Post-NFL Draft outlook for every team: Which teams improved most? Who has more work ahead?

While teams still have ways to add to their 2024 rosters through the spring and summer, most of the work is done with the NFL Draft is behind us.

So, what does the roster picture look like for every NFL team? Should fans and general managers feel better or worse? Are there still holes to fill? The Athletic’s NFL beat writers answer for all 32 teams.

GM Monti Ossenfort has had a productive offseason. Not only did he add one of the stars of the draft in wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., but he plugged several holes that contributed to last season’s 4-13 mark. The Cardinals appeared miles from competing for a playoff spot a year ago. Now? Not so much. The Cardinals need to generate a consistent pass rush (no easy task). Their young corners also have to develop quickly (also, no easy task.). But this looks more like a team inching closer to competing for a postseason spot instead of positioning itself for high draft picks. — Doug Haller

The Falcons have told anyone who will listen that they plan on being good next year, but they passed on their best chance to immediately improve the 2024 team by taking Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8. However, they did add enough defensive depth to help a unit that finished 18th in points allowed (21.9 per game) last year. Atlanta was the betting favorite to win the NFC South entering the draft, and their risky strategy at the top of the draft doesn’t change that. Stocking the defense with pass-rushing options during the draft should help what has been the biggest issue for the Falcons for what seems like forever. — Josh Kendall

The Ravens still have roster questions. When 14 unrestricted free agents depart, you’re going to have potential shortcomings that a nine-player rookie class can’t change. However, GM Eric DeCosta did his best work late last year in the offseason and training camp, when he added veterans such as Arthur Maulet, Ronald Darby and Jadeveon Clowney. He then signed Kyle Van Noy after Week 3 of the regular season. He’ll need to hit on a few veterans again in the coming months. The Ravens don’t have any gaping holes, and they still have one of the better rosters in football. With a few additional veteran signings, there’s no reason to think the Ravens won’t be one of the handful of contenders in the AFC. — Jeff Zrebiec

To sit here and say the Bills are as good or a better team than they were this time last year would not be truthful or honest. They took what they deemed to be necessary proactive steps to recover from an extensive salary-cap deficit both in 2024 and 2025, fostering a healthier cap situation in future years to do it. But in doing so, they said goodbye to much of the fabric of their roster that has gone to the playoffs five years running. The Bills made some necessary picks, getting a receiver in Keon Coleman, drafting an eventual starting safety in Cole Bishop and adding depth at places they needed to. However major questions remain as to the short-term trajectory of this team. — Joe Buscaglia

This offseason was always about giving Bryce Young better protection and more playmakers, however the Panthers want to frame it. GM Dan Morgan said they analyzed what positions looked strong in free agency and the draft and planned accordingly. The Panthers didn’t ignore the defense, drafting a second-day linebacker in Trevin Wallace and a Day 3 corner. But the bulk of the defensive picks came late in the draft, so there’s still work to be done late in free agency. Morgan improved the offense during free agency, then added some intriguing pieces (WR Xavier Legette, RB Jonathon Brooks, TE Ja’Tavion Sanders) in the draft. — Joe Person

Leave it to Caleb Williams to have the best approach — and answer — for the higher expectations the Bears now have after his selection: “What’s the reason to duck? It’s here. There’s no reason to duck. I’m here. Rome (Odunze)’s here. Keenan Allen, the top-five defense that we had last year, special teams, all the new roles — whatever. We’re here. I’m excited. I know everybody’s excited. The Bears fans are excited from what I’ve heard and seen, and there’s no reason to duck. Attack it headfirst and go get it.” — Adam Jahns

The draft reflected a team looking for one or two more stars, not just more complementary pieces. The big swings for tackle Amarius Mims and receiver Jermaine Burton on offense highlight that strategy. The fourth-round pick of oft-injured tight end Erick All did the same. The word “urgency” keeps coming up. Joe Burrow’s contract cap hit will start to be felt after this season, and the Bengals recognize how many pieces are in place to make a run with Burrow back healthy, a fourth-place schedule, and a young defense that took its lumps last year with eyes on a big jump in 2024. The Bengals are Super Bowl contenders. The swings they took during the draft might decide whether they end up there or picking in the middle of the pack again next April. — Paul Dehner Jr.

