The 2024 NFL offseason has officially entered the twilight zone between mandatory minicamp and training camp. Luckily, football fans at least have the new College Football and Madden video games to look forward to before training camp arrives, but this is typically the deadest of the dead period of the NFL offseason. And that means there's no better time to rack our brains and try and arbitrarily rank every NFL team based on everything that's transpired so far this offseason.
For these 2024 NFL Power Rankings, we're going to actually make a gut-feeling record prediction for all 32 teams. Last season, there were 13 teams with losing records across the NFL, so we're sort of working with that as a model. These rankings are based on roster strength, coaching, how much a team's quarterback could lift the overall record, and just a general feeling based on how the offseason has gone so far.
Let's make a bunch of fans angry.
2024 NFL Power Rankings: Predicting every team's record worst to best
32. Las Vegas Raiders: 5-12
I do apologize to all Raiders fans out there. I know this is a bitter pill to swallow, but I just don't know how you can view the Raiders as anything but having arguably the most questionable coaching situation in the league (hiring interim head coach Antonio Pierce on a full-time basis) as well as one of the shakiest QB situations in the league with a low floor and low ceiling.
Could the Raiders end up being a better sum of their overall parts? Absolutely. But I wouldn’t bank on it right now given the current state of this roster. There are some exciting pieces on this team, but someone has to be the team that everyone speculates could sell at the trade deadline.
I just have a feeling the Raiders are going to regret not going after someone like Jim Harbaugh on the head coach circuit (or Mike Vrabel or Bill Belichick or someone else who is proven) and they will be back to the drawing board at quarterback in the 2025 offseason.
31. Washington Commanders: 5-12
The addition of Heisman winner Jayden Daniels certainly raises the ceiling for the Washington Commanders substantially, but this isn’t LSU anymore. This is a rebuilding NFL team with new parts and pieces all over the place. The Commanders need to be afforded a full season to figure out what aspects of this overhauled front office, coaching staff, and roster are going to work moving forward.
I don’t view this team as a 2024 version of last year’s Houston Texans, although you just never know what could happen if a quarterback like Daniels emerges rather quickly. More likely than anything, the Commanders are going to struggle a bit this year but I wouldn’t be shocked to see them be this year’s version of last year’s Cardinals, where they are giving teams fits week in and week out. Dan Quinn is going to have that defense ready to play every week and they’ll be a tough out.
30. Tennessee Titans: 5-12
There’s definitely a lot to like about what the Tennessee Titans did throughout the course of the 2024 offseason. I personally like Will Levis a good amount, and the Titans added running back Tony Pollard along with wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to the mix to upgrade their offensive weaponry. This was just a different team coached by Mike Vrabel. You knew the floor was raised to a certain point defensively that what we saw last year was probably the floor with him as the coach.
How different are things going to be with Brian Callahan? Coaching plays a pretty big role in the Titans’ ranking here, as well as the shift in philosophy defensively. As much as you like to see the roster additions, there are unknown elements in the coaching and QB departments that raise questions.
29. Carolina Panthers: 5-12
Before Panthers fans get too upset over this, just remember that this would represent a substantial three-game improvement over last season. I don’t know whether or not Dave Canales is going to be able to come in and put his magic touch on the quarterback position but the guy almost needs an HGTV show at this point. He’s the true fixer-upper of quarterbacks.
The work Canales did with Geno Smith in Seattle and then Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay is exactly what the Panthers are now banking on happening with 2023 #1 overall pick Bryce Young. That’s the #1 goal for this season and you almost get the feeling that winning is secondary. The Panthers need their young QB on track, and if that happens, the rest will eventually fall into place.
28. New York Giants: 5-12
The upcoming 2024 season might finally be the time where the New York Giants are forced to face reality. I don’t agree with many decisions of general manager Joe Schoen. The duo of Schoen and Brian Daboll that came over from the Buffalo Bills deciding to roll with Daniel Jones at the quarterback position remains absolutely mind-boggling to me.
The Giants’ defense seemingly took a step forward last year but are they going to be able to keep turning the ball over at such a high rate? They’ve got to be better in all areas, not just creating takeaways. I had a hard time not putting the Giants in the #32 slot on this list but their coaching continuity could be worth a couple more wins than expected in the 2024 season.
I view this Giants team as one that will be looking for a new quarterback at the very least after this season, possibly a new coach/GM.
27. New England Patriots: 5-12
The biggest storylines this offseason for the Patriots are obviously revolving around the change at head coach and quarterback. Bill Belichick’s retirement has been looming for a couple of years (it feels like) and Jerod Mayo is going to at least keep some level of continuity being that he’s a direct disciple and was seemingly the head coach in waiting for quite some time.
Mayo could open the 2024 season with Jacoby Brissett at the quarterback position because the Patriots have a defense that is going to help keep this team in just about every game throughout the season. If the quarterback play is efficient and the kicker isn’t missing a kick per game, the Patriots might actually surprise a lot of people this year because of how good that defense can be.
The reality is, the Pats are going to have to throw Drake Maye out there at some point, and although the ceiling is high, the floor is low. He’s going to have to be afforded the opportunity to make his mistakes and take his lumps.
26. Minnesota Vikings: 6-11
Are enough people talking about how substantial the loss of Kirk Cousins will be for the Minnesota Vikings this year? We saw a glimpse last season, but the Vikings made some strong in-season adjustments and actually ended up having a pretty good run there for a while after Cousins was injured.
But now, it’s the Sam Darnold or JJ McCarthy show. The Vikings locked in Justin Jefferson to a monstrous contract extension, so they’ve got weapons for their quarterback to throw to. Not only that, but they’ve got a really good head coach in Kevin O’Connell. The questions for this Vikings team are whether or not the defense can hold up over the course of a 17-game season and how much their quarterback play is going to “cost” them. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Vikings are touching nine wins by the end of the season, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they were flirting with only five, either.
They’re a tough team to project this year.
25. Seattle Seahawks: 6-11
Just like the New England Patriots (alright, maybe slightly different), the Seattle Seahawks are moving on from the best coach in franchise history. Seattle hired Mike Macdonald away from the Baltimore Ravens, and if he can transform that Seattle defense quickly, this prediction could look ridiculous and foolish in a hurry.
The Seahawks have felt like an overachieving team for the last couple of years. They got some rather unexpected production out of Geno Smith who was in competition for the starting job with Drew Lock just two years ago. How long until the clock strikes midnight on that? Or will it?
This is a team that somehow won nine games last season despite having the 17th-ranked scoring offense and the 25th-ranked scoring defense. Pete Carroll didn’t exactly leave Mike Macdonald a juggernaut, but the cupboard isn’t bare, either. A lot of the Seahawks’ success this year will depend on how well Geno Smith (or Sam Howell) can play.
24. New Orleans Saints: 7-10
I will be the first to admit, I just don’t have a clue about the New Orleans Saints in 2024. This team won nine games last year, and even though I watched that unfold week after week, it’s still hard to believe when I see it on paper. The Saints’ defense will probably not bottom out with Dennis Allen as head coach and continuity with both coaching and personnel on that side of the ball.
It’s hard to say that Derek Carr is unpredictable at the quarterback position because he kind of feels like a “Subway” of NFL quarterbacks. Is it everyone’s first option? Probably not. Is it always great? No, but it’s decent and you know what you’re getting when you go there. The Saints’ offensive line could be this team’s undoing in 2024. Ryan Ramczyk is not recovering well from a knee procedure and could miss this season (or worse). Trevor Penning is shaping up to potentially be a bust. The Saints said goodbye to former first-round pick Andrus Peat this offseason.
I would say a regression to seven wins is not out of the question.
