Tweet
Pete Prisco
Pete Prisco
Senior NFL Columnist
NFL Power Rankings: Jags, Vikings and Dolphins on rise after draft
May 5, 2015 8:22 AM ET
Did the NFL Draft change the thinking about the top teams in the NFL?
Not really.
Most top teams use the draft to fill in holes, prepare for the future, and maybe hit on a starter or two for next season.
The New England Patriots drafted a bunch of defensive linemen early to help fortify a unit in need of assistance, helping to keep them as the best team in the league and atop my post-draft Power Rankings.
What has changed is some of the middle and bottom teams in these rankings. Those teams move up with good drafts. A few doing so were the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins.
That's not to say any of them are sure to make the playoffs -- Jacksonville likely won't -- but the wild-card race isn't out of the question for any of them. That's what good drafting can do for a bad team.
With minicamps upon us, and training camps only two (or so) months away, the top of the league is pretty easy to figure out. What isn't easy is to identify are the two or three teams who could make the big leap.
These post-draft Power Rankings might offer a hint.
RANK TEAM MOVE (LW)
1 NE They used the draft to fortify the defensive front. That's smart. Tom Brady will keep this team at the top. Team to beat. (1)
2 SEA They still have some concerns on the offensive line, but it's hard to argue with anything John Schneider does. He always seems to have guys ready to go. (2)
3 GB They added secondary help in the draft (Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins), which was key. But did they get the right guys? (3)
4 DAL Their Super Bowl chances may come down to character guys in Greg Hardy and second-round pick Randy Gregory. If both get on the field without issues, they will get after the passer late in the season. (4)
5 DEN The biggest thing going forward is how Peyton Manning fits in Gary Kubiak's system. I think he will be fine. (5)
6 AZ They had another good draft and solidified their offensive line (first-round pick D.J. Humphries, free agent Mike Iupati) this spring. That's good news for Carson Palmer as he comes off ACL surgery. (6)
7 Cincy They have a deep roster that allowed them to take two players who likely won't start this season on their offensive line with the first two picks. They just need to get healthy, which they weren't last season. 3(10)
8 BALT Players leave and they always seem to do a good job replacing them. That's the Ravens way. Their draft was another example of that. 1(7)
9 INDY They have more speed outside than almost any tam in the league with the addition of Philip Dorsett. Expect a lot of shootouts. It will be fun to watch. 1(8)
10 PITT Their first-round pick, pass rusher Bud Dupree, will bring back the pressure off the edge for the Steelers. That's been lacking. With Ben Roethlisberger under center, they will always compete for division titles. 1(9)
11 DET They've helped their offense this spring, especially in the draft (G Laken Tomlinson, RB Ameer Abdullah), but that defense has suffered some hits. Can they get over the loss of a player like Ndamukong Suh. (11)
12 PHILLY Chip Kelly didn't make the move to get Marcus Mariota, which means it's Sam Bradford time. If he's on the field, he will be fine this season. (12)
13 SD Now that Philip Rivers isn't going anywhere -- was he ever? -- they remain a contender in the AFC West. Adding Melvin Gordon will help. (13)
14 The Panthers took a strange approach to the draft, not taking an offensive lineman with their first two picks, but they still remain the team to beat in the NFC South. 1(15)
15 GM Rick Spielman had another good draft (Trae Waynes, Eric Kendricks) and this team is loaded with young talent. If Teddy Bridgewater continues to grow, they could be a playoff team. 6(21)
16 They've had a heck of an offseason, adding Ndamukong Suh and then having a good draft. Ryan Tannehill has to love getting receiver DeVante Parker. 1(17)
17 I think they overachieved last season, so it will be tough to get to 9-7 again, considering the quarterback issues. If they can get one in next year's draft, look out. 1(16)
18 They improved up front with first-round tackle Ereck Flowers, which will help Eli Manning and the running game. Landon Collins should help the back end of the defense. (18)
19 New coach Jim Tomsula faces a tough first year with a lot of change. That defense isn't what it used to be, that's for sure. 5(14)
20 I know everybody is excited about Rex Ryan and this defense. But it's all about the quarterback spot. It's hard to scheme around it. 3(23)
21 KC They will enter the season as the third team in their division. Did they do enough in the offseason to be the second team? 1(20)
22 The re-design of this roster is in full force. They might not be the same style of team as they've been, but they can still throw it around when need be. 3(19)
23 New coach Dan Quinn got some much-needed defensive help in the draft, led by pass rusher Vic Beasley. That unit has to make big strides in 2015. 1(24)
24 Their draft says they will be going to more of a power-running style, the Jeff Fisher way. Is that a good thing? 1(23)
25 They had as good a draft as any team in the league, and there young talent base is outstanding. It's all on Blake Bortles now. 2(27)
26 This season is all about Jay Cutler. Can the new staff get him playing better? Will the addition of receiver Kevin White help make that possible? The defense can't be as bad as a year ago, which will help. (26)
27 OAK I like where this team is heading. They have a lot of good, young pieces, including first-round receiver Amari Cooper, a nice weapon for Derek Carr. 3(30)
28 They added some good football players in the draft -- especially Danny Shelton -- but with their quarterback situation being what it is, how much better are they? 1(29)
29 I am a big believer in Jameis Winston as an NFL prospect. Now that he's in the fold, they will be better. How much better is the question. 3(32)
30 They should be really good on defense, and they've made some solid additions on offense, but it's all about the quarterback. Do they have one? 5(25)
31 They will go through a growing process with Marcus Mariota playing quarterback, so it could be more about 2016 for this team. (31)
32 Have they really solved their quarterback issues? It all hangs on Robert Griffin III. At least his line got help in the draft. 4(28)
Pete Prisco
Senior NFL Columnist
NFL Power Rankings: Jags, Vikings and Dolphins on rise after draft
May 5, 2015 8:22 AM ET
Did the NFL Draft change the thinking about the top teams in the NFL?
