- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,150,434
- Reaction score
- 59
The NFL offseason has seen coaches fired, hired, players traded, switching teams via free agency and a myriad of news. April brings the NFL draft, which will be conducted in Pittsburgh from the 23rd through the 25th. Which teams have succeeded in setting themselves up for a successful 2026 season, and which ones are either treading water or continuing to flail in hopes of going from pretenders to contenders? A great time to review the progress, or lack of it, by each of the 32 squads.
The Cardinals dipped into another team's coaching staff for their hire, tabbing former Rams OC Mike LaFleur. He's going to need a lot of hope and luck to succeed. Kyler Murray is gone to the Vikings. Jacoby Brissett is listed as the starter and Gardner Minshew has signed via free agency. They are in a brutal division and none of the moves should see them leave the cellar. Grade: D
Another team with a new coach. Kevin Stefanski goes from the also-ran Cleveland Browns to the also-ran Atlanta Falcons. Kirk Cousins is out, and Tua Tagovailoa is in. That feels like going nowhere. Will Michael Penix Jr. be ready for the start of the season? Will there be a QB controversy? The idea to improve the kicking game led Atlanta to sign veteran Nick Folk. Good thing this division is weak. Grade: D-
Could the best move made this offseason be the one where the Ravens renged on the Maxx Crosby trade? They wind up with Trey Hendrickson on a huge contract and don't lose two first-round picks in a trade for the Raiders' star. One step up, two draft picks pack. Jesse Minter is the new coach, replacing the legendary John Harbaugh. He has quite the act to follow. Grade: C
Acquiring DJ Moore can only help Josh Allen and a depleted wide receivers room. There needs to be more talent added at the position through the draft. Bradley Chubb is an upgrade from the departing Joey Bosa. The Bills will still win a lot of games. Will they improve enough to make the Super Bowl? Hard to figure. They also have to find a way to move ahead of the Patriots in their division. Grade: B-
Jaelan Phillips will add to the defensive line's strength. Why sign Kenny Pickett? There had to be a better option as a backup QB than the young journeyman. And that is definitely a contradiction. AJ Dillion might not have much left. And he certainly won't make up for the loss of Rico Dowdle to the Steelers. Grade: C-
The Bears were proactive in the offseason. They acquired C Garrett Bradbury to make up for the shocking retirement of Drew Dalman at 27. They bolstered the defense with Coby Bryant, Devin Bush, Neville Gallimore and others. It was a savvy offseason for Ben Johnson and his team's roster. Grade: B+
The Bengals will have old quarterbacks behind Joe Burrow, with Josh Johnson and Joe Burrow in the field. They signed Jonathan Allen to a two-year contract. Will his presence offset the loss of Trey Hendrickson to the Ravens? Bryan Cook comes over from Kansas City via free agency. The defense needs all the help it can get. Grade: C-
Let's be honest, Todd Monken is in a thicket before he coached a game. Owner Jimmy Haslam's statement that Deshaun Watson has a "great chance" to be the Browns' starting QB creates issues. Shedeur Sanders will be thrilled to hear that, and who knows what is going on with Dillon Gabriel. It doesn't matter what else Cleveland did; the Watson commentary tells one all they need to know about this franchise. Grade: F
The franchise tag on WR George Pickens is perilous, given his track record. Rashan Gary will help the defensive line. Amazing how he comes over in a trade with the Packers, who landed Micah Parsons from Dallas last year. Not sure how much Jalen Thompson will help the secondary. The draft will be critical. Grade: C
The biggest move was grabbing Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins in a trade for multiple picks. Is he worth giving up the No. 1 (30th overall)? Time will tell. The addition of Waddle pumps up this grade. Grade: B+
David Montgomery is a Houston Texan, so Isiah Pacheco becomes Jahmyr Gibbs' tag-team partner at running back. Cade Mays will provide an answer at center with Frank Ragnow retired and out of the picture. The defense gets secondary help with Roger McCreary at CB and Christian Izien at safety. Detroit has to hope its players can avoid injuries. Grade: B
The Packers lost a lot of key defensive players, including Colby Wooden, Rashan Gary, Quay Walker, and others who are no longer in Green Bay. Cornerback Benjamin St. Juste will boost the secondary. Javon Hargrave got two years for $23 million, but he is 33. This is a tough division, and Matt LaFleur will have his work cut out. Grade: C-
