The Post-Draft 2023 NFL Power Rankings: Three AFC East Teams in the Top-10 and a New King in the NFC North
Josh Frey
|
With the 2023 NFL Draft officially over, we now have a chance to take a look at where the league stands heading into the summer. Here is a look at the official post-draft 2023 NFL power rankings.
Super Bowl Contenders
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The defending Super Bowl champs went into the draft largely needing to improve their pass rush and find another wide receiver to take pressure off Travis Kelce in the passing game. They did both in the first two rounds with additions of Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Rashee Rice. Expect to see them back near the top of the AFC again next year.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles lost a number of contributors on defense this offseason as well as both their offensive and defensive coordinators. They needed to come out of this draft with contributors, and they not only landed arguably the top player in the draft in Jalen Carter, but they now have RB D’Andre Swift and five starters from the historic 2021 Georgia Bulldogs defense.
3. Buffalo Bills
The offensive line should see immediate improvement through the addition of O’Cyrus Torrence, and as long as Dalton Kincaid stays healthy, he’ll be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses at tight end. On top of that, the RB room finally has contributors to it featuring players like James Cook, Damien Harris, and newly signed Latavius Murray.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincy got one of the bigger steals of the first round when they snagged Myles Murphy with the 28th overall pick, and he will be a very welcomed addition to the Bengals pass rush that recorded only 30 sacks last season, fourth-worst in the NFL. An improved pass-rush on top of a high-flying offense puts the Bengals back near the top of the league.
5. San Francisco 49ers
This is a Kyle Shanahan appreciation ranking. He’s proven that he can win with just about anybody at quarterbatck, and that is why it isn’t as concerning that the 49ers may be starting the season with Sam Darnold at QB rather than Trey Lance or Brock Purdy. We can’t forget about the addition of Javon Hargrave to their already impressive defense, either.
Strong Playoff Teams
6. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have their QB locked up for years to come after Lamar Jackson finally signed his contract extension, and Baltimore immediately rewarded him by going out and getting Zay Flowers in the draft. Baltimore has needed more consistent pass-catchers ever since Jackson got drafted, and a wide receiver corps of Rashod Bateman, Odell Beckham Jr., and Flowers may be the most talented trio he’s ever had alongside Mark Andrews at tight end.
7. New York Jets
Plugging Aaron Rodgers and Allen Lazard into the Jets offense should be enough to turn that group around, and the Jets defense was already one of the better groups in the league before adding Will McDonald to the pass-rushing group. Had they scored 22 points in every game last year (about what the Packers averaged with Rodgers at QB last season), they would have gone 11-5-1. This is a playoff team in 2023.
8. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys were not very good against the run in 2022, and the addition of first-round pick Mazi Smith was clearly an effort to fix that wrong this season. Luke Schoonmaker also looks to help fill the void left at tight end by Dalton Schultz while Deuce Vaughn could be an interesting fit in the backfield.
9. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were already running a track team on offense before making the addition of Devon Achane to their backfield this weekend. This group is going to be nearly impossible to stop as long as they can stay mostly healthy. That hasn’t been the case though, particularly in the case of QB Tua Tagovailoa. For now, the ranking is a bit tempered due to that fear.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
At the very least, the Jaguars should run the AFC South for at least one more year. With another offseason of development in the books for Trevor Lawrence, and the addition of Calvin Ridley to the offense, a division that featured two bottom-six defenses should be quaking in their cleats.
The Tweeners
11. Detroit Lions
Detroit had a bit of a strange draft, but at the end of the day, they added quality players that should be able to contribute right away, particularly on the defensive side of the ball in Brian Branch and Jack Campbell. First-round running back Jahmyr Gibbs adds an interesting element to their backfield too, especially following their trade of D’Andre Swift.
12. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle’s offense was a top-10 unit in 2022, but at times they could go through cold spells, particularly in the running game. However, additions of both Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Zach Charbonnet should make sure that they stay more consistent this season. Adding a lockdown cornerback in Devon Witherspoon isn’t bad, either.
13. New York Giants
The Giants wide receiver room was already one of the stranger groups in the NFL, and the waters have only been muddied more by the addition of Jalin Hyatt. It will be interesting to see how this group meshes, but Brian Daboll certainly made it work last year.
14. Minnesota Vikings
In Kevin O’Connell’s first year as head coach, the Vikings offense turned into a well-oiled machine and bringing Jordan Addison into the fold should make this group even more of a mismatch. However, the defense is still extremely questionable, particularly in the secondary.
