AFC Team Needs (East)

East

Buffalo Bills

Quarterback
Even before they cut Ryan Fitzpatrick the Bills had a big need at quarterback.  His contract not withstanding he was never seen as the long term solution.  General Manager Buddy Nix has talked about their desire to land a franchise quarterback this off-season and if history shows us anything, that could mean they'll be drafting one at #8 regardless of value.  Ryan Nassib has been a hot name with his ties to new Head Coach Doug Marrone.  But don't rule out Matt Barkley whose stock is on the rise again.

Wide Receiver
Stevie Johnson and that's about it.  Not a good sign when summing up Buffalo's receiving group.  They could really use a bigger possession type receiver that would complement Johnson well.  Luckily there should be a quality group of receivers available in the second round that they could target.  Somebody like DeAndre Hopkins or Justin Hunter could easily do that job.

Guard
Losing starting left guard Andy Levitre to the Titans leaves a huge hole that needs to be filled.  They could slide Cordy Glenn to guard and then draft a tackle.  But look for the Bills to take a long look at Alabama guard Chance Warmack at #8.  If they pass on him there Larry Warford or Kyle Long could be options in round two.

Middle Linebacker
The Bills haven't been too happy with the development of starting middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard and they are looking for a player with good range that can match up with the talented tight ends that they'll see a lot of.  A player to watch in the middle rounds is Florida MLB John Bostic.  Bostic is a sideline to sideline linebacker that could fill what they are looking for.

Defensive End
You would think this would be an area of strength with last year's signings of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson.  However both were very underwhelming last year.  Williams is more proven and was injured  while Anderson shouldn't have gotten the big contract in the first place.  Add in that Chris Kelsey retired and they need to add somebody opposite of Williams.

Miami Dolphins
Cornerback
The combination of Sean Smith and Vontae Davis gave the Dolphins one of the top cornerback tandems, but with last year's trade of Davis and now Sean Smith signing with the Chiefs they are desperate to get some talent there.  They'll hope that Demarcus Milliner falls to them at #12 otherwise they'll have to either trade back or wait till the second round.

Offensive Tackle
Jake Long won't be back and that means the Dolphins have to decide whether Jonathan Martin can be a full time left tackle or not.  Either way they need to add somebody.  They'd hope that Lane Johnson somehow falls to them otherwise they could target somebody like Menelik Watson on day two.  However if feel that Martin can play left tackle, DJ Fluker could be a possibility.

Defensive End
Miami has an elite pass rusher in Cameron Wake but he's their only pass rushing threat.  Right now Jared Odrick starts opposite of him and is more of a run stuffer than pass rusher.  They could really add another pass rusher to bring in on passing downs to fill in for Odrick.  With neither a cornerback nor tackle likely available, the Dolphins could land a pass rusher at #12.  Somebody like Dion Jordan or Ezekial Ansah could be brought in to be specialists before developing into every down players.

Guard
Both Richie Incognito and John Jerry are just average guards.  They're not great, but they also not hurting the team.  But if they had a chance to upgrade it wouldn't be a bad idea.  At a minimum adding depth a great idea.  Chance Warmack or Jon Cooper could be in play at #12, but likely they would use a 4th or 5th rounder on somebody.

Running Back
This isn't a huge need, but with Reggie Bush leaving to the Lions, the Dolphins are hoping that Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller can step up and provide a solid 1, 2 punch.  However what have these two done to warrant that trust?  With the large group of talented running backs in the middle round they could take one to  add to the mix.

New England Patriots
Right Tackle
This position could be taken care of with a quick resigning of Sebastian Vollmer.  However if they aren't able to get a deal done they'll have a huge hole to fill as Vollmer is one of the best right tackles in the league.  But if they don't do it, they'll have plenty of options in this draft.  DJ Fluker at the end of the first round would be a great addition while Brennan Williams, Chris Faulk, or Ricky Wagner could be options in the third or fourth rounds.

Defensive End
Chandler Jones was a great addition last year, but they could really use somebody to start opposite of him because Jermaine Cunningham isn't getting the job done and Rob Ninckovich is pass rushing specialist.  Bjoern Werner would be a great addition of he falls.  However a versatile player like Datone Jones could really catch Billicek's attention.

Defensive Tackle
With New England playing more of a 4-3 defense the past couple of years they really haven't had much of a pass rush because they have more run stuffers.  They'd love to add somebody who could come in passing situations and give them some pressure up the middle.  A second day pick could be in line here, maybe somebody like LSU's Bennie Logan.

Wide Receiver
They brought in Danny Amendola to replace Wes Welker and Donald Jones was also signed, but they desperately need somebody on the outside to stretch the defense.  Brandon Lloyd was thought to be that guy but he struggled last year and was cut.  They could look to Baylor wide receiver Terrence Williams in the second round to take the top off the defense and free up their talented tight end duo.

Offensive Line Depth
It must be pretty nice to have one of your biggest needs as depth.  New England has a talented offensive line, but are pretty thin.  Their top reserve Donald Thomas gave them a very talented player off the bench, but now he'll likely be starting for the Colts.  They could add Justin Pugh who could help them at both tackle and guard.

