The 2023 NFL season is beginning to come into focus. The majority of the NFL’s perceived contenders have enjoyed fruitful free agency periods. We’re racing towards the 2023 NFL Draft, where the picture will become even clearer at the conclusion.

BetOnline has recently updated their odds for each division winner. We’ve swiftly ranked the favorites 1-8 from most confident to least confident.

1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs are rightful favorites to win the AFC West. The Chiefs lost contributors such as Orlando Brown Jr. and JuJu Smith-Schuster this offseason, but both players are replaceable. It’s worth remembering the Chiefs absorbed the departure of Tyreek Hill last season. The Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders have arguably gotten better this summer, but it’s the Chiefs’ division to lose until proven otherwise.

2. CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Bengals have won the division in back-to-back seasons. They’ve qualified for one Super Bowl and one AFC Championship Game throughout that time frame. The Bengals are big favorites heading into 2023. The Baltimore Ravens continue to drag out the Lamar Jackson process slowly. The Pittsburgh Steelers are still building around Kenny Pickett. The Cleveland Browns are an unknown commodity after Deshaun Watson struggled down the stretch.

3. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

I initially struggled with where to place the 49ers due to questions surrounding their quarterback situation. Will it be Sam Darnold, Trey Lance, or Brock Purdy in Week 1? San Francisco’s roster is elite regardless, and I don’t have much faith in the division’s contenders.

The Los Angeles Rams appear stuck between a closing window and a transitional period. I like the Seattle Seahawks, but they should max out around 9-10 victories. The Arizona Cardinals are comfortably the worst team in the division following Kyler Murray’s torn ACL.

4. BUFFALO BILLS

I’m extremely confident in the Bills’ ability to win 12-13 contests annually. So why is Buffalo ranked 4? Their AFC East contenders continue to enjoy aggressive offseasons.
The Miami Dolphins are a double-digit win team and added Jalen Ramsey this summer. Bill Belichick’s Patriots are always a difficult matchup despite some glaring weaknesses. The New York Jets are about to acquire Aaron Rodgers. Buffalo’s rivals are closing the gap.

5. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The Jaguars enjoyed a dream-like 2022 campaign. Doug Pederson and Trevor Lawrence came as advertised in 2022 and Jacksonville is well-positioned to dominate the AFC South for years to come. But they must approach with caution.

The Houston Texans have an excellent new coach in DeMeco Ryans, will likely draft a quarterback at 2 overall, and have added quality pieces through free agency. The Tennessee Titans will contend for 8-9 wins as long as they have Derrick Henry in the backfield. The Indianapolis Colts will also probably draft a quarterback. The Jaguars are favorites, but the dynamics of this division could quickly change.

6. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

It may be viewed as downright disrespectful to have the defending NFC champion Eagles ranked at 6. The Eagles have lost several contributors in free agency, however, including Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. While I believe they’re slight division favorites, all three NFC East contenders are in excellent positions.

The Dallas Cowboys aggressively traded for Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks. The Washington Commanders hired Eric Bieniemy to be their offensive coordinator. The New York Giants retained their own in Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. The NFC East may be the most competitive division in 2023.

7. DETROIT LIONS

I love that the Lions are NFC North favorites. It feels appropriate after Dan Campbell’s squad rounded off victories in five of their final six regular-season contests.

The defending champion Minnesota Vikings are their main adversaries. The division is a toss-up between Minnesota and Detroit. The Packers are losing Rodgers, and the Bears are still rebuilding around Justin Fields.

8. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Following the retirement of Tom Brady, the Saints have the most stable quarterback in the division after signing Derek Carr in free agency. Head coach Dennis Allen still has plenty to prove, and New Orleans’ arch-rivals are maintaining competitiveness. The Saints should be wary of their opponents.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be competitive with Baker Mayfield. The Carolina Panthers have an excellent new coaching staff with Frank Reich and the 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Atlanta Falcons have embarked on a spending spree, and their young offensive weapons should show improvement.