With the Seattle Seahawks triumphing as Tremendous Bowl LX champions, the 2026 NFL offseason is now underway. There’s lots to be decided between now and the beginning of the 2026 season with free company and the draft looming, however it’s by no means too early to look forward.
We requested 11 of our NFL consultants — Matt Bowen, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Pamela Maldonado, Eric Moody, Jason Reid, Aaron Schatz, Ben Solak, Mike Tannenbaum, Seth Walder and Subject Yates — to make predictions for subsequent season’s Tremendous Bowl matchup and MVP winner. Additionally they every made one huge prediction in regards to the offseason and/or upcoming season.
Are the Seahawks sure for a repeat, or will one other franchise hoist the Lombardi trophy in 12 months? Who could possibly be the subsequent MVP? Let’s get into our early predictions, beginning with who would be the subsequent Tremendous Bowl LXI champion.
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What’s your early Tremendous Bowl LXI choose?
Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: Bears over Payments. Chicago wants so as to add cross rushers, however the foundational gamers are there on offense underneath coach Ben Johnson. With quarterback Caleb Williams’ playmaking capability, the Bears will beat Josh Allen and Joe Brady’s Payments to win Tremendous Bowl LXI.
Jeremy Fowler, nationwide NFL reporter: Rams over Broncos. Los Angeles matched up with Seattle in addition to anybody final season and shall be again to complete the job. The Matthew Stafford-Sean McVay connection is bettering with age. The secondary was a weak point late within the season, so count on the Rams to deal with that concern for roster steadiness.
Dan Graziano, nationwide NFL reporter: Chiefs over Packers. One down season and a torn ACL is not sufficient to scare me off quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid. Mahomes recovers, together with the Kansas Metropolis offense, and the Chiefs declare their third Tremendous Bowl title in 5 seasons.
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Pamela Maldonado, sports activities betting analyst: 49ers over Payments. The 2025 season was a grind, with a number of accidents to key gamers corresponding to edge rusher Nick Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner and tight finish George Kittle. But the 49ers nonetheless piled up 12 wins and received a playoff sport. A roster that is already battle examined underneath that stage of adversity must be a contending staff as soon as its well being stabilizes.
Eric Moody, fantasy analyst: Broncos over Seahawks. The Broncos seem undervalued regardless of profitable the AFC West and ending tied for the league’s greatest document final season, whereas the Seahawks reminded everybody that protection nonetheless wins championships. Historical past suggests repeating is tough, with solely 9 groups profitable back-to-back Tremendous Bowl titles, and champions typically lose key contributors throughout free company as soon as gamers money in.
Jason Reid, Andscape senior NFL author: Chiefs over Rams. Anybody who is aware of Mahomes understands that he’ll push himself to return in prime kind. With him coming into his age-31 season, staff CEO Clark Hunt, coach Andy Reid and basic supervisor Brett Veach imagine that the Chiefs’ championship window stays broad open. They will do their half to assist Mahomes lead the Chiefs to their fourth Tremendous Bowl championship since 2019.
Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst: Rams over Chargers: That is proper, I am predicting a battle for Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium. Two residence groups! The Rams had been No. 1 in offense this season, and offense is extra constant than protection. The Chargers will get again their offensive tackles and added Mike McDaniel to coordinate the offense, plus they’ve a ton of cap area to deal with their offseason wants.
Ben Solak, NFL analyst: Texans over Rams. I am shopping for all kinds of Texans inventory, as that protection is staying collectively, and the offense was exhibiting optimistic indicators of development in a season with a brand new offensive coordinator and a very retooled offensive line. With an enchancment within the operating sport, Houston is ready for an explosion.
Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst: Commanders over Payments. Quarterback Jayden Daniels stays wholesome subsequent season and bounces again in an enormous method. He performs in each sport and finishes the season by outdueling Allen and the Payments in a 45-42 shootout in L.A.
Seth Walder, NFL analyst: Chargers over Packers. Am I falling for the Chargers within the offseason, similar to all of us do yearly? Positive. However this time shall be completely different! The 2025 Chargers’ greatest weak point — the offensive line — already has a built-in answer with their two wonderful tackles (Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater) returning to well being. Add McDaniel as offensive coordinator and I discover myself really believing.
