2022 NFL Power Rankings: Los Angeles Rams start out on top

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) celebrates after hitting Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) as he threw on fourth down forcing a turnover on downs with the less than a minute to play in 4th quarter during Super Bowl 56, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.Nfl Super Bowl 56 Los Angeles Rams Vs Cincinnati Bengals Feb 13 2022 Albert Cesare 2686
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) celebrates after hitting Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) as he threw on fourth down forcing a turnover on downs with the less than a minute to play in 4th quarter during Super Bowl 56, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.Nfl Super Bowl 56 Los Angeles Rams Vs Cincinnati Bengals Feb 13 2022 Albert Cesare 2686 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 16
Next
2022 NFL Power Rankings
2022 NFL Power Rankings; New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) with Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) after the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

. . Previous: 28th. New York Jets. 28. team. 30

28. New York Jets

With the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the New York Jets went for Zach Wilson who had a rough rookie season. However, they knew he needed time and in the end, taking the training wheels off right away could prove to be the best thing for him — nothing replaces actual game reps.

Still, they have a lot of holes on the team right now and while they can fix some of that with two early picks in the upcoming draft, they enter this portion of the offseason as one of the teams that need the most work to be competitive.

Carolina Panthers. 27. team. 87. . . Previous: 27th

27. Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are not one of the teams that changed coaches in the offseason but they’re entering 2022 with a coach on the hot seat. In fact, it might not be too far-fetched to say Matt Rhule has the hottest seat of any coach right now following a 10-23 start in two seasons.

He’s also traded away assets for Sam Darnold, who quickly fizzled out following a 3-0 start. So now without a pick in Round 2, the Panthers don’t have a quarterback they can believe in, they’re considering moving on from Christian McCaffrey, and they have a coach who has a winning percentage of 30.3.

If there is any solace, it has to be that Tom Brady and Sean Payton both retired, meaning the NFC South could be very bad this season, which might help Rhule and his Panthers.