2021 NFL Power Rankings: Pre-Training Camp 1.0
It seems like yesterday that Tom Brady was hoisting the Lombardi Trophy following the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl 55 triumph over the Chiefs. Well, it wasn’t yesterday. Months have passed. And in the NFL offseason, months mean catastrophic changes to teams around the league, notably, with player and coaching personnel. With coaching changes, NFL Free Agency, and the NFL Draft behind us, no roster looks the same (unless you’re the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Considering the aforementioned changes, some teams are trending in the right direction while others are going the wrong way. Check out who these teams are in my 2021 NFL Power Rankings: Pre-Training Camp 1.0.
*All Team Win Total Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Tier 4: No Chance in Hell
32. Houston Texans — 4.5 (O +130 / U -159)
The Texans won 4 games in 2020 with QB Deshaun Watson and pass-rusher J.J. Watt. Now that Watt is in Arizona while Watson is staring at the Commissioner’s Exempt list to open the 2021 campaign, the Texans are a team going nowhere fast. They spent their offseason adding 25+ free agents, most of them, on one-year deals. This indicates that they are punting the upcoming season and perhaps vying for the No. 1 overall pick to get a new quarterback and start fresh. Even with Watson’s off-the-field issues, he wants out of Houston. The Texans are legitimately in the conversation to be the NFL’s first 0-17 team in league history.
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31. Detroit Lions — 5 (O -110 / U -110)
The Lions have a new coach, a new quarterback that his last team couldn’t wait to get rid of, and arguably recycled plastic bags at wide receiver. While I do believe HC Dan Campbell will field one of the most gritty, hard-hitting, smack you in the mouth teams in the league, that won’t always translate to wins. QB Jared Goff is better than advertised, but he has nothing to work with outside of T.J. Hockenson.
The Lions will be a run-centric team with OC Anthony Lynn calling the offense. Expect heavy doses of D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams grinding behind an underrated offensive line that Pro Football Focus ranks as the 10th best unit in the league in the wake of the Penei Sewell addition. However, with not much of a passing attack to lean on. Plus, a suspect defense at best, Detroit’s ground attack will only get them so far. They will bend and they will break.
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30. Philadelphia Eagles — 6.5 (O -150 / U +123)
Another team with a new head coach and quarterback, the Eagles are a club that will either be really really good or really really bad. There is no middle. I like HC Nick Sirianni. He was the offensive coordinator with the Colts for three seasons and had to adjust his offense to fit three different quarterback skill sets. Going from Andrew Luck to Jacoby Brissett to Philip Rivers isn’t exactly easy, but he made it work. Sirianni also comes from the Doug Pederson and Frank Reich coaching circle. There is familiarity here for the remaining Eagles players from last season.
While the Eagles have talent, they are extremely old at some positions and young at others. This is a year of turnover in Philadelphia. They need to find out if Jalen Hurts will work as an NFL quarterback. For fantasy football, Hurts will be fine, but will his skill set translate to wins? If the Eagles pop, they can win the NFC East. If they falter, they could win 4 games. As I suggested at the top, there is no middle ground I am erring on the side of a 4 win team in 2021.
29. Raiders — 7 (O -115 / U -106)
The Raiders are a mess. In my conspiracy theorist brain, they hired HC Jon Gruden to help sell tickets for their new stadium in Las Vegas. Under Gruden, the Raiders have traded away talent for draft capital, which has arguably gone to waste. At least early on in the process. This offseason was no different.
The Raiders blew up their offensive line, which QB Derek Carr needs. Carr needs protection, something he may not have in 2021. And how about adding Kenyan Drake while not only rostering Josh Jacobs but also having holes all over their atrocious defense? What’s more, of Darren Waller, who’s catching the football? Las Vegas’ top receiver from 2020, Nelson Agholor, is now in New England. Perhaps they will unleash Henry Ruggs, who was out-targeted by Jacobs in his rookie campaign. If it wasn’t for Carr, the Raiders might be worse than Houston.
Thanks for reading Part 1 of my 2021 Pre-Training Camp NFL Power Rankings. Check out Part 2.
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