{"id":871035,"date":"2026-08-25T15:24:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T15:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/871035\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T15:24:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T15:24:15","slug":"2026-nfl-roster-rankings-all-32-teams-ranked-from-worst-to-best-nos-32-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/871035\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 NFL roster rankings: All 32 teams ranked from worst to best, Nos. 32-17"},"content":{"rendered":"

The offseason can really look like one big game of musical chairs. After teams pick up the pieces of last season, they begin building towards tomorrow. As they chart through the offseason, clubs use free agency, the NFL Draft<\/a> and an array of trades to infuse their rosters with more talent, which can make the league look wildly different year over year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With that in mind and the 2026 season on the horizon, we use this juncture to take the temperature of where every roster in the NFL<\/a> clocks in — on paper. Below, CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani and Tyler Sullivan examined every team’s roster and attempted to rank the starting lineups around the league. They also identified one good aspect of the roster, one bad aspect, and one lingering question. Here are their first rankings, from No. 32 to No. 17.<\/p>\n

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32. Miami Dolphins<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Running backs —\u00a0De’Von Achane<\/a> has established himself as one of the premier running backs in the NFL, and led the league with 5.7 yards per rush last season. He actually has the second-most career yards per rush (5.62) by a running back in NFL history. Achane will be called upon to lead this offense, but he’s got some intriguing running mates as well. Jaylen Wright<\/a> possesses legitimate speed and ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine, while Ollie Gordon III is a bigger back that weights at least 20 pounds more than Achane and Wright, but is athletic in his own way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Secondary —\u00a0This Dolphins<\/a> secondary, on paper, looks like the worst in the league. On their first depth chart, JuJu Brents, Jason Marshall Jr<\/a>. and rookie Chris Johnson<\/a> are listed as the starting cornerbacks, while Zayne Anderson<\/a> and Dante Trader Jr<\/a>. are the starting safeties. Storm Duck<\/a> and Darrell Baker Jr<\/a>. are expected to play roles this year as well, but they are sidelined with injuries. \u00a0<\/p>\n

The question: Quarterback —\u00a0Malik Willis<\/a> is going to get his opportunity to prove he’s a franchise quarterback. The former third-round pick out of Liberty was impressive during his stint with the Green Bay Packers<\/a>, although he made just three starts. His one start last year against the Baltimore Ravens<\/a> was fantastic. He completed 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards and one touchdown, while also leading the team in rushing with 60 yards and two more touchdowns. So, is he a rising star in this league?\u00a0<\/p>\n

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31. Arizona Cardinals<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Tight end —\u00a0Trey McBride<\/a> has a claim to be considered the top tight end in the entire NFL after the season he just put together in 2025. The 26-year-old notched 126 receptions, 1,239 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns last season. Those receptions were the most by a tight end in a single season all-time. He’s an anchor to what Arizona plans to do in the passing game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Quarterback —\u00a0Jacoby Brissett<\/a> will likely start after the franchise officially moved off of Kyler Murray<\/a>. While Brissett put up solid numbers in his 12 starts in 2025, Arizona went 1-11 in those games. Meanwhile, the organization took Carson Beck<\/a> at the top of the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. At some point, they’ll probably turn the keys over to him to see what they have in the rookie, but he isn’t truly viewed as a future franchise centerpiece at the moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The question: Running back —\u00a0Initially, the backfield was looked at as a strong area of the Cardinals<\/a>‘ offense, especially after using the No. 3 overall pick on Jeremiyah Love<\/a>. However, Love has since\u00a0suffered a high ankle sprain<\/a>, which puts his prospects to begin the season in doubt. While they have veteran Tyler Allgieir, who they signed this offseason, the depth is dwindling as James Conner<\/a> is working his way back from an ankle injury and fellow back Trey Benson<\/a> has a knee ailment. If Love can get healthy at the start of the year, this unit should be fine, but it’s a bit clouded at the moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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30. Cleveland Browns<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Front seven —\u00a0We could just put “defense” here, and we are still going to cheat by listing the front seven. Even without Myles Garrett<\/a>, the Cleveland Browns<\/a> have a solid group. First-round pick Mason Graham<\/a> and Maliek Collins<\/a> are holding down the interior, with Jared Verse<\/a> on the edge. Alex Wright<\/a>, unfortunately, went down with a torn Achilles, but the Browns did add former first-round pick Derek Barnett<\/a> to come in and help.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Verse, who is a two-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Rookie of the Year, has taken it upon himself to be a leader for this unit despite being a newcomer. At linebacker, the Browns have veteran Quincy Williams<\/a>, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold<\/a> — who is admittedly an unknown– and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger<\/a>. So, Cleveland has the last\u00a0two\u00a0Defensive Rookies of the Year on its front seven.<\/p>\n

