We’ve made it through the first five months of the lengthy 2024 NFL offseason, folks. Before we know it, Week 1 will be here. With the bulk of all 32 teams’ 53-man rosters set, let’s analyze one reason for each team to be optimistic about the 2024 NFL season.
What is the reason why you should be optimistic about your favorite NFL team next season?
Arizona Cardinals: The Marvin Harrison Jr. Show
The last time the Cardinals had a wide receiver as skilled as Marvin Harrison Jr. was…Larry Fitzgerald. And we know how Fitz turned out to be!
Arizona drafted the second-generation wideout with the No. 4 pick this year, giving Kyler Murray a game-changing weapon to lift this offense for takeoff.
Atlanta Falcons: Finally, A Quarterback!
The Falcons haven’t had a winning season since 2017, and they finished a mediocre 7-and-10 in each of their three years under Arthur Smith.
Well, the arrival of Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins promises to change everything in Atlanta. He signed a four-year deal worth $180 million in free agency, joining an offense led by Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and Drake London.
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Baltimore Ravens: Derrick Henry = The Final Piece?
Lamar Jackson won his second career MVP award and led the Ravens to the AFC title game, where they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Ravens have no legitimate weaknesses and are more than capable of winning it all. But it’s really the signing of two-time rushing champion Derrick Henry that has us convinced this NFL team could unseat Kansas City and actually win it all.
Only Christian McCaffrey had more rushing yards than Henry last season. Now King Henry joins an offense led by the NFL’s best dual-threat QB.
Buffalo Bills: The Stefon Diggs Headache Is Gone
Diggs posted all-world numbers in Buffalo, sure. But his me-first attitude, diva antics, and constant no-showings in the postseason began to wear on Josh Allen and the locker room.
Buffalo finally decided to move on from Diggs, sending him to the Houston Texans for a second-round pick. Only time will tell if the move pans out from an on-field standpoint, but at least Allen won’t be forcing any more errant passes just to keep his receiver happy.
The Bills’ locker room morale just improved dramatically with Diggs gone.
Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young’s Weaponry
It’s unfair to solely blame Bryce Young on his first-year struggles. Not ideal that 33-year-old Adam Thielen was his only impactful pass-catcher.
New GM Dan Morgan wasted no time upgrading Young’s supporting cast. He traded for ex-Steelers Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson and drafted wide receiver Xavier Legette, running back Jonathan Brooks, and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders.
Young should make significant progress with a new set of toys.
Also Read: The One REAL REASON Everyone Hates Your Favorite NFL Team
Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams Captaining The Offense
If the first overall pick of 2024 comes as advertised, the Bears will have their first franchise QB since Sid Luckman…who last played for the organization in 1950.
But oh, it’s not just Williams’ skill set that has us excited. The three-headed receiving trio of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and prized rookie Rome Odunze? I’m not sure if the Bears are a playoff NFL team yet, but the offense will not be boring to watch in Windy City. For once!
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow’s Back
The Bengals’ Super Bowl hopes were dashed once Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury last season. But as we all know, these very Bengals are bonafide title contenders with a healthy Burrow leading the charge.
Cincy has played in one Super Bowl and two AFC Championships in Burrow’s two healthy seasons. You know darn well what they can do if “Joe Cool” stays healthy.
Cleveland Browns: Finally…QB Stability?
If Deshaun Watson could be like 75 percent as good as the guy we saw in Houston, the Browns would be the Chiefs’ main competitors in the AFC.
No more excuses for Watson now. He’s recovered from season-ending shoulder surgery and is now in his third year of learning the Browns’ offensive system. If he can stay healthy and provide above-average QB play, the Browns will be Super Bowl contenders for the first time since the Bernie Kosar days.
Dallas Cowboys: The Defense Gives Hope
Truth be told, we’ve given up on the idea of Dak Prescott clutching up and leading the Cowboys on a deep playoff run. If Dallas is to get over the hump, it’s going to be because of their defense.
Micah Parsons is a top-five defensive player in football. And a returning Trevon Diggs just might form the league’s best cornerback duo alongside DaRon Bland, who broke out last season with Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro nods.
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton Has The QB He Wants
Consider the Broncos a heavy favorite to pick first overall in 2025, so we’re really grasping at straws here.
Anywho, it was awkward seeing Sean Payton coach Russell Wilson when he obviously wasn’t sold on the nine-time Pro Bowler as his QB. If there’s one reason for Broncos fans to be excited this year, how about the fact Payton actually got the QB he wanted in Oregon’s Bo Nix?
