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Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Excited To Have Xavier Worthy Ready For Camp
Every NFL team will enter the 2024 season trying to win now. But savvy franchises aren't focused only on the short term -- they also keep an eye to the future and set themselves up for long-term success. So which teams are primed to be among the league's best over the next few years? In our annual Future Power Rankings, we focused on the next three seasons (2024 through 2026) and stacked all 32 clubs' longer-lens expectations.
To do so, we asked our panel of experts -- Dan Graziano, Louis Riddick and Aaron Schatz -- to rate each team's quarterback situation, remaining (non-QB) roster makeup, front office and coaching staff using this scale:
100: A+ (elite) 90: A (great) 80: B (very good) 70: C (average) 60: D (very bad) 50 and below: F (disastrous)After averaging the results from the panelists, each of the four categories was weighted to create the overall score: quarterback (20%), roster (30%), front office (25%) and coaching (25%). The result is a comprehensive ranking based on how well each team is positioned for the future. Our experts then picked out reasons for optimism, reasons to worry and crucial stats/nuggets to know for every franchise.
Jump to: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Note: Overall scores are rounded to the nearest 10th of a point.
1. Kansas City Chiefs Overall score: 95.3Reason for hope: Name it. The two-time defending champs managed to keep their best defensive player in DT Chris Jones this offseason, then they added speedy wide receivers in Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy to a group that hasn't had much speed since Tyreek Hill was traded away two years ago. The coaching staff is still intact and still elite. Oh, and we didn't even mention that they have quarterback Patrick Mahomes. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: In this space last summer, I mentioned concern about the runway that future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce had left -- he's turning 35 this season -- and whom the Chiefs could lean on as Mahomes' go-to target when Kelce is no longer running routes. Despite drafting Worthy and high-upside fourth-round tight end Jared Wiley, things will eventually look very different without Kelce on the field. Can we really always expect Mahomes to be able to make up the difference, or will this offense suffer down the road? -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Center Creed Humphrey (98.8%) and right guard Trey Smith (96.6%) ranked second and fourth in pass block win rate among interior offensive linemen last season, but they also both need to be signed to extensions to stay in Kansas City beyond the 2024 season. The left tackle position is going to be on the young side for the next couple of seasons, with second-year lineman Wanya Morris (90.3% PBWR, which would have ranked 20th last season if he had enough snaps to qualify) and second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia as options to start. -- Schatz
2. Baltimore Ravens Overall score: 91.6Reason for hope: Adding Derrick Henry to the run game should make it even more formidable, and wide receiver Zay Flowers' rookie-season connection with Lamar Jackson showed a ton of promise. There has been a lot of change on the offensive line (including rookie Roger Rosengarten now set to start at right tackle) and the defensive coaching staff, but even if the Ravens take a little step back in 2024, they are a steady and well-run organization that's used to managing through change. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: Offensive coordinator Todd Monken led the Ravens to the No. 4 scoring offense (28.4 points per game) last season, and Jackson was fourth in Total QBR (64.7) on his way to his second career league MVP. Going forward, I'm more concerned about those changes along the offensive line. That unit was in the top 10 in pass block win rate and run block win rate in 2023, so I wonder whether it will take a step back. Plus, as Dan mentioned, the defense is also undergoing an overhaul with a new coordinator in Zach Orr and a youth infusion at LB and CB. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Only the youthful Bears have less of last season's snap count share wrapped up in players who will be unrestricted free agents in 2025. In fact, cornerback Brandon Stephens is the only 2025 free agent for the Ravens who played at least two-thirds of the snaps in 2023, meaning Baltimore could keep the starting lineup mostly intact. -- Schatz
3. Buffalo Bills Overall score: 89.5Reason for hope: Josh Allen isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and the offense was already transitioning late last season to one built around emerging young stars Dalton Kincaid and James Cook. The Bills spent the offseason necessarily getting younger on defense, and under coach Sean McDermott's leadership, that group should develop quickly. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The Bills' pass rush and run game have taken steps forward, so I'm looking at their wide receiver group. Who will step up and consistently win down the field outside the numbers with Stefon Diggs no longer on the roster? I really like rookie wideout Keon Coleman from Florida State, but he must prove to be the team's next physical, big-play WR. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Khalil Shakir is expected to be one of Buffalo's starting wide receivers this season alongside Coleman, and he was tied for 24th among wideouts in ESPN's receiver tracking metrics in 2023. He was excellent in catch score (72) but less impressive in open score (48). The 24-year-old had 39 catches for 611 yards and two touchdowns with an excellent 87% catch rate. -- Schatz
