The NFL offseason is here, but the storylines aren’t slowing down. As ever, Aaron Rose is here to pick up the pieces for Bodog.
The No. 1 pick is still up for grabs, with Cam Ward emerging as the top quarterback option in a draft class without a clear standout. Aaron Rodgers’ time with the Jets is over, and the question now is whether he’ll try to extend his career or walk away. The Eagles are favorites to repeat, but key free agents and a coaching change could make that difficult. And after a controversial MVP vote, Lamar Jackson will look to reclaim the award over Josh Allen next season. Let’s break it all down.
Eagles Reload: The Road to a Repeat Won’t Be Easy
The Eagles are built to run it back, and the oddsmakers agree. Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith are all returning, keeping intact an offense that torched Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX and looked borderline unstoppable at times. The roster remains stacked, but repeating is never easy.
The challenges are real. Zack Baun and Josh Sweat are heading into free agency, leaving question marks on a defense that played a massive role in their title run. Kellen Moore is gone, taking the Saints’ head coaching job and leaving the Eagles in search of a new play-caller. That’s a big deal—the run game thrived under Moore, and his absence means the offense will need to adjust.
Winning back-to-back titles isn’t just tough—it’s rarely done. The Chiefs managed it last year, but even they couldn’t make it three straight. A healthy Lions team in the NFC and an AFC loaded with the Bills, Ravens, and Chiefs won’t make this easy. The Eagles have the firepower to defend their title, but the target on their back just got bigger.
Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen: The MVP Race Continues
Lamar Jackson will enter next season as the slight favorite to win MVP, looking to add a third trophy to his resume after narrowly losing out to Josh Allen this year. Jackson was named first-team All-Pro, a strong indicator of MVP voting, yet Allen edged him out, making it the first time since 1987 that the two awards went to different quarterbacks.
The debate was as close as the numbers suggested. Jackson had more total yards, more total touchdowns, and fewer interceptions while leading the Ravens to a 12-5 record and establishing them as one of the AFC’s best teams. He became the first quarterback ever to throw for 40 touchdowns and rush for over 600 yards in a season. But Allen had a strong case as well, with the Bills finishing with a better record and ultimately beating Jackson in the playoffs.
Heading into next season, Jackson will have another opportunity to strengthen his MVP case. If he delivers another All-Pro season and keeps the Ravens among the AFC’s elite, he’ll have a strong chance at winning his third MVP. But as this year proved, nothing is guaranteed.
Cam Ward and the No. 1 Pick: A Quarterback or a Wild Card?
The No. 1 pick debate is still wide open, but if a quarterback is going first—and they usually do—Cam Ward is the guy. The Tennessee Titans hold the top selection, and while there’s real buzz around Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State) or Travis Hunter (CB/WR, Colorado) as the best overall talents, history tells us that teams without a quarterback don’t pass on quarterbacks. And right now, the Titans don’t have an answer at the position.
Ward isn’t a lock, but he’s the most compelling quarterback option in a class that lacks a no-brainer prospect. He’s made high-level throws, extended plays when things broke down, and kept defenses off balance with his ability to improvise. He’s not the kind of quarterback who’s going to sit in the pocket and pick teams apart, but he has the kind of playmaking instinct that makes an offense dangerous. Some scouts have even thrown around Steve McNair comparisons, which is the exact kind of thing that could nudge Tennessee in his direction.
If the Titans are keeping the pick, they’ll have options. But unless they’re fully sold on building around defense, Ward is the closest thing to an obvious move at No. 1.
Aaron Rodgers’ Next Move: Retirement or One Last Shot?
The Aaron Rodgers experiment in New York appears to be over. What started as a championship dream quickly unraveled into two years of injuries, front-office chaos, and unmet expectations. Now, with a new head coach in Aaron Glenn and a new general manager in Darren Mougey steering the franchise in a different direction, the Jets are moving on from the 41-year-old quarterback, according to multiple outlets.
Rodgers’ arrival in 2023 was supposed to end decades of instability under center. Instead, he tore his Achilles four snaps into his debut, and the Jets’ season fell apart. He returned in 2024, but his 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions weren’t enough to prevent a 5-12 collapse that led to wholesale changes in the organization. With the Jets hitting the reset button, Rodgers’ future is unclear. If he wants to keep playing, Pittsburgh is the only team in desperate need of a quarterback that might take a chance on him. Otherwise, he’ll be left waiting for the right situation or deciding whether it’s finally time to call it a career.