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ESPN evaluates 2026 offseason moves for all NFC teams

ESPN assessed the best and worst offseason decisions for each NFC team, highlighting contract signings and draft selections across multiple divisions.

ESPN
1 source·May 29, 12:52 PM(5 hrs ago)·1m read
ESPN evaluates 2026 offseason moves for all NFC teamsespn.com
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ESPN reviewed the 2026 offseason for all 16 NFC teams, identifying the strongest and weakest moves for each club. The analysis covered contract signings and draft choices, noting specific financial terms and player projections for the upcoming season.

5 million deal because the team does not guarantee multiple years for non-Hall of Fame caliber players. The Buccaneers signed deals for players still projected to perform at a high level in 2026 while facing a tight salary cap situation tied to Baker Mayfield's upcoming raise.

The Buccaneers prepared for potential departures by selecting wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Benjamin Morrison in the top two rounds of the 2025 draft.

5 million contract after he had left for the Lions on a one-year deal the previous offseason. 3 million average annual salary. The Cardinals had already signed Tyler Allgeier to pair with James Conner before selecting Love. The Rams signed cornerback Jaylen Watson to a three-year, $51 million contract after trading a first-round pick to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie, who later signed a four-year, $124 million extension.

Key Facts

Dean contract
three-year, $36.8 million with Steelers
Lopez signing
two-year, $10.5 million with Cardinals
Love draft pick
third overall, four-year $53 million guaranteed
Watson contract
three-year, $51 million with Rams
McDuffie extension
four-year, $124 million after trade to Rams

Story Timeline

5 events
  1. 2025

    Cardinals drafted Emeka Egbuka and Benjamin Morrison in top two rounds.

    1 sourceESPN
  2. 2026 offseason

    Dean signed three-year, $36.8 million deal with Steelers.

    1 sourceESPN
  3. 2026 offseason

    Cardinals signed Roy Lopez to two-year, $10.5 million contract.

    1 sourceESPN
  4. 2026 offseason

    Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love third overall with $53 million contract.

    1 sourceESPN
  5. 2026 offseason

    Rams signed Jaylen Watson to three-year, $51 million deal.

    1 sourceESPN

Potential Impact

  1. 01

    Cardinals will pay Jeremiyah Love $13.3 million per year starting in 2026.

  2. 02

    Rams will have Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie as top cornerbacks in 2026.

  3. 03

    Buccaneers face salary cap pressure from Baker Mayfield's upcoming raise.

Transparency Panel

Sources cross-referenced1
Confidence score75%
Synthesized bySubstrate AI
Word count185 words
PublishedMay 29, 2026, 12:52 PM
Bias signals removed2 across 1 outlet
Signal Breakdown
Editorializing 1Loaded 1

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