15. Los Angeles Chargers
Wide receiver health has been a problem for the Chargers throughout Justin Herbert’s career, and the first-round addition of Quentin Johnston is a clear attempt to change those woes for Los Angeles. With Austin Ekeler looking more likely to return as well, the Chargers should continue to compete in the AFC West.
Young Teams on the Rise
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers may have been the big winners of the draft this year. Up and down this draft class, Pittsburgh added a number of instant contributors in Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr., Darnell Washington, Keeanu Benton, and Nick Herbig. Things in Pittsburgh are on the up-and-up, and it wouldn’t be a shock at all to see them rise through these rankings by the end of the year.
17. New England Patriots
New England landed two of the bigger steals of the draft in CB Christian Gonzalez and WR Kayshon Boutte. Gonzalez especially will help improve a defense that desperately needed another starter opposite Jonathan Jones.
18. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers were one of the bigger spenders in free agency, and in the draft, they went and got their guy Bryce Young with the first overall pick. Considering this team won seven games in 2022 with a combination of Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and P.J. Walker making the starts. Carolina should be able to compete in a wide-open NFC South this year.
19. Atlanta Falcons
Say what you will about drafting Bijan Robinson eighth overall as a running back, but he has the potential to take over the crown of RB1 in the entire NFL. His presence will also take a ton of pressure off QB Desmond Ridder.
On the Outside Looking In
20. Denver Broncos
This has been a tumultuous offseason in Denver, between trade rumors swirling around their wide receivers as well as the trade to acquire head coach Sean Payton from the Saints. This trade should hopefully turn things around for them offensively.
21. New Orleans Saints
The biggest uncertainties with the Saints lie in the status of Alvin Kamara and the injury concerns regarding Michael Thomas. Additions of Kendre Miller and A.T. Perry should be decent security blankets, but this offense needs to take a huge step with Derek Carr in order to truly compete in the NFC.
22. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers is out the door, and Jordan Love is finally getting his chance to start for the Packers. Green Bay made a concerted effort to find him weapons to throw to in the draft, and Lukas Van Ness should help the pass rush as well. However, this defense still looks average at best heading into 2023, and who knows what we can truly expect out of the offense.
23. Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson’s return was extremely underwhelming in the six games that he played last season. Considering they didn’t have a single pick in the first two rounds, they weren’t able to add much young talent through the draft, either.
Still Multiple Pieces Away
24. Las Vegas Raiders
Tyree Wilson is a very tantalizing prospect, especially joining a Raiders pass rush that already has Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones. Michael Mayer should also fill the void left by Darren Waller at tight end. That being said, the question remains as to whether or not they will find success following Derek Carr’s departure.
25. Chicago Bears
The Bears were one of the more active teams in free agency, and they got Justin Fields some much-needed pass protection with the selection of Darnell Wright with the 10th overall pick. Without David Montgomery and a short wide receiver room, though, will they be able to take the next step?
The Rookie QB Crew
26. Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson is the most exciting QB prospect in this class, and if an AFC South team with a rookie QB is going to compete for the playoffs, it makes sense that it would be them. They have the best skill positions group, and their defense looks to be improving as well with the addition of Julius Brents to the secondary.
27. Tennessee Titans
Will Levis’ fall into the second round was one of the more shocking events of the 2023 Draft, but the Tennessee Titans swooped him up early in Day 2. This indicates a lack of faith in Malik Willis, but until they put better weapons around Levis, they might not find much more immediate success this year.
28. Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson are now Houston Texans, and that is awesome, but the rest of this roster largely looks like a disaster. Stroud has very little options in terms of a reliable target right now, and it’s going to take a massive effort from the rookie QB to make Houston relevant in 2023.
The Tank Club
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady has hung up the cleats again, and unlike last year, there are no signs of him changing his mind this time around. Tampa looks like they are heading into the season with a QB battle between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. Even in the NFC South, that probably won’t be enough to keep up.
30. Washington Commanders
Washington may be saying that they are committed to Sam Howell, but what happens if they finish near the bottom of the NFC this year? They have to be considered to be in the running for a QB in 2024.
31. Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is going to miss at least a portion of the 2022 season, and with some of the trade requests coming out of Arizona, along with declining Isaiah Simmons fifth-year option, it’s clear that the Cardinals are prioritizing the future.
32. Los Angeles Rams
The process of tearing down their Super Bowl roster from 2021 has begun in Los Angeles. They should be considered top candidates to draft a top QB next spring.
Biggest Steals of the 2023 NFL Draft
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.