2012 NFL Power Rankings: Who Makes the Top 10 After the NFL Draft?

The 2012 NFL draft provided plenty of excitement last week, with many contending teams continuing to build through the draft this year. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals conducted the best drafts of the AFC, while the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers added plenty of playmakers to the defense.

However, there were also teams that did not use the draft to find players who will help them compete for a championship.

Which teams used the draft to make themselves a playoff contender in 2012?

Granted, it is very difficult to grade drafts days after the picks are made—though that hasn't stopped me from creating an NFL power rankings edition post-NFL draft.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars did not improve themselves significantly through the NFL draft. In fact, the draft has set them back for the 2012 season.

Justin Blackmon dominated at the college level, but it's clear that he does not have great speed to get past quality NFL defenders.

Now he is supposed to become the No. 1 receiver in an already weak passing offense? Blaine Gabbert has plenty of questions to answer this upcoming season. His new head coach, Mike Mularkey, could not create an explosive offense with the Atlanta Falcons.

With fewer weapons to work with, it could be a disaster in his first season. The defense can keep them at a competitive stage, but there shouldn't be much optimism for Jaguars fans this upcoming season.

31. Minnesota Vikings

Many analysts were impressed with the Minnesota Vikings because they convinced the Cleveland Browns to move up one spot and give multiple picks in return.

Other than that, there is nothing about the Vikings' draft class that shows they will improve in 2012. They did address a major need at left tackle by selecting Matt Kalil. However, Kalil isn't regarded as an elite offensive lineman prospect in comparison to the Dolphins' Jake Long and the Browns' Joe Thomas.

Even with the addition of Kalil, the Vikings offensive line had to replace multiple veteran starters through the draft. Did the Vikings supply Christian Ponder with enough weapons? In a deep wide receiver draft, they neglected selecting a top wide receiver to fill the need.

They traded back into the latter part of Round 1 to select safety Harrison Smith, who is considered to be an overrated prospect in a weak safety class. By passing up on Morris Claiborne early on, there are major questions in the secondary.

The Vikings are guaranteed a last-place finish in the NFC North.

30. St. Louis Rams

It is evident early on in Jeff Fisher's tenure that the St. Louis Rams want to build up a respectable defense.

However, will Michael Brockers be a game-changing defensive tackle on a consistent basis? Will Janoris Jenkins stay out of trouble and produce on the field?

The Rams did not do Sam Bradford any favors this past weekend. There are no legitimate wide receivers who scare opposing defenses. Instead, they will have to rely on Steven Jackson, who has been used quite a lot over the course of his career.

In today's NFL, you need some offensive playmakers in the passing game to find any success. The Rams are starting from square one.

29. Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts did make improvements during the draft by surrounding Andrew Luck with tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen.

However, it will take the Colts another draft to continue to make up for the loss of Peyton Manning. There are still questions on the offensive line, which will be crucial if Luck wants to succeed in his rookie season.

First-year head coach Chuck Pagano will have to work with the current group of defensive players he has on the roster. Unfortunately for him, they do not equate to the roster that he had while with the Ravens.

28. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks aren't in a great position with their new draft class. Despite fitting their system, many of their new rookies are not going to make a significant impact during the 2012 season.

Although they finished the season on a high note at 8-8, there were improvements that needed to be made this season. The Seahawks are in desperate need of young playmakers who can stop the NFC's high-powered offenses.

Is Bruce Irvin going to step in and become a major contributor to a skeptical defense? It remains to be seen.

Matt Flynn will get his opportunity to become a starting quarterback. However, he is no longer in Joe Philbin's system and does not have the same weapons to work with in Seattle.

27. Oakland Raiders

The Carson Palmer trade left the Oakland Raiders without a first- or second-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

In a division where teams made major upgrades, the Raiders aren't in the best position under first-year head coach Dennis Allen.

Allen needs to implement major changes to a young defense that was not mentally tough to win crucial football games.

Palmer will need to carry the Raiders if they want to be a threat in a wide-open division. With a full training camp, there can be no excuses for Palmer this upcoming season.

26. Cleveland Browns

A new era has begun in Cleveland with Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson leading the Browns offense under Pat Shurmur.

Unfortunately, they are in the same position from the past few seasons. There are no legitimate weapons in the passing game to complement Weeden or Richardson.

Richardson will be the focal point of the Browns offense, but will face many defenders in the box due to the lack of a vertical threat in the passing game.

The Browns' young defense will continue to carry this team, but won't receive help from the offense in the process.

25. Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are entering a new era with quarterback Ryan Tannehill and rookie head coach Joe Philbin.

With competition expected at the quarterback position, look for Matt Moore and David Garrard to be battle it out for the starting job.

However, with the departure of Brandon Marshall, the Dolphins didn't supply their quarterbacks with explosive weapons.

The defense also loses defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who is one of the better defensive coordinators in the league.

It is only a matter of time until Tannehill takes over in Miami.

