NFL Power Rankings
With the first week of the 2026 NFL Preseason officially in the books, we are now one major step closer to the start of the 2026 regular season. There is a ton of parity present in the NFL, and one thing that has never been more true is that the league’s ‘middle class’ is extremely deep.
32. Miami Dolphins
It’s hard to find much of anything to like with the Miami Dolphins roster. There is some neat young talent here and there, but the only truly viable weapon on offense is De’Von Achane. The wide receiver room could be the worst in the league, and the defense, really outside of Jordyn Brooks, doesn’t have a legitimate difference-maker.
But this is also not a shock, as the Dolphins parted with a ton of key talent this offseason and are rebuilding.
31. Arizona Cardinals
Outside of some of their electric pieces on offense, there isn’t much else working for the Arizona Cardinals right now. This team has largely been projected to be among the worst in the NFL this year for a reason, and while it’s only one position, not having any sort of legitimate quarterback situation does greatly hurt this team and any other team in these power rankings.
30. New York Giants
When I was ranking out these rosters, I almost put the New York Giants a bit higher on this list, but a took a deeper look at this roster and really just came away rather disappointed. It’s not necessarily the worst group in the NFL, but you don’t have consistent game-changing talent across the roster. Sure, Malik Nabers and Brian Burns, for example, are excellent, but there is also way more instances of ‘average’ and even below-average players all over the place.
And like any team ranked this low, there is a giant question mark at quarterback. Overall, General Manager Joe Schoen’s hands are all over this roster, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing. The offensive line still feels like a bit of a mess, the playmaking talent overall isn’t deep enough, and all of the position groups on the defense feature roster flaws that should hopefully get fixed here in the coming seasons.
NFL Power Rankings
29. Las Vegas Raiders
One team hopefully trending in the right direction in their rebuild is the Las Vegas Raiders. Las Vegas has a pretty shaky offensive line and wide receiver room right now, and while the defense did see an influx of talent this offseason, that unit has plagued them for years, and it’s not an overly threatening group on paper right now.
There is also no guarantee that either Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza ends up playing well for this team, but after years of having no direction, the Raiders at least seemed to have pushed this arrow in the right direction.
But this is a perfect instance of an incomplete team recognizing where they are at the moment. The 2027 season could be where we see the fireworks really begin, but for now, the Raiders’ group just isn’t that special.
28. Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans roster is not there yet, but this team is also, like others ranked this low, right in the middle of a rebuild. The Titans hired Robert Saleh this offseason as the next head coach. After an unsuccessful stint with the New York Jets, Saleh quickly found himself another coaching gig after a stint with the San Francisco 49ers as their defensive coordinator.
The Titans do have some major holes along the offensive line, and the defense is absolutely still a work in progress. GM Mike Borgonzi has thrown some talent into this roster, though, as guys like Carnell Tate, John Franklin-Myers, and Jermaine Johnson were acquired this offseason.
You can see the identity that the Titans are trying to embrace, but this team does need another strong offseason of talent infusion before they’re truly where they need to be. Cam Ward also didn’t exactly have a great showing in his first preseason action, but he’s someone who does possess the tools to make a year two jump, so getting some QB optimism would go a long way here.
27. Cleveland Browns
I have a hot take that the Cleveland Browns roster is probably a bit better than people think, but the QB room might just be the worst in the NFL. I actually really like what GM Andrew Berry did along the offensive line, and you can see the infrastructure on defense as well.
But with that being said, having what could be the worst QB room of the 21st century really bogs things down here, and there are still some question marks along the offensive line and within the defense, as Myles Garrett is no longer in the picture.
If the Browns can figure out how to find a potential franchise QB next year, the conversation will change.
26. New York Jets
The New York Jets are another team that probably has more talent than you think, but that’s definitely more accurate for the offensive side of the ball. That offensive line is young and quite solid, and you really can’t complain about playmakers like Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Kenyon Sadiq, Mason Taylor, and Adonai Mitchell, who has had a strong offseason.
If you inserted, let’s say, a Brock Purdy at QB for the Jets, we’d be talking about this team as a potential Wild Card club, but there are flaws. The secondary was retooled this offseason and is still not overflowing with talent, and the new-look defensive line has some questions.
While the DL is built to shutdown the run, Aaron Glenn’s unit last year was among the worst in the league, so all of these changes may not have much of an impact. I do believe that GM Darren Mougey has taken positive steps, though, and with a trio of first-round picks in 2027, the Jets could spring onto the scene next year if they land the right QB.
25. New Orleans Saints
Winning four of five games to end the 2025 season, the New Orleans Saints ended up being better than a lot of us thought they’d be. With an offense seeing some new talent added this offseason in Jordyn Tyson, Travis Etienne, and David Edwards, second-year QB Tyler Shough does seem to have what he needs.
The secondary has seen some departures in recent years, though, and I am not sure the pass rush is quite good enough yet, either. Shough also has a ton of unknowns with him, as he’s only played one full year in the NFL, so it’s still a mystery of just how good he can truly be.
The Saints have a lot to be optimistic about, though, as a year two jump from Shough and some other young players will have us looking at New Orleans differently this year.
24. Atlanta Falcons
What really is a shame with the Atlanta Falcons is that the group on offense is plenty good enough to make the playoffs in the NFC South, but the QB room of Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr might be a bottom-5 room in the NFL.
The offensive line is rock-solid, and the trio of Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson could be the best WR/TE/RB talent that any team has in the league. With that said, the defense was dealt some blows recently and was a just OK group last year despite finishing second in the league in sacks.
The QB room really brings things down, though, as the Falcons don’t necessarily have a clear path to success in 2026 unless Tagovailoa somehow figures out how to play the position again, and I’d also argue that the last regime didn’t really assemble great depth, either.
To a degree, the Falcons have a top-heavy roster and only come in at No. 24 in our roster rankings. NFL Power Rankings
23. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers do have a good offensive line, but they don’t scare you that much anywhere else on the offense. Bryce Young played the best football of his career in the 2025 season but was largely still mediocre, throwing for at least 200 yards in just four games and going 8-8 as a starter.
We have seen GM Dan Morgan really chip away at the defense in his tenure, but the unit doesn’t have much in the way of a threatening pass rush, and the secondary is average, at best. Carolina being in the NFC South does help things, but with many of the same players in 2025, this team went just 8-9.
It was good enough to win the division, but there really isn’t anything on paper that makes us think this team can take another step forward for 2026.
22. Washington Commanders
We’ve got the Washington Commanders at No. 22 in our roster rankings. The big issue with the Commanders was the injuries last year, and that even impacted Jayden Daniels, who suited up for ust seven games.
But even beyond the injuries, the overall lack of talent was obvious, and to fix that, GM Adam Peters got active in free agency, especially on the defensive side of the ball. What does stick out, though, is no clear difference-maker on either side of the ball.
And I believe when you take an aerial view of this roster, you see a lot of average and not a whole lot of notable, threatening players. With that being said, Daniels being able to stay healthy the entire season, or at least most of it, would go a long way in this team getting back into the playoffs.
They are still just one year removed from getting within one game of the Super Bowl.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are filled with aging talent, especially at the quarterback position. Aaron Rodgers is now entering his age-43 season, and other key players like Jalen Ramsey, Cam Heyward, and TJ Watt are getting up there in age.
There isn’t much on the roster that should make opponents worry, and this is kind of what you get when you Band-Aid so many positions. Sure, the Steelers have young talent like every other team, but they also nearly went 9-8 and missed the playoffs last year.
That’s a more accurate representation of what this team is. With Rodgers regressing and obviously being as old as he is, another step back in 2026 could end the Steelers season before it even begins.
Until the Steelers get serious about the QB position, they’ll continue to be among the most irrelevant teams in the NFL.
20. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings come in at No. 20 in our roster power rankings. We’re now approaching a tier where the QB position is getting a bit better, and for the Vikings, they’re primed to start yet another new face with Kyler Murray, as the JJ McCarthy era honestly seems to be over right now.
And for Murray, he does have quite the supporting cast around him with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and a solid offensive line, but TJ Hockenson is a shell of his former self, the running back room is really nothing special, and the defense is looking like a unit where the coaching really shines through.
The Vikings do have good players all over the place, but there’s not a ton that this team can hang their hat on personnel-wise for 2026. Sure, there are capable players, but that defensive line really got a makeover this offseason and feels like an uncertain unit at best.
I’d also argue that Murray might not be a very special option for the Vikings, either. The QB carries more weight than every other position, and with Murray having ended on up a new team, that does kind of tell you that he wasn’t exactly a desired option by his old team, the Cardinals.
19. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs come in just inside the top-10 in our roster power rankings for the 2026 season. We began to see the Chiefs armor take some hits in the Super Bowl back in 2024 and then in the regular season in 2025.
