We’ve hit April, with the 2026 NFL Draft this month as the last big piece of the puzzle to roster building ahead of the season. We’ve already gotten a clearer picture of what the fall might look like after free agency. These are the storylines not getting enough talk with most of the offseason moves in the books.
The Rams going all-in again
The relatively heavy favorite for the NFC conference winner this season is the Rams—and their actions this offseason match that. It was easy to get lost with all the shuffling teams have been doing this offseason, but the Rams are going “all-in” once again after trading their first-round pick (and four picks total) to the Chiefs for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie—and then also signing cornerback Jaylen Watson from KC during free agency. Basically, Los Angeles felt the cornerback group was the clear weakest part of the roster, and they did not hesitate in attempting to upgrade—picking back up the streak from 2017-2023 when they didn’t use their first-round pick.
This time, they did it while keeping a higher draft pick thanks to the trade with the Falcons last spring—netting them No. 13 overall. The flexibility they have there to add more (whether via drafting a potential impact player or another trade) should be noted.
Sean Payton giving up playcalling
The NFL latest news has been nonstop in recent weeks. That includes the Broncos acquiring dynamic receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins for essentially a first- and a third-round pick. What’s not been talked about enough is that head coach Sean Payton gave up playcalling to offensive coordinator Davis Webb.
For Payton to make this decision, he undoubtedly feels very strongly about Webb’s talent as a play-caller and his ability to deliver for a team with obvious Super Bowl aspirations. Again, with the Waddle trade, he even made the decision despite having a lot more firepower to work with on the play sheet now. Quietly, Webb becomes one of the most important people around the NFL in terms of determining the balance of power.
The usual suspects?
From the betting and futures angle, it’s interesting to look at the AFC. Last year’s favorites in the Bills, Chiefs, and Ravens all didn’t have the types of seasons they wanted. Buffalo and Baltimore fired tremendous head coaches in Sean McDermott and John Harbaugh, respectively. Kansas City had by far their worst year in the Patrick Mahomes era, with Mahomes now coming off an ACL tear. Yet, three of the top four favorites to win the AFC are the Bills, Ravens, and Chiefs (with the Chargers in that mix at No. 3).
Should that be the case? The Broncos were just the top seed in the conference. The Patriots made it to the Super Bowl. The Texans boast an elite defense. The Jaguars came out of nowhere to win 13 games. The Bengals have Joe Burrow and a loaded offense. The Colts will look to build off their strong start from 2025 before the wheels fell off. Overall, seeing if the AFC returns to the usual suspects dominating again is one of the things to most look forward to in 2026.
Good luck in the NFC North
The Lions missing the playoffs last year remains a shocker. The quarterback situation made it less surprising, but the Vikings were in that mix, too, missing out after winning 14 games the previous season. Minnesota added Kyler Murray at quarterback, giving them an undeniable upgrade—either he’ll take over as the starter, or J.J. McCarthy will progress and seize the role. Ultimately, the Lions and Vikings now become the hunters in the NFC North, with the Bears attempting to build on an awesome first campaign with Ben Johnson—and the Packers, limited to the No. 7 seed in each of Jordan Love’s three years at the helm, looking to not only hold on but to take the next step as a team.
Four teams making it from one division is possible but feels unlikely. So, we’d think at least one will have a very sour taste in their mouth come January.