The bad: Quarterback —\u00a0The Browns may have the worst quarterback room in the NFL. Deshaun Watson<\/a> has been the worst starting quarterback in the league since he was traded over from Houston, ranking worst in completion percentage, yards per attempt, and TD-INT ratio, while Shedeur Sanders<\/a> led the NFL in interceptions after his NFL debut in Week 11. His completion percentage (57%) and passer rating (68.1) ranked second-worst in the league as well. Watson is the starter, for now.<\/p>\n

The question: Offensive line —\u00a0The Browns are the only team since 1970 to lose their top five offensive line starters all in the same offseason. This unit wasn’t very good in 2025 and was hit hard by injuries, so the question is: can this new group keep the quarterback upright? First-round pick Spencer Fano<\/a> is expected to start at left tackle, Zion Johnson<\/a> at left guard, Elgton Jenkins<\/a> at center, Teven Jenkins<\/a> at right guard and Tytus Howard<\/a> at right tackle.<\/p>\n

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29. Atlanta Falcons<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Running back —\u00a0Of course, Bijan Robinson<\/a> is the headliner here. The Falcons<\/a> superstar enters 2026 as arguably the league’s best back and just inked a three-year, $66.8 million extension this summer. Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards last season, while finding the end zone 11 times. His 5,648 career scrimmage yards are the fourth-most in a player’s first three seasons in NFL history. While Robinson will command the lion’s share of the touches, there is solid backfield depth. With Tyler Allgeier<\/a> signing with Arizona this offseason, the Falcons inked Brian Robinson Jr<\/a>. to a one-year deal. Robinson has been a starter in the past but will now take on the role of Allgeier’s primary backup.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Edge rushers —\u00a0Atlanta’s pass-rushing unit was initially looked at as a strength, especially after double-dipping at the 2025 NFL Draft by taking Jalon Walker<\/a> and James Pearce Jr<\/a>. in the first round. However, those two pillars have since crumbled as it relates to 2026. Walker suffered a season-ending ACL tear during training camp, and Pearce was just slapped with an eight-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. That’s forced the Falcons to dip their hand in the free agent pool and lure 33-year-old Za’Darius Smith<\/a> out of retirement.<\/p>\n

The question: Quarterback —\u00a0Atlanta is in the midst of a quarterback battle between incumbent Michael Penix Jr<\/a>. and new arrival\u00a0Tua Tagovailoa<\/a>, who signed a one-year deal following his release from the Dolphins. Doctors just cleared Penix for 11-on-11s as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa has yet to truly grasp the job. If it is Tagovailoa who wins out, is he the latest veteran quarterback to enjoy a career resurgence with a change of scenery? Or will he continue to post subpar results? If it’s Penix, can he stay healthy and put together more efficient numbers? Atlanta invested heavily in their skill-position players this offseason, but it’ll only pay dividends with some stability under center.<\/p>\n

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28. Tennessee Titans\u00a0<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Wide receiver —\u00a0We’ll see if it’s the most talented, but this appears to be potentially the deepest wide receiving corps in Tennessee Titans<\/a> history. Mike Borgonzi selected Ohio State standout Carnell Tate<\/a> with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed Wan’Dale Robinson<\/a> to a four-year deal in free agency. He racked up 1,014 yards receiving last season for the New York Giants<\/a>, the most by a player 5-foot-8 or shorter since 1989.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Titans also have Calvin Ridley<\/a>, who has reached 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons in which he played at least eight games. Plus, some talented second-year pass-catchers in Elic Ayomanor<\/a>, who has been making waves in training camp after catching 41 passes for 515 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, and Chimere Dike<\/a>, who was named a First Team All-Pro last year as a returner after breaking the NFL rookie record for most all-purpose yards. That’s a solid five right there.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Offensive line —\u00a0The Titans’ offensive line has been subpar for years now. Left guard Peter Skoronski<\/a>, who just signed the largest contract for an offensive guard in NFL history, is the lone bright spot. Left tackle Dan Moore Jr<\/a>. hasn’t exactly lived up to the $82 million deal he signed last offseason, while right tackle JC Latham<\/a> hasn’t lived up to his No. 7 overall draft billing. The Titans signed Austin Schlottmann<\/a> to take over at center, while fifth-round pick Fernando Carmona<\/a> is the frontrunner to start at right guard.<\/p>\n

