Even though there might be another handful of moves yet to be made this offseason, the dust is finally starting to settle and the 2026 season is slowly but surely coming into focus.
We've already passed many of the major offseason landmarks from the coaching cycle to free agency, to the NFL Draft and now the official 2026 schedule release. You can almost feel football coming back, but we still have four months left to wait for the real games to start.
Now that we have the 2026 schedule to look at, it really feels like the perfect time to see how every team in the league stacks up against each other with a brand-new set of NFL Power Rankings. We've been exploring a lot of different categories this offseason, but the latest NFL Power Rankings are going to be based almost purely on where we think teams will be this season, not necessarily just where they were at the end of last year.
We're taking into account everything from coaching changes to player movement, ranking every NFL team worst to best following the official schedule release.
2026 NFL Power Rankings:
32. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have to be considered the "worst" team in the league at this point in time. Anything can happen when the season rolls around, but this is a franchise that made wholesale changes from top to bottom of the organization. A first-year head coach, a gutted roster, an unproven quarterback, and a ton of youth on both sides of the ball.
It would be understandable for the Dolphins to struggle this season.
31. Arizona Cardinals
You can understand why Arizona Cardinals fans might be optimistic at this stage of the offseason. Jacoby Brissett posted pretty solid numbers in 2025 (over 3,300 yards, 23 touchdowns, just 8 interceptions), but the Cardinals still only won one game he played.
Now, Arizona's got Jeremiyah Love to build the offense around and one of the best tight ends in the game in Trey McBride. Maybe even the best. But this team still has a rookie head coach and a roster that is a work in progress.
30. New York Jets
The Jets have had a really solid offseason, and they were big winners of the 2026 NFL Draft. Even without a quarterback of the future in place, the Jets clearly upgraded this offseason on both sides of the ball, and the David Bailey pick should have a huge impact on a pass rush that had the 2nd-fewest sacks in the league last season.
If Geno Smith can cut down on the turnovers, the Jets' offense could cause problems for opposing teams this season.
29. Cleveland Browns
When you look at the way the Browns have constructed their roster this offseason, you can't help but feel like they've raised the proverbial floor. They already had one of the better defenses in the league, but this team has just been the definition of lopsided roster-wise.
Getting an upgraded offensive line and more weapons at the wide receiver position will be huge, but the quarterback position could absolutely hold this team back.
28. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders had their offseason plan handed to them on a silver platter in 2026. They knew going into the offseason that they were going to be taking Fernando Mendoza, so they had to get the right head coach to work with him. And the Klint Kubiak pick feels right.
The Maxx Crosby trade fiasco ended up working in the Raiders' favor, at least for the time being. This team upgraded in a big way on defense and we'll see how long it takes them to make the jump as a team. The long-term pieces seem to be in place, which is the most important thing right now.
27. New Orleans Saints
There is really a lot to like about the New Orleans Saints right now, but there are also reasons to be skeptical. We need to see Tyler Shough build on what he did last season, and he won't be catching anyone off guard like he might have last year.
The Saints' additions of David Anderson (LG), Travis Etienne, and Jordyn Tyson gave their offense some massive upgrades. Defensively, the team said goodbye to Cam Jordan but still has a lot of pieces to surprise people and be a factor in the NFC South.
26. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are really one of those teams that you have to throw away pretty much everything you saw last year before you make an assessment or prediction about what 2026 could be like. Not that the Falcons have nothing to build on, but what's the quarterback situation going to be like? How much will off-field issues impact James Pearce Jr. and the vastly improved pass rush?
We'll see how much of an impact Kevin Stefanski can make. It just feels like you can't anchor any sort of bold faith anywhere with this team right now.
25. Tennessee Titans
The Titans had one of the best offseasons of any team that needed to make a bunch of wholesale changes. Getting Robert Saleh as the new head coach was huge, but getting Brian Daboll to work with Cam Ward really feels like a massive win. The Titans had a great free agency period as well, bringing in John Franklin-Myers to upgrade the defensive line and Wan'Dale Robinson to give Cam Ward a much-needed weapon.
