The NFL season has finally arrived, and as we prepare for the 2024 campaign to kickoff, let’s take a look at a few X-Factors for the coming season. We’re talking about players who have that unique blend of talent and opportunity to make a major impact on the season ahead.
From a pair of veteran quarterback comeback stories to a head coach ready to transform a team in need of some wins, here are seven X-factors for the 2024 NFL season.
Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, New York Jets
We should acknowledge this right away: listing a future first-ballot Hall of Famer as an X-Factor feels a little too obvious. But truthfully, there might be no greater X-Factor on this list than Rodgers, whose first campaign with the Jets was over before it began.
While Rodgers’ absence saw the offence struggle all year, young weapons like wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall still turned in terrific seasons. And Gang Green fielded an excellent defence, which was a top-three unit in total yards against.
If Rodgers can stay healthy — and, at 40 years old and coming off a torn Achilles, that’s not a given — then there’s a real chance the Jets can be AFC title contenders under his direction. If not…well, Florham Park won’t be the rosiest place for the next five months.
Kirk Cousins, quarterback, Atlanta Falcons
In the same vein as Rodgers, the Falcons are hoping for some renewed health from their brand-new signing in Cousins. The former Vikings signal-caller tore his Achilles midway through last season, but prior to that was tearing through NFL defences — in eight games, he threw for 18 touchdowns with just five interceptions, and more than 2,300 passing yards. That had him on track to outpace every other quarterback in the NFL.
If Cousins is even a fraction of what he has been in the past, then a loaded Falcons offence ripe with weapons will be a tough group to handle.
The complicating factor in Atlanta, through no fault of his own, is the presence of Penix Jr., drafted eighth overall this past April despite having just inked Cousins to a massive, four-year deal. It might simply be insurance in case of re-injury for Cousins, but with the top-ranked rookie looming behind him, it might also mean a short leash for the veteran.
Keon Coleman, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
It’s been an odd off-season for the Bills since having their playoff hopes cut once again at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The biggest changes came in the form of Stefon Diggs being traded to Houston and Gabe Davis signing in Jacksonville.
That leaves 152 receptions, 1,929 yards and 15 touchdowns worth of production to replace, and one big question: Who is quarterback Josh Allen throwing to? Enter Coleman, the first pick of the second round in the 2024 NFL Draft. He cuts an imposing figure at six-foot-three and 213 pounds, and made a career out of bullying opposing defensive backs in college for Florida State.
He certainly won’t replicate all that production by himself (wouldn’t that be nice?), but he will immediately take a large slice of that pie.
Zack Moss, running back, Cincinnati Bengals
The career of Moss is a fascinating one — a 2020 third-round pick by Buffalo, he was not a major factor early on for the Bills, and three years later found himself traded for pennies on the dollar to the Colts. Being on the roster bubble is never a great place to be, but following an injury to starter Jonathan Taylor, Moss was thrust into the spotlight in Indianapolis and proved his No. 1 potential.
He finished 2023 as the Colts’ leading rusher, nabbing a career-high 794 rushing yards and five touchdowns, along with 192 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 27 receptions.
For his efforts, he’s been handed another fresh start and a larger role with Joe Burrow and the Bengals. He’ll have to co-exist with fellow running back Chase Brown, but it’ll be interesting to see how he’s used. His predecessor, Joe Mixon, was used frequently near the end zone — that’s 20 goal-line carries that could go to Moss. If he can combine that with his strong pass-blocking abilities — something Burrow desperately needs — he’ll parlay his way into more playing time and better statistical production than he’s ever seen before.
Derek Stingley Jr., cornerback, Houston Texans
While the Texans are primarily known for the exploits of quarterback C.J. Stroud and company, whether or not they match their impressive accomplishments of 2023 will more likely hinge on the defence.
Stingley Jr. headlines that unit, which features a group of defensive backs largely consisting of reclamation projects, journeymen, and untested rookies. The 6-foot-1 cornerback missed six games with a hamstring injury last year, and yet he still finished the season with 39 tackles, 13 pass-breakups, and five interceptions.
Stingley Jr.’s ability to erase half the field as a true lockdown corner is going to give head coach DeMeco Ryans some nice matchup options when opposing wideouts come to Houston.
Cam Jurgens, centre, Philadelphia Eagles
Not many would blame you if you read this name and asked, “who?” But little-known as he is, Jurgens is set to fill a crucial role in Philadelphia as he takes over for the recently retired Jason Kelce after two years as his understudy.
Howie Roseman drafted Jurgens in 2022 to have him learn from Kelce, so he’d be ready for the spotlight once the All-Pro centre retired. But not only is Jurgens taking Kelce’s spot, he’s going to learn a whole new language of play calls, as the Eagles’ offence is now run by newly-hired coordinator Kellen Moore.
Alongside quarterback Jalen Hurts, who engaged the ‘Brotherly Shove’ to the tune of 15 rushing touchdowns in 2023, and the recently signed Saquon Barkley, Jurgens will be expected to keep things running on time in Philadelphia.
Jim Harbaugh, head coach, Los Angeles Chargers
It’s been quite the football life for Harbaugh. The former NFL quarterback has been a successful college coach at two different universities (he won the Orange Bowl with Stanford, and just last year won the National Championship with Michigan) and in his brief stint as head coach of the 49ers, won Coach of the Year and guided San Francisco to a Super Bowl berth.
It’s a loaded resume that points to one thing: he’s a tried-and-tested winner. His hiring is an injection of energy and life into a franchise that’s had a lot of unrealized potential in recent memory.
There’s a lot ahead for Harbaugh as he begins the rebuild. Not only does he need to help quarterback Justin Herbert thrive, he has to reorganize the run game and the offensive line, redeploy Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa on defence, and do it all in the same division as Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and the two-time defending Super Bowl champs. It’s no easy task.
But if history has shown us anything, it’s that things eventually go Harbaugh’s way — the only question is how long it’ll take.