With four more months to go until the start of the 2026 NFL regular season, we’re officially heading into the dog days of summer. Most of the top free agents are off the market, and the NFL Draft has come and gone.
Now, the fun comes in speculating how each team will perform in the coming year. Though the schedule hasn’t been released yet, we know every team’s opponents for 2026, which provides insight into the caliber of competition each team will be facing in the new season.
After months of additions, subtractions, and everything in between, this is where every team stands in PFSN’s latest 2026 NFL power rankings.
32) 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, Jaylen Waddle, Bradley Chubb, and Minkah Fitzpatrick are no longer on the team.
The Dolphins wisely accumulated an abundance of draft capital this year, which should help them in the long run. However, they have an unproven offense and a defense with numerous holes at all levels of the field. Miami needed to commit to a rebuild, and while they’re approaching their future the right way, 2026 will likely be a brutal year for them, which doesn’t bode well for them in our power rankings.
31) Arizona Cardinals
Will it be Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett, or Carson Beck 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.
With a lackluster quarterback room and a pass rush that lacks depth alongside Josh Sweat, the Cardinals face an uphill battle to be competitive in 2026. It doesn’t help that they play in the NFC West, which one could argue is the most top-heavy division in the NFL. It’s about the future for Arizona, because the here and now likely won’t bring much success.
30) Cleveland Browns
The big concern for the Cleveland Browns heading into this offseason was their offensive line, and they reset nearly their entire starting lineup through free agency and the draft. The addition of rookies like Spencer Fano, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston should boost an offense that finished last in the NFL in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric in 2025.
Cleveland has a very young roster and a top-10 defense in the NFL, which points to some upside as a breakout team. However, a lot of their performance in 2026 will depend on their quarterback play. With Shedeur Sanders coming off a rocky first year in the league and Deshaun Watson having been a major disappointment since coming to the Browns, there’s reason to be concerned at the most important position in football.
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. An aggressive free agency saw their defense get completely overhauled, and using two of their three draft picks in Round 1 on offensive weapons should be a huge boost in the long run.
With Geno Smith at quarterback, the short-term ceiling for the Jets is limited. That said, adding eight new projected starters on defense is impressive, and drafting Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. gives them some complementary weapons to Garrett Wilson they’ve needed for a long time. Don’t expect a lot from New York right away, but once they get the quarterback situation figured out, they could be dangerous.
28) Las Vegas Raiders
It’s been quite the offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders. They drafted Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, bringing in Kirk Cousins as an experienced backup. They had a trade in place to ship out All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby, but that deal fell through. They were also super active in free agency, most notably making Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid center in NFL history.
As one would expect for a team with the worst record in the league last year, it was impossible for the Raiders to fill all of their needs in one offseason. This year wasn’t so much about competing right away, but adding the pieces to do so in about two years. Their defense is more well-rounded than it was this time last year, but their group of pass-catchers is extremely thin outside of Brock Bowers.
27) 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. Their defensive overhaul featuring the likes of John Franklin-Myers, Jermaine Johnson II, Cor’Dale Flott, and Alontae Taylor was impressive, too.
Draft picks like Carnell Tate, Keldric Faulk, and Anthony Hill Jr. should give the Titans some building blocks as they look to accelerate their rebuild. In an ideal scenario, their defense plays well enough to keep them in a lot more games in 2026. Their offense might be another year of retooling away for Tennessee to become a true playoff contender.
26) New Orleans Saints
Losses like Demario Davis and Alontae Taylor could hurt, but one could argue that the New Orleans Saints still got better in free agency. David Edwards provides veteran stability on an ascending offensive line, Travis Etienne Jr. is an upgrade over Alvin Kamara at running back, and Kaden Elliss gives them a versatile linebacker.
The Saints effectively boosted their offensive weapons in the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting the likes of Jordyn Tyson, Oscar Delp, and Bryce Lance to give Tyler Shough more toys to work with. Christen Miller should give them a pro-ready run stuffer at defensive tackle right out of the gates, as well. New Orleans got hot late last season, and their roster got better on paper. Don’t sleep on them as a contender in a weak NFC South.
