Media smoke continues to surround Eagles star receiver A.J. Brown, but we might be done with blockbusters for a while after the Broncos acquired receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins. These are some of my favorite big moves to begin the 2026 NFL offseason.
Ravens get Trey Hendrickson
Let’s start with what was the biggest blockbuster of the offseason before it fell through: The Ravens trading two first-round picks (including the No. 14 overall pick next month) to the Raiders for All-Pro edge defender Maxx Crosby. It felt like a tremendous fit. But the price always felt off. Not that Crosby isn’t worth the two first-rounders, but that the Ravens were the team to give it up as an organization that drafts so well was the surprise. Baltimore seemingly (ultimately) felt the same way, backing out of the deal while citing concerns with Crosby’s offseason knee surgery—which not many people bought as the real reasoning. Part of the discussion was likely the Ravens’ ability to sign former Saints and Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson to a massive four-year deal while keeping the premium draft picks. Overall, many around the league are understandably frustrated with how the Ravens operated, but it made sense for them.
Meanwhile, Crosby remaining a Raider is just right given that after the trade announcement he said he still planned to retire with the franchise.
The Jaylen Waddle trade
The Broncos acquiring Jaylen Waddle for essentially a first-round pick and a third-round pick was slightly rich for me at first—when I saw the notification, I assumed it might say a second-rounder as the main piece of the deal for Miami. However, the selection is No. 30 overall for Denver, and Waddle is just 27 years old and carries a very reasonable cap hit—plus, I think the Broncos will get the best out of him with his great friend Patrick Surtain II on the other side of the ball. The way Sean Payton utilized Brandin Cooks in New Orleans gives a glimpse of the type of dangerous piece Waddle can be in Denver. And Waddle is an unselfish player and tremendous teammate, fitting right into the receiving group with no egos that’ll have the ball spread around.
For the Dolphins, it made just as much sense; they have a lot of work to do with the roster which didn’t have much of a direction in terms of how it was built in recent years. They must hit on draft selections, but adding to the draft haul should help the rebuild. Who it was bad for is obviously new quarterback Malik Willis, as he showed what he can do in a great spot the past two seasons with the Packers. The degree of difficulty will be much higher in South Beach.
Vikings add Kyler Murray
It’s not often a former No. 1 overall pick quarterback in their twenties becomes available as an unrestricted free agent—particularly with the ability to acquire them at a minimum salary. Basically, the move for the Vikings to add Kyler Murray was a no-brainer. You can make a case for Aaron Rodgers—if he even would’ve wanted to play there given that they passed on him last year—having been a better fit to go for a title this year (while also making it less likely that they “give up” on J.J. McCarthy) or Willis (given the structure in place for him to play at a high level like he did for Matt LeFleur) as better options. But Murray is a similar move that worked out spectacularly two years ago when Minnesota added another highly-touted prospect in Sam Darnold (and they probably wish they kept him long-term), so we’ll see if they can hit a home-run—and then sustain it—again.
Running backs get paid
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III joining Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and the Chiefs was another signing that made a ton of sense. Walker’s big-play ability should make things easier and open things up for everyone else on offense, and Reid will utilize his skillset creatively. I think the Travis Etienne Jr. signing by the Saints went way under the radar, though. It almost came out of nowhere, and I thought he’d land with the Broncos. It’s a major gain for the Saints, with Alvin Kamara’s future uncertain. Etienne has shades of Kamara to his game and has quietly been an extremely talented player with the steady production to match. I’m excited to see how Kellen Moore deploys the former Jaguars star in his backfield.
Rams boost secondary
The Trent McDuffie trade is another win-win trade to me, as I love the value the Chiefs were able to get for him (four picks: a first, a third, a fifth, and a sixth). That said, the Rams did get a former All-Pro cornerback with plenty of big-game experience at still just 25 years old. Then Los Angeles added onto that by signing fellow former Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson. It’s a tall task for McDuffie trying to contain reigning Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the NFC West, but the revamped cornerback group to match the safety play is no doubt a boost for the championship hopes of Sean McVay’s club.
Mike Evans signs with the 49ers
If Mike Evans was going to leave Tampa Bay, the 49ers were the definite top landing spot for him. That’s how it came together, with the Bucs offering even more than the Niners—but with Evans wanting a new challenge toward the end of his career. Both the daunting outside receiver presence plus finishing drives with touchdowns make it a seamless fit in Kyle Shanahan’s loaded offense with Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, former first-rounder Ricky Pearsall—and don’t sleep on Christian Kirk as a free agent signing, either. We know Brock Purdy can distribute at a high level, and a healthy Evans gives a boost to the entire unit.