A few notable transactions are likely still on the way over the summer (hello, A.J. Brown), but the heavy lifting is largely complete.
With the NFL draft and all major free-agent movement now in the rearview mirror, it's time to evaluate the work front-office staffs have put in over the last two months.
Here are my most improved teams heading into spring workouts.
The Vikings sneak onto the back end of this list, as they didn't quite have the financial flexibility to take big swings to fill holes in free agency. However, they took advantage of Kyler Murray's availability by signing him to a league-minimum deal, and that one blockbuster move could change everything. Say what you will about the former No. 1 pick's disappointing exit from Arizona, but he represents a monumental upgrade over last year's dreadful quarterback play in Minnesota. Murray will also have a little extra help with former 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings joining Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in the receiving corps.
Don't sleep on this rookie class, either. I apparently gave the Vikings the highest draft grade of anyone in the industry, and I'll happily be the outlier. Caleb Banks and Dominique Orange could be an excellent tandem to shore up the middle of the defense, while Jake Golday's ability to contribute either off the ball or as a pass-rusher makes him a fascinating player to round out the front seven. Jakobe Thomas and Charles Demmings also have a chance to make an immediate impact, and Demond Claiborne brings electric playmaking ability to Kevin O'Connell's offense.
New Orleans is finally building the right way, and it may not be long before it starts to pay off. Most notably, the Saints have done an excellent job putting their young quarterback in a position to succeed. David Edwards was a great signing to round out what may soon become one of the league's best offensive lines. Tyler Shough also has a dynamic tandem of receivers now, with first-round rookie Jordyn Tyson stepping in alongside Chris Olave. Travis Etienne Jr. adds another weapon out of the backfield, and I love the upside of a third-round swing on the supremely athletic Oscar Delp at tight end.
New Orleans' defense may need another offseason to stockpile more talent for coordinator Brandon Staley, but things are slowly moving in the right direction there, too. Second-round defensive tackle Christian Miller is a potential foundation piece up front, and the Saints signed one of the NFL's most productive pass-rushing linebackers by stealing Kaden Elliss from the division-rival Falcons. I'm also a fan of the low-risk swing on Martin Emerson Jr. The 25-year-old could provide an upgrade at corner if he can recapture his pre-injury form.
The Panthers weren't the most convincing playoff team last season, winning the sad-sack NFC South with a sub-.500 record. Still, you wouldn't have known it by the way they played against the Rams in the wild-card round. After a productive offseason, nobody should be surprised if Carolina takes another meaningful step forward.
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero suddenly has all the pieces for a potential top-10 unit. A big-money move for Jaelan Phillips added an impact pass-rusher off the edge, and landing Devin Lloyd fills a crucial need at linebacker after his All-Pro breakout season. The Panthers even found impressive value in free agency, inking a proven pass-protector in Rasheed Walker for just $4 million. Then came the promising draft class. Monroe Freeling has the highest ceiling of any rookie tackle, Lee Hunter should be a strong running mate for Derrick Brown on the interior defensive line, and Chris Brazzell II will finally bring a speed element to the receiving corps. If Bryce Young can find some consistency, Carolina will be a team to watch.
A league-average defense was probably all Dallas needed to make some noise in 2025. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they didn't have the pieces to withstand a late-summer Micah Parsons trade. Climbing out of the basement on that side of the ball requires some aggressive moves, and losing Osa Odighizuwa as part of that process hurts the roster, but there's still a lot to like about the steps taken so far.
Pass rushing was the most glaring point of emphasis here. Adding Rashan Gary and Malachi Lawrence alongside 2025 second-rounder Donovan Ezeiruaku gives Dallas a much-improved rotation of edge defenders. Trading for Dee Winters was an under-the-radar move to fill a need at linebacker, and I really like Jaishawn Barham as a run-game hammer who can also rotate down and get involved as a pass-rusher in sub packages. The secondary also got a makeover with Cobie Durant, Jalen Thompson, and Caleb Downs, my No. 1 overall prospect in this rookie class. A supremely instinctive player with incredibly reliable tackling skills, the Ohio State star should be a versatile chess piece who can be a game-changer in both coverage and run support. The Cowboys might have what they need to complement one of the league's best offenses.
The 49ers found themselves in the divisional round of last year's playoffs despite injuries decimating the defense. Getting that unit healthy may be all this team needs to reemerge as a Super Bowl contender, but John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan weren't about to sit back.
Nick Bosa's All-Pro production off the edge finally has the ideal running mate after San Francisco's offseason trade for Osa Odighizuwa, who ranks fourth among all interior linemen with 112 pressures over the last two seasons, according to PFF. The 49ers also landed two more explosive pass-rushers in the middle rounds of the draft in Gracen Halton and Romello Height, and reuniting with Dre Greenlaw is a great way to round out the upgraded front seven. Mike Evans is still the kind of big-play boundary receiver who can unlock the ceiling of a Shanahan offense, while De'Zhaun Stribling's physicality and run-after-catch skills make him an outstanding fit for this scheme. With a little better injury luck, San Francisco will be a real threat to win it all.
The Commanders had plenty of work to do after entering the 2025 season with the oldest roster in over a decade. However, big-money investments in younger defensive talent during free agency, combined with a few promising draft picks, give Washington a chance to bounce back this fall.
The arrivals of Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson on the edge should greatly improve the pass rush. I think fifth-round rookie Joshua Josephs could also factor into the equation sooner than later. Leo Chenal and No. 7 pick Sonny Styles represent an excellent tandem of off-ball linebackers to round out the new and improved front seven. Nick Cross and Amik Robertson were savvy additions on the back end, too. The front office seems to be banking on landing Brandon Aiyuk if and when the 49ers decide to move on, but keep an eye on Antonio Williams. I see the Clemson product as an instant-impact starter out of the slot who could quickly emerge as one of Jayden Daniels' most reliable playmakers.