25) Atlanta Falcons
The big story with the Atlanta Falcons is their addition of Tagovailoa in free agency, seemingly bringing him in to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for their starting quarterback job. Neither project as star performers in 2026, but Tagovailoa gives them an experienced passer who should light a fire under the underwhelming Penix.
Though the Falcons’ interior offensive line is one of the best in the NFL, replacing Kaleb McGary with Jawaan Taylor at right tackle is a major concern. This team has plenty of flaws, but their young defensive core they got in the 2025 NFL Draft gives their defense some hope, and they have some talented weapons on offense. Atlanta will compete for the top spot in the NFC South, but sustained playoff success could be tough to come by.
24) New York Giants
John Harbaugh made a few key moves this offseason to build the New York Giants’ roster in his image. The big move was shipping out Dexter Lawrence for the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which they used on Francis Mauigoa. He should be an immediate starter at guard with long-term tackle upside, while Arvell Reese will be a versatile defensive weapon up front.
With Reese and Tremaine Edmunds as off-ball defenders, as well as Brian Burns and Abdul Carter off the edge, the Giants might have the best linebacker room of any base 3-4 team in the NFL. Their pass-catching unit is thin, though getting Malik Nabers back from injury should help. New York still has a flawed roster, but with Harbaugh at the helm and Jaxson Dart coming off a strong rookie year, don’t sleep on them as a dark horse Wild Card team.
23) 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.
Despite not having a first-round pick, the Colts added two potential starters on defense through the 2026 NFL Draft in CJ Allen and A.J. Haulcy. They still retain most of the offensive personnel that gave them a dominant start to the 2025 regular season. Will they be able to replicate that success this coming year?
22) Pittsburgh Steelers
As of this writing, Aaron Rodgers has yet to decide his NFL future. 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, bringing in the likes of Jamel Dean, Michael Pittman Jr., and Jaquan Brisker.
The Steelers’ selection of Max Iheanachor in Round 1 indicates Broderick Jones’ time in Pittsburgh might be coming to an end, but with the former being a raw prospect, the offensive line could still struggle at tackle either way. That said, they finally have a solid receiver room between Pittman, DK Metcalf, and Germie Bernard. The question is: does Rodgers have enough in the tank to maximize that unit?
21) 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. Draft picks like Monroe Freeling on offense and Lee Hunter on defense should further help them in the trenches.
Bryce Young ranked No. 32 among all NFL quarterbacks in PFSN’s QB Impact Scoring in 2025, and his level of play won’t cut it if Carolina wants to make it past the “sneak into the playoffs as the best team in the league’s weakest division” territory they’re in right now. The Panthers’ defense should remain solid with the additions they made around their exiting core, but their passing attack will make or break their season.
20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gone are long-time staples Mike Evans, Lavonte David, and Jamel Dean from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ roster. These are major losses, though the hope is that they already have successors in place on their roster. Retaining Cade Otton should also help their passing attack, and defensive draft picks like Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter should boost that side of the ball right away.
The Buccaneers started red hot in 2025 and instantly fell down to Earth, going 2-7 to close out the second half of the season. Despite that comical collapse, they were still just a tiebreaker away from winning their division. They’ll need the passing attack to even out after an unstable season last year, but Tampa Bay has the talent in place to get back on top in the NFC South this year.
19) 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, signing Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant to add to their secondary, and drafting Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence.
It’s a stretch to say that the Cowboys’ defense is fixed, but it certainly looks much better on paper than it did going into last season. Their passing attack remains one of the best in the NFL, so if their defense can step up to become just an average unit, it’s reasonable to think Dallas could return to the playoffs in 2026.
18) 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. There’s reason to believe he’s the favorite to take over under center for Minnesota. In theory, he should be a short-term upgrade over J.J. McCarthy.
The Vikings failed to properly address their shaky secondary, which could prove to be an issue playing in a division against Jordan Love, Caleb Williams, and Jared Goff. That said, they have a talented defensive front, a solid offensive line, and one of the NFL’s best wide receivers in Justin Jefferson. With acceptable QB play, they’ll be a serious Wild Card contender.
17) Jacksonville Jaguars
According to GM James Gladstone, the Jacksonville Jaguars were 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 Etienne departing in free agency.
