Every year, every team in the NFL is faced with at least one tough decision regarding an impending free agent. The recent saga between the San Francisco 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk is a good example.

The 49ers know Aiyuk is a good receiver and valuable to the team, but they can’t pay everyone and meet his contract demands. Hence the rumors (and controversy) that Aiyuk will be traded in the coming days. With the regular season less than a month away, let’s go division by division and take a look at each team’s most important contract decision.

The focus will be on players who fall in between the obvious extensions and ‘let walk’ categories. That could vary from Pro Bowlers to role players team by team as each club’s other impending free agents and salary camp situation.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys: G Zack Martin

The Cowboys are currently going through contract negotiations with Ceedee Lamb and will be in a similar boat next offseason with Dak Prescott. Also, the front office will have to decide what to do with Martin. The seven-time first-team All-Pro is still playing at a high level but turns 34 in November.

Dallas might have to let him walk in the offseason, especially if Jerry Jones and Co. prioritize Lamb, Prescott and Micah Parsons, whose rookie deal expires in 2026.

New York Giants: WR Darius Slayton

Slayton initially held out of the Giants’ OTAs before getting a reworked contract, and the organization will face another tough decision with the wideout next spring. No extra years were added to his deal, and he falls into the solid to good but not great category. The 27-year-old has posted roughly 50 receptions and 750 yards in four out of five seasons.

Meanwhile, New York has spent a top 100 pick on a wide receiver in each of the last three drafts–Wan’Dale Robinson (No. 43 overall in 2022), Jalin Hyatt (No. 73 overall in 2023) and Malik Nabers (No. 6 overall in 2024).

Philadelphia Eagles: DE Josh Sweat

Over the last three years, Sweat has become a productive starter in Philadelphia with 25 sacks, 29 TFL and a Pro Bowl appearance during that time frame. However, the Eagles are projected to only have $6.4 million of cap space in the offseason, per Over The Cap.

The front office also spent a first-round pick on Nolan Smith Jr. in 2023 which could make the seven-year pro expendable.

Washington Commanders: LB Bobby Wagner

The Commanders don’t have many notable impending free agents, so Wagner signing a one-year deal in free agency makes him their most import offseason decision despite not playing a down for the club yet.

The nine-time Pro Bowler and tackle machine has quite the résumé, but he’ll be 35 in June and Washington also added linebackers Frankie Luvu (free agency) and Jordan Magee (fifth-round pick) this offseason.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills: EDGE Von Miller

While Miller isn’t an impending free agent, the Bills could save $17.5 million of cap space next offseason by making him a post-June 1 cut, per Over The Cap. The 35-year-old has also battled injuries over the last several years and is coming off the first year of his career where he didn’t record a sack during the regular season.

Additionally, Buffalo has Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa to serve as the team’s starting defensive ends and both are under contract through 2025. So, saving a good chunk of change by moving on from an aging situational pass rusher could be a very intriguing idea.

Miami Dolphins: S Jevon Holland

Don’t get it twisted, Holland has been a good player since Miami drafted him three years ago. However, the 2021 second-round pick is about to enter a contract year and will likely command a contract similar to what Antoine Winfield Jr. recently signed, around the $20 million per year mark.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins are projected to begin the offseason about $37.8 million in the hole, according to Over The Cap, which will make affording Holland’s contract difficult and require some money/cap shuffling.

New England Patriots: QB Jacoby Brissett

Drake Maye’s development this season will play a big factor in the Patriots’ decision to bring Brissett back or not this spring. However, if the latter is the starter for all or the majority of the campaign, that could complicate matters. New England will have to decide if it’s worth it to keep the veteran around on a high-end backup contract or roll the dice will Maye.

New York Jets: CB D.J. Reed

Reed is coming off a strong season and has been a good complement to Sauce Gardner since signing with the Jets three years ago. New York is projected to have just under $60 million of cap space in the offseason, per OTC, but how much is the front office willing to pay a CB2?

Also, Haason Redick, Mike Williams, Tyler Conklin, Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses are all on contract years as well, and Gardner will be looking for an extension soon.

NFC North

Chicago Bears: WR Keenan Allen

The Bears knew what they were getting into this offseason by trading for Allen with one year left on his contract. That forces Ryan Poles to make a big decision next spring, especially since starting guard Teven Jenkins is also an impending free agent.

Poles could have enough cap space–$39.3 million per Over The Cap–to bring both players back, but would it make sense to re-sign a 33-year-old receiver after paying DJ Moore and spending a first-round pick on Rome Odunze?

