The Broncos bet big on Russell Wilson, the Packers went all in on defense and Tom Brady endures. But did any N.F.L. team position itself to ascend higher than the Los Angeles Rams this season?
N.F.C. East
Commanders »
Will Washington ever top seven wins under Ron Rivera?
Cowboys »
If Mike McCarthy doesn’t advance in the postseason, will he need to update his LinkedIn account?
Eagles »
Can Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown take over the division?
Giants »
New coach, new G.M., same result?
N.F.C. North
Bears »
With a new head coach and a young team, is Chicago rebuilding or ready to win?
Lions »
Will Aidan Hutchinson’s “Billie Jean” be the team’s only highlight?
Packers »
How much will Aaron Rodgers miss Davante Adams?
Vikings »
Is Kirk Cousins still the QB to lead Minnesota into the future?
N.F.C. South
Bucs »
At 45, is Brady too old? Probably not.
Falcons »
Will the post-Matt Ryan era bring new results?
Panthers »
What happens if CMC stays healthy and Mayfield has a career year?
Saints »
No Brees or Payton, so why are they still so scary?
N.F.C. WEST
49ers »
Deebo is back but is Trey Lance ready?
Cardinals »
Will Kyler Murray need those study hours or not?
Rams »
Poised for a Super Bowl repeat?
Seahawks »
Now that Russell Wilson is gone, will they Win Forever?
A.F.C. East
Bills »
Can Buffalo finally build on heartbreak?
Dolphins »
After a strange off-season, can a new coach end the playoff drought?
Jets »
Is it finally time to take this team seriously?
Patriots »
Long shots or does Belichick have something up his sleeve?
A.F.C. North
Bengals »
Ja’Marr’s down there somewhere, but what else?
Browns »
Can Jacoby Brissett make the most of an extended tryout?
Ravens »
Will Lamar Jackson’s contract hover over the season?
Steelers »
Which QB will fill Big Ben’s shoes?
A.F.C. South
Colts »
A former M.V.P. QB + a top RB = ???
Jaguars »
How high will Trevor Lawrence rise without you-know-who?
Texans »
Moving on, but to what?
Titans »
Did their window close last season?
A.F.C. West
Broncos »
If Denver lets Russ cook, will he serve up a Super Bowl win?
Chargers »
Is this the year Justin Herbert becomes a top-5 QB?
Kansas City »
Can they fend off the revamped A.F.C. West?
Raiders »
Was adding (arguably) the N.F.L.’s best receiver enough?
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The Broncos bet big on Russell Wilson, the Packers went all in on defense and Tom Brady endures. But did any N.F.L. team position itself to ascend higher than the Los Angeles Rams this season?
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By Ken Belson, Joe Drape, Jesus Jiménez, Emmanuel Morgan, Kris Rhim and Jenny Vrentas
N.F.C. East
Washington Commanders
2021 record: 7-10
Key additions: QB Carson Wentz, G Andrew Norwell, WR Jahan Dotson
Key departures: G Brandon Scherff, DT Tim Settle, DE Matthew Ioannidis
It’s Year 3 of the Commanders’ rebuild under Coach Ron Rivera, as good a time as ever to break the seven-win barrier that capped his first two seasons in Washington. Though Carson Wentz is an upgrade at quarterback, adding Wentz and handing receiver Terry McLaurin a three-year, $71 million extension probably isn’t enough to give the Commanders a significant boost.
The team’s depth will be challenged early with defensive end Chase Young out rehabbing his A.C.L. and the rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. recovering from being shot in the leg during an attempted robbery last month. But the team returns two offensive starters who missed significant time last season in receiver Curtis Samuel and tight end Logan Thomas, both of whom might add stability to a franchise that could use it. — Jesus Jiménez
Dallas Cowboys
2021 record: 12-5
Key additions: DE Dante Fowler Jr., WR Jalen Tolbert, T Tyler Smith
Key departures: G Connor Williams, WR Cedrick Wilson, DE Randy Gregory, WR Amari Cooper, OT La’el Collins
Coach Mike McCarthy was brought into Dallas in 2020 to help the Cowboys get over a division-round playoff hump. But despite having the league’s top-ranked offense (and getting a career-high 37 touchdowns from Dak Prescott) last season, Dallas’s wild-card round flameout only added to the team’s list of postseason flops.
