2026 NFL Preseason Power Rankings

The 2026 NFL season is coming up quicker than we know it. There were a lot of moves during this past offseason that have shaken up the league. We’ll be breaking down some of the moves and taking a look at the 2026 NFL Preseason Power Rankings as we head into the season.

The Top Contenders

• #1 Los Angeles Rams: The Rams were already a contender entering this season and then they added Myles Garrett. Making a move like this shows they are going all-out to win it in what’s likely Matthew Stafford’s last dance. They are the team to beat with the best offense and the best defense. 
• #2 Buffalo Bills: The addition of D.J. Moore gives Josh Allen his best receiver since Stefon Diggs. Josh Allen gives it his all every time he steps onto the field and now is as good a time as any for the Bills to make a run.
• #3 New England Patriots: Coming off an incredible Super Bowl run, the Patriots are no longer the “rebuilding” project—they are the team everyone is hunting. The challenge now is proving that last year’s championship appearance wasn’t a fluke. Trading for A.J. Brown and signing Romeo Doubs was a big step in the right direction in getting Drake Maye some help.
• #4 Seattle Seahawks: The reigning Super Bowl champions aren’t #1 on this list and that’s for one reason, the question mark in the running game. They let Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III walk away in free agency. To make matters worse, Zach Charbonnet, the other half of the 1-2 punch in Seattle’s run game is going to be out for a significant chunk of the year and there’s uncertainty in Jadarian Price filling that gap. 
• #5 Detroit Lions: The Lions have a high-octane offense and even if Ben Johnson is still out of the picture, they have the talent to go the distance.
• #6 Los Angeles Chargers: Probably one of the few times a team gets elevated on this list for a coaching hire rather than a player change. The signing of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. That is exactly what this team needed to get Justin Herbert over the hump and become the AFC West Champions.
• #7 San Francisco 49ers: Still packed with All-Pro talent, the Niners remain an elite threat in the NFC. The only real question, as it usually is with this group, is whether they can keep their key playmakers healthy through January.
• #8 Denver Broncos: The Broncos are continuing to get better and better every year under Sean Payton. They’re building something truly special and Jaylen Waddle might help Bo Nix enter the elite conversation.
• #9 Green Bay Packers: The Packers pulled off a stunning trade for Micah Parsons and he hasn’t been fully healthy, but they’re hoping for a bounce back year from the Pro Bowler. As long as Josh Jacobs remains on the field this season, the Packers are in good shape for another playoff appearance.
• #10 Dallas Cowboys: The talent is undeniable, but the mental hurdle of the playoffs continues to be the driving force for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. 

The Middle Pack & Challengers

• #11 Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs came swinging in the offseason by landing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to bolster a weak rushing attack. It was a great landing spot for him, but it’s not going to be enough for them to regain their AFC West title. 
• #12 Houston Texans: The best defense in the NFL, but the offense needs some improvement, especially the line. David Montgomery will spark their rushing attack which will be enough to win the division, but not much further than that. 
• #13 Baltimore Ravens: It’s going to be different without John Harbaugh as their coach, but the Ravens have the talent to make a run of their own. If Lamar can get back to his 2024 form, it’s going to be tough to stop them.
• #14 Philadelphia Eagles: The loss of A.J. Brown is going to hurt, the Eagles have slowly been tooling up for their future as the team is aging. The Eagles took a step back last year and expecting them to regress even further. 
• #15 Cincinnati Bengals: Everything here is tied to Joe Burrow’s health. If he’s on the field, they are a threat to anyone, but the margin for error in the AFC is razor-thin.
• #16 Chicago Bears: The Caleb Williams era is officially here, and for the first time in years, the expectations are legitimate. The offense  has the support pieces to make a run at a Wild Card spot.
• #17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield continues to revitalize his career, keeping the Bucs relevant in a division that is up for grabs. They aren’t flashy, but they are consistently tough.
• #18 Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence needs to find his consistency again to keep this roster from stagnating. They have the talent, but they’ve struggled to close out games against the AFC’s heavyweights. The loss of Travis Etienne is going to hurt, but the defense can carry them. 
• #19 Indianapolis Colts: The Colts started last season off with an astounding 8-2 record before Daniel Jones went down. After that, they failed to win another game. The biggest question entering 2026 is what Colts team will we see – the 8-2 or the one that collapsed.
• #20 Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are putting all their chips on Kyler Murray fixing things. The Vikings have a top-3 receiver in the NFL, but if someone can’t throw the ball, then they’re not going to succeed. If Kyler Murray can even be mediocre, the Vikings are a dark horse.

The Work-in-Progress

• #21 New Orleans Saints: The Saints have a solid young core on offense and we love what they’re cooking up around Tyler Shough. The Saints are going to give the Buccaneers a run for their money for the best team in the NFC South.
• #22 Carolina Panthers: Neck and neck with the New Orleans Saints is the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are trending upwards, but Bryce Young needs to take the leap to the next level. 
• #23 New York Giants: The Giants are building a serious roster with a Super Bowl winning coach in the Big Apple. They are a few years out from being a real threat, but the pieces are starting to click together.
• #24 Atlanta Falcons: Even Bijan Robinson and Drake London can’t save their quarterback situation. Tua or Penix will be their downfall. 
• #25 Pittsburgh Steelers: For the first time in 19 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a new coach. It’s also likely that for the first time in 23 years, they’ll end up with a losing record. 
• #26 Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels is pure electricity, but the team lacks the overall depth to do much of anything, proving the 2024 run was just a fluke. 

The Bottom Dwellers

• #27 Las Vegas Raiders: The #1 overall pick in Fernando Mendoza is the centerpoint for a franchise undergoing a massive rebuild. Mendoza, Jeanty, and Bowers are three pillars of that, but a lot of work needs to be done on the offensive line and defense before this team can compete.
• #28 Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward was one of the few bright spots in a team that struggled massively in 2025. The Titans are going to continue to struggle, but the pass game should improve with the additions of Wan’Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate.
• #29 New York Jets: If Geno Smith plays for the whole year, they’ll sit right around the #29 spot, if it’s anyone else, they’ll be even lower. The Jets don’t have much going for them.
• #30: Arizona Cardinals: Similar to the Jets, if Jacoby Brissett plays, the Cardinals are in a better spot, if they opt for Carson Beck instead, it’ll be an even longer season. We’ll see how Jeremiyah Love does and how the Cardinals intend to utilize him.
• #31 Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins are embracing the tank, but having De’Von Achane and Jordyn Brooks on their team is just good enough to not have them in last place. 
• #32 Cleveland Browns: A difficult offseason has left the organization with more questions than answers. The focus this year is going to be on internal stabilization and finding a path forward, especially with longtime fan-favorite Myles Garrett out of the picture.