Analysis
4/30/23
15 min read
Post-Draft NFL Power Rankings: Eagles Pass Chiefs After Strong Draft
The Philadelphia Eagles used an excellent draft to move past the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and take over first place in The 33rd Team’s latest power rankings.
For the second year in a row, the Eagles tapped into the talent supply of the two-time national champion Georgia Bulldogs. Three of their first five picks, including both of their first-round selections – DT Jalen Carter (scouting report) and edge rusher Nolan Smith (scouting report) – were from Georgia. They also traded for a Georgia player Saturday, acquiring RB D'Andre Swift from the Detroit Lions.
“I’m probably going to get thrown out of the Florida Alumni Association,’’ joked Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, who is a University of Florida alum.
The Chiefs dropped to second in the rankings, and the Cincinnati Bengals remained at No. 3. The Buffalo Bills moved from fifth to fourth, ahead of the San Francisco 49ers, following an excellent draft.
The New York Jets, who finally consummated the trade for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, made their first appearance in the top 10, moving up from 13 to 10.
Post-Draft Power Rankings
1. Philadelphia Eagles (16-4)
Previous: 2
Good news: The Eagles have long been followers of the Church of Building From The Inside Out. That was evident again this weekend as they spent their first three picks on offensive and defensive linemen. Getting a falling Carter at No. 9 could end up being the steal of the 2023 draft.
Bad news: The Eagles were one of the healthiest teams in the league last year. That seldom happens to a team two years in a row.
>> READ: Eagles' Draft Grades
2. Kansas City Chiefs (17-3)
Previous: 1
Good news: Second-round WR Rashee Rice (scouting report), who was one of just three FBS players with 1,300-plus receiving yards in 2022, should help soften the blow of losing JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Bad news: Just two teams have won back-to-back Super Bowls since the advent of the salary cap era (1994), none since 2003-04 (the Patriots).
>> READ: Chiefs' Draft Grades
3. Cincinnati Bengals (13-5-1)
Previous: 3
Good news: The Bengals used the draft to make a strong defense that gave up the sixth-fewest points in the league last year even stronger.
Bad news: They didn’t trade disgruntled RT Jonah Williams before or during the draft and didn’t draft a potential replacement for him.
4. Buffalo Bills (14-4)
Previous: 5
Good news: A late-first-round run on wide receivers foiled the Bills’ hopes to address that position early on. But the best pass-catching tight end in the draft, Dalton Kincaid, wasn’t a bad consolation prize. It will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey uses Kincaid and Dawson Knox in 12-personnel packages.
Bad news: The loss of LB Tremaine Edmunds, who signed with the Chicago Bears, weakens a defense that gave up the second-fewest points in the league (17.9 per game).
>> READ: Bills' Draft Grades
5. San Francisco 49ers (14-5)
Previous: 4
Good news: Third-round safety Ji’Ayir Brown (scouting report) fills a hole on the back end of the defense next to All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga.
Bad news: The San Francisco 49ers don’t have an obvious replacement for departed right tackle Mike McGlinchey, didn’t have a first-round pick, and yet used a third-round pick on a kicker, Michigan’s Jake Moody.
>> READ: 49ers' Draft Grades
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-9)
Previous: 6
Good news: If you thought Trevor Lawrence was good last year, wait until you see what he can do with Calvin Ridley as a target.
Bad news: The Jacksonville Jaguars will be without Lawrence’s blind side protector, Cam Robinson, for the first part of the season. He was suspended for violating the league’s PED policy. They’re going to need first-round pick Anton Harrison (scouting report) to grow up quickly.
7. Detroit Lions (9-8)
Previous: 8
Good news: The Detroit Lions continued the much-needed remaking of their secondary, drafting versatile safety/slot corner Brian Branch (scouting report) after adding safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and corners Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley in free agency.
Bad news: RB Jahmyr Gibbs (scouting report) may turn out to be a fine player but taking him with the 12th overall pick seemed like a slight reach. Same with their other first-round pick, LB Jack Campbell (scouting report). But if they become productive players, few will remember where they were taken.
>> READ: Lions' Draft Grades
8. Dallas Cowboys (13-6)
Previous: 7
Good news: First-round DT Mazi Smith (scouting report) isn’t a guy who’s going to light up a stat sheet or spend a lot of time in opposing backfields. But he’s a solid run-defender, who will help make Dan Quinn’s unit more formidable against the run, which is critical in the NFC East.
Bad news: The Dallas Cowboys haven’t made it past the divisional round of the playoffs since winning their last Super Bowl in 1995.
>> READ: Cowboys' Draft Grades
9. N.Y. Giants (10-8-1)
Previous: 10
Good news: The New York Giants added some much-needed speed to their wide-receiving corps, trading up in the third round for sliding Jalin Hyatt (scouting report) of Tennessee.