The Cowboys’ departures make repeating as N.F.C. East champs look like a long shot, even in a division that’s been wide open yearly. The team’s trading away Amari Cooper forces Prescott to rely on third-year receiver CeeDee Lamb as his top target. He’ll get less help on the offensive line, where right tackle Terence Steele looks to replace the power of La’el Collins, who the team released in March, and left tackle Tyron Smith is out until at least December (fractured knee). Dallas faces the tremendous pass rush of the Buccaneers, Bengals and Rams in the first five weeks of the season, when the hole could be dug early. — Jesus Jiménez
Philadelphia Eagles
2021 record: 9-8
Key additions: WR A.J. Brown, DT Jordan Davis, CB James Bradberry, CB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, LB Haason Reddick
Key departures: LB Alex Singleton, S Rodney McLeod
Philadelphia invested heavily to ensure quarterback Jalen Hurts thrives in a make-or-break season. Hurts ranked 28th in completion percentage but led all quarterbacks in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, in part because of a paltry receiving corps. Enter A.J. Brown, who racked up two 1,000-yard seasons in three seasons with the Tennessee Titans and now becomes WR 1 for Hurts.
The Eagles were among the most improved teams in the league last season but won just one game against a team that finished over .500 (in Week 11 against the New Orleans Saints). Figure them for a hugely improved pass defense with James Bradberry and Darius Slay locking down the corners and the Philadelphia-area native Haason Reddick added to the pass rush. — Jesus Jiménez
New York Giants
2021 record: 4-13
Key additions: OT Evan Neal, RB Matt Breida, QB Tyrod Taylor
Key departures: TE Evan Engram, S Logan Ryan, RB Devontae Booker
Under the new leadership of General Manager Joe Schoen and Coach Brian Daboll, the Giants will look to replicate the success of their in-state peers, the Buffalo Bills, where both Daboll and Schoen helped win back-to-back A.F.C. East titles behind an explosive offense. To help, they lured Mike Kafka, a highly regarded offensive assistant, from Kansas City.
Their first order of business will be assessing the Giants’ implosive roster. The team has not offered contract extensions to quarterback Daniel Jones or running back Saquon Barkley, oft-injured starters whom the team’s old leadership bet big on with high draft picks. While assessing how to spend a projected $54.4 million in 2023 cap space, the Giants should expect a minor uptick in the defense under coordinator Don Martindale. — Jesus Jiménez
N.F.C. North
Chicago Bears
2021 record: 6-11
Key additions: G.M. Ryan Poles, Coach Matt Eberflus, WR Byron Pringle, WR Equanimeous St. Brown
Key departures: DE Khalil Mack
The Matt Nagy era was a certified failure so the Bears brought in Matt Eberflus, a veteran assistant from Indianapolis, and Ryan Poles, an up-and-coming executive from Kansas City’s front office. Call this a getting-to-know-you season for the Bears.
Justin Fields looked good in the preseason, inspiring hope for his second N.F.L. season, but his targets are anyone’s guess. Byron Pringle was a possession receiver buried in Kansas City, and he missed the preseason with a quad injury. Equanimeous St. Brown brought some energy to the Bears’ offense in training camp. Khalil Mack, formerly a defensive centerpiece, was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers for draft picks. With a change to a 4-3 defense, Chicago has a whole lot unproven on both sides of the ball. — Joe Drape
Detroit Lions
2021 record: 3-13-1
Key additions: WR D.J. Chark, WR Jameson Williams, DE Aidan Hutchinson, LB Malcolm Rodriguez
Key departures: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Under the fiery Coach Dan Campbell, Detroit showed signs of life throughout the regular season that paid off late with upsets over two playoff-bound teams: the Arizona Cardinals and the top-seeded Green Bay Packers. The Lions, one of the N.F.L.’s youngest teams, added an immediate starter with Aidan Hutchinson, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, and added linebacker depth in Malcolm Rodriguez in the sixth round.
