During NFL training camps, every fan carries at least a sliver of optimism about their teams. To the objective observer, it’s clear some of that hope is misplaced. There are some teams cough the Arizona Cardinals cough that would need an unimaginable miracle to break .500.
Luckily for Cardinals fans, misery will have company with a handful of other teams looking at 2026 as a “development” year. In the 2026 NFL season, their Super Bowls will come in the form of moral victories and rookie playing time.
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Worst Teams in the NFL Entering 2026
For these teams to make a postseason run, it’ll take a miracle. We’ll dive into the many reasons these teams will have an uphill climb in 2026, but they all come down to this: big, bold question marks at quarterback.
These power rankings are light on power and devoid of Super Bowl aspirations. Here’s our rankings.
Curious which teams are at the top of this list? Check out the NFL Power Rankings to Start the Season.
Arizona Cardinals – NFC West
The Cardinals are one of a handful of teams with a first-time head coach. Mike LaFleur, the former offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, takes over for Jonathan Gannon and inherits an offense with playmakers at every position except behind center. Jacoby Brissett, a true journeyman quarterback, will get the first crack at starting, with Gardner Minshew II behind him and rookie Carson Beck in the third slot.
Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson will be the threats on the outside. Wilson made his case last year as the team’s true No. 1 receiver. Harrison has long been assumed to be a game-breaking wideout but has yet to show that at the pro level. Neither is the best pass catcher on the team, though. That title belongs to tight end Trey McBride, an All-Pro who will once again be a safety blanket for Brissett.
To take some pressure off the passing game, the Cardinals addressed the offensive line in free agency and drafted running back Jeremiyah Love after his sensational year at Notre Dame.
On defense, Arizona returns much of the same unit that finished 27th in total defense, with few questions answered on that side of the ball. Combined with a lack of proof that the offense is ready to contend, and a spot in one of football’s most competitive divisions alongside three Super Bowl contenders in the NFC West, this looks like another rebuilding year in Arizona.
Miami Dolphins – AFC East
The Dolphins enter 2026 with a completely clean slate. The Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa era is over. They have a new head coach, Jeff Hafley, the former defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, and a new quarterback, Malik Willis, who was Jordan Love’s backup in Green Bay.
With two playoff contenders in their division, the Dolphins have a long way to go with a team that has little experience playing together and uncertainty not just at quarterback but across the offense.
Willis earned the job in free agency after filling in admirably for Love. Over his two seasons as Love’s backup, Willis started three games and appeared in 11, completing at least 74% of his passes for six touchdowns with no interceptions and averaging more than 5.5 yards per carry on 42 attempts. He now gets a full-time shot at being a starter in Miami.
Unfortunately for Willis, he’ll be without Miami’s two star receivers from a year ago. Tyreek Hill suffered a devastating injury and is now a free agent, and Jaylen Waddle was traded to the Denver Broncos. Running back De’Von Achane has quickly become the most tenured player on Miami’s offense.
On defense, individual playmakers like Jordyn Brooks and a dedicated defensive scheme from the new head coach might make the unit a little stouter, but it’s hard to see that being enough to make Miami a winning team.
Cleveland Browns – AFC North
It feels cliche for the Browns to be projected among the league’s worst heading into 2026, but it’s…true.
The Kevin Stefanski era is over in Cleveland, with Todd Monken taking over in his first head coaching job. At quarterback, it’s probably Deshaun Watson, if he’s healthy, based largely on his salary cap hit. However, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel will likely get a shot if the season slips away.
Cleveland has a slew of young playmakers at skill positions. Running back Quinshon Judkins looks every bit the RB1 many expected coming out of Ohio State, Jerry Jeudy has put together some of the most impressive years of his career in Cleveland and Harold Fannin Jr. wowed as a rookie tight end. The Browns also invested heavily at wide receiver in this year’s draft class with KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston in the first round.
If Watson can revert to his former Pro Bowl form, this team could make a run at the AFC North. It’s just very hard to imagine that happening. Cleveland feels firmly in rebuilding mode after trading Myles Garrett for Jared Verse and draft picks. The Browns may already have one eye on the 2027 draft, where they could finally find the quarterback capable of leading them back into playoff contention.
New York Jets – AFC East
Another unsurprising pick on a list of the league’s worst teams, but in the NFL, it’s guilty until proven innocent. Geno Smith makes his return to New York after finding success in Seattle and disappointment in Las Vegas. Breece Hall is back at running back, as is Garrett Wilson. The Jets added two rookie playmakers in wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. out of Indiana and tight end Kenyon Sadiq out of Oregon.
With multiple playmakers on defense, including Will McDonald IV at defensive end and Minkah Fitzpatrick at free safety, there’s enough here to make the Jets an annoying team to play. But without a game-changing quarterback, it’s difficult to imagine them winning the AFC East or even finishing in the top half of the conference.
New York Giants – NFC East
The Giants are another team entering the season with a new head coach, as John Harbaugh takes over for Brian Daboll. Harbaugh inherits a project with some promise. New York has one of the more impressive defensive line depth charts in the NFL, complete with a pass rush of Brian Burns, Arvell Reese, Abdul Carter and DJ Reader.
On paper, Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers form an exciting young trio at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, respectively. The Giants even brought in tight end Isaiah Likely from Baltimore after he showed flashes with the Ravens, in what looks like a situation that just needs the right player getting the right playing time.
But Dart, Skattebo and Nabers are each coming off major injuries or, in Dart’s case, frequent concussions throughout 2025, and it remains to be seen whether they’ll all be ready and available heading into the new season. Giants fans are looking at a still formidable Eagles team, a Cowboys team they can at best split with and a Commanders team likely to be a little better. An elite pass rush probably isn’t enough to get out of the bottom of the NFC East.
2026 NFL Team Schedules
Want to see what these teams are up against in 2026? Check out their full NFL schedules here and make sure to follow along this season to see whether they prove us wrong, or prove us very, very right.
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