As yes, you hear the same sounds I do. The cracking of pads, the shrillness of whistles, the yelling of coaches.

Training camp is upon us.

As such, it is a good time to take stock of the NFL landscape. It has been a while since our last Power Rankings here at Touchdown Wire, but a few things have changed in the league.

And yet more questions remain unanswered.

To that end, here are the pre-training camp Power Rankings, complete with the biggest question facing each of the 32 franchises are the off-season is about to come to a close.

Houston Texans

31. Houston Texans

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Following an off-season of player movement and legal concerns over quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Houston Texans will finally open training camp facing more questions than answers. Watson’s status for the season remains in jeopardy given the ongoing civil litigation against him involving allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. Incoming general manager Nick Caserio did not have a ton of draft capital at his disposal, which makes his decision to use Houston’s first pick in the 2021 NFL draft on quarterback Davis Mills even more fascinating.

The biggest question for the Texans: Who will be under center in Week 1? Will Watson be available, or will Roger Goodell step into this situation? Or will the Texans turn to Tyrod Taylor, or even Mills, the rookie?

Jacksonville Jaguars

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The Jacksonville Jaguars entered this off-season with a ton of advantages over other organizations. Jacksonville had a ton of cap space at their disposal, and also enjoyed a bevy of draft capital which they put to good use. During free agency they added cornerback Shaquill Griffin and wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., and of course you know their first selection in the draft, quarterback Trevor Lawrence. But Jacksonville also added running back Travis Etienne, tackle Walker Little, cornerback Tyson Campbell and safety Andre Cisco in the first two nights of the draft.

The biggest question facing the Jaguars? How quickly will these additions pay off? Could Jacksonville be better than expected given all these additions?

Detroit Lions

We have all seen the videos of the Detroit Lions on the first night of the NFL draft, overjoyed when tackle Penei Sewell fell to them with their first selection. But the addition of the Oregon tackle might not mask the questions around the rest of the roster. Specifically, how good can Jared Goff be in Detroit, and who will he be targeting in the passing game?

Goff may ultimately be a better quarterback than he showed during some of his time in Los Angeles with the Rams, but in a quarterback-driven league he is going to need to improve in a hurry for the Lions to turn things around. Otherwise, Detroit could be looking at the QB market next draft cycle.

Cincinnati Bengals

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Given the advancement in treatment of ACL injuries, it is perhaps no surprise that Joe Burrow is expected to be ready for the first week of the regular season. During OTAs the young quarterback reported that he felt about 85%, and expressed “optimism” for the start of the season.

However, as we have seen with other quarterbacks coming back from knee injuries (Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz, Jimmy Garoppolo) it can take some time for the passer to feel completely confident in their lower body.

That leads us to the biggest question facing the Cincinnati Bengals: Did they make the right decision when they passed on Penei Sewell to select wide reviewer Ja’Marr Chase? Reuniting Burrow with one of his favorite targets from his LSU days might seem like a smart investment, and maybe it was, but that depends on how well the Cincinnati offensive line can protect their young, and recovering, passer next season.

New York Jets

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Like many, I was a fan of what the New York Jets did this off-season. The additions of Carl Lawson and Corey Davis in free agency should pay immediate dividends, and while Zach Wilson was not my favorite quarterback in the class, he should be a good scheme fit for what the Jets are expected to look like schematically.

Then when you fold in other selections like Elijah Moore, Michael Carter and Alijah Vera-Tucker, you have a very good off-season and a lot of talent for new head coach Robert Salah to work with.

So the biggest question facing the Jets, in my mind, is this: How soon can they be competitive? Odds are it might not be this season, but stranger things have happened in the NFL.

Las Vegas Raiders

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Throughout history the Raiders have done things their own way. That continued this past draft cycle when they selected Alabama tackle Alex Leatherwood in the first round to the surprise of many, along with Buffalo pass rusher Malcolm Koonce in the third round. Those picks led to some speculation about friction between head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock.

Then in recent days, team president Marc Badain resigned, adding more fire to the rumors of friction in the front office.

So the biggest question facing the Raiders is this: What the hell is going on out there?

Atlanta Falcons

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As someone who loved Justin Fields as a prospect, and salivated at the idea of him in an Arthur Smith offense, it was still exciting to see the Atlanta Falcons draft Kyle Pitts in the first round with the fourth overall selection. Based on his film and athletic profile, Pitts looks the part of the “unicorn,” the matchup nightmare of a player who can operate against cornerbacks, linebackers and safeties alike.

