My NFL Power Rankings before the preseason and every team’s ceiling and floor:
1 – Detroit Lions
Hear me out, the Lions were the best team all year last year despite their multitude of defensive injuries, and choked once they made it to the playoffs. They lost both of their coordinators in the offseason, but the roster should be improved. Aidan Hutchinson will comeback from injury, their young players should get better (I expect breakout seasons from Jameson Williams and Terrion Arnold). Their personell is still amazing, and I don’t really see them taking much of a step back. Now’s the time for them to prove that they can be elite without their coordinators.
Ceiling: Super Bowl
Floor: Divisional
2 – Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles roster remains mostly unscathed. Their D-line depth (a crucial part of their team that made them so good) took some hits, but they also added help elsewhere like at LB with the steal of the draft in Jihaad Campbell. Their O-line is still elite, they still have one of the top WR duos in the NFL, and they have high end talent at every position. They will be one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl again.
Ceiling: Super Bowl
Floor: Divisional
3 – Baltimore Ravens
Before the playoffs, the Ravens were the best team in the AFC, and possibly the country. If it weren’t for Mark Andrews selling at every oppurtunity, the Ravens would have beat the Bills, and would have had a good chance to beat the Chiefs. The lineup remains mostly the same from last year as well as the additions of Jaire Alexander and DeAndre Hopkins. The Ravens will probably be the best team in the AFC during the regular season again, but can they finally get over the hump and make the Super Bowl? We’ll see.
Ceiling: Super Bowl
Floor: Divisional
4 – Buffalo Bills
One thing that will help the Bills this season is that they should have a cake walk to another divison title. The Dolphins have depth defincies everywhere, the Patriots are rebuilding, and the Jets are completely lost as a franchise. With that being said, who was the best player the Bills added this offseason? Joshua Palmer? Joey Bosa? Yikes. They are mostly just running it back this year with the same team. A team that was one of the best in the NFL, but they need some improvements if they want to beat the Chiefs and a reloaded Ravens squad.
Ceiling: Super Bowl
Floor: Divisional
5 – Kansas City Chiefs
The Cheifs O-line was the main thing that prevented the three-peat last year, and they didn’t really make much of an effort to improve it. There is one thing, however, that I believe has gone overlooked. Rashee Rice is coming back. After playing like a star for the first few weeks of the season last year, he went down with an injury, but as he comes back, Mahomes will have a more reliable target as Travis Kelce ages.
Ceiling: Super Bowl
Floor: Divisional
6 – Washington Commanders
Deebo Samuel, Laremy Tunsil, Trey Amos. These are all additions made in the offseason that could dramatically improve this team that made surprise NFC Championship birth. They have a lot of good pieces, and could contend for the NFC Championship yet again, but I don’t they have the top to bottom talent yet to make a Super Bowl push yet, especially if Jayden Daniels experiences a Sophmore slump.
Ceiling: NFC Championship
Floor: Wildcard
7 – Houston Texans
So, what was their biggest probem last year? O-line. Their solution? Get rid of Laremy Tunsil and sign Cam Robinson. Okay??? Weird strategy. Their solution to Tank Dell going down to a terrible injury? Let Stefon Diggs go and bring in Christian Kirk. Okay??? The defense should be one of the best in the NFL, and Nick Chubb could be one of the best bargain pick ups if he gets closer to his pre injury self. The Texans also benefit from being surrounded by incompetency in their division as the Jags, Titans, and Colts don’t have any sort of shot at challenging them for a division title. CJ Stroud, Nico Collins, and an amazing defense will be enough for the 4 maybe 3 seed, but I’m not sure they can really take another step unless CJ Stroud enters the company of the elite, or some players on the o-line really step up.
Ceiling: Divisional
Floor: Wildcard
8 – Green Bay Packers
The Packers are teetering on the edge of being elite, but they can’t quite make the jump. Jordan Love is underrated in my opinion, and he has what it takes to win a Super Bowl with the right supporting cast. The team is pretty similar to last year, except now they have the additon of Matthew Golden who could develop into a star wideout. Love, Jacobs, and McKinney are a good trio of stars, but they need some help in the trenches on both sides of the ball. If they don’t get anyone to really breakout, I don’t see Green Bay making the Super Bowl.
Ceiling: NFC Championship
Floor: Wildcard
9 – Los Angeles Rams
The Rams were the closest team to stopping the Eagles on their Super Bowl run last year, and maybe would have won if it wasn’t in the snow (which I believe benefitted Philly). Everything looks really good again, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they knocked out one of the top contenders in the NFC, but there is one thing that gives me pause. Matthew Stafford is 37 years old, and is bound to regress at some point. If fall off begins this year, the Rams are in trouble, but if he stays at his border-line elite level, the Rams could be a contender.
