AFC
Now that the dust has settled on the draft and free agency, here is how the AFC stacks up in the offseason rankings.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers – Health is paramount on the offensive line. The Steelers did an adequate job replacing free-agent losses in the draft, and they will have better depth this season. Heath Miller and Willie Parker will make strides, and Ben Roethlisberger should be an MVP front-runner next season.
2. Denver Broncos – Mike Anderson is a significant loss, but Jake Plummer can take another step forward this season with Javon Walker. Ron Dayne's play is going to be pivotal, and the defense needs pass rushers who can finish the job in 2006. The collection of cornerbacks has the potential to be the NFL's best this season.
3. Cincinnati Bengals – Dexter Jackson and Sam Adams are solid additions on defense, but the draft class doesn't look like it will have the immediate impact of last year's crop. David Pollack and Odell Thurman should continue to improve. Carson Palmer is the great unknown, but if he returns at full strength, this is a team worthy of a Super Bowl.
4. Indianapolis Colts – The loss of Larry Tripplett will sting, but the departure of Edgerrin James is monumental. Peyton Manning can count on consistently facing eight men in coverage. The Colts appear to have another draft class (beyond Joseph Addai) that will take a few seasons before making a significant impact.
5. San Diego Chargers – The development of Shawne Merriman and Luis Castillo and the signing of Marlon McCree will make the defense better from Day 1. Antonio Cromartie and Marcus McNeill provide quality depth. The offense is still loaded, but Philip Rivers will be the key to success. If he falters, the Chargers will struggle to make the playoffs.
6. New England Patriots – Laurence Maroney and Chad Jackson were great pieces for the future, but the draft did little to replenish what the Patriots need right now. The departures of Willie McGinest and defensive coordinator Eric Mangini will hurt a defense that has become a shadow of the Super Bowl units.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mike Williams and Stockar McDougle could improve the offensive line … or they could continue to be overweight disappointments. Brian Williams and Nick Greisen should be solid defensive additions, but the draft was yet another head-scratcher. The Jaguars' advancement to a Super Bowl is going to depend on the health of Byron Leftwich and Fred Taylor and the emergence of either Reggie Williams or Matt Jones.
8. Miami Dolphins – The Dolphins might be a trendy dark horse pick for Super Bowl XLI, but there are way too many questions hanging over this team. Daunte Culpepper's health is the No. 1 issue, and the secondary is an unknown with the additions of Will Allen, Renaldo Hill and Jason Allen. The loss of Ricky Williams is going to put a lot of pressure on Ronnie Brown to stay healthy and carry a full load.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Beyond the addition of Tamba Hali, the Chiefs are largely the same team from 2005. Under Herm Edwards, Larry Johnson could rush for 2,000 yards, but the defense remains the big issue. Unless Kansas City can generate some kind of consistent pass rush, it's going to be another season of shootouts and more hopes for a full season of good health on the offensive line.
10. Cleveland Browns – The Browns are amassing plenty of talent, but there is lots of uncertainty. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. are coming off significant injuries, and Charlie Frye is still getting adjusted. The offense should be better with the additions of LeCharles Bentley, Kevin Shaffer and Joe Jurevicius. The defense also got a shot in the arm with veterans Willie McGinest and Ted Washington and rookies Kamerion Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson.
11. Baltimore Ravens – An active offseason produced some quality veteran talent in Mike Anderson, Trevor Pryce and Corey Ivy. Adding Haloti Ngata in the draft should help, too, but it remains to be seen how all the turnover will affect the defense's chemistry. Also, the quarterback issue still hasn't been resolved. If Steve McNair doesn't land in Baltimore, it's another season of praying that Kyle Boller develops.
12. Oakland Raiders – The offense is still loaded, but will Aaron Brooks be any better than Kerry Collins? History suggests he can't. Lance Johnstone will be a good complement to Derrick Burgess, and the secondary is young and talented with another first-round addition in Michael Huff. But the linebackers are still a big concern. Adding Darnell Bing and Thomas Howard won't shore up the unit overnight.
13. Houston Texans – The Texans should be able to put together a respectable rebound season, a la Cleveland in 2005. They added a nice group of solid veterans in free agency with Anthony Weaver, Eric Moulds, N.D. Kalu and Sam Cowart. The draft should have some instant impact, too, with Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Charles Spencer and Eric Winston all vying for starting spots. Plus, Gary Kubiak should be able to breathe some life into the offense immediately.
