Preseason Edition

With the hype of the draft now clearly in the rear view mirror there are a lot of NFL future bets being posted and sportsbooks are anxious to start taking your bets. The league plans to release a schedule and fingers crossed, it looks like the season is tentatively on. If you’re an experienced bettor you surely know that the quality of a team is not the only factor to evalue in placing one of these bets. With that being said, understanding the potential value a team brings before there are tangible results to analyze can give you a clear advantage against your bookie. This list will have some shifts after whatever this year’s preseason looks like, but for now here’s the haves and have nots of the National Football League

1. Kansas City Chiefs

To be the man, you gotta beat the man, and in this case the Kansas City Chiefs are holding the title. Going back-to-back is not an easy thing, but KC certainly is poised to give it a serious shot. Bringing Chris Jones back on the defense was critical and adding LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire at the back of the first round could give Andy Reid even more options for this potentially record-breaking offense. Patrick Mahomes mentioned in an interview that he’s actually starting to process the game at a level he couldn’t early in his career. Um, wow.

2. Baltimore Ravens

The Raven’s 2019 campaign fizzled out somewhat surprisingly as their regular season dominance didn’t translate in the postseason. In the evolution of teams, this could theoretically be the year that Baltimore Ravens make the leap and they’re certainly equipped to do so. A strong draft landing Patrick Queen at linebacker to boost the defense along with free agent Calais Campbell should make this unit even stronger. On the offensive side of the ball, Lamar Jackson will again keep defensive coordinator’s awake at night trying to figure out how to contain him. The biggest question mark for this team could be if LJ can continue to stay healthy with his style of play?

3. New Orleans Saints

The fans in San Francisco won’t agree with this, but we’ve got the Saints with a slight edge in the NFC at the early point of the offseason. It was almost bizarre how flat this veteran team was in their playoff loss to the Vikings, but we’re going to give Drew Brees the benefit of the doubt that he’s got one more solid season left in him. If we’re wrong, this team could plummet way down the rankings despite one of the most complete rosters in the league. Would Jameis Winston be able to step in if needed? The addition of Emmanuel Sanders to play opposite of Michael Thomas could be the difference between a good offense and a great one, and keep things opened up for Alvin Kamara and the running game.

4. San Francisco 49ers

Will the motivation of their tough Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs drive this team back to the big game, or will they be victim of the losing Super Bowl team hangover we’re so used to seeing? They certainly were determined not to lose in the offseason as GM John Lynch creatively helped keep this team strong and managed to land left tackle Trent Williams to fill the void of the retired Joe Staley. The Niners used a first round pick at a need position of WR by selecting Brandon Aiyuk but we’re still not sure how good this receiving corp will be as a unit? This year would be the ideal time for Jimmy G to silence his critics.

5. Dallas Cowboys

The biggest risk on our preseason rankings is slotting the Cowboys in at number five. Dallas fans are flying high after nearly everyone feels like Jerry Jones crushed the virtual draft. Somehow having the ‘Boys this high seems way wrong, but it really is hard to imagine this team not cruising on the offensive side of the ball. The defense is still a little suspect and could be a little bit of a liability, but it looks like this team may just try to outscore their opponent each week. Dak Prescott is certainly set up for success with this supporting cast. Nice move by the team adding Andy Dalton as an insurance policy in case Prescott has to miss any time.

6. Indianapolis Colts

If the Dallas Cowboys are the riskiest high position in the rankings, the Colts might take the silver medal due to the unknown of what veteran quarterback Philip Rivers is going to bring to the table. Rivers has enjoyed a very solid NFL career up until last season when he was brutal down the stretch turning the ball over. If he can rebound this team is well poised to challenge the Titans in the AFC South for supremacy. Adding DeForest Buckner on the interior of their defensive line should provide big dividends, and the selection of Michael Pittman, Jr. at WR in the draft will add some balance for T.Y. Hilton who needs to bounce back and stay healthy in 2020.

7. Tennessee Titans

Titan fans would understandably disagree with having Indy at the top of the division based upon the way this team finished the season. This team really seemed to catch lightening in a bottle and rode the strong legs of Derrick Henry within a realistic shot at representing the AFC in the Super Bowl. Ryan Tannehill earned himself some money and he now is the official franchise quarterback in Nashville. You know what you’re getting with this team on both sides of the ball, and it seems like this is a good starting spot for this group.