With the fifth easiest schedule in the N.F.L. and a serviceable quarterback in Jared Goff, Detroit will have more than enough talent to make a jump in 2022, especially if D.J. Chark can return to Pro Bowl form after a broken ankle kept him out of all but four games his last season in Jacksonville. — Joe Drape
Green Bay Packers
2021 record: 13-4
Key additions: WR Sammy Watkins, LB Quay Walker, DT Devonte Wyatt, WR Christian Watson
Key departures: WR Davante Adams, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The Packers gambled they could win a fourth consecutive division title by taking the money they saved in not signing Davante Adams (a favored target of quarterback Aaron Rodgers) and building a faster, more dependable defense through the draft. Of course, they still have to appease Rodgers, the reigning league M.V.P. who is left to throw to a couple of talented but aging receivers in Watkins and the Green Bay stalwart Randall Cobb. They should at least keep defenses honest enough to give Aaron Jones plenty of room to run.
Of the defensive pickups, Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt, both first-round picks from Georgia, bring athleticism and perhaps the foundation for a fearsome defense for years to come. — Joe Drape
Minnesota Vikings
2021 record: 8-9
Key additions: Coach Kevin O’Connell, G.M. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Key departure: Former Coach Mike Zimmer
Over eight seasons, the former Coach Mike Zimmer won plenty of games in Minnesota (74-59-1), but he failed to make a meaningful run in the playoffs and turned off the fan base with his dour personality and vanilla offense. The Vikings paid plenty for quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is in the final year of a $66 million deal and benefits from a solid running back in Dalvin Cook and explosive receivers led by last year’s breakout star Justin Jefferson.
Kevin O’Connell, 37, is the second youngest head coach in the N.F.L. but brings a buzzy recent pedigree to the job. The former Rams offensive coordinator won a title in Los Angeles last season after spending three seasons as an assistant in Washington. — Joe Drape
N.F.C. South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 record: 13-4
Key additions: WR Julio Jones, G Shaq Mason, WR Russell Gage
Key departures: Coach Bruce Arians, G Alex Cappa, S Jordan Whitehead, TE Rob Gronkowski
Given the Buccaneers’ 2021 season finish — a divisional-round loss — Tom Brady’s un-retirement almost makes sense. He had one of the best seasons of his career, leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns, and Tampa Bay has since added to a receiver group that was already one of the best in the league with the former All-Pro Julio Jones and Russell Gage. Coach Bruce Arians stepped down for a front office job, but there should be continuity given that his replacement, Todd Bowles, had been the team’s defensive coordinator since 2019.
Still, the offensive line is a big weakness: Center Ryan Jensen’s knee injury is expected to keep him out for months, guard Aaron Stinnie’s knee injury will force him to miss the season and right tackle Tristan Wirfs is listed as day-to-day with a strained oblique. Brady is still remarkably quick at getting the ball to open or partially covered receivers, but even he might struggle behind that line. — Kris Rhim
Atlanta Falcons
2021 record: 7-10
Key additions: QB Marcus Mariota, WR Drake London, CB Casey Hayward, QB Desmond Ridder
Key departures: QB Matt Ryan, WR Russell Gage, LB Foye Oluokun, WR Calvin Ridley
For the first time in 14 seasons, Matt Ryan won’t be under center for the Falcons. Instead, the Falcons will be led by Marcus Mariota, who hasn’t started a game since 2019. Mariota gives the Falcons a dual threat at quarterback that they didn’t have with Ryan but also injury concerns so Desmond Ridder, whom the Falcons selected in the third round, will most likely see the field this season.
Of the Falcons’ seven wins in 2021, five came against teams with losing records, and they had the fifth worst point differential in the league. (Only the Jaguars, Jets, Texans and Giants were worse.) TL;DR: Atlanta was pummeled by good teams and narrowly beat bad ones. This year’s schedule has the Falcons facing each N.F.C. West team, arguably the best division in the N.F.L. in 2021, along with the N.F.C. North. Despite Atlanta’s roster upgrades, that slate should keep the Falcons from a different outcome. — Kris Rhim
Carolina Panthers
2021 record: 5-12
Key additions: QB Baker Mayfield, OT Ikem Ekwonu, OL Austin Corbett
Key departures: LB Haason Reddick, CB Stephon Gilmore
For the second straight off-season, the Panthers traded for a struggling former top-3 pick to lead their offense, acquiring former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield the year after trading for the former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold. The team’s jostling between Cam Newton, P.J. Walker and Darnold at quarterback (sometimes, all three in the same game) might stop, which would help Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers’ former All-Pro running back, who is finally healthy after missing 10 games last season with injuries.
