NFL Preseason Power Rankings

The NFL season is fast approaching, and the league as a whole looks significantly different than it did at the end of the 2023 season. Five teams will likely be starting rookie quarterbacks at some point in the year. Some teams have geared up for a Super Bowl push and some seem to be admitting defeat already. At this point, a few teams still have significant player holdouts looming. I’ve made a power ranking of all 32 teams based on how they look heading into the season. This is neither a ranking of which teams I believe to be the best nor a prediction of how I believe these teams will finish. It’s my view of the movement around the league as a whole over the last offseason.

32. Denver Broncos

I’m worried for the state of Denver Broncos football. This roster has more holes than a sponge going into this season and lacks any star player aside from Patrick Surtain II. I believe that Sean Payton is still capable of being an impactful NFL head coach, but the Broncos’ roster gives him very little to work with. Bo Nix has looked efficient in the preseason, but I have my doubts about his ability to adjust when teams force him to throw the ball downfield.

31. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers will be marked by the trade for Bryce Young for years. After being the worst team in the league without question in 2023, Carolina made clear moves to support their young quarterback. The offensive line and receiver groups both received a much-needed boost in talent. The defense, however, leaves a lot to be desired. While the Panthers are definitely taking steps in the right direction, there’s still plenty of road ahead before they reach contention.

30. Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders have clearly shaken things up over the offseason. That’s about the best I can say for the state of this organization. I’m not so sure Kliff Kingsbury is actually a good offensive coordinator, I’m not so sure Jayden Daniels was worthy of a top-2 draft pick, and I’m not so sure the Commanders’ offensive line can hold up in front of a quarterback that is very quick to scramble under any kind of pressure. While the defense should see a boost under Dan Quinn and his group of former Cowboys, the offense is too much of a concern to rank them any higher.

29. Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders finished the 2023 season on an impressive run under then-interim head coach Antonio Pierce, winning three of their last four games. I fear the honeymoon phase has come to an end in Las Vegas. Over the offseason, the Raiders brought in key players on both offense and defense, including defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and rookie tight end Brock Bowers. However, quarterback is still a glaring weakness. While Gardner Minshew was fairly productive in Indianapolis, Colts’ head coach Shane Steichen deserves the credit for making that offense work.

28. New England Patriots

It’s probably for the best that Jacoby Brissett will be the Patriots’ starting quarterback to begin the 2024 season. While rookie Drake Maye is clearly very talented, the offensive infrastructure is not yet in place to support the growth of a rookie quarterback. While there are question marks all over the Patriots’ offensive depth chart, the defense should be one of the league’s best despite the loss of Bill Belichick. Patriots fans may need to spend a couple of years looking back on the good old days before they have exciting football to watch.

27. New York Giants

The Giants passed up on highly-rated quarterback prospects in the first round in favor of taking receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers is looking like a star early, but the success of the offense has a low ceiling with Daniel Jones still under center. The Giants bolstered their defensive front by acquiring Brian Burns from the Panthers, but the secondary remains a major weakness after losing Xavier McKinney in free agency. New York is relying on a few young players to show major improvement this season.

26. New Orleans Saints

For years, the Saints front office has kicked the financial can down the road by restructuring long-term contracts to free up short-term cap space. It’s finally coming back to bite them. New Orleans is stuck with a below-average quarterback, a bottom-tier offensive line, and an aging defense. I still believe that head coach Dennis Allen can lead his defense to a league-average finish, but that won’t be enough to lift a poor offense. It’s time for a full reset in New Orleans.

25. Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota is an interesting team for me. At first glance, they look to be set up for success. Sam Darnold, while unproven, finally has the weapons around him to prove the talent he showed at USC. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Niell are quality anchors on the offensive line. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has three versatile edge players to work with. However, the rest of the roster is severely lacking. The Vikings are below average on the interior of both the offensive and defensive lines, and they lack depth in their defensive backs. In a difficult division, I expect them to struggle.

24. Arizona Cardinals

I’m a fan of what the Cardinals’ front office is doing. They’ve stockpiled draft picks to build a young core around a talented quarterback and a creative coaching staff. Rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. looks like the star wideout that the Cardinals have been missing since Larry Fitzgerald retired. As I’ve mentioned in a previous article, I believe the Cardinals have a chance to be a surprise wildcard team. There’s also a chance that their lack of talent, specifically on defense, sinks their season and leaves them with another top-5 draft pick.

23. Los Angeles Chargers

After a disastrous 2023 season, the Chargers hired Jim Harbaugh to spearhead a new era in Los Angeles. Harbaugh brings with him a clear identity of physicality and a proven coaching staff. The Chargers fully leaned into that identity by selecting offensive tackle Joe Alt fifth in this year’s draft. There are still major holes on the Chargers’ roster, though. Their receiver room is one of the weakest in the league, and the interior of their defensive line still needs work. I expect improvement from this team, but it will take time for Harbaugh’s impact to take effect.

22. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have been the recipients of a lot of hype over the offseason. Anthony Richardson is healthy after missing the majority of his rookie year with a shoulder injury. Richardson has a new weapon to target in rookie Adonai Mitchell. Rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu is expected to strengthen the defense. However, I still have some major concerns. Richardson is still effectively a rookie and has not yet shown consistent accuracy throwing the ball. The Colts’ defense allowed the fifth-most points in the league last year and did little to fix the secondary. This is another team that is still a couple of years away from being competitive.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers had a better 2023 season than most expected, finishing with a division title and a playoff win. This offseason, they were able to retain the key contributors from last year’s team, including Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans. I expect the loss of corner Carlton Davis to have a major impact, especially considering that the Bucs did nothing to replace him. While I still believe Tampa Bay can be competitive, they may take a slight step back in 2024.

20. Tennessee Titans

The Titans’ front office was undeniably aggressive this offseason. After hiring Brian Callahan as their head coach, they made moves for star players on both sides of the ball, including receiver Calvin Ridley and corner L’Jarius Sneed. Under Callahan, the offense will stretch the field more than they have in years. Last season, the Titans’ offensive line was perhaps the worst in the league. Tennessee hired Bill Callahan (Brian’s father) and drafted JC Latham to solve that issue, but the unit is still far from being a strength.

19. Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks fans have a lot to look forward to in 2024. The Seahawks hired former Ravens’ defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald as their new head coach and former University of Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to run the offense. In theory, the Seahawks’ roster fits the styles of their two new coaches perfectly. On defense, Devon Witherspoon fits into the Kyle Hamilton role. On offense, Ryan Grubb will have a variety of downfield receiving threats including D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba working underneath. We’ll see how much time it takes for things to click in Seattle.

18. Jacksonville Jaguars

After a hot start to the 2023 season, the Jags finished the year at just 9-8, missing out on the playoffs. For the most part, Jacksonville has decided to roll into 2024 with the same roster that fell short last year. They have revamped their receiving core in a way that I find exciting. Similar to the Seahawks’ setup, the Jags will utilize Gabe Davis and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. to stretch the field deep, allowing Christian Kirk and tight end Evan Engram to find space underneath. Will this be the year that Trevor Lawrence finally lives up to his potential?

17. Chicago Bears

Bears fans shouldn’t take offense to their team falling in the bottom half of my rankings. This is about as high as I would be willing to rank a team with a rookie quarterback to start the season. First overall pick Caleb Williams is set up better than any first-overall pick in recent memory with a solid offensive line and arguably the best receiving core in the league. On defense, the Bears will rely on rookie edge rusher Austin Booker to pressure the quarterback opposite Montez Sweat. If Chicago is fighting for a playoff spot come December, the season will be a success.

16. New York Jets

The New York Jets pushed all their chips to the center of the table this offseason, adding veteran talent in droves. The Jets solidified their offensive line in hopes of protecting Aaron Rodgers, bringing in Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. Mike Williams will act as a much-needed second option in the passing game, and Haason Reddick will improve the Jets’ pass rush (assuming he ends his holdout). My issue with the Jets’ roster, as I’ve mentioned in another article, is its fragility. The Jets are relying heavily on several aging veterans who have a history of missing significant time due to injury. If history repeats itself, Jets fans are set up for disappointment once again.

15. Atlanta Falcons

Before the additions of Matt Judon and Justin Simmons on defense, I was out on the Falcons. Now, this team is looking as complete as ever and ready to take the NFC South title back from Tampa. Offensively, the Falcons’ most prevalent issue in 2023 was poor quarterback play. Slot Kirk Cousins into a unit with an elite offensive line and three top young skill players, and you’ve got the recipe for a top-10 offense. I’ll be watching closely to see how first-time playcaller Zac Robinson utilizes the weapons he has on offense.

14. Cleveland Browns

The Browns surprised the football world in 2023 by having one of the best defenses in football just one year after finishing in the bottom half of the league in scoring defense. Cleveland didn’t make major changes to the roster, with their biggest move being a trade for receiver Jerry Jeudy. I still have significant concerns about what Deshaun Watson can do in this offense, especially if running back Nick Chubb misses a significant portion of the season with his knee injury.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers

At this point, it would be foolish to rank the Steelers outside of the top half of the league. Mike Tomlin has led Pittsburgh to at least a .500 finish in each of his 17 seasons as head coach, and he’s dealt with worse rosters than this one. The Steelers still have elite players in key positions on defense, and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will be a major upgrade over Matt Canada. Russell Wilson has been named the team’s starting quarterback, but Justin Fields is nipping at his heels.

12. Dallas Cowboys

“All in.” That was Jerry Jones’ quote on the Cowboys’ offseason strategy back in February. Since then, Dallas has signed an aging linebacker on a cheap deal, traded for a backup defensive tackle, and signed two aging running backs that likely would’ve been without a roster spot otherwise. The Cowboys’ roster looks shiny at first glance, with big names like Dak Prescott, Ceedee Lamb, and Micah Parsons. When you actually look under the hood, you see a roster lacking depth that fails to address the issues Dallas has previously faced. There is a real chance of implosion this year in Dallas.

