To be completely honest, this offseason has felt a lot less dramatic than in recent years. A rather weaker free agency class and a weaker draft class definitely brought the vibes down, if you will. Still, though, there were some major moves all throughout.
We saw some big-time players like Dexter Lawrence and Jaylen Waddle get traded, and Maxx Crosby almost get dealt. Now that the main fun of the NFL offseason is over, and the major roster shuffling is done, teams will begin preparing for many of the offseason activities as we progress through the rest of the spring and into the summer months.
For the most part, how a team looks now is going to be how they look when the 2026 NFL regular season begins in September. Let's get into our latest NFL power rankings, where we put a slight emphasis on the NFL Draft classes, but still mostly look at the overall roster itself, and also sprinkle in some of what happened in 2025.
Updated NFL Power Rankings following the 2026 NFL Draft
32. Arizona Cardinals
If nothing else, the Arizona Cardinals do seem to have a foundation being set on the offensive side of the ball, as Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick might have seen head-scratching at the moment, but this front office is clearly building toward 2027, as they've also made some offensive line investments this offseason, too.
However, at the moment, this is the worst team (and probably the worst roster) in the NFL at the moment.
31. Cleveland Browns
I loved what the Cleveland Browns did in the 2026 NFL Draft, but this team still does not have a viable quarterback situation, and that's the main thing bringing this team down. Cleveland is a firm 31st in our latest power rankings, but would be a lot higher even if they had an average passer on the roster.
30. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders have done some nice work in the NFL Draft thus far, obviously snagging Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, but making nice supplementary selections in Treydan Stukes, Keyron Crawford, and Trey Zuhn.
Those later three players are all capable of being starters no later than 2027, so the Raiders clearly have an eye for the future here. In the offseason, we did see this front office go out and make a ton of free agency additions on the defensive side of the ball, and somehow managed to retain Crosby after that trade fell through.
On paper, you simply cannot argue with the improvement, but the main question, for the time being, is still the quarterback position. Kirk Cousins is likely starting for this team, for what I would guess at least half of the regular season.
But there also isn't a guarantee that Cousins is efficient or Mendoza ends up being the right pick. There is a lot of unknown here, but you cannot argue with the process thus far from the front office.
29. New York Jets
Another team that had a stellar draft was the New York Jets, landing David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, and Omar Cooper Jr. in Round 1. Suddenly, the Jets have youth and potentiall all over the offensive side of the ball.
While 2026 isn't a year this team is really trying to win games, Geno Smith being simply average could actually have the Jets flirting with eight-ish wins. But what is clearly at play here is General Manager Darren Mougey setting the stage for a rookie quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft, as the Jets are currently slated to pick three times in that first round.
With the offensive line solid, the pass-catchers getting better, and Breece Hall still being a thing in the backfield, the Jets are pointing in the right direction.
28. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have definitely added some talent in the NFL Draft, and it was going to be impossible for them not to do that. Kadyn Proctor and Chris Johnson in the first round are fine selections, but nothing major.
However, getting Jacob Rodriguez on Day 2 was a master move by GM Jon-Eric Sullivan. Chris Bell in the third round was also one heck of a pick, as he was getting some first-round love earlier this offseason, and while the Malik Willis signing didn't make a ton of sense, he did play quite well as Jordan Love's backup with the Green Bay Packers.
There is a sliver of a chance that the Dolphins could be a frisky team in 2026, but this team is still clearly a year (or more) away from actually competing, and like some of the teams lower on these power rankings, Miami could simply be preparing for a rookie quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft.
When a team can't snag a quarterback for the future in a current draft, they'll typically load up the roster as much as possible for their future arrival.
27. Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans took Carnell Tate in Round 1 of the NFL Draft, giving Cam Ward a much-needed wide receiver. Tennessee went out earlier htis offseason and bought a ton of talent on the free agency market, which was a wise move.
This team was flush with cap space and honestly had no choice. But once again, the Titans are, like many of these teams, still a year away. With the defense likely in goods hands with Robert Saleh, all eyes turn to Ward and if he can make a jump in year two.
If so, which is possible based on how he ended the 2025 season, Tennessee could finish with a winning record. Tate, furthermore, is a receiver who is an immediate starter as well, so things could be lining up for the Titans to be a fun team in 2026.
26. New York Giants
The New York Giants got three first-round players in Arvell Reese, Francis Mauigoa, and Colton Hood, all addressing key needs in the process. Mauigoa will probably settle into a guard spot and help protect Jaxson Dart. Both Reese and Hood could end up being solid, borderline-starting contributors in year one, but the NFL Draft was honestly not the highlight of the offseason for the Giants.
Hiring John Harbaugh as the head coach was a stellar move. While the Giants still have to go out and prove themselves in 2026, it's hard to say that this team has not gotten a lot better. If Dart can take a step forward in year two, the Giants will absolutely skyrocket up our NFL power rankings.
25. Atlanta Falcons
Not having a first-round pick and having some major quarterback questions, the Atlanta Falcons just were not in a good spot in this year's draft, but one of the best stories of the offseason was Atlanta taking Avieon Terrell, the younger brother of the Falcons stud cornerback, AJ Terrell.
This is honestly one of the coolest things I've seen in the NFL, as they both play the same position and could both start on the outside in 2026 and beyond. Anyway, Atlanta is in a tough spot, as not having a first-rounder was a brutal reminder of how disastrous the previous tenure was.
Sure, the roster talent overall is relatively solid, but this team will have to put their faith into Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa, which may be a recipe for disaster. Being in the NFC South can help soften the blow here, but the arrow is struggling to point up with this franchise at the moment.
Ideally, Tagovailoa wins the starting job and shows flashes of his short prime era with the Dolphins.
24. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints have had a stellar offseason thus far, and this is one team that I’d be shocked at if they did not breakout in 2026. Frankly, they’ll finish a lot closer to an 11-6 record than their 2025 record at 6-11.
Almost winning nearly winning five games in a row to end the 2025 campaign, the Saints have infused this offense with key talent in guard David Edwards, running back Travis Etienne, and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
It’s all about making life easier for Tyler Shough in a major year two. Shough himself played quite well and does appear to have that frisky ability to his game. It’s not going to be a massive surprise if he takes a step forward solely because of the new talent he has.
And current defensive coordinator Brandon Staley did greatly improve this unit in 2025. With an underrated group on defense and an offense suddenly filled with younger talent, the Saints are primed to make a lot of people wrong.
The NFC South could be theirs in 2026, but as I have said before in this ranking, the Saints need to go out and prove it. The foundation is set, though.
23. Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders went from 12-5 in 2024 to 5-12 in 2025, so a lot went wrong, and much of the issue was simply due to a lack of roster talent. General Manager Adam Peters clearly agreed, as they went out and spent a ton in free agency, much on the defensive side of the ball.
But Jayden Daniels not being able to stay on the field was a huge red flag, as his thin frame is definitely a concern going forward. This third year for the Daniels’ era is going to be major, as he’d be eligible for a contract extension following the season. Adding Sonny Styles in the middle of the defense should be an instant boost, as Styles is hyper-athletic and profiles as a high-end linebacker.
This should be a much more stable team in 2026, but given that the NFC does appear to be a lot deeper than it was back in 2024, Washington may struggle to find that type of success.
22. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers made a slam-dunk first-round selection with Monroe Freeling, a stellar tackle prospect from Georgia with the ability to play either tackle spot. Carolina also snagged Chris Brazzell, which could be bad news for Xavier Legette.
Carolina, though, did finish with a losing record in 2025, and quarterback Bryce Young still hasn’t really played that well, so this team isn’t there yet, and if Young cannot take another sizeable step forward in 2026, all bets are off.
The roster itself does now appear to have what it takes to win the division and actually finish with a winning record, but who knows at this point. Young’s time in the NFL has been rather disappointing, but the progress made in 2025 cannot be overlooked.
Carolina’s ceiling is low at the moment until Young can prove he can indeed be a franchise quarterback.
21. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings certainly made some selections in the NFL Draft this year. Taking a bet on Caleb Banks was a wild event to see happen in the first round. Banks has a great profile as a future impact starter, but the foot injuries are notable, and some had wondered if he would fall out of the first round entirely.
Minnesota did add Kyler Murray at quarterback in this offseason, which is a very clear sign that the JJ McCarthy era could be over before it really even fully began. The Vikings do have enough weaponry on offense to be a threat in 2026, and Murray is a good enough quarterback to help lead this team to a 10-win season, perhaps.
The Vikings quietly won nine games in 2025 despite sporting some of the worst quarterback play in the league, so this team should not be counted out. Minnesota comes in just outside the top 20 in our updated power rankings.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One of the most ‘whelming’ teams in the NFL right now, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come in at no. 20 in our updated NFL post-draft power rankings. Tampa Bay may have gotten one of the steals of the first round, though, as Rueben Bain Jr. fell right into their laps after a slight fall into the middle of the first round.
On the bright side, the Bucs did take rather strong ownership of the NFC South for years, and what we saw in 2025 might simply be an outlier. The roster is rather strong, with a great offensive line and solid weapons.