On paper, the Panthers’ offense should be formidable with McCaffrey’s runs and D.J. Moore catching passes. Ditto for the defense, which will get a boost from cornerback Jaycee Horn, the 2021 first-round draft pick who missed most of the 2021 season with a foot injury. But in recent years, Carolina’s preseason potential hasn’t yielded results. Without a change, this might be Coach Matt Rhule’s last attempt. — Kris Rhim
New Orleans Saints
2021 record: 9-8
Key additions: S Tyrann Mathieu, WR Jarvis Landry, WR Chris Olave, OT Trevor Penning, S Marcus Maye
Key departures: S Marcus Williams, OT Terron Armstead, CB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, LB Kwon Alexander
Jameis Winston was supposed to lead the Saints out of the Drew Brees era, but Winston missed the last 10 games of the 2021 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and the former All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas missed the entire season with an ankle injury. Somehow, the Saints were still in the playoff hunt until the final game of last season.
The Saints lost a lot of talented players this off-season, not to mention Coach Sean Payton, who stepped away from football. Still, the additions they made through the draft and free agency, including receivers Chris Olave and Jarvis Landry, coupled with the returns of Winston and Thomas, should put the Saints back in the mix to win the N.F.C. South.
Their biggest competition: the Buccaneers, whom the Saints have dominated in the regular season, winning seven of the last eight matchups. As the team’s defensive coordinator, Coach Dennis Allen built the game plans that took down Tom Brady and company, but it remains to be seen if New Orleans’s offense will get as much attention. — Kris Rhim
N.F.C. West
San Francisco 49ers
2021 record: 10-7
Key Additions: CB Charvarius Ward, WR Ray-Ray McCloud
Key Departures: C Alex Mack, G Laken Tomlinson, OT Tom Compton, RB Raheem Mostert, DB Jaquiski Tartt
Perhaps more consequential than the quarterback changeover from Jimmy Garoppolo to Trey Lance, the 49ers lost three starters off the offensive line and Mike McDaniel, the former offensive coordinator, who was hired to be the Dolphins’ head coach. Coach Kyle Shanahan’s zone-run offensive scheme will have different faces and voices at every level, except one very important one: The team signed the versatile receiver Deebo Samuel to a multiyear contract extension after a lengthy holdout.
The 49ers signed Charvarius Ward to the second-largest free agent deal at cornerback to address a weak point from last season. The defense, which ranked third in 2021 in fewest yards allowed (5,270), will most likely need to lead the way for San Francisco as the offense adjusts to new personnel. — Emmanuel Morgan
Arizona Cardinals
2021 record: 11-6
Key Additions: WR Marquise Brown
Key Departures: WR Christian Kirk, RB Chase Edmonds, LB Chandler Jones
Under Coach Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals have had notoriously fast starts before hitting a wall as the season progressed. That pattern should change this season — for the worse. Las Vegas outbid the team for the Pro Bowl pass rusher Chandler Jones and the rest of the roster has seen a downgrade. Adding to the deficit, DeAndre Hopkins, the five-time Pro-Bowl receiver, is suspended for the season’s first six games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy.
Kyler Murray, now one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the N.F.L. after an off-season contract extension, has a chance to show he can thrive with the receiver Marquise Brown, but chances look slim that the Cardinals will become the third team in three seasons to win the Super Bowl in its home stadium. — Emmanuel Morgan
Los Angeles Rams
2021 record: 12-5
Key Additions: WR Allen Robinson, LB Bobby Wagner, CB Troy Hill
Key Departures: OLB Von Miller, LT Andrew Whitworth, WR Robert Woods, CB Darious Williams, WR Odell Beckham Jr. (?)
Coming off a championship, the Rams face the toughest strength of schedule in the N.F.L. this season en route to a title defense. To that end, the team retained its best player, defensive end Aaron Donald, who flirted with retirement this off-season, and added receiver Allen Robinson and the veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner in free agency.
