Ranking all 32 NFL rosters ahead of 2022 training camp Bills Buccaneers Chargers crack top five

Ranking all 32 NFL rosters ahead of 2022 training camp Bills Buccaneers Chargers crack top five

Training camp is just around the corner in the NFL, and then comes the 2022 season. Plenty of teams have been busy this offseason, spending big to upgrade their lineups. Others have been more focused on rebuilding, tearing things down with the hopes of a brighter future. But which clubs boast the best all-around talent entering the hottest days of summer?Let's rank all 32 teams strictly according to their rosters going into camp, with full knowledge that the remainder of the offseason, the preseason and particularly the real games this fall will come to determine the true pecking order:Arthur Smith is e sentially starting from scratch for a second straight season, and this time, he doesn't have veteran savvine s to at least mask the offense's thin weaponry. and could form a solid big-boy duo at pa s catcher, but there's still a general lack of explosivene s here.Regardle s of whether it's or at QB, this is shaping up to be a plodding old-school attack with and as the "featured" ball-carriers. and are promising youngsters at premium positions on defense, but that unit as a whole isn't particularly deep, either. Few teams feel more firmly entrenched in purgatory, until a real post-Ryan gamble occurs under center. You'd be forgiven if you thought the Texans just carried over their porous roster from a 4-13 finish in 2021. seemingly has NFL-caliber poise to go along with prototypical QB size, but once again he'll have mostly scraps with which to prove he belongs as a long-term starter. is underrated out wide, but Houston's line is still suspect, and management inexplicably remains committed to the Patriots-style hoarding of interchangeable running backs. Can you imagine, in 2022, being scared to face the Texans' stable of , , and ?. and may freshen up the secondary under Lovie Smith, whose own aging track record doesn't inspire much confidence, but yet again the Texans are banking on free-agent leftovers to steer the ship. It feels like a matter of when, not if, Houston will be resetting operations once more.If team bra s is really at QB, it's not acting like it, saddling the former first-rounder with a still-shaky line and thin receiving corps. and give them a solid backfield, and offers legit speed, but all of those guys are better suited for complementary roles. Under new coach Matt Eberflus, a defensive mind, it'll be a minor miracle if Fields grows in confidence and decision-making while working around such a mediocre offensive supporting cast. The "D" is a slightly different story, with Eberflus po se sing both proven vets (, , ) and likable rookies (, ), perhaps retaining Chicago's signature stingine s. In today's NFL, however, a defense that be good is far from enough to remain competitive, let alone contend for big games.How much of a boost do all their prospective play-makers get from Brian Daboll's entrance at head coach? Because for all the upside offered by , , and in recent years, they've delivered pretty pitifully. Perhaps Daboll will finally integrate Jones' mobility into the offense, and capitalize on the big-play size (Golladay) and speed (Toney) of his targets, but until we see that happen, with an O-line still in transition, it's hard to trust them with the ball. should certainly enliven their front seven, which already boasts foundational pieces in and , but the back half remains a major question mark, especially with former Pro Bowl cornerback now out of the picture. New general manager Joe Schoen made clear in his actions this offseason that 2022 was more about deconstructing the lineup than building a new one. Good for Dan Campbell and Co. adding speed to a surprisingly promising offensive lineup, withandnow atop a pa s-catching corps also featuringand. But even withand a solid line, it's hard to envisionreturning to hispeak at QB. This is an example of the signal-caller really lowering the average. If he proves us wrong, it'll be because he capitalized on the growing pieces around him.The defense is another story.was a smart addition, deepening Reggie Jackson Jersey the thin pa s rush, but there are holes throughout the rest of the unit, particularly on the back end.and, two former first-rounders struggling for steadine s, are the headliners of their still-ailing secondary.Their placement here, despite owning two straight No. 1 draft picks and spending like crazy in free agency, is an indictment on management. Yes,is better off under center, where he's now got the tutelage of Doug Pederson and added targets inand. Yes, theaddition up front could do wonders for the pocket. But altogether, the supporting cast isn't high-octane as much as it is ... middlingly upgraded? That could change ifbreaks out as a hybrid weapon, orreturns at full speed, but those are gambles. There are at least a few more young faces in which to buy stock on defense, chiefly pa s rushersand, and linebackersand. But the secondary is littered with overpriced vets. As much as Pederson may do for the Jaguars culture, he'll need a major step forward from Lawrence to drag the rest of the lineup to extended win streaks.Welcome to life after, and a prime example of a QB making all the difference in a lineup.andare an explosive one-two punch out wide,is an emerging player at tight end, andmight be just fine as Pete Carroll's next bell-cow ball-carrier, but behind an