The 2025 NFL season is over for 18 teams, and the path to redemption starts now. For fantasy managers and fans alike, the offseason moves these franchises make will define their 2026 value. From finding the right offensive architects to supporting young quarterbacks, here’s the definitive breakdown of what each team must accomplish.
The Offseason Blueprint: Why These Moves Matter for Fantasy
The difference between a fantasy juggernaut and a waiver-wire wasteland often comes down to offseason decisions. A team’s commitment to fixing its core problems directly impacts the ceiling of every player on its roster. This analysis goes beyond surface-level needs to identify the systemic changes required for fantasy relevance.
We’ve categorized the 18 non-playoff teams based on the urgency and nature of their primary offseason assignment. The success or failure of these missions will create the sleepers, breakouts, and busts that define the 2026 fantasy season.
Category 1: The Foundation Builders
These teams require a complete overhaul of their offensive philosophy and personnel. There are no quick fixes here.
Las Vegas Raiders: Nail the Offensive Architect
The Las Vegas Raiders‘ 2025 season was a masterclass in dysfunction. The fundamental flaw was a glaring lack of cohesive vision, not just between the front office and coaching staff, but within the coaching ranks themselves. The disconnect between Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly created an offensive identity crisis.
With the staff cleaned out, the pressure is now on Tom Brady and GM John Spytek to build around the young offensive talent the previous regime failed to maximize. The single most important task is identifying the correct offensive architect to lead the coaching staff and develop the expected No. 1 overall pick at quarterback. This hire will define the franchise for the next half-decade.
Arizona Cardinals: Offensive Ecosystem Makeover
The Cardinals relieved their coaching staff of their duties, signaling an end to the fantasy “scam” that was Jacoby Brissett‘s high-volume passing attack. While the production was there—Brissett dropped back 548 times since Week 6, more than Caleb Williams in the same span—the wins were not. Arizona won just a single game in that period.
Moving on from Kyler Murray is a foregone conclusion. However, the team needs more than a new quarterback; it requires a fresh start from the entire offensive ecosystem. The new regime must install a modern system that generates sustainable production, not just empty stats in losing efforts.
Kansas City Chiefs: Look in the Mirror
The structural problems plaguing the Kansas City Chiefs‘ offense are deep-rooted and require serious self-evaluation from a organization accustomed to dominance. There is no simple fix for an offense that has lost its explosive identity.
The first step is a significant “look in the mirror” moment by the architects of this dynasty. A key indicator of their awareness will be the handling of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who is a free agent this offseason, as reported by James Palmer. His status will signal whether the Chiefs believe a change in vision is necessary.
Category 2: The Quarterback Supporters
These teams have invested high draft capital in a young quarterback. The mission is to build a competent support system around them immediately.
Tennessee Titans: Support for Cam Ward
Cam Ward finished the 2025 season ranked 35th out of 35 qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per dropback and success rate. However, context is critical. Ward was set up for failure by a lame-duck head coach fired mid-season and a complete lack of experienced pass-catchers for most of the year.
The Titans’ front office must nail a head coaching hire focused on facilitating growth for last year’s No. 1 overall pick. Beyond coaching, the entire offensive skill group needs a refresh. No running back, wide receiver, or tight end from the 2025 roster should be guaranteed a starting job. The focus must be on adding depth with upside across the board.
New York Giants: Support for Jaxson Dart
The New York Giants have a similar assignment with Jaxson Dart. While not viewed as a consensus first-round talent, Dart showed legitimate flashes in his rookie season. New York should be able to attract intriguing head coaching candidates, provided they believe in Dart’s potential.
The supporting cast requires immediate upgrades. The Giants need to add dynamic playmakers and reinforce the offensive line. The impending returns of Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo from injury could serve as significant X-factors, assuming full health.
New Orleans Saints: Playmakers for Tyler Shough
Tyler Shough strung together a remarkably strong finish to his rookie campaign. From Week 9 onward, he ranked 14th in EPA per dropback and 11th in adjusted yards per attempt, demonstrating clear starter potential in the NFL.
With the quarterback answer seemingly in hand, the Saints must now load up on playmakers. Chris Olave is a proven WR1 after a breakout season, but the cupboard is bare around him. This is especially glaring at running back, where the team never found a rhythm with or without an injured Alvin Kamara.
Category 3: The Contender Recalibrations
These teams have established talent but have stalled. They need targeted, intelligent moves to get back into playoff contention.
Cincinnati Bengals: Build Around Joe Burrow and the Trio
The Cincinnati Bengals have missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. While Joe Burrow‘s injuries are a major factor, they are not the only variable. The team cannot afford to run back the same formula—star offensive weapons surrounded by middling trench play and a poor defense.
Cincinnati must finally address the supporting cast around Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown. Continuing as the NFL’s “Carnival Team” provides fantasy value but leads to organizational stagnation. Consequences will follow if 2026 brings more of the same.
Baltimore Ravens: Add More Around Lamar Jackson
Despite speculation, Lamar Jackson will likely return to the Ravens in 2026. The focus must shift to what the team puts around its 29-year-old quarterback, who has carried an enormous burden as a creator. That era may be ending, especially after multiple injuries.
