The regular season is over, and 18 teams are already onto the 2026 offseason. While the other 14 teams are preparing for the playoffs and Wild Card weekend, the other 18 are making adjustments to their coaching staffs, rosters, and getting prepared for NFL Free Agency and the Draft, which are just a couple of months away at this point.
After reflecting on the 2025 season and looking ahead to 2026, we want to take a closer look at where every team stands heading into the offseason. This won't be strictly based on each team's record in 2025, but a combination of how they looked in 2025 and how they maybe project in 2026.
What kinds of assets do each of these teams have to work with this offseason? If they are a team currently looking for a new head coach, do they have an attractive overall situation? We're breaking all of that down in these NFL Power Rankings for non-playoff teams entering the offseason.
NFL Power Rankings: Non-playoff teams ranked worst to best heading into 2026 offseason
18. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns don't have a bare cupboard at least, but this is the most cursed job in professional sports. Some new head coach is going to have to come in and break that curse. And while we're not talking about a literal hex on this franchise, we are talking about the fact that this job just seems to doom whoever accepts it, no matter what.
Nobody has been able to find any measure of sustained success with this team. The Browns don't have a quarterback. They have to rebuild the offensive line. Their best player is now in his 30s. This one is a tough sell, but you never know when the right combination of head coach and QB will come along.
17. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have to have one of the most "eh" rosters in the NFL heading into the 2026 offseason. There's a lot of work for GM Monti Ossenfort to do, and even though a new head coach coming in could get Kyler Murray back on board, a new head coach almost always means a new quarterback at some point.
The Cardinals struggled badly with injuries. Their defense needs to be revamped. Is Marvin Harrison Jr. a bust, or is he going to figure it out in 2026 (with the Cardinals, or someone else)?
16. Las Vegas Raiders
I would have the Raiders a lot higher on this list if it wasn't for the off-field drama with Maxx Crosby. This team needs to revamp its offensive line as well as address the quarterback position in the same offseason, which is already a recipe for disaster for a team with the #1 overall pick. Because the Raiders will undoubtedly pick Fernando Mendoza in that spot.
Beyond Maxx Crosby, the entire Raiders' defense was a patchwork group last year and Patrick Graham somehow made it "work". This wasn't a good unit, but they played above their personnel means, if that makes sense. If Crosby demands a trade, it would be a gut punch for a team that should be excited about the #1 pick, Brock Bowers, and Ashton Jeanty.
15. New York Jets
The New York Jets don't have a terrible situation going into the offseason overall. Obviously, there is some work that needs to be done with this roster, but there are pieces in place on the offensive line and at the skill positions that can work with the right quarterback.
But who is going to be the quarterback?
The Jets have some pieces they can build around, it's just going to require a very smart offseason from general manager Darren Mougey to get this team in a position where they can actually win some games in 2026. They might be another offseason (2027) away.
14. Tennessee Titans
I'm interested, just like everyone else, to see what the Titans will do to support Cam Ward this offseason. It starts with the decision they make at head coach, and general manager Mike Borgonzi is expected to go with one of his old buddies from the Chiefs. With that being said, the Titans' head coach search appears to be exhaustive at this point, so anything is on the table right now.
The roster took some nice steps forward in 2026. Although the Titans need another great draft and free agency class to be relevant in the AFC South, they got some great contributions from young players like Gunnar Helm, Chimere Dike, and Elic Ayomanor.
They need to go after a premier pass rusher in the draft and get Ward some more weapons.
13. Atlanta Falcons
The biggest thing the Atlanta Falcons have going for them entering the 2026 offseason is an owner that will do whatever it takes to win. So the Falcons are going to be a team to watch this offseason, and maybe even expect the unexpected. Especially without a first-round pick in the draft, I wouldn't be shocked to see this team be one of the most active in free agency as well as the trade market.
We'll see what kind of vision the new head coach and general manager have, and if the Falcons hire a new coach before a new GM, that will create an interesting dynamic. We'll also get a good feel for just how strong this job is based on which coach accepts the gig. If the Falcons reel in a big fish, we'll know that Arthur Blank is casting the vision properly.
12. Miami Dolphins
UPDATE: Since this was published, it's been reported that the Miami Dolphins have fired head coach Mike McDaniel.
I'm not 100 percent sold that the Miami Dolphins are going to stick with Mike McDaniel, who is currently sitting in on general manager interviews. Would this team be willing to fire McDaniel in order to go after John Harbaugh? You never know in the NFL.
With that said, the Dolphins are undoubtedly going to be in the market for a new quarterback this offseason. Tua Tagovailoa being benched put the writing on the wall there, and having a lack of clarity at quarterback really puts a dark cloud over this team's offseason. Will the Dolphins go after a reclamation project like Mac Jones, or will they try to make a bold trade for someone else?
11. New York Giants
There are a lot of really good pieces right now for the New York Giants, even if a handful of them have serious injury concerns. The primary concern is with quarterback Jaxson Dart, whose reckless style of play has led to some question marks about his longevity in the NFL. But his talent will make this team one of the hot picks of the offseason, because they're going to come away from free agency and the draft looking like one of the best teams in the league on paper.
Mark my words.
The Giants have an attractive situation if all their guys are healthy. Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo coming back from injury, a top-tier defensive front, an offensive line that has improved considerably...There's a lot to like.
10. New Orleans Saints
We talked about it during the 2025 offseason, but I never thought the Saints were going to be a true contender for the #1 overall pick in 2026. And they had us going there for a bit, but the way Tyler Shough sparked this team cannot be overstated.
The Saints have given themselves such a huge jolt entering the offseason with the way they finished the 2025 season, especially the play of Shough. Now, this team can truly build around a young quarterback instead of search for another one. And the way they even got to Shough is hilarious in the first place after Derek Carr's surprise retirement.
