The offseason is over and across all 32 teams plenty has changed these past months. Players left, new names arrived, franchises made choices for the future, and some teams have clearly come out of the offseason stronger than others.
For me this is also the moment when everything from the past months slowly comes together. I followed this offseason fairly intensively: around five NFL podcasts a week, free agency live, the major trades as they landed, and the draft night after night. After that I followed training camp and the preseason.
It is precisely by laying all those separate developments side by side that you slowly get a better picture of where teams actually stand. Not just looking at one big signing or one spectacular trade, but at the whole: who got better, where did key players leave, which rookies can make an immediate impact, and which questions are still unanswered going into the season?
On that basis I made my NFL Power Rankings going into the new season. Not a prediction of who eventually wins the Super Bowl, but a snapshot of how strong I think each team is right now, just before the season.
And as always with a power ranking, there will be teams people completely disagree with.
That comes with the territory.
1My number 1Los Angeles Rams
An offence that was already the strongest, joined by a defence with the two best defenders of their generation plus McDuffie.
2Number 2Denver Broncos
Denver was already strong and only lacked a good receiver. They got one in Jaylen Waddle.
3Number 3Houston Texans
A bold call, but with the signings and the draft added, that ferociously good defence has a real title shot.
Stafford led the league in yards and touchdowns, with eight interceptions.
My NFL Power Rankings 2026
Scroll through all 32, or click a spot on the right.
#1Los Angeles Rams
Why this spot
The offence was already the best in the league last season: Stafford won MVP with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns, with Nacua and Adams as his pair. This summer a defence arrived to match. Myles Garrett came from Cleveland, Aaron Donald returned, and Trent McDuffie was prised away from the Chiefs. Five Defensive Player of the Year awards in one defence.
Watch out for
They gave up Jared Verse and three draft picks for Garrett. This is all-in, and all-in leaves little room if it goes wrong.
#2Denver Broncos
Why this spot
Denver traded a first-round pick for Jaylen Waddle, giving their offence the speed it lacked. The defence was already there; this was the side that needed building around it.
Watch out for
Waddle has to deliver immediately. Giving up a first for a receiver is not a move you can quietly write off.
#3Houston Texans
Why this spot
Around Stroud stands a defence stacked at all three levels, with Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter on the edges. But the real step came in the draft: Houston stayed true to its physical identity with Keylan Rutledge, Kayden McDonald and Marlin Klein. Rutledge summed it up neatly after being picked: finish the guy in the dirt. On top of that came David Montgomery from Detroit and Kayshon Boutte from New England.
Watch out for
Jayden Higgins tore his ACL in a joint practice. That is a blow to exactly the group they had just invested in.
#4Los Angeles Chargers
Why this spot
This is the year they can break through, and that comes down to hiring Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. Herbert set career highs last season in interceptions and in hits taken, and McDaniel has openly said he wants to make life easier for his quarterback. In Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater they have two Pro Bowl tackles.
Watch out for
Jesse Minter left to become head coach in Baltimore. His defence went from 29th to seventh, and successor Chris O'Leary is the biggest unknown coordinator in the league.
#5Seattle Seahawks
Why this spot
The defending champions. Sam Darnold won the Super Bowl in his first season in Seattle, after beating the Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship. The defence is still strong enough, and the offence has not weakened much.
Watch out for
They did not give Kenneth Walker III a second contract, even though he helped carry that title run. And the opener is immediately a Super Bowl LX rematch against New England.
#6Dallas Cowboys
Why this spot
The front was already one of the better units in the league last season. This year was about the defence, and they addressed it in both free agency and the draft. Quinnen Williams came over from the Jets at the deadline, Rashan Gary signed this summer, and the draft brought Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence.
Watch out for
With Dallas the question is rarely whether the talent is there. The question is whether it comes together when it counts.
#7Buffalo Bills
Why this spot
As long as Josh Allen is the quarterback there, I rate the Bills highly. This year for the first time under Joe Brady as head coach, with DJ Moore from Chicago as his first genuine number one receiver since 2023. The defence allowed the fewest passing yards in the league last season.
