The NFL offseason is on the brink of turning teams upside down. Every year, the NFL landscape undergoes drastic changes as players switch teams and new players enter the league through the draft. This year is no different. Many teams will have plenty of spending money to use to rebuild their roster. Many teams with high cap space have been rebuilding, saving their money for an offseason to spend heavily and change their team’s history. Most teams on this list need a cap-driven overhaul.
As a Chicago Bears fan, the past few seasons have been dreadful. However, Chicago has been spending heavy money each offseason, and it paid off with a playoff victory. Especially when new coaches join a team’s staff, you will see almost a completely different roster from the previous season. Chicago saw great success in a cap-driven overhaul, and many teams have the same opportunity to face the same fate.
In this article, I will be breaking down teams that have some of the most cap space in the NFL. I believe that these teams have a great chance of seeing more success with a cap-driven overhaul. I will go ahead and mention that the New York Jets will not be mentioned because they are the New York Jets.
*NFL cap space information is from Over The Cap.
Tennessee Titans
2026 Cap Space – $103,504,062 (1st in the NFL)
2025 Record – 3-14 (Last Place in the AFC South)
The Tennessee Titans are coming off an incredibly disappointing season. Head coach Brian Callahan was fired midseason, and even after the firing, Tennessee looked the worst they have looked in a long time. However, there is hope for Tennessee’s future, and it all sits on former No. 1 overall pick quarterback Cam Ward. Tennessee is in desperate need of a cap-driven overhaul this offseason.
Outside of Cam Ward, this roster is lacking talent. In the trenches, defensive backs, skill position players, you name it, Tennessee probably needs it. Tennessee has the most cap space in the NFL with $103,504,062, and making sure to spend that money wisely is important. They can upgrade any position with that kind of money, and there are a few different ways they could go about spending their money.
Alec Pierce and Tyler Linderbaum are intriguing players that Tennessee could overpay to get. They would fill a huge void on the roster and help their struggling but promising franchise quarterback. However, this rebuild is going to be a long process because Tennessee is not a free agency destination. Bryan Cook, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Isaiah Likely are other players that would be cheaper, but still help filling a void.
More than likely, Tennessee is not going to turn it around in one season. With new head coach Robert Saleh, I expect him to bring in a variety of different players he has coached and change the trajectory of the Tennessee Titans. Cam Ward is going to benefit from another season in the NFL and having a new offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll. Tennessee fans are hoping for a bounce-back year and something to build on for the future.
Las Vegas Raiders
2026 Cap Space – $91,522,807 (2nd in the NFL)
2025 Record – 3-14 (Last Place in the AFC West)
Las Vegas was the worst team in the NFL in 2025, earning itself the No. 1 overall pick. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza seems to be the pick for Las Vegas, being their franchise quarterback. Las Vegas is in a similar spot as Tennessee: lots of money, lack of talent, young quarterback to build around. Rumors are flying around about Maxx Crosby being dealt to a contender before the season, and if he is, that means Las Vegas is serious about the cap-driven overhaul, and I can respect that.
Las Vegas is entering the 2026 offseason with $91,522,807 in cap space, second in the NFL. The NFL is proving that no matter how talented your quarterback is, if they do not have a stable offensive structure and playmakers, they will not succeed. Luckily, Las Vegas has running back Ashton Jeanty to help take the load off of Mendoza; however, this offensive line is one of the worst I have ever seen. Alijah Vera-Tucker and David Edwards are two interior offensive linemen who Las Vegas would benefit from more than any team in the sport.
Rasheed Walker, Connor McGovern, Zion Johnson, and Isaac Seumalo are all interior offensive linemen I love for Las Vegas to sign this offseason. I believe that the start of a good team is in the offensive line. Look at the recent Detroit Lions surge or the Chicago Bears: revamped offensive lines. The defensive is bad and is going to take some time to rebuild and I believe Las Vegas is farther away from competing than the Tennessee Titans.
If Las Vegas selects Fernando Mendoza, they have their franchise quarterback to build around. This is an important offseason for Las Vegas. It’s not because they need to start winning games, but they need to make sure they do not make the same mistake that every bad team with a young quarterback makes, which is not spending early and spending too late.
Los Angeles Chargers
2026 Cap Space – $81,882,941 (3rd in the NFL)
2025 Record – 11-6 (2nd Place in the AFC West)
Los Angeles is the only team on this list that made the postseason last year. They really do not need a cap-driven overhaul; however, they have consistently faltered in the postseason time and time again. Justin Herbert proves to be one of the league’s best quarterbacks, but when playoff time rolls around, he fails to show up. The defense was one of the best in football last season, but they are getting old and are pending free agents like Khalil Mack. The offensive line was one of the worst in football last year, but injuries killed what could have been a great offensive line. There are issues Los Angeles can address, just not as many as Las Vegas and Tennessee.
Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston are the main receivers currently on the roster, with Keenan Allen sitting in free agency. Omarion Hampton is a rising star at his position. However, the interior offensive line needs an overhaul. Zion Johnson could be brought back, as well as bringing Alijah Vera-Tucker or David Edwards. This would help the rushing attack, as well as Justin Herbert, in the postseason.
On the other side of the ball, defensive line help is going to be addressed as well. Odafe Oweh is not a great rush defender, but Los Angeles could resign him for his pass rush ability. Boye Mafe is another edge rusher that Los Angeles could look at to help fill the void of Khalil Mack potentially leaving. He may not want to join a division rival, but John Franklin-Myers is another player Los Angeles could target to help the interior defensive line.
Los Angeles is close to being a true contender. With the third most cap space in the NFL and not as many holes to fill, a cap-driven overhaul of the interior offensive line and defensive line could help Los Angeles compete in the AFC.
Washington Commanders
2026 Cap Space – $73,653,969 (5th in the NFL)
2025 Record – 5-12 (3rd Place in the NFC East)
The Washington Commanders came into 2025 as the oldest team in the NFL, and it turned out to be disastrous. Washington finished the season 5-12 after shocking the NFL in 2024, making the NFC Championship Game. Jayden Daniels was injured for most of the season, the defense was not great, and the offensive line struggled. However, they are similar to the Los Angeles Chargers, and they do not have as many holes as some other teams on this list.
Daniels needs another receiver to throw to. This past offseason, Terry McLaurin signed a big-time extension, but what happens when he isn’t performing to that level? Deebo Samuel was solid in his role last season, but I am not confident in this receiving core. The interior offensive line is a problem as well. However, the biggest issue is the secondary, being one of the worst in all of football last season. Linebackers and edge rushers need improvement as well.
Jamel Dean, Devin Lloyd, Trey Hendrickson, Romeo Doubs, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Jaylen Watson are players Washington should target this offseason. Each player would help with a different need. And even though they won’t get everyone they want, the holes are too big to ignore.
Washington is going to need to see change if they want to compete in a loaded NFC. Some of the moves could help, but Washington needs to retool for the 2026 season. With a healthy Jayden Daniels and an improved defense, Washington could be back to a winning football team in 2026.
The NFL offseason is one of the most exciting times of the NFL season. Your team makes improvements that you like, or they make head-scratching decisions everyone hates. There are teams that need a cap-driven overhaul to their team, and if they make the right moves, could be competing sooner rather than later. I do not think all of these teams on this list will make the postseason in 2026, but they could lay the foundation for a successful stretch of football in the future.
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