NFL Future Power Rankings

ESPN Insider's NFL Future Power Rankings are an attempt by our expert analysts to measure the confidence they have in each franchise as it projects three seasons ahead. It is not a predicted order of finish for the 2016 season, but rather a barometer tracking where each franchise is heading. And from our first installment of the project last summer to now, we've already seen some organizations make great strides towards becoming a Super Bowl contender, while others have slipped back towards square one.

In evaluating each team, our analysts broke down five facets deemed critical to the long-term health of a franchise:

• The roster (minus the QB) as it projects in 2016, emphasizing players 27 and younger
• The franchise quarterback as he projects in 2016
• The strength of a team's 2013 draft picks and their available picks in future drafts
• The reputation and performance of the front office
• The stability and acumen of a team's coaching staff

Our experts -- Herm Edwards, Mel Kiper, Mike Sando, Gary Horton, Matt Williamson and Field Yates -- ranked each franchise from 1-10 across the five categories, then provided a breakdown for each team. Former NFL GM Bill Polian abstained from the ranking, but offered his insights for the front office analysis below. Using a weighted formula (explained briefly in the sidebar to the right, and in more detail here) we generated our final rankings.

Here are the NFL Future Power Rankings:

AFC
BAL | BUF | CIN | CLE | DEN | HOU | IND | JAC | KC | MIA | NE | NYJ | OAK | PIT | SD | TEN

NFC
ARI | ATL | CAR | CHI | DAL | DET | GB | MIN | NO | NYG | PHI | SEA | SF | STL | TB | WAS

• 
• 1

San Francisco 49ers
LAST SEASON: 11-4-1 (first place NFC West)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: Because of their excellent depth, the 49ers have been able to replace their aging players with talented young backups. They have a dynamic young QB in Colin Kaepernick behind a dominating offensive line. However, right now it's unclear the players we will see at the running back and wide receiver positions in 2016. Defensively, the 49ers are loaded, especially with interior linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, but there are age concerns along the defensive line and in the secondary -- so San Francisco's backups and draft choices must step up. -- Gary Horton

Quarterback: Kaepernick was arguably the best player on the field in five of his 10 regular-season and postseason career starts, and that included games against Chicago, New England, Miami, Green Bay and Atlanta. That's a strong indication the 49ers have found their franchise quarterback. This will be Kaepernick's team in 2013 and for many years to come. He's going to benefit from organizational strength, as San Francisco was the only team in the league to rank among the top three in all five categories for this project. -- Mike Sando

Draft: To quote my 2013 NFL Draft Grades, "[GM] Trent Baalke has done such a nice job of constructing this roster that drafting can be tricky, because the 49ers just don't have a glut of needs." The 2010 and 2011 49ers drafts are significant portions of the currently loaded roster, and the 2012 class is a big "Incomplete" mainly because there were few holes to address. The 49ers piled up more depth in 2013, and have added a pair of extra picks for 2014. This is a savvy front office, and it knows that extra picks will come in handy as the price tags on a loaded roster get bigger over the next few years. -- Mel Kiper

Front office: Head coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Baalke have a team that is a genuine world championship contender, but there are still a few question marks. One is whether Colt McCoy can hold the fort were anything to happen to Kaepernick. All else, including the seemingly unstoppable Frank Gore, continues in place on offense -- though Marcus Lattimore will have to step up to replace Gore in 2014 or they'll need to draft a different successor. Quinton Patton, a fourth-rounder, is a young one to watch. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has done a great job with perhaps the most talented group in the league. He must however, replace Dashon Goldson and Isaac Sopoaga. He has some outstanding young talent to do it with in Eric Reid, Tank Carradine and Corey Lemonier. Glenn Dorsey has been added to back up Justin Smith, but if there is an indispensable man on this team, it is Justin Smith. The sack production of this defense tailed off markedly when Smith was hurt because the rush combination of Justin and Aldon Smith was the best tandem in the league. Niners fans will close out the Candlestick era with a team worthy of Bill Walsh's legacy. -- Bill Polian

Coaching: The 49ers are tough and physical on both sides of the football, a philosophy that permeates throughout the organization. Going into his third season in San Francisco, Jim Harbaugh and his coaching staff have done a terrific job. This team doesn't beat itself and the lack of turnover both among coaching staff and personnel shows the commitment and focus this team has. The 49ers will be a powerhouse for years to come. -- Herm Edwards

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• 2

Green Bay Packers
LAST SEASON: 11-5 (first place NFC North)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: When you can lose Greg Jennings in free agency and still possess one of the best receiving corps in football, your roster is in good shape. The Packers also added two potential starting running backs in this draft. The defensive front seven is anchored by Clay Matthews, recently signed to a mega-extension. Casey Hayward is a promising young cornerback who will start regularly soon enough. -- Field Yates

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers will be 32 years old with four years remaining on his contract heading into the 2016 season. He has missed only two games in five seasons as the starter. Depth at the position doesn't mean much, though, when the starter is a perennial MVP candidate. The Packers ranked No. 1 at quarterback because of Rodgers, period. He might be wise to cut down the number of hits he takes as his career progresses, as Rodgers ranks 23rd out of 28 qualifying quarterbacks in sacks taken per drop-back over the past five seasons. -- Sando

Draft: They consistently find value down the board -- consider Heyward and Randall Cobb at picks No. 62 and 64 over the last couple of years -- and that matters because the Packers simply won't be drafting high as long as Rodgers is healthy. Ted Thompson has a well-earned reputation as a sharp evaluator and a guy who finds players who can develop, but it will be interesting to see what kind of dividends the Packers get from the 2013 draft -- the first in a while without John Dorsey, their former director of scouting, who is now the GM in Kansas City. -- Kiper

Front office: Thompson and Mike McCarthy have built a longstanding winner. This is the hardest thing to do in the National Football League. And they do it as well as anyone ever has. Others get the headlines, the Pack keeps cashing playoff checks. The signing of Rodgers sets them up to continue the run and the draft additions of Datone Jones, Eddie Lacy and little-known but very productive Johnathan Franklin may be enough to get them to the top. One thing is certain, they'll be in the hunt. -- Polian

Coaching: A players' coach, McCarthy has had a great run in Green Bay. Expectations are always high with Rodgers and such a storied franchise, but he's made the playoffs in five of his seven seasons there and has a Super Bowl title to his name. Last year was disappointing defensively, but he'll get the Packers back on track. And offensively, they always have a chance with the best QB in the game behind center. -- Edwards

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• 3

Seattle Seahawks
LAST SEASON: 11-5 (second place NFC West)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: Because the coaches believe in a lot of player turnover until they get it right, this roster is loaded with youth and depth on offense. They have a dynamic young passing game with difference-makers at receiver and an offensive line that should play together for several years. On defense, they have playmakers on all three levels, although age is a factor in the D-line, but their talent and depth in the secondary is off the charts. -- Horton

Quarterback: The Seahawks jumped 18 spots in the overall rankings from one year ago largely because Russell Wilson appears to have solved their longstanding quarterback quandary. Wilson led the NFL with an 85.9 Total QBR score over the final eight games of the season, averaging a league-leading 8.7 yards per attempt while tossing 18 touchdown passes against only three interceptions. He's a franchise player in every sense and was the leader of the team as a rookie. Wilson should benefit from a stable situation overall, even though offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell could become a head-coaching candidate again. -- Sando

Draft: I questioned the value the Seahawks got with their first-rounders in both 2011 and 2012 when they reached on both James Carpenter and Bruce Irvin, but that doesn't mean they're doing much wrong overall. How can you question drafts that have netted Richard Sherman and Wilson well down the board? The Seahawks have netted legit stars in each of the last three drafts after you add in the fact that they turned a 2013 first-rounder (and a seventh) and a 2014 third into Percy Harvin. This is a roster capable of challenging for a Super Bowl because they've found major value with players many teams passed on multiple times. They show a great trust in their scouting, and it's hard to worry that drafting late will get in the way of them adding impact in years to come. -- Kiper

Front office: GM John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll have very quickly drafted a contender in Seattle. The emergence of Wilson as a dynamic player and leader has exponentially improved this club. The defense loses coordinator Gus Bradley but in essence Pete's fingerprints are all over this group anyway. And a good group it is. The addition of Cliff Avril at a low price was one of the best free-agent pickups of the year. Avril and Irvin provide an outstanding tandem of pass-rushers. -- Polian

Coaching: Entering his fourth season, Carroll has done a great job. He hasn't been afraid to take chances on players with character questions, just like he did at USC. He knows how to deal with players and creates a player-friendly environment, as evidenced by the loud music at practice. Seattle did lose Bradley to Jacksonville, but for the most part Carroll's original staff is intact. -- Edwards