New York Jets
Quarterback
When your head coach preaches competition at the quarterback spot, you know that Mark Sanchez's time in New York is limited.  But we all knew that.  They signed David Garrard, but look for them to draft somebody.  Probably not at #9, but they'll likely take somebody in the top of the second round and hope they can get the next Andy Dalton or Colin Kaepernick.

Rush Linebacker
The Jets haven't had a great pass rushing specialist since John Abraham and the lack of a pressure from the outside really has hurt their defense.  Without a top tier quarterback available to them at #9, they could use this opportunity to get that pressure they desperately need.  Ezekial Ansah, Barkevious Mingo, or Dion Jordan would all be great fits.

Wide Receiver
This position hasn't been the same since they jettisoned Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards.  If they want to give their offense a chance, they'll have to bring somebody in to pair up with Santonio Holmes.  A receiver at nine is too early but in the second round they should have plenty of options with DeAndre Hopkins, Justin Hunter and Robert Woods.

Tight End
Dustin Keller has left for Miami, but the Jets needed an upgrade anyways.  Whoever is their quarterback, they'll need a safety valve that the tight end provides.  Luckily this draft class has some depth to it where they can get a quality prospect on day two.  Dion Sims would give them a good blocker and receiver while Vance McDonald is another tight end that could give them that complete package.

Safety
Rex Ryan loves safeties and without Laron Landry and Yeremiah Bell coming back they'll have to draft somebody.  They'll have plenty of choices to choose from come April.  Phillip Thomas and DJ Swearinger would give Rex Ryan the cover safeties he likes.  They could also double up and add a run defender like TJ McDonald or Robert Lester in the 5th or 6th rounds.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 3)

1. Green Bay Packers (3-0) LW 1
Despite it only being a 10 point win, the Packers dominated the Bears and are showing everybody that they are the best team in the NFL. Its early, but we could see the Packers repeat this year.

2. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) LW 4
Torrey Smith has emerged as the deep threat that the Ravens have been looking for over the past couple of years. If the Ravens offense can continue to put up points they are going to be a hard team to beat.

3. New Orleans Saints (2-1) LW 6
There only loss has been to the Packers and that was because of a goal line stand. They smashed the Bears and the Texans both of which are very solid teams.

4. New England Patriots (2-1) LW 2
Its tough to win a game with when you throw 4 interceptions. Let alone allow a team to come back from 20 down. The Pats need to find some answers on defense. But good thing they have one of the best minds in football.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) LW 5
The Steelers played a sloppy game on Sunday night. Good thing it was against a Colts team that is plain awful without Peyton Manning. But a win is a win in the NFL.

6. Detroit Lions (3-0) LW 11
Their win against the Vikings improves winning streak to 7 straight games. That is a pretty amazing feat considering that the Lions went win less a couple of yeas ago. In any other division they might be a contender to win it, but with the Packers 2nd place looks more like it.

7. Buffalo Bills (3-0) LW 12
Ryan Fitzpatrick is getting a lot of attention for his play (and rightfully so), but a big reason for their offensive success is because of RB Fred Jackson. With a game against the Bengals, the Bills could improve to 4-0.

8. New York Jets (2-1) LW 3
Their loss to the Raiders has exposed some of their flaws. But luckily the teams in their division aren't running teams so they should be good there.

9. Houston Texans (2-1) LW 8
Its hard to win games when you give up 23 points in a quarter. Let alone the 4th. But getting back Arian Foster will only help this team get better.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) LW 16
Tampa Bay finally snapped a 5 game losing streak to the Falcons. Their defense was a big part of that intercepting Ryan 3 times and sacking him 4 more.

11. San Diego Chargers (2-1) LW 13
A win is a win, but almost losing to the Cheifs isn't good. However the defense stepped up when they needed to and Ryan Matthews had a big game to help the offense.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) LW 7
The "Dream Team" drops another one. The vaunted Eagles secondary wasn't up to the challenge and allowed Manning to throw for 4 touchdown passes. The Eagles better figure things out quick or it will be a long season in Philly.

13. Oakland Raiders (2-1) LW 19
Darren McFadden has proved that when healthy he is one of the best running backs in the league. If he can stay healthy and they can get consistent play out of Jason Campbell this is a team that should go to the playoffs.

14. Chicago Bears (1-2) LW 9
Don't let the score fool you, the Bears were dominated by the Packers on Sunday. Chicago has to figure something out on offense where they looked completely lost. 13 yards rushing doesn't help either.

15. Atlanta Falcons (1-2) LW 10
If Atlanta wants to get back on track they need to get their running game going. Michael Turner needs to have more than 20 yards rushing for them to be successful.

16. New York Giants (2-1) LW 15
After all the injuries they have had, the Giants are seeming to get things figured out and have a nice 2 game winning streak to show for it. But the best part of it was that they defeated the hated Eagles and they should be getting some of their injured stars back.

17. Tennessee Titans (2-1) LW 20
They won the game, but they suffered a huge loss with the injury to Kenny Britt. Britt was their only reliable receiver and now that he is gone they need somebody else to step up.

