NFL 2022: It Is Going to Be a Different Kind of Offseason

Time flies when you are competing for a Lombardi Trophy. With apologies to the brief “Plan B” system utilized from 1990-92, the National Football League will enter its 30th offseason of free agency (as we know it) in 2022. And it promises to be busier than ever now that more than a quarter of the league will have new leadership on the sidelines.

All told, there will be nine different head coaches from the start of the 2021 season. That’s a little higher than usual and the most since 2009, when there were 11 changes among the 32 organizations. And per usual, there will be even more change when it comes to both offensive and defensive coordinators around the league.

Case in point. It has been a smidge over a week since the Los Angeles Rams rallied to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. And now the now-defending NFL champions will have a new offensive coordinator as Kevin O’Connell is the new head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.

What about changes behind center? The retirements of veterans Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger opens up two quarterback competitions in Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, respectively.

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What does the future hold for San Francisco signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo? He was at the helm of a team that reached the 2021 NFC Championship Game. But the 49ers gave up plenty last year in the draft to move up to the third spot to select talented prospect Trey Lance. And there’s speculation regarding the Packers (Aaron Rodgers) and Seahawks (Russell Wilson) once again.

Perhaps the biggest news is the elevation of the salary cap. Due to COVID, the 2021 figure ($182.5 million) took a step backward from 2020 ($198.2 million). But this year’s new fiscal year begins on March 16 and the figure is $208.2 million. Teams that have been traditionally cap-strapped could be a little more aggressive this year. And those known for spending money could be opening up their checkbook a little more frequently. Meanwhile, keep an eye on those salary-cap cuts that will be occurring over the next three-plus weeks.

A possible unprecedented shuffling of quarterbacks, all those changes at head coach (and a few at general manager) combined with more spending room for each franchise means 2022 has all the makings of a busier offseason than usual.