What do the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles have in common? They’re star-studded NFL teams that don’t have a fatal weakness.
They’ve assembled near-flawless rosters. It’s now about just executing in the postseason.
So, how can these 10 playoff-contending NFL teams jump from playoff hopefuls to Super Bowl contenders in 2024? All they gotta do is add that one final piece to the puzzle, and then it’ll come together.
Pittsburgh Steelers: A Sidekick For George Pickens
You can question the Steelers’ quarterback room all you want. But this team hasn’t had an elite quarterback play since 2018, Ben Roethlisberger, yet they’ve endured four straight winning seasons and three playoff appearances since the new decade.
This team went to the playoffs and won 10 games with Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitch Trubisky…who combined for 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. So yes, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are both capable starting QB options for Mike Tomlin. We are NOT worried about the QB room in Steel City.
And we sure aren’t worried about a consistent top-10 defense led by TJ Watt, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Joey Porter Jr., and newcomer Patrick Queen.
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The offense is mostly set with George Pickens, Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, AND Pat Freiermuth. But with Diontae Johnson getting traded to the Carolina Panthers, the Steelers have a giant void at receiver.
Simply put, this NFL team must find another explosive play-making wideout to complement Pickens. Johnson’s presence opened up more room and space for the Georgia product, so it’s imperative that Pickens has extra support in the passing game.
If Pittsburgh can just find one more 1,000-yard wideout to help Pickens, this team will be more than ready to go from playoff contender to Super Bowl contender. Wilson and/or Fields would get the offense rolling with a well-rounded offensive nucleus, with a top-tier defense backing them up.
Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love’s Blindside Protector
The Packers unexpectedly returned to the postseason in year one of the Jordan Love era. They crushed the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round and just barely fell to the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.
The offense is set up beautifully with Love, Josh Jacobs, AJ Dillon, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed headlining a scary-talented group. And that defense has enough game-wreckers — namely Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, and Preston Smith — to keep the team afloat.
If there’s one weak link keeping the Packers away from a Super Bowl, it’s the left tackle position.
David Bakhtiari was a rock as Aaron Rodgers’ blindside protector in Green Bay for almost a decade. Unfortunately, a rash of injuries kept sidelining Bakhtiari, prompting the Cheeseheads to release the longtime fan favorite in a cap-saving move.
Fortunately, the 2024 NFL Draft is loaded with elite offensive tackle prospects for each team. Taliese Fuaga, Amarius Mims, Troy Fautanu, JC Latham, and Graham Barton are among the guys who could be available for the Packers in round one.
Few teams draft and quickly develop their linemen as well as the Packers. Finding Love’s new blindside protector is the last missing piece of a championship puzzle in Titletown. Find that guy and Green Bay will be in the running for another Lombardi Trophy. Aaron Rodgers who?!
Las Vegas Raiders: A Quarterback
Pathetic as it is, 2023 marked the first year the Raiders finished with a top-10 scoring defense since 2002. Shout out to Antonio Pierce, who rightfully secured the full-time head coaching job after replacing Josh McDaniels mid-season.
The defense was the Raiders’ greatest weakness during the Derek Carr era. Fittingly enough, their defense finally becomes elite once Carr leaves. Of course.
The free-agent signing of Christian Wilkins makes this already-stout defense even more dangerous. Pairing Wilkins with superstar Maxx Crosby should terrify the onslaught of elite quarterbacks in the AFC.
Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Michael Mayer, and Zamir White lead a solid group of offensive weapons. Now…imagine if the Raiders had a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback to complete the offseason makeover.
Aidan O’Connell still has plenty of room to grow, and Gardner Minshew is a fine short-term bridge option. Neither of them will lead Vegas to a Super Bowl appearance over AFC heavyweights like Kansas City, Baltimore, Cincinnati or Buffalo.
The 2024 NFL Draft gives this team its best chance at securing a quarterback who can move the needle…unless GM Tom Telesco has another blockbuster trade up his sleeve.
