Ranking the Top 10 NFL Team Off-Seasons (So Far) of 2023

 With the main blur of free agency and trades behind us and the draft approaching in a couple of weeks, today felt like a good time to rank my personal top 10 teams of the off-season so far. To be clear, this is not a rankings for the teams I think are the top 10 in the LEAGUE right now, but just the top 10 best off-seasons. Here we go.

10. New Orleans Saints

Notable Additions: QB Derek Carr (FA signing), 2023 1st-round pick (via trade), RB Jamaal Williams (FA signing), CB Lonnie Johnson (FA signing), TE Juwan Johnson (re-signed), WR Michael Thomas (re-signed)

When I was going through and creating this rankings, the Saints snuck up on me into the no. 10 spot. The Saints have quietly had a really positive off-season despite where they sort of started. Going into the off-season I was bracing for the Saints to only lose personnel and be poised for a league bottom 2023 type season. I was very wrong. The front office did an amazing job, first by luring in a perennial Pro Bowl level QB in Derek Carr to give the Saints their franchise guy for the next 4+ years. They also were able to net a first round pick for their former HC Sean Payton who was literally retired. 

One of the best steal signings of the off-season was also getting TD machine RB Jamaal Williams to create an unreal backfield pairing with Alvin Kamara. In a complete wasteland of an NFC South, the Saints just set themselves up to be favorites. 

9. Denver Broncos

Notable Additions: HC Sean Payton (via trade), OT Mike McGlinchey (FA signing), DL Zach Allen (FA signing), RB Samaje Perine (FA signing), LB Alex Singleton (FA signing)

At no. 9 comes the other end of the infamous Sean Payton trade. While giving up a first round pick for something other then a player might sound crazy (and it might be crazy), Sean Payton is one of the few guys that could truly be worth it. This is an elite, S tier offensive coach to a team that desperately needs structure and leadership from a head man. We all saw what happened in Russell Wilson's first year as a Bronco. If Payton can't fix it, no one can. The move set the precedent for the rest of the off-season (to this point), as Denver was wildly aggressive in FA, bringing in some great talent to upgrade the roster. 

OT Mike McGlinchey was probably the best OT on the market and while he was expensive, he will be every bit worth it for what was a porous Denver OL in 2022. Zach Allen is also still young and coming off a career year in Arizona, he will now be arguably Denver's best D-lineman (as they did lose DT Dre'Mont Jones in FA as well). Alex Singleton and Samaje Perine are not huge names, but man are they good players to fill out some needs on this roster. Aside from the Payton move, this might not be a flashy off-season, but it was a damn good one for Denver.

8. New York Giants

Notable Additions: QB Daniel Jones (re-signed), RB Saquon Barkley (re-signed), TE Darren Waller (via trade), LB Bobby Okereke (FA signing), WR Isaiah Hodgins (re-signed), WR Parris Campbell (FA signing), DB Bobby McCain (FA signing)

After a breakthrough 2022 campaign under first year HC Brian Daboll, the Giants knew they had to go all in on their core guys AND add to that group to make another step forward. I would say they have done that well so far this off-season. It may have hurt to dish out so much money to QB Daniel Jones and RB Saquon Barkley, but they are the foundation of this offense and it simply had to be done. Then, the team made headlines when they went out and traded a measley third-round pick for Darren fricken' Waller. Waller is an easy top 5 TE in the league and one of the biggest match-up nightmares in the NFL. He instantly makes this receiving core that much more legit. The team also brought back breakout pass catcher Isaiah Hodgins and added some elite speed on the perimeter in former Colt, Parris Campbell.

The Giants even added some good names on defense, signing productive and young LB Bobby Okereke to fill a big void in the middle of the D AND super underrated DB Bobby McCain, who will probably be a captain-like player in that secondary. The Giants' roster is better today than the one that made the Divisional Round in 2022, so there should be a lot of optimism in East Rutherford heading into the 2023 kickoff.

