The price of Covid and the clampdown by states on in-stadium revenues will be felt with the coming salary cap.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Every December, the NFL gives the 32 teams an idea regarding the expected salary cap for the coming league year. This year, that didn’t happen.

It didn’t happen because the pandemic has caused revenue to crater, by dramatically reducing attendance at games. The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed in July that the cap for 2021 will go no lower than $175 million.

That would be a $23.2 million drop, per team, in comparison to 2020.

There has been talk that the cap won’t drop that low, and that it possibly could remain in the range of $195 million. The final number, however, will result from a negotiation between the NFL and the NFL Players Association. The players surely will want the cap to be as high as it can be. Multiple teams will want that, too, in order to avoid having to create the space necessary to comply with a $175 million spending limit.

Plenty of owners, in contrast, don’t want to delay the full brunt of the impact of the 2020 losses. They view it as an interest-free loan to players. And that mentality would push the final number closer to $175 million.

A league source with knowledge of the situation suggests that the salary cap could be in the range of $180 million.

At that amount, things could get very ugly for plenty of teams and players. As the source characterized it, the commencement of the 2021 league year on March 17 will destroy the middle class of veteran free agents. Plenty of players will be cut or not re-signed.

By way of example, a player like Ndamukong Suh, who was paid $7 million in 2020, will likely get something closer to $3 million in 2021. Many teams will be able to offer veterans only $1 million per year.

The problem is that contracts always are negotiated with the understanding that the cap will keep going up by five to 10 percent. If it drops by roughly 15 percent this year, multiple teams will have major issues because they haven’t built their rosters with the possibility of a shrunken cap in mind.

NFC EAST

PHILADELPHIA

Brian Daboll would rather be OC of the Bills with JOSH ALLEN, than try to sort out the Eagles QB mess.  Ryan Talbot of NewYorkUpstate.com:

At one point, it looked like there was no chance Brian Daboll would return to the Buffalo Bills in 2021. Now, it would be a surprise if he did not come back as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Daboll was considered among the favorites for the Los Angeles Chargers’ head coaching vacancy, but the team opted to hire Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley on Sunday night. After that vacancy was filled, the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles are the only teams that remain with an opening.

Daboll has ties to Texans general manager Nick Caserio from his time in New England, but no interview has occurred to date. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier interviewed for that job on Sunday.

Philadelphia was interested in interviewing Daboll, but the interest reportedly was not mutual. Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reported on Monday that Daboll was not interested in the job.

ESPN’s Dianna Russini hinted that Daboll would not be leaving Buffalo on Sunday night when she said the Bills’ offensive coordinator would “be the big name for head coach next year.”

In his third season as Bills offensive coordinator, Buffalo’s offense was among the best in the league. Buffalo finished second in yards per game (396.4) this season and second in points scored (31.3). Daboll deserves credit for helping in Josh Allen’s development and for how he has utilized Stefon Diggs in his first season with Buffalo. Diggs ended the regular season leading the league in receptions and receiving yards.

After helping the Bills get to the AFC Championship Game and the team returning their key weapons in 2021, there is no reason to believe that Daboll won’t be the top candidate for head coaching vacancies next year. Buffalo will eventually lose Daboll, but the good news for Bills fans is that it appears the team will get a fourth season of Daboll with Allen and company.

WASHINGTON

Ron Rivera is re-united with Marty Hurney with the WFT.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

The Washington Football Team has turned the corner toward reunion.

Washington is finalizing a deal with Marty Hurney to become the team’s general manager, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources informed of the situation. The move reunites Hurney with head coach Ron Rivera, with whom Hurney worked in Carolina, where the two assembled key pieces of a Super Bowl-caliber roster in the early part of the last decade.

Hurney visited with Washington brass (including Rivera) Monday, clearly emerging as the top candidate for the position. It took the Football Team less than 24 hours to advance from “top candidate” to working out the fine print to bring Hurney to Washington.

The writing has been on the wall for this pairing since late December, when Hurney was fired as a result of a difference in approach. With Washington in need of a GM and Rivera having a history with Hurney that included selecting some of the players most important to Carolina’s run to Super Bowl 50 (starting with Cam Newton), the two seemed like a natural fit in D.C. Hurney’s beginning as an intern in Washington only further sweetened the full-circle narrative.

They’ll join forces once again with the hopes of improving a Washington team that released its first-round quarterback (Dwayne Haskins) after less than two full seasons and faces plenty of uncertainty at the position in the short and long term. The bright side: Washington’s defense is equipped to continue to be a force, as it was in the franchise’s run to a 7-9 finish and a playoff berth in 2020.

The cupboard is far from bare in Washington, and with Hurney and Rivera sharing an understanding, they should be able to hit the ground running into 2021.

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA

The Falcons have hired Terry Fontenot, who is Black, to be their GM.  Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com:

The Atlanta Falcons have hired Terry Fontenot as their general manager, pairing him with recently hired coach Arthur Smith to try to return the franchise to the playoffs.

The 40-year-old Fontenot becomes the Falcons’ first Black general manager. Under the NFL’s new hiring guidelines encouraging minority hiring, the Saints will receive two third-round draft picks.

Fontenot has spent the past 18 years with the New Orleans Saints in a variety of capacities, most recently as the vice president/assistant general manager of pro personnel. He began his career as a marketing intern before moving into the scouting department and has held his most recent post for the past year.

“When we started this process, we were focused on finding someone that not only has a track record of identifying key building blocks that result in successful teams, but also someone who focuses on cohesive relationships within the building,” Falcons owner and chairman Arthur M. Blank said in a statement. “We feel very strongly that we’ve found that individual in Terry Fontenot. In his past positions, he has shown the ability to make strong decisions and judgements that result in championship-caliber teams, while also understanding a variety of viewpoints and respecting a collaborative process throughout.

“Landing a leader of Terry’s stature, I believe our organization, players, fans and community will have confidence in our approach throughout this process as I am certain Terry will represent them and honor the expectations they have with tremendous passion and dedication to competitive excellence.”

The Falcons also interviewed four other candidates for the position: Falcons director of college scouting Anthony Robinson, Indianapolis Colts director of college scouting Morocco Brown, former Los Angeles Rams scouting director Brad Holmes (who was recently hired as the Detroit Lions’ GM) and former Houston Texans GM Rick Smith.