4. Detroit Lions Overall score: 88.9Reason for hope: The Lions might eventually lose offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to a head-coaching job, but it hasn't happened yet -- which is selfishly good for Dan Campbell and Detroit's offense. The team spent a lot this offseason, but it now has key players (including receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell) secured for the long term. And the culture Campbell has built here has already resulted in an NFC Championship Game appearance and has the arrow pointing up. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: General manager Brad Holmes did everything he could to fix a secondary that gave up way too many explosive plays last season, and Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis III will make an impact there. But I still have many doubts about which pass rusher will support third-year defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Hutch has 21 sacks over his first two seasons combined but has had little help. Detroit was 27th in pass rush win rate in 2023, and Marcus Davenport (signed this offseason) has never played a full season in his six-year career, so I'm not counting on the production to come from him. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Last season, the Lions were the fourth-youngest defense in the NFL based on snap-weighted age (25.5). This year, they project to be the youngest defense based on the average age of the 12 starters (including the base and nickel defenses) at 25.3. Linebacker Alex Anzalone is the only projected starter over 28, and four projected starters are still under 24. -- Schatz
5. Philadelphia Eagles Overall score: 88.8Reason for hope: Jalen Hurts turns 26 next month, and despite last season's late collapse, he has shown us plenty of reason to believe he can be the guy he was in 2022, when the Eagles went to the Super Bowl. Under GM Howie Roseman, Philadelphia also rebuilt the secondary in the draft, and all those young Georgia defensive players it drafted in 2022 and 2023 should only keep getting better. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: After the 2022 season, both of the Eagles' coordinators left to become head coaches (Jonathan Gannon in Arizona and Shane Steichen in Indianapolis). Now the organization has moved on from offensive coordinator Brian Johnson in favor of Kellen Moore and has hired Vic Fangio at defensive coordinator. With the additions to the roster and the internal expectations that come with big moves for a contender, the coaching staff's functionality and consistency are what worry me more than anything. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Free agent addition Bryce Huff is still 26 years old and ranked eighth in PRWR among edge rushers last season (22%). However, he made only 16 tackles on run plays, and the average tackle came after a gain of 3.4 yards, which ranked 75th among edge rushers. -- Schatz
6. Houston Texans Overall score: 88.5Reason for hope: Coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud are coming off stellar rookie seasons with the Texans, and each looks like a rising star in his respective role. The front office showed this offseason that it will be aggressive in adding talent around Stroud in an effort to maximize the team's chances to win during his rookie-contract window, trading for Stefon Diggs to get another top-tier pass catcher for the young QB. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: Run game, run game, run game. If improved offensive line play in capturing the line of scrimmage and the one-two punch of Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce can produce something close to a top-10 rushing unit, this offense will be one of the best in the NFL and can make Houston a title contender for the foreseeable future. But I have doubts that the Texans can establish themselves on the ground. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Houston was the only offense with two wide receivers who ranked in the top 10 of last season's ESPN receiver tracking metrics. Nico Collins ranked third, and Tank Dell was ninth. Collins is currently under contract through 2027, and Dell is signed through 2026. -- Schatz
7. San Francisco 49ers Overall score: 88.5Reason for hope: Coach Kyle Shanahan is the main reason for optimism over the next few years in San Francisco. The Niners will have star players age out and/or price themselves out in the coming offseasons, but Shanahan has the quarterback he wants in Brock Purdy and has shown a consistent ability to keep his team competitive at a high level when it has been healthy. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The wide receivers room is headed toward an overhaul; either Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel Sr. won't be here for the long term. Although I love the 49ers' rookie draft class at the position, Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing have to prove they can complement each other and produce at the level of Aiyuk and Samuel for San Francisco to capture the Lombardi Trophy. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Linebacker Fred Warner will turn 28 in November and is under contract through 2026. He ranked 19th among off-ball linebackers in coverage DVOA last season and is one of the few linebackers whom opposing quarterbacks tend to actively avoid. The 49ers as a team ranked second in DVOA against passes in the "short middle" area of the field and fourth against all passes up to 15 air yards, which again speaks to Warner's ability. -- Schatz
