4 NFL Teams That Will Improve on Last Season's Performance the Most in 2024
The NFL landscape has significantly changed since the last meaningful games were played. While there are still nearly five months before the 2024 season kicks off, it isn't too early to start making predictions about the league's updated power structure.
Several teams stick out for their potential to be vastly improved in 2024. Whether they added marquee free agents, have several premium draft picks at their disposal, hired a new head coach or some combination of these factors and others, they're likely to fare far better this season than they did last season.
With that in mind, these five teams appear poised to show the largest year-over-year improvements in terms of not only record, but also general on-field performance.
Atlanta Falcons
1 of 4
2023 Record: 7-10
2024 Projected Record: 12-5
The Atlanta Falcons made a franchise- and league-altering move when they inked veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract at the onset of free agency. That gave them someone who's capable of unlocking the immense amount of skill-position talent Atlanta has assembled over the last few years.
Despite spending top-10 picks on Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson over the last three drafts, the Falcons haven't finished better than 7-9 since the 2017 season. After trading away Matt Ryan in 2022, Atlanta unsuccessfully attempted to replace its longtime signal-caller with the likes of Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.
With veteran journeymen and middle-round picks not working and no early first-round pick at their disposal, the Falcons swung for the fences by signing Cousins in free agency. Even though Cousins is nearing the end of his career and is coming off an Achilles injury that limited him to only eight games last year, that move should pay dividends.
The 35-year-old is expected to be back in time for the 2024 season-opener and could quickly round into Pro Bowl form—an honor Cousins has earned four times in his 12 NFL seasons and was trending toward again in 2023 before the injury.
After signing Cousins, Atlanta did reinforce its receiving corps by signing Darnell Mooney, and it brought in tight end Charlie Woerner to provide strong blocking.
The Falcons didn't need much else outside of a new quarterback this offseason, especially with all five starters from an offensive line that Pro Football Focus ranked No. 4 in the league and most key defensive contributors returning. Atlanta now has the luxury of taking the best player available when it is on the clock at No. 8 overall during the 2024 NFL draft.
As long as general manager Terry Fontenot hits on a decent number of Atlanta's eight draft picks and the new coaching staff helmed by head coach Raheem Morris pans out, the Falcons look like heavy favorites to win the NFC South and make some noise in the playoffs.
Carolina Panthers
2 of 4
2023 Record: 2-15
2024 Projected Record: 7-10
It would be tough for the Carolina Panthers not to improve upon their abysmal 2023 campaign.
The season began with great promise after Carolina traded up for the No. 1 overall pick and took quarterback Bryce Young, but it quickly went off the rails. The Panthers were never considered realistic playoff contenders due to the middling talent across the roster, but their league-worst offense and subpar scoring defense woefully underperformed.
Former head coach Frank Reich lasted only 11 games at the helm, and interim replacement Chris Tabor couldn't right the ship either, resulting in a league-worst 2-15 finish. The new regime helmed by head coach Dave Canales has its work cut out for it, but there is some hope for a relatively quick turnaround.
Carolina bolstered its roster with several veteran pickups this offseason. The Panthers signed Jadeveon Clowney to shore up the edge, and their trade for Diontae Johnson gives Young a far better No. 1 receiver than an aging Adam Thielen. They also reinforced their offensive trenches with a pair sturdy guards in Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis after Young took a league-leading 62 sacks last year, the second-most in NFL history for a rookie.
While Carolina did trade top edge-rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants, it did get a package headlined by the No. 39 overall pick this year. It wouldn't be a shock for Carolina to acquire more picks over the next few weeks either, with first-year general manager Dan Morgan recently stating that he plans to "build this thing through the draft" and hopes to capitalize on further opportunities to "get playmakers."
The Panthers notably lack their own first-round pick after dealing it to the Chicago Bears for Young, but they do have the Nos. 33 and 39 picks. These incoming prospects, as well as four others between Nos. 65 and 142, could turn into key contributors for this up-and-coming squad.
Carolina's success ultimately hinges on Young and his development into a franchise passer. He suffered through a rough rookie season, but the enhanced offensive line and upgraded receiving corps should help him take a leap in Year 2. If he starts living up to his potential in Canales' system, the Panthers should be one of the league's more improved teams in 2024.
