We're now well into the 2023 NFL offseason, and there has been no shortage of excitement.

Teams have been busy laying the foundation for their 2023 campaigns. From the coaching carousel and the NFL Scouting Combine to the trade market and free agency, there has been more activity to track than at any point in the regular season.

While not every move has been a home run, there have been some brilliant ones. Some moves loom larger than others, but every franchise has done at least one thing this offseason that it should feel good about.

Here, we'll examine every team's smartest move of the 2023 offseason thus far, based on factors like past performance, potential upside, team needs, franchise direction and value.

Teams are listed in alphabetical order.

Arizona Cardinals: Firing Kliff Kingsbury

The Arizona Cardinals lacked an identity under former head coach Kliff Kingsbury, whom they fired in January. While Kingsbury did help develop Kyler Murray into an above-average starting quarterback, the Cardinals were wise to recognize that this wasn't enough.

It couldn't have been an easy decision, as they had just signed Kingsbury to an extension last offseason, but it was the right one.

Hiring Jonathan Gannon as Kingsbury's replacement was logical in its own right. Arizona's defense, which ranked 31st in points allowed last season, was its biggest liability. The former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator should help improve that side of the ball quickly.

While it was smart to go with a defensive coach instead of another offensive guru, the Cardinals picked Gannon over Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. It's fair to wonder whether they'll regret that.

Like Gannon, Anarumo oversaw a championship-caliber defense. His unit reached Super Bowl LVI, back-to-back AFC title games and ranked sixth in points allowed this past season (Philadelphia ranked eighth) despite having only one Pro Bowler (defensive end Trey Hendrickson) over the past two seasons.

While it's still unclear whether Arizona made the right choice for its new head coach, moving on from the old one was the correct call.

Atlanta Falcons: Hiring Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielsen

The Atlanta Falcons are seemingly looking to develop second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder in 2023. They added a backup and/or camp competitor in Taylor Heinicke instead of chasing a proven starter like Derek Carr in free agency.

Improving a defense that ranked 27th overall in 2022 could take a lot of pressure off the young signal-caller. And the Falcons made a savvy move this offseason by replacing defensive coordinator Dean Pees with Ryan Nielsen.

Nielsen comes from the rival New Orleans Saints, who ranked fifth in yards allowed and ninth in points allowed last season. Nielsen, who served as the Saints' defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator last season, knows the division well and how to scheme against NFC South opponents.

Last season, New Orleans surrendered more than 22 points only once to a divisional opponent, in Week 1 against Atlanta.

Standout defensive tackle David Onyemata followed Nielsen from New Orleans in free agency, and general manager Terry Fontenot added more defensive help by signing safety Jessie Bates III.

Falcons fans should be excited to see Nielsen take the reins of the defense. With a stouter unit and a strong running game, Ridder should be able to settle into a game-manager role and grow from there.

Baltimore Ravens: Hiring Todd Monken as Offensive Coordinator

An argument could be made here for the Baltimore Ravens' decision to give quarterback Lamar Jackson the non-exclusive franchise tag. By doing so, Ravens allowed other teams to contact Jackson and do their contract negotiation work for them.

However, that decision might have further strained Baltimore's relationship with the 2019 MVP, which can't be seen as a positive.

"Another source said that the representative [of Jackson] is telling other teams that Lamar is ready to move on from the Ravens," Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio wrote Monday.

Baltimore's decision to hire Todd Monken as its new offensive coordinator is a clear positive, though.

Monken is fresh off of back-to-back national titles as Georgia's offensive coordinator, and he has a history of sparking potent passing offenses. With the 2018 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his offense ranked first in overall passing yards and second in yards per attempt (7.7).

Monken should be able to improve a Ravens passing attack that ranked 28th in yards and 21st in yards per attempt (5.8) this past season. By bringing more balance to the offense, the Ravens should be more formidable regardless of whether it's Jackson, Tyler Huntley or someone else under center in 2023.

Buffalo Bills: Retaining Jordan Poyer and Extending Matt Milano

The Buffalo Bills came into the offseason looking to upgrade Josh Allen's supporting cast on offense.

"We're looking for positions on offense beyond the O-line where we can add a mismatch type player," general manager Brandon Beane told reporters at the combine.

Buffalo hasn't done much on that front aside from singing guard Connor McGovern, running back Damien Harris—to replace Devin Singletary—and receiver/returner Deonte Harty. The Bills will likely target more offensive playmakers in the draft.

Meanwhile, Buffalo has done a great job of maintaining the status quo on its sixth-ranked defense. The Bills lost linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to the Chicago Bills, but they did manage to extend linebacker Matt Milano and keep safety Jordan Poyer.

