Ranking every NFL team’s 2024 offseason so far

The 2024 NFL offseason is well under way, with many high-profile names already having moved teams to kickstart free agency.

With blockbuster trades, shocking player cuts and retirements, how would you grade your team’s performance so far this offseason?

Arizona Cardinals – C+

The Cardinals have been going about their business, yet it has been fairly quiet for Arizona. Sean Murphy-Bunting is a decent acquisition in both value and fit terms, as is defensive lineman Justin Jones, but other than that, there hasn’t been too much to shout about in Phoenix. With so much cap space, many would have expected the team to be busier.

All eyes are firmly on the draft, as the Cardinals continue their big re-build.

Atlanta Falcons – A

The Falcons have got exactly what they needed this offseason; a good, quality quarterback. Kirk Cousins is still a genuine top 10-15 type QB, and despite his age, is going to take Atlanta’s offense to the next level.

Darnell Mooney is another good move, and it’ll be interesting to see what the team do with eighth overall pick in this year’s draft. Where Cousins can take this team in 2024? The only way is up.

Baltimore Ravens – B

The big deal is Derrick Henry’s arrival, which gives Baltimore arguably the best rushing attack in the NFL for 2024. The Ravens have lost a lot of their offensive line, and I’m not sure about their decision to let Morgan Moses leave in a trade to the Jets. Patrick Queen will be a miss, but is not irreplaceable.

Keeping Justin Madubuike in town is a huge win, and I expect the Ravens to continue their push for a championship this year.

Buffalo Bills – C+

With a big cap space deficit, it was always going to be difficult for Buffalo. A lot of talent has departed this offseason, especially in their defensive back unit.

Curtis Samuel, who was been busy for the Commanders for a couple of years now, gives Josh Allen a new target, and re-signing left tackle Dion Dawkins is a huge plus for the team. All being said, the Bills are still a contender in the AFC, but the window may be starting to narrow.

Carolina Panthers – B-

A fair amount of new faces, but it has mainly been about the outgoings in Carolina. Brian Burns is a big loss, especially when you consider how little they got for him in return, and the likes of Frankie Luvu (arguably their best player in 2023), Hayden Hurst and Vonn Bell are notable departures.

Diontae Johnson is a nice little addition, instantly becoming the best wideout on the roster. The Panthers will also have a new starting left guard, right guard and swing tackle this year, but has this team improved altogether during free agency? I’m not sure at all. Big things are needed from a fairly insignificant supply of draft picks in 2024.

Chicago Bears – A-

The Bears have added a couple of big names, but on the face of it, have massively overpaid in free agency once again. D’Andre Swift and Kevin Byard were this year’s big payday winners, and both have a real element of uncertainty about them. Locking down Jaylon Johnson is huge, but getting Keenan Allen for next to no draft capital, is probably the pick of any move this offseason.

The team moved on from Justin Fields, yet didn’t get anywhere near what many of us expected them too. Spending big on veterans has downsides down the line, but with a new rookie quarterback on a rookie deal, it is bold and a potentially successful strategy. Whoever the new QB will be (okay, Caleb Williams), he’ll be in a much better position than his predecessor.

Cincinnati Bengals – C+

The Bengals have strengthened the back end of their secondary with the signing of Geno Smith from the Ravens, whose seven interceptions in 2023 were the second-most in the entire NFL. Zack Moss is a cheap option at running back – but letting Joe Mixon leave for just a seventh round pick feels odd, even if he did slow down a fair bit at the end of last season. He’s still a productive back, and with Tyler Boyd leaving and Tee Higgins’ future still uncertain, Cincinnati’s offense could look a whole lot different come September.

Cleveland Browns – C

The Browns’ quarterback room now has three QBs who have appeared in Pro Bowl, yet is still nowhere near being what you would consider being elite. So much uncertainty still surrounds Deshaun Watson, but could this finally be the year he returns to his best form?

