Did the NFL landscape change now that the draft is over?
 

With FA and the draft completed, it still feels like it’s the same as last year.

Chiefs
Bills
Ravens

Think there are some changes below that though. Chargers got better than the Texans IMO. To me 3 teams improved massively: the Bears, Patriots and Raiders…Titans got a little better with Ward coming in. Of course all of those teams were at the bottom so they aren’t SB contenders by any means. Do think the Bears and Patriots will both likely make the playoffs this year.

Bengals draft sucked ass to me so no change there. Broncos got a bit better but are still a 7th seed, maybe 6th at best.

One thing is certain for me: if Josh Simmons or Jaylon Moore give us credible LT play this team is absolutely going back to the SB. No doubt in my mind.

Yea the Bears are a playoff team now.

So much still comes down to the quarterback.

You can be just fine at QB with a loaded roster and contend, but that’s nearly impossible to maintain.

If you don’t have an elite QB, you aren’t a contender every year.

If Trevor Lawrence can resuscitate his career, Jacksonville could contend for the AFC South.

The Texans took a step back this offseason.

I agree with most of that except the part about the cheating Donks. Their draft did nothing for them. There is a year of tape on their overdraft QB Mo Pix. Look for him to regress. Broncos will be lucky to win 8 games, much less a playoff spot. Playoff teams will likely be KC, Buffalo, Baltimore, Houston, LAC, Miami, and either New England or Cincinnati.

Really?

That defense is going to be really good.

Rearranging deck furniture

The top teams from last year are still going to be the top teams next year. Maybe a couple of surprise playoff appearances (like the bengals) but nah, the landscape hasn't changed.

I fully expect a Superbowl rematch. Washington is trying to stack a team quickly before they have to pay the big bucks but they won't get past the Eagles they are still stacked everywhere.

Patriots might have just become a problem.

Donx drafted a very good CB. Put him in the mix and they have something. I think you're right about Nix, but they still have a solid defense.I think their ceiling is 7th seed.

No chance. Still awful on both LOS. Building the team the complete opposite way to all the smart/good teams.

On what planet are the patriots a "problem?" They just drafted stumpy to play LT, and their QB looks like the 4th or 5th best QB in last year's draft. They MAY be a few years away from contending to be a wild card team.

The Giants have a ton of talent imo.

The coaching is what will set them back. Very high ceiling.

The Chiefs somehow managed to stay one step ahead of the AFC even picking last in almost every round and addressed literally every need they had. We are fans of the best organization in pro sports, and it rocks.

I don’t think the Ravens or Bills did anything to move the needle. Any good moves they made, the Chiefs matched and then some. I can’t wait to see these two young pass rushers put to work by Spags. Joshy and Lamar’s third downs against us just got a whole lot tougher, not even mentioning the vastly improved secondary absolutely loaded with young talent we’ll be trotting out. Come playoff time, this defense could be the best we’ve seen so far. Same with the offense.

You’d think eventually someone will clearly pass this team, but it damn sure wasn’t this year.

On ChiefsPlanet.

If they were not drafted by the Chiefs. Their fathers used snot for lube

I think the nfl will spend the entire offseason beefing up to stop the run. It felt like the draft really valued beefy guys. For the first time in the while we are not the hunted. Last year was the year of the RB. Easier to build a team around a running game because it makes the qb a little less important. I suspect that will change this year. If defenses get better against the run that flips the landscape entirely.

I don't think the Patriots are a problem at all, but you're way off if you think Drake Maye looks like the 4th of 5th best QB in last year's draft. He's at worst 3rd and very likely 2nd, and he did it all with a much worse supporting cast than any of the others.

Agreed. And even if they do exceed expectations, they’ll likely be a problem for the Bills long before they become a thorn in our side so no biggie just yet.

Everybody seems to finally realize the only way you beat the Chiefs is by fielding a defense that’s able to stop Mahomes. It’s literally happened a handful of times in 7 seasons but you can see which teams went this way in the draft and which ones didn’t.

