ESPN NFL Post Draft Power Rankings

[nctarheel0619]

2015 Power Rankings: Offseason 

 

1. Seahawks
12-4

 

Last Week: 1 Are three straight Super Bowls possible while not making a first-round pick in each of those years? We'll find out with the Seahawks this season. 2

 

2. Patriots
12-4

 

Last Week: 2 The Patriots used the draft to bulk up the offensive and defensive lines, drafting six linemen in the first five rounds. The average weight of the Patriots' first seven picks was 276 pounds. 3

 

3. Packers
12-4

Last Week: 3 The Packers have used eight of their 10 first-round picks on defense since drafting Aaron Rodgers. The Packers haven't ranked higher than 13th in opponent PPG since winning the Super Bowl after the 2010 season. 4

 

4. Broncos
12-4

Last Week: 4 The Broncos grabbed DE Shane Ray to rush the passer along with Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. The Broncos' pass rush ranked fourth in generating pressure last season. 5

 

5. Colts
11-5

Last Week: 8 Miami Colts? Andrew Luck will be surrounded with Hurricanes in 2015. The Colts drafted Miami WR Phillip Dorsett after adding Frank Gore and Andre Johnson this offseason. 6

 

6. Cowboys
12-4

Last Week: 5 The Cowboys rushed more than any other team last season, but didn't draft a RB to replace DeMarco Murray. That leaves Darren McFadden, who has one 16-game season in his career, as the lead back. 7

 

7. Ravens
10-6

Last Week: 11 The priority in the draft? Find Joe Flacco someone to throw to. The Ravens drafted four pass-catchers after losing Torrey Smith and Owen Daniels this offseason. 8

 

8. Cardinals

11-5

Last Week: 10 The Cardinals drafted OT D.J. Humphries 24th overall, the first OT drafted by the Cardinals since 2007. No surprise after losing two quarterbacks to injury last season. 9

 

9. Steelers
11-5

Last Week: 6 The Steelers selected three defensive backs in a draft for the first time since 1995 after losing Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor and Brice McCain this offseason. 10

 

10. Bengals
10-5-1

Last Week: 9 The Bengals drafted offensive tackles with their first two picks; both of their starters at the position are free agents after this season. Smart for the future, but might not help this year. 11

 

11.Eagles
10-6

Last Week: 12 The offensive additions made headlines for Chip Kelly, but the Eagles signed or drafted a combined six cornerbacks this offseason. Only three teams allowed more passing touchdowns than Philly in 2014. 12

 

12.Lions
11-5

Last Week: 7 Detroit went offensive line and running back with its first two picks. Matthew Stafford's streak of four years with 600-plus pass attempts may finally come to an end. 13

 

13.Chargers
9-7

Last Week: 16 San Diego made only five picks in the 2015 draft, but they kept Philip Rivers and gave him a new weapon in RB Melvin Gordon. Will that be enough to keep Rivers around? 14

 

14.Chiefs
9-7

Last Week: 13 Forcing turnovers was a problem for the 9-7 Chiefs last season. First-round pick Marcus Peters (CB) should help improve on Kansas City's league-low six interceptions in 2014. 15

 

15.Dolphins
8-8

Last Week: 19 A lot of new faces will be surrounding Ryan Tannehill in 2015, including Greg Jennings and first-round pick DeVante Parker. Will they be enough to get Miami to improve on its 8-8 finish in 2014? 16

 

16.Panthers
7-8-1

Last Week: 15 Carolina's linebackers were already among the best with Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis each notching 100-plus tackles last season. Now they're joined by Shaq Thompson (25th overall pick). 17

 

17.Texans
9-7

Last Week: 14 Who wants to play the Texans this year? Houston added two more defensive players with its first two picks to join J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Vince Wilfork and Co. this season. 18

 

18.Bills
9-7

Last Week: 17 The Bills' first pick in the draft was 50th overall, and they took a cornerback. The Bills have the most interceptions the past two seasons. Safe to say they had more pressing needs. 19

 

19. Saints
7-9

Last Week: 21 Preparing for the future? The Saints grabbed QB Garrett Grayson in the third round, the highest they've selected a quarterback since Archie Manning in 1971 (second overall). 20

 

20.49ers
8-8

Last Week: 18 It was just a fifth-round pick, but did the 49ers really need to draft a punter with so many other holes to plug? Especially considering nobody else took a punter or kicker? 21

 

21.Rams
6-10

Last Week: 22 Only one Week 1 starter from the Rams' offensive line in 2014 is still with the team. The fix to that problem? Drafting a league-high four offensive linemen. 22

 

22.Falcons
6-10

Last Week: 25 Can first-round pick Vic Beasley finally provide the Falcons with some pass-rushing help? No team has had fewer sacks over the past three seasons (83). 23

 

