Offense
QB – Robert Griffin III, Redskins
RB – Trent Richardson, Browns
FB – Bradie Ewing, Falcons
WR – Michael Floyd, Cardinals
WR – Rueben Randle, Giants
TE – Coby Fleener, TE Colts
OT – Matt Kalil, Vikings
OT – Riley Rieff, Lions
C – Peter Konz, Falcons

Defense
DE – Chandler Jones, Patriots
DE – Vinny Curry, Eagles
DT – Dontari Poe, Chiefs
DT – Brandon Thompson, Bengals
LB – Lavonte David, Bucs
LB – Dont’a Hightower, Patriots
LB – Courtney Upshaw, Ravens
CB – Morris Claiborne, Cowboys
CB – Janoris Jenkins, Rams
S – Harrison Smith, Vikings
S – Mark Barron, Bucs

K – Blair Walsh K, Vikings
P – Bryan Anger, Jaguars

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Cornerback - The Steelers have some youth at corner but no one has yet to step up to become a solid starter.  A lot of their corners are undersized as well, and this could evolve into the team’s biggest need as the season progresses. 

2. Wide Receiver - This need would get pushed up if the team isn’t able to resign Mike Wallace.  They have two other good options in Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders, but Wallace and his home run ability is the key.

3. Safety – Polamalu is great, but is getting up their in age and there is little behind him in terms of depth.  Ryan Mundy isn’t anything special at free safety and the team could stand to upgrade this entire unit.

Baltimore Ravens
1. Safety – The team is perilously thin at this position and waited until round 4 of the draft to address it.  Ed Reed doesn’t have much left in the tank, and the lack of depth here could really hurt the team this season, especially if Reed goes down with injury.

2. Left Tackle – Braynt McKinnie played well for the team last season but his best years are behind him.  Oher is better suited on the right side so the team could very well use an early 2013 pick to find the future blindside protector of Joe Flacco.

3. Center – Birk has at best two years left in him, and it remains to be seen if 2012 third round choice Gino Gradkowski can fill his shoes. 

Cincinnati Bengals
1. Running Back  – The Bengals added the lawfirm Benjarvis Green-Ellis in free agency to be their featured back but he does little to excite me.  I would like to see them get an all around back who is also a threat receiving the ball out of the backfield.

2. Defensive End – The Bengals are solid with Geathers, Dunlap, and Johnson, but they need more depth.  A talented young pass rusher would definitely solidify this unit.

3. Linebacker – The Bengals are set with the starting trio of Howard, Maualuga, and Lawson but more depth is needed. 

Cleveland Browns
1. Safety – The Browns are solid at cornerback, but their starting safeties leave a lot to be desired.  If the Browns secondary struggles this may emerge as their number one priority heading into next year’s draft.

2. Wide Receiver  – Greg Little is a nice player but is more of a no. 2 type possession guy.  If they are picking high again in next year’s draft they may use an early pick to give Brandon Weeden a new favorite target.

3. Tight End – If this team wants Weeden to succeed it’ll need to surround him with weapons.  Evan Moore/Ben Watson aren’t exactly tight ends to get excited about.  This team needs a dynamic pass catcher who can be a safety net for Weeden.

AFC EAST

New England Patriots
1. Wide Receiver – The Patriots have a couple of great receivers in Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd but they lack a big bodied receiver who can take over a game.  They could very well use an early 2013 pick to get just that type of player.

2. Defensive Tackle/Defensive End – The Patriots often switch between a 3-4 base defense and a 4-3 front. They could use a young, versatile defensive lineman who can provide interior pass rush in the 4-3 and anchor against the run in their 3-4 front.

3. Guard – The Patriots failed to address this need in the 2012 Draft and need youth here with Mankins injury and Waters advanced age.

New York Jets
1. Outside Linebacker – The Jets surprised a lot of people on Draft Day when they bypassed pass rushers like Ingram and McClellin for Quentin Coples who I feel is a questionable fit in their scheme.  If the sacks don’t increase in 2012, this will be their main focus in the ’13 offseason.

2. Guard – The Jets want to get back to the ground and pound running game but did little to improve the interior of their offensive line which was awful last season. 

3.  Safety – The Jets added LaRon Landry in free agency and used a couple of later picks on the position, but unless one of the young guys emerges this will be a high priority once again in 2013.

Buffalo Bills
1. Left Tackle – The Bills used a high second round pick on Georgia’s Cordy Glenn in last year’s draft but his big bodied frame is more suited to play guard or right tackle.  They may try Glenn at LT and if he fails, this could become a big time need next year.

