Post-Draft Power Rankings: Packers Fall, Buccaneers Surge

Courtesy of CBS Sports

Written by Sam DeCoste

In a time without sports, the NFL came and saved us.

One of the most captivating offseasons wrapped up last week following the first ever virtual NFL Draft, following an entertaining free agency period. Joe Burrow was selected first overall, DeAndre Hopkins was traded, Tom Brady is a Buccaneer, and Roger Goodell humanized himself as the commissionner! This offseason will go down as one the most memorable for the blockbuster moves, the virtual draft, the stars switching teams, and for its ability to distract us and win our hearts during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the NFL schedule is released later this week, it's time to rank all 32 NFL teams. It's time to see who are the bottom feeders, who is rising up, and who are the true championship players. 

Where does your team rank going into the summer?

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars shipped out just about every notable name from the 2017 team that made it to the Championship minus Leonard Fournette and Yannick Ngakuoe, and sent Nick Foles to Chicago. This season may be it for coach Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell who are each on the hot seat. Jags fans should be excited about year two of the exciting Gardner Minshew, but this team has an eye towards the future.

31. Washington Redskins

The Washington front office put to the rest that Dwayne Haskins would be given the Josh Rosen treatment. The Redskins are giving Haskins the opportunity to develop in year two, and are building around the defensive side of the ball. Formidable pass rusher Chase Young is in the building, along with defensive backs Kendall Fuller and Ronald Darby. The Redskins are most definitely a year or two away from taking a big leap back into contention, but the locker room will fight for new coach Ron Rivera, and Haskins should improve in a new offense.

30. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Patriots overhauled their defense in the image of Matt Patricia’s mentor in New England. The Lions brought in former Patriots Danny Shelton, Jamie Collins, and Duron Harmon, and drafted the top defensive back Jeff Okudah in the draft. The offense upgraded at running back with D’Andre Swift and will give the offense another dimension. The roster is better, but when a talent like Darius Slay is traded away, Detroit seems to be taking two steps backward to take one step forward. The Lions have the talent to win more than 3 games in 2020, but it will need to be at least double to save Patricia’s job.

29. Oakland Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders were one of the slowest teams in football last year, but they filled their Antonio Brown-sized hole by drafting Henry Ruggs and inked linebackers Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski. Entering their first year in Las Vegas, the Raiders did not make a splash in the offseason, but they noticeably improved from their 7-9 team in 2019. The question is if Derek Carr is the long-term answer at quarterback for Vegas. It’s time for him to prove what he’s worth.

28. New York Jets

Entering the draft, Gang Green was split on improving the receiving core and the offensive line. The Jets signed human bowling ball Mekhi Beckton in the first round, and doubled down on the offensive line signings they made in free agency. However, there is a gaping Robby Anderson-sized hole in the receiving core. The Jets front office are hoping that second round selection Denzel Mims can replace Anderson, but Sam Darnold is lacking formidable weapons. The pressure is on Darnold to make a big step from his first two seasons otherwise head coach Adam Gase could be out the door.

27. Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati could be frisky in 2020. Enter Joe Burrow, the most predictable draft pick in the 21st century, and the potential answer at quarterback for the Bengals. He enters what is a thrilling offense on paper featuring a returning AJ Green, John Ross, Tyler Boyd, and the newly drafted Tee Higgins. Burrow could be in for a Baker Mayfield-esque rookie season with this type of supporting cast, but the defense will cost them games. The question is when will the pro game start to slow down for Burrow, because he will not hit the ground running right away.

26. Carolina Panthers

Carolina’s Super Bowl 50 days are fully behind them, with the marquee names of the franchise, Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, and Luke Kuechy all out the door. In a period of transition, led by new head coach Matt Rhule from the college ranks, the Panthers are establishing their identity on the defensive side of the ball by making seven draft picks on defense. Despite strengthening the defensive line with Derrick Brown and Yetur Gross-Matos, the secondary stinks. The team’s blueprint for 2020 will be to give McCaffrey 40 touches per game with a screen pass based offense and stop the run, but that plan won’t attain more than maybe third place in the wickedly competitive NFC South.

