Latest On 49ers’ RB Situation
Christian McCaffrey is set to continue as the focal point of the 49ers’ attack (as well as the standard-bearer for running back contracts) for the foreseeable future. Dialing down his workload is a team goal for 2024, though, and a number of other options exist to meet it. 
McCaffrey’s 81% offensive snap share the led the league amongst running backs in 2023, and on three occasions last season he took the field for every offensive snap. The 28-year-old’s success both on the ground and in the passing game helped him earn Offensive Player of the Year honors along with a lucrative extension, but reducing his wear and tear is a reasonable concern from the 49ers’ perspective. Head coach Kyle Shanahan recently spoke about San Francisco’s backfield approach moving forward.
“We have guys that can run the ball,” Shanahan said, via The Athletic’s David Lombardi (subscription required). “We have to protect Christian from himself. He doesn’t like to ever come out no matter what the situation is and I do think that’s something we could protect him with more… [I]f he’s just taking the wear and tear with 20 carries and stuff every game – and he’s definitely good enough to do that and he has proved he can stay healthy – but you’d like to take some of that off of him and give it to other guys also.”
The 49ers have both Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason in place as experienced backup options, although injuries have been an issue for the former. Mitchell has been limited to 16 games and only 120 carries across the past two seasons, and like Mason he is a pending free agent. The fact both backs could depart in 2025 played a role in San Francisco’s decision to add rookies to the mix this spring.
That process included the selection of Isaac Guerendo in the fourth round of the draft. The Louisville product showcased high-end speed during his college career, one in which saw sparse usage between 2018-22 at Wisconsin. That lack of mileage could prove to be a benefit if he manages to carve out an offensive role early on with the 49ers. For now, though, Lombardi’s colleague Matt Barrows notes Guerendo’s likeliest path to playing time during his rookie season is as a kick returner.
San Francisco has benefited from McCaffrey remaining healthy during his time with the team so far, and with a contract tying him to the Bay Area through 2027 team and player will aim to avoid a recurrence of his Panthers-era injuries. It will be interesting to see how much the 49ers’ other backs are used this season with the aim of lessening McCaffrey’s burden in mind.
Extension Candidate: D.J. Moore
D.J. Moore was a key part of the package the Panthers sent the Bears to acquire the No. 1 pick in 2023. He is attached to a contract which came before the position’s market surged, though, which could put him in line to command a raise in the relatively near future.
Moore, 27, topped 1,100 yards three times during his five-year tenure in Carolina. The Panthers were not looking to move on from him shortly after he inked his current contract, but the fact he was no longer on his rookie deal factored into the Bears’ insistence he was part of the blockbuster swap. Arriving in Chicago as the team’s No. 1 wideout, Moore enjoyed a career year last season. 
The former first-rounder set a new personal best in catches (96), yards (1,364) and touchdowns (eight) in 2023 despite the Bears’ QB situation being less than ideal. That has been the case for much of Moore’s career, although Caleb Williams could change that. This year’s top pick enters the league with major expectations, but the presence of a well-regarded skill group may limit what he needs to do as a rookie for the Bears to be successful.
Chicago traded for Keenan Allen before following up the Williams pick with the selection of Rome Odunze. The former has one year on his current deal while the latter will be cost-controlled through at least 2027. Moore, meanwhile, has two years remaining on his $61.88MM extension. While there is no need for urgency this summer, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic notes the Maryland product is a strong candidate for an extension based on his play along with his high standing in the organization (subscription required).
Moore is due just over $16MM in 2024 and ’25, but only $1.11MM of his base salaries in that span are guaranteed. In terms of annual average value, he now sits 17th in the league with respect to receiver compensation (a ranking which will drop further once the likes of CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase and Brandon Aiyuk sign their own second contracts). A deal keeping him place through the remainder of his prime and tying him to Chicago while Williams is on his rookie pact would be sensible for team and player based on Moore’s first year in the Windy City.
