Tremendous Bowl LIX is within the books.
Whereas the confetti continues to be being cleared in New Orleans, nonetheless, the NFL world instantly turns to the offseason. The 2025 NFL Scouting Mix is simply weeks away, and the NFL Draft is at all times looming.
In what stands out as the first main information of the offseason stories emerged forward of Tremendous Bowl LIX that Deebo Samuel requested for, and was granted, permission to hunt a commerce from the San Francisco 49ers.
Samuel is getting into the ultimate season of the three-year contract extension he signed with San Francisco again in 2022. Whereas that deal carries a base wage of $1.1 million, the construction of his contract with the 49ers means there are issues related to any transfer. Due to a restructure that was finished final fall, if the 49ers commerce him previous to June 1, they’d take in a $31.55 million useless cap hit. Nonetheless, he’s additionally due a bonus on March 22 of $15.4 million, which is one thing the group want to keep away from if he isn’t going to be on their roster subsequent season.
Whereas Samuel is likely one of the most versatile offensive gamers within the league, accidents have been an element the previous few seasons. After posting a profession 12 months in 2021, Samuel has performed in 43 of a doable 51 regular-season contests since that marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, there are going to be suitors.
Let’s rank some choices.
7. Denver Broncos
Just like one other workforce we’ll see on this record, the Denver Broncos superior to the playoffs behind a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix.
Whereas the Broncos’ run to the postseason ended within the Wild Card spherical, Denver now has a window to construct across the rookie quarterback. With over $30 million in efficient cap house in keeping with Over the Cap, the Broncos have the flexibility to ink Samuel to an extension, which may assist them land the gifted offensive weapon. And you’ll solely think about that Sean Payton would love designing performs for Samuel in each the passing and the operating video games.
6. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots might have gotten the choice of Drake Maye proper.
Maye accomplished 66.6% of his passes for the Patriots final season, throwing for two,276 yards and 15 touchdowns towards 10 interceptions regardless of taking part in behind an offensive line that struggled to guard him all through the season. New England followers noticed flashes of what he may turn into within the league in video games like a late-season loss to the Buffalo Payments, and he was even named to his first Professional Bowl!*
*Sure, as one thing just like the fifteenth alternate. You, pricey reader, had been subsequent in line I believe.
Whereas down in Orlando, Maye did his finest to pitch potential free brokers on New England. The Patriots have essentially the most cap house obtainable this offseason, with over $110 million freed as much as entice new gamers to Foxborough.
“I believe it’s promoting the town, promoting the followers,” Maye instructed NBC Sports activities Boston about his recruiting pitch to gamers. “They love you once you’re profitable, which we have to do. They’re behind our again, and I believe we’ve acquired one thing to stay up for in Boston.”
Now the entrance workplace wants to select up the place Maye left off, and get the younger quarterback some assist. Samuel can be a giant step in that path.
5. New York Giants
There may be each expectation that the New York Giants will likely be one of many groups that drafts a rookie on the prime of the 2025 NFL Draft, whether or not Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders.
Including some assist round that anticipated rookie quarterback can be a wise transfer from common supervisor Joe Schoen.
The Giants added Malik Nabers throughout the 2024 NFL Draft, and Nabers seems to be the a part of a top-flight NFL large receiver. The LSU product hauled in 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns a 12 months in the past regardless of taking part in with Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito. However with Darius Slayton hitting free company including one other large receiver — and one as gifted as Samuel — would take plenty of stress off the anticipated rookie QB.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have two threats within the passing recreation, George Pickens on the skin and tight finish Pat Freiermuth working the center of the sector.
Nonetheless, the remainder of their choices within the passing recreation have struggled to ship on a constant foundation. Mike Williams confirmed flashes for the Steelers of their run to the playoffs final season, as did Calvin Austin III, however giving the Steelers offense a flexible weapon like Samuel would supply a transparent increase to each their passing recreation, and their speeding assault given what Samuel can do as each a blocker within the run recreation and a ball service.
And his addition would definitely assist whoever finally ends up beneath heart in Pittsburgh subsequent season.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
Do you hear that sound?
Approach off within the distance?
That’s the “Chargers media hype cycle” beginning to spin into motion. This occurs virtually each offseason: The Chargers endure a troublesome finish to a season, media sorts like me write them off, however then as winter fades from reminiscence and the bulbs start to bloom, we start to speak ourselves into the Chargers.
By the point coaching camp arrives, they’re everybody’s darlings as soon as once more.
Jim Harbaugh’s first season in Los Angeles noticed the Chargers advance to the playoffs, earlier than falling brief within the Wild Card spherical to the Houston Texans in a recreation many believed the Chargers would win. In spite of everything, the Chargers had been highway favorites in that recreation, earlier than “Chargering” in virtually good vogue.
In the mean time we’re on the down a part of that media cycle described above. But when Los Angeles provides Samuel to their offense, giving them an extra presence within the passing recreation and boosting their speeding assault, then spring will likely be right here earlier than you understand it.
2. Houston Texans
Now we attain the workforce the Chargers misplaced to final month.
The Houston Texans tried to capitalize on the rookie season success of C.J. Stroud, including gamers resembling Stefon Diggs, Danielle Hunter, and Joe Mixon final spring. That was sufficient to assist the Texans to a second consecutive AFC South title and one other win on Wild Card Weekend, however Houston got here up brief towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs the next week.
They definitely have weapons on offense, however with Tank Dell struggling an in depth knee harm late within the season that might price him the whole 2025 marketing campaign, and Diggs not solely coming off an ACL tear of his personal but additionally getting into free company after the Texans voided the ultimate three years of his earlier contract, including a large receiver may be on the prime of common supervisor Nick Caserio’s to-do record this offseason.
With Stroud nonetheless on that rookie deal, the Texans may attempt to load up once more.
1. Washington Commanders
This is likely one of the recipes for fulfillment within the fashionable NFL, is it not?
When a workforce strikes gold with a quarterback on a rookie deal, that provides them a giant window of alternative. Take the Houston Texans, who loaded up round C.J. Stroud final offseason with additions resembling Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, and Danielle Hunter. Each groups that performed in Tremendous Bowl LIX took benefit of rookie home windows, because the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles constructed round Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts earlier than it was time for long-term extensions.
Subsequent up? The Washington Commanders.
Jayden Daniels produced a stellar rookie season for Washington, main the Commanders to the NFC Championship Sport and securing Offensive Rookie of the 12 months honors. Now the Commanders enter the offseason with the third best cap house within the league, which may make an extension for Samuel an choice, and a demonstrated report of current success.
Add Samuel to that offense — and he may be an ideal match with what Kliff Kingsbury desires to do schematically — and be careful.
