With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, teams across the league are starting to show where they stand. While teams like the Seattle Seahawks will look to defend their Super Bowl title, others are trying to fix major issues after a rough 2025 season.
Between roster changes, free agency moves, and draft capital, there’s a gap forming between contenders and rebuilding teams.
32) Cleveland Browns
Much like their divisional rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Browns enter offseason workouts without a clear starting quarterback. Unless Cleveland adds another option in the draft, Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are set to compete for the job this summer.
But the Browns’ crowning jewel has long been their defense, anchored by two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. The unit ranked No. 6 in PFSN’s NFL Defense Impact metric, finishing the season with a B grade.
Until Cleveland finds consistent answers on offense, it will continue to struggle to climb out of the league’s bottom tier.
31) Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders’ offense was historically bad in 2025, prompting a near-total overhaul of the coaching staff. The unit ranked No. 31 in the league, finishing just ahead of the Browns. Led by Geno Smith, the group earned an F grade in PFSN’s NFL Offense Impact metric, averaging just 4.4 yards per play while scoring a league-low 241 points. The struggles extended to early downs, where the Raiders also ranked last with just 256 total first-down gains.
Fernando Mendoza is a long-term project and won’t cure what ails them, but building early chemistry with second-year running back Ashton Jeanty would be a meaningful step forward. For Las Vegas, real progress will also hinge on maximizing the 10 draft picks currently at its disposal.
30) New York Jets
New York finished 3-14 in Aaron Glenn’s first season as head coach, and while injuries and trades played a role, the defense’s regression stood out. It was historically bad. When the numbers settled, the Jets became the first team in NFL history to finish dead last in point differential, turnover differential, and total yardage in the same season.
The offense didn’t offer much support either, earning an F in PFSN’s NFL Offense Impact metric. That led to Justin Fields getting traded to the Kansas City Chiefs and Geno Smith stepping in as the projected starter for 2026.
There is some optimism on defense, which will look completely different from Week 18. Additions like Minkah Fitzpatrick, T’Vondre Sweat, Demario Davis, David Onyemata, and Joseph Ossai should help stabilize the unit.
With nine picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, how they approach this class will go a long way in shaping their trajectory.
29) Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals enter the 2026 season facing one of the league’s more uncertain outlooks, particularly at quarterback. Certainly, they won’t head into the year with Jacoby Brissett as the long-term answer, but with a historically weak QB class and the No. 3 overall pick, they might not have a better option in the short term.
Arizona’s underlying metrics paint a picture: the offense ranked No. 22 with a 71.4 OFFi score, while the defense lagged at No. 29 with a 65.0 DEFi score, highlighting issues on both sides of the ball.
After a conservative showing in free agency, the pressure now shifts to the draft. With seven picks at their disposal, the Cardinals must find impact contributors and, ideally, a future cornerstone under center if they want to accelerate their rebuild.
28) Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are entering a full-scale reset heading into the 2026 season. Gone is Tua Tagovailoa, with Malik Willis stepping in as the new starting quarterback, while Jeff Hafley takes over for Mike McDaniel in a clear shift in direction. Miami also moved on from cornerstone pieces like Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and Minkah Fitzpatrick, signaling a long-term rebuild.
The Dolphins finished 2025 ranked No. 19 in OFFi and No. 27 in DEFi, reflecting a roster that struggled to find balance on both sides of the ball. With 11 draft picks at its disposal, Miami has the flexibility to reshape its foundation, but a lack of young, ascending talent remains a concern after years of aggressive spending. Expectations should remain tempered as the Dolphins navigate a true rebuilding year in 2026.
27) Tennessee Titans
This is where you land when your team performs poorly on both sides of the ball. The Tennessee Titans stumbled through the 2025 season, with a defense that ranked No. 24 in DEFi (D+ grade) and an offense that tanked to No. 30 in OFFi (F grade), sandwiched between the Jets and Raiders.
A lack of consistency, playmaking, and identity defined the year, leaving Tennessee searching for answers roster-wide. The bright side is that the Titans are well-positioned to turn things around, holding nine draft picks, including the No. 4 overall selection, giving them a prime opportunity to add foundational talent on both sides of the ball.
26) New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints endured an uneven 2025 season, finishing No. 26 on offense with a D+ grade while finding far more stability on defense, which earned a B- grade. That imbalance ultimately capped their ceiling, as inconsistent quarterback play and a lack of explosive weapons held the unit back.