On the other hand, the presence of Allen (who is interested in a market-level Bears deal) and Odunze could lessen Moore’s role on offense. General manager Ryan Poles may prefer to wait out the 2024 season and see how the team’s new offensive playmakers fit before committing to a Moore deal. In the event that were to take place, though, another productive year could up his asking price in the wake of continued increases in the receiver market.
Two agents Fishbain spoke with (but who do not represent Moore) used Calvin Ridley‘s Titans deal (four years, $92MM) as a comparable deal. Moore – who is two years younger and has a nearly identical yards per game average for his career – could certainly command a raise if a short-term deal were to be worked out by tacking on a few years to the remainder of his current pact. The agents suggested a two-year, $60MM top-up could be an appropriate figure in this case.
With considerable cap space now and in the near future, the Bears can certainly afford a big-ticket Moore investment. It will be interesting to see if Poles and the Bears pursue an agreement over the course of the summer or take a more patient approach with him.
Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington In Line For Increased Role
Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton remain in place atop the safety depth chart for the Ravens, but Geno Stone‘s departure has created a vacancy at the position. While outside additions have been a consideration, the team’s in-house candidates could provide them with a suitable replacement. 
The top name in that regard is Ar’Darius Washington. The former UDFA has seen his career slowed down by injuries, but he began the 2023 campaign in line for a notable defensive workload. Washington suffered a chest injury which ended his season in Week 2, paving the way for Stone to cement a notable role even when both Williams and Hamilton were healthy. The latter logged snaps at a variety of positions last year, and maintaining his versatility moving forward will require a consistent third safety.
“Ar’Darius has looked really good. I feel great about him,” head coach John Harbaugh said of the 24-year-old’s prospects for an increase role (via the team’s website). “He’s already established himself. He’s played in the games – every game he’s played in – he’s played well. He’s looked great in practice, and let’s get him out there and get him in some more games. That’s the goal.”
Washington has made only eight regular season appearances to date, battling a foot injury which ended his rookie campaign and a number of more established players being ahead of him on the depth chart. The TCU alum has also seen time as a slot corner, a role which has a number of candidates but lacks a full-time starter at this point. Baltimore has veteran Arthur Maulet along with recent draftees Damarion Williams and Jalyn Armour-Davis as options to see a heavy usage rate in the slot.
Washington has also seen time there this spring, but the No. 3 safety role could allow him to showcase his defensive abilities if the Ravens’ scheme remains dependent on using Hamilton in a variety of ways. Training camp will be critical in sorting out Baltimore’s secondary (which also includes rookie safeties Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade), but for now signs point to Washington having the lead on the largest defensive workload of his career, something which could take the Ravens out of the running for a veteran addition later this summer.
TE Mo Alie-Cox On Colts’ Roster Bubble?
Mo Alie-Cox has spent his entire career with the Colts, providing the team with a consistent contributor at the tight end position. The veteran’s contract could put his roster spot at risk this summer, though. 
Alie-Cox is attached to by far the most lucrative tight end pact on Indianapolis’ roster. The 30-year-old is entering the final season of his three-year, $17.55MM extension, and he is set to carry a cap hit of $5.92MM in 2024. With no guaranteed salary included, however, the Colts would save that full amount in cap space by releasing or trading him.
The team has a number of in-house options at the tight end spot as things stand. 2022 third-rounder Jelani Woods flashed potential as a rookie with three touchdowns and a 12.5 yards per catch average, but he missed all of last season due to hamstring issues. Woods has the potential to serve as Indianapolis’ lead tight end, and doing so could make Alie-Cox an expensive luxury on the depth chart.
For that reason, The Athletic’s James Boyd writes the Colts could elect to turn to younger options behind Woods and move on from Alie-Cox this offseason (subscription required). Indianapolis has recent draftees Kylen Granson, Andrew Ogletree and Will Mallory in the fold and all are on low-cost deals. Boyd adds a commitment to an inexperienced group could allow the Colts to remove the log jam by moving on from Alie-Cox.
The latter joined Indianapolis as an undrafted free agent in 2017, and he made his debut one year later. Alie-Cox has since served as a strong run blocker while chipping in as a pass-catcher. His best statistical stretch came in the 2020 and ’21 seasons when he combined for 710 yards and six touchdowns. The campaigns since then have included a downturn in production, but Alie-Cox’s absence would nevertheless be felt if the team were to cut ties.
