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 the final 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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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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Winner (most improved for 2024)...
The two finalists, so obviously they have a ton of changes to digest and compare...
Washington gets a big boost, gets out to a lead by locking in a franchise QB upgrade this offseason that should make a pretty solid impact right away.
Tennessee counters that with a complete overhaul of their coaching staff...and the real getting an O-Line coaching guru while adding talent to the O-Line...THAT plus adding a top CB duo out of thin air...it makes up for the Washington QB upgrade.
Outside of QB, O-Line, CBs...Washington then has to counter/to make up the gap that the Titans earned from their OL and CB boost. The Commanders had an awesome draft and solid free agency and added several impact 2024 starters and contributors...more than the Titans did, even though the Titans had a nice free agency period and draft as well.
So many ways to look at it...so close between them, this ‘art’ can be judged a number of ways, but with everything I just compared/mentioned...it’s close...but I didn’t mention the Washington coaching staff AND GM upgrade – a massive upgrade from the Ron Rivera disaster. But which staff upgrade do you like better – Tennessee’s or Washington’s? I like the Titans in that battle.
A close call, both teams so much better...but judging all the moves for their 2024 impact, I’ll tip it to the Titans by a hair. If you like Washington’s moves better...no problem. I think what Tennessee did is going to be more instant/2024 impact than what Washington did...in that it’s so many young players and a rookie QB for the Commanders...I like the Titans 2024 ONLY impact from their moves a hint better, and that’s what we’re here to judge.
Congrats to my new favorite team for 2024...it seems...the Tennessee Titans.
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That’s it!! Thanks for following along this offseason 2024 impact tourney!
