Movie quote of the day:
“One of us had to die. With me, it tends to be the other guy.”
– Frank Costello, “The Departed” (2006)
Power rankings:
Biggest riser: San Francisco (+16)
Biggest faller: Pittsburgh, Houston (-10)
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Previous: 1
Surprisingly, Tampa Bay managed to bring back a lot of major contributors to last year’s Super Bowl-winning team. I think the Buccaneers are the team to beat this season.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
Previous: 2
I really like what Kansas City did this offseason by adding some great offensive linemen like Joe Thuney, Orlando Brown, and Creed Humphrey. I expect the chemistry along the Chiefs’ offensive line to take some time, though.
3. Buffalo Bills
Previous: 4 (+1)
As long as last year wasn’t an outlier season for Josh Allen, Buffalo should be in the mix to win the AFC. The Bills’ defense struggled last year due to lack of a pass rush, which I think they might’ve been able to fix through the draft.
4. Baltimore Ravens
Previous: 6 (+2)
Baltimore lost some key players this offseason, but the Ravens are still going to be in the mix to win the AFC because of John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson. I think the Ravens added some good pass catchers through the draft, too.
5. Green Bay Packers
Previous: 3 (-2)
Until I actually see that Aaron Rodgers hasn’t shown up to training camp or has officially been traded (neither of which I don’t think we’ll know until later this summer), I can’t drop Green Bay any further than this point.
6. Los Angeles Rams
Previous: 8 (+2)
I don’t think people realize how much acquiring Matt Stafford is going to help the Rams. He’s an above average quarterback and I think will be a great fit in Sean McVay’s offense.
7. Cleveland Browns
Previous: 7
I think the only real question mark about Cleveland is Baker Mayfield. I still don’t think the Browns are completely sold on him as their franchise quarterback. Outside of him, Cleveland has one of the best rosters in the league.
8. San Francisco 49ers
Previous: 24 (+16)
A healthy San Francisco team, which it wasn’t last season, means it will be one of the better teams in the NFC. If Trey Lance develops quickly, I think the 49ers will be Super Bowl contenders.
9. Seattle Seahawks
Previous: 12 (+3)
As long as Seattle has Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson, this team is going to make an appearance in the postseason. However, I don’t think the Seahawks are going to be in contention to win the Super Bowl.
10. Tennessee Titans
Previous: 9 (-1)
I have no idea what to expect from Tennessee after it lost some key personnel this offseason. I’m still putting this team in my top 10, though, because I have a lot of respect for Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, and Mike Vrabel.
11. Indianapolis Colts
Previous: 10 (-1)
The acquisition of Carson Wentz could turn Indianapolis into a Super Bowl contender. Wentz was an MVP candidate the last time he played for Frank Reich. As it stands, I don’t see the Colts being any worse than last season.
12. New Orleans Saints
Previous: 5 (-7)
We might have to downplay Drew Brees’ retirement. New Orleans posted a record of 8-1 without him the last two seasons. The Saints also have one of the best rosters in the league. There’s a chance they don’t fall off much without Brees.
13. Miami Dolphins
Previous: 15 (+2)
I actually think Miami has the potential to win the AFC East division and be a Super Bowl contender. I think it has the head coach and roster to do it. However, it all depends on how Tua Tagovailoa develops.
14. Dallas Cowboys
Previous: 21 (+7)
With Dak Prescott healthy and back under center, I think Dallas is the top team in the NFC East and a soon-to-be playoff team. I don’t think the Cowboys are good enough to compete in the NFC, though.
15. Arizona Cardinals
Previous: 17 (+2)
If it was 2015, I’d argue Arizona won free agency after signing J.J. Watt and A.J. Green. I think both of those players are way past their prime, though. I actually like the Cardinals, but I don’t think they have the coaching to be a playoff team.
16. Chicago Bears
Previous: 13 (-3)
I’ll actually argue Chicago made an upgrade at the quarterback position by adding Andy Dalton and drafting Justin Fields this offseason. It’s hard to tell how much of an impact either of them will make this season, though.
