The NFL offseason is the time for all 32 teams to address weaknesses and upgrade their respective rosters. Through free agency and the draft, the goal for each team is to make at least one splashy, standout move that will improve its upcoming regular-season fortunes most.
While every team tried — be it through free agency, the draft, or through trades — some teams succeeded more than others.
Here’s going around the league to catch you up on the very best of these acquisitions.
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The Cardinals needed a true, dominant No. 1 wideout for Kyler Murray. Driving away from the draft with “Maserati Marv” gives them the ideal size, speed, quickness, and strength for their best young receiver since Larry Fitzgerald.
Whatever their thought process was in also drafting Michael Penix Jr. in the first round, the Falcons got a major veteran upgrade at the most important position. Cousins goes from thriving in a Rams-adjacent offense in Minnesota to joining one in Atlanta under Zac Robinson. Cousins can better unlock all their first-round skill weapons and make this into one of the league’s dangerous attacks in returning strong from his torn Achilles’.
Biggest offseason upgrades: Offenses | Defenses | Coaching staffs
The Ravens needed a durable veteran hammer for their run-heavy offense to better support the downfield passing and dynamic rushing of Lamar Jackson. Henry comes to Baltimore in search of a ring. The Ravens get the ideal back to pound between the tackles and open up more of the field for Jackson.
The Bills had to reshuffle their receiving corps for Josh Allen, and Coleman profiles well as his new potential No. 1 with his size, hands, and underrated speed for the outside. He’s a perfect fit for trying to replace Stefon Diggs.
The Panthers did plenty to boost QB Bryce Young in Year 2, starting with hiring offensive-minded Dave Canales as head coach and upgrading the offensive line. But getting Young another reliable route-running receiver in Johnson to pair with Adam Thielen was big. It also set the foundation for the team to go after a speedy deep threat, Xavier Legette, in the draft.
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The Bears might have finally solved their franchise QB issue after stumbling with both Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields. They didn’t mess up the No. 1 overall pick by landing Williams, a transcendent athletic and strong-arm passing talent.
The Bengals’ defense badly missed the playmaking of Jessie Bates III after he left to keep starring as a ballhawk in Atlanta. Stone was busy making a lot of plays on the ball for the rival Ravens last season and can help push the position back into a strength.
Hicks is coming off a fine season with the Vikings with his rangy playmaking, both in racking up tackles against the run and staying active in coverage. He was a sneaky good tweak to a stout defensive front seven.
The Cowboys weren’t able to spend well in free agency, and they had limited draft capital. Replenishing the offensive line with youth was a priority, and this was the better ready-to-contribute pick than projected left tackle Tyler Guyton.
Sean Payton wasn’t into Russell Wilson and wanted his hand-picked passer to operate his offense. Nix has the right attributes to succeed in Payton’s pocket-based system. Denver needed to start over at QB badly, and it was time again to take a shot on a first-rounder.
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The Lions also traded for a veteran starting corner in former Buccaneer Carlton Davis to address their big defensive weakness under Aaron Glenn, but Arnold is a great candidate for DROY honors with a Sauce Gardner-like rookie splash.
The Packers’ most marquee signing was running back Josh Jacobs, but after some things haven’t panned out at safety, this is the better impact signing as a much-needed cleanup upgrade for the defense.
The Texans made a quick rebound after not being able to keep Jonathan Greenard in free agency. The highly productive former Viking will continue to deliver high sack production working off Will Anderson Jr. for DeMeco Ryans.
The Colts weren’t too active in free agency and the draft, but they ended up adding a key weapon for Anthony Richardson to execute his downfield passing better in Year 2.
The Jaguars took a flier on former big-play Bills target Gabe Davis, but they were smart to take this well-rounded rookie, too, to help compensate for not bringing back Calvin Ridley. Thomas can emerge as their outside No. 1 soon to boost Trevor Lawrence and complement what Christian Kirk and Evan Engram do well inside.
