Each NFL Division's Biggest 2024 Offseason Winner
The offseason is a time for optimism across the NFL. Free agency, trades and the draft give all 32 teams a chance to shore up their weaknesses and bolster their rosters.
With the 2024 NFL draft now over, teams are largely done with their big offseason moves. We'll still see some free-agent signings trickle in, but a major shakeup seems unlikely for any team at this juncture.
That makes this a good time to declare an offseason winner of each division.
Taking into account free-agent signings, trades, draft picks and coaching hires, we've highlighted which teams have improved the most before pads start to pop at minicamps.
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals
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The San Francisco 49ers put their front seven through a blender this offseason, losing Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw and Chase Young, among others. New additions such as Maliek Collins and Leonard Floyd will be tasked with a ton of snaps this fall, but the Niners otherwise stayed relatively under the radar. However, they did have a nice draft.
The Los Angeles Rams got worse in the wake of Aaron Donald's retirement, although they bolstered their pass rush in the draft with Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. The Rams also hired a new defensive coordinator (Chris Shula) after Raheem Morris left to become the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
The Seattle Seahawks have a new head coach in Mike Macdonald, but they have questions under center. After winning Comeback Player of the Year in 2022, Geno Smith regressed last season, and the Seahawks swung a trade with the Washington Commanders for Sam Howell this offseason. He could quickly challenge for snaps.
Although the Arizona Cardinals lost No. 1 wide receiver Marquise Brown in free agency and traded fellow wideout Rondale Moore to the Falcons, they bolstered their pass-catching corps in the draft by adding B/R's top-ranked prospect in Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals also landed potential high-impact rookies in defensive lineman Darius Robinson, cornerback Max Melton, tight end Tip Reiman and left guard Isaiah Adams.
In free agency, the Cardinals also added offensive tackle Jonah Williams to pair with Paris Johnson Jr. Defensive tackle Bilal Nichols and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting could provide plenty of value on defense.
The Cardinals added impact playmakers on both sides of the ball this offseason, which makes them the NFC West's biggest winner.
NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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The new-look Carolina Panthers prioritized bolstering the offensive line in front of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, adding guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis in free agency. They also acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but their draft included a few head-scratchers.
While first-round pick Xavier Legette gives Young another high-upside target, Carolina's willingness to trade up for running back Jonathon Brooks (who tore his ACL in November) raised a few eyebrows. Prioritizing linebacker Trevin Wallace over Payton Wilson was an eye-opener as well, despite Wilson's longevity concerns.
Despite facing salary-cap restrictions, the New Orleans Saints added edge-rusher Chase Young in free agency. During they draft, they bolstered their offensive line with first-round pick Taliese Fuaga, and they selected Derek Carr's potential successor in Spencer Rattler. The Saints didn't get worse this offseason, but they didn't take the steps to move up the ladder in the division.
The Atlanta Falcons filled their biggest need by signing quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, and they look primed to compete for the NFC South title under new head coach Raheem Morris. However, they decided to select fellow quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall rather than adding immediate help at cornerback and edge-rusher, which they may grow to regret.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't make a huge splash in terms of new additions, but they re-signed both quarterback Baker Mayfield and star wide receiver Mike Evans after winning the division last year. They also franchise-tagged safety Antoine Winfield Jr., re-signed linebacker Lavonte Davis and brought safety Jordan Whitehead back after his two-year stint with the New York Jets.
In the draft, the Bucs added the most versatile lineman in the class in Graham Barton. They also selected running back Bucky Irving and wide receiver Jalen McMillan in later rounds to expand the playbook under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
NFC North: Chicago Bears
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The Green Bay Packers lost running back Aaron Jones in free agency and released offensive tackle David Bakhtiari, but they replaced them with running back Josh Jacobs and first-round pick Jordan Morgan. Third-round tailback Marshawn Lloyd should also push for snaps at some point this fall. Meanwhile, the additions of linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and safety Javon Bullard give defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley two new versatile pieces with excellent instincts and ball skills.
The Detroit Lions lost safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency, but they bolstered their secondary by trading for Carlton Davis and drafting Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. They also signed edge-rusher Marcus Davenport and cornerback Amik Robertson, both of whom could quickly outplay their new contracts.
The Minnesota Vikings entered the offseason in transition. After losing Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, they signed Sam Darnold as a stopgap and traded up one spot for Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Whomever stars under center will have a loaded skill-position cast that includes wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, tight end T.J. Hockenson and former Packers running back Aaron Jones.
The Chicago Bears' offseason takes the cake in the NFC North. Not only did they land USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, but they gave him a pair of new targets by trading for Keenan Allen and selecting Rome Odunze at No. 9 overall. Those two paired with DJ Moore gives Chicago arguably the best receiving corps in the NFL.
It remains to be seen if the Bears' offseason additions will help them clinch their first playoff berth since 2020. But last year's Houston Texans showed how quickly a team can turn its fortunes around with a star rookie under center.
