The NFL offseason is a great time to be a fan, because every team around the league is undefeated. Every team has a chance to start fresh, rebuild, and reload.
For many teams around the league, having a clean slate means another chance to be this year's breakout team. We've seen a number of teams come from the bottom of the standings to quickly establishing themselves as powerhouses in both conferences, including the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, and even the Washington Commanders going from picking 2nd in the 2024 NFL Draft to playing in the NFC Championship Game that same season.
We're all excited to find out which teams will break out around the league in the 2026 season, and we have some candidates in mind.
Our latest NFL Power Rankings will not only be taking a closer look at which teams we think will break out in each division around the league, but we'll stack them up against each other from worst to best based on their projection for the upcoming season. Which teams might go from the bottom of their divisions to Super Bowl contention?
NFL Power Rankings: Every division's top breakout team ranked from worst to best in 2026
8. AFC North: Cleveland Browns
Unfortunately, the Cleveland Browns look like the least likely breakout team in the NFL this coming season. The Myles Garrett trade sort of cemented this team's spot at the bottom of the NFL, although you could still make a case that this is going to be a very fun team to watch week in and week out.
The decision to trade Myles Garrett is an obvious needle-mover for both the Browns and Rams, but it's not like the Browns were going to be Super Bowl contenders with him on the team. As good of a player as Jared Verse is, the Garrett trade just makes the Browns that much worse.
But this team has talent, and a massively upgraded offensive line. The quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders is uninspiring, but it could help land the Browns much higher on this list for 2027 if they can land a quarterback of the future.
7. NFC West: Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals might not be everyone's pick as the "it" team this season, but nobody else in the NFC West is poised for a breakout this season. Let's just be honest.
Every other team in the NFC West is established, so why might we see the Cardinals be a breakout team this year? The top reasons to believe this team could maybe make a little more noise than anyone realizes are their offensive skill players. The Cardinals just used the 3rd pick in the NFL Draft on Jeremiyah Love, who could hit the ground running as one of the most dynamic backs in the NFL.
They've already got arguably the best tight end in the league in Trey McBride, who is an elite featured weapon in that passing attack. If Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson can both play at the level they're capable of, this Cardinals team could absolutely exceed expectations.
6. AFC West: Las Vegas Raiders
I really struggled where I should slot the Raiders on a list like this, because they are pretty similar to the Cardinals in a lot of ways. The biggest difference between the two teams was the deciding factor, ultimately: The quarterback position.
While the Cardinals might have slightly better offensive skill talent, the Raiders have the quarterback position figured out. At least, on paper they have it figured out. Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, the #1 pick in this year's draft, at least gives the Raiders a chance to be a breakout team this coming season, though we don't know when he's going to play.
The Raiders also play in a brutal division with the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos.
They have made some very necessary upgrades to that defense in Las Vegas, and we're all excited to see how Klint Kubiak does after what we saw last season with the Seahawks.
5. NFC East: New York Giants
I'm simultaneously very intrigued by the New York Giants while also being super skeptical that everything is going to come together all at once for John Harbaugh. I don't want to go so far as to say that Harbaugh bit off more than he can chew with this job, but the Giants are much more complicated than meets the eye.
A lot of the reasons to be excited about this team are dealing with injuries, or concerning injury history. That starts at the quarterback position with Jaxson Dart and his playing style leaving him susceptible. The injury timeline with Malik Nabers could have him out at the start of the season. What is Cam Skattebo going to look like coming back from injury?
Defensively, this team has an awesome group of rushers on paper, but they also moved on from Dexter Lawrence, which is a loss that can't be overstated.
I love a lot of pieces of this Giants team on paper, and when healthy. Especially with John Harbaugh running the show, you could see a healthy Giants team making some noise this coming season. But the injuries and injury history are making me pause a bit.
4. AFC East: New York Jets
The more I look at the New York Jets' 2026 offseason, the more I really love it.
I'm as skeptical as anyone of the idea that Geno Smith is just going to magically be able to turn it back on after throwing 32 interceptions over his last 32 games, but there is also no question that he's a substantial upgrade over what the Jets previously had with Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and Brady Cook under center.
The 2026 NFL Draft was so good for the Jets, and possibly an immediately franchise-altering class. David Bailey upgrades one of the worst pass rush units in the league immediately. The idea of Kenyon Sadiq joining Mason Taylor at the tight end position in 12 personnel gives the Jets so many options.
Omar Cooper Jr. joining Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell at receiver gives the Jets an enviable group of young receivers with different skill sets.
There is just a lot to like about this Jets team's projection in 2026 and I wouldn't be shocked if they win 7-9 games.
3. NFC North: Minnesota Vikings
We might have to put a bit of an asterisk next to the Vikings. This is a team that won 14 games just two seasons ago, and 9 games in 2025. The Vikings might not be so much of a "breakout" candidate this season as they are a candidate for "rebirth".
Whatever category you want to put them in, the Vikings have to be considered one of the likeliest worst-to-first teams in the league, but there are other teams that fit the criteria for being considered a "breakout" team, which is why they're a little lower on this list.
Still, the presence of Kyler Murray looms large for this Vikings team. Murray is now playing for another big-money contract, and his arrival has reignited a lot of optmism among the fan base. It doesn't bode well for former top pick JJ McCarthy, but Murray has a chance to entrench himself as this team's franchise QB and get the Vikings back into contention if he can bounce back. And it all really does hinge on him.
2. NFC South: New Orleans Saints
The Saints finished the 2025 season really strong, and one of the biggest surprise developments around the entire NFL last season was the emergence of rookie Tyler Shough in the second half of the year.
There were some who saw it coming with Shough, but let's be honest: That was a stunner for almost everybody.
The Saints may have stumbled upon a franchise quarterback, and the decisions they made in the 2026 offseason indicate they believe that to be the case. They landed running back Travis Etienne and left guard David Edwards in free agency to boost the offense. They brought back Kaden Elliss, a tremendous pressure player from the off-ball linebacker position.
They used their top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who adds more explosiveness alongside Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson. The pieces are really all there for this team to take a huge step forward, possibly even winning the NFC South this coming season. They're in a wide-open situation.
1. AFC South: Tennessee Titans
I'm definitely buying Tennessee Titans stock this upcoming season. Yes, the Titans play in an extremely competitive division with three teams who were legitimately fighting for 1st place last season (Colts, Jaguars, Texans), but Tennessee could surprise a lot of people.
What are the top ingredients for a breakout team?
You have to have the right head coach, and I love the Titans landing Robert Saleh after his year back with the 49ers. Not only that, but they have the right guy in charge of the offense with Brian Daboll running the show.
You also have to have a young quarterback ready to emerge, and the glimpses we saw from Cam Ward last year prove that he's ready to take that jump. The Titans also surrounded him with better weapons this offseason, bringing in Wan'Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate at receiver.
Most importantly, you have to upgrade in the trenches, and the Titans have absolutely done that with the additions of guys like John Franklin-Myers, Jermaine Johnson, and 1st-round pick Keldric Faulk. This team could be very dangerous.