2026 NFL Thanksgiving Odds: Lines, Spreads, What to Know for All 4 Games

Fans are gonna get to gobbling up some football during Thanksgiving week. The NFL Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day games have dropped, and there are some bangers. Let's check out the odds for the holiday slate at FanDuel Sportsbook, as of May 14. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. NOV. 25 — THANKSGIVING EVE Packers @ Rams Spread: Rams -3.5Moneyline: Rams -198, Packers +164O/U: 49.5 What to know: The Rams went 12-5 last season (second in the NFC West) and were one win away from the Super Bowl, falling to division rival Seattle in the NFC Championship. Entering this year, they are favored to win it all, after adding Trent McDuffie to the secondary. As for the Packers, they finished second in the NFC North (9-7-1) and lost to division rival Chicago in the wild-card round. NOV. 26 — THANKSGIVING DAY Bears @ Lions Spread: Lions -2.5Moneyline: Lions -126, Bears +108O/U: 53.5 What to know: A classic NFC North rivalry game. Despite the Bears winning the division last season (11-6), and the Lions finishing last (9-8) and missing the playoffs, Detroit did sweep Chicago. The Lions smashed the Bears in Week 2 (52-21) and then closed the regular season with a 19-16 win over Chicago. Eagles @ Cowboys Spread: Cowboys -1.5Moneyline: Cowboys -116, Eagles -102O/U: 49.5 What to know: Arguably the biggest rivalry in the NFL. The two NFC East foes split the regular-season series, with Philadelphia outscoring Dallas 45-44 across the two games. The Cowboys missed the playoffs last year after finishing the regular season at 7-9-1, second in the division. The Eagles (11-6) won the division and were the defending champions entering the postseason, but fell in the wild-card round to San Francisco. Chiefs @ Bills Spread: Bills -2.5Moneyline: Bills -142, Chiefs +120O/U: 50.5 What to know: This one comes down to one thing: How will Patrick Mahomes look? Chances are he will be back on the field for Kansas City after tearing his ACL at the end of last season. But will he be the Mahomes of old? The Chiefs (6-11) missed the playoffs last season for the first time in forever, while the Bills (12-5) lost a heartbreaker to Denver in the divisional round. Josh Allen is 5-1 against Mahomes in the regular season all-time.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/264NAPK

