1. CLEVELAND BROWNS
The perpetual underdogs have fans buzzing about their 2017 season. Cleveland's excitement is not without reason; their team has overhauled their offensive line and made substantial improvements to their defense. The 2017 team has been reenergized and their efforts have fans feeling optimistic about the team's upcoming season. Kenny Britt joins the Browns fresh off of a stellar year with the Rams. Last season, Britt's performance was a career high for the wide receiver and saw him reach 1,000 yards. Expectations are high for Britt and his role on the offensive line for the Browns. His average of 9.1 yards per target is a significant upgrade for Cleveland. To strengthen their defense, Cleveland also picked up Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers, David Njoku, three of the strongest players available. Garret, a rookie defensive end and first overall draft pick, has already shown his adaptability and willingness to learn; his ability to quickly find his place on the team was proven even before summer training was over. The extremely versatile Peppers was another major score for Cleveland. His reputation for being able to play multiple positions on the field may have hurt his ranking in the draft, but it is likely to make him an asset to the Browns. Peppers was drafted as a safety, but is not limited by the role, and positional flexibility is often more valued on the field even when it is not valued in the draft. Njoku, the newest tight end, is off to a shaky start. After performing well at rookie minicamp, he struggled during training camp. He was sidelined for the preseason opener due to a back injury, but he has since recovered and plans to play in the first game of the season. Despite the turbulence, expectations are nonetheless high for Njoku and he is expected to continue growing and developing in his first year in professional football and the coaches have remained consistently supportive of the young player.

2. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Philadelphia Eagles had a bizarre blend of high expectations and low wins last year. They were predicted to be playoff candidates last year, but they instead became one of only five teams that ended the 2016 season with a losing record and boasted a positive point differential. Of those five, Philadelphia had the largest disparity between expected and actual wins. The strange showing last season makes them a wildcard for 2017-2018.One of the biggest factors in the Eagles potential for the upcoming season is quarterback Carson Wentz. As he moves into his second season in pro football, Wentz will either live up to the expectations that come with being the 2nd overall draft pick of 2016, or he will continue to struggle. Much of the Eagle's fate will hinge on whether he has matured enough to be consistent at the professional football level. But supporting Wentz was a priority in the 2017 draft. The additions of wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith are expected to help, as each has come off 1,000-yard seasons.

3. THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
The Chargers had a rough season in 2016, which is not surprising since their season was defined by unusually high amount of injuries. With 21 players on the injured reserve in 2016, they could have claimed the title for most injuries if that were an existing title. There losses last year were brutal and left them reeling in their notoriously strong division. But their luck is likely to improve this year; predictions of improvement in the upcoming season only intensified after the draft.They may have suffered due to injuries, but their game plan is not to simply lick their wounds and wait to heal; the Chargers have devised and implemented a plan to dedicate themselves to supporting Philip Rivers, their longtime quarterback. Their draft results reflected this effort. The expensive deal that resulted in left tackle Russell Okung (a former Pro Bowl player and champion with the Seattle Seahawks) joining the team signaled their purposeful approach to 2017.The revamping of the offensive line is their goal, and Okung is the main component of that plan. Another costly move was the acquisition of the coveted receiver Mike Williams, offensive lineman Forrest Lamp, and guard Dan Feeney, which cost the Chargers their first three draft picks. Landing Lamp was a major score for the Chargers. The rookie was a starter at Western Kentucky for four years, two of which he was a team captain. He is as skilled as he is tough, making it a surprise that he was even available after the first day of the draft. Feeney, the third round choice, has earned praise for his excellent pass-protection skills. His time as an Indiana Hoosier culminated in a multitude of awards and as a senior he was selected as first-team All-American.

4. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
The 49ers are not expecting to be contenders for the Big Game this year, but they are planning on improving. Not that improving over their 2016 record would require much effort. San Francisco is working towards the reasonable goal of laying a foundation for the team's future. The focus is not to completely rebuild, but to make incremental improvements by reshaping the existing team while blending in new additions. The eventual goal is to create a new and improved team culture in the years to come. Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch had their work cut out for them after the 49ers ended last season with an impressively terrible record: 2-14. But they had the advantage of money and draft selections. They obtained three new free agent offensive players: fullback Kyle Juszczyk and wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin. They also scored one of the best pass-rushers in the draft, Solomon Thomas. The third overall pick, Thomas is fresh from his final year at Stanford University where he played all 13 games for a total of 62 total tackles, 14 for loss, and 8.5 sacks. Among his many accolades are first team All-Pac-12, the Morris Trophy, and Third Team All-American.