NFL Preseason Power Rankings: The Wait Is Over!

By Evan Copeland

It’s officially September and that means only one thing. Football season is back, as the NFL gets underway and the road to Super Bowl LXI has begun.

We have had an offseason full of shocks, as is always the case, but it’s time to get into the real action, starting at Lumen Field on Wednesday night. The defending champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a Superbowl rematch, kicking off a bumper week of action in week one.

A record nine international games are set to reach our screens in 2026, with the NFL heading to Paris, Rio and Melbourne for the first time.

With all that aside, let’s get into the first power rankings of the season. Who are Lombardi favourites? Which teams are already planning for next year’s draft? Who will be the biggest dark horse in 2026? We’ll take a look at all 32 teams below and see how they all stack up heading into week one.

D Tier: Early Tank Alert?

32: Miami Dolphins – simply put, the worst roster in the NFL. Aside from DeVon Achane, who every team will target, Miami lack any form of talent in their weapons. Pair that with a new head coach and they should face a really tough year.

31: New York Jets – I can’t see any upside with this roster, at least not for the short term. The front office traded away two key pieces on the defense in Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner last season, while that same unit became the first in NFL history to have no interceptions in a season.

They have multiple promising pieces on the offense, but I don’t see how Geno Smith can unlock the talent. They will be already eyeing next year’s quarterback class.

30: Arizona Cardinals – The Cardinals are another team that could be promising over the next five years but again are missing competence under centre.

The Jeremiyah Love pick was slightly confusing to me. It seems awfully similar to Ashton Jeanty’s first year in Vegas, a brilliant talent who could struggle behind a terrible offensive line.

29: Cleveland Browns – Left to pick their poison at quarterback heading into 2026, the Browns went for veteran DeShaun Watson. They are another team who I think will be watching this year’s college season very closely, monitoring the likes of Arch Manning and Dante Moore.

I think Cleveland’s defense is extremely promising, despite losing Myles Garrett. New Head Coach Todd Monken will have the two previous DROY’s, alongside Denzel Ward and Mason Graham. A promising quarterback could transform the Browns.

28: Tennessee Titans – Another work in progress. Cam Ward showed signs in his rookie year, but the former number one pick needs a step up in 2026 to bring me onside. I like the weapons Tennessee has in rookie Carnell Tate and Wandale Robinson, with new OC Brian Daboll a real asset to the team. Time will tell if Robert Saleh’s tenure with the Jets was, as usual, a Jets problem.

27: Las Vegas Raiders – This is a really promising team. The decision to start Kirk Cousins is the right one, Fernando Mendoza will need time to develop and that strategy has worked before. Klint Kubiak is a smart hire and should get the weapons on offense in high gear. One to watch for a breakout year.

C Tier: Mediocrity - and the NFC South

26: Washington Commanders – It could ugly fast for the Commanders this season. QB Jayden Daniels is already making headlines off the field, while losing his starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil on it. Two years removed from an NFC Championship appearance stops me putting them lower but stay tuned for a quick plumet.

25: New York Giants – I think John Harbaugh could work wonders in the Big Apple. That is if his quarterback and running back can stay out of the blue tent. It’s a young team, with multiple developing pieces on both sides of the ball.

Again, it all comes down to fitness. Malik Nabers is coming off a torn ACL, Cam Skattebo off a dislocated ankle. Harbaugh needs a way to ensure his stars remain healthy and, on their game, if he can do that the Giants could be a dark horse in the NFC East.

24: Atlanta Falcons – You have to feel bad for Kevin Stefanski. Going from Watson and Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland to Tua and Michael Penix in Atlanta. Can you even call that an upgrade? The team has enough redeeming qualities to not be ranked any lower and will always have a chance to win the NFC South and make the playoffs.

23: Indianapolis Colts – Daniel Jones’ health will be key for this team. They showed last season, at 8-2 into the bye, this team has extreme potential. But I just don’t trust the quarterback enough to rank them higher.

22: Carolina Panthers – Despite winning the south and making the playoffs last year, I’m still not very high on the Panthers. Yes, they ran the Rams extremely close in the Wild Card but put any of the other 13 playoff teams in that division and they win it at a canter. However, expect them to be in the fight once again in 2026.

21: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – I am a lot higher on this team after Baker Mayfield’s recent extension. It feels like a cloud has been removed from Tampa, and the franchise made the right decision to keep Baker around. I feel like I’m saying this for every team in the division, but they will be in the hunt come week 18.

20: New Orleans Saints – I am buying Tyler Shough stock early. After finding his feet in the Saints offense, he led the team to four wins in their last five games and a 5-3 record as a starter. He will continue to grow in Kellen Moore’s offense.

Adding Jordyn Tyson and Travis Etienne has significantly improved the team’s weapons heading into 2026, while also giving Chris Olave a big payday. I have the Saints as my favourites for a tightly contested NFC South, but divisional games will be crucial. They face an early test in Detroit to start the year.

Tier B: Low Floor, High Ceiling

19: Pittsburgh Steelers – One last dance for Aaron Rodgers. The four-time MVP has reunited with Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh, but don’t expect Green Bay-Esque fireworks. While the Steelers had a promising offseason, I don’t see them competing in a stacked AFC North.

18: Minnesota Vikings – The decision to start Kyler Murray doesn’t surprise me, and this team has a lot of upside. With Brian Flores remaining as the defensive coordinator, the Vikings still hold one of the best units on that side of the ball.