Milano tallied 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 11 passes defended, three interceptions and a touchdown last season. He was a first-team All-Pro and will now be under contract through 2026 instead of 2024. Keeping a relatively young (28) defensive centerpiece for the long term is always a smart decision.

The Bills also re-signed Poyer, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod this past season with 63 tackles, four interceptions and a forced fumble.

Buffalo may still need to bolster its offense, but it should boast a top-10 defense for the foreseeable future.

Carolina Panthers: Acquiring the No. 1 Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft

The Carolina Panthers have been searching for a franchise quarterback since Cam Newton was under center and still in his playing prime. Carolina has taken multiple swings at the position—including trades for Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield—but none have panned out.

Now, Carolina has a chance to take the quarterback of its choice in the 2023 draft thanks to a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears.

Chicago sent the No. 1 overall pick to the Panthers in exchange for wideout D.J. Moore, the ninth and 61st overall picks in this year's draft, a 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick. While that's a steep price, it guarantees Carolina can have its choice between top prospects C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young and Will Levis.

If the Panthers believe there is more than one elite quarterback prospect in the draft, they could also trade down, recoup some draft capital and still get their next signal-caller.

Whether it uses the top selection or moves it, Carolina now has options that it didn't have at No. 9 overall. The ultimate goal is finding a quarterback who can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes annually.

Carolina took a big swing at achieving that goal, which was absolutely the right approach.

Chicago Bears: Trading the No. 1 Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles pulled off one of the smartest moves of the entire offseason by trading the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers.

Chicago entered the offseason with multiple needs but with a budding young quarterback in Justin Fields. The Bears could go in a number of directions early in the draft—a top offensive lineman, a difference-making defender, an elite pass-catcher—and still improve their team. Therefore, the No. 1 pick wasn't as valuable to them as it would be to a quarterback-needy team.

So, Poles flipped the top pick to Carolina for the ninth overall pick, the 61st pick, a 2024 first-rounder and a 2025 second-rounder. He also got wide receiver D.J. Moore, who will immediately aid Fields. Moore has logged 5,201 receiving yards in five seasons despite catching passes from the likes of Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Teddy Bridgewater.

The extra draft capital will help aid the Bears' rebuilding process, and Chicago had plenty of cap space left after adding Moore with which to attack free agency.

Poles has already added the likes of tight end Robert Tonyan Jr., linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, guard Nate Davis and running back D'Onta Foreman. He can still add another impact player early in Round 1, too.

Cincinnati Bengals: Signing Orlando Brown Jr.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been a perennial contender since pairing quarterback Joe Burrow with former LSU teammate and wideout Ja'Marr Chase in 2021. However, Cincinnati has had one glaring weakness on offense that has caused it to fall just a bit short of winning a Super Bowl.

The Bengals offensive line was atrocious in 2021 and wasn't much better in 2022 despite Cincinnati's efforts to reload last offseason. Burrow has been sacked 92 times in the regular season and 29 times in the postseason over the last two years.

Cincinnati's decision to add four-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown Jr. was a masterstroke. He should be an immediate upgrade over former starting left tackle Jonah Williams, who was responsible for four penalties and allowed 12 sacks this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. Brown was responsible for six penalties and allowed only four sacks with the Kansas City Chiefs this past season, according to PFF.

The Bengals didn't overpay to land Brown, either. They signed him to a reasonable four-year, $64.1 million deal. In terms of average annual salary, Brown is now only the 17th-highest-paid tackle in the NFL.

Cincinnati filled a massive need by signing Brown, and it did so at a relative bargain.

Cleveland Browns: Hiring Jim Schwartz as Defensive Coordinator

Since winning a playoff game in the 2020 season—the franchise's first playoff win since it returned to the NFL in 1999—the Cleveland Browns have gone backward. They won only eight games in 2021 and seven games in 2022.

Run defense was Cleveland's biggest problem area this past season. The Browns ranked 25th in both rushing yards allowed and yards per carry (4.7) surrendered.

Cleveland fired defensive coordinator Joe Woods after the season and replaced him with Jim Schwartz, who was the Eagles defensive coordinator from 2016 to 2020. Over the last two years, he served as a defensive assistant with the Tennessee Titans.

This was a smart hire by Cleveland because Schwartz is an experienced coach who should be able to quickly improve the Browns defense up front.

"Schwartz's resume is loaded with experience coaching star defensive linemen," Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal wrote.

The 2020 Eagles ranked 10th in yards per carry allowed (4.2). The 2022 Titans ranked first in yards per carry allowed (3.4).