Not only were the Jaguars quiet in free agency, but they had one of the worst drafts in the league according to PFSN’s NFL Draft HQ grades. They went incredibly against the national consensus with most of their early-round picks. That strategy could end up making Gladstone look like a genius if it pays off, but after making the playoffs in 2025, it sure looks like Jacksonville got worse instead of better this offseason.
16) Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers weren’t incredibly active this offseason, but their focus was in the right direction. Their interior offensive line was a major issue for them in 2025, so bringing in Tyler Biadasz and Jake Slaughter should help keep Justin Herbert upright. Adding Dalvin Tomlinson and Akheem Mesidor to their defensive line should be beneficial, too.
With over $45 million in cap space still this year, the Chargers could try to pull off a splash before the regular season starts to try and finally see postseason success. However, with several key contributors slated to hit free agency next offseason, they might have to rely on players returning from injury and improved performances from their young players. There’s a high floor with Los Angeles, but the ceiling doesn’t stretch much further.
15) Washington Commanders
Coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, the Washington Commanders needed some major upgrades to their roster in free agency. They were 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.
Despite not having picks in the second or fourth rounds, the Commanders came away with the top-graded draft class by PFSN’s NFL Draft HQ. Sonny Styles and Antonio Williams should start right away, while Day 3 picks like Joshua Josephs, Kaytron Allen, and Matt Gulbin were all great value selections. Those picks should complement Washington’s improved roster and could get them back to the playoffs if Jayden Daniels stays healthy.
14) 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, Eric Bieniemy, and Chris Jones among a core from their dynasty days. Additions such as Kenneth Walker III, Khyiris Tonga, and Alohi Gilman should strengthen the roster.
The Chiefs needed some defensive upgrades in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they did exactly that by selecting Mansoor Delane, Peter Woods, and R Mason Thomas, who should all contribute in Year 1. However, losses like Trent McDuffie, Bryan Cook, and Jaylen Watson will be felt in the secondary. There are plenty of questions surrounding Kansas City in what feels like their core’s version of the Last Dance.
13) 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. Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Jonathan Allen should be four key additions to their porous defense.
Drafting Cashius Howell and Tacario Davis should provide the Bengals with more defensive depth with long-term starting upside. When Burrow is healthy, Cincinnati’s offense is one of the best in the league. Even though the defense still has holes, it looks much better on paper than it did last year. Improvement on that side of the ball could get them back into the postseason in 2026.
12) 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 Trey 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.
The Ravens needed to address their trenches, and they did so by picking guard Vega Ioane and edge rusher Zion Young with their first two picks. There are questions about Baltimore’s ability to transition from John Harbaugh to Jesse Minter as their head coach, but most of their core remains intact heading into 2026. If Lamar Jackson stays healthy, they’ll push for first place in the AFC North.
11) 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, David Montgomery, Alex Anzalone, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Amik Robertson on the roster.
However, Blake Miller is a seamless fit at right tackle with his nasty demeanor and refined skill set, as the Lions are expected to move Penei Sewell to left tackle. Detroit also has the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL based off of 2025 records.
10) Green Bay Packers
This Green Bay Packers squad in 2026 will look very different from the 2025 team. Besides Malik Willis, they lost Rashan Gary, Elgton Jenkins, Quay Walker, and Kingsley Enagbare this offseason. They’ve also been active, adding the likes of Zaire Franklin, Benjamin St-Juste, and Javon Hargrave. Brandon Cisse should be an immediate starter at cornerback, as he was one of the best value picks in Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
Green Bay’s secondary is still a pretty big area of concern, though, and Lukas Van Ness is unproven sliding into Gary’s role in the lineup alongside a healthy Micah Parsons. The Packers have more than enough talent on both sides of the ball to make the playoffs; the question remains if their roster is well-rounded enough to win when it matters most.
9) Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears entered the draft more or less finding themselves in the same spot they were in going into free agency. They lost a few key starters, but additions like Coby Bryant, Devin Bush, and Garrett Bradbury are projected as new faces in the lineup. They retain the whole of their young, talented core on offense, as well. Safety Dillon Thieneman was one of the biggest steals of the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The big concern with the Bears is that their subpar defensive line looks pretty much the same as last year’s unit. With the roster sitting at dead-even in 2026, their hopes for improvement lie heavily on development from their young offensive stars and better health in the secondary. Expect Chicago to make the playoffs again this coming year, but they might be a year away from having a Super Bowl-caliber roster.
