NFL free agency is still technically underway, but the big fish left the pond long ago. With the month of April officially in full swing, that can only mean one thing: We’re near the finish line of draft season.
But before we start preparing for the last few steps in the dreams of many young prospects, we should review what the heck just happened. Millions of dollars flew around free agency, and some of the corresponding moves very well might decide next year’s postseason picture.
For example: Who put themselves in a prime position to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC? And how did the Chiefs respond to a retool? And in the NFC, after the Philadelphia Eagles were forced to regroup, who may have stepped into their gap (the … Dallas Cowboys?).
Let’s see where the dust settled after the meat of free agency in For The Win’s latest edition of NFL power rankings.
32
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 23
This is incredible Kyle Trask disrespect. Head coach Todd Bowles will go from an offense that threw the ball more times in a season than anyone else, ever (Brady’s 733 attempts were a single-season high) to a quarterback with nine career regular-season passes. This might get ugly.
31
Arizona Cardinals
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 30
They haven’t admitted it outright, but between Kyler Murray’s ACL tear, new GM Monti Ossenfort, new head coach Jonathan Gannon, the retirement of J.J. Watt (takes a breath), and the (likely) departure of DeAndre Hopkins … the Cardinals are possibly in for a long rebuild. Pencil them in for another top-five pick in 2024.
30
Indianapolis Colts
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 32
The Colts don’t have a quarterback and look like they’ll be limited, at best, to the third choice among rookie prospects unless they make a bold move up the draft board. Well, they didn’t hire Jeff Saturday again. At least there’s that.
29
Cleveland Browns
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 25
The Browns are still all in on Deshaun Watson: who once faced more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct for what the NFL would later describe as “predatory behavior.” If Watson rebounds from last year’s late-season malaise, this team could make some noise in the AFC North. If not, Cleveland is paying a historic bill for a bad quarterback.
28
Las Vegas Raiders
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 27
Josh McDaniels gets another go-round as head coach after blowing three different leads of 17-0 or better. Now instead of Derek Carr at quarterback, he’s got Jimmy Garoppolo, as well as Jakobi Meyers and Austin Hooper, to vacate some of the targets the since-traded Darren Waller leaves behind. However, improvements to a 31st-ranked defense have been minimal, which is why Las Vegas winds up here.
27
Houston Texans
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 31
Houston’s first free agency with DeMeco Ryans at the helm was savvy business. Bringing in Shaq Mason and extending Laremy Tunsil, perhaps the NFL’s top left tackle, are examples of foundational moves for a team that might surprise in the fall. The Texans do, however, still need a signal caller of the future. Sorry, Davis Mills. No offense (pun intended).
26
Los Angeles Rams
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 20
Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp are back, and it might not matter because only two members of last year’s starting defense return for 2023. On the plus side, the Rams are on pace to make their first first-round selection since drafting Jared Goff in 2016, so at least there’s an incentive to being awful this year.
25
New Orleans Saints
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 28
Dennis Allen and Co. have one “grand” ambition: an NFC South division title. How else do you explain giving 31-year-old Derek Carr — the definition of “eh, he’s fine” under center — $100 million guaranteed? There are interesting pieces on this top-heavy roster, but this is a middling Saints squad only capable of bowing out early on Wild Card Saturday.
24
Tennessee Titans
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 24
Mike Vrabel has his work cut out for him. Ryan Tannehill turns 35 this year and has fallen off the 2019-20 pace that made him one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks. Derrick Henry has more than 2,000 career touches to his credit and, while still effective, is no longer the drive-extending workhorse he was to push Tannehill to that peak. A weak receiving corps remains that way, even if Treylon Burks can fulfill his WR1 promise. Tennessee may be stuck hoping modest defensive moves pay huge dividends in 2023.
23
Carolina Panthers
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 21
Frank Reich is going to get the quarterback he wants. The question on everyone’s mind is: who might that be? It seems like Reich and the Panthers’ coaching staff have an affinity for C.J. Stroud, but that could just be a curveball. Whoever Carolina does draft gets the key to the city in a rebuild from the studs.
