NFL Offseason Preview - AFC & NFC West
Chew previews the NFL offseason for the AFC and NFC West teams.
Long before I knew what dynasty fantasy football was, the NFL offseason has been one of my favorite parts of the NFL. The Super Bowl is nearly here, so aside from the Seahawks, the rest of the AFC and NFC West are no longer represented in the playoffs, so 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 & AFC & NFC North.
*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 WEST
🟧 DENVER BRONCOS (14-3)
CAP SPACE → $27,993,090 (13th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 30, 62, 94, 108, 130, 168, 246, 251, 255 (23rd)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Bo Nix - Jarrett Stidham - Sam Elinger
RB → R.J. Harvey
J.K. Dobbins (UFA), Jaleel McLaughlin (RFA), Tyler Badie (ERFA)
WR → Courtland Sutton - Troy Franklin - Pat Bryant - Marvin Mims Jr.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey (UFA)
TE → Evan Engram
Adam Trautman (UFA) - Marcedes Lewis (UFA) - Lucas Krull (RFA) - Nate Adkins (RFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The Broncos have plenty of cap room to address offensive upgrades.
The defense helped give Bo Nix more fantasy opportunities in what was a step back from his rookie year fantasy production.
Rookie R.J. Harvey flashed fantasy upside with five top-12 weekly finishes.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
The impact of the new “Joker” Evan Engram was not so serious.
The Broncos need a go-to pass catcher for Bo Nix.
While R.J. Harvey showed flashes, the Broncos’ backfield would be best-served with an additional back.
🟦 LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-6)
CAP SPACE → $87,235,325 (3rd)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 22, 55, 86, 123, 202 (28th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Justin Herbert
Trey Lance (UFA)
RB → Omarion Hampton - Kimani Vidal - Jaret Patterson
Najee Harris (UFA), Hassan Haskins (UFA)
WR → Ladd McConkey - Quentin Johnston - Tre’ Harris - Derius Davis - KeAndre Lambert-Smith
Keenan Allen (UFA)
TE → Oronde Gadsden - Will Dissly
Tyler Conklin (UFA) - Tucker Fisk (RFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The Chargers enter the offseason with the third-most cap space.
There is a young core of Justin Herbert, Omarion Hampton, Ladd McConkey, and Oronde Gadsden.
Mike McDaniel steps in as the new offensive coordinator… enough said.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Injuries once again derailed a would-be promising Chargers’ season.
The offensive line was one of the league’s worst (exasperated by injuries).
I’ve got nothing else.
🟥 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-11)
CAP SPACE → -$57,583,869 (32nd)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 9, 40, 74, 109, 146, 176 (16th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Patrick Mahomes - Chris Oladokun
Gardner Minshew (UFA)
RB → Brashard Smith - Dameon Pierce
Kareem Hunt (UFA), Isiah Pacheco (UFA), Keaontay Ingram (RFA)
WR → Rashee Rice - Xavier Worthy - Jalen Royals - Jimmy Holiday - Andrew Armstrong
Marquise Brown (UFA), JuJu Smith-Schuster (UFA), Tyquan Thornton (UFA) - Nikko Remigio (ERFA)
TE → Noah Gray - Jarey Wiley
Travis Kelce (UFA), Robert Tonyan, Jr. (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
Rashee Rice returned to form and finished with the fifth-most fantasy points per game in 2025.
It looks like Travis Kelce is running it back, and he remains a top-10 fantasy tight end.
The last time the Chiefs made a pick inside the top-10 of the NFL Draft was in 2017 when they drafted Patrick Mahomes. They could draft another cornerstone offensive player in Jeremiyah Love with the 9th pick.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
The league’s least amount of cap space is never a good way to enter the offseason.
Patrick Mahomes’ season ended in December with an ACL and PCL tear.
The Chiefs’ rushing attack was in the bottom-third in 2025.
⬛️ LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (3-14)
CAP SPACE → $87,821,212 (2nd)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 1, 36, 67, 102, 117, 134, 175, 180, 183, 219 (2nd)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Geno Smith - Aidan O’Connell
Kenny Pickett (UFA)
RB → Ashton Jeanty - Dylan Laube
Raheem Mostert (UFA), Zamir White (UFA)
WR → Tre Tucker - Jack Bech - Dont’e Thornton Jr. - Alex Bachman - Shedrick Jackson - Phillip Dorsett - Justin Shorter - Brenden Rice
Tyler Lockett (UFA)
TE → Brock Bowers - Michael Mayer - Ian Thomas - Carter Runyon - Albert Okwuegbunam Jr.
Dylan Parham (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The second most cap space for a team in need of impact players.
The first overall pick gives the offense a new play caller in Heisman winner, national champion Fernando Mendoza.
The new head coach, Klink Kubiak, has a stable of offensive weapons in Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
The Raiders’ offensive line was among the worst in the NFL, which won’t make it easy for a rookie quarterback.
Outside of Brock Bowers, the pass-catchers are lacking.
There is reason for optimism with Kubiak’s success, but it is still his first head coaching opportunity.
