NFL Power Rankings: Where every team stands after draft
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
This week, we look at where each team stands following the 2024 NFL Draft.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Post-FA rank: 1
Chiefs fans should feel great about the team's two trades early in the draft. K.C. added this year's fastest receiver in Xavier Worthy (after having already signed speedster Marquise Brown) and addressed its need at offensive tackle by selecting Kingsley Suamataia in Round 2.
2. San Francisco 49ers
Post-FA rank: 2
It sounds like the 49ers are keeping Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, so adding first-round receiver Ricky Pearsall gives the reigning NFC champions yet another weapon. Defensively, the arrivals of rookie corner Renardo Green and safety Malik Mustapha could pay off straight away.
3. Detroit Lions
Post-FA rank: 3
Here come the Lions! Cornerback was Detroit's most glaring roster need, and Dan Campbell's outfit left the draft with two standout prospects at the position in Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
4. Baltimore Ravens
Post-FA rank: 4
No one should be surprised that Baltimore put together another solid draft class with multiple valuable picks. The Ravens - who took projected starters in corner Nate Wiggins and offensive lineman Roger Rosengarten - remain one of the AFC's main contenders.
5. Houston Texans
Post-FA rank: 5
Without a first-round pick in 2024, the Texans are unlikely to have two Rookie of the Year winners again. But DeMeco Ryans and Co. did manage to draft second-round corner Kamari Lassiter, adding another projected starter to arguably the NFL's biggest winners this offseason.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
Post-FA rank: 8
Death, taxes, and Howie Roseman putting together a great draft class. Eagles fans should be excited by many of their 2024 rookies, especially corner Quinyon Mitchell and versatile defensive back Cooper DeJean, who should help fix Philadelphia's secondary.
7. Green Bay Packers
Post-FA rank: 6
The Packers' 2024 draft class may not jump off the page, but the arrivals of offensive tackle Jordan Morgan, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, and Javon Bullard should fill needs for the NFC contenders. Green Bay may also have found its next backup quarterback with seventh-round pick Michael Pratt.
8. Cincinnati Bengals
Post-FA rank: 9
Injuries have ended two of Joe Burrow's four NFL seasons prematurely, so his protection remains a major topic in Cincinnati. Landing Amarius Mims in the first round was an interesting move by the Bengals, as the rookie offensive tackle didn't have much starting experience in college but has absurd potential.
9. Dallas Cowboys
Post-FA rank: 10
If first-round tackle Tyler Guyton meets expectations, the Cowboys will continue to have a solid O-line. But will they regret not drafting at least one running back in the later rounds? Dallas' top tailback at the moment is ... Ezekiel Elliott, who recently reunited with the team after averaging less than 4 yards per carry again in 2023.
10. Los Angeles Rams
Post-FA rank: 13
The Rams recently lost Aaron Donald to retirement, but signing Tre'Davious White and using five of their first six draft picks on defenders should help L.A. remain a playoff team. Los Angeles' 2024 class includes standout edge rusher Jared Verse and defensive lineman Braden Fiske.
11. Buffalo Bills
Post-FA rank: 7
Buffalo probably needs more star power around Josh Allen after trading Stefon Diggs to Houston. But it'll be fascinating to see how Keon Coleman transitions to the NFL. The Bills landed the second-round receiver after making two trades down that resulted in other teams selecting pass-catchers: The Chiefs added Worthy at No. 28, and the Panthers took Xavier Legette 32nd overall.
12. Miami Dolphins
Post-FA rank: 12
The Dolphins fell short in the wild-card round in the last two seasons, yet their 2024 rookie class doesn't feature many prospects who look ready to make the kind of immediate impact they'll need to contend in the AFC.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
Post-FA rank: 14
Pittsburgh augmented its roster with a very athletic draft class that could feature several immediate starters, including offensive linemen Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier. That should help the offense as Mike Tomlin enters his 18th season with the Steelers.
14. Cleveland Browns
Post-FA rank: 11
The Browns made the playoffs last season despite starting five different quarterbacks, in large part thanks to their defense ranking No. 1 in yards allowed. Cleveland used four of its six picks to bolster that side of the ball, including second-round defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr.
15. New York Jets
Post-FA rank: 18
There's no denying that protecting Aaron Rodgers is one of the Jets' top priorities this season after drafting Olumuyiwa Fashanu and signing Tyron Smith.
16. Chicago Bears
Post-FA rank: 22
Caleb Williams might just have the best offensive weapons of any quarterback ever selected first overall, with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, and fellow top-10 pick Rome Odunze set to catch passes from the former USC star.
