The Most Improved Position Groups in the 2026 NFL Offseason

Every NFL team makes some sort of roster improvement through free agency and the draft, but only some see a significant return on offseason acquisitions in the short term.

A big-ticket free agent or a top draft pick can drastically change the outlook of a position group if that acquisition plays up to expectations.

Looking at roster additions and departures since free agency, here are the 10 most improved position groups.

This list focuses on teams that turned below-average units from the previous season into potential top-tier groups for the upcoming campaign. There's an exception for a club that upgraded a position group with one elite player.

We also highlighted key additions for these much-improved units.

Arizona Cardinals Running Back Group

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Jeremiyah Love

Key additions: Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier

Last season, Michael Carter led the Arizona Cardinals' ground attack with 333 rushing yards. As a team, they finished with the second-fewest rushing yards and ranked 27th in rushing touchdowns.

Love is an unproven rookie, but if the Cardinals feature him in their offense, he could eclipse Carter's 2025 rushing total by early October. While averaging 6.7 yards per carry at Notre Dame, the explosive running back showcased his pass-catching ability, recording 55 receptions for 517 yards and five touchdowns over the last two collegiate seasons.

Before the Cardinals selected Love with the No. 3 overall pick, they signed Allgeier to a two-year, $12.3 million contract. He's yet to catch more than 18 passes in a single season, but the four-year pro has been one of the league's top No. 2 running backs, racking up 2,876 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground in four seasons. 

Allgeier can carry a heavy workload, too. Remember, he finished his 2022 rookie campaign with 210 carries for 1,035 yards and three touchdowns.

Arizona should lean on its rushing attack to balance an offense that will be led by journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Cincinnati Bengals Interior Defensive Line Group

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Dexter Lawrence

Key additions: Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen

The Cincinnati Bengals sent the No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants for Lawrence in a surprising offseason move to bolster their defensive line. 

Although Lawrence is coming off a down year with 31 tackles (four for loss), 12 pressures and a half-sack, he's still one of the league's premier interior defenders with three Pro Bowl campaigns over the last four years. The 6'5", 350-pounder can alter an opposing team's rushing plan.

Furthermore, Lawrence is only two years removed from a nine-sack season. The Bengals added a stout run defender who can also generate a pass rush up the middle.

In addition to Lawrence, the Bengals signed Allen to a two-year, $25 million contract. He's a three-down defender who's played at least 70 percent of the snaps in five of the previous six campaigns.

In nine seasons, Allen has recorded 167 pressures, 45.5 sacks and 67 tackles for loss. As a former team captain, he also brings leadership qualities to a team that needs a defensive identity.

Cincinnati gave up the most rushing yards last season—its run defense may be one of the stingiest this year.

Houston Texans Offensive Line Group

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Keylan Rutledge

Key additions: C Keylan Rutledge, G Wyatt Teller, RT Braden Smith, IOL Evan Brown

The Houston Texans' offensive line group gets the nod over the Cleveland Browns' unit because they didn't turn over their entire front line. Among key starters from last year, Houston only lost Tytus Howard, who signed with the Browns.

The Texans should be more efficient on the ground, and it's not only because they acquired David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions. He'll run behind a revamped interior offensive line that will feature Ed Ingram, who signed an extension with the team, Teller and Rutledge, a first-rounder out of Georgia Tech.

With 105 starts on his eight-year resume, Smith can slide into the right tackle position, which allows Trent Brown to be a backup swing tackle. The former Indianapolis Colt allowed just one sack while on the field for 471 pass-blocking snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus.

If Rutledge makes a smooth transition from guard to center, the Texans' offensive line should be a top-tier group. Even if he struggles, the Texans have Brown, who has extensive experience at all three interior offensive line positions.

Las Vegas Raiders Linebacker Group

AP Photo/Ian Maule

Quay Walker

Key additions: Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean

The Las Vegas Raiders' linebacker group has been a black hole in their defense for over a decade. They've had a revolving door at the position. This offseason, the front office invested in that group with multiyear deals for Walker and Dean.

