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The 2023 NFL season has come to an end with the Kanas City Chiefs claiming their second Super Bowl in a row. Can anyone prevent Patrick Mahomes and Co. from completing a three-peat in 2024? Take a look at how we view all 32 teams heading into the offseason.
32. Carolina Panthers
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Carolina’s miserable season ended with two consecutive shutout losses — the first team to do so in more than 15 years. Dave Canales was hired to lead the Panthers after one season as the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and former linebacker Dan Morgan was promoted to president of football operations/general manager. Carolina has a ton of work to do in the offseason. Of course, it doesn’t help that the team’s No. 1 overall pick belongs to Chicago. Good luck, Carolina!
31. Washington Commanders
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Like the Panthers, Washington enters the offseason with a ton of work to do. Ron Rivera was relieved of his duties as head coach shortly after the Commanders’ 13th loss of the year, and veteran coach Dan Quinn was hired as his replacement after the season. Unlike Carolina, however, Washington owns its first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Slotted to pick No. 2 overall, the front office will have to determine whether quarterback Sam Howell showed enough potential to warrant the team not drafting one of the top collegiate passers. The odds are not in Howell’s favor.
30. New England Patriots
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Bill Belichick, arguably the greatest coach of all-time, is no longer leading the New England Patriots. The iconic boss parted ways with the franchise after Week 18, and New England opted to promote Jerod Mayo to HC. Mayo will have a pretty strong defense to work with in Year 1, but the offense remains a mess. We expect New England to target a playmaker with the No. 3 pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
29. Arizona Cardinals
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The Cardinals only won four games last season, but they looked better than we expected them to. Kyler Murray returned late in the season and played decent football post-ACL injury. Arizona lost a handful of close games and also knocked off three teams that reached the playoffs — Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. The wins over Pittsburgh and Philadelphia were on the road, as well. Arizona owns the No. 4 pick in the upcoming draft. Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. would be a home run if he is available, but we won’t be shocked if the Cardinals trade down for a haul of picks.
28. Tennessee Titans
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2024 will look very different for the Titans than it has for quite some time. Star running back Derrick Henry is expected to leave in the offseason. Former starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill will suit up for a new team in 2024, as well. Head coach Mike Vrabel’s time with the franchise came to an unexpected end at the end of the season — former Cincinnati OC Brian Callahan was named the 20th HC in franchise history. Will Levis’s development will be crucial to Tennessee’s 2024 campaign.
27. New York Giants
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New York’s season didn’t pan out the way it expected, but a blowout win over the Eagles in the finale was a positive ending. Quarterback Daniel Jones tore his ACL in November, but the high-paid passer is expected to be ready to start the 2024 season. However, general manager Joe Schoen said recently that the franchise will add a quarterback in the offseason. Currently slated to pick No. 6 overall, the Giants could realistically target a QB in the draft. Additionally, the team must decide if Saquon Barkley is a part of the team’s future as the star running back is set to be a free agent.
26. Atlanta Falcons
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The Falcons weren’t a bad team in 2023, but they didn’t show enough improvement under Arthur Smith to warrant giving him another opportunity to lead the team in 2024. Atlanta pivoted to Raheem Morris, a veteran of the game who will be leading a franchise for the second time — he previously was the HC of Tampa Bay (2009-2011). From 2021 through 2023, Morris had been the DC of the Los Angeles Rams and was praised for his work this past season. Atlanta must figure out its quarterback situation in the offseason.
25. Denver Broncos
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Sean Payton’s first year as Denver’s head coach was wild. The Broncos began the season 0-3 — with their third loss being a historic 70-20 thrashing in Miami. However, the team rallied to go 7-3 over its next 10 games. That stretch included wins over a handful of playoff teams (Green Bay, Kansas City, Buffalo, Cleveland). Russell Wilson was better than he was last year (26 TD, 8 INT), but it quickly became clear that Payton wasn’t enjoying Wilson’s play. The future Hall of Famer will likely not be a Bronco in 2024. So, who’s up next?