The Chiefs were a rather average team even when Patrick Mahomes is healthy, and heading into 2026, there are still some major concerns at wide receiver, tight end, and all across the defense. While some may be optimistic about the work this front office did to improve on defense especially, this is the same front office that got them into this sudden mess in the first place.
The Chiefs just have not hit on enough draft picks, and with a below-average cast of playmakers for Mahomes, this roster just does not wow you much of anywhere.
18. Indianapolis Colts
Where the Indianapolis Colts excel is along the offensive line and at running back. GM Chris Ballard has done a solid job at finding the talent, but as we have seen in most years of the post-Andrew Luck era, the QB position is one that has not been solved for good.
If the Colts had someone like Jordan Love on the roster, they’d likely have a top-10 team in the league, but with Daniel Jones at the helm, who feels like an average QB at best, the Colts come in just inside the top-20. The defense is a bit flawed, as the pass-rush is nothing special and the linebackers aren’t really that great, but with a top-7 offensive line and an elite running back in Jonathan Taylor in the mix, the Colts can win some games this year and did begin the 2025 season 7-1.
On a side note, I do personally think that some major changes could hit this franchise in the offseason if the team fails to get into the playoffs, but they just don’t really stand out in the AFC when you look at the group in its entirety.
17. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys needed to get better on defense this offseason, and I’d be shocked if they weren’t better. While that unit may only top out as a top-16 group in 2026, the offense is really where Dallas stands out. The core of Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, George Pickens, and CeeDee Lamb is as good as any in the league, and we did see that big-time in 2025, as the Cowboys had one of the better offenses in the league.
To me, it’s simple with the Cowboys: if the defense improves this year, they’ll make the playoffs, as the offense is electric. If not, it’ll be another wasted year of the prime Prescott seasons.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers strong position group is the offensive line, and that is certainly a good thing. The issue, though, is that the Bucs really don’t have much ‘great’ outside of the OL. Baker Mayfield is good. The wide receivers are good. The running back is good. The defense is, well, not that good right now. The Bucs did take strong ownership of the NFC South for years before a shocking non-title season in 2025, but they’ve just never been a team we’ve looked at as being a legitimate contender.
The Bucs really encapsulate what a ‘middle class’ team in the NFL looks like. They’ve got a litter of competent players all over the place, but not a ton of great and not a ton of mediocre, either. Until the Bucs enact some notable change, which may look like a future upgrade at QB and head coach, for example, they won’t ascend into that next tier.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars
Losing a stud running back and a stud linebacker in free agency is going to hurt, and even with those two in the mix, the Jacksonville Jaguars weren’t a suffocating roster. With that said, this is only year two of the current era, as GM James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen are still new to this team, and I’d have to assume the vision they want to bring to the franchise is far from complete right now.
Gladstone does still need to give QB Trevor Lawrence a slam-dunk option at running back and perhaps another starter or two along the offensive line. The defense could use a true difference-maker as well, but overall, they have a nice group.
This is a team, though, that was clearly elevated by coaching, as many of the same players before the Coen era were present with the team, so this wicked turnaround they made was absolutely a coaching thing.
14. Los Angeles Chargers
Coming in at No. 14 in our rankings, we have the most ‘good, not great’ team in the NFL, the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers have gone 11-6 and lost in the Wild Card Round in both years of the Jim Harbaugh era. It’s quite amazing that the Chargers have had the same fate both years.
On both offense and defense, the Chargers have nice talent. The team may have the league’s best tackle duo in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, but Slater is still struggling with injuries. They seem to have multiple solid offensive contributors in Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnson, and Oronde Gadsden, and the defense has key veterans like Derwin James and Khalil Mack.
But overall, LA doesn’t stand out much anywhere. Their depth is still questionable, but every year, we seem to do the same thing with the Chargers and wonder if this is the year they get over the hump and make a deep run. I am just not sure the personnel is good enough for that to happen, as they have been leapfrogged by some other AFC teams that have displayed more aggression with their roster building.
13. Cincinnati Bengals
Speaking of aggression, the Cincinnati Bengals were aggressive in revamping the defense this offseason, as they shoot up to No. 13 in our roster rankings for 2026. The offense doesn’t need an introduction, but that offensive line really started to play well down the stretch in 2025, so perhaps after years of fielding poor OLs, the Joe Burrow-era Bengals may have a serviceable unit up front now.
