NFL Power Rankings
by Luke Paul Chandler
The Giants remain on top in our first 2008 Power Rankings, see where writer Luke Paul Chandler ranks the rest of the NFL.
1. New York Giants - The Giants have had a quiet offseason but stand on top as Super Bowl champions. They had a draft that could feature deep production again, featuring players such as Kenny Phillips (Miami-FL), Terrell Thomas (Southern California), and Bryan Kehl ( BYU) who could all contribute as rookies.
2. New England Patriots - Bill Belichick finally broke down and upgraded the linebackers, infusing youth into an aging group. Jerod Mayo (Tennessee) and Shawn Crable (Michigan) will be worked into the Patriots base defense. Belichick believes he has added enough talent in the secondary by adding journeymen cornerbacks Fernando Bryant and Jason Webster and safety Tank Williams. Will the defensive backs fall apart like the linebackers in late 2007?
3. Indianapolis Colts - The Colts refueled their offensive line after losing Jake Scott to the Titans. Mike Pollak (Arizona State) will battle for the starting right guard spot, while Steve Justice (Wake Forest) will back up Jeff Saturday. They have added key pieces, but questions about Marvin Harrison — from his involvement in a shooting outside of his bar to the rehabilitation of both of his knees — will hang over the team’s head in the offseason.
4. Green Bay Packers - General manager Ted Thompson attacked his team’s biggest needs cornerback and tight end, while adding other valuable players. If the contract situation with Ryan Grant isn’t resolved, the team may struggle with its running game in 2008. The Packers are ready to move on without Brett Favre, and they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
5. Dallas Cowboys - Dallas had few glaring needs heading into the draft, and filled all of them except for wide receiver. They will be in the hunt in 2008, but can they avoid a crushing playoff defeat for the third season in a row?
6. Jacksonville Jaguars - The Jaguars were criticized for moving up to select Derrick Harvey (Florida) in the first round, but they didn’t have to give up 2009’s first-round pick to do so. Harvey fits the mold of a Gregg Williams’ defensive end — an athletic pass rusher who can drop back in coverage. They had a deep roster coming into the draft, now they need to put it all together this summer.
7. San Diego Chargers - The Chargers have had the talent, but they have had trouble getting past the Patriots in the playoffs. With only one free agent addition, and a puzzling draft filled with a few reaches, they may not be much better than they were in 2007. First-round cornerback Antoine Cason (Arizona) will team with last year’s Supplemental Draft-selection Paul Oliver to give the Chargers the deepest defensive backfield in the NFL.
8. Seattle Seahawks - In Mike Holmgren’s final year, they Seahawks found pieces that he desired that fit his system. The key is going to be second-round tight end John Carlson (Notre Dame), who Holmgren feels is a natural West Coast Offense tight end who will allow the team to restore to its roots. The depth they found on the defensive line will be helpful down the stretch.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - In an effort to become the first repeat champion of the NFC South, the Buccaneers did well in the draft. Keep an eye on second-day picks Dre Moore (Maryland) and Geno Hayes (Florida State), who fit key roles as the under tackle and weak-side linebacker, respectively. Tampa Bay could easily have the most productive rookie class in the NFL.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers - The Steelers hold this spot due to having suffered little roster turnover, but they didn’t fill their biggest needs in the draft: the offensive line. They only selected one linemen — Tony Hills (Texas) in the fourth round. If their offensive line plays as poorly as it did late last season, they will have trouble executing Bruce Arians up-tempo passing attack.
11. New York Jets - The Jets made a splash in free agency and were aggressive in the draft on both sides of the ball. With the trade back into the first round at pick 30 to select tight end Dustin Keller, the Jets traded away a majority of their picks for a second straight year, so they will need Dwight Lowery and Erik Ainge to pay off sooner rather than later.
12. Cleveland Browns - The Browns draft started at pick 104, after various trades of their first-, second-, and third-round picks. The controversial pick of tight end Martin Rucker means the Browns are already preparing for life after Kellen Winslow II, whose bad knee and possible contract dispute are a black cloud over the team.
13. Philadelphia Eagles - After the Eagles traded out of the first round for the second consecutive year, they put together a solid draft. Trevor Laws and DeSean Jackson are versatile pieces who will upgrade the run defense and return game, respectively. Two picks to watch are defensive ends Bryan Smith (McNeese State) and Andy Studebaker (Wheaton) who are small school prospects but have great measurables and tons of potential.
14. New Orleans Saints - The bulk of value in the Saints draft lies in defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, who was acquired after a trade with New England. Ellis was their consolation prize for not being able to move up for Glenn Dorsey, but Ellis is more durable and just as big of an impact player. The other pick to watch is fifth-round offensive tackle Carl Nicks, who provides great depth as a backup at both tackle positions.
15. Denver Broncos - The Broncos draft was quiet, with no big risks taken on character concern players. The upgrade in the ground game was a plus, with offensive tackle Ryan Clady (Boise State) and running backs Ryan Torain (Arizona) and Peyton Hillis (Arkansas) all sound fits for their scheme. Two highly-athletic defensive backs Jack Williams (Kent State) and Joshua Barrett (Arizona State) were boom-or-bust picks, and they could add to the overall depth.
16. Minnesota Vikings - After trading their first- and third-round picks to the Chiefs for Jared Allen, the Vikings were limited in what they could on draft weekend. The second-round selection of safety Tyrell Johnson (Arkansas State) will help their overall run defense, and gives the team a viable replacement for the aging Darren Sharper. Center John Sullivan (Notre Dame) flew under the radar, but with the team facing the possibility of life after Matt Birk, Sullivan is a more-than-capable replacement.
