Caleb Harris
O NFL recently announced its complete 272-game schedule for the 2024 season, starting the countdown to another run for the Lombardi Trophy. All 32 teams still have spring practices, training camps and preseason games to sort out position battles, but for the most part, we have a good sense of how the clubs have changed – for better or worse – since the end. from last season. Some seem ready for discord. Others, not so much.
Here’s one thing we learned about each team this offseason:
They’re putting a lot on the shoulders of the Kyler Murray-Marvin Harrison Jr. tandem. Certainly the new full-back should help Murray, who should also enjoy a more complete season, even further away from knee rehabilitation. But this lineup continues to be a work in progress, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Atlanta Falcons
They are willing to risk internal division to achieve sub-par results. After settling for post-Matt Ryan options under Arthur Smith, the Falcons I bet everything on an updatepaying good money for Kirk Cousins before using a top-10 draft pick on Michael Penix Jr.
Baltimore crows
They are doubling down on the ground. Instead of going the extra mile to bolster the receiving corps alongside Zay Flowers, the Ravens prioritized the hard-hitting Derrick Henry for their reworked backfield. Lamar Jackson won MVP largely due to more efficient passing in 2023, but his legs will be key again.
They are following the Chiefs roster construction model. In other words, hand over the money to a No. 1 guy — in this case, Stefon Diggs — and let your MVP-level quarterback elevate the moving parts around him. If Josh Allen is healthy, they will remain contenders in the AFC.
They are committed to making Bryce Young work. Which isn’t crazy considering there’s only a year left before they drafted him No. 1 overall. But new coach Dave Canales, a noted quarterback mentor, has been vocal about rightfully wanting to establish the run better behind a bolstered interior.
Chicago Bears
They expect an instant impact from Caleb Williams. Duh, you say! They drafted him at number 1! But past actions speak even louder. Unlike Justin Fields, the Bears have built a capable supporting cast for the rookie gunslinger, complete with experienced targets like Keenan Allen.
They are correctly prioritizing the trenches. Joe Burrow is a championship-caliber pocket passer…if he’s standing, which has been a problem. So Cincinnati double-dipped at tackle, adding Trent Brown and rookie Amarius Mims, while bolstering the other side with a pair of inside defenders.
They are still completely dependent on the emergence of Deshaun Watson. Yes, they shuffled the deck behind him, adding two new veteran backups. But by keeping Nick Chubb, paying Jerry Jeudy decent money, etc., Cleveland remains indebted to its expensive (and so far mostly dysfunctional) QB1 gamble.
They are putting pressure on Dak Prescott. Everyone knows that coach Mike McCarthy is under constant scrutiny from owner Jerry Jones. But now Prescott, despite nearly a decade of steady production at quarterback, is on track to fulfill his contract, still looking for a definitive postseason run.
They are completely in Sean Payton’s hands, for better or worse. A year after settling (barely) for Russell Wilson at center, Denver has washed its hands of the former champion and now has a top-15 pick, Bo Nix, ready to take his place. Can the rookie give Payton the hands-on, ball-handling captain he wants?
They are buying their own shares as title contenders. As they should, in fact. One victory away from reaching Super Bowl In 2023, Detroit has generously rewarded its top leaders, including Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown, with new deals. They even register as one of the NFL bolder and more balanced.
They believe in Jordan Love and his young receiving corps. Extending the signal-caller after his flashy finish to 2023 would indeed confirm that, but spending big on a new ball carrier in Josh Jacobs, plus a top-market safety in Xavier McKinney, suggests Green Bay is comfortable with its passing arsenal.
They have their eye on an instant safe to Super Bowl containment. Not even CJ Stroud’s biggest fans expected such an exciting debut for the quarterback in 2023. Now, with Stefon Diggs inserted as the new No. 1 target and big names like Danielle Hunter adding physicality on “D,” expectations are sky-high.
They’re all in on Anthony Richardson’s rebound. From injury, of course. Dynamic from the start in 2023, the oversized dual threat lasted just four games before being eliminated due to multiple issues. Instead of re-signing his plucky replacement, Gardner Minshew, they opted for the aging Joe Flacco as their insurance plan.
They should lean more on Doug Pederson’s offense. Paying edge rusher Josh Allen and pairing him with Arik Armstead is nothing. But they’ve changed even more around Trevor Lawrence, who is trying to establish himself at center, with new pieces up front and two-thirds of the receiving corps replaced.
Kansas City Chiefs
They are getting ready to run all types of receivers once again. Ultimately, it worked out pretty well for Patrick Mahomes and Co. the past two seasons, but with 2023 standout Rashee Rice in legal trouble, their two new speedsters — veteran Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy — could share valuable representatives.
