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.
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.
