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The legwork that comes with building an NFL roster never stops. During the season, front-office personnel and scouts monitor the performance of prospects who can help their cause. They also keep an eye on contract situations, determining potential free agents.
After the Super Bowl, the mad dash for the offseason begins. The NFL Scouting Combine comes before the start of the league year, which also opens the trading and free-agency period.
Mastering these offseason activities may directly affect their competitiveness for the 2024 season. Therefore, here are the teams that aced the league calendar’s initial months through intelligent free-agent signings and solid draft results.
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5. New York Jets
The Jets’ playoff hopes took a hit when Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury four snaps into their season-opener. However, they remained competitive until Week 8, when they had a 4-3 record after defeating the New York Giants.
Unfortunately, their campaign went downhill from there, losing seven of their next 10 games. The team struggled to put points on the board with Zach Wilson behind center, leading to a five-game losing streak from Weeks 9-13. The Jets earned some consolation by winning three of their last five games.
Rodgers returns to the fold with some unfinished business. But in addition to the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player’s return, they’ve fortified the offensive line by signing John Simpson and Morgan Moses. Acquiring five-time All-Pro Tyron Smith could be a steal if he remains healthy. New York’s AFC team added to its offensive line by drafting 2023 Consensus All-American Olumuyiwa Fashanu.
Part of why Morgan Moses is so awesome: #Jets
"I never want to be that guy that's like 'I'm not gonna help nobody' because at the end of the day we all sit at the table together & we all got to eat, so whether I help Olu Fashanu, whether I help Tyron Smith, whether I help Carter… pic.twitter.com/CVMrjcMdhT
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) June 5, 2024
Staying on offense, the Jets added Mike Williams, a wide receiver raring to bounce back after being limited to three games last season. Their third-round selection, Malachi Corley, had 1,295 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final year at Western Kentucky.
Finally, the Jets bolstered their defense by signing defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw. The Jets also traded for edge-rusher Haason Reddick, who has four consecutive double-digit-sack seasons.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles won April 2024 alone, starting with DeVonta Smith’s three-year, $75 million contract extension. Then, they signed A.J. Brown to a three-year, $96 million extension during the first day of the 2024 draft.
Even the draft was another monumental victory for general manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles. After selecting defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, they took running back Will Shipley in the fourth round. The Eagles beefed up their defense by selecting linebackers Jalyx Hunt and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
If that’s not enough proof that Philadelphia won the 2024 offseason, it signed Saquon Barkley ($37.75 million), Bryce Huff ($51.1 million), and C.J. Gardner-Johnson ($27 million) to three-year deals. Barkley had 962 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games last year, while Huff had 21 quarterback hits and 10 sacks in 2023.
Eagles RB Saquon Barkley working during a drill where QBs are throwing to the running backs. pic.twitter.com/dMpci8Dvcq
— Chris Franklin (@cfranklinnews) June 4, 2024
The Eagles also brought back former All-Pro defensive end Brandon Graham on a one-year extension.
3. Tennessee Titans
The Titans found their starting quarterback in Will Levis. While he’s under a rookie-scale contract, the team used its salary cap to upgrade positions of need on both sides of the ball.
On defense, it traded for L’Jarius Sneed, a cornerback who didn’t surrender a touchdown throughout the 2023 regular season. Likewise, Tennessee drafted highly regarded defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, the 2023 Outland Trophy winner as the nation’s best interior defensive lineman. On the other side of the trench, it selected offensive tackle JC Latham in the first round.
T’Vondre Sweat at 366 lbs just ran his 40 yard dash in 5.27 seconds and it was FLUID. Sweat’s adjusted 40 time at his height and weight is like an 180 pound DB running a 4.26. 🤯 @TvondreSweat pic.twitter.com/NQzcBwGtHj
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 29, 2024
The Titans also signed linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., who had 107 tackles, four passes defensed, and three sacks while playing for the Los Angeles Chargers last year. They also welcomed veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie via a three-year contract.
On offense, the Titans signed back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher Tony Pollard to a three-year contract. They’ve upgraded their receiving corps by bringing in Tyler Boyd on a one-year deal. Boyd will line up with Calvin Ridley, who signed a four-year, $92 million contract with Tennessee.
These acquisitions help the Titans become more competitive against their AFC South rivals. By managing their $25.2 million cap space, they can add more contributors to their roster.
2. Chicago Bears
Selecting Caleb Williams (first overall) and Rome Odunze (ninth overall) in the first round can turn the franchise’s fortunes around. However, drafting those two players is just the tip of the iceberg of what the Bears have done this offseason.
Caleb Williams deep ball to Velus Jones Jr. for a TD.pic.twitter.com/bsKShJcVOI
— Dave (@dave_bfr) June 5, 2024
In addition to signing All-Pro cornerback Jaylen Johnson to a four-year, $76 million contract extension, the Bears signed two-time All-Pro Kevin Byard and Jonathan Owens to upgrade their secondary.
But it’s on offense wherein the Bears splurged money to assemble a formidable unit. Joining Williams and Odunze is Keenan Allen (108 receptions, 1,243 yards, seven touchdowns last season), who the Bears acquired for a fourth-round selection in the 2024 draft.
Meanwhile, they signed running back D'Andre Swift (229 carries, 1,049 yards, five touchdowns in 2023) to a three-year, $24 million contract. These additions will help the Bears put up a fight, especially against their division rivals.
1. Houston Texans
The Texans found their franchise quarterback in C.J. Stroud, who earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after completing 319 passes for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. As the Titans did with Levis, the Texans took advantage by bringing in an impressive group of athletes to activate “win now” mode.
The Texans acquired 1,000-yard rusher Joe Mixon for a 2024 seventh-round selection and Ben Skowronek for a 2026 sixth-round pick. However, the Stefon Diggs trade made headlines because they are getting an All-Pro wide receiver with six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. The Texans wideout room got scarier for opposing defenses as Diggs will line up with Nico Collins (80 receptions, 1,297 yards, eight touchdowns in 2023) and Tank Dell (709 yards, seven touchdowns in 11 games).
Let’s work. pic.twitter.com/PD7GmGyLm6
— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) April 11, 2024
In addition to these trades, Houston fortified its defense by signing Danielle Hunter to a two-year, $49 million contract. After playing just seven games in 2021, the defensive end from LSU had 10.5 sacks in 2022 and a career-high 16.5 in 2023.
Meanwhile, Houston welcomed linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair via a three-year, $34 million contract. Last season, he established career highs in games played (17), tackles (163), and sacks (two) with the Titans. He and Denico Autry will remain teammates with the Texans. Autry signed a two-year, $20 million contract after finishing with a career-high 11.5 sacks last year.
Other notable additions include defensive tackle Tim Settle (two years, $7 million), cornerback Mike Ford (two years, $4.5 million), cornerback Jeff Okudah (one year, $6 million), and punter Tommy Townsend (two years, $6 million).
The Texans sustained their fantastic offseason via a solid draft class, including 2023 second-team All-SEC member Kamari Lassiter, 2023 first-team All-Pac-12 safety Calen Bullock, and 2023 Big Ten Tight End of the Year, Cade Stover.
This was one of two pass deflections rookie CB Kamari Lassiter had while guarding Stefon Diggs. I mentioned this in my observations yesterday, I’d be shocked if he didn’t emerge as a starter for the #Texans by Week 1.
He’s been that much of a standout
pic.twitter.com/4RIP3ld1G6— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) June 5, 2024
Despite these additions, the Texans still have $19.8 million in cap space, a sizable amount that could be used to add more players heading into training camp.
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