2015 NFL Power Rankings: Post-draft
Updated: May 8, 2015, 11:12 AM ET
ESPN.com
Week:
The Patriots claimed the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX, but they don't have the top spot in our offseason hierarchy.
Yes, in what some might consider a surprising outcome, the Seahawks are No. 1 -- just as they were in the final rankings of 2014. Seattle, given an A-minus grade by Mel Kiper
for its work in the 2015 draft, received seven fewer first-place votes than New England but registered a higher overall point total.
New England finished second, followed by the Packers, Broncos and Colts.
As for the rest of the field, ESPN's power panel (a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities) apparently liked the offseason work of the Dolphins and Ravens -- who each jumped four spots -- the most. The Chargers, Colts and Falcons each rose three spots.
If the Titans and Buccaneers are on the rise, our voters aren't yet on board. Despite landing potential franchise quarterbacks early in the draft, Tampa Bay and Tennessee remain at the bottom.
Note: "Last Week" refers to the Week 18 rankings from 2014. The comments below are provided by ESPN Stats & Information.
• SN: Rank 'Em | Vegas Rankings | Team Power Rankings charts since 2002
| 2015 Power Rankings: Offseason | ||||
| RANK | TEAM / RECORD | TRENDING | COMMENTS | |
| 1 |  | -- Last Week: 1 | Are three straight Super Bowls possible while not making a first-round pick in each of those years? We'll find out with the Seahawks this season. | |
| 2 |  | -- Last Week: 2 | The Patriots used the draft to bulk up the offensive and defensive lines, drafting six linemen in the first five rounds. The average weight of the Patriots' first seven picks was 276 pounds. | |
| 3 |  | -- Last Week: 3 | The Packers have used eight of their 10 first-round picks on defense since drafting Aaron Rodgers. The Packers haven't ranked higher than 13th in opponent PPG since winning the Super Bowl after the 2010 season. | |
| 4 |  | -- Last Week: 4 | The Broncos grabbed DE Shane Ray to rush the passer along with Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. The Broncos' pass rush ranked fourth in generating pressure last season. | |
| 5 |  | 3 Last Week: 8 | Miami Colts? Andrew Luck will be surrounded with Hurricanes in 2015. The Colts drafted Miami WR Phillip Dorsett after adding Frank Gore and Andre Johnson this offseason. | |
| 6 |  | 1 Last Week: 5 | The Cowboys rushed more than any other team last season, but didn't draft a RB to replace DeMarco Murray. That leaves Darren McFadden, who has one 16-game season in his career, as the lead back. | |
| 7 |  | 4 Last Week: 11 | The priority in the draft? Find Joe Flacco someone to throw to. The Ravens drafted four pass-catchers after losing Torrey Smith and Owen Daniels this offseason. | |
| 8 |  | 2 Last Week: 10 | The Cardinals drafted OT D.J. Humphries 24th overall, the first OT drafted by the Cardinals since 2007. No surprise after losing two quarterbacks to injury last season. | |
| 9 |  | 3 Last Week: 6 | The Steelers selected three defensive backs in a draft for the first time since 1995 after losing Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor and Brice McCain this offseason. | |
| 10 |  | 1 Last Week: 9 | The Bengals drafted offensive tackles with their first two picks; both of their starters at the position are free agents after this season. Smart for the future, but might not help this year. | |
| 11 |  | 1 Last Week: 12 | The offensive additions made headlines for Chip Kelly, but the Eagles signed or drafted a combined six cornerbacks this offseason. Only three teams allowed more passing touchdowns than Philly in 2014. | |
| 12 |  | 5 Last Week: 7 | Detroit went offensive line and running back with its first two picks. Matthew Stafford's streak of four years with 600-plus pass attempts may finally come to an end. | |
| 13 |  | 3 Last Week: 16 | San Diego made only five picks in the 2015 draft, but they kept Philip Rivers and gave him a new weapon in RB Melvin Gordon. Will that be enough to keep Rivers around? | |
| 14 |  | 1 Last Week: 13 | Forcing turnovers was a problem for the 9-7 Chiefs last season. First-round pick Marcus Peters (CB) should help improve on Kansas City's league-low six interceptions in 2014. | |
