It was a busy offseason in terms of player movement. The 2022 NFL Draft is history. Where do each of the 32 teams when it comes of these NFL Power Rankings?
What an offseason. Big names changing places and 10 different head coaches from the start of this past season – the most since 2009.
There were 262 players selected in this year’s draft. But for nearly two months prior to the three-day event, teams were busy via free agency and the trade route. So how does each of the 32 clubs shape up after the early stages of free agency as well as this draft?
Hence, these aren’t season predictions. It’s merely an early edition of the 2022 NFL Power Rankings.
The franchise is looking to rebound from three straight seasons of 11 or more losses. The talk was that the Panthers were in the market for a quarterback in the draft and they wound up getting one in the third round in Mississippi’s Matt Corral. North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu was the club’s first-round pick. Free agency netted safety Xavier Woods and veteran offensive linemen Austin Corbett (Rams) and Bradley Bozeman (Ravens).
The new head coach is Doug Pederson, who elevated the Eagles from a last-place team in 2016 to Super Bowl champions a year later. The Jaguars had the first overall pick in the draft for the second straight year and this time, opted for defense in talented Travon Walker.
The team moved back into the first round and grabbed linebacker Devin Lloyd. And during free agency, the team scored big in signing talented Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff.
There’s a new regime in Chicago via general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus. The Bears dealt Khalil Mack to the Chargers and parted ways with defensive tackle Eddie Goldman and running back Tarik Cohen. Veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson signed with the Rams.
Poles signed his share of players, including wideouts Equanimeous St. Brown and Byron Pringle, and four of the team’s 11 draft picks went towards the offensive line.
Talk about a dramatic transformation? General manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll dealt nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos.
The Seahawks also released six-time All-Pro middle linebacker Bobby Wagner, who latched on with the defending Super Bowl champion Rams. For now, the starting quarterback is Drew Lock. The franchise is looking to bounce back from its first losing season since 2011.
Lovie Smith, the team’s defensive coordinator this past year, is the club’s fourth different head coach in three years. The franchise finally parted ways with quarterback Deshaun Watson and got plenty back from the Browns.
The club added veterans in guard A.J. Cann, running back Marlon Mack and cornerback Steven Nelson. Cornerback Derek Stanley Jr. and guard Kenyon Green, as well as wide receiver John Metchie III, were strong draft choices.
After14 seasons with the franchise, quarterback Matt Ryan was traded to the Indianapolis Colts. The Falcons signed veteran Marcus Mariota but on Day 2 of the draft selected University of quarterback Desmond Ridder in the third round.
The club used its first-round pick on 6’4”, 219-pound Southern Cal wideout Drake London. And the team addressed its troubled pass rush in both the second (Arnold Ebiketie) and third (DeAngelo Malone) rounds.
Once again, it figures to be an interesting quarterback room. The Commanders traded for Carson Wentz but added talented Sam Howell (North Carolina) in the fifth round of the draft on Saturday. Wideout Jahan Dotson (Penn State) was a solid addition.
The University of Alabama continues to be a pipeline for this club as defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis and running back Brian Robinson were picked up in the second- and third-round, respectively.
It has been a dismal five-year stretch since the team made the playoffs. Enter the new duo of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. The Giants added 11 players in the draft, five in the first three rounds.
This is a club that has been woeful in the trenches. Defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux and tackle Evan Neal should have immediate impacts. Schoen also added numerous offensive linemen in free agency, notably guard Mark Glowinski.
Under Dan Campbell, the 2021 Lions didn’t win a lot but were extremely competitve. One year after allowing the second-most points in a single season in NFL history, the Lions weren’t much better defensively.
Hence using six of their eight picks in this year’s draft on help for this side of the ball. Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson should aid the pass rush. Once healthy, talented rookie wideout Jameson Williams (Alabama) will make life easier for Jared Goff.
Since the franchise’s last winning season back in 2015, the Jets own a horrendous 27-70 win-loss record. General manager Joe Douglas made some smart free-agent acquisitions in the form of guard Laken Tomlinson, tight end C.J. Uzomah and defensive backs D.J. Reed and Jerome Whitehead.
