With training camps starting to open, it is time for the most time-honored of traditions: Power rankings! Fun, right? But let us be honest, the beauty of sport is how it gives us endless debate and banter before the games even begin.
For each team here, you will see their previous ranking from after the draft as well as a discussion of what – if anything – has changed in the past few weeks. Some late roster moves, coupled with decisions by individual players to opt-out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns, account for the minor changes between then and now.
Enough methodology. Let’s get to the yelling!
32. Cincinnati Bengals
Previous ranking: 32
Not much has changed for the Cincinnati Bengals since the draft. As expected, they opened the draft by adding quarterback Joe Burrow from LSU. The Tigers’ passer was sensational a season ago, leading the school to a National Championship, securing a Heisman Trophy and demonstrating to NFL evaluators that he has the competitive toughness, accuracy and pocket presence you want in a pro QB. Then the Bengals added wide receiver Tee Higgins at the top of the second round, a very nice acquisition. Higgins is a ball-winner at the catch point and a potential A.J. Green understudy. Logan Wilson from Wyoming and Akeem Davis-Gaither are a nice inside/outside tandem of linebackers as well.
But we are still talking about a team that finished 2-14 last season, gave up a a whopping 6.1 yards per play last year on defense (tied with the Houston Texans for dead-last in the league), allowed opposing passers an Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt (ANY/A) of 7.4 (ranking 28th in the league) and is facing the prospects of breaking in a rookie quarterback during a pre-season that is likely to be truncated. Burrow is fantastic, but all rookies have a learning curve, especially when the learning time is going to be limited.
They’ll have Green back, playing under the franchise tag, and if Burrow has a solid rookie year they should be much improved over 2019. But…we need to see it first.
31. Detroit Lions
Previous ranking: 31
The selection of Jeff Okudah was a wise pick by the Detroit Lions, as Matt Patricia comes from the Bill Belichick school of thought meaning man coverage is the main course on the defensive side of the football. Okudah is a silky-smooth coverage cornerback with pristine footwork and change-of-direction skills.
Drafting D’Andre Swift was the selection at 35, and what he offers as a receiver either out of the backfield or even flexed outside eases the sting of going with a running back early in the draft. Julian Okwara is a bursty player off the edge, who could prove to be a late-round steal. Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg both were named to Touchdown Wire’s Top 11 interior offensive linemen, and Stenberg’s reputation as a nasty player could give the Lions’ offensive line a bit of an identity. But the 2020 season might be riding on the right arm – and health – of quarterback Matthew Stafford. Provided he is healthy the Lions could make some noise in the NFC North, but it is too soon to start moving them up boards just yet. But if he and wide out Kenny Golladay click in 2020 like they did at the start of 2019, watch out. This could be a sneaky-good offense.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars
Previous ranking: 30
The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the 2020 NFL Draft with some draft capital to spend, and they made a ton of additions. First off, they did not chase the shiny object in front of them in the first round. Jordan Love was available when they were on the clock both at nine overall and then later in the round at 20, but they addressed needs with great players in cornerback C.J. Henderson and EDGE defender K’Lavon Chaisson. Henderson gives them the cover cornerback they lost in the departure both Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. Chaisson gives them a presence on the edge that might ease a potential trade of Yannick Ngakoue.
Then in the middle rounds they added Laviska Shenault Jr., who could be a matchup nightmare for defenses, a stout interior tackle in Davon Hamilton, and Ben Bartch, the small-school offensive tackle who at times looked like the best OT at the Senior Bowl during practice week. Collin Johnson from Texas is also a nice addition at wide receiver.
By trusting their board and executing a plan, they started to put some pieces together around second-year quarterback Gardner Minshew. There is still a long way to go for Jacksonville, but this is a solid start. And to be honest, I wanted to move them up for this video alone:
That QB1 flow. pic.twitter.com/VTQQW9FnFZ
— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) July 28, 2020
That’s the good stuff.
29. Carolina Panthers
Previous ranking: 29
Speaking of plans, the Carolina Panthers certainly had one for the 2020 NFL Draft. Matt Rhule’s first as an NFL head coach saw the team add a player on the defensive side of the football with every single draft selection. Derrick Brown can be an immediate impact player up front, with his ability against the run coupled with what he can do to push the pocket. Yetur Gross-Matos was viewed as a potential first-round selection, so grabbing him at the top of the second was a very smart pick.
Many thought the Panthers might go with Isaiah Simmons at the top of the draft, so drafting a potential Simmons-lite player in Jeremy Chinn makes a great deal of sense. Chinn is a very athletic safety who can be used in a variety of roles. They then added Kenny Robinson, the former XFL safety, in the fifth round.
The ultimate success of the Panthers in 2020 likely rests on the right arm of Teddy Bridgewater. The free agent acquisition now can be assured that this is his team going forward, and he should be an ideal fit in Joe Brady’s offense. With some weapons around him, and an improved defense on the other side of the football, Bridgewater should be in a good position to make his contract a wise investment for Carolina. Regardless, this does look to be the start of a rebuild down in Carolina.
28. Washington Football Team
Previous ranking: 28
It has been a tumultuous off-season in Washington, with a long-overdue name change and a stunning expose regarding sexual harassment of employees and sports writers published at the Washington Post. As for the product on the field, when you add the likely best overall player at the top of the draft, you are off to a good start. The Washington Redskins did exactly that with the second pick in the draft, selecting Ohio State EDGE Chase Young. The defender impacts every single play whether it shows up in the score sheet next to his name or not, with the attention he commands and the effort expended to try and contain him. He will create opportunities for the rest of an already stout Washington defensive front, with players like Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat.