23. Indianapolis Colts: 8-9
There’s no question that the Indianapolis Colts overachieved a little bit in the 2023 season, the first year of the Shane Steichen era. Steichen was able to get the best out of his guys to the tune of a 9-win season, most of which included Gardner Minshew at the quarterback position. Colts fans are probably going to wonder how the team could take a step back to eight wins if they are able to have Anthony Richardson out there, and sometimes that’s just how the NFL works.
This team is talented. They are better defensively than they’re given credit for. And Anthony Richardson’s potential development gives them a rather high ceiling. I could see the Colts winning 10 games or losing 10. Reality will likely be somewhere in the middle. Maybe in this scenario they lose a couple of close games they had opportunities to win.
22. Arizona Cardinals: 8-9
The Arizona Cardinals jumping up to eight wins in 2024 would represent a pretty massive leap for a team that only won four games last year. The Cardinals are still a work in progress in terms of their overall roster, but this is a team that has won a lot of games with Kyler Murray in the past.
Is it impossible to think they could be an 8-win team with a fully healthy season out of their QB1? I don’t think so.
The Cardinals are well-coached. They were in a lot more games last year than their record would indicate. They have added a lot of talent to this roster and now Murray has a legitimate WR1 with Marvin Harrison Jr. coming in via the team’s top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Maybe eight wins is a little rich. Maybe it’s the ceiling for this Cardinals team. But 6-8 wins seems right for this team in 2024.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-9
Could the Pittsburgh Steelers be in line for the first losing record in Mike Tomlin’s tenure as head coach of the team? It happens to even the best of the best. It feels weird to predict a losing record for the Steelers, but something’s got to give.
Tomlin has a tremendous track record, obviously. The Steelers’ defense isn’t going to bottom out. But how far is this offense going to be able to go with Russell Wilson at the quarterback position? There could be a recipe for success with Wilson’s ability to make clutch plays late in games as well as the Steelers’ defense and their ability to keep games close. Still, Wilson has clearly been on the decline and while I don’t see him bottoming out like he did with the Broncos in 2022, what we saw from him last year might be the best of what he’s got to offer.
20. Atlanta Falcons: 8-9
The Atlanta Falcons had been pretty solid the last couple of seasons but couldn’t keep it together long enough to win even in a division where the playoffs have been low-hanging fruit the last couple of years. They are obviously banking on Kirk Cousins coming in and pushing them over the top. It would be an astronomical disappointment for the Falcons to finish with just eight wins this year but they are changing schemes defensively and there’s no promise of the offense immediately clicking.
Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is going to be under a lot of pressure, not only to make things work with Kirk Cousins at the helm, but if the Falcons have to turn to first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. at any point.
19. Los Angeles Chargers: 9-8
It’s been quite a while since Jim Harbaugh coached in the NFL, and he’s still obviously pretty old-school in a lot of ways. But the Los Angeles Chargers made one of the biggest single upgrades of the entire 2024 offseason – any team, any position, etc. – when they went from Brandon Staley to Jim Harbaugh.
Staley had been such a major source of frustration the last handful of years and frankly, the Chargers are lucky they were able to get Harbaugh a year after passing on Sean Payton. Harbaugh wins wherever he goes. Maybe more accurately said – he builds winners wherever he goes. Harbaugh has done a lot of roster revamping for the Chargers in 2024 but the centerpiece will be his offensive line and running game.
Can quarterback Justin Herbert, one of the most talented quarterbacks in the game, finally take the next step forward in his career?
18. Denver Broncos: 9-8
Based on the way people talk about them, you would almost have no idea that the Denver Broncos went 8-9 last season. People have been talking about this team all offseason like they are completely devoid of talent and have absolutely no hope when it comes to competing not just in the AFC West, but in general.
Sean Payton has certainly put his mark on this franchise, perhaps more so in 2024 than in 2023 thanks to the decisions to cut Russell Wilson and Justin Simmons as well as trading away former first-round pick Jerry Jeudy. But the Broncos are high on first-round pick Bo Nix. They are strong in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and they have continuity on the coaching staff.
If Bo Nix can live up to the hype he’s been receiving all offseason, this team could be a lot better than many national pundits are assuming.