24. Minnesota Vikings
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After winning 13 games in 2022, Minnesota finished at the bottom of the NFC North (tied with Chicago) last season. Some regression was expected after the Vikings won 11 games by one possession in ’22. Naysayers were feeling great about themselves when the team began the year 1-4, but the Vikes turned things around in a hurry. Minnesota won five games in a row and put itself in a position to reach the playoffs. Unfortunately, quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles and stifled any true chance the team had. Now, the franchise must decide if it wants to stick with Cousins at QB. Cousins will be 36 by the time the season starts — not ideal for a QB recovering from major surgery.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers
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Another year, another above-.500 record for Mike Tomlin’s Steelers. Since taking over as head coach in 2006, Tomlin has not finished with a below-.500 record. Remarkably, his team made the playoffs last year. The offense was rather horrible for much of the season, and starting quarterback Kenny Pickett was out with an injury since Week 12. An ugly loss in the postseason left a bad taste in the mouths of many within the organization, however. Tomlin will be back in 2024 and he may have a new QB1 alongside him. Pickett is not the answer — but who is?
22. Seattle Seahawks
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Pete Carroll is no longer the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. After enjoying more than a decade-plus of stability with Carroll at the helm, Seattle will enter a new era in 2024. Replacing Carroll is former Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. Macdonald, 36, will be the youngest head coach in the league — Carroll was the oldest at the time of his departure. The Seahawks have a solid roster, but it remains to be seen how they will look under this new regime.
21. Chicago Bears
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The Bears are the NFL’s most intriguing team entering the 2024 offseason. As a result of last year’s trade with the Carolina Panthers that landed the No. 1 overall pick, Bryce Young, in Carolina, the Bears own Carolina’s first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — the No. 1 pick. Additionally, Chicago finished with the No. 9 overall pick. The franchise must decide whether it wants to stick with Justin Fields or take a shot on either Caleb Williams (USC) or Drake Maye (North Carolina). Chicago’s decision could change the course of the franchise for years to come.
20. Las Vegas Raiders
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Antonio Pierce showed enough during his time as interim head coach to convince the Raiders to make him the permanent HC. With Pierce in charge, the Raiders finished the year 5-4 and it was evident that the players supported his hiring. Now that Pierce is in charge, it will be up to him and new GM Tom Telesco to put a plan in place and execute it swiftly. The top priority for the duo should be finding a franchise quarterback in the offseason.
19. Los Angeles Chargers
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Welcome back to the NFL, Jim Harbaugh. Los Angeles was able to lure Harbaugh back to the NFL following his National Championship triumph at Michigan — and the fan base is very excited by his arrival. The Chargers are in a tough spot as they are saddled with a horrible cap situation, but we cannot count Harbaugh out just yet. Justin Herbert represents the most talented QB Harbaugh has worked with at this level. It will be tough to catch Kansas City, but Los Angeles should be able to compete for a Wild Card spot in 2024.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars
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Jacksonville entered 2023 as the clear favorite to win the South and it looked the part through the first two-thirds of the season. Through 12 weeks, the Jags were 8-3. Then, everything fell apart — Jacksonville crumbled and finished the year 9-8. In addition to figuring out what went wrong, the Jags must plan for the future. Star pass-rusher Josh Allen is due for an extension…or the Jags may opt to use the franchise tag on him. The top two objectives are clear — let’s see if the franchise can make things right.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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The reigning NFC South champions have some big decisions to make this offseason. On the heels of a dominant victory over Philadelphia and a competitive loss to Detroit in the postseason, Tampa Bay is staring at the potential departure of its starting quarterback and top wideout. Both Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans are set to become unrestricted free agents. We would bet on Tampa signing Mayfield, but Evans may have a new home next year. Additionally, the Bucs lost OC Dave Canales to the Panthers when he accepted their head coach position.
16. New Orleans Saints
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Derek Carr’s first year in New Orleans was rather frustrating. Through 12 games, the former Raider had a mere 11 touchdown passes and his team sported a 5-7 record. Over the final five weeks, however, Carr and Co. found a groove. En route to a 4-1 finish, the veteran threw 14 TD passes and completed 74.5-percent of his attempts. Unfortunately, New Orleans’ late surge wasn’t enough to reach the postseason — as it lost the tiebreak to Tampa Bay in the division, and fell short of earning a Wild Card spot as Green Bay owned the tiebreak, as well. New Orleans will have a new offensive coordinator in 2024, and we believe it should be considered the favorite to win the division as of now.
15. New York Jets
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Year 1 of the Aaron Rodgers era in New York ended the same way as 2022 did — the Jets won seven games and missed the playoffs. Of course, Rodgers didn’t take the field for more than five snaps. It isn’t hard to see a few more wins on New York’s schedule with Rodgers on the field. Rodgers’ health will be the biggest storyline surrounding New York’s offseason, but the franchise must improve the team overall if it wants to break through in 2024. The offensive line and receiving corps, in particular, should be addressed with urgency.
14. Indianapolis Colts
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Not many people expected Indianapolis to push for a playoff spot in 2023. However, Gardner Minshew led the Colts into Week 18 with an opportunity to reach the playoffs. Looking ahead, Indianapolis will excitedly welcome back quarterback Anthony Richardson following his recovery from season-ending shoulder surgery. The duo of Richardson and Jonathan Taylor has a ton of potential and the Colts appear to be a team on the rise. Now, they must focus on re-signing key free agents such as WR Michael Pittman Jr., CB Kenny Moore II and NT Grover Stewart.
13. Houston Texans
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Just like Indianapolis, the Houston Texans far surpassed expectations in 2023. Led by star rookie C.J. Stroud, Houston won the AFC South for the first time since 2019. Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans turned the tide sooner than anyone could have expected. Stroud played like a top-10 quarterback and Ryans has the look of a coach who will be successful for many years to come. Houston will enter ’24 with the Offensive Rookie of the Year (Stroud) and Defensive Rookie of the Year (Will Anderson Jr.) and a ton of confidence.
12. Cleveland Browns
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Cleveland’s unlikely journey to the playoffs ended with a blowout loss to the Texans, but it is positioned well entering the offseason. The Browns feature one of the league’s best defensive groups and they will have their starting quarterback and starting running back return from injury in time for 2024. Of course, there is no guarantee that Deshaun Watson will be a difference-maker at QB — and Nick Chubb isn’t a sure bet to return to his previous level of play following his season-ending knee injury.
11. Cincinnati Bengals
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The Bengals finished 2023 with nine wins and the worst record in the AFC North. For a team that entered the year with Super Bowl aspirations, the season was a failure. Considering the team lost Joe Burrow in Week 11, however, nine wins was quite impressive. The Bengals played well with backup quarterback Jake Browning leading the offense. To end the year, Browning led Cincinnati to a 4-3 record. The franchise must decide whether to pay wideout Tee Higgins in the offseason, but it should be one of the AFC’s top teams in 2024 regardless of the decision.
10. Green Bay Packers
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In Year 1 post-Rodgers, the Packers returned to the playoffs. Quarterback Jordan Love struggled at times in his first year as the starter but turned it on late. In leading Green Bay to a 6-2 record down the stretch, Love threw 18 touchdowns and one interception. Then, Love and Co. embarrassed Dallas in the postseason before losing a nail-biter in San Francisco to the eventual NFC Champions. Love’s development was a sight to behold for Packer fans — and a nightmare for fans of the rest of the NFC North. There is no reason to believe the Packers won’t be better in 2024.