Losing two vital pieces of its Super Bowl run will hurt: Outside linebacker Von Miller signed with the Bills in free agency, and receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the Super Bowl, has yet to sign with a new club. But with the Cardinals and Seahawks taking roster hits, the division should still be Los Angeles’s to own. — Emmanuel Morgan
Seattle Seahawks
2021 record: 7-10
Key Additions: QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant
Key Departures: QB Russell Wilson, RB Chris Carson, DE Carlos Dunlap, LB Bobby Wagner, CB D.J. Reed
The highly publicized breakup between Russell Wilson and Coach Pete Carroll brought in a new era for the Seahawks, who relied on Wilson’s leadership skills, arcing deep passes and improvisational running mobility for a decade.
Now, Seattle will lean on Geno Smith, who has started in only five N.F.L. games since 2015. His backup, Drew Lock, whom Seattle acquired from Denver as part of the Wilson trade, is known for his gunslinger mentality and risky decision making. Their play, coupled with a defense that finished fifth worst in yards allowed last season, provides a grim outlook for the year ahead. — Emmanuel Morgan
A.F.C. East
Buffalo Bills
2021 record: 11-6
Key additions: LB Von Miller, G Rodger Saffold III, CB Kaiir Elam, RB James Cook
Key departures: G Daryl Williams, DE Mario Addison, WR Cole Beasley, CB Levi Wallace
The Bills’ 2021 season ended in heartbreak in the divisional round of the A.F.C. playoffs when they fell to Kansas City in one of the postseason’s most exciting games. Buffalo’s secondary struggled at the end of the game, allowing Kansas City to come back from a 3-point deficit with 13 seconds left in regulation and the ball at the Kansas City 25-yard line. But Buffalo was without the former All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White, who suffered a season-ending injury in Week 12. The Bills added cornerback Kaiir Elam through the draft and linebacker Von Miller through free agency to a defense that was among the best in the regular season last year.
One of the biggest unknowns for the Bills this season is if they will look any different on offense. Brian Daboll, the team’s former offensive coordinator, led the Bills to the second-most yards of total offense in 2020 and the fifth-most last season. But Daboll left to become the Giants’ head coach and was replaced by Ken Dorsey, who served as the passing game coordinator last season and has never been an offensive coordinator in the N.F.L. Still, with the Bills’ overwhelming talent on offense, they should continue to dominate without any major hiccups. — Kris Rhim
Miami Dolphins
2021 record: 9-8
Key additions: WR Tyreek Hill, LB Melvin Ingram, G Connor Williams, T Terron Armstead, RB Chase Edmonds
Key departures: WR DeVante Parker, WR Mack Hollins, CB Justin Coleman
The Dolphins had arguably the strangest 2022 regular season of any N.F.L. team, as they lost seven of their first eight games and then won eight of their last nine, almost sneaking into the playoffs. Then their off-season followed with immense drama: Miami fired Coach Brian Flores, and a month later he sued the N.F.L. and its 32 teams, alleging that they had discriminated against him and other Black coaches in their hiring practices. Then Stephen Ross, the team owner, was suspended and fined for violating the league’s anti-tampering policy by trying to lure quarterback Tom Brady and Sean Payton, the former Saints coach, to Miami.
Eventually, Miami hired Coach Mike McDaniel, the former San Francisco offensive coordinator, who was credited with deploying the 49ers’ unique rushing attack, which led to receiver Deebo Samuel’s All-Pro season. The Dolphins invested in the offense by trading for the former Kansas City receiver Tyreek Hill, who is arguably the best deep threat in the league. And through free agency, they signed offensive tackle Terron Armstead and guard Connor Williams, who should add protection for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and create lanes for the dynamic run game that McDaniel is expected to bring to Miami. It’s a pivotal year for Tagovailoa, who will be expected to lead this team to its first playoff appearance since the 2016 season. — Kris Rhim
New York Jets
2021 record: 4-13
Key additions: TE C.J. Uzomah, S Jordan Whitehead, WR Garrett Wilson, CB Ahmad Gardner, DE Jermaine Johnson, RB Breece Hall
Key departures: WR Jamison Crowder, TE Ryan Griffin, G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
The Jets have won six games over the past two seasons. Four of those came last year, the debut season for Coach Robert Saleh and quarterback Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft. But the Jets’ 2022 draft, in which they selected four players within the top 36 picks — receiver Garrett Wilson, cornerback Ahmad Gardner, running back Breece Hall and defensive end Jermaine Johnson — makes this year’s squad interesting.
