EAST LANSING- With NFL Training Camp in full effect, the favorite Sunday pastime of many will soon be upon us, with less than seven weeks until our first action of the 2024 season. All 32 teams have an array of intrigue for fans to follow ahead of the season opener on September 5 in what should be one of the most electrifying football seasons in recent memory. Will the Chiefs be able to pull off the three-peat? How will the 2024 NFL Draft class fare in their rookie campaigns? The storylines are never-ending, and with so much to dive into, let’s kick things off in the City of Brotherly Love.
Brotherly Bounce Back:
In the wake of a sensational regular season, the 2023 postseason was anything but spectacular for the Philadelphia Eagles. The 11-6 Eagles tush-pushed their way into a playoff duel on the road, facing Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that saw the Eagles fall 32-9 embarrassingly.
Just a season removed from a Super Bowl appearance, general manager Howie Roseman came out guns a-blazing to push Dallas for the division crown.
Roseman stayed in the NFC East for his splash signing of the offseason, signing explosive Giants superstar Saquon Barkley to a three-year 37.75 million dollar contract to replace the departed D’Andre Swift.
The two-time Pro Bowler will form a formidable rushing duo with Jalen Hurts in Philly, though the 27-year-old will not have the luxury of running behind All-Pro Jason Kelce, who announced his retirement from football.
Roseman continued his miraculous offseason, bolstering new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense that was porous a year ago, finishing 26th both in total defense and yards allowed per game. With the additions of Bryce Huff, and Devin White, and the return of CJ Gardner-Johnson after a season in Detroit, the defense in Philadelphia was primed to return to its elite form from 2022.
In addition to Gardner-Johnson, the Eagle’s secondary has also improved significantly during the NFL Draft weekend, with the additions of standout athletes Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to complement Pro Bowler Darius Slay.
Jalen Hurts accrued career-highs in both passing yards and touchdowns in 2023, and the Eagles are right on the Cowboys’ tails. Another season under his belt with this elite group of weapons will prove fruitful with the addition of Barkley, as the NFC East is must-see TV, especially with Jayden Daniels entering the picture down in our nation’s capital.
Three-PAT?
The Kansas City Chiefs are becoming a dynasty before our eyes, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in each of the last two seasons, as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid aim to combat the iconic Patriots dynasty with Brady and Belichick.
Arrowhead Stadium is home to one of the most explosive offenses in the National Football League. Still, the Chiefs have not had a wide receiver rack up over 1,000 yards since Tyreek Hill was traded (in the 2022 offseason), so the Chiefs have had speedster-sized shoes to fill in their receiver room for a long time coming now.
Travis Kelce is still Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice had a breakout rookie campaign which saw the former second-round pick go for 938 yards and seven scores, but more is needed in KC, with both Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore having disappointed early in their Chief’s tenures.
However, there is a real chance Rice will face NFL discipline for his involvement in a hit-and-run in March and his assault on a photographer in May. However, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach did what he does best, and brought reinforcements to the Chiefs Kingdom.
The Chiefs signed former first-round pick Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to a one-year, $7 million contract, but the speedster is fresh off a career-worst season with the Cardinals. However, Brown has blazing speed and should fit seamlessly into Andy Reid’s system.
Veach was not done making additions at the position though, doubling down to add one of the NFL Draft’s most dynamic playmakers as the Chiefs traded up to land former Texas standout Xavier Worthy. With a stellar 4.21 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine, the 21-year-old phenom set a combined record and now heads to Kansas City to catch passes from the NFL’s best passer.
Speed has been lacking from the Chiefs offense in recent seasons, resulting in Mahomes displaying his worst numbers since 2019. The tides should turn in significant fashion in Kansas City, with a three-peat a legitimate possibility despite having to face the likes of the Texans, Bengals, and Ravens in the star-studded AFC.
Potential Brewing in H-Town:
Just four years ago, the Houston Texans were riding high with DeShaun Watson’s career-best season, until things came crashing down. Following his sexual misconduct charges and a long chunk of time off the field, Watson was traded to Cleveland and the Texans were back to square one of their rebuild.
Drafting C.J. Stroud at No. 2 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft brought Houston’s dormant offense back to life. Stroud was awarded Offensive Rookie of the Year honors for his standout season that saw the Ohio State product throw for 4108 yards and 23 touchdowns en route to leading Houston to a division title and the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
The Texans have Stroud on his rookie contract until 2028, so general manager Nick Caserio capitalized in major fashion.
The Texans struck deals for both Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs to aid young studs Nico Collins and Tank Dell for an ever-improving supporting cast for Stroud in H-Town.
Mixon solves the Texans’ long-standing running back woes, while Diggs will step in to give Stroud a legitimate WR1 and one of the NFL’s best pass catchers. Diggs is entering his age-30 season and will be the most prolific receiver playing in the red, white, and blue since DeAndre Hopkins was traded.
The Texans also made noticeable improvements on the defensive side of the football. While Jonathan Greenard jetted off to Minnesota, Caserio looked to Minnesota to find his replacement in four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter. The Texans also signed Jeff Okudah, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Denico Autry (who has been suspended six games for PEDs) to fortify DeMeco Ryans’ defense going into his second season at the helm.
With that being said, the path to success will be easier said than done for the Texans. All four teams in the AFC South have legitimate playoff aspirations, and all four young quarterbacks in the division should take a step forward this season.
In Tennessee, L’Jarius Sneed was acquired with Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard brought in to maximize Will Levis’ potential. Down in the Duval, Trevor Lawrence has a lot to prove on the heels of his recent payday, and in Indianapolis, Anthony Richardson looks to build on the promise shown before his season-ending injury to his rookie campaign, as the Colts solidified their offensive core with the selection of wideout Adonai Mitchell.
The Texans improved the most of any team in the AFC South this offseason, and expectations are high with many calling Stroud a dark-horse MVP candidate ahead of his sophomore campaign. Though the rest of the division will put up a valiant effort, it is Houston’s division to lose and an even deeper playoff run could be on the horizon.
Quick Hits:
- No. 6 overall pick Malik Nabers has been a standout at New York Giants training camp for a Giants team that is looking to replace the explosiveness of Barkley. Will the fearsome speed of Nabers, Jalin Hyatt, and WanDale Robinson unleash a career-best season for Daniel Jones in what could be his final as a Giant?
- In Pittsburgh, the starting quarterback duel is in full effect. By the looks of it, Russell Wilson is the current starter and Justin Fields the future, but could Fields pull off some magic and steal the future Hall-of-Famers job? How will both new Steelers fare in the Steel City?
- The Carolina Panthers made Bryce Young the priority this past offseason, drafting two skill position players with their first two picks in Xavier Legette and Jonathon Brooks, as well as trading for Diontae Johnson. Will the former Heisman Trophy winner and top pick break out in his sophomore season, especially with a new head coach?
- Camp holdouts are plentiful this offseason, with Brandon Aiyuk, CeeDee Lamb, and Ja’Marr Chase all away from their respective franchises in pursuit of their desired paydays. Dallas is in a particularly sticky situation, with fellow stars Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons chasing paychecks of their own. Will some of the NFL’s best get their money, and could these holdouts extend into the regular season?
- There are four rookie quarterbacks to keep a watchful eye on during training camp; Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and JJ McCarthy. Which of the rookie signal-callers will have the best rookie season, and how long will it take for Maye and McCarthy to make their first career starts?
