Training camp is underway all across the NFL and teams are now preparing to start the preseason very soon. Football is officially back, which means we've got to get in our 11th-hour predictions for the upcoming season so that Old Takes Exposed has plenty of material to work with when the season is over.
One of the great aspects of every NFL season is that just when you feel like you've got everything figured out, teams do their part to make the game interesting and surprising and everything in between. Our latest NFL Power Rankings will take a look at every division in the NFL, ranking the divisions from worst to best and projecting the standings for each.
How do we project each division this upcoming season? Let's take a look.
NFL Power Rankings: Every division ranked worst to best in 2024
8. NFC South
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The best of the worst division in football right now is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they are probably going to get a substantial challenge this year from the Atlanta Falcons if Kirk Cousins can get that offense humming. The Bucs are just too talented to be overthrown in the South right now, especially if Baker Mayfield doesn't regress.
2. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are the NFL's definition of the horse drawing meme. The back half of the horse is the offense and the front is the defense.
If you know, you know.
The point is, the Falcons have invested heavily in the offense and not so much in the defense. That could lead to this team being an eight-win squad at best in 2024.
3. New Orleans Saints
The Saints appear to be a team on the cusp of a full-scale rebuild. They beat up on some bad teams down the stretch last season and the offensive line has a lot of moving parts this year. Can Derek Carr lift this team?
4. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are resetting in the head coach department again and hoping Dave Canales can lift Bryce Young. That's the goal of this coming season -- get Bryce Young back on track. They have invested a lot in the offensive line and the receiver room to be able to get him to a better spot by the end of year two.
7. AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The reigning Super Bowl champions are the class of one of the worst divisions in football right now, but they're also just the class of the NFL. The Chiefs are even coming off of a "down" year in 2023, especially offensively, but they obviously turned it up when it mattered most. There's plenty of change in 2024 again for this team, but the key pieces -- Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid -- will keep this team in the NFL's final four once again.
2. Denver Broncos
The Broncos reset at the quarterback position and Bo Nix is a wild card here, but this team won eight games in 2023 and substantially improved in the trenches defensively. If Nix can come in and improve the consistency of the passing game, this Broncos team could be surprising in 2024.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
The arrival of Jim Harbaugh should pay some immediate dividends but are the Chargers an immediate playoff team? I think that remains to be seen. Harbaugh was a huge fish for this franchise to reel in, but implementing his program will likely take at least a year. We'll see how quickly the Harbaugh effect can impact quarterback Justin Herbert, who has been getting dragged back by the rest of this team (and the previous coaching regime).
4. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders finished last year in second place in the AFC West but they're not passing the offseason eye test for me right now. The decision to hire Antonio Pierce over every other possible option has put a lot of pressure on the organization and the Raiders also don't appear to have a long-term solution at QB on the roster. We'll see if Aidan O'Connell can change that perception.
6. NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are the reigning NFC champions and they are loaded up for another run in the 2024 season. When you watch the Receiver show on Netflix, it's hard to fathom how this star-studded roster wasn't able to win it all last year. They are so close. The 49ers are stronger offensively than defensively, but this team has tremendous balance and coaching.
2. Los Angeles Rams
The presence of the Los Angeles Rams made it tough to put the NFC West all the way down at #6 on this list of ranking each NFL division. I still really like this team and I believe Sean McVay is going to have them in the playoffs again this year, but how much will the loss of Aaron Donald impact them defensively?
And not just Aaron Donald, but defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is off to Atlanta as their new head coach, being replaced by Chris Shula.
3. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals were a tough out for just about everyone on their schedule last year, and with the talent getting better across the board for this roster in 2024, this Cardinals team could be dangerous. Kyler Murray is another year removed from his major knee injury and he’s now got Marvin Harrison Jr. as a featured piece of the passing game offensively. I wouldn’t be shocked if Arizona finds a way to sneak into a Wild Card spot.
4. Seattle Seahawks
The success of the Seahawks in 2024 is going to hinge on whether or not Geno Smith is still the guy at the quarterback position. You hear some stuff swirling about the team being willing to go to Sam Howell – acquired in a trade with Washington this offseason – at some point, and you start to wonder just how much confidence there is in him internally. The loss of Pete Carroll has paved the way for the Mike Macdonald era, but I think the Seahawks could end up missing Carroll early on.
5. AFC South
1. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are the hot team of the 2024 offseason in the NFL world. The Texans have all the makings of a threat to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC. They have a top-tier young quarterback, they have weapons galore offensively, and they not only have a great defensive coach but outstanding personnel on that side of the ball.
One of the most important additions any NFL team made this offseason was the Texans signing Danielle Hunter to play opposite Will Anderson Jr. This team is going to be fun to watch all year.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
I view the Jacksonville Jaguars as a big-time bounce-back candidate this coming year. Trevor Lawrence being fully healthy will make a huge difference, but I actually think this team upgraded at receiver after losing Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones by adding both Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis.
The primary area this team needed a boost was defensively, and the addition of Ryan Nielsen as the new defensive coordinator should have this team back in the thick of the AFC playoff race.
3. Indianapolis Colts
There is such a high variance of outcomes with the Colts this coming season. They could be one of the best and most dynamic teams in the AFC if everyone stays healthy, or they could potentially contend for the #1 pick in the NFL Draft in 2025.
Okay, that might be too far, but the Colts do seem to be one of those teams with both an extremely high ceiling and an extremely low floor. We hope to see a full-healthy year from Anthony Richardson to watch that vision unfold for head coach Shane Steichen.
4. Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans do seem pleased with quarterback Will Levis in the early portion of training camp, and if Levis can emerge, this team is going to throw a wrench into everyone’s 2024 NFL predictions.
If Levis has a breakout season, the Titans are going to be really good. This team made the types of acquisitions you would typically see from a legitimate contender. They aren’t treating themselves as “rebuilding” by investing big money in players like running back Tony Pollard, wide receiver Calvin Ridley, and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.
4. NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles
After starting the season 10-1 in 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles' defense imploded and so did the rest of the team. The Eagles tried to change coordinators in the middle of the year, and that didn't work. Bringing Vic Fangio home to the state of Pennsylvania and adding him as defensive coordinator was one of the best moves any team made in the 2024 offseason.
What really can’t be overstated for the Eagles is the loss of both Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox on either side of the line of scrimmage. Though I view this as the best team in the NFC East right now, those two losses loom large.
2. Dallas Cowboys
There is so much change the Cowboys are having to deal with in the 2024 offseason. The Cowboys lost defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and a host of players on that side of the ball. They are having to replace starting left tackle Tyron Smith and starting center Tyler Biadasz.
Typically you’d just lean on your franchise QB and top overall playmakers, but the Cowboys’ best players are all in the midst of ugly contract situations. I don’t know how it’s all going to come together for this team in 2024.
3. New York Giants
Daniel Jones has the lowest ceiling of any quarterback in the NFC East, but his floor might have gotten substantially raised by rookie receiver Malik Nabers. In fact, I could see Nabers completely reviving the Giants' hope in Jones.
More than anything, the Giants need to stay healthy on both sides of the ball. They have a lot of really good pieces in place, but no offense – if you’re trotting Tommy DeVito out there for games, you’re not in a great spot.
4. Washington Commanders
“Change” is really the theme of the NFC East in 2024, but nobody took on more substantial change than the Washington Commanders. New ownership, a new GM, a new head coach, a new starting quarterback, and tons of roster turnover.
It’s going to take this Commanders team some time to come together, but the way Jayden Daniels plays gives this team an edge that could allow them to compete for a Wild Card spot sooner than people expect.
3. NFC North
1. Detroit Lions
It’s not going to be long before the Detroit Lions are the class of the NFC, and it’s possible we see that happen as early as the 2024 season. The Lions are just well-constructed all over the place and they were able to address their biggest need (secondary) in a big way this offseason.
With the additions of guys like Terrion Arnold and DJ Reader defensively in 2024, the Lions have positioned themselves extremely well to repeat as NFC North division champions and potentially host the NFC Championship game.
2. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers were cautiously optimistic at this time a year ago about Jordan Love and his future projection with the team. After a handful of games last season, there were Packers fans wondering if the team made the right decision by trading Aaron Rodgers and rolling with Love.
Now, Love is tied for the biggest average annual value on a contract in NFL history. The Packers have an unprecedented run of elite-level QB play going, and Jordan Love’s progression is a big reason why this team is a legitimate NFC contender in 2024.
