The first wave of 2026 NFL free agency has come and gone. Teams across the league are spending money to improve their chances of winning a Super Bowl next season, but which teams are the closest?
Things can still change between now and the start of the regular season, whether that’s the 2026 NFL Draft, additional free-agent signings, or blockbuster trades like last year’s last-minute Micah Parsons deal. For now, these are PFSN’s updated power rankings of how all 32 NFL teams stack up after the first wave of free agency.
32) Cleveland Browns
The big concern for the Cleveland Browns heading into this offseason was their offensive line, since nearly their entire starting lineup was hitting free agency. They’ve certainly been active in addressing those openings, but one could argue they’ve gotten more expensive and arguably worse up front.
The Browns traded for Tytus Howard and signed both Elgton Jenkins and Zion Johnson to start the offseason. However, they’re paying around $50 million a year on average for a trio of players who none of them ranked in the top 70 offensive linemen in the PFSN Player OL Impact Metrics. Their lack of offensive firepower still remains an issue.
31) Miami Dolphins
Gone is Tua Tagovailoa, and in comes Malik Willis as the starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins. It’s a new regime and a new era for the organization, and there’s a clear shift towards rebuilding. The likes of Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and Minkah Fitzpatrick are no longer on the team.
Joshua Uche gives them a solid defensive lineman to add to the rotation, but the Dolphins dumped most of their resources into Willis. Around him is a flawed team that lacks young, ascending talent because of the previous regime’s aggressive spending. Don’t keep your expectations too high for this squad in 2026.
30) Arizona Cardinals
Will it be Gardner Minshew or Jacoby Brissett starting at quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals next year? While neither option sounds particularly enticing, moving on from Kyler Murray gives them the long-term flexibility to commit to another rebuild, which they desperately need.
Additions like Isaac Seumalo and Tyler Allgeier help address some weaknesses on offense, but Arizona’s approach to free agency has been pretty conservative. That will help them avoid being burdened by bad contracts going forward, but as far as their competitive chances in 2026, it won’t do them much good.
29) New York Jets
The New York Jets are still a ways away from competing for a playoff spot, but there’s no denying their roster got better this offseason. The defense looks completely different now, with the likes of Minkah Fitzpatrick, T’Vondre Sweat, Demario Davis, Nahshon Wright, David Onyemata, and Joseph Ossai joining the fray.
Geno Smith serves as a cheap quarterback addition who should be a slight upgrade over Justin Fields. The Jets might not have the offensive firepower to keep up with teams like the Patriots and Bills in their own division in 2026, but the defense should be much better. With how much draft capital they have to work with, the future is bright.
28) Las Vegas Raiders
For multiple reasons, the Las Vegas Raiders are at the forefront of the NFL offseason thus far. Their trade of Maxx Crosby to Baltimore ended up falling through, so they retain their All-Pro edge rusher for the time being. In the short-term, his presence is obviously a massive help to their defense.
The Raiders were also incredibly active in the free agency market. They signed Tyler Linderbaum to the largest center contract in NFL history, for starters. Additions like Kwity Paye, Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Taron Johnson will help their defense, and they didn’t lose too much outgoing production. There’s progress being made in Vegas.
27) New Orleans Saints
Losses like Davis and Alontae Taylor could hurt, but one could argue that the New Orleans Saints have still gotten better in free agency thus far. David Edwards provides veteran stability on an ascending offensive line, Etienne is an upgrade over Alvin Kamara at running back, and Kaden Elliss gives them a versatile linebacker.
For the first time in a long time, the Saints finally feel like they’re on an upward trajectory. A lot of how their 2026 looks will rely on how Tyler Shough develops in his second year in the NFL, but if he builds off of what he displayed as a rookie, New Orleans should be just fine.
26) Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans had a boatload of money to spend in free agency, and they certainly weren’t shy about doing exactly that. On offense, Wan’Dale Robinson provides a much-needed upgrade at wide receiver for Cam Ward to throw to, and Cordell Volson provides some experienced depth along their offensive line.
It’s the defense that’s changed the most, though. John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson are two big-time additions to their defensive line, and Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott should both be upgrades at cornerback for Tennessee’s secondary. Though the Titans still need a stronger offensive infrastructure, their defense looks much improved.
25) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gone are long-time staples Mike Evans and Jamel Dean from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ roster. Each loss should be a major one on its respective side of the ball, though the hope is that they already have successors in place on their roster. Retaining Cade Otton would help their passing attack.