The Deshaun Watson trade is finally complete — the picks from it, anyway. The Browns gave up three first-rounders and six total picks over the last three drafts, but No. 123 this year marked the end of the compensation. The Browns have their own picks in the first four rounds next year, and they have a window of contention that only remains open if Watson can get healthy and play consistently well. Though most other teams across the league added depth and young talent that the Browns didn’t, they have long been prepared for this limited draft haul. They traded 2024 picks for Za’Darius Smith and Jerry Jeudy, and they mostly like what they have in place, assuming health and positive rehab reports in the coming months. — Zac Jackson

While the Cowboys will be able to find young players to attempt to make the roster at defensive tackle, like Justin Rogers, they have not replaced the loss of veteran Johnathan Hankins. It’ll be interesting to see how new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer attempts to get better production from that position group. Unless Mazi Smith makes a major jump in Year 2, it’s difficult to project the run defense being significantly better. — Jon Machota

The Broncos’ roster has changed dramatically since Sean Payton was hired. There could be as many as 15 starters when Week 1 rolls around in September who weren’t on the roster at the end of the 2022 season. He has changed the complexion of the team, but reconstruction is still in its early stages. The Broncos entered the draft with the longest odds to win the AFC West. Those aren’t changing now, even as they leave the draft with a new quarterback and starting defensive end. Denver still has a long way to go. But you don’t have to squint hard to see a plan forming. The only question now is how long it will take to be realized. “It’s ongoing,” Payton said, “but there has to be that clear vision.” — Nick Kosmider

The Lions are ready for the 2024 season. Their offense remains elite, with running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tight end Sam LaPorta, a potential third-year leap from Jameson Williams, an offensive line the team believes improved, and a QB in Jared Goff playing some of the best football of his career in Detroit. This unit, with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson back in the mix, should be humming again in 2024. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has never had a defense this talented in Detroit. He’s got the tools to compete now. If the defense finally comes together, this team could be very good in 2024. On paper, this is a roster that can compete for a Super Bowl. — Colton Pouncy

With eight of their first nine selections, the Packers took three safeties, three offensive linemen and two inside linebackers. That group might include three starters, too: first-round tackle Jordan Morgan, second-round inside linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and second-round safety Javon Bullard. General manager Brian Gutekunst did a good job in the first six rounds of filling shallow positions, not only with players who can start Week 1 but also those who can compete for 53-man roster spots as reserves. In addition to Morgan, the Packers added an offensive lineman in Jacob Monk who started 12 games at right tackle, 36 at right guard and 10 at center, and provides much-needed depth on the interior. Now, the Packers don’t have to worry about filling any glaring holes through the tertiary free-agent market. — Matt Schneidman

The Texans entered the draft in good shape after quality drafts the last two offseasons and a productive free-agency period this year. But adding depth ranked among their top priorities, and they accomplished this goal, using their nine draft picks to upgrade their secondary, offensive line, linebacking unit, backfield and tight end position. — Mike Jones

Realistically, the two draft picks who will make the biggest impacts in 2024 are Laiatu Latu and Adonai Mitchell. Indianapolis has a lot riding on both players to help it gain ground in the AFC South, which it hasn’t won since 2014. Overall, this offseason might not have been the fireworks some wanted to see from the Colts this offseason. But this was never really about the draft or free agency. It’s about Anthony Richardson and Chris Ballard’s belief that his young signal caller can elevate the Colts in Year 2. — James Boyd

As expected, the Jaguars are pretty similar to last season’s squad because they had to handle their in-house free agents. Wideout Calvin Ridley was replaced by rookie Brian Thomas Jr., but the addition of defensive tackles Arik Armstead and second-rounder Maason Smith should help the edge rushers. Ultimately, the Jaguars need to eliminate the mistakes that frequently cost their offense in 2023. If that happens, they’ll be back in the playoffs, even in a division that has quickly improved. — Jeff Howe

