NFL Pre-Season Power Rankings 2024: Teams 14-1

We’ve made it to the stage in our rankings where the real contenders come to centre stage. Having listed those expected to struggle or be outside of the contention arena, let’s look at the teams very much in with a chance entering the new NFL season.

Here are picks 14 to 1:

14. Cleveland Browns

Notable Additions: QB Jameis Winston, RB Nyheim Hines, WR Jerry Jeudy, LB Devin Bush

Notable Departures: QB Joe Flacco, RB Kareem Hunt, DT Jordan Elliot, LB Anthony Walker

What a strange start it’s been to Deshaun Watson’s reign in Cleveland. After plucking Joe Flacco off his couch and awarding him the Comeback Player of the Year, the Browns fell just short of making a miraculous playoff run without its QB1.

Now entering his third year on the team, Watson will hope to play out a full season since leaving Houston. All eyes are currently on him as well, as he has yet to deliver on his sizable contract.

With a top-5 player in the league on your defense in Myles Garrett, it’s tough to spot any real holes surrounding this Cleveland squad. It’ll all depend on the performance of Watson, and if he can remain healthy.

13. New York Jets

Notable Additions: WR Mike Williams, OT Tyron Smith, EDGE Haason Reddick, CB Isaiah Oliver

Notable Departures: QB Zach Wilson, WR Randall Cobb, TE C.J. Uzomah, OG Laken Tomlinson, C Connor McGovern, DL Quinton Jefferson, CB Bryce Hall

Aside from a few key departures, the Jets’ roster is still star studded. Mike Williams will now line up alongside Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall is now 20 months recovered from a torn ACL, and they still own a top-5 defense in the league.

The questions surrounding New York mostly revolve around the availability and reliability of QB Aaron Rodgers, who only made it five plays into the 2023 season before tearing his Achilles. It’s still Aaron Rodgers, one of the most competent and cool-collected field managers to ever play the game, but 40 going on 41 (December) is a high number for a quarterback’s age.

We’ll see how the new-look offensive line holds up, as well as Rodgers’ ankle. But if everything goes according to plan, the AFC East is looking a lot more loaded.

12. Los Angeles Rams

Notable Additions: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, OG Jonah Jackson, CB Tre White, S Kamren Curl

Notable Departures: C Brian Allen, DT Aaron Donald, DL Jonah Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon, S Jordan Fuller

The Rams went on a bit of a roller coaster following their Super Bowl win in 2022. They ended their next season 5-12 with a battered and bruised roster that showed little signs of life.

Enter: Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua.

The two rookies flashed colors in their respective first seasons, propelling LA back into the playoffs before going out to Jared Goff and the Lions. Aaron Donald is obviously a heartbreaking loss, but that doesn’t leave the Rams without plenty of young talent on defense. Add on the veteran upgrades to their secondary, and they aren’t as far behind the 49ers in the NFC West as some may think.

11. Green Bay Packers

Notable Additions: RB Josh Jacobs, S Xavier McKinney, K Greg Joseph

Notable Departures: RB Aaron Jones, OT David Bakhtiari, LB De’Vondre Campbell, S Darnell Savage

Not too long ago, people were scratching their heads about Green Bay’s decision to draft QB Jordan Love in 2020. Fast forward to now, and he’s fresh off a divisional round appearance and has already bagged himself a big pay day.

Some tough blows to their offensive line and defense draws up questions about the team’s ability to build off the end of last season, but this team is young and hungry, which makes for a good combo to build success on.

10. Dallas Cowboys

Notable Additions: RB Ezekiel Elliott, LB Eric Kendricks

Notable Departures: RB Tony Pollard, WR Michael Gallup, OT Tyron Smith, C Tyler Biadasz, DE Dante Fowler Jr., CB Stephon Gilmore

This very well could turn into the latest edition of “the Cowboys are ranked way too high!”, but there’s always something about America’s Team that has them crawling into the top 10 of people’s rankings.

