NFL Power Rankings Headed Into the 2026 Offseason

1. Rams

The Rams and the eventual champion Seahawks were essentially neck and neck this past season in regards to offensive and defensive prowess. However, special teams was the Rams’ undoing this season including in the NFC Championship against Seattle. That is a very correctable issue especially with the Rams’ interim special team’s coordinator from this past season going into his first full season with Los Angeles in the role. With Seattle likely to have a Super Bowl hangover to a certain extent after losing a proven veteran offensive coordinator and replacing him with a rookie unproven one, the Rams are in line to win it all next year. Although the Rams also lost an offensive coordinator to a head coaching role, Los Angeles is better equipped to overcome it because head coach Sean McVay has an offensive background and they have brought on a proven Kliff Kingsbury to assist with the offensive coaching as well.

 

2. Lions

In the two seasons prior to this past season, the Lions were up 24-7 in a Conference Championship and then were tied for the league’s best record and secured the #1 seed in the NFC. However, neither season even culminated in a Super Bowl appearance for Detroit as postseason recklessness cost them both times. With two rookie coordinators this past season the Lions were humbled and did not even muster a trip to the playoffs. However, they still showed glimpses of their ceiling from the previous two seasons from time to time but were all too inconsistent. Now having brought on a proven veteran offensive coordinator whose resume is intriguing and with their defensive coordinator going into year 2 on the job, the Lions are set to return to their previous elite form. Their previous elite form where Detroit put together two of the greatest seasons in league history that did not culminate in a Super Bowl appearance. If Detroit can recapture that ceiling and now hone it in and not be as reckless come playoff time with a more seasoned and humbled Dan Campbell and Jared Goff, I like their chances of reaching and/or winning the Super Bowl.

 

3. Seahawks

The defending champion Seahawks only find themselves in the #3 spot despite winning it all for a few reasons. Firstly, history tells us that the combination of Darnold/MacDonald are highly unlikely to reach the Super Bowl in each of their first two seasons together. Secondly, the team lost a proven offensive coordinator to a head coaching job and have since replaced him with an unproven rookie coordinator in the role. 2024 juggernauts in Philadelphia and Detroit each lost an offensive coordinator to a head coaching job entering this past season and replaced him with an unproven rookie in the role, and both teams saw noticeable if not drastic drop offs in offensive prowess. Seattle plays in the toughest division in the NFL, and the Rams were just as good this past season outside of special teams. However, Seattle still has arguably the best defense in the NFL with arguably the best defensive head coach in the NFL as well. General manager John Schneider has proven to be elite in the role and Seattle has one of the premier rosters in the league with very few free agents and a ton of cap space as well.

 

4. Chiefs

The Chiefs, despite getting obliterated in the previous year’s Super Bowl and missing the playoffs all together this past season find themselves in the top 4. Although they have looked stale and closer to average offensively for over 2 seasons in a row now, the combination of Patrick Mahomes at QB and Andy Reid as an offensive mind are far too lethal for that trend to continue to persist in my estimation. Especially now that they have brought back former offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, whom the Chiefs’ offense was the most prolific under. Despite the recent Super Bowl triumphs of the Eagles and Seahawks, the Chiefs with Mahomes/Reid are still to be trusted in the postseason more than anyone at this point. As Mahomes/Reid as a head coach + QB combination still have three times as many Lombardi Trophies as any other current head coach + QB. The defense under Steve Spagnulo can be trusted to be elite and the offense could potentially recapture elite form with the return of former offensive coordinator Bienemy.

 

5. Ravens

The Ravens in the Lamar Jackson era have consistently had the highest ceiling of any NFL team but have failed to even make a Super Bowl. The team has consistently faltered come playoff time and perhaps a new fresh young voice at the head coach position can now buck that trend. The team struggled defensively this past season and has never recaptured true elite form since defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald left the team to become the now Super Bowl winning head coach of the Seahawks. Jesse Minter is considered to be perhaps the smartest young defensive mind in the sport and could very well make the Ravens consistently elite defensively again. If Lamar Jackson as he approaches the more seasoned age of thirty years old next season can overcome his postseason demons, and if Jesse Minter can prove to be a home run hire like I think he will be, Baltimore could finally fulfill their Super Bowl potential that they have shown with Lamar Jackson over the years. However, Minter’s lack of experience as a rookie head coach, their new offensive coordinator being only 29 years old, along with me not being able to trust Baltimore in the playoffs, are still very concerning factors that may lead to a postseason exit once again.

