Updated NFL Division-by-Division Team Rankings After Early Free Agency
The fires of 2017 NFL free agency have raged for roughly a fortnight, and nary a single star remains available on the open market. In other words, it's about time we turn our attention almost fully to April's draft.
But before that, let's check in on every team while reassessing where each stands in relation to its division rivals post-free agency. Taking a step back, here's how everybody looks coming out of the free-agent frenzy and entering draft season.
AFC East
1 of 8
1. New England Patriots: The reigning champions on the field might have won free agency as well, which just doesn't seem fair. They acquired two new starters in wide receiver Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore. They replaced tight end Martellus Bennett with the talented Dwayne Allen. They replaced running back LeGarrette Blount with promising back Rex Burkhead. And they managed to re-sign key front-seven defenders Dont'a Hightower and Alan Branch. This is the best team in football, and it isn't even close.
2. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins made progress with a 10-win season and a playoff berth in 2016 (their first since 2008), and at the least, they didn't get any worse in free agency. They pawned 32-year-old left tackle Branden Albert in exchange for new Ryan Tannehill toy Julius Thomas, and they re-signed talented young receiver Kenny Stills, 24, without losing any key contributors.
3. Buffalo Bills: The Bills at least brought back quarterback Tyrod Taylor in a restructured deal, as he gives them their best chance at competing in 2017. But they'll miss Gilmore, as well as receivers Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin. They remain a step behind the Dolphins.
4. New York Jets: The rebuild begins for a team that won just five games in 2016 before parting ways with veterans Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, Brandon Marshall, Ryan Clady, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith.
The good news for Miami and Buffalo in particular is the Patriots are left without picks in the first two rounds of the 2017 draft, while the Dolphins and Bills have top-25 selections and still have their second-round picks. Both teams should gain some ground there, although that might not show up in the standings for quite a while.
Meanwhile, the Jets have four picks in the first three rounds, including the No. 6 overall selection. What they do with those picks could shape the franchise—and maybe even the division—for years to come, especially with Tom Brady's age likely serving as a window for that dynasty's lifespan.
AFC North
2 of 8
1. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers won the division by a three-game margin despite dealing with some key injuries and suspensions in 2016, and there's little reason to believe they aren't still the cream of the AFC North crop in mid-March. They never do much in free agency, but deep-threat receiver Justin Hunter is a nice addition, and they won't likely miss Jarvis Jones, Lawrence Timmons or Markus Wheaton.
2. Baltimore Ravens: This team is at a crossroads after an 8-8 season despite plenty of talent. It lost fullback Kyle Juszczyk and right tackle Ricky Wagner, two key offensive players, and that isn't good because the overrated, inconsistent Joe Flacco was low on support to begin with. The Ravens had no choice but to overpay nose tackle Brandon Williams (five years, $52.5 million), and safety Tony Jefferson was a luxury signing they couldn't afford. Aging additions Brandon Carr (30) and Danny Woodhead (32) probably don't have a lot of gas left in their tanks.
3. Cincinnati Bengals: It's hard to argue that a team coming off a 6-9-1 season got any better by losing its top two in-house free agents in left tackle Andrew Whitworth and right guard Kevin Zeitler. The Bengals are always dangerous with quarterback Andy Dalton and wideout A.J. Green as offensive battery, but they've become watered down pretty much everywhere else.
4. Cleveland Browns: I'm going to go out on a limb and predict the Browns win more than one game in 2017. This team was better than its 1-15 record last year, and it has turned the offensive line into a major asset with Zeitler and new center JC Tretter. The Browns still need a quarterback, but they will no longer be a punch line.
The Steelers should cruise to another AFC North crown in 2017, but it might not be long before everyone views the young, draft-pick-stocked Browns as their top challengers. Cleveland holds two top-12 picks this year (including the No. 1 overall selection) and three more in the top 75. A toddler could take over as general manager tomorrow, and the franchise would still be a lot better next season.
For everyone else in the division, it's basically status quo in the draft. They all have mid-to-late first-round picks.
AFC South
3 of 8
1. Houston Texans: The Texans didn't sign anyone important after a 9-7 season, but their biggest addition came by way of subtraction when they dumped quarterback Brock Osweiler and his bloated salary on the Browns. That might give them a chance to bring in four-time Pro Bowler Tony Romo. And let's not forget that three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt is on track to return for 2017.
2. Tennessee Titans: A young Tennessee team was probably going to get better in 2017 even without signing any major free agents, but the Titans gave their secondary an injection of talent by adding cornerback Logan Ryan and safety Johnathan Cyprien. With no major losses, the franchise is primed to explode in quarterback Marcus Mariota's third season.
3. Indianapolis Colts: The Colts still have the best quarterback in the division, but that hasn't meant much over the course of the last two seasons. Indy went 16-16 in that span, partially because the offense couldn't protect Andrew Luck. And while the Colts added some talented pass-rushers in free agency, including Jabaal Sheard, it was disappointing to see they neglected to address the O-line as well.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: On paper, it's becoming hard to call the Jaguars a bad football team. A defense already loaded with young talent added top-tier free agents A.J. Bouye at cornerback and Calais Campbell at defensive end while replacing Cyprien with the experienced Barry Church. The Jags are stacked on that side of the ball, and they have weapons on offense. But there remain questions regarding quarterback Blake Bortles, and the team has to start delivering on the field.
