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 vs. South Elite 8 matchup...
TENNESSEE
Key Adds: WR Calvin Ridley (from JAX), WR Tyler Boyd (from CIN), OC Lloyd Cushenberry (from DEN), Chidobe Awuzie (from CIN), RB Tony Pollard (from DAL), LB Kenneth Murray (from LAC), DT Sebastian Joseph (from SF), QB Mason Rudolph (from PIT), Traded for L’Jarius Sneed (from KC)
Key Losses: Azeez Al-Shaair (from HOU), CB Sean Bunting (to ARI), OC Aaron Brewer (to MIA), DT Denico Autry (to HOU), RB Derrick Henry (to BAL), CB Kristain Fulton (to LAC)
Key Draft Adds: OL J.C. Latham, DT T’Vondre Sweat, LB Cedric Gray, CB Jarvis Brownlee, WR Jha’Quan Jackson
Key Coaching Changes: New HC Brian Callahan and new staff all the way around. The best of all is the O-Line coach is a big upgrade to Bill Callahan.
Outlook: Similar to Houston, we have a lot of things changing here – so, let’s break it down like we did with the Texans...
WR Ridley and Boyd in, Chris Moore out...big upgrade.
OC Cushenberry in, Brewer out...maybe an upgrade, flat at worst.
RB Pollard in, Henry out...a downgrade.
CB Sneed and Awuzie in, Fulton and Bunting out...a MASSIVE upgrade
LB Murray in, Al-Shaair out...could be flat, could be a downgrade...could be Murray finally breaks out here.
DT Sweat drafted, Autry out...different style DTs...hard to say the +/-.
OL JC Latham drafted might be an upgrade...it needs to be.
The coaching staff is an upgrade up and down the board.
All in all...the Titans got much better this offseason.
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PITTSBURGH
Key Adds: LB Patrick Queen (from BAL), RB Cordarrelle Patterson (from ATL), QB Russell Wilson, DEN, Traded for Justin Fields (from CHI)
Key Losses: QB Mason Rudolph (to TEN), OT Chuk Okorafor (to NE), CB Levi Wallace (to DEN), traded away Kenny Pickett (to PHI)
Key Draft Adds: OL Tory 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)...
A big shuffle for Tennessee...approx. 10 starters for 2024 Week 1 signed, traded for, or drafted, but they also lost 6 starters in the big makeover.
The Steelers had made no progress at QB (I’d rather have Pickett). They added a starter (Queen) in free agency and didn’t lose much in free agency. Then they killed it in the draft getting two OL starters Week 1...and another 1-2 starters from the draft on top of that.
The Titans and Steelers both are tracking to have netted +3-4 instant starters via the offseason. It’s pretty close judging them personnel movement-wise.
To break the stalemate, we look at the coaching changes and see the Titans had huge upgrades and HC, O-C, D-C, and OL coaches on the staff...whereas the Steelers likely torpedoed all their personnel gains hiring ‘the killer of offense’ Arthur Smith.
So, we have to rule this in favor of the Titans.
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Next Round Matchups...
3rd-Round
NFC East (WSH) v. NFC West (LAR)
NFC North: (DET) v. NFC South: (ATL)
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4th-Round (FINAL FOUR)
AFC FINALS (NYJ) v. (TEN)
