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Sports Editor: Tom Dunford

Email: tdunford@umassd.edu

With the NFL free agency window nearly in the rearview mirror and teams looking ahead to the 2024 NFL draft, it’s time we rank the biggest winners and losers of the offseason. Some teams made big moves, while others opted to stand pat with their roster and stay the course.

Whatever happens this upcoming season, just remember: please don’t let Mahomes win.

Winner: Chicago Bears

Oh my goodness, is this a positive Bears post? As if 2024 couldn’t get any weirder.

As a Bears fan, it’s been a long time of misery and mediocrity, but now it feels like the time for the Bears to become a top talent is imminent. 

They made some ground-breaking changes, with one of the most significant moves in acquiring star wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers for a measly fourth-round pick. 

Top free agent signings such as running back D’Andre Swift, safety Kevin Byard, and offensive tackle Matt Pryor also came to join Bears nation, which is looking to hit the restart button from the past.

But for all good, it’s done, and one move stings harder than any other: Justin Fields is gone. As the team looked forward to the draft, the third-year quarterback had a chance to prove his talents. Although he performed admirably, the Bears hold the first overall pick in the draft, and the USC Trojan quarterback Caleb Williams looks too talented to pass on.

Many questions remain with the Bears, but one thing is certain: they are a force to be reckoned with.

Loser: Dallas Cowboys

Hey, uhhh, Dallas? You there?

Jerry Jones claimed that he was going all-in this offseason, as the Cowboys have failed to reach the NFC championship since 1995. Despite being a talented team during the regular season, they somehow find a way to collapse each postseason.

But as days turn to weeks, it’s as if the Cowboys are hibernating, as they haven’t made a single move all offseason. They have holes to fill, such as replacing wide receiver Michael Gallup and running back Tony Pollard. Not making any moves is worse than making poor ones, and the Cowboys front office has to learn that soon.

Winner: Atlanta Falcons

When asked why he wasn’t using his savvy skilled-position players such as Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson, former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said, “I don’t care about Fantasy Football.”

Well, Arthur, unfortunately for you, the Atlanta Falcons don’t care for mediocre seven- to ten-season runs, and they kicked you right out into unemployment. The Atlanta Falcons made a huge signing of the infamous quarterback Kirk Cousins and hired former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. 

This alone is a massive bonus for the Falcons, who will now watch the players they put heavy draft capital into finally blossom and thus be a sneaky contender this season.

Loser: Buffalo Bills

A Super Bowl window can only be open for so long, and unfortunately for the Buffalo Bills, it looks like their window is closing. They still have talent, such as the dual threat, do-it-all quarterback Josh Allen and inventive wide receiver Stefon Diggs, but walking a tripe rope against the cap has proven faulty, as the Bills have had to part ways with numerous threats on both sides of the ball.

Players like Gabe Davis, Jordan Poyer, Tre’Davius White, and Siran Neal are all casualties of the lack of cap space the Bills have to utilize, and thus they were cut. The Bills still are contenders, but with them failing to pass the boogyman in Patrick Mahomes again this postseason, it feels like their time is officially over. 

Winner: Tennessee Titans

Firing Mike Vrabel definitely was a faulty move, but this team is heading in the right direction.

The Tennessee Titans are sneakily underrated in the upcoming 2024 season. Many questions need to be answered, but their potential is there. 

They parted ways with the former offensive player of the year, running back Derrick “King” Henry, but they managed to replace him with the disgruntled Cowboy, Tony Pollard. Alongside him, they acquired Super Bowl champion cornerback L’Jarious Sneed from the Kansas City Chiefs. To top it off, they added former Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who can help aging star Deandre Hopkins find the end zone. 

This team still needs to become a Superbowl contender, but with plenty of draft capital and potential, they can make serious noise.

Loser: New York Giants

Saquon Barkley went to the Eagles. That’s all that needs to be said.

This team is horrendous. Holes are everywhere in the lineup, and with little draft capital and questions at quarterback, it feels as if they need direction. 

They made some noise, trading for defensive end Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers for a second and fifth-round pick. However, his production could be utterly useless as they have one of the worst offenses on paper.

How bad is it? Their starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, may not even be ready to play by the time kickoff starts. They have no wide receivers, playmakers, running game, and an offensive line that was bottom five in every meaningful category. 

This team is in contention to be one of the worst clubs next season, and it might hurt worse watching Barkley run them up and down two times.