NFL Power Rankings: Rams jump up after busy offseason

We are at the midpoint of June, and it has already been a busy offseason for the NFL. From a crazy NFL Draft in April to a busy trade market in both May and June, this upcoming season is lining up to be one of the best ones yet.

ClutchPoints’ June NFL Power Rankings are impacted by all of the offseason moves so far, as well as how teams have looked in their rookie and veteran mini-camps. How has your team looked so far this offseason, and what storylines are you most excited to follow before the regular season begins?

1. Los Angeles Rams

Already factoring into the race for the top spot, the Los Angeles Rams find themselves leading the pack in June’s NFL Power Rankings after they acquired both Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett. With general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay deciding to kick a lot of their first-round picks to the curb, their aggressive moves pave the way for LA to remain a Super Bowl threat.

Adding both McDuffie and Garrett to an already-solid defense will make things even easier for Chris Shula, as he will be tasked with letting Garrett loose on the defensive line in blue and yellow. Plus, with rumors circulating about the potential return of the retired Aaron Donald for one last hurrah, we may have the next version of a super team on our hands.

2. Seattle Seahawks

Having celebrated their Super Bowl LX win by giving out their championship rings, the Seattle Seahawks find themselves not listed as the top team in this iteration of the NFL Power Rankings. It is quite rare for a Super Bowl-winning team that did not lose a ton of talent in the offseason to be knocked off their pedestal so quickly, but that is the NFL world we currently live in.

Needing to replace Kenneth Walker III, Seattle will be choosing from rookie Jadarian Price and a plethora of depth pieces for Week 1, as Zach Charbonnet’s torn ACL recovery timeline likely won’t have him ready for Week 1. Opening up the 2026 season with a Wednesday rematch of last year’s Super Bowl, Sam Darnold and the entire SEA roster will have a target on its back this year.

3. Denver Broncos

A Sean Payton contract extension, trading for Jaylen Waddle, and turning their running back room into a three-horse race has made for quite the strong offseason for the Denver Broncos. Having finished as the best team in the AFC last year but losing in the AFC Championship Game, the Broncos are looking to repeat as one of the best in the league this season.

The way Bo Nix talks about Jaylen Waddle is like he’s just different than everyone else (and he is)

Talks about his explosiveness overall and getting in and out of cuts and doesn’t lose speed

The table is set pic.twitter.com/GTZF5HM9I9

— Zain Dhanani (@DhananiZain) June 17, 2026

A healthy Bo Nix would be the best first step to take, as his ankle injury forced Jarrett Stidham into the starter’s role in their loss to the Patriots. While his workload in mincamp was limited, it is good to see that Nix can step foot onto the field, which will help him establish a rapport with Waddle.

4. New England Patriots

The acquisition of A.J. Brown ends a long, back-and-forth rumor for the New England Patriots, as Drake Maye finally has a proven WR1 option. Pairing Brown with offseason signee Romeo Doubs will help elevate the New England passing attack.

After winning the AFC playoff bracket after earning the conference’s two seed, it was a disastrous showing in the Super Bowl, one that was dominated by three Drake Maye turnovers. While this is one of the best rosters in the AFC, the upcoming 2026 roster will be tasked with repeating last season’s miraculous run.

5. San Francisco 49ers

The health of Mike Evans, Christian McCaffrey, Ricky Pearsall, and Brock Purdy will define how well the 2026 season goes for the San Francisco 49ers. The addition of Evans gives Purdy a tried-and-true WR1 who is chasing his first Super Bowl ring, someone who will also take pressure off Pearsall in the passing game.

Pearsall’s biggest flaw has been his health ever since he was drafted. If he can remain healthy this year, he will fill that important WR2 role and  should have a ton of value for both this team and your fantasy football rosters. By drafting rookie Kaelon Black in April, the Niners signaled that they would like to control CMC’s workload a bit more. All of these facets will define how the season goes for San Francisco this year, with all signs currently pointing to being playoff-bound.

6. Chicago Bears

After moving on from DJ Moore, the new-look Chicago Bears offense will more heavily feature its three young pass catchers in Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, and Rome Odunze. This trio will be utilized in even better ways than last year in Ben Johnson’s offense, as the Bears will look to repeat as the second-best team in the NFC last season.

