NFL Power Rankings

The Super Bowl champions lost their two best quarterbacks while franchises that have been perennial bottom-dwellers have added valuable pieces. I’ll tell you where the entire league shakes out in the post free agency power rankings.

1. New England Patriots – Tom Brady is the best quarterback in the NFL. The Patriots bring back Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski and add Martellus Bennett to their offense. They might score 40 points per game in 2016.
2. Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton took the Panthers to the Super Bowl without a true #1 wide receiver. Kelvin Benjamin will reclaim that spot on the roster giving Newton a reliable option other than Greg Olson. In free agency, the Panthers added depth to their already elite defense.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers – The Steelers may have lost wide receiver Martavis Bryant for 2016 but they added an athletic tight end in Ladarius Green who will make their offense more balanced and less predictable.
4. Green Bay Packers – Jordy Nelson, returning from injury, will put Randal Cobb back into his #2 role where he is certainly more comfortable and p90x graduate Eddie Lacy looks ready to eat up defenses.
5. Seattle Seahawks – Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin showed great chemistry toward the latter part of the 2015 season. Add in Jimmy Graham, who should be more familiar with the offense plus a defense, that should be top 5 again, and the Seahawks look ready to challenge for the NFC again.
6. Arizona Cardinals – If Carson Palmer can stay healthy again the Cardinals offense will put a ton of pressure on the opposition, leaving their aggressive defense to pile up sacks and turn overs.
7. Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals season petered out in 2015 after an injury to Andy Dalton. They need to find a compliment to AJ Green, if they do, they should challenge for their division.
8. Denver Broncos – The Broncos will look to their defense to be as incredible as it was in 2015, which is not easy to do. However, if they can find a serviceable quarterback then they may be primed for another Super Bowl run.
9. Minnesota Vikings – This is the year to see if Teddy Bridgewater can really break out and lay claim to the NFC North.
10. Dallas Cowboys – Injuries to Tony Romo and Dez Bryant made 2015 a disappointing one in Dallas. They still have all of the pieces to challenge for the NFC.
11. Indianapolis Colts – Will Andrew Luck return to form? If so, the Colts should win their division easily and challenge for the AFC.
12. Oakland Raiders – The Raiders are looking like they will be my darling of 2016. They’ve drafted very well recently and their recent free agent additions should have them challenging for the AFC West.
13. Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs will obviously have something to say about who the AFC West winner is as well. Losing Justin Houston will hurt a Kansas City team that relies on ball control and defense to win low scoring affairs.
14. Buffalo Bills – Surprisingly, it was the Bills offense that made fans hopeful in 2015. If Rex Ryan can fix a broken defense in Buffalo, they should be on their way to the playoffs for the first time this millennium.
15. Washington Redskins – Will Kirk Cousins prove that he is worthy of a long-term contract? If he’s able to, he’ll most likely help the Skins win the NFC East again along the way.
16. New York Jets – Jets fans have to be concerned about the prospects of Geno Smith starting at quarterback. If that comes to fruition, the Jets defense will need to be incredible for them to contend in a crowded AFC East.
17. Houston Texans – The Texans invested a huge amount of money in a quarterback that has started seven NFL games. This must pan out Osweiler pan out for the Texans to challenge for a weak AFC South.
18. New Orleans Saints – Drew Brees didn’t show much sign of decline in 2015. The Saints can improve on defense and challenge for a Wildcard spot.
19. Atlanta Falcons – The Falcons went big in Free Agency, signing Mohammed Sanu and Alex Mack to large deals. Matt Ryan will need to carry this team if they are going to contend in 2016- he didn’t seem up to it last season.
20. Baltimore Ravens – Baltimore has not done much to improve their roster in two seasons. In the competitive AFC North, they’re being left behind.
21. Miami Dolphins – Miami under-acheived again and, in true Dolphin fashion, overspent in free agency. We’ll see if a new coaching staff can get them on track.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars – A lot of people like the track that the Jags are on and I’ll agree that they have a lot of young talent but I’m not sold on Bortles. They do play in the worst division in the NFL though and because of that, they have a shot.
23. New York Giants – The Giants were awful on defense in 2015 and decided to throw money on that side of the ball in free agency. The offense should keep them in games but I wouldn’t expect them to close many out.
24. Detroit Lions – I wrote earlier this month that it is pure Lions Luck that the best wide receiver to ever wear Honolulu Blue decides to retire in the same year that Marvin Jones is the top wide-out in free agency. Woof.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – I like the talent which the Bucs have assembled but we may be a year or two from seeing it amount to anything.
26. Chicago Bears – Jon Fox is overrated and needs elite play makers to win. The Bears don’t have any.
27. San Diego Chargers – San Diego desperately needs help on defense but hasn’t seemed interested in addressing that side of the ball. 
28. Los Angeles Rams – Case Keenum. Barf.
29. Philadelphia Eagles – Chip Kelly stripped this house and burnt it down. They have some pieces on defense but I think the Eagles are secretly in rebuilding mode.
30. Tennessee Titans – Mariota looks the part but the cupboard is otherwise quite bare in Nashville.
31. San Francisco 49ers – Chip Kelly’s new team has been wise enough to keep him from destroying their roster but if he is really planning on starting Blaine Gabbert, well, good luck.
32. Cleveland Browns – The Browns let 2/5 of their offensive line leave in free agency without evening making offers and then sign RGIII who may literally explode the next time he’s sacked. Feel free to sit 2016 out Browns fans.