What follows below this is going to be mostly wrong. Getting that out of the way now.
Every offseason, my first exercise to prepare for what is to come is to try to map out all the moves that might, could or even should happen. It’s partially an attempt to predict what will happen, sure, but it’s also an attempt to figure out who needs what and why. Trying to predict where every big name might go, who every team might add, is an excellent way to sketch out how the NFL might act.
For example: The Raiders, Jets, Cardinals, Dolphins and more potentially need a quarterback this offseason. There aren’t enough obviously available quarterbacks to fill all the open spots. So you have to figure out which teams make the most sense, which teams have the biggest motivation, which players have reasons for going to which places. You can find the best fits, and then the leftovers have to take what’s … left over.
Like I said, you get a lot wrong in this exercise. Most, in fact. But it’s an excellent way to take stock of the offseason to come. Give it a try some time. Today and Tuesday, you’ll get a look at my attempt at mapping out the offseason. We’re just talking fantasy here, so no Trey Hendrickson, but I’ll try to find the right mix of moves for every team this offseason.
Last year, this exercise figured out the Jets signing Justin Fields, the Commanders trading for Deebo Samuel, the Giants signing Jameis Winston. It landed on the Vikings franchise tagging Sam Darnold, which I think everyone would agree now they should have done. It had Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers going to the same team, although that team was the Rams and not the Dolphins. On the other hand, it had Cooper Kupp to the Bengals, Tee Higgins to the Chargers, Chris Olave getting traded to the Patriots. Some right, some wrong. All interesting.
AFC below. Check back for the NFC.
Fantasy Football Offseason Road Map: AFC
Baltimore Ravens
Sign Romeo Doubs
Since Lamar Jackson took over as the starter, the Ravens have pretty much maxed out at one relevant receiver. Rashod Bateman had a fine 2024 as the running mate to Zay Flowers, but that’s the only time the Raven has had more than one receiver top 110 PPR points, barely top-60 last year. Sure, part of that is Jackson’s run-first nature, part of that is Mark Andrews. But also, the team has never really had multiple receivers worth caring about. Doubs has been fine with Green Bay, but he’s had to battle far too many mouths in that time. He fits in Baltimore.
Buffalo Bills
Trade 3.91 and 5.166 to the Bears for DJ Moore
Trade Keon Coleman and 7.228 to Carolina for 4.119
The Bills need a better WR situation in a bad way. The problem is, their cap situation probably prevents them from shopping in the high end of the free agent market. What they could do, though, is get Moore from the Bears, who have good receivers otherwise, and then renegotiate his contract to shove the hit down the road.
Meanwhile, the bridges seem burned with Coleman. Let him start anew elsewhere.
Cincinnati Bengals
Sign Chris Rodriguez Jr.
The Bengals don’t need a running back who can threaten Chase Brown’s primary workload. But they do need one who can relieve Brown so he doesn’t need to completely dominate the work to the risk of injury. Rodriguez can command of carries in a pinch while not threatening Brown’s work or stealing much through the air (he has 7 targets in three seasons).
Sign Isaac Seumalo
Draft Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon (2.41)
The Bengals are mostly set on offense, but the offensive line still needs plenty of help. The defense does, too, so the Bengals should use their first-rounder on that side, but Pregnon (and Seumalo) could still help to protect Joe Burrow and keep Brown (and Rodriguez, I guess) upright.
Cleveland Browns
Deep breath here:
Sign Kirk Cousins
If the Falcons let Cousins go to save some money, the Browns should pounce. Even if they open next season with Shedeur Sanders (or Dillon Gabriel, or whoever) as the starter, Cousins could provide some reliability in a place that needs it.
Trade 1.06 to Dallas for 1.12 and a 2027 second
Trade 1.24 and a 2027 second to Carolina for 1.19
The Browns get a net zero on future picks in exchange for moving slightly down on one of their first-round picks in 2026 and slightly up on the other. This allows them to…
Draft Francis Mauigoa, T, Miami (FL) (1.12)
Draft Denzel Boston, WR, Washington(1.19)
Maybe the Browns also bring back Joel Bitonio and half a dozen of their other free agent offensive linemen, but it’s clear that this unit needs new blood in a bad way, and Mauigoa is probably the best linemen in this year’s draft class.
Meanwhile, a receiver room headed by Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman isn’t doing the trick. But one with Jeudy and Tillman as the WR2/WR3? That’s at least somewhat better. Boston had 20 touchdowns the last two years in Washington, and that could really boost the outlook for anyone Cleveland has under center.