iffy line, neithernor the more gunslingingwarrant much trust as permanent starters. The "D," meanwhile, has a few new admirable starters inand, but remains dangerously mercurial off the edge and on the back end.New QBmight have better all-around weapons in Washington than he did with the, consideringandcan both be game-changers at top speed.andemerging out wide would be a bonus. But what is Wentz's ceiling at this point? Wild-card-caliber stuff? Defensively, Ron Rivera's front remains loaded, withrejoiningand, but who's gonna cover people if prominent vets likeIII anddon't take major steps forward? Bill Belichick's oversight may well guarantee this roster always exceeds expectations, and no doubt QBhas flashed the accuracy to stay competitive for the long haul. The defense is stingy more often than not, too, andis an underrated force off the edge. But the weapons aren't nece sarily scary, with,andall arguably best suited for No. 2/3 roles, and the secondary is increasingly dependent on aging vets. No one would be surprised if Bill gets another playoff bid from this bunch, but no one's really anticipating a deep run, either.Carolina is the butt of many jokes because of its string of utter misfires at QB, andcontinued grip on the top job Oakland Athletics Jersey is a reminder of that. But the general dysfunction there has overshadowed an otherwise solid young core.may or may not be durable anymore, butis a bona fide No. 1 wideout, the O-line is much improved after investing inand, and the defense has an array of blue-chip prospects, from edge rusherand interior manto edgy cornerand play-making safety.The Titans technically replaced star WRby addingand, but only one of them has proven to be a quality starter in the NFL, and QBis under pre sure to perform behind an O-line introducing two new starters. That's not to say they won't be physical and competitive again under Mike Vrabel, especially withhealthy and the defense finding an emerging front man in. But if you can't consistently pa s the ball, or defend the pa s, in today's NFL, your roster probably needs some long-term tweaking. New head coach Dennis Allen has some big names at his disposal; the questions are mostly regarding their availability. Consider,and, the big three at QB, RB and WR. Winston is coming off an injury, Kamara is due for a suspension, and Thomas has barely played in two years. Rookies likeandmay offset the uncertainties out wide and up front, wheredeparted, but even then, Winston's proven to be a rather mercurial arm. The "D," even with notable lo ses like that ofand, still has trusty regulars inand, but how much doandhave left in the tank?If you want an example of a team doing everything in its power to support a young QB, look no further than the, who addre sed basically every top need this offseason.now has better protection (), more viable targets (,) and a much-improved defense, including new starters Sauce Gardner,, Jermaine Johnson and. The pieces have to gel, and Wilson has to make better decisions, but this team will quickly rise up the rankings if the execution is there this fall.Sometimes we make the mistake of equating big names to elite value, and that might be Arizona's biggest i sue of late. On the surface,,andare fine starters for Kliff Kingsbury's big-play offense. But none of them are especially durable at this point in their career, so new No. 1 targetcould have an integral role innext steps at QB, where he's flashed MVP potential but fizzled out late in the year. The porous defense is more concerning, where it's up to a few past () or present () stars to run the whole show. What doeshave to offer? That's the big question, a suming Kyle Shanahan actually follows through with plans to turn the QB keys over to his athletic but unpolished investment, and part ways with the serviceable but creaky. And what about, Shanahan's top weapon out wide and on the run? If he stays, the offense is still in decent shape, no matter who's throwing the ball, for the trench warriors (namely star left tackle) and short-area targets () are still elite. The "D" has different pros and cons, withanddominating in the front seven but the secondary once again looking to outside help (ex-Chiefs corner) for consistency.Mike Tomlin hasn't nece sarily had top-15 QB play for the better part of three years, so the uncertainty oforunder center probably won't break this club's spirits. Besides, the line is revamped with new guard, and the foundation is there for a physical, old-school approach:,and the WR trio of,andare a young but feisty bunch. If anything's gonna keep Pittsburgh in the hunt, though, it's the "D," which still has big questions at corner, where fliers likeand Akhello Witherspoon will take over, but boasts some of the game's top disruptors in,and.brings more stability at QB after the rocky finish to the short-livedera, but does he have the stuff to elevate an offense whose once-vaunted line now featuresat left tackle and added just rookieto a thin receiving group?dominant presence in the backfield sure helps, as does a defense with the firepower to make a deep run (andare underrated additions to a lineup that already boasted,andII). You just wonder how far a team with limited vertical options can go. Cleveland has been hailed as one of the best, deepest rosters in the NFL, and it's true there's no shortage of weapons on both sides of the ball: RB, WR, DE, LB, CBare all proven or rising stars. But the receiving room is thin beyond Cooper, the line lost center