8) 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.
Bringing Kayden McDonald to a Texans defense that was already the second-best unit by PFSN’s Defense Impact metric is just unfair for the rest of the NFL. Keylan Rutledge was a perceived reach in Round 1, but he’s a high-motored guard who should provide an upgrade for Houston early. The passing attack remains a concern and limits their ceiling, but the Texans’ defense will keep them competitive against any team in the NFL.
7) 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.
New England’s first two draft picks of Caleb Lomu and Gabe Jacas consist of two talented trench players and potential future starters on both sides of the ball. However, the wide receiver room arguably got worse (but an A.J. Brown trade may be looming), and Mike Vrabel’s future with the team is in doubt given his alleged affair with Dianna Russini. The talent is there with the Patriots’ roster, but there are plenty of questions still remaining.
6) Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles had some big losses in free agency, but their defense should still be in good shape. 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. Signing Tariq Woolen and trading for Jonathan Greenard during the 2026 NFL Draft should help, though.
As the Eagles seemingly prepare to trade A.J. Brown, they doubled down on athletic offensive weapons with Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Their outlook for this year hinges heavily on if first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion can get their inconsistent offense back on track. If he can, Philadelphia could push for another Super Bowl appearance.
5) San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers essentially swapped out Kendrick Bourne for Mike Evans, while adding De’Zhaun Stribling into the mix for a deeper wide receiver room. Even with Evans coming off an injury-shortened 2025, that’s a big win for the 49ers’ offense. With Brandon Aiyuk on the way out, it was crucial for them to add some talent at wide receiver.
Bringing in Osa Odighizuwa and Dre Greenlaw will help San Francisco’s defense recover from their brutal losses from the 2025 offseason. The 49ers’ biggest weakness remains their inability to stay healthy as a collective unit; if they can find a way for their star players to play a full season, this is one of the best rosters with one of the best head coaches in the NFL.
4) Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have needed a true WR1 since the departure of Stefon 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 added the likes of Bradley Chubb, Dee Alford, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson on defense in free agency.
T.J. Parker has starting potential as an edge rusher in Buffalo’s defensive front, potentially filling a hole that hurt them down the stretch in 2025. The Bills didn’t add a ton of star power this offseason, but their roster is arguably more well-rounded than before. Will that be enough to finally get them to the Super Bowl? Only time will tell.
3) Denver Broncos
Things were quiet at first for the Denver Broncos, who didn’t do much in 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. That said, they still found a way to make a splash by trading a first-round pick for Jaylen Waddle, giving Bo Nix another talented weapon to throw to.
Waddle’s added element of game-breaking speed should be a great complement to the bigger Courtland Sutton. They still have their entire their core from the best defense in the NFL last year by PFSN’s Defense Impact Scoring, and they got better on offense. If Nix continues to develop, it’s entirely possible the Broncos make it to the Super Bowl this coming year.
2) Los Angeles Rams
Watching the Los Angeles Rams maneuver free agency was 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.
Taking Ty Simpson at No. 13 was not only a reach by PFSN’s draft grades, but it was also entirely a future-minded move for a team in a win-now situation. Taking Max Klare after selecting Terrance Ferguson in Round 2 last year was a surprise, as well. The Rams didn’t get much better in the short term through the draft, but their existing roster, coaching staff, and free-agency haul are enough to give them a better team on paper.
1) Seattle Seahawks
The defending Super Bowl champions had a lot of starters hitting free agency this offseason, and naturally, the Seattle Seahawks weren’t able to retain all of them. Boye Mafe, Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, and Kenneth Walker III have departed for other teams, leaving the Seahawks with a couple of roster holes.
We’ve seen enough success from John Schneider to trust his draft selections, but the picks he made in the 2026 NFL Draft were puzzling, particularly taking Jadarian Price in the first round.
Even with some questionable draft choices, the Seahawks still have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL and retain all of their star players, making them a safe choice for the No. 1 spot in our power rankings.
