AFC North 2024 Offseason Financials

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertJanuary 14, 2024
© USA TODAY Sports

Spotrac’s 2024 NFL Offseason Series continues with a look at each of the four AFC North teams, breaking down their estimated Top 51 cap space, pending unrestricted free agents, a few notable bubble players, and potential ways to free up more cap space this winter. 

AFC: NORTH | EAST | SOUTH | WEST
NFC: NORTH | EAST | SOUTH | WEST

Baltimore Ravens

A long offseason of “will they won’t they” with Lamar culminated in a #1 seed for the Ravens, & an MVP for their QB1. But Baltimore won’t be able to rest on their laurels too long, as they boast 10 players who took at least 50% of the 2023 snaps scheduled for unrestricted free agency this March. The Ranves boast around $5M of Top 51 Cap space heading toward the offseason.

NOTABLE PENDING UFAS

QUARTERBACK
Tyler Huntley

RUNNING BACK
Gus Edwards, JK Dobbins

WIDE RECEIVERS
Odell Beckham, Jr., Nelson Agholor, Devin Duvernay, Laquon Treadwell

TIGHT ENDS
None.

OFFENSIVE LINE
G John Simpson, G Kevin Zeitler

DEFENSIVE LINE
Justin Madubuike, Brent Urban

EDGE DEFENDERS
Jadeveon Clowney
Bubble: Tyus Bowser

LINEBACKERS
Patrick Queen

SECONDARY
Geno Stone (S), Ronald Darby (CB), Arthur Maulet (CB), Rock Ya-Sin (CB), Daryl Worley (CB)

SPECIAL TEAMS
None.

CAP CLEARING POSSIBILITIES

  • Process a full base salary conversion on QB Lamar Jackson, freeing up $10.5M of cap
  • Extend WR Odell Beckham, Jr., lowering his current $11M voided dead cap hit. OBJ projects toward a 1 year, $12M extension in our system.
  • Process a full base salary + $4M roster bonus conversion on TE Mark Andrews, freeing up $7.9M of cap when factoring in 3 void years.
  • Process a full base salary + $4M roster bonus conversion on OL Ronnie Stanley, freeing up $11M of cap when factoring in 3 void years.
  • Extend RT Morgan Moses, lowering his current $6.96M cap hit in 2024. Moses projects toward a 1 year, $4.5M extension in our system.
  • Release OL Patrick Mekari, freeing up $4.3M of cap.
  • Release OLB Tyus Bowser, freeing up $5.5M of cap
  • Process a full base salary conversion on CB Marlon Humphrey, freeing up $8.4M of cap when factoring in 2 void years.
  • Process a full base salary conversion on S Marcus Williams, freeing up $8.6M of cap when factoring in 2 void years.

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Cincinnati Bengals

Not the year the Bengals were hoping for - largely due to injuries surrounding Joe Burrow of course. The attention this offseason will almost certainly turn to the Wide Receiver room, where two notable pass catchers (Boyd, Higgins) are pending free agents, while Ja'Marr Chase is now extension eligible for the first time, and has been vocal about his desire to secure a new contract this winter. Cincy hits the offseason with around $70M of Top 51 cap space, & the #18 overall pick this April.

NOTABLE PENDING UFAS

QUARTERBACK
A.J. McCarron

RUNNING BACK
Trayveon Williams
Bubble: Chris Evans

WIDE RECEIVERS
Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd

TIGHT ENDS
Irv Smith, Drew Sample

OFFENSIVE LINE
Jonah Williams (T), Cody Ford (G), Max Scharping (G)

DEFENSIVE LINE
D.J. Reader, Josh Tupou

EDGE DEFENDERS
None.

LINEBACKERS
Joe Bachie, Markus Bailey, Akeem Davis-Gaither

SECONDARY
Chidobe Awuzie (CB)
Bubble: Nick Scott (S)

SPECIAL TEAMS
None.

CAP CLEARING POSSIBILITIES

  • Extend RB Joe Mixon, lowering his current $8.85M cap hit for 2024. Mixon projects toward a 1 year, $6M extension in our system.
  • Waive RB Chris Evans, freeing up $1M of cap
  • Process a full base salary + $3M roster bonus conversion on OT Orlando Brown Jr., freeing up $5.1M of cap when factoring in 2 void years.
  • Process a full base salary conversion G Alex Cappa, freeing up $3.9M of cap when factoring in 3 void years.
  • Extend C Ted Karras, lowering his current $7.3M cap hit for 2024. Karras projects toward a 2 year, $6M extension in our system.
  • Process a full base salary conversion for DE Trey Hendrickson, freeing up $10.8M of cap when factoring in 3 void years.
  • Extend DT B.J. Hill, lowering his current $10.8M cap hit for 2024. Hill projects toward a 2 year, $28M contract in our system.
  • Process a full base salary conversion on DE Sam Hubbard, freeing up $5.3M of cap when factoring in 3 void years.
  • Process a full base salary + $1M roster bonus conversion on LB Germaine Pratt, freeing up $2.4M of cap when factoring in 3 void years.
  • Extend CB Mike Hilton, lowering his current $7.45M cap hit for 2024. Hilton projects toward a 3 year, $22M extension in our system.
  • Release S Nick Scott, freeing up $2.3M of cap