2. Wide Receiver – Stevie Johnson is an emerging star and David Nelson is a decent second option but the team could really use another stud in their receiving corps.

3. Quarterback – Fitzpatrick is good and Thigpen is an adequate backup, but the Bills will be in the market for a long term answer at the position if they falter in 2012.

Miami Dolphins
1. . Wide Receiver – This team lacks a no. 1 target and really even a no. 2 target.  This is arguably the worst group of pass catchers in the league and an injection of high end talent is needed.

2. Defensive End – The team was able to land Oliver Vernon in round 3 of the 2012 Draft, and that was a good start, but they could still use about 4 more pass rushers.

 3. Safety – The Dolphins were so thin at safety they went out and signed Tyrell Johnson who couldn’t even start for a terrible Minnesota secondary last season.  This group needs help as it lacks youth and talent across the board.

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans
1. Right Tackle – The Texans surprisingly released Eric Winston last offseason and will look to young Rashad Butler to replace him.  If that fails, this will be the team’s biggest need.

2. Nose Tackle – The Texans seems content enough with undersized Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell playing nose for them.  If they can’t hold up this season, they may finally look for a big, squatty anchor in next year’ s Draft.

3. Tight End – Owen Daniels has been battling injuries for years and Joel Dreessen left for Denver. That leaves only Garrett Graham and FB James Casey as options.  A young tight end isn’t a huge priority for this team, but one that should be addressed fairly early in next year’s Draft.

Tennessee Titans
1. Guard – The Titans interior offensive line struggled mightily last season and all they did to address it was add Steve Hutchinson who is in the twilight of his career.  They need to look for help with a high level free agent or an early draft pick.

2. Cornerback – The team lost Cortland Finnegan in the offseason and while Verner and McCourty are two good corners they still are thin at the position, and only added 4th rounder Coty Sensabaugh in the Draft.

3. Center – The Titans kicked the tires on a bunch of free agent centers but decided to stick with Amano for the 2012 season.  If he struggles again they’ll kick him to the curb and get a replacement.

Jacksonville Jaguars
1. Defensive End – Andre Branch was a nice get in the second round, but even if he has a 10 sack season the Jaguars need a few more pass rushers.

2. Cornerback – The Jaguars resigned Rashean Mathis but he is coming off an injury and is getting up there in age.  They could use a young stallion and could look for one early in the coming Drafts.

3. Quarterback – Blaine Gabbert’s rookie season was awful and if he struggles again with Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson in the mix, they’ll hand things over to Chad Henne.  If that doesn’t work out they may look to draft a QB early once again.

Indianapolis Colts
1. Outside Linebacker – The Colts are converting to a 3-4 defense and lack parts for it.  They used up most of their 2012 Draft on getting weapons for Andrew Luck and will likely spend the majority of their 2013 picks on the defensive side of the ball.

2. Wide Receiver –  The Colts have a bunch of tight ends and really only Reggie Wayne, concussed Austin Collie, and rookie TY Hilton as receivers.  Wayne doesn’t have many years left on this Earth and they will need to bring in some more options for young Mr. Luck to throw to.

3. Cornerback – The Colts really need help at every defensive position but cornerback sticks out more than some, as there is a glaring lack of talent.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos
1.  Cornerback – Champ Bailey can only play so long, and while Omar Bolden was a nice find in the fourth round last Draft, they still need to bring in more talent at this position.

2. Defensive Tackle – Derek Wolfe could turn out to be a solid player for the team but more depth is needed here.

3. Defensive End – Dumervil is a stallion but the team could look for a young stud to play opposite him as Robert Ayers has been disappointing so far in his career.

San Diego Chargers
1. Offensive Tackle – The Chargers resigned Jared Gaither and while he played well last season, his health is always a concern.  They have Jeromy Clary at right tackle and he has been solid but they still need a young guy to add depth and eventually solidify one of those spots long term.

2. Running Back – Ryan Mathews is on the verge of a breakout season, but his durability has been suspect.  They lost Mike Tolbert in free agency and little else on the depth chart excites anyone.

3. Inside Linebacker – Takeo Spikes and Na’il Diggs are both ancient and the Chargers should look to bring in some younger talent opposite Donald Butler.

Oakland Raiders
1. Tight End – The Raiders have by far the worst group of tight ends in the league.  They need a major infusion of talent at this position.

2. Linebacker – This should actually be higher on the list as the lack of talent here is appalling.  Rolando McClain’s situation with the LAW is up in the air and who knows what his long term future witht the team will be.  They added a couple of players through the Draft but depending on them this season could be costly.