8. Minnesota Vikings

It seemed briefly like this Vikings team was on the verge of falling apart as they were in a rough spot with salary cap challenges and the loss of some key contributors. A really well received draft class keeps this team in the conversation in the conference and gives them a slight nod over the Packers in the NFC North. The Vikes need first round pick Justin Jefferson to make an immediate impact on the other side of Adam Thielen, and a continued tough running game will be necessary to keep the offense rolling. It will be worth watching to see if Mike Zimmer flexes his style at all with the offense now being more talented than his defense. The defensive cupboard isn’t completely empty, and the team added some young and talented corners highlighted by Jeff Gladney in the draft, but this defense seems like it will be more of a middle of the pack type of group this year.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

The team that was crushed by the injury bug in 2019 looks for a total team bounceback this year led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. For anyone who thinks this spot is too high for the Stiller Gang, remember this team almost made the playoffs with some of the worst quarterback play we’ve seen in recent history. If Big Ben and the offense are healthy, with the additions of Eric Ebron and Chase Claypool out of Notre Dame, they’ll be able to do their part along with what will be another strong defensive unit. Injuries aside, this division is seemingly stronger so it certainly won’t be an easy road for the black and yellow.

10. Green Bay Packers

Whew, where do we even start with this Green Bay Packers team and their offseason? We won’t rehash their very interesting draft class, we’ll simply look ahead at what they do have for the upcoming season. They’ve got what will either be a really motivated or really un-motivated Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, much of which could determine the fate of their season. They have a loaded running game, but still have some questions after failing to add talent beyond Davante Adams at WR1. The defense was a bit of a liability a year ago and it doesn’t appear they’ll be much better this year. This team has the making of challenging for the division, however the ceiling simply doesn’t seem high enough overall.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There is a common feeling amongst sharp bettors that fading this Tampa Bay team is the way to go as they’re clearly going to be one of the most watched and hyped teams this season. Adding a six-time Super Bowl champion greatest QB of all-time will do a little bit to the hype meter and expectations. It’s the case with most teams and quarterbacks, but so goes Brady, so goes the Tampa Bay Bucs. If he can play anywhere near a Pro Bowl level this team is going to be really good. If “father time” finally has defeated TB12, this team will plummet down the standings. Don’t sleep on this team beyond the quarterback position. They’ve done a really nice job bolstering their defense, and as we know the offense has plenty of talent including a possible gift in first round pick Tristan Wirfs who surprisingly fell to them.

12. Seattle Seahawks

Whenever you start to take Pete Carroll’s Seahawks for granted they seem to figure out ways to win football games. This roster has some clear holes in it which makes this team a risky play, but as long as Russell Wilson is lining up behind center they are a top third of the league grouping as far as we’re concerned. It’s hard to imagine them as better than a Wild Card candidate in the very tough NFC West with a very suspect defense. They drafted some edge rushers including moving up to take Darrell Taylor and they’re going to need a much improved pass rush from what was one of the worst in the league a year ago.

13. Buffalo Bills

If you’re looking for a complete team with a high ceiling look no further than Sean McDermott’s Buffalo Bills. An offseason that saw them bring in Stefon Diggs to join John Brown and Cole Beasley is what they hope is the missing piece to an explosive offense and the continued development of quarterback Josh Allen. The Bills were active in free agency both retaining some key players and swapping out a few on the defensive line. This team was fortunate to stay healthy last year and they’ll hope that trend continues as their starting unit as as balanced as just about anyone in the league. The BillsMafia is hoping the departure of Brady coinciding with their teams upswing is what will bring back the AFC East crown to Western New York.

14. Philadelphia Eagles

The occasionally vocal fans in Philadelphia were up in arms with the teams draft, however that won’t define how this season goes for the Eagles. The team added speedster Jalen Raegor at wide receiver in hopes that Carson Wentz will have some added help with the return of fellow speedster DeSean Jackson and newly acquired Marquise Goodwin. The offense looks solid assuming the line can hold up enough to keep Wentz upright in the pocket. Of course the previously mentioned draft added Jalen Hurts just in case Wentz isn’t able stay on the field. The defense should be strong with the addition of Darius Slay at corner and Nickell Robey-Coleman in the slot. One of the more quiet big additions of the offseason was DT Javon Hargrave to pair with Fletcher Cox on the interior of a big defensive line.

