Last year, the Los Angeles Rams boldly traded for Matthew Stafford during the offseason. The result was the franchise's first Super Bowl victory since 1999.

Somewhere in the league, a key move was made this offseason that will have a direct impact on the eventual Super Bowl champion.

The question is, which move?

Every front office faces tough offseason decisions. It's the height of player movement, and everyone is trying to set themselves up for either short- or long-term success.

Here, we'll take a look at each team's best move that will get them closer to accomplishing their 2022 goals.

Arizona Cardinals: Signing QB Kyler Murray to a Contract Extension

At first blush, the five-year, $230.5 million contract extension the Arizona Cardinals signed Kyler Murray to seems exorbitant. After all, the Cardinals are 22-23-1 with him as the starter, and he lost the only playoff game he played in.

That's a reductive way to look at the contract, though. Only $160 million is guaranteed, so the Cardinals will have much more wiggle room for restructures on a year-to-year basis than they would with a contract that carries higher guarantees.

As Andrew Brandt of Sports Illustrated explained, the contract isn't really as lucrative as it seems when compared to Deshaun Waton's fully-guaranteed, $230 million deal he got from the Cleveland Browns:

"The real deal is $219 million for six years with a team option for the seventh year. To be clear, this is still a strong contract, with a $36.5 million average for a player whom some do not see in the elite tier of quarterbacks, but it is not comparable to the Watson contract, especially on the level of guarantee."

In other words, the Cardinals secured a talented quarterback but avoided the precedent the Browns set with Watson. That's a win for Arizona.

Atlanta Falcons: Drafting WR Drake London

Drake London could be a true No. 1 receiver, and the Atlanta Falcons avoided reaching for a quarterback with a top-10 pick.

It's hard to get excited about their trade of Matt Ryan, especially because they only got a third-rounder in return for the franchise's starting quarterback since 2008.

But the worst thing they could have done was force a quarterback selection with the eighth pick.

This year's quarterback class featured just one first-rounder: Kenny Pickett to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20. They ended up waiting on the position until the third round, where they drafted Desmond Ridder. The Cincinnati quarterback was actually the top passer on the Bleacher Report big board anyway.

Marcus Mariota—who has experience with head coach Arthur Smith from their time together in Tennessee—is a fine stopgap. Ridder might develop into a long-term solution.

But even if he doesn't and Mariota doesn't work out, the Falcons have a young pass-catching duo in Kyle Pitts and London, with Calvin Ridley possibly coming back from suspension in 2023.

They will be an attractive destination to quarterbacks a year from now after the London pick.

Baltimore Ravens: Trading Marquise Brown

The Baltimore Ravens did a lot of things that are easy to like this offseason, but the value they got in trading Marquise Brown to the Cardinals is tough to beat.

The 25-year-old was an important part of the Ravens offense last season. His speed and ability to stretch the field helped him draw 146 targets. Still, he didn't feel he was involved enough.

"I want to feel like I am a part of something to win," Brown said, per Darren Urban of the Cardinals website. "At the Ravens, I just felt like sometimes they really didn't need me. Regardless if I was there or not, they were going to win games."

Brown was 10th in the league in targets last season. If he didn't feel like that was enough involvement, it would have been hard to envision him staying in Baltimore long term.

So the Ravens flipped him for a first-round pick to the Cardinals.

Now, Arizona is locked into his fifth-year option at $13.4 million and is facing a contract extension that will be expensive based on the receiver market this year.

Meanwhile, after a subsequent trade involving the pick, the Ravens drafted Tyler Linderbaum at No. 25. He projects as a long-term starter at center who the team will have for four years on the rookie wage scale.

Buffalo Bills: Signing WR Stefon Diggs to a Contract Extension

In an offseason when Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes lost their No. 1 wide receivers, the Buffalo Bills ensured that Josh Allen will have his favorite target for the foreseeable future.

