They should be in the top 2 or 3 all season.
With training camp less than a month away, the off-season dead point is in full effect, so why not analyze a power ranking list before players even report to their facilities?
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com has released his pre-camp power rankings and opens his piece saying he knows the backlash and criticisms will be loud, even though this is an exercise to fill time before the season returns.
Numbers one through five are the Kansas City Chiefs, 49ers, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles. Ranking the Super Bowl participants one and two makes complete sense. Florio’s note on the 49ers reads: They keep knocking on the door. Can they finally kick it in this year?
The Lions seem to be on the 49ers’ heels as they added cornerback depth with Carlton Davis and in the draft while returning their young core and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Detroit was a half of football from an NFC Championship last season.
The bottom half of the top ten is rounded out by the Packers, Bills, Bengals, Buccaneers (?), and Texans. Florio contends that people should be taking the Bucs more seriously, and he doesn’t know why people don’t. The Bucs fell to the Lions in the divisional round after beating the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round. Tampa Bay is my disagreement. I would have placed the Dolphins ahead of them, who come in at number 11.
The Rams are the second NFC West team listed at number 13, and Florio added the team overachieved last season, and Aaron Donald retired, which could signal a step back this season.
The Steelers and Chargers round out the top 15. If you’re wondering where the Cowboys rank, they come in at number 16. Regardless of their playoff ineptitude, the Cowboys usually rank in the top ten of any power rankings after beating up on their NFC East opponents.
The 49ers Week 1 opponent falls to number 25, as Florio points out that the Jets rely on too many injured players to stay healthy. Offensive tackle Tyron Smith signed, and the Jets added Haason Reddick to replace Bryce Huff. Smith is still effective when healthy, and Reddick is in a contract dispute with the Jets.
Nothing makes for good dead spot off-season content like a power ranking that will generate conversation and have fans tracking this initial power ranking to see how it ages during the season.