Way-Too-Soon 2024-25 NFL Power Rankings: Who's the Favorite to Dethrone Chiefs?
Super Bowl LVIII is in the books. It was an overtime thriller between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, and while the score was different than Super Bowl LVII between the Chiefs and Eagles, the result was the same.
For the first time in two decades, the NFL has a repeat champion. And with three titles in five seasons, the Chiefs are now the league's newest dynasty.
Cue the groans from everywhere but Missouri and Kansas. But it's true.
Now the Chiefs will endeavor to do in 2024 what no team has ever done—win three straight Super Bowls. But there will be 31 other teams lined up to stop them—some with a better chance of doing it than others.
It's ridiculously early to try to discern which team has the best shot at knocking the Chiefs off their perch atop Mount Lombardi. A ton will change between now and September. By the time free agency, the 2024 NFL draft and a trade or two take place, the league's rosters will look vastly different.
But if there's one thing Bleacher Report NFL Analysts Gary Davenport, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski can't resist, it's ridiculousness. So, they have gathered together to rank the NFL's teams from No. 32 to No. 1 for the season to come.
The top team shouldn't exactly stun anyone.
Salary-cap data courtesy of Over the Cap.
32. Carolina Panthers
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To say that the 2023 season was a disappointment for the Carolina Panthers is a massive understatement. Bryce Young's rookie year under center was a mess. The Panthers won just two games, and former head coach Frank Reich didn't make it through one season before being fired.
Now, the Panthers have hired Dave Canales as head coach and Dan Morgan as general manager. And while making an appearance on Radio Row last week, Panthers great Luke Kuechly said he sees a light at the end of last year's dark tunnel.
"What I do know about Bryce and what I do know about Carolina is that we've got a common goal now," he said. "Dan came in at the same time—obviously, we hired him as the GM. We hired Dave Canales at the same time. They spent a lot of time in Seattle together. There's a vision that these guys believe in. There's a vision of what they want to do. And Bryce has a guy that's—over the past couple of years, whether it's Geno [Smith], whether it's been Russ [Wilson], whether it was Baker [Mayfield] last year in Tampa—that he's (Canales) gotten the most out of these guys."
There may well be cause for some optimism in Charlotte. But this team was dead last in total offense last year. There will have to be massive improvement in that regard for Carolina to be any kind of real factor in 2024—even in a weak NFC South.
31. Washington Commanders
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It's the dawn of a new age in the nation's capital.
The Commanders have a new ownership group. A new general manager in Adam Peters. A new head coach in former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. And come the second pick of the 2024 NFL draft, there will all but certainly be a new quarterback in Washington.
Sobleski is a fan of the Quinn hire. But if the Commanders are going to turn things around next season, he also thinks the team needs to get that first selection in the 2024 draft right.
"The Commanders' new ownership group wanted to make a splash this offseason with a high-profile hire," he wrote. "They failed to secure the services of the top two coordinators, Ben Johnson and Mike MacDonald, on the market before settling on Dan Quinn as the franchise's next head coach. Quinn has been at or near the top of the candidate list for multiple offseasons. He clearly has extensive experience leading a team. He's a great defensive mind. Players love him. And his hire of Kliff Kingsbury to serve as offensive coordinator provides a lot of promise. But any success Washington experiences next fall depends on how well the new staff develops whatever incoming rookie quarterback the front office selects with second (or first after a trade up?) overall draft pick."
No team in the league has more cap space than Washington's $73.6 million. But given the holes all over both sides of the roster, the Commanders are going to need it.
30. New England Patriots
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There isn't a team in the NFL undergoing bigger changes in 2024 than the New England Patriots. That's because for the first time in over two decades, Bill Belichick will not be roaming the sidelines at Gillette Stadium.
However, the Patriots didn't look very far for their next head coach, elevating linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to the position. Per Tyler Nettuno of For the Win, it's a hire that met with the approval of former Pats great Rob Gronkowski.
"He's very intellectual. The guy knows the game of football to the T," Gronkowski said. "I remember playing versus him, and he'd make some mess-up on the field, but he knows how to make that adjustment just like that. And he was the captain of the defense, and every time I put my hand down, he was getting all the guys in place around him… because he knows what he's doing, and he knows the game of football well."
However, at least one of our analysts wasn't as impressed.
"The Patriots are a team that needs a complete rebuild," Davenport said. "Mac Jones ain't the guy at quarterback. The skill-position talent is among the NFL's weakest. The defense isn't as stout as it once was. New England needed a new direction. A fresh start. Instead, the new Patriots (so far) don't look especially different from the old ones. The "Patriot Way" era is over. And the sooner the Pats come to grips with that reality, the better."
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29. Tennessee Titans
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Like many of the teams toward the bottom of these power rankings, the Tennessee Titans are in the midst of massive changes. Mike Vrabel has been replaced at head coach by Brian Callahan. Will Levis has taken over under center for Ryan Tannehill. Derrick Henry's time with the team may well be drawing to a close.
While speaking to reporters, defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said he believes the hiring of Callahan could a huge boost for the organization.
