We’re four days into NFL free agency and nearly 100 of my top 150 players are off the board, along with dozens of other signings and a handful of trades. Here are my biggest insights from the first week of the new league year.

Live updates: Free agent news from around the NFL
FA tracker: New teams and contract details for the top 150 free agents
Best available players: Who is still on the market?
Numbers: The best and worst free agent deals

Losing four players from the front seven of your squad can be devastating for many teams. Vikings edge players Danielle Hunter, DJ Wonnum and Marcus Davenport and linebacker Jordan Hicks all left for various deals elsewhere.

But Minnesota had a plan and replaced them with Jonathan Greenard (two years younger than Hunter), Andrew Van Ginkel (young, up-and-coming player) and Blake Cashman, whose football IQ, range and ability to slip blocks got him into a three-down create inside linebacker. and an upgrade over Hicks. That trio gives the Vikings a better defensive package going forward than what went out the door. Sometimes plans need to flow, and the Vikings’ decision makers made me believe in their evaluation skills, which I previously had some doubts about.

I also like the move to Sam Darnold for $10 million on a one-year deal, while leaving Kirk Cousins ​​to Atlanta for $45 million per year for four years. The money saved can still be used by upgrading their third wide receiver spot and extending Justin Jefferson at wideout.

Without a doubt, this must be what GM Jason Licht did to the Buccaneers’ roster this past week. No GM has protected their roster and re-signed their core guys like Licht. After killing Pro Bowl safety Antoine Winfield Jr. had tapped, he re-signed quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans and found a way to keep linebacker Lavonte David. Licht also brought back defensive tackle Greg Gaines and safety Jordan Whitehead, who was part of the 2020 Super Bowl championship team. The band reunites just in time.

Bucs GM Jason Licht calls this one of “the greatest free agents of all time” to play players like Mike Evans, Antoine Winfield Jr. and re-signing Lavonte David – players who could be in the Hall of Fame.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) March 13, 2024

Licht also acquired a third-round pick to replenish his roster with some youth on draft day by trading cornerback Carlton Davis (who had a hefty cap number in the final year of his contract) to the Detroit Lions. In my opinion that was a smart move. Sportsbooks have made the Atlanta Falcons clear favorites to win the NFC South after adding Cousins ​​and others, but I’d still favor the Bucs after they maintained continuity.

If this were a game of old-fashioned “Battleship,” the Ravens’ ship would be at the very least veering starboard and perhaps on the verge of tipping over. Considering the number of free agents Baltimore had pending, this was to be expected, as I wrote last week.

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The Ravens kept Justin Madubuike and added Derrick Henry, but they have already lost Patrick Queen, John Simpson, Gus Edwards, Geno Stone and Ronald Darby, while Jadeveon Clowney, Odell Beckham Jr. and Kevin Zeitler are still on the market. Add to that the decision to move on from starting right tackle Morgan Moses (let’s call this “friendly fire”), and they’ve taken their share of hits.

Rebuilding this roster will challenge GM Eric DeCosta and his staff at the highest level. They always have a plan in place if something happens, so I have no doubt their answer will be clear. I’m just concerned that this excessive amount of change will lead to a natural adjustment period, which may take some time. Nobody wants to turn a renovation into a renovation. Time will tell how much change a roster can absorb.

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The Giants added proven but still emerging players to the offensive line: former Green Bay Packers guard Jon Runyan Jr. and former Las Vegas Raiders guard/tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. It’s rare to add two starting offensive linemen who have a clear body of work. These were two of the top five linemen on our free-agent board. Eluemunor was very good at right tackle for the Raiders in 2023, but can also play guard. That flexibility is valuable, considering the problems Evan Neal tackles in the right way. Runyan has excellent initial speed and the ability to involve his lower body in contact, which is rarely seen anymore in our world of spread offenses.

Oh yeah: Adding Brian Burns — who was my top-ranked player before he was franchise-tagged and the closest thing to Micah Parsons I’ve seen on tape recently — for second- and fifth-round picks is like adding a first-round talent on draft day. Any team would make that trade. The Giants struck in an opportune manner.

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Yes, they lost Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney, two of my favorite players in this class, but it’s hard to justify paying big money at running backs and safety for a team that isn’t anywhere near contending. Improving the offensive line and landing Burns will help them immensely.

Favorite signing

Fantasy owners, take note. I liked the Los Angeles Chargers and added Edwards from the Ravens. I had thought all along that Barkley would be a culture upgrade for new coach Jim Harbaugh and his vision for the Chargers’ new offense. But as Barkley’s contract numbers increased, Edwards became more attractive.

He brings a full toolbox and good production with slightly less dynamic athleticism. The Ravens’ running backs committee kept Edwards’ grades down, but he’s a better player than that. He’ll be a 235-pound bellcow for a Chargers team looking to add toughness and physicality to its new identity.

Most confusing signing

I wasn’t surprised at how many expensive veteran safety items were released before release. I am shocked that teams are still adding veteran safeties who have marginal athletic ability. The Chicago Bears’ signing of Kevin Byard was a prime example. The Philadelphia Eagles bet on Byard at the trade deadline last season, acquiring him from the Tennessee Titans. Not only did it not work, but it went very badly.

In a passing league, it is very difficult to hide players who struggle in space, whether in coverage or tackling. There is no longer a ‘box safety’ position. Byard was a great player a few years ago, but he’s clearly lost a step. Bears fans have to hope things turn out differently when he joins his third team in six months.

Deepest positions remaining

Rarely is it possible not at all to find quality edge pass rushers or offensive perimeter speed on the open market. This year, there are options for both on the market, even after the free tree has been picked of its low-hanging fruit. Clowney and Van Noy — who each signed after camps opened last fall — and Chase Young and Bud Dupree can all still contribute to teams looking to upgrade and rush the passer. Teams probably won’t have to pay retail prices for it either.

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The same can be said about wide receiver. Vastly underrated Lions wideout Josh Reynolds can still make an impact as a solid WR2 or WR3. Beckham, who everyone loves to hate, is still very explosive and can change games. I realize this year’s draft is chock full of good young prospects, which could impact the market, but these guys are proven commodities who could deliver great returns at the right price.

The value phase has arrived

There is usually a lull in free agency after the initial flurry of big-money signings and press conferences, before the market settles into the ‘finding value’ phase. As far as I see, the market has already reached that stage. I see players willing to take less than premium deals to avoid being left without a seat when the music stops.

Guys like Gaines (back to the Bucs for one year, $3.5 million), Zack Baun (to the Eagles for one year, $3.5 million), Nick Harris (to the Seattle Seahawks for one year, $2.51 million) and Saahdiq Charles (to the Titans for one year, $2.5 million) could normally linger on the market for weeks or months after their markets failed to materialize. Instead, they signed quickly and teams were able to find some value in those deals.

I appreciate agents for doing their homework – most likely at the company’s Indianapolis location, during meetings with teams – and team builders for identifying down-the-line guys who fit them. These value deals are a great way to build depth and have contributors ready when injuries strike.

Are teams getting wiser?

With the $30 million increase in the salary cap, teams are spending money freely, but I think teams – this year more than other years – are also spending money more wisely. Normally at this stage I would have questions about various signings where the plan seems difficult to justify. I have very few of those question marks through four days of the free-agent shopping season.

My goal in free agency was always to fill needs and check as many boxes as I could, within my limits, before the draft. This allows you to draft without worrying too much about needs, more often than not using the best players available rather than reaching for worse players in the early rounds. This has been a proven philosophy for years, and I think teams are following it and using valuable signings to fill gaps and add flexibility.

(Photos of, from left, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Brian Burns and Kevin Byard: Adam Bettcher, Grant Halverson, Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Draft season kicks into high gear this week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis as teams will put prospects under a microscope during private interviews, news conferences and workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Quarterbacks always dominate conversations at the combine, and this year will be no different with USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels expected to be among the first handful of picks come April. But a stellar wide receiver group, headlined by Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze, will also draw plenty of interest this week.

Beyond the draft prospects, new head coaches, led by the Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh, and GMs, including the Commanders’ Adam Peters, will be in the spotlight. And the futures of quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will be hot topics.

We asked The Athletic’s team of beat and national writers to fill us in on who or what they’ll be watching or listening for as the NFL world descends upon Indianapolis.

How big of a priority is an upgrade at wide receiver?

The Cardinals need help there. That’s not a question. But they have several needs, and two of the biggest are on the offensive and defensive lines. Like many of his peers, general manager Monti Ossenfort believes the quickest way to build is through the trenches. The popular theory is that if wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is there, you take him. But what if he’s not? Does Arizona select Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze, also considered elite receivers? Or do they go a different route and look to pick up a receiver in later rounds? Ossenfort, who traded back from No. 3 last year, won’t answer these questions, of course, but he might shed light on how he views Arizona’s roster priorities. — Doug Haller

How does Tier 2 of the quarterback class shake out?

The Falcons don’t have a shot at Caleb Williams or Drake Maye picking at No. 8, and trading up to No. 1 or No. 2 in this draft class doesn’t seem realistic for anyone. That means if Atlanta is going to rely on the draft to find its next quarterback, it’s going to have to decide who it likes from a group that includes LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and maybe even Oregon’s Bo Nix. Not only that, the Falcons have to figure out where they’re going to need to pick to get the player they want. McCarthy and Nix almost certainly will be available at eight, but getting Daniels might require a trade up to as high as No. 3. — Josh Kendall

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Which agents is general manager Eric DeCosta meeting with?

The Ravens are picking 30th. They have myriad needs, particularly on the offensive line and at running back and edge rusher. However, they’ll stay at 30 and pick the best player available or they’ll trade back to accrue more picks. What they do in the draft is never sexy, but it’s who they are. It’s also why there will be no position focus at the combine. What will be more notable is whether DeCosta can gain any traction in re-signing his own free agents. The Ravens have nearly two dozen, including standouts Justin Madubuike and Patrick Queen. With a tight salary-cap situation, DeCosta will need to get creative to keep the core of a 13-4 team together for another run. — Jeff Zrebiec

How will the Bills navigate their currently nonexistent cap space?

The Bills have their work cut out for them this offseason. The team is in a projected $41 million hole for 2024 cap space, with only 53 players on their roster and a lot of holes to boot. The team will need to make some difficult decisions. Whom might they cut to make room? Which contracts will they restructure? Which players will they extend? How much do they want to negatively influence their 2025 cap sheet with some of their restructurings? General manager Brandon Beane hasn’t had to do anything quite like this since his early years as the team’s GM. — Joe Buscaglia

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The team’s new coach and general manager

I’m interested in hearing what Dave Canales and Dan Morgan say at their first combine as the top of the Panthers’ football food chain. The two spoke in mostly general terms at their introductory news conference, where Morgan said the team needs more “dogs.” You might have heard: The Panthers don’t have a first-round pick. But this is an important offseason for a team that needs to get quarterback Bryce Young offensive line help and more weapons while figuring out how to handle a pair of key free agents in edge rusher Brian Burns and linebacker Frankie Luvu. — Joseph Person

All eyes at the combine will be on Caleb Williams, right, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the draft this week at the combine. (John Leyba / USA Today)

How will Caleb Williams handle the limelight?

The most important elements of the combine for the presumptive No. 1 pick will take place behind the scenes during his conversations with teams, starting with the Bears. Most questions about Williams have more to do with what he’s like off the field, and while he’s experienced more fame than most college football players, he hasn’t experienced anything like the media onslaught that will be waiting for him Friday morning in Indianapolis. The Bears, and other teams, will likely take note of how he does in that environment. — Kevin Fishbain

The defensive tackle class

The Bengals need to attack needs at interior defensive line aggressively, so how the measurables (and interviews) shake out will go a long way to deciding if Byron Murphy of Texas and Jer’Zhan Newton of Illinois could connect at No. 18 or if a move up or down the board shakes them out of mid-first range. Will any new candidates enter the equation for Day 2 with a strong combine? The Bengals need to plot the draft path at DT and if they don’t see enough options, they could shift to a free-agent-laden approach. — Paul Dehner Jr.

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The wide receivers

The Browns are focused on winning in 2024, so the “good” stuff at the combine will involve Browns GM Andrew Berry talking potential trades with his peers and potentially bumping into agents of upcoming free agents. None of that will be for public consumption. But the Browns need to upgrade their receiving corps — now and into the future — so it’s fair to think they’ll focus on their evaluations of this year’s wide receiver class. The Browns don’t pick until No. 54 of the second round, so they’ll have to determine how many wide receivers will be long gone, which ones they might like in the second or third rounds and how those receivers might fit into their ever-evolving offense. — Zac Jackson

What is the latest with Dak Prescott’s contract?

There are plenty of areas to address in free agency and the draft, from offensive line to linebacker and defensive tackle. But Prescott’s contract is the No. 1 issue because it affects everything else. The Cowboys have given no indication that they are considering an immediate future without Prescott, who is entering the final season of his current deal. The most likely scenario is that he signs a new contract next month. If the Cowboys leave his deal as is, he’d count just under $60 million against their 2024 cap, making it difficult to do anything to improve the roster outside of the draft. If Dallas is truly “all in,” like Jerry Jones said at the Senior Bowl, they need to figure out Prescott’s future so they can begin improving the rest of the roster. — Jon Machota

Russell Wilson watch

Sean Payton said after the season that a decision on the future of the 35-year-old Wilson would not be “a long, drawn-out process.” A few weeks later, at the Super Bowl, Payton said the decision would come “sooner rather than later.” The Broncos appear ready to move on from Wilson, whose $37 million in 2025 salary becomes guaranteed if he’s still on the roster on March 17, but there has been no movement yet publicly. I’m interested to see whether the activities at the combine reveal anything about what the Broncos will do with Wilson after two underwhelming seasons in Denver and what light will be shed on their quarterback plan to follow. — Nick Kosmider

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The cornerback class

This is a really intriguing group of corners, with more than a handful of prospects looking like first-rounders. The Lions obviously could use some young talent at the position, whether it’s at No. 29 on the first night or on Day 2 with three picks — Nos. 61, 73 and 92. I’m curious to see which corners separate themselves in Indianapolis. Testing is obviously part of the equation, but defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn believes you have to be wired a certain way to excel at the position. Hearing from corners at the podium could help us get a better understanding of prospects the Lions might like. — Colton Pouncy

Packers quarterback Jordan Love exceeded expectations in his first year as a starter and now is in line for a contract extension. (Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)

Jordan Love extension talks

I’m going to be parked next to the second-floor Starbucks at the JW Marriott for 96 consecutive hours, waiting for a glimpse of Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and super-agent David Mulugheta talking with each other. I’d even take just a glance in each other’s direction. Then, I’ll know exactly how much the Packers are paying Love. Gutekunst can’t sign his franchise quarterback until May 3 because that’s 12 months after Love’s last extension, but he and Mulugheta will surely meet in Indianapolis to exchange contract numbers. — Matt Schneidman

Nick Caserio’s plan to build on last season

This was supposed to be a gradual and potentially painful build as Caserio and new coach DeMeco Ryans began laying the foundation last season after the GM spent the two previous years dismantling and setting the table for a true rebuild. But Caserio struck gold with his hiring of Ryans and draft selections both in 2022 and 2023 and Houston came out of nowhere to win its first division title in four years. Now Caserio must further fortify the roster, giving C.J. Stroud additional support by way of consistent weapons and more impactful defensive playmakers. With adequate cap space and eight draft picks, the Texans have resources to build with a blend of free-agent talent and young prospects. Caserio and Ryans surely will not give away any state secrets next week, but they should shed light on some of their highest priorities. — Mike Jones

Who will catch the eye of Colts WRs coach Reggie Wayne?