8. Cincinnati Bengals Overall score: 87.6Reason for hope: So far, so good for Joe Burrow in his recovery from a season-ending right wrist injury. This is probably the last season the Bengals will have both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins running routes for him, but this is a broad-thinking and sharp-drafting front office that does as good a job as any in reloading when it decides to move on from a star. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The offensive line continues to be an issue. Once again, Cincinnati was near the bottom of the league in PBWR (51.7%, ranked 27th) and sacks allowed (50, ranked 25th). Burrow is the second-most-sacked QB in the league since he began his career in 2020, getting dropped 148 times over 52 starts. Furthermore, he has been seriously injured and unable to finish the season twice in his four-year career. The Bengals are in the top half of the league in terms of cap dollars allocated to the OL for 2024, but they must start getting a better return on that investment. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Starting outside cornerbacks Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner II are important parts of Cincinnati's young core. Taylor-Britt, who turns 25 in October and is signed through 2025, was ranked 47th among qualifying cornerbacks in coverage DVOA last season. That's slightly better than average. And Turner, who turns 24 in November and is signed through 2026, ranked 67th among qualifying cornerbacks in coverage DVOA as a rookie. As a team, the Bengals ranked 11th against opposing WR1s but 20th against opposing WR2s. -- Schatz
9. Green Bay Packers Overall score: 86.4Reason for hope: Quarterback Jordan Love is 25 years old. All of his top receivers are 25 or younger. And this offensive core has already done so much growing together. The surprise playoff experience they were able to get last season will only help accelerate the development of the young offensive group under coach Matt LaFleur. And one of these years, the Packers are bound to get the defense figured out, right? -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The reset has been successful, but I don't know what new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley -- who was the head coach at Boston College for the past four seasons -- will bring. Can he maximize the talent on the defensive side of the ball and turn it into a consistently dominant top-10 unit? Green Bay was 20th in yards allowed per play (5.4) and 23rd in defensive efficiency (50.8) last season. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: The Packers were the youngest team in the NFL last season, with a snap-weighted age of 25.4. They were the youngest team on offense (24.6) and ranked among the 10 youngest on defense (26.1) and special teams (25.5). -- Schatz
10. Miami Dolphins Overall score: 84.0Reason for hope: This team has a clear identity and vision under GM Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel. The front office has shown it can be trusted to fortify the roster with targeted additions who fit McDaniel's plan, and his quirky personality and coaching style seem to resonate with his players. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: First off, how will Grier resolve quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's contract situation? Nothing is more important than that; you can't have the guy who led the NFL in passing yards and was top-10 in QBR in 2023 feeling as if he isn't valued. Second, what will new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver do to galvanize and improve a unit that was decimated by injury and plagued by a poor fit with its former coordinator (Vic Fangio)? Miami was second in scoring last season (29.2 points per game) but 22nd in opponent scoring (23.0). -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Based on snap totals from last season, the Dolphins have the most snap share wrapped up in players who will be unrestricted free agents in 2025. That includes Tagovailoa, both starting guards (Isaiah Wynn and Robert Jones), the top three safeties (Jevon Holland, Jordan Poyer and Marcus Maye), and three off-ball linebackers (David Long Jr., Anthony Walker Jr. and Duke Riley). -- Schatz
11. Cleveland Browns Overall score: 83.8Reason for hope: The Browns have a deep roster headlined by one of the best overall players in the game in defensive end Myles Garrett and a two-time Coach of the Year in Kevin Stefanski, who proved last season that he could engineer success even when things fall apart at quarterback. Speaking of QB, Deshaun Watson hasn't looked right since he got to Cleveland, but he is still only 28 years old, so it's not absurd to think he might still turn it around. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The ultimate upside of this organization rests squarely on the shoulders of Watson. Since arriving in Cleveland in 2022, he has played 12 games, completed just 59.8% of his throws, and thrown for 14 TDs and nine INTs. His 2023 season ended in late October with a shoulder injury that required surgery. Although the team went 5-1 in the six games he did play last season, Watson has to be available first and foremost -- and must elevate his play to justify a guaranteed money structure that has never been seen before in an NFL contract. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: One position where the Browns might need to add for future success is wide receiver. No. 1 target Amari Cooper is 30 years old and wants an extension past the 2024 season. The Browns gave an extension to Jerry Jeudy after landing him in a trade with Denver, but Jeudy was tied for 58th among wideouts in the ESPN receiver tracking metrics last season. Slot receiver Elijah Moore was tied for 81st, and his contract ends after this coming season. Could we get some kind of breakout from last year's third-round pick, Cedric Tillman, who had 21 catches for 224 yards and no touchdowns as a rookie? -- Schatz
12. Los Angeles Rams Overall score: 83.7Reason for hope: Well, they just made the playoffs in their rebuilding year! How about that for a reason for optimism? Quarterback Matthew Stafford had the kind of season that makes you think he might stick around and play at a high level for a few more years, throwing 24 touchdown passes and finishing sixth in QBR at 63.5. And the young group around him showed a ton of promise and got unexpected winning experience to build off. The Rams' rebuild is ahead of schedule. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: At this time last year, I said Aaron Donald was the only premium defensive player left from the Rams' Super Bowl-winning team. While Donald has retired, L.A. has brought in some very high-quality young players to help right that ship. But coach Sean McVay had to hire yet another coordinator on that side of the ball, tapping 38-year-old Chris Shula, who will begin his eighth season with the organization but first as an NFL playcaller. With Stafford nearing the end of his career, there is no time for the defense to learn on the job. Results are needed immediately. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: The future is looking bright in Los Angeles thanks in part to quality lower-round picks from last year's draft. Receiver Puka Nacua broke the rookie records for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486), while defensive tackle Kobie Turner had nine sacks and edge rusher Byron Young had eight. That's how you build for the future even after trading away first-round picks year after year. -- Schatz
13. Jacksonville Jaguars Overall score: 82.1Reason for hope: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is still only 24 years old, and edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen is a star and young leader on the defensive side of the ball, posting 17.5 sacks last season. Both players were just signed to big extensions to keep them in town. Toss in that coach Doug Pederson has won a Super Bowl and the fact that this group authored one of the gutsiest playoff wins of all time just two seasons ago and you have a good base for future success. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The Jaguars gave Lawrence a five-year, $275 million contract in June, with $142 million guaranteed at signing. With that kind of deal come expectations ... Super Bowl expectations. The problem is Lawrence probably isn't even the best QB in his division (I give the edge to C.J. Stroud). I understand the salary game works this way when it comes to QBs, but I worry about whether Jacksonville will get what it paid for, especially after Lawrence tied for fourth in interceptions (14) and first among QBs in fumbles lost (seven) last season. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. ranked second in my Playmaker Score projections before this year's draft. He scored 17 touchdowns last season, giving him scores on 4.1% of his team pass attempts. No other receiver in the class was above 3.5%. And Thomas did this despite having to share the targets with Malik Nabers at LSU. -- Schatz
14. Dallas Cowboys Overall score: 81.9Reason for hope: The Cowboys have shown a consistent ability to draft well over the years, so even if the current roster loses key players in the coming years for cap reasons, they should be able to replenish. They have superstars on both sides of the ball in wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (1,749 receiving yards, ranking second last season) and edge rusher Micah Parsons (14 sacks, tied for seventh). And I still believe they will get a new deal done with quarterback Dak Prescott eventually. Hey, we're being optimistic here. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: What's the alternative to Prescott if these two sides are not able to come to an agreement on a contract extension before he becomes a free agent next offseason? More than anything else, that will determine how this team's future will play out over the next three seasons. Yes, they need to get Lamb and Parsons signed to new deals, too, but the QB is the focus -- especially after Prescott was an MVP runner-up and one of only three QBs to throw for more than 4,500 yards in 2023. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Young cornerbacks DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs racked up the interceptions over the past few years but also allowed a lot of big deep shots to opposing wide receivers. Bland, under contract through 2025, ranked 13th in coverage DVOA among qualifying corners last season, thanks in part to his nine interceptions, but 60th with 8.5 yards allowed per pass. Diggs, under contract through 2028, had 11 interceptions in 2021. He ranked 34th in coverage DVOA in his last full healthy season (2022) but 76th with 9.2 yards allowed per pass. -- Schatz
15. Pittsburgh Steelers Overall score: 81.0Reason for hope: Edge rusher T.J. Watt remains the centerpiece of a perpetually strong defense, leading the NFL with 19 sacks last season. The offensive line looks as solid as it has in a while after some draft replenishments. And George Pickens, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren all look like emerging stars on offense who should keep the Steelers competitive no matter which quarterback starts this season and beyond. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The Pittsburgh offense's ability to create explosive plays in the pass game is an ongoing issue, and finishing 26th in the NFL in plays of 20-plus yards in 2023 did nothing to lessen the worry. After the Steelers hired Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator, made additions along the offensive line (Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier), and overhauled the QB room (adding Russell Wilson and Justin Fields), my concerns are not as great as they were last summer, but for this franchise to achieve elite status again, it must be able to match the best offenses in the league blow for blow. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Last season, the Steelers had the oldest defense in the league with a snap-weighted age of 27.9. No other defense was above 27.6. But the Steelers also had the fourth-youngest offense with a snap-weighted age of 25.7. -- Schatz
16. Seattle Seahawks Overall score: 80.1Reason for hope: New coach Mike Macdonald is one of the rising stars in his profession and should have an immediate impact on a Seahawks defense that hasn't been up to snuff the past few seasons (5.5 yards allowed per play, ranking 25th last season). Geno Smith has proved to be an effective starting quarterback, and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's sophomore season should offer a chance to diversify the passing game moving forward. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: There is new leadership in the Pacific Northwest with Macdonald taking over as head coach, replacing the legendary Pete Carroll after his 14-year run. Macdonald has been a fantastic defensive coordinator in the NFL, and his credibility and competency in that regard are without question. But he is now in charge of the entire operation, and his offensive coordinator for 2024 (Ryan Grubb) has never coached in the NFL. We will find out in a hurry how quickly these two can adapt to new roles. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Seattle's two offensive tackles are an important part of its young core moving forward. Left tackle Charles Cross ranked 33rd among 69 qualifying tackles in PBWR last season and 39th (among 64) in 2022. And although right tackle Abraham Lucas did not qualify for the rankings because of injuries last season, he was 17th in 2022. -- Schatz
