The 2026 NFL Power Rankings picture has shifted fast since pads went on. Every team opened camp with playoff dreams intact. Three weeks of practices, joint scrimmages, and preseason snaps have already separated the contenders from the pretenders. Below, we break down the five teams whose stock is climbing and five sliding the wrong way as the regular season approaches.
These 2026 NFL Power Rankings movements are based on training camp reports, joint practice results, depth chart battles, and injury news gathered through mid-August. Camp buzz doesn’t guarantee regular-season results. It’s still the clearest early signal we have before preseason games settle rosters. For a full 1-32 breakdown, Pro Football Network’s training camp power rankings offer a deeper team-by-team dive worth bookmarking. You can also check our internal team-by-team preview hub for more.
The Rams enter the season as the betting favorite in several outlets’ 2026 NFL Power Rankings. They’ve edged out Denver and Baltimore for the top overall spot. A strong offensive core and continuity on both sides of the ball have scouts and oddsmakers viewing Los Angeles as the team to beat heading into September.
Denver has quietly become one of the trendiest picks in this year’s 2026 NFL Power Rankings. The Broncos sit near the very top of multiple national outlets’ lists. A talented, ascending roster and a favorable outlook have Broncos fans dreaming bigger than they have in years.
The Ravens remain a perennial power. Camp reports suggest the roster is once again positioned among the true Super Bowl contenders. Consistency at the top of the depth chart continues to be Baltimore’s calling card.
As the defending Super Bowl champions, Seattle’s title defense is already generating buzz, even if some rankings have the Seahawks a notch behind the very top tier. Seattle was the last team to report to camp among the two Super Bowl participants. Early practices have shown a roster still built to contend.
Philadelphia’s stock has climbed steadily through camp. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley remain the headline names, but depth pieces have flashed too. Edge rusher Jalyx Hunt has stepped up while starter Jonathan Greenard recovers from a pectoral strain, winning pass-rush reps against starting tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. Receiver DeVonta Smith and undrafted find Terrace Marshall have also shown improved chemistry with Hurts in red-zone work. For the full breakdown, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s camp stock watch is a great follow.
Arizona is being tabbed the worst team in the league across several 2026 NFL Power Rankings models. Some project as few as 6.3 average wins. Playing in the league’s toughest division only compounds the outlook. A lingering camp standoff involving veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett hasn’t helped the mood, and rookie Carson Beck’s development is now the story to watch.
The Dolphins accumulated plenty of future draft capital this offseason. That’s a clear signal of a rebuild rather than a push to compete now. An unproven offense and a receiver room that’s been described as unsettled have Miami sliding toward the bottom of the league entering 2026.
Trading away Myles Garrett, a record-setting star pass rusher, was a franchise-altering move this offseason. Even landing Jared Verse in return hasn’t fully offset the loss. With a young roster and real questions surrounding Deshaun Watson at quarterback, Cleveland projects as one of the league’s steepest rebuilds this season.
Carolina’s quarterback situation continues to be the anchor dragging the Panthers down draft boards and power rankings alike. Bryce Young ranked near the bottom of the league in quarterback impact metrics last season. Even in a winnable division, that’s a tough hole to escape.
Las Vegas added pieces on both lines this offseason, but the quarterback picture remains muddled between veteran bridge option Kirk Cousins and developing rookie Fernando Mendoza. Competing in a loaded AFC West makes the path back up these 2026 NFL Power Rankings even steeper.
Training camp movement is a snapshot, not a verdict. Rosters will keep changing through preseason cuts in late August. Still, these early 2026 NFL Power Rankings trends give a solid read on which franchises are building momentum and which are already searching for answers before Week 1. Check back as preseason games begin reshaping depth charts across the league; you can track live updates via ESPN’s training camp tracker.
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