With the NFL Draft complete and team minicamps complete, it’s time to rank the league’s hierarchy heading into the 2025–26 season. From Super Bowl contenders to teams in rebuild mode, here’s how all 32 franchises stack up in our first NFL Power Rankings.
Here’s a link to NFL.com’s schedule difficulty index, which influenced our rankings.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
The reigning champs bring back a deep roster, top FPI rating, and one of the league’s best offensive lines. The path to the Lombardi may go through Philly again.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson has more weapons, the defense is fast and physical, and the Ravens are well-positioned to make a title run.
3. Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen continues to carry the franchise, and the Bills have strengthened both lines through the draft and free agency.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
Mahomes is Mahomes. With the WR room healthy again with the returns of Rachee Rice and Hollywood Brown, the Chiefs’ core remains elite.
5. Detroit Lions
The Lions are no longer underdogs. They’re contenders—physical, disciplined, and loaded on both sides of the ball. How will they adjust to losing OC Ben Johnson to the Bears?
6. Washington Commanders
One of the offseason’s biggest risers. With elite draft capital and an elite QB in Jayden Daniels, Washington could win the NFC East…and the entire NFC.
7. Los Angeles Chargers
If Justin Herbert stays healthy, this team can challenge anyone. Jim Harbaugh’s culture shift is already paying dividends. Adding Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton should let Harbaugh get back to the ground and pound attack that’s his signature style.
8. Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love’s breakout continues, and the Packers’ youthful core gives them one of the brightest outlooks in the NFC. The Packers uncharacteristically added not one but two receivers early in the NFL Draft to give Love even more firepower.
9. Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay continues to work magic. While Cooper Kupp is gone, they replaced him with Davonte Adams. With Stafford, Puka Nacua, and a deeper defense, LA will be dangerous.
10. Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud is a budding superstar looking to bounce back from a poor sophmore season. With an elite defense that attacks, Houston’s stock keeps rising. However, the reason the Texans are in the Top 10 in these Power Rankings is that they play in the woeful AFC South.
11. San Francisco 49ers
They benefit from one of the NFL’s easiest schedules. A healthy Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey should mean a deep postseason run.
12. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow is healthy again, and the Bengals are reloaded on offense. They better be, because the defense will be terrible, especially if they can’t come to terms with 2024 NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson. Don’t be surprised if they start hot, unlike last season when a second half surge wasn’t enough to overcome a terrible start to the season.
13. Denver Broncos
Sean Payton’s plan is in full swing. QB Bo Nix surprised everyone with a solid rookie season and everyone’s buzzing about rookie RB RJ Harvey. Even more importantly, the Broncos defense could be the best in the AFC next season.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield has found stability and has reached the potential he flashed as an overall #1 pick. Mike Evans keeps producing and the WR core is elite. Some are saying Bucs RB Bucky Irving could be a breakout star. Tampa won’t wow, but they’ll win, especially in the NFC South.
15. Minnesota Vikings
They’ll be as good as J.J. McCarthy can develop, and they committed significant draft capital and free agent spending on the OL to protect him. With Justin Jefferson, they’ll stay competitive.
16. Chicago Bears
The Bears have surrounded Caleb Williams with elite firepower and a better line. After a so-so rookie season, he could ignite a quick turnaround.
17. Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is back to full strength, and Marvin Harrison Jr. ready to take the leap into the WR elite. The Cardinals addressed their biggest weakness last season–DL–with significant free agent signings and through the draft.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin never finishes below .500. The defense will again be a strength, and with DK Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers now leading the offense, they’re in the hunt—again.
19. Seattle Seahawks
New QB sam Darnold needs to prove that he’s an upgrade over former QB Geno Smith, and he won’t have DK Metcalf to throw to.
20. Miami Dolphins
Still electric on offense, but can Tua stay healthy? Will Tyreke Hill bounce back from a subpar your (by his standards)? Defensive questions will dog them until they prove they can stop anybody, and they’re about to ship Jalen Ramsey out of town.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars
This feels way too high for the Jags, but optimism about what new HC Liam Coen can do with Trevor Lawrence sparks hope. The defense may have been the biggest disappointment in the entire NFL and has to bounce back. The only reason the Jags rank 25th is that they play in the AFC South and might back their way into a division title.
22. Dallas Cowboys
The Super Bowl wins have never felt farther away. High-end talent is still there to help your fantasy football team, but in the NFL they’re stuck in a tough division and facing a brutal schedule.
23. New England Patriots
The Drake Maye era began last season with promising returns. A new culture, an easy 2025 schedule and a complete roster turnover under HC Mike Vrabel is driving Pats fans’ expectations.
24. Atlanta Falcons
Nobody inside or outside of the NFL understands what the Falcons are doing.
25. Las Vegas Raiders
They’ve got some talent, and Geno Smith addresses the QB problem. Coach Pete Carroll is a winner with a chip on his shoulder after the way his tenure ended in Seattle, but the Raiders are still on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.
26. Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young and the Panthers showed spark in the second half of the season, leading to some hope from Carolina fans. This season is a make-or-break one for Young.
27. New York Jets
The Jets continue to be a mess, but Justin Fields as QB1 is intriguing. The offense is loaded with interesting pieces, but a bad team didn’t really improve much this offseason to warrant much hope for a turnaround.
28. New York Giants
It’s now or never for HC Brian Daboll. The hardest schedule in the NFL might doom him regardless if the team improves over 2024. Also, who’s the QB1? Jameis Winston? Russell Wilson? Jaxson Dart? Can any one of them make the Giants a playoff team? No.
29. Tennessee Titans
The Cam Ward era begins. An easy schedule will make his transition to the NFL easier. However, the Titans lack talent and are still years away from contending for the playoffs.
30. Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson is tantalizing, but the potential may never turn into production…and he’s already hurt his shoulder. Is Daniel Jones really the answer?
31. New Orleans Saints
Aging roster, uncertain QB future, and cap issues continue to cloud New Orleans’ outlook. At least Derek Carr retired and the Saints can fully focus on rebuilding instead of living in just-missing-the-playoffs purgatory.
32. Cleveland Browns
The bottom has fallen out. The Browns parted ways with Nick Chubb. Deshaun Watson is still a millstone around the franchise’s neck, and this once-promising defense is underperforming.
Compare our Power Rankings with ESPN’s. We think ours are better.
NFL Team Power Rankings: From Philadelphia to New Orleans