On the Radar

North: The Bears surprised many by winning the division and winning a playoff game but now everyone knows they are for real hence the strongest strength of schedule. HC Ben Johnson is still calling the offense for QB Caleb Williams just with only young players in WRs Rome Odzune, Luther Burden and TE’s Colson Loveland and Cole Kmet with DJ Moore gone.

RB D’Andre Swift is still the lead back with no clear backup but at least their offensive line is still top 5 despite the retirement of Drew Dalman because they traded for C Garrett Bradbury. On defense they lost six players like Termaine Edmunds and Kevin Byard to name some so the pressure is on DE Montez Sweat and CB Jaylon Johnson. Their draft was used to fill those holes like their 1^st round pick S Dillon Thieneman; the hope is continuity between HC and QB will offset the loss of players in free agency to go back to the second round of the playoffs or even further.

The Lions will rebound after tying for last place technically with a winning record a game back of second they have too much talent. QB Jared Goff is still there with RB Jahmyr Gibbs, TE Sam LaPorta, WRs Amon-Ra St Brown and Jameson Williams but traded away David Montgomery.

The biggest issue is their offensive line lost two of their better players and is moving OT Penei Sewell to the other side. They hope that using their first two draft picks on that and on putting someone next to DE Aidan Hutchinson to help the pass rush as they went mostly with defensive players that HC Dan Campbell will figure it out to get back to the playoffs.

The Packers always seem to be a playoff team or just hover around no matter who is the QB from Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love(even Malik Willis filling in) that is a testament to HC Matt LaFleur.

They lost two of their top receivers like Romeo Dobbs and extended the other two but the issue is health for all of them the same goes for RB Josh Jacobs and their tight ends. Their offensive line is one of the worst and their defense lost a few players but most importantly will be without LB Micah Parsons for like half the season. Their new DC Jonathan Gannon has his work cut out for him as four of their draft picks were on defense and only signed NT Javon Hargave.

Well the Vikings have started all over at QB again by signing Kyler Murray who is a talented QB but has health issues amongst other things to overcome. HC Kevin O’Connell is supposed to be an offensive guru so the hope is he figures out this offense because they have one of the best WRs in Justin Jefferson being wasted along with Jordan Addison, offseason addition Jauan Jennings, TE TJ Hockenson, and RB Aaron Jones along with a top 12 offensive line.

Their defense lost four starters so they went all in on drafting new players with five their picks used on it, as LB Andrew Van Ginkel is the only good veteran that is left.

East: This will be the Eagles division for a while based on their talent, front office and QB led by Jalen Hurts. If he misses time they got Andy Dalton waiting; their skill players are still RB Saquon Barkley, TE Dallas Goedert, WR DeVonta Smith but traded away AJ Brown.

They hope by drafting both a WR/TE in the draft, adding Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks will make up for that loss. They still have a top 2 offensive line led by G Landon Dickerson and OT Lane Johnson’s last season will maybe get them further in the playoffs. Losing two key defensive players will make it harder on DT Jalen Carter, LB Zack Baun and CB Cooper DeJean who are leading it.

For the Commanders getting QB Jayden Daniels back and healthy will make them a post-season threat but still have one of the worst offensive lines in the game and lost OT Laremy Tunsil for the season.

His talent with the skill players they have will be exciting if he is upright with WRs Terry McLaurin, offseason addition Stefon Diggs and TE Chig Okonkwo plus RBs Jacory Corskey-Merritt and Rachaad White. Since their HC Dan Quinn is a defensive guy they drafted a few players on that side of the ball to help NT Daron Payne and DT Javon Kinlaw.

To help out QB Dak Prescott the Cowboys re-signed RB Javonte Williams and franchise tagged WR George Pickens so it is not only CeeDee Lamb out there.

They still have a middle of the pack offensive line unlike the earlier days of Prescott’s career but it will be the defense that will be the reason if they sniff the playoffs. They hired the youngest defensive coordinator in their history in 34 year old Christian Parker and used five of their draft picks on that side of the ball with both of their first round picks. They added LBs Rashan Gary, Dee Winters to DT Quinnen Williams, NT Kenny Clark, and CB DaRon Bland.

The Giants have a new HC in John Harbaugh and drafted two offensive linemen to help out LT Andrew Thomas so hopefully those moves help keep QB Jaxson Dart healthy but also blossom. Health is also the issue for their skill players like WRs Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton and RB Cam Skattebo but added RB Najee Harris, WRs Darnell Mooney, brought back Odell Beckham Jr and TE Isaiah Likely.

Their defense might be their best unit as it is lead by LBs Kayvon Thibodeaux, Adbul Carter and Brian Burnes but also added CB Greg Newsome, LBs Termaine Edmunds and first round pick Avrell Reese.

