The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions, grabbing the No. 1 spot in the 2023 NFL power rankings. With the 2022 NFL season over, we can now reflect on an eventful year and preview an exciting offseason and free agency.
Let’s dive into our 2023 NFL power rankings, looking at every team entering the offseason.
32. Houston Texans
- Previously: Last in NFL power rankings
Hiring DeMeco Ryans as head coach is a great first step towards the Houston Texans crawling out from the bottom of the 2023 NFL power rankings. However, Houston still has a lot of problems. The Texans must stick to the multi-year rebuild, trading Laremy Tunsil and Brandin Cooks this offseason to build through the NFL Draft.
31. Chicago Bears
- Previously: 31st in NFL power rankings
The Chicago Bears have nearly double the amount of effective salary cap space in 2023 as the next closest team and they can trade the No. 1 pick to a quarterback-desperate team. If all of that isn’t enough, Justin Fields proved he is someone to build around. With general manager Ryan Poles poised to cash in by trading down from the first pick, Chicago could have all the assets it needs to rebuild the defense and help Fields.
30. Indianapolis Colts
- Previously: 30th in NFL power rankings
The Indianapolis Colts should serve as a lesson for what happens when owners get too involved in football decisions. If this franchise is going to be turned around, it needs a qualified coach who is provided complete control of the organization and Chris Ballard must do whatever it takes to land C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young. However, rookie quarterbacks need time and when you throw in a first-year coach, don’t count on the Colts being a playoff team in 2023.
29. Arizona Cardinals
- Previously: 29th in NFL power rankings
The Arizona Cardinals waited a year too long to make sweeping changes to the organization. Unfortunately for the franchise, it now comes at a far greater price and the ramifications will likely impact owner Michael Bidwill’s willingness to spend this offseason. Buckle up Arizona, it’s going to be a long summer.
28. Tennessee Titans
- Previously: No. 26 in NFL power rankings
Here comes the Tennessee Titans’ much-needed rebuild. First-year general manager Ran Carthon is tearing down the roster his predecessor built and that’s the right move. With Carthon focused on a rebuild, it’s safe to bet on the Titans being one of the worst NFL teams in 2023. Tennessee, start scouting Drake Maye and Caleb Williams.
Related: 2023 NFL Draft order
27. Los Angeles Rams
- Previously: No. 23 in NFL power rankings
Credit to the Los Angeles Rams for at least recognizing it was time to blow everything up. Bobby Wagner is gone, Jalen Ramsey is headed out the door and it’s apparent Sean McVay will be part of this rebuild. While this is the right long-term move, it means the Rams will be an eyesore in 2023.
26. Atlanta Falcons
- Previously: No. 25 in NFL power rankings
Desmond Ridder ended his rookie season on a high note, posting a 108.2 QB rating in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Ridder, Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Tyler Allgeier, the Falcons’ offense now has building blocks for the future. As for the defense, it’s a multi-year project but the right defensive play-caller can accelerate the process.
Related: 2023 NFL Draft rumors
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Previously: No. 13 in NFL power rankings
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ bill is due for going all-in to win a Super Bowl and it’s time to pay it. Tom Brady is officially gone and the commitment to Kyle Trask signals this franchise is essentially waving the white flag on the 2023 season. Keep that in mind when you see many of the Buccaneers’ top free agents departs in free agency.
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24. Las Vegas Raiders
- Previously: No. 25 in NFL power rankings
The Las Vegas Raiders dumped Derek Carr to upgrade at quarterback and now they are staring down the possibility of either signing Jimmy Garoppolo or paying a hefty price to move up for a rookie quarterback. It’s things like this that raise questions about whether or not the right people are in place to turn this franchise around.
23. Denver Broncos
- Previously: No. 27 in NFL power rankings
Javonte Williams and Tim Patrick will rejoin the offense in 2023 and a new play-caller should at least make Russell Wilson an above-average quarterback. Add that to a top-10 defense and the Denver Broncos could become a potential Wild Card contender. Throw in Sean Payton, one of the best offensive play designers of our era, and you’ve got a team that can climb the offseason NFL power rankings quickly.