The Buccaneers got better at running back by swapping the No. 28-ranked PFSN NFL RB Impact scorer Rachaad White for the No. 11-ranked Kenneth Gainwell. Alex Anzalone should be a boost to the defense, too. That said, they still arguably lost more than they gained, which is the wrong direction for a team that collapsed down the stretch as Tampa Bay did.
24) Atlanta Falcons
The big story with the Atlanta Falcons is their addition of Tua Tagovailoa in free agency, seemingly bringing him in to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for their starting quarterback job. Neither project is a star performer in 2026, but Tagovailoa gives them an experienced passer who should light a fire under the underwhelming Penix.
Otherwise, the Falcons haven’t done all that much in free agency. Losses like David Onyemata and Tyler Allgeier sting a bit. Atlanta is keeping the core of its roster intact, but it arguably hasn’t improved enough to get out of mediocre territory.
23) New York Giants
John Harbaugh made a few key moves this offseason to build the New York Giants’ roster in his image. They lost a couple of contributors in the process, in Wan’Dale Robinson and Cor’Dale Flott, both of whom had followed their old head coach Brian Daboll to Tennessee. Retaining Jermaine Eluemunor was a big bonus, though.
Tremaine Edmunds should provide New York a noticeable upgrade at linebacker, and Isaiah Likely has a very high ceiling now that he’s out of Mark Andrews’ shadow in Baltimore. The thought of Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard lining up in the I-formation with Cam Skattebo in the Giants’ backfield should be terrifying to opposing teams, too.
22) Indianapolis Colts
The two biggest free agents the Indianapolis Colts had hitting the open market were Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce. They were able to retain both players, keeping two cornerstones of their offense in place. Because of that, though, they were unable to keep many other talented players who left their roster.
Michael Pittman Jr. and Braden Smith are gone on offense, while Kwity Paye, Zaire Franklin, Neville Gallimore, and Nick Cross are all gone on defense. Because of the heavy commitment to keeping Jones and Pierce, the Colts don’t have much flexibility to replace those contributors in free agency. They don’t have a first-round pick in the draft, either.
21) Pittsburgh Steelers
As of this writing, Aaron Rodgers hasn’t decided his NFL future yet. Should he retire or sign with a new team, the Pittsburgh Steelers could be prone to fall in these power rankings. That said, they’ve done a solid job of remaining active and upgrading their roster in the meantime.
Jamel Dean should be a big addition to their secondary, offsetting the loss of James Pierre. Michael Pittman Jr. gives the Steelers a much-needed upgrade at wide receiver to pair with DK Metcalf, and they got him for relatively cheap in a cost-cutting move by the Colts. Losing Gainwell stings, but they replaced him with a capable back in Rico Dowdle.
20) Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are coming off an NFC South-winning season, and they came to play in free agency. They made two big splashes by signing defensive end Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd, adding two impact performers to their front seven.
While Carolina’s defense improved, there’s reason for concern regarding their offense. The offense lost both Cade Mays and Dowdle and has yet to find replacements in the open market. The Panthers’ offense remains an issue, ranking No. 25 in the PFSN NFL Offense Impact Metrics in 2025.
19) Washington Commanders
Coming off a disappointing 2025, the Washington Commanders needed some major upgrades to their roster in free agency. So far, they’ve been able to do exactly that. Most of their moves have come on defense, having signed the likes of Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, Leo Chenal, Nick Cross, Tim Settle, and Amik Robertson.
Even with their injury woes this past year, the Commanders still ranked in the top 12 in OFFi in 2025. The hope is clearly that their offense will continue to carry the load and that the additions they made on defense will help them return to the glory of 2024.
18) Dallas Cowboys
Anyone who watched the Dallas Cowboys in 2025 could tell you their defense was their biggest weakness. They attacked that side of the ball heavily in free agency, trading for some pass-rushing help in the form of Rashan Gary and signing Jalen Thompson to add to their secondary.
The Cowboys traded Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas away, but they’re in good shape along their defensive interior with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, anyway. Retaining George Pickens on the franchise tag should ensure their offense remains one of the best in the NFL, though it’ll be their defense that makes or breaks their 2026 season.
17) Los Angeles Chargers
Things could change, but through the first wave of free agency, the Los Angeles Chargers haven’t been incredibly active. Tyler Biadasz figures to be an upgrade at center, but they’ve further increased their existing need at guard with the departure of Zion Johnson. Their interior offensive line was a major issue for them in 2025.
