Overview of The Athletic Football Show: The sneaky offseason additions shaping the 2026 NFL season
Robert Mays, Derek, and Dave dug into the under-the-radar veteran additions from this offseason — mostly players signed for less than $10 million per year — who may not be headline-grabbers but could meaningfully shape team identities, depth charts, and schematic plans in 2026. The conversation focused on role players, depth pieces, and even a couple of coaches whose influence could be outsized relative to their cost.
Biggest takeaways
- The show’s focus was on value, not star power: one-year or low-cost deals that could become important rotational pieces.
- Many of the best additions are defensive: run-stuffers, versatile safeties, and scheme-fit corners who help coaches play the way they want to play.
- A few signings could change how teams structure their fronts or personnel packages, not just add depth.
- The coaches discussed were even more “sneaky” than the players — smaller staff hires that might quietly influence run games and defensive usage.
The most notable sneaky additions
Kansas City Chiefs: Khyiris Tonga
- A favorite of the hosts as a true nose tackle / space eater.
- Could help Kansas City lean more into odd-front looks and bigger defensive packages.
- The signing, plus the addition of other front-seven pieces, suggests a possible shift in how the Chiefs deploy their defense.
Los Angeles Chargers: Dalvin Tomlinson
- Viewed as a classic cheap interior run defender who fits the Chargers’ recent strategy of cycling through functional D-tackles.
- Expected to be a steady, unspectacular but useful piece next to their other interior bodies.
New York Giants: Ar’Darius Washington
- A favorite low-cost safety signing.
- Brings versatility, intelligence, and familiarity with John Harbaugh’s defensive ideas from Baltimore.
- Could allow the Giants to use Tyler Nubin in a more natural role by handling more of the box/slot/deep-flex duties himself.
Baltimore Ravens: Jalen Hawkins
- Seen as a smart, stable post safety who fits exactly what Baltimore wants alongside Kyle Hamilton.
- Not flashy, but ideal for a role that requires route recognition, positioning, and mistake-free play.
- The panel liked that he can help preserve Hamilton’s flexibility.
Atlanta Falcons: DeShon Hand
- A quiet but useful addition as a stout run defender with some front versatility.
- Not a pass-rush difference-maker, but a good fit for a Falcons defense that needed more resistance up front.
Tennessee Titans: Jacob Martin
- A low-cost edge signing who can be a high-motor rotational pass rusher.
- The hosts liked him as a piece who can flex around the line and fill out a deeper edge room.
Minnesota Vikings: James Pierre
- A strong fit because Minnesota asks corners to do a lot of zone/flat/top-down work.
- Pierre’s late-season flashes in Pittsburgh lined up well with Brian Flores’s scheme.
- The Vikings also signed Isaiah Rodgers to a similar kind of value deal, reinforcing their strategy of finding bargain corners who fit the system.
Detroit Lions: Christian Izien
- An especially useful depth piece given Detroit’s safety injury uncertainty.
- Can play slot, box, and hybrid roles, which makes him a good emergency “band-aid” option for multiple spots.
Philadelphia Eagles: Arnold Ebiketie
- A pure pass-rush role player who could thrive as a situational edge option.
- The idea is that Philly doesn’t need him to be a starter; they need him to create juice in sub-packages.
Minnesota Vikings: Frank Smith, assistant head coach
- One of the most interesting coaching hires discussed.
- Expected to have some influence on the run-game plan and possibly add a more creative/different voice to Minnesota’s offensive structure.
- The hosts were intrigued by the ripple effect of Dolphins-style run-game ideas spreading through the league.
Seattle Seahawks: Dante Fowler Jr.
- A valuable post-draft addition who gives Seattle a proven rotation edge rusher.
- He’s viewed as a better short-term bet than many Day 2 edge rookies would have been.
- Fits as the replacement for the pass-rush production Seattle lost elsewhere.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Chris Rodriguez
- A classic meat-and-potatoes running back addition.
- Brings physicality, efficiency, and short-yardage reliability rather than explosiveness.
- Seen as a good complement to a more dynamic backfield, giving the Jaguars a higher floor on early downs.
San Francisco 49ers: Christian Kirk
- Not labeled as a slam-dunk, but the panel trusted Kyle Shanahan’s track record with receivers.
- Kirk was framed as a low-cost swing who could still have something left if healthy and used properly.
Strategic themes the hosts kept returning to
Scheme fit matters more than name value
Several of these signings were praised less for raw talent and more for how specifically they fit what a team wants to do:
- zone-heavy corners
- box/post safeties
- run-game specialists
- big-bodied nose tackles
- situational edge rushers
Teams are buying stability cheaply
A lot of these players are not stars, but they reduce uncertainty:
- one player can cover multiple spots
- one player allows a star to play a better role
- one player gives a defense a more predictable floor
The 2026 season could be shaped by these “small” moves
The hosts emphasized that these deals may seem invisible in March, but by midseason they can become central to:
- defensive structure
- personnel grouping
- run-game identity
- injury management
Bottom line
This episode was a deep dive into the kind of offseason moves that often get ignored at first but can quietly shape a team’s season. The common thread was simple: low-cost veterans who fit a role perfectly can matter a lot more than their contracts suggest. For several teams — especially the Chiefs, Ravens, Vikings, Lions, and Seahawks — these additions may end up being the difference between a good plan and a fully functioning one.