STACKING UP ALL 32 TEAMS ALREADY IN 2018 TRAINING CAMP
Niner Noise looks around the league and dishes out NFL power rankings
for all 32 teams amid training camp in advance of the upcoming 2018 regular
season.
It’s been a while since Niner Noise dished out NFL power
rankings. The last time was
just after the 2018 NFL Draft, and a lot has changed since the draft’s conclusion
last April.
All 32 teams have started their respective training camps,
and the regular season is just a few months away. Of course, there has been
some interesting news and notes from around the NFL. A number of key players
have suffered significant injuries, there are holdouts and whatnot.
When we last left off, the Los Angeles Rams were sitting
pretty at No. 1. It’s not a surprise, really, after the plethora of offseason pickups they
made following their surprising 11-5 finish last year. Yet with defensive
tackle Aaron Donald’s holdout,
are they still safe at the top spot?
Meanwhile, the upstart San Francisco 49ers look
to improve upon what was an exciting finish last year. Quarterback Jimmy
Garoppolo has helped turn head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad
around in a many thought would have been impossible.
Less than two years removed from going 2-14, the Niners
suddenly have thoughts of a postseason push.
And, of course, there are those Cleveland Browns, who seem
to be hanging around dead last in nearly every NFL power ranking around. They
made a number of key moves this offseason, though, so perhaps they’re able to
jump out of the cellar finally.
32. BUFFALO BILLS
LAST RANK: 24th
The Buffalo Bills come in dead last in our NFL power
rankings, and for some pretty understandable reasons.
Sure, head coach Sean McDermott’s squad ended an elongated
playoff drought last year. But that was followed by a massive overhaul of the
roster — something McDermott started doing upon taking over in 2017.
Biggest among these, of course, was moving quarterback Tyrod
Taylor to the Browns. In his wake, Buffalo grabbed A.J. McCarron, who has just
three career starts entering his fifth year. On top of that, the Bills’ best
offensive weapon, running back LeSean McCoy, just turned 30 years old.
Losing center Eric Wood to retirement stinks too.
Buffalo made the move to grab former Wyoming quarterback
Josh Allen in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. And judging by the video here,
it’s going to be a while before the young signal-caller takes over starting
duties:
Simply put, McDermott is initiating what looks to be a
long-term rebuild, meaning 2018 is going to be more about the future than
anything else in Buffalo.
31. MIAMI DOLPHINS
LAST RANK: 31st
The Miami Dolphins stay put in our NFL power rankings and
are another team seemingly going through a massive roster overhaul.
Miami’s offseason moves were highlighted by parting ways
with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, wide receiver Jarvis Landry while grabbing
center Daniel Kilgore from the 49ers, landing wide receiver Danny Amendola and
netting defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick and tight end Mike Gesicki in the NFL
Draft.
But with quarterback Ryan Tannehill under center, the
offense isn’t likely to take a major step in the right direction.
Sure, the Dolphins cleared out a lot of cap space with their
recent moves. Yet all signs point to 2018 being a long, long season.
And with the New England Patriots still reigning supreme in
the AFC East, it might be best for Miami to bide its time anyway.
30. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
LAST RANK: 20th
Losing quarterback Jameis Winston to a three-game
suspension to start the 2018 season doesn’t help the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers at all, who fall pretty heavily in our NFL power rankings.
That means the Bucs will have to start backup QB Ryan
Fitzpatrick during that stretch, which isn’t ideal but not exactly the end of
the world either. After all, Fitzpatrick posted an 86.0 passer rating over six
games (including three starts) for Tampa Bay last season.
Yet even Fitzpatrick wasn’t able to take advantage of the
plethora of offensive weapons at head coach Dirk Koetter’s disposal last
season, namely tight end O.J. Howard and wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Mike
Evans. Speaking of Howard, he’ll need to bounce back after an otherwise
forgettable rookie season.
While the Buccaneers still have plenty of offensive
potential, the main focus will be on defense. Tampa Bay had just 22 sacks last
year — dead last in the NFL. And while adding veteran edge rusher Vinny Curry
should help, getting pressure on opponents’ quarterbacks will be a problem.