Carnell Tate was a surprise pick early in the 2026 NFL Draft, but a good one. This Titans team could be one of the most improved in the NFL this season. It feels like they've got the right combination of coaching, quarterback, and supporting cast.
24. Washington Commanders
The Commanders made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game just two seasons ago, but injuries ravaged their roster this past season. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility to think this team could be right back in contention in the NFC East this season, but there are obvious reasons for trepidation.
I love the additions they made defensively to get Odafe Oweh, Sonny Styles, Leo Chenal, and more. They needed to get more athletic and younger on that side of the ball, and they got it done. This team will go as far as Jayden Daniels can take them.
23. New York Giants
The Giants landed a big fish this offseason with John Harbaugh coming in as their new head coach. After coaching the Ravens for nearly two decades, Harbaugh is getting a fresh start with a young and highly interesting roster.
There were times last season that the Giants looked like they might be able to make a run, but injuries got in the way. If this team can stay healthy, could they be a legitimate factor in the NFC East? That feels like a big "if" at this point, but the pieces are there for the Giants to be interesting right away under Harbaugh.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers won the AFC North and made it to the playoffs last year, but this is going to be the first year without Mike Tomlin. Even though Mike McCarthy has a solid track record as a head coach as well, the Steelers just feel like they might be due for a significant regression.
Even with Aaron Rodgers last year, it took a lot of things going their way (injury issues with division rival teams) to set the Steelers up for the success that they had. The additions of players like Michael Pittman Jr. and Rico Dowdle to the offense are intriguing, but even now that Rodgers has come back, this team seems to have a low ceiling for 2026.
21. Minnesota Vikings
This is meant to be a pretty generous projection for the Vikings, who are giving Kyler Murray a shot to win the starting quarterback job this offseason after it didn't work out for him with the Arizona Cardinals. And we've seen what Kevin O'Connell can do in the past with reclamation projects.
Murray will be under a lot of pressure this season, but so will defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The Vikings remade their defensive front this offseason in a big way, and they still have holes in the secondary where young players and holdovers now need to step up.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers were one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL last season. If they're going to bounce back in 2026, they're going to have to do so without Mike Evans and Lavonte David for the first time in what feels like forever.
The Bucs are entering make-or-break years for both Todd Bowles as the head coach and Baker Mayfield as the team's quarterback and captain. They got a number of steals in the NFL Draft to help them make another push in 2026, but none bigger than the selection of Rueben Bain in the 1st round.
19. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers showed some big-time and necessary improvements as a team last season, even if the numbers don't show that they were all that good. The defense made major strides, and now has a couple of major new additions with Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd coming in through free agency.
It feels like this team is only going to be as good as Bryce Young and the offense this season, and even though they have contingency plans, the injury situation with Ikem Ekwonu is a concern. We'll see how well Monroe Freeling and Rasheed Walker can hold it down in his absence.
18. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were arguably the best team in the NFL last season until things went off the rails and Daniel Jones got hurt last season. They've got to be hoping for better injury luck this season, because it truly feels like Shane Steichen's job is on the line.
After heading into their bye week with a stellar 8-2 record, the Colts lost nine straight games to finish last season. The question after what we've seen them do this offseason is simply: Are they actually better?
17. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys had one of the best offenses in the entire NFL last season, but the worst defense in the league. And it didn't feel particularly close.
The Micah Parsons trade seemed to curse the Cowboys on the defensive side of the ball last season, but they've been hard at work figuring out ways to make up for that loss and get back on track. The addition of Caleb Downs at the safety position was massive for Dallas, but they've gotten significantly better at all three levels of the defense.
If that offense can stay healthy, the defense should be way better in 2026, and the Cowboys could contend for the NFC East.
16. Kansas City Chiefs
The injury to Patrick Mahomes last season was an exclamation point on the most disappointing season for the Chiefs since Mahomes became the starter back in 2018. In fact, it was really the only disappointing year. The Chiefs not only dropped out of 1st place in the AFC West, but they fell all the way down to 3rd place and are hoping to bounce back in a big way this year.
