Let the pain begin: Walter Football's Pre-Draft Power Rankings in 2008

[Direckshun]

http://www.walterfootball.com/analysis.php

1. San Diego Chargers (11-5) - The Chargers have one glaring weakness they need to fix, which happens to be the right tackle position. If they take care of that via the draft, it wouldn't surprise me at all to seem in the Super Bowl. Remember, they kept the Patriots to a single-digit deficit for the majority of the AFC Championship with Philip Rivers limping around on one leg, and without the services of LaDainian Tomlinson. Norv Turner and A.J. Smith have to be thrilled at the emergence of Vincent Jackson and Antonio Cromartie late in the season.

I expect big things from the Chargers in 2008, and I'm not afraid to put them atop this chart. Norv Turner? Winning a Super Bowl? Remember, we would have said the same thing about Eli Manning this time last year.

24. Oakland Raiders (4-12) - Oakland made a few upgrades in its secondary (DeAngelo Hall and Gibril Wilson) and JaMarcus Russell can't be any worse than Andrew Walter and Josh McCown, but one can only wonder what went on in Oakland's front office when Al Davis decided to sign every single free agent coming off an ACL tear. Perhaps the conversation went something like this:

Al Davis: Yawn... it's morning already? How long was I out for?

Assistant: Two years, sir. Do you want to look at the free agent list?

Al Davis: Sure! Whoa! Javon Walker's available!? Let's sign him!

Assistant: Umm... sir, I don't think that's a good idea... See, he's coming off an...

Al Davis: I'm calling up his agent right now! Let's make him such a huge deal that he won't even leave this city without signing! How's a $55 million contract sound?

Assistant: Not too good sir...

Al Davis: You're right! Let's make it $66 million!

Assistant: No sir! Don't do it!!! Noooo!!!!

27. Denver Broncos (7-9) - Some might be shocked to see the Broncos ranked so low. Well, they haven't done anything to improve on their 7-9 record. In fact, they've gotten a lot worse. How? Where do I begin?

Brandon Marshall's hurt. Javon Walker's gone. Matt Lepsis has retired. The offensive tackles are inexperienced. The center was horrendous with the Chiefs last year. There is still no pass rush. There is still no one who can stop the run. Boss Bailey sucks. Keary Colbert sucks even more. Jamie Winborn sucks more than both combined. D.J. Williams is still playing out of position. John Lynch is still starting at 36. Jason Elam is a Falcon. Chris Myers is a Texan. And Mike Shanahan's face will get more ruddy by the minute.

Phew... is that enough?

32. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12) - I can't say I like anything the Chiefs have done this offseason. Or to be more precise, I can't say I like what the Chiefs haven't done. Someone needs to send general manager Carl Peterson a memo that his offensive line stinks because he didn't do a single thing to upgrade it. The only thing he managed to do was overpay for defensive liability Demorrio Williams. Devard Darling, meanwhile, is far from the answer at wide out. Kansas City needs help everywhere, including quarterback. Brodie Croyle is winless as a starter and has yet to show much promise. And who knows if Larry Johnson can ever make it back to full strength after Herm Edwards ruined his career with all of those carries in 2006?

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Wow. More garbage. Color me surprised.

Wow someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. Are you going to be Mr. Grumpy Pants-all day long??

[whoman69]

This comparison is between the Chiefs and Giants is ridiculous. The media microscope is such on the Giants that if they are not playing like the '86 Giants then all hell is breaking loose. Nobody remembers the Jim Fassel pledge? As bad as the press was badmouthing the Giants last year in New York, if they had the year the Chiefs had it would be a thousand times worse. This team is not the Giants. We don't have a top defense that added key players. We didn't add depth to our running back position. We didn't fix problems on our offensive line. For all the crap that Manning has taken because of his name, he at least won games in his first season. Tom Coughlin is generally conservative on offense, Herm Edwards is downright morbid.

[EyePod]

Originally Posted by RustShack

I think we have a better record next year than we did this year.

I agree.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by EyePod

I agree.

You guys are high....

The Chiefs are going to contend for the #1 pick.

[keg in kc]

I'd don't agree with the reasoning ("I can't say I like anything the Chiefs have done this offseason. Or to be more precise, I can't say I like what the Chiefs haven't done.") but I can't argue with the ranking. It could be an ugly season, but they're (finally) doing this the right way. Whether they select the right players or not is another story.

[dj56dt58]

Cleveland was supposed to be the worst team last season so..why not?

[whoman69]

Originally Posted by EyePod

I agree.

Based on what, whim and a prayer?

[KCinNY]

Originally Posted by RustShack

I think we have a better record next year than we did this year.

What are you basing this on?

Our talent? Coaching? Front office? Free agent aquisitions?

Help me out here.