Fontenot replaces Thomas Dimitroff, who was fired along with head coach Dan Quinn on Oct. 11 after the team’s 0-5 start. Dimitroff had been the Falcons’ GM since 2008. The Falcons hired Arthur Smith on Friday.

“I have found the perfect opportunity for my family’s next steps,” Fontenot said in a statement. “I feel honored and thankful that Arthur Blank and [team president] Rich McKay have given me this privilege and I look forward to working alongside the two of them, Arthur Smith and our entire organization as we strive together to reach our competitive goals and give our fans the performances they deserve. My family and I are thrilled to make our new home in Atlanta and look forward to meeting our fellow Falcon fans.”

TAMPA BAY

Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com with some QB TOM BRADY post-season numbers:

Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has rewritten the postseason record book, and in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game he may reach another couple of impressive and unprecedented milestones.

Brady only has to pass for 32 yards on Sunday to reach 12,000 yards in the postseason in his career. That’s easily the best in NFL history; Peyton Manning threw for 7,339 yards in the postseason, and no one else even has 6,000 postseason passing yards.

Brady also needs three touchdown passes to reach 80 in the postseason career. That’s also by far the most in NFL history; Joe Montana is in second place with 45 in his career. Aaron Rodgers, the other quarterback in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, has 42 touchdown passes in his playoff career, so if he throws four against the Buccaneers, he’ll move past Montana and be second only to Brady.

Brady also owns the NFL postseason records for games played, games started, games as the winning quarterback, passes thrown and passes completed.

– – –

There is a good chance that WR ANTONIO BROWN will be good to go on Sunday at Lambeau Field:

Antonio Brown received good news on Tuesday: His knee injury isn’t significant enough to guarantee he’ll miss Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.

An MRI on Brown’s knee did not reveal serious issues, and he’s considered day to day in the lead-up to Tampa Bay’s appearance in the conference title game, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

Brown played 27 offensive snaps in the Buccaneers’ Divisional Round win over the Saints this past Sunday, missing most of the second half due to his knee injury. Without him, Tom Brady turned to backups Tyler Johnson and Scott Miller in order to continue moving the ball in a close game that Tampa Bay ultimately won.

NFC WEST

SEATTLE

S JAMAL ADAMS thought Adam Gase was in his professional rearview mirror when he talked his way to Seattle.  Perhaps, not so fast.  Paulina Dedaj of FoxNews.com:

It’s probably a reunion Jamal Adams is hoping to avoid.

The Seattle Seahawks have spoken to former New York Jets head coach Adam Gase about their offensive coordinator opening, less than a week after firing Brian Schottenheimer because of “philosophical differences,” ESPN reported Monday, citing sources.

Gase is one of many coaches the Seahawks have approached or have plans to. Sources say Seattle will also speak to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback coach Mike Kafka.

If Seattle does decide on Gase, the hiring would likely not be welcomed by three-time Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams, who trashed his former head coach in the offseason after falling out over contract negotiations, ultimately opening the door to a trade with the Seahawks.

Shortly before being traded, Adams spoke to the New York Daily News about his relationship with Gase. He expressed the belief that Gase wasn’t the right fit for the organization and that the players did not agree with his coaching style.

“I don’t feel like he’s the right leader for this organization to reach the promised land,” Adams said at the time, seemingly referring to the Super Bowl. “As a leader, what really bothers me is that he doesn’t have a relationship with everybody in the building.”

Gase responded by saying he was surprised by the remarks and thought the two had a good relationship.

Adams was traded to the Seahawks shortly after. He totaled 83 tackles, a career-high of 9.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 12 games this season but his playoff dreams were cut short when the Los Angeles Rams upset Seattle in the wild-card round.

Schottenheimer was fired three days later.

“Brian Schottenheimer is a fantastic person and coach and we thank him for the last three years,” the team said in a tweet. “Citing philosophical differences, we have parted ways.”

Schottenheimer began coaching in the NFL in 1997 before spending some time coaching college football. He returned in 2001 and worked for several teams, including the Jets as offensive coordinator from 2006-2011.

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY

Chiefs S DAN SORENSON made a TD-saving helmet-to-helmet hit on Sunday and he will be around to do the same thing to the Bills this week.  Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The NFL won’t suspend Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen for his game-changing helmet-to-helmet hit on Rashard Higgins during the Browns’ 22-17 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC divisional round, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Monday.

The play will be reviewed for a possible fine, which is standard. The same thing can likely be said about Mack Wilson’s hit on Patrick Mahomes, in which he made incidental helmet contact and knocked him out of the game with a concussion.

Sorensen led with the crown of his helmet and speared Higgins in the head, jarring the ball loose on a 25-yard reception as he reached for the goal line. Higgins fumbled through the end zone, which resulted in a touchback for the Chiefs with 1:34 left in the half. The Replay Official reviewed the short-of-the-goal-line ruling, and the play was upheld. The hit, which was not flagged, was not reviewable.

Instead of the Browns closing to 16-10 on a touchdown there, the Chiefs marched 70 yards in 9 plays, and Harrison Butker kicked a 28-yard field goal to make it 19-3 with 2 seconds left in the half.

CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore weighed in on the broadcast, acknowledging that the hit was not reviewable, but that a flag should’ve been thrown.

The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday, and NFL’s Officiating team hasn’t yet addressed it.

– – –

Here is an update on QB PATRICK MAHOMES and his concussion.  Kevin Patra ofNFL.com:

Patrick Mahomes continues to go through concussion protocol after leaving Sunday’s Divisional Round victory over the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter.

“He’s in the protocol, and we’ll just follow that and see how he does here in the next couple days,” coach Andy Reid said Monday, per Matt McMullen of the team’s official website.

Reid added: “I just leave that with (athletic trainer) Rick (Burkholder) and the docs because of the protocol it’s a no brainer for the coaching staff, you don’t have to think about it. … I can’t tell you from a medical standpoint where he’s at. I don’t know that.”

Mahomes was evaluated for a concussion after getting yanked to the ground on a third-down run midway through the third quarter. After looking woozy as he stood up, the MVP QB was helped off the field. He then jogged to the locker room.

Mahomes was ruled out of the contest in the fourth quarter.

Chad Henne took over in the second half, helping K.C. secure a bid in the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills.

