The NFL’s most underrated offseason storylines, including running backs getting paid

As Rose Bucater put it so well at the beginning of the 1997 blockbuster “Titanic”: “84 years have passed!“

It didn’t happen. Exactly It’s been 84 years since the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX on February 8, but the interminable wait for the next meaningful NFL game has been agonizing. Of course, as a Cleveland Browns fan watching the team’s quarterback play during training camp, it’s not painful, but painful.

The 2026 regular season is finally upon us, beginning Wednesday with a Super Bowl rematch. Alongside the return of the NFL, our weekly trending column is back for a second season. To returning readers, thanks for following along.

For newcomers, here’s what to expect. Each week, we examine a trend around the NFL. Next, we outline the five teams we think have the best chance to win the Super Bowl. This is different. Power levelsIn that we prioritize the big picture. That typically means less heavy swings. For example, if Josh Allen misses two games and the Buffalo Bills lose both contests, the Bills may still be on the list. But if Allen is out for the rest of the season, the Bills could fall out of the top five.

The same goes for the bottom five, which not only examines the worst teams, but also which team has the best chance to take the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Things like remaining schedule and other things are taken into consideration with the team. Hang in there, Miami Dolphins fans.

Each class has a top five, descending in order, followed by an “unrated” slot. It is an unrated choice. is not The sixth-ranked option in that category; It’s a place to discuss anything that falls under a category but doesn’t make it into the top five.

The goal here is to provide a one-stop summary of everything you need to know about what’s going on in the NFL. The tone is meant to be lighter than most of what you’ve read from our wonderful staff of writers. For those who are fans Athletics Hockey cover, this is a concept we borrowed from Dawn Goss Brown, with the blessing of Sean McIndoe. Feedback and interaction are always welcome in the comments.

Without further ado, let’s get to it!

Bonus Five: Out-of-season unrecorded stories

5. Playing surface tension: Players have been voicing their concerns about playing on artificial pitches for years, but opposition has intensified with this season’s World Cup in the city. In the year League-wide social media campaign In mid-July, a league source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said there could be efforts by the players to make their voices heard this offseason. The league could eventually lie, but it could be extended and used as a bargaining chip for something bigger down the road, such as an 18th regular season game.

4. Betting scams: The NFL has issued a handful of gambling-related bans in 2023, and wide receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended for an entire season a year ago. However, the league is indefinite Blocking a high-ranking front office executive For an NFL team, this playoff season is a reminder of the new reality emerging in sports in 2026, as Ryan Gould, director of college scouting for the Arizona Cardinals, did. Barring the former Texas Tech quarterback’s entry into the supplemental draft.

3. Kickers on the money: of The evolution of kickers It’s been simmering for two years in Kansas City, with stars like Harrison Butker and Dallas’ Brandon Aubrey rotating from long distance. Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little became the face of last year’s trend, a 70-yard in the preseason Then a Regular season record 68-yarder.

This season, the Houston Texans’ Kaimie Fairbairn, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Chris Boswell and Aubrey all surpassed Booker as the league’s highest-paid quarterback. As the investment in talented kickers increases, it will be important to monitor how it affects games each week, especially in semi-final situations.

2. Running back (like) they are behind In the year After Ezekiel Elliott’s monster contract extension in 2019, the league has largely returned from paying a running back top dollar. The build has been slow, but Christian McCaffrey staying healthy, Saquon Barkley’s impressive 2024 season and Kenneth Walker winning the Super Bowl MVP in 2026 are some of the latest data points that have helped rebuild the market. Bijan Robinson, Jahmir Gibbs and Jonathan Taylor have been the beneficiaries of that this season.

The layout is still far from the old one. Gibbs leads all backs with an AAV of $22.5 million. Gibbs’ AAV ranks him 102nd among all NFL players this year, according to Spotrac. There are 85 non-quarterbacks ahead of the highest-paid running back.

1. Max Crosby is still a Las Vegas Raider…for now. One week of Max Crosby The trade saga was wild, After the agreed-upon trade, Crosby presented the Raiders with a 13-minute farewell video It was given the night before free agency. kick off. Crosby and the Raiders are handling the fallout professionally. Still, it’s no secret that it comes at a price.