Baltimore must commit to fielding an above-average offensive line and pass-catching corps—two units that fell short of that standard in 2025. Elevating the talent around Jackson is essential for extending his career and the team’s championship window.
Dallas Cowboys: Retain George Pickens
This assignment is simple: the Dallas Cowboys cannot allow George Pickens to hit the open market. While the team is currently over the cap, room can be created through cuts and restructures to stars like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
It would be a shock if Pickens plays elsewhere next season, whether via a long-term extension or the franchise tag. Retaining his explosive playmaking ability is non-negotiable for Dallas’s offensive continuity.
Category 4: The Quarterback Conundrums
These teams face existential questions under center that will dictate their entire offseason strategy.
Miami Dolphins: Figure Out the Quarterback Spot
The Dolphins are retaining Mike McDaniel, betting that his system can succeed with a different quarterback. The relationship with Tua Tagovailoa is beyond repair. What the team does at quarterback will be incredibly revealing for McDaniel’s offensive vision.
McDaniel’s early offenses worked around the quarterback’s limitations, but that approach has run its course. With star skill players like De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle in place, the quarterback decision is the franchise’s most pivotal.
Atlanta Falcons: Figure Out the Quarterback Spot
Atlanta’s twin bets on Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. have not yielded a clear answer. A new front office and coaching staff are unlikely to stake their future on Penix, a soon-to-be 26-year-old coming off his third ACL surgery.
With no first-round pick in the upcoming draft, the path forward is murky. It is highly doubtful either Penix or Cousins is the unquestioned starter in 2026, making quarterback the overwhelming priority.
Minnesota Vikings: Figure Out the Quarterback Spot
The Vikings cannot realistically enter next season with J.J. McCarthy as the unchallenged starter. The team’s offensive disappointment, epitomized by Justin Jefferson‘s lack of production, can be traced directly to instability at quarterback.
While they shouldn’t abandon McCarthy entirely, the Vikings must acquire legitimate competition. The level of investment they make in a competitor will be a telling sign of their confidence level.
New York Jets: Quarterback Plan
The New York Jets‘ experiment with Justin Fields was a disaster. The team must ensure its starting quarterback is a serious option; nothing else matters. Garrett Wilson leading the team with 395 receiving yards and not catching a pass since October is untenable.
If the Jets deem themselves too far away to draft a quarterback, that’s a defensible team-building decision, but a bitter pill for a passing game with a well-designed scheme and a true WR1 in Wilson.
Category 5: The Strategic Refreshers
These teams need to clear roster clutter, fix specific position groups, or adjust their approach after a step back.
Washington Commanders: Don’t Cut Corners
The Washington Commanders fired both coordinators less than a year after an NFC Championship appearance, a clear admission that resting on their laurels was a mistake. The team tried to cut corners, ignoring the running back room and outside receiver depth with disastrous results.
Moving on from Kliff Kingsbury signals a necessary philosophical shift on offense. Getting the offensive coordinator hire right is pivotal, but so is surrounding Jayden Daniels with better young pass-catching talent, a fact highlighted by their recent coaching changes as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Cleveland Browns: Fix the Offensive Line
The Cleveland Browns hit on young players like Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin Jr., but they still need a quarterback and a receiver refresh. However, the offensive line has reached a breaking point due to age and expiring contracts.
If the Browns don’t correct the offensive line, no addition at the skill positions will matter. This must be the top priority for retained GM Andrew Berry.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Clean Up Some Clutter
By season’s end, the Buccaneers’ running back and wide receiver rooms felt overcrowded. This can work with a elite play-caller, but the Bucs no longer have that. Several players are poised to move on.
Rachaad White is an unrestricted free agent, while Sean Tucker is restricted. Mike Evans, Cade Otton, and Sterling Shepard are all free agents. Evans is the most likely to return but will be 33 and battling injuries; retirement is a possibility. A roster cleanse is necessary.
Detroit Lions: Remake the Offensive Line
While the departure of Ben Johnson gets blame for Detroit’s step back, the collapse of the offensive line was equally impactful. Currently, only right tackle Penei Sewell is a locked-in, high-end starter for 2026.
Left tackle Taylor Decker, who will be 33, sounded like a man considering retirement due to health concerns. The Lions must aggressively rebuild their offensive identity in the trenches if they hope to return to contender status.
Indianapolis Colts: Navigate Key Free Agency
The Colts enter the offseason with cap space but face tricky decisions on two key offensive free agents: quarterback Daniel Jones (coming off an Achilles tear) and breakout wide receiver Alec Pierce. Pierce’s emergence as a true X-receiver could make him a highly sought-after commodity on the open market.
How the Colts handle these negotiations, alongside right tackle Braden Smith‘s free agency, will set the tone for their entire offseason.
The Final Whistle: Your Offseason Guide Starts Now
The moves made over the coming months will create the values that win fantasy leagues next fall. Tracking coaching hires, free agent signings, and draft strategy through the lens of these team-specific blueprints provides a significant edge. The teams that address their core issues will produce the most reliable fantasy assets; those that don’t will remain in the fantasy wilderness.
For the fastest, most authoritative analysis on every breaking NFL offseason move and its fantasy impact, make sure to follow our continuous coverage here at onlytrustedinfo.com.
