NFL Power Rankings (Tier List Edition): Chiefs Still No. 1, Panthers Dead Last

The Kansas City Chiefs remain at the top of NFL Power Rankings ahead of 2024 training camps.

Our last NFL power rankings were published right after the NFL Draft, which was two months ago. But a lot has happened since then, from trades to signings to weeks of spring practices. So, with the NFL on summer break, we thought it was time to go back under the hood and rank all 32 teams.

But things are different this time. We separated teams into seven different tiers while having some fun along the way. Let’s get into it.

NFL Power Rankings Tier 7 | Total Rebuilds

32) Carolina Panthers

The Panthers have some intriguing young pieces, including rookie receiver Xavier Legette, and quarterback Bryce Young is capable of taking a Year 2 leap. So, there’s some reason for hope in Carolina. However, this still is a young, below-average roster playing for a first-year head coach. Expectations should be low.

31) Denver Broncos

The Broncos have a bad offense, a bad defense, and a first-round QB in Bo Nix, who might not be ready to start right away. Their other two quarterbacks, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, are backups at best. Denver is building toward something, but it’s still working on the foundation.

30) Washington Commanders

If Jayden Daniels can play, the Commanders might surprise some people — but to what end? Three wins? Five?

Ultimately, Washington is limited on both sides of the ball, and Dan Quinn has much to prove in his second opportunity as an NFL head coach. Don’t expect much from this group.

29) New York Giants

Are the Giants the entertaining overachievers we saw in 2022 or the inept mess we saw in 2023? They’re probably somewhere in the middle — which still means they’re a bad team.

Even so, New York could win some games if Daniel Jones bounces back and rookie receiver Malik Nabers delivers on his pre-draft hype.

28) New England Patriots

We think the Patriots are a bit underrated. Sure, they have major questions at quarterback, receiver, left tackle, and head coach, but their defense is legit, and the offense has more upside than people give it credit for.

If Jacoby Brissett and/or Drake Maye can protect the ball, New England might surprise people. However, the more likely scenario is the Patriots finishing last in the AFC East this season before breaking out in 2025.

NFL Power Rankings Tier 6 | Bad, But Sometimes Good

27) Tennessee Titans

We were (very) down on the Titans in our 2024 win-loss predictions. Yeah, Tennessee made some splashy offseason moves, but the jury is out on QB Will Levis, and the schedule is sneaky tough. Don’t be surprised if the Titans perform well below expectations despite earning a few impressive wins along the way.

26) Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders are a tough team to figure out.

On one hand, they have an ascending defense, a talented offense, and they truly play for their head coach. On the other hand, Antonio Pierce still has much to prove, and his top quarterbacks are Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Vegas has some interesting pieces, but you need to squint to see a winner.

25) Arizona Cardinals

This ranking might not age well. It’s hard to believe in the Cardinals, especially if you doubt Kyler Murray’s ability to be a franchise QB. But Arizona showed promising signs last season, and it made a slew of underrated moves during the spring.

Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., James Conner, and Trey McBride give the offense a decent floor, but the retooled defense needs to hold up its end of the bargain.

24) New Orleans Saints

So long as Derek Carr is their quarterback, the Saints will be in no man’s land. They can beat or lose to anyone, and we probably would predict a .500 record if those still were a thing. The Saints will have some decent games, but they’re not going anywhere.

NFL Power Rankings Tier 5 | Keep Your Eyes on Them

23) Pittsburgh Steelers

You can bank on Mike Tomlin having the Steelers in playoff contention. They find a way to win every year, even when they’re kind of bad.

They certainly could be bad in 2024, but if either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields steps up at QB and the defense stays healthy, Pittsburgh could go on a run. It has most of the necessary pieces.

22) Los Angeles Chargers

Can Justin Herbert succeed without Keenan Allen and Mike Williams? Can Jim Harbaugh still coach at a high level? Can the defense exceed expectations?

If all of those variables break their way, the Chargers will be a tough team to play against. But things could go the other way in a hurry.

21) Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have a ton of talent, especially on offense. They could give any quarterback a fighting chance. Still, Sam Darnold is a journeyman for a reason, and rookie J.J. McCarthy might need to redshirt for a season. Minnesota should be a fascinating team to watch.

20) Seattle Seahawks

We feel confident that the Seahawks will be solid, but can they be any better than that?

It’ll all come down to whether Geno Smith can bounce back under center and whether first-year head coach Mike Macdonald can get the most out of a middling defense. Let’s see what happens.

NFL Power Rankings Tier 4 | Rising, But Long Way To Go

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Was last year’s playoff run a fluke? We think not, though questions about the Bucs’ aging roster persist. This is a decent team with a chance to be even better if Baker Mayfield’s career renaissance continues.

18) Indianapolis Colts

It’s all about Anthony Richardson. If the sophomore QB picks up where he left off before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, the Colts should push for a playoff spot. But if Richardson struggles, Indy could sink to AFC cellar-dwellers.