Baker Mayfield can also be one of the more prolific quarterbacks in the league when things aren’t falling apart around him, but the defense is the side of the ball that needed some help. The Bucs did land several neat defensive prospects, as linebacker Josiah Trotter in the second round was another great selection.
Given that the NFC South is still a weaker division, the Bucs could absolutely return to the top of the division in 2026 and again host a playoff game.
19. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs still have a long way to go, but we did see the front office take a major defensive approach in the NFL Draft, landing prospects like Mansoor Delane, Peter Woods, and R Mason Thomas.
These were great picks all at major positions of need, and if this doesn’t tell you that the Chiefs knew they had limited talent on defense, I don’t know what will. The elephant in the room, though, is the health of Patrick Mahomes.
It’s not a guarantee that he’ll be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season, so the Chiefs trading for Justin Fields does make some sense. And based on how this front office has drafted in recent years, it’s not at all a guarantee that the Chiefs will be able to field an improved defense, where they put a majority of their NFL Draft capital this year.
Finishing with six wins and missing the playoffs in 2025, the Chiefs are in a position to have to go out and prove themselves.
18. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have made a lot of good progress this offseason, but I struggled to find a good slot for the team. Sure, you want to think Dallas could improve in 2026 because of how much better they got on defense, but that is far from a guarantee.
We did see Dallas add Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Downs should be able to contribute immediately, while Lawrence is more of a project, but those moves were just one of many on the defensive side of the ball.
Adding defensive coordinator Christian Parker was a huge win, and moves like Jalen Thompson and Rashan Gary are going to be a boost as well. Given how strong the offense is, too, it’s not a stretch to think that the Cowboys can finish with a winning record this year.
But we can’t rank them too much higher than this, as we did see one of the worst defenses in the league in 2025, and it was bad enough to only win seven games, so Dallas is still unproven until they can prove otherwise.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Another team in a very similar boat to the Cowboys, Cincinnati could be one of the more fun teams in the NFL, as the work this team has done on the defensive side of the ball is quite impressive. The Bengals added Lawrence in a trade with the Giants, while also signing guys like Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen.
Bryan Cook came along in the secondary as well, so this defense is ready to roll. But as we have seen in previous seasons, the Bengals seem to get in their own way much of the time, as they have missed the playoffs for a third year in a row, and that’s flat-out inexcusable for the prime Joe Burrow years.
In the two seasons that Cincy has been in the playoffs in the Burrow era, 2021 and 2022, the Bengals have at least made it to the AFC Championship Game, which goes to show you just how good this team can be.
If the Bengals defense can improve just slightly, which feels realistic, they’ll shoot up 10 spots in our power rankings and return as a juggernaut in the AFC, a spot they have been before.
16. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts did not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, thanks to the major Sauce Gardner trade. The Colts, to begin the 2025 season, raced off to a 7-1 start, so we cannot pretend like this team can’t be legitimate.
However, the Colts did seem to overpay for both Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce on extensions, and Jones suffered yet another major injury. Despite starting out as one of the best teams in the NFL, you just do not get the sense Indy is in that same spot.
I do comment GM Chris Ballard for going out in the draft and filling needs, especially in the middle of the defense with CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher.
The Colts could compete in the AFC South and flirt with 10 wins if Jones returns and can show signs of his early-season self from last year. At best, though, the Colts feel like a Wild Card team, and that really isn’t the goal.
15. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore has done a lot of nice work this offseason, but all of this change is not a guarantee to yield good results. The main issue with Baltimore last year was not being able to overcome a ton of early-season injuries.
Lamar Jackson was a bit banged up, too. In the offseason, the Ravens brought in Jesse Minter and did make some nice roster moves in signing Trey Hendrickson, signing an underrated guard in John Simpson, and drafting Vega Ioane in the first round of the draft.
Baltimore should be competing for the AFC North title in 2025, as both Pittsburgh and Cleveland will be non-factors, and Cincinnati seems to always slip up in some capacity. Until the Ravens can get back on track, though, they’re limited in our power rankings.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers
I guess we can base this ranking offf a possibility that Aaron Rodgers does return for one more season, but that also is not a guarantee and does not seem that fair to the other teams on this list. What does obviously stick out with the Steelers is that this team seems to win nine or 10 games every single season.
And I am not sure that is going to change with Mike McCarthy at the helm. The Steelers did trade for Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason in a move to bring in another wide receiver. The offensive line is young and has talent, and the defense is typically good enough.
