The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL How much better—or worse—is each AFC team after the first wave of free agency?
55 snips
Mar 16, 2026 A fast tour through how the AFC changed after the first wave of free agency. They grade which clubs gained youth, lost key veterans, or traded for draft capital. Specific team swings get quick takes — who dipped by design, who added short-term help, and who may have traded immediate wins for future flexibility.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Use Free Agency To Complement Draft Capital
- Do prioritize flexible, modest free agent signings that pair with draft capital rather than big long-term bets.
- The Texans' approach added sensible depth (Montgomery, Blankenship) while maximizing picks to shape the roster in the draft.
Bills Traded Picks For Immediate Offensive Upside
- The Bills clearly improved offensively by acquiring DJ Moore even though they overpaid via picks and money; the offensive line losses are manageable if other pieces step up.
- Trading a second for Moore trades draft equity for immediate scheme-changing pass-game flexibility around Josh Allen.
Browns Rebuilt O‑Line But Lost Key Skill Depth
- The Browns look marginally worse now due to player departures, but their heavy investment in replacing nearly the entire offensive line could still land them in the same competitiveness range.
- Losing David Njoku leaves a TE role gap; the O-line swap's success depends on health and fit.