Tremendous Bowl LIX is within the books.
Whereas the confetti continues to be being cleared in New Orleans, nevertheless, 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 often is the first main information of the offseason experiences 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 coming 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 accomplished final fall, if the 49ers commerce him previous to June 1, they’d take up a $31.55 million lifeless cap hit. Nevertheless, 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 potential 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 are going to 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 based on Over the Cap, the Broncos have the power to ink Samuel to an extension, which might assist them land the gifted offensive weapon. And you may 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 collection of Drake Maye proper.
Maye accomplished 66.6% of his passes for the Patriots final season, throwing for two,276 yards and 15 touchdowns in opposition to 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 might turn out to be 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, have been subsequent in line I feel.
Whereas down in Orlando, Maye did his finest to pitch potential free brokers on New England. The Patriots have essentially the most cap house out there this offseason, with over $110 million freed as much as entice new gamers to Foxborough.
“I feel it’s promoting the town, promoting the followers,” Maye informed NBC Sports activities Boston about his recruiting pitch to gamers. “They love you while you’re successful, which we have to do. They’re behind our again, and I feel we’ve bought 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 an enormous step in that path.
5. New York Giants
There’s each expectation that the New York Giants will probably be one of many groups that drafts a rookie on the high 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 normal supervisor Joe Schoen.
The Giants added Malik Nabers in the course of the 2024 NFL Draft, and Nabers appears 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 a whole lot of stress off the anticipated rookie QB.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have two threats within the passing recreation, George Pickens on the surface and tight finish Pat Freiermuth working the center of the sector.
Nevertheless, 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 dashing assault given what Samuel can do as each a blocker within the run recreation and a ball service.
And his addition will surely assist whoever finally ends up beneath heart in Pittsburgh subsequent season.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
Do you hear that sound?
Means off within the distance?
That’s the “Chargers media hype cycle” beginning to spin into motion. This occurs nearly each offseason: The Chargers undergo a tough finish to a season, media varieties 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 quick within the Wild Card spherical to the Houston Texans in a recreation many believed the Chargers would win. In any case, the Chargers have been street favorites in that recreation, earlier than “Chargering” in nearly excellent trend.
In the meanwhile 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 dashing assault, then spring will probably be right here earlier than you already know 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 comparable to 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 quick in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs the next week.
They actually have weapons on offense, however with Tank Dell struggling an intensive knee damage late within the season that might value him your complete 2025 marketing campaign, and Diggs not solely coming off an ACL tear of his personal but in addition coming into free company after the Texans voided the ultimate three years of his earlier contract, including a large receiver may be on the high of normal supervisor Nick Caserio’s to-do record this offseason.
With Stroud nonetheless on that rookie deal, the Texans would possibly try 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 offers them an enormous window of alternative. Take the Houston Texans, who loaded up round C.J. Stroud final offseason with additions comparable to 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 Recreation and securing Offensive Rookie of the 12 months honors. Now the Commanders enter the offseason with the third handiest cap house within the league, which might make an extension for Samuel an possibility, and a demonstrated document of latest success.
Add Samuel to that offense — and he may be an ideal match with what Kliff Kingsbury needs to do schematically — and be careful.