3. Chicago Bears
It’s not a foregone conclusion that the Chicago Bears are going to be the third-best team in the NFC North, but this team has every reason to be optimistic with Caleb Williams under center.
The Bears might actually have a legitimate franchise quarterback in place. How about that? There should be bumps expected along the way for Williams, but he’s got an outstanding group of weapons and the Bears have the best personnel defensively for Matt Eberflus that they have had throughout his coaching tenure.
4. Minnesota Vikings
With some of the videos emerging from Vikings training camp, you might be inclined to buy low on this team with Sam Darnold at the helm. The former 3rd overall pick of the class of 2018 might finally be in the right position to be able to have some sustained success as an NFL starting quarterback.
The Vikings have had a rough offseason overall, but with JJ McCarthy expected to sit and learn for a bit, we could see a breakthrough year from Sam Darnold and the Vikings maintaining relevance in the NFC North despite the huge loss of Kirk Cousins.
2. AFC East
1. New York Jets
Before ultimately settling on the New York Jets here, I think I changed the AFC East rankings two or three times. So any angry Dolphins or Bills fans out there can at least take solace in that. If Aaron Rodgers stays healthy, the Jets should be one of the more substantially improved teams in the league.
My thing right now is, I don’t know how long Rodgers is going to last out there. The guy is over 40 years old coming off of one of the worst possible injuries he could have suffered last year.
Still, the Jets have playmakers galore and an elite defense.
2. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins finally got Tua Tagovailoa’s contract situation ironed out, and this team can now move forward.
Finally.
The big questions surrounding this Miami team right now all revolve around the defense. Are Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips going to be ready for the season? How much will the departure of Vic Fangio affect the team?
The Dolphins’ offense can’t let the team down late in the year like they did last season. They’re going to have to carry this team.
3. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills showed impressive resolve as a team last year after starting the season 6-6, and I thought they were a team of destiny for sure. Ultimately, it wasn’t meant to be, and the Bills have now exited what appeared to be a clear championship window.
The question is, are they immediately entering a new one or is it going to take some time? They are banking on Josh Allen to carry this team even more than we’ve seen in the past as the rest of the roster is in a state of transition.
4. New England Patriots
No more Bill Belichick, but the New England Patriots have a pretty similar feel this coming season as they did back in 2021.
They have a young quarterback they believe in, but we don’t know when we’re going to see him out on the field. They are going to have a good defense this coming season but the overall success of this team depends on whether or not Jacoby Brissett can apparently get the job done to improve the offense.
The Patriots are playing the long game with rookie Drake Maye and if they get better production at QB, this team could surprise a little bit.
1. AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are the best team in the best division in football. Unfortunately, they still wet the bed in the playoffs last year.
The Ravens are sort of becoming known for not coming through when it matters most and Lamar Jackson has taken the brunt of the heat for that. This Baltimore roster is once again loaded up for another playoff run in the AFC and the addition of Derrick Henry at the running back position has this team thinking Super Bowl or bust.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow is back, back again.
The Bengals have their superstar quarterback under center again and this team was still really good last year even after he went down with a season-ending thumb/hand injury. The Bengals haven’t exactly had the most seamless offseason in 2024 with both Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson requesting trades, but they remain in a championship window despite some of the departures on the roster.
And with Burrow under center, I think this team is always going to be in contention.
3. Cleveland Browns
I think you could put the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers as interchangeable on this list. The Browns have arguably the best defense in the NFL, but what is this team getting out of Deshaun Watson?
They threw $230 million fully guaranteed at Watson a couple of years ago and have barely gotten 12 games out of him since then. That acquisition is looking more and more like a bust when you have Joe Flacco coming in off the street and playing better than any stretch we’ve seen from Watson in Cleveland.
Will Watson continue to hold this franchise back or will the Browns finally be unleashed?
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
Russell Wilson has missed the start of training camp after allegedly “waking up” with a calf issue one day. Wilson was supposed to be the obvious upgrade at quarterback for the Steelers, who moved on quickly from former first-round pick Kenny Pickett.
The addition of Wilson, coupled with the trade to acquire Justin Fields, has given the Steelers a unique quarterback competition to open up training camp. Either way, you have to figure this team upgraded over what we saw last year but it’s the NFL. The Steelers might have upgraded at QB and still won’t win as many games as 2024.