Season 4 Preseason Power Rankings
1. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Indy returns as the favorite for Season 4 after winning 2 of the first 3 seasons. The Colts will once again be one of the top defenses led by the safety play of Eric Berry and Earl Thomas. Indy really got younger on their offensive line drafting 2 Rookies and immediately starting them.
DRAFT GRADE - (A)
Key Additions - C Wainwright (Draft), RG Foreman (Draft), DT Malone (Draft), MLB Jenkins (Draft), CB Brown (Draft), FS Barker (Draft)
DRAFT GRADE - (A)
Key Additions - C Wainwright (Draft), RG Foreman (Draft), DT Malone (Draft), MLB Jenkins (Draft), CB Brown (Draft), FS Barker (Draft)
2. Arizona cardinals
Phil has been to 2 of the 3 NFC Championships. Only thing kept him out of the third was a SIM loss in Season 3. After another solid offseason and draft, it will be interesting to watch how Phil uses Rookie QB Reshard Watson and verteran QB Ryan Mallett.
DRAFT GRADE - B +
Key Additions - QB Watson (Draft), RB Spiller (FA), WR Little (FA), ROLB Boley (FA)
DRAFT GRADE - B +
Key Additions - QB Watson (Draft), RB Spiller (FA), WR Little (FA), ROLB Boley (FA)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Jess has lost 3 games to Indy in the last 2 years. Other than that, no one has been able to stop her offense. And with another solid draft, her offense might continue to score.
DRAFT GRADE - (A -)
Key Additions - RB Steele (FA), WR King (FA), LG Cline (Draft), MLB Jones (Draft), CB Amukamara (FA), SS Caruso (Draft)
DRAFT GRADE - (A -)
Key Additions - RB Steele (FA), WR King (FA), LG Cline (Draft), MLB Jones (Draft), CB Amukamara (FA), SS Caruso (Draft)
4. New York Giants
Led by stud QB Mark Mallett, the Giants have opponents wondering how to stop his dual threat ability. The NFC Offensive Player of the year leads an offense that puts points on the board in bunches. If 2nd year stud LB Watkins continues to improve, this defense could be top 5 in the league.
DRAFT GRADE - (A+)
Key Additions - WR Moore, Dowd (Draft), TE Banks (Draft), LT Gaspar (Draft), RT Ray (Draft), ROLB Smith (FA), SS Evans (Trade)
DRAFT GRADE - (A+)
Key Additions - WR Moore, Dowd (Draft), TE Banks (Draft), LT Gaspar (Draft), RT Ray (Draft), ROLB Smith (FA), SS Evans (Trade)
5. Atlanta Falcons
The most improved owner from Season 1 to now is Lodo. He has the Falcons on the right track. WR's Roddy White and Julio Jones have become almost unstoppable and with a much improved run game led by Austin Stewart, the Falcons have NFC defenses worried.
DRAFT GRADE - (B)
Key Additions - WR Stills (Draft), LE Hardy (Draft), CB Bailey (FA), SS Taylor (Draft)
DRAFT GRADE - (B)
Key Additions - WR Stills (Draft), LE Hardy (Draft), CB Bailey (FA), SS Taylor (Draft)
6. Cincinnati Bengals
The offseason winner was easily Cincy. The Bengals made huge strides to stop a defense that struggled to get key stops in many close loses. Expect the Bengals to give the Steelers a run for their money in the now more competitive AFC North.
DRAFT GRADE - (B+)
Key Additions - DT Suh (FA), LOLB DeMarcus (Draft), ROLB Hightower (FA), CB Culliver (FA), CB Fanning, Hill, Sexton (Draft)
DRAFT GRADE - (B+)
Key Additions - DT Suh (FA), LOLB DeMarcus (Draft), ROLB Hightower (FA), CB Culliver (FA), CB Fanning, Hill, Sexton (Draft)
7. New York Jets
Chief had a nice draft and really improved his LB core that struggled with youthful inexperience in Season 3. The Jets did make a nice improvement and now expect to be the team to beat in the AFC East for the next couple years. Expect the ground game to continue to role lead by Mozee and Jones.
DRAFT GRADE - (A-)
Key Additions - RB Sanders (Draft), MLB Luge, McGruder (Draft), CB Brooks (Draft), SS Hood (Draft)
DRAFT GRADE - (A-)
Key Additions - RB Sanders (Draft), MLB Luge, McGruder (Draft), CB Brooks (Draft), SS Hood (Draft)
8. Kansas city chiefs
Zach was a tiebreaker away from winning the AFC West and advancing to playoffs. Close losses earlier in the year might have been the cause, but everyone in TGL knows Zach can play. Could this be the year former #1 overall pick Ken Marshall proves that the pick was not a mistake??
DRAFT GRADES - (C)
Key Additions - WR Green (Trade), DT Grant (Draft), LOLB Collins (Draft), ROLB Mlakar (Draft), CB McGee (FA)
DRAFT GRADES - (C)
Key Additions - WR Green (Trade), DT Grant (Draft), LOLB Collins (Draft), ROLB Mlakar (Draft), CB McGee (FA)
9. detroit Lions
Jeremy inherits a stacked offense led by Megatron and Faulk. From the 1 game he played last year, we know he can play but I can't put him above any of the returning USERS just yet. However I do expect the Lions to be in the discussions at the end of this year in the NFC.
DRAFT GRADES - (C+)
Key Additions - RB Acquah (Draft), DT Ryland (Draft), CB Brooks (Draft), FS Camelo (Draft),
DRAFT GRADES - (C+)
Key Additions - RB Acquah (Draft), DT Ryland (Draft), CB Brooks (Draft), FS Camelo (Draft),
10. Seattle Seahawks
Big Mike is coming off a dissappointing season and is very much on the hot seat. However, he had a great offseason and made some huge trades to compensate for a less than stellar draft. Expect Jason Campbell to continue to put up big numbers as he now has added even more weapons to his passing arsenal. I'm predicting Big Mike to make another run at the playoffs this year.
DRAFT GRADE - (C-)
Key Additions - WR Bryant (FA), WR Rice (FA), WR Cobb (FA), DT Conant, Novosel (Draft), ROLB Fason (Draft), FS Pelon (Draft)
DRAFT GRADE - (C-)
Key Additions - WR Bryant (FA), WR Rice (FA), WR Cobb (FA), DT Conant, Novosel (Draft), ROLB Fason (Draft), FS Pelon (Draft)
Buffalo Bills
Curtis has walked into a mess. The Bills do have some young studs, especially former #2 pick Robb Bell. I won't grade his offseason and draft, because he just joined the league. Expect the Bills to be active in free agency as well as on the trade front as he does have some very tradable pieces as they work towards the future.
DRAFT GRADES - N/A
Key Additions - WR Nickell (Draft), RE Robinson (Draft), CB James (Draft), CB Rothman (Draft)
DRAFT GRADES - N/A
Key Additions - WR Nickell (Draft), RE Robinson (Draft), CB James (Draft), CB Rothman (Draft)