 

6. 49ers

The 49ers after a horrid 6-11 campaign the year prior bounced back and had a strong year and San Francisco with Purdy/Shanahan/Lynch have perhaps re-established themselves as contenders. This season the only team definitively better than San Francisco was the Seattle Seahawks, and that is nothing to be ashamed of as Seattle proved to be better than any other NFL team as well. Perhaps as Kyle Shanahan gets more acclimated to facing Mike MacDonald, his offenses can do better against Seattle’s defense. The gap between the 49ers and Seahawks has perhaps shrunk a bit as Seattle lost an offensive coordinator to a head coaching job and replaced him with an unproven rookie in the role. Whereas although the 49ers also lost a coordinator in Robert Saleh to a head coaching role, he was replaced by an established veteran in Raheem Morris who has been a head coach on multiple occasions and who has won a Super Bowl as a coordinator as well. Do not forget that this 49ers team consistently had the edge over the dynasty Chiefs in multiple Super Bowls but failed to close either out. A few things go differently, and the 49ers would likely be the dynasty of the NFL as opposed to Kansas City. The Rams and Seahawks were the class of the NFL this past season and San Francisco was the only team in the league to beat both.

 

7. Colts

The Colts, despite missing the postseason all-together, find themselves ranked quite high if they can just return Daniel Jones as their starter. Indianapolis through 10 games was 8-2 and the best team in the AFC to many including myself. The team, however, suffered multiple QB injuries and lost 7 in a row to end the season, one of the biggest collapses in league history. However, this Colts team from this past season to next year reminds me a lot of the 2023 to then 2024 Eagles. Where in 2023, Philadelphia was 10-1 and the favorite to reach the Super Bowl coming out of the NFC to many, but then suffered a historic collapse losing 6 of their last 7 games with a first-round postseason loss. Then Philadelphia of course proceeded to win the Super Bowl the following season in 2024. The Colts this past season consistently lost very narrowly to strong playoff teams while having the most injury riddled QB position in the league. The Colts have in my estimation the strongest roster in the AFC as of now. The Rams and Seahawks were the class of the NFL this past season and the Colts lost to both by as razor thin of a margin as possible. A silly walk-in touchdown being thrown away cost Indianapolis the game vs the Rams. The Colts nearly beat the eventual Super Bowl Champion Seahawks on the road as well despite having a 44-year-old Phillip Rivers start at QB for the first time in half a decade on a short practice schedule. When Daniel Jones likely returns as starter as he goes into his second full season with Steichen as the head coach, along with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo going into year 2 on the job as well, this team will be very dangerous.

 

8. Eagles

The Eagles won the Super Bowl the year prior to this past season and had a decently successful year defending their title that still culminated in a division title and a very narrow playoff loss. The Eagles defense, which was arguably the best in the NFL in their Super Bowl winning season, remained one of the league’s best this past season under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. The offense was explosive in their Super Bowl winning season under offensive coordinator Kellen Moore but took a massive step back this past season under now terminated rookie offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. The offense took a huge step back from a top five caliber unit to a bottom ten caliber unit despite retaining offensive minded head coach Nick Sirianni, QB Jalen Hurts appearing in even more games than he did the previous season, and mostly all the same players on offense being there. The rookie offensive coordinator obviously was the issue, and he has since been terminated. However, Philadelphia has since appointed another offensive coordinator with no previous NFL coordinator experience. Although the new offensive coordinator hire feels like a repeat of the last failed one, I trust Howie Roseman as perhaps the league’s best general manager to not whiff on two straight offensive coordinator hires.

 

9. Patriots

The defending AFC Champions find themselves in the bottom half of the top ten despite making this past year’s Super Bowl. Head coach Mike Vrabel and Quarterback Drake Maye are an exceptional duo and despite their ugly Super Bowl loss, have a bright future in the NFL. No team in the NFL was on the level of the Seahawks and perhaps the Super Bowl stage against the league’s best defense was just too big for Drake Maye in just his 2^nd year in the NFL. New England played one of the weakest schedules in the NFL this past season but despite that making the Super Bowl and finishing top 5 in both points scored and points allowed is no small feat. You could make a very strong argument that the combination of Drake Maye/Mike Vrabel is a top 3 head coach + QB combination in the NFL. The duo made the Super Bowl in their first year together and still only lost by two possessions in it to a juggernaut. We shall see if the duo has a sophomore slump or can build and grow off a relatively very successful first year together.