The Browns have also taken steps to reload their defensive front by signing defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and defensive linemen Maurice Hurst and Trystan Hill. Schwartz will be tasked with making the new pieces fit, and Cleveland's defense should be significantly better with him at the helm.

Dallas Cowboys: Trading for Veteran Talent

For the second straight offseason, the Dallas Cowboys faced an unappealing cap situation heading into free agency. Dallas was able to create cap space by releasing running back Ezekiel Elliott and restructuring the contract of offensive tackle Tyron Smith.

Even though they had cap space with which to work in free agency, the Cowboys' decision to trade for veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Brandin Cooks was brilliant. By going the trade route, Dallas acquired two quality players without having to bid on the open market. It didn't overpay in either deal, too.

Dallas acquired Gilmore for only a late fifth-round pick. The five-time Pro Bowler, who allowed an opposing passer rating of only 74.0 in coverage last season, should help bolster the Cowboys' secondary immediately.

The Cowboys also acquired Cooks for only a 2023 fifth-round pick and a 2024 sixth-rounder. He should fill Dallas' need for a strong third receiver behind CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Cooks restructured his contract over the weekend so that Houston will pay $6 million of his 2023 base salary. Cooks will now carry a cap hit of only $6.4 million in 2023, while Gilmore will carry a cap hit of $9.9 million.

Dallas added two proven starters using Day 3 draft selections and still has $19.3 million in cap space.

Denver Broncos: Trading for Head Coach Sean Payton

The Denver Broncos made a big gamble on new head coach Sean Payton this offseason. Because Payton, who didn't coach in 2022, was still under contract with the New Orleans Saints, the Broncos had to trade a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-rounder to the Saints for Payton and a 2024 third-round pick.

That's a steep cost, but it was a smart gamble by a Broncos team that desperately needs to turn things around with quarterback Russell Wilson.

Wilson, whom Denver acquired from the Seattle Seahawks last offseason, was a major disappointment in his first Broncos campaign. He finished the year with 16 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and a career-worst 84.4 passer rating.

If Denver can't get Wilson back in Pro Bowl form, his acquisition will be a major disaster. The Broncos traded two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive lineman Shelby Harris and tight end Noah Fant to pry him from the Seahawks, and they signed him to a five-year, $242.5 million extension before last season.

Payton is a proven, Super Bowl-winning head coach, a former quarterback and a bright offensive mind. He oversaw the second act of Drew Brees' Hall of Fame career and has even gotten good results from lesser signal-callers like Taysom Hill (7-2 as a starting quarterback under Payton) and Jameis Winston (5-2).

While there's no guarantee that the 34-year-old Wilson will be a perennial Pro Bowler again, Payton was the right coach for the challenge.

Detroit Lions: Investing in the Secondary

The Detroit Lions were one of the NFL's hottest teams over the second half of the 2022 season. They won eight of their final 10 games and narrowly missed out on the playoffs.

The Lions were led by an offense that ranked fourth in yards and fifth in scoring. However, they were hampered by a defense that ranked last in yards allowed and 28th in points allowed.

Detroit's 30th-ranked pass defense shouldn't be as much of a liability this year. The Lions made the wide choice to prioritize secondary help in free agency.

The Lions signed cornerback Cameron Sutton to a three-year, $33 million contract and inked safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to a one-year, $8 million deal. Those two should immediately change the complexion of Detroit's defense.

The duo combined for 23 passes defended and nine interceptions in 2022. Sutton allowed an opposing passer rating of only 65.3, while Gardner-Johnson allowed an opposing passer rating of just 78.4.

The Lions still have work to do defensively, but signing two of the top defensive backs available in free agency was a smart way to begin the makeover.

Green Bay Packers: Putting Aaron Rodgers on the Trade Block

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has carved out a Hall of Fame career with the Green Bay Packers. However, he wasn't in Pro Bowl form last season—he finished 8-9 as a starter and had a 91.1 passer rating—and will turn 40 in December.

More importantly, he's interested in playing elsewhere. Rodgers joined The Pat McAfee Show last week and said he intends to play for the New York Jets in 2023.

While the Packers haven't traded Rodgers to the Jets yet, making him available was the smartest thing they could have done this offseason. They desperately need to see what they have in 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love.

If the Packers can move Rodgers, they'll also avoid paying a $58.3 million roster bonus that is due before Week 1. If they trade Rodgers after June 1 but before Week 1, they can also save $15.8 million off the 2023 cap. Even if they execute the trade before June 1, the additional cap charge will be a manageable $8.7 million.

