The dog days of the NFL offseason are FINALLY over. All eyes now shift to training camp and preseason, and then before we know it, the regular season will be here.
With preseason play just around the corner, here is how all 32 NFL teams stack up as we dive into the latest edition of our power rankings.
32. Arizona Cardinals (32)
The Cardinals released DeAndre Hopkins a month after the draft, leaving Hollywood Brown as the team’s top receiver. We still have no idea when Kyler Murray plays — if he plays at all — in 2023.
A long year awaits in The Desert. They were a bad team with Murray a year ago. We can’t imagine how much worse it can get without him AND Hopkins.
31. Houston Texans (29)
Early indications are that CJ Stroud will indeed be the Texans’ Week 1 start, as he should be. The Texans have nothing to lose this year, so why hold back on his development?
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The main battle to watch in training camp? The WR1 spot. Will that be Nico Collins, veteran Robert Woods or John Metchie III, who was sidelined for his entire rookie year? Hey, it’s gotta go to somebody…
30. Indianapolis Colts (30)
Veteran Gardner Minshew and rookie Anthony Richardson are battling it out for the QB1 job. His is a battle that could very well go down to the final preseason game, so it definitely bears watching.
Do the Colts play it safe and give Richardson time to develop and familiarize himself with the pros? Or do they throw him out there and see if he can provide a quick spark to this rebuilding squad?
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (28)
Baker Mayfield seems to have the inside track on the starting QB job over Kyle Trask, but the third-year signal-caller still has time to tighten up the race.
The Bucs certainly have one of the worst QB situations heading into 2023. But of course, the good news is that they still reside in the wide-open NFC South. It might just take seven wins to claim a third straight division title.
28. Chicago Bears (31)
The Bears won’t be a playoff team in 2023, but this feels like the year we finally see a jump from a team that’s been mired in long-term mediocrity.
Justin Fields has DJ Moore, Chase Claypool, Darnell Mooney, Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman at his disposal. The league’s worst scoring D of 2022 added DeMarcus Walker, Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards.
This oughta be the year the Bears finally show glimpses of a promising future…right?
27. Las Vegas Raiders (26)
Not a good offseason in Sin City. The Raiders couldn’t reach a long-term deal with Josh Jacobs, who doesn’t at all seem keen on playing 2023 under the franchise tag.
We’re still confused by the decision to swap out Derek Carr for Jimmy Garoppolo, but only time will tell how that switch pans out. On the bright side, Garoppolo — dealing with a foot injury — passed the Raiders’ physical and received clearance for training camp.
26. Carolina Panthers (27)
First overall pick Bryce Young secured the bag — a shiny $37.9 million — on his rookie deal. Up next, time for Young to follow the 2011 version of Cam Newton’s footsteps and show this frustrated Carolina fanbase that better days are on the horizon.
25. Washington Commanders (24)
The Commanders didn’t endure any dramatic roster changes this offseason. But the exit of Dan Snyder, who sold the Commanders to Josh Harris, is pretty much an equivalent to trading for Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow. It might even be better.
We can’t stress enough just how toxic and miserable Snyder made everything for this once-proud football team. Who wouldn’t be happy for this club and its fans if they found immediate success under the Harris-led ownership group?
24. Green Bay Packers (23)
The Packers silenced the naysayers back in 2008 with a smooth and highly successful transition from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers. Will history repeat itself as the Pack move on from A-Rod towards the Jordan Love era?
It won’t be fair to fully judge Love after one full season as a starter. But next year’s draft class is loaded with grade-A QB prospects, so this might be Love’s only shot to prove himself to the Cheeseheads’ brass.
23. Atlanta Falcons (25)
It’s no secret that the Falcons are going with second-year product Desmond Ridder as their starting quarterback. And he certainly isn’t lacking playmakers around him.
Kyle Pitts. Drake London. Tyler Allgeier and of course rookie running back Bijan Robinson. Throw in Arthur Smith’s brilliance as an offensive-minded coach, and it’s not a stretch to think that Smith’s Falcons could push for double-digit wins and a division crown.
22. Los Angeles Rams (21)
We know what the Rams are capable of. They can win the Super Bowl as we saw two seasons ago, or they can sink to the bottom barrel of the league standings.
