The 2026 NFL power rankings see the Seahawks, Chiefs, and Bears rising, while the Eagles and 49ers drop following the draft. These changes reflect the impact of recent player acquisitions and draft performances.
The 2026 NFL Draft is the latest mile-marker of the league's long offseason journey. After free agency, another part of the puzzle has been revealed for all 32 teams to know who'll be better or worse from the 2025 season.
Looking at first-rounders and draft classes as a whole, there is some impact to consider that will slide a team a few spots up or down going into the OTA and minicamp with spring becoming summer soon:
The Seahawks have reloaded at positions they lost in free agency with first-round running back along with and for the defensive backfield. Much is intact for Mike Macdonald with the challenge of keeping up the effective, balanced offense vibe without Klint Kubiak.
Q&A
Which teams improved in the 2026 NFL power rankings after the draft?
The Seahawks, Chiefs, and Bears all saw improvements in their rankings following the 2026 NFL Draft.
Why did the Eagles and 49ers slide in the 2026 NFL power rankings?
The Eagles and 49ers dropped in the rankings due to less favorable outcomes from their draft classes compared to other teams.
What factors influence NFL power rankings after the draft?
NFL power rankings are influenced by team performance in the draft, player acquisitions during free agency, and overall team improvements.
How do the 2026 NFL power rankings affect team expectations for the upcoming season?
The power rankings set expectations for team performance and competitiveness as teams prepare for OTAs and minicamps leading into the season.
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The Rams perhaps thought they were OK wasting some draft picks with quarterback Ty Simpson and tight end Max Klare representing two of their strongest positions. At least they did their work before flipping the weakness at cornerback big-time with former ChiefsTrent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.
The Chiefs had to be in reloading mode to get back right to the playoffs and push for the AFC champions. The answers with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo most in mind were cornerback Mansoor Delane to replace McDuffie and Peter Woods to help Chris Jones. Don't sleep on running back Emmett Johnson, a well-balanced, quick option, being a big factor supporting Kenneth Walker III.
The Bills made their splashy trade for former Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore and had limited draft capital like the Rams. They were smart to turn attention to defense for new coordinator Jim Leonhard, as both edge rusher T.J. Parker and cornerback Davison Igbinosun can have an immediate impact vs. the pass.
The Ravens got a needed interior line upgraded with Olaivavega Ioane and then went to work on reloading the pass rush and receiving corps. Baltimore maintains its new-look buzz under defensive-minded coach Jesse Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.
The Patriots prioritized offensive line well with Caleb Lomu and then added an upside pass rusher in Gabe Jacas. New England already has a strong foundation to contend for another NFC title with Drake Maye, and now the challenge lies off the field with Mike Vrabel.
The Bears have a loaded offense led by Caleb Williams and they got a few versatile weapons later for Ben Johnson. But safety Dillion Thieneman and offensive lineman Logan Jones were good picks
8. Philadelphia Eagles (5)
The Eagles have made it clear they are ready to move A.J. Brown with the trade-up drafting of Makai Lemon. They also shrank their draft capital by taking a shot on Jonathan Greenard. They need a lot from their current core in a new offense to get back to battling for the NFC title.
The 49ers opted out of the first round but did make sure to get wide receiver help in De'Zhaun Stribling and a needed edge rusher, Romello Height. They need some supporting pieces to fall into place for coach Kyle Shanahan and improve overall health to take back the NFC West.
The Chargers made the right tweaks for their defensive and offensive scheme changes under Jim Harbaugh with pass rusher Akheem Mesidor, interior offensive lineman Jake Slaughter and speedy wide receiver Brenen Thompson.
The Broncos did OK with some defensive picks without a first-rounder, but after using their first-round pick to get Jaylen Waddle, they did well to further support their offensive skill with running back Jonah Coleman and tight end Justin Joly.
The Packers didn't have a first-rounder after dealing for Micah Parsons but still went defensive-minded for Jonathan Gannon with cornerback Brandon Cisse, tackle Chris McClellan and edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton. Those reinforcements will pay off to keep them strong, minus Jeff Hafley.
The Jaguars didn't have a first-rounder, either, and they were stuck drafting for depth with a so-so draft class. Jacksonville will be more about doing what they did in Liam Coen's rookie season better overall.
