Home Sports 🏈 One key offseason rely on for every NFL crew

🏈 One key offseason rely on for every NFL crew

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🏈 One key offseason rely on for every NFL crew
  • NFL NationFeb 13, 2026, 06:00 AM ET

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      NFL Nation is made up of 32 crew-explicit journalists who quilt the NFL three hundred and sixty five days-round staunch thru ESPN.com, ESPN tv shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It changed into once established earlier than the 2013 season.

The 2026 NFL offseason is in chunky swing, that methodology it’s miles time for every crew to lastly address its glaring holes. Whether or now no longer or now no longer it’s thru final hirings, free agency (March 11 at 4 p.m. ET) or the draft (April 23).

Teams attempting for a quarterback could per chance furthermore savor a laborious time, however other intention groups supply a sizable form of exchange candidates. Will some crew pick up Maxx Crosby from the Raiders or A.J. Brown from the Eagles? Which groups could per chance furthermore develop huge strikes within the draft? What improvements will the Broncos and Chiefs develop in time for their injured QBs to reach support?

We requested our NFL Nation journalists to take a shut peek on the final be aware rely on each crew will face this offseason and offers their perception into what could per chance furthermore happen over the following couple of months.

Jump to:

ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN

CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND

JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN

NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF

SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

How will the protection be constructed under new coordinator Jim Leonhard?

Extinct coach Sean McDermott’s imaginative and prescient guided the protection for 9 seasons, however the unit could per chance furthermore smooth peek varied under Leonhard. Free agency and the draft will state which gamers he desires to assemble the protection round for years to reach. Leonhard changed into once beforehand the defensive pass sport coordinator for the Broncos, who allowed the 2nd-fewest yards per sport (278.2) with a appropriate form shutdown corner in Pat Surtain II. — Alaina Getzenberg


Miami Dolphins

How crucial is it for Miami to fetch a quarterback this offseason?

Tua Tagovailoa is smooth under contract, but the Dolphins are reportedly attempting to replace their used franchise quarterback. But first-three hundred and sixty five days general supervisor Jon-Eric Sullivan acknowledged the crew will first address its infrastructure round its subsequent quarterback sooner than even finding him — which could per chance furthermore counsel either a season of a bridge primitive or 2025 seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers under heart. Either formula, Miami is now no longer susceptible to fetch a lengthy-time duration resolution this offseason attributable to the shortcoming of impactful suggestions in free agency and the draft. But it undoubtedly’s smooth crucial for the Dolphins to savor an even strengthen machine in dwelling sooner than identifying their subsequent franchise quarterback. — Marcel Louis-Jacques


New England Patriots

What’s Christian Gonzalez‘s advance with a that you simply are going to be ready to deem contract extension?

This is the main time in his profession that he is eligible for an extension, even supposing he is technically under contract for one extra season. So does Gonzalez power the explain? Or will he be affected person and let the formula play out? Gonzalez (four tackles, three passes defended) reminded every person in Tremendous Bowl LX that he is smooth an elite abilities and crucial to the Patriots’ success. — Mike Reiss


New York Jets

How will the Jets reset at quarterback?

This in most cases is a develop-or-wreck rely on for coach Aaron Glenn. Justin Fields and Brady Cook dinner are under contract, though neither is guaranteed to be on the roster on yarn of every performed poorly in 2025. The Jets will peek to create one, per chance two veterans. Names to explore consist of Malik Willis, Kirk Cousins, Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett. The latter three are under contract, however could per chance furthermore change into readily accessible thru a exchange or launch. Within the occasion that they add the correct bridge QB readily accessible for 2026, they might be able to hope to fetch their lengthy-time duration resolution within the 2027 draft — New York can savor three first-round picks subsequent three hundred and sixty five days. — Rich Cimini

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens

How will the Ravens upgrade quarterback Lamar Jackson‘s supporting solid?

Baltimore desires to catch a new deal done with Jackson to lower its $74.5 million salary cap number and assemble between $25 million and $30 million in cap house. This could occasionally allow the Ravens to manage with their offensive line and Jackson’s targets within the passing sport. Last season, Jackson changed into once sacked on 9.8% of his dropbacks, the worst payment of his profession. Baltimore will peek to re-signal Skilled Bowl heart Tyler Linderbaum, who is the crew’s high free agent, and upgrade at each starting guard spots. The Ravens also must succor Jackson within the passing sport, the put he had easiest one target life like over 25 yards receiving per sport (wide receiver Zay Flowers). — Jamison Hensley

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Will Lamar and Jesse Minter lead Ravens to a Tremendous Bowl?

