NFL Team Predictions 2026-2027

The wait is finally over. Predicting an NFL season is never an exact science. One injury, breakout player or unexpected development can completely change the outlook of a team. But after an offseason of roster moves, coaching decisions and preparation, it is time to put the predictions on paper. Here are my projections for all 32 teams heading into the 2026 season.

Comeback player: James Conner, RB

Rookie of the year: Jeremiyah Love, RB

Breakout: Walter Nolen III, DT

Unsung hero: Isaiah Adams, G

MVP: Trey McBride, TE

OPOTY: Trey McBride, TE

DPOTY: Budda Baker, S

Comeback player: Tua Tagovailoa, QB

Rookie of the year: Zachariah Branch, WR

Breakout: Xavier Watts, S

Unsung hero: Maason Smith, DT

MVP: Bijan Robinson, RB

OPOTY: Drake London, WR

DPOTY: Jessie Bates III, S

Comeback Player: Nnamdi Madubuike, DT

Rookie of the year: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR

Breakout: Mike Green, DE

Unsung hero: Travis Jones, DT

MVP: Lamar Jackson, QB

OPOTY: Derrick Henry, RB

DPOTY: Kyle Hamilton, S

Comeback player: Ed Oliver, DT

Rookie of the year: Skyler Bell, WR

Breakout: Maxwell Hairston, CB

Unsung hero: Terrel Bernard, LB

MVP: Josh Allen, QB

OPOTY: James Cook, RB

DPOTY: Ed Oliver, DT

Comeback player: Jonathon Brooks, RB

Rookie of the year: Monroe Freeling, OT

Breakout: Princely Umanmielen, LB

Unsung hero: Jalen Coker, WR

MVP: Bryce Young, QB

OPOTY: Tetairoa McMillan, WR

DPOTY: Derrick Brown, DT

Comeback player: Rome Odunze, WR

Rookie of the year: Dillon Thieneman, S

Breakout: Austin Booker, DE

Unsung hero: Joe Thuney, OG

MVP: Caleb Williams, QB

OPOTY: Luther Burden III, WR

DPOTY: Montez Sweat, DE

Comeback player: Joe Burrow, QB

Rookie of the year: Cashius Howell, DE

Breakout: Amarius Mims, OT

Unsung hero: Bryan Cook, S

MVP: Joe Burrow, QB

OPOTY: Ja’Marr Chase, WR

DPOTY: Dexter Lawrence, DT

Comeback player: Quinshon Judkins, RB

Rookie of the year: Spencer Fano, OT

Breakout: KC Concepcion, WR

Unsung hero: Denzel Boston, WR

MVP: Harold Fannin Jr., TE

OPOTY: Quinshon Judkins, RB

DPOTY: Jared Verse, DE

Comeback player: DeMarvion Overshown, LB

Rookie of the year: Caleb Downs, S

Breakout: Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE

Unsung hero: Cooper Beebe, C

MVP: Dak Prescott, QB

OPOTY: CeeDee Lamb, WR

DPOTY: Quinnen Williams, DT

Comeback player: Bo Nix, QB

Rookie of the year: Jonah Coleman, RB

Breakout: Eyioma Uwazurike, DT

Unsung hero: Alex Singleton, LB

MVP: Bo Nix, QB

OPOTY: Jaylen Waddle, WR

DPOTY: Pat Surtain II, CB

Comeback player: Sam LaPorta, TE

Rookie of the year: Blake Miller, OT

Breakout: Isaac TeSlaa, WR

Unsung hero: Jack Campbell, LB

MVP: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB

OPOTY: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR

DPOTY: Aidan Hutchinson, DE

Comeback player: Tucker Kraft, TE

Rookie of the year: Brandon Cisse, CB

Breakout: MarShawn Lloyd, RB

Unsung hero: Javon Bullard, S

MVP: Jordan Love, QB

OPOTY: Christian Watson, WR

DPOTY: Micah Parsons, DE

Comeback player: Tank Dell, WR

Rookie of the year: Keylan Rutledge, OG

Breakout: Jaylin Noel, WR

Unsung hero: Kamari Lassiter, CB

MVP: C.J. Stroud, QB

OPOTY: Nico Collins, WR

DPOTY: Will Anderson Jr., DE

Comeback player: Daniel Jones, QB

Rookie of the year: CJ Allen, LB

Breakout player: Josh Downs, WR

Unsung hero: Cam Bynum, S

MVP: Jonathan Taylor, RB

OPOTY: Jonathan Taylor, RB

DPOTY: DeForest Buckner, DT

Comeback player: Travis Hunter, CB/WR

Rookie of the year: Nate Boerkircher, TE

Breakout player: Bhayshul Tuten, RB

Unsung hero: Anton Harrison, OT

MVP: Trevor Lawrence, QB

OPOTY: Parker Washington, WR

DPOTY: Josh Hines-Allen, DE

Comeback player: Patrick Mahomes, QB

Rookie of the year: Mansoor Delane, CB

Breakout player: Xavier Worthy, WR

