Where do Buccaneers rank among division winners likely to repeat in 2024?
By Brad Smith
It may be hard to believe, but the 2024 NFL season is just over 100 days away from kicking off on September 5 between the defending champion Chiefs and the Ravens. As with any season, parity is a prominent factor and can affect any and every team, regardless of last season's success.
That is especially true with division champions, as at least one team has won its division after finishing last or tied for last the previous season in 19 of the last 21 seasons. In 2023, Baltimore, Houston, Dallas, and Detroit were the four teams to accomplish this feat, with the Texans going from worst to first in the AFC South.
As the old saying goes, "Any Given Sunday", and expect much of the same in 2024. Of course, there is a spectrum of division winners that will inevitably lose their spot atop of the division. Starting from least likely to most, these are the eight division winners from last season, ranked in likelihood of not repeating in 2024.
No. 8: Kansas City Chiefs
If there's a team that simply won't be dethroned as division champs in 2024, it's the Chiefs. Kansas City isn't in much danger of losing their divisional title in 2024. Led by prodigy quarterback Patrick Mahomes and legendary tight end Travis Kelce, Kansas City won their third Super Bowl in five seasons, most recently with a 25-22 win over San Fransisco in Super Bowl LVIII last year.
With Mahomes locked in under center for the foreseeable future, Kansas City will be as close of a lock to win the division and advance deep into the playoffs. Remarkably, Mahomes has still found success even with a lackluster wide receiver core after trading Tyreek Hill to Miami two seasons ago. This season, Mahomes made it work with the likes of Rashee Rice, Justin Watson, Noah Gray, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but success isn't guaranteed with a receiving core like that.
This spring, Kansas City did a good job in adding solid receiving options for Mahomes, signing wide receiver Marquise Brown to a one-year, $11 million deal and adding tight end Irv Smith to a one-year contract. The Chiefs also used the No. 28 pick on Texas wideout Xavier Worthy and drafted TCU tight end Jared Wiley in the third round.
Similar to other teams on this list, Kansas City focused on re-signing their top free agents this offseason, inking standout defensive tackle Chris Jones, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, linebacker Drue Tranquill, and safety Deon Bush to new deals. While the Chiefs did trade star cornerback La'Jarius Sneed to the Titans, they drafted Washington State safety Jaden Hicks and Tennessee cornerback Kamal Hadden in rounds three and five.
Overall, there isn't a true competitor to KC in the AFC West. The Chargers will always be e a pesky division opponent twice a year with Justin Herbert at the helm, especially if the hiring of former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh works out. Both Denver and Las Vegas still face question marks at the quarterback position, which gives Kansas City a clear edge in winning their ninth straight AFC West division title.