That's a huge advantage for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

Diggs has experienced the two most productive years of his career since he signed with Buffalo. He was a top-10 receiver in catches, yards and touchdowns last season, and he led the league in yards and receptions in 2020.

Yet, the Bills extended his contract and managed to keep his average annual value below those of Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and DeAndre Hopkins.

The addition of Von Miller is another candidate. He helped push the Rams to a Super Bowl win last season and could have the same impact in Western New York.

However, the fact that they'll be paying Miller $21.2 million in 2024 when he's 35 years old brings added risk the Diggs contract doesn't have.

Carolina Panthers: Trading for Baker Mayfield

After back-to-back five-win seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Matt Rhule and his staff could be coaching for their jobs this year. Rolling with Sam Darnold at quarterback with your job on the line is not a place you want to be.

That's why trading for Baker Mayfield was the best thing the Carolina Panthers did in 2022.

The Panthers have not officially named a starting quarterback yet, but Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported the team is expected to name Mayfield the starter.

It's the obvious choice based on the careers of Darnold and Mayfield. The former has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in each of his last two seasons and went 4-7 as the starter for Carolina last year.

The 27-year-old Mayfield is a divisive player, but he has at least produced like an above-average quarterback in two seasons. His 2018 and 2020 campaigns saw him post passer ratings above 90, and he led the Browns to a 17-12 record as a starter during those years.

The Panthers raised their offensive ceiling and only had to give up a conditional 2024 fifth-round pick and pay around $5 million of his salary.

Chicago Bears: Replacing Head Coach Matt Nagy

When Matt Nagy took over the Chicago Bears' head coaching gig, he immediately won Coach of the Year in 2018.

Fortunately, the Bears didn't let that distant memory keep them from moving on this offseason.

The team's best shot at becoming relevant as soon as possible is for Justin Fields to blossom into a franchise quarterback. He wasn't going to do that under Nagy's leadership. Former Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky provided some insight into what it's like to play the position under Nagy.

“Even if you got a completion [in Chicago], I felt like sometimes it wasn’t necessarily what the coach wanted," the now-Steelers quarterback told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "They put you in a box a little bit more than you wanted to be, and I think that restricts you as a player. It’s just different experiences."

Fields obviously didn't take to Nagy's coaching in his rookie season. He completed just 58.9 percent of his passes and threw seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions while going 2-8 as the starter.

Maybe new head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy are the answer. Maybe they aren't. Either way, the Bears at least gave themselves a fighting chance by starting over with a new coaching staff and front office led by general manager Ryan Poles.

Cincinnati Bengals: Making Serious Investments in the Offensive Line

The Cincinnati Bengals have a franchise-defining quarterback in Joe Burrow. The smartest thing they did this offseason was wisely put resources into protecting him.

Burrow has already proved he can carry the team in the playoffs. But we've seen in back-to-back Super Bowls that not having a good offensive line to protect the quarterback can bite you.

Ultimately, the Bengals can't move forward with Burrow absorbing 50-plus sacks like he did in 2021. He took another seven in the Super Bowl loss to the Rams.

That number should shrink significantly in 2022. The Bengals added Alex Cappa, Ted Karras and La'el Collins to the offensive line. They also drafted Cordell Volson in the fourth round. He's looked great in the preseason, per Pro Football Focus' Anthony Treash, and will at least add depth if not start at left guard.

The Bengals could have four new starters along the offensive line, with Jonah Williams serving as the only locked-in returning starter.

The best part is the Bengals didn't really break the bank to address the critical need. Cappa is the highest-paid of the additions, and he'll make $6.8 million this season.

Cleveland Browns: Trading for Amari Cooper

Considering cost effectiveness, team need and talent acquired, the Cleveland Browns' deal for Amari Cooper was one of the best pound-for-pound moves in the league this offseason.

The Browns traded for Cooper for next to nothing. They sent a fifth-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys and agreed to a sixth-round pick swap.