Ceiling: NFC Championship
Floor: Playoff Fringe
10 – Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh had LAC playing better immediately in his first season, and I expect them to take another step in the right direction. Najee Harris seems like the perfect Harbaugh workhorse back, and Omarion Hampton has a lot of potential. The return of Mike Williams and the addition of Tre Harris should help give Herbert some options, and the O-line should be improved with Mekhi Becton at guard. This could be the year that the Chiefs finally have some competition in the West.
Ceiling: AFC Championship
Floor: Playoff Fringe
11 – Minnesota Vikings
Basically everything about the team looks better than last year, except for QB. JJ McCarthy is a huge question mark. He could be better than Darnold, or he could be a complete bust and ruin a season that would otherwise be an almost guaranteed playoff berth had they brought back Darnold. The season all relies on McCarthy.
Ceiling: NFC Championship
Floor: Top 15 Pick
12 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are one of the my favorite teams to watch, and a lot of that is because of Baker Mayfield. Mayfield is a legitimate Top 10 QB, and him and that offense will keep them in any game. The defense added Haason Reddick which could be a game changer if he gets back to the kind of production he was giving the Eagles a couple years back. If the defense takes another step, the Bucs could be a real threat.
Ceiling: NFC Championship
Floor: Wild Card
13 – Denver Broncos
The Broncos made some good additions (Dre Greenlaw, Jahdae Barron, and Talanoa Hufanga) and should be good again as long as Bo Nix’s progression stays on the right track.
Ceiling: Divisonal
Floor: Top 15 Pick
14 – San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy is finally getting paid, and the rest of the roster is already seeing some of the effects. The defense is losing a lot of talent, and the offense lost Deebo. That being said, Purdy is a really good QB, the skills should be really good as a group, especially with CMC coming back. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are still two of the best players in the NFL, and the Niners will be good, but if there is any injuries, things could get ugly.
Ceiling: NFC Championship
Floor: Playoff Fringe
15 – Dallas Cowboys
When Dak is healthy, the Cowboys are good. That has been the case his entire career. The additions of Tyler Booker and George Pickens should help the offense as well. The Cowboys’ ceiling is really as high as it has been for all of Dak’s career. Nothing more than a divisional birth, but nothing worse than a top 15 pick.
Ceiling: Divisional
Floor: Playoff Fringe
16 – Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are my favorite team, which makes it kind of hard to put aside my bias. The offense should be very good despite a terrible o-line. The defense is where I have mixed feelings. The edge rushers are all pretty good, but not durable in the slightest. The LBs are fine, and the D-line is young, but could get better as the season goes on. I love that the Dolphins traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick because he is one of my favorite players of all time. The CBs is where I have pause. Storm Duck is mediocre at best, but 5th round pick Jason Marshall Jr is a projected starter right now. Yikes. Minkah can’t guard the entire field. I’m worried about the defense, but as long as Tua stays healthy, the playoffs are a possibility.
Ceiling: Wildcard
Floor: Top 15 Pick
17 – Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have a nice little roster. Nothing too flashy. Nothing amazing, but there also isn’t anwhere on the roster that is below average. They have everything solid, so they should be able to win a lot of games this year as long as Sam Darnold doesn’t regress to his pre-Minnesota self.
Ceiling: Wildcard
Floor: Playoff Fringe
18 – Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have really fumbled this offseason. The cut Germaine Pratt, which makes no sense to me when defense should be your no. 1 priority, they haven’t been able to sign their best edge defender (Trey Hendrickson) to an extension, and they can’t even sign their 1st round pick because they are so cheap. The Bengals are a perfect example of what it would look like if Mr. Krabs owned a football team. Their offense will be very good, as always. Joe Burrow alone can keep them in playoff contention, but I just can’t imagine the defense being anything better than average.
Ceiling: Wildcard
Floor: Top 15 Pick
19 – Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas should be one of the most improved teams this year. Pete Carrol at HC, Geno at QB, and Jeanty at RB are all substantial upgrades that should put them in playoff contention.
Ceiling: Wildcard
Floor: Top 10 Pick
20 – Chicago Bears
The new look o-line gives me confidence that they will be improved, and the offense should be in the top half of the NFL. The defense seems like it has potential too, but I need to see it to believe it with Chicago. They are such an awful NFL franchise, that you really can’t get too hopeful.
Ceiling: Playoff Fringe
Floor: Top 10 Pick
21 – Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is an underrated QB, and I’m excited to see Marvin Harrison Jr progress. They probably had one of the best draft classes of 2025, but I don’t expect any of their selections to be big difference makers in year 1. They’ll be alright, but you shouldn’t expect them to make the playoffs.
