The 2024 NFL regular season opens Thursday, and after another intriguing offseason, we finally will begin to see how all of the hirings, signings and draft selections will pan out.
But why wait? I’m peering into my crystal ball and delivering 10 bold predictions for the season. Strike up the debates. Tell me I’m crazy. But I see what I see!
The Bears hope they have their QB savior in 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams (Sam Greene / The Enquirer / USA Today)
Caleb Williams plays at an MVP level
The Chicago Bears have rarely sniffed relevance in the last decade, posting a winning record just once. But they’re counting on the top pick of this year’s draft to end their long-running quarterback carousel and transform them into contenders.
Williams is up for the task. He played college football for USC while commanding millions in NIL money, so Williams isn’t blinded by the bright lights of the NFL. He seemingly has the business-like approach, thirst for knowledge and diverse skill set necessary to succeed in the league.
Last season, C.J. Stroud instantly made his presence felt in Houston and down the stretch of the season thrust himself into the MVP conversation by leading the Houston Texans to the AFC South crown. Look for Williams to ignite a Bears team that boasts top-flight veterans and young prospects at key positions. Chicago resides in a highly competitive NFC North, so a division crown may be too daunting in Year 1. But Williams will prove to be the real deal.
Eagles rebound and contend for NFC supremacy
After an impressive 2022 campaign and painful loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, the Philadelphia Eagles never managed to recapture the magic in 2023. They opened the year 10-1, but things never felt quite right. Late in the season, Nick Sirianni’s squad collapsed. Those shortcomings have lit a fire under the Eagles’ young core players on both sides of the ball.
The offseason hiring of Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, plus the free-agent signing of former New York Giants rival Saquon Barkley, will help quarterback Jalen Hurts and his unit rebound in impressive fashion. Meanwhile, new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio should have a similar impact on a unit anchored by talented young linemen Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter and rookie defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. The Birds will reclaim their perch atop the NFC East and return to Super Bowl contention.
Pick up The Athletic 2024 Fantasy Football Guide to read expert evaluations & everything you need to know to win your fantasy football league.
Pick up The Athletic 2024 Fantasy Football Guide to read expert evaluations.
Davante Adams forces his way out of Las Vegas at the deadline
The Las Vegas Raiders swung big in March 2022 when they acquired Adams, the All-Pro wide receiver from the Green Bay Packers, for a first- and second-round pick and then gave him a five-year, $140 million contract. The move reunited Adams with former Fresno State teammate Derek Carr, but Carr fell out of favor with Raiders brass by the end of the same season and is now with the New Orleans Saints.
Last season, Adams recorded 1,144 receiving yards and eight touchdowns (his lowest output in four years) while playing with Aidan O’Connell, a hobbled Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer. The Raiders knew they needed an answer at quarterback this offseason, but aside from signing journeyman Gardner Minshew, stood pat.
Adams struggled to contain his frustrations last season. He said all the right things this summer, but how long will tranquility last? As he nears 32, Adams knows he’s wasting his prime years as a part of a rebuilding organization. It’s only a matter of time before he asks out of Las Vegas. Will the Raiders oblige and send him to a team he finds appealing? If things quickly go south, they just might.
Packers leapfrog Lions in NFC North
Dan Campbell and company won the hearts of football fans last season by going from perennial basement dwellers to kneecap-biting, teeth-kicking NFC contenders. A 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game cost the Lions a trip to what would have been their first Super Bowl. Expectations are high for this well-constructed team, but don’t crown Detroit the repeat NFC North champion just yet.
The Packers were the hottest team in the league during last season’s homestretch, and Jordan Love arrived as a bona fide franchise quarterback. Look for Green Bay to continue its ascension this season. Love will garner MVP consideration as he and his talented, young targets continue to flourish in Matt LaFleur’s offense. New running back Josh Jacobs brings a sorely lacking workhorse element, and new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will infuse his unit with life. Not only will the Packers overtake the Lions as division champions, they just might find themselves contending for a trip to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX.
Murray, the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner, entered the NFL with such promise but has endured all kinds of calamity in the last five years. He did garner Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and two Pro Bowl selections, but a subpar supporting cast, an ACL tear in 2022 and the firing of coach Kliff Kingsbury in January 2023 have prevented him from reaching his full potential.
Murray worked his way back to play in the final eight games of last season and showed promise in new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s system. Now another year removed from his ACL surgery, a second season in Petzing’s offense and with rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. by his side, look for Murray to reclaim his status as one of the NFL’s most electrifying playmakers. The Cardinals, who also boast a talented running back in James Conner and tight end in Trey McBride, just might give opposing defenses headaches this season as they try to return to relevance in the NFC West.
The 35-year-old Wilson opens the season as QB1 for the Steelers, and observers say he appears comfortable in Arthur Smith’s system, which relies heavily on the run to set up shots downfield. Wilson may get off to a solid start, but the question is how long the effectiveness will last. And if the offense struggles to keep pace with other high-scoring teams, will Mike Tomlin feel compelled to see if Fields (an electrifying runner and developing passer) can provide a spark? Smart money says yes.
Don’t be surprised to see a midseason quarterback change for the Steelers. Then the question becomes whether Fields can hold onto the job, or whether the Steelers need to address the quarterback position again next offseason.
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Why the Steelers jumped when Russell Wilson and Justin Fields needed a ‘bounce-back’
Rookie quarterbacks Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. have generated a good deal of buzz, and rightfully so. But don’t forget about Rattler, the fifth-round QB pick who has flown under the radar in New Orleans.
Derek Carr enters Year 2 as the Saints’ starting quarterback, but he directed a mediocre attack in 2023. It remains to be seen if new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak can help the 33-year-old Carr regain his Pro Bowl form. The Saints are in the middle of a rebuild, and by midseason, the intrigue surrounding Rattler could prompt a change at quarterback.
The former Oklahoma-turned-South Carolina star played well in the preseason, demonstrating an ability to work through progressions, make quick decisions and hang tough in the pocket. The Saints can get out of Carr’s four-year, $150 million contract after this season, and if last year’s offensive struggles continue, New Orleans may want to start Rattler to see what it has in him.
Dak Prescott becomes a free agent in 2025 if he and the Cowboys can’t agree on a contract extension. (Tim Heitman / USA Today)
Dak Prescott becomes the richest QB or walks
Jerry Jones has dragged his feet rewarding his most important players for their services. He finally took care of CeeDee Lamb last week, but his franchise quarterback, who last season led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes and 410 completions, remains without a contract beyond this season. Jones and Prescott’s camp could still work out an 11th-hour deal that would make him the highest-paid quarterback in the league. But if the season opens with Prescott still lacking an extension, all bets are off.
The quarterback has said and done all of the right things despite often being used as the scapegoat for Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys’ shortcomings. While Lamb opted to hold out until he got a new deal, Prescott clocked in on time and has worked throughout training camp and the preseason and he’s set to lead the Cowboys on another quest for the Super Bowl.
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Dak Prescott carries all the leverage in negotiations with Cowboys — and he knows it
Look for Prescott to again be among the league’s passing leaders. The Cowboys will again fall short, but through no fault of the quarterback. And then look for Prescott, who per the terms of his current deal cannot be franchise-tagged again, to hit the open market. How fitting would it be for Prescott to take his talents to someplace like Los Angeles and win a ring with Sean McVay, or to New York to help Brian Daboll at last revive the New York Giants and torment Jones’ Cowboys twice a year?
49ers suffer Super Bowl hangover
There’s plenty to like about the 49ers. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have rebuilt one of the league’s most storied franchises into a first-class operation, so if any team can shake off the effects of a heartbreaking overtime loss in Super Bowl LVIII, it’s the 49ers, right? Wrong.
It’s not just because their leading wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk missed all of training camp in a contract dispute resolved just last week, missing a chance to further hone his connection with Brock Purdy. The other issue is that All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams has been a holdout all summer because he, too, wants a contract extension. Williams is a huge piece of the 49ers’ success in the pass and run game. There’s a big drop-off from Williams to Jaylon Moore, who has made just seven career starts.
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How the 49ers paid Brandon Aiyuk — while saving room for Trent Williams and Brock Purdy
Then, to make matters worse, the 49ers will not have first-round rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall for some time. The Florida product missed the bulk of preseason practices with a shoulder injury and on Saturday was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt. Pearsall was released from the hospital on Sunday. The 49ers are also still waiting for defensive cornerstones Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga to recover from injuries.
This has all of the makings of a slow start for the 49ers, and in the NFL, it gets late early.
Patrick Mahomes leads Chiefs to Super Bowl history
It took us forever to learn to never bet against Tom Brady, so let’s not make the same mistake twice.
There’s no betting against Mahomes here. As long as Mahomes is in his prime, he always gives the Chiefs a chance to win it all. It’s true that no team has won three Super Bowls in a row, but Mahomes is that good, and Andy Reid, Steve Spagnuolo and Brett Veach are just as good at their jobs when it comes to equipping, supporting and building around their prized quarterback.
Last season’s title defense run felt laborious at times for the Chiefs, but at crunch time, Mahomes and company were at their best. This Kansas City team may actually prove better than last season’s squad. Mahomes has an improved cast of wide receivers, he still has Travis Kelce, and the run game seems destined for greater effectiveness. Meanwhile, Chris Jones still anchors a defense that has steadily retooled and reloaded and now is among the best in the league. The three other AFC West teams are in rebuilding stages, and while the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens could threaten the Chiefs’ quest, it’s just too hard to bet against No. 15.
(Top illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos of Brock Purdy, Matt LaFleur and Jalen Hurts: Ric Tapia, Patrick McDermott and G Fiume / Getty Images)