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• 4

Baltimore Ravens
LAST SEASON: 10-6 (first place AFC North)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: The Super Bowl champs had a lot of turnover this past offseason, losing Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Dannell Ellerbe and Paul Kruger, among others, but the front office once again showed why it is among the very best in the league by finding replacements for their losses at reasonable prices. The core here isn't young, though, which is a long-term concern, especially along the defensive line. -- Matt Williamson

Quarterback: The Ravens were the only organization to command a No. 1 ranking in more than one category, but QB wasn't one of them. They were tied for seventh in that critical area -- not bad, but a sign of some hesitation. Joe Flacco was so much better during the playoffs than he had been previously that some regression seems inevitable. While Flacco is signed through 2019, his contract will require revisiting before Baltimore absorbs a scheduled $28.5 million cap hit in 2016. Flacco has basically been an average starter on a very good team for most of his career. -- Sando

Draft: No team did a better job in the 2013 draft, and even after an offseason where it seemed like the Ravens lost a lot of players, in part because of a great draft, they look just as good or better on paper as the team that just brought home a title heading into 2013. Matt Elam and Arthur Brown should make a difference right away. Ozzie Newsome has put together an enviable front office and scouting staff, and the Ravens haven't traded away any future picks of value, so you can expect more of the same as long as Ozzie is in charge. -- Kiper

Front office: Under Newsome, the defending champions have reloaded and rebuilt at the same time. As usual, they have relied on defensive dominance coupled with a big-play attack led by Flacco. The one remaining question is at wide receiver, but the odds are very strong that Ozzie will find an answer. -- Polian

Coaching: Going into his sixth season in Baltimore, all John Harbaugh has done is win. He's made the playoffs every year, won at least one playoff game every year and of course won a Super Bowl. He's instilled toughness in his team, which will carry over after the losses of Reed and Lewis. This team is a perennial playoff contender with a great coach at the helm. -- Edwards

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• 5

New England Patriots
LAST SEASON: 12-4 (first place AFC East)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: It's hard to think of the Patriots' roster without quarterback Tom Brady in mind, but the team has the talent to sustain success beyond his career. The offensive nucleus revolves around the best young tight end duo in football and a loaded backfield. On defense, the front seven is piling up young talent, with Jerod Mayo, Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins leading the way. -- Yates

Quarterback: Brady will be 39 years old when the 2016 season gets underway. He's a grinder whose dedication will give him the best possible chance to remain productive at that age. Brady is signed through 2017 and he has guaranteed money in the final years, unusual for a long-term deal associated with an older player. The Patriots will give him every chance to play out the deal, but it's fair to expect some erosion by then. -- Sando

Draft: The Patriots have a remarkable ability to find players capable of providing an immediate impact via the draft, and that's a significant compliment when you consider they: (A) Rarely draft anywhere near the top of the first round and (B) win a ton of games year after year. The 2013 draft will be one to watch because New England moved down and didn't pick until No. 52 overall (Collins), and there's a question of how well this team will remain equipped to slow down opposing passers. But this is a smart, resourceful front office under Bill Belichick and they haven't traded away any future picks, so there's no reason to question their ability to find more help (immediate and otherwise) in years to come. An underrated fact: they consistently find good offensive lineman and keep Brady protected. -- Kiper

Front office: Everyone assumes that the Pats are Super Bowl contenders every year and as long as Brady is at quarterback that is largely true. In addition, Dante Scharnecchia and his offensive line are among the best in both scheme and execution year in and year out. The Pats need a big-play wide receiver (which they may have unearthed in 2013 fourth-rounder Josh Boyce) and good health from receiver Danny Amendola and tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. The defense has been a work in progress for the past three seasons and until proved otherwise remains so. -- Polian

Coaching: The highest-ranked active coach on my list of all-time top coaches, Belichick has done a great job of evolving both his philosophy and how players fit his system. He brought in the era of using two tight ends as receivers and spreading out offenses to attack specific matchups. The Patriots will be a contender as long as he is wearing his hoodie on the sideline. -- Edwards

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• 6

Atlanta Falcons
LAST SEASON: 13-3 (first place NFC South)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: GM Thomas Dimitroff has shown himself to be one of the best talent evaluators in the NFL, and the defense has really rounded into form in recent offseasons. The secondary will be strong with William Moore and a pair of top draft choices in tow, and the list of receiving options on offense is one of the best in football. This is an explosive roster. -- Yates

Quarterback: Matt Ryan played like a top-five quarterback last season, carrying an offense that struggled to get much going on the ground (3.7 yards per carry, No. 27 ranking in expected points added by rushing). Ryan trailed only Peyton Manning, Brady and Kaepernick in Total QBR. He's in line for a contract extension and there's no way the Falcons will let him get away. They can win championships with him. -- Sando

Draft: Few GMs are as aggressive as Dimitroff when it comes to targeting the players he wants on draft day. He once again moved up in a draft this year to grab cornerback Desmond Trufant out of Washington, two years after a trade to net the Falcons Julio Jones turned into a major coup. Depth concerns, particularly in the defensive front seven, are present, but the Falcons haven't dealt away any future picks, so Dimitroff is in a good place to continue to be aggressive and maximize a window of elite quarterbacking that should keep his team a Super Bowl contender.

Front office: Dimitroff & Co. have built a Super Bowl contender. All of their focus is now (correctly in my opinion) on filling immediate needs, which will get them to the top as soon as possible. Ryan's contract will get done, which will limit their flexibility in the future. But Atlanta fans need not worry. The way to deal with those spending limitations is through the draft, at which Dimitroff and his team excel. -- Polian

Coaching: Going into his sixth season, Mike Smith has done a fantastic job in Atlanta. The team seems to get better each year, and finally took the next step by winning a playoff game last year. With Ryan at QB, along with Jones and Roddy White on offense, they have a potent unit. Smith trusts his players on game day, and while he keeps his composure on the sideline, he'll get after them behind closed doors. Atlanta has been one of the most consistent teams in the NFL the last couple seasons and there's no reason to think that won't continue. -- Edwards

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• 7

New York Giants
LAST SEASON: 9-7 (second place NFC East)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: New York has gotten old in the trenches, but this most recent draft will help alleviate that problem -- and this franchise is built on great play from its big men, especially on the defensive side of the ball. If players such as Rueben Randle, David Wilson, Prince Amukamara and Marvin Austin play to their vast potential, to go along with cornerstones Jason Pierre-Paul, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks (and they can retain all three), the Giants should be fine. -- Williamson

Quarterback: Eli Manning will be 35 years old in 2016, but there's little reason to expect a significant decline by then. Manning's current deal runs through 2015, so he'll need a contract extension (that should be automatic when the time is right). Manning has a strong arm and a level head, qualities that serve him well playing outdoors in the New York market. He has to hope the Giants can keep together his receiving corps. He has benefited from staff continuity, something to keep in mind given that Tom Coughlin will be 70 years old in 2016. -- Sando

Draft: Under Jerry Reese, the Giants don't always hit what I consider home runs in terms of the the value they extract based on board position, but few teams do a better job of targeting players they feel their coaching staff can develop. New York bucked a trend this year in in taking an offensive lineman in Round 1, and I'm concerned about the Giants' low level of talent at linebacker, but Coughlin continues to find solutions, and this team hasn't had a single selection higher than No. 15 overall since 2004 (that No. 15 pick was Pierre-Paul in 2010). They're doing plenty right, and haven't traded away any future picks. -- Kiper

Front office: John Mara, Reese, Coughlin and Manning equals two world championships. There is not a lot more to say. They all return, though how long will Coughlin coach? Reese, as usual, has done a great job in free agency finding great role players at low prices. Cullen Jenkins, Mike Patterson and Dan Connor all fill that bill. The questions remain in the secondary. Wilson and Andre Brown should certainly get the job done at running back. If Cruz can play through his contract issues and Brandon Myers can play reasonably well at tight end, the offense will be fine in 2013 and likely beyond. As always, one of the best managed and coached teams in the league will be in the hunt. -- Polian

Coaching: Do I think that Coughlin will be with the Giants in three seasons? No. But, this organization gets high marks from me because he has been a terrific coach for a long time. Entering his 10th season in New York, it seems like there have been calls for his head every season. All he has done is win, including two Super Bowl titles. Coughlin is in the Hall of Fame conversation and given the strong front office in New York, whoever replaces him will be a strong candidate. -- Edwards

• 
• T8

St. Louis Rams
LAST SEASON: 7-8-1 (third place NFC West)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: QB Sam Bradford should have some young weapons in the passing game (Tavon Austin, Brian Quick, Jared Cook) if they develop as expected. But too many draft misses in recent years holds back the depth and quality of this roster. They do have some young playmakers on the defensive front seven and their pass rush should continue to be very effective -- but the secondary is a question mark. -- Horton

