NFL 2020-2021 Preseason Power Rankings

After what seems like forever, the NFL season is finally back upon us. The season will be nothing short of unusual with few to no fans, and key players opting out due to the pandemic that is still upon us. Nonetheless, I think most people are just happy to have football back. For these power rankings, I will be ranking my list based solely upon roster talent - these are not my actual predictions for the upcoming season. For example, the Cowboys are ranked very high on the list because their team is loaded, but we all know that they will choke or under perform in the games that really matter. Like most of us, I cannot wait for the NFL season to start! Let's jump right into the list.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

The defending Super Bowl champs find themselves at the top of my list until they give me a reason not to be. They may not have the most stacked roster in the NFL, but I trust Pat Mahomes and the rest of their offense to outscore any team that they face. They have the best QB in the NFL, and probably the best skill position group to go with him with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and others. The Chiefs defense is not too threatening, but they do have stars in Chris Jones and Tyrann Mathieu, as well as other solid players like Frank Clark. A few teams beneath may have more completed rosters, but I would favor Pat Mahomes against anyone.

2. New Orleans Saints

The Saints are one of the few teams in the league that have zero weaknesses. They have a good offensive line, stars at skill positions such as Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, and Emmanuel Sanders, and one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time under center. On the defensive side of the ball, they have play makers at all three levels, including Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Marshon Lattimore. In 2019, they had an outstanding regular season where they went 13-3, but disappointed with a first round playoff loss to the Vikings. In terms of roster talent, there is no argument for the Saints not being near the top of the list.

3. Baltimore Ravens

Last season, the Titans defeated the Ravens to advance to the AFC Championship, robbing everyone of the Pat Mahomes vs Lamar Jackson game that we were all looking forward to. As if they couldn't get any more scary, the Ravens managed to make their roster even better than the one that capped a 14-2 regular season in 2019. In the draft, they added explosive players on both sides of the ball with J.K. Dobbins and Patrick Queen, and they traded for one of the best defensive players in the NFL in Calais Campbell. I don't know if I expect Lamar Jackson to have as crazy of a season as he did last year, but I do expect the Ravens to be one of the top dogs again.

4. San Francisco 49ers

In my opinion, the top 4 teams going into the 2020 season are irrefutable, but the ordering of those teams could be changed. For me, rounding out those teams is the 2019 runner-up San Francisco 49ers. They have a loaded defense with Nick Bosa, Richard Sherman, Fred Warner, Arik Armstead, Dee Ford, Javon Kinlaw, and Dre Greenlaw, among others. To go with the best defensive group in the league, they have improved their offense with the key off-season additions of Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk. Although Jimmy Garoppolo is a very solid player, they aren't at the very top of my rankings because they don't have a superstar at quarterback like the teams above them. Regardless, they are a likely going to be a Super Bowl threat again.

5. Dallas Cowboys

As much as I wanted to place them lower (natural bias as a Giants fan), the Cowboys deserve to be up here in terms of roster talent. Their offense is loaded with offensive threats such as Ezekiel Elliot, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and rookie CeeDee Lamb, and they still have a great offensive line, and good game manager at quarterback. Their secondary could use some work with the departure of Byron Jones, but they have a terrific front 7 with Demarcus Lawrence, Leighton Vander-Esch, Jaylon Smith, and the recent addition of Everson Griffen. I don't think that they are a team who will make a run in the playoffs with their recent choking habits, but you have to credit them with the excellent roster that they have.

6. Buffalo Bills

I finally think that there is a new sheriff in the town that is the AFC East. The Patriots seem to be on a downward spiral with the departure of Tom Brady, but I will never fully count out Bill Belichick. The Bills offense is nothing too special, but the recent addition of Stefon Diggs and their developing young running back core should add a needed spark. Josh Allen has a lot to prove as a passer, but he has shown that he is a huge threat when he is out of the pocket. The backbone of the team is their defense. In my eyes, the Bills trail only the 49ers as the best defense in the league, which is shown in the fact that they came in third in both yards allowed per game, and points allowed per game in 2019. The Patriots were also ahead of them, but they lost a few key free agents and have been plagued by players opting out of the season with the ongoing pandemic.

