The 2023 NFL Offseason Frenzy

It’s that time of year where spring is in the air, and rumors fly high as the NFL offseason is in full swing. So, let’s take a look at some of the most key transactions and signings of this crazy, eventful offseason so far.

Starting things off with a bang, the most eye-catching story has by far been the possible Aaron Rodgers trade. Rodgers has verbally said he wants to play for The New York Jets, whilst also  demanding new weapons and signings to a team he isn’t even an official member of yet. This has stirred conflict between many of the current Jets players, who are taking Aaron Rodgers demands the wrong way.

The Jets finished last season with a 7-10 record, barely missing the playoffs. However, to shine some light on that note, the 2022-2023 season was one of the Jets best in recent years. There is plenty to look forward to if you’re a Jets fan, and the players are evidently adapting a culture of winning from the looks of it. So, with that in mind, could Aaron Rodgers’ demands ruin the chemistry of the Jets, when they were already in rebuild mode? Would it set them back to ground zero? No one knows how long Aaron Rodgers plans to play for the Jets, which could also cause long-term issues for the team if he ends up being noncommittal.

Down south in the big state of Texas, opinions have been flying all over the place, as the Cowboys made the difficult decision of letting long-time cowboy Ezekiel Elliot leave during the offseason, which stirred up mixed feelings about the former first-round pick. When Zeke was healthy and at the top of his game, the Cowboys had one of the best offenses in the NFL. In 2016, they finished with a 13-3 record and topped the NFC East as Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot lead the young Cowboys squad to a playoff berth, where they inevitably fell short to the 4th seeded Green Bay Packers 34-31. Ever since that playoff run, the Cowboys have had up and down seasons, and even with multiple playoff berths, they never could finally make it to the Super Bowl.

Now with the dynamic duo of Zeke and Prescott splitting apart, the Cowboys signed RB Ronald Jones to fill the void. With the new change in personnel, can the Cowboys finally have the winning culture shift to win their first Super Bowl since 1996? They have the talent to do it, but now do they have the mindset to make it? Only time will tell, and how long do the Cowboys have before even Quarterback Dak Prescott may decide to leave the Cowboys for brighter ventures?

Heading back up north to the state of Maryland, we enter the city of Baltimore, where rumors have been flying all over the place as superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson leaving the Ravens has flown all over the city of Baltimore. The 2019 NFL MVP made headlines as an unstoppable dual threat “Michael Vick” like quarterback. The first rounder was drafted by the Ravens in 2018 and led the team to one of their most dominant seasons in franchise history with an absurd 14-2 record, topping the entire AFC.

Unfortunately, the Ravens were a second-round exit, falling to the underdog Tennessee Titans in a brutal 28-12 home loss. Ever since that season, the Ravens have remained one of the top teams in the AFC, but they have consistently lost in the second round of the playoffs. It seems that Lamar Jackson is looking to leave Baltimore and head to greener pastures. Some potential landing spots for the 2019 NFL MVP are the Indianapolis Colts, the Washington Commanders, the New York Jets, and the Carolina Panthers.

It’s still unknown if the former MVP QB will leave the Ravens, but if he does, it would cause a lot of turmoil for the Ravens. The departure of Lamar would mean the Ravens would either have to start Tyler Huntley or look for another option. On the flip side, Lamar Jackson landing at the Colts or Jets would shake up the AFC, as he might be what could put make those teams legitimate contenders.

As always with the NFL offseason, we can never perfectly predict what players and teams are thinking, so we’re always in for a surprise– whether that be pleasant or distasteful. Only time will tell what the NFL will shape up to be for the 2023-2024 season.