The only questionable aspect for the Browns was taking on Cooper's contract. He still has three years left on the five-year, $100 million pact he signed with the Cowboys in 2020.

It's hard to hold that against them, though, when they have the most cap space in the league and are in shape to roll a large chunk into next year.

Regardless of who is throwing the ball for Cleveland, the team needed a receiver capable of being the top target. The Odell Beckham Jr. experiment didn't work out, Jarvis Landry was given his walking papers this offseason and they have no other receivers with a ton of experience.

Cooper addressed the team's biggest need in a way that didn't cost the Browns too much.

Dallas Cowboys: Re-Signing S Jayron Kearse

The Dallas Cowboys experienced some big offensive losses. Dak Prescott and Co. are going to have to figure out how to replace Amari Cooper, Cedrick Wilson Jr., La'el Collins and Connor Williams.

They will have to do so while receiver Michael Gallup is still recovering from the ACL tear that ended his season last year.

That means added pressure on the Cowboys defense, which was one of the most improved units in the league under coordinator Dan Quinn.

That's why it's a big deal the Cowboys brought back Jayron Kearse on a two-year, $10 million contract this offseason. The 28-year-old had not been a full-time starter before 2021 but was integral to their secondary last season.

He made 15 starts while racking up over 100 tackles, picking off two passes and only giving up a 77.5 passer rating when targeted.

Most importantly, it keeps the secondary intact. Dallas had the third-lowest passer rating allowed in 2021. Retaining Kearse means the Cowboys will get to enjoy the continuity of keeping that group together as the team relies on its defense.

Denver Broncos: Trading for Russell Wilson

The Denver Broncos had all the ingredients to be a playoff team except for the most important one: A quarterback who could lead the way.

Drew Lock had proved he wasn't the guy. Teddy Bridgewater wasn't the answer either.

So the Broncos went all-in on Russell Wilson.

The move doesn't come without potential pitfalls. The cost was high. The Broncos gave up a litany of picks, including 2022 first-, second- and fifth-round picks and 2023 first- and second-round picks as well as Lock, Noah Fant and Shelby Harris.

Wilson is 33 years old and coming off the worst season of his career based on QBR.

But this is the kind of all-in move that makes sense with the Broncos roster. They have a core of young skill players that includes Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and Javonte Williams. There is a talented defense that was sixth in passer rating allowed and third in scoring defense.

Either Wilson will be the missing piece or the roster isn't as good as it looks on paper. Regardless, the Broncos have a more clear path forward and higher ceiling with Wilson at the helm.

Detroit Lions: Signing WR DJ Chark

Jared Goff will never be an MVP candidate. But the Detroit Lions are saddled with him through at least this season thanks to his onerous contract.

So as long as Goff is the quarterback, they have to try to surround him with the kind of talent he had when he had his best season in 2018 and earned that massive deal.

In that season, he not only had Robert Woods serving as a reliable receiver in the short and intermediate areas of the field, but he also had a burner in Brandin Cooks. He averaged 8.7 intended air yards per target as opposed to the 6.4 he averaged in Detroit last season.

Amon-Ra St. Brown emerged in the Woods role, but Goff didn't have a reliable deep threat.

Thus, the DJ Chark signing.

The Lions snagged Chark on a team-friendly one-year, $10 million contract. Given how inflated the receiver market was this season, it's a bargain.

Chark comes with risk. He missed most of last year with a broken ankle. However, at 6'4", 205 pounds with 4.34-second 40-yard dash speed, he has all the makings of a deep threat.

When Jameson Williams (torn ACL) is healthy enough to get in on the action, Goff will have two field-stretchers and a much better shot at having a good season in 2022.

Green Bay Packers: Going Defense with Their First-Round Picks

Approximately 99.9 percent of NFL mock drafts had the Green Bay Packers taking a wide receiver in the first round of April's event.

At least it felt that way after the Packers acquired an extra first-round pick as part of the trade that sent Davante Adams to the Raiders. Yet, for the 20th consecutive draft, the Packers did not take a receiver in the opening round.

