Picture Credit: All-Pro Reels
Building a dynasty is the goal of every NFL front office. In the 21st century, only two franchises have truly been successful in this task: the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs. These powerhouses have reigned long enough to see themselves go from challenger to hero to villain. While I don’t believe Kansas City’s dominance will end any time soon, I do see an opportunity to look forward at which franchise may be building the next great dynasty. There is one glaring commonality between these Patriot and Chief teams: they paired an elite quarterback with an elite play-calling head coach. With that in mind, let’s take a look at which franchises are set up to eventually take the crown from Kansas City.
Missed the Cut
Detroit Lions
I’m a huge fan of the way Detroit has built their team. They’ve capitalized on unwanted players and mid-to-late-round picks. They’ve established a clear identity behind a head coach that the rest of the league is now attempting to copy. I would give them a great shot to win a Super Bowl within the next few years, but I don’t see the path forward for this team after that. Jared Goff, while a great story and a winning player, is likely near his ceiling. Key pieces on the offensive line (the strength of the roster) are near the end of their careers. Ben Johnson is likely to take a head coaching job elsewhere after this season. The Lions’ window may close sooner rather than later.
Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels has been a revelation in Washington. MVP talks are a bit premature in my eyes, but there is no doubting the impact he has made on this team and this city. That being said, I have my concerns about almost every other piece of this franchise. Dan Quinn, while an experienced coach, is no Reid or Belichick. The offensive line has shown improvements this season but still lacks talent. The main bright spot on the Commanders’ defense is 34-year-old Bobby Wagner. If Washington knocks the next few drafts out of the park, they could become a dynasty. However, the current roster leaves a lot to be desired.
3. Chicago Bears
I had to convince myself to include the Bears here. I’m not sure Matt Eberflus is the long-term answer at head coach. The offensive line has been inconsistent this year. Including Chicago in this list is a bet on one man: Caleb Williams. Williams certainly hasn’t been perfect in his rookie year, but he’s shown flashes of the arm talent and creative feel for the game that made him a generational prospect. So what separates Chicago from Washington in this discussion? The Bears defense has consistently proven itself to be a dominant unit, and there are enough relatively young skill players on offense to support Williams’ growth. If Williams can develop into the player many expect, the Bears will consistently be in championship discussions over the next 15 years.
2. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are the youngest team in the NFL, and they’re already contenders. Given time to develop under the guidance of Matt LaFleur, this roster could become the league’s best. Jordan Love has done enough to convince me that he’ll be a top five or six quarterbacks in the league. Of course, there is one major working against Green Bay’s dynastic potential. While a young roster equates to high potential, none of the young pieces (except for Love) have developed into stars quite yet. With this many talented young players, it’s safe to assume that at least a few will make that jump and transform this team into a perennial contender.
1. Houston Texans
Quarterback: check. Coach: check. Capable front office: check. C.J. Stroud has already been a top-ten quarterback in his first two seasons. Players like Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Will Anderson Jr., Derek Stingley Jr., and Kamari Lassiter look like stars. All of those players are on rookie deals, which presents both opportunities and problems. Houston was able to acquire talented veterans on relatively short deals in order to push for a championship. However, the young players will all need to be paid at some point, so the current version of the Texans looks very different from what the potential dynasty would look like. If the young stars on this roster continue to progress, they could win multiple championships together.