Ultimately, it comes down to the health of Matt Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald — the team’s “core three” players who all missed significant time last year. If things continue to go sideways in 2023, don’t be surprised if Les Snead goes from the ultimate ALL-IN GM to the architect of a scorched-earth rebuild.
Stay tuned!
21. Denver Broncos (20)
The Broncos’ chances of a turnaround in 2023 come down to the play of Russell Wilson and no one else, pure and simple. The Broncos surrendered a lot to land future Hall of Famer and head coach Sean Payton with the hope that he can turn Wilson back into his Pro Bowl form.
Truthfully, Wilson will have to have a vintage Wilson year for the Broncos to compete in the super-loaded AFC.
20. Tennessee Titans (22)
The Titans crushed the draft then hit another home run before training camp by inking five-time Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins to a two-year deal in free agency.
There’s the true WR1 Tennessee needed after trading AJ Brown. Now imagine if 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks can step up and produce after an inconsistent rookie year.
Nobody should be surprised if the Titans are a player for a top seed in the AFC again. Hopkins changes everything for that offense.
19. New England Patriots (18)
The Patriots are a team to follow closely this year. Reports out of Foxborough indicate that Bill Belichick could be on the hot seat, and that another disappointing season could prompt Robert Kraft to fire the greatest coach in NFL history.
It seems impossible given all of Belichick’s accomplishments in New England. But of course, a bounce-back season in 2023 will put all the “hot seat” talk to rest and buy Belichick more time in Foxborough.
Oh, and Mac Jones might be fighting for his job after a miserable sophomore year. Needless to say, the storylines won’t be dull in New England this year.
18. Cleveland Browns (19)
With Deshaun Watson eligible to play the entire season, the Browns have no excuses. They oughta be a playoff team in 2023, otherwise not-so-patient owner Jimmy Haslam will have to make considerable changes — from the front office to the coaching staff to player personnel.
Easier said than done, of course, with the Browns playing in a division that features not one, but THREE teams that finished above .500 last year!
17. New Orleans Saints (17)
Thanks to Tom Brady’s retirement and Derek Carr’s arrival, the Saints are the clear-cut favorites to win the NFC South. It’s now just a matter of Carr executing with a wealth of playmakers, and for the Saints’ defense to stay healthy after an injury-ravaged year.
16. Detroit Lions (16)
The Lions won the early stages of the offseason. But second-year wideout Jameson Williams carelessly violated the NFL’s gambling policy and was handed down a six-game suspension.
Then free agent signing and standout safety CJ Gardner-Johnson suffered a non-contact knee injury at training camp and had to be carted off. Fortunately, an MRI showed no structural damage.
Something to follow closely there. The Lions spent a lot of money this offseason to build off an unexpected nine-win season. Is this the year it finally comes together? On paper, the talent is too high for the Lions to fail.
But it is the Lions, after all. So things could really go either way in Motown this season.
15. Minnesota Vikings (14)
The Vikings incredibly went 11-0 in one-score games during the 2022 regular season, only to fittingly lose a one-score game to the New York Giants in the Wild Card Round. Typical Vikings.
Not to scare Vikings fans, but history shows that they’re bound to regress BIG TIME in one-score games. But with too much offensive firepower, the Vikings should still be considered the slight favorites over the Lions to win the NFC North.
14. New York Jets (15)
It’s only practice and training camp, but Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson sure look ready to reign terror across the rest of the league in 2023. Now they just need to execute in the actual-meaningful games.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (13)
The Steelers haven’t had a losing season since 2003. Inevitable improvement from Kenny Pickett, George Pickens and the offensive line lead us to firmly believe that the Steelers non-losing-season streak will continue in 2023.
With TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cameron Heyward and Alex Highsmith rounding out a scary-good defense, the Steelers should be considered a dark horse to win Super Bowl 58.
12. New York Giants (12)
Failing to secure a long-term deal with Saquon Barkley will disappoint many Giants fans. Then again, another Pro Bowl-like year from Barkley might simply prompt the G-Men to just give him a blank check to fill out next year.
Barkley’s situation aside, the Giants are still in good shape to build off a surprising and successful 2022 campaign.
11. Los Angeles Chargers (10)
The Chargers have five-star talents on both sides of the ball and should be in the upper echelon of Super Bowl contenders.