"I think coming up this season for us is it's going to be one of those seasons where we have to really reestablish ourselves in Tennessee. Having a chance to meet Coach Callahan in person, when I was in the building, I could tell that he is ready, he wants to win. And I am excited for the staff he is bringing in, especially with DC [Dennard Wilson] from Baltimore. I am excited, man. I think it is going to be good for us as an organization."
No team in the AFC has more cap space this year than Tennessee, and the team also possesses the seventh overall pick in the 2024 draft.
But with multiple starters from an average defense set to hit free agency, an offensive line that badly needs to be upgraded and a new offensive system coming to town, the Titans can use all the offseason resources they can get.
28. Arizona Cardinals
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At first glance, Arizona's 2023 campaign appears to have been a major disappointment—the team won just four games in Jonathan Gannon's first year as head coach. But the Redbirds played much of the season without quarterback Kyler Murray, and three of the team's four wins came against playoff squads.
While speaking to reporters, Gannon said that the team set a foundation last year. Now, it's a matter of improving that foundation over the offseason.
"We're just going to do like we've always done, take a good hard look at acquisitions, what we're doing schematically, what we're doing in everything," Gannon said. "That's what I mean when I say tear it all down. There's going to be obviously some carry over, but we start the process over, attack free agency, attack the draft, pour into our players and all the resources that they have at their disposal, really improve ourselves individually, collectively, so that the players improve."
With the team's quarterback seemingly in place, the Cardinals could be in position to add a player like Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick. The Cardinals also have over $41 million in cap space with which to attack free agency and a second pick in Round 1 at No. 27.
But the Cardinals also have some key players (safety Budda Baker and wide receiver Marquise Brown) set to hit free agency, and the last thing Gannon can afford is a second-year backslide.
27. New York Giants
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Expectations for the New York Giants were high in 2023. The G-Men won a playoff game the year before. Brian Daboll was named Coach of the Year in 2022. The team made a sizable financial commitment to quarterback Daniel Jones. The G-Men were going to be contenders in the NFC East.
Or not.
Jones got hurt (and didn't play especially well before that). The New York defense fell to 26th in the league. And Big Blue wound up a 6-11 tomato can instead of a force in the division.
Per Moton, the Giants have a lot of work to do if 2024 is going to be any different than 2023.
"Aside from quarterback Daniel Jones, the Giants will likely go through a third-year rebuild under head coach Brian Daboll," Moton said. "This offseason, Big Blue parted ways with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and hired Shane Bowen. Regardless of the team's decision on impending free agent Saquon Barkley, general manager Joe Schoen has to upgrade the offensive line and pass-catching group to make the most out of his four-year, $160 million investment in Jones.
"Remember, none of the Giants pass-catchers logged more than 60 receptions or accumulated more than 770 yards this past season, and their quarterbacks took 85 sacks, the most of any team (by 20) across the league." Moton continued. "The Giants have a lot of work to do in the coming months if they plan to bounce back in 2024."
26. Atlanta Falcons
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The NFL offseason is annually a time of major changes, and the Atlanta Falcons are no exception—after three straight 7-10 seasons, head coach Arthur Smith was let go, replaced by Raheem Morris.
However, while Morris' arrival was hailed by many fans, it didn't solve the team's biggest issue—Atlanta desperately needs to upgrade the quarterback position after using Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke last season.
Morris himself acknowledged to reporters that having a high-end quarterback can make all the difference in the world.
"When you get those guys that are elite processors, when you get those guys that are decision-makers," Morris said. "When you get those guys that can just cut it loose and play ball and also play with those great fundamental techniques that we talked about—the base, the balance, the short hitches in the pocket, some of those things—it makes you excited to go out there and find those things. And sometimes, it's not easy to see."
With the eighth pick in the draft, acquiring an elite rookie would probably require a trade up. Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears could also be available in a trade. And there are a few established veterans who could hit free agency this spring.
But however they do it, the Falcons have to get better at the game's most important position for the 2024 season to look any better than 2023.
25. Chicago Bears
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The Chicago Bears will be one of the most talked-about teams in the NFL over the offseason—for a couple of reasons.
The first is that the Bears, by virtue of the trade that sent last year's first overall pick to Carolina, now possess two picks in the top 10 of the 2024 NFL draft—including the first selection overall.
The second is that while that first overall pick gives the Bears their choice of this year's quarterback class, the Bears also happen to have a young first-round quarterback with (potentially) two years left on his rookie deal in Justin Fields.
Fields' first three years in Chicago have admittedly been uneven—including just 10 wins in 38 starts. But the former Ohio State standout has had his moments, including over 1,100 rushing yards in 2022. If the Bears put Fields on the market, multiple teams are going to be interested.
Davenport thinks that's exactly what the Bears need to do.
"To be clear, I believe that Fields can be a quality NFL starter," he said. "But USC's Caleb Williams is a superior prospect. That's just the reality of the situation. The Bears can add substantial draft capital with which to build around a new quarterback. And perhaps most importantly, a rookie quarterback resets the clock on a second contract that completely changes roster management for NFL teams. It's an opportunity the Bears can't pass up—and a change of scenery might actually do Fields some good."