3. Quarterback – Carson Palmer is getting up there in years and I’m not a believer in Terelle Pryor.  This team needs a quarterback they can build their franchise around for the future.

Kansas City Chiefs
1. Quarterback – This team will go as far as Matt Cassel can take them.  They actually have a lot of talent surrounding him this season and if he fails, they’ll know they need to look for a young ball slinger in next year’s Draft.

2. Inside Linebacker -This is a little nitpicky as Jovan Belcher is a decent player but the team could upgrade over him if they felt the urge.

3. Safety – Not a glaring need by any means but an area where the team could use a little more depth.

Wide Receiver

6’3” 205 lbs.

Cal

-Keenan Allen is a big guy who is physical when it comes time to catch the ball. He does a good job boxing out, diving, fighting through contact, and anything else you could ask for when he is trying to make the play.

-When you watch him you notice he plays high when he catches the ball and then he plays low after he gets it. That’s something I look for because the higher you play the larger your catch radius is. Similarly, the lower you play the harder it is to tackle you.

-He has the physicality and size to block, but that will be something I watch this year. He will need to do the little things right now that there is a lot of buzz around him.

-He is very flexible for his size. You can see it when he bends around a defender or when he hurdles a would-be-tackler. That isn’t essential, but it is fun to watch and is affects how opponents will go after you.

-It’s hard to say where his route running is at this stage, because of the quarterback play around him. Since the quarterback is a “Dual-Threat” player, Allen can’t always run the full route because he has to be free as a bail out option.

-At Cal they often use Allen on end-arounds, reverses, and screen plays. I’m not saying he can’t do that because you can see from the film that he does a good job, but I think they are diminishing his value when you see how often he beats opposing DBs down-field.

-Speaking of beating defenders, did I mention that last year Allen had 98 receptions and 1343 yards? Not too shabby considering he was only a sophomore.

-I like Allen a lot, he has the potential to be special. If I had to tell him an area I wish he would improve, I would say that I don’t want him to go down on first contact so much. Sometimes he takes a lick and extends for the extra yard, and then other times he barely gets grabbed and he drops to the ground. I think this year could be very good for Allen and depending on performances against Oregon, USC, and Washington he Allen could be in the mix for the second or third receiver taken in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Carimi only really has one full game of tape to look at, but it wasn’t very pretty. The good news is he was an above average run blocker. He got to the second level consistently and he used his size and strength to bully some of the defenders who were unlucky enough to be down-blocked by him. The bad news is Carimi’s pass protection seemed unpolished and weak. He was beaten with speed, strength, and leverage on multiple occasions by the Falcons’ pass-rush. His weakness in that phase ended up forcing the Bears to bring in a tight end to block or at least chip the end man on the line of scrimmage.

As far as measurables are concerned, Carimi has a lot of things that are very desirable from a starting offensive tackle. At 6’7” and over 300 lbs. he has the prototypical height and frame you need from someone who has to protect the quarterback’s blind side. Under the tutelage of Mike Tice, the new Offensive Coordinator for the Bears, Carimi could have polished his technique a lot. Also, with his first full NFL offseason it is reasonable to think that he will be stronger and more durable than he was in 2011.

In the passing game only time will be able to tell how the Wisconsin product can stand up against the likes of Kyle Vanden Bosch, Cliff Avril, Jared Allen, Clay Mathews, and Nick Perry. If he can stand up to those polished pass-rushers then I could see Chicago making a push for a wildcard playoff spot. However, if they want to win the division then they will need him to be able to drive players off the ball in the run game consistently too. The Matt Forte vs Chicago Bears fight has no end in sight as of June 4, 2012. Even if Forte does make it into camp I don’t see him giving this season his “all”, so it will be up to the offensive line to make sure that they give whoever is carrying the ball as much room as possible.

First the bad news; I expect Kuechly, as the new leader of the Panthers defense, to struggle at first. While I have no doubt that he is intelligent, he will have to adjust to the speed of the game at the next level, which always seems to be a bump in the road for play-callers. Even after he has the speed down, he will have to find ways to stop Drew Brees-to-Jimmy Graham, contain Josh Freeman’s bootlegs, and tackle Michael “Burner” Turner and try not to be bowled over like most players on that mission. Those were just the “skill position” players he will have to face. He will also have to go against numerous Pro-Bowl caliber interior linemen and I do doubt that his ability to stack and shed against better guards and centers. So while some are expecting him to start his career at a Patrick Willis/Navarro Bowman level, I foresee him not being a huge factor early.

