8. Indianapolis Colts
Previous ranking: 9
The Indianapolis Colts were viewed as one of the free agency winners, adding Philip Rivers to solidify their quarterback position and trading for DeForest Buckner to bolster their interior defensive line. Their draft additions were solid as well, beginning with their two picks at the start of the first round. Michael Pittman Jr. can be a great asset for Rivers, with his ability along the boundary, ball skills and penchant for attacking the football at the catch point. Jonathan Taylor is a potential home run hitter of a back, with track speed and the experience in a versatile running attack like Wisconsin’s.
Quietly, the Jacob Eason pick is definitely one to track. Eason has a live arm and experience in a more traditional offense during his time at Washington. He can learn behind Rivers and more importantly joins a head coach in Frank Reich who has a track record of quarterback development, given how he was part of the room developing Carson Wentz in Philadelphia. Dezmon Patmon is a nice addition, another bigger receiver on the outside, and safety Julian Blackmon is a versatile player with potential in both zone and man coverage settings.
Also, when your defensive leader cannot wait to get into the building, you know there is momentum for the season ahead:
I’m bored!! Let me in 😂😂 https://t.co/cpsSJqeL5P
— Darius Leonard (@dsleon45) July 29, 2020
7. Buffalo Bills
Previous ranking: 6
A great defense with talent at all levels. A newly-acquired wide receiver who is a true threat downfield. Great coaching and a smart front office. A division rival undergoing massive changes.
So why are the Buffalo Bills not ranked higher?
It begins and ends with the man pictured here. Josh Allen has questions to answer in 2020. If he can take a step forward – particularly in the vertical passing game – this might be the best team in the division and perhaps a Super Bowl contender.
If not…
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Previous ranking: 7
This has been a tremendous offseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On the first night of the draft they added a fantastic offensive tackle prospect in Tristan Wirfs. The monster of a right tackle has a power-lifting background, great athleticism for the position and a bevy of experience. Then on the second day of the draft the added Antoine Winfield Jr., a great safety prospect with ideal vision and versatility for the pro game. Running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn addressed a need on the roster as well.
They were not done, adding Tyler Johnson from Minnesota on Day Three. Johnson is a savvy route-runner with experience, and fell in the draft due to his interesting pre-draft process. Dropping out of the East-West Shrine game, and then the Combine drills, raised eyebrows, but so does his film – in a good way. Also do not sleep on Khalil Davis. The Nebraska defensive tackle has some penetration skills and can be stout against the run.
Oh and they added Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski too.
Think Brady is focused? Just watch:
We're just getting started.#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/oYLonW032Z
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 29, 2020
5. Tennessee Titans
Previous ranking: 5
The buzz around Georgia right tackle Isaiah Wilson was real as the NFL Draft approached, and at the end of the first round the Tennessee Titans made him their selection to protect Ryan Tannehill, pave the way for Derrick Henry and step into a slot vacated by departing RT Jack Conklin. Then the organization addressed a need at cornerback, drafting Kristian Fulton from LSU when the DB fell into the back of the second round.
A very intriguing selection for them came in the fifth round, when they added defensive tackle Larrell Murchison. The N.C. State defender has a solid array of pass rushing moves and could be a presence on the inside of the Titans’ defensive line. Plus? They added the uber-aggressive Cole McDonald to their quarterback room. McDonald has an NFL arm and the willingness to challenge windows downfield that other passers shy away from. Darrynton Evans, the running back from Appalachian State, seems to be more of a Dion Lewis replacement than a Derrick Henry backstop, but he will give the offense a nice change of pace.
But what makes the Titans a threat for 2020 is the combination of their defense, and a ball-control offense that can use the fear of Henry to set up their play-action passing game. They have an emerging threat in A.J. Brown at wide receiver, and Ryan Tannehill played at an elite level in this offense a season ago. The pieces are in place for Tannehill to have similar success in 2020, just now over a full 16-game slate.
