Intro: For each team, for the next month or so, we’re going to look at the key offseason moves each team has made via trade, free agency, coaching and GM changes, and their NFL Draft to see if we scout/analyze these teams have improved or regressed or stayed flat, essentially – looking at it from a 2024 impact only...not long-term, just what could impact this season’s results.
We’ll judge these teams two at a time, pitting them against each other head-to-head to determine a ‘winner’ (which team we think impacted 2024 the best), and the winning teams will move on to the next round and compete until we get to the finals/Super Bowl.
We’re going division-by-division, seeded by 2023 order of finish.
Today we have an NFC East matchup of #1 DAL and #4 WSH...
DALLAS
Key Adds: LB Eric Kendricks (from LAC), RB Ezekiel Elliott (from NE)
Key Losses: OC Tyler Biadasz (to WSH), DE Dorance Armstrong (to WSH), DE Dante Fowler (to WSH), RB Tony Pollard (to TEN), DT Jonathan Hankins (to SEA),
Key Draft Adds: OL Tyler Guyton, DL Marshawn Kneeland, OL Cooper Beebe, LB Marist Liufau, DT Justin Rogers, WR Ryan Flournoy
Key Coaching Changes: D-C Mike Zimmer replaced Dan Quinn
Outlook: Dallas lost several useful pieces, most of them to Washington...not-so-coincidentally, along with losing their D-C Dan Quinn to be the Washington head coach. They only added, in free agency, two older players...possibly both over the hill, best case they’re mild contributors this season.
In the draft itself, Dallas did OK...a couple nice OL prospects and a couple decent/useful defenders.
Is Mike Zimmer an upgrade or downgrade at D-C? I’d say a downgrade, potentially...but not too impactful one way or the other.
Dallas lost multiple starters in free agency and added back a starter from free agency and a couple potential instant starters, potentially, at O-Line in the draft.
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WASHINGTON
Key Adds: OC Tyler Biadasz (from DAL), DE Dorance Armstrong (from DAL), DE Dante Fowler (from DAL), OG Nick Allegretti (from KC), RB Austin Ekeler (from LAC), LB Bobby Wagner (from SEA), LB Frankie Luvu (from CAR), DB Jeremy Chinn (from CAR), QB Marcus Mariota (from PHI)
Key Losses: WR Curtis Samuel (to BUF), CB Kendall Fuller (to MIA), RB Antonio Gibson (to NE), SAF Kamren Curl (to LAR), QB Jacoby Brissett (to NE), LB Khaleke Hudson (to NO), OL Saahdiq Charles (to TEN)
Key Draft Adds: QB Jayden Daniels, DT Jer’Zahn Newton, DB Mike Sainristil, TE Ben Sinnott, OL Brandon Coleman, WR Luke McCaffrey, LB Jordan Magee
Key Coaching Changes: Whole staff and GM changed, Dan Quinn hired and Adam Peters at GM, and Kliff Kingsbury to O-C.
Outlook: A new GM and coaching staff brings a ton of change in 2024 offseason, and most of it for the good.
Washington lost 3-4 starters to free agency, a new regime purge...but they went out and got 5-6 starters back in free agency and then they got a real franchise QB in the draft, which is huge enough on it’s own...but we see 3 +/- other instant starters added via an excellent draft.
Consider anything different than Ron Rivera and Eric Bieniemy are upgrades on the coaching side, and you got one hell of a great offseason.
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Winner (most improved for 2024)...
So, obviously...the Commanders win this going away. It’s not even close...and Dallas wasn’t terrible, it’s just Washington executed a real change/upgrade plan.
What this offseason also could be...it could be that Washington may not only win ‘best offseason’ of the NFC East in our tourney, but they may have closed the gap to winning the whole damn division in reality in 2024.
Washington is a legit contender to win this whole tournament, but first they advance on to the NFC Finals.
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Next Round Matchups...
AFC East: NE v. NYJ
AFC North: BAL v. PIT
AFC South: TEN v. IND
AFC West: LAC v. LV
NFC East: WSH v. ???