| 15 |  | 4 Last Week: 19 | A lot of new faces will be surrounding Ryan Tannehill in 2015, including Greg Jennings and first-round pick DeVante Parker. Will they be enough to get Miami to improve on its 8-8 finish in 2014? | |
| 16 |  | 1 Last Week: 15 | Carolina's linebackers were already among the best with Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis each notching 100-plus tackles last season. Now they're joined by Shaq Thompson (25th overall pick). | |
| 17 |  | 3 Last Week: 14 | Who wants to play the Texans this year? Houston added two more defensive players with its first two picks to join J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Vince Wilfork and Co. this season. | |
| 18 |  | 1 Last Week: 17 | The Bills' first pick in the draft was 50th overall, and they took a cornerback. The Bills have the most interceptions the past two seasons. Safe to say they had more pressing needs. | |
| 19 |  | 2 Last Week: 21 | Preparing for the future? The Saints grabbed QB Garrett Grayson in the third round, the highest they've selected a quarterback since Archie Manning in 1971 (second overall). | |
| 20 |  | 2 Last Week: 18 | It was just a fifth-round pick, but did the 49ers really need to draft a punter with so many other holes to plug? Especially considering nobody else took a punter or kicker? | |
| 21 |  | 1 Last Week: 22 | Only one Week 1 starter from the Rams' offensive line in 2014 is still with the team. The fix to that problem? Drafting a league-high four offensive linemen. | |
| 22 |  | 3 Last Week: 25 | Can first-round pick Vic Beasley finally provide the Falcons with some pass-rushing help? No team has had fewer sacks over the past three seasons (83). | |
| 23 |  | 1 Last Week: 24 | Drafting an offensive tackle ninth overall may not seem sexy, but the Giants ranked 30th in yards per rush last season, despite their running backs ranking 10th in yards after contact. | |
| 24 |  | 4 Last Week: 20 | Minnesota quietly went 7-9 last season and has now made 49 picks in the past five drafts. Can Teddy Bridgewater lead this young team back to the playoffs? | |
| 25 |  | 2 Last Week: 27 | Rex Ryan is gone but defense is still the priority. The Jets drafted DE Leonard Williams sixth overall after adding Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine, Marcus Gilchrist and Stephen Bowen this offseason. | |
| 26 |  | -- Last Week: 26 | The Bears went offense with three of their first four picks, including WR Kevin White (seventh overall). How will that help a defense that allowed the second-most points last season? | |
| 27 |  | 1 Last Week: 28 | Robert Griffin III probably appreciates the Redskins' selection of an offensive lineman with the fifth overall pick. Only the Jaguars allowed more sacks than the Redskins last season. | |
| 28 |  | 5 Last Week: 23 | The Browns drafted a league-high 12 players, including three front-seven defenders in the first three rounds. The Browns allowed a league-worst 2,265 rushing yards last season. | |
| 29 |  | -- Last Week: 29 | Derek Carr averaged the third-fewest yards per attempt in NFL history in 2014 (minimum 500 attempts). Amari Cooper's big-play ability should help raise that average. | |
| 30 |  | -- Last Week: 30 | Jacksonville signed Julius Thomas this offseason. It has also drafted four wide receivers the past two years, as well as RB T.J. Yeldon. This season will tell us a lot about Blake Bortles. | |
| 31 |  | -- Last Week: 31 | Jameis Winston was the big prize on draft day, as offense is clearly the priority in Tampa. Lovie Smith has used 12 of his 13 picks with the Bucs on offensive players. | |
| 32 |  | -- Last Week: 32 | Quarterbacks drafted second overall since 1967: Robert Griffin III, Donovan McNabb, Ryan Leaf, Rick Mirer, Bert Jones, Archie Manning. Where will Marcus Mariota rate among this group when all is said and done? | |
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| Glossary |
| The rankings were determined by ESPN's Power Panel, a group of more than 80 writers, editors and television personalities. |
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