Denver fans just have to trust that this offensive guru will make it work with Nix. Otherwise, are the Avalanche and Nuggets looking pretty good for next year?
Detroit Lions: Return Of The Kneecap Biters
The Lions reached the NFC title game for the first time since 1991 last season, narrowly dropping a heartbreaker to the 49ers.
Consider it a learning lesson for the Lions. They’ve got a top head coach in Dan Campbell and superstars on both sides of the ball. They’ve experienced the rough road it takes to win a championship, and now they’re ready to make good on the next opportunity that awaits.
Green Bay Packers: LOVE Is All You Need
Jordan Love’s first season as the Packers’ starting QB went way better than expected. He threw for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns — leading Green Bay to a surprise playoff appearance and a blowout win over Dallas in the Wild Card Round.
Love only stands to improve after a special coming-out party last year…especially with Josh Jacobs arriving and top wideout Christian Watson returning after an injury-riddled 2023 campaign.
Houston Texans: CJ Stroud. Nuff Said.
Stroud had one of the greatest rookie QB seasons of all time and led Houston to an AFC South division crown, plus a wild card round win over the Browns.
And yet, the No. 2 pick of 2023 is only going to get better — especially with veteran stars Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs joining his offense. This is the year he makes the leap to fop-five QB in football.
Indianapolis Colts: A Healthy Anthony Richardson
If the Colts could win nine games with Gardner Minshew as their main QB last year, then just imagine how much better the offense will be if second-year QB Anthony Richardson can stay healthy.
Richardson showed flashes of stardom in the four games he suited up for in his injury-ravaged rookie year. If he can play all 17 games this year, the Colts will be a dark horse contender in the AFC South.
Jacksonville Jaguars: T-Law’s Offense
After an inconsistent 2023 season, Trevor Lawrence is poised to rebound with a revamped supporting cast. Newcomers Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas join an arsenal led by Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, and Travis Etienne Jr.
That’s FIVE players who can all put up over 1,000 yards of offense. This oughta to be the year where Lawrence finally plays like an MVP quarterback, right?
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes’ Rebuilt Receiving Corps
The Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year despite never-resolved issues at wide receiver. Travis Kelce can only do so much, so Brett Veach was sure not to lean on his all-world tight end as much.
The Chiefs signed former 1,000-yard wideout Marquise Brown and used a first-round pick on Texas speedster Xavier Worthy. Throw in Rashee Rice’s presence, and this might actually be Mahomes’ best pass-catching unit yet.
Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce > Josh McDaniels
Josh McDaniels inherited a 10-win playoff NFL team and turned the Raiders into borderline unwatchable football. That’s not a problem anymore.
Antonio Pierce led Vegas to a 5-and-4 finish after replacing McDaniels and received the permanent head coaching gig. His defensive genius, passion, and player-friendly approach could help these Raiders slug out tight wins and make a surprise return to the playoffs.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh
Like we had any other reason to list here. The Bolts finally have competent coaching again, and his name is Jim Harbaugh.
The ex-49ers coach won a national championship at Michigan last year before signing up for the Chargers’ job. His culture-building and superb in-game strategizing will quickly be adopted in La La Land, putting the Bolts back on the path to title contention.
Los Angeles Rams: Cooper & Puka
The Rams’ high-powered offense got them back into the postseason with a 10-and-7 record. That was largely thanks to star wideout Puka Nacua and his record-setting rookie season.
And to think that fellow superstar Cooper Kupp missed five games last year. If he’s healthy, might Kupp and Nacua form the league’s best-receiving tandem? Don’t fully bet against it.
Miami Dolphins: More Offensive Fireworks
What more to say? Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are the best receiving duo in football. Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane may be the league’s top running-back tandem, too.
Tua Tagovailoa’s massive immense wealth of weapons means Miami will be lighting up the scoreboard like a Christmas tree.
Minnesota Vikings: New Faces At QB
As good as Kirk Cousins’ regular season stats were, it was obvious that he lacked the “it” factor to get this NFL team over the top. Rather than accepting the mushy middle, the Vikings let him walk to free agency and signed Sam Darnold as a bridge QB before drafting their man in Michigan’s JJ McCarthy.
If Darnold can’t put it together, the Vikings can give the McCarthy-Justin Jefferson partnership a head start. A much-needed and overdue change at quarterback should really excite Vikings fans this year.