Now that we are finished with the bad news, we get to talk about all the positives he brings. Kuechly has the ability to get the tackle of a Patrick Willis or a Stephen Tulloch, because he takes great angles and always provides good pursuit. These things will take a run that last year would have gotten 30 yards, and turn it into only about a 12 yard gain. Another thing to look at is who Kuechly’s head coach, Ron Rivera. Rivera has done a wonderful job in the past taking talented players and making them great. In fact, look at what he did with Jeremiah Trotter, Lance Briggs, Shaun Phillips, etc.

Last year, the Panthers were just a few crucial run stops away from a much better season. If Kuechly can quickly adapt and post half of the numbers that he racked up in college, out on an NFL field then the Panthers will have made the right choice and they will have a few more “W”s on their record this year. Unfortunately, if he struggles early and gets engulfed by bigger blockers, I believe that the Panthers may end up kicking themselves for passing on some of the gap-clogging defensive tackles, while they look at their sub-.500 record.

Before I address why Mark Anderson’s performance this year is so important, lets go over what makes the 4-3 defense so successful. Generally this scheme utilizes a dominant run stopper playing in the 1-technique. That player is then paired with a 3-technique, which is someone that has the quickness and strength to disrupt the passing game and force runners to the outside. Finally, you should have two defensive ends that can secure the edge against the running game; but also posses the first-step quickness and body control to get to the quarterback when called upon. Dareus and Kyle Williams will be a wrecking crew in the middle and will demand at least three blockers between the two of them. Mario Williams can also handle most LTs and he can even beat TE and RB “helps” against the run or the pass.

With that said, if the Dolphins hand it off to Reggie Bush and tell him to run right, all the talent on that line is useless if Mark Anderson can’t get off his block. Fortunately though, I believe Anderson is more than capable of doing this. He showed in New England that he had all the tools to attack the edge as long as you have another quality player or two with him on the defensive line, like Vince Wilfork/Andre Carter.

Another reason to watch how Anderson plays is because this year he will be asked to do a lot more than maybe any defensive end in the league. Twice a year he will have to face Miami Dolphins’ rookie, Ryan Tannehill, who is as dangerous with his legs as he is with his arms. That being the case, Anderson will have to take an extra second and work down the line instead of listening to his instincts that will be screaming to make a straight line to the quarterback.

In New England, he will be asked to chip Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez so that they don’t get a clean start off the line. Not only that, but Tom Brady is one of the most frustrating quarterbacks in the league to take down because he is so good at finding one of his many dump-off targets before the pass-rusher gets hands on him.

In New York, the Jets are pretty weak at right tackle and Mark Sanchez has a propensity for making costly mistakes, so no wrinkles there right? Wrong, just when Anderson will be getting into a rhythm and the Jets will bring out their (not so secret) weapon. Suddenly it goes from chasing slow-footed Sanchez to Tim Turbo (I couldn’t help myself). Then Anderson has to make sure that he doesn’t become the guy on the highlight reel that Tim Tebow boots away from for a crucial fourth quarter touchdown.

In the end, Mark Anderson may be the least known and most scrutinized player on the Buffalo Bills roster next year. It will be interesting to see if he looks like the 10+ sack player that we saw in 2006 and 2011, or if he is closer to the guy that only averaged a measly 2.7 sacks a year in the five season span between those performances. He has everything a player could want size, speed, and talent around him; now it is time to see what he is made of.

The Bengals have better receivers, a comparable quarterback, and much more youth and depth than the Ravens currently have on their roster. However, the Ravens have the better group of leaders, and while I expect Ed Reed and Ray Lewis will put forth valiant efforts, I think that the fate of this year’s season falls squarely on the shoulders of Haloti Ngata. When the fate of your franchise hinges on your play you are clearly the Baltimore Ravens player to watch Mr. Ngata.

Like many of his nose tackle brethren, Haloti Ngata’s hard work in the trenches play after play often goes unnoticed if he isn’t making a tackle for loss or forcing the quarterback into the waiting arms of an outside rusher. What most fans don’t see is the fact that he makes that line better just by walking on the field. Offensive lines fear big number 92 because he is a player that defies his position’s limitations. At the end of games if you look closely you can see opposing offensive lineman preparing to “catch” him instead of trying to drive him backwards, because they know that he won’t budge. If they do try to dig him out, every offensive coach and player knows that they better double-team him off the line and even then they can only hope for a stalemate. When that admission of defeat creeps into the mind of opposing offensive coordinators, they might as well just punt the ball. In that moment one of two things can happen, either they try their luck with their running back one-on-one with Ray Lewis or they take their chances against the plethora of pass-rusher on the Ravens roster.

