NFL Offseason Power Rankings 2011: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams

Now that the NFL is back on track for the 2011 season and the free-agent frenzy has reached a fever pitch, it's time to look at how the first couple days of post-lockout fallout have changed the power positions of the league's 32 teams.

To be sure, some teams have improved or rehabilitated their stock while some have fallen from grace.

Here's a look at how the league's teams stack up.

32. Cincinnati Bengals

The Good

Not much. The Bengals have been quiet so far in the free agency period except to say that they won't deal Carson Palmer. There's no word on whether or not Chad Ochocinco (updated: traded to Patriots) will be back, which might be a good thing in the end. There's also been no major mistakes either.

The Bad

A lot. There's no reason not to trade Carson Palmer beyond Mike Brown's misguided notion that he will never cave to a trade demand. He could get a lot in return for Palmer, but now he's played himself into a corner. The quarterback market quieted down considerably after a flurry of early deals. Keeping Palmer accomplishes nothing.

There's also been no word of Cedric Benson's status. If the Bengals are seriously content on starting rookie Andy Dalton at quarterback, they need someone to run the ball and take pressure off of him. Not resigning Benson in a thin running back market is a huge mistake.

Trending

Downward fast. This is a team that's looking more and more like a close proximity of the Titanic disaster.

31. San Francisco 49ers

The Good

Again, not much. Their biggest move so far was bringing back Alex Smith, which says exactly nothing good about their chances in 2011. This seems to be a team trying to position itself for the future. Their draft was good, which is about all that's keeping them ahead of Cincinnati. The best thing for this team would be if Colin Kaepernick developed quickly.

The Bad

Frank Gore's holdout is troublesome. The team needs some kind of weapon on offense if Smith is taking the reigns again. Gore doesn't have much of a case because he's got an injury history a mile long, but there seems to be a general discontent among runners this year. The team will need someone else either way to team with Gore.

Trending

Downward with Gore's holdout. Before that, they were holding steady at merely awful.

30. Denver Broncos

The Good

For now, the team is holding onto Kyle Orton. They've got a solid plan there. The worst case scenario is that Orton plays for Denver, which isn't a bad thing. The best case is that someone has a sudden need for a quarterback (I'm looking at you Cincinnati and Miami) and overpay for Orton's services. They've been quiet, but they're not in the stupor that the last two teams on this list seem to be in.

The Bad

I wasn't high on the John Fox hire and I'm still not a fan, but I'm ranking teams based on their activity since the lockout and on their draft. They had a decent draft, but haven't done anything to strengthen their flagging defense yet. Resigning Champ Bailey before things got tough was smart, but they need more defensive help than that. They also could use a running back to pair with Knowshon Moreno, who hasn't sold anyone on being an every-down guy.

Trending

They're treading water for now, but they haven't really improved themselves since firing Josh McDaniels.

29. Washington Redskins

The Good

It seems as though the Donovan McNabb debacle is over. That distraction removal was key. Also, it seems like the team will do something to make Albert Haynesworth go away finally, which is also a smart move. The house-cleaning here continues. Resigning Santana Moss was a great move as well. The Redskins didn't overpay and kept a valuable offensive piece in place.

The Bad

No quarterback, no running back. I'm one of about a zillion people who's not sold on John Beck under center. I wasn't sold on Rex Grossman either, but he's at least a little easier to fathom. They've been quiet so far on the running back front. The team needs to replace Clinton Portis with someone of the Marion Barber/Willis McGahee set.

Trending

They're up because of their efforts to kill off distractions. Unfortunately, they're still the worst team in the NFC East.

28. Miami Dolphins

The Good

There has been widespread talk that the Dolphins might make a play for Kyle Orton. That certainly could help their cause. They also haven't thrown money at anyone in a stupid way yet, which is also good. No one's taken any of their players either yet, another plus. Outside of that, there isn't much to see here.

The Bad

They haven't got Orton yet. If they somehow miss out on him, they're in really bad shape. Worse news is that Tony Sparano is coaching for his job after the Dolphins publicly tried to woo another coach. They didn't improve a lot in the draft and still don't have a running back signed.

Trending

Going nowhere. They're bad, but they're at least giving it a shot with the Orton talks.

27. Seattle Seahawks

The Good

They allowed Matt Hasselbeck to walk away. It was rough, but it's time. He was becoming an injury risk and wasn't winning nearly as many games for them. They also went out and got another veteran quarterback in Tarvaris Jackson to compete with the decidedly underwhelming Charlie Whitehurst. Competition is always good. They also got underrated guard Robert Gallery, reuniting him with Tom Cable. 

