With 30 teams already looking ahead to next season, the NFL offseason is officially underway for just about everyone not named the 49ers or Chiefs. Free agency is less than six weeks out.
The draft is barreling down the tracks. And while Super Bowl 60 will crown a champion soon enough, for most front offices, the real work has already begun.
This is the time of year when rosters get reshaped, coaching staffs retooled, and futures rewritten. Some teams are looking to maintain momentum.
Others are desperate to change the narrative. Let’s take a closer look at three franchises that enter the 2026 offseason with a little more urgency than most - and why this spring could be pivotal in defining their next chapter.
1. New York Jets: Time’s up for excuses
The Jets are staring down the barrel of another offseason filled with big questions and even bigger expectations. After a season that saw their defense go an entire year without recording a single interception - a stat that almost defies belief - head coach Aaron Glenn is getting a second chance. That’s a bold decision considering how historically ineffective the unit was under his watch, but the front office opted to clean house around him rather than move on entirely.
Still, the bigger issue might be cultural. The Jets haven’t won more than seven games in a season in over a decade.
That’s not just a slump - that’s a full-blown identity crisis. And while quarterback remains the headline-grabber (as it always does in New York), the truth is this team has holes just about everywhere.
The good news? They’ve got ammunition.
Two first-round picks and $83 million in cap space give them the kind of flexibility most GMs dream about. The challenge will be using those resources wisely - not just to make a splash, but to build a roster that can finally compete in a loaded AFC.
Whether it’s shoring up the trenches, adding playmakers on both sides of the ball, or finally stabilizing the quarterback position, the Jets have options. What they don’t have is time to waste.
2. Tennessee Titans: A fresh start with serious potential
Robert Saleh didn’t get the ending he wanted in New York, but he may have landed in a better situation in Tennessee. After a strong year coordinating San Francisco’s defense, Saleh now takes over a Titans team that’s quietly set up for a big leap.
And the biggest reason? Cap space.
Tennessee leads the league in available money this offseason, and they don’t have any major contract extensions looming. That’s a rare combo - and one that gives them the chance to be aggressive in free agency without having to worry about internal retention.
Then there’s the quarterback. Cam Ward had his ups and downs as a rookie, but the flashes were real.
He’s mobile, confident, and showed an ability to make plays outside the structure - the kind of traits that can thrive under the right coaching. Saleh’s defensive pedigree should help solidify that side of the ball, but the real key will be building around Ward and giving him the support young quarterbacks need to take the next step.
This isn’t a rebuild. It’s a reset - and with the right moves, the Titans could be a team no one wants to face by the time the fall rolls around.
3. Buffalo Bills: The window is still open - barely
Buffalo’s 2025 campaign was supposed to be their redemption arc. The AFC was wide open, the roster was largely intact, and Josh Allen was still playing at an elite level. But once again, the Bills couldn’t quite break through.
This time, they’re not standing pat. Head coach Sean McDermott is out, and offensive coordinator Joe Brady has been promoted to the top job - a clear signal that the franchise is ready to shift gears. Brady’s promotion suggests a more aggressive focus on maximizing Allen’s prime, and that starts with giving him better weapons on the outside.
The problem? The Bills are currently in the red when it comes to cap space.
That means GM Brandon Beane has some financial gymnastics to pull off before any roster upgrades can happen. But urgency should be the driving force here.
Allen is still one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the league, but he can’t do it alone - and Buffalo’s pass rush, which has been inconsistent for years, needs a serious boost if they’re going to contend with the AFC’s top-tier offenses.
This is a team that’s been knocking on the door for a while. But if they want to finally kick it down, they’ll need to get creative - and aggressive - this offseason.
Bottom line: The offseason is where contenders are made and pretenders get exposed. For the Jets, Titans, and Bills, the stakes are higher than most. Whether it’s chasing relevance, capitalizing on cap space, or finally getting over the hump, these three teams have no choice but to get it right.