Every NFL Team's Odds to Win the NFC in the 2024 Season

Every NFL Team’s Odds to Win the NFC in the 2024 Season

We're just months away from the start of the NFL season and before we know it, we'll be betting on games and spending our Sundays watching Red Zone.

Despite the season still being a few months away, sportsbooks have already released all of the futures odds you can think of for the 2024 campaign. One of the betting markets that is already available is the odds to win the NFC.

The San Francisco 49ers were the best team in the conference from the opening week all the way until the Super Bowl, but the upstart Detroit Lions almost managed to pull off the upset in the NFC Championship. Will those two teams meet in the NFC Championship next season?

Let's find out what the oddsmakers think and take a look at the odds to win the NFC for all 16 teams.

All odds listed in this article are via DraftKings Sportsbook

The San Francisco 49ers are understandably once again the betting favorites to win the NFC. There's no reason to doubt them after what they've done the past two seasons and have only made moves that have improved their roster for 2024. There's a strong they'll be the No. 1 seed in the conference again in 2024.

Despite the two powerhouse teams in the NFC East, the Detroit Lions are second on the odds list to win the NFC and advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. Can they finally do it? Did they improve their defense enough to hang with the 49ers?

The Eagles won the NFC two seasons ago but imploded in the second half of the season last year. Eagles fans are anxiously awaiting the start of the season to see which version of Philadelphia will show up in 2024. Oddsmakers seem to still have faith in them.

Not only is the NFC East a toss-up between these two teams, but the Eagles and Dallas Cowboys have the same odds to win the NFC at +700. Of course, the Cowboys have to learn how to win in the playoffs if they want to pull it off.

The youngest team in the NFL got hot in the second half of the 2024 season and went on to upset the Cowboys in the wild card round of the playoffs. Can they take a step forward in this year's campaign?

The Falcons were seemingly a quarterback away from being a playoff team last year. Now that they have Kirk Cousins, they're amongst the top options to win the NFC, albeit still a step below the top dogs in the conference.

No rookie quarterback has ever started in a Super Bowl. The closest was Brock Purdy with the 49ers two years ago, but he was injured in the NFC Championship and the Eagles went on to win. Can Caleb Williams achieve the feat in his first year as the Bears quarterback?

The Los Angeles Rams will once again be a dark horse in the NFC but with the passing attack they have, they can beat anyone on any given Sunday.

Don't expect much from the Seattle Seahawks in their first year in the post-Pete Carroll era.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC South last year. Can they run it back with Baker Mayfield as their quarterback once again? Do they have enough talent to compete with the top teams in the conference? Oddsmakers aren't so sure about that.

The Minnesota Vikings won't be NFC contenders in 2024.

While they look decent on paper, the Saints aren't in a position to make a run in the conference in 2024.

If Kyler Murray can play at an MVP level and their defense can step up in a big way, the Arizona Cardinals could be an interesting team to watch this season.

The Jayden Daniels era begins in the nation's capital.

It's a tough year to be a Giants fan. That's all there really is to say.

If Bryce Young can look like a competent quarterback in 2024, that's about as good of a win as the Panthers will get this season.

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Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

32 NFL Teams in 32 Days: Cardinals Need Their Offense to Lift Up a Young Defense

32 NFL Teams in 32 Days: Cardinals Need Their Offense to Lift Up a Young Defense

The past two seasons have been painful for the Arizona Cardinals, with the team compiling an 8–26 record. And while there remain clear issues with the roster, there’s reason for legitimate hope.

With Kyler Murray healthy for the start of this season and coach Jonathan Gannon entering his second year, things are improving.

Which starts with Murray and connects to rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The No. 4 pick in April’s NFL draft, Harrison registered 144 catches for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns over his last two seasons with Ohio State.

Although he’s a rookie, Harrison figures to quickly elevate the offense.

If nothing else, Arizona shouldn’t be boring in 2024.

Biggest gamble this offseason: Not making veteran defensive upgrades

While the Cardinals poured draft resources into fixing their 25th-ranked defense of a year ago, they did very little in free agency to help the youngsters come along without pressure.

Up front, general manager Monti Ossenfort brought in Justin Jones to play inside. Jones notched 4.5 sacks with the Chicago Bears in 2023, however he was the only notable veteran addition to a front seven desperately needing more playmaking. 

In the secondary, Ossenfort signed Sean Murphy-Bunting to a three-year, $22.5 million deal, hoping to provide a stalwart on one side. Still, Arizona will be painfully thin at corner if second-round pick Max Melton isn’t immediately ready.

Toughest stretch of the season: Weeks 5 to 8

With the NFC having the extra home game this year, there aren’t too many teams with a rough road schedule to navigate. 

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, that’s not the case. In October, Arizona will play three of its four games on the road, including a short-week, cross-country trip to take on the Miami Dolphins.

The stretch begins in Week 5 with visits to the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers, two playoff teams from a year ago. Then, the Cardinals will come home for a Monday night game against Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers before heading to Miami Gardens.

Breakout player to watch: TE Trey McBride

Through two seasons, McBride is one of the league’s best-kept secrets on a national level.

Last year, he starred for the Cardinals despite horrific quarterback play for much of the year, catching 81 passes for 825 yards and three touchdowns. With Murray now back and Harrison drawing coverage, look for the third-year man out of Colorado State to have a Pro Bowl campaign.

In 2023, only six tight ends had more receiving yardage, and just four eclipsed his reception total. If he can continue his ascension, McBride is on pace to become one of the best young pass catchers in the game.

Best-case scenario: Murray and the offense are ready to take wing

The offense is Arizona’s best hope for making a surprise playoff push. While a young defense gets its legs, Murray & Co. must carry the team in some high scoring wins.

The good news? The Cardinals might have the firepower. They’re loaded with young talent including Harrison, McBride and second-year wideout Michael Wilson. Then there’s Murray, who despite playing five NFL seasons is only 26 years old and loaded with ability.

In 2020 and ’21, Murray threw for 50 touchdowns against only 22 interceptions, making the Pro Bowl each year. He also ran for a combined 1,242 yards and 16 scores. If he’s healthy, the Cardinals could be dangerous on offense.

Worst-case scenario: Murray can’t stay healthy and the defense isn’t ready

If, for the third consecutive year, the Cardinals can’t get a full season out of Murray, that would mean Desmond Ridder to the rescue.

Yet the biggest question mark for Arizona is the defense. The Cardinals finished 29th in yards per play against (5.7), 32nd against the run (143.2 yards per game), 31st in pressure rate (17.1%) and 30th in sacks (33) last year. Otherwise, things were great. 

To remedy that unit, Arizona drafted edge rusher Darius Robinson in the first round, corners Elijah Jones and Melton on Day 2, safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson in the fourth round and linebacker Xavier Thomas in the fifth. If they’re not ready to contribute immediately, it could be another long year for the defense.