Beyond the first-round prospects Indianapolis will consider with the No. 15 pick, this year’s draft class is supposed to be loaded with wide receiver talent. Last year, Wayne said he was very impressed with Josh Downs’ route running and sure-handedness during the combine, despite Downs being undersized coming out of North Carolina. Wayne relayed that message to GM Chris Ballard, Downs was drafted in the third round and had a standout rookie season. I’ll use my binoculars to keep a close eye on Wayne’s interactions during combine drills, while also asking several receivers if they’ve met with him and heard any feedback. — James Boyd

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How they handle the tricky Calvin Ridley situation

By all accounts, the Jaguars want Ridley back after the 29-year-old receiver had 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season in Jacksonville. However, Ridley’s contract expired and his situation is fascinating to consider. If the Jaguars re-sign Ridley before free agency begins, it qualifies as an extension and they would owe Atlanta a second-round pick in the 2024 draft as per the terms of their trade. However, if Ridley gets to free agency but still returns to the Jaguars, the new deal wouldn’t be considered an extension — rather a free-agent contract — and the Jaguars would only have to send Atlanta their third-round pick. Allowing Ridley to get to the open market is risky, but if the Jaguars play their cards right, they could bring back Trevor Lawrence’s top weapon without losing a top-50 pick. — Jim Ayello

Tier 2 of the receiver and tight end prospects

A major question for next season is whether Chiefs coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach can return the team’s offense to its previous potent form. One of the fastest ways to do that is to select the best pass-catching prospects available late in the first and second rounds. Travis Kelce will be 35 next season, so adding another tight end should be high on the Chiefs’ priority list. As for the receivers, the Chiefs should have plenty of options, considering the depth of this year’s class. Reid and Veach will use the combine to start identifying which receiver could most excel playing alongside Patrick Mahomes. — Nate Taylor

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The quarterback prospects

This isn’t a unique answer, but it’s the most significant roster question for the Raiders in their first full season under general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell was solid in 10 starts as a rookie, but it’s hard to see the Raiders finishing this offseason without adding competition for the starting job either through the addition of a veteran or a rookie quarterback. Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels are widely considered the top three quarterbacks in this class. The Raiders will do plenty of work on them, but it’ll be difficult for them to draft any of them considering they hold pick No. 13 in the first round. With that in mind, they’ll also need to deeply study J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr. and the rest of the class. — Tashan Reed

The NFL world will watch with interest to see how Jim Harbaugh and the cap-strapped Chargers retool their roster this offseason. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)

Their salary-cap situation

The Chargers are effectively $31.7 million over the salary cap as they head into the combine, according to Over the Cap. Crucial decisions loom, particularly regarding receiver Mike Williams, receiver Keenan Allen, edge rusher Joey Bosa and edge rusher Khalil Mack. All four veterans have cap hits exceeding $30 million in 2024. How will new head coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz navigate these veteran contracts — and their cap situation in general? Who stays? Who goes? Do they inquire into the trade market? Do they offer extensions? Will they use void years? I’ll be looking for answers to these questions in Indy. — Daniel Popper

Sniffing around an offseason plan

The Rams don’t generally attend the NFL combine (here is why) other than their medical staff’s on-site collection of the all-important medical information on prospects. But Indianapolis is still a great place to gather data and tidbits from agents and other league sources about what their offseason plan could be and new trends in contract structures and team-building. The Rams will have approximately $40 million in workable cap space and a lot of needs despite a better-than-expected 2023 season. They also have brought in new assistant coaches — and the combine will be the perfect environment to mine for information about those additions. — Jourdan Rodrigue

Tua Tagovailoa extension talks

It certainly seems like a Tagovailoa extension is a foregone conclusion. But what will it look like and when will it happen? The Dolphins QB enters the 2024 season with a $23.1 million cap charge on the fifth-year option. The Dolphins then have the franchise tag at their disposal, so they don’t have to sign him to a long-term deal now or even next offseason. But for a team that could use some cap relief, lowering his cap figure with an extension could be appealing. But how much is it going to take to retain Tagovailoa? Is he the caliber of quarterback who should be paid in the neighborhood of a Joe Burrow ($55 million AAV)? Would he take less? These are the franchise-defining questions to keep in mind at the combine and beyond. — Jim Ayello

Where things stand between the Vikings and Kirk Cousins

This subject will shape the future of the Vikings organization. Keep Cousins, and Minnesota would likely be signaling its belief that it can contend in the short term. Move on from him, and the Vikings would be indicating that they’d be ready to chart a new path. Cousins’ contract is set to void March 12. If that happens, the Vikings will be on the hook for a hefty $28.5 million dead-cap hit. The only way to extend that money into the future is to come to terms on an extension with Cousins. The NFL combine stands as a prime opportunity for in-person discussions on this subject between the team and Cousins’ representatives. — Alec Lewis

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Quarterback Jayden Daniels

The easiest way for the Patriots to address their issues at quarterback is to draft a signal caller — either Daniels or Drake Maye depending on who falls to them at No. 3. With Daniels, there are more unknowns. The Pats aren’t concerned about his height (6-foot-4) or hand size (9 5/8 inches), but scouts want to see him at or above 210 pounds at the combine because there are concerns about his slight frame and the big hits he too often takes. The other question for the Patriots is how Daniels will interview and how he’ll test when they run him through plays on the whiteboard. How Daniels (and Maye) do this week will go a long way in determining whether the Patriots draft a quarterback or wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the third pick. — Chad Graff

Offensive tackles and pass catchers

We’ll leave the annual “too far over the salary cap” discussion for after the combine because the Saints always find a way. And this year it should come in mass contract restructurings of several veteran players. As noted in our NFL reporters’ mock draft recently, the need for tackle and/or guard should stand high on the priority list. So you’d imagine players like Olu Fashanu (Penn State), JC Latham (Alabama), Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State), Amarius Mims (Georgia) and Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma) are all on the Saints’ radar. The Saints could also use another piece for Derek Carr at wide receiver (LSU’s Brian Thomas, Florida State’s Keon Coleman, Texas’ Adonai Mitchell) to add some more punch with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. — Larry Holder

Saquon Barkley watch

There’s a lot riding on this next period of the Giants offseason after an already noisy start to the business side of things with coaching changes aplenty. But the spotlight will be tuned to Barkley’s future at the combine as the front office and the running back’s representatives are expected to meet again. Will they be able to hammer out a deal? Will he get tagged again for $12.1 million or will he finally test the open market and venture into the interesting running back market? We’ll get a clearer picture by week’s end of where the two sides stand. — Charlotte Carroll

Washington’s Rome Odunze is one of the stars of a deep wide receiver class that will draw plenty of interest in Indianapolis. (Joe Nicholson / USA Today)

The pass catchers

The Jets have an obvious need at offensive tackle (and/or at guard, too, depending on some offseason decisions), but they also desperately need help at wide receiver for star Garrett Wilson. Allen Lazard won’t cut it as an option in 2024. There are some extremely talented receivers in this class who could be available at No. 10 when the Jets pick — after Marvin Harrison Jr., who will almost certainly be gone — and even if the Jets still need an offensive lineman, they might be tempted by the likes of Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze — or others later in the draft, when teams have found stars in past years while the Jets sat on their hands, like last year. — Zack Rosenblatt

Are they organized?

Fourth-year coach Nick Sirianni overhauled both coordinator positions, and there’s still not much clarity about how involved he will be in working with newly hired offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to build a less predictable offensive system that supplies a deeply talented roster with more answers this offseason. And what kind of offense is that exactly? A Howie Roseman-led personnel department that remains largely intact must also upgrade several defensive positions. How more favorably positioned will defenders be in a revamped “Fangio System” that will this time be coached by … well, Vic Fangio? — Brooks Kubena

If it’s a clean sweep concerning Kenny Pickett

The Steelers interview every single player they can and they pretty much use the combine as an assurance of what they’ve scouted throughout the year. So there’s not much to glean there. Where there could be some clarification, or at least unity, is what general manager Omar Khan says about Pickett compared with what Mike Tomlin said days after the season and what owner Art Rooney II said two weeks later. Both alluded to Pickett being the No. 1 quarterback entering the season despite not regaining his starting position from Mason Rudolph over the final four games of the season. Will the Steelers triple down on that or walk it back and hammer home that Pickett won’t be entering the offseason as the clear-cut QB1 and either a re-signing of Rudolph or an outside free agent — or a potential trade — will provide legitimate competition? — Mark Kaboly

The offensive linemen

Three of the top center prospects — Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson, Duke’s Graham Barton and West Virginia’s Zach Frazier — should all have multi-positional capability in the NFL. That could be tantalizing to the 49ers, whose biggest weakness to fix lies in the offensive line. More than one spot was a problem this past season. Essentially everyone but left tackle Trent Williams endured significant struggles at one point or another. So perhaps the 49ers, who don’t pick until No. 31, will be looking for an adaptable interior lineman who can immediately fortify their especially problematic right guard position before potentially becoming the long-term solution at center. The 49ers simply need more quality options up front. Imagine the boost that could give QB Brock Purdy. — David Lombardi

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John Schneider flying solo

This will be Seattle’s first combine with GM Schneider leading football operations, so his messaging from the podium will be interesting to analyze. While Schneider has long figured prominently into key decisions, coach Pete Carroll set the vision for the franchise previously. Schneider is doing more of that now. We won’t hear from new coach Mike Macdonald at all at the combine; he and his staff are expected to remain behind to install their schemes. That will put additional attention on Schneider. — Mike Sando

How they approach the quarterback position

The Bucs want to re-sign Baker Mayfield, whose contract is up. Mayfield has said he wants to remain in Tampa. But he also told ESPN he wants market value. That probably means a deal similar to the one Geno Smith recently signed with Seattle — $75 million over three years. Whether the Bucs want to pay that is the issue. A franchise tag is an option but not ideal with safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and wide receiver Mike Evans also on expiring contracts. It will be interesting to hear what GM Jason Licht says about the quarterback position, including the prospects in the draft. — Dan Pompei

Three tackles and two receivers

The free-agency picture suggests the Titans can get help at cornerback and interior offensive line before the draft but will likely have to focus their first two picks on their two biggest needs. The absence of a third-round pick increases the urgency. Second-year quarterback Will Levis needs a long-term receiver to grow with and a left tackle to protect him. The board may work out for the Titans to choose between Joe Alt and Olu Fashanu as a foundational tackle — but what about Taliese Fuaga? Does he continue his momentum in Indy? Could the Titans move down, get him and be happy with it? The board may also let Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze slide to No. 7. Would Brian Callahan prefer a playmaker over a blocker as the Bengals did when he was there and they took Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell in 2021? — Joe Rexrode

The quarterbacks

It’s no secret that the holders of the No. 2 pick are expected to select a quarterback from the top group. The trick here is the new braintrust of GM Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and the scouting department holdovers are mostly new to each other. Do they have Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels graded in the same range? If Williams is a cut above, is the gap considered enough to offer the Bears a Godfather trade for the first pick? Has Daniels’ dual-threat shine caught up to Maye or do they prefer the UNC quarterback’s prototypical size? We won’t find out the staff’s hopes and dreams, but this is where the detective work begins by examining the trio on our own. — Ben Standig

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(Top photos of J.J. McCarthy, Saquon Barkley and Malik Nabers: Gregory Shamus, Getty Images; Jim McIsaac, Getty Images; Matthew Hinton / USA Today)

NFL free agency is fast approaching, offering the first window for teams to improve this offseason, provided they sign the right players.

These are my rankings and scouting reports of the top 150 free agents available, shaped by a ton of film work and perspective from many years leading NFL personnel departments. This might not be exactly how you see it, but that’s why Baskin-Robbins has 31 flavors.

A few notes:

• While these rankings factor in age (as of Sept. 5, the scheduled date of the 2024 season opener) and known injury history, they do not consider medical or character information, as teams know much more about those subjects behind closed doors.

• At each position, I’ve included some stats I find valuable. At some positions, I’ve estimated play speed from what I can see on tape (not timed 40-yard-dash speed — there is a difference). At times, I’ve used play speed as a differentiator.

• If I were with an NFL team, this would be only one part of a multilevel process to establish consensus within the building. That consensus is missing from any rankings you’ll see, here or elsewhere. You can read more about my criteria and how an NFL GM approaches free agency here.

With that, let’s dive in.

Team 49ers Bears Bengals Bills Broncos Browns Buccaneers Cardinals Chargers Chiefs Colts Commanders Cowboys Dolphins Eagles Falcons Giants Jaguars Jets Lions Packers Panthers Patriots Raiders Rams Ravens Saints Seahawks Steelers Texans Titans Vikings

Position C CB DT Edge G LB OT QB RB S TE WR

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Age: 26 Height: 6-5 Weight: 250

Burns fits all the criteria teams look for in free agency: age, athletic ability and all-around game. His production was limited somewhat by the Panthers’ scheme, but his suddenness and pass rush package should translate to higher-volume production. Offenses must have a plan to deal with his ability each week. Carolina turned down multiple first-round picks for Burns in 2022, so the franchise tag seems likely. — Randy Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 6-5 Weight: 263

Hunter has been used from various alignments and is effective rushing the passer from all of them. He has upfield burst and countermoves to keep blockers guessing. He also understands how to set the edge with length and get off of blocks against the run. His skill set is hard to find, and despite entering his 10th season, he doesn’t turn 30 until October. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 305

Madubuike is a really good player who projects to a Pro Bowl level in any scheme. He shocks blockers on impact with heavy hands and explosive strength but can also beat you with quickness and agility. He blends all criteria better than any defensive tackle on this list. The Ravens often let players walk for compensatory picks, but Madubuike is a different caliber of player. The franchise tag or an extension seems likely. — Mueller

Age: 30 Height: 6-6 Weight: 310

Jones is no less impactful than Madubuike, and he has a knack for making big plays. His power and quickness are rare when he is engaged with desire. Stamina is always a bit of a question, but he is unblockable when he’s playing hard. I expect the Chiefs to value him more than other teams because of how perfectly he fits their defense. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-0 Weight: 232

Barkley’s natural instincts and vision to create beyond the play’s design make him special. He finishes like a 232-pound back should, with power and lean, but has the rare trait to make defenders miss as well. He’s also detailed and controlled as a route runner, which makes him the best three-down back available, even with durability concerns (25 games missed in six seasons, three in 2023). More than just a running back, he is a weapon. Other teams might value him more than the Giants do. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-5 Weight: 255

Allen put up outstanding production in 2023, but he was not quite as consistent on film. He’s a good player with elite skills, but at times, he was not as sudden as a rusher or in pursuit as he has been in the past. He picked his spots some. That said, he will still be in high demand (if the Jaguars don’t tag him). There is still upside here, which is scary. — Mueller

Age: 36 Height: 6-3 Weight: 205

Cousins is fundamental in every aspect of his game but at times can be mechanical and robotic. He is pretty efficient and has good intangibles. A tough leader who will stand in the pocket and can deliver most NFL throws, he has taken his skill set to a higher level with his mind and is still capable of being a mid-tier starting QB in the league, even coming off a significant injury. Will the Vikings be able to keep him as other suitors come calling? — Mueller

Age: 25 Height: 6-0 Weight: 196

Johnson will hit the market (if the Bears don’t tag or re-sign him before free agency) at the most opportune time. His combination of age, cover skills and adaptability to scheme will make him highly sought after. He can play both press and off coverage, and he reacts well to throws using his length, timing and ball skills. In a thin, aging cornerback class — only two made my top 65, and only four of the 13 in my top 150 are under age 28 — Johnson is the best and the youngest. — Mueller

Age: 31 Height: 6-4 Weight: 275

Smith surprised me as an addition to the top group of edge defenders. He showed top-level acceleration and burst as an outside, upfield rusher or while running tricks and games. He slips blocks, uses his hands and is really hard to block against the run as well. His motor will help his team’s defensive culture, and he’s stayed largely healthy since having back surgery in 2021. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 6-4 Weight: 310

Wilkins is an incredibly versatile defensive tackle, given where he aligns and his ability to blend quickness with power. He can play in any scheme. He’s strong at the point of attack but also has athletic ability and range. He’s a really good player, and his value keeps climbing after a career season. Will the Dolphins be able to keep him? — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-3 Weight: 263

Greenard is extremely quick off the ball and when closing in pursuit. He has natural bend to squeeze the pocket and turn the corner as a rusher, and he’s capable of wrecking games. His size makes him a legit outside linebacker in base defenses. He should be coveted if he hits the market, even if durability (19 games missed in four seasons) is a slight question mark. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 5-10 Weight: 223

Jacobs, who missed four games in 2023, has many of the same traits as Barkley, including power, good pad level and the ability to get more yards than the play is designed for. As a route runner, he is slightly less detailed than Barkley with his technique and slightly less nimble with his body control. But he carries the ball with a sense of anger and physicality that few have, and that is worth paying a premium for. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-1 Weight: 192

Sneed is an aggressive player who has great agility to go with his quick reactions when he trusts his skills. When he doesn’t trust his technique, penalties have been a problem. He is very tough and physical for his position, showing the willingness to mix it up against both the run and pass. His strength might be in the way he plays the ball at the moment of truth. The Chiefs, who also have DT Chris Jones hitting free agency, let Charvarius Ward walk in 2022. What will they do with Sneed? — Mueller

Age: 25 Height: 6-0 Weight: 201

McKinney plays like a traditional free safety. He transitions without any hiccups and shows sudden burst to close once redirected. He has great range and the ball skills to make plays when he gets there. His speed helps him catch up with almost anyone. Youth, athletic ability and instincts are all on his side. He’s my favorite among the available safeties. Will the Giants consider the franchise tag (projected at $16.3 million)? — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-4 Weight: 315

Cushenberry has the combination of strength and agility that everyone looks for in a center. He has now added a body of work to his resume and has shown improvement each season. He consistently sustains contact with controlling upper-body strength and active feet upon impact. He’s a really good player, and he appears likely to hit the market given how much Denver has invested elsewhere up front. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 5-9 Weight: 203