Quarterback: The Rams jumped 15 spots in our rankings from one year ago, the third-largest jump for any team, but their lowest ranking was at quarterback -- the one position where St. Louis has been set since taking Bradford first overall in 2010. Bradford logged hard miles in his first couple seasons, but he's actually younger than Kaepernick. He should be entering his prime years in 2016. The glass is half full now that the Rams have some young playmakers, and even though Bradford has struggled on third down, he did rank fourth in fourth-quarter Total QBR last season (80.0). He's entering a two-year window to earn a new contract. -- Sando

Draft: Yes, they could have stayed at No. 2 overall and taken Robert Griffin III in 2012, but the deal that sent the No. 2 pick to the Redskins couldn't have possibly turned into a bigger surplus of future picks. It could be argued that by the time the Rams have finished their 2014 draft -- which, thanks to the trade with Washington has them again set to take multiple first-rounders -- no team in the NFL will have a higher overall level of cheap talent on the roster, something that creates a ton of flexibility. The new draft economics are going to make the Rams a team to contend with for years to come. -- Kiper

Front office: Head coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead have begun to craft a team in their image. As you would expect, they concentrated on building a defense last year and improved that group considerably. First-round draft choice Alec Ogletree (if his off-field problems are behind him) should be an immediate contributor. Free-agent pick-up Jake Long must avoid injury and pick up his level of play, and Cook must also reach his potential. Austin will be an instant difference-maker in the return game, and likely a contributor on offense. The biggest loss is running back Stephen Jackson. Not in terms of potential production in 2016, but in terms of his professionalism. -- Polian

Coaching: Fisher has been a good communicator with players since he's arrived in St. Louis and he has changed the culture of that franchise. He's trying to build around Bradford, a strong defense and running the football. The Rams are now in a position to compete in this division. -- Edwards

• 
• T8

Indianapolis Colts
LAST SEASON: 11-5 (second place AFC South)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: The Colts "gutted" this roster when they started the Andrew Luck era, which meant building this roster through the draft with mostly young players. Veteran stars like receiver Reggie Wayne and outside linebacker Robert Mathis will likely be gone by 2016 and there are not enough young difference-makers on this roster yet, but help is on the way. Luck will have two excellent tight ends in Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, and the defense can build around inside linebacker Pat Angerer. -- Horton

Quarterback: Luck's presence on the roster helped the Colts secure a No. 2 ranking at quarterback (behind only the Packers). The Colts have only six players age 30 or older on their roster, but Wayne is one of them. Quarterbacks make receivers however, and Luck is going to be just fine. His efficiency should climb now that the Colts have reunited him with his college coordinator, Pep Hamilton. Luck ranked 35th out of 36 qualifying quarterbacks in completion percentage last season, but that was mostly a reflection of the Colts' emphasis on attempting longer passes. -- Sando

Draft: So what if they were handed the best opportunity to draft at No. 1 in maybe the last decade. The Colts didn't overthink the pick and took the right player in Luck. The Colts had an exceptional draft under Ryan Grigson in 2012 beyond the selection of Luck, and also head into next year with an extra fourth-rounder. How well they draft to protect Luck and maximize the early portion of his career could be the draft storyline to watch. -- Kiper

Front office: Chuck Pagano and Grigson begin their second year at the helm in 2013. The accent has been heavily on defense, as it should be. The switch from Tampa 2 to a 3-4 set was far from complete in 2012. But there will be questions on the offensive side that will demand attention as well. -- Polian

Coaching: What more needs to be said about Pagano? He was an inspiring story last year and did so much more than help lead a football team. The key for him this year will be building off that. After such an emotionally draining season, can he keep his team's energy up? Chuck is a great motivator, so it won't surprise me if the young Colts keep improving. It doesn't hurt that Luck is running the offense either. -- Edwards

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• 10

New Orleans Saints
LAST SEASON: 7-9 (third place NFC South)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: We know the offense will be explosive and well-coached, as Marques Colston remains effective and Jimmy Graham is among the best receiving weapons in all of football. How will the defense adjust to new coordinator Rob Ryan's 3-4 scheme? Moreover, will the additions of Keenan Lewis and Kenny Vaccaro lay the foundation for an improved secondary after 2012's woeful performance? -- Yates

Quarterback: Drew Brees will be 37 and under contract in 2016. Brees resembles Kurt Warner in his ability to make quick decisions and anticipate with his throws. Warner was still a productive player when he retired at age 38 and Brees should enjoy similar longevity. He's got an iron will and the smarts to compensate as he ages. Brees has taken sacks on only 3.3 percent of drop-backs over the past five seasons. Only Peyton Manning has a lower rate (2.5 percent) among 28 qualifying quarterbacks. -- Sando

Draft: Recent drafts have not delivered enough impact, and the combination of that and the painful draft penalties handed down by the league, which further gutted the 2012 draft, will have a lingering effect on the talent level of this roster. Thankfully, the Saints have their full arsenal of picks again in 2014. They have momentum after a 2013 draft that I think will end up netting them at least three starters. The future looks better than it did at the height of the bounty scandal, but the Saints could be tasked with drafting their next franchise QB in the next two seasons. -- Kiper

Front office: No one should underplay the loss, for half a season, of Mickey Loomis and Joe Vitt. The loss for the entire season of head coach Sean Payton, the driving force behind this team, was fatal. His return provides direction, discipline and determination to everyone in the organization. Offensively, there is no reason to believe, despite the loss of Jermon Bushrod and Chris Ivory, that they will not remain potent. The combination of Payton and Brees is as explosive as there is in offensive football. The question for the Saints is how quickly new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan can install a system compatible with the talent available to him. -- Polian

Coaching: The difference in coaching was clear when Payton wasn't on the sideline last season. Getting him back will be huge for New Orleans. The offense should be as potent as ever with Brees and Payton calling plays, but this defense needs to step up. The Saints hired Ryan for his aggressive defensive playcalling and ability to force turnovers. As long as Payton is on the sidelines and Brees is at QB, this team will be a threat in the NFC. -- Edwards

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• 11

Denver Broncos
LAST SEASON: 13-3 (first place AFC West)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: This is a tough roster to evaluate because this organization is trying to stay elite with Peyton Manning, but that also sometimes means surrounding him with smart, but older, veteran players. However, the future is not all bleak -- they have two terrific young wide receivers, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, to build around on offense. And on defense they can look to outside linebacker Von Miller and defensive end Derek Wolfe. If rookies Montee Ball and Sylvester Williams develop, they will have a few pieces to go forward. -- Horton

Quarterback: Manning is under contract through 2016, but he'll be six months past his 40th birthday when that season gets underway. Something has to give by then, right? The Broncos planned for the future beyond Manning when they used a 2012 second-round choice on Brock Osweiler, whose deal runs through 2015. Manning is money in the bank for the present, while Osweiler is a more speculative commodity. -- Sando

Draft: The Broncos are the ultimate win-now operation, and we saw it again in their 2013 draft as they landed what are likely immediate starters Williams and Ball with their first two picks. What could be the big challenge going forward is remaking an aging secondary to keep the title window open for the duration of Manning's run in Denver. The Broncos haven't traded away any future picks, a good thing because they shouldn't be drafting early. -- Kiper

Front office: John Elway and John Fox have built a genuine AFC Championship contender and with Manning at quarterback the accent is on winning now, as it should be. Their free-agency additions of Wes Welker and Louis Vasquez coupled with Ball in the draft make an already potent offense even better. Denver came within an egregious mental error of eliminating Baltimore last season. The Broncos are primed to go a lot further in 2013. Manning will play until he can't play anymore, and his successor will have to get reps as he goes (whether that's Osweiler or another candidate). -- Polian

Coaching: Fox now has the best QB he's ever gotten to coach in Manning and expectations are sky-high for this team as long as Manning is around. A defensive coach, Fox has built a strong 4-3 defense in Denver and now knows he needs to win in the playoffs. He'd probably like to run the ball a bit more in upcoming seasons to protect Manning. -- Edwards

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• 12

Kansas City Chiefs
LAST SEASON: 2-14 (fourth place AFC West)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: They didn't show it on the field last season, but this roster is sprinkled with more young playmakers than you might think. They have young offensive linemen that should improve as they build around rookie tackle Eric Fisher and a couple of young receivers in Jonathan Baldwin, Dexter McCluster and tight end Tony Moeaki. On defense they have a strong young nucleus of safety Eric Berry, linebacker Justin Houston and nose tackle Dontari Poe to give them young playmakers on all three levels. -- Horton

Quarterback: Alex Smith is not under contract for 2016 and it's possible the team will acquire someone else to man the position for the long term. The Chiefs could certainly do worse at the position however, and if Smith has proved anything to this point in his career, it's a willingness to stick around almost no matter what the circumstances. His smarts will make him an efficient quarterback and a good fit with Andy Reid. He eliminated the occasional horrible performance from his game last season, but the 49ers' overall strength had something to do with that. The Chiefs will most likely be looking to upgrade by 2016. -- Sando