Head coach-quarterback tandem ranking

No. 28: Jonathan Gannon (28) and Kyler Murray (18)

A year ago, this seemed like a looming disaster. Murray was coming off a torn ACL preceded by a contract including language about studying throughout the week. Then there was Gannon, a hire widely panned at the time. Today, Gannon is promising and Murray is fully healthy, surrounded by McBride, Harrison and a roster bolstered by 12 draft picks. 

Sleeper/fantasy pick: Harrison

I love Harrison this season. In fact, I have him ranked ahead of Davante Adams in my re-draft rank list among wideouts. He was the best wide receiver in the 2024 class, and he landed in the perfect spot with a Cardinals offense that will use him as an alpha right out of the gates. With Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Rondale Moore gone, Harrison will see plenty of targets in Year 1. —Michael Fabiano

Best bet:  Marvin Harrison Jr. most rookie receiving yards (+175) at DraftKings

Harrison is the favorite for this bet for good reason. Quite simply, it’s Harrison or bust with Brown gone to the Chiefs. Murray has plenty left in the tank, and I expect a big year for the talented rookie out of Ohio State with pedigree. Even better? This bet offers a nice plus-money payout. —Jennifer Piacenti

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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SI’s MMQB Staff Debates the NFL’s Most Improved Teams

SI’s MMQB Staff Debates the NFL’s Most Improved Teams

Welcome to the NFL offseason, where receivers get paid lots of money (just ask Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaylen Waddle and Nico Collins), the NFL continues to push for an 18-game season, the league and NFLPA discuss ways to ruin the offseason calendar and teams continue to go through their OTAs and mandatory minicamps. 

So we asked our MMQB staff of NFL experts to answer a series of eight questions over the next two weeks. They debated the worst move Wednesday, so today they’re going to weigh in on the most improved teams. 

Let’s get to their answers as we get closer to the NFL taking a break before July training camps.

Matt Verderame: Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb WilliamsChicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams

The Bears not only added Williams, but added a weapon for him by selecting Odunze with the No. 9 pick / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

If you believe Caleb Williams is going to be a star either immediately or in the near future, Chicago is the choice.

The Bears not only added Williams at the sport’s paramount position, but they also traded for veteran receiver Keenan Allen before nabbing wideout Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick, giving them a duo of talented pass catchers to go with DJ Moore.

With a defense boasting talent at all three levels including edge rusher Montez Sweat, linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, corner Jaylon Johnson and safety Jaquan Brisker, the Bears have talent in a way they haven’t since the days of Brian Urlacher and Matt Forte.

Should Williams realize his potential, Chicago could challenge for a playoff spot and potentially more in the NFC.

Gilberto Manzano: Washington Commanders

There’s usually one team that goes from last to first most NFL seasons. I’m not saying the Commanders will win the NFC East, but I’m giving them the best odds after finishing 4–13 last season. 

Washington has drastically improved in various areas and not just with the roster. There’s optimism in the nation’s capital because Josh Harris replaced Dan Snyder as team owner. And new GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn had a strong first offseason in Washington. 

Quinn could quickly build a formidable defense with the many savvy moves Peters made, including the signings of Dorance Armstrong, Frankie Luvu, Bobby Wagner, Jeremy Chinn and many other defenders. And it helps that Quinn already has head coaching experience from his time with the Atlanta Falcons. 

Most importantly, they might have a franchise quarterback with Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick in the draft. Expect the Commanders to be a lot better in 2024.  

Conor Orr: New York Giants

I would say the Bears but Matt already jumped on the answer and did a fine job of articulating why. I’ll throw the Giants into the ring for two reasons: Brian Burns changes the calculus of this defense, and I like the combination of Brian Daboll and Drew Lock and am very curious to see if it ends up bearing some Geno Smith-ian fruit for the Giants. While I wasn’t sold on Malik Nabers as the best available wide receiver at that point, I think this team can win between eight to 10 games this year despite not having what one would consider a transformative offseason. The Giants are still low on weapons, but their offensive line will develop (read: has to develop) and this defense is seriously formidable, though I would have liked to have seen a repair in the Wink Martindale–Brian Daboll relationship to the point where Martindale would have gotten to use Burns. 

Albert Breer: Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Cardinals selected Harrison with the fourth pick in the draft, giving Arizona a playmaker at a premium position. / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY

I like the Giants and Bears, too, but Arizona has quietly continued to do very logical things to improve its roster, and set up a sustainable future. Moving Paris Johnson Jr. to left tackle, and signing Jonah Williams at a very reasonable price to replace him on the right side made the Cardinals younger, and better at the position. Marvin Harrison Jr. could quickly be among the NFL’s best skill players, and, thus, change the math for the rest of Arizona’s skill group. Top-100 picks Darius Robinson and Max Melton are tough, competitive, program fits at premium positions for the defense.

And, then, there’s Kyler Murray, who really seems to have turned a corner from a leadership standpoint since tearing his ACL two years ago. He’s been in the building and around the team more, while cementing himself as the triggerman for GM Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon’s build.

Now, I’m not saying the Cardinals are going to the playoffs. But I wouldn’t be stunned if they got to .500 or better, which would be a nice Year 2 jump for the group they have in charge.

Every NFL Team's Odds to Make the Playoffs in 2024 Season

Every NFL Team’s Odds to Make the Playoffs in 2024 Season

The NFL offseason continues on but with teams gearing up for next season we have odds for who will make the postseason.

One of the most hotly contested divisions in the 2024 season is the NFC East, which features the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

The Eagles made a splash in free agency by adding running back Saquon Barkley as well as hiring former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Can the Eagles hold off the Cowboys in hopes of getting back on top of the division and make the postseason?

There will be plenty of heated races in the postseason in addition to the NFC East one mentioned above, including a crowded group in the AFC East and AFC North.

Below you will find the odds for each team to make the postseason in 2024.

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

There are a ton of quality teams heading into the season with the postseason in its sights.

Look at the AFC East, who have three teams projected to make the postseason in terms of implied probability greater than 50%. The Dolphins have an implied probability of 57.38%, the Bills are 62.69% and the Jets are slightly ahead, listed at 62.96%.

Elsewhere, the AFC North has three teams with heavy odds to contend for the postseason, with its longest shot, the Steelers at only +190 (34.48%). The Ravens (72.60%), Bengals (70.15%) and Browns (42.37%) all have more than a puncher's chance to make the postseason.

The NFC East race is for the division, but both are expected to make the postseason in a much weaker conference, will the two be able to hold up? The Eagles and Cowboys each have mandates to win and better hope to at least make the postseason in order to keep the status quo.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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Every NFL Team's Odds to Win the Super Bowl in 2024 Season

Every NFL Team’s Odds to Win the Super Bowl in 2024 Season

The NFL offseason continues on, but that doesn't have to stop us from keeping an eye on the NFL futures market!