Bad news: They still need help at defensive tackle. The Giants were 27th vs. run and 31st in yards allowed per carry last season. They didn’t take an interior defensive lineman until Round 7 (Oregon’s Jordan Riley).
>> READ: Giants' Draft Grades
10. N.Y. Jets (7-10)
Previous: 13
Good news: The Prince of Darkness Retreats has arrived.
Bad news: The New York Jets still could use a defensive tackle to complement Pro Bowler Quinnen Williams.
>> READ: Jets' Draft Grades
11. Baltimore Ravens (10-8)
Previous: 12
Good news: The Baltimore Ravens finally ended their year-long contract standoff with Lamar Jackson. And his receiving corps looks formidable with the additions of Odell Beckham Jr. and first-round pick Zay Flowers (scouting report).
Bad news: The Ravens’ best running back, J.K. Dobbins, missed all of 2021 and nine games last year with knee issues.
>> READ: Ravens' Draft Grades
12. L.A. Chargers (10-8)
Previous: 9
Good news: The Los Angeles Chargers got Justin Herbert another pass-catching target, taking TCU WR Quentin Johnston (scouting report) in the first round. Johnston averaged 17.8 yards per catch for the Horned Frogs last year.
Bad news: Johnston also dropped 11.8 percent of his targets. Guess who’s going to be spending most of the spring and summer on the JUGS machine?
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8)
Previous: 11
Good news: The Pittsburgh Steelers wasted little time improving Kenny Pickett’s protection, trading up in the first round to grab potential starting LT Broderick Jones (scouting report).
Bad news: Even with the trade for Allen Robinson, the Steelers don’t have much depth at wide receiver.
>> READ: Steelers' Draft Grades
14. Seattle Seahawks (9-9)
Previous: 16
Good news: Pairing first-rounder Devon Witherspoon (scouting report) with Tariq Woolen potentially gives the Seattle Seahawks one of the best young cornerback tandems in the NFL.
Bad news: I understand the need for depth at running back. But, using a second-round pick on UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet (scouting report) when you’ve already got a young stud like Kenneth Walker III seems like overkill. Neither of them are by-committee backs.
>> READ: Seahawks' Draft Grades
15. Minnesota Vikings (13-5)
Previous: 14
Good news: The Minnesota Vikings added much-needed depth to their defensive secondary with the additions of third-round CB Mekhi Blackmon (scouting report) and fourth-round S/NCB Jay Ward.
Bad news: There still are questions about Kirk Cousins’ ability to take the Vikings to the next level. Even with Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson to throw to last year, Cousins had 14 interceptions and averaged a career-low 7.1 yards per attempt.
16. Carolina Panthers (7-10)
Previous: 18
Good news: The Carolina Panthers’ four-year-long quarterback carousel – Kyle Allen, Teddy Bridgewater, Cam Newton, P.J. Walker, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield – is closed. Frank Reich and Bryce Young (scouting report) are going to make beautiful offensive music together.
Bad news: The Panthers fortified their offense, but still need to upgrade a pass rush that had just 29 sacks last season.
17. Miami Dolphins (9-9)
Previous: 15
Good news: The Miami Dolphins added six-time Pro Bowl CB Jalen Ramsey (scouting report) and re-signed both of their top running backs – Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert.
Bad news: They had a league-low four picks in the draft. Had to forfeit their first-round pick for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton. They had just two selections in the first five rounds.
18. Green Bay Packers (8-9)
Previous: 17
Good news: General manager Brian Gutekunst spent a lot of draft resources trying to get QB Jordan Love help, selecting two wide receivers and two tight ends in the first five rounds.
Bad news: The jury’s still out on whether any of them can play or how quickly they can make meaningful contributions.
>> READ: Packers' Draft Grades
19. New Orleans Saints (7-10)
Previous: 19
Good news: First-round DT Bryan Bresee (scouting report) and second-round edge rusher Isaiah Foskey (scouting report) add some needed young blood to the defensive line.
Bad news: This was one of the deepest tight end crops in years, yet the Saints, who needed one, didn’t come away with one.
20. Cleveland Browns (6-11)
Previous: 20
Good news: Additions of free agent DT Dalvin Tomlinson and 335-pound third-rounder Siaki Ika (scouting report) should plug that Lake Erie-sized leak in the middle of their run defense (25th in opponent rush average and yards allowed per carry in ’22).
Bad News: Massive fourth-round rookie Dawand Jones (6-foot-8, 372 pounds) just landed in a great food city.
>> READ: Browns' Draft Grades
21. Denver Broncos (5-12)
Previous: 22
Good news: The Denver Broncos are doing everything they can to put Russell Wilson in a position to succeed in 2023. They used free agency to improve his protection, rejected trade offers for WRs Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, and then got him a deep threat – Oklahoma’s Marvin Mims (scouting report) – in the second round of the draft.
