The 8 Most Interesting Teams in the NFL Entering 2026 Season

The NFL is loaded with intrigue on an annual basis. But each year, some teams are particularly interesting.

Usually, that's because they have more on the line than others. Sometimes, it's because they've rebuilt and the expectations are high.

Here are eight teams—one from each division—that are of particular national interest entering 2026.

Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Malik Willis

The Dolphins are not expected to be a contender in 2026, but a tremendous amount of roster and regime turnover makes them one of the most compelling teams in the league. 

Miami has essentially become Green Bay South, with new franchise quarterback Malik Willis, new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley all coming over from the Packers. 

They invested heavily in Willis, despite the fact that the 27-year-old has six career touchdown passes under his belt and was cast aside by both Tennessee and Green Bay.

However, the nature of a rebuild means there will be plenty of competition for key roles on both sides of the ball, with rookie first-round picks Kadyn Proctor and Chris Johnson expected to push for starting reps right out of the gate. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/John Raoux, File

Trevor Lawrence

Can the Jaguars pick up in 2026 where they left off in 2025? If so, we could finally be looking at a Super Bowl contender in Jacksonville. 

This team consistently fell short of expectations during quarterback Trevor Lawrence's first four-and-a-half seasons. But something changed once this squad became comfortable with new head coach Liam Coen's system and staff down the stretch in 2025.

The Jags finished the season on an eight-game winning streak, with Lawrence posting 19 touchdown passes to five interceptions and a 106.1 passer rating during that stretch. 

And that all happened without tantalizing 2025 No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter, who is returning from a knee injury and facing major expectations as a sophomore on both sides of the ball. 

The AFC South is wide open for this Jacksonville team to take a big step forward under Lawrence and Coen in 2026. 

Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Myles Garrett

Now a heavy Super Bowl favorite after the shocking acquisition of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, the Rams are a borderline superteam.

They feature the 2025 MVP at quarterback, the best defensive player in the game, a star wide receiver duo and one of the most respected head coaches in the sport.

The trade for Garrett combined with the addition of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in the secondary indicates the Rams are going all-in for Matthew Stafford's age-38 season.

They just missed out on the Super Bowl in 2025, and now anything short of a Vince Lombardi Trophy would be considered a failure for a team that will still face heavy challenges in one of the league's most stacked divisions.

All eyes will be on them, starting with their season opener against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers in Australia. 

Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

Kyler Murray

This is mainly about the team's acquisition of Kyler Murray, which paves the way for an intriguing quarterback battle involving the 2019 No. 1 overall pick and third-year first-rounder J.J. McCarthy. 

Both face immense pressure to get it together for a team that contains arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, a great offensive line and a high-quality defense.

Kevin O'Connell's squad is barely a year removed from a 14-win season and is built to win right now, but those major quarterback questions are likely to linger throughout the summer. 

Throw in the fact that Minnesota will be tested every week in the overwhelmingly strong NFC North, and you have a recipe for intrigue in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Tua Tagovailoa

Here we have another potentially awesome quarterback battle between a former Pro Bowler in a new setting (Tua Tagovailoa) and a third-year first-round pick who has yet to deliver on expectations (Michael Penix Jr.). 

Once again, whoever quarterbacks this team will have a superb group of weapons and a stellar offensive line. The Falcons also have some appealing young talent on defense, and the entire operation will be overseen by high-profile offseason head coach addition Kevin Stefanski. 

Considering the NFC South is expected to be wide open again, the space between the floor and the ceiling is massive in Atlanta. And that makes this team especially intriguing entering training camp. 

Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

Fernando Mendoza

It's the beginning of an exciting new era for the Raiders, who now have a franchise quarterback in No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, a new coaching staff led by 39-year-old legacy coach Klint Kubiak and plenty of talent on both sides of the ball.

You can't get more of a compelling bridge to Mendoza than veteran Kirk Cousins, and those quarterbacks should benefit greatly from the presence of skilled weapons and supporters Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Jack Bech and Kolton Miller. 

Plus, star Maxx Crosby remains on the roster (for now) as part of a defense that was retooled at a high cost this offseason. 

The Raiders might not be ready to make a run in the AFC West, but the foundation will be laid in 2026. It's going to be fun to see this young and talented team come together and improve throughout the season. 

Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Jesse Minter

Life without John Harbaugh begins for a Ravens team that has no time to waste getting comfortable with a new coaching staff.

The window is still wide open for Lamar Jackson and Co., with no AFC team carrying better Super Bowl odds this summer.

Taking over is 43-year-old Jesse Minter, who is in his first head coaching role following a two-year run as the Chargers' defensive coordinator, and incoming offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who is only a few months removed from his 30th birthday. 

It's quite the jarring transition from the long-tenured Harbaugh, but it may be the shakeup the Ravens needed to finally get over the top. Their core has been bolstered by the additions of Trey Hendrickson and Olaivavega Ioane, but they will also have to overcome the loss of Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.

New York Giants

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

John Harbaugh

Harbaugh's offseason jump from Baltimore to New York makes the Ravens more intriguing while simultaneously giving the Giants the final flourish on their claim as the league's most compelling team in 2026.

The Super Bowl–winning head coach takes over a Giants squad led by standout sophomore Jaxson Dart, who produced 24 combined passing and rushing touchdowns to just five interceptions as a first-round rookie in 2025 and is already the face of the franchise.

Second-year back Cam Skattebo has already become a cult hero, while pass-catchers Isaiah Likely (who followed Harbaugh from Baltimore) and Malik Nabers (returning from a torn ACL) should help solidify one of the best young offensive cores in the game.

Add in a defense built around top-five picks from each of the last two drafts in support of reigning NFC sack leader Brian Burns, and the Giants have the pieces to shock the league if everything coalesces in 2026.