Now that the 2025 NFL season is over, we're looking ahead at just how much work teams that were left out of the playoffs must do this offseason -- and potentially beyond. Which teams need to tear down and regroup? Which should take a new approach to move toward contender status? Which can be in the mix after only a savvy move or two? And which are already trending in the right direction and could contend sooner rather than later?
The Commanders have already made significant alterations on the defensive side of the ball. Daronte Jones will lead the unit after impressing during the interview process, replacing fired coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. Several assistant coaches have been let go, and Jason Simmons has taken a job with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This could merely be the tip of the iceberg. Peters must aggressively attack free agency, especially with only two selections in the first four rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
When Patrick wrote his quick look at the Chicago Bears salary cap situation, OverTheCap's projections had the 2026 NFL salary cap pegged at $295.5 million. That the projected range for the 2026 range starts at $301.2 million is significant news on its own. It would be helpful for the Bears if the league settles on a $301.2 million number for 2026. But if that number can stretch to $305.7 million, I think folks would be doing cartwheels at Halas Hall.
It was difficult to have a letdown season considering Gang Green has not had a winning campaign in a decade, yet Glenn's squad managed to do just that. They lost by at least 23 points in each of their final five games of the season and became the first team in NFL history to not intercept a single pass for an entire year.
