NFL free agency helped improve many teams ahead of the draft. Some went from borderline playoff contenders into potential division winners. Others accelerated thier rebuilding with smart spending and trading.
There are a few teams, however, that took major personnel hits to drop hard in league's hierarchy. Factoring in SN's team-by-team free agency grades and weighing the updated Super Bowl 58 odds, here's a look at how all 32 teams stack up against each other going into April:
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NFL power rankings 2023
1. Kansas City Chiefs (previous 2023 ranking: 1)
The Chiefs had to reshuffle again around Patrick Mahomes with more offensive line and receiver remixing. At the same time they were able to plug some defensive holes with adequate replacements. They remain the team to beat in the AFC.
2. Cincinnati Bengals (3)
The Bengals took some defensive hits but are adjusting well to needing to pay Joe Burrow big-time soon. They are following the Chiefs' blueprint with Mahomes to know which positions are most important to winning big a lot more with Burrow and which are most replaceable
3. Philadelphia Eagles (2)
The Eagles took some expected free agency lumps at running back, offensive line, defensive tackle, linebacker and secondary. But they were well positioned with some young drafted replacements and plug-and-start veterans. The bigger challenge for the personnel is delivering for new coordinators.
4. San Francisco 49ers (4)
The 49ers lost some from their offensive line and pass rush, but otherwise had the means to get different kind of impact, including taking Javon Hargrave away from the rival Eagles. They just need to make the right QB decision between the upside of Trey Lance vs. that of Brock Purdy to stay in the Super Bowl hunt.
5. New York Jets (13)
The Jets don't have Aaron Rodgers officially in uniform, but they are well prepared to chase a championship with him giving them a 180 upgrade at quarterback. Robert Saleh's defensive foundation and their offensive skill players and scheme now tailored to Rodgers make them the new biggest threat to the Chiefs and Bengals.
6. Buffalo Bills (5)
The Bills are working hard to retool their roster with limited resources, now locked fully into Josh Allen's mega deal. Their window may be closing a little with the Jets, Dolphins and Patriots improving more aggressively.
MORE: Grading the best, worst NFL free agency signings for every team
7. Detroit Lions (11)
The Lions should be considered the easy NFC North favorites. They did great work to improve their running game with David Montgomery and also addressed their weaknesses in the secondary with Cameron Sutton, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Emmanuel Moseley. If they can nail the draft, watch out for them in the NFC title picture.
8. Dallas Cowboys (6)
The Cowboys are changing up their offense with Brian Schottenheimer taking over for Mike McCarthy, re-signed Tony Pollard and added Brandin Cooks. They also will hope Stephon Gilmore has a little more impact left at corner opposite Trevon Diggs.
9. Los Angeles Chargers (8)
The Chargers were the beneficiaries of the Cowboys' breakup with Kellen Moore, who's the ideal offensive coordinator to rev up Justin Herbert more in the passing game. While worrying a little about Austin Ekeler's future, the Chargers also will hope for one-year delayed returns from their big defensive spending of 2022.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (10)
The Jaguars have a familiar Year 2 profile with Doug Pederson centered around franchise QB Trevor Lawrence, who's getting help from a new potential top wide receiver in Calvin Ridley. They were able to keep most of their young core intact on both sides.
11. Miami Dolphins (17)
The Dolphins worked on keeping their offensive backfield and got two key defensive starters in David Long Jr. and Jalen Ramsey. Depth remains a concern as the team operates behind the Jets and Bills in the AFC East.
12. Cleveland Browns (19)
The Browns get a full year of Deshaun Watson and loaded him up with two more weapons (Elijah Moore, Marquise Goodwin). But they also got three key defensive pieces (Dalvin Tomlinson, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Juan Thornhill) to complement Myles Garrett. They can push the intrastate rival Bengals in the AFC North.
13. Denver Broncos (14)
Sean Payton's coaching presence isn't overrated. He and Joe Lombardi will get more out of the offense with Russell Wilson after reinforcing the running backs, receivers and line. Defensively, much is intact to still have impact, with Zach Allen replacing Dre'Mont Jones.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (12)
The Steelers were sneaky strong in free agency, landing four new starters in guard Isaac Seumalo, linebackers Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts and cornerback Patrick Peterson. They have the support to lift a Kenny Pickett-led young offense into true AFC playoff contention.
MORE: Biggest winners, losers from NFL free agency
15. Las Vegas Raiders (22)
The Raiders got their preferred QB for Josh McDaniels' offense in Jimmy Garoppolo. They had to change up wide receiver (Jakobi Meyers) and tight end (Austin Hooper) and worked to get better behind Maxx Crosby defensively, with a lot more work to do in the draft. They are stuck being a good team in a tougher division.
