The Biggest Decisions Left for Teams to Make Before 2024 NFL Training Camps Begin

With OTAs and minicamps now complete and training camp not getting underway until late July, this is one of the quieter points of the 2024 NFL offseason.

Despite the lack of on-field action, there are still plenty of major decisions for teams to make in the coming weeks.

Some of these decisions revolve around finances. Several teams need to hammer out contract extensions for their top stars, while others are seeking to get agreements in place with their early-round draft picks.

Other decisions are personnel-based. Clubs are looking to round out their rosters before training camp begins.

With that in mind, let’s look at some of the biggest decisions that teams need to make over the next month or so.

There won’t be any franchise-tag drama to grip the NFL world this offseason after Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins signed his tender Monday, but there will still be plenty of intrigue surrounding players up for contract extensions.

A slew of big names are eligible for new deals this offseason. Some of them even skipped mandatory minicamp and could continue their holdouts throughout training camp and potentially into the start of the regular season as they work to secure a contract extension.

Standouts like San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb elected not to attend their respective teams’ minicamp this year. While they’ll be subject to fines for their absences, holdouts have been an effective tool for helping players earn sizable paychecks.

Last year, Niners edge-rusher Nick Bosa sat out until early September. The All-Pro eventually became the highest-paid defender in league history when he inked a five-year, $170 million deal to remain with the Niners. Cowboys guard Zack Martin, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor were among the other notable players to receive significant extensions after engaging in holdouts ahead of the 2023 campaign.

Holdouts are already working this year, too. The Minnesota Vikings ended any chance of Justin Jefferson missing meaningful time by rewarding the wideout with a record-breaking four-year, $140 million deal following a short absence this offseason.

It remains to be seen if any of the current holdouts will spill over into training camp or any new ones begin by then, but front offices should be working hard to ink their stars to extensions in the coming weeks.

Most of the top free agents were snatched up at the start of the new league year, but there are still a handful of serviceable options available on the open market. These veterans should be highly coveted in the coming weeks as clubs look to fill any remaining holes.

Any team in need of another edge-rusher can find one right now. Several well-established players remain available, including Yannick Ngakoue, Carl Lawson, Jerry Hughes, Tyus Bowser, Shaq Lawson and Emmanuel Ogbah. All of them have at least one campaign with six or more sacks in the last half-decade.

Safety is also rife with talent. Justin Simmons stands out as one of the best overall free agents left to be signed. The 30-year-old just made the most recent of his two career Pro Bowl teams last year while also earning his third consecutive second-team All-Pro nod. Other potential targets include Eddie Jackson, Micah Hyde, Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams.

Teams looking for an offensive boost won’t find as many notable names in the free-agent pool, but wideouts such as Hunter Renfrow, Michael Thomas, Corey Davis and Julio Jones could play a role with the right team in 2024. There are some notable running backs up for grabs too, including Dalvin Cook, Cam Akers, Latavius Murray and Kareem Hunt.

Most of these veterans are past their prime, but they could still offer a respectable floor and experience that teams won’t be able to find in undrafted rookie free agents and other younger camp invites. Expect more of them to catch on in the coming weeks.

The 2024 NFL draft wrapped up in late April, but several notable draftees have yet to sign their first contract.

Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall selection this year, became the highest pick from this class to sign when he came to terms with the Washington Commanders last week. With Daniels now locked up, No. 1 overall selection Caleb Williams is the only top-seven pick who hasn’t signed his rookie deal.

While the NFL’s CBA fixes the value of Williams’ contract, the finer points of the agreement still have some wiggle room in negotiations. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the main hang-up is that Williams hasn’t hired an agent and is instead representing himself.

If talks break down at any point, Williams could become the first Bears rookie to miss significant training camp time since Roquan Smith. He was the last player in the 2018 draft class to sign when he finally agreed to terms in mid-August of that year.

However, Biggs noted that Williams is expected to iron things out and sign his contract well before training camp opens in July. Other currently unsigned first-rounders—including fellow Bears rookie Rome Odunze—figure to follow suit.

Getting these contracts finalized might not be difficult, but it’s critical for every team with an unsigned rookie to finish negotiations before they lose valuable training camp reps.

Special teams play will look quite different in 2024 after team owners voted to enact a new format for kickoffs.

Kick returns had been largely removed from the NFL after a 2011 rule change to move the kickoff spot up, which vastly increasing the amount of touchbacks. The new rules will directly impact the volume of kicks put into play by kicking teams, so returns by the receiving team should see a significant spike.

These changes should revolutionize what had been widely regarded as a meaningless play for the last decade-plus. It should also prompt coaching staffs to get creative as they look to maximize their chances of success on special teams.

Some coaches are already flirting with the idea of having a non-traditional player handle kickoff duties. Dave Toub, the special teams coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, said last month that his team is considering utilizing safety Justin Reid and former rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit as kickoff specialists. Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker revealed his plans to bulk up as he seeks to be more effective in coverage, a necessity under the rule changes.

Teams figure to continue experimenting in training camp. There’s a chance that players who otherwise wouldn’t have received a camp invite could end up attending as teams work to craft their rosters and build lineups that best fit the new kickoff style.

Expect more stars in the same vein as Devin Hester—who’s set to enter the Hall of Fame as a return specialist this year—to arise from these adjustments. Once teams start to figure out the best way to handle the new play, acquiring and developing personnel who can thrive as kickoff specialists and returners could become commonplace.

Money can’t remedy all problems in the NFL. Positional logjams are a real concern for several teams, and coaching staffs should already be figuring out how to sort out potential issues.

For instance, the Houston Texans need to sort out their new-look receiving corps after acquiring Stefon Diggs. The veteran wideout wasn’t afraid to vent his frustrations with the Buffalo Bills’ offense during his four-year stint with the club, so keeping him satisfied should be a priority for Houston’s coaching staff as they prepare to build on a surprise run to the divisional round last year.

The Atlanta Falcons also need to keep a proven veteran happy after signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract this offseason. While that type of investment typically would indicate a club’s faith in a player, Atlanta’s decision to draft fellow quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick sent shockwaves through the league.

With Cousins still recovering from a torn Achilles that cut his 2023 campaign short, he could hear calls for Penix to take over if he gets off to a slow start. The Falcons should proactively work to avoid any quarterback controversy by being steadfast and public in their commitment to the four-time Pro Bowler.

Several other clubs also have too much talent at a certain position. While that’s generally a good problem to have, those teams will need keep all of their stars happy before it becomes an unnecessary distraction that derails the locker room.

Whether that is a potential cut, trade or some other compromise, these teams must have a plan in place to avoid a lost 2024 season.