And with the remaining three teams in the NFC West in
position for a playoff push, the Bucs figure to be in for a long year.
29. CLEVELAND BROWNS
LAST RANK: 32nd
Finally! Out of the NFL power rankings’ cellar. Yes,
the Browns should be vastly improved over the winless bunch from a season ago.
Grabbing both Tyrod Taylor, Jarvis Landry and running back Carlos Hyde should
spark the offense. And with a number of defensive pieces already in place from
last year, head coach Hue Jackson’s squad should be, well… watchable this
season.
That’s an improvement, seriously. The biggest question, of
course, will be when Cleveland elects to start the No. 1 overall pick from this
year’s draft, quarterback Baker Mayfield.
For now, Taylor will get the start. And that’s fine. While
the Browns are better than a year ago, they’re still no better than a five-win
team.
Even that could be a stretch.
28. CINCINNATI BENGALS
LAST RANK: 28th
Just like they seem to do each season, the Cincinnati
Bengals stay put at No. 28.
And they are basically doing the same on the field, too.
This, of course, centers around keeping quarterback Andy
Dalton and head coach Marvin Lewis in the roles they retained the past few
years. As long as that’s the game plan, the Bengals won’t improve much at all.
Additionally, linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s four-game
suspension for PED use won’t help a beleaguered Cincinnati
defense either.
While the Bengals aren’t the worst team in the AFC North,
per se, at least the Browns can say they’re trying to improve.
27. OAKLAND RAIDERS
LAST RANK: 24th
Hiring Jon Gruden as head coach made a lot of buzz and gave
Oakland Raiders fans plenty of reasons to get excited about 2018.
But Gruden’s moves this offseason (he’s got his stamp on
almost every transaction… sorry, general manager Reggie McKenzie) have been questionable
to say the least. Particularly with punter Marquette King.
And grabbing an old, washed-up wide receiver in Jordy Nelson
to replace Michael Crabtree? No, that won’t work. It just puts more pressure on
fellow wideout Amari Cooper to live up to expectations after a disappointing
2017 campaign.
All this means is quarterback Derek Carr will have to play
at an MVP level this season for the Raiders to have a shot.
Yet the biggest storyline out of Oakland is edge rusher
Khalil Mack’s holdout.
Gruden’s
remarks about the Raiders defense not being good last year,
even with Mack, are interesting. It’s clear; however, Mack is the best defender
on Oakland’s defense, though. Any further delays in his contract talks and
availability could seriously hinder the Raiders’ efforts this year, propelling
them down in 26
26. ARIZONA
CARDINALS
LAST RANK: 26th
The Arizona Cardinals are likely to bring up the rear in the
NFC West this season, particularly after losing head coach Bruce Arians and
quarterback Carson Palmer to retirement.
In their wakes, the red birds brought aboard first-year head
coach Steve Wilks, known for his defensive capabilities, and veteran
quarterback Sam Bradford. But the biggest move, of course, was moving up to
grab former UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen in the NFL Draft.
It’s not a question whether or not Rosen starts this season.
It’s when.
Bradford hasn’t played a full season since 2012. And
with Football
Outsiders ranking Arizona’s offensive line 26th in pass
protection last year, one can see how this could be a compounding problem.
Rosen and Bradford will have some offensive firepower in
2018, namely running back David Johnson and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. And
Wilks’ defense should be feisty enough to win some games.
But this is a rebuild out in Arizona, and everyone knows it.
25. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
LAST RANK: 30th
Can you believe it? Quarterback Andrew Luck is
actually throwing
passes in Indianapolis Colts training camp.
Strange to fathom, especially after the star quarterback
missed over a year with a shoulder injury. Colts fans must have thought this
day would never come.
Luck’s return immediately pushes Indy back up in NFL power
rankings heading towards Week 1. But it’s important to point out the Colts are
a long way from legitimate contention, and its expected Luck will take a while
to shake the proverbial “rust” off the joints.
General Manager Chris Ballard has made a solid efforts
getting this team younger and more athletic, though, and those moves should pay
off nicely down the road.