15. Cleveland Browns

The team that won last offseason had another really good one this year. The difference is they’re actually flying under the radar a bit in comparison due to their tank job last season. Perhaps the biggest wins were adding a right and left tackle to bookend and protect Baker Mayfield who is clearly in a put up or shut up season. Austin Hooper gives another option to defend in an effort to keep defenses off of OBJ and Jarvis Landry. The addition of safety Grant Delpit from LSU is a piece the team is hoping that will balance out their defense which will welcome Myles Garrett back after his embarrassing finish a year ago. Will a change in leadership help put this talented puzzle together?

16. New England Patriots

It’s been nearly two decades since the Patriots were not favored to win the AFC East or near the top of being the favorite to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. It’s time to find out how much of a wizard Bill Belichick really is as he’ll have to go to battle without the greatest quarterback the league has ever seen. It’s not just the loss of Brady that will make things tough, this roster isn’t loaded with talent as they have been it times during their amazing run. The defense lost some key contributors and the draft was a typical NE exercise with a lot of head scratching manuevering up and down the board. Where this team lands just before the start of the season in the power rankings will depend on if they’re sticking with Jarrett Stidham at the QB position or possibly signing one of the big named veterans on the market.

17. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals were near the bottom of the league in 2019 yet start this year in a much better pole position due to a lot of optimism and added talent. The big splash was stealing DeAndre Hopkins from the Texans giving young Kyler Murray a chance to make a huge leap in his second year starting. The offensive line is still a bit of a liability but the playmakers should be able to overcome any weaknesses there. The defense also has some weak spots, however you have to love the pick of Isaiah Simmons to upgrade the core of that unit and getting DT Jordan Phillips in free agency. It will be a tough task unseating the 49ers and leaping over the Seahawks and Rams for this exciting squad.

18. Denver Broncos

The team that has been known for its defensive strength since the last season of Peyton Manning is suddenly a very young and fast team on the offensive side of the ball. This offense is pretty stacked both running the football and in the passing game with the additions of Melvin Gordon via free agenct and Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler in the draft. Any questions about whether or not Drew Lock is a franchise quarterback should be answered this season as GM John Elway has done everything possible to set him up. The defense welcomes back Bradley Chubb and they’re going to need the pass rush help with what is the thinnest secondary they’ve had in quite some time.

19. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams found themselves on the wrong end of a bad cap situation and had to unload some key veterans in the offseason. Things aren’t all bad as this team still has a few of the NFL’s best players on the defensive side of the ball and some quality talent offensively. It’s not impossible that they could actually see some improvement by getting a little younger and faster. It’s time for Jared Goff to step up and carry this team and not be reliant on his supporting cast if this team is going to make a run at the playoffs in the stacked NFC West.

20. Atlanta Falcons

The pressure is on head coach Dan Quinn this season and his staff will have their work cut out for them against the Saints and Bucs in the NFC South. They’ve been hit hard the past two seasons with key injuries and hopefully karma will do them a solid this year and give them a fighting chance to succeed. They did a decent job with their roster trading in Devonta Freeman for Todd Gurley and adding linebacker Dante Fowler, Jr. A key player in this lineup is newly acquired TE Hayden Hurst who will be picking up the slack from the departure of one of Matt Ryan’s favorite targets in Austin Hooper.

21. Los Angeles Chargers

There will be potentially a season long debate on who should be quarterbacking the Chargers depending upon how things go early in the year. Tyrod Taylor is certainly not the answer despite the narrative you’ve heard from Chargers camp. Rookie Justin Herbert could get his shot sooner rather than later, unless Taylor can rack up some wins in the first half of the season. That’s not necessarily out of the question as Taylor has been steady in the league before and this team has weapons on the offensive ball, and a defense that gets back a healthy Derwin James and added rookie Kenneth Murray to join the linebacking corp. LA is in a weird spot of having a lot of veteran talent and somewhat rebuilding due to the QB situation.

22. Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins went through a lot of agony in an effort to position the team for a good decade in the 2020’s. A lot of how well they do will end up on the shoulders of rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa. Fortunately they can take their time with the rookie as last year’s most underrated player Ryan Fitzpatrick is back for one more season. This team used both free agency and a slew of draft picks to drastically improve its roster heading into the season. They’re still a little ways away from contending in the AFC, but this team will not be a pushover for anyone.

23. Houston Texans

For a team that routinely wins around 9-10 games a season, starting as the 23rd ranked team may be a little disrespectful. It could just be an extension of the bitter taste that everyone has of Bill O’ Brien’s handling of DeAndre Hopkins or maybe this team just isn’t that good? The loss of Hopkins is enormous despite the subsequent pick-up of Brandin Cooks to fill that void. The draft brought in some potential starters on defense that will need to contribute in a big way if this team wants to make another playoff run.

