Guest boatboatboat Posted May 10, 2016 Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 NFL Vegas Rankings1. Seattle Seahawks (27)If not for falling behind 31-0 to the Panthers in the divisional playoffs (and losing only by seven points, 31-24), we could be talking about a dynasty. Even with the retirement of RB Marshawn Lynch (with Thomas Rawls taking over, along with potential third-round steal C.J. Prosise), the Seahawks have the most balanced roster in the league.2. New England Patriots (26.5)Again, New England's power rating early in the season could vary greatly, depending on how Brady's appeal goes. The Patriots also lost a No. 1 pick for Deflategate, but coach Bill Belichick and the front office are so great at filling in the gaps that we know they're going to be right there in the mix.3. Arizona Cardinals (26)The Cardinals look just as strong as last season, and the pass rush might even be better with the free-agent acquisition of Chandler Jones and the drafting of Robert Nkemdiche late in the first round. The offense should be explosive again, though we're wondering how long 36-year-old Carson Palmer can keep playing at an elite level.4. Pittsburgh Steelers (25.5)The injury-depleted Steelers had their playoff game at Denver in control before letting it slip away. With Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown supposedly healthy, this is a dangerous team, indeed. The Steelers addressed the defense in the draft with CB Artie Burns and S Sean Davis, but it'll still mostly be up to the offense to outscore opponents.5. Green Bay Packers (25)ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. gave the Packers a B for their draft grade, as they addressed specific needs on the offensive and defensive lines and in the linebacking corps. But the main offseason concern was getting WR Jordy Nelson healthy, as well as an offensive line that had a hard time staying on the field as a unit and protecting QB Aaron Rodgers.6. Carolina Panthers (24.5)It was looking like the Panthers were rolling along in the offseason and would take just about the same Super Bowl roster into next season -- and then they let star CB Josh Norman get away to Washington. We dropped them a few points off of that, even though they took cornerbacks in the second, third and fifth rounds. It'll be interesting to see if the defense can be the same without Norman's swagger.7. Minnesota Vikings (23.5)The Vikings got the second receiver they wanted (and needed) in Laquon Treadwell with the 23rd pick in the draft, but a much less-publicized move was adding guard Alex Boone from San Francisco in free agency. Both should help in QB Teddy Bridgewater's development and take the pressure off Adrian Peterson. We're not so sure we shouldn't have them rated above the Packers.8. (tie) Kansas City Chiefs (23)The Chiefs are pretty happy with their roster (as most teams are that win 11 games in a row), so the main offseason priority was signing their own free-agent defensive stars -- Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali. They also signed tackle Mitchell Schwartz to help make up for losing guard Jeff Allen to Houston. They didn't add much in the draft (and losing their third-round pick due to the Jeremy Maclin tampering charges didn't help), but they didn't need to.8. (tie) Baltimore Ravens (23)We have Baltimore bouncing back from a disappointing season, during which 22 players ended the season on injured reserve. Also, nine of the Ravens' 11 losses were by eight points or less, so they were competitive in most of their games. They added WR Mike Wallace, TE Benjamin Watson and S Eric Weddle in free agency. The Ravens appear to have had one of the best drafts and added a lot of depth.8. (tie) Houston Texans (23)We had Houston with a power rating of 22 entering its wild-card game at Kansas City. The Texans lost 31-0, but we have them making up for that with the addition of QB Brock Osweiler and RB Lamar Miller in free agency and the draft acquisition of WR Will Fuller to take the pressure off DeAndre Hopkins (plus we'll see how they use Braxton Miller). This looks like a team on the rise.11. (tie) Cincinnati Bengals (22.5)The Bengals lost receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu (but luckily still have their main man, A.J. Green) and replaced them with Brandon LaFell from New England and second-round pick Tyler Boyd from Pitt. The defense kept free-agent CB Pacman Jones and LB Vincent Rey, while adding LB Karlos Dansby from Cleveland and first-round CB William Jackson III, so the Bengals should be solid again in the regular season. Whether they can win the playoffs is still the lingering question.11. (tie) Denver