Following the Chiefs’ phenomenal victory over the 49ers, the National Football League’s offseason had begun. Starting off the recap, two of the biggest changes in the game since the creation of the forward pass, the kickoff and tackling rules, have been altered for “safety” reasons. Originally, the kicking team would place a kicking tee down and carefully stand a football for an NFL kickoff. Then, a kicker would run up to the ball and kick it as strategically as possible, depending on the context of the kick. Alternatively, teams were allowed to kick the ball in a short diagonal direction to hopefully recover the ball and gain a second possession.
Regarding the tackling rule changes, the “hip tackle” has been banned. A hip tackle would occur when a defender was behind the ball carrier, grabbed the carrier’s hip, and then “dead weighted” (meaning they released their body and let their body mass fall without stopping their momentum). This move was deemed a major safety hazard as many players were receiving lower body injuries such as sprained ankles and ACL tears.
After the league-wide changes, each team has experienced some notable changes, and this article will quickly recap the biggest changes with a grade from A to F on their performances throughout the offseason with the top-five winners of this period.
- Houston Texans: A+
Entering the offseason with a solid offensive team and a strong defense, the Texans had to retain their team simply and would likely be looking at another playoff appearance. However, with CJ Stroud and Will Anderson still remaining on their rookie contracts, the team sought out veteran pass rusher Danielle Hunter. Hunter was a strong starter for his old team, the Vikings, and he brought an insane upside for the Texans in his signing. Alongside their defense, the Texans were able to acquire running back Joe Mixon and receiver Stefon Diggs to bolster their already explosive offense into most likely the on-paper best offensive unit in the entire league.
- Baltimore Ravens: A
One of the most consistently favored teams to win a ring, the Ravens always faced some sort of challenge with small pieces of their game. These small pieces included the run game and maintaining their stellar defense. Focusing on the teams’ ability to move the ball through the run, the Ravens acquired Derek Henry, a former Heisman trophy winner and one of the most dominant running backs in the entire league, for a two-year $16 million contract. Alongside their acquisition of Henry, the team was able to resign one of the best defensive tackles in the league, Justin Madubuike. Although still a developing player, the experienced tackle has shown great upside in resigning him as he was ranked 13th in sacks as a tackle, something that a lot of tackles are never able to accomplish in their career for a season, and he still shows improvement.
- New York Giants: A-
Not necessarily adding big names in the league, the Giants still have a bright future ahead of them with a very high draft pick at #6 and a young, developable team. Creating one of the scariest defensive lines in the league, the Giants were able to trade for former Panther Brain Burns to improve their already stellar trenches. However, with uncertainty around their quarterback Daniel Jones the team has to find a way to offload him before they unravel from the inside out.
- Philadelphia Eagles: A-
Coming off a very disappointing season for the former Superbowl contenders, the Eagles have been looking to improve in any way possible with their already stacked team. This team’s biggest free agency acquisition was to sign former second-overall pick running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley is an absolute unit on the field, bringing in impressive body control and receiving capabilities that the Eagles lacked in the 2023 season. Even with the loss of their legendary center Jason Kelce the team can very well make a strong push into the playoffs and maybe even take another shot at winning the Superbowl.
- New York Jets: B+
Regaining the four-time MVP winner, Aaron Rodgers has given the team high hopes entering the 2024 season. That, alongside the acquisition of dominant offensive tackle Tyron Smith and veteran Mike Williams, has created a stir within the league regarding how hit or miss this team could be. Additionally, adding veteran Hassan Reddick has only bolstered the already dominant defense that the Jets command.