22
Atlanta Falcons
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 26
The Falcons look … good? I mean, it’s not a great thing that they’re ranked 22nd, but that’s still tops among NFC South teams, and it makes sense. Arthur Smith has built a potent run-heavy offense around Desmond Ridder. While much more help is needed, it’s not difficult to see an Atlanta postseason run, thanks to the abject horror that spans the rest of the division. This is a team built for competent football, and that may be all it takes to win the South.
21
Chicago Bears
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 22
Only months removed from watching Justin Fields carry them on his back, the Bears went out and acquired a bona fide WR1 in D.J. Moore. Now Chicago has one of the more underrated WR corps in the league. Moore, in tandem with Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool, is a boon to a promising passer who needed more help. Now, about that offensive line and defensive line … talk about two units that will make you tug your collar nervously.
20
Denver Broncos
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 29
Sean Payton knew how to handle late-stage Drew Brees and keep the Saints winning despite a star quarterback’s degraded abilities. Now he has to do the same in Denver, where Russell Wilson’s debut played out like a biblical allegory about not letting Moses’ people go. The defense should be fine — and a run-heavy, short-pass offense could be the key to floating back up the AFC West standings.
19
New England Patriots
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 17
The BIG moves of a pivotal year for Bill Belichick in Year 4 without Tom Brady? Signing JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki. PHEW. Do you feel that straight heat? Another third-place finish in the Patriots’ own division is on the way!!!
18
Green Bay Packers
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 18
This may be too much praise for an Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay team — but the Packers were roughly league average last season even as the four-time MVP limped through the least efficient season of his career. Jordan Love looked significantly better in limited snaps in 2022 than he had in either of the previous two years, though that doesn’t mean much. If he can produce flashes of big-time play and 2022 first-round picks Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt can shore up a perpetually leaky run defense, Green Bay can remain in contention for a playoff spot.
17
Pittsburgh Steelers
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 19
As is Steelers tradition, they weren’t big-money players in free agency. Pittsburgh, even when it probably should spend, prefers the home-grown route. Fortunately, Omar Khan looks like a keeper of a GM. He better ace the draft this month. The Steelers’ near future depends on it.
16
Washington Commanders
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 16
Jacoby Brissett is a useful stopgap starter, even if his impressive efficiency numbers fail to reflect some disappointing fourth-quarter finishes that helped doom the Browns to a losing season in 2022. Sam Howell, a 2022 fifth-round pick, is … less impressive so far. A lineup filled with playmakers and a powerful defensive front will push the Commanders to the middle of the NFL’s pack. Making it to the postseason will depend on someone coming through as a viable quarterback.
15
Baltimore Ravens
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 11
It is early April, and there is still no resolution on Lamar Jackson’s future in Baltimore. This is already shaping up to be a passive-aggressive war for the ages. And if the Ravens lose (in the form of a Jackson departure), expect them to tumble even further here.
14
Minnesota Vikings
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 14
Kirk Cousins’ guaranteed deal meant another round of restructuring just to create the salary cap space necessary to make modest moves in free agency. That said, the Vikings have some intriguing buy-low(ish) candidates coming to town in Byron Murphy, Marcus Davenport, and Dean Lowry. Even so, regression is coming for a team that went 13-4 last season with, incredibly, a negative-three point differential. A weak NFC creates another playoff opportunity, but once Minnesota gets there, matters become dicey.
13
New York Giants
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 13
To build on last season’s quarterfinal finish, the Giants bought low on Darren Waller — a new toy for the newly-extended Daniel Jones to play with. The ceiling of Brian Daboll’s ascending bunch will be determined by how much Jones can handle on his plate. Another step forward, and Big Blue is not to be trifled with in the NFC. A step backward, and they’re talking about finding a new quarterback this time next year.
12
Los Angeles Chargers
Post-Super Bowl 57-rank: 9
Los Angeles has only added one outside free agent this spring — 31-year-old linebacker Eric Kendricks. If the Chargers are going to get any better in 2023, they’ll have to nail their draft and hope Rashawn Slater is back to full strength to unlock the big throws in Justin Herbert’s arsenal. LA also has to figure out what to do with Austin Ekeler, who has absolutely earned a contract extension but may have to be traded elsewhere to actually receive it.
