With the conclusion of the National Football League (NFL) preseason, the 2024 regular season will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 5 with a rematch from last season’s AFC Championship between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens. Every team and fan base are looking forward to their clean slate in the upcoming season after making changes to their team through the draft and free agency.
In this article, all four of the NFC divisions in the NFL and the teams within them will be ranked based on their promise for the coming season from best to worst. Within these rankings will be an overview of each team and what can lead them to that spot.
AFC East
1.) Miami Dolphins
Record Prediction: (12-5)
Offseason Additions: The most notable pickup Miami made for their offense was through free agency as they signed the veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year contract. Even though Beckham isn’t nearly the receiver he used to be, he is definitely great as their third receiver in the offensive scheme that spreads the ball across the board. Miami also added some other high-profile veterans to their defense with Calais Campbell to help on the defensive line and Jordan Poyer as their new safety. Even though these veteran players aren’t nearly the same as they used to be, they will still get the job done on a very good Miami roster.
Returning Players: The Dolphins have plenty of talent coming back to their electric offense this year. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will look to continue his improvement over the past few seasons as he had his best season in 2023 while staying healthy the whole year. Tagovailoa will yet again have some of the best receiving threats to throw to with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Hill had the best season yet in his incredible career as he ended 2023 with the most receiving yards and touchdowns in the league. Waddle has also put up great numbers as the second receiver as he has gone for over 1,000 yards in every season since he was drafted in 2021. Miami also has some great defensive backs returning to the team with Jalen Ramsey at corner and Jevon Holland at safety.
Why they are ranked here: After ending the season tied as the number one team in the AFC East, Miami showed that they can compete with any team out there. The best part about this team is their offense with some of the most speed in the league that has been one of the highest scoring units in the league since Mike McDaniel took over as head coach.
2.) New York Jets
Record Prediction: (11-6)
Offseason Additions: The biggest addition to the Jets offense this season was to their receiving room as they signed Mike Williams, the veteran wide receiver that spent the first seven years of his career with the Chargers. One thing that has been a problem for Williams is his ability to stay healthy for a whole season. However, he proved to be a great threat in the Chargers offense with Justin Herbert. They also added another key piece to their offensive line as they drafted Olu Fashanu, the offensive tackle out of Penn State, with their first-round pick.
Returning Players: Many Jets fans are looking forward to the return of Aaron Rodgers in the upcoming season after his devastating Achillies injury that sidelined him for the entire 2023 season. Even at the age of 40, many believe that Rodgers can lead this team to a great season and possibly deep into the playoffs. Garrett Wilson will be returning as the number one receiver in this offense and has the potential to be one of the best receivers in the league with a good quarterback throwing him the ball. Breece Hall is yet another elite young player returning to this offense, and many believe that he will have his first huge season in 2024. The most notable players returning to the Jets defense are Quinnen Williams as the leader of the defensive line and arguably one of the best cornerbacks in the league with Sauce Gardner.
Why they are ranked here: After their season was derailed by the season ending injury of their quarterback, the Jets look like they can bounce back and be a contender to be the leader of their division. With the amount of talent the Jets have around the board, they could easily be one of the better teams in the league this season.
3.) Buffalo Bills
Record Prediction: (9-8)
Offseason Additions: After trading away Stefon Diggs, the Bills moved to take a wide receiver in the draft as they selected Keon Coleman with their early second round pick. Coleman was a great receiver at Florida State in 2023 as he was their top touchdown target with 11 touchdowns on the year.
Returning Players: Superstar quarterback Josh Allen will be out to lead the Buffalo offense for his seventh season and might have a tougher time leading this team to the success they have had as of late due to the loss of his number one receiver. Even with that loss, Allen is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league and can lead this team to wins against some other great teams. Buffalo will also have James Cook going into his third year in the backfield after having a breakout season where he broke the 1,000 rushing yard mark.
Why they are ranked here: After being one of the best teams in the league over the last few seasons, the Bills can be taking a step back this year after losing more key players than they gained. It will be interesting to see how this offense can perform after they lost their star receiver via trade over the offseason.
4.) New England Patriots
Record Prediction: (4-13)
Offseason Additions: After their failed experiment with Mac Jones, the Patriots moved to select Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the draft. Maye is New England’s new hope as the franchise quarterback as he showed off a great arm and mobility at North Carolina and made some great plays in the preseason. However, the Patriots did announce that they would start the veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett while Maye learns more of the system and adapts to the pace of play in the NFL.
Returning Players: With the obvious rebuild on their hands, the only Patriots players worth noting that are returning to this team are the talented defensive backs they have built up with Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, and Christian Gonzalez.
