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10 do-or-die decisions NFL teams must make this offseason

By Sayre Bedinger

BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 20: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 20: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Plenty of NFL teams find themselves in proverbial do-or-die situations with NFL Free Agency on deck and the 2023 NFL offseason in full swing. Soon, decisions will need to be made that could make or break the present and future of certain franchises.

What are the biggest decisions that need to get made in the 2022 offseason? Which teams have the most at stake right now? Which situations are desperate with potentially “contender” status hanging in the balance?

Let’s take a look at the top 10 do-or-die decisions NFL teams must make in the 2023 NFL offseason.

10 do-or-die decisions NFL teams are facing ahead of 2023 free agency

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 01: Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a touchdown pass to Albert Okwuegbunam #85 during the third quarter in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

10. Denver Broncos putting the right pieces around Russell Wilson

Although this could be classified more as a series of do-or-die “decisions”, as in plural, how the Denver Broncos approach reloading the supporting cast around Russell Wilson will be one of the most important things done by any team in the league this offseason. Why is this a do-or-die situation? The Broncos were in last place last year and they just hired a new head coach.

Well, this could be a do-or-die type of scenario for someone like general manager George Paton. Paton was hired by the Denver Broncos in the 2021 offseason after a decade or more of turning other NFL teams down for GM opportunities. He took the job in Denver and wasted no time making his mark on the organization. His first NFL Draft class included All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II, and his second offseason included the blockbuster Russell Wilson trade.

One year into the Russ era in Denver, and it’s safe to say that the pressure is on Paton. Paton was the one who hired Nathaniel Hackett, a coach that the new ownership group in Denver fired less than one year into his head coaching career. Paton made the blockbuster Wilson trade, which was disastrous in 2022.

With Sean Payton now in the fold as the team’s head coach, new life has been breathed into the Denver Broncos organization but surrounding Russ is going to be critical. Wilson was sacked a career-worst 55 times in 2022. The Broncos have to do what it takes to fortify an offensive line that was a revolving door at literally every position in 2022. They have to make sure they have the type of running game Wilson can lean on. Big decisions have to be made in Denver in 2022 to appropriately surround Russ and make sure that trade doesn’t go down as arguably the worst in NFL history.

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