Every game in the NFL is important with just 17 of them and a razor-thin margin for error. With half the league winless following Week 1, there’s no shortage of urgency around the NFL this week. There has to be a balance between not throwing out an entire offseason of preparations while also recognizing when to pivot. 

But for several teams that were particularly exposed in Week 1, there should be a bias toward action. It’s much harder to meaningfully improve now than it is in March and April when free agency and the draft are in full tilt. It’s not impossible, though. 

Here are a handful of potential moves we think could be prudent for a batch of teams that came out of Week 1 with significant concerns. 

Packers sign G Kevin Zeitler AND/OR G James Daniels

There were some concerns about Green Bay’s offensive line heading into the 2026 season, but no one foresaw the absolute disasterclass they endured in Week 1 at the hands of the Vikings. The starting five was under siege all day from DC Brian Flores’ blitzes, conceding a 50 percent pressure rate and 15 quarterback hits, among other cringe-worthy stats. 

Vikings defense in Week 1 (NFL rank)…

🔸 78.3% blitz rate (1st)*
🔸 23 QB pressures (2nd)*
🔸 50.0% pressure rate (T-2nd)*
🔸 15 QB hits (1st)
🔸 66 rush yds allowed (2nd)
🔸 4.0 sacks (T-4th)

*Per @NextGenStats

— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) September 15, 2026

It’s frankly a testament to Packers QB Jordan Love that he was able to have as much success as he did with 387 yards and two touchdowns before the game slipped away. Green Bay’s offensive line was especially atrocious in the fourth quarter as the game slipped away, going from the Packers leading 22-17 to losing 39-22. Their inability to salt the game away with the ground game was glaring. 

Externally the Packers may be preaching patience, but there are red flags galore about the team’s plan for the front five this year. Former first-rounder Jordan Morgan entered the season with over 1,000 snaps and 13 starts under his belt but just 51 of those were at left tackle and that showed on Sunday. Starting RT Zach Bako-Bewele is coming off a torn patellar tendon and isn’t full strength (he was still easily the Packers’ best lineman Sunday). For better or worse, the Packers probably have to ride things out with those two. 

Guard is a different matter. The Packers haven’t had G Aaron Banks for a while due to a lingering knee injury, and he was already a questionable signing after his production in 2025 didn’t match the huge contract GM Brian Gutekunst gave him. This summer, Green Bay gave fifth-round OL Jager Burton and 2025 second-round OT Anthony Belton most of the reps at the two guard spots. However, the Packers seemingly hit pause on the position change for Belton late in August, moving him back to tackle and shifting 2024 fifth-rounder Jacob Monk into the starting role. In Week 1, they started former UDFA Donovan Jennings ahead of Burton in place of Banks. 

This sheds a little bit of light on the mess the Packers found themselves in. Green Bay historically isn’t prone to reactionary moves but right now the offensive line is a gaping hole in the hull right at the water line that threatens to sink the high hopes the Packers had for 2026. 

The silver lining is that issues at guard are still easier to fix than issues at tackle, even if the position has become valued at much more of a premium in recent years. Two veterans stand out as potential fits, one of whom is already getting some social media burn as a possible target.

Zeitler has played 14 years in the NFL and the former Wisconsin Badger was producing at a high level as recently as this past season. PFF had him as a borderline top-10 guard for the Titans, so even though he’s 36 years old, there’s recent proof of concept of him as a starting-caliber player. He’s reportedly open to returning to play for the right opportunity. 

There’s another under-the-radar option the Packers could explore, either as an alternative to Zeitler or in a double-dip move to really attack this weakness. Daniels is significantly younger than Zeitler, as he just had his 29th birthday a few days ago. He also has put out some really good tape in recent years, albeit not as good or as recent as Zeitler. The catch with Daniels has been injuries, as he was limited to four games in 2024 with a torn Achilles and then one game last year due to a torn pec. 

Obviously he has to be healthy and willing to put his body through the rigors of another season, but if he checks those boxes, it would make a lot of sense. Daniels has some scheme versatility to fit in with whatever the Packers are trying to be on offense, and while he doesn’t have an obvious connection to the team besides playing for the division rival Bears for his first four seasons, he and his wife live and own a bookstore just outside of Madison, Wisconsin. The allure of playing close to home might be a tipping point for Daniels if he’s on the fence. 

Giants trade for CB Joey Porter Jr. 

New York got the win in Week 1 in an emotional release against the division-rival Cowboys. The vibes are high for the Giants right now. However, the win overshadowed some injury issues and struggles in the secondary. Had Cowboys WRs George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb been a little more dialed in and cut out a few big drops, the numbers and even the result might have looked a lot different. 

The win also gives the Giants some justification to try and accelerate their rebuild a little. Last month, we highlighted New York as a logical trade fit for Porter. They have a need in the secondary, and Porter would instantly be the top corner in a room that includes Greg Newsome, Deonte Banks, Paulson Adebo and Colton Hood. 

There are multiple dots to connect between the Giants and Porter. The organization has strong connections to Penn State, and Porter took official draft visits not only with New York but with the Ravens while HC John Harbaugh was in Baltimore. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reported this week the Giants had Porter neck-and-neck with Banks as their top choice in the first round in 2023. 

