dallas, this is a guy who can grow with your young franchise quarterback and remains cheap for two more years.

C: Tyler Linderbaum

2024 cap hit: $3.6 million

See the balance we’re shooting for here? Linderbaum is another under-25-year-old who has a high ceiling and a low salary for at least a couple more years. He joined Stroud, Sewell and Smith on PFF’s list of the league’s top 25 players under 25.