7. Buffalo Bills

The addition of DJ Moore as Josh Allen’s top wideout will do wonders to expand the passing attack, an element that was sorely lacking last season. By giving Allen a bona fide veteran pass catcher to target 120+ times, the offense will (hopefully) finally become more well-balanced in Joe Brady’s first year as head coach.

Brady will be tasked with getting back to the playoffs in his first season, as the Bills are too good to have a retooling year with a rookie head coach. As long as Brady leans on what made him successful last year running the offense (his hyper-reliance on James Cook is one part), this Bills roster can absolutely make a return appearance to the AFC playoffs.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars

It was quite the successful first year for Liam Coen, as the Jacksonville Jaguars won the AFC South and hosted a playoff game. Trevor Lawrence looks to finally be worthy of his first overall pick status, and the receiver room is four deep with potential WR1 options.

With Travis Hunter, Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Parker Washington all earning their fair share of accolades this offseason, it is wheels up once again for the JAX passing attack as the Jaguars look to repeat as divisional champs.

9. Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay offense desperately missed star tight end Tucker Kraft last season after he went down with an ACL tear, so they will be excited to welcome him back, potentially even for Week 1. With Christian Watson and Jayden Reed both earning big-money extensions and Matthew Golden in line for a big step in his second season, all signs are pointing to the passing attack being the focal point of the Packers’ offense in 2026.

10. Los Angeles Chargers

The addition of Mike McDaniel as the new offensive coordinator elevates the potential of the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense. Being able to help Justin Herbert reach a new level as a passer should be priority number one this offseason.

The upside of Ladd McConkey is very interesting to follow for this year as well, as his usage should absolutely skyrocket in a scheme that should be built around him. With the pass-catcher depth less of an issue compared to past seasons, the LA offense is building up to be one of the best units in the entire league next year, as the Chargers round out the top-10 of the NFL Power Rankings.

11. Detroit Lions

The utilization of Sam LaPorta and Jameson Williams will dictate just how well this Detroit Lions roster does this season, with that responsibility now on the shoulders of new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. With Dan Campbell not afraid to strip responsibilities away from his OC, it will be an interesting to follow how much confidence Campbell has in his new coordinator this year.

Williams is the ultimate chess piece in the DET offense, as he can be lined up all across the formation and has game-breaking speed to make an impact. But LaPorta, who missed a good chunk of last year due to a back injury, needs to return to form if this offense wants to be at full strength.

The pending legal situation involving cornerback Terrion Arnold makes the secondary tougher to predict for 2026, as this would throw the depth chart into shambles.

12. Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow’s health is going to be the biggest storyline to follow for the Cincinnati Bengals this year, as their defense likely won’t be able to carry the load once again. With Trey Hendrickson now in Baltimore, the pass rush looks vastly different, as Cincinnati is hoping to replace Hendrickson with Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, and Dexter Lawrence in the aggregate.

13. Houston Texans

David Montgomery is going to earn the next shot at being the top back for the Houston Texans, as he looks to be handed every opportunity over incumbent Woody Marks. Having bided his time in Detroit behind Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery is in line for a major workload increase with Houston, a change that will improve his fantasy football value.

Dalton Schultz on David Montgomery:

“D-Mo is gunna be a helluva back for us. That mindset, that downhill ‘I don’t gotta go around you, ima go through you’ mindset is something that brings a different energy to the backfield. I’m hoping that the scheme works well for him. I think… pic.twitter.com/UCnMjACJcp

— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) June 20, 2026

However, a bigger offensive storyline is what version of C.J. Stroud the Texans will get this year, as the Ohio State product is heading into his fourth season and is on a downward trend. With probably the best offensive line in front of him in his career and a solid cast of pass catchers, it will be on the coaching staff to get Stroud to a point where he is more of a catalyst in this offense than a scapegoat, as he looks to potentially earn a contract extension.

14. Philadelphia Eagles

With Brown out of the picture at wide receiver, it is now the DeVonta Smith show for the Philadelphia Eagles, who are also placing more emphasis on rookie Makai Lemon. When Lemon was drafted back in April, it was presumed that he would slide into the WR2 spot upon trading Brown.