And on defense, the Bengals brought in stable veterans like Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, and Bryan Cook. Those are legitimate, starting-caliber players making up over one-third of the unit overall. The defense doesn’t have to be special for this team to go far in the playoffs, but the front office finally got serious about making that unit better, as Cincy has not been into the playoffs since the 2022 season.
12. Green Bay Packers
For years now, the Green Bay Packers have been the adults in the room – they take care of business, win about 10 games a year, and get into the playoffs, but that’s really been it. The Packers have been one-and-done in the playoffs the last two years, and they again don’t feel like a juggernaut.
Tucker Kraft seems poised to return by Week, and Micah Parsons is obviously an excellent player, but outside of those two, and perhaps Love at QB, the Packers don’t have many truly excellent players. There are some concerns along the offensive line, and even the wide receiver room saw some departures this offseason.
The defense doesn’t really scare you that much, either, as Parsons is kind of a one-man pass-rush show. All in all, the Packers do have a ton of solid players, but nothing threatens on paper and would make us think this team could win it all this year.
11. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots come in at No. 11 in our power rankings. The schedule does get a lot tougher this year, so we’ll see if the Patriots have another 14-3 season in them, but the talent could help them not regress big-time.
The pass-rush looks a little better with Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones on the outside, and the defensive line, a unit that was very good in 2025, could again be the same in 2026, as Christian Barmore and Milton Williams are a handful to deal with. The secondary is great thanks to Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, and new addition Kevin Byard, and on offense, AJ Brown enters the equation, and the offensive line does appear to be in a good spot with Alijah Vera-Tucker being added along the interior.
Other contributors in Hunter Henry, Romeo Doubs, Rhamondre Stevenson, and others are also quite solid at what they do. The Patriots have a lot of capable, solid football players, and while their schedule was out-of-this-world easy last year, the talent was and is obvious.
10. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles roster lands at No. 10 in our power rankings. It goes without saying that the Eagles typically always have one of the best rosters in the NFL, but we have not seen consistent success in recent years. The Eagles have gone one-and-done in the playoffs in the odd-numbered seasons each year since 2021, and have made it to the Super Bowl in the even-numbered years.
It is a weird trend, as they won it all in 2024, made it there in 2022, but went one-and-done in every other year since 2021, Nick Sirianni’s first year as head coach. Where the Eagles typically win is in the trenches, as GM Howie Roseman has prioritized the trenches for years now.
The playmakers are always quite good, but with Brown no longer in the picture, the offense could take a hit. Furthermore, QB Jalen Hurts is a limited passer, so he’s not someone who might be able to make up the ground lost with the Brown trade.
But this team is again well-positioned to get into the double-digit win tier and make the playoffs.
9. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have not really been a strong drafting team in recent years, but they are typically among the better teams in the NFL most seasons. The one thing that has taken away from the Kyle Shanahan era is injuries, and it seems like this team is dealing with notable injuries every single season.
Despite two Super Bowl appearances, which came in 2019 and 2023, the 49ers can’t figure out how to simply stay healthy. But what we’ve usually seen with these teams are top-notch defenses and high-end players like Nick Bosa, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and Fred Warner. It does seem like the Niners are always dealing with injury dysfunction, but they know how to win games and acquire talent.
8. Chicago Bears
You have to tip your cap to Ryan Poles, the Chicago Bears GM. While the roster is far from perfect, the Bears didn’t really luck into an NFC North title last year. What we saw was a dominant offensive line, a QB going in the right direction, and a ton of young players making names for themselves.
Sure, the defense isn’t what you wanted it to be in 2025, but the unit did get a bit of a makeover this offseason, proving that Poles did understand what went wrong last year. There are still valid questions about the pass rush and secondary, especially now with safety Coby Bryant out for an extended period of time, but the offense is really where this team stands apart among a ton of other teams.
Caleb Williams is also one of the better passers in the NFL and should continue to get better while being surrounded by some excellent skill players, and, of course, a potentially elite head coach in Ben Johnson.
7. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have been among the best teams in the NFL for years now, and it feels like they’re primed to be a similar team in 2026. For years, the Bills had wide receiver issues, but that seems to have been taken care of in the offseason with the DJ Moore trade, who came over from the Bears.
The offensive line was a top-3 unit in the NFL last year, and as we all know, not only is James Cook a top-7 running back, but Josh Allen might be a top-5 player in the NFL. Defensively, the Bills didn’t stop the run that well last year, but Jim Leonhard’s unit does have some massive defensive line talent and workable defensive backs as well. This is all to say that if the Bills win, let’s say, 12 games this year, not a single soul would be surprised.
6. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens come in at No. 6 in our roster power rankings for the 2026 season. Despite starting 1-5 last year, the Ravens nearly won the AFC North if not for a missed field goal. They boast one of the best football players in the entire league in Lamar Jackson, and guys like Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers are no slouches.
The defense is also quite talented, especially in the secondary, but Baltimore being in the rugged AFC North does force them to field a talented defense, which has been the case for years now. Kyle Hamilton headlines things on that side of the ball, as Baltimore’s roster has been top-tier for years now.
The rebuilt interior offensive line could be an unknown, and the Ravens don’t exactly have a ton of other players of note on offense outside of Jackson, Flowers, and Henry. Mark Andrews is still there, but he’s not the tight end he once was.
5. Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have an awesome roster. The offensive line has seen some changes in recent years but is typically quite good, and I’m not sure I need to explain just how talented the rest of the offense is. The Lions overall roster talent is evidenced by just how many games they’ve won across the last four seasons.
This team did amass 27 total regular season wins over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, including an NFC-leading 15-2 record in 2024. GM Brad Holmes has been among the best drafting GMs in the league for years now, and we’re to the point with the Lions where we’re surprised that they don’t miss the playoffs.
And even with the team failing to get into the postseason in 2025, they were still 7-4 at one point and in prime position to get into the playoffs for a third year in a row before a second-half collapse.
4. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle just won the Super Bowl and are No. 4 in our roster rankings. Losing a bit of talent this offseason, the Seahawks take a small hit in our rankings. I do worry about the offense without Kenneth Walker III, as it does seem to be a bit top-heavy.
With that said, the defense is just out of this world, as they boast what could be the deepest defensive line in the NFL and also have All-Pro-caliber players in the middle of the unit and on the backend.
The Seahawks didn’t just stumble upon a Super Bowl victory, and they are absolutely the type of team that has what it takes to repeat. Seattle lands just outside the top-3, but you’ll see why here in a second…
3. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans can absolutely win the Super Bowl this year with how loaded the roster is. Despite starting 0-3 in the 2025 season, the Texans still managed to finish 12-5 and nearly won the AFC South.
GM Nick Caserio has done a maginificent job with this roster, and he did make some calculated moves this offseason to shore up weak spots along the offensive line and at running back, signing two veterans in Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith, and also swinging a deal for David Montgomery.
The Texans have multiple players worth of depth at each position on offense, and that becomes even truer on defense. Houston made a trio of worthwhile additions in Kayden McDonald, a nose tackle, Reed Blankenship, another quality defensive back, and Jadeveon Clowney, another pass-rusher, as if the Texans even needed those positions to begin with!
Without a clear flaw, all CJ Stroud has to do, truly, is be a top-12 player at the position in 2026. If he can do that, the Texans are playing football in February.
2. Denver Broncos
You really can’t find a major flaw with the Denver Broncos roster. They occupy the No. 2 spot in our roster rankings. Featuring the best offensive line/defensive line combination in the NFL, the Broncos have won 24 regular season games over the past two seasons for a reason.
They’ve invested top-dollar into both sides of the ball up front, and that doesn’t even tell the entire story. With a renewed crop of on offense including Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, J.K. Dobbins, and a ton of other complementary players, and a loaded secondary, Denver is good enough to win it all this year.
In fact, had Bo Nix not broken his ankle in 2025, there would have been a non-zero chance that the Broncos do win the Super Bowl. This team tied for the most regular season wins last year with a 14-3 record. That didn’t just happen coincidentally.
Denver is for real and really sticks out as the team to beat in the AFC.
1. Los Angeles Rams
Adding Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson to the defense thrusts this Los Angeles Rams roster over the top. The Rams already had the best scoring offense in the NFL last year which included a 1,000-yard rusher, receiver, and the reigning MVP in Matthew Stafford.
The defense was already a rock-solid unit to begin with, but the trio of offseason additions really makes the Rams stick out as the team to beat this year, and we’re to the point where many will be shocked if the Rams don’t win it all.
We’ve seen LA do something similar with the NFL version of a superteam back in 2021. The 2026 season feels like it could bring a similar result. This is all a testament to just how aggressive and smart GM Les Snead is when he knows he has something special.
End of NFL Power Rankings