Houston Texans
3 of 4
2023 Record: 10-7
2024 Projected Record: 13-4
The Houston Texans were already one of the NFL's most improved teams last season. They could follow up that impressive turnaround by taking yet another leap in 2024.
After going a league-worst 11-38-1 from 2020 through 2022, Houston not only posted a winning record (going 10-7), but also returned to the playoffs and won a game there for the first time in four years. The catalyst for this stunning change of fortune was C.J. Stroud, the brilliant signal-caller whom the Texans landed at No. 2 overall last year.
Stroud quickly showed he's capable of being a top-tier NFL quarterback by completing 63.9 percent of his throws for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He should build upon that in 2024 after Houston's front office executed a series of franchise-altering moves that took advantage of the club's immense amount of cap space.
The most notable of these was a blockbuster trade for star wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Houston now boasts one of the deepest receiving corps in the league with Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell. The Texans also re-signed tight end Dalton Schultz after he caught 59 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns during his first season with the Texans last year.
The Texans should have a stronger ground game, too, as they traded a seventh-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for veteran running back Joe Mixon. He's a clear upgrade over Devin Singletary and should help Houston field a more balanced offense this coming season.
The Texans also signed a number of impact free agents on defense, including edge-rushers Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and cornerback Jeff Okudah. Houston could jump from the middle of the pack on defense into the top five in both scoring and total defense following these signings.
According to NFL.com's Grant Gordon, Houston became the first team in league history to add players who previously had 10-plus sacks, 1,000-plus rushing yards and 100-plus receptions in one offseason. But as great as their moves were on the open market, the Texans may benefit most from their ability to keep the coaching staff intact.
DeMeco Ryans had a sterling first season at the helm and should only get better with more experience. Despite strong interest around the league for head coaching vacancies, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has returned for a second season in the same role.
That consistency will greatly benefit Stroud as he looks to build upon his dynamite rookie season. That growth, as well as nine picks in the 2024 draft, could catapult Houston to its first Super Bowl appearance in the near future.
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Washington Commanders
4 of 4
2023 Record: 4-13
2024 Projected Record: 8-9
The Washington Commanders may not have grabbed many headlines with their offseason moves, but they have quietly assembled a much better team than last year's group, starting from the top down.
This is the Commanders' first full offseason under their new ownership group, as the franchise's sale wasn't approved until late July last year. The Josh Harris-led group wasted no time rebuilding, beginning with firing head coach Ron Rivera and replacing him with Dan Quinn after Washington went 26-40-1 over the last four years.
The defensive-minded Quinn brought in Kliff Kingsbury as his offensive coordinator and has new general manager Adam Peters taking care of building this roster back up. The Commanders' free-agent pickups reflect the new regime, with signings like linebacker Frankie Luvu and running back Austin Ekeler likely to play critical roles in this system.
One of Washington's glaring weak points in 2023 was on the edge following the losses of Montez Sweat and Chase Young. The defense had only 39 sacks last year, but that number should spike thanks to the additions of Clelin Ferrell, Dante Fowler Jr. and Dorance Armstrong. The latter two already have experience in Quinn's defense, putting up good seasons under the coach during their time together with the Dallas Cowboys.
It's far from guaranteed that any rookie quarterback will pan out, let alone thrive early in their careers, but there is a realistic chance that whomever Washington takes with the No. 2 overall pick to fill the void under center gets off to a hot start.
Kingsbury notably helped Kyler Murray become the Offensive Rookie of the Year after the Arizona Cardinals selected him No. 1 overall in 2019. It would hardly be a shock if someone like LSU's Jayden Daniels—whom the B/R Scouting Department has heading to the nation's capital at No. 2 overall in its latest mock draft—has similar success right out of the gate.
Washington's rookie signal-caller will have plenty of support around him. The ground game has been reinforced with Ekeler, who is likely to assume a third-down and pass-catching role that augments Brian Robinson Jr.'s strong rushing abilities. Veteran tight end Zach Ertz will be an ideal safety valve to complement the Commanders' incumbent wideouts in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.
While the offensive line still needs some help—left tackle has lacked a stalwart anchor since the organization dealt away Trent Williams in 2020—the Commanders have six top-100 picks in the 2024 draft. If Peters hits on a majority of those and shores up the most glaring holes remaining on the roster, this team will not only be vastly improved in 2024, but also a potential playoff contender.
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