NFL power rankings, way-too-early 2026 edition: Seahawks feel like they could be building dynasty

Putting together a dynasty in the NFL is hard.

What the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs have done this century has made it look a lot easier than it is. Dynasties like that are possible but not the norm.

The Philadelphia Eagles know. They won Super Bowl LIX and it looked like their dominance would last a while. They had the best roster in the NFL, with stars on both sides of the ball. They blasted the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Then reality set in. The Eagles lost offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and didn’t adequately replace him. There were more injuries. Saquon Barkley wasn’t the same. Nobody seemed happy to be around each other. The Eagles were bounced in the first round of the playoffs. By the time the playoffs started, everyone knew they were too flawed to win another Super Bowl anyway. And they have plenty of questions going forward now.

So when we hear that perhaps the Seattle Seahawks are the NFL’s next dynasty, it’s worth being cautious.

There’s a reason Super Bowl hangovers are real. Winning a Super Bowl requires playing an extra long season. Climbing back up the mountain is a challenge and complacency is human nature. A team like the Seahawks also has to avoid bad luck, like key injuries. Any number of things can go wrong, even if we can look at the Seahawks and see a strong roster with a fantastic coach, not too many key pending free agents and the fifth-most projected cap space in the NFL at this early point in the offseason. There are no tangible reasons to believe the Seahawks can’t be the NFL’s best team again in 2026. But it’s a lot easier said than done. Ask the Eagles.

Here are the way-too-early power rankings as a long offseason begins. (Click on the team name for our offseason preview.)

The Jets finished last season with Brady Cook at quarterback as they got blown out week after week. And they’ll begin next season at quarterback with … who, exactly? That’s a tough question to answer, and one that many teams are staring at to begin the offseason. It also will be almost an entirely new staff under coach Aaron Glenn after he had to change out many of his assistants following a rough season. That’s another bad sign. Drafting second overall is fine, but it’s not like there will be a quarterback worth taking there. New York has the 16th pick as well, which will help. But there won’t be much for Jets fans to get excited about, other than the possibility of drafting a new quarterback in 2027.

The Cardinals might not technically have been the last team to hire a new coach, but they were clearly the most unappealing opening in the cycle. For good reason. The quarterback situation is a mess, the team as a whole took a step back and they play in a rough division. Mike LaFleur, Arizona’s new coach, has a lot of work ahead of him. Finishing last in the NFC West seems to be a near lock.

The hope for the Raiders is obvious. Barring a massive surprise there will be a new quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, who will be coached by Klint Kubiak. Kubiak was a hot name at the beginning of the cycle and the Raiders were fortunate to land him. Maxx Crosby’s future is a cloud over the offseason, and we’ll see how the Raiders handle that. The roster needs a lot of work but Mendoza, as well as Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty, provide hope for better days ahead.

New head coach Jeff Hafley is not stepping into an easy situation. The Dolphins have to figure out what to do with Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill, then start the tough job of replacing them. Miami has mismanaged the cap and it won’t get easier if the team decides to move on from Tagovailoa. That could lead to a forced marriage of Tagovailoa and the Dolphins in 2026, after they were clearly moving away from him at the end of the 2025 season. This is what the start of a long rebuild looks like.

Robert Saleh was a good hire as head coach, and Brian Daboll could turn out to be a good addition as offensive coordinator. We’ll see how much Daboll really had to do with Josh Allen’s development, because he’ll be at the forefront of bringing Cam Ward along. Ward did play well down the stretch in a lost Titans season. The problem is that the roster around Ward is not good enough. Tennessee has the most projected cap space in the NFL as the offseason begins, and they need to turn that into some help for Ward.

The Browns wish the Jaguars hadn’t been so good, because the pick they traded to Cleveland will be 24th overall. But combined with the sixth pick and a strong 2025 rookie class, there’s momentum building. Figuring out quarterback won’t be easy, and that’s a serious roadblock in Cleveland making up a lot of ground in the AFC North this season. But new coach Todd Monken has some foundational pieces already in place.

The Saints are among the teams with the worst cap situation in the NFL, but that’s nothing new. Pushing cap hits out to the future has been their mode for well over a decade. That makes it hard to be a big player in free agency, and they could use some more talent. What they need is to draft well, and they got a head start by getting quarterback Tyler Shough in last year’s draft. He had a good final second half of the season after taking over as the starter, and in an offseason in which many teams have no idea what the future holds at quarterback, the Saints know who their guy is. That’s a big help.

The Giants will be a fun team to track next season. John Harbaugh gives them a legitimate head coach for the first time in seemingly forever. A young core has some exciting pieces, assuming Malik Nabers returns well from a torn ACL and Jaxson Dart continues to develop. This is still a 4-13 team and they’re miles behind the Eagles in terms of the talent on the roster, so it’s not all roses for the Giants. But there’s finally a path forward.

The Colts’ surging to the top of the NFL a couple months into last season feels like it happened a lifetime ago. It would be fine to believe they could replicate that, but Daniel Jones’ Achilles injury is one that could linger into next season. He’s also a free agent; the team will try to retain him but the injury complicates those talks. The team already traded its first-round pick for Sauce Gardner at midseason. There’s talent here but a lot of questions too.

