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Way-Too-Early 2026-27 NFL Power Rankings: Who's the Favorite to Dethrone Seahawks?
The dust has settled on the 2025 NFL season, and the Seattle Seahawks are the champions of Super Bowl LX after defeating the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on Sunday.
It was a wild year. This season's Super Bowl participants were hardly who most predicted. No one expected Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold to be the first signal-caller from the vaunted Class of 2018 to win a Lombardi Trophy.
But while the Seahawks are celebrating and planning parades, 31 other NFL teams are turning their focus toward the 2026 campaign. Seattle will soon follow suit. The NFL stands for "Not for Long," and often it can be harder to stay on top than it is to get there in the first place.
The NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis will be here before you know it. Free agency will follow soon thereafter. And then the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh. In just a few months, many of the NFL's teams will look vastly different than they do right now.
As we close the book on 2025, Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kris Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski have ranked the league's teams from worst to first for next season.
Three guesses who is sitting at No. 1.
32. New York Jets
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The New York Jets are in disarray.
In a draft class with only one widely viewed elite quarterback prospect, they still managed to fall to the second pick by playing themselves out of the top spot.
It's a remarkable kind of failure.
Gambles on veteran quarterbacks the past few years have proved woeful. The Jets were 29th in the league in total offense in 2025, and 29th in the NFL in scoring offense, at just 17.6 points per game.
New York was 25th in total defense and last in the AFC in scoring defense in Aaron Glenn's first year as head coach, and that defense faces a number of choices regarding prominent in-house free agents.
If this team wins more games than you can count on one hand, it would be the most Jets-like miracle ever—because they still wouldn't get a quarterback in 2027. -- Davenport
31. Arizona Cardinals
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Three teams from the NFC West made the postseason in 2025. All three won playoff games. One represented the conference in Super Bowl LX.
It wasn't the Arizona Cardinals.
After an awful season that saw the Redbirds lose 14 of their last 15 games, they have a new head coach in Mike LaFleur. The former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator was the last hire in this cycle, but the 38-year-old is no consolation prize.
However, the team's uncertain future at quarterback leaves LaFleur with work to do. After an injury-marred 2025 season, many expect the Cardinals to move on from Kyler Murray. But his contract severely hinders his trade value and makes releasing him problematic.
It won't be surprising if LaFleur talks himself into believing he can bring out the best in Murray and make him the player who was drafted first overall in 2019.
Whether he can do that is another matter altogether. -- Davenport
30. Cleveland Browns
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The more things change for the Cleveland Browns, the more they stay the same.
While an argument can be made that things with Kevin Stefanski had run their course, blaming the coach for a flawed roster that was crippled by the Deshaun Watson trade was silly.
To replace Stefanski, the Browns hired former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, whose future became a key pressure point in the Ravens' decision to move on from John Harbaugh, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini.
In the process, Cleveland also upset respected defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who was a finalist for the head job and has now left the club.
It certainly feels like the organization has made a series of mistakes, which has usually been the case under current ownership. Don't be surprised if the Browns' 2026 season feels a lot like last year's five-win campaign. -- Knox
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29. Las Vegas Raiders
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Despite winning just three games last season, there's a lot of optimism around the Las Vegas Raiders. They're set to hire Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to be their head coach, and many expect the team to pair him with presumptive No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza.
If both Kubiak and Mendoza bring momentum from their previous stops, the Raiders may finally close the gap on their division rivals.
Nonetheless, the Raiders have an unsettling situation with star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby, who may not be on board with yet another rebuild. If he doesn't buy in, Las Vegas should be able to at least get a first-rounder for him, which is the silver lining in what could be a blockbuster trade. -- Moton
28. Tennessee Titans
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The Titans appear to have a franchise quarterback in last year's No. 1 overall draft pick, Cam Ward. Ward wasn't the league's best rookie quarterback last season, but he flashed in every game, while showing incremental improvement despite playing in one of the NFL's least-talented offenses.
With Ward in place, the Titans can now seriously build toward something of substance. Plenty of pieces still need to be added, but the team is on the right track, particularly after Robert Saleh's hire of Brian Daboll to serve as Ward's offensive coordinator.