Releasing Rodgers isn't an option for the Packers, as it would cost them $68.2 million in additional cap space. Keeping him would also be difficult, as it would either leave Love on the bench or create awkwardness in the quarterback room.

It's unclear whether the Packers will get a deal done with New York and what trade compensation will look like. According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Green Bay wants at least a first-round pick for Rodgers, but the Jets believe that's unreasonable.

It's time for the Packers to move on from the four-time MVP and give Love an opportunity. They have at least given themselves that opportunity by putting Rodgers on the trade block.

Houston Texans: Hiring DeMeco Ryans as Head Coach

The Houston Texans will likely target their quarterback of the future with the No. 2 overall pick in April's draft. If they hit on that selection, it will go a long way toward returning them to respectability in the AFC South.

However, poor quarterback play has only been part of the issue for Houston over the past two years. The Texans have also lacked an identity, a strong culture and stability. David Culley lasted only one season as Houston's head coach, as did Lovie Smith.

Enter DeMeco Ryans, the former Texans linebacker who last served as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator. Ryans is a quality coach and the perfect culture fit for what the Texans need.

Ryans knows the Texans franchise and fanbase well, having played in Houston for six seasons. He also knows what it takes to enjoy sustained success, having spent the last six seasons in San Francisco. He can relate to players, instill a winning mentality and help put Houston's recently underwhelming past in the rear view.

Additionally, Ryans is the right coach to help revitalize a defense that ranked 30th in yards allowed and 27th in points allowed last season. He and general manager Nick Caserio have already done work there, adding the likes of edge-rusher Chase Winovich, defensive linemen Sheldon Rankins and Hassan Ridgeway and safety Jimmie Ward.

Houston should be a more resilient and tougher team under Ryans. If it hits on its quarterback selection in the draft, it could start turning things around quickly.

Indianapolis Colts: Hiring Shane Steichen as Head Coach

Like the Texans, the Indianapolis Colts are widely expected to take a quarterback in April's draft. That means they'll be drafting and developing their quarterback of the future for the first time since landing Andrew Luck in the 2012 draft.

Following Luck's surprise retirement in 2019, the Colts have leaned on veterans Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan. Only Rivers helped deliver a playoff berth.

With that in mind, the Colts made a wise move by hiring Shane Steichen as their new head coach. The former Eagles offensive coordinator helped develop Jalen Hurts into a Pro Bowl quarterback and a legitimate MVP candidate over the past two seasons.

Steichen also helped forge one of the league's most dynamic and potent offenses. The Eagles ranked fifth in rushing yards, ninth in passing yards and third in both total yards and points scored last season.

"I think Shane does a good job with Jalen of connecting with him, not just in football, and I think Shane has continued to do a very good job of connecting with all the offensive players," Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said in September, per Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

It remains to be seen which quarterback Indianapolis lands in the draft, but Steichen has already proved that he can help transform a young quarterback into a bona fide star in short order.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Giving TE Evan Engram the Franchise Tag

The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't been nearly as active as they were in 2021 free agency, where they landed the likes of guard Brandon Scherff, wide receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones and tight end Evan Engram.

However, Jacksonville made one brilliant move by retaining Engram with the franchise tag.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence took massive strides under head coach Doug Pederson this past year. After posting a dismal 71.9 passer rating as a rookie, Lawrence posted a 95.2 rating, made the Pro Bowl and helped lead Jacksonville to a playoff win.

Pederson deserves a ton of credit for developing his young quarterback, but Engram also deserves credit for aiding Lawrence on the field. The 28-year-old caught a career-high 73 passes for 766 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season and added 12 catches for 124 yards and a score in the playoffs.

Engram provided a passer rating of 110.3 when targeted, which speaks to his reliability as one of Lawrence's go-to targets.

Lawrence and Engram developed a palpable chemistry over the course of the season, and retaining the pass-catcher was a priority, even with talented tight ends like Dalton Schultz and Hayden Hurst also hitting the free-agent market. By using the tag, Jacksonville ensured that Engram wouldn't get away this offseason.

Kansas City Chiefs: Promoting Matt Nagy to Offensive Coordinator

In four underwhelming seasons with the Chicago Bears, Matt Nagy largely flopped as a head coach. He returned to the Chiefs as a senior assistant and quarterbacks coach last season and was promoted to offensive coordinator this offseason.

Nagy's promotion came after former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy took a job with the Washington Commanders as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

The decision to promote Nagy was both smart and logical. He served as Kansas City's offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017 before taking the Bears job. Aside from his four years in Chicago, he has worked under Chiefs head coach Andy Reid since arriving in the NFL as a coaching intern in 2008.

