NFL Division-by-Division Rankings Amid 2026 OTAs

With the OTAs portion of the 2026 NFL offseason ongoing, there's no better time to review each division and project how they might stack up against one another during the upcoming campaign.

While it's too early to tell how the myriad of offseason changes will truly impact these teams, we can at least make some predictions based on how each squad fared last year and how key roster additions and losses, regime changes and other factors will shift things in 2026.

Vegas win totals, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook, were also factored into the equation.

With that in mind, let's dive into the rankings.

No. 8: NFC South

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Average Win Total: 7.5

The NFC South has arguably been the worst division in football for several years now and remains as such going into the 2026 NFL season.

The division saw a three-way tie for first place at the end of last season, with the Carolina Panthers just edging out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons for the division's lone playoff spot. All three teams finished under .500, however, and none were a legitimate threat to win a Super Bowl.

Carolina is attempting to seize the moment after hanging tough with the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round, bringing in veterans such as Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd to bolster the defense. It remains to be seen if the Bryce Young-led offense can stay hot, however, and that unit will likely determine how far this franchise goes in 2026.

The Bucs were dealt a massive blow following the loss of franchise stalwart Mike Evans in free agency. While their deep receiving corps has replacements waiting in the wings, it's not a coincidence that Tampa missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019 during the same season that Evans was sidelined with injuries for a significant stretch.

The Falcons have the most upside of the bunch, especially after adding Tua Tagovailoa into the mix. While the veteran QB still needs to beat out Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job, Tagovailoa was a catalyst behind a league-leading offense as recently as the 2023 campaign and could thrive with stars such as Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts surrounding him.

The New Orleans Saints were the NFC South's bottom-feeder in 2025, but they have a chance at leaping to the top of the standings. Head coach Kellen Moore may have developed a potential franchise quarterback in second-round sophomore Tyler Shough, who was thrown into the fire earlier than expected and still hit his stride late in his rookie campaign. With more weapons surrounding him this year, Shough could become the best QB in the division and help the Saints return to prominence.

No. 7: AFC East

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Average Win Total: 7.5

The AFC East may boast a pair of the league's strongest teams, but it still falls near the bottom of the rankings with two the NFL's weakest programs calling it their home.

The Buffalo Bills may not have won the divisional crown last year, but they were once again a Super Bowl contender and will remain as such while Josh Allen is in his prime. The star QB and his supporting cast missed a golden opportunity to capture the franchise's first Lombardi Trophy last year, but should be back with a vengeance under new head coach Joe Brady.

The New England Patriots will also be a factor in 2026 after emerging from a lengthy rebuilding period to make a Super Bowl run in Mike Vrabel's first season at the reins. While the head coach has been embroiled in some offseason turmoil, this Drake Maye-led squad is too talented to fall off following a 14-3 campaign.

The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets both limit the potential of this division. Neither is expected to be in the playoff hunt this season, with each missing a franchise quarterback and largely lacking talent across the remainder of their rosters.

No. 6: AFC South

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Average Win Total: 8.0

The AFC South is shaping up to be a two-team race, although the other programs will have a chance to make a little noise in 2026.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were quickly rewarded for their decision to go all-in to land head coach Liam Coen, an offensive mastermind who helped the team orchestrate a stunning turnaround. The head coach inherited a 4-13 team and led it to a 13-4 record and first AFC South title since 2022. The Jags will now try to build on a close loss in the Wild Card round, a disappointing but promising end to a season few expected to be that competitive.

After winning back-to-back divisional titles in 2023-24, the Houston Texans were finally knocked off their AFC South perch. They still finished with a respectable 12-5 record and made a third consecutive postseason appearance, but it remains to be seen if quarterback C.J. Stroud is truly the right quarterback to take this franchise beyond the Divisional Round. His poor play in the knockout rounds squandered a historically great defensive effort and could hold the club back again in 2026.

The Indianapolis Colts have made a habit of swinging and missing on quarterbacks following Andrew Luck's surprise retirement in 2019. With limited options to choose from this offseason, Indy rolled the dice on Daniel Jones—the signal-caller who helped the Colts jump out to a fantastic start in 2025 but finished the season on the IR—leading the squad to a playoff berth for the first time since 2020.