17. Atlanta Falcons
Post-FA rank: 15
Atlanta was primed to add an impact starter at No. 8 in the draft but instead drafted Kirk Cousins' eventual successor. That move could pay off in several years, but it's a wasted opportunity for the current Falcons.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars
Post-FA rank: 19
Losing Calvin Ridley in free agency might've stung, but getting Brian Thomas Jr. is a solid consolation prize. Trevor Lawrence will need to take another step forward to get the Jaguars back into the playoffs.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Post-FA rank: 16
The Buccaneers may win the NFC South again in 2024, but a relatively conservative draft could cap their ceiling this season as we enter Year 2 of the Baker Mayfield era.
20. Seattle Seahawks
Post-FA rank: 17
Pete Carroll is out and Mike Macdonald is in, but prioritizing the trenches remains the Seahawks' draft strategy. Adding Byron Murphy II in the first round was great value, but the rest of the club's picks are unlikely to help Seattle challenge for more than a wild-card berth in 2024.
21. Indianapolis Colts
Post-FA rank: 20
The Colts were the first team to select a defensive player in the draft and landed our top-ranked edge rusher Laiatu Latu. Adonai Mitchell was also a solid value pick in Round 2, but Indy's fortunes ultimately rest on quarterback Anthony Richardson's health and development.
22. Minnesota Vikings
Post-FA rank: 21
The Vikings ultimately only needed to move up one spot after weeks of speculation that they would make an aggressive trade into the top few picks for a quarterback. Now the J.J. McCarthy era begins with the NFC North the strongest it's been in some time.
23. Los Angeles Chargers
Post-FA rank: 24
Of course, Jim Harbaugh kicked off his Chargers tenure with an offensive lineman, passing on two star receiver prospects at No. 5 in a decision that'll be under the microscope for years to come. At least Harbaugh held himself back by picking only two former Michigan players.
24. New Orleans Saints
Post-FA rank: 23
Despite having only two picks in the top four rounds, the Saints came away with two potential starters in offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. Spencer Rattler wasn't worthy of being a Day 2 selection, but the quarterback was great value in Round 5.
25. Arizona Cardinals
Post-FA rank: 29
Taking Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4 was a no-brainer, but the Cardinals made great use of the rest of their enormous 11-selection haul to find some potential building blocks for their ongoing rebuild. Cornerback Max Melton and running back Trey Benson are particularly exciting picks.
26. Las Vegas Raiders
Post-FA rank: 26
Brock Bowers is a luxury pick for a team with as many holes as the Raiders. But considering its recent history of first-round whiffs, you can't blame Las Vegas for taking one of the surest bets in the draft.
27. Tennessee Titans
Post-FA rank: 25
The Titans' top two picks (JC Latham at No. 7 and T'Vondre Sweat at No. 38) felt like significant reaches to us, and this isn't a roster that can afford to wait for the returns on risky selections. Will Levis needs help now in order to prove whether or not he's a worthy long-term starter.
28. New York Giants
Post-FA rank: 28
You have to give the Giants credit for not forcing a move at QB after failing to move up in the draft, likely for Drake Maye. Plus, Malik Nabers will be a star in New York. But you can only get so excited for a team set to start Daniel Jones coming off a torn ACL.
29. New England Patriots
Post-FA rank: 30
For our money, the Patriots got the draft's second-best QB at No. 3 overall in Maye and then surrounded him with some intriguing weapons. Jacoby Brissett might get the nod to begin the season, but Maye is far more pro-ready than some have projected him to be.
30. Washington Commanders
Post-FA rank: 31
The Commanders seemingly had no doubts that Jayden Daniels was their guy at No. 2. The rookie QB should provide some exciting moments in Year 1, but it's easy to envision a scenario where Daniels struggles the most out of the top four passers taken.
31. Denver Broncos
Post-FA rank: 27
The Broncos are lucky the Falcons exist to take some heat off their QB decision in the draft. Bo Nix is the second-oldest QB ever taken in the first round behind only Brandon Weeden. Let that sentence sink in for a moment, Broncos fans.
32. Carolina Panthers
Post-FA rank: 32
The Panthers have aggressively revamped the talent around Bryce Young this offseason, but they didn't have a high enough selection to get the true difference-maker their offense needed. Carolina clearly remains the worst team in the NFL.
HEADLINES
- Key takeaways and analysis from Week 16 in the NFL
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- Eagles' Hurts sustains concussion in loss to Commanders