NFL power rankings: Best team in AFC after draft
The 2021 NFL Draft is over, and now we start looking at the NFL power rankings and see how the AFC appears as we head towards training camp.
16. Houston Texans
With to without Deshaun Watson, the Texans are a rudderless ship destined for the bottom.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence is going to be a great player, but the Jaguars finished last year on a 15-game losing streak for a reason. It’s a long, long road back.
14. New York Jets
Love the offensive weapons general manager Joe Douglas has put around rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, but is it enough to avoid the AFC East basement?
13. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow is back, but can Cincinnati block or play defense? Probably not.
12. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders got worse offensively and didn’t do nearly enough to fix all their defensive problems. The Jon Gruden era has been a mess so far.
11. Denver Broncos
The roster is terrific outside of quarterback, which is somewhat of a massive issue. Get Aaron Rodgers and things change.
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10. New England Patriots
No team was more active this offseason than the Patriots, but who are the real difference-makers? New England needs Mac Jones to be a revelation.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
This team started 11-0 last year before cratering. Now, the Steelers lost a bunch fo key players to free agency and Ben Roethlisberger is a year older.
8. Miami Dolphins
What to make of the Dolphins in the NFL power rankings? Love the coach and roster, but Tua Tagovailoa was bad as a rookie. Can he pick it up?
7. Indianapolis Colts
All about Carson Wentz. If he finds his old form, the Colts are intriguing. If not, they’re lucky to win eight games.
6. Los Angeles Chargers
Everything about the Chargers screams sleeper team, especially Justin Herbert. The main question is if first-year head coach Brandon Staley can get the job done.
5. Tennessee Titans
Ryan Tannehill lost tight end Jonnu Smith and receiver Corey Davis, but the offense still has perimeter threat A.J. Brown and the league’s best back in Derrick Henry. Should be a playoff team.
Read: Aaron Rodgers Would Rather Sit Out Than Play – Favre
4. Baltimore Ravens
Now we’re into the heavy hitters. We know the Ravens are a very good team in the regular season. Can they finally, mercifully, make a deep playoff run?
3. Cleveland Browns
The Browns are the best team — on paper — in the AFC North. Great free agency and draft to bolster the defense, and Kevin Stefanski in his second year should have things running smoothly.
2. Buffalo Bills
The Bills remain the biggest challenger to the Chiefs. They have an elite quarterback in Josh Allen, real weapons across the offense and a terrific secondary.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The two-time AFC champs might have gotten better this offseason. A total overhaul of the offensive line is more than enough to make the Chiefs favorites in the AFC, and the NFL.