South: Due to tiebreakers Carolina won the division because the Buccaneers just gave it away leading up to the last few weeks. This time QB Baker Mayfield should be back on track with his skill players RB Bucky Irving, WRs Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and TE Cade Otton plus a top 3 offensive line led by OTs Tristin Wirfs and Luke Goedeke.

They did lose franchise stalwart Mike Evans but hope they get lucky again with a rookie WR filling it. They used four of their other picks on the defense end since they lost Lavonte Davis to retirement and Jamal Dean. DT Vita Vea wants out so it is on S Antoine Winfield to lead this unit with LB Alex Anzalone who they signed.

The Falcons will only go as far as their QB takes them but which QB between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Pennix who both can’t stay healthy. They have a top 10 offensive line led by Jake Matthews but are weak at RT which is important for both QBs who are lefties.

They did extend their best skill players RB Bijan Robinson, TE Kyle Pitts and WR Drake London. With all the shakeup and QB decisions they got one of the best head coaches available in the offseason in Kevin Stefanski who is finally out of Cleveland. Their issue will be their defense as DE Za’Darius Smith is their best player and used four of their draft picks on the defensive side.

The Panthers won the division on a tiebreaker and if QB Bryce Young wasn’t their QB they would have cut bait already if HC Dave Canales didn’t believe in him. They still have a skill player problem even with them adding Darren Waller at TE; they lost RB Rico Dowdle and hoping RB Jonathon Brooks is finally healthy to pair Chuba Hubbard.

Their WR core is young with the reigning offensive Rookie of Year in Tetairoa McMillan and their offensive line is bottom tier which is why they drafted a few linemen to improve it. They did add LBs Jaelan Phillips, and Devin Lloyd to help CB Jaycee Horn to improving the defense.

The Saints will continue to be in last place until they find a QB and HC Kellen Moore hopes is Tyler Shough because he has weapons. They added RB Travis Eteinne to Alvin Kamara, WR Chris Olave, TE Juwan Johnson and signed TE Noah Fant plus used their first round pick on a WR in Jordyn Tyson.

Their offensive line is middle of the pack and their defense lost Demario Davis and Alotae Taylor. Their defense is still led by LB Cameron Jordan which is the only bright spot.

West: In this tough division that had three playoff teams and the conference finals being between the Rams and Seahawks before Seattle won the whole thing, it will be slightly different.

The Rams went off this offseason: re-signed reigning MVP QB Matthew Stafford, signed CB Jaylen Watson and trading for DE Myles Garrett and CB Trent McDuffie plus LB Aaron Donald might come out of retirement at some point.

They still have WRs Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, TEs Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee and RB Kryen Williams plus a potentially top 10 offensive line. With Garrett, McDuffie, Watson being added to the defense it is a little top heavy as it cost them three draft picks and Jared Verse for the present. Also weirdly enough they didn’t use their 1^st round pick on something for the present they drafted a QB.

The reigning Super Bowl Champs Seattle Seahawks still have the same core of QB Sam Darnold and WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp and a middle tier offensive line.

The biggest change is they lost SB MVP RB Kenneth Walker and their core defense players like Coby Bryant. Draft experts said they reached on getting a RB in the first round as Zach Charbonnet recovers from his ACL surgery. Their defense still has CB Devon Witherspoon, DE Leonard Williams, DT Bryon Murphy, LB Demarcus Lawrence and S Julian Love leading it for HC Mike Macdonald.

The 49ers also lost to the Seahawks in the playoffs but will be back in the playoffs again. QB Brock Purdy will hopefully be fully healthy but has QB Mac Jones backing him up, RB Christian McCaffrey, TE George Kittle, FB Kyle Juszcyk but interestingly enough got back WR Debo Samuel, added Mike Evans and Christian Kirk since Ricky Pearsall is out for the year.

With OT Trent Williams they still have a top 10 offensive line and have a good defense led by DE Nick Bosa, LBs Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner.

The Cardinals didn’t get anything for QB Kyler Murray by releasing him and they fired their HC so they hired the Rams OC in Mike LaFleur the younger brother of Matt in Green Bay. Their QB room of Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett and Carson Beck isn’t scary enough for anyone and they had a starting RB in James Connor/added Tyler Allgeier but used their first pick at RB on Jeremiyah Love.

Their pass catchers aren’t bad if healthy in Marvin Harrison Jr, Kendrick Bourne and TE Trey McBride. Their offensive line is still bottom tier so they hope the draft helps and their defense is still led by S Budda Baker and LB Josh Sweat so they will be in last place for a while.

North: Both Baltimore and Cincinnati suffered through key injuries causing both of them to not make the playoffs and Pittsburgh just inching in for the division title.