2026 NFL Schedule Release: Inside the Process of Making an Epic Reveal Video

In 2024, when the Los Angeles Chargers created what became their viral "Sims"-themed schedule release video, several members of their social team sat in a room filming the New England Patriots matchup in the life simulation video game. The scene was a retirement home. At some point, something strange started to happen. "One of the Sims peed his pants because I guess we had him standing there for too long," Megan Julian, the Chargers’ vice president of social media and digital marketing, told me. "And then he’d like go take a shower. We were all just sitting there, waiting for this little Sim [character] to go do his thing. Sometimes, this job and this process is such a ridiculous thing. "And then at the end, when everybody gets to see [the video] and my boss is yelling from down the hall, ‘Is it doing well? Do people like it?’" Julian added. "We’re reading the comments out loud. We’re looking at the Reddit threads to see what jokes people picked up on. I think it just brings us together in a really cool way before the season every year." This is just one example of how big the schedule reveal has become in NFL culture. Over the past several years, schedule release day has become known as the Super Bowl for social media teams. Their videos are analyzed and ranked for the quality of jokes, nostalgic nods and pop culture references. Videos like the Chargers’ anime creation in 2022 and the Tennessee Titans’ 2023 reel, in which they quizzed people on Broadway Street in Nashville on the logos of their opponents that year, broke the internet. In 2019, the Atlanta Falcons' schedule release video paid homage to "Game of Thrones" by using the cityscapes and mascots of their opponents. In 2024, the Patriots had Julian Edelman portray the title character in "Good Will Hunting" in a parody of the Oscar-winning movie set in Boston. That same year, the Los Angeles Rams had video game versions of Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and other star players recklessly drive around the cities of the team's opponents in a takeoff on "Grand Theft Auto." Ahead of Thursday’s 2026 schedule release, I spoke to leaders of the Chargers and Falcons’ content teams about what it takes to make a great schedule release video. Both franchises expressed an appreciation for the camaraderie and creative freedom involved. "It’s a chance for creative teams to kind of let their hair down. It’s a chance for all clubs to kind of use its proverbial one night to roast, and they roast and can be roasted and that’s just part of the fun of it," Falcons chief marketing officer Shannon Joyner told me. "These videos really do kind of live on their own. … It’s truly just a creative exploration that doesn’t have any set rules or necessities that go along with it. I think that is what — in a positive way — lends to such a spectrum of 32 amazingly creative ideas that all have their own unique flavor." The Chargers began working on their 2026 schedule release video in late January, not long after their opponents were finalized. Every year, their video and social teams get together for an initial meeting, where "upwards of 100" ideas are pitched, according to Julian. Nothing is ruled out early. This year, the Chargers pared their ideas down to five themes and then examined the constraints and opportunities for each potential concept. "You could almost say you’re burning a lot of time by doing that, but you almost need to be really exhaustive on the pre-production to really know that you’re hitting on the right idea," Tyler Pino, the Chargers’ vice president of production, told me. "And so that process is probably the most painful of all this. "Then there always comes a moment when everyone in the room — you don’t even have to say it — is like, ‘This is it.’ … Then you just take off like a rocket ship," he added. "From there, it’s like a Manhattan Project. The team is like ‘OK, like we gotta go.’" There’s a challenge of being "niche while also being broad" with the project, as Pino put it. The video should speak to your fan base, the NFL at large and broader pop culture simultaneously. Both teams acknowledge that there have been jokes in their schedule release videos that were completely missed. Some jokes, thrown in at the last minute, land better than expected. Others, which took a lot of time, don't land at all. And some things that weren’t even intended to be jokes become ones. "I think that’s just the nature of the beast," Julian told me. The Falcons, who also began their schedule release prep in January, have an initial meeting that is an "organizational open invitation," according to Joyner — employees from the social media team to the stadium tours business participate. This year, Atlanta's creative team involved the franchise’s new football regime — head coach Kevin Stefanski, president of football Matt Ryan and general manager Ian Cunningham. "We do want to use this moment to tastefully call back to things or honor things, or that our fans will react to or that the internet will react to," Ryan Delgado, the Falcons’ director of digital platforms, told me. "It’s important for us to kind of think through that lens, but realizing that everyone has a different version of that and how that comes across is always going to be kind of a challenge for sure. "It’s very difficult to stick to one thing and you put your head down and look up months later and be like, ‘Here it is.’ I mean, that’s just the way the internet works and how quickly things move and whatever the new moments are and if you’re able to integrate those in there, then great." Organizationally, the schedule release video is "really important" to the Chargers, per Julian. There’s an understanding that it can help the team sell tickets and generate excitement. No other creative pursuit in the calendar year takes as much time. "Normally in social and video, we’re going really quickly," Julian told me. The Chargers had meetings on the schedule release video five days per week dating back to February. That doesn’t include all the technical and creative work that employees put in on the project. "It’s like creating a sequel to anything: You want to make it bigger and better and subvert expectations of what people think we’re going to do," Pino told me. "Every year we’re like, ‘How can we do this again?’ When you’re at the bottom of the mountain, it’s pretty daunting, especially when you don’t have the idea yet. You always have doubt of can we actually pull this off again? And then somehow, through us all just kind of being in rooms for hours and hours and hours and banging our heads against the wall, we usually get to a good result. "It’s definitely become a bigger thing than we’ve ever imagined." Joyner called the schedule release "the ultimate brand and business moment." "The floor has been raised so, so high for what clubs are doing and how you show up on this day, how you show up in this moment," Delgado told me. "And you’re naturally going to observe all 32 clubs and kind of see what they did. Learn from it. Try to figure out, ‘How did that happen? How did that come about?' You’re always going to be sort of a fan first or try to walk yourself through this and be able to watch all of them as much as you possibly can." [Ranking the 10 Best Schedule Release Videos of All Time] Pino sees the schedule release video process as rewarding. At no other point in the year are there so many people working on one project. Before publishing their video each year, the Chargers find peace in the answers to a couple of questions: Did we like our process? Did we work as hard on this as we could to make it as good as it could have been? The work on the 2026 schedule release videos is now done. Tonight is the Super Bowl for social teams. "That last 15 minutes before we release the video, there’s always all of us in the room like really nervous," Pino told me. "Like, ‘Oh, I don’t know about this year.’ It happens every year. And then you just have to kind of release it to the world and hope for the best."

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/0FsDYuf

What Is the Point Spread in Sports Betting? What -3.5, -7 and Other Spreads Mean

The point spread is the most widely used bet type in sports betting. It levels the playing field between a strong favorite and a weaker opponent by assigning a margin that the favorite must overcome. Rather than picking who wins, you are betting on whether a team wins or loses by a specific number of points. Spread betting drives NFL and NBA wagering, and it appears across college football, college basketball, and other team sports. Once you understand how to read a spread number and what the attached odds mean, it becomes the most straightforward bet type at any sportsbook. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. What Is the Point Spread? The point spread is a handicap set by oddsmakers to create a more balanced betting market between two mismatched teams. The favorite is assigned a negative number, meaning they must win by more than that amount. The underdog receives a positive number, meaning they can lose by up to that amount and still cover. The goal of the spread is not to predict the exact margin of victory. It is designed to split betting action evenly between both sides. When roughly equal money is wagered on each team, the sportsbook collects its margin on the losing bets, regardless of the outcome. How Does Spread Betting Work? When you place a spread bet, the final score is adjusted by the spread before grading. If the spread is -6.5 for the favorite, subtract 6.5 from their final score. If the result is still positive, the favorite covered. If negative, they did not. The number next to the spread (usually -110) is the juice, or vig. It is the sportsbook's cut. At -110, you must bet $110 to win $100. That small margin is how the book profits over time regardless of which side wins. NFL Point Spread Example The Kansas City Chiefs are -6.5 (-110) against the Denver Broncos, who are +6.5 (-110). A bet on Kansas City wins if the Chiefs win by 7 or more points. A bet on Denver wins if the Broncos win the game or lose by 6 or fewer. NBA Point Spread Example The Boston Celtics are -8 (-110) against the Miami Heat at +8 (-110). The Celtics need to win by 9 or more. The Heat cover if they win outright or lose by 7 or fewer. A final score of Celtics 112, Heat 105 (margin: 7) means the Heat covered. What Is a Push? A push occurs when the final margin exactly matches the spread. If the Chiefs are -7 and win by exactly 7, no side wins or loses. Your stake is returned in full. To eliminate pushes, oddsmakers frequently use half-point spreads (called the hook) such as -6.5 or -7.5. What Is the Hook? The hook is the half-point added to a spread to prevent a push. Buying or selling the hook is a common strategy where bettors pay extra juice to move a spread a half point in their favor. Moving from -3 to -2.5 on a football bet can be worth paying a premium because 3 is the most common margin of victory in the NFL. Point Spread vs. Moneyline The moneyline and the point spread are both ways to bet on the outcome of a game, but they measure different things. The moneyline rewards picking the winner regardless of margin. The spread rewards picking the team that wins by enough, or loses by little enough. For heavy favorites, the moneyline requires a large stake to win a small return. The spread often offers a more balanced payout, but it demands the favorite win convincingly. The right choice depends on how confident you are in the margin, not just the result. How Are Point Spread Payouts Calculated? Most spread bets are priced at -110 on both sides. At -110, you bet $110 to win $100, for a total return of $210. The $10 difference is the vig the sportsbook keeps. Understanding the juice is important because it affects your long-term profitability. Spreads are not always priced at -110. When one side attracts more action, the sportsbook may shade the juice to -115 or -120 on the popular side and +100 or -105 on the other. Always check the price on both sides before placing your bet. Standard -110 Spread Payout Alternate Juice Example To break even on -110 juice, you need to win 52.38% of your spread bets. That is the minimum win rate required before you start showing a profit. At -115, the break-even rate rises to roughly 53.49%. When Does Spread Betting Make Sense? When to Bet the Favorite on the Spread When to Bet the Underdog on the Spread When the Spread May Not Be the Best Option How to Place a Point Spread Bet Spread bets are available on every major sportsbook for NFL, NBA, college football, college basketball, and other team sports. Here is how to get started using one of the best betting apps. Spreads can move between when you first see them and when you place your bet. Line movement happens as new information comes in (injuries, weather, betting volume). Locking in a line early can be an advantage if you expect it to move against you. Common Point Spread Mistakes For deeper strategy on specific bet types, see our guides on how to bet on moneylines, teaser betting, and over/under totals betting. Responsible Gambling Sports betting should be fun. Set a budget before you start and treat losses as the cost of entertainment. If gambling stops being enjoyable or starts affecting your daily life, help is available. Point Spread Betting FAQ What does point spread mean in sports betting? The point spread is a margin set by oddsmakers that the favorite must exceed to win the bet. If a team is -6.5, they need to win by 7 or more for a bet on them to cash. The underdog at +6.5 covers if they win or lose by 6 or fewer. What does -110 mean on a point spread? The -110 is the juice, or vig. It means you must bet $110 to win $100. This is the standard price on most spread bets and represents the sportsbook's built-in margin. Not all spreads are priced at -110; the juice can vary depending on where the action is. What is a push in spread betting? A push happens when the final margin equals the spread exactly. If a team is -7 and wins by exactly 7, neither side wins. Your original stake is returned in full with no profit or loss. Sportsbooks often use half-point spreads to eliminate the possibility of a push. Can you bet the spread on any sport? Spread betting is most common in football and basketball, where scores are high and margins vary widely. In baseball the equivalent is the run line (fixed at 1.5). In hockey it is the puck line (fixed at 1.5 goals). Spreads do exist in other sports but are less commonly used. What is a key number in spread betting? Key numbers are the most frequent final margins in a sport. In the NFL, 3 and 7 are the most important because field goals and touchdowns are the most common scoring plays. Lines often cluster around these numbers and bettors will pay extra juice to land on the right side of them. What does it mean when the line moves? Line movement happens when oddsmakers adjust the spread after it opens, usually in response to betting volume, injuries, or weather. If a line moves from -6.5 to -7.5, it means more money is coming in on the favorite. Sharp bettors often try to anticipate or react to line movement. Is spread betting the same as a parlay? No. A spread bet is a single wager on one game. A parlay combines multiple bets, including spread bets, into one ticket where all legs must win for the parlay to cash. See our parlay betting guide for more. How do I find the best spread odds? Comparing lines across multiple sportsbooks is the most reliable way to find the best spread. Even a half-point difference or a juice improvement from -115 to -110 adds up over many bets. Our list of the best sportsbook promos can help you get started with multiple accounts.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/iXZhq3A

2026 NFL Odds: Giants Open as Underdogs vs. Cowboys in John Harbaugh's Debut

It is officially NFL schedule release week. On Thursday, fans will finally learn every NFL team’s full 18-week regular season schedule. However, the league has already started unveiling some of the season’s biggest matchups ahead of the official release. The NFL previously announced that the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will meet in the league’s historic first ever game in Australia to open their season. Additionally, the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys are set to face off in the NFL’s inaugural game in Rio de Janeiro in Week 3. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Now, the league has officially revealed another marquee matchup: the Week 1 Sunday Night Football opener between two of the NFL’s most historic franchises, the Cowboys and New York Giants. With the announcement now official, opening odds for the game have already been posted by DraftKings Sportsbook as of May 11. Cowboys @ Giants (Week 1) Spread Cowboys -1.5: -115 (bet $10 to win $18.70 total)Giants +1.5: -105 (bet $10 to win $19.52 total) Moneyline Cowboys: -130 (bet $10 to win $17.69 total)Giants: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total) Total O 47.5: -115 (bet $10 to win $18.70 total)U 47.5: -105 (bet $10 to win $19.52 total) The spotlight for this matchup immediately falls on John Harbaugh, who will make his Giants debut in primetime against one of the franchise’s biggest rivals. The longtime Ravens head coach was hired by New York in January after spending 18 seasons in Baltimore and now takes over a Giants team looking to turn the page after back-to-back last place finishes in the NFC East and just seven total wins over the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Dallas enters 2026 with major changes of its own. After allowing an NFL worst 30.1 points per game last season while also ranking last in pass defense and 30th in total defense, the Cowboys completely revamped that side of the ball by hiring former Philadelphia Eagles assistant Christian Parker as defensive coordinator. Dallas also made several key offseason additions, including using its first-round pick on star safety Caleb Downs. Both teams are expected to take significant steps forward in 2026, with the Cowboys’ season win total set at 9.5 and the Giants’ at 7.5. This matchup will mark the eighth time since 2012 that the NFC East rivals have met in a season opener. The Cowboys have dominated those games, winning six of the past seven Week 1 matchups against the Giants. The question now becomes whether John Harbaugh can change that narrative and start his Giants tenure with a statement win. Bettors will have the entire summer to think about it.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/lkLAZFS