Especially with a promising rookie lineman in offensive
guard Quenton Nelson.
24. NEW YORK JETS
LAST RANK: 29th
Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold’s holdout has come to an
end, and the New York Jets now have three signal-callers
possibly capable of starting in Week 1, the other two being Josh McCown and
Teddy Bridgewater.
Per accounts,
both McCown and Bridgewater have looked good in training camp, which is a great
sign. Adding Darnold to the mix now makes this camp competition all the more
exciting.
Yet head coach Todd Bowles won’t be pressed into starting
Darnold right away. He can afford to wait, especially after his team
overachieved last year all the way to a five-win season with McCown (mostly)
under center.
That might not seem like a lot. But it’s looking as if the
Jets’ overhaul is far ahead of schedule. They’ll still struggle this season.
Yet at least the arrow is pointing in the right direction.
23. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
LAST RANK: 25th
The Seattle Seahawks climb up a couple of spots in our NFL
power rankings, but that has more to do with how other teams regressed instead
of anything notable head coach Pete Carroll’s squad has done.
2018 has been tumultuous for Seattle. The Seahawks lost many
of its top defenders, including cornerback Richard
Sherman to the 49ers, defensive end Michael Bennett to the
Philadelphia Eagles, safety Kam Chancellor to retirement and end Cliff Avril to
free agency.
Changing out the offensive and defensive coordinators? Yeah,
that’ll make a difference too.
Any questions whether or not quarterback Russell Wilson can
carry this team on his shoulders will be answered this season. He won’t have a
great offensive line again, of course, although the Seahawks hope to get the
running game going again with San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny.
Inking offensive lineman Duane Brown to a three-year
extension is helpful. But it might come at the cost of not
being able to offer up a new deal to All-Pro safety Earl Thomas, who continues to
hold out during training camp.
22. NEW YORK GIANTS
LAST RANK: 27th
After a disastrous 2017 season and questions about
quarterback Eli Manning’s long-term role, the New York Giants did something
surprising, grabbing Penn State running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall in
the NFL Draft.
It might have been a reach, given how deep the draft’s
running back class was. And while the Giants have no real plan of succession in
place for Manning, at least he’ll fully understand his role this season.
Head coach Pat Shurmur’s offense should get the most out of
Barkley, though, and it also should help revitalize the career of wide receiver
Odell Beckham Jr., as The
Athletic’s Dan Duggan pointed out.
And with a revamped offensive line, the Giants offense could
easily get back on track this year.
Can the defense get back to the form it was back in 2016,
though?
21. DENVER BRONCOS
LAST RANK: 22nd
The Denver Broncos dodged a major bullet in training camp,
as second-year offensive tackle Garett Bolles was carted off the field with an
apparent head injury.
According to 9News’ Mike
Klis, however, he walked off the cart under his own power, which
is a good sign. As long as he’s cleared quickly, Denver’s offensive line won’t
suffer a major setback.
That O-line could be an issue, particularly at right guard,
however. And with a plethora of elite-level pass-rushers in the AFC West, that
could pose some problems for veteran quarterback Case Keenum.
Yet when one takes a deeper look at how the Broncos’
horrendous quarterback play plagued the team last year, Keenum’s abilities
should right the ship nicely.
Sure, Keenum won’t enjoy quite the same level of offensive
and defensive talent he had with the Minnesota Vikings.
But the Broncos will surely enjoy him, thereby explaining
the small increase in NFL power rankings.
20. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
LAST RANK: 18th
Like the Bengals, the Washington Redskins appear to be yet
another one of those teams merely treading water.
Sure, grabbing quarterback Alex Smith via a trade with the
Kansas City Chiefs should do a lot to help with ball security and sustaining
drives. But Smith won’t have nearly the amount of offensive weapons he enjoyed
in K.C.
If anything, the Redskins offense seems mediocre at best.
Per reports,
wide receiver Josh Doctson is looking good in training camp. But the defense is
still lacking firepower, particularly at the second and third levels. That’ll
hurt this season.
Expect Washington to be no more than a so-so squad this
season.
19. BALTIMORE RAVENS
LAST RANK: 19th
The Baltimore Ravens might be good in a few years.