The question: Quarterback —\u00a0Cam Ward’s<\/a> rookie season was tough to evaluate. He started slow with five total touchdowns and 11 turnovers in his first nine starts, but eventually found his footing, accounting for 12 total touchdowns and just three turnovers in his final eight starts. Tennessee didn’t have much structure in 2025, but that’s expected to be different in 2026. Not only did the Titans hire one of the best defensive minds in football, Robert Saleh, as head coach, but they also brought in an experienced offensive mind in Brian Daboll. So, the question is, can Ward run an offense? Can he operate out of structure and be accurate enough to keep the offense on the field? If he takes a second-year jump, this No. 28 overall ranking is too low.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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27. Las Vegas Raiders<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Tight end —\u00a0Kirk Cousins<\/a> and Fernando Mendoza<\/a> have some fun passing-game security blankets to utilize at tight end. Brock Bowers<\/a>, of course, is a lot more than just a check-down option, as the versatile weapon will likely lead the Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> in receiving this year if he can stay healthy. Former second-round pick Michael Mayer<\/a> is a solid option in the receiving game as well, and caught the first touchdown of the preseason for Vegas. Ian Thomas<\/a> and Albert Okwuegbunam<\/a> Jr. are nice depth options, too. \u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Wide receiver —\u00a0The Raiders had one of the worst wide receiving corps in the NFL last year, and all they added to it this offseason was Jalen Nailor<\/a> and rookie Malik Benson<\/a>. Vegas does have Tre Tucker<\/a>, who led the team with 696 yards receiving and five touchdowns last year, and is hoping for big second-year jumps from Jack Bech<\/a> and Dont’e Thornton Jr<\/a>. Bowers is going to be a pillar of this passing attack, but this wide receiver room is questionable at best.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The question: Offensive line —\u00a0This unit was the worst in the NFL last year, but has a couple of new faces in center Tyler Linderbaum<\/a> and left guard Spencer Burford<\/a>. The Raiders made Linderbaum the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in free agency in NFL history with $27 million per year, while Burford comes over after four seasons spent with the San Francisco 49ers<\/a>. How improved will this unit be? It needs to be much better if Cousins and Mendoza are going to find success.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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26. New York Jets<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Wide receivers —\u00a0New York sneakily assembled a fascinating wide receiver room. Garrett Wilson<\/a> remains the top option and one of the more skilled players at the position in the league, despite lackluster play at quarterback. He’s looking to bounce back after being limited to just seven games in 2025. Behind him, Adonai Mitchell<\/a>, who New York acquired as part of the Sauce Gardner<\/a> trade with Indy, showed flashes last season. Then, there’s 2026 first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr.<\/a>, who recorded the second-most receiving touchdowns (13) in the Big Ten last season. That’s not a bad trio, provided someone can get them the football.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Quarterback —\u00a0Geno Smith<\/a> returning to MetLife Stadium doesn’t exactly get the juices flowing. While the veteran stabilized his career in Seattle, his latest stop in Las Vegas left little to be desired, including a league-leading 17 interceptions. The Jets<\/a> ranked last in passing yards per game (140.3) last season, and Smith’s arrival should improve those metrics, but doesn’t give them a high ceiling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The question: Pass rush —\u00a0Lost in the embarrassment of not recording a single interception last season was New York’s inability to get after the quarterback. They ranked last in pressure rate (28%) and 31st in total sacks (26). To fix that, they used the No. 2 overall pick on edge rusher\u00a0David Bailey<\/a>\u00a0and signed defensive end\u00a0Joseph Ossai<\/a>\u00a0to a $36 million free-agent deal. Are Bailey and this new group of free agents that New York brought in to improve the defense able to apply pressure to the quarterback? If so, they might be able to finally create turnovers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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25. New Orleans Saints<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Offensive line —\u00a0The New Orleans Saints<\/a> have a solid offensive line in front of Tyler Shough<\/a>. Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr<\/a>. was the best rookie offensive lineman last year, PFF claims. Free-agent addition David Edwards<\/a> fits in at left guard, and center Erik McCoy<\/a> is a two-time Pro Bowler. Right guard Cesar Ruiz<\/a> is definitely more of a question mark, but former first-round pick Taliese Fuaga<\/a> is set to make a jump at right tackle if he can remain healthy. It’s worth mentioning that this unit doesn’t appear to be very deep, but the starting five is solid.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Special teams —\u00a0The Saints showcased one of the worst special teams units in 2025, and it remains to be seen if the issue has been resolved. New Orleans gave former Minnesota Vikings<\/a> punter Ryan Wright<\/a> $14 million to come in and boot the ball. However, he shanked a punt that went just 15 yards in his first preseason game<\/a>. He did bounce back Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saints kickers converted on 71.4% of their field goals last year. If we combined Charlie Smyth<\/a> and Blake Grupe<\/a> into one kicker, their average ranked 38th in the NFL. New Orleans was hosting a kicker battle between Smyth and Tanner Brown<\/a> this preseason, but signed Daniel Carlson<\/a> on Monday. Brown missed a 39-yard field goal on Saturday after going 2\/2 last week, and Smyth missed a 52-yarder in Week 1 of the preseason.<\/p>\n

The question: Weaponry —\u00a0We could list the Saints’ weaponry as the best part of this roster, but we can’t exactly say that with running back Alvin Kamara<\/a> (MCL sprain) and rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson<\/a> (hamstring) both expected to miss at least a month! Is Chris Olave<\/a> going to have to carry the wide receiver room again? Can Travis Etienne<\/a> Jr. live up to his contract? I would feel pretty good about Shough’s weaponry if it weren’t for injuries. So will his group of playmakers remain healthy enough to help the Saints be the sleeper so many envision they are this year?\u00a0<\/p>\n

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24. Carolina Panthers<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Cornerbacks-\u00a0I like the Carolina Panthers<\/a>‘ top two cornerbacks in Jaycee Horn<\/a> and Mike Jackson<\/a>. Horn, who has made two straight Pro Bowls, recorded a career-high five interceptions last season, while Jackson is clearly underrated and tied for the league lead in passes defensed with 19, to go along with a career-high four interceptions last year.<\/p>\n

The bad: Tight end —\u00a0The Panthers have been trying to find a legitimate starting tight end for years now. They drafted Tommy Tremble<\/a> in 2021, Ja’Tavion Sanders<\/a> in 2024, and Mitchell Evans<\/a> in 2025, but none have been legitimate threats in the passing game. If you want to know how Carolina feels about its tight end room, the Panthers just signed soon-to-be 34-year-old Darren Waller<\/a> to come in and help.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The question: Offensive line —\u00a0A team not having its starting left and right tackles to begin the season would spell disaster for most teams, but not the Panthers. Free-agent addition Rasheed Walker<\/a> will fill in for Ickey Ekwonu at left tackle, while first-round pick Monroe Freeling<\/a> replaces Taylor Moton<\/a> on the right side. Carolina also has a new center in Luke Fortner<\/a>, who takes over for Cade Mays<\/a>. This unit was pretty good when healthy. How will it look with three new faces?<\/p>\n

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23. New York Giants<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Pass rushers —\u00a0The New York Giants are going to find success pressuring the quarterback this season. Brian Burns<\/a> ranked in the top four in the NFL in sacks (16.5), QB hits (31) and tackles for loss (22) last year, and Abdul Carter<\/a> is a former No. 3 overall pick who got better as his rookie season went on, recording 3.5 sacks in his final five games. New York has another top-five pick in the fold with Kayvon Thibodeaux<\/a>, who has gotten to the quarterback 23.5 times over four years. I’m also excited to see\u00a0another\u00a0top-five pick in linebacker Arvell Reese<\/a> be deployed as a blitzer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Defensive interior —\u00a0With Dexter Lawrence<\/a> II gone, Shelby Harris<\/a>, DJ Reader<\/a> and Darius Alexander<\/a> are set to start on the interior. Remember, this Giants team allowed a league-high 5.3 yards per carry last season. The massive Reader was the most double-teamed player in the NFL last year, according to Next Gen Stats. He’s 32-years-old now, and didn’t record a sack in 2025. The Giants have been\u00a0managing his workload<\/a>, as they are with the 35-year-old Harris. Alexander, on the other hand, is the young buck at 25 years old, but has been far from a standout in the two preseason games. So, will this run defense be improved in 2026?<\/p>\n

