The Way-Too-Early 2010 NFL Power Rankings: June 2

There will be no preseason number one in the NFL nor will any rankings ever be made by the coaches and media concerning the thirty-two professional football franchises. We all know that certain teams are sitting above others in the league’s pecking order however and that paves the way for some power ranking considerations.

What characteristics are most desirable in a contending NFL club? Well it all starts in the trenches as many analysts like to say and those big eaters inside will be given much thought when it comes to which teams are positioned where. There is no AFC or NFC bias here, only straight football and which squads would be the odds on favorites if the season started today. Overall roster talent certainly gives teams a leg up on the competition and whether or not that talent all comes together as a cohesive unit has yet to be determined.

Even with all of the unanswered questions still looming around the league, here are your top ten teams in the NFL heading into the 2010 season.

10. San Francisco 49ers

This team has really made some impressive moves in the offseason in particular in the NFL Draft to reinforce a shoddy offensive line in round one with both picks going toward linemen in Rutgers offensive tackle Anthony Davis with the 13th overall selection and Idaho guard Mike Iupati with pick 17. Of course rookies aren’t the only reason that a team will be successful, but the NFL has been trending younger of late and even the team’s second rounder in safety Taylor Mays will likely be a day one starter. The Niners saw some definite improvement in quarterback Alex Smith last season and their tight end Vernon Davis had a breakout year as a pass catcher. With Michael Crabtree in the mix for an entire training camp in 2010, the arrow is pointing up for the 49ers in the NFC West as the Arizona Cardinals will most likely take a step back.

9. Green Bay Packers

With a potent aerial attack led by an emerging superstar at quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, the Packers have a squad that is really coming into its own. Dom Capers has done wonders with the team’s new 3-4 alignment and they should only continue to gel as a unit in the 2010 season. The team added a stud offensive tackle in Bryan Bulaga who slid down the board much further than analysts had projected and he will help keep Rodgers upright as the Packers offensive line continues to show its age. There’s no doubt that Greg Jennings is one of the most exciting wide receivers in the league and if Green Bay can get any resemblance of a rushing attack going this season with Ryan Grant, the Pack could pile up points at ease in a rather underwhelming NFC North division.

8. Atlanta Falcons

This club can go as far as their defense will carry them as the Falcons only continue to grow on offense. The Dirty Birds are a team that is really intriguing in a cutthroat division that hasn’t had a repeat champion since realignment in 2002. As an unabashed Michael “The Burner” Turner fan, his health will definitely play a large role in what level of success the Falcons are able to have in the coming year. Tony Gonzalez proved to be a valuable addition to the team offensively, but undoubtedly their biggest needs heading into this past offseason lie on the other side of the ball. Atlanta drafted defense with their first two choices in April’s selection and the team hopes that Sean Weatherspoon can be an instant contributor at outside linebacker.

7. Dallas Cowboys

The underachiever label has been attached to this club far too often in one man’s opinion, but now that Roy E. Williams is no longer their number one (or two) receiver, Tony Romo actually has some legitimate weapons to work with. Marion Barber had a down year last season, but the emergence of Tashard Choice as quite the complementary back masked his inefficiencies quite well. Wade Phillips is one of the best defensive minds of a generation and he needs to show it this season by getting the Boys playing together as a unit on that side of the ball. Adding Alex Barron helps to try and fill the void left by the departure of veteran Flozell Adams on the Dallas offensive line, but their biggest addition happened by way of the draft when they snagged Dez Bryant. Character concerns pushed Bryant down the board, but he has all of the tools to be a top five receivers in the league and make an immediate impact in his rookie season.

6. Indianapolis Colts

These rankings wouldn’t be complete without including the Colts in there somewhere and Indy has once again simply reloaded their roster for another Super Bowl run. Armed with the league’s ultimate field general in Peyton Manning, the Colts offense is always one of the most difficult to stop. Their defense is always the Achilles’ heel that gives people pause on just whether this team can put it all together into late January. They have been getting be with relative no-names at all eleven positions on that side of the ball aside from Dwight Freeney. Undersized as a group, the Colts plays as a unit and each player executes his individual assignment to perfection which makes them successful despite all of their perceived shortcomings.

5. New Orleans Saints

Even with all of the uproar surrounding this team from scandals to Super Bowl winners floundering in repeat efforts in recent seasons, the Saints still crack the top five at this point. Drew Brees is arguably the most accurate quarterback in the league and his only focus on every snap is to deliver the ball to the open man. With the plethora of weapons that New Orleans boasts from Reggie Bush to Marques Colston, the team is never lacking for offensive firepower. The defense was a bit of a concern heading into last season, but ended up being the reason that the team held the Lombardi Trophy after Tracy Porter’s ‘pick six’ of Manning in the big game. The team also had a dynamite drafting landing two 1st round talents in cornerback Patrick Robinson with the 32nd pick to help sure up the secondary and offensive tackle Charles Brown at the end of round two to add some much needed depth to their O-line.

4. Baltimore Ravens

This team is the trendy pick in the AFC to make some noise this season and count me in as a believer. Joe Flacco will be in year three and that is the campaign that most signal callers make that big jump and the game starts to slow down a bit for them as they move through their progressions. Couple him with one of the more enjoyable running backs to watch in Ray Rice and the much needed addition of a playmaking wideout in Anquan Boldin via an offseason trade and this team has the makings of something special. Brace yourself, but the real question for Baltimore may actually be on defense this year where they are another year older and durability may become an issue. If Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and company can stay healthy for a full season, this team definitely has the DNA of a championship contender.

3. Minnesota Vikings

What a difference one player makes for this Vikings team and obviously this projection believes that Brett Favre will be suiting up for his 20th NFL season. The embattled quarterback takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’ which has always been his trademark with 285 consecutive starts (309 counting the postseason). Minnesota will want to get their workhorse Adrian Peterson more involved early and often this year trying to get him beyond his fumblitis issues against the Saints in last year’s playoffs. With the big Williamses inside and some young linebackers coming into their own, the Vikes defense is rather formidable as well. This season has to be considered Super Bowl or bust for Favre as he can’t have much more gas left in the tank, can he?

2. San Diego Chargers

More toys for Philip Rivers has to be a scary thought for opposing defensive coordinators across the league as the Bolts already prolific offense added running back Ryan Mathews in the NFL Draft. San Diego did suffer a few losses in the offseason shipping much maligned cornerback Antonio Cromartie to the New York Jets and releasing all-time great running back LaDainian Tomlinson along with nose tackle Jamal Williams. Despite these subtractions, the team continues to retool and fill in their holes with more than adequate replacements. A younger, hungrier Chargers team has a real shot to make a deep run this season and the X-factor could be their iffy head coach Norv Turner. In the crucial moments of tight games can the often uninspiring Turner galvanize the troops, or will the Bolts fall flat on their faces when all the chips are down?

1. New York Jets

Rex Ryan’s club shocked many with their run to the AFC title game in last year’s playoffs, but the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season. With a colorful offseason to put it mildly, New York has crept up to the top spot in the preseason rankings with a second year starting quarterback at the helm. Mark Sanchez went through some growing pains in year one, but came out on the other side a better player. Darrelle Revis is without question the best corner in football and now joined by arguably the most physically gifted corner in the game with Cromartie, the Jets could have opposing passing games locked down. The team added veteran leadership in LT and Jason Taylor, but they lost some key components that fell out of favor in Leon Washington and Kerry Rhodes as well. It remains to be seen what kind of chemistry this team has for the 2010 season, but they are pretty solidly locked in as the number one squad on paper at this point.

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