A first-team All-Pro, Winfield was the most productive DB in this class on paper. He is great in the box and has both a nose for the ball and the instincts to anticipate against the run and the pass. He is also a good blitzer. His versatility is outstanding — he can play the nickel spot, too — and he’s always around the ball. He should get top money for the position, if the Bucs let him reach the market. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-4 Weight: 321

Dotson, who played on the right side in L.A., has very good feet and agility but is equally dependent on his explosive power and strength. He consistently turns defenders at the point of attack in the run game, and his punch is very effective at displacing pass rushers. He is one of the few free agents in this class who can knock people back on impact to create space. The Rams say they’d like to keep him, but he’s a really good player who should have a substantial market despite some injury history (11 games missed since 2021, three in 2023). — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 255

Huff is a role player, as a pass rush specialist, but he has been very productive. He gets off the ball and under blocks as a pass rusher with incredible upfield burst. His pressure rate is the best in this free-agent class. His play against the run is a work in progress and will have to improve for him to become a full-time player. The Jets — who have already spent significant money and draft capital on the D-line — might struggle to afford him. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-4 Weight: 307

Runyan plays with excellent initial quickness, and his reactions and instincts are really good. He combo-blocks to linebackers effectively and plays with timing and very good awareness. It helps that he can also play with bend and a solid punch. He’s developing into one of the better guards in the NFC. The Packers have already paid left guard Elgton Jenkins, so Runyan will likely hit the market. — Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 6-1 Weight: 215

Mayfield fit in well in Tampa with his intangibles and leadership. His skill set and talent are enough to win games in the NFL, but he is not dynamic and won’t wow you with any one characteristic. He’s a very functional NFL starter, though. He should get a substantial raise from the $4 million he signed for in 2023. — Mueller

Age: 36 Height: 6-3 Weight: 295

Reports have said Kelce is retiring, but he has yet to address his future publicly. Even at age 36, he puts on a clinic in technique and how to play the center position. His footwork is a masterclass, and every step is intentional. He’s never hurt, not missing a game since 2014. If he elects to continue playing, some team (most likely the Eagles, the only team Kelce has played for) will get a front-line center. — Mueller

Age: 31 Height: 6-3 Weight: 240

Floyd is the second 30-something to crack this list as an edge player. He has a complete game, a nose for the football and plays hard consistently, even with eight seasons under his belt. That effort would be good for a team’s culture, but that might not be on the Bills, as Floyd has said he will “go where the money goes” in free agency. — Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 6-1 Weight: 190

Ridley represents the best combination of size, speed and hands in this group of receivers. He really comes off the ball quickly, eats up defenders’ cushions and gets in and out of breaks very quickly. His suddenness jumps out compared to other receivers, and he runs a complete route tree with the body control to win versus zone and man. He will frustrate you with occasional drops, but it’s more about lacking focus than hands. The Jaguars owe the Falcons a 2024 third-round pick from the 2022 trade for Ridley, but if they sign him to a new deal, they would instead owe a second-rounder. — Mueller

Age: 30 Height: 6-5 Weight: 300

Williams’ frame is rare, and he fits best as a five-technique in a three-man line, which is really hard to find. His length and hand usage are two of his biggest attributes. He’s not a skilled, high-level pass rusher but is very effective versus both the run and pass. His style and substance mirror Wilkins, but he’s been a shade less productive and is two years older. — Mueller

Age: 32 Height: 6-4 Weight: 320

Forget the numbers. Injuries derailed Jones’ season, but he can wreck the line of scrimmage when healthy. He provides really good push and gets penetration versus the run, and he’s a slippery interior pass rusher, too. He has a nose for the ball and gets off blocks. He lacks the length and range of the guys above him but fits best at nose and three-technique. The Bills, who face major cap constraints, have already paid Ed Oliver and have three free-agent DTs, suggesting Jones should hit the market. — Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 6-4 Weight: 330

Eluemunor has played right tackle in Las Vegas but might even be seen as a left tackle by some teams. He is a natural athlete with the feet and smooth agility to stay square on his targets, especially in pass protection. His ability to recover and play with consistent balance gives him a giant step up on the competition in this free-agent tackle pool. He makes it look easy at times. — Mueller

Age: 25 Height: 6-0 Weight: 230

The Ravens declined Queen’s fifth-year option after they paid Roquan Smith, but considering Queen’s age, instincts and playmaking production, he is the best option at this position. He can run, blitz and play the run or pass equally well. He can be impulsive at times, but he flies around and makes plays. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-3 Weight: 330

Simpson plays with the strength and physicality of an old-school guard. He can control with his upper body and strong hands but can also pull, lead and adjust. He needs to become more consistent, but he moves defenders in both the run and pass game. He’s trending to be a really good player, and the Ravens tend to let players sign elsewhere (and collect compensatory picks). Right guard Kevin Zeitler is also a free agent. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 5-11 Weight: 173

Mooney’s high ranking is more about potential than his body of work. He can really run and shows the explosive ability to separate from coverage at every level. His ability to stretch the field can force opponents to defend the offense differently. His numbers will increase in a different scheme if the ball is delivered on time. Mooney does lack size, so he can be affected by incidental contact. Contested catches are the only small question I have. — Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 6-5 Weight: 258

Henry is a versatile, do-everything option who catches the ball well in traffic and when covered. He can get open with his athletic skills, his instincts or both. His numbers were down in 2023, mostly because of the scheme and the lack of talent around him. He’s also an adequate blocker who can sustain to make all blocks needed in the run game. He’s seeking his third NFL contract after playing out his three-year, $37.5 million deal in New England. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-3 Weight: 235

Luvu is a really good player despite being on his NFL second team. He is very instinctive and blends explosive pop with speed and athletic ability. He’s often all over the field, running and hitting everything — and ball carriers go down when he hits them. He’s also a really good blitzer with some natural pass rushing skill, and he’s hitting the market with his stock at its peak. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-4 Weight: 223

Pittman is a first-down machine. His size and elite catch radius make him one of the top contested-catch receivers in the game. His physicality as a runner after catch (528 YAC, most among free-agent wideouts) makes him a weapon with the ball, too. He might not possess deep speed, but he has competitive speed to take short throws and turn them into much more than the play design intended. I would not be surprised if Pittman gets tagged because of his production and how he offers the Colts’ QBs security. His size means he’s open consistently, even when covered. — Mueller

Age: 33 Height: 6-5 Weight: 320

Smith is still a high-level performer at the toughest position on the line. He just has not been able to stay healthy. He played in 13 games in 2023, but that equaled his highest mark since 2015, and he missed 33 of 50 games from 2020 to 2022. When on the field, he is strong, displaces defenders with an explosive punch and understands how to cut off angles. His lateral range has suffered some due to the injuries, but his physical presence sends a message to the opposition. — Mueller

Age: 25 Height: 6-4 Weight: 219

Higgins missed five games this year, so his numbers were down, but he also appeared less explosive. I was surprised at how little juice I saw on tape. He’s not an elite athlete for the position, but I think he is better than his health allowed, as this season was not the best reflection of his skill set. He is a big target who is most effective on slants and using his body to screen off defenders. He can deceptively eat up cushion with his long stride, and his length and catch radius allow him to make contested catches. He might be more valuable to the Bengals than to the rest of the league, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they tagged him. — Mueller

Age: 34 Height: 6-5 Weight: 285

Autry was a surprise entry to this list for me. He has the length to fit at five-technique and is both strong at the point of attack and athletic enough to chase plays down in space. He plays like a younger man at a position where quality options don’t become available often. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 6-3 Weight: 309

Jones has really good quickness and lateral range for the position, and his instincts and nose for the ball make him very productive, as he anticipates blocks well. His get-off and ability to get up and down the line of scrimmage are his biggest strengths. He raised his stock considerably with a career-best season in 2023. — Mueller

Age: 25 Height: 6-5 Weight: 264

Young played well in the Super Bowl, but he ranked No. 24 of 43 qualifying edge rushers in Pro Football Focus’ pass rush productivity over his time with the 49ers and had pursuit issues in the NFC Championship Game against the Lions. Any concerns about effort seemed rectified against the Chiefs, and Young’s explosive performance should grab the NFL’s attention. Whether he returns will be a matter of price. — David Lombardi

Age: 31 Height: 6-5 Weight: 231

Evans had a season best described as up and down. He played angry at times and often seemed frustrated by little things, which showed in his body language. But he is still a big, strong dude who can move the chains, break tackles and make highlight catches. He remains very productive, but persistent drops gave me pause for concern. This was a perplexing evaluation for me, so his fit with the right team and scheme is paramount. — Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 6-3 Weight: 194

Don’t dismiss Reynolds because of his key drops in the NFC Championship Game — per PFF, he had only three drops during the whole regular season. He has size and a solid catch radius and made big grabs for his team all season long. He is physical, fighting through contact and drawing his share of pass interference calls. His speed is not elite, but he has the body control to get in and out of breaks very well for a big man. He should be a solid No. 2 WR in the league. — Mueller

Age: 31 Height: 6-5 Weight: 255

Baltimore proved to be the perfect fit for Clowney, who was looking to resurrect his career. He said he’d love to return, but he certainly earned a far bigger payday than the $2.5 million deal he signed with the Ravens last fall. In past offseasons, Baltimore has avoided spending big bucks on the outside linebacker position. — Jeff Zrebiec

Age: 26 Height: 5-10 Weight: 201

Gilman came out of nowhere and really impressed me. He’s very instinctive and has athletic skills that consistently put him in position to make plays. He closes with first-step acceleration and times pass breakups very well. He will tackle and play the run by wrapping with physicality. He also has a knack for the ball, always getting his hands on it. A sixth-round pick who has started only one full season, he might fly under the radar and prove to be a bargain. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 220

Don’t be discouraged by the lack of numbers. Chinn can run, tackle and close in coverage. He has the range of a free safety but hits like a Will ‘backer. He injured his quad and started only eight games in 2023. The runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 is a better player than the numbers show. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 6-2 Weight: 222

Dugger, a 2020 second-round pick from Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, improved slowly through his first few seasons. He nabbed two pick sixes in a standout 2022 season, but 2023 wasn’t quite as good. He offers precisely what many modern defenses seek, with the size of a linebacker and the athleticism to drop deep as a safety. — Chad Graff

Age: 34 Height: 6-4 Weight: 340

Zeitler still sets culture with the Ravens by being physical and technique-sound. He plays with an old-school toughness but isn’t the same athlete he once was. His smarts and football IQ make up for any slip. He relies on his upper body more than engaging his legs and pad level, but he still has tread left as a top right guard. — Mueller

Age: 25 Height: 6-2 Weight: 225

Davis will not jump off the screen with his explosiveness, as he is more of a steady and consistent type. He is an easily identifiable target because of his size, especially versus zone defense. He can adjust and make catches outside his frame, and he’s physical while fighting through contact on his routes — being big and strong are obvious advantages. He is still developing as a route runner and as a coverage reader. Because of this, and given his age, he offers a lot of upside. He is solid in all areas, just not elite in any. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 5-11 Weight: 208

A nickel with the Saints who has transitioned to safety the last two seasons, Gardner-Johnson moves very well, with smooth hips and transitions. He covers ground quickly and can cover tight ends and slot receivers man-to-man. He is still learning to tackle like a safety should. He is not physical. Injuries (including a torn pec in 2023) have stunted his development, but I see big upside given his skill. — Mueller

Age: 30 Height: 6-3 Weight: 335

Reader is more of a nose and/or three-technique. He has really good feet and agility in tight areas, and he plays with a consistent motor. He wears out offensive guards with relentless effort, which is impressive given his size. Durability is a bit of a concern (23 games missed in the past four seasons). — Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 6-2 Weight: 238

Edwards was the biggest surprise for me when watching this running back class. He has power and agility, and he’s always falling forward. Even though he is older, he has juice and acceleration, both laterally and vertically. He also has less than half of the career touches (729) that Barkley (1,489) and Jacobs (1,502) have. Edwards also has a great nose for sticks and has been way underutilized in the pass game. He has very good hands, can adjust outside his frame and will break tackles after the catch. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-5 Weight: 258

Wonnum could be highly coveted by teams that need depth on the edge. He has developed into a solid, consistent player over the last four years, although he is recovering from a partially torn quad. He is one of three Vikings edge rushers (Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport) on this list. — Alec Lewis

Age: 31 Height: 5-11 Weight: 200

Opportunities and targets were limited for OBJ this season, but his skills and talent are still evident. He can run, he has the explosive ability to separate and he draws pass interference penalties as well as any other player in the NFL. He adjusts well to off-target throws and catches with his hands on par with the league’s elite. Even with his injury history, there is plenty more in the tank here if he should desire to move teams again. — Mueller

Age: 30 Height: 6-3 Weight: 247

King Henry can still be a culture-changing, identity-building running back for the right offense. The question is: Which offense will that be? He has natural vision and nifty feet to pick his way through the initial level of the defense. Even though he might lack a fifth gear at this stage, he is still really productive with his unique style. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 6-6 Weight: 330

Hunt, a four-year starter predominantly at right guard, missed a lot of time this year while battling a hamstring injury. He really needs to watch his weight and stamina. He brings a lot of mass to the point of attack and can get movement and cover up defenders consistently in the run game. His size and strength give him a natural anchor in pass protection as well. He just needs to stay healthy. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 350

Onwenu probably fits best at guard, but he’s been the Patriots’ most natural-footed athlete and best option at tackle. He lacks ideal length, but he plays with a good base and technique, allowing him to have very good position on contact and the ability to sustain with his balance and recovery. He has more than 1,300 career snaps at both right tackle and right guard, along with 386 snaps at left guard. — Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 6-4 Weight: 330

Entering his ninth NFL season, Robinson might be joining his fourth NFL team, but he doesn’t turn 30 until March 2025 and remains a good player. He can play three- or five-technique, which will make him a valued commodity. He’s better as a run defender than a pass rusher, with a nose for the ball and an ability to slip blocks. — Mueller

Age: 30 Height: 6-7 Weight: 316

Peat is a guard by trade but filled in well enough at left tackle this year that we are leaving him in the tackle group, but some might still see him as a guard. He is strong, powerful on impact and can lock on to sustain in both the run and pass game. He’s not fleet of foot but imposes his will with his frame and physical presence. He’s a better player than a lot of right tackles in the league, although all of his NFL experience is on the left side. — Mueller

Age: 33 Height: 6-4 Weight: 310

Cox can still rush the passer. His 43 pressures ranked 13th among all defensive tackles in 2023, according to TruMedia. With Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter expected to step into larger roles, Cox might become a rotational backup if he re-signs with Philadelphia. Retirement is also a possibility. — Brooks Kubena

Age: 29 Height: 6-4 Weight: 299

Coleman shows good quickness, hands and reactions, along with a strong feel for the game, making him a possible upgrade for many NFL teams. He isn’t the biggest or strongest, but he blends a certain patience with a high-motor intensity to be effective in both the run and pass games. He is more of a finesse type than a power player when it comes to style. Solid NFL center. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 6-2 Weight: 310

Wynn is on his second team after being a first-round pick of the Patriots in 2018. He has also played some at offensive tackle but found comfort and his natural position this year at left guard before getting injured in Week 7. He has all the physical tools to be a top talent, with both quickness and athletic ability, but injuries — he has played in just 50 of 99 possible games through six seasons — are a major concern. — Mueller

Age: 25 Height: 5-9 Weight: 215

Swift might lack the power and low pad level of the backs above him here, but he has plenty of wiggle to make people miss and burst to escape tacklers in tight areas. He’s just not the finisher that some bigger-bodied guys are. He catches the ball easily, is very effective running angle routes and can adjust smoothly to bad throws. Given his youth, he could merit a three- or four-year contract. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-4 Weight: 249

Fant is better than the numbers show. With development, he still has the upside that made him a first-round pick in 2019. Part of a three-man rotation at tight end in Seattle, he should be able to showcase his skills more in a different scheme. He can run and separate, with the athletic ability to attack all quadrants of the field. He also has the ball skills to catch and adjust outside his frame. As a blocker, he shows strength and “want to” as well. He could be a good value for somebody. — Mueller

Age: 31 Height: 6-4 Weight: 269

The Macon, Ga., native enjoyed playing close to home and had his best season since 2020. Dupree can play outside linebacker or a more traditional defensive end spot (like he did for the Falcons), which might make him a good fit for more teams. — Josh Kendall

Age: 27 Height: 6-4 Weight: 311

A Pro Bowler in 2021, Jackson has been a mainstay at left guard on one of the best offensive lines in football. He’s mobile in space, powerful at the line of scrimmage and a remarkably consistent lineman when healthy — and he’s young. The Lions might not be able to keep him. — Colton Pouncy

Age: 33 Height: 6-4 Weight: 295

Hubbard was the Titans’ starter and full-time right tackle for nine games before injuring biceps and missing the balance of the season. He lacks ideal size but has excellent quickness and agility, particularly his lateral agility. He’s not well known around the league but is tough and consistent, and I love the way he competes. I think he can produce regardless of his measurables, even in the back end of his career. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 6-5 Weight: 244