The question: Quarterback —\u00a0Jaxson Dart<\/a> is a fun quarterback, but can he be a good quarterback? He became just the third rookie to ever throw 10 touchdowns while rushing for eight more scores, but he is also about to start paying rent to the blue medical tent. Apart from needing to play smart, Dart’s completion percentage also ranked outside the top 20 at 63.7%, and J.J. McCarthy<\/a> and Spencer Rattler<\/a> threw for more yards per game than Dart did. He’ll need to be better as a passer, but he is certainly capable.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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22. Washington Commanders<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Quarterback —\u00a0Jayden Daniels<\/a> looked like he was about to take over the entire league as a rookie, as the No. 2 overall pick took the lowly Washington Commanders<\/a> from 4-13 to 12-5 with an NFC Championship appearance. He became the second quarterback all-time to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season, including playoffs, and scored more touchdowns (37) than any rookie ever. Daniels needs to stay healthy, as he missed 10 games last season with multiple ailments while Washington crashed back to earth at 5-12. Daniels’ absence wasn’t the only reason Washington struggled, as the defense finished dead last for the second time in the last three years. Marcus Mariota<\/a>, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and I’ve got a level of interest in rookie Athan Kaliakmanis<\/a> as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Cornerback —\u00a0Washington’s cornerback room is a bit worrisome. The likely starters are Trey Amos<\/a>, who played 10 games in his NFL career and broke his leg last year, Amik Robertson<\/a>, who comes over from the disappointing Lions<\/a> secondary, and Mike Sainristil<\/a>, who, while feisty, is not exactly Darrell Green. I do like the veteran Rasul Douglas<\/a>, who will likely play a role on this team in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The question: Left side of the offensive line —\u00a0The Commanders lost star left tackle Laremy Tunsil<\/a> to a torn triceps, and former left tackle Brandon Coleman<\/a> gets the first crack to replace him. Coleman was battling Chris Paul for the starting left guard spot, so I’m curious if Coleman can be a legitimate starting left tackle, and if Paul can hold down left guard effectively. Washington also has Andrew Wylie<\/a> as a backup option if Coleman struggles.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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21. Indianapolis Colts<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Offensive line —\u00a0If this unit remains healthy, the Indianapolis Colts<\/a>‘ offensive line could be one of the best in the AFC. Bernhard Raimann<\/a> is cemented at left tackle after he signed a $100 million deal last offseason, left guard Quenton Nelson<\/a> is one of the best linemen in the league, center Tanor Bortolini<\/a> was PFF’s No. 3-graded center last year, right guard Matt Goncalves<\/a> is a former tackle moved inside who is improving, and right tackle Jalen Travis<\/a> is a second-year player also expected to make a jump.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Linebacker —\u00a0With Zaire Franklin<\/a> gone, the Colts are relying on second-round pick CJ Allen<\/a> to replace him at linebacker. The Georgia product was viewed as a physical, versatile playmaker as a prospect, but can he be a consistent force at the second level as a rookie? His running mate figures to be Akeem Davis-Gaither<\/a>, who made 117 tackles last year for the Cardinals. However, he was released by the club this offseason. Is this unit really an upgrade over Franklin and Germaine Pratt<\/a>?\u00a0<\/p>\n

