NFL Power Rankings: Uneven draft class sends Browns back to basement
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, Mitch Sanderson, and Arun Srinivasan.
1. Philadelphia Eagles| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
Post-FA Rank: 1st
The reigning champs only had five picks, but they made them count and added even more depth to what was already maybe the league's best roster. Snagging highly athletic edge rusher Josh Sweat in the fourth round is just unfair considering the defensive-line talent Philly already owns. - Browne
2. New England Patriots| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | 6th | 2nd | 2nd |
Post-FA Rank: 3rd
The Patriots filled their only major needs on offense by grabbing Isiah Wynn and Sony Michel in the first round. The former should offset the loss of Nate Solder, while Michel has the potential to be a star in New England's system thanks to his versatility, big-play ability, and receiving skills. Tom Brady is one happy man. - Browne
3. Los Angeles Rams| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd | 2nd | 4th | 3rd |
Post-FA Rank: 4th
The Rams' draft class was nondescript, but for a roster loaded with stars, they needed only to plug small holes. For a team lacking picks in the first and second rounds, L.A. came out of the weekend with plenty of depth for its offensive and defensive lines. - McClymont
4. Minnesota Vikings| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | 3rd | 3rd | 5th |
Post-FA Rank: 2nd
The Vikings added depth at several positions in the draft, including the offensive line and cornerback, but didn't come away with many prospects who will make an immediate impact, which just speaks to how solid the roster already is. - Sanderson
5. New Orleans Saints| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7th | 7th | 5th | 4th |
Post-FA Rank: 5th
New Orleans was panned by some for trading a 2019 first-round pick to select Marcus Davenport. Worry about that later. The Saints now have a formidable front-seven that pairs well with their talented offense, stoking their bid for a Super Bowl run. - Srinivasan
6. Jacksonville Jaguars| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 4th | 8th | 7th |
Post-FA Rank: 7th
Jacksonville strengthened what was already arguably the best defensive line in the NFL by selecting Taven Bryan, then added depth across the board in the later rounds. It's a sign of the changing times that the Jaguars could afford to go with the best player available as they look for a measure of revenge against the Patriots. - Srinivasan
7. Pittsburgh Steelers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th | 5th | 6th | 8th |
Post-FA Rank: 6th
The Steelers added enough pieces at the draft to remain a strong contender in the AFC, though they looked to be preparing for the future more than 2018 - a sign of a successful, sustainable franchise. - Sanderson
8. Green Bay Packers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | 8th | 7th | 10th |
Post-FA Rank: 8th
The Packers went from having one of the league's worst secondaries to putting together the brightest group of young defensive backs while also retooling their receiving options. Don't expect a second straight playoff miss. - Sanderson
9. Atlanta Falcons| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8th | 9th | 9th | 6th |
Post-FA Rank: 9th
Calvin Ridley injects life into a Falcons offense that inexplicably struggled for large stretches of the 2017 season. Julio Jones must be salivating at the prospect of single coverage. - Srinivasan
10. Carolina Panthers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 12th | 14th | 9th |
Post-FA Rank: 10th
Carolina opted to get Cam Newton some help by using its first-round pick on receiver D.J. Moore. Don't look now but the 2015 Panthers may be back. - Srinivasan
11. Los Angeles Chargers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11th | 13th | 10th | 12th |
Post-FA Rank: 13th
The Bolts move up a few spots in our rankings for landing perhaps the biggest steal of the draft. The Chargers held firm at No. 17 and watched as Derwin James fell into their laps. L.A. gets bonus points for nabbing one of the top prospects at one of its biggest areas of need. - McClymont
12. Houston Texans| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13th | 11th | 11th | 13th |
Post-FA Rank: 12th
Deshaun Watson's devastating injury put a halt to one of the NFL's most entertaining teams, and though they barely had any draft capital, the Texans are poised to contend for the AFC South title once again. - Srinivasan
13. Tennessee Titans| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14th | 10th | 13th | 16th |
Post-FA Rank: 15th
Tennessee bolstered its pass rush by obtaining Rashaan Evans and Harold Landry in the first two rounds, then sat back and watched the rest of the league during the draft. With only four picks, it's almost an incomplete class, but the Titans' rookies may end up being among the most impactful. - Srinivasan
14. Kansas City Chiefs| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15th | 15th | 12th | 11th |
Post-FA Rank: 11th
After focusing much of their attention on the offensive side of the ball during free agency, the Chiefs went all defense in the draft. Raise your hand if you'd heard of Breeland Speaks, Derrick Nnadi, or Dorian O'Daniel before this past weekend, though. Didn't think so. - McClymont
15. Baltimore Ravens| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16th | 16th | 16th | 15th |
Post-FA Rank: 18th
How exactly all the Ravens' picks will slot in with the team is a little confusing, but they certainly added some potential difference-makers in Ozzie Newsome's last draft. It's on John Harbaugh and Co. to ensure their longtime GM can be proud of his final class. - Sanderson
16. San Francisco 49ers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12th | 23rd | 15th | 14th |
Post-FA Rank: 14th
The Niners remain a sexy pick to make a big jump in 2018, but a roster short on talent could have benefited greatly from a strong draft. Instead, John Lynch and Co. used their first-round pick on a tackle and waited until the fifth round to draft a corner. Jimmy G can't do it all himself. - McClymont
