Another NFL regular season is in the books, which means there’s only one thing we can all do as NFL fans… Prepare for next season. Some of us still have a month of football left to enjoy, while watching our favorite teams make their best attempts at raising that Lombardi Trophy come February. To others, it’s time to start looking at what pieces they need to bring in, and or ship out to put them back in contention and back to playing football late into January.
Follow along for some of my favorite landing spots on big-name players and the hottest free agent signings and potential trade candidates for the 2024 NFL offseason.
2024 NFL Offseason Predictions
Green Bay Sends Jaire Packing
Some NFL fans will tell me I’m out of my mind for suggesting that the Packers trade Jaire Alexander, but here’s the thing, I’m from there. I can hear what people around me say about the Packers as hardcore fans; my mom is an owner of the Packers as a shareholder.
“The defense isn’t good enough.”
Jaire Alexander is one hell of a player, and that’s why you’re going to get a king’s ransom for him. He’s worth it. If the Packers are serious about keeping Joe Barry around, they’re going to need even more talent spread out throughout that team. They already have a lot of it in an attempt to overcompensate for Barry’s decision-making as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator.
Fans and analysts knew going into this year that the defense had to step up to earn a spot in this rebuild. It hasn’t shaken out how they had hoped to keep this unit intact. Alexander is a star, but he’s also worth the most and could help the future by splitting up his value. The Packers need to rebuild that offensive line in life after David Bakhtiari. Drafting Alexander’s replacement in the 2024 NFL Draft where they land around the 20th, could be a great decision.
As far as the Cardinals go, they could get a lot of draft compensation to move back in the draft this year, depending on where they land. Arizona could use their late-round pick from Houston in 2024 and their first-rounder in 2025 (since they believe it’ll put them into contention, making it a late first) as compensation for the best cornerback in the league. Alexander could help shut down the dynamic wide receivers that the Cardinals have to face six times a year in the 49ers, Rams and Seahawks.
Trade Package:
Green Bay Packers:
- 2024 First-Round Pick via Houston Texans
- 2025 First-Round Pick via Arizona Cardinals
- 2025 Third-Round Pick via Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals:
- Jaire Alexander
Gabriel Davis Is Finally a WR1
Is Gabriel Davis a WR1? I mean, we can all have that argument another day if this scenario comes to fruition. Yet, looking at the wide receiver landscape for the 2024 offseason, I think the Panthers would be the only team to pay Davis as a WR1.
There are rumblings that Jerry Jeudy will end up in Carolina because they were so heavily linked at the trade deadline, but if they wanted him bad enough, they would’ve got him. Jeudy hasn’t showcased enough to be a WR1 for Bryce Young. I’ll take some fire for this, but in the games that Davis has had a favorable matchup, more times than not, he’s had a great showing.
In matchups in which he’s not favored, he’s the cardio king (I’ll give you that). However, with players not wanting to go to a team owned by someone like David Tepper, Davis could end up getting a WR1 contract a lot like Christian Kirk did with Jacksonville a few seasons ago to help develop Trevor Lawrence.
Tee Higgins Traded From One Jungle Cat to Another
Injured Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) walks the sideline in the first quarter of the NFL Week 12 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023.
Sometimes good things come to an end, but you still have to appreciate it for what it was. At one point you had a great thing going even if it is done. It’s kind of like all my fantasy football teams this year that were so close but fell short because I wasted a draft pick on Tee Higgins. It’s fine. I’m fine. Higgins’s time in Cincinnati is unfortunately coming to an end, like those fantasy teams. The Bengals also are in a great spot in the draft to bring in Higgins’ replacement with one of the star prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft Class.
Why the Lions? The Lions have plenty of playmakers on that offense, so why would they go after Tee Higgins? To answer that, I have to put my love of Jameson Williams aside for a second. The passing game single-handedly runs through Amon-Ra St. Brown, and things will change when Detroit’s offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, leaves this offseason to become a head coach somewhere else. Even though Jameson Williams is starting to show flashes, you can’t bank on his ability to stay on the field. Availability is the best ability at the end of the day.
