As roster’s begin to take a large step towards final shape before the summer starts, the NFL offseason has entered one of the quieter times of the entire year. We are now almost three weeks removed from the draft, free agency is essentially over, and the most entertaining thing we have as fans is rookies in team threads for the first time at mini training camp. Many teams have made significant progress so far on paper, with some obviously doing more than others. There are three NFC teams in specific that have made immense changes for the better. In recent memory, they may have been laughing stocks, but it’s written that they’ll shock the world with their improvement. Some may come as a surprise, but I guarantee that the development of these squads will take the league by storm.
Chicago Bears
Key Additions: Caleb Williams (QB), D’Andre Swift (RB), Rome Odunze (WR), Keenan Allen (WR), Kevin Byard (S), Gerald Everett (TE), Coleman Shelton (OL)
The Chicago Bears are going to win the NFC North in 2024. They’ve built their team around new star QB Caleb Williams,who’s walking into the undeniable best situation a #1 overall pick has ever had. Last year, the Bears were a team that should’ve ended up in the playoff hunt, but instead finished with one of the worst records in the NFC, selling multiple double digit leads with generational chokes. As the year went on, the team slowly but surely improved with the acquisition of star defensive linemen Montez Sweat.
Going into the new season. the Bears have one of the best WR, MLB, and secondary cores in the entire league, great depth and potential star power at running back, and well built trenches on both ends of the ball. Bringing in Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen, and D’Andre Swift on top of the existing weapons in DJ Moore and Cole Kmet is truly jaw dropping for the prices they were able to get them at. In addition, firing Luke Getsy to bring in a proven coach to run the offense like Shane Waldron has been one of the most underrated aspects of their new acquisitions. If the Bears can finally break their historic trend of having the defense carry the team to relevancy, they have a serious shot at going far. If any offense can do it, this one can. Do not be surprised if they win north of 11 games and take home a division title for the first time since 2018.
Carolina Panthers
Key Additions: Xavier Legette (WR), Diontae Johnson (WR), Jonathon Brooks (RB), Robert Hunt (G), Damien Lewis (G), Jadeveon Clowney (LB), K’Lavon Chaisson (LB), A’Shawn Robinson (DT)
Dare I say that the future is bright in Carolina? Besides being terrible, anyone that mentions the Panthers is most likely talking about the result of their trade with the Chicago Bears. When they decided to move up and grab their future franchise QB Bryce Young, they gave away a haul that became:
-Caleb Williams (#1 Overall Pick)
-DJ Moore (Star WR)
-Darnell Wright (Franchise Tackle)
-Tyrique Steveson (Star CB)
-2025 Second Round Pick (Carolina)
Bryce Young wasn’t necessarily great in his rookie year, but again, he had an atrocious supporting cast that didn’t give him much to work with. After hiring Coach Dave Canales, who’s a respected offensive mind that helped both Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith get their careers back on the right path, the Panthers made it a priority to build around Young. They now have a legitimate WR depth chart centered around new acquisitions Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette, who will help alleviate the pressure of 1K yard receiver Adam Theilen. The team also invested in protection for their QB, who was the second most sacked passer in the entire league. Guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis fill an obvious huge hole that should help Young be able to shine to the potential of a #1 overall pick and Heisman winner.
In addition, managing to keep Ejiro Evero is remarkable. He’s one of the best defensive minds in the entire league and managed to make the Panther’s defense a respectable unit in an overall terrible season for the franchise. They may not be winning a division title, but I believe that they’ll be nowhere near as bad as they were in 2023. Expect a big jump in Charlotte.
Washington Commanders
Key Additions: Jayden Daniels (QB), Jer’Zhan Newton (DT), Austin Ekeler (RB), Zach Ertz (TE), Bobby Wagner (LB), Frankie Luvu (LB), Nick Allegretti (OG),Tyler Biadasz (C)
The Washington Commanders are an anomaly of a franchise to stay the least. They’ve been hard to follow in recent memories, somehow winning an NFC East Title at 7-9 in 2020 to finishing in last place two out of the last three seasons. This offseason they finally decided to move on from Ron Rivera and hire Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury as their HC/OC respectively. Owning the second overall pick in the draft, it was evident that the team would be moving on from Sam Howell who was pretty obviously on a one year prove it trial. Jayden Daniels was in my opinion the right pick for this team and I’m happy they followed the Bears model of building around him immediately.
The team already has an impressive receiving core headlined by Scary Terry McLaurin. Jahan Dotson, and the newly acquired brother of star RB Christian McCaffrey, Rice WR Luke McCaffrey. Austin Ekeler, Zach Ertz, and Brian Robinson Jr. are also nice safety blankets for a first year QB. Daniels is also extremely mobile, so having guys like Nick Allegretti and Tyler Biadasz to block for him as he extends plays is essential. The Commander’s offensive line allowed Sam Howell to be the most sacked QB in the league last year, and it’s evident that that was unacceptable. The defense may not be one of the higher ends units in the league, especially after last year, but the addition of reliable starting caliber players like Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner, as well as the DT1 of the 2024 class in Jer’Zhan Newton gives Dan Quinn a lot to work with. This team is turning a new page and is no longer amongst the caliber of a 4-win squad.
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