Schultz is a threat in the pass game because of his athletic ability and body control. He catches everything, can get open on his own without scheme help and is a tough matchup for linebackers because of his route running instincts. In the run game, he’s a positional blocker who lacks top-notch strength to sustain at times. He is worthy of a multiyear deal after settling for a one-year contract last offseason. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-0 Weight: 237

White is very quick to key and diagnose and is an excellent tackler. He might be the most versatile of the off-ball linebackers, from both an alignment and skill set standpoint. He can blitz and come downhill to attack ball carriers. He’s a solid tackler as well. He missed three games in 2023 but has mostly been healthy in his career. — Mueller

Age: 33 Height: 6-3 Weight: 250

Despite not signing with the Ravens until Week 4, Van Noy had one of the best seasons of his career, playing on a one-year, $1.4 million deal. He showed he has plenty of juice left, meaning he probably won’t have to wait as long to find his 2024 team. — Jeff Zrebiec

Age: 27 Height: 5-10 Weight: 200

The best nickel defender in this class, Nixon has a knack for reading and reacting to routes and diagnosing plays. He has catch-up burst to run with crossers and deeper routes. Some might view him as a starter, but at minimum, he should be a solid third cornerback/nickel. He also brings special teams value, earning first-team All-Pro honors as a kick returner in 2022 and 2023. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 6-1 Weight: 237

The Texans clearly leaned on Cashman for responsibility on defense, as he made all the adjustment calls, shifts to the front, etc. He can run, has very good twitch and sees the game well. His reads and reactions are consistent, and he has a good nose for the ball. He can go sideline-to-sideline but also still come downhill with some force. He has a bit of an injury history and just 21 starts in five seasons, but teams will be interested. — Mueller

Age: 31 Height: 5-11 Weight: 194

Already a veteran of four teams, Nelson is a more experienced option at cornerback who had a solid body of work in 2023. He understands how to play and positions himself accordingly. He still is very light on his feet, can mirror in man-to-man coverage and closes with top-flight suddenness. — Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 5-10 Weight: 200

Ekeler’s 21 first downs via reception led this group of backs in 2023. He is slippery after the catch and runs bigger than his size, forcing arm tacklers to miss like a larger back. He has really good natural vision to find daylight and a nose for the goal line. He has plenty of gas left in his tank from a speed and acceleration standpoint, but he’s at his best when supplemented with an early-down back. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 6-6 Weight: 265

The Vikings could give Davenport an extension to push back some of his $6.8 million in dead cap, but he didn’t do much in 2023 to earn one. He battled ankle injuries and played in only four games. He has recorded only 2.5 sacks in the last two seasons combined but still has talent. — Alec Lewis

Age: 30 Height: 5-11 Weight: 193

Another journeyman cornerback who’s still playing well, Darby was not a full-time player in Baltimore (his fifth team) coming off a torn ACL in 2022. But when he played, he showed the ability to run and play man-to-man along with various zone techniques. A willing tackler, he is still athletic enough to make up ground and close with suddenness. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-0 Weight: 240

Brooks is a very active inside linebacker who really has no holes in his game, but he’s slightly less explosive as an athlete than the three linebackers ahead of him on this list. He can play on all three downs, and his football IQ stands out. The Seahawks seem unlikely to bring back Bobby Wagner, who is also a free agent, so perhaps they’ll prioritize re-signing Brooks. — Mueller

Age: 38 Height: 6-8 Weight: 282

Campbell started all 17 games and contributed to the Falcons’ defensive turnaround. He finished the season playing at a high level and said he would like to play at least another year if the circumstances are right. His chances of re-signing in Atlanta declined upon defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s move to Jacksonville. — Josh Kendall

Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 316

Biadasz relies on upper-body strength and hands to stay connected in the run game. He is not always as square on contact as he could be, so he has to fight to regain his balance some. He is very effective on angle blocks and double teams. He’s a young and improving player. — Mueller

Age: 33 Height: 6-0 Weight: 190

The Cowboys would probably love to have Gilmore back for another season. He played well in 2023. But already having Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland means Dallas will likely not be willing to spend much on its No. 3 cornerback. Gilmore would have to be willing to take something very team-friendly. Jourdan Lewis is also a free agent. — Jon Machota

Age: 29 Height: 6-4 Weight: 242

Van Ginkel can play off the ball or on the edge, where he impressed in 2023 while filling in for the injured Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, ranking 10th in pressure rate among all players with at least 200 pass rush snaps, per TruMedia. He could have untapped potential if he finds a larger role. — David DeChant

Age: 28 Height: 6-4 Weight: 305

Opeta started six games in 2023 (five at right guard) offering depth while the Eagles battled injuries up front. He surrendered 21 pressures, fifth-most among guards who played within his range of snaps (516), according to TruMedia, but he’s shown flashes to merit a starting role. — Brooks Kubena

Age: 28 Height: 5-11 Weight: 195

Samuel has played mainly in the slot but might be better suited to move outside. No matter where he plays, his versatility should be viewed by most teams as a strength. He has excellent quickness and explosiveness and can change speeds to stretch defenses. He would be a clear-cut upgrade for many teams. He is instinctive and gets to open areas quickly against zone coverage. I see him as an undervalued player who still has upside, but he would be on his third team if he leaves Washington. — Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 5-11 Weight: 198

Fuller’s speed has declined, but his anticipation and instincts help offset that. Even so, he’s approaching 30 and has some knee concerns, making his market a bit murky. With Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes around, he doesn’t seem likely to return to Washington, which will miss his leadership. — Ben Standig

Age: 34 Height: 6-1 Weight: 233

David is a smart and instinctive football player who makes all the calls and directs traffic. He’s trusted by coaches and has minimal wasted movements or actions. He’s an efficient, steady player, even if he’s slipped a bit from his peak as he enters Year 13. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 6-1 Weight: 188

Yiadom had his best season on his fifth team in 2023, breaking up 14 passes while allowing just 23 completions on 47 targets, per Pro Football Reference. Through his first five seasons, he had just 13 PBUs while allowing 101 completions on 155 targets. He’ll have to convince teams that this season wasn’t an outlier. — David DeChant

Age: 26 Height: 6-6 Weight: 312

Cleveland made 49 starts over three-plus seasons with the Vikings before the Jaguars acquired him at the trade deadline this season. An offensive tackle at Boise State, he has spent most of his NFL career at left guard, where he allowed three sacks on 476 pass blocking snaps last season, per TruMedia. — David DeChant

Age: 26 Height: 6-0 Weight: 202

Blackmon is a very good athlete with range, easy and fluid hips and the ability to cover ground in the deep part of the field. He is what we call a “run and hit” guy. His center-field tracking and ball skills are top-notch, although his injury history is lengthy, including a torn ACL in 2019 at Utah, a torn Achilles in 2021 and a shoulder injury in 2023. — Mueller

Age: 25 Height: 6-6 Weight: 260

Epenesa has a good blend of speed and power that makes him unblockable on some reps, though there is still some inconsistency to his game. Regardless, entering his age-26 season with 13 sacks in the last two seasons as only a part-time player, he has the profile of a player whom teams flock to in free agency. He might get a bigger contract than some expect. — Joe Buscaglia

Age: 29 Height: 6-0 Weight: 228

Zeke can still pick his way through traffic and put his foot in the ground to accelerate with conviction and pop. He still breaks arm tackles but might be lacking the breakaway speed he once had. He’s very good in the pass game on screens and dump-offs, getting yards on his own. He moves the chains effectively and could easily be considered a starting back for many NFL teams. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-4 Weight: 300

James has largely stayed healthy and maintained a baseline level of play in his three years starting at center for the Raiders, but he can be overpowered at times. Las Vegas can likely do better at the position. — Tashan Reed

Age: 27 Height: 5-9 Weight: 180

Brown remains very fast, and he’s been productive for stretches, but he’s also battled nagging injuries and caught just half of his targets in 2023. He’s very slight and gets knocked off of routes easily, an issue that can be difficult for offensive coordinators to scheme around. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-5 Weight: 253

Trautman is more effective in the pass game than the run game. He has above-average body control, and nobody adjusted to more balls outside his catching radius — his numbers reflected this. He lacks ideal strength and power in the run game but works for position and can lean on defenders. There is more in his tank from a production standpoint. — Mueller

Age: 25 Height: 6-4 Weight: 322

Charles never stuck at tackle or guard for Washington, as he battled injuries and inconsistency, including losing his starting job at left guard this past season. He’s not likely to return to the Commanders. — Ben Standig

Age: 27 Height: 6-2 Weight: 320

Gallimore played in all 17 games last season, totaling one sack and two tackles for loss. If the price is right, the 2020 third-round pick could be back, but that depends on the Cowboys’ other options as they look to improve their run defense, and whether Gallimore can find a bigger role elsewhere. — Jon Machota

Age: 25 Height: 6-7 Weight: 363

Becton is a large man who can create space on impact and cover up defenders on contact. He lacks ideal lateral range and the ability to recover when off-balance. His inconsistencies show consistently. His injury history is also concerning, even though he started 16 of 17 games in 2023, predominantly at left tackle — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 5-11 Weight: 190

A regular starter in Jacksonville in 2019 and 2020, Herndon has been relegated to the third cornerback role since 2021, playing predominantly in the slot. He doesn’t have an interception since 2019, but his experience and versatility will offer value somewhere. — David DeChant

Age: 26 Height: 6-5 Weight: 319

For the first time in his career, Kinlaw was healthy for a whole season. He had some midseason struggles against the run but delivered in big moments and totaled 35 pressures as a pass rusher. The 2020 first-round pick’s future looks bright, and the Niners might struggle to keep him. — David Lombardi

Age: 26 Height: 6-1 Weight: 295

Brewer allowed seven sacks in 2023, per TruMedia, as the whole Titans offensive line struggled. However, he’s young, experienced (40 starts) and versatile (experience at both left and right guard), with the mobility that zone-heavy running teams covet. — David DeChant

Age: 26 Height: 6-5 Weight: 312

Williams moved from left tackle to right tackle this season but has the same game. He is very quick and athletic, and he can move in space with balance. He still lacks power and anchor once engaged but did a better job of being physical in 2023 while playing every snap for Cincinnati. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 6-6 Weight: 245

Gesicki is a one-dimensional, pass-catching tight end who can also line up in the slot as a bigger wideout. Not a prototype Y in a regular personnel group, he needs to be used as a matchup or red zone option to be productive. His blocking lags behind the tight ends above him on this list. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-3 Weight: 225

Darnold had less than 50 attempts this season in San Francisco, but he displayed physical talent and intangibles, showing why he was drafted highly in 2018. His arm strength, accuracy and ability to process finally fit into a scheme for the first time in his career. He’s a viable option to upgrade a team if he were allowed to compete for a starting job. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-2 Weight: 240

A surprise in a good way for me, Smith is a borderline starting tight end, but he’s more skilled than that, and increased usage would improve his numbers. He’s very capable of being an option as move tight end or H-back. He runs well and can stretch the field, which could make him a value signing. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-2 Weight: 228

The third linebacker behind Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw with the 49ers, Al-Shaair followed Ran Carthon to Tennessee last offseason on a one-year deal and finished fifth in the NFL with 163 tackles. He can improve his coverage awareness, but he’s a starting-caliber player who could still have upside. — David DeChant

Age: 33 Height: 6-8 Weight: 327

Even though Lucas played less than 25 percent of the snaps for Washington (all on the left side) in 2023, his length and technique have proven to be very effective at combatting speed rushes and protecting on an island at tackle. He might just be a starting option for a needy team, or at least as a third offensive tackle. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-0 Weight: 209

In Pollard’s first year as the Cowboys’ “bell cow,” I’d give him a B-minus. He lacks power and downhill physicality between the tackles, but he’s nifty and runs with good balance. He can be a factor breaking arm tackles and as a receiver out of the backfield. He runs with discipline and intentionality but is not a creator of plays on his own. — Mueller

Age: 35 Height: 6-1 Weight: 217

Even at 35, Taylor can be a solid backup. He makes good decisions for the most part and can administrate the offense while offering plus athletic ability. He has enough arm, gets the ball out quickly and can throw accurately downfield. — Mueller

Age: 34 Height: 6-0 Weight: 242

Wagner led the NFL in tackles in 2023, but he can’t move like he used to. He would like to play a 13th NFL season, and he’d like to do it wearing a Seahawks uniform, but with Pete Carroll out as coach, a reunion would appear unlikely. Seahawks linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Devin Bush are also free agents. — Michael-Shawn Dugar

Age: 36 Height: 6-4 Weight: 217

Best suited as a backup at this stage, Tannehill can still process coverage, but his release seems to have slowed a bit. He is athletic and can be deceptively effective while extending plays or tucking and running for a first down. His arm velocity is average at this point in his career, and the ball does not jump off his hand. He can stand in the pocket, if protected, and make most NFL throws. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 5-7 Weight: 203

A versatile, undersized but productive back, Singletary uses lateral quickness more than explosive north-south speed to make defenders miss. He has natural vision to find holes but can go down easily at times because of his smaller frame. He’s a good fit in the Texans’ scheme. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 5-11 Weight: 198

Savage flashed his talent during an all-rookie first season, but never truly lived up to that playmaking potential over the next four years. He missed seven games this season with a recurring calf injury. The Packers have decisions to make with several contributing defensive backs hitting free agency. — Matt Schneidman

Age: 25 Height: 5-11 Weight: 210

Not tendered as a restricted free agent last offseason, Stone re-signed with the Ravens on a reduced deal and had the best year of his career. He led the AFC with seven interceptions and started 11 games. Also a solid special teams player, Stone has earned himself a nice-sized contract and a starting spot. — Jeff Zrebiec

Age: 28 Height: 6-7 Weight: 314

Nijman wasn’t a regular starter in 2023, but he’s experienced on both sides, especially at left tackle. He has size, athleticism and the ability to bend, working to engage his lower body as a run blocker and pass blocker. He catches more than he punches, but he plays under control with the balance to recover. He has the length to play on an island and actually was effective against top pass rushers. He is hesitant at times to see and react to stunts, but that should improve with reps. — Mueller

Age: 30 Height: 6-1 Weight: 203

Pringle isn’t a household name, but he has a great combination of size and speed, plus reliable hands when throws come his way (69.5 catch rate in his career). He also has some juice as a kick returner. He could fit nicely in an offense that needs a speedy third or fourth receiver. — David DeChant

Age: 29 Height: 6-4 Weight: 254

Hooper still has the hands, body control and feel versus zone coverage to be very productive. He can’t run like he once could but is effective because of his football IQ and consistent ability to separate on short routes. — Mueller

Age: 32 Height: 6-5 Weight: 322

A third tackle option who started 13 games on the right side as an injury replacement in 2023, Fant has always been one of the better athletes at the position. He just lacks ideal power and anchor. Assuming Tytus Howard returns healthy for the Texans in 2024, Fant would likely return to the bench if he re-signs with Houston. — Mueller

Age: 25 Height: 5-7 Weight: 207

The 2020 first-round pick, who has battled injuries throughout his career, wound up being the Chiefs’ primary backup to Isiah Pacheco. He really has a knack for making defenders miss after the catch, averaging 13.4 YAC per reception, tops in this group. He is quicker than he is fast and can gain yards when plays are not blocked as designed. — Mueller

Age: 25 Height: 6-3 Weight: 240

Uche appeared primed for a big payday, but that probably won’t be on the table after his production dipped. In 2022, he was one of the NFL’s leaders in pressure rate, notching 11.5 sacks. But without Matthew Judon on the other side for most of 2023, Uche’s pressure rate and sack numbers (3.5) dipped. Now he’s likely headed toward a one-year, prove-it deal. — Chad Graff

Age: 27 Height: 6-2 Weight: 327

A four-year starter in Seattle (the last three seasons at left guard), Lewis might be a little bit heavy, which affected his stamina late in games. But that size helps him get significant push in the run game. As a pass blocker, he’s inconsistent adjusting laterally but holds up very well against power rushes. His agility is what worries me the most, but for teams that prioritize a downhill run game, he’d be a good fit. — Mueller

Age: 27 Height: 6-5 Weight: 312

Williams battled nagging injuries in college and early in his NFL career, and then he missed the second half of 2023 with a torn ACL. He has shown impressive stretches while playing guard and center, but durability is a significant concern. — David DeChant

Age: 36 Height: 6-2 Weight: 265

The ageless wonder wants to come back to Philly for what he called a one-year “farewell tour.” It’s hard to project Graham’s future as anything other than 1) playing for the Eagles in 2024 or 2) retiring. His snap share has steadily diminished from 69 percent in 2020 to 33 percent in 2023, but he’s still an efficient pass rusher. — Brooks Kubena

Age: 29 Height: 6-5 Weight: 235

Rudolph showed enough while starting the Steelers’ last three regular-season games to earn a shot to compete. He showed improved poise and pocket awareness to go with his impressive deep ball ability, which was evident in college at Oklahoma State. He is a viable backup in the right scheme. — Mueller