Mahomes must pass through protocol before being eligible to play on Sunday. Today’s status isn’t indicative of his availability one way or another. More will be known as the week progresses and the Chiefs hit the practice field.

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

RB MARK INGRAM has been jettisoned – and he takes it in a classy manner.  Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com:

A year after leading Lamar Jackson’s MVP campaign with the mantra “Big Truss,” running back Mark Ingram will be released by the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Ingram, 31, was a healthy scratch for four of the Ravens’ final five contests this season, including both playoff games. The Ravens will create $5 million in salary-cap room by releasing the 10-year veteran.

Extension? Ravens’ best move is to invest around Lamar Jackson with No. 1 receiver

A Pro Bowl player in 2019, Ingram didn’t have the same explosiveness this campaign, and he was slowly phased out of the Ravens’ game plan, finishing with a career-low 72 carries. Baltimore ended up with the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL by relying on rookie J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards.

Ingram said his goodbye to the Ravens via social media on Monday, calling the team “a first class organization.”

Ingram posted on Twitter: “I love the real ones in flock nation that supported me and showed luv! My blood brothers, whats understood Ain gotta be explained. Best is still ahead, cant wait! Watch God work. #GodWins #BigTrussForever.”

THIS AND THAT

NO BLACK COACHING HIRES

Despite all the urging of the NFL Office (as well as many, many members of the media), it seems quite possible the Robert Saleh will be the only “minority” hire among the seven coaching values.  Jason Reid of ESPN’s The Undefeated sounds defeated in a rather fact-based piece.

Nearing the close of another hiring cycle, NFL owners have failed again.

In a period in which there were initially seven openings for head coaches and now has only two vacancies remaining, no Black coaches have been tabbed to fill any yet. In most categories, going 0 for 5 is an awful look. This one qualifies.

For proponents of inclusive hiring throughout the league, the lack of progress would be concerning during any cycle. That it has occurred following the previous three cycles, however, is downright alarming for the game’s Black assistant coaches, several told The Undefeated in recent interviews. During the previous cycles, there were 20 openings for head coaches. Only one coach of color was hired in each cycle — and one Black coach total.

As of the publication of this column, the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles had not officially completed their coaching searches. Perhaps a fourth-quarter comeback of sorts will occur, enabling the league to claim a net gain in its number of Black head coaches (at the start of the process, the total stood at only one — Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers; Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins is Afro Latino and Ron Rivera of the Washington Football Team is Latino). Of course, even having two or three Black head coaches in a league with 32 teams isn’t exactly something to thump one’s chest about.

Some will point to the hiring of Robert Saleh, the first Muslim head coach in NFL history, by the New York Jets as a sign of progress on the coaching front. Make no mistake, that move is noteworthy. But let’s be real: The NFL has never been Blacker.

The league’s on-field workforce is more than 70% Black. Of the 32 players selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, 29 are Black. Black quarterbacks now set the league’s agenda, and the best among them, Kansas City Chiefs wunderkind Patrick Mahomes, is the new face of the NFL. With that backdrop, the NFL is sending a horrible message to its Black assistant coaches.

And don’t count on both the Texans and Eagles to turn to Black assistants to lead their teams. It’s more likely that Chiefs head coach Andy Reid would punt on fourth down late in a game while running out the clock to complete a victory within his reach.

Commissioner Roger Goodell and his top lieutenants had hoped for better — far better — after high-ranking officials from the league office and the Fritz Pollard Alliance, the independent group that advises the NFL on matters of diversity, intensified their efforts around hiring during the offseason. Their belief was that by incentivizing inclusion and focusing on policies that would potentially accelerate the ability of candidates to move through the pipeline, positive change would manifest in improvement as soon as this cycle. So much for that.

What has occurred since the end of the regular season is yet another painful reminder, coaches say, that the league office can only do so much. The NFL’s hiring problem, at its core, is at the ownership level. And it’s as glaring as ever.

What’s most galling to Black coaches is the clear double standard present in the hiring process. While white assistants with little experience as coordinators or even position coaches are fast-tracked for the top-rung jobs, top-notch Black assistants often toil for years waiting for opportunities that never come, regardless of their role in contributing to an organization’s overall success. For Black assistants, the curious case of Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is just about becoming a cautionary tale.

With their victory over the Cleveland Browns in the AFC divisional round Sunday, the Chiefs will become the first AFC team to host three consecutive AFC title games. For that entire period, Bieniemy has been the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. Furthermore, Mahomes, who swears by Bieniemy, is 24-1 in his last 25 starts, including a Super Bowl victory. The Chiefs’ success overall and that individually of the team’s young superstar signal-caller should be a launching pad for Bieniemy to run his own shop. Bieniemy is still waiting for it to happen.

Meanwhile, after only one season as a defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams, Brandon Staley has been hired to take over the Los Angeles Chargers. Staley becomes a head coach not even four years after being hired for his first NFL coaching gig. Until this season, he coached outside linebackers. Granted, the Rams thrived under Staley this season, leading the NFL in many categories. But here’s the thing: Bieniemy has been doing it big with the Chiefs for several years.

Then there’s the Detroit Lions’ coaching vacancy.

Reportedly, the Lions are expected to hire New Orleans Saints tight ends coach Dan Campbell, who has never been a coordinator in the NFL. Could Staley and Campbell wind up being successful with the Chargers and Lions, respectively? Absolutely. What their ascent reinforces, though, is the existence of the same double standard on display recently during the sacking of the U.S. Capitol by a crowd of mostly white rioters. The bar is still set much higher for Black assistants.

Some have suggested that Bieniemy isn’t viewed favorably by owners because Reid handles the Chiefs’ primary playcalling duties, that somehow the playcalling role is all that matters in determining whether a prospective head coach will succeed.

Putting aside that wrongheaded thinking for a moment, you know who also had largely the same working relationship with Reid while they served under him on offense with the Chiefs? Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy and former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson. Given the opportunities Nagy, Pederson and other white non-primary playcallers have received, the whole playcalling narrative, with regard to Bieniemy’s lack of advancement, simply doesn’t hold water.

Playcalling has become a lot like those illegal Jim Crow-era voting “tests” Black people endured, such as having to guess how many jelly beans were in a jar. It’s just something used to exclude Black assistants from the hiring process.