Indianapolis currently has just under $26MM in cap space, so retaining Alie-Cox would be feasible from a financial perspective. Still, the presence of several other, younger contenders for roster spots will make his training camp performances something to monitor.
Bengals A Candidate For RB Addition?
For the first time since 2017, the Bengals’ backfield will not include Joe Mixon. The former Pro Bowler was dealt to the Texans in a move which paved the way for a new running back approach. 
Cincinnati was set to release Mixon before trading him to Houston. The 27-year-old logged over 200 carries in each of his healthy seasons from 2018-23, creating a notable vacancy on offense. The Bengals signed Zack Moss to help replace Mixon, and 2023 fifth-rounder Chase Brown could also see an uptick in usage moving forward. The skillset of pass-catching back may not have been sufficiently addressed yet, though.
Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes the Bengals “feel one man short” with respect to their backfield as things stand (subscription required). Specifically, a third-down specialist could be added to complement Moss and Brown. Samaje Perine operated as a strong producer in that role during his tenure in Cincinnati, which came to an end last offseason. Perine is now with the Broncos, although Denver has a crowded running backs room entering training camp. Dehner notes Perine could be a prime candidate to return to Cincinnati if the Broncos were to cut him this summer.
While such a scenario is possible, Brown’s Year 2 in the NFL could involve more opportunities in the passing game. The 24-year-old was told by head coach Zac Taylor to improve as a pass-catcher following the end of the 2023 campaign, as Dehner notes in a separate piece. Brown made 14 receptions as a rookie, averaging an impressive 10.4 yards per target. With Moss’ strength being his ability between the tackles as a rusher, Brown could translate his offseason efforts into a third-down role in 2024.
Failing that, a number of veterans are still on the market who could serve in a Perine-like capacity. The Bengals have over $21MM in cap space, so a deal for the likes of Jerick McKinnon or Joshua Kelley would certainly be feasible. Incumbent options include Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams, and their performances in training camp will no doubt dictate much of Cincinnati’s plans in the backfield. If an outside addition is deemed necessary, though, the team will have the means of making one.
Latest On Falcons’ Slot WR Competition
The Falcons’ offense will look much different in 2024 with Kirk Cousins under center and Darnell Mooney in place as a starting receiver. The latter will be joined on the perimeter by Drake London, but Atlanta’s starting slot role is available this offseason. 
[RELATED: Falcons Planning Diverse Roles For Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson]
Part of the team’s transition at quarterback included the decision to trade away Desmond Ridder to the Cardinals. That swap saw receiver Rondale Moore acquired in return and provided both players with a needed change of scenery. Moore, 24, struggled to carve out a role in Arizona’s passing game across the past three seasons. Atlanta hopes that pairing him with Cousins and using him in a new offensive system will lead to a breakout campaign, though, as detailed by Josh Kendall of The Athletic (subscription required).
The Falcons hired Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator, providing the team with a play-caller experienced in Sean McVay‘s Rams system. That scheme relies heavily on yards-after-catch production, something which could fit Moore’s skillset. With one year remaining on his rookie contract, the former second-rounder’s performance in 2024 will be a key factor in determining his market value.
Other candidates in play for a starting slot spot are sixth-round rookie Casey Washington and veteran Ray-Ray McCloud. The latter signed a two-year deal in March to join the Falcons, a move which could very well see him handle return duties. McCloud is best known for his special teams work, but ESPN’s Marc Raimondi notes he impressed during spring practices when operating as a receiver.
McCloud saw time with the starting offense in OTAs and minicamp, giving him the opportunity to carve out a role as a complementary pass-catching option with his new team. The 27-year-old’s most productive offensive season came in 2021 when he posted 277 yards on 39 catches, but he has proven to be an effective return man with three straight seasons of over 1,000 all-purpose yards from 2020-22. McCloud has no guaranteed salary on his contract for 2025, so this season is also a key one with respect to his financial future.