The Bad

Tarvaris Jackson? That's the big pickup? Jackson has done nothing in the NFL but be an athletic backup. Now he's the new hope for a team that almost accidentally won a division last year? Yuck. This actually costs them in the rankings because I think they'll lose more games with Jackson than without him.

Trending

Despite two big pickups, they're going down. Tarvaris Jackson is not a starter. Signing him was a terrible move for a team that thinks it can win the division again this season. Jackson has flopped every time he's started for a long stretch.

26. Carolina Panthers

The Good

They got a coach who has a pulse. That's a plus. They also retained running back DeAngelo Williams and are lobbying for Steve Smith to return as well. The Panthers drafted a believable quarterback prospect in Cam Newton. They also picked up a good veteran kicker in Olindo Mare. The best thing is that they've been very active so far, meaning they are working to improve.

The Bad

Newton probably won't bear a ton of fruit this year. He's going to be exciting to watch, but he's got a lot of holes in his game. The other bad piece is that Ron Rivera was a defensive coach hired by a team that needed guidance on offense. We'll see how that plays out. Rivera's staff needs to be more imaginative than John Fox's was last year.

Trending

Decidedly upward so far. I like that they've made some noise and I love that they got Williams back in the fold. I also think the Mare signing is underrated and could be a good, shrewd move.

25. Buffalo Bills

The Good

They're sticking with Ryan Fitzpatrick, who earned the chance to be the starter for another year. The trick is surrounding him with weapons so he can maximize his improving accuracy and his decent arm. It's been quiet so far in free agency, so I'm not sure what the plan is for helping their chosen quarterback succeed.

The Bad

They've been quiet and they lost Paul Posluszny to the Jaguars. That will hurt a defense that was underrated in 2010 and needed a playmaker like Posluszny to keep them in games. The team doesn't have a ton of free agents to worry about, but they have the money to improve a little and haven't done that.

Trending

The Bills looked trendy toward the end of last year by keeping almost every game close. Now, they're sliding back down by doing nothing to improve and letting one of the game's best linebackers go.

24. Minnesota Vikings

The Good

Acquiring McNabb for a couple of late-round draft picks is a good deal. McNabb doesn't have to be the quarterback of the future, he just has to tutor Christian Ponder for a year and then let him take the reigns. Ponder will benefit greatly from this situation and, by extension, the Vikings will also.

They also aren't throwing money away on Sidney Rice, who's done next to nothing in his career for Minnesota. They'd like him back, but they won't overpay. They could make a run at Braylon Edwards with that savings and give their new quarterback a new target.

The Bad

Not much so far. McNabb will likely be their only key acquisition. Minnesota did their work during the draft. The team may try to get Ray Edwards back, but if they don't, I think the depth can hold up just fine. They may not be pretty in 2011, but they've improved a great deal.

Trending

Upward for now. They still need a receiver and some spare parts. For a team in transition, they look pretty good.

23. Arizona Cardinals

The Good

Kevin Kolb. If the deal goes through as expected, the Cardinals may once again be a dangerous team in the NFC. They have a lot of talented pieces on their offense, but last year they had no quarterback and it showed. Kolb is young, strong-armed and accurate. That single move could help make their season a good one.

The Bad

Where's the running game? Beanie Wells has been a disappointment. Marion Barber or Willis McGahee would make this team even more dangerous and probably would jump them into at least the middle of the pack. Without a running back, I worry about Kolb's health.

Trending

Upward. If not for Kolb, they would have been at the extreme bottom of these rankings.

22. Detroit Lions

The Good

They haven't had one of those albatross signings that plagued them for so many years. Detroit actually hasn't done much of anything, nor have they lost anything. They got remarkably better in the draft with some great young weapons on offense and defense, which has kept them looking like a team on the rise.

The Bad

They really need a proven back to team with Jahvid Best. Best could be a future star, but he's going to need a tandem partner to get there. The Lions also just aren't there yet. Minnesota looks to have reloaded some, so they could overtake Detroit. Chicago and Green Bay are still the powers of the division. It's still a year or two away from being Detroit's time.

Trending

They're holding steady. Not getting much better, but not going down either.

21. Cleveland Browns

The Good

They have a quarterback and are cutting Jake Delhomme, which almost atones for signing him in the first place. The Browns acquired some good defensive pieces in the draft and another decent offensive lineman (Jason Pinkston) to add to the mix. They've got a solid core in Colt McCoy, Peyton Hillis and Joshua Cribbs, while adding new head coach with a talent for offense.

The Bad

Not much really. They, like Detroit are still a long way away from being a power in a division that features Baltimore and Pittsburgh. They won't go quietly this year, however. The team could use a speed back to go with Peyton Hillis, but other than that, they are wise to stand pat.

Trending

Steady with a slight upward look. You can't argue with anything they've done or haven't done.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Good

Adding a guy like Paul Posluszny automatically makes you a better team. He'll be a big playmaker for their defense and will help take pressure off of a secondary that is shaky. That's about all they've done so far, but it's a big step in the right direction for a team that always seems to be fighting for relevance. Getting Blaine Gabbert in the draft was huge.

The Bad

They didn't do much to improve at wide receiver, where they haven't had a weapon of any consequence since Jimmy Smith retired. David Garrard is inconsistent too, but he'll do for now until Blaine Gabbert is ready. They just still seem like a team that will be competitive, but won't shock anyone.

Trending

Upward slightly. Posluszny and Gabbert are pluses, but this is still a team that gets forgotten a lot.

19. Dallas Cowboys

The Good

The team cut ties with Roy Williams, who never lived up to his rumored talent. They also will get Tony Romo back healthy (for now), which makes them a more dangerous team. Jason Garrett will finally get to coach all of his big weapons. The hope will be that all of those weapons stay on the field.

The Bad

Dez Bryant has all the makings of being a huge distraction (think Chad Ochocinco, but not nearly as amusing). Leonard Davis was a cap casualty and the team will need someone like him to solidify a line that still managed to let Tony Romo get plastered last year. Marion Barber's departure isn't awful, but it will be felt. They just didn't do enough in the draft or so far in free agency to improve the roster.

Trending

Still downward, but they're slowing a wee bit. Recoveries don't do enough to offset departures, however.

18. Oakland Raiders

The Good

Hue Jackson should be a good coach. He's been a well-respected assistant for a long time, so this will be interesting. He's an offensive guy, which could help a team that sometimes just can't get it done. They're also coming off their first season of even mild success since the 2002 Super Bowl loss.

The Bad

Jason Campbell is still the quarterback of the present and future. They lost underrated Robert Gallery on the offensive line and will soon lose shutdown corner Nnamdi Asomugha. They don't have replacements waiting either, so both of those losses will hurt. This is a team that is going from almost relevant again to a likely disaster.

Trending

Considering they almost snuck into the playoffs last year, they're down a lot.

17. Tennessee Titans

The Good

Vince Young will be gone by week's end (updated: signed with Eagles). Matt Hasselbeck brings respectability and stability to the position while Jake Locker learns from him on the bench. They still have one of the game's best runners in Chris Johnson and a good defense. Their biggest failings last year, Young and now-retired Kerry Collins, are gone, so they've improved by subtraction if nothing else.

The Bad

Johnson is holding out for a new deal. He has a beef, but it's bad news for the Titans. They also have a new head coach for the first time since the Clinton Administration. That sometimes can keep a team down. Hasselbeck is a good acquisition, but he won't wow people the way he did at the beginning of the decade. They project as a dark horse with long odds.

Trending

Upward considerably from last year, but likely to top out in the middle of the pack.

16. Kansas City Chiefs

The Good

They've got a solid core and added to it with wideout Jonathan Baldwin in the draft. Matt Cassel will benefit from that, as will Dwayne Bowe. Jamaal Charles appears to be for real, which is a great sign for a team that relies on a dynamic offense to win games. The defense got better depth in the draft and the Chiefs retained veteran safety Jon McGraw as well.

The Bad

Kansas City overachieved in 2010. They, like Oakland, seem destined to backslide a little bit. They should still be in the hunt for a division title, but are probably an 8-8 or 9-7 team at best. The hasn't made a big move in free agency and aren't rumored to be in on anyone that would change the balance of power.

Trending

They're steady right now.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Good

Josh Freeman took a big step in his second year and should be even better now. The Bucs also improved a lot on defense with a great draft class (Da'Quan Bowers in round two might be one of the biggest steals if he can stay healthy). They've already got a solid roster, so don't look for a lot of big free agent pickups. They're a team building through good drafts.

The Bad

Not much not to like here. They're a scrappy bunch that still lacks a true star receiver and a clear-cut feature back, but they get by. Perhaps the worst thing for them is that they're stuck in a division with Atlanta and New Orleans. The Bucs are another team that hasn't done much to hurt their cause, but helped themselves in the draft.

Trending

Slightly upward thanks to their draft.

14. New York Giants

The Good

They're in the hunt for Plaxico Burress and nabbed Prince Amukamara in the draft. Both are excellent. Burress, if he can patch up his differences with Tom Coughlin, would be a nice add for an offense which already features some good weapons. Amukamara will help shut down some of the powerful NFC offenses and give the Giants a better chance to win games.