17. Los Angeles Chargers Overall score: 79.4Reason for hope: Jim Harbaugh's record as an NFL head coach (from 2011 to 2014 with the 49ers) is a stellar 49-22-1, including the postseason. He has coached a team to the Super Bowl, and he'll have no trouble instantly establishing the culture and setting the expectations in the building. And by the way, the Chargers have a gleaming new building -- their own facility, finally, after spending their first seven years in Los Angeles operating out of a converted office complex. So the vibes should be strong. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: I have no doubt that this team will be able to play a dominant, physical brand of football in the trenches offensively, and it will run the ball with authority with Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins and rookie Kimani Vidal. It's the passing game that worries me. Can the Chargers get Justin Herbert to make the jump to superstardom, where his game is consistent enough to battle the likes of Patrick Mahomes every time they meet? More importantly, will they have the playmakers and the philosophical approach that would even allow Herbert to make such a jump? I'm a believer in Harbaugh's program, as long as it has the necessary flexibility to adjust and adapt. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: The Chargers will need to get younger on the edge. Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa are great players, but Mack is now 33 and Bosa is 29. Free agent addition Bud Dupree is 31. The most important young edge rusher is Tuli Tuipulotu, who won't turn 22 until early September. Tuipulotu had 4.5 sacks and 23 pressures as a rookie. -- Schatz
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Overall score: 78.7Reason for hope: The Buccaneers are three-time defending division champions, so they know how to finish off a season. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is a star on the back end of the defense, and while the Bucs don't have the youngest roster in the league by any means, quarterback Baker Mayfield isn't even 30 years old yet and looked as good last season as he has at any point in his career. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: Mayfield was fantastic last season and was rewarded with a new three-year deal. But he will have a different coordinator this season, with Liam Coen -- who was the OC at Kentucky in 2023 -- signing on to run the offense. It is critical that Coen develop the same kind of game-day chemistry with Mayfield and the offensive playmakers that former coordinator Dave Canales had. How quickly can that group come together? -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Running back Rachaad White finished second in the NFL in touches last season (336), trailing only Christian McCaffrey. But he had poor production as a runner, gaining only 3.6 yards per carry and finishing 39th in rushing DVOA among qualifying RBs. In the past decade, only three running backs had more carries than White's 272 with a lower DVOA: Todd Gurley II in 2016, LeSean McCoy in 2017 and Josh Jacobs in 2020. White is one of five 2022 draft picks projected to be starters for the Buccaneers this season, and all five are under contract for two more seasons (White, right tackle Luke Goedeke, tight end Cade Otton, defensive end Logan Hall and cornerback Zyon McCollum). -- Schatz
19. Indianapolis Colts Overall score: 78.2Reason for hope: The Colts still might not know for sure whether Anthony Richardson is a franchise quarterback, considering he was limited to four starts before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in his rookie year, but they do know he has the talent and makeup to be one. And if nothing else happened last season, the Colts came out of it feeling absolutely fantastic about the choice they made at head coach with Shane Steichen. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: There are issues with the offensive line, at least relative to what the team has invested in the position group. With the NFL's second-most cap dollars allocated to the group, you'd expect a better performance than 26th in PBWR and 14th in RBWR. The line has to protect Richardson better in his return from injury, especially given his physical style of play. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: E.J. Speed played well in 2023, his first season as a regular starter. He was 20th in coverage DVOA among linebackers and 17th with just 3.2 yards given up on his average run-game tackle. However, Speed will be a free agent after this coming season. He's also one of five Indianapolis starters on defense who will be 29 or older by the end of the season, joining defensive linemen Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner, edge rusher Samson Ebukam, and nickelback Kenny Moore II. -- Schatz
