Best-case scenario for Giants, Patriots and other Super Bowl underdogs at the start of the 2024 NFL season

A year ago at this time, there were four NFL teams with +10,000 or worse odds to win the Super Bowl. Currently, there are seven. There may be a smaller pool of teams considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders this year, but all hope is not lost for those teams.

Here is the best possible outcome for several teams least likely to win the Lombardi Trophy (Odds via SportsLine Consensus):

Arizona has finished in the bottom of the NFC West in four of the last six years. But for the first time since winning the division in 2015, there are reasons to believe positive changes could occur under the leadership of second-year coach Jonathan Gannon. The smart strategy in roster construction would be to proceed at a gradual pace rather than overextend themselves for short-term gains. They still have a talent shortage, but one hopes they have found a handful of starters with eight picks in the first 104 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

If Kyler Murray can continue to show his talent as the franchise's quarterback and the team finds new cornerstones, fans should be optimistic about this season.

A few different paths were considered for the Giants. The main outcome is that New York gains clarity on Daniel Jones and its quarterback dilemma. As someone who believes the franchise should expect more from the position, it might be in the organization's best interest to end this season with the belief that Jones is not the right quarterback for the franchise and will be able to draft high in 2025. Jones has a manageable dead salary cap hit of $22.2 million next season.

Still, general manager Joe Schoen has done a good job of taking calculated risks to add talent to the roster for the upcoming season. Wide receiver Malik Nabers and edge rusher Brian Burns are building blocks on both sides of the ball.

Tennessee had a lot of needs entering the offseason. Instead of systematically chipping away at the rock blocking the entrance, they threw dynamite at the base and blew it up by signing high-paid wide receiver Calvin Ridley and trading for high-paid cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and disgruntled Rams star linebacker Ernest Jones IV; other additions included draft-selected left tackle JC Latham and running back Tony Pollard. The Titans have exceeded expectations with second-year quarterback Will Levis, and the offseason investment needs to pay off.

In the best case scenario, coach Brian Callahan proves to be an adaptable, forward-looking offensive player and Levis can reach his full potential.

Washington had six draft selections in the top 100, including No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels. The Commanders face a lot of questions entering the season, so it's probably a stretch to expect them to win the majority of their games.

The best outcome is a similar transformation to what Detroit has undergone since coach Dan Campbell arrived, but on a larger scale. The Lions finished last in the NFC North in Campbell's first season. Washington coach Dan Quinn can help cultivate a winning culture. If Daniels is what the league wants from him, then seeing signs of that this season is the best outcome, setting the franchise up for a bigger step forward next year. Don't be surprised if veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen is traded at the trade deadline to give rookie second-round pick Jer'Zhan Newton more playing time while also giving the franchise more ammunition for next year's draft.

Carolina's entire offseason strategy was based on a desire to support former first-round pick Bryce Young. Young struggled mightily last season, and a less-than-desirable supporting cast contributed to that. The Panthers first traded cornerback Donte Jackson for wide receiver Diontae Johnson, then signed offensive guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt, and finally drafted wide receiver Xavier Legette, running back Jonathon Brooks and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders with three of their first four picks. Coach Dave Canales has experience creating an environment that allowed quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Russell Wilson to overcome physical limitations.

The best outcome would be for Young to regain his confidence and for the Panthers' offseason investments to result in a viable and viable plan for the quarterback position.

Denver drafted the player they believe will be their franchise's quarterback: Bo Nix. Accountability is important, so I'll be the first to admit that I thought Nix was too high to go in the top half of the first round. However, coach Sean Payton's plan for him is perfect, and the partnership has been impressive in the preseason. Questions remain about the offensive line's power potential, but they can be competitive if they stay that course. Confidence in the future of the Payton-Nix connection is the best takeaway from the season. Other holes on the roster need to be filled, however. What's the plan for the wide receiver? It felt like Courtland Sutton has been available to transfer every year for the past three years.

Fans can't wait to put No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye on the field to see if he has what it takes to lead the franchise back to glory. But with questions about the offensive line and talent lingering, preservation is the more important approach. The supporting cast isn't good enough for Maye to succeed, and coaches don't want to destroy his confidence for minimal short-term gain.

The best outcome for New England would be for veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett to play most of the season and let Maye take over late so he can get his feet wet and have some footage to watch in the offseason. Then they could acquire the talent they need to surround Maye next offseason, similar to how Carolina and Tennessee have supported their young quarterbacks.