NFL Power Rankings: How Does Your Favorite Team Stack Up Before the Draft?
As we're move farther away from the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl victory and closer to the 2011 NFL Draft, we can start to think about who will be the teams to beat in the '11 season.
With the lack of free agency due to the labor issues, teams will have to address most of their needs through the draft.
Here are my pre-draft NFL power rankings.
NOTE: This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net.
Be sure to follow Tony Santorsa on Twitter @ TonySantorsa.
No. 32: Carolina Panthers
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The Carolina Panthers have the most holes to fill out of all 32 teams.
One of those many holes is the quarterback position, and that must be solved before Carolina can be respected by other teams.
No. 31: Arizona Cardinals
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The Arizona Cardinals have the best wide receiver in the NFL in Larry Fitzgerald.
But the Cards need defense and a quarterback in order to improve from their awful 2010 season.
No. 30: Cincinnati Bengals
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The Cincinatti Bengals have major issues on the offensive side of the ball, especially at the quarterback position.
Carson Palmer is on the verge of retirement, and they will need to solve the quarterback issues before they return to being a winning football team.
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No. 29: Tennessee Titans
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The Tennessee Titans could be in store for a very aggravating 2011 season.
Despite having the NFL's top running back in Chris Johnson, the Titans have no defense and no quarterback.
No. 28: Denver Broncos
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The Denver Broncos have invested in newly signed head coach John Fox.
Fox will look to solve the team's quarterback problem, and will likely rebuild the team's awful defense.
No. 27: Washington Redskins
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The Washington Redskins will likely be without quarterback Donovan McNabb and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.
The 'Skins also have no running back, and Mike Shanahan will have to deal with a team with no true leader.
No. 26: Cleveland Browns
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy will look to have a breakout season in 2011.
As the Browns officially change to the West Coast offense, McCoy will likely thrive in it.
No. 25: Buffalo Bills
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The Buffalo Bills appear to be just fine on offense with Ryan Fitzpatrick, C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson, Stevie Johnson and Lee Evans.
But they will need to find a way to get to the opposing team's quarterback.
No. 24: San Francisco 49ers
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The San Fransisco 49ers haven't had a quality quarterback since Jeff Garcia in 2003.
New head coach Jim Harbaugh will have to decide on the team's new quarterback as the franchise moves forward.
No. 23: Minnesota Vikings
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The Minnesota Vikings have no quarterback, but just about everything else.
Until the quarterback position is solved, they are not a playoff team.
No. 22: Houston Texans
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The Houston Texans had the worst pass defense in the NFL last season.
No matter how good their offense is, they still need to stop opposing teams' offenses.
No. 21: Dallas Cowboys
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The Dallas Cowboys added defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.
It will take some time for the team to fully adjust to his defense.
No. 20: Detroit Lions
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The Detroit Lions are one of the league's young and promising teams.
They will need to upgrade on the offensive line to protect young quarterback Matthew Stafford.
No. 19: Jacksonville Jaguars
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Every year, the Jacksonville Jaguars find a way to win.
But they're just average and need to add key players on both sides of the ball.
No. 18: St. Louis Rams
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The St. Louis Rams have found their quarterback of the future, but now they need to build around him.
The Rams will need to add some key players on the offensive line, at wide receiver and in the team's secondary.
No. 17: Oakland Raiders
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The Oakland Raiders finished 8-8 last season with really no solid play at the quarterback position.
If Oakland can find a true quarterback, it'll be a winning ball club.
No. 16: Miami Dolphins
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The Miami Dolphins need to find a quarterback.
If Miami does re-sign Ronnie Brown, they'll have a solid running back along with an elite wide receiver in Brandon Marshall.
But they need a quarterback.
No. 15: Seattle Seahawks
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The Seattle Seahawks not only shocked the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs last season, but they shocked the world.
They will enter 2011 looking to build on last year's success with second-year coach Pete Carroll.
No. 14: San Diego Chargers
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The San Diego Chargers underacheived tremendously last season.
Quarterback Philip Rivers can't carry the team on his back. He will need some major support from his team to improve.
No. 13: New York Giants
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New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was just average last season, when he threw 25 interceptions.
He will need to improve for the Giants to return to the playoffs.
No. 12: Philadelphia Eagles
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The Philadelphia Eagles found their quarterback in Michael Vick, but they will need to protect him.
The Eagles will need to upgrade at the offensive line and on defense to move deeper into the playoffs.
No. 11: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a major surprise last season, going 10-6.
With young head coach Raheem Morris and young quarterback Josh Freeman, this team will take more giant steps forward in 2011.
No. 10: Kansas City Chiefs
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The Kansas City Chiefs have the best rushing game in the NFL with Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.
However, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe can't do it alone—they must add a wide receiver.
No. 9: Indianapolis Colts
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It's clear that offenses led by Peyton Manning can't lead you far into the playoffs.
The Indianapolis Colts need some major upgrades on defense to go much deeper in the playoffs next year.
No. 8: New Orleans Saints
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The New Orleans Saints' playoff loss against the Seattle Seahawks opened many eyes.
The Saints will need to address their front seven on the defensive side of the ball to return to greatness.
No. 7: Chicago Bears
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The Chicago Bears will need to protect Jay Cutler to be a serious contender.
All of Chicago's success lies on Cutler's shoulders.
No. 6: Atlanta Falcons
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The Atlanta Falcons will need to address needs at pass rusher and wide receiver.
All-Pro wide reciever Roddy White can't be the team's lone playmaking receiver; they'll need to bring in someone who can split out opposite of White.
No. 5: Baltimore Ravens
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Last year's major addition for Baltimore was wide receiver Anquan Boldin, and he performed extremely well.
The Ravens will need to keep adding to their passing game to become a serious Super Bowl contender.
No. 4: New York Jets
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The New York Jets will have many decisions to make once free agency begins.
The Jets have 18 free agents, with about 10 of them being key players on offense and defense.
No. 3: Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Pittsburgh Steelers will be one of the teams to beat in the AFC.
But teams like New England, who will only get better with experience, will put up a big challenge against the Steelers.
No. 2: New England Patriots
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The New England Patriots are the youngest team in the league and sit with nine draft picks entering the 2011 draft. Out of New England's nine selections, six are in the top 92.
No. 1: Green Bay Packers
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The reigning Super Bowl champions were one of the most injured teams in the NFL last season.
Remember how good they were in the playoffs? They did so while having 15 players on injured reserve.
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