The Ravens have a new head coach in Jesse Minter as John Harbough left for New York and lost their starting center Tyler Linderbaum to make their offensive line bottom tier. What is the same is QB Lamar Jackson, RB Derrick Henry, TE Mark Andrews and WR Zay Flowers leading their offense.

Their defense missed out on Maxx Crosby but got Trey Hendrickson from their own rival to help out LB Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, S Kyle Hamilton and they added Calais Campbell. Their front office drafted all the areas of weakness like an offensive linemen with their first pick, a pass rusher with the second round pick and some skill players for depth.

The Bengals only go as far as QB Joe Burrow takes them and were not talking about his talent since he did take them to a SB appearance; it is his health, if he misses a huge chunk of time they do not make the playoffs.

They now can weather the storm with Joe Flacco as his backup but the question is with a bottom tier offensive line will they keep him upright all season? They have one of the best receiving rooms in the league with WRs Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, TE Mike Gesicki plus RB Chase Brown. They went all in on defense in the offseason with their first two picks on defensive side, trading their first round pick for DT Dexter Lawrence, signed S Byran Cook, DEs Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, and S Kyle Dugger to help out second year coordinator Al Golden since they lost their best player on that side of ball in Hendrickson to Baltimore.

The Steelers are going for a final run with QB Aaron Rodgers since he announced it would be his last season but this time it will not be with Mike Tomlin as they parted ways with their 3^rd coach since 1969. Rodgers’ former HC Mike McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native will take over. Their weapons of DK Metcalf, TE Pat Freiermuth and RB Jaylen Warren are good but they also added RB Rico Dowdle and WR Michael Pittman. Their offensive line is outside of the top 10 due to having one of the best centers in Zach Frazier and used their 1^st pick on a lineman.

Their defense added CB Jamel Dean and S Jaquan Brisker to the core of DE Cameron Heyward, LB TJ Watt, CBs Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter and LB Patrick Queen.

The Browns fired a good head coach in Kevin Stefanski and hired Baltimore’s OC Todd Monken who is 60 years old and tasked him with deciding between Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel to be his QB1. They still have WR Jerry Jeudy and RB Quinshon Judkins plus TE Harold Fannin but lost TE David Njoku and have one of the worst offensive lines. They also traded franchise stalwart Myles Garrett to LA for DE Jared Verse and picks.

They used their draft capital smartly investing in the offensive line, their WR core and on their defense because Verse/CB Denzel Ward can’t do it alone on defense. Once they figure out the QB situation the future talent around that QB will help propel them forward instead of backwards.

East: The Patriots went all the way to the Super Bowl and lost and sometimes the runner ups don’t even make the playoffs the following season. This team might also have a stronghold on the division going forward with a young rising QB and a good roster with a good head coach in Mike Vrabel. QB Drake Maye was given upgrades in the WR room with AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs to pair with TE Hunter Henry and RB Rhamondre Stevenson.

They also added G Alijah Vera-Tucker to their offensive line to give Maye a solid line to protect him. Their defense is led by Christian Gonzalez, Robert Spillane, Harold Landry, Carlton Davis and added Kevin Byard and Dre'Mont Jones.

Nine seasons of HC Sean McDermott and eight of QB Josh Allen, Bills ownership decided it was time for a change because of how close they were but never won it by firing McDermott.

They replaced him from within with OC Joe Brady and traded for WR DJ Moore. Their other skill players are still RB James Cook, TEs Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox and WRs Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. Plus the offensive line is still top tier being led by Dion Dawkins. DT Ed Oliver still leads the defense but they added LB Bradley Chubb and S CJ Gardner Johnson plus went heavy in the draft on defense.

The Dolphins what are they now? They fired their HC Mike McDaniel to hire the Packers DC Jeff Hafley, they cut QB Tua Tagovailoa and signed backup Packers QB Malik Willis, cut Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb and traded both Minkah Fitzpatrick and WR Jaylen Waddle away. Willis will have RB De’Von Achane who they extended but will have question marks all over the offense including a bottom tier offensive line.

They drafted thirteen players but unsure if any will help out on defense, offense or on the offensive line but time will tell.

The Jets and HC Aaron Glenn will hope for a better season this time with them bringing back QB Geno Smith via trade and drafting three players in the 1^st round. They even added S Minkah Fitzpatrick from their divisional rivals to help out LB Demario Davis and Nahshon Wright on defense.

Their offensive line could be good or bad as the interior is the question but at least they extended RB Breece Hall and WR Garrett Wilson two important pieces for any QB bridge or rookie coming up.