7. Minnesota Vikings

Notable Additions: CB Byron Murphy (FA signing), DE Marcus Davenport (FA signing), DC Brian Flores (Hired), C Garrett Bradbury (re-signed), RB Alexander Mattison (re-signed), K Greg Joseph (re-signed)

Despite losing to the Giants in the wildcard round of the playoffs, I can still say the Vikings slightly outdid them so far in free agency. Minnesota quietly reeled in two of the biggest names on the market, in young stud CB Byron Murphy (who is a MAJOR upgrade) and high upside rusher Marcus Davenport. This porous defense just got miles better with those two coming over alone. But did I say defense? That's right, it IS going to be that much better, because they also hired one of the best defensive minds in the game to become their defensive coordinator. Brian Flores, the former Dolphin head coach, will be revamping this defense as a whole, and it starts with including these stud players they just picked up.

On the other side of the ball, the Vikings made two key re-signings in quality starter Garrett Bradbury to return and anchor the OL AND top end RB2 Alexander Mattison, who makes gameplanning for Dalvin Cook that much harder. A little cherry on top was also bringing back Greg Joseph, the Kicker, who was awesome for Minnesota in 2022. Things are looking up for the Vikings who have aced this off-season so far, aside from losing WR Adam Thielen. 

6. Miami Dolphins

Notable Additions: CB Jalen Ramsey (via trade), DC Vic Fangio (hired), LB David Long (FA signing), QB Mike White (FA signing), RBs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. (re-signings), DB DeShon Elliott (FA signing)

I know I just gassed up the Vikings for bringing in one of the best DCs in the game to their staff, well Miami one-upped them, by getting THE best DC in the game in Vic Fangio. Fangio was out of the league last season but decided to come back in and coach on Mike McDaniel's staff. The moves made after that huge hire reflected how this team got him on board. Star power. The Dolphins made arguably the biggest deal of the off-season, securing perennial All-Pro and SB champ Jalen Ramsey for next to nothing. Ramsey and Xavien Howard will create probably the best CB duo in all of football for 2023. While that move was front and center on everyone's minds, a lot of people brushed over the absolute bargain of a deal Miami also got with former Titan LB David Long. Long is still under 27 years old and was one of the best all-around LBs in the NFL last season. Vic Fangio is going to use him damn well.

Aside from those more major moves, the Dolphins made a lot of smaller deals that will actually prove to be huge in 2023. Bringing back both feature RBs in Mostert and Wilson Jr. is major along with the addition of very underrated safety DeShon Elliott to help on the back-end. There is a new no-fly zone, and it is in South Beach. The team also made sure to spend good money to bring in QB Mike White, who is one of the best backups in the league in the likely case Tua Tagovailoa gets injured again next season at some point.

5. Detroit Lions

Notable Additions: DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (FA signing), RB David Montgomery (FA signing), CB Cam Sutton (FA signing), OG Graham Glasgow (signing), CB Emmanuel Moseley (FA signing)

The team pegged by many as 'the team with the brightest future in the league' did even more during this first main portion of the off-season to ensure that it could become true. While it wasn't on the first day of FA or anything, the Lions took their time and pitched elite DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson on their vision, and he signed on. They got a steal of a deal on CGD and now have a new best player in their secondary with him. While I think they missed out on bringing back RB Jamaal Williams, they replaced him quickly with David Montgomery from the Bears, who is no slouch. The signing of CB Cam Sutton from Pittsburgh was huge too, as the team continued to improve its bad secondary. With multiple first round picks around the corner to be made, and THIS FA class, the Lions will be set up for success in 2023.

4. Carolina Panthers

Notable Additions: HC Frank Reich (hired), 1st overall pick in 2023 draft (via trade), RB Miles Sanders (FA signing), S Vonn Bell (FA signing), TE Hayden Hurst (FA signing), C Bradley Bozeman (FA signing), QB Andy Dalton (FA signing), WR Adam Thielen (FA signing), WR DJ Chark (FA signing)

I don't know if there has been a more active team this off-season than the Panthers, and it has looked really good for them. They started out on the right foot by making a great hire in experienced offensive minded HC Frank Reich, who then went on to assemble an All-Star staff around him, including elite DC Ejiro Evero among others. The team then made a MASSIVE trade to move up from pick 9 to 1 in this year's draft. They may have overpayed, especially with giving up Pro Bowl caliber WR DJ Moore in the process, but if they can hit on this QB, it will all be worth it. 