The top of the Super Bowl oddsboard is dictated by the two teams that made it to the big game last season with the San Francisco 49ers slightly favored over the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl 59.

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are once again viewed as a true contender to win the Super Bowl for a third straight year with the team set to return a majority of its core, but it's the 49ers who have the edge at the top of the oddsboard.

It's worth noting that the Niners are in the far easier conference relative to the AFC, and that's indicated in the odds. After the two aforementioned teams, the AFC has seven of the 12 other teams that have shorter than 25-1 odds.

Moreso, three of the next four teams are in the AFC with the Ravens, Bengals and Bills all viewed as legitimate threats to win the Super Bowl this season.

With training camp still a few months away, it's worth keeping an eye on more movement in the Super Bowl odds ahead of the 2024 season.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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Keon Coleman, Cooper DeJean Among Day 2 NFL Draft Picks to Make Impact as Rookies

Keon Coleman, Cooper DeJean Among Day 2 NFL Draft Picks to Make Impact as Rookies

Last week, we broke down which rookie first-round picks will make an immediate impact during the 2024 NFL season. There were plenty of options to choose from with many star players often coming from the opening round, but don’t overlook the Day 2 selections. 

Every year there are a handful of prospects with first-round grades who are available on the Friday of the draft because the quarterback position gets overvalued and teams tend to prioritize roster needs. This year, six quarterbacks were taken in the first round, leaving many potential star players on the board for the teams with established quarterbacks. 

Last year, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis and Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta were the first three picks in the second round. All three had dynamic rookie years for their respective teams. 

In the 2023 third round, the Los Angeles Rams selected edge rusher Byron Young and defensive tackle Kobie Turner, two Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates. Also in the third round, the Miami Dolphins added running back De’Von Achane and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took edge rusher YaYa Diaby. 

Here are six players from Rounds 2 and 3 who could make an immediate impact as rookies this season. 

Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills, No. 33 (second round)

The 6'3" Coleman landed in the perfect spot to become an immediate contributor. He has the size and skill set to slide in as the Bills’ “X” receiver to complement speedy wideouts Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir. Most importantly, Coleman will have the luxury of catching passes from Josh Allen, who will probably rely heavily on Coleman’s sizable catch radius for downfield completions.  

The Florida State product is viewed as Stefon Diggs’s replacement, but they’re different players, with Coleman being more of a big-bodied wideout who can come down with 50-50 passes. Remember Allen’s misfire with Diggs downfield late in the playoff loss against the Kansas City Chiefs? Coleman will likely be a friendly target for Allen on contested throws, but he’ll need to improve his route running, an area Diggs mastered over the years. 

Cooper DeJean, DB, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 40 (second round)

It’s unknown whether DeJean will play safety or cornerback in Vic Fangio’s defense, but it will likely be a combination of both after how poorly things went for the Eagles’ secondary last season. 

The versatile DeJean could be the starting slot cornerback or a starting safety next to C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who returned in March as a free-agent acquisition.  If he’s in the slot, DeJean will have the luxury of playing next to Darius Slay and fellow rookie Quinyon Mitchell, the team’s first-round pick. DeJean likely will have an easier time getting acclimated to the pro level than Mitchell because outside cornerbacks tend to struggle early in their careers. Overall, the Eagles’ secondary will be better off after Philly landed two of the best defensive backs in the draft. DeJean, however, could have competition with Sydney Brown and Reed Blakenship at safety. 

Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Green Bay Packers, No. 45 (second round)

Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper

Cooper has the speed to be a sideline-to-sideline playmaker.

Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

The versatile Cooper could end the Packers’ recent trend of getting minimal results from rookie defenders. Edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, the team’s 2023 first-round pick, had a quiet rookie year, and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt and linebacker Quay Walker—two 2022 first-round picks—have struggled to find their footing. 

Cooper is an outstanding run defender and has the speed to be a sideline-to-sideline playmaker in the middle of the Packers’ defense. He will likely be an immediate starter after the release of De’Vondre Campbell. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Cooper emerges as the Packers’ middle linebacker and takes snaps from Walker and Isaiah McDuffie. 

Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals, No. 66 (third round)

The Cardinals could be the surprise team of 2024 because of the arrival of stud rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., but don’t overlook Arizona’s other moves this offseason to improve the offense. Benson made a name for himself at Florida State as an explosive playmaker who recorded 23 touchdowns and rushed for 1,896 yards during his final two seasons.

Benson will likely split carries with veteran running back James Conner, but there were times last year in which Conner struggled to adjust to Drew Petzing’s offense. Benson might offer more as a pass catcher and has sub 4.4 speed to generate explosive plays. The rookie back will also get to run behind a revamped offensive line with bookend tackles Jonah Williams and Paris Johnson Jr., the 2023 first-round pick. Benson, Harrison and Kyler Murray could quickly become a formidable trio in the NFL.

Junior Colson, LB, Los Angeles Chargers, No. 69 (third round)

Colson should benefit from need at the position and familiarity with the Chargers’ coaching staff. He started 36 games for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and will reunite with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who held the same role at Michigan. 

The Chargers’ linebacker unit struggled constantly during the Brandon Staley era, leading to the team parting with Kenneth Murray Jr. and Eric Kendricks. Colson, who led Michigan in tackles the past two seasons, is a physical downhill linebacker with reliable instincts on the field. He should be in line for a starting role next to veteran Denzel Perryman. 

Bralen Trice, Atlanta Falcons, edge, No. 74 (third round)

Atlanta Falcons edge defender Bralen Trice

Trice had a combined 16 sacks the past two seasons.

Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

Many assumed the Falcons would select an edge rusher with their No. 8 pick, which instead ended up being quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Atlanta eventually filled the need with the third-round selection of Trice, a relentless playmaker for a Washington team that advanced to the national championship game in January.

Trice, who had a combined 16 sacks the past two seasons, won’t have to face stiff competition to win a starting job over veterans Lorenzo Carter and 2022 second-round pick Arnold Ebiketie. Trice could be this year’s version of Rams edge rusher Byron Young, the 2023 third-rounder who flourished under Raheem Morris, the Rams defensive coordinator turned Falcons head coach. 

Takeaways: Odell Beckham Jr.’s Dolphins Deal Reflects His New Reality

Takeaways: Odell Beckham Jr.’s Dolphins Deal Reflects His New Reality

The 2024 NFL draft’s done. Lots of clean-up work to do. So let’s not waste any more time and get to that …

On Odell Beckham Jr. and the Miami Dolphins, it’d be smart to follow the money. Last year, the 10-year veteran signed a deal in Baltimore at a base value of $15 million with upside to $18 million. This year, his base pay with Miami will be 20% of what he got with the Ravens—just $3 million—with upside to $8.5 million.

