Assessing NFL Teams’ Offseason Performances: A Divisional Breakdown Ahead of the Draft

Following the conclusion of free agency and the conclusion of coach hirings, it’s time to evaluate how NFL teams have fared in the offseason before the upcoming draft in Detroit from April 25-27.

Some teams, like the Commanders and Rams, have made significant improvements, while others such as the Cowboys and Saints seem to be stagnant or even regressing.

Yardbarker NFL writers have ranked each NFC team’s offseason within their respective divisions based on their performances in the 2023 season.

NFC East:

1. Washington Commanders (4-13): After revamping their coaching staff, Washington utilized their ample cap space to strengthen their roster with experienced players like Dorance Armstrong, Frankie Luvu, and Bobby Wagner. This should bolster their defense, which ranked last in the league, and improve their offense, which ranked 24th.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6): General manager Howie Roseman was busy as usual, making significant signings like Saquon Barkley, Bryce Huff, and retaining key players such as Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata. However, the retirement of Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce and the departure of Haason Reddick might pose challenges.

3. New York Giants (6-11): With quarterback Daniel Jones’ hefty cap hit looming, the Giants made strategic moves such as acquiring Jon Runyan Jr. and Devin Singletary. Trading for Brian Burns was a highlight, but the loss of defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale could impact their defense.

4. Dallas Cowboys (12-5): Despite having extra cap space, the Cowboys made modest signings like Eric Kendricks and Jourdan Lewis. Missing out on retaining key players like Tyler Biadasz and Tyron Smith might affect their performance.

NFC West:

1. Los Angeles Rams (10-7): While losing Aaron Donald to retirement is significant, the Rams strengthened their secondary with Tre’Davious White, Darious Williams, and Kamren Curl, addressing a major weakness from the previous season.

2. San Francisco 49ers (12-5): The 49ers focused on bolstering their defensive line depth with additions like Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos, complementing returning starters Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave.

3. Arizona Cardinals (4-13): The Cardinals improved both offensive and defensive lines with signings like Jonah Williams, Justin Jones, and Bilal Nichols. However, the lack of significant additions to their receiving corps remains a concern.

4. Seattle Seahawks (9-8): Besides a coaching change, the Seahawks had a relatively quiet offseason, focusing on depth rather than impactful signings.

NFC North:

1. Green Bay Packers (9-8): Hiring Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator and signing Xavier McKinney addressed key needs for the Packers. They also secured cap space for future extensions, including for quarterback Jordan Love.

2. Minnesota Vikings (7-10): The Vikings made notable moves like acquiring Jonathan Greenard and Aaron Jones, along with trading for additional draft picks to potentially target a top quarterback prospect.

3. Detroit Lions (12-5): The Lions made significant upgrades to their defense with veteran additions like D.J. Reader and Marcus Davenport while solidifying their offensive line with Graham Glasgow and Kevin Zeitler.

4. Chicago Bears (7-10): Retaining Jaylon Johnson and acquiring Keenan Allen were positive moves, but potentially overpaying for D’Andre Swift and Kevin Byard and underwhelming returns in the Justin Fields trade are concerns.

NFC South:

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8): The Buccaneers retained key players like Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans while hiring promising coach Liam Coen. However, losing Dave Canales to a division rival and failing to make significant additions are notable points.

2. Atlanta Falcons (7-10): Bringing in Kirk Cousins and improving coaching staff signal positive changes for the Falcons, though they still face challenges in achieving playoff success.

3. Carolina Panthers (2-15): Despite the Brian Burns trade, the Panthers strengthened their offensive line and receiving corps, ensuring stability on both sides of the ball.

4. New Orleans Saints (9-8): Acquiring Chase Young was a major move, but his availability due to injury remains uncertain. The coaching changes might not offer significant improvements, indicating potential stagnation for the Saints.