Jeff Saturday and Jason McCourty weigh in on what the Ravens must attain to be within the Tremendous Bowl dialog subsequent season.


Cincinnati Bengals

How will Cincinnati repair the protection?

The Bengals received worse defensively in 2025 no matter making a commerce at coordinator. Below Al Golden, Cincinnati surrendered huge plays at an alarming payment and didn’t attain a factual adequate job of helping QB Joe Burrow and the offense. With Burrow now coming into his seventh season and the crew in a 3-three hundred and sixty five days playoff drought, the Bengals must add defensive playmakers in free agency and likewise develop gamers they’ve drafted. Each of these facets savor been lacking in most recent years. — Ben Toddler


Cleveland Browns

How will the Browns remake their offense?

Cleveland employed Todd Monken as coach to succor take an offense that has ranked final in scoring (averaging 14.5 capabilities per sport) over the final two seasons. Now the spotlight turns to general supervisor Andrew Berry to infuse that side of the ball with the abilities obligatory to compete within the AFC North. The Browns, stocked with two first-round picks and 10 complete decisions within the 2026 draft, will must replace as many as four offensive linemen, add playmakers and reach to a resolution advance their quarterbacks room. — Daniel Oyefusi


Pittsburgh Steelers

Who steadily is the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2026?

The rely on the Steelers savor consistently confronted since Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2021 stays most pressing on yarn of this could per chance furthermore dictate the ceiling of new coach Mike McCarthy’s crew. Aaron Rodgers returning appears to be an risk, however if the primitive doesn’t reach support, will the Steelers draft their subsequent signal-caller? Or will Pittsburgh launch Mason Rudolph whereas setting up Will Howard? What about signing a free agent or making a splash exchange? All suggestions are on the table. — Brooke Pryor

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

How can Houston enhance round quarterback C.J. Stroud?

The Texans had a factual execrable of rookie abilities round Stroud final season in wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, running support Woody Marks, and left form out Aireontae Ersery. So form now no longer request them to overspend within the offseason. But Houston smooth must develop shrewd strikes to succor enhance round Stroud — particularly on the offensive line — to catch him support to producing like he did in some unspecified time in the future of his rookie season. Last season, the O-line changed into once tied with the Lions’ for the NFL’s 2nd-worst pass block web payment (55.5%). — DJ Bien-Aime


Indianapolis Colts

How noteworthy work does the Colts’ protection need?

The Colts showed signs of enhance on protection final season, however the consistency wasn’t there. Gradual within the season, issues broke down, and Indianapolis completed twenty first in scoring protection (24.2 capabilities per sport) and twenty third in yards allowed (349.8 per sport). Glance for some strikes this offseason to invigorate the pass scoot and bolster an underwhelming linebacker unit. Widespread supervisor Chris Ballard made an admission on the terminate of the season, conceding, “We’ve got to get faster on defense.” — Stephen Holder


Jacksonville Jaguars

How will the Jaguars address their pass scoot?

The Jaguars must develop getting the quarterback on the bottom a priority; they ranked third in QB pressures (222) however Twenty seventh in sacks (32) in 2025. This three hundred and sixty five days’s class of edge rushers is regarded to be pretty deep, which is factual since Jacksonville doesn’t savor a prime-round pick thanks to the Travis Hunter exchange final three hundred and sixty five days. Might per chance per chance per chance the Jags catch angry about the pursuit of the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby? — Michael DiRocco


Tennessee Titans

Can quarterback Cam Ward take the next slide under Brian Daboll?

Ward closed the season on a high articulate their own praises sooner than struggling a shoulder sprain to his throwing arm. Likely that harm hasn’t impacted his offseason coaching since he is been working largely on footwork? But his rehab paired with finding out a brand new offense led by new-to-Tennessee coordinator Daboll is recurrently a explain for Ward. Daboll most notably helped Bills QB Josh Allen coast from a raw rookie to an All-Skilled passer. The Titans are banking on a an analogous soar for Ward that could per chance succor turn the franchise round. — Turron Davenport

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How Brian Daboll would succor Cam Ward at Titans

With the Titans dwelling to rent Brian Daboll as their new offensive coordinator, Marcus Spears is all in favour of him working with quarterback Cam Ward.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

What will the playbook peek like when quarterback Bo Nix returns?

