The Kansas City Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions, leaving 31 other teams playing catch up in the 2024 NFL offseason. That kicked off with the start of free agency in March, as teams made moves to strengthen their rosters, veterans found new teams, and a couple of trades shook up the landscape of the league.

The current powerhouses: the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, didn’t have to make any drastic moves in March. But teams like the Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles made aggressive moves to remain competitive. The Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys, on the other hand, felt like they lost more than they gained despite both falling short in the playoffs once again last season. Other teams, like the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, are relying on their start quarterbacks coming back from injury to restore their relevance.

The biggest moves of the off-season included Kirk Cousins becoming the Atlanta Falcons next starting quarterback, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields ending up in Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback room, the Baltimore Ravens signing star running back Derrick Henry, and the Houston Texans doubling down on last season’s success with not only the signing of Joe Mixon, but also a trade for elite wideout Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills.

There’s still plenty of time to go before the NFL kicks off in September, and the 2024 NFL Draft, as well as any other potential trades and signings, will affect the landscape of the league. But as things stand, after the introductory free agency period has settled, here are how the 32 NFL teams stack up.

Read on for my Post-Free Agency Power Rankings, and if you’d like to debate or discuss any rankings, or want to follow for more NFL content including Picks and Power Rankings, be sure to connect with Sak Sports Blog on Twitter or on Facebook!

