"Something to Prove, Nothing to Lose" Tier
6. Detroit Lions
7. Philadelphia Eagles
8. Houston Texans
The Lions, America's new favorite pass-heavy underdog, will build upon their impressive 2023 season. D.J. Reader and Marcus Davenport, both on underrated deals, significantly enhance the defensive front. Jahmyr Gibbs will be the running back your fantasy friend won't stop talking about, for good reason. The Motor City finally has quality football again, and a good draft could propel them into the top five.
Philadelphia is still getting too much credit after their Super Bowl LVII appearance. They had plenty of issues in 2023 but responded by being one of the offseason's biggest spenders. Adding Saquon Barkley, Devin White, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson will improve their respective positions, but the roster is far from perfect. This year, Kellen Moore has a chance to revive his coaching career by calling plays under Nick Sirianni.
The Texans are building a good foundation for beyond 2024, but they are still head and shoulders above their AFC South peers. C.J. Stroud was better than expected last year, and now he has Stefon Diggs as his top target. That offense is great on paper, but the defense will determine how far Houston goes in 2024. Could another Chiefs-Texans postseason matchup be in store?