Draft: The Chiefs have already hit one draft home run under their new leadership by getting a pretty good starting QB for the price of a second-rounder and a conditional future pick from the 49ers. Draft value is partly based on the context of what will be avilable, and there wasn't going to be a QB in the 2013 draft that offered more immediate assurances of production than Smith. GM John Dorsey and Reid know what they're doing, and the Chiefs aren't your typical rebuild. Recent drafts have left the roster dotted with talent, even if the players aren't tied to a track record of results. At least not yet. -- Kiper

Front office: After a 2-14 2012 season, there is no place to go but up and that is where Reid and Dorsey have been in their previous NFL stops. There's no reason to believe it won't happen again in Arrowhead. No one develops quarterbacks quite as well as Reid, so expect Smith to have a good year. In terms of rebuilding the roster, there were six Pro Bowlers on this club last year, including two terrific pass-rushers, so it's reasonable to assume they will have a good season and a bright future. -- Polian

Coaching: Coming over from Philadelphia, it was time for Andy to move on. He's already reshaped the franchise in Kansas City this offseason, starting by signing Smith at QB and then by drafting Fisher No. 1 overall. Players love to play for Andy and he has a ton of coaching experience in this league. He should have a good run in Kansas City. -- Edwards

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• 13

Cincinnati Bengals
LAST SEASON: 10-6 (second place AFC North)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: Smart, value-based drafting aided by the highway robbery Cincinnati pulled off in the Carson Palmer deal has given the Bengals an excellent young core of talented players, highlighted by A.J. Green, Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap. There is an awful lot to build on here and quite a bit of this roster is presently made up of players with four or fewer years of experience. -- Williamson

Quarterback: The Bengals ranked fifth in non-QB roster and seventh in drafting, but only 20th in quarterback. Andy Dalton seems better than that, but he does have limitations. Dalton ranks 35th out of 37 qualifying quarterbacks in third-down completion percentage over the past two seasons (49.5). He ranks 29th in third-down Total QBR (26.4) over that period, including dead last (36th) with a 10.5 QBR on third down last season. That is a little concerning. It's hard not to wonder what the offense might look like if the Bengals had taken Kaepernick instead of Dalton. -- Sando

Draft: The Bengals are an organization that has maintained a lot of continuity, but it's a rare case where the decision to keep some decision-makers around through ups and downs hasn't always been received warmly. The last few years have delivered a major haul of talent from the draft, leaving questions about the thought process in that area as pretty hollow. The Bengals delivered another outstanding draft in 2013, and everything is in place to succeed if the QB play gets a little better. The Bengals haven't dealt away any future draft picks. -- Kiper

Front office: Marvin Lewis, aided by Duke Tobin and a solid personnel effort, has built a Super Bowl contender. Mike Brown and Katie Blackburn have committed to Marvin's philosophy in the long term and it already has paid dividends. This is a team with a dominant defensive front and this year has added more offensive weapons through the draft. Dalton is ready to take the next step. In short, this team is a genuine big-game contender. -- Polian

Coaching: If you'd have bet me that Lewis would be entering his 11th season in Cincinnati, I'd have lost money. He's done a terrific job getting that franchise back to respectability and they now have a good young core. Back-to-back playoff appearances is a terrific accomplishment, but Marvin knows he needs to win a playoff game to take the next step. This is a team on the rise. -- Edwards

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Pittsburgh Steelers
LAST SEASON: 8-8 (third place AFC North)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: Many of the core players on this team currently have seven or more years of NFL experience (including Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Ike Taylor, LaMarr Woodley and Ben Roethlisberger), which tells us that many young players need to step up into key roles over the next few years. Who are the Steelers' star players of the future? It is more unclear now than in recent memory. -- Williamson

Quarterback: Roethlisberger's deal runs through the 2015 season and it's a safe bet the Steelers will keep him longer than that. Roethlisberger knows just one way to play -- without regard for his body. He has started all 16 games in a season just once and has missed eight games over the past three seasons. He'll be 34 years old in 2016. How long will his body let him play at a high level? Will Roethlisberger adjust his approach for the sake of longevity? He has taken sacks on 7.7 percent of drop-backs since 2008, the highest rate among 28 qualifying quarterbacks over that span. -- Sando

Draft: If anything has hurt the Steelers on draft day over the last couple seasons, it's only how effective fellow NFC North rivals Baltimore and Cincinnati have been in making picks. Pittsburgh has a well-honed eye for what it needs on defense, and the Steelers been extraordinarily good at finding value at wide receiver. The Steelers did deal away their 2014 third-round pick, but I liked the deal, which netted them a potential starter in safety Shamarko Thomas. This organization is patient on draft day and finds future starters year after year (David DeCastro, Jarvis Jones). -- Kiper

Front office: Like New England, this is a team for whom excellence is the norm. President Art Rooney, GM Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin are on the same page and the results prove that. Offensively the addition of Bruce Gradkowski and fourth-round pick Landry Jones solves the backup quarterback problem. Second-round draft choice Le'Veon Bell fits the mold of the big blaster RB that coordinator Todd Haley likes. The defense, long the hallmark of the Steel City, has undergone some change. It's up to Ziggy Hood, Steve McLendon, first-round draft choice Jarvis Jones and fourth-rounder Thomas to infuse that group with the same ferocity and high-level play their predecessors did. There are some question marks here, as this is a team in transition, particularly at the wide receiver spot. But any team with Big Ben at the helm is by definition a contender. -- Polian

Coaching: Tomlin is a very consistent coach, and his players love him. Coming into his seventh season in Pittsburgh, he's already won a Super Bowl and been to another. Injuries and age caught up to the Steelers last season, but with Tomlin on the sidelines they'll be fine. He is well on his way to becoming the next in a long line of great Steelers head coaches. -- Edwards

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Houston Texans
LAST SEASON: 12-4 (first place AFC South)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: On the defensive side of the ball they are loaded with playmakers, especially in the front seven. Guys such as J.J. Watt, Brian Cushing, Whitney Mercilus and others should be productive for a long time and there is solid depth here, especially at linebacker. The offense may be a different story, as most of their playmakers are veterans like Andre Johnson, who will be near the end of their careers in 2016. They need strong offensive drafts in the next couple of years. -- Horton

Quarterback: The Texans' non-QB roster ranked eighth, at least six spots higher than the rankings for any of the teams ranked lower than Houston overall. Quarterback Matt Schaub, running back Arian Foster and Johnson all have contracts set to expire after the 2016 season, but there's no real sense this group is going to win a championship together. Schaub has proven to be competent, but he might have found his ceiling. -- Sando

Draft: The jury is still out on draft returns from 2010 and 2012, but the selection of Watt in 2011 -- drafted one spot behind Blaine Gabbert -- could turn into a legendary pick given his early pace. Houston did a nice job in 2013, but it's hard to imagine what this offense would have been like without the services of Johnson in recent years, and finding solutions to keep the passing game effective could be the big question going forward. If 2013 pick DeAndre Hopkins emerges, we could have the answer to that question. -- Kiper

Front office: Gary Kubiak and Rick Smith have built a team that fits their system (particularly that of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips) very well. The addition of Ed Reed and the unheralded additions of Shane Lechler and Greg Jones in free agency were very good moves, though Reed is just a short-term fix. The return from injury of Cushing will help the defense. The key question is can Schaub make this team a genuine contender instead of simply a good team? -- Polian

Coaching: I have to give a lot of credit to owner Bob McNair for sticking with Kubiak. There were calls for his head after the team went 6-10 a couple years ago, but under Kubiak's leadership they have won the AFC South and a playoff game in each of the past two seasons. He's done a good job of coaching and hiring Wade Phillips has helped out the defense. The next step for Kubiak is getting Schaub to play at a higher level in the playoffs. -- Edwards

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Washington Redskins
LAST SEASON: 10-6 (first place NFC East)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: Currently, much of Washington's roster is composed of players either past their prime or who have yet to reach the apex of their careers. Those past their prime (London Fletcher, DeAngelo Hall) should be long gone three years from now and the younger current core could be thriving. The key will be continuing to infuse young talent behind players like Brian Orakpo, Pierre Garcon, Alfred Morris and Trent Williams. While no one in Washington regrets trading for Robert Griffin III, the draft picks in that the deal, along with salary-cap violations, have handcuffed this front office in acquiring new young talent. -- Williamson

Quarterback: The Redskins ranked sixth in our rankings at quarterback, but they gave up a ton to acquire RG III and I wonder if they'll be able to surrond him with enough talent. RG III took too many hard hits while running as a rookie and perhaps the ACL injury he suffered in the playoffs will convince him to reduce the risks. Griffin will still be the Redskins' franchise quarterback in 2016, but how strong will the franchise itself be? His situation feels more tenuous than the ones for fellow 2012 draftees Luck and Wilson. -- Sando