Initiating with whether coach Sean Payton or new offensive coordinator Davis Webb will call plays in 2026. Payton hasn’t surrendered chunky-time playcalling duties as a coach, however it’s complicated to factor in he’d withhold Webb if some extra responsibility didn’t reach with it. Then add Nix’s restoration from a broken ankle into the combo. He expects to be ready by the launch of the offseason program. But Nix has now had ankle surgeries within the past two years, to boot to some fractured transverse route of bones in his support in 2024. Might per chance per chance smooth the Broncos withhold him closely angry about their urge sport in 2026? They’d Nix throw essentially the most pass attempts (612) within the NFL final season, however he lacked efficiency (minus-2.1% in completions over expectation, ranked 26th). — Jeff Legwold


Kansas City Chiefs

Can the Chiefs offense develop huge improvements whereas quarterback Patrick Mahomes rehabs?

As soon as extra, the Chiefs will likely must launch some veterans to assemble salary cap house. Whereas Mahomes continues to catch higher from a torn ACL, Kansas City must fetch a formula to enhance the running support depth, and it’d be life like to fetch a incompatibility-making pass catcher within the draft. Plus, the Chiefs are hoping to re-signal tight terminate Travis Kelce. When the offseason is over, success will likely make sure by whether coach Andy Reid and general supervisor Brett Veach received proficient skill-intention gamers to succor Mahomes once he returns. — Nate Taylor


Las Vegas Raiders

Will the Raiders truly exchange defensive terminate Maxx Crosby?

New coach Klint Kubiak and proprietor Label Davis made it clear that they desire Crosby to remain in Las Vegas. At the identical time, Crosby turns 29 in August, is determined to play for his fifth non-period in-between coach since coming into the league, and is smooth sure to web on the top seemingly stage. Las Vegas has a lengthy formula to head sooner than being belief-about a contender, so it could per chance probably furthermore develop sense for every side to head their separate ways. If the Raiders receive a solid supply for Crosby, this could per chance furthermore succor their rebuild whereas giving the All-Skilled edge rusher a fresh launch in other places. — Ryan McFadden


Los Angeles Chargers

Will Mike McDaniel unencumber something in quarterback Justin Herbert?

As Herbert heads into his seventh season, McDaniel will likely be his fifth playcaller. None of the earlier four has propelled one in all the league’s most proficient gamers to a playoff web. But the Chargers’ playoff blunders have not all been on the playcallers, as Herbert performed under his identical old in his three playoff losses. McDaniel acknowledged in his introductory news convention that he hopes to develop lifestyles more uncomplicated for Herbert. L.A. is making a bet that right here’s the playcaller who lastly helps Herbert label his attainable when it issues most. — Kris Rhim

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

How will the Cowboys repair their protection?

It be one factor to truly feel assured in a first-time defensive coordinator like Christian Parker and a brand new staff. It be any other to give Parker extra pieces to work with after Dallas allowed essentially the most capabilities in franchise historical past in 2025 (511). Which methodology doing extra in free agency and now no longer factual counting on the draft, even with two first-round picks. The Cowboys savor now no longer been huge spenders in free agency in bigger than a decade. Proprietor Jerry Jones acknowledged he could per chance be prepared to “bust the budget.” Will his actions practice his phrases? — Todd Archer


New York Giants

How will new coach John Harbaugh reshape the roster?

Harbaugh is running the sing, as evidenced by the crew’s fresh reporting structure. He’ll tweak the roster to his desires. With that reach some foremost roster choices on whether to re-signal free brokers Wan’Dale Robinson, Jermaine Eluemunor and Cor’Dale Flott, or minimize heart linebacker Bobby Okereke ($9 million in cap financial savings). Furthermore, how will the Giants reshape their offensive line and fetch any other playmaker to supplement WR Malik Nabers? There could be a complete bunch work to realize. They didn’t coast 7-27 over the final two seasons by probability. — Jordan Raanan

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1:54

How factual will the Giants be subsequent season?

The “Get Up” crew evaluates the brand new dispute of the Giants and debates what they might be able to reaching subsequent season.


Philadelphia Eagles

Will the Eagles exchange WR A.J. Brown?

Brown has made his designate as arguably the correct receiver in Philadelphia’s historical past, posting two 1,400-plus-yard seasons and reaching two Tremendous Bowls since joining the crew in 2022. His frustrations with the offense savor been effectively documented, nonetheless, and it’s comely to marvel if that impacted his play in 2025. The entrance dwelling of enterprise will must reach to a resolution whether it could per chance probably catch Brown to aquire in or it’s higher to switch on from him. “It is hard to find great players in the NFL, and A.J.’s a great player,” general supervisor Howie Roseman acknowledged in January. — Tim McManus


Washington Commanders

Can the Commanders assemble a solid protection?

The Commanders started the defensive rebuild route of by hiring Daronte Jones at coordinator, however they want a abilities boost as effectively. Over the final two seasons, Washington changed into once a blended 24th in scoring protection (24.8 PPG) and Twenty eighth in yards allowed per sport (355.6). They’re high six in readily accessible cap house and savor the No. 7 pick, so that they savor got premier spots to add abilities. The Commanders need an impression participant or two; they need early life along the entrance, as easiest one rotational participant changed into once under 25 this season. A solid protection with a healthy Jayden Daniels at quarterback can lead to a fast resurgence. — John Keim

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

How will the Bears add to their pass scoot?

This changed into once one half of of the Bears’ greatest offseason rely on a three hundred and sixty five days within the past. Chicago ranked 31st in pass scoot web payment (29%) no matter making costly additions final free agency (DE Dayo Odeyingbo and DT Grady Jarrett) and using a 2nd-round pick on DT Shemar Turner. Injuries performed a feature within the Bears now no longer seeing a return on investment in 2025, however Chicago desires to land a dominant edge rusher to play reverse DE Montez Sweat. Till that happens, the Bears will continue to fight generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. — Courtney Cronin


Detroit Lions

How will the Lions alter to new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing?

Out of the total offseason teaching candidates who had been readily accessible, Petzing wasn’t necessarily an recognize-popping risk among Lions fans. Nonetheless, after Detroit left out the playoffs in 2025, all eyes will likely be on Petzing as the Lions strive to catch the bottom sport going extra consistently and reshape the offensive line. Petzing has spent the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals, who ranked 2nd within the NFL in speeding life like (4.92) and had been ninth in speeding yards (6,399) in some unspecified time in the future of his time there. — Eric Woodyard


Green Bay Packers

How can the Packers upgrade their roster?

This offseason would be one in all Brian Gutekunst’s greatest challenges since he took over as general supervisor in 2018. He doesn’t savor a prime-round pick after giving it up (and subsequent three hundred and sixty five days’s as effectively) within the Micah Parsons exchange, and the Packers are now no longer exactly flush with salary cap house. Yet there are positions in determined need of an upgrade — with cornerback being on the terminate of the list — within the occasion that they are to head from being a one-and-done playoff crew to a sound Tremendous Bowl contender. — Rob Demovsky


Minnesota Vikings

What will change into of quarterback J.J. McCarthy?

The firing of general supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah raised the stakes on the 2026 season and made McCarthy’s rapid future less certain than ever. At 23, McCarthy would be ready for a huge profession soar after a largely disappointing first two seasons. But can Minnesota’s resolution-makers, most notably coach Kevin O’Connell, stake their careers on it? Whereas no one expects the Vikings to give up on McCarthy, the Vikings could per chance furthermore smooth create a QB who is now no longer lower than a credible hedge against McCarthy’s progress. McCarthy could per chance furthermore web the starting job in coaching camp, or he could per chance furthermore fetch himself on the bench in a playoffs-or-bust season. — Kevin Seifert

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons

What will the Falcons attain with James Pearce Jr.?

The brand new Falcons regime — president of football Matt Ryan, coach Kevin Stefanski and general supervisor Ian Cunningham — savor their first crisis factual days into being employed. Pearce, who led the crew with 10.5 sacks as a rookie, changed into once arrested Feb. 7 on five criminal counts. How will they tackle this sort of explain? Pearce changed into once a truly crucial fragment of a noteworthy-improved protection that dwelling a franchise legend in sacks (57). It be premature to command how Pearce’s factual considerations will coast. But in any extra or less absence, fellow 2025 draftee Jalon Walker could per chance furthermore must prolong his production and — once more — Atlanta is recurrently within the market for any other edge rusher this offseason. — Marc Raimondi


Carolina Panthers

Will Carolina take a huge swing on a linebacker?

Widespread supervisor Dan Morgan admitted after the season that the pass scoot changed into once “not acceptable.” It be time to spend huge money to repair that. Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson is the most principal free agent edge rusher, however he is 31. Philadelphia’s Jaelan Phillips, 27, makes extra sense as a fit for the Panthers, given his trip within the 3-4 contrivance. Furthermore, form now no longer put out of your mind the necessity for a heart linebacker who can quilt. Cleveland’s Devin Bush is coming off a profession-finest 125 tackles. He is a limited bit undersized at 5-foot-11, however Panthers yarn Sam Mills performed the feature at 5-9. — David Newton


New Orleans Saints

Enact the Saints prolong wide receiver Chris Olave?