Keeping Jayden Daniels healthy is the most important factor in getting back to the playoffs. Washington also needs to remake a roster that was by far the oldest in the NFL last season. In most scenarios, a team that won only five games with a roster that old would be in deep trouble. However, Daniels is a massive difference-maker as long as he is healthy. Washington also has a good amount of cap space to build the roster back up around him.

The Panthers have every reason to feel good after winning the NFC South and almost knocking off the Rams in the playoffs. They should also not be fooled in thinking they’re further along than they are. They were an 8-9 team that had some ugly losses and needed a lot of help to make the playoffs. The biggest factor is whether Bryce Young graduates to being a more prolific passer, or stays the same up-and-down player he has generally been in the NFL.

The Falcons are yet another team with quarterback questions. They reportedly plan to cut Kirk Cousins, but that leaves them not knowing if Michael Penix Jr. will be healthy enough for Week 1 or even if he’s the answer at the position. The James Pearce Jr. legal situation doesn’t help a defense that was gaining traction (and it doesn’t help that their 2026 first-round pick went to the Rams to take Pearce). New coach Kevin Stefanski has a lot to work with but a similar problem to one he had in Cleveland: His quarterback room is a potential problem.

Stop if you’ve heard this one before: The Vikings have a good roster and a big quarterback question. Minnesota going 9-8 with poor play from J.J. McCarthy most of the season speaks to their upside. But the main problem isn’t solved yet. It’s possible McCarthy takes a step forward in his second season as a starter (he also needs to stay healthy) but that is far from a sure thing. The Vikings fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and have said they want to bring in a veteran QB for depth, but good luck doing that when so many teams will be looking for a competent starter.

The Buccaneers’ collapse in the second half was stunning. It was even harder to believe because the team was getting healthy right as the losses piled up. The Bucs decided to run it back with coach Todd Bowles, though he’ll be on the hot seat. There should be no question about the talent on hand, assuming Baker Mayfield shakes off whatever was causing his poor play in the second half. But after such an epic failure and blowing the NFC South, it’s hard to trust them.

The Bengals need consistent offensive line play and a defense, and that’s a lot to ask in one offseason. Cincinnati does have a surprising amount of cap flexibility to fill some holes, if ownership wishes to spend the cash. The Bengals have missed the playoffs three straight times in Joe Burrow’s prime, which is an organizational failure. Burrow’s injuries have led to some losses, but the Bengals’ inability to protect Burrow has led to some of those injury issues. It’s a critical offseason and there are many challenges.

Dallas has to practically build a defense from scratch after last year’s debacle. They do have Quinnen Williams in the middle of the line as a start, and maybe new coordinator Christian Parker will lift the unit. But it needs a lot of work. The George Pickens situation will have to come to a resolution, as it seems the Cowboys will franchise tag him and he won’t be happy. But if that is resolved, the Cowboys are in good shape on offense. Everything should be poured into the defensive side. Two draft picks in the top 20 (the second pick is from the Micah Parsons trade) will help.

It’s a new era in Pittsburgh, with Mike McCarthy taking over for Mike Tomlin. Tomlin was a floor raiser who wasn’t getting the Steelers to their ceiling anymore. And that’s exactly what McCarthy has become, so it’s hard to see it as an upgrade. The Steelers’ biggest question (you know the drill, all together now … ) is they can’t be sure who their quarterback will be. Even if it is Aaron Rodgers, he’ll be 43 years old in December and you’re really gambling on him missing that age cliff again. Also, the Steelers’ defense looked old for a lot of last season. Pittsburgh will probably be what it has been, hovering around .500 with no chance of being a real contender.

It will be hard to project the Chiefs. They had a rough record last season, but a lot of that was close losses early and an unwinnable quarterback situation late. Of course, Patrick Mahomes’ recovery from a torn ACL completely affects the outlook, especially early in the season. Kansas City still has plenty of pieces from the AFC championship team of two seasons ago, but that can be a long time in the NFL and it has been hard for Kansas City to restock the roster at key spots, like the offensive line. That task doesn’t get easier with the Chiefs having a mess of a cap situation to clean up in the offseason. There’s also a question of Travis Kelce’s future. However, nothing else matters much if Mahomes is on the sideline.

The Texans need to get some better talent around C.J. Stroud, particularly on the offensive line, and see if Stroud can get back to that rookie form that has been missing the last couple seasons. The defense was one of the top two in the NFL all last season. The offense just needs to come along and support that defense better. There’s still a chance for Stroud to emerge as a star for many years to come, but that prospect is a bit murkier than it was a couple years ago.

Micah Parsons’ recovery from a torn ACL, after the Packers got aggressive to trade for him before last season, is the headline of the offseason. It was clear to see how Parsons raised the Packers’ ability to win a championship, and also obvious to see how much they missed him after the injury. The roster practically is what it is at this point, and they won’t have a first-round pick to get some instant energy from. Matt LaFleur has to figure out how to take this group to another level.