The Tennessee Titans are likely to bring up the rear in the AFC South, but there is an outside shot of this team shocking the world and posting the best record in the division. The Titans boast many of the same traits that other recent worst-to-first squads had, including a promising second-year quarterback and new coaching staff at the reins.

No. 5: AFC West

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Average Win Total: 8.25

The AFC West may not be elite, but it shouldn't be slept on either. The division plays host to three extremely capable programs and one team that could be on the cusp of breaking through following a lengthy rebuild.

The Kansas City Chiefs cannot be underestimated as long as Patrick Mahomes is under center. Although the two-time NFL MVP hasn't been putting up his usual massive numbers and just suffered the first major injury of his career in 2025, a retooled supporting cast could help the QB return to form and elevate the Chiefs back into contention.

The Los Angeles Chargers have been a factor during the two seasons head coach Jim Harbaugh has been at the wheel, but the Bolts' longstanding playoff woes returned to haunt them again in 2025. L.A. limped into the Wild Card round with a myriad of offensive line injuries and issues, leading to its third first-round exit of the last four years. It remains to be seen if the Chargers can finally take the next step after back-to-back 11-win seasons and disappointing playoff finishes.

The Denver Broncos were one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 campaign. Bo Nix proved his breakout rookie campaign was no fluke, guiding his team to an AFC-best 14-3 record and all the way to the conference title game—a contest he couldn't participate in due to an injury suffered late in the Divisional Round.  A healthy Nix may have been the difference-maker in that AFC Championship Game and may have even resulted in the Broncos raising a Super Bowl banner. He'll get another chance to do so when Denver inevitably makes another playoff run in 2026.

The Las Vegas Raiders will be a team to watch this season, but don't expect them to tally too many wins at the onset of the Fernando Mendoza era. The No. 1 overall pick will eventually take the starting job from Kirk Cousins, but he'll have an uphill battle trying to will this undermanned roster to victory. A promising showing will at least have Vegas set up well to make a run in 2027.

No. 4: NFC East

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Average Win Total: 8.75

The NFC East is far from the strongest division, but it isn't anywhere close to the weakest the NFL has to offer. It's a balanced, mid-tier division with four teams that could all state a realistic argument regarding their potential to go on a deep postseason run.

The Philadelphia Eagles are likely to remain the class of the NFC East, even after their bid to repeat as Super Bowl champs fell flat in 2025. After losing Kellen Moore to the New Orleans Saints, the team couldn't find the same success with Kevin Patullo and limped into the playoffs following an underwhelming 11-6 regular season. After flaming out in the Wild Card round, the embattled offensive coordinator was mercifully relieved of his post, opening the door for a resurgence under replacement Sean Mannion in 2026.

The Dallas Cowboys had yet another underwhelming season in 2025, notching just seven wins and missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year. While Dallas stayed the course this offseason and didn't make any major changes in wake of that disappointing showing, the club needs to make a Super Bowl push—or come extremely close to that goal—to avoid owner Jerry Jones pushing the reset button.

The New York Giants have the highest ceiling of any NFC East team under new head coach John Harbaugh. The former Baltimore Ravens coach inherited an extremely promising roster, with pieces such as Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers providing an offensive nucleus ready to hit the ground running in 2026. If the offense reaches its potential and Harbaugh molds the defense into an elite unit, the G-Men will be a legitimate title threat.

The Washington Commanders could also be in the mix despite finishing near the bottom of the division in 2025. They're only a year removed from a 12-5 campaign and NFC Championship Game run, having backslid to 5-12 this past season largely due to critical injuries and defensive woes. A healthy Jayden Daniels and improved defense will make Washington a tough squad to contend with in 2026.

No. 3: AFC North

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Average Win Total: 9.0

The AFC North has long been regarded as the NFL's toughest division, chock-full of storied rivalries and heated head-to-head matchups between longtime foes. Iron sharpens iron in the AFC North, which could have multiple representatives in the upcoming NFL playoffs after a down year.

