The biggest wave of free agency has ended. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have improved with their additions. Can they crack the top ten in these Power Rankings?
The Buccaneers have been a team towards the lower middle tier of most writers Power Rankings. Recently Elliot Harrison released his first post Super Bowl Power Rankings which can be seen here, and he had the Buccaneers all the up at number ten. DeSean Jackson and Chris Baker were at positions of need for the Buccaneers. Now with the 9-7 team getting better 10 wins and the playoffs should be the exception. The NFC South has to be taken down before the Bucs can make the playoffs and there are some tough rivals in Atlanta, New Orleans, and Carolina. Atlanta and Carolina were the past two teams representing the NFC in the Super Bowl and New Orleans has a super bowl victory this decade with the same quarterback.
In the NFL anything can happen on Sunday but this is a ranking based off the team on paper right now. Some teams definitely got better but other teams lost some key pieces to start them off towards the bottom of the league on this list.
The team currently on the clock for the 2017 NFL Draft is still the worst team in the league. Don’t get me wrong the Browns are getting better but they are still going to need a lot of time before they can even think about a winning season. The Browns biggest move was trading a fourth round pick for a second round pick and a year of paying Brock Osweiler, if that. With Osweiler and Cody Kessler as the current quarterbacks they have no face of the franchise.
They did spend big money on their offensive line including Kevin Zeitler and J.C. Tretter, both receiving hefty contracts. With one of the best tackles in the league on the roster already Joe Thomas, the Browns may actually have a top three line in the NFL. The Cowboys right now have the best line but with the great players around them make them look even better. If Cleveland can actually use their cavalcade of draft picks to gather players that can actually stay in the league they may have a brighter future than most people think.
The New York Jets had one of the largest falls from grace from 2015 to 2016. Not making the playoffs in either year but were one game away in ’15. The main reason they fell was lack of development from the young guys and the veterans either getting hurt or regressing. Ryan Fitzpatrick went from stud to dud quicker than most veterans do but he’s been a journeyman his entire career. The Jets have to rebuild and this year is going to hurt for this team. Being bad and boring in the one of the biggest markets in United States is not going to help either. They have no quarterback, they have aging running backs, one receiving threat, and an expensive but under performing defensive line.
The Jets are going to get worse before they get better but hopefully for their sake they tank this season because the 2018 quarterback draft class is much better than this years. Jets fans are going to get really jealous how well Brandon Marshall does this season in the same exact stadium.
The San Francisco 49ers hired Buccaneers legend, John Lynch, and rival Falcons coach, Kyle Shanahan to run their franchise. Taking over a dumpster fire with a ton of money is going take some time to rebuild the franchise. When you are a rebuilding franchise you are going to need to get some pieces to grow. With the signings the Niners have made this off-season they have gained some solid options to develop around. Pierre Garcon, Kyle Juszczyk, and Malcolm Smith are solid options but with the signings of Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley means they still need a quarterback.
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The 49ers had a horrendous rush defense last season and that should be the key focus for the draft this season. With the second pick of the draft they are in good position to attack its needs. Jonathan Allen is an option and if by some ungodly reason Myles Garrett doesn’t go one he is definitely going to San Fran. Like the Jets they should wait another year but they have better pieces right now which is why they are higher on this list. Also the potential of Kirk Cousins next season could help with the draft next year too.
The LA Rams have yet to win a game under young signal caller Jared Goff. When their leading wide receiver also decides his talents would better utilized in Cleveland you have some issues on offense. However they have one of the best running backs in the game, Todd Gurley. But they have one of the worst offensive lines in the league unable to create holes and protect the young quarterback. The only reason they are higher on this list than the others is Aaron Donald. Donald is going to be a defensive player of the year candidate and will be for many more.
They also have the youngest head coach in NFL history. A new start in their new stadium for an upstart team would be the best but that’s not this season. If Jared Goff doesn’t develop this year it will be a long one but the Rams defense could make this team move up the rankings this season. I do like the signing of Connor Barwin to bolster an already strong defensive line. I do not like the idea of paying Trumaine Johnson almost $17 million for this season though.
