NFL Offseason 2023: The best moves made up to this point
This offseason has been wild up to this point. Among all the moves made, which ones stand out as the very best as we approach the 2023 NFL Draft? So many teams thus far have positioned themselves nicely for the 2023 season and beyond.
Between the teams stuck in the middle reaching contender status, rebuilding teams making savvy, efficient moves, and everything in between, it’s clear that some teams have been doing it the right way, but which moves have stuck out as being the best of the 2023 NFL offseason thus far?
NFL Offseason 2023: The best moves made up to this point
Chicago Bears trading down from the #1 overall pick
The Chicago Bears trading down from the #1 overall pick to the #9 overall pick was a genius move from General Manager Ryan Poles. They received a plethora of draft picks back in the deal, along with stud wide receiver DJ Moore.
Moore is true WR1 receiver who has amassed over 5,000 receiving yards in five years and is set to enter his age-26 season, already his sixth in the NFL. Moore will add just what the Bears need in the offense and their #9 overall pick will surely be high enough to land a top OL prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft if that’s where Ryan Poles wants to go.
Hats off to Ryan Poles for this move.
Denver Broncos trading for Sean Payton
This happened quite early in the offseason, but still, it’s been arguably the best move of the 2023 offseason. The team decided to hire Nathaniel Hackett before the 2022 season, and it was widely praised across the NFL.
That move, along with trading for Russell Wilson, seemed to set the Broncos up for a great future. However, it became clear early that Hackett was not fit to be a head coach in the NFL. Between being the most injured team in the NFL and having perhaps the worst head coach in the league, the Broncos limped to five wins.
Going from Hackett to a Super Bowl winning head coach in Sean Payton is going to have a larger impact than some think, in my opinion. This move along is going to put the Broncos into playoff contention.
Carolina Panthers hiring Frank Reich
Frank Reich should not have been fired has the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach in 2022, but someone needed to be the scapegoat, and it was Reich. Reich landed the Panthers’ head coaching vacancy this year, and not only was that a great move, but the staff he’s built has been stellar.
I think this is a team that can win the NFC South in 2023, regardless of which QB they pick with the #1 overall pick. I kind of think that they gave up a bit too much to move up to #1, but the Reich hire is going to show immediate success.