They are in a holding pattern at quarterback. Which, frankly, is nothing new. Gardner Minshew is on board to compete with Aidan O’Connell, but the new regime’s failure to recruit another signal-caller still stands out. It’s a strange place for winning plays now, like Davante Adams, even under the fiery leadership of Antonio Pierce.
They are returning to old school football. New coach Jim Harbaugh, whose peak days with the San Francisco 49ers were fueled by a strong ground game and a stingy defense, all but admitted as much while stripping Justin Herbert’s receiving corps, charging into the trenches and overhauling the backfield.
They are back in win-now mode. Remember the post-Super Bowl meltdown that finally convinced management to sell aging stars? After the 2023 resurgence, they are quietly reversing course, installing Jimmy Garoppolo as Matthew Stafford’s backup and adding to the trenches on a young, balanced offense.
They are essentially going backwards. Christian Wilkins was a big bust as a free agent, but this team was always going to make or break depending on Mike McDaniel’s offense. Tua Tagovailoa has an even deeper receiving corps with Odell Beckham Jr. as the WR3, but his O-line and off-script resume are still iffy.
They are trying to embrace the present and the future. On one hand, their roster is loaded with Pro Bowl-caliber talent, from Justin Jefferson to new ball carrier Aaron Jones, making them a safe bet to remain in the playoff mix. On the other hand, Kirk Cousins’ trade for first-rounder JJ McCarthy means they’re trading a proven, if unspectacular, quarterback for a potentially higher ceiling.
They may finally be giving up patience for a proactive rebuild. How else can we interpret new head coach Jerod Mayo’s decision to pass on Mac Jones and quickly use the third overall pick on another, flashier quarterback of the future, Drake Maye? The question is: does Maye have an adequate supporting cast?
They are touching the chord. In the wide-open NFC South, maybe that’s okay. But returning to the Derek Carr-Dennis Allen configuration, with largely the same aging core on an admittedly struggling defense, speaks to a team that so often prioritizes wild-card contention over any kind of long-term restoration project.
New York Giants
They’re betting on a Brian Daboll redemption story. Hailed for maximizing talent in 2022, the boss was unable to stop the Giants’ bleeding in 2023, and now, divorced from renowned defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, it’s up to him to rejuvenate Daniel Jones (again) in one job. -progress line.
New York Jets
They are doubling down on their investment in Aaron Rodgers. And how could they not? Missed for essentially his entire Jets debut due to injury, the star quarterback is returning to an even more formidable lineup, now featuring Mike Williams and Haason Reddick. But what is his true ceiling at age 40?
Philadelphia Eagles
They are operating with Super Bowl or bust intentions. Surrounding head coach Nick Sirianni and veteran coordinators Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio, the Eagles added interesting names like Saquon Barkley and CJ Gardner-Johnson to an all-star lineup that fizzled out late in 2023. They to need to win again.
They are no longer wasting time on offense. The hiring of Arthur Smith as the new coordinator suggests that the traditional “run first” approach will remain. But the abrupt parting of Kenny Pickett and the dual acquisitions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields mean Mike Tomlin finally has options at center.
San Francisco 49ers
They are perfectly poised for another Super Bowl run. Easier said than done, of course, but they kept Brock Purdy’s top weapons while adding low-risk, high-reward veterans to the defense in Leonard Floyd and Maliek Collins. It’s still hard to find a more stable setup than Kyle Shanahan’s in the Bay Area.
They are committed to restoring the defense. Start with the hiring of former Ravens coordinator Mike Macdonald, who replaces Pete Carroll at the helm. Then look at his flashy commitments to guys like Leonard Williams. Although the attack still has firepower, the entire operation must be more balanced.
They are hoping for a continuation of the eventful end to 2023. There’s no other way to put general manager Jason Licht’s open commitment to last year’s heroes, from the rejuvenated Baker Mayfield to the ageless Mike Evans. Will it be enough in the NFC South? Perhaps. They are at least a scrappy bunch.
They invested in the development of Will Levis. Or at least give the young quarterback a legitimate audition for the job long-term. GM Ran Carthon spent heavily on veteran weapons like Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd while also fortifying the trenches. They could be a surprise candidate.
Dan Quinn wants to win sooner or later. Yes, they have a rookie quarterback at No. 2 overall in Jayden Daniels, but they were incredibly busy in free agency, investing all kinds of resources into aging playmakers like Austin Ekeler, Zach Ertz and Bobby Wagner.
