Today, I will begin my series “Cream of the Crop”. This will consist of rankings from conference, team offense, defense, and more. The NFL season is just around the corner!

With the 2010 NFL Draft completed, and minicamps beginning, there aren’t many players out there that can make a drastic affect around the league.

Thus, we have an idea of early contenders within both NFL conferences. Yes, injuries can be a factor, but as we head to the summer the top teams seem ready to take charge in 2010.

We start with the AFC, the superior conference in football. The parity was shown in the playoffs, where the Jets came up one quarter short of a making a Super Bowl run as a sixth seed.

Free agency and the draft did a ton to many of the contenders within this conference. Here are my rankings for the early contenders in the AFC this season.

 

1. Indianapolis Colts

As long as Peyton Manning runs the show, the Colts will be the favorite in the AFC. Despite no key acquisitions, the Colts used the draft to fill the few departures that they had.

In the first round, Jerry Hughes was selected to become a future dominant pass-rusher alongside Dwight Freeney. Hughes may also be able to fill in for Raheem Brock who departed.

The biggest question is the offensive line which is getting up in age. If pass blocking struggles in 2010, it will prevent the Colts from going deep in the postseason next year.

 

2. New York Jets

The Jets have already won half the battle. Acquiring Jason Taylor, LT, Santonio Holmes, and Antonio Cromartie makes the Jets as an early favorite. Yes, Mark Sanchez certainly needs to play better in his second season.

However, with the league’s best defense reloading, the Jets will be in every game next season with the opportunity to win.

The weakest link is the locker room. The New York media can turn little concerns into team drama, so Rex Ryan will have his hands full with keeping his team together. Also, whether or not Sanchez improves in his sophomore year remains to be seen.

 

3. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens might be the biggest sleeper in the AFC this season becoming a true contender within the league. The addition of Anquan Boldin, Donte Stallworth, Dennis Pitta, and Ed Dickson gives third-year starter Joe Flacco a great amount of weapons.

Combined with the defense adding youth and the healthy returns of Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, and this team is a true threat.

The biggest difference is Jared Gaither. If Gaither plays for the Ravens in 2010, I don’t see many teams that can take down the Ravens. Without Gaither, the offensive line may become an issue for Flacco and company.

 

4. Cincinnati Bengals

I am drinking the Kool-Aid of the Cincinnati Bengals this year. I don’t believe this team will be a one-year wonder. With acquisitions of Antonio Bryant, Jermaine Gresham, and Jordan Shipley to the offense, Carson Palmer has been giving more weapons to throw to.

The defense finished in the top-five last season and has everyone returning. The biggest question is whether or not Palmer can win the big game. He has failed to do it in the postseason, which will need to change in 2010.

 

5. New England Patriots

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are in Foxboro for another season, thus always being a threat within the AFC. The Patriots focused on their biggest needs: improving the secondary and tight end positions. This team may be filled with a bunch of veteran players, but never count out New England.

Biggest questions for me are the offensive line and Wes Welker. The line is aging, but will need to be stable if the Patriots are important down the stretch. Also, a return of Welker can be a major difference in their offense come playoff time.

 

6.  San Diego Chargers

The Chargers are the kings of the AFC West, having the easiest path over any other team in the conference. Even though they traded Antonio Cromartie and released LaDainian Tomlinson, I still think they will be a team looking to make a playoff run.

However, this may be the team with the most weaknesses. I am not a fan of their defense to begin with, but didn’t see any major improvements on that side of the ball. They reached for running back Ryan Mathews, who they hope can accompany Sproles in the passing game.

This has to be the year for the Chargers to win the title. If not, general manager AJ Smith is ready to make big changes.

 

Matt Miselis is an NFL Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com.

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