The Chiefs also traded up to use a first-round draft pick on speedy Xavier Worthy, but they got a more seasoned deep threat in the former Raven and Cardinal Brown. Brown flashed with Lamar Jackson and faded without Kyler Murray. Now, he gets the big arm of Patrick Mahomes who can make all throws that Brown can track down with his speed.
The Raiders didn’t go after a quarterback and also drafted a bit of an offensive luxury in tight end Brock Bowers. While they whiffed a bit offensively, they did get the needed inside disruptive force to complement the edge domination of Maxx Crosby.
The Chargers needed to reboot their receiving corps after moving on from Allen, Mike Williams, and Gerald Everett. McConkey is vital to that plan as Justin Herbert’s new, well-rounded target who can emerge as the No. 1 in Greg Roman’s passing game.
The Rams saw Aaron Donald retire but they recovered well in the draft with Florida State teammates Verse and Braden Fiske. While Fiske tries to help compensate for the massive loss of Donald, Verse will keep adding to their revved-up and rebuilt outside pass rush.
The Dolphins had a rather quiet offseason overall and lost some key pieces defensively. They worked on adding offensive skill depth and landed OBJ to be a cheap, big-play No. 3 to support the big-money 1-2 punch of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
The Vikings have wanted to move past Cousins’ contract and get on the much cheaper deal of a rookie first-round QB. McCarthy provided the right opportunity at the right time and can deliver right away for Kevin O’Connell with all the top offensive support he inherits right away.
The Patriots needed to move on quickly from first-rounder Mac Jones and take a shot on a higher-upside arm and athlete. Maye was a good way to start fresh, too, with an on-field, offensive leader as the Pats transition from Bill Belichick to Jerod Mayo.
The Saints had a priority to shore up left tackle given their veteran injury and youthful ineffectiveness issues there. Fuaga is a smooth blocker who can be their next Terron Armstead.
The Giants needed to get some impact pass-rush help opposite Kayvon Thibodeaux and Burns can end up being more disruptive and productive in their scheme than he was in Carolina.
The Jets also added right tackle Morgan Moses and drafted versatile tackle Oli Fashanu in the first round. However one slices it, they realized a healthy Aaron Rodgers doesn’t mean much unless he has shored-up pass protection.
The Eagles moved on from Haason Reddick, who ended up on Huff’s former team, the Jets. Huff is a strong replacement who’s built to deliver big pass-rush dividends for new 3-4 coordinator Vic Fangio.
The Steelers moved on from Kenny Pickett and didn’t need to give up much in terms of money and draft capital to get Wilson and Justin Fields. Wilson is slated to start right away and is a good mental and philosophical fit with Mike Tomlin. The Steelers will keep their winning ways with the defense and the running game, and they now have a high ceiling at QB.
The 49ers worked on resetting a lot of defensive pieces, including more pass rush and linebacker help. But Green, a rookie second-rounder, is slated for a key coverage role under new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen.
The Seahawks said good-bye to veteran first-rounder Jordyn Brooks and ended up with one of free agency’s most underrated pickups for new defensive-minded coach Mike Macdonald. Dodson is coming off a terrific season with the Bills and can give Macdonald some of what he had on the second level in Baltimore with Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen.
The Buccaneers landed the versatile offensive linemen in the first round as the much-needed delayed successor to Ryan Jensen. Barton can be in the middle to them what Tristan Wirfs has been outside.
The Titans also added two wide receivers (Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd) and a great pass-blocking center (Lloyd Cushenberry) in free agency, but getting Latham was critical for second-year quarterback Will Levis to get him better protected to execute well downfield in a pass-happier offense under Brian Callahan.
If Williams, Maye, McCarthy, and Nix were going to make this list, you knew that Daniels would, too. Daniels is a fitting end, as the Commanders should get immediate results from the No. 2 overall pick and reigning Heisman Trophy winner. It was smart to attach him to OC Kilff Kingsbury, who can bring out his big arm and dazzling athleticism early.
