The NFL does not hand out a trophy for winning the offseason, but the top teams routinely dominate the talent acquisition process in the spring. Astute team builders will utilize free agency, the NFL Draft, and the trade market to upgrade the roster’s personnel and put the team in a position to compete at a championship level.
Although a flurry of offseason moves does not guarantee a playoff spot, the teams with the best rosters are typically the last ones in the postseason tournament. With that draft in the books and mini-camps on the horizon, I thought this was the perfect time to review all of the offseason to see which teams have flipped their roster with a series of moves that should put them in the conversation as a playoff contender. Here are five teams to watch:
Chicago Bears
There has never been a No. 1 overall pick step into a better situation than Caleb Williams. Bears general manager Ryan Poles reshaped the roster to ensure the USC standout is protected and has enough firepower to work with on the perimeter. The trade for Keenan Allen puts a pair of veteran pass catchers in the lineup with the capacity to win against one-on-one or double coverage. Throw in Rome Odunze, and the Bears’ three-receiver package features enough size and speed to create problems for opponents lacking quality depth in the secondary.
D’Andre Swift is a dynamic runner-receiver out of the backfield with the speed, quickness, and burst to take it the distance on an off-tackle run or flare pass. As a big-play threat with home run speed, the Bears’ RB1 will add some balance to an offense that could skew heavily to the passing game based on matchups.
The Bears made a few strategic moves to the O-Line to fortify the depth at the point of attack. Matt Pryor gives the team an experienced OG3, while Kiran Amegadjie might compete with Braxton Jones for the right tackle spot.
Though the Bears did not add a marquee pass rusher during free agency, the team might have found a hidden gem in Austin Booker. The fifth-rounder perfectly fits a “see ball, get ball” scheme that enables edge defenders to hunt with reckless abandon. As an unpolished defender with intriguing tools, Booker’s rapid development could play a key role in the defense’s success in 2024.
Bears, Eagles, Cardinals are winners of the 2024 NFL Draft
Philadelphia Eagles
After a disappointing 2023 campaign, general manager Howie Roseman has flipped the roster to ensure the Eagles return to their lofty perch in the NFC. The team switched out a pair of coordinators to spruce up the offense and defense while adding a group of dynamic playmakers to regain the explosiveness and swagger that separated the Eagles from the rest of the pack.
Offensively, the addition of Saquon Barkley to an offense directed by new play-caller Kellen Moore should add more pop to an offense that features a collection of “score from anywhere” playmakers on the perimeter. The 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro Bowl selectee is a rare find as a hard-nosed runner with a combination of wiggle and power that keeps defenders guessing in the hole. With Barkley teaming with Jalen Hurts to create a scary read-option combination, the Eagles’ vaunted rushing attack should pummel opponents while also setting the table for more “explosives” to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith on play-action passes.
Vic Fangio’s arrival as a defensive savant has coincided with a flurry of personnel moves that should put the Eagles back into play as a title contender. The addition of Bryce Huff as a disruptive pass rusher will enable the grizzled play-caller to attack with a mix of simulated pressures (four-man rush) and traditional blitzes (five or more pass rushers) with Devin White’s attack from the second level to disrupt the opponent’s offensive flow. If Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean can quickly acclimate to the pro game with C.J. Gardner-Johnson leading the way. In that case, the Eagles’ defensive backfield has flipped from a weakness to a strength with a group of athletic defenders with “alpha dawg” mentalities joining the squad.
Can the Eagles bounce back from their 2024 letdown?
Houston Texans
The allure of playing with a top-5 quarterback has blue-chip players flocking to “H-town.” C.J. Stroud’s emergence as an elite quarterback prompted Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs to make their way to Houston via trade. Adding a couple of Pro Bowl playmakers should add some spice to an offense that took the league by surprise in 2023. With a pair of veteran playmakers enhancing a young, dynamic core led by Nico Collins and Tank Dell, the Texans offense has lit up the scoreboard potential with Stroud at the helm.
The Texans’ ultra-explosive offense is supported by a disruptive defense that has added firepower at key positions. Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry perfectly complement Wil Anderson on the edge. The veteran’s experience, savvy and production will alleviate some of the pressure on the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year to close out games as a sack artist. With Azeez Al-Shaair fortifying the second level as a sturdy run-down defender, the Texans defense has the potential to snuff out opposing offenses with or without utilizing blitz pressure.
If draftees Kamari Lassiter and Calen Bullocks can crack the rotation as sub-package contributors, the Texans’ mix of young and old could create problems for opponents facing the emerging AFC South heavyweight.
Minnesota Vikings
After closing the book on the Kirk Cousins era, the Vikings are intent on building a championship-caliber team with a balanced roster that features blue-chip players all over the field. The departure of the four-time Pro Bowler led the team to “double up” at the position, with Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy vying for the QB1 role.
In a perfect world, the veteran would have the offense humming while the rookie sits and learns on the sideline. Darnold is talented enough to light up the scoreboard with an offense that features a pair of blue-chip wideouts (Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison), a dynamic tight end (T.J. Hockensen), and an electric runner (Aaron Jones) with something to prove. If not, the Vikings could hand the ball to a young quarterback with a winning pedigree (27-1 as a collegiate starter) and championship-caliber intangibles (intelligence, toughness, and grit) crafted from his experience leading a national championship squad at Michigan.
Brian Flores’ defense should be greatly improved after adding three pass rushers (Jonathan Grennard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner) with complementary styles that will give opponents fits. As the defensive mastermind blends his “Blitz-Zero” tactics with some eight-man drops, the Vikings’ new disruptors, including Blake Cashman, could overwhelm opponents as the stars of an ultra-aggressive game plan.
Grading the Bears and Vikings’ 2024 NFL Draft picks
Washington Commanders
It does not take long to notice the Commanders’ emphasis on culture through their off-season acquisitions. Head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters prioritized locker room fit based on their previous relationships with a handful of free agent signees and a collection of former team captains added via the draft.
The emphasis on impeccable football character (work ethic, leadership skills, selflessness, and dedication/commitment) is part of a plan to help the Commanders reverse their fortunes as perennial underachievers. Though the on-field production is critical, the infusion of veterans with winning experience (Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz, and Austin Eckler) mixed with intriguing young playmakers (Dorrance Armstrong and Frankie Luvu) will give the Commanders a chance to make surge up the charts with their blue-chip holdovers (Terry McLaurin, Jonathan Allen and DaRon Payne) ready to shed the “losers” label that has been affixed to the franchise for years.
With Jayden Daniels ushering in an impressive group of rookies with Day 1 starting potential (Jer’Zhaun Newton and Mikey Sainristril), the team from the nation’s capitol could make a surprising push as a playoff contender sparked by a group of experienced playmakers with winning pedigrees.
Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He also breaks down the game for NFL Network and as a cohost of the “Moving the Sticks” podcast. Follow him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
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2024-05-09 21:46:32
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