 

10. Commanders

If I were a General Manager and I could have my pick of any QB to start for my team, my first choice might just be Jayden Daniels. Yes, the team went 5-12 but star QB Jayden Daniels appeared in less than half the team’s games. Let’s not forget that this Washington team in the first season with Jayden Daniels and head coach Dan Quinn reached the Conference Championship game. Although Dan Quinn has had his ups and downs as an NFL head coach, he is still an elite defensive mind, and still can prove to be a very strong head coach with more time. Jayden Daniels is as good of a quarterback, when healthy, in today’s NFL and perhaps ever in all honesty. As Lamar Jackson is viewed as the first or second most talented QB in league history with his lack of big game intangibles being his only true weakness. While Jayden Daniels is essentially a replica of Lamar Jackson as a talent, but he does not have the same concerns in regards to big game performance. Dan Quinn is amongst the greatest defensive coordinators in league history and although he has had his rough patches and inconsistencies as a head coach, he has still made multiple Conference Championships and nearly won a Super Bowl as a head coach. No other defensive head coach and quarterback combination has given me as much of a Brady/Belichick vibe as Washington does. If Daniels/Quinn can live up to their potential, and if Washington can provide the pairing with a solid roster with the 5^th most cap space, they are absolutely an NFC threat.

 

11. Chargers

Despite not winning a playoff game in over a decade, if I were a General Manager and I could have my pick of any head coach in league history to lead my team, my first choice would still be Jim Harbaugh. The first year of the Jim Harbaugh era in Los Angeles should be viewed as a success as he turned around a team that went 5-12 the year prior to his arrival to then 12-5 in the first season with him that culminated in a playoff berth. Year 2 of the Harbaugh era was supposed to be the breakout year where the team began to contend. However, it was a relative failure despite the team still making the postseason as they lost again in the first round by multiple possessions for the 2^nd time in as many years under Harbaugh. Next season, I think will be the breakout year for Harbaugh with the Chargers. As Harbaugh is too great as a head coach for his team’s to not eventually be great. Quarterback Justin Herbert has seen his struggles in the postseason but the label of him as a choker in the same breadth as early Peyton Manning and most recently Lamar Jackson is a bit premature in my estimation. Herbert is amongst the most talented quarterbacks in the game today and one of the most rawly gifted I have ever seen. Heading into the offseason with the league’s fourth most cap space and the onboarding of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, the duo seems primed to break out starting next season. However, overcoming the loss of Jesse Minter as the team’s defensive coordinator will be a hurdle to overcome.

 

12. Bengals

When healthy, Joe Burrow has a case to be viewed as the first- or second-best overall QB in the NFL but staying healthy has obviously been a big concern. The defense of the Bengals has been atrocious for long stretches in the Joe Burrow era and in the first half of last season, the Bengals defense was amongst the worst in league history under a rookie NFL defensive coordinator. Although the defense got its act together as the season progressed, the defense is still a huge concern heading into next season. The offense with a healthy Burrow will be unequivocally elite but I do not see the defense being elite and the defense has a strong chance to be poor once again. The defensive side of the ball and the questionable health of Burrow is why this team finds themselves just outside the top ten. However, this was a team that came within inches of winning a Super Bowl and getting to another one in the first two seasons with a healthy Joe Burrow. If Burrow can stay healthy and if the team can capture strong form, in particular on defense, perhaps they can return to elite final four form as they had previously.

 

13. Bills

The hire of Joe Brady felt safe, comfortable and as if the Bills were settling as they had no other options as they fired McDermott after top candidates were off the market. Brady is viewed as a smart offensive mind formulating an elite Bills’ offense led by Josh Allen. However, Allen is viewed by many to be the best QB in the game and perhaps any competent NFL offensive position coach could have had the Bills offense be elite led by Allen. Despite the presence of Allen as his QB the Bills never had an offense that instilled fear into me nor did they ever have an offense that was great in a historic context. The Bills’ defense had its struggles this past season and now losing defensive minded head coach Sean McDermott, those struggles will likely increase. Especially with Joe Brady being a rookie offensive minded head coach and the team having just hired a rookie defensive coordinator. However, Josh Allen could still be argued as the league’s best QB and his game could elevate with Brady now being head coach. This team will contend to win the AFC because of the presence of Allen, but outside of Allen I have big question marks everywhere. This team will likely see itself have another heartbreaking playoff exit with Joe Brady in his rookie head coach campaign.