NFL Offseason Check-In: After Warren Sapp Tribute, Rueben Bain Seeks to Forge Own Path

TAMPA, Fla. — The parallel was already easy to make for Rueben Bain Jr. A consensus All-American who wreaked havoc at the front of a University of Miami defense but fell unexpectedly and landed in the middle of the first round with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? That was Bain two weeks ago, when the Buccaneers were thrilled to get him at No. 15, but it also happened 31 years ago. So, when Bain arrived at Bucs rookie minicamp on Thursday wearing a black retro Warren Sapp No. 99 jersey, it was a nostalgic nod to a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but also a reminder of how confident he is, and how excited his new team is about the potential they see in him. "He's got an old soul, so to speak," coach Todd Bowles said at the podium after Bain's first practice Friday afternoon. "He understands his lineage. He understands the guys who came before him. They've got a lot of great players down at the University of Miami ... he understands how to pay homage to the guys that came before him down there and he's tried to pattern his game like that. He's a very smart player, not just a tough player. He understands what he's walking into and what he wants to be." And as Bain was fitted with his first NFL helmet, he made a video call to Sapp, who he knew from his Hurricane days, showing a real connection between one of the best players in Bucs history and the franchise's future. "It was a full-circle moment," Bain said at the podium on Friday, sharing he had traded texts with Sapp when he got drafted as the older 'Cane reminded him that Tampa was "his city." But Bain didn't go out and buy a Sapp throwback. This was an old jersey, older than Bain himself, as one of his friends in Miami sent him a pic of the Sapp jersey "in the back of his closet." There was already a no-nonsense vibe to Bain from draft night, when after waiting longer than most anyone expected him to hear his name called, he walked past an NFL selfie mirror set up for draft picks, grabbing the Bucs hat set out for him without even breaking stride. On Friday, given the chance to step on an NFL practice field for the first time, wearing his own new No. 3 jersey, Bain relented and allowed himself to smile and enjoy the excitement of a new chapter in his football career. "I've been on Cloud Nine ever since I walked in," said Bain, who had 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in helping Miami to the national championship game last season. "Just enjoying the process, enjoying where I'm at. I'm happy. I'm where I'm supposed to be. I'm with my friends and my team, I'm home. I can't complain about anything." The Bucs were elated to have Bain fall to them at 15, as edge rusher has been a major need for them and a catalyst in Bowles' attacking defense. Tampa Bay also hadn't drafted a player from Miami in Jason Licht's first 12 years as general manager, but he took two, in Bain and nickel defensive back Keionte Scott in the fourth round, hoping to import the toughness and aura from their college success. "I love that he's very unique, where he's got a great blend of power and athleticism," Licht said on draft night. "He can bend, he's got get-off, he's very powerful, he's got very explosive not just athleticism, but powerful hands, powerful strength and he plays very edgy. He plays with a chip on his shoulder." Bain was viewed as one of the top edge rushers in the 2026 draft in the lead-up to the event, with several mock drafts projecting him to be a top-10 pick. Our draft analyst, Rob Rang, had him at No. 7 on his big board, placing third among edge rushers. Rang gave the Buccaneers an A-minus grade for the pick, and Tampa a B grade for its overall draft haul due to the selection. However, Bain faced criticism about his arms being shorter than most pass rushers at 30 and 7/8 inches — "Mike Tyson had short arms, too," Licht said the night he drafted him — but the Bucs trusted the dominance they saw on tape in his three seasons at Miami, totaling 20.5 sacks, one more than Sapp finished with as a defensive tackle for the Hurricanes. They don't need him to be Sapp, who helped Tampa Bay to its first Super Bowl in the 2002 season during a run of seven straight Pro Bowl nods. But Bain has an excitement of his own — a much-needed positivity for a team that lost seven of its last nine games last season to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Two franchise icons are gone in linebacker Lavonte David, who retired, and receiver Mike Evans, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, so the Buccaneers needed a new face and source of optimism. This week is the first step for Bain, getting to know his fellow rookies before he soon begins work with the full team, trying to earn their respect and trust entering a season where the Bucs are still the odds-on favorite to win the NFC South. Bain made headlines with someone else's jersey, but it might not be long before fans are wearing his No. 3 in the stands. "It was a sense of pride," Bain said of his decision to pay tribute to Sapp. "I feel like it speaks on the brotherhood we have at the University of Miami, and it speaks on the amount of pride I've got where I'm at right now."