Draft: The Redskins have paid a major draft price to secure RG III, but unless health becomes a lingering issue, I have a hard time believing they'll regret it. And yet draft returns from both this year and next year are simply going to lag behind other teams -- there's no way around it. It certainly affects their ability to find significant impact at a low cost over the next few seasons. The Skins are again without a first-round pick in 2014, but return to normal in 2015. -- Kiper

Front office: The Skins, under GM Bruce Allen and head coach Mike Shanahan, have become -- after a long time in the wilderness -- both relevant and a contender. The offense, as always under Shanahan, will manufacture yards in the running game and they'll do it with an offensive line made up of castoffs and no-names. If Kirk Cousins (and Redskins fans would say "God forbid!") has to play for any length of time, they will remain productive and efficient. More about RG III's health later. Defensively, this is a group with a solid front seven with exceptional rushers Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan. When healthy they provide as good a rush tandem as there is. The problem is the secondary. If this team is to make it all the way, the defense, which was 30th last year in pass defense, must improve. Now, back to RG III. All the rookie kudos were well earned. But as my good friend Tony Dungy was wont to say, the most important ability is availability. The Redskins, and particularly Shanahan, must find a way -- as much as possible -- to keep this once-in-a-lifetime athlete out of harm's way. He can beat you with his arm. He can beat you with his feet. And he can beat you with his heart. But he has to be on the field to do it. As long as RG III is healthy, "Hail to the Redskins" will be sung frequently in our nation's capital. -- Polian

Coaching: Shanahan has been an excellent head coach for a long time. His zone blocking scheme has made stars out of ordinary running backs, and Morris is the latest in a long line of them. Shanahan finally has his most talented QB since John Elway in RG III. This team will go as RG III goes, and Shanahan knows that he needs to protect him and this defense by running the ball. -- Edwards

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Philadelphia Eagles
LAST SEASON: 4-12 (fourth place NFC East)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: There has been much change in Philadelphia's roster this offseason with the arrival of Chip Kelly. On defense, the Eagles will probably be multiple in scheme, but it is unclear how former 4-3 defensive ends like Trent Cole factor in for the long haul. Three of the Eagles' starting offensive linemen are going into their ninth season -- Jason Peters, Evan Mathis, Todd Herremans -- but overall, Philadelphia has a very promising young core. -- Williamson

Quarterback: We know Michael Vick isn't going to be the quarterback in 2016. He'll be 36 years old and presumably long gone from Philly. Nick Foles remains the most dangerous quarterback on the roster, but he isn't a consistent enough passer. Matt Barkley is the player to watch as the first quarterback drafted during the Chip Kelly era. Kelly got Barkley in only the fourth round, so it's not like the Eagles have to stick with him. The fit appears promising, however, because Barkley appears to have the pedigree for absorbing and running a fast-paced offense. -- Sando

Draft: The Eagles had an interesting first draft with Kelly as a part of the process, and it could be one that in part defines his era. Will Lane Johnson develop adequate pass-blocking skills and live up to his great potential? Will Zach Ertz augment an offense that could see less of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin under Kelly? Is Barkley the QB that can help Kelly prove so many critics of his "college schemes" wrong? The Eagles always drafted well when Andy Reid was around. I liked their 2013 draft a lot, but I'm like everyone else -- eager to see how it comes together. -- Kiper

Front office: How well Kelly adapts his offense to the NFL and how well the NFL adapts to his unique style of offense will be the biggest story of the year. In offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur he has a terrific resource who can help speed his adjustment to the league. Coach Kelly can coach offense, but he is also a terrific builder of programs. In constructing the Eagles for the future, the questions remain at quarterback. Who will it be? On defense, the Eagles switch from an attacking 4-3 to a 3-4. Connor Barwin, Kenny Phillips and Cary Williams are solid additions to that group. Whether or not they can sustain excellence playing with a fast-paced offense is the big question. The questions in Philly are intriguing and the answers will be eagerly awaited. -- Polian

Coaching: This organization had incredible stability for 14 years under Reid. New-hire Kelly wants an up-tempo offense that forces a defense's hand and has athletic offensive linemen. But the key for Kelly is to not lose sight of his defense. Does he have the parts to play the 3-4? Does he have the personnel to run his style of offense? Those are two big questions that must be answered. -- Edwards

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LAST SEASON: 7-9 (fourth place NFC South)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: Few teams have as much exciting young talent as the Bucs, who also added the best defensive player in football (when healthy) in Darrelle Revis this offseason. The secondary is loaded with talent, Doug Martin is a dynamic dual threat in the backfield and this offensive line is stacked with power players. The Bucs have a chance to become special if Josh Freeman (or another quarterback) develops into a consistent starter. -- Yates

Quarterback: Freeman hasn't been consistent enough and that could prove costly with his contract up after this season. The way he finished 2012 -- eight INTs in Weeks 15 and 16 combined -- revived old doubts about whether he's the future of this team. The Buccaneers fueled those doubts by using a third-round pick for quarterback Mike Glennon, then suggesting everyone would have to compete for their jobs. Freeman should be better in his second season running Mike Sullivan's offense and there were high points in 2012. He had nine games last season with a QBR score of at least 60. Only Peyton Manning (13), Brady (12), Ryan (11) and Rodgers (10) had more. Having both Freeman and Glennon on the roster improves the outlook for the longer term. -- Sando

Draft: A stellar 2012 draft class has this team headed in the right direction. The 2013 draft was in part defined by the addition of Revis, and that will play into 2014 as well, as the Bucs could also lose a third-round pick to the Jets. They have, however, acquired a conditional pick from Philadelphia that could create a little more value based on how Arrelious Benn performs. There are questions about the current roster, but the Bucs know what they're doing in April. -- Kiper

Front office: Coach Greg Schiano stays with his pedigree: Defense, defense, defense. The additions of Revis and Dashon Goldson are very likely the best pickups of the 2013 offseason in terms of system fit and efficiency. The return of Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers to top health should help the pass rush, and Johnthan Banks is a good addition to the secondary. Whether or not there's enough receiving talent to take the pressure off Vincent Jackson remains to be seen. All of that said, Freeman's contract situation is the big issue ahead for this front office. -- Polian

Coaching: Schiano inherited a good young team in Tampa Bay, but he also changed the culture by instilling discipline. Coming from Rutgers, he understands the importance of a strong defense and needs to continue to build one in Tampa Bay. A tougher football team under Schiano, the Bucs will still only go as far as Freeman can take them. This is Freeman's year to prove he is a franchise QB. -- Edwards

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Minnesota Vikings
LAST SEASON: 10-6 (second place NFC North)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: Thirty is typically the age when running backs start to "hit the wall," and Adrian Peterson recently turned 28. Far be it for anyone to question his ability to sustain success, however, as he showed his transcendent talent again in 2012. All four projected starters on the defensive line are due to be free agents next offseason, and Minnesota must rebuild its front seven in a hurry. -- Yates

Quarterback: Christian Ponder was better overall in his second season, but he must show greater consistency to project as the future starter. Ponder had four games with a Total QBR score of 85 or higher in 2012, a figure only five quarterbacks surpassed (Peyton Manning 9, Brady 7, Wilson 6, Griffin 5 and Eli Manning 5). He also had seven games with a QBR score no higher than 30. Only Brandon Weeden (nine), Mark Sanchez (nine) and Dalton (seven) had more. Ponder at times appears so limited as a passer. But when everything is working well, he can be surprisingly efficient. -- Sando

Draft: The draft has been good to the Vikings over the last two seasons. They've had a total of five first-round picks, including three in 2013, which elevates the overall talent of the roster considerably. That said, the draft decision that will define the future is the selection of Ponder in 2011. If he takes a step forward, this grade rises. If not, they're shopping again. -- Kiper

Front office: GM Rick Spielman and head coach Leslie Frazier have quietly built a solid football team. Greg Jennings is a terrific addition, who will bring much-needed stability to the Viking receiving corps. He may not be around by 2016, but the team's draft picks -- Sharrif Floyd and Xavier Rhodes -- ought to pay immediate dividends on defense. Cordarrelle Patterson ought to pay immediate and big dividends in the return game. This season will give us more indications of Peterson's remaining future in the backfield. It's the second season after injury that's really the dispositive one. As he ages, more will be needed from Ponder. The quarterback situation will be a focus of this front office in the immediate future. -- Polian

Coaching: Frazier didn't get enough credit for the coaching job he did last season. But with the team only picking up his option for 2013, this is a defining year for him as well. They have drafted well the past couple years and now have a capable offense and defense to surround the great Peterson. But Frazier's fate is tied to Ponder. -- Edwards

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Miami Dolphins
LAST SEASON: 7-9 (second place AFC East)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: An aggressive offseason has the Dolphins' roster looking formidable for 2013, and the receiving corps quickly went from a weakness to a strength. Mike Wallace and Dion Jordan add an explosive playmaker to each side of the ball, but the question with Miami is can it find and develop young offensive line talent? The current group isn't good enough. -- Yates

Quarterback: Ryan Tannehill played pretty well in about half the Dolphins' games last season, posting QBR scores of 60 or higher in seven games. Miami averaged 18 points per game last season, 27th in the NFL and barely ahead of the Jets. That number should come up now that Tannehill has some seasoning and the Dolphins invested in Wallace. It's no knock on Tannehill that Luck, Griffin and Wilson were better as rookies from the 2012 class. The Dolphins can feel good about their prospects with their QB. The upcoming season should reveal whether the team should consider drafting insurance in the third or fourth round next offseason. -- Sando

Draft: I considered the selection of Tannehill a slight reach at the time, and 2013 will be the season that helps dictate his future. Miami's 2012 draft looks good if Tannehill makes big strides. The 2013 draft puzzled a lot of people, but they have a plan in place for Jordan. I couldn't say Miami has been an above average team in terms of draft return in recent years, but Tannehill's growth and Jordan's success could change my perception. -- Kiper

Front office: No GM has worked harder than Jeff Ireland has to rebuild this team. No coach has laid out a blueprint quite as clearly as Joe Philbin. The additions of Wallace, Jordan, Dannell Ellerbe, Dustin Keller and Jamar Taylor should all pay dividends now and in the future. Right tackle remains unsettled, but Jeff won't stop looking. For the first time in quite some time, New England has a legitimate challenger for AFC East supremacy. -- Polian

Coaching: Philbin did a good job in his first year, establishing himself in Miami. Not only did he have the spotlight of "Hard Knocks," but he had to install a new offensive system and groom a rookie QB. He cut veteran players who weren't working out and changed the culture of a young team. The Dolphins can make things interesting in the AFC East. -- Edwards

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Detroit Lions
LAST SEASON: 4-12 (fourth place NFC North)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: The signings of Reggie Bush and Glover Quin this offseason filled major needs, and the Lions have a rare talent on either side of the ball in receiver Calvin Johnson and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The concern with this club is whether or not the offensive line can consistently provide the requisite protection for quarterback Matthew Stafford. -- Yates

Quarterback: Stafford is too talented and has been too productive for the Lions' disappointing 2013 record to dominate our analysis of him. Stafford is going to be the starter for a long time, and that's a good thing for Detroit. There's been talk about extending Stafford's contract, which runs through 2014 and includes a team option for 2015. We should expect the Lions to continue building around him. Keeping together Stafford and Johnson has to be the priority. -- Sando

Draft: The Lions have actually paid a price for hitting major draft home runs. You get Megatron, Stafford and Suh and it feels like a success, but that was under the old draft rules, and the team has been saddled with major price tags. The last three drafts have just been so-so (including 2013), and the Lions really need Ezekiel Ansah to pan out. If he fails, it'll be a knock against this front office. -- Kiper

Front office: Last year's step back was not good, but neither is it fatal. GM Martin Mayhew and head coach Jim Schwartz have built a team with a top-flight defense and added to that in the draft with Ansah and Darius Slay. Free agency produced Quin and Jason Jones. The focus is now on the offense. Can Megatron, Bush, Stafford and an untested offensive line get them to the next level? -- Polian

Coaching: This is a big season for Schwartz. Only 22-42 in his four seasons with Detroit, he needs to get this team back to the playoffs. An emotional coach, the team has taken on his personality, but sometimes has taken it too far. Last year was a flop and Schwartz knows it. His team is good enough to compete in this division. Now they have to go out and do it. -- Edwards

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Chicago Bears
LAST SEASON: 10-6 (third place NFC North)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: The Bears defense was outstanding in 2012, with cornerback Charles Tillman playing at an All-Pro level. The concern with this roster is that it's laced with aging veterans on defense and the offensive line remains a major question mark. Julius Peppers, Lance Briggs and Tillman are each at least 32. -- Yates

Quarterback: Jay Cutler meets or exceeds the necessary physical requirements for the position. Problem is, he's had just one really good season in the last five years -- back in 2008, his final year with Denver. That was also the last season Cutler worked under an offensive-minded head coach. There's a decent chance he'll rebound under Marc Trestman and a new Bears staff. He'll need to because 2013 is the final year of his contract. On a positive note, Cutler ranked third in fourth-quarter Total QBR last season. He ranks fifth in that category since 2008. -- Sando

Draft: This should be one of the weaker grades for the Bears, given almost extremely light returns in recent years, but a new front office should bring new ideas. I think the Bears did a great job of addressing needs in the 2013 draft in adding an offensive lineman and a pair of future starters at linebacker. Still, while trades have been part of it, the Bears have almost nothing to show from the top of the draft from 2006 to 2011 on the current roster, and the 2012 class is still under review. Hopefully 2013 is the start of a string of success. -- Kiper

Front office: The Bears feature a new GM in Phil Emery and a new coach with a decidedly different bent than Lovie Smith. What will the results be? Stay tuned. We will know more at the end of this season. In the short term, they've tried to surround Cutler with some offensive assets they lacked in 2012. His performance and his potential contract will be under evaluation in 2013. -- Polian

Coaching: In his first season with the Bears, Trestman has a clear job: Fix Cutler. Is Cutler the long-term answer at QB? The jury is still out. It will be interesting to see what type of offense Trestman runs in Chicago, but he must make Cutler a better decision-maker. The offensive line also lacks continuity and must do a better job of protecting their QB, as he now has more weapons on the outside than at any point in his Chicago career. He'll need time in the pocket to use them. -- Edwards

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Carolina Panthers
LAST SEASON: 7-9 (second place NFC South)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: The defensive line has the makings of a force after adding two talented tackles in the draft to play between Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson, but the secondary is depleted of talent. A quality offensive line leads the way for a crowded backfield, but Carolina needs to find its feature back rather than loading up on backs to split carries. Quality over quantity should be the rule for this backfield. -- Yates

Quarterback: Cam Newton was either brilliant or horrible in about half the Panthers' games last season. That was understandable for a young quarterback on a team that was picked first overall in 2011 for a reason. This coming season should be about reintroducing Newton as a passer first and less as a read-option player. That is how he must take the next step. Newton is signed through the 2014 season. He will most likely still be the starter in 2016, but it's a longer shot whether the current coaching staff will stick that long. Instability affects quarterbacks, a consideration with Newton. -- Sando

Draft: The previous administration was pushed out because of consistently poor drafting. Dave Gettleman smartly addressed the defensive line in the 2013 draft, and the Panthers' talent level is on the rise after a 2012 draft that was strong at the top. The key going forward will be finding value down the board. That simply hasn't happened in recent years. The Panthers have all their picks in 2014 and 2015, save for a 2014 seventh they dealt to the 49ers. -- Kiper

Front office: New GM Gettleman is from the George Young/Ernie Accorsi school. That means solid players on both lines, coupled with a top-flight defense and led by a big-play QB. They are already most of the way there on defense. The offensive line still needs some work and will be a focus going forward, although the return from injury of center Ryan Kalil is huge. The question mark remains Newton. -- Polian

Coaching: This is a big season for Ron Rivera, his third as head coach of the Panthers. Carolina finished strong last season, winning five of six, but this organization must show it can make the playoffs under Newton. Mike Shula takes over the offense this season and must make sure that Newton has success and is comfortable early on. If not, it could be a short leash for Rivera. -- Edwards

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Dallas Cowboys
LAST SEASON: 8-8 (third place NFC East)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: Stalwarts such as Jason Witten, DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff will be gone three years from now and even guys like Anthony Spencer, Jason Hatcher and Miles Austin could be less than effective. But the Cowboys do have potential stars in Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, Tyron Smith, Morris Claiborne and Dez Bryant to carry the torch. The Cowboys do need to do a better job of reinforcing the bottom half of their roster, though. -- Williamson

Quarterback: Tony Romo's new contract removes any doubt about the Cowboys' plans at the position for the coming years. How long will the coaching staff last? Romo will be 36 years old in 2016 (Roger Staubach produced at a high level until he retired at age 37, for reference). Romo has played too well too frequently for his big-game struggles to continue forever. If you're going to brand him as lacking in the clutch department, which tends to be more about narrative than substance, at least note that he ranks fourth behind Peyton Manning, Rodgers and Brees in fourth-quarter Total QBR since 2008 (69.9). The Cowboys are taking welcome steps to address their offensive line, which should help. -- Sando

Draft: The Cowboys manage to puzzle me at least once every year during the draft, be it with a questionable pick based on either need or value. This year, it happened in Round 1, when they took a player (Travis Frederick) I thought would be available 30 picks later. Dallas is another team that hasn't been terrible, but simply doesn't find diamonds in the rough. A little luck would help, but it also makes me question if they're casting a wide enough net in evaluating. -- Kiper

Front office: This is a franchise constantly in search of a playoff berth, but burdened with unrealistic perception and expectations. Jason Garrett and his offensive staff have done a nice job considering the poor state of the offensive line. That area must improve if the Cowboys are to contend. The switch to the Monte Kiffin Tampa 2, will take about a half season to effectuate. Look for this team to improve as the season goes on. -- Polian