But the the Falcons traded away Julio Jones, sending him to the Tennessee Titans. Sure, Atlanta was in a somewhat difficult place with the salary cap, but if the team was going to make such a trade, then perhaps looking to the future with a quarterback might have been the right move.

So the question facing the Falcons is this: Are they rebuilding, retooling, or in franchise purgatory, somewhere in the middle?

Philadelphia Eagles

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Depending on who you ask, the Philadelphia Eagles might have one of the worst rosters in the NFL right now. According to the minds over at Pro Football Focus, the Eagles have the 26th best roster in the league, and the worst roster in their division.

So…there is nowhere to go but up, right?

Of course, the biggest question facing the Eagles as training camp looms is the quarterback position. The organization made the decision to trade Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts, and having not addressed quarterback in the draft they are handing the keys to second-year passer Jalen Hurts. Can he take a big step forward in his first full season as a starter, or are the Eagles going to be dipping their toes into the QB pool in just a few months?

Denver Broncos

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There is a case to be made that the Denver Broncos have some of the best offensive talent in the AFC. Don’t believe me? They are returning Courtland Sutton after his injury last season, pairing him with Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, Noah Fant and Tim Patrick. They added Javonte Williams, a punishing running back, to their backfield alongside Melvin Gordon. Their offensive line has improved over the past few seasons, thanks to the development of Garett Bolles at the left tackle spot. They also added draft darling Quinn Meinerz in the draft, who gives them depth in the interior.

The Broncos are also solid defensively, both up front where they can look to Bradley Chubb and Von Miller who is returning from an ankle injury, and in the secondary. Of course, adding first-round cornerback Patrick Surtain II is a help in that regard.

Yet, you know the question facing this team.

Quarterback. Will Drew Lock take a step forward? Will the team have to turn to Teddy Bridgewater? And that is putting aside those pesky Aaron Rodgers rumors…

New York Giants

(AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)

Two things can be true.

New York Giants fans can be excited about their team heading into training camp. After all, they made some impressive additions this off-season, including Kenny Golladay in free agency along with Kadarius Toney, Azeez Ojulari and Aaron Robinson in the draft. They will be returning Saquon Barkley to the backfield after his injury a season ago, giving them yet another weapon. They also return what was a fascinating defense led by defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, and players like Leonard Williams up front and James Bradberry in the secondary.

And yet, perhaps that optimism should be tempered, while we wait to see year three from Daniel Jones.

Giants fans do not need to look far for hope, as they just have to turn their eyes to the north a bit. Many Giants fans are looking for Jones to make the kind of leap forward that Josh Allen made a season ago. After all, Allen was paired with a free agent receiver in Stefon Diggs and became an MVP candidate.

Can Jones make a similar jump?

Carolina Panthers

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There was a part of me that wanted to move the Carolina Panthers up even higher in these rankings, but my head won out in the battle with my heart.

Because I love what the Panthers have put together over the past two seasons. I do believe that Joe Brady is a future head coach, and if I can be allowed to get excited over a pair of third-round selections, tackle Brady Christensen and tight end Tommy Tremble are two potential diamonds in the rough if you ask me.

And yes, the Panthers are returning Christian McCaffrey to the offense after an injury in 2020.

Then defensively, Carolina is putting together a young, fast and imposing defense. Derrick Brown and Brian Burns are a tremendous pair up front. Jeremy Chinn is the modern NFL defender who offers a ton of versatility. Haason Reddick gives them another presence on the edge, and how can you not be excited about Jaycee Horn’s NFL future?

Yet, all of this rides on the right arm of Sam Darnold.

Can he deliver?

I want to believe. I want to believe that under Brady (and perhaps away from Adam Gase) Darnold can fulfill his end of the bargain. But until I see it…

Dallas Cowboys

(AP Photo/LM Otero)

History tells us that the NFC East rarely sees a repeat division winner. We have gone 16 years since that last happened, when the Philadelphia Eagles repeated as champions. Given that the Washington Football Team won the division a season ago, albeit with a losing record, history tells us that perhaps another team takes the title.

Could it be the Dallas Cowboys?

One might think that the biggest question facing the team is how quarterback Dak Prescott, he of the new contract, returns from his season-ending ankle injury. But in reality, the major question is on the defensive side of the football. Did Dallas do enough to improve on that side of the line? There are a ton of new faces on defense, as the Cowboys used eight picks on their defense, starting with Micah Parsons.

Was it enough?

New England Patriots

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

There are suddenly reasons for optimism among New England Patriots fans. Yes, last season was a difficult one in Year 1 PT (post-Tom), but the Patriots entered free agency with a ton of cap space at their disposal, and they went on a shopping spree.

