2PC Roundtable: Who won the NFL offseason?
The fellas talk about their favorite (and least favorite) offseason moves.
We are well past both free agency and the NFL Draft at this point in the NFL offseason, which means most of the work is done for general managers and executives. Which teams did the most? Which teams overpaid for players? We’ve got the answers to those questions, as well as much more, in this offseason roundtable.
Stephen Sears, Chandler Gallimore, Akil Guruparan, Jacob Lequire, and Dylan Jackson contributed to this post.
What was your single-most favorite signing that an NFL team made this offseason?
Jacob: Josh Sweat, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals were unquestionably committed to rebuilding their defense this offseason, signing and drafting multiple presumed starters. My favorite of the bunch is former Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat. Sweat brings juice to a position of need and reunites with his former defensive coordinator, Jonathan Gannon. Sweat can reinforce the culture Gannon wants to build, and be a menace on the field.
Dylan: Evan Engram, Denver Broncos
Evan Engram gives the Broncos an element that they did not already have. Between both he and RJ Harvey, I think this Denver offense became much more dynamic. I’d expect Engram to have the second-most targets on this team by the end of the year, only behind Courtland Sutton.
Akil: Josh Sweat, Arizona Cardinals
I think my answer has to be Josh Sweat to the Cardinals. That pass rush desperately needed some juice, and adding a proven sack artist who’s gotten it done in the playoffs gives them exactly that. Especially combined with the first-round selection of Walter Nolen, I can see this defensive front collapsing pockets regularly – a far cry from what they had last year.
Chandler: Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams released Cooper Kupp and signed Davante Adams in free agency, marking a significant upgrade at WR2. Even at 32 years old, Adams is expected to remain productive in the Rams’ offense. With this addition, the Rams should make the playoffs again and potentially contend for a Super Bowl in what could be the final two years of Matthew Stafford’s career.
Steve: Josh Sweat, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals were in serious need of some defensive help and went out and landed the best available EDGE in the class. This plus a defense-focused draft class, has set Arizona up to be much improved on that side of the ball.
Which unit has been upgraded the most this offseason?
Jacob: Panthers defense
It cannot be overstated how bad the Panthers’ defense was last season – they allowed the most points in NFL history, the 2nd most yards, and the 3rd most rushing yards. Like the Cardinals, Carolina made a concerted effort to improve this unit. With signings like Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III, and Patrick Jones II on the defensive line, Carolina has taken a big step toward turning this group around.
Dylan: Raiders offense
I think the Las Vegas Raiders offense is going to be significantly better than what it was last year. They traded for Geno Smith – a bonafide top-half of the league quarterback, added capable starters in Jack Bech and Alex Cappa, and drafted an offense-changing running back in Ashton Jeanty. The Raiders went from unwatchable a year ago to a potential league pass team.
Akil: Patriots offense
Patriots offense is the easy answer here, if only because of how much they stood to gain. They had arguably the worst receiving corps and the worst offensive line in the league last year. Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams have a much higher floor, to me, than what they got last year, and if the second-year players make a sophomore jump, all the better. And at the offensive line, the tackle spots at least should be massively improved with Morgan Moses and Will Campbell. TreVeyon Henderson and Jared Wilson are good players, too, but you can’t expect every rookie to hit right away. Even if they don’t, though, this offense has added enough for Drake Maye to be able to actually do something.
Chandler: Raiders offense
From a fantasy perspective, the Raiders made significant improvements at quarterback, running back, and tight end. Geno Smith is a solid starting NFL QB and a clear upgrade over O’Connell and Minshew. They also drafted the top running back in the class, Ashton Jeanty, and added rookie wide receiver talent in Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. While these moves may not be enough to push them into playoff contention, this offense should be much more exciting to watch and is likely to score more points than last season.
Steve: Bears offense
The Bears started this offseason looking to repair an O-Line unit that was one of the worst in the league last season. They added Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney, and Jonah Jackson to reinforce the interior and give the unit a strong foundation. They also drafted tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden, who will join D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet as pass-catching weapons. Add in new Head Coach Ben Johnson and I’m sure Caleb Williams is sleeping well this offseason.
Which player do you think is poised to break out based on the offseason?
Jacob: Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Maye was my QB1 in the 2024 Draft, and he showed a lot of flashes of that potential last year once he became the starter. Unfortunately, the Patriots had the worst roster in the NFL last season. Now, with additions in free agency and the draft, Maye has, at minimum, a decent infrastructure around him to allow him to stay upright and make plays.
Dylan: George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
For the first time ever, George Pickens is going to have high-level quarterback play, as well as having less pressure on him as the second wide receiver in the offense. I really think he was the perfect addition for the Cowboys, and I could see twin 1,100 yard seasons from Lamb and Pickens this year.
