It's not always the truth that the eight teams that finish in last place in each division are the eight worst in the league. Given how tough or weak certain divisions can be, it does make for some interesting finishes.
No one would look at the Detroit Lions, for example, as being one of the eight worst teams in the league, despite finishing in last place in the NFC North in the 2025 NFL Season, but that specific example really drives home the idea that this league is filled with parity top to bottom.
Let's take another fun angle with our NFL power rankings and rank the eight teams that finished in last place.
Power-ranking all eight last place teams as the 2026 NFL Offseason continues
8. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are not only the worst team in the NFL right now, but they just so happen to be in the best division. All of Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco won 12 games or more in 2025, which is flat-out insane.
Arizona not only has a bottom-3 roster, but they have a bottom-5 quarterback room and don't have much of a path to winning more than a handful of games in 2026. It's clear that this franchise is looking toward the 2027 NFL Draft, where they could potentially land a legitimate franchise quarterback.
7. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns do have a solid defense, and the offensive line did get an overhaul, but we do have to take a major note of the quarterback room here. Arguably the worst in the NFL, the Browns really have an uphill battle to win some games in 2026.
At best, Deshaun Watson wins the job and looks semi-competent, but even that does not feel likely. Cleveland, like Arizona, could be waiting for the 2027 draft to find one of the (likely) many first-round-caliber quarterbacks.
Cleveland takes the No. 7 spot in our last place power rankings as the offseason continues.
6. New York Jets
The New York Jets are still a mess but did get active this offseason, especially on defense. With Geno Smith at quarterback, however, the odds simply aren't in the Jets favor, and we can't pretend like Aaron Glenn wasn't a disaster as the team's head coach despite how poor the roster was last year.
5. Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas added a ton of talent this offseason, but that also brings much more unknown. With Kirk Cousins likely slated to open the season as the starter, Raiders fans might have to wait longer than they want to see Fernando Mendoza.
4. Tennessee Titans
Tennessee could have something special in Cam Ward, and with Brian Daboll running the show on offense, Ward's chances at a breakout season are rather high. The roster isn't quite there yet, but an eye toward 2027 as a legitimate season is where I am looking for this squad.
3. New York Giants
The New York Giants struck gold with Jaxson Dart, and while he needs to learn how to protect himself better, Dart was still quite efficient, and now the Giants have an 'adult' at head coach in John Harbaugh. The roster is rather solid, and given that Harbaugh is a proven winner and Dart is a realistic candidate to break out in 2026, the G-Men could contend for the NFC East title.
2. New Orleans Saints
Finishing 4-1 down the stretch with Tyler Shough playing quite well, the New Orleans Saints come in at No. 2 in our power rankings and do have a path to win the NFC South title in 2026. Shough has some clever off-schedule ability and might take a big enough leap for the Saints to win the division, and adding key offensive players like Travis Etienne and Jordyn Tyson will elevate that entire unit.
1. Detroit Lions
It's not hard to see why the Lions are ranked first here. Detroit does have a top-5 roster and were 7-4 at one point, but some poor defensive showings near the end of the season really put a dagger in the 2025 campaign. Detroit has taken thorough ownership of the NFC North in previous seasons, so what we saw in 2025 was clearly an outlier, and it would be a massive shock if this team did not get back into the postseason.