Mahomes looks on track to play Week 1, and he'll have a new friend in the backfield with him. Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker is now going to lead the Chiefs' backfield.
The defense has a ton of youth and might be a work in progress early, but there is a ton of talent on that side of the ball as well.
15. Cincinnati Bengals
It's a bit of a projection to have the Cincinnati Bengals in the top half of the league for NFL Power Rankings at this point, but a healthy Joe Burrow means this team has title contender capabilities. And this might -- might -- be the best team Burrow has had around him since he's been with the Bengals.
Keep in mind, they made it to the Super Bowl in the 2021 season. The trade to acquire Dexter Lawrence, along with the additions of Jonathan Allen and Boye Mafe on the defensive front, have given the Bengals a massive boost where they needed it the most.
14. Detroit Lions
Although there were a few candidates for the award, the Detroit Lions might take the cake when it comes to the most disappointing team of the entire 2025 season. The losses of Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn proved to be more than this team could ultimately recover from in just one offseason.
Still, you have to think the pieces are in place for this Lions team to contend in 2026. Dan Campbell is going to have his guys playing with a chip on their shoulders from Week 1. Drew Petzing is taking over as the new offensive coordinator, and if he can get them back to the level they were playing under Johnson, Detroit is going to vault back up to the top of the NFC North in a hurry.
13. Baltimore Ravens
Just like a number of other AFC teams in 2026, you have to figure the Ravens will be title contenders if their starting QB is healthy. The Chiefs and Bengals are in a very similar boat here, maybe even the Colts, but the Ravens have the league's most dynamic player under center.
When Lamar Jackson is on, few defenses can keep up with him. Still, even in the 13 games he played last season, the Ravens were just 6-7. Baltimore needs the 2024 version of Lamar Jackson out there in 2026, and if Jesse Minter can have the same type of impact on the defense in Baltimore that he had in Los Angeles, this team is going to be a tough out all year.
12. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles were the Super Bowl champions just two seasons ago, but it feels like they've fallen off pretty substantially. With the anticipated trade of AJ Brown looming, the Eagles are poised to take a significant step back in the talent department offensively. And there will be question marks on that side of the ball with Jalen Hurts struggling more than we're used to seeing last year.
The Eagles still have one of the best defenses in the NFL, and the pieces are there offensively for this team to be a contender. A better year offensively will have the Eagles right back in the mix to win the NFC in 2026.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars caught fire late last season and were one of the hottest teams in the entire NFL. They were playing such great, complementary football, but what did the Jags do this offseason to upgrade their roster? Of course, it's not wrong to bank on internal player improvement, but even with cap space available, the Jaguars opted to let two key players walk in free agency -- Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd -- with absolutely no opposition.
I didn't like that at all, and the Jags already play in a pretty competitive division. A healthy Travis Hunter could be a huge X-factor for this team, but I could see a regression here as well.
10. Green Bay Packers
When they were healthy last season, we saw how great the Packers are capable of being. The injury Micah Parsons suffered while the Packers were in Denver proved to be the one obstacle the team simply could not overcome. They even played well last season in the moments they didn't have Jordan Love.
There was a pretty mass exodus of players out of Green Bay this offseason, but this is a talented roster with players ready to step up where there were veteran departures, including young receiver Matthew Golden. The health of Micah Parsons will be mission critical once again, it seems.
9. Los Angeles Chargers
The loss of Jesse Minter seems to be getting overlooked this offseason, but the Chargers are a veteran-laden defense with pretty much everyone coming back.
Offensively, how can this team maximize Justin Herbert's talent and keep him upright on a more consistent basis? They are banking on Mike McDaniel figuring it out. The former Dolphins head coach is a genius when it comes to creating run schemes, and if his arrival can bring true balance to the Chargers' offense, this team might finally live up to lofty expectations.
