2024 projected win totals for each NFC East team

We’re looking at a ranking of all four NFC East teams including the Philadelphia Eagles by 2024 win total predictions

We’re about 40 days from the 2024 NFL schedule reveal, but the world and Eagles fans already know who their opponents will be.

The league uses multiple factors to determine the year’s game schedule.

There’s a cycle of inter-conference faceoffs; each NFC division rotates through each AFC division every four seasons and the other NFC divisions every three seasons.

In addition, where a team finishes within their division dictates a same-finish matchup with one team from the opposite conference and whichever divisions aren’t in the rotation for that season.

Philadelphia previously had one of the more difficult schedules over the past two years, but 2024 will see the Eagles among the top ten easiest schedules based on win-loss percentages from last year.

Offering an early glimpse into where the Eagles could finish this season, DraftKings revealed a 2024 win total prediction for all 32 teams, and Philadelphia landed at No. 6 on the list.

Here’s where all four NFC East teams are projected to land.

Ranking all 32 teams (including the Eagles) by 2024 projected win totals

We’re looking at a ranking of all teams including the Philadelphia Eagles by 2024 win total predictions

We’re about 45 days from the 2024 NFL schedule reveal, but the world and Eagles fans already know who their opponents will be.

The league uses multiple factors to determine the year’s game schedule.

There’s a cycle of inter-conference faceoffs; each NFC division rotates through each AFC division every four seasons and the other NFC divisions every three seasons.

In addition, where a team finishes within their division dictates a same-finish matchup with one team from the opposite conference and whichever divisions aren’t in the rotation for that season.

Philadelphia previously had one of the more difficult schedules over the past two years, but 2024 will see the Eagles among the top ten easiest schedules based on win-loss percentages from last year.

Offering an early glimpse into where the Eagles could finish this season, DraftKings revealed a 2024 win total prediction for all 32 teams, and Philadelphia landed at No. 6 on the list.

Either Packers or Browns will play Eagles in Brazil for Week 1 of 2024 season

The Packers could be the Eagles’ Week 1 opponent in Brazil to open the 2024 season, per Mark Murphy.

Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy said the NFL is still deciding between the Packers and Cleveland Browns as the opponent for the Philadelphia Eagles in the league’s international game in Brazil for Week 1 of the 2024 season, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.

Murphy told reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting that the league is anticipating a decision on the Packers or Browns soon. Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed an opponent for the Eagles would be decided within the next week or two.

The game — scheduled for São Paulo at the Corinthians Arena — will be the first-ever NFL regular season game in South America.

The Eagles are one of the Packers’ eight road games for 2024. Green Bay will play nine home games this season.

The team’s last international game was a 2022 trip to London, where they lost to the New York Giants.

One potential hurdle for the Packers, according to Murphy, is travel logistics. It’s possible the Packers would have to bus to Milwaukee to fly internationally to Brazil, potentially creating a competitive disadvantage, per Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com.

Official dates and kickoff times are scheduled to be released with the full 2024 schedule later in the offseason.

More information on the Brazil international game can be found here.

Jameis Winston thanks New Orleans for embracing him, says goodbye to Saints fans

Jameis Winston said goodbye to Saints fans in a last look back before signing with the Browns, thanking New Orleans for embracing him:

Jameis Winston formally put pen to paper on his new contract with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, but before doing that he made time to thank New Orleans Saints fans for embracing him during his four years with the team.

Winston shared a highlight reel of his favorite memories and touchdown passes in a Saints uniform on social media, along with a long goodbye message expressing his gratitude for everything he experienced in New Orleans. It’s a classy tribute to a memorable stretch of his NFL career.

“Trust and believe that y’all haven’t seen the last of Jaboo,” Winston said at the end of his letter, again thanking fans in the community for their support.

