With the end of the NFL Draft and the beginning of the training camp, we’re in the middle of the quietest stretch. This phase of the NFL offseason is filled with stories and narratives backed by projections and speculations.
As we break down from 32 to 1, these rankings, based on off-season performances, serve as a reference point for fans for the not-too-far-away 2023 NFL season.
Worst Tier
#32: Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals will likely be one of the worst-performing teams in the NFL. They have a weak foundation on the defensive line after undeniably releasing DeAndre Hopkins and athletic Kyler Murray recovering from a torn ACL. On the bright side, Paris Johnson Jr. and Kevin Beachum are quality tackles along the offensive line.
#31: Indianapolis Colts
Ex-Philadelphian Eagles offensive coordinator, Shane Steichen, will be the Colts new head coach. Quarterback Anthony Richardson is an overall draft pick at No. 4 for his elite athletic skillset.
#30: Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans will be the new head coach. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was drafted at No. 2 and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr moved from No. 12 to No. 3 for which they surrendered a 2024 first-round pick to Cardinals.
#29: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers big move was to draft quarterback Bryce Young and pair him with head coach Frank Reich which looks promising. Short-term additions like Miles Sanders, DJ Chark, and Adam Thielen will compensate for the loss of D.J Moore in the trade against Young.
#28: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It could be a down year for Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Tom Brady now gone. But relying on Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield for the NFC South division looks like a questionable move.
#27: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons coach Arthur Smith will pair running backs, Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. They’ve also upgraded their defenses with Calais Campbell and David Onyemata. All in all, an upper hand to maintain dominance in the NFC South in 2023.
#26: Chicago Bears
General Manager Ryan Poles did an excellent job in upgrading the offense and the defense. It’s a great opportunity for Justin Fields to play behind an upgraded offensive line. The Bears are heading in the right direction to dominate NFC North eventually.
#25: Washington Commanders
Eric Beiniemy replaced Scott Turner as the Commanders new offensive coordinator. Beiniemy represented the same role in the last five seasons with Kansas City Chiefs. This new ownership could be reset next year if the Commanders don’t reach the playoffs.
Playoff Contenders
#24: Tennessee Titans
The Titans look good along the offensive line with quarterback Will Levis and offensive linemen Peter Skoronski. However, they will regret neglecting the defense, which is not good enough to carry the team.
#23: Las Vegas Raiders
Josh McDaniels made a questionable move to bring injury-prone Jimmy Garoppolo in place of Derek Carr – an all-time leading passer. The foot injury of Garoppolo will stunt the development of Jakobi Meyers and Michael Mayer. The Raiders have a strengthened line-up after adding Tyree Wilson with Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones.
#22: Green Bay Packers
In the hope of a better outcome, the Packers are finally moving on from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. The addition of Lukas Van Ness will make the Packers better at defensive end.
#21: Denver Broncos
Payton took proactive measures by acquiring Jarrett Stidham, potentially influencing General Manager George Paton to sign the former Patriots and Raiders quarterback.
#20: New Orleans Saints
The Saints are the top team in NFC South so they might make it into playoffs. Signing Derek Carr will bring a significant upgrade to the offense. They also have prioritized their defensive line with Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey in their initial draft picks.
#19: Los Angeles Rams
LA Rams made a lot of divisive decisions. They are making lots of changes in the defense. They prioritized the offensive side of the football. Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald are the ferocious Big 3 that will make the Rams a big wild card this year.
#18: New England Patriots
Bill Belichick handed the baton to Bill O’Brien to build a new offense for the Patriots. They have a sturdy defense with Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones.
#17: Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns are all set to make some noise in the AFC North with an upgraded defense. Much of their fate depends on quarterback Deshaun Watson who will be playing his first entire season.
Super Bowl Contenders
#16: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers look optimistic to continue their winning streak under Coach Mike Tomlin with no losing season to date.
#15: Minnesota Vikings
Brian Flores is an upgrade over Ed Donatell as the Vikings’ defense coordinator. Kirk Cousins will be playing his final year as quarterback for the team that needs a mini-reset.
#14 New York Giants
The Giants have Daniel Jones with an improved efficiency that earned him a 160 million dollar contract this NFL offseason. They are all set to attack downfield with an improved corps with Darren Waller at tight end and Parris Campbell as wide receiver.
#13: Seattle Seahawks
If Geno Smith performs the way he did last season, the Seahawks might be the best team in the NFC West. The Seahawks have talented players at defense and offense that should help them during playoffs.
#12: Detroit Lions
The Lions are going their way to build a winning identity under coach Campbell.
#11: Jacksonville Jaguars
Cornerback Jackson has recovered from his knee injury and will be on track to play for his team this offseason.
#10: Los Angeles Chargers
Like the Chargers, the Jaguars had a quiet offseason.
#9: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins will be heavily relying on the health of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Best Performers
#8: New York Jets
Heavily relying on Aaron Rodgers alone won’t get the Jets ahead.
#7: Dallas Cowboys
With a good offense and a top-notch defense, the Cowboys justify their position in the top contender tier.
#6: Baltimore Ravens
What makes the Ravens a top contender for Super Bowl is a peak performance from the receiving corps.
#5: Buffalo Bills
The Bills performance was downgraded on the field after losing crucial team members.
#4: San Francisco 49ers
There are quarterback uncertainties with Brock Purdy and Trey Lance still recovering from injuries.
#3: Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow had the Bengals building out the roster around him.
#2: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles possess a much better draft compared to most other teams.
#1: Kansas City Chiefs
The Super Bowl champions reign the offseason rankings.
FAQs
Who is number one in the NFL 2023?
Patrick Mahomes is ranked #1 in the 2023 season NFL top 100 list.
What grade are the Saints in the offseason?
Receiving a B- Grade, the Saints will be a top contender for playoffs from NFC South.
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