Coaching: Garrett is still learning how to be a coach, going into his third full season in Dallas. This is a defining year for him. Dallas has enough pieces to move the chains, but will Bill Callahan be patient enough and run the football? This team is built to win right now, and if it doesn't, Garrett could pay the price with his job. -- Edwards

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San Diego Chargers
LAST SEASON: 7-9 (second place AFC West)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: This used to be a roster with a lot of quality and depth -- but no more. They have decent young talent at RB, WR, LB and even D-line, but the O-line continues to be a mess. And it is really hard to find enough defensive difference makers to counteract that. The problem for the Chargers is that they no longer have the flexibility of a deep roster and that means that these young players must "hit." -- Horton

Quarterback: Philip Rivers will turn 35 late in the 2016 season. He looked like an "old" 31 in 2012, but some of that had to do with his supporting cast falling apart. The situation in San Diego had gone from stale to rotten, but Rivers should benefit from the team's fresh direction. His contract runs through 2015 and there's a decent chance he'll still be the Chargers' quarterback in three years. He hasn't missed a regular-season start since taking over the job in 2006. -- Sando

Draft: The Chargers have added a ton of value in the draft over the past few years, but they've been hamstrung by poor O-line play in front of Rivers, something they tried to address in 2013 when they added the massive D.J. Fluker out of Alabama. This is one of those teams where the talent they've accrued doesn't seem to match the results, but isn't that the storyline in San Diego every year? The Chargers have all their future picks, and I think dividends from a quietly very good 2012 class could play a role in 2013. -- Kiper

Front office: New GM Tom Telesco and new coach Mike McCoy inherit a team whose personnel really was not as good as its record. Rivers, although much maligned, kept this team afloat in a relatively weak division. There are many questions on offense. Can Ryan Mathews be a top-flight NFL running back? Can Antonio Gates continue to play at a high level and challenge Father Time? Can Keenan Allen come off injury and become a force as a rookie? Can King Dunlap, Rich Ohrnberger and Chad Rinehart get the job done on the O-line? Ironically, the offensive lineman who will have the easiest transition is likely to be first-round draft choice Fluker. The loss (to an ACL injury) of OLB Melvin Ingram is a large one. It's time for Larry English to produce. The addition of Manti Te'o, teaming with Donald Butler at inside linebacker, gives them a good base from which to build on defense. Eric Weddle is a very solid performer at free safety, but other than that group, young players such as Corey Liuget, Kendall Reyes and Marcus Gilchrist have to step up. -- Polian

Coaching: McCoy has big shoes to fill after Norv Turner was fired. A former quarterback, McCoy must help to get Rivers' confidence back. As Denver's offensive coordinator, he helped revamp the offense for both Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning, so he knows how to tailor a scheme to a quarterback's strengths. This team wasn't bad defensively, but Rivers must get back on track for San Diego to have a shot in this division going forward. -- Edwards

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Arizona Cardinals
LAST SEASON: 5-11 (fourth place NFC West)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: Most of the strength of this roster is on the defensive side of the ball. Age is a factor on the D-line, but there are impact playmakers on the back end, including Patrick Peterson, Daryl Washington and Tyrann Mathieu -- if the latter two can stay out of trouble. On offense, their only dependable playmaker, Larry Fitzgerald, will be near the end of his great career. Unless Michael Floyd develops, it is hard to find another offensive player they can count on. -- Horton

Quarterback: Carson Palmer will be 36 years old heading into the 2016 season and there's an outside shot Palmer will still be the Cardinals' starter at that time. Palmer provides a big upgrade over what Arizona had last season, but he projects as just an average starter in a broader NFL context. Palmer will have to be better than that to get a contract extension and a chance to start well into the future. Drew Stanton is a backup with at least some upside. And fears about the Cardinals' pass protection could be overstated. Arizona took only 19 of its league-high 58 sacks last season during the final eight games. Talent on the line is better now, and Palmer has a low sack rate. -- Sando

Draft: The Cardinals have been hamstrung as an organization because they haven't found an answer at QB via the draft. Even when they believed they obtained one through other means, they didn't protect Kevin Kolb well enough to learn anything. The 2012 and 2013 classes could quietly set the stage for a revival at the position with Palmer, because the offensive line is in a better place than it was 16 months ago. Still, the big draft question for the next two years will be predicated on what the Cardinals do at QB. The Palmer Era won't last forever, you can be sure. -- Kiper

Front office: Steve Keim takes the helm for the first time in 2013. My sense is that he is a nuts-and-bolts GM, who will concentrate on building a sound fundamental football team. My experience with Bruce Arians leads me to believe they will put together a wide-open, high-scoring offense. -- Polian

Coaching: With Ken Whisenhunt out after six seasons, Arians now steps in. This is a good fit for him. He will build a running game in Arizona, and he's already brought in Rashard Mendenhall and drafted Stepfan Taylor. Bruce will get after the players, but they'll like playing for him. He still needs a quarterback, but if he's given time he'll turn that organization around. Just look at what he did in Indianapolis last season. -- Edwards

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Cleveland Browns
LAST SEASON: 5-11 (fourth place AFC North)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: There is an awful lot of young talent on this team. With the exception of Joe Thomas, the Browns' best players currently all have less than six years of NFL experience -- and Thomas might still be a stalwart left tackle three years from now. The Browns also had excellent overall production from last year's rookie class. Browns fans should have plenty to be excited about. -- Williamson

Quarterback: Brandon Weeden has the arm to run Norv Turner's offense. The Browns have young weapons, including the surprising Josh Gordon. There's a chance this can work for the long term even though the people responsible for drafting Weeden in the first round are now gone from the organization. Weeden will turn 33 early in the 2016 season, something to keep in mind as the team plans for the future at the position. Jason Campbell appears irrelevant to any long-range projections even though he's only a couple years older than Weeden. -- Sando

Draft: If the Browns aren't competitive in 2013, a lot of people will point to the 2012 draft as a low point. Because if they aren't competitive, it's going to be because the offense didn't take a big step forward, and that will make the decision to take Weeden in Round 1 look bad. I'll say this: the Browns have a lot of talent on this roster, particularly on defense, and most of it has come via the draft. If Barkevious Mingo helps early, the defense could be good. Cleveland has all its picks in 2014; the question is whether it will need a QB again. -- Kiper

Front office: New owner, new president, new coach, new GM. Free agency in 2013 showed us that their focus was defense and that there was some doubt about Weeden as the QB. They nabbed five players in the 2013 draft, four of them on the defensive side of the ball. Other than that, we know very little about how this franchise will operate. Right now, it's an entirely wait-and-see proposition. -- Polian

Coaching: This team has been very unstable at the coaching position for years. Rob Chudzinski takes over for Pat Shurmur, who only lasted two years and compiled a 9-23 record. Chudzinski will help on offense and Weeden can get the ball down the field for him. Hopefully, the new ownership gives him a chance to succeed. -- Edwards

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Tennessee Titans
LAST SEASON: 6-10 (third place AFC South)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: The Titans' strength on offense -- a strong O-line and an explosive run game with Chris Johnson -- will not be nearly as good three years from now, although they can build around Chance Warmack. There is instability at the QB position, but there is some promise on the edge in the passing game. On defense, they have some interesting young players and there are not enough difference makers, although the LB trio of Akeem Ayers, Colin McCarthy and Zach Brown are young and they have a chance to build around. -- Horton

Quarterback: Jake Locker remains most valuable for his ability to move, not for his ability to win by passing. That must change for him to project as a successful quarterback in the future. Locker has downplayed longstanding concerns about his accuracy, but those concerns are real. Accuracy has been a problem for him all the way through. Is that suddenly going to change in his third NFL season? The newly added Ryan Fitzpatrick gives the Titans a decent backup. There's a chance he'll be better than Locker, however, and that would be bad for the Titans -- now and in the future. -- Sando

Draft: I gave the Titans a B+ for their efforts in the 2013 draft, and the offensive line particular could be a big strength because of draft day. The question is whether that good O-line can make another draft decision -- Locker -- look good enough. I'm not sure it can. The Titans have gotten pretty good value down the board in recent years, and the 2013 draft was a good one. The question is, like other teams low on this list, whether the next draft requires a QB. -- Kiper

Front office: GM Austin Webster and head coach Mike Munchak have set out to change the personality of this team. They have completely remade the offensive line in the image of their Hall of Fame head coach and offensive line coach. Andy Levitre steps in at one guard and first-round draft choice Warmack at the other. Likely, fourth-round draft choice Brian Schwenke -- at some point -- sees time at center. They add Shonn Greene as a companion to Johnson in the running game and Delanie Walker to replace the enigmatic Jared Cook at tight end. Color this group tough. -- Polian