24. Los Angeles Chargers
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The Los Angeles Chargers were supposed to be contenders in the AFC West in 2023. Instead, the team was ravaged by injuries, pitched and lurched its way to a five-win last-place season and head coach Brandon Staley didn't even last the year.
The Bolts replaced Staley with the biggest splash hire of this year's coaching cycle, luring Jim Harbaugh away from the college ranks. Moton believes that given Harbaugh's track record of turning teams around, the Chargers could be back in the mix as soon as next season.
"The Chargers reset their franchise energy with the biggest head coaching hire of the offseason, bringing in Harbaugh, who's fresh off a national title victory as the lead skipper at Michigan," he said. "Harbaugh hasn't coached in an NFL game in nearly a decade (December 2014), but his track record of turning teams around or elevating clubs, typically within a year, goes back 15-plus years. Mostly an underachieving team with a high-end quarterback in recent years, the Chargers' usual offseason hype should translate to a postseason appearance in 2024 with Harbaugh building a physical supporting cast around Justin Herbert."
The offensive weapons are there—although with running back Austin Ekeler a free agent, finding a new running back could be high on the to-do list. But an even bigger priority is fixing a defense that was 28th in the league last season.
23. Denver Broncos
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There's one offseason decision that towers above all others in Denver—the future of quarterback Russell Wilson.
After Wilson was benched last season (a move that didn't sit well with the veteran quarterback), the presumption has been that Wilson was finished in Denver—one way or another.
But while speaking to reporters in January, Broncos head coach Sean Payton insisted that no final decision has been made regarding Wilson's future with the team.
"Look, I think when we get back and we begin this process of looking at our roster, where we select, there's so many things that go into a decision specific to the quarterback, which is significant obviously, so it's too early at all," Payton said. "I spent half an hour with Russ yesterday, and I told him, I said, 'Look, I don't think it's going to be a long, drawn-out process, but it hasn't been decided relative to what our plans are.' But as soon as we know something, certainly, he would be the first to know."
Releasing or trading Wilson would cause the Broncos to incur a truly staggering dead cap hit, which would seem to make a restructure and mending fences the best play for the team.
But whether the relationship between player and organization can be repaired is anything but certain—and Denver's offseason is all but held hostage until a decision on Wilson has been made.
22. New York Jets
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No team in the NFL had a 2023 season that went less according to plan than the New York Jets. An offseason of hope and expectations was dashed on the first series of the first game when quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles.
For his part, Rodgers said on a recent podcast appearance that he's close to 100 percent.
"It feels good," Rodgers said. "I can do everything except sprint at a top speed. … I really attacked the rehab the first few months and kinda wanted to go as hard as I could for two months and see where I was at and also see where the team was at—because my goal was to come back (in 2023)."
If that's the case, Moton expects we could see a much different Jets squad in 2024.
"General manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh likely have one more shot to end the New York Jets' playoff drought," Moton said. "Gang Green hasn't advanced to the postseason since the 2010 campaign–that's part of the pressure on the current regime. Assuming quarterback Aaron Rodgers makes a full recovery from a torn Achilles, the Jets should make a run for the AFC East title and a playoff spot.
"If New York starts slow or fails to qualify for the postseason again," he went on, "owner Woody Johnson will probably pull the plug on this administration. As the Jets general manager, Douglas has a 27-56 record through five years while Saleh has an 18-33 record in three seasons. First and foremost, the Jets need to add a couple of offensive linemen to protect Rodgers and add another wide receiver to give him another viable perimeter target who complements Garrett Wilson. It's playoff or bust for the Jets, but Rodgers gives them hope in 2024."
21. Las Vegas Raiders
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The Las Vegas Raiders are a team that will be glad to see the 2023 league year end. It wasn't a good one—the Jimmy Garoppolo experiment was a miserable failure. Head coach Josh McDaniels was fired in-season, replaced by Antonio Pierce.
But Pierce rallied the team down the stretch enough to lose his "interim" tag, but B/R's resident expert on all things Raiders wrote that Vegas is an enigma at this point.
"Though the Raiders retained Antonio Pierce and removed the interim label from his head coaching title, we have no idea what to expect from this team in 2024," he said. "According to The Athletic's Vic Tafur, Pierce expects to have a quarterback competition between Aidan O'Connell, who threw for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions this past season, and a newcomer. As ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted, running back Josh Jacobs' asking price on the open market will factor into the Raiders' interest in re-signing him.
"Offensively, the Raiders must establish an identity for the upcoming season," Moton continued. "Will they continue to commit heavily to the run as they did when Pierce took over for Josh McDaniels, lean heavily on the passing game with Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Michael Mayer and Tre Tucker on the perimeter or find a run-pass balance to fully maximize their personnel? New offensive coordinator Luke Getsy has to sort it out. The Raiders should be able to count on a solid defense with Patrick Graham calling the plays for his third year in Las Vegas. The club finished ninth in points allowed for the 2023 season."