 

14. Jaguars

The Jaguars had a very successful season under first year head coach Liam Coen as the team went from 4-13 the year prior to his arrival to then 13-4 in the first year with him. This team down the stretch was looking as good as any team in the NFL winning eight in a row heading into the playoffs leading the league in points scored and allowed over that stretch as well. However, they narrowly lost in their first postseason game as their youth caught up with them against a more veteran Bills’ team. Despite the highly successful first season of the Coen/Lawrence era I have this team outside of the top ten for a few reasons. Firstly, although the team saw a huge turnaround in the first season of the Coen era, I still do not buy him as an elite offensive head coach. As the turnaround that the Jaguars saw was more-so due to the defense righting the ship under a new defensive coordinator and star QB Trevor Lawrence staying healthier as well. The Jaguars’ highly impressive numbers in leading the league in both points scored and allowed over their eight-game win streak to end the regular season was more-so due to running up the score on the bottom feeding Titans twice and the bottom feeding Jets another time. I still do not buy Trevor Lawrence as an elite QB either as he has been far too inconsistent in his career thus far. However, this Jaguars team beat the Colts by three scores, the Broncos by two scores, and the Chargers by four scores this past regular season with a rookie head coach. I challenge anyone to find a team outside of the Super Bowl champion Seahawks with that type of track record vs strong playoff competition.

 

15. Bears

The Chicago Bears were one of the pleasant surprises of this past NFL season as rookie head coach Ben Johnson turned around a team that went 5-12 the year prior to his arrival to then 11-6 with a division title in the first season with him at the helm. Second year #1 overall pick QB Caleb Williams begun to fulfill his potential and looked electric from time to time. However, he is still far too inconsistent, completing less than 60% of his passes, for me to say he is elite at this point. This Bears team did not have an intimidating ceiling by any stretch of the imagination this past season but consistently won close games, came back to win several times, and played very clean mistake free football and were very strong on special teams. Although that is commendable and they deserve credit for doing so, I question the sustainability of that model for success. Their offense was good but nothing special this past season and their defense was below average by any and all metrics. For Chicago to climb this list and establish themselves as a true contender, they will need to get better on both sides of the ball. If the Bears can do that with Williams/Johnson going into year 2 together this Bears team could be something special.

 

16. Broncos

Despite making the Conference Championship this past season and narrowly losing in it while being on a backup QB, the Broncos find themselves in the middle of the pack. Similar to the Bears, the Broncos got a top 2 seed in their conference and won a playoff game despite having a very unintimidating ceiling as a team that did not strike fear into me by any stretch. Denver, just like Chicago this past season, specialized in being very strong in close games and playing sound mistake free football with strong special teams. Just like the Bears, that by itself cannot be relied upon to sustain success for the long haul and eventually raw talent and ceiling as a team needs to show. Denver is an average offensive team by any stretch, and I still do not buy Bo Nix as a surefire starting caliber franchise QB either. Denver’s defense is arguably elite, but it is not a defense like Seattle, Houston, or Philadelphia that has a next gear to it that strikes fear into me. Denver QB Bo Nix will need to take another step next season and/or the Broncos’ front office will need to upgrade the skill players surrounding him for the Broncos to take the next step heading into the 2026 campaign.

 

17. Texans

Head coach DeMeco Ryans has a very strong argument to be recognized as the premier defensive mind in the game today. No defense over the past two seasons has instilled as much fear into me as Houston’s led by the defensive minded Ryans. The offense has however been a concern as the Texans have been an average to a mediocre offensive team for the past two seasons in a row now. Quarterback C.J Stroud has regressed over the past two seasons since having an exceptional rookie campaign. The Texans’ offensive personnel outside of superstar wide receiver Nico Collins is amongst the league’s worst as well. Stroud’s regression and the team’s subpar offensive personnel outside of Collins really showed in a 4-interception loss on the road in the playoffs vs New England where the team did not have Collins available. The team will need to see an improvement offensively heading into next season if they plan to contend. Quarterback C.J Stroud will need to recapture rookie form, offensive coordinator Nick Caley will need to improve, heading into year 2 on the job, and the front office will need to add strong offensive players to supplement Stroud as well.

