2012 NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Each Team Stand Heading into Training Camps?

NFL training camps are rapidly approaching, so that means it's as good a time as any to begin the 2012 NFL power rankings process. 

Power ranking all 32 NFL teams is never an easy process, because there are so many factors that come into play such as last year's performance, players lost, players brought in and the potential for growth from each roster.

A bad ranking does not mean a team will fall flat on its face in 2012, just as a solid ranking does not necessarily mean the team is going to be making the postseason. However, rankings are indicators of how each team is looking so far and how they stack up with the rest of the NFL. 

Of course, training camps will likely alter these rankings as teams progress and the unfortunate injury occurs, but for now, this is how the NFL is ranked from top to bottom. 

Here is a full 2012 NFL power ranking, pre-training camp edition: 

32. Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings don't have a lot going for them at this point in time. The only resemblance of the team being relevant resides with Adrian Peterson, but he may not be ready in time for the start of the season.

Quarterback Christian Ponder was mediocre last season even when Peterson was healthy, and his main threat on offense is now with wide receiver Percy Harvin, who happens to be disgruntled with the team. 

Defensively the team has made moves to improve the weak secondary, but there is still a long way to go before this team can compete in the one of the best divisions in all of football. 

31. Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have elected to start over at the quarterback position and are more than likely throwing rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden to the wolves of the AFC North. 

Despite this, the Browns offense could be effective thanks to the running back position, but that too hinges on the shoulders of a rookie in Trent Richardson. 

The Browns quietly have one of the better starting defensive units in the NFL, but the depth is not there yet. In a division like the AFC North, the Browns are going to struggle to win a lot of games. They will be competitive as always, but that does not always translate to a lot of victories. 

30. Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are in a state of transition, to say the least. The heir to Peyton Manning, rookie Andrew Luck, will have to have a season for the record books if the Colts are to win more than eight games in 2012. 

The entire Colts roster seems to be a question mark at this point. The team does not have a defined starting running back and the receiving unit is in disarray. 

Defensively the Colts have some big names still in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, but both are now being asked to learn new positions as the team makes the transition to the 3-4 defense. 

2012 is a rebuilding year for the Colts, but what happens over the course of the season will set the tone for the new era.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars must have realized just how mediocre Blaine Gabbert was last season. To make up for the deficiency at the quarterback position the team brought in talented receivers such as Laurent Robinson and Justin Blackmon,. 

Defensively the Jaguars have one of the better unit in the league that is only slowed down by their own offense. The Jaguars defense eventually folds because they have to be on the field for so long thanks to an inept offense.

The Jaguars have a lot of great pieces in place right now but are missing something at the most important position in all of football. Gabbert has done nothing to show he has changed, and that means the Jags' status in the NFL won't either. 

28. St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams are very similar to the Jacksonville Jaguars in that they have the making of a legit defense, but the offense is severely lacking in fire power.

Sam Bradford could not stay healthy last season, and that is a direct result of a horrible offensive line. The team has made some moves in an attempt to improve the line, but the jury is still out on whether the unit can function effectively. 

The addition of corner Cortland Finnegan this offseason will be huge for the Rams defense. His great cover skills will allow pass-rushers to get to opposing offenses more often than a year ago.

The Rams are slowly building a good team, and they could be much higher than this position in the list very soon. 

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are another team in transition after a wildly disappointing season a year ago. 

Offensively the Bucs fell off a cliff last year, but the team moved to address that by signing free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson and drafting running back Doug Martin. 

Defensively the team has a lot of holes that could not simply all be addressed in one offseason. Adding Mark Barron in the draft was a nice start, but that is only one position that needed addressing.

This is a team that overall needs a few more solid offseasons such as this one before it is competing again. 

26. Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders will be relevant in the weak AFC West in 2012, but that is not saying much. Oakland is a franchise in transition, and that is all 2012 will prove to be.

The organization had no real draft picks to speak of this offseason and lost some big talent to free agency. These moves were unfortunately necessary to clear up some cap space to build for the future. 

