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C.J. Stroud

Texans Make Major Contract Decisions on C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr.

The Houston Texans have taken a significant step with both C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., their top two picks of the 2023 draft.Both players have at least one Pro Bowl on their resumes, and the Texans have expressed nothing but confidence in players whom they selected second (Stroud) and third (Anderson) overall in their […] The post Texans Make Major Contract Decisions on C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr. appeared first on Heavy Sports.

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Texans’ C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson contracts locked in, but is something bigger coming?

The Houston Texans have plenty of questions left to answer this offseason regarding their future after yet another divisional round loss in the playoffs this past year. The team already made strides to improve its offense by swinging a trade for running back David Montgomery, but questions about CJ Stroud and the passing game still […] The post Texans’ C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson contracts locked in, but is something bigger coming? appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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2 players Texans must avoid picking in 2026 NFL Draft

The Houston Texans have officially crossed the line from promising to dangerous. This is a team everyone expects to compete not just for a playoff spot but for a Super Bowl spot. And with that expectation comes a different kind of pressure. Every roster move must now serve a singular purpose: winning in January. With […] The post 2 players Texans must avoid picking in 2026 NFL Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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The 10 Most Overrated QBs in the NFL Right Now — Ranked

Fair or not, one reality for NFL quarterbacks is that they get all the credit if their team wins… and all the blame if they lose. That’s just a part of playing the most important position in the game. The first part, especially, rings true for many NFL QBs. They are often shielded from blame and get far too much credit that is, most certainly, not justified. With that, let’s dive into the NFL’s 10 most overrated quarterbacks right now. Who are the most overrated QBs in today’s NFL? 10. Kyler MurrayKyler Murray. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images There’s a crowd that prefers to blame the Arizona Cardinals’ mismanagement for Kyler Murray’s underachievement there. We say it works both ways. The Cardinals gave Murray plenty of talent to work with, namely DeAndre Hopkins, Marvin Harrison Jr., Zach Ertz, James Conner, and Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown. Many of you thought Kliff Kingsbury was the guy holding Arizona back, but he hardly fared any better with Jonathan Gannon at the helm. Murray has yet to throw for 4,000 yards in a season. He’s exceeded 24 passing touchdowns once. A career record of 38-48-1? 121 touchdowns, 60 interceptions, and a 92.2 passer rating? Yeah, we’ve seen better. Few NFL QBs are more exciting to watch than Murray when he’s on top of his game. The problem? He’s rarely on top of his game. He usually plays well in the first half of the season before the wheels come off in the second half. For those who think he’ll fully unlock his potential with the Minnesota Vikings? We say keep your expectations reasonable… 9. C.J. StroudHouston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (Barry Reeger-Imagn Images) The No. 2 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft was lights-out in his rookie year. Stroud completed 63.9 percent of pass attempts for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions — leading Houston to a surprise AFC South division crown and trip to the Divisional Round. Stroud’s stats noticeably dipped in 2024, but he did just enough to help the Texans defend their AFC South title. They again advanced to the elite eight, falling to the Kansas City Chiefs despite a tremendous effort. But man, was Stroud difficult to watch in 2025. And when you take a deeper dive, Stroud looks more like a game manager who benefits from an elite defense and coaching staff. I mean, his insane rookie season was three years ago now… Stroud only averaged 217.2 passing yards per game in 2025 and had 19 touchdowns vs. eight interceptions. Then he was pathetic in Houston’s two playoff games, throwing two touchdowns against five picks. He single-handedly wasted a generational 2025 Texans defense that gave him every chance to win. So yeah, it’s time to stop thinking of Stroud as a franchise QB. Robert Griffin III and Sam Bradford also had great rookie years. How did the remainder of their careers go? Let’s stop treating Stroud like a legitimate NFL QB until/unless he gets back to that 2023 form. 8. Brock PurdyAug 16, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) warms up before a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images There really isn’t much wrong with Purdy as a quarterback. In his three healthy seasons, he led the San Francisco 49ers to three playoff berths, including two NFC Championship Game appearances and a trip to Super Bowl 58. The issue with Purdy is that we’ve seen two other quarterbacks play like him in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The 49ers’ investing $265 million in Purdy over five years shows that they view him as an MVP-caliber QB. And he ain’t. Jimmy Garoppolo, of all guys, helped the 49ers to two NFC Championship Game appearances and a trip to Super Bowl 54. And dare we say, backup QB Mac Jones was just as effective as Purdy when he had to start eight games in relief. Yeah, Purdy is solid and all. But Kyle Shanahan has never made a quarterback look bad during his career as an assistant slash head coach. Purdy’s fine, but he’s really nothing special. 