9. Los Angeles Rams
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Before the 2023 season began, the Rams were largely projected to be one of the worst teams in football — and some experts, including New Arena‘s own, viewed the Rams as a bottom-3 team. Instead, the Rams reached the postseason after Sean McVay’s group went 7-1 down the stretch. Now, there is a lot to look forward to if you’re a Rams fan. Matthew Stafford still has it. Kyren Williams is a force on the ground. Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are a lethal duo in the passing game and Aaron Donald remains a one-man wrecking crew.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
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What happened in Philadelphia? After nearly winning the Super Bowl in 2022, the Eagles looked like they were on a mission to return to the big game last year. Entering their Week 13 showdown with the 49ers, the Eagles were 10-1 and had just won back-to-back games over Kansas City and Buffalo. Then, Philadelphia went 1-5 to end the year and was throttled by Tampa Bay, 32-9, in the Wild Card Round. Vic Fangio and Kellen Moore have replaced Sean Desai and Brian Johnson, respectively, as defensive and offensive coordinators. Nick Sirianni will enter the year on the hot seat. Can the Eagles rebound?
7. Dallas Cowboys
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The Cowboys won the NFC East in 2023 and looked like a true Super Bowl contender entering the postseason. Dak Prescott played at an MVP level for much of the year and Dallas’ defense fed off turnovers and created a ton of extra opportunities for Prescott and the offense. However, the year ended in an embarrassing fashion as the No. 7 seed Packers handed Dallas a 48-32 loss in the Wild Card Round. The Cowboys have a ton of talent, but they must find a way to get over the hump when it matters most.
6. Miami Dolphins
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Heading into Week 14 of the 2023 season, the Dolphins had a three-game lead on the Bills in the division with only five games remaining. Miami went 2-2 over its next four, while Buffalo won all four of its games. In the finale, the Bills narrowly edged out a win over a depleted Dolphins team to complete the season sweep and capture the AFC East for the fourth-straight year. Miami’s once-promising season ended one week later at a frigid Arrowhead, as the Chiefs silenced the Dolphins’ offense in a 26-7 win. Including QB Tua Tagovailoa, Miami has a handful of top players due for new contracts. Will the franchise go all-in on Tua?
5. Buffalo Bills
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Buffalo may have rallied to win the AFC East for the fourth time in a row, but its season ended with yet another disappointing loss. Josh Allen and Co. finally had an opportunity to play host to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round…but it didn’t matter — the Bills lost to Patrick Mahomes once again. Now, Buffalo must decide whether it has enough to win the AFC with its current roster and coaching staff. Will Stefon Diggs be with the team in 2024?
4. Detroit Lions
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Through two quarters of the NFC Championship Game, the Detroit Lions appeared to be on their way to making a trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. However, a dreadful second half resulted in a painful loss. Despite the setback, Detroit is in a good position entering the offseason. The offense is loaded and features young talent. The defense certainly needs some work — particularly the defensive line and secondary — but there are some nice pieces in place, as well.
3. Baltimore Ravens
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Lamar Jackson performed at a high level en route to winning his second MVP, Baltimore’s defense was the league’s best, the Ravens entered the postseason with the No. 1 overall seed…and yet the season ended without a trip to the Super Bowl. Baltimore’s loss to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game was not pretty. Still, the Ravens must be considered one of the top contenders ahead of next season. Three Pro Bowl players — defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, inside linebacker Patrick Queen and guard Kevin Zeitler — are amongst a group of 25 unrestricted free agents. There will be a ton of activity in the offseason, but we trust Baltimore to make the right moves.
2. San Francisco 49ers
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The Niners have reached the NFC Championship four of the last five years, and have two Super Bowl appearances on their resume. Unfortunately, San Francisco is now 0-2 in the Super Bowl — and arguably should have defeated Kansas City in both games. The Niners have the best roster in football so there isn’t a ton of room for improvement this offseason. Keeping Brandon Aiyuk in San Francisco should be the top priority for the front office.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
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Three Super Bowl victories in five years — was there ever a doubt who would be ranked No. 1? The Chiefs aren’t going away any time soon. Chris Jones is an unrestricted free agent and could be playing for another team next year, but the Chiefs have proven that they can win it all even with a depleted roster.
