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NFL Power Rankings: 2017 Pre-NFL Draft Look at All 32 Teams

By Peter Panacy

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a helmet, NFL shield, stage, and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a helmet, NFL shield, stage, and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 15, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) reacts to a play during the first half in the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium. The Steelers won 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) reacts to a play during the first half in the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium. The Steelers won 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

12-4. . Kansas City Chiefs. 7. team. 124.

The Kansas City Chiefs could well be on their way to regression in 2017, which makes them drop a spot in our NFL power rankings.

Quarterback Alex Smith’s days are starting to wane, and the Chiefs have to start thinking about his replacement at some point in the not-so-distant future. On top of that, performances by players like wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Dee Ford defied expectations. Is it likely these two repeat the same efforts going into this season? Probably not.

But what made the Chiefs so powerful last season was their defense. Retaining safety Eric Berry was the right move, but it came at the expense of defensive tackle Dontari Poe, who went on to sign with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency.

Perhaps the Chiefs defense remains as prominent as it was last year.

Yet as we saw with the Denver Broncos, top-tier defenses rarely stay as dominant for elongated stretches of time.

There’s still a window here for Kansas City. But it got notably smaller during this offseason.