 

18. Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys had one of the league’s premier offenses this past season as Dak Prescott has begun to truly emerge as an elite caliber QB. Prescott led one of the league’s top offenses despite having a rookie head coach, a rookie offensive coordinator, average to below average offensive personnel, and one of the league’s worst defenses. I do not doubt at all that the Dallas offense will be elite led by Prescott especially as he heads into year 2 with that same head coach and offensive coordinator. However, the defense is the concern as Dallas has nosedived defensively since Dan Quinn left the team. Dallas’ most recent hire of a defensive coordinator left me underwhelmed as they hired someone with no previous experience in the role. Other than head coach Brian Schottenheimer going into year 2 on the job, I have no reason to believe that their defense will improve from the league worst level it was at last year. However, if their new defensive coordinator proves to be a strong hire, then this Dallas team led by an elite offense that ranks up there with almost anyone could very well be a threat in the NFC.

 

19. Giants

This Giants team now being led by the Super Bowl winning head coach John Harbaugh is one of the prime candidates if not the prime candidate to be the Jaguars/Patriots of next season. Where a team who had one of the league’s worst records the year prior ends up having one of the league’s best records the next year. This Giants team at a certain point this past season was a team that I viewed to be a top 10 caliber NFL team. After they had beaten the playoff bound Chargers, then beating the defending champion Eagles by three scores, and then leading the eventual AFC finalist Broncos on the road by three scores late in that game, I felt as if there were only a handful of teams better than the Giants. However, the Giants still finished a poor 4-13 with head coach Brian Daboll being fired midseason. Rookie QB Jaxson Dart had a strong first season and looks like the future face of the franchise for New York. New head coach John Harbaugh will lead Dart and one of the league’s best defensive fronts heading into next season. The Giants will be a fun watch as next season is set to start.

 

20. Packers

This Packers team in the Jordan Love/Matt Lafleur era has always been the epitome of good but nothing special in my estimation. The team never feels like a true Super Bowl threat but always makes the playoffs. Heading into the fourth season of the era, the pairing will be on the clock to take their game up a notch. However, it will be tough losing defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to a head coaching position. The standing of the team is a reflection of their head coach and QB. Jordan Love always has felt good but nothing special as a QB, better than the average starter but not Mahomes or Josh Allen. Lafleur has always felt good but nothing special as a head coach as well, a solid coach who won’t be fired, but not McVay or Andy Reid. Perhaps this team can take the next step beginning next season or changes could be coming to Green Bay.

 

21. Bucs

The Bucs had an explosive offense during the 2024 season that was amongst the best in the NFL. Quarterback Baker Mayfield had a career best year led by offensive coordinator Liam Coen. However, after Coen departed to become head coach of the Jaguars the Bucs took a big step back on offense and Mayfield reverted to closer to his old level of play where whether he was a starter was brought into question. Mayfield was still a number one overall pick for a reason and Coen cannot be the only party responsible for his elite level of play a couple of seasons ago. The Bucs fired rookie offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard after the massive drop off on the offensive side of things. Although the new hire of Zac Robinson as the offensive coordinator does not blow me away, I presume he will still be an upgrade over Grizzard. Robinson has been an offensive coordinator in the NFL for multiple seasons and although his output in that time was pedestrian if not underwhelming, at the very least he is not a rookie in the role and he has some experience unlike Grizzard. Robinson worked with Sean McVay and the Rams as an offensive assistant for several years and that could provide him with a strong background to excel with Mayfield and the Bucs. If Robinson can prove to be closer to Coen rather than Grizzard as an offensive coordinator for Mayfield and the Bucs, Tampa Bay could return to elite offensive form that it had a few seasons ago. Todd Bowles commands the defense for Tampa Bay and his job security was brought into question this offseason but he retained his position. Bowles’ defenses have consistently underwhelmed in the NFL, but he was still able to secure multiple NFL head coaching jobs with a defensive background for a reason. If Bowles can have Tampa be stout defensively and if the offense with a new coordinator can recapture elite form, then Tampa could emerge as an NFC threat. However, those are far too many ifs, and I still wonder if Baker Mayfield is a true franchise QB and I certainly question if Bowles is an NFL caliber head coach. So, for those reasons I have Tampa in the bottom half of these rankings.