Instead, they took a duo of Georgia defenders in Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt.

Given the way the draft board fell, it was the right decision. By the time the Packers were on the clock at No. 22, there were already six wide receivers off the board. They still ended up being the next team to take one when they traded up to the 34th selection to take Christian Watson.

Ultimately, the Packers came away with two blue-chip defensive prospects. Walker already appears to be the starting inside linebacker alongside De'Vondre Campbell. Wyatt, the 28th pick, was the No. 25 player on the Bleacher Report big board.

Rather than reach for a receiver just because it was a need, the Packers continued to stock their loaded defense with more young, athletic talent. That's going to pay long-term dividends.

Houston Texans: Trading Deshaun Watson

Even before 25 women filed civil lawsuits against Deshaun Watson accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct, the relationship between the Houston Texans and Deshaun Watson had deteriorated.

In January 2021, the quarterback was unhappy with his lack of involvement in the decision to hire general manager Nick Caserio. By the end of the month he had requested a trade. Watson then sat out the entire season.

Subsequently, two grand juries declined to indict the quarterback on charges of sexual assault.

Despite having little leverage with a quarterback who didn't want to play for the organization and had a lengthy suspension hovering over him, the Texans got three first-round picks as well as a third- and fourth-rounder from the Browns for him.

For the Texans, it's an opportunity to not only move on from an ugly situation but also get a stockpile of draft picks to rebuild. That's a good return for a player who is going to be suspended for 11 games in 2022 and didn't want to play for the franchise anymore.

Indianapolis Colts: Trading for Yannick Ngakoue

Trading for Matt Ryan will be the most impactful offseason move for the Indianapolis Colts. But it's fair to wonder if dealing for a 37-year-old quarterback will work out.

Ryan can't be blamed for all of the Falcons' struggles, but at his age there's always the risk that he faces a sharp decline.

The same can't be said for the trade that brought in Yannick Ngakoue. The 27-year-old has been a consistent pass-rusher and boasted a consistent pass-rush win rate, per ESPN's Seth Walder, as well as 10 sacks to bring his career total to 55.5 across six seasons.

Last season, the Colts were 24th in pass-rush win rate, per ESPN, and 25th in sacks. Ngakoue's presence will help elevate both of those crucial numbers in 2022.

Acquiring Ngakoue did cost the team cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, but it signed Stephon Gilmore, so it's hard to fault Indy for the loss with that kind of replacement.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Hiring Doug Pederson as Head Coach

After Urban Meyer's ugly tenure as the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, credibility was the organization's biggest problem.

The former Ohio State coach brought dissension among the team as well as plenty of bad publicity. It was clear that Meyer's personality and approach to coaching players like they were still in college was not destined for NFL success.

That put added importance on the Jaguars finding a head coach with a legitimate NFL resume.

There weren't many realistic options who would've been better than Doug Pederson. The former Eagles head coach might not have had the best ending in Philly, but his time there resulted in a Super Bowl win with Nick Foles at quarterback.

Second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been thrilled to work with his new head coach.

“[H]is resume speaks for itself. But then seeing the way he carries himself, the way he treats people,” Lawrence said, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “The way he leads, I think we’re similar—just our demeanors our personality."

The Jags did a lot to overhaul the roster in 2022, but finding a proven leader to guide Lawrence and the team was the most important.

Kansas City Chiefs: Signing WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

Trading a singular talent such as Tyreek Hill is always going to be controversial. But the Kansas City Chiefs were unlikely to be able to give him the four-year, $120 million contract extension the Dolphins gave the 28-year-old.

Instead, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid are going to have to adapt with a committee of receivers who will divide up Hill's 159 targets from last season.

Signing JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year, $3.3 million pact will help with that.

He's dealt with multiple injuries, but this is a player who had 111 catches for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns in his second season alongside a healthier Ben Roethlisberger. He's also still only 25 years old.

