NFL Power Rankings: Teams on the Rise After Strong Offseasons

Now that the NFL draft is behind us, it's natural to start focusing on the 2012 season and ranking the league's teams based on what they did this offseason.

Here is an early look at my NFL power rankings for 2012, but first I focus on the teams that improved the most this offseason and who should be dangerous as a result.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers finished 12-4 last season, but don't be fooled, they had plenty of issues to address this offseason. Thanks to salary-cap issues, Pittsburgh was stuck having to draft players to fill needs, and they did just that.

The team's offensive line was a mess in 2011, and the Steelers got incredibly lucky that Stanford guard David DeCastro fell to them in the first round, while Ohio State tackle Mike Adams fell to them in the second. DeCastro will be one of the NFL's best guards from day one, and Adams has the raw ability to develop into a special player at tackle. 

After the departure of James Farrior, the Steelers also needed to land an inside linebacker at some point. They grabbed one of the most underrated players in the entire 2012 draft class to fill that spot. Miami's Sean Spence was a third-round pick, but his skill set fits what the Steelers do perfectly. He is a heady, instinctive player who Pittsburgh will absolutely love.

The Steelers also landed Washington nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu in the fourth round, and that was a big-time steal. Casey Hampton is aging and Pittsburgh will need to replace him soon. Ta'amu will be able to sit behind him and learn for a year or so before taking over. 

The team got better up front on both sides of the ball and made itself incredibly dangerous as a result.

San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers needed to change something after back-to-back disappointing seasons. General manager A.J. Smith went to work and not only improved his roster, he went a long way to changing the culture of his football team this offseason.

The Chargers addressed needs on both sides of the ball and went to work immediately to get it done. After losing wide receiver Vincent Jackson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency, they quickly locked up Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal to replace him. Along with the later addition of Roscoe Parrish and the drafting of tight end Ladarius Green, the Bolts have a heck of a lot more receiving talent on the roster than they did in January.

They also went out and signed former Pro Bowl fullback Le'Ron McClain, who will add toughness and an edge to the running game. 

Smith also made his team a heck of a lot better on defense. First, he went out and signed outside linebacker Jarret Johnson away from the Baltimore Ravens. Johnson is a leader who, like McClain, is a tough, rugged player that will add an edge to the defense. Then Smith landed safety Atari Bigby on a cheap, two-year deal.

But the draft was where the Chargers scored big time. Somehow, South Carolina outside linebacker Melvin Ingram fell to them at No. 18, and UConn defensive lineman Kendall Reyes landed with the Bolts in the second round. Both players fit the team's defensive perfectly and should help them get to the quarterback.

Meanwhile, LSU safety Brandon Taylor was available in the third round, and there was no way Smith was going to let him go by. Taylor and Bigby will compete for the starting strong safety spot across from Pro Bowler Eric Weddle.

The Chargers may be the most improved team in the NFL so far this offseason.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If new head coach Greg Schiano can get his roster to play well together, the Buccaneers will be a dangerous team in 2012. 

Tampa Bay made a huge early splash in free agency by landing the top receiver (Vincent Jackson) and top offensive lineman (Carl Nicks) on the market. They then signed cornerback Eric Wright, before making moves to draft Alabama safety Mark Barron and running back Doug Martin in the first round of the draft.

Barron is a phenomenal talent who was one of the best all-around defenders in the draft, while Martin should step in and start at running back immediately. The Boise State back does all the things that returning starter LeGarrette Blount does not. He is useful in the passing game, is a legitimate three-down back and does not fumble.

With Jackson, Martin and Nicks on board, quarterback Josh Freeman will have no excuses if he has another disappointing season in 2012.

Defensively, the additions of Wright and Barron help the secondary, while landing playmaking Nebraska outside linebacker Lavonte David should also make the team much better. 

The Bucs are still low in my power rankings, but that is only because we haven't seen them on the field together yet. They have a chance to be serious contenders in the NFC if Schiano can get them to play well together.

NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (15-1)

2. New England Patriots (13-3)

3. New York Giants (9-7)

4. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)

5. Houston Texans (10-6)

6. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)

7. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

9. San Diego Chargers (8-8)

10. Detroit Lions (10-6)

11. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)

12. New Orleans Saints (13-3)

13. Denver Broncos (8-8)

14. Chicago Bears (8-8)

15. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)

16. New York Jets (8-8)

17. Dallas Cowboys (8-8)

18. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)

19. Tennessee Titans (9-7)

20. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)

21. Carolina Panthers (6-10)

22. Buffalo Bills (6-10)

23. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)

25. Miami Dolphins (6-10)

26. Oakland Raiders (8-8)

27. Washington Redskins (5-11)

28. St. Louis Rams (2-14)

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)

30. Minnesota Vikings (4-12)

31. Indianapolis Colts (2-14)

32. Cleveland Browns (4-12)