 

22. Vikings

Despite missing the postseason this past season and QB J.J McCarthy underwhelming in his first season as starter, this Vikings team is still a team I am high on. This Vikings team with the same head coach, same defensive coordinator, and mostly the same roster went a remarkable 14-3 in the 2024 campaign. Quarterback J.J McCarthy showed at least some flashes of being a top 10 pick and the team still only narrowly missed the postseason. If McCarthy can live up to his potential and/or if the team can bring in another proven quarterback such as Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, or Mac Jones, they can certainly return to their 2024 form or better where they had the league’s 2^nd best record. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is in the discussion for being the best defensive coordinator in the sport and head coach Kevin O’Connell is a bright offensive mind. This is the one team in the NFL that is truly a QB away and if they can find the right QB, I do not know how many NFL teams I would favor over them. However, because they have so much uncertainty at the most important position as of now, they find themselves this low.

 

 

23. Panthers

The Carolina Panthers largely had a successful season this past year sneaking into the playoffs and giving the NFC finalist Rams all they could handle in the postseason. The Panthers were up on the Rams in the playoffs with less than 2 minutes left but failed to close it out. This was after the Panthers had already beaten the Rams in the regular season as well. Carolina is not a team that I imagine will be viable threat to win the NFC next season, but they are a tough out. Head coach Dave Canales was once viewed to be the next Kyle Shanahan or McVay level offensive head coach and QB Bryce Young was once viewed to be the next Russell Wilson at the QB spot. Although neither has lived up to that billing, both have shown to be capable, and both are heading into a make-or-break year next season especially for Young at QB. Playing in almost inarguably the weakest division in the NFL, the Panthers will have a strong chance to win it once again as they were able to do so with an 8-9 mark this season. Carolina also looked tough this season in beating the playoff bound Packers and putting up a decent fight against the eventual champion Seahawks. However, I do not know if Bryce Young is a true franchise QB and Canales at this point feels like an average caliber head coach.

 

24. Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons could be an interesting watch next season as QB Michael Penix Jr is in line to start again for the team. But now instead of having a defensive minded head coach who is likely not an NFL caliber head coach but rather a very good coordinator in Raheem Morris, Penix Jr now gets to play under a two-time NFL coach of the year with an offensive background in Kevin Stefanski. The Falcons have very strong personnel on offense in particular in Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson to name a few. If Stefanski can prove that he was indeed worthy of being a two-time coach of the year and if Penix Jr can prove he was worthy of a first-round selection while also staying healthy, the pairing can certainly contend to win an abysmal NFC South division. However, far too many question marks exist about their head coach and QB at this point, and their roster is not elite at this point either. So, for those reasons the Falcons find themselves in the bottom ten of these rankings.

 

25. Steelers

The Steelers for the past two seasons have experimented with the QB spot, going from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson to most recently Aaron Rodgers. Presuming Rodgers comes back to command the Steelers’ offense next season, I have the Steelers as a very stale and boring #25. The Steelers have snuck into the playoffs the past three seasons and exited in the first round every time, the onboarding of Mike McCarthy as head coach and the departure of Tomlin along with the probable return of Rodgers will likely yield a similar result. This team will likely be solid and not spectacular as Rodgers/McCarthy are heading towards a reunion. Perhaps a complete tear down that would involve trading star players such as T.J Watt, Cameron Heyward, and D.K Metcalf would bode the team well. While also pursuing a younger QB to build around instead of consistently onboarding veterans past their prime.

 

26. Titans

The Titans are also a prime candidate to be the Jaguars/Patriots of next season as well along with a team like the Giants. The Titans heading into this offseason cycle are almost a doppelganger of the Patriots as they headed into last offseason. Both teams finished with amongst the league’s worst records the year prior with a rookie top 3 pick QB. Both teams are heading into the following offseason with their top 3 pick QB heading into year 2, both teams onboarded an established defensive minded head coach (Mike Vrabel/Robert Saleh), both teams onboarded an overqualified offensive coordinator who could likely be a head coach (Josh McDaniels/Brian Daboll), and both teams headed into the offseason with the most cap space in the league. Cam Ward underwhelmed as a rookie but still threw more than twice as many touchdowns as interceptions and was still a number one overall pick for a reason. Not to mention the fact that he had little to work with on the offensive side of things. The Titans will be a fun watch next season and seem primed to climb out of the lowest realm of the NFL. However, they play in a very tough division, went 3-14 this past season, and Cam Ward has underwhelmed thus far.

