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 West Finals matchup...
L.A. RAMS
Key Adds: OG Jonah Jackson (from CIN), TE Colby Parkinson (from SEA), CB Darious Williams (from JAX), SAF Kameron Curl (from WSH), CB Tre’Davious White (from BUF), QB Jimmy Garoppolo (from LV)
Key Losses: QB Carson Wentz (to KC), SAF Jordan Fuller (to CAR), OG Coleman Shelton (to CHI), DL Jonah Williams (to MIN)
Key Draft Adds: DL Jared Verse, DL Braden Fiske, RB Blake Corum, DSAF Kam Kitchens, DE Brennan Jackson, DT Tyler Davis, PK Josh Karty, WR Jordan Wittington
Key Coaching Changes: New O-C Mike LaFleur, new D-C Chris Shula
Outlook: Looking at it all together in one area...the Rams didn’t really lose anything of great value, but man did they bring in value/starters in free agency AND the draft.
They lost a weaker/so-so link on the O-Line...Coleman Shelton, and that’s really it. After that, in free agency they added five impact starters and a critical piece in a legit backup QB. Then in the draft, the Rams added at least three guys who will start Week 1...possibly 4. There’s 8-9 possibly 10 2024 starters that came from this offseason – and it’s not that the Rams were bad before or that these are sketchy starters, it’s all good/quality players.
This really was a stunning offseason.
-----------------------
ARIZONA
Key Adds: DT Justin Jones (from CHI), OT Jonah Williams (from CIN), CB Sean Bunting (from TEN), DL Bilal Nichols (from LV), LB Mack Wilson (from NE), RB DeeJay Dallas (from SEA), WR Zay Jones (from JAX)
Key Losses: Traded WR Marquise Brown (to KC), DT Leki Fotu (to NYJ)
Key Draft Adds: WR Marvin Harrison, DL Darius Robinson, CB Max Melton, RB Trey Benson, OL Isaiah Adams, TE Tip Reiman, CB Elijah Jones
Key Coaching Changes: None
Outlook: Just looking at it all in one place – Arizona spent a lot of money on some sketchy, formerly good...but current question-mark players. They got some good/decent names/players in free agency, but the prices seem inflated/overpriced. But we’re not judging money counts here, just looking at the talent and its 2024 impact, but I’m just shocked looking at the free agency money they gave out. Looks like +2-3 starters from free agency...lost 1 via trade (Marquise).
The draft is where they killed it -- 4-5 starters, potentially, for 2024 from this class. Part of the reason they could add so many starters in the draft is that because they had/have a weaker roster to try and upgrade compared to say the 49ers – but mostly it was a good-to-great draft pulled off by the organization.
Overall, Arizona took a nice step forward this offseason.
-----------------------
Winner (most improved for 2024)...
Two teams who did quite nicely in this 2024 offseason in personnel moves...
Arizona netted somewhere between +5-6 starters for 2024 from free agency, a trade, and the draft. That’s a nice offseason and it would’ve won in many matchups in this type of judgment/tournament...but the Rams were even better, stunning really...+7-8 starters likely added/net with a possibility of +10 starters.
And Arizona had a lot of room for improvement, so it was easier for them to add starters...it was also just decent/solid starters, mostly...not ‘wow’ starters added. On the other hand, the Rams added a few ‘wow’ starters and talented draft pick defenders as well.
Arizona did well...but the Rams did great, and LAR moves on to face NFC East champs Washington in the next round.
For more content from Fantasy Football Metrics: www.ffmetrics.com
Subscribe to FFM: FFM Subscription Information
Next Round Matchups...
2nd-Round to come...
NFC North: DET v. GB
NFC South: CAR v. ATL
-----------------------------
3rd-Round
AFC East (NYJ) v. AFC West (LAC)
AFC South (TEN) v. AFC North (PIT)
NFC East (WSH) v. NFC West (LAR)