11. Miami Dolphins

Under Mike McDaniel, Miami has been one of the most innovative teams in football. Using elite speed all over the field and manipulating opposing defenses with pre-snap motion, McDaniel has propelled the way offense is played forward in a way that deserves to be recognized. This offseason, the Dolphins doubled down on their approach, seeking out speed wherever they could. Time will tell if the pendulum has swung too far in Miami.

10. Los Angeles Rams

The most notable event in the Rams’ offseason was out of their control. Aaron Donald, the center of the Rams’ defense and a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, retired. When a team loses a player as irreplaceable as Donald, there is bound to be some regression that takes place. That being said, I believe that this roster and coaching staff are still plenty good enough to make the playoffs in 2024. When healthy, this is still an elite offense led by Matthew Stafford. The Rams will rely on young players along the defensive front to fill in for Donald.

9. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo overhauled their roster in many ways this offseason. After making some surprising cuts on defense, the Bills traded receiver Stefon Diggs to the Texans, leaving their receiver room nearly empty. They have since filled that group with Curtis Samuel and rookie Keon Coleman. Solely because of Josh Allen, the Bills remain my favorite to win the AFC East this season. However, injuries on defense certainly have the potential to derail their season.

8. Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers shocked the world in the Wildcard round last season, dismantling the Cowboys on the way to a playoff victory. Green Bay has built a young, ascending roster that appears ready to compete with the top teams in the league. Building around youth in this way requires a reliance on significant progression by players each year. If the Packers’ trajectory continues in the direction it’s been going, the rest of the NFC should be worried.

7. Baltimore Ravens

Led by a dominant defense and a dynamic Lamar Jackson, Baltimore found itself one game away from a Super Bowl appearance last season. Though at the tail end of his career, Derrick Henry makes the offense even more dangerous than they were in 2023. However, the Ravens have lost many of the pieces that made their defense so elite, including defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald. I expect to see a slight step back from Baltimore this season.

6. Cincinnati Bengals

After fading to the back of the collective football mind in 2023, the Bengals are my pick to win the Super Bowl this season. On defense, they targeted their most glaring weakness by signing safeties Vonn Bell and Geno Stone. On offense, they bolstered their offensive line by drafting tackle Amarius Mims in the first round. With a healthy Joe Burrow at the helm, this team is as good as any in the league.

5. Houston Texans

Heading into the 2023 season, the Texans were expected to finish near the bottom of the league yet again. Led by an impressive campaign from rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, they defied the odds by winning a playoff game. This offseason, they took full advantage of having a quarterback on a rookie contract. Houston made several key veteran additions, including edge rusher Danielle Hunter, receiver Stefon Diggs, and running back Joe Mixon. The Texans’ stock is through the roof at the start of the 2024 season.

4. San Fransisco 49ers

San Fransisco finished the 2023 season with another disappointing Super Bowl loss. With a roster this talented, it’s championship or bust yet again for the Niners. For the most part, San Fransisco is bringing back last season’s roster. However, there seems to be some turmoil in the locker room. Brandon Aiyuk held out for a new contract and Trent Williams has yet to report back. I expect this to be the last season with this group of 49ers players.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

After a disappointing end to the 2023 season, the Eagles’ front office pulled off another masterclass in roster construction and salary cap manipulation. After the retirements of Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia was able to retain nearly every key starter on both sides of the ball. Then, they signed edge rusher Bryce Huff, running back Saquon Barkley, and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency. On top of that, the Eagles had one of my favorite draft classes, including defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. If the Eagles’ coaching is up to par with their roster, this team should be in the Super Bowl.

2. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions had one major weakness after a 2023 season in which they won their first playoff game in over three decades: cornerback. Over the offseason, they repeatedly targeted that weakness, trading for Carlton Davis and drafting both Terrion Arnold and Enis Rakestraw. Defensive tackle signing B.J. Hill will help solidify the defensive front. On offense, Jameson Williams will need to step into a larger role if the unit is to take another step this season.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Six consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances, four Super Bowl appearances, and three Super Bowl victories. The Kansas City Chiefs are already one of the great dynasties in NFL history, and they don’t seem to be slowing down. In a year that they looked more vulnerable than ever, especially on offense, the Chiefs still won the Super Bowl. This offseason, Kansas City fixed their weakness at wide receiver by signing Hollywood Brown and drafting Xavier Worthy. Neither new receiver is on the level of Tyreek Hill, but their electric speed may lead the Chiefs back to a more aggressive style on offense. While L’Jarius Sneed has departed for Tennessee, I trust Steve Spagnuolo to lead an elite defense. A third consecutive Super Bowl victory isn’t the goal for the Chiefs, it’s the expectation.