One NFL offseason can change a franchise’s outlook entirely. We just saw somewhat unprecedented leaps from the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60. How did they do it? Both answered a marquee question or two about their team and their roster in just a few short months.
Let’s identify those key decisions for all 32 NFL teams and ponder what they could do to answer them.
Arizona Cardinals
Question for the team to address: Does the future involve Kyler Murray or not?
Quarterback could be a lazy answer for several teams, but Arizona has truly just that one question. They’ll likely add a right tackle to an otherwise stout offensive line in April. They’ve got elite weaponry. The team’s defensive personnel is also serviceable after a 2025 NFL Draft that heavily invested in that side.
So, what do they do at quarterback?
Murray just made five starts in 2025, dealing with a myriad of injuries, which might just be the theme of the 5’10” playmaker’s career from here forward. He was 21st in the PFSN NFL QB Impact (QBi) rankings this past season, while Jacoby Brissett, despite voluminous counting stats, was 25th.
In a deeper QB class, Arizona would be a lock to look toward the future. With just potentially one first-round talent, do they stick with Murray, considering his contract will greatly mute his trade value? Do they just clear the way for Brissett and plan for 2027? It’s an unfortunate dilemma for new coach Mike LaFleur.
Atlanta Falcons
Question for the team to address: How to bolster the front seven without a first-round pick?
Though the Atlanta Falcons’ 3-2 start seems like a distant memory, they climbed back into a three-way NFC South tie at 8-9 despite losing QB Michael Penix Jr. in Week 11 against the Panthers.
There’s clearly offensive talent on this squad, which is why Kevin Stefanski chose Atlanta despite being a hot name this NFL offseason. With Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and potentially Kyle Pitts via a franchise tag, the weaponry is loaded for Penix Jr. and an offensive line getting Kaleb McGary back at right tackle.
A core problem is that the team shipped their 2026 first-round pick to address the embattled legal situation of EDGE James Pearce Jr., meaning they’ll have to potentially replace his team-high 10.5 sacks, while also aiding a run defense that was the seventh-worst in EPA per carry allowed, per nfelo.
Baltimore Ravens
Question for the team to address: Which key free agents could be retained with minimal cap space?
Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta is typically lauded for his drafting. Paying all of the players he finds? That’s the hard part.
With just $22.6 million in cap space at the moment, the team is set to let several key contributors hit free agency. While three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum is the headliner, there are others like TE Isaiah Likely, EDGE Dremont Jones, S Alohi Gilman, and EDGE Kyle Van Noy that will be free agents.
With the Ravens feeling the effects of Lamar Jackson’s $74.5-million cap hit, many teams will look to poach Baltimore’s talent pool in March.
Buffalo Bills
Question for the team to address: Which side of the ball gets key investment in the NFL Draft, offense or defense?
In a wide-open AFC playoff race, the Bills barely avoided a one-and-done status with the best quarterback in the dance. As evidenced by the swap of Sean McDermott for Joe Brady at head coach, they’re aware that change is coming.
However, what is Brady’s vision for the mafia? Is it building an unstoppable scoring force on his side, adding investment into the offensive line and wide receiving corps next to Allen, James Cook, and a quality group of tight ends?
On the other side of the coin, could they continue to utilize a conservative, run-oriented offense and build up personnel for a defense that was 19th in EPA per play and now lost its conductor?
Carolina Panthers
Question for the team to address: Is Bryce Young extended or just playing out his fifth-year option?
Obviously, Carolina’s goal in the draft will be to help a pass rush that was 30th in sacks per game (1.7). However, that’s not the monumental decision this is.
Young’s erratic 2025 play ended with a fourth-quarter lead over the L.A. Rams in a home playoff game. He had five games with a passer rating under 65.0 but also four games with a passer rating over 100.0.
Young’s 5’10” frame as a mobile gunslinger doesn’t have a comparison for longevity in NFL history, either.