Subject Yates, NFL analyst: Rams over Broncos. The 2 groups that got here up brief within the convention championship video games final season discover a approach to get excessive in 2026. The Rams will emerge as Tremendous Bowl champs at SoFi Stadium, turning into the third staff to win a Tremendous Bowl at its residence venue (the Rams received the final Tremendous Bowl at SoFi after the 2021 season).
Who’s your choose for subsequent season’s MVP?
Bowen: Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys. Prescott had greater than 4,500 passing yards and threw 30 touchdowns this previous season. With the Cowboys anticipated to retain broad receiver George Pickens, whom they may possible give the franchise tag, search for Prescott to supply high-level numbers once more for a staff that would problem for the NFC East title in 2026 with an improved protection.
Fowler: Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons. Possibly Raheem Morris was proper in saying that Robinson is the league’s greatest participant. He is really breathtaking, and one other season of two,000-plus whole yards will give voters one thing to consider — particularly if Atlanta makes a playoff push. Robinson ought to show impactful in Kevin Stefanski’s wide-zone system.
Graziano: Caleb Williams, QB, Bears. I see the arrow pointing up for Williams with Ben Johnson and a Bears staff that arrived effectively forward of schedule. Williams has that fourth-quarter clutch gene, and even when the Bears repair their protection to the place he would not want as many clutch performances, he ought to have loads of alternatives to showcase his talents in a tricky NFC North.
Maldonado: Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers. McCaffrey is the engine of the Niners’ offense. He posted 1,202 dashing yards, had 924 receiving yards and carried the Niners via accidents all season. If San Francisco stays principally wholesome and wins 12-plus video games once more, voters will reward the league’s most full offensive playmaker.
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Moody: Josh Allen, QB, Payments. The window will not keep open without end for Allen to win a Tremendous Bowl, however Buffalo is effectively positioned coming into the season. Since newly employed coach Joe Brady was promoted as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator in Week 11 of the 2023 season, the Payments have ranked second in factors per sport at 29.1, a run that included Allen profitable his first MVP in 2024. He’s firmly within the combine for this award once more, particularly if Buffalo provides a real No. 1 receiver this offseason.
Reid: Jordan Love, QB, Packers. Subsequent season shall be Love’s fourth directing Matt LaFleur’s offense. Love dazzled along with his arm expertise in his first three and proved the Packers proper in selecting to make him the muse of their future. Love will take issues to a brand new stage and win MVP.
Schatz: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs. I nonetheless suppose Mahomes is the most effective participant within the sport and I am comfy selecting him to win the MVP yearly. His odds are pretty much as good as anybody, assuming he both returns in Week 1 from his knee damage or would not miss a lot time.
Solak: Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens. Jackson has a full offseason to get wholesome and a brand new offensive coordinator in Declan Doyle. When Jackson has a full season to accrue counting stats, he is at all times within the dialog.
Tannenbaum: Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders. Daniels will rebound from an injury-plagued 2025 season and reassert himself as the highest quarterback of the 2024 draft class. He stays wholesome, performs effectively throwing and operating the ball and makes new offensive coordinator David Blough a main head teaching candidate.
Walder: Allen. I believe he is the most effective participant in soccer and has to shoulder such a heavy load for his staff. That makes him a perennial MVP candidate, and I do not see that altering. He did not even play his greatest ball final season. If he performs higher in 2026, he actually has an opportunity at a second MVP in three years.
Yates: Jackson. As a brand new chapter of the Ravens franchise begins, Jackson shall be invigorated by Doyle, thought of by many within the teaching ranks to be an NFL head coach quickly. For my part, Jackson remains to be probably the most dynamic participant within the sport.
Make yet one more huge prediction about this offseason or subsequent season.
Bowen: Trey Hendrickson will signal with the Colts. Normal Supervisor Chris Ballard makes a splash transfer to signal the highest free agent in the marketplace. Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024, would instantly improve the Indianapolis cross rush.
Fowler: The Giants will make the playoffs. The Yr 1 spike attributable to a top-shelf coach is a confirmed formulation that labored final season for New England’s Mike Vrabel, Chicago’s Ben Johