The 2026 NFL Draft is now in the books, and teams across the league will slowly begin various offseason activities. The draft also marks the last time teams can make major, notable roster changes. Of course, big-time trades can still happen, but the players who will contribute to a Super Bowl team are currently on their respective rosters.
The NFC emerged as an ultra-competitive conference in 2025, and with how certain teams approached the offseason, there could be multiple winning teams to totally miss the postseason in 2026. Even with seven teams making the playoffs, a few could just miss out and perhaps even have double-digit wins.
Let's get into some NFC playoff team predictions following the NFL Draft.
Predicting all seven NFC Playoff teams following the 2026 NFL Draft
1. Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams had some major weaknesses in the secondary earlier this offseason, so all the Rams did was fill that need with a major trade for Trent McDuffie, and a notable free agent signing of Jaylen Watson, two former Kansas City Chiefs cornerbacks.
Suddenly, the Rams roster doesn't have a clear weakness, and while their Ty Simpson draft pick gets hammered, let's not forget just how good this roster is. If it wasn't for a below-average secondary, LA could have won it all in 2025.
2. Detroit Lions
The main reason why the Detroit Lions stumbled down the stretch in 2025 was due to injuries that just would not go away, and a defense that lost its groove. On paper, thiscould be one of the three best teams in the NFL, as the Lions are just one year removed from finishing 15-2 and earning the NFC's top seed.
What we saw in 2025 was clearly an outlier, so it's reasonable to expect Detroit to finish atop the NFC North in 2026. They also happen to have the best quarterback-head coach combination in the division as well, which helps.
3. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have already made a ton of changes on the defensive side of the ball. Christian Parker is now the new defensive coordinator, and personnel changes like Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Rashan Gary, and Jalen Thompson does simply get better players into the building.
Dak Prescott is also the best, most efficient quarterback in the NFC East, and with the three other teams all facing major questions, the Cowboys stick out as being the best-positioned in 2026.
4. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints won four of five games to end the 2025 season, and during this stretch, then-rookie quarterback Tyler Shough really began to put things together. It's clear, furthermore, that this offseason was all about adding for Shough.
Guard David Edwards was a big-money free agent signing, as was running back Travis Etienne. First-round draft pick Jordyn Tyson boosts the wide receiver room and gives Chris Olave a running mate, and even tight end Noah Fant brings a nice boost as a receiver.
Given that the NFC South is also largely the weakest division in football, the Saints could surely scrape together a few more wins from last year's total. All it took was eight wins by the Carolina Panthers in 2025 to capture this division title.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
With AJ Brown likely out the door, and another new year of an offensive coordinator, the Philadelphia Eagles are primed to regress a bit. Jalen Hurts is also a sub-par passer and just cannot elevate a dropback passing game, so Philly, especially if Brown is out of the picture, will not be a threat to throw the ball at a high level.
Still, though, there is a high floor with this team, as we have seen in the Nick Sirianni era. The Eagles may still win 10-ish games, which would be good enough for a Wild Card spot in all likelihood.
6. Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks and Rams can't both win the NFC West. I am a firm believer that the Rams are simply a better team now given how aggressively they improved the roster. Los Angeles may have advantages at quarterback and head coach, too. Given how hard it is to replicate success year over year, Seattle could fall into a Wild Card position in 2026.
7. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears managed to win 11 games in the first year of the Ben Johnson era, and the one huge thing that sticks out the most with this team is Johnson himself. Typically, head coaches in the NFL prove quite quickly if they belong or not, and Johnson absolutely belongs.
With the Bears overhauling the secondary, the defense should be improve and more consistent down-to-down. Given Johnson's expertise on offense, there's also reason to believe that Caleb Williams could play the best football of his career in 2026 as well.
While a division title might not be likely, the Bears are well-positioned to keep this train moving and get into the playoffs for a second season in a row.