So I agree it’s still all about the Ravens, Bills, and Chiefs.

And honestly, just my opinion, but as long as Lamar is at the helm in Baltimore they’re still a distant third.

One thing became painfully obvious to me, the AFC West is becoming insanely competitive.

The Patriots may have had the best overall draft of any team this year, especially in relation to filling needs with high-end players.

Best LT with Campbell
Best OC with Wilson
Most explosive RB with Henderson
Dynamic Z/Slot WR with Williams
A steal at DT with Farmer

Those guys might all start.

Woodson can play FS and NB, great depth player
Swinson on the Edge feels like another steal.

They put another draft like that together next year, they'll be a serious contender again

The chiefs are still the chiefs. Because their better then the rest of the NFL and they know it.

yeah the chiefs are gonna actually do the threepeat this time

On the top end it really didn't. Chiefs and Bills in the AFC and Philly vs whatever hot team comes along in the NFC. I expect CIN to make the Playoffs next year but that should surprise nobody. They missed it by a whisker last year despite a terribly slow start.

The big swinging dicks are still the ones a-packing.

Patriots sunk to a new low. They're the new Chargers. Offseason Champs.

I still like boobs. They're my favorite thing. Still.

In case anyone was wondering.

I thought the Bills needed to get some juice on the offensive side of the ball. They did nothing there IMO. Some nice defensive moves, but easily matched by the other AFC contenders.

Patrick Mahomes is still on the Chiefs so nothing changed.

In the NFC, did the Niners get better? Did they just have a down year or are they truly on a downside? They haven’t signed Purdy yet have they?

The Eagles still look like the clear front runner

The AFC west is obviously going to be good and a dogfight now. Every organization has competent leadership at the top now. Going to be fun.

Trying to answer this question in April is a fools errand and everyone knows it. Let’s see what happens after training camp, then mid-November. On paper every team gets better after the draft, but we know that’s not how it works.

All true but with one major assumption: Drake Maye is a franchise QB.

I thought he looked good as a rookie, but he has to be good for them to be contenders.

Their defense always does them in during the playoffs. The offense isn't their problem in big games.

Unfortunately for the rest of the nfl, the chiefs are going to be much better than before!

When all of our pieces come together there isn’t a team that can stop our destiny!

BuffaLOL's draft was underwhelming. They didn't draft any weapons for Allen and on defense, they got no impact players.

Hmm, I'm going to disagree on no impact.

TJ Sanders was one of the best DT prospects. Derrick Harmon had 40 tackles 3.5 tfl and 1.5 sacks then 45 tackles 10.5 tfl and 5.0 sacks. Compare that to Sanders who had 43 tackles 10.0 tfl and 4.5 sacks followed by 50 tackles 7.0 tfl and 4.0 sacks. He's consistently disruptive.

They took Deone Walker at NT as well, who is kind of boom or bust, but that boom has serious potential.

I didn't love Landon Jackson, but he's a quicker version of Epenesa, and that will play. Getting him in the 3rd was a good value.

The DBs they took are all really good, and that's where they needed the most help.

Hairston had 5 INTs in 2023. He got injured halfway through 2024, so his production obviously took a major hit. With 4.28 speed, they absolutely drafted him to stick with a guy like Worthy. I didn't like him for us with how physical we like our CBs and how much we rely on them to tackle in space but that doesn't mean he's not an excellent player who can make you pay for your mistakes.

Hancock is one of the best NBs in the draft. He was everywhere for Ohio State.

Strong is a high-quality, physical CB who had 5 picks over the past 2 seasons.


I honestly don't understand what "more weapons" Josh Allen needs. They added Joshua Palmer and Laviska Shenault at WR in the offseason. Palmer is a really good WR who is likely to pop getting out of LA.

They have a great 1-2 with Knox and Kincaid, and added Hawes as a #3 in the draft. They have a great 3-deep RB. They didn't need weapons.

They needed DL and DB and attacked it.