Age: 32 Height: 6-1 Weight: 236

Hicks was a captain and called the Vikings’ defensive signals, and he performed admirably on the field. He’s not the fastest nor the most physical, but his discipline and experience will keep any defense in check. Although he missed four games in 2023, he previously hadn’t missed a game since 2018, putting early-career injury woes behind him. — Alec Lewis

Age: 27 Height: 6-4 Weight: 255

Armstrong would get a lot more attention if the Cowboys didn’t already have Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Sam Williams. He is a good player, finishing second on the team in sacks each of the last two seasons (8.5 in 2022, 7.5 in 2023) despite making only six total starts. His price tag will likely be too high for Dallas. — Jon Machota

Age: 31 Height: 6-4 Weight: 235

Brissett was remarkably efficient in relief of Sam Howell — leading touchdowns on five consecutive possessions — but that shouldn’t be the expectation. If Washington brings him back on a one- or two-year contract, he would mentor whichever rookie it drafts at No. 2. — Ben Standig

Age: 34 Height: 6-1 Weight: 212

Gipson has been a revelation for the 49ers since they signed him during the 2022 preseason following Jimmie Ward’s injury. The Niners retained Gipson for $2.9 million last season. With Talanoa Hufanga rehabbing from a torn ACL, another one-year deal might make sense if Gipson chooses to continue playing. — David Lombardi

Age: 29 Height: 6-1 Weight: 235

Walker struggled with a handful of injuries late in the 2023 season after missing most of 2022 with a quad injury. The linebacker position seems to rank last in positional priority with the folks running the Browns, so he likely won’t be back. — Zac Jackson

Age: 29 Height: 6-2 Weight: 234

Tranquill was a key part of the Chiefs’ deep linebacker rotation, tying for third on the team in tackles in the regular season despite playing just 57 percent of the snaps. He’s a dangerous blitzer who excels at creating negative plays, logging 9.5 sacks, 15 QB hits, 17 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles over the last two seasons. — David DeChant

Age: 29 Height: 6-5 Weight: 312

Risner hit the open market last offseason and was not as sought after as he hoped. He signed with Minnesota three weeks into September and became a starter at left guard in Week 7. Pass protection is his strength. The Vikings are likely to want Risner back, but they won’t be the only team interested. — Alec Lewis

Age: 29 Height: 6-0 Weight: 179

Wallace had six interceptions and 24 passes defensed in his two seasons with the Steelers, who would love to have him back but won’t consider him a high priority. He shouldn’t be in high demand, which would allow the Steelers to snoop around for somebody younger with more upside. — Mark Kaboly

Age: 28 Height: 6-1 Weight: 225

Minshew stepped into a less-than-ideal situation after Anthony Richardson’s injury and played winning football in 2023. He finished with 18 total TDs (15 passing, three rushing) against 14 total turnovers (nine interceptions, five lost fumbles), so it wasn’t always pretty, but I think Indianapolis should prioritize bringing him back. — James Boyd

Age: 29 Height: 6-2 Weight: 236

An instinctive player, Jewell has the football IQ to administrate the defense, make calls and get others lined up. He relies on his reads and reactions more than speed and range, but he shows a consistent nose for the ball and has been productive. He won’t make plays beyond the scope of the scheme, but his discipline will be welcome anywhere. — Mueller

Age: 30 Height: 6-4 Weight: 260

Swaim is the best and most consistent run blocker of all tight ends in this class. He’s physical, strong and very willing — which should not be assumed as a given, even at the NFL level. He does the dirty work. — Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 5-10 Weight: 210

Released by the Vikings, Cook flopped with the Jets before being waived, then went unclaimed on waivers and played sparingly for Baltimore in one playoff game. As low as his stock is now, he averaged 4.4 yards per carry in 2022 and doesn’t turn 30 until August 2025. — David DeChant

Age: 27 Height: 5-11 Weight: 203

Osborn had a disappointing season, dropping seven passes, according to PFF. But he was rarely the primary read, and he’s a strong blocker and runner after the catch. He’s probably in line for a short-term deal between $5 million and $8 million. — Alec Lewis

Age: 25 Height: 6-1 Weight: 205

Injured for most of the 2023 season, Henderson — who was a first-round pick by the Jaguars on 2020 — has the height, weight and skill set to be a quality cornerback. He just needs a larger body of work. He would rank higher if healthy. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-2 Weight: 229

Untendered by the Packers as a restricted free agent last offseason, Barnes joined the Cardinals and flashed as a part-time starter, logging 55 tackles and six passes defensed in only 408 defensive snaps. Arizona has plenty of cap space if it wants to keep him. — David DeChant

Age: 39 Height: 6-6 Weight: 245

I find it hard to believe any team is going to make Flacco its starter, but he played well enough to draw interest — and maybe command more money than the Browns want to pay a backup QB. Given Flacco’s popularity in the locker room, can Cleveland risk bringing him back in case Deshaun Watson struggles, or would that undermine Watson? — Zac Jackson

Age: 29 Height: 6-2 Weight: 196

Davis has ideal physical traits. The Chargers saw those traits turn into congruous production only in spurts, however, as he excelled late in 2022 but struggled in 2023. A line-up-and-play, heavy-man-coverage system could be a better fit than Brandon Staley’s scheme was. — Daniel Popper

Age: 26 Height: 6-2 Weight: 203

A starter from Day 1 despite being drafted in the sixth round, Fuller has been productive and does a good job of minimizing damage on the back end. He is not a dynamic athlete, nor is he physical, but he shows good understanding and instincts. He just lacks the burst and ideal play speed to be a long-term answer for the Rams. — Mueller

Age: 26 Height: 6-0 Weight: 208

Rapp was signed to be the Bills’ third safety, but when he was asked to start, he struggled. He was a touch too late on some big-play attempts and accrued some reckless personal foul penalties. However, Rapp is still young and could find a stable starting role for a modest salary this offseason. — Joe Buscaglia

Age: 30 Height: 6-4 Weight: 231

Winston has fit well in the Saints’ locker room, but he’s been uneven in 21 appearances (10 starts) with New Orleans over the last four seasons. His best stretch came during seven games as a starter in 2021 before tearing his ACL. His coach that season, Sean Payton, might need a new QB in Denver … — David DeChant

Age: 30 Height: 6-2 Weight: 305

Rankins has a strong all-around skill set, providing versatility in where he can align and his style of play. He’s agile and can get an edge as an inside rusher. He also plays well with his hands and shows good range, even outside the tackle box. His effort and anticipation remain strengths as he enters his ninth season. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 5-11 Weight: 200

An All-Pro special-teamer in 2022, Reaves’ 2023 season ended early due to a torn ACL, but he could be a useful third safety for somebody. — Mueller

Age: 28 Height: 6-1 Weight: 312

A regular starter in 2021 and 2022 with the Rams, Gaines was relegated to a backup role in Tampa, where his numbers dipped while playing behind Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall. He’s not much of a pass rusher, but he should provide value in a D-line rotation. — David DeChant

Age: 28 Height: 5-11 Weight: 185

Jackson is coming off his worst season with the Giants since signing a three-year, $39 million contract in 2021. His durability concerns (18 games missed from 2020 to 2021) continued in New York, as he missed 14 games in three seasons. He can still cover, and his flexibility to play in the slot adds value, but he struggles with tackling. — Dan Duggan

Age: 29 Height: 6-2 Weight: 203

All signs point to the end in Cincinnati for Boyd, who should have a market among teams searching for a slot receiver. His reliability and savvy will be gold for any team grooming a young quarterback. He’ll probably end up with a multiyear deal in the $7-9 million per season range, which would be too rich for the Bengals’ balance sheet. — Paul Dehner Jr.

Age: 31 Height: 6-5 Weight: 242

Gregory is still a talented pass rusher. He can turn the corner, but he can also turn straight-line speed into power. He struggles to hold a disciplined edge and maintain leverage against ball carriers and scrambling QBs. He gets caught inside consistently. But his effort with the 49ers was good, and he could provide value as a situational pass rusher on a cheap deal somewhere. — Mueller

Age: 29 Height: 5-11 Weight: 210

Owens entered the starting lineup because of injury in 2023 but held onto his starting spot. Outside of a couple of glaring missed tackles against the Chargers and 49ers, he wasn’t a liability, although the Packers could use more of a game-changer at the position. — Matt Schneidman

Age: 27 Height: 6-4 Weight: 228

Lock has appeared in only four games (two starts) since 2021, highlighted by his 92-yard, game-winning touchdown drive against the Eagles this season. He remains turnover-prone (three INTs on 76 attempts in 2023), but perhaps that shining moment will draw a few suitors. — David DeChant

Age: 28 Height: 6-2 Weight: 215

Known primarily for his blocking, Brown posted a career-high 567 receiving yards in just 10 games in 2023, averaging 17.2 yards per catch (fourth-best among all players with at least 30 receptions). His skill set should interest teams that need a quality third or fourth receiver. — David DeChant

Age: 33 Height: 6-6 Weight: 281

Sturdily built with strong hands, Gholston has been a quality run defender throughout his career, playing base end in a 4-3 scheme or five- and three-technique in a 3-4. His snaps dipped in 2023, but he should still contribute to a rotation somewhere. — David DeChant

Age: 27 Height: 6-3 Weight: 225

An undersized edge rusher in college, Baun played almost exclusively off the ball for the Saints in his first three seasons. Back on the edge in 2023, he showed flashes, beating Penei Sewell cleanly for his first career sack and posting four QB hits and 11 pressures over the final six games. Perhaps another team will provide a better fit. — David DeChant

Age: 30 Height: 6-4 Weight: 222

Mariota remains a solid backup with good mobility, which is useful behind one of the league’s more mobile starters in Jalen Hurts. Will the Eagles retain him, or will they prefer 2023 sixth-round pick Tanner McKee (or someone else)? — Brooks Kubena

Undeniable

Relive  the Kansas City Chiefs’ unforgettable 2023 championship season. Undeniable takes fans from training camp through the final whistle in Las Vegas.

Relive the Kansas City Chiefs’ unforgettable 2023 championship season.

Nate Taylor, Dan Pompei, Zak Keefer and The Athletic NFL Staff

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— The Athletic’s James Boyd, Joe Buscaglia, Paul Dehner Jr., Michael-Shawn Dugar, Dan Duggan, Chad Graff, Zac Jackson, Mark Kaboly, Josh Kendall, Brooks Kubena, David Lombardi, Jon Machota, Daniel Popper, Tashan Reed, Matt Schneidman, Ben Standig and Jeff Zrebiec contributed to this story.

(Top illustration: Daniel Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos of, from left, Kirk Cousins, Brian Burns and Saquon Barkley: Stephen Maturen, David Jensen / Getty Images, Michael Owens / Associated Press)

The NFL offseason began Sunday night after the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 to claim the Super Bowl LVIII title and (only slightly less importantly) the top spot in our postseason power rankings.

That means that all the fan bases that have been tuning out as their teams were eliminated from playoff contention or the playoffs are now back in the game. Hope is alive again for everyone with free agency and the draft coming into view.

With that in mind, we’re resetting our power rankings by combining some of the old (last season’s results) and some of the new (who’s getting a stud quarterback back, who might get a new coach lift, who has salary-cap space, etc.) to set the field going forward.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes, who was 8-for-8 passing on the drive that just won the Super Bowl, won his third Super Bowl MVP trophy and is one of five quarterbacks in NFL history to win at least three Super Bowl titles (and he was behind by double digits in all three of those games). He is 15-3 in the playoffs in his six-year career and has advanced at least to the AFC Championship Game in all six of those seasons. Kansas City has $24 million in salary-cap space but might as well use it all to make sure the defense stays stocked because Mahomes will make it work on offense.

2. San Francisco 49ers

This will be a tough week, but the future will be fine. The 49ers are over the salary cap (by just $3.7 million) but have all of their significant offensive weapons under contract. They also still have Kyle Shanahan, which despite what everyone is saying today, is a good thing. Shanahan is 72-54 as a head coach. San Francisco is second in the league in yards per play (5.9) and seventh in scoring (25.04) since Shanahan became the head coach in 2017, according to TruMedia.

GO DEEPER

Kyle Shanahan defends 49ers’ decision to take the ball to start overtime of Super Bowl 58

Everyone’s favorite underdog had the 49ers on the ropes in the NFC Championship Game, has money to spend ($47 million in cap space) and, shockingly, still has offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who rebuffed the Washington Commanders to stay in Detroit. Every significant offensive contributor remains under contract on a team that finished fifth in the league in scoring (27.35 ppg). When coach Dan Campbell said after the loss to the Niners that it would be “twice as hard” to get back to that point next season, it wasn’t poor-mouthing, it was just his first motivational speech of the 2024 season.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson just won his second NFL MVP award, but can he get Baltimore over the hump in the playoffs? (Tommy Gilligan / USA Today)

A disappointing ending (scoring 10 points in the AFC Championship Game against the underdog Chiefs) shouldn’t overshadow the fact the Ravens, who have $7.3 million cap space, remain the class of the AFC’s B flight (which includes any team that doesn’t employ Patrick Mahomes). There won’t be any Lamar Jackson contract drama this offseason, which will allow Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Monken to strengthen their connection. That’s good news for the Ravens considering Jackson is coming off the second-best season of his career and second NFL MVP award. The quarterback’s yards per attempt (7.9) this year were a career-high and his passer rating (101.6) and touchdown passes (27) were the second best of his career.

The Texans are one of the big movers since the last publication of these rankings. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud put 45 points on one of the league’s most aggressive defenses in the playoffs, beating the Browns 45-14 in the wild-card round, and was named offensive rookie of the year. His offensive coordinator, Bobby Slowik, is back after taking head coaching interviews, and Houston has $57.4 million in cap space.

A Matt LaFleur Appreciation Post: The Packers head coach somehow is the forgotten man in the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay conversation. LaFleur is 56-27 in five seasons in Green Bay. That .675 winning percentage is better than Shanahan or McVay, not to mention every other active coach in the league other than Jim Harbaugh (.695). Until last season, Aaron Rodgers got the credit for LaFleur’s accomplishments, but the Packers (who are $2.9 million above the salary cap) are doing it now with 25-year-old Jordan Love.

Things get a lot harder for Buffalo starting this offseason because Josh Allen’s cap hit just went from $18.6 million to $47 million, and it will be north of $40 million for the next five seasons. It’s why the Bills already are $51.3 million over the 2024 cap. The good news is they still have Allen, and he’s the reason Buffalo sits with Baltimore on the AFC’s second shelf. Remember, the Bills finished the season fourth in point margin (plus-140) despite six regular-season losses.

GO DEEPER

Buffalo Bills offseason: A 15-step plan to escape salary cap woes for 2024 and beyond

8. Cleveland Browns

Deshaun Watson is back, but we’re all still trying to figure out if that’s a good thing. Kevin Stefanski earned NFL coach of the year honors by getting the Browns to the playoffs with no Nick Chubb and with Joe Flacco at quarterback after Watson’s season-ending injury. Watson has started only 12 games since joining the Browns two years ago (8-4 record), and he’s 57th in the league in EPA per attempt (minus-.07) in that time, according to TruMedia. Still, the Browns, who are $19.6 million over the cap, have a great defense and Chubb returning from a devastating knee injury.

Are you ready for a lot of Tua Tagovailoa talk? Well, you better be. The Dolphins quarterback is under contract for 2024 at a $23.2 million cap hit, but that’s the last year of his deal and “Should Miami give Tua a market-setting deal?” is going to be one of the questions of the offseason. The Dolphins aren’t exactly rolling in spending money. They are $51.9 million over the salary cap at the moment and should pay defensive tackle Christian Wilkins this offseason.

Tua Tagovailoa got on stage with Darius Rucker to play the guitar & sing Wagon Wheel in Vegas

Daniel Jones was in the crowd cheering him on

(via @kasideekarsten) pic.twitter.com/LKizs1IVWs

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 10, 2024

No team has moved up this list more than the Bengals, who not only have $59.4 million cap space but are getting Joe Burrow back from a season-ending wrist injury. Offensive coordinator Brian Callahan is gone, but Burrow’s return more than makes up for it. Burrow is 27-15 as a starter in the last three seasons and cheap(-ish) for one more year. Burrow’s cap hit for 2024 is $29.7 million. After that, it goes over $46 million for each of the next five seasons.

The Cowboys are allowed to be in the top half of these rankings only because the playoffs are over. Dallas, which is $19.7 million over the salary cap, has won 12 regular-season games in each of the last three years but only one playoff game in that span. Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy are back, looking to move past last month’s embarrassing 48-32 loss to the Packers, but running back Tony Pollard is an unrestricted free agent.

