My initial 2024 NFL power rankings are an abbreviated version to avoid redundancy from the season preview, which you can check out here. As I always say, we don’t really know what these teams will look like until they hit the field, but there figures to be several teams that are good bets to be legitimate contenders.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
I don’t think I’ve ever picked the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl and they’ve done it three times under Andy Reid. They’re my pick this year.
2. San Francisco 49ers
As usual, it’s basically Super Bowl or bust for the 49ers. They still have the top-tier talent to again be among the final remaining teams in their quest for a championship.
3. Detroit Lions
The Lions are built to follow up their 12-5 regular season and two postseason victories with another fantastic year under Dan Campbell.
4. Baltimore Ravens
While they’re replacing a bunch of players lost to free agency, the Ravens have the backbone in place with John Harbaugh, Lamar Jackson, and company determined—and now boosted by former 2,000-yard rusher Derrick Henry.
5. Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen is going to keep the Bills afloat offensively, and Sean McDermott always fields a stout defense. The question is if Buffalo will be able to get key stops in January.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia secondary has depth, but they’ll need the starting group to step up and play at a high level to slow down the top offenses in the league.
7. Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy have plenty of motivation entering the final year of their deals for the Cowboys, and I wouldn’t sleep on new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer—also with a chip on his shoulder—taking the dynamic Dallas defense to another level.
8. Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans turned around the Texans quicker than anticipated, and the roster got a power-up this offseason with Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, and my Defensive Player of the Year pick Danielle Hunter.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
It sounds like the Ja’Marr Chase hold-in could certainly linger into Week 1 at home versus New England, but Week 2 versus the Chiefs is a massive early-season matchup people are already looking ahead to.
10. Green Bay Packers
Matt LaFleur’s deep and versatile attack is difficult to stop, and Jordan Love can potentially make a leap in just his second season as the franchise’s starting quarterback.
11. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are out of my playoff predictions, but there’s no doubt they are an incredibly dangerous team led by the creative Mike McDaniel.
12. New York Jets
It is a tad messed up that the schedule-makers put the Jets back on Monday Night Football in Week 1 after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles on MNF last season, and New York will be immediately tested by the Niners.
13. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams offense is in excellent shape with a group that can beat you on the ground or through the air if everyone stays healthy. Meanwhile, the defense will take the “no name” type of approach to another level without Aaron Donald.
14. Indianapolis Colts
The inexperienced Anthony Richardson has the tools to be a top-flight quarterback, and he’ll only get better with experience for a Colts squad that came within a game of the playoffs last year.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars
Perhaps overshadowed by the Eagles’ collapse in the NFC, the Jaguars fell off at the end of last season. Jacksonville has the upside with Doug Pederson and Trevor Lawrence to make a serious run.
16. Seattle Seahawks
I am very excited to see what the Seahawks look like on both sides of the ball this season. The offense is going to be difficult to contain if the offensive line stays healthy and performs.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Similarly, the Steelers must play well up front after investing resources there the past couple of years. If Russell Wilson can avoid taking sacks, Pittsburgh will be squarely in the AFC North mix.
18. Cleveland Browns
Despite the huge contract, I wouldn’t hesitate to play Jameis Winston if Deshaun Watson struggles in 2024. Cleveland’s defense is looking to build on last season’s great production.
19. Chicago Bears
The Bears built momentum last season to ultimately save the jobs of Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles, and now rookie phenom Caleb Williams is at quarterback for a club with suddenly high expectations.
20. Denver Broncos
The roster could use some work, but the Sean Payton-Bo Nix partnership should be tremendous in Denver—and I believe the Broncos will play with an underdog mentality to compete in the AFC.
21. Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh is going to establish a winning culture for the Chargers, but they’re this low in the power rankings in part due to Justin Herbert’s foot injury that could linger over the next few months.
22. Atlanta Falcons
The NFC South is expected to be the worst division in football, but the Falcons probably have the most upside if everything can click together for Kirk Cousins coming off a torn Achilles while joining a new team.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I like the pieces Tampa Bay has on offense, including rookie receiver Jalen McMillan joining Mike Evans and Chris Godwin; and Todd Bowles has a history of getting the most out of his defenses.
24. Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold has a prime opportunity to rebrand himself as a potential franchise quarterback, with Justin Jefferson headlining a stacked supporting cast in Minnesota.
25. New Orleans Saints
The wheels could eventually fall off for New Orleans, but it’s more likely that they hang around the .500 mark again and see what happens if they can catch fire at the right time. I’m looking for more Taysom Hill usage in the new offense.
26. Arizona Cardinals
With Kyler Murray healthy and Jonathan Gannon commanding the defense, I understand why the Cardinals might be seen as a sneaky contender. The NFC West can be brutal, though.
27. Las Vegas Raiders
Antonio Pierce is going to have the Raiders playing hard, and they won’t beat themselves if his time at the helm last season was any indication.
28. New York Giants
The Giants arguably have more upside than the few teams in front of them in the power rankings if the pass rush is elite, but I need to see the offensive line play better.
29. Tennessee Titans
It’s going to be very interesting to see what the Titans look like on the field after so many high-profile veteran additions over the past two offseasons. Can they keep the same intensity they showed under Mike Vrabel?
30. Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels’ ability to become an immediate gamebreaker at quarterback can make Washington more competitive than expected, but the defense must make major improvements in Year 1 under Dan Quinn.
31. Carolina Panthers
It was nice to see the Panthers doing work to support Bryce Young this offseason, and the second-year quarterback is in much better position to have success. Despite this ranking, it wouldn’t be shocking if Carolina pushes for a playoff spot in the NFC.
32. New England Patriots
The Patriots are a team that I would be very surprised if they make the playoffs in 2024. It would take a playing style of controlling the ball on offense—a difficult task with their offensive line—and playing top-notch defense.