Reasons to Buy Each NFL Division's Biggest Wild-Card Team for the 2023 Season

In May, every NFL team stands on even ground in the standings, no wins or losses. We're four months away from the start of the regular season, which leaves room for discussion about which clubs will be contenders in 2023.

Based on DraftKings' lines for win totals, we have an idea of the projected front-runners to claim division titles. Yet every year, teams rise from the bottom or take a step up from mediocrity, beating the odds and giving fanbases a reason to say, "No one believed in us."

Well, we're going to give everyone three reasons to buy the biggest wild-card team in all eight divisions. Our selections don't include DraftKings' odds favorite to win each division.

The eight teams here have a high ceiling and a low floor. These clubs could push for a home playoff game or fall completely flat with a fourth-place finish. We'll sell you on the former notion with the idea that each wild-card squad made the necessary changes to earn a little more respect as a viable contender for the upcoming season.

AFC East: New York Jets

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Aaron Rodgers

•  Aaron Rodgers is a major upgrade at QB

The New York Jets made, arguably, the most notable offseason transaction, acquiring Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. They're the only team in the division with a new starting quarterback, which checks off the wild-card factor.

Rodgers may not be the same MVP talent from his 2020-2021 run with the Packers, but he's far better than Zach Wilson and Mike White, who failed to lead a roster with a 7-4 record to the postseason.

Coming off a year with 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions through the air, Rodgers will get Gang Green back in the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

• Breece Hall's expected return will balance the offense

In his age-40 term, Rodgers won't have to carry the Jets offense on his back. He'll make plays to 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson and former Packers teammate Allen Lazard in the passing game, though the Jets should have success on the ground with Breece Hall on track to return from a torn ACL.

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, the Jets expect the 21-year-old to suit up for Week 1. Before the knee injury, he registered 681 yards and five touchdowns from scrimmage in seven outings.

If the second-year running back isn't quite 100 percent, Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight can fill in the gaps to balance the offense. Rookie running back Israel Abanikanda may have a role as well.

• Jets defense could be even stingier in 2023

In 2022, the Jets fielded the fourth-ranked defense in points and yards allowed. Assuming they sign defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to an extension, New York should have another top-tier defense to complement a Rodgers-led offensive attack.

With the addition of safety Chuck Clark and edge-rusher Will McDonald IV, along with the growth of 2022 first-round defensive end Jermaine Johnson, the Jets may have an even stronger defensive unit.

AFC North: Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

Amari Cooper

•  A defensive overhaul should help counter high-scoring offenses

The Cleveland Browns underwent a defensive overhaul over the past few months, which makes them the biggest wild-card squad in the AFC North. They hired Jim Schwartz to replace defensive coordinator Joe Woods and invested a lot in roster changes on that side of the ball after finishing 20th in points allowed last season.

In free agency, they signed defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, safety Juan Thornhill and defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo to multiyear deals. They also acquired Za'Darius Smith from the Minnesota Vikings. He'll pair with Myles Garrett to form a strong pass-rushing duo.

Schwartz will work with a group of experienced playmakers, which may lead to instant improvement.

•  Wide receiver additions will stress opposing secondaries

Last year, Amari Cooper drew a lot of attention in coverage. Fellow wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and tight end David Njoku had bright moments as complementary pass-catching options. They may get some help from a few young wideouts in the upcoming campaign.

This offseason, Cleveland acquired wideout Elijah Moore from the New York Jets and selected Cedric Tillman in the third round of the draft.

If 2022 third-rounder David Bell makes a big splash in his second year, quarterback Deshaun Watson can spread the ball around, which may open up more opportunities for Cooper.

• Deshaun Watson will be available at the beginning of the season

Speaking of Watson, unlike last year, he's on track to start the 2023 term under center. In 2022, the NFL suspended him for 11 games after 26 women filed civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct.

In a complete season, he could perform at a Pro Bowl level reminiscent of his stretch with the Houston Texans between 2018 and 2020. If so, the Browns should top their seven-game win total from last year.

AFC South: Houston Texans

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

C.J. Stroud

•   C.J. Stroud is a polished rookie who can start right away

The Houston Texans may not wait long to start quarterback C.J. Stroud, whom they selected with the No. 2 pick in this year's draft. At Ohio State, he started in 25 games and fared well on the big stage in a College Football Playoff matchup with Georgia.

At a powerhouse program, Stroud should be comfortable on the pro level once he grasps the speed of the game.

Because of his ability to throw accurately (69.3 percent completion rate) with anticipation, Stroud could be an immediate upgrade over Davis Mills, who saw a drop-off in completion rate between his first two seasons and tied Dak Prescott for a league-leading 15 interceptions in 2022. Behind an offensive line that features three former first-round picks, the rookie could jump off to a promising career start.

• Will Anderson Jr. should make an immediate impact on defense

Despite a move from a pass-rushing outside linebacker to a defensive end with his hand in the dirt, Will Anderson Jr. seems like the front-runner to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.