Nagy knows Reid's offense inside and out, and he knows Kansas City's personnel. Taking over for Bieniemy was reportedly always the plan for Nagy once he returned to Kansas City, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

Whenever Bieniemy's departure came, the Chiefs ensured they would maintain continuity on offense. That's huge for a franchise that has now been to five straight AFC title games and three of the last four Super Bowls.

Kansas City's Super Bowl window is wide open, and it will remain open with Nagy stepping back in as Reid's offensive coordinator.

Las Vegas Raiders: Trading TE Darren Waller

The Las Vegas Raiders are in full-on rebuild mode and have been busy turning over their roster this offseason. The biggest series of moves—one that likely has the Raiders fanbase split—was the release of quarterback Derek Carr and the signing of Jimmy Garoppolo.

The decision to trade tight end Darren Waller to the New York Giants is likely to have its own fair share of supporters and detractors. However, it was a smart business decision.

Las Vegas got a 2023 third-round pick (100th overall) back for Waller. While that isn't a jaw-dropping return, the Raiders had good reason to get value for Waller while they could.

Waller has been among the league's best tight ends when healthy, but he injuries have hampered him over the last two seasons. He appeared in only 20 games between 2021 and 2022, and he'll turn 31 in September.

Even when on the field, Waller wasn't a major factor in Josh McDaniels' offense (388 yards, 3 TDs in nine games), and he is set to carry a $14.5 million cap hit in 2024. That's a hefty price to pay for a player who isn't an integral part of the current system and who cannot be counted on to return to Pro Bowl form.

Given the cost and related risk involved with keeping Waller, swapping him for a third-round selection was a savvy move.

Los Angeles Chargers: Hiring Kellen Moore as Offensive Coordinator

Despite having a top-tier quarterback in Justin Herbert and elite weapons in Mike Williams, Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler, the Los Angeles Chargers offense was too inconsistent in 2022. They ranked ninth in yards but only 13th in scoring.

In their wild-card loss to the Jaguars, the Chargers blew a 27-0 lead, in part because they couldn't run the ball or sustain drives in the second half. It was time for a change.

"In terms of the passing game, that's what we've been able to do at a high level for the last two years, throw the football," head coach Brandon Staley said, per ESPN's Lindsey Thiry. "But to be more explosive, you have to be able to run the football more consistently to put more pressure on people."

After the season, the Chargers fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and hired former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as his replacement. Moore should help bring much-needed balance and efficiency to the Chargers offense.

Under Moore, the 2022 Cowboys ranked ninth in rushing yards, 14th in passing yards, 11th in total offense and fourth in scoring. Since Moore took over as Dallas' coordinator in 2019, the Cowboys have ranked sixth, first and fourth in scoring in the three years with a healthy Dak Prescott under center.

Los Angeles still needs to address a run defense that ranked dead last in yards per carry allowed last season (5.4), but the offense should be one of the league's best under Moore.

Los Angeles Rams: Hiring Mike LaFleur as Offensive Coordinator

The Los Angeles Rams have been quiet this offseason, aside from releasing players like Leonard Floyd and trading cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Los Angeles' only new player is tight end Hunter Long, whom they acquired in the Ramsey trade.

However, the Rams did hire former New York Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as their new offensive coordinator after Liam Coen left for the University of Kentucky.

While LaFleur's two-year stint with the Jets didn't generate impressive results—New York ranked 28th and 29th in scoring in 2021 and 2022, respectively—this was still a solid hire by Los Angeles.

Before joining the Jets, LaFleur served as the San Francisco 49ers' passing game coordinator. There are a lot of similarities between the Kyle Shanahan offense that the 49ers run and the Sean McVay offense run in Los Angeles. Both served under Mike Shanahan, Kyle's father, with the Washington Commanders.

McVay will undoubtedly still oversee the offense, but LaFleur can add a new perspective and perhaps inject a little life into a unit that ranked dead last in yards this past season. LaFleur oversaw the league's 12th-ranked passing attack in San Francisco in 2020.

While the LaFleur hire might not excite many Rams fans, it's the best addition that the team has made in an offseason with very few of them.

Miami Dolphins: Trading for Jalen Ramsey

The Miami Dolphins showed a lot of growth under first-year head coach Mike McDaniel this past season. They made it to the playoffs and fielded an offense that ranked sixth in yards and 11th in points, in part thanks to last offseason's trade for star wideout Tyreek Hill.

However, Miami's pass defense was a problem area at times. The Dolphins ranked 27th in passing yards allowed, 26th in passing touchdowns allowed (27) and notched only eight interceptions as a team.

