Biggest offseason storyline for NFC teams: Are Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr goners?

With the page turned on the 2024 NFL season, it’s time to dive headlong into the offseason. 

All teams have looming contract decisions and are turning their focus to free agency (March 12) and the NFL Draft (April 24-26).

Ahead of those huge dates on the NFL calendar, Yardbarker NFL writers identify the biggest offseason storyline for each NFC team. (2024 regular-season records are in parentheses.)

NFC East 

DALLAS COWBOYS (7-10) | Cap management | Already $5.7M over the salary cap, Dallas has little room to improve its 2025 roster. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, restructured contracts for QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb could save the team about $56M next season. Plus, a multi-year extension for DE Micah Parsons could save the Cowboys even more, assuming team owner Jerry Jones doesn’t drag his feet the way he did with Lamb and Prescott contracts last offseason.

NEW YORK GIANTS (3-14) | QB wanted | Should New York assume QBs Shedeur Sanders of Colorado or Cam Ward of Miami will fall to it with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft? Or should it trade up before another team makes a deal with the Titans (No. 1 overall) or Browns (No. 2)? Of course, the Giants could also look to a free-agent QB (Sam Darnold, Justin Fields or Russell Wilson?), but their fans won’t rest until the team signs someone other than Tommy DeVito at QB.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (14-3) | Run it back | The Super Bowl champions are favored to win Super Bowl LX, but they’ll need to find a way to bring back some key contributors (LB Zack Baun, right guard Mekhi Becton and edge-rusher Josh Sweat). Collectively, they made a little more than $13M last season, but each played their way into significant raises. All will have suitors in free agency.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (12-5) | More weapons for Jayden Daniels | With $80.5M in cap space for 2025, Washington would be foolish not to surround its young QB with as much talent as possible. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year led all passers with 822 yards passing and five TD passes in the postseason, so expect the team to meet with free-agent receivers (Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins and Kansas City’s Marquise “Hollywood” Brown) or explore a trade for a disgruntled WR (Miami’s Tyreek Hill or San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel). — Bruce Ewing

NFC West 

ARIZONA CARDINALS (8-9) | Can they improve their defense enough? | The Cardinals have playmakers on offense and a solid quarterback in Kyler Murray. But the defense remains an issue, especially pass-rushing. 

LOS ANGELES RAMS (10-7) | Future of QB Matthew Stafford, WR Cooper Kupp | There is some doubt as to whether Stafford and/or Kupp will be back next season. That storyline will play a huge role in what the Rams 2025 season will look like. Per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop, the Rams will trade Kupp. Stafford is still one of the NFL’s best QBs when healthy, even though he recently turned 37.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-11) | QB Brock Purdy’s contract | Everything that happens with the 49ers this offseason will take a back seat to Purdy negotiations. He has been extremely successful so far (23-13 as starter) in the NFL, but is he an elite QB?

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (10-7) | What happens with QB Geno Smith? | Smith has been productive since taking over as Seahawks starter, but he isn’t consistently good. He has one year remaining on his contract, but head coach Mike Macdonald and incoming offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak have given him huge votes of confidence this offseason. — Adam Gretz

NFC North 

CHICAGO BEARS (5-12) | How can they protect Caleb Williams? | No QB in the NFL took more sacks than Williams in his rookie year (68), which undoubtedly contributed to his season-long struggles. We just saw in the Super Bowl how important offensive line play is, so the Bears must take steps to protect their franchise QB. 

DETROIT LIONS (15-2) | Time to get serious about the defense | Detroit’s offense is good enough to win a Super Bowl, but the Lions failed to reach the NFC Championship Game because the defense gave up 45 points and 481 yards to the Commanders in a divisional-round loss. The Lions must upgrade their cornerback room and pass rush this offseason to win a title. 

GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-6) | What to do with CB Jaire Alexander | Alexander carries a $25M cap number and a $16M base salary next season. The Packers won’t be interested in paying that because the cornerback has missed at least 10 games in three of the past four seasons. Green Bay should restructure Alexander’s deal or cut ties with him to free cash. 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-3) | A QB conundrum | Minnesota has a difficult decision to make this offseason, as Sam Darnold played his way to a big contract with the best season of his career but fell apart when it mattered most in the postseason. Do the Vikings trust Darnold enough to pay him $40-plus million per year or will they reset and turn to J.J. McCarthy at QB? — Jack Dougherty

NFC South 

ATLANTA FALCONS (8-9) | Should Falcons retain QB Kirk Cousins? | Per Spotrac, Cousins’ $10M 2026 roster bonus becomes guaranteed March 16. After being benched for 2024 rookie Michael Penix Jr., that’s a soft deadline for the Falcons to release or trade the 13-year veteran. 

CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-12) | How much do the Panthers trust Bryce Young? | Young had one foot out the door after his benching for journeyman Andy Dalton in Week 3, but he resurrected his Panthers career with one of the more remarkable in-season turnarounds in recent memory. Will Carolina roll the dice on Young and invest heavily in players around him, or will the front office be more conservative before going all-in on the 2023 No. 1 pick? 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-12) | What happens with QB Derek Carr? | Carr’s future in New Orleans is uncertain for the cash-strapped Saints, who recently hired Kellen Moore as HC. Many have suggested the team could part ways with him this offseason. However, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter wrote on Tuesday, “Moving on from Carr would save them only a couple of million dollars, meaning he probably will be the team’s QB1 entering 2025.”

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-7) | WR Chris Godwin’s future | A pivotal playmaker during Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV triumph over Kansas City, Godwin is a pending free agent. The Bucs did an admirable job of retaining key free agents last offseason, including QB Baker Mayfield, WR Mike Evans and safety Antoine Winfield Jr., but Godwin — who suffered a season-ending dislocated ankle in Week 7 — might be odd man out. — Eric Smithling