7. Jared GoffDetroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) makes a pass against Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. Detroit Lions fans are obviously thankful for the role Goff has played in helping them emerge as an NFC powerhouse. But let’s not act like Goff is the entire reason why. With all due respect to Goff, it says a lot that a top head coach like Sean McVay couldn’t wait to ditch him for Matthew Stafford. Lo and behold, the Los Angeles Rams win a Super Bowl in their first season with No. 9 at the controls. With both the Rams and Lions, Goff has had the fortune of playing for two top-tier head coaches with elite offensive units. I mean, how many other QBs would falter with a supporting cast of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs? Goff also hasn’t been money by any means in the postseason. We remember his choke job in the Rams’ loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 53. And his meltdown in the Lions’ shocking 2024 Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders. Goff puts up good numbers on a star-studded Detroit offense in the regular-season, yes. So could a ton of other NFL QBs. Now, if he could just prove us wrong by showing up in the playoffs for once… 6. Dak PrescottDak Prescott (Photo via Imagn Images) Prescott is a bit of a tough case here. It feels like half of football fans know he’s not elite. But since he’s the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, there’s the other half that thinks he’s elite and, if anything, not rated fairly. No, it’s not Dak Prescott’s fault that Jerry Jones has done such a terrible job as the general manager. We feel for Dak that he had Jason Garrett and Mike McCarthy waste the first half of his career. But like…come on. Prescott has been playing on star-studded Cowboys teams his entire career. And Peyton “Freaking” Manning went to a Super Bowl with four different coaches. Sometimes, the QB has to be better at his job than the coach. Dallas, for example, had top-10 scoring offenses and defenses in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Prescott won a single playoff game in that period…against an 8-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in the 2022 Wild Card Round. Whoop-dee-doo. In seven playoff games, Prescott is 2-5 with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Three of those losses came against a considerable underdog at home. He’s an elite regular-season stats machine, yes. But Prescott is just like Auston Matthews and Aaron Judge. Excellent production before the postseason. Then he goes away when the lights shine brightest. But because he plays on a big-market team, he’s hyped up like one of the very best in his sport. He’s good, but far from elite. Two playoff wins in 10 years is the proof in the pudding. 5. Jalen Hurts Dec 20, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) looks on before the game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images That sound you heard was the screams of angry and baffled Philadelphia Eagles fans. But please, do hear us out… Yes, he’s taken Philly to the playoffs in his first five full seasons as a starter, including two NFC Championships. And yes, a Super Bowl 59 triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs. Credit where it’s due. But folks, so many other quarterbacks could win a Super Bowl with a star-studded offensive line, a generational running back like Saquon Barkley, an elite wide receiver tandem of AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, and…oh yeah…a top-five defense. His passing numbers will never be elite because he’s a dual-threat NFL QB and plays in a rush-first offense led by Barkley. That’s fine. We’re not just saying Hurts is overrated because he plays on a star-studded team.  He’s also overrated because his production can best be described as “Jekyll and Hyde.” While he was excellent in 2022 and 2024, Hurts had frustrating and inconsistent 2023 and 2025 seasons. Both years, it got so bad that fans began questioning his leadership, wondering whether he might be responsible for any locker room drama. The Eagles cratered late in the 2023 season because their defense was terrible, and Hurts couldn’t lift them. The Eagles were a disappointment in 2025 because Hurts couldn’t elevate the passing game when Barkley had a down year. That’s not the sign of an elite QB. We would honestly like to see how Hurts would play outside of Philadelphia. To us, he’s a slightly above-average QB who plays in the perfect system to maximize his talents. 