10 storylines that will define the NFL offseason

The 2025 season is officially in the books, but the fun is just getting started.

The football news cycle kicks back into high gear soon: Free agency gets underway in March and the 2026 draft takes place in Pittsburgh at the end of April.

Here are some key storylines to monitor as teams prepare for a busy offseason.

QB musical chairs

Nothing makes NFL headlines quite like the quarterback carousel. And while there probably won't be any blockbusters involving superstars this year, plenty of notable passers could be on the move. A thin rookie class at the position gives QB-needy teams no choice but to be aggressive on the veteran market.

Kyler Murray is the top name in that group, as the Cardinals are reportedly exploring trade options for the former No. 1 overall pick. Still a dynamic playmaker when healthy, Murray should net Arizona some sort of Day 2 draft compensation. Tua Tagovailoa also appears to be on the way out in Miami after getting benched for the last few games of this season. And with $54 million in guarantees remaining on the mammoth extension he signed in 2024, he'd be able to join a new team on a league-minimum contract if the Dolphins released him.

Daniel Jones is the top quarterback scheduled to hit free agency. Although the torn Achilles he suffered in December may impact the earning potential his breakout season in Indy created, the Colts seem to be eyeing an extension. Any such deal would push Malik Willis to the top of the market in his place. After some impressive flashes in spot duty for the Packers, the former Titans third-rounder might end up being the latest example of a talented young passer who was written off too soon.

Kirk Cousins appears to have something left in the tank after a strong finish to the season with the Falcons, and don't forget about Derek Carr. The 34-year-old retired last offseason after two years with the Saints. But after recovering from his shoulder injury, there have been some rumblings that he's not necessarily done. Could Cousins or Carr be a short-term solution for a competitive team like the Vikings?

A new era for Bills

Firing Sean McDermott only to elevate Joe Brady as his replacement appears to signal the Bills' internal belief that the former head coach was the one holding this team back. That's not how most people on the outside interpret the situation, so we'll see who's proven right.

Brandon Beane surviving the turnover - and getting a promotion of his own in the process - is a bizarre outcome after a season in which Josh Allen clearly lacked a suitable supporting cast. While ownership appears to think the general manager can do no wrong, the pressure is now on Beane to deliver. There's nobody else left to shoulder the blame If this coaching change produces the same old heartbreak.

Could that finally force to Beane to get aggressive in addressing the most glaring issues on his roster? The Bills are long overdue to take a big swing for a No. 1 receiver. And the defensive line could use at least one major addition after a dreadful season in the run game. If Buffalo wants to avoid wasting what remains of Allen's prime, why not both? Beane's approach to the offseason will go a long way toward determining how the AFC shakes out next fall.

Harbaugh's second act

The Giants reeled in the big fish, closing a deal with John Harbaugh before other clubs even got a chance to make their pitch. For a team that's won just one playoff game since the 2011 Super Bowl season, cycling through seven different coaches over that stretch, landing one of the most respected leaders in the sport represents a massive win.

Harbaugh could very well catalyze a quick turnaround in New York. The Giants feature young talent at several key positions, which must have been a leading factor in attracting the longtime Ravens head coach. But filling out the rest of the roster will be a little more challenging than it is for most rebuilding teams; New York is currently projected to have less than $7 million in cap space. Can Harbaugh get creative and find the necessary value additions to help this team take off right away?

That might be more important than it seems at first glance. While Harbaugh has a well-earned reputation for culture-building and getting the most out of players, New York's coaching staff isn't exactly the star-studded group that many expected he'd be able to assemble. Matt Nagy was an uninspiring fallback plan at offensive coordinator when Todd Monken took the head coaching job in Cleveland, creating some pressing questions about whether Jaxson Dart is truly being set up for success.

Titans to follow Patriots' lead?

Nobody imagined the Patriots as a Super Bowl team at this time a year ago. Mike Vrabel made it happen by changing the culture and expertly turning over the roster with a free-agent spending spree. New England staged a record-tying 10-win turnaround and then rolled through the AFC playoffs, which should inspire teams facing daunting rebuilds this offseason. Could the Titans aim to follow a similar blueprint?

Building through free agency can be exceedingly risky - there's usually a reason players reach the open market in the first place. But New England showed what's possible if there's a clear vision for each addition to the roster. The Titans, just like the Patriots last year, enter the offseason with more than $100 million in cap space and the No. 4 overall pick in the draft. Adding a receiver or two and getting Robert Saleh the pieces he needs to build another great defense could be the first steps in capitalizing on Cam Ward's rookie contract.

