Looking at the league-wide offseason transactions, three teams have been especially busy in terms of loading up on free agents and/or making trades. One was one of the better teams last year, hoping these moves put them over the top. The other two were among the worst.
The Texans are the notable team that's going for it. Joe Mixon (pictured) and Stefon Diggs were two of the potential offensive difference-makers available (although both have probably played their best football already), and they'll join Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud in what should be one of the better offenses. But look also on the defensive side of the ball. They should have at least six new starters this season, with a couple of other free agent additions (Del'Shawn Phillips, Mike Ford) candidates, plus the NFL Draft is yet to come.
| TEXANS DEFENSIVE STARTERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | 2023 | 2024 |
| DE | Will Anderson | Will Anderson |
| DT | Maliek Collins | Foley Fatukasi |
| DT | Sheldon Rankins | Denico Autry |
| DE | Jonathan Greenard | Danielle Hunter |
| OLB | Blake Cashman | Henry To'oTo'o |
| OLB | Christian Harris | Christian Harris |
| MLB | Denzel Perryman | Azeez Al-Shaair |
| CB | Steven Nelson | Jeff Okudah |
| CB | Derek Stingley | Derek Stingley |
| FS | Jimmie Ward | Jimmie Ward |
| SS | Jalen Pitre | Jalen Pitre |
The other two teams will also be starting young quarterbacks, but unlike the Texans their ceiling seems to be a lot lower. The Panthers, most notably, are hoping that Bryce Young can take a big step up in year two, because they've overhauled pretty much everything else on the roster, on both sides of the ball. Including both free agent additions and guys who were backups much of last year, they could have six new offensive and seven new defensive starters. And Carolina has a pair of early second-round picks, and might reasonably select another starter or two in the draft (I think both wide receiver and tight end are good possibilities). The contract they gave former Packers tackle Yosh Nijman (2 year, $8M) suggests he could push to start at some point, as well.
| PANTHERS OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE STARTERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | 2023 | 2024 |
| QB | Bryce Young | Bryce Young |
| RB | Miles Sanders | Chuba Hubbard |
| WR | Adam Thielen | Adam Thielen |
| WR | DJ Chark | Diontae Johnson |
| WR | Jonathan Mingo | Jonathan Mingo |
| TE | Hayden Hurst | Tommy Tremble |
| LT | Ikem Ekwonu | Ikem Ekwonu |
| LG | Cade Mays | Damien Lewis |
| C | Bradkey Boseman | Austin Corbett |
| RG | Gabe Jackson | Robert Hunt |
| RT | Taylor Moton | Taylor Moton |
| DT | Shy Tuttle | Shy Tuttle |
| DE | DeShawn Williams | A'Shawn Robinson |
| DE | Derrick Brown | Derrick Brown |
| OLB | Brian Burns | Jadeveon Clowney |
| OLB | Yetur Gross-Matos | D.J. Wonnum |
| ILB | Deion Jones | Shaq Thompson |
| ILB | Frankie Luvu | Josey Jewell |
| CB | Donte Jackson | Dane Jackson |
| CB | Jaycee Horn | Jaycee Horn |
| FS | Jeremy Chinn | Jordan Fuller |
| SS | Xavier Woods | Xavier Woods |
Washington, we've discussed (criticized) some of their moves previously. Whatever quarterback they draft will be throwing to a couple of new skill guys who have definitely played their best ball (Austin Ekeler, Zach Ertz), working behind a line with potentially three new starters, and a dramatically different defense (I count at least seven and up to nine newcomers who will either start or could play key roles: Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, Clelin Ferrell, Jeremy Chinn, Michael Davis and a couple other guys).
In general, there's something to be said for making moves to improve rosters. Some teams are either cap-strapped, or maybe their owners don't care too much about the on-field product as long as the dollars keep rolling in.
But while Houston looks like a team that's going for it, adding some talent to support a quarterback on his rookie contract, both Carolina and Washington look like mildly desperate teams with new owners hoping to make a splash with a lot of new faces, some of whom have played their best football. In both cases, it looks like a lot of potential for things to go south, and they'll be blowing things up again a year or two from now.
--Andy Richardson