The NFL offseason is a time of hope and renewal for all 32 teams. But as we count down to the start of the 2024 season, some teams are more hopeful than others. In this article, we’ll take a look at the teams that are poised for success, and those that still have a long way to go.
The Carolina Panthers: A New Era?
The Panthers hired a new head coach, Dave Canales, who did wonders for Baker Mayfield’s career as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator. They spent big on guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, traded for receiver Diontae Johnson, and drafted receiver Xavier Legette, running back Jonathon Brooks, and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. But despite these moves, the Panthers still have massive holes on both sides of the ball. And with team owner David Tepper still calling the shots, it’s hard to trust that the Panthers won’t make another U-turn when they get impatient with losing again.
The Panthers are hoping to turn things around with their new coach and offseason moves.
The New England Patriots: A New Era
The Patriots drafted North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, who along with head coach Jerod Mayo, will lead the Patriots into a brand new era. The fact that multiple teams were excited to trade up for that third overall pick should tell the Patriots that staying put and drafting Maye was the right thing to do. But the Patriots still need to restock the roster, and Maye’s aggressive nature could become a problem with turnovers.
Drake Maye is the future of the Patriots franchise.
The Denver Broncos: A Long Way to Go
Rookie Bo Nix isn’t guaranteed to start Week 1, but he’ll start soon. The problem is there isn’t much around him. Patrick Surtain II is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, the offensive line isn’t terrible, and receiver Courtland Sutton scored 10 touchdowns last season. But that’s about it. It’s not a team that is equipped to win soon, even if the QB6 in this draft class is a hit right away.
The Broncos are still rebuilding after last season’s 8-9 record.
The Washington Commanders: A Quick Turnaround?
Grabbing a coach who was in demand, a GM everyone wanted, and a quarterback who practically everyone ranked second in the draft class is a good offseason. That’s the type of nucleus that can turn around a franchise very fast. But it’s hard to replicate the Texans’ quick turnaround, which was a perfect storm of good coaching, good drafting, and young players breaking out at the same time.
The Commanders are hoping to turn things around with their new coach and offseason moves.
As we count down to the start of the 2024 season, it’s clear that some teams are more hopeful than others. But with the NFL, you never know what can happen. Maybe the Panthers will surprise us all and make a deep playoff run. Maybe the Patriots will find a way to win despite their roster holes. And maybe the Broncos will find a way to overcome their lack of talent. One thing is for sure, though - the 2024 NFL season is going to be a wild ride.