20. Minnesota Vikings
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The Minnesota Vikings were beset by injuries in 2023, and it's laudable that the team was able to hang around the periphery of the playoff hunt even after quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles.
It's Cousins who is the most important offseason decision facing the Vikings. Set to hit free agency this spring, Cousins told reporters that he feels like he still has several good years left in the tank.
"Certainly, the physical [side] matters, but this (the mental side) has to come with it," Cousins said. "As you play longer, this gets stronger and stronger and stronger. So, if you have this 'Yeah, you're a much better quarterback at 36 than at 26' because of this, I think it bodes well for you to be able to play quite a while longer. I never want to take years for granted or assume things, so I do always kind of take a year-to-year mindset but I see myself playing several more [years]."
Cousins may not be an elite quarterback, but provided he's physically OK, it's hard to imagine a scenario where Minnesota could find an upgrade in the offseason. With Cousins seemingly happy where he is, it's likely that the two sides will figure something out. The franchise tag is always a possibility as well.
Once Minnesota gets the Cousins conundrum solved, the offseason focus needs to shift to the defensive side of the ball. The Vikings pass defense has been an issue for years, ranking 24th in the league in that regard in 2023.
19. New Orleans Saints
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The New Orleans Saints nearly made the playoffs in 2023. But it's fair to wonder how the team will even match last year's 9-8 record.
Because as is the case seemingly every year, the Saints' cap situation is a disaster.
No team in the league is in worse position relative to the projected cap than New Orleans—a staggering $83.7 million in the red. It will take a flurry of restructurings and a veteran cut or two just to get in the black—and all that really does is kick the can down the road another year.
Many of the Saints' highest-paid players are also coming off down seasons. Alvin Kamara is an aging running back coming off a career low in scrimmage yards with a cap hit of nearly $19 million in 2024. Head coach Dennis Allen tried to come to Kamara's defense while talking to reporters.
"This isn't just Alvin," Allen said. "I don't think we ran the ball as effectively as we needed to be able to run the ball. ... We didn't have quite the explosive plays we're used to seeing from him ... but I thought he was highly productive as a receiver. I thought he had a productive season, and I think there's still more to be had. I think as you get older, and look, in particular at that position, running backs a tough position, but I think he's still got plenty of ability to help us win."
The problem with Kamara (and Demario Davis, and Cameron Jordan, and others) is that it's not just a matter of cutting bait even if they wanted to. The dead cap hits could pile up quickly. Derek Carr's cap hit jumps to $35.7 million in 2024 as well.
Mickey Loomis is as good as any general manager in the league at playing the shell game. But the bill could finally be coming due. If it is, the Saints' window to contend in even the NFC South could be in real trouble.
18. Seattle Seahawks
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It's a new era in Seattle. After 14 seasons, two Super Bowl trips and a championship, Pete Carroll is gone in Seattle. Former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is the new head coach, and general manager John Schneider made a point of telling reporters that he's not interested in completely overhauling everything Carroll did over the years.
"We want to keep our positive culture," Schneider said. "Everything that's been created here, everything in this building. There are so many special people in this building. It's amazing to be on the phone with all of these agents and people that are interested in this position, and to be able to explain to them like, 'Hey. There's a foundation here and it's incredible.'"
Macdonald's problem in 2024 is the same that Carroll faced in 2023—the Seahawks aren't a bad team, but they aren't an especially good one. Geno Smith is an average quarterback. Kenneth Walker is a good running back, but he's no Marshawn Lynch. And the "Legion of Boom" is long gone—Seattle ranked 25th in pass defense last year.
"Macdonald's biggest enemy in his first season may well be expectations," Davenport said. "The Seahawks are an OK team, but that's all they are—a fringe contender. Seattle is upside down against the salary cap and has just one draft pick inside the top 75 this season. This team isn't a real threat in the NFC. Or even the NFC West. But fans in the Emerald City have become accustomed to success, so whether they will be patient as MacDonald builds this team back up is by no means a sure thing."
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
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The Jacksonville Jaguars drew more than a little criticism after their late-season collapse—they went from 8-3 and running away with the AFC South to 9-8 and out of the postseason. But while addressing the media, Jaguars chief football strategy officer Tony Khan said that his confidence in head coach Doug Pederson isn't at all shaken.
"Players want to play for Doug and then when the chips are down, and Doug will gamble, you know, and for Trevor [Lawrence], I think, Doug is a great mentor. Doug's played in the NFL, he's coached," Khan said. "And you know, he was, you know, he was Brett Favre's backup quarterback in the Super Bowl and so he saw the preparation and saw it firsthand, and he also played in the league and also coached at the highest level and he's won the Super Bowl as a coach. Everybody respects him, but he's also a great guy."
On paper at least, the Jaguars have the look of a playoff contender. Lawrence has surpassed 4,000 passing yards each of the last two years. There is skill-position talent galore. Talent on defense in edge-rusher Josh Allen and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun.
