Ranking the 25 Best Moves of the 2023 NFL Offseason
Between free agency, trades and the draft, every offseason brings hundreds of changes to NFL rosters. Given that activity level, it might be challenging to keep up with all of the most impactful moves.
But don't you worry, my friend, we have you covered.
Among the seemingly endless flow of transactions, we've identified 25 of our favorite moves from the 2023 offseason.
While the list is subjective, key factors are contract value, positional need and team fit. Specific draft selections are not considered, although trades for picks are included.
25-21. Lamar Jackson's Extension (and More!)
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25. Jimmie Ward Follows DeMeco Ryans to Houston
How do first-year coaches set a tone? Confident leadership. DeMeco Ryans is tasked with improving a franchise has totaled 11 wins and ranked no higher than 30th in yards allowed per game in the last three seasons. Ryans, the former defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, brought in veteran safety Jimmie Ward—formerly a Niners' captain—to help the Houston Texans make this transition.
24. Patriots Take a Swing on Mike Gesicki
The short version is New England had a self-inflicted poor offensive season in 2022. Along with signing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency, the Patriots added Mike Gesicki. While he's listed as a tight end officially, Gesicki most often aligned in the slot for the Miami Dolphins. He provides New England with the flexibility to shift its play style without changing personnel.
23. Saints Sign Derek Carr
When a quarterback of Derek Carr's caliber is available, a needy offense should take a home-run swing. Sure, he's not an elite player. Carr, though, is an experienced veteran who should elevate a group that leaned on Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston last year. In a down NFC South, bringing in Carr may be enough to win the division.
22. Texans Spark the Rebuild
Holding the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft, the Texans could take either a top quarterback or defender. Like the memorable Old El Paso commercial, why not both? Houston selected signal-caller C.J. Stroud, then traded up and grabbed edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. with the third selection. It's risky, yes, but Stroud and Anderson can be foundational pieces of a rebuild that should now move forward.
21. Lamar Jackson, Ravens Agree to Extension
Given the $135 million of fully guaranteed money, there isn't a ton of contract value. That, however, is the cost of doing business with a high-level quarterback. Baltimore had to carefully consider how much it would pay Jackson, but it was clear the Ravens could not afford to lose him. Fortunately for them, the saga ended with a reunion.
20-16. Giants Trade for Darren Waller (and More!)
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20. Dolphins Add David Long Jr.
Two years and $11 million for a linebacker who's amassed 161 tackles in 22 games over the last two years? Sign me up. Miami certainly needs David Long Jr. to stay healthy, but that's an absolute bargain.
19. Browns Break out the Checkbook for Dalvin Tomlinson
Cleveland had a glaring void at defensive tackle. The risk-averse fix would be adding a few players and finding a contributor or two. But the Browns went all-in, signing Dalvin Tomlinson to a contract with $25 million in guaranteed money. Maybe it doesn't work out! Cleveland should be in win-now mode, though, and signing Tomlinson reflects that mentality.
18. Lions' Short-Term Fliers
Is pairing two players cheating? Perhaps. But the beautiful part is I can do what I want. So can Detroit, which needed to improve the secondary and managed to land Emmanuel Mosley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson on one-year contracts worth no more than $6.5 million.
17. Giants Trade for Darren Waller
Although injuries have slowed Darren Waller over the last two seasons, he registered back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns before that. New York took a low-risk gamble on the tight end returning to his previous form, shipping only a compensatory third-round pick for a player who could become Daniel Jones' top target.
16. Bears Sign T.J. Edwards
In one corner, you have Chicago's head-scratching decision to guarantee $41.8 million to Tremaine Edmunds. Like the player, not the contract. On the opposite side, you have the Bears stealing T.J. Edwards for a total of $19.5 million over three seasons. Like the player, love the contract.
15-11. Bengals Add OT (and More!)
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15. Jessie Bates III Headlines Atlanta's Spending Spree
Last season, the Falcons ranked 26th in yards allowed per play. This offseason, only the Bears had more money to spend—and, friends, did Atlanta ever use it. The splashiest move doubles as my favorite, given the team's need at safety. Jessie Bates III cost $36 million in guarantees but brings much-coveted star power to Atlanta's defense.
14. Bengals Land Orlando Brown Jr.
While the AFC has more contenders, the growing rivalry of the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs is exciting. This offseason turned up the heat a bit, as Cincinnati snagged Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency. Kansas City's former standout left tackle will now protect Joe Burrow.