Bad news: The Broncos addressed a need in the third round with Iowa CB Riley Moss (scouting report), but they had to give up a 2024 third to move up 20 spots to get him.
>> READ: Broncos' Draft Grades
22. New England Patriots (8-9)
Previous: 24
Good news: The best move Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots made this offseason was bringing back Bill O’Brien to run the offense.
Bad news: Even with the free agent additions of Smith-Schuster and TE Mike Gesicki, it was surprising the Patriots didn’t take a pass-catcher until the sixth round.
>> READ: Patriots' Draft Grades
23. Atlanta Falcons (7-10)
Previous: 25
Good news: Bijan Robinson (scouting report) plus Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson equals one hell of a rushing attack.
Bad news: Adding Robinson to the offense was nice, but it came at the expense of picking up a much-needed pass rusher for a defense that had the league’s lowest sack percentage and second-lowest quarterback pressure rate last season. The Atlanta Falcons didn't take a defensive lineman until the third round (Ohio State’s Zach Harrison).
24. Washington Commanders (8-8-1)
Previous: 21
Good news: They’re almost rid of Dan Snyder. Everything else pales in comparison.
Bad news: It looks like Ron Rivera is serious about going to war with Sam Howell.
>> READ: Commanders' Draft Grades
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-10)
Previous: 23
Good news: They missed out on the draft’s top four offensive tackles in the first round but got a versatile inside-or-outside lineman in North Dakota State’s Cody Mauch (scouting report). He could step in at right guard for the departed Shaq Mason, or play right tackle.
Bad news: Baker Mayfield has no chance of succeeding if he has to throw the ball 43 times a game like Brady did last year. New offensive coordinator Dave Canales needs to put a greater emphasis on the run game.
26. Chicago Bears (3-14)
Previous: 26
Good news: This offseason has been all about helping Justin Fields. The Chicago Bears got him a valuable intermediate receiver (D.J. Moore) in the 1-to-9 trade down with Carolina, and dramatically improved his protection with the selection of Tennessee OT Darnell Wright (scouting report) and the signing of OG Nate Davis.
Bad news: The Bears need more from WR Chase Claypool this season. They gave up a second-round pick for him last year, and he had just 14 catches in seven games.
>> READ: Bears' Draft Grades
27. Tennessee Titans (7-10)
Previous: 27
Good news: The Tennessee Titans traded up and pounced on QB Will Levis (scouting report) when he fell into the second round. Now, they just need to fix the flaws that caused him to drop that far.
Bad news: Derrick Henry is coming off a 349-carry season. The last time he lugged the ball that often (378 carries in 2020), he missed nine games the next year.
28. Houston Texans (3-13-1)
Previous: 28
Good news: In today’s NFL, it’s all about having a difference-making quarterback. C.J. Stroud (scouting report) should give the Houston Texans that.
Bad news: I guess we should applaud Texans GM Nick Caserio and coach DeMeco Ryans for their boldness in trading up from No. 12 to No. 3 to get Will Anderson (scouting report). But they paid a pretty steep price to move up, including their second-round pick and a third next year.
29. L.A. Rams (5-12)
Previous: 29
Good news: The Los Angeles Rams ended up with a whopping 14 picks in the draft.
Bad news: Ten of them were in Rounds 5 through 7, where the success rate isn’t very high.
30. Las Vegas Raiders (6-11)
Previous: 30
Good news: The Las Vegas Raiders addressed some of their more significant defensive shortcomings – they finished 30th in sacks and 32nd in interceptions last year – by drafting defensive end Tyree Wilson (scouting report) in the first round and Maryland CB Jakorian Bennett (scouting report) in the fourth. Quarterbacks completed just 44.4 percent of their targets in Bennett’s coverage area.
Bad news: In a division that has Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Herbert, Bennett is going to have to grow up fast.
>> READ: Raiders' Draft Grades
31. Arizona Cardinals (4-13)
Previous: 31
Good news: The Arizona Cardinals stocked up on 2024 draft picks, adding first- and third-round picks in a trade with Houston and a third from Tennessee. Including an expected fourth-round comp pick, they have eight picks in the first four rounds next year.
Bad news: They’re still probably going to be bad again in 2023.
32. Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1)
Previous: 32
Good news: The Indianapolis Colts had 12 picks in the draft, including five in the top 110. First-round QB Anthony Richardson (scouting report) is an incredible physical specimen with 4.43 speed and a rocket arm.
Bad news: Richardson is a project. A talented one, but still a project. He had just 13 college starts and needs a ton of work on his footwork and fundamentals. It could be a while before the proverbial light goes on if it goes on at all.
Paul Domowitch covered the Eagles and the NFL for the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer for four decades. You can follow him on Twitter at @pdomo.
