With losing JA, looking at sheer talent... you could be right. With looking at who played and availability, I think it is close to being the same:
OL: Out with Myers (and Dillard), In with Banks, Belton, and Williams - I think this is a big improvement on talent. Banks can be an average G with Jenkins being a top 10 C. Depth is greatly improved.
RB: Out with Dillon (didn't play); essentially adding Lloyd that missed just about the whole year. Technically not an addition, but more talent will be available this year. Neutral if you'd rather not look at it that way.
WR: Out is Watson due to injury, but will probably return sometime mid-season. Adding Golden and Williams and Hardman. I vote for a small positive depending on when Watson returned. Neutral if he doesn't return.
DL: Out with Slaton, In with Brinson and Stackhouse. This is a small negative on talent. Slaton was solid, but didn't play many snaps overall (39%).
LB: Out with Wilson, In with Oliver. Wilson was a solid backup and ST player, but not a huge loss. These players bring very different skills, but I'll call it neutral for talent.
CB: Out with JA, Ballentine, Rochell, and Stokes. In with Hobbs and Robinson. A healthy and happy JA makes this a top 5 defense easy (considering they were knocking at the door mostly without him). Overall, this is a negative, but IMO mostly due to depth and less on the starting end (given JA's lack of availability).
For net acquisitions, I think the offense came out better than defense, but overall "talent" level seems to be about the same. But that is normal for how most of the best teams operate; fill gaps with FA and draft and develop.
So what are our biggest development opportunities?
QB: The NFL is QB driven. This year will be huge to see what Love becomes. Was the second half of 2023 a fluke? Or can he get back there.
LB: Cooper, Cooper, Cooper. He is the key to our defense becoming studly. Only improvement by Love can impact the team more next year, IMO.
WR: I suspect that with the extra focus on drops, we will see one of Reed or Wicks step up this year. Golden and Williams bring a very unique skillset also. I can see Williams being a goal-line beast.
S: Williams and Bullard taking a second-year step would make large impacts to the DB. Both have the talent to expect that to happen.
OL: I think the starters and the depth are both improved
But there are smaller opportunities too:
TE: Kraft could take another step. Musgrave also has potential to be dangerous.
DL: I think the change in DL coach will have a positive impact on all of them. Clark not being injured might be enough to offset Slaton's loss. Not sure what to think about LVN, but I have to imagine Gary is going to be better than last year.
CB: Mostly depth players coming from the 7th round/UDFA ranks. Hobbs or Valentine succeeding on the outside will be interesting to watch. Not much of a ceiling, but not a terrible floor either.
This is how the GM game works. With the salary cap, no one gets to go sign All-Pros at every level.