Super Bowl LX is nearly here -- but the 2026 offseason is already underway for 30 of the league's 32 teams, and several big moves have shaped the NFL landscape. We figures to be in for a busy few months after 10 teams made head-coaching changes, while half a dozen teams are currently projected to sit $60 million or more under the salary cap.
Free agency is just around the corner, with the window officially open at 4 p.m. ET on March 11. The 2026 NFL Draft follows about six weeks later. And there should be some household names floating around, especially at quarterback, where some longtime fixtures might be on the move.
With that in mind, here's a special edition of The Power Rankings -- the 26 people who might most impact the '26 offseason.
If there’s a free agent whose eventual contract could surprise some people this offseason, it might be Pierce. There are a few bigger-name players available at the receiver position, but the 2022 second-rounder has positioned himself to cash in by logging his first 1,000-yard season and topping the 20-yards-per-reception threshold in each of the past two seasons. That follows the general trend of his career, in which he's seemingly improved his game a notch each year in the pros. Any team seeking a big-bodied vertical threat or more downfield weaponry will surely need to pony up for Pierce, who figures to have several potential suitors -- and he could be worth splurging on.
Downs is not an elite physical specimen, and he might not end up being taken within the first five picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, as safety tends to be a lower-priority position for teams in April. That said, Downs is also the type of high-IQ defender who could change a unit significantly. His instincts are rare, and the NFL is craving back-line defenders who can impact games. Downs fits that profile, and if he slips a little in the draft, he could end up going to a club that is closer to playoff contention than the higher-drafting squads. Don’t be shocked if he proves to be among the more NFL-ready prospects from Day 1.
Vincent’s biggest offseason obstacle could be negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association, with the current deal expiring May 31. Negotiations have been going on since the summer of 2024, and Vincent has openly talked about the NFL’s push for performance-based pay and assignments and greater accountability for referees. Part and parcel of that discussion could be ways of improving the existing product while the technology advances and ensuring integrity, even as fans continue to argue over how games are called on the field. Surely, no one wants a referee work stoppage, but with a league memo indicating an impasse as of December, Vincent and his colleagues appear to have their work cut out for them.
What happens with Hall will be interesting even if he doesn't change teams. The Jets did not deal the running back before the 2025 trade deadline, though he's headed for free agency this offseason, and they’d already shipped out Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. They have plenty of projected salary-cap room to sign the 24-year-old to a long-term extension, but it’s not clear if Hall would want that until he sees how the Jets plan to beef up the roster around him. Of course, the Jets can ensure his return by sticking him with the franchise tag, and if that happens, it could trigger some downstream activity on the open market to other potentially market-bound running backs, such as Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne and Javonte Williams.
There’s a lot going on in Cincinnati following another disappointing campaign, but Tobin and head coach Zac Taylor were retained to figure out how to get the Bengals back in the playoffs. Even if Joe Burrow is singing a brighter tune these days than he was in December, there should be plenty of urgency to make the most of the QB's presence. The Bengals are flush with projected salary-cap space, and their 6-11 record netted them the 10th overall pick in the draft. There are ways they can repair their defense and tighten some roster screws on the offensive side of the ball, but will they spend to do so? It’s going to be an interesting offseason for a franchise that has been competitive in recent years but seems to be slipping toward the back of the pack a bit.
Kelce was treated to a warm home sendoff late last season, with Chiefs fans knowing it might have been the final time they were seeing him on the field. Retirement speculation has floated around the future Hall of Famer for a while now, and Kelce hasn’t tipped his hand one way or another. No one would be shocked if he walked away, with a successful podcast empire in his hands. But we’re still talking about a guy who led the team in receiving at age 36, so returning would give the Chiefs a boost. This decision will have a major impact on the team's 2026 outlook.