The Chicago Bears have a new signal caller and his name is Mike Glennon. The Bears are hoping that he turns out to be the complete opposite of what Brock Osweiler was. If he is even close to an average quarterback he will still be better than what Jay Cutler was for the team. They have a solid offensive line and the second leading rusher in the NFL in young stud Jordan Howard. The receiving core took a hit with Alshon Jeffery signing with Philadelphia. Next season they should have a healthy Kevin White, Cameron Meredith, Kendall Wright at wide receiver and Zach Miller at tight end to help Glennon.
With John Fox on the hot seat they have to win now if he wants to keep his job. They need some help with the rush defense and the top pick they have a chance to bolster it. The secondary and pass rush were better than expected but they still gave up 25 points per game. They haven’t done much in free agency so their next target will be the draft. On Draft night they should focus on the defense or get another weapon for Glennon. They signed Glennon to a team friendly deal so if he plays well he says if not they can move on with a solid foundation.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a major sleeper team but it all depends on the shoulders of the garbage time master, Blake Bortles. Bortles is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie deal and the Jags could move on after this season. Bortles numbers look great on paper, 8,333 yards and 58 touchdowns over the past two seasons, but only eight wins in that time frame. They’ve spent big money on defensive players in free agency last year and this off-season but there needs to be proof. Last year they signed top free agent Malik Jackson and this year Calias Campbell, AJ Bouye, and Barry Church joined the Jags.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Their biggest off-season moves however involve removing Gus Bradley and hiring Doug Marrone and Tom Coughlin. Tom Coughlin brought the Jaguars up from nothing to relevance once before. In 1996 they made the AFC conference championship while only being in the league for one season prior. Coughlin’s no-nonsense style is going to be passed down to Marrone and this team should turn around. However right now they are led by Blake Bortles and an expensive defense under a new regime. They have to prove it on the field before they can rise back to relevancy or else they may need to find another quarterback next season.
Like the Rams last season, the Chargers are taking their talents to Hollywood. A team that seems to always be decimated by injuries has a chance to start over again. New city, new year, new coaching staff. Phillip Rivers isn’t getting any younger but still has a lot left in the tank. The Chargers need a healthy offense for Rivers to thrive however. Keenan Allen is fantastic offensive weapon however he can’t stay on the field and Antonio Gates is an experienced veteran, to put it kindly. The offense did get a spark from second year running back Melvin Gordon after a rough rookie campaign. Losing Danny Woodhead is going to hurt but this draft is loaded at running back and can be addressed whenever they see fit.
Last season the Chargers had the third pick in the draft and used it on Joey Bosa. A slight reach at the time but could wind up being a star. Missing his first four games due to contract disputes he still won the defensive rookie of the year. Retaining sack artist Melvin Ingram even for one more year could be crucial for the development of the defense. They have made a few questionable decisions at offensive line however. If healthy this team has a fighters chance to contend for the division but with a new head coach it may take another year or two, which Rivers may not have.
First division rival of the Buccaneers on this list is the New Orleans Saints. A team that always seems to beat the Buccaneers at least once a season has gotten another year further away from its Super Bowl win. Drew Brees is also another year older. They just traded away their top wide receiver to the New England Patriots and their defense is trying to rebuild after the continuously horrendous streak. But they still have Drew Freakin’ Brees. He continues to do things that no other quarterback has ever done, passing for another 5000 yards. This is fifth season with at least 5000 yards passing which is more than half of the entire leagues total.
With two first round picks in this years draft due to the trade with the Patriots many options are available. They can do many things with those picks or they can still try to acquire Malcolm Butler from the Pats. They need help on defense that’s for sure but Michael Thomas and Willie Snead are the only real threats on the offense. The Saints may have one more run in them but they have to do it now or else their window might be closing on them sooner than later.
The Buffalo Bills are another team that has a new coaching staff. They also had an interesting free agency. They retained Lorenzo Alexander, who now doesn’t have real position because there switching defenses. Signing two fullbacks which is weird because most teams don’t have one. They signed Micah Hyde who was one of my top sleeper agents. Signing Stephen Hauschka, a better kicker than Dan Carpenter, is a better move . They also retained Tyrod Taylor which only makes LeSean McCoy better.
Losing Stephon Gilmore to division rival Patriots is never ideal but they paid a hefty price for a slightly above average corner. The Bills are in a tough spot. They are in a division with a top dynasty in the entire NFL and the up and coming Miami Dolphins. They’ve been on the brink of the playoffs for a while and now and under a new regime they could be better but they’ll have to prove it once the season starts.
The Minnesota Vikings were the hottest team to start last season and then they collapsed. Adrian Peterson was injured before he even could even get started and now he’s gone. They did sign Latavius Murray but they have a bad offensive line. Teddy Bridgewater does not have a functional knee and they decided to replace him with one of the most fragile backs in the league, Sam Bradford. Bradford was healthy for every game he played in this season where he did break the record completion percentage while completing under 4,000 yards. Not the best stats for the most important position in football.
They do have a stout defense however. Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, and elite safety Harrison Smith are the leaders but they need to listen to Mike Zimmer. They need control in the locker room before they can get control on the field. Losing Cordarelle Patterson is going to impact them more than they think especially if Laquon Treadwell doesn’t develop.
The Cincinnati Bengals don’t really realize that during free agency they can re-sign their own free agents. They could’ve re-signed Mohammed Sanu, Marvin Jones, Andre Smith, Reggie Nelson, Andrew Whitworth, and Kevin Zeitler over the past two seasons. All of them have contributed a lot to the Bengals organization, but the ones that left last year have played really well with their new teams. They have been in a cap bind but these are the market prices for their players and need to make things work if they want to be relevant.
6-9-1 is not a good enough record for a team with this much talent on offense and defense. Marvin Lewis may only have one more season left if he does not make the playoffs. Maybe he needs to win a game in the post season at this point. AJ Green is elite but they are losing players left and right and they may be a lot worse before they get better.
In all honesty Andrew Luck is the only reason the Colts are this high. They have a once in a lifetime talent and unfortunately it is being wasted behind a patchwork offensive line, an extremely aging Frank Gore, and a below average defense. They finally moved on from Ryan Grigson so they have a real opportunity here to reclaim the AFC South. The Jaguars defense could be legit, the Titans are better, and the Texans had the top defense in the league.
Andrew Luck has solid receivers, like TY Hilton, but needs more. He is getting crushed by defenses with the lack of protection which is leading to injuries. Luck needs to be smarter also. He’s got to slide and has to know when to throw it away. He’s entering his prime but he can’t win games when he’s not on the field. Almost every team in the league would be thrilled to have Luck on their team but the Colts have to give him help. They’ve won this division on luck before, pun intended, but they won’t be so lucky with the improved AFC South coming after them.
The Washington Redskins are a shell of the team they were two seasons ago when they made the playoffs. They fired their general manager, let two 1000 yard receivers walk, and their quarterback doesn’t even want to play for them. If I were Kirk Cousins I wouldn’t mind the guaranteed cash flow I’ve received over this year and last but the lack of long-term commitment is very unnerving. Cousins wanted to go to the 49ers this year, THE 49ERS. The Niners will have plenty of money next season so if no contract is signed he will likely be headed west.
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They are paying Josh Norman a ton of money, Terrell Pryor signed a one year deal, and Ryan Kerrigan is coming into his own. The have some weapons but they are crumbling apart piece by piece. Don’t be surprised if they decide to make moves if the season starts off slowly. This team could look very differently in 2018.
PS
Yes, I purposely used a photo with DeSean Jackson and Chris Baker in it.
The Houston Texans had the best defense in the NFL last season, without possibly the best defensive player in the entire league. The reason they are so low is they’ve had a turnstile at quarterback. They signed Brock Osweiler to a horrible deal which they had to trade a second round pick to get rid of. Currently Tom Savage is on their roster but he’s been injured multiple times and does not look like a franchise quarterback when on the field. He may have the best name in the business but that doesn’t make you the best player.
The best way for them to move way up this list is to do the thing they’ve been rumored to do for a while now. If the Cowboys release Tony Romo they should sign him immediately. Finally having a quarterback that is a proven winner could push this franchise over the edge. Texans are in a weaker division than most and Romo would win at least 10 games for them. They have Lamar Miller, Deandre Hopkins, and a solid offensive line, Romo has options. They would easily be in the top ten with him but for now they are down here.