Olave is coming off a profession-finest season whereby he caught 100 passes for 1,163 yards in 16 games performed. His huge season got right here easiest a three hundred and sixty five days after he contemplated retirement thanks to sustaining several concussions in 2024. The 2022 first-round pick will now play on his fifth-three hundred and sixty five days risk unless the Saints give him a lengthy-time duration extension. New Orleans lacked other offensive playmakers within the 2nd half of of the 2025 season, so reaching a lengthy-time duration contract with Olave would be one in all its huge priorities this spring as it appears to assemble round quarterback Tyler Shough. — Katherine Terrell


Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Will wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David return?

These two Corridor of Fame-caliber gamers savor given a blended 26 seasons to the Buccaneers and can each wind up within the crew’s ring of honor one day. Neither participant has talked about his future with the crew but, and each are unrestricted free brokers. David has already acknowledged he could per chance furthermore now no longer play anyplace else, so it’s Tampa Bay or retirement. Evans, 32, is less susceptible to retire, primarily primarily based on conversations with these closest to him. But how noteworthy does being passed over of the 2025 playoffs devour at Evans, luminous he has easiest so noteworthy time left? — Jenna Laine

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

What will the Cardinals attain with quarterback Kyler Murray?

Now that Arizona has a new coach in Mike LaFleur, all of the crew’s focus turns to Murray. Will the Cardinals withhold him for now no longer lower than any other season, or will they exchange/launch him? That rely on will likely could per chance furthermore smooth be answered by March 16, on yarn of that is when Murray will likely be guaranteed his $19.5 million execrable salary for the 2027 season whether he is on the crew or now no longer. (He has already been guaranteed $39.8 million for 2026.) But any other rely on looms dapper: Who will reach to a resolution Murray’s future? Will LaFleur savor a sing on whether Murray is the factual fit for his West Flit contrivance? Or will proprietor Michael Bidwill develop the resolution with out LaFleur’s input? — Josh Weinfuss


Los Angeles Rams

What does making “the most of the time we have” with quarterback Matthew Stafford peek like?

In his terminate-of-season news convention, general supervisor Les Snead acknowledged that if Stafford returns, Los Angeles would are attempting to “take advantage” on yarn of “the type of season [Stafford] had, the type of season that he’s still showing that he can have, there are only so many of those left.” The Rams know coast all-in, having traded for Stafford and launch air linebacker Von Miller in 2021. Snead did sing the crew would peek to fetch the balance of helping its lengthy-time duration future as effectively. So L.A. going all-in could per chance furthermore imply using its two first-rounders (No. 13, 29) to replace up within the draft or as capital to replace for a primitive. — Sarah Barshop

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Nacua on Stafford’s return announcement: ‘I nearly did a entrance flip’

Puka Nacua joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to be in contact about his relationship with Matthew Stafford and the primitive’s return at QB for the Rams.


San Francisco 49ers

How aggressive will the 49ers be in adding to the roster?

The Niners could per chance furthermore smooth be motivated to develop some huge strikes this offseason, particularly since so many of their key veterans are nearer to the terminate of their careers than the launch. In what San Francisco viewed as a reset three hundred and sixty five days in 2025, it smooth managed to head 12-5 and when it comes to earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The factual news is the 49ers seem like a limited bit earlier than schedule after final offseason’s roster makeover. The frightful news? They play in a division with the Seahawks and Rams, each of whom form now no longer seem like slowing down any time quickly. — Reduce Wagoner


Seattle Seahawks

How noteworthy can the Tremendous Bowl champs preserve intact?

Tremendous Bowl groups are not seemingly to preserve together, and the Seahawks already misplaced a huge fragment in offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (employed by the Raiders). Running support Kenneth Walker III headlines Seattle’s list of unrestricted free brokers. The Seahawks desire the Tremendous Bowl MVP support, particularly with Zach Charbonnet (knee) likely out unless the 2nd half of of subsequent season. But Walker’s solid attain to 2025 methodology they’ll savor competition. Seattle’s other huge-name free brokers are on protection — cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe, safety Coby Bryant, and launch air linebacker Boye Mafe. Coach Mike Macdonald’s high-ranked scoring protection is guaranteed to peek varied in 2026. — Brady Henderson

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