# NFL 2026 Offseason Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [February 13, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644 "2026-02-13T18:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/281 "2026-05-14T14:53:01Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > The schedule gets released today, but [it’s been leaked](https://x.com/Schultz_Report/status/2054682356607279460) that the season opener will be a Super Bowl rematch Pats at Seahawks on Thursday night. There’s about a 42% chance that the schedule works out to allow a rematch, so nice it did this year. I’m looking forward to Seattle being able to start the season with an easy game. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/282 "2026-05-14T14:53:45Z")
Meanwhile, the Giants (and the rest of the NFC East) face a good news/bad news situation: We get to play the AFC South, woohoo! What’s the catch? Also the NFC West. At least the 17th game is against the Browns. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/283 "2026-05-14T14:58:18Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > What’s the catch? Also the NFC West. Hey, at least the Cardinals are part of that. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/284 "2026-05-14T15:16:24Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I’m looking forward to Seattle being able to start the season with an easy game. 🙂 Zing! Yeah, they’re already talking about whether the Pats reach double digit wins or not this season… ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/285 "2026-05-14T15:43:09Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Yeah, they’re already talking about whether the Pats reach double digit wins or not this season… I do think that Drake Maye is the real deal (and he was an MVP candidate for a reason). I think they have talent. I think that team has potential. If Vrabel can figure out his personal issues and put that behind him, he has a chance to make that team special. I don’t think they are there yet, and they made it to the Super Bowl via a lot of luck. Not _just_ luck; a totally crap team could not have done it. And they aren’t that bad. But they had a very soft schedule that allowed them to make the postseason, and once there they had an impressive defensive win over the Chargers, then faced the Texans as that team was having an offensive collapse (seriously, CJ Stroud was garbage in that game), and then faced a Broncos team that lost its QB. I don’t get the feeling that the Patriots are going to be dramatically different on day 1 of this season; they got new O linemen to address a glaring issue, but that will probably need to be developed. It’s still going to be a flawed team, and Seattle didn’t lose all that much from the inevitable Super Bowl attrition this offseason. So, I expect it won’t be all that different than what happened in the SB. Who knows, maybe a fired-up New England will come wanting revenge, and they’ll be better than expected. I have the feeling that over the next couple of years they are going to be solidly on top of their division. I don’t know what’s going on in Buffalo; they seemed to regress last year, and firing their head coach was not a good look. The Dolphins still suck, and there might be hope that the Giants will get better with Dart and Harbaugh, but that will also be a work in progress. Patriots fans should be optimistic. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/286 "2026-05-14T15:59:14Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I have the feeling that over the next couple of years they are going to be solidly on top of their division. I don’t know what’s going on in Buffalo; they seemed to regress last year, and firing their head coach was not a good look. The Dolphins still suck, and there might be hope that the Giants will get better with Dart and Harbaugh, but that will also be a work in progress. Patriots fans should be optimistic. Wrong New York team, as far as being AFC East competition. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/287 "2026-05-14T16:00:58Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Wrong New York team, as far as being AFC East competition. 😉 Yes, brain fart on my part. I don’t know why I got the Jets and Giants mixed up. They are absolutely _not_ the same team, not lately at least. The Giants have real hope, the Jets are still the Jets, doing Jets stuff. Their job is to make things easy for the rest of the division. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/288 "2026-05-14T16:58:08Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I don’t think they are there yet, and they made it to the Super Bowl via a lot of luck. Not _just_ luck; a totally crap team could not have done it. And they aren’t that bad. The Patriots had no business being in the Super Bowl last year, being in the first year of a complete rebuild. They got extremely lucky with a soft schedule and good breaks in the post-season. The schedule this year is much, much harder (on paper). There is no question in my mind they will regress toward the mean. That said, Vrabel is a great coach despite the current personal distractions, and Drake Maye is legit. Assuming the usual caveats about injuries, they should be in playoff contention. I’m thinking 10 wins and a wild-card spot is a reasonable guess. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/289 "2026-05-14T17:03:34Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > That said, Vrabel is a great coach despite the current personal distractions, and Drake Maye is legit. Assuming the usual caveats about injuries, they should be in playoff contention. I’m thinking 10 wins and a wild-card spot is a reasonable guess. I agree. They are going to be a team to watch out for. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/290 "2026-05-15T01:25:49Z")
I’m not a fan of teams’ “schedule release videos” in the first place, but the 49ers put out an AI slopfest that’s so bad I wonder if a human was involved at all. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/291 "2026-05-17T00:31:44Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The Steelers have placed an Unrestricted Free Agent tag on Aaron Rodgers, who has still not announced whether he intends to play in 2026, or whether he intends on returning to Pittsburgh. It’s now official: Rodgers is returning to the Steelers on a one-year contract, to play under his one-time Packers coach, Mike McCarthy. He is 42, and will be the league’s oldest player this season. > **[Sources: Aaron Rodgers to sign 1-year deal with Steelers](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48791130/aaron-rodgers-sign-1-year-deal-steelers)** > > Four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers is expected to return the Steelers on a one-year deal worth up to $25 million, sources told ESPN on Saturday. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/292 "2026-05-17T01:07:15Z")
so early?? I thought for sure he’d stretch it out till, I don’t know, training camp ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/293 "2026-05-19T19:44:34Z")
Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice has apparently violated his parole stemming from his involvement in a car accident that left multiple people injured two years ago. He’s been [taken into custody for 30 days](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48818374/chiefs-rashee-rice-tests-positive-pot-miss-otas-minicamp), meaning he’ll miss the start of OTAs and the mandatory minicamp. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/294 "2026-05-19T23:43:05Z")
Complete ineptitude from the NFL [https://www.instagram.com/stories/jaxsnj/3900207145409096494?utm\_source=ig\_story\_item\_share&igsh=Y3EwczhuajVuaTUy](https://www.instagram.com/stories/jaxsnj/3900207145409096494?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=Y3EwczhuajVuaTUy) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/295 "2026-05-19T23:45:54Z")
> [@Jegpeg](#): > > Complete ineptitude from the NFL It’s always helpful to explain what you’re linking to, at least a little bit, to help out your fellow Dopers, especially as one can’t see the content of your link without signing into Instagram. In short: Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s trophy for winning Offensive Player of the Year last season reads “Defensive Player of the Year.” ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/296 "2026-05-20T00:08:55Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > In short: Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s trophy for winning Offensive Player of the Year last season reads “Defensive Player of the Year.” Don’t they say that the best offense is a good defense? ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/297 "2026-05-20T00:12:13Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > In short: Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s trophy for winning Offensive Player of the Year last season reads “Defensive Player of the Year.” That’s really offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/298 "2026-05-20T03:52:58Z")
At the 2018 Olympics, the U.S. won the gold medal in men’s curling. On the podium, the team were given the medals for women’s curling. It got sorted out pretty quickly, and I expect this will, too. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/299 "2026-05-20T19:39:45Z")
Speaking of Aaron Rodgers, he’s announced [that he’s retiring after the upcoming season.](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48827851/steelers-aaron-rodgers-says-plans-retire-season) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/300 "2026-05-20T21:56:03Z")
> Rodgers, though, added that he thought his career in Pittsburgh was over after former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin resigned following the team’s wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans in January. > > “When he said he was stepping away, that was an emotional moment just because we all love him so much and care about him, and I thought that was probably it for me in Pittsburgh,” Rodgers said. “But when the decision was made to hire Mike, I started opening my mind back up to coming back.” Am I the only one struggling to believe that any of the above is sincere? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644.md?page=16)