17. Los Angeles Chargers
Previous: 18 (+1)
I think the Chargers are a playoff team this season even if Justin Herbert doesn’t improve. I just don’t know what to make of Brandon Staley as a head coach. I’m still pretty surprised by the hire.
18. New England Patriots
Previous: 16 (-2)
Despite being one of the big spenders of the offseason, I’m not sure how much better New England will be this year. It all comes down to the quarterback position and I’m not really sold on Cam Newton or Mac Jones.
19. Minnesota Vikings
Previous: 20 (+1)
I like some of the moves that Minnesota made this offseason and I thought it had a good draft. I’m not sure I see the Vikings improving much from their 7-9 campaign from last year, though.
20. Washington Football Team
Previous: 14 (-6)
I actually expect Washington to be a slightly improved team after adding Ryan Fitzpatrick. He’s a better quarterback than people think and this team has some weapons offensively. Washington is also a great defensive team.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
Previous: 11 (-10)
Pittsburgh’s roster has undergone a lot of turnover this offseason, particularly along the offensive line and the team didn’t really address the unit in the draft. I’m worried about 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger.
22. Carolina Panthers
Previous: 19 (-3)
I’m very curious to see what Sam Darnold can do in Carolina. If there’s any offensive coordinator out there who can turn him around, I think it’s Joe Brady. If Darnold can play well, I think the Panthers are a team to watch.
23. Atlanta Falcons
Previous: 23
I expect more of the same from Atlanta this season. I think the Falcons are going to be in a lot of shootouts because their defense likely isn’t going to be very good. I’ll be pretty surprised if this team makes the playoffs.
24. Las Vegas Raiders
Previous: 19 (-5)
We’re entering Year 4 of Jon Gruden’s second stint with the Raiders. I really don’t see Las Vegas improving much or at all from its 8-8 season in 2020. This team still has quite a few holes on both sides of the ball.
25. New York Giants
Previous: 26 (+1)
The Giants really went out of their way to get Daniel Jones more playmakers this offseason. I have no idea if it’s going to work out. We’ll have a much better understanding of what the organization thinks of Jones after this year, though.
26. Denver Broncos
Previous: 29 (+3)
This ranking would obviously change if Denver finds a way to land Rodgers before the season starts. We have no idea if that’ll happen, though. Adding Bridgewater doesn’t make this team much better than its been in recent years.
27. Cincinnati Bengals
Previous: 28 (+1)
I’m really worried about Joe Burrow. I didn’t think Cincinnati did enough to fix its offensive line this offseason, remember that Burrow is coming off a nasty knee injury. I’m also not sold on head coach Zac Taylor.
28. Philadelphia Eagles
Previous: 27 (-1)
Change has come to Philadelphia this offseason – a new head coach in Nick Sirianni and a new starting quarterback in Jalen Hurts. The Eagles are entering rebuild mode, accumulating as many as three first-round draft picks next year.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
Previous: 32 (+3)
Let’s tamper our expectations for Jacksonville a smidge. We have no idea what to expect from Trevor Lawrence as a rookie. I don’t think it’s impossible he has an Andrew Luck-type arrival, though, and is a star as soon as he hits the field.
30. New York Jets
Previous: 31 (+1)
Similar to Jacksonville, I’m still expecting the Jets to be pretty bad this year. They’re breaking in a new head coach and rookie quarterback. That almost never leads to a successful season in the NFL.
31. Detroit Lions
Previous: 30 (-1)
I think first-year head coach Dan Campbell has his work cut out for him in Detroit. The Lions’ roster is one of the worst in the league. I’m having a very difficult time seeing this team being competitive this season.
32. Houston Texans
Previous: 22 (-10)
This ranking could change if Deshaun Watson plays this year. I don’t expect that to happen, though, considering Houston signed Tyrod Taylor, traded for Ryan Finley, and drafted Davis Mills. Without Watson, the Texans are going to be bad.
Thanks for reading
Shane Price
Follow me on Twitter – @priceisright53
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