16. Chicago Bears (23)
The Bears had the No. 1 overall draft pick and the league's highest salary-cap space and used every bit of those assets to upgrade with GM Ryan Poles. They gained seven new starters, three on offense (D.J. Moore, D'Onta Foreman and Nate Davis) and four on defense (Andrew Billings, T.J. Edwards, Terrell Edmunds, DeMarcus Walker). They are taking their best shot with Justin Fields on his rookie contract.
17. Seattle Seahawks (15)
The Seahawks made slight upgrades to their offensive line (Evan Brown) and defensive front seven (Dre'Mont Jones, Jarran Reed, Bobby Wagner) while also locking up Geno Smith well at QB. They will be in the playoff mix again in a weaker NFC.
18. New York Giants (16)
The Giants also hope to build on their surprise NFC wild-card momentum. Daniel Jones is locked up knowing Saquon Barkley is in tow and there's better receiving promise with Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder and Darren Waller. Bobby Okereke also will raise the playmaking of the defense.
19. New Orleans Saints (24)
The Saints have more playoff contention upside thanks to stabilizing quarterback with Derek Carr and making them an offensive-forward team again. Defense will be more of the concern for Dennis Allen after taking big hits in the front four.
20. Los Angeles Rams (18)
How healthy are Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp? Will the rest of the receiving corps, running game and offensive line rebound? How about the defense losing more of its edge after trading Jalen Ramsey? The Rams went all in for their Super Bowl and as they get gutted, they're only this high because Sean McVay returned.
21. Minnesota Vikings (20)
The Vikings lost Adam Thielen from their offense but still look better there than the defense. They are status quo with the pass rush and secondary. They are bound to regress to the mean with their overachieving in close games last season.
22. Carolina Panthers (26)
The Panthers have done an extreme makeover at the offensive skill positions to prepare for their No. 1 overall pick franchise QB, with Andy Dalton added as the bridge to boot. Their defense is now built to be a better backbone on every level for Frank Reich.
MORE: Ranking the best NFL free agents still available for 2023
23. New England Patriots (21)
The Patriots look very similar around Mac Jones, hoping the scheming of Bill O'Brien will clean up some of the offensive mess with JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki in the mix. Defensively, bringing back Jonathan Jones and Jalen Mills was key for the secondary.
24. Baltimore Ravens (7)
The Ravens have pushed the Lamar Jackson drama to the limit to the point it would be shocking for them to walk back his breakup intentions. They might end up with great draft capital in return but starting over at QB will drop them down to fourth in the division.
25. Atlanta Falcons (29)
The Falcons are moving forward with Desmond Ridder at QB with a solid bridge contingency in Taylor Heinicke. They also kept the right side of their strong offensive line happy while adding key complementary pieces Mack Hollins and Jonnu Smith. The defense got more punch in stealing from the Saints but the big coup there is getting Jessie Bates III.
26. Green Bay Packers (9)
The Packers are about to break glass on the Jordan Love era, hoping they can find offensive success with a youth movement supported by veteran backs and blockers. That plus rollover defensive issues may keep Green Bay at bay behind everyone else in the NFC North.
27. Washington Commanders (27)
The Commanders are trusting in Sam Howell to some degree with Jacoby Brissett as a strong QB contingency. They wisely upgraded the offensive line, kept the defensive front together. It's hard to see them making a big jump for now behind three returning playoff teams in the NFC East.
28. Houston Texans (30)
The Texans are unrecognizable early in the DeMeco Ryans era. The offense added Robert Woods, Noah Brown, Devin Singletary, Mike Boone, Dalton Schultz and Shaq Mason. The defense added Hassan Ridgeway, Sheldon Rankins, Denzel Perryman, Cory Littleton, Chase Winovich and Jimmie Ward. They are setting themselves nicely for their rookie franchise QB (Bryce Young?) with volume and value.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (28)
There's no more GOAT in Tampa, leaving Baker Mayfield to try to pick up the pieces in a new run-heavier offense. The line is weaker, the receiving corps needs a reload and the defense has a ton on it to be the foundation for Todd Bowles.
30. Tennessee Titans (25)
The Titans knew they would need to look different with some cap issues and a new direction under GM Ran Carthon. They haven't been able to do much to improve their limited offense with big personnel transitions on defense.
31. Indianapolis Colts (32)
The Colts are figuring out their QB situation behind Gardner Minshew for new offensive-minded coach Shane Steichen and also lost a few key defensive players. They will slide to the bottom of a weak division.
32. Arizona Cardinals (31)
The Cardinals don't know exactly when they will have Kyler Murray healthy and still have DeAndre Hopkins on the trade block. Their defense is new look under Jonathan Gannon after taking hits everywhere. This looks like a rough time in the NFC West basement.