17. Detroit Lions| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19th | 14th | 18th | 19th |
Post-FA Rank: 16th
The Lions addressed needs on their offensive line, at running back, and in their secondary, but not with players who drum up excitement around the league. Maybe they know something we don't. - Sanderson
18. Dallas Cowboys| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17th | 17th | 22nd | 17th |
Post-FA Rank: 19th
The board fell nicely for Dallas, helping it fortify its linebacking corps and offensive line while finding a much-needed target for Dak Prescott in the third. However, the Cowboys still may not be good enough to challenge the Eagles for the divisional crown. - Browne
19. Denver Broncos| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18th | 20th | 17th | 18th |
Previous Rank: 21st
The defense must be happy. The Broncos didn't take a QB at No. 5, just as Chris Harris had hoped. John Elway had one of the strongest drafts. Aside from snatching Bradley Chubb, the Broncos found a handful of prospects who should contribute in their first year. - McClymont
20. Washington Redskins| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22nd | 21st | 20th | 22nd |
Post-FA Rank: 17th
First-round DT Da'ron Payne was a reach, but Washington desperately needed to address its 32nd-ranked run defense. Guice may prove to be a major steal, but after him, there's little in the Redskins' draft class to suggest they'll be able to compete for a playoff spot in 2018. - Browne
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21st | 18th | 25th | 26th |
Post-FA Rank: 25th
The Buccaneers did well to obtain a ton of draft capital from other teams and may have ended up with their running back of the future in second-round pick Ronald Jones. They still have a long way to catch the rest of their division, however. - Srinivasan
22. New York Giants| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24th | 25th | 19th | 23rd |
Post-FA Rank: 23rd
Saquon Barkley is guaranteed to be a star, but that's the floor for a running back taken No. 2 overall. The Giants are betting big that their defense can rebound and Eli Manning still has enough juice to help his elite weapons excel. If the QBs in this class hit, the Giants could look back at this draft as a franchise-changing mistake. - Browne
23. Seattle Seahawks| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23rd | 26th | 21st | 21st |
Post-FA Rank: 24th
While the Seahawks were (rightfully) celebrated for drafting one-handed linebacker Shaquem Griffin, they did almost nothing to improve their starting lineup. Taking what many believed to be the sixth- or seventh-best running back on the board at No. 27 overall was one of the biggest head-scratching moves of the draft. - McClymont
24. Oakland Raiders| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | 22nd | 24th | 25th |
Post-FA Rank: 20th
The Raiders take one of the biggest drops in our rankings. Jon Gruden and Reggie McKenzie all but ignored their weak secondary and added to a position of strength, their offensive line, with their first-round pick. They found talent in the later rounds with the likes of Arden Key and Maurice Hurst, but few of their picks are expected to contribute immediately. - McClymont
25. Chicago Bears| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20th | 27th | 27th | 27th |
Post-FA Rank: 30th
Slowly but surely, the Bears are building a talented offense around Mitch Trubisky and while their defense added Roquan Smith as the next great Chicago linebacker, the club is still a work in progress. - Sanderson
26. Arizona Cardinals| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26th | 28th | 26th | 24th |
Post-FA Rank: 28th
Josh Rosen and Christian Kirk are Arizona's stars of the future, but in the present, this team is much less intimidating than the Cards of years past. - McClymont
27. Miami Dolphins| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28th | 19th | 31st | 28th |
Post-FA Rank: 31st
Minkah Fitzpatrick could be the steal of the first round and should be the leader the Dolphins' defense needs. However, not landing one of the top quarterbacks means Miami has tied its 2018 fate to the returning Ryan Tannehill. This team still has a lot to prove in a make-or-break year for Adam Gase. - Browne
28. Cincinnati Bengals| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27th | 24th | 29th | 29th |
Post-FA Rank: 27th
Give Cincinnati credit for finding value with most of its 11 draft picks, but Andy Dalton is still the quarterback and Marvin Lewis is still the head coach. - Sanderson
29. Buffalo Bills| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30th | 31st | 28th | 20th |
Post-FA Rank: 29th
Buffalo went all in on upside, taking two of the draft's rawest top prospects in Josh Allen and Tremaine Edmunds. The reward could be two franchise-level players, but the Bills don't have the talent right now to ease the rookies into the lineup. It could be a long few seasons before this risk pays dividends. - Browne
30. Indianapolis Colts| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29th | 30th | 23rd | 30th |
Post-FA Rank: 26th
It's not a sexy pick but the Colts selected the best guard prospect in years when taking Quenton Nelson. It doesn't raise the profile of the team significantly, however, and it's looking to be another long year in Indianapolis. - Srinivasan
31. New York Jets| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31st | 29th | 32nd | 31st |
Post-FA Rank: 32nd
Sam Darnold could be well worth the price New York paid to move up three spots (three second-round picks), but the Jets' roster desperately needed an infusion of talent and the quarterback likely won't be ready for 2018. The future is brighter, but there will be significant growing pains until then. - Browne
32. Cleveland Browns| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32nd | 32nd | 30th | 32nd |
Post-FA Rank: 29th
Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward may very well end up as solid pros, but considering the consensus pre-draft rankings and the team that selected them, it feels like the Browns overthought their top picks again. Prove us wrong. - Sanderson
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