For now, the AFC South is Houston's division. But the Titans hold two top-20 picks, and the Colts could add a starting-caliber offensive lineman with that No. 15 overall selection. The Jaguars have a top-five selection again, while Houston has just two top-85 picks.
But one thing's for certain: This division is no longer a joke. If the Texans can get some decent play under center and Watt stays healthy, they could win 12-plus games in 2017. If Mariota can remain on the right track, so could Tennessee. And we all know what the Colts are capable of when Luck keeps it together. Throw in the wild-card Jags, and it might only be a matter of time before the AFC South is the hottest division in professional football.
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AFC West
4 of 8
1. Oakland Raiders: The Raiders were probably the league's most improved team in 2016, and this offseason, they made life a little easier on MVP-caliber quarterback Derek Carr by adding talented former Green Bay Packers tight end Jared Cook in free agency. They lost running back Latavius Murray to the Minnesota Vikings, but he's a replaceable talent behind one of the NFL's best offensive lines. In fact, they have several good candidates already on the roster. The point? A good team got better.
2. Denver Broncos: Thus far, there's been nothing monumental this offseason from a team that still has one of the best defenses in the league. The offensive line got a little bit better, however, with the addition of guard Ronald Leary and tackle Menelik Watson. And if the Broncos pick up Romo, they'll likely get a lot more from the quarterback position in 2017 than they did in 2015 or 2016.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Star safety Eric Berry is back, and Bennie Logan is a suitable replacement for the departed Dontari Poe at defensive tackle. A team that went 12-4 last year should be just as strong in 2017, but that doesn't mean it'll suddenly discover how to win in January.
4. Los Angeles Chargers: It's been a remarkably quiet offseason for a team moving homes. The Chargers did add Russell Okung to replace King Dunlap at left tackle, but Okung hasn't been good since 2012 which is the last season he graded out positively at Pro Football Focus. Elsewhere, they cut starters D.J. Fluker and Brandon Flowers. Unless Philip Rivers and/or Melvin Gordon can save L.A., a team that won just five games last season might be worse this upcoming campaign.
This could become the Raiders' division in 2017, especially if they can deliver in next month's draft. It's status quo for Oakland, Denver and Kansas City, all of whom hold picks in the bottom half of each of the first three rounds.
However, what Denver does at quarterback could change things. Right now, that is the biggest wild card in the AFC West.
NFC East
5 of 8
1. New York Giants: At least compared to last year, this has been a quiet offseason for the Giants. But that's OK because they already had their core in place on both sides of the ball. Adding veteran receiver Brandon Marshall helps, and it's important that they brought back top pass-rusher Jason Pierre-Paul.
2. Dallas Cowboys: The Giants moved into the top spot at least partly because the Cowboys have had a rough month. Strapped for cash, they lost four defensive backs—Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox—who played a combined 2,645 snaps in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus. And their only notable addition was veteran corner Nolan Carroll, which means a defense that lacked bite got worse. The Cowboys had better hope Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott don't encounter sophomore slumps next season.
3. Washington Redskins: With their front office in turmoil, the Redskins deserve some credit for keeping franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins so far and adding high-ceiling receiver Terrelle Pryor to replace DeSean Jackson on a team-friendly contract. They lost Pierre Garcon to the Niners too, but they have a talented young group of pass-catchers. Still, it's hard to argue that an 8-7-1 team got much better in free agency.
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Philadelphia's top priority this offseason had to be giving second-year quarterback Carson Wentz more weapons, and the Eagles did that by signing high-quality receivers Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith to team-friendly deals. Still, they lost Carroll, Bennie Logan and 2014 Pro Bowler Connor Barwin on defense.
For what it's worth, nobody in this division has a major advantage over the rest of the pack entering the draft, but the Eagles are the only NFC East participant selecting in the top 15. That could give the division's biggest wild card a chance to catch up a little more, but the Giants face fewer big questions than everyone else.
Can Prescott and Elliott deliver without the element of surprise and less support on D? Can Cousins take off with a different supporting cast and defense? Will Wentz become a star or a bust with more backup in his second season? Meanwhile, we know what we're getting from Marshall, Odell Beckham Jr. and Eli Manning.
NFC North
6 of 8
1. Green Bay Packers: The Pack narrowly won the North last season, but they entered the offseason with a lot of momentum. They are, without a doubt, the best team in this division, and losing Micah Hyde, T.J. Lang, JC Tretter, Julius Peppers and Jared Cook doesn't change that, especially with Martellus Bennett replacing Cook at tight end.
2. Minnesota Vikings: Minnesota quietly had a nice run in free agency, upgrading with Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers in both offensive tackle spots while adding Latavius Murray to a backfield in desperate need of talent. Big questions remain on offense, including quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's outlook, but an 8-8 team might have gotten a little better.