Another NFC South rival fell pretty far after a 15-1 season and Super Bowl appearance in the 2015-16 season. Going 6-10 in 2016 was mainly due to the regression of Cam Newton. His accuracy has fallen and he is not running the ball as much. The less he runs the less likely he is to get hurt. It’s not the best situation for him but protecting him now is the best thing for the franchise.
A better way to help him from running is to keep he protected in the pocket. The line was not great last year and they signed Matt Kalil to play along side his brother Ryan. He needs improvement from last season because the Vikings line was not great there. Johnathan Stewart will need some help next season and if Leonard Fournette joins them, like he is being mocked, that offense will be scary. On defense they lost Kony Ealy to the Patriots via a trade, but they still have Luke Kuechly. With him on the defense they will always be stout. Ron Rivera is going to be on the hot seat this season because of the drop off so expect improvement.
The Eagles have become one of the most improved teams after free agency. Targeting their main weakness, wide receiver, they signed the best available wide receiver and a quality speed receiver. Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith give second year quarter back Carson Wentz some weapons that he did not have last year. Jordan Matthews is not a number one receiver. He’s had at least 100 targets in the first three seasons but has never 1000 yards.
They have a need at running back, while Mathews and Sproles are on the roster, they can definitely improve. With the 14th pick in the 2017 draft they could be able to grab Fournette, Cook, or McCaffrey. I’m not saying all will be there but at least one should be. They could use help in the secondary with the releasing of Leodis McKelvin and many mocks have them leaning that way. With a leap from Carson Wentz they could contend in the NFC East but they have some tough competition.
Joe Flacco has a Super Bowl victory. Just a reminder that anything can happen in this league. As a apart of one of the toughest the divisions in the league, except the Browns, they’ve gone up and down every year. The Ravens have had a good off-season for a team that doesn’t really spend often. They did have a big loss however, losing Steve Smith to retirement. Making moves to sign Danny Woodhead and Tony Jefferson will help a lot on both sides of the ball. Woodhead is a great back to have to for multiple situations. He’s not an every down back and can’t block well but has great hands and is shifty enough to get some yards running.
Tony Jefferson gives the Ravens a top three safety tandem with Eric Weddle. The forgotten man in Arizona is actually a strong player. Behind Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu he was a safety linebacker hybrid. Brandon Williams was resigned getting more than $10 million per season. The Ravens could be a sneaky team this year or could fall apart and be another team stuck in the middle with nowhere to go.
Continuing the streak of birds, the Arizona Cardinals have a big decision to make soon. Carson Palmer was an MVP candidate entering the 2016 season but fell flat and looked like an old quarterback. David Johnson had a stunning rookie season and made the NFL world know he was not a fluke, in his second season. Larry Fitzgerald is still a legend but retirement has to be on his mind. They resigned Chandler Jones to a massive contract extension and was unable to retain Calais Campbell and Tony Jefferson. They’ve been pretty tight with cap space and haven’t made any splash moves outside of Jones.
They were a couple plays away from making the playoffs this year and if it weren’t for missed kick they would’ve been there. Chandler Catanzaro was not brought back and they have not signed a kicker yet so expect a few signed in the training camp. The Cardinals have a great defense and could be an elite offense. It all rests on Carson Palmer so if he’s got one more Kurt Warner-esque run in him they could be serious contenders for the title.
In case you forgot, the Miami Dolphins were actually a playoff team last season. Yes Ryan Tannehill lead the Dolphins to the playoffs for the first time since 2008, the year Brady was injured. Tannehill was unable to play in the playoffs and they lost to the Steelers. Jay Ajayi was supposed to back up Arian Foster last season but took over and made the Pro Bowl. Jarvis Landry is a play-maker and the Fins resigned Kenny Stills to keep the offense together. Replacing Jordan Cameron with Julius Thomas is an instant upgrade. While Adam Gase is entering his second season he can make an offense to fear.
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On defense they traded pennies for Rams defensive end William Hayes after they released aging veteran Mario Williams. They still have Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake on the line that can really get after the passer when healthy. The Dolphins can make the playoffs again but Tannehill will have to prove it because he’s only had one strong season.
