NFL NationMay 5, 2026, 06:20 AM ETCloseNFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.Multiple Authors
play1:14Mike Tannenbaum: Texans have a championship defenseMike Tannenbaum gives his outlook on the Texans after signing Azeez Al-Shaair to a three-year extension.
play1:23Can Kyler Murray revitalize his career with the Vikings?Dan Orlovsky and Dan Graziano discuss the process Kyler Murray and the Vikings will have to take to transition him into a new style of offense.
play0:52What Jeremiyah Love brings to the CardinalsCheck out the highlights from Jeremiyah Love’s career at Notre Dame.
Schefty: There are still some very compelling NFL free agents (1:18)Adam Schefter joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to discuss the top names left in NFL free agency. (1:18)
Mike Tannenbaum: Texans have a championship defenseMike Tannenbaum gives his outlook on the Texans after signing Azeez Al-Shaair to a three-year extension.
Mike Tannenbaum gives his outlook on the Texans after signing Azeez Al-Shaair to a three-year extension.
Can Kyler Murray revitalize his career with the Vikings?Dan Orlovsky and Dan Graziano discuss the process Kyler Murray and the Vikings will have to take to transition him into a new style of offense.
Dan Orlovsky and Dan Graziano discuss the process Kyler Murray and the Vikings will have to take to transition him into a new style of offense.
What Jeremiyah Love brings to the CardinalsCheck out the highlights from Jeremiyah Love’s career at Notre Dame.
It has been two months since our last 2026 NFL Power Rankings, and all 32 rosters look completely different.
Through the first four days of free agency in March, NFL teams addressed some of their roster holes by giving out a record $5.83 billion in player compensation. A few blockbuster trades from that time also reshaped some rosters, including one that sent Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams for a package of four draft picks. And then in the NFL draft, teams tried to fill some of their final roster holes with exciting rookies.
So in addition to our latest rankings, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to pick which position group has improved the most this offseason. Our power panel of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities evaluates how NFL teams stack up against one another, ranking them from 1 to 32.
The Rams went into the offseason knowing there would be significant turnover at the position, as the team had four pending free agents at cornerback. Los Angeles invested heavily at the position in March, trading for Trent McDuffie and signing Jaylen Watson to a three-year deal.
Cornerback was a roster weakness at the end of last season — including the Rams’ NFC Championship Game loss to the Seahawks — but that is no longer the case for the first time since Los Angeles traded away Jalen Ramsey in March 2023. — Sarah Barshop
In an offseason that saw the Broncos re-sign 17 of their 21 unrestricted, restricted and exclusive rights free agents, the big swing for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (three draft picks in all) was their desired move after a quarter of their drives ended in three-and-outs last season.
The hope is Waddle also unlocks the deep part of the field for quarterback Bo Nix, who had a 38.7% completion rate on attempts of 20 or more yards last season. Waddle’s yards per pass route (2.34) was 11th best in 2025 and well ahead of the highest-ranked Broncos player — Courtland Sutton at 1.75. — Jeff Legwold
The Bills got younger at the safety position after dealing with injuries last season. They signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone before drafting Jalon Kilgore in the fifth round. The starters are likely to be third-year player Cole Bishop and Gardner-Johnson, but this room has some of the toughest competition for the final roster. Sam Franklin Jr.’s special teams abilities and Jordan Hancock’s potential to play nickel and safety should land them spots. — Alaina Getzenberg
At tight end, meanwhile, Philly selected Eli Stowers in the second round and inked Johnny Mundt and Stone Smartt to one-year contracts. Add the re-signing of Dallas Goedert and the Eagles have built out a talented tight ends room with more diverse skill sets than a year ago. — Tim McManus
Signing seven-year veteran Reggie Gilliam to a three-year, $10.8 million deal was a decisive move early in free agency to add more toughness in the running game. Despite the fullback position becoming less prominent across the NFL in recent years, coordinator Josh McDaniels’ offense has traditionally used it to help dictate matchups.
The Patriots hope Gilliam has a similar impact for them as he did with the Bills in 2025, when he helped running back James Cook lead the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards. — Mike Reiss
It was the biggest position of need, and general manager Brian Gutekunst used free agency and the draft to boost it. After cutting the oft-injured and disappointing Nate Hobbs just one year into his four-year, $48 million deal, the Packers signed a midlevel free agent in Benjamin St-Juste (two years, $10 million).