 

27. Browns

The Browns had one of the elite NFL defenses this past season but despite that they still finished the year 5-12. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has departed the team and head coach Kevin Stefanski was also shown the door as well. So, it remains to be seen if the Browns can maintain an elite level of play on the defensive side of the ball. New head coach Todd Monken has his work cut out for him in turning around this moribund Browns franchise. Monken however I think was a good hire as he has experience with getting the best out of dual threat QBs during his time working with Lamar Jackson. I could certainly see Monken getting the most out of the dual threat Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson at the QB spot. If the defense can maintain a similar level of play despite the overturn in the coaching staff and if one of the QBs in Dillon Gabriel, Deshaun Watson, or Shedeur Sanders can prove to be a franchise level player, this team could be a fun watch. However those are far too many ifs and the personnel surrounding the QB spot is very questionable as of now, Monken is still a rookie head coach as of now, and the Browns are still on rookie coordinators as of now as well.

 

28. Saints

The Saints led by Tyler Shough and Kellen Moore are perhaps the most irrelevant and overlooked NFL team. Shough had a very strong rookie season as a mostly overlooked prospect and Kellen Moore is underrated as an offensive mind. Shough has certainly shown he is capable of being a franchise level player and could very well come into his next season. The Eagles’ offense saw a drastic drop off once now Saints’ head coach Kellen Moore left the team, thus showing his value. The Saints have a strong roster, and it would not surprise me at all if New Orleans contended to win a very weak NFC South next season. The Saints went on a 4-game win streak towards the end of last season, they lost by only score to playoff teams San Francisco and New England, this was despite being on a rookie QB and a rookie head coach. In a league of optimism, the Saints, although they do not seem to have much going for them, still have a lot of hope to be relevant next season.

 

29. Raiders

The Raiders with new head coach Klint Kubiak and impending number one overall pick Fernando Mendoza set to take over the QB reigns finally seem to be heading in the right direction as a franchise. Kubiak was very deserving of the job and very well could prove to be a fine head coach in the NFL. Mendoza has superstar potential entering the NFL fresh off a Heisman trophy and a National Championship with Indiana. Tight Brock Bowers, running back Ashton Jeanty, and edge rusher Maxx Crosby provide the team with star power but outside of that the cupboard is essentially bare in regards to the team’s roster. It also remains to be seen if Crosby will remain with the team. This team with a rookie head coach, a rookie QB, and one of the weakest rosters will likely have its growing pains. However, I foresee Mendoza and Kubiak being the face of the organization for a long time and eventually transforming Las Vegas into a very strong team.

 

30. Dolphins

With Tua Tagovailoa likely out the door this offseason, the Dolphins are in rebuild mode with a new head coach and general manager as well. New head coach Jeff Hafley comes from the Packers with a defensive background, and he can hopefully be the long-term head coach for Miami. However, the hire of Hafley was a bit underwhelming as his defenses with the Packers were always good but nothing special. If the team can get a guy like Malik Willis in at the QB spot, Miami could be solid at best. However, this season seems like a rebuild and a reset for the Dolphins and Miami is likely to circle the NFL drains in 2026.

 

31. Cardinals

The Cardinals are likely to move off of former #1 overall pick Kyler Murray this offseason and the team’s QB spot remains a big question mark. Regardless of who steps in for Murray next season, this team will likely have amongst the worst records in the NFL playing in the toughest division in the sport. The new hire of head coach Mike Lafleur seems solid but not spectacular, but he very well could prove to be a fine NFL head coach. A very questionable QB spot, a rookie head coach, and a mediocre roster, playing in the toughest division in the NFL seems to be a recipe for disaster.

 

32. Jets

Aaron Glenn seems to be on the hottest of seats of all NFL head coaches heading into next season as of now. The Jets QB situation is likely the worst in the NFL and this team is perhaps the biggest contender to receive next year’s first overall pick. However, Robert Saleh was just as poor as a defensive minded head coach in year 1 with the Jets before he of course was great the following two seasons with New York. Despite his misgivings I am still a believer in Justin Fields as a franchise QB as well. But as of now the Jets remain last out of all the teams. But with the 2^nd most cap space in the NFL, perhaps they can climb out of this hole.