Retaining Khalil Mack and Teair Tart should keep their defensive line afloat, even with the loss of Oweh. Charlie Kolar gives them an intriguing blocking tight end to pair with Oronde Gadsden II, too. The Chargers haven’t necessarily been bad in free agency, but they haven’t spent as much as many anticipated.
16) Kansas City Chiefs
At this juncture, the Kansas City Chiefs might be the toughest team to predict in the NFL. On one hand, you’ll have Patrick Mahomes eventually coming back from injury with Andy Reid, Travis Kelce, Steve Spagnuolo, and Chris Jones among a core of their dynasty days. Additions such as Walker III, Khyiris Tonga, and Alohi Gilman should strengthen the roster.
On the other hand, the Chiefs traded away star cornerback Trent McDuffie, and they lost starters like Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook to other teams in free agency. Kansas City now has two first-round picks after the McDuffie trade, so that will be key for them to fill the holes that they lost to the open market.
15) Baltimore Ravens
In spite of the bizarre Maxx Crosby situation, the Baltimore Ravens still managed to find their much-needed pass-rushing help in the form of All-Pro edge rusher Hendrickson. That addresses their biggest need from the 2025 season, while additions like John Simpson, Chidobe Awuzie, and Jaylinn Hawkins help plug up starting holes.
That said, multiple holes have opened up with the Ravens losing key contributors in free agency. Tyler Linderbaum, Jones, Alohi Gilman, and Isaiah Likely were all valuable players who have since signed elsewhere. In hindsight, it’s good that Baltimore gets to keep their draft picks, because it has many needs to fill.
14) Minnesota Vikings
After a year of shaky play at the quarterback position, the Minnesota Vikings signed former Pro Bowler Kyler Murray to a one-year deal. Though he’s anticipated to compete for a starting job, there’s reason to believe he’ll be a favorite to take over under center for Minnesota.
J.J. McCarthy was the No. 37-ranked quarterback in the NFL by PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, and the Vikings still managed to go 9-8. Murray should give them more stability at the most important position in football, and cornerback James Pierre could be a sneaky good addition to a Minnesota secondary that needed some improvements.
13) Jacksonville Jaguars
According to GM James Gladstone, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been dormant in free agency to play the compensatory-pick game in the 2027 NFL Draft. That could help them in the long run, but it leaves them with some big shoes to fill in the short term, with the likes of Lloyd and Travis Etienne departing in free agency.
Re-signing Montaric Brown will be helpful to Jacksonville’s secondary, but there haven’t been any major outside additions to their roster this offseason. They retain a lot of top performers on both sides of the ball, but finding worthy replacements for Lloyd and Etienne might be easier said than done.
12) Detroit Lions
Given their success in recent seasons, it was somewhat surprising to see the Detroit Lions miss the playoffs entirely in 2025. Coming off that disappointing season, they’ll continue to face an uphill battle without the likes of Taylor Decker, Montgomery, Alex Anzalone, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Robertson on the roster.
Cade Mays gives the Lions a reliable starting option at center, but they now have a need at left tackle. Their pass rush needs some work alongside Aidan Hutchinson, as well. Detroit will likely have to rely on a strong draft to see its roster improve compared to this past season.
11) Cincinnati Bengals
Ranking the Cincinnati Bengals this high is completely reliant on Joe Burrow staying healthy. If he’s able to do that, then this team should be in much better shape with the additions they’ve made this offseason. Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Jonathan Allen should be three key additions to their porous defense.
The Bengals’ defense still has some work to do, and losing Trey Hendrickson to Baltimore stings. That said, they made the wise choice of investing in their defense in free agency, and they still have the 2026 NFL Draft to get better. An improved unit could complement their explosive offense very well.
10) New England Patriots
The defending AFC champions were active once again in free agency. The New England Patriots spent plenty of money in the open market, acquiring the likes of Kevin Byard, Romeo Doubs, Dre’Mont Jones, and Alijah Vera-Tucker. Their defense should be in good shape with the additions they made this offseason.
Vera-Tucker is a low-risk, high-reward addition to a Patriots offensive line that needed a boost. Though Doubs was a good signing, he’s arguably a downgrade from Stefon Diggs at wide receiver. New England may have to make some draft moves to ensure its offense stays at the level it reached this past season.
9) Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears more or less find themselves in the same spot they were in going into free agency. The sudden retirement of Drew Dalman hurt their offensive line, and they had to part ways with D.J. Moore and Tremaine Edmunds to free up cap space. Those losses could be felt, even if the latter two made sense financially.