The question: Wide receiver —\u00a0We could easily go quarterback here, but let’s look a little deeper. The Colts gave Alec Pierce<\/a> more money than any team has ever given a wide receiver in free agency, with $114 million over four years. He led the NFL in yards per reception in back-to-back seasons, but he will have to prove he can be a legitimate No. 1 wideout and is still not healthy. Indy made a notable addition last week in Keenan Allen<\/a>, but he is now 34-years-old. Josh Downs<\/a> has flashed in spots, but averaged 35.4 yards per game with four touchdowns in 16 games last season. Behind that top three are Ashton Dulin<\/a>, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine<\/a>, Anthony Gould<\/a>, Laquon Treadwell<\/a> and Deion Burks<\/a>. Tight end Tyler Warren<\/a> is going to play a big role in the passing game, but the Colts’ wide receiving corps is a bit of a question mark to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Defensive line —\u00a0With Vita Vea’s<\/a> trade request rescinded after agreeing to an extension with the Bucs, Tampa Bay now has one of the better defensive fronts in the league. Vea is coming off a 2025 campaign where he posted 51 total pressures and 4.5 sacks. He’ll be working alongside Calijah Kancey<\/a>, who is looking to rebound after an injury-plagued 2025 season where he was limited to just two games. Back in 2024, the former first-rounder did break out with 7.5 sacks and 39 pressures. On top of those two, the Bucs have Yaya Diaby<\/a> (seven sacks in 2025) and Rueben Bain Jr<\/a>. (No. 15 overall pick in 2026) headlining the defense off the edge.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Cornerback —\u00a0The Bucs are slated to start Zyon McCollum<\/a> and Benjamin Morison at outside corner in 2026 after Jamel Dean<\/a> left in free agency this offseason. Morrison was a second-round pick in 2025, but his rookie season saw him play just 61% of the defensive snaps (10 games played and three starts) due to injury. When he was on the field, he surrendered a passer rating of 112.2 when targeted. Meanwhile, McCollum, who is entering his fifth season in the NFL after being a fifth-rounder in 2022, has been a full-time starter for the Buccaneers<\/a> over the past two seasons. Last year, he struggled a bit, allowing a career-high six touchdowns in coverage and a passer rating of 100.9 when targeted.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The question: Quarterback —\u00a0As he enters a contract year, what version of Baker Mayfield<\/a> will the Bucs get in 2026? At the start of last season, Mayfield was on an MVP trajectory, leading Tampa to a 5-1 record while notching 12 touchdowns and just one interception for a 108.5 passer rating. Things went haywire after that, in part due to injuries, and his passer rating fell to 80.6, and the Bucs went 3-8, missing the playoffs. If Mayfield can get back to his old self, Tampa Bay should be firmly in the mix to win the NFC South.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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19. Pittsburgh Steelers<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Edge rusher —\u00a0The pass rush is still the bread and butter of the Steelers<\/a>. T.J. Watt<\/a> remains one of the more feared edge rushers in the league, even as his sack total dipped to seven in 2025. In 14 games, he still had 46 total pressures. Meanwhile, Alex Highsmith<\/a> is coming off a 9.5-sack season in just 13 games played, and 2023 fourth-round pick Nick Herbig<\/a> broke out with a career-high 7.5 sacks last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Safety —\u00a0There are some durability concerns with this group. Pittsburgh inked Jaquan Brisker<\/a> to a one-year deal in free agency, and while he played in all 17 games for Chicago last season and broke up eight passes, he has a history of concussions. Meanwhile, DeShon Elliott<\/a> was limited to five games last year due to injury. To compound the concern surrounding their injury history is the lack of depth behind them. After Brisker and Elliott, the Steelers have seventh-round rookie Robert Spears-Jennings<\/a>, Jack Henderson<\/a>\u00a0and veteran Rayshawn Jenkins<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The question: Quarterback —\u00a0Aaron Rodgers<\/a>\u00a0already announced this season as his last, and it stands to wonder what Pittsburgh will get out of the 42-year-old. While his 24-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio was inside the top-10 in 2025, Rodgers’ numbers beyond that were middling. He was 16th among 33 qualified QBs in completion percentage, 15th in passing yards and 27th in yards per attempt. Does that improve, decline, or stay the same in 2026?\u00a0<\/p>\n

