One move every non-NFL playoff team should make

18 teams start their offseason the day after the NFL season ends, hoping to make changes that will allow them to compete in the postseason the following year. While front offices hope they aren’t in this position too frequently, the extra time allows them to delve into the transactions that will help them turn things around. We’ll recommend one move each of these teams should make.

One of the most fascinating dominoes this offseason will involve whether the Patriots and Bill Belichick agree to continue their partnership. Even if New England retains Belichick as head coach, they should let someone else spearhead player personnel decisions. Belichick has not done a great job in that capacity for the last several years.

The Jets are hoping that year two with Aaron Rodgers goes a lot better than year one did, but they’ll need to ensure they receive better offensive line play. Quarterbacks behind New York’s porous protection unit got beaten up in 2023, and Rodgers likely wouldn’t withstand that punishment coming off of a torn Achilles.

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It was apparent early on that Denver head coach Sean Payton wasn’t a huge fan of Russell Wilson’s for many reasons. This offseason is going to be critical for Payton and the Broncos front office to find someone who is a better fit with the head coach. Payton may prefer someone who gets the ball out quickly, so they might look at a passer like Jimmy Garoppolo.

The Raiders are prone to hiring high profile head coaches, but that hasn’t worked out so well in the last couple of years. They’ve had messy divorces with Jon Gruden and Josh McDaniels, while their interim coaches seemed to inspire more confidence in the locker room. Las Vegas doesn’t have to hire Antonio Pierce, but they should be open to a candidate who isn’t already a big name.

Simply put, the Chargers have to get this next coaching hire correct to maximize Justin Herbert’s potential in his prime. Harbaugh has a solid track record of connecting with his quarterbacks and building up their confidence. It would cost Los Angeles a lot to bring him in, but it should provide a solid foundation for a team looking to take the next step.

Tee Higgins is likely going to receive substantial offers in free agency this year, which Cincinnati might not want to match since they have other cornerstone players on the roster. Since Higgins is likely to walk, the Bengals should look to draft a wide receiver with similar high-end potential in order to replace him.

Henry’s tenure in Tennessee has been a successful one, as the running back has almost literally carried the franchise to relevancy on his back. It doesn’t seem like the team is as contention ready as it once was, so the Titans would be well served dealing Henry in order to retool their roster.

While the Tommy DeVito storylines have been entertaining, the Giants are still committed to Daniel Jones as their starting quarterback. It feels unlikely that Jones will ever be a dynamic downfield passer, so New York might want to invest in parts of the team that complement his skill set. Doubling down on the offensive line or running backs may be the way to go.

The Commanders appear all but certain to release Ron Rivera this offseason as they look to infuse their organization with a different energy. Luckily for them, the man who can do that is already in the building. Bieniemy was Washington’s offensive coordinator and assistant head coach in 2023, and would give the team new life heading into next season.

Their record is about where most people expected it would be, but the Cardinals have been frisky under first year head coach Jonathan Gannon. Gannon cut his teeth as a defensive coach, and would love nothing more than to build his team around some blue chip prospects on that side of the ball. Bringing one in via a trade or the draft would be sufficient.

Kirk Cousins is rightly viewed as a respected pocket passer in the NFL, but he’s not going to be around forever. His Achilles injury this season served as a harsh reminder to Vikings fans just how important a competent quarterback is. Assuming Cousins returns to Minnesota, the front office should invest a first or second round pick in a passer who could take over in a year or two.

After an unsteady start to the year, Chicago has finished the season nicely as they build momentum towards next year. It’ll be interesting to see what they do with Justin Fields at quarterback, but they should be willing to use their premium draft picks to trade for additional selections that will bolster their roster for years to come.

Slowly but surely, the Panthers have become one of the worst-run organizations in the NFL. Carolina has moved on from coaches in short order for the last few years, and that turnstile approach has cost them the chance to build a stable program. The Panthers will need consistency in their leadership positions before they can make strides on the field.

Indianapolis had a better-than-expected 2023 campaign under first-year head coach Shane Steichen. They came within a whisker of the playoffs, but lost to the Houston Texans in a tight Week 18 contest. In that game, they allowed Nico Collins to run wild, Houston’s only real passing game weapon. The Colts will need to improve their crop of defensive backs to slow playmakers down next year.

The Saints’ offense feels stale, as many of the key players are holdovers from the Sean Payton regime. Chris Olave is a surefire building block, but there aren’t any other receivers in New Orleans who scare defenses. Adding another weapon on the outside would help loosen things up for the Saints moving forward.

The Falcons have let go of head coach Arthur Smith, and will look to find a new leader for their franchise. One of the biggest criticisms Smith faced was his deployment of top 10 draft picks. It didn’t make a lot of sense for Atlanta to go away from Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts for long stretches, and a new coach should get the ball into their hands more often.

Despite having Josh Allen and Travon Walker as part of their front seven, Jacksonville was near the bottom of the league this year in sacks. It’s possible that the Jaguars might blitz more frequently in 2024, but they could also use a boost in this department via free agency. Look for them to find someone to bookend Allen at the line of scrimmage.

The Seahawks are a team loaded with intriguing talent, but they need to get better production at the line of scrimmage. Seattle conceded the second-most rushing yards in the NFL this year, which allowed their opponents to dominate time of possession. The Seahawks should bring in a bigger body to generate push up the middle at the point of attack.