The NFL preseason kicks off tonight in Canton, Ohio with the Hall of Fame game between the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals. Since most of the teams are healthy besides a few minor injuries to certain players, I will make my early season power rankings based on all the teams being healthy. The NFL season is still over a month away though so lots could change between now and then.
32. New York Jets
Questions remain at quarterback as well as almost all other positions. The Jets are in a full rebuild and could be the worst team in 2017.
31. Chicago Bears
The Bears have started rebuilding with the selection of Mitchell Trubisky and with many question marks they should be in the league's basement.
30. San Francisco 49ers
A good off season in San Francisco won't be able to cover up the problem at quarterback, in the secondary or across the rest of the offence.
29. Los Angeles Rams
The defence looks good with Aaron Donald but Jared Goff is unproven with no help coming from skilled position of offence.
28. Cleveland Browns
The Browns drafted well but the starting quarterback remains unknown while many other positions need work too.
27. Buffalo Bills
The rushing game will take pressure of Tyrod Taylor but with a new coach and questions across the roster the playoff drought will continue.
26. Washington Redskins
Kirk Cousins is still in DC but the defence is weak and many offensive weapons left during the off season making the offence unknown.
25. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck is a very good quarterback but with no help on the offensive line or on the defence, the Colts will bring up the rear in the AFC South.
24. Philadelphia Eagles
Carson Wentz has a whole new batch of weapons at his disposal but Wentz is still too young and the secondary could use some work.
23. Cincinnati Bengals
The offensive line is the biggest concern entering the season but with flashy wide receivers and a good running game the Bengals will be average.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are loaded with young talent and veteran presence on the defence but this team will only go as far as Blake Bortles can take them.
21. New Orleans Saints
The Saints offence will always be elite with Drew Brees running it but the defence is just too bad no matter what Brees does.
20. Los Angeles Chargers
Everybody saw how hard it was for the Rams to adjust to a new city and expect the same from the Chargers especially in a stacked division.
19. Detroit Lions
Matthew Stafford led a lot of late game comebacks that the Lions won which could have been losses; expect more losses in the fourth quarter with a weak defence.
18. Arizona Cardinals
The offence and defence are both decent but Carson Palmer is up there in age; his time to win has passed and so have the Cardinals.
17. Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco is a decent quarterback but the Ravens lack the play-makers on offence and defence to compete for the Super Bowl.
16. Miami Dolphins
If Ryan Tannehill's injury today is minor expect the Dolphins to be in the playoff hunt but if it's season ending, this team could be in the league's basement.
15. Minnesota Vikings
The defence is among the best in the NFL but with questions at all offensive positions, the defence may not be able to take them to the playoffs.
14. Denver Broncos
The Broncos defence may still be the best in the NFL but the starting quarterback remains unknown. Even with questions at quarterback, this team will still be in the playoff race.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jameis Winston has tons of new weapons to demolish defences but in a good division the Buccaneers will fall just short of a playoff birth.
12. Houston Texans
The Texans have an elite defence led by JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. The quarterback is still unknown, but this is still a playoff team with whoever starts.
11. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers rejuvenated their offence in the draft and with an elite front seven they should be a playoff team as long as Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly remain healthy.
10. Tennessee Titans
The Titans are this year's dark horse as Marcus Mariota should improve even more. An elite running game will take Tennessee to the playoffs.
9. Seattle Seahawks
The defence remains intact but the offensive line is a joke. If Wilson continues to get beat up, the Seahawks won't do any damage come January.
8. Dallas Cowboys
It will be hard for Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott to replicate their rookie success but if they do the Cowboys are a Super Bowl contender even with a weak defence.
7. Kansas City Chiefs
The bend-don't-break defence in Kansas City should propel the Chiefs into the playoffs again but they need to start winning in the post-season or changes could occur.
6. Atlanta Falcons
After a devastating Super Bowl loss, the Falcons should still be among the league's best but it will be hard to replicate last year's success.
5. New York Giants
Eli Manning's play may be taking a step back but he knows how to win and with an elite defence the Giants could be representing the NFC come February in the Super Bowl.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell form a scary offence but the defence needs to improve if they are to challenge the Patriots for the AFC crown.
3. Oakland Raiders
With elite young talent across the depth chart, the Raiders could be the Patriots' biggest competition in the AFC but the defence needs to see improvement.
2. Green Bay Packers
As long as Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback in Green Bay they will be a Super Bowl contender despite the questions that remain on defence.
1. New England Patriots
The defending champions got even better over the off season and with Tom Brady they will once again be world champions.
Photo credit for Aaron Donald and Julio Jones goes to http://www.espn.com/. Drew Brees goes to https://www.cbssports.com/. Xavier Rhodes goes to http://www.vikings.com/. Cam Newton goes to https://www.forbes.com/forbes/. Tom Brady goes to http://www.foxnews.com/.
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