Welcome to the 2024 NFL Power Rankings
After the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory in Super Bowl LVIII, it’s time to look ahead to the upcoming season. While it’s still early, and free agency and the NFL draft are yet to come, let’s assess the early outlook for each team and preview the offseason. Our power panel of over 80 writers, editors, and TV personalities has ranked the teams from 1 to 32. Here’s a breakdown of some teams:
Baltimore Ravens
2023 record: 13-4
Offseason in three words: Busy, busy, busy
The Ravens have a lot to address this offseason, with 25 unrestricted free agents, including key players like Justin Madubuike, Patrick Queen, and Kevin Zeitler. General manager Eric DeCosta acknowledges the challenge but believes in the team’s ability to draft well and make smart decisions.
Kansas City Chiefs
2023 record: 11-6
Offseason in three words: Goodbye, Chris Jones?
The Chiefs might have to part ways with Chris Jones, a potential unrestricted free agent, due to financial constraints. While they have prepared for this possibility by drafting defensive players in recent years, losing Jones would still be a significant blow to the team.
San Francisco 49ers
2023 record: 12-5
Offseason in three words: Keep Brandon Aiyuk
The 49ers have a chance to retain Brandon Aiyuk, who had an impressive season in 2023. While they have several big contracts on the books, they can structure a new deal for Aiyuk to keep him as a foundational player for the future.
Detroit Lions
2023 record: 12-5
Offseason in three words: Address the defense
The Lions had a strong offensive showing last season but need to focus on improving their defense. With the No. 29 overall pick in the draft, they should consider adding talent to their defensive line and secondary to strengthen their pass coverage.
Buffalo Bills
2023 record: 11-6
Offseason in three words: Make smart decisions
The Bills face cap limitations this offseason but must find ways to remain competitive. They will likely restructure contracts and look for solid talent in free agency. With 10 draft picks, they need to make impactful selections to continue their success.
Miami Dolphins
2023 record: 11-6
Offseason in three words: Cut some checks
The Dolphins have several players, including Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, and Tua Tagovailoa, who could sign major extensions
Macdonald’s Plan for the Seahawks
Macdonald won’t be co-opting the “Play like a Raven” saying with the Seahawks, but expect him to try to bring some Ravens coaches and/or players with him to Seattle. The Seahawks have to figure out if quarterback Geno Smith will be back in 2024, too. That will ultimately be up to John Schneider now that the general manager holds final say over personnel decisions. — Brady Henderson
Minnesota Vikings: Deciding on a Quarterback
The Vikings have an incumbent quarterback who is approaching his 36th birthday, is recovering from the first major injury of his pro career and has a contract that will void on March 13. There is no obvious heir on the roster. So the Vikings must first decide whether they can bring back Kirk Cousins and, whether they do or they don’t, begin the process of identifying his successor — all in the next three months. — Kevin Seifert
Chicago Bears: Justin or Caleb?
There is not a bigger decision to be made leaguewide than the direction the Bears will choose to go at quarterback this offseason — a choice that carries long-term, franchise-altering consequences. Justin Fields’ three-year evaluation has concluded, and the Bears have enough information to know whether sticking with him or using the No. 1 overall pick on USC’s Caleb Williams will put this team on a trajectory toward sustained success. Chicago can break the perpetual cycle of seldom drafting and developing a franchise quarterback by selecting the top player in the draft from a loaded group of QBs. Or if the Bears choose to trade the pick, they could command a haul that likely would net them even more than they got from sending the No. 1 pick to Carolina in 2023. — Courtney Cronin
New Orleans Saints: Maintaining Status Quo
The Saints parted ways with longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael with plans to hire Klint Kubiak and will have several new assistants on the offensive side. For now, the Saints don’t appear to have any major player changes on the horizon. GM Mickey Loomis still feels the window is open for this team to be successful, which could mean another year where they attempt to keep the roster together in hopes of making it to the playoffs, with a few exceptions. — Katherine Terrell
Denver Broncos: Find a Quarterback Again
The Broncos went all-in on Russell Wilson two years ago by trading five draft picks and three starters and awarding Wilson a nine-digit contract. But now they seem poised to say goodbye if they release Wilson in the coming weeks, as most expect. But they don’t have many draft picks in April (six) and the cap will be a challenge. Denver says it has a plan, but it will have to be a good one. — Jeff Legwold
