Ranking the NFL's biggest offseason losers: Patriots, Packers facing questions
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- Atlanta Falcons hired two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, signed Tua Tagovailoa, and gave Drake London a $141 million extension ($35.2M AAV), the third-highest WR salary in the NFL
- Atlanta Falcons placed Matt Ryan in a president-of-football role with more organizational power than new GM Ian Cunningham, costing the Bears a compensatory pick in the Pearce trade
- Green Bay Packers lost Romeo Doubs, Quay Walker, Rasheed Walker, and Nate Hobbs in free agency and traded Rashan Gary to Dallas; Micah Parsons is expected to start 2026 on the PUP list
- New England Patriots face the sixth-toughest 2026 schedule with the hardest Weeks 1-4 strength of schedule in 40 years, opening with a Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks, plus the ongoing Mike Vrabel off-field controversy
- Arizona Cardinals finished 3-14 last season and replaced Jonathan Gannon with Mike LaFleur, whose last play-calling stint (Jets 2021-2022) ranked bottom eight in both total and scoring offense
- Arizona Cardinals drafted RB Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall instead of a quarterback and will run it back with Jacoby Brissett, who went 1-11 as a starter in 2025
- Jacksonville Jaguars rank as the NFL's worst offseason, losing linebacker Devin Lloyd, running back Travis Etienne, and cornerback G [article text cuts off]
Why it matters: Five contenders are heading into the 2026 preseason with rosters, quarterback situations, or off-field clouds that the author argues make them prime regression candidates — the Cardinals finished 3-14 and stuck with Brissett, the Patriots swap the easiest schedule of the millennium for the toughest early-season slate in 40 years, and the Falcons handed a top-three WR contract to a player the author doesn't view as a top-three talent. Preseason win totals reflect it: DraftKings lists Arizona at Over/Under 3.5, the league's lowest.
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