However, limited by a hamstring injury, Lemon looks to be locked into a battle with offseason acquisition Dontayvion Wicks for that spot, as the two newbies are fighting for snaps. While it is a good thing to have for the PHI offense, there will likely be some growing pains as the depth chart settles behind Smith. That is a major storyline to follow throughout training camp as the Eagles check in near the middle of the pack in the NFL Power Rankings.

15. Baltimore Ravens

Jesse Minter and Declan Doyle are being tasked with turning this Baltimore Ravens team around, as the John Harbaugh era ended on a whimper. Doyle will be especially under the microscope in 2026, as a down year from Lamar Jackson slowed the offense down a ton last year.

If Jackson can stay healthy and find his way in the run game again, combined with the receiver group actually making an impact, this team might once again factor into the AFC playoff race.

16. New Orleans Saints

There has not been this much hype surrounding the New Orleans Saints in a long time, but the elevation of Kellen Moore, Tyler Shough, and the offense has fans excited. With Shough showing plenty of signs of being the long-term solution at QB for Moore’s offense, combined with adding Travis Etienne, Jordyn Tyson, and Bryce Lance this offseason, there is plenty to be excited about for the Saints in 2026.

17. Carolina Panthers

While making the playoffs and winning the NFC South was a really good outcome last year, if the Carolina Panthers want to remain a factor in the NFC, they need to do it again. Expecting this season to be tougher than last in their own division, Bryce Young has to take a step forward if the offense wants to be even better.

Rookie wideout Chris Brazzell II will be looking to shed the Tennessee Volunteers WR label of flaming out once they get to the NFL. He will be looked at as an outside option opposite Tetairoa McMillan and recently-extended Jalen Coker.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers

Welcoming Aaron Rodgers back for his final season in the NFL is really the only path that the Pittsburgh Steelers could take, as they were unlikely to roll into the 2026 NFL season with the trio of Drew Allar, Will Howard, and Mason Rudolph running things.

Reuniting Rodgers with Mike McCarthy is a nice bit of nostalgia, as they are back together for the first time since their time in Green Bay. However, the jury is still out on if this pairing puts the best foot forward for the Steelers, as there are plenty of doubts about both the player and the coach.

19. Indianapolis Colts

The health of Daniel Jones is the biggest factor for how the Indianapolis Colts will look this season, as their signing of Philip Rivers last year tells you all you need to about how things went. If Jones can regain his form of last season and both Alec Pierce and Josh Downs can fill the gap vacated by the traded Michael Pittman Jr., then the Colts should be able to get back into the race for the AFC South title.

20. Kansas City Chiefs

The return of Patrick Mahomes is still 50/50 for Week 1, but the Kansas City Chiefs are hoping their superstar QB will be able to get this team back to the playoffs. Having missed the postseason for the first time since 2014, the Chiefs will have to overcome Mahomes’ recovery and the legal situation surrounding Rashee Rice as they head into their 2026 season.

21. Dallas Cowboys

The ongoing stalemate between George Pickens and the Dallas Cowboys does not seem to have an end in sight, paving the way for Ryan Flournoy to earn more time after impressing the coaching staff. Having stepped in last year when CeeDee Lamb went down with an injury, Flournoy is one of the better WR3 options in the league and can absolutely step into a larger role if need be.

22. Atlanta Falcons

The Tua Tagovailoa-Michael Penix Jr. battle has provided no clear winner yet for the Atlanta Falcons, although there are some signs pointing to Tagovailoa earning the QB1 nod. While neither southpaw is super exciting for this offense, it is clear that the big-money extension handed to Drake London is very much still in their plans, with a huge extension likely upcoming for running back Bijan Robinson as well for a team that needs to show something if they want to improve in future NFL Power Rankings.

23. Minnesota Vikings

Kyler Murray has the inside track to being named the starter for the Minnesota Vikings, as it seems like JJ McCarthy isn’t doing enough to factor into that race. While Kevin O’Connell has plenty of time to make that decision, Murray is clearly the better option of the two. He gives this offense the best shot at winning and is also the best option for Justin Jefferson and the rest of the pass catchers on offense.

24. Tennessee Titans

All eyes are on Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll as they look to restart the rebuild for the Tennessee Titans. Heading into their first season on staff, both Saleh and Daboll should be very excited about the path that the offense is heading, as Carnell Tate was drafted in the first round to become Cam Ward’s favorite pass-catcher.