This seesaw effect has to have Carolina nervous about an extension, even in the vicinity of what Sam Darnold or Geno Smith got at a lower rate for quarterbacks last offseason. But the arrow has undeniably pointed up for Young as more weapons, such as Tetairoa McMillan, have been provided.
Chicago Bears
Question for the team to address: How to maximize value from the offensive weapons war chest?
Ben Johnson’s first year in Chicago was a rousing success, playing their way into overtime with the chance to go to the NFC Championship.
However, even a Bears fan would tell you that it wasn’t smooth sailing. Dennis Allen’s defense was 21st in EPA per play despite a league-high 33 turnovers forced. Johnson’s offense had the fewest turnovers (11), too.
With favorable bounces potentially regressing in 2026, bolstering the defense has to be a priority. They have seven picks in April, but they could acquire more by thinning out a deep room of weapons. Do they need all of DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, and Cole Kmet?
The veterans, Moore and Kmet, could be trade candidates in March.
Cincinnati Bengals
Question for the team to address: Does building up the pass rush involve Trey Hendrickson?
Three straight years out of the playoffs for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals will merit a look in the mirror, and it’s undoubtedly at a defense that was 29th in EPA per play and 22nd in sacks per game (2.1).
That won’t get better as Hendrickson hits free agency. The disgruntled EDGE didn’t agree on a long-term deal in Queen City, leaving a massive void for the already underperforming unit.
Though they could move parts up to and including Tee Higgins to keep Hendrickson, that ship has likely sailed. Instead, with most of one of the league’s elite scoring units under contract, expect a ton of investment in the front seven during April’s draft.
Cleveland Browns
Question for the team to address: Will Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, or someone else be under center in Week 1?
A team that authored “the jersey” perpetually resides in quarterback issues, but it is truly the one thing holding back a talented Browns squad.
As the team welcomes new head coach Todd Monken, he was likely hired with a plan in mind amid their struggles at the position.
Without many guaranteed avenues to a franchise quarterback after Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 overall, that means he must have some faith in Watson, who missed all of 2025 with an Achilles injury, or sophomore Sanders as existing options on the roster.
Cleveland currently has -$19.1 million in cap space due to Watson’s $80.7-million cap hit, so this solution will have to come from within or via the draft.
Dallas Cowboys
Question for the team to address: Is George Pickens worth the headache?
We’re beyond wondering if Pickens can be an elite receiver in the NFL. He was third in receiving yards (1,429) on a team that also featured CeeDee Lamb.
However, Pickens’s well-known attitude issues did boil over late in the season after a horrid game in Detroit, and that’s sort of the mixed bag that comes with a high-dollar contract based on his on-field performance.
It seems as though Dallas is going to franchise tag Pickens rather than lose him for nothing, which might open a new chapter of drama around the 24-year-old wideout.
Dallas has undoubtedly been scouting and planning to invest heavily in defense in the draft since trading Micah Parsons, so this is clearly the cloud looming over the franchise.
Denver Broncos
Question for the team to address: Does the team re-roll its 2025 NFL offseason?
The Denver Broncos spent their first three picks in last year’s draft on three of their biggest needs. After signing tight end Evan Engram in free agency, they needed a reliable running back, a wideout opposite Courtland Sutton, and a corner opposite Patrick Surtain II.
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Entering this NFL offseason, the needs are still similar. No receiver outside of Sutton broke 750 receiving yards, R.J. Harvey struggled to just 3.7 yards per carry, and Jahdae Barron failed to unseat Riley Moss, who led all NFL corners in penalty yardage, for playing time.
Denver has one of the most complete rosters in the NFL, with all key spots locked under contract. They’ll also have cap space ($26.0 million) as the Russell Wilson disaster finally falls off the books. Do they completely try again at all four positions of need?
Detroit Lions
Question for the team to address: Is it time to move on from this recent offensive line era?
Many circled the Detroit Lions as preseason Super Bowl contenders despite losing key coaches and roster members, but Motown fell back to Earth.
