NFL Offseason Preview - AFC & NFC North
Chew previews the NFL offseason for the AFC and NFC North 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 North 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, there are some good (✅) and not-so-good (❌) for each team’s offseason.
Here is a look at the AFC & NFC South.
*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 NORTH
🟨 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
CAP SPACE → $46,280,653 (9th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 21, 53, 76, 85, 99, 121, 135, 159, 213, 214, 224, 237 (4th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Mason Rudolph - Will Howard
Aaron Rodgers (UFA), Skylar Thompson (UFA)
RB → Jaylen Warren - Kaleb Johnson
Kenneth Gainwell (UFA) - Evan Hull (ERFA)
WR → D.K. Metcalf - Marquez Valdes-Scantling - Roman Wilson
Adam Thielen (UFA) - Calvin Austin (UFA) - Scotty Miller (UFA)
TE → Pat Freiermuth - Jonnu Smith - Darnell Washington
Connor Heyward (UFA) - Donald Parham (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The Steelers revamped their offensive line into a top-10 unit in 2025.
The three tight ends combined for one solid fantasy season and are under contract for 2026.
Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell were a formidable backfield duo, with both finishing top-24 in fantasy at the position.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Despite my optimism in Will Howard, the quarterback position is a mystery in 2026.
2026 begins the Mike McCarthy era in Pittsburgh, and it’s anyone’s guess how much success that will bring.
The receiver room is more barren than the shelves of Walmart before a snowstorm.
🟪 BALTIMORE RAVENS
CAP SPACE → $23,375,560 (16th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 14, 45, 80, 115, 152, 160, 172, 173, 249, 252 (12th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Lamar Jackson - Tyler Huntley - Cooper Rush
RB → Derrick Henry - Rasheen Ali - Justice Hill
Keaton Mitchell (RFA)
WR → Zay Flowers - Rashod Bateman - Devontez Walker - LaJohntay Wester - Cornelius Johnson - Dayton Wade
DeAndre Hopkins (UFA) - Tylan Wallace (UFA) - Dayton Wade (ERFA)
TE → Mark Andrews
Isaiah Likely (UFA) - Charlie Kolar (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The Ravens have something to work with as far as cap space and draft capital.
A fresh coaching staff in 2026, led by Jesse Minter, could be the catalyst to get the Ravens over the championship hump.
Derrick Henry has a jersey to wear for as long as he chooses to play.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
The Ravens’ season was derailed by yet another Lamar Jackson injury.
The passing attack left a lot to be desired as the Ravens were in the bottom third of the league in passing yards per game.
The Ravens need to figure out who the WR-2 is moving forward.
🟧 CINCINNATI BENGALS
CAP SPACE → $55,553,551 (8th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 10, 41, 72, 110, 187, 197, 226 (17th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Joe Burrow - Sean Clifford
Joe Flacco (UFA) - Jake Browning (UFA)
RB → Chase Brown - Samaje Perine - Tahj Brooks - Gary Brightwell
WR → Ja’Marr Chase - Tee Higgins - Andrei Iosivas - Ke’Shawn Williams - Charlie Jones - Xavier Johnson - Jordan Moore
Mitchell Tinsley (ERFA)
TE → Mike Gesicki - Drew Sample
Noah Fant (UFA) - Tanner Hudson (UFA) - Cam Grandy (ERFA)
✅ THE GOOD
Joe Burrow and the primary playmakers end the season on a healthy note.
The Bengals already dealt with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins’ free agencies last offseason.
There is money to, hopefully, address the offensive line and defense.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
The Bengals’ season was derailed by yet another Joe Burrow injury.
The offensive line ranked amongst the worst in 2025.
Minimal production from the tight end position.
🟫 CLEVELAND BROWNS
CAP SPACE → -$18,681,735 (27th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 6, 24, 39, 70, 107, 139, 144, 147, 204, 248 (3rd)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Deshaun Watson - Shedeur Sanders - Dillon Gabriel
RB → Quinshon Judkins - Dylan Sampson - Raheim Sanders - Trayveon Williams - Ahmani Marshall
Jerome Ford (UFA)
WR → Jerry Jeudy - Cedric Tillman - Isaiah Bond - Gage Larvadain - Luke Floriea
Deandre Carter (UFA) - Malachi Corley (ERFA) - Jamari Thrash (ERFA)
TE → Harold Fannin Jr. - Brenden Bates
David Njoku (UFA) - Blake Whiteheart (RFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The Browns found a stud in Harold Fannin Jr. as the best rookie TE in fantasy with 11.7 points per game.
Rookie backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson offer a formidable thunder and lightning dynamic.