4. Lamar JacksonBaltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images) It pains us to put the two-time MVP on this list. But Jackson has had more than enough chances to prove he’s rated fairly. Jackson is unquestionably one of the NFL’s all-time great regular-season quarterbacks. A 76-31-0 record with six playoff appearances in eight years is nothing to scoff at. But if Jackson can make it look so easy in the regular-season…why on earth does he crawl into a shell during the postseason? Jackson is 3-5 in his postseason career with only 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and an 84.6 passer rating. His career passer rating of 102.2 in the regular-season, by the way, is tied with Aaron Rodgers for the best ever. But Jackson doesn’t belong in the tier of “elite” quarterbacks until he starts showing up in the postseason. Joe Burrow and Josh Allen don’t have Super Bowl rings, but we’ve seen them both put up plenty of gutsy performances in the playoffs. The same cannot be said about Jackson. Until/unless he translates that regular-season success to the NFL playoffs, Jackson belongs in the “overrated” QB category. 3. Trevor LawrenceJacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs on the field before an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Texans 17-10. We know, we know. T-Law led the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 13-win season and surprise AFC South division crown last year. Good on him. But folks, we’re now five years into Trevor Lawrence’s career. For those of you who just started watching football within the last two years? He was hyped as a generational QB prospect when the Jags selected him first-overall in 2021. Remember how little time it took for other “can’t-miss” QB prospects like Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, and Joe Burrow to break out? We still haven’t seen a true MVP-caliber version of Lawrence. As fun as the Jags were in 2025? I mean, Lawrence was only 20th in passer rating. Guys like Tyler Shough, Mac Jones, Jacoby Brissett, and Jaxson Dart had a better rating, for crying out loud. Lawrence has yet to reach the 4,200-yard passing mark or 30-TD mark. And that’s despite being surrounded by stud playmakers like Travis Etienne Jr., Brian Thomas Jr., and Calvin Ridley over the years. And since his rookie year, only Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes have thrown more interceptions than Lawrence. Generational? No sir. More like just “above average” if you ask us. 2. Jordan LoveSep 11, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) looks on in the third quarter against the Washington Commanders at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images Yeah, it’s time to have a conversation about Jordan Love. The 2020 first-round pick had a remarkable first season as the Green Bay Packers’ full-time starter in 2023 after taking the reins from Aaron Rodgers. Love led the Packers to the postseason after throwing for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. His Packers crushed the Cowboys in the Wild Card Round, then barely fell to the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round. That was in 2023. This was supposed to be a team trending up. But Love hasn’t returned to that MVP-like quarterback we saw in 2023. He averaged roughly 20 fewer passing yards per game in 2024 and 2025. And when he missed some time due to injuries? The offense functioned just fine under backup Malik Willis, perhaps indicating that Love may or may not be a system NFL QB. Oh, and the Packers went one-and-done in the 2024 and 2025 playoffs. Love had three interceptions in their 2024 playoff loss to the Eagles. Then he no-showed the second half in their humiliating collapse against the Chicago Bears. Surrounded by an elite supporting cast, there’s no excuse for Love to have a single playoff win in three years. We’re still waiting for his signature moment as a Packer. And beating up on non-playoff teams isn’t what made Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, or Bart Starr legendary. If the Packers don’t go on a deep playoff run in 2026, it’ll be time to have a conversation about whether Love is really the guy. 1. Justin HerbertDec 8, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs off field after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in overtime at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Chargers’ signal-caller put up all-world numbers over his first three NFL campaigns. He set numerous passing records, including the most yards through a QB’s first three seasons and most consecutive 4K passing seasons to begin a career. At first, the narrative was that he didn’t have a proper coaching staff or the right supporting cast. Okay, well, the Los Angeles Chargers corrected that by hiring Jim Harbaugh in 2024. He coached the league’s No. 1 scoring defense that year and the ninth-best unit in 2025. And yet, Herbert has not been able to take the Chargers to that next level. His first playoff loss? The Bolts blew a 27-0 lead to the Jaguars in the 2022 Wild Card Round. Then he threw four interceptions in their 2024 playoff loss to the Houston Texans. In LA’s 2025 playoff loss to the New England Patriots? 159 passing yards on 31 attempts. Zero touchdowns. Yippee… So you have a guy who put up all-world numbers at the beginning because he had to throw the ball a lot. Now you have a guy who can’t win a big game despite a top-tier head coach and an elite defense. What more does Herbert once? It’s time to stop treating Herbert like we’re in the early 2020s. He’s not young anymore. At what point do we wonder if he’s really the QB who can take LA all the way?