Aside from bringing back RB Ezekiel Elliott and bringing in LB Eric Kendricks to bolster the linebacker rotation, Dallas was relatively quiet during this offseason. Hopefully this year they can shed light on all the postseason disappointment, but it doesn’t seem like they will.

9. Miami Dolphins

Notable Additions: WR Odell Beckham Jr., TE Jonnu Smith, DT Teair Tart, DL Calais Campbell, CB Kendall Fuller, S Jordan Poyer

Notable Departures: DL Christian Wilkins, OG Robert Hunt, C Connor Williams, LB Jerome Baker, CB Xavien Howard

While it seems like the Dolphins went on quite the shopping spree this offseason, they also suffered some pretty significant losses as well due to salary cap issues. Arguments can be made that they suffered losses for the better and have compensated effectively, and arguments can be made that they screwed themselves and declined because of it.

All that aside, the real pressure lies on QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has yet to prove he can get it done in games that matter. Last season, Miami went 10-1 against teams below .500 (at the time), and a measly 1-5 against teams above .500. Another one-and-done playoff appearance only adds to the narrative Tua and the Dolphins are trying to shake.

The roster talent is there, with a lightning-strike offense and stout defense. All Miami needs to do is show up for all 17 games in an attempt to overtake the Bills in the AFC East.

8. Buffalo Bills

Notable Additions: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR Curtis Samuel, OT La’el Collins

Notable Departures: WR Stefon Diggs, C Mitch Morse, OG Ryan Bates, EDGE Leonard Floyd, CB Dane Jackson, CB Tre White, S Micah Hyde, S Jordan Poyer

While the Bills will likely remain a force to be reckoned with, this offseason has resulted in legitimate concerns on both sides of the ball. He’s a top-5 QB in the league, but it seems a lot of trust is being put in Josh Allen to elevate a group of unproven wide receivers.

Their defense also suffered considerable losses as well, losing both their starting safeties AND cornerbacks as well as taking hits on the defensive line. This isn’t to say Buffalo won’t do damage in the AFC like in previous years, but the Dolphins and Jets are coming up behind them fast.

7. Baltimore Ravens

Notable Additions: RB Derrick Henry, WR Deonte Harty, EDGE Kyle Van Noy

Notable Departures: RB J.K. Dobbins, WR Odell Beckham Jr., OT Morgan Moses, EDGE Jadeveon Clowney, LB Patrick Queen, S Geno Stone

Just when you thought Lamar Jackson couldn’t get any scarier, he got scarier.

He’s in the later stages of his career, but the addition of Derrick Henry not only relieves Jackson of amassing all of Baltimore’s rushing yards, but also adds a massive body to block for Jackson to amass MORE of Baltimore’s rushing yards!

A couple losses on their offensive line raises a couple eyebrows, but with that backfield and the reigning number one scoring defense, Baltimore should be viewed as one of the main challengers to the Chiefs in the AFC.

6. Detroit Lions

Notable Additions: OG Kevin Zeitler, DE Marcus Davenport, CB Carlton Davis, CB Terrion Arnold

Notable Departures: OG Jonah Jackson, CB Cameron Sutton, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson

It’s hard to look at what the Lions have done this offseason and say they haven’t gotten better. An underwhelming defensive effort in 2023 got bolstered through the draft and free agency, and one of the best offensive lines in football got better with the acquisition of Kevin Zeitler.

The future has never looked brighter in Detroit, as Jared Goff is slated as their guy, Amon-Ra St. Brown has become a star at WR, and Aidan Hutchinson is already a top edge-rusher in the league, just to name a few people.

It’s still a very tough road to the Super Bowl in the NFC through the likes of the 49ers and the Eagles, but the Lions come at a very, very close third.

