1) Pittsburgh Steelers: The offensive line looks shaky, but the rest of the
offense looks solid. Defensively, no one can score much on them.
Last Ranking: 1
Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), OLB (depth), S (depth)
2) Minnesota Vikings: Having Brett Favre behind center certainly makes this
team more interesting. He'll bring more stability for at least one season on
offense. The offensive line remains a huge issue, however. The defense is
looking solid once again.
Last Ranking: 8
Needs Still to be Filled: G (veteran depth), C (veteran depth), OT
(veteran depth), LB (veteran depth), S (veteran depth)
3) Indianapolis Colts: The offense really doesn't look to have a weakness at
this point. Defensively, coordinator Larry Coyer will bring a more aggressive
approach which should work wonders.
Last Ranking: 2
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), DT (veteran depth)
4) ) New York Giants: They will have one of the league's best running games
without question. But who will make plays in the passing game? The defense
should be solid once again.
Last Ranking: 3
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), LB (veteran depth)
5) Atlanta Falcons: Great job by GM Tom Dimitroff of addressing just about every
need on both sides of the ball. He clearly gets it. The offense will be hard to
stop, but they have to find a way to stop the pass in order to go far in the
playoffs.
Last Ranking: 7
Needs Still to be Filled: OT (veteran depth), DT (depth), DE (depth), OLB
(depth)
6) San Diego Chargers: This offense should be great again, especially if
LaDainian Tomlinson can stay relatively healthy. The second must improve if they
are to good deep in the playoffs.
Last Ranking: 7
Needs Still to be Filled: OT (depth), G (depth), DE (depth),
S (veteran depth), CB (veteran depth)
7) Philadelphia Eagles: The offense should be good, but the concern is
with the offensive line not playing together long enough. The loss of starting MLB
Stewart Bradley is huge and they still can't figure out the FS position.
Last Ranking: 4
Needs Still to be Filled: TE (depth), OT (LT depth), DT (depth)
8) New England Patriots: Can the run the ball effectively? Getting Tom Brady
behind center will help create better rushing lanes since teams can't play them
with eight men in the box. Where's the pass rush on defense?
Last Ranking: 5
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), LT (depth), G (veteran
depth), DL (veteran depth)
9) Baltimore Ravens: If OC Cam Cameron is willing to put the ball in the hands
of Joe Flacco, they will have a better chance to win. However, it will be hard
for the team to over come the loss of DC Rex Ryan.
Last Ranking: 9
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (depth), G (depth), ILB (depth), S (veteran depth)
10) Tennessee Titans: Much of the same on offense. Defensively, the loss of DT
Albert Hayesworth is huge.
Last Ranking: 11
Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), OT (veteran depth), DE (depth), LB
(veteran depth), CB (veteran depth), S
(depth)
11) Carolina Panthers: Nothing has changed with this team. It's all about
running the ball, controlling the clock, and winning with defense. However, the
defense doesn't look to be that good on paper as in previous years.
Last Ranking: 12
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (depth), OT (depth), G (depth), DT (depth), CB (nickel/depth),
S (veteran depth)
12) Green Bay Packers: The offense should be one of the best in the NFL, but the
defense could be where the improvement really takes place. Defensively, new DC
Dom Capers is running his zone blitz looks and it's working so far.
Last Ranking: 19
Needs Still to be Filled: QB (veteran depth), OT (veteran depth), DE
(veteran depth), OLB (pass rushing depth)
13) New Orleans Saints: The offense could be the best in the NFL again. New DC
Gregg Williams will help, but he can only do much with such average talent.
Last Ranking: 14
Needs Still to be Filled: OT (depth), DT (depth), OLB (depth)
14) Miami Dolphins: This offense can sustain drives, but they lack quality
playmakers. Defensively, they will be solid again.
Last Ranking: 18
Needs Still to be Filled: OT (depth), ILB (depth)
15) New York Jets: You're looking at a team with a rookie behind center and
issues at receiver. They must run the ball well to have a chance to win. Losing
OLB Calvin Pace four games is an issue. Secondary is average and Lito Sheppard
is a liability in coverage.
Last Ranking: 10
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (starter/depth), LT (depth), DE (depth), OLB
(depth), S (depth)
16) Chicago Bears: The addition of QB Jay Cutler is huge, no question and they
should run the ball well again. But do they have a consistent pass target? The
defense isn't nearly as good as it once was.
Last Ranking: 16
Needs Still to be Filled: QB (veteran depth), WR (veteran depth), MLB (depth), OLB
(depth), CB (veteran depth)
17) Dallas Cowboys: Can Roy Williams rebound from a disastrous 2008? Can Tony Romo close a season well? The secondary looks less than average again.