Pittsburgh also took Drew Allar in this year’s draft, so if Rodgers does retire, which could still be on the table, Allar and Will Howard would likely battle it out for the starting job, but both truly do not profile as future starters.
The Steelers are one of the more ‘meh’ teams in the NFL at this point, and all of the fun non-quarterback moves they make will continue to not matter until they get that quarterback set in stone.
Pittsburgh is living in the past, and this is about as high as they could get in our power rankings, even if the limited Rodgers returns.
13. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have again made some drama happen, and it would not have been an NFL Draft without Philly doing neat things. They drafted Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers, and Markel Bell, three polarizing prospects.
They also traded for an extended Jonathan Greenard in a move to improve the pass rush, but the Lemon pick sticks out, to be honest, as it does seem to further indicate that AJ Brown is going to be on the move, likely to New England in the summer.
Philly, though, is going to continue to be a limited team unless the offense can be perfectly crafted for Jalen Hurts, which is a job that clearly has not happened every season. With Sean Mannion as the new offensive coordinator, he’ll have one of the biggest lifts in the NFL this year. If Hurts can’t thrive with Mannion calling the shots, it’ll be another wasted season.
12. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers collapsed down the stretch in 2025 and only ended up winning nine games, losing in the Wild Card Round against Chicago. The Packers, like our next team in our power rankings, feel good and nothing more right now.
Green Bay did not have a first-round pick due to the Micah Parsons trade, so they had limited capital to work with. We did see a defensive emphasis with their first three picks, though in Brandon Cisse, Chris McClellan, and Dani Dennis-Sutton.
For this team to take that next step into contention, the Packers will have to take a slight leap on both sides of the ball. If that does happen, Green Bay may finally be able to legitimately win the NFC South and host a playoff game, which the fanbase is surely wanting.
Green Bay is narrowly outside of our top 10 teams.
11. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are one of the more 'good' teams in the NFL, but nothing more at this point. Los Angeles, in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, have gone 11-6 in the regular season, only to get bounced out in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
The main issue with this team was the offensive line, and the unit was simply not improved as much as fans would have liked. Los Angeles didn't address the offensive line in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, instead taking a 25-year-old pass-rusher in Akheem Mesidor from Miami (FL).
With the AFC West all seemingly improving this offseason, the Chargers might be right on the edge of falling behind. To be fair, though, this team does have a high floor nature and should again be a lock for double-digit wins, and that's good for something in this league. Los Angeles is 11th in our latest power rankings.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars had quite the interesting draft class. Their first pick was a second-round selection in Nate Boerkircher, a tight end who was largely seen as more of a late-round selection, so some have thought that pick was a bit of a reach.
The Jags didn't have a ton of capital to begin with, either, as they had traded quite a bit to move up in the 2025 NFL Draft, when they took Travis Hunter, who suffered a season-ending injury during his rookie season.
Jacksonville, however, did burst onto the scene in 2025 and win 13 games, also capturing the AFC South title. They couldn't get past the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round, but a foundation was set for long-term success. The roster itself is solid, but there are definitely some notable holes with the exit of Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd in free agency.
The Jaguars are a good team right now, but it's not clear what this team did to take that next step into greatness. That appears to be just out of reach right now.
9. Chicago Bears
Definitely with a calculated approach in the draft this year, the Chicago Bears clearly wanted to address some key needs, as they kicked things off with Dillon Thieneman from Oregon in Round 1. Thieneman is a do-it-all safety who can come up near the line of scrimmage in run support, and also hold his own on the backend of the defense.
Chicago was another team that burst onto the scene in 2025 with a first-year head coach, winning the NFC North and making an appearance in the NFC Divisional Round. If Caleb Williams can get that completion percentage up, and the remade secondary comes together, Chicago will be formidable in 2026 and beyond. They come in just inside the top 10 in our power rankings.
8. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers, at least based on some consensus rankings, did not have a stellar NFL Draft, but the Niners may also feel differently. If nothing else, this team did bring in a good bit of talent in the offseason, including Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, Dre Greenlaw, and Osa Odighizuwa in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys.
San Francisco did mess around and win 12 games last year despite dealing with a ton of injuries, and that's really the main thing with this team. If the roster can simply stay healthy, it should be a top one in the league. The front office got better at a few positions, and there are some elite players scattered all over the place.
7. Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have done themselves a lot of favors in the NFL Draft. Blake Miller in the first round was an awesome pick. Miller is a pure right tackle prospect with over 50 games of experience in college. He'll be able to allow Penei Sewell to head to left tackle and make a million more Pro Bowls and All-Pros on that side.
