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 XXX Finals matchup...
WASHINGTON
Key Adds: OC Tyler Biadasz (from DAL), DE Dorance Armstrong (from DAL), DE Dante Fowler (from DAL), OG Nick Allegretti (from KC), RB Austin Ekeler (from LAC), LB Bobby Wagner (from SEA), LB Frankie Luvu (from CAR), DB Jeremy Chinn (from CAR), QB Marcus Mariota (from PHI)
Key Losses: WR Curtis Samuel (to BUF), CB Kendall Fuller (to MIA), RB Antonio Gibson (to NE), SAF Kamren Curl (to LAR), QB Jacoby Brissett (to NE), LB Khaleke Hudson (to NO), OL Saahdiq Charles (to TEN)
Key Draft Adds: QB Jayden Daniels, DT Jer’Zahn Newton, DB Mike Sainristil, TE Ben Sinnott, OL Brandon Coleman, WR Luke McCaffrey, LB Jordan Magee
Key Coaching Changes: Whole staff and GM changed, Dan Quinn hired and Adam Peters at GM, and Kliff Kingsbury to O-C.
Outlook: A new GM and coaching staff brings a ton of change in 2024 offseason, and most of it for the good.
Washington lost 3-4 starters to free agency, a new regime purge...but they went out and got 5-6 starters back in free agency and then they got a real franchise QB in the draft, which is huge enough on its own...but we see 3 +/- other instant starters added via an excellent draft.
Consider anything different than Ron Rivera and Eric Bieniemy are upgrades on the coaching side, and you got one hell of a great offseason.
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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.
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Winner (most improved for 2024)...
This is going to be a tough one.
Washington netted approx. +5-6 instant impact 2024 starters this offseason, but the Rams gained as many as +8-10 impact starters for 2024. In pure count of impact to 2024 starters, the Rams have the edge.
However, Washington has some CRITICAL upgrades within their changes – a franchise QB + a regime change that can only be better, no way worse, than the prior group.
Given how important the QB upgrade is, in general, and Washington changing the whole staff but don’t forget the Rams lost their successful O-C and D-C combo this offseason.
Both teams had GREAT offseason, but I have to tip the scale to Washington for the most 2024 impactful moves.
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Next Round Matchups...
3rd-Round
NFC North: (DET) v. NFC South: (ATL)
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4th-Round (FINAL FOUR)
AFC FINALS (NYJ) v. (TEN)
NFC FINALS (WSH) v. ???
