{"id":22130,"date":"2022-04-15T11:04:39","date_gmt":"2022-04-15T15:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=22130"},"modified":"2022-04-15T11:04:42","modified_gmt":"2022-04-15T15:04:42","slug":"2022-pre-draft-nfl-power-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/nfl\/2022-pre-draft-nfl-power-rankings\/","title":{"rendered":"2022 PRE DRAFT NFL POWER RANKINGS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheFirstMan\">BY ADAM GREENE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the big free agency moves have gone down, but what set this offseason apart is the wild trades that came in a barrage. What the Los Angeles Rams started a year ago, other teams have continued with wild and unpredicted player movement like we\u2019ve never seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that in mind, it\u2019s a good time to arbitrarily judge each team\u2019s offseason so far, see who got better, who got worse and who might just be wasting all of our time. And we\u2019re doing it all before teams start adding players in the draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Raptors vs 76ers NBA Picks Against The Spread | Game 1 Predictions | BetOnline Quick Picks\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZVEVRhQNjOQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. LOS ANGELES RAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Rams opened last season as the league\u2019s best team, suffered some injuries, added some players, made it through a No-Win November to end the year as the NFL\u2019s best team. They lost Von Miller, but gained Bobby Wagner, lost Robert Woods, but gained Allen Robinson. There\u2019s still every indication they\u2019ll bring back Odell Beckham Jr. once Aaron Donald\u2019s new contract is finalized and are rumored to be in the Tyrann Mathieu and Stephon Gilmore hunts. I would say it\u2019s a situation where the rich get richer, but these guys are going to cost a lot of money. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Super Bowl LVI Champions, NFC West Champions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. CINCINNATI BENGALS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This seems to be the highest most writers have the Bengals on their postseason power rankings, but this was a team that was three points away from tying the Super Bowl. They led it nearly all the second half. Cincinnati has done nothing but significantly improve its weakest position, the offensive line, this free agency period and should continue that trend in the amateur player selection meeting. <strong>Last Season:<\/strong> AFC Champions, AFC North Champions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. BUFFALO BILLS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Buffalo already had its franchise quarterback, head coach and a loaded offense. By bringing in Von Miller, they might have the one missing ingredient to get the past the Kansas City Chiefs. Of course, the Chiefs weren\u2019t the team blocking the road in the AFC last season. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> AFC East Champions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tom Brady\u2019s flirtation with retirement and all the drama surrounding his return looks like it cost Bruce Arians his head coaching job, though no one wants to admit it. I\u2019m not sure Todd Bowles changes anything at that position strategy wise. But a happy Tom Brady is a Super Bowl winning Tom Brady and Tampa wants that, even though the rest of us are a hard pass. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> NFC South Champions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Chiefs remain one of the best teams in the league and will stay that way as long as Patrick Mahomes is healthy. But they took an undeniable talent hit with the loss of Tyreek Hill. They do have a ton of picks in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft to add starters, but that\u2019s all imaginary right now. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> AFC West Champions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>6. CLEVELAND BROWNS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With no suspension of Deshaun Watson yet on the table (and depending on the outcome of his civil cases, there\u2019s no telling when that will change), the Browns have now caught the best teams in the league in talent. The only people that can throw a wrench in that is Roger Goodell, and Watson himself if these civil cases go south. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>7. DENVER BRONCOS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like the Browns, the Broncos were not content to sit on a playoff roster and waste it with an underperforming quarterback. Unlike the Browns, the Broncos shouldn\u2019t have to deal with any potential QB suspension as the only thing Russell Wilson could be guilty of is cringey posts with his wife on social media. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>8. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like the Bills, the Chargers already have their quarterback and are even more loaded on offense. They needed some help on defense and got it with the addition of Khalil Mack, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bears. This team won nine games last year and nearly made the playoffs. The AFC team that won the Super Bowl won 10. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>9. GREEN BAY PACKERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No \u201cgood\u201d team from last season did more damage to its roster than the Packers, who lost two of their top three wideouts to trades and free agency. Aaron Rodgers is now \u201cimmunized\u201d from leaving the team thanks to a new contract, but he\u2019s lost Devante Adams, one of the three best wide receivers in the NFL. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> NFC North Champions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>10. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of Adams, the Raiders are his new home and Derek Carr, his old college QB, is now his NFL QB. The Raiders were a play away from tying the eventual AFC Champions in the Wild Card round without Adams and without Josh McDaniels, their new head coach. Both should make a real difference. How much that matters in a grindhouse AFC now is anyone\u2019s guess. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> AFC Wild Card<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>11. TENNESSEE TITANS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem for the Titans isn\u2019t that they got worse. Robert Woods is probably a better fit for their offense than Julio Jones and a full season from a healthy Derrick Henry is all a plus. Their issue is that so many other AFC teams got significantly better, including the Indianapolis Colts in Tennessee\u2019s own division. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> AFC South Champions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>12. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The addition of Matt Ryan to the Colts immediately makes them not only a contender for the AFC South, it makes them a contender for the whole AFC. Indianapolis put more players in the Pro Bowl last year than any other team, they need some help at receiver on offense, but boast one of the best defenses in the league. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>13. DALLAS COWBOYS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The NFC is a four team race and, somehow, the Cowboys remain one of those four teams. I feel like this is a lost year for Dallas unless they do manage to win the Super Bowl. Mike McCarthy is walking the Green Mile and Sean Payton is waiting to pull the switch. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> NFC East Champions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>14. BALTIMORE RAVENS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Baltimore nearly made the playoffs last season with Lamar Jackson missing more than a month. And that was in spite of the inept playcalling of Greg Roman, who they have inexplicably not fired yet. With a healthy Jackson, the Ravens are a contender. Unfortunately, the way Roman calls a game, keeping a healthy Jackson will continue to be a problem. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>15. PITTSBURGH STEELERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a week there the Steelers had to be feeling pretty good about adding Mitchell Trubisky. And then every good quarterback in the universe was traded to the AFC. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> AFC Wild Card<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>16. ARIZONA CARDINALS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Cardinals early offseason drama with Kyler Murray got blitzed out of the news cycle thanks to the plethora of QB trades. Murray is still unhappy and wants a new contract and is being a real Kyler Murray about it. Arizona rightly doesn\u2019t want to give him one yet. If they\u2019re smart, they won\u2019t buckle. The kid\u2019s played well, but he hasn\u2019t won anything yet. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> NFC Wild Card<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>17. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Much to our civilization\u2019s detriment, the Patriots returned to the playoffs last season. It was a brief stay as they were steamrolled by the Bills in the Wild Card round. Thanks to a loaded AFC, getting back will be even tougher this year, but New England could find a way to do it, if for no other reason than to make the rest of us miserable. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> AFC Wild Card<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>18. MIAMI DOLPHINS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Miami spent the offseason doing its best to save Tua Tagavailoa\u2019s young career, hiring Mike McDaniel as their new head coach and bringing in Tyreek Hill. McDaniel\u2019s offenses haven\u2019t needed elite QB play, but that kind of system, with the pressure off, could allow Tua to finally live up to his draft position. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>19. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS<br><br><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dennis Allen\u2019s first season is going to look a lot like Sean Payton\u2019s last, with very little change to the roster outside of Terron Armstead walking in free agency. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>20. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Eagles are the sixth best team in the NFC and probably guaranteed a playoff spot unless Jalen Hurts takes a major step back. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>21. MINNESOTA VIKINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kevin O\u2019Connell takes over the perennially underperforming Vikings with their perennially underperforming quarterback, Kirk Cousins. Like the Eagles, they\u2019re probably a playoff team, but that has more to do with playing a weaker NFC than anything else. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>22. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trey Lance could turn out to be a legit pro quarterback, but he\u2019ll be a downgrade from Jimmy Garoppolo this coming season. Trading that much for a new QB when the one you\u2019re replacing got you to a Super Bowl and then another NFC Championship is the kind of move that can bite you in the ass for years. Not to mention Jimmy G owned the Super Bowl Champion Rams and only lost to them once in his entire time with the Niners. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> NFC Wild Card<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>23. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the opportunity to add Marcus Mariota or Jimmy Garoppolo, the Commanders decided that Carson Wentz was their best option and, like the last two teams that made that call, will suffer the consequences. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>24. ATLANTA FALCONS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of Mariota, the Falcons could be a nice surprise with the former first round QB under center this year. Seven teams have to make the NFC playoffs and most will immediately lose in blowouts to the Rams, Bucs, Packers and Cowboys, so Atlanta might as well be one of them. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>25. CHICAGO BEARS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Matt Eberflus takes over for Matt Nagy and with the help of new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, will try to get Justin Fields\u2019 and the Bears back on track. They\u2019ll have to do it without Khalil Mack, who they traded to the Chargers. They aren\u2019t that far removed from the team that made the playoffs two seasons ago and thanks to a shallow NFC, could see a return soon. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playofffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>26. DETROIT LIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The hapless Lions didn\u2019t look so hapless at the end of the season. There\u2019s some question that they\u2019ll take a QB in the draft in the first round, but none of these guys coming out could beat out Jared Goff. They might as well stick with him another year and see how it goes. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>27. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Urban Meyer\u2019s stink still evaporating from the team, Doug Pederson takes over. The Jags pick at No. 1 overall again and should add some protection for Trevor Lawrence so the guy that\u2019s the best prospect since Andrew Luck doesn\u2019t turn into Andrew Luck.<strong> Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>28. NEW YORK GIANTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If Daniel Jones can be turned into an NFL starter, Brian Daboll will give him the shot. Jones has a lot of the tools, and is surprisingly athletic. New York probably won\u2019t finish with a winning record, but they should be a hell of a lot more fun to watch. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>29. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plenty of pundits have Malik Willis going to the Seahawks, but I don\u2019t see why Drew Lock can\u2019t hand the ball off on first and second down in Pete Carroll\u2019s preferred offense just as good, if not better, than the incoming rookie. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>30. CAROLINA PANTHERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of Willis, there\u2019s every chance the Panthers are coming out of this draft with a new quarterback and coming out of next season with a new head coach. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>31. NEW YORK JETS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Jets\u2019 issue is, there\u2019s nothing to hang your hat on. There\u2019s no elite player on offense or defense. Neither unit is good. They could make a huge leap in talent and ability this season and still just win six games. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>32. HOUSTON TEXANS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Houston got its king\u2019s ransom for Deshaun Watson and will spend the next few drafts completely wasting it. <strong>Last season:<\/strong> Did Not Make Playoffs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Follow Adam Greene on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheFirstMan\">@TheFirstMan<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Connect with us our socials on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/betonline_ag\">Twitter<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betonline_ag\/\">Instagram<\/a> for the latest sports news, viral moments, betting odds and the occasional memes.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BY ADAM GREENE Most of the big free agency moves have gone down, but what set this offseason apart is&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":15057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22130"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22134,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22130\/revisions\/22134"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}