Don't be surprised if Tennessee enjoys a significant leap in success next fall, relatively speaking. -- Sobleski
27. New York Giants
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The hiring of head coach John Harbaugh fundamentally changes how we should view the New York Giants heading into 2026. His experience and proven ability to keep a team competitive can't be understated.
Instead of being an intriguing team with a few promising young players, New York feels like it actually has a foundation for something special. Of course, keeping guys like Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabers healthy may still be a challenge.
The Giants were sometimes fun in 2025. Under Harbaugh, they should be functional. -- Knox
26. Washington Commanders
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This will be a pivotal offseason for the Washington Commanders, whose 2025 campaign was derailed by injuries and one of the league's worst defenses. A year after reaching the NFC title game, Washington went 5-12 and now carries several glaring needs into the offseason.
The Commanders can't count on returning to playoff contention by simply staying healthy. They need defensive help in a big way, better receiver depth, and upgrades along the offensive line. They must also navigate changes at both the offensive and defensive coordinators.
Washington has the cap space needed to address its biggest weaknesses, but it's time to take more of a long-term approach. Regardless of how well the Commanders played two years ago, they're not built to win a championship now. -- Knox
25. Miami Dolphins
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The times they are-a-changing for the Miami Dolphins.
There's a new general manager in Miami in Jon-Eric Sullivan. A new head coach in Jeff Hafley. And ostensibly, there will be a new quarterback as soon as they can move on from Tua Tagovailoa.
Therein lies the rub, though.
Tagovailoa has three years left on the massive extension he signed in 2024. A Dolphins team already over $16 million in the red against the projected salary cap would eat a dead cap hit over $45 million if they trade Tagovailoa before June 1, and there's no way to release him that doesn't saddle the Dolphins with a massive amount of dead money—like over $99 million worth.
It's more likely than not that Hafley will enter the summer of his first season as a head coach with a quarterback the franchise doesn't want and a deeply flawed roster.
It's going to be a long year in South Florida. – Davenport
24. New Orleans Saints
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Quarterback Tyler Shough finished a distant second place behind Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan in Offensive Rookie of the Year votes, but he's shown enough to cement himself as a starter for next season.
Head coach Kellen Moore had no shot of winning Coach of the Year with a 6-11 team, but he did a fine job developing a young roster. You can see the improvement in this club late last season. The Saints won four of their last five games. If Shough continues to improve with experience, they'll be in the race for the NFC South title. -- Moton
23. Indianapolis Colts
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Colts ownership decided to keep everything intact after the team's historic collapse to end the 2025 campaign.
General manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen now have one year to prove how Indianapolis began the 2025 season is closer to where its at as an organization than how the squad finished.
To be fair, Daniel Jones' torn Achilles was the primary driver behind the Colts' abrupt downturn. The organization will likely make his retention a priority but must then navigate an offseason, training camp and possibly the start of the 2026 campaign with a different quarterback as Jones recovers.
Furthermore, the Colts must also make key decisions at wide receiver, as Michael Pittman Jr.'s cap charge rises to $29 million and Alec Pierce is set to hit free agency.
Indianapolis must thread the needle over the next few months to ensure the squad is competitive next fall, or significant changes will be forthcoming next January. -- Sobleski
22. Cincinnati Bengals
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At some point, the Cincinnati Bengals have to stop giving Zac Taylor a hall pass because of Joe Burrow's injuries. At some point, they also need to realize that they're not getting back to the Super Bowl without investing in their defense and a quality offensive line.
Taylor will be back in 2026, probably because the Bengals don't want to pay him to coach elsewhere or not at all. He's shown that he can't win without Burrow, so if the quarterback misses significant time again, Cincinnati will be irrelevant.
If the Bengals don't dramatically improve their defense, they'll be fun and perhaps even relevant because of their offense. However, they won't be ready to challenge the conference's top teams. -- Knox
21. Minnesota Vikings
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Quite simply, the Vikings organization made a massive blunder by not re-signing Sam Darnold and turning to JJ McCarthy as its starting quarterback.
Minnesota could have realistically signed Darnold to a similar deal he got from the Seattle Seahawks and still set the table for McCarthy to become the starter before his rookie contract ended. Instead, the organization fell prey to the sunk-cost fallacy and decided it needed to start the 10th overall pick from the 2024 NFL draft.