The Saints will be a fun team to watch this offseason, and Kellen Moore deserves a ton of credit for doing a great job in year one.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
This is going to seem extremely low for the Chiefs heading into the offseason, but I think it's justified. The Chiefs were not a great team when Patrick Mahomes was healthy this past season, and now his major knee injury complicates things even further. On top of that, the Chiefs' biggest stars on both sides of the ball aren't getting any younger (Travis Kelce, Chris Jones), and the offensive line issues this team has been dealing with are a major concern.
Now, you've got a serious situation with Rashee Rice off the field on top of it all, and the Chiefs don't have good skill players. They need a full-scale rebuild in a lot of ways, and major injury concerns for Mahomes going forward. How much is that knee injury going to affect what he does best?
This team is trending down in a big way heading into 2026.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers just fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard as we are typing this post up, so there will be some major fallout after the complete second-half debacle for this team. The Bucs are running it back with Todd Bowles, and I don't hate that call, by any means. Bowles has been a good coach, and calls a great defense, but the Bucs need the right person in place to orchestrate the offense.
The fall-off of Baker Mayfield in the second half this past season is a major area of concern. The injury issues piling up on both sides of the ball for this team over the last two seasons are a major area of concern.
7. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts seem poised to run it back with Daniel Jones, which is an interesting call given the fact that Carlie Irsay-Gordon has made it very clear that the pressure is on GM Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen to have more success in 2026.
The Colts looked like one of the best teams in the league for the first half of the 2025 season, but obviously the injury to Jones derailed what "could have been" down the stretch. They just didn't have it. But I think the Colts have a lot going for them, especially offensively, with one of the best collections of offensive weapons in the NFL.
Another offseason of loading up on defense could put this team on top of the AFC South, even if Jones regresses to the mean a bit. Assuming he's healthy, of course.
6. Washington Commanders
What in the world is Dan Quinn doing right now? Quinn is firing so many of his coaches after an injury-plagued year, so you can't help but wonder what's going on behind the scenes with that team. It doesn't seem like the decision to let offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury leave is being overly well-received, and it's hard to blame everyone for disliking that move.
The Commanders reached the NFC Championship Game in 2024. They obviously had a lot working for them at the time, and with Jayden Daniels suffering through injuries all throughout the 2025 season, how can Kingsbury possibly be a fall guy? Why would he not want to work with Quinn anymore if there was some kind of power struggle?
This is all very interesting, and the Commanders aren't far off from being a contender. Quinn will need to pull all the right strings for the staff while Adam Peters needs to get on the pass rush situation.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
Although there's also a lot to dislike about the Bengals' situation, there's plenty to love about it as well. The Bengals need Joe Burrow to stay healthy. It's really as simple as that. Whether or not that happens is irrelevant to the discussion of how good this team can be. You have to operate organizationally as though Burrow is going to be out there leading your team all year, and that's the biggest reason for optimism for this team moving forward.
It seems simple enough, doesn't it? Fix the defense. If the Bengals can add to the defense and offensive line in the 2026 offseason, they should be good, right?
Time will tell, but the impending departure of Trey Hendrickson feels like it could be a necessary separation for both sides.
4. Dallas Cowboys
If the Dallas Cowboys had a top-25 defense in 2025, they probably would be getting ready to play this weekend. The offense was simply too good for this team to be left out of the playoffs, but that's why playing complimentary football is so crucial. The Cowboys traded away Micah Parsons before the season and then wondered why they weren't getting any pass rush all year long.
Maybe the Parsons trade was an overreaction, or maybe it was necessary. Either way, the Cowboys have plenty of work to do on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, and because of their offense and cap situation there, they're going to have to nail the 2026 NFL Draft. The importance of whatever rookie they bring in to get after the quarterback cannot be overstated.
3. Minnesota Vikings
If there's one team that is slightly confusing entering the 2026 offseason, it's the Minnesota Vikings. I would say it's clear at this point that Kevin O'Connell has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to coaching this team through whatever quarterback situation they've got going on. On the other hand, is JJ McCarthy truly a franchise quarterback? Can he be a game manager?
On the other side of the ball, what happens if the Vikings lose Brian Flores? Can the defense keep that same identity and culture, or will the loss of Flores be a major setback for that group?
What we know is that this team has an awesome head coach and a pretty great roster. We'll see what they choose to get aggressive about addressing in 2026, but my guess is the running back position will be an area of focus.
2. Baltimore Ravens
For the first time since 2008, the Baltimore Ravens will be on the hunt for a new head coach. Does anyone (other than Ravens fans) even remember who their head coach was before John Harbaugh? Let's show some love to Brian Billick, it's been a while.
Nostalgia aside, let's talk about how this Ravens franchise has been a model of stability since they became a franchise once upon a time. The Ravens have been such a beacon of success in the NFL, and you would have to think that with an MVP-caliber quarterback and so much talent on the roster, this team would be set up for immediate success.
It was a down year for Baltimore in 2025, and perhaps a change at head coach will be exactly what this team needs to refocus and realign.
1. Detroit Lions
The 2025 season is going to put a significant chip on the shoulders of the Detroit Lions. The Lions were expected to be true Super Bowl contenders, but the losses of Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn proved to be more than this team could overcome.
Dan Campbell is going to have to make sure he brings in the right voices this offseason to coach up the offense, which is this team's calling card. But defensively, general manager Brad Holmes has to get aggressive and go after help on that side of the ball.
I said it before the 2025 season started, but the Lions' pass rush looked like it would be a problem (not a good problem) this past season. And that turned out to be the case. Almost all of Detroit's pass rush productivity came from two guys: Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad. Nobody else on the defensive front had more than 5 QB hits last season.