Watch out for
Jim Leonhard is reshaping the defence: from four linemen and three linebackers to three linemen and four linebackers. Players who until now only rushed the passer must learn to drop into coverage, and that takes a run-up.
#8Cincinnati Bengals
Why this spot
Offensively still one of the strongest trios in the league with Burrow, Chase and Higgins, and all five offensive line starters return. The big move was defensive: the tenth pick went to the Giants for Dexter Lawrence, a bold trade to plug the interior. Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen came in on top of that.
Watch out for
Trey Hendrickson left for Baltimore. And the offensive line is thin: if Orlando Brown Jr. or Amarius Mims goes down, it gets tense fast.
#9Baltimore Ravens
Why this spot
Baltimore fired John Harbaugh after eighteen years and brought in Jesse Minter, his first head coaching job at any level. Trey Hendrickson signed for 112 million, the biggest free-agent contract in franchise history.
Watch out for
They finished last season with eight wins against nine defeats, and the agreed Maxx Crosby trade fell through on the physical. A first-time head coach with those expectations is a gamble.
#10Detroit Lions
Why this spot
Detroit simply belongs in the top ten. There is too much offensive talent and too much quality in this organisation to treat them as mid-table. Isiah Pacheco has to fill the David Montgomery gap, and the schedule sits a good deal easier this season than last. That is exactly the kind of edge that adds up over seventeen games.
Watch out for
They traded Montgomery for a guard and two late picks. On paper that is not an upgrade, and the running game now leans on Pacheco.
#11New England Patriots
Why this spot
Drake Maye finished second in MVP voting by five points, the closest result since 2003, and took New England to fourteen wins from seventeen games and the Super Bowl. He enters his second year under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The receiving corps was rebuilt: A.J. Brown arrived from Philadelphia and Romeo Doubs from Green Bay, while Stefon Diggs left.
Watch out for
The schedule is a good deal harder this year. I do not expect them to stack fourteen wins again, even if the football stays the same. And the pass rush is thin: Chaisson left with his 7.5 sacks and Landry starts on the injury list.
#12Minnesota Vikings
Why this spot
Minnesota already had everything last season except a properly functioning quarterback. Now they have one: Kyler Murray arrived from Arizona, on a contract that works out well for them. Under Kevin O'Connell more than one quarterback has played above expectations, and here that could be the difference.
Watch out for
They came out of the draft less well, partly through limited draft capital. So Murray has to work with what is there, and that is precisely the gamble.
#13Philadelphia Eagles
Why this spot
The Eagles are still a good team, make no mistake. Jonathan Greenard and Riq Woolen joined and the defence stays solid. And in Makai Lemon they added an interesting receiver in the draft.
Watch out for
A.J. Brown left for New England and has not been replaced. Lemon is a pick for later, so whether he delivers this season is an open question. Thirteenth sounds low for Philadelphia, but that says more about how tightly packed the league is.
#14Green Bay Packers
Why this spot
Without a first-round pick they did excellent business. Brandon Cisse at 52 counts as a bargain, with Chris McClellan and Dennis Sutton behind him. Zaire Franklin arrived from Indianapolis. Some analysts called this the strongest draft in the league.
Watch out for
Weapons enough, but too often on the sideline. Micah Parsons is still not fit, and that is exactly the pattern of recent years. Whether Cisse starts straight away remains to be seen.
#15San Francisco 49ers
Why this spot
They already had one of the strongest offences last season, and the defence is there too. Four of their five best defenders went down and they still made the playoffs. Mike Evans moved to the Bay Area after twelve seasons in Tampa Bay, Deebo Samuel returned, and De'Zhaun Stribling is a nice receiver from the draft.
Watch out for
McCaffrey had more touches than anyone last season, partly through missing Aiyuk, Samuel's departure and their tight end's injury. Whether he can sustain that is the question. Injuries are the real issue here: how far do they go if everyone stays fit?
#16Kansas City Chiefs
Why this spot
Mahomes has recovered from the knee injury that ended his season early, and Ken Walker III arrived from Seattle as Super Bowl MVP. With Mansoor Delane, Peter Woods and R. Mason Thomas they also had arguably the strongest draft class of anyone.