18. Dallas Cowboys (2-1) LW 21
Even though they didn't score a touchdown and their offense was never on the same page, they pulled out a big win over a Redskin team that was undefeated. But they cannot afford to keep all of these mental mistakes going if they want to keep winning.

19. San Francisco 49ers (2-1) LW 22
The 49ers win another ugly game. It only took one good drive and a TD by Kendall Hunter to give the Niners the victory. If the 49ers can get their offense figured out they could make it back to the playoffs for the first time in a while.

20. Washington Redskins (2-1) LW 14
Although they didn't allow the Cowboys to score a TD, they still lost a game and a chance to take an early division lead. But don't look for much consistency out of their offense as long as Rex Grossman is starting.

21. St. Louis Rams (0-3) LW 18
It's just been a disaster for the Rams this season. Injuries and ineffectiveness have really hurt them. But if they allow Sam Bradford to get hit as much as he did, they'll have to worry about him being injured too.

22. Arizona Cardinals (1-2) LW 17
2 missed FGs and a costly INT on the last drive doomed the Cardinals in a game that they should have won. These are games that the Cardinals have to win if they want to contend for a NFC West Division Title.

23. Cleveland Browns (2-1) LW 26
A late TD from McCoy to Massaqoui was the different in this game. The win was even more impressive with the offensively challenged Browns had to do it without the services of Peyton Hillis.

24. Carolina Panthers (1-2) LW 27
There you have it, Cam Newton got his first win as a pro. Although he didn't put up huge numbers (weather has to be factored in) his TD pass to Greg Olsen was the deciding factor in the game. Newton continues to impress as the season goes forward.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) LW 23
Already on their 3rd QB of the season, the Jags suffered a loss in the middle of a monsoon. However, Rookie QB Blaine Gabbert was almost able to get a 4th quarter victory but his pass was batted away with no time left.

26. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) LW 24
Andy Dalton was due for a bad game at some point and it came here against the 49ers. Both of Dalton's INTs came at bad times. Add in that this was the smallest crowd to ever see a Bengals home opener and it was a pretty bad day in Cincy.

27. Denver Broncos (1-2) LW 25
Denver had the lead going into the 4th quarter, but couldn't get a stop when they needed to get the win. Kyle Orton struggles again in a loss. Which has you wondering, when is Tim Tebow going to get his chance.

28. Seattle Seahawks (1-2) LW 30
Tavarius Jackson's late scramble for a touchdown gave the Seahawks the win over division foe Arizona. However the Seahawks will continue to struggle if they don't get more consistent QB play out of Jackson.

29. Miami Dolphins (0-3) LW 29
Miami's offensive struggles continue in a loss to the Browns. Daniel Thomas had a nice game, but the Dolphins relied on feild goals when they needed a touchdown. But on the bright side it looks like the Dolphins might be getting the QB they need in the 2012 draft.

30. Minnesota Vikings (0-3) LW 28
For the 3rd straight time the Vikings have given up a lead in the second half. You have to wonder how long the Vikings wait before they insert Christian Ponder into the lineup.

31. Indianapolis Colts (0-3) LW 31
In a sloppy game, the Colts almost capitalized and got their first win. Its going to be a long season in Indy, but at least Curtis Painter looked promising when he got his chance. We'll see if its something they can build on.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (0-3) LW 32
Kansas City actually showed some life with a narrow 3 point defeat. But Matt Cassell's interception on a screen pass was just plain awful. You never would suspect that the teams QB is throwing the game so they can get Luck...right?

NFL Power Rankings (Week 1)

1. Green Bay Packers (1-0)

While other teams were going out and spending this off-season the Packers got a lot of talent back from injury. And an already good team has gotten better and that showed in their thrashing of NFC power New Orleans.

2. New England Patriots (1-0)

Tom Brady is up to his old tricks again. Throwing all over the poor Dolphins secondary. However Billicek has to be concerned that Chad Henne was able to throw all over their secondary. Maybe they shouldn't have cut two of their top safeties.

3. Baltimore Ravens (1-0)

Their manhandling of the Steelers has to put the rest of the AFC on notice. Forcing 7 turnovers against a good defense is quite the feat. If their offense continues to improve we could be seeing the AFC favorites.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)

After shacking some early game jitters the Eagles took control of the game and showed the explosive offense we've thought they'd have all along. Look for the Eagle to continue to struggle at times as they get use to all their new parts.

5. New York Jets (1-0)

The Jets were able to escape week 1 with a win over a team that they should have dominated. However I'm still not sold on their offense. They have to get better on both sides of the ball if they want to back up their head coaches lofty expectations.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)

Pittsburgh was clearly not as focused as the Ravens were this off-season and it showed in their week 1 match up. The Steelers have never been tossed around like that before. But look for this game to be a wake up call and the old Steelers should return soon.

7. New Orleans Saints (0-1)

In a very active off season, the Saints looked to have improved their defensive line and at running back. However it wasn't enough to beat the defending Super Bowl Champions. If the Saints want to make it back to the Super Bowl they are going to have to start generating more takeaways which they didn't do against the Packers.