Read moreThe 10 Most Overrated QBs in the NFL Right Now — Ranked

It’s Time for Raiders to Pull Off Texans-Like Draft Trade Up Amid Recent Plea

It’s time for the Las Vegas Raiders to make a bold move similar to what the Houston Texans pulled off during the 2023 NFL Draft and trade up to draft Ohio State’s superstar safety Caleb Downs.During the 2026 NFL annual league meeting, head coach Klint Kubiak made it clear that safety was a position he […] The post It’s Time for Raiders to Pull Off Texans-Like Draft Trade Up Amid Recent Plea appeared first on Heavy Sports.

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Texans’ DeMeco Ryans drops revelation on fired C.J. Stroud coach after playoff debacle

There were not many NFL teams as fun to watch in 2025 than the Houston Texans. They would eventually fall to the New England Patriots in the playoffs in a game that did not go well for them. Quarterback CJ Stroud threw four interceptions, and the Texans would lose 28-16. In the offseason, the Texans […] The post Texans’ DeMeco Ryans drops revelation on fired C.J. Stroud coach after playoff debacle appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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Texans Mock Draft Gives Long-Term Boost to Offensive & Defensive Lines

The Houston Texans have one of the more complete rosters in the NFL, with a healthy mix of both young talent and veteran experience on both sides of the football.That gives the Texans an advantage heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. They can take a step back and look at the big picture, planning out […] The post Texans Mock Draft Gives Long-Term Boost to Offensive & Defensive Lines appeared first on Heavy Sports.

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5 NFL Teams That Are Done And Will Miss The Playoffs — And 5 Who Will Make A Huge Comeback In 2026

