Draft Insiders’ NFL Power Poll – 2024

Frank Coyle / Head scout
www.draftinsiders.com

Team of the Week 
Ravens Blast Bills, 35-10

Upset of the Week
 Broncos Beat Jets, 10-9
 
Players of the Week
  Offense – QB Jared Goff – Lions    
  Defense – LB Fred Warner – 49ers
 
Rookies of Week
    Offense – QB Jayden Daniels – Commanders
    Defense – DT T’Vonrae Sweat – Titans

Game of Week Five  
Buffalo Bills (3-1) @ Houston Texans (3-1) – Sunday 1 pm

First Bye Week – Chargers, Titans, Lions and Eagles

Draft Insiders’ – NFL Power Poll – Week 5

Frank Coyle

Team Poll
Ranking /Record /Team

#1 – 4-0 Chiefs
Chiefs hung tough vs the Chargers and came out on top once again. Host the Saints on Monday nite.

#2 – 4-0 Vikings
Vikings’ QB Sam Darnold toasted the Packers to continue his torrid start. Travel to London to face the struggling Jets. Darnold looking for revenge.

#3 – 3-1 Bucs
Bucs drilled the Eagles again. Travel to Atlanta for a major NFC South matchup.

#4 – 2-2 Ravens
Ravens have put back to back impressive wins with huge victory over the Bills. Travel to Cincinnati in a tough AFC North battle.

#5 – 3-1 Bills
Bills were crushed by the Ravens. Travel to Houston in an important AFC contest.

#6 – 3-1 Texans
Young Texans win another important South matchup vs the Jaguars. Host the talented Bills on Sunday.

#7 – 3-1 Steelers
Steelers defense fell short vs the Colts for their first defeat. Host the Cowboys on Sunday night.

#8 – 3-1 Lions
Lions beat the Seahawks in another close matchup. Get an early bye week to regroup before the push to defend their NFC North title.

#9 – 3-1 Seahawks
Seahawks fell to the Lions on Monday night in close contest. Host the GMen hoping to hold on to NFC West leadership.

#10 – 2-2 49ers
The 49ers took care of business vs the Patriots. Host the Cardinals in a short period of their schedule.

#11 – 2-2 Eagles
The Eagles were basted again by the Bucs. Showing signs on last season. Get their bye week to get healthy.

#12 – 2-2 Jets
Brutal loss to the Broncos at home with a rookie QB. Travel to London to face Sam Darnold and the undefeated Vikings. Revenge on Darnold’s mind after a tough early career with the Jets.

#13 – 3-1 Redskins
The Redskins riding the hot hand of rookie QV Jayden Daniels. Hosting the Browns looking to retain NFC East leadership.

#14 – 2-2 Cowboys
The Cowboys are rested after a Thursday night win vs GMen. Travel to the Steel City for Sunday night contest which effects both divisions.

#15 – 2-2 Chargers
Chargers failed to get anything going again this time vs the Chiefs defense last week. Get their bye week to figure things out and work on trades.

#16 – 2-2 Falcons
Falcons came back behind QB Kirk Cousins. Host the Bucs in a huge early season NFC South matchup to determine AFC South leadership.

#17 – 2-2 Colts
Veteran Joe Flacco worked his magic again late to give the Steelers their first loss. Travel Jacksonville in a key AFC South clash.

#18 – 2-2 Saints
Saints lost another close game this time to the Falcons. Travel to Kansas City in a huge early season  matchup.

#19 – 2-2 Packers
The Packers fell to the Vikings in tough contest. Face the Rams in LA in an important matchup for both clubs in a competitive NFC.

#20 – 2-2 Raiders
The Raiders edged the Browns in a key game to stay apace in the AFC. Travel to Denver in an old AFC rivalry which always brings drama.

#21 – 2-2 Broncos
Broncos’ defense broke out vs the Jets. Rookie Bo Nix is holding up well. Hosting the Raiders may determine their early season direction.

#22 – 2-2 Bears
The Bears’ edged the Raiders in a good performance. Host the Panthers in an important matchup to get into contender.

#23 – 1-3 Rams
Rams lost to the Bears in a poor performance. Host the Packers and a vital matchup to determine if they are contenders this season.

#24 – 1-3 Giants
The Giants can not get into the endzone which negates good defensive performances. Travel to Seattle in hope of getting into the win column and stay apace in the open NFC East division.

#25 – 1-3 Dolphins
Dolphins miss QB Tua immensely. Lowest scoring team in the NFL. Travel to New England looking to turn it around vs the second lowest scoring club in the league.

#26 – 1-3 Bengals
The Bengals came up short vs the Raiders.  Host the hot Ravens in a must win situation.

#27 – 1-3 Titans
The Titans drilled the Dolphins for their first victory.  Get their bye week, hoping to correct some mistakes which have cost them dearly.

#28 – 1-3 Cardinals
Cardinals were blasted by the Commanders. Travel to SF to face the banged up 49ers.

#29 – 1-3 Browns
Browns know how to lose close games. Travel to DC to face the hot Commanders and rookie QB Jayden Daniels.