B/R scout Matt Holder compared Anderson to Khalil Mack because of his potential to play the stand-up linebacker position and as a down lineman in even-man fronts.

Don't expect Anderson to post numbers that compare to Mack's recent production, though he may lead all rookies in sacks. The Alabama product will play under head coach DeMeco Ryans, who helped mold defensive end Nick Bosa into an All-Pro player and league sack leader in 2022.

•  Texans play in one of the weaker divisions

The AFC South isn't a top-heavy division. Coming off a 9-8 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars are favored to come out on top by a wide margin (-150) followed by the Tennessee Titans (+400), via DraftKings.

The Titans could make a midseason change at quarterback with rookie second-rounder Will Levis in line to push Ryan Tannehill for the lead role if the offense sputters at the beginning of the season. Like the Texans, the Indianapolis Colts may start a rookie signal-caller (Anthony Richardson), but Houston has a young quarterback with more experience as a starter.

In a division that's mediocre at best, the Texans can shock a lot of people.

AFC West: Denver Broncos

Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Sean Payton

• Sean Payton's arrival provides hope for Russell Wilson

In the AFC West, the Denver Broncos hired head coach Sean Payton, which will have an impact on quarterback Russell Wilson. Both won a Super Bowl with different teams 10-plus years ago, and the Broncos hope they can make magic together.

As the New Orleans Saints' lead skipper, Payton won about 63 percent of his games and worked well with a functionally mobile undersized quarterback in Drew Brees, who's a probable future Hall of Famer, which are all good signs for Russell.

• Russell Wilson will get help from an efficient ground attack

In some of Wilson's Pro Bowl years with the Seattle Seahawks, he played with a top-10 rushing attack. Though he could tuck the ball and run, he handed off to 1,000-yard rushers Marshawn Lynch and Chris Carson as well.

Payton has earned praise for his prolific offenses with Brees under center, though in New Orleans, his offensive units ranked top 10 in rushing touchdowns for 11 out of 15 years. The Broncos have running backs Javonte Williams, who's recovering from a torn ACL, and Samaje Perine to close drives on the ground. In big games, Wilson won't have to throw while at the goal line.

• Vance Joseph has a track record of generating pocket pressure

Vance Joseph didn't fare well as a head coach for two seasons in Denver, going 11-21, but he knows how to make quarterbacks uncomfortable in the pocket.

After the Broncos fired him, he elevated the Arizona Cardinals' pass rush. In three of the previous four seasons, they have ranked 12th or higher in pressure rate.

The Broncos finished 26th in pressure rate for the 2022 term. Joseph could get more out of Denver's front seven with his blitz-heavy pass-rushing scheme.

NFC East: New York Giants

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Saquon Barkley

•  Daniel Jones has more pass-catching options

In his first season under head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Daniel Jones played his best football since he showed flashes in his 2018 rookie campaign.

Though Jones threw for just 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, he saw an uptick in his completion rate and cut down on fumbles while taking on a bigger role in the ground attack.

In the upcoming term, Jones should be able to rack up more numbers in the passing game. The Giants acquired Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders, drafted wideout Jalin Hyatt in the third round this year and signed slot receivers Jamison Crowder and Parris Campbell. Keep in mind that Jones built a solid rapport with Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins late in the previous season.

If or when Wan'Dale Robinson and Sterling Shepard return from ACL tears, Jones will have a bevy of potential targets in the aerial attack.

• Saquon Barkley hasn't threatened a holdout yet

The Giants opted to use the franchise tag on Saquon Barkley, who hasn't signed the tender and remains away from the team. While that's not an encouraging turn of events, Big Blue still has about two months to work out a deal with the star running back who racked up a team-leading 1,650 yards and 10 touchdowns from scrimmage in 2022.

In April, Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano noted that he doesn't expect Barkley to hold out and miss training camp. The Giants may see him play with a chip on his shoulder and an eye toward free agency in 2024, which is actually a good thing for the offense this year.

• Giants upgraded two key areas of their defense

In order to upgrade their 25th-ranked defense in total yards, the Giants had to address the linebacker and cornerback spots, and they checked off both boxes. New York signed Bobby Okereke and selected Deonte Banks in the first round of this year's draft.

After registering 151 tackles, six for loss, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles with the Indianapolis Colts last year, Okereke will take over a starting role at inside linebacker.

Banks is an athletically gifted cornerback who ran a 4.35 40-yard time. His coverage numbers (11 pass breakups and two interceptions at Maryland) don't illustrate how well he blankets receivers downfield. He can hold his own on the boundary.

NFC North: Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Justin Fields

•  Justin Fields has a new No. 1 wide receiver

Critics may question Justin Fields' ability to stand in the pocket and deliver on-target throws because of his 59.7 percent completion rate, but he played with an uninspiring pass-catching group last season.

None of Chicago's offensive playmakers registered more than 50 receptions or 544 receiving yards. Darnell Mooney averaged just 41.1 receiving yards through 12 games before the team placed him on injured reserve.

