2026 NFL Power Rankings: The Super Bowl champs get bumped from No. 1

Every fan loves an NFL power rankings article. Unless their team is further down the list than they'd like, of course.

With the certainty that I'm about to upset a few fanbases, I've evaluated each team's roster and considered their approach to free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft before settling on my version of the NFL hierarchy.

Here's where all 32 teams land in my latest power rankings.

Tier 1: Playoff-bound, at least

1. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are all-in, with 2025 AP Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett joining fellow newcomers Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to improve what was already a talented roster.

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Matthew Stafford is still elite, Puka Nacua remains one of the best in the business, and Davante Adams showed he still has plenty left in the tank.

2. Seattle Seahawks

As the reigning champs, Seattle were always going to feature in this tier.

Yes, Kenneth Walker III is gone. And yes, losing Boye Mafe and Klint Kubiak might hurt, but even after those departures, the Seahawks remain a real force.

The roster is loaded. Sam Darnold, Devon Witherspoon, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Byron Murphy, Nick Emmanwori, Grey Zabel, Ernest Jones, and now rookie Jadarian Price. I could go on.

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3. Buffalo Bills

D.J. Moore is a major upgrade at receiver, and Bradley Chubb helps mitigate the loss of A.J. Epenesa - if he can stay healthy.

Defending the run could remain their Achilles heel, but with Josh Allen doing Josh Allen things and James Cook returning to lead the backfield, the Bills will always be in the mix come the postseason.

4. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens had to pivot when Maxx Crosby didn't materialise, and while the way they did so raised eyebrows, Trey Hendrickson was a great addition to a defense that should bounce back.

Tyler Linderbaum's departure is a worry, as is the situation at wide receiver, but Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson will keep Baltimore in contention, even if Jackson's only reliable outlets remain Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews.

5. Denver Broncos

Bo Nix is probably the worst quarterback in this tier, but the addition of Jaylen Waddle should help to elevate his game.

Defensively, they're still in great shape even after letting John Franklin-Myers and Dre Greenlaw leave.

Nik Bonitto, PS2, Zach Allen, and Talanoa Hufanga will help this unit win games even if Nix treads water.

6. New England Patriots

Drake Maye won't miss Stefon Diggs, not with new signings A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs in the mix.

Milton Williams and Christian Barmore should provide plenty of pass rush from the interior, but there are question marks on the edge, with Harold Landry the only established talent.

The signings of Alijah Vera-Tucker and Kevin Byard could prove to be inspired.

Tier 2: Firmly in the mix

7. San Francisco 49ers

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Mike Evans may not have many years left at the top, but he's a perfect fit for what the 49ers - and Brock Purdy - need right now.

Adding a healthy Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to a defensive unit that, in their absence, outperformed expectations, should keep Kyle Shanahan's group firmly in contention in the most competitive division in football.

8. Green Bay Packers

Rashan Gary, Elgton Jenkins, and Romeo Doubs were solid contributors rather than roster cornerstones, but even solid players can be missed.

Adding Javon Hargrave and Zaire Franklin gives them experience on defense, but neither player is in their prime, and Micah Parsons' return timeline is a worry.

But Jordan Love will ensure the Packers remain competitive, and if Matthew Golden can become the player Green Bay envisaged and Edgerrin Cooper continues doing what he does best, the Packers should make the playoffs.

9. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles lost a fair amount of talent with the departures of Jaelan Phillips, Nakobe Dean, and Reed Blankenship.

Keeping Dallas Goedert, adding Riq Woollen, and promoting Jihaad Campbell back into a starting off-ball role certainly helps, but getting Saquon Barkley going again is the key to success.

Whether they can re-establish their offensive identity under Sean Mannion will dictate their 2026 season.

10. Chicago Bears

I'm not a huge fan of their free agent additions, but I'm also not too concerned about D.J. Moore's exit with Rome Odunze in place and the emergence of Luther Burden and tight end Colston Loveland.

