2024 NFL free agency: Ranking most improved teams of offseason

One word to describe the early stages of 2024 NFL free agency? Chaos! We just experienced perhaps the busiest first two days of free agency in league history -- and we're still in the legal tampering period until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday -- with dozens of impact players agreeing to new deals. We've even had a few intriguing trades.

Things will continue to evolve as more players come off the board and find new teams, but we now have enough of a sample for us to recognize the franchises that have made the savviest additions and re-signings.

I've examined all 32 teams to see which have improved the most in recent days, removing departed free agents and adding newcomers. Here are four that have aced free agency (so far) and the key additions that could get them to the next level, ranked in order:

1. Houston Texans

Key additions: DE Danielle Hunter, RB Joe Mixon, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, DL Denico Autry, DL Foley Fatukasi, CB Jeff Okudah

Notable re-signings: TE Dalton Schultz, K Ka'imi Fairbairn, CB Desmond King, S Eric Murray, DT Khalil Davis

Not only did the Texans make a few splashy additions, but they did so at the expense of their AFC and divisional rivals. Al-Shaair and Autry ranked first and sixth, respectively, on the Titans in defensive snaps last season, and Fatukasi was a solid interior defender for the Jaguars. Hunter, meanwhile, is one of the league's best edge rushers (10-plus sacks in his last four full seasons) and forms a potentially elite duo with Will Anderson Jr. All four newcomers will play a role in the front seven for a Houston defense that posted the 11th-best defensive expected points added (EPA) in 2023.

Mixon, one of the league's top running backs since entering the league in 2017, was acquired from the Bengals and will replace Devin Singletary as lead back; he ranked fourth in the NFL in touches in 2023. Mixon and Schultz, who signed a three-year, $36 million extension after a successful 2023 season with the team, will be two of second-year QB C.J. Stroud's top playmakers.

Read more about the Texans' moves

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

Key additions: S Darnell Savage, C Mitch Morse, WR Gabe Davis, CB Ronald Darby, WR Devin Duvernay, QB Mac Jones

Notable re-signings: EDGE Josh Allen, G Ezra Cleveland, S Daniel Thomas, DT Jeremiah Ledbetter

The Jaguars ranked 26th in offensive EPA last season, so upgrades were needed. Enter new starting center Morse, as well as deep-threat wideout Davis, who will join Christian Kirk, Evan Engram and Travis Etienne as a standout group of targets for Trevor Lawrence. Jacksonville made a savvy trade for Cleveland last season and re-signed him after he played well down the stretch. He and Morse will join Brandon Scherff to create a solid interior offensive line.

Savage was the team's biggest defensive (and overall) addition. The former Packers standout is an upgrade over released safety Rayshawn Jenkins opposite Andre Cisco. Darby, who has been perpetually underrated, was brought in to replace Darious Williams opposite ascending corner Tyson Campbell.

Read more about the Jaguars' moves

3. Washington Commanders

Key additions: LB Frankie Luvu, C Tyler Biadasz, RB Austin Ekeler, EDGE Dorance Armstrong, G Nick Allegretti, TE Zach Ertz, EDGE Clelin Ferrell, S Jeremy Chinn, K Brandon McManus, EDGE Dante Fowler Jr., QB Marcus Mariota

The Commanders will have a new look this season, with coach Dan Quinn leading the defense and Kliff Kingsbury managing the offense. The front office wasted no time shaking up the roster, with Luvu and Biadasz as the most impactful additions.

Luvu, once a situational linebacker/edge rusher for the Jets,  emerged as a terrific every-down off-ball linebacker in Carolina over the past two seasons. He'll step into a similar role next to Jamin Davis in Washington, whereas Armstrong, Ferrell and Fowler might immediately be the best three edge rushers on the roster. (Quinn coached two of the three in Dallas.) Chinn adds depth and versatility at safety, corner and linebacker. These are big upgrades for a defense that ranked last in EPA following the trades of Chase Young and Montez Sweat in October.

Quinn brought standout center Biadasz with him from the Cowboys, and Allegretti will immediately compete for work at guard. Ekeler is entering his age-29 season, but he's a terrific pass-catching complement to big back Brian Robinson Jr. and could push for 200 touches. Ertz replaces Logan Thomas at tight end, and Washington might not be done at the position. Plus, with the Commanders likely to use the No. 2 pick of April's draft on a quarterback, Mariota's arrival might send Sam Howell to the trade block.

Read more about the Commanders' moves

4. Atlanta Falcons

Key additions: QB Kirk Cousins, WR Darnell Mooney, TE Charlie Woerner

This is a short list of additions, but one of the names will likely go down as the biggest free agent signing of this offseason. Cousins is recovering from a torn right Achilles but is expected to be ready for Week 1. He was playing some of his best football prior to the injury in October, ranking first in the league in touchdown passes and second in passing yards.

He will lead a new-look offense, with coordinator Zac Robinson calling plays and WR Drake London, RB Bijan Robinson, TE Kyle Pitts and speedy ex-Chicago No. 1 WR Mooney as his top targets. Atlanta also returns all five starters from one of the league's top offensive lines, which sets it up for a big offensive breakout.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the players responsible for 76% of Atlanta's 2023 defensive snaps remained on the roster -- the fifth-highest in the league -- which is a good sign for a unit that ranked 12th in EPA last season. It also explains why the Falcons have been quiet on that side of the ball this week.

Read more about the Falcons' moves