FPC NFL Power Rankings: Post Free Agency 2022

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We are officially one week removed from the start of the 2022 NFL league year. The dust has begun to settle on free agent signings. Fanbases are extremely excited with the new acquisitions that their squad made. Or, they are growing increasingly frustrated, pointing to the 2022 NFL Draft as one final hope.

Plenty of fresh faces have moved to new places. Thus, the powershift has greatly changed throughout certain divisions and conferences within the NFL. Quarterback movement has largely aided or cratered some teams’ chances, depending on the decision that they opted for. Meanwhile, other teams have been able to fill major needs or holes that were glaring on their roster.

Following the non-stop, awe-inspiring and downright shocking movement that we saw last week, we are ready to stack teams up against each other. Which franchise saw their respective stock tremendously improve? Plus, are there any teams that swung and missed on opportunities, only to drop their stock? It is time to find out where every team stands in a fresh set of NFL power rankings. Let’s kick it off, with our worst ranked team at number 32.

32) Seattle Seahawks

In the first of many NFL quarterback trades, the Seattle Seahawks shipped Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. This did net former 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock back in return as part of the trade package. However, there is no evidence that he has provided that he will be the passer to take Seattle into their next winning window. Elsewhere, the Seahawks released linebacker Bobby Wagner, allowing one of their top leaders to hit the open market.

There were a few moves that helped the Seahawks last week. They re-signed safety Quandre Diggs and running back Rashaad Penny to reasonable contracts. Adding defenders Quinton Jefferson and Uchenna Nwosu are solid buy-low additions as well. But in the end, the Seahawks have one of the worst quarterback situations in football, a lack of leadership and no clear direction moving forward.

31) Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers made a handful of signings throughout the last week. Joining the offensive line includes names like Bradley Bozeman and Austin Corbett. To boot, veteran defenders like Matt Ioannidis, Cory Littleton and Xavier Woods have joined the defensive unit. But overall, how much do these moves really move the needle? Especially when you have continually swung the bat and miserably failed at the quarterback position. Is Sam Darnold still the starter? The Panthers were unable to land Deshaun Watson in a trade. And if they wanted to take a chance on Baker Mayfield, there appears to be very little reward in a risk like that.

The most beneficial moves from Carolina are perhaps a re-signing and an extension. Cornerback Donte Jackson re-signed for three years and gets another chance to build off of a strong season. Moreover, wide receiver DJ Moore received a contract extension that will pay him around $61 million in the next three seasons. That is much deserved for an underappreciated pass catcher. He is likely anxiously awaiting to hear who will be throwing him the ball, though.

30) Atlanta Falcons

For the first time since 2007, Matt Ryan will not be a part of the quarterback room in Atlanta. The Falcons agreed to send him to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2022 third-round pick. This comes off of the heels of Atlanta missing out on a possible Watson acquisition. Immediately after trading away Ryan, the team signed Marcus Mariota. He previously worked with current Falcons head coach Arthur Smith when the two were together in Tennessee with the Titans.

That is the only reason as to why the Falcons are ahead of the two previous teams in these NFL power rankings. Mariota may not be perfect, but he can provide stability that neither Seattle nor Carolina appears to possess currently. Re-signing running back/wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson was also a nice get for Atlanta.

The problem is, this roster is still littered with too many other holes. A Calvin Ridley suspension and departure of Russell Gage leaves Olamide Zaccheaus, Christian Blake and Tajae Sharpe as the top three wide receivers. On the other hand, it is anyone’s guess as to who will be the top pass rushers or starting safeties.

29) Houston Texans

Being able to finally move Watson in the trade with the Cleveland Browns was monumental for everyone involved with that Houston building. While moving forward with Davis Mills as the starter may not blow anybody away, he did show growth late in his rookie season last year. He also finished stronger than some of the other rookie quarterbacks did. Perhaps, that can lead to more flashes this upcoming season.

Houston did not make many outside additions. As a result, many are awaiting the 2022 NFL Draft to see what the Texans are capable of. There were some notable re-signings that the team made, however. Being able to bring back defenders like Maliek Collins, Kamu Grugier-Hill and Desmond King can give new head coach Lovie Smith a foundation to build off of, while incorporating younger pieces into the mix. We will have to wait to see what they add in around a month, now that Houston holds two picks in the top 13 selections of this April’s first round.

28) Jacksonville Jaguars

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It did not take the Jacksonville Jaguars long to begin their spending spree once free agency began. They gave a boatload of money to Christian Kirk, Brandon Scherff, Foyesade Oluokun, Darious Williams and Zay Jones. While bringing in some of the bodies could be beneficial, the potential risk with those contracts looks extremely worrisome down the line.

The good thing for the Jaguars? Trevor Lawrence is starting to be surrounded by a sturdier cast of blockers. Franchise tagging Cam Robinson for the second straight season takes care of one offensive tackle spot. And their greatest addition may have come before the entire free agent period. Doug Pederson was arguably one of the best head coaching candidates available in my mind. His ability to build quarterbacks and a culture is just what Jacksonville needed. However, not much of these free agent moves are going to change their fortunes. Seeing what occurs in next month’s draft is honestly more pressing for this team at this point in time.

27) Detroit Lions

Most of the moves from the Detroit Lions were via re-signings. Namely, Alex Anzalone, Charles Harris, Tracy Walker and Josh Reynolds are back in the fold. The Lions also made outside additions like DJ Chark and Mike Hughes. This team was arguably one of the most entertaining and hard-working teams to “earn” a number two overall pick in NFL history last season.

The Lions did not necessarily help themselves in any major ways last week. More importantly, they did not go out and make any big investments with contracts that look regrettable. The addition of Chark could also pair well with an increasingly attractive top receiving group of Amon-Ra St. Brown and TJ Hockenson. Possibly, they are gearing up to add a certain passer in the 2022 NFL Draft to pair with those receivers. We will just have to wait and see.

26) New York Giants

Some additions made by the New York Giants could afford those new faces plenty of playing time in 2022. Offensive linemen additions like Mark Glowinski and Jon Feliciano will not turn many heads. But, it makes the New York blocking unit much tougher and nastier. Who knows what could become of offensive additions like Tyrod Taylor, Matt Breida and Ricky Seals-Jones.

Like a few of these recent teams, the Giants are not close to competing. They are at least giving a concerted and safe effort to building around the quarterback that is currently in place in Daniel Jones. In the 2022 NFL Draft, New York also holds two picks in the top seven currently, as well as three in the top 36 and five in the top 81. A few of those picks could immediately see significant playing time within the Giants’ system.

25) Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears made a few minor commitments with their outside additions. As a result, they inserted names like Byron Pringle, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Lucas Patrick and Justin Jones into the roster. None of those are hopeless moves by any means. Those can all either help quarterback Justin Fields or fortify the trenches.

New general manager Ryan Poles did trade away Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers. The return may not be quite what Chicago fans were expecting. Yet in the end, Poles is likely looking ahead to 2023, from a salary cap standpoint.

The Bears did not really get worse during the free agency period. However, it felt like they missed out on landing some bigger fish, to say the least. Many offensive tackles and wide receivers signed for relatively cheap. None of the top names signed in Chicago, to boot. Failing to hit on those opportunities limits how far the Bears could have climbed in this version of the NFL power rankings.

24) New York Jets

The New York Jets still have plenty of work to do to improve. But, none of their additions really set them back going further into the offseason. Signing Laken Tomlinson, CJ Uzomah and Tyler Conklin can greatly benefit young quarterback Zach Wilson. Plus, adding Jordan Whitehead and DJ Reed infuses a certain mix of toughness and ball skills within the secondary. New York did a fine job of adding proven commodities at premium positions, while still having plenty of favorable options for which to attack in the upcoming draft.