The 2025-26 Lions were unrecognizable from previous iterations, as poor interior offensive line play left Jared Goff under constant distress. Plus, Detroit was eighth-worst in the NFL in EPA per carry (-0.05), which seemed unthinkable two years ago.
Taylor Decker, 33, and Graham Glasgow, 34, aren’t getting any younger, and cutting both could save the team over $16 million in cap space. Rookie Tate Ratledge struggled, as well.
Rather than continue to try and build the defense with premium picks, is it time to start building a second chapter up front next to Penei Sewell?
Green Bay Packers
Question for the team to address: What’s the plan at left tackle?
Though Romeo Doubs’ pending free agency could take a familiar face out of a deep wide receiver room, the Packers’ biggest question mark seems to be left tackle.
Rasheed Walker will hit unrestricted free agency after an up-and-down season, and the Packers were sixth from the bottom in the PFSN NFL Offensive Line Impact (OLi) this season as a whole.
Normally, that could be plugged with a first-round pick, but Green Bay’s belongs to the Dallas Cowboys under the Parsons trade.
Green Bay might not have the cap space (currently -$4.5 million) to retain Walker anyway. Jordan Love’s blindside could be a huge issue heading into 2026.
Houston Texans
Question for the team to address: Will the guard at wide receiver change?
It was a bit surprising that the Houston Texans doubled up with Iowa State wide receivers in last year’s NFL Draft. It was even more shocking that both struggled to find the field in front of Xavier Hutchinson and Christian Kirk.
Kirk is a free agent this offseason, so the Texans have a decision to make. Tank Dell is expected to return at some point in the upcoming campaign. Plus, Nico Collins’ massive cap hit has come with missing 13 total games in the last three years, including this year’s playoff game against the Patriots.
C.J. Stroud will most likely just play through a fifth-year option in 2027, and I’m sure Houston will look to add another youngster to an offensive line that hasn’t played up to its draft capital in front of him. It is vital to answer what Stroud’s primary weapons will be.
Indianapolis Colts
Question for the team to address: Is trading Anthony Richardson the best way to recoup draft capital?
When the Indianapolis Colts started 7-1, it became clear how talented and deep Chris Ballard’s group was with functional quarterback play.
Then, it vanished. Daniel Jones regressed and subsequently tore his Achilles tendon in December, leaving a gigantic question mark at quarterback entering 2026. The answer to it, at least for Indianapolis, and this same staff, probably isn’t the benched quarterback and former top-five pick Richardson.
Because of a weak quarterback draft, rehabbing Richardson might be more appealing to some teams than it would be in other years. The Colts traded their first pick for Sauce Gardner, so is this the year they cut bait with AR to recoup a pick and add depth?
Jacksonville Jaguars
Question for the team to address: What is the long-term outlook for Travis Hunter and the rest of an ambiguous receiving corps?
No team overachieved in 2025 more than the Jacksonville Jaguars in Liam Coen’s first year. It’ll just be vital to pivot quickly if they want to stay at the top.
Jacksonville has no first-round pick after trading it for Hunter’s services, which seems a bit wasteful when Hunter had just 298 receiving yards before a season-ending knee injury. Plus, the team traded more late picks and extended Jakobi Meyers after the injury.
It seems short-sighted to trade all that capital for Hunter, a two-way playmaker, and turn him into a full-time corner at his worst college position. But if he’s kept on the offensive side, that leaves Hunter, Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Parker Washington all clawing for targets, and the latter was arguably the most productive.
Maximizing value from this room to build the rest of the roster will be pivotal.
Kansas City Chiefs
Question for the team to address: Is 2026 just a transition year?
This isn’t what Chiefs Kingdom wants to hear after a devastating 6-11 campaign, but Kansas City has real problems on its hands after a dynastic run of kicking the can down the road.
K.C. currently has the least cap space in the NFL (-$57.7 million), with existing holes on the offensive line, at running back, and in the defensive secondary. Cutting RT Jawaan Taylor won’t help, and S Bryan Cook and TE Travis Kelce are notable free agents.
