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The NFL offseason move each team got exactly right in 2026 "Are we there yet?" It's the battle cry of the summer, most often heard during a classic road trip.
Everyone in the car knows the destination, even if there is some disagreement on the best way to get there.
Every summer, all 32 teams across the NFL also embark on a road trip of their own.
Some prefer the direct route, riding the fast lane on the road to contention.
That would be the Rams and Patriots this year, who each made a blockbuster trade to move the process along.
Others prefer the scenic route, taking some time to stop and take in the view.
That would be the Dolphins and Browns, who aren't rushing the rebuild effort in exchange for a quick moment of satisfaction.
Then there are the teams stuck in traffic looking at you, Bills and Bengals.
The exit ramp isn't that far down the road, but neither is the final destination.
What they choose to do in those moments might end up being the defining one for years to come.
Every team has a roadmap and every one ends at the same place the Super Bowl.
It just so happens that the offseason is where that route is crafted.
With that in mind, here's a look at every NFL team's best move of the 2026 offseason: Arizona Cardinals: Hiring Mike LaFleur as HC Hiring the right offensive-minded head coach might be the biggest advantage in the NFL right now.
Players come and go, but a good HC can last generations.
It's unclear whether LaFleur will be that guy, but he will at least bring some creativity and potential excitement to a team in dire need of that.
Atlanta Falcons: Being honest about their situation Take one look at the Falcons' free agent moves and you'll notice a trend short-term deals.
Of the 21 players they signed, only three of them received multi-year deals.
Only one player received a contract that exceeded two years and that was the punter, Jake Bailey.
Atlanta didn't have a first-round pick, but it looks ahead to next offseason with a quarterback-rich draft and a boatload of cap space.
Taking care of Drake London and Kyle Pitts was a good idea for the immediate and long-term future, but this is a transition year for the Falcons whether they openly admit it or not.
Baltimore Ravens: Firing John Harbaugh The Ravens had stalled under Harbaugh and that became clear last season.
It was time for a new voice if the Ravens had any hopes of reaching new heights in the Lamar Jackson era.
It doesn't hurt that Baltimore also landed the young, up-and-coming coach Jesse Minter to lead the charge.
A Harbaugh-disciple, Minter blends some of the old, familiar brand with a little bit of his own.
It's a worthwhile risk for everyone involved.
Buffalo Bills: Hiring Jim Leonhard as DC Firing Sean McDermott just to promote Joe Brady to head coach was fairly head-scratching, but the new HC recovered nicely by bringing in Leonhard.
The former Broncos' assistant had been rising through the ranks and was part of that staff that produced one of the league's best defenses.
Leonhard was also part of the staff that caused Josh Allen's most recent playoff exit.
In other words, Leonhard won't just improve the defense.
He might also have a fresh perspective on why the Bills consistently fall short on the biggest stage.
Carolina Panthers: Delaying the Bryce Young decision The Panthers are in a tough spot.
They traded a haul for Young, who took some time to find his footing in the NFL.
The package they gave up has worked out perfectly for Chicago, but now is not the time to double down considering the going rate for quarterbacks is about $50 million a year these days.
Carolina might have to deal with uncertainty about its quarterback's future, but that is better than committing all that cash only to have it be a mistake.
Chicago Bears: Trading away WR DJ Moore Moore's stats have been trending in the wrong direction and he is in the early stages of a four-year, $110 million extension.
From a monetary standpoint, the decision to move on made sense for Chicago.
From a team standpoint, the move also made sense given that Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland profile as the team's primary pass-catchers going forward.
Even better, the Bears received a second-round pick in the trade.
Cincinnati Bengals: Trading for Dexter Lawrence Cincinnati's defense allowed the second-most yards per game in the league last season (380.9) and it is eager to avoid a repeat.
Trading for Lawrence is the headliner of the Bengals' offseason transformation, which prioritized defense in free agency and the draft.
Lawrence is the type of player you can build a defense around and he fits the team's timeline to win now.
Cleveland Browns: Not skipping steps in the rebuild The Browns could've easily swung for the fences and selected a quarterback in the draft, but they didn't.
Instead, they remained disciplined and worked on the trenches with Spencer Fano as well as the supporting cast with KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.
Cleveland is now positioned to draft a quarterback next year and can welcome that rookie into a more stable situation.
Dallas Cowboys: Trading up to draft Caleb Downs Trading up for Downs is part of a larger philosophy that the Cowboys have used in the post-Micah Parsons era fix the defense without breaking the bank.
Downs didn't check off the positional value box early in the first round, but he should be the next star to emerge in Dallas.
Denver Broncos: Trading for WR Jaylen Waddle Sean Payton's offense was missing something.
Between the running back committee and a lack of proven receivers behind Courtland Sutton, Denver needed to change that this offseason.
