Niner Noise
FanSided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
33 of 33
Next
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after beating the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after beating the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

. New England Patriots. 1. team. 47. . 14-2

Until proven otherwise, the Patriots are going to remain atop our NFL power rankings for quite some time. It’s the least that could be said as long as quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick are in town.

And the rich get richer too. New England solved one of its few offensive concerns by adding former Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks with a late first-round draft pick.

Bam! Just like that, the Pats offense gets even more prolific. Cooks has speed to burn, so it’s going to be awfully amazing to see what he can do in New England’s offense.

More from Niner Noise

Ensuring linebacker Dont’a Hightower stayed put was huge. So was adding cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Defensive end Kony Ealy was a nice trade pickup, and he’ll help with the pass rush a great deal.

Letting tight end Martellus Bennett walk in free agency might be considered a questionable move, especially considering health issues for No. 1 TE Rob Gronkowski. But Bennett’s replacement, Dwayne Allen, had 406 yards and six touchdowns for the Colts last year.

Not a bad No. 2 option at all.

Never getting close to panic mode, the Patriots had one of the better offseasons a team could ask for, which is surprising for most defending Super Bowl champions.

Next: NFL Power Rankings: Post-Super Bowl LI Standings for All 32 Teams

And it wouldn’t be a shock to see New England reaching that same goal once more when 2017 comes to a close.