17. Chicago Bears: 9-8
The Chicago Bears are hoping they can be this year’s version of the Houston Texans, maybe not necessarily reaching the “worst to first” status in the NFC North, but at least setting themselves up for a possible playoff appearance by getting to nine wins. The Bears landed Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze in the 2024 NFL Draft, and getting those core pieces for the offense after the steps the defense took last year is absolutely huge.
The stars are kind of aligning for this team at the right time. Although they have the Packers and Lions above them in the division right now, the Bears are going to be fun to watch this season. What Chicago wants to avoid desperately is a situation where Caleb Williams struggles this year like Bryce Young did with the Panthers last year.
They’ve set him up with so many weapons, it’s hard to see that happening.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-8
It feels wrong to place the Buccaneers this low. They were a nine-win team last year, and it’s hard to say they’ve gotten any worse. One area that presents a bit of a question mark is the Bucs shifting from Dave Canales as their offensive coordinator (now the head coach in Carolina) to Liam Coen, a coach Baker Mayfield worked with in his brief stint with the Los Angeles Rams.
Mayfield has changed offenses so many times in the NFL, but perhaps that level of familiarity can help him actually progress. Financially, the Buccaneers seem to be banking on it.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-8
The Jacksonville Jaguars won nine games last year but got a little better on paper in the 2024 offseason. Head coach Doug Pederson is going to have to make sure he and his coaching staff do whatever possible to get Trevor Lawrence back on the right track. There’s no doubt about it – injury aside, last year was a regression year.
Part of the problem was the fact that the Jaguars were so brutal defensively. They’re hoping personnel changes and a scheme change (Ryan Nielsen coming in as defensive coordinator) can do the trick. It’s going to be a process, however, and with Trevor Lawrence recently becoming one of the highest-paid players in the league, expectations are going to be high.
The Jaguars had better hope their throwback jerseys coming back this year aren’t the best thing about this season. They need to bounce back and at least earn a wild card spot.
14. Cleveland Browns: 10-7
The primary reason I don’t think you can leave the Cleveland Browns out of the top 14 slots on a list like this is their defense. One of the best defenses in the NFL last year didn’t get any worse this offseason. In fact, with the addition of second-round defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr., they might have gotten even better.
The major question mark for the Browns is quarterback Deshaun Watson, who hasn’t elevated his team since 2019 when he was a Houston Texan. Watson put up numbers in 2020, but wasn’t nearly as good as he had been, and that was the last time he played a full season. He sat out the 2021 season, he was suspended for all but six games of the 2022 season, and he missed all but five games and change in 2023.
Why do so many pundits put such faith in Watson at this point? I’m one of his biggest skeptics going into the 2024 campaign.
13. New York Jets: 10-7
All throughout the 2024 offseason, I’ve been pretty consistently seeing the New York Jets near the top of roster ranking lists, power ranking lists, etc. I can’t say I disagree that this is one of the better rosters in the league right now, but so much of the projection with this team depends on Aaron Rodgers.
And normally, you would think that makes the projection a pretty sure thing. But let’s be real (harsh) for a moment here. When was the last time Aaron Rodgers played really well over the course of a regular season? You have to go back to 2021. Of course, in 2021, Rodgers won the NFL MVP award and was playing at an extremely high level.
The New York Jets have to figure that if they get even a fraction of that guy, the rest of this team is built in such a way to win the Super Bowl. But Rodgers’ last season in Green Bay was a major disappointment. He is 40-plus years of age and coming off of a major injury. It wouldn’t be shocking if the Jets struggled more than people expect them to in 2024.
12. Miami Dolphins: 10-7
What can we really say about the Miami Dolphins at this point? This might be the most straightforward team in the NFL right now. The Dolphins have an explosive offense. They have some of the best and most talented playmakers in the NFL. They are a pretty well-oiled machine on that side of the ball.
Defensively is another story. They lost both Vic Fangio and Christian Wilkins this offseason, two losses that are massive and can’t be overstated. This team already had an issue closing out the season and maintaining the level of play we saw early in the year.
