Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Final post-Super Bowl LII standings around the league

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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ALAMEDA, CA – JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden speaks during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
ALAMEDA, CA – JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden speaks during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /

. . Previous: . Oakland Raiders. 19. team. 28

There are going to be some Oakland Raiders fans upset with the silver and black being placed behind the cross-bay rivals, the 49ers, but it’s still crazy to think how both teams finished with 6-10 records.

And in vastly different ways.

Hiring Jon Gruden as head coach should be enough for a nice boost in NFL power rankings. But he hasn’t coached since 2008, raising questions whether or not he’ll be up to speed on all the changes within the league since then. Visually seeing them as an analyst is one thing. Implementing practices in accordance with the new collective bargaining agreement is another. And is Gruden more of a name hire than anything else?

Oakland or San Francisco will own the No. 9 overall pick in the NFL Draft, depending on a coin flip at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Raiders have plenty of needs, particularly on defense. So it would be a shock to see general manager Reggie McKenzie focus on anything else early.

If there is a thing separating the Raiders from the 49ers, it’s cap space. Oakland has just shy of $15 million cap space available, meaning the draft is likely the avenue of approach.

Fortunately, the Raiders have the two most important positions figured out — quarterback (Derek Carr) and an elite pass-rusher (Khalil Mack).