With the draft fast approaching this Thursday, I assembled what I see as the NFL pre-draft power rankings. The Green Bay Packers took the top spot, followed by their Super Bowl opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Happy Draft Day to all 32 teams involved!

1.   Green Bay Packers

They are the World Champs until proven otherwise. It’s also scary to think of the 16 players they will get back from last year’s injured reserve.

2.   Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers’ defense isn’t going anywhere; expect the Steelers to be contenders again next year.

3.   New England Patriots

Beat expectations last year, no reason why they won’t this year. Belichick has also shrewdly stockpiled a multitude of picks.

4.   Baltimore Ravens

The window is closing for Ray Lewis and Co., but an improved offense could lead to a Super Bowl run.

5.   New York Jets

Defense breeds winners, and the Jets dominate that side of the ball. GM Mike Tannenbaum will have a lot of decisions to make, with 18 free agents up for grabs.

6.   New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees is a unique talent, however defensive adjustments must be made as well as a more reliable (healthy) running game.

7.   Atlanta Falcons

They were exposed by the Green Bay Packers on their route to Super Bowl glory, but with Matty Ice (Matt Ryan) and Michael Turner leading the charge, expect the playoffs once again.

8.   Indianapolis Colts

The Colts took care of Peyton Manning; expect Peyton to return the favor with a deep run. Injuries decimated the Colts last year, so look for a bounce back from an influx of returning players.

9.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Josh Freeman showed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that he could compete with the best of them. In a quarterback-driven league, the Bucs have found their leader.

10.  Chicago Bears

Bad Quarterback play, multiplied by bad offensive line play, spell disaster for the Bears and must be addressed. However it bears noting that this team hits the trenches every game and made the conference championship game last year.

11.  Kansas City Chiefs

Matt Cassel and Head Coach Todd Haley led this team admirably, but Cassel will need help at wide receiver. Jamaal Charles also showed his big play capabilities.

12.  San Diego Chargers

A disappointing season for the Chargers last year left them pining for next season. Phillip Rivers has the talent, but can he take them to the next level?

13.  Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Vick breathed life into the franchise after a brief Kevin Kolb stint. If he can continue his superstar play, then the Eagles will be a dangerous team for the foreseeable future.

14.  Seattle Seahawks

Pete Carroll and Matt Hasselbeck brought back memories of the Mike Holmgren days. This draft will be crucial in getting more playmakers on both sides of the ball.

15.  Dallas Cowboys

They showed life under new head coach Jason Garrett. The return of Tony Romo for a full season is a huge boost for this talented but underachieving group.

16.  St. Louis Rams

Sam Bradford showed promise, but he needs help in the wide receiving corps. Steven Jackson also showed no signs of slowing down.

17.  Oakland Raiders

A surprising team at 8-8, can they improve on last year? Questions must be resolved at the quarterback position, and a good draft is a must for this developing team.

18.  New York Giants

Eli Manning took a step backward last year. 25 interceptions is unacceptable in this league, and these mistakes need to be corrected. The good news is they still have a solid defense and running game. Improved quarterback play would bring playoff possibilities back to the Giants.

19.  Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Jahvid Best are the core of an offense that will be a league juggernaut for years to come. Can the defense develop to the same tune? This is another team that needs a successful draft to boost the defense.

20.  Miami Dolphins

A scary offseason situation for Brandon Marshall hopefully will not be an omen for things to come. Can Chad Henne make the next step in his development? There are a lot of questions for this Miami squad.

21.  Houston Texans

Arian Foster’s breakout year can’t be ignored, and combined with receiver Andre Johnson the Texans’ offense is truly dynamic. The defense was atrocious. If new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips can make the necessary adjustments, then anticipate a power ranking jump for this talented offensive team.

22.  Jacksonville Jaguars

Last year was another ordinary season for the Jags. Maurice Jones-Drew played well, but the team needs a major talent upgrade in order to contend.

23.  Minnesota Vikings

You can safely say the Vikings are set at running back and return a competent defense. The quarterback position is a major cause for concern.

24.  Tennessee Titans

Another team with a superstar running game but a gaping hole at quarterback. New coach Mike Munchak will have to establish himself following the legendarily long tenure of Jeff Fisher.

25.  San Francisco 49ers

Frank Gore and new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh will have to be creative to get this offense in gear. The defense should help with those woes.

26.  Washington Redskins

The Donovan McNabb experiment crashed and burned. Recent personnel decisions have not fared well, and the team is in definite need of upgrade at multiple important positions.

27.  Cleveland Browns

Peyton Hillis was a bright spot for a team that finished with five victories. Colt McCoy will need to become a leader for this young team.

28.  Buffalo Bills

Tough losses abounded for this team, but they showed the heart and the talent to improve. If the defense can make strides, this team will make a big jump in the power rankings.

29.  Cincinnati Bengals

When your starting quarterback threatens retirement, you know you are in for a rough season. Chad Johnson needs to return to form, as does the defense.

30.  Denver Broncos

New coach John Fox needs to make a quarterback decision in the immediate future.

31.  Arizona Cardinals

Larry Fitzgerald can only dream of the spirals Kurt Warner used to throw his way. A new quarterback and defensive improvements are a must.

32.  Carolina Panthers

The trend continues of poor quarterback play leading to a dismal record. However, this two win team does have talent at running back. Draft day will be crucial for this team.