AFC North
1.) Baltimore Ravens
Record Prediction: (13-4)
Offseason Additions: The Ravens went out and added yet another elite player to their offense over the offseason as they signed Derrick Henry, the powerful back that has been one of the best running backs in the league since he was drafted by the Titans in 2016. Henry will be a great threat in this Baltimore offense that will now have two huge rushing threats in Henry and Lamar Jackson.
Returning Players: Lamar Jackson will be out to lead this Baltimore offense after becoming MVP for the second time in his career. Jackson is a nightmare for every defense he faces as he can gash them with his arm and his electrifying runs. Zay Flowers will be back as his number one receiver after showing flashes of being a great receiving threat at the end of his rookie season in 2023. Baltimore will also have their star tight end Mark Andrews returning to the team as they hope he can stay healthier after he was riddled with injuries last year. The Ravens defensive line is highlighted by Nnamdi Madubuike, the young defensive tackle that ended his latest season with an impressive 13 sacks. They will also see the return of veteran linebacker Roquan Smith, who was arguably the best linebacker in the league in his first year with the Ravens. To cap off this great defense, they have some of the best defensive backs in the league with Marlon Humphrey at corner along with Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton at safety.
Why they are ranked here: After the 2023 regular season concluded, many believed that the Ravens would be a Super Bowl favorite before they took a loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship. Due to their dominance in 2023 and their addition of one of the best running backs in the league, it is very likely that the Ravens are one of the best teams out there yet again.
2.) Cincinnati Bengals
Record Prediction: (11-6)
Offseason Additions: After yet another season of lackluster protection from their offensive line, Cincinnati selected Amarius Mims, the talented offensive tackle out of Georgia, with their first-round pick. Cincinnati experimented with Mims at both left and right tackle recently as they decide what is his best fit in the offense.
Returning Players: Cincinnati will look forward to the return of their star quarterback Joe Burrow, who had an early end to his season in 2023 after tearing a ligament in his wrist. Burrow might have to spend some time without Ja’Marr Chase, his number one target even since their time in LSU together, as he is looking to become one of the highest paid receivers out there with a new contract extension. Tee Higgins is another great receiver on this Cincinnati offense as he has proven to be a huge threat in the Cincinnati offense that pushes the ball downfield through the air very often. The best player returning to the Bengals defense is Trey Hendrickson, who will look to follow up his incredible 2023 season as he racked up 17.5 sacks that ended up being the second most in the league.
Why they are ranked here: After the unfortunate injury to their star quarterback last season, the Bengals will be back out to regain control of the AFC North. With their high-powered offense, the Bengals could likely compete with any team out there this season.
3.) Cleveland Browns
Record Prediction: (9-8)
Offseason Additions: The biggest addition the Browns made to their offense was Jerry Jeudy, the former first-round receiver that spent the last four seasons in Denver. Jeudy will look forward to a fresh start in Cleveland as he hasn’t exactly lived up to his expectations so far.
Returning Players: Deshaun Watson will be back out to lead the Cleveland offense after only playing six games in 2023 due to a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Veteran receiver Amari Cooper will look to keep up his success from last season as he was the clear number one target and went for over 1,200 receiving yards even after Cleveland lost their starting quarterback. The Browns have a great defensive line returning this season as it is highlighted with Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith as the veteran leaders of the group. The best defensive back returning to the Cleveland defense is Denzel Ward, who has been their number one corner since he was drafted top five in 2018.
Why they are ranked here: The Browns have a great group of players returning in 2024 after surprising many by making the playoffs even after Deshaun Watson went down so early in the year. Cleveland can easily make it back to where they were last season if they are able to keep their star players healthy.
4.) Pittsburgh Steelers
Record Prediction: (7-10)
Offseason Additions: The Steelers completely revamped their quarterback room this offseason as they went out to get the veteran quarterback Russell Wilson and young quarterback Justin Fields. Following their quarterback battle, Pittsburgh named Wilson as the starting quarterback to kick off the season. It will be interesting to see how this season unfolds as Fields showed plenty of potential in his latest season with the Bears.
Returning Players: The number one receiver returning to the Steelers offense this season will be George Pickens, the talented receiving threat who will look to continue last year’s success in which he went for over 1,000 yards in just his second season. Pittsburgh will also have the great running back duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren returning. The Steelers will also have one of the best pass rushers in the league back with T.J. Watt, the superstar edge rusher that led the league in sacks last season with 19. Along with some great pass rushers, Pittsburgh has some very talented defensive backs with Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joey Porter Jr. highlighting the bunch.