Another common criticism of Black assistants, albeit one that may be made up of whole cloth, is that they do not interview well. Impressing owners, especially during the initial get-to-know-you sessions, is key in advancing in the process. Besides laying out an X’s-and-O’s vision for success, many owners want coaches who seem capable of inspiring players. Supposedly, another knock on Bieniemy is that he doesn’t command the room.

Look, short of Bieniemy rapping all of his answers to questions, there’s no way he could interview so poorly, relative to his role in the Chiefs’ spectacular success, to still be shut out. It just doesn’t add up.

The other whispers around Bieniemy concern incidents that occurred during his playing days and time as a young coach, though nothing that has been publicly revealed in the past 20 years. By all accounts, Bieniemy has set a positive example while delivering daily for the Chiefs.

The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Urban Meyer, who hasn’t proven anything in the NFL, despite the fact that while coaching at Ohio State, he reportedly knew about spousal abuse allegations against assistant coach Zach Smith before Smith was fired. The school suspended Meyer for three games after an independent investigation determined he failed to uphold the values of the university. None of that stopped Meyer from getting an opportunity at football’s highest level. Or is it that only Black coaches are disqualified because of issues in their past?

The thought process about Black assistants, generally, is warped. In many respects, it’s the same type of flawed, outdated outlook that resulted in Mitch Trubisky being selected ahead of Mahomes and Deshaun Watson in the 2017 draft. What’s most harmful, it has stymied the careers of many Black coaches.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace saw himself in Trubisky. Does that mean Pace is a virulent racist? Of course not. Often, people in decision-making lean on their life experiences. Their frame of reference sometimes plays an outsize role in planning. It just so happens that the overwhelming majority of high-level decision-makers in the NFL are white men. There’s no sugarcoating where things stand, and there are no signs of improvement on the horizon.

When it comes to hiring coaches, NFL owners couldn’t make their feelings more clear. All that’s needed now is to hang the sign: Black men need not apply.

Of the eight coordinators left in the playoffs, four are Black.  Bienemy as the Chiefs OC and Byron Leftwich as OC of the Buccaneers.  On the defensive side, the Buccaneers have Todd Bowles and the Bills have Leslie Frazier.

Bienemy is well-covered above, Leftwich strikes the DB as a few years away from his prime as a head coaching candidate.  Frazier is 62 years old and was an undistinguished 21-33-1 in a stint over four seasons with the Vikings.

That leaves Bowles who is 57 and was 26-41 in four seasons as head coach of the Jets (plus three games as a Dolphins interim).  We thought his tenure with the Jets was pretty good considering the rest of the organization.  With the right OC, he could be a good candidate.  We would not be surprised if he was the successor of Bruce Arians in a year or two.

Besides Bowles and Bienemy, who are the best Black candidates who have not come to light?

EAGLES VS. TEXANS

The last two head coach openings are in Philadelphia and Houston.  Aaron Reiss and Bo Wulf of The Athletic look at which, if either, is more desirable:

Just two head coaching vacancies remain, and they are two of the least desirable openings available during this year’s NFL hiring cycle. Both the Texans and Eagles are grappling with ugly salary cap situations, issues at quarterback and questions about the power dynamics among the organizations’ key decision-makers.

So which team offers the better gig? Texans beat writer Aaron Reiss and Eagles beat writer Bo Wulf make the cases for and against the teams they cover, broken down into four key categories.

Quarterback

Reiss: The Texans have the clear edge here if they can resolve their issues with Watson. Houston’s 4-12 record didn’t show it, but he played like a top-five QB this season, leading the league in yards per attempt (8.9) while completing a career-high 70.2 percent of his passes for a Texans offense that ranked eighth in passing DVOA.

Watson’s brilliance was obvious in past seasons, but in 2020, he was more consistent than ever before, in large part because he cut down on his frequency of negative plays. He threw an interception a career-low 1.3 percent of the time, and when games were within one score, he took sacks on 7.6 percent of dropbacks, also the lowest rate of his career. If Watson continues to play at this level, he’ll be well worth the four-year, $156 million contract extension he signed prior to the start of this season.

But what if Watson doesn’t play out that deal in a Texans uniform? I still consider that unlikely in January, before Watson even knows who Houston’s next coach would be, but it’s at least worth mentioning for this exercise.

Any Watson trade would presumably include some way for the Texans to acquire another quarterback, whether that’s a high draft pick in 2021 or a current NFL QB. Regardless, parting ways with him would devastate the fan base, making for a situation that would be hard to salvage. If the Texans blink first in a Watson holdout, they’d be better off using the trade as the start of a longer rebuild, rather than replacing him with a worse veteran quarterback, such as Matthew Stafford or Matt Ryan.

Presently, it’s hard to evaluate those choices. Unlike the Texans, the Eagles at least have clear options. Behind Watson, Houston has 41-year-old Josh McCown. The Texans’ primary backup QB for the past two seasons, A.J. McCarron, is set to be a free agent this offseason.

Wulf: The Texans poached McCown off the Eagles’ virtual practice squad, so that must mean the Eagles have a better quarterback situation, right?

It’s not worth presenting a serious argument that the Eagles have a better quarterback situation than the Texans if we presume Watson is staying in Houston. Then again, if Watson were happy to stay in Houston, we probably wouldn’t be doing this exercise because the Texans would clearly have the more desirable job.

Last offseason, Watson still would have had the edge but Carson Wentz could have at least made it a conversation. No longer, after his profound regression left him as the worst full-time starting quarterback in the NFL, leaving the organization at a crossroads before his extension has even kicked in. There’s a chance the Eagles will find a suitor for Wentz via trade, but they have to move forward as if that won’t happen. Which is to say that job No. 1 for whomever the Eagles hire will be formulating a plan for resurrecting the former franchise quarterback.

Jalen Hurts looms as a realistic backup plan after an exciting four-game stint to close the season. He completed only 52 percent of his passes and suffered from the same ball-security issues Wentz did, but his ability to make plays on the ground gave the offense a different dynamic. He also carries forth the low cost of a rookie contract for a team in need of cap relief.

And, unlike the Texans, the Eagles hold the No. 6 pick in this year’s draft, within range of being able to consider drafting a quarterback. So, maybe the Eagles have more options at quarterback than Houston does, but this still just comes down to whether you think Watson’s situation is salvageable.

