The NFL landscape shifts fast, and this offseason was no exception. Should the Seattle Seahawks enter the year as the team to beat after their Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots? Or did they lose too much talent, like Kenneth Walker, to be considered the favorites?
Free agency reshaped rosters across the board, with several contenders adding major talent and closing the gap. With so much movement around the league, it’s time to reassess where every team stands in my post–free agency NFL power rankings.
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TIER 8: ALL-IN ON ARCH MANNING
32. Cardinals
31. Dolphins
30. Jets
29. Browns
It’s rough in these parts. While I like the Dolphins signing Malik Willis as a low risk high upside swing at quarterback, and the Browns defense should once again be amongst the leagues elite, these rosters are still just bad. Geno Smith is almost certainly going to struggle again unless the Jets upgrade their WR2, the Cardinals have holes all over both sides of the ball, and the Dolphins and Browns lack quality offensive lines. Eyes on 2027.
TIER 7: SO YOU’RE SAYING THERE’S A CHANCE…
28. Titans
27. Falcons
26. Giants
25. Raiders
Here’s what I’ll say – I wouldn’t be totally shocked if any of these teams made the playoffs next year. Stranger things have happened in the NFL. The AFC South is better than it was 12 months ago but still weak enough that the Titans could make a run if Cam Ward (and Jeremiyah Love?) takes a Drake Maye-level leap, and the Falcons, Raiders and Giants each have a young quarterback and All-Pro caliber weapons to make some noise if their offensive lines and defenses can carry their own weight. But that’s asking a lot.
TIER 6: QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS
24. Colts
23. Commanders
22. Chiefs
21. Cowboys
20. Bucs
19. Vikings
The Colts and Chiefs futures depend on the health of their quarterbacks, and whether or not they can return to their pre-injury form – because if not, it could be pretty rough (let’s just say new Chiefs backup Justin Fields isn’t gonna help much). The Vikings and Bucs were both .500 teams last year, and could very easily outperform these rankings, but Tampa lost Mike Evans and both teams are in need of bounce back seasons from their quarterbacks. And the Commanders and Cowboys could both have top 5 offenses but need a LOT of work on the other side of the ball to be truly competitive.
TIER 5: WEAK DIVISION CONTENDERS
18. Steelers
17. Bengals
16. Saints
15. Panthers
Let’s face it – the AFC North and NFC South were the two worst divisions in football last season. And even after the Panthers added multiple defensive stars in Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Philips, they still have plenty of questions surrounding an offense led by Bryce Young, and while the Saints looked like the best team in the division the second half of last season, they also need to dispel the schedule merchant notion. And same with the two teams in the North – is the Bengals defense going to be ~ok~ enough to support Joe Burrow and their explosive offense, and… who’s playing quarterback for the Steelers?
TIER 4: PLAYOFFS OR BUST
14. Lions
13. Jaguars
12. Texans
11. 49ers
10. Patriots
Is it kinda crazy to throw the defending AFC Champions in a tier 4? Yeah, but also… after how much this offense struggled in the playoffs, and then their biggest free agency pickups were the very inconsistent Alijiah Vera-Tucker and Romeo Doubs after losing Stefon Diggs, AND throw in what will now be a first place schedule? I just don’t see it.
The Lions need a strong bounce back year from their defense and same can be said for CJ Stroud after that nightmare of a playoff run for the Texans, but I’m giving both the benefit of the doubt. See you in the playoffs.
TIER 3: SCARY
9. Eagles
8. Ravens
7. Bears
6. Chargers
5. Bills
These teams all look locked and loaded as playoff teams. Elite quarterbacks (and Jalen Hurts), playmakers on both sides of the ball… the biggest question for these teams, as always, is going to come down to health (ask the Ravens and Chargers last year) and how punishing are 1st and 2nd place schedules going to be.
TIER 2: THE CONTENDERS
4. Broncos
3. Seahawks
2. Packers
If not for injuries last season, you could argue these were the three best teams in football. And while each of these teams lost some talent in free agency, they should all have elite defenses for the second straight year combined with quarterbacks that played some of the best football of their careers last year. And yes, I’m all-in on the Broncos as the best team in the AFC, especially after trading for Jaylen Waddle.
TIER 1: The Best Team on Paper… Since When??
1. Rams
The Rams took their biggest weakness from last year, the secondary, and turned it into one of their biggest strengths. Enough said.
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