Devin Bush slides into Edmunds’ place as an equally-capable starting linebacker for much cheaper. Coby Bryant should be a good long-term addition at safety, though the Bears did lose Kevin Byard. The defensive line remains an issue, but their dynamic offense is still one of the most exciting in the NFL.
8) Green Bay Packers
This Green Bay Packers squad in 2026 will look very different from the 2025 team. Besides Willis, they lost Rashan Gary, Elgton Jenkins, Walker, and Kingsley Enagbare this offseason. They’ve also been active, adding the likes of Zaire Franklin, Benjamin St-Juste, and Javon Hargrave.
Are the Packers really any better on paper than they were last year? It’s hard to say. They have a lot of production to replace, and they don’t have a first-round pick to do it. Still, Green Bay has consistently been a force to be reckoned with in the NFC.
7) Houston Texans
Essentially, the Houston Texans swapped out Tytus Howard for Braden Smith along their offensive line. This would normally be a no-brainer move, but Smith is coming off a down season with the Colts in 2025. The hope is that he’ll bounce back to his old self and that bringing in David Montgomery will give the Texans a stronger ground game.
A lot of Houston’s free agent spending has gone toward retaining players like Ed Ingram, Sheldon Rankins, Trent Brown, and M.J. Stewart. Their offensive line remains a concern, but if they approach the draft well enough, they could start to see some growth in the trenches in 2026.
6) Philadelphia Eagles
As of this writing, the Philadelphia Eagles have lost more in free agency than they’ve gained thus far. Phillips is a big loss for their defensive line, though they essentially get the third-round pick they gave up for him back in the form of a 2027 compensatory pick. Reed Blankenship and Nakobe Dean depart the defense, as well.
Though the Eagles have a few open holes now, they filled a big one by signing former Pro Bowl cornerback Tariq Woolen. Philadelphia has two star corners in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, but they’ve lacked an impact player in that third starting cornerback role. Woolen could be the missing piece that the cornerback room has needed.
5) Denver Broncos
Things have been very quiet for the Denver Broncos, who haven’t brought in any outside signings since the start of the 2026 NFL free agency period. They re-signed the likes of Alex Singleton, J.K. Dobbins, and Ja’Quan McMillian, but they also lost Franklin-Myers and Dre Greenlaw on defense.
Even though they’ve been quiet on the open market, the Broncos still have a dominant defense and a strong core that went to the AFC Championship last year. With a healthy Bo Nix, they’ll remain firm competitors.
4) Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have needed a true WR1 since the departure of Diggs a few seasons ago, and the hope is they found one by acquiring D.J. Moore in a trade with Chicago. He joins a Bills team that also adds the likes of Bradley Chubb, Dee Alford, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson on defense.
Though the Bills lost Edwards along their offensive line, retaining center Connor McGovern is a big help. It’s been a solid start to free agency for Buffalo, which looks to finally climb over the hump and make it to the Super Bowl for the first time in the Josh Allen era.
3) San Francisco 49ers
As things currently stand, the San Francisco 49ers have essentially just swapped out Kendrick Bourne for Mike Evans. Even with Evans coming off an injury-shortened 2025, that’s a big win for the 49ers’ offense. With Brandon Aiyuk likely on the way out, it was crucial for them to add some talent at wide receiver.
Unlike last offseason, the 49ers won’t be losing too much talent to the free agency pool this year, and they even brought back linebacker Greenlaw after a short stint with the Broncos. If their core guys can stay healthy, they’ll make some serious noise in the playoff race in 2026.
2) Seattle Seahawks
The defending Super Bowl champions had a lot of starters hitting free agency this offseason, and naturally, they weren’t able to retain all of them. Boye Mafe, Bryant, Riq Woolen, and Kenneth Walker III have departed for other teams, leaving the team with a couple of roster holes.
That said, the Seattle Seahawks are still an incredibly deep team, given how well they’ve drafted in recent years. Retaining Josh Jobe and Rashid Shaheed should help them on both sides of the ball, and they still have the core players that led them to the Big Dance in the first place. Seattle should be just fine.
1) Los Angeles Rams
Watching the Los Angeles Rams maneuver this offseason thus far has been a perfect example of the rich getting richer. Their glaring weakness heading into free agency was their secondary, and they took both McDuffie and Watson away from the Chiefs’ cornerback room. They also extended safety Kamren Curl for added stability.
The Rams gave up their first-round pick to acquire McDuffie, but they still have Atlanta’s first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft at their disposal. They’re better than they were this past year on paper. Considering they were already 12-5 and made it to the NFC Championship Game, that’s a scary thought for the rest of the NFL.
