NFL Power Rankings 2019: Post-mandatory minicamp edition

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 20: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots prepares to take a snap in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 20: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots prepares to take a snap in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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New Orleans Saints mock draft
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 20: Alvin Kamara #41 and Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints look on against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

3. New Orleans Saints (4)

No team had more of a right to be upset about how the 2018 season ended than the New Orleans Saints. A blatant pass interference call was missed as they were trying to put the Los Angeles Rams away in the NFC Championship game. That opened the door for overtime, and the Rams ended up winning after the defense picked off a Drew Brees pass.

Had they made it to the Super Bowl, they might have been able to fare better against the New England Patriots, who slowed down the young Rams offense. We will never know though, thanks to this infamous blown call that could alter games in the future by making more plays reviewable — but that’s for another conversation.

The 2019 Saints should still be a team in the mix. Brees is returning as is Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. They lost Mark Ingram but made an underrated move in replacing him with Latavius Murray. Another underrated move was their signing of Jared Cook, the free agent tight end who could be a solid option in the passing game outside of Thomas.

A focused and angry Saints team has had two consecutive seasons end in heartache, now they look to make things right while trying to get the veteran Brees back into the big game.