NFL Offseason Preview - AFC & NFC South
Chew previews the NFL offseason for the AFC and NFC South teams.
Long before I knew what dynasty fantasy football was, the NFL offseason has been one of my favorite parts of the NFL. With the AFC and NFC South no longer represented in the playoffs, let’s take a look at their offseason setups. Each team has a summary for their salary cap, draft capital, and depth chart with pending free agents. And as a bonus is some good (✅) and not-so-good (❌) for each team’s offseason.
*All cap space (Top-51) and free agent information sourced from Spotrac.com, draft capital from tankathon.com, and depth charts from ESPN.com.
(UFA) → Unrestricted Free Agent -&- (RFA) → Restricted Free Agent -&- (ERFA) Exclusive Rights Free Agent
AFC SOUTH
⬛️ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (13-4)
CAP SPACE → -$4,747,410 (25th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 56, 81, 88, 100, 124, 162, 164, 233, 245 (24th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Trevor Lawrence - Nick Mullens
RB → Bhayshul Tuten - LeQuint Allen Jr.
Travis Etienne (UFA) - DeeJay Dallas (UFA)
WR → Brian Thomas Jr. - Jakobi Meyers - Parker Washington - Travis Hunter - Joshua Cephus
Dyami Brown (UFA) - Tim Patrick (UFA)
TE → Brenton Strange - Johnny Mundt - Quintin Morris - Hunter Long
✅ THE GOOD
The first-year head coach, Liam Coen, has unlocked the offense.
Growth of younger pieces in Parker Washington and Bhayshul Tuten.
One of the top defenses helps put the ball back in Trevor Lawrence’s hands.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Cap room and draft capital are in the bottom third in the NFL.
The injury to Travis Hunter and the “drop” off of Brian Thomas Jr.
Travis Etienne could bolt in free agency, cashing in on a productive season.
🟦 HOUSTON TEXANS (12-5)
CAP SPACE → $13,005,845 (19th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 28, 38, 59, 69, 106, 128, 165, 243, 244 (9th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → C.J. Stroud - Davis Mills - Graham Mertz
RB → Woody Marks - Jawhar Jordan
Nick Chubb (UFA) - Dare Ogunbowale (UFA)
WR → Nico Collins - Jayden Higgins - Xavier Hutchinson - Jaylin Noel - Justin Watson - Tank Dell
Christian Kirk (UFA) - Braxton Berrios (UFA)
TE → Dalton Schultz - Cade Stover - Harrison Bryant - Brevin Jordan
✅ THE GOOD
A fourth-round rookie in Woody Marks is a viable starting running back.
Rookie receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel have a promising future.
In case of emergency, Davis Mills serves as one of the NFL’s better backups.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
The offensive line did C.J. Stroud no favors.
Since his stellar rookie season, C.J. Stroud has not yet taken that next step.
Which pass-catcher will step up outside of Nico Collins?
🟦 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-9)
CAP SPACE → $41,763,038 (13th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 47, 78, 113, 154, 216, 230, 253 (30th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Anthony Richardson - Riley Leonard - Seth Henigan
Daniel Jones (UFA)
RB → Jonathan Taylor - Ameer Abdullah - Tyler Goodson - D.J. Giddens
Tyler Goodson (RFA) - Salvon Ahmed (UFA)
WR → Michael Pittman Jr. - Josh Downs - Ashton Dulin - Laquon Treadwell - Coleman Owen - Eli Pancol - Anthony Gould
Alec Pierce (UFA) - D.J. Montgomery (RFA)
TE → Tyler Warren - Will Mallory - Sean McKeon
Mo Alie-Cox (UFA) - Andrew Ogletree (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
Jonathan Taylor showed upside as THE RB-1 in fantasy before Daniel Jones’ injury.
Tyler Warren is a cornerstone of the offense for years to come.
We got to watch Phillip Rivers play football one more time.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
The uncertainty at quarterback in 2025 rolls into 2026 with Daniel Jones’ injury.
A promising start to the season was derailed halfway through.
A strong season from Alec Pierce means he is likely in a new uniform in 2026.
🟦 TENNESSEE TITANS (3-14)
CAP SPACE → $102,996,963 (1st)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 4, 35, 66, 101, 140, 142, 182, 238 (5th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Cam Ward - Will Levis
Brandon Allen (UFA)
RB → Tony Pollard - Tyjae Spears - Kalel Mullings
Julius Chestnut (UFA) - Charles McClelland (RFA)
WR → Calvin Ridley - Elic Ayomanor - Chimere Dike - James Proche - Mason Kinsey - Xavier Restrepo - Hal Presley
Van Jefferson (UFA) - Bryce Oliver (ERFA)
TE → Gunnar Helm - David Martin-Robinson - Joel Wilson
Chig Okonkwo (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
Cam Ward did not suffer a season-ending injury.
Rookie receivers Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor have a real future.
The Titans have a chance to find the right head coach with ample salary cap and draft capital.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Calvin Ridley was underwhelming despite being paid like the team’s WR-1.