But that defense was 22nd in the league, Allen and wide receiver Calvin Ridley are free agents, the Jags don't have a ton of cap space and a mega-extension looms for Lawrence.
This is going to be a tricky offseason for Jacksonville general manager Trent Baalke.
16. Indianapolis Colts
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In many respects, Shane Steichen's first season as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts was a success—despite being without their starting quarterback and best offensive player for a sizable amount of time, the Colts remained in the hunt in the AFC South all season. For Sobleski's money, that sets up the Colts to be a tough out for opponents in 2024.
"After a season of complete turmoil in 2022, the Indianapolis Colts appear to be back on track with head coach Shane Steichen serving as the conductor," Sobleski said. "Despite rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson playing in only four games, the Colts still found themselves in a position to capture a division title and make the postseason during a Week 18 matchup against C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. Indianapolis came up short. But everyone saw a flawed Indianapolis roster that was extremely well coached, prepared to play every week and capable of being even better with the right additions this offseason. The Colts will be a difficult matchup for anyone during the '24 campaign."
Of course, nothing's guaranteed in the NFL. Wide receiver Michael Pittman and cornerback Kenny Moore are free agents. Richardson's development in Year 2 will be paramount. And the rest of the division (outside the Titans) is comparably talented—at least.
But the Colts have upward of $60 million in cap space to retain Pittman and Moore and a top-15 pick in the 2024 draft.
So, Sobleski's enthusiasm isn't misplaced.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
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A Mike Tomlin-led Pittsburgh Steelers team has never posted a losing record. 2023 was no exception—the Steelers won 10 games and made the playoffs. But the Steelers also haven't won a playoff game since 2016, and there's a reason for that.
Of late, the quarterback play has been average—at best.
Mitch Trubisky was released on Monday, and Mason Rudolph is tentatively expected to depart in free agency. That leaves Kenny Pickett as the team's lone quarterback, although second-tier veterans like Ryan Tannehill have been mentioned as potential targets as competition for Pickett.
"There will be competition," Tomlin told reporters. "I'm appreciative of his efforts and where he is and excited to continue working with him. But certainly, he will be challenged from a competition perspective moving forward. I think competition is good. I think it's good for all of us. I think it brings out the best in all of us."
That idea doesn't exactly thrill Davenport.
"What the Steelers really need," he said, "is a 3-14 fiasco of a season that gets them a top-five pick. Because until Pittsburgh fixes the quarterback position, it is going to continue to be stuck on a hamster wheel of so-so that culminates in either just missing the postseason or getting tubthumped in the Wild Card Round. The Steelers don't have the cap space to make a play for a Kirk Cousins, so they settle on a guy like Tannehill as 'competition' for a player in Pickett they already know isn't the guy. Round and round and round they go—all the while making no real progress."
14. Cincinnati Bengals
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Given that the Cincinnati Bengals spent a significant chunk of the 2023 season without the services of quarterback Joe Burrow, winning nine games was something of an accomplishment. But while talking to reporters, star wideout Ja'Marr Chase didn't mince words—losing Burrow killed Cincinnati's season.
"I think everybody know that we played the 49ers when he was 100 percent healthy, that score was 31-17, so you know that discussion right there could set the market straight," Chase said.
Of course, that's water under the bridge now. And as Sobleski wrote, the Bengals enter the 2024 offseason facing some potentially massive decisions.
"The real Bengals showed up for about two games this past season, with impressive back-to-back wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills," he said. "Quarterback Joe Burrow cooked during that stretch. But the quarterback dealt with injuries for the majority of the season--either with a calf strain that severely limited his effectiveness early or the season-ending wrist injury Burrow endured in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. Clearly, the franchise should be hopeful it'll have a healthy top-notch Burrow pulling the offensive strings next offseason. However, his surrounding cast may look significantly altered since wide receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, offensive tackle Jonah Williams and tight ends Drew Sample and Irv Smith Jr. are pending free agents.
"Those previous names don't even include defensive tackle D.J. Reader and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who are also key contributors," Sobleski continued. "How Cincinnati proceeds this offseason will dictate whether it can return to Super Bowl contender status or fall further behind in the AFC North."
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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By most estimations, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers exceeded expectations in 2023. The Buccaneers won the NFC South and stunned the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round.
The biggest reason for that success? Quarterback Baker Mayfield had the best season of his professional career, setting career highs in passing yards (4,044) and touchdown passes (28). After playing on a one-year deal in 2023, Mayfield should receive considerable interest on the open market. But Mayfield sounds like a man who would just as soon stay put.
"I love it there," Mayfield told the Associated Press via the New York Post. "Obviously, you're gonna have to evaluate the options and make the best decision for us moving forward. But they allowed me to come in and be myself and embraced us, Emily and I, just the whole city. And so that's something to be truly grateful for. And we're definitely not going to forget that. But it's a great place."
Mayfield isn't the only decision facing general manager Jason Licht. Star wide receiver Mike Evans is a free agent. So are starting linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White. And safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
Even with upward of $37 million in cap space, keeping all those players in the fold isn't going to be easy. But if Licht can pull that off (or even retain most), Tampa should head into the 2024 season as the favorites to win what is arguably the NFL's weakest division.
