26. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are No. 26 in our power rankings, but there could finally be some light at the end of the tunnel. The Raiders used the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Fernando Mendoza, and while the draft was weak at the QB position, Mendoza was good enough as a prospect to go first ovrall.
The Raiders also signed Kirk Cousins earlier in the offseason, and he'll open up the season as the starter, which is the right move. The offensive line and wide receiver rooms are a mess, and while Mendoza could use the experience, throwing him out there with the personnel that the Raiders currently have isn't a good idea.
With that said, I'd be shocked if Mendoza didn't start games this year, as Cousins is what he is as this point, and it probably would not hurt for the rookie QB to get a few starts under his belt. The 2027 season could be when the Raiders officially hand the keys over to Mendoza and truly get this thing rolling.
25. New York Giants
The New York Giants are a bit ahead of the Raiders in that they have a more reliable head coach and also have a young QB that actually did show some promise during the 2025 season. While the Giants still might have another year of rebuilding ahead of them, Jaxson Dart amassing 24 total touchdowns in 14 games last year isn't nothing, and I'd be shocked if this team wasn't optimistic about him.
With that said, the Giants roster isn't quite there yet, and like many teams in this tier, Dart taking a year two leap isn't a guarantee. Given John Harbaugh's experience and winning career, though, New York could at least emerge as a functional team in 2026, which is honestly something they have not been for a while.
Add us as a preferred source on Google