The NFL draft finally came and went, which means it is time for the annual Serby Power Rankings, 1-32, sure to tick off more than a few fan bases who will have every right to mock them at the end of the season:
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes has a new 4.21 toy in Fastest Man WR Xavier Worthy (and deep threat Hollywood Brown) as insurance for a likely Rashee Rice suspension. Just because brother Jason retired doesn’t mean TE Travis Kelce will want to exclusively chase Taylor Swift around the globe. Andy Reid drafted second-rounder Kingsley Suamataia because LT is a concern.
Threepeat?
2. Detroit Lions
Upgraded the secondary behind DE Aidan Hutchinson with CBs Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. joining Carlton Davis III. Jared Goff has elite weapons. Expert drafting by GM Brad Holmes has Master Motivator Dan Campbell closing in on the Motor City’s first Super Bowl berth.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
A motivated Saquon Barkley running behind the best OL of his career will help Jalen Hurts rebound. Jason Kelce retirement hurts the Tush Push. Fletcher Cox and Haason Reddick will be missed as well. New DC Vic Fangio and new OC Kellen Moore could save Nick Sirianni. GM Howie Roseman infused quality new blood into aging secondary with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
4. San Francisco 49ers
No. 1 draft WR Ricky Pearsall could signal a Deebo Samuel trade from John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. Brock Purdy is now jacked. Christian McCaffrey always has been. Rookie Dominic Puni could start at RG. New DC Nick Sorensen will be a first-time play-caller. Pass rusher Leonard Floyd replaces Chase Young and joins Nick Bosa.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Defending MVP Lamar Jackson and OC Todd Monken welcome Derrick Henry, a healthy Mark Andrews and emerging Zay Flowers. Rookie Roger Rosengarten could replace RT Morgan Moses. New DC Zach Orr inherits the No. 1 defense as a first-time play-caller and a 4.28 corner GM Eric DeCosta considers the best in the class in Nate Wiggins. PK Justin Tucker is a weapon.
6. Houston Texans
What can C.J. Stroud do for an encore with Stefon Diggs joining Nico Collins and Tank Dell and Joe Mixon? DeMeco Ryans has a juiced-up pass rush with Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry joining Will Anderson.
7. Los Angeles Rams
Of course Aaron Donald will be missed, but rookie pass rushers Jared Verse and Braden Fiske will help DT Kobie Turner (9 sacks) rush the passer. Sean McVay is dangerous with a healthy Matthew Stafford throwing to Puka Nakua and Cooper Kupp and Kyren Williams running behind a massive interior OL.
8. Jets
I’ll set the over-under at 14 on Aaron Rodgers games played. At least Tyrod Taylor is a competent professional backup.
T Olu Fashanu is quality insurance for Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. Haason Reddick replaces Bryce Huff on an elite defense and the kicking game is in good feet. Last chance for Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
A healthy Joe Burrow changes everything. He won’t want a Tee Higgins trade. Nick Saban wasn’t crazy about massive T Amarius Mims but what does he know (kidding)? Bargain Zack Moss leads a RBBC with Mixon gone.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s time for a Trevor Lawrence breakout season with new big targets rookie Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis joining Christian Kirk with Calvin Ridley gone. New DC Ryan Nielsen needs predators Josh Allen and Travon Walker flanking DT Arik Armstead to shield a suspect secondary.
11. Dallas Cowboys
Will this be Dak Prescott’s last season in Valley Ranch? Could Jerry (All-In) Jones eye Billy Belichick to replace Mike McCarthy? Will Ezekiel Elliott return to help replace Tony Pollard? The OL facelift has LT Tyler Guyton replacing Tyron Smith and Cooper Beebe replacing Tyler Biadasz. Micah Parsons hasn’t gone anywhere, and Trevon Diggs (ACL) could be back sometime in training camp, and PK Brandon Aubrey is a weapon.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft
- 2024 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams: Bears come up aces
- Grading every Giants 2024 NFL Draft pick: Malik Nabers leads way in surprising class
- Grading every Jets 2024 NFL Draft pick: Aaron Rodgers gets help
- NFL power rankings: Where all 32 teams stand after 2024 draft
12. Pittsburgh Steelers
New OC Arthur Smith and QB Russell Wilson are upgrades. G Troy Fautanu looks like a Steeler on a fortified OL that will let Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren cook when Russ can’t. Rookie WR Roman Wilson will be more dependable than Diontae Johnson and George Pickens should be a red-zone menace. Patrick Queen was best inside linebacker on free-agent market and rookie LB Payton Wilson was a third-round steal. CB Donte Jackson joins S Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joey Porter Jr. behind elite predator T.J. Watt.
13. Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson gets Jerry Jeudy to team with Amari Cooper and David Njoku. RBBC is led by Jerome Ford with the return of Nick Chubb (knee) uncertain, and Watson hasn’t given Coach of Year Kevin Stefanski enough bang for the bucks. Jim Schwartz has Myles Garrett and an elite defense.
14. Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen keeps them a contender, but can rookie Keon Coleman and Curtis Samuel help Dalton Kincaid replace Stefon Diggs? The secondary is in transition with S Jordan Poyer and CB Tre’Davious White gone and S Micah Hyde a free agent. Will PK Tyler Bass recover from his backbreaking 44-yard playoff miss against Chiefs?
15. Indianapolis Colts
A healthy Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor will have them in the hunt. WR Adonai Mitchell takes heat off Michael Pittman Jr. Laiatu Latu, arguably the best pass rusher in the draft, helps a suspect secondary. GM Chris Ballard kept in-house free agents DT Grover Stewart and CB Kenny Moore.
16. Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love is armed with a host of young weapons. Belichick likes versatile LT Jordan Morgan with David Bakhtiari gone. Josh Jacobs is three years younger than Aaron Jones. New DC Jeff Hatley replaces much-maligned Joe Berry and gets S Xavier McKinney to anchor the back end.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield-to-Mike Evans again. Rookie C Graham Barton is plug-and-play. Better safety than sorry with Jordan Whitehead returning alongside stud Antoine Winfield Jr. Can Zyon McCollum replace Carlton Davis III? Can rookie Chris Braswell help replace pass rusher Shaq Barrett?
18. Arizona Cardinals
GM Monti Ossenfort made the most of seven draft picks in the top 90. Kyler Murray struck gold with WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Third-rounder, Rutgers’ Max Melton, was Nick Saban’s sleeper corner.
19. Minnesota Vikings
Who gets to throw to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T. J. Hockenson (whenever his ACL and MCL are ready) and RB Aaron Jones — J. J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold? Rookie No. 1 edge Dallas Turner, a draft-day steal, is another quality pass rush option along with Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel to replace Danielle Hunter.
20. Seattle Seahawks
New HC Mike Macdonald replaces Pete Carroll. Geno Smith needs better health and a more stable OL to target his trio of talented receivers. Kenneth Walker III is a 1,000-yard rusher. New OC Ryan Grubb needs rookie Christian Haynes to hold down RG. No. 1 draft DT Byron Murphy II upgrades a porous run defense alongside Leonard Williams.
21. Los Angeles Chargers
Peerless Jim Harbaugh will need a year. Justin Herbert has bookend bodyguards (Rashawn Slater and No. 1 draft Joe Alt), a savvy rookie receiver (Ladd McConkey) and new OC Greg Roman. He’ll miss Keenan Allen. New DC Jesse Minter plans to unleash S Derwin James. Khalil Mack will be a sack monster whether Joey Bosa can stay on the field or not.
22. Miami Dolphins
A new contract beckons for Tua Tagovailoa, but Mike McDaniel was 1-5 against playoff teams in the 2023 regular season. Speed still kills with WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and RBs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. No. 1 draft edge Chop Robinson was a need pick for new DC Anthony Weaver with DT Christian Wilkins and OLB Andrew Van Ginkel gone and Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb coming off injury. A cap crunch cost them G Robert Hunt too.
23. Chicago Bears
GM Ryan Poles is early favorite for Executive of the Year: Caleb Williams throwing to Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore AND No.1b draft receiver Rome Odunze, and handing off to D’Andre Swift. There is talent on defense — Montez Sweat, Terrell Edmunds, Kevin Byard, Jaylon Johnson.
24. Las Vegas Raiders
They’ll run through a wall for Antonio Pierce but missing out on Michael Penix Jr. means Gardner Minshew and/or Aidan O’Connell will be throwing to Davante Adams and No. 1 draft steal TE Brock Bowers. Maybe Mad Maxx Crosby and new DT Wilkins can keep the games close.
25. Giants
Gamebreaker Malik Nabers helps Daniel Jones and Brian Daboll and Brian Burns helps Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence and new DC Shane Bowen. GM Joe Schoen supplies new OL coach Carmen Bricillo with improved personnel options. CB2? RT Evan Neal?
26. New Orleans Saints
New OC Klint Kubiak should help Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave especially with No. 1 draft LT Taliese Fuaga riding to the rescue. Chase Young juices the 28th-ranked pass rush.
27. Washington Commanders
Rookie GM Adam Peters masterfully used free agency and six draft picks in the top 100 to upgrade the talent level (Austin Ekeler, Bobby Wagner, Torrance Armstrong) for new HC Dan Quinn, most of all with rookie dual-threat franchise QB Jayden Daniels. Can third-round pick Brandon Coleman handle LT?
28. Denver Broncos
Sean Payton saw enough of Drew Brees in Bo Nix and reunited him with vertical threat WR Troy Franklin. WR Courtland Sutton wants to be paid and could be traded. Pass rush remains a problem. Best of luck to Zach Wilson.
29. Atlanta Falcons
Kirk Cousins (Achilles) is the Aaron Rodgers of the NFC, surrounded by former first-round weapons Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson. Popular new HC Raheem Morris lacks a pass rush and a CB2 opposite A.J. Terrell after Arthur Blank signed off on No. 1 draft QB Michael Penix.
30. New England Patriots
Rookie HC Jerod Mayo rebuilds with new franchise QB Drake Maye waiting his turn behind Jacoby Brissett. Who protects the blindside? Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk is a much-needed WR upgrade. New DC DeMarcus Covington has a defense good enough to keep the games close.
31. Tennessee Titans
Will Levis needs better protection, so rookie HC Brian Callahan hands No. 1 draft T J.C. Latham to his father, OL coach Bill Callahan. Latham is 6-6, 342. Try to find new RB Tony Pollard. Second-round pick DT T’Vondre Sweat is 6-4, 366. Calvin Ridley makes life easier on DeAndre Hopkins. Pass rush is a problem but at least CB L’Jarius Snead helps in the secondary.
32. Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young gets better playmakers with draftees Xavier Legette, Jonathan Brooks and Ja’Tavion Sanders joining Diontae Johnson and high-priced bodyguards in Gs Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. OLB Jadeveon Clowney replaces Burns.