The Jets’ offensive success will depend heavily on Wilson, who injured his knee in the team’s first preseason game but who may be available to play in Week 1 against the Ravens. Last season, Wilson’s play fluctuated between mistake-laden and highlight-worthy, but he will have more help from the addition of players to the offense. A little add could go along way toward making Saleh’s second season a success. — Kris Rhim
New England Patriots
2021 record: 10-7
Key additions: LB Mack Wilson, S Jabrill Peppers, WR DeVante Parker
Key departures: CB J.C. Jackson, G Shaq Mason, LB Kyle Van Noy
The Patriots’ 2021 season ended with the largest postseason loss of Coach Bill Belichick’s career, a 47-17 drubbing by the Bills. After that abrupt close to a 10-win season, New England’s longtime offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, left Foxborough, Mass., to become the Raiders’ head coach. The Patriots haven’t named a coordinator to replace McDaniels, and they haven’t had an official defensive coordinator since 2018.
In 2020, the Patriots finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2008 season. In the subsequent off-season, they set an N.F.L. record with $160 million in free agent contracts, highlighted by tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry and linebacker Matthew Judon. This off-season, while the Dolphins and the Bills added star power, the Patriots were remarkably quiet, and they look like a long shot to be competitive in the A.F.C. East. — Kris Rhim
A.F.C. North
Cincinnati Bengals
2021 record: 10-7
Key additions: G Alex Cappa, T La’el Collins, TE Hayden Hurst, C Ted Karras
Key departures: TE C.J. Uzomah, WR Auden Tate, DT Larry Ogunjobi
For the first time in years, even decades, the Bengals are solid favorites to win their division. Their Super Bowl run last season showed that quarterback Joe Burrow and a talented receiving corps were no fluke, while the team’s defense held its own. The Bengals have retained their best defenders, including Eli Apple and Jessie Bates III in the secondary, and used their first two draft picks to take defensive backs. They strengthened a porous offensive line by signing Alex Cappa, Ted Karras and La’el Collins. — Ken Belson
Cleveland Browns
2021 record: 8-9
Key additions: QB Deshaun Watson, WR Amari Cooper, QB Jacoby Brissett
Key departures: C J.C. Tretter, WR Jarvis Landry, TE Austin Hooper, QB Baker Mayfield
After missing the playoffs last season, the Browns led the off-season in headlines. They traded a raft of draft picks to Houston for quarterback Deshaun Watson despite him facing accusations of sexual harassment from more than two dozen women, and they signed him to a five-year, $230-million, fully guaranteed contract even though he was likely to be suspended. They traded quarterback Baker Mayfield, leaving Jacoby Brissett to lead the team while Watson serves an 11-game suspension. Receiver Amari Cooper, tight end David Njoku and a still-formidable Browns defense should help Brissett. — Ken Belson
Baltimore Ravens
2021 record: 8-9
Key additions: RB Mike Davis, CB Kyle Fuller, S Marcus Williams, T Morgan Moses
Key departures: WR Sammy Watkins, WR Marquise Brown, CB Anthony Averett
All eyes will be on quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is in the final year of his rookie contract. He and Coach John Harbaugh insist Jackson’s uncertain future is not a distraction. Given his subpar, injury-shortened 2021, Jackson will have plenty of motivation to raise his game even as the Ravens did not retain receivers Sammy Watkins or Marquise Brown. Instead, the Ravens spent the off-season trying to improve their defense, ranked 19th last year, by obtaining Marcus Williams (15 career interceptions with the Saints) and re-signing Calais Campbell, Justin Houston and Tony Jefferson. — Ken Belson
Pittsburgh Steelers
2021 record: 9-7-1
Key additions: LB Myles Jack, QB Mitch Trubisky, CB Levi Wallace
Key departures: QB Ben Roethlisberger, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, DE Taco Charlton, WR James Washington
With the long goodbye for Ben Roethlisberger over, the Steelers are now in the hands of the much-maligned Mitch Trubisky, who spent last season as Josh Allen’s backup in Buffalo. Reviving the offense, which ranked 21st in scoring last season, won’t be easy with the departure of receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington. Rookie receivers George Pickens and Calvin Austin III should get tested early. If Trubisky stumbles, expect calls for Kenny Pickett, the rookie quarterback drafted from the University of Pittsburgh in the first round. — Ken Belson