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NFC East: Washington Commanders
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The New York Giants bypassed a quarterback at No. 6 overall and opted for LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers instead. While he's a sensational talent, he isn't likely to reach his ceiling with either Daniel Jones or Drew Lock throwing to him. The Giants did trade for star edge-rusher Brian Burns to pair with Kayvon Thibodeaux, and they drafted safety Tyler Nubin after Xavier McKinney left for the Green Bay Packers in free agency.
The Philadelphia Eagles shored up their underperforming secondary during the draft with their selections of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. They also added edge-rusher Bryce Huff and star running back Saquon Barkley in free agency, although they dealt edge-rusher Haason Reddick to the New York Jets. While the Eagles typically don't spend a ton of money on running backs, Barkley will give the Eagles' offense a new wrinkle that defenses have yet to encounter in the Jalen Hurts era.
The Dallas Cowboys drafted their left tackle of the future in Tyler Guyton and added guard Cooper Beebe in the third round. They also brought back running back Ezekiel Elliott, who should be the bellcow for head coach Mike McCarthy. However, the losses of offensive tackle Tyron Smith, running back Tony Pollard, center Tyler Biadasz, cornerback Stephon Gilmore, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (retirement), edge-rusher Dorance Armstrong and safety Jayron Kearse in free agency left major holes on both side of the ball.
Under new ownership and general manager Adam Peters, the Washington Commanders look to be on the right track. They have a new franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels, and added impact veterans such as linebacker Bobby Wagner and running back Austin Ekeler in free agency. Among other notable moves, Day 2 defensive lineman Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton, cornerback Mike Sainristil, tight end Ben Sinnott and offensive lineman Brandon Coleman will each have a chance to earn meaningful snaps this year.
With only one playoff appearance since 2016, the Commanders will enter the fall with a roster that could quickly surprise in an NFC East that isn't as top-heavy as perceived.
AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs
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The AFC West as a whole remained busy throughout the offseason, which made it tricky to identify a clear winner.
The Las Vegas Raiders have entered a new era under general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce. While rumors swirled about a potential trade up to draft a quarterback, the Raiders look set to enter the fall with Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew as the tandem under center—a plan that could quickly backfire considering the talent in the division. In free agency, they made Christian Wilkins the NFL's fifth-highest paid defensive lineman, and they added Georgia tight end Brock Bowers in the first round of the draft.
The Los Angeles Chargers enter a new era as well, with Jim Harbaugh now at the helm. Gone are the likes of Keenan Allen (Bears), Austin Ekeler (Commanders) and Mike Williams (Jets), yet the Chargers looked primed to compete on the shoulders of Justin Herbert.
New general manager Joe Hortiz did an excellent job in the draft, kicking off his haul by taking Notre Dame standout Joe Alt to complement Rashawn Slater. In the later rounds, the selections of wideout Brenden Rice, corner Cam Hart and former Michigan linebacker Junior Colson round out one of the better classes in football.
The Denver Broncos signed eight outside free agents to patch holes, but the losses of Lloyd Cushenberry III (Titans) and Josey Jewell (Panthers) could sting for a while. After waiving Russell Wilson, they bypassed adding a big-name quarterback in free agency and used the No. 12 overall pick on Bo Nix. The Broncos might have helped expedite his development by selecting former college teammate Troy Franklin in the first round.
In the two-time reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, the rich got even richer this offseason. They convinced the Buffalo Bills to let them trade up for speedy wideout Xavier Worthy, whose ability to transition from track spikes to football cleats will further expand the Chiefs playbook.
The Chiefs also added a versatile secondary piece in Jaden Hicks on Day 3 and an uber-athletic offensive tackle in Kingsley Suamataia to headline their class. Undrafted-free-agent linebacker Curtis Jacobs could also challenge for a roster spot following the departure of Willie Gay.
AFC South: Houston Texans
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The Houston Texans are going to be a problem for a long, long time in the AFC. But first, let's scan the division in what was a busy offseason in the AFC South.
The Tennessee Titans lost star running back Derrick Henry in free agency to the Baltimore Ravens, but they signed Tony Pollard and a slew of other pricey additions, including wide receiveer Calvin Ridley. While they prioritized building around second-year quarterback Will Levis in free agency, the additions of defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat, linebacker Cedric Gray and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr in the draft will provide fresh legs to a defense that needed more playmakers.
The Jacksonville Jaguars enter a crucial campaign under head coach Doug Pederson after a disappointing 9-8 season last fall. They replaced Ridley at wideout with Gabriel Davis, and they pried Arik Armstead away from the San Francisco 49ers to give themselves a boost in the trenches.
In the draft, the Jags bolstered Trevor Lawrence's supporting cast by taking LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. on Day 1. Baalke also added one of the more undervalued corners in the class in Jarrian Jones, while taking two more LSU Tigers in Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson to complement Armstead up front.
The Indianapolis Colts opted to re-sign 10 of their 13 own unrestricted free agents this spring. They also had a nice draft, selecting edge-rushger Laiatu Latu, offensive linemen Matt Goncalves and Tanor Bortolini and Adonai Mitchell to life easier on quarterback Anthony Richardson. The health of their second-year quarterback will be the primary focus this summer, but they sit in a good spot to compete in what may be one of the tighter division races all year long.