Akil: Drake Maye, New England Patriots
My homer answer is Drake Maye, like I said when I was talking about the Pats’ offense. Otherwise, give me Kenneth Walker. I think the addition of Sam Darnold and his propensity to get the ball out quickly, as well as Grey Zabel getting plugged into that offensive line, are going to open up the line of scrimmage for Seattle and let Walker’s talent as a runner really shine after two disappointing years.
Chandler: Drake Maye, New England Patriots
The Patriots added several key pieces to support Drake Maye’s development. They drafted running back TreVeyon Henderson, an excellent pass catcher who brings explosiveness to the offense. They also signed Stefon Diggs and drafted Kyle Williams to provide Maye with reliable receiving options. On the offensive line, notable additions like Garrett Bradbury and Will Campbell should help protect the young quarterback. With these improvements, I expect Maye to take a step forward in his sophomore season and finish as a top-15 fantasy QB.
Steve: Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Shameless homer pick. Going into year three (and the second year under HC Dave Canales), Young will look to build off the high note he ended last season on. Carolina added Tetairoa McMillan to a wide receiver group that has a savvy vet in Adam Thielen and ascending young talents in Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. This, plus a very stout offensive line, gives Young a chance to fully reintroduce himself to the NFL.
Biggest overpay of free agency?
Jacob: Carlton Davis, New England Patriots (3 years, $66M)
The Patriots had money to burn this offseason, and it shows in quite a few of their free agent signings. I could’ve also mentioned DL Milton Williams here, but I don’t quite understand the payday CB Carlton Davis received. He’ll likely be CB2 for the Pats, and truthfully, I’m not sure he’s a top 15-20 corner in the league. His contract says that he is, however, so the Patriots better hope he lives up to it.
Dylan: Charvarius Ward, Indianapolis Colts (3 years, $60M)
I get that the Colts have struggled in the corner room over the last few years, but spending premium dollars on a deal for a 29-year-old corner that hasn’t played at a high level since 2023 isn’t something I think I can get behind. I get why they did it – and I appreciate Chris Ballard being aggressive in free agency for the first time ever, but this is not the bet that I would have made.
Akil: Carlton Davis, New England Patriots (3 years, $66M)
Carlton Davis to the Patriots. Davis played really well last year in Detroit, but he was under an incredible defensive coach – his entire career before then had been above average but not special. I think he’s a prime regression candidate with a non-Glenn coordinator, and he’s got a pretty scary injury history. He’s not going to be the best cornerback on his own team, and while that will maybe insulate him from regressing as hard as I think he could, paying top-15 or so money for a CB2 strikes me as pretty wild.
Chandler: Javon Kinlaw, New York Jets (3 years, $45M)
The Commanders signed Javon Kinlaw to a three-year, $45 million contract, with $30 million guaranteed. Kinlaw is coming off the best season of his career with the Jets, but the deal raises some eyebrows. He’s now being paid like a top-tier defensive tackle, despite a lack of consistent production in the years prior to his breakout season.
Steve: Milton Williams, New England Patriots (4 years, $104M)
Going to go with the highest-paid player here. I think Milton Williams is a great get for New England, who desperately needed help on the D-Line, but that contract is insanely rich for a guy who I’m not so sure is actually one of the best in the league at his position.
Biggest value in free agency?
Jacob: Jonathan Allen, Minnesota Vikings (3 years, $51M)
I love what Minnesota did in free agency; reinforcing the interior of the line on each side of the football was huge for them. Allen is a former Pro Bowler who was released for salary cap reasons. He should still have a lot in the tank and can pair well with fellow free agent DL Javon Hargrave to form a strong tandem in the middle.
Dylan: James Daniels, Miami Dolphins (3 years, $24M)
While I think it’s counterintuitive to have signed another player who is injury prone, I think the value in this contract is undeniable. James Daniels is a really good player when healthy – he’s proven he’s a steady starter before, and $8M a year is an incredible value for starting guard play in today’s league. Low-risk, high-reward signing for Miami here.
Akil: Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers (1 year, $3M)
Rico Dowdle was a 1000-yard rusher on pretty good efficiency on a completely hapless offense last year, and the Panthers picked him up on what amounts to a prove-it deal. I don’t know how much opportunity he’ll get with Hubbard as an established chain-mover in Charlotte, but that just seems like incredible value. Otherwise, I think Drew Dalman being signed for well under the top of the center market is a coup for Chicago – that deal’s going to look great in a year or two.
Chandler: Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers (1 year, $5M)
The Chargers signed Running Back Najee Harris to a one-year, $5.25 million deal. Harris has been a solid contributor through the first four years of his career and should be a strong fit in Los Angeles. He’s expected to play in a tandem role alongside Omarion Hampton, serving as a reliable bridge back while Hampton develops. Harris’ presence should ease the transition and help set Hampton up to take over as the lead back in 2026 and beyond.
