It did seem like there was nothing that was going to stop the A.J. Brown trade from happening, and it officially went through earlier this week. In a move that not many saw coming, Myles Garrett got dealt from the Cleveland Browns to the Los Angeles Rams.
Suddenly, the AFC does look a bit different, and those two trades mark what might end up being the end of the big-time moves we see this offseason. Earlier in the offseason, two other AFC teams in Denver and Cincinnati added Jaylen Waddle and Dexter Lawrence in major moves.
It's an arms race in the AFC at this point. Now that the dust is likely settled with the major moves, let's check out how the AFC looks with some fresh conference power rankings.
Updated AFC power rankings following most recent blockbuster trades
16. Cleveland Browns
With Garrett out of the picture, the Browns cut into their roster talent big-time, but he was not going to help them win anymore. The Browns are clearly being held back by the quarterback position, and it still might be a couple of years before this team gets that position figured out.
Acquiring resources for Garrett in a trade was the best way for the franchise to maximize him, and while it's going to be another rough year for the Browns, there is at least a clear 'rebuild' direction that this team is on.
15. New York Jets
The New York Jets are likely starting Geno Smith at quarterback for 2026. That, coupled with a subpar head coach in Aaron Glenn, could lead to another brutal campaign. Sure, the Jets have three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, but for 2026, this team isn't in a position to compete, but we have seen General Manager Darren Mougey add some neat young talent, so there is future optimism, especially if the quarterback position gets figured out in the next year or so.
14. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders have definitely made some progress this offseason, but nothing is guaranteed. Fernando Mendoza is now in the building as the future starting quarterback, as the team also added Kirk Cousins this offseason.
It's clear that this new coaching staff doesn't want to rush Mendoza onto the field. And while Raiders fans might want to see the rookie on the field immediately, there are strong arguments for his debut to wait a little bit.
On paper, the Raiders did get better this offseason, but the wide receiver room might just be the worst in the NFL, and, one again, it feels like the offensive line and secondary are both sore spots. Given how dysfunctional this team has been in recent years, it's going to take a lot for us to change our minds.
Furthermore, the Raiders are in the AFC West, which could be the best division in football, so for 2026 at least, there isn't much of a path to compete.
13. Miami Dolphins
I guess to a degree, the Miami Dolphins could be a fun team in 2026. The team signed Malik Willis this offseason in a major quarterback change, cutting Tua Tagovailoa. Recently as the Green Bay Packers backup, Willis was playing his tail off and was honestly pricing his way off the team and into a payday.
The Dolphins hired Jeff Halfley as the new head coach, who had recently spent time as the Packers defensive coordinator. On paper, this team is a bit of a mess, but there are some fun pieces at running back in De'Von Achane, and even along the defensive line.
Perhaps a defensive, rugged culture established by Halfey could pay off immediately and help the Dolphins emerge as more of a spoiler team, but this operation is clearly in the beginning stages of a rebuild, so it's likely going to take a good bit of time before we see this plan hit its stride.
12. Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans were active this offseason, bringing in a new coaching staff led by Robert Saleh. Brian Daboll is also in as the offensive coordinator, which is going to be a great thing for Cam Ward, their second-year quarterback.
The Titans, perhaps more than other teams ranked this low, are definitely progress in the right direction. Ward played quite well down the stretch in 2025, and now with Daboll in the mix, the chances of a year two breakout feel very high.
The roster still needs a bit of work, but the future does look bright if Ward makes a leap and this first-year coaching staff begins to thrust this franchise in the right direction.
Tennessee is absolutely a team that could shoot up these rankings a bit as the season progresses.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers
You know it's bad when the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted Aaron Rodgers to come back and play one more season. The Steelers don't have much going for them as we progress toward 2026. The quarterback is below-average, and many of the key players are either aging, declining, or both.
If nothing else, Pittsburgh has a pair of young quarterbacks in Will Howard and Drew Allar who could potentially develop into something, but even that feels like a stretch. Mike McCarthy is also in the picture as the new head coach, so this 'non losing season' streak set by Mike Tomlin could be in jeopardy.
Pittsburgh is a high-floor team, at best. The roster is just barely good enough to scrape together some wins, but not nearly good enough to be a legitimate playoff team. It does again feel like this franchise is barreling toward another nine or 10-win season, but given how much better other AFC teams got this offseason, that feels increasingly unlikely.
Pittsburgh falls outside the top-10 in our AFC power rankings.
10. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts went through quite the season in 2025. They began the year 7-1, and not only did it feel like this team was for real, but Daniel Jones was playing at a borderline MVP level, and Jonathan Taylor was running his tail off.
However, things collapsed down the stretch. Indy ended up winning just one more game. Jones tore his Achilles, and now, the future seems murky. What does seem rather certain is this team hovering around that 8 or 9-win mark in 2026.
That's where they have been in each year of the Shane Steichen era, and while that isn't anything special, Indy won't be among the worst teams in the league. At best, Jones comes back healthy, and the team enjoys more of an evenly spaced-out 9-8 season. This likely wouldn't be good enough to to make the playoffs in the loaded AFC, but if nothing else, it's not a 5-win campaign.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
I am not sure why so many people are high on the Kansas City Chiefs - the roster got worse this offseason. Sure, the team signed Kenneth Walker III, but he's not a bell-cow running back and is largely limited as a player, not offering much in pass protection or as a receiver.
Kansas City lost both Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson at cornerback, and tight end and wide receiver rooms are both still a major concern. Additionally, it's at all a guarantee that Patrick Mahomes is going to be 100 percent ready for Week 1.