If Caleb Williams continues to develop, and the backfield committee rediscovers their 2025 midseason form, the Bears can go from strength to strength.

11. Detroit Lions

Aidan Hutchinson is extraordinary, but he can't carry the pass rush by himself. At some point, one player running hot isn't enough. Is Derrick Moore the answer?

Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta will ensure this offense remains one of the more dangerous groups in the league.

The defense can be excellent when healthy, but how soon will Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph be back? Making the playoffs without them is entirely doable, but January football will be a struggle without them.

12. Los Angeles Chargers

Getting Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt healthy again will make a huge difference. Tyler Biadasz was a solid signing, too.

Guard is still a question mark, where Cole Strange was a ... strange signing.

Bringing back Khalil Mack was important for the defense, and Derwin James will ensure the secondary continues to outperform expectations.

13. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are a real wild card after last season's disappointment. At least the early signs about Patrick Mahomes' recovery look promising.

Kenneth Walker III is a huge upgrade over Isiah Pacheco; Travis Kelce's return should help; and the surrounding pieces are ... OK, save for the right tackle spot.

Even if Mahomes is ready for Week 1, are his wide receivers strong enough to compete for the division, let alone the Lombardi?

14. Houston Texans

Houston's defense remains elite, with arguably the best pair of edge rushers in football and a secondary that can suffocate even the best offenses.

Trading for David Montgomery gives them a reliable option in the backfield, and the offensive line additions were sorely needed. The biggest question mark remains C.J. Stroud.

Tier 3: Fringe contenders

15. Jacksonville Jaguars

Getting Travis Hunter back with a year of experience under his belt - albeit some of which he spent on the sideline - is an exciting prospect for Trevor Lawrence, and potentially the defense.

However, I have concerns that last year's late-season form will be hard to carry over. Jaguars fans won't like me saying this, but for me, Jacksonville are a candidate to finish with a lower win total than last year.

Devin Lloyd and Travis Etienne are hard to replace, and Ventrell Miller and Bhayshul Tuten have to prove they can play at the same level.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers

Michael Pittman Jr. and Jamel Dean were great additions, but the bigger news was Aaron Rodgers' return.

The defense is in good shape, boasting a trio of dangerous edges in T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, but I have serious reservations about the holes on the offensive line.

If it all comes together, Pittsburgh could outplay this ranking, but 10-7 may not be enough to top the division again.

17. Dallas Cowboys

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The Dak Prescott-led offense was firing on all cylinders last year, but the defense fell woefully short of playoff standards.

Signing Rashan Gary and Cobie Durant was a start, and I'm a big fan of the addition of Caleb Downs, but the jury is out until we see improvement.

Even if George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb come out firing once again, a .500 record might be a push.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs looked so good for stretches last year and so poor at other times.

Losing Mike Evans and Jamel Dean will hurt, but the Buccaneers have other talented receivers who can absorb some of Evans' targets, and Benjamin Morrison was a nice pickup in the draft.

I'm not sure linebacker Lavonte David can be replaced as easily, but at least Rueben Bain should bring some juice to the edge group.

19. Minnesota Vikings

Kyler Murray on a one-year deal is either a clever low-risk bet or the kind of short-term thinking that creates more problems than it solves. Possibly both.

Either way, he's better than J.J. McCarthy. Hopefully, he builds early chemistry with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

20. Indianapolis Colts

Paying Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce that kind of money was a bit of a gamble, and losing Braden Smith on top of it makes it all feel a little uncomfortable.

Are they the team that started so well last year, or are they the failing unit that struggled down the stretch? Sauce Gardner's return could be key.

21. Carolina Panthers

Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd could be big for the defense. Both were paid well, and I think they're more deserving than others seem to believe.

The real question, and it's the same as it's been for a while now, is whether Bryce Young can take advantage of a better situation around him. Tetairoa McMillan, at least, looks like the real deal.