8. Chicago Bears (1-0)

How old does their defense look now? Their offensive line which has been a issue for the past couple of years looked much better and Cutler only got sacked 5 times but the line played well enough for Matt Forte and Devin Hester to make the big plays that help them get the win. This looks like a team that could make it back to the NFC Title game for a second straight year.

9. Houston Texans (1-0)

With Peyton Manning out the Texans have the chance to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. What also helps out is that the Texans finally have a defense that can win a game for them. Wade Phillips is showing why he is one of the best defensive minds in football.

10. Atlanta Falcons (0-1)

The Falcons continue their slide that started last season. The offense got away from what it does the best (running the football) and the defense is having trouble tackling. Atlanta put all their eggs in the basket for this season, so they need to get things fixed before it gets worse.

11. San Diego Chargers (1-0)

One of the biggest issues the Chargers had last year was their special teams units. So what happens this year? 1st kick off of the year gets returned 101 yards and they lose their kicker to an ACL injury. However behind the strong play of Mike Tolbert they were able to come back and win the game.

12. Detroit Lions (1-0)

Detroit has a lot of hype going into this season and winning on the road is a great place to start. QB Matt Stafford showed what he is capable when healthy. The big thing is whether the offensive line is good enough for him to stay healthy.

13. Buffalo Bills (1-0)

This is my dark horse sleeper of the year. I absolutely loved their draft and believe those picks will help their defense out tremendously this season. Add in that Ryan Fitzpatrick might make Chan Gailey look like a genius for trusting in him.

14. Arizona Cardinals (1-0)

Kevin Kolb is going to be the key to this season. But if he keeps playing like he did in week 1 then this team has a shot to make it back to the playoffs. However the defense can't give up that many point.....especially to teams like the Panthers and a rookie QB.

15. New York Giants (0-1)

Normally I'd be a lot harder on the Giants for losing that game, but with all the injuries they've had this season its going to be rough. Teams are going to eat their depleted defense up all season long. That and Eli Manning throwing picks.

16. St. Louis Rams (0-1)

The Rams looked like they were about to knock of the "Dream Team" but injuries to Sam Bradford and Stephen Jackson halted the offenses production and the defense simply couldn't make a stop. Bradford looks like he'll be fine, but the Rams cannot afford to lose Stephen Jackson to injury. He is too valuable to them.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)

Much like the rest of the teams in their division, they lost their game. However they did put up a fight and still look like a team that could challenge for a playoff spot. But the secondary is going to have to do a better job then they did against the Lions.

18. Oakland Raiders (1-0)

What a pillow fight on Monday Night Football. Maybe it was the rain, but both the Raiders and the Broncos looked awful. Luckily Darren McFadden plays for the Raiders and he had a monster game. If he can stay healthy for once, he could challenge for the league rushing title.

19. Kansas City Chiefs (0-1)

So sad for the Chiefs. They exceeded everybody expectations last year with great play from their rookies, had another solid draft class, and then brought in a bunch of free agents to fill their holes. But it was all for not because they got blown out at home to the Bills. Plus it got worse when start safety Eric Berry is out for the season with an injury.

20. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)

What a way for Jim Harbaugh to get his first victory. Ted Gin Jr. saved the day with two returns for touchdowns in a game where Seattle was starting to make a comeback.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)

When they cut David Garrard the week leading up to their first game I didn't think they'd have a shot. However behind a strong running game and a defense that held all world RB Chris Johnson in check. Don't expect big things from the Jaguars, but their win is commendable.

22. Miami Dolphins (0-1)

Good news is that the offense looked better and more explosive than previous years. Chad Henne's 416 yards 2 TDs and only 1 INT tells a lot. But the bad news is that the defense couldn't stop a JV team. The Dolphins got no pressure on Brady and he torched their secondary. If they want to be competitive they are going to need to fix those issues.

23. Tennessee Titans (0-1)

With the Colts down the Titans have a shot to win their first conference title in a while. However a loss to the Jaguars is not a great place to start. Somebody needs to step up on offense to take the load off of Chris Johnson who is going to be slow after holding out all of training camp.

24. Dallas Cowboys (0-1)

It actually looked like the Cowboys were going to pull off a big victory over the Jets, but then Tony Romo did what Tony Romo always does. Fail in the clutch. The Cowboys hype has them challenging for the playoffs, but reality will be more like last year. Right around the bottom of the league.

25. Minnesota Vikings (0-1)

The Vikings played better than I thought they would, but they are still an old team that didn't get better over the off season. I also found it funny during the FOX broadcast that they referred to the Vikings o-line as elite. When will people realize that this team isn't as good as they were two years ago?

26. Washington Redskins (1-0)

By starting Rex Grossman it looked like the Redskins were going to tank the season so they could get Andrew Luck. However in their opener against the Giants they went out and won. Maybe the players didn't get the memo from the front office?

27. Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)

Marvin Lewis said that this team would be better than last year. Maybe he wasn't blowing smoke when he said that. Their win against the Browns was a good first step. We'll see if they can continue it.