In short, it’s going to be tough to build out a Super Bowl roster around Patrick Mahomes, who is rehabbing an ACL tear anyway, with such few resources. Would it be best for the team’s future to simply punt on 2026, let Kelce and Chris Jones find new teams, and reboot the program for a year?
Las Vegas Raiders
Question for the team to address: Does the team trade Maxx Crosby, the No. 1 pick, or both?
You don’t get the No. 1 pick with a stacked roster. The Raiders had virtually nothing going for them outside of RB Ashton Jeanty and TE Brock Bowers in a dismal 2025.
Tom Brady and John Spytek have two brutal decisions to make about how to build this thing up. First and easiest, is 28-year-old superstar Maxx Crosby dealt? It’s more than public that Crosby is unhappy with both losing and with the team forcing him to sit to secure April’s top pick.
However, there’s also a real discussion about whether Vegas should trade the No. 1 pick and the rights to Mendoza, a team that’s much more than a quarterback away. Securing draft capital in 2027 with a stronger projected quarterback class could be a better long-term maneuver than settling for the single decent prospect in a weak draft.
Klint Kubiak choosing the Raiders probably means securing Mendoza and going from there, but they still have time to answer these questions together.
Los Angeles Chargers
Question for the team to address: Which free agents are worth breaking the bank to secure?
It is a delightful time to be a Los Angeles Chargers fan.
Against all odds, the team already had an 11-6 season that most would argue was successful due to a rash of offensive line injuries. Despite that, they maneuvered to secure the top offensive coordinator candidate on the market (Mike McDaniel) and are cutting Mekhi Becton to free up over $90 million in cap space.
They’ll likely re-sign EDGEs Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh, and especially given the Harbaugh connection, L.A. will probably toss a blank check at Linderbaum to help protect Justin Herbert up front.
However, there’s still so much opportunity to build the defense with the remaining cash. Plus, they can enter the draft with all of the team’s weapons around Herbert entrenched.
Los Angeles Rams
Question for the team to address: Is the team’s extra draft capital in 2026 used to secure a successor to Matthew Stafford?
No team in the league played the champs tougher than the Rams, so they’re a ready-and-built contender. But how can they not have an eye to the future?
Quarterback Stafford will be 39 next season, but he is coming off an MVP campaign, so there has to be an urge to just build around him now. L.A. acquired Atlanta’s No. 12 overall pick to have two first-round selections to do just that.
However, with those two first-round picks and a team that likely won’t be picking in the top five next year, is now the time to secure an option at QB? It’s a tough question when their options seem to be Ty Simpson or Garrett Nussmeier, short of an all-in move to land Mendoza that would compromise the rest of Stafford’s career.
Of all the teams with decisions to make, this might be the most brutal.
Miami Dolphins
Question for the team to address: What is the best way to end the Tua Tagovailoa era?
Most of these quarterback-related discussions center around who the guy will be. The Miami Dolphins are just trying to figure out how it’s not Tagovailoa.
Miami is a prime candidate to fully bottom out in 2027 in anticipation of a deep draft, but they’ve got to figure out how to part with Tagovailoa first. He’s ultimately due an extra $100 million, even if he’s cut, and that is spread over the next two seasons.
An option for the Dolphins could be to part with draft capital just to incentivize a team to take a majority of his contract. However, Miami was 26th in defensive EPA per play allowed for a reason. They need every additional helper they can get on that side of the ball.
The Broncos ate their Wilson mistake in full, and the Dolphins might decide that’s their best option with Tagovailoa, too.
Minnesota Vikings
Question for the team to address: Does entertaining a Justin Jefferson trade make any sense?
The Vikings aren’t quite in the position they’d have hoped with what seemed to be an incredibly bright future after a 14-win season two years ago.
They’ll be bringing in competition for JJ McCarthy after a disappointing campaign, and the team’s dire cap situation (-$40.6 million) is problematic for building around whoever has the reins.
