Biggest remaining offseason priority for each NFC team: Payday coming for Justin Jefferson Cowboys stars.
Much of the 2024 offseason is in the rearview mirror, with a majority of top free agents off the market and the draft complete. However, there are still pressing matters for each team to address before the ’24 NFL season kicks off on Sept. 5.
Kevin Patra identifies the top remaining offseason priority for each NFC team below. Check back on Friday for his top remaining priorities for AFC teams.
Top priority: Bolster the back end of the defense.
Unless the Rams believe third-rounder Kamren Kinchens can start from Day 1, they should be in the market for an upgrade at safety. Kamren Curl was inked this offseason, but Russ Yeast is set to be the other starter at free safety. Yeast struggled last year before ultimately losing his starting gig. It’s a spot where the Rams, under new DC Chris Shula, could look to import a veteran. Unlike other positions, safety hasn’t been fully picked over in free agency. Several viable veterans remain on the open market, from Justin Simmons to Eddie Jackson to Quandre Diggs and others.
Top priority: Protect Jayden Daniels at all costs.
Luckily, Daniels showed in the SEC that he’s good at escaping pressure in the pocket. He’ll likely have to do plenty of that in the NFC East. The Commanders imported center Tyler Biadasz from Dallas and former Chiefs reserve Nick Allegretti to play guard. The moves were upgrades but aren’t surefire roadblocks. Outside of Sam Cosmi at right guard, there are questions up and down the Commanders O-
line, along with depth issues. The biggest question comes at left tackle, where soon-to-be 33-year-old Cornelius Lucas is penciled in to start over third-round rookie Brandon Coleman. Regardless, left tackle will be a spot opponents target incessantly during Daniels’ rookie campaign. The hope is the whole is greater than the sum of its parts along the D.C. O-line in 2024. Otherwise, the rookie QB could be scrambling for his life.