Goodbye, Joe Mixon. Hello, David Montgomery. The former Lion will be a key to the ground game. On the other side of the ball, Reed Blankenship adds to a strong secondary. Losing Tommy Townsend to Tennessee at punter could be damaging. Is Kai Kroeger, who comes over from the Saints, the answer? Grade: C+
There was plenty of money thrown around to QB Daniel Jones and WR Alec Pierce. Will Jones recover from his season-ending injury in time to bring Indy back to its heights in the first half of 2025? The rest of the moves were, um, uninspiring. Grade: C-
An uneventful offseason unless you consider adding Chris Rodriguez to the backfield a plus. They re-signed CB Montaric Brown, which was important. Will Rodriguez fill the void left by the exit of Travis Etienne Jr.? Doubtful. For a team that finished strong in 2025, it didn't do a ton in the offseason to improve. Grade: C-
Signing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III was the key move. The Chiefs also added Emari Demercado from the Cardinals. Travis Kelce's return could be more about a farewell tour than another powerhouse season. Justin Fields lands with Andy Reid. If anyone can fix the former Bear, Steeler, and Jet, it is Andy Reid. That said, the coach has to hope he won't rely on the journeyman and that Patrick Mahomes will be 100% for the start of 2026. Grade: B
The Raiders spent a lot of money and thought they acquired two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby. That didn't work out when the Ravens got cold cleats. Adding Tyler Linderbaum for the expected first overall pick in Fernando Mendoza was intelligent. The defense will get better with Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Eric Stokes. Klint Kubiak brings a Super Bowl coaching pedigree. Now, this all hinges on how good recently signed Kirk Cousins can be under center, or, if he is the actual No. 1 overall pick, how good Mendoza can be as a rookie. Grade: B
Jim Harbaugh loses Jesse Minter to the Ravens, a dent to the coaching staff. Like adding Keaton Mitchell to an already solid backfield. Alec Ingold is an old-school fullback and that is a piece too many teams ignore. There were needed additions to the offensive line, like center Tyler Biadasz. Don't get Cole Strange. Grade: C
The big move was acquiring Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs to shore up a porous secondary. That is what a team can do when it has the Falcons' first-round pick, too. There was buzz this week that LA considered trading surefire Hall of Fame wideout Davante Adams but decided against it. The best moves are often ones that are not made. Jaylen Watson will help McDuffie make a stronger defense. Grade: A
Tua Tagovailoa leaves and Malik Willis gets a $67.5 million contract? Jeff Hafley must have loved what he saw in the backup QB in Green Bay. The Dolphins should be thrilled the Jets are in the division because at least that gives them a chance for third place. Also gone are Waddle, Minkah Fitzpatrick (again), Ingold, and Bradley Chubb. Grade: D
The quarterback situation is a disaster. Is J.J. McCarthy already fruitless? Kyler Murray, the starter or a malcontent reserve? Carson Wentz is also in the picture. Picking up the fifth-year option on WR Jordan Addison is peculiar, given his issues. Think the Vikings should have kept Sam Darnold? Grade: D
The Patriots continue to add pieces for Drake Maye. They hope Alijah Vera-Tucker will stay healthy to help the offensive line. Romeo Doubs is another solid receiver. Reggie Gilliam at fullback is another layer of protection for Maye, too. Jared Wilson moves from left guard to center, with Garrett Bradbury dealt to Chicago. Grade: B
The Saints appear settled on Tyler Shough at QB. He's only going to be 27 in his second season. Why would any team sign Zach Wilson? Nice get for the backfield in Travis Etienne Jr. Alvin Kamara is either expendable or nearing the end. Demario Davis' leadership will be missed. Grade: C+
Everyone is hailing John Harbaugh as the savior. Lest they forget, he won the Super Bowl in 2012, which would be 14 seasons ago. Plenty of former Ravens are now with Big Blue. How will that work? And Jason Sanders as the kicker is a wild improvement over last year's carousel. Grade: C+
Will Geno Smith do for Aaron Glenn what he did for Pete Carroll in Las Vegas and lead to the coach's exit? Don't be surprised if this happens. Banking on the veteran, who is on the downside of his career, is a risky move after how futile Glenn's rookie coaching season was. Veterans in Demario Davis and Minkah Fitzpatrick will help the defense, depending on how much they have left in the tank. They also added DE Joseph Ossai, hoping to get some more pressure on opposing QBs. Grade: F