Carson Palmer may or may not be the answer at quarterback, but he certainly is not a long-term solution. Outside of that, there are various other positions that are going to need upgrades, and that is going to take a few more years at the very least. 

25. New York Jets

The general consensus about the New York Jets in 2012 is that there is no general consensus about the team in 2012. Some call the Jets a circus side-show, while others hail them as competitors because of their offseason acquisitions.

The Jets may have upgraded their defense by adding players such as Quinton Coples, but offensively the team could suffer because of the addition of Tim Tebow. 

New York will likely heighten Tebowmania to a fever pitch, and what he brings to the table offensively is not much. The last thing a volatile locker room like the Jets' needed was more issues, and that is all Tebow brings at this point in time. 

24. Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have more talent than they are given credit for when perusing their roster. They did let go of wide receiver Brandon Marshall, but they have a crop of receivers that could altogether make up for his loss. 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Dolphins are attempting to make the transition to the 4-3, a venture that should be successful given the talent on the roster. 

The success of the offense hinges on whether or not the organization decides Ryan Tannehill is the man they want under center. There are more capable veterans on the roster, and the decision will ultimately decide the fate of the team in 2012.

23. Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals could be a great team if they could find a solid quarterback to direct the offense. Instead, they are stuck with Kevin Kolb. Running back Ryan Williams returning could be huge, but he can't do it all if opposing defenses don't have to worry about the passing game.

Kolb is not a horrible quarterback, but his inadequate skills combined with a laughably bad offensive line could mean the Cardinals are in for a long season. 

The defense continues to improve, which could make the Cardinals a nice surprise next season, but they won't be making the postseason with such a mediocre offense. 

22. Washington Redskins

The success or failure of the Washington Redskins in 2012 largely depends on the performance of rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. 

Luckily for the Redskins, Griffin is a massive upgrade over the starter from last year. Not only is Griffin a better passer, he is a threat in the run game as well. Comparisons to the Carolina Panthers Cam Newton will likely be heard throughout the course of the season, and for good reason. 

If Griffin can have half the impact Newton had last year, the Redskins will be a much-improved team compared to last season. A solid defensive unit and a rejuvenated offense could make the Redskins a surprise team in 2012. 

21. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons had one of the better offenses in the league last season, and the unit is built to put up huge numbers each game thanks to players like Roddy White and Julio Jones.

Despite the high-flying offense, the Falcons are going to have to find production in the running game from someone other than Michael Turner as he continues to regress. A committee approach is a safe bet, but the team will miss Turner's once-elite numbers. 

The defense is in trouble after losing Curtis Lofton to free agency. Bringing back John Abraham was a good move, but his effectiveness is questionable at this point in his career. The best move to date has been bringing in Asante Samuel, which has allowed Dunta Robinson to move to his preferred position of nickel corner. 

The Falcons have some nice pieces in place but not enough to make them more than a middle-of-the-pack team. 

20. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans have a variety of factors working against them heading into the 2012 season, chief among them being having to choose between the veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and the second-year man Jake Locker. 

If the Titans go with Hasselbeck they will be competitive, with Locker it is hard to say. The offense needs some sort of boost, which a returning Kenny Britt could provide. It would be helpful if Chris Johnson could live up to his CJ2K nickname and rush for 2,000 yards, but that seems to be a thing of the past.

Tennessee also lost two key defenders this past offseason in corner Cortland Finnegan and defensive lineman Jason Jones. Both will be difficult to replace.

Still, the Titans will be a gritty team under Mike Munchak and find a way to be in the postseason conversation just like they were last season. 

19. San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers will always stay somewhat relevant in the NFL with a quarterback like Philip Rivers leading the way. Add in a weak division and the Chargers will be at least competitive next season.

Rivers will have to lead the way once again with a depleted roster as the team lost several key players this offseason. His favorite target, Vincent Jackson, chased the money down to Tampa Bay and his ultra-productive running back, Mike Tolbert, landed in Carolina. 

With the lack of offensive weapons now surrounding Rivers, the defense will have to step up. It should do that in a big way thanks to the addition of outside linebacker Melvin Ingram in the 2012 NFL draft. 

In the end, the Chargers could be considered a disappointment after the 2012 season, but it really should not be all the surprising.

18. Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo elevated his play to a borderline elite level last season and the Dallas Cowboys still managed to stagger to an 8-8 record. 

The Cowboys have one of the more talented rosters in the NFL, especially with the upgrades on the defensive side of the ball. Not only did the team bring in cornerback Brandon Carr in free agency but they also drafted the best corner in the 2012 NFL draft in Morris Claiborne to further upgrade the depleted secondary. 

It also helps that they have the best pass-rushing linebacker in the NFL in DeMarcus Ware. The Cowboys seem like a team destined for greatness in 2012, but that seems to be the story every year. Another 8-8 finish does not seem all too unreasonable. 

17. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are the sexy pick to be a breakout team in 2012, because they somehow managed to replace Tim Tebow with Peyton Manning. 

While Manning's legacy is forever cemented as one of the best of all time, that does not mean he is going to stay healthy. He has some solid weapons around him such as Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, and it will be a lot of fun to see what Manning can do with them. 

The defense is an interesting unit as well with Elvis Dumerville and Von Miller leading the way. It is a solid unit and should only get better if Manning is back to form. 

Too much hinges on Manning to place them any higher. He appears to be healthy, but it is also the first time he is learning a new playbook or working with unfamiliar receivers in over a decade. 

16. Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs are easily the most talented team in the AFC West. Every position on the roster is essentially littered with talent with the exception of quarterback. 

Even then, there is so much talent that someone like Matt Cassel should be able to thrive at the helm of the offense. With the surprise addition of Eric Winston on the offensive line the Chiefs are only that much better on offense.

Bringing in the massive defensive tackle Dontari Poe via the draft could provide a boost to the defense, as will the return of the elite safety prospect Eric Berry. 

Berry and the Chiefs have the postseason in their sights in 2012, and it is easy to see why. The Chiefs won't sneak in by any means, they will force their way in thanks to such a talented roster. 

15. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are lost amid a scandal that has been all too publicized, but examining the roster there is a lot to like about the team. 

The Saints, despite all these off-the-field issues, have managed to upgrade their defense by acquiring Jonathan Vilma in free agency. 

New Orleans also managed to maintain their offensive roster by bringing back receiver Marques Colston. The rest of the offense is intact, with one notable exception. 

Drew Brees is still fighting the organization for a new contract. With the team missing its head coach, that leadership role should have been filled by Brees. Now the team has been set back even further thanks to its franchise player, and that impact will be felt for the entirety of the 2012 NFL season. 

14. Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are another sexy pick to shock the world in 2012, but they are still a few years out from that title.

The Bengals have had shockingly good personnel decisions over the past three years, but this offseason their exceptional draft was more of a building for the future draft. Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick will have a hard time stealing the starting role and guard Kevin Zeitler won't be much of an upgrade, if any, over the starters from last year.

With that being said, the Bengals are one of the deepest teams in the NFL and can compete with most teams. The Andy Dalton to A.J. Green connection should only further prosper as both mature and the playbook is expanded. 

The Bengals are close, but two other teams in the AFC North improved just as much this offseason. 

13. Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are a well-rounded team led by a borderline elite quarterback in Jay Cutler. He is the right man for the job in Chicago as long as his mediocre offensive line is not getting him killed on every play. 

Cutler gets to reunite with former teammate Brandon Marshall, and the connection could be deadly for the rest of the NFL. The offense now has a nice one-two punch at running back as long as Matt Forte gets under contract to pair up with Michael Bush.

Brian Urlacher is getting up there in age on the defensive side, but his presence alone will allow the unit to still function at a high level. The addition of rookie linebacker Shea McClellin will upgrade the unit overall as well. 