24. Washington Redskins

The Robert Griffin III era has begun in Washington, with the Redskins trading with the St. Louis Rams to acquire their quarterback a few months ago.

Will his receivers be able to make his transition to the NFL that much easier? Pierre Garcon was given a hefty contract by the Redskins, but can he translate into a No. 1 wide receiver?

Griffin III will need to adjust to a pro-style offense under Mike Shanahan. How quickly will he develop into a successful starting quarterback?

The NFC East improved greatly this offseason, which leaves the Redskins as the least talented team in the division.

23. Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers provided plenty of excitement on the offensive side of the football.

Cam Newton had a fantastic rookie season and is proving that he is worthy of being the first overall pick in the draft.

Ron Rivera's young defense did hold this team back from winning more than six games. By drafting linebacker Luke Kuechly, the Panthers are beginning to improve a defense that must deal with high-powered offenses in the NFC South.

22. Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs took a major gamble on defensive tackle Dontari Poe, who emerged as a top-10 selection due to his performance at the combine. Will this be the third defensive line prospect that is a disappointment under Scott Pioli?

Head coach Romeo Crennel attempted to improve the quarterback situation by showing interest in Peyton Manning. Matt Cassel has not lived up to their expectations since being traded by the Patriots a few seasons ago.

21. New York Jets

The New York Jets have once again been involved in another offseason filled with drama. However, there are no signs of this team improving from a season ago.

By acquiring Tim Tebow, the Jets have created a quarterback controversy that isn't going to end well this upcoming season.

Rex Ryan's defense has been good, but nowhere near the dominant unit from three seasons ago.

Will Quinton Coples live up to his potential as an athletic force, or will he be the next Vernon Gholston?

Stephen Hill has the physical tools to be a dominant receiver, but being led by Santonio Holmes isn't the greatest situation for him.

20. Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals drafted arguably the draft's best wide receiver in Michael Floyd. Floyd will be a great second option to Larry Fitzgerald, who should lead the Cardinals to produce plenty of offense this season.

However, is Kevin Kolb or John Skelton the answer at quarterback? Did the team upgrade the defense enough to compete with the 49ers in the NFC West?

In the NFC West, the Cardinals will be an exciting team to watch.

19. Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills have become the second-best team in the AFC East due to a very active offseason.

It was evident last season that the defense was a young unit in need of overall playmakers.

Mario Williams shocked the NFL world by signing with the Bills, who are already in the process of building a fearsome young defensive front.

With their first-round pick, the Bills selected cornerback Stephon Gilmore from South Carolina. 

The Bills have made enough improvements on defense to become a team that could compete for a playoff spot this coming season.

18. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans made a surprising, yet good selection by drafting wide receiver Kendall Wright.

Wright will step right in as one of the elite weapons in the Titans offense and can do a great job of being on the opposite side of Kenny Britt.

Who will be the starting quarterback in 2012? Will Jake Locker beat out Matt Hasselbeck as the No. 1 starter?

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Buccaneers made the biggest splash in free agency by upgrading the talent around quarterback Josh Freeman.

While Vincent Jackson will become the No. 1 target for Freeman, Nicks will immediately improve a young offensive line.

In the draft, the Buccaneers focused on improving a defense that struggled mightily last season. Mark Barron will become a major upgrade to a weak secondary in Tampa Bay.

16. San Diego Chargers

A.J. Smith's moves have flown under the radar, but the multiple free-agent signings will make an impact on the Chargers offense.

Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal will do their best to replace the production of Vincent Jackson.

In the draft, the Chargers were fortunate to have Melvin Ingram fall 18 spots in the first round.

Ingram is a pass-rusher who can create production similar to the days of Shawne Merriman.

15. Denver Broncos

The addition of Peyton Manning makes the Denver Broncos a contender in the AFC.

However, they didn't use the draft to improve the talent around Manning. In a deep wide receiver draft, it was a surprise that John Elway did not add another talented receiver to the depth chart.

As of now, no one knows if Manning is close to his old self. Will he return to his MVP form, or will he struggle playing in Denver?

14. Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears have become an instant playoff contender due to the major upgrades on the offense.

Jay Cutler must have been excited to see the Bears land wide receiver Brandon Marshall for a pair of mid-round picks.

In the second round, the Bears selected receiver Alshon Jeffery, who will be a threat in the red zone.

They also continued to add youth to a veteran defensive unit. Shea McClellin's draft stock rose over the last few weeks, and he will be a pass-rusher alongside Julius Peppers.

13. Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals arguably had the best draft of any team this year. Beginning with two first-round picks, the Bengals addressed needs within the secondary, offensive line and defensive front.

Andy Dalton hopes to continue make strides as a quarterback, with receiver A.J. Green emerging as one of the league's elite receivers.

How quickly can the young Bengals emerge in 2012? Can they become a serious contender in 2012?

12. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons had one of the more quiet drafts this past weekend, as the team was left without a first-round pick.