Ngata has always been a top-5 player at his position, but this year may have to be his most dominant performance yet. The Ravens are losing an on the field leader as well as a sack artist with the injury to Suggs. Ngata will have to not only demand double-teams, but he will have to beat them and get pressure against quarterbacks until young bucks like Courtney Upshaw and Sergio Kindle can get into a rhythm.

Against the likes of “Big Ben” and “The Red Rifle” next year the Ravens will need the  “Tongan Torpedo” to come up big and continue his elite level of play. If he can do that I think the skilled coaching staff and the rest of that defense have a chance to push the Ravens to a third or fourth seed playoff birth. However, that isn’t a bad thing, the Giants in 2011 and Packers in 2010 have recently shown us that it isn’t about how you get in, it is what you do once you are there.

Asante Samuel is a smart and savvy cornerback that is known for his elite ball skills and his ability to make splash plays. Over his nine year career Samuel has picked off 45 passes and returned 5 for touchdowns, that comes out to an average of 6 picks a year.  In the pass-happy NFC South, Cam Newton, Josh Freeman, and Drew Brews average 35.9 passes per game, and with that many attempts it isn’t inconceivable that Samuel could top his average interceptions 2012.

Using his deceptive speed and elite route recognition, the Falcons would be wise to make he and former free agent gem Dunta Robinson as the starting corners. This option would leave Brent Grimes as a slot corner, which is where I believe he could thrive. With that new lineup in place, it should allow the Falcons to disrupt inside receiving threats like Jimmy Graham (Saints), Dallas Clark (Buccaneers), and Greg Olsen (Panthers). That alone makes the Samuel trade an upgrade at three positions.

With an upgraded defensive backfield, the offense should be able to get Michael Turner, Jason Snelling, and Jacquizz Rodgers more touches. That stable could draw a lot of comparisons to the 2008 Super Bowl Champion Giants’ running back group. You have the strong bruiser back that can get the tough yards up the middle and then surprise you by cutting to the outside and gashing you with the big run. Behind him you have two homerun threat backs that your defense can’t fall asleep on passing downs. Either way opposing defenses will have a tough time figuring out what personnel they want on the field, and that creates opportunities for offenses to exploit mistakes.  The extra touches caused by Samuel through turnovers or by blanketing his man, could also find their way to quarterback Matt Ryan and his wide receivers. Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Harry Douglas all have the ability to beat single coverage if given the chance.

Enough about how Samuel changes the offense lets focus on his side of the ball, defense. With a shutdown cover corner (Samuel), a thumping run supporter (Robinson), and one of the most underrated corners in the league (Grimes) man coverage should be the call on most plays. Man-to-man coverage would allow the Falcons to bring more blitzes to keep opposing QBs out of rhythm. It will also give the Falcons’ plethora of pass-rushers like John Abraham, Ray Edwards, Kory Biermann, and Jonathan Babineaux more time to get to the QB.

When its all said and done, the Atlanta Falcons added a premier corner who still has 2-4 very good years left in the tank. Not only that, but they got him for next to nothing as far as the trade was concerned, even though his cap number is a bit too high for my liking. For a team in a make or break year (they have been one-and-done in the playoffs two years in a row now) his veteran experience and skill set may be just the missing piece that push the Falcons into that top-8 team tier that the New Orleans Saints will likely be vacating.

Some readers may think it is strange that my player to watch is a QB that was injured for seven games last year. Oh yea, and the games he did play he ended up with a 3-6 record. However, before you judge me lets dig deeper to find out why this guy shouldn’t be cut today. The new Cardinals QB lost to the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Baltimore Ravens and he beat the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, and the Carolina Panthers. Think about that for a second, losing to three of the most physical defenses in the league (that all made the playoffs), should that really all go on Kolb’s shoulders, and if so, then what about his victories? Kolb did manage to out score Tony Romo and Cam Newton, and he did overcome the 49ers “elite” defense to win that game. Don’t give up on the guy yet Cardinals fans, there is still a chance that he can be the guy to bring you a division title.

Kevin Kolb suffered from high expectations and a shortened season last year. In his first full year with the team, fans will see why front offices were so interested in him before the Cardinals snatched him up. Kolb has a big arm and needs more familiarity taking snaps from under center. To see what he could have offered in an abbreviated year, I extrapolated Kolb’s numbers from the nine games he played, and it shows me that Kolb would have ended up with 3,475 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just over 14 INTs. They aren’t Pro Bowl numbers obviously, but Kolb will have the complimentary pieces and experience to have a much better season in 2012.

When you talk about offensive players that will help out Kevin Kolb you have to start with Larry Fitzgerald. In my opinion, Fitzgerald is an elite receiver that is only outdone by Detroit’s Calvin Johnson. His new partner in the passing game is the rookie, Michael Floyd who, I believe will draw comparisons to former Cardinal Anquan Boldin. Like Boldin, Floyd is tall, strong, and makes plays when the ball is in his hands. Another key quality he shares with the former Cardinal is the he is, in the words of Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, “ an outstanding blocker “.

On the offensive line, the Cardinals added Adam Snyder, Rex Hadnot, Bobbie Massie, Senio Kelemente, and Nate Potter through free agency and the draft. While I think only 2-3 of those players will earn starting jobs, the heavy competition should allow the line to be more productive in both pass protection and run blocking next year.

With these pieces in place it wouldn’t shock me to see Kolb’s number increase across the board. If he stays healthy all season I predict that he could have 3800 yards with 20 TDs and 10 INTs. Just as a reference point, last year that would have put him 12^th in passing yards and 13^th in touchdowns. As far as interceptions go, he would have thrown less than Tom Brady, Andy Dalton, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, and Cam Newton.

I know on paper it looks way too optimistic, but take emotion out of it for a minute, that’s only 4 more touchdowns and 4 less interceptions. Is that really an impossible goal? I don’t think so. Fans of the Cardinals should rejoice because if Kolb comes through you could find yourselves still in the hunt for a playoff spot when Week 17 rolls around.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars- If you don’t have a franchise QB then you need a stellar defense and elite complimentary pieces, and I just don’t see that on their roster. I like MoJo and Jeremy Mincey but outside of those two I just don’t see any standouts.

30. Miami Dolphins- This is tough because I look at the Dolphins top draft pick, Ryan Tannehill, and see a lot of potential. The issue I have with the Dolphins is that it looks like they are going to through Tannehill into the fire right away, which does not usually mean a lot of wins for a franchise. Also going against defenses like the Texans, Titans, Jaguars, Bills (twice), Jets (twice), Bengals, and Seahawks is not a recipe for success.

29. St. Louis Rams- The Rams have a lot of young talent and could make a push towards the top of this list in 2015, but as of May 22, 2012 they still have to prove it to me. Bradford is a franchise QB but he needs to stay healthy. If he can do that and find some rhythm with his young WRs then this team may have a chance at a .500 record.

28. Oakland Raiders- The Raiders are going to have a pretty tough year. Carson Palmer is a year older, the defense is clearly worse, and Peyton Manning is now a division rival instead of Tim Tebow. I love the Raiders front four and Run DMC is elite when healthy, but I can’t see them pulling out a better record than 1-5 in their own division at this point.

27. Indianapolis Colts- Indy added the closest thing to a guaranteed hit in this year’s draft with Andrew Luck so that should translate to 3-4 wins in 2012, but lets not get carried away. Luck will have a birth by fire in the AFC South, the Texans have one of the most aggressive defenses in the league and the Titans have a vastly underrated defense. After playing those teams 4 times Luck will still have to try to outscore Brady, escape the grasp of Mario Williams & co. vs Buffalo, and escape Revis Island without a pick-six. Not an easy task.

26. Minnesota Vikings- Matt Kalil was a great pick up for the Vikings and the added protection will make this a make-or-break year for second-year QB Christian Ponder. If Ponder can use that extra time find Percy Harvin and Kyle Rudolph more often this year the Vikings could double last year’s wins.

25. Tampa Bay- I may have the Bucs way too high on my rankings, but they had a good draft where I believe they picked up at least three starters. The defense has a ton of talent and is loaded with former first and second round draft picks. If they can play up to their potential on that side of the ball, Josh Freeman, Vincent Jackson, and Doug Martin may be able to keep the offense potent enough to win them 5-7 games.

24. New York Jets- Quinton Coples was possibly my least favorite player in last year’s draft. However, I thought that his best fit in the NFL was as a 3-4 DE or a disrupting 3 technique in a 4-3 and Rex Ryan has taken players with less talent than Coples and made them great defenders so we will have to wait and see what happens. Other than that Sanchez isn’t a franchise QB, Tebow is way too up-and-down, and if I were Revis I would be keeping my head down trying to find a way out.

