In today’s NFL, teams don’t wait for rebuilds to become obvious — they plan for them in advance.
And sometimes, that means making tough decisions. Even moving on from players who once seemed untouchable.
Across the league, competitive windows are getting smaller. That puts more pressure than ever on front offices to get every offseason move right. One mistake can close a window fast.
And this year, there’s another challenge. League evaluators believe the 2026 free-agent class lacks true impact stars. So if a team wants a difference-maker, the trade market may be the best — and possibly only — path.
With key offseason dates approaching, several big names are in situations that demand attention.
Here are five stars who could realistically be wearing new uniforms before Week 1.