The 2025 NFL Season was remarkable, as we witnessed the wild journey of many teams making serious playoff pushes, culminating in the Seattle Seahawks winning the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl 60.  Even though the Seahawks have lost some key pieces from their championship roster, they’re likely going to return to the playoffs and defend their honor with ease.  Other teams during the offseason have made drastic roster improvements that could help them return to the playoffs, while some might not return to the big dance when the 2026 season is all said and done. As we’ve seen before, NFL teams do whatever they can to rebuild, retool, and reset their rosters for the new season. The moves these teams made during the offseason will always spark our interest on paper. We just have to see it in action when the time arrives.   The 2026 regular season may be a long way away, but it’ll be here sooner than you know it. Here at TPS, we’re going to predict who’ll make their return to the playoffs and who won’t return to the playoffs: Which NFL teams will return to the playoffs and which ones will not? Won’t Return: Houston TexansAug 9, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; A Houston Texans helmet sits on the sidelines during the 4th quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-USA TODAY Sports The 2025 Texans had arguably one of the league’s best defenses, but were beaten by the New England Patriots 28-16.  The 2026 Texans did trade for David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions, but they need interior offensive linemen to protect C. J. Stroud, as they need a new guard and center for Stroud to work with.  Although Stroud reduced his sack rate from 2024, he struggled in the NFL playoffs, completing 51.9 percent of his passes and throwing two touchdowns against five costly interceptions.  The Texans also parted ways with safety Jimmie Ward, defensive tackle Mario Edwards, who failed a physical, and defensive tackle Kurt Hinish, who had significant roles on the team’s defense.  The Texans have a tougher schedule than they did last year, as they’ll square off against the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, and Los Angeles Chargers, to name a few of the teams they’ll square off against. If the Texans suffer a few losses against these opponents and their divisional rivals due to key injuries or poor play, they can likely kiss their playoff chances goodbye. Will Return: Kansas City ChiefsFeb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; A detail view of Kansas City Chiefs helmets before Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images As fun as it was for some NFL fans to witness the Chiefs missing the playoffs, they’re reloading their roster for the 2026 season and will be ready to compete for a chance to return to the playoffs. Adding Kenneth Walker III was a smart move, along with retooling the defense with DT Khyiris Tonga, Safety Alohi Gilman, and cornerback Kader Kohou.  Patrick Mahomes’ rehab has been going well, but if he isn’t ready by week one, the Chiefs did trade for Justin Fields, who should play fairly well under Andy Reid’s and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s system.  The rest of the Chiefs’ roster will be fresh and healthy for the start of the 2026 season and will slowly return to their winning ways.  The Chiefs’ schedule is also more favorable, as they’ll square off against the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, and Arizona Cardinals, who’ll likely give the Chiefs some well-needed wins for a strong 2026 season.   Won’t Return: Pittsburgh SteelersDec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers helmet on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images 2026 will be a strange year for the Steelers, as Mike Tomlin stepped down immediately after their playoff exit against the Houston Texans, and they are in uncharted waters with Mike McCarthy leading the way. The questions continue, as no one knows whether Aaron Rodgers will continue playing or retire before the start of the 2026 season. If Rodgers does retire, Will Howard will have to prove himself to be the guy the Steelers hoped for, or roll with Mason Rudolph, whose reputation doesn’t scream Pro Bowl-caliber starter.  Not to mention key players are starting to age on the roster, such as Cameron Heyward, who’ll be 37 when the 2026 season kicks off. Both T. J. Watt and Jalen Ramsey turn 32 in October of the regular season, and newly signed Jamel Dean will be 30 in October of the regular season.  The AFC North is still a competitive division, with the Baltimore Ravens lingering around and wanting revenge for the final game of the 2025 season. It won’t be a cakewalk for the Steelers. The Steelers also have a tougher schedule ahead, as they’ll face teams like the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, and Jacksonville Jaguars, all of whom won their divisions in 2025.  Don’t be surprised if the Steelers’ streak of winning seasons since 2004 comes to an end in 2026 and the team finds itself on the outside looking in as other teams reach the NFL playoffs. Will Return: New York GiantsOct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants helmets on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Hear us out, the “John Harbaugh effect” is real. The moves the teams have made recently should excite and energize Giants’ fans.  Signing former Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard and tight end Isaiah Likely will help further improve Jaxson Dart’s performance on offense, as well as the additions of Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin to solidify the passing attack. Not to mention Malik Nabers and Cam Skataboo will both be fully healthy for kickoff in week one. The Giants’ offense ranked 13th in total offense and averaged 333.5 yards per game in 2025. That ranking is going to increase under new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who coached the Chiefs’ offense to back-to-back Super Bowl wins.  The Giants still have to further adjust their offensive line for the 2025 season, as Dart was sacked 31 times during his rookie season. Harbaugh and company should find some diamonds in the rough during free agency and in the upcoming NFL Draft.  The defense also saw a revamp during the offseason, as Tremaine Edmunds, Ar’Darius Washington, Greg Newsome II, Jason Pinnock, and Elijah Campbell are great additions to the roster.  Coach Harbaugh’s physical and mental toughness style of coaching will be refreshing for the G-Men moving forward, as they get prepared for the start of the 2026 season.  Won’t Return: San Francisco 49ersSep 15, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Francisco 49ers helmets sits idle during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images The 2026 49ers still have some issues to address before the start of the 2026 season. The pass rush needs an update, and the team had 20 sacks in the 2025 season.  Brock Purdy will be without Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings, weakening the pass attack. Sure, the team signed veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, but they’re way past their prime.  Tight end George Kittle is coming off an Achilles’ tear and is in his 30s, while Christian McCaffrey has had his fair share of injuries throughout the years.  