And the team appeared to nail the draft with first-rounders such as cornerback “Sauce” Gardner, wideout Garrett Wilson and pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson.
The Purple Gang is coming off consecutive losing campaigns. Hence the decision to part ways with head coach Mike Zimmer while hiring former Rams’ offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell to take over.
New GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah focused on defense in free agency – adding linebackers Jordan Hicks and Za’Darius Smith – and also used five of the club’s first six picks in the draft on that side of the ball. The new defensive coordinator is Ed Donatell.
Arguably the biggest trade of this offseason was the Browns’ acquisition of former Texans’ quarterback Deshaun Watson. No one is 100 percent sure when he will make his first appearance on the field.
There were other deals that brought wide receiver Amari Cooper (Cowboys) and defensive end Chase Winovich (Patriots). Andrew Berry added nine players via the draft – all third-round selections or later – three from the University of Oklahoma.
The franchise hasn’t been to the playoffs since winning Super Bowl 50 in 2015. The new head coach is former Packers’ offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. But the big news was the deal that brought star quarterback Russell Wilson to the Mile High City.
General manager George Paton used six of the club’s nine draft choices on defensive help. Veterans Billy Turner and Tom Compton upgrade an offensive line that’s been making strides.
The new head coach is former 49ers’ offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. General manager Chris Grier gave up plenty to get playmaking wideout Tyreek Hill from the Chiefs.
The Dolphins utilized only four draft choices but added quite a lot of talent in free agency in tackle Terron Armstead, guard Connor Williams, running backs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert and wide receiver Cedrick Wilson. All should help quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
A year ago, the then-reigning NFC South champions got off to a 5-2 start. But in that seventh game, quarterback Jameis Winston went down with a knee injury and the Saints would miss the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Winston is back but Sean Payton retired.
Dennis Allen was promoted to head coach. This is still a talented team but took some hits in free agency. Wide receiver Chris Olave and tackle Trevor Penning could be immediate starters as rookies.
It was a somewhat disconcerting offseason for a team that slumped late last years after a 7-0 start. The Cardinals did pick up the fifth-year option on disgruntled quarterback Kyler Murray.
But the team lost several key players in free agency – namely pass-rushing standout Chandler Jones and running back Chase Edmonds. Steve Keim traded out of the first round and used a second-round pick on tight end Trey McBride. This club still has some holes to fill.
A year ago, the franchise opened up its checkbook and added a slew of veteran players – most notably on offense. That made life easier for 2021 first-round quarterback Mac Jones. But the New England defense faded down the stretch and was embarrassed by the Bills in the playoffs.
The Patriots brought back Malcolm Butler and also added safety Jabrill Peppers in free agency. Bill Belichick drafted 10 players, including speedy wideout Tyquan Thornton.
John Harbaugh’s team is looking to rebound from a last-place finish, the first for the franchise since 2007. The Ravens lost their share of players in free agency but also parted ways with wide receivers Myles Boykin and Marquise Brown – the latter dealt to Arizona during the draft.
General manager Eric DeCosta came up big during the three-day process, adding safety Kyle Hamilton, center Tyler Linderbaum and defensive tackle Travis Jones.
It wasn’t long ago that the Birds owned three first-round draft choices. But by Saturday night, the team wound up selecting a total of five players while adding star wide receiver A.J. Brown in a trade with the Titans.
Nick Sirianni’s defensive unit now has a pair of former Bulldogs in interior presence Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean, the latter slipping to the third round. Pass-rusher Hasson Riddick (Panthers) was an excellent free-agent addition.
With some salary cap room for the first time in memory, the Steelers were busy this offseason. Five-year veteran Mitch Trubisky, linebacker Myles Jack and offensive linemen Mason Cole and James Daniels headline the pickups.
And in what was general manager Kevin Colbert’s final draft with the organization, the club used its first-round pick on quarterback Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh) and added wide receivers George Pickens and Calvin Austin III.
Will first-round wide receiver Treylon Burks (Arkansas) be a suitable replacement for former Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, who was dealt to the Eagles on Thursday night? He’s a new weapon for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who now has wide receiver Robert Woods and tight end Austin Hooper at his disposal.