20. Chicago Bears Overall score: 78.2Reason for hope: Chicago finished last season strong, with the defense finding another gear after the Montez Sweat acquisition at the trade deadline. Plus, the Bears have built a solid core of offensive skill players around No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams, who they believe has a chance to be a star right out of the gate. If Williams lives up to his billing, the Bears could get really good, really fast. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: It's hard to argue with anything GM Ryan Poles did this offseason to try to improve on the field. So the spotlight is on the coaching staff, specifically offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. His ability to form a relationship, teach, support, encourage and maximize Williams' talents will be scrutinized. Nothing is more important regarding the success of his franchise going forward. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Cornerback Jaylon Johnson was outstanding in 2023, making second-team All-Pro and leading the league with minus-51.6% coverage DVOA. Opposing quarterbacks avoided him, and he provided great coverage when they did throw at him. A new extension signed this summer ties Johnson to the Bears through the 2027 season. -- Schatz
21. Minnesota Vikings Overall score: 77.2Reason for hope: Coach Kevin O'Connell appears to be another young star in the coaching ranks, as he was able to deftly dance through quarterback-injury raindrops for most of last season. Justin Jefferson might be the best receiver in the league -- and he's now signed long term -- and 2023 first-rounder Jordan Addison shows all kinds of promise opposite him. So a lot comes down to quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but he's in a good situation to develop quickly. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: It remains to be seen whether the defense can take a significant step in its growth toward becoming a title-contending unit. It continued to struggle to generate consistent pressure on the QB last season (21st in sacks per pass attempt at 6.4%, 18th in PRWR at 40.3%), and it didn't force turnovers enough to impact football games (minus-12 turnover differential, 30th in the NFL). Coordinator Brian Flores will be relied on to hasten the development of first-round pass rusher Dallas Turner. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Much of Minnesota's future depends on the connection among McCarthy, Jefferson and Addison. It's a bit of a surprise that Addison was only tied for 49th among wide receivers in the ESPN tracking metrics, but he did catch 70 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. Addison ranked 21st among wide receivers with 193 defense-adjusted yards above replacement. -- Schatz
22. Washington Commanders Overall score: 76.4Reason for hope: New ownership has been a breath of fresh air in Washington, so fans are generally more optimistic than they've been in a while. The selection of Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick offers even more reason for optimism. New coach Dan Quinn showed he can win during his first head-coaching stint in Atlanta, so if Daniels lives up to the hype, this could be a fairly quick turnaround. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: I think Daniels could have a C.J. Stroud-like rookie season. The concern is the offensive line that will be protecting him. Can Washington improve this unit going forward, particularly at OT? Daniels cannot take the kind of hits he took at LSU in the NFL; the Commanders need him to stay upright and distribute the football from a clean pocket. Washington gave up 65 sacks last season, tied for second most in the league. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: What will happen with Washington's stalwart defensive tackles? Jonathan Allen is 29, and although his contract goes through 2025, many believe he might be a cap casualty after this season since the Commanders drafted Jer'Zhan Newton in the second round. Daron Payne is 27, and his contract runs through 2026. Allen had 5.5 sacks but just 23 total pressures last season, and Payne had 4.0 sacks but 29 total pressures. The Commanders were near the bottom of the league in defending runs up the middle, too. -- Schatz
23. New York Jets Overall score: 75.9Reason for hope: This defense looks like a juggernaut. Now, there's no way to know for sure how long Aaron Rodgers will be in New York, but as long as he is there and is healthy, the Jets should have a chance to compete. What will come after Rodgers remains a mystery, but receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall should form a stellar skill-position battery for whoever that will be. It is also encouraging that the Jets used their first-round pick on offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: If Rodgers is healthy this season and the numerous additions to the OL prove productive (and stay healthy), the future looks bright in the near term. But if Rodgers can't stay on the field and/or the line doesn't play winning football, it will be the same old story for the Jets. And it could mean they'd be tearing it all down and starting over yet again. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: As hinted above, the Jets refurbished their offensive line with three veterans this offseason. Left tackle Tyron Smith ranked 26th among tackles with an 89.1% PBWR last season. Right tackle Morgan Moses ranked 20th (90.3%), and left guard John Simpson ranked 24th among guards (92.5%). However, Smith turns 34 in December, and Moses is 33. (Simpson is younger, turning 27 in August.) It's a good thing the Jets have Fashanu around to learn the tackle position and replace whichever tackle struggles first because of age. -- Schatz
24. Atlanta Falcons Overall score: 75.9Reason for hope: Unlike most teams, the Falcons have their quarterback succession plan already in place, landing Kirk Cousins on a big free agent deal and drafting Michael Penix Jr. in the top 10 this offseason. It might create an icky situation for the next couple of years, but if Penix was worth the eighth pick, that won't bother anyone for too long. Few, if any, teams can boast as exciting a young skill position group as Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts and Drake London, and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is seen as a rising star who was pursued by several teams before coming to Atlanta. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: Yes, the offense is going to be fine. But what about the defense -- specifically the pass rush? The Falcons were last in PRWR in 2023 (30.9%) and have been the worst pass-rushing team in the NFL over the past three seasons. New coach Raheem Morris has an offensive and defensive background, but the key will be how he helps develop the young defensive linemen taken in Rounds 2-4 of the 2024 draft (Ruke Orhorhoro, Bralen Trice and Brandon Dorlus). -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Atlanta's top two cornerbacks are veteran A.J. Terrell and second-year player Clark Phillips III. The Falcons need to get an extension done with Terrell or he might leave in free agency after this season, but Phillips is under contract through 2026 and won't turn 23 until December. Both cornerbacks were better than average in coverage DVOA last season, with Phillips at minus-6.6% and Terrell at minus-6.7%. (For reference, 0% is average, with lower numbers representing better defense.) -- Schatz
