2023 NFL Off-Season Power Rankings Part 1

With free agency and the draft now over with, we now have a clear picture of what all 32 NFL teams will be looking like going into week 1 of the 2023 season. We have now come to that time of year where there is little going on in the NFL, meaning we now have to find ways to cope with our boredom. What better way to do so than to indulge in my meaningless NFL power rankings?

I think I might have provided too much analysis on these teams cause I have to post these power rankings in 2 parts so that 1 article is not a 25 minute read. But more NFL content is never a bad thing

Anyway, I would like to present my rankings of every 32 teams in the NFL heading into the 2023 season:

32 Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are in the early stages of a rebuild as they enter a new regime with rookie head coach Jonathan Gannon. They have a lot of work to do; the old regime left them a pile of heaping trash to work with.

The trenches were largely ignored under the old regime, so there is much needed work to do there. The additions of tackle Paris Johnson and edge BJ Ojulari via the draft are good starts for improving the offensive and defensive line.

The secondary is also very depleted after the loss of Byron Murphy in free agency. They do however have a quality safety duo in Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson to build around.

The one big thing the Cardinals have going for them is the fact that they already have a franchise quarterback. Kyler Murray, who will likely miss the start of the season due to an ACL tear, is going to be a great player to build around.

The Cardinals are currently a very depleted team and should be contenders for the number 1 pick in the 2024 draft.

31 Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are also entering a new regime following the firing of Frank Reich and the hiring of Eagles' offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. Their roster is not without talent though.

They have an underrated wide receiver core with rookie Josh Downs, Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce leading the charge. They also have an underrated defensive line with players like Deforest Buckner, Kwity Paye and newcomer Sampson Ebukam.

Their offensive line and secondary are suspect though, as they will be looking for young players to step up at those positions.

The biggest intrigue regarding the Colts is their quarterback situation. They spend the 4th overall pick in this year's draft to take Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, who is quite possibly the most physically gifted quarterback to ever enter the NFL. Richardson will likely need at least a year to sit and develop, making it likely that Gardner Minshew will be this team's starter for the majority if not the whole season.

30 Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are beginning to look like an NFL level team again after being a laughing stock for the past couple seasons. Their aggressive trade up in the draft allowed them to acquire a face of the offense in quarterback CJ Stroud, and a face of their defense with edge Will Anderson.

Stroud should find immediate success in his rookie season with a solid group of receivers that include newcomer Robert Woods, a good run game led by Damion Pierce and an underrated offensive line. Anderson will look to provide juice to a developing defensive line.

The Texans will hope to see continued development from their young players in this upcoming season. Cornerback Derek Stingley will be looking to have a breakout season following a promising rookie performance. The hiring of 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans should only help these defensive players succeed.

The Texans are not quite ready to compete now, but they are making strides towards being a playoff contender if their young core of players can continue to develop.

29 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers appear to have fallen back into the gutter after a few years of dominance with Tom Brady that included a Superbowl victory.

Brady's retirement was one of many losses for the Bucs this off-season. They have now parted ways with players such as Leonard Fournette, Shaq Mason, Donovan Smith, William Gholston and Sean-Murphy Bunting.

The team will now roll into 2023 with a quarterback room that consists of Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. Mayfield struggled mightily in 2022 with the division rivals Carolina Panthers, but was able to find some success as the starting quarterback for the Rams after being cut partway through the season. Trask, a former 2nd round pick from 2021, has seen minimal action in the NFL thus far.

The Buccaneers 2023 season is looking to be a transition season for them; it is unlikely that they will have significant success and they may be in for a long season.

28 Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears will be rolling into the 2023 season with big expectation for 3rd year quarterback Justin Fields. Fields is an exciting player due to his rare explosiveness as a runner, but he has major strides he needs to take as a passer to become a quality starting quarterback in the NFL. With the trade for superstar receiver DJ Moore and the drafting of offensive tackle Darnell Wright, Fields should have all of the tools he needs to make a huge leap in his 3rd year.

The defense should be better than the depleted group they were putting on the field last season after a busy off-season. They went out and signed players like DeMarcus Walker, Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards to bolster their defense. Their secondary is also filled with young players poised to step for their defense.

The main cause for concern regarding the Bears' defense is their defensive line. The defensive group they have in the trenches is looking quite lacking and will likely be a weakness of this team.

The Bears are a young team that will hope to continue developing in 2023, especially at the quarterback position.

27 Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos actually have a pretty good roster on paper. They have a plethora of weapons on offense. They have Javonte Williams as a quality running back, a receiving core that consists of Cortland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, Marquez Callaway and KJ Hamler, and second year player Greg Dulcich at tight end. They have an underrated offensive live that now includes free agent pickups Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers.

Their defense is also looking solid. They have a very deep front seven and a secondary that is a thin group, but still has superstars such as Patrick Surtain II and Justin Simmons.

The big wildcard with the Denver Broncos is quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson, who has been one of the best quarterbacks of that last decade, had a surprisingly bad first season with the Broncos in 2022. Head coach Nathaniel Hackett's poor offensive design did not put Wilson in a position to succeed.

Now with a new head coach in Sean Payton, who has been one of the best offensive minds in the NFL for quite some time, Russell Wilson should be in the best position to succeed.

This upcoming season will likely determine whether Wilson just had a down year in a bad situation in 2022, or if he is truly past his prime in the NFL.

26 Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams' roster has thinned out tremendously since they won the Superbowl at the end of the 2021 season. They still have quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is coming off of an injury and may not be ready to start week 1. They also will have all-pro receiver Cooper Kupp returning from injury. Aside from those to players, the Rams' offense is looking talent deprived.

Running back Cam Akers has struggled to become a consistent contributor on offense in his first few seasons in the league; this year will be a big one for him. Their receiver core outside of Cooper Kupp is also looking mediocre. Players like Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek and Tutu Atwell will have opportunities to win that WR2 spot. The offensive line is also looking problematic, with there being very little talent outside of stud right tackle Rob Havenstein.

The defense is also looking like a thin group. With the loss of Leonard Floyd in free agency, the front seven is looking very talent deprived outside of Aaron Donald, who is getting up there in age and is coming off of a down year.

The secondary is also looking very ugly after the team traded Jalen Ramsey to the Dolphins. The Rams do however have a great coaching staff to make up for the lack of roster talent. Head coach Sean McVay is one of the best offensive minds in the NFL and Raheem Morris is a quality defensive coordinator.

The coaching staff are going to keep the Rams competitive this season, but their roster is looking like one of the most talent deprived in the league.

25 Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders are in a weird situation right now. Their roster is not bad, but it is not one that is likely to make a serious playoff push.

They now have Jimmy Garopolo as their starting quarterback after releasing Derek Carr. Garopolo has been a solid starter for San Francisco, but ultimately a player that they looked to replace by drafting Trey Lance. He should be efficient in Las Vegas, but not someone who will elevate the team.

Garopolo will have good weapons to work with, with Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, Jakobi Myers and Michael Mayer to work with plus an offensive line that is not as bad as people think.

The defense should be a respectable unit in 2023. They have one of the best edge rushers in the league in Maxx Crosby, plus Chandler Jones, Bilal Nichols and first round pick Tyree Wilson to round out a very good defensive line. The secondary has talent but is young, with players such as Nate Hobbs and Trevon Moehrig looking to break out.

Josh McDaniels' first season as the head coach of the Raiders was a disappointment. He is going to have to impress this season if he wants to keep his job.

24 New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints will be looking to compete this year in a weak NFC South. They signed former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr to hopefully give them the quality play at that position that they have not had since Drew Brees retired.

Carr should have a good supporting cast to work with. They still have Alvin Kamara at running back, who may however be facing a suspension to start the season, second year receiver Chris Olave and Michael Thomas who has been one of the best receivers in football when healthy to go along with a solid offensive line.

The Saints did lose some talent on defense that will need to be replaced. They lost defensive linemen Marcus Davenport, Shy Tuttle and David Onyematta in free agency. Rookies Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey will have to step up in those players' absences next to veteran Cameron Jordan. Their linebacker core and secondary are still stellar groups, with stars such as Marshon Lattimore, Tyrann Mattieu and Demario Davis leading the charge.

The Saints have a respectable roster and should be able to compete in the NFC, although their coaching and overall upside may be suspect.

23 Washington Commanders

The Washington Commies are another team whose roster seems to be just, fine. Second year player Sam Howell, who played well in limited action his rookie season, and veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett will be competing in training camp for the starting quarterback job.

Whichever quarterback that earns the starting job will have a solid receiving trio of Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel to work with. There is a notable lack of impact players at running back and tight end though. The offensive line should be a serviceable one, though likely not a true strength.

The defense should be one of the better ones in the league this season under Ron Rivera. The quartet of first round picks on the defensive line should wreak havoc on opposing offenses. This year is a big one for Chase Young, who had a productive rookie season, but injuries and inconsistency led to the team declining his fifth year option this off-season. Their secondary should be improved with the addition of Emmanuel Forbes in the draft.

The Commanders have the talent to be in contention for a wildcard spot, but lack the upside to be a true contender.

22 Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have improved their team drastically through a busy 2023 off-season. The drafting of Texas running back Bijan Robinson should make this offense have one of the deadliest run games in the league. They have an underrated offensive line, now with the addition of Matthew Bergeron through the draft, that should help Bijan eat in his rookie season.

The run game should help make up for what is looking like an underwhelming passing game. The Falcons will be rolling with second year quarterback Desmond Ridder, who does not appear to be a high upside player, as their starter. The receiver core also has minimal talent outside of second year receiver Drake London, plus the team has struggled to utilize dynamic tight end Kyle Pitts thusfar.

The Falcons' defense should be much improved after a number of additions on that side of the ball. They added Calais Campbell, David Onyemata and Bud Dupree to a defensive line that already included quality players such as Grady Jarrett, Arnold Ebiketie and Lorenzo Carter.

The secondary should also be one of the best in the league after the additions of Jessie Bates and Jeff Okudah to pair with AJ Terrell and Richie Grant.

The Falcons added enough talent this off-season to contend in the NFC South, but their quarterback situation makes their upside as a team questionable.

21 Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns should be a much improved team after a productive off-season. Their defense should be significantly better after parting ways with mediocre defensive coordinator Joe Woods.

They improved their defensive line which was looking like an XFL group outside of superstar edge rusher Myles Garrett in free agency by bringing in former Vikings Dalvin Tomlinson and Za'Darius Smith. They also added Juan Thornhill to an already stellar defensive backs room.

The offense is also looking good on paper. The Browns still have one of the best offensive lines in football. They also have a lethal run game led by Nick Chubb and a solid receiver core led by Amari Cooper.

The big question mark with this offense is at the quarterback position. Ultimate women respecter Deshaun Watson struggled last season after being away from football for nearly 2 years. Watson was one of the best quarterbacks in the league before his legal troubles started. This upcoming season will be very telling as to whether or not he can get back to his old form.

20 Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings appear to be entering a year of relative transition. They parted ways with several veteran players including Adam Thielan, Za'Darius Smith, Dalvin Tomlinson, Eric Kendricks, Cam Dantzler, Patrick Peterson and Harrison Smith. Star running back Dalvin Cook is also rumored to be cut in the near future.

The offense should still be a productive unit, with quarterback Kirk Cousins coming off one of the better years of his career. Cousins will now have Jordan Addison to throw to along with Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockenson.

The Viking's defense vastly improved their coaching this off-season, but lost more roster talent than they gained on that side of the ball. Replacing defensive coordinator Ed Donatell with Brian Flores is a massive upgrade.

The front 7 of the defense is a concern though, with little talent outside of standout edge rusher Danielle Hunter. The secondary is young but unproved, with free agent acquisition Byron Murphy leading the group.

This Vikings team should still be competitive in 2023, but will likely not be a deep playoff contender.

19 Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are entering a new regime now under head coach Frank Reich who reunites with the team after being the first starting quarterback in team history back in 1995. The team made an aggressive trade up to the number 1 overall pick in this year's draft, parting ways with significant draft capital and star receiver DJ Moore, to draft Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.

Young should have a productive season as a rookie, as he was the most pro ready quarterback in this draft class. He will be set up for success with a stellar supporting cast. The Panthers field an underrated offensive line plus a number of quality weapons that now include newcomers Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, Hayden Hurst, Myles Sanders and Jonathan Mingo.

The team should also have a respectable defense under new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, Shaq Thompson and Frankie Luvu lead a solid front 7, while Jaycee Horn and Jeremy Chinn are playmakers on the back end of the defense. Chinn is poised for a career year with the improved depth at safety now allowing his skillset to be utilized more effectively.

Potential weaknesses at the second edge and cornerback spots could be a cause for concern.

The Panthers are an exciting team that should be in contention to win their division and could be a force to be reckoned with in the near future if all goes according to plan.

18 Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the 2023 NFL season with yet another year without a losing season, extending Mike Tomlin's incredible streak. They enter the season with second year quarterback Kenny Pickett leading the charge.

Pickett ended the season strong after having a rough start as the starting quarterback. His upside is limited, but he should still be a quality player for the Steelers in 2023.

The offense has good playmakers with Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth all being productive contributors. The offensive line may be a cause for concern, but rookie 1st round pick Broderick Jones should help improve that group.

The main cause for concern on offense is with the coaching. The team made the questionable decision to bring back offensive coordinator Matt Canada despite his lack of success. This could limit the upside of the offense.

The defense should be one of the better ones in football again as usual. T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward should continue to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines. The secondary should be much improved after the team stole cornerback Joey Porter Jr. at the top of the 2nd round in the draft.

The Steelers are going to be competitive and be in contention for a playoff spot in 2023 due to them being coached by Mike Tomlin, but their upside, especially on offense, is limited.

17 Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have been one of the more hyped up teams this off-season after a strong finish to the 2022 season. An underwhelming off-season and putrid draft have hurt their overall upside and long-term projection though.

Their offense should continue to be productive with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson returning for another year. Their upside with quarterback Jared Goff will be limited, but Goff is still a quality quarterback who will produce in their system.

They should have one of the better run games in the league now being led by newcomers David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs who will have one of the best offensive lines in football to run behind. With DJ Chark leaving in free agency and Jameson Williams getting suspended, their receiving core is looking unerwhelming.

Their defensive line should continue to grow with a number of young players such as Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeil continuing to develop. Their secondary now has a number of new editions including CJ Gardner Johnson, Cam Sutton, Brian Branch and Emmanuel Mosely. The trading of corner back Jeff Okudah leaves a question mark at outside corner though.

The Lions should be a playoff contender in 2023, but the off-season has left them lacking any clear path to ever becoming a serious Superbowl contender.