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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ENGLEWOOD, CO – JANUARY 12: Vance Josepf waits with Denver Broncos General Manager John Elway to be introduced as the new head coach during a press conference at the Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre on January 12, 2017 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
ENGLEWOOD, CO – JANUARY 12: Vance Josepf waits with Denver Broncos General Manager John Elway to be introduced as the new head coach during a press conference at the Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre on January 12, 2017 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

29. team. 45. . . Previous: . Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos drop a bit in our NFL power rankings, and there are good number of reasons why.

First, it might have been a bit of a shock to see Vance Joseph return as head coach. Not sure if that was the right idea, especially after such an underwhelming effort, defensively, over the course of 2017. Second, it looks as if that defense might have to be dismantled sooner than later. There’s some buzz the Broncos may make cornerback Aqib Talib a cap casualty this offseason.

With only $29 million in projected cap space, moves like this one might be a necessity. Especially when the team doesn’t have an established quarterback.

Perhaps Denver takes a run at Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins, if he hits the open market. But that would be costly, putting the team in a lot of financial peril the next few years.

A likelier option, though, is the NFL Draft. Wyoming’s Josh Allen has been a Broncos discussion piece, per Denver’s 9News’ Mike Klis. Maybe Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield is the target.

Either way, Denver’s issues aren’t going to be solved until a proven signal-caller is on the roster. They don’t have one right now, and they stay low as a result.