Carnell Tate pic.twitter.com/CU2Lhl2l0g

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) May 29, 2026

The defense has a chance to finally establish an identity for itself, with long-time defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons re-signing for another three years. Having their defensive leader locked in gives this side of the ball some much-needed stability, as it looks to overcome its struggles from last season.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This upcoming season is a key inflection point for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as they seem to be at a bit of a crossroads. With the future of Baker Mayfield up in the air and the offense needing to replace Mike Evans, it feels as though the winds have been taken out of the sails a bit for Tampa.

While they are still expected to compete for the NFC South crown, their hold on their division has lessened, especially after missing the playoffs last year. Solid years from Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin will be necessary if they want to replace Evans’ production, and even if they both look good, the passing game likely will struggle to get going.

26. Las Vegas Raiders

Klint Kubiak was the hottest offensive-minded head coach on the open market this offseason, so it says a lot that he chose the Las Vegas Raiders as his first head-coaching gig. Being able to tailor his offense around the trio of Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers, and rookie Fernando Mendoza likely was the driving factor behind that decision, and while there will be growing pains this year, expect the Raiders-Kubiak relationship to flourish as the season goes on.

27. Washington Commanders

There is quite a lot in the balance right now for the Washington Commanders, as they are facing a very important offseason. With the health of Jayden Daniels being the major reason why they struggled last year, it is imperative that he is healthy so the offense can get back on track.

Replacing Deebo Samuel with rookie Antonio Williams is a good start, and with the potential to add Brandon Aiyuk growing louder, this revamped WR group could be exactly what the Commanders need to again factor into the NFC playoff race.

28. New York Giants

The uncertainty surrounding Malik Nabers is unfortunately the biggest headline this offseason for the New York Giants, as they are unsure when their star wideout will be ready to take the field. With Wan’Dale Robinson having left for Tennessee, the Giants will be forced to roll out Calvin Austin, Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, and rookie Malachi Fields if Nabers misses time.

However, the addition of Isaiah Likely this offseason could alleviate their concerns about pass-catcher depth, as Likely is in a position to be one of Jaxson Dart’s two best targets. If Likely can finally break out as the main guy, then the Giants have their tight end of the future.

29. Arizona Cardinals

The Mike LaFleur era is underway with the Arizona Cardinals, as they have quite a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball. With an unhappy Jacoby Brissett leading a QB room that also includes Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck, the offense will likely struggle yet again to put points on the board.

Defensively, this unit is lacking any sort of long-term developmental pieces to build around, something that they cannot fix in just one offseason. As is the case with Miami, Arizona will likely use the 2026 season as a chance to figure out if their roster has any long-term pieces worth developing as they prepare for an exciting 2027 draft class.

30. New York Jets

It remains to be seen if Aaron Glenn is the right choice to lead the New York Jets, as his inaugural season as head coach was nothing short of a total disaster. Glenn will need to pull a rabbit out of a hat if he wants to turn the tides in tenure so far.

Turning back to Geno Smith as the team’s starting QB is only a step forward because of how bad things were last year, as the veteran is being looked at as a placeholder until the 2027 NFL Draft happens. The Jets are one of only a handful of teams already in the race for the first overall selection, so the tank race is already on for a team that will be near the bottom of the NFL Power Rankings all season.

31. Miami Dolphins

The prospects are not optimistic for the 2026 version of the Miami Dolphins, as Jeff Hafley, Malik Willis, and the rest of the Green Bay South Dolphins will be using this season as a development year. Willis offers some real value for fantasy football as a dual-threat option, but with his top receiver looking like Malik Washington, it will be tough to trust anyone in this offense outside of De’Von Achane and maybe Willis as Miami will remain near the bottom of the NFL Power Rankings this year.

32. Cleveland Browns

There has (unfortunately) been a lot of chatter surrounding Deshaun Watson this offseason, to the point where a lot of signs are pointing to him becoming the starter at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns this year. With Todd Monken taking over a struggling franchise that needs all sorts of help, the first-time head coach (who looked to be no team’s top choice for a vacant HC role) will face quite the uphill battle right out of the gate as Cleveland remains at the bottom of the NFL Power Rankings.

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