The dust has just about settled for most across the league from what has been an active start to the 2023 NFL offseason.

Sure, some big dominos are still yet to fall, most notably the situations revolving Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson, but we have a pretty good idea of who some of the winners and losers are from the first month of this offseason. Let’s take a closer look.

Winners

Chicago Bears

Bears General Manager Ryan Poles has certainly made a strong early impression to begin the new league year. He masterfully exploited his leverage with the number one overall pick in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft by creating a bidding war for the services of the top quarterback in this class. The haul landed them an extra 2nd in this draft, a future 1st & 2nd next year and wide receiver DJ Moore… all for moving back just eight spots. Hold for applause.

Poles was just getting started though. He aggressively went after linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards to help bolster a porous rush defense from last season, while adding guard Nate Davis, running back D’onta Foreman and tight end Robert Tonyan to contribute on the offensive side of the ball.

The Bears still have plenty of needs to address in the draft, but these first steps are encouraging for a team that hopes to build around its young quarterback, Justin Fields.

Detroit Lions

Admittedly, I am a bit surprised to be starting off this list with two NFC North teams, but both of these teams may be sensing a window of opportunity to make a surprise push to take the division this upcoming season. The Lions added some very quality pieces to a secondary who could use some depth alongside Jeff Okudah, picking up safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and cornerbacks Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley. Offensively, the team brought in former Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery to replace Jamaal Williams. If the Lions can land some impact players with their two 1st round picks in this draft and Jared Goff picks up where he left off last season, the Lions could be a real threat to take the NFC North title.

Seattle Seahawks

Speaking of teams with the arrow pointing up, the Seahawks spent a pretty penny this offseason retooling on defense and securing their short-term future at quarterback. The franchise rewarded quarterback Geno Smith for a career year in 2022 with a lucrative contract extension at a reasonable price. Then they turned their attention to the defensive unit up by bringing back both Bobby Wagner and Jarren Reed, while adding DE Dre’mont Jones, LB Devin Bush and S Julian Love. This is another team that is loaded up with a pair of 1st round picks this draft and it will be very interesting to see if the Seahawks decide to address the future of the quarterback or play to win now with these two selections. 

Losers

Baltimore Ravens

One could focus on the loss leader DE Calais Campbell up front as a reason for the Ravens’ appearance on this list, but who am I kidding? This is all about Lamar Jackson. This contract stalemate between the franchise and its franchise quarterback has come unraveled in front of our very eyes over the last 12+ months. Both sides have their leverage points… The Ravens are likely pretty hesitant to give Lamar over $200 million dollars guaranteed when he has failed to finish the previous two seasons due to injury, while Lamar is the youngest league MVP in league history and still only 26 years old. It has gotten ugly for both sides and one has to seriously wonder if Lamar Jackson has played his final snap as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

EDITOR”S NOTE: The OJB signing came after this article was received.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When you lose the greatest quarterback of all time, it’s hard not to make an appearance on this list. Quarterback Tom Brady has decided to retire from the sport of football (again) and this time the Buccaneers appear to have accepted that fact by bringing in former quarterback Baker Mayfield. He is expected to compete with 2021 2nd-round pick Kyle Trask for the starting role under center in 2023. Both scenarios seem like a significant downgrade from the GOAT himself, but compounding matters are the departures of two starting offensive linemen, tackle Donovan Smith and guard Shaq Mason to go along with some other notable salary cap casualties. The Bucs financially kicked the can down the road after hoisting the Lombardi trophy in 2020, and now it appears it’s time to pay the bill.

Derek Tate
Derek Tate

Derek Tate was born and raised in the Tampa Bay Area. He has been covering the NFL for the last five years and is currently the Sports Director and Play-by-Play Announcer for the TV station in northern Michigan, NewsNet. When he isn’t watching, analyzing, living, eating or breathing NFL Football, he enjoys spending time with his one-year-old daughter, Kennedy.

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