Denver Broncos
Sign Tyler Allgeier
Sign Isaiah Likely
RJ Harvey was good as a rookie. But Allgeier as his running mate would give the Broncos the kind of 1-2 backfield punch Sean Payton has loved over his career. He’s a ground-first guy, while Harvey is a much better receiving option. And Allgeier has literally never fumbled. It’s a great fit.
Likely has been stuck behind Mark Andrews throughout his career. But with Andrews getting an extension, Likely can fly free. Payton has a history of heavily utilizing his tight ends, so there’s no better place for Likely to build up his value than in Denver.
Houston Texans
Hire Jeff Stoutland
OK, so this isn’t a player acquisition. But Stoutland left the Eagles last week after 13 years coaching the team’s offensive line. It doesn’t sound like he’s ready to be done. Well, the Texans haven’t had a big-time line in a generation, and while sure, they can (and should) go get any warm body they can to fill out the unit, getting Stoutland to run things would be even better. Almost every team could use Stoutland. The Texans can use him the most.
Sign Aaron Jones Sr.
Jones’ health wasn’t reliable when he was young. Now that he’s 31, his days of being a team’s clear RB1 are probably behind him. But he’s also probably not done as a contributing NFL player. In Houston, he can be the partner to Woody Marks, who was good as a rookie but seemed to leave every game with some ache or pain. Pairing him with Jones helps keep both healthy.
Indianapolis Colts
Re-Sign Daniel Jones, Alec Pierce and Braden Smith
The Colts have a long history of keeping their crew together before bringing in outside resources. All things being equal, no team is more likely to keep their own players over outsiders. So the Colts keeping their quarterback, wide receiver and offensive lineman makes ultimate sense. They’ll keep all three if there is any way.
Trade Anthony Richardson Sr. to the 49ers for 4.127
Sign Geno Smith
The one place the Colts have had no issue bringing in outsiders in recent years is quarterback. And while Daniel Jones, whenever he’s healthy again, will and should get the starting job back, the team would be smart to bring in a backup who can start as needed. As bad as Geno Smith’s 2026 was, his history is good enough that he should be cast aside altogether. Richardson might have a future in the league, but that future isn’t going to be in Indianapolis, so let him try to rebuild value elsewhere and bring in Smith as the backup/interim starter.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trade Brian Thomas Jr. and 3.81 to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby
Obviously, we’re talking fantasy here, but Crosby is extremely on the market this offseason, and the Jaguars could bolster their defense in the best way possible while simultaneously clearing out a logjam in the receiver room. Thomas could use a restart after a disappointing 2025, and his departure would make room for Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington and Travis Hunter to be the receivers.
Sign Kenneth Gainwell
Draft Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky (3.88)
With Travis Etienne Jr. hitting free agency, the Jaguars are set for Bhayshul Tuten to take over the backfield. That could be fine, but it shouldn’t be enough. After a breakout 2025 that was excellent but unlikely to ever repeat at that level, Gainwell is a good complement to Tuten, and if not, McGowan, old for a rookie, can help fill out the backfield.
Kansas City Chiefs
Sign Kyle Pitts Sr.
This assumes Travis Kelce retires this offseason, which of course he hasn’t yet. But we’re trying to optimize for fantasy football here, and a Pitts/Patrick Mahomes pairing is delicious. This offense obviously knows how to utilize a tight end who can catch the ball, and after finishing as the TE2 last year, Pitts can be that.
Draft Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (1.09)
Only twice in the Mahomes era have the Chiefs had a running back reach 200 PPR points (not even top-20 last year), and one of those was Kareem Hunt back in 2018, Mahomes’ first season as a starter. For all the success the team has had, the running backs haven’t really done it. Well, in 2026, the Chiefs have more incentive than ever to take it easy on Mahomes, who will be returning from a torn ACL. What better way to do that than to let the top rookie running back in this year’s class be the bell cow? Love would be a top-10 back right out of the gate in Kansas City.
Las Vegas Raiders
Draft Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (1.01)
Sign Marcus Mariota
Release Geno Smith
OK, so we pretty much know the Raiders will be taking Mendoza (and, to be honest, I might recommend they trade down, build up the offensive line and wait for a quarterback, but that’s pretty much off the table). Just because something is a fait accompli doesn’t mean I can’t take credit for getting it right. Mendoza takes over in Las Vegas and immediately becomes the starter, but bringing in Mariota, who has Raiders history, would be a nice veteran insurance policy/educational opportunity if necessary. And Smith gets to try to salvage his career elsewhere (in this exercise, Indianapolis).
Trade Maxx Crosby to the Jaguars for Brian Thomas Jr. and 3.81
Draft Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana (3.67)
The Raiders need receiving help. Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers are excellent at running back and tight end, respectively, but the receivers have offered very little. Thomas gets a fresh start after falling flat in 2025, while Sarratt gets to stay paired with his college quarterback. These moves would give the Raiders one of the best sets of weaponry in football and really set Mendoza up for success (you know, if the offensive line can do anything).