All told, the Titans used six of their nine draft choices on offense, including a third-round selection on Liberty University quarterback Malik Willis.
While the club had their issue with the salary cap and did little during free agency (at least for now), the Cowboys lost their share of talent. Veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper was dealt to the Browns, tackle La’el Collins was released and latched on with the Bengals.
Guard Connor Williams and wide receiver Cedrick Wilson signed with the Dolphins and pass-rusher Randy Gregory left for Denver. Dallas added a pair of tackles in this year’s draft.
New GM Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels gave up first- and second-round picks to reunite quarterback Derek Carr with college teammate Davante Adams. The club also added star pass-rusher Chandler Jones in free agency.
Meanwhile, there was some surprising news when the team opted not to pick up the fifth-year options on defensive end Clelin Ferrell, running back Josh Jacobs and safety Johnathan Abram – all first-round choices in 2019.
For the sixth consecutive year, the Colts will have a new starting quarterback after giving up a third-round pick for veteran Matt Ryan.
General manager Chris Ballard added edge-rusher Yannick Ngakoue (via trade), cornerback Stephon Gilmore and safety Rodney McLeod to a defensive unit now under the command of Gus Bradley. The team didn’t have a first-round pick but still drafted eight players, including wide receiver Alec Pierce (Cincinnati).
A team that reached the NFC title game in 2021 made some news this offseason and not necessarily for the right reasons. Starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is still on the mend from shoulder surgery, making it more difficult to move on from him.
And All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel wants to be traded. Kyle Shanahan’s team took some hits in both trenches during free agency and GM John Lynch addressed both lines twice during the draft.
There’s little doubt that this is one of the more talented teams in the league. But the Chargers have managed to miss the playoffs three straight years and in 2021, first-time NFL head coach Brandon Staley experienced growing pains.
General manager Tom Telesco dealt for pass-rusher Khalil Mack and the team gave big money to cornerback J.C. Jackson. And in the first round last Thursday night, the Bolts opted for Boston College guard Zion Johnson.
This offseason headlines featured Aaron Rodgers’ contract extension and the franchise’s decision to deal wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. The veteran additions of defensive tackle Jarran Reed and wideout Sammy Watkins should help.
Brian Gutekunst selected linebacker Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt in the first round to aid a suspect defense. And Christian Watson was one of three wide receiver drafted by the Packers.
There were those wondering how Andy Reid’s team would address the departure of explosive Tyreek Hill got the answer with the second-round addition of wide receiver Skyy Moore (Western Michigan).
He joins free-agent pickups Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. But the Chiefs addressed their shaky defense in the draft and used seven of their 10 picks on that side of the ball, including first-round cornerback Trent McDuffie.
This past season, the team lost twice as many games as it did in 2020. And for the second straight year, the Bills saw their season end with a playoff loss at Kansas City.
General manager Brandon Beane made significant changes to both the offensive and defensive lines, especially the latter as the club again struggled vs. the run. Two-time Super Bowl champion Von Miller, guard Rodger Saffold and tight end O.J. Howard highlight the offseason pickups.
The reigning AFC champions addressed their troubled offensive line with the signings of tackle La’el Collins and interior blockers Ted Karras and Alex Cappa. And tight end Hayden Hurst was a solid addition as well.
The Bengals drafted six players in three days and five were dedicated to the defensive side of the ball. Safeties Daxton Hill and Tycen Anderson and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt hope to upgrade the NFL’s 26th-ranked pass defense from 2021.
First he was out and now he’s returned. Quarterback Tom Brady is back for his 23rd NFL season after retiring for just over a month. But Bruce Arians has stepped away, moved to the front office and Todd Bowles has been promoted to head coach.
The Buccaneers still have plenty of offensive weaponry and former Falcons’ wideout Russell Gage was a nice addition. Free-agent pickups Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal should help an erratic defense.
The defending Super Bowl champions were somewhat quiet during free agency. But they signed wide receiver Allen Robinson away from the Bears and picked up perennial linebacker Bobby Wagner after he was released by the Seahawks.
The Rams also reacquired cornerback Troy Hill from the Browns via trade on Saturday night. Les Snead didn’t have a draft choice until the third round but made eight selections – four of those defensive backs.