Considering that's how old Chicago Bears rookie receiver Velus Jones Jr. is, there's still time for Smith-Schuster to post that kind of production again.

If he even comes close, he could be the best value in all of 2022 free agency.

Las Vegas Raiders: Trading for Davante Adams

With the Broncos adding Russell Wilson, the Las Vegas Raiders found themselves in the NFL's most loaded quarterback division.

So the team went out and got more firepower.

You'd be hard-pressed to make the argument that Derek Carr is better than Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert or Wilson. But you can make the argument that he has the best weaponry of the AFC West signal-callers now that Davante Adams is in the fold.

The Raiders paid up for the receiver both in draft capital and the five-year, $141.3 million contract they signed him to. However, after giving up a first- and second-round pick in 2022, they won't lose any future selections.

Adams will change the complexion of the entire offense. He's the kind of dominant receiver who wins all over the field. Both tight end Darren Waller and receiver Hunter Renfrow should benefit from the attention defenses will give to the former Packers receiver.

He gives the Raiders a legitimate chance to keep up with the other high-powered offenses in the division.

Los Angeles Chargers: Signing CB J.C. Jackson

Big-money free-agent contracts always carry risk, but it doesn't get much better than J.C. Jackson.

The Pro Bowl corner is still relatively young at 26 years old. He's been incredibly productive with 17 interceptions over the past two seasons while holding opposing passers to a passer rating of 66.5 in 2020 and 46.8 in 2021.

The Chargers started the offseason as one of the teams with the most cash to spend thanks to quarterback Justin Herbert's rookie contract. It was important that they got real difference-makers as they try to maximize the Super Bowl window that comes with the early portion of the Herbert era.

Jackson's signing (five years, $82.5 million) combined with the trade that brought in Khalil Mack do just that.

The Chargers are obviously in good hands on offense with Herbert continuing to ascend, and the defense now has star players in all the key positions. Jackson will be a crucial player with the team trying to get past Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow in the AFC.

Los Angeles Rams: Signing WR Allen Robinson II

The Los Angeles Rams' trade for Matthew Stafford set up a Super Bowl run, but it was their in-season moves of trading for Von Miller and signing Odell Beckham Jr. that put them over the top.

OBJ remains unsigned after he tore his ACL in the Super Bowl, but the Rams might have found their next veteran success story in wide receiver Allen Robinson II.

The Robinson signing is reminiscent of Beckham for multiple reasons. When they signed the former Giants receiver, he was coming off a contentious situation with the Cleveland Browns that led to his release.

Robinson is coming out of a similarly frustrating situation. He was largely cut out of the Chicago Bears offense last season and only saw 66 targets in 12 games, a career low for any season in which he was healthy.

The Rams pounced on the opportunity to sign Robinson to a three-year deal worth $46.5 million. That's an incredible bargain for a receiver who had 102 catches and 1,250 yards with Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky as his quarterbacks in 2020.

Miami Dolphins: Signing OT Terron Armstead

The flashiest move the Miami Dolphins made this offseason was trading for Tyreek Hill. But that deal came with serious financial ramifications and cost them a package of five picks, headlined by first- and second-round selections this year.

The move that will provide them with the best value is the signing of Terron Armstead at left tackle.

The Dolphins offensive line has been dreadful. Last season they finished 32nd in Pro Football Focus' final offensive line rankings despite several draft investments in the unit recently.

Signing Armstead to a five-year, $75 million contract is the investment that should finally guarantee some progress for the line. Not only does it give the unit a three-time Pro Bowler at a crucial position, but it's also a good value.

PFF named it one of the top 10 deals in the league. That's not the kind of praise that high-profile signings usually get the year they are signed.

Armstead is the perfect addition for a team that will look to get its run game going under new head coach Mike McDaniel.

Minnesota Vikings: Signing Edge Za'Darius Smith

Getting after the passer has been a chronic problem for the Minnesota Vikings for a while. In 2021, the team finished 29th in pass-rush win rate, per ESPN. The metric accounts for every time a pass-rusher is able to defeat their block in under 2.5 seconds.