Steve: Evan Engram, Denver Broncos (2 years, $22M)
Evan Engram to Denver is just a great addition for Bo Nix, who Denver will want to keep building around. Giving him the reliable and versatile Engram should help with that. And for just 2 years on not big money is a good get. I expect Engram to be a big part of Denver’s passing game throughout the season.
Favorite Rookie Draft Class?
Jacob: Arizona Cardinals
Like I mentioned before, I think the Cardinals have done a great job of reworking their defense. Their draft haul has potential starters at every level of the defense, and potential stars in DL Walter Nolen and CB Will Johnson. Time will tell if these players hit their ceilings, but the value from my personal draft board that the Cardinals hit upon is insane.
Dylan: Seattle Seahawks
I love what the Seahawks did in this draft – fortifying the interior of their offensive line with Zabel, a fun defensive bet on Emmanwori (who I trust McDonald to make the most of), and a few really fun offensive weapons between Elijah Arroyo, Tory Horton, and Ricky White. On Milroe: I wouldn’t be shocked to see him start some games late in the season if things go sideways with Sam Darnold. Regardless, he’s the perfect developmental quarterback to take on day two, in my opinion.
Akil: Las Vegas Raiders
Jeanty is obviously awesome, I love that they double-dipped at multiple positions in later rounds because it gives them a better chance of finding a solution at each of them (Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues will be interesting to monitor, for sure), and I’m really intrigued to see what they do with Bech and Porter. With as many picks as they had, this draft felt like a targeted use of them, and I think it will pay dividends.
Chandler: Cleveland Browns
The Browns didn’t make the best headlines by drafting both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. However, I really like what they did to bolster the offense overall. The additions of Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson give them an exciting running back tandem to watch. I also like the pick of Harold Fannin Jr., a sleeper tight end in this draft class with a lot of upside. On the defensive side, selecting Mason Graham with the No. 5 overall pick should provide a major boost to their defensive line. If they can solidify their quarterback situation, this offense has the potential to take a big leap forward.
Steve: New England Patriots
New England had 11 draft picks, and I really like what they did in the first 3 rounds. They took who I think is the best tackle available in Will Campbell to protect Drake Maye’s blindside for the foreseeable future. Drafted Treyveon Henderson to give Maye a versatile weapon out of the backfield. Then took a shot on Kyle Williams and Jared Wilson in an attempt to add a dynamic wide receiver and beef up the offensive line. This draft was all about helping their young quarterback, and they also added some interesting defensive pieces in Bradyn Swinson and Joshua Farmer.
Underrated rookie to make a year one impact?
Staff members were not allowed to select players who were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Jacob: TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
I thought Henderson had an outside chance of being selected on Day 1 of the Draft. Instead, he makes it to Round 2, falling into the laps of the New England Patriots, who don’t really have an established dude at that spot. Henderson can be a home run hitter as a runner, a solid pass catcher for Drake Maye, and a decent blocker when necessary. Henderson should be a household name pretty soon in his rookie season.
Dylan: Darien Porter, Las Vegas Raiders
The defensive back room in Vegas is barren, and I think Darien Porter has the physical tools to be a starter in year one. I also love the fit of Porter on a Pete Carroll-coached team, who consistently got the most out of mid-round corners throughout his time in Seattle. I’m not saying Porter will be Richard Sherman or Riq Woolen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re looking back a year from now wondering how Porter fell to the third round.
Akil: Ashton Gillotte, Kansas City Chiefs
I was constantly stunned by how much people weren’t talking about Ashton Gillotte during the draft process. He showed the ability to be a three-down rusher, wins with power and with technique, and, at least on the field, has great football character. I think he’s going to play early and get results for Kansas City.
Chandler: Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Running Back Kaleb Johnson was selected 83rd overall by the Steelers. With Najee Harris leaving in free agency, Jaylen Warren was the only notable back remaining on the roster. Johnson has a clear opportunity to make an immediate impact and potentially earn the RB1 role. Given the uncertainty at quarterback, the Steelers are likely to lean heavily on the run game, creating a favorable situation for Johnson to produce right away.
Steve: Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans
Jaylin Noel gives the Texans and CJ Stroud a slot threat who should thrive underneath as a reliable target but also has enough juice to stretch the field and hurt defenses from out wide. I’d expect Noel to fill the void that will be missing with the injury to Tank Dell and contribute early.
#1 Storyline to watch during the rest of the offseason?
Jacob: Steelers Quarterback Situation
With the first few waves of free agency and the draft both complete, it’s hard to see any new movement or roster churn. One particular team, however, still has questions about who the starting QB is going to be. I think the questions about the Steelers’ QB room and about Aaron Rodgers joining that room will continue until Mike Tomlin definitively puts an end to the discussion.
