The NFL offseason always brings moves that stick with you — whether it’s a team going all-in, taking a risk, or making a decision that raises questions. Here are three moves I’m still thinking about.
Trent McDuffie Traded to Rams
On 3/11/26 the Chiefs traded Trent McDuffie to the Rams for a 2026 first-rounder (pick No. 29), a 2026 fifth-round pick, a 2026 sixth-round pick, and a 2027 third-round pick. I truly think this is the type of move we may look back on as to why the Rams win the 2027 Super Bowl. McDuffie is one of the best corners in the league. And we have already seen him step up in big moments for the Chiefs. I expect him to be playing in more big-time games for the Rams in January.
The Rams defense started the season well, but started to fade down the stretch. Corner in particular became an obvious need. The Rams probably look at Stafford and think they have a two, maybe three year window left. I really like this aggressive move to go all in with Stafford for one last ride. He showed in 2025 he can still play at an elite level bringing home his first NFL regular-season MVP award. Trading this many picks is risky and a lot of teams won’t do it. But given the Rams’ situation and their desire to get one more Super Bowl with Stafford, I like the aggressiveness here. This team has been aggressive with moves in the past, and it has paid off.
The Rams also went on to add cornerback Jaylen Watson, a former Chiefs teammate of McDuffie. So they will be very familiar playing with each other in the secondary, and are very excited to do so again in Los Angeles.
Panthers Take a Chance on Jaelan Phillips
Phillips signed a four-year, $120 million deal with the Panthers. The Panthers, coming off a surprise 2025 season where they won the NFC South, added one of the best available pass rushers in free agency. Phillips has had to deal with a lot of adversity in his career. In college, he briefly retired due to injuries. One injury even being he got hit by a car while on his moped. Eventually he did come back. He left UCLA and played one season at Miami. From there he became a first-round pick by the Dolphins, but again injuries haunted him. He tore his Achilles in 2023, and partially tore his ACL in 2024. He’s dealt with more adversity than most players ever do.
But when healthy, he sure can get after the quarterback. You saw the Eagles defense improve after they traded for him during the 2025 season. The Panthers won the NFC South last year, and played the Rams very tough in their Wild Card playoff matchup. The Rams were a popular pick to win it all last year. So even though the Panthers ultimately lost to the Rams, it was a great showing for them in that game.
Carolina was also in desperate need of a pass rush. They only had 30 sacks last season, which ranked 29th in the league. Derrick Brown, who plays DT, led the team with 5 sacks last season. They really needed an edge rusher on this defensive unit, and now they got it. Look for Phillips to have a huge impact in Carolina for the 2026 season. Hopefully he can just stay healthy. A team that surprisingly won the NFC South in 2025 is looking even better heading into 2026. I truly think the Panthers can be a threat in the NFC next season. Especially if Bryce Young continues to improve as this roster improves around him.
Carolina also added Devin Lloyd and Rasheed Walker during the offseason.
Colts Shake Up WR Room
Alec Pierce signed a four-year, $116 million deal to stay with the Colts. It’s quite an eye-popping figure for Pierce. Even more so when you consider it forced the Colts to move on from veteran receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Pittman was a solid WR for the Colts, playing six seasons there. He topped 1,000 receiving yards in two of those seasons, and has played at least 16 games in the last five seasons. Proving he is dependable as well.
But back to Pierce, we’re talking about a guy who also just put up a 1,000 yard season of his own. And Pierce did it on just 47 catches, averaging 21.3 yards per catch which led the league. A pretty crazy level of efficiency. He’s viewed as a vertical threat who is 6-foot-3 and turns 26 in May. But when I see a deal like this, and the fact they moved Pittman after, it makes me think the Colts see a guy who is more than just a deep threat. Perhaps their thinking is with Pittman gone and more opportunities for Pierce, he will develop into a better all-around WR. I do like Pierce, and think he has more upside. But time will tell if the money given was worth it.
Another thing with the Colts, they have shown they are trying to win right now. They confirmed that fact when dealing two first-round picks for Sauce Gardner. A move I did not like. But a move that showed they were all in nonetheless. They also just gave Daniel Jones a hefty two-year deal. Another move I did not like personally. I only mention this because if you move on from a proven commodity like Pittman to sign Pierce to this type of deal, you better hope he is ready to contribute as an all-around receiver sooner rather than later if you’re trying to win right now. Given the moves this team has made from last season, they believe they are ready to compete for a Super Bowl. I’m not quite sure I see this team there yet, but let’s see if I’m wrong. That’s why this Pierce move stands out – it’s not just about one player, it’s about whether the Colts’ overall plan actually works.
We’ll see how these moves play out, but each of them could end up defining the 2026 season for these teams.
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