23. Arizona Cardinals- Michael Floyd was one of my favorite WRs last year. I think he can be exactly what Anquan Boldin was in Arizona, the perfect partner for Larry Fitzgerald. Before you get your hopes up though, Skelton and Kolb are a far cry from Kurt Warner so until this team gets a quality QB this team is destined to be middle of the pack.

22.  Washington Redskins- I believe RG3 is a franchise QB and with him as the starter I am very high on this team. The WR group lacks a standout player, but there are definitely quality “B-level” guys that can step up and produce. The defense is strong where it needs to be and can get to the QB with Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan. On paper this team looks very strong and could even challenge the Giants (who never play that well in the regular season) for a division title.

21. Dallas Cowboys- I’m not a huge Cowboy fan because whenever I look at their roster my first thought is, “Man, these guys have the talent to get deep into the playoffs this year.” And every year they disappoint me with another mediocre .500-ish season. On paper, this is a championship team (aside from the OGs and DEs) but they have to translate that into wins on the field before they crack 20.

20. Seattle Seahawks- As one of my sleepers this year, I think the Seahawks have a chance to make the playoffs if Matt Flynn or Russell Wilson can step up and be “that guy”. If not the defense and running game will at least keep them competitive in most games.

19. Buffalo Bills- I will admit that the Bills are a confusing team to me right now. The front four could rival the Lions and the Eagles as the most talented rushers in the league, and with solid defensive backs/linebackers they easily have the best defense in the division. The confusion comes from the idea that Ryan Fitzpatrick is the answer to the Bill’s QB woes. Despite Ryan Fitzpatrick’s long-term deal, I just don’t know if he is the QB that can lead them into the playoffs. If he puts up top 12 numbers I think the Bills have a chance. If not I think they will be have a tough time getting a wild card spot with competitive divisions like the AFC North and South.

18. Kansas City Chiefs – When Eric Berry is healthy; I think he is one of the top 4-5 safeties in the league. He is the cherry on top of an elite defense, and that defense is what will keep them in the hunt for a playoff birth. That being said, I don’t think that the Chiefs will have the offensive firepower to overwhelm either the Chargers or Broncos to win that division.

17. Carolina Panthers- Cam Newton had a phenomenal rookie season and with a year under his belt this offense could be very potent. My problem is that I still don’t know what that defense is. Can they stop the gashing runs that killed them in 2011? Can they consistently get to the QB? That is what it will take to pry the division out of the hands of the Saints and Falcons.

16. New Orleans Saints- Drew Brees is one of the top 3 QBs in the NFL, so this is about as low as I will ever put the Saints. I didn’t love their draft, and the bounty scandal will cost them time from Will Smith and an entire missed season from Jonathan Vilma. More importantly the Saints will have to deal with the loss of head coach Sean Payton for a year and make no mistake he is a HUGE part of that team. Whether he is making crucial adjustments in between offensive series or whether it is preparation on Monday, Sean Payton was key to the success of that team. Forget playoffs and the Super Bowl, the Saints may have a tough time getting out of their division. I think the Panthers are hungrier and the Falcons are habitual contenders now. I predict a tough year for the Saints organization.

15. Atlanta Falcons- The Falcons have a talented WR group, a savvy TE, an above-average offensive line, a good stable of RBs, and a franchise QB. Take all those pieces and add in a good head coach and an underrated pass defense and that could make for a very intriguing team. The only problem is the Falcons may be weak psychologically after being demolished in back to back playoff games and it could affect the “drive” they will need to have a 9+ win season.

14. San Diego Chargers- Though I’m sure they won’t look like it the first four games of the season, the Chargers have a chance to win the AFC West. They have the firepower on offense to go 4-2 in the division even without former star wide out Vincent Jackson. With Melvin Ingram attacking the edge and Eric Weddle terrorizing WRs the Chargers have a enough talent on both sides of the ball to threaten Peyton Manning and the Broncos for the division crown.

13. Chicago Bears- Even though they are much improved on paper with the additions they have made at WR, the weakness of the offensive line and an unhappy star RB will keep this team out of the playoffs. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall have the potential to put up very impressive stats, but in the end and aging defense and a banged up QB (which is what the future probably holds for Jay Cutler) I don’t see them overcoming teams like the Lions or Packers twice a year, which would give them 4 loses in their own division.

