It’s May and the NFL is headed into the “dead period” of the off-season. The NFL Draft is over, training camps don’t start for almost three months and even mini-camps are roughly two months away. Despite pro football taking a backseat to the NBA playoffs and the MLB regular season at the moment, die hard NFL fans can’t help but think ahead to the new season. Will the Green Bay Packers avenge their NFC title game loss? Will the Seattle Seahawks make it three trips to the Super Bowl in a row? Can the New England Patriots repeat?
These are just a few of the burning questions. With the draft in the back of our minds, we also must contemplate which losing teams could force their way up the ranks. Via power rankings, some already may have. Let’s take a closer look at the shift of each team’s stock as we power rank all 32 NFL teams following the results of the 2015 NFL Draft:
1. Seattle Seahawks
Had Seattle run Marshawn Lynch at the goal-line, they may have been back to back champs. Now they have Jimmy Graham and they’re angry. Watch out, rest of league.
2. New England Patriots
They’re the defending champs, true, but they’ve lost a ton of defensive talent. Tom Brady and co. could still get back to the big game, but it’s unlikely they win again.
3. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay was a meltdown away from making it to the Super Bowl. With Aaron Rodgers, the Pack is never counted out, but until their defense improves, they’ll be one game short again.
4. Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning looked like he was regressing late last year, but on paper he and his Broncos still are built to win. If he doesn’t crumble, they just might.
5. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona rode an elite defense to a playoff spot and had Carson Palmer been healthy, they may have made a run for the Super Bowl. Palmer is back, so the Cards are in the mix to start 2015.
6. Dallas Cowboys
Was DeMarco Murray the Cowboys a year ago? Thanks to letting him go in free agency, we’re about to find out.
7. Indianapolis Colts
Indy needed major help on defense and they spent their first round pick on a wide receiver. Smart.
8. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore had a great draft and looks balanced enough to make another deep playoff run. If their defense can be elite again, they just might win it all.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
Andy Dalton continues to hold back a very solid and balanced Bengals team. Can he finally take his game to the next level?
10. Detroit Lions
Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are gone. Does Detroit’s intimidating defense go with them? If so, the Lions could sink down these ranks early in 2015.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers lost some serious veteran talent on defense but have the offense and young defensive pieces to rise up. That’s if they can get by through the first three games of the year, when stud running back Le’Veon Bell serves a suspension.
12. Philadelphia Eagles
Chip Kelly may have looked like a mad man as he swung trades and still failed to land Mariota, but he’s still fresh off of two straight 10-6 finishes to start his career. If Sam Bradford ends up being a steal, his Eagles just might be even better this year.
13. San Francisco 49ers
Jim Harbaugh is gone but the Niners still have the foundation to get back into the playoff mix. Their defense is still a solid group, but everything ultimately falls on Colin Kaepernick progressing in the pocket.
14. San Diego Chargers
Philip Rivers is here to stay and the Bolts should have a solid running game with Melvin Gordon in town. The rest hangs on a solid defense taking their play to an elite level.
15. Miami Dolphins
Miami appears to be on the fringe, but with a solid draft and free agency under their belt, they could finally be ready to overtake the Patriots in the AFC East.
16. Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton didn’t get the offensive line help he needed, but Carolina still has a balanced attack and a gritty defense. If they play like they did in the second half of 2014, they should be dangerous.
17. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo has the defense to win right now, as well as a potentially deadly running game backed by LeSean McCoy. They still don’t know if they have a quarterback, though.
18. Houston Texans
Houston should be stout on defense in 2015 and a healthy Arian Foster keeps them in the playoff discussion. They won’t go anywhere unless they get solid play out of the quarterback position, however.
19. New Orleans Saints
The Saints traded away Jimmy Graham and have publicly admitted Drew Brees is regressing. Now a run-balanced offense, it’s impossible to predict which direction they’re truly headed right now.
20. New York Giants
Odell Beckham Jr. lit a fire under the G-Men last year. That was on offense, though. If the Giants are going to return to the playoffs in 2015, that once stout defense will have to come back to life.
21. Kansas City Chiefs
Alex Smith has shown he can manage games. With Travis Kelce and Jeremy Maclin ready to blow up, we may find out if he can dominate them in 2015.
22. St. Louis Rams
The Rams have a top-10 defense and a good coaching staff. With Todd Gurley, they may now have the running game to compete in the NFC West. The rest hangs on Nick Foles.
23. Atlanta Falcons
Rookie head coach Dan Quinn had a heck of a draft and should have a once soft Falcons squad playing mean football. If the defense brings the punch, Matt Ryan and the offense could deliver the knockout blow.
24. New York Jets
There’s little doubt that Gang Green has a championship-level defense. It’s quarterback that is the real concern. Can Geno Smith or Ryan Fitzpatrick rise from the ashes, or will Bryce Petty end up being their savior?
25. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota is trending upward with a solid defense and a steady young quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater. If Adrian Peterson sticks around, this just might be a dangerous playoff contender.
26. Chicago Bears
Jay Cutler is better than what we saw in 2014. That’s the hope, at least. Even if he turns it around, though, this Bears defense still has a ways to go.
27. Washington Redskins
If Robert Griffin III can get out of his own way the ‘Skins might be able to turn things around in 2015. That’s assuming the moves on defense pay off, of course.
28. Cleveland Browns
Is Johnny Manziel the answer? If the Browns are to do anything in 2015, he just might have to be.
29. Oakland Raiders
Derek Carr has a legit weapon in Amari Cooper and Oakland’s defense is on it’s way up. Can they make some real noise in the competitive AFC West?
30. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville has made key moves on defense and offense. The rest depends on the development of Blake Bortles.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I can’t see a Lovie Smith team staying down for long, while Jameis Winston is ready to win games right now. If the Bucs are better on defense, they’ll steadily rise up these ranks.
32. Tennessee Titans
Drafting Marcus Mariota was a step in the right direction, but he’s too raw to trust for more than a few wins. Tennessee could be back in the bottom three again come the next draft.
Think your team is ranked too low? Tell us where they belong in the comments below!
