The 5 Biggest Questions Coming Out of the 2026 NFL Offseason

We are just days away from NFL training camp and the 2026 season promises to be one of the best yet. Player movement was at an all-time high this offseason with several household names switching teams. But there are still some big questions remaining entering this year for several top contenders

1. Can Anyone Stop The Los Angeles Rams with Myles Garrett?

The Rams were just a few plays away from winning the NFC last season and if it weren’t for a strange two-point conversion by the Seahawks in the regular season, Los Angeles would have been the No. 1 seed in the conference. Instead, they were the fifth seed in the NFC and fought their way to Seattle for the NFC Championship Game, where they fell just four points short.

Going into the 2026 offseason, the Rams were widely considered the Super Bowl favorite as they had the NFL MVP on their roster (Matthew Stafford) and arguably the best coach in the league (Sean McVay). That was before they added Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and the new sack record holder.

Garrett is the consensus top defender in the league and will now play on a team that should force opposing offenses to drop back and throw more than ever before. Garrett should have even more opportunities than ever to rush the quarterback, and it’s hard to think anyone will be able to beat this team in Los Angeles. But that’s why they play the games.

2. Are The Kansas City Chiefs Even A Playoff Team In 2026?

It’s hard to believe just how quickly things fell apart for the Chiefs last season. They were in the Super Bowl in 2024, and yet, they never looked like a playoff contender in 2025. Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL late in the season, and while he is expected to be ready for Week 1, it’s fair to wonder how much the injury could impact his play in the first two months of the year.

Kansas City plays in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, and they lost a ton of talent this offseason, including Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Rams. Can Andy Reid get the Chiefs back in the playoffs and be part of the Super Bowl discussion? Or is the window officially shut on this dynasty?

Time will tell, but it’s hard to believe how much their stock has dropped in the last 12 months. It’s hard to count out Reid and Mahomes, but it does feel like they have a bigger uphill climb than ever to compete in the AFC. And yet, they are still among the favorites in the conference for most sportsbooks.

 3. Did The Dallas Cowboys Do Enough To Fix Their Defense?

You just knew we had to include a question about the Dallas Cowboys. The NFL’s biggest national team had the league’s worst defense last season, and it caused them to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Dallas used nearly every possible resource to fix their defense as they traded for Rashan Gary, signed Jalen Thompson, and drafted Caleb Downs in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Dallas also added several other veterans, such as Dee Winters and Cobie Durant, in hopes of improving overall defensive talent despite having few household names.

The biggest addition could be Christian Parker, who was hired to be the team’s newest defensive coordinator. Learning under Vic Fangio, Parker is widely regarded as one of the best young coaches in the league and is known for his ability to develop secondary players.

If the Cowboys have anywhere near an average defense this season, they could be among the best teams in the NFC because of their high-powered offense. But time will tell if Jerry Jones and the rest of the front office did enough to fix the team’s worst defense in franchise history. If the defense improves, don’t be surprised if the Cowboys win the NFC East in 2026.

4. Is This the Year the Buffalo Bills Finally Get Over The Hump?

The Buffalo Bills have been a perennial contender from the moment they selected Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL Draft. They’ve reached the postseason in seven consecutive seasons, with four of those seasons ending in the divisional round.

But could this be the year that the Bills finally get over the hump and get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the mid-1990s? They certainly have the quarterback to do so, and the hope is that the change in the coaching staff could be the answer.

The Bills also added D.J. Moore this offseason, giving Allen another weapon in the passing game. While the wide receiver corps is still underwhelming, it’s a more well-balanced group than in previous years, and the hope is that young players like Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid can take big steps forward.

Buffalo is among the favorites in the AFC this year, and that’s been the case in each of the last five seasons. But is this the year they finally advance to the Super Bowl? They certainly have the roster to do so.

5. Which New Coach Will Have The Greatest Year 1 Impact?

There were an unprecedented 10 head coaching changes this offseason, with several marquee franchises (Steelers, Ravens, Giants) making some shocking hires. There are always one or two coaches who are able to work their magic right away, such as the way Mike Vrabel (Patriots) and Ben Johnson (Bears) did last season.

Who will that coach be in 2026? Keep an eye on Jesse Minter with the Baltimore Ravens, who transformed the Chargers’ defense into one of the best in the NFL last season. The Ravens need a change, and many believe Minter was the best candidate on the market, outside of John Harbaugh, whom the Ravens fired after a bad Week 18 loss to the Steelers.

The Ravens have one of the best rosters in the league, and if Minter can get Baltimore to be even average on defense, they’ll have a legitimate chance of coming out of the AFC this season.