Chicago is certainly not the best team in their division, but the NFC North will be ultra-competitive thanks to the resurgent Bears.

12. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are a much better team than given credit for by most. The Seahawks had a top 10 defense a year ago, and it will only improve. 

The main weakness on the offensive side of the ball was the quarterback position, but that could be improved now that the team has brought in Aaron Rodgers' understudy, Matt Flynn. He certainly has the weapons around him to succeed, it is now just a matter of him executing.

It is true the defense lost starting middle linebacker David Hawthorne to free agency, but the team did not make a huge effort to retain him because they wanted more speed at the position. Most criticized the 'Hawks for drafting Bruce Irvin, but his pass-rushing prowess on a rotational basis will tear up the NFL. 

The Seahawks are a team on the rise, and it should not be that big of a surprise when they perform at a high level in 2012.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have battled the notions that they are too old to compete for championships for what seems like ages now. Every year the team seems to find the fountain of youth because they are always in the mix for a Super Bowl title. 

Now the Steelers have managed to drastically upgrade their offensive line this offseason with the additions of David DeCastro and Mike Adams. They have a new offensive coordinator which could be a cause for concern, but it is a safe bet Todd Haley and Ben Roethlisberger will work it out before the season begins. 

Defense is, of course, what the Steelers hang their hat on and 2012 will be no different. The unit is getting younger in some aspects and should not experience a drop off at all. 

The Steelers are poised to contend again, which is like saying the sky is blue. 

10. Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have everything going for them right now. They hit a home run last year when they drafted Cam Newton, and that will continue to translate to success on the field for the team. 

Steve Smith has had his career revitalized by Newton's performance, and it is a safe bet that Newton could carry the offense on his own if he had to. The outstanding backfield has been given a boost with the addition of Mike Tolbert. 

Luke Kuechly was a beautiful addition to an almost elite defensive unit. He will team with Jon Beason and company to surprise the NFL with a very good defense. 

Newton soared to heights previously unheard of last season as a rookie. Now the team around him is only improving, and with that comes playoff berths that eventually lead to championships. 

9. Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills were the big winners of free agency this offseason when they signed Mario Williams to a ludicrous amount of money. That signing will be worth every penny to a team that is hoping to contend. 

Williams upgrades the entire defensive unit on his own and propels the Bills defensive line to a level that is likely the highest in the NFL. The beefed up defensive line will make life easier on the guys in the secondary playing behind them.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick fell off a cliff after signing a new contract last season, but the Bills have done a good job of keeping the talent around him this offseason. A healthy Fred Jackson, one of the most criminally underrated players in the NFL, will allow the Bills to not only compete for the AFC East crown, but much more in 2012. 

8. Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens have a lot of things going wrong for them right now, but they have proven time and again that they thrive when adversity is at its peak. 

The Ravens are without their elite running back Ray Rice as he seeks a new contract. They are also without the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Terrell Suggs because of an offseason injury. Add in losing a great offensive lineman in Ben Grubbs and things are looking down in Baltimore. 

Still, the Ravens will persevere. Ed Reed sounds like he is returning, and the defense still has Ray Lewis and Haloti Ngata. Drafting Courtney Upshaw is a much-needed boost, and they have an elite cornerback in Lardarius Webb as well.

The Ravens have always competed for championships courtesy of their elite defense, and next season will be no different. 

7. Philadelphia Eagles

This is somewhere the Philadelphia Eagles certainly do not want to be after the "Dream Team" catastrophe that was the 2011 season. Unfortunately for the Eagles, they have a roster peppered with talent. 

Offensively the Eagles are as dynamic as ever with LeSean "Shady" McCoy at running back and Michael Vick still playing at a high level at quarterback. The offense was in the top 10 in every category a year ago, and there is no reason that should change in 2012. 

The addition of Fletcher Cox to the defensive line ensures that the Eagles have a very good defensive front, not that they need it. The secondary is littered with talented players as well, and even the mediocre linebacker unit is improving. 

