NFC CAPSULES

Key losses: S Dashon Goldson, QB Alex Smith, WR Randy Moss, WR Ted Ginn, G Leonard Davis, LB Tavares Gooden.

Analysis: There's little reason to think the 49ers won't make a strong bid to defend their NFC title. Kaepernick was a revelation in 2012 and by the end of the season showed he's not just a runner. The 49ers kept all of the key pieces of their elite defense with the notable exception of Pro Bowl safety Goldson, whose heir apparent is Reid, a first-round pick. The superb offensive line, anchored by Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Staley, remains intact, and running back Frank Gore shows no signs of fading. The only major worry is wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who could miss several weeks with an Achilles tear, but Boldin is ready to step in.

Best tweeter: @Kaepernick7 — He's a prolific photo poster. After taking some heat from fans during offseason for photos of him wearing gear of other teams, Kaepernick doubled down with more of the same.

2. Seattle Seahawks

Key additions: DE Michael Bennett, DE Cliff Avril, CB Antoine Winfield, RB Christine Michael.

Key losses: QB Matt Flynn, DT Alan Branch, OT Frank Omiyale.

Analysis: Seattle's plans to finally give QB Russell Wilson a top-flight target took a hit when WR Percy Harvin suffered a torn labrum that's expected to keep him out until December. It was a tough break, but otherwise, the Seahawks look to have all of the ingredients to build on their 2012 run to the divisional playoffs. On offense it starts with Wilson, who was sensational as a rookie, and superb power RB Marshawn Lynch. The defense, already stout, got even better with the acquisitions of veterans Bennett, Avril and Winfield. If the Seahawks can find a way to win a couple of more road games and get home-field advantage in the playoffs, they are on the way to the Super Bowl.

Best tweeter: @DangeRussWilson — He gives a peek into his personality in between a heavy dose of quoting Bible scriptures.

3. New Orleans Saints

Key additions: CB Keenan Lewis, S Kenny Vaccaro, OT Terron Armstead, DT John Jenkins.

Key losses: WR Devery Henderson, RB Chris Ivory, CB Johnny Patrick.

Analysis: From a player-personnel standpoint, not much is different for the Saints. They still have QB Drew Brees behind an OK offensive line with so many playmakers all over the field that Henderson should hardly be missed. The defense still appears to have issues even after adding Vaccaro in the draft and Lewis via free agency and switching to a new scheme. But the big change is on the sidelines, where coach Sean Payton is back in charge after serving his suspension for the so-called Bountygate. That should help the offense be even more explosive and return some sense of normalcy to the franchise. The Saints will be hard to stop, tough at home and motivated to rejoin the league's elite.

Best tweeter: @drewbrees — Not afraid to take controversial stands, including calling out the league

4. Atlanta Falcons

Key additions: RB Steven Jackson, DE Osi Umenyiora, CB Desmond Trufant, CB Robert Alford.

Key losses: DE John Abraham, OT Tyson Clabo, CB Dunta Robinson, CB Brent Grimes, RB Michael Turner.

Analysis: The Falcons, already explosive on offense, replaced Turner with Jackson. He joins QB Matt Ryan, TE Tony Gonzalez and WRs Julio Jones and Roddy White to form a formidable group of skill players. But Jackson is the only addition who is sure to improve the team. Umenyiora may not produce like Abraham, who had 10 sacks for a defense that generated only 29 in 2012. The secondary and offensive line are replacing veterans with untested players. Those holes plus a tougher schedule mean the Falcons could backslide, but all that offensive talent makes them dangerous.

Best tweeter: @roddywhitetv — One of the few colorful players in a staid organization, White took heat for suggesting the jurors in the George Zimmerman trial commit suicide. He later apologized.

GOOD BUT NOT GREAT

5. Green Bay Packers

Key additions: RB Eddie Lacy, QB Vince Young, DE Datone Jones.

Key losses: WR Greg Jennings, WR Donald Driver, S Charles Woodson.

Analysis: It's hard to count out the Packers as long as Aaron Rodgers is behind center and there are no contenders in the rest of the NFC North. Still, injuries and attrition are starting to take a toll. Jennings left as a free agent and his purported replacement, Jordy Nelson, is still recovering from knee surgery and fellow WR Randall Cobb is slowed by an arm injury. Lacy was out of shape for training camp and will run behind a line that's still shaky. The defense has been good enough because Rodgers has put up big numbers, but can the unit get stops if the offense regresses?

Best tweeter: @AaronRodgers12 — Rodgers can get testy with followers, such as when he bet a fan his $4.5 million salary that friend Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers wasn't using PEDs. Braun later accepted a suspension for violating baseball's PED policy, but Rodgers hasn't paid up.