Now, to be sure, the fact that Lamar Jackson was in the midst of a drawn-out contract negotiation and wanted Beckham aboard gave the receiver leverage to get a bit of an overpay.

So maybe that’s part of why Beckham’s getting so much less. But that's not the only reason.

One executive from a team that’s been in the receiver market and explored signing Beckham told me last week it’s clear—at least to him—that the former All-Pro, after a decade in the league and with his 32nd birthday coming in November, has lost his burst. An executive from another team who also was in the market for a receiver saw it as being a little more nuanced than that.

“I don’t know if I agree that he’s lost it so much as that he’s just older, and that’s what the market says on older players,” says the AFC exec. “He’s not always healthy, which is part of that. By the end of last year, he looked good, his legs were back. Now, does he need to play himself back into shape? The offseason stuff being in the contract would be important for me. But you’re late on that, and can’t put workout bonuses in now.

“He signed so late in Baltimore, that he had to play himself back into shape. And when he did, his burst came back, and he could still do a lot of the normal OBJ stuff.”

But even then, the numbers weren’t there. He finished with 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns, and had four catches for 34 yards in two playoff games with a league MVP at quarterback. Rookie Zay Flowers was the top guy in the offense after Mark Andrews went down, and Beckham didn’t do a ton to distinguish himself from Nelson Agholor and Rashod Bateman, both of whom the Ravens have back for 2024 (with Bateman on a new deal).

Now, that’s not to say he can’t help Miami. He’s different than Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and his ability to be a physical run-after-catch receiver is still there. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was in San Francisco when the 49ers flirted with acquiring Beckham, so he’s clearly had plenty of time to think about how to use him. So he went to a good place.

I’d just say it’d be smart, at this point, to temper expectations on him.

The New York Jets followed their board. And their needs, too. Let’s start here—Olu Fashanu was a very clear pick for New York at 10, and then 11 after they flipped spots with the Vikings so Minnesota wouldn’t miss out on Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. And the story on that one goes back past the big left tackle’s final season at Penn State.

Coming into the season, the Jets viewed Fashanu as at least the equal of, and probably a better prospect than, Cardinals rookie Paris Johnson Jr., drafted sixth last year out of Ohio State. As summer turned to fall, Fashanu’s standing in the eyes of scouts did slip a little, and in particular because of how he played against Johnson’s old Buckeyes teammates in October. But Jets GM Joe Douglas and his staff had a different view of it.

Within that game, with Ohio State carrying two future NFL edge rushers and potential 2025 first-rounders in J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, yes, Fashanu got beat. But he also showed resilience in adjusting. In particular, there was a play early in the game where Tuimoloau beat Fashanu with an inside power move, where the pass rusher knocked the tackle back on his heels. Later in the game, with Penn State backed up to the goal line, Tuimoloau tried the same move, and Fashanu stoned him.

So even in his worst game, he was better than most. And then there were some of the comps, with a key one being how he played against Michigan’s Ravens-style defense, one that throws a lot at an offensive lineman. Compared to how Alabama’s JC Latham and Washington’s Troy Fautanu played against the same defense in the playoffs, Fashanu’s performance stood out and it happened, again, in a game that didn’t go the Nittany Lions’ way.

Putting all of that together, the Jets saw a guy who could be a long-term answer at one of the most important positions on the field. So the plan for now is to work with him at that position behind Tyron Smith rather than move him somewhere else.

All of that made the decision pretty simple for the Jets. The one who’d have complicated it for New York was Washington WR Rome Odunze. When the Bears took Odunze, the pick became academic (Fautanu would’ve been one fallback plan in the unlikely event neither Fashanu or Odunze made it to 10; Georgia’s Brock Bowers would’ve been another). And once Fashanu was aboard, their attention turned to receiver.

Similarly, that call came down to a few guys. The Jets actually liked Texas’s Adonai Mitchell, but got focused on the best run-after-catch guys they could find in range of their second pick at 72. Part of the reasoning was the history of the best of those receivers—Deebo Samuel in 2019, Brandon Aiyuk in '20, Garrett Wilson in '22, and Flowers last year (Kadarius Toney in '21 was the exception, for other reasons)—in each class translating easily to the NFL game.

And that’s where Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley and Michigan’s Roman Wilson came into focus, with Corley getting the edge because, where both were wired the right way and competed, he was 30 pounds heavier and, accordingly, played with more violence. At any rate, you’ll get to weigh that one out because the Jets could’ve gotten Wilson at 72, and instead gave up the 157th pick (CB Chau Smith-Wade) to land Corley.

For now, though, the Jets are pretty happy with how all of this played out. The reality? It was going to be a lot harder to get a tackle (if it’d been Odunze at 11, the Jets probably would’ve gone with Yale’s Kiran Amegadjie at 72), along with just how much they thought of both of the guys they picked.

For all of the criticism Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane took for trading with the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round, his reasoning was logical. And, yes, I understand it—and how the idea of arming the rival Chiefs with a guy who runs like Tyreek Hill (though Texas burner Xavier Worthy isn’t really built like the ex-Kansas City star at all) might give people in Buffalo the shakes.

The optics may not be great. But the reality Beane was working with had three elements to it. One, the Bills actually had a comfort level with all three of the receivers that came off the board between 28 and 33. Two, they had a 68-slot gap in picks early in the draft, after using their third-rounder to get Rasul Douglas from the Packers in October after Tre’Davious White’s injury. Three, in the aftermath of March’s roster reset, they had a lot of holes to fill.

On the first reality, the situation was almost the reverse of last year for the Bills, when Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid stood alone on the Bills’ board, prompting a trade up. That Buffalo had Worthy, South Carolina’s Xavier Legette and Florida State’s Keon Coleman right there with each other gave Beane the flexibility to deal to address the second reality, in order to service the third reality. In deals with the Chiefs and Panthers, the Bills moved the 133rd pick to 95, slipping into that gap between 60 and 128, while moving two other picks up 27 (248 to 221) and 59 (200 to 141) slots to still land Coleman.

Beane, like the rest of the league, knew the Chiefs could take Worthy, and that the Panthers and his old pro director/new Carolina GM Dan Morgan were looking to arm Bryce Young with another weapon. So that he was left with one of the three didn’t surprise him, and that he was down to one of the three is why he resisted moving anymore, as offers for the pick came pouring in the day before the first round.

Buffalo ended up with a receiver whose biggest question was his timed speed, but who had the GPS tracking data of someone running in the 4.5s, and who was shifty enough, at 6’3”, to return punts as a collegian. Plus, combining that agility and ability to drop his weight as a bigger guy with a 38-inch vertical, the Bills thought, because he’s just 20 years old, he’d have the ceiling to get more explosive as a player (Legette, by comparison, is already 23).