Waddle fits that mold perfectly, giving Bo Nix an option that makes a living in the middle of the field.
Given Waddle's explosiveness and ability to make plays after the catch, he is the kind of receiver that the Broncos needed to open up the offense.
Detroit Lions: Hiring Mike Kafka as passing game coordinator It's not a flashy title, but Kafka could have a major impact on bringing the Lions' offense back to life in 2026.
The offense was a shell of its former self after Ben Johnson left, which eventually led to Dan Campbell taking over as the play-caller.
The Lions couldn't afford a repeat and opted to hire Drew Petzing as OC this offseason.
However, it's the creative Kafka that flies under the radar.
Offense wasn't a problem for the Giants in 2025 and Kafka navigated injuries to put together a fairly exciting group.
His run as interim Giants HC might've hurt his 2026 job opportunities, but he's a rebound candidate to watch for next offseason.
Perhaps that Jameis Winston receiving touchdown in Detroit left a lasting impression.
Green Bay Packers: Extending WR Christian Watson On the surface, extending an often-injured player doesn't make much sense.
It makes even less sense to give that player $23 million a year.
However, Watson has proven to be one of the league's best deep threats and is a difference-maker when healthy.
Watson has been unlucky with the injury bug, but the Packers are getting a discount on a player who would command much more if the history weren't so long.
It's a risk both sides should be happy to take.
Houston Texans: Trading for RB David Montgomery You can blame the postseason failures on C.J.
Stroud's struggles, Joe Mixon's disappearance, Nico Collins' injury and dozens of different things.
They all lead to the same conclusion an anemic offense was holding back an elite defense.
The trade for Montgomery lessens the burden on Stroud's right arm, something that can't be overlooked.
Even if he's not ripping off 20-yard runs, those short gains will make all the difference for a team that lacked that element in 2025.
Indianapolis Colts: Re-signing WR Alec Pierce The Colts followed up a regular-season collapse with an offseason to forget.
They hit the high notes, re-signing Pierce and Daniel Jones, but that's about it.
Indianapolis didn't have a first-round pick in the draft and didn't do anything notable in free agency.
At the very least, they made sure that Pierce didn't leave and the hope is that he'll continue to grow with a bigger role next season.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Signing RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Rodriguez is entering his fourth NFL season with little wear and tear.
He has just 198 carries in those first three seasons, where he starred mainly as a complementary piece in Washington's backfield.
Now he joins a Jaguars team that has no clear RB1 and just lost Travis Etienne.
Rodriguez and HC Liam Coen crossed paths previously in the college ranks, working together at Kentucky.
It's an under-the-radar signing that might be on everyone's radar as the season progresses.
Kansas City Chiefs: Signing Kenneth Walker III The running back committee didn't work and neither did the Chiefs' roster in 2025.
Signing the Super Bowl 60 MVP goes a long way in fixing that, giving the Chiefs another option on offense that could potentially open up the passing attack once again.
Las Vegas Raiders: Signing OL Tyler Linderbaum The Raiders might've nailed their head coaching hire on paper, but that wasn't going to be enough to transform the league's worst team.
They also needed to improve in the trenches and did so in a big way by inking Linderbaum to a massive free agent deal.
Overpay? Maybe.
Necessary? Absolutely.
After all, it doesn't matter how good Fernando Mendoza is if he can't remain upright.
Luckily for Vegas, they secured one of the league's best centers for years to come.
Los Angeles Chargers: Hiring Mike McDaniel for OC The Chargers' decision to hire McDaniel as offensive coordinator changed the team's outlook more than any single free-agent signing or draft pick could this offseason.
Known for his creativity, McDaniel will utilize endless motion, speed, and more to build an offense quarterbacked by one of the league's best, Justin Herbert.
Expect the new OC to design a more lethal rushing attack and significantly raise the Chargers' ceiling in 2026.
Los Angeles Rams: Trading for Myles Garrett One of the biggest trades in NFL history tops the charts here.
Shocking, right? The Garrett deal rocked the football world in more ways than one, establishing a super team in the City of Angels.
With no clear areas of weakness across the depth chart, the Rams might be the team to beat.
At the very least, you won't want to play against them in Madden.
On the bright side for the other 31 teams, they play games in real life.
And that might be the only bright side when the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year joins arguably the league's best team.
Miami Dolphins: Deciding to clean house Sometimes you just have to start over.
It's never easy to admit that something didn't work, but that's what the Dolphins did when they fired Mike McDaniel, traded Jaylen Waddle and released Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill.
Those players might've sold jerseys and won fantasy leagues, but they never delivered playoff wins.
Miami now gets a fresh start with room to grow.
Minnesota Vikings: Signing QB Kyler Murray The Vikings didn't receive good enough quarterback play in 2025.
For the second year in a row, injuries were the story of J.J.