7. Green Bay Packers

Even though they had a draft that was crucified by all, the Packers are still one of the better teams in the NFL. If they decided to get another weapon for Aaron Rodgers in the draft, then they probably would be slightly higher on the list, but they still are not a team to be slept on. Their offense is led by one of the most talented quarterbacks of all-time, and they also have elite weapons in Davante Adams and Aaron Jones. They don't have great receiver depth behind Adams, but I think he is good enough to carry the bulk of the receiving load. Breakout star and candidate for 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, Za'Darius Smith, is the focal point of the defensive, with other star players such as Kenny Clark, Preston Smith, Jaire Alexander, and Adrian Amos contributing in the making of a solid defense.

8. Seattle Seahawks

Never count out Russell Wilson. As long as he is the quarterback of the Seahawks, they will be a team who is capable of making a Super Bowl run. Even though their offensive line is poor, the Seahawks offense as a whole is nothing to take lightly. Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf are terrific options at receiver, and Chris Carson has shown that he can carry the load at running back. On defense, they are in extreme need of players who can get after the quarterback, but they have two of the best players at their positions with Bobby Wagner, and recently acquired Jamal Adams. Overall, the Seahawks roster could certainly use some work in the offensive line and pass rushing departments, but I trust Russell Wilson to lead them to the playoffs once again.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Who would have believed me if I told you two years ago that Tom Brady would be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer? As crazy as it would have seemed, that is what it has come to in the present. He might not be the same player that he once was, but he is still a tremendous quarterback on an offense with a plethora of weapons. Their offensive line isn't elite, but rookie Tristan Wirfs should provide an immediate improvement. Also, the Buccs running back committee isn't something to hit home about, but should be enough to supplement their vast receiving weapons in Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Rob Gronkowski. Last season, the Buccaneers defense was one of the worst in points allowed per game, but they do have a breakout star in Shaq Barrett, and young talent in Devin White, Vita Vea, Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, and rookie Antoine Winfield Jr. I would say the Buccaneers biggest weakness is the lack of youth in most of their front 7, but overall, this team is one to look out for.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have transitioned from being an offensive to a defensive minded team in recent years. I would rank the Steelers as the third best defensive team for the upcoming season, behind the 49ers and the Bills. They have young superstars in T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Devin Bush, and still have older stars with Cameron Heyward and Joe Haden. The team almost managed to make the playoffs in 2019 with poor quarterback play from their backups, so the return of Big Ben should put them back in this year as long as he stays healthy. I wouldn't be too trusting in the Steelers offense, but their immense talent on defense should be good enough to carry the load.

11. Tennessee Titans

Before their incredible playoff run to the AFC Championship in 2019, the Titans were the first team that popped into my head when I thought of average. That isn't to imply a negative connotation, I just believed that they were a well-rounded team with no weaknesses, but not many stars either. The well-rounded portion of that statement still remains true, but now Derrick Henry has evolved into one of the best ball carriers in the league, and A.J. Brown looks like a star in the making. I need to see Ryan Tannehill replicate the success that he had in 2019 before I consider the Titans as one of the top Super Bowl contenders, but I don't see a single positional group on the team that is below average, which makes them the top team in the AFC South in my eyes.

12. Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles managed to outlast the Cowboys for the NFC East title last season, and that was with Carson Wentz throwing to practice squad players. The Eagles receivers are much healthier now, and will have first round rookie wideout Jalen Reagor in the mix. When healthy, their offensive line is one of the strongest units in the league, and sophomore running back Miles Sanders showed a ton of potential in his rookie campaign. On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles have a terrific defensive line with Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Derek Barnett, but they need a lot of help with their linebacker and defensive back groups. Darius Slay should have an immediate impact on the field for their secondary, but he is the only standout player on the defense that isn't on the defensive line.

13. Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are one of the tougher teams to rank for the upcoming NFL season. They had an excellent draft and are pretty well balanced overall, but they lost key players on both sides of the ball with the departures of Stefon Diggs, Everson Griffen, and multiple cornerbacks. Kirk Cousins had arguably the best year of his career in 2019, but he still will be playing behind an offensive line that is below average. Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, and rookie Justin Jefferson are great weapons for the offense, but their receivers lack serious depth after the two players mentioned. Harrison Smith and Danielle Hunter are two of the best defensive players in the NFL, but their defense has some serious holes. Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, and Anthony Harris are good players too, and they have young talent at cornerback, yet there still are concerns with some of the starting players that they will have to put out. Nonetheless, the Vikings are a team that should be a threat to make the playoffs, and could be a threat to make a run there if they fill some of their holes on their offensive line and in the defense.

14. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are another one of the teams that are tough to rank for me. Their roster has sort of the "stars and scrubs" build, which is pretty self explanatory. Jared Goff had the worst full year of his career in 2019, but I still see him as an average at worst type of quarterback. Complementing him on offense are great depth at receiving positions including Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, and a rookie running back with potential in Cam Akers. The Rams offensive line is starting to get up there in age and has regressed a little, but should be competent for a few more years still. On the defense, the Rams still have the best defensive player in the NFL in Aaron Donald, and the best young defensive back in Jalen Ramsey. There are some areas of concern for the defense, but those two players alone are enough to keep the group from being too bad. I don't know if the Rams can get back to their 2018 glory, but they are a team that should be competitive.

15. Cleveland Browns

2019 was a difficult year for the Browns. That was supposed to be the year where the Browns finally ended their 17 year playoff drought, but they finished the season with a poor 6-10 record. Baker Mayfield took a step back from his promising rookie season, and Odell Beckham Jr. did not produce as much as fans hoped for after they traded for him. On paper, the Browns have one of the best offenses in the NFL leading into the 2020 season. They have an extreme number of weapons ranging from Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, and Odell Beckham Jr., to Jarvis Landry, Austin Hooper, and David Njoku. Also, the Browns improved their offensive line drastically with the drafting of Jedrick Wills, and with the signing of Jack Conklin, so there are no excuses for Baker if he disappoints again this season. Their defense does need some work, especially with their linebackers and secondary, but they have young superstars in Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward that should be able to pickup some of the slack.

16. Los Angeles Chargers

Like the Browns, the Chargers disappointed in 2019 after most people had high hopes for them. They are not the same team as they were with Phillip Rivers and Melvin Gordon leaving in free agency, but they did bring in several key pieces in the off-season, including Justin Herbert, Kenneth Murray, Brian Bulaga, and Trai Turner. The Chargers offense is not one of the better units in the league for the upcoming season, but I think that Tyrod Taylor is better than people credit him for, and should do a decent job at the helm until Justin Herbert is ready. Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Hunter Henry, and Austin Ekeler should provide enough of a spark to keep the offensive from being stale. The teams offensive line is not great, but should be better than they were a year ago. Talent is not the issue on the defensive side of the ball, health is. The Chargers are known to have been plagued with injuries in recent years, but when healthy, they have one of the best defensive rosters in the league. They have talent everywhere such as Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Chris Harris, Casey Hayward, Desmond King, and Derwin James. If they stay healthy in 2020, I think the Chargers could be a sneaky playoff team.