23. Giants
6-10

Last Week: 24 Drafting an offensive tackle ninth overall may not seem sexy, but the Giants ranked 30th in yards per rush last season, despite their running backs ranking 10th in yards after contact. 24

 

24.Vikings
7-9

Last Week: 20 Minnesota quietly went 7-9 last season and has now made 49 picks in the past five drafts. Can Teddy Bridgewater lead this young team back to the playoffs? 25

 

25.Jets
4-12

Last Week: 27 Rex Ryan is gone but defense is still the priority. The Jets drafted DE Leonard Williams sixth overall after adding Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine, Marcus Gilchrist and Stephen Bowen this offseason. 26

 

26. Bears
5-11

Last Week: 26 The Bears went offense with three of their first four picks, including WR Kevin White (seventh overall). How will that help a defense that allowed the second-most points last season? 27

 

27.Redskins
4-12

Last Week: 28 Robert Griffin III probably appreciates the Redskins' selection of an offensive lineman with the fifth overall pick. Only the Jaguars allowed more sacks than the Redskins last season. 28

 

28.Browns
7-9

Last Week: 23 The Browns drafted a league-high 12 players, including three front-seven defenders in the first three rounds. The Browns allowed a league-worst 2,265 rushing yards last season. 29

 

29.Raiders
3-13

Last Week: 29 Derek Carr averaged the third-fewest yards per attempt in NFL history in 2014 (minimum 500 attempts). Amari Cooper's big-play ability should help raise that average. 30

 

30.Jaguars
3-13

Last Week: 30 Jacksonville signed Julius Thomas this offseason. It has also drafted four wide receivers the past two years, as well as RB T.J. Yeldon. This season will tell us a lot about Blake Bortles. 31

 

31.Buccaneers
2-14

Last Week: 31 Jameis Winston was the big prize on draft day, as offense is clearly the priority in Tampa. Lovie Smith has used 12 of his 13 picks with the Bucs on offensive players. 32

 

32.Titans
2-14

Last Week: 32 Quarterbacks drafted second overall since 1967: Robert Griffin III, Donovan McNabb, Ryan Leaf, Rick Mirer, Bert Jones, Archie Manning. Where will Marcus Mariota rate among this group when all is said and done?

 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings/_/year/2015/week/0

[Fidel Cashflow]

Cool

[chknwing]

how the fug, so win the NFCs back to back. make the playofffs back to back and we are still 16th? fug these guys

[DanTheMan]

Dolphins before us lol?

[Omega Atrocity]

how the fug, so win the NFCs back to back. make the playofffs back to back and we are still 16th? fug these guys

We're still the highest NFCS team in the power rankings.

[Nate Dogg]

I wonder will the Buccs get back to back #1 overall picks?

[Moorgan]

We're still the highest NFCS team in the power rankings.

This and off season power rankings are simply projections of draft evaluations. In the end, nice to know others still see us as the class of the NFCS. Not really important but nice to know.

[gettlemanjack]

#1 in the NFC South

[Johnny Rockets]

Winning the worst division in football with a losing record while 17 teams had a better record than you isn't going to earn top 10 respect from many people. There was nothing in the draft that made a big enough splash to change that either. 

 

The Panthers are rightfully ahead of any other NFCS team and besides...it's just a list...... 

 

 

from ESPN. 

[nctarheel0619]

We won a playoff game last year after losing and not replacing our HOF WR.

 

Then we add 3 starters in postions of need and they think we are an average team. 

 

 

That's dumb, but whatever. I like the Panthers disrespected. We always do better than the pundits predict.

 

This is a 10+ win team, and we will win at least 1 playoff game this year again. Next time we get a shot at Seattle we should be able to hold our own and maybe beat them this year.

Three?  Who's the third?  

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

you guys do realize we won just 7 games and beat fuging ryan lindley in the playoffs, right?

[PntherPryd]

so basically ESPN took last year's records and listed them in order with one or two wild and crazy one game tweeks and put them out for everyone to argue about.

 

 

 

 

[KSpan]

I have Funches as WR2, Thompson as OLB and Daryl Williams I am sure will start sometime this year, either at RT or maybe even Guard.

Mayo will 'start' on special teams, and our new RB will no doubt see the field this year too with Stews injury concerns.

3 starters, a good special teamer and a RB2/3.

Barring injury or complete meltdown, I don't see either Norwell or Turner not earning their spots again.

[nctarheel0619]

Oh I expect both Norwell and Turner to compete for any of the starting positions they can win.

 

But I think that our line will be the best with all of them on the field in some manner. Finding the right combination is the key.

 

I have it like this

 

LT - Oher and Martin will compete for starter and back-up role.

LG - Norwell (maybe trade places at RT with Williams if he is decidedly better at that position)

C - Khalil

RG - Turner 

RT - Williams, Norwell and Martin will compete.

 

Either way I think all three of them will start in some combnation, and that combination may be twerked as the season progresses.

I think you're excluding Remmers as well.