Grading The 20 Boldest Moves Of The 2026 NFL Offseason
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The NFL offseason is known for being wild and bold, as we see teams make stunning moves that can either break a team or turn it into a championship contender.
Many of these bold moves come from teams in “Win-Now” mode that will do anything to drive a cultural shift within their franchises.
The 2026 season saw many wild and bold offseason moves that shocked some people, making for a more exciting regular season.
It is not known whether these moves will pay off in the regular season, but many of them should click and bear metaphorical fruit.
What are the grades for the boldest offseason moves in the NFL?
The Rams trading for Myles Garrett: A+
The Los Angeles Rams traded Jared Verse and a few draft picks for Myles Garrett, a move no one saw coming, as Garrett brings elite defensive prowess to the team’s pass rush. Not to mention, being on the Rams is the best opportunity Garrett has to potentially win a Super Bowl.
Garrett also joins a defensive line that has Kobie Turner, Desjuan Johnson, and Poona Ford, who are ready to take the Rams to the next level in the 2026 season.
The Cleveland Browns are getting Jared Verse in return, who is a proven Pro Bowler and a guy who should fill Garrett’s shoes nicely in Cleveland. Not to mention, they’ll utilize the three draft picks from the Rams nicely, making this trade a win for both teams.
The Patriots trading for A. J. Brown: A-
Brown joins a young and up-and-coming New England Patriots team coming off a Super Bowl LX appearance, providing Drake Maye with an elusive, game-changing wideout who can catch deep passes when it matters most, while the Eagles shed his expensive contract and recoup a couple of premium NFL draft picks in return this offseason.
The lone concern about Brown with the Patriots is his history of injuries, including a degenerative knee issue he dealt with while with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, he’s done a good job managing the situation.
Brown also reunites with head coach Mike Vrabel, who was the Tennessee Titans’ head coach who oversaw Brown’s development with the team before he was traded to the Eagles in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Broncos trading for Jaylen Waddle: A-
Acquiring Waddle via trade from the Miami Dolphins may have cost the Broncos a first-round pick in 2026, but they’re receiving an incredibly talented Pro Bowler for Bo Nix to throw passes to.
Waddle’s speed also complements Courtland Sutton’s skill set in the passing attack, making for an explosive offense to watch in the upcoming season.
On top of that, having Waddle on the team increases the Broncos’ championship window in a very competitive AFC West, with the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs also looking to make some noise.
The Bengals trading for Dexter Lawrence: A
The Cincinnati Bengals stunned the NFL world before the 2026 Draft, trading away their first-round pick for Lawrence, who provides the team’s defense with interior strength that’ll free up the edge rushers, making for a threatening Bengals’ defense, which will surely be worked on this offseason.
However, critics of the deal point out that Lawrence struggled against the New York Giants’ pass rush in the 2025 season, recording 31 tackles and 0.5 sacks.
We have a feeling Lawrence is going to shine with the Bengals this coming season and increase his statistical numbers with the franchise under defensive coordinator Al Golden’s watch.
The Eagles Drafting Makai Lemon: B+
The Philadelphia Eagles made a bold move during the 2026 draft by moving up to the 20th pick and drafting Lemon while he was on the phone with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Lemon brings a reliable pro-level skill set, who’s brilliant in the middle of the field and after the catch. Not to mention, he has great blocking ability, acting as an asset on the perimeter rather than a liability in the run game.
Even though Lemon isn’t great at press-coverage situations, he should form incredible on-field chemistry with Jalen Hurts when it’s time for kickoff.
The Colts extending Daniel Jones: C
Although Jones performed well in the 2025 regular season before he suffered his Achilles injury in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, this two-year, $88 million extension is risky due to Jones’ injury history and the pressure of performing at an elite level for a second straight season.
On the upside, the short extension protects the Colts from a long-term financial bloat that would cost them down the road; he has proven experience with head coach Shane Steichen, along with Alec Pierce and Josh Downs.
Jones should return to playing effective football when the regular season kicks off.
The Bengals signing Boye Mafe: B+
Although the Cincinnati Bengals weren’t able to keep Trey Hendrickson this offseason, they signed Mafe to a three-year, $60 million deal, as he brings an elite championship presence to the team’s defense in the NFL next season.
With Mafe in the mix, the Bengals are hoping he can replicate Hendrickson’s production during the 2026 season, even though he had two sacks in 2025.
Mafe should excel in defensive coordinator Al Golden’s system and fit in quite nicely with Dexter Lawrence, B. J. Hill, and Myles Murphy.
The Browns overhauling their offensive line: B
The Cleveland Browns’ offensive line was a disaster in the 2025 NFL season, as guys were getting injured left and right, and the line had no Pro Bowl-caliber talent outside of Joel Bitonio, who retired in the 2026 offseason.
The Browns signed Elton Jenkins and Zion Johnson, traded for Tytus Howard, and drafted Spencer Fano, Austin Barber, and Parker Brailsford.
The Browns’ current offensive line should provide whoever their starting quarterback is with the protection he needs to be competitive comfortably.
The Dolphins signing Malik Willis: C
The Miami Dolphins overhauled their roster, released Tua Tagovailoa, and will take on a dead cap hit of $99 million, the largest in league history.
The Dolphins signed Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal, even though he has a limited track record as a starter, as he went 2-1 with the Packers for two seasons and threw six touchdowns against no interceptions with the team.