Walker is an elite-level tackler. He finished all four of his seasons with at least 102 tackles and a missed tackle rate below eight percent. The four-year pro also has nine career sacks. The Raiders can use him as a second-level defender who spies mobile quarterbacks.

Walker will team up with Dean. They were college teammates at Georgia and should be a formidable duo again in the pros.

Dean missed organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp. Head coach Klint Kubiak hinted that the fifth-year linebacker is dealing with an injury.

"Nakobe's been here every day in practice," Kubiak said to reporters. "But all injuries and things like that, I don't want to talk about at this time of year. We just want to get all of our guys healthy to training camp. That's really the most important thing."  

If Dean is ready to go by training camp, the Raiders will get their first look at him on the field after his four productive seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. In three out of four campaigns, he's allowed a passer rating below 84. Over the last two years, the three-down linebacker made plays behind the line of scrimmage with 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

Las Vegas went from Devin White on a one-year, prove-it deal and Jamal Adams transitioning from safety to linebacker to Walker and Dean. The Raiders' new linebacker tandem can change the complexion of their defense.

Los Angeles Rams Cornerback Group

AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea

Trent McDuffie

Key additions: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead made it clear where the team needed to improve this offseason. He traded a first-round pick for McDuffie and signed Watson to a three-year, $51 million deal.

Between 2023 and 2024, McDuffie earned first and second-team All-Pro honors. He's an inside-outside cornerback who can move around the secondary.

While talking to reporters during OTAs, head coach Sean McVay hinted that McDuffie will play a versatile role.

In light of McVay's comments, the Rams could get their money's worth on McDuffie's four-year, $124 million extension by using him as a chess piece on the back end of the defense.

Watson will line up on the perimeter as an upgrade over Cobie Durant, Darious Williams and Emmanuel Forbes from the previous year. He's an underrated free-agent pickup who allowed pass ratings below 80 in consecutive seasons.

Coming over from Kansas City, McDuffie and Watson could show more of their playmaking ability behind the league's best defensive line group. They'll be able to pounce on errant passes and take advantage of quarterbacks under duress in the pocket.

Los Angeles Rams Edge-Rushing Group

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Myles Garrett

Key addition: Myles Garrett

The Los Angeles Rams' improved edge-rushing group is an anomaly with only one key addition, but it's arguably the best one of the offseason.

Over the last two years, the Rams have been developing a young defensive line that's budding with potential. On the edge, Jared Verse and Byron Young were a high-ceiling duo. Verse won 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Young earned his first Pro Bowl nod last season.

Los Angeles traded Verse and three draft picks for Garrett, a five-time All-Pro and two-time Defensive Player of the Year who captured the single-season sack record in 2025.

For context, Garrett claimed the sack record with 23. Verse has recorded 12 sacks in two seasons. 

The Rams' upgrade from Verse to Garrett is notable in itself, but Young could top his 2025 Pro Bowl numbers as opposing teams game-plan for a dominant edge-rusher on the opposite side. 

New England Patriots Wide Receiver Group

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

A.J. Brown

Key additions: A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs

The New England Patriots released Stefon Diggs and went with a younger replacement in Doubs and acquired Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Brown will reunite with head coach Mike Vrabel. They worked together for three years with the Tennessee Titans between 2019 and 2021. So, Vrabel knows how to manage the receiver's big personality and any frustrations that come with rough stretches in a season.

Entering his age-29 campaign, Brown is still a top-level wideout. He's eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in four consecutive years and scored seven touchdowns for three straight seasons. The big-play wideout could revert to Pro Bowl form with a strong-arm quarterback who can consistently find him downfield. 

Like Diggs, Doubs can line up on the perimeter and in the slot, allowing offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to be creative with his formations. He played within a crowded Green Bay Packers receiver group and could see more targets as the clear-cut No. 2 wideout in New England. 

