Winners and losers of NFL offseason: Are Bills, Cowboys headed in wrong direction?

NFL minicamps are officially in the books, and now the action across the league will tamp down as coaches, players and staff members scatter to offseason homes or vacation destinations for several weeks of recharging.

The last six months have featured coaching hires, roster reconfigurations marked by free-agent and draft acquisitions, acclimation periods and system installations. The puzzle pieces largely have been assembled, and team pictures are starting to take shape ahead of training camp in late July.

So, which teams ultimately had the best and worst offseasons? Here’s a look at the potential biggest winners and losers.

Winners

Chicago Bears

The 2023 trade that eventually earned the Bears the top pick in this year’s draft (used on quarterback Caleb Williams) puts them in the win column, but general manager Ryan Poles did so much more than just that. He also drafted talented wideout Rome Odunze, traded for veteran receiver Keenan Allen, re-signed top cornerback Jaylon Johnson and further fortified the roster at key areas with other veteran free agents and draft picks. Unlike some rookie quarterbacks, Williams won’t find the cupboard bare with his new team, and Chicago could quickly jump into the thick of things in the NFC North.

QB Jayden Daniels headlines a new era of Commanders football. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)

Washington Commanders

New general manager. New head coach. New culture. New quarterback. The positive offseason tally marks abound for Washington. Not only did Adam Peters and Dan Quinn identify key veterans to help instill a new mindset, they also found pieces that will lead to improved effectiveness in key areas. That’s especially true on defense; linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu will lead the way. With the No. 2 pick of the draft, the Commanders snatched up Jayden Daniels, who has the potential to solve the organization’s long-standing need for a franchise quarterback. It finally feels like adults are running the operation in Washington.

Detroit Lions

Determined to build on last season’s march to the NFC Championship Game, Detroit locked up offensive cornerstones in quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tackle Penei Sewell. It also hit on free-agent signings of defensive tackle D.J. Reader, edge rusher Marcus Davenport, cornerback Carlton Davis III and guard Kevin Zeitler. The Lions also had one of the most productive drafts in the league, led by their selection of talented defensive backs Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Eagles wide receivers DeVonta Smith (left) and A.J. Brown both signed contract extensions this offseason. (Brad Mills / USA Today)

Philadelphia Eagles

A highly productive draft — highlighted by steals of defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean — followed a strong free-agent shopping period that featured the signings of running back Saquon Barkley and defensive playmakers C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Bryce Huff and Devin White. The Eagles also worked out extensions with the dynamic pass-catching duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Howie Roseman’s squad took a bit of a slide backward in 2023 after losing in the Super Bowl the season prior, but the GM has Philadelphia poised to rebound in 2024.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After retooling during the 2023 offseason, Todd Bowles’ Buccaneers exhibited a grit that led to an NFC South title. This offseason, GM Jason Licht re-signed cornerstones Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr. The Bucs then drafted their new center in Graham Barton and two other potential starters in linebacker Chris Braswell and defensive back Tykee Smith. With Atlanta and Carolina both in reboot mode and New Orleans largely stagnant, Tampa Bay has a good shot at repeating as division champion.

Losers

Buffalo Bills

Could the Bills’ Super Bowl window be closing? It’s possible as this team tries to retool on the fly. The trade of Stefon Diggs and free agency departure of Gabe Davis leaves quarterback Josh Allen without his top two wide receivers. Meanwhile, the Bills also lost impact players Tre’Davious White, Mitch Morse and Jordan Poyer. They did draft big-target wide receiver Keon Coleman, but for a team that is trying to fend off the Dolphins in the AFC East and catch up to the Chiefs and Bengals in the conference, the Bills appear headed in the wrong direction.

Carolina Panthers

The hiring of Dave Canales as head coach could be good for second-year quarterback Bryce Young, after Frank Reich lasted just 11 games on the job. But the Panthers have big holes on the roster after trading top pass-rusher Brian Burns and losing linebacker Frankie Luvu, safety Jeremy Chinn, center Bradley Bozeman and tight end Hayden Hurst to free agency. Jadeveon Clowney may or may not deliver the same type of production as Burns, and offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis could help the offensive line. But will David Tepper’s heavy-handed approach prove effective this time around?

Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones took a frugal approach to the offseason. The Cowboys’ most notable free-agent signings were the return of Ezekiel Elliott and addition of linebacker Eric Kendricks (both on bargain-basement deals). Meanwhile, the Cowboys lost Tyron Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Tony Pollard and Dorance Armstrong, and failed to draft a running back. It’s hard to see Dallas defending the NFC East after Philadelphia’s active offseason.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Locking up Trevor Lawrence for the long-term is a win. But losing Calvin Ridley to AFC South-rival Tennessee will hurt; Gabe Davis is a downgrade at wide receiver. Free-agent signings of Arik Armstead on defense and Mitch Morse on offense strengthens the trenches. But after getting leap-frogged last season by a rising Texans team, the Jaguars still look like a second-place AFC South squad.

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San Francisco 49ers

After a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, the 49ers had a relatively quiet offseason. They gave Christian McCaffrey an extension and drafted Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who might not be ready for prime time until 2025. The offensive line could’ve used a bolster, but John Lynch made no significant additions. Perhaps the most notable departure was defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, whose philosophies never quite meshed with those of Kyle Shanahan. Can first-year defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen reignite a defense that lost Armstead and Javon Kinlaw and added Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos and Jordan Elliott?

(Top illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos of DeVonta Smith, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Allen: Mitchell Leff, Kevin Sabitus, Perry Knotts / Getty Images)