I suppose if you want to run with the argument that they're the Chiefs, so they'll figure it out, that's fine, but this team finished with six wins last year for a reason.
They're a firm third in the AFC West and have an uphill battle in 2026.
8. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens had a down year in 2025, missing the playoffs and dealing with a ton of injuries earlier in the season. If it wasn't for a Tyler Loop missed field goal, though, Baltimore would have made the playoffs.
All that may have to go right for 2026 is the injury luck to get better, and for first-year head coach Jesse Minter to at least help improve the defense. He was a stellar defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 and 2025, so there is reason to believe that could carry over into Baltimore.
But the NFL is a 'what have you done for more lately' league, and while this is a very good roster, missing the playoffs is notable, and it's forced the Ravens to have to put themselves back on the map a bit.
Lamar Jackson was also banged up during the season, which isn't ideal. Losing center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency is going to hurt, and the secondary has been a concern for a little while now.
For the time being, until proven otherwise, Baltimore is No. 8 in our power rankings.
7. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers didn't improve the offensive line enough for that unit to not still be a concern for 2026. Once again, it feels like the front office left a bit of meat on the bone with player acquisiton this offseason.
In each year of the Jim Harbaugh era, the Chargers have gone 11-6 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. What did the team do this offseason for that to no longer be the case? While this is one of the more 'high floor' teams in the NFL, the team is far from a legitimate contender.
There's a lot of good with this group, but minimal great and not much that would have you think they could improve in 2026.
6. Cincinnati Bengals
You really have to love what the Cincinnati Bengals have done this offseason. It's been an all hands on deck approach on defense, adding a ton of talent across the board. Lawrence is the new addition up front, but he also joins a reliable veteran in Jonathan Allen.
Boye Mafe joins the group off the edge, and a steady safety in Bryan Cook signed with the team in free agency after a successful stint with the Chiefs. On paper, this team is as good as it's been in the Joe Burrow era, so now you really get the sense that this is a boom-or-bust season.
The Bengals have not made the playoffs since the 2022 season, which feels like a fake statistic. Burrow himself has struggled to stay healthy in recent years, but the offensive line really came together in 2025, and given how talented the defense is, Burrow and the offense should benefit.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars losing Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd in free agency this offseason is going to hurt, but with how well coached this team is, it's hard to see how they don't at least remain among the better teams in the conference.
I am not sure a 13-4 season is attainable in 2026 given the loss of talent and the fact that there's now an entire year of film out, but the Jaguars do appear to have a solid head coach and a quarterback in Trevor Lawrence who ended the year as an MVP candidate.
Jacksonville isn't going to win the Super Bowl or anything, but stability is what this franchise has accomplished, and that will remain the case in the 2026 season. Another offseason is likely needed for this front office to put the finishing touches on what may be a Super Bowl roster down the line.
4. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans come in at No. 4 in our AFC power rankings. Houston's roster is elite, but the main question mark continues to be CJ Stroud, the starting quarterback. GM Nick Caserio shored up the weak spots in the offseason, signing two veterans along the offensive line, and trading for running back David Montgomery.
Amazingly, he figured out how to make the defense better by signing Reed Blankenship and drafting Kayden McDonald in Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft. In each of the past three seasons, Houston has advanced into the Divisional Round, but have not gotten past that.
This feels like a major season. If Houston is again falling short in the playoffs, and Stroud doesn't elevate his game, so tough conversations need to be had. But if Stroud plays like he did as a rookie back in 2023, this team could win it all.
Roster-wise, this is about as good as you'll see in the NFL. The Texans come in at No. 4 in our power rankings.
3. Buffalo Bills
The reliable Buffalo Bills are again primed to win a ton of games, as they do most years. Thanks to New England's schedule also getting harder, Buffalo should be able to capture the AFC East title in 2026. For this team, though, it's never really been about the regular season.
The Bills have fallen short time and time again in the playoffs, and at some point, that has to change, right? Well, maybe not. If nothing else, Buffalo hasn't done anything to make us believe they won't win a ton of games.
And when January rolls around, most expect the Bills to be right in the mix in the AFC playoffs. Josh Allen is still in his prime, and the Bills have at least established themselves as a juggernaut, even with the Super Bowl evading them.
2. New England Patriots
The Patriots unsurprisingly landed Brown in a major trade that broke earlier this week. On paper, the team did get better this offseason, but the schedule does get a lot harder, and after going 14-3 in 2025, it might be hard for this team to repeat that in 2026.
Losing just three games in a regular season leaves little margin for error, and you'd have to assume that an increase in opponent difficulty is going to have this team closer to 10 wins, even. At the samee time, the Patriots sport a top-5 head coach, an elite quarterback, and now have an elite wide receiver.
This team did also represent the AFC in the Super Bowl in 2025, so that has to be considered here. While getting back to the big game might be unlikely, the Patriots established themselves, once again, as a top team in the NFL.
1. Denver Broncos
The Patriots weren't the only team that added a big-time wide receiver this offseason. The Broncos did this too with Waddle. On paper, this is the best team in the conference. Denver's trench play on both sides of the ball combines as the best in the league, and with a strong supporting cast on offense, quarterback Bo Nix has everything he needs to breakout further.
Defensively, this team continues to lead the NFL in sacks, and couples that with a stingy secondary. Had Nix not broken his ankle, we're likely talking about this team having made the Super Bowl last year, perhaps even winning it.
We could get to a point with the Broncos in 2026 where there isn't a thing this team can't do. The Broncos did win a ton of one-score games last season, and you'd not be crazy to think a regression is coming in that regard, but from top to bottom, this franchise has what it takes to win it all, taking the top spot in our latest power rankings.