Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

5 NFL Teams Most Likely to Disappoint in 2024

Alex Ballentine

The Hall of Fame game is a fun milestone on the road to the NFL season. But it's also a reminder that optimism season is just about over.

Most of the news that comes out of training camp focuses on a glass half full mindset. Everyhone is picking up that new coordinator's system. The game is slowing down for that rookie that struggled last season and aging veterans are actually in the best shape of their lives.

Soon enough, those rosy views will dissipate and disappointment will set in for some teams around the league. Whether it's questionable fits for new additions, injury concerns or a roster that is headed in the wrong direction there are bound to be teams that fall short in 2024.

Using DraftKings Sportsbook's win total lines as a basis for expectations, these teams could be headed toward a disappointing season.

Baltimore Ravens

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson Perry Knotts/Getty Images

2024 Win Total: 10.5

The Ravens are expected to win double-digit games in 2024. It's not hard to see where those expectations come from. Lamar Jackson is coming off an MVP season in Todd Monken's first season as the offensive coordinator.

In theory, that should mean that even bigger things are in store for this season.

That's not always how things play out, though. There are some potential pain points for the Ravens that could keep them from living up to the hype. The biggest might be that they are going to be looking to replace thee of the five starters on the offensive line from last season.

Those three weren't all-stars. John Simpson, Morgan Moses and Kevin Zeitler had their flaws, but continuity can be huge on the offensive line.

Their respective replacements aren't exactly upgrades either. Andrew Vorhees is penciled in as the left guard, but he was a seventh-round pick in 2023 with some injury issues. Roger Rosengarten might be called upon to start at right tackle as a rookie and Daniel Faalele might be making the transition from tackle to right guard.

The defense will also be adjusting to Zach Orr after Mike Macdonald left to take the Seattle Seahawks head coaching job. Jadeveon Clowney was second on the team in sacks with 9.5 and the Ravens are putting a lot of eggs in the David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh baskets to replace him.

The Ravens won't get a lot of opportunity to get things figured out once the season starts. They have the fourth-toughest schedule in the league, per Warren Sharp.

Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and owner Jerry Jones Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

2024 Win Total: 10.5

The Dallas Cowboys have gone three consecutive seasons with a 12-5 record. The 10.5 line seems a bit disrespectful at first glance, but then the reasons to be concerned start to creep in.

The Cowboys were mostly inactive throughout the offseason. They didn't sign a lot of external free agents and still wound up losing a significant amount of talent in free agency. Dan Quinn took a few key defenders with him to Washington, Tony Pollard left for the Tennessee Titans in free agency while Tyler Biadasz and Tyron Smith were also key departures.

Biadasz and Smith could be key losses as the Cowboys might be turning to two rookies to take their place. Tyler Guyton will be the left tackle while Cooper Beebe is competing to be the center.

They still haven't signed CeeDee Lamb to a contract extension and he's holding out of camp. Dak Prescott doesn't have a new deal either.

To top things off, it's been well-reported that Mike McCarthy is in a contract year. So the Cowboys are dealing with the loss of an elite defensive coordinator, key personnel and a potential lame duck head coach.

That's not a recipe for another 12-win season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

2024 Win Total: 8.5

The Philadelphia Eagles have received a lot of criticism for collapsing down the stretch, but the Jacksonville Jaguars nosedive to end the season was nearly as dramatic. An 8-3 start turned into a 9-8 season as the Jags lost five out of their last six games to miss the playoffs.

The franchise felt confident enough in Trevor Lawrence to give him a five-year, $275 million contract. It's fair to wonder if we've seen his best work. He only has three years in the league, but he posed an identical 56.1 QBR in each of the last two seasons.

It's hard to say that the Jaguars skill group around Lawrence is appreciably better in 2024. Calvin Ridley left in free agency but the Jags drafted Brian Thomas Jr. in addition to signing Gabe Davis.

Signings like Mitch Morse and Arik Armstead are supposed to make this team better on the interior. However, that's assuming they will only have minimal aging effects as they play deeper into their 30s.

In a lot of the ways, the Jaguars are simply running it back with the team that just barely missed the playoffs last season. Swapping out Zay Jones and Ridley for Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis could be a wash and Armstrong isn't enough to make up for the loss of depth they had on the defensive front.

The win total projects that this team will be in the thick of the wildcard race again, but the actual product might come up short of those expectations.

Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

2024 Win Total: 8.5

Not willing to bet against Jim Harbaugh in the long-term, but his ability to turn the Chargers into a factor in the AFC wildcard race in his first year might be overstated.

Brandon Staley was fired after going 5-12 last season and the roster hasn't had that much turnover.

Those who are optimistic about the Bolts will be quick to point out the marriage of Jim Harbaugh with Justin Herbert. However, the team just announced that Herbert will be in a boot for the next two weeks as he deals with an injury to the plantar fascia.

Herbert is expected to be ready for Week 1, but foot injuries can have a way of lingering. Easton Stick went 0-4 as the starter last season when he stepped in for an injured Herbert.

Even if Herbert's health is fine, he is missing out on important training camp time with his supporting cast. The Chargers let go of Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen, leaving Herbert to work with a receiver group of DJ Chark, Joshua Palmer, Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.

On defense, they are still planning to put a lot on the veteran duo of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Bosa has only played in 14 games over the last two seasons while Mack could fall off a production cliff at 33 years old.

This could be a longer rebuild project than some anticipated when the Chargers hired Harbaugh.

New York Jets

Aaron Rodgers Nick Cammett/Getty Images

2024 Win Total: 9.5

There's no team with a wider range of 2024 outcomes in the NFL than the New York Jets.

That's because so much of their success depends on how well a 40-year-old quarterback recuperates from an Achilles tear. It's been nearly a year since Aaron Rodgers suffered the injury in last year's season opener.

Rodgers' injury obviously took a lot of wind out of the sails for the Jets in 2023. The defense continued to play at a high level, but it only resulted in seven wins because the Jets had the worst quarterback room without Rodgers, dealt with injuries across the offensive line and they didn't seem to have the coaching to overcome their circumstance.

That brings us to 2024. Rodgers is back in the fold, but it's fair to wonder if Robert Saleh and his coaching staff are able to get the most out of this roster.

It's also fairly ironic that there solution on the offensive tackle positions were to sign Tyron Smith and trade for Morgan Moses. Smith has missed at least a few games in every season since 2015 and Moses is 33 years old. Drafting Olu Fashanu gives them a good swing tackle option, but the health of the offensive line could still be big.

   

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