As training camp opens there are new faces all over the roster, such as tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, and defenders Jalen Mills and Matthew Judon. They also see the return of linebacker Dont’a Hightower, who remains one of the best at his position even after opting-out a season ago.

Talk to Patriots fans, or even people within the organization, and they’ll tell you that they feel great about 21 of the 22 starting positions on offense and defense.

The problem? That 22nd position happens to be quarterback.

So the question facing New England is this: Can they get better, and consistent, production out of the QB position in 2021? Perhaps Cam Newton can rebound from last season, and there are reasons to think he can. He signed late, last season there was no true training camp experience, and he contracted COVID early in the season and struggled when he returned. Now he is healthy and has a year under his belt in the offense.

If not, how quickly can the team get Mac Jones ready?

Chicago Bears

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The reasons for optimism surrounding the Chicago Bears begin with that man, rookie quarterback Justin Fields. An organization that has a rather marked history at the quarterback position sees the potential in Fields, who looks like the prototypical quarterback for the modern NFL with his blend of athleticism and arm talent.

So when does he take his first snap?

That will be the biggest question facing this team until it happens.

Minnesota Vikings

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There are a lot of reasons to be excited about the Minnesota Vikings as the 2021 NFL season looms.

We can start on offense. With Justin Jefferson — last year’s rookie phenom — and Adam Thielen, the Vikings have one of the better WR duos in the league. Dalvin Cook remains one of the league’s elite talents at the running back position. The offensive line has some questions, but adding left tackle Christian Darrisaw is a step towards shoring up that unit.

Defensively, Danielle Hunter is back after missing 2020 with a neck injury. The addition of Patrick Peterson to the secondary gives that unit a boost, and he can also help with the development of last year’s rookie tandem in Cameron Dantzler and Jeff Gladney.

But you know where this is going.

Can Kirk Cousins live up to his contract, and be the quarterback the Vikings need him to be for this team to make a deep playoff run?

Indianapolis Colts

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The biggest question facing the Indianapolis Colts this season is the obvious one.

Can Frank Reich fix Carson Wentz?

After all, the Colts are a playoff team from a season ago, and provided they get consistent quarterback play there are reasons to believe they can make another post-season run. But the 2020 version of Wentz is a huge question mark, as he seemed a broken quarterback who had not merely regressed, but collapsed.

If the reunion between Reich and Wentz pays dividends, the Colts can be a dangerous team. If not, well, you have a good idea of how this story ends…

San Francisco 49ers

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

The San Francisco 49ers have a lot going for them. They are just a season removed from a Super Bowl appearance. They return a talented roster on both sides of the football, including perhaps the best tight end in football and one of the best — if not the best — off-ball linebackers in the game.

Ultimately, however, the biggest question facing them is how soon Trey Lance sees the field. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan made a splash this past off-season, moving to the top of the draft board to select a quarterback from the FCS level with limited experience but a ton of talent and tools.

Lance might just be a perfect fit with Shanahan, given the schematic overlaps between the offense Lance ran at North Dakota State and how Shanahan has constructed the 49ers offense. But how quickly will the coach hand his rookie passer the keys?

Los Angeles Chargers

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The Los Angeles Chargers seemingly struck gold this past season, when rookie quarterback Justin Herbert stepped into the starting lineup in Week 2 and surpassed all expectations. Herbert shined last year, particularly when pressured in the pocket, en route to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Now the Chargers are under new leadership, with first-year head coach Brandon Staley moving across town after serving as the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams. Staley is among the group of defensive minds looking to the future, using two-high safety looks pre-snap to try and bait opposing offenses into running the football. (Although, that idea, like most in the NFL, has its origins on Saturdays and Friday nights…)

So the question facing the Chargers is this: Is this the year that preseason media hype around the team is finally rewarded? It seems almost every season the Chargers are viewed as the darlings of the media world. Perhaps 2021 is the year it finally comes to fruition.

New Orleans Saints

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Last season the New England Patriots struggled in their first season without a legend under center.

Could the New Orleans Saints suffer a similar fate?

With the retirement of Drew Brees the Saints enter 2021 with questions at the quarterback position for the first time in a long time. Can Jameis Winston finally play with consistency? Will Sean Payton turn to Taysom Hill as the full-time starter? These questions, and how they are answered, will go a long way towards determining how the Saints fare in Year 1 PD (post-Drew).

Arizona Cardinals

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Expectations are high in the desert, given what the Arizona Cardinals have built over the past two season, and what they added over the spring. The Cardinals brought in J.J. Watt, adding him to a defense that showed athleticism and versatility last year under Vance Joseph. They drafted another intriguing piece with linebacker Zaven Collins, and pairing him with Isaiah Simmons in the heart of that defense could give opposing offensive coordinators nightmares.