Chargers' rare opportunity

Rebuilding teams shouldn't be the only big spenders this offseason. The Chargers are projected to have $83.5 million in cap space, and that number could easily approach triple digits with a few likely veteran cuts. It's rare that a team coming off an 11-win season has that kind of flexibility, never mind one with a superstar quarterback contract on the books.

The Chargers should be prepared to exhaust their resources given that this could be their only year with Mike McDaniel at offensive coordinator (other teams will give the former Dolphins head coach another look if this season goes well). For starters, they should take a page out of the Bears' book and aggressively overhaul the interior offensive line. Even after a few big additions to that group, they'll likely have plenty of money left to bring in some playmakers for new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary. The Chargers could quickly become a trendy Super Bowl dark-horse pick if they can make the most of their unique situation.

Maxx Crosby trade talk

Crosby figures to be the offseason's most appealing potential trade chip. The Raiders probably don't want to move on from a player of his caliber, but they may not have much of a choice. Crosby's relationship with the team appears strained after the club shut him down for the last two games of the regular season. And considering the turmoil he's already endured in Las Vegas, it's tough to blame him if he doesn't want to stick around for a full-scale rebuild.

Crosby turns 29 in August, so the Raiders probably won't be able to command a Micah Parsons-like package. The return may not be far off, though. Not only is the five-time Pro Bowler an elite pass-rusher, but he may be the NFL's best run defender, regardless of position. He's also under contract for the next four years at affordable cap hits of less than $30 million. The opportunity to trade for that type of player without necessarily having to give him a market-setting deal could have contenders lining up.

'F them picks' 2.0?

If there's one team that might offer the kind of package that would pry Crosby away from the Raiders, it's the Rams. Sean McVay and Les Snead, at one point the league's most aggressive team-builders, have shifted the organization's philosophy toward drafting and developing its own players. They probably had every intention of continuing those efforts when the Rams added an extra first-round pick (No. 12 overall, via Atlanta) in this year's draft. But there's a time and a place for everything.

With Matthew Stafford approaching the end of his career and Davante Adams likely not far behind, the Rams might revisit the daring "F them picks" strategy that helped them win a Super Bowl in the 2021 season. Los Angeles could have been the last team standing this season if its defense was better equipped to match up with Seattle in the NFC title game. Whether it's a player like Crosby, a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback, or both, the Rams could justify using their draft equity to take some big swings and maximize what remains of their championship window.

Do something, Bengals

The Bengals should be among the offseason's most aggressive teams. With Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins complemented by a suddenly capable offensive line, Cincinnati has the pieces to light up the scoreboard on a regular basis. A league-average defense is all that stands between the Bengals and becoming legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

A projected $54.5 million in cap space gives Cincinnati an opportunity to add several impact players. A few new veteran starters up front, along with some Year 2 development from Shemar Stewart and Demetrius Knight Jr., could brighten this group's outlook in a hurry. The question is whether the notoriously conservative front office will actually do what needs to be done. The Bengals will seal their own fate, and potentially antagonize their superstar playmakers, if they continue to sit back.

Can Bears do it again?

The Bears remodeled their entire offense in their first offseason under Ben Johnson. If they can somehow replicate that magic on the other side of the ball and get defensive coordinator Dennis Allen the kind of players he needs up front, there's no reason Chicago can't emerge as a real threat to win the Super Bowl in Year 2.

Another strong draft class would help, but a tight salary-cap situation requires Ryan Poles to get creative if he plans to make any notable veteran additions. With Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III representing the future at receiver, and Colston Loveland well on his way to becoming one of the NFL's brightest stars at tight end, could the Bears dangle DJ Moore or Cole Kmet in trade talks? A few more savvy moves could help set the stage for a big 2026 season in Chicago.

Chiefs look to bounce back

The Chiefs rebounding from their first playoff absence since 2014 will depend more on schematic adjustments than a spending spree. They simply don't have the cap space to reshape the roster in free agency. If they can create some wiggle room after cuts and contract restructures, though, they might be able to make one big move that could help them return to Super Bowl contention: landing a difference-maker at running back.

A stout interior offensive line has long provided the foundation for an effective rushing attack. And with Eric Bieniemy returning as offensive coordinator after a year with the Bears, Andy Reid might finally embrace some under-center looks. A home-run hitter in the backfield would make the most of that potential. The Chiefs should have several options to acquire that kind of player - both Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker III are scheduled to be free agents. Or, if Kansas City does something else with its limited cap space, Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love becomes a fascinating option with the No. 9 pick.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.