Watch out for
And still I have them sixteenth. They lost Trent McDuffie and Watson to the Rams, both every-week starters, and I simply no longer believe in this roster as it stands. A strong draft only pays off in two years.
#17Chicago Bears
Why this spot
Ben Johnson is an excellent coach and the question is whether he can continue the line. In Burden, Williams and the rest they may have the most promising young offence in the league. Chicago also landed a notable steal with safety Dillon Thieneman at pick 25.
Watch out for
The retirement of a key player will be felt, and DJ Moore left for Buffalo. Promising is not the same as finished.
#18Indianapolis Colts
Why this spot
The expectation is that Daniel Jones starts the season fit. Without a first-round pick they still landed CJ Allen and A.J. Haulcy in rounds two and three, and Deion Burks at pick 253 is being called the real steal of the draft.
Watch out for
This can go two ways. Either it looks like the first half of last season, with a strong Jonathan Taylor and a team topping the AFC, or like the second half, when they lost seven straight. Sauce Gardner cost them the 2026 and 2027 first-rounders and played just three games through a calf injury.
#19Pittsburgh Steelers
Why this spot
The quality is still there, and Mike McCarthy took over from Mike Tomlin. Rico Dowdle has to carry the running game.
Watch out for
I expect them to land on eight or nine wins again, and to go out in the first game if they make the playoffs. The draft raised questions, with project quarterback Drew Allar at pick 76.
#20New Orleans Saints
Why this spot
New Orleans had a strong second half of the season with a quarterback who showed what he can do, followed by a good draft. Finally a patient, coherent plan. Travis Etienne is a genuine addition, and in Oscar Delp and Jordyn Tyson they landed two strong picks.
Watch out for
The question is when Tyson returns from his hamstring injury. And the roster does not feel balanced in every position yet.
#21Carolina Panthers
Why this spot
Jacksonville has a strong staff with Liam Coen as head coach, and he turned the team from mid-table into a playoff side in a single year. Trevor Lawrence had a good season and the team functioned.
Watch out for
The draft was no highlight and drew low grades from analysts, and Travis Etienne left for New Orleans. Around Lawrence it has got thinner, not thicker.
#22Jacksonville Jaguars
Why this spot
Carolina went for pure size and power in the draft with Monroe Freeling, Lee Hunter and Chris Brazzell II. Not a finesse draft, but a statement that this roster wants to dominate physically from the line of scrimmage. Jaelan Phillips landed one of the biggest contracts of the offseason and now sits more centrally in that defence.
Watch out for
Interesting and good are two different things. I want to see Carolina do this consistently first.
#23Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Why this spot
Rueben Bain Jr. was seen by some as a top-three player and had to wait until pick 15, where Tampa Bay welcomed him with open arms. Kenneth Gainwell takes over the backfield and room has been made for a new generation.
Watch out for
Mike Evans left after twelve seasons. For twelve seasons he was the first read. You do not replace that in one offseason.
#24Tennessee Titans
Why this spot
Robert Saleh took over as head coach, with Brian Daboll, the former Giants head coach, as offensive coordinator. They spent big in free agency: Wan'Dale Robinson on four years and 78 million, Jermaine Johnson from New York, and Carnell Tate at pick 4 to add a receiver. Cam Ward finally gets weapons.
Watch out for
They gave up T'Vondre Sweat for Johnson. The interior of the defence does not improve, and that is exactly where it went wrong last season.
#25Atlanta Falcons
Why this spot
Kevin Stefanski is the new head coach, and Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. share the quarterback position. Brian Robinson Jr. is a genuine talent in the backfield. In the draft they found two immediate contributors in Avieon Terrell and Zachariah Branch, with Terrell joining his brother A.J. in the secondary.
Watch out for
This becomes a bridge year. They traded away this year's first-rounder last year for James Pearce Jr., who showed promise as a rookie but ran into serious legal trouble this offseason. Only from next year do they have the cap room to sign genuinely big names.
#26Washington Commanders
Why this spot
This summer the offence around Jayden Daniels was seriously reinforced. Stefon Diggs signed a one-year deal worth up to 12 million, arriving off 1,013 yards in New England, where he led all receivers in catch rate at 82.5 percent. Rachaad White came from Tampa Bay and tight end Chig Okonkwo joined too. Their draft class was rated the best in the league by several analysts.