Wideout Jerry Jeudy looked be a good pickup for such a low pick; but handing him a blockbuster contract $58 million is really confusing. I’m still siding with the positives on this one as Jeudy is certainly talented. Could Watson be the one to unlock his potential?

Dallas Cowboys – D

Having been the only team in the entire NFL not to sign anybody on the opening day of free agency, the Cowboys have done little make strides so far this offseason. Eric Kendricks is a decent void signing at linebacker, but Dallas has lost the likes of Tyron Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong, Stephon Gilmore and Tony Pollard.

Not the ideal start to the offseason, but let’s see what they do in the draft.

Denver Broncos – D-

Moving on from Russell Wilson was needed, but the Broncos’ are completely tearing down their roster. Eating $85 million as a dead cap hit rather than having the quarterback play must absolutely sting, but also letting Justin Simmons, one of the league’s best safeties, Lloyd Cushenberry, one of the league’s best centres, and young talent like Jerry Jeudy leave for minimal, if any, return, must be crushing for fans.

The rebuild could take time, so don’t expect things to improve in an instant for Denver.

Detroit Lions – B+

I really like what Detroit has done this free agency, adding valuable veterans to their young, up-and-coming roster. Carlton Davis and Marcus Davenport are more than useful pieces for their defense, while Kevin Zeitler will slot straight in as a like-for-like replacement for guard Jonah Jackson, who joined the Rams.

Elsewhere, the signing of DJ Reader has gone under the radar, and partnering him with with Alim McNeill gives Detroit one of the best interior defensive lines, with both particularly strong against the run. Jackson and Graham Glasgow are big losses, but the Lions look like they have definitely improved, and should continue to at the draft.

Green Bay Packers – B+

Out with the old, in with the new. David Bakhtiari, Jon Runyan Jr, Darnell Savage and Jonathan Owens have all left the Packers in recent weeks, and the team is replacing them with an abundance of talent already.

Green Bay signed the best safety on the free agent market in 24-year-old New York Giant Xavier McKinney, who will become an instant leader for Jeff Hafley’s new defense. Josh Jacobs is an upgrade on Aaron Jones, no matter who liked Jones was in Green Bay, and the team will save valuable cash as part of the deals.

Houston Texans – A-

The focus for the Texans in free agency was the defense, and despite losing two of last year’s key starters in Blake Cashman and Jonathan Greenard, Houston have managed to upgrade across the roster.

Danielle Hunter is the big name signing, while Denico Autry and Azeez Al-Shaair are quality defensive operators. Elsewhere, picking up Joe Mixon for a low end draft pick feels a solid addition, and Jeff Okudah could finally have found his perfect home. All-in-all, a really good free agency for Houston.

Indianapolis Colts – C

Mainly focused on resigning players, the Colts have kept hold of some key pieces, with Michael Pittman Jr,  Zaire Franklin, Kenny Moore II and Tyquan Lewis among those who have signed new deals in Indy.

Joe Flacco provides some depth at quarterback, with Gardner Minshew leaving for the Raiders, isn’t a signing to get excited about, and at $8.7 million, is fairly expensive too.

Jacksonville Jaguars – C+

Some interesting moves in Jacksonville during free agency. Trading for Mac Jones was certainly a surprise, adding Gabe Davis is solid but hasn’t quite created much excitement just yet, particularly having let Calvin Ridley leave for the Titans. Josh Allen has been tagged, but will be expecting a big contract soon.

A lot of positives, Arik Armstead is a good player to bring in. But there are also a lot of questions that need answering.

Kansas City Chiefs – B+

The two-time defending Super Bowl champions addressed their most pressing business this offseason by re-signing two-time First-Team All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones to a new long-term deal, and have added the likes of Marquise Brown and Irv Smith on offense.

L’Jarius Sneed’s future is still uncertain, but it’s been a fairly successful offseason so far for KC, keeping most of their team together for another run in 2024.