23) Washington Commanders

Washington has a new team name and a new quarterback, as they traded for Carson Wentz in a deal with the Indianapolis Colts. The Commanders are forced to pay the entirety of Wentz’s contract this season as part of the deal. Personally, it felt like a rushed attempt to find a veteran quarterback. That is especially true after looking at what Indianapolis was able to land with their patient route.

Wentz’s recklessness and horrid decision making, along with his gunslinger play style, makes for an odd fit with the Commanders. Having the skill players in place certainly helps. Nevertheless, it feels like Washington could have taken advantage of the opportunity at quarterback in a completely safer way. Having their younger foundation on defense and at the skill positions on offense certainly softens that blow a bit for now.

22) Minnesota Vikings

The offense was largely intact entering the offseason for the Minnesota Vikings. New head coach Kevin O’Connell will now get a chance to see what he can accomplish with Kirk Cousins. Overall, the holes in the defensive line and secondary still loom large.

Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips and pass rusher Za’Darius Smith should provide some stability. Adding more to the pass rush will be a focal point in the draft. As for the cornerback room, no additions were made. The Vikings will need to make multiple additions to that spot in the draft as well. Minnesota can often score a great deal of points. However, the lack of resources on defense makes their current status incomplete at best.

21) Cleveland Browns

The Watson addition is probably an upgrade at quarterback, given where Mayfield ended the season last year. I am not as comfortable keeping him as a top five passer in the AFC, despite his past success. The time away from the game and the ongoing possibility that a suspension or more off-field headaches from this situation still stands.

Outside of Watson, the other favorable moves include re-signing Anthony Walker, trading for Chase Winovich and of course trading for Amari Cooper. At the same time, losing Jarvis Landry could sting more than most realize for this offense. The team has also done nothing to add more threats on the defensive line in order to help Myles Garrett.

20) New Orleans Saints

Most importantly for the Saints, they re-signed arguably the best free agent quarterback back to New Orleans. Jameis Winston showed more poise and a more well-rounded accuracy before tearing his ACL last year. Now, he will get a chance to redeem himself after that early season ailment. Signing safety Marcus Maye was also an impressive get. He will replace the departing Marcus Williams, and will provide a younger, athletic replacement for the Saints already strong secondary.

If anything, their biggest loss may be in the form of Sean Payton‘s retirement. Dennis Allen getting promoted is not the worst situation in the world. But, New Orleans will have to shore up a few trench spots within the draft.

19) Pittsburgh Steelers

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Some will likely be puzzled by the addition of Mitchell Trubisky at the quarterback position. There are two things working in his favor, however. Pittsburgh has a solid supporting cast for him to join and work with, specifically among skill players. Trubisky also has a very similar style to Ben Roethlisberger, with more athletic upside than Big Ben had near the end of his career. The Steelers did well to add other schematic fits across the roster.

James Daniels at guard, Levi Wallace at cornerback and Myles Jack at linebacker should not only bring experience to Pittsburgh, but help fuel much needed competition for incumbent players. I would not rule out them drafting a QB in April. Nonetheless, the Steelers are no worse for wear at QB and upgraded at other premium spots.

18) New England Patriots

New England did not bring in many outside additions. Cornerback Terrance Mitchell and linebacker Mack Wilson are versatile pieces for Bill Belichick‘s defense. Re-signing names like Trent Brown, James White, Devin McCourty, Matthew Slater and Ja’Whaun Bentley are also more meaningful than most may feel. That will allow the Patriots to maintain a solid mix of instincts and toughness in multiple areas. They have no issue in playing that style of game each and every week. In the draft, New England could stand to add one more wide receiver and cornerback. Thankfully for them, it is a deep class at both spots.