28. Seattle Seahawks (0-1)

Poor special teams was the culprit of their loss against the 49ers. In a conference that is up in the air, you can't loose games like that. Getting Sidney Rice and Robert Gallary back will do a lot for an offense that seemed to struggle....or maybe that was just Tarvaris Jackson.

29. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)

I know that without Peyton Manning that the Colts would struggle. But nobody saw them quitting already. If Manning doesn't come back this season its going to be brutal in Indianapolis and the Colts will more than likely be picking in the top 10.

30. Cleveland Browns (0-1)

Their loss to the Bengals is a big blow. For a team that many thought would be improved, took a big step back. What is worse is that Colt McCoy looked awful. However they face off against the Colts next week and have a chance to get back on track.

31. Carolina Panthers (0-1)

Cam Newton has exceeded every body's expectations with how good he has played so far. But this is still a very flawed team and will be competing for the #1 overall pick.

32. Denver Broncos (0-1)

The Broncos are a better team than they were last year, but they still have some major issues on their team. Mainly along the defensive line. Losing that game against the Raiders was just flat out ugly. I wasn't high on this team after the draft and their first game confirms my suspensions.

NFL Power Rankings (Preseason)

1. Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia was already a Super Bowl contender before they went out and brought in key free agents to make them even more dangerous. Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin, and Cullen Jenkins give them three impact defenders that add depth to an already talented defense. An adding Steve Smith (Former Giant) is a very very underrated move.

2. New England Patriots

New England was one of the best teams in the NFL last year and after another typical Patriots off season they reloaded and got even better. Trading for Albert Haynesworth and Chad Johnson makes both sides of the ball a lot better. But signing Shaun Ellis away from the Jets could be their best move.

3. Green Bay Packers

Normally I'd put the defending Super Bowl Champions at the #1 spot, but when Philly has the off season of the century its hard to not have them there. Now the Packers didn't go out and make any big moves, but getting back all the players that got injured last year is practically the same as adding a bunch of top level free agents.

4. New Orleans Saints

Another one of the rich gets richer. Darren Sproles and Mark Ingram makes their RB core a lot better. Aubrayou Franklin was a steal and will do wonders for their run defense. But their biggest moves where resigning Bushrod and Nicks.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

Aside from James Harrison going crazy in an interview the Steelers have been pretty quite. They went out and resigned Ike Taylor which isn't a big time move, but Taylor fits well into their defense and him leaving would have hurt.

6. Atlanta Falcons

A lot of people forget that Atlanta finished 13-3 and the #1 seed in the NFC. But that huge loss to Green Bay skews a lot of people's perception. Adding Julio Jones opposite of Roddy White will help the offense out a ton. DE Ray Edwards gives them the pass rusher they weren't able to get since they traded away so much to get Jones.

7. Houston Texans

If it wasn't for Philly's FA bonanza, Houston would have had the best off season in my opinion. They needed to upgrade their defense and through the draft and free agency they did that. JJ Watt will start at DE day 1. Brooks Reed gives them another rush linebacker while Jonathan Joseph is a top tier CB and Daniel Manning is a very underrated SS. Look for Houston to win their first division and make the playoffs.

8. Indianapolis Colts

Bill Polian finally saw the need to upgrade the offensive line and went out and drafted Anthony Castanzo and Ben Ijalana who could both start as rookies. Ernie Sims could flourish now that he is back in a Cover 2 scheme.

9. Baltimore Ravens

The Raven's weren't the players in free agency that a lot of people thought they would be. Instead of adding key parts they ended up cutting a lot of their offensive fixtures. But Torrey Smith will give Flacco his deep threat he hasn't had in a long time. This will allow Anquan Boldin to do what he does best and work the middle of the field. And we all know the Ravens will only go as far as Flacco takes them.

10. Kansas City Chiefs

After coming out of nowhere the Chiefs were looking to add some pieces to stay atop the AFC West. Steve Breaston reunites with Haley and gives the offense another speedy threat. Kelly Gregg gives them a run stuffer up the middle that they lacked last year. But signing Tamba Hali to an extension was their best move.

12. Chicago Bears

If the Bears would have signed somebody to play guard they would be much higher, but they didn't and outside of drafting Gabe Carimi and that could really come back to bit them in the ass. But adding Roy Williams who had his best year under OC Mike Martz could give Jay Cutler the big threat he has really lacked since coming to Chicago. Vernon Gholston and Amobi Okoye could be under the radar moves that could really help if they bounce back.

13. St. Louis Rams

The Rams didn't make any huge moves, but they made a bunch of small moves that makes them a lot better. Mike Sims-Walker gives Bradford a WR with #1 skills and Ben Leber gives them an upgrade at OLB. Add in that the NFC West is flat out awful and that could lead the Rams to the playoffs.