3. Detroit Lions: Overrated based on a series of improbable wins in 2016 (Matt Stafford set a record for fourth-quarter comebacks with eight), the Lions essentially traded two decent offensive linemen (Reiff and Larry Warford) for same-caliber O-linemen (Rick Wagner and Lang) while giving up on sometimes game-changers Andre Roberts and DeAndre Levy. They were already expected to come back to earth after an artificially inflated 9-7 season—the Lions tied for 27th in strength of schedule in 2016—and March hasn't changed that.
4. Chicago Bears: New quarterback Mike Glennon is an expensive stopgap, and it was kind of weird that a non-contender spent money on aging defensive backs Prince Amukamara and Quintin Demps. The Bears also lost their top receiver in Jeffery, so another fourth-place season in the NFC North is on the horizon.
The rebuilding Bears at least have the No. 3 overall pick and four early selections in the next three rounds. And it's status quo for the Packers and Lions, both of whom have late-round picks. But the Vikings don't have a first-round selection after giving theirs up for quarterback Sam Bradford, which is a shame because they could use any help they can get as the top threat to Green Bay's throne.
Right now, it feels as though quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Pack are in position to dominate while the Lions and Vikes fight it out for wild-card love. How that plays out could depend on how healthy Bridgewater is.
NFC South
7 of 8
1. Atlanta Falcons: Charged with trying to avoid a Super Bowl hangover after collapsing against the Patriots in Houston, the Falcons avoided losing any key members while adding a playmaker on defense (nimble big man Dontari Poe) and on offense/special teams (elite return man and high-quality depth receiver Andre Roberts). You can't ask for much more from a team with no major holes and limited cap space.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The rapidly improving Bucs gave young quarterback Jameis Winston a new weapon in experienced speedster DeSean Jackson (4.35 40-yard dash), who should perfectly complement young star Mike Evans at receiver. They also added cheap talent and experience up front on D with the addition of defensive tackle Chris Baker. They're on the right track.
3. Carolina Panthers: Big-name newcomers Matt Kalil and Julius Peppers won't make them much better on either side of the ball. Kalil has't ranked positively on Pro Football Focus since 2012, and Peppers is now 37 years old. They will benefit from the return of steady slot corner Captain Munnerlyn, though. The good news is this is a team that is better than its 6-10 2016 record, and with Cam Newton at quarterback, anything could happen.
4. New Orleans Saints: They're slowly building up that previously putrid defense, but the entire unit remains a liability (ranked 27th last campaign). Even with quarterback Drew Brees, the offense couldn't compensate for those problems in 2016. Take away Cooks, and it's unlikely that'll change in 2017.
At least three teams in this division can win the Super Bowl in 2017, and some might even throw the Saints into that picture so long as Brees is running things under center.
It helps a bit that New Orleans has three picks in the top 42, including the No. 11 overall selection, while it's status quo for the rest of the division—though Carolina picks near the end of the third round instead of its usual spot. But appears Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Carolina are pulling further away from the Saints, though, and that gap could widen if the Panthers strike gold with the No. 8 overall pick.
NFC West
8 of 8
1. Seattle Seahawks: Seattle could have slept through free agency and still been considered the cream of the NFC West crop entering draft season, but the Seahawks at least attempted to shore things up around always-under-fire quarterback Russell Wilson by adding talented-yet-disappointing former blue-chip prospects Eddie Lacy (pictured) and Luke Joeckel. They also didn't lose anyone who mattered, and they'll get safety Earl Thomas back from injury.
2. Arizona Cardinals: The first wave of free agency wasn't kind to the aging Cardinals, who lost talented young safeties Tony Jefferson and D.J. Swearinger and plugged that hole with 32-year-old Antoine Bethea. They'll also miss front-seven defenders Calais Campbell and Kevin Minter, and they managed to get even older by adding the 35-year-old Karlos Dansby. It hasn't been pretty for a team that is just one year removed from a 13-3 record and an NFC Championship Game appearance.
3. Los Angeles Rams: Meanwhile, the Rams could leapfrog the Cards if young quarterback Jared Goff can emerge as a decent starter in 2017. That's a big if, but adding experienced left tackle Andrew Whitworth helps.
4. San Francisco 49ers: You can't get worse when you're at or near rock-bottom and you have as much money to spend as the 49ers. And Garcon, Goodwin and Juszczyk should make them better on offense. Still, they have to find a quarterback, and Brian Hoyer doesn't count. Oh, and Malcolm Smith and Brock Coyle won't fix a D that surrendered a league-high 30 points per game last season.
Unfortunately for the Rams, the Titans have their first-round pick. That means they'll have to do an even better job of mining talent in the later rounds while hoping Goff can break out, or they'll likely settle for third place (or worse) again. But the NFC West appears to be set in stone. Even with the No. 2 overall pick, the rebuilding 49ers are at least a year away, and the Cards have taken a step backward but remain better than their two California-based rivals.
Yes, this is Seattle's division. And nothing that happens in next month's draft will change it.
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