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/Xc2GBl6

2026 NFL Schedule Release: When Will Regular-Season Schedule Be Unveiled?

The NFL will release its complete regular-season schedule on Thursday. The announcement made Friday is in line with the past couple of years, when the schedule has been released during the second week of May. The league has already announced that the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will meet in Melbourne, Australia, in Week 1. The game will be aired in prime time in the United States at 8:35 p.m. ET/5:35 p.m. PT on Sept. 10. Melbourne is 14 hours ahead of New York and 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles and San Francisco, meaning the game will kick off at 10:35 a.m. the next day in Australia. The game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro will take place in Week 3 (Sept. 27). The other seven international matchups will be announced on Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET on "Good Morning Football" on NFL Network. Dates for other key games are expected to filter out during the week. Typically, networks announce one of their showcase games during so-called up-fronts to advertisers. The Seattle Seahawks will begin defense of their Super Bowl title in the kickoff game on Sept. 9. The opponent has not been announced. The NFL could opt for an immediate Super Bowl LX rematch since the New England Patriots are scheduled to visit the Seattle Seahawks. Last season, the Super Bowl LIX rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs took place in Week 2. Other likely possibilities include the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys or Los Angeles Chargers. Reporting by The Associated Press.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/SprEWYP

The 5 NFL Teams That Improved the Most This Offseason Following NFL Draft

Now that the NFL Draft is behind us, the bulk of the 2026 NFL offseason is in the books — and it was really one to remember. There were 10 new head coaches hired, the most since 2022. The Arizona Cardinals decided they no longer wanted Kyler Murray, but the Minnesota Vikings deemed him good enough to sign him and allow him to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting quarterback job. The Las Vegas Raiders, meanwhile, will seemingly start veteran Kirk Cousins after taking Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Los Angeles Rams might have had the biggest swings this offseason. They traded for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie in a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, giving up a first-round draft pick in that deal before using another first-round pick to surprisingly take quarterback Ty Simpson. But the biggest news this offseason surrounded a blockbuster trade that didn't happen. The Baltimore Ravens landed star edge rusher Maxx Crosby for a few days before pulling out of the deal due to his medicals. As Crosby remains with the Raiders, the Ravens opted to sign star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson instead. So, now that the dust has largely settled this offseason, let's take a look at the five teams that have improved the most this spring as we inch closer to the start of training camp in July. Notable additions: Robert Saleh (hired as head coach), Brian Daboll (hired as offensive coordinator), wide receiver Carnell Tate (selected with fourth overall pick in 2026 NFL Draft), edge rusher Keldric Faulk (31st overall pick), wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (signed a four-year, $78 million contract), defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers (signed a three-year, $63 million deal) Let’s start with coaching changes. The Tennessee Titans hired a defensive-minded head coach with a strong, charismatic personality in Robert Saleh, who brought in an experienced staff led by former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll as the team’s offensive coordinator and former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley as the team’s defensive coordinator. Along with an experienced coaching staff, Saleh’s focus has been surrounding last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward with upgrades at receiver in first-round pick Carnell Tate and free agent signee Wan’Dale Robinson. However, the offensive line remains a question mark. The Titans took late-round flyers on two interior offensive linemen in Fernando Carmona and Pat Coogan. How Daboll changes things schematically, along with how offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo brings that group together, will go a long way to Ward’s improvement. Saleh will make the defense better, an experienced coaching staff will limit mistakes and help Tennessee double its win total from three games in 2025. Notable additions: Linebacker Sonny Styles (selected with the seventh overall pick in 2026 NFL Draft), edge rusher Odafe Oweh (signed a four-year, $100 million deal), linebacker Leo Chenal (signed a three-year, $24.75 million deal), edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson (signed a one-year, $12 million deal), tight end Chig Okonkwo (signed a three-year, $30 million deal), running back Rachaad White (signed a one-year, $2 million deal) Head coach Dan Quinn isn’t using injuries as an excuse for last year’s disappointing 5-12 finish after reaching the NFC Championship Game two years ago. Instead, the Washington Commanders made wholesale changes on offense and defense, moving on from experienced offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in favor of quarterbacks coach