17. Arizona Cardinals - The Cardinals draft was marred with question marks. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State) is athletic, but raw in coverage. Defensive end Calais Campbell (Miami-FL) is not quite the pass rusher he was thought to be heading into the Draft, and played too heavy this past season. Tackle Brandon Keith (Northern Iowa) and running back Timothy Richmond (Richmond) may not have the athleticism to be productive in the NFL.
18. Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals draft was clearly structured around the idea that franchise cornerstones, offensive tackle Levi Jones and wide receiver Chad Johnson, will not be with the team much longer. They wisely drafted Anthony Collins (Kansas) along with a slew of wide receivers: Jerome Simpson (Coastal Carolina), Andre Caldwell (Florida), and Mario Urrutia (Louisville). All will be expected to contribute. One pick to watch is safety Corey Lynch (Appalachian State); he is a steady defender who makes few mental mistakes.
19. Washington Redskins - The Redskins traded out of the first round and then made three selections in the second round to bolster their passing game. They selected receivers Devin Thomas (Michigan State) and Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma) and tight end (Fred Davis). All three fit the bill as strong yards-after-catch receivers, a must in Jim Zorn’s version of the West Coast Offense. Selecting Georgia Tech punter Durant Brooks, who has a much stronger and consistent leg than incumbent Derek Frost, also was a smart selection.
20. Buffalo Bills - The Bills draft already features a big question mark, with second round pick James Hardy (Indiana) recently involved in an incident where he pulled a gun on his father. If the team needed one of their picks to step up and contribute, it’s Hardy; and he’s already justifying the teams who passed on him due to character concerns.
21. Houston Texans - The Texans selection of offensive tackle Duane Brown (Virginia Tech) in the first left many confused. He’s no doubt a smart fit for the team’s blocking scheme, but was he a reach? Two other rookies, Antwaun Molden (Eastern Kentucky) and Xavier Adibi (Virginia Tech) are looking at the possibility of starting immediately, despite not being huge names. The most interesting pick to watch is defensive tackle Frank Okam (Texas), whom the Texans are reportedly thinking of moving to offensive guard.
22. Kansas City Chiefs - Kansas City made a splash in the draft, filling big needs on the offensive and defensive lines and in the secondary. This is a rebuilding year in which several rookies will be given starting jobs. On offense, watch out for wide receiver Will Franklin (Missouri) who has steady hands and can move the chains.
23. Tennessee Titans -In his second draft as general manager, Mike Reinfeldt reached for a player with the team’s first-round pick. He made other reaches, all the while ignoring other glaring needs. The drafting of East Carolina running back Chris Johnson was the most puzzling, and he may be the downfall of Reinfeldt if he fails to produce.
24. Baltimore Ravens - New head coach John Harbaugh’s influence on the draft was evident, as the Ravens spent heavily to build up their special teams, with Tom Zbikowski (Notre Dame), Haruki Nakamura (Cincinnati), Tavares Gooden (Miami-FL), and Justin Harper (Virginia Tech) all being solid special teams performers. The team’s up-and-down movement in the first round drew some ire because of the supposed lack of value they received in the Jacksonville trade.
25. Detroit Lions - Matt Millen is getting better, albeit slowly, but still too many reaches were made. Cherilus, Kevin Smith, and Jordan Dizon all fit their schemes on offense and defense, respectfully, but could have been had at least a half round later. Millen did balance them out with good value, though. Defensive linemen Andre Fluellen (Florida State) and Cliff Avril (Purdue) should work into the regular rotation as pass-rush specialists.
26. San Francisco 49ers - No one will accuse general manager Scot McCloughan of making his first day a sexy one. He chose to make sound selections that fill needs in the trenches, attempting to rebuild depleted lines on both sides of the ball. The one problem was the lack of speed drafted at skill positions — especially wide receiver.
27. St. Louis Rams - The Rams had an up-and-down draft, making many picks that may or may not fill needs for their system. Chris Long will be a good strong-side end in their 4-3 defense, but later-round picks were puzzling. Offensive linemen John Greco (Toledo) and Roy Schuening (Oregon State), both projected as guards, are polar opposite players and are expected to co-exist on the same line.
28. Miami Dolphins - Miami still has a long way back to respectability, but they are starting to build an identity. The defensive line was bolstered with Philip Merling (Clemson) and Kendal Langford (Hampton), adding youth to a position that needed it desperately. On the offensive line, the picks were not huge names outside of Jake Long (Michigan), but look for head coach Tony Sparano to make Donald Thomas (Connecticut) and Shawn Murphy (Utah State) contributors.
29. Chicago Bears - Can Miami survive another season of Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton at quarterback? They have to because the Bears failed to address the position at all in the draft, choosing to instead bolster the spots around it. Will Vanderbilt’s mammoth left tackle Chris Williams give either Grossman or Orton enough protection to be efficient and avoid mistakes?
30. Carolina Panthers - Head coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney were aggressive, making several win-now type moves. Is Jonathan Stewart (Oregon) healthy enough to carry the load full time? Is new right tackle Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh) mobile enough to play in offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson’s zone blocking scheme? If you’re looking for a sleeper in their draft, it’s tight end Gary Barnidge (Louisville) who is a good receiver and has a chance to start as a rookie.
31. Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons will have several rookie starters and contributors, led by quarterback Matt Ryan (Boston College), middle linebacker Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma), and left tackle Sam Baker (Southern California). New general manager Thomas Dimitroff comes with a Patriots pedigree for drafting, so look for this to be his cornerstone draft.
32. Oakland Raiders - With only five selections — despite their many needs — the Raiders struck out. Darren McFadden (Arkansas) was not a need pick, but he was hard to pass up. If he explodes as a rookie, Al Davis will look like a genius. The only other rookie who will play much is Connecticut defensive back Tyvon Branch, who’s capable of playing nickel back and contributing on kick and punt returns.
Contact Luke at Luke@newerascouting.com.