A.F.C. South
Indianapolis Colts
2021 record: 9-8
Key additions: QB Matt Ryan, QB Nick Foles, CB Stephon Gilmore, DE Yannick Ngakoue
Key departures: QB Carson Wentz, WR T.Y. Hilton, T Eric Fisher, TE Jack Doyle, CB Xavier Rhodes
Ever since Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement before the 2019 season, the Colts have played musical chairs at the sport’s most important position. After one-year stints with Philip Rivers and Carson Wentz, the team is hoping for a more fruitful partnership with Matt Ryan, 37, the longtime quarterback for the Falcons who became available as a result of his former team’s failed pursuit of Deshaun Watson. Working alongside the reigning N.F.L. rushing leader, Jonathan Taylor, is a dream pairing for a veteran quarterback. Both the Colts and Ryan are looking for the same thing — a return to the successes of seasons past. — Jenny Vrentas
Jacksonville Jaguars
2021 record: 3-14
Key additions: Coach Doug Pederson, WR Christian Kirk, WR Zay Jones, TE Evan Engram, G Brandon Scherff, LB Foyesade Oluokun, CB Darious Williams, DE Travon Walker
Key departures: G Andrew Norwell, C Brandon Linder, LB Myles Jack, LB Damien Wilson
Trevor Lawrence’s N.F.L. debut had been widely anticipated since his freshman year at Clemson University, but his rookie season was swallowed up by Urban Meyer’s disastrous 11-month stint as head coach. The moves the team made in the aftermath have been directed toward not missing on this decade’s can’t-miss quarterback prospect. The Jaguars hired the Super Bowl-winning Coach Doug Pederson and the offensive coordinator Press Taylor to develop Lawrence, and they spent more than $250 million in free agency to strengthen Lawrence’s supporting cast. — Jenny Vrentas
Houston Texans
2021 record: 4-13
Key additions: G A.J. Cann, DE Jerry Hughes, CB Derek Stingley Jr., S Jalen Pitre
Key departures: QB Deshaun Watson, QB Tyrod Taylor, S Justin Reid, CB Terrance Mitchell, CB Lonnie Johnson Jr.
Deshaun Watson hasn’t played for the Texans in nearly two years, but only now is the team turning the page on its former franchise quarterback, who requested a trade shortly before more than two dozen women accused him of assaulting or harassing them in massage appointments. (Watson has denied the accusations.) The Texans paid Watson $10 million not to play for the team last season — waiting until they could trade him for maximum return — and this summer settled claims against the team from 30 women who accused Watson of misconduct. The team will attempt to use the bevy of draft picks it received from Cleveland to rebuild its roster, while quarterback Davis Mills and Coach Lovie Smith try to prove they are more than place-holders at their positions. — Jenny Vrentas
Tennessee Titans
2021 record: 12-5
Key additions: WR Robert Woods, TE Austin Hooper, QB Malik Willis, WR Treylon Burks
Key departures: WR A.J. Brown, WR Julio Jones, G Rodger Saffold III, LB Rashaan Evans, CB Janoris Jenkins
Despite being the top seed in the A.F.C. playoffs just eight months ago, the Titans could be a team in transition. Running back Derrick Henry, the engine of their offense, missed nine games last season with a fractured bone in his right foot, and the sustainability of his tremendous workload remains a question mark. During this year’s draft, the Titans traded away the top receiver A.J. Brown and picked the former Liberty quarterback Malik Willis in the third round, as the team weighs its future with Ryan Tannehill. General Manager Jon Robinson and Coach Mike Vrabel made this team interesting again, but back-to-back years without a playoff win have led to concerns about how far it can go as currently constructed. — Jenny Vrentas
A.F.C. West
Denver Broncos
2021 record: 7-10
Key additions: QB Russell Wilson, Coach Nathaniel Hackett, DL D.J. Jones, DE Randy Gregory
Key departures: QB Drew Lock, QB Teddy Bridgewater, TE Noah Fant
The belief in N.F.L. circles for years has been that the Broncos, with their elite crop of receivers and a stout defense, were “a quarterback away” from truly contending. By plucking a dissatisfied Russell Wilson away from the Seahawks, his team for the past decade, Denver now has the chance to prove that assessment accurate. Wilson is one of many new faces in the organization: The team has new owners, the Walton-Penner family; a new president, Damani Leech; and a new coach, Nathaniel Hackett.