One of the best parts of this draft for the Chiefs is that each prospect they acquired made logical sense, both in 2024 and in future years. Xavier Worthy’s addition gives the Chiefs two speedy receivers whom opposing secondaries have to account for, which should create more one-on-one opportunities for Rashee Rice and tight end Travis Kelce. Brett Veach and Andy Reid believed the Chiefs offense had to improve for the team to have a legitimate chance to win a third consecutive Super Bowl. Four of the Chiefs’ first five draft picks were offensive players. — Nate Taylor

The Raiders added two starters in Brock Bowers and Jackson Powers-Johnson and a potential swing tackle in DJ Glaze. Coach Antonio Pierce talked about how much an elite corner would help the defense, but the Raiders went a different way, and now it remains to be seen if they’ll add a veteran in free agency or just roll with Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs and Brandon Facyson as their top three. The Raiders didn’t add a quarterback and waited until the sixth round to add a running back, so it’s going to be Gardner Minshew handing off to Zamir White while trying to get the ball downfield to Davante Adams and Bowers. — Vic Tafur

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The roster is in much better shape after Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh’s first draft together. I particularly like what they did at cornerback. Tarheeb Still can play inside and outside and gives the Chargers another piece in the slot. They needed that depth. Cam Hart’s tools are really attractive on the outside. The Chargers could use some more top-end talent, but they have done a nice job building out that position. The Chargers created similar competition at running back with the addition of Kimani Vidal, whose between-the-tackles skills fit well with the identity offensive coordinator Greg Roman and Harbaugh are trying to cultivate. — Daniel Popper

The Rams discussed the price to trade into the top 10 at the start of the draft and looked into trading back from No. 19, but they quickly decided to stay patient as the board fell with a unique opening run on offensive players. In doing so, they spent picks on specific priorities, continued to build their identity along the defensive line, identified a true complement to lead running back Kyren Williams in Blake Corum, and shored up depth in other areas with later picks. — Jourdan Rodrigue

It’s a similar group to last season. The Dolphins have been a terrific regular-season team over the last two years, but they don’t have a playoff win to show for it. Sure, they opened the 2022 postseason without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa before running into the Chiefs last postseason, so they have a couple of valid excuses for the one-and-dones. But until Tagovailoa and the Dolphins prove the regular-season success can translate to the playoffs, it’s also fair to be skeptical of their season when it matters the most. — Jeff Howe

The Vikings accomplished what they set out to. They added their quarterback of the future (J.J. McCarthy), found an impact player at a premium position defensively (Dallas Turner) and supplemented those picks with intriguing dart throws later on (center Michael Jurgens and DT Levi Drake Rodriguez). The interior of the lines is still a question, as is the extension for superstar wideout Justin Jefferson. But once Kwesi Adofo-Mensah finalizes that move — and that remains the plan — the Vikings can look toward the most flexible financial future they’ve had in years. — Alec Lewis

The 2024 season for the Patriots will be all about Drake Maye. They can have a bad record if Maye shows signs he’s the kind of quarterback the franchise can build around. On the flip side, winning seven games with Jacoby Brissett starting and Maye struggling in limited action wouldn’t tell them much. Everything right now is about making sure New England can get the very best out of their new QB. Even if we can squabble about Ja’Lynn Polk (second round) and Caedan Wallace (third round) being reaches, the Pats tried to get Maye the weapons he needs to be successful. — Chad Graff

The Saints had no room to make any significant moves in free agency. So, filling a massive need along the offensive line in first-round pick Taliese Fuaga should help the offense under new coordinator Klint Kubiak. Will the Saints be better off with younger cornerbacks and without Marshon Lattimore, if the Saints cut ties? Tough to say. But because the Saints put themselves in a spot to be stagnant, they’ll have to lean primarily on the same players from last season to improve. That’s not easy with the division getting tougher after the Falcons bulked up their roster and the Buccaneers probably feeling good after a division title and playoff win last season. — Larry Holder

The quarterback position will be under a microscope until it is settled, either by Daniel Jones or someone else. Outside of quarterback, the Giants have done a good job of improving their roster during free agency and the draft. They have a young, promising defensive core and an offense that has a chance to get back to at least league average after all the additions they’ve made, which includes top draft pick Malik Nabers. — Charlotte Carroll