Salary cap

Reiss: With Bill O’Brien leading the front office, the Texans made a lot of really poor cap management decisions, but the team can rid itself of a lot of those bad contracts fairly quickly. Cutting running backs David Johnson and Duke Johnson and inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney would get Houston under the 2021 cap, which the team is currently projected to be about $17.9 million over. Receiver Brandin Cooks and center Nick Martin are obvious candidates for restructured deals that would create even more cap space.

But the worst contract of the O’Brien era — Whitney Mercilus’ four-year, $54 million extension — is likely on the team’s books for another year. After registering just four sacks on seven QB hits in 13 games, four of which did not include the edge rusher making a tackle, Mercilus is owed $10.5 million in guaranteed salary next season.

Similarly, 30-year-old slot receiver Randall Cobb, who signed a three-year, $27 million deal with Houston last offseason, is guaranteed $8.25 million in salary in 2021, so Houston is likely stuck with that regrettable deal. Cobb was productive in 10 games (38 catches for 441 yards on 48 targets), but Keke Coutee, who is on a rookie contract, put up similar numbers in eight games (33 catches for 400 yards on 40 targets).

Wulf: The Eagles have the second-worst cap situation in the league, behind the Saints, but owner Jeffrey Lurie explained why he doesn’t believe that should be a deterrent.

“Cap room is a one-year phenomenon in this league,” he said on the day he dismissed Doug Pederson. “Anybody who really understands the cap knows that you can transition away from a difficult cap situation in about 12 months. And so anyone who has that short-term thinking in terms of cap utilization probably wouldn’t be the right coach for that.”

It’s a good selling point at least.

The Eagles’ problem is not the cap itself, but rather the short-sighted decisions that led to this situation. For the past few offseason, the Eagles pushed money into the future by signing and extending older players. Now, the bill has come due and 10 of the 11 highest-paid players on the team are 30 or older.

There are some easy decisions that will clear space – releasing Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson and Malik Jackson with post-June 1 designations will clear over $12 million from the cap and we’ll probably see more restructures with veterans like Darius Slay and Fletcher Cox to create room. The real complication would be if the Eagles find someone to trade for Wentz, which could net them a significant draft-pick asset but would come with an additional $33.8 million dead cap hit. In that case, the resulting damage to the roster might include having to move on from someone like Derek Barnett, one of the few good, young players on the team.

I do think Lurie’s right that it would be short-sighted for a candidate to make his or her decision based on salary cap picture, but the Eagles are definitely worse off on this front.

Front-office dynamics

Reiss: Though the process to land him was messy, new Texans general manager Nick Caserio developed a stellar reputation in 20 years with the Patriots, much of which was spent as the team’s director of player personnel. But whoever considers taking the Texans’ head coaching job must decide whether they can coexist with executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby, who worked with O’Brien for many of the team’s controversial moves and has become a villain among the fan base while continuing to receive support from team owner Cal McNair.

Since joining the organization in early 2018 to oversee the team’s culture, Easterby has outlasted ex-general manager Brian Gaine and O’Brien, and he recommended Caserio for Houston’s GM job. At the end of the season, Watson said the team had too many folks jockeying for power and needed a culture shift. He also posed for a photo with franchise legend Andre Johnson on the same day Johnson tweeted that nothing good has happened to the Texans since Easterby joined the organization.

Wulf: Howie Roseman must be so grateful for Easterby’s existence because he’s no longer considering the NFL’s front-office Voldemort. Roseman has now outmaneuvered Andy Reid, Chip Kelly and Pederson and will be hiring his third head coach. With both Kelly and Pederson, things began very kumbaya before wrestling for control (over personnel or the coaching staff) led to dysfunction.

But while Roseman’s recent résumé includes a series of high-profile draft mistakes and an overindulgence on veterans, he has also put together a Super Bowl roster. Unlike Easterby, he has real credentials.

That said, the space between Roseman and Lurie is increasingly difficult to see. Roseman, after all, is ultimately responsible to Lurie, who wields some level of influence over the roster. Lurie’s track record as an owner is coach-friendly — he has always been willing to pay at the top of the market for head coaches and assistant coaches and is flexible on things like facility amenities.

As an aside, it’s worth mentioning the curious dynamic in which Josh McDaniels is not considered a candidate for the Texans’ job, despite his relationship with Caserio. Should the Eagles view that as a red flag?

Core players returning

Reiss: Outside of Watson, the Texans’ roster is pretty thin. Inside linebacker Zach Cunningham is one of the league’s better run defenders, but even with him around, Houston ranked 29th in run defense DVOA, speaking to the value of his position and how the four-year, $58 million extension he agreed to before the start of last season is an overpay — especially when you consider Cunningham is rather vulnerable in coverage.

Laremy Tunsil, who was acquired in the trade that is sending the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft to Miami, is an elite left tackle. But he’s also playing on a three-year, $66 million deal that, at the time it was signed, outpaced the next-closest tackle, the Eagles’ Lane Johnson, by $4 million in average annual value.

Besides Watson’s status, the biggest roster questions the Texans face this offseason regard receiver Will Fuller and defensive end J.J. Watt. The former was enjoying the best season of his career before receiving a six-game suspension for PEDs that’ll weaken his market if he hits free agency this offseason, and the latter was still productive in a fully healthy season at 31 years old but has no guaranteed money left on a contract that expires at the end of next season. Watt has said he’s not interested in finishing his career with a rebuilding team, so trading him could be the Texans’ best path to recouping draft capital — aside from a very unpopular Watson trade, of course.

Wulf: The roster isn’t old, it’s experienced.

There are only two players on the entire roster who have at least one Pro Bowl nod and are under 30: Wentz and Rick Lovato, the Eagles’ long snapper.

In firing Pederson, Lurie said there was a difference of opinion in how to move forward, meaning that he believes the roster requires significant turnover to begin a rebuild. Franchise stalwarts like Jason Kelce, Zach Ertz, Lane Johnson, Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox are either on their way out or on the path to further decline. The best young player who will definitely still be on the roster is probably Josh Sweat, who had 6.0 sacks as a 23-year-old. Is that enough to move the needle for you?