In 2020, the Vikings were 30th.

Acquiring Za'Darius Smith should help that number improve significantly. The 29-year-old put up huge numbers in 2019 and 2020 with a combined 26 sacks as a full-time starter for the Green Bay Packers.

A back injury kept the linebacker out for all but 18 snaps of the regular season; however, he came back and registered a sack in the playoffs.

That, combined with a solid training camp, is enough to give hope that Smith will be the guy he was before the back injury.

Combine that with Danielle Hunter's return after he played just seven games in 2021 and the Vikings could have a vastly improved edge rush.

New England Patriots: Signing S Jabrill Peppers

There are two things you can say about Jabrill Peppers' career: It's been a bit disappointing, and he hasn't had the best coaching in his five pro seasons.

In stints with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants he has played under Hue Jackson, Gregg Williams, Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge. That's not exactly a group that's known for getting the most out of their players.

Now Peppers gets a chance to play for Bill Belichick, a coach who has been known to get the best out of players who haven't succeeded elsewhere. In fact, the safety recognized Belichick was a primary reason he went to the Patriots.

"Playing for Bill, his understanding of the game, what he's done for the game, the moment I had an opportunity to come learn from him I definitely wanted to jump at it," Peppers said, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.

Reiss also noted the Patriots routinely used three-safety looks on defense last year, so finding another safety who can be part of that rotation was important.

The Patriots found their guy in Peppers and got him for next to nothing. He'll cost them just $1.7 million against the cap.

New Orleans Saints: Signing S Tyrann Mathieu and S Marcus Maye

The New Orleans Saints had to do their usual gymnastics early in the offseason just to get under the salary cap. Somehow, they still added two difference-makers in their secondary.

The loss of safety Marcus Williams is notable. He held opposing passers to a 48.8 completion percentage when passes were thrown his way last year and had been on the team for five seasons.

He signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Yet, the Saints were able to sign the duo of Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye to team-friendly deals.

Mathieu is a three-time All-Pro selection with a bounty of playoff experience. Maye was PFF's third-highest-graded safety as recently as 2020.

The duo will average $16.9 million combined per year during their three-year contracts. Williams' deal is worth an average annual value of $14 million.

So the Saints managed to get two good safeties for close to the price they would have paid just to retain Williams.

New York Giants: Drafting Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal in the Top 10

The 2022 draft was always going to be a vital piece to the New York Giants' offseason. With two top-10 picks, new general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll had their opportunity to put their stamp on the roster.

They did just that by drafting Kayvon Thibodeaux at No. 5 and Evan Neal at No. 7.

Outside of finding a quarterback, there's a good case to be made that rushing the passer and protecting your own QB are the two most important steps to building a winning franchise.

Neal is a perfect complement to Andrew Thomas, giving the Giants one of the most promising young tackle duos in the league. Thibodeaux is a gifted pass-rusher who looked like a top-10 pick during his freshman year in 2019 when he had nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss at Oregon.

Thibodeaux did suffer an MCL sprain that is expected to cost him three to four weeks, but that doesn't change his long-term forecast.

The Giants could have become impatient with Daniel Jones and reached for a quarterback in the draft. Instead, they got the top two prospects on Bleacher Report's big board and are markedly better up front on both sides of the ball.

New York Jets: Signing CB D.J. Reed

There's a lot to like about the New York Jets' offseason and the direction the club is headed under head coach Robert Saleh. They added a lot of talent through the draft and some experienced free agents who should help change the culture.

Cornerback D.J. Reed stands out as the most important one in the latter category.

He is a great addition because he plays an important position, profiles as a fit in Saleh's system and is still just 25 years old. He should contribute for all three years of his $33 million contract.

