NFL power rankings, NFC edition: Saints, Seahawks among the best
4. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers celebrated a Super Bowl LIV victory for about six minutes of the fourth quarter of the big game. Since that time, it has appeared that the team has mostly stood neutral or backpedaled.
The team traded star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts and used the first-round draft pick to essentially replace him with Javon Kinlaw. Getting younger and cheaper is never the wrong decision if you’re sure – but you have to have quite sure.
The team also likely downgraded at receiver, its’ thinnest position, by giving up on Emmanuel Sanders and replacing him with a first-round pick in Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk. The same is true at running back, where the team traded its top rusher Matt Breida to Miami, in the hopes that Raheem Mostert can lead the way and Tevin Coleman can re-find his 2018 form.
More of the same along the offensive line as the team replaced future Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Staley with former All-Pro Trent Williams who did not play at all in 2019.
The team has put all the faith in the world in quarterback Jimmy Garappolo and head coach Kyle Shanahan. The most important key, though, is defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Time will tell if they can replicate or exceed the 2019 season – this is a team to watch for a major 2020 drop off, though.
3. Minnesota Vikings
It is a little odd putting the Vikings this high in our power rankings, but we really do believe that strongly in both their 2020 draft class, and in running back Dalvin Cook.
The team made two big errors, in our estimation, this offseason. First, they extended Kirk Cousins, ensuring they’re married to him through 2022. Second, they traded Stefon Diggs, though the return dampens the impact some.
But the Vikings absolutely aced the NFL Draft. Through their bevy of selections, they added at least four players who should contribute from day one. On offense, they selected wide receiver Justin Jefferson in the first round and tackle Ezra Cleveland in the second. They’ll pair with an already good offense to make noise against every defense in football.
On defense, the team added cornerbacks Jeff Gladney in the first round and Cameron Dantzler in the second, both of whom should see significant playing time and upgrade the defense in 2020. Free-agent addition defensive tackle Michael Pierce may prove to be the biggest of all the offseason moves for Minnesota, though.
The Vikings should enter the season knowing they’re the best team in their division, and if they stay healthy and work to hide Cousins’ deficiencies, they can take a step towards true contention in 2020.