Outside of injury, it’s hard to see this team really bottoming out. It seems like 10 wins is pretty reasonable, but are the Dolphins capped with what we’ve seen the last two seasons? They are magicians in the playoffs – they know how to make all of their regular season success disappear.
11. Dallas Cowboys: 10-7
Speaking of teams who know how to make regular-season success disappear…
If the Miami Dolphins are David Blaine, then the Dallas Cowboys are David Copperfield. Or Harry Houdini. These two teams being lumped together on this list is complete coincidence, but they are kind of the AFC and NFC versions of each other.
So impressive in the regular season, such a disappointment in the playoffs. Are the Cowboys going to be able to be better in the postseason this year after having such a good roster last year? That roster is dismantled. Mike Zimmer has taken the place of Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator. Mike McCarthy is under a ton of pressure. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have unresolved contract issues.
The Cowboys are in line for regression, but in a way, that could give them the chip on the shoulder they need to actually do something in the playoffs.
10. Los Angeles Rams: 10-7
I will be the first to admit, I’m probably a lot higher on the Los Angeles Rams this offseason than the masses. But I’m high on the Rams for a couple of key reasons, even after the retirement of defensive lineman Aaron Donald.
The first reason is Sean McVay, who is clearly one of the best coaches in the league. The Rams are also one of the best teams overall at developing players regardless of position. We’ve seen this team transform into a completely different type of contender in the NFC West after winning the Super Bowl during the 2021-22 season.
Although Matthew Stafford is in the later stages of his NFL career, the Rams are equipped to win at least 9 or 10 games this season and give teams grief in the playoffs.
9. Green Bay Packers: 10-7
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur deserve a ton of credit. For as much grief as they got for the way they handled the end of Aaron Rodgers’ years in Green Bay, it’s become abundantly clear that they knew what they were doing all along and managing Rodgers’ situation the way they did was more of a masterful performance than anything else.
The Packers have one of the most well-constructed rosters in the NFL right now. Jordan Love was second in the NFL last season in passing touchdowns, and the Packers have surrounded him with talent at the skill positions. Defensively, the only question mark for this Packers team under new coordinator Jeff Hafley is whether or not the cornerbacks can stay healthy.
Looking at this team’s roster and progression based on last season, I would almost be shocked if they only won 10 games.
8. Buffalo Bills: 11-6
The Buffalo Bills suffered a ton of losses in the 2024 offseason. For those who may have missed it, let’s recap.
They traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, one of the weirdest moves of the year. They lost Gabe Davis in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They said goodbye to both Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer at the safety position. They let Tre’Davious White go (Rams). Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey has been replaced by Joe Brady.
The Bills are leaning on Josh Allen to rise all boats in the harbor, and I think Allen is up to the task. Six losses in the first 12 weeks last season had people wondering if this Bills team was cooked, but they ripped off five straight wins leading up to the playoffs. It was shocking to see their early departure. Even with all of the change this offseason, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Bills up at 11 wins.
7. Houston Texans: 11-6
The Houston Texans are a team I struggle with a little bit. I think it’s smart to acknowledge how many huge steps forward this team has taken since last offseason, but I’m also not opposed to proceeding with caution when it comes to projecting their record for this coming year.
The Texans went from worst to first in DeMeco Ryans’s first year on the job as head coach. CJ Stroud looks like he might already be one of the top five quarterbacks in the league. If that defense can continue to improve with additions like Danielle Hunter off the edge, the sky is the limit for Houston this year. They could ride their talent all the way to the NFL’s final four.
There’s also the fact that development and progression in the NFL aren’t always linear. The Texans now have a target on their back and a way different level of expectation heaped upon them compared to last year. I still say 9-11 wins will be this team’s floor barring major injury.
6. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6
The Philadelphia Eagles were one of the league’s most disappointing teams in the 2023 NFL season despite starting off with a 10-1 record. You could tell early on last season that the Eagles were not the same level of team that went to the Super Bowl the year prior, and you can only hope if you’re an Eagles fan that the comeback is on this season.