Las Vegas Raiders: Running it Back Kind of
Because while Antonio Pierce had the “interim” tag removed from his coaching title to become the Raiders’ official head coach, and interim general manager Champ Kelly reassumed his title of assistant GM, giving an oft-rollicking roster a sense of continuity and relief, there is a new GM in Tom Telesco. How the trio vibes together will go a long way in showing stability, let alone reimagining the offense. Because, yes, the Raiders need a franchise quarterback despite the workmanlike showing of rookie Aidan O’Connell last season. — Paul Gutierrez
Los Angeles Chargers: Salary Cap Hell
The Chargers are projected to be $54.2 million over the salary cap next season. They have a roster that touts star players, and on paper, they seem like they could contend, especially after hiring former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. That could result in contract restructuring instead of trading or releasing players such as OLB Joey Bosa or WR Mike Williams. But pushing money ahead will only give the Chargers more cap issues in the future. One of Harbaugh’s first major tasks will be deciding how to move forward. — Kris Rhim
Atlanta Falcons: Solve the Quarterback
Now that Atlanta has hired a new coach (Raheem Morris) and offensive coordinator (Zac Robinson), the franchise has to figure out who is going to be running the show. That Morris didn’t mention Taylor Heinicke or Desmond Ridder when he answered questions about the quarterback position at his introductory news conference said a lot — especially since he named a bunch of outside ways to get better play at the position. Does it come through the draft? Free agency? A trade? Any — or possibly more than one — are possibilities. — Michael Rothstein
New York Giants: Some Big Decisions
The Giants are at a crossroads with impending free agent running back Saquon Barkley. It’s either now or never in terms of marrying their running back long-term. New York also needs to decide if it’s willing to build the team around quarterback Daniel Jones in a year where it has the No. 6 overall pick and plenty of draft capital. Drafting a QB is clearly an option with Jones’ injury history now including two neck injuries and a torn ACL. — Jordan Raanan
Tennessee Titans: Fix the O-line
The Titans’ offense was paralyzed last season by poor play in the trenches. Tennessee’s 64 sacks allowed were tied with the Jets for the third most. All of the blame can’t be placed on the offensive line. But Jaelyn Duncan (16, third) and Andre Dillard (13, sixth) were among the top 10 offensive linemen in sacks given up. The Titans will need to upgrade at least two of their five offensive line starters. Expect Tennessee to make a move in free agency. The Titans will also likely address the position in a draft class that is very deep there. — Turron Davenport
Arizona Cardinals: Build the Roster
The Cardinals saw glimpses of how good they could be throughout their four-win season, so now it’s time for Arizona to address a slew of deficiencies on both sides of the ball. The team will do that through free agency, which the Cardinals are expected to use to rebuild their defense, and the draft, where they are projected to address a significant need at WR1 with the No. 4 overall pick. Adding the right players — not necessarily a lot of players — could project the Cardinals into the playoff conversation next season. — Josh Weinfuss
New England Patriots: Times Are A-Changin’
What Bob Dylan wrote in 1964 holds true as Jerod Mayo succeeds Bill Belichick as head coach after 24 years. Consider that during Belichick’s tenure as New England’s coach, the NFL’s other 31 franchises had hired 213 head coaches. The No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft is also the franchise’s highest pick in Robert Kraft’s 31-year ownership tenure. — Mike Reiss
Washington Commanders: A New Beginning
Washington has a new owner (Josh Harris), general manager (Adam Peters) and head coach (Dan Quinn) hoping to revive a franchise whose fan base has endured one tough season after another; the team has won three playoff games since winning a Super Bowl after the 1991 season. The Commanders can help themselves more by spending wisely in free agency (they’re projected to have the most cap room in the NFL this offseason) and by drafting well (they have the No. 2 pick, which they can use to find a quarterback of the future, and own five picks in the top 100). — John Keim
Carolina Panthers: Another Coaching Change
The Panthers made Dave Canales their third non-interim head coach in less than three years and fourth since 2019. They did it to help turn around quarterback Bryce Young, whom Canales called an “amazing talent.’ ‘ Canales hopes to do what he did for Baker Mayfield this past season and Geno Smith in 2022. Both had career seasons. Young needs support after ranking next to last in Total QBR during his rookie season. — David Newton