McCarthy could still develop into a quality starting quarterback. After all, he just turned 23. However, his rash of injuries and clear lack of comfort leading the offense so far don't make the current setup feel all that promising. -- Sobleski
20. Kansas City Chiefs
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Before 2025, we hadn't seen the Kansas City Chiefs miss the playoffs since the 2014 season, when quarterback Alex Smith was at the helm. They're in much different circumstances now with Patrick Mahomes, but he's recovering from a torn ACL.
The Chiefs may not come roaring back to win the AFC West title in 2026. While there are rumblings about Travis Kelce playing in his 14th season, Kansas City needs more out of its skill positions at running back and wide receiver. If the front office clears cap space, look for the Chiefs to add a premier running back to balance the offense while Mahomes gets back into a groove. -- Moton
We may see a more physical Chiefs team next season.
19. Atlanta Falcons
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The Atlanta Falcons' new regime has a lot to sort out. Michael Penix Jr. is recovering from a partially torn ACL. With his extensive history of knee injuries, the Falcons better have a solid backup if they're going to release Kirk Cousins.
Still, two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski has earned enough trust to believe he can sort through the uncertainty, even if that means leaning heavily on Bijan Robinson as the offensive centerpiece rather than overextending him with an unrealistic workload.
Defensively, the Falcons may be without their 2025 sack leader, James Pearce Jr., who was arrested after his involvement in a police chase last Saturday.
Under new direction, with key uncertainties on both sides of the ball, the Falcons will be a difficult team to project until we see them on the field. -- Moton
18. Dallas Cowboys
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The Dallas Cowboys have a lot to sort out this offseason if they hope to return to relevance in 2026. Replacing defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was a good start, though it remains to be seen if Christian Parker will be an upgrade.
Dallas also needs to clear cap space, figure out a way to re-sign or replace George Pickens and Javonte Williams, and find more defensive help.
If the Cowboys can successfully navigate their offseason, they can take a step closer to being a complete team. However, they're likely a year or two away from challenging the NFC's best. -- Knox
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson's familiarity with quarterback Baker Mayfield from their short time in Los Angeles could help him get off to a good start with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers offense regressed significantly in the second half of the previous season, averaging 18.3 points in their last seven outings. They were able to get away with a change in coordinators between 2023 and 2024, but Liam Coen's departure to Jacksonville dealt a massive blow to the offense. Head coach Todd Bowles needs Robinson to work out, or he could lose his job next offseason. -- Moton
16. Baltimore Ravens
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Time will tell if things were really getting stale for the Baltimore Ravens under John Harbaugh. However, once Harbaugh was out, Jesse Minter was a logical choice to replace him.
Bad defense was Baltimore's biggest issue over the past two seasons, and Minter should help address it. The big question is whether new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle can get the most out of Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' offense. He oversaw a good Chicago Bears offense last season but wasn't the play caller.
Baltimore may not instantly return to being one of the AFC's top teams, but with much of the AFC North in flux, it'll have a good shot at returning to the postseason. -- Knox
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
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We're about to find out how much credit Mike Tomlin deserves for keeping the Pittsburgh Steelers competitive year in and year out. Pittsburgh has a flawed roster, and new head coach Mike McCarthy doesn't have the same history of delivering consistent results.
However, McCarthy does have a history of improving offenses, which will matter if the Steelers figure out their quarterback situation. If their plan is simply to bring back Aaron Rodgers, though, it's hard to envision this team being more than a postseason afterthought again.
Pittsburgh's defense isn't what it once was, and the offense needs upgrades along the offensive line and in the receiving corps. Simply bringing Rodgers back with the current group won't be enough. -- Knox
14. Carolina Panthers
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The Carolina Panthers made significant progress between head coach Dave Canales' first two campaigns, and they picked up quarterback Bryce Young's fifth-year option after his best season. The Panthers are headed in the right direction.
The Young-Tetairoa McMillan connection will grow, but Carolina needs a running back as Rico Dowdle prepares for free agency and more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball to stay atop the NFC South. -- Moton
13. Detroit Lions
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The Lions organization must have suffered whiplash going from owning the NFL's best record in 2024 to missing the postseason in 2025. The loss of both coordinators to head coaching jobs elsewhere certainly hit harder than initially anticipated, to the point where head coach Dan Campbell took over offensive play-calling duties midseason.