Washington did not pick again until the third round, but the additions of Antonio Gibson, a matchup nightmare of an offensive weapon, along with Antonio Gandy-Golden give quarterback Dwayne Haskins some exciting options in the passing game. Adding them to a mix that already includes Terry McLaurin is a nice boost to the huddle. Tight end remains a need, but given the questions about this year’s class they did not force a pick at that position.
Also, let’s consider that Washington also did not chase the shiny object, by either drafting a quarterback at two like some recommended or trading out of the spot, risking that they would lose out on Young. They added a premier player at a premier position, and built around their rising second-year QB who did show improvement down the stretch. A reasoned approach that seems unlike the usual Dan Snyder decision. Which is a good thing.
The Washington Football Team also got some good news with the word that quarterback Alex Smith was cleared to return to play. Even if he never makes it back, Smith is a player worth rooting for.
27. Miami Dolphins
Previous ranking: 27
The entire success or failure of this draft rests on the right arm – and hip – of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. After sending up smokescreen after smokescreen that the Miami Dolphins were going to either draft Justin Herbert, or potentially trade up to draft an offensive tackle, the organization stayed right at the fifth spot and made Tagovailoa the pick. Provided he stays healthy, Chan Gailey’s spread offense is almost an ideal setting for him in the NFL.
With their two remaining first round picks, the Dolphins added an offensive tackle in Austin Jackson that is a bit of a reach, but was better in 2018 than he was a year ago and could improve with NFL coaching. Auburn defensive back Noah Igbinoghene is a smart pick, as he joins an already impressive gropu of cornerbacks in Xavien Howard and Byron Jones. That will give head coach Brian Flores the flexibility to play matchups with his corners, something he did often along with Bill Belichick back in New England.
In all, this was a solid draft and the future does seem bright in Miami with all their free agent acquisition and the players added over the past few days. This is a team that played hard for Flores down the stretch and does seem to believe in his vision. But ultimately, the arm and hip of Tagovailoa are going to determine whether this plan succeeds in the end. With some changes taking place around the rest of the AFC East, Miami could be relevant quicker than you expect.
26. New York Jets
Previous ranking: 25
The New York Jets had, by our estimation here at Touchdown Wire and other around the football media landscape, a very impressive draft. Mekhi Becton is a mountain of a man, but the largest man at the Combine in Indianapolis still managed a post a 5.1 40-yard dash which still seems absurd to type. He is a bruiser, a true finisher of a lineman, who is going to keep Sam Darnold clean for the years to come. Then they pounced on Denzel Mims at 59 overall, a track star and potential game-breaker of a vertical receiver and a perfect replacement for the loss of Robby Anderson. They could have packed up and gone home at that point and called it a win of a draft.
But they were not done. Ashtyn Davis is an ideal center fielder in the back of their defense, but can also transition to cornerback should the team retain safety Jamal Adams and not need to move Marcus Maye into more of a strong safety role. Jabari Zuniga is an athletic presence off the edge, and Bryce Hall is a tremendous value at cornerback late on Day Three. Heck, even punter Braden Mann was a smart selection, viewed as many as the top punter on the board.
But decisions since then have weakened the team for 2020, at least on paper. After a lengthy bit of discourse between the organization and standout safety Jamal Adams, general manager Joe Douglas traded Adams to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for almost a king’s ransom. The Jets received first-round picks in 2021 and 2022, a third-rounder in 2021, and safety Bradley McDougal. This hurts them in the near-term (explaining their slight slide since the post-draft rankings) but if Douglas hits on even one of those picks, this is a great move for the Jets in the future.
25. New York Giants
Previous ranking: 26
New York Giants’ general manager Dave Gettleman did a great job with the first two selections, adding a pro-ready offensive tackle in Andrew Thomas and then cashing in on the fall of Alabama safety Xavier McKinney. Thomas comes from a Georgia offense that prepared him for a life in the pros, and is a force in both pass protection and the running game. McKinney is a versatile safety that can function down in the box and as a single-high player, and comes from a Nick Saban system that is as complex a defense as it gets in the college game.
Gettleman then spent additional resources on the offensive line and the second level of the Giants’ defense. Matt Peart has the potential to be a swing tackle behind Thomas and Nate Solder and could be a starter-in-waiting behind the veteran. Carter Coughlin might be a potential developmental project, as he played down on the edge in college but might transition to off-ball linebacker. Cameron Brown is a fun player to watch who thrived in Penn State’s overhang LB position, but sliding more inside will take some time.
New York’s 2020 season hinges on the second-year growth from quarterback Daniel Jones. The former Duke University passer showed signs of growth last season, particularly with how he handled pressure, but needs to avoid turnovers, both in the pocket and when throwing downfield. The added protection should assist him in that effort, but any sort of sophomore slump will make the seat under Gettleman get a bit warmer.
Making matters more difficult for the Giants this offseason was the actions of former first-round pick DeAndre Baker. The defensive back was arrested back in May on felony charges for a robbery that occurred in Florida, and he was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list as a result a few days ago. The Giants’ secondary was a problem in 2019 and this news does not help.