The "how was your summer?" NFL power rankings, Part 1
Today, we're starting with the top 10.
As we head into the first official week of the preseason for every team, I decided to put my own little spin on the traditional type of NFL power rankings. I based these on which teams had the best answer to the “so, how was your summer?” question we would always get asked on the first day of school.
These rankings factor in talent, yes, but also how much teams avoided injuries, controversy, and other bad headlines. They are also highly subjective, so please don’t take them too seriously.
Because I doubt many of you have the attention span or desire to sit there and read a 3,500+ word newsletter (I certainly don’t!), I’m splitting these power rankings into two separate posts. Below you’ll find the top 10, and tomorrow, Nos. 11-32 will hit your inbox.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs’ biggest injury news this summer was the report that Tom Brady played all of last season with a torn MCL — and they still won the Super Bowl. They celebrated that accomplishment with a trip to the White House, where Brady not-so-subtly dunked on the former president and his one-time golf buddy:
The defending champs return basically the same roster, and the coaching staff mostly remains intact as well. On the latter front, Bruce Arians has shown zero patience for any player not vaccinated while DC Todd Bowles received a much-deserved raise. All in all, 2021 has been nothing but success for the Bucs.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
It hasn’t been all quiet on the western Missouri front, due to Frank Clark’s felony weapons charge, but the 2020 runners-up have kept the drama to a minimum. None of their injuries have been major so far, and barring a change in that regard, they should be just as great as they have been every other year of the Patrick Mahomes era — and not just because he can do this:
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub recently said the team is “ahead of the game,” which seems a bit unfair to the rest of the NFL considering what the Chiefs’ starting point already was.
3. Cleveland Browns
The Browns have been offseason champs many times before, but this time, they’re coming off their best season in decades. They added Jadeveon Clowney, the one who got away last offseason, and he’s healthy and drawing rave reviews in training camp. Odell Beckham Jr. and Greedy Williams are working their way back, while Donovan Peoples-Jones is turning into the weapon he was supposed to be at Michigan (see what actual development does?).
The team is also making progress on working out extensions for its young stars. Nick Chubb signed his, Denzel Ward could be next, and Baker Mayfield can use Josh Allen’s recent deal in his own negotiations.
The only bad news coming out of Cleveland recently is that four players have been temporarily sidelined with hamstring injuries, including safety Grant Delpit, who missed his entire rookie season with an Achilles tear.
4. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are healthier than they’ve been in more than a year, and if they stay that way, they’ll be contenders. It certainly helps their cause that Nick Bosa is on track to play in Week 1, while George Kittle is back in playmaking form:
Perhaps even better for the Niners is how bright their future looks. Youngsters such as Javon Kinlaw, Brandon Aiyuk, and Trey Sermon are all primed to break out. Their only potential controversy lies with the quarterback position:
Not a bad problem to have!
5. Seattle Seahawks
When the offseason started, it looked like the Seahawks were headed toward turmoil. But Russell Wilson, who may or may not have asked to be traded earlier, is appeased with his own situation and vibing with his new offensive coordinator. If they want to keep him that way, then they better figure out an extension for left tackle Duane Brown — quickly. Jamal Adams is in a similar boat.
The Seahawks don’t have much of a choice but to extend both, and Wilson has ideas on how they can pull it off, but until that happens, it’s the only real blemish to what has been a great summer for the team. That includes, as of late July, having 90 or 91 players and the entire coaching staff vaccinated.
6. Tennessee Titans
In early June, the Titans landed Julio Jones in a trade, for the small price of a second- and fourth-round pick. His presence makes an already dangerous offense that more lethal. And although Jones hasn’t practiced much lately due to a minor injury, he’s made an impact in other ways, like with his leadership.
While Jones, assuming he’s healthy, will boost the offense, it’s the other side of the ball where the Titans struggled last year. Kevin Byard believes some of their issues will fix themselves now that there’s a clear leader (Shane Bowen was promoted to DC this year). Not that it will necessarily matter that much in the AFC South.
7. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams might not have a first-round pick until around 2093, but they do have quarterback who they can trust to go deep.
Matthew Stafford made that throw (and this dime to DeSean Jackson) days after suffering a thumb injury, so he appears to be just fine. The same can’t be said for Cam Akers, who is out for the season after tearing his Achilles last month. That leaves the Rams’ running game in flux, though it shouldn’t affect Stafford much.
8. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens improved one of their weaknesses when they signed veteran Justin Houston to bolster the pass rush. Not only that, but Houston picked the Ravens over the Steelers, who were offering him more money:
Although rookie receiver Rashod Bateman could miss Week 1, there’s been some good injury news. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley returned to practice this week for the first time since Nov. 1.
The unvaccinated Lamar Jackson also returned to practice after he contracted Covid for the second time. He pulled out the ol’ “it’s a personal decision” lie when asked about whether he would get the vaccine now — it is not a personal decision when it affects other people, including your team, friends, family, and strangers — but he was equivocal enough in his responses that it’s possible he could change his mind.
9. Green Bay Packers
It wasn’t a foregone conclusion that Aaron Rodgers would come back to the Packers, but it was always the most likely outcome to his saga with the front office. So when it finally happened — and he received a reworked contract — it made all the theatrics from the previous few months seem so unnecessary. That’s the main reason I didn’t rank the Packers higher than No. 9.
The pressure is on Rodgers to deliver the Packers a Super Bowl in what will probably be his final season in Green Bay. And then when he moves on, Jordan Love might finally be ready to take the reins.
10. Buffalo Bills
The only reason the Bills dropped this low is because anti-vaxxer Cole Beasley, the Dunning–Kruger effect personified, will. not. shut. up. I’m surprised he hasn’t mouthed off again to overshadow Josh Allen’s megabucks extension.
Luckily, Beasley is not representative of the team itself, even if he’s the loudest member. Stefon Diggs and Jerry Hughes — the latter of whom publicly challenged Beasley — have voiced pro-vaccine views, and the Bills have never been listed as one the least vaccinated teams. Which is good for a team seeking its first Super Bowl title in franchise history.
Check back tomorrow for the rest of the summer power rankings!