22. Cincinnati Bengals

Trey Hendrickson exited; Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Jonathan Allen arrived. The secondary improves, but that's a reshuffle on the defensive line, not an upgrade.

Maybe it works out fine, but calling it progress feels premature. Once again, Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will need to produce heroics to help them win.

Tier 4: Still figuring things out

23. New York Giants

I'm looking forward to seeing the quartet of Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely on the field together. That sounds like the start of a competent offense, at worst.

Abdul Carter had a slow start, but he looked much better by the end of the year alongside Brian Burns.

Arvell Reese, Francis Mauigoa and Colton Hood were nice pickups in the draft, but they may take time to hit their stride.

24. Atlanta Falcons

I'm reserving judgment on the addition of Tua Tagovailoa, but with Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts helping out on offense, Tua has a nice supporting cast.

The defence is in pretty good shape, where the secondary is a real plus, and the Falcons seem to have found answers at edge rusher after years of struggling in that department.

25. Washington Commanders

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Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson are improvements on paper, but this roster still feels like it has huge holes at multiple spots.

Jayden Daniels, if he returns closer to how he played in his rookie year, will help Washington outperform this ranking, but he'll need Chig Okonkwo and Antonio Williams to fulfil their potential to help ease the burden on Terry McLaurin.

Tier 5: Much work to do

26. New Orleans Saints

Travis Etienne and David Edwards were solid signings. But Tyler Shough will still have to rely too heavily on Chris Olave until Jordyn Tyson finds his feet.

The Saints are heading in the right direction, but they're still a little way off.

27. Tennessee Titans

They've spent money, and the wideout group looks much better after adding Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson, but this still feels like a team building from behind.

Cam Ward should make strides in Year 2, but his progress could be hindered by what remains a questionable offensive line.

28. Cleveland Browns

The Tytus Howard and Elgton Jenkins signings were a strong start, but Zion Johnson has a lot to prove. And that's just step one.

Step two is choosing a starting quarterback and hoping he delivers.

Jared Verse is a fine edge rusher, but he'd have to play out of his skin to avoid there being a drop-off with Myles Garrett exiting.

Carson Schwesinger should go from strength to strength, and the new wideouts will help whoever starts at quarterback, but the Browns remain a year away from realistically competing.

29. Las Vegas Raiders

Tyler Linderbaum is an exciting acquisition. The rest of it depends heavily on Fernando Mendoza. Whether he's the answer is a question nobody has solved yet, and that uncertainty hangs over everything else.

Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers provide a nice situation for Mendoza to walk into. Whether Linderbaum can teach the rest of the Raiders' offensive line how to run block will be key.

Cousins ... meh. He's a nice mentor for Mendoza, but let's be honest, we'll be pulling for him to make way for the rookie sooner rather than later.

Tier 6: Way off, and they know it

30. New York Jets

Colour me unimpressed with the Geno Smith signing, even as a bridge option. T'Vondre Sweat, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Demario Davis, however, were shrewd acquisitions.

The youth movement is full steam ahead, with Kenyon Sadiq, Omar Cooper, and David Bailey headlining the latest additions, but it's likely to be a year of learning for that group.

The talent that left the team midseason last year may lead to a slow start for the Jets.

31. Arizona Cardinals

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Kyler Murray is gone, Jacoby Brissett steps in, but there are still too many holes to paper over with optimism.

Even with blue-chip talent like Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride and Jeremiyah Love, the Cardinals have a way to go. Let's hope Mike LaFleur can get the best out of a weak group.

32. Miami Dolphins

De'Von Achane is a star. Kadyn Proctor could be a nice get. Malik Willis was a real gamble.

If Willis works out, the teardown will look inspired. If not, it's a long way back for the Dolphins, who would need their inexperienced receivers to be at their very best to give them any chance of winning more than a handful of games.

As you look up and down the roster, there are far more question marks than sure things.