Lack of stability at the coaching position can hinder a young quarterback’s development.
The division just got a lot tougher, while the Titans are firmly at the bottom.
NFC SOUTH
⬛️ CAROLINA PANTHERS (8-9)
CAP SPACE → $17,892,565 (17th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 19, 51, 83, 119, 156, 157, 198, 235 (18th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Bryce Young - Andy Dalton
RB → Chuba Hubbard - Trevor Etienne - Jonathon Brooks
Rico Dowdle (UFA)
WR → Tetairoa McMillan - Xavier Legette - Jimmy Horn Jr.
Jalen Coker (ERFA) - Hunter Renfrow (UFA) - David Moore (UFA) - Brycen Tremayne (ERFA)
TE → Tommy Tremble - Mitchell Evans - Ja’Tavion Sanders
James Mitchell (RFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The Panthers found their WR-1 in Tetairoa McMillan.
Word has it that Jonathan Brooks may finally be healthy for the 2026 season.
Bryce Young still has much to prove, but he is capable of putting together multiple fantasy-worthy performances in a season.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Xavier Legette’s lack of growth remains concerning.
Jalen Coker cost the Panthers a little more money after his playoff performance against the Rams.
The weekly volatility of the offense left fantasy managers uncertain of when to include the Panthers in their lineups.
🟥 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-9)
CAP SPACE → $12,939,911 (20th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 15, 46, 77, 116, 153, 193, 229 (20th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Baker Mayfield - Connor Bazelak
Teddy Bridgewater (UFA)
RB → Bucky Irving - Josh Williams
Rachaad White (UFA), Sean Tucker (RFA)
WR → Chris Godwin Jr. - Emeka Egbuka - Jalen McMillan - Tez Johnson - Kameron Johnson - Dennis Houston - Garrett Greene - Jaden Smith
Mike Evans (UFA), Sterling Shepard (UFA)
TE → Payne Durham - Devin Culp
Cade Otton (UFA) - Ko Kieft (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
When injuries hit early, rookie Emeka Egbuka stepped up in a major way.
If Mike Evans doesn’t return, there is a good mix of skillsets and experience in the receiver room.
Before an early-season injury, Bucky Irving flashed notable PPR upside.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
After winning six of their first eight games, the Buccaneers won only three of their last nine games.
Baker Mayfield and the passing attack put up far fewer points, going from a career-high 41 touchdowns in 2024 to 26 touchdowns in 2025.
Injuries hobbled nearly every starting fantasy-relevant player on the Buccaneers offense.
🟥 ATLANTA FALCONS (8-9)
CAP SPACE → $30,622,579 (15th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 48, 79, 114, 195, 231 (32nd)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Michael Penix Jr. - Kirk Cousins - Easton Stick - Emory Jones
RB → Bijan Robinson - Nathan Carter - Carlos Washington Jr.
Tyler Allgeier (UFA)
WR → Drake London - Darnell Mooney - David Sills - Dylan Drummond - Deven Thompkins - Casey Washington - Chris Blair - KhaDarel Hodge
Malik Heath (RFA)
TE → Charlie Woerner
Kyle Pitts (UFA) - Feleipe Franks (UFA) - Teagan Quitoriano (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
Bijan Robinson is on the roster… That can never be a bad thing.
By multiple metrics, Kyle Pitts had a career year.
When healthy, Drake London was once again a top-12 receiver.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Unfortunately, Kyle Pitts is now very expensive as he enters free agency.
The Falcon’s offense was in the bottom-third in points per game.
The 2026 season begins with no quarterback, no 1st round pick, and a new head coach.
⬛️ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (6-11)
CAP SPACE → -$38,601,003 (31st)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 8, 42, 73, 132, 136, 148, 170, 188 (10th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Tyler Shough - Spencer Rattler
RB → Alvin Kamara - Audric Estime - Kendre Miller - Evan Hull
WR → Chris Olave - Kevin Austin Jr. - Dante Pettis - Ronnie Bell - Samori Toure - Elijah Cooks - Bub Means - Devaughn Vele - Mason Tipton - Trey Palmer - Ja’Lynn Polk - Treyton Welch
TE → Juwan Johnson - Moliki Matavao - Treyton Welch
Taysom Hill (UFA) - Foster Moreau (UFA) - Zaire Mitchell-Paden (ERFA)
✅ THE GOOD
Tyler Shough may, in fact, be the real deal.
Chris Olave had a career year, finally realizing his fantasy potential.
A top-10 pick could be used to help bolster what was an underwhelming offense in 2025.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Last in the worst division in the NFL is never a good thing.
We may finally be witnessing the downfall of Alvin Kamara as a viable fantasy player.
The Saints’ cap space is improving, but it still has room to shrink… I mean, grow.
So you made it this far, and hopefully you enjoyed it (that’s what she said). If you wouldn’t mind sharing this in your group message with your fellow fantasy football degenerates, I would greatly appreciate it!
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