In the 34-31 playoff loss to Buffalo, Miami's inconsistent secondary helped punch an early ticket home. The Dolphins surrendered 352 passing yards and three touchdowns in that game.

To address that issue, the Dolphins acquired cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Rams for a 2023 third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long. That's a small price for a proven player who can have a massive impact in the secondary.

Ramsey is still only 28 years old and remains an upper-tier cover corner. This past season, he logged four interceptions while allowing an opposing passer rating of only 84.5. Adding Ramsey should help Miami limit opposing receivers and generate turnovers.

Los Angeles needed to generate cap space, and the Dolphins were smart to take advantage. They added a terrific player to their defense for a very reasonable price.

Minnesota Vikings: Hiring Brian Flores as Defensive Coordinator

The Minnesota Vikings managed to win 13 games this past season despite having one of the worst defenses in the league. They ranked 31st in yards allowed, 28th in points allowed and had a negative point differential (-3) over the course of the season.

Minnesota's lackluster defense also contributed to its early playoff exit. The Vikings surrendered 431 yards and 34 points to the New York Giants in their wild-card loss.

Needing to spark a change, the Vikings fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, which was a smart move. Hiring Pittsburgh Steelers assistant and former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores to replace Donatell was an even smarter one.

Flores is one of the top defensive coaches in the NFL, and he tends to get results. In his last season with the Dolphins, Miami ranked a respectable 15th in yards allowed and 16th in points allowed. As Pittsburgh's linebackers coach last season, he helped transform an underwhelming run defense into one of the league's best.

The 2021 Steelers ranked dead last in both rushing yards and yards per carry (5.0) allowed. Last season, the Steelers ranked ninth and eighth in those categories, respectively.

Minnesota has taken steps to reload its defense by signing the likes of edge-rusher Marcus Davenport and cornerback Byron Murphy, but hiring Flores was one of the brightest moves any team has made this offseason.

New England Patriots: Hiring Bill O'Brien as Offensive Coordinator

The New England Patriots' offensive experiment with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge was a disaster in 2022. New England ranked 26th in total offense, and quarterback Mac Jones took a significant step back after being a Pro Bowler as a rookie in 2021.

"We never were solidified as an offensive group that guys had full confidence in anything we were doing. There was never true hope," recently retired safety Devin McCourty said on WEEI's The Greg Hill Show (h/t Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston).

To help remedy that, the Patriots hired Alabama offensive coordinator and former Patriots coordinator (2011) Bill O'Brien.

O'Brien was a logical choice for the position, as he spent five years under Bill Belichick before leaving to become Penn State's head coach in 2012. He knows the Patriots' environment well, and his offense should help Jones return to his rookie form.

"A quarterback-friendly offense," former NFL quarterback AJ McCarron said, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. "... OB is a wonderful coach; very intelligent, and he gets guys to play hard. I think he's going to do an excellent job there."

It was wise for New England to add an experienced play-caller this offseason and even smarter to hire a familiar face who can hit the ground running in his old home.

New Orleans Saints: Signing Derek Carr

The New Orleans Saints have been searching for an answer at quarterback since Drew Brees retired following the 2020 season. They've tried a combination of Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill and Andy Dalton over the past two seasons, and while the results haven't been disastrous—the Saints went 16-18 over that span—they haven't uncovered a long-term answer.

The Saints might have found that this offseason when they signed Derek Carr to a four-year, $150 million contract. That's a fair price for an above-average quarterback and a lower rate than what the less-proven Daniel Jones got this offseason ($160 million over four years).

Carr is a four-time Pro Bowler who has flashed elite traits at times in his career. (He finished third in MVP voting in 2016.) He also has experience under Saints head coach Dennis Allen, and he has been remarkably durable aside from a fractured fibula that he suffered in the 2016 season finale.

Adding Carr can be viewed as a win-now move by a Saints team that ranked fifth in total defense, won seven games and was relevant in the NFC South playoff race last season. However, Carr will turn only 32 later this month and can also be a long-term building block for New Orleans.

New York Giants: Giving Saquon Barkley the Franchise Tag

We can spend all day debating whether New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is worth the four-year, $160 million contract extension he received this offseason. However, it's hard to argue that the 2022 version of running back Saquon Barkley isn't worth $10.1 million for next season.

That's the amount Barkley is set to earn under the franchise tag in 2022. Tagging him was absolutely the right call by New York.

For one, it keeps the Giants' offensive centerpiece in house at a relatively team-friendly price. Although $10.1 million is a lot to spend on a running back, it's less than the $12.3 million annual value that Spotrac projected for Barkley on the open market.