For New Orleans to climb the regular-season rankings, Tyler Shough must take a critical second-year leap, and the front office must capitalize on its eight draft picks to address key needs at EDGE, wide receiver, and cornerback — especially after losing Alontae Taylor to the Tennessee Titans in free agency.
25) Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers turned in a middling 2025 campaign, with an offense that ranked No. 14 and earned a C grade in OFFi, while a once-reliable defense continued its downward trend, regressing for the third straight season and finishing with a C grade.
Despite the inconsistencies, Pittsburgh enters the offseason with momentum-building potential, holding a franchise-record 12 draft picks and addressing one key need by adding Michael Pittman Jr. in free agency. The quarterback situation remains unsettled in a weak class, but all signs point to Aaron Rodgers continuing in a bridge role for 2026.
With Patrick Graham stepping in as defensive coordinator and the possibility of further offensive upgrades, the Steelers have a path to climb out of the bottom 10, though their 2025 performance justifies their current standing for now.
24) Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers were one of the more surprising teams of the 2025 season, overcoming clear roster flaws to take the NFC South despite ranking No. 25 defensively with a D+ DEFi grade and posting a C- OFFi grade on offense.
Bryce Young showed flashes of late-game poise with six game-winning drives, but his overall inconsistency still resulted in a D+ grade in PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metrics. That dichotomy defined Carolina’s season, as they found ways to win close games without ever truly looking like a complete team.
With seven draft picks, the Panthers’ priorities are upgrading the offensive line, particularly at tackle, to better protect Young and give the offense a chance to take a meaningful step forward in 2026.
23) New York Giants
The New York Giants struggled to gain traction throughout the 2025 season, finishing No. 24 in OFFi with a C- grade and No. 23 in DEFi with a D+ grade, highlighting issues on both sides of the ball.
Much of the offensive inconsistency stemmed from poor protection, as Jaxson Dart was taken down 35 times, a number that must decrease for the unit to function more efficiently. New York enters the draft with seven picks and clear priorities, with wide receiver and offensive line topping the list of needs. Until those areas are addressed, it will be difficult for the Giants to show real improvement in 2026, although bringing in John Harbaugh and getting Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo healthy could help.
22) Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons put together an uneven 2025 season, landing in the middle tier of the league on both sides of the ball. The offense ranked No. 18 with a C OFFi grade, while the defense came in at No. 15 with a C DEFi mark, highlighting a group that showed flashes but struggled to sustain consistency.
With just five picks in the upcoming draft, Atlanta will need to be strategic, especially at wide receiver and cornerback, where adding impact talent and depth remains a priority heading into 2026.
21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers endured a frustrating 2025 season, struggling to find consistency on both sides of the ball. The offense ranked No. 21 with a C- OFFi grade, while the defense wasn’t much better at No. 19 with a C- DEFi grade.
With seven picks in the upcoming draft, Tampa Bay has a chance to address key weaknesses, particularly on defense, where edge rusher, linebacker depth, and cornerback stand out as the most pressing needs heading into 2026.
20) Minnesota Vikings
A dominant defense and offensive struggles were the story of the Minnesota Vikings’ season. The defense ranked No. 4 with a B+ DEFi grade, keeping the team competitive, while the offense lagged behind at No. 28 with a D OFFi mark, failing to generate consistent production.
With nine picks in the upcoming draft, Minnesota has the flexibility to address key areas, particularly in the secondary to maintain its defensive strength and along the offensive line to help stabilize a unit that struggled throughout the year.
19) Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers endured a lopsided 2025 season, pairing a strong defensive showing (B- grade, 82.9 DEFi) with a struggling offense that posted a 67.4 OFFi score. That imbalance consistently put pressure on the unit led by Justin Herbert, who absorbed 54 sacks, the third-most in the league, underscoring ongoing protection issues.
If the Chargers are going to take the next step, fortifying the offensive line has to be a priority. With five picks in the upcoming draft, addressing guard while also adding help at EDGE and defensive tackle will be critical to balancing out a roster that showed flashes but lacked consistency.
18) Washington Commanders
A promising 2024 season had the Washington Commanders entering 2025 with real momentum, but injuries and inconsistent play quickly derailed those expectations. The drop-off was most evident on defense, where Washington fell to No. 30 with a 64.8 score, while the offense held up better at 78.1 but still lacked consistency.
With six draft picks, the Commanders have a path to address key gaps at wide receiver, center, and safety. Hitting on those spots will be essential if they want to regain their footing heading into 2026.
17) Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals continue to go as Joe Burrow goes, and his absence in 2025 proved costly. Burrow missed nine games with a lingering turf toe injury, and the team’s 6-11 record reflected just how much they rely on their franchise quarterback.
Even without Burrow, the offense held relatively steady, ranking No. 12 in OFFi with a C grade. The defense, however, remained a major concern, finishing No. 28 with a 65.3 score. It’s no surprise that Cincinnati’s biggest needs heading into the draft are on that side of the ball, and with eight picks to work with, they’ll need to capitalize to get things back on track.
16) Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs took a noticeable step back in 2025, with an offense that struggled to find its rhythm consistently. They finished with a C grade on offense (No. 17) while the defense held up slightly better at a C+ level, but neither unit played to the standard expected of a contender.
With nine draft picks, Kansas City has the flexibility to address several key needs, including EDGE, cornerback, offensive tackle, and tight end. The latter is especially worth monitoring, as Travis Kelce nears the end of his career, making it increasingly important to plan for the future at the position.
15) Baltimore Ravens
Like their rival Bengals with Burrow, the Baltimore Ravens go as Lamar Jackson goes. The 2025 season made that clear, as Jackson battled multiple lower-body injuries, including hamstring and ankle issues, before a significant back contusion in Week 16. The result was an 8-9 finish, with the offense posting a 72.7 OFFi score while the defense turned in a C-grade performance, ranking No. 18 in the league.
With 11 draft picks at their disposal, the Ravens are well-positioned to retool key areas. Defensive tackle, offensive line, and wide receiver stand out as priority needs, and how effectively they address those spots could determine whether they rebound in 2026.
14) Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys remain stuck chasing the Philadelphia Eagles, unable to break through despite solid offensive production. Dak Prescott delivered a strong 2025 campaign, earning a B in QBi while leading an offense that matched with a B OFFi grade.
The defense, however, told a different story. Without Micah Parsons, Dallas collapsed to No. 32 in DEFi with a 62.1 score (D-), exposing major weaknesses across the unit. Armed with eight draft picks, the Cowboys must prioritize help at corner, linebacker, safety, and EDGE if they hope to close the gap and become a true contender.
13) Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts experienced a dramatic midseason shift in 2025, turning what looked like a breakout year into a collapse. They entered the Week 11 bye as the league’s top team at 8-2, but everything unraveled from there after Daniel Jones’ Achilles injury, as a seven-game losing streak to close the season erased their early success.
Despite the slide, the offense held firm with a B OFFi grade, while the defense lagged behind at a C- DEFi. With seven draft picks, the Colts now turn their focus to addressing key needs at EDGE, linebacker, and tackle in hopes of avoiding another late-season breakdown.
12) Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos saw a historic 2025 season end in devastating fashion. They posted a 14-3 record, their first AFC West title since 2015, and an NFL-record 12 comeback wins secured the No. 1 seed, but it all unraveled when Bo Nix fractured his ankle in a playoff win over the Buffalo Bills.
Despite the success, the offense was inconsistent, finishing No. 15 with a C grade, while the defense carried the team with a league-best 90.1 DEFi score. With seven draft picks, Denver now looks to build on its foundation by addressing needs at defensive tackle, tight end, and linebacker as it aims to make another run.
11) Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars put together their best season since 1999, finishing 13-4 and closing the regular season on an eight-game winning streak, though much of that run came against weaker competition. Their momentum carried into the playoffs, but it ended in a 27-24 Wild Card loss to the Bills.
From a metrics standpoint, Jacksonville turned in a balanced but unspectacular performance, earning a C in OFFi and a B in DEFi. With 11 draft picks, the Jaguars are well-positioned to strengthen key areas, particularly offensive and defensive tackle, linebacker, and running back, as they look to build on their breakthrough season.
10) New England Patriots
The New England Patriots engineered one of the most surprising turnarounds in recent memory, flipping a 4-13 campaign into a breakout 2025 season. Much of that jump can be credited to Drake Maye, who looked every bit the franchise cornerstone, finishing with the second-best QBi ranking in the league between Brock Purdy and Josh Allen.
The offense backed that up with a B OFFi grade, while the defense held steady at a C+. With 11 draft picks in hand, New England is well-positioned to build around its young quarterback by targeting wide receiver, EDGE, linebacker, and tight end as it looks to sustain its rise.
9) Houston Texans
The Houston Texans caught fire late in 2025, riding a nine-game winning streak into the playoffs. After a dominant 30-6 win over the Steelers, their run came to an end in the divisional round against the Patriots.