So far, the Steelers have had an asking price that’s been too rich for any takers, reportedly a first or a high second-round pick. If they come down on that, the Giants make a lot of sense as a trade partner. New York can also differentiate/enhance its offer by parting with one of its other corners in a deal, most likely Adebo. That gives Pittsburgh a player to slot into Porter’s spot in the lineup and lessen any dropoff from moving a quality starting player as they try to contend this year. It also frees up cash they can repurpose into a long-term deal for Porter.

For New York, a third-round pick and Adebo might be the sweet spot for a deal if the Steelers would accept that. They could sweeten the pot with another mid-round swap, giving a fifth and getting a sixth. 

Bears sign CB Kenny Moore

The Bears scored almost 60 points and that’s understandably dominated most of the conversation around the team this week. However, the defense gave up 37 points to a Panthers team that, quite honestly, had not shown that type of firepower before. For the Bears to reach their postseason goals, the defense must improve. 

Much of the conversation in Chicago has centered around fortifying the defensive line with more pass rushers. They have Montez Sweat who’s an established double-digit sack producer, but precious little besides him. However, the Bears have big issues in the secondary, too. Injuries have hit the group hard. Chicago lost S Coby Bryant for the season in training camp, and slot CB Kyler Gordon is down again with a soft tissue injury. The team’s frustrations with Gordon’s inability to stay healthy in particular are mounting. 

The Bears had signed veteran S Xavier Woods to allow DB Cameron Lewis to take slot corner duties, but a soft tissue injury sidelined Woods in Week 1, pushed Lewis to safety and required fourth-round CB Malik Muhammad to step in at nickel. He got a little banged up Sunday, too, and while he had some good plays, including an interception, the entire Bears secondary was gashed repeatedly. 

The team just needs more productive depth and options to get through this season. That’s where Moore, an established starter with the Colts the last several years who was let go in a cost-cutting move this offseason, could come in. He can play both outside and inside, giving the Bears proven experience in their secondary. 

(I have the Panthers pegged for a different move below, but they would also be a good team fit for Moore. They aren’t settled at slot corner. Chau Smith-Wade is the incumbent, but Carolina has been tinkering with either an extra safety or by moving Jaycee Horn inside and bringing fourth-round CB Will Lee in on the perimeter. Moore is probably an upgrade over both Smith-Wade and Lee right now.)

Cowboys sign LB Bobby Wagner

It was disheartening how the hype about the Cowboys being so improved on defense fizzled in primetime in Week 1. Still, things like mental errors and tackling should improve with time on task, especially with so many young players and a first-year coordinator in Christian Parker. 

What’s more concerning is how the Giants imposed their will in the run game on Dallas. New York rushed for 165 yards on a 4.5 average, controlling the entire game with long drives. They ground down the Cowboys over the course of the night. 

The Cowboys have a fairly good defensive tackle group and some edge rushers who should be able to hold up against the run. The linebackers got exposed, though. Dee Winters and third-rounder Jaishawn Barham didn’t have the best debuts and DeMarvion Overshown left the game with a hamstring injury. This front is good enough to give the linebackers space to work; they need players who can capitalize on those opportunities. 

This is where Wagner could provide a big boost. At 36 years old, he’s obviously not in his prime and there are certain matchups Parker is going to want to try to keep him out of. But his instincts remain impeccable and the intangible impact he could bring to a young position group would be massive — to say nothing of his actual production. He had 162 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two picks last year. 

Wagner, who overlapped with Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer with the Seahawks, would give the Cowboys a run-defending presence in the middle of their defense who would allow the team to not be so reliant on Winters and Barham, at least not until they prove they need more snaps. Wagner’s lack of range could also be mitigated by operating next to a healthy Overshown. Given how much football he’s seen and played, he could probably integrate with Parker’s system fairly quickly, and his veteran presence in the middle of the unit could spark good things for everyone. 

Panthers sign (former) Browns DT Chris Williams/Eagles DT Gabe Hall

When you give up nearly 60 points, there are a lot of points of emphasis for improvement as a defense. For the Panthers, though, it came back to an inability to stop the run more often than not in Week 1. Chicago piled up nearly 300 yards, with both RBs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai crossing the century mark. 

Derrick Brown had an off game, including two bad penalties that negated an end zone interception and extended a drive. Odds are he’ll bounce back but the rest of the room is thin. Veteran Bobby Brown is playing through a bulging disc in his back and had to leave the game twice on Sunday. Lee Hunter (second round) and Aaron Hall (undrafted) are rookies with a lot to learn. Last year’s fifth-rounder, Cam Jackson, was a scratch in Week 1. Tershawn Wharton is on the PUP list after an offseason neck injury, and while the team says he’ll play this year, they haven’t said when. 

The Panthers have already added one defensive tackle, trading for TeRah Edwards in a roster cuts deal with the Chargers. More than likely, that’s the kind of aisle they’ll have to shop in, hoping to hit a winning scratch-off ticket. One thing to keep in mind is opposing practice squads, as those players technically can be signed away to the active roster of any team for a pay raise and a chance at a bigger role. 

Williams was just cut by the Browns Tuesday but he’s the type of player the Panthers should kick the tires on. He played 600 snaps over the past two years for the Bears with four sacks and 43 total tackles. Hall is another one, currently on the Eagles’ practice squad. He has just 13 snaps under his belt but at 6-6 and 295 pounds, he’s bigger and longer than the 6-2 Williams, and Philadelphia’s defensive system has a ton of similarities to Carolina’s.