Secondly, the tag doesn't require a long-term commitment on New York's part. That's important because of Barkley's injury history.

A rookie Pro Bowler in 2018, Barkley returned to form in 2022, finishing with 1,312 rushing yards, 338 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns. But in the three years between his two Pro Bowl campaigns, Barkley was heavily hampered by injuries, including a torn ACL in 2020.

One bounce-back season does not prove that Barkley can stay healthy and sustain a high level of play. By using the tag, the Giants get to monitor the Penn State product for another season before making a more permanent decision on his future in New York.

New York Jets: Trading for S Chuck Clark

The New York Jets made a pair of early moves in the hopes of luring Aaron Rodgers from Green Bay. They hired former Packers offensive coordinator (and former Broncos head coach) Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator and signed former Packers wideout Allen Lazard in free agency.

We'll have to see how it all plays out with Rodgers—if he ends up on the Jets and whether he makes them a contender—before calling either of these moves their best one of the offseason. However, their trade for Ravens safety Chuck Clark was terrific, even in a vacuum.

Baltimore faced a logjam at safety with Clark, Marcus Williams and 2022 first-round pick Kyle Hamilton vying for playing time at the position. As a result, the Jets were able to land Clark at a bargain.

New York acquired the 27-year-old for a mere 2024 seventh-round selection. For that low cost, the Jets got a quality starter who tallied 101 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2022.

Clark should slot into New York's talented secondary next to fellow safety Jordan Whitehead and help ensure that the Jets maintain one of the conference's best defenses—one that ranked fourth in both yards and points allowed last season.

Philadelphia Eagles: Finding a Way to Keep CB Darius Slay

The Philadelphia Eagles had arguably the NFL's deepest and most talented roster in 2022. But with a large chunk of it heading to free agency, they were never going to keep everyone.

The Eagles have lost key contributors like running back Miles Sanders, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. However, they did manage to keep both of their top cornerbacks in the fold.

Philadelphia re-signed James Bradberry to a three-year, $38 million deal. It was originally set to release his running mate, Darius Slay, after failing to renegotiate his contract. But after the official start of free agency, Slay and the Eagles got a deal done.

Slay and the Eagles eventually agreed to a three-year, $42 million extension, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Finding a way to reverse course with Slay was a big win for the Eagles, who got to keep two elite corners in their secondary.

Last season, Slay logged 14 passes defended and three interceptions while allowing an opposing passer rating of only 83.9. Bradberry had 17 passes defended and three interceptions while allowing an opposing passer rating of 51.6.

Keeping Bradberry was smart. Orchestrating an 11th-hour resolution to Slay's contract situation was even smarter.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Signing Isaac Seumalo

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been calculated in free agency, largely making replacement moves instead of chasing big-money players.

Pittsburgh signed linebackers Elandon Roberts and Cole Holcomb to replace Devin Bush and Robert Spillane. It also signed cornerback Patrick Peterson to replace Cameron Sutton.

However, the Steelers did make one splash signing by inking former Eagles guard Isaac Seumalo to a three-year, $24 million contract. That's a fair price for a quality starting guard, and it should help the Pittsburgh offense tremendously.

Last season, Seumolo allowed only one sack and was called for six penalties, according to Pro Football Focus. He'll replace left guard Kevin Dotson, who was responsible for four sacks allowed and 12 penalties last year, according to PFF.

Adding Seumalo will help protect quarterback Kenny Pickett, who is looking to make positive strides in his second NFL season. As a very capable run blocker, Seumalo should also help spark a ground game that ranked only 25th in yards per carry (4.1) last season.

With an improved line and a stronger running game, Pickett will have an opportunity to make a big second-year leap in 2023. Considering the Steelers are coming off a 9-8 season and already had a defense that ranked 10th in points allowed, that should be scary for the rest of the AFC North.

San Francisco 49ers: Signing Sam Darnold

The San Francisco 49ers face plenty of uncertainty at quarterback heading into the spring.

Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in 2021, suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 and remains an unknown. Brock Purdy, who steered the offense through the five regular-season games and the playoffs, recently underwent elbow surgery. According to Jeff Howe and Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Purdy is expected to begin throwing again in three months.

With two quarterbacks on the mend, San Francisco made the wise decision to sign 2018 third overall pick Sam Darnold.

While Darnold hasn't played up to his draft status, he does have 55 starts on his career resume. He also performed well late last season for the Carolina Panthers, as he went 4-2 as the starter and posted a respectable 92.6 passer rating.

Darnold is an athletic quarterback with an above-average arm, and he's a terrific fit for Kyle Shanahan's offense. He could serve as a viable starting option if Purdy and/or Lance are not ready to go by Week 1.