Minnesota just moved off its general manager after a poor run of drafts, prompting a question they’d hope to never entertain. Is it plausible to think about trading Jefferson’s $38.9-million cap hit, securing draft capital in the next two years, and rebooting the franchise?
Unfortunately for Skol Nation, it might make sense with Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, and Tai Felton still around entering a draft that’s also pretty deep at receiver.
New England Patriots
Question for the team to address: Where does the team acquire a go-to guy for Maye?
New England set the record for most additional wins in an entire NFL campaign (13) this season, and there’s still so much room to grow.
While likely using $35.2 million in cap space to build out the offensive line and pass rush, the Patriots’ marquee question all season has been who Maye’s go-to guy was. Stefon Diggs moonlighted in that role during 2025, but Diggs’ 27.5 yards per game in the playoffs were closer to an absence.
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Does it make more sense to trade for an established talent like A.J. Brown or Jefferson, or will the Patriots at No. 31 overall have a player on their board available that they believe can become that guy?
New Orleans Saints
Question for the team to address: Which casualties can the team live with to alleviate their messy cap situation?
At this moment, the Saints have the tough part (seemingly) figured out after Tyler Shough’s strong end to this season. However, they’ll have a challenging summer with spreadsheets.
New Orleans has the second-worst cap situation in the NFL (-$41.7 million), with few easy cuts or solutions. It’ll be a long offseason of restructuring, begging veterans for pay cuts, and more.
Especially considering the infrastructure built around Shough, it’ll be interesting to see if NOLA figures it out without chipping away at a defense that with ninth in EPA per play allowed.
New York Giants
Question for the team to address: Is it worth it to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux?
When the New York Giants selected Abdul Carter last NFL offseason, the questions about the need for all three of him, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux started almost immediately.
Burns’ 16.5 sacks in 2025 made him easily the most productive of the group, and Carter’s rookie deal is friendly. That seemingly makes the G-Men’s former top-10 pick, Thibodeaux, the odd man out.
Thibodeaux is playing out his fifth-year option in 2026 before lining up what could be an extension, but he’s missed 12 games over the last two seasons with just 8.0 total sacks when battling injury.
The EDGE could recoup a Day 2 pick, but depth at the position is always valuable.
New York Jets
Question for the team to address: Is Fernando Mendoza worth the big splash, or should the team wait?
There’s really one team in the NFL armed with the sort of offer that could pluck Mendoza away from Las Vegas.
By way of trading away Quinnen Williams and Gardner, New York has five first-round picks over the next two seasons. At some point, the Jets can use that ammo to finally secure a franchise quarterback prospect.
Is Mendoza worth the likely minimum of three first-round picks it would take to lure the Raiders into a deal? If New York’s evaluators are in love, I’m not sure it would take more than that for Las Vegas to be open for business.
Philadelphia Eagles
Question for the team to address: How does the team return to its Super Bowl identity?
Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman is one of the best in the sport, leaving the Eagles with few glaring holes from a team that was derailed mostly by its offensive coaching staff. They’re hoping new playcaller Sean Mannion fixes that.
However, the Birds quietly got old on the offensive line and fast. Lane Johnson is nearing retirement, and the team didn’t do a great job replacing Jason Kelce with Cam Jurgens, who struggled in 2025. Landon Dickerson also battled health issues.
Outside of left tackle with Jordan Mailata, there just aren’t many holes plugged for a unit that has to pave lanes for Saquon Barkley in order for the offense to move the ball.
If the Chargers cut Becton, a reunion at right guard could make a ton of sense. Plus, watch out for the draft’s two top guards with their first-round selection at No. 23.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Question for the team to address: Does the Mike McCarthy era start with a true rebuild?
It was a bit of a surprise that the Steelers moved off Mike Tomlin despite winning the AFC North. It was a downright stunner that they did so with Pittsburgh native Mike McCarthy.