On offense, they brought in veteran receiver A.J. Green to help boost a passing attack that already sports weapons such as Christian Kirk and DeAndre Hopkins. They also drafted the versatile Rondale Moore, who could see time at a few different spots for the cardinals.

So the question facing the Cardinals is this: Does Kyler Murray make the leap that Josh Allen did a season ago? There are reasons to think he can. He is one of the most dangerous quarterbacks down in the red zone, and if he just plays with more consistency, he — and the Cardinals — will live up to the hype.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Having spent the better part of this day trying to make sense of the Pittsburgh Steelers, I think I have finally stumbled upon the biggest question facing this storied franchise in 2021.

Can they turn back the clock?

No, not to the glory days of the “Steel Curtain,” but in a more metaphorical sense. While teams are moving towards the passing game, speed and offensive firepower around the league the Steelers seem to be moving in a different direction, as they look to perhaps win with a stifling defense and a balanced offensive attack. In the era of “running backs don’t matter” and with an aging quarterback, the Steelers drafted Najee Harris with their first-round selection a few months ago. Can he be the every-down type of RB that succeeds in the new NFL? Will he help Ben Roethlisberger as he enters what could be his final season?

In this modern era, can a team with this philosophy win? I guess we will find out.

Los Angeles Rams

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Will the NFL world finally see the best of Matthew Stafford?

For years, the talented passer has labored for the Detroit Lions, showing glimpses of his potential. Now, thanks to a trade that sent shockwaves through the league, Stafford is out west, playing for one of the NFL’s top offensive minds in Sean McVay.

We have seen what this type of offensive system can do for veteran passers. Look at the past few seasons from Aaron Rodgers as an example. Under Matt LaFleur, Rodgers made back-to-back NFL Championship games and won another MVP award. Could that kind of offensive system do the same for Stafford?

And let’s not forget what the Rams have on the defensive side of the football, with premier talents up front in Aaron Donald and in the secondary with Jalen Ramsey.

Yes the Rams got some bad news this week with the Cam Akers injury, but this remains a talented roster and McVay might have what he has been looking for the past few years: A decisive quarterback.

Seattle Seahawks

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It seems that the questions people ask about the Seattle Seahawks often lie on the offensive side of the football. Questions like: Is this the year Russell Wilson secures that elusive first MVP vote? Can the offensive line protect Wilson? Is D.K. Metcalf one of the game’s most dangerous weapons? How will offensive coordinator Shane Waldron utilize D’Wayne Eskridge?

But if the Seahawks are going to make a deep playoff run the biggest question facing them is this: Which defense shows up?

Early in the season the Seahawks struggled on the defensive side of the football. Think back to Week 2, and the Sunday night tilt between Seattle and the visiting New England Patriots. On a game that came down to the final snap, many were left thinking that the Patriots had a pretty good offense, when in fact the lesson was that the Seattle defense was not that imposing.

But then the team acquired Carlos Dunlap, Jamal Adams fully healed, and the Seahawks were a tougher defense to face down the stretch. So in 2021, which unit shows up?

Miami Dolphins

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The biggest question facing the Miami Dolphins seems obvious.

Who wins the second tight end spot behind Mike Gesicki: Hunter Long or Chris Mayarick?

Of course, I’m joking. The biggest question facing the Dolphins is indeed the obvious one: Does Tua Tagovailoa take the step forward the Dolphins need him to make? Miami was on the cusp of the playoffs a season ago, but inconsistency from the quarterback position, particularly from Tagovailoa, saw the Dolphins at home come the post-season.

The young passer admitted this off-season to some struggles getting the playbook down, and that might be cause for hope heading into 2021. After all, this remains a talented roster — although there are questions about the long-term status of Xavien Howard on the team — but they will need the second-year QB to develop quickly if the Dolphins are going to contend in the division, and beyond.

Washington Football Team

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By now you have probably noticed a bit of a trend with these rankings, or more specifically the questions facing each team. They tend to center on the quarterback position.

That remains the case in the nation’s capital, where the Washington Football Team is becoming something of a trendy pick to make another run into the playoffs. Beyond the fact that the Football Team sports one of the more imposing defensive fronts, and made some additions to the second- and third-levels of the defense with linebacker Jamin Davis in the draft and coverage cornerback William Jackson III in free agency, they also made some key additions on offense. Curtis Samuel could be an ideal slot receiver in Washington, and Dyami Brown was one of the more intriguing rookie receivers in the recent draft class.