The Jets addressed their biggest needs early in the draft, getting an insurance policy at left tackle with Penn State’s Olu Fashanu in the first round and adding wide receiver Malachi Corley at the top of the third round. Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis add needed depth at running back. Jordan Travis gives the Jets a better third quarterback than they had at any point last season. If Aaron Rodgers stays healthy, the Jets have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL on paper — though one with plenty of injury questions. GM Joe Douglas did a good job of supplementing the other moves he made this offseason in the draft and the Jets don’t have any glaring needs, even if depth is an issue in a few areas. — Zack Rosenblatt

The Eagles’ draft looks productive in terms of restoring the defense to a respectable form. They brought in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, who should be immediate contributors while acquiring longer-term projects such as Jalyx Hunt and Jeremiah Trotter. The offense’s needs were more schematic this offseason. The Eagles were aggressive in free agency and locked up their talented young core by signing A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata to contract extensions. The players they added in the draft must only become supportive cogs in a machine that already looks like The Terminator. Now it’s about how this team comes together under an overhauled coaching staff. — Brooks Kubena

The Philadelphia Eagles signed wide receiver A.J. Brown to a contract extension in April. (Eric Hartline / USA Today)

The Steelers’ highly compensated and opportunistic defense lugged an anemic and dysfunctional offense into the postseason last year, even with Kenny Pickett’s inconsistencies and Matt Canada’s incompetence. This offseason, Pittsburgh has focused extensively on upgrading the offense. By bulking up on the offensive line during the draft, the Steelers should have a reliable running game that takes the pressure off of the quarterback and keeps him upright. Now the question is how much Russell Wilson — with his trademark deep ball and effective play-action passing — can add a spark through the air. — Mike DeFabo

The 49ers kept Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel while adding a crop of players who seem to have real potential. There’s a lot of college production in this draft class to go with athletic upside across multiple positions. In an ideal world, Dominick Puni will help shore up the offensive line (perhaps as a roving sixth man to begin before earning a starting role), Ricky Pearsall will add another element to the passing attack with his slippery burst, Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha will fortify the secondary and Isaac Guerendo and Jacob Cowing will add explosive depth — which can be huge for a team’s special teams efficiency. — David Lombardi

The Seahawks are better in the trenches after this draft. That alone could make this a successful season, considering the struggles on both sides of the line of scrimmage in recent years. The Seahawks finished third in the division and were swept by the Rams and 49ers last season, so they had a sizable gap to bridge this offseason. It’s still unclear how much closer they got to either NFC West rival over the past couple of months, but they are coming into this season a better team, which is a good start. — Michael-Shawn Dugar

The Bucs weren’t as flashy as many teams in the offseason, but they took care of business by retaining their own most significant players and plugged some soft spots in a promising draft. Graham Barton should have an immediate impact, probably at center but possibly guard. The Bucs added players at positions of need who produced in college — edge rusher Chris Braswell had eight sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and a blocked kick; defensive back Tykee Smith had four interceptions; and running back Bucky Irving had 1,593 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns. All of them can contribute in 2024. — Dan Pompei

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The Titans got better this offseason, possibly much better, and the sorry state of their roster after a second straight losing season made that mandatory and likely. But before reserving a spot for Brian Callahan’s first team in the playoffs, remember that the rest of the AFC South improved this offseason, too. The Titans had more ground to make up than anyone else. They made up enough to believe a postseason shot is possible if many things break their way. But they’re still projected to grapple with the Colts for third place in the division. — Joe Rexrode

The Commanders have done a credible job revamping the roster, beginning with over 20 free-agent signings followed by nine draft selections. However, considering what GM Adam Peters inherited, there’s still an overall talent deficiency that will take another year of moves to improve sufficiently. In the meantime, the Jayden Daniels era is upon us. The organization’s leaders would balk at any notion that 2024 is all about the quarterback. Still, there’s no denying the importance and intrigue of the dual-threat highlight tape in human form coming to breathe life into this moribund franchise that’s begun a much-needed overhaul. — Ben Standig

(Top photos of Drake Maye, Caleb Williams and Malik Nabers: Gregory Shamus, Michael Reaves and John Smolek / Getty Images)