Bold Offseason Moves For All 32 NFL Teams

Bold Offseason Moves For All 32 NFL Teams

Every NFL team makes small decisions during the offseason to improve their team. While these may be successful, a big, bold move can drastically alter a franchise's course.

This offseason, several teams are making bold moves to position themselves for future success. Here are a few of them.

1. Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins had a promising start to the season, but then things unraveled down the stretch. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered concussion issues which forced him to miss two games, while running back Raheem Mostert broke his thumb during that span.

Now that the Dolphins have a new head coach in Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier, they are eager to make some bold offseason changes. With plenty of cap space and five picks in the first four rounds of the draft, McDaniel can make some major adjustments on offense this Spring.

One of the major needs for the Dolphins is improving their offensive line. Their front seven finished last in both ESPN's and PFF's pass-block win rates.

Miami can address their need for an interior offensive lineman in the draft. This year's class boasts many high-end interior offensive linemen, so Miami should have no difficulty finding someone who meets their requirements in the second round of selections.

Teams that can afford to spend heavily in the draft can select some talented defensive players. The Pittsburgh Steelers, for instance, have plenty of cap room and should be able to add a cornerback with their first-round selection.

The Ravens need to upgrade their wide receivers, and this is an area that could use major improvement. They finished the season with Demarcus Robinson as their top receiver; a significant move would enable them to sign Deandre Hopkins, a top-10 wide receiver in free agency.

2. Jets

The New York Jets have an adoring fan base that never seems satisfied - mostly those poor souls who have waited 54 years and counting to see their team win a Super Bowl. As one of the most beloved teams in NFL, their fervent supporters sometimes do their team no favors by making them appear bad.

The Jets have a mediocre record, but have never had an extended stretch of bad play. On the other hand, the Detroit Lions have endured much worse struggles than their counterparts have.

The Jets boast a passionate fanbase, though not as passionate as those of the Seattle Seahawks or Cleveland Browns. Additionally, they boast an active social media presence with over 1.2 million Twitter followers and 1.9 million Facebook likes.

Despite their dismal record, the Jets have made some positive offseason moves. They signed veteran pass rusher Trey Flowers to a contract extension and have an exciting draft class with multiple talented wide receivers.

They've also added Brian Branch as an accountable, competitive leader - someone who carries himself like a veteran. While he may be older than expected for a rookie, Branch is the ideal fit for the Jets.

The Jets have further strengthened their secondary with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Buster Skrine. Though both players are slightly older than Bryce Callahan, they both possess valuable experience that will contribute to a high-upside defensive scheme.

Though they have a disappointing record, the Jets remain an aggressive team that made some positive offseason changes. Although they remain four games out of first place in the AFC East, they've made enough progress to feel optimistic going into the bye week.

3. Patriots

Many Patriots fans believe they are closer to making a deep playoff run than anticipated, but there remains much work left for them this season. It is essential for them to focus on improving certain areas of their offense that lack support.

One area that could be improved upon is a lack of depth at the offensive tackle position. They have experienced personnel at left tackle but not right tackle, where they need to add an elite talent.

Being equipped with a reliable left tackle can make all the difference between making the postseason and not. While the Patriots could potentially re-sign Conor McDermott this offseason, it seems unlikely they'll be able to retain Isaiah Wynn who was barely adequate at left tackle last season.

Another potential move for New England would be to re-sign Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason. Though he's only been a starter for a few years, his record of success speaks for itself, and with Bill O'Brien as his offensive coordinator, this could be an ideal match in New England.

The Patriots are in need of a new safety to replace Devin McCourty. Denver Broncos safety Nate Simmons has been on an upward trajectory in his career, recording four interceptions and 15 passes defended last season.

He could be an ideal addition to the Patriots system and is a highly talented player. If they can work out a deal that works out, they could receive an impressive boost in their defense this season.

The Patriots aren't known for making daring moves, but this offseason they made some that might surprise people. It doesn't guarantee them a title shot, but it is definitely an encouraging step in the right direction.

4. Rams

The Los Angeles Rams have taken a risk this offseason, adding several high-end players without blowing up their salary cap or giving up many premium draft picks. While they may face major obstacles like Jared Goff's contract extension and an injury-plagued defensive backfield in the future, they've already made some big plays that will help them reach Super Bowl 53.

First and foremost, the Rams traded for quarterback Matthew Stafford in January 2021. This deal, which sent two first-round picks to the Lions, was a groundbreaking transaction.

Stafford's addition helped the Rams regain their place as one of the NFL's premier offenses. He unlocked wide receiver Cooper Kupp's full potential, who led his team in receiving yards and touchdowns this season with 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 scores.

Additionally, the Rams' addition of Pro Bowl linebacker Von Miller to their defensive front has had an immediate effect. Though they gave up two Day Two picks in exchange for Miller, his presence has been felt across the field.

Together with Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh, the Rams boast an elite group of pass rushers that can wrest control away from opposing quarterbacks - such as when Donald forcibly threw an errant pass during overtime during Super Bowl LII.

If the Rams can keep Stafford, Donald and Kupp healthy, they'll be in excellent position to repeat as Super Bowl champions. But if any of them miss any time or if their defensive line fails in the face of so many talented running backs, then the team could be in big trouble.

5. Titans

After an unsuccessful season in which the Titans failed to make the playoffs, it became evident that they needed a change of direction. That meant making bold offseason changes to their roster.

First, the Titans made the decision to part ways with Ryan Tannehill and Taylor Lewan. This move will save them a substantial amount of money in 2023 and is an intelligent decision for the team.

By making this move, the Titans are able to free up $23.5 million off their cap. This massive savings will enable them to pay their young stars and other key players like Derrick Henry and Austin Johnson more.

The Titans made a bold move by trading their number one overall pick to the Los Angeles Rams. Although this decision proved costly, they were able to accumulate multiple picks that they used for selecting Jack Conklin, Austin Johnson and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry.

Finaly, the Titans traded veteran guard David Saffold to the Buffalo Bills for a second-round pick in 2022. Saffold was an integral part of Derrick Henry's two rushing title seasons with Tennessee, earning him recognition as one of PFF's top-12 guards during those campaigns.

The Titans must find a replacement for Saffold, as the former UDFA is not suitable for their team. It will be interesting to see how they fill this void.