22. Washington Commanders
- Previously: No. 19 in NFL power rankings
The best thing that is going to happen during the Washington Commanders’ offseason is the sale of the franchise. Ditching owner Daniel Snyder means stability, a new stadium and a drastically improved reputation. While the Commanders’ quarterback position still keeps them down, the future is bright for this franchise. Then again, it now seems like Snyder might keep the team and that’s far worse than the organization’s decision to put its faith in Sam Howell.
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21. Green Bay Packers
- Previously: No. 17 in NFL power rankings
It’s evident the Green Bay Packers fully believe in quarterback Jordan Love, so much so that the front office is excited to trade Aaron Rodgers. Only time will tell whether or not Love is the player the organization believes, but Green Bay at least put a quality supporting cast around him that will help with the evaluation process.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Previously: No. 17 in NFL power rankings
The Pittsburgh Steelers faced plenty of skepticism for spending a first-round pick on Kenny Pickett. While he’s clearly never going to be a star, Pickett demonstrated more than enough skill to prove he can elevate an offense with a strong supporting cast. The future is bright in Pittsburgh, even if the offense still has a lot of room for improvement.
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19. Carolina Panthers
- Previously: 20th in NFL power rankings
Frank Reich walks into a better situation as the Carolina Panthers head coach than he left with the Colts. The Carolina Panthers are starved for a franchise quarterback and the hiring of Reich re-affirms that owner David Tepper will do whatever it takes to land that guy. Find the right quarterback and Carolina wins the NFC South in 2023.
Related: 2023 NFL Draft QB rankings
18. New Orleans Saints
- Previously: No. 23 in NFL power rankings
The New Orleans Saints keep kicking the can down the road, avoiding a rebuild at the cost of its long-term future. While that should be viewed as a negative, Derek Carr is the best Saints quarterback since Drew Brees’ penultimate season. Considering how weak the NFC South is, New Orleans has to be viewed as the favorite until the Panthers’ quarterback spot is settled.
Related: 2023 NFL salary cap tracker
17. Cleveland Browns
- Previously: No. 18 in NFL power rankings
Projections for the Cleveland Browns in 2023 will come down to confidence in the defense improving and quarterback Deshaun Watson shaking off the rust he showed in 2022. There are holes to fill on both sides of the ball, with the defensive line and offensive weapons standing out. How well Andrew Berry addresses those with limited resources will dictate if Cleveland is a playoff team next season.
16. New York Giants
- Previously: No. 12 in NFL power rankings
Brian Daboll and the New York Giants wildly exceeded expectations in 2022. It offers promising signs for the future and clearly influenced the decisions with Saquon Bakley and Daniel Jones. While we might not have signed Jones that contract, it’s at least on the shorter side for commitments and puts New York in a position to add a lot of talent in free agency.
15. New England Patriots
- Previously: No. 18 in NFL power rankings
Even if Bill O’Brien wasn’t the best hire Bill Belichick could’ve made, he is still an upgrade over Matt Patricia. Consider the offensive instability and problems went through and this defense still nearly took the Patriots to the playoffs. If New England’s offense is even league-average, this is a playoff team next year and even more so if Mac Jones improves.
14. Minnesota Vikings
- Previously: No. 13 in NFL power rankings
There is ample evidence of NFL teams experiencing regression from one year to the next in one-score games. The Minnesota Vikings set an NFL record with 11 wins in one-score games in 2022, Regression is coming for a team that caught a lot of breaks, even if the defense is completely revamped this spring. At the very least, hiring Brian Flores as defensive coordinator is a strong initial move to address the Vikings’ defensive woes but the Vikings’ notable cap casualties point to their financial juggling act this offseason.
Related: 2023 NFL mock draft
13. Seattle Seahawks
- Previously: No. 12 in NFL power rankings
The Seattle Seahawks defied the label as one of the worst NFL teams in 2022 by becoming a huge surprise. Geno Smith earned his huge contract and Seattle’s offense proved it can be one of the most well-rounded units in the NFC, if the interior offensive line is improved. With a lot of draft capital and cap space, the Seahawks’ front office can also add some talent to the defense.
12. Detroit Lions
- Previously: No. 11 in NFL defense rankings
The NFC North should belong to the Detroit Lions in 2023. Dan Campbell’s team showed in the second half of the season that Detroit can hang with just about anybody and it should be favored to win the division. With the resources available for Detroit this spring, it’s well-positioned to become one of the best well-constructed rosters in the league.
