Yesterday teams in the NFL were stealing all the news with one big trade after the other. They are busily maneuvering through the new world of roster construction as they prepare for 2024 and 2023 drafts. That’s a big financial commitment to Gardner from the Indianapolis Colts. At the same time, their division rivals the New York Jets are shaking up their defensive front in an aggressive win now oriented move. Other teams, including the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks, and Baltimore Ravens, are making strategic adjustments as they look towards the future.
The Colts will owe Gardner big league $25.5 million in total guarantees for the 2026 season. The team announced his cap number as $9.5 million for next year. This decision was representative of their commitment to try and land this year’s top defensive player. The Jets have caused a bit of a ruckus! Then they fired Gardner and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams on the same day. By making this apparently tactical move, they set their opponents up in all the wrong ways. It sets the Jets up for an $11 million dead money cap hit in 2026.
Jets’ Bold Moves Reshape Future
The Jets’ unprecedented trade down of Gardner and Williams has generated polarized opinions from fans and analysts. By moving on from their two most talented defenders, New York is looking to reset their roster to set themselves up long term. Even though the Jets suffered an immediate loss of talent as a result, these trades have primed the Jets to create a stronger foundation overall.
With these two trades the Jets now have two first round picks and two second round picks in the 2026 draft. Additionally, they have 3 first-round picks in 2027 locked up, setting themselves up to take big jumps in retooling their roster. Ownership clearly wants to fix their long-term QB situation. They intend to address all of this in the next two drafts, perhaps the most laser-focused plan to restore an entire offense in recent memory.
Unlike their defensive overhaul, the Jets seem self-assured in their capacity to trade up with these draft assets in order to play chess instead of checkers. It’s going to be a make-or-break few seasons for them. Their goal is to create a sustainable, competitive team that can regularly challenge for playoff contention.
Other Teams Making Strategic Adjustments
Elsewhere around the league, other teams are equally active – if not more so – making tweaks to their rosters. The Denver Broncos, for example, absorbed an astonishing $80 million when they cut quarterback Russell Wilson in 2024. However, since that decision, the Broncos have put together a winning 17-10 record. That indicates that the change has been helpful to their success on the whole.
Simultaneously, across town, the Buffalo Bills are said to be in the process of clearing cap space to make highly impactful acquisitions. Buffalo is making a proactive move. They’re not sitting on their laurels either, they are hard at work to fortify their lineup for future competitions.
Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn is taking the defensive scheme changes one step further. They’re looking ahead to Sunday’s match up against the Arizona Cardinals. That’s because they understand that they must continue to change and improve. That kind of commitment is what keeps them competitive in a very tough division.
Trades Impacting League Dynamics
With their season hanging in the balance, the Washington Commanders are at a crossroads. They still have a lot to work on, with their bye week not coming until Week 12. Depending on how they perform over the next few weeks, they can go a number of different ways.
The Seattle Seahawks pulled off the biggest blockbuster trade of the week, acquiring dynamic wide receiver Rashid Shaheed from the desperate New Orleans Saints. In exchange, they surrendered their own fourth- and fifth-round picks. It’s a solid, strategic move to improve their receiving corps while they try to jumpstart their offensively challenged team.
The Cowboys made headlines by trading linebacker Logan Wilson, further reshaping their roster dynamics as they prepare for the challenges ahead. The Baltimore Ravens’ trade of Odafe Oweh was a surprising but aggressive and impactful move. They brought in defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones and safety Alohi Gilman, signaling their intent to re-invigorate the defense.
Now Cincinnati is allegedly asking for a second-round pick for their most talented player TE Trey Hendrickson. Specifically, this request highlights the premium put on impact players in today’s arms race of a competitive NFL.
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