The Lions did right by their offensive line by getting Blake Miller for left tackle help and also gave Aidan Hutchinson some pass-rush boost with end Derrick Moore. Detroit is positioned well for a playoff rebound in the NFC.
The Texans had a rough draft overall without a first-rounder, but their defense remains loaded on every level, and Kayden McDonaldadds to that front-seven dominance. They are hoping to get more out of their running game, too, to complement.
The Bengals did use a first-rounder to get Dexter Lawrence and kept up the defensive upgrade theme with edge rusher Cashius Howell and defensive back Tacario Davis. They need a healthy Joe Burrow to go up more, or they will go down again.
The Giants went down the line with key additions of edge rusher Arvell Reese, offensive linemen Francis Mauigoa, cornerback Colton Hood and wide receiver Malachi Fields. They are well-positioned for a big jump with Jaxson Dart under John Harbaugh.
The Cowboys were bound to go defensive-heavy for new coordinator Christian Parker; safety Caleb Downs and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence were an ideal first-round haul. That was easy to do with a loaded offense featuring George Pickens back.
The Steelers have done plenty to upgrade their offense with Michael Pittman Jr. being joined by Germie Bernard at wide receiver and Jaylen Warren getting Eli Heidenreich behind him at running back. Max Iheanchor and Gennings Dunker can immediate upgrade the line. Now they just Aaron Rodgers to be ready to play with the newcomers.
The Colts were yet another team with limited draft capital thanks to their trade for cornerback Sauce Gardner. Linebacker C.J. Allen and safety A.J. Haulcy were a good 1-2 punch early to keep them in the wild-card misx.
The Commanders went strong for Sonny Styles at linebacker and Antonio Williams at wide receiver, addressing two key needs with changing coordinators on both sides of the ball. They also will help Kaytron Allen can boost the running game for Jayden Daniels, who needs to have a healthy season for the Commanders to surprise again.
The Vikings are hoping Kyler Murray improving QB over J.J. McCarthy will have the biggest impact because they will need to wait defensive Caleb Banks and their rest of their rookie class to make a big dent in their chances to better contend in the tough NFC North.
The Titans made a smart move to further upgrade the targets for Cam Ward with Carnell Tate early and were able to also make coach defensive-minded coach Robert Saleh happy with edge rusher Keldric Faulk and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. This team has all the makings of making a surprise jump with Ward in Year 2.
The Buccaneers had to be thrilled to get Rueben Bain Jr. to upgrade Todd Bowles' pass rush and then got Josiah Trotter to replace Lavonte David. They also got promise in wide receiver Ted Hurst and defensive back **Keionte Scott.**That makes the slight favorite in an improved NFC South.
The Saints got wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and then added more offensive depth, plus added Tyree Wilson via trade and more defensive help with rookie tackle Christen Miller. Their breakout chances hinge on a Year 2 jump from QB Tyler Shough.
The Panthers were smart to go down the line in addressing needs with offensive lineman Monroe Freeling, defensive tackle Lee Hunter and wide receiver Chris Brazzell II. They had a solid draft with boosting Bryce Young still high on the mind.
The Raiders went through with adding quarterback Fernando Mendoza in a pretty good support system led by coach Klint Kubiak. They were methodical in addressing needs on both sides in GM John Spytek's best draft to accelerate the turnaround.
The Jets will have a much better pass defense with David Bailey and De'Angelo Ponds. They will have more feared passing game with Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr.
The Falcons kept it more in the family with Avieon Terrell joining A.J. Terrell in their secondary but overall this has been a tough transitional offseason in relation to the other teams in the NFC South.
The Cardinals are committing more to the running game with Jeremiyah Love joining Tyler Allgeier, and Chase Bisontis to upgrade the blocking. But QB remains a mess to offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and Carson Beck is a misfit. The defense still needs a lot of help.
The Browns got some key offensive building blocks for the line and wide receiver corps ahead of the Todd Monken era but it just adds to the uncertainty and newness that is a big question mark complementing the defense.
The Dolphins did limited work to get on track with defense and offense after moving veteran personnel and overhauling the coaching staff. Malik Willis might be taking some lumps while they have some works in progress with their draft class.