The quarterback that went second in the 2015 NFL Draft behind Jameis Winston has turned out to be a quality starting quarterback in the league. Outside a broken leg that ended his season, the Titans had an opportunity at the playoffs last season. The Titans offense is pretty much the opposite of Tampa. Strong running backs, mobile quarterback, and lower tier wide receivers from the Titans offense. DeMarco Murray had a big bounce back season with rookie Derrick Henry producing when called upon. Rookie receiver Tajee Sharp looked like a solid option but outside of aging tight end Delanie Walker, they have no one.
They addressed a weakness in free agency acquiring Johnathan Cyprien and Logan Ryan. They still have Brian Orakpo, Jason McCourty, and Derrick Morgan on the defensive side to be play-makers. If Mariota can remain healthy they can make a playoff push. Jon Robinson needs another good draft to get into top ten contention.
A surprise last season, the Lions made the playoffs after Calvin Johnson made a surprising retirement. Replacing him with the combo of Golden Tate, Anquan Boldin, and Marvin Jones, Matt Stafford had a solid season. Recording the third highest quarterback rating of his career, Stafford had 26 touchdowns and 12 turnovers, passing and rushing. After a 9-4 start the Lions lost their final four games including a Wild Card loss to the Seattle Seahawks. This off-season the Lions snagged two of the top offensive linemen available in Ricky Wagner and TJ Lang. Grabbing Lang from division rival Packers is going to hurt the Packers more than they believe.
They had a middle of the road defense but their biggest are of concern is the running game. Theo Riddick lead the team in rushing yards with 357 good for 49th in the NFL. If Ameer Abdullah could stay healthy they may have a shot with a solid rotation. If he falls, however, Christian McCaffrey could be an option.
Not a top ten team yet but they are very close. The Buccaneers addressed two of their biggest areas of need this off-season for reasonable prices. Signing DeSean Jackson finally gives Jameis Winston the speed receiver he deserves. Along side Mike Evans the Buccaneers will have a top receiving tandem in the league. Cameron Brate should get some better looks this season too. Signing Chris Baker also greatly impacts the defense. A mean man next to Gerald McCoy finally gives them stability across the line. Resigning Gholston helps on run plays while he can swap with second year Noah Spence on passing plays. The secondary got a little stronger signing JJ Wilcox. I’m not saying he’s a better defender but he is a harder hitter. Mike Smith might be the best resigning for this team.
The Buccaneers still have two major areas of concern, running back and depth. Doug Martin is good as gone and the players they have now are role guys at best. There are no back up linebackers, tight ends, secondary, and offensive line. This is one of the better problems to have for an NFL team because that means they have quality starters all around. However in the NFL injuries happen, and the Bucs depth will be tested this year. The draft is going to be very important in grabbing role players and future starters. If Jason Licht can’t get the exact players he wants I heard there are still a couple of Hall of Fame veterans still on the market.
Like the Texans the Broncos have a stellar defense with a quarterback question. The only reason the Broncos are higher on the list is because they have two mediocre quarterbacks and the Texans have half of one. Paxton Lynch is developing and Trevor Siemian played well enough to technically be a Pro Bowler. They also have a top five receiving core with Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. With an elite defense the Broncos can do anything including winning a Super Bowl with a bad quarterback. Von Miller can be defensive MVP every year. Aqib Talib is still a great corner no matter how crazy he is. They have a top secondary and pass rush that can control any offense.
An issue for this team is the loss of head coach, Gary Kubiak and defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips. They did hire Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to be their new head coach and promoted Joe Woods. Being two years removed from the Super Bowl is good for this team because they still have the playoff experience and a hunger to get back there.
Dallas was the surprise of 2016 but due to cap issues they lost some pieces on defense. Dak Prescott has definitely been the best and worst thing to happen to Jerry Jones. The only down side for Jones is that he has to figure out to do with his aging fragile golden goose Tony Romo. Likely to finally release Romo after multiple failed attempts at a trade him, Jones has to rip the band-aid off. Ezekiel Elliott is going to be the second coming of Emmitt Smith for the Cowboys, and might even surpass him behind that offensive line. Losing Ronald Leary to an $8 million per year sounds bad but he wasn’t even going to start this year.