With Mike McDaniel gone and a new regime in place, it’s possible that Tagovailoa has played his final snaps for the Dolphins. Even before that change, Tagovailoa admitted it would be “dope” if he got a fresh start elsewhere. The new brass' open acknowledgment of an evaluation process at QB lends more credence to the notion that he could end up playing for a new team in 2026. The problem appears to be mostly financial, with Tagovailoa set to hit the salary cap for more than $50 million, while releasing him could cost the Dolphins more than cutting Russell Wilson cost the Broncos. Whether he's in Miami or not, it’s hard to imagine Tua being handed a starting job without some competition; in other words, he's unlikely to become someone else's instant starter. Still, a move would have a major impact on multiple franchises.
Snead and the Rams are coming off a loss in the NFC Championship Game and are built to contend next season. The general manager (along with coach Sean McVay) also just signed a multi-year contract extension. But there’s still the unanswered question about Matthew Stafford’s future plans that hangs over everything. Snead swung a terrific trade during the 2025 NFL Draft that landed him Atlanta’s first-round pick this year, giving the Rams an unusual amount of offseason ammo for a top-performing team. Stafford returning would make the offseason plans far more streamlined, although it wouldn’t be shocking to see them use a higher draft pick on a quarterback. If Stafford decides to hang it up, the priorities change dramatically, even if Snead and McVay would have a good amount of flexibility when it came to picking Stafford’s replacement, thanks to the Rams' ample projected cap space. Either way, the defense needs upgrades, especially on the back end -- and L.A. has the means to be a big swinger this offseason.
Sullivan and new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley worked closely together the past few seasons in Green Bay and say they share a vision of what the Dolphins should look like going forward. That's good, because they have plenty on their plates in Year 1 in Miami. The first order of business is deciding whether high-cap-hit players such as Tua Tagovailoa ($56.3 million), Tyreek Hill($51.1 million) and Bradley Chubb ($31.2 million) are part of that vision. The Dolphins currently are projected to be solidly in the red against the salary cap, per Over The Cap, and must clean up the books. They also need to establish a new culture after some frustrating recent seasons. The franchise has gone a quarter century without a playoff victory, and fans are hungry for something they can latch onto. Sullivan will surely be busy between now and the start of training camp.
The extremely gifted Reese is likely to go high in April’s draft as a moldable talent with an undetermined ceiling. First, teams must decide how to deploy Reese -- is he an every-down pass rusher, a linebacker or a little of both? The organization that takes Reese likely will be asking him to rush the QB in some capacity, because that appeared to be his most natural skill last season. He’s not a finished product, and there’s some big-leap projection required here, but Reese could end up as one of the best prospects, regardless of position, in this entire class.
The Bills’ firing of Sean McDermott and promotion of Brady from the offensive coordinator position following yet another playoff stumble by the franchise raises the pressure on Brady to lead the Bills to a Super Bowl during Josh Allen’s peak years. The roster needs work, and Brady must not only show he can elevate Allen as his head coach but also that he can keep a defense that was fairly competitive last season (even with its run-stopping issues) on track. The Bills will be breaking in a fresh stadium across the street from the old one, and fans will expect results, even while sitting in their shiny, new seats. Can Brady deliver the Super Bowl that McDermott could not?
Even with his Steel City roots, McCarthy was an unconventional hire, at least by Steelers standards. The irony is that like Tomlin, McCarthy has in recent years delivered a certain floor with a limited ceiling. Neither man has had much playoff success lately, which is partially why some fans were seemingly content with Tomlin moving on. Can the 62-year-old McCarthy reverse that trend? He’s rightfully known as a QB whisperer, with a strong body of evidence to back that up, but the Steelers lack clarity at the position, with former collaborator Aaron Rodgers contemplating retirement and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard being an unknown quantity.
Murray landed on injured reserve with a foot injury in mid-November and never returned, limiting his 2025 season to just five games. The seventh-year pro's health is only part of the equation that could lead to his potential departure from Arizona this offseason, though, and likely not the biggest. There should be multiple teams interested in making Murray their starting QB in 2026, even if the former No. 1 overall pick's stock has declined. The two-time Pro Bowler played at a fairly high level in 2024 and will be just 29 years old when next season kicks off. Not every team seeking a starter under center will want him, but Murray will likely have the chance to write his comeback story while he's still in his prime years.