Most of the pieces are there already, and they finally have a competent head coach for the first time decades. The bottom line is if the Raiders can find a top-15-level quarterback between now and Week 1, they’ll be ready to take that jump to title contention in 2024.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Shutdown Corner
The Jaguars were supposed to become a Super Bowl contender following an AFC South division title and an Elite Eight appearance in 2022. But injuries to key stars and unexpected regression on both sides of the ball led to a disappointing 9-and-8 finish…and no playoff appearance.
We have no problem with the Trevor Lawrence-Christian Kirk-Evan Engram-Travis Etienne led offense. And the stout o-ffensive line got even better with the free agent signing of Mitch Morse.
On defense, Josh Allen, Travon Walker and newcomer Arik Armstead headline a front seven. Now, just imagine if this group had a secondary that could hold down the fort.
Jacksonville’s No. 26-ranked pass defense can be cited as a key reason for their late-season collapse. Tyson Campbell went from rising star in 2022 to a popular target for opposing QBs in 2023.. The departures of Darious Williams and Rayshawn Jenkins don’t make matters much better, either.
So add it all up, and the Jagaurs’ one pressing need is obvious: A pure shutdown cornerback.
The good news is that GM Trent Baalke has a deep set of dazzling cornerback prospects to choose from with the No. 17 pick.
Terrion Arnold and Quinyon Mitchell headline this year’s class of corners, but Nate Wiggins, Cooper DeJean and Kool-Aid McKinsty are other intriguing options to consider if the first two guys aren’t available.
You just can’t compete for a title if your pass defense can’t stop a nosebleed. This NFL team don’t have that one pure lockdown corner that can stop all those dynamic wide receivers in the AFC South — hello Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins and Michael Pittman Jr.!
Get your next Jalen Ramsey — or someone close enough to it — and these Jagaurs should make the jump in 2024 they were supposed to make last season.
New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave’s Running Mate
This team always seems to be one piece away. Derek Carr isn’t an elite QB, but he provided enough stability behind the center to keep the team in playoff contention last year.
So did the Cameron Jordan and Marshon Lattimore-led defense that finished top 10 in scoring for the fourth straight year. So did rising star wideout Chris Olave and do-it-all linebacker Alvin Kamara.
Now…if only the Saints could just find that one last-star pass-catcher to help Olave. If Carr had another reliable option to open up the offense, this Saints offense could find consistency after being up-and-down throughout all of 2023.
Consider this: New Orleans hasn’t had two 1,000-yard receivers in a season since 2016. Even Drew Brees was overly too reliant on Michael Thomas in his final years, and the Saints couldn’t find the ideal running mate for MT during Brees’ final years.
Carr has two stars in Olave and Kamara to lead the way. But he needs another capable 1,000-yard receiver to elevate this offense — and GM Mickey Loomis can do so via the draft or the trade market.
The Saints play in a wide-open NFC South division. Get yourself that last Pro Bowl-caliber offensive weapon, and just maybe, they’ll join the NFC’s short list of Super Bowl contenders in 2024.
Indianapolis Colts: A Stud Lockdown Corner
If Anthony Richardson stays healthy, then the Colts have their franchise quarterback. If they could win nine games a year ago with backup QB Gardner Minshew, there’s no telling how much this offense could improve under Richardson.
GM Chris Ballard has assembled a deep roster that has most of the pieces in place now: A hopeful franchise QB. An elite running back in Jonathan Taylor, a true No. 1 receiver in Michael Pittman Jr., a No. 2 in Josh Downs and a top-10 offensive line.
The front seven is an elite group with DeForest Buckner, Kwity Pate, Samson Ebukam and Grover Stewart leading the way. But this NFL team still lack a true shutdown corner that they haven’t had since the late Vontae Davis, and this is their chance to address it.
Like the Jaguars, the Colts can snag a top corner prospect with their first-round pick, which falls at No. 15 overall. Both these AFC South clubs have prolific pass-rushes but lack the star power in the secondary to hold up against bonafide Super Bowl contenders.
Indy and Jacksonville have the same strengths and the exact same missing piece of a potential championship puzzle. Like Jacksonville, Indy can rise to Super Bowl contention in 2024 if they just find that one true stud shutdown corner.