C.J. Stroud turned in a solid but unspectacular season with a C grade, as the offense finished with a C- OFFi while the defense carried the load with a B+ performance. With eight draft picks, Houston must prioritize fixing a leaky offensive line that too often left the offense behind the chains. At the same time, reinforcing the defensive front with upgrades at defensive tackle and adding range at linebacker will be essential.
8) Detroit Lions
Like many playoff teams, the Detroit Lions dealt with significant turnover after the 2024 season, losing coordinators on both sides of the ball, and the impact showed in 2025. A year removed from a 15-2 campaign, Detroit slipped to 9-8, finishing with a B- OFFi grade while the defense lagged behind at a C.
With nine draft picks, the Lions have the flexibility to address key needs, starting with EDGE as well as linebacker after losing Alex Anzalone in free agency. Reinforcements along the offensive line at guard and tackle are also essential if Detroit wants to regain its previous form.
7) Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have work to do after losing several key contributors in free agency. The defensive unit turned in a B- DEFi performance (seventh-best in the league) while the offense lagged behind with a C OFFi grade, ranking 16th.
Heading into the draft with nine picks, the Eagles have the flexibility to reload quickly. EDGE, wide receiver, offensive tackle, and tight end stand out as priority areas as they look to retool and remain competitive in a loaded NFC.
6) Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love delivered an impressive season, posting an 88.0 (B+) QBi score that ranked No. 4 overall, slotting just behind Josh Allen. Despite that high-level quarterback play, the Green Bay Packers finished with a B- OFFi grade (seventh) and a C DEFi (17th), underscoring inconsistency across the roster.
Green Bay enters the draft without a first-round pick after dealing its 2026 and 2027 selections to the Cowboys in exchange for Micah Parsons. Even so, with seven total picks, Green Bay still has the flexibility to address key needs at cornerback, EDGE, offensive tackle, and defensive tackle as it looks to build around its ascending quarterback.
5) Chicago Bears
In his second season, Caleb Williams made a significant leap, rising from No. 31 in QBi in 2024 to No. 20 last year. His growth helped guide the Chicago Bears to their first playoff appearance since 2020, though their run ended in the divisional round.
Chicago’s offense also took a step forward, finishing No. 10 with a 79.5 score (C+), while the defense lagged behind at 70.0 (C-), highlighting a clear imbalance on the roster. With seven draft picks and no glaring holes, the Bears are in position to strengthen the roster, with defensive tackle, EDGE, and center standing out as their most notable areas to address.
4) San Francisco 49ers
No Brock Purdy? No problem. With Purdy sidelined for eight games, Mac Jones stepped in and led the San Francisco 49ers to a 5-3 record, helping the offense maintain a B OFFi grade.
The bigger issue came on the other side of the ball, where the defense struggled to find consistency, finishing with a D+ DEFi (26th in the NFL).
With half a dozen draft picks, San Francisco is expected to target reinforcements at offensive tackle, wide receiver, and EDGE as it looks to round out a roster still capable of contending.
3) Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen remained firmly in the league’s upper tier, finishing No. 3 in QBi with an A- grade, just behind Maye. His steady production helped power the Bills’ third-ranked offense, which earned a B grade in OFFi.
Defensively, though, Buffalo wasn’t as sharp, finishing with a C+ (13th) and showing stretches of inconsistency. With seven draft picks at their disposal, the Bills are positioned to address key needs at EDGE, wide receiver, and safety as they look to build a more balanced roster.
2) Los Angeles Rams
In Year 17, Matthew Stafford continues to defy age, showing no real signs of slowing down. He elevated his play from a 74.7 QBi in 2024 to an impressive 84.4 (sixth-best in the league), helping the Los Angeles Rams achieve the NFL’s top-ranked offense with a 92.3 OFFi score, and was honored with the MVP award.
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With seven draft picks in hand, Los Angeles is well-positioned to build around its veteran quarterback, with wide receiver, linebacker, and offensive tackle standing out as key areas to address as it looks to sustain its offensive dominance.
1) Seattle Seahawks
The top spot belongs to the reigning Super Bowl champions until further notice. Ranked No. 3 in DEFi last season, the Seattle Seahawks proved that defense still can win titles. Boye Mafe, Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, and Kenneth Walker III have departed for other teams, leaving a few holes on the roster and only four picks heading into the draft.
Still, the team retained the core that powered its Lombardi Trophy run in February. If Sam Darnold improves on his C+ QBi grade and Seattle fills the void left by Walker and the rehabbing Zach Charbonnet, the team will be a force to reckon with again in 2026.