Of course, none of that might matter if they cannot get consistent production from the quarterback position. Can Ryan Fitzpatrick provide that? If so, the Football Team might be the first NFC East division winners to repeat since the George W. Bush administration.

If not…

Green Bay Packers

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It has been the dominant storyline this entire NFL off-season: Does Aaron Rodgers, the returning league MVP, come back to the Green Bay Packers or not?

Just this morning Adam Schefter reported that the veteran passer turned down a new deal recently, indicating that the fracture between QB and team is “not about the money:”

If Rodgers returns, the Packers get a bump up this list and are among the favorites in the NFC. If he does not, and the team has to turn to second-year QB Jordan Love, they are going to slide a bit. Until then, we have to place them in this murky area.

Tennessee Titans

One of the biggest changes since our post-draft power rankings, at least within the league, was the trade that sent Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans. As we broke down, Jones might be a perfect fit for what the Titans do on offense:

But the biggest questions facing Tennessee are on the defensive side of the football. Ultimately, how successful the Titans are in 2021 might depend upon whether the defense takes a step forward. There are some new faces, including pass rusher Bud Dupree, cornerback Caleb Farley and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Can this unit hold up their end of the bargain in 2021?

Cleveland Browns

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One of the reasons that I love the off-season, specifically the combination of free agency and the NFL draft, is that teams cannot hide. They have to make decisions and/or selections. That offers us a window into how each organization views their roster.

When it comes to the Cleveland Browns, is clear that entering this off-season they thought the biggest question they faced was this: Can we stop elite offenses? After all, look at the additions. In free agency they added safety John Johnson III, cornerback Troy Hill, and pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney. They added Greg Newsome II and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the draft. They’ll get Grant Delpit back after the safety suffered an injury that cost him his rookie season. They loaded up on the defensive side of the ball with an eye towards stopping teams like Kansas City, Baltimore, Buffalo and more.

Did they succeed?

Baltimore Ravens

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Entering 2021 it seems that the main question facing the Baltimore Ravens remains this: Can this team throw the ball when it needs to? After all, that was the question facing Baltimore entering this past season. When the Ravens were ahead and could stick to their game plan, they were dangerous as an offense. But if forced to become one dimensional and rely on putting the ball in the air, they struggled.

It seemed like they made strides towards a positive answer to that question a season ago. Sure, they lost in a much-anticipated meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs early in the season, but they were forced to become one-dimensional in that game after getting down by a pair of scores and managed to climb back into the game.

Now, with the additions of Rashod Bateman and Sammy Watkins, there is renewed hope that Lamar Jackson and this passing game can be dangerous in the year ahead. If that is indeed the case, the Ravens might be one of the tougher teams to face in what is shaping up to be a deep AFC.

Buffalo Bills

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Heading into the 2021 season a popular question regarding the Buffalo Bills concerns quarterback Josh Allen. After making a run at an MVP — and shutting up a lot of analysts along the way, myself included — some are starting to wonder if Allen is due for some regression.

However, I think the biggest question facing the Bills in 2021 concerns their defense. Like many, the Bills saw Patrick Mahomes running for his life in the Super Bowl and as such they’re trying to emulate the effort from Tampa Bay. They added a pair of pass rushers in the draft, first with Gregory Rousseau and later with Carlos Basham Jr,. using their first two selections on the defensive front. Will the Bills finally have a pass rush that strikes fear in the hearts of opposing passers? If so, this could be a very tough team to beat.

Kansas City Chiefs

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Anyone that watched Super Bowl LV was left asking one question about the Kansas City Chiefs: Can they do a better job protecting Patrick Mahomes?

It would seem that football fans are not the only ones wondering. After all, Kansas City spent a ton of resources this past off-season trying to shore up the offensive line. They added Joe Thuney in free agency, they traded for Orlando Brown, they coaxed Kyle Long out of retirement. They added Creed Humphrey in the draft. Oh, and they’ll get Laurent Tardif-Duvernay and Lucas Niang back after opting-out.

Was it enough?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Can Tom Brady actually be better in 2021?

The defending Super Bowl Champions brought the band back toghether to make another run, and if they do so it likely means that the above question was answered in the affirmative. After all, there are reasons to believe that Brady really could be better next season. He admitted to some struggles in learning the offense, and it came out recently that he played the entire 2020 season with a torn MCL.

Now? Now Brady is fully healthy, he has a year under his belt in the system, and all his weapons are back from the previous season.

Yeah, as crazy as it sounds, there is a chance he is better in 2021 than he was a year ago. Giving all of us old guys some hope.