The Ravens’ new coach might be a first-timer in the role, but he’s the son of a longtime college head coach and is Harbaugh-family-approved, having worked wonders with the Chargers’ defense under Jim Harbaugh the past two seasons, following two years with Jim in Michigan and four seasons with John Harbaugh in Baltimore. The Ravens have high expectations, with Lamar Jackson in his prime and a roster that’s in good shape overall, so the pressure will be on Minter to win at the onset. Shaping the right offense for Jackson and coaxing more out of Baltimore’s defense will be high on the new coach’s priority lists, and Minter will face a challenging schedule in a still-tough division, even with all the changes in the AFC North.
The Irish running back could be a top-10 pick this April. After Ashton Jeanty, the sixth overall pick from last year, struggled to make an impact commensurate with his draft position, the don’t-draft-running-backs-high crowd started chirping. But have we forgotten what top-12 picks Saquon Barkley, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs accomplished? Love appears to be that caliber of prospect, scoring 40 TDs, averaging 6.9 yards per rush and catching 55 passes the past two seasons combined. Some teams might be leery of taking the plunge in the top half of Round 1 no matter what, but for those seeking an offensive game-changer, Love could elevate a unit with his big-play ability.
The Jets have loads of draft capital plus ample projected salary-cap space, setting the stage for a highly active offseason in Florham Park. That said, Mougey and his staff have lots of building to do. Two first-round picks and two seconds is a great place to start, but they also traded away their two best defenders and face major quarterback questions; plenty of boxes need checking. The Jets currently pick at Nos. 2 and 16 overall in Round 1, but if Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza ends up as the first pick, there might not be another QB prospect worth considering at the top of the draft. That might mean the Jets have to spring for a veteran passer via trade, or perhaps entrust a free agent, such as Malik Willis, with a big payday based mostly on upside. The team must upgrade at some very important positions, with head coach Aaron Glenn coming off a 3-14 mark in his first season at the helm. Huge couple months coming up for this franchise.
Crosby’s season ended with him on IR, and there appeared to be drama between him and the team over the matter. He’s also endured four straight losing seasons, with the past two netting a mere seven victories. The five-time Pro Bowler has been loyal to the bone to the Raiders, but have things changed? The team previously hasn't made him available via trade, but it's possible to think Vegas might consider moving the 28-year-old pass rusher, who has 69.5 career sacks and 11 forced fumbles, because the return could be hefty. Though Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension less than a year ago, his future with the Silver and Black seems as cloudy as ever.
Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee in December and had surgery quickly thereafter, but it's still unclear whether he'll be ready for the start of training camp or even for Week 1 of the 2026 season. Andy Reid has pledged change is coming to Kansas City's offense -- the Chiefs have already brought former coordinator Eric Bieniemy back to that role -- but they’ll be laying that new foundation while their star QB is rehabbing his injury. And if Travis Kelce retires, Mahomes could be without his right-hand man. This is a clear turning point in Mahomes’ career, and the first major adversity he's faced as a pro; it’s going to take a lot to return to the salad days of his brilliant first eight seasons. Can he rebound the way Tom Brady did following his own ACL injury in 2008? If anyone can do it, it’s Mahomes.
The 25-year-old Pitts had been something of a disappointment since his strong rookie season, but that narrative began to change as the former No. 4 overall pick rediscovered some of his firepower in 2025 (88 catches, 928 yards, 5 TDs). Good timing, too, as Pitts is in line to be a prime free agent. George Kittle and Trey McBride currently set the TE market, with deals averaging around $19 million per year; Pitts could seek to create a new baseline.
Willis lost his only start of 2025 (against the Ravens), but the final outcome was far from his fault. Over the past two seasons (11 games, three starts), Willis has completed a stunning 70 of his 89 passes (78.7%) with six TDs and no interceptions, while also running for 261 yards and three TDs. He played well enough that some of your more hyperbolic Packers fans even wondered if Willis gave them a better chance to win games late in the season than Jordan Love. Now, the former third-round project of the Titans is gearing up for free agency, where he's likely priced himself out of Green Bay’s range and could be one of the more fascinating QB options available. What kind of money he gets will be interesting. If Tua Tagovailoa ends up elsewhere in the months to come, could Willis be an option in Miami, a team now run by two ex-Packers (Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley)?