14. New York Jets – John Abraham and Kevin Mawae are significant losses, while free agency only brought solid additions in Andre Dyson and Kimo von Oelhoffen. Unless Chad Pennington and Curtis Martin have huge bounce-back seasons, it's going to be another long year for the Jets. For Eric Mangini, this should be a rebuilding year.
15. Buffalo Bills – Larry Tripplett was a good addition in an offseason of pulling players off of the scrap heap. Forget the reaching in the draft for players like Donte Whitner and John McCargo. The Bills took plenty of gambles in free agency by signing Aaron Gibson, Peerless Price, Andre Davis and Craig Nall.
16. Tennessee Titans – The Titans didn't make a lot of moves in free agency, but they got some quality veterans with the signings of Kevin Mawae, David Givens, Chris Hope and David Thornton. LenDale White could provide some instant impact from the draft, too. But the second half of the 2006 season should eventually be about Vince Young, unless Steve McNair returns and Young holds a clipboard all season.
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NFC
The talent swell has placed four NFC East teams in the conference's top five. Here is the offseason look at the NFC's rankings.
1. New York Giants – This is the season Eli Manning steps into the NFL's quarterbacking elite. Five free agent signings in the secondary will bolster the defense. The depth and talent at linebacker has been shored up with the additions of LaVar Arrington and Brandon Short, but the middle of the defensive line is looking soft with the losses of Kenderick Allen and Kendrick Clancy.
2. Seattle Seahawks – Nate Burleson is a nice addition, and the young defense will be even better this season with Julian Peterson. But all of the free agent losses will have an impact, particularly Steve Hutchinson, Joe Jurevicius and Marquand Manuel. As long as Shaun Alexander can continue to produce MVP numbers, the Super Bowl is still within reach.
3. Dallas Cowboys – As always, the one-season honeymoon with Terrell Owens should mean big things on offense. The loss of Larry Allen hurts, but Kyle Kosier and Jason Fabini will help solidify the offensive line. That will help Julius Jones bounce back with the kind of production most expected last season. Akin Ayodele should thrive under Bill Parcells, and all of those young defensive line additions last year will blossom this season.
4. Washington Redskins – Even with all the additions at wideout, Mark Brunell will have to grind out another quality season for Washington to stay in the playoff mix. If Sean Taylor doesn't land in jail in the coming months, he and Adam Archuleta could become the best safety combo in the NFL. Andre Carter also could end up being the most underrated acquisition of this offseason.
5. Philadelphia Eagles – Terrell Owens is gone, and that will do more good than harm. But even with a healthy Donovan McNabb, the offense isn't going to be nearly explosive with Jabar Gaffney and a host of young, developing receivers. If it can stay healthy, the defense should return to the NFL elite, thanks to the signing of Darren Howard and drafting of Brodrick Bunkley and Chris Gocong.
6. Chicago Bears – The defense should remain one of the best in the NFL, but almost nothing was done to improve the offense. The Bears must hope for more from the talent on last season's roster. Brian Griese is a reliable backup, but unless Rex Grossman, Cedric Benson and Mark Bradley can stay healthy and blossom this season, it's going to be another year of defensive battles.
7. Carolina Panthers – Marlon McCree and Will Witherspoon were tough losses in free agency, but the Panthers made additions that should improve both sides of the ball. Keith Adams and Reggie Howard shore up depth, and Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis could have a huge impact immediately. Keyshawn Johnson could be the complement the offense needs to Steve Smith, but his attitude is a huge risk when mixed with Smith's volatility.
8. Atlanta Falcons – John Abraham and Lawyer Milloy should instantly make the defense better, and rookie Jimmy Williams could be an impact player. But if the Falcons are going to return to the NFC elite, they might have to let Michael Vick return to his free-wheeling style and just deal with the injury risks.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jamie Winborn was a quality signing, but some of the aging defensive stars have to slow eventually. The draft should produce some good depth on the offensive line and at least one starter between Davin Joseph and Jeremy Trueblood. Michael Clayton has to bounce back and make life easier for Chris Simms and Carnell Williams.
10. Arizona Cardinals – Matt Leinart likely won't see the field in 2006, but Taitusi Lutui, Leonard Pope and Gabriel Watson could all get significant playing time immediately. Kendrick Clancy is a solid addition and Edgerrin James will combine with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald to create one of the NFL's most formidable skill position trios. It remains to be seen how the offensive line gels, or whether Kurt Warner can stay healthy and be consistent.
