Pre-2022 NFL season power rankings

Unknown quantities - unproven NFL teams

NFL Regular Season - New York Jets v Buffalo Bills

Here, we have four teams who have legitimate reasons for optimism, but simply haven’t shown it on the field yet. There are just multiple areas and components that have a chance to go either way. If everything goes right, they could potentially make a run at a Wild Card spot, but they could also end up picking in the top-five of next year’s draft (again).

#25. New York Jets, AFC East

NFL Regular Season - New York Jets v Los Angeles Rams

It’s tough to make a case for a team that finished second-to-last in points and turnover differential last year, now all of a sudden making a run at a playoff spot. But I truly believe the New York Jets at least have the ceiling to push for it. In no way does that mean I predict them to get there, because Zach Wilson could miss the first couple of weeks and they’ve got other guys coming back from more serious injuries and half the defense looks completely different.

However, I’m a big fan of all the talent they’ve put together. After Wilson was under constant heat as a rookie, that O-line could be tremendously improved, with my top-ranked RB from the draft running behind it, and the weaponry at receiver to defeat man-coverage. Flipping things around, they have the guys rushing off the edges and challenging receivers on the outside to make opposing passers uncomfortable, with two of my top-ten draft prospects.

#26. New York Giants, NFC East

NFL Regular Season - New York Giants v Houston Texans

Switching over to the other New York squad, I feel apprehensive about Big Blue once again, after they were so disappointing last season. But I do believe they have the pieces in place for their best season since drafting Daniel Jones, if everything goes right. Not having picked up the quarterback’s fifth-year option signals a make-or-break for his New York Giants tenure. But working under easily the most creative and competent offensive coaching staff with Brian Daboll and Mike Kafk will help. As will having a healthy group of skill-position players along with a much-improved O-line. This should set Jones up to lead the offense out of the bottom-two in yards, points and turnovers.

Defensively, they’re making a substantial transition from flooding zones under Patrick Graham to bringing extra rushers with Wink Martindale, where I still have to see those young DBs hold up in coverage, although they did draft my top-ranked prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux to play on the edge.

#27. Jacksonville Jaguars, AFC South

NFL Regular Season - Pittsburgh Steelers v Jacksonville Jaguars

Remember me saying making a case for the Jets to be in the playoff hunt is tough, since only one team was below them in scoring and turnover margin? Well, I present to you the Jacksonville Jaguars. Considering they have another first-year coaching staff in the building and more turnaround on the roster, I have more faith in the Jets taking that step forward. But there’s no denying they have a lot of talent on the roster in Jacksonville.

We saw signs from Trevor Lawrence being able to play the game like you want to see from an NFL quarterback. Although he was tied for the lead-league in interceptions (17), all but one of those were when trailing – which they did a lot. We may disagree with the capital invested, but there’s no doubt that this group of skill-position players is much more dynamic. And I certainly like the versatile pieces they’ve accumulated on defense. The biggest change compared to 2021 however is a coaching staff with a track record of putting their players in position to succeed.

#28. Carolina Panthers, NFC South

NFL Regular Season - Washington Redskins v Carolina Panthers

This may feel like a different category of team, as the Carolina Panthers will now have their third different starting quarterback week one in as many years of the Matt Rhule regime. But if you look through the rest of the roster, there’s still plenty of home-grown talent that they’ve drafted recently. The big question is how much of Christian McCaffrey they’ll get back this season, after basically two lost season – he can still be one of the premier offensive weapons in the game.

They do have some good, young receivers around him and with sixth overall pick Ikem Ekwonu and some under-the-radar free agents, this could be the best O-lines we’ve seen for them in years. What really has me excited in terms of potential, however, is their defense. The defense started 2021 blazing hot and still finished inside the top-ten in yards per play (5.1), pressure rate (26.1%) and third-down percentage (37.1%).