They get Riq Woolen from Seattle to help the secondary, which lost Reed Blankenship. This offseason was far calmer than the one after they won the Super Bowl. They have a strong roster and didn't do a ton either way. Grade: C
Have to love the signing of Rico Dowdle. Hopefully, the former Cowboy and Panther has found a permanent home. They needed a receiver and got a dependable one from the Colts in Michael Pittman Jr. They could still use more good hands folks in the draft. Pairing Jamel Dean with Joey Porter Jr. will make other QBs think twice about where they throw. Grade: A
The Niners made a huge splash by landing Mike Evans in free agency. The future Hall of Famer adds to a talented offensive attack. Dre Greenlaw returns to the defense, which will also feature strong DE Osa Odighizuwa and DB Nate Hobbs. This was a stellar team in 2025 and can get better this season. Grade: A-
The Super Bowl champs let game MVP Kenneth Walker III walk to the Chiefs. They best hope Zach Charbonnet bounces back quickly from his knee injury. They also added former Packer Emmanuel Wilson to help at RB. The secondary loses S Coby Bryant and CB Riq Woolen. Mike Macdonald will be tested in trying to repeat. Grade: C-
Mike Evans, Jamel Dean, and Rachaad White all leave. Lavonte David retires after 14 seasons in Tampa. Todd Bowles will have a tough time replacing all that talent. Grade: D+
The only way to go for this team is up. Will Cam Ward prove to be the franchise QB after being selected No. 1 overall in 2025? Mitchell Trubisky is the backup. Robert Saleh has to hope the former No. 2 overall pick never sees the field. Brian Daboll must have convinced Saleh that WR Wan'Dale Robinson and TE Daniel Bellinger are the real deal. They came over from the Giants. Jermaine Johnson was added in a trade for T'Vondre Sweat. Will the Jets or Titans get the better of that one? Grade: C-
Dan Quinn was a hero in his first year with Washington. Everything went wrong last season. So, the Commanders had to make some moves. They signed Rachaad White as a free agent, with Chris Rodriguez leaving the running back room. Odafe Oweh should boost the rush from the edge position with K'Lavion Chaisson. Grade: C+
This article originally appeared on The List Wire: NFL offseason grades for every team
Continue reading...
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals dipped into another team's coaching staff for their hire, tabbing former Rams OC Mike LaFleur. He's going to need a lot of hope and luck to succeed. Kyler Murray is gone to the Vikings. Jacoby Brissett is listed as the starter and Gardner Minshew has signed via free agency. They are in a brutal division and none of the moves should see them leave the cellar. Grade: D
Atlanta Falcons
Another team with a new coach. Kevin Stefanski goes from the also-ran Cleveland Browns to the also-ran Atlanta Falcons. Kirk Cousins is out, and Tua Tagovailoa is in. That feels like going nowhere. Will Michael Penix Jr. be ready for the start of the season? Will there be a QB controversy? The idea to improve the kicking game led Atlanta to sign veteran Nick Folk. Good thing this division is weak. Grade: D-
Baltimore Ravens
Could the best move made this offseason be the one where the Ravens renged on the Maxx Crosby trade? They wind up with Trey Hendrickson on a huge contract and don't lose two first-round picks in a trade for the Raiders' star. One step up, two draft picks pack. Jesse Minter is the new coach, replacing the legendary John Harbaugh. He has quite the act to follow. Grade: C
Buffalo Bills
Acquiring DJ Moore can only help Josh Allen and a depleted wide receivers room. There needs to be more talent added at the position through the draft. Bradley Chubb is an upgrade from the departing Joey Bosa. The Bills will still win a lot of games. Will they improve enough to make the Super Bowl? Hard to figure. They also have to find a way to move ahead of the Patriots in their division. Grade: B-
Carolina Panthers
Jaelan Phillips will add to the defensive line's strength. Why sign Kenny Pickett? There had to be a better option as a backup QB than the young journeyman. And that is definitely a contradiction. AJ Dillion might not have much left. And he certainly won't make up for the loss of Rico Dowdle to the Steelers. Grade: C-
Chicago Bears
The Bears were proactive in the offseason. They acquired C Garrett Bradbury to make up for the shocking retirement of Drew Dalman at 27. They bolstered the defense with Coby Bryant, Devin Bush, Neville Gallimore and others. It was a savvy offseason for Ben Johnson and his team's roster. Grade: B+