14. New York Jets

After going to two straight AFC Title Games the Jets are due for a fall off in my opinion. They traded in Braylon Edwards and Jericho Cotchrey for Plaxico. Shaun Ellis was their best defensive lineman last year and he is now a Patriot. Now they have to rely on rookie Muhammad Wilkerson making the jump from the MAC. The Jets talk a big game, but they might not be able to back it up this year.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I was really disappointed with the Buccanners this off season. The Bucs went out and upgraded their defensive end by drafting Adrian Clayborn and DaQuan Bowers, but with a ton of money they had to spend in free agency they whiffed big time. With a huge hole at CB they whiffed on note getting Nnamdi Asomugha or Antonio Cromartie. But don't worry, they did spend a bunch of money on a FA....a punter!

16. New York Giants

Here is another big time loser this free agency. The Giants lost TE Kevin Boss and suposive replacement Ben Patrick up and retired. Then injuried but talented WR Steve Smith was poised to return to the team. But instead the Giants slow played him and he ended up leaving to the Eagles. Now Eli Manning is out two of his most reliable targets. Not looking too good.

17. Detroit Lions

The Lions took a big hit losing Mikel LeShoure to injury which would have given the offense a power runner that they lacked last year. But they won't make the jump they are expected to if Matt Stafford can't stay healthy. But a lack of addressing their offensive line might not allow Stafford to make it the entire year.

18. Arizona Cardinals

No matter how good you think Kevin Kolb is, you have to give the Cardinals credit for getting a franchise quarterback. He is a much better outlook than Derek Anderson, Max Hall, and John Skelton. If Kolb can play like he did last year the Cards could be closer to the team they used to be and not the bad team that they were last year.

19. Oakland Raiders

You would think that a team that goes undefeated against the division would actually win the division. However that wasn't the case for the Raiders. If they can get some consistent QB play out of Jason Campbell they could make a run at Kansas City and the division title.

20. Miami Dolphins

If the Dolphins would have worked out the deal for Kyle Orton they might be higher up, but just Chad Henne with no competition isn't good for the Dolphins. But adding Reggie Bush to Daniel Thomas gives them two sets of fresh legs to a team that loves to run the ball. Add in Bush's return abilities and that could help the offense put up more points.

21. Seattle Seahawks

Nobody would have thought the Seahawks would have won the division last year let alone beat the Saints in the playoffs. Add in that they made some big time additions in free agency in Robert Gallary and Sidney Rice you would think that they would be the favorites to repeat as NFC West Champs. However Tavarrius Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst as your projected QBs doesn't spell much success. But hey, maybe they are trying to win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes?

22. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo wasn't too active in free agency, but I absolutely loved their draft. Buffalo's biggest weakness was stopping the run. So they drafted Marcel Dareus who was the best player in the draft, ILB Kelvin Sheppard who is a physical down hill run stuffer, and CB Aaron Williams who will probably be moved to FS where he is better suited. Buffalo might not set the world of fire this season, but they'll be a much improved team.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars

Paul Posluszny and Dwan Landry will do a lot to help out their poor defense last year. But their lack of WR talent will really hurt their offense and allow teams to load up the box on MJD. If Garrard doesn't play well or the Jags start the season off slow we could see the start of the Blaine Gabbert era.

24. San Francisco 49ers

A lot of people didn't like what the Niner's have done in this off season, but I do. Aldon Smith was the best pass rusher in the 2011 draft in my opinion and he'll be a perfect fit for the 3-4 outside linebacker. Braylon Edwards was a good signing who will play motivated and give Alex Smith another receiver besides Michael Crabtree. They may struggle, but don't expect them to finish with the worst record in the league.

25. Dallas Cowboys

I'll never get all the hype the Cowboys continue to get. All the national media especially ESPN. Despite their poor season and lack of moves I still hear people say that Dallas is a Super Bowl caliber team. REALLY? Their offensive line is not very good, Tony Romo is vastly overrated. Their secondary sucks. And you have Jerry Jones making the personal decisions which doesn't lead to good moves. Look for another bad year in Big D.

26. Cleveland Browns

Cleveland made a big jump last year and actually were competitive. Peyton Hillis emerged as one of the top RBs in the NFL and Colt McCoy surprised practically everybody in his strong play. A lot of people don't think McCoy is the answer, but I'd like to see him play a full season as a starting QB before I give up or praise him. If Greg Little can shake off the rust the offense could be even better than they were last year.

27. Tennessee Titans

If Chris Johnson's contract holdout lasts into the season it could be a long season for the Titans. Outside of Johnson there really isn't much talent. Unless Kenny Britt decides to stop getting in trouble with the law. I really like the signing of Matt Hasselbeck. He'll be able to teach Jake Locker how to be a pro and do wonders for his development.

28. Minnesota Vikings

Its hard to imagine that the Vikings were the best team in the NFC a couple of years ago. But injuries and poor play by Brett Farve really exposed a lot of their weaknesses. Their offensive line has a bunch of holes, they lost all their top free agents, and the secondary still isn't any good. But Donovan McNabb should come in motivated and if he has one more good season left in him he could elevate the Vikings to respectable, but don't hold your breathe.

29. Denver Broncos

Denver made some solid moves in free agency adding some depth at DT and not trading away Kyle Orton. But they are in for a long road. Josh McDaniels really left this team in shambles. Add in that they have a mess on their hands in the whole Orton/Tebow controversy it could be a really long season in the mile high city. Plus I believe Von Miller will be a tremendous bust and they left Marcel Dareus on the board.

