Biggest NFL Changes This Offseason

The 2022 NFL Offseason has been one of the wildest in recent memory. Multiple star quarterbacks were traded, and Tom Brady came out of retirement just 40 days after he announced he was done with football. With the NFL Draft behind us, let’s take a look at some of the biggest storylines.

Tom Brady Retires (and Then Unretires)

The GOAT decided to hang up his spikes shortly after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were eliminated from the playoffs. Tom Brady tweeted his retirement announcement on February 1, 2022, but he announced that he would return to the Buccaneers just before the start of free agency. Reports have circulated that Brady planned to go to the Miami Dolphins and receive partial ownership of the franchise as part of the deal, but the Buccaneers held firm that they would not trade the GOAT and made it clear that Brady would only return if he was wearing pewter.

Seattle Trades Russell Wilson to Denver

It’s not often that a franchise quarterback comes on the market, so the Denver Broncos were more than happy to give up a small fortune for Russell Wilson. Denver traded their first and second round picks in 2022 and 2023, Noah Fant, Drew Lock, and Shelby Harris to Seattle for Wilson and a fourth-round pick. This gives John Elway the superstar quarterback he has wanted for the Broncos ever since Peyton Manning retired. Wilson is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection that is 33, and the Broncos are hoping that he can be under center for the next several years.

Aaron Rodgers Returns to Green Bay, but Davante Adams is Traded Away

There was a month of drama regarding whether or not Aaron Rodgers would stay with Green Bay after restructuring his contract with the Packers prior to the start of the 2021 season. Rodgers signed a three-year deal worth over $150 million this offseason, but the Packers stunned their star quarterback by trading top receiver Davante Adams just a few days after the contract was finalized. Green Bay received Las Vegas’ first and second round picks in exchange for Adams who proceeded to sign a huge five-year deal with the Raiders after the trade.

Atlanta Deals Matt Ryan to Indianapolis

After the decision to trade for Carson Wentz turned out to be a bust, Indianapolis looked to add another veteran quarterback this offseason. The Colts were able to acquire Matt Ryan for just a third-round pick, and the hope is that he can take the team over the top. Everything else is in place for Indianapolis to be a contender as the offensive line is elite and Jonathan Taylor led the NFL in rushing in 2021.

Deshaun Watson Finds a New Home in Cleveland

Houston didn’t allow Deshaun Watson to play a single game under center in 2021 as the star quarterback was at the center of several sexual assault allegations. A grand jury declined to indict Watson on criminal charges shortly before the start of free agency, and Houston agreed to trade Watson to Cleveland just a week after that. The Texans received three first-round picks, a third-round pick, and two fourth-round picks from the Browns for Watson. Surprisingly, Cleveland gave Watson the most guaranteed money in NFL history, signing the former national champion to an unprecedented fully guaranteed deal worth $230 million over five years.

Tyreek Hill is Traded to Miami and Becomes the Highest-Paid Receiver in the NFL

There was little indication that the Kansas City Chiefs planned on trading superstar receiver Tyreek Hill going into the offseason. Hill was entering the last year of his contract, but the Chiefs were trying to get a deal done. However, wide receivers across the league signed massive contracts in the first several days of free agency, and that led to Kansas City instead dealing Hill to Miami in late March for five draft picks. Hill immediately signed a four-year, $120 million extension with over $70 million of guaranteed money to become the highest-paid receiver in team history. That means its time for Tua Tagovailoa to finally live up to the hype.