12. Philadelphia Eagles- Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy might be the most dangerous combination QB/RB tandem in the league, but I don’t trust the WRs. DeSean Jackson seems more selfish after every interview and I don’t think Maclin can be a bona fide number one option in this league. While I do think the defense will be enough to keep them in the playoff hunt the Giants will be too tough for them to take the division title. It is not all bad news though; they do have a good chance for a Wild Card birth with the only competition most likely coming from the NFC South and North.

11. Tennessee Titans- The Titans are my sleeper team this year. In an offensive league driven by QBs and aerial offenses, I think that the Titans have the best WR group in the AFC. Kendall Wright will be the perfect fit between a playmaker like Kenny Britt and a deep threat like Nate Washington. If the Titans start Jake Locker (who you know has a rocket arm if you watched last year’s games) they may be the fastest team per player in the league, which would make their offense a matchup nightmare. Steve Hutchinson and Kamerion Wimbley are under the radar signings that could have probably given the Titans at least two wins in close games last year against the Saints, Jaguars, Falcons, and Bengals. Lastly, people seem to forget that the Titans were the only team with a 9-7 record to miss the playoffs and arguably their best offensive player was injured in week 3.

10. New England Patriots- I may be in the minority, but I don’t think that the Patriots will be any higher than 30th defensively this year. Chandler Jones was vastly overrated and I am surprised that the Patriots of all teams took him so early. Dont’a Hightower is very good but I’m not sure how he, Brandon Spikes, and Jerod Mayo all can be on the field at the same time.
That being said the Patriots proved last year that even if you have a terrible defense you can get to the Super Bowl if you have a star QB. Even though Welker’s will probably see a reduced role this year with the contract situation and Belichick’s love of throwing everyone off, that doesn’t mean that Tom Brady will be any less stellar. Brady will attack the middle with Gronk and Hernandez and will make any team that considers beating them understand that it will take at least 3 TDs unless you have a DE the initials JPP on the other side of the ball.

9. Denver Broncos- Peyton Manning has returned. I know he is coming off of an injury, but any time I have ever bet against Peyton he has made me look like a fool. Manning will have weapons like Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, and Jacob Tamme on offense and anything short of 30 points a game would shock me.

On the defensive side Manning may have déjà vu with Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller playing the parts of Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney. Much like the tandem of the Colts, those two guys can ruin an offensive coordinators day if they are playing with a lead.

8. Cincinnati Bengals- This summary is short and sweet. The Bengals have all the pieces they need to win a Super Bowl in my mind. If they can look as good on the field as they do on paper then we may have a new dominant force in the AFC North.

7. Baltimore Ravens- Ray Rice isn’t happy and Terrell Suggs could be out for the year. All is not doom and gloom in Baltimore though, I think Courtney Upshaw is comparable to a young Suggs and the Ravens have plenty of time to incentivize Ray Rice before the season starts. Only time will tell, but we do know that the Ravens have an amazing locker room and have a great coach. That alone will get them 8 wins.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers- The Steelers need to beg Mike Wallace not to hold out. If he holds out they could fall to the 12-15ish area if they aren’t careful. Wallace takes the top off of a defense as well as anyone else in the league and without him and Ward I’m not sure who Big Ben’s go-to-guy is.

4 (Tie). Houston Texans & Detroit Lions- These were too hard to separate, I look at them and see two VERY similar franchises.
This year will tell us who these teams are. Both have amazing #1 WRs, both have incredibly potent defenses, and both just overcame long droughts of missing the playoffs. The QBs are both VG but not elite, and both will have a tough time keeping them healthy. However in both cases, if both can make it out of their division’s with the top record and a healthy squad, then these teams have the chance to be contenders for the conference championships.

3. Green Bay Packers- The Packers lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, but had an amazing 15-1 record in the regular season. If I were a betting man I would say that I think Rodgers wants his championship title back, and the one thing that no team in this league can beat is a motivated Green Bay Packers organization.

2. San Francisco 49ers- The 49ers are a young team that had a first-year head coach in a shortened season and STILL dominated their competition. This is another team that lost to the future “Champs”, but the 49ers did so in large part because of miscues not ineptitude or a lack of being prepared. The 49ers are all back on defense and have added weapons on offense. Now that they have had a taste of success, lets see how they respond.

1. New York Giants- Who else could it have been? Eli Manning and co. are mostly still intact and the core of that team is young and talented. The Giants had a great draft as always thanks to General Manager Jerry Reese, and I would not be shocked to see a repeat of last year’s Super Bowl run. And for all those teams that thought JPP was a terror last year, he is just scratching the surface of his potential and opposing OTs should be very afraid.