The Colts are a boom-or-bust team, but fans should be optimistic about the future.

17) Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are loaded on offense and defense, and they’ll be a trendy pick to win the NFC South. The hype could be warranted, but everything hinges on whether an aging Kirk Cousins can play well after suffering a torn Achilles last season. If Cousins shows out, the Falcons should be a playoff team.

16) Chicago Bears

Yet another team whose success is dependent on the quarterback. The Bears assembled a top-tier roster seemingly overnight, and if a top-10 QB were under center, they’d be a popular Super Bowl pick.

Caleb Williams, the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, certainly can be an elite QB, but he remains unproven. Regardless, Chicago should be fun to watch.

NFL Power Rankings Tier 3 | Now We’re Talkin’

15) Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars lost some notable players during the offseason (Calvin Ridley) but also added a few who should make immediate impacts (Gabe Davis). Jacksonville has a talented offense and a fast, explosive defense, but Trevor Lawrence will determine how far this team goes. He needs to play like a superstar.

14) New York Jets

We all know the deal here. The Jets have a Super Bowl-worthy roster on both sides of the ball, but Aaron Rodgers remains a huge wild card, and Robert Saleh is a subpar in-game head coach. New York could win a Super Bowl or finish last in its division. All options are on the table.

13) Dallas Cowboys

People are down on the Cowboys after their quiet offseason, but we’re still talking about one of those explosive teams in the game. Dallas looked like one of the NFL’s best teams for stretches last season before choking in the playoffs. Cowboys fans should fear another failure, but they also should be cautiously optimistic about a deep playoff run.

12) Cleveland Browns

You could make a case for the Browns being higher on this list. Their defense is excellent, and the offense is loaded on the line and at the skill positions.

But can Deshaun Watson finally recapture his early-career form? If he plays at a Pro Bowl level, Cleveland will be one of the AFC’s best teams.

11) Miami Dolphins

Will the real Dolphins please stand up? One week, Tua Tagovailoa and company look like one of the NFL’s most dangerous teams. The next week, they look soft and eminently beatable. This is a huge season for Mike McDaniel.

10) Buffalo Bills

The Bills underwent a soft reboot this offseason, parting with multiple core veterans — including Stefon Diggs — while adding mediocre replacements. But Josh Allen is still the quarterback, and the supporting cast is solid. The Bills are primed for early-season struggles before a late-season surge.

NFL Power Rankings Tier 2 | We Need To See It Again

9) Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are ahead of schedule with their rebuild. They were supposed to be a few years away from competing, but last season’s playoff berth has fueled big expectations for 2024. We’re buying into the hype, but also not ruling out the possibility that last season was a fluke.

8) Green Bay Packers

The Packers are one of the trendier picks in the NFL, and many believe Jordan Love has established himself as one of the best young quarterbacks in football.

That all feels a bit aggressive after just one playoff win. Still, Green Bay did look that good, and Love played that well. The Packers should compete for the NFC North title.

7) Houston Texans

The Texans’ roster has “contender” written all over it. The offense and defense were already strong, and both added impact players (Diggs and Danielle Hunter, to name two) during the offseason. With all that said, you can’t rule out a sophomore slump for C.J. Stroud, as the NFL has had an entire offseason to adjust to his game

NFL Power Rankings Tier 1 | Legit Contenders

6) Philadelphia Eagles

Maybe the Eagles are the team we saw in 2022; maybe they’re the team that cratered down the stretch in 2023. It’s hard to tell.

The roster still is elite, but Jalen Hurts struggled last season and Nick Sirianni finished the year on the hot seat. We also have concerns about the depth on both lines.

5) Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have all the pieces to win a Super Bowl, but their routine playoff failures are impossible to ignore. Until Lamar Jackson can translate his regular-season dominance into postseason success, we’ll have reservations about Baltimore’s title chances. Regardless, the Ravens will win a ton of games.

4) Cincinnati Bengals

We looked across the Bengals’ roster and couldn’t find any glaring holes. They’re primed and loaded for a deep playoff run. All that needs to happen is Joe Burrow staying healthy for the entire season — something you can’t bank on.

3) Detroit Lions

Yeah, we’re high on the Lions. Hate on Dan Campbell and Jared Goff all you want, but it’s hard to argue with the results. The Lions are built for the playoffs, and last season’s NFC Championship Game choke job should motivate them. Detroit should go toe-to-toe with San Francisco.

2) San Francisco 49ers

The Niners arguably have the best roster in football, led by a rising young quarterback in Brock Purdy. The math will change if Brandon Aiyuk and/or Deebo Samuel get traded before the start of the season, but the 49ers would still have an elite team. It’s Super Bowl or bust for San Francisco.

1) Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs had a somewhat turbulent offseason, but they’re still the two-time defending Super Bowl champs and have the pieces to pull off a historic three-peat. So long as Patrick Mahomes is under center, the Chiefs will be among the most feared teams in football.