Los Angeles Chargers
Trade Quentin Johnston and 1.22 to the Eagles for A.J. Brown
A year ago, Ladd McConkey looked like a sure-fire WR1. Now, he … still could be that, but his sophomore campaign raised questions. So instead of needing him to carry the load, let’s give him a clear WR1 that can draw attention and he can be the WR2. Brown turns 29 in June but still has an elite skill set, and pairing him with Justin Herbert would make for the best quarterback he’s ever played with.
Sign Kevin Zeitler
Zeitler will be 36 when the 2026 season starts. He’s near the end of the road. But he’s still good, so who cares. I just want Herbert to be upright and happy, friends.
Miami Dolphins
Trade 3.75 and 3.87 to the Cardinals for Kyler Murray
Draft Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss (3.90)
Release Tua Tagovailoa
The Tua era almost certainly needs to end in Miami, for the good of everyone. But that means the team needs a new option at the position, because Quinn Ewers ain’t it. Is Kyler Murray? You know what, probably not. But he also needs a fresh start, and giving him De’Von Achane, Jaylen Waddle and other pass-catchers (look down a centimeter or so) could be his best opportunity. And if it doesn’t work, maybe the team can make something out of Chambliss.
Draft Makai Lemon, WR, USC (1.11)
Draft Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt (2.44)
The Tyreek Hill era is over in Miami, and Waddle is set to be the WR1. Still, Waddle has been disappointing the last few years, so let’s give Kyler (or whoever plays QB) every advantage he can get with potentially elite rookie sat receiver and tight end.
New England Patriots
Sign Dylan Parham
A lot of the Raiders certainly didn’t like Josh McDaniels. One of the players with less reason to hate him might be Parham, who was the first pick McDaniels ever made with the Raiders when he took him in the third round in 2022. Now a free agent, Parham reuniting with McDaniels to help bolster the line in New England makes a lot of sense.
Draft Chris Bell, WR, Louisville (1.31)
The Patriots aren’t elite at receiver. Stefon Diggs did well in 2025 but is on the back half of his career. Kayshon Boutte had a mini-breakout, Mack Hollins is reliable. But there aren’t stars here. Bell, who is recovering from a torn ACL last season, might not be ready for the start of the season, or if he is he’ll be eased into work. So let the good-not-great receivers in New England carry the load, and watch Bell come on later on.
New York Jets
Sign Malik Willis
Sign Tony Pollard
Sign Wan’Dale Robinson
The Jets have Garrett Wilson, and Garrett Wilson is very good. He can be the star WR1 for the team. They have Braelon Allen at running back and Mason Taylor at tight end, and both can be good, though we haven’t really seen it yet. And … that’s about it as far as weaponry go. So let’s restock everywhere. Bring in Willis off an impressive run as the Green Bay backup. Bring in Pollard after the Titans cut him loose. And let Robinson be the WR2 he was meant to be and complement Wilson’s skill set. Those additions wouldn’t make the Jets an elite offense, but it would make them a much more functional one than it has been.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Re-Sign Aaron Rodgers
There isn’t a real long-term solution for Pittsburgh at quarterback this offseason. So don’t force it. Shoot for one more pairing Rodgers back with his old head coach in Mike McCarthy and try to make the best of it. But the weaponry needs some serious upgrades, which is why they should also …
Sign David Montgomery
Sign Brandon Aiyuk
Both veterans are candidates to be released by their teams — expensive, not performing like they once did, older (in Montgomery’s case). Aiyuk is all but assured to be elsewhere, but there’s an argument for the Lions to let Montgomery go as well. In bringing Rodgers back, the Steelers would be signaling a need to compete in 2026, because Rodgers’ window is tiny. So let Montgomery be the thunder to Jaylen Warren’s lightning in the backfield, and have Aiyuk and DK Metcalf be an electric duo at receiver.
Tennessee Titans
Sign Breece Hall
Release Tony Pollard
Pollard did his job in Tennessee. Two seasons, 1,000 yards in each, only missed one game in that time. Thanks for your service. But Hall would offer a whole new element in the Tennessee backfield that would help Cam Ward by drawing defensive attention. And Hall already has experience with new Titans head coach Robert Saleh.
Sign Jauan Jennings
Calvin Ridley is due back in 2026 (unless the Titans cut ties), and that’s good. Chimere Dike was a decent enough rookie. But the Titans need more, and Jennings has shown that, while he isn’t a star receiver, he’s reliable, and that’s what Tennessee needs.