NFL power rankings, post free agency: Chiefs, Ravens loom

Jay Gruden is out and Ron Rivera is in as head coach. His biggest decision will be at quarterback. Does he stick with Dwayne Haskins who comes inherited from the previous regime, one that didn’t appear enamored with him? Or does Rivera draft Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 2 pick over Chase Young? It’s going to be another long year in the nation’s capital.

The Jets moved back a few spots from the end of last season. This is mostly because the team didn’t upgrade most areas of the roster, especially the weapons around quarterback Sam Darnold. With Robby Anderson gone, the Jets have a clear need at receiver, one they may address in the draft.

Head coach Adam Gase is entering his second season at the helm in Gotham, and he needs to prove Darnold is making strides. He also needs more from a defense seemingly without a star pass-rusher.

The Dolphins made real strides this offseason, spending significant capital in free agency. General manager Chris Grier locked up linebacker Kyle Van Noy, edge rushers Emmanuel Ogbah and Shaq Lawson, and cornerback Byron Jones among others.

Miami could move even higher in the rankings should it land a quarterback in the first round, as expected. With the fifth-overall selection, along with two additional first-round picks, the Dolphins could make major improvements.

Matt Patricia could be a dead man walking if the Lions don’t show dramatic improvement from last year’s team. Matthew Stafford playing 16 games should go a long way toward that, but perhaps the Lions choose to draft his successor with the No. 3 pick and usher in a new era. Or they could take the conservative route and take a defender like Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah.

Detroit is clearly at the bottom of the NFC North in what could be an intriguing three-way battle between Green Bay, Minnesota and Chicago.