Unsung hero: Trey Smith, OG

MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB

OPOTY: Kenneth Walker III, RB

DPOTY: Chris Jones, DT

Comeback player: Rashawn Slater, OT

Rookie of the year: Akheem Mesidor, DE

Breakout player: Omarion Hampton, RB

Unsung hero: Tony Jefferson, S

MVP: Justin Herbert, QB

OPOTY: Justin Herbert, QB

DPOTY: Derwin James Jr., S

Comeback player: Aaron Donald, DT

Rookie of the year: Max Klare, TE

Breakout player: Blake Corum, RB

Unsung hero: Kobie Turner, DE

MVP: Matthew Stafford, QB

OPOTY: Puka Nacua, WR

DPOTY: Myles Garrett, DE

Comeback player: Kirk Cousins, QB

Rookie of the year: Fernando Mendoza, QB

Breakout player: Jack Bech, WR

Unsung hero: Nakobe Dean, LB

MVP: Brock Bowers, TE

OPOTY: Ashton Jeanty, RB

DPOTY: Maxx Crosby, DE

Comeback player: Ollie Gordon II, RB

Rookie of the year: Jacob Rodriguez, LB

Breakout player: Chop Robinson, DE

Unsung hero: Zach Sieler, DT

MVP: Malik Willis, QB

OPOTY: De’Von Achane, RB

DPOTY: Jordyn Brooks, LB

Comeback player: Kyler Murray, QB

Rookie of the year: Caleb Banks, DT

Breakout player: Dallas Turner, DE

Unsung hero: Josh Metellus, S

MVP: Kyler Murray, QB

OPOTY: Justin Jefferson, WR

DPOTY: Andrew Van Ginkel, LB

Comeback player: Christian Barmore, DT

Rookie of the year: Eli Raridon, TE

Breakout player: Craig Woodson, S

Unsung hero: Kevin Byard, S

MVP: Drake Maye, QB

OPOTY: A.J. Brown, WR

DPOTY: Christian Gonzalez, CB

Comeback Player: Kendre Miller, RB

Rookie of the year: Jordyn Tyson, WR

Breakout player: Devaughn Vele, WR

Unsung hero: Erik McCoy, C

MVP: Tyler Shough, QB

OPOTY: Chris Olave, WR

DPOTY: Chase Young, DE

Comeback player: Malik Nabers, WR

Rookie of the year: Arvell Reese, LB

Breakout player: Isaiah Likely, TE

Unsung hero: Andrew Thomas, OT

MVP: Jaxson Dart, QB

OPOTY: Malik Nabers, WR

DPOTY: Brian Burns, DE

Comeback player: Geno Smith, QB

Rookie of the year: David Bailey, DE

Breakout player: T’Vondre Sweat, DT

Unsung hero: Harrison Phillips, DT

MVP: Garrett Wilson, WR

OPOTY: Breece Hall, RB

DPOTY: Will McDonald IV, DE

Comeback player: Landon Dickerson, OG

Rookie of the year: Makai Lemon, WR

Breakout player: Jihaad Campbell, LB

Unsung hero: Cam Jurgens, C

MVP: Jalen Hurts, QB

OPOTY: Saquon Barkley, RB

DPOTY: Jalen Carter, DT

Comeback player: DK Metcalf, WR

Rookie of the year: Germie Bernard, WR

Breakout player: Derrick Harmon, DT

Unsung hero: Zach Frazier, C

MVP: Aaron Rodgers, QB

OPOTY: DK Metcalf, WR

DPOTY: T.J. Watt, DE

Comeback player: Fred Warner, LB

Rookie of the year: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR

Breakout player: Kaelon Black, RB

Unsung hero: Deommodore Lenoir, CB

MVP: Brock Purdy, QB

OPOTY: Christian McCaffrey, RB

DPOTY: Nick Bosa, DE

Comeback player: Zach Charbonnet, RB

Rookie of the year: Jadarian Price, RB

Breakout player: Elijah Arroyo, TE

Unsung hero: Jalen Sundell, C

MVP: Sam Darnold, QB

OPOTY: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR

DPOTY: Devon Witherspoon, CB

Comeback player: Chris Godwin Jr., WR

Rookie of the year: Rueben Bain Jr., DE

Breakout player: Benjamin Morris, CB

Unsung hero: Tristan Wirfs, OT

MVP: Baker Mayfield, QB

OPOTY: Bucky Irving, RB

DPOTY: Antoine Winfield Jr., S

Comeback player: Kevin Winston Jr., S

Rookie of the year: Carnell Tate, WR

Breakout player: Cam Ward, QB

Unsung hero: Cedric Gray, LB

MVP: Cam Ward, QB

OPOTY: Carnell Tate, WR

DPOTY: Jeffery Simmons, DT

Comeback player: Jayden Daniels, QB

Rookie of the year: Sonny Styles, LB

Breakout player: Luke McCaffrey, WR

Unsung hero: Nick Allegretti, C

MVP: Jayden Daniels, QB

OPOTY: Terry McLaurin, WR

DPOTY: Daron Payne, DT

The predictions are in. These are all my expectations on record for all 32 NFL teams in the 2026 season. Now it is time to see how the season plays out. Let the games begin.