24. New York Jets

Another quarterback that really needs to step up this season is the New York Jets Sam Darnold. The team completely revamped his offensive line and added WR Denzel Mims to provide some speed for the departed Robby Anderson. If the running game can get going and Darnold does in fact that the next step this team could make a leap from what was a forgettable 2019 campaign. Don’t overlook the return of C.J. Mosley captaining a defense that looked really good in the few quarters he did play a season ago.

25. Las Vegas Raiders

There is plenty of buzz in Vegas for the inagural season of the Raiders and a lot of intrigue as well. While their quarterback room would probably be described as average with incumbent Derek Carr and free agent Marcus Mariota, the rest of the team is a sparkplug of energy. In Al Davis fashion the team went for speed opting for Henry Ruggs III at WR in the draft who makes for a nice trio with tight end Darren Waller and running back Josh Jacobs. The defense is banking on the improvement of last year’s youngsters and hopeful that the super space aged Allegiant Stadium will give them a strong home field advantage.

26. Chicago Bears

Another year of the Chicago Bears hoping their defense can carry them to competitiveness. As we saw two seasons ago, that’s not completely out of the question as this group is still one of the top in the league. One of the more interesting QB competitions in the league will be between recent acquisition Nick Foles and the embattled Mitchell Trubisky. One area that would really help is if their offensive line can play more consistently than they did a season ago. If the Bears can’t run the football, they won’t win many games.

27. Detroit Lions

The longer he plays in the league the more you feel for Lion’s quarterback Matthew Stafford. The guy really deserves a nice playoff chase and was playing some of his best football a season ago before his season ending injury. He’ll return with a pretty talented offense including some beefed up O-line talent from the draft. Third overall pick Jeff Okudah is considered a can’t miss star on the corner so there’s some excitement on the defensive side of the ball as well. On paper, this team is pretty solid, it just seems to be a little weak in the very important front seven on defense.

28. Cincinnati Bengals

The Joe Burrow era gives a shot in the arm to a franchise that was downright awful during 2019 starting with the loss of A.J. Green in the offseason. 2020 is looking up as the Bengals hope that Burrow can be a face of the league with an offense that has some serious talent at the skill positions. Although the get back last year’s first round pick Jonah Williams who missed all of last season, the offensive line could still be a problem spot for the young QB. The defense should be better than they were, however they’re still going to struggle until they can add some more playmakers on the back end.

29. New York Giants

As much heat as GM Dave Gettleman has taken in New York, he seemed to have a plan this offseason and saw it through to what should give the Giants a chance to climb the ladder a bit in this poll. They went heavy in trying to upgrade the offensive line to give Daniel Jones some help and Saquon Barkley a little relief. The defense added a few pieces as well including getting an absolute steal in landing Xavier McKinney in the 2nd round of the draft at safety. This team has a way to go, but at least they seem to be finally going in the right direction.

30. Carolina Panthers

The new Panthers regime wasted very little time trying to course correct what was a near historically bad defense from a year ago. With the somewhat unexpected retirement of All-Pro Luke Keuchly, Carolina spent their entire draft on the defensive side of the ball. It may take a little while but one way or another this team is committed to playing better defense. If they can do it relatively quickly they can take advantage of the most complete running back in the game. We’re not completely sold on Teddy Bridgewater despite his good play in relief of Drew Brees so let’s keep an eye on how he commands the offense.

31. Washington Redskins

Perhaps the best acquisition the Redskins made in the offseason was grabbing Ron Rivera to take over a team that was chaotic under Jay Gruden, to put it mildly. They followed it up with drafting Chase Young who was widely considered the best overall prospect in the draft. We’ll see how that plays out while watching how his former teammate Dwayne Haskins fairs as the signal caller for the ‘Skins. We’re not sold on either of these OSU products just yet.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

We hear the term rebuild an awful lot in sports and it sometimes is partially accurate. In the case of the Jaguars it’s a complete rebuild that could ultimately result in the team selecting Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields in next year’s draft. That is assuming that hometown favorite Gardner Minshew can’t pull a rabbit out of a hat with what is not a very good roster. There’s a lot of young players that have a chance to make an impact and with a good offseason in 2021 this team might not be down for long. For the Duval crowd however, it’s going to be a very tough 2020 season.