The Bad

The turnover on the offensive line bothers me. Rich Seubert and Shaun O'Hara were two of the team's better linemen. Cap casualties always hurt. Eli Manning isn't very mobile, so the Giants will have to hope the addition of David Baas will help offset their losses.

Trending

Treading water. Losing those two linemen worries me and could keep them from being as successful as their skill positions indicate they could be.

13. San Diego Chargers

The Good

They're the best team in a bad division and boast one of the league's top quarterbacks in Philip Rivers. The team retained safety Eric Weddle, which could be huge since Weddle is an underrated defender. They also added veteran linebacker Takeo Spikes, who's been very productive, and tight end Randy McMichael, another good backup. Best of all, the team will retain Vincent Jackson who is their best receiver.

The Bad

Ryan Mathews was a flop as a running back last year, something the Chargers can ill-afford. They need someone better and could put themselves in the top 10 with a guy that can split carries with Mathews. Until they fix that hole, they're simply a good team in a bad division.

Trending

Slightly upward. Not losing Weddle and adding Spikes were clutch moves.

12. Baltimore Ravens

The Good

They added talent in Jimmy Smith during the draft and got younger overall. They also retained lineman Marshall Yanda. He's an underrated player who could play a key role along the offensive line. They, like their division rival Pittsburgh, are a model of consistency.

The Bad

The cap casualties were bad. Willis McGahee, Todd Heap and Derrick Mason were all major pieces of the team's success. Heap's loss might hurt the worst. The team has no clear successor to him and Joe Flacco used Heap a great deal in clutch situations. McGahee was a nice compliment to Ray Rice, but Rice is fine by himself.

Trending

Downward. Unless they can adequately replace their cuts and also have their defense defy age once again, they might have a tough time keeping up with the Steelers.

11. Houston Texans

The Good

The Texans have one of the game's best quarterbacks. They also play in a division which is in disarray. They attacked their biggest weakness, the defense, in the draft and are rumored to be in on Nnamdi Asomugha, which would vault them into the middle of the top 10 (updated: signed Johnathan Joseph). They also have a lot to play for since Gary Kubiak's job is on the line. Hiring Wade Phillips to run the defense was a smart move as well.

The Bad

Not much. This is a team on the rise. They still have to prove their defense can stop somebody and Arian Foster has to prove he wasn't a fluke, but both of those are manageable. They should be a playoff contender this season, but will have to contend with a division that got tougher.

Trending

Upward. They've improved on defense and are very dangerous on offense.

10. St. Louis Rams

The Good

Sam Bradford was good in his rookie year and should take a step forward this year. They retooled the defense in the draft and added safety Quintin Mikell with a four-year deal in free agency. Mikell is a good playmaker who's getting better, so this could be a nice pickup that's not getting much press.

The Bad

Not really anything to complain about yet. They could have (and still might do it) added a wide receiver like Braylon Edwards or Sidney Rice to give Bradford another veteran target, but they've got a plan to win with Steven Jackson and their defense for now.

Trending

Upward. I'd expect them to win the division and be around 10-6.

9. Chicago Bears

The Good

They haven't lost anyone besides promising Devin Aromashodu and added some talent in the draft. They have a strong-armed quarterback in Jay Cutler and a good running back in Matt Forte. They also have a good defense anchored by Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher.

The Bad

They're getting old and they have Cutler, who made no friends when he left the NFC Championship game with an apparent case of being chicken. That won't do for a hard-nosed Bears team. They also didn't add any major pieces in the draft and don't seem to be in play for anyone big in free agency. They need a receiver and could use another runner to team with Forte, who suffers some inconsistency.

Trending

Downward. They played in the NFC Championship game in 2010 and came close to reaching the Super Bowl, but they won't get that far in 2011.

8. Philadelphia Eagles

The Good

They are unloading expensive backup Kevin Kolb for a good defensive back (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) and possibly some draft pick compensation. The Eagles have a sturdy team already but need to offset the loss of safety Quintin Mikell. They also did some good work on draft day, getting a new kicker and a host of other complimentary pieces that could develop into stars.

The Bad

There's not much to hate unless they acquire Brett Favre. Even on the bench, he'll be a distraction. The potential holdout of DeSean Jackson is a bad sign too. They need Jackson badly on offense and in the return game. Outside of that, they'll probably be fine.

Trending

Steady. They did some cleaning on the roster, but that's about it. They should win the NFC East again.

7. Indianapolis Colts

The Good

They'll likely have Peyton Manning under contract soon, so the team will once again have the league's best quarterback under center. They also have a good receiving corps and an underrated defense that comes up big when Manning needs them to most. They resigned Adam Vinatieri, so they are set on field goal attempts if Manning can't get them into the end zone.