Las Vegas Raiders – B+

The Raiders have found themselves a destructive partner for Maxx Crosby in Christian Wilkins to give them an elite defensive line heading into the new season.

Losing Josh Jacobs will hurt, but was expected, but have found value in adding Alexander Mattison, who will nicely complement Zamir White in Las Vegas’s rushing attack. Will Gardner Minshew be installed as the starter for 2024? He’s a good addition, but the Raiders really need to find their long-term QB solution, and fast.

Los Angeles Chargers – D

Whatever Jim Harbaugh is plotting with this team, he’s looking for a fairly clean slate to start off with. Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler and Mike Williams, all of who have played big roles for the Chargers over the years have left for next to nothing, and given their limited resources, few players have joined.

Harbaugh has always prioritized have a downhill, smash running game, which means former Ravens running back Gus Edwards will be a great fit in Los Angeles. Restructuring Joey Bosa’s and Khalil Mack’s contracts helped their cap situation, but no doubt, the Chargers have lost a lot of talent as part of their rebuild.

Los Angeles Rams – B

The Rams have bolstered in key areas, particularly on offensive line. Keeping Kevin Dotson in town, one of the best interior linemen in the NFL last season, was a huge must, and they’ve improved that area even further by signing Jonah Jackson from the Lions. There is still question marks at the tackle position, but bringing in Colby Parkinson, a real asset blocking tight end who is improving as a pass catcher, is a good bonus. Jimmy Garoppolo is also a more than capable backup QB.

The only reason the Rams don’t get an ‘A’ is purely because Aaron Donald has retired, which leaves a gaping hole on their defensive line. Happy retirement to one of the greatest players of all-time.

Miami Dolphins – B+

The Dolphins have lost a lot of players to free agency, but have, by and large, made decent strides to replace those who have left. Star defensive end Christian Wilkins, starting guard Robert Hunt, 2023 standout Andrew Van Ginkel, former All-Pro Xavien Howard and the towering Emmanuel Ogbah are all big, big losses, which will be felt across the board, but we’ve been impressed with Miami have evened themselves out.

Pro Bowl edge rusher Shaq Barrett and Pro Bowl safety Jordan Poyer are great additions, center Aaron Brewer is a brilliant run blocker, while Jordyn Brooks, the 27th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, will replace some of the speed lost off of Miami’s defense this offseason. Kendall Fuller is another great value fit for the team.

A couple of decent additions in the draft, and the Dolphins could sneakily be on for a really successful offseason.

Minnesota Vikings – B-

I actually really like what the Vikings have done in terms of additions during free agency. Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel are two tough and lively linebackers who Brian Flores will love, Jonathan Greenard is a solid enough replacement for Danielle Hunter, and Aaron Jones is an upgrade at running back.

But everything depends on how they replace Kirk Cousins, which will likely come in the draft. Sam Darnold hasn’t played enough football to slot straight in as the starter and for us to expect the Vikings to compete, and with Minnesota already trading up for another first round pick, could they accumulating assets to move up into the early selections?

New England Patriots – B-

The Patriots have been busy in free agency, resigning a lot of their key players while adding some decent depth (although their strategy to continue signing WR3’s is confusing).

With Mac Jones traded to the Jaguars, the Pats can hit the rest button to kickstart their new area. That starts with the draft and taking a top QB available. Has that new star, whoever it may be, got the resources around him? I’m not so sure, but there have been some positives in New England for sure in recent weeks.

New Orleans Saints – C-

This could have been lower with the Saints being very inactive as was predicted, but the signing of Chase Young could prove to be a useful addition, but there are already signs he won’t be fit this offseason. New Orleans’ desire to continue restructuring almost every contract on their books is really limiting them. Willie Gay Jr. is the only other notably addition, but that’s not really something to shout about.

They’ve kept some key stars, but haven’t improved much at all. Another frustrating year awaits?