J.C. Tretter, the secondary is still banged up, and most of all, the biggest a set of them all, new QB, looks like a lock to mi s significant time thanks to a suspension for his extensive legal disputes involving 24 different accusations of sexual a sault or misconduct., his likely replacement, might be serviceable, but he's bounced around as a backup recently for a reason.All eyes are ondevelopment at QB, but new coach Mike McDaniel has more than enough toys to make a strong debut no matter what happens under center. Setting aside the ma sive stable of running backs he's built for his presumably ground-heavy approach (,,,), he's also got two dynamic wideouts in, Terry Steinbach Jersey the game-breaking speedster; and, the shifty target machine. The trenches are also much improved withtaking over at left tackle andentering on the interior.Miami's "D," which stayed feisty under ex-coach Brian Flores, also has playoff-caliber potential.andmake a formidable front,could be a stud off the edge, and they've got a familiar but steady trio headlining the secondary in,and. The pieces are there for an actual step forward. He may not have the resume to inspire confidence in a title run, buthas been an above-average starter for most of his career. As long as he's paired withand, two of the game's most electrifying players at their respective positions, he'll have Minnesota in the mix until late in the year. As is often the case here, the line could stand to be more consistent, but throw in secondary pieces likeandJr., and it's a really balanced offense.Mike Zimmer's departure, meanwhile, might actually be freeing for the defense, which got a veteran facelift thanks to the additions ofandat linebacker. Smith should help take pre sure offoff the edge, and Hicks should improve the run "D" next to.is a borderline top-10 statistical pa ser, and now he's gotto target alongsideand. That's one of the best pure skill groups in the NFL when you factor in' bruising running. But how long can their iffy line -- basically everyone except left tackle-- hold up?andmake up an elite pa s rush, but the second and third levels of Vegas' defense are still rife with questions. At corner, for example, the addition of new faces likeandisn't guaranteed to mask coverage deficiencies seen in starters like.Everything is solid in Denver; the question is, what's special? Take, their prized acquisition, who instantly makes them better at QB but may or may not be past his best days of MVP contention. Can he elevate their good, not nece sarily elite, WR trio of,and? Either way, they should be able to replicate some of the old-school approach that worked for Ru s way back in Seattle, withheadlining a sturdy line and the Javonte Williams-Melvin Gordon duo giving new coach Nathaniel Hackett a pair of starting options on the ground.On the other side of the ball, the Broncos look just as well-rounded, albeit with questions. Addingoppositecould give Denver one of the AFC's most fearsome pa s rushing duos, but health is a major factor.and, meanwhile, are ballers in the secondary, but the other starting spots are much le s clear.They've seemingly doubled down on a run-first approach withunder center, jettisoning(and a more proven WR corps) in favor of added responsibility for tight endand a stable of rehabbing rushers, includingand. But they know how to run it well! And the line, presumably with a healthierback at left tackle, should be improved with a pair of new starters inand.The defense is really where Baltimore could make its money, as lynchpins likeandreturn from injury. More impre sive is the youth they've added at each level:up front,off the edge, andon the back end. Paired with ex-Saints standout, Hamilton has the versatility to transform theback to one of the NFL's feistiest contenders.is already a relatively high-floor QB because of his running back-like mobility, and now he has a setup befitting legit growth as a pa ser, with the imposingjoininganddownfield. Even in the event Hurts doesn't make big strides throwing the ball, Philly still has an elite line, with,andstill in Pro Bowl form, to power a multifaceted ground game.just might be underrated as a ball-carrier at this point.And then there's the "D," which got upgrades at every level. The ma siveis now on the interior alongsideand, ex-Panthers staris now rushing off the edge withand, and formerPro Bowlerhas teamed up withto give the team two quality cover men. If Nick Sirianni can't at least replicate his debut 9-8 record with this bunch, there will be cause for concern.TheEffect. Green Bay didn't have a particularly inspiring offseason, failing to add a single impact veteran to an offense that lost perennial Pro Bowlerout wide, but the reality, like in Kansas City and Tampa Bay, is that every skill-position starter looks better when a game-changing QB is running the show. Ifandor rookiedon't break out downfield, then Matt LaFleur still has a lightning-and-thunder combo in the backfield, withandbuilt to produce in tandem.The Packers also have more defensive juice than they get credit for.is poised to emerge as the top edge rusher withgone for good, and bothandshould have big roles as rookies. Durability remains a question in the secondary, but when healthy and at their peak,,and evenstay around the ball. Without Rodgers, this might be a wild-card team. With him, it can still be more.Regardle s of whether they ever meet expectations (hint: they often don't), the Cowboys do not lack premium talent. Longtime left tackleis an underrated