They then used their first pick (No. 52 overall) on South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse and added Alabama’s Domani Jackson in the sixth round. Ideally, one of them would win a starting job opposite Keisean Nixon and serve as an upgrade over Hobbs and Carrington Valentine, who also returns. — Rob Demovsky
In 2025, San Francisco’s wide receivers combined for 2,171 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, which ranked 21st and 25th in the NFL, respectively. With the departure of Brandon Aiyuk still pending and Jauan Jennings not returning, the Niners added proven pass catchers in free agency.
They signed six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans and eight-year veteran Christian Kirk. Then they spent the No. 33 pick on Ole Miss wideout De’Zhaun Stribling to provide some much-needed speed. There is uncertainty in how much Evans and Kirk still have in the tank and whether Stribling can produce right away, but the options alongside Ricky Pearsall are undoubtedly much better than they were a season ago. — Nick Wagoner
The Bears revamped their back seven this offseason, particularly at safety. Once Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker left in free agency, the team’s biggest splash came by signing Coby Bryant to a three-year, $40 million deal. One month later, Chicago used the No. 25 pick on Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman. The Bears lost Byard’s league-leading seven interceptions, but they got younger, rangier and faster on the back end this offseason. — Courtney Cronin
The Ravens are looking to get to the quarterback more often after signing Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million deal in free agency and then drafting Missouri’s Zion Young in the second round. Hendrickson has the third-most sacks (39) in the NFL over the past three years, and Young had the fifth-best pressure rate (15.4%) in the SEC last season.
Baltimore’s pass rush needed a boost after the Ravens had 30 sacks last season, which was tied for 28th in the NFL and tied for their second fewest in team history. — Jamison Hensley
Detroit’s offensive line wasn’t up to par in 2025, finishing with the second-worst pass block win rate in the NFL last season (56%). This offseason, the Lions beefed up their offensive tackle depth alongside Penei Sewell. They drafted Clemson’s Blake Miller with the 17th pick after releasing veteran left tackle Taylor Decker in March. Miller started at right tackle for all four years in college.
Detroit also signed Larry Borom, who has experience at guard and at both tackle spots. — Eric Woodyard
In 2025, McDonald earned first-team All-America and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year honors. He posted 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks. — DJ Bien-Aime
Mike Tannenbaum: Texans have a championship defense
Re-signing Montaric Brown to start on the other side is a major plus, too. If Jourdan Lewis returns to his level of play before his Week 16 foot injury, cornerback will be the Jaguars’ strongest position group. — Michael DiRocco
The Cowboys signed Jalen Thompson to their richest free agent deal since 2012 (three years, $33 million). They also added P.J. Locke in free agency. But they tripled down at safety, trading up one spot to take Ohio State’s Caleb Downs. He not only was the best safety in the draft but also was considered perhaps the best overall prospect. A large part of new coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme will be based on versatility; Thompson, Locke and, certainly, Downs can and will play multiple spots.
A year ago, the Cowboys had Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson as their starting safeties. Hooker remains, but Wilson is still unsigned. The backups were Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas. Bell is still there, but his role will be altered by the 2026 additions. — Todd Archer
This might be the biggest slam dunk of the offseason. The Bengals not only traded for Dexter Lawrence II but also signed Jonathan Allen in free agency. Interior pass rush has been something the team has lacked for years.
Early in the offseason, de facto Cincinnati GM Duke Tobin outlined the strategy: “Pass rush is king.” It’s crazy to consider given the team’s decision to let defensive end Trey Hendrickson leave in free agency, but the Bengals spared no resources to improve a D-line that needed more depth. — Ben Baby
Between the signing of free agent Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had 11.0 sacks last season, and the selection of Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 15 in the draft, the Bucs are hoping they can get back to the type of pressure they were generating off the edge in 2020. Back then, the team won the Super Bowl with a 7% sack rate (seventh highest in the NFL). Per ESPN Research, the Bucs ranked 23rd in sack rate (5.8%) in 2025, the lowest for a Todd Bowles defense since the 2017 Jets. — Jenna Laine
The Commanders knew they had to get younger and more athletic on the edges this offseason. In 2025, their pass rush collapsed once Dorance Armstrong tore an ACL in the first quarter of their Week 7 loss to Dallas. Before the injury, Washington had a 45.4% pass rush win rate; from Week 7 on it was 30.8%.