The 5'9", 188-pound defensive back is smaller than most outside corners, but that didn't stop him from playing shutdown defense last season. He held opposing passers to a completion percentage of 47.7 percent and a passer rating of 67.8 when targeted.

Most importantly he's a scheme fit. He's heading over from Seattle where the team played the second-highest rate of zone defense, according to Sports Info Solutions. Saleh's foundation as a defensive coach was shaped in Seattle under Pete Carroll.

Reed can help him implement that kind of defense in New York and pair with rookie Sauce Gardner to form a dynamic duo on the outside.

Philadelphia Eagles: Wheeling and Dealing First-Round Picks

The Philadelphia Eagles walked into the 2022 offseason with three first-round picks. They could have used all three and wound up with a trio of promising rookies who may or may not have worked out in the long term.

Instead, they turned one of those into A.J. Brown when they sent the 18th and 101st picks to the Titans for him. Before that, they shipped Nos. 16 and 19 and a sixth-rounder to New Orleans for No. 18, a 2023 first-rounder, a second-rounder in 2024, and third- and seventh-rounders in 2022.

The Eagles still had a first-round pick they used to trade up to take Jordan Davis at No. 13 and will have two first-round picks next season.

It sets up perfectly with the vital year the Eagles are facing 2022. Either Jalen Hurts will prove he can evolve as a passer with Brown and DeVonta Smith at his disposal, or he won't and Philadelphia might be on the lookout for a quarterback again.

If that turns out to be the case, the Eagles have a second first-round pick to use as trade bait or use on a quarterback. If Hurts shows he can be the franchise QB, they have two first-rounders to bolster his supporting cast.

GM Howie Roseman's wheeling and dealing around the draft came with short- and long-term benefits.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Drafting QB Kenny Pickett

Kenny Pickett may not become Ben Roethlisberger, but he's at least giving the Pittsburgh Steelers hope at quarterback.

With Roethlisberger's retirement, the Steelers are entering the great unknown at the game's most important position for the first time in nearly 20 years.

They could have gone the Colts route. Indianapolis has taken swings on veteran quarterbacks through trades and is on its third starter in three years, the most recent of which is a 37-year-old Matt Ryan.

They could have talked themselves into simply handing the job to Mason Rudolph. He's been there for three years and has made 10 starts. He could have competed with free-agent signee Mitch Trubisky and the Steelers could have crossed their fingers that another quarterback would later fall into their laps.

Instead, the Steelers were the only team to use a first-round pick on a QB this year. Pickett already looks like their most exciting option. He's gone 19-of-22 for 171 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the preseason.

Most importantly, he's shown command of the huddle and calm under pressure, throwing a game-winning touchdown in the first week and leading a successful two-minute drive in the second week.

You can shrug all that off as just preseason competition, but head coach Mike Tomlin has said he considers the game action important in their evaluations of the quarterbacks.

“(The game is) weighted more heavily, certainly, because of some of the things we’ve mentioned—the live pocket being a major component of it,” Tomlin said, per Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. “Make no mistake about it, the in-stadium action is significant in the evaluation process.”

San Francisco 49ers: Working Things Out with WR Deebo Samuel

For a while, it looked like things were getting dicey between Deebo Samuel and the San Francisco 49ers.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in April the star receiver was requesting a trade. It wasn't just money that was an issue for him, but how he was being utilized in the offense. Samuel had 59 carries for 365 yards and eight touchdowns in addition to his duties as a receiver.

Matt Barrows of The Athletic reported the 49ers turned down packages from the New York Jets and Detroit Lions.

Those were wise decisions. And one three-year, $71.6 million extension later, everything seems to be right with the team and its star playmaker.

Samuel disputed the reporting that he was ever upset about his role, telling 95.7 The Game that he doesn't "mind doing whatever it takes for this team to win."

That's good news because he's signed up to play for the team through 2025, and it is going to need his versatility to aid the transition from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to Trey Lance in 2022.

Seattle Seahawks: Signing WR DK Metcalf to a Contract Extension

When you're a rebuilding franchise, it's critical to hang on to young players who can be foundational pieces.

