A year ago, the Commanders had a top-5 pick, a new, culture-building head coach and the most cap space in the league. Now, they're winning playoff games. Could that be the Patriots next season?

Josh McDaniels is back for a third tour of duty as the Patriots' offensive coordinator, but there are a couple of big differences from his first two stints in New England.

To that point, the Commanders went from the worst turnover margin in the league in 2023 (-14) to 15th (+1) in 2024. Similarly, the Houston Texans, who have now made the playoffs two years in a row after finishing 3-13-1 in 2022, jumped from 19th in turnover margin (-1) to eighth in 2023 and 2024 (+10, +9).

The offseason has arrived for the New England Patriots but plenty of work remains. Mike Vrabel will continue building out his coaching staff with the attention soon shifting to upgrading the talent on the actual roster.

The Commanders’ biggest free-agent signing was Armstrong, while their third-biggest was Biadasz. In the draft, after they chose Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick, they used a second-round pick on a defensive lineman and a third-round pick on an offensive lineman.

There are a number of strategic plans that can be devised and executed in the NFL Draft. A year ago, the Rams had the idea to pair Florida State defensive linemen Jared Verse and Braden Fiske to compensate for the singular loss felt from Aaron Donald's retirement.

Mike Vrabel landed the "best" in the league, Detroit Lions D-line coach Terrell Williams, as New England Patriots defensive coordinator.

Aaron Glenn had no doubts about where he wanted to go once the New York Jets’ head-coaching job became available. Home sweet NFL home.

Mike Vrabel owns a higher career winning percentage ... throws during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, August 25, 2024 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin ...

Kingsbury turned down a head coaching interview from the Saints to remain as Washington’s offensive coordinator. Plus, notes on hirings around the NFL.

As Patrick Mahomes’s Chiefs host the Bills, Josh Allen has had more roughing-the-passer and unnecessary-roughness penalties called in his favor over the past two regular seasons.

After a 5-12, last-place season that included 10 consecutive losses and the in-season firings of coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, the Chicago Bears embarked on a wide-ranging search to hire the franchise’s next head coach.