Defense is where the Cowboys are going to have most of its issues. Due to cap space restrictions they lost four players in the secondary. Brandon Carr, Barry Church, Morris Claiborne, and J.J. Wilcox all signed with new teams. They did sign Nolan Carroll but that fills one spot with three remaining. The Cowboys are going to have to look towards the draft for their next wave. Maybe they pair up Byron Jones with another super athlete and UConn alum Obi Melifonwu. Annoyingly good again, the Cowboys are legit contenders in the NFC.
The Seahawks offense was extremely inconsistent last season but the defense proved they should still not be messed with. The Seattle offensive lines was one of the worst in the league last season. They did sign Luke Joeckel which should help the line issues as well.
Russell Wilson played in every game last season was not healthy. He injured his knee and ankle early this season and was had limited mobility. When you have a bad line and can’t move your offense is going to struggle. Wilson had the most passing yards of his career, 4,219, but had a career high in interceptions, 11, and low in rushing yards, 259. The lack of running game due to injuries and poor offensive line last year will be improved this off-season with the signing of Eddie Lacy. Lacy has had productive seasons with the Packers but recently had issues with injuries and weight. The combination of Thomas Rawls and Lacy should help get pressure off Wilson this season.
The Seahawks defense has not lost a step over the past three seasons. The injury of Kam Chancellor early and Earl Thomas late definitely hurt their secondary but when they were both on the field there were no space to throw. Signing Bradley McDougald from the Bucs should help if one of them were to go down again. They still have Michael Bennett and Richard Sherman this defense is going to be top five again this season. The fate of the team rests on the offense.
Kansas City is still the best team that no one ever talks about. They still have the same offense with an explosive play maker in Tyreek Hill. They did let go of Jamaal Charles but he was not around last season and they were above average with Spencer Ware. One of the issues they have is does Alex Smith have enough talent to bring them to a Super Bowl. Smith can be cut next season and the Chiefs could save $13 million. Cap space has been an issue for the Chiefs and they have had to make cuts. If Smith doesn’t perform they may have to rebuild.
The Chiefs defense is still going to be strong because they were able to keep Eric Berry. They had to pay but he is worth it. Six years for $78 million is the highest paid safety in the NFL. They had to let Dontari Poe walk but they signed Bennie Logan to a similar contract. That really says more about Poe than it does Logan. They still have Justin Houston and Tamba Hali as the corner stones to the defense. If history has proven anything it’s that a defense can win championships.
The Packers will always be an NFL power house with Aaron Rodgers on the team. For a team that usually doesn’t spend a lot may have made a big mistake. TJ Lang and JC Tretter were shown the door which could be a major issue for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has made big plays before but he has made those plays because of the time his line gives him. The line for the Packers is just as important as Aaron Rodgers. Without Rodgers the Packers are nothing. They signed Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks to give Rodgers more weapons. They didn’t however sign any replacements for the holes in the offensive line.
The defense is still their key issue. They got shredded by the Falcons in they playoffs. Their pass defense needs a ton of work but their idea of help is letting Micah Hyde and Sam Shields walk. They decided to replace them with Davon House and that’s it. The Packers have the Super Bowl within reach but under their leadership it may be harder than they expect. They are still high on the Power Rankings because Aaron Rodgers can do anything.
Defending NFC Champions really want football to come back. Just a reminder 28-3. The Atlanta Falcons have the most complete offense in the NFC. With two starting caliber running backs and a top three receiver in the league Matt Ryan just has to be average and they’ll have a top ten offense. They have signed kick returner and receiver depth Andre Roberts and resigned tight end Levine Toilolo. The offense wasn’t really the issue the defense was the down fall in the end.
Last season Vic Beasley really made a name for himself leading the NFL in sacks. Desmond Trufant is their best corner but he was injured for most of the season. Getting him back may have a bigger impact but it will have to be proven this season. They had a few signings this off-season to address the defensive line issues. Jack Crawford and Dontari Poe were brought on to shore up the line. The NFC South has been a revolving door lately but if the Falcons want to stay on the top they have to they just have to forget about the Super Bowl.