Why they are ranked here: The Steelers will be an interesting team to watch this season as they made a huge change to the team dynamic with their new quarterback room. The biggest question that fans will have this season is if Justin Fields will get a chance to take over the team and show some of the potential he had before getting dumped by Chicago.
AFC West
1.) Kansas City Chiefs
Record Prediction: (14-3)
Offseason Additions: After having some problems with their receiving room in 2023, the Chiefs brought in a couple new wide receivers to the offense over the offseason. The first receiver they added was through the first round of the draft with their selection of Xavier Worthy, the dominant receiver out of Texas. Worthy showcased blazing speed during the NFL Combine as he set the new record for the 40-yard dash. The Chiefs added yet another great speed threat to their receiving room as they signed Marquise Brown, who spent his last two seasons with the Cardinals.
Returning Players: Kansas City will have Patrick Mahomes to lead out their team for his seventh season as the starting quarterback. Mahomes has proven throughout his career that he can take the team deep into the playoffs and even to Super Bow wins every year. They also have Isiah Pacheco, the young running back going into his third season in the league. Pacheco took over as the true number one running back last year as he took on a big role in both the running and receiving game. The Chiefs will also look forward to the return of all their key defensive players that played great in 2023. George Karlaftis and Chris Jones are both dominating forces on the defensive line as they each ended the year with over 10 sacks.
Why they are ranked here: After winning all their success and their second straight Super Bowl victory, it is very hard to see any time the Chiefs would be out of contention to go deep in the playoffs when Mahomes is their quarterback. Kansas City is definitely an early favorite to go to the Super Bowl again this season.
2.) Las Vegas Raiders
Record Prediction: (9-8)
Offseason Additions: The biggest change the Raiders made to their offense was with their signing of Gradner Minshew, who will be playing for his fourth team in just six years in the league. Las Vegas also announced that Minshew would lead the team as their starting quarterback to begin the new season. They also used their first-round pick to add another great weapon for this offense as they selected Brock Bowers, who was the most dominant tight end out there in his time with Georgia. The biggest addition the Raiders made to the defense this offseason was Christian Wilkins, the defensive tackle that spent four years in Miami before having his breakout season in 2023 as he racked up nine sacks.
Returning Players: The Raiders have a great wide receiver duo returning this season with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Both receivers will look to start the season off in good rhythm with Minshew after having an interesting quarterback situation last season. The best player on the Las Vegas defense will be Maxx Crosby, the dominant defensive end who has been one of the best pass rushers in the league over the past few seasons.
Why they are ranked here: Following a disappointing season in 2023, the Raiders did make a couple improvements to the team and hope that they can have a little more improvement with their quarterback play. With some of the great playmakers they have on their roster, it is possible that the Raiders will make a push for the playoffs this season.
3.) Los Angeles Chargers
Record Prediction: (8-9)
Offseason Additions: The Chargers decided to spend their number five overall pick in the draft to select Joe Alt, the big left tackle out of Notre Dame, as their new right tackle for the future. This was a very needed move by Los Angeles as protection for their star quarterback was a glaring issue.
Returning Players: Star quarterback Justin Herbert will be back to lead the Los Angeles for his fifth season in the league. Herbert might struggle a bit more than he has in previous years due to his top receivers leaving the team over the offseason. The Chargers defensive line is highlighted by their veteran rushers with Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa coming off the edge. Mack had one of the best seasons in his incredible career last year as he was top five in the league with 17 sacks. They also have some great defensive backs on the defense with the veteran Derwin James at safety and Asante Samuel Jr. as an up-and-coming cornerback.
Why they are ranked here: After losing some of their best players recently, it looks like the Chargers will be on the road to a rebuild pretty soon. There are plenty of holes to fill on this roster and it seems like the only piece holding this team somewhat together is Justin Herbert. It will be interesting to see how this Los Angeles offense performs after they lost most of their key players.
4.) Denver Broncos
Record Prediction: (4-13)
Offseason Additions: The Broncos made a big move for their future through the 2024 draft as they selected Bo Nix, the talented quarterback that made a name for himself in his latest season with Oregon, with hopes of him becoming the franchise quarterback of the future. Denver also announced that Nix would be the starting quarterback to begin the season.
Returning Players: The number one receiver returning to the offense will be Courtland Sutton, who will be going into his seventh season with the Broncos and was one of their best threats in the end zone in the 2023 season. The most notable player returning to the Broncos is Pat Surtain, the fourth-year cornerback that has been one of the best corners in the league since he joined the league in 2021.