5. Philadelphia Eagles

Notable Additions: RB Saquon Barkley, TE C.J. Uzomah, DE Bryce Huff, LB Devin White, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Notable Departures: RB D’Andre Swift, WR Julio Jones, WR Quez Watkins, C Jason Kelce, OLB Haasan Reddick, DL Fletcher Cox, LB Shaquille Leonard, S Kevin Byard

While Philly suffered some pretty heavy losses, the acquisition of Saquon Barkley upholds their offensive status of elite playmakers and pushes it to the next level.

While the derailment that happened to them in the back half of the season and playoffs was…..odd…..it’s hard to not put them right back near the top of the NFC after a busy offseason and the talent that remains.

Elite offensive line, franchise quarterback, Saquon Barkley, tush push. A perfect formula to get to the Super Bowl. If they can keep their composure.

4. Cincinnati Bengals

Notable Additions: RB Zack Moss, TE Mike Gesicki, OT Trent Brown, S Vonn Bell, S Geno Stone

Notable Departures: RB Joe Mixon, WR Tyler Boyd, DT D.J. Reader, CB Chidobe Awuzie

Sure, the Bengals hiccuped last season. Sure, they suffered a couple losses on offense. But there are only two quarterbacks that have beaten Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs. Tom Brady, and Joe Burrow.

Coming off a season-ending wrist injury, Burrow is hell-bent on staying on the field this season and giving the NFL something to talk about. The retention of both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins should certainly help in that cause, as well as a revamped offensive line.

If there’s any team that will certainly challenge the Chiefs in the AFC, it’s the Bengals.

3. Houston Texans

Notable Additions: RB Joe Mixon, WR Stefon Diggs, DE Danielle Hunter, DL Mario Edwards, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, CB C.J. Henderson

Notable Departures: RB Devin Singletary, OT Josh Jones, DT Maliek Collins, LB Blake Cashman, S Adrian Amos

Remember when I said if there’s any team that will certainly challenge the Chiefs in the AFC, it’s the Bengals. That is true, but there’s also the Texans.

Imagine reflecting on the miraculous season you just went through, with a rookie QB that’s already a star, an unstoppable deep-threat wide receiver core, and a top 10 defense and thinking, “nah, I want more.” That’s exactly what DeMeco Ryans did.

He wanted a better running back, he got Joe Mixon. He wanted another stud wideout, he got Stefon Diggs. He wanted help on the D-Line, he got Danielle Hunter and Mario Edwards. It’s like he made up a Christmas list and just one-by-one checked everything off of it.

The sky’s the limit for Houston now. If I were a Texans fan, I’d be beyond excited for this season.

2. San Francisco 49ers

Notable Additions: DE Leonard Floyd, DT Maliek Collins, LB De’Vondre Campbell

Notable Departures: DE Randy Gregory, DE Chase Young, DL Arik Armstead, DL Javon Kinlaw

The Super Bowl runner-ups did a bit of D-Line shuffling this offseason, losing a few well-known names but replacing them with serviceable others.

There’s not much to redact in terms of describing San Fran’s chances of getting back to the Super Bowl, unless if stud WR Brandon Aiyuk ends up packing his bags. While that would be a tough loss, the 49ers would still retain the three-headed monster that is Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle.

There is not a single weakness on this team. Top offensive line, top defense, top backfield, top receivers. They are no-doubt the favorites of the NFC yet again.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Notable Additions: WR Xavier Worthy, WR Marquise Brown, QB Carson Wentz

Notable Departures: RB Jerick McKinnon, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, OT Donovan 

Smith, CB L’Jarius Sneed, LB Willie Gay Jr.

Tell me I’m glazing, I don’t care. If there’s one thing I learned from watching the NFL last season, it’s that no matter what players are around Patrick Mahomes, he is capable of carrying them to the Super Bowl and winning. Every year he’s in the league, this will be the case.

The wide receivers on the team last year struggled to catch anything, and that still didn’t matter. Now that they’ve addressed that issue, they seem poised to make NFL history and go win their third straight Lombardi. I’d love to give a different team their flowers, but I don’t see it happening. This team is inevitable.