30. Cincinnati Bengals

Andy Dalton and AJ Green are in and Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson are out. I really really like AJ Green and think that he is going to be a good receiver in this league, but if they have to start Andy Dalton its going to be a long season.

31. Carolina Panthers

Carolina did a great job of keeping all their young talent and making the moves to get talented receiving tight ends in Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen. Those two an a happy Steve Smith could give Cam Newton some pieces to help him in his development. But it will still be a tough season and Carolina will probably be picking in the top 3 again.

32. Washington Redskins

I'm not going to pull any punches here. With Rex Grossman or John Beck as their starting quarterback, the Redskins will be competing for the worst record in the NFL and hopefully win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. But its too bad because I like a lot of the moves that they made.

Winners and Losers (NFL Free Agency Period)

As training camps begin to open up, the free agency period is basically over. Lets take a look at who is going into the season looking good and who could have done better.

Winners

1. Philadelphia Eagles

The signing of Nnamdi Asomugha alone could net the Eagles the top winner of free agency. Asomugha is the top cornerback in the league and fits in perfectly with their scheme. Him, Astante Samuel, and another new face Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie gives the Eagles the best secondary in the NFL and maybe the top cornerback group in NFL history. Add in that they added two stellar defensive lineman in Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins. And the Eagles defense which was already good, entered the elite category.

2. Houston Texans

Now the Texans additions weren't as flashy as the Eagles but their additions will greatly improve their biggest weakness. Last year the Texans finished 32nd in the league in pass defense. The Texans went out and got Jonathan Joseph who doesn't get the recognition of Nnamdi Asomugha but is one of the most underrated cornerbacks in the NFL. This move allows the Texans to move Glover Quinn to free safety where his skills are better suited. Then the Texans signed Daniel Manning who has been the Chicago Bears starting strong safety the past couple of years. It may only be two players but the Texans secondary will improve at three positions and won't be the liability they were last year.

3. Arizona Cardinals

I was very adamant leading up to the draft that the Cardinals wouldn't draft a quarterback and would go after a veteran. Sure enough the Cardinals passed on Blaine Gabbert and instead went ahead and traded for their new franchise quarterback in Kevin Kolb. Sure they gave up a 2nd round pick and a Pro Bowl cornerback in DRC, but if Kevin Kolb turns out to be a franchise quarterback its all worth it. You can always get a high caliber cornerback in the 2nd or 3rd round. But its not that easy to get a high caliber quarterback. Now the Cardinals didn't stop there. They also added Todd Heap who is still one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Now instead of having John Skelton, Max Hall, or Derek Anderson as their QB they'll have Kevin Kolb and he'll be throwing the ball to Larry Fitzgerrald and Todd Heap. Throw in Stewart Bradley as new inside linebacker and you have a much improve Cardinals team.

4. New England Patriots

I don't know why everybody gets so surprised when the Patriots are able to get these high profile players. They do it every year. Whether its Randy Moss, Corey Dillion, Adalius Thomas, or anybody else. They always are able to "rob" teams for these players. They got both Chad Johnson and Albert Haynesworth for late round picks. Haynesworth will be rejuvenated playing for the Patriots and Johnson will give the Patriots the deep threat that they lacked last year.

5. Carolina Panthers

Carolina didn't really go out and sign anybody new but the best thing they did was not let their young players get away. DE Charles Johnson, LB James Anderson, LB Thomas Davis, and RB DeAngelo Williams. Add in that they signed Jeremy Shockey before the lockout began and only gave up a 3rd round pick for TE Greg Olsen and its a pretty good couple of days for the Panthers. Although the Panthers had the worse record in the NFL last year they aren't too far off from being competitive. Olsen and Shockey give the Panthers another couple of weapons to take the pressure off of Steve Smith and give whoever is their quarterback a safety blanket.

Losers

1. Chicago Bears

The Bears were able to sign some players but not the ones that would address any of their biggest needs. Roy Williams gives them a big bodied receiver who had his best year under Mike Martz. Vernon Gholston and Amobi Okoye have the talent but haven't shown it yet. But the Bears are on the losers list because they failed to improve the offensive line which was their biggest weakness last year. How they didn't get a guard baffles me. They invested so much in Jay Cutler but to allow him to take the beating he does and not doing anything about it is ridiculous. I guess they are hoping Chris Williams improves from last year or Frank Omiyale can slide into guard and play better than he did two years ago there.

2. Dallas Cowboys

When the lockout ended the Cowboys were the most active. But it was cutting talent and not bringing it in. They cut Marion Barber, Roy Williams, and Leonard Davis in an effort to free up money to go after premier free agents like Nnamdi Asomugha. However all that they did was give Doug Free a bigger contract that he deserves. Now Free is a quality left tackle, but isn't worth the money that he got. Kinda a disappoint for a team that was so active at the beginning.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Many people expect big things from the Bucs. They have a really talented young team that really surprised people with their strong play last year. And they have a ton of money that they had to spend to get over the salary floor that was agreed upon during the lockout. So with the need for cornerback you would think they would make a big run for Asomugha or Joseph and throw a ton of money their way. But they didn't. They could have also used a running back like Reggie Bush to complement LeGarrett Blount but they missed on him too. Their biggest expenditure was on a punter. Way to go Tampa, give the punter all the money.

4. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins looked to be the team that was going to go after one of the top free agent quarterbacks in an effort to give Chad Henne some competition and hopefully win the job. They looked to have a deal worked out for Kyle Orton, but that fell through. But instead they got Matt Moore. Yes from Orton to Moore. That's going to be one heck of a QB battle. They did trade for Reggie Bush so at least they improved their offense a little bit. But other than that, it wasn't good for the Dolphins.

5. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings were probably the biggest loser of the whole free agency period. They lost their top receiver and a starting defensive end but their top player they brought in was an aging Donovan McNabb. Now McNabb would have been a great pickup a couple of years ago, but he just suffered through a season where he just looked lost. The Vikings have a ton of talent and if they could have kept their guys and brought in some secondary help they could have been right back in the playoff hunt, but now they are looking to be picking in the top 10 next year.

Trade Analysis

This past off season has produced a bunch of trades. Here is a breakdown of some of them.

• Philadelphia Eagles trade DT Brodrick Bunkley to the Denver Broncos for a 2013 draft pick.

This was a little confusing because Bunkley was originally traded to the Browns but now has been traded to the Eagles. Anyways Brunkley was moved because he was expendable since the Eagles signed Cullen Jenkins. For Denver this is huge because they were lacking depth inside since they moved from the 3-4 to the 4-3. Bunkley should step in right away and give Denver an inside presence that they could really use.

• Bears trade TE Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers for a 2012 3rd Round Pick.

It was unfortunate that Greg Olsen didn't have the success many thought he would have when he was drafted in the 1st round. The coaches never seemed to know how to get the most out of him and with Mike Martz in town he didn't have any plans on featuring Olsen in the passing game. Both teams feel that they won this trade because the Panthers get a player that will provide a safety blanket for Cam Newton and take some of the pressure off of Steve Smith. The Bears get rid of a player that didn't fit their scheme and get what will probably be a high 3rd round pick.

• Cincinnati Bengals trade WR Chad Johnson to the New England Patriots for a 2012 and 2013 late round pick.

Ever since the end of the season the talk of Chad Johnson leaving was pretty clear. He had voiced his displeasure with the Bengals and talked about wanting to go to the Patriots. However many think it was going to happen. Cincinnati clears room for their new #1 WR in AJ Green and the rest of their young receivers. New England is hoping to have a similar outcome that Randy Moss gave them for his first two seasons with the team. Johnson will help stretch the field and free up room for Hernandez, Gronkowski, and Welker.

• Philadelphia Eagles trade QB Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals for CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 2nd round pick.

This is the big move of the free agency. It was pretty clear that Kolb was going to be in a new uniform but it was a matter of who wanted him more. Arizona wanted him pretty bad because they gave up a 2nd round pick and young Pro Bowl corner whose best football is still ahead of him. DRC along with Asante Samuel and newly signed Nnamdi Asomugha give the Eagles possibly the best cornerback group in NFL history. DRC is a very talented cover corner who will help the Eagles play a lot of man to man coverage and blitz from all over the field.

• New Orleans Saints trade RB Reggie Bush to the Miami Dolphins for a 2012 late round pick.

It was no surprise that Reggie Bush was moved. He hasn't really lived up to any of his college hype and with Mark Ingram being drafted the writing was on the wall. Bush will go to Miami and provide a complement to rookie Daniel Thomas and help the Dolphins in the return game which they haven't had any real game breakers. Both team won here. Bush adds a playmaker to the Dolphins and the Saints were able to get something out of Bush instead of just cutting him.

• Washington Redskins trade Albert Haynesworth to the New England Patriots for a 2012 5th round pick.

Washington had to get rid of Haynesworth who was eating up a huge salary, wasn't happy, or motivated. Out of the blue Haynesworth is traded and it was to the Patriots who have a habit of taking players who have history of being malcontents and turning them around. Corey Dillion was one and Randy Moss was another. I believe Haynesworth will be another. Washington wanted him to play the NT position in their 3-4 but I've always thought that if Haynesworth was going to play in the 3-4 the DE spot would be the perfect fit. That's where he'll play in New England and I have no worries that Bilicheck will get the most of him. And for a 5th round pick it could be highway robbery.

• Washington Redskins trade Donnavan McNabb to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2012 6th round pick and a 2013 conditional 6th round pick.

Very similar to the Haynesworth pick, it was clear after Shanahan threw him under the bus that wasn't going to be in Washington this season. Minnesota was always thought to be a logical placement where he could go for a year or maybe two and bridge the gap to Christian Ponder. McNabb didn't look good last year but a new team and a new outlook might rejuvenate him into a serviceable starter. Washington makes out alright because they get some draft picks out of it instead of nothing if they would have cut him.