Post-Free Agency Power Rankings

(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
  1. Kansas City Chiefs [Final 2023 Ranking: 1]
    • The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t get much better or worse in 2024 free agency, parting ways with Marquez Valdes-Scantling but adding Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. But as back-to-back Super Bowl champions, the collective league target still lands on the backs of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs until further notice.
  2. San Francisco 49ers [Final 2023 Ranking: 2]
    • The San Francisco 49ers have been right there as one of the best teams in the league for the past two seasons: falling in the 2023 NFC Championship Game after every quarterback on the roster was injured, and then losing by the slimmest of margins in Super Bowl 58. This roster won’t be together forever, but as long as the core pieces remain in place, San Francisco should be favored to run back another NFC title in 2024-25.
  3. Detroit Lions [Final 2023 Ranking: 4]
    • Despite losing a couple starters in free agency, the Detroit Lions are better on paper now than they were a couple of months ago, thanks to key additions on the defensive side of the ball, where they were needed most. Jared Goff, Dan Campbell, and the Lions will look to continue their rise to power next season.
  1. Baltimore Ravens [Final 2023 Ranking: 3]
    • I absolutely love the pairing of two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and longtime Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry. I think this combination will open up new offensive opportunities for the Baltimore Ravens. But the Ravens also lost a lot of talent of both sides of the football: running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Laquon Treadwell, offensive guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, pass-rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, and key linebacker Patrick Queen, to name a few.
  2. Houston Texans [Final 2023 Ranking: 6]
    • The Houston Texans had one of the most successful seasons of any team in 2023-24: going from being the second-worst team in the league in 2022-23 and using that draft position to land a superstar in C.J. Stroud. Stroud became the first rookie in over a decade to win a playoff game, and the future already looked bright. But after landing Joe Mixon, Danielle Hunter, and Stefon Diggs, Houston has upped the ante heading in to Stroud’s second season.
  3. Buffalo Bills [Final 2023 Ranking: 5]
    • The Buffalo Bills were a bit streaky last season, but remained one of the strongest teams in the AFC behind Josh Allen’s offense. Losing Gabriel Davis might hurt the offense a tad, and a couple of cap-casualty cuts may hurt in the locker room. Buffalo hasn’t made a huge splash in free agency, but with their position as a perennial AFC contender in the Allen era, doing something drastic wasn’t necessary. UPDATE: Buffalo has also parted ways with their WR1, Stefon Diggs, which certainly impacts the Bills’ usually stellar offense.
  4. Miami Dolphins [Final 2023 Ranking: 9]
    • Early last season, I saw the Miami Dolphins as Super Bowl contenders. But Miami lost their chance to win the AFC East and had an early playoff exit at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill still make up one of the best offenses on the league. On the defensive side of the ball there was some turnover this offseason, and how successful those changes are will dictate whether the Dolphins can make the jump to Super Bowl contenders, or if “playoff team” is their ceiling.
  1. Philadelphia Eagles [Final 2023 Ranking: 15]
    • The Philadelphia Eagles are just a year removed from coming one drive short of a Super Bowl 57 win. After sputtering out towards the finish last season, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles lost their identity a bit. Next year’s team will be different: D’Andre Swift will be out, but Saquon Barkley, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Devin White, and Bryce Huff are in. If the Eagles can get back to their winning formula, another deep playoff run is possible: but if the end of last season bleeds in to this one, there could be trouble brewing in Philadelphia.
  2. Dallas Cowboys [Final 2023 Ranking: 7]
    • Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys were an elite regular season team in 2023-24, but choked in the postseason once again to leave a disappointing taste in fans mouths. It’s fickle ground for Dallas: sustained regular season success isn’t easy to come by in the NFL, but especially for a franchise like the Cowboys, postseason success matters too. So far, the Cowboys haven’t done anything drastic, mostly letting pieces go including two starting offensive lineman. I don’t doubt Dallas will field a competitive roster by Week 1, but without any major moves, it’s hard to see next year being the Cowboys year.
  3. Cincinnati Bengals [Final 2023 Ranking: 13]
    • For the second time in his four-year career, Joe Burrow ended the season on the sideline for the Cincinnati Bengals. The two seasons Burrow saw to the end? A Super Bowl loss and an AFC Championship Game loss. While there’s been some changeover since the Bengals’ Super Bowl 56 appearance, the core is still there, and ready to compete when healthy. Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd headline some departures, but Cincinnati still has Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (for now at least.)
  4. Green Bay Packers [Final 2023 Ranking: 8]
    • I slept on the Green Bay Packers at the end of last season, but after Jordan Love dominated the Cowboys defense in the Wildcard Round of the playoffs, the Packers’ future may be brighter than I thought. Green Bay’s roster is only getting better with the additional cap flexibility of the post-Aaron Rodgers era, and the Packers brought in running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney to soup up the roster heading in to next season.
  5. Cleveland Browns [Final 2023 Ranking: 11]
    • The Cleveland Browns experienced a late-season surge with quarterback Joe Flacco last year. Moving back to Deshaun Watson, Cleveland had Amari Cooper, David Njoku, Nick Chubb, and now, Jerry Jeudy on offense, as well as an incredibly tough defense. On paper, Cleveland remains an AFC North and overall AFC contender, but it all depends on how Watson preforms in his return to the starting role.
  1. Pittsburgh Steelers [Final 2023 Ranking: 12]
    • Mike Tomlin always keeps the Pittsburgh Steelers competitive. Even in the Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph eras, the Steelers implemented ground-and-pound offense and stout, textbook defense to stifle opponents, keep games close, and come out with more winning records and playoff berths than some franchises have ever seen. That’s why I have no doubt that whatever happens with this new Russell Wilson/Justin Fields situation, Pittsburgh will find a way to finish with nine or ten wins and potentially secure a playoff spot.
  2. Chicago Bears [Final 2023 Ranking: 17]
    • The talk of the off-season was whether the Chicago Bears would roll with Justin Fields at quarterback and earn themselves another slew of picks, or if they would use the first overall pick on Caleb Williams: and they have appeared to do the latter, shipping Fields to Pittsburgh on the final year of his rookie contract. While Williams isn’t technically a Bear yet, there’s still a strong shell in place: Chicago added dynamic running back D’Andre Swift and veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen to an offense that already featured D.J. Moore, Khalil Herbert, and Cole Kmet. Chicago is going to be an extremely interesting team to watch next season.
  3. Los Angeles Rams [Final 2023 Ranking: 10]
    • Last year, I harped on how much talent the Los Angeles Rams’ roster possessed, even during times of struggle. The Rams were able to finish with a relatively strong 10-7 record, and entering the fourth season of the Matthew Stafford era with two of the best wide receivers in the game, and Los Angeles should remain competitive in 2024-25 season. The elephant in the room, of course, is the loss of star defensive tackle Aaron Donald to retirement.
  4. Jacksonville Jaguars [Final 2023 Ranking: 19]
    • This is where the teams start to get a little more flawed. Despite being the presumptive AFC South favorite and holding the position early on in the season, Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars faded down the stretch and lost their shot at the playoffs. Jacksonville went all-in a couple off-season’s ago, and it appeared to be paying off. But now, 2024-25 will be a make-or-break year for Lawrence and the Jaguars. Jacksonville added defensive end Arik Armstead to bolster their defense. The Jaguars lost wide receiver Calvin Ridley in free agency, but added dependable Bills receiver Gabriel Davis.
  5. New York Jets [Final 2023 Ranking: 27]
    • The New York Jets roster was a quarterback away from contention heading in to last season: the Jets got their man (Aaron Rodgers) and it still didn’t work out, with Rodgers going down on the Jets literal opening drive in Week 1. Even so, a disgruntled Zach Wilson and Trevor Siemian had the Jets finishing at a reasonable 7-10 last season. You have to think Rodgers could flip New York’s record in to winning territory. In addition to Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, and Allan Lazard, the offense also gained veteran pass-catcher Mike Williams this offseason.
  6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [Final 2023 Ranking: 14]
    • The Baker Mayfield experiment worked out pretty well for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as they finished 9-8, won the NFC South, and even won a playoff game over the Eagles. But the Buccaneers still finished with honors relative to their competition: a 9-8 winner of the NFC South would be a non-playoff team in any other division. That’s not a slight to Mayfield and the offense, it’s just the reality of the situation. Additionally, Tampa Bay has lost some defensive firepower, including Shaq Barrett, Devin White, and William Gholston.
  7. New Orleans Saints [Final 2023 Ranking: 20]
    • The New Orleans Saints have one of the steadiest hands at quarterback in the NFC South in Derek Carr (save for Kirk Cousins, who will likely supersede Carr once he takes a snap for Atlanta.) But after losing longtime security blanket Michael Thomas as well as three offensive linemen, New Orleans could be forced to go through a transitory period in 2024-25. The Saints’ big offseason addition was pass-rusher Chase Young.
  8. Atlanta Falcons [Final 2023 Ranking: 26]
    • The Atlanta Falcons absolutely stumbled upwards to a 7-10 record last season, staying in playoff contention well in to December. Heading into last season, I pegged Atlanta has a four to five win team, and truthfully, I think they were a five or six win team that got a little lucky. There’s offensive pieces to be excited about, and now, there’s even a competent quarterback: Kirk Cousins. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Falcons as a non-playoff team once again.
  9. Indianapolis Colts [Final 2023 Ranking: 16]
    • The Indianapolis Colts have the tools to be a competitive team next season, but only time will tell if they hold up. Jonathan Taylor, Zack Moss, and Michael Pittman Jr. are still in the building. Anthony Richardson looked promising before a season-ending injury in his rookie season. The Colts won six of their final nine games last year to finish with a respectable 9-8 record. Indianapolis appears to be a team on the rise, but one mistake or unfortunate injury could easily set that plan back another year.
  10. Seattle Seahawks [Final 2023 Ranking: 18]
    • The Seattle Seahawks, just a season removed from a playoff appearance and a game out of playoff contention last year with a 9-8 record, are not a bad team. The only reason Seattle finds themselves slipping in my Power Rankings is that the Seahawks haven’t been as aggressive in getting better as the teams in front of them. Seattle did trade for Washington quarterback Sam Howell in the offseason, which is certainly a more medium-to-long term move. Geno Smith is still QB1 in Seattle as the Seahawks attempt to regain a playoff position in 2024-25.
  11. Los Angeles Chargers [Final 2023 Ranking: 30]