NFC WEST
🟩 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (14-3)
CAP SPACE → $75,597,972 (5th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 32, 64, 96, 211 (31st)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Sam Darnold - Drew Lock - Jalen Milroe
RB → Zach Charbonnet - Kenny McIntosh
Kenneth Walker (UFA) - George Holani (ERFA)
WR → Jaxon Smith-Njigba - Cooper Kupp - Tory Horton - Cody White
Rashid Shaheed (UFA) - Jake Bobo (RFA) - Dareke Young (UFA)
TE → A.J. Barner - Elijah Arroyo - Eric Saubert - Nick Kallerup
Brady Russell (RFA)
✅ THE GOOD
Making the Super Bowl is always a pro. Congrats to the NFC representatives!
Jaxson Smith-Njigba has finally been unlocked, finishing as THE WR-2 in 2025.
After a slow start, Kenneth Walker stepped up with Zach Charbonnet injured, and Seattle would be wise to bring him back.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Kenneth Walker made himself an expensive re-signing this offseason.
There is not much draft capital when you make it to the Super Bowl.
That’s it!
🟨 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-5)
CAP SPACE → $25,538,414 (15th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 27, 58, 92, 127, 133, 138, 171 (22nd)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Brock Purdy - Mac Jones - Kurtis Rourke
RB → Christian McCaffrey - Jordan James - Isaac Guerendo
Brian Robinson (UFA) - Patrick Taylor (UFA)
WR → Ricky Pearsall - Brandon Aiyuk - Demarcus Robinson - Jordan Watkins - Jacob Cowing
Jauan Jennings (UFA) - Kendrick Bourne (UFA) - Skyy Moore (UFA) - Trent Taylor (UFA)
TE → George Kittle - Luke Farrell
Jake Tonges (RFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The 49ers’ offense remained potent, whether it was Brock Purdy or Mac Jones.
Despite injuries derailing 2024, Christian McCaffrey finished as THE RB-1.
Moderate cap space and minimal turnover on offense allow for upgrades for the 49ers’ offensive weapons.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Every impactful player on offense got hurt, except for Christian McCaffrey.
It looks like the reunion with Brandon Aiyuk is no longer a likelihood.
The 49ers need to prepare for football without Trent Williams as he enters his age-38 season.
🟦 LOS ANGELES RAMS (12-5)
CAP SPACE → $46,762,912 (8th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 13, 29, 61, 93, 167, 205, 208, 232, 250, 256 (9th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Matthew Stafford - Stetson Bennet
Jimmy Garoppolo (UFA)
RB → Kyren Williams - Blake Corum - Ronnie Rivers - Jarquez Hunter
WR → Puka Nacua - Davante Adams - Konata Mumpfield - Jordan Whittington
TuTu Atwell (UFA) - Xavier Smith (ERFA)
TE → Colby Parkinson - Terrance Ferguson - Davis Allen
Tyler Higbee (UFA)
✅ THE GOOD
The Falcons gifted the Rams the 13th pick to add to a playoff-caliber roster.
Matthew Stafford looks as good as ever, finishing as a finalist for the MVP, leading the NFL’s most potent offense with 30.5 points per game.
Puka Nacua finished as THE WR-1 in fantasy, and it likely won’t be the last time.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
The aggregate tight end production was serviceable, but the Rams would be best served with growth from Terrance Ferguson.
Davante Adams hasn’t lost his touchdown-catching touch, but the Rams need to consider a contingency plan for the aging receiver.
That’s all, folks!
🟥 ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-14)
CAP SPACE → $35,673,790 (10th)
DRAFT CAPITAL → 3, 34, 65, 104, 141, 181, 217 (7th)
DEPTH CHART & FREE AGENTS:
QB → Kyler Murray - Jacoby Brissett - Kedon Slovis
RB → James Conner - Michael Carter - Corey Kiner
Zonovan Knight (RFA) - Emari Demercado (RFA)
WR → Marvin Harrison Jr. - Michael Wilson - Xavier Weaver - Jalen Brooks - Tejhaun Palmer - Bryson Green - Simi Fehoko - Andre Baccellia
Greg Dortch (UFA) - Zay Jones (UFA)
TE → Trey McBride - Elijah Higgins - Josiah Deguara - Pharaoh Brown
Travis Vokolek (RFA)
✅ THE GOOD
Since Week 11, Michael Wilson had five top-10 fantasy performances with two as THE WR-1.
There was one Cardinal to earn All-Pro honors, and that was arguably the best tight end in the NFL, Trey McBride.
The Cardinal’s new head coach, Mike LaFleur, could bring some of that Sean McVay offensive success.
❌ THE NOT SO GOOD
Despite the talent of Kyler Murray and 2025 heroics from Jacoby Brissett, the Cardinals’ quarterback situation is murky in 2026.
The Cardinals had the second-fewest rushing yards per game, which was amplified by the season-ending injury of James Conner.
The Cardinals are still trying to figure out how to maximize production from their first-round receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr.
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!
If you prefer to listen to words rather than read them, check out the Faux Football Podcast!