25. Miami Dolphins

Miami is stacked on defense, especially in the secondary. Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, and now first round pick Noah Igbinoghene fill the cornerback room, which will match up perfectly against AFC East opponents. But the true splash for Miami was completing the mission of “Tanking for Tua.” Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is in the building, ready to lead the Dolphins into supremacy once again. The Dolphins are probably a year away from making a leap to postseason contention, but for the first time in decades, the pieces are starting to fall into place for them.

24. New York Giants

The Danny Dimes era is officially underway in East Rutherford, and Giants general manager Dave Gettleman finally addressed the holes at offensive line to protect him. Drafting Andrew Thomas in the first round and Matt Peart in the third will make an immediate impact, and should keep Daniel Jones upright and open running lanes for Saquon Barkley. The defense is surrounded by new faces including Blake Martinez and Xavier McKinney but the league’s 25h ranked defense is still scattered with holes. That being said, Jones should keep the Giants in the playoff mix with a solid sophomore campaign.

23. Denver Broncos

Name a bigger winner from free agency than Broncos quarterback Drew Lock. The Broncos drafted two receivers with their first two draft picks in Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler, signed Melvin Gordon, and added Graham Glasgow to the offensive line. The defense is also much improved with Jurrell Casey and AJ Bouye brought in on low risk trades, and Bradley Chubb returning from injury last season. All the pieces are in place for Lock to flourish in year two and for the Broncos to finally make a postseason return. But it all depends on Lock’s readiness.

22. Seattle Seahawks

You may be shocked to see the Seahawks ranked so low. Well riddle me this, what improvements did the Seahawks make? Their most notable free agency move was resigning Bruce Irvin, and they let Jadaveon Clowney walk out the door. The offensive line is still a glaring weakness, the receiving core is still a group of unknowns, and the defense lacks any playmaking ability. As long as Russell Wilson and Pete Caroll are leading the charge in Seattle, they will be fighting for playoff spots. But the Seahawks have a bottom ten roster in football, and the fourth best roster in the division.

21. Chicago Bears

The Bears defense is phenomenal. Just fantastic. Khalil Mack can ball. Once you pivot towards the other side of the ball, there are so many questions. A true quarterback competition between Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky will only split the reps for the potential starter and impede any chance for development. And whether or not Foles beats Trubisky, he is not the same player he was during his two fairytale postseason runs in Philly. Also, the Bears may be playing the wrong sport with TEN tight ends on the roster. They could roll out two teams of five and shoot some hoops but it will not be enough security for whoever the Bears quarterback is. Get ready for inevitable in-season reports that Adam Nagy’s job security is in limbo after another disastrous season on offense.

20. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams Super Bowl window has shut. Sean McVay was exploited last season, and the Rams offense became slow and predictable. So the front office added weapons with running back Cam Akers and wideout Van Jefferson. But they failed to address positions of need in the offseason, and they lost six defensive starters from last season. Not to mention they couldn’t make a first round selection this year, nor will they be able to next year, courtesy of the Jalen Ramsey trade. A rebuild inevitably looms for the Rams. Plus their new logo sucks.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers were a shadow of themselves in 2019 without Ben Roethlisberger. The formidable backup quarterback law firm of Rudolph and Hodges were horrible, and cost the Steelers at the moment of truth. The defense led by Minkah Fitzpatrick and TJ Watt is prolific and has quickly become the face of the franchise. However, an offseason of virtual inactivity has the Steelers playing “ketchup” with the rest of the AFC (because they play in Heinz Field). It's boom or bust for Mike Tomlin’s squad, who have not won a playoff game since 2016, and may be looking for a quarterback next April.

18. Atlanta Falcons

It’s put up or shut time for Dan Quinn and the Atlanta Falcons. Three years removed from the Falcons’ Super Bowl “incident,” they have put up a combined record of 24-24, largely credited to flawed play calling and porous defense. On offense, Todd Gurley is in to replace Devonta Freeman, and Hayden Hurst is in to fill Austin Hooper’s slot. The offense will be as explosive as ever, but the team is run by a defensive coach in Quinn. If the additions of Dante Fowler, Marlon Davidson, and AJ Terrell do not get the job done for the Atlanta D, it could be time for mass changes in coaching and personnel.