Fields will have a more accomplished go-to receiver in DJ Moore, whom the Bears acquired from the Carolina Panthers. In Carolina, he racked up 1,157-plus receiving yards in three consecutive seasons, and he caught a career-high seven touchdown passes last year.

• Bears stabilized the right side of their offensive line

Aside from Fields' limited options in the passing game, he played behind a shaky offensive line that featured multiple starters on the right side. Teven Jenkins, Michael Schofield and Lucas Patrick split most of the snaps at right guard while Riley Reiff and Larry Borom took on most of the snaps at right tackle.

The Bears signed right guard Nate Davis, who gave up just three sacks while on the field for 682 snaps with the Tennessee Titans last season, per Pro Football Focus. With the 10th pick in this year's draft, Chicago selected right tackle Darnell Wright, who hadn't allowed a sack in 19 consecutive outings at Tennessee.

Davis and Wright will allow Fields more time in the pocket.

• Chicago added talent at every level of a porous defense

In addition to strengthening Fields' supporting cast, Chicago retooled its defense, which gave up the most points and the fourth-most yards last year. With an infusion of talent on that side of the ball, the Bears may be able to slow down a couple of top-eight scoring offenses within their division when they play the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.

The Bears signed linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards and defensive end DeMarcus Walker to multiyear deals. On Day 2 of the draft, they added defensive tackles Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

All six players may play prominent roles this year.

NFC South: Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/John Bazemore

Bijan Robinson

• Falcons are the only NFC South team with continuity at QB

Ironically, the Atlanta Falcons' stability at quarterback makes them the wild-card squad in the division. We're familiar with New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' probable starter Baker Mayfield from their years with previous teams. Carolina Panthers rookie signal-caller Bryce Young could have growing pains.

Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder has started in just four games. We have no idea if he's ready to make a second-year leap or prone to more rough patches while gaining experience. Nonetheless, he will have less of an adjustment than the other three signal-callers in his division in terms of learning the playbook, which gives him a bit of an advantage.

•  Bijan Robinson will help open up the passing game

Head coach Arthur Smith knows he has an inexperienced quarterback. Perhaps that's why the Falcons selected running back Bijan Robinson with the eighth pick in this year's draft.

As the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator between 2019 and 2020, Smith fielded a run-heavy offense that featured Derrick Henry. We could see a similar weekly game plan with Robinson, who's more of a three-down back than Henry because of his pass-catching ability.

With the rookie drawing so much attention out of the backfield, Ridder should be able to pick and choose his spots to target wideout Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts downfield.

• A veteran-laded new-look defense won't be a bottom-tier unit

The Falcons overhauled their 23rd-ranked scoring defense from the previous season, adding several veteran players after hiring defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen.

Atlanta signed defensive tackle David Onyemata and linebacker Kaden Elliss, who played under Nielsen in New Orleans last season. The Falcons also added safety Jessie Bates III, defensive lineman Calais Campbell, edge-rusher Bud Dupree and cornerback Jeff Okudah (via trade with the Detroit Lions).

All the aforementioned players have at least three years of pro experience. They can bring instant change to a porous unit.

NFC West: Los Angeles Rams

Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

Matthew Stafford (left) and Cooper Kupp.

•  Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp can wreck defenses

Rewind the Los Angeles Rams' game film to the 2021 season. You'll see Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp going up and down the field against defenses.

Stafford threw for 4,886 yards, 41 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, and Kupp won the triple crown with league-leading numbers in catches (145), receiving yards (1,947) and touchdowns (16).

Last season, they battled injuries, and both missed eight games. Yet Kupp ranked third in receiving yards per contest (90.2). If they avoid the injury bug, they will give the Rams a good chance to bounce back from a 5-12 campaign.

•  Aaron Donald can create pass-rushing opportunities for others

Stafford and Kupp weren't the only star Rams players who missed significant time because of injury last season. Aaron Donald didn't suit up for the final six games because of an ankle injury. Still, he made the Pro Bowl roster for the ninth consecutive season with 49 tackles, 10 for loss, five sacks and 16 pressures.

Going into his age-32 campaign, he will continue to command double-teams when he's on the field. As a result, his teammates could see open pass-rushing lanes with opportunities to take advantage of one-on-one matchups at the line of scrimmage.

With Donald in the middle, rookie third-rounder Byron Young could have a productive year coming off the edge.

• Don't discount Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean McVay

The Rams parted ways with multiple veteran players. They cut edge-rusher Leonard Floyd and linebacker Bobby Wagner, and they traded cornerback Jalen Ramsey and wideout Allen Robinson II.

Though the Rams' offseason moves indicate a rebuild with a youth movement, we shouldn't count them out of postseason contention. In six years as the team's head coach, Sean McVay only has one losing season, and he's won about 61 percent of his games. Remember, Los Angeles remained competitive without its star players for much of the second half of the 2022 campaign.

With a healthy squad, the Rams will be back in the playoff mix.

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Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.