South: The Texans doubled down on their defense by extending DEs Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter and Azeez Al-Shaair, and to keep their offensive line improving by re-signing Trent Brown, Ed Ingram and using their 1^st pick on a lineman. That falls on QB CJ Stroud to play like he did his rookie season and get them further than the second round.

They did add David Montgomery at RB and traded for WR Kayshon Boutte to pair with Nico Collins, Tank Dell and TE Dalton Schultz. Outside of those three core players they still have DT Sheldon Rankins, Derek Stingley and added Reed Blankenship.

The Jaguars have had the QB for five seasons but have had four head coaches for Trevor Lawrence so it is on him to stay healthy and take this team past the first round.

The detractors are still saying they have one of the worst offensive lines, having a terrible draft where experts said they reached and didn’t get a LB or edge rusher till very late which are their weak links. They let RB Travis Etienne and LB Devin Lloyd leave, but locked up TE Brenton Strange and DE Travon Walker. The other skill players are WRs Brian Thomas, Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers plus hope Travis Hunter is healthy enough to suit up at both WR and CB. On defense DEs Josh Allen-Hines and Arik Armstead still lead and will do their best to lead this unit.

The Colts think they have found “their QB” in Daniel Jones who was extended and was good for a half of a season before tearing his Achilles causing Phillip Rivers to come out of retirement. They also signed their WR Alec Pierce to a four year deal but then traded away Michael Pittman which didn’t make any sense but still have RB Jonathan Taylor.

They also have a good TE in Tyler Warren and just picked up WR Keenan Allen to make up for the loss but Pierce is coming off ankle surgery too. For Jones he has the best offensive line in his career led by Quenton Nelson, a top five unit. A full season of CB Sauce Gardner will be good for the defense to help out DE DeForest Buckner and CB Charvarius Ward, plus they went defense heavy in the draft.

QB Cam Ward will have a new head coach in his second season for the Titans but not an offensive guy he got Robert Saleh which didn’t make sense. What made sense was to draft a WR with their first pick to give him another weapon to pair with Calvin Ridley, and signed Wan’Dale Robinson plus RB Tony Pollard. Their offensive line is bottom tier and they don’t have a starting TE either.

Jeffery Simmons was extended so he will be leading this defense for awhile with DE Jermaine Johnson, S Amani Hooker, and how they went defense in the draft for Saleh’s system.

West: QB Bo Nix and the Broncos were so close to going to the Super Bowl before he broke his ankle. They as a team proved this will be their division going forward with HC Sean Payton calling plays and having the top offensive line return intact.

Adding WR Jaylen Waddle to pair with WR Courtland Sutton and TE Evan Engram plus RB JK Dobbins means the offense will be good again. On the defensive end they will be good again due to being led by former defensive player of the year CB Patrick Surtain, Nik Bonitto and Alex Singleton plus their first selection.

The Chargers have a good regular season and lose in the 1^st round too many times so hopefully for QB Justin Herbert and HC Jim Harbaugh the difference with Mike McDaniel at OC will advance them further.

They will also get back OTs Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater to the offensive line to protect Herbert as a top ten unit but just lost C Tyler Biadasz so they can’t get a break there. Skill player wise it is still a RB by committee crew, are lacking a true #1 WR but brought in TE David Njoku and FB Alex Ingold. S Derwin James was extended so when healthy he is one of the best safeties and they still have Bud Dupree, Denzel Perryman, S Tony Jefferson and LB Khalil Mack leading the defense.

Kansas City finally missed the playoffs (2014) under HC Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes due to Mahomes injuring his knee.

The Chiefs have no guarantees that he is fully healthy and will be the same player but signed QB Justin Fields for insurance. They still have one of the best offensive lines to keep him upright led by C Creed Humphrey and signed SB MVP Kenneth Walker at RB, plus still have TE Travis Kelce and WRs Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice. They traded away Trent McDuffie, let a few other key players leave on defense but are still led by DE Chris Jones, LB Nick Bolton and CB L’Jarius Sneed, plus went heavy in the draft on defense.

The Raiders will keep changing up head coach and QB but will still be in last place in this division. They are on their fifth HC since Jon Gruden’s second tenure in Klint Kubiak, the son of Gary Kubiak after he was the SB champion Seahawks OC, and used their #1 overall pick on QB Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman winner. Interestingly enough they signed QB Kirk Cousins for two years to mentor/let him take the hits for a middle of the pack offensive line that will be headlined by Tyler Linderbaum who is now the highest paid center. They have some of the best skill players in RBs in Ashton Jeanty and TE Brock Bowers but nothing at WR; they did add FB Connor Heyward too.

On defense they got lucky DE Maxx Crosby didn’t get traded to Baltimore so he can lead this unit with LB Nakobe Dean, S Jeremy Chinn, and their defense focused draft after selecting their QB.

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