Ranking the Four Most Improved NFL Teams Entering the 2026 Season

Let's start with a warning: "Most improved" DOES NOT mean most likely to win the Super Bowl, or make the playoffs, or even finish above .500.

Here it describes four teams who worked the hardest this offseason -- through coaching changes, free agency, trades and the draft -- to put a better product on the field for their fans.

Two of those franchises, the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals, look like legit Lombardi contenders, while the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders are still far from being the best (or even second-best) teams in their respective divisions. All four are demonstrably improved heading into 2026.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams have perhaps the smallest Super Bowl window in the NFL with reigning MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford entering his 18th season at age 38. They also have the shortest ramp to a ring, coming off a four-point setback to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.

Los Angeles ranked 19th in passing defense last season during the regular season and gave up 346 yards and three touchdowns through the air to Sam Darnold in the playoff loss. They addressed their chief weakness by adding two Chiefs cornerbacks: trading for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and signing his Kansas City partner Jaylen Watson in free agency.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals were 6-11 last season but lost games where they scored 42 points, 38 points and 34 points. They gave up a team-record 492 points for the season. A healthy Joe Burrow can only do so much, so Cincinnati finally invested heavily on the defensive side this offseason.

Cincinnati offset the loss of All-Pro Trey Hendrickson in free agency by acquiring three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in a trade with the Giants and pairing him with two-time Pro Bowl DT Jonathan Allen. On the edge, the Bengals signed Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million deal and drafted Cashius Howell with the 41st pick. Cincy also signed former Chiefs safety Bryan Cook to shore up the back end.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders needed new leadership after the failed Pete Carroll experiment. Las Vegas hit the daily double by hiring head coach and offensive play-caller Klint Kubiak and giving him a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion to mold with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. The team also brought in veteran Kirk Cousins as a mentor and a bridge until Mendoza is ready to roll.

The Raiders struck some bold deals, too, making Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid center in NFL history and beefing up the D with edge rusher Kwity Paye and linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker and also somehow managing to keep five-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Maxx Crosby.

New York Giants

The Giants are also under new leadership with John Harbaugh, a Super Bowl-winning coach who took Baltimore to the playoffs 12 times. With quarterback Jaxson Dart entering his second season, it's worth noting that Lamar Jackson won an MVP award in his second season while playing for Harbaugh.

New York has wide receiver Malik Nabers (fingers crossed) and running back Cam Skattebo returning from injuries and raided the Ravens' roster for tight end Isaiah Likely, fullback Patrick Ricard and guard Daniel Faalele. The Giants upgraded their defense by signing two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and aced the draft with top-10 picks and foundational players Arvell Reese (fifth overall) at linebacker and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (10th).

These four certainly look like they improved. Now it's time to prove it.