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Everyone of note is under contract, and the Rams have $27.7 million in salary-cap space. They won seven of their last nine regular-season games and came within a point of upsetting the Lions in the playoffs. Barring an unexpected (but you could see it at his age) retirement by Matthew Stafford, the Rams will enter 2024 as a dark-horse conference championship contender.

Did we underestimate the Bucs all season long? Did the Eagles just quit? Tampa Bay’s 32-9 win over Philadelphia in the wild-card round raised questions about both teams. Questions that probably won’t be answered until next season starts, but the Buccaneers do at least deserve some recognition here. Tampa Bay — which has $36.9 million in salary-cap space, some of which certainly will go to re-signing Baker Mayfield — has gone to the playoffs each of the last four seasons, winning the division title three times and a Super Bowl once in that span.

In a world where Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud didn’t exist, Indianapolis would be feeling very good about itself right now. The Colts are getting quarterback Anthony Richardson back from his season-ending shoulder surgery and are believers in Shane Steichen after his first year as head coach. Throw in $58.9 million of salary-cap space to plug holes, and Colts fans can talk themselves into a brewing rivalry with Stroud and the Texans.

15. Philadelphia Eagles

A case could be made to put the Eagles just about anywhere on this list. Many of the reasons they went to the Super Bowl a season ago (Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith) are still around, but questions abound. They have $20.2 million in salary-cap space but may lose Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham to retirement and/or free agency. Then there’s the coaching staff overhaul that ended with Kellen Moore in charge of the offense and Vic Fangio in charge of the defense. How good are the Eagles? Who knows?

Kirk Cousins is the top quarterback on the free-agent market. Will he return to the Vikings? (David Berding / Getty Images)

This position is Kirk Cousins dependent. The 35-year-old free agent is coming off a torn Achilles tendon, but he’s still going to be the hottest quarterback commodity on the market. The Vikings have $24.7 million in cap space and will create as much more as they need to to get Cousins back. He’s expressed his contentment with Minnesota, and why not? In his two seasons playing for Kevin O’Connell, Cousins is third in the league in passing yards (275.12) and passing touchdowns (1.88) per game, according to TruMedia.

Robert Saleh should just pretend last year never happened. Seriously. Make it a bit starting now. Pretend this is Aaron Rodgers’ first season with the team. Claim he’s never heard the names Pat McAfee or Zach Wilson. Lean into it. The Jets have $5 million in salary-cap space, the No. 10 pick in the draft and a healthy Rodgers. New York still has Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator, but maybe Saleh can pretend that’s not real either.

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Seattle gets a new head coach bump thanks to Mike Macdonald’s hiring, but it’s still in one of the league’s toughest divisions with the 49ers, Rams and perhaps ascendant Cardinals. The Seahawks need to create some salary-cap room (they’re minus-$5.2 million at the moment) and hope Geno Smith has a bounce-back season. The quarterback’s passer rating (100.8 to 92.1), touchdowns (32 to 20) and yards per attempt (7.5 to 7.3) all went down after a surprising 2022, according to TruMedia.

Mike Tomlin checked the “winning season” box again, but that’s about all the Steelers got out of the season. They weren’t competitive against Buffalo in the first round of the playoffs, and they don’t seem to know if Kenny Pickett or Mason Rudolph is the quarterback. Something everyone in Pittsburgh can look forward to, though, are some great sideline shots of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and mercurial wide receiver George Pickens throughout the season. Pittsburgh is $16 million over the cap.

Yes, Jim Harbaugh is quirky, but only Guy Chamberlin (who coached the Canton Bulldogs among others in the 1920s; I had to look it up), John Madden, Vince Lombardi and George Allen have a better career winning percentage in the NFL than Harbaugh’s .695. He also has Justin Herbert. There are issues, though, including an aging roster and the fact the Chargers are $45.8 million over the cap.

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No team will have a longer offseason than the Jaguars, who lost five of their last six games to fall out of playoff contention. Jacksonville, which has $11.3 million in cap space, has only two more cheap years of Trevor Lawrence. The quarterback will be an $11 million cap hit this year and then either play on his fifth-year option or a new deal, either of which will be a bigger number. The Jags pick 17th in the first round.

The Raiders were 5-4 under interim head coach Antonio Pierce, which was good enough to make him full-time head coach Antonio Pierce. Now, he has his work cut out for him. The Raiders have some money to spend ($36 million in cap space) and the No. 13 pick in the upcoming draft, but they probably need a quarterback and are a long way from being able to compete with the division-dominating Chiefs.

It’s hard to see where this team will find a solution at quarterback. Sean Payton still won’t say if Russell Wilson will be back, but things aren’t trending in that direction. The Broncos are set to pick 12th so they’ll either have to trade up or decide they can live with one of the second-tier quarterback prospects if they want a rookie quarterback. They are $23.9 million over the salary cap and will take another big cap hit if they cut Wilson ($85 million in dead money if he’s released before June 1), so attracting a name in free agency seems unlikely.

What the Bears decide to do with quarterback Justin Fields and the first pick in the 2024 draft will set the NFL offseason dominoes in motion. (Michael Reaves / Getty Images)

Matt Eberflus is coming back. Now, what about Justin Fields? Thanks to last year’s trade with the Carolina Panthers, the Bears have the No. 1 pick, which means they can take Caleb Williams (or Drake Maye or even Jayden Daniels, but probably Williams) or bank on more development by Fields. Either way, this is going to be an offseason of additions. The Bears have the Nos. 1 and 9 picks in the first round and $46.9 million of cap space.

Mike Vrabel is out, and Brian Callahan and a more “collaborative” mindset are in. Will that and $68.1 million in salary-cap space be enough to get Tennessee back into the playoff hunt after two years out of the mix? That depends mostly on quarterback Will Levis, who started nine games last year and whom Callahan, the former Bengals offensive coordinator, was hired to elevate. The Titans were 3-6 in Levis’ starts.

26. Washington Commanders

The Commanders’ offseason of optimism — new owner, No. 2 pick, $73.6 million in cap space — lost some momentum when Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson seemed to leave them at the head coaching altar late in the process. It may turn out that Washington stumbled into a great hire with Dan Quinn, whose positive attitude should help a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2005, or it may be a bust. A lot could depend on whether Quinn’s offensive coordinator hire, Kliff Kingsbury, works out.

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Jerod Mayo is on the clock, and it seems as if he’s suddenly in charge of the first round of the NFL Draft. The Patriots pick No. 3. Quarterbacks are considered locks to be taken in the first two picks, but things get interesting at No. 3. Will Mayo decide it’s time to move on from Mac Jones and draft a quarterback or will he take Marvin Harrison Jr. to help Jones’ development? What New England does with its $66 million in cap space in March may give us some clue about that.

Let’s all take a moment to appreciate the Saints for always playing their role. General manager Mickey Loomis scoffs at the salary cap, and thus New Orleans is in the worst cap shape in the league heading into the offseason ($83.9 million over the cap). The other thing Loomis always does is figure it out by the time the fall arrives, although Saints fans might be starting to wonder about the long-term strategy. New Orleans hasn’t made the playoffs or won double-digit games in the last three seasons.

The Falcons have a new head coach, with Raheem Morris taking over for the fired Arthur Smith, and $25.8 million in salary-cap space. What they don’t have is a quarterback. That’s why they will be attached to every available one until the question is settled. Justin Fields? Sure, he could be an option. Kirk Cousins? He’s familiar with the new offensive system. Trading up from No. 8 in the draft to get Jayden Daniels? Might be an option. That’s a preview of the next two months for the Falcons.

Daniel Jones will count at least $41.6 million toward the salary cap each of the next three seasons. The Giants have the No. 6 pick in the first round. They have to at least consider making a change at quarterback. They also have to figure out what to do about Saquon Barkley. They couldn’t get a long-term deal done with their star running back last offseason but have $21.8 million in cap space available they want to try harder this offseason.

31. Arizona Cardinals

This is the offseason the Cardinals have been waiting for since last offseason. Arizona has $41.9 million in cap space and has three picks in the top 35 selections and seven of the top 104. No team will get a bigger facelift before the start of next season. One place where there won’t be a change is quarterback as the Cardinals have committed to keeping Kyler Murray.

32. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers hired a new head coach, Dave Canales, to fix their still-kind-of-new quarterback, Bryce Young. Canales was the surprise hire of the offseason, coming to Carolina after only one year of calling plays at division-rival Tampa Bay. Either he blew the Panthers away in the interview process or mercurial owner David Tepper was worried he wasn’t going to be able to attract a bigger-name hire. Carolina has $28.6 million in cap space heading into the offseason.

(Top photo: Michael Owens / Getty Images)

The Chiefs defeated the 49ers in overtime to win Super Bowl LVIII.

Is it too early to start looking ahead to Super Bowl LVIX in New Orleans? Never. The San Francisco 49ers are Super Bowl favorites at +500 on BetMGMdespite losing to the Kansas City Chiefs (+700 to repeat) in Super Bowl 58. The Baltimore Ravens (+850), Buffalo Bills (+1200) and Detroit Lions (+1200) have the next best odds.

Of course, the Chiefs are still one of the favorites to win the AFC. It is believed that general manager Brett Veach will do everything he can to find help for Patrick Mahomes after the offense's struggles for most of the regular season.

Along with the Chiefs, the Ravens, Bills and Bengals are the AFC favorites. The Jets now have worse odds (+3000) than they did at this time last season (+2500), and that was even before they acquired Aaron Rodgers from Green Bay, although rumors were already swirling that Rodgers wanted to leave Wisconsin for the USA wanted to go. the big apple.

Of the teams with new head coaches, the Los Angeles Chargers (+2500) have the best chances with new coach Jim Harbaugh. Los Angeles is over $45 million the salary cap for next season, according to OverTheCap.com.

If you're looking for teams that could make a splash in free agency, the Commanders, Titans, Patriots, Bengals and Colts currently have the most salary cap space.

Detroit (+1200) has completed its 180th turn from lovable losers to now a favorite in the NFC. Dallas and Philadelphia are still at the top of their respective conferences, but there will be changes for both teams this season. Dallas lost defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to Washington and Philadelphia hired Kellen Moore as its new offensive coordinator and Vic Fangio to lead the defense.

The Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots all have the worst odds to win the Super Bowl. All three teams will have new coaches next year.

However, betting favorites this far is probably not a good betting strategy. Consider that the Chiefs had worse odds entering the playoffs this year (+1000) than after last year's Super Bowl win (+600).

To help understand where these teams are headed this offseason, especially around expectations, we reached out to our beat writers to gauge how they view the teams heading into the offseason.

Detroit Lions +1200

The Lions have the fifth-best Super Bowl odds in 2024, and that feels about right. In their first postseason run together, with the fifth-youngest roster in the NFL, the Lions reached the NFC Championship game and held a 24–7 lead. Had they made the necessary moves to win the game, they would have been in Las Vegas hoping to hoist the Lombardi. Instead, they will use a disappointing loss as motivation and work to get there next season. Detroit's best talent – ​​Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, etc. – should only get better with age. QB Jared Goff has now taken two teams to NFC Championship games and has had another strong season. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is back for another year and once again turns down head coaching opportunities. And the Lions will look to improve a secondary that needs an influx of talent. Detroit's schedule and division look tougher on paper, but given everything the Lions have done for them, they are well-positioned for another deep postseason run. —Colton Pouncy, Lions writer

New York jets +3000

The Jets, like every team on this list, have the ability to swing wildly in either direction. That's the Aaron Rodgers factor. The Jets have a lot of holes to fill on offense (offensive line, wide receiver) and issues to overcome (offensive coordinator), but ultimately how far the Jets go (or not) largely depends on which version of Rodgers they get. He'll be 41 this season and coming off Achilles tendon surgery, so it's fair to be skeptical the Jets will make noise — but they still have one of the best NFL defenses, which will remain largely intact, and return two stars in the offense in Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. —Zack Rosenblatt, Jets writer

Green Bay Packers +2500

I'm surprised the odds are so long for the Packers considering how they finished the 2023 season. After starting 3-6, they made the playoffs, dismantled the Cowboys in the wild-card round and gave the 49ers a battle in the Divisional Round. In his first season as the full-time starting quarterback, Jordan Love showed why he can be the man for Green Bay, and most of its supporting cast, for the next decade on an offense that thrived in the second half of the season. , will return in 2024. The big questions are in the other two phases. Can the Packers straighten out their kicking game (pun intended), and can new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley maximize the talent on his side of the ball in a way that Joe Barry couldn't? If Green Bay can do both, there's no reason why the Packers can't compete to take home the Lombardi Trophy. —Matt Schneidman, Packers writer

For the Dolphins to be considered serious Super Bowl contenders, they need to beat teams of the same level or better on a semi-consistent basis. That didn't happen in 2023, with just one win against a team that finished with a winning record: Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. The 2024 schedule will also be tougher, playing the AFC South, NFC West and the Packers outside Miami. AFC East opponents.

As of now, Tua Tagovailoa will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2024. Will Miami take care of its quarterback before Week 1? Plus, you have to wonder if the defense can come together after numerous injuries, especially at edge rusher, that took their toll in late 2023. Then you have to wonder if the Dolphins are the best or even second-best team in the AFC East, with the Bills as the reigning champions and Aaron Rodgers set to take more than a handful of snaps at QB, just like the injury-plagued season last year. —Larry Holder, NFL senior writer

You know the Texans will be one of the sexiest bets heading into the 2024 season – two of the best young players at premium positions in quarterback CJ Stroud and edge rusher Will Anderson. Add in budding star coach DeMeco Ryans and an improving roster, and Houston has what it takes to take the next step.

Now the Texans won't have to deal with a bottom-barrel schedule this season after winning the AFC South. So they're making the Chiefs, Ravens and Bills, along with the AFC East and NFC North, join their AFC South roster – throwing a healthy NFL Draft compadre, Anthony Richardson, back for the Colts. But the Texans seemed to hold their own against everyone during the 2023 regular season before falling flat against the Ravens in the AFC divisional round. I expect the Texans to improve in 2024 and Stroud to only get better after one of the strongest rookie QB campaigns in recent memory. When that happens, you never know… —Holder

(Top photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Kim Kardashian and new boyfriend, Odell Beckham Jr. were spotted together for the first time since going exclusive with their budding romance while at The Wynn in Las Vegas on Saturday. 

The SKIMS founder, 43 – who was recently decked out in Balenciaga while at her son Saint’s basketball game – was seen being guided through the luxurious hotel with the NFL player, 31, close by in front of her. 

Relationship speculation began to arise when the mother-of-four and Baltimore Ravens wide receiver were first publicly linked back in September 2023. 

Kim was dressed to impress wearing a dark brown, backless top that contained a plunging neckline on the front for a sultry flare. 

The reality star slipped into flared, brown trousers that had a hem that concealed the shoes that she had paired with the stylish look. 

The SKIMS founder was seen being guided through the luxurious hotel with the NFL player close by in front of her

A black hat was placed on top of her head and partially covered her dark, brunette locks that flowed down past her shoulders. 

Odell was spotted wearing a pair of black and white-colored pants as well as a matching leather jacket. 

Underneath, the sports star added a plain, white T-shirt and completed his outfit by donning a pair of black shoes that contained a thick sole on the bottom. 

The pair’s outing ahead of Super Bowl LVIII comes shortly after Kardashian and Beckham Jr. went exclusive with their romance – after they began dating last summer. 

A source told DailyMail.com on Friday, ‘Kim has been romantically involved with Odell since last summer and thought she had managed to keep it under wraps. She is not seeing anyone else right now – at least not that her close friends know of.’

According to the insider, both Kardashian and Beckham Jr. – who are rumored to attend the Super Bowl together – made the decision to remain private to prevent rumors that the SKIMS founder was a ‘homewrecker.’

The two stars initially started ‘hanging out’ shortly after the football player’s split from girlfriend Lauren ‘LoLo’ Wood which was announced in September of last year. The former couple share one-year-old son Zydn.

‘Kim really wanted to keep this romance private for two reasons. One is that he has a one-year-old son with his ex Lauren Woods.’ 

Kim was dressed to impress wearing a dark brown, backless top that contained a plunging neckline on the front for a sultry flare

A black hat was placed on top of her head and partially covered her dark, brunette locks that flowed down past her shoulders

Relationship speculation began to arise when the mother-of-four and Baltimore Ravens wide receiver were first publicly linked back in September 2023

The reality star slipped into flared, brown trousers that had a hem that concealed the shoes that she had paired with the stylish look

Odell was spotted wearing a pair of black and white-colored pants as well as a matching leather jacket

Earlier on Saturday, Kim was seen sporting the same ensemble while attending Michael Rubin’s Fanatics Super Bowl party with close friend, La La Anthony – which Odell also attended

Beckham Jr. also stopped for a quick, solo photo session upon arriving to the event while showing off his stylish look

‘They both wanted to avoid any speculation that he left Lauren for Kim – branding Kim a homewrecker,’ the source continued.