McCarthy's season and Sam Darnold wasn't there to save him this time.
Murray has his faults, but he is proven and has never played in an offense like Kevin O'Connell's.
Either Murray pushes McCarthy to be the best version of himself, or Murray takes over the starting job.
It's hard to be against either option.
New England Patriots: Trading for WR A.J.
Brown If "see ball, get ball" were a transaction.
The Patriots needed a WR1 for Drake Maye to take New England's offense to the next level and acted on instinct to make it happen.
Brown was available, and the Patriots were essentially the only team in the running.
That's all there is to it.
Acquiring star talent doesn't always have to be difficult.
New Orleans Saints: Drafting WR Jordyn Tyson The Saints took a risk and should be applauded for it.
Tyson's injury concerns are well-documented, but no one has ever gotten anywhere by playing it safe.
New Orleans might've landed a premier talent at a discounted rate, something that could be a big advantage later on.
The process was good, regardless of the result.
New York Giants: Hiring John Harbaugh The Giants have been living in the NFL's basement for years, a fall from grace for a once-proud franchise that lauded its Super Bowl titles and rich history.
It's something "Big Blue" hopes to return to with Harbaugh, who raises the floor to at least the ground level and that's a big deal.
The Giants have just two winning seasons in the last 10 years and five of those seasons ended with four wins or fewer.
Harbaugh's time in Baltimore might've run out, but he brings credibility and stability to an organization in desperate need of that.
New York Jets: Acquiring established vets Rome wasn't built in a day and the same is true of the Jets literally.
"Gang Green" hopes it doesn't take hundreds of years to build a contender, but the team took a big step this offseason.
Acquiring veterans like Demario Davis, Geno Smith and Minkah Fitzpatrick should stabilize a flailing franchise in need of leadership and direction.
Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey didn't just have to close the talent gap, as most rebuilding teams do.
They had to build a new foundation on and off the field.
The Jets finally have some adults in the room and that could make a huge difference.
Philadelphia Eagles: Trading for Jonathan Greenard A shoulder injury slowed Greenard's 2025 season, limiting him to just three sacks after two consecutive seasons with at least 12.
Expect the pass-rusher to return to form in 2026 with the Eagles, who collect defensive line talent as a hobby.
Surrounded by the likes of Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and others, Greenard's path to the quarterback just got a lot easier.
And it only cost the Eagles a pair of third-round picks.
Nicely done.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Leaning into the Packers' reunion Is anyone excited to see the Steelers, who fell short last season, essentially run-it-back with 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers? Probably not.
But look, if you're going to do it, you might as well be all-in.
Getting the band back together with Mike McCarthy says that the Steelers are convinced this is the way.
If nothing else, that conviction should be applauded.
San Francisco 49ers: Drafting WR D'Zhaun Stribling Eyebrows were raised when the Niners elected to draft Stribling to kick off the second round and not in a good way.
That said, Stribling is the type of player that can excel in Kyle Shanahan's scheme.
A big-bodied receiver, Stribling brings speed and a willingness to run-block that should earn him plenty of playing time early on.
Just because it might've been a shocking pick at the time doesn't mean it was the wrong one.
Seattle Seahawks: Getting the JSN deal done Great players don't come cheap.
And in the NFL, that price typically moves in one direction up.
The Seahawks were going to pay Jaxon Smith-Njigba eventually and they opted to make that deal happen before other receivers signed first.
JSN topped the market before Puka Nacua could reset it himself, meaning Seattle almost certainly saved some valuable dollars for the future.
It was a nice piece of business from the Super Bowl champions.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Signing LB Alex Anzalone Anzalone is a respected veteran who brings leadership and plenty of skill to the Bucs' linebacker room.
It was a spot badly in need of an upgrade after Lavonte David retired, which Anzalone's presence can go a long way in replacing.
In many ways, he was the motor of the Lions' defense and now should be a stabilizing force in Tampa as the Bucs remake theirs.
Tennessee Titans: Drafting WR Carnell Tate The Titans' strategy in free agency was to throw money at the problem and hope for the best.
Tennessee's draft plans were to solidify a WR1 for Cam Ward.
Tate is someone who played in the shadows of Marvin Harrison Jr., Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, but always held his own at Ohio State.
A quarterback-friendly receiver, Tate is exactly what the Titans needed for Ward in the immediate future.
And if he's anything like the other Buckeye receivers, Tate will be a star for years to come.
Washington Commanders: Not repeating last year's mistakes Washington opted to bring in older players that were past their prime last season.
Determined to change that this offseason, the Commanders spent on youth and athleticism in free agency and the draft.
Sonny Styles should transform a defense that was old and slow.
David Blough brings a new philosophy on offense.
There is a new energy to a team that was one of the league's biggest disappointments in 2025.