6. New York Giants

Key additions: DT Cullen Jenkins, DE Damontre Moore, TE Brandon Myers, G/T Justin Pugh, DT Johnathan Hankins, QB Ryan Nassib.

Key losses: TE Martellus Bennett, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, DE Osi Umenyiora, S Kenny Phillips.

Analysis: Most of New York's weaknesses are on defense. The Giants struggled to stop the run last season, and while the additions of Jenkins and Hankins should help, the linebacker group still looks weak. The once-vaunted pass rush could slip because Justin Tuck regressed in 2012 and Jason Pierre-Paul is recovering from back surgery. The offensive talent, led by QB Eli Manning and WRs Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, is good enough that New York is a playoff team, but it looks as if the Super Bowl window has closed.

Best tweeter: Victor Cruz @TeamVic — Worth a follow if only because he regularly gives away free pairs of shoes on Tuesdays.

7. Washington Redskins

Key additions: WR Donte' Stallworth, LB Nick Barnett, LB Darryl Tapp, DE Brandon Jenkins, S Phillip Thomas, S Bacarri Rambo.

Key losses: LB Lorenzo Alexander, OT Jammal Brown, CB Cedric Griffin.

Analysis: Washington's fortunes hinge on QB Robert Griffin III's ability to stay healthy, and it's an open question whether he can do it or even if he will wait until he's ready to get back on the field. As a rookie Griffin led Washington to rankings of No. 4 in scoring and No. 5 in total yards. The defense figures to be better after injuries wrecked the unit in 2012, but the so-so secondary took a hit when Thomas suffered a foot injury that is expected to keep him out four to five months.

Best tweeter: @RGIII — Griffin posts lots videos and photos that give a peek into his off-field life, and he's not afraid to laugh at himself.

8. Dallas Cowboys

Key additions: S Will Allen, C Travis Frederick, LB Justin Durant, S J.J. Wilcox.

Key losses: RB Felix Jones, CB Mike Jenkins, DE Marcus Spears.

Analysis: Team owner Jerry Jones signed Tony Romo to a contact that includes $55 million guaranteed and guarantees to irritate the quarterback's detractors. Romo again doesn't figure to have much of a running game or protection from his line, but TE Jason Witten and WRs Dez Bryant and Miles Austin make for a great group of targets. If the offense can put up points, the defense looks good enough for Dallas to be a playoff team.

Best tweeter: @DezBryant — Send Bryant your photos or photos you take of him; he's fond of re-tweeting them to his 350,000-plus followers.

STILL STRUGGLING

9. Carolina Panthers

Key additions: WR Ted Ginn, DT Star Lotulelei, DE Kawann Short, G Edmund Kugbila.

Key losses: CB Chris Gamble, WR Louis Murphy, TE Gary Barnidge, LB Jason Phillips.

Analysis: QB Cam Newton may have to carry the offense again because the line is weak, the running backs are mediocre and TE Greg Olsen is the only threat in the passing game. Gamble's retirement and no major additions means a bad secondary looks no better and could be worse. That's troublesome in a division with Drew Brees and Matt Ryan. The Panthers will rely on a deep and talented defensive line and a solid linebacker corps to keep them in games.

Best tweeter: @gregolsen82 — Uses his Twitter account to promote his charitable foundation, Receptions for Research, which benefits victims of cancer and cardiovascular diseases and disorders.

10. St. Louis Rams

Key additions: OT Jake Long, TE Jared Cook, LB Alec Ogletree, WR Tavon Austin.

Key losses: RB Steven Jackson, S Craig Dahl, S Quintin Mikell, WR Danny Amendola.

Analysis: Long was the big free-agent signing for the Rams, and Austin was the guy they moved up in the draft to take. Those two plus the addition of Cook should help QB Sam Bradford, whose development has been stymied by a weak supporting cast. The running game probably won't be much help, though. The defense is good enough that the Rams can hope to sneak into the playoffs, but that's a tough task in their division.

Best tweeter: @Tayaustin01 — Austin briefly quit Twitter in July after he said general manager Les Snead called him into office and admonished him for following the accounts of two strippers.

11. Chicago Bears

Key additions: TE Martellus Bennett, LB D.J. Williams, LB Jonathan Bostic, G Kyle Long, OT Jermon Bushrod, G Matt Slauson.

Key losses: LB Brian Urlacher, LB Nick Roach.

