After attending three minicamps and talking to several personnel experts across the league, I'm now prepared to release my offseason Top 10.
Teams such as the Browns and Lions have had nice offseasons, but this list will focus on the 10 teams that have the best chance of winning a Super Bowl heading into training camp:
- Patriots: Realizing that a lot of the players who played key roles in their three Super Bowl titles were gone, the franchise made some dramatic offseason moves. Matching Tom Brady with an elite group of receivers and adding a Pro Bowl linebacker in Adalius Thomas makes New England the clear favorite.
- Colts: They lost seven players who started at least one game last season, and you might recall them having the worst run defense in the league. That said, the Colts added the best slot receiver in the draft with Anthony Gonzalez. And Joseph Addai is poised to become one of the best running backs in the league.
- Chargers: This is probably the most talented roster, but the Chargers are obviously going through a big transition. I'm a little worried about those young inside linebackers, but the guys on the edge can make up for a lot of deficiencies.
- Saints: There are still people who think 2006 was simply one of those magical seasons, but this offense is way too talented to be a fluke. It's not even a top-20 defense in my mind, but Gary Gibbs has done an excellent job of patching everything together.
- Eagles: I may be placing way too much faith in the NFC, but I can't help but think that the combination of a healthy Donovan McNabb and Jevon Kearse is going to make this a top-5 team. The Eagles have done a nice job addressing some of the problems they had against the run with linebacker Takeo Spikes, defensive end Montae Reagor and defensive tackle Ian Scott.
- Bears: Yes, I know it's been an awful offseason with the Tank Johnson fiasco and the Lance Briggs holdout situation. I also know that teams can sometimes feed off controversy. If Briggs sits out the first 10 games (I don't think he will), the team will find a way to replace him.
- Ravens: The loss of Thomas will hurt, but this is still the best overall defense in football. The addition of Willis McGahee makes this a much more dangerous offense. And believe it or not, the team finally has a receiver who can stretch the field.
- Jets: OK, here's where I'm going to lose a lot of you guys, but bear with me. This team made it to the playoffs last season with a rookie head coach and some pretty lackluster rankings on offense and defense. I think the addition of running back Thomas Jones will have the Jets looking at an 11-win season.
- Seahawks: Yes, I've been talking up the 49ers for months now, but the Seahawks have one more run left. They should be much healthier this season at key positions, and defensive end Patrick Kerney will be a nice addition.
- Panthers: I thought the Panthers may have come up with three starters in the draft, and way too many people are counting out Jake Delhomme. Just look at what this team has done coming off poor seasons in the past.
We can talk about a lot of this stuff on the chat in 45 minutes.