Especially if rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson ends up being the next
signal-calling star in this league. Until then, it’s veteran QB Joe Flacco’s
show, and he’s clearly on borrowed time with Jackson waiting for his chance.
On a positive note, the Ravens went out and got Flacco some
receiving help, namely wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who’ll assume No. 1
duties this season. Fellow wideout John Brown, picked up from the Cardinals, is
also making
splashes in camp.
And Baltimore’s defense? Well, it’s coming off a year in
which it allowed the sixth fewest points in the NFL last season and generated
the most turnovers (34).
But it’s also old. Very old. Defensive
tackle Terrell Suggs will turn 36 years old this season. And safety Eric Weddle
is 33 years old.
This could hurt the Ravens’ chances this season, which were
already going to be difficult for head coach John Harbaugh, who could be on the
hot seat in 2018.
18. CHICAGO BEARS
LAST RANK: 17th
The Chicago Bears drop a spot in our NFL power rankings
largely due to the ongoing
holdout by standout rookie linebacker Roquan Smith.
Smith was one of the premier defenders in this year’s class,
and one has to figure Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is eager to get
his hands on easily the best linebacker from the draft.
One shouldn’t figure Smith’s holdout last too long, though,
as it’s rare to see first-year players hold out well into the regular season.
But it is costing him valuable practice time, which is critical for rookie
contributors.
Still, Chicago could be a team to watch this year. The Bears
added some notable weapons for second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, namely
wide receivers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel. They’ll help a lot. And if
running back Jordan Howard picks up where he left off last season, newly minted
head coach Matt Nagy’s squad could make some serious leaps in 2018.
17. CAROLINA PANTHERS
LAST RANK: 16th
The Carolina Panthers just lost cornerback Ross Cockrell to
what likely will be a season-ending broken leg injury. It’s a horrid blow,
particularly due to the secondary being one of Carolina’s big question marks
this season. Without Cockrell, the Panthers are going to be tested, depth-wise,
in a major way.
It might not be as bad if the Panthers’ front seven can hold
its own this year. But that’s going to be tough, especially if Carolina
regresses, offensively.
So much of it will fall on quarterback Cam Newton’s
shoulders, and he hasn’t looked anywhere close to the same star during his MVP
2015 season. And with additional injury news to offensive tackle Daryl Williams
(knee) likely out for
a long period of time, Newton’s protection will be an issue once again in 2018.
Expect the Panthers to take a few steps back this season,
hence the drop in NFL power rankings.
16. DALLAS COWBOYS
LAST RANK: 15th
The Dallas Cowboys drop a spot in our NFL power rankings for
a number of reasons, one of them being quarterback Dak Prescott not exactly
having a lot of receiving targets.
Although it was probably smart for Dallas to move on from
veteran wide receiver Dez Bryant.
Heck, it opens up the door for rookie wide receiver Michael
Gallup to make an impact early. Not sure if that’s an endorsement for Gallup
or, rather, an indication of exactly where the Cowboys’ pass catchers are at
this point in training camp.
Instead, the Cowboys get knocked down a bit, thanks to owner
Jerry Jones’ stance on the national anthem. The NFL reportedly
stepped in and asked him to stop talking about team rules
regarding player conduct during the anthem, but it wouldn’t be a shock at all
to see this become something of a distraction for Dallas this season.
For head coach Jason Garrett, who is on the hot seat in
2018, it’s not good either.
15. DETROIT LIONS
LAST RANK: 21st
For years, the Detroit Lions offense has been about letting
quarterback Matthew Stafford run things through the air. It worked, at times,
but the Lions needed to round out the offense with a stronger running game.
That hopefully changes in 2018, particularly after the
offseason additions of veteran LeGarrette Blount and rookie second-round pick
Kerryon Johnson.
Johnson may likely be the future star, which is great. And
by accounts, he’s looked
excellent in training camp so far.
That’ll help push Detroit up a bit in NFL power rankings
before the regular season begins.
14. TENNESSEE TITANS
LAST RANK: 13th
The Tennessee Titans acknowledged how important tight end
Delanie Walker is to the offense, subsequently signing him to an extension,
which is solid.