One other interesting piece on Coleman was that he had the fastest gauntlet time, hitting 20.36 MPH, of any receiver at the combine, which translates to play speed.

All of which, again, isn’t to say that the Bills didn’t like Worthy or Legette. They did. But with those three in a cluster, getting one of them, while landing a third pick in the top 100 so they could come away with two players (Utah S Cole Bishop/Duke DT DeWayne Carter) on Day 2 rather than just one while improving their Day 3 standing simply made the most sense at the time.

Now, we’ll get to see if it looks that way once these guys get on the field.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce

Kelce earned some more guaranteed money from the Chiefs in his new contract despite no more years being added.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

There are two ways to look at Travis Kelce’s new contract in Kansas City. One would be that it is, indeed, a lot to pay for a tight end entering his 12th NFL season and turning 35 in October. The other would be that Kelce is one of the three bedrocks of the Chiefs dynasty, there’s value throughout your organization in rewarding that, and what a great tight end makes falls well short of what receivers, left tackles, defensive ends and corners make anyway.

Here's what you need to know on the deal …

• It’s a two-year, $34.25 million deal. It’s not an extension. Kelce had two years and $30.25 million left on his existing deal, without any guarantees. His pay for 2024, as part of the reworked contract, ticked up from $13 million to $17 million, and the Chiefs guaranteed all that money for him at signing.

• The second year remains at $17.25 million, and it’s not guaranteed yet. However, the Chiefs broke that money up, and put $11.5 million in a roster bonus that’ll be due on the third day of the 2025 league year. Which means, by mid-March, most of Kelce’s money for '25 will be locked in, creating an early decision point for the team to keep him aboard (not that it was looming as a big question).

• There are no void years on the back end to spread out the cap hit. The Chiefs, as a loose rule, try not to use that mechanism. They do restructure deals to create space (see: Mahomes, Patrick), but they’re usually pushing money into existing years on the contracts.

And, again, while $17.125 million per year is the most a tight end has ever gotten, it’s not crazy in the context of what receivers pull down. That’s what Jerry Jeudy will make with the Cleveland Browns after four mostly disappointing years with Denver. It’s less than what Christian Kirk is making in Jacksonville or Diontae Johnson made before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. So even if Kelce slips a little, and he did before rallying in the playoffs last year, chances are slim that this will look like a bad deal for the Chiefs.

So everyone wins on that one.

When I went back over the deal that A.J. Brown got from the Philadelphia Eagles, one thing that stood out to me was the amount of money the team has tied up in void years. Brown’s cap charges for the six years on his contract are as follows (2024 to '29)—$5.15 million, $10.91 million, $16.78 million, $20.71 million, $27.62 million, and $29.31 million. Add it together, and you get to $110.48 million, which is $53.52 million short of the $164 million that Brown is due between now and the end of '28.

The rest of those cap dollars went to void years, all $53.52 million. And void years have become an increasingly commonly used mechanism to simply spread cap hits out over a longer period of time, allowing for less pain now (and more of it later) as a team rewards its best players.

Looking at that outsized figure made me wonder how much of this the Eagles have done. I knew they’d done at least some of it. Turns out, every big Philly deal has void years: Jalen Hurts ($97.55 million), DeVonta Smith ($35.78 million), Jordan Mailata ($35.6 million), Landon Dickerson ($35.09 million), Darius Slay ($24.94 million), Dallas Goedert ($23.83 million), Lane Johnson ($22.48 million), James Bradberry ($21.39 million), Josh Sweat ($16.39 million), Chauncey Gardner-Johnson ($13.76 million), Brandon Graham ($10.27 million), Jake Elliott ($8.61 million) and, of course, Brown.

By my math, those 13 contracts have more than $399 million in cap dollars moved into years that void at the end of those deals—and there’s more of that on shorter-term deals such as those the Eagles gave to Devin White and Zack Baun.

That’s a staggering figure, and it explains why Philly seems to have so much flexibility each year.

So, in practical terms, what does it mean?

First and foremost, and similar to New Orleans, it shows a very real commitment from ownership to winning, because all of that money being accounted for three and four and five years from now is matched with cash going out the door during the actual life of the deal. Indeed, last year, against a $224.8 million cap, the Eagles spent $257.2 million in cash, third league-wide behind only the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens. This year, Philly is one of two teams set to spend more than $300 million in cash (Cleveland is the other one).

All told, Philly could approach $600 million in player spending over a two-year span through which the cap is at $480.6 million. Again, it’s a tribute to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, because a lot of owners would not be willing to do that.

Second, that money doesn’t disappear against the cap. And this is where things get interesting. Because the figures have to be accounted for, the Eagles will walk a tightrope financially in offloading players at the right time (remember, the above numbers assume you see every deal through, and savings can be had if you cut ties early), spending on the right guys and drafting well to supplement years when more dead money is taken on.

In other words, GM Howie Roseman and the front office are gambling to win now, and that they’ll get a lot of things right going forward. Because a reckoning would come for them if they don’t.

Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. stands on the stage after being selected at the 2024 NFL draft

Harrison Jr. pioneered a new way for elite nonquarterbacks to approach the pre-draft process.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Marvin Harrison Jr. was right, Caleb Williams was right, and more playing moving forward will make their decisions on the lead-up to the draft accordingly. The end result really does make this one academic. Williams went No. 1, so he couldn’t have gone any higher than he did. And you could argue the same for Harrison, since he was the first nonquarterback drafted.

Both made waves during the week of the NFL Scouting Combine for the approach they took. Williams declined to take a physical in Indianapolis on the premise that it made no sense for him to give his full medical information to 31 teams that wouldn’t have a chance to draft him. Harrison declined to work out or test there or at his pro day, with the idea being that rather than wasting time and money on training for Olympic testing, he’d be best simply preparing for rookie year.

In the end, it did no damage to either guy.

The Chicago Bears got Williams’s medicals on the 30 visit, and 31 teams that are now his rivals don’t have information that could be damaging to him or Chicago. The Arizona Cardinals, meanwhile, are ecstatic to get a player who will be ready to hit the ground running at rookie minicamp and OTAs after training with the Ohio State strength staff as he would if he were suiting up to play football for the Buckeyes in the fall.

Williams, for his part, only visited the Bears, while Harrison only visited Chicago and Arizona.

Now, here’s the other thing to remember—few players have the leverage to do what these guys did. In most cases, players need to give teams as much information as they possibly can to get those teams comfortable with the idea of drafting them. That’s a non-issue for very few.

But going forward, if you’re in the super elite class, what will you do? Probably follow the lead of Williams and Harrison, and handle the pre-draft process a la carte, only doing what is in your own personal best interest.

