Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) during the 2017 AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
With organized team activities officially underway this week, here's a look at the latest edition of the 2017 NFL Power Rankings.
Now that organized team activities have finally started, there are plenty of topics to discuss when it comes to where each team currently sits in the the 2017 NFL Power Rankings. Plenty has changed since the conclusion of the 2017 NFL Draft, and even though training camp is still a few months away, at least football fans can help pass the time by keeping up to date with what's going in in OTAs.
Normally, this time of year tends to be pretty low key for most NFL teams when it comes to news, but there are plenty of key storylines fans are going to want to keep an over the next few weeks. From potential quarterback battles involving the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans to seeing whether the New England Patriots have what it takes to repeat as Super Bowl champions, OTAs are the perfect opportunity for some players to gain that extra advantage on some of their teammates before training camp begins at the end of July.
Of course, another interesting factor to takeaway from the start of OTAs is seeing which players make the decision not show up to participate due to reasons of frustration, such as Aaron Donald's contract situation with the Los Angeles Rams. But before jumping into those details, let's take a look at a special OTAs edition of the 2017 NFL Power Rankings by kicking it off with the Bears at No. 32.
May 12, 2017; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) works out during rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
32. Chicago Bears
For the third year in a row, the Chicago Bears finished at the bottom of the NFC North, and despite all of the excitement surrounding the signing of Mike Glennon in free agency, early signs indicate this team could finish last in the division once again. What made this Glennon signing even more bizarre when looking at the amount of money the Bears were willing to spend on the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback was the team's decision to trade up in this year's draft to select Mitch Trubisky at No. 2.
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When looking at all of the other areas Chicago could have used their first-round pick on, why on earth would they select another quarterback after spending all of that money on Glennon? Using this high of a pick on the former North Carolina quarterback seemed like a slap to the face for Glennon, even if the team continues to claim the job is his heading into 2017.
No matter who ends up playing quarterback, at least they will feel a little better about the potential surrounding the young offense led by Jordan Howard. Nobody could have predicted Howard would have finished second in the league in rushing yards as a rookie, and hopefully he carries that success over into his sophomore season with the Bears to help provide the team with a little excitement.
May 23, 2017; Florham Park, NY, USA; (l to r) New York Jets quarterbacks Josh McCown (15), Christian Hackenberg (5) and Bryce Petty (9) run during organized team activities at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
31. New York Jets
At the moment, it seems like Josh McCown is going to be handling the quarterback responsibilities for the 2017 season with the New York Jets, even if the verdict is still out there for Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty. It's understandable why the Jets would want to go with a veteran like McCown from an experience perspective to give the team a better chance of winning this year, but it's tough to imagine this team looking ready to compete when seeing what they have to work with on both sides of the football.
For starters, the argument can be made that Eric Decker is not worthy of being a No. 1 player, and only benefits from playing alongside another superstar, which was Brandon Marshall over the last few seasons. But now that Marshall is no longer in the picture after joining the New York Giants in the offseason, the pressure is on Decker to step it up in the passing game to give New York a fighting chance on offense.
As far as the Jets' defense is concerned, it will be interesting to follow Calvin Pryor over the next few months when considering the safety could end up losing his job after the team used their first two picks to select Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye in this year's draft. Either way, at least everyone can agree that New York deserves to be at the bottom of this list heading into June, and has a long way to go when it comes to working their way up near the top.
Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
30. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are clearly a team that could still be a year or two away from becoming contenders again, but at least they seem to be moving in the right direction after only winning two games (both against the Los Angeles Rams) all of last year. Parting ways with Chip Kelly after only one season while replacing him with Kyle Shanahan was the best thing the 49ers could have done, and it may take some time to rebuild the offense, but there's plenty of potential surrounding the new head coach.
Shanahan's resume developing offenses over the years makes it seem obvious that he's ready to handle the duties of being a new head coach, and seeing what he'll have to work with on the offensive side of the football already seems like major improvement compared to last year. Not only were the 49ers able to bring a reliable veteran at quarterback on board in Brian Hoyer, but the team used free agency to land Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin to improve at wide receiver.
Take all of this into consideration with San Francisco using the draft to land two of the top defenders from this year's class in Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster, there finally seems to be some excitement surrounding this squad. They may have to be patient, but at least the 49ers are moving in the right direction, as previously mentioned.
May 24, 2017; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Kenny Britt (18) during organized team activities at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
29. Cleveland Browns
Speaking of teams finally moving in the right direction, it's crazy to think the Cleveland Browns of all teams are finally moving in the right direction, but thanks to making a splash in free agency period along with working all sorts of magic in this year's draft, that's exactly the case. Despite using a second-round pick on DeShone Kizer, the former Notre Dame star still seems to have a long way to go when it comes to proving himself ready to handle the starting role, and Cody Kessler seems like the safer option for the Browns at this point.
Quarterback has been a major issue for Cleveland over the years when seeing all of the different players they've dealt with, and even if he doesn't seem like the most attractive option, Kessler has been making all the right moves this offseason to prove he's worthy of handling the job. Assuming Corey Coleman can stay health along with the addition of Kenny Britt in free agency, at least Kessler shouldn't feel as much pressure with an improved passing unit to work with.
Not to mention, the decision by the Browns to trade back into the first round after using two previous picks on Myles Garrett and Jabrill Peppers to land an effective pass-catching tight end in David Njoku should also help take some of the pressure off Kessler. Cleveland may be making all of the right moves form the last few months, but they still have a long way to go when it comes to proving themselves.
May 22, 2017; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Greg Olson (right) talks with quarterback Jared Goff (16) during organized team activities at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
28. Los Angeles Rams
Ranking at the bottom of the league by only averaging 14 points per game in 2016 shows just how bad the Los Angeles Rams were last year, but thanks to parting ways with Jeff Fisher while revamping the offense, this team appears to be in much better shape this time around. Even though it's only been brief period of time, Jared Goff already looks much more comfortable working under Sean McVay's offense, and seems to be picking things up extremely quickly, which will hopefully bring out the best in the former California star during his sophomore season.
After failing to win a single game in seven starts as a rookie, Goff received plenty benefit of the doubt when looking at the weak receiving corps he had to work with. But with the additions of players like Robert Woods (free agency) and Cooper Kupp (draft), it's going to be difficult for Goff to come up with excuses if the struggles continue in 2017.
Of course, the top concern for Los Angeles during OTAs has been the absence of Aaron Donald, who reportedly has been absent due to being unhappy over his contract situation. When looking at his high level of production over his first three seasons in the league, making Donald one of the league's highest-paid players seems like a no brainer for the Rams, and the last thing they can afford to do is waste time on making it happen.
Dec 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) throws his hands in the air after failing to make a catch against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
27. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills were one of the biggest early surprises of the 2016 season after jumping out to a 4-2 start, but unfortunately everything seemed to go downhill from there after finishing the year with a 7-9 record. On a positive note, at least the Bills were able to convince Tyrod Taylor to restructure his contract to save the team a little money, and avoid what could have been an awkward situation if they decided to part ways with the quarterback.
Whether Taylor is the long-term answer in Buffalo remains to be seen, but at least he'll have another opportunity to show what he's capable of with running the offense during Sean McDermott's first year as head coach. Even though the Bills could end up with one of the biggest steals in the second round after trading up to land a dynamic playmaker at wide receiver in Zay Jones, the one player facing plenty of pressure will be Sammy Watkins.
Expectations were high for Watkins when the Bills used a first-round pick on the former Clemson star back in 2014, but injuries seemed to have prevented him from reaching his true potential. Give Buffalo credit for making the decision to decline the final year of the rookie contract for Watkins to provide him with little extra motivation to produce more in 2017.
Apr 28, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers first round pick Mike Williams poses for a photo during a press conference at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
26. Los Angeles Chargers
If it wasn't for key injuries on both sides of the football over the last two seasons, the argument can be made the Los Angeles Chargers would have been more competitive in the AFC. Just look at all of the close games decided by single digits from 2015-16, and it's easy to make a case for the Chargers being better than their records indicate.
With that being said, whether Los Angeles can compete in the AFC this upcoming season will come down to staying healthy, but at least this team will always have a chance with Philip Rivers calling the shots under center. Even if turnovers seem to be a major area of concern for Rivers after setting a career high with 21 interceptions last year, at least the veteran should benefit from one of the team's latest additions to the offense in Mike Williams.
The former Clemson star was considered by many to be the top wideout from this year's draft class, and even though he was selected after Corey Davis, the Chargers were certainly happy to see him fall to No. 7. Now if only Williams can speed up his recovery process with his back injury, it would make Los Angeles feel more comfortable about their beloved rookie making an impact during his first season.
Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
25. Baltimore Ravens
The good news for the Baltimore Ravens is there's no reason why this squad shouldn't have one of the league's top defenses once again during the 2017 season since that always seems to be the case. With that being said, the one factor that could hold the Ravens back from being true contenders in the AFC could be the lack of weapons on the offensive side of the football, especially after losing a dangerous threat like Steve Smith to retirement.
Replacing an explosive playmaker like Smith is certainly no easy task, and despite the potential for this offense surrounding players like Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman, it's simply not going to be the same. What makes this situation in Baltimore even more frustrating to deal with is the team found themselves in position to bring on additional weapons for Joe Flacco during the draft on numerous occasions, only to focus on other areas instead.
Flacco may consider himself an elite quarterback, but when looking at the numbers throughout his career, the argument can be made that he's average at best. A strong defensive unit can only do so much without the proper help from the offense, and it will be interesting to see what Flacco can accomplish once Week 1 officially gets underway a few months from now.
Dec 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during warmups before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
No more excuses will be a popular phrase for Blake Bortles heading into his fourth season with the Jacksonville Jaguars when looking at all of the key moves made by the organization over the last few months. Not only were the Jaguars one of the biggest winners of free agency thanks to key signings of Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye, but Bortles should finally have a reliable running back to work with in the backfield in Leonard Fournette.
The former LSU standout has been projected to be an NFL star for years, and when looking at the type of players he joins on offense, early indications point to Fournette being the type of rookie that can make a major impact right off the bat for Jacksonville. Clearly, the extra pressure of playing without a reliable running back caught up to Bortles last year when it came to getting the best out of the Jaguars' offense, but hopefully all of that will change heading into Doug Marrone's first full season as head coach with the team.
One of the main reasons why there was so much frustration surrounding Bortles in 2016 was due to the fact he was expected to elevate his game to a whole new level after throwing 35 touchdowns the year before. For the sake of Bortles, here's to hoping the former first-round pick can live up to the hype this time around, otherwise he could be looking for a new home to play in during the 2018 season.
Apr 28, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals first round draft pick John Ross holds up his No. 15 jersey with head coach Marvin Lewis in a press conference at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene/Cincinnati Enquirer via USA TODAY NETWORK
23. Cincinnati Bengals
After making five playoff appearances in a row, the Cincinnati Bengals were considered one of the early favorites in the AFC once again at the beginning of last season, and rightfully so when seeing they seemed to have one of the top overall teams in the NFL. But thanks to a 6-9-1 finish, the pressure is on the Bengals more than ever to bounce back with a strong 2017 campaign, and it will certainly be interesting to see how the offense adjusts to some of their new weapons to work it.
If Andy Dalton thought having A.J. Green to work with amazing, just imagine the potential surrounding this passing game after spending their first-round pick on John Ross. The former Washington star has always been a nightmare for opponents thanks to his blazing speed, and Cincinnati hopes the presence of Ross will benefit Green to a level where he hopefully won't receive as much extra coverage from defenders.
As impressive as the selection of Ross was, the popular topic of discussion surrounding the Bengals in this year's draft was the selection of troubled running back Joe Mixon in the second round. Mixon's stock took a major hit due to his troubled past, but if Marvin Lewis can figure out a way to keep him out of trouble, the former Oklahoma standout has a chance to make an immediate impact as a rookie with his new team.
Dec 24, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) after scoring a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter at the Oakland Coliseum. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Indianapolis Colts 33-25. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
22. Indianapolis Colts
After failing to reach the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, the argument can be made that Andrew Luck is facing the highest level of pressure in his career heading into the 2017 season for the Indianapolis Colts. Sure, Luck can pull the excuse of not having the most reliable support from the defense, but when looking at the type of money the former No. 1 pick is making from the organization, it's tough to defend some of his play.
At least for Indianapolis, the team deserves some credit for addressing their defensive issues in this year's draft after using their first three picks to focus on the defensive side of the football. If all goes well, Malik Hooker seems like he could have a bright future in the NFL at safety after seeing the success he had during his career with the Buckeyes.
Over the years, the Colts always seem like the favorites to win the AFC South, but all that has changed when looking at how the rest of the division is playing out. When looking at all of the potential surrounding the offenses of the other three teams, the only chance Indianapolis may have is an improved defense.
Dec 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) against the Detroit Lions during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Lions defeated the Saints 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
21. New Orleans Saints
Just like the Indianapolis Colts, the New Orleans Saints find themselves in a similar situation in which the only chance they're going to have at competing in 2017 is with an improved defense. When looking at all of the potential surrounding teams within the division such as the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Saints will need to figure out some sort of game plan to contain some of these high-powered offenses since the offense should be in good shape.