17. Green Bay Packers

The 2019 Green Bay Packers were on the doorstep of their first Super Bowl in a decade, until they were steamrolled by the 49ers. But with some aggressive patchwork in the offseason, the Packers could have closed the gap. Unfortunately the front office is not setting out to win in 2020, rather they have already set their eyes towards the post Aaron Rodgers era. Instead of acquiring a receiver in the deepest receiver draft in years, the Packers drafted Rodgers’ replacement, Jordan Love, in the first round, and drafted a running back, A.J. Dillon, in the second. This will only get uglier from here. We know that Aaron Rodgers will bring his A-game, but without a proper supporting cast, it might not be long before management sends Rodgers packing to another NFL city.

16. Philadelphia Eagles

The marquee acquisition for the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason was their backup quarterback. The Eagles pulled the trigger on Jalen Hurts in the second round of the draft to give a security blanket for Carson Wentz, who has seen his season end early each of the past three seasons. Drafting Jalen Reagor should give Wentz a valuable downfield threat in the passing game, but the receiving corps are still weak. Letting Malcolm Jenkins walk in free agency leaves a gaping hole in a secondary which was suspect to begin with. Simply put, General Manager Howie Roseman has had much better offseasons than this one.

15. Arizona Cardinals

Arizona is rapidly on the rise. The Cardinals luckily benefited from Bill O’Brien’s recklessness by acquiring superstar receiver DeAndre Hopkins in exchange for some phone chargers. Prolific and versatile linebacker Isaiah Simmons fell into their laps in the first round of the draft, and the team also improved the offensive line with Josh Jones in the third round. Kyler Murray should thrive in this version of Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, featuring Kenyan Drake and DeAndre Hopkins, plus the defense is remarkably better. It’s time to pay attention to the team out in the Desert. They’re coming for the West.

14. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans run to the AFC Championship will forever live as one of the great NFL fairytales in history. But 2020 will bring them down to earth. The Titans were unable to make any splashes in free agency, and have a number of key departures. Logan Ryan walked, Jack Conklin signed with the Browns, and longtime stalwart on the defensive line, Jurrell Casey, was traded to Denver. Ryan Tannehill was signed long term after a phenomenal regular season, but an otherwise mediocre career pre-Tennessee is concerning. The playoffs are attainable for Tennessee, but the road back is going to be a bumpy ride.

13. Cleveland Browns

The 2019 Browns express epically crashed and burned, leading to wholesale changes in coaching and front office...again. Now Kevin Stefanski is the man in Cleveland, hoping to finally lead the Browns back to the playoffs. The Browns addressed their top area of need by signing Jank Conklin at right tackle and drafting Jedrick Wills in the first round. If Baker Mayfield has time in the pocket and is not running for his life every play Russell Wilson style, he will have a bounce back campaign. But the excuses are up in Cleveland. It’s put up or shut up time.

12. Houston Texans

David Johnson and Brandin Cooks are both very good players, and they will make the Texans offense dangerous to defend. But acquiring their services essentially came at the cost of offloading phenom wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. On the defensive side, Houston in May than they were in January. D.J. Reader and Barkevious Mingo are substantial losses for a defense that surrendered 51 points in their playoff exit. The clock is ticking for Bill O’Brien. For Deshaun Watson’s sake, it’s time for big changes.

11. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings offseason marked one of transition and escaping cap purgatory. They were forced to cut ties with key defensive contributors including Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes, Linval Joseph, and Trae Waynes. The Vikings drafted defensive back Jeff Gladney to bolster what is now a new-look secondary. On offense, the team traded away Stefon Diggs, but quickly replaced him with Justin Jefferson, with the same draft pick they acquired to trade Diggs. The Vikings did what they could, but have taken a step back as a serious contender. Mike Zimmer’s peak with the Vikings may be behind them.

10. New England Patriots

Tom Brady is gone. But that’s not the reason the dynasty is dead. New England’s offense is pathetic. The receiver core starring Julian Edelman, Mohamad Sanu, and N’Keal Harry, could not create separation post October, and the running game was quickly neglected down the stretch last season. While the Patriots are all in on Jarrett Stidham, and he may have a successful career, 2020 is going to be a gauntlet with the shortage of weapons he has. The defense is still prolific despite a number of key departures, most notably Kyle Van Noy, but they will not be able to overcome offensive ineptitude this year. New England could win the AFC East again, but could easily finish 6-10 and miss the playoffs. But Belichick will ooze everything he can from the roster he has assembled.

9. Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are not receiving nearly enough attention. General Manager Chris Ballard upgraded at quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive line. The Colts are moving past Jacoby Brissett by moving forward with the longtime Charger Philip Rivers, and bolstered the defensive line by landing DeForest Buckner from San Francisco. Indy is strong in the trenches on both sides of the ball, the team landed a future Hall of Famer at quarterback, and Frank Reich is arguably the best coach in the division. The Colts are right in the mix to finally reclaim the AFC South.

8. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers arguably have a Super Bowl roster, minus the game’s most important position. Tyrod Taylor is merely a placeholder at quarterback until first round pick Justin Herbret grabs the starting role by the horn. Whoever the quarterback for the Chargers is down the stretch, they will be playing second fiddle to the Super Bowl champs in the west. But their new uniforms are sublime.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

For the first time in a billion years, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are must-see television. In this parallel universe we are living in, six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady is a Buccaneer, as is his longtime partner Rob Gronkowski. With the likes of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and OJ Howard already there, the Bucs offense is primed to explode in 2020. It will be intriguing to see how Brady fits into Bruce Arians aggressive offensive scheme, a virtual opposite from the New England system he played in for 20 years. If Brady has still got it, and his age does not become a factor down the stretch, then watch out. Buckle up. This is going to be fun.

6. Buffalo Bills

For the first time in 25 years, the Buffalo Bills are scary. The Bills have made two playoff appearances in the last three years and have had a masterful offseason. Brandon Beane landed AJ Epenesa and Mario Addison for the defensive line, and took a low-risk deal on Josh Norman to improve the secondary. But the blockbuster move is the trade for superstar wideout Stefon Diggs, a true number one receiver for third year quarterback Josh Allen. What a world we live in, because the Bills are the favorites to win the AFC East, and are not far away from taking the next step to championship contention. But the 2020 Buffalo Bills will go as far as Josh Allen can take them.

5. Dallas Cowboys

With Jason Garrett out of the building, the Dallas Cowboys are finally championship contenders. Mike McCarthy will bring the best out of the Cowboys, which is loaded on offense. With Ceedee Lamb thrown outside, with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup already there, the offense will be unstoppable next season. The defense raises question marks with Byron Jones, Jeff Heath, and Robert Quinn gone. But this team should not have a problem outscoring their opponents.

4. San Francisco 49ers

For the second straight offseason, John Lynch infused the Niners roster with young studs through the draft. The front office replaced Emmanuel Sanders and DeForest Buckner with Brandon Aiyuk and Javon Kinlaw in the draft, and still boast the NFC’s strongest defense. But the Niners prolific running game will slow down next season, and Jimmy Garappolo will need to step up from his playoff performances last year. A Super Bowl hangover inevitably beckons.

3. New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees, like fine wine, is getting better with age. The Saints strengthened the most balanced roster in the NFC on the offensive line with Cesar Ruiz and signed Emmanuel Sanders to the receiving core, and re-signing Malcolm Jenkins after six years in Philly. The Saints are better today than they were in January, and have every reason to believe they can win it all in 2020. It’s Super Bowl or bust in NOLA this season, with Brees looking towards a broadcasting career sooner than later. As long as they don’t run into the Vikings, they should be fine.

2. Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson owns the regular season with a win-loss record of 19-3, but is already 0-2 in the playoffs for his career. The Ravens will be even better on offense with J.K. Dobbins, and the defense upgraded with Calais Campbell and Patrick Queen, which should land them their third straight division crown. Whether Jackson has what it takes to knock off Mahomes is the question.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are the team to beat for the first time in 50 years. With Tom Brady out of the AFC, the conference belongs to Pat Mahomes and crew. Somehow the offense somehow got even better and faster in the draft, with the addition of running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Kansas City will reign supreme until a team learns how to outscore them. For now, they sit at the pedestal.

Did I get it right, or completely blow it? Let me know in the comments section down below!

Sam is the Sports Correspondent on "Good Morning Emerson" and the Sports Director at WEBN-TV at Emerson College.