He’ll be back sooner than you think: Winston’s new Browns team is scheduled to visit the Saints for a home game at the Caesars Superdome in the fall. Depending on when that game kicks off and how far along Deshaun Watson is in recovering from surgery on his throwing shoulder, it just might be Winston making the start against his former team.

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Saints to release Jameis Winston, Michael Thomas in procedural moves Wednesday

As was expected, the Saints will release Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas in procedural moves on Wednesday. Here’s what it means for the salary cap:

We knew this was coming, but now it’s confirmed, and there’s no going back. The New Orleans Saints will be releasing quarterback Jameis Winston and wide receiver Michael Thomas on Wednesday with post-June 1 designations, per Over The Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald, making both of them unrestricted free agents. A number of other players around the league are being let go with the same designation, including Odell Beckham Jr.

It’s unclear whether Thomas was given permission to begin speaking with other teams prior to being released, like Winston, but that’s a reasonable assumption. In Winston’s case, he already knows where he’ll be playing football in 2024: the Cleveland Browns. Winston has agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $8.7 million. He’ll be backing up Deshaun Watson who is still recovering from season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder in 2023.

Teams are only allowed to designate two releases as post-June 1 cuts each offseason, which is done for accounting purposes to help manage the salary cap. Here are the remaining salary cap hits the Saints will carry in 2024 and 2025 after moving on from both players:

  • 2024: $15.69 million in total. $11.1 million (for Thomas) and $4.59 million (for Winston). This is about 6.1% of the salary cap
  • 2025: $16.54 million in total. $9.18 million (for Thomas) and $7.36 million (for Winston). This is about 5.9% of an estimated $280 million salary cap

It’s frustrating to lose so much salary cap space for players no longer on the roster, but that’s the cost of doing business sometimes. And things will get a little easier for the Saints on June 2, at which point they will get some cap relief. They’ll receive a $2.42 million cap credit for both players’ base salaries coming off the books, which can go towards signing their rookie draft class.

We’ll see what’s next for both of them, and for the Saints. Players come and go but the NFL’s calendar keeps moving on.

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Jameis Winston comments on his decision to join the Browns

Jameis Winston commented on his decision to join the Browns, saying he sees Cleveland as a great opportunity:

Why is Jameis Winston planning to sign with the Cleveland Browns for 2024 if he had his hopes set on competing for a starting quarterback job? The New Orleans Saints free agent shared his thought process after news broke of his impending departure, and he sees Cleveland as a great opportunity to help a team reach the Super Bowl while getting chances to play with a starter on the mend.

Deshaun Watson is coming off of a season-ending injury to his throwing shoulder, and he hasn’t met expectations after the Browns made a historic investment to acquire him. Winston sees this as a good place to be a supporter, and, if needed, fill in should Watson miss more time.

“Yes, I still envision myself as a starter, however the Lord has also called me to lead by impacting and increasing the men who are around me,” Winston told CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson. “Having the opportunity to work with Deshaun and help him be the best he can possibly be, is my main mission. Now, if Deshaun has to heal up for whatever reason, and I have to take a few games off of him, I’m going to be ready to do that; but I have to fulfill God’s purpose first before my own heart’s desire. Because ultimately I desire to win some Super Bowls, and this roster that Cleveland got, looks like they can do it.”

The Saints went 5-2 with Winston starting under Sean Payton back in 2021, but back-to-back injuries and poor play-calling from Pete Carmichael caused Winston’s performance to nosedive. He’s thrown more interceptions (8) than touchdowns (6) in limited appearances over the last two seasons.

But, as he said, the Browns present a good opportunity. Watson missed 11 games last year recovering from shoulder surgery. He’s thrown more interceptions (9) than Winston over the last two seasons, and there are high expectations for him to deliver on what the Browns promised when they traded so many draft picks for him and guaranteed his entire contract.

Something to keep in mind: the Browns will visit the Saints at the Caesars Superdome during the 2024 season. There’s a chance it could be Winston, not Watson, under center when the time comes.