In addition to holding the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Raiders are flush with projected salary-cap space (only the Titans have more right now, via Over The Cap). That’s the good news for Spytek and the Raiders, who figure to be among the more active teams once again this offseason. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, fresh off a national championship, could be the Raiders’ choice at No. 1 overall, which would team him with Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty in an offense that would be worth watching. But it might not all be fun and games this offseason. The Raiders must acclimate to yet another new head coach (after the one-year failed Pete Carroll experiment, the pressure to get this hire right is immense). There’s also the Maxx Crosby situation to navigate; the Pro Bowler's season ended awkwardly, potentially clouding his long-term future with the franchise. One way or another, Spytek will have a major imprint on the NFL offseason.
The Giants are a storied franchise with two Super Bowl victories in the past two decades but just two winning seasons since 2016. Enter Harbaugh, a Lombardi Trophy-winning coach in his own right, who arrived in New York unafraid to shuffle things up. Harbaugh could be exactly what this team needs after several lost campaigns. The Giants have a foundation around which to build, but it will be fascinating to see how Harbaugh, who will have plenty of say over personnel, puts his stamp on the roster. The Giants must add toughness throughout the operation, along with the belief that they can contend, and that’s what Harbaugh was brought in to deliver.
The feel-good story of the 2025 college season was Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers, who barnstormed their way through a 16-0 season to capture a national championship. Mendoza won over observers with his play, toughness and coolness in sticky situations. And while some might have mocked his exuberance in postgame interviews, Mendoza’s teammates roundly praised his personality and leadership along the way. He’s also viewed as the top QB option in a draft class that’s thin at the position. Is Mendoza a lock to be the Raiders' pick at No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft? That seems to be the current consensus. If it were to happen, Mendoza would face a lot of pressure, trying to light a fire under a franchise that has the third-worst winning percentage since 2022 (.309) and is onto its fourth head coach in as many seasons.
Speaking of feel-good stories, Jones was spinning one of his own in the first half of the 2025 season, leading the Colts to an 8-2 mark and turning in the best stretch of his career. But things derailed quickly from there, with Jones suffering an Achilles injury that could affect his availability to start next season. Adding yet another layer of drama is the fact that Jones is set to be one of the bigger QB names available on the market. If the Colts had a higher level of confidence in 2023 first-rounder Anthony Richardson, this might be a different situation entirely. I expect Jones to re-sign with Indy on a shorter-term deal, but nothing is done yet -- and this star-crossed franchise remains in limbo until then.
Last offseason, Hendrickson requested a trade, and the Bengals opted not to move their pass rusher then or at the 2025 trade deadline, when the team was slipping from contention. Now, the 31-year-old rusher is about to become a free agent, able to sign elsewhere. Hendrickson is coming off his worst year with the Bengals, with four sacks in seven games during an injury-plagued campaign, but he made four consecutive Pro Bowls in Cincinnati prior to this season and was first-team All-Pro and runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. It feels inevitable that Hendrickson will be moving on. His tenacity and penchant for sacking quarterbacks will make him highly sought-after, though his age and injury history could be limiting factors.
The Cowboys want Pickens back, but can they afford him? Following a career-best season after the trade from the Steelers, Pickens’ value has risen significantly. He could be a true No. 1 option for several teams; in Dallas, though, he’d essentially be a co-No. 1 with CeeDee Lamb again, even with Pickens putting up the bigger numbers last season. Dallas has options. It can re-sign Pickens prior to free agency, place the franchise tag on him or simply let him walk. Tagging Pickens offers time and security, and the Cowboys could always seek to trade him thereafter, if they can’t agree on a new deal. But salary-cap space is an issue right now for the Cowboys, who are currently projected to be around $40 million in the red, per Over The Cap. How will they play this? What the Cowboys decide on Pickens could shape their offseason plans as well as those for teams looking to upgrade at WR.