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals will have old quarterbacks behind Joe Burrow, with Josh Johnson and Joe Burrow in the field. They signed Jonathan Allen to a two-year contract. Will his presence offset the loss of Trey Hendrickson to the Ravens? Bryan Cook comes over from Kansas City via free agency. The defense needs all the help it can get. Grade: C-
Cleveland Browns
Let's be honest, Todd Monken is in a thicket before he coached a game. Owner Jimmy Haslam's statement that Deshaun Watson has a "great chance" to be the Browns' starting QB creates issues. Shedeur Sanders will be thrilled to hear that, and who knows what is going on with Dillon Gabriel. It doesn't matter what else Cleveland did; the Watson commentary tells one all they need to know about this franchise. Grade: F
Dallas Cowboys
The franchise tag on WR George Pickens is perilous, given his track record. Rashan Gary will help the defensive line. Amazing how he comes over in a trade with the Packers, who landed Micah Parsons from Dallas last year. Not sure how much Jalen Thompson will help the secondary. The draft will be critical. Grade: C
Denver Broncos
The biggest move was grabbing Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins in a trade for multiple picks. Is he worth giving up the No. 1 (30th overall)? Time will tell. The addition of Waddle pumps up this grade. Grade: B+
Detroit Lions
David Montgomery is a Houston Texan, so Isiah Pacheco becomes Jahmyr Gibbs' tag-team partner at running back. Cade Mays will provide an answer at center with Frank Ragnow retired and out of the picture. The defense gets secondary help with Roger McCreary at CB and Christian Izien at safety. Detroit has to hope its players can avoid injuries. Grade: B
Green Bay Packers
The Packers lost a lot of key defensive players, including Colby Wooden, Rashan Gary, Quay Walker, and others who are no longer in Green Bay. Cornerback Benjamin St. Juste will boost the secondary. Javon Hargrave got two years for $23 million, but he is 33. This is a tough division, and Matt LaFleur will have his work cut out. Grade: C-
Houston Texans
Goodbye, Joe Mixon. Hello, David Montgomery. The former Lion will be a key to the ground game. On the other side of the ball, Reed Blankenship adds to a strong secondary. Losing Tommy Townsend to Tennessee at punter could be damaging. Is Kai Kroeger, who comes over from the Saints, the answer? Grade: C+
Indianapolis Colts
There was plenty of money thrown around to QB Daniel Jones and WR Alec Pierce. Will Jones recover from his season-ending injury in time to bring Indy back to its heights in the first half of 2025? The rest of the moves were, um, uninspiring. Grade: C-
Jacksonville Jaguars
An uneventful offseason unless you consider adding Chris Rodriguez to the backfield a plus. They re-signed CB Montaric Brown, which was important. Will Rodriguez fill the void left by the exit of Travis Etienne Jr.? Doubtful. For a team that finished strong in 2025, it didn't do a ton in the offseason to improve. Grade: C-
Kansas City Chiefs
Signing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III was the key move. The Chiefs also added Emari Demercado from the Cardinals. Travis Kelce's return could be more about a farewell tour than another powerhouse season. Justin Fields lands with Andy Reid. If anyone can fix the former Bear, Steeler, and Jet, it is Andy Reid. That said, the coach has to hope he won't rely on the journeyman and that Patrick Mahomes will be 100% for the start of 2026. Grade: B
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders spent a lot of money and thought they acquired two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby. That didn't work out when the Ravens got cold cleats. Adding Tyler Linderbaum for the expected first overall pick in Fernando Mendoza was intelligent. The defense will get better with Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Eric Stokes. Klint Kubiak brings a Super Bowl coaching pedigree. Now, this all hinges on how good recently signed Kirk Cousins can be under center, or, if he is the actual No. 1 overall pick, how good Mendoza can be as a rookie. Grade: B
Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh loses Jesse Minter to the Ravens, a dent to the coaching staff. Like adding Keaton Mitchell to an already solid backfield. Alec Ingold is an old-school fullback and that is a piece too many teams ignore. There were needed additions to the offensive line, like center Tyler Biadasz. Don't get Cole Strange. Grade: C
Los Angeles Rams
The big move was acquiring Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs to shore up a porous secondary. That is what a team can do when it has the Falcons' first-round pick, too. There was buzz this week that LA considered trading surefire Hall of Fame wideout Davante Adams but decided against it. The best moves are often ones that are not made. Jaylen Watson will help McDuffie make a stronger defense. Grade: A
Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa leaves and Malik Willis gets a $67.5 million contract? Jeff Hafley must have loved what he saw in the backup QB in Green Bay. The Dolphins should be thrilled the Jets are in the division because at least that gives them a chance for third place. Also gone are Waddle, Minkah Fitzpatrick (again), Ingold, and Bradley Chubb. Grade: D
Minnesota Vikings
The quarterback situation is a disaster. Is J.J. McCarthy already fruitless? Kyler Murray, the starter or a malcontent reserve? Carson Wentz is also in the picture. Picking up the fifth-year option on WR Jordan Addison is peculiar, given his issues. Think the Vikings should have kept Sam Darnold? Grade: D
New England Patriots
The Patriots continue to add pieces for Drake Maye. They hope Alijah Vera-Tucker will stay healthy to help the offensive line. Romeo Doubs is another solid receiver. Reggie Gilliam at fullback is another layer of protection for Maye, too. Jared Wilson moves from left guard to center, with Garrett Bradbury dealt to Chicago. Grade: B
New Orleans Saints
The Saints appear settled on Tyler Shough at QB. He's only going to be 27 in his second season. Why would any team sign Zach Wilson? Nice get for the backfield in Travis Etienne Jr. Alvin Kamara is either expendable or nearing the end. Demario Davis' leadership will be missed. Grade: C+
New York Giants
Everyone is hailing John Harbaugh as the savior. Lest they forget, he won the Super Bowl in 2012, which would be 14 seasons ago. Plenty of former Ravens are now with Big Blue. How will that work? And Jason Sanders as the kicker is a wild improvement over last year's carousel. Grade: C+
New York Jets
Will Geno Smith do for Aaron Glenn what he did for Pete Carroll in Las Vegas and lead to the coach's exit? Don't be surprised if this happens. Banking on the veteran, who is on the downside of his career, is a risky move after how futile Glenn's rookie coaching season was. Veterans in Demario Davis and Minkah Fitzpatrick will help the defense, depending on how much they have left in the tank. They also added DE Joseph Ossai, hoping to get some more pressure on opposing QBs. Grade: F
Philadelphia Eagles
They get Riq Woolen from Seattle to help the secondary, which lost Reed Blankenship. This offseason was far calmer than the one after they won the Super Bowl. They have a strong roster and didn't do a ton either way. Grade: C
Pittsburgh Steelers
Have to love the signing of Rico Dowdle. Hopefully, the former Cowboy and Panther has found a permanent home. They needed a receiver and got a dependable one from the Colts in Michael Pittman Jr. They could still use more good hands folks in the draft. Pairing Jamel Dean with Joey Porter Jr. will make other QBs think twice about where they throw. Grade: A
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners made a huge splash by landing Mike Evans in free agency. The future Hall of Famer adds to a talented offensive attack. Dre Greenlaw returns to the defense, which will also feature strong DE Osa Odighizuwa and DB Nate Hobbs. This was a stellar team in 2025 and can get better this season. Grade: A-
Seattle Seahawks
The Super Bowl champs let game MVP Kenneth Walker III walk to the Chiefs. They best hope Zach Charbonnet bounces back quickly from his knee injury. They also added former Packer Emmanuel Wilson to help at RB. The secondary loses S Coby Bryant and CB Riq Woolen. Mike Macdonald will be tested in trying to repeat. Grade: C-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Evans, Jamel Dean, and Rachaad White all leave. Lavonte David retires after 14 seasons in Tampa. Todd Bowles will have a tough time replacing all that talent. Grade: D+
Tennessee Titans
The only way to go for this team is up. Will Cam Ward prove to be the franchise QB after being selected No. 1 overall in 2025? Mitchell Trubisky is the backup. Robert Saleh has to hope the former No. 2 overall pick never sees the field. Brian Daboll must have convinced Saleh that WR Wan'Dale Robinson and TE Daniel Bellinger are the real deal. They came over from the Giants. Jermaine Johnson was added in a trade for T'Vondre Sweat. Will the Jets or Titans get the better of that one? Grade: C-
Washington Commanders
Dan Quinn was a hero in his first year with Washington. Everything went wrong last season. So, the Commanders had to make some moves. They signed Rachaad White as a free agent, with Chris Rodriguez leaving the running back room. Odafe Oweh should boost the rush from the edge position with K'Lavion Chaisson. Grade: C+
This article originally appeared on The List Wire: NFL offseason grades for every team
Continue reading...