17) Miami Dolphins

Being able to retain both Emmanuel Ogbah and Mike Gesicki was enormous for Miami. Even still, Gesicki is not attempting to file as a wide receiver, signing his franchise tag tender already as a tight end. Adding names like Chase Edmonds, Cedrick Wilson, Connor Williams, Raheem Mostert and Alec Ingold to this offense is perfect for what Mike McDaniel wants to do. That allows them to win with speed and forces opponents to make quick stops in space. The Dolphins did not have to pay too much to secure those assets either.

Most of all, the Dolphins landed arguably the best blocker that was still available the night before publishing this. Securing former Saint Terron Armstead gives Tua Tagovailoa a dominant and powerful player that will presumably be at left tackle.

16) Philadelphia Eagles

The lone outside addition that Philadelphia spent heavily on, was with pass rusher Haason Reddick. They found a way to re-sign multiple veterans like Fletcher Cox, Anthony Harris, Boston Scott and Greg Ward. The Eagles are not going to be the most appealing team to look at on paper. Yet, Nick Sirianni has this group growing quicker than most expected, as they overachieved last year to make the playoffs. Jalen Hurts still needs more refinement at quarterback. Philadelphia is certainly comfortable with him and tightening up the trenches helps that. They also currently have three first-round picks at their disposal next April.

15) Arizona Cardinals

Most of the moves by Arizona was re-signings, namely with Zach Ertz, James Conner, Colt McCoy and Maxx Williams. They did release veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks. As a result, the younger duo of Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins will get a bigger chance in 2022. There is also an intriguing project to keep an eye on with former Vikings’ first-round cornerback Jeff Gladney. He was not charged after being accused of assaulting a woman. Now, Gladney is back in the NFL.

The most fascinating thing to watch from the Cardinals has been the Kyler Murray situation. It was odd to see his agent release a statement about what they are expecting for the quarterback’s potential contract extension. Arizona has really done nothing wrong, so this is not a case of the team failing or defying a player a reward. With two straight disappointing finishes, Murray is in need of a major rebound in a crucial 2022 season.

14) Dallas Cowboys

It has been an offseason filled with plenty of different emotions for the Dallas Cowboys. They were able to retain breakout tight end Dalton Schultz with the help of the franchise tag. Wide receiver Michael Gallup is also back with a brand-new five-year deal. Other re-signings like DeMarcus Lawrence, Leighton Vander Esch, Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse will help keep the defense stable.

On the other hand, they took steps back in some areas of the roster. Trading away Amari Cooper, along with losing the aforementioned Cedrick Wilson, brings down the pass catching group a bit. Randy Gregory flipping from re-signing with Dallas to going to Denver on the same exact five-year offer stings for the Cowboys from a youth and premium position perspective. Having Dak Prescott still helps. But, it does not totally mask the drop that Dallas could feel throughout the early portions of next season.

13) Tennessee Titans

Rather than making major splashes, the Tennessee Titans have used a more relaxed approach by bringing back some of their core pieces from the last few seasons. Outside linebacker Harold Landry received a much-deserved new five-year extension. Ben Jones is back as the team’s center. And Geoff Swaim will again play a niche role at tight end.

The biggest outside move was acquiring wide receiver Robert Woods via trade. On top of that, they did not have to give up hardly anything to get him, sending only a sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams. Woods will be coming off of an injury riddled season. At the same time, his technician type of play should pair well with the bruising style of AJ Brown, Derrick Henry and others.

12) Indianapolis Colts

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Another year, another new quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. They got Matt Ryan. Which in the end, that is a definite upgrade over what they had last season in Wentz. You now have a player that is much safer, can still sling it to all three areas of the field and will not be scared of being a leader for a team that is knocking on the playoff doorstep.

Adding Yannick Ngakoue via trade adds speed and power to the pass rush. Whereas with cornerback Brandon Facyson, the Colts are getting a long cornerback who has steadily improved. They did not necessarily take advantage with plentiful salary cap space. However, that is nothing new, as they had similar opportunities the last few years. The Colts now have their QB and bumped up a few spots because of it.

