Beagle
Cheesehead
What do you guys make of these rankings? I know it's all a bit meaningless at this stage but your team, on paper, looks like the best in the NFC by some margin.
RANK1
PATRIOTS
New England recaptures the top spot by virtue of a stellar draft. One notion Bill Belichick has derived from those whimsical jaunts on Jimmy Johnson's boat out in the Keys: Acquire as many picks as possible, so you can get as many players off your big board as possible. Well, the Patspicked up 11 newbies, beginning with first-rounder Malcom Brown, who immediately firms up the soft underbelly of a Pats defense devoid of Vince Wilfork.
RANK2
PACKERS
I'm not sure any general manager knows what he's doing more than Ted Thompson. Green Bay quite simply elevated its talent base this past weekend, while dotting some I's and crossing some needs along the way. If we had to nitpick anything, we'd point out that Damarious Randalland Quinten Rollins are CB/S tweeners. But the Pack needed a nickel, and I could see Randall filling that role just fine when Green Bay opens at Soldier Field. (Oh, and by the way, I'm leaning toward Green Bay in Super Bowl 50.)
RANK3
SEAHAWKS
The Seahawks fall back to Earth, as part of the fallout from a so-so draft. For the third year in a row, Seattle didn't make a selection on Day 1. (In 2013 and '14, the 'Hawks traded their first-round pick to Minnesota; this year, they sent the selection to New Orleans in the Jimmy Grahamtrade.) While Seattle got leapfrogged by the team that bested it in a classic Super Bowl three months ago, much of that had to do with New England's college haul. Meanwhile, with Green Bay also having a better draft -- and home-field in this year's head-to-head matchup, an advantage the Seahawks thoroughly enjoyed in every recent bout against the Packers -- Seattle now resides in the three hole. Most draftniks thought the Seahawks reached on their top selection, second-round DE Frank Clark. OK. But former K-State star Tyler Lockett could contribute right away. Here's hoping Darrell Bevell thinks he's more aggressive to the ball than Ricardo Lockette.
RANK4
CARDINALS
It might be all the rage to say Seattle could get toppled in the NFC West this year, but we're not there yet. Arizona had itself a fine draft, particularly with the selection of offensive tackle D.J. Humphries. David Johnson, a running back nabbed in the third round, could end up playing the most snaps this season. All that said, Carson Palmer must put up a bigger -- or more efficient -- campaign than normal for the Cards to take the division. (How about 3,700 yards, 28 TDs and a 100 passer rating?) Cardinal to keep an eye on: Bucannon, Deone.
RANK5
COLTS
Ugh. Well, your hack writer thought the Colts would get a defensive stud in the first round to support his Super Bowl 50 prediction. Nope. GM Ryan Grigson went all Best Player Available on us and took speedy wideout Phillip Dorsett. He'll need to do something -- despite the fact that production could be limited, given Indy's truckload of targets -- or everyone will complain about a club this close not drafting a guy who can club running backs coming through the hole. DEHenry Anderson, a third-round selection, must get it going quickly ... like Week 1.
RANK6
COWBOYS
Plenty of folks were disappointed with Dallas not drafting a running back. After hearing Stephen Jones speak on SiriusXM NFL Radio, I think the Cowboys felt that no running back after a certain point (like, late in Day 2) was going to beat out Darren McFadden, Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbaranyway. The 'Boys carry three backs ... McFadden has had huge days in the NFL before. Randle averaged 6.7 yards per carry last year. And Dunbar is flat-out explosive -- he will be a third-down guy, for certain. So let's put a muzzle on the "Why didn't they replace DeMarco?"whining.
RANK1
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PATRIOTS
New England recaptures the top spot by virtue of a stellar draft. One notion Bill Belichick has derived from those whimsical jaunts on Jimmy Johnson's boat out in the Keys: Acquire as many picks as possible, so you can get as many players off your big board as possible. Well, the Patspicked up 11 newbies, beginning with first-rounder Malcom Brown, who immediately firms up the soft underbelly of a Pats defense devoid of Vince Wilfork.
RANK2
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PACKERS
I'm not sure any general manager knows what he's doing more than Ted Thompson. Green Bay quite simply elevated its talent base this past weekend, while dotting some I's and crossing some needs along the way. If we had to nitpick anything, we'd point out that Damarious Randalland Quinten Rollins are CB/S tweeners. But the Pack needed a nickel, and I could see Randall filling that role just fine when Green Bay opens at Soldier Field. (Oh, and by the way, I'm leaning toward Green Bay in Super Bowl 50.)
RANK3
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SEAHAWKS
The Seahawks fall back to Earth, as part of the fallout from a so-so draft. For the third year in a row, Seattle didn't make a selection on Day 1. (In 2013 and '14, the 'Hawks traded their first-round pick to Minnesota; this year, they sent the selection to New Orleans in the Jimmy Grahamtrade.) While Seattle got leapfrogged by the team that bested it in a classic Super Bowl three months ago, much of that had to do with New England's college haul. Meanwhile, with Green Bay also having a better draft -- and home-field in this year's head-to-head matchup, an advantage the Seahawks thoroughly enjoyed in every recent bout against the Packers -- Seattle now resides in the three hole. Most draftniks thought the Seahawks reached on their top selection, second-round DE Frank Clark. OK. But former K-State star Tyler Lockett could contribute right away. Here's hoping Darrell Bevell thinks he's more aggressive to the ball than Ricardo Lockette.
RANK4
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CARDINALS
It might be all the rage to say Seattle could get toppled in the NFC West this year, but we're not there yet. Arizona had itself a fine draft, particularly with the selection of offensive tackle D.J. Humphries. David Johnson, a running back nabbed in the third round, could end up playing the most snaps this season. All that said, Carson Palmer must put up a bigger -- or more efficient -- campaign than normal for the Cards to take the division. (How about 3,700 yards, 28 TDs and a 100 passer rating?) Cardinal to keep an eye on: Bucannon, Deone.
RANK5
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COLTS
Ugh. Well, your hack writer thought the Colts would get a defensive stud in the first round to support his Super Bowl 50 prediction. Nope. GM Ryan Grigson went all Best Player Available on us and took speedy wideout Phillip Dorsett. He'll need to do something -- despite the fact that production could be limited, given Indy's truckload of targets -- or everyone will complain about a club this close not drafting a guy who can club running backs coming through the hole. DEHenry Anderson, a third-round selection, must get it going quickly ... like Week 1.
RANK6
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COWBOYS
Plenty of folks were disappointed with Dallas not drafting a running back. After hearing Stephen Jones speak on SiriusXM NFL Radio, I think the Cowboys felt that no running back after a certain point (like, late in Day 2) was going to beat out Darren McFadden, Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbaranyway. The 'Boys carry three backs ... McFadden has had huge days in the NFL before. Randle averaged 6.7 yards per carry last year. And Dunbar is flat-out explosive -- he will be a third-down guy, for certain. So let's put a muzzle on the "Why didn't they replace DeMarco?"whining.
. Here’s the link to his list:
