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 East vs. West Elite 8 matchup...
NY JETS
Key Adds: QB Tyrod Taylor (from NYG), OG John Simpson (from BAL), WR Mike Williams (from LAC), DT Javon Kinlaw (from SF), OT Tyron Smith (from DAL)
Trade for: Haason Reddick (from PHI)
Key Losses: EDGE Bryce Huff (to PHI), SAF Jordan Whitehead (to TB), DT Quinton Jefferson (to CLE), OT Mekhi Becton (to PHI)
Key Draft Adds: OL Ola Fashanu, WR Malachi Corley, RB Braelon Allen, CB Qwantez Swiggers
Key Coaching Changes: none
Outlook: The Jets biggest issue for 2+ years has been their O-Line. And in prior years they tried to solve that issue by drafting and signing useless pass rushers by the bushel full. When you hire a former D-C to be the head coach, you typically get an overemphasis on the defense and pass pressure and a collapse on offense...lunkhead football strategy where sacks are so cool that these coaches chase the results of the 1-3x a game they (sacks) happen...and then ‘who cares’ about the other 50+ plays in a game where the pass rushers have flailed a pass rush and taken themselves way out of the play?
Any whooo... The Jets FINALLY decided to address the O-Line in 2024...getting Tyron Smith and John Simpson in free agency and drafting nice OL prospect Ola Fashanu – three instant impact O-Linemen, potentially...a HUGE difference making moment this offseason.
The Jets really didn’t lose any key players on either side of the ball but really beefed up their offense – adding three legit OLs and smartly added a nice backup QB (Tyrod) to protect Aaron Rodgers...and got Rodgers two potential instant upgrades at WR with rookie Malachi Corley and Mike Williams. They also backstopped Breece Hall with a steal RB in Braelon Allen.
The Jets did about everything you’re supposed to do to fill holes this offseason. They needed this. They’re now a vastly improved, dangerous team in 2024.
-----------------------
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.
-----------------------
Winner (most improved for 2024)...
The road ends here for the Chargers...
LAC did a nice job in the draft getting Alt-McConkey and completing the much-needed changeover of management from the Brandon Staley era, but this tournament is about the 2024 season impact – and we also have to consider the talent they ditched...Keenan, Ekeler, Big Mike. The future is promising, but 2024 is choppy/hopeful.
The Jets win because they lost little and gained a ton, and the thing they most needed to fix was their O-Line and they potentially killed it between free agency and the draft.
The Chargers would win for moves made judged for their future impact, but for 2024 instant results...the Jets get the lean here.
For more content from Fantasy Football Metrics: www.ffmetrics.com
Subscribe to FFM: FFM Subscription Information
Next Round Matchups...
3rd-Round
AFC South (TEN) v. AFC North (PIT)
NFC East (WSH) v. NFC West (LAR)
NFC North: (DET) v. NFC South: (ATL)
--------------------
4th-Round (FINAL FOUR)
AFC FINALS (NYJ) v. ???
.