The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed the divisional crown on the final day of the 2025 season. While that outcome proved their decision to bring in Aaron Rodgers was worthwhile, an embarrassing playoff defeat led to sweeping adjustments—including the resignation of Mike Tomlin after 19 years at the helm. The Steelers are opting to run it back with Rodgers again in 2026, although Mike McCarthy will now be the coach tasked with getting Pittsburgh a postseason win for the first time in a decade.

Pittsburgh wasn't the only AFC North program to undergo major organizational changes this offseason. Both the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns fired their longtime head coaches and brought in replacements who they are hoping will provide a much-needed spark following some trying seasons.

The Ravens will look to reboot under Jesse Minter after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, while Cleveland is asking former Baltimore offensive coordinator Todd Monken to guide the club to a postseason win for only the second time the franchise returned to the NFL in 1999.

Despite missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season, the Cincinnati Bengals were the lone AFC North team to forego a regime change. The team regressed to finish 6-11 after back-to-back 9-8 seasons, but many of the key pieces that helped Cincy reach Super Bowl LVI a half-decade ago remain in place. The Bengals still need to keep quarterback Joe Burrow healthy and improve on defense to have a realistic shot at the playoffs, let alone a Super Bowl.

No. 2: NFC West

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Average Win Total: 9.5

While the NFC West might not be the absolute best division on paper this offseason, it has the most upside of any going into the 2026 NFL season. Three of its teams are proven powerhouses with 10-plus win potential, although the division's lone rebuilding club is likely to be little more than a punching bag for the rest of the league to wail on.

The Seattle Seahawks are a legitimate threat to join the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs as the only back-to-back Super Bowl champs since the turn of the millennium. The Seahawks rampaged through the 2025 campaign and tore through the subsequent playoffs, winning their three postseason contests by a combined 55 points. While Seattle did suffer a bit of attrition in free agency, quarterback Sam Darnold and everything else needed for another dominant run can still be found in the Pacific Northwest.

The San Francisco 49ers have been a perennial championship threat under head coach Kyle Shanahan, but have failed to break through and lift the Lombardi Trophy despite several close calls. Health has been the biggest issue with this club over the past decade and could again play a factor after star running back Christian McCaffrey led the league by a wide margin in touches last season. If the Niners can somehow shake the injury bug, they'll be a favorite to claim their first title in three decades.

The Los Angeles Rams are hoping to bookend the Matt Stafford era with Super Bowl victories. After winning the big game shortly after their acquisition of the Hall of Fame quarterback, they've consistently come up just shy of another ring. The team did give the rival Seahawks their only real test in last year's playoffs, a result that inspired L.A. to run it back with a few new additions from the draft and open market.

The NFC West's lone doormat is the Arizona Cardinals, a team that jump-started a rebuild this offseason by firing head coach Jonathan Gannon and releasing longtime quarterback Kyler Murray. The roster has some talented building blocks for the new Mike LaFleur-led regime to work with, but there is ultimately too much missing here for the Cards to cobble together a winning season.

No. 1: NFC North

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Average Win Total: 9.75

The NFC North is the NFL's deepest division heading into 2026. All four of its teams are legitimate playoff contenders and none should be overlooked in the Super Bowl discussion.

While the Detroit Lions suffered through an injury-plagued 2025 and missed the playoffs after winning 27 combined games the previous two seasons, they still finished with a winning record and fought hard under head coach Dan Campbell. They're close to a lock to tally another double-digit win campaign if they can stay healthy this coming year.

The Minnesota Vikings regressed after handing the reins to J.J. McCarthy last season with no backup plan, an issue they rectified by signing Kyler Murray. With the two-time Pro Bowler now pushing for the QB1 role in the Twin Cities, the Vikes may have the signal-caller they were missing in 2025 and could be a real threat to make a deep run.

The Green Bay Packers boast one of the league's most complete rosters with talent and depth across the lineup. Jordan Love is on the cusp of becoming a bona fide franchise quarterback after taking this team on three consecutive playoff trips. While the Packers haven't won a postseason game since upsetting the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round three years ago, they'll be in the mix again this year.

Under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, the Chicago Bears surged to the top of the NFC North standings and won their first playoff game in 15 years. The team loudly stated that its rebuilding efforts are finished and Chicago will now look to improve on the overtime Divisional Round loss it suffered in January, bringing in some key offseason reinforcements to assist with the endeavor.