There isn’t a position on the roster other than offensive tackle and defensive tackle that seems to be in good shape in both the short- and near-term. But what the Eagles lack in talent, they make up for in geography. Who wouldn’t want to play the Cowboys, Giants and Football Team six times a season?

Summary

Reiss: The Texans’ salary cap concerns aren’t as severe as the Eagles’, and though Houston is lacking quality draft picks this year, it’s scheduled to have its full stable of selections in 2022, when the team will be rid of all of the bad contracts from the O’Brien era. So long as Watson remains on the roster, the Texans offer the better setup, but that’s more of an uncertainty than it ever should be, which speaks to a degree of dysfunction that rivals that of any other NFL team.

The Eagles might have fallen far since winning the Super Bowl, but they at least know what a winning formula looks like. The Texans only know what chaos looks like, and McNair has done little to inspire confidence that things will change anytime soon in that regard.

Wulf: The first question I would ask as a head coaching candidate is “Do you have DeAndre Carter on your roster?” So, things would be off to a bad start with both teams.

If we took the quarterbacks out of the equation, I think the Eagles probably offer a better organizational structure for success. Lurie may overvalue the Eagles’ history of success, but there is something to it and his willingness to financially support coaches makes a difference. Roster-wise, both situations are underwhelming, but the Eagles have their full coffer of draft picks moving forward and the makings of a good offensive line.

Of course, quarterback is the most important variable. The Eagles would trade their entire roster for Watson if it was allowed. So, if you think you can convince Watson to stick around, the Texans offer the better job. If not, Fly Eagles Fly.

FREE AGENT ISSUES

ESPN.com’s correspondents look at the biggest upcoming free agent questions for all 32 teams:

We asked our NFL Nation reporters to identify the top looming free-agent decision each organization has to make and how likely each is to part ways with the player:

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

Offensive tackle Daryl Williams. The addition of Williams this offseason helped the Bills feel comfortable moving second-year lineman Cody Ford to guard to start the season. Williams has been a rock in his best season since being named second-team All-Pro in 2017. However, with Jon Feliciano and Matt Milano arguably taking precedence over Williams among the Bills’ free agents, Williams might have played himself into a contract that Buffalo can no longer afford — especially with the salary cap projected to shrink and Josh Allen commanding an even larger deal than previously expected. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Miami Dolphins

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Dolphins GM Chris Grier publicly committed to Tua Tagovailoa as the 2021 starting quarterback, but head coach Brian Flores was noncommittal when asked if Fitzpatrick would return as a backup, citing the need for a full roster evaluation. Fitzpatrick, 38, will have a decision on whether to retire, but he played well in his two seasons with the Dolphins, transitioning them from rebuilding to contending, so he likely will be offered a notable free-agent contract from another team. If he keeps playing, the expectation is Fitzpatrick will move on to a team that provides him a chance to be a bridge starting quarterback or compete for a starting job. The Dolphins would need to sign and/or draft another backup quarterback. — Cameron Wolfe

New England Patriots

Center David Andrews. There are a lot of other notable choices — quarterback Cam Newton, guard Joe Thuney and defensive tackle Lawrence Guy among them — but Andrews gets the nod as a four-time captain and heart-and-soul member of the organization on and off the field. He sets the protection at the line of scrimmage and thus will be a critical extension to whoever is lining up at quarterback, which is another huge question for the Patriots. That’s why the odds seem higher they will work hard to re-sign him. — Mike Reiss

New York Jets

Safety Marcus Maye. The Jets are on record as saying they want to re-sign Maye, their team MVP. Of course, they said the same thing about wide receiver Robby Anderson (he bolted as a free agent) and safety Jamal Adams (traded). So you never know. Maye is a steady, if not stellar, player who is in line for a big payday ($8 million to $10 million-a-year range). This is just his second contract, but he will be 28 for the season. The front office likes his intangibles, and he should be a good fit in Robert Saleh’s zone-based scheme. — Rich Cimini

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens

Pass-rusher Matthew Judon or Yannick Ngakoue. The Ravens have to decide which free-agent outside linebacker to invest in. Judon is the more all-around linebacker, and Ngakoue is considered the better pure rusher. Baltimore has tried to get an extension with Judon, but he has been seeking a contract worth $20 million per season, according to a source. The Ravens could put the franchise tag on Ngakoue, but he’s been a disappointment since they traded a third-round pick for him in October. Ngakoue played just 20 snaps in Baltimore’s playoff loss, which suggests he might not be in the team’s long-term plans. Four of the Ravens’ five outside linebackers are pending free agents: Judon, Ngakoue, Pernell McPhee and Tyus Bowser. — Jamison Hensley

Cincinnati Bengals

Defensive end Carl Lawson. Lawson might not have had big sack numbers, but he created 10.5 sacks in 2020, according to ESPN Stats & Information and NFL Next Gen. The Bengals would be wise to try to give Lawson a long-term deal. But the big question will be whether Lawson will want to stay in Cincinnati or go to a place where he might be more likely to get sacks. — Ben Baby

Cleveland Browns

Wide receiver Rashard Higgins. The Browns brought Higgins back on a one-year deal from last season, with Mayfield helping convince Higgins to re-sign. Higgins, in turn, has been a huge part of Baker Mayfield’s resurgence since taking over for the injured Odell Beckham Jr. in the starting lineup in Week 7. The Browns have a lot of money committed at wide receiver, in OBJ and Jarvis Landry. But given Higgins’ rapport with Mayfield, it seems prudent for Cleveland to get a multiyear deal done. — Jake Trotter

Pittsburgh Steelers

Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Ben Roethlisberger wants him back. Smith-Schuster wants to be back. But the Steelers rarely give second contracts to wide receivers, the only two going to Hines Ward and Antonio Brown. Smith-Schuster was an indispensable member of the offense — especially for his gritty yards after catch and dependability on third downs, but history isn’t on his side. Neither is the salary cap. To re-sign Smith-Schuster, the Steelers will have to pull off more cap wizardry, a trick made even more difficult by Roethlisberger’s $41.2 million cap hit. All of that suggests the Steelers let him walk and rely on Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and James Washington to be the future at the position. — Brooke Pryor