Coaching: Munchak has done a nice job in his third season, picking up from where Jeff Fisher left off. He is a players' coach, who wants to rely on a strong defense and running the football to win games. Last year, this team had neither and struggled mightily. With an owner that wants to make the playoffs, Munchak needs Locker to take the next step and Johnson to run the ball with authority. -- Edwards

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Buffalo Bills
LAST SEASON: 6-10 (fourth place AFC East)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: The Bills spent big during the 2012 offseason to land top free agents, but the strategy didn't move them any closer to contending. Young talent permeates on both sides of the ball, and the Bills must focus on developing and building around C.J. Spiller and Steve Johnson on offense, and cornerback Stephon Gilmore, safety Jairus Byrd and a talented, deep defensive line. -- Yates

Quarterback: Veteran Kevin Kolb provides a bridge, if needed, to the recently drafted EJ Manuel. The Bills realized Fitzpatrick wasn't the answer. They were right to move on from him this offseason. They'll find out over the next couple years whether Manuel is better. Manuel seems to have the physical ability and he should benefit quite a bit from having Johnson, one of the toughest covers in the league. But there was no consensus regarding Manuel heading into the draft. He's a question mark. -- Sando

Draft: The "draft" portion of this grade going forward is very much dependent on the growth of Manuel. Taking him midway through Round 1 was a reach on my board, but the Bills have a plan and this was the QB they felt could execute it. Recent drafts have been a mixed bag. People tend to think a draft is poor when the wins don't pile up, but the Bills are a case where the QB play hasn't allowed drafts to look good. They have all their picks going forward, so building around Manuel is a possibility. -- Kiper

Front office: A 15-year playoff drought is probably not going to end in 2013. New GM Doug Whaley will be at the helm and it remains to be seen what his philosophy will be. They have a "winner" in new head coach Doug Marrone, but this franchise will flourish or founder over the next three seasons based on Buddy Nix's choice of Manuel. The Mario Williams signing, for good or for ill, will also determine the future of the franchise. -- Polian

Coaching: Marrone comes from Syracuse to Buffalo and is in a similar situation as Philbin was last season. Marrone has a good feel with his players and a very good offensive mind. But he needs to develop a QB for a West Coast system. Is that Kolb or will they have to turn to Manuel this season because they invested a first-round pick in him? It's likely that Manuel's success will determine Marrone's tenure in Buffalo. -- Edwards

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Jacksonville Jaguars
LAST SEASON: 2-14 (fourth place AFC South)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: The Maurice Jones-Drew era will be over and the most exciting offensive player, WR Justin Blackmon, could be out of the league if he cannot stay out of trouble. They do have bookend offensive tackles -- Eugene Monroe and Luke Joeckel -- to build around, but other than that there are virtually no playmakers who they can count on. -- Horton

Quarterback: Blaine Gabbert walked into a bad situation and hasn't been able to rise above it. The Jaguars probably won't wait much longer. New coach Gus Bradley believes in real competition at the position. He had a front-row seat in Seattle when Pete Carroll ran through Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst, Tarvaris Jackson and Matt Flynn on his way to Russell Wilson. The bet here is that Chad Henne will see meaningful playing time in 2013, amplifying questions about where Gabbert fits in the future. -- Sando

Draft: They'd been a mess in the draft for several years, but a smart new front office makes this an area I'd consider a strength going forward. The additions of Joeckel and Jonathan Cyprien in 2013 will provide immediate help. I think Jacksonville knows they need a QB in next year's draft, but I approved of them not reaching on one in a weak class this year. -- Kiper

Front office: How far is up? The bad news is quite far. The good news is owner Shahid Khan, GM David Caldwell and coach Bradley know it. This team needs an infusion of talent that will not come overnight. They made a great start at the 2013 draft, with quality players like Joeckel, Cyprien, Dwayne Gratz and Ace Sanders. They do, however, have a long road ahead, which would grow appreciably shorter if Gabbert proves himself to be a solid NFL quarterback. -- Polian

Coaching: Jacksonville is another organization with a lot of turnover at the head coaching position. Mike Mularkey lasted only one season and was replaced this offseason by Bradley, the former Seahawks' defensive coordinator. Bradley will build this defense in the mold of his Seattle D, but he has some real work ahead of him to bring this team back into a position to compete. -- Edwards

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Oakland Raiders
LAST SEASON: 4-12 (third place AFC West)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: Salary-cap restraints and wasted draft picks in recent years have not allowed this roster to build quality and depth, although it now looks like the Raiders at least have a plan. Most of their contributors are veteran stopgap types and expecting them to produce or even be on this roster in 2016 is overly optimistic. They do have a little youth and quality on the O-line and at receiver, but on defense things really look bleak unless rookie corner D.J. Hayden and linebacker Sio Moore really step up. -- Horton

Quarterback: The Raiders have three relatively young prospects to try out over the next couple seasons. Matt Flynn is in position to finally get his chance. He wasn't very convincing while competing against Russell Wilson in Seattle last offseason. Terrelle Pryor and rookie fourth-rounder Tyler Wilson are both 23 years old. None of the Raiders' quarterbacks is earning true starter money. That is a good thing. Oakland has flexibility, hope and youth at the position -- an improvement from the recent past. -- Sando

Draft: The Raiders haven't done an awful job in selecting players in recent years, they just have so often lacked the opportunity to do so. The Carson Palmer trade was a total debacle in terms of what it did to future roster and draft flexibilty, and the new front office understands that. I respect what the Raiders are doing now, but for too long the draft wasn't taken as seriously as it needed to be, and the results are apparent now as the new decision makers attempt to dig out of a hole. -- Kiper

Front office: General Manager Reggie McKenzie and head coach Dennis Allen begin the second year of their respective regimes but this is really Year 1 of a rebuilding phase. Last year was largely devoted to determining that many of the players they inherited were incapable of long-term success in the NFL. They begin with a new QB in Flynn, a new offensive approach under coordinator Greg Olson and lots of new players on defense under coordinator Jason Carver. Hayden will be of immediate help to the defense. Most of the other draft choices are developing players and that's what this franchise is, a work in progress. -- Polian

Coaching: It was a tough season for Allen and he might not be the coach when 2016 rolls around. This is an older football team and the front office is trying to get out from under a disastrous salary-cap and personnel situation. Allen is a good communicator with the players, but Oakland simply doesn't have enough talent right now -- especially on defense. This is a big year upcoming for Allen's future with the Raiders. -- Edwards

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New York Jets
LAST SEASON: 6-10 (third place AFC East)

The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.

Roster: To resurrect the franchise, the Jets are going to need to draft well and spend smarter than what occurred under the previous regime. There's talent on both the offensive line with Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson protecting whoever takes the snaps and Muhammad Wilkerson anchoring a promising defensive front seven. The Jets are in desperate need of offensive skill players. -- Yates

Quarterback: Adding Geno Smith in the draft gives the Jets a shot for the long term. And it gives them badly needed direction at the position. Those are things the Jets did not have one year ago, when they were oddly acquiring Tebow with no apparent vision for the future. Smith figures to face some upheaval during his first couple seasons, particularly if there's a coaching change following the 2013 campaign. Lots will happen to this roster in the next couple seasons. Mark Sanchez remains on the roster in name only. It's a very long shot to think he'll revive his career with the Jets and factor in 2016. -- Sando

Draft: I gave the Jets a very high grade for their 2013 draft, but that marks a change from a stretch where they simply didn't extract enough value. It wasn't a case of bad picks at the top, but there just wasn't enough depth created with later picks. If the 2013 draft is an omen of things to come, this team is headed in the right direction. And anybody who says this class will be defined by Smith misses the point. It doesn't have to be because the Jets used a second-rounder on him, and are in no way financially tied to him if he doesn't pan out. It was a good call, and hopefully we'll see more of the same. -- Kiper

Front office: New GM John Idzik has no track record. New offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg has been a proponent of the passing game. New defensive coordinator (and head coach) Rex Ryan is among the best in football. That said, questions abound. Will the addition of 2013 draftees Dee Milliner and Sheldon Richardson help a defense that, believe it or not, was playing well despite the loss of Darrelle Revis last season? This is a young group. With Rex at the helm it should continue to grow. On the other side of the ball though ...

This next sentence is echoes a familiar refrain, but who is the quarterback? Will the wide receiving corps be serviceable? Will the offensive line improve from last year's disastrous performance? And will new kicking game coordinator Ben Kotwica be able to sustain the magic performed by now-retired Mike Westhoff? We will know the answers by season's end in 2013 and probably not before. -- Polian

Coaching: I know what it's like to coach in New York. And Rex knows that he's on thin ice. He'll hand the offense over to Mornhinweg, but he needs to make a decision on a QB -- and soon. Rex also needs to fix this defense. He has some young playmakers and needs to put them in a position to succeed. He knows that if he doesn't win this year, he might be gone. -- Edwards