Analysis: The Bears summoned offensive guru Marc Trestman from the Canadian Football League to replace Lovie Smith as coach. His No. 1 task will be to help Jay Cutler become more than just a talented-but-mercurial quarterback prone to pouting. Adding Bushrod, Slauson and Long should help because they'll improve the pass protection. The offense is potentially dangerous, and the defense is good enough to keep the Bears competitive, but it's hard to trust that Cutler can lead them or that the mild-mannered Trestman can handle him.

Best tweeter: @MattForte22 — Forte, one of the few interesting Bears on Twitter, frequently interacts with his followers.

12. Minnesota Vikings

Key additions: WR Greg Jennings, LB Desmond Bishop, CB Xavier Rhodes, DT Sharrif Floyd, WR Cordarrelle Patterson.

Key losses: WR Percy Harvin, CB Antoine Winfield.

Analysis: RB Adrian Peterson was fantastic in 2012 despite coming off knee surgery and lifted the Vikings to a surprise run to the playoffs. Harvin's departure means middling QB Christian Ponder lost his best playmaker in the passing game. The defensive line is still excellent, and Bishop was a nice pickup, but the secondary is suspect. Peterson is incredible, but it's doubtful a one-dimensional offense is enough to get the Vikings in the playoffs this time.

Best tweeter:@XavierRhodes29 — He posts lots of pictures and inspirational messages.

13. Arizona Cardinals

Key additions: QB Carson Palmer, G Jonathan Cooper, RB Rashard Mendenhall, S Yeremiah Bell, CB Antoine Cason, S Tyrann Mathieu, G Earl Watford.

Key losses: QB Kevin Kolb, CB William Gay, S Kerry Rhodes, S Adrian Wilson.

Analysis: The addition of Palmer and improved health on defense have made the Cardinals a trendy pick to make a big jump after their 5-11 finish in 2012. Those predictions are assuming Palmer still can be a better-than-average quarterback and that Arizona can overcome being stuck in the same division with San Francisco and Seattle. There's also the matter of the atrocious offensive line that desperately needs contributions from rookies Cooper and Watford.

Best tweeter: Darnell Dockett @ddockett — Earlier this year Dockett got into a Twitter spat with Alabama QB A.J. McCarron after he messaged his phone number to McCarron's model girlfriend.

14. Philadelphia Eagles

Key additions: CB Bradley Fletcher, CB Cary Williams, TE James Casey, T Lane Johnson, TE Zach Ertz, QB Matt Barkley.

Key losses: DT Cullen Jenkins, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, LB Akeem Jordan.

Analysis: The Eagles are rebuilding under new coach Chip Kelly, who left Oregon for his first pro job. It's possible Philadelphia will be decent if Kelly makes Michael Vick a weapon once again. But Vick's issues with injuries and turnovers make him vulnerable to giving way to second-year pro Nick Foles at some point. RB LeSean McCoy, a pretty good offensive line a solid group of tight ends are pluses, but the defense isn't.

Best tweeter: LeSean McCoy (@CutonDime25) — He posts lots of pictures via his Instagram account.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Key additions: CB Darrelle Revis, S Dashon Goldson, K Nate Kaeding, WR Kevin Ogletree, CB Jonathan Banks, QB Mike Glennon.

Key losses: DE Michael Bennett, DT Roy Miller, RB LeGarrette Blount, TE Dallas Clark, S Ronde Barber.

Analysis: The Bucs are still waiting for QB Josh Freeman to fulfill his promise, but maybe not much longer after drafting Glennon in the third round. RB Doug Martin is a real threat, and adding Revis and Banks shores up the secondary, but losing Bennett and Miller hurts the defensive line. Maybe Tampa Bay can overcome those holes if Freeman is better, but that's been the same story going on three seasons now.

Best tweeter: Adrian Clayborn (@AjaClay) — He's often funny, such as with this sample post: "On this toilet getting light and speedy for practice!!!"

16. Detroit Lions

Key additions: RB Reggie Bush, S Glover Quin, DL Jason Jones, DE Ezekiel Ansah, CB Darius Slay, G Larry Warford.

Key losses: RB Kevin Smith, WR Titus Young, DE Cliff Avril, OT Jeff Backus.

Analysis: The Lions somehow were awful on offense last season despite WR Calvin Johnson breaking Jerry Rice's season yardage record and QB Matthew Stafford passing for nearly 5,000 yards. Bush adds another weapon, but there's no real No. 2 receiver, and the offensive line has too many questions. Replacing Avril with Jones is a downgrade, and there's not much quality depth along the defensive line, among the linebackers or in the secondary.

Best tweeter: @ReggieBush — Tweets often with links to funny videos and humorous observations such as this one: "First time I ever seen a guy run naked across the football field! Lol! That should make SportsCenter!"