The OOS Top 10 NFL Power-Rankings Pre Draft 2023

As the NFL Draft approaches, anticipation builds for the next generation of talent that will enter the league. Many teams have made significant moves in free agency, acquiring new players and parting ways with others. Here are the top 10 out-of-system (OOS) NFL pre-draft rankings, highlighting the biggest gains and losses for each team. From elite cornerbacks to promising quarterbacks, these rankings provide insights into how these teams have positioned themselves for success in the upcoming season. With the right additions and subtractions, these teams could be poised for a competitive and exciting season ahead. So let’s dive in and see how these teams stack up before the draft takes place starting with our 10th team on the list:

10. Miami Dolphins

Biggest gain: CB Jalen Ramsey

Biggest loss: TE Mike Gesicki

Summary: Cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker David Long will immediately contribute to the Dolphins’ defense. Ramsey has the highest PFF grade, highest PFF coverage grade and highest PFF run-defense grade among all cornerbacks since 2016, and only four linebackers earned a better PFF run-defense grade than Long in 2022. With head coach Mike McDaniel and QB Tua Tagovailoa, Miami might be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC East.

9. Baltimore Ravens

Biggest gain: G John Simpson

Biggest loss: G Ben Powers

Summary: Take this with a grain of salt, considering the internal issues the team is currently facing with their franchise QB. The Ravens didn’t sign many new players in free agency, and their losses were fairly significant, as safety Chuck Clark, defensive end Calais Campbell and guard Ben Powers are top-ranked players at their positions. This ranking may change dramatically if Lamar Jackson joins another team.

8. Minnesota Vikings

Biggest gain: CB Byron Murphy Jr.

Biggest loss: CB Patrick Peterson

Summary: The Vikings brought in tight end Josh Oliver, who will help when it comes to operating more effectively out of 12 personnel. Oliver’s 74.6 run-blocking grade in 2022 ranked second among tight ends with at least 100 run-blocking snaps on the season. They also signed an elite edge defender in Marcus Davenport, who has put up a 17.8% pass-rush win rate and 13.9% pressure percentage — both top-20 marks among edge defenders — since entering the league in 2018. He’s also earned a very respectable 82.1 run-defense grade for his career, which ranks 16th over the span. Davenport has five straight campaigns grading above 70.0, but injuries have been his biggest issue.

7. Los Angeles Chargers

Biggest gain: LB Eric Kendricks

Biggest loss: LB Drue Tranquill

Summary: The Chargers didn’t make many moves during free agency, which may have been a smart move on their part. They have the second-least dead cap in the league. The addition of linebacker Eric Kendricks will improve their struggling run defense. Schematically, Kendricks will likely take over Drue Tranquill’s role and start at inside linebacker alongside Kenneth Murray. Given that he wore the green dot in Minnesota, that could also be a factor for the Chargers here, given that Derwin James stopped calling plays midseason and gave it to Tranquill. Kendricks is also a much better run defender and could help the Chargers fix a long-standing issue on their defense.

6. Dallas Cowboys

Biggest gain: CB Stephon Gilmore

Biggest loss: TE Dalton Schultz

Summary: The Cowboys now have an elite cornerback to pair with Trevon Diggs, as they signed Stephon Gilmore in free agency. Gilmore has been one of the best cornerbacks in football since moving to the New England Patriots in 2017, and he reconfirmed that with an impressive showing for the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 after playing just 304 snaps with the Carolina Panthers in 2021. Since 2017, his 92.8 PFF coverage grade is the highest among all cornerbacks to play at least 1,000 snaps. Despite losing running back Ezekiel Elliot and tight end Dalton Schultz, they don’t have a lot of dead cap.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Biggest gain: T Orlando Brown Jr.

Biggest loss: S Jessie Bates III

Summary: The Bengals made a notable move to protect their quarterback, Joe Burrow, by signing Orlando Brown Jr. to a four-year contract. Although Brown is not considered an elite left tackle, he is a very good player with a history of solid performance, having achieved a pass-block grade of 73.5 or higher in five consecutive seasons and playing over 1,000 snaps in four straight years. However, the team also suffered losses in their safety position with the departures of Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell, leaving them with relatively inexperienced players at the top of the depth chart.

4. Buffalo Bills

Biggest gain: RB Damien Harris

Biggest loss: LB Tremaine Edmunds

Summary: The loss of Tremaine Edmunds is a significant blow to the defense, but the Bills were able to retain safety Jordan Poyer and linebacker Matt Milano to provide stability. Poyer has been durable and reliable, logging around 1,000 snaps in five consecutive seasons. Additionally, the team bolstered their offensive line by signing tackle Connor McGovern, who performed well as a pass-blocker for the Cowboys in 2022 with a 76.6 PFF pass-blocking grade and only allowing 23 pressures.

3. San Fransisco 49ers

Biggest gain/Most significant addition: QB Sam Darnold

Biggest loss: QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Summary: The 49ers’ biggest question mark is their starting quarterback for the upcoming season. While they lost several players on defense, including CB Emmanuel Moseley and DI Hassan Ridgeway, the signing of star DI Javon Hargrave will help offset the impact of those losses. Hargrave has consistently earned high pass-rush grades and had a double-digit sack season in 2022, making him a valuable addition to the team.

2. Philadelphia Eagles

Biggest gain: HB Rashaad Penny

Biggest loss: LB T.J. Edwards

Summary: The Eagles’ free-agency moves resulted in a lot of dead cap space—tthe second-most in the league, to be exact. While replacing running back Miles Sanders with Rashaad Penny is not exactly a like-for-like swap, Penny is a good fit for Philadelphia and appears set to feast on early downhills as a strong downhill runner. Among running backs with at least 100 carries from 2021 to 2022, Penny’s 6.2 yards per carry and 4.4 yards after contact per attempt both lead the NFL, and his 0.23 missed tackles forced per carry ranks 11th. The loss of safety Marcus Epps absence will be felt in terms of run defense, but they have a solid safety group to make up for it.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Biggest gain: DE Charles Omenihu

Biggest losses: S Juan Thornhill, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

Summary: The first team on this list is the only team listed with multiples significant losses. Ironic, right? The Chiefs released Frank Clark and lost both starting offensive tackles in Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie. However, their signings of tackle Jawaan Taylor and ED Charles Omenihu mitigate those losses. Taylor has become one of the better pass protectors on the right side across the NFL, ranking in the top 15 in pass-blocking grade (76.7) and pressure rate allowed (5.2%) among tackles on true pass sets in 2022.

Stay tuned for more “OutOfSight” NFL offseason updates and analysis as teams prepare for the draft and make strategic roster moves. It’s an exciting time in the NFL! Thank You for reading and make sure to follow us on Twitter (@OOSSports), IG (@outofsightsports), YouTube: Team OOS, and Substack! (OutOfSightSports)

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