That's why it never made sense for the Seattle Seahawks to trade DK Metcalf.

There was speculation that Metcalf could be on the trading block after the team dealt Russell Wilson and released Bobby Wagner. The receiver acknowledged in an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show that he thought about getting traded but wanted to remain loyal to the team that drafted him.

While Wilson and Wagner were the last vestiges of a bygone era in Seahawks football, Metcalf is only 24 years old. He has amassed over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns in three NFL seasons.

There will be rocky days ahead for the receiver, who signed a three-year, $72 million contract extension this offseason. The team is set to either start Geno Smith or Drew Lock at quarterback and neither is an exciting option.

But the chances they will start in 2023 seem slim.

The Seahawks will have two first-round picks and plenty of cap space. They will have the resources to upgrade at quarterback, and whoever that future passer is will be happy Metcalf is still on the roster.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Getting QB Tom Brady to Come Back

Tom Brady hasn't articulated what got him to come back for yet another season.

During TNT's broadcast of Capital One's The Match, the legendary quarterback only offered a vague reference to pressure and conversations: "We got right to free agency and I felt some pressure to do it and talked to the team and organization, and it all worked out."

Whatever was said in those conversations extended the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Super Bowl window for at least another season. For the 40 days that Brady was retired, things were uncertain in Tampa Bay.

Other avenues to add a quarterback existed. They could have traded for Matt Ryan, Carson Wentz, Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield. But all would have come with varying degrees of doubts.

The Bucs have gone 24-9 and won a Super Bowl in Brady's two seasons there. He's still playing at an elite level and attracting ring-chasing talent. It's hard to know if Julio Jones or Akiem Hicks would have signed with Tampa if TB12 wasn't on the roster.

Fortunately, the team won't have to find out.

Tennessee Titans: Drafting QB Malik Willis

There's a lot of talk about NFL teams and their pursuit of a franchise quarterback. Sometimes, a quarterback exit strategy can be just as important.

That's exactly what the Tennessee Titans secured by drafting Malik Willis in the third round.

Ryan Tannehill is entering his fourth season with the Titans, and it's hard to consider the move to acquire him anything but a success. The team has posted three consecutive winning seasons with him running the offense.

However, he's 34 years old and has just two seasons left on his contract. Rather than leave themselves without a backup plan if they don't want to shell out big bucks on an extension, the Titans drafted Willis.

The Liberty quarterback is a project. He was ranked 48th overall on Bleacher Report's final big board but was handed the superlatives for "best mobility" and "best arm strength" among QB prospects.

If he lives up to that potential and becomes the franchise quarterback, he's as big a bargain as it gets. If he doesn't, the only sunk cost is a third-round pick.

That's a nice gamble for the Titans.

Washington Commanders: Trading for QB Carson Wentz

For a Washington Commanders franchise that has been led in passing by Taylor Heinicke, a 36-year-old Alex Smith and Case Keenum over the last three seasons, Carson Wentz is a sight for sore eyes.

Wentz is a polarizing figure after getting jettisoned from Philadelphia and Indianapolis in back-to-back offseasons, but he's still the best quarterback Washington has had since Kirk Cousins departed for Minnesota in 2018.

The Commanders haven't had a winning season since 2016, and spotty quarterback play has been a contributing factor. Wentz is never going to be confused for Tom Brady, but he has posted three winning seasons as a starting quarterback and an overall record of 44-40-1 as a starter.

The club didn't overextend itself on Wentz either. This is clearly a one-year experiment to see whether the passer can take advantage of another chance to be a starting quarterback.

If he isn't any good, the Commanders can release him next season and incur no dead-cap charge. It would also likely put them in position to find a new franchise quarterback through the draft.

Best-case scenario, he'll bring some credibility to the offense and help head coach Ron Rivera retain his job.

Statistics via Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted. Salary-cap info via Spotrac.