But wide receiver Rishard Matthews remains on the PUP list
and hasn’t been able to do much this offseason. And that’s not the only notable
injury first-year head coach Mike Vrabel is dealing with. Rookie linebacker
Rashaan Evans suffered an
apparent leg injury in camp, and there’s little information
as to its severity.
Given the projected importance of both players to
Tennessee’s efforts this upcoming season, it makes sense to bump them down a
spot in our NFL power rankings.
Still, the Titans are a promising and budding team in the
provocative AFC South, and they easily could make another serious playoff push
in 2018.
13. SAN FRANCISCO
49ERS
LAST RANK: 14th
Just think, Jimmy Garoppolo helped carry the 49ers to a
five-game win streak on a very limited knowledge of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s
complex offense.
Just think what Jimmy G can do with a full offseason’s work.
A big part of that projection falls upon rookie wide
receiver Dante Pettis, who some may have viewed as a reach at No. 44 overall in
the NFL Draft. For many other teams, perhaps, but not with Shanahan.
In camp, Pettis has been flashing some
amazing skill and abilities, particularly with his
excellent route running. This is where Shanahan’s offense takes a massive leap,
and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Niners offense emerge as a top-10 unit
in 2018.
San Francisco still has plenty of defensive questions,
particularly in the pass rush. But linebacker Reuben Foster will only be
suspended two games after a turbulent offseason that involved two arrests. And
the secondary gained All-Pro experience with the free-agent pickup of Richard
Sherman.
The Niners are a young, up-and-coming squad right now, and
it wouldn’t be a shock to see them legitimately contending for an NFC West
title.
12. KANSAS CITY
CHIEFS
LAST RANK: 12th
The Chiefs are such a hard team to gauge right now,
particularly because it’s an open-ended question what happens with second-year
quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Kansas City felt comfortable enough to move on from Alex
Smith, all but giving Mahomes his featured role. And anyone who watched Mahomes
knows he possesses such a big arm, which provides an entirely different element
Smith never truly had.
All that’s fine in practice and training camp. But Mahomes’
biggest test will be revealed during the regular season, of course, where he’ll
be under much more duress and won’t have all the time and luxury to hit wide
receiver Tyreek Hill on deep go routes.
Fortunately, the Chiefs boast enough offensive firepower to
make Mahomes’ life pretty easy his first real season under
center.
Can the defense be more consistent in 2018?
11. LOS ANGELES
CHARGERS
LAST RANK: 8th
The Los Angeles Chargers are still the likely favorites to
win a weakened AFC West in 2018, although they suffered a major blow when they
lost Pro Bowl cornerback Jason Verrett to an Achilles tear in
training camp.
Verrett was a major piece to L.A. defense, and it’s going to
be tough for the Chargers to replace his level of production.
The Chargers could cover it up, though, particularly if edge
rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram pick up where they left off last year. And
there’s no reason to assume they can’t.
An even bigger question, however, will be if quarterback
Philip Rivers can replicate his 2017 efforts and not revert back to the
turnover-laden numbers he had the season before. While he throws one of the
ugliest balls in football, there’s little questioning his effectiveness when
he’s on.
And with second-year guard Forrest Lamp returning from a
season-long knee injury suffered his rookie year, Rivers should be much better
protected too.
Still, Verrett’s loss forces a drop in NFL power rankings.
10. HOUSTON TEXANS
LAST RANK: 11th
Maybe this is the year the Houston Texans stay
healthy. Hopefully. Head coach Bill O’Brien won’t rush defensive tackle J.J.
Watt back from his knee injury last season. But even at 75 percent, Watt is
still one of the best defenders in the league. So is linebacker Whitney
Mercilus, who was lost to a pectoral injury last season. And defensive end
Jadeveon Clowney finally started living up to his lofty draft status the past
two years.
With all hopes in place, Houston’s defense should be stout
this season. But the vast majority of the focus centers on second-year
quarterback Deshaun Watson and his recovery from an ACL injury last year.