The Bad

Of all the "elite" teams, they may be in the most trouble. Manning is recovering from neck surgery and seems to be quietly behind in his recovery. He's also unsigned. The Colts have no clear running back yet again and probably won't resign Joseph Addai unless he's the only guy available. They aren't getting younger at all.

Trending

Down. If they have to play any games without Manning, they'll be in a lot of trouble.

6. Atlanta Falcons

The Good

The Falcons have one of the best young quarterbacks in the league, a staunch rushing attack lead by Michael Turner and a good receiving corps that got better when they drafted Julio Jones to pair with Roddy White. They also have a good defense and look to be standing pat for the most part. Mike Smith has a good team already.

The Bad

They have to play in a division with New Orleans. The team also needs to make some payouts to keep their offensive line together (Tyson Clabo and Harvey Dahl) and also to keep Brent Grimes on defense. They could use a speed-back with good receiving ability to go with Turner, but it's not essential.

Trending

Steady. They added Jones, which was a plus. They'll challenge again for the NFC South title and could make a deeper playoff run if Matt Ryan continues to develop well.

5. New Orleans Saints

The Good

The Saints have the game's most productive quarterback in Drew Brees and added some great talent early in the draft with running back Mark Ingram and defensive end Cameron Jordan. They have great receivers and a defense that will likely be able to retain Darren Sharper and Roman Harper, who both hope to stay in New Orleans.

The Bad

Not much. Getting rid of Reggie Bush is going to take away one weapon, but his injury history indicates that it might be addition by subtraction. You can't argue with them standing pat as long as they don't lose any key pieces.

Trending

Upward slightly. They added some great talent in the draft, which puts them ahead of Atlanta once again.

4. New England Patriots

The Good

You know the drill here. Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Wes Welker, AFC powerhouse every year. It's always the same script for this team. The best news so far in free agency is that Logan Mankins will sign his tender, which wasn't a foregone conclusion before. They had an interesting draft with a lot of potential. Bill Belichick will make some of them stars for sure.

The Bad

Tom Brady is another year older. The defense overachieved last year and it will be up to the man in the hoodie to make sure they don't backslide this season. They still could use a running back and lack a top receiver. New England is falling behind the Jets slowly, but perceptibly.

Trending

Down, but slowly. They'll be in the hunt as always, but this might be the year the Patriots don't win the AFC East.

3. New York Jets

The Good

The Jets fired an opening salvo in free agency by retaining Santonio Holmes for the future. They also are rumored to be the front-runners for Nnamdi Asomugha. That would vault them above Pittsburgh, but he hasn't signed yet (updated: signed with Eagles). Beyond that, they've still got an up-and-coming roster that received help from another decent draft class.

The Bad

Rex Ryan is a great coach, but the ego needs dialing back a little. Of course, if it works, do it. They need a second receiver to go along with Holmes. Jerricho Cotchery isn't scaring anyone and Braylon Edwards is likely (and correctly) being let go. I still am not sold on Shonn Greene and there are no guarantees on LaDainian Tomlinson.

Trending

Upward fast. They could vault to the top with Asomugha teaming up with Darrelle Revis.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Good

The Steelers resigned Ike Taylor for four years and kept Shaun Suisham at kicker. They should be locking up LaMarr Woodley soon, too. They're a consistent team that added some talent in the draft. Ben Roethlisberger is still one of the best and now has three emerging stars at wide receiver. They're always a tough out.

The Bad

There's the Super Bowl loser's curse, but that's not likely to be a big deal. The secondary getting exposed by Aaron Rodgers could be a problem. They still need someone opposite Taylor. The team is also getting a wee bit old in some spots, but they've got a ton of depth.

Trending

Steady as she goes. They'll be in the mix. The Steelers are still the best team in the AFC North and will be very dangerous as long as Roethlisberger is on the field.

1. Green Bay Packers

The Good

The Packers are the champs. There's no better feeling. They also get the inside track until the games start. The team resigned their kicker Mason Crosby, who's got a great, accurate leg. They added some good talent in the draft as well and have one of the best young quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers. They've also got a good defense and don't have a lot of big names in play for free agency.

The Bad

They need to get someone behind Ryan Grant. He's a huge injury-risk and they need someone who will be able to contribute regularly. They'll audition guys during camp for that role for sure. They are also losing the steady play of linebacker Nick Barnett. While that may not seem bad, it could be big. Barnett has been a mainstay for eight seasons.

Trending

Steady. They've improved a little bit, but nothing too special yet.