‘The second reason is to avoid the backlash from Kanye. After what Kanye put Pete Davidson through, Kim wants to avoid that at all costs. It is only a matter of time now before Kanye says something publicly, but he has no solid proof.’

It comes after a separate source told Us Weekly earlier this week that Kim and Odell are ‘getting serious,’ but are still keeping their budding romance mainly out of the spotlight.

‘Odell’s personality is much more private than Kardashian’s,’ the insider informed the publication.

The source explained that the Baltimore Ravens wide receiver is more ‘low-key, while Kim’s more accustomed to the limelight,’ and added they are, ‘trying to figure out the next steps’ in regards to their romance.

Most recently, Kim and Odell were rumored to have attended the same pre-Grammy party earlier this month that was hosted by Jay-Z at the Birds Street Club. 

Another insider recently told Entertainment Tonight, ‘Things have been continuing to heat up between Kim and Odell. They like each other and have a good thing going.’ 

‘Odell likes to keep a low profile and Kim appreciates that. They have been friends for a long time and naturally vibe with one another. Things are just easy between them and he isn’t in it for the attention or spotlight.’  

The pair’s outing ahead of Super Bowl LVIII comes shortly after Kardashian and Beckham Jr. went exclusive with their romance – after they began dating last summer

A source told DailyMail.com on Friday, ‘Kim has been romantically involved with Odell since last summer and thought she had managed to keep it under wraps. She is not seeing anyone else right now – at least not that her close friends know of’

According to the insider, both Kardashian and Beckham Jr. – who are rumored to attend the Super Bowl together – made the decision to remain private to prevent rumors that the SKIMS founder was a ‘homewrecker’

The two stars initially started ‘hanging out’ shortly after the football player’s split from girlfriend Lauren ‘LoLo’ Wood which was announced in September of last year. The former couple share one-year-old son Zydn

The reality star’s younger sister, Khloe, was also reportedly linked to Odell back in 2016 when the pair briefly dated. 

Earlier on Saturday, both Kim and Odell attended Michael Rubin’s Fanatics Super Bowl party at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. However, the two were not pictured together at the event. 

The TV personality was seen sporting the same ensemble as she posed for a memorable snap with her close friend, La La Anthony – who was also dressed for the fun occasion. 

Beckham Jr. also stopped for a quick, solo photo session upon arriving to the venue while showing off his stylish look. 

While appearing on the podcast called, On Purpose With Jay Shetty, last year in May, Kim opened up about dating and her perspective on love.

‘I think I’ll always be a hopeless romantic and always want to be in love and definitely love sharing my life with someone, and love creating a life with someone,’ she expressed.

It comes after a separate source told Us Weekly earlier this week that Kim and Odell are ‘getting serious,’ but are still keeping their budding romance mainly out of the spotlight; seen earlier this month in L.A. 

The SKIMS founder notably shares North, 10, Saint, eight, Chicago, six, and Psalm, four, with ex-husband Kanye West; former couple seen in 2019 in NYC 

‘If I can look at everything that I did wrong and try to not make the same mistakes and really take my time, I think it just has to be different for me.’

The mother-of-four also talked about finding someone in the future and revealed, ‘I definitely will take my time.’

The media personality explained there are various ‘factors’ to take into account, ‘especially when you have kids, and being mindful of people that enter in your life.’

The SKIMS founder notably shares North, 10, Saint, eight, Chicago, six, and Psalm, four, with ex-husband Kanye West. 

BALTIMORE – Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs once again showed their championship qualities on Sunday, defeating the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in the AFC title game.

Reid, Patrick Mahomes and company are heading to their fourth Super Bowl in six seasons, not because they boasted a productive offense or breathtaking fireworks. No, they had punched their ticket to Las Vegas because Reid and his staff had won their chess match with John Harbaugh and his Ravens assistants and positioned their team to pull off the toughest victory in the history of this budding dynasty.

The Chiefs, long known for lighting up scoreboards with dazzling heroics from Mahomes, didn't even score in Sunday's second half. Instead, they leaned heavily on experience and also leaned on the most dominant defense Kansas City has fielded over the past six seasons. That defense turned in a performance that largely neutralized presumptive NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and one of the league's most imposing offensive attacks of the 2023 season.

But as a whole, the Ravens found themselves on the losing side after succumbing to pressure early and failing to overcome crippling mistakes late.

The Chiefs were well aware of how the Ravens are built and how they like to attack on offense (with a strong running game that provides balance and sets the stage for an improved passing attack) and understood the importance of a fast start. They turned up the pressure early to force Baltimore into a quick three-and-out and then delivered as impressive an offensive performance as they have all postseason: a 10-play, 86-yard scoring drive , capped by a 19-yard Mahomes pass to Travis Kelce. With that, the Chiefs extended their streak of game-opening touchdown drives to eight straight playoff games.

The Ravens responded with a touchdown of their own: a highlight-worthy sack from Jackson and a 30-yard strike to Zay Flowers. But the Chiefs came right back with a methodical 16-play, 75-yard drive that ate up the 9:02 clock.

Mahomes couldn't miss and completed 11 straight passes to start the game. Kelce was as unguarded as ever. And that Chiefs defense, which turned from serviceable to dominant this season, kept the pressure going, setting up a strip sack and recovery at the Baltimore 33-yard line.

And just like that, the Ravens were on high alert.

Punt, touchdown and fumble were not the desired tone setter for Baltimore early in the first half. The Ravens' defense had yielded just two touchdown drives in the past 26 games, and until Kelce's touchdown catch, Baltimore's second-year star safety Kyle Hamilton had never surrendered a touchdown to a tight end as a pro.

The scoreboard may have read 14-7, but because Baltimore was in uncharted territory, the deficit felt much bigger. And that's when the Ravens committed their cardinal sin.

Overwhelmed by the ease with which the Chiefs had scored, they panicked. On defense they temporarily lost their balance while committing life-threatening personal mistakes. And offensively, they got carried away into believing they had slipped into a much bigger hole than they actually found themselves in. As a result, they abandoned their bread and butter and tried to adapt a playstyle they weren't built for.

After dominating on the ground all season, the Ravens opted for a pass-heavy offense far too early.

Through the remainder of the second quarter, the Ravens only ran the ball twice (once on a play outside of Jackson's schedule). They only ran the ball seven more times throughout the rest of the game. The league's leading rushing team — a unit that averaged 156.5 rushing yards per game while boasting the most balanced offense in the NFL — became one-dimensional, finishing with just 81 ground yards, without ever regaining control in a very winnable match.

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The Ravens trailed just 17-7 at halftime. Yet they came out in the second half with the same frenetic feel and approach as if they were behind by a bigger margin. They kept shooting even as their defense kept them in the game and the Chiefs off the scoreboard.

“It was just that kind of game, I would say,” Harbaugh said of the season's 16 rushing attempts. “That's just how it happened.”

The lack of a run game meant that Baltimore's offense never regained the rhythm that carried it so much this season. And the lack of balance eased the pressure on the Chiefs' defense because it allowed Kansas City's pass rushers to put their ears back and get after Jackson. Meanwhile, with the quarterback not getting hit, a familiar problem — a lack of consistency in the receiving department — arose for the Ravens.

Time and time again, Jackson dropped back to throw, but struggled to find an open receiver. Aside from Flowers, who finished the game with five catches on eight targets for 115 yards and a touchdown, Baltimore's receivers struggled to get any separation. Running back Justice Hill was the second leading receiver with four catches, and it wasn't until the fourth quarter that Odell Beckham Jr. managed to participate (three catches for 22 yards).

“We could have run the ball,” Jackson said. “But we were just down and trying to get the ball upfield. You have to make something happen.”

Zay Flowers had a touchdown catch on Sunday, but also a costly fumble. (Geoff Burke/USA Today)

Even though they were one-dimensional, the Ravens still had a chance. To open the fourth quarter, they reached the shadow of the Kansas City goal line after a five-play, 78-yard drive, highlighted by a 54-yard throw to Flowers. But that possession ended painfully with a fumble when Kansas City's L'Jarius Sneed knocked the ball out of Flowers' grasp as the receiver dove for the end zone after an eight-yard catch.

And on the next possession, after reaching the Kansas City 25, Jackson threw an interception in triple coverage while trying to connect with tight end Isaiah Likely.

A 43-yard field goal by Justin Tucker with 2:38 left cut the deficit to a touchdown, but the Ravens got no closer.

The Chiefs didn't score in the second half, but they didn't need to. They did just enough offensively to shore up their dominant defense and run precious minutes off the clock: five minutes here, two minutes there, another four there. At the end of the game, they had won the time of possession battle from 37:30 to 22:30.

The loss represents a missed opportunity for the Ravens, even if the game never felt as close as the score suggests. Jackson and his teammates lamented that they had only managed one touchdown, and that they would have to repeat costly mistakes in the offseason. It's impossible not to wonder if a more patient approach would have better benefited the Ravens and helped them find a better offensive flow throughout the game.

“You'd like to use the saying of 'I'd like to get this back or play this,' but you can't get those plays back,” right tackle Morgan Moses said. “You have to learn from them and move forward. And you know, it's not over yet. Anytime you have a quarterback like Lamar, you have an opportunity to play in games like this again.”

This one will stick for a while though, especially because of the way it ended.

The 2023 season was a year of change and growth in Baltimore, and perhaps the Ravens can build on that. But on Sunday, as they pursued their ultimate goal, they strayed from their identity when the pressure reached its highest point and never recovered.

(Top photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Travis Kelce scoorde een adembenemende vroege touchdown voor de Chiefs tegen de Ravens in hun poging om weer een Super Bowl te bereiken – wat leidde tot wilde feesten van Taylor Swift op de tribunes van het M&T Bank Stadium.

Swift riep 'oh mijn god' toen de ster uit Kansas City een prachtige 19-yard dart van Patrick Mahomes ving terwijl zijn team een ​​droomstart maakte in Baltimore. Maar Lamar Jackson, de quarterback van de Ravens, bracht zijn team al snel op gelijke hoogte met een prachtige worp naar Zay Flowers voor een TD.

Het duurde echter niet lang voordat Swift opnieuw feestvierde, toen Isiah Pacheco met een touchdown-rush van twee meter over de streep ging. Swift herhaalde vorige week haar feest vanuit Buffalo en hield 10 vingers omhoog als hoedtip voor Pacheco's nummer.

Maar het was Kelce die centraal stond en wat een prestatie voor alle leeftijden bleek te zijn – hij haalde vervolgens Jerry Rice in voor de meeste 'postseason'-vangsten in de geschiedenis van de NFL in het tweede kwartaal met zijn zevende take van de wedstrijd, waarmee hij opklom naar een totaal van 152 voor zijn carrière.

De NFL proostte op zijn prachtige prestatie met een afbeelding die het artwork voor Swift's Midnights-plaat repliceerde.

Kelce viert feest nadat hij de Chiefs op voorsprong heeft gezet met een vroege touchdown in Baltimore

Swift (links) en Donna Kelce (rechts) vieren feest terwijl Jason Kelce (rechtsboven) een high-five geeft

Toen Isiah Pacheco scoorde voor de Chiefs, stak Swift tien vingers op als knipoog naar zijn nummer

Kelce schreef een stukje NFL-geschiedenis toen hij Jerry Rice inhaalde voor de meeste vangsten in het naseizoen

Cara Delevigne (links) keerde samen met haar vriendin Swift terug om de Chiefs in Baltimore aan te moedigen

Kelce keek de wedstrijd voortreffelijk aan en Swift was duidelijk gegrepen door het drama in Baltimore

De zanger moedigt Kelce aan in de grootste game die hij heeft gespeeld sinds ze afgelopen september hun relatie openbaar maakten. Als je wint, maken de Chiefs volgende maand kans op een tweede Super Bowl op rij. Verlies, en het seizoen is voorbij.

Swift kwam zondagmiddag binnen, geflankeerd door de beveiliging, terwijl ze zich naar haar stoel begaf naast Brittany Mahomes, de vrouw van de Chiefs quarterback Patrick voor de win-or-bust-wedstrijd.

De twee lijken goede vrienden te zijn geworden sinds Swift afgelopen september haar relatie met Kelce openbaar maakte, en werden ook afgebeeld in een VIP-suite met actrice Keleigh Teller. Cara Delevingne was er ook, met een rode hoed op die vermoedelijk een eerbetoon was aan de Chiefs, nadat ze hen vorige week ook had toegejuicht in Buffalo.

Brittany begaf zich even naar het veld voordat de wedstrijd de zinderende sfeer begon te proeven, terwijl Taylor binnen bleef terwijl de minuten voorafgaand aan de aftrap voorbij tikten. Mahomes had het nummer '15' op haar jas geborduurd – het nummer dat haar man draagt ​​voor de Chiefs.

Travis's broer Jason werd ook afgebeeld terwijl hij zich onder de fans vermengde in de aanloop naar de wedstrijd, maar leek een meer ingetogen entree te maken vergeleken met vorige week, toen hij in Buffalo shotjes alcohol nam met bumperklevende fans.

Eerder landde Swift, 34, op een grijze regenachtige dag in Maryland en beschermd door een struikgewas van paraplu's, kort na 13.00 uur in Maryland, stapte uit haar privéjet en stapte in een van een stoet wachtende SUV's.

Terwijl ze haar VIP-suite binnenging, kreeg haar vriend Kelce tijdens de warming-up al ruzie met spelers van het Ravens-team. Kelce gooide de helm van Ravens-kikker Justin Tucker weg terwijl hij zich herhaaldelijk leek af te vragen in de ruimte waar Mahomes aan het opwarmen was.

Slechts dertig minuten eerder liet Kelce, zelfverzekerd en met zijn kenmerkende branie, het vredesteken zien naar juichende fans terwijl hij en zijn mede-Kansas City Chiefs in de coaches stapten om vroeg in de middag van hun hotel naar het M&T Bank-stadion te gaan. De Chiefs deelden een video van hun sterman die bij het stadion aankwam door een tekst van Taylor uit haar hit 'Ready For It' te citeren, met als onderschrift bij de clip: 'Wist dat hij een Killa was, de eerste keer dat ik hem zag' – Kelce's bijnaam, en Instagram handvat, is 'KillaTrav'.

Kelce pakte een schitterende vangst in het eerste kwart en zette de Chiefs op voorsprong tegen de Ravens

Kelce kreeg tijdens zijn warming-up ruzie met Ravens-kicker Justin Tucker (rechts)

Dit is Kelce's grootste game sinds hij en Swift vorig jaar hun relatie openbaar maakten

Swift arriveerde met Brittany Mahomes in het M&T Bank Stadium voor Chiefs vs. Ravens

Strak einde Kelce rent zondagmiddag het veld op voor de start van de wedstrijd

Te zien op exclusieve foto's verkregen door DailyMail.com Kelce en co Chiefs vertrokken kort na 12.30 uur terwijl de klok tikte voor hun confrontatie met de Ravens die om 15.00 uur EST begon.

Kelce, 34, volgde quarterback Mahomes, 28, die keurig gekleed was in een kastanjebruin pak, compleet met zwarte stropdas, een chique pochet en fluwelen pantoffelschoenen, ondanks de vochtige motregen in Maryland.

Chiefs-fans verdringen zich om hun helden te zien en roepen hun steun uit voor wat naar zij hopen de game zal zijn waarmee ze later deze maand hun ticket naar Las Vegas veilig kunnen stellen.

Taylor maakte zich ondertussen klaar om Travis aan te moedigen, samen met zijn oudere broer Jason, ook op de tribune. Hun moeder, Donna, werd ook afgebeeld in het stadion.

Jason had afgelopen zondag een wilde avond en juichte Travis toe vanuit dezelfde suite als de zanger. Toen Travis die avond de eerste van zijn twee touchdowns scoorde, sprong een shirtloze Jason de suite uit in het 20 graden weer en nam een ​​biertje in het bijzijn van de verbijsterde Bills-fans.

Er zullen ongetwijfeld tot diep in de nacht wilde feesten plaatsvinden als de Chiefs zondag de kansen verstoren en de Super Bowl halen. Maar het zal Taylor ook een klein reisprobleem opleveren als de Chiefs winnen.

Ze zal die week terug moeten racen vanuit Tokio, Japan, waar ze in 2024 haar Eras Tour begint.

Haar laatste show daar is op zaterdag 10 februari, maar het tijdsverschil werkt in haar voordeel als ze als een gek teruggaat naar de westkust voor de grootste avond op de Amerikaanse sportkalender.