Atlanta Falcons: An Elite Pass Rusher
The signing of Kirk Cousins completes the puzzle of the Atlanta offense. He’ll do wonders working with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, and a top-five offensive line.
Atlanta’s pass defense also looks steady with AJ Terrell and Jessie Bates patrolling the secondary. But the pass rush remains a weakness, as evidenced by the fact that this team hasn’t had a player hit double-digit sacks in a season since Vic Beasley way-back-when in 2016.
Grady Jarrett has been a one-man wrecking crew in Atlanta for a while, but the team has yet to find a difference-making sidekick to help them. It’s long overdue for the Falcons to address this.
Dallas Turner going to Atlanta at No. 8 just makes too much sense. Or might GM Terry Fontenot pull off a blockbuster trade of some sort…like Joey Bosa or Khalil Mack? Hmm…
The Falcons just can’t expect to emerge as a true Super Bowl contender if Jarrett is the only one harassing the quarterback. They’re all set offensively and have a rock-solid secondary, so Atlanta needs just one more game-wrecking pass-rusher to re-emerge as a Super Bowl contender.
Los Angeles Rams: An Adequate Aaron Donald Replacement
Heading into the offseason, the Rams’ main issue was the secondary. But they took care of that by signing Darious Williams, Kamren Curl and former Buffalo Bills All-Pro corner Tre’Davious White.
Getting those three was nice and all, but Aaron Donald’s abrupt retirement suddenly left a gaping hole in the middle of the defensive line. You don’t replace Donald unless you go back in time and bring an in-his-prime Lawrence Taylor or Reggie White to the present, so the Rams must look at other options.
Kobie Turner and Byron Young had excellent rookie seasons and propelled the Rams back to the playoffs. Now, the Rams need one more explosive pass-rusher to fill the void left by Donald.
Easier said than done, but GM Les Snead has a knack for finding super gems in the later rounds — see Turner, Young, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua.
The Rams revamped their secondary and have a prolific offense led by Kupp, Nacua, Kyren Williams and Matthew Stafford. If this NFL team can find someone who’s like half-as-good as what Donald was, they’ll return to the status of Super Bowl contender. Bank on it.
Miami Dolphins: A Star Edge Rusher
It’s no coincidence that the Dolphins’ defense unraveled late in the year when they lost Jaelan Phillips to a torn Achilles.
The Dolphins’ pass-rushing depth was greatly exposed after Phillips went down. And then they lost superstar defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in free agency after curiously not placing the franchise tag on him. Oh, and they moved on from both Jerome Baker and Emmanuel Ogbah.
Miami has arguably the league’s best offense when they’re at full strength. A full year of Jalen Ramsey should help the secondary improve, too. But the Dolphins need a lot more than Phillips and Bradley Chubb if they’re to get past the Chiefs, Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Texans and Bills in the AFC.
There just isn’t enough pass-rushing depth here for Miami to slow down the top QBs in the AFC. If GM Chris Grier can somehow and someway change that, Miami could emerge as a legitimate Super Bowl contender for the first time since the Dan Marino days.
Dallas Cowboys: A Head Coach
I mean, what else is stopping the Cowboys from breaking through once and for all?
Love or hate Dak Prescott, the Cowboys offense is a top-five unit every year. With Dak, CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, a top-five o-line and a consistent 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield, Dallas’ offense shouldn’t implode in the postseason the way it always does.
Micah Parsons is a top-five defensive player in the game. Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, DeMarcus Lawrence and Donovan Wilson round out a dangerous Dallas D that is also championship-caliber every single year.
But then there’s Mike McCarthy, the guy who went to ONE Super Bowl with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers in 13 years. The guy who’s 1-and-3 in the postseason with Dallas despite leading them to three straight 12-win seasons.
McCarthy just isn’t the guy to assemble all the talent and lead Dallas to a Super Bowl. The fact Jerry Jones gave him a fifth year is laughable — especially with Bill Belichick right there for the taking.
Jerry won’t make a change unless the Cowboys endure another early playoff exit — which is inevitable under McCarthy. But if something somehow and someway convinced Mr. Jones to switch coaches right away, the Cowboys would go from pretenders to legitimate contenders.