Why they are ranked here: With the lack of talent the Broncos have across the board on their lineup, it is obvious they have a rebuild on their hands for the foreseeable future. The most important thing for Denver fans to look for in the coming season is how well their
AFC South
1.) Houston Texans
Record Prediction: (12-5)
Offseason Additions: The Texans followed their breakout season with some of the most high-profile pickups in the offseason. The biggest move they made was bringing in star receiver Stefon Diggs, the veteran receiver who has consistently been one of the best receivers in the league since 2018. They also brought in Joe Mixon, the star running back who was great in his seven seasons with Cincinnati. Houston also brought in a dominant pass rusher in Danielle Hunter, the veteran defensive end who ended his 2023 season with 16.5 sacks.
Returning Players: The Texans are looking forward to the return of C.J. Stroud for his second season as their franchise quarterback after he led a team with many questions around it to a win in the playoffs last year. Stroud has been set up to have plenty of success this season after the amount of weapons Houston gave to him on this offense. They will also have a very good group of receiving threats returning with Nico Collins and Tank Dell at receiver while Dalton Schultz plays a good role at the tight end position. The most notable player returning to the Texans defense is Will Anderson, who will look to build on his latest season in which he received the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Why they are ranked here: After having some of the biggest pickups out there this offseason, the Texans have put themselves in a very good position to make a deep run in the playoffs this season. If Stroud can continue his success from his rookie season, this Texans team can be great for many years to come.
2.) Jacksonville Jaguars
Record Prediction: (10-7)
Offseason Additions: Jacksonville added another receiving threat going into the 2024 season as they picked up Gabe Davis, who was a good threat on the Bills offense over the past few seasons. The biggest addition the Jaguars made to their defense was on the defensive line with their signing of Arik Armstead, the talented veteran pass rusher who was dominant on the 49ers defensive line over the past few seasons.
Returning Players: Trevor Lawrence will be out to lead the Jacksonville offense for his fourth season. Lawrence took a little bit of a step back in 2023 after having his breakout season in 2022. The number one receiver on this offense will be Christian Kirk, who has proven to be a good threat when he is able to stay healthy. Travis Etienne will be going into his third season in the league this year after rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his last two seasons. Jacksonville will also have a great defensive line this season as they will see the return of Josh Allen and Trayvon Walker as their edge rushers. Both Allen and Walker will look to build on their success in 2023 as Allen finished with 17.5 sacks and Walker with 10 sacks.
Why they are ranked here: After falling just short of the Texans for the best record in the AFC South, the Jaguars will look to bounce back and make the playoffs this year. One thing that should be something to watch is how this offense is able to perform as they lack the big receiving threats that almost every top team out there has.
3.) Indianapolis Colts
Record Prediction: (9-8)
Offseason Additions: The biggest addition the Colts made to the team over the offseason was through their first-round selection of Laiatu Latu, the talented defensive end out of the University of California, Los Angeles. Latu adds some much-needed help to this defense that proved that they needed a lot of work in the 2023 season.
Returning Players: The Colts will look forward to the return of their second—year quarterback Anthony Richardson, who only played in four games in 2023 due to various injuries. Richardson’s best receiving threat will be Michael Pittman, the young receiver who had his biggest season yet in 2023. Indianapolis will also have Jonathon Taylor, the elite running back that only played in 10 games last season after holding out due to prolonged contract negotiations.
Why they are ranked here: After having an impressive season even with injury problems at the quarterback position and plenty of position needs, the Colts will look to take it a step further than they did last year. One thing to look for is if Richardson can stay healthy with his risky style of quarterback play.
4.) Tennessee Titans
Record Prediction: (6-11)
Offseason Additions: The Titans brought in another great veteran receiving threat with the signing of Calvin Ridley, who went for over 1,000 receiving yards in his first year back from his long suspension from the Falcons. Tennessee also brought in Tony Pollard, the talented running back who broke out with the Cowboys over the last two seasons, following their loss of Derrick Henry. They also added a great player to their defense with their signing of L’Jarius Sneed, the talented cornerback who spent the first few seasons of his young career as the top corner on the team.
Returning Players: Tennessee will look forward to seeing what their quarterback Will Levis can do to improve in just his second season in the NFL. Levis showed plenty of potential in just eight games of play in 2023 and will look to build on that as many fans hope he is their quarterback of the future. He will also have the veteran receiver Deandre Hopkins, who went for over 1,000 receiving yards yet again in his most previous campaign.
Why they are ranked here: After making some pretty solid pickups over the offseason, the Titans definitely look like they are in a better position to win more games than last year. With the amount of playmakers they now have on the offense, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them in the playoff hunt late in the year if Levis can get the job done as quarterback.
