NFL Power Rankings ahead of 2024 NFL draft
Football Rewind ...
The Chiefs were the NFL champions once again in 2023—that’s three times in five years—and they rule the Power Rankings. Now, as the 2024 draft kicks off, we’re looking back at how the rest of the teams stack up…
Will any of the selections change this outlook?
32. Carolina Panthers (2-15)
Embarrassing when a team never has a lead in the fourth quarter in any game during the season. The Panthers have a lot of offseason work, and with the haul it took to get last year’s No. 1 pick, they don’t have much to look forward to in the 2024 NFL draft.
31. Washington Commanders (4-13)
Does anyone seriously believe Dan Quinn wanted to start his time in Washington with Kliff Kingsbury as his OC?
30. New England Patriots (4-13)
A new voice in town with the hiring of Jerod Mayo. Time for a change had finally come in New England. Doesn’t take away from any of Bill Belichick’s magnificent run.
29. Los Angeles Chargers (5-12)
The Chargers better hope Jim Harbaugh stays focused on Los Angeles and doesn’t start to think about other gigs in a year or more. The $80 million contract isn’t a lock that will happen.
28. New York Jets (7-10)
Woody Johnson says he is bringing his coach and GM back and then weeks later decides to warn they better produce. Seems like another Jets misstep.
27. Arizona Cardinals (4-13)
Say what you want about Arizona; the team always played hard and gave it a go this season.
26. Atlanta Falcons (7-10)
Good decision by Arthur Blank to go with Raheem Morris. Doesn’t guarantee success but it certainly will infuse the franchise and hopefully avoid another 7-10 season.
25. New York Giants (6-11)
Wink Martindale fiasco was the perfect touch to finish an awful season for the Giants. Brian Daboll has gone from Coach of the Year to quite possibly coaching for his job in 2024.
24. Tennessee Titans (6-11)
Mike Vrabel is out and we’re not sure the Titans are headed in a better direction. The change had to happen but this team needs more than fixing dinks and dents.
23. Minnesota Vikings (7-10)
Tough season in Minnesota. Everything started poorly, then got going, but halted after Kirk Cousins was injured, and the QB carousel spun ’round and ’round. The Vikings need to determine what they will do at the QB spot ahead of 2024.
22. Chicago Bears (7-10)
The Bears played better football in the second half of the season, but that doesn’t mean much heading into 2024. And of course, the biggest question will be at QB, where Caleb Williams is expected to be the next savior in the Windy City.
21. Denver Broncos (8-9)
It was a strange season in Denver. Awful start, then a sizzling stretch, and then a controversy-filled finish. Sean Payton will seek to make 2024 less interesting, no question.
20. Las Vegas Raiders (8-9)
The Raiders have to hope the players are correct and Antonio Pierce will guide the team to success. Emotion is one thing. Winning is another.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)
What a way for a team that had its future in the present to fall apart. Doug Pederson needs to think hard on what happened to make sure it doesn’t happen again. One of the most disappointing teams in the league squandered a chance to capture the AFC South against a team in last place.
18. New Orleans Saints (9-8)
The Saints looked solid against the Falcons and down the stretch, but it wasn’t enough to land in the playoffs. While it was a decent way to end 2023, defeating the Falcons is nothing more than a consolation prize on a season full of unfulfilled expectations for Dennis Allen and Co.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)
The Bucs manhandled the Eagles in the playoffs and finished strong. Keeping Baker Mayfield was a must for Todd Bowles.
16. Indianapolis Colts (9-8)
Tough way to end the regular season, but the Colts still had a positive campaign under Shane Steichen. I wonder what this team will be with a healthy Anthony Richardson…
15. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
Nice way to finish a tough season for Cincy. Jake Browning made himself a lot of money playing after Joe Burrow was lost to injury.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
An absolute calamity of a conclusion to the season in Philly. And there is no guarantee a new DC and OC will fix what Nick Sirianni broke.
13. Seattle Seahawks (9-8)
Pete Carroll was kicked upstairs and the Seahawks get Mike Macdonald, a bright young mind to try and have the team rise through the NFC West and league.
12. Miami Dolphins (11-6)
The Dolphins played to the familiar theme in Week 18: The tougher the opponent, the more likely they were to falter. They had the lead against Buffalo but were trampled by the Bills to lose it in the end. Same old song and dance all year in 2023. The playoffs didn’t fare much differently, with the eventual Super Bowl champs taking it to the Fish in K.C.
11. Green Bay Packers (9-8)
So, it is more about Matt LaFleur than an aging Aaron Rodgers?
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Mike Tomlin is amazing. To get 10 wins out of this team with the quarterback position as shaky as it was and is? Remarkable. Now, the eyes shift to a QB room that includes Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.
9. Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
Don’t think the Cowboys winning the NFC East was anything special; this team needs to improve in 2024 or expect Mike McCarthy to be on the hot seat — quickly.
8. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
This is a great coaching job by Sean McVay and a scouting effort by Les Snead. Talk about a team no one figured would win double-digit games but did.
7. Cleveland Browns (11-6)
Kevin Stefanski, Joe Flacco and Myles Garrett all earned their NFL Honors. The Browns had a helluva season under trying conditions.
6. Houston Texans (10-7)
What a turnaround for this franchise. It won 11 games over the previous three seasons and now hits double-digits in the win column.
5. Detroit Lions (12-5)
The Lions improved dramatically and will test teams going forward and will be tested by teams because they can’t sneak up on anyone.
4. Buffalo Bills (11-6)
The Bills had the Chiefs where the wanted them … in Orchard Park … and still lost.
3. Baltimore Ravens (13-4)
The Ravens couldn’t seal the run to the Super Bowl after a wonderful season. Lamar Jackson is going to need to get the team to the championship game or it will stay with him forever.
2. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
The 49ers came so close to being Super Bowl champion. And it can not be lost how the blocked PAT changed the dynamic on the scoreboard.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-6)
The Chiefs are the Super Bowl champions, again. They are a dynasty. Patrick Mahomes keeps coming back and back until he has KC in front. Will it change in 2024? It’ll certainly be a heavy storyline — maybe just below the latest on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