He’s back practicing now, taking first-team reps. And it’s
looking good:
9. GREEN BAY
PACKERS
LAST RANK: 9th
Two words: Aaron Rodgers.
Simply put, Rodgers is the first, last and only reason the
Green Bay Packers remain legitimate playoff contenders. Without him, as fans
saw last season, the Packers are a .500 team at best. With him, though, they
could be a Super Bowl team.
That’s the power of an elite quarterback still playing at an
MVP level.
Green Bay still has some question marks at running back,
which will likely carry over into the regular season; particularly with
second-year runner Aaron Jones suspended the first two games of 2018. But with
the addition of tight end Jimmy Graham, Rodgers and the passing game won’t make
the rushing concerns matter too much.
It will be interesting to see how the secondary holds up
this year, particularly after yet more additions via the NFL Draft.
As long as Rodgers remains healthy, though, the Packers will
be a serious threat in the playoffs.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS
LAST RANK: 10th
All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones’ holdout has come to a
close, thankfully, although no one expected the Atlanta Falcons to start 2018
without their No. 1 receiving target.
Jones will have some help too, namely in rookie wideout
Calvin Ridley, who’ll likely emerge as a nice complementary target for
quarterback Matt Ryan.
Ryan and the Falcons offense should be much more consistent
after a so-so year under offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. One of the
reasons for the inconsistency was the up-and-down 2017 campaign from running
back Devonta Freeman, who returns fully
healthy for training camp.
If Freeman manages to revert back to his 2016 form, Atlanta
will look like that offensive powerhouse once again.
Hence the rise in NFL power rankings.
7. NEW ENGLAND
PATRIOTS
LAST RANK: 6th
Perhaps it’s time to start seeing the end of the New England
Patriots’ dominance over the NFL. Well, at least from head coach Bill Belichick
and quarterback Tom Brady.
There’s been enough buzz this offseason about the Pats’
internal dysfunction, starting with ESPN’s Seth
Wickersham’s article about the feud between Belichick,
Brady and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, much if it involving now-49ers
quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. And according to Boston Sports
Journal’s Greg Bedard, the issues haven’t resolved themselves
either.
It would be foolish to suggest these internal issues remove
the Patriots from serious Super Bowl contention, however. Betting against
Brady, Belichick and Co. is never a good idea, as they’ve been under this kind
of scrutiny before.
But Brady will turn 41 years old by the time the regular
season starts. Last year, Brady’s passes largely lacked the same zip he
displayed a mere two years before.
And as his old rival, Peyton Manning can attest to, Father
Time can catch up with an aging player very quickly.
At least the Pats have an easy road to the playoffs, though.
6. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
LAST RANK: 4th
The Jacksonville Jaguars drop a spot in our NFL power
rankings, because they’re largely the least balanced team remaining in the top
five.
And it all has to do with who’s under center, quarterback
Blake Bortles.
Armed with such a potent defense and one of the better young
running backs in the league, Leonard Fournette, one can only imagine how better
off the Jags would have been last season with a competent signal-caller under
center. Still, the Jaguars put their faith in Bortles by signing him to an
extension this offseason.
That was a questionable move, although it changes little
heading into 2018.
Jacksonville will again be defined by its defense, hoping to
improve upon its impressive 10-6 record and trip to the AFC Championship game.
In an era in which NFL teams rely on the passing game, the
Jags are a throwback squad focusing on smashmouth, run-first offense with an
elite-level defense.
But stout defensive continuity is difficult to maintain in
today’s NFL, so let’s see if that emerges as a challenge in 2018.
5. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
LAST RANK: 5th
Unlike the Jaguars, the New Orleans Saints are one of the
most well-balanced teams in the NFL — a shock, given how much New Orleans
relied on quarterback Drew Brees and the passing game for so many years.
That proved to be different last year. Running backs Mark
Ingram and Alvin Kamara broke out, establishing the Saints’ rushing attack as a
legitimate force. And while Ingram will be suspended the first four games of
2018 for violating the league’s policy on PEDs, NFL ranks know Kamara is
the real threat this season.
If that was it, the Saints would still be good. But it gets
better.