The problem with Philadelphia last year was their defense, which ranked near the bottom of the league in way too many metrics. They stole Vic Fangio from the Dolphins this offseason and now have one of the best coordinators in the league. In terms of personnel, they used free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft to make some much-needed upgrades to the secondary.
If the defense can raise the floor this year, the Eagles could be one of the NFL’s better teams once again.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: 11-6
The Cincinnati Bengals are another team, just like the Philadelphia Eagles, who disappointed last season. Fortunately (or maybe not) for the Bengals, the reason why that team ended up on the outside looking in of the playoffs was completely health-related.
The Bengals had to rely on Jake Browning to keep them in playoff contention late in the season with Joe Burrow dealing with another bad injury, this one to his thumb. But when this team is healthy, the Bengals are one of the NFL’s best and biggest threats to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC.
One of the bigger problems for the Bengals right now is how good the Ravens are in the AFC North. I don’t think we’re going to see the Steelers and Browns present quite as much of a threat this coming season but the Bengals are obviously going to need to be at full strength to capitalize on the window they currently find themselves in.
4. Baltimore Ravens: 12-5
What’s going to get the Baltimore Ravens over the hump in January? I mean, you don’t want to compare them to the Cowboys of the AFC, but there’s no ring or trophy for being a great regular season team. What happened to this Ravens team in the postseason? We all get it – the Chiefs are good.
The Ravens were better for most of last year and they simply got away from what made them great throughout the regular season.
The addition of Derrick Henry is really fun for this Ravens team, and I expect the Ravens to sort of “coast” through the regular season. With that said, the pressure is going to be on when they get to the playoffs. And they should pretty easily get there. Do they have what it takes to take down the Chiefs?
3. Detroit Lions: 12-5
The Detroit Lions just keep on climbing. Carrying over momentum year over year in the NFL is an overrated concept, but if anyone did that last year, it was the Detroit Lions.
They didn’t make the playoffs in the 2022 season, but they ended the season with nine wins and a victory on the road over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to crush Green Bay’s playoff dreams. They followed that up by winning the NFC North in the 2023 season and absolutely dominating offensively.
Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Penei Sewell were all rewarded this year with massive contract extensions, and the Lions reloaded defensively – especially in the secondary. This Detroit team is loaded on both sides of the ball and they have continuity all over the coaching staff, which is critical. I’m penciling them in for the NFL’s final four.
2. Kansas City Chiefs: 12-5
All offseason, I’ve had the Kansas City Chiefs as the best team in the NFL. And I think that’s pretty reasonable considering they won the Super Bowl in back-to-back years. The Chiefs are the NFL’s best team but in these 2024 NFL power rankings, we’re predicting every team’s overall record.
I don’t know that they will have the best record in the league this coming season. It’s possible. But last year, it almost felt like the Chiefs were sleepwalking through parts of the season. They were not overly sharp in the regular season offensively. The defense carried this team. I think we’ll see a much better offensive output over the course of the regular season from the Chiefs, but they’ll be “working for the weekend” so to speak.
The focus from Week 1 will be getting that third Super Bowl in a row, going where no NFL team has gone before.
1. San Francisco 49ers: 13-4
For whatever reason, I’m a little more hesitant about the San Francisco 49ers every week that goes by this offseason. There have been some key losses on this roster, especially defensively, that make you wonder if the Niners can be as good as they have been.
Ultimately, I still view 13 wins as a relatively safe bet for them.
The 49ers are loaded offensively. They have continuity. They are well-coached. They are deep all over the roster. They are probably going to lead the NFL in games with 30 or more points scored. Defensively, they are still talented despite needing to go budget-friendly at a couple of spots.
They’re going to be tough to beat at every juncture of this season and I wouldn’t be shocked if this is finally the year that Kyle Shanahan wins a Super Bowl as the 49ers head coach.