Offseason Outlook for NFL Playoff Teams: NFC
Let's look at the seven NFC playoff teams and figure out their likely offseason approach.
Last week, I looked at the AFC playoff teams and their likely approaches to the offseason, to include whatever decisions they will have to make regarding the roster.
I wanted to examine the NFC playoff teams this week. What's interesting about the NFC playoff teams is that fewer of them are tight against the cap when compared to the AFC playoff teams.
In the AFC, four of the seven teams are projected to be either above the cap or with just a small amount of cap space once every team has 51 players under contract. In the NFC, that applies to just one of the seven, with five of the remaining six in a good position, if not a strong position.
Let's look at the seven playoff teams and their situations going into the offseason. Again, all cap projections are from Over the Cap and are based on a base salary cap of $272.5M.
Washington Commanders: No playoff team is in a better position for the offseason than the Commanders. They are projected to have $70.8M in cap space once they have 51 players under contract (they have 34 right now).
The Commanders will have eight total picks in the 2025 draft, though they are lacking a fourth rounder. Still, that's a good amount of capital. Additionally, they don't have any unrestricted free agents who are priorities to retain.
If any team should be aggressive in free agency, it's the Commanders. They are in a good position to pursue top free agents, not only with the cap space they have, but the fact that players could see them as a good bet to reach the Super Bowl in future seasons.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have 55 players under contract and are projected to have $58M in cap space. They have just five picks in the NFL draft, though.
Because of the lack of draft capital, the Vikings will likely have to utilize free agency to fill out the roster. There are a couple of unrestricted free agents they might want to keep but none of them require they break the bank to do so.
Some may wonder if the Vikings will try to keep Sam Darnold but I imagine they will let him walk and look at another veteran to back up J.J. McCarthy. They traded up for McCarthy for a reason and it makes more sense to see what they have in him than to keep going with Darnold.
Detroit Lions: The Lions are projected to have $46.5M in cap space with 54 players under contract. They have just six picks in the NFL draft, meaning they will likely need to explore free agency.
With the Lions, there are two reasons to be careful as they go about looking for free agents, though. First, while it's true that they had a lot of injuries this season, they need to consider how much longer it will be before it's time to reassess where the team is at. That is particularly true given that multiple members of the coaching staff are moving on.
Second, the Lions also need to look at taking care of their own players. Aidan Hutchinson, in particular, will be in line for a contract that likely re-sets the market for edge rushers. Jameson Williams may not re-set the market for receivers but the Lions do have to consider if he's part of the long-term picture.
Green Bay Packers: The Packers have 60 players under contract and $40.2M in cap space. They are in a solid position for the draft with eight total picks, so they don't have to focus on free agency a lot.
For the Packers, some of their offseason approach will be about identifying which players are part of the long-term picture. Christian Wilkins, Rasheed Walker and Romeo Doubs are among the players who enter the final year of their contracts.
This is a team that could take the approach of identifying one or two free agents they covet and, once they are signed, wait out the market. They did find a good free agent fit in Xavier McKinney during the 2024 offseason, so adding one top free agent might pay off again.
Los Angeles Rams: The Rams have 56 players under contract with a projected $38.2M in cap space. While they could explore free agency if they want, much will depend on the decisions certain players make, particularly quarterback Matthew Stafford.
If Stafford decides to retire, the Rams need to prepare for a soft rebuild, meaning they trade away older players while committing resources to younger players who can be part of the core moving forward. If Stafford returns for 2025, they could pursue one free agent they covet, then wait out the market.
The Rams have seven total picks and like to trade down, particularly in the late rounds. This gives them a chance to draft a quarterback to try out for a year, then go back and draft another in 2026 if things don't work out. They should draft a QB at some point even if Stafford comes back for 2025.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles currently have 49 players under contract for 2025 and should have about $15M in cap space once they sign players to futures contracts. When it comes to the cap, though, Howie Roseman is one of the best at manipulating the cap in the short term while not kicking too many hits down the road.
The Eagles are a team that might look for ways to add one free agent they covet, but I would not expect them to be that active in free agency otherwise. However, if they win the Super Bowl, that could change.
As for the draft, the Eagles have seven total picks, so they are in a solid position there. Roseman has often done a good job of working the board, so it will be interesting to see his approach there.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Among the NFC playoff teams, it's the Buccaneers who have the more difficult decisions to make. They are projected to have just $2.7M in cap space with 62 players under contract.
The Buccaneers used to be a team that avoided signing bonuses but has used them frequently since their last Super Bowl win. But this time around, they have to ask themselves if it's worth doing a lot of restructures just to keep the roster intact or to add free agents.
This is a team that needs to carefully assess its position. They did win the NFC South again but the Falcons aren't out of the picture and it's possible the Panthers or Saints could surprise next season. The Bucs might want to look at trading a player for more draft capital (they have just six picks) and focus on value in free agency, rather than making an "all in" move in hopes of making a deep playoff run.