New England Patriots: A Reboot Of “The Patriot Way”
Bill Belichick may be the greatest football coach to ever live, but his military-style approach and refusal to modernize his roster building clearly wore on the Pats in the post-Tom Brady era.
No more. They have a savvy young leader in the front office, Eliot Wolf, a player-friendly head coach in Jerod Mayo, and a super-talented young rookie QB in Drake Maye. A new era of Patriots football that’s with the MODERN TIMES will be a nice sense of relief for New England.
New Orleans Saints: A Change At OC
If you saw Derek Carr’s constant freakouts last year, you’d be shocked to learn that New Orleans had the ninth-best offense last year. And yet, that wasn’t enough for the 9-and-8 Saints to win the hapless NFC South.
Carr never clicked in Pete Carmichael’s stale offense. But the new OC, Klint Kubiak, brings a breath of fresh air to Carr, Chris Olave, and Alvin Kamara. His more modernized offense — complete with pre-snap motions and heavy play-action calls — might help this Saints offense hit its full potential in 2024.
If that happens, they’ll return to the postseason for the first time in the post-Drew Brees era.
New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers Returns
With an elite defense and a deep set of weapons, all the Jets need is competent QB play to compete in 2024. After missing all but a few snaps last year, Aaron Rodgers returns at full health with a chip on his shoulder.
A healthy Rodgers puts the Jets in immediate title contention.
New York Giants: The Fearsome Trio
If the Giants are gonna have a shot in 2024, it’s going to have to come on the defensive side of the ball. So how about prized trade acquisition Brian Burns joining a pass rush led by rising star Kayvon Thibodeaux and veteran mainstay Dexter Lawrence?
Yep, Brian Daboll’s gonna love this NFL team.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Rebuilt & Repaired Defense
The Eagles’ leaky defense was a key reason behind their stunning second-half collapse last year. That won’t be a problem anymore, with the great Vic Fangio taking over as the new defensive coordinator.
Looking to bolster the secondary, GM Howie Roseman signed CJ Gardner-Johnson before drafting two elite cornerback prospects in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Throw in that feisty Jalen Carter-led front seven, and the Eagles’ D should regain its championship form and take plenty of pressure off the offense.
Pittsburgh Steelers: A Relevant QB Room
The Steelers somehow won 10 games and reached the postseason a year ago with the QB trio of Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph.
Even if he’s past his prime, Russell Wilson is still a mega upgrade over all three of those guys. And if Wilson is washed? The Steelers can turn to Justin Fields, who could flourish with a competent head coach and a nice set of weapons.
San Francisco 49ers: Another Roll Of The Dice
The 49ers have played in three straight NFC Championship Games and were oh-so-close to winning the Super Bowl last season.
They have the best roster in football and are loaded with star power across the board. Eventually, the breaks have to go their way in the postseason. Another year means another roll of the dice…so let’s see if they land on the Super Bowl square this time.
Seattle Seahawks: Defense Is Ready To Rock N’ Roll
Pete Carroll may be destined for the Hall of Fame, but he struggled to get the most out of an ultra-talented Seattle defense over his final six years as head coach.
The ‘Hawks parted ways with Carroll and hired Baltimore Ravens DC Mike Macdonald as their new head coach.
Macdonald should fully maximize the potential of a young defense led by young stars Devon Weatherspoon, Riq Woolen, Boye Mafe, rookie Byron Murphy II, and veterans Jarran Reed, Leonard Williams, and Dre’Mont Jones.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield’s Encore
The Bucs’ two most notable offseason moves were the extensions for Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans. Now, we see what Mayfield can do for an encore after signing a $100 million extension.
The No. 1 pick of 2018 had a career year in 2023 and led the Bucs to a division crown and wild card round win over the Eagles. How does Mayfield follow it up? Stay tuned.
Tennessee Titans: Will Levis’ Three-Headed WR Monster
Looking to bolster the supporting cast around Will Levis, the Titans signed veteran star Calvin Ridley and two-time 1,000-yard receiver Tyler Boyd in free agency.
Those two will join forces with Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins, who formed a nice rapport with Levis a year ago. With three big-time playmakers at his disposal, Levis is in a good spot to break out.
Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels
The C’s drafted Heisman Trophy winner and dual-threat QB Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick.
This isn’t to say that the Commanders will immediately emerge as contenders, but Daniels’ explosiveness and elite athleticism shall give Washington fans a glimpse of an ultra-bright future in DC.