11) Denver Broncos

Speaking of finally having their QB, the Broncos swung big and landed Russell Wilson. Denver has not made the playoffs or had double digit wins in a season since winning the Super Bowl in 2015. Furthermore, the Broncos quarterback carousel post-Peyton Manning has been quite a doozy. They have finished last in the AFC West in each of the last two years. Simply, they are ready to climb the ranks and get back to competing in the postseason.

As mentioned moments ago, they basically stole Randy Gregory away from the Cowboys, pairing him with Bradley Chubb on the pass rush. A pair of former San Francisco 49ers in DJ Jones and K’Waun Williams have also come over to Denver’s defense. Those are dependable defensive additions. Can the Broncos live up to their new hype?

10) Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens have not made a lot of moves. Though, the ones they have made have filled major areas of need and did not cost them too much. Having Morgan Moses join the blocking unit will do wonders for a returning Lamar Jackson. At safety, Marcus Williams gives the Ravens a smart and athletic defender to take away explosive plays.

They will look a lot different on the defensive line. All of Calais Campbell, Justin Houston, Brandon Williams and Justin Ellis are still on the open market and do not appear to be returning. Additionally, it looked like they had landed pass rusher Za’Darius Smith, but he backed out of the deal. If the Ravens can find another impact defensive linemen or two in the draft, they will be extremely poised to make a return to the playoffs.

9) Las Vegas Raiders

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The Las Vegas Raiders hit the free agency period out of the park. One of the most consistent and productive pass rushers, Chandler Jones, signed for a fairly reasonable number. He will join a dominant player in Maxx Crosby at defensive end. Adding proven and experienced defenders like Anthony Averett, Bilal Nichols and Micah Kiser will also give the Raiders more reliable depth throughout the defense.

Most of all, they added the best wide receiver in the NFL. Davante Adams received the franchise tag from the Green Bay Packers, but was not willing to play on it or remain in Green Bay. He fulfills a dream of playing for the Raiders. Also, Adams gets to join his college quarterback and friend Derek Carr, who just so happened to have one of his better seasons last year. Basically, the Raiders added top of the market stars, while also releasing or clearing away clutter from the past regime that was holding them back.

8) Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers also wasted no time in adding top of the market stars. They added the best cornerback on the free agent market in JC Jackson. Imagine being so good at your position, that you are nicknamed “Mr. INT”. They also traded for pass rusher Khalil Mack. While he is coming off of an injury, there is less pressure for him by joining the likes of Joey Bosa. Finally, re-signing wide receiver Mike Williams is tremendous news for someone like Justin Herbert.

The other minor additions like Sebastian Joseph-Day, Gerald Everett and Austin Johnson definitely fills other needs. Eventually, the Chargers will have to live up to their hype, especially in a much more crowded division. They stay just ahead of the Raiders because of the difference at quarterback.

7) Green Bay Packers

I’d assume Packers fans are relatively happy that Aaron Rodgers is back for 2022 and beyond. And better yet, they may finally fulfill getting him a wide receiver with a first-round pick, now that they have two of them. It comes at the cost of losing Adams to Las Vegas, however. We have never seen Rodgers have to play without Adams and the remaining depth is questionable at best.

Green Bay made an outside addition with Jarran Reed. Other than that, they mainly re-signed guys like Preston Smith, De’Vondre Campbell, Rasul Douglas and Robert Tonyan. Losing Za’Darius Smith and Billy Turner will certainly hurt in the trenches. Thus, that is why I have Green Bay slipping a bit, along with losing the best wide receiver in the game. They are stockpiled with four draft picks in the top 59 next April. It is time to make those count and get over that playoff hump.

6) San Francisco 49ers

Despite all of this recent quarterback movement, the 49ers still have Jimmy Garoppolo on their roster. That is not entirely a horrible thing, in spite of what some may think. If healthy, Garoppolo has proven that he can come through and execute in vital moments. San Francisco also added some adequate names to their defense. Charvarius Ward and George Odum will add length and physicality to the secondary. Oren Burks and Hassan Ridgeway will add serviceable depth as well. They are not a perfect team by any means. But overall, the 49ers do not appear to have many major holes entering the draft.

5) Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs went out and finally got a true number two wide receiver for Patrick Mahomes. By adding JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City gets a receiver who can work underneath, provide physicality and yards after catch ability and it came at a cheap price. Re-signing Andrew Wylie is not horrible for an already stout offensive line. Though, adding another competitor for the right tackle spot could be warranted, given what the other AFC West teams have added at pass rusher.

Defensively, the Chiefs added a smart, tough and versatile safety in Justin Reid. He will be able to become the captain of the Kansas City back seven, so to speak. Tyrann Mathieu is still available and likely will not return. However, the Chiefs could have done much worse than Reid in replacing him at the position. Holes at defensive end, defensive tackle depth and cornerback is what keeps Kansas City from the top spot or two in the AFC, as things currently stand.

4) Los Angeles Rams

The Rams re-signed plenty of offensive linemen, including Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen. Losing Andrew Whitworth to retirement is very challenging. Can those two help Los Angeles sustain power upfront? The team also gave Matthew Stafford a shiny new contract extension, which pays him $160 million in total. To help him out, the Rams only real outside addition was at wide receiver. Allen Robinson will come in to play as either the second or third receiver in the offense. Because of that move, they shipped away the aforementioned Robert Woods. Could that prove costly as the season gets deeper?

3) Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow needed a revamped offensive line. Well, the Cincinnati Bengals wasted no time in delivering. Center Ted Karras, guard Alex Cappa and offensive tackle La’el Collins are perfect for what this already potent offense needed. Elsewhere, the team gave Burrow another weapon at tight end. Hayden Hurst will replace CJ Uzomah and can provide production as a vertical threat. Many of the re-signings, including BJ Hill, Eli Apple and Josh Tupou, are tremendous moves by Cincinnati as well. They filled most of their holes and did not stay stagnant.

2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom Brady‘s retirement lasted a mere 40 days. That allows the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to stay near the top of the NFL power rankings, as he returns to Tampa for a third season. That also bodes well, considering the talent exodus of players going to the AFC from the NFC. Brady still has to deal with Stafford and Rodgers. Yet, the path to a possible eighth Super Bowl ring seems easier than it did to start the offseason.

Along with the return of Brady, Leonard Fournette, Carlton Davis, Ryan Jensen and Breshad Perriman have all re-signed with the Bucs. Adding Russell Gage and Logan Ryan provides reliable depth in spots that were questionable too. If there is anything holding the Buccaneers back right now, it is the fact that they have yet to replace or bring back many members of the pass rush.

1) Buffalo Bills

💙❤️ LOVE TO SEE IT!!! ❤️💙#BillsMafia #GoBills @VonMiller @BuffaloBills pic.twitter.com/4G6Ty57DRk

— Biondo Art  (@BiondoArt) March 17, 2022

That is where the Buffalo Bills edge out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this version of the FPC NFL power rankings. Buffalo was not necessarily in dire straits in that department entering the offseason. They were surely losing some productive contributors at defensive tackle. Since then, Buffalo has added Tim Settle, DaQuan Jones and Jordan Phillips to the position. But most of all, being able to land a stud like Von Miller puts the Bills over the top. He is currently playing some of the best football of his career, despite his age. Add in the fact that they were never frontrunners in the Miller sweepstakes, and it makes this addition that much sweeter.

The Bills also found some inspiring bargain additions. Jamison Crowder replacing Cole Beasley at slot receiver is tremendous for Josh Allen. They added another tight end in OJ Howard. Rodger Saffold is a nice veteran piece to play with on the offensive line. Lastly, the Bills do not appear to have any drastic holes with which to fill. We know this team has still been able to draft historically well, no matter how good they are. Could 2022 finally be Buffalo’s year?

Be on the lookout for more FPC NFL offseason articles throughout the coming days. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.