Then there's DeMeco Ryans' Houston Texans, a team that blew expectations out of the water in 2023. Houston enters the summer as lofty of a ceiling as any team in the AFC.
Danielle Hunter was the Texans' prized free-agent addition, and he should quickly make an impact. They also traded for Stefon Diggs, who could help form one of the league's top wideout tandems alongside Nico Collins and Tank Dell. The Texans added linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair to solidify the middle of the defense, which was an underrated signing considering the youth of Houston's linebacking core.
In the draft, the Texans added a starting right tackle in Notre Dame's Blake Fisher and drafted a complement to tight end Dalton Schultz in Cade Stover. Houston also took cornerback Kamari Lassiter, which is a nearly seamless player-to-scheme fit.
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Baltimore Ravens signed star running back Derrick Henry, but they seemingly lost a third of their roster in free agency. That includes offensive linemen Morgan Moses, Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson as well as running back Gus Edwards, linebacker Patrick Queen, cornerback Ronald Darby, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and safety Geno Stone. Bringing back defensive tackle Justin Madubuike mitigates the sting of some of those losses suffered.
The Cleveland Browns traded for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, which should help take eyes off of Amari Cooper. However, questions remain about the future under center. In free agency, the Browns added Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley as both backups and competition for Deshaun Watson. Otherwise, Cleveland had a relatively quiet spring.
The futures of Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson remain unclear, but the Cincinnati Bengals have the firepower to sit atop the AFC for the time being. They added veterans Sheldon Rankins and Geno Stone to boost the defense, while they prioritized protecting Joe Burrow in the draft by taking offensive tackle Amarius Mims on Day 1. The Bengals also added wide receiver Jermaine Burton with a third-round pick, perhaps in part in case things go further south with Higgins.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' ability to pry Patrick Queen away from Baltimore was one thing, but their draft haul was flat-out sensational. They added arguably the top tackle/guard prospect in the class in Troy Fautanu and the physically imposing Zach Frazier at center. Pittsburgh also landed uber-competitive wideout Roman Wilson and scooped up Bednarik Award-winning linebacker Payton Wilson late on Day 2. The Steelers' haul was a masterclass in evaluation and balancing team needs/best player available.
The Steelers still have questions to answer under center with the duo of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, but competition never hurts. Expectations of the playoffs should bring the best out of whichever signal-caller takes the majority of snaps in 2024.
AFC East: New York Jets
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The AFC East looks as up in the air as any division.
The New England Patriots have a new potential franchise quarterback in No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye, although it's unclear if he'll start right away or sit behind free-agent signee Jacoby Brissett. The Patriots brought back Mike Onwenu to bolster the front five, but they otherwise stayed relatively quiet in free agency. Beyond taking Maye, New England added more playmakers at wideout in Javon Baker and Ja'Lynn Polk, both of whom should earn plenty of playing time this fall.
Cap casualties ripped through the Miami Dolphins, causing them to part ways with cornerback Xavien Howard, edge-rusher Andrew Van Ginkel, linebacker Jerome Baker and offensive lineman Robert Hunt. They also lost Christian Wilkins to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. They did sign linebackerJordyn Brooks, edge-rusher Shaq Barrett, cornerback Kendall Fuller and safety Jordan Poyer, but expectations should be tampered with so many new moving pieces on defense.
The Dolphins added more speed in the draft with running back Jaylen Wright, an underrated playmaker in wide receiver Malik Washington and a potential double-digit sacks threat in Chop Robinson, should the Penn State product continue to improve his hand placement and fundamental strength.
Although the Buffalo Bills remain a Super Bowl contender, they're heading into a bit of a transition period. Gone is a large part of the core on defense, as are wideouts Stefon Diggs (Texans) and Gabriel Davis (Jaguars).
The Bills signed Curtis Samuel to be their de facto offensive chess piece, and they also drafted wide receiver Keon Coleman in the second round, who should rapidly evolve into Josh Allen's top target on the outside. They added beef within the trenches with offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran and defensive lineman DeWayne Carter, along with a hybrid defensive secondary piece in Cole Bishop to mask the losses of Poyer and Micah Hyde in free agency.
The New York Jets were also busy, but that isn't what earns them the spot here. It's the roles that each player could fill in 2024, specifically linemen Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. Both are projected to be one-year stopgaps at their respective positions and key pieces along a rebuilt Jets front five. Taking offensive tackle Olu Fashanu in the top 10 might not provide Aaron Rodgers with immediate help, but the opportunity for the uber-athletic tackle to learn behind a legend like Smith is a rare opportunity for young tackles.
The Jets didn't break the bank on either Smith or Moses, nor did he potentially mortgage the future by taking a swing on veteran wide receiver Mike Williams, who should complement Garrett Wilson well. They also added a dynamic yards-after-the-catch threat in Malachi Corley on Day 2 and boosted their depth at quarterback by taking Jordan Travis in the fifth round.
Questions could be raised about them continuing to invest valuable resources in running backs—they drafted both Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis this year after selecting Israel Abanikanda in the fifth round last spring and Breece Hall in the second round the year prior. Then again, competition never hurts, especially at running back.
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