Ceiling: Top 15 Pick
Floor: Top 10 Pick
22 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin always finishes .500 or better. That’s just how it goes. The defense should be good, but I question swapping Minkah Fitzpatrick in his prime for Jalen Ramsey who is declining. Aaron Rodgers should be the best QB they’ve had since Big Ben, but the skills positions are really bad. DK Metcalf is a star, but not a superstar. Jaylen Warren is a good 2nd option in my opinion, and their no. 2 WR is Robert Wood. You think that’s bad? Their o-line should be bad like always. Once again, the ceiling is very low for Pittsburgh.
Ceiling: Playoff Fringe
Floor: Top 10 Pick
23 – Atlanta Falcons
A team ridden with mediocrity for years will be mediocre yet again. I’m excited to see what Michael Penix Jr can do in year 2, and the defense should be pretty good. They’re like an offbrand Seahawks with no glaring weakness, but definitely nothing impressive.
Ceiling: Top 15 Pick
Floor: Top 10 Pick
24 – Jacksonville Jaguars
How they use Travis Hunter is really the only thing interests me about this team. They will most likely be pretty bad as I don’t expect T Law to get much better. This team is missing consistency, and feel like they’re missing a veteran prescence in the trenches that could bring a physical edge that they can count on.
Ceiling: Top 15 Pick
Floor: Top 8 Pick
25 – Indianapolis Colts
This team has been in a similar territory as the Falcons recently. Really mediocre without making the playoffs and only occasionally being bad enough for a premium pick. I have zero confidence in Anthony Richardson. If Daniel Jones has any sort of shot at being your starting QB, you know you have problems. There’s nothing really on the defense that gets me excited, but I will say that TE Tyler Warren was a steal for that offense and will be a huge help for Richardson.
Ceiling: Top 10 Pick
Floor: Top 5 Pick
26 – Carolina Panthers
It seems like Bryce Young found something last year, and I expect him to get even better in another year of Dave Canales’ system. T Mac and Xavier Legette are good weapons, and the defense has a couple more pieces this year. The Panthers should be improved, but they are far from playoff contention.
Ceiling: Top 12 Pick
Floor: Top 5 Pick
27 – Tennessee Titans
I think Cam Ward will be a really good QB one day, and I expect him to have a good rookie season. Probably around Bo Nix’s season last year. The trenches are built pretty well on both sides of the ball, and the receivers look pretty good. The 2nd and 3rd levels of the defense need work, but overall, the Titans should be much better than last year.
Ceiling: Top 12 Pick
Floor: Top 5 Pick
28 – New England Patriots
Mike Vrabel was a great hire, Will Campbell was a great pick, Drake Maye will be even better this year, and the defense should be solid. The skill positions is where I see issues. At WR they have a washed Stefon Diggs and 1 million 2nd or 3rd guys (DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker). Because of this, the Patriots don’t really have much of ceiling, and Drake Maye won’t be able to play to the best of his ability.
Ceiling: Top 10 Pick
Floor: Top 5 Pick
29 – New York Giants
The Giants should be good in the front 7, but that’s about it. Jevon Holland was a good pick up at safety, Malik Nabers has All-pro potential at WR, Cam Skattebo was a steal in draft, and Russel Wilson is an upgrade at QB, but everything else is pretty bad. If everything pans out, maybe they can upset some teams, but even with a washed Russ, they just don’t have a playoff ceiling.
Ceiling: Top 12 Pick
Floor: Top Pick
30 – Cleveland Browns
I don’t think it’s crazy to say that the QB situation is weird. While Deshaun Watson sits this season out with inkury, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders will all fight for reps. Elsewhere the roster is pretty interesting, and if the QB situation was more stable, I could see the Browns surprising some people, but for now, they are one of the worst in the league.
Ceiling: Top 15 Pick
Floor: Top Pick
31 – New York Jets
I don’t know what people can really expect to see from Justin Fields. Aaron Rodgers was one of the best QBs they had had in a while, and they still did worse as a team than usual. Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson are stars, but we have known that for years. The defense should be good, but the Jets really need some difference makers on offense that are willing to put the game on their back.
Ceiling: Top 10 Pick
Floor: Top Pick
32 – New Orleans Saints
I wanna give Tyler Shough some credit, he was a very good, underrated QB in college, and could be a decent one day in the NFL… but look at the rest of the team. A whole lot old mush. They have some young guys like Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Kool-Aid McKinstry who could all be better, but 3 guys can only do so much.
Ceiling: Top 8 Pick
Floor: Top Pick
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