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Report: Browns closing in on deal with Jameis Winston

Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz says the Cleveland Browns are closing in on a deal with Jameis Winston:

Jameis Winston is closing in on a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, which would shut the door on his time with the New Orleans Saints. Winston had previously said he hoped to find a team where he could compete for a starting job, but instead he’ll be backing up Deshaun Watson if this deal goes through.

It makes sense when you look at the money: a maximum value of $8.7 million, Schultz says, which is more than twice what Winston received from the Saints last year. Fine money for a backup, and he had his choice of options after other teams expressed interest in his services.

And this might be a better opportunity than it first appears. Watson missed most of the 2023 season recovering from an injured throwing shoulder, and if durability continues to be a problem for him then Winston could get on the field for Cleveland in 2024.

Of course we aren’t crossing the finish line just yet. Deals may be agreed to right now but they can’t be signed until after Wednesday’s 3 p.m. CT deadline. The Jacksonville Jaguars learned that the hard way when former Saints kicker Wil Lutz backed out of an agreement to stay with the Denver Broncos. But it sure looks like Winston will be out of New Orleans very soon.

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Two more teams emerge as suitors for Jameis Winston

Two more teams emerged as suitors for Jameis Winston. He isn’t lacking for options as free agency takes shape:

Jameis Winston isn’t lacking for options outside the New Orleans Saints. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson repots that the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants are “among new teams that’ve shown preliminary interest” in Winston, along with the previously-reported Cleveland Browns.

Winston has said he intends to search for a team where he can compete to start, and the Titans look like the best fit — the only person standing in his way is second-year quarterback Will Levis, who wasn’t drafted by the new Tennessee coaching staff. Levis started nine games as a rookie, completing 58.4% of his passes, scoring 8 touchdown passes, and throwing 4 interceptions while being sacked 28 times with 7 fumbles. The Titans went 3-6 before overhauling their coaching staff.

Compare that to the other two situations, where the Browns and Giants must start Deshaun Watson and Daniel Jones after paying them so highly. At the same time, both of those quarterbacks missed extensive time with injuries last season, so these could be better opportunities for Winston to get on the field than they first appear. We’ll see where he ends up, but it’s looking like he won’t necessarily have to stay with the Saints in 2024.

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Saints free agency rumors: Browns interested in signing Jameis Winston

The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin reports the Browns are interested in signing Jameis Winston as a backup quarterback, not a starter:

It’s too early to say that a market is developing for his services, but at least one team is seriously considering Jameis Winston as free agency takes shape: the Cleveland Browns, per the Boston Globe’s senior NFL reporter Ben Volin.

There’s just one thing. Volin reports that the Browns view Winston as a backup for starting quarterback Deshaun Watson, but Winston has been vocal about his desire to start games for a team, which he knows isn’t going to happen with Derek Carr entrenched on the New Orleans Saints.

Watson has strong job security in Cleveland, too, so if the only offers out there are backup gigs then it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Winston stays in New Orleans. Still, Watson missed most of the season with an injured throwing shoulder, and Winston could see this as an opportunity to get on the field if he misses more time.

So it’s something to watch for in the days ahead. Because of the way Winston’s contract is constructed, the Saints will need to release him with a post-June 1 designation if he’s going to leave and join another team, just like with Michael Thomas. If he intends to stay in New Orleans they’ll need to tear up his current deal and write a new contract. There are many moving parts this time of the year so expect more development in the days ahead.

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1 pending free agent Chargers should target: AFC North Edition

Listing one free agent from the Steelers, Ravens, Browns and Bengals who could be a fit for the Chargers.

The Chargers won’t be aggressive when it comes to signing free agents, as they’re currently $35 million over the projected salary cap.

While they’re cash-strapped, general manager Joe Hortiz will make some moves to have some spendings available to them so they can sign some.

That said, I will list one pending free agent from each team in the NFL that could be a realistic target for L.A.

Next up is the AFC North.