Power rankings aren’t the only way we can sort teams prior to the 2026 NFL season.
As any fantasy footballer worth their salt will tell you, linear rankings can tell you only so much. There might be a huge gap between the fourth and fifth best quarterbacks, or the seventh and eighth running backs, even if their names are next to each other on a list.
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The same is true with measuring NFL teams’ relative talent; there are dropoffs at different junctures. Instead, we’re employing a tiered system indicating where teams are now based on talent, expectations and concerns. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s an interesting way to look at the league’s big picture and see how the clubs size up, apples to apples.
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Grouping teams into one of four categories doesn’t mean that the top two are guaranteed a playoff run, or that the bottom two should plan on a long season — just ask the Seahawks and Patriots, two big climbers a year ago.
This is also not to say that every team within each category is on even footing. Rather, they’re all lumped together with similar caliber strengths, weaknesses and unknowns.
Which tier is your favorite NFL team in? (Dillon Minshall/Yahoo Sports)
Here’s how we see the league stacking up prior to Week 1:
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True contenders
This tier is reserved for the best of the best. We’re not talking unflawed teams here, but they’re the ones with the most overall firepower to make deep playoff runs and potentially compete for a Super Bowl.
The Rams and Seahawks could be in their own tier, honestly, but that feels too elitist for a league that consistently churns over the top and bottom tiers on a nearly annual basis. Still, we’re talking about the team that blowtorched the offseason — and which was just a hair behind the Seahawks a year ago — and the actual Super Bowl champs. And for the record, anyone sleeping on Seattle does so at their own risk. They’re still in terrific shape for a title defense.
The Bills and Ravens took steps backward last season but still possess the QB firepower and all-around strength, even with coaching changes, to merit a spot here. The Eagles and Broncos might not have as much offensive heft, but their defenses and overall roster balance earn them rightful spots here.
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The final two teams, the 49ers and Patriots, might not belong here on everyone’s lists. But the 49ers won a road playoff game in the NFL’s toughest division, despite being ravaged by injuries, and New England rode Drake Maye all the way to the Super Bowl. Flawed or not, the Patriots deserve respect and have a reasonable path back to the playoffs.
If everything breaks right …
This next tier probably isn’t that far below the upper group, but there are either more questions about these teams’ stability or they possess one significant flaw that holds them back a bit.
Three of the four NFC North teams reside here, making up what might be the league’s strongest division top to bottom. The Bears and Lions have the offensive firepower to be Super Bowl entrants, but can their defenses hold teams enough? The Packers might be slightly more balanced overall, but their defensive questions could linger until Micah Parsons’ return.
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The Texans and Chargers have similar makeups: strong to elite defenses, matched with offenses that don’t always rise to the occasion on the biggest stages, making this a critical season for C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert.
The Bengals and Cowboys each could be elite teams this season. Few are worried about them scoring, and all it might take to contend at high levels is moderate improvement defensively. Both clubs have pumped in resources on that side of the ball, so the potential is there.
The Chiefs reasonably could belong in the elite category, but last season’s collapse — playing a tier below this down the stretch — and the uncertainty after Patrick Mahomes’ ACL injury are reasonable reasons for pause. The Jaguars might be the toughest to slot of this group, coming off a nine-win improvement, but they were a very balanced team and deserve proper respect for that.
Work to do
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Truthfully, the Seahawks and Patriots likely would have begun last season in this category, so it’s a reminder that there are no finished products entering Week 1 and no final judgements embossed on anyone. These teams all have elements that could result in contending seasons, but there are at least a few things with each that keep a lid on their potential until further notice.
The Bucs, Steelers, Vikings and Colts all had stretches last season where they were competent to very good contenders with some actual clout, but they all had incomplete seasons. With good health and more consistent quarterback play, each of them are capable of rising up the ranks.
The remaining teams in this tier have redeemable qualities and could outperform expectations. Can the Saints, Panthers or Falcons steal the South? All reasonable possibilities. Are the Giants or Commanders due for bounce-back seasons with better QB health and more defensive efficiency? Perhaps, with the right development and luck.
Atlanta’s shaky preseason and big questions had me wondering whether the Falcons belonged here or one slot lower, but their elite skill-position talent was enough for them to hold steady here.
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Tankers
Of course no one is suggesting these teams are tanking on purpose. This is a tough category to find your squad residing in, but it’s not purgatory either. It wouldn’t be impossible for one of these teams to surprise this season.
The Raiders have upgraded at quarterback and are armed with young talent. There’s excitement surrounding the Titans if Cam Ward takes a step up. The Jets had a strong draft class and got some key players back from injury.
The Browns have stacked two impressive draft classes together and might only need QB and OL stability to compete. The Cardinals and Dolphins are not devoid of talent, either.
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It’s just that these teams likely have the most hurdles to clear and the most big-picture questions surrounding them. Some are likely candidates for the QB derby in next year’s draft, and you can’t definitively say any of them are completely set at the position, which gives an indication of where they stand at the sport’s most important spot.
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