The Ravens will be fascinating in 2026. John Harbaugh is out and in comes a very young staff led by new coach Jesse Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. The youth movement could reinvigorate a team that fell woefully short of Super Bowl dreams last season, but it is risky. Also, what to make of Lamar Jackson? Last season was a mess, even when he came back from a hamstring injury. The Ravens still have a Super Bowl upside. But also for the first time in a long time, they’re a little tough to read.

A year ago, we were all wondering if the Eagles were a dynasty. Then the 2025 season was rough. There was drama seemingly all season and the offensive coordinator situation was a mess. They hired Sean Mannion, who has two years of coaching experience, to be their new OC. That’s bold, and risky too. Does A.J. Brown return? Will Saquon Barkley ever rebound from his heavy-usage 2024 season? Can Jalen Hurts put a poor season behind him? There are enough blue-chip players, especially on defense, that the Eagles could look much better in 2026.

The 49ers need better luck on the injury front. But it’s a little more complicated than that. They’re an aging team. Injuries will be a bigger part of the equation as that happens. The 49ers need defenders Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to come back strong off injuries, and add pieces around them. They also need to hope that Christian McCaffrey doesn’t hit a wall after a massive usage season. Kyle Shanahan will get the most out of his team, but time is running out for this group to win a Super Bowl.

The Bears came along fast in 2025. Often teams that take a big leap fall back the next year, but Caleb Williams should theoretically improve in his third season, especially with Ben Johnson coaching him. The defense could use some pieces, particularly in the pass rush, though it will be hard with the 25th pick or without a ton of cap space. Still, the roster was good enough for a division title and a playoff win, and there’s reason to believe the trajectory is still pointing up.

There’s almost nowhere for the Jaguars to go but down after a 13-win season. But Jacksonville shouldn’t fall too far if the strides we saw Trevor Lawrence make in Liam Coen’s offense are a sign of things to come. Getting Travis Hunter back after he missed most of the second half of the season due to injury will help too. The Jaguars don’t have their first-round pick due to that Hunter trade and aren’t in great cap shape, but the talent on hand is good enough to compete for another division title.

The Bills seemed to make an emotional decision in firing Sean McDermott after a divisional round loss, and promoting Joe Brady from offensive coordinator to head coach seems like a weird next step. But perhaps Brady gives new life to a Bills team that is feeling the pressure of getting Josh Allen to a Super Bowl. General manager Brandon Beane doesn’t like to be criticized but he has to upgrade the roster, especially at receiver. He doesn’t have a lot of cap space to do that.

This will be everyone’s bounce-back candidate for 2026. Metrics said the Lions were still an elite team last season. They just lost a lot of close games against a tough schedule, which left them out of the playoffs. But the Lions’ talent is undeniable. The major key might be new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. There probably won’t be too many roster changes, which is fine because there’s more than enough talent to win the NFC North again.

The Chargers are in a great spot. They won 11 games despite losing two stellar offensive tackles. You can’t assume Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater won’t be lessened by their season-ending injuries, but if they return near their normal level, Los Angeles could have an elite roster. Losing defensive coordinator Jesse Minter hurts, but adding Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator should be a plus for Justin Herbert. The Chargers also have the fourth-most projected cap space in the NFL. This could be the season the Chargers break through.

There are more questions than you’d think for an AFC champion and a runner-up for NFL MVP at quarterback. The way Super Bowl LX played out, with the Patriots being dominated and Drake Maye finishing out a subpar individual postseason, will bring up more questions about New England’s legitimacy. The schedule will get tougher next season. The roster is fine, but improving the offensive line and receiver need to be priorities. The Patriots have enough cap space to make adds there. That’s the beauty of having Maye on his rookie deal.

The Broncos’ highest-paid player each of the past two seasons has been Russell Wilson. That big dead cap hit comes off the books, and Sean Payton is always aggressive in free agency. Adding a running back, and perhaps another receiver, would help an offense that needed it at times. Bo Nix isn’t expected to be impacted by an ankle injury that ended his season. The defense will still be very good. There’s no reason the Broncos can’t win the AFC West again.

The Rams were one of the best teams in the NFL, and have pick Nos. 13 and 29 in the NFL Draft. They also will have Matthew Stafford back for another season after he won his first MVP. Cornerback is a big need, but those two first-round picks could help solve that. Finding a successor for Stafford is another pressing task, and we’ll see how the Rams go about that. But the Rams will be a popular Super Bowl pick next season, and for good reason.

The Seahawks were the best team in the NFL last season and it’s hard to dispute that. There’s no reason to believe the Seahawks will slip, but it is hard to repeat for a reason. They also play in a very tough division. But the foundation is strong and will be for a while. Mike Macdonald profiles as the type of coach who will always get the most out of his defense, and he’ll be just 39 years old next season. The Seahawks should be very good for a while.

NFL power rankings, way-too-early 2026 edition: Seahawks feel like they could be building dynasty — but so have other teams

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