The NFL offseason can shape the landscape of the following season for several teams, both positively and negatively. Whether it is nailing the draft, securing impact free-agency signings or simply retaining their best players, some teams are offseason winners, while others are losers.
My first winner of the 2026 offseason is the Las Vegas Raiders. While this seems obvious because they had the first overall pick in April’s draft, I’m not focused on that selection of quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza is a great player, but it’s the pickups the Raiders secured around him that make them an offseason winner.
Their free agency addition of Tyler Linderbaum is one of the best by any team. At only 26 years old, Linderbaum is already one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL, and you cannot overstate the impact a Pro Bowl center will have on a rookie quarterback once Mendoza takes the starting helm. Additionally, veteran Kirk Cousins is the perfect pickup to mentor Mendoza until he is ready to be a full-time starter. Their early second-round pick, Treydan Stukes from the University of Arizona, is also a great selection and has the talent to be a day-one starting safety.
Another winner I think has not been talked about enough and has made quality strides this offseason is the Carolina Panthers. Hopes are high in Carolina after pushing the LA Rams to their limit in the NFC Wild Card last season, and they capitalized on that momentum in free agency. Picking up linebackers Jaelen Phillips and Devin Lloyd gives Carolina one of the best linebacker cores in the NFC and fills big-time needs.
The Panthers also drafted seven players for different positions back in April. Still, I specifically think offensive tackle Monroe Freeling from Georgia and wide receiver Chris Brazzell from Tennessee hold starter-quality talent that can prove valuable as early as this season.
One team that didn’t make many big-time moves but also qualifies as an offseason winner is the Buffalo Bills. Promoting offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach is a very smart move that will pan out well and raise this offense’s ceiling. On top of that, Josh Allen needed more weapons, so they traded for star wide receiver D.J. Moore, a four-time 1,000-yard receiver who is still only 29 years old.
The Seattle Seahawks are one of this offseason’s losers. Yes, they are on top of the world after winning the Super Bowl, but letting their Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker III, leave is a huge risk. His backup, Zach Charbonnet, is not the same level of running back as Walker, and the Seahawks will soon realize he was the Super Bowl MVP for a reason. Losing defensive starters Riq Woolen, Boye Mafe and Coby Bryant also leaves huge holes in what was just the NFL’s best defense.
This offseason has also been a rough one for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They had a historically successful season in head coach Liam Coen’s first season, but following up a playoff appearance with more subtraction than addition is not a recipe for success.
They let starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. and key linebacker Devin Lloyd both walk in free agency. Their draft was nothing to bat an eye at, and replacing two big losses with a singular free agent signing of career backup running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is uninspiring.
In 2026, the NFL offseason yet again came with exciting draft selections and free agency splashes that both hurt and boosted the hopes of several teams. Teams can nail the draft and be quiet in free agency or drop the ball in the draft and make big noise in free agency, but it is never good to be a loser in both. Sometimes, making the best of one or the other is what separates winners from losers in the NFL offseason.