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

Wide receiver Will Fuller. The wide receiver, playing on his fifth-year option, was setting himself up for a huge new contract before he was suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Even with the suspension, Fuller might still get a big deal, and it could come from Houston. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson said in December, after the receiver was suspended, that it’s “very important” that Fuller is back. The Texans, of course, still are navigating Watson’s frustration with their search for a general manager, but re-signing Fuller could be a way to keep Watson in Houston. — Sarah Barshop

Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback Philip Rivers. Rivers has told the Colts that he’s “not 100% sure” he wants to play an 18th NFL season. The two sides will take the next month to decide which direction to go. The Colts want Rivers, 39, but they aren’t going to sit back and wait on him to make up his mind. They’ll be evaluating quarterbacks around the league and continue scouting potential draft picks. If Rivers does not return, the Colts could have their third different starting quarterback in as many seasons, because Jacoby Brissett is heading into free agency. — Mike Wells

Jacksonville Jaguars

Offensive tackle Cam Robinson. He was up-and-down in pass protection this season and hasn’t become the dominant player the Jags envisioned when they drafted him in the second round in 2017. He did deal with a torn ACL in 2018, but that shouldn’t have been an issue in 2020. Do the Jags want an inconsistent player protecting Trevor Lawrence’s blind side or will they try to upgrade in free agency or the draft? — Mike DiRocco

Tennessee Titans

Wide receiver Corey Davis. The Titans finally had a potent 1-2 punch at wide receiver last season. Davis took advantage of coverage that focused mostly on A.J. Brown. The chemistry that Davis developed with Ryan Tannehill yielded a 70% catch rate and single-season career highs in yards (984) and touchdowns (five). It’s going to be pricey, but the Titans will figure out how to bring Davis back. — Turron Davenport

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

Safety Justin Simmons. This is near the top of newly hired general manager George Paton’s to-do list. Inside the locker room, many of Simmons’ teammates wonder what, exactly, a guy has to do to get re-signed. Simmons has played every snap of the last three seasons, he’s been named to a Pro Bowl and been a second-team All-Pro selection over those three seasons. He is one of the Broncos’ most active players in the community and was the Broncos’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2020. Certainly the Broncos could place the franchise tag on him once again, as they did this past season, but a new deal keeps one of the best players in house and shows the team is interested in rewarding effort. Yes, the deal has to make sense for the Broncos, but not re-signing Simmons will cause many of his teammates to think, “If he can’t get a new deal from the Broncos, how will I?” — Jeff Legwold

Kansas City Chiefs

Wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Watkins hasn’t posted great numbers since joining the Chiefs in 2018 but the offense has been more productive when he’s in the lineup than when he’s not. The Chiefs don’t appear to have his replacement on their roster as a No. 2 wide receiver. It’s difficult to picture the Chiefs being able to afford Watkins again, given a tight salary-cap situation. But both sides were motivated to get a deal done last year, when Watkins agreed to a reduced contract in order to remain with the team. — Adam Teicher

Las Vegas Raiders

Offensive lineman Denzelle Good. Yeah, receiver Nelson Agholor had a career year with 896 receiving yards, an 18.7 yards-per-catch average and eight touchdowns. But with the Raiders likely needing to slash salary to get under the cap, Agholor might command more than they can afford. Good, meanwhile, was the Raiders’ do-everything man on the O-line, filling in admirably at both right tackle and left guard. And with huge question marks surrounding right tackle Trent Brown and left guard Richie Incognito, Good probably is the smarter call here. After all, both coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr said Good was the team’s unsung hero and team MVP last year. — Paul Gutierrez

Los Angeles Chargers

Tight end Hunter Henry. The 26-year-old been solid, but his injuries are confusing things for both sides. The Chargers thought he would make it through the season, but he missed the last two games. Henry is a valuable tight end for the Chargers, and they will try to keep him. But he could have many suitors. — Shelley Smith

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

Quarterback Dak Prescott. No, this is not a copy-and-paste from last year. He remains the signature piece to the offseason plans. The Cowboys want to sign him to a long-term deal, but they also wanted to do that in 2019 and ’20. If they can’t get a long-term deal, then they will place the franchise tag on him again at a cost of $37.7 million. With the tag or a long-term deal, Prescott’s contract will chew up a good portion of the cap space, and that will affect Dallas’ ability to lure free agents or keep players currently under contract. Perhaps this time the Cowboys and Prescott’s agent, Todd France, will actually have real negotiations before the mid-June deadline if he is tagged again. — Todd Archer

New York Giants

Defensive lineman Leonard Williams. He played this season on the franchise tag ($16.1 million) and had a monster year with 11.5 sacks and 30 quarterback hits, which was third in the NFL. That said, to sign him long term will be costly. How much are the Giants willing to pay? How much will Williams want? He has been insistent that money is not his top priority. Still, he will be costly, and the Giants can’t afford to lose him. No one else had more than four sacks. The Giants need to add pass-rushers, not subtract them. — Jordan Raanan

Philadelphia Eagles

Defensive back Jalen Mills. He moved from corner to safety in 2020 and improved along the way. He was a starting corner on their 2017 championship defense and has been a locker room leader, but the new defensive coordinator will have to decide if he’s a system fit. — Tim McManus

Washington Football Team

Guard Brandon Scherff. He played on the franchise tag this season en route to becoming the first Washington player to be named first-team All-Pro since punter Matt Turk in 1996. There was some thought last offseason among those who know Scherff that he might not want to commit here long term, but after coach Ron Rivera’s first season, Scherff seemed enthused about returning, saying he “absolutely” wanted to come back. Rivera wants to build strong lines, and if that’s the case Scherff must be retained. In November 2019, Philadelphia made three-time Pro Bowler Brandon Brooks the highest-paid guard with a four-year deal worth $54.2 million. It makes sense if Scherff’s deal is close to this figure. — John Keim

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

Wide receiver Allen Robinson. Robinson set a career high with 102 receptions last year, but the Bears have been reluctant to pay the 27-year-old receiver top dollar. Contract talks between the Bears and Robinson’s agent went nowhere during the season. The Bears value Robinson but seem content to let the veteran wideout test the market instead of paying him top-five-receiver money. Chicago could use the franchise tag, but that seems unlikely given the expected decrease in the league’s salary cap. The Bears are bracing for the real possibility that Robinson leaves via free agency. — Jeff Dickerson