David Blough, who will put Jayden Daniels under center more in the upcoming season. The defensive-minded Quinn also moved on from defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., replacing him with Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator Daronte Jones. Expect an emphasis on improved pass rush defensively, led by athletic first-round pick Sonny Styles. The team also made a splash in free agency, adding Odafe Oweh after he recorded 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. And on offense, general manager Adam Peters hopes the additions of running back Rachaad White, running back Jerome Ford and wide receiver Dyami Brown in free agency will lead to more explosive plays. Peters also drafted enticing Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams in the third round and Penn State running back Kaytron Allen in the sixth round to help achieve that goal. The Commanders should improve this upcoming season and be back in the race for the NFC East division title. Notable additions: Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (acquired in trade with New York Giants), edge rusher Boye Mafe (signed a three-year, $60 million deal), defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (signed a two-year, $$25 million deal), safety Bryan Cook (signed a three-year, $40.25 million deal), edge rusher Cashius Howell (selected with 41st overall pick in 2026 NFL Draft) If Joe Burrow can stay healthy, the Cincinnati Bengals have upgraded enough defensively to compete for the top spot in the AFC North. The big move was trading for dominant defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in a deal with the New York Giants, sacrificing the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But they also signed defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, edge rusher Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook in free agency, helping to fill the void left by edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals had one of the worst defenses in the league last season, but have an infusion of talent that includes the addition of defensive linemen Cashius Howell and Landon Robinson through the draft. The Bengals allowed 29 points per game last season. If they can drop that number to the low-20s, Cincinnati will win more games because of an explosive offense. And the Bengals still have insurance behind Burrow in an accomplished veteran quarterback in Joe Flacco. Notable additions: Running back Travis Etienne (signed a four-year, $52 million deal), wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (selected with eighth overall pick in 2026 NFL Draft), guard David Edwards (signed a four-year, $61 million deal), linebacker Kaden Elliss (signed a three-year, $33 million deal), tight end Noah Fant (signed a two-year, $8.75 million deal) The New Orleans Saints appeared to have gotten the quarterback right, with last year’s second-round pick Tyler Shough showing he can be the long-term answer with the way he played in the second half of 2025. New Orleans added an elite playmaker with receiver Jordyn Tyson in the first round. Now the Arizona State product must prove he can stay healthy, dealing with a hamstring injury this past college football season. Third-round pick Oscar Delp is an athletic mover who gives head coach Kellen Moore the ability to use more heavy formations with more tight ends. North Dakota State product Bryce Lance, the younger brother of quarterback Trey Lance, was considered by some scouts I spoke with as one of the most underrated prospects in this year’s draft, with New Orleans adding the wide receiver in the fourth round of the draft. The Saints also signed running back Travis Etienne, guard David Edwards and tight end Noah Fant in free agency. Defensively, Georgia defensive tackle Christian Miller and Ohio State safety Lorenzo Styles should help upgrade the defense. New Orleans also signed Atlanta Falcons free agent linebacker Kaden Elliss to replace departed veteran inside linebacker Demario Davis. Those moves could put the Saints in a position to compete in the winnable NFC South. Notable additions: Running back Kenneth Walker III (signed a three-year, $45 million deal), cornerback Mansoor Delane (selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft), defensive tackle Peter Woods (selected with the 29th overall pick), safety Alohi Gilman (signed a three-year, $24.75 million deal), edge rusher R Mason Thomas (selected with the 40th overall pick) With the loss of cornerback Trent McDuffie in a trade and fellow corner Jaylen Watson to the Los Angeles Rams in free agency, the Kansas City Chiefs focused on replacing those playmakers by taking four defensive players with their first four picks in the draft, including cornerbacks Mansoor Delane and Jadon Canady, defensive tackle Peter Woods and edge rusher R Mason Thomas. The Chiefs also signed veteran safety Alohi Gilman and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga in free agency, revamping their defensive unit from front to back. Offensively, the centerpiece of this offseason was securing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in free agency from the Seattle Seahawks. Walker’s arrival should take pressure off Patrick Mahomes to carry the offense, as he returns from season-ending ACL knee surgery. Mahomes is expected to be ready for Week 1, as general manager Brett Veach recently said his star quarterback is ahead of schedule. Add in the return of Travis Kelce, and the Chiefs should rebound from a 6-11 campaign in 2025.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/aEe5GC8