After ranking 26th in the NFL in scoring and 22nd in passing yards last season, improvement in both regards will be a goal for the Falcons in 2024. The arrival of Cousins will raise expectations for all of the team’s receivers, but the competition for the starting slot role will be worth watching throughout the summer.
Jets S Chuck Clark In Line For Starting Role
Last offseason, the Jets acquired Chuck Clark via trade but he was sidelined for the entire year due to an ACL tear. The veteran safety was re-signed in March, though, allowing him to compete for a starting role. 
The free agent departure of Jordan Whitehead created a first-team vacancy at the safety position, and New York held an open competition between Clark, Tony Adams and Ashtyn Davis during the spring. One of the latter two will also hold down a starting spot, but Clark is on track to log full-time defensive duties in 2024. The 29-year-old is firmly in the lead atop the depth chart entering training camp, Brian Costello of the New York Post writes.
Clark was expected to log significant defensive snaps (in addition to a large special teams workload) upon arrival last year, but his ACL tear occurred during OTAs. That injury – the first major one of his career – limited his market value, and it came as no surprise when he took a low-cost deal to remain in New York. The former sixth-rounder inked a one-year, $2MM pact to play for the Jets in 2024.
Adams took on a first-team role in Clark’s absence during the 2023 campaign. While he collected three interceptions and five pass deflections across 15 games, Costello notes some within the organization sought better consistency from the former UDFA. Adams, 25, held down a first-team role during the spring and as such he should be expected to handle a heavy workload again this season.
Costello adds that Davis could still unseat Clark for a first-team spot, and like all other positions training camp could lead to changes on the depth chart. Still, the latter is a veteran of 63 starts, and he was a mainstay on the backend for the Ravens from 2019-22. Davis (who re-signed on a one-year deal in April) has made 21 starts in his career, but only five of those have come in the past two seasons. He should still be in line for a rotational defensive workload and a key special teams role even if Clark stays ahead of him in the race for a starting spot.
Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley Addresses Pay Cut, Playing Future
Throughout the 2023 season, Ronnie Stanley dealt with a lingering knee injury which kept him from playing at full health and added further to his missed time. The longtime Ravens left tackle faced an uncertain future entering free agency, but he agreed to a contract revision to remain in Baltimore for 2024. 
Stanley and the Ravens agreed to a restructured pact in March, with the 30-year-old reducing his base salary and lowering his cap hit in the process. Incentives and bonuses are present to allow him to recoup that money, but the deal also included making 2024 the final non-void season of the pact. As a result, Stanley enters the coming campaign as a pending free agent. When speaking about his situation, he addressed his mindset regarding the pay cut.
“I just wouldn’t have personally felt good about leaving Baltimore on that note,” Stanley said of potentially being a cap casualty when speaking with The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec (subscription required). “I want to play here my whole career, but even if I’m saying I’ll play one more year for a lot less, it’s because, if this is my last year, I want to go out on a high note. I want to play at the level that I know I can play at. The time that I missed, it would be something that I would have regretted.”
A key factor for the Ravens’ new-look offensive line will be the play of Stanley, a Pro Bowl and All-Pro performer in 2019. He has missed considerable time since then due to ankle and knee injuries, something which has left the Ravens shorthanded on the blindside and led to questions about their long-term plans at the position. Baltimore selected Roger Rosengarten in the second round of this year’s draft, and he could take on the starting right tackle role as early as Week 1 of his rookie season. In the event Stanley were to depart on the open market next spring, Rosengarten – who protected southpaw quarterback Michael Penix Jr.‘s blindside in college – would be a candidate to replace him on the left side. Stanley does not see 2024 as his final NFL campaign, however.
“No, 100 percent, I want to keep playing,” the Notre Dame alum added. “There’s no doubt in my mind. For personal reasons, I view it as a [key] year. I want to personally refuse to have a year like last year… It’s not because it’s the last year on my deal. It’s more because as a competitor, I don’t like not playing to my capability.”
A healthy season from Stanley – who noted his knee has continued to improve this offseason – would help his free agent stock either on a new Ravens pact or a deal sending him elsewhere for the first time in his career. Given the turnover Baltimore has experienced up front, a consistent presence on the blindside would help the team take a step further from last year’s AFC title game loss.