In the end, I’m counting 18 of 32 first-round picks from 2021 as having had their fifth-year options picked up. That’s counting guys who got extensions (DeVonta Smith, Penei Sewell) with the fifth-year option factored in (Rashod Bateman, who did a lower-end extension, doesn’t fit that description). And it’s a high number, for sure.

Last year, using the same logic (which counts Jordan Love as having had his picked up), just 13 of the 32 guys taken in the first round in 2020 qualified.

That number was by far the lowest since the rookie salary scale went into effect with the 2011 draft class. But there was a caveat to it—it was also the first year that the options were fully guaranteed upon being picked up, meaning teams couldn’t simply cut the guy a year later, so long as he was healthy.

What that tells you? The 2021 class, with players such as Trevor Lawrence, Micah Parsons and Ja’Marr Chase as headliners, was a very bumper crop of high-end players. And as such, Smith and Sewell will likely be just the first of a slew of these guys to sign blockbuster extensions before the start of their fourth seasons.

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. holds up his jersey at a press conference.

The league is still abuzz over the Falcons' unorthodox draft strategy with the selection of Penix.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

I do have one last take on the Atlanta Falcons’ handling of the quarterback situation. And that’s that I would 100% understand if Kirk Cousins is still stinging a bit from the whole ordeal.

Here’s why—a reason he decided to leave Minnesota is because the Vikings were very up front with the 35-year-old about the possibility that, even in the case he stayed, they’d take a quarterback of the future high in the draft. Tying that together with the team’s willingness to guarantee part, but not all, of a second year on another contract, Cousins figured that, if he stayed, there was a good shot that he’d be on the move in 2025.

I know Cousins appreciated how open the Vikings were about their draft strategy, even if it meant him leaving.

So if you were him, how would you feel when that call came, as his new team was on the clock, to explain how the Falcons were taking his heir apparent, Michael Penix Jr., with the eighth pick? Now, I do understand why Atlanta felt the need to keep it quiet, and why GM Terry Fontenot’s experience in New Orleans in 2017, when the Chiefs knew the Saints coveted Patrick Mahomes and jumped ahead of them to get him, marked the decision not to tell Cousins of their plans.

Still, it had to be a crappy call to take if you were Cousins, considering the basis of the decision you’d made six weeks earlier. It remains to be seen, of course, if that’ll lead to any sort of early fissure in the player-team relationship there. I think they’ll be able to get past it, because head coach Raheem Morris is a phenomenal relationship guy, and Cousins is an adult. But if there are early bumps in the season, this one will be interesting to watch.

I still don’t get the people who are so into the Pittsburgh Steelers trading for a big-name veteran receiver. It’s never been Pittsburgh’s m.o. to do something like that at that particular position. And I can’t imagine trading Johnson is some sort of big needle-mover in this regard, either.

Pittsburgh’s drafted 19 receivers over the last 18 draft cycles. The highest pick spent in the bunch was on Chase Claypool, who went 49th in 2020. Yet, without spending more than that on the position, they’ve wound up with Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace, Martavis Bryant, Juju Smith-Schuster, James Washington, George Pickens, Johnson and Claypool, all of whom wound up producing to varying degrees for the team.

On top of that, the last time the Steelers’ leading receiver wasn’t homegrown was in the year the United States entered World War II—1941 (Don Looney, if you’re scoring at home). And over the years, Pittsburgh has been able to replace guys such as Plaxico Burress, Wallace, Sanders and Brown as they’ve left the organization.

All of this history, of course, bodes well for the 84th pick in this year’s draft, Roman Wilson.

And probably not as well for those waiting on the Steelers to take some big swing on a vet.

I need to give my thanks to everyone, all of you included, for following along through this offseason, now that things have calmed down. That goes for our editors, and our NFL writers, and, again, for all you readers.

Conor Orr and I did this sort of thank you on the MMQB podcast last week, but I’ll repeat it here.

It’s no secret that it’s been a challenging three months at Sports Illustrated. It’d have been easy for people to take their collective foot off the gas, but I’m real proud of our NFL team for refusing to let that happen. And I’m grateful to all of you that kept coming back.

J.J. Watt Outlines Unlikely Circumstances That Could Bring Him Out of Retirement

J.J. Watt Outlines Unlikely Circumstances That Could Bring Him Out of Retirement

After Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady's about-face in 2022, the NFL world has become a little skeptical of stars announcing their retirements. Yes, you're done, fans, writers, and sometimes even fellow players wonder, but are you really done?

Defensive end J.J. Watt, 35, appears to be really done.

On Saturday, Watt poured cold water on the idea of a potential return before his annual charity softball game in Sugar Land, Texas.

"I had 12 great years in this league and I'm very thankful to walk away healthy," Watt told reporters. "I told (Houston Texans coach) DeMeco (Ryans) last year—I said, 'Don't call unless you absolutely need it. But if you ever do call I'll be there.'

"This is the last year I'll tell him that, because I'm not gonna keep training the way I've been training."

Watt, by acclamation the greatest player in the Texans' short history, retired after playing 2021 and '22 with the Arizona Cardinals. He finished his career with five All-Pro appearances, five Pro Bowls, and three AP Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Ryans and Watt's playing careers overlapped for one season—2011, when Houston won its first division title.

Each Team's Biggest Post-NFL Draft Roster Needs

Each Team’s Biggest Post-NFL Draft Roster Needs

With the 2024 NFL draft in the books, teams can now form their initial depth charts before mandatory minicamps in June and training camps in late July. 

Some teams, such as the Chicago Bears, suddenly have fewer holes on the rosters after stellar draft classes. It helped that the Bears had an extra first-round pick, which they used on Caleb Williams, courtesy of last year’s trade with the Carolina Panthers. 

That trade seems to get worse by the month for the Panthers, but they too have fewer needs on their roster with the selection of wide receiver Xavier Legette (though they still have a long way to go before fielding a playoff-worthy roster). 

No matter how pleased each club is feeling about their post-draft and post-free agency roster, there are still improvements to be made. Here are the biggest remaining holes for all 32 teams.  

Arizona Cardinals: IDL, LB, CB

Wide receiver is no longer a critical need after the selection of Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals, however, have a long way to go to fill out the defense. The unit did benefit from the team’s second first-round pick, edge rusher Darius Robinson. Coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense will rely on veteran cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting to help in the secondary. 

Atlanta Falcons: Edge, CB, LB

The Falcons go into another season without much help for defensive lineman Grady Jarrett. Instead of using the No. 8 pick on an edge rusher, the Falcons chose to draft Michael Penix Jr., who likely won’t play in 2024 because of the arrival of Kirk Cousins. Perhaps this blurb will be wrong in November if second-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro and third-round selection Bralen Trice make immediate impacts.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and wide receiver Zay Flowers

Jackson formed a strong connection with Flowers, who had a team-leading 858 receiving yards in 2023.

