A way-too-early look at 2024 Super Bowl potential of NFC teams

Free agency won't begin until March 13 and the draft in Detroit follows on April 25, so teams have significant roster moves to make before the 2024 season begins in September. That hasn't stopped Yardbarker NFL writers from evaluating the Super Bowl potential of all 16 NFC teams. (2023 regular-season records are in parenthesis.)

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS (12-5) | SB potential: It’s now or never ... again | Recent postseason futility aside, the Cowboys still have one of the NFL's most talented rosters. While the rest of the division rebuilds or retools, a few tweaks to Dallas' fifth-ranked offense and defense should keep it in Super Bowl contention.

NEW YORK GIANTS (6-11) | SB potential: Fuh-get about it | Until New York gets out from under QB Daniel Jones’ onerous contract, the Giants won’t get anywhere near a Super Bowl. With their oft-injured quarterback due $47M next season, New York could struggle to fix its 31st-ranked passing offense and attract a quality replacement for defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-6) | SB potential: Go Phillies! | Another year, another set of new coordinators. Head coach Nick Sirianni had no answers in the playoffs or for the Eagles 1-5 regular-season finish, and based on his most recent news conference, he’s already out of ideas.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-13) | SB potential: Bipartisan bills are more likely | A new quarterback — USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye — will help, but they can only do so much for a team that gave up the most yards (6,612) and points per game (30.5) in 2023. Better days are ahead, but a trip to the Super Bowl should be seen as a long-term goal. — Bruce Ewing

NFC West 

ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-13) | SB potential: Still long way to go | The Cardinals will have a chance to land a franchise player with the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, whether it is a potential long-term quarterback or a playmaker like WR Marvin Harrison Jr. But even that will not be enough to immediately turn around a team that finished 24th in points per game (19.4) and 31st in points against per game (26.8). 

LOS ANGELES RAMS (10-7) | SB potential: One more run for Stafford? | The Rams bounced back from a five-win season to return to the playoffs in 2023 thanks in large part to a healthy QB Matthew Stafford and a dominant second-half performance in which he threw for 18 touchdowns over his final eight games (including playoffs). He will be 36 in 2024, but if the Rams can protect him, he might have one more big playoff run in him with a rising star in WR Puka Nacua. 

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-5) | SB potential: Still a Super Bowl favorite | The 49ers are back in the Super Bowl for the second time in five years and have been a near-lock for at least the NFC Championship Game during that stretch. Whether it is the result of quarterback Brock Purdy’s play or the supporting cast around him, the 49ers will still have one of the best rosters in football from top-to-bottom and a Super Bowl-or-bust expectation. 

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-8) | SB potential: More mediocrity | The Seahawks do not yet know who their head coach will be, but unless there is a dramatic change to the roster, another eight- or nine-win season seems like the expectation. The defense has ranked 25th in points against (23.5) in each of the past two seasons, and while Geno Smith has had a nice resurgence in his career, he is not a Super Bowl quarterback. — Adam Gretz

NFC North 

CHICAGO BEARS (7-10) | SB potential: Highly doubtful | Boasting the NFL's 18th-ranked offense and 20th-ranked defense, the Bears have much to improve on to be a contender. They also must solve the issues at quarterback. (Will Justin Fields return or will they draft another QB with the first overall pick in the draft?) Furthermore, deciding to stand pat with head coach Matt Eberflus instead of pursuing a fresh start (Jim Harbaugh?) may have put the franchise behind the eight-ball even more.

DETROIT LIONS (12-5) | SB potential: Conceivable | The Lions aren't likely to be the most popular stone-cold Super Bowl lock, but they've arrived, as it were, with this season's success and a trip to the NFC Championship Game. They won't be the favorite, but with a solid foundation on both sides of the ball and a unique leader in head coach Dan Campbell, they'll undoubtedly be in the conversation.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-8) | SB potential: Unlikely | Much like the Packers' oldest rival, the Bears, they're in an in-between stage, but they seemingly have an edge with QB Jordan Love already emerging as the face of the franchise. However, Love alone isn't likely to be enough to bring the Lombardi Trophy back home.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-10) | SB potential: Remote | The Vikings will probably give it another shot with QB Kirk Cousins surrounded by a revamped group in 2024. That isn't the worst idea, but it's unlikely to result in a Super Bowl victory, as it hasn't worked yet with him, earning only one division and two playoff appearances in six seasons. — Mike Santa Barbara

NFC South 

ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10) | SB potential: Add a quarterback, then we’ll talk | The Falcons will be intriguing next season with a defense trending upward and a fresh perspective on offense. However, Atlanta’s chances of partying on Bourbon Street in February 2025 — Super Bowl LIX will be in New Orleans — depends on whether it can find a quality quarterback because Desmond Ridder is not the answer. 

CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-15) | SB potential: Playoffs… playoffs?! | Coming off a lousy season, the Panthers should worry about winning a game before they think about a Super Bowl run. The better question is: How many coaches will owner David Tepper burn through before Carolina returns to relevancy?

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (9-8) | SB potential: “So you’re saying there’s a chance?” | With a veteran roster and the next Super Bowl in New Orleans, the Saints have all the motivation to compete for a Super Bowl. While they haven’t made the playoffs since 2020, they were one of five teams to finish in the top 10 in scoring offense and scoring defense this season, joining the 49ers, Bills, Cowboys and Ravens, and were the only one to fail to make the playoffs. 

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-8) | SB potential: Stranger things have happened | The Bucs exceeded expectations in 2023, somehow finishing with a better record (and offense) with quarterback Baker Mayfield than Tom Brady. If that’s possible, who’s to say that with a couple of free-agent additions, the Bucs can’t shock the world and make the Super Bowl?  — Eric Smithling