Last Ranking: 17
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran), OT (depth), OLB (depth), CB (depth), S (depth)
18) Houston Texans: Matt Schaub has poor pocket awareness and until he can show
that he sees everything around him, he won't last 16 regular season games. The
front seven should be good on defense, but the secondary looks bad again.
Last Ranking: 13
Needs Still to be Filled: LT (depth), G (depth), DE (veteran depth), CB (veteran depth), S
(veteran depth)
19) Seattle Seahawks: The offensive line is looking quite shaky at best and you
have to question whether this offense can get it done on the ground
consistently. The secondary was terrible last season and losing CB Marcus Trufant won't help.
Last Ranking: 21
Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), OT (depth), LB (MLB/OLB depth)
20) Arizona Cardinals: The running game will get a boost from Chris Wells.
However, the defense is less than average and is why they won't win their
division.
Last Ranking: 15
Needs Still to be Filled: LT (depth), G (depth), C (depth), DE (depth),
ILB (depth), CB (depth)
21) Washington Redskins: Can you really trust Jason Campbell behind that
offensive line? They have to improve the pass rush significantly if they are to
improve from last year.
Last Ranking: 20
Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), OT (depth), DE (depth), S (veteran depth)
22) Cincinnati Bengals: They have a very good group of receivers and getting
back Carson Palmer is huge. But can they protect him? The defense is decent, but
not good enough.
Last Ranking: 23
Needs Still to be Filled: LG (upgrade), RT (depth), C (depth), DT (depth), DE (pass
rusher), CB (depth/nickel), S (veteran depth)
23) San Francisco 49ers: The offense is going to be based on power running and
play action passing. Defensively, where's the pass rush?
Last Ranking: 26
Needs Still to be Filled: RB (veteran), G (depth), DE (pass rushing
depth), OLB (depth)
24) Cleveland Browns: The offensive line is not what it was two years ago, but
running the ball will be the focus. Defensively, the front-seven looks to be
improved, but the secondary looks weak.
Last Ranking: 29
Needs Still to be Filled: LT/RT (depth), TE (pass catcher), OLB (pass
rusher), S (FS/SS depth), CB (veteran depth)
25) Jacksonville Jaguars: They have to get back to power running and the should
be able to do that. Problem on offense is the group of receivers isn't very
good. The offensive line should improve greatly. Defense looks to be average at
best.
Last Ranking: 30
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), TE (depth), DT (veteran
depth), LB
(ILB/OLB-depth), CB (veteran depth/upgrade)
26) Denver Broncos: The downgrade at quarterback will hurt. Defensively, they
have to tackle much better than last year to be competitive. Secondary should be
decent.
Last Ranking: 27
Needs Still to be Filled: LT (veteran depth), G (veteran dept), NT
(depth), CB (veteran depth)
27) Buffalo Bills: The decision to fire OC Turk Schonert should have been made a
while ago, not at the end of the preseason. The offensive line has major issues
at RT and LT. Defensively, they can't compete consistently without a better pass
rush, but the secondary should be decent.
Last Ranking: 22
Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), LT (depth), OLB (veteran depth)
28) Oakland Raiders: The one thing they can do on offense is run the ball, but
the passing game is going to be poor. Defensively, getting Richard Seymour would
certainly help. But pass rush and stopping the run are still issues.
Last Ranking: 28
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), G (depth), DE (depth), DT
(depth), S (veteran depth)
29) St. Louis Rams: The offensive line should be improved, but how much does
Marc Bulger have left at quarterback? The defense will give up their share of
points, but it will create turnovers.
Last Ranking: 27
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (depth), MLB (veteran depth), OLB (veteran depth), CB (veteran
depth)
30) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The quarterback position is a disaster, but they
should be able to run the ball. The defense is a shell of its once solid self.
Last Ranking: 24
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (depth), RT (depth), LT (depth), G (depth), DE
(depth), CB (depth/nickel)
31) Detroit Lions: The decision to start a rookie QB makes sense when you have
little chance to win. The only thing they should be able to do consistently on
offense is run the ball. The defense has major holes almost everywhere.
Last Ranking: 31
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (depth), DT (depth), DE (depth), OLB (depth),
CB (speed)
32) Kansas City Chiefs: They are a long way from being competitive. Their
offensive line has been so bad that they can really run the offense like they
want to. The defense, at least in the secondary, should be decent, but they are
weak up front.
Last Ranking: 32
Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth/upgrade), DE (depth), OLB (depth), CB
(depth)