Dylan: Travis Hunter’s Position
How much is Travis Hunter actually going to play? I think we’ll know pretty early just how special of a player he is. But if what head coach Liam Coen said is accurate, I could see Hunter playing most (if not all) snaps on offense, while being included on third downs defensively. I don’t think he’s going to win both rookie of the year awards (as Rich Eisen said was a possibility), but I think he will be a legitimate impact player on both sides of the ball for the Jaguars.
Akil: New York Giants EDGE Rotation
Cleveland’s quarterback room is the obvious answer. In the interest of finding something else… I’m really fascinated to see how the Giants’ edge group shakes out. Do they try to trade Thibodeaux? How do you deploy two fairly similar players in Burns and Carter?
Chandler: Where does Aaron Rodgers end up?
Unfortunately, this storyline isn’t the easiest to follow since it feels like it could drag on forever, but where Aaron Rodgers ends up is one of the biggest offseason storylines to watch. Will the Steelers sign him, or will they hold out and try to draft a quarterback next season? And what about the Saints — will they pursue Rodgers, or do they have enough confidence in Tyler Shough to stick with him?
Steve: Browns Quarterback Situation
This is just good TV.
Which coach has the warmest seat right now?
Jacob: Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
You have to feel for Stefanski, he’s been dealt multiple poor hands from his ownership group’s incompetence and his general manager’s errors. Unfortunately, the failure of those aforementioned parties to find a long-term option at QB will likely spell the end of Stefanski’s tenure in Cleveland. The Browns will be one of the worst teams in football this season and will likely end up having some turnover in the coaching staff and front office.
Dylan: Brian Daboll, New York Giants
How Giants ownership let a clearly desperate coach and general manager run the 2025 offseason is completely beyond me. The bets taken by that contingent are congruent with what I expected – it’s just people trying to save their jobs. We’ll see how much New York improved this offseason, but the lack of investment in offensive line as well as the bet on a developmental QB prospect don’t bode well for 2025 – and subsequently, this coaching staff.
Akil: Brian Daboll, New York Giants
Well, we all know it’s Daboll – it’s not every day that team brass says publicly that a coach is coaching for their job ahead of the season. Especially in that division and with that schedule, it’s hard to imagine him doing well enough to keep it. Other than him, I’ll go with Shane Steichen, who is entering Year 3 with a highly drafted rookie QB and doesn’t really look like he has made progress with Richardson, nor with the team as a whole.
Chandler: Brian Daboll, New York Giants
Brian Daboll currently has the hottest seat in New York. Although he got his quarterback in Jaxson Dart, the Giants also signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in the offseason. I think Dart will end up starting by midseason, but the team needs to show improvement—otherwise, Daboll could be out the door.
Steve: Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
My real answer to this is Brian Daboll, but I’m going outside the box to pick Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel. This will be his 4th year now in Miami, and could be his last if they don’t see results.
What is your most improved team this offseason?
Jacob: Carolina Panthers
From a strong free agency to a deep draft class, Carolina has found multiple new starters and role players this offseason. With (hopeful) momentum building on the strong stretch that Bryce Young had after the bye week last season, the Panthers should be much improved. The defense, in particular, should regress toward the mean quite a bit – they were historically bad last year. If a few pieces fall into place, we could be looking at a team going from 5-12 in 2024 to winning the NFC South in 2025.
Dylan: Denver Broncos
I think a lot of their offseason is going to be dependent upon whether their defensive signings stay healthy (Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw). The talent here, though, is undeniable. Between those two and Jahdae Barron, this might be the best defense in the league in 2025. RJ Harvey and Evan Engram are two players who exactly fit Sean Payton’s offense, so that side of the ball should ascend as well. While I’m lower on Bo Nix than most, it might be a situation too good for him to fail, especially with what we saw from him as a rookie.
Akil: New England Patriots
It’s hard not to say the Patriots – so many of my answers have been about them just because of how active they were this offseason. They seem to have accurately assessed how talent-depleted their roster was, and so they were aggressive both in finding top-end talent and in stacking bodies to improve their depth in free agency before an awesome draft. It was a roster that desperately needed a level of turnover that we don’t often see in one offseason in the NFL, but they managed to do just that.
Chandler: Chicago Bears
I believe Ben Johnson will be a great head coach for the Bears and easily the best coaching hire of the offseason. The Bears also bolstered their offense by drafting tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden. Caleb Williams is poised to improve under Johnson’s guidance, especially with the support of these new offensive weapons and additions to the offensive line.
Steve: Chicago Bears
Earlier, I had the Chicago offense as the best upgraded unit from this offseason. I’ll double-dip here and have them as my most improved team. This team really needed a change of leadership, and after keeping Matt Eberflus around longer than they should have, they wound up getting the hottest head coach candidate on the market. This, plus the additions mentioned before, should have us seeing a refreshed team that should be way better than the 5-12 record they posted last season.