Detroit Lions

Wide receiver Kenny Golladay. The Lions didn’t get a deal done with him in-season and now the question for the new regime is whether to franchise-tag him, sign him to a long-term deal or let him walk in free agency. The most plausible solution here could be to tag Golladay to buy time to either A) work out a long-term deal once they figure out how a barren receiver room might be constructed or B) seek potential trade partners if he’s not part of the long-term plan, similar to what the Texans did with Jadeveon Clowney and the Jaguars did with Ngakoue last offseason. It’s also possible Golladay plays for Detroit in 2021 and the sides figure out something from there, but it’s tough to see the club completely letting him walk considering the 27-year-old’s talent and age. — Michael Rothstein

Green Bay Packers

Running back Aaron Jones. The Packers had a deal on the table that would have made Jones among the top five highest-paid backs in the league, but that was in terms of average per year. The big guaranteed money was missing. So Jones turned it down and then opted to change agents, hiring Drew Rosenhaus. The Packers continue to see how valuable Jones is — just look at his 60-yard run to open the second half of the playoff game against the Rams — but it’s hard to imagine them upping their guaranteed money, especially if they want to re-sign All Pro center Corey Linsley. Perhaps the decision already has been made to let him go — or least hit the market — but it couldn’t have been an easy one. — Rob Demovsky

Minnesota Vikings

Linebacker Eric Wilson. The Vikings’ biggest offseason roster decisions center around the likes of Kyle Rudolph and Riley Reiff, both of whom are under contract for 2021 but whose futures in Minnesota are up in the air in part because of the need to create salary-cap space. Wilson, however, could soon be hitting the open market after putting together a strong season in which he played every defensive snap following an injury to Anthony Barr in the first quarter of Week 2. Minnesota can’t afford to keep three linebackers on the roster with how much Barr ($12.3 million) and Eric Kendricks ($8.15 million) are set to make in 2021. But the team must decide whether it can keep Wilson and potentially execute a trade for Barr or move on from the Pro Bowl linebacker. Given the financial implications (dead money), that seems unlikely. And if Wilson can command a $9 million-$10 million salary in free agency, there’s a high likelihood he ends up elsewhere. — Courtney Cronin

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons

Kicker Younghoe Koo. Safety Keanu Neal is a high priority, too, but having a reliable kicker is so valuable and impacts the way the game is called. He’s coming off by far the best year of his career (37 of 39 field goals made), and if the Falcons can lock him down for reasonable money, that’ll be one area new coach Arthur Smith won’t have to worry about. — Mike DiRocco

Carolina Panthers

Offensive tackle Taylor Moton. One could argue wide receiver Curtis Samuel here, but the Panthers don’t have enough cap room to sign both. They need Moton to anchor the right side of the line as they search for a franchise left tackle. Samuel is a nice piece to have, but they can replace him with a healthy Christian McCaffrey and a cheaper free agent or draft pick. — David Newton

New Orleans Saints

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson. The Saints have a lot of big decisions to make, including whether they want to bring back Jameis Winston as a starting quarterback candidate and make expensive long-term commitments to 2022 free agents such as Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, Marshon Lattimore and Taysom Hill. But Hendrickson is the most fascinating 2021 free agent. It will be interesting to see how the Saints and the rest of the NFL value him after an unexpected breakout season with 13.5 sacks that probably priced him out of New Orleans. — Mike Triplett

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Offensive tackle Donovan Smith. Smith won’t be a free agent in 2021, but in 2022. However, 2021 is when the guaranteed money is up in his contract, which has him slated to make $14.25 million next year. He’s had an up-and-down career, but he did turn in one of his best performances in the wild-card round against Chase Young. Still, with the success Tristan Wirfs had as a rookie right tackle, might the Bucs be looking to turn the page, especially when they have several key players becoming free agents in Chris Godwin, Shaq Barrett, Lavonte David, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown and Ndamukong Suh? — Jenna Laine

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

Cornerback Patrick Peterson. The Cardinals’ fifth-overall pick in 2011 has played his entire career with Arizona and has been a model and elite cornerback. He made eight straight Pro Bowls to start his career but began a slight decline in 2019 when he was suspended six games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Ever since, receivers are catching more passes against him and Peterson hasn’t been the lockdown corner he was earlier in his career. At 30, he wants another big deal — like the extension he received in 2014 — but the Cardinals didn’t commit to anything, and his contract expires in March. What the Cardinals do with Peterson will hinge on what they do around him. Robert Alford, who signed before the 2019 season, has yet to play a down because of injuries, and Byron Murphy is more of an inside corner. In theory, Arizona would need to solidify the position before letting Peterson walk. — Josh Weinfuss

Los Angeles Rams

Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. The Rams have a few defensive playmakers, including safety John Johnson III and cornerback Troy Hill, who are pending free agents, but with the NFL’s premium on pass-rushers, that could mean Floyd is likely to be the most pursued. Rams coach Sean McVay gave an unequivocal yes when asked if he wanted Floyd to return. But it could come down to whether the Rams can afford to keep the 2016 first-round pick who tallied a career-best 10.5 sacks this season. — Lindsey Thiry

San Francisco 49ers

Offensive tackle Trent Williams. He’s the 49ers’ top priority, and he has made it clear he’d like to stay, but it’s not that simple. The Niners cannot tag Williams, which means he could be one of the only premier left tackles ever to hit the open market. Williams has said “it would be interesting to kind of see what [my] value holds” and if that value goes to a place the 49ers might not be able to handle given their salary-cap constraints, they could find themselves with a difficult decision. Odds are the sides will work something out, but if that doesn’t happen before free agency begins, the Niners might have to sweat it out and, if they lose him, find themselves with a massive need at one of the most important positions in football. — Nick Wagoner

Seattle Seahawks

Cornerback Shaquill Griffin. Griffin and running back Chris Carson are two players the Seahawks want to keep, but evidently not badly enough to try to extend either last offseason when each was heading into the last year of his rookie deal. Griffin made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2019. He’s well-liked in the organization, and he’s answered the question of whether he can take the ball away, with three interceptions in 2020 matching his combined total from his first three seasons. How far the Seahawks will go to re-sign him could depend to some degree on how much they have to pay strong safety Jamal Adams, who’s in line for a massive extension. Adams likely is Seattle’s top offseason contract priority. — Brady Henderson