Things are looking good in Philadelphia. The Eagles will compete for the NFC East crown and much more next season. 

6. San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers made a trip to the NFC Championship game last season, and that could be in the cards in 2012 as well.

The 49ers fell short of their goal last year because of an offense that usually limped up and down the field without the threat of a vertical attack. The team attempted to address this issue with additions like Randy Moss and A.J. Jenkins. 

Returning all 11 of the defensive starters from a year ago is great news for the 49ers, but the main obstacle for the team in 2012 is the offense. While the shiny new offensive weapons are nice, quarterback Alex Smith has struggled to throw the ball deep down the field anyway.

It is going to be one heck of an interesting season in San Francisco. The sky is the limit, but everything has to come together at once. 

5. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions were elite in every offensive category a year ago with the exception of rushing the ball. That problem should be addressed with the return of Mikel Leshoure in 2012 as long as he can stay out of trouble. 

The Lions have an elite quarterback in Matthew Stafford, and far and away the best receiver in Calvin Johnson. Detroit's ability to keep up with anyone offensively will never fade with that connection still alive. 

The organization also made strides to improve the defensive side of the ball this offseason with some smart drafting in the middle rounds. It would also help the defense if the offense would stop scoring so quickly, but that's how Detroit plays football.

Detroit is not on top of their division by any means, but they will make a postseason appearance in 2012. Where they can go after that remains to be seen. 

4. New York Giants

The New York Giants won the Super Bowl a year ago with a 9-7 record in the regular season. It would not be out of the realm of possibility to see a very similar performance in 2012. 

The Giants did an amazing job of reloading talent on the offensive side of the ball with running back David Wilson and wide receiver Rueben Randle. Quarterback Eli Manning will have no shortage of weapons to throw to next season. 

Another key element to a second straight Super Bowl run will be the progression of the defense. The unit is extremely talented and should only continue to improve. 

The Giants are a nice story as always. Once again they are not the most talented team on paper, but they have the propensity to compete for a Super Bowl in 2012 as the underdog once again. 

3. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans ability to compete for a Super Bowl in 2012 lies heavily on the health of quarterback Matt Schaub.

The Texans made it dangerously close to a title last season without Schaub. Offensively the team is still elite thanks to Andre Johnson and Arian Foster. The excellent blocking schemes that spring Foster will take a hit thanks to the sudden release of Eric Winston, but the schemes don't change and should be effective enough. 

Defensively the team lost Mario Williams, but the team was without him for the majority of last year and did just fine. The Texans are elite at putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and finally have a solid secondary.

Houston has one of the most, if not the most, complete teams in all of the NFL. Top to bottom, the Texans are stacked with talent that could see them in the big game next year, health permitting. 

2. Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers as the leader of the offense, and that means they will be competing for a championship in 2012. 

The Pack are not missing anything on offense except a consistent running game, which is something they hope the players on the roster can fix through development. Rodgers will be electric in the passing game as always along with Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson.

Defense is where things get murky for the Packers. First-round pick Nick Perry is going to have to provide another pass-rushing element for the unit or Clay Matthews is going to be as irrelevant as he was last year once again. 

Rodgers can carry this team to a Super Bowl; he has done it before. However, a little defensive consistency would help. 

1. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots reached the Super Bowl last year with a laughably bad defense. A few defensive upgrades later, with a couple nice offensive additions sprinkled in, and the Patriots are well on their way to winning the big game in 2012. 

The Pats ruled the NFL last year with their two-tight end sets of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. Wes Welker was effective as well, but the team needed another receiving threat so the team went out and brought in Brandon Lloyd. He is the missing piece to Brady bringing in another MVP award. 

Having such a horrible defense last season meant the Patriots would go out of their way to upgrade the unit this offseason, which they did. Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower are excellent acquisitions that should improve the unit overall. 

All in all, the Patriots stuck to their plan and managed to get even better. The next logical step is taking home the Lombardi Trophy. 

Follow @Chris_Roling