Ravens, Not Chiefs, No. 1 in 2024 NFL Power Rankings?

As the offseason rolls on, ESPN thinks that the Ravens will be the No. 1 team to begin next season, not the Chiefs, and are very specific about why.

We're not even 24 hours removed from the Chiefs being crowned Super Bowl champions for the second straight year, and there's already talk the possibility of Kansas City being the first back-to-back-to-back champions.

It'll be a tall task - there's a reason why no one's ever accomplished it. 

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And as the offseason rolls on, ESPN thinks that the Ravens will be the No. 1 team to begin next season, not the Chiefs, and are very specific about why.

"The Chiefs wouldn't give Jones, a potential unrestricted free agent, the money he wanted on a long-term contract last season when he was holding out, so it wouldn't make sense for them to give it to him this time around. It also isn't logical for them to make him the franchise player, so it's possible Jones will be moving on. 

"The Chiefs tried to prepare for that eventuality over the past two years, drafting George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah in the first round, but losing Jones would still be immense."

ESPN thinks the potential loss of Chris Jones might have more of an effect on the team than others.

Jones reminded the world why he's so valuable on Sunday by having an impact on plays that might not show up in the box score. 

Related: Why the Ravens Can Already Punch Their Ticket to Super Bowl LIX

But is that enough to push the Ravens over the top next season in the playoffs? 

Right now ESPN seems to think so.