New York Giants – B

Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney are big losses, but based on additions alone, the Giants have done pretty well. Acquiring Brian Burns for so little is huge for their defensive line, Devin Singletary can fill a lot of the void left by Saquon, while Jon Runyan Jr. provides good options up front.

A mixed bag, but fairly productive for New York.

New York Jets – A-

The Jets weren’t as busy as many expected at the start of free agency, but have slowly but surely put together one of the better offseasons so far. They have been able to successfully work to rebuild their offensive line, adding the experienced Tyron Smith from the Cowboys, along with former Ravens linemen Morgan Moses and John Simpson joining the ranks, and a new WR2 in Mike Williams, following his release from the Chargers.

Losing Bryce Huff will hurt but was fairly inevitable, and if they can add a new stud in the coming weeks before the draft, then maybe their rating will increase a bit more.

Philadelphia Eagles – A-

Howie Roseman has done it again. With Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce retiring, and D’Andre Swift hitting free agency, the Eagles were able to spend good money on Saquon Barkley and Bryce Huff, return C.J. Gardner-Johnson after a year in Detroit, and take punts on Devin White and Kevin Pickett.

There are still problems for the Eagles, particularly on offense, but Barkley gives them a new dimension to their rushing attack. Let’s see if they continue to improve this offseason.

Pittsburgh Steelers – A+

Our winners of free agency so far. They have revolutionised their quarterback room, going all-in on Russell Wilson for the now, and they have vastly improved defensive areas of need.

Losing Diontae Johnson means the Steelers need to do some work to improve the receiver room, but Justin Fields for a future fourth round pick (at most!) is a real steel if he can make progress this year. The acquisition of Patrick Queen is a huge for their defense.

San Francisco 49ers – C+

The 49ers have lost veteran Arik Armstead, but they have managed to beef up their defensive line, signing both Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos. Not massive changes, but the 49ers are in decent shape to make another run deep in the NFC.

Seattle Seahawks – B

Trading for Sam Howell is an interesting one for Seattle. I’m not expecting him to play in 2024, but he proved to be an exciting, albeit inexperienced, starter last year for the Commanders. Could he take over from Geno? I’d like to see more of him, and this feels like a good spot for him.

Veteran defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins should prove useful, and Noah Fant and Leonard Williams are more than useful players to keep around, especially the tight ends they let go in free agency, and given they need a lot of help upfront.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – B

The Buccaneers haven’t added much, but they have kept their best players. Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr. all could have very easily left the franchise this year, but keeping them in town means the Bucs are still the team to beat in the NFC South.

Losing Shaq Barrett isn’t ideal, nor is letting Carlton Davis, but ultimately, bringing the the main band back together is the most important thing for Tampa Bay. 

Tennessee Titans – B

They’ve overspent in places (most notably in the Calvin Ridley deal), but ultimately, this team is a whole lot better than it was looking a week ago. The Titans had a huge running back need, and Tony Pollard will slot straight in to fill the void left by Derrick Henry, with Tyjae Spears added in for more reps too.

They’ve lost some talent, it will hurt to see Azeez Al-Shaair join a divisional rival in the Texans, but the Titans have upgraded at center with Lloyd Cushenberry, added a former first-round linebacker in Kenneth Murray and a solid corner in Chidobe Awuzie.

Washington Commanders – A

The Commanders have been incredibly busy so far in free agency, bringing in 16 new signings, with many expected to slot in as starters from day one. Dorance Armstrong and Frankie Luvu are perfect fits, while Jeremy Chinn is exactly the type of versatile defensive back that new head coach Dan Quinn loves.

Elsewhere, Austin Ekeler may be coming off a down year, but is still one of the league’s best backs. He brings the pass-catching element to Washington, which was lost after Antonio Gibson moved to the New England Patriots, and will be a perfect partner for Brian Robinson in the backfield.

Washington have lost Curtis Samuel, Kendall Fuller and two quarterbacks, but with the second overall pick, and a haul of selections in the draft, the they are now more than well placed to improve this year.