17. Houston Texans

Where do we even get started with Bill O'Brien? I really feel for Houston fans who have had to endure him giving away DeAndre Hopkins and Jadeveon Clowney for basically nothing. David Johnson should provide some energy to the backfield, but not enough to fill the void on the offense left by Hopkins. The Brandin Cooks acquisition was a solid move, but I don't he has what it takes to be a dominant number one receiver. Regardless, Houston should be a decent team because they have one of the best young quarterbacks in the league with Deshaun Watson, and the offensive line in front of him as improved drastically since a few years ago. The Texans defense is not as threatening as it once was, but J.J. Watt is a superstar when healthy, and they have a few other solid players such as Whitney Mercilus and Justin Reid. I could easily see this team making playoffs, but I could just as easily see them picking in the top 10 of the draft.

18. Indianapolis Colts

Directly following their AFC South counterparts on my power rankings is the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are an interesting team with Phillip Rivers joining the squad for the upcoming season. In 2019, Phillip Rivers was one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL, but I don't think he'll replicate another poor performance this year. If he manages to play like his usual self, then the Colts will end up higher ranked on this list. There aren't a ton of weapons on the Colts offense, but they have one of the best offensive lines in football, and T.Y. Hilton, and rookies Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman should be good enough to carry most of the production. Although there are some holes in their defensive unit, I would still rank them around the middle of the pack with standout players such as Justin Houston, Darius Leonard, and Malik Hooker.

19. Atlanta Falcons

If football was only about offense, then the Falcons would be a top 10 team in the NFL. Unfortunately for them, it isn't, and their defense needs to show drastic improvement before I can rank the Falcons high. I still believe that Matt Ryan is one of the better quarterbacks in the league, and he has numerous weapons with Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and newly acquired Todd Gurley, and Hayden Hurst. The Falcons offensive line isn't great, but should be good enough to allow the rest of the offense to flourish. Health has been a major detriment to the defense with Deion Jones and Keanu Neal often being injured. If they are healthy, I think the defense could be decent as they made numerous off-season improvements and retained Grady Jarrett, but I need to see those changes first before I can move up the Falcons.

20. Denver Broncos

The Broncos have a very bright future with all the young talent on the roster, but I don't think it's their time quite yet. Drew Lock looked promising in his five starts last year, but that is still a very small sample size to base a player off of. If he continues that success into this season, then the team should be one to look out for in future years. The team's offensive line is about average, but they have young, dynamic weapons everywhere with Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, and Noah Fant, and two good running backs in Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay. I don't trust the Broncos cornerbacks since they no longer have Chris Harris or Aqib Talib, but their safety tandem of Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson should keep most receivers in front of them. Von Miller has slightly regressed in the past years, but he is still one of the best pass rushers in the league, and Bradley Chubb is healthy again for the upcoming season. Their defense could add some youth, but that isn't much of an issue when narrowing the scope to the 2020 season only.

21. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are a team that should be fun to watch, but they still have some areas of concern on their roster. Chandler Jones and Patrick Peterson are terrific players on the defense, but they aren't getting any younger. Also, outside of rookie Isaiah Simmons and Budda Baker, there is not much young talent on their defense. Even though the offense has some electrifying players, the Cardinals need to bolster their defense before they are true competitors. Speaking of offense, the addition of DeAndre Hopkins should do wonders for Kyler Murray when paired with the ageless Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk, but Kyler will still be running for his life behind the offensive line. The Cardinals should improve and can be a team to pull off some upsets, but I think they need to fill more roster gaps before they are true competitors.

22. Chicago Bears

I truly believe that the Bears would be one of the best teams in the NFL if they had a capable quarterback. The Bears did trade for Nick Foles which should spark competition at the position, but I do not trust either player to be able to lead the team to victory. Outside of Allen Robinson, there is not a ton of talent on the offensive, as their offensive line is average at best, and the team struggled to get David Montgomery going in his rookie season. However, I am a very strong believer in the teams defensive unit. Eddie Goldman did opt out for the 2020 season, but the defense still has immense talent with players such as superstar Khalil Mack, Akeem Hicks, Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Robert Quinn, Kyle Fuller, and Eddie Jackson. I expect their defense to rank within the top five, but their offense needs to be reliable if the team wants to have any success.