The upside is that Willis’ deal is more cap-friendly, as he has $45 million in guaranteed money, and he showed flashes of success in his brief time on the field with the Packers, with a strong arm and an elusive rushing element.
The Vikings signing Kyler Murray: B-
Murray signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings with the hope that he can revive his career as a starter in the league, and he has to compete for the starting job against J. J. McCarthy.
The Vikings get a veteran quarterback for a bargain; head coach Kevin O’Connell is a quarterback guru who can get the best out of the quarterbacks on his roster, and if Murray does win the starting job, he has a more talented cast of offensive weapons to work with in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones.
The Rams trading for Trent McDuffie: A-
After the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX, the Los Angeles Rams quickly got to work and traded for McDuffie, whose impact immediately upgraded the Rams’ secondary with his championship-caliber play and elite pass coverage.
McDuffie also reunites with his former college coach, Jimmy Lake, who is the Rams’ defensive backs coach, and this move extends the team’s championship window.
The Rams signing Jaylen Watson: A-
Staying on the Rams in this NFL offseason list, they also signed Watson, who will help make the Rams’ secondary more formidable, along with his former Kansas City Chiefs teammate, Trent McDuffie.
Watson is 6’2” and brings much-needed size to the secondary, is a high-rated run-blocker at his position, and he’s a proven playmaker who has championship experience.
The Texans trading for David Montgomery: C+
Trading for Montgomery shook the NFL world up, as the Houston Texans acquired a guy with fresh legs who is a seriously tough runner with two 1,000-yard seasons on the ground.
The only concern the Texans have with Montgomery in the fold is how shaky the offensive line has been, and the team traded away Tytus Howard and Juice Scruggs. Not to mention, Montgomery is 29, which is near the end of most running backs’ careers.
This trade is a risk for the Texans, but there is a bit more upside, as the team gets a healthier runner.
The Raiders Signing Tyler Linderbaum: A-
The Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive line was a mess in 2025, so the Raiders addressed that this offseason by signing center Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year, $81 million deal, giving either Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza some much-needed protection in the interior during the upcoming NFL season.
Linderbaum also made three Pro Bowls during his time with the Ravens and is very likely going to be the leader of the Raiders’ offensive line moving forward. He is incredibly durable and can handle the toughest defensive lines thrown at him.
The Raiders signing Kirk Cousins: B
After a short tenure with the Atlanta Falcons that delivered mixed results, Cousins signed a massive five-year, $172 million deal, with $20 million guaranteed, with the “Silver and Black.” Cousins gets to be a bridge starter, while Fernando Mendoza observes and learns from a proven veteran quarterback.
Cousins also spent three seasons with Klint Kubiak, who was the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 2019 to 2021, giving him a coach who knows his strengths and what he’s good at heading into the upcoming season.
The Ravens signing Trey Hendrickson: A-
After the Maxx Crosby trade flopped, the Baltimore Ravens made a massive free-agent splash, signing edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million deal, as he brings an elite finisher to the Ravens.
Even though Hendrickson is injury-prone at times, he brings high-pressure rates against opposing offenses; he had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, and he has a lot of motivation for a fresh start in head coach Jesse Minter’s and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s system for the 2026 season.
The Giants Hiring John Harbaugh: A+
One of the more intriguing and impressive moves during the NFL offseason was the New York Giants hiring of John Harbaugh to be their next head coach, as he brings championship experience, winning Super Bowl XLVII, over 180 regular-season wins, and brings an elite staff with him.
Not to mention the plethora of talent that signed with the G-Men, from Isaiah Likely, Darnell Mooney, Patrick Ricard, Jason Pinock, and many others, ready to roll and reshape the Giants for the better in the upcoming season.
The Ravens Hiring Jesse Minter: A
When the Baltimore Ravens fired John Harbaugh, they needed a new coach who was tough, gritty, and completely defensive-minded. Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator Jesse Minter accepted the job and assembled a great coaching staff for Lamar Jackson and the rest of the team to get behind.
Minter had some experience with the Ravens from 2017 to 2020, serving as the team’s defensive assistant, assistant defensive backs coach, and defensive backs coach.
On top of that, Minter has an impressive track record of transforming average defenses into powerhouses, as he did when he was the Chargers’ defensive coordinator, turning them into a top-five unit. We can’t wait to see what Minter does with the Ravens during the regular season.
The Jets trading for Geno Smith: C
After a disastrous season in “Sin City,” the Las Vegas Raiders traded Geno Smith back to the New York Jets for next to nothing this NFL offseason, reuniting him with the team that drafted him back in 2013.
Smith isn’t the long-term quarterback solution the team wanted, but he provides a veteran presence and experience at the position, which is perfect for Jets’ offensive coordinator Frank Reich.
On top of that, Smith should work nicely with Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, and newly drafted Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq.
The Chiefs’ signing of Kenneth Walker III: B+
After the Kansas City Chiefs released Isiah Pacheco, they upgraded their backfield by signing Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $45 million deal.
Walker is incredibly explosive as a runner; the Chiefs gain a nice insurance policy while Patrick Mahomes recovers from his ACL injury, and he gives the team championship experience.
The only downside is that Walker III isn’t known as a receiving back, meaning the Chiefs will have to rely on a secondary or third-down back to make receiving plays.
