The NFL offseason is where hope is born.
Every fan base believes they've improved. Every rookie is destined for greatness. Every free-agent signing fills a major hole. By January, half of those expectations will be shattered, but that's what makes football great.
With training camp still ahead, here's our complete Way Too Early NFL Power Rankings heading into the 2026–27 NFL season.
1. Los Angeles Rams
No team made a bigger splash this offseason than the Rams. Adding Myles Garrett to an already dangerous roster instantly elevated Los Angeles into Super Bowl favorite territory. Sean McVay remains one of the NFL's best coaches, Matthew Stafford continues to play at a high level, and the defense now has arguably the most dominant pass rusher in football. The Rams are built to win now.
2. Buffalo Bills
Every year feels like Buffalo's year, and for good reason. Josh Allen remains one of the NFL's premier quarterbacks and the Bills continue to field one of the league's most complete rosters. The pressure is growing, but so is the sense that Buffalo is getting closer to finally breaking through.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson keeps proving he's one of the most dangerous players in football. Baltimore remains physical, disciplined, and explosive on both sides of the ball. As long as the Ravens stay healthy, they'll be in the Super Bowl conversation.
4. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have quietly developed into one of the league's most balanced teams. Their defense plays with an old-school toughness while the offense continues to evolve. Seattle may not generate national headlines, but they're built to make a deep playoff run.
5. Denver Broncos
Denver has become one of the NFL's fastest-rising contenders. The defense remains elite and the offense has steadily improved. The Broncos might not have the star power of some teams above them, but they have very few weaknesses.
6. Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud has transformed the Texans into one of football's brightest young contenders. Houston's roster is loaded with emerging talent, and the franchise appears years ahead of schedule in its rebuild.
7. Philadelphia Eagles
Despite significant offseason changes, the Eagles remain among the NFC's elite. Their dominance in the trenches and organizational stability keep them firmly in the contender tier. They may not be the conference favorite anymore, but nobody wants to face them in January.
8. Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love has firmly established himself as Green Bay's franchise quarterback. The Packers continue to develop one of the NFL's youngest and most talented rosters. Another leap could put them among the NFC's top teams.
9. New England Patriots
The Patriots are one of the biggest offseason winners. Drake Maye looks like a future star, and the addition of A.J. Brown gives New England a true game-changing receiver. Expectations have changed dramatically in Foxborough.
10. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers always seem to have talent. The question is whether they can finally put everything together. Their ceiling is incredibly high, and if they find consistency, they could challenge anyone in the AFC.
11. Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes prevents the Chiefs from ever being counted out. While recent roster questions have pushed Kansas City lower than usual, betting against Mahomes remains a dangerous game.
12. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys enter another season with high expectations. Their roster remains loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, and they continue to be one of the NFL's most relevant franchises. The challenge, as always, is translating regular-season success into postseason results.
13. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have experienced significant roster turnover, but Kyle Shanahan continues to keep them competitive. San Francisco may not be the powerhouse it once was, but they're still capable of making noise in the NFC.
14. Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels accelerated Washington's rebuild far quicker than expected. The Commanders are one of the NFL's most exciting young teams and could climb even higher with another strong season.
15. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota has enough offensive firepower to compete with anyone on a given Sunday. The Vikings' success will depend on consistency and whether their defense can hold up against stronger competition.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers continue to outperform expectations. They're well-coached, disciplined, and capable of winning their division. Tampa Bay may not be a Super Bowl favorite, but they're a playoff threat.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin continues to work miracles. Pittsburgh remains one of the NFL's toughest teams and consistently finds ways to stay competitive. The defense will once again be the team's backbone.
18. Chicago Bears
Everything revolves around Caleb Williams. The talent around him is significantly better than it was a year ago, and if he takes a major leap, Chicago could become one of the season's biggest surprises.
19. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona has quietly improved its roster and appears headed in the right direction. They're not contenders yet, but they're no longer a team opponents can overlook.
20. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons possess enough talent to compete for a playoff spot. However, questions about consistency keep them outside the league's upper tier entering the season.
21. Miami Dolphins
Miami still has one of the NFL's most explosive offenses, but concerns remain about their ability to win against physical playoff-caliber opponents. The Dolphins have talent but something to prove.
22. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow alone makes Cincinnati dangerous. Injuries and roster concerns have lowered expectations, but few teams have a higher ceiling if everything comes together.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars remain one of the league's biggest mysteries. The talent is present, but consistency has been elusive. This feels like a pivotal season for the franchise.
24. Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young showed real progress last season, giving Panthers fans hope for the future. Carolina still has work to do, but the organization finally appears headed in the right direction.
25. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have improved but remain stuck in a difficult AFC landscape. They're capable of competing every week yet still lack the depth and consistency of true playoff contenders.
26. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts continue searching for long-term stability. There are talented pieces throughout the roster, but questions remain about whether they can take the next step.
27. Cleveland Browns
The Browns still possess a strong defensive identity, but uncertainty on offense limits their outlook. Until the quarterback situation is resolved, Cleveland remains difficult to trust.
28. New Orleans Saints
The Saints appear to be entering a transition period. While there are still veteran contributors on the roster, the franchise is clearly focused on building toward the future.
29. New York Jets
The Jets continue searching for answers. Talent has never been the problem; execution and stability have. Until they prove otherwise, expectations remain modest.
30. New York Giants
The Giants are committed to rebuilding and developing young talent. While there are reasons for optimism, they're still several steps away from becoming a serious contender.
31. Tennessee Titans
Tennessee is rebuilding from the ground up. There are intriguing young players on the roster, but the franchise remains in the early stages of finding its next competitive core.
32. Arizona State University
Just kidding. Somebody always scrolls straight to the bottom to see who's last.
The actual 32nd-ranked team is the New York Giants, but if we're being honest, the bottom five teams are close enough that these spots will change dramatically by October.
Biggest Risers
New England Patriots — Drake Maye and A.J. Brown have changed expectations overnight.
Denver Broncos — One of the AFC's most complete rosters.
Seattle Seahawks — No longer a sleeper; they're a contender.
Biggest Fallers
Kansas City Chiefs — Still dangerous, but no longer automatic top-five material.
Miami Dolphins — Too much talent to be ignored, too many questions to be trusted.
New York Jets — Another season of uncertainty.
Way Too Early Super Bowl Prediction
Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Rams
After years of playoff heartbreak, Josh Allen finally delivers Buffalo its first Lombardi Trophy, defeating the Rams in one of the most anticipated Super Bowls in recent memory.
Of course, this is June. By October, one team in the top five will look overrated, one team in the bottom ten will be a surprise playoff contender, and fans everywhere will remind us why "way too early" rankings never age well.
That's football.