At 62 years old, McCarthy doesn’t seem like a great fit for a rebuild, but the Steelers have real questions about cleaning out some of their underperforming, expensive defensive players. EDGE Alex Highsmith, DT Cameron Heyward, and LB Patrick Queen are three positive cap moves that would add to Pittsburgh’s $44.8 million in cap space.
Waving goodbye to those veterans would hurt the team’s chances of winning next year, but with minimal stars on offense and no long-term answers at quarterback, the team seems to have a defined ceiling even with most of its well-known vets returning.
San Francisco 49ers
Question for the team to address: At what point does a Mac Jones deal make sense?
As many of the aforementioned teams hunt for quarterbacks, San Francisco has clearly shown it has two capable ones. Though Brock Purdy is entrenched as the starter, what would it take for a team to acquire Mac Jones?
In limited action, Jones ranked ninth in the entire NFL in PFSN’s QBi above guys like Burrow, Herbert, and Darnold. Plenty of other similar offensive systems would love to have him, and his cap hit for 2026 ($4.0 million) is even better than his talent.
Purdy missed eight games last year and has a smaller stature for the position, though. Is it more valuable to have Jones for another year than the pick, which might even be a Round 2 selection, that he’d fetch? That’s a brutal question.
Seattle Seahawks
Question for the team to address: Did Kenneth Walker III’s postseason eruption force the team’s hand?
A month ago, it was unclear whether Walker III would remain in Seattle next year. The team seemed to lean toward Zach Charbonnet in key spots and has few holes, allowing them to select another running back on a rookie deal in 2026.
However, Walker III erupted for 128.0 scrimmage yards per game in the Seahawks’ two biggest contests of the year after Charbonnet tore his ACL. That earned him a Super Bowl MVP and a place in the fanbase’s collective hearts.
It’s now expected Seattle will place the franchise tag on Walker III to retain his rights, but will he play on it? Two great games probably shouldn’t merit a big-money extension.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Question for the team to address: Will an agreement with Mike Evans come to pass, or will a sad divorce ensue?
Evans has been a member of the Buccaneers since 2014. It’s almost impossible to envision him elsewhere, but the business side of the NFL finds a way. He is an unrestricted free agent, and Tampa Bay has Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson under contract going forward.
The veteran has missed 12 total games over the last two seasons due to hamstring injuries and a broken clavicle.
Will Evans retire as a member of the Buccaneers? It’s possible the two sides come to an agreement, but other teams will likely show interest in the 32-year-old wide receiver as well.
Tennessee Titans
Question for the team to address: Where does the team find legitimate weapons for Cam Ward?
It’s a bright new era in Tennessee. Robert Saleh’s wizardry on defense will help a bottom-five unit (by EPA per play) from each of the last three seasons, and Brian Daboll can help mentor Ward as he did Josh Allen, Jones, and Jaxson Dart.
However, there’s a huge issue with Ward’s weapons. The Titans’ leading receiver was Chig Okonkwo, as no target crested 600 receiving yards for the year.
With a league-high $99.0 million in cap space plus the No. 4 overall pick, the Titans could likely use a true difference-maker at both wide receiver and tight end. Chimere Dike is a special teams ace, but running him back as the team’s top target would be malpractice.
Washington Commanders
Question for the team to address: Are Deebo Samuel and other veteran free agents retained?
With an average age of 28.1 in 2025, the Washington Commanders were the oldest team in the league.
Most of that age is no longer under contract, though. WR Samuel, LB Bobby Wagner, TE Zach Ertz, RB Austin Ekeler, EDGE Von Miller, and CB Jonathan Jones are all falling off the books with ages of at least 30.
Especially in regard to Samuel, do any of them return? Washington underperformed at 5-12 as Jayden Daniels battled injuries, so this might be the time to reset the franchise back on the young quarterback’s timeline.
Eyeing younger pieces, the Commanders have $66.5 million in cap space now and could add another $16.8 million by cutting DT Daron Payne.