12. Los Angeles Rams
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Expectations weren't especially high for the Los Angeles Rams entering 2023. After purging several high-priced veterans, the bill seemed to have come due for the team's Super Bowl run. But instead, thanks to solid play from some young defenders and a record-setting season from rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua, the Rams made the playoffs.
The Rams gave the Detroit Lions all they could handle in the postseason before coming up a point short, but veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford told reporters that doesn't take away from what the team accomplished last season.
"Nobody gave us a chance to even be sniffing where we are right now, and [we] gave a really good football team a run for their money," Stafford said. "Didn't get it done, but proud of the guys, proud of their effort from the coaching staff, players, everybody involved in it. It was a fun year, a hell of a year and something to be proud of."
There's work to be done in the offseason—the Rams aren't without holes and play in the same division as the San Francisco 49ers. But the salary-cap situation in Los Angeles is much better than a year ago, Stafford demonstrated that he can still play at a high level, Nacua was arguably the biggest steal of the 2023 draft, and in 2024 the Rams have something they haven't had in a long time.
For the first time since selecting quarterback Jared Goff first overall in 2016, Rams general manager Les Snead has a first-round pick.
11. Philadelphia Eagles
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For a good chunk of the 2023 season, the Philadelphia Eagles looked like one of the NFL's best teams. It seemed the defending NFC champions would be heading right back to the Super Bowl.
But down the stretch, things fell apart. The Eagles lost five of their last six regular-season games and were boatraced on the road in Tampa in the Divisional Round.
Offensive tackle Jordan Mailata admitted after the season that he expects big changes to be coming to Philadelphia in 2024.
"I think when the season ends the way it did, there has to be a finger pointed somewhere," Mailata said to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "That's just how the cards are played. I don't know what happened. Very rarely do they talk to us players about it. But when you see that kind of [losing] happening, somebody has to [go]. It's the nature of the business."
The changes have already started. Longtime center Jason Kelce could retire. Veteran defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is a free agent and unlikely to return. Edge-rusher Haason Reddick has requested a trade.
"This is a franchise that enters the offseason teetering on the brink," Davenport said. "To be clear, the Eagles still have the talent to be a legitimate Super Bowl threat. But last year's late-season collapse appears to have created cracks in the Philadelphia locker room, and the Eagles had the third-worst pass defense in the NFL last season. Maybe the Eagles will rally and regain their elite status this year. But it's equally plausible that Philly's best chance at winning a Super Bowl with Jalen Hurts under center has already come and gone."
10. Cleveland Browns
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The Cleveland Browns won 11 games in 2023—tied for their most since rejoining the NFL In 1999. As Sobleski wrote, that was a fairly remarkable achievement given that the Browns were the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs after starting five different quarterbacks in a season.
"On the surface, the Browns experienced a successful 2023 campaign. The team overcame numerous season-ending injuries to key contributors, including starting five different quarterbacks, and still made a playoff appearance," he said. "Kevin Stefanski became the NFL Coach of the Year. Joe Flacco surprised as the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Myles Garrett's dominance was rewarded with the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Finally, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz captured the NFL Assistant Coach of the Year. Everything appeared to be trending in the right direction.
"But the Browns replaced the majority of their offensive staff this offseason to maximize the organization's investment in quarterback Deshaun Watson," Sobleski continued. "Whether these moves prove to be the right decision can be questioned based on the basis for these changes."
Like it or not, the Browns are stuck with Watson for three more years. His fully guaranteed $230 million contract leaves Cleveland's salary-cap situation a mess—again. That cap situation makes retaining free agents or adding talent problematic. And Cleveland once again has no first-round pick.
The Browns are a good team—but one with very little margin for error.
9. Houston Texans
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There isn't a team in the NFL that exceeded expectations more in 2023 than the Houston Texans. Exactly no one expected the Texans to win the AFC South. Fewer still thought Houston would steamroll the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card Round.
Of course, it helps to have both the Offensive Rookie of the Year and the Defensive Rookie of the Year on the roster, and that's exactly what the Texans have in quarterback C.J. Stroud and edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr.
While appearing at a Super Bowl event, Anderson said that the Texans simply followed the lead of a young quarterback who acted like anything but.
"The numbers he's put up this year, the type of person he was—getting captain as a rookie, man—it's just unbelievable," Anderson said. "Like, those things aren't easy to do. And he led his team, he won us a lot of ballgames. He came in with a high standard for himself. He succeeded in that. He came in with a high standard for this team. And he got that team to play to that high standard."
The Texans aren't a franchise without issues to address in the offseason. But the team has a core of young talent to build around and a head coach in DeMeco Ryans many believe should have been named Coach of the Year.
Add it all together, and you have the makings of a bright future.
8. Green Bay Packers
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The 2024 season was a tale of two halves for quarterback Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers. The first was forgettable, with player and team struggling to find consistency. But the second was another story altogether.