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Ravens: WR, OT, Edge

The Ravens addressed their needs at cornerback and offensive guard with the draft selections of Nate Wiggins and Roger Rosengarten in the first and second rounds, respectively. Those were likely the right moves, but again, Lamar Jackson will have a thin receiving corps unless Rashod Bateman finally puts it together to help Zay Flowers. Baltimore is also thin at edge rusher, with Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy as the top options. 

Buffalo Bills: Edge, WR, CB

Buffalo hit on some needs in the draft, selecting WR Keon Coleman and S Cole Bishop to shore up immediate weak spots. However, it was surprising to see the Bills not take another receiver. Additionally, Buffalo is thin at pass rusher with only Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa as reliable pieces. The Bills are also dancing with danger at corner, as the first reserve is Kaiir Elam.

Carolina Panthers: TE, OT, Edge

The Panthers deserve credit for improving the receiving corps with the trade for Diontae Johnson and first-round selection of Xavier Legette. And they might finally have a reliable running back after drafting Jonathon Brooks. But they also might be hurting at tight end with Tommy Tremble and fourth-round pick Ja’Tavion Sanders. As for another glaring need, Carolina has issues at offensive tackle and are banking on a bounce-back season from Ikem Ekwonu, the 2022 No. 6 pick.

Chicago Bears: Edge, IDL, OL

The Bears could be a fun offense to watch after the draft selections of Williams and Rome Odunze. But they’re going to need the offensive line to play better than last year after veteran guard Nate Davis and right tackle Darnell Wright—a 2023 first-round pick—both struggled. Chicago has plenty of talent throughout the defense, but the team could use more depth on the defensive front. 

Cincinnati Bengals: CB, Edge, G

Cincinnati used three of its first four draft picks to build in the trenches, but never added a guard. With Alex Cappa entering the final year of his deal and Cordell Volson being inconsistent, that could have been an option on the second or third day. Meanwhile, with Trey Hendrickson demanding a trade, the Bengals are already thin on the edge and could be in a huge bind if Hendrickson plays hardball.

Cleveland Browns: QB, ILB, OLB

The Browns really need a quarterback, but they’re stuck with Deshaun Watson and his contract for two more years. Defensively, the second level is a big concern beyond Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush are in line for serious playing time, and at this juncture, neither are prolific. Losing Sione Takitaki this offseason in free agency may loom large.

Dallas Cowboys: RB, C, IDL

Ezekiel Elliott is once again the Cowboys’ No. 1 running back. Just one problem: It’s 2024. Elliott is no longer in his prime and the Cowboys don’t have much stability behind him on the depth chart. Dallas also has concerns at center, but the team drafted Cooper Beebe in the third round. He’ll likely compete with Brock Hoffman for the starting job. Regardless of who’s snapping the ball to Dak Prescott, they’ll be surrounded by plenty of talent with Zack Martin, Tyler Smith and 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton.

Denver Broncos: C, ILB, CB

The Broncos’ list could have been 10 positions deep, but let’s be kind. Denver lost Lloyd Cushenberry in free agency and never replaced him. Denver also saw Josey Jewell head for the Panthers and did little to shore up that spot, with Alex Singleton and Cody Barton in line to start. At corner, it’s Patrick Surtain II and a lot of question marks—specifically if Levi Wallace will hold onto his job for 17 weeks.

Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson

Hutchinson (No. 97) has posted 21 sacks over his first two seasons.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions: WR, Edge, LB

It was tough finding three roster holes for the stacked Lions. They might be forced to draft a wide receiver next season if Jameson Williams doesn’t make the leap in 2024 to help recently-paid Amon-Ra St. Brown. Also, star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson needs a long-term running mate. For now, they’re banking on free-agent newcomer Marcus Davenport. After spending the past year writing about the Lions’ needs at cornerback, they drafted Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. to form an intriguing cornerback group.

Green Bay Packers: OL, CB, IDL

The Packers’ offensive line appears incomplete because they haven’t decided what to do with first-round pick Jordan Morgan, who can play tackle and guard. If Morgan plays guard, this unit might be close to complete. But Green Bay is going to need another stellar season for Rasheed Walker, who filled in admirably last season at left tackle. Cornerback Jaire Alexander might again need help, but at least the team made defensive upgrades with free agent addition Xavier McKinney and rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper.

Houston Texans: DT, CB, OLB

Not surprisingly, the Texans’ needs are exclusive to the defense. Houston brought in Denico Autry to shore up the interior of its line, but the rest of the defensive tackles are underwhelming, and Autry is 34 years old. On the second level, Houston is thin, relying heavily on Christian Harris and Azeez Al-Shaair. At corner, it’s Derek Stingley Jr. and a ton of hope, with rookie Kamari Lassiter expected to play a big role.

Indianapolis Colts: CB, S, TE

This wasn’t a great year to need a tight end, but the Colts not making any effort to upgrade at the position was a bit surprising. Defensively, Indianapolis has a solid front seven that should be good against the run and the pass. However, the secondary is banking big on corners JuJu Brents and Kenny Moore II, while hoping Dallas Flowers and Nick Cross are ready for increased roles.

Jacksonville Jaguars: CB, S, Edge

The Jaguars treated the cornerback position this offseason as though they have Sauce Gardner. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and corner is a major concern. Safety isn’t much better, with Andre Cisco and questions galore. At edge, the starters are terrific in Josh Allen and Travon Walker, but Jacksonville could have used a rotational pass rusher. Perhaps it still finds one.

Kansas City Chiefs: RB, DT, CB

After trading L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans, the Chiefs created a need at corner, but didn’t address it until the sixth round. They’re banking on Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams, who are both in their third year but have so far been unspectacular. At defensive tackle, Chris Jones is incredible, but depth is a minor question. Finally, who backs up Isiah Pacheco? Maybe Jerick McKinnon comes back later.

Las Vegas Raiders: QB, RB, CB

Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell will compete for the starting job under center, while running back Josh Jacobs left in free agency and was never replaced. Suffice to say, Las Vegas has some problems in the backfield. Defensively, the front seven is rounding into form under coach Antonio Pierce, but the secondary remains a concern with corner being the biggest problem.

Los Angeles wide receiver Quentin Johnston

Johnston was a first-round pick in 2023 but struggled during his rookie season, tallying just 38 catches for 431 yards.

Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Chargers: WR, ILB, CB

Los Angeles is in the middle of overhauling its roster, and should be competitive in Jim Harbaugh’s first year. That said, the Chargers have significant questions at receiver, with rookie Ladd McConkey and 2023 draftee Quentin Johnston headlining the group. On defense, Los Angeles has weak points on all three levels. The biggest questions are whether rookie linebacker Junior Colson can play immediately and if Ja’Sir Taylor can hold up in the slot.