Watch out for
Even so, plenty of question marks remain. This is a big year for the coach: make or break after a disappointing season. Diggs is 32 and signed for one year, they lost Deebo Samuel, and the offensive line has not improved.
#27New York Giants
Why this spot
John Harbaugh is the new head coach, and the question is whether he becomes the saviour after being fired in Baltimore. Matt Nagy came along as offensive coordinator. There is potential with Malik Nabers and the quarterback, and Najee Harris, Darnell Mooney and DJ Reader joined. In the draft Arvell Reese slid from an expected second overall to pick 5, where the Giants took him.
Watch out for
There are too many uncertainties. A new coach does not fix a roster with questions in several places, and Wan'Dale Robinson left for Tennessee after his first thousand-yard season.
#28Cleveland Browns
Why this spot
Last season they already had excellent draft picks and this year they did well again, with Spencer Fano and KC Concepcion among others. Todd Monken is the new head coach. On the offensive line came Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins.
Watch out for
They have four quarterbacks and none of them is good enough. The real goal should be to lose this season, so that next year they can take a quarterback in the first round with conviction. And they traded away Myles Garrett, the man who set the single-season sack record with 23.
#29New York Jets
Why this spot
At the November deadline they sold everything: Sauce Gardner to Indianapolis for two first-rounders, Quinnen Williams to Dallas. They now hold three first-round picks in 2027. In free agency they were the most active team of the opening days, with Minkah Fitzpatrick and T'Vondre Sweat.
Watch out for
This year they play with Geno Smith, and that is not a long-term answer. Like a few other teams at the bottom, the real aim is to draft high and only then take a quarterback. Last season they forced exactly zero interceptions.
#30Las Vegas Raiders
Why this spot
Fernando Mendoza went first overall to Las Vegas, after a season in which he led Indiana unbeaten to the national title with 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions. He signed for four years and 57.27 million, fully guaranteed. Kirk Cousins came in as a bridge, and Linderbaum became the highest-paid center in league history.
Watch out for
Unlike Cam Ward or Caleb Williams, Mendoza does not automatically start. That says enough: this becomes a learning year, not a breakthrough year.
#31Arizona Cardinals
Why this spot
Tyler Allgeier takes over the running duties, and Murray's departure frees up cap space.
Watch out for
The quarterback room does not convince: Gardner Minshew, Carson Beck and one more name still to prove himself. They also came out of the draft poorly, partly through limited draft capital. In an NFC West with the Rams and the defending champions, that gets heavy.
#32Miami Dolphins
Why this spot
With thirteen picks they filled a gap everywhere, with receiver Chris Bell at pick 94 as a quiet value selection worth following. And for Waddle they received the thirtieth pick plus more, so there is material to build with.
Watch out for
Waddle gone, Tagovailoa gone, Malik Willis in. This is a teardown year, and that is more honest than pretending otherwise.
Scroll through all 32
Six moves that will shape this season.
What stands out when you line them up
Three things jump out.
The Rams went further than anyone. An offence that already scored the most points in the league last season, and on top of it Garrett, Donald and McDuffie. They have last season's best offence and this summer's most expensive defence.
Almost every top receiver moved. Garrett got the headlines, but A.J. Brown, Jaylen Waddle, DJ Moore and Mike Evans all moved. Four offences look different from last year, and four others are missing their best weapon.
The defending champions are fifth on my list. Seattle won the Super Bowl with Sam Darnold in his first season there, and still I do not put them in my top three. They did not give Kenneth Walker III a second contract even though he helped carry that title run, and the opener is immediately the rematch against New England.
That last point is exactly why a power ranking is not a prediction. A champion can slide and a team that lost the final can rise, without either having done anything wrong.
In four months we will know
A ranking made in early September is a snapshot. Injuries, a quarterback stepping up a level, a rookie ready sooner than expected: it all shifts.
What does hold is the question underneath. Not who has the most talent, but who is best assembled. Those are two different things, and you only see the difference once the season starts.
More on American sport
On the NFL I only write here. I did write two books about basketball though: on the 2025-2026 NBA season and on American college basketball.
