As the NFL Draft approaches, teams are strategizing to address key areas of need in preparation for the upcoming season. The Denver Broncos and the New York Jets are preparing to move on from their head coaches. When looking at their plans, they have very similar top priorities. The Broncos want to upgrade at least one starting spot on their offensive line, tight end and wide receiver. At the same time, the Jets are focusing on those exact places to improve their roster.
The Broncos proved to have a pretty stout defense and O-Line along the way through the 2024 season. With an eye towards the 2025 draft, they look to reinforce their base. This will increase their odds of being able to consistently compete for the AFC West title, particularly when around their division nemesis such as the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos look to make the playoffs for the second straight year.
The New York Jets are committed to fortifying their offensive tackle, tight end and wide receiver positions. As they prepare for the draft, these priorities should be top of their list. The team’s alignment sheds light on the cutthroat world of the NFL. As a result, organizations understand the essential need for fulfilling these key positions.
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals made headlines by extending the contract of star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and re-signing fellow receiver Tee Higgins. This decision foreshadows their longer-term goal of keeping a powerful offensive attack. The Bengals have never fully guaranteed contracts past the first year for any player, save for their quarterback Joe Burrow. This is a very critical, important detail to think about.
Buffalo Bills defense was the worst in the league last year. They gave up 68.5% of their attempted passes completed against them, the 5th most in the league. On the flip side, they were able to score on 43.8% of their third downs, ranking fourth overall. Fixing these defensive issues will be key as they move forward getting ready for the 2024 draft.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl underscored the need for improved pass protection. As the Chiefs turn their attention to fortifying their starting lineup, they hope to avoid the same disappointments in inevitable subsequent playoff runs.
For once, the Cleveland Browns hold all of the cards. They swapped their 2022, 2023 and 2024 first-round picks to get quarterback Deshaun Watson. In those same 19 games, Watson has just 19 touchdown passes. What the team does next will be a wake-up call to his potential, or he forms as a player.
As for the Chicago Bears, they’ve found some key, exploitable deficiencies in their edge run defense. Last year, they ended up with a pass rush win rate of just 10.2%, the third worst mark in the league. The Detroit Lions went all-in on their draft strategy. Rather than select an edge rusher in Round 1, they took Ahmed Hassanein in Round 6.
“Reach, reach, reach. That’s what I have in my notes for the Saints. Too many reaches. I was critical of their first round.” – Mel Kiper Jr.
As we speak, teams are finalizing their strategies and scrambling to prepare for this unprecedented draft. Just like their namesake football team, they’re tackling immediate needs and playing smart, shrewd offense to guarantee success on the field for 2024.
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