(Photo: NFL Draft Countdown)
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (2025 Record: 10-7)
Even when it looked like the odds were stacked against them, they still found ways to win football games. And I’m not just talking about last season—I’m talking about the last few years under Mike Tomlin. It’s incredible to me that he never recorded a losing season as a head coach in 19 seasons, and we may never see anything like that again. For just the fourth time in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and only the second time in my lifetime, a new coach will be taking over the black and yellow. Mike McCarthy was hired in February, and I think this was a good move by the Steelers. He is an experienced coach who knows how to get the best out of a football team, and he’s also won a Super Bowl. Mike Tomlin decided to step down in January after giving the franchise 19 years. Aaron Rodgers is coming back for the final year of his career, and the Steelers also signed Rico Dowdle in free agency while acquiring Michael Pittman from the Indianapolis Colts. It’s a new chapter of Steelers football in 2026.
2. Baltimore Ravens (2025 Record: 8-9)
Last year was the most inconsistent football I’ve seen them play in quite some time, and it didn’t help that injuries decimated the team throughout the year. Historically, when I think of Ravens football, I think of two things: a dominant running game and an elite defense. In all my years of watching them, that was the softest defensive effort I’ve ever seen from Baltimore, and opposing teams consistently ran the ball on them. After 18 years, the Ravens decided to go in a different direction, firing John Harbaugh and hiring Jesse Minter as their next head coach. They simply need to stay healthy, and we’ve all seen the difference Lamar Jackson makes when he’s on the field versus when he’s not. If they can get back to the basics, this will be a solid football team in 2026. I know for a fact they want to reclaim their defensive identity, which is exactly why they hired Jesse Minter.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (2025 Record: 6-11)
I’ve made two NBA comparisons when talking about the Bengals. First, I call them the Milwaukee Bucks of the NFL. What I mean by that is they had their run, made a Super Bowl, and were one game away from getting back to the big game. The difference is that Cincinnati hasn’t won a championship. My second comparison is that Joe Burrow is the Joel Embiid of the NFL. He’s incredibly talented, but he always seems to get hurt. I even remember saying a few years ago that Joe is the quarterback many people try to label Lamar Jackson as. The Bengals can’t seem to get out of their own way, and if they don’t improve that offensive line, Joe won’t last. Defensively, they’ve also been a mess, but I think the acquisition of Dexter Lawrence can help get them moving in the right direction. If they can stay healthy and play consistent football, I have them as a dark horse this season.
4. Cleveland Browns (2025 Record: 5-12)
Another year, and they’re still a mess. I don’t think there’s any other way to put it. What direction are they going at quarterback? Shedeur Sanders showed flashes of what he could become when he got his opportunity to start. Outside of Myles Garrett, who surpassed Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record with 23 sacks, nothing went right for the Browns in 2025. The franchise decided to fire Kevin Stefanski and hire Todd Monken as its next head coach. More than likely, Deshaun Watson will be the starting quarterback in Week 1, and honestly, he should be, considering how much money the organization invested in him.
2026 Predictions
- Ravens (11-6)
- Bengals (10-7)
- Steelers (9-8)
- Browns (4-13)
I like the Ravens to get back to the top of the AFC North, and I think the coaching change will benefit them. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will once again put fear into opposing defenses and force teams to decide who they want to focus on stopping. As I mentioned earlier, a healthy Lamar makes all the difference for this team. Defensively, I expect the Ravens to get their swagger back in 2026, with Nnamdi Madubuike clogging up running lanes in the middle. I also expect the duo of Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton to make plenty of noise, and let’s not forget that the Ravens signed Trey Hendrickson during the offseason after their plans to acquire Maxx Crosby fell through. I’m not entirely sure what to expect from the Steelers, and the only team I see seriously challenging Baltimore for the division crown is Cincinnati—assuming they can stay healthy.