Wilson’s arm strength and accuracy, especially on deep passes, should amplify the speed of receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. His presence should also energize a fan base that has been craving a competent quarterback since Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season. The onus falls on Hackett to implement a scheme and lead a staff around Wilson. If he does, the Broncos could vie for their first division title in seven seasons. — Emmanuel Morgan
Los Angeles Chargers
2021 record: 9-8
Key additions: LB Khalil Mack, CB J.C. Jackson, LB Kyle Van Noy, G Zion Johnson, TE Gerald Everett
Key departures: LB Kyzir White, LB Uchenna Nwosu, TE Jared Cook
Coach Brandon Staley got the blame for wasting quarterback Justin Herbert’s excellent second season with his fourth-down decisions, but the Chargers fielded the league’s third-worst defense in points allowed. They attempted to fix that problem this off-season by adding edge rusher Khalil Mack and cornerback J.C. Jackson, who has led the league in interceptions (25) since 2018. Those new faces should complement edge rusher Joey Bosa and the versatile defensive back Derwin James, who signed an extension in August to become the N.F.L.’s highest-paid safety.
On offense, the team signed running back Sony Michel, a 2018 first-round draft pick, to add a power-rushing dynamic to starter Austin Ekeler’s speed and pass-catching skills. If Herbert continues to improve in his third season, anything less than a playoff berth will be a disappointment. — Emmanuel Morgan
Kansas City
2021 record: 12-5
Key additions: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, DB Justin Reid, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR Skyy Moore, RB Ronald Jones, DE George Karlaftis
Key departures: WR Tyreek Hill, FS Tyrann Mathieu, CB Charvarius Ward, LB Melvin Ingram
Defenses have dreaded Kansas City, which has won the A.F.C. West for six consecutive seasons, because of its pick-your-poison offensive weapons. Tyreek Hill’s vertical routes and lateral quickness forced teams to adjust their entire strategies, but he’s gone now after being traded to the Dolphins. Kansas City’s star tandem of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce is still intact, and Mecole Hardman, who has been the team’s No. 3 receiving option, will now likely see more targets on deep routes. The team also added the veteran receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency.
Coach Andy Reid and the offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will undoubtedly find ways to adjust to Hill’s absence. But in a revamped A.F.C. West, with Russell Wilson now leading the Broncos, receiver Davante Adams in Las Vegas and the ascending Justin Herbert quarterbacking the Chargers, their margin for error is dwindling. — Emmanuel Morgan
Las Vegas Raiders
2021 record: 10-7
Key additions: WR Davante Adams, DE Chandler Jones, CB Anthony Averett, CB Rock Ya-Sin
Key departures: DE Yannick Ngakoue, OL Alex Leatherwood
After the wide receiver market boomed this off-season, the Raiders traded for Davante Adams, who chose to take less money and reunite with quarterback Derek Carr, his former teammate at Fresno State, instead of remaining in Green Bay. Adams, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, is regarded as one of the best receivers in the league, and his exodus from the Packers provides him an opportunity to prove his elite play was not simply a product of Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball. The triumvirate of Adams, receiver Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller could make the Raiders’ offense one of the highest-scoring units in the league under the new Coach Josh McDaniels, the longtime offensive coordinator in New England.
Defensively, the addition of Chandler Jones, a defensive end and four-time Pro Bowl selection, should create a stout pass-rushing duo with the blossoming Maxx Crosby, who compiled eight sacks and 30 quarterback hits last season. The secondary, which was respectable last season against the pass — it ranked 13th in fewest yards allowed (3,789) — seemingly improved by adding the veteran cornerbacks Rock Ya-Sin and Anthony Averett. They should complement the promising second-year defensive back Nate Hobbs, who has primarily played inside against slot receivers. Still, expect the pass rush to be the element most opposing teams fear. — Emmanuel Morgan
Illustration by Mitch Blunt.
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