De Chiefs-ster zag er opgesloten en opgewonden uit tijdens de warming-ups met zijn teamgenoten

Brittany Mahomes begaf zich naar het veld vlak voordat de wedstrijd van de Chiefs begon

Swift werd beschermd door een struikgewas van parasols toen ze zondag in Baltimore aankwam

De zanger zal vandaag vriend Kelce aanmoedigen in de enorme Ravens vs. Chiefs-wedstrijd

Kelce liet zondagmiddag het vredesteken zien naar juichende fans in het Chiefs-hotel

Kelce en de Chiefs hebben één overwinning behaald in de Super Bowl, maar moeten Baltimore Ravens verslaan

Kelce stelde zich voor dat hij zijn warming-uproutine doorliep in de minuten voorafgaand aan de aftrap

Fans van Ravens hadden posters die Taylor verwelkomden in de game, maar hopen dat ze vertrekt na een verlies van de Chiefs

Zelfs de Chiefs-fans waren enthousiast over de beroemdste WAG om het team aan te moedigen

Ze zal niet veel tijd hebben om feest te vieren als de Chiefs er alles aan doen om de trofee in handen te krijgen. Het volgende weekend zal ze in Melbourne zijn, waar ze door Australië zal toeren.

Terwijl Taylor op weg was naar het Ravens-stadion, waren er zondag al fans aanwezig voor een van de twee grote wedstrijden in de NFL. Er werden zelfs mensen gezien die bordjes omhoog hielden om haar te verwelkomen.

Eén Ravens-fan hield een bord vast met de tekst 'Lamar is hun eindspel', verwijzend naar de Ravens-quarterback Lamar Jackson.

In een gesprek met verslaggevers in Kansas City op vrijdag onderstreepte Kelce hoe groot een wedstrijd dit voor hem is.

'Ik denk hier zondag aan en ik wil hem meer dan ik ooit in mijn leven heb gewild', zei Kelce.

'Er gaat niets boven play-offvoetbal', voegde hij eraan toe. 'Het maakt niet uit wie je bent, waar je speelt, als je maar samenwerkt met de mannen en vrouwen die je hebt en het team dat je hebt, zoals ik al zei, kun je spelen waar je maar wilt. Je moet dat sap meenemen, ongeacht wie er in de menigte zit.'

If Mike Macdonald’s ascent to one of the NFL’s hottest coordinators and a legitimate head-coaching candidate feels meteoric, that’s probably because he has never embraced the art of self-promotion.

The 36-year-old second-year Baltimore Ravens defensive boss has consented to side media interviews in recent weeks largely because he wants to tout the chemistry and cohesion of his staff, not because he wants any more attention. He likes to call himself a “steward” of head coach John Harbaugh’s vision and will point you in the direction of two dozen others who deserve praise for the Ravens’ success.

But it’s impossible to ignore Macdonald’s impact on the AFC’s top seed, which faces the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s conference championship game at M&T Bank Stadium.

Baltimore became the first defense in NFL history to lead the league in points allowed, sacks and turnovers. The Ravens followed up a landmark regular season by smothering likely Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and the Texans on Saturday, keeping Houston’s offense out of the end zone — its only touchdown came on a punt return — in a 34-10 divisional-round victory.

After the game, Harbaugh called his defensive coordinator into the middle of the locker room for a game ball.

Macdonald pushed inside linebacker Roquan Smith forward.

The thing is, Macdonald has never been afraid to put himself out there. Especially when it comes to football.

He was born in Boston but moved to Atlanta when he was about 7 years old. His father, Hugh, had discouraged him from playing the game. Hugh played on the non-varsity team at Army-West Point and worried about the injury risks. But Hugh returned home late from a business trip one night to find a helmet and shoulder pads on Mike’s twin bed.

“The next morning, I asked him, ‘What’s this?’ He had decided to join the junior team,” Hugh said. “So off he went.”

Mike was neither the biggest nor fastest guy on the teams he played for, but there was no questioning his drive. Hugh filmed his youth games and the two would watch them together and break down plays. Mike became consumed with the game’s nuances.

As a running back and linebacker, Macdonald’s physical attributes wouldn’t set him apart, but studying opponents’ tendencies gave him a head start. When he got to Centennial High School, Macdonald would break down film of opponents and present his findings to his coach, Xarvia Smith.

“When he first met me, he tried to tell me that we needed to go out to lunch and hang out together,” Smith recalled. “I was like, ‘Mike, you are a player. You are my player. I’m not hanging out with you.’

“He just always showed leadership. He always was prepared to show how good he was.”

As a junior, Macdonald started getting stingers in his neck. His doctor advised him that he was at long-term risk if he continued to play through his senior year, but Macdonald wanted to go out on his terms. After the swelling around the nerves in his neck subsided, the doctor greenlighted him to play in the final game of the season. But on the last play of the last practice of game week, Macdonald heard a pop in his knee. He tore his ACL. There would be no one final game.

There would, however, be one last high school hurrah. About four months after surgery, Macdonald was sitting on the bench for the Centennial High baseball team. Macdonald’s coach was initially too concerned for his safety to play him. Macdonald begged him to reconsider. In the team’s second game, the score was tied in the last inning and Macdonald got the go-ahead to hit.

“He took two pitches and put the next pitch over the fence,” Hugh said. “He looked like Kirk Gibson going around the bases, he had this big brace on his knee. It was quite a moment.”

Macdonald was a student at the University of Georgia when he called Smith looking for a favor. Smith had recently gotten the head job at Cedar Shoals High in Athens, and Macdonald wanted to know if he had an opening.

“Mike is probably one of the smartest people I’ve ever met in my life,” Smith said. “I realized if he just learned how to work, he would be great at this.”

Macdonald started running the defense for Cedar Shoals’ ninth-grade team. They had six shutouts that year.

“An awesome experience,” Macdonald said. “I went into the situation as a strategist. I liked identifying tendencies and anticipating plays. What I learned is you can take a person from A to B. When you do that, if he did something today that he couldn’t do yesterday, that was incredibly rewarding. That’s when I was hooked.”

For two years, Macdonald dropped by the Georgia football offices on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, spending hours talking with video coordinator Joe Tereshinski and hoping somebody would appreciate his persistence. Macdonald was putting the finishing touches on a degree in finance — he graduated summa cum laude — when he ran into new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham at a Starbucks and took one final opportunity to state his case. Impressed, Grantham invited him in for a formal meeting, then told Macdonald there was a volunteer coaching spot available as long as he got into grad school.

“I took out a loan and went to work,” Macdonald said.

Macdonald worked at Georgia for four seasons, the first as a volunteer assistant and the next three as a grad assistant. He broke down film, worked on game plans and helped run the scout team in the ultimate football education.

“When you have guys that are really sharp and can communicate well and are hard workers and put their nose down and get to work, you can see where a guy is going to have a chance to move up in the world,” said Mark Richt, Georgia’s football coach at the time. “You want confident people and you want guys who you believe are trustworthy. I think there is a real comfort level with Mike and the type of person he is. He checked all of the boxes.”

Then he almost walked away from the profession altogether. At 26, Macdonald became “disillusioned” by the job. His time as a grad assistant expired in 2013. Some of the politics had gotten to him, and some of his relationships had become draining.

“The whole glamor of being a football coach was wearing off,” Macdonald said. “I didn’t really believe in the process and the people that I was around. I didn’t see the benefit of what I had fallen in love with before.”

There were opportunities for him. Macdonald had a finance degree and a master’s in sports management. Hugh had always encouraged Macdonald and his two sisters to have a plan and then make sure every decision was geared toward that plan. Hugh wasn’t against a career in coaching, but the business world can be awfully lucrative for somebody with Mike’s intelligence and savvy, and Hugh wanted to make sure football was the best place for his son’s talents.

“I figured I was going to go see the world and start working,” Macdonald said. “It didn’t feel like it was the right thing to do when it was happening, but I just felt kind of forced to do it. I didn’t want to take a job at Wherever State and go across the country recruiting Johnny. It wasn’t on the trajectory that I wanted it to be on.”

He accepted a $60,000 job in Atlanta working at KPMG, one of the country’s “Big 4” accounting firms. He had already signed a contract when he got a call from the Ravens. The previous year, he had applied for a scouting internship with Baltimore. That wasn’t a great fit, but Harbaugh was starting a coaching internship program in 2014.

Macdonald informed KPMG that he would no longer be joining the firm.

Harbaugh has each of his assistants present a different aspect of the week’s game plan to the team. It’s good exposure and experience for young coaches and creates a sense of accountability for everyone on staff.

As a twenty-something whose playing career ended in high school, Macdonald felt some initial apprehension about stepping in front of a room of NFL veterans.

“I just remember thinking, Terrell Suggs is back there,” Macdonald said. “Why in the world would he listen to anything I’m saying?”

But those game week sessions in front of the likes of Suggs, a former defensive player of the year, helped Macdonald find his voice. If he believed in the process, he didn’t need to worry about presenting himself in a certain way.

“I think you come to the realization of, ‘OK, I’ve put a lot of work into this thing and I think I have something (Suggs) can benefit from,’” Macdonald said. “If I’m trying to be some guy that I feel like he’d resonate with, that’s not going to work. It’s hard to be that person all of the time. Just be yourself.”

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That first year in Baltimore, Macdonald shared an office with fellow Ravens interns Chris Horton and Eugene Shen. They broke down plays, worked on projects and helped out the coaching staff. A decade later, Horton leads the Ravens’ special teams and Shen is the senior vice president of football strategy for the Washington Commanders.

“We talk about it all the time, where we’ve come from to where we are now,” Horton said. “It’s been an amazing process of putting your head down, going to work and those things will pay off for you.”

In his lone season at Michigan, Mike Macdonald led a top-10 defense on a team that earned a College Football Playoff appearance. (Robin Alam / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In 2018, Harbaugh interviewed Macdonald, then a 30-year-old linebackers coach, for the defensive coordinator job after Dean Pees retired. Harbaugh ultimately hired Wink Martindale, but the opportunity to interview ultimately strengthened Macdonald’s conviction.

“It was a great experience to go through and say, OK, if I were to do it, what would it look like? What are your ideas?” Macdonald said. “It makes you organize your thoughts.”

He continued to prepare himself for an opportunity. He and fellow assistant Jesse Minter watched film together and practiced calling the game, constantly reviewing different offensive schemes and discussing the defensive response.

“You could tell right away how sharp this dude was,” said Minter, now the defensive coordinator at Michigan. “Some people do the job that they have and do a good job, and other people do the job that they have and do a good job while at the same time always preparing for the next job mentally.”

When Michigan had a defensive coordinator opening after the 2020 season, Harbaugh pitched Macdonald to his brother, Jim, thinking Macdonald was then ready to be in that role. He was proven correct. In Macdonald’s one season in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines had a top-10 defense, turned the tables on Ohio State, played in the College Football Playoff and produced three top-45 defensive draft picks.

When the Ravens and Martindale parted ways in January 2022, Harbaugh brought back Macdonald, believing the time was right. Minter replaced him with the Wolverines.

Things didn’t get off to an auspicious start. When the Ravens blew a three-touchdown lead to the Miami Dolphins in Week 2 that season, ESPN analyst Rex Ryan, a former Baltimore defensive coordinator, said the “new hot-shot coordinator is terrible.” But by season’s end — and after a trade that brought Roquan Smith over from Chicago in the middle of Smith’s second consecutive All-Pro campaign — the Ravens defense was playing at a high level, finishing eighth in the league in defensive DVOA.

They’ve been significantly better this season, shutting down some of the game’s top offenses. Smith calls Macdonald a “wizard” for his ability to identify weaknesses and exploit them.

“If there’s something we’re not comfortable with, he’ll throw it out. If there’s something we’re not comfortable with but we want to work on, he’ll try to simplify it and make it to where it does work for us,” said inside linebacker Patrick Queen. “He’s very thorough in everything he does.”

This isn’t the constantly blitzing, physically pulverizing Ravens defense of yesteryear. This group’s aggression is more controlled and calculated, relying heavily on deception and each player embracing his role on a given play. It is versatile, multiple and creative, a beautiful harmony of scheme and personnel being studied and admired at both the college and professional levels.

Macdonald believes strongly in the players being accountable to one another. He has his 355-pound nose tackle drop into passing lanes and his 190-pound cornerback blitz. He has onrushing linebackers set picks to give defensive linemen free runs at the quarterback. He preaches total buy-in, but you won’t see him admonishing a player on the sideline. Instead, he generally stands stoically, his eyes either trained on the field or peering down at his call sheet.

“I think there’s a perfect combination of what you play and how you play,” Minter said. “I think a lot of coaches lose that. For some people, it’s all about scheme. For some people, it’s all about effort and fundamentals. But having been in Baltimore, to me, it’s a perfect combination.

“You often hear the term, ‘Play like a Raven.’ That means 11 guys on the field playing together.”

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Macdonald has had five head-coaching interviews already and is awaiting a second with the Atlanta Falcons. Ravens fans are so concerned they might lose him that they have taken to social media to jokingly impugn him so other organizations stay away. Macdonald cracked a smile when asked about those attempts, saying his wife Stephanie has passed along some of the funnier ones.

Then after a quick grin, his game face returned.

He’s never going to be the first guy in the room to tell a joke. His idea of breaking the tension in meetings is dropping a line from a Jim Carrey comedy. Those are often met with quizzical looks from players, such as cornerback Brandon Stephens, who chuckled thinking about his coach’s “cheesy, lame jokes.”

“He’s a little bit of a football nerd,” Minter said. “And I mean that as a compliment.”

Maybe self-promotion is overrated.

One of the signature performances for Macdonald’s Ravens defense came in Baltimore’s heavyweight clash against the San Francisco 49ers, who host the Detroit Lions in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. Both teams entered 11-3, but the Ravens forced five interceptions in the Christmas night tour de force, with Marcus Williams putting the finishing touches on the 33-19 victory by picking off San Francisco’s Sam Darnold in the game’s closing minutes.

Macdonald stomped around the sideline and wildly slapped the hand of defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, an outburst notable because it was so out of character.

(Illustration: Sean Reilly / The Athletic; photos: Todd Olszewski, Fred Kfoury III / Getty Images)

We're down to the final four. The top-seeded Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers will try to fend off challenges from the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs and the upstart Detroit Lions to reach Super Bowl LVIII.

Jeff Howe reviews the conference championship games before The Athletic's projection model, created by Austin Mock, reveals each team's chances of winning the Super Bowl.

AFC

No. 1 Baltimore Ravens vs. No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs, 3:00 PM ET, Sunday

Quarterback Lamar Jackson was the best player on the field during the Ravens' 34-10 win against the Houston Texans, and when that happens, they'll be virtually unstoppable. The Ravens are 10-0 this season, including Saturday, when Jackson's passer rating is above 90, and that doesn't even consider his rushing prowess.

It's not all Jackson, though. Head coach John Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald were brilliant in their playoff opener. Monken's adjustments were excellent against the Texans' aggressive blitz packages, while Macdonald accomplished the rare feat of shutting down quarterback C.J. Stroud. It would be a surprise at this point if Macdonald doesn't get a head coaching job this cycle, and it's not unthinkable to think the Ravens could lose both coordinators.

Patrick Mahomes has reached the AFC Championship every season and has been a starter in the NFL pic.twitter.com/18EeNToCMC

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 22, 2024

While it seemed like the Ravens' year, they now have to defeat the reigning Super Bowl champions as the Chiefs continue to try to stake their claim as a modern dynasty. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is coming off his first career playoff win on the road, and he'll have to do it again in his sixth consecutive AFC Championship Game appearance.

Not only that, but the Chiefs simply played their best game of the season by a significant margin. The defense finished the game with three straight scoreless possessions, but that unit has been solid all season. Even more impressive, Mahomes and his supporting cast delivered in several key moments, making just one crucial mistake. If they play this well in Baltimore, the title game should be a thriller.

LIVE recap of the divisional round with @robertmays And @Nate_Tice

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) January 22, 2024

NFC

No. 1 San Francisco 49ers vs. No. 3 Detroit Lions, 6:30 PM ET, Sunday

This match can be decided on the pitch, and the Lions will need to step up their efforts in that area. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who ranked last in rushing and yards per carry during the regular season, ran 15 times for 89 yards on Sunday in Detroit. That was a surprising performance against a Lions defense that ranked second in rushing yards and third in yards per carry.

The 49ers' ground game needs little introduction with superstar Christian McCaffrey, who was an MVP frontrunner for much of the season. If the Niners move the ball with McCaffrey, they can double the Bucs' rushing numbers.

On the other hand, the Packers ran 28 times for 136 yards (4.9 yards per carry) against a 49ers defense that ranked 14th in allowing 4.1 yards per carry in the regular season. The Lions' two-pronged offense of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs ranked fifth in yards and yards per carry.

There will understandably be a lot of focus on quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Jared Goff, but the identity of every offense is built on the ground. Purdy struggled against the Packers before his impressive game-winning drive, while Goff was efficient in both playoff victories. Both quarterbacks are difficult to defend if the offense stays on schedule, which is why the NFC Championship Game will likely be decided by the better team on the ground.

Conference AFC NFC

Division north West

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AFC

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GO DEEPER

What separates the Bills from the Chiefs (it's not just Patrick Mahomes): Sando's Pick Six

(Photo of Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes: Cooper Neill/Getty Images)