4. New Orleans Saints
Previous ranking: 4
It has been an interesting offseason for the New Orleans Saints. The selection of Cesar Ruiz is a great pick for the Saints’ offense. He can slot in potentially at the right guard spot given this experience playing guard at Michigan before moving to center. Zach Baun might be a bit of a hybrid, but defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can care out a role for him both as a pass rusher and even a coverage player on passing downs. Trautman is a very intriguing player, and could be the complete package at the tight end position. He was dominant on film against FCS competition. They also added Jameis Winston to the roster and gave Taysom Hill a new deal, so they’ve got that going for them, which is nice.
But this team goes as far as their offense takes them, and it is a great offense on paper. They have Michael Thomas, one of the NFL’s best wideouts, they have Alvin Kamara, a game-changer at running back, they have Drew Brees, still one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, and they hvae added Emmanuel Sanders. This is a great group that should score points in bunches. In the modern NFL, that’s a recipe for success.
3. San Francisco 49ers
Previous ranking: 3
The San Francisco 49ers made a trade prior to the draft with the Indianapolis Colts, sending them interior defender DeForest Buckner in exchange for the 13th pick in the draft. What did they turn that pick into? Perhaps an ideal replacement in Javon Kinlaw. The South Carolina defensive tackle is an explosive penetration off the snap and can be the perfect player to step into Buckner’s cleats.
Many expected San Francisco to trade out of their spot at the end of the first round and add additional picks, but they actually moved up in the round, making a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to get to the 25th spot in the draft. There they drafted wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk from Arizona State. With Emmanuel Sanders gone to New Orleans, this was a position of need and they added a receiver with burst off the line, into his breaks and after the catch. He is not the complete package like Sanders, but is a nice addition to the WR group.
Then, in the wake of offensive tackle Joe Staley retiring, they acquired stout left tackle Trent Williams via a trade.
What makes the 49ers still dangerous is what they have coming back on offense. George Kittle and Jimmy Garoppolo are a solid battery, and the mind of Kyle Shanahan is still tough for opposing defensive coordinators to handle. That puts them in good shape heading into 2020.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Previous ranking: 2
Interestingly enough, this has become something of a polarizing offseason for the Baltimore Ravens. Those who grade their draft class highly point to the pairing of Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison as an almost-ideal WLB/MLB tandem. Queen is athletic, a linebacker in a safety’s body, and can flow to the football while Harrison is reminiscent of Donta’ Hightower, a downhill player against the run who can be a functional “Rat” defender or even a potential situational pass rusher on passing downs. J.K. Dobbins is an ideal fit for their offense as a running back, and between Tyre Phillips and Ben Bredeson they have a chance to fill a big hole vacated by the Marshall Yanda retirement. Even Geno Stone, their seventh-round selection, has a shot to be an early contributor given his prowess in zone coverage settings.
But yet, it could be argued that they used some premium picks on linebackers and running backs, positions that can be addressed later in the draft or via another round of free agency.
From where we sit at Touchdown Wire, these are solid picks, and just add to a team that finished 14-2 a year ago and looked like they were headed to a showdown with Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game.
Oh, and they have Lamar Jackson, the top player in the game according to the players themselves.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Previous ranking: 1
The selection of Clyde Edwards-Helaire at the end of the first round was a stroke of genius from Brett Veach and Andy Reid. The Chiefs did not have a ton of holes coming into the draft – winning a Super Bowl often makes that clear – but he makes this offense that much tougher to defender. Edwards-Helaire can be an immediate factor in the passing game. He is coming from an offense that used five-man protection schemes on 83% of their passing plays. Meaning that if he was on the field and a pass was called, odds are he was running a route. In the wake of Damien Williams’ decision to opt-out due to COVID-19, this selection seems even smarter.
Then they addressed a need at linebacker with the explosive Willie Gay Jr., from Mississippi State. Gay has sideline-to-sideline burst and had an impressive Combine, and character concerns probably contributed to his fall in the draft.
Plus, they still have Patrick Mahomes. Unless he opts-out, this is the team to beat.