The defense saw some regression and has injury problems of its own, with Nick Bosa tearing his ACL, Fred Warner suffering a dislocated and broken ankle, and backup linebacker Tatum Bethune suffering a knee injury.  The team’s schedule isn’t forgiving, as they have to square off against the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Los Angeles Chargers, who will likely give the 49ers a run for their money. The 49ers will also have a grueling travel schedule ahead of them, as they’re set to travel over 15,000 miles to play their rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, in Melbourne, Australia, and have a home game in Mexico City On top of that, competition in the NFC West has shifted with the Rams and Seattle Seahawks drastically improving their rosters. No NFL playoffs for this squad. Will Return: Baltimore RavensJan 11, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; A view of Baltimore Ravens players’ helmets on a heated bench against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC wild card game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images A new era has arrived in Baltimore, as the Jesse Minter saga has begun, as he looks to resurrect the team’s defense to a top-tier unit in 2026. Although the Maxx Crosby trade didn’t work out, the team signed Trey Hendrickson as the next best option to improve the defense.  The defense still has playmakers like Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, and Nate Wiggins ready to cause havoc, and should flourish under Minter’s and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s system. Adding safety Jaylinn Hawkins will improve the secondary.  Lamar Jackson should adjust to offensive coordinator Declan Doyle’s schemes and should be healthier for the 2026 season. Not to mention Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and Derrick Henry are still on the roster and are ready to regain their offensive footing against opposing defenses, as the team ranked 16th in offensive rankings last season, averaging 332.2 yards per game.  The Ravens have the pieces to make a serious playoff run for the 2026 NFL season. They just need to make it happen.  Won’t Return: Carolina PanthersDec 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Panthers helmet rests on the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images As fun as it was to see the Panthers reach the NFL playoffs, things could get rough for them in the 2026 season. The Panthers will have a tougher schedule for the upcoming season, as they’ll square off against the Chicago Bears, defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Denver Broncos. All of those teams have playoff-caliber rosters. Bryce Young showed strides of improvement, but could regress due to poor play and trouble with the offensive line, as offensive tackle Iken Ekwonu suffered a ruptured patellar tendon during the team’s Wildcard round playoff game and is potentially doubtful to return by week one. Not to mention Young’s play was inconsistent during the 2025 season, as he threw for 3,011 yards and threw 23 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, the most in his career so far.  Losing Rico Dowdle to the Steelers will impact the backfield, but the team still has Chuba Hubbard. The Panthers traded away veteran backup Andy Dalton to the Philadelphia Eagles for a seventh-round draft pick and signed Kenny Pickett to back up Young, who is younger but not nearly as experienced as Dalton.  We’ll just have to wait and see what will happen with the Panthers when the 2026 season kicks off. Will Return: Detroit LionsHelmet of Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates (not in the photo) before the NFC divisional round between Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders] at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. The Lions can make a return to the NFL playoffs by strengthening their offensive line, as adding Cade Mays, Larry Borom, and Seth McLaughlin should help. The team’s offense should make some improvements under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.  The Lions still have one of the more talented rosters in the league, thanks to Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs on offense, and Aidan Hutchinson and Jack Campbell on defense.  As a bonus, the Lions have a much easier schedule for the 2026 season, as they’ll face the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans, who all had losing records in 2025.  It should be interesting to see how the Lions will fare in the 2026 season, and we can’t wait to see what they’ll bring forth. Won’t Return: Green Bay PackersDec 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; A Green Bay Packers helmet sits ready before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images As iconic as the Packers are, they could miss the playoffs due to a lingering injury crisis that could carry over from the 2025 season.  Losing Malik Willis to the Miami Dolphins will sting, as Desmond Ridder is not a flashy name to get behind if Jordan Love gets hurt during the season.  The team will also miss Romeo Doubs, who was the team’s leading receiver with 724 receiving yards and scored six touchdowns. Not the flashiest of numbers, but he and Love made things work during their time together.  Emmanuel Wilson is also gone, as he signed a one-year deal with the defending champion Seahawks.  The Packers’ defense imploded near the end of the 2025 season, and could be a weak point during the 2026 season.  Not to mention the NFC North remains one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, with the Lions and Chicago Bears making significant moves to improve.  The Packers have a lot of issues to resolve, but have some time to fix a couple of things before the start of the 2026 season in September.  Will Return: Atlanta FalconsNov 10, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Atlanta Falcons helmet against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images The Falcons finished the 2026 season slightly better than expected. Sure, they showed Raheem Morris the exit, but they made a great hire, bringing in Kevin Stefanski, who’ll bring a much-needed offensive stability to the team moving forward.  The Falcons’ offense has talented playmakers still on the roster like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and the recently franchise-tagged Kyle Pitts, who should flourish under Stefanski’s and Tommy Rees’ systems. Plus, the team added Austin Hooper and Jahan Dotson to the mix Kirk Cousins is no longer on the roster, and signing Tua Tagovailoa is a decent yet risky option to back Michael Penix Jr., just in case he suffers an injury down the road.  The defense still has defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich calling the shots on defense, as they took some serious steps forward in the 2025 season with rookies and some injuries to the unit.  The unit also added defensive end Cameron Thomas, defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand, and linebacker Christian Harris to further solidify the unit. The 2026 Falcons will be an interesting team to watch when the offseason and NFL Draft are in the review mirror, and everyone is ready for kickoff with their sneaky good roster.

Read more5 NFL Teams That Are Done And Will Miss The Playoffs — And 5 Who Will Make A Huge Comeback In 2026