11. New Orleans Saints – Adding Drew Brees and Reggie Bush to an already impressive collection of offensive talent could make this an explosive team. But the defense isn't looking much better with the loss of Darren Howard and only serviceable free agent additions. The Saints will be better, but the playoffs are still a year or two away.
12. Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings are loaded with talent, but depending on soon-to-be 38-year-old Brad Johnson for an entire season is a huge risk, particularly with Mike McMahon as the likely backup. And while Ben Leber and Chad Greenway are good additions to the corps of linebackers, there still isn't a player in the group who can take a blocker head on and blow up a running play.
13. St. Louis Rams – La'Roi Glover and Will Witherspoon were good additions on defense. Tye Hill adds talent and youth at cornerback, but even with the additions of Corey Chavous and Fakhir Brown, the pass defense issues haven't been solved. Unless the defensive line can develop some kind of pass rush, it's going to be another season of shootouts.
14. Green Bay Packers – Brett Favre is back, but the offensive weapons around him leave a lot to be desired. Rod Gardner, Robert Ferguson and Donald Driver won't strike fear into the hearts of defenses, and the collection of running backs has to prove it can stay healthy. Success is going to fall on the defense, where plenty of big additions have been made: Charles Woodson, Marquand Manuel, Ryan Pickett, A.J. Hawk and Abdul Hodge.
15. Detroit Lions – The biggest offseason additions were the revamped coaching staff, with a master motivator in Rod Marinelli and two top-notch coordinators in Mike Martz and Donnie Henderson. Putting the quarterback position into the hands of Jon Kitna and Josh McCown isn't a big upgrade from Joey Harrington. Detroit has enough talent to contend for the playoffs. It's the motivation that has been a problem. And after complaints to the NFLPA about practices, this might be a roster that needs to be cleaned out yet again.
16. San Francisco 49ers – The offseason upgrades were widespread. Vernon Davis and Manny Lawson should be plugged into starting spots, along with free agent signings Larry Allen, Antonio Bryant and Walt Harris. But the roster overhaul has just started, and there's still a talent void at the skill positions surrounding Alex Smith. This should be another year of slow growth.
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Now that the dust has settled on the draft and free agency, here is how the AFC stacks up in the offseason rankings.
8. Miami Dolphins – The Dolphins might be a trendy dark horse pick for Super Bowl XLI, but there are way too many questions hanging over this team. Daunte Culpepper's health is the No. 1 issue, and the secondary is an unknown with the additions of Will Allen, Renaldo Hill and Jason Allen. The loss of Ricky Williams is going to put a lot of pressure on Ronnie Brown to stay healthy and carry a full load.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Beyond the addition of Tamba Hali, the Chiefs are largely the same team from 2005. Under Herm Edwards, Larry Johnson could rush for 2,000 yards, but the defense remains the big issue. Unless Kansas City can generate some kind of consistent pass rush, it's going to be another season of shootouts and more hopes for a full season of good health on the offensive line.
10. Cleveland Browns – The Browns are amassing plenty of talent, but there is lots of uncertainty. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. are coming off significant injuries, and Charlie Frye is still getting adjusted. The offense should be better with the additions of LeCharles Bentley, Kevin Shaffer and Joe Jurevicius. The defense also got a shot in the arm with veterans Willie McGinest and Ted Washington and rookies Kamerion Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson.
11. Baltimore Ravens – An active offseason produced some quality veteran talent in Mike Anderson, Trevor Pryce and Corey Ivy. Adding Haloti Ngata in the draft should help, too, but it remains to be seen how all the turnover will affect the defense's chemistry. Also, the quarterback issue still hasn't been resolved. If Steve McNair doesn't land in Baltimore, it's another season of praying that Kyle Boller develops.
12. Oakland Raiders – The offense is still loaded, but will Aaron Brooks be any better than Kerry Collins? History suggests he can't. Lance Johnstone will be a good complement to Derrick Burgess, and the secondary is young and talented with another first-round addition in Michael Huff. But the linebackers are still a big concern. Adding Darnell Bing and Thomas Howard won't shore up the unit overnight.
13. Houston Texans – The Texans should be able to put together a respectable rebound season, a la Cleveland in 2005. They added a nice group of solid veterans in free agency with Anthony Weaver, Eric Moulds, N.D. Kalu and Sam Cowart. The draft should have some instant impact, too, with Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Charles Spencer and Eric Winston all vying for starting spots. Plus, Gary Kubiak should be able to breathe some life into the offense immediately.