I will be interested to watch Justin Jefferson this season, as he links up with another new quarterback. He should be in for a big bounce back year, with the Minnesota offense, particularly Murray, key to the team’s playoff hopes.

17: Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jags really impressed me last year, winning the AFC South after a tremendous year from Trevor Lawrence. Liam Coen is a brilliant head coach and has got this offense working really well. If they can expect more production from Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter, the Jags could take another step forward.

16: Cincinnati Bengals – The franchise showed this offseason they are ready to win. Trading for Dexter Lawrence has boosted their defense, but will Joe Burrow stay healthy. The common theme of their season going down in flames if he gets injured stops me putting them higher.

15: Green Bay Packers – Losing Micah Parsons derailed their season, as the Pack went out with a whimper against the Bears. With Micah expected to miss time again this season, Green Bay could be on the back foot in the NFC North within weeks.

14: Dallas Cowboys – The offense is one of the best in football. But can the dfeense compare? A quiet offseason is a rarity in Dallas where Jerry Jones loves to meddle, but I think America’s team could surprise a lot of people this year.

Dak Prescott played at an MVP level last season with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens alongside him and I think he will lead the Cowboys back into the playoffs. How far? That will be down to the defense, but their moves on that side of the ball have boosted my confidence.

13: Detroit Lions – Let me make this clear, I would love to have the Lions higher, and they are my pick to win the NFC North. But I can’t trust this team until I have seen more from the defense.

Whether injuries played a part or not, the Lions defense, the secondary in particular, have played a big part in their recent playoff losses. I’ll put last season down to a blip, but I need to see more before I put them back in championship contention.

Tier A: Contenders with a Question Mark

12: San Francisco 49ers – They are unfortunately the third best team in the best division in the NFL. I will be interested to see how they bounce back from an injury-hit 2025 in which they still made the divisional round.

11: Houston Texans – Simply put, I don’t trust the quarterback. The defense is phenomenal and DeMeco Ryans is a brilliant head coach. I was also impressed by their improvement to the offensive line and run game, perhaps to aid CJ Stroud.

However, Stroud has declined ever since his tremendous rookie season, culminating in a dismal showing in the divisional round against the New England Patriots. I think he is holding the Texans back and I need to see more before I rank them higher.

10: New England Patriots – Last year’s AFC Champions should face a bit of a regression this year. Despite adding AJ Brown, giving Drake Maye an elite weapon on the outside, I can’t look past their schedule this season. After a bit of a cakewalk to the Superbowl, I expect some harder matchups to set them back.

9: Kansas City Chiefs – They will take the role of underdog, especially in their division, but that should suit the returning Patrick Mahomes and co. Questions remain over the quality of their receivers, but they appear to have finally acquired an elite running back in Kenneth Walker, the Superbowl MVP.

They face a tricky start against the Broncos, and while Mahomes will start, how much will his injury still be affecting him in week one?

8: Philadelphia Eagles – The 2024 champs suffered a bit of a step back last season, losing to the 49ers at home in the Wild Card. I still have my doubts over Jalen Hurts and that offense; I can’t have them higher until he shows he more of his postseason form on a regular occasion.

7: Chicago Bears – The Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams tandem moved to new heights by the end of 2025, despite a playoff defeat to the Rams. I see a slight regression in 2026, contrary to popular opinion, but for now they remain the class of the field in the NFC North.

6: Los Angeles Chargers – I think the Mike McDaniel hire could turn out to be the move of the offseason. I expect him to transform this Chargers offense, with Justin Herbert in the race for MVP by January.

There are always question marks. Will the O-line stay healthy? Can Herbert finally have some success in the playoffs? The AFC West will be ultra-competitive once again, but I expect the Chargers to compete for the division.

5: Baltimore Ravens – Any time a new head coach is appointed, there is always going to be some doubt about that team. I think Jesse Minter will be successful in Baltimore, and I expect a bounce back year from Lamar Jackson, but time will tell how far this team can go.

4: Denver Broncos – The acquisition of Jaylen Waddle should be key for this offense, providing Bo Nix with another weapon. Their record in one score games, 11-2 last season, will be hard to replicate but I still see them in the fight for the AFC West and the number one seed.

3: Buffalo Bills – Any team with Josh Allen at quarterback is always bound to be in contention. While the new Head Coach, Joe Brady, is a bit of an unknown, his experience as play caller and OC for the Bills gives them some continuity.

The issue has always been getting over the final hurdle. For that, we have to wait and see until January, but they are among my early favourites for a Lombardi.

Tier S: NFC West Juggernauts

2: Seattle Seahawks – The defending champions fall into second spot on my rankings. The loss of Klint Kubiak worries me for this offense, but the defense is just too good to not have them in the mix.

1: Los Angeles Rams – I thought the Rams should’ve gone all the way last season, falling to Seattle in the conference championship. It seems Sean McVay and Les Snead didn’t take that too well.

Adding Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie and now Aaron Donald has assembled one of the great NFL rosters, alongside the reigning MVP and a generational Head Coach. The ‘F*** them picks’ strategy brought a Superbowl before to LA, and I expect them to claim another at SoFi in February.

EVAN COPELAND

NFL ANALYST

Evan is a Los Angeles Rams fan and sports journalism student at Lincoln University, with a keen interest in NFL writing, alongside golf and football. You can keep up with all of his content on X at @EvanCopeland26.

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