After Reich layed out the groundwork for what this team needed, they got to work in FA. They first added 1,000 yard rusher from 2022 in Miles Sanders to be the new lead back in Charlotte, they then added one of my favorite DBs in football in Vonn Bell to guard TEs, and then they added some more weapons in perennial Pro Bowler Adam Thielen and matchup nightmare DJ Chark among other moves. This off-season has just been so good thus far for Carolina and now we get to see what QB will get to drop into this offense and benefit from this stuff. Good job finally in Carolina.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

Notable Additions: OT Orlando Brown Jr. (FA signing), LB Germaine Pratt (re-signed), TE Irv Smith Jr. (FA signing), CB Sidney Jones (FA signing)

This might not look like a ton compared to some of the last teams, but I cannot overstate enough how huge of a deal it was for the Bengals to sign Orlando Brown Jr. at OT. They filled their biggest need WHILE hurting their biggest rival in the Chiefs. That was just a huge get, and one that could get them truly over the hump in 2023. Along with that, the team re-signed standout defensive piece Germaine Pratt, and brought in quality pieces like Irv Smith and Sidney Jones who will play important roles for them this season. I love what the Bengals have done so far.

2. Seattle Seahawks

Notable Additions: QB Geno Smith (re-signed), DT Dre'Mont Jones (FA signing), LB Bobby Wagner (FA signing), S Julian Love (FA signing), LB Devin Bush (FA signing), C Evan Brown (FA signing), DT Jarran Reed (FA signing), K Jason Myers (re-signed), QB Drew Lock (re-signed)

This 2022-23 period just keeps on giving to Seattle. After trading Russell Wilson, things have really only gone up which is insane to say. Seattle is in the midst of their best off-season of the Pete Carroll/John Schneider era. They opened it up with a bang, re-signing breakthrough QB Geno Smith to a multi-year mega-deal to be their QB of the foreseeable future. They also re-signed Pro Bowl K Jason Myers (a bigger deal than you may think). That wasn't all though for Seattle, they were just getting started.

On the first day of FA, they cashed in big time, roping in superstar DT Dre'Mont Jones to Seattle on a huge deal, and then filling their biggest void on the team by bringing back future HOFer Bobby Wagner to Seattle (a match made in heaven)! All of those big moves were awesome for Seattle, but they have also made a series of more under the radar moves that will prove to be huge for them in 2023. Julian Love and Devin Bush will get key defensive snaps this year and C Evan Brown is one of the more underrated O-linemen in the league and will start at C for the Hawks. Jarran Reed coming back to Seattle will be a huge help for the DL as well. What a period so far for the Hawks, and the best is yet to come, as the team has TWO top 20 picks in the draft, including one at FIVE!

1. Chicago Bears

Notable Additions: WR DJ Moore/9th overall pick in 2023 draft/2024 first rounder/multiple 2nd round picks (via trade), LB Tremaine Edmunds (FA signing), OG Nate Davis (FA signing), LB TJ Edwards (FA signing), RB D'Onta Foreman (FA signing), TE Robert Tonyan (FA signing), QB PJ Walker (FA signing), DL Demarcus Walker (FA signing)

Holy Ryan Poles masterclass. The second year GM looks like a seasoned vet at this point, as he has had an off-season for the ages so far. It all got started when the Bears FLEECED Carolina for the top pick in the draft, moving down just 8 spots and yielding a king's ransom that included bona fide WR1 DJ Moore, an extra first rounder in 2024, and MULTIPLE second rounders (this and next year). That move alone would have the Bears in the top 5. 

Then, no one spent more than Chicago in FA, as the Bears shelled out big deals left and right to drastically improve their bottom-feeding roster. They got the best LB on the market in Tremaine Edmunds who will be a huge piece for the future. They also got another one of the best LBs on the market in TJ Edwards, who is coming off an elite season for the defending NFC champs. Poles made sure to do even more to surround young QB Justin Fields with talent other than just acquiring DJ Moore. He brought in one of the most underrated RBs in football in D'Onta Foreman, one of the surest pairs of hands in the game in Bob Tonyan at TE, and the best OG available in Nate Davis. This has been just a crazy off-season so far for the Bears, and they still have the 9th pick among many other early round picks to work with. These Bears are on the rise!