#30 – 1-3 Patriots
The Pats were pounded by the 49ers. Host the Dolphins in an AFC East matchup where the loser might starting to look to next season.

#31 – 0-4 Jaguars
Jaguars coming up short in big spots. Host the Colts in a must win situation for any postseason hopes.

#32 – 1-3 Panthers
Panthers fell to the Bengals in a competitive game. Travel to Chicago in a contest they can surprise.

Frank Coyle is a long-time scout with nationwide ties with NFL and college coaches, scouts and player agents. He is a member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards – Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe, Biletnikoff etc for the past 30 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He was a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for CBS, ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year-round basis related to NFL and College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, USA Today, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.

 

NFL Calendar & Dates – 2024-2025

October

October 6            NFL International Game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, United Kingdom)
New York Jets vs. Minnesota Vikings

October 13          NFL International Game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, United Kingdom)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Chicago Bears

Oct 15 Deadline for any player claiming the 2024 Injury Protection benefit to file a grievance.

October 15-16   Fall League Meeting (The Whitley, Atlanta, Georgia)

October 20          NFL International Game at Wembley Stadium (London, United Kingdom)
New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

November

Nov 5   All trading ends for 2024 at 4:00 p.m., New York time.

Nov 6   Players with at least four previous pension-credited seasons are subject to the waiver system for the remainder of the regular season and postseason.

November 10     NFL International Game at Allianz Arena – Home of FC Bayern Munich (Munich, Germany)
New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers

Nov 12 – 4:00 p.m., New York time, signing period ends for Franchise Players who are eligible to receive Offer Sheets.
Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for Clubs to sign their unsigned Franchise and Transition Players, including Franchise Players who were eligible to receive Offer Sheets until this date. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2024.

Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for Clubs to sign their Unrestricted Free Agents to whom the “UFA Tender” was made. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2024.

Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for Clubs to sign their Restricted Free Agents, including those to whom the “June 1 Tender” was made. If such players remain unsigned after this date, they are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2024.

December

December 10-11              Special League Meeting/Front Office Accelerator (Ritz-Carlton-Las Colinas, Irving, Texas)

2025 Dates

January

Jan 6     Clubs may begin signing free agent players for the 2025 season, including players from the CFL.
Earliest permissible date for clubs to renegotiate or extend the Rookie Contract of a Drafted Rookie who was selected in any round of the 2022 College Draft or any Undrafted Rookie who signed in 2023. Any permissible renegotiated or extended Player Contract will not be considered a Rookie Contract and will not be subject to the rules that limit Rookie Contracts.

Clubs may exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2022 Draft.

Jan 8    Beginning at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Wednesday following the final regular season weekend, rosters are frozen for clubs participating in the postseason with limited exceptions.

January 11-13    Super Wild Card Weekend

Mid-January (Tentative) Deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for Special Eligibility.

January 18-19    Divisional Playoff Games

Jan 20   NCAA National Championship Game (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)

Jan 26   AFC & NFC Championship Games

Jan 30  East-West Shrine Bowl

February

Feb 1     Senior Bowl (Hancock-Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Alabama)

Feb 2     Pro Bowl Games

Feb 9    Super Bowl LIX (Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana)

Feb 18 – Beginning this date through at 4:00 p.m., New York time on March 4, clubs may designate Franchise or Transition Players.

February 24 – March 3   NFL Scouting Combine (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana)

March

Mar 4    Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 10-12      Negotiation Period. During the period beginning at 12:00 noon, New York time, on March 10 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 12, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2024 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 12.

During the above two-day negotiating period, a prospective UFA who is not represented by an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor (“Unrepresented Player”) is permitted to communicate directly with a new club’s front office officials (excluding the Head Coach and other members of the club’s coaching staff) regarding contract negotiations. The club is responsible for confirming the player’s status as an Unrepresented Player.

No prospective Unrestricted Free Agent is permitted to execute a contract with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 12.

Mar 12 – The 2025 League Year and Free Agency signing period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
Trading period for 2025. Trading begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2024 contracts.

The first day of the 2025 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 12. Clubs will receive a Personnel Notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 12.

March 30-April 2 – Annual League Meeting (The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida)

Mar 31 Deadline for clubs to meet 2025 funding requirements for guaranteed or deferred compensation in NFL Player Contracts and contracts for non-player Club employees.

April

Apr 7     Clubs that hired a new Head Coach after the end of the 2024 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.

Apr 16 Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview, or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at its club facility.

Apr 18 Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign Offer Sheets.

Apr 21 Clubs with returning Head Coaches may begin offseason workout programs.

Apr 23 Deadline for Prior Club to exercise Right of First Refusal to Restricted Free Agents who signed offer sheets.

Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls), or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at any location.

April 24-26          Annual Selection Meeting/NFL Draft (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
                                 NFL Draft 2025

May

1-May   Deadline for Clubs to exercise Fifth-Year Option for players selected in the first round of the 2022 Draft.

May 2-5 or          Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday on one of the two weekends following the Draft.

May 9-12

May 12                Rookie Football Development Programs begin.

May 20-21          Spring League Meeting/Coach Accelerator (Omni Viking Lakes Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota)