The New York Jets fly up the NFL power rankings, not a sentence anyone expected to be written this year. 1 receiver who makes plays after the catch. All reported signings viaNFL.com's free-agency tracker unless otherwise noted. The Philadelphia Eagles added A.J. The only question remaining with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at this point is the future of Rob Gronkowski and Ndamukong Suh. The AFC West might have dominated the headlines early in the week, but the AFC North made a strong push late. Oh, the Commanders also took Brian Robinson Jr. earlier than they should have. Uzomah are moves second-year quarterback Zach Wilson should like. Frankly, general manager Trent Baalke failed this offseason to take advantage of tremendous cap space and draft capital. The Panthers could have turned things around by upgrading at quarterback this offseason, but they whiffed. Related: Top NFL free agents of 2023 Lamar Jackson, Deebo Samuel lead the charge. His choice to spurn the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons to go to Cleveland leaves three of the four franchises in the division with serious quarterback questions. They traded Davante Adams, but getting a first- and second-round pick out of a player who made it known he didn't want to play in Green Bay on the franchise tag affords them the ability to recoup some of the lost production. It saw the Browns rise to the top of the Super Bowl odds (+1400) within the division. Minnesota is a threat to make the playoffs. Weve also seen what happens to this offense without DeAndre Hopkins and the pass rush when its just a one-man show. Let's take a look at how the divisions stack up through the early stages of the offseason. The Indianapolis Colts wanted to find stability and quarterback Matt Ryan delivers precisely that. It doesnt necessarily mean anyone should buy into quarterback Davis Mills as the starter beyond 2022, but he showed flashes as a rookie. They ended the season on a six-game losing streak, but that included five losses by three points or fewer. The Bears have been relatively quiet in free agency. Also Read: NFL Sunday Ticket Pricing, How to Buy, and its Future. No team with that starter and this defense can win more than five games. Since Brady announced his return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for one more year, they've prepped for another Super Bowl run by retaining wideout Chris Godwin, center Ryan Jensen and cornerback Carlton Davis while adding guard Shaq Mason and receiver Russell Gage to the offense. To make matters worse, the offense that fell apart towards the end of the 2021 season didnt make any real additions outside of DeVante Parker. The Atlanta Falcons certainly wont be called winners for their 2022 draft class, but they made a step in the right direction. Cleveland can get by for a few weeks, anything longer is a massive blow. The Las Vegas Raiders signed Chandler Jones and traded for Davante Adams and still have the worst odds to win the Super Bowl in the division. 1 seed in the AFC last year and found a way to bring back Harold Landry III in free agency. After the team missed out on Watson, Jameis Winston is expected to be "back in play" for New Orleans, perAdam Schefterof ESPN. Hell operate behind a bad offensive line with one of the worst receiving corps in recent memory and has an experienced play-caller drawing everything up. Mitchell Trubisky won't significantly shift the Pittsburgh Steelers' overall fortunes, but it's fair to think the quarterback will be an upgrade over the version of Ben Roethlisberger they had last season. Meanwhile, James Cook slides into the envisioned role for J.D. Still, they acquired the assets to facilitate a quick turnaround. The AFC South is a mess with just one potential Super Bowl contender, a fringe playoff team and two franchises in a rebuild. The Drake London and Kyle Pitts pairing create a combo for how Arthur Smith wants his offense to be structured. The Las Vegas Raiders didnt have a top-80 pick in the NFL Draft, but theyll happily accept that cost to have one of the best NFL offenses in 2022. They'll have to deal with the losses of sack artist Chandler Jones and receiver Christian Kirk. The Seattle Seahawks did well in the 2022 NFL Draft, adding long-term pieces that will be integral parts of the core of this teams success in the years to come. Brown trade, were not betting on the Titans repeating their success from 2021. The Miami Dolphins said theywere committedto Tua Tagovailoa going into the offseason and have stuck to their word. Right now, the history of Super Bowl losers and questions about the coaching staff and defense push Cincinnati to the 9th spot.

American Football Conference (AFC) Standings Detailed View, National Football Conference Standings Detailed View, New England Patriots (Clinched Wild Card). It all comes down toquarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Ultimately, where this team finishes in 2022 will be determined by its defense and Derek Carr. Brown, providing their young passer with a No. Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, J.C. Jackson and Khalil Mack are among the biggest names who will wear different jerseys next season. Paired with MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and an improved offensive line, thats all the Packers need to challenge for a Super Bowl. Their status has only been improved by free agency. sports Theyve steadily fallen ever since. Right now, this is the third-best team in the NFC West and the Cardinals are a long ways from where they used to be in NFL power rankings. The Kansas City Chiefs crushed the 2022 NFL Draft. Dylan Parham helps an interior offensive line that needed some help and fourth-round pick Zamir White will make a nice impact paired with Josh Jacobs. The Minnesota Vikings new regime made odd decisions this spring, with the trade down made in Round 1 easily the most questionable. Through two NFL seasons, the former college coach hasnt proven his methods work at the NFL level. The NFC West supplied both teams in the NFC Championship Game, and the division should be another three-horse race in 2022. The NFC East has been one of the weaker divisions for a while. It's also hard to get excited about the Panthers.

The New Orleans Saints are taking a win-now approach with a roster that doesnt fit the mentality. The Raiders took a team that went 10-7 and switched out edge-rusher Yannick Ngakoue and receiver Zay Jones for Chandler Jones and Davante Adams. However, the Dallas Cowboys are the only team in the division that didn't get better in 2022. We should also see improvements offensively with Alex Pierce and Bernhard Raimann joining the mix. It's telling that Watson was considering three of the teams in this group. As of now, the Eagles look like the best team in the NFC East. Paired with the talent added in the draft class and Houstons collection of future picks, things should slowly improve. Related: Indapaolis Colts training camp FAQ. After overpaying in the Carson Wentz trade, the Washington Commanders really had to make things count with the 11th pick. It's hard to feel like they did anything but tread water at best. And after watching their quarterback deal with constant pressure, they beefed up the interior of the offensive line with Alex Cappa and Ted Karras. That will be important as they try to beat the loaded Rams offense for division supremacy. Top Five Must See NFL Matchups (NFC Edition), 2022 Will Be A Make Or Break Season For D.J. The draft isn't likely to give much help either. The Giants have the dimmest outlook, but they at least brought in a coach in Brian Daboll who gives the offense hope. It helps that they didn't give up any players in the trade, they dealt for a legitimate No. Hell be the starting quarterback in 2022, but Tennessee attempted to replace him via trade and just drafted Malik Willis. Picture, Bracket, Schedule, Scenarios, AFC, NFC. They have the most proven returning quarterback in Ryan Tannehill, earned the No. The San Francisco 49ers improved their secondary by adding cornerback Charvarius Ward. Needing more toughness and strength on the defensive line, Kansas City added impact edge defender George Karlaftis. The 2021-22 NFL standings for the American football conference (AFC) and National football conference and NFL playoffs 2022. That starts with the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, who'll look to make another run.

Most notably, they enhanced his protection and weaponry with guard Connor Williams and receiver Cedrick Wilson, both former Cowboys.

Adding safety Marcus Williams to a secondary that will get healthy versions of corners Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey means they will be scary again in 2022. The New England Patriots' hopes in 2022 will hinge on the development of quarterback Mac Jones. The truth is, this team got a lot better in other areas. The 2022 NFL offseason will go down as one of the craziest ever and its resulted in plenty of shakeups in the NFL power rankings. They've been relatively quiet outside signing DJ Chark Jr., but they have plenty of draft capital in which to put their hope, including the No. In terms of Super Bowl odds, the Broncos leapfrogged the Chargers with the acquisition of quarterback Russell Wilson. Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule is viewed as alame duck. So, lets jump into our latest NFL power rankings. Losing either player would be a blow, but this team will dominate the NFC South and could easily win the conference. Call it Year Zero if you want, any label comes with the same criticism. Blockbuster trades have shaped so much of the conversation this offseason.

The Vikings found a way to retain some flexibility at the cost of committing to quarterback Kirk Cousins for an additional season. Put it all together, this is the best team in the NFL right now. Trevor Lawrence might improve, but credit should only go to him and Doug Pederson. And of course, under new head coach Doug Pederson, everything hinges on the development of 2021 No. The Philadelphia Eagles might not have made a ton of signings, but bringing in linebacker Haason Reddick fills a serious need, they have three first-round draft picks and they are bringing back the young core that went 9-8 and made the playoffs in Nick Sirianni's first year. Theres reason to believe the Los Angeles Rams can repeat as Super Bowl champions. They didn't add much, but they retained Rodgers on offense and De'Vondre Campbell on defense. However, Drew Lock is going to be the starting quarterback in 2022. Welcome to The Wright Way Network's European Union Experience. Yet, there's still an argument to be made that they are the worst team in the division. Failing to acquire Watson is even more dire for Atlanta, as a franchise that should commit to a rebuild is left with an aging quarterback. However, questions about the Rams edge rushers and left tackle spot push them to the No. The rebuilding Jaguars were among the most splashy teams in free agency. Howard and guard Rodger Saffold are all underrated free agents who could thrive in bigger roles. Denver can jump in the NFL power rankings, but it needs to prove itself first. Our order also gives preference to divisions that are balanced with playoff-caliber teams from top to bottom while penalizing divisions that have one or more rebuilding teams. The Detroit Lions will be competing for the NFC North crown by 2024. Credit to general manager Brad Holmes for building a true foundation with the 2022 draft class adding more structure to a future perennial threat. This year, they were much quieter, demonstrating a commitment to rebuilding through the draft. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence. With Devonte Wyatt and Quay Walker joining the front seven, Green Bays defense can elite in 2022. The Browns cling to the 13th spot for now in our 2022 NFL power rankings, but theyll drop a lot if Watson gets a year-long ban. Carson Wentz's stock isn't high after he and the Colts couldn't beat the Jaguars in Week 18 to make the playoffs. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Hitting the reset button was the better play, but the Vikings chose purgatory this fall. AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Thats not enough to be a legitimate threat in the AFC. 1. Oh, punter Matt Araiza should also round out the special teams. Next season will be another stage in the rebuild, but Detroits future is bright. The best thing the team did in the first week was re-signing kicker Younghoe Koo. The group's elite contender is right back in the thick of things, though. Related: Winners, losers from 2022 NFL Draft. They didn't get involved in the Watson sweepstakes and have made moves to give the quarterback the best shot at success. Trubisky was just one part of an uncharacteristic spending spree that saw them signover $80 millionin contracts. Theres a lot to like on this roster, we just need to see Zach Wilson make the second-year leap. Just keep in mind that upside also means volatility and that will likely result in week-to-week fluctuations during the 2022 NFL season. Related: Predicting NFL playoff bracket and Super Bowl 2023 winner. Going from Sam Darnold to Baker Mayfield is a significant upgrade. The Laken Tomlinson and D.J. Kaiir Elam is the missing piece for a unit posted to be the best NFL defense in 2022. The most important thing is they are losing no major free agents on a team that has already shown it can win it all. With O'Connell replacing Mike Zimmer, they will see if a change in coaching can get more out of a talented roster that includes wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Dalvin Cook. The presence of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has created an arms race in the division that has seen several offseason-defining moves. By: Isabelle McCarthy. Were expecting a top-10 defense this fall and if Lamar Jackson stays healthy, Baltimore is a darkhorse bet to win the AFC. But there's no denying he's an upgrade at quarterback for the Commanders. Originally, it seemed like Deshaun Watson might only receive a six-game suspension. Winston makes them a potential playoff team but doesn't raise the ceiling the same way Watson would have. But defensive tackle Tim Settle, tight end O.J. The Packers have to be considered one of the biggest winners of the offseason. Reed and safety Jordan Whitehead give them major upgrades in the secondary, while bringing in guard Laken Tomlinson and tight end C.J. It feels increasingly like the Tennessee Titans no longer believe in quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Mayfield finds himself in a good situation and this is a huge boost for the Panthers outlook in 2022. The Seattle Seahawks are the only real downer of the bunch. It seems like the San Francisco 49ers avoided the disaster scenario with Deebo Samuel. Frank Reich's Indianapolis Colts were a fringe playoff team last year, and a meltdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the final week of the season kept them out of the playoffs. There simply isnt much to get excited about right now with the Jacksonville Jaguars. 1, 2022 NFL defense rankings: Best NFL defenses entering training camp, Grading the Green Bay Packers draft class 2022, Predicting NFL playoff bracket and Super Bowl 2023 winner. Hes not going to get seven years to implement change, either. Throw in worries that Mike McCarthy gets outcoached in big games, theres a shot Dallas wont win the NFC East in 2022. Meanwhile, general manager Howie Roseman used his 2022 draft class to greatly improve the defense. Following the trade of quarterback Deshaun Watson to Cleveland for a package that includes three first-round picks, it's going to be a while before they can be expected to be a threat. Its why Stephen Rosssecretly tried to pull a fast onewith hisTom Bradypursuit. His passer rating of 94.6 would be the highest of any Washington quarterback since Kirk Cousins in 2016. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visitccpg.org/chat(CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). While Mayfield is certainly not an above-average quarterback, he is better than we saw in 2021 as he played through injuries. Throw in an iffy draft class, were not expecting New England to make the playoffs this winter. The headliner is obviously edge-rusher Von Miller. Not only did they retain receiver Mike Williams, but they also acquired three defensive difference-makers in cornerback J.C. Jackson, linebacker Khalil Mack and tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day. 2 spot in our summer NFL power rankings. Seedraftkings.com/sportsbookfor full terms and conditions. The Fields era brings the franchise hope, but it isn't necessarily built for a quick turnaround. The team is reportedlyworking withJimmy Garoppoloto figure out a deal to send him to a new team. That's a four-team group with historic levels of depth. Cornerback D.J. Uiagalelei, Landing Donovan Mitchell Would Put The New York Knicks Back On Track, Biggest Position Holes Left On Roster Series: NFC West Edition. The Lions are in a similar boatthey just don't have the exciting quarterback prospect. history clippers sports They'll have to contend with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Saints once again managed a cap situation that looked grim at the beginning of the offseason to field a strong roster. Unless the Minnesota Vikings are markedly improved under new head coach Kevin O'Connell, Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields shows he can elevate a franchise or the Detroit Lions stop being, well, the Lions, this division is the Aaron Rodgers-led Green Bay Packers and not much else. The fifth and seventh picks in the draft should help too. 137. Zion Johnson fortifies the offensive line and Isaiah Spiller is a nice complement to Austin Ekeler. While the days of him carrying a team are long gone, hes a good fit for this run-first offense. What separates Miami from the top teams in our NFL power rankings, is quarterback. Months into the job, Ryan Poles is signaling Fields success and long-term outlook arent priorities. Its possible quarterback Joe Burrow is that Brady-like player that uplifts an entire organization for years, turning its hopes around. Still, the quarterback situation is a question. Trey Lance certainly raises the ceiling while lowering the floor of the team. 6 pick but aren't scheduled to get back on the clock until pick No. From giving away Amari Cooper to the departures of Randy Gregory and Lael Collins, this team simply got worse. While he initially signed Larry Ogunjobi before the defensive tackle reportedly failed a physical, Poles also shipped off Khalil Mack to the Chargers and hasn't re-signed Akiem Hicks. Between that and the A.J. 1 corner J.C. Jackson going to the Chargers and the team trading offensive lineman Shaq Mason to the Buccaneers, they won't see a net-positive in free agency after going 10-7. However, the latest allegations against the Cleveland Browns quarter suggest he could miss at least 10 games if not longer. The secondary is now even better with James Bradberry opposite of Darius Slay. He showed how much he could mean to a contender with the Rams last season by posting five sacks in eight games and another four during the postseason run. There is plenty of talent on defense, especially after signing Tyrann Mathieu. The Tennessee Titans are still likely to be the division's scariest team. But anyone betting on the playoffs for a team with Jameis Winston coming off a torn ACL, Alvin Kamara facing a suspension and a potential turnstile at left tackle isnt making a wise decision. In the receiving corps, they'll get a healthy Robert Woods back from a torn ACL, but they also added Allen Robinson II and still hope to re-sign Odell Beckham Jr., perAdam Schefterof ESPN. You know things are bad when Carson Wentz leaves the division and the quarterback situation in the group gets considerably worse.