Detroit Lions: DT Alim McNeill

McNeill enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023 but has only had one good year out of three so far. That makes it difficult to determine if he’s worth a contract extension at this stage, especially since the Lions will need to pay Aidan Hutchinson soon and signed D.J. Reader to a two-year contract in the spring.

Green Bay Packers: CB Eric Stokes

To be honest, the Packers don’t have many notable impending free agents after agreeing to a contract extension with Jordan Love recently. But Stokes could be a tough decision since he has plenty of potential but has struggled to stay on the field, missing 22 regular season games over the last two years.

Minnesota Vikings: CB Byron Murphy

Murphy signed a two-year, $17.5 million contract with Minnesota ahead of last season and has been more average than good throughout his career, never posting a coverage grade from Pro Football Focus above 65.

He isn’t worth top cornerback money but the Vikings lack depth at the position, giving the sixth-year pro some leverage in the negotiations and putting the team in a bind when it comes to re-signing him.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: LT Ronnie Stanley

When on the field, Stanley has been a good tackle since the Ravens drafted him eight years ago. However, injuries have gotten the best of him over the last four seasons, missing 36 regular season games during that time frame.

The 2016 first-round pick will be a 31-year-old free agent this spring, forcing Baltimore to make a difficult decision to re-sign him, switch Roger Rosengarten to left tackle or add someone else into the mix.

Cincinnati Bengals: CB Mike Hilton

While Tee Higgins would be a good choice here, it feels like Cincinnati has already made the decision not to keep the wideout for the long haul seeing as he’s been seeking a new contract for over a year and no deal has been made.

So, the next Bengal who will be looking for a payday will be Hilton, who has been a good slot corner over the last three years. But he will be 31 years old in March and the front office will likely prioritize Ja’Marr Chase’s contract extension, especially since Higgins is likely on the way out.

Cleveland Browns: RB Nick Chubb

When it comes to the discourse around paying running backs, Chubb will be an interesting case study moving forward. He faired well in his first two seasons on a second contract, recording a near 1,300-yard season (5.5 ypc) in 2021 and a 1,500-yard campaign (5.0 ypc) in 2022. But a torn-up knee limited the back to just two games a year ago.

Next offseason, the six-year pro will be a 29-year-old free agent which is a dangerous age for the position. That being said, he’s also an integral part of the Browns’ offense, putting the front office in a bind.

Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Justin Fields

Russell Wilson could also be listed here as the Steelers’ quarterback situation is…interesting, to say the least. But what to do with Fields might be a more difficult question for the organization to answer in the spring, especially if Wilson wins the starting job.

If that happens, does Pittsburgh just move on from the guy it traded for after just one year? Or does the front office try to bring him back on a cheaper, short-term deal and give him another chance to win the starting job?

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: WR Rondale Moore

This decision might have gotten easier after Moore suffered after season-ending knee injury in training camp. But the Falcons did trade for him in the offseason, so do they just cut their losses and move on, or give the wideout a one-year deal to see what he can bring to the offense?

Carolina Panthers: LB Shaq Thompson

Thompson has been a good player in Carolina over the last decade, but he turns 31 in April and will be a free agent. Meanwhile, the Panthers are a young team that’s a few years away from being a Super Bowl contender and added linebackers Josey Jewell (free agency) and Trevin Wallace (third-round pick) this offseason.

That could lead to a mutual parting between the organization and Thompson, paving the way for a younger backer to take over while the veteran chases a ring.

New Orleans Saints: QB Derek Carr

Unlike the other players mentioned, Carr isn’t an impending free agent, but his contract has an out that would save the Saints $30 million of cap space with a post-June 1 designation, per Over The Cap. That could be intriguing for a club that’s currently projected to begin the offseason over $90 million in the hole, especially if the team wants to rebuild.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Chris Godwin

Godwin has been very productive in Tampa Bay, but he’s about to be a 29-year-old free agent, and the Bucs are currently projected to begin next offseason in the red for cap space, per OTC. Also, the front office just spent a third-round pick on wide receiver Jalen McMillan and paid Mike Evans last March, potentially making Godwin expendable.

AFC South

Houston Texans: WR Stefon Diggs

The Texans pulled off one of the biggest trades of the offseason by acquiring Diggs from the Bills, but Houston also put itself in a position to make a difficult decision next spring by re-working the wideout’s contract to allow him to be a free agent in 2025.