I probably shouldn’t be using that phrase when discussing Higgins of all people. However, the talent of Higgins and Williams combined with St. Brown, Sam Laporta and Jahmyr Gibbs in the receiving game would put the Lions as the biggest threat to the 49ers in the NFC.
Trade Package:
Cincinnati Bengals:
- 2025 First-Round Pick via Lions
- 2024 Third-Round Pick via Lions
Detroit Lions:
- Tee Higgins
Calvin Ridley Bets on the Chiefs
I consider myself more of a realist, and the reality is that Calvin Ridley could be the perfect free-agent acquisition for the Chiefs with his veteran experience.
Some NFL Draft analysts have the Chiefs drafting a wide receiver in their mocks. Yet, I’m leaning more towards Kansas City going after a top wide receiver in free agency to fill that void in their offense. With immaturity costing them at times and a lack of talent costing them in other ways, I don’t see the organization taking another chance on developing a young receiver, at least early in the draft. Ridley could be that “X” receiver in their offense next to Rashee Rice.
Plus, Ridley has played with Matt Ryan and Trevor Lawrence so far in his career. Is Lawrence really worth staying in Jacksonville for? It’d be especially challenging to stay if there is a major opening with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. No disrespect to Doug Pederson.
From the Crown to a Cattleman
Out of all my 2024 NFL offseason predictions, this one just feels so right in the gut, even just looking at it. It’s the type of call that makes you think upon first sight, “Yeah, that’s it.” Doesn’t it just seem like a typical Jerry Jones thing to do after losing a close playoff game (assuming history repeats itself once again)?
It wouldn’t surprise me one bit for Jerry Jones to fire Mike McCarthy after a loss in the postseason and blame the lack of a dominant run game. Tony Pollard didn’t play up to the level this year of being worth bringing back in 2024.
Welcome to Dallas, Derrick Henry. It might cost Jones a pretty penny to snag Henry off of free agency after he made what feels like his final goodbyes to the Tennessee fans. However, Jones is known to take big swings, especially at the running back position. Plus, with former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel now gone, Henry has even less incentive to return to the Music City.
Jeudy Gets Judged
Jan 7, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (10) gains yardage against the Las Vegas Raiders during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
As mentioned previously, Juedy was linked to Carolina around the time of the NFL Trade Deadline. So, why does he fit with the Cardinals? I fully expect Arizona to bring back Marquise “Hollywood” Brown with the connection he and Kyler Murray have built. While Jeudy hasn’t lived up to his potential in Denver, the Cardinals need a solid WR2 to put next to Brown.
If they sent a 2025 NFL Daft pick and Greg Dortch to Denver (there’s no telling what his true value is), they could use this year’s picks to build a team around Kyler Murray and the few weapons they have on defense to compete next season.
Still, I’m sure fantasy football managers would think twice about drafting Jeudy next season in an offense with Murray, James Conner, Brown, Rondale Moore and Trey McBride.
Trade Package:
Denver Broncos:
- WR Greg Dortch
- 2025 Fourth-Round Pick (Via ARI)
Arizona Cardinals:
- Jerry Jeudy
Kirk Cousins Stays Loyal to the Skol
Yes, we’ve got to do one prediction where they return home. Every party will be happy with this move. The Vikings could still draft a quarterback in the first round and it won’t affect Kirk Cousins‘s future in Minnesota.
Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, is one of the best in the business who’s gotten him plenty of wealthy contracts over his career. I’m sure they could negotiate a top-heavy deal so Cousins can mentor the next quarterback in Minnesota for the time being.
Although each run of Minnesota’s backup quarterbacks has been fun, it showed very clearly that the Vikings don’t have a future at quarterback after Cousins is done. With Minnesota sitting just outside of the top 10 in the 2024 NFL Draft and plenty of talent in this QB class, It’s time to plan ahead for the future. Draft Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix, and re-sign Cousins. Clap those hands, baby. “Skoooool!”
Thanks for reading my initial 2024 NFL offseason predictions. For more content, find me on Twitter, @hoovtube.
*Featured Photo Credit: Bob Donnan – USA TODAY Sports*