Dallas Cowboys
Cap Space: $ -2.8 Million
Coaching Changes:
Brian Schottenheimer - Head Coach
Klayton Adams - Offensive Coordinator
Matt Eberflus - Defensive Coordinator
Nick Sorenson - Special Teams Coordinator
Key Departures:
Zack Martin OG
Demarcus Lawrence DE
Jourdan Lewis CB
Eric Kendricks LB
Rico Dowdle RB
Osa Odighizuwa DT
Carl Lawson DE
Brandin Cooks WR
Linval Joseph DT
Trey Lance QB
Amani Oruwariye CB
Spoilers: This will not be the Cowboys' year. After an underwhelming 7-10 season that finally saw a Coaching regime change, the Cowboys will also undergo a serious Defensive rebuild this offseason. Not to say there won't be changes on offense as well, new HC Brian Schottenheimer has his work cut out for him. Not listed on Key Departures, Micah Parsons will also be watched this offseason for either a contract extension or a possible trade target.
A full rebuild will be that much more difficult when you have almost $ -3 Million in cap space. The offense has Dak Prescott and Ceedee Lamb locked up on max contracts but is losing an even more significant player in Zack Martin; the multiple All-Pro Captain of this offense for 10 years.
With 6 to 7 defensive starters moving on and a total of 5 offensive and defensive linemen out as well, the Cowboys need to have the best offseason of the franchise's history.
Free Agency Predictions
Unlike the other 'Predictions' I've made in this series, there won't be any specific names listed on this section because I don't believe the Cowboys will sign to many players and especially none of high-name quality. The Cowboys will sign 2 or 3 linemen on both sides of the ball and maybe a veteran CB to add to their depth. The team has some quality, young backups already on their team that they will have to utilize in the upcoming season.
A second possibility would be for the Cowboys to trade Micah Parsons and free up $ 24 Million in cap space. I personally think they should resign him and build around the talented edge rusher but this cap casualty is not uncommon with newly rebuilding teams so I can see either way.
Draft Predictions
The Cowboys have the #12 pick in this year's draft and with all of the rebuilding in the trenches and in their defense needed, most projections have them going in a completely different place. Running back Ashton Jeanty (#4 on my big board) is the perfect fit for a franchise that has built around young RBs to great success in the past.
After Jeanty in the 1st, the team will draft likely nothing but defensive players and maybe an OG. Day 2 prospects like DT Deone Walker and DT Omar Norman-Lott would be great additions and available at their #44 pick. Day 3 steals for them at #76 could be LB Demetrious Knight Jr., DT Darius Alexander or EDGE Jared Ivey.
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New York Giants
Cap Space: $ 43.4 Million
Coaching Changes:
N/A
Key Departures:
Azeez Ojulari OLB
Darius Slayton WR
Adoree' Jackson CB
Greg Van Roten OG
Chris Hubbard OT
Isaiah Simmons LB
Drew Lock QB
Armon Watts DT
Matthew Adams LB
Chris Manhertz TE
Jamie Gillan P
The Giants current Coaching staff are likely on their last year if they don't get results next season so this offseason will have to be astonishing after going 3-14. They have a lot of cap space to work with after cutting Daniel Jones but now have multiple holes to fill in their offense and defense. Luckily for them they're only losing 4 starters.
The team will have $ 43 Million to spend and the #3 and #34 picks to look forward to and obviously, the Giants will need to use some of this for a QB. Also in need are two CBs, a WR2, a 3/4 DE and another interior O-lineman. With the biggest offseason in Brian Daboll's life in front of him let's see what his options are.
Free Agency Prediction
The number one priority is going to be a Quarterback. Free Agent QBs span from long-term possibilities like Sam Darnold and Justin Fields or an aging Veteran like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson or Kirk Cousins. Sam Darnold will be the number one priority by a long shot, already linked to the team for an estimated $ 40 Million a year. With $43 Million to spend, the Giants will be able to look for 1 or 2 more impact players on defense like DT Foley Fatukasi or CB Tre White for $ 3-4 Million who can contribute at a bargain.
Draft Prediction
Either the Giants draft Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders with the #3 pick. If Darnold doesn't sign they could sign an aging veteran and draft a rookie at the same time, that way Daboll has some sense of winning now while planning for the future too. If they do get Darnold or even possibly Justin Fields, Travis Hunter is the pick at 3. Hunter likely won't go to the Titans or Browns and would be a perfect fit in the Giants as their immediate CB1 and a contributing WR at the same time.
For Day 2, the Giants will likely get BPA which included WR Markus Golden and LB Jeffrey Bassa in my mock draft. The Giants roster is really not as bad as recent years would have you expect. My guess is that when they have a good QB at the helm they're floor is 6-7 wins and ceiling is a playoff berth. Drafting playmakers on both sides of the ball will be huge for them and this is a great draft to do so.
