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 North Finals matchup...
BALTIMORE
Key Adds: RB Derrick Henry (from TEN)...that’s it. The only FA they signed.
Key Losses: LB Patrick Queen (to PIT), DL Jadeveon Clowney (to CAR), SAF Geno Stone (to CIN), OG John Simpson (to NYJ), WR Devin Duvernay (to JAX), CB Ronald Darby (to JAX), RB Gus Edwards (to LAC), OG Kevin Zeitler (to DET), OBJ (to MIA)
Key Draft Adds: CB Nate Wiggins, OL Roger Rosengarten, DE Isaac Adisa, CB T.J. Tampa
Key Coaching Changes: Lost D-C Mike Macdonald (to SEA as HC), promoted Zach Orr to D-C.
Outlook: If you minimize any upgrade at RB as ‘no big deal’, because it’s a running back (and who cares about RBs anymore), then the Ravens didn’t get any bump from free agency...and they had a bad draft, in my opinion (I think Wiggins is more ‘bust’ than not) – if all that is true, then you look and see all the talent they lost in free agency...you can only conclude that this was a BAD offseason for Baltimore.
I didn’t realize the count of 2023 starters that were lost to free agency until I typed it all out here and re-looked at things. I’m pro-Derrick Henry. I don’t think RBs matter much anymore either, but Henry is one of the few exceptions – so that is an improvement...but then everything else is hit-after-hit to their lineup from last year.
It’s not SO bad...because Patrick Queen is overrated, as is Clowney...as is OBJ. Really, the worst ‘loss’ is losing D-C Mike Macdonald to Seattle.
Looking at everything, as a whole, I don’t think the Ravens radically improved themselves in the 2024 offseason...but they didn’t lose as much quality as they lost more ‘quantity’, per se. So it looks scary when you see the count of key things coming and going, but its impact is debatable.
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PITTSBURGH
Key Adds: LB Patrick Queen (from BAL), RB Cordarrelle Patterson (from ATL)
Key Losses: QB Mason Rudolph (to TEN), OT Chuk Okorafor (to NE), CB Levi Wallace (to DEN)
Key Draft Adds: OL Troy Fautanu, OL Zach Frazier, WR Roman Wilson, LB Payton Wilson, OL Mason McCormick
Key Coaching Changes: Arthur Smith hired as O-C
Outlook: In free agency, the Steelers didn’t really lose much...but they gained a couple legit useful players in Queen (who I don’t love, but he is better than what they had) and Patterson in the new era of the kick return – could be a great move.
Where the Steelers REALLY got better was by having arguably the smartest, best draft in 2024. They got 4-5 Week 1 starters from the draft, potentially to go with two free agent signings who can start as well. And they did not lose but one starter, and he was a shaky starter in Okorafor.
Hiring Arthur Smith as the O-C negates a lot of the positivity from all their other moves.
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Winner (most improved for 2024)...
The Ravens lost a lot of useful pieces in free agency...like 3-4 key starters and another 1-2 contributors. And the main thing they added was Derrick Henry, which is huge...but that’s about it...and then they had a pretty flimsy draft (I don’t believe in Nate Wiggins, so...).
The Steelers easily win this -- as they added 3-4 starters without really losing anything important...and have another 1-2 potential starters by mid-to-early season from the draft, a great draft that they pulled off.
The Steelers move on to face the AFC South champs Tennessee in the Elite 8.
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Next Round Matchups...
2nd-Round to come...
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. AFC North (PIT)