    • On paper, the Los Angeles Chargers are a threat whenever Justin Herbert takes the field. But for whatever reason, it just never works out: poor defense, turnovers, injuries, you name it, and the Chargers have probably experienced it over the last two or three seasons. The offense will feel different without longtime wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but maybe a youth takeover at the position will benefit Herbert. The Chargers were considered pseudo-contenders over the past two seasons, but feel a little incomplete right now, and could use some more roster moves before the season begins. This year makes the beginning of the Jim Harbaugh-era in Los Angeles.
  12. Las Vegas Raiders [Final 2023 Ranking: 22]
    • No matter what was thrown the Las Vegas Raiders’ way last season, the team remained surpassingly competitive, earning an 8-9 record despite quarterback injuries and concerns. Jimmy Garoppolo is out now, and Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell are Las Vegas’ options right now. While it’s one of the weaker quarterback rooms in the league on paper, I wouldn’t doubt the Raiders are able to make another seven-to-nine win run this season. And if Vegas figures out the quarterback position (or Minshew just absolutely kills it)? The Raiders could easily rise up the ranks of the NFL in those scenario.
  13. Tennessee Titans [Final 2023 Ranking: 25]
    • Don’t sleep on the Tennessee Titans heading in to next season. Besides the addition of Calvin Ridley, who was a little expensive but should look good at wide receiver next to Deandre Hopkins, the Titans made a slew of quiet, solid signings as they attempt to bounce back from a subpar 6-11 record. Obviously, losing Derrick Henry completely changes this team’s identity, and I’m not saying Henry wasn’t working for Tennessee anymore, but there always comes a time for change. The quarterback situation will make-or-break the Titans next season: if either Will Levis, Mason Rudolph, or Malik Willis can get the ball in to the hands of Tennessee’s talented playmakers, the Titans could be a surprising team.
  14. Arizona Cardinals [Final 2023 Ranking: 28]
    • For as poor as the Arizona Cardinals performed last season, quarterback Kyler Murray proved he can still be a game-changer and keep Arizona in games they would otherwise have no business being in. Still, the Cardinals’ complete lack of competitiveness in Murray’s absence shows that this version of the team may have already peaked a couple seasons ago with a playoff appearance.
  15. Minnesota Vikings [Final 2023 Ranking: 23]
    • The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of talent still, and haven’t hit the full rebuild button (yet. That would likely look like trading star wide receiver Justin Jefferson.) But no matter how much Sam Darnold may have learned on the bench in San Francisco, I have steep doubts that the former Jets/Panthers/49ers journeyman will step in and lead the Vikings to the playoffs. Does Minnesota blow it up, or go all-in and try to (somehow) upgrade at the quarterback position before September?
  16. New York Giants [Final 2023 Ranking: 24]
    • Speaking of teams that peaked with a playoff appearance a couple of seasons ago, the New York Giants are in absolute freefall mode and have no direction in their Daniel Jones era. New York rewarded Jones with a big contract after a playoff appearance in head coach Brian Daboll’s first season with the team: and it’s all been all downhill from there. To make matters worse, running back Saquon Barkley, a key offensive contributor and fan favorite, skipped town in free agency for the NFC East rival Eagles. The Giants may enjoy a feel-good Tommy DeVito-type stretch every now and then, but as currently constructed, New York is not ready to put up a winning record in 2024-25.
  17. Denver Broncos [Final 2023 Ranking: 21]
    • I have no idea what is happening here. It’s not too hard to see why the Denver Broncos dumped Russell Wilson after just two seasons with the team, but after mortgaging their future not once but twice (trading for head coach Sean Payton as well), I’m not sure where Denver goes from here. Denver also parted ways with fan favorites Jerry Jeudy and Justin Simmons, leaving the roster feeling like a relatively blank slate right now. Whoever the quarterback will be, the addition of Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds is a decent one.
  18. New England Patriots [Final 2023 Ranking: 29]
    • I lamented on the direction-less Giants and Broncos (coincidentally, the two teams I cover and follow the most), but as of right now, the New England Patriots are pretty darn-directionless as well. Of course, things could change drastically after New England makes a Top Five selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, perhaps a quarterback, but if it’s not Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, the Patriots could easily find themselves with another subpar career backup, the kind they’ve been employing in the post-Tom Brady era. I’m not sure Brady himself could even make this current roster a competitive one: Jacoby Brissett, Bailey Zappe, and unnamed rookie quarterback definitely won’t be able to.
  19. Washington Commanders [Final 2023 Ranking: 31]
    • Any flashes that Washington Commanders fans thought they might have seen in Sam Howell can be thrown away, with Howell being traded to the Seahawks. Marcus Mariota, Jeff Driskel, and Jake Fromm currently make up one of the least exciting quarterback rooms in the entire league. Washington has nice pieces on offense, like Terry McLaurin, and added veterans Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz this offseason. The Commanders have a lot of work to do in the 2024 NFL Draft, which may include drafting a quarterback.
  20. Carolina Panthers [Final 2023 Ranking: 32]
    • The Carolina Panthers lost in their massive trade for last year’s first overall pick. Bryce Young isn’t a bust, but with C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, heck, even Tommy DeVito looking serviceable, the Panthers mortgaged their future for a quarterback with a low ceiling. The Panthers of course can’t capitalize on their 2-15 finish from last season, giving up the first pick in this year’s draft to the Bears, who will take a likely generational talent in Caleb Willams. New wide receiver Diontae Johnson won’t be enough to push the needle for Young in Year 2.

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