Broncos (22.5)Peyton Manning retired and Osweiler left for greener pastures in Houston. We'll see how Mark Sanchez (short term) and rookie first-rounder Paxton Lynch (long term) work out. We felt a downgrade was in order, especially as the defense suffered the losses of Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan.13. (tie) Indianapolis Colts (22)The front office sought to help protect Andrew Luck with several offensive line prospects in the draft but didn't upgrade the roster too much overall in the offseason. The defense lost LB Jerrell Freeman to Chicago. We almost dropped the Colts more, but if Luck is back to 100 percent, he can make up for a lot of shortcomings.13. (tie) Buffalo Bills (22)Rex Ryan was supposed to inherit and improve a solid defense last season in Buffalo. That didn't happen, as the Bills ranked 20th with 356.4 yards allowed per game and 15th at 22.4 points allowed; that's not terrible, but it was worse than expected. So the Bills signed seven defensive free agents in the offseason and took DE Shaq Lawson and LB Reggie Ragland with their first two draft picks.15. Dallas Cowboys (21.5)As Tony Romo goes, so go the Dallas Cowboys, but we'll see if he stays healthy. There are serious concerns about the rest of the roster and whether other needs should have been addressed instead of taking RB Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick, especially since the Cowboys had already signed Alfred Morris from Washington.16. New York Giants (21)The Giants, usually known for defense, were dead last in the NFL with 420.3 yards allowed per game, so it made sense that they addressed the defensive side of the ball by re-signing Jason Pierre-Paul -- in addition to free agents DE Olivier Vernon, DT Damon Harrison and CB Janoris Jenkins -- and then drafting CB Eli Apple in the first round. The defense can't help but improve. We'll also see how second-round WR Sterling Shepard fits in (and if Victor Cruz can return to play anything like his former self).17. (tie) New York Jets (20.5)The Jets took Christian Hackenberg in the second round as their potential quarterback of the future, but the present is the issue -- especially what will happen with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Matt Forte is a nice addition at RB (though the running back by committee wasn't too shabby), and the defense added depth, especially in the draft. But this team needs Fitzy at least for the short term or will get downgraded further.17. (tie) Washington Redskins (20.5)The Robert Griffin era is officially over with Kirk Cousins as the franchise quarterback. Washington overachieved last season but should be just as good this year, with CB Josh Norman signing as a free agent from Carolina and the addition of S Su'a Cravens in the second round of the draft. First-round pick Josh Doctson could start right away in an otherwise veteran receiving corps.19. Oakland Raiders (20)A lot of people are high on the (Las Vegas?) Raiders, and we almost moved them higher. The offense is in great hands with emerging star QB Derek Carr, and Oakland added help on the offensive line through free agency. The front office also stepped up to help the defense in the draft, with S Karl Joseph and DE Jihad Ward as their first two picks.20. (tie) Atlanta Falcons (19.5)The Falcons are my long shot Super Bowl pick (now up to 60-1!), but they need to show more on the field to get upgraded further. They did add C Alex Mack in free agency, re-signed DE Adrian Clayborn and added DE Derrick Shelby from Miami. The Falcons also took S Keanu Neal in the first round, who looks like the DB that head coach Dan Quinn liked when he was Seattle's defensive coordinator. If the defense gels, look out.20. (tie) Detroit Lions (19.5)Calvin Johnson retired and will be hard to replace. Marvin Jones, a free-agent signing from Cincinnati, is a solid player but no Megatron. The Lions did address other needs with a decent draft, but they look like a middle-of-the-road team to us.20. (tie) Los Angeles Rams (19.5)The Rams have showed flashes of brilliance in recent years with big upsets, but they lack overall consistency. They bring excitement with their move back to Los Angeles and with No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff. The defense should be solid again and second-year RB Todd Gurley should be the workhorse on offense. But how the Rams progress will likely depend on Goff.23. (tie) Chicago Bears (19)LB Leonard Floyd might have been a stretch with the Bears' first pick, but they were given an A- by Mel Kiper and several other draft analysts had them with high marks. Of course, they had a lot of holes to fill, so we're not upgrading them too much. They lost RB Matt Forte to the Jets, but they like Jeremy Langford, so they felt they could let Forte leave. The offense could also get a lift if last year's No. 1 pick, WR Kevin White, is able to play after missing all of last season.23. (tie) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (19)The Buccaneers made some decent moves in free agency and might have drafted two impact players on defense with CB Vernon Hargreaves III and LB Noah Spence, but it doesn't seem like enough to improve this team right away.23. (tie) Miami Dolphins (19)Their free-agent signing of CB Isa Abdul-Quddus from Detroit didn't cause as much of a stir as last year's signing of Ndamukong Suh, but lack of attention wasn't a problem at the draft, as they took a huge public-relations hit after selecting Laremy Tunsil. However, it could be the steal of the draft if Tunsil puts his off-the-field issues behind him and lives up to his potential. But overall, the Dolphins look much the same as last year's team.23. (tie) Jacksonville Jaguars (19)The Jaguars' offense continues to improve under third-year QB Blake Bortles, so it was no surprise they addressed the defense in the draft and came away with CB Jalen Ramsey and LB Myles Jack. Jacksonville's over/under win total has been bet from 7 to 7.5 at Westgate, so a lot of people are getting on the bandwagon.27. New Orleans Saints (18.5)Well, the Saints won one Super Bowl in the Sean Payton/Drew Brees era, but they're a long way from contending for another one. New Orleans was 31st in total defense last year and did very little to address that.28. (tie) Philadelphia Eagles (18)QB Sam Bradford appears to be back in the fold (and to help while No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz develops), but the Eagles still look in disarray while trying to move on from the Chip Kelly era.28. (tie) San Diego Chargers (18)The Chargers certainly need help on defense to keep Philip Rivers from having to carry the team, so the pick of Joey Bosa at No. 3 overall makes sense. However, they still need a lot of help on the offensive line or they won't have a starting QB to protect.30. Tennessee Titans (17.5)We had the Titans as the worst team at the end of last season (not too surprising with Tennessee receiving the No. 1 pick). But they've made great strides in the offseason, acquiring RB DeMarco Murray and trading away the No. 1 pick to help in more areas. They drafted OT Jack Conklin in the first round and defensive linemen Kevin Dodd and Austin Johnson and Heisman-winning RB Derrick Henry all in the second round.31. San Francisco 49ers (16)There are more question marks in San Francisco than anywhere else. Will Colin Kaepernick stay or go? Will Chip Kelly be able to put together the roster he wants? Will he make the right decisions? I still can't believe how this team has gone from No. 2 to the second-worst team in the league.32. Cleveland Browns (14)Well, the Johnny Manziel experiment is over, at least in Cleveland, and RG III was brought in as the replacement. And the Browns also drafted a Baylor WR in Corey Coleman. They traded away the No. 2 pick, so we'll see if the extra picks they received help with their depth. For now, this looks like the weakest roster in the league by a couple of points.Movin' on upThe Dallas Cowboys lost starting QB Tony Romo twice during the 2015 season and were at a power rating of 16.5 going into Week 17, but we now have them up to 21.5 (though we have them lower than some teams with higher Super Bowl odds, including the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans, who have both moved into the top 10 teams). Several teams near the bottom of the league -- Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans -- have increased by more than a field goal, but they still have some work to do.Dropping downThe most noticeable drop is from the defending-champion Denver Broncos, who we have as only tied for the 11th-best team with the Bengals, but they're still only four points behind the Patriots as the best in the AFC. The New York Jets have dropped two points, mainly due to the uncertainty of their quarterback position. The Cleveland Browns replace the Titans as our lowest-rated team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweeper Posted May 10, 2016 Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 Tampa and atlanta should be flipped, tough sched for the bucs but I see improvement coming as atlanta should be total shit show Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FISHHEAD Posted May 10, 2016 Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 The Niners have fallen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.