That probably had something to do with the roughly $5.7 million deficit the front office will be facing, per Over The Cap, which will also make it more challenging for the organization to re-sign Diggs if he and C.J. Stroud form a strong connection.

Indianapolis Colts: EDGE Samson Ebukam

Ebukam had a strong first season in Indianapolis, leading the team with a career-high 9.5 sacks. However, he won’t be able to build upon that impressive campaign after tearing an Achilles in training camp which could lead to the Colts opting to cut him next offseason and save $8 million of cap space, according to OTC.

Additionally, the front office just spent a first-round pick on Laiatu Latu and the defense has a couple of other edge rushers who are coming off eight-sack performances in Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo, which could make Ebukam expendable.

Jacksonville Jaguars: LT Cam Robinson

While Robinson has been a good pass protector in Jacksonville, he’s struggled in the running game and missed eight games last season while battling injuries. He’ll be a 29-year-old free agent in the offseason and isn’t worth top left tackle money. But, do the Jaguars want to take a risk when it comes to protecting Trevor Lawrence after paying Lawrence all that money?

Tennessee Titans: WR DeAndre Hopkins

Hopkins had a solid first season in Tennessee, making 75 catches for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. But his contract is about to expire and he’ll be 33 years old in 2025, forcing the Titans to make a tough decision in the offseason, especially since the front office will have to consider how much the wideout’s absence could hinder Will Levis’ development.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals: S Budda Baker

Baker has been a staple in Arizona’s secondary over the last seven years, but he’s about to be a 29-year-old free agent. The six-time Pro Bowler has been banged up over the last two years, missing seven games during that time frame, and might want to go somewhere where he has a better chance of winning a Super Bowl.

Los Angeles Rams: LT Alaric Jackson

While Jackson had a solid year in 2023, allowing just one sack according to Pro Football Focus, the Rams already have a lot of money invested in their offensive line between Rob Havenstein, Jonah Jackson and Kevin Dotson. Those three are top-five cap hits for the team next season, per Over The Cap, which could make the left tackle expendable.

San Francisco 49ers: LB Dre Greenlaw

The 49ers have a handful of impending free agents to pick from as Talanoa Hufanga, Charvarius Ward and Maliek Collins are also about to have their contracts expire. Additionally, offensive tackle Trent Williams is currently holding out for a new deal. But Greenlaw might be the most difficult decision given his injury and role on the defense.

The five-year veteran has racked up nearly 250 total tackles and 10 passes defended over the last two seasons and has been a good complement to Fred Warner. Then again, Warner’s presence could lead the organization to prioritize the players above over Greenlaw.

Seattle Seahawks: DL Dre’Mont Jones

Jones isn’t an impending free agent, but the Seahawks can get out of his contract and save about $16.5 million of cap space by making him a post-June 1 cut, per OTC. Also, the six-year pro struggled as an interior defender at the beginning of last season and got moved to edge.

With Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall and Boye Mafe all under contract next season, Seattle at least has to consider moving on from Jones.

AFC West

Denver Broncos: LT Garett Bolles

Bolles has been a solid left tackle in Denver over the last seven years, but he’s entering a contract year and nearing his mid-30s. That’s typically when players start to decline, however, the Broncos will have to consider giving the 2020 second-team All-Pro an extension seeing as they have a young quarterback in Bo Nix.

Kansas City Chiefs: G Trey Smith

Kansas City has arguably the best interior offensive line in the NFL that the front office would likely want to keep together for as long as possible. But Smith is an impending free agent and the Chiefs are projected to have a little more than $8 million of cap space available this offseason, per Over The Cap.

Also, center Creed Humphrey and safety Justin Reid are up for new deals, so the organization will have a handful of tough decisions to make and Smith might end up being the odd man out.

Las Vegas Raiders: EDGE Malcolm Koonce

Koonce had a strong campaign in 2023 with a career-high eight sacks to be worthy of a contract extension. That being said, he’s a one-year wonder right now after barely getting any playing time during his first two seasons.

Also, the Raiders have quite a bit of money already invested in their defensive line between Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins, and have a few other defenders who will be up for new deals like Tre’von Meohrig and Nate Hobbs. So, some tough decisions will have to be made in Las Vegas this spring, Koonce being arguably the biggest.

Los Angeles Chargers: EDGE Khalil Mack

There aren’t many 32-year-olds who set career highs but Mack did that with 17 sacks last season, which also led the Chargers by 10.5 sacks. Clearly, he’s an important part of the team’s defense, but does the front office want to hand out another big contract to a player in his mid-30s when cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. is also an impending free agent?