11
New York Jets
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 15
The Jets are going to complete a trade for Aaron Rodgers. Probably? They’ll have one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history utilizing one of the league’s best supporting casts. Maybe? But even if Rodgers does come to New York, it remains to be seen how long the almost 40-year-old — with a lot of mileage — holds up.
10
Detroit Lions
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 10
The NFC North is there for the taking — something the Lions haven’t done since … 1993, MY GOD. Jared Goff will have to continue the hot streak that capped his 2022 comeback and re-established him as a viable starting quarterback. More importantly, a rebuilt defense — one that ranked 28th in overall DVOA last season — will have to make significant improvements around new additions Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and CJ Gardner-Johnson.
9
Seattle Seahawks
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 12
The Seahawks, led by perennial journeyman Geno Smith, surprised in 2022. One quality draft might be all that separates this team from being a legit heavyweight. The 49ers will be favored in the West. But Seattle has the best quarterback, and that means something.
8
Jacksonville Jaguars
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 6
Trevor Lawrence is in a prime position to make *the leap,* particularly if Calvin Ridley can approach his 2020 peak. The only thing holding him back is a young defense that will need to level up if the Jaguars are going to be more than just AFC South champions in 2023.
7
Miami Dolphins
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 7
One full season and a second offseason should do wonders for Mike McDaniel’s crew. Any time a talented set of weapons like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle can continue to build chemistry with their quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, means fireworks are inevitable.
6
San Francisco 49ers
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 5
How will the defense react without DeMeco Ryans on the sidelines? How will the offense fare under the stewardship of either Trey Lance or Brock Purdy? Fair questions, both … but the Niners keep churning out final four playoff appearances despite being perpetually swatted down by the injury gods. The year 2023, with the roster still built the way it is, feels like more of the same.
5
Dallas Cowboys
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 8
Dallas had the best March of anyone. Imagine adding a legit CB2 and a legit WR2 for the cost of three Day 3 picks. Now imagine being on the precipice of a Super Bowl. That’s what the now-complete Cowboys did with Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks. The next step is actually thriving in January, but … we’ll cross that bridge when we get there, won’t we, Mike McCarthy?
4
Buffalo Bills
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 4
Buffalo still needs a proper running mate for Stefon Diggs, but there will be opportunities to add one in April — whether that’s via a rookie contributor or trading picks to free Jerry Jeudy from Denver. The Bills have minor holes to patch and a competitive division gunning for them, but Josh Allen is 47-18 in his last five seasons as a starter. This team will continue rolling.
3
Philadelphia Eagles
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 2
It costs money to stay at the top. Cap-strapped Philadelphia was gutted in free agency, losing several notable starters like T.J. Edwards, Javon Hargrave, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to teams with more plentiful checkbooks. But the special Jalen Hurts is still the quarterback. And Pro Bowl/All-Pro talents like A.J. Brown, Jason Kelce, and Darius Slay are still around. The defending NFC champs aren’t going anywhere.
2
Cincinnati Bengals
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 3
The secondary is a big problem, so Cincinnati will have to put in WORK at this year’s draft. However, Joe Burrow’s offensive line got a massive upgrade in Orlando Brown Jr., and this offense has the chops to out-duel anyone in the league. The question now is whether the Bengals will spend some of that draft capital to find Joe Mixon’s eventual replacement in an inefficient backfield.
1
Kansas City Chiefs
Post-Super Bowl 57 rank: 1
The defending Super Bowl champs turned around and replaced two important starters — Orlando Brown Jr. and Frank Clark — with Jawaan Taylor, one of the NFL’s better upside tackles, and Charles Omenihu, one of the NFL’s better upside defensive linemen. It’s not as if Kansas City needed to tweak much else. Patrick Mahomes and friends hold pro football’s ultimate crown, and it’ll take a Herculean effort to knock it off their heads.