Still, that didn't stop the team from making headlines this weekend when they acquired Asante Samuel for only a seventh-round pick.

Samuel has been known for creating key turnovers during his time with the Patriots and Eagles.

Mike Nolan, one of the more underrated defensive coordinators in the game, will make an instant impact on this unit.

Dirk Koetter will bring a desired offensive game plan to the Falcons offense, which needed to move on from Mike Mularkey.

11. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys knew their defense held the team back from finishing better than 8-8.

Jerry Jones couldn't pass up the opportunity to draft Morris Claiborne and now has formed one of the better secondaries in the league.

Rob Ryan must be thrilled to utilize Claiborne and free-agent signing Brandon Carr.

Ultimately, the Cowboys' fate is in the hands of Tony Romo.

10. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions were the league's biggest surprise by making the playoffs under the high-powered offense.

In the draft, the Lions ensured that Stafford would have a better offensive line next season. Riley Reiff will step in as a talented tackle out of Iowa and is the kind of player Jim Schwartz is looking for.

Will the defense, specifically the secondary, make enough improvements to compete at a championship level?

9. Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles capped off a fantastic draft by adding plenty of young talent to an experienced defense that came on late last season.

Last season, the Eagles were not fortunate to live up to the expectations after their aggressive approach in free agency.

Led by Nnamdi Asomugha and Jason Babin, the Eagles defense will make them a contender in the wide-open NFC.

The only issue remaining is the protection of Michael Vick, as he needs to stay healthy in order to make a run at a championship next season.

8. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are lucky to still be ranked in the top 10 after an offseason full of controversy.

Drew Brees lost Carl Nicks and Robert Meachem from the high-powered offense, but retained Marques Colston and signed former Ravens guard Ben Grubbs.

There didn't make improvements through the draft, as the Saints did not have a first- or second-round pick.

The NFC South is up for the taking this season.

7. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans made an improbable run to the divisional round of the playoffs despite being without two of their three best players.

While Matt Schaub returns as quarterback, Mario Williams signed with the Buffalo Bills early in the offseason.

The team was able to find success without Williams last year, but can the success continue? The Texans' draft didn't stand out as anticipated.

Whitney Mercilus is the prospect most likely to contribute early on.

The Texans are the clear favorite to win the division and will be a major contender in the AFC.

6. Baltimore Ravens

For the second straight offseason, the Baltimore Ravens did not re-sign multiple veteran players from a team that has been in contention for a championship.

General manager Ozzie Newsome struck gold when the Ravens drafted Courtney Upshaw 35th overall in the draft. Upshaw will not only replace Jarret Johnson as a run-stopping linebacker, but will have the opportunity to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks opposite Terrell Suggs.

The Ravens also selected Gino Gradkowski and Kelechi Osemele to compete for the opening at left guard due to the departure of Ben Grubbs. Will they replicate Grubbs' impact on the offensive line right away?

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers crack the top five after a fantastic 2012 draft class. David DeCastro and Mike Adams will make a very quick impact on the Steelers offensive line, which has been an issue the last few seasons.

Will Mike Wallace become an issue for the Steelers and potentially hold out?

It will also be intriguing to watch if the Steelers defense continues to dominate or if some of the veteran players begin to decline this season.

4. Green Bay Packers

Ted Thompson completed another fantastic draft with the Green Bay Packers, making the defense the major priority for the defending NFC North champions.

Nick Perry and Jerel Worthy will provide great depth to a Packers defensive front that lacked a consistent pass-rusher at times during the season.

There is no reason that the Packers won't be a Super Bowl contender with an improved defense to go alongside an offense led by Aaron Rodgers.

3. San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers came very close to making a Super Bowl appearance under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh.

With a championship in sight for 2012, the 49ers improved the playmakers around Alex Smith. Mario Manningham left the defending champion New York Giants and will be a viable target. Brandon Jacobs will also find his role as a goal-line back.

In the draft, the 49ers added A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James to an already crowded offense.

These additions should have the 49ers as potentially the early favorite to win the NFC.

2. New England Patriots

The defending AFC champions used free agency to add Brandon Lloyd to the dynamic offense.

However, Bill Belichick used the majority of his draft picks to select defensive playmakers. Dont'a Hightower will become a starter in Week 1, while Chandler Jones can become a dominant force for years to come.

In Round 7, the Patriots believed Alfonzo Dennard was worth the gamble late in the draft. Dennard could become a contributor to a young, but average secondary.

1. New York Giants

There is no reason for the defending champion New York Giants to relinquish the No. 1 spot in the post-draft power rankings.

They used the draft to replace two offensive contributors in Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs.

David Wilson and Rueben Randle are young playmakers who will be given the opportunity to see the field early on in their careers.

Despite trade rumors like those from The Star-Ledger, Osi Umenyiora is still with the Giants and it is likely he will be there for at least one more season.

Give me your thoughts on the power rankings on Twitter:  @MattMiselisNFL