If Crosby has a strong start to the season and overcomes the concerns about his knee, he will not only be a prize at the 2026 NFL trade deadline (November 10), but with his price, he can determine the direction of the entire trade market.

Unrated – A Perfect Storm in Hollywood; Remember when it was Such a big deal Did the Los Angeles Rams land All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffin in a trade? It could be the third or fourth most notable move for the Rams this offseason, which would be a huge prize for many teams most seasons. they It sent shock waves Trading for Myles Garrett, which led to Aaron Donald Unretired. Perhaps most importantly, they are Get another year Outside of Matthew Stafford, the reigning league MVP is still performing at a high level.

Injuries and Puka Nacua shenanigans remain on the table as a potential spoiler to the story, but it is difficult not to respect the approach of the Rams to go all-in for a Super Bowl this season, which will be in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day.

The road to Hollywood

The five teams with the best chance to win the Super Bowl

5. Detroit Lions: In the year Most of the core players who helped the Lions win the tough NFC North in 2023 and 2024 with 12-5 and 15-2 records are still in place. They went 9-8 last season despite being marred by injuries and having two new coordinators break through, which is a testament to their potential. The NFC North is arguably the best division in the NFL, but if the Lions can get healthy there aren’t many better rosters in the league.

4. Denver Broncos: The defense remains elite, Bo Nix’s health is on a positive trajectory and Jaylen Waddle should be a great fit in Sean Payton’s offense. The floor is relatively high for the Broncos, but the ceiling is among the best in the league, based on the Knicks’ development.

3. Seattle Seahawks: It’s common for Super Bowl champions to lose key players to the rest of the league, but the Seahawks are still relatively intact in most important areas. It will be interesting to see. How to replace Brian Fleury With Clint Kubiak leading the offense and how the running game will fare in the absence of Walker and (temporarily) Zach Charbonnet, however, defense is the hallmark of this team and that unit is ready to lead the way again.

2. Buffalo Bills: The Bills may be the most pressured team this season. They failed to crack an AFC bracket that didn’t feature Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson. They fired a head coach who was one of the most successful coaches of the last half decade. Adding DJ Moore doesn’t silence the buzz about the wide receiver position throughout last season, but it’s an improvement. The spotlight shines on Josh Allen and especially Joe Brady.

1. Los Angeles Rams: They play in the toughest division in football, where they face the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks and the perennial rival San Francisco 49ers. (Pause for a moment to acknowledge the existence of the Cardinals.) But, as noted above, barring an injury bug on the roster, it’s hard to identify a single weakness on this team.

Not Rated – New England Patriots: The AFC Champions should be one of the top teams this year. In the year In 2025, the Patriots after traveling on soft boards Have one of the hardest schedules In the NFL. It will be interesting to see how this team plays against higher competition and in a year where no one sneaks up on them.

Five below

The five teams with the best chance to get the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

5. Tennessee Titans: A revamped coaching staff, with additions like Carnell Tate and Whan’Dale Robinson, should help Cam Ward in the management department, but this season feels more like a stepping stone year than a year where the Titans will actually compete for the playoffs.

4. New York Jets: Geno Smith gives the Jets at least a capable quarterback, which is an improvement from last season. The Jets are playing beyond 2026, but if they continue To play with laughter levels In the year Aaron Glenn’s seat could heat up quickly, as they did in 2025.

3. Arizona Cardinals: The NFL’s scheduling system is designed for teams that struggle through a year to prepare for the next rebuild. The Cardinals were Such is life in the NFC West.

2. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa’s contract was bad, and he continues to be an anchor on the franchise, but that was the previous administration. The new administration deserves credit for being understanding, making the tough financial decision to part ways with Tagovailoa and pledging to rebuild, even considering trading away a talent like Waddle.

1. Cleveland Browns: The offense has been bad for decades, and there’s no reason to believe this year will be any different. The difference is that this year’s team is without Garrett and bringing in a new defensive coordinator. There are a handful of bad teams in the NFL, but no team does A combination of direction and lack of direction Like brownies.

Not Rated – Las Vegas Robbers: Last year’s runner-up at the top of the draft should be in better shape just by not getting caught in a lie. Last year, Las Vegas brought in a now-winning head coach and a mid-level veteran quarterback when he wasn’t ready to compete. This season, the Raiders have invested in the offensive line and are playing slowly with Fernando Mendoza.