25. Tennessee Titans Overall score: 73.3Reason for hope: Will Levis is a talented young quarterback who could develop into a franchise guy, and new coach Brian Callahan has proved himself as someone who can help young QBs succeed. Levis flashed in his rookie season, throwing eight touchdown passes over nine games. The Titans have built a good group around Levis -- including signing Calvin Ridley this offseason -- which should give him the chance to show whether he's the long-term solution. If nothing else, by the end of the next three years, the Titans will have an answer on Levis and what's next. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The post-Derrick Henry era begins in Nashville, and that coach-QB relationship Dan mentioned will help determine what unfolds for the Titans. Does Callahan believe in Levis' skill set the same way GM Ran Carthon does? The focus has to be on how this duo grows. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: One of the problems for the Titans in developing their roster for the future is the age of the wide receivers. DeAndre Hopkins is 32, and new additions Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd will be 30 by the end of the season. If those three WRs end up as the top three Titans in receiving yards, Tennessee would be the first team since the 2011 Patriots (Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson) to have their top three wide receivers age 30 or older. -- Schatz
26. New England Patriots Overall score: 72.9Reason for hope: Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in this year's draft, has as much physical talent and upside as any of the quarterbacks who were taken in the first round. The Pats also have Jacoby Brissett in place as a veteran who can start while Maye takes whatever time he needs to get ready. The rest of the offense is clearly a work in progress, but the defense has some young stars, including Christian Barmore and Christian Gonzalez. Plus, New England believes in Jerod Mayo as the franchise transitions from the Bill Belichick era. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The offensive line was the league's worst in pass protection in 2023 and still needs an overhaul. It finished 32nd in PBWR at 43.4%. Remember the name Caedan Wallace, though. How the third-round rookie offensive tackle out of Penn State develops could very well set the tone for this group for the next decade. I'm a big believer in his game. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Ja'Lynn Polk (second round) and Javon Baker (fourth round) represent only the second time in the past 30 years the Patriots have selected two wide receivers in the first four rounds of the draft. (In 2013, the Patriots drafted Aaron Dobson from Marshall in the second round and Josh Boyce from TCU in the fourth.) New England certainly hopes these players work out better than the 2013 picks, as Dobson and Boyce combined for just 819 receiving yards in their NFL careers. -- Schatz
27. Denver Broncos Overall score: 72.8Reason for hope: Coach Sean Payton picked Bo Nix in the first round, and Payton's track record as an offensive mind buys him some benefit of the doubt as this team sorts through the quarterback situation. There is work to do here on both sides of the ball, but cornerback Pat Surtain II is a true building block for the defense, and Nix could be a perfect fit for what Payton likes to do on offense. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: Yeah, this all hinges on Nix. I'm sold on his upside, but there will be questions about whether he can become a top-10 passer in the NFL by playing within the structure of Payton's offense -- and with this group of playmakers. I don't think the Broncos are good enough on the perimeter yet, but it is up to the front office to provide Nix with more help. This is one of many reasons Denver is 27th in our rankings. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Edge rusher is a position the Broncos need to solidify for the future. Both starters -- Jonathon Cooper and Baron Browning -- were drafted in 2021 and will be free agents after this season. Last year, Cooper ranked just 42nd out of 50 qualifying edge rushers with a PRWR of 9.8%. Browning, who didn't have enough snaps to qualify for a ranking, was at 10.1%. At least there are younger backups who could develop for the future, including third-year veteran Nik Bonitto and rookie third-round pick Jonah Elliss. -- Schatz
28. Arizona Cardinals Overall score: 72.5Reason for hope: After Kyler Murray came back from his ACL injury last season, the Cardinals were a top-10 offense and second best in rushing yards per game. They added maybe the best player in the entire draft in Marvin Harrison Jr., who should be Murray's top wide receiver right away. And Murray looks revitalized and is playing for a coaching staff, and front office, that has passed up no opportunity to assert its belief in him. The Cardinals could be a sneaky-great offense as early as this season. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: This team will go as Murray goes. There have always been concerns about his level of consistency, but the word is that he is putting in extraordinary work in preparation for the 2024 season alongside his teammates. Can Murray play up to his potential? Is there enough around him? -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Tight end Trey McBride will turn 25 in November. Last season, he ranked third among tight ends in the ESPN receiver tracking metrics. His total of 81 catches set a franchise record for the position, too, and his total of 825 yards was second behind Jackie Smith's 1,205 yards in 1967. No Cardinals tight end had come within 200 yards of McBride's total since Smith had 687 yards in 1970. -- Schatz
