2023 NFL Offseason: Ranking the three worst offseason moves
There have been some great moves made this offseason, but these three stand out as the worst in the NFL this offseason for 2023. This happens every year in the NFL. At the end of the day, the men and women making decisions for NFL teams are human beings and will make mistakes.
Sometimes, the mistakes can easily be corrected. Other times, mistakes can perhaps make people lose their jobs entirely. I think a few moves stick out as being some of the worst in the NFL this offseason.
Let’s talk about those moves.
2023 NFL Offseason: Ranking the three worst offseason moves
Detroit Lions drafting Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round
I could argue that this was the absolute worst move of the offseason thus far. Not only is Gibbs a running back, but he was obviously the second-best in the class and because of his position, should have not been close to a first-rounder.
The Detroit Lions should have used that pick on an EDGE rusher or a wide receiver, in my opinion, two positions who are infinitely more valuable than a running back. This one might come to bite them in the rear end.
Las Vegas Raiders dumping Derek Carr for Jimmy Garoppolo
This was a puzzling move. The Raiders decided to scapegoat Derek Carr and essentially cut him from the team during the end of the 2022 season. Because of how they handled the situation, they weren’t even able to make a trade with Carr. Instead, he was outright cut and the Raiders did not receive draft capital in return for an average starting quarterback.
To make matters worse, they decided that an inferior quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, was a better option. Sure, he has familiarity with Josh McDaniels, but how did this move make the Raiders better? Well, it didn’t, and now the Raiders have the 20th best QB in the NFL instead of the 13th best.
Baltimore Ravens overpaying for Odell Beckham, Jr
I think signing Odell Beckham Jr for a few million would have been the right decision for any team that would have had interest in the player. However, signing OBJ for a whopping $15 million guaranteed was a huge mistake.
OBJ tore his ACL in the 2021 Super Bowl and did not play for the entire 2022 season. He should be 100% rehabbed from the injury, but he’s also suffered quite a few serious injuries during his career and I don’t think he’s close to the OBJ he once was.
I think he would have a role as a WR3 in a normal, average NFL offense, but he’s being paid like a top receiver, and he simply isn’t. Lamar Jackson has never been a prolific passer, and maybe that’s because he’s never had an elite wide receiver, so I don’t think Beckham is going to fill the stat sheet at all.
This seemed like a desperation move to keep Jackson, and if you want to think of it that way, then maybe it was the right move.