Losing Brandin Cooks to the New England Patriots was obviously a huge loss to the passing game, but as long as Drew Brees is healthy enough to be under center, the offense for the Saints should still be in good shape. Ted Ginn Jr. will certainly fill some of the void left by Cooks, but the main factor for New Orleans will be whether Michael Thomas continues to build off of last year's successful rookie season.
For a second-round pick to come on board while recording 92 catches as a rookie while finding the end zone nine times was completely unexpected for Thomas last season, and played a key role in the decision by the Saints to move on from Cooks. But more importantly, how successful New Orleans can be next season will come down to the performance on the defensive side of the football since the offense should rank near the top of the league once again.
Dec 4, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) celebrates after a touchdown against the Washington Redskins at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
20. Arizona Cardinals
There were a handful of teams considered to be some of the most disappointing from the 2016 season from an expectations perspective, and right near the top of that list was the Arizona Cardinals since many considered them early favorites to make a run at the Super Bowl. After reaching the NFC Championship during the previous season, last year seemed to be the best chance for the Cardinals to finally reach the Super Bowl with Carson Palmer at quarterback, which obviously failed to happen.
The fact that Arizona couldn't even finish the year with a winning record shows how much frustration there was surrounding this team after failing to overcome a 1-3 start. On paper, the Cardinals seem to have one of the best teams in the NFL, but it's no secret the time to win with Palmer as their quarterback is coming to an end before it's time to go through rebuilding mode, which means the team can't afford to miss out on another golden opportunity.
In just two seasons, David Johnson has emerged as one of the league's rising stars after recording over 2,000 yards from the line of scrimmage last year to go along with 20 total touchdowns. If these numbers are any indicate of what's in store for Johnson moving forward, Arizona's offense should be in solid shape for years to come.
May 24, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) talks with Redskins head coach Jay Gruden (R) during drills as part of Redskins OTAs at Redskins Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
19. Washington Redskins
With one week remaining, all the Washington Redskins had to do was win a game at home against the New York Giants in Week 17 to secure a spot in the postseason, which failed to happened, and was the beginning to what seemed to turn into a frustrating offseason. Between the changes within the front office to losing their two top wide receivers in DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon to free agency, nobody really knows what to expect from the Redskins in 2017.
To top all of this off, the team continues to do whatever it takes to avoid rewarding Kirk Cousins with a long-term deal after using the franchise tag on their quarterback for the second-straight season. For whatever reason, Washington continues to play this risky game of making their quarterback unhappy, and potentially lose him to free agency next offseason.
Landing Terrelle Pryor will certainly help fill part of the void left at wide receiver, but the debate is still out there when it comes to whether he's capable of being a No. 1 wideout in the league since he was all the Cleveland Browns basically had on offense in 2016. Hopefully, Pryor has what it takes to prove last season wasn't just a fluke, and he can develop the necessary chemistry with Cousins for a successful 2017 campaign with the Redskins.
May 5, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) catches a pass during practice at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
18. Carolina Panthers
For months, the Carolina Panthers were listed as one of the top potential landing spots for former Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, which turned out to be right on the money after the team used their first-round pick to select him at No. 8 in this year's draft. Whether he lines up in the backfield or simply in the slot, Ron Rivera is expected to use his beloved rookie as much as possible during his first season with the Panthers to help take some of the pressure off Cam Newton on offense.
One year after reaching the Super Bowl, Carolina was considered one of the early favorites to make another run in the NFC, but that was far from the case after only winning six games during the regular season. Newton learned the hard way there's only so much he can do on his own without the proper help from his teammates, but between the addition of McCaffrey along with having reliable big-name targets in Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin, all signs point to the Panthers bouncing back this season.
Of course, if Carolina is going to have any shot at competing for the division title once again, they will need to figure out a way to overcome some of their tough rivals in the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New Orleans Saints. Seeing that either of these teams could easily emerge as champions of the division shows what kind of work the Panthers have cut out for them if they're going to have any chance at returning to the playoffs.
Jan 1, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Sam Bradford (8) during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
17. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings took a huge risk prior to the start of the 2016 season when agreeing to trade for Sam Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a first-round pick, mainly because they seemed to be a reliable quarterback away from being serious contenders in the NFC. Losing Teddy Bridgewater was a major blow to the Vikings' offense, and even though the acquisition of Bradford seemed to be working well after a 5-0 start, it still didn't takeaway from all of the other injuries they had to deal with on both sides of the football.
Obviously, Bradford doesn't deserve the entire blame thanks to some of these injuries, but the veteran quarterback should be extra motivated to play well in 2017 since his contract will be up at the end of the year. Having reliable receivers like Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph should help take some of the pressure off Bradford, but the true deciding factor could come down to the new duo at running back.
With Adrian Peterson no longer in the picture following his release, Minnesota will rely on the presence of Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook to boost the ground game. If all goes well, the Vikings should be able to compete with the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions (sorry, Chicago Bears) for the NFC North title.
Dec 11, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looks on during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
16. Detroit Lions
Speaking of the NFC North, the Detroit Lions turned out to be one of the biggest surprises in the NFC last season since many expected them to take a major step back following the unexpected retirement of Calvin Johnson. Matthew Stafford constantly proved that a game is never officially over until the clock reads zero after seeing how many times the quarterback helped the Lions rally in the fourth quarter, and sets the bar even higher heading into next season.
On paper, Detroit certainly seems capable of competing for the division title, but the deciding factor could come down to the support Stafford receives from his teammates on offense. While Stafford will look to take advantage of using Golden Tate and Marvin Jones as much as possible, a lack of support in the ground game could end up holding the Lions back from reaching their true potential.
Throughout his career, Stafford has always proven to be the type of quarterback capable of making the players surrounding him better, and as long he remains healthy, Detroit will always seem to have a chance in the NFC. There may have been concerns early in his career about his ability to stay healthy, but those days are well past Stafford since he's started every game dating back to the 2011 season.
Jan 1, 2017; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills (10) celebrates his touchdown catch as a member of the grounds crew cheers on during the second half against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
15. Miami Dolphins
Just like the Detroit Lions, the Miami Dolphins ended up being one of the biggest surprises from the 2016 season by securing one of the Wild Card spots in the AFC, despite a 1-4 start. Of course, the argument can be made that if Ryan Tannehill was healthy enough to play in the postseason, the Dolphins would have been in much better shape against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round.
Tannehill claims his knee his back to normal, but none of that means anything until he actually steps on the field in the regular season, and proves there are no setbacks, as Miami looks to build off of last year's surprise success. For a quarterback that has taken plenty of criticism over the years, it was devastating to see Tannehill go down before the end of the regular season after seeing the type of year he was having by helping the Dolphins overcome their poor start.
Give Miami credit for setting Tannehill up with reliable weapons to work with (including the acquisition of Julius Thomas in the offseason), but when a team plays in the AFC East, whether they have what it takes to compete will come down to the performance of the defense. Whether the Dolphins like it or not, the path to the division title goes through the New England Patriots, and when seeing all of their additions this offseason, Miami's defense will need to take their game to a whole new level just to have a fighting chance.
Dec 22, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) reacts with referee Clete Blakeman (34) after a play against the New York Giants during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
14. Philadelphia Eagles
Originally, the plan was for Carson Wentz to be the third-string quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles as a rookie, and learn from the sidelines. But thanks to the Minnesota Vikings finding themselves in need of a quarterback, Wentz ended up starting right away for the Eagles to gain the type of experience as a rookie that should help the former No. 2 pick elevate his game to a whole new level during his sophomore year with the team.
This time around, Philadelphia expects to bring the best out of Wentz thanks to an offseason in which they managed to land two of the top wide receivers available in Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. While the former Chicago Bears star was arguably the most sought-after wideout, Smith should provide Wentz with the dangerous deep threat in the passing game he was desperately searching for as a rookie.
And if these additions on offense weren't already exciting enough for Wentz, the Eagles came out of nowhere with the signing of LeGarrette Blount to give them a pound-for-pound type of running back to provide a boost for the ground game. Only time will tell when it comes to seeing whether these moves will pay off, but Philadelphia could become one of those sneaky teams in the NFC that emerges as playoff contenders.
May 23, 2017; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back Jamaal Charles (28) during organized training activities at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
13. Denver Broncos
Thanks to the presence of Von Miller, there's every reason to believe the Denver Broncos will have one of the top defensive units during the 2017 season, as the team hopes to avoid missing the playoffs for the second year in a row. All signs pointed to the Broncos being a lock for the postseason after jumping out to a 6-2 start last year, but those dreams were quickly shattered after the team went on to lose five of their remaining eight games.
With a new defensive minded head coach in Vance Joseph taking over, Denver hopes to see their defense return to the dominant level that played a key role in making a run at the Super Bowl two years ago. However, if the Broncos are going to have any chance of being serious contenders in the AFC, it's going to come down to the performance of Trevor Siemian running the offense.
Just like last offseason, Denver seems to be in a tough position at quarterback since their current roster of options doesn't seem like the most attractive options on paper, although Siemian appears to be the best of the bunch. Who knows, maybe Siemian receiving stronger support in the ground game from players like C.J. Anderson and Jamaal Charles will make the quarterback's second year as the starter much smoother than it was at times during the 2016 season.
Dec 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) hands off to running back DeMarco Murray (29) during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
12. Tennessee Titans
The good news surrounding the Tennessee Titans is Marcus Mariota seems to be recovering well from the broken leg he suffered towards the end of the 2016 regular season. In just two seasons, Mariota has quickly become an effective leader for the Titans on offense, and after the team fell just short of reaching the playoffs last year with a 9-7 record, many expect them to be one of the teams to keep an eye on in the AFC when it comes to making the jump to contenders.
If Tennessee was able to record nine wins last year, just imagine what could be in store when seeing how they spent the offseason improving on both sides of the football. Thanks to having an extra first-round pick this year courtesy of the Los Angeles Rams, the Titans managed to land another weapon for Mariota to work with at No. 5 in Corey Davis, who found the end zone 46 times during his final three seasons at Western Michigan.
With their other pick in the first round, Tennessee decided to boost the defense by using the 18th pick to select cornerback Adoree' Jackson out of USC. Don't look now, but this may be the best chance for the Titans to overtake the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts in what should be an entertaining AFC South to follow.
May 6, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks to media during the rookie mini camp at the University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
11. Kansas City Chiefs
How frustrating was it for the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs last January? Well, let's just say the Chiefs had every right to feel frustrated over their loss in the Divisional Round when considering they prevented the Pittsburgh Steelers from scoring a single touchdown the entire game.
Defense has always been the strength of Kansas City's success over the years, but if Andy Reid's squad has any intention of repeating as division champions, the offense will need to figure out a way to improve beyond Travis Kelce. The Chiefs realize how fortunate enough they are to have one of the league's most dangerous pass-catching tight ends on the roster, but there's only so much Kelce can do on his own when opposing defenders are paying extra attention to him since there aren't many threats with the rest of the offense.
While Tyreek Hill turned out to be one of the biggest surprises as a rookie last year thanks to his ability to turn a simple play into a huge gain, Alex Smith is going to need more help from the rest of his teammates. For a player that has always been considered one of the league's top game managers, the drafting of Patrick Mahomes II shows Smith's time as the starter could end sooner rather than later if he fails to produce enough on offense.
Oct 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) talks to side judge Alex Kemp (55) in the second half against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints won, 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
10. Seattle Seahawks
Can the defense of the Seattle Seahawks return to their old level of dominance after taking a major step back during the 2016 season? Despite winning the NFC West while advancing to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, it was easy to see the Seahawks defense was missing that special swag that made them almost impossible to go up against in previous seasons.
Only time will tell when it comes to whether Seattle can return to their old ways, but at least there's enough reasons to believe this unit should be one of the toughest to compete against once again in 2017. Even with all of the drama surrounding trade talks and Richard Sherman's rocky relationships with a few members of the team, the Seahawks deserve to be considered the early favorites to repeat as division champions since the only team that seems capable of standing in their way at the moment is the Arizona Cardinals.
As long as the offensive line can do a better job at protecting Russell Wilson this upcoming season so the quarterback avoids dealing with injuries like he did throughout 2016, Seattle seems capable of making another run at the Super Bowl. And if that happens, maybe all of this drama surrounding Sherman being unhappy will finally settle down a bit.
May 23, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) takes a snap during OTA practices at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
9. Houston Texans
In what can only be described as one of the most regrettable decisions from the 2016 offseason, the Houston Texans couldn't have been happier to see the Cleveland Browns acquire Brock Osweiler to help save the team from wasting some of that guaranteed contract money. Frustrating doesn't even begin to describe how the Texans felt paying all that money to Osweiler when he ended up throwing more interceptions than actual touchdowns, but at least he's no longer part of the picture in Houston.
Now, the question becomes which quarterback will emerge over the next few months as the starter for this team heading into Week 1 of the 2017 season. At the moment, Tom Savage seems to have the early advantage over Deshaun Watson due to experience, but Houston never would have traded up in the first round to land the former Clemson star if they didn't strongly believe he was the long-term answer at quarterback.
Even if his high number of turnovers from the last few seasons with the Tigers was a major issue, there's clearly something special about Watson from a leadership and winning perspective. The Texans have been "one quarterback away" from being serious contenders in the AFC for years, and hopefully those issues will finally disappear in 2017, whether it ends up being Watson or Savage under center.
Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) against the Chicago Bears at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When looking at all the teams that missed out on the playoffs last year, the argument can be made that no team has higher expectations when it comes to making the jump to being serious contenders than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For a team that was already considered to be a team on the rise thanks to an emerging defense along with the progress made by Jameis Winston at quarterback, the Buccaneers seem ready to cause all sorts of havoc in the NFC in 2017.
Winston was already fortunate enough to work with one of the league's most dangerous wide receivers in Mike Evans when looking at the advantage he has with his size and strength, but the addition of DeSean Jackson in free agency makes this unit even scarier to think about. By bringing on an experienced receiver like Jackson, Winston all of a sudden finds himself with a reliable deep threat to work with in the passing game, which was an area the Buccaneers struggled with throughout the 2016 season.
Between Evans and Jackson, one can only imagine the amount of points Tampa Bay will be scoring in a weekly basis heading into Winston's third year as the starter under center. The Atlanta Falcons may have finished on top of the NFC South last year, but keep an eye on the Buccaneers when it comes to which teams could give them the most competition.
May 23, 2017; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass during organized team activities at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
7. Oakland Raiders
After all of the frustrating years fans spent waiting for the Oakland Raiders to become serious contenders in the AFC, it was crushing to see Derek Carr go down with a leg injury towards the end of the regular season last year to hurt the team's chances of winning the division title. What made this situation even more frustrating to deal with is there's a good chance the Raiders would have defeated the Houston Texans during Wild Card weekend with a healthy Carr in the lineup.
On a positive note, at least Carr's recovery has been going well, and many consider Oakland to be the early favorites to finish on top of the AFC West, especially after convincing Marshawn Lynch to come out of retirement. The former Seattle Seahawks running back may have spent the last year away from football, but if he can return to his old ways, the addition of Lynch could turn out to be work wonders for the Raiders.
Oakland's offense was already considered one of the league's best thanks to Carr having one of the top duos to work with in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, but throwing Lynch into the picture could help this unit reach a whole new level. Assuming there are no setbacks with Carr's injury from last season, expect the Raiders quarterback to display MVP type numbers once again during his fourth year under center.
May 23, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Ty Montgomery (88) during organized team activities. Mandatory credit: Mark Hoffman/Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY Sports
6. Green Bay Packers
If the Green Bay Packers believe they can make a run like last year without a strong supporting cast in the ground game, the team could be in for a rude awakening once the regular season officially gets underway. Nothing against Aaron Rodgers when considering what he managed to accomplish in the second half of last year by leading the Packers to the NFC Championship following a 4-6 start was simply amazing to witness, but can't afford to happen again.
Losing Eddie Lacy to the Seattle Seahawks may come back to haunt Green Bay since the team is currently stuck with Ty Montgomery, who handled a majority of the running back duties late last year for the Packers. With all due respect towards Montgomery since he displayed some impressive games at running back towards the end of the 2016 season, the debate is still out there on whether he's the right answer fort he offense in the long run.
Rodgers may seem non-human at times when looking at some of his performances from over the years, but even he can't take on the type of workload like he did last season without the proper help in the backfield. But for his sake, at least Rodgers still has two of the top receivers to work with in Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, both of which deserve to be considered No. 1 wideouts.
May 24, 2017; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett and quarterback Dak Prescott (4) on the field during OTAs at the Star in Frisco. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
5. Dallas Cowboys
With the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Ezekiel Elliott out of Ohio State, and while the potential certainly seemed to be there at the time, nobody expected him to hit the ground running by leading the league in rushing yards as a rookie. The offensive line for the Cowboys may have experienced some changes during the offseason, but Elliott is just scratching the surface of what should end up being a very productive NFL career.
Along with drafting Elliott, Dallas received another surprise last year in Dak Prescott, who would end up replacing an injured Tony Romo before hanging on to the starting job for the remainder of the season. Watching the Cowboys finish with the best regular during the regular season at 13-3 while being led by two rookies on offense almost seems impossible, but it happened for Jason Garrett's squad.