The talent found on Detroit's roster remains excellent. However, Campbell and the front office must decide what the next approach is from a coaching perspective and the addition of a few complementary pieces in order to get back where they were instead of continuing along the squad's current trajectory. -- Sobleski
12. Los Angeles Chargers
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The Los Angeles Chargers are never short on offseason buzz. They hired Mike McDaniel to replace Greg Roman for the offensive coordinator position, and it may be the move that brings the best out of Justin Herbert.
Regardless, skeptics will wait to see what the Chargers do in the playoffs before they start to believe in a club that has wilted in its last two postseason appearances. That said, having two healthy tackles in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt will certainly go a long way in helping the Chargers make a playoff run next year. -- Moton
11. Green Bay Packers
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The Green Bay Packers seemed destined for a run to Super Bowl LX until they weren't. Injuries derailed a season, with Micah Parsons going down because of a torn ACL and Jordan Love missing games due to a concussion.
In the end, the Packers were simply outplayed by the Chicago Bears, but the distance between the archrivals is miniscule.
Green Bay has every opportunity in 2026 to be a legitimate contender. Decisions will be forthcoming regarding the free-agent status of linebacker Quay Walker and wide receiver Romeo Doubs. Otherwise, the team's core of talent will remain intact.
Jeff Hafley's departure to become Miami Dolphins head coach will be one potential stumbling block. He galvanized the Packers' defense upon taking over play-calling duties in 2024.
However, the team has brought in Jonathan Gannon to take over that side of the ball. He experienced plenty of success leading the Philadelphia Eagles defense before becoming Arizona Cardinals head coach in 2023. -- Sobleski
10. Houston Texans
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In order for the Texans to take control of the AFC South and become a legitimate Super Bowl contender, C.J. Stroud and the team's offense must get back on track.
Stroud looked like a future elite quarterback during an impressive rookie season. The last two campaigns haven't been as kind due to injuries and personnel issues.
Meanwhile, the Texans feature a Super Bowl-caliber defense right now. However, the team doesn't play the caliber of complementary football that will allow it to reach that standard. In fact, Houston finished among the bottom half of the league in total offense this past season. The Texans must add more pieces to their offense, while continuing to fortify their defense, and ensure an elite unit isn't wasted. -- Sobleski
9. Philadelphia Eagles
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The Philadelphia Eagles are still the team to beat in the NFC East, though they'll have a few questions to answer in the coming months.
Can Philly get back in sync with wideout A.J. Brown? Will Lane Johnson retire? Will new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who has just two years of coaching experience, actually fare better than Kevin Patullo?
There are a few things we don't know about the Eagles at this point. What we do know is that they have an impressive overall roster and a track record of filling needs in the draft. -- Knox
8. San Francisco 49ers
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Frankly, given the injuries that savaged the 49ers on both sides of the ball in 2025, winning 12 games and knocking off the Eagles in Philadelphia in the Wild Card Round was no small feat.
Repeating that success in 2026 won't be one, either.
Running back Christian McCaffrey sailed past 400 touches last season and will turn 30 in June. Tight end George Kittle tore his Achilles in the postseason. If Jauan Jennings leaves in free agency, the team's wide receiver room will be in shambles. San Francisco was dead last in the league in sacks last year, and their two best edge-rushers are both returning from ACL tears.
Kyle Shanahan is one of the best head coaches in the NFL. And the Niners just showed how resilient the team can be.
But the Niners are up against it entering the 2026 offseason.
At least it's familiar territory. -- Davenport
7. Chicago Bears
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Ben Johnson proved to be the right hire as Chicago Bears head coach, and his presence helped Caleb Williams begin the trek toward realizing his potential as an elite quarterback. Everything else from the 2025 season was gravy for the team.
Williams' talent was on full display, particularly late in games.
Considering the franchise has essentially been searching for a legitimate franchise quarterback since Sid Luckman retired in 1950—a stretch that is no exaggeration—Williams' development became the driving force behind everything the organization did this past season and is already starting to be rewarded. His creativity and playmaking ability shone brightly.