It’s just…how much can you trust a team that allllllllllllways finds incredible ways to blow games? We still can’t – well actually we can! — believe they blew hat 27-0 lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the wild card round.
Will the Bolts learn from that, or will that loss have destroyed all team confidence and morale heading into 2023? We’ll find out one way or another.
10. Miami Dolphins (11)
The Dolphins’ hopeful jump to Super Bowl contender comes down to a healthy Tua Tagovailoa. If he plays all 17 games, an offense led by Tua, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle can match up with just about any other.
But let’s not ignore what that defense is capable of, either. They added Jalen Ramsey and hired one of the game’s all-time great defensive minds in Vic Fangio to serve as DC. With immense talent on both sides of the ball, Miami can easily compete for the AFC East crown — and more.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (9)
The young Jaguars won the AFC South and a playoff game last season. So what do they do for an encore?
Getting Evan Engram locked up on a three-year extension was a nice cherry on top for Trent Baalke’s offseason. We don’t doubt the Jaguars’ ability to win another division, but can they actually hang in there with the AFC’s top dogs? That’s the million dollar question in Duval County.
8. Baltimore Ravens (7)
The Ravens won the offseason once they handed Lamar Jackson a $260 million extension. The Ravens have gone 45-16-0 with Jackson as their starting QB, so we don’t need to explain any further why they’re a bonafide contender as long as he’s the one behind center.
7. Seattle Seahawks (8)
Perhaps no team had a better offseason than the Seahawks, who are coming off a surprise nine-win season that ended with a hard-fought loss to the 49ers in the Wild Card Round.
Promising rookie corner Devon Witherspoon joins a loaded defense that brought back Bobby Wagner and added Dre’Mont Jones to its front seven. If Geno Smith can show that 2022 wasn’t a one-hit-wonder thing, these ‘Hawks will remain contenders in a lackluster NFC.
6. Dallas Cowboys (6)
Same deal with the Cowboys. All-world talent on offense AND defense. This year’s group features two new faces in speedy wideout Brandin Cook and Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
On paper, Dallas should be a Super Bowl contender. But can a team renowned for, ahem, choking every year actually get over the hump in 2023? With each passing year, it gets harder to trust them…even if the ‘Boys are good for double-digit wins a year.
5. Buffalo Bills (5)
Feels like folks are sleeping on the Bills a little bit this year following another disappointing playoff exit. Can we remind you that they had the No. 2 scoring offense and No. 2 scoring D last year, and that Von Miller is back after suffering a season-ending ACL tear late last year?
Count out the Bills at your own risk. They’re still as good as any other team when healthy and on their game.
4. San Francisco 49ers (3)
Honestly, you can take last year’s “final four” teams and stack ‘em up however. You can’t go wrong either way.
The only reason the 49ers fall out of the top three is because of the uncertainty at QB. Is Brock Purdy healthy and ready to throw? If not, is Trey Lance healthy AND capable of leading the offense? If not, is Sam Darnold ready for a career revival under Kyle Shanahan?
All those questions surrounding the game’s most important position remain the only concern for a team that otherwise might have the best roster in football.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (4)
Having fallen just short of a second straight Super Bowl appearance, we needn’t hype up the Bengals on our own here. Joe Burrow is, at worst, the third-best QB in the game.
The Bengals have the best receiving trio in the game and a top-10 defense. It just comes down to getting those few extra bounces against Kansas City and the other top AFC clubs in January.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (2)
Not much more to say here. The Eagles are one non-holding call away from potentially preparing for a Super Bowl repeat. They’re the deepest team in football from top to bottom with no clear weaknesses.
Jalen Hurts proved that he can break through in pressure-packed moments. If not San Fran, Philly is the team to beat in the NFC.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
The game’s best QB. The game’s best head coach. The game’s best tight end. The reigning Super Bowl champs. What more can you ask for?
The Chiefs lost key pieces like Orlando Brown Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, Frank Clark and Juan Thornhill in free agency. But no team adapts better than the Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid-led Chiefs, so we have zero cause for concern.
The Chiefs remain the No. 1 team heading into Week 1 until proven otherwise.
Who do you think is the team to beat heading into the NFL preseason?