The Oakland Raiders should have been one of the most feared teams in the playoffs. Due to an unfortunate injury Derek Carr missed the playoffs and they lost to the Texans in the first round. The Raiders have a top three offensive line in the NFL and a strong offense overall. They did lose Latavius Murray to the Vikings but they have Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington. They still have a lot of interest in Marshawn Lynch and if the Seahawks are willing to trade his rights he could make the Raiders not just contenders but potential favorites. They also added Jared Cook and Cordarrelle Patterson to give them four weapons on for Derek Carr.
On defense they didn’t add any one but they didn’t lose any one of significance. DJ Hayden signed with the Lions but he never lived up to his first round potential. Last year the Raiders spent big on the free agents. Sean Smith, Bruce Irvin, and Reggie Nelson proved to be great investments and are still around. With Jack Del Rio still at the helm the Raiders are relevant yet again.
One of the most improved teams in free agency didn’t spend a lot but hit areas that will make this team contenders. The Giants under first year head coach Ben McAdoo went 11-5 and made the playoffs as a Wild Card. This year they should be better because they have upgraded the offensive weapons for Eli Manning. Odell Beckham Jr is a top three wide receiver in the league and the Giants added Brandon Marshall. Marshall is the big red zone target that the Giants have needed since Plaxico Burress. They believe Paul Perkins can be their starter but with a deep draft expect them to take some one some where. Their main issue is fixing the Left Tackle position. Ereck Flowers was drafted in 2015 to be the future but he has been one of the worst in the league. DJ Fluker was brought in
The biggest surprise of the Giants season was the defense. The signing of Damon Harrison, or Snacks, and Olivier Vernon gave the Giants the 3rd best rush defense in the league. Also the signing of the Jack Rabbit, Janoris Jenkins, it gave the Giants a top ten pass defense. Spending big money on free agency hasn’t worked for every team but last season the Giants spent big and won big. It’s always helpful when you have a Super Bowl winning franchise quarterback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the most dynamic offenses in NFL history. Ben Roethlisberger is “considering” retirement but he’s going to be playing next season. LeVeon Bell is currently not suspended and Antonio Brown is happy with a hefty new contract. They also should have Martavius Bryant back next season from his full season suspension. Yes everyone, the Steelers were missing their number two receiver last season. They signed Justin Hunter as a rotational receiver which could be a sleeper signing if one of their guys is out for a significant amount of time. The biggest loss for the offense this year is DeAngelo Williams not being resigned. He was quietly the best back-up in the league but he is 33. Cheaper younger options are definitely still out there. Resigning Landry Jones to a team friendly two-year deal is solid because Roethlisberger can’t stay healthy.
The Steelers defense was actually top ten in scoring defense last season. Considering how poor they were two seasons ago a jump to top ten is big for this franchise. They resigned James Harrison who is the face of the defense. Harrison will be 39 years old entering this season but is one of the healthiest guys in the league. Signing Tyson Alualu and Coty Sensabaugh are solid depth help. The Steelers are in a good position entering the draft where they can take the best player available.
No surprise here but the best team in the league is still on top. Apparently the NFC South didn’t get the memo not to not help the defending Super Bowl Champions. Saints traded Brandin Cooks and Panthers traded Kony Ealy to the Patriots for draft picks. Belichick has to be sitting in his office like Emperor Palpatine or Mr Burns laughing menacingly every time they get another player.
The Patriots offense appears to be letting Legarrette Blount walk after they signed Rex Burkhead. They are expecting to have a healthy back field this season with James White and Dion Lewis so they can move on from Blount. New England always seems to move on from guys right at the right time. Trading pick 32 and 103 for Brandin Cooks and 118 is only going to help the offense. The one concern for the Patriots in the playoffs was lack of receiver with Rob Gronkowski out. Chris Hogan did explode but Brandin Cooks brings a different level to their offense. Losing Martellus Bennett will only hurt if Gronk can’t stay healthy
The Patriots defense has improved as well resigning Dont’a Hightower and signing Stephon Gilmore. Hightower was a key piece to the Patriots latest Super Bowl and made some huge impact plays in the playoffs. Gilmore will help replace Logan Ryan and even if they do trade Malcolm Butler they probably have a better back up on the bench. The Patriot have been the best team for a while and this off-season only made them better.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 11th in these Power Rankings and can get even higher with a good draft. If they hit some key targets they could crack the top ten. Do you agree with these Power Rankings, leave your opinion in the comment section below.