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18. Minnesota Vikings<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Wide receiver —\u00a0Kyler Murray has some nice weaponry to work with in Minnesota. Justin Jefferson<\/a> is one of the best receivers in the NFL, having racked up more receiving yards (5,464) than any other player over the last four years. Jordan Addison<\/a> is a great No. 2, recording 911 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2023, 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, then 610 yards and three touchdowns with the struggling J.J. McCarthy in 2025. The Vikings also have one of the best “No. 3s” in the NFL with Jauan Jennings<\/a>. He emerged as a trusted target of Brock Purdy<\/a> in San Francisco. Believe it or not, Jennings tied George Kittle<\/a> for the most receiving touchdowns on the team over the last two years, and had the most receptions (47) and receiving yards (546) by a 49er on third down over the past two seasons. In fact, he led the team in red-zone (34), fourth-quarter (50), and third-down targets (69) over the last two years. Underrated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Safety —\u00a0The Vikings are beginning a new era on the back end with Harrison Smith<\/a> now gone. Joshua Metellus and Jay Ward<\/a> are slated to be the starters at safety. Metellus is entering his seventh season with Minnesota, and he recorded back-to-back 100-tackle seasons in 2023 and 2024. Ward has started in just five of 50 career games played for Minnesota and has one career pass deflection and zero interceptions. He did have that electric sack of Jaxson Dart in the first preseason game of the year, though. Then there’s third-round pick Jakobe Thomas<\/a> out of Miami, who I think could be a legitimate sleeper. Maybe he can quell concerns at safety immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The question: Quarterback —\u00a0If Murray returns to Pro Bowl form and is rejuvenated by this change of scenery, then the Vikings are a legitimate NFL sleeper. However, he has to prove that. Murray has missed 30 out of a possible 68 games over the last five years, and Jacoby Brissett looked like an upgrade over him in Arizona last year. Murray is also running a different style of offense, but Kevin O’Connell is encouraged by what he can be in this scheme.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"team
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

17. Chicago Bears<\/p>\n

Depth Chart<\/a><\/p>\n

The good: Tight end —\u00a0Colston Loveland<\/a> is knocking on the door of superstar status entering his sophomore season. Chicago selected the Michigan product with the 10th overall pick at the 2025 NFL Draft, and he started to truly emerge down the stretch of his rookie campaign. From Week 9 to Week 18 (10 games), Loveland caught 47 balls for 597 yards and six touchdowns. That put him on a 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown pace over the course of a full regular season. He carried that into the playoffs as well, catching 12 of his 25 (!) targets over two games for 193 yards. Meanwhile, backup Cole Kmet<\/a> is no slouch and has a 73-catch season on his r\u00e9sum\u00e9. The Bears<\/a> also took Stanford tight end Sam Roush<\/a> in the third round (69th overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft this past spring.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bad: Center —\u00a0One of the true stunners of the offseason was the retirement of Drew Dalman<\/a>. He was (literally) at the center of Chicago’s revamped offensive line and was a key piece to Caleb Williams<\/a>‘ leap in Year 2. While the interior of the offensive line still has guards Joe Thuney<\/a> and Jonah Jackson<\/a> to help Williams stay upright, there are some questions as to how the center spot will shake out. The Bears traded for veteran Garrett Bradbury<\/a>, who was solid for New England last season, but doesn’t have nearly the ceiling as Dalman. They also selected Logan Jones<\/a> in the second round, giving them options at center.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The question: Wide receiver —\u00a0The Bears traded away DJ Moore to the Bills<\/a>, leaving the wide receiver room to the youngsters Rome Odunze<\/a> and Luther Burden III<\/a>. The projections suggest that this should be quite the duo for Caleb Williams, but we’re still in a wait-and-see phase. Odunze was limited to 12 games in his second season in 2025, and Burden was more of a complementary piece as a rookie, starting just five of his 15 regular-season games. If both of these players hit as they adopt a larger target share within the offense, they could each break out in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The offseason can really look like one big game of musical chairs. After teams pick up the pieces…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":871036,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[436],"tags":[302448,204047,302454,49,48,1744,1735,1724,1732,1736,1734,514,302453,302457,302452,302449,302456,302451,302450,96888,82,1741,1758,302455],"class_list":["post-871035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-2026-nfl-roster-rankings","tag-2026-nfl-season","tag-best-nfl-rosters","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-carolina-panthers","tag-chicago-bears","tag-cleveland-browns","tag-indianapolis-colts","tag-las-vegas-raiders","tag-new-orleans-saints","tag-nfl","tag-nfl-depth-charts","tag-nfl-offseason-ra","tag-nfl-power-rankings-2026","tag-nfl-roster-rankings","tag-nfl-roster-strengths-and-weaknesses","tag-nfl-rosters-ranked","tag-nfl-starting-lineup-rankings","tag-nfl-team-rankings","tag-sports","tag-tennessee-titans","tag-washington-commanders","tag-worst-nfl-rosters"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871035","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=871035"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871035\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/871036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=871035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=871035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=871035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}