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 AFC West Finals matchup...
L.A. CHARGERS
Key Adds: TE Will Dissly (from SEA), RB Gus Edwards (from BAL), LB Bud Dupree (from ATL), CB Kristain Fulton (from TEN), WR D.J. Chark (from CAR)
Key Losses: LB Kenneth Murray (to TEN), Gerald Everett (to CHI), WR Mike Williams (to NYJ), RB Austin Ekeler (to WSH), DT Austin Johnson (to BUF), CB Michael Davis (to WSH), LB Eric Kendricks (to DAL)
Keenan Allen (trade to CHI)
Key Draft Adds: OT Joe Alt, WR Ladd McConkey, LB Junior Colson, DL Justin Eboigbe, CB Cam Hart, RB Kimani Vidal, WR Brenden Rice
Key Coaching Changes: All new staff and GMs
Outlook: LAC lost their core WR group. They lost some solid/depth defenders. They lost a lot of leadership players in the locker room. Jim Harbaugh stripped this team of a lot of core pieces and is rebuilding things in his own image.
They did not really get better in free agency, per se/overall, but they did have a pretty nice draft in rounds 1-2, landing Alt-McConkey...who are instant impact players.
LAC did what it had to do for the future, but for 2024 impact...it’s questionable the effect with a lot of young, inexperienced players jumping in versus the couple of long-time heart-and-soul players getting lost. It’s the right thing to do for the future, but 2024 may be a rocky road with all the inexperience and change.
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LAS VEGAS
Key Adds: DT Christian Wilkins (from MIA), QB Gardner Minshew (from IND), TE Harrison Bryant (from CLE)
Key Losses: RB Josh Jacobs (to GB), DT Bilal Nichols (to ARI), OT Jermaine Eluemunor (to NYG), CB Amik Robertson (to DET), QB Jimmy Garoppolo (to LAR)
Key Draft Adds: TE Brock Bowers, OL Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL Delmar Glaze, CB Decamerion Richardson, LB Tommy Eichenberg, RB Dylan Laube, DAF Trey Taylor, CB M.J. Devonshire
Key Coaching Changes: HC Antonio Pierce hired with a new GM and O-C Luke Getsy
Outlook: Adding Christian Wilkins was a nice start to the offseason, but that’s about it for any impact signings. Minshew is fine. The only real impact loss was Josh Jacobs, but RBs aren’t that critical... not a big loss. They added more hope in free agency than what they lost.
A solid enough draft adding 2-3 impact starters and some depth/young promise. I like this draft the more and more I look at it.
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Winner (most improved for 2024)...
I’m going to judge it all on two specific ‘things’ between these teams, as I see it...
1) Would I rather have the Alt-McConkey (LAC) draft or the Bowers-Powers-Johnson (LV) draft? I side with LAC.
2) Both teams made sweeping coaching and staff and GM changes...which change do I trust more? I have to side with ‘Doc Brown’, I mean Jim Harbaugh...don’t I?
The offseason impact on 2024 ‘winner’ tips to the Chargers ...who go on to face the Jets in the 3rd-round/Elite 8.
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Next Round Matchups...
2nd-Round to come...
AFC North: BAL v. PIT
NFC East: WSH v. PHI
NFC North: DET v. GB
NFC South: CAR v. ATL
NFC West: ARI v. LAR
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3rd-Round
AFC East (NYJ) v. AFC West (LAC)
AFC South (TEN) v. ???