14. New York Jets – John Abraham and Kevin Mawae are significant losses, while free agency only brought solid additions in Andre Dyson and Kimo von Oelhoffen. Unless Chad Pennington and Curtis Martin have huge bounce-back seasons, it's going to be another long year for the Jets. For Eric Mangini, this should be a rebuilding year.
15. Buffalo Bills – Larry Tripplett was a good addition in an offseason of pulling players off of the scrap heap. Forget the reaching in the draft for players like Donte Whitner and John McCargo. The Bills took plenty of gambles in free agency by signing Aaron Gibson, Peerless Price, Andre Davis and Craig Nall.
16. Tennessee Titans – The Titans didn't make a lot of moves in free agency, but they got some quality veterans with the signings of Kevin Mawae, David Givens, Chris Hope and David Thornton. LenDale White could provide some instant impact from the draft, too. But the second half of the 2006 season should eventually be about Vince Young, unless Steve McNair returns and Young holds a clipboard all season.
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NFC
The talent swell has placed four NFC East teams in the conference's top five. Here is the offseason look at the NFC's rankings.
8. Atlanta Falcons – John Abraham and Lawyer Milloy should instantly make the defense better, and rookie Jimmy Williams could be an impact player. But if the Falcons are going to return to the NFC elite, they might have to let Michael Vick return to his free-wheeling style and just deal with the injury risks.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jamie Winborn was a quality signing, but some of the aging defensive stars have to slow eventually. The draft should produce some good depth on the offensive line and at least one starter between Davin Joseph and Jeremy Trueblood. Michael Clayton has to bounce back and make life easier for Chris Simms and Carnell Williams.
10. Arizona Cardinals – Matt Leinart likely won't see the field in 2006, but Taitusi Lutui, Leonard Pope and Gabriel Watson could all get significant playing time immediately. Kendrick Clancy is a solid addition and Edgerrin James will combine with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald to create one of the NFL's most formidable skill position trios. It remains to be seen how the offensive line gels, or whether Kurt Warner can stay healthy and be consistent.
11. New Orleans Saints – Adding Drew Brees and Reggie Bush to an already impressive collection of offensive talent could make this an explosive team. But the defense isn't looking much better with the loss of Darren Howard and only serviceable free agent additions. The Saints will be better, but the playoffs are still a year or two away.
12. Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings are loaded with talent, but depending on soon-to-be 38-year-old Brad Johnson for an entire season is a huge risk, particularly with Mike McMahon as the likely backup. And while Ben Leber and Chad Greenway are good additions to the corps of linebackers, there still isn't a player in the group who can take a blocker head on and blow up a running play.
13. St. Louis Rams – La'Roi Glover and Will Witherspoon were good additions on defense. Tye Hill adds talent and youth at cornerback, but even with the additions of Corey Chavous and Fakhir Brown, the pass defense issues haven't been solved. Unless the defensive line can develop some kind of pass rush, it's going to be another season of shootouts.
14. Green Bay Packers – Brett Favre is back, but the offensive weapons around him leave a lot to be desired. Rod Gardner, Robert Ferguson and Donald Driver won't strike fear into the hearts of defenses, and the collection of running backs has to prove it can stay healthy. Success is going to fall on the defense, where plenty of big additions have been made: Charles Woodson, Marquand Manuel, Ryan Pickett, A.J. Hawk and Abdul Hodge.
15. Detroit Lions – The biggest offseason additions were the revamped coaching staff, with a master motivator in Rod Marinelli and two top-notch coordinators in Mike Martz and Donnie Henderson. Putting the quarterback position into the hands of Jon Kitna and Josh McCown isn't a big upgrade from Joey Harrington. Detroit has enough talent to contend for the playoffs. It's the motivation that has been a problem. And after complaints to the NFLPA about practices, this might be a roster that needs to be cleaned out yet again.
16. San Francisco 49ers – The offseason upgrades were widespread. Vernon Davis and Manny Lawson should be plugged into starting spots, along with free agent signings Larry Allen, Antonio Bryant and Walt Harris. But the roster overhaul has just started, and there's still a talent void at the skill positions surrounding Alex Smith. This should be another year of slow growth.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...slug=cr-afcrankings051006&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
