PFR Originals: Raiders, Chiefs, Judon, GMs

Here is a rundown of PFR’s latest original content:

• Sam Robinson continued our Offseason in Review Series with a recap of the Raiders’ moves this spring. Las Vegas owner Mark Davis followed the recommendations of his top players by removing the interim title for head coach Antonio Pierce in addition to hiring Tom Telesco as general manager. That pair will oversee the team’s efforts to return to the postseason on the backs of an improved defense (which includes free agent signing Christian Wilkins) and a different QB under center than the start of the 2023 campaign when Jimmy Garoppolo operated as the starter.
• Sam’s latest Offseason in Review installment looked into the Chiefs. Kansas City won a second straight Super Bowl in 2023, but a number of moves at the receiver position were deemed necessary. The team’s defense managed to retain Chris Jones on a big-money deal, though in light of that commitment L’Jarius Sneed was tagged-and-traded to the Titans. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce each saw adjustments made to their contracts as they prepare for another year as the team’s offensive pillars.
• Regarding the Raiders’ QB situation, I polled readers about the competition for the QB1 gig which is set to take place between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew. O’Connell was installed as starter once Pierce took over from Josh McDaniels last season, and he delivered strong (if unspectacular) results down the stretch during his rookie campaign. Vegas showed considerable interest in drafting a Day 1 signal-caller this spring, but with that not coming to fruition Minshew has a chance to win the top spot. The veteran (attached to a $25MM deal) received a clear majority of votes over O’Connell ahead of training camp.
• The Cowboys have a number of important financial decisions to make in the near future on the contract front. In the latest Community Tailgate, Sam explored the status of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons. The former two are pending free agents while the latter is under contract through 2025. All three will need deals at or near the top of their respective markets, something which would considerably complicate Dallas’ cap outlook. Replacing one or more, meanwhile, could prove to be challenging.
• Plenty of uncertainty surrounds Matt Judon‘s future with the Patriots. The four-time Pro Bowler has one year remaining on his deal, and mixed signals have emerged with respect to whether or not a new agreement will be reached. Ben Levine broke down Judon’s situation in our latest Extension Candidate effort; the Patriots have handed out numerous new deals to in-house players this offseason, but it remains to be seen if they will do so with Judon.
• With the salary cap experiencing an historic one-year jump, individual cap charges continue to reach unprecedented heights. I looked at the top charges on the offensive side of the ball, a group which is of course dominated by quarterbacks. Seven receivers and six offensive linemen are also at the top of the pecking order, though, an illustration of how those positions have been valued in recent years.
• The 2024 offseason saw a number of changes in the front office. Five teams have a new general manager (in title and/or in practice), the Patriots being among them. With Bill Belichick no longer in place as New England’s top decision-maker, Mickey Loomis (Saints) now resides as the league’s longest-tenured pure GM. Sam charted where each team stands in that respect after the moves made over the past few months.
• Rises in the salary cap ceiling have of course aided the career earnings of modern NFL players. Ben listed the 25 highest-paid players in league history in terms of on-field compensation. Save for Aaron Donald (who retired this offseason), each member of the group is still active, and as such they will add further to their earnings for at least one more campaign.