Los Angeles Rams: OT, LB, CB

The Rams had a near perfect draft on the defensive side after using first- and second-round picks on edge rusher Jared Verse and defensive tackle Braden Fiske. If they add a veteran linebacker in the coming months, the Rams could have a sneaky good defense during their first year without Aaron Donald. Los Angeles, however, is taking a chance with Alaric Jackson as the starting left tackle again. 

Miami Dolphins: C, DT, S

The Dolphins have real questions on both sides of the ball. At center, Connor Williams remains a free agent after tearing his ACL late last season, and while Aaron Brewer was signed, he’s not on the same level as Williams. Defensively, Christian Wilkins’s departure leaves a huge hole in the middle of the front. On the back end, Miami needs help at safety and corner, with Jordan Poyer being heavily relied upon.

Minnesota Vikings: OL, IDL, CB

The Vikings don’t have much stability on the offensive line after stud left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Perhaps good coaching and elite skill players could mask the lack of talent on the offensive line. But that might not be enough to help the erratic Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings have a fearsome duo at edge rusher with Jonathan Greenard and rookie Dallas Turner. As for the interior, they might not have one standout defensive tackle.  

New England Patriots: G, S, K

Yes, kicker. Did anybody else watch Chad Ryland kick the ball last year? He was terrible. Ryland hit on just 16-of-25 field goals, including missing half of his 10 attempts between 40–49 yards. Additionally, safety Kyle Dugger is excellent, but Jabrill Peppers is only decent and the depth behind them is questionable. On offense, the offensive line is a concern, with guard particularly thin.

New Orleans Saints: OL, IDL, Edge

The Saints might be overthinking it by not placing first-round pick Taliese Fuaga at offensive tackle. If they move him to guard, that means they’re giving 2022 first rounder Trevor Penning another shot at proving himself at left tackle. They’re also banking on Ryan Ramczyk staying healthy. If Chase Young has a bounce-back season, the Saints could be in good shape on the defensive front. But they need to get younger on the defensive line. 

New York Giants: RB, TE, S

The Giants are going to need Devin Singletary to have a career year in his sixth NFL season because they didn’t do much to replace Saquon Barkley. They could soon have a giant hole at tight end if Darren Waller decides to officially retire. New York gained a dynamic weapon after drafting WR Malik Nabers, but this offense still needs plenty of work.

New York Jets: DT, TE, WR

This might seem like an odd list, but hang in there. The Jets are banking heavily on Mike Williams staying healthy … at 30 years old … on the MetLife Stadium turf. If he doesn’t hold up, it’s rookie Malachi Corley and Garrett Wilson. Not bad, but unsettled. Tight end is much worse, with Tyler Conklin and not much else. At defensive tackle, Quinnen Williams is fantastic, but there’s not much around him.

Philadelphia Eagles: LB, S, IDL

GM Howie Roseman got plenty of love for another impressive draft class. But he neglected the linebacker position, perhaps the weakest group for the Eagles last season. Roseman must really like the free-agency addition of linebacker Devin White. Philadelphia is going to need 2022 draft picks Jordan Davis, a defensive tackle, and Nakobe Dean, a linebacker, to step up and assist the defensive front. 

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens

Pickens will need to develop chemistry with a new quarterback in 2024.

Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Steelers: CB, WR, QB

The Steelers have George Pickens on the outside, but beyond him? Quez Watkins, Van Jefferson and rookie Roman Wilson will all compete for serious snaps. Opposite receiver, the corner room is unsettled with Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson starting outside, but question marks Darius Rush, Cory Trice Jr. and rookie Ryan Watts are all projected to serve as rotational pieces. And, yes, Pittsburgh has two quarterbacks and none at the same time.

San Francisco 49ers: Edge, IDL, IOL

The 49ers are banking on veterans to replace edge rusher Chase Young and defensive tackle Arik Armstead. Time will tell if the rotation of Leonard Floyd, Drake Jackson and Yetur Gross-Matos is enough to assist Nick Bosa. The 49ers tend to make it work on the offensive line, but they’re lacking talent on the inside.

Seattle Seahawks: IOL, LB, TE

The Seahawks will need Nick Harris to step up at center to protect Geno Smith. They’re also taking a chance with Noah Fant as the full-time starter at tight end—they lost Colby Parkinson and Will Dissly in free agency. Seattle didn’t do much to fill the voids left by the departures of inside linebackers Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OG, CB, Edge

Ben Bredeson has plenty of experience as a former starting guard for the Giants, but they had one of the worst interior offensive lines the past few seasons. Perhaps Bredeson will have better luck in Tampa Bay playing alongside a revamped offensive line, which added center Graham Barton in the draft. The Buccaneers lack experience at cornerback outside of Jamel Dean. 

Tennessee Titans: ILB, S, RT

The Titans did a nice job with the roster this offseason, upgrading both sides of the ball. However, Dillon Radunz is a question mark at right tackle alongside Nicholas Petit-Frere. On defense, the inside linebacker combo of Kenneth Murray Jr. and Jack Gibbens doesn’t inspire confidence. Teams will try to exploit them repeatedly, especially in play-action situations.

Washington Commanders: OL, Edge, CB

The Commanders might have waited too long to address their need at left tackle. They had three second-round picks and didn’t use one on an offensive lineman. They now need Brandon Coleman, a third rounder, to be an immediate contributor at left tackle. Washington’s defense could have a much-improved season with the many new arrivals, but the unit could suffer from a lack of depth at edge rusher and in the secondary. 

Why Marvin Harrison Jr.'s Cardinals Jersey Isn't for Sale Yet

Why Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Cardinals Jersey Isn’t for Sale Yet

Arizona Cardinals fans haven't been able to purchase a Marvin Harrison Jr. jersey since he was drafted No. 4 overall in last Thursday's NFL draft due to a licensing agreement issue.

The issue is that the rookie wide receiver has yet to sign a NFLPA licensing agreement in order for the league to distribute his jerseys. This is reportedly because of a disagreement between Harrison's camp and Fanatics, the company that sells the licensed jerseys, according to ESPN's Pat McAfee.

When Harrison was a sophomore at Ohio State, he was given a four-year NIL deal to sign with Fanatics. His camp is now apparently arguing to have his contract amount increased because his value is higher as an NFL rookie than as a college sophomore, McAfee said. Many NFL players have signed the deal in the past, but McAfee noted that this disagreement could make changes with the licensing contracts in the future.

So, until this issue is sorted out between Harrison and Fanatics in order for him to sign a NFLPA licensing agreement, the rookie receiver's jerseys will not be for sale. Fanatics outlined this in a tweet made the night of the draft.