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 North matchup of #1 DET and #4 CHI...
DETROIT
Key Adds: DT D.J. Reader (from CIN), CB Amik Robertson (from LV), DE Marcus Davenport (from MIN), OG Kevin Zeitler (from BAL)
Traded for Carlton Davis.
Key Losses: OG Jonah Jackson (to LAR), Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (to PHI), WR Josh Reynolds (to DEN)
Key Draft Adds: CB Terrion Arnold, CB Ennis Rakestraw, OL Giovanni Manu, SAF/RB Sione Vaki, DT Mehki Wingo
Key Coaching Changes: None
Outlook: A big gain at DT if Reader comes back healthy.
Davis + Robertson + Arnold + Rakeshaw is a great jump in talent at DB, which well outweighs the loss of Gardner-Johnson.
The only dip/loss this offseason is at O-Line...the loss of Jonah Jackson.
The Lions had a huge problem at corner, and they did a great job addressing it. Everything else they did is icing on the cake.
-----------------------
CHICAGO
Key Adds: RB D’Andre Swift (from PHI), SAF Kevin Byard (from PHI), TE Gerald Everett (from LAC), SAF Jonathan Owens (from GB), OG Coleman Shelton (from LAR)
Traded for Keenan Allen
Key Losses: WR Darnell Mooney (to ATL), DT Justin Jones (to LAC), OG Cody Whitehair (to LV), RB D’Onta Foreman (to CLE)
Key Draft Adds: QB Caleb Williams, WR Rome Odunze, OL Kiran Amegadjie, PUNT Tory Taylor, DL Austin Booker
Key Coaching Changes: New O-C Shane Waldron
Outlook: A terrible free agent period...they signed some of the worst F.A.’s available. Trading for Keenan seems cool but makes little sense matched with their QB and potentially getting him at the wrong time in his career anyway.
Bad incoming and a lot of good players outgoing...’the Bears’ way’.
The draft/the offseason hinges all on Caleb Williams...and we’re Caleb skeptics, so if that’s right – this offseason is a total disaster.
-----------------------
Winner (most improved for 2024)...
The NFC North champs in 2023, Detroit, had some defensive holes...and they went out and filled them like assassins. The Lions got much better this offseason. They need one more legit WR, but outside of that they did what they needed to do this offseason.
The Bears finished last in the division in 2023...and they went out and got worse in the 2024 offseason. They better pray Caleb Williams isn’t closer to my scouting projections than theirs. Based on the Bears past 3-5+ seasons of personnel decisions and management – I’d bet on me over them.
At any rate, the winner here is super-clear...the Lions win and advance to the NFC North finals.
For more content from Fantasy Football Metrics: www.ffmetrics.com
Subscribe to FFM: FFM Subscription Information
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. PHI
NFC North: DET v. ???