Every offseason brings optimism. Fan bases convince themselves that a new coordinator, a splash signing, or one strong draft class can erase the flaws exposed during the previous year. But not every franchise actually gets better.
Some teams simply shuffle the deck chairs while the real roster problems remain untouched. Based on their 2025 performance, offseason decisions, and draft strategy, these five teams look like the least improved entering the 2026 NFL season.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars desperately needed a transformative offseason after another disappointing campaign, but instead they lost key pieces and failed to adequately replace them.
Jacksonville’s biggest blow came defensively with the departure of linebacker Devin Lloyd, the emotional centerpiece of the defense and one of their most productive tacklers. Losing a leader in the middle of the defense hurts even more for a unit that already struggled with consistency in 2025.
The offense also took a step backward after losing its leading rusher, leaving Trevor Lawrence with even more pressure behind an inconsistent offensive line. Jacksonville already ranked near the bottom of the league in explosive rushing plays last season, and there’s little evidence they fixed that issue.
The draft class did little to inspire confidence either. Outside of offensive lineman Pregnon — arguably their lone high-upside selection — the Jaguars failed to add immediate-impact talent. They didn’t address pass rush depth in a meaningful way, nor did they land a true difference-maker in the secondary.
For a team that needed major upgrades to compete in the AFC South, Jacksonville feels stuck in neutral.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals may have had one of the most confusing offseasons in football.
After allowing a franchise-record 488 points in 2025, Arizona entered the offseason with obvious defensive needs — particularly on the defensive line and edge rush. Yet with the No. 3 overall pick, they selected running back Jeremiyah Love instead of addressing the pass rush or secondary.
That decision becomes even harder to justify considering James Conner and Trey Benson were already on the roster. Meanwhile, Arizona’s pass rush still lacks a true elite edge threat opposite Josh Sweat. Analysts and fans alike questioned why the Cardinals once again failed to aggressively attack the edge position.
Most of their offseason additions were veteran stopgaps and journeyman-level players rather than long-term solutions. While players like Dalvin Tomlinson help the run defense, the Cardinals still lack the explosive pressure unit needed to survive in today’s NFL.
Jacoby Brissett may still produce offensively, but unless the defense improves dramatically, Arizona risks remaining one of the NFC’s most incomplete rosters.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons made headlines this offseason, but headlines don’t always equal improvement.
Atlanta franchise-tagged Kyle Pitts after arguably his best season as a pro, one that earned him second-team All-Pro honors. They also added quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and drafted cornerback Avieon Terrell, the younger brother of A.J. Terrell.
But beyond those moves, it’s fair to question how much the Falcons actually fixed.
The pass rush still remains inconsistent, the offensive line lost depth, and the wide receiver room outside Drake London remains underwhelming. Atlanta also lost veterans like Kirk Cousins, Tyler Allgeier, and Darnell Mooney in free agency.
Tua’s arrival creates intrigue, but not certainty. He threw for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last season, numbers that don’t exactly scream franchise-changing addition.
Avieon Terrell has upside, but expecting a rookie corner to immediately fix defensive coverage issues is risky. Ultimately, Atlanta still looks like a roster with many of the same flaws that kept them from winning the NFC South in 2025.
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle’s offseason feels dangerously dependent on hope.
The Seahawks lost multiple important contributors in free agency, including Riq Woolen, Kenneth Walker III, Boye Mafe, and Coby Bryant. That’s a massive drain of athleticism and production on both sides of the ball.
Instead of aggressively replacing those losses with proven veterans, Seattle largely relied on depth additions and rookie projections. Using a first-round pick on another running back raised eyebrows considering the team had larger issues in the trenches and secondary.
The defense especially looks concerning. Losing Woolen and Mafe removes two of the unit’s most explosive athletes, and there’s no guarantee younger replacements can replicate that production immediately.
Seattle appears to be betting heavily on internal development rather than proven upgrades — a risky strategy in an increasingly competitive NFC West.
Detroit Lions
The Lions are still one of the NFC’s better teams, but relative to expectations, their offseason may not have solved enough.
Detroit’s biggest weakness in 2025 was exposed repeatedly in the playoffs: cornerback depth and interior offensive line stability. Yet despite entering the offseason with those clear concerns, the Lions mostly banked on youth development instead of proven veteran help.
Now the pressure falls on rookies Derrick Moore and Blake Miller to become immediate contributors. That’s asking a lot for young players expected to stabilize two critical positions on a Super Bowl contender.
The secondary remains vulnerable against elite quarterbacks, and any regression along the interior offensive line could significantly impact Jared Goff and the run game. Detroit’s roster is talented enough to stay competitive, but compared to other NFC contenders that aggressively upgraded, the Lions feel more stagnant than improved.
Final Thoughts
Not every offseason winner in May becomes a winner in the following January, and not every quiet offseason turns into failure. But on paper, these five teams either failed to address glaring weaknesses or relied too heavily on unproven players to solve major roster flaws.
The Jaguars and Cardinals failed to maximize critical rebuilding years. The Falcons added star power without fully fixing structural issues. The Seahawks lost too much talent without replacing it. And the Lions may have stood still while the rest of the NFC evolved around them.
That doesn’t guarantee failure in 2026 — but it does make these teams some of the NFL’s biggest question marks entering the season.