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Philadelphia Eagles
Cap Space: $ 18.1 Million
Coaching Changes:
Pending - Offensive Coordinator
Key Departures:
Josh Sweat DE
Zack Baun OLB
Milton Williams DT
Mekhi Becton OG
Brandon Graham DE
Avonte Maddox CB
Kenneth Gainwell RB
Jack Driscoll OG
CJ Uzomah TE
Most will be surprised to hear that the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles do not have a tough offseason ahead. Where most Champions have mutiple impending Free Agents and are usually in the Red, the Eagles have $18 Million to work with and only 2 serious Free Agents in Sweat and Williams. Other players like Becton, Maddox and Gainwell already have replacements on the roster thanks to the brilliant general managing of Howie Roseman. It's ironic but the Eagles biggest need this offseason is often their biggest strength; trenches.
While Lane Johnson seems set for at least one more year before retirement, the Eagles have still lost 2 starting IOL and 2 starting D-lineman since 2023. While those areas are still at least average amongst other teams, "average" to the Eagles is an immediate need.
Free Agency Predictions
I can't rule out the possibility of the Eagles keeping in-house either Sweat or Baun (More likely Sweat), but if not singing a few value players could easily have this team right back where they left off next season. O-linemen like Trent Brown or Jon Feliciano could sub into the RG spot fluently, while a player like Calais Campbell could fit into this defense perfectly or even an EDGE like K'Lavon Chaisson or Lorenzo Carter could add some edge threat and all 5 of these players could be signed for $ 4 Million or less per year.
Draft Predictions
The Eagles hold the last pick in every round and if they draft anything like they have recently, we can expect a Power-4 Conference defensive superstar who has most likely fallen in the draft for some reason. Expected fallers in my most recent Mock Draft, (https://www.fansonlysportz.com/post/zak-drapeau-s-nfl-mock-draft-3-0-1) could be OT Josh Simmons or CB Benjamin Morrison thanks to injury concerns or EDGE Jack Sawyer amongst others. Philadelphia usually go BPA on the defensive side of the ball and figure out their place in the squad later.
Day 2 picks could include one of the many impactful EDGEs or LBs in the class like JT Tuimoloau or Princely Umanmielen. Other options could be WRs like Jaylin Noel or Jalen Royals. At this point in their franchise, any pick will likely become a backup and starter in 2 years which is why the Eagles can take project players. Players with great potential but need time to adjust to the pros usually find Philadelphia the best case scenario.
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Washington Commanders
Cap Space: $ 75.2 Million
Coaching Changes:
N/A
Key Departures:
Dante Fowler Jr. DE
Bobby Wagner LB
Cornelius Lucas OT
Jeremy Chinn SAF
Benjamin St. Juste CB
Clellin Ferrell DE
Olamide Zaccheaus WR
Michael Deiter OC
Marcus Mariota QB
Noah Brown WR
Dyami Brown WR
Tress Way P
What a debut year for the Quinn-Daniels era in Washington. From the team's standpoint there wasn't much more you could ask for after improving your offense from 24th in 2024 to 6th this year and improving the defense from 32nd to 15th at the same time. Going into the offseason the Commanders have the 3rd most cap space and will be spending it; as long as Daniels is under his rookie contract the Commanders are fully in Super Bowl contention and should use every penny to try and get there.
As far as team needs go offensive weapons will be they key this offseason. Some players played well this season but may have just looked better because of Daniels. It's my belief that only Terry MacLaurin is a legit starter on this team and the Commanders can go after multiple WRs as well as another RB and TE. On defense, multiple UFAs in their secondary leave room for a SAF and CB to be looked at as well. Good thing they have the money.
Free Agency Predictions
Let's face it, the Commanders have a chance to go crazy this offseason and that should start with the best WR in Free Agency whoever that may be, (besides Stefon Diggs). Chris Godwin or Amari Cooper would be great fits in this offense particularly. Players like Raheem Mostert and Javonte Williams would be a great addition to the RB room and in a weak TE class, Mike Gesicki and Mo Allie-Cox will be very cheap for what they could bring this offense next season.
Draft Predictions
The Commanders won't be picking Top-15 for the first time in almost 10 drafts after Dan Quinn was spectacular in last years'. The Commanders should continue to draft weapons for Daniels in this one and luckily for them, in my mock draft I have Emeka Egbuka falling all the way to them at 29. I also had Xavier Watts falling in the second round and the Commanders were the lucky recipient for him as well. The Commanders have a solid, young foundation to work with and they should continue to draft and sign for talent not needs. With a team this dangerous, it's important to surround your young superstar with as much greatness as possible and go get that trophy.
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Make sure to stay tuned as we continue to follow all NFL offseason moves all the way to the NFL Draft on April 27th.
-Z.D.
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