Detroit's lack of success in 2025 was also mostly due to injuries, so it's not like this team was or is that far away. We did see an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball, too, as that unit simply needed more talented players, but the infrastructure on offense has been set for years, and GM Brad Holmes is as good as any GM in the NFL in finding talent in the draft.
The Lions are one of the best teams in the league and should return to the top of the NFC North in 2026. This roster is simply too good for them to miss the playoffs for a second year in a row.
6. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have had a solid offseason, bringing in a 'new' head coach in Joe Brady, and notably swinging a trade for wide receiver DJ Moore. Buffalo has not been able to get over the hump in the playoffs, and that figures to end at some point, right?
Buffalo's run defense, in particular, was a disaster in 2025, so the team has worked to shore that up this offseason, but with the Bills, this team does have a very high floor given that Josh Allen is still in place and at the top of his game.
As long as something major does not happen, Buffalo will continue to be an elite team most years. They come in just outside the top-5 in our latest power rankings.
5. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots did some solid work in the NFL draft this year, landing Caleb Lomu in Round 1, to begin things. Lomu could be a long-term replacement from Morgan Moses, the current right tackle who is getting up there in age.
Lomu might also be able to kick inside to guard if necessary, but the main idea here is that the Patriots have continued to invest in the offensive line in recent years, also drafting guys like Will Campbell and Jared Wilson, and also signing Alijah Vera-Tucker this offseason, too.
New England reached the Super Bowl in 2025, but they were clearly outmatched and a year early onto the scene. With a schedule getting a lot tougher in 2026, the Pats might regress, but what if they don't?
It's reasonable to think that year two of the Mike Vrabel era could yield better results, as many things are carrying over into a new season. Everyone is more experience and perhaps better.
New England doesn't take much of a tumble down our power rankings after the NFL Draft.
4. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have added a ton of talent in the trenches in this year's draft, kicking things off with guard Keylan Rutledge, and then taking Ohio State's Kayden McDonald to shore up the middle of the defense, as if that unit needed improved at all.
But in the offseason, Houston added running back David Montgomery, guard Wyatt Teller, and tackle Braden Smith. It's been a masterclass by GM Nick Caserio, who saw where his team was the weakest and made those improvements.
Suddenly, the Texans have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL and do not have an obvious weakness. This also puts a ton of pressure on CJ Stroud to have a career year in 2026 and earn a long-term contract extension, which is surely something the front office wants to happen.
Houston rises a bit and is now 4th in our power rankings.
3. Los Angeles Rams
So, the Los Angeles Rams did a thing in the NFL Draft. Not many people saw the Ty Simpson pick coming, but it happened. Oddly enough, the Rams also drafted yet another tight end, taking Ohio State's Max Klare at the bottom of the second round.
The Rams have about 49 tight ends on the roster, and now Simpson to perhaps backup Matthew Stafford, but to be fair to the Rams, this team did fill their most urgent roster need in free agency, trading one of their first-round picks and a bit more for cornerback Trent McDuffie, while also signing cornerback Jaylen Watson.
Los Angeles did improve their roster rather obviously, but the Simpson pick has been one that people are stuck on. Simpson isn't a slam-dunk first-round pick, but if nothing else, he'll get to soak in a ton of information from two future Hall of Famers in Stafford and head coach Sean McVay.
2. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos come in at no. 2 in our power rankings following the draft. Denver came into the draft this year with limited capital due to the Waddle trade, but the Broncos were absolutely in a position for that type of move to happen.
Denver needed a legit WR1 to pair up with Courtland Sutton, and they got him. The Broncos roster was also, arguably, the best in the NFL even before that trade went down. Denver got some solid players in the draft this year with future starting capabilities, but there really wasn't a clear-cut starting spot open on this roster, which is a good thing and a testament to just how good this front office is.
The Broncos have a great thing going and could 100 percent win the Super Bowl in 2026. They may have done just that n 2025 had Bo Nix not broken his ankle in the AFC Divisional Round against the Bills.
1. Seattle Seahawks
Like the Broncos, the Seattle Seahawks came into the NFL Draft this year with limited capital, but no team was and is in a better spot right now than the Super Bowl champions. Like Denver, Seattle did not have many avenues to substantially improve the roster.
However, Jadarian Price in Round 1 was a stellar pick. He's a pure runner and could immediately become their RB1 for years to come. Bud Clark, a safety from TCU, was also a nice pick and addressed a need, as Coby Bryant departed in free agency.
All in all, Seattle is primed to again be one of the top teams in the NFL in 2026, and while repeating as Super Bowl champs is difficult, it can be done and has been done. Seattle finishes up our rankings at the top spot, to the surprise of no one.