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Cleveland Browns

Despite significant injuries all season long across their roster, the Browns held on for dear life in 2023, setting themselves up for an important offseason this winter. Cleveland has a Left Tackle & multiple Linebacker holes to be filled in the coming months, but for the most part - this roster remains intact for 2024. The Browns enter January more than $13M of cap in the red, and their first round pick will convey to Houston as part of the Deshaun Watson acquisition.

NOTABLE PENDING UFAS

QUARTERBACK
Joe Flacco

RUNNING BACK
Kareem Hunt

WIDE RECEIVERS
Marquise Goodwin

TIGHT ENDS
Harrison Bryant
Bubble: Jordan Akins

OFFENSIVE LINE
Geron Christian (T), Michael Dunn (T), Nick Harris
Bubble: T Jedrick Wills

DEFENSIVE LINE
Shelby Harris, Maurice Hurst, Jordan Elliott

EDGE DEFENDERS
Za'Darius Smith
Bubble: Foley Fatukasi

LINEBACKERS
Sione Takitaki, Anthony Walker Jr.

SECONDARY
Rodney McLeod (S), Duron Harmon (S), Michael Ford (CB)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Corey Bojorquez (P)

CAP CLEARING POSSIBILITIES

  • Process a full base salary conversion on QB Deshaun Watson, freeing up $35.8M of cap when factoring in 2 void years.
  • Restructure the $12.2M cash owed to RB Nick Chubb into a 2 year, $12M contract, significantly lowering his current $15.8M cap hit when factoring in 3 void years.
  • Extend WR Amari Cooper, significantly lowering his current $23.7M cap hit. Cooper projects toward a 3 year, $70M extension in our system.
  • Release TE Jordan Akins, freeing up $2M of cap
  • If unable to locate a trade partner, process a full base salary restructure for OT Jedrick Wills, freeing up $10.4M of cap when factoring in 4 void years.
  • Process a full base salary conversion on CB Denzel Ward, freeing up $11.35M of cap when factoring in 1 void year.
  • Extend K Dustin Hopkins, lowering his current $3M cap hit for 2024.

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Pittsburgh Steelers

Serious question marks with HC Mike Tomlin’s future & the QB position as a whole leave Pittsburgh in a bit of disarray heading into the offseason, despite another improbable run into the postseason. Toss in an up and down season at the WR position, the potential for Cam Heyward to step away, and it could be a very interesting winter for the Steelers, who hit the offseason around $7M over cap.

NOTABLE PENDING UFAS

QUARTERBACK
Mason Rudolph
Bubble: Mitchell Trubisky

RUNNING BACK
None.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Miles Boykin
Bubble: Allen Robinson, Diontae Johnson

TIGHT ENDS
None.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Bubble: Chukwuma Okorafor, Nate Herbig, Mason Cole

DEFENSIVE LINE
Armon Watts, Montravius Adams
Bubble: Cameron Heyward

EDGE DEFENDERS
Markus Golden

LINEBACKERS
Mykal Walker, Blake Martinez, Kwon Alexander

SECONDARY
Levi Wallace (CB), Chandon Sullivan (CB)
Bubble: Patrick Peterson (CB), Damontae Kazee (S)

SPECIAL TEAMS
None.

CAP CLEARING POSSIBILITIES

  • Release QB Mitchell Trubisky, freeing up $2.9M of cap
  • Trade WR Diontae Johnson, freeing up $10M of cap
  • Release WR Allen Robinson, freeing up $10M of cap
  • Release OT Chukwuma Okorafor, freeing up $8.75M of cap
  • Release C Mason Cole, freeing up $4.75M of cap
  • Restructure/Extend DE Cameron Heyward’s $16M salary into a 2 year, $16M contract, significantly lowering his current $22.4M cap hit for 2024.
  • Process a full base salary + $4.75M roster bonus conversion on DE Larry Ogunjobi, freeing up $6.8M of cap when factoring in 3 void years.
  • Process a full base salary conversion on LB T.J. Watt, freeing up $15.8M of cap when factoring in 3 void years.
  • Process a full base salary conversion on LB Alex Highsmith, freeing up $7.6M of cap when factoring in 1 void year.
  • Release CB Patrick Peterson, freeing up $6.8M of cap
  • Release S Damontae Kazee, freeing up $3M of cap

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