29. New York Giants Overall score: 70.6Reason for hope: Hmm, this one's tough. First-round pick Malik Nabers has the tools to be a real No. 1 wide receiver, and although edge rusher Brian Burns was a costly acquisition, he should be an impact player on defense (where the Giants have some solid players already in place). Brian Daboll was Coach of the Year in 2022, so if that's more reflective of his abilities than last season suggested, maybe the Giants can turn this thing around soon. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The front office will remain under the microscope. Even after adding Nabers, has it done enough to support Daniel Jones on the perimeter and with the offensive line? Did it mishandle the Saquon Barkley situation this offseason? Long story short, this team's decision-makers might not be around in 2025 if Barkley runs all over the Giants in their two meetings vs. the Eagles this season. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Only the Lions have a younger secondary than the Giants' based on the average age of the five starters. Cornerbacks Cor'Dale Flott, Deonte Banks and Dru Phillips will all be 23 by the end of the season, as will rookie safety Tyler Nubin. The exception among starters is at free safety, which will be either Jason Pinnock (25) or Jalen Mills (30). -- Schatz
30. Carolina Panthers Overall score: 70.2Reason for hope: New coach Dave Canales has had success with quarterback revitalization projects before -- most recently with Baker Mayfield last season in Tampa Bay. He's now in charge of getting the most out of 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young, whose rookie season was a disaster. The trade for wide receiver Diontae Johnson could turn out to be one of the better under-the-radar moves of the offseason and help kick-start Young's development. Johnson caught 51 passes for 717 yards and five scores last season in Pittsburgh. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: Management knew it needed to significantly upgrade the OL for Young to have a chance of developing, and it did just that. No team has more cap dollars allocated to the OL for 2024 than Carolina. The question is Young himself, who was 29th in QBR (33.4) and threw nearly as many interceptions (10) as touchdown passes (11) in 2023. I believed C.J. Stroud was better all along and should have been the top pick, and their respective rookie seasons back that up. Young now needs to prove he deserved to go No. 1 with a big sophomore campaign. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: Young's 2023 season marked the fourth-lowest DYAR for a rookie quarterback since 1979. Of the 12 previous quarterbacks with the lowest rookie DYAR numbers, only two developed into quality starters: Alex Smith and Jared Goff. The three quarterbacks below Young were David Carr in 2002, Blaine Gabbert in 2011 and Josh Rosen in 2018. -- Schatz
31. New Orleans Saints Overall score: 68.6Reason for hope: Oh man. This one's tricky. Um ... Chris Olave, I guess? He's a true standout receiver, and whoever ultimately replaces Derek Carr in the next year or two should benefit from having him around. First-round pick Taliese Fuaga should help them finally answer the left tackle question, too. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The Saints have played championship-caliber defense for quite a while now, and I'm sure they will again in 2024 and beyond. The concern is the offensive side of the ball, where new coordinator Klint Kubiak must get better production out of a run game that was 31st in yards per carry in 2023 and in the bottom quarter of the NFL in explosive plays on the ground. The Saints need that run game complement to open up the passing game, especially since Carr posted the best QBR in 2023 when using play-action (86.8). -- Riddick
Nugget to know: The Saints had the oldest team in the NFL last season, with a snap-weighted age of 27.6. No other team was above 27.1. The Saints had the oldest offense (27.8), second-oldest defense (27.6) and sixth-oldest special teams (26.8). -- Schatz
32. Las Vegas Raiders Overall score: 66.2Reason for hope: The Raiders played well enough last season to allow then-interim coach Antonio Pierce to get the long-term job, so if nothing else, they have a coach with whom the players connect. Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins are outstanding defensive linemen, and the Raiders should be solid on that side of the ball. They're probably in the quarterback market next spring but should be well positioned to either draft one or find one in free agency. New GM Tom Telesco built and maintained consistently strong rosters during his time with the Chargers, which bodes well for Las Vegas. -- Graziano
Reason for concern: The Raiders needed a franchise QB to build around, and they tried desperately to get into position in the draft to select one. But six were off the board by the time they were drafting at No. 13, meaning they will enter this season with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell. Simply put, they have no chance for sustained success in the AFC West -- or the conference as a whole -- without a franchise passer. -- Riddick
Nugget to know: One of the most important players on the Raiders is edge rusher Malcolm Koonce, especially if 2023 first-round pick Tyree Wilson permanently moves to the inside. Somebody has to play opposite Crosby, and Koonce had 8.0 sacks and 29 pressures last season. He's 26 years old, but his original rookie contract ends after this season, so he will need an extension. -- Schatz