Latest On Free Agent Safety Market
A select number of positions have seen their free agent values soar in recent years, including quarterback, receiver and defensive tackle. Others have dropped in terms of interest shown around the league and the willingness of teams to make lucrative long-term commitments, though. 
Safety can be placed in the latter category with several veteran producers at the position yet to land a deal. That will likely continue up to the start of training camps, the point when unsigned veterans often join new teams. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports this year’s group of free agent safeties are in line to primarily receive low-cost, incentive-laden contracts this summer.
While that update comes as little surprise given how the opening waves of free agency unfolded, it nevertheless underscores the financial landscape of the safety spot in most cases. Xavier McKinney landed $16.75MM in annual average value on his Packers deal, one of the few at the position which was signed in short order in March. McKinney secured $23MM guaranteed, a figure which at one point trailed only Derwin James (Chargers) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (Steelers) for locked in compensation.
More recently, Antoine Winfield Jr. became the league’s highest-paid defensive back on his Buccaneers extension (four years, $84.1MM). The pact took the place of his franchise tag and includes $45MM guaranteed in full. While the top of the safety market has thus seen movement amongst players entering their prime, the position has generally not seen its veteran members receive interest from teams for big-ticket extensions.
The likes of Justin Simmons, Jamal Adams, Eddie Jackson, Quandre Diggs, Jordan Poyer and Marcus Maye were all released in cost-shedding moves this offseason. The latter two have since signed with the Dolphins, but the others remain on the market. Simmons – whose 30 interceptions since his arrival in 2016 lead the NFL – has not been linked to a prospective suitor since signs pointed to a Broncos reunion being unlikely.
Like with all other veterans, the safeties still looking for a deal will likely settle for a one-year accord this summer in the hopes of rebuilding their value in 2024. Three quarters of the NFL’s teams currently have at least eight figures in cap space, so the top options could try to command something of a bidding war if multiple suitors emerge, but such a scenario would be unlikely at this point. In general, it will be interesting to see if this offseason represents an outlier at the safety spot or the continuation of a larger financial trend at the position.
Josh Dobbs Ahead Of Brandon Allen For 49ers’ Backup QB Spot?
The top of the 49ers’ quarterback depth chart is set with Brock Purdy. San Francisco will not have Sam Darnold in place as his backup in 2024, however, creating a vacancy for the QB2 role. 
Darnold spent last season with the 49ers, and his performance under Kyle Shanahan was sufficient to get him at least a short-term starting opportunity. The former No. 3 pick inked a one-year, $10MM deal with the Vikings in free agency and he will enter training camp ahead of first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy on the depth chart. San Francisco has two competitors to fill Darnold’s role.
One is Josh Dobbs, who joined the 49ers in March on a one-year contract. The journeyman will earn $2.25MM guaranteed and he has the potential to receive an additional $750K in roster bonuses. He is joined by Brandon Allen, who spent the 2023 campaign in San Francisco following a three-year run with the Bengals. Allen inked a one-year deal worth just over $2MM prior to the start of free agency.
While plenty is yet to be decided at this point in the offseason, Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes Dobbs is currently in the lead for the backup gig (subscription required). The 29-year-old found himself on the Browns last summer before he was dealt to the Cardinals. An eight-game run filling in for Kyler Murray as a starter was followed by a trade to the Vikings, a team which used him for four starts after Kirk Cousins‘ Achilles tear. Dobbs has 14 starts and 21 appearances to his name in the NFL.
Allen, 31, has logged nine starts (five of which came with the Bengals in 2020) and 15 total games during his tenure. As Barrows notes, he could have a greater chance of clearing waivers at the end of training camp than Dobbs, something of particular importance if San Francisco elects to carry two passers on the active roster. Teams will be allowed to make unlimited practice squad elevations for emergency third quarterbacks in 2024, so whichever passer is relegated to third-string duties will still likely dress on gamedays. As things stand, Allen is likelier than Dobbs to be in that position.