Diggs led the Patriots in catches (85) and receiving yards (1,013) last season. Brown should top those numbers. Doubs may not be far behind in those stat categories.

Tennessee Titans Defensive Line Group

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Jermaine Johnson II

Key additions: Jermaine Johnson II, John Franklin-Myers, Jacob Martin, Jordan Elliott, Solomon Thomas, Keldric Faulk

You can already see Tennessee Titans' new head coach Robert Saleh's influence on the roster, particularly across the defensive line.

The Titans completely revamped their defensive front around defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. They signed Franklin-Myers, Martin, Elliott and Thomas in free agency. The front office also traded nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat for Johnson, who, like Franklin-Myers and Martin, played under Saleh during his time with the New York Jets.

Saleh will call defensive plays in Tennessee. So, Johnson and Franklin-Myers should make a seamless transition given their experience within the system.

In 2023, Johnson played at a Pro Bowl level under Saleh and could do so again if he stays healthy. Franklin-Myers has recorded at least seven sacks in back-to-back terms. They'll complement Simmons to form an aggressive pass rush.

Elliott and Thomas will line up in the middle. They're both solid run defenders, and the latter has logged 26 pressures and 8.5 sacks over the previous three seasons.

Don't overlook Martin. He led the Commanders with 26 pressures and finished with a career-high 5.5 sacks last season. As another one of Saleh's former players from New York, the 30-year-old rotational defensive end could carve out a sizeable role on the edge.

As a rookie first-rounder, Faulk could make early contributions. At Auburn, he flashed his pass-rushing ability with seven sacks during the 2024 collegiate season.

Tennessee Titans Wide Receiver Group

AP Photo/John Amis

Carnell Tate

Key additions: Carnell Tate, Wan'Dale Robinson

In 2025, quarterback Cam Ward relied on then-rookie fourth-rounders Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike as his top two targets in the passing game. Calvin Ridley missed 10 games and finished with just 17 receptions for 303 scoreless yards.

This year, Ridley, Ayomanor and Dike may be the third, fourth and fifth receiver options in the Tennessee Titans' passing offense.

Tennessee signed Robinson to a four-year, $70 million contract. He's familiar with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's offense, having played in the system for the previous four seasons. 

With Malik Nabers on the sideline for most of the previous season, Robinson led the New York Giants in multiple receiving categories. Coming off his first 1,000-plus-yard season, he'll be a key contributor in Daboll's passing attack.

Tate hasn't proved anything in the pros, and some scouts question if he's a true No. 1 option because of his less-than-exceptional receiving numbers at Ohio State.

However, Tate could be more productive on the pro level. As lead receivers, Stefon Diggs and Nabers put together Pro Bowl campaigns in Daboll's offense. The latter did so as a rookie, which provides optimism that Tate can do the same.

Tate drew early praise from Ward during the spring. As the first receiver selected in this year's draft, he could lead the Titans' much-improved aerial attack.

Washington Commanders Edge-Rushing Group

AP Photo/Nick Wass

K'Lavon Chaisson

Key additions: Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson

The Washington Commanders heavily invested in their pass rush, and they're justified in doing so. Last season, the Commanders finished 26th in pressure rate at 19.6 percent.

In his age-36 season, Von Miller led the team with nine sacks. Jacob Martin, who played 62 percent of the defensive snaps, generated a team-leading 26 pressures.

Washington inked Oweh to a four-year, $96 million contract and signed Chaisson to a one-year, $11 million deal.

In 2025, Chaisson registered career highs in pressures (23), sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (10), by far the best of his six seasons. 

After a slow start to the previous campaign with the Baltimore Ravens, Oweh had a strong finish, logging 7.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss in 12 outings with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Both in the prime of their careers, Oweh and Chaisson could transform the Commanders defense with their ability to rush the passer.

Player contract details are provided by Over the Cap.

College football statistics are provided cfbstats.com.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.