Over the final eight games of the regular season, Love had the third-highest completion percentage (70.3) and second-highest passer rating (112.7) in the NFL. In two playoff games, he completed 67.3 percent of his passes and had a 108.6 rating.
Those numbers offered more than a little optimism for 2024, but Love's offseason throwing coach Steve Calhoun told Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette that the young signal-caller still has plenty to improve on—including his footwork.
"It is at the very top of the list," Calhoun said. "For the last 11 years I've been working with Jordan, it's always been about fundamentals and balance creates accuracy. … I haven't seen Jordan play this much since college, so I did not know those bad habits throwing off his back foot and falling away were going to come about. Now that we know that it's definitely something he can improve on, he understands it."
The good news in Green Bay is that the team doesn't have any star players set to hit free agency. The bad news is that the Pack also have very little cap space. If improvements are coming in 2024, it will likely be via the draft.
But Love appears to be the real deal. And that can make all the difference in the world to an NFL team.
7. Miami Dolphins
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For much of the 2023 season, the Miami Dolphins appeared to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The Dolphins led the league in total offense and led the AFC in scoring offense.
But the campaign ended on a disappointing note. Miami lost its last three games—including blowout losses to the Baltimore Ravens in the regular season and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round. That skid cost the team the AFC East.
However, the team doesn't appear to have any reservations about Tua Tagovailoa's long-term future at quarterback. With Tagovailoa headed into the final year of his rookie deal, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier made it clear he expects an extension to get done fairly quickly.
"We've had conversations," Grier told reporters. "Like we said, we wouldn't talk throughout the season in terms of contract stuff, but we've stayed in touch with his agent and had good conversations throughout the year. We never talk about money or anything, just good conversations about where he is and the relationship with [head coach] Mike [McDaniel] and the team here and everything he's done. So the goal is to have him here long-term playing at a high level. That's always the goal and we'll continue to communicate with him through the offseason here. Like we've always said in the past, you guys know me, we don't really talk in the media through all that stuff, so we'll just keep all those talks internal and with his reps."
This is when things get interesting for Grier and the Dolphins—because paying a quarterback north of $50 million a season won't make it easier to keep the likes of linebacker Jerome Baker, defensive lineman Christian Wilkins or center Connor Williams.
6. Dallas Cowboys
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The 2023 season was déjà vu all over again for the Dallas Cowboys. Once again, the Cowboys won 12 games. Dallas was the champions of the NFC East. And once again, Dallas was unceremoniously bounced from the playoffs—this time by the underdog Green Bay Packers at home.
Per ESPN's Todd Archer, another early exit left Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith a very unhappy camper.
"To be honest, I am a little surprised all because the way things have transpired over the last few years—removing Kellen [Moore] and taking over the controls of the offense and so forth," Smith said. "I am a little surprised. The way our team exited out of the playoffs, I am real surprised. Because to me, I look to my leaders and leaders look to players to be ready and be prepared for the situations in all situations. And unfortunately for us, I don't know if we were as prepared as we needed to be.
"The way we exited the playoffs this year was not a good look, put it that way, and was somewhat embarrassing," Smith added. "It lends you to believe that either we're not trained or coached properly in terms of game-type situations. ... It's not a good look."
There are coaching changes in Big D this year—Mike Zimmer replaced the departed Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator. Some believed those changes needed to go higher up the food chain.
Given the talent on this roster, it's not hard to see why—and unless the Cowboys make the deep playoff run that has eluded the team for three decades in 2024, Mike McCarthy will all but certainly be shown the door.
5. Buffalo Bills
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In each of the last three years, the Buffalo Bills have spent much of the season as Super Bowl contenders. And in each of the past three years, head coach Sean McDermott has been left talking about why things will be different the following year after the Bills were bounced in the Divisional Round.
This year was no different.
"We've got to continue to work at it," McDermott told reporters. "That's where it starts. We'll turn over every leaf this offseason and I'm fully confident in this football team [and] fully confident in our staff. We were within a whisker of tying that game and maybe even taking the lead there against the defending world champs."
For his part, Moton believes the Bills are capable of accomplishing their goal—if some changes are made.
"In each of the previous three seasons, the Bills have lost to elite AFC teams in the playoffs, twice to the Chiefs and once to the Bengals with a healthy Joe Burrow," he said. "This offseason, the Bills must figure out how they're going to get over the hump, and their plan should start with adding depth to the defense. Buffalo has surrendered an average of 35.7 points in its last three playoff losses.
"This year, Buffalo went into the postseason with key injuries on that side of the ball," he continued. "On top of that, edge-rusher Von Miller saw a sharp decline in his production in his age-34 term. He has also been accused of domestic violence. If the Bills reload on defense, they should be right back in the playoff mix, though offensive coordinator Joe Brady has to find ways to get Stefon Diggs more involved in the passing game. After Brady took over for Ken Dorsey following Week 10, Diggs racked up 50-plus yards in only three games for the remainder of the campaign. He's also unsure about his future in Buffalo."
