Offseason Power Rankings

By Steve O’Reilly

The Draft is over and Free Agency is settled. Barring any Training Camp injuries the rosters are mostly set. So how do the teams stack up at this early juncture of the 2010 season? This is how I see it from top to bottom!

1. New Orleans Saints – Still need a top level Pass Rusher but the return of Sedrick Ellis will be easily overlooked by some but make no mistake, his return is huge!

2. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Matthews adds a dimension to this Offense they haven’t had since 2006 when LT was still LT. The D’ will be the tell tale on this team.

3. Baltimore Ravens – Anquan Boldin is the piece that puts this puzzle finally together offensively. The D’ needs to get healthy but my sources tell me they are doing just fine and will be ready to go!

4. Dallas Cowboys – If Dez Bryant is as good as advertised than the Cowboys are a complete team. They could still use Safety help but on paper this team is loaded.

5. Indianapolis Colts – Peyton’s SuperBowl performance and Pick 6 will add even more drive to a guy who is all business all the time. Bethea’s big deal should open doors for Reggie Wayne’s deal and he is a key piece especially with Anthony Gonzales’ injury woes.

6. Minnesota Vikings – Bryant McKinnie told us that Favre’s return is basically imminent, the question is if the Rookie Toby Gerhart can fill the void that was created when Chester Taylor left town.

7. New York Jets – The Jets rode the hot hand in 2009 and found a way to ride that momentum to the AFC Championship game. Their schedule will be harder and Thomas Jones is gone. The D’ is still best in the business however so they should be in every ballgame.

8. Cincinnati Bengals – This team isn’t going to sneak up on anyone and they have the talent to win the North again but their schedule is tough. It was a great addition with the drafting of Jermaine Grisham!

9. Green Bay Packers – The Packer’s defense is getting older at the Corner spots but have a nice core of Linebackers. If the line holds up and plays like it did toward the end of ’09 and not the beginning than the NFC North should be a fun race to watch.

10. Miami Dolphins – The weapons are now complete on Offense the key is how well Chad Henne plays. Brandon Marshall changes the complexion of the Offense and the D’ got better up front. The young Corners could battle for the best tandem in the league!

11. New England Patriots - This team could fall down these ranking quickly. Wes Welker’s health and Tom Brady’s future contract hover like a black cloud. The mystique of Patriots Way has lost it’s luster and in a tough AFC East they need to get it going early!

12. Philadelphia Eagles – McNabb and Westbrook are gone but this team is still loaded with young talent. Vick is a very nice insurance policy should Kolb falter.

13. San Francisco 49ers – Alex Smith has the same Offensive Coordinator for the first time in his career and the continuity could mean a productive year in 2010. If the young O-Line opens up lanes Frank Gore could have a big year. Crabtree’s finally getting an offseason to practice as well!

14. Houston Texans – If they can get solid Secondary play than this team should win 10 games. The Offense is solid and the Front 7 is improving the questions at Corner and Safety loom large.

15. Arizona Cardinals – The Cards lost a ton of guys this offseason but none more important than Kurt Warner. The weight of Arizona’s fate falls squarely on Matt Leinart’s shoulders as we know what they can do with all those weapons. Beanie Wells should have an increased role.

16. Atlanta Falcons – The DirtyBirds need Michael Turner to get back to his 2008 ways. Health is the key and Dunta Robinson needs to live up to that big contract. The Offense should be Playoff caliber but will the Defense hold up their end of the bargin?

17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Their go-to guy is now in New York and they have to get by the first month without their Quarterback. Pittsburgh has some major issues to overcome and their Division is very tough. Pouncey was a great Draft choice and they will need to rely on the run early on.

18. New York Giants – The G-Men need to look in the mirror and get back to playing Tom Coughlin brand of football. Mistake free and solid Defense, that along with a solid running game. If the Defense plays the way it did in ’09 than the NFC East will bury them!

19. Tennessee Titans – The last thing this team needs was another distraction and Vince Young’s recent transgression will take away from the talk of the real story which is what is going to happen with the Chris Johnson contract situation. This team won 6 of 8 to finish last season!

20. Detroit Lions – The young nucleus can go out and have some fun. The Lions have weapons on Offense and some young talent on Defense. If Suh is half as good as projected than the Run Defense will be much better.

21. Washington Redskins – The 2010 Skins will look nothing like the 2009 team. Mike Shanahan takes over a very good Defense and with a slew of veteran players like Donovan McNabb, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker that just might be enough tools for “The Mastermind” to put points on the board.

22. Chicago Bears – Mike Martz brings his Spread offense to the Windy City but the real changes are on Defense. The addition of Julius Peppers is boom or bust. If he balls out, then the Bears have bite on Defense. If not…could be a long year in Chicago. Is the Secondary improved?

23. Seattle Seahawks – Pete Carroll has his hands full in trying to fill a ton of holes, notably at Running Back but he has brought in some guys like Mike Williams who could turn out to be a nice weapon if he pans out. Matt Hasselbeck is amped and ready but is the O-Line?

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Bucs have a chance to be a big sleeper in 2010! Arrelious Benn could be a huge steal after falling to Round 2. If Freeman is NFL ready in year 2 and the new look D-Line stops the run, than Tampa Bay might surprise teams.

25. Oakland Raiders – The key to the Raiders will be at Quarterback. This is a good team who had a nice Draft and if Jason Campbell makes the most of his fresh start than the Raiders could push for 9 or 10 wins!

26. Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jags are another potential sleeper. Jack Del Rio has to get the Defense playing well and the Offense hinges on Mike Sims-Walker and the young WR’s. Maurice Jones-Drew is solid and you know what you’re getting from David Garrard.

27. Denver Broncos – Kyle Orton is still the starter and with Brandon Marshall gone this team will see a ton of 8 and 9 man fronts. The Offense was exposed in the second half of 2009 and the 2010 version is actually worse. The Defense should be improved with the new additions along the Line.

28. Cleveland Browns – The Browns brought in Mike Holmgren in an effort to change the attitude and add a winning culture in Cleveland. Jake Delhomme’s best years are behind him and in a tough Division the Browns are likely to finish last once again.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs should be improved with Matt Cassel having another year in the system. The Defense got a huge boost by drafting Eric Berry but the Front 7 will likely still struggle.

30. Carolina Panthers – Gone is Jake Delhomme, which isn’t that big of a loss, and Julius Peppers too. Steve Smith had a mediocre year in ’09 and this team has far too many holes in the Passing game. The 2 headed attack of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will likely be the only good thing to talk about in Carolina!

31. St. Louis Rams – The Rams have a new Franchise QB but like all rookie signal callers, Sam Bradford will likely struggle. Stephen Jackson will likely be required to carry this team but they have far too many holes to be ready to compete for another year or two.

32. Buffalo Bills - The Bills have serious issues along the O-Line and even though they added C.J. Spiller, a true home-run threat, they still have an inept Offense. The Front 7 on the Defensive side is also a work in progress.