The Carolina Panthers survived the NFC South in 2025. It may be another tightly-contested race for the top spot this season.

Full NFL Power Rankings with the offseason's risers and fallers after the draft and the teams that could dictate the playoff race as we enter OTAs.

It’s not who you play, it’s when you play them. A team that looks tough on paper now might be a shell of itself when injuries hit in October. Maybe even sooner. That said, strength of schedule is at least a guide to the challenges each team will face.

The Cardinals aren't at the bottom of the league, but they are close. After coming in 28th in their first offseason rankings, since free agency and the draft, they fell a spot to No. 29.

The Indianapolis Colts were looking like legitimate contenders in 2025 before injuries derailed their season. For some fans, this was just another midseason col

The San Francisco 49ers are one of three NFC West teams in the top five of ESPN's Football Power Index rankings.

In FanSided's updated NFL power rankings, Cody Williams bumped the Browns from No. 31 to No. 30 after the NFL Draft. It just doesn't add up. Expecting a bunch of rookies to turn a franchise around overnight is wishful thinking.

The Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl, and as frustrating as that was for Broncos Country, it's all water under the bridge now. Fast forward to June of 2026, and the Broncos are still regarded as one of the NFL's best teams, even with the brutal first-place schedule they'll face this season.