Aside from the 49ers, no other team saw more rookie snaps in
2017 than New Orleans, per Pro Football
Focus. Many of those snaps came on the defensive side of the
ball too, which helped the Saints boast the league’s fourth best scoring defense
last season.
And if you subscribe to the idea players make their biggest
leap, developmentally; between years one and two, New Orleans’ defense should
reach a whole new level in 2018.
This will likely propel them to the NFC South crown this
season.
3. LOS ANGELES
RAMS
LAST RANK: 1st
As mentioned earlier, the Rams are looking like a
powerhouse, win-now squad after making so many big-name moves this offseason.
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, wide receiver Brandin Cooks
and cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters all bring their exceptional
talents out to the NFC West and the tandem of head coach Sean McVay and
defensive coordinator Wade Phillips should have a fairly easy path ahead of
them en route to another divisional crown. Especially if they can get the best
out of the upstart 49ers this season.
But those are some big personalities added this offseason.
It all could blow up in McVay’s face, as NFL “super teams” are oh-so difficult
to manufacture. But with quarterback Jared Goff shedding the “Round 1 bust”
label last year and running back Todd Gurley having an MVP-like season in 2017,
it might not matter anyway.
Still, Aaron Donald’s holdout is an issue. Both sides are
reportedly not going to budge, even if Donald attempted a holdout last season
too.
Yet Donald remains the best contributor on L.A.’s defense
amid a slew of top defenders. As long as he’s out of training camp, the Rams
can’t be No. 1 in our NFL power rankings.
3. MINNESOTA
VIKINGS
LAST RANK: 2nd
Had it not been for the No. 1 team in our NFL power
rankings, the Minnesota Vikings would have reached the Super Bowl a season ago.
Sure, they’re a bit lucky they got over the Saints in the
NFC divisional round. But thanks to the “Minnesota Miracle,” the Vikings remain
a key team to beat in the conference this season.
And they get better in 2018 too.
Grabbing Kirk Cousins in free agency immediately upgrades
the quarterback situation. Nothing against 2017 hero, Case Keenum, but Cousins
is far more accomplished and has a more impressive resume. While Cousins might
take a bit to adjust to the new faces around him, he’ll at least benefit from a
healthy return of second-year running back Dalvin Cook, who should add his
level of explosiveness to Minnesota’s ground attack.
Cousins’ top receiving targets — tight end Kyle Rudolph and
wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs — are better than anything the
quarterback had in Washington last year too.
Yet the big story will be seeing if the Vikings’ No.
1-ranked defense can maintain continuity and effectiveness into 2018.
There’s little reason to assume it can’t.
2. PITTSBURGH
STEELERS
LAST RANK: 7th
Another team with an aging quarterback and a bit of a roster
controversy is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although there’s still little doubt
this is Ben Roethlisberger’s team.
Roethlisberger’s seemingly endless talk of retirement has to
be frustrating. But then again, so was his handling of the Steelers’ drafting
of rookie quarterback Mason Rudolph.
Rudolph might be the long-term replacement. For now,
Roethlisberger will command one of the most powerful offenses in the NFL. And
while running back Le’Veon Bell indicated 2018 will be his final year in
a Steelers uniform, one can figure that provides plenty of motivation for what
promises to be a lucrative free-agent contract next year.
Oh, and that Antonio Brown guy is pretty good too.
The Steelers still have some question marks on defense,
particularly at linebacker with Ryan Shazier still out with his terrible back
injury.
But at least Pittsburgh’s offense is prolific enough to make
up the difference. And with the road to the AFC North crown wide open, the
Steelers should again be a team to watch en route to the Super Bowl.
1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
LAST RANK: 2nd
It’s possible the Super Bowl-defending Philadelphia Eagles
suffer some sort of championship hangover in 2018. But for now, they resume
holding onto the No. 1 spot in our NFL power rankings, taking over that slate
from the Rams.
A big question, of course, will be whether or not third-year
quarterback Carson Wentz will be ready to go from his late-season ACL injury in
2017.
The Eagles will bring him along slowly, of course, but the following
evidence is enough to suggest he’ll start in Week 1:
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