23. Detroit Lions

The Lions are a team that gets way too much hate given the fact that they were without a healthy Matt Stafford for the majority of last season. I was tempted to place the Lions even higher on my list, but decided that this was the right place for them to be. The team has a pretty good offense with all things considered. Matt Stafford is still a good quarterback, and Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, and T.J. Hockenson are a solid receiving core. They now have two capable running backs with Kerryon Johnson and rookie standout D'Andre Swift, and they play behind a line that is about average, although they did lose some players to free agency. The Lions defense is not a particularly strong group, but they aren't as bad as some think. Trey Flowers and Jamie Collins are solid players in their front 7, and they have three good cornerbacks with Desmond Trufant, rookie Jeff Okudah, and Justin Coleman. The Lions are a team that could shock some doubters, but still should miss out on playoffs.

24. Las Vegas Raiders

2020 is a very important season for Derek Carr. Ever since he signed his massive contract, he has not played well. There are no excuses if he doesn't perform this year with the talent around him, and the team could decide to move on from him if he struggles. The Raiders offensive line is an above average unit, and rookie speedster Henry Ruggs should be able to take the top off the defense and give more opportunities to Darren Waller and the other receivers on the team. Things are still sort of a mess on the defensive side of the ball, but there are a few young players who are capable of developing into solid pieces, Maxx Crosby being one. Also, the additions of Corey Littleton and Nick Kwiatkowski will provide an immediate improvement for a linebacking core that struggled in 2019.

25. New York Giants

The Giants have a lot of young talent on their roster, but they also have a lot of areas that need to be addressed or developed for the approaching season. Daniel Jones showed a ton of potential in his rookie season, but needs to improve his ball security if he is to be the team's franchise quarterback. The team has a generational talent at running back with Saquon Barkley, and have numerous receiving threats in Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate, and Evan Engram, but staying healthy has been an issue for that group. The Giants offensive line has gotten better in recent years, and they added a lot of talent there in the draft, but the unit still has some holes, especially with Nate Solder opting out for the season. Even though the Giants offense has potential to be an above average unit, their defense still looks like they will rank towards the bottom of the league. They have some young pieces on the defensive line who are quality players, and the additions of Xavier McKineny and James Bradberry should improve the secondary, but there are no great pass rushers or linebackers who can roam the field on their roster. The Giants might be better than some predict if Daniel Jones improves, but they also could be picking in the top five again if he doesn't.

26. Cincinnati Bengals

If you are a Bengals fan, you should be excited for the future ahead of you with Joe Burrow. I wholeheartedly believe that Burrow will be a great NFL quarterback, but the team has other positions that need to be fulfilled in the next few seasons before they are playoff contenders. On offense, the team has a lot of play makers that Burrow can utilize, such as Joe Mixon, A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, John Ross, and rookie Tee Higgins. However, the Bengals offensive line looks to be one of the weakest groups in the league, but Jonah Williams could change that as the 2018 first-rounder missed all of 2019 with injury. The Bengals defensive line should be able to stop the run and get after the quarterback since they have some quality players in Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap, Carl Lawson, and recently signed D.J. Reader. However, the team's linebacking core is very weak, and their secondary is average at best. The Bengals will be a good team with an improved offensive line, and a couple more solid players on the defense.

27. New England Patriots

Many people are going to be surprised with my ranking of the New England Patriots for the 2020 season. Tom Brady leaving in free agency is obviously a big reason as to why their ranking dropped, but I think that Cam Newton will be able to do a decent in New England. In recent years, the main identity of the team has been their defense, and that group has taken a massive hit for this season. Kyle Van Noy left the team to join the Dolphins in free agency, and Dont'a Hightower and Patrick Chung, two of the team's leaders, opted out for the season. The Patriots secondary will still be a great unit with Stephon Gilmore and Devin McCourty among others, but as a whole, their defense won't be the same this year. Cam Newton should bring energy and open up the playbook for the offense, but they don't have a true every down type of back, and their receiving core is below average. I will never count out the Patriots with Bill Belichick leading the team, but the forthcoming season doesn't look too good for them. Or maybe that is just what Bill wants (hint: Trevor Lawrence)?

28. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers heavily invested in their defense in the 2020 NFL Draft. They added rookies Derrick Brown and Yetur Gross-Matos to their defensive line who have immense talent, and should have an immediate impact when paired with second year pass rusher Brian Burns. Shaq Thompson and Donte Jackson are two other bright spots on the defense, but as a whole, there are still a lot of positions that need to be filled. Although there is talent, the Panthers defense should struggle in 2020. The team signed Teddy Bridgewater in free agency, and he will start for them at quarterback immediately. Although a decent quarterback, I don't believe Bridgewater is the long term answer for the franchise, but this list is only focusing on 2020 regardless. The best all-around running back in the league, Christian McCaffrey, will help take a ton of pressure off of the new quarterback, and there are other young receiving threats on the team in D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel. If Teddy Bridgewater and the team's young defense exceeds expectations, then the Panthers will be better than their rank indicates.

29. New York Jets

The Jets set themselves up for long term success with the haul that they got from dishing Jamal Adams to the Seahawks, but it doesn't have positive implications when narrowing the scope down to only 2020. I am a believer that Sam Darnold is a better player than most of the league perceives him to be. I don't know if he is going to be a star, but you can't ask him to do much with the poor offensive line he plays behind, and the lack of weapons that the Jets organization provides him. The Jets normally have a decent defense, but Jamal Adams is no longer on the team as mentioned earlier, and C.J. Mosley opted out for the 2020 season. I think the Jets will be picking in the top five for the 2021 NFL Draft.

30. Miami Dolphins

The future is bright in Miami, but unfortunately for them, it is still the present. Their roster is stacked with young potential from the hauls they have gotten from previous drafts. Tua Tagovailoa has the skill set to be a very good quarterback in the league, but it is unlikely he starts this year, at least at the beginning of the season. The team's offensive line is still very young and should struggle, and the team doesn't have any standout targets aside from DaVante Parker. The Dolphins added more talent to their defense in the off-season with the additions of Kyle Van Noy, Byron Jones, and rookie Noah Igbinoghene, but they still lack a dominant pass rusher, and have holes in other areas.

31. Washington Football Team

The Washington Football Team are a mess right now for plenty of reasons. They legitimately are named "Football Team", their ownership is in flames, and Derrius Guice has been released due to big off the field issues. Honing in on their roster, things could be better there too. The Football Team have a pretty solid defense, but their offense looks to be the worst in the league by a wide margin. I am not ruling Dwayne Haskins as a bust just yet, but the team has a bad offensive line, and virtually no play makers outside of sophomore Terry McLaurin. The team has solid players at all levels of their defense, but I don't imagine it will be enough to carry their offense. Chase Young is a generational talent, and will immediately improve the team's ability to generate pressure and take down the quarterback.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

Coming in at last on my power rankings is none other than the Jacksonville Jaguars. I was very tempted to have Washington here, but their defense gave them the slight edge over the Jaguars. Although not as bad as Washington, the Jags seem to have problems with their ownership as well, since it seems like no player wants to stay on the team. Their offense is not terrible, but certainly not strong either. I don't trust Gardner Minshew to post the same statistics as he did in his rookie season, but if he does, the team probably won't be the worst in the league. The Jaguars have a decent offensive line, and capable threats in Leonard Fournette and D.J. Chark, but nothing game breaking. They have talented youth on their defense with Josh Allen, C.J. Henderson, and K'Lavon Chaisson, yet there are a lot of roster holes that will probably leave them as a unit that finishes near the bottom of the league. If the young players on the roster turn up, then the team could exceed expectations, but their expectations are already pretty low for this coming NFL season.