Even while the free agency craze may have subsided for the time being, the decisions taken in March will still be
remembered come September of 2024 when the NFL season begins, particularly in terms of divisional races.
Although free agents rarely move a team from last to first place, they can change the relative strength of the
competitors.
I decided to highlight one free-agent signing in each division that has the ability to have a significant impact on the
competition for the top slot in 2024 after spending some time to go through the transaction sheet from the previous
few weeks.
Without a question, the Jets signed this big-play expert with the intention of winning now. Against one-on-one
coverage, Williams provides Aaron Rodgers with a powerful playmaker to target down the field, especially on back-
shoulder fades. Williams is also a dangerous option in the red zone, as teams are trying to bracket Garrett Wilson in
crucial situations due to his effectiveness on 50/50 balls. Miami and Buffalo both had 11 victories in 2023, but
neither club is a sure thing to win the division in 2024. Williams’ presence should guarantee the Jets’ offense has the
firepower to support Rodgers in leading this team back to the postseason, if he can maintain his health. He missed 18
games in the previous two seasons, including the most of 2023 due to an ACL tear.
Defense coordinators will be awake at night just thinking about Henry and Lamar Jackson running different
variations of power-read plays. The addition of the extra-large sledgehammer improves the option attack for the
Ravens. With his size, strength, and power, Henry can go downhill and gain the difficult yards in between tackles. In
addition, forcing opponents to respect Henry’s strength and Jackson’s quickness should only improve the Ravens’
play-action offense, where Jackson already excels and posted the highest total EPA (67.4) in the league in 2023 on
play-action, according Next Gen Stats. Although Baltimore won the AFC North last season, the division is far from
easy. The former NFL rushing champion’s presence in the backfield ought to improve the Ravens’ prospects.
The Jaguars and Colts are expected to be just as competitive in 2024 as they were in 2023, when the AFC South came
down to the last week of the regular season. As C.J. Stroud prepared to take over as the leader of a potent offense,
head coach DeMeco Ryans sought to bolster the bullpen with a fourth-quarter closer who could help secure victories.
With 87.5 career sacks and 11 forced fumbles, Hunter comes to H-Town. The former Viking uses a range of powerful
pass-rush techniques to go around edge blockers. Houston had the fourth-most pressures in the NFL last season
thanks to the combined efforts of Jonathan Greenard and Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson, according to
NGS. Ironically, Greenard joined with Hunter’s and may no longer be with them.
A two-time Pro Bowler, the Texans enter 2024 with two outstanding pass rushers who can pressure quarterbacks in
critical situations, particularly when rival offenses try to catch up to Stroud and company by chasing points.
Although it will be difficult to unseat Kansas City as the AFC West’s top team, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce
managed to lead the team to a second-place finish in 2023 despite coming over in the middle of the season. In
addition, they managed to stop the Chiefs to 235 passing yards and force four sacks on quarterback Patrick Mahomes
in their most recent game at Arrowhead Stadium. Undoubtedly, this acquisition energizes a defense that placed in
the upper half of the NFL in terms of points and yards conceded. For Maxx Crosby to be able to rush passes more
easily, he sorely needed another top-tier defender on the front line. Wilkins has outstanding first-step quickness and
aggressive hands, making him a dangerous interior defender. He is capable of both force and skillful victory, as
shown by his.
