The 2023–24 NFL season was especially entertaining, and we got to see the Kansas City Chiefs crowned as Super Bowl LVIII Champions. However, all good things must come to an end and at the moment, we are in the height of the 2024 NFL offseason.
For many football fans, it can be difficult to keep track of things during the offseason and stay involved in the world of the NFL. We want to change that and make sure you can stay on top of the action, be entertained, and be ready for what the 2024–25 season has to offer.
In the article below, we’ll discuss five steps you can take to keep up to date with the NFL 2024 off-season, including trades, the draft, sports betting, and the upcoming preseason schedule.
Step 1—Reviewing the 2024 NFL Draft
We all want to see the new talent that the 2024 NFL draft provided, and how these rookies could reshape the roster landscape. The following were the top ten picks in the draft
- Caleb Williams—Quarterback, Cleveland Browns
- Jayden Daniels—Quarterback, Washington Commanders
- Drake Maye—Quarterback, New England Patriots
- Marvin Harrison Jr—Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals
- Joe Alt—Offensive Tackle, Los Angeles Chargers
- Malik Nabers—Wide Receiver, New York Giants
- LC Latham—Offensive Tackle, Tennessee Titans
- Michael Penix Jr—Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons
- Rome Odunze—Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears
- J.J McCarthy—Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings
You can view a complete 2024 draft list on the official NFL site and we advise familiarizing yourself with the top picks. This year, the Cleveland Browns snagged the top pick,Caleb Williams, who should make an immediate impact and be a year-1 starter.
Step 2—Checking the 2024 NFL Preseason Schedule
Before the actual 2024–25 season kicks off, we are treated to the preseason schedule. This typically happens from the middle of August onwards, and the 2024 schedule has already been announced. All 32 teams will compete in a variety of matches to prepare for the season and let their new rosters take shape.
The preseason is often incredibly important because it gives new signings and rookies the chance to get a taste of the action and see how they will fit into the team. It also lets us see which players have maintained their training regime during the offseason and are still in match shape! The preseason schedule has currently been released for the first four weeks and below is a quick breakdown
- Preseason Week 1, W/C August 5th—7 games
- Preseason Week 2, W/C August 12th—6 games
- Preseason Week 3, W/C August 19th—8 games
- Preseason Week 4, W/C August 26th—13+ games
So, the action is nearly upon us! To prepare, make sure you check out the schedule, look at the matches, and see what live TV or streaming coverage is available.
Step 3—Analyzing Offseason Trades
The offseason is also the prime time when NFL teams make their moves to try and improve their rosters. The trade window opens here and usually, the offseason is packed with players re-signing with teams, forging new contracts, and being traded to new divisions.
Often, this is one of the most exciting aspects of the offseason as historically, some huge moves have been made during this period. Below are some notable trades that have already happened during the offseason
- Curtis Samuel signed for $30 million with the Bills
- Aaron Brewer signed for $21 million with the Dolphins
- Kendrick Bourne re-signed with the Patriots for $19.5 million
- Tyrone Smith signed with the Jets for $20 million
- Justin Madubuike re-signed with the Ravens for $98 million
- Nico Collins signed a $72.5 million deal with the Texans
- Trevor Lawrence agreed to a five-year extension, worth $275 million, with the Jaguars
- Justin Fields signed with the Steelers
- Kirk Cousins signed with the Atlanta Falcons
- Kansas City Chiefs signed L’Jarius Sneed
This is just a small snippet of the overall trade landscape. Luckily, the NFL has a handy free agency tracker and trade list. This is updated with every new deal, and we like that it’s split by division so you can easily find the trades that affect your home team.
Step 4—Getting Your Sports Betting in Order
What would the NFL be without a little sports betting action? This has become part and parcel of watching NFL games, and it’s incredibly fun to place a few wagers on your favorite team or analyze the advanced stats to try and predict some cool props bets.
If you are into sports betting, you should find an alternative to Chumba Casino and other online platforms that offer online casino gaming and sports betting. There are many to choose from and usually, the best platforms offer a combination of casino entertainment and an extensive NFL bet spread.
To prepare, we advise looking for any season promotions these sites offer. This could mean registering with a new casino or sportsbook, or looking at the promo pages of the platforms you are already registered with. You can then get your deposit money ready, make a few preseason futures wagers, and see what odds are available for upcoming matches, like over/under and moneyline bets.
At most gaming platforms, you will find bets for the preseason games as well as picks for the actual NFL season. Always make sure you do your research and try to avoid betting with your heart. Sure, it’s great to place bets on teams you enjoy, but if you want to do well, an analytical approach that utilizes NFL predictions, past form, and other key indicators is better.
Step 5—Finding Streaming Services to Watch the Action
Obviously, you want to be able to watch the matches and see your favorite teams and players take to the pitch. With that in mind, the final thing to do during the NFL offseason is make sure you have your TV and streaming services in order.
Depending on your location and state, you have a range of options available. The simplest is obviously network TV, but the following services are available too
- NFL Game Pass
- ESPN
- ABC
- FOX
- NFL+
- NFL RedZone
If you don’t have cable TV, the NFL Game Pass or NFL+ are fantastic options for live streaming all NFL games. For example, you can buy the entire offseason for less than $10 and get access to all the preseason matches live. The coverage is provided by DAZN, who are a well-known sports streaming service in the US.
Game Pass packages will also be available for the season, and you can usually pay either a one-off lump-sum for the year, or a monthly subscription. This means you can easily watch NFL action on your smart TV, smartphone, or computer.
Don’t forget that most of the games are available on network TV too, with the big networks like ABC, ESPN, and FOX offering most of the weekend action.
The NFL 2024 Offseason is Nearly Over—Make Sure You are Ready!
With these five steps, you should be fully prepared for next season. With the preseason matches kicking off in mid-August, we don’t have long to wait! Before you know it, the 2024–25 season will be here and we will once again be talking about Super Bowl contenders, Pro Bowl potentials, and how the new rookie class is shaping up.
You can start your offseason by reviewing the NFL draft and looking at which teams picked up the best new prospects. After that, make sure you know when the preseason starts and the lineup for the four-week schedule. Next, take a look at the trades that have happened, get your sports betting accounts up to date, and make sure you have access to live NFL matches via cable or streaming.