question mark due to his health, anddeparture out wide puts a bigger burden on, but there is so much proven chemistry between the stars here: QB, RB, WR, Walt Weiss Jersey TEand OGare all among the best or most promising at their positions.Dallas' brightest stars might be on defense:looks like a generational, almost position-le s play-maker rushing the QB from the middle of the field, and, despite boom-or-bust coverage tactics, is a pick magnet. If only their front four were more well-rounded, they might have a case to approach the top five best rosters acro s the league.is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, perhaps more than ever before. Paired with his gunslinging and Andy Reid's oversight, there's little doubt newcomers likeandwill put up numbers. But there's no replacingpure electricity, so the onus is even more on Mahomes and longtime favoriteto keep the train moving. It helps that Kansas City's line is still rock solid, withJr. back at left tackle.First-roundersandwill be key to the team's development at pa s rusher and cornerback, respectively, mostly because they're Day One starters by default. It's certainly po sible K.C.'s secondary will take a dip, depending on the health and consistency of safetiesand, replacing. But again, as long as No. 15 is under center and Reid is shepherding this roster, how can you write them off?The hottest underdog story of 2021, they are underdogs no longer, especially because of the MVP-level pairing ofand. No QB or team enjoys a deeper, more explosive pa s-catching group, with bothandcreating space alongside Chase. Throw inat running back, and a remade O-line now featuring ex-Bucs guardand ex-Cowboys tackle, and Burrow has all the tools to keep Cincinnati near the front of the pack.Unle s Zac Taylor's play-calling regre ses, the bigger questions lie on defense: can the underrated unit survive top pa sing teams withandon the outside? And how will rangy safetyIII fit in as he endures contract i sues, even if his hurdles are just mental? Rookie defensive back Dax Hill could play an integral role at both spots.This starts and Ramon Laureano Jersey ends with, whose arm has seemingly gotten stronger in his 40s but is most influential for his unmatched prep, poise and vision. Part of the reason TB12 can't be ruled out in his quest for an eighth (!) ring, however, is the title-winning offense he runs. Even withcoming off injury andretiring, the trio of,and newcomermake for a Grade-A group when working alongside the game's best QB and one of the NFL's best blocking units, headlined byand.The pre sure will be on Todd Bowles to run the show with Bruce Arians stepping back from the sidelines, but at least Bowles' defense is also well-stocked by itself.brings added beef to the front, the linebacker crew remains lethal, and. holds down the back end. There's also the fact this roster has been there, done that.The reigning Super Bowl champions have reason to believe they can remain the cla s of the NFC, and it starts with the pieces around , who so enjoyed Sean McVay's setup he nearly landed an MVP award to go with a Lombardi. With or without , the receiving corps is one of the NFL's best thanks to reliability and, now, size. Their title-winning line remains mostly intact, too, and a healthier gives them a high-upside RB1.There are minimal questions on "D," where depth could be tested behind No. 1 cover man , but veteran is back after a one-year hiatus in Cleveland. As long as is on the field, opponents will have to scheme around his disruptions. And longtime Seahawks standout should only make the heart of the unit smarter. As long as the biggest names execute when it matters, L.A. cannot be counted out of any game for at least another season.Fresh off an offseason spending spree, they're one of the most well-rounded teams in the NFL, on paper. was already a top-10 QB, but with back out wide opposite , and plugged in as a safety valve at tight end, and joining an O-line already outfitted with studs like and , there's no reason they shouldn't have a top-five offensive attack. That's not even accounting for as a Swi s Army Knife.And then there's Brandon Staley's defense, which improved at literally every level. You've got bulk up front with and , relentle sne s off the edge with and , and ball-hawking at corner with and . Throw in at safety, if he stays healthy, and it's an all-star unit from front to back. Staley's growth as a coach may steer the ship to its ultimate destination, but talent-wise, you can't ask for much more here.It's no wonder getting lots of MVP buzz entering year five. Not only is the QB a star in his own right, but he's got an enviable supporting cast, starting with a one-two-three punch of , and out wide. That group alone can put on a clinic with route-running (Diggs), deep speed (Davis) and slot work (Crowder), and addition to the backfield should give Allen another outlet. The line isn't perfect, but Allen's natural athleticism doesn't require it.Sean McDermott's defense, meanwhile, is probably even more improved coming off three straight playoff runs. Who will dare play their front four (, , , Greg Rou seau) with confidence? Behind them, it's one play-maker after another, with and manning the middle, joining in coverage and the aging but savvy safety duo of and rounding out the secondary. If this team doesn't at least advance to the AFC Championship, fans acro s New York will be sorely disappointed, and rightfully so.

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