Two first-round picks are a great starting point for a rebuild.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
The Deshaun Watson contract continues to limit the Browns' cap room.
There is no certainty at the quarterback position for 2026.
The Browns’ offense ranked in the bottom three in both yards and points per game in 2025.
NFC NORTH
🟦 CHICAGO BEARS
CAP SPACE → -$7,232,939 (24th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 25, 57, 89, 129, 163, 239, 241 (26th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Caleb Williams - Tyson Badgent
Case Keenum (UFA)
RB → D’Andre Swift - Kyle Monangai - Roschon Johnson
Travis Homer (UFA)
WR → Rome Odunze - D.J. Moore - Luther Burden - Jahdae Walker
Olamide Zaccheaus (UFA) - Devin Duvernay (UFA)
TE → Colston Loveland - Cole Kmet
Durham Smythe (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The Bears’ offense was top-10 in yards and points per game in 2025.
Chicago boasts one of the most promising groups of pass-catchers.
Caleb Williams had his first of what should be many top-12 fantasy seasons.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Before contract restructures and other transactions, the Bears are in the bottom third in cap space for 2026.
Caleb Williams was among the lowest in completion percentage of all starting quarterbacks.
A good season leads to a later draft pick, leaving the Bears in the bottom third in draft capital.
🟩 GREEN BAY PACKERS
CAP SPACE → -$4,464,299 (22nd)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 52, 84, 120, 158, 199, 236, 254, 257 (29th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB→ Jordan Love - Demond Ridder
Malik Willis (UFA)
RB → Josh Jacobs - Emanuel Wilson - MarShawn Lloyd
Emanuel Wilson (UFA) - Chris Brooks (RFA)
WR → Christian Watson - Jayden Reed - Matthew Golden - Dontayvion Wicks - Jakobie Keeney-James - Savion Williams - Bo Melton
Romeo Doubs (UFA)
TE → Tucker Craft - Luke Musgrave - Josh Whyle
John FitzPatrick (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The Packers return nearly all of their pass catchers in 2026.
Death, taxes, and another top-12 fantasy finish for Josh Jacobs.
The oft-injured Christian Watson bounced back from a late-season ACL tear once returning in Week 8.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Backup quarterback Malik Willis is likely to leave in free agency, leaving a void at what has become an important position: the backup quarterback.
Tucker Kraft missed half the season due to a torn ACL, which could hinder performance to start the 2026 season.
Rookie first-round pick Matthew Golden left a lot to be desired in year one.
🟪 MINNESOTA VIKINGS
CAP SPACE → -$37,270,856 (30th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 18, 49, 82, 97, 161, 194, 234, 240 (19th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → J.J. McCarthy - Max Brosmer - John Wolford
Carson Wentz (UFA) - Brett Rypien (UFA)
RB → Aaron Jones Sr. - Jordan Mason
Ty Chandler (UFA) - Zavier Scott (ERFA)
WR → Justin Jefferson - Jordan Addison - Tai Felton - Jeshaun Jones - Myles Price - Dontae Fleming - Joaquin Davis
Jalen Nailor (UFA) - Rondale Moore (UFA)
TE → T.J. Hockenson - Josh Oliver - Ben Yurosek - Ben Sims
✅ THE GOOD
Justin Jefferson on the roster will always be a good thing.
The offensive line, when healthy, should fare better in 2026 than in 2025.
Despite the down year, the Vikings found themselves in the mix with an over .500 record in a tight division.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
J.J. McCarthy is simply not it, or at least not yet.
The Vikings’ offense was among the bottom third in points per game.
Cap space is just something that the Vikings do not have entering 2026.
🟦 DETROIT LIONS
CAP SPACE → -$5,351,147 (23rd)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 17, 50, 118, 155, 186, 203, 212, 222 (23rd)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Jared Goff
Kyle Allen (UFA)
RB → Jahmyr Gibbs - David Montgomery - Sione Vaki - Jacob Saylors
WR → Amon-Ra St. Brown - Jameson Williams - Isaac TeSlaa - Tom Kennedy - Dominic Lovett - Jackson Meeks - Malik Cunningham
Kalif Raymond (UFA)
TE → Sam LaPorta - Anthony Firkser - Zach Horton
Shane Zylstra (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The Lions boast two top-5 fantasy players at their respective positions in Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Jared Goff somewhat quietly winds up second in the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns.
Considering what Drew Petzing was able to do in Arizona, the arrow is pointing up in 2026 with the crop of playmakers in Detroit.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
There is not a lot in the arsenal as far as cap space or draft capital.
Not a free agent, but there have been rumors that David Montgomery may not be on the roster in 2026.
A down year in 2025 for what has been considered one of the league’s best offensive lines.
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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