4. Baltimore Ravens
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Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP and one of the most talented quarterbacks in the game.
Lamar Jackson is an overrated player who racks up regular-season stats and wins but can't do the job when it counts the most.
Depending on the camp, those are the two narratives surrounding Jackson after he was awarded Most Valuable Player honors a week after a lackluster performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
However, Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton told Fox News that the players in Baltimore's locker room have no doubt that Jackson can lead Baltimore to the Super Bowl.
"We get kind of numb to it seeing it every day, seeing the stuff he does, even in games. He'll make a crazy play, and we're just like 'Damn, that's Lamar,'" Hamilton said. "But, outside looking in, he's one of one. It's a blessing to play with him and be able to watch him close and personal."
That's the thing—as much as pundits and fans want to praise Jackson for every success and blast him for every failure, football is a team sport. And the roster around Jackson is as good as any in the AFC, if not all of the NFL.
The receiving weapons around Jackson are the best he's ever had. Baltimore's defense ranked sixth in the league in 2023. Yes, at some point Jackson will have to step up and win the big one.
But he absolutely has the tools around him to do that in 2024.
3. Detroit Lions
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Frankly, fans of the Detroit Lions probably still don't want to hear about bright futures and all that happy jazz. The sting of blowing a 17-point lead to the San Francisco 49ers is probably still too fresh—especially after the Niners lost the Super Bowl to a Chiefs team the Lions beat in the season opener.
But in Sobleski's opinion, these Lions are no flash in the pan.
"The Lions are building something special, and they've done it the right way by establishing certain fundamentals, specific philosophies and gradually improving each season to set a long-term path toward consistent competitiveness at a high level," he said. "Dan Campbell's squad was one half away from making the organization's first Super Bowl appearance before a few ill-timed miscues drastically changed the outcome. While disappointing, the Lions can be even better next fall than they were this past season, with a few key additions at areas of need. One potential Super Bowl run isn't enough. Campbell and Co. should be in the mix for multiple years."
Detroit's 27th-ranked pass defense has to get better. There are a few in-house free agents like safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson who should be prioritized. And sometimes staying on top of a division can be even harder than getting there.
But with over $46 million in cap space, the Lions have the cash to add veteran pieces. After some excellent drafts, the offense is stacked. Jared Goff has shown that he's a viable franchise quarterback. And the days of the Lions having to overpay to lure free agents to Motown are over.
The Lions are more than just a legitimate Super Bowl contender. It can be argued they are the favorites in the NFC.
2. San Francisco 49ers
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The San Francisco 49ers lost Super Bowl LVIII in soul-crushing fashion. And after the loss, edge-rusher Nick Bosa admitted to reporters that he didn't know what to say about the defeat.
"I was speechless," Bosa said. "I couldn't really look anybody in the eye, especially all my teammates. I could have done more. Everybody could have done more. And there's really not much to say at this point. It's going to hurt, and it's going to hit in waves, but that's life."
In the short term, those emotions are completely understandable. But while the present may be dark in San Francisco, the future is bright.
Yes, San Francisco's cap situation is a bit tenuous. The team has to decide whether to bring back edge-rusher Chase Young after trading for him in-season. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is entering the final year of his rookie contract. And after the 2024 season, Brock Purdy is probably going to want a slight raise on his $985,000 base salary. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw tore his Achilles in the Super Bowl, leaving his availability for the beginning of the 2024 campaign in question.
But as things stand entering the offseason, the 49ers have maybe the most balanced and talented roster in the entire NFL. There's a reason the Niners were the NFC champions and the conference's No. 1 seed.
The dust of disappointment will settle. And once it does, it will reveal a 49ers team that remains the greatest threat to dethrone the Chiefs in the league—Sunday's result notwithstanding.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
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The more things change, the more they stay the same. Here we go again. So on and so forth.
This year's Chiefs weren't the Kansas City squad we have become accustomed to. The offense wasn't as explosive. For the first time in his career, Patrick Mahomes was forced to play an AFC postseason game away from Arrowhead Stadium.
And none of that mattered even a little bit. The Chiefs may have been different—a team that relied more on the run game and the defense. But add in a little Mahomes magic and the undeniable superpowers of Taylor Swift, and for the third time in five seasons, the Chiefs are the champions of the National Football League after winning Super Bowl LVIII.
The championship also marked the fourth time in five years that the Chiefs were champions of the AFC. And if there was any doubt at all regarding Kansas City's status as the NFL's newest dynasty, Davenport wrote that it was settled Sunday night.
"No team in NFL history has ever won three straight Super Bowls," he said. "But there's no way with a straight face that anyone can say that the Chiefs aren't the favorites to at least win the AFC again in 2024. Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and defensive tackle Chris Jones are the only priority free agents the team has—and it won't be at all surprising if both return. Provided Travis Kelce doesn't retire, the offense will probably be better next year. And the Chiefs have the most talented quarterback the NFL has ever seen in Patrick Mahomes. That's right—I said it. There may be more accomplished quarterbacks. But there's never been a better one."
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