Not really.
Most top teams use the draft to fill in holes, prepare for the future, and maybe hit on a starter or two for next season.
The New England Patriots drafted a bunch of defensive linemen early to help fortify a unit in need of assistance, helping to keep them as the best team in the league and atop my post-draft Power Rankings.
What has changed is some of the middle and bottom teams in these rankings. Those teams move up with good drafts. A few doing so were the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins.
That's not to say any of them are sure to make the playoffs -- Jacksonville likely won't -- but the wild-card race isn't out of the question for any of them. That's what good drafting can do for a bad team.
With minicamps upon us, and training camps only two (or so) months away, the top of the league is pretty easy to figure out. What isn't easy is to identify are the two or three teams who could make the big leap.
These post-draft Power Rankings might offer a hint.
RANK TEAM MOVE (LW)
1 NE They used the draft to fortify the defensive front. That's smart. Tom Brady will keep this team at the top. Team to beat. (1)
2 SEA They still have some concerns on the offensive line, but it's hard to argue with anything John Schneider does. He always seems to have guys ready to go. (2)
3 GB They added secondary help in the draft (Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins), which was key. But did they get the right guys? (3)
4 DAL Their Super Bowl chances may come down to character guys in Greg Hardy and second-round pick Randy Gregory. If both get on the field without issues, they will get after the passer late in the season. (4)
5 DEN The biggest thing going forward is how Peyton Manning fits in Gary Kubiak's system. I think he will be fine. (5)
6 AZ They had another good draft and solidified their offensive line (first-round pick D.J. Humphries, free agent Mike Iupati) this spring. That's good news for Carson Palmer as he comes off ACL surgery. (6)
7 Cincy They have a deep roster that allowed them to take two players who likely won't start this season on their offensive line with the first two picks. They just need to get healthy, which they weren't last season. 3(10)
8 BALT Players leave and they always seem to do a good job replacing them. That's the Ravens way. Their draft was another example of that. 1(7)
9 INDY They have more speed outside than almost any tam in the league with the addition of Philip Dorsett. Expect a lot of shootouts. It will be fun to watch. 1(8)
10 PITT Their first-round pick, pass rusher Bud Dupree, will bring back the pressure off the edge for the Steelers. That's been lacking. With Ben Roethlisberger under center, they will always compete for division titles. 1(9)
11 DET They've helped their offense this spring, especially in the draft (G Laken Tomlinson, RB Ameer Abdullah), but that defense has suffered some hits. Can they get over the loss of a player like Ndamukong Suh. (11)
12 PHILLY Chip Kelly didn't make the move to get Marcus Mariota, which means it's Sam Bradford time. If he's on the field, he will be fine this season. (12)
13 SD Now that Philip Rivers isn't going anywhere -- was he ever? -- they remain a contender in the AFC West. Adding Melvin Gordon will help. (13)
14 The Panthers took a strange approach to the draft, not taking an offensive lineman with their first two picks, but they still remain the team to beat in the NFC South. 1(15)
15 GM Rick Spielman had another good draft (Trae Waynes, Eric Kendricks) and this team is loaded with young talent. If Teddy Bridgewater continues to grow, they could be a playoff team. 6(21)
16 They've had a heck of an offseason, adding Ndamukong Suh and then having a good draft. Ryan Tannehill has to love getting receiver DeVante Parker. 1(17)
17 I think they overachieved last season, so it will be tough to get to 9-7 again, considering the quarterback issues. If they can get one in next year's draft, look out. 1(16)
18 They improved up front with first-round tackle Ereck Flowers, which will help Eli Manning and the running game. Landon Collins should help the back end of the defense. (18)
19 New coach Jim Tomsula faces a tough first year with a lot of change. That defense isn't what it used to be, that's for sure. 5(14)
20 I know everybody is excited about Rex Ryan and this defense. But it's all about the quarterback spot. It's hard to scheme around it. 3(23)
21 KC They will enter the season as the third team in their division. Did they do enough in the offseason to be the second team? 1(20)
22 The re-design of this roster is in full force. They might not be the same style of team as they've been, but they can still throw it around when need be. 3(19)
23 New coach Dan Quinn got some much-needed defensive help in the draft, led by pass rusher Vic Beasley. That unit has to make big strides in 2015. 1(24)
24 Their draft says they will be going to more of a power-running style, the Jeff Fisher way. Is that a good thing? 1(23)
25 They had as good a draft as any team in the league, and there young talent base is outstanding. It's all on Blake Bortles now. 2(27)
26 This season is all about Jay Cutler. Can the new staff get him playing better? Will the addition of receiver Kevin White help make that possible? The defense can't be as bad as a year ago, which will help. (26)
27 OAK I like where this team is heading. They have a lot of good, young pieces, including first-round receiver Amari Cooper, a nice weapon for Derek Carr. 3(30)
28 They added some good football players in the draft -- especially Danny Shelton -- but with their quarterback situation being what it is, how much better are they? 1(29)
29 I am a big believer in Jameis Winston as an NFL prospect. Now that he's in the fold, they will be better. How much better is the question. 3(32)
30 They should be really good on defense, and they've made some solid additions on offense, but it's all about the quarterback. Do they have one? 5(25)
31 They will go through a growing process with Marcus Mariota playing quarterback, so it could be more about 2016 for this team. (31)
32 Have they really solved their quarterback issues? It all hangs on Robert Griffin III. At least his line got help in the draft. 4(28)
Comment