Houston cracking this list should strike fear into the rest of the league. If it wasn't for their continued offensive line issues, the Texans could've been the AFC contender to meet Seattle in the Super Bowl earlier this year. Nick Caserio and the rest of the front office evidently understood exactly what needed to be done to put the team in that conversation this season.
Adding Braden Smith opposite promising sophomore left tackle Aireontae Ersery is not only a significant upgrade on the outside but also moves both Trent Brown and Blake Fisher into key depth roles. With Wyatt Teller and first-round rookie Keylan Rutledge joining Ed Ingram on the interior, the Texans may finally have the kind of solid front that can help C.J. Stroud get back on track. Bringing in a steady lead back like David Montgomery should do wonders for the ground game, too. And just when you thought the Texans' defense couldn't get any better, they nab Kayden McDonald in the second round of the draft. The Ohio State nose tackle's ability to shut down the run game will only create more opportunities for the league's most ferocious pass rush to dominate.
The Bengals were essentially in the same position as the Cowboys: find a way to fix the defense, and a return to Super Bowl contention becomes possible. Shocking as it may be to see them come out swinging with an aggressive approach to offseason business, that's exactly what happened.
Cincinnati addressed critical defensive needs with early free-agency deals for Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Jonathan Allen, but the organization wasn't done. A blockbuster move for Dexter Lawrence capped off the revamped front, adding one of the NFL's most unique interior talents. While the value of the trade wasn't ideal, the Bengals couldn't bank on getting this kind of game-changer with the No. 10 overall pick. The collection of these veteran moves on defense, paired with the addition of explosive edge rusher Cashius Howell, could be enough to provide a suitable complement for Joe Burrow and his star-studded scoring attack.
It's easy to say you got better when the bar is so low, but the Jets have done a really nice job turning over the roster. The trade to acquire T'Vondre Sweat was just the beginning of a defensive makeover, as Minkah Fitzpatrick, Demario Davis, and David Onyemata should all help raise the floor and provide leadership for that unit in the short term. David Bailey and D'Angelo Ponds are also exciting additions who will establish a long-term ceiling.
It wasn't just the defense, though. Geno Smith is a worthwhile swing as a bridge to next year's loaded quarterback class. The veteran signal-caller could be in for a bounce-back season with a far more favorable supporting cast than he had last year in Las Vegas. Dylan Parham is a solid signing to round out a suddenly strong offensive line, and early picks spent on Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. have given New York a deep group of playmakers. I'll now eye the Jets as a shockingly appealing landing spot for a young quarterback next year. Building that kind of foundation is a huge win for the future, regardless of whether it leads to significant improvement in the win column in 2026.
Flushed with more cap space than any other team, the Titans seemed like a foregone conclusion to follow the Patriots' model in bolstering the roster around a promising sophomore quarterback. Tennessee was indeed among the busiest clubs in the early stages of free agency, closing one deal after another in stockpiling talent on both sides of the ball. The spending spree was only one part of the vision, as the Titans also put together the kind of draft class that could help lead them into the future.
The incoming tandem of Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson represents a major upgrade to Cam Ward's receiving corps. Jermaine Johnson II, John Franklin-Myers, and Keldric Faulk stepping in alongside Jeffery Simmons provides Robert Saleh with an incredible defensive foundation up front. Meanwhile, Anthony Hill, Alontae Taylor, and Cor'Dale Flott should all be impact additions in the back seven. The Titans could catch people by surprise in 2026.
Admittedly, I really didn't think the Browns could put together an offseason like this. Still feeling the cap-related effects of the worst transaction in NFL history, Cleveland faced the seemingly impossible task of rebuilding an offensive line with all five starters headed for free agency. As it turns out, Andrew Berry is something of a miracle worker. The general manager had four of those spots filled by mid-March, trading for Tytus Howard, signing Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins, and bringing back Teven Jenkins. Getting Spencer Fano at No. 9 overall completed the new-look group, allowing the Browns to start filling needs elsewhere.
Cleveland doubled down at receiver with its next two draft picks by selecting KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, giving new head coach Todd Monken an exciting pair of playmakers to feature with standout sophomores Harold Fannin Jr. and Quinshon Judkins. Oh, and an already-stout defense might get even better after the Browns somehow snagged Emmanuel McNeil-Warren late in the second round. However, an immediate playoff push may be out of reach, as the quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders isn't particularly inspiring. Still, with a fresh outlook under a proven play-caller and a much-improved supporting cast, the Browns are positioned to take a step forward. At the very least, they should have the makings of a favorable situation for a young quarterback, and a stacked 2027 class may be the perfect opportunity to get their guy.
The Raiders might finally have hope. Like the Browns, expectations will have to be kept in check in 2026, though some aggressive free-agent spending and an excellent draft class appear to have laid the foundation for a bright future. Fernando Mendoza's arrival as a potential face of the franchise is, of course, the most impactful addition. After years spent in quarterback purgatory, Las Vegas could have its long-term solution at the most important position on the field.
Tyler Linderbaum's record-setting contract will be worth every penny if his presence can help erase last year's offensive line woes. After the schematic circus under Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly, Klint Kubiak might provide the biggest play-calling upgrade of any NFL team. Defensively, Maxx Crosby finally has support in the front seven. Kwity Paye and Keyron Crawford bring juice on the other side, while former Georgia teammates Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker are reuniting to solidify the linebacker position. The secondary should also be trending up after adding a veteran slot presence in Taron Johnson and drafting a pair of potential difference-makers in Treydan Stukes and Jermod McCoy. With another offseason to continue adding talent at receiver and on the offensive line, the Raiders might find themselves in a position to compete.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.