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11. Baltimore Ravens
- Previously: 10th in NFL power rankings
The Baltimore Ravens’ future hangs in the balance. If the franchise doesn’t take the right approach to contract negotiations with Lamar Jackson, it’s no longer a foregone conclusion that he stays. For a front office that has done so many things well, burning bridges with Jackson and launching this team into quarterback purgatory could set it back years.
10. New York Jets
- Previously: 14th in NFL power rankings
Aaron Rodgers on the New York Jets puts them in the playoffs. He regressed in 2022, but part of that can be tied to the thumb injury he played through. Even if the Jets don’t get an All-Pro version of Rodgers, he would represent a monumental upgrade over everything they had before. An above-average offense and an elite defense, that’s the recipe for a Super Bowl contender.
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9. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Previously: 8th in NFL power rankings
The Jacksonville Jaguars are set up nicely to control the AFC South for years to come. Trevor Lawrence is the face of the franchise and head coach Doug Pederson helped him reach that level. Throw Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley onto the field and you’ll have one of the best NFL offenses in 2023.
Related: NFL offense rankings
8. Miami Dolphins
- Previously: 14th in NFL power rankings
A healthy Tua Tagovailoa under center in 2022 makes the Miami Dolphins a Super Bowl contender. The defense showed enough improvements in the second half that, when paired with Tagovailoa spending another year in Mike McDaniel’s system, can return this team to the dominant force we saw in stretches during the 2022 campaign.
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7. Los Angeles Chargers
- Previously: 6th in NFL power rankings
The playoff loss will sting for a while, but the 2022 season demonstrated why the Los Angeles Chargers can be a perennial contender. We’re already seeing the first step towards improvement with a new offensive coordinator taking over and that could change the trajectory of Justin Herbert‘s career for the better.
6. Buffalo Bills
- Previously: 4th in NFL power rankings
The end of the Buffalo Bills’ season highlighted some of the problems with the roster. Unfortunately, the Josh Allen contract is now kicking in and that makes it far more difficult to plug holes in the offensive line, front seven and complicates finding a playmaker. Buffalo remains one of the best teams in the AFC, but it’s now tiers removed from the top and it could get worse.
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5. Dallas Cowboys
- Previously: 7th in NFL power rankings
The conversations about trading Dak Prescott need to end. He is a very good quarterback, a player capable of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy if on the right team. Entering the offseason, the Cowboys’ offense just lacks the offensive weapons to beat a team like the San Francisco 49ers or Philadelphia Eagles in a playoff game. Dallas needs to stick with Prescott and just build a better team around him.
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4. San Francisco 49ers
- Previously: 3rd in NFL power rankings
Kyle Shanahan and a phenomenal San Francisco 49ers defense can take this team a long way, but they need a quarterback to win the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Brock Purdy‘s elbow surgery was pushed back far enough to raise concerns about his availability for training camp. Even if he’s healthy, asking him to repeat everything he did in a small sample size is a small task. When it comes down to it, we can’t bet on Purdy or Trey Lance to win a big game against an elite quarterback next season.
Related: San Francisco 49ers not as high on Trey Lance after 2022
3. Cincinnati Bengals
- Previously: 5th in NFL power rankings
Joe Burrow has elevated the Cincinnati Bengals franchise in a way that only seems comparable to what Tom Brady did for the New England Patriots. A franchise that won five playoff games since it joined the NFL has matched that postseason victory total in the last two years with Burrow. The Bengals are a Super Bowl contender as long as Burrow is around.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
- Previously: 1st in NFL power rankings
The Philadelphia Eagles are going to lose a lot this offseason. Both their coaching staff and starting lineup is going to take a hit. Typically, this would be a situation when you back off a team that went all-in and fell just short. However, Jalen Hurts proved he is a superstar and we’ll always bet on an elite quarterback when a GM like Howie Roseman is building a team around him.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
- Previously: 2nd in NFL power rankings
The Kansas City Chiefs are a dynasty. Five consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances, three Super Bowl trips and now a second Lombardi Trophy added to the resume. Patrick Mahomes deserves a majority of the credit, he is one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. What makes Kansas City a perennial Super Bowl contender, though, is general manager Brett Veach building a young team that could only get better from here.
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