The Bears are now a real contender after winning the NFC North, and they have the potential to get even better. -- Sobleski
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
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The Jaguars were playing as well as any team entering the postseason only to come up short in the Wild Card round against the Buffalo Bills. Despite the disappointing finish, Jacksonville is finally trending in the right direction after winning the AFC South outright and plenty of the excitement centers on quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Toward the end of 2025, Lawrence finally looked like the quarterback everyone expected when the Jaguars chose him with the No. 1 overall pick in the '21 NFL draft. Plus, the majority of the team will remain intact going into next season. Though the organization must attempt to re-sign linebacker Devin Lloyd, who developed into an integral defensive piece.
The Houston Texans aren't going away without a fight, but the Jaguars have everything it takes to control the AFC South for multiple years. -- Sobleski
5. Buffalo Bills
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This is one of the most pivotal offseasons in recent memory for the Buffalo Bills.
The firing of head coach Sean McDermott after the team's divisional-round loss in Denver sent a clear signal that getting close isn't good enough.
The expectation is clear: reach the Super Bowl.
The Bills are capable of accomplishing that goal, and having one of the NFL's best quarterbacks in Josh Allen covers up a lot of flaws. But those flaws still exist.
The team's run defense was among the worst in the NFL last year. The Bills lack a true alpha pass-catcher. They have tough decisions to make on multiple veteran free agents and are upside-down against the salary cap in 2026.
The Bills essentially chose general manager Brandon Beane over McDermott, but the pressure on Beane (and Brady) to nail this offseason is immense. -- Davenport
4. Denver Broncos
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General manager George Paton expects Bo Nix to be ready for spring activities in May, so there's no concern about the quarterback's recovery from a broken bone in his ankle.
Entering his third year, the 25-year-old will lead a decent offense, but that may not be enough for the No. 1 seed next season if the division is more competitive.
Denver's offense needs a consistent, explosive perimeter component or a more robust ground attack. The Broncos may not win all those one-score games that they won last season. Those outcomes can easily flip; just ask the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Broncos will be a playoff team in 2026, but no one hangs banners for AFC Championship appearances. Denver needs to upgrade its offense this offseason. -- Moton
3. Los Angeles Rams
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For the Los Angeles Rams, 2025 will be a tale of what might have been after being one win away from the third Super Bowl trip of the Sean McVay era.
But make no mistake, this team should remain toward the top of these Power Rankings through the spring and into next season.
The Rams have some decisions to make—whether it's in-house free agents or extensions for the likes of edge-rusher Byron Young. But they have over $48 million in cap space and possess a pair of first-round picks in the 2026 draft.
Not only can the Rams keep the team's core intact, but they are also in position to add talent to a team that already boasts a loaded offense, a talented and physical young defense and reigning MVP Matthew Stafford.
They should be among the leading candidates to dethrone the Seahawks in the NFC next year. -- Davenport
2. New England Patriots
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The 2025 season ended in dispiriting fashion for the New England Patriots—a lopsided loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX in which the team just couldn't get going offensively and Drake Maye was harassed the entire contest.
But that defeat doesn't erase what has to be regarded as a wildly successful season in Beantown. A team that was 4-13 in 2023 and 2024 won 14 games and made the Super Bowl in 2025. Mike Vrabel was named Coach of the Year in his first season with the team. Maye came one vote from being named the league's Most Valuable Player in his second.
Yes, there are holes to fill. The offensive line and the pass rush need work. Even if Stefon Diggs returns, New England could use an upgrade at wide receiver.
But the Patriots exceeded expectations by a country mile this year—a fact that fans need to keep in mind as the sting from Sunday's defeat fades. -- Davenport
1. Seattle Seahawks
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The Seattle Seahawks are riding high right now as the kings of the NFL.
That celebration won't last especially long, though, because while getting to the top isn't easy, staying there can be even harder.
Seattle general manager John Schneider has a number of major decisions to make this spring.
After leading the Seahawks to a Lombardi Trophy in his first year with the team, quarterback Sam Darnold will likely be angling for a significant raise.
Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba is eligible for an extension that should make him one of the NFL's highest-paid wide receivers, and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III is one of a number of players set to hit free agency.
However, the Seahawks have the sixth-most cap space in the NFL at $73.3 million. They have the financial resources to get those deals done and run it back in 2026.
With a dominant defense and underrated offense, Seattle will enter the 2026 campaign as one of the favorites to represent the NFC at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles a year from now. -- Davenport
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