Losing in the Divisional Round to the Green Bay Packers was absolutely heartbreaking for the Cowboys, but at least the early experience by Prescott and Elliott will provide some extra motivation to make another run for the postseason. Of course, the main question will be whether the New York Giants, who defeated Dallas in both meetings during the regular season last year, will be standing in their way.
May 12, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants tightened Evan Engram (88) catches the ball during rookie mini camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
4. New York Giants
With all due respect to the Dallas Cowboys, it's going to be extremely difficult to repeat as division champions in the NFC East when looking at the New York Giants, who happened to earn one of the Wild Card spots in the NFC last season. Eli Manning was already lucky enough to work with a young dynamic duo in the passing game thanks to Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard, but the Giants found a way to top everything off during the offseason.
From convincing Brandon Marshall to come on board to using a first-round pick on an effective pass-catching tight end in Evan Engram, it's ridiculous to see what Manning will have to work with running the offense. The Giants haven't made back-to-back playoff appearances since 2007-08, but based off what this team was able to accomplish during the offseason, that streak will most likely come to an end.
Plus, let's not forget it was the surprise emergence of the Giants defense was one of the main factors behind their success. In a division loaded with talent on the offensive side of the football, the defense could end up being the factor that sets New York apart from the other three teams in the NFC East.
Antonio Brown
Jan 15, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) holds up the ball after a play during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
At the beginning of last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers were expected to shatter numerous records on offense, and even though it didn't go according to plan, the team was still on the verge of reaching the Super Bowl after falling to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. The debate will always be out there when it comes to whether the Steelers would have been able to pull off the win with a healthy Le'Veon Bell, but the only thing the team can do about is move forward while hoping to make another run.
Every year, Pittsburgh always seems to be in the running for being one of the teams to beat in the AFC, and with Father Time catching up with Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers would love nothing more than to help their beloved quarterback win one more Super Bowl. At least for Big Ben, the organization managed to accomplish two of their top priorities this offseason by making sure Bell and Antonio Brown would return for the 2017 season.
And if having these kind of weapons to work with wasn't already enough for Roethlisberger, just imagine the high level of potential surrounding this offense now that Martavis Bryant is back from suspension. If fans thought Pittsburgh's offense was loaded with talent last season, but imagine what could be in store this time around during one could be their final year with Big ben under center.
Jan 14, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) celebrates with quarterback Matt Ryan (2) after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter in the NFC Divisional playoff at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
2. Atlanta Falcons
Nothing can take away the pain the Atlanta Falcons are feeling after blowing a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots other than earning a trip the big game in Minnesota in February with different results this time around. With a lead like that, the Falcons should have been able to just run the clock out as much as possible while doing the minimum on offense, but the young defense getting worn down ended up being a huge factor behind the historic collapse.
As frustrating and painful as this loss was for Atlanta, at least the team feels confident enough to know they have an opportunity to be one of the top teams in the NFC once again in 2017. Not only do the Falcons have one of the league's most dangerous weapons at wide receiver in Julio Jones, but Matt Ryan is coming off the best year of his career, and could find himself in contention to take home MVP honors for the second year in a row, assuming he doesn't suffer any sort of injuries.
Everybody knows what the Falcons are capable of on offense, but the one thing to keep an eye on heading into the regular season is whether the young defense can take the next step towards becoming elite like they showed early on in the playoffs. If that does happen, Atlanta could easily end up representing the NFC in the Super Bowl for the second year in a row.
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) talk while walking off the field for halftime against the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
1. New England Patriots
Don't act surprised to see the New England Patriots on the top of this list at this point in the offseason when looking at the type of shape this team is going to be in once Week 1 officially begins a few months from now. Most players at Tom Brady's age would be considering retirement at this stage in their career, but the future Hall of Famer seems capable of playing another four or five years if he really wanted to.
Even after losing LeGarrette Blount to the Philadelphia Eagles, New England's offense is still loaded with enough talent to be considered the team to beat in the AFC. Opposing defenses already had issues keeping Brady in check when seeing him work with players like Juian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, but by acquiring Brandin Cooks from the New Orleans Saints, it just gives the Patriots even more of an advantage on offense.
The presence of Cooks just provides Brady with another reliable deep threat to work with, and makes New England stronger Super Bowl favorites than they already were. In a way, it's almost unfair to see all of the new pieces the Patriots brought on board to play with during the 2017 season, and makes it a no brainer to consider them the favorites with organized team activities finally underway.