13. Dre'Mont Jones Heads to Seattle
Generally speaking, the Seahawks have not spent much money in free agency. Knowing how often a player is "overpaid" on the open market, that's not necessarily a bad thing. But they broke open the checkbook for Dre'Mont Jones, who fills a massive need on interior of Seattle's defensive line. He notched 5.5-plus sacks in each of the last three seasons with the Denver Broncos.
12. Lions Grab Cam Sutton
In the last section, we highlighted two savvy additions in Detroit's secondary. But wait, there's more! Cam Sutton is more expensive—$21 million in full guarantees—yet should be the star of the unit. He broke up 15 passes and allowed only 5.3 yards per target last season.
11. Titans Swipe Arden Key
From a value perspective, this is a fantastic signing. Arden Key has produced 11 sacks and 39 pressures over the last two seasons while playing no more than 41 percent of snaps. Tennessee signed Key to a three-year, $21 million deal and found a cost-effective replacement for Bud Dupree, who the Titans released for cap savings.
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10-6. Raiders Land Jakobi Meyers (and More!)
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10. Cowboys Swing Big, Trade for Veterans
Dallas entered the offseason with needs at receiver and corner. Instead of trying to find a diamond in the rough in free agency, the Cowboys traded late-round picks to absorb the big-money contracts of Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks. Only one win-now plan ultimately works, yet Dallas is commendably all-in on the 2023 roster.
9. Chiefs Plug Tackle Holes
When the Chiefs added Jawaan Taylor, his impending shift from right to left tackle brought a little skepticism. However, that concern vanished after the Bucs released Donovan Smith and Kansas City scooped him up. Needing to replace both Brown and Andrew Wylie is not painless on paper, but the Chiefs did a great job with Smith and Taylor.
8. Seahawks Limit Risk on Geno Smith Extension
Like any kind-hearted human, I love the Geno Smith story. Like any rational couch capologist, I winced at the thought of Seattle investing in him long term. Can he actually sustain a breakout year? With this contract, it hardly matters. Smith is guaranteed $27.3 million—truly generational wealth—but the Seahawks have painless "outs" during each of the next two offseasons if he struggles.
7. Browns Swipe Ogbo Okoronkwo
Looking for a breakout candidate? Ogbo Okoronkwo could have a career-best season as he joins a rotation with Myles Garrett and newly acquired Za'Darius Smith. Okoronkwo tallied five sacks and 17 pressures on a bad Houston team in 2023, so his potential in Cleveland is enticing.
6. Raiders Add Jakobi Meyers
Depending on whether Las Vegas decides to keep Hunter Renfrow, the receiving corps may be absolutely stacked. Regardless, the Raiders have All-Pro wideout Davante Adams and added Jakobi Meyers in free agency. After three straight 700-yard seasons in New England, he should fit extremely well as the No. 2 option.
5-1. Aaron Rodgers to the Jets (and More!)
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5. Vikings Bring in Byron Murphy
Minnesota already had an overwhelming need at corner last season, and Patrick Peterson left for Pittsburgh in free agency. As concerning as that was, however, the Vikings recovered tremendously with Byron Murphy. Two years and $17.5 million deal for a player who hasn't surrendered more than 7.5 yards per attempt in four seasons is a great deal.
4. Dolphins Trade for Jalen Ramsey
Miami capitalized on the Rams' mini-teardown, landing star corner Jalen Ramsey for only a third-round pick. Miami adds him to a group that also features Xavien Howard and safety Jevon Holland, giving the Fins one of the league's most promising defensive backfields.
3. 49ers Sign Javon Hargrave
In a classic rich-get-richer situation, the 49ers—who boasted the NFL's stingiest defense last season—picked up a star defensive tackle. Javon Hargrave posted 18.5 sacks over the last two years with Philadelphia. Adding that kind of disruption to a D-line with Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead is something close to unfair.
2. Jets Go All-In on Aaron Rodgers
As the relationship between Aaron Rodgers and the Packers hit its breaking point, the Jets swooped in. The price was expensive, sure, but New York has a window of contention thanks to a well-built defense. While the Jets have reason to be optimistic about their future, any number of negatives can disrupt that outlook. Rodgers was the best available option for a win-now mentality.
1. Bears Trade No. 1 for a Haul
While the Panthers' ambitiousness was commendable, Chicago emerged as the definite on-paper winner of the trade for 2023's top overall pick. The mega-deal delivered two first- and two second-round selections to the Bears, along with D.J. Moore—a true No. 1 receiver. Great drafting is imperative in the future, but Chicago has an encouraging long-term vision.
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