8. San Francisco 49ers
Even with a ton of injuries, an electrical substation, and a lot of questionable drafting in recent years, the San Francisco 49ers have been one of the best and most dangerous teams in the league. Kyle Shanahan knows what he's doing.
If there was ever a year where the 49ers could actually get some good luck in the health department, we could see this team win 14 or 15 games and coast into the Super Bowl. But that feels like a pipe dream at this point.
The 49ers brought in Mike Evans this offseason, they re-signed Dre Greenlaw, and they have a roster that looks ready to compete for an NFC Championship...maybe even a Super Bowl.
7. Houston Texans
There is not a better defense in the NFL than the Houston Texans right now. The Texans have elite top-end talent at all three levels of their defense, and they simply do everything so well on that side of the ball. There is nothing not to like heading into the 2026 season, especially after they stole Kayden McDonald for the interior defensive line in the 2nd round of this year's draft.
Houston's offense has been a problem area for this team, struggling to find consistency running the ball. CJ Stroud has also not played at the same level we saw from him as a rookie. With David Montgomery now on board, the Texans look poised for a deep playoff run.
6. Chicago Bears
What we saw from the Chicago Bears last season was -- hopefully -- a sign of things to come. Of course, fans of the Lions, Packers, and Vikings don't hope that's the case, but the Bears finally found a winning combination at head coach and quarterback with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams.
The strides Williams took this past season were incredible to see. He cut down on sacks and turnovers, and looked like the prospect everyone was gushing over during his time at Oklahoma and his first year at USC.
The Bears have a lot of moving parts on the defense, and I wouldn't say they made overwhelming (and necessary) upgrades to their pass rush, but the pieces are in place to contend in 2026.
5. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots made it all the way to the Super Bowl this past season, but Patriots haters were proven correct in the Super Bowl as New England was completely decimated by the Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots' relatively easy regular season resulted in an underwhelming playoff run, and major Super Bowl disappointment.
Still, you can't look at this roster and see anything less than 11 or 12 wins if everyone is healthy. Especially if the Patriots add AJ Brown, this team is a force.
The biggest question looming for the organization is how much the off-field drama is going to affect Mike Vrabel.
4. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills moved on from Sean McDermott this offseason, replacing him with Joe Brady as the team's new head coach. And one of the first orders of business this offseason was to go get Josh Allen a true #1 receiver, and the Bills did exactly that.
The trade to acquire DJ Moore sets this team up really well offensively, and will make everyone else better on that side of the ball.
The Bills are in a championship contending window, and it just feels like they need to get hot at the right time and finish in the postseason. That's proven to be much easier said than done.
3. Denver Broncos
After looking like they might have one of the most embarrassingly bad rosters in the league going into the 2024 season (according to some, anyway), the Denver Broncos look like they might honestly have the most balanced and deepest roster in the NFL heading into 2026.
The Broncos hosted the AFC Championship Game last year, and the only thing that prevented them from representing the AFC in the Super Bowl was an ankle injury to Bo Nix at the worst possible time.
Now, the Broncos have added wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the mix, and they've brought back more than 90 percent of the team's snaps from a season ago.
2. Seattle Seahawks
There are two things that are impossible to ignore:
1. The Seahawks have lost a lot this offseason.
2. The Seahawks deserve to be considered the "team to beat" in 2026.
Both things are definitely true, but the latter point doesn't mean that the Seahawks look like the #1 team in the league right now. Seattle lost offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who is now the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. They also said goodbye to some key defenders (Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, Boye Mafe) and the Super Bowl MVP -- Kenneth Walker.
It's a lot of change for a Super Bowl champion, but the Seahawks still look like they're going to be a problem in the NFC.
1. Los Angeles Rams
There is no better combination of coaching and roster in the NFL right now than the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams have the reigning MVP at quarterback in Matthew Stafford. They've got one of the best head coaches in the game in Sean McVay.
As good as this team was last year, they made a blockbuster trade this offseason to acquire Trent McDuffie to fill their biggest weakness defensively at the cornerback position. The way this team is constructed screams Super Bowl contender.