The 49ers didn't overpay to add Darnold, either, signing him to a modest one-year, $4.5 million contract. San Francisco got its experienced insurance policy at quarterback at a great price and can now focus on strengthening the rest of its roster in free agency and the draft.

Seattle Seahawks: Re-Signing Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was arguably the biggest surprise of the 2022 season. The 2013 second-round pick started only five games between 2015 and 2021.

However, Smith earned the starting job in Seattle last offseason and went on to have a Pro Bowl campaign and lead the Seahawks to the postseason. He finished with 4,282 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, a 100.9 passer rating and a league-high 69.8 percent completion rate.

Seattle re-signed Smith to a three-year, $75 million contract this offseason, which provides stability and familiarity at the game's most important position.

Smith and Derek Carr were the only two Pro Bowl quarterbacks headed to free agency, and draft prospects, while enticing, are unproven. Seattle knows what it has in Smith, and it can keep him for another three seasons.

What makes the deal even better for the Seahawks is that they have an out after one year.

If Smith's fantastic 2022 campaign proves to be a fluke, Seattle can release him next offseason, eat only $17.4 million in dead money and save $13.8 million off the 2024 salary cap.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Hiring Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales

Despite having future Hall of Famer Tom Brady under center in 2022, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense never found a rhythm under offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. The unit ranked 15th in total yards but only 25th in scoring.

The Buccaneers needed to make a change, and they brought in former Seahawks offensive coordinator Dave Canales this offseason. This was a brilliant move, especially with Brady retiring in early February.

The Bucs are starting over at quarterback, and Canales is the perfect coach for the challenge. As Seattle's quarterbacks coach in 2022, he helped resurrect Geno Smith's career and turned him into a Pro Bowl signal-caller. Before that, Canales spent two seasons as Seattle's passing game coordinator, working with quarterback Russell Wilson.

In Tampa, Canales will be tasked with either resurrecting Baker Mayfield's career or preparing 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask to be the Buccaneers' quarterback of the future. Mayfield, the first overall pick in the 2018 draft, appears excited to work with his new coordinator.

"I've heard nothing but good things about Dave Canales," Mayfield said on the Salty Dogs podcast (h/t River Wells of Bucs Wire) . "... I've had a few coaches that were similar philosophy-wise."

Canales is the right offensive coordinator to help guide the Buccaneers into their post-Brady era.

Tennessee Titans: Releasing Edge Bud Dupree

The Tennessee Titans needed to create cap space this offseason, which they did by releasing a handful of veterans. While it's fair to wonder if cutting offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, wideout Robert Woods and kicker Randy Bullock were net-positive moves for Tennessee, releasing Bud Dupree definitely was.

Dupree was only two years into a five-year, $82.5 million contract. Releasing him left Tennessee with a dead-cap charge of $10.9 million but saved $9.4 million off the 2023 cap.

While it's never fun to pay a player to go away, it was the right call for the Titans. Dupree never played up to his contract and finished his two seasons—he was coming off a torn ACL in his first—with 34 quarterback pressures but only seven sacks.

Those cap savings were valuable, as it helped Tennessee land productive defenders like pass-rusher Arden Key—who had 4.5 sacks and 20 pressures this past season—linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting.

The Titans took a swing on a pass-rusher who was productive in Pittsburgh when they signed Dupree in 2020. They were wise to recognize that it was a miss, cut their losses and move on.

Washington Commanders: Signing Jacoby Brissett

The Washington Commanders seem to believe 2022 fifth-round pick Sam Howell could be their potential quarterback of the future. He hasn't been handed the starting job yet, but he'll have every opportunity to earn it in 2023.

"Going in, [Howell will] start as the No. 1, but it's something he has to continue to earn and show us he deserves to be that guy," head coach Ron Rivera said in February, per ESPN's John Keim.

Given that context, Washington's decision to sign quarterback Jacoby Brissett was brilliant. He's an experienced veteran (48 starts) who can push Howell in camp, play the mentor role and start if required.

Brissett started 11 games for the Browns in 2022 and finished with 2,608 yards with 12 touchdowns, six interceptions and an 88.9 passer rating. He also rushed for 243 yards, two touchdowns and 28 first downs.

Brissett never publicly complained about being a placeholder in Cleveland, and he should be a terrific leader for the Commanders whether he's in the huddle or on the sideline. This was a terrific signing based on what the Commanders are trying to do at quarterback, and it came at a bargain price (one year, $8 million).

*Cap and contract information via Spotrac unless otherwise noted. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.