A week into free agency and most of the biggest moves have happened so here it is. The first off season Power Rankings. One more will be released after the Draft and then one at the beginning of Pre Season. So how do you judge teams when teams aren’t playing? Well you judge them on paper. Offense, defense, free agency grade, and needs filled all out of five. If you’re curious about team needs check out the PSF Ultimate Free Agency Primer. Keep in mind THESE GRADES ARE MAINLY BASED OFF FREE AGENCY MOVES. IF A GOOD TEAM MADE VERY FEW MOVES THEY MAY BE ABOVE A BETTER TEAM. For example, the Bears made more and better moves than the Packers so they will be ahead of the Packers. This will be adjusted of course when the pre season power rankings come out. So don’t freak out. Enjoy.
1. Philadelphia
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. New England
4. Minnesota
5. Carolina
Carolina sweeps into the top ten because they did what they needed to and grabbed a veteran wide out in Torey Smith. Then signed former Redskins Corner Back Brashad Breeland. Suddenly the Panthers look much better. Philly added Haloti Ngata and didn’t sit back and get relaxed. Meanwhile the Patriots drastically improved there defense with Danny Shelton from the Browns. The Rams got incredibly better of course by gaining Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib on defense. Of course the team with the awesome defense, top quality wide outs, and great O line that added Kirk Cousins and Sheldon Richardson makes the top five as well.
6. Houston
7. San Francisco
8. Detroit
9. LA Chargers
10. Chicago
Houston just made a top 3 defense that much better by adding Honey Badger. San Francisco added all kinds of offensive pieces for Kyle Shanahan to build with including Jerick Mckinnon. Chicago got Mitchell Trubisky some extremely nice looking weapons to play with and the Chargers didn’t get any worse.
11. Pittsburgh
12. Green Bay
13. Washington
14. Atlanta
15. Tennesee
Pittsburgh continually bungles the Leveon Bell situation and hasn’t done anything to get better. They will probably still end up as the two seed in the AFC. Green Bay added a tight end and a pass rusher but somehow got older and slower on offense and ignored a glaring need on defense all at the same time. I don’t think Rodgers is happy Nelson is gone and that might be a bad thing for this team. Washington gave Alex Smith weapons in Paul Richardson. Tennesee added Malcom Butler and in turn got much better on defense.
16. New Orleans
17. Jacksonville
18. Kansas City
19. New York Jets
20. New York Giants
New Orleans and Jacksonville qualify as good teams that made no moves. Patrick Mahomes gets another weapon in Sammy Watkins but the Chiefs don’t fill there biggest need of defense. The Jets got options at QB and improved there secondary and look like they are building an identity. The Giants are hard to grade because yes they did fill needs at LT and RB but Nate Solder is not worth the money they gave him. At the same time left tackles are hard to find so it is hard to really bang them for that. They need to find Elis replacement now when they head to the draft.
21. Arizona
22. Buffalo
23. Cleveland
24. Dallas
25. Oakland
Arizona found their bridge QB in Sam Bradford but slid because of losing Tyrann Mathieu. Buffalo set themselves up to get there QB and trade up to four or five. Cleveland made moves gave whoever the QB is weapons and our now just eagerly awaiting draft day. Dallas has sat at home and done nothing which is disappointing to say the least. Meanwhile in the bay John Gruden truly is taking the game back to 1998 by signing a bunch of veterans, we will see how that turns out for him.
26. Cincinnati
27. Baltimore
28. Seattle
29. Tampa Bay
30. Denver
31. Indianapolis
32. Miami
Seattle is doing something, no one knows what, but it looks like a rebuild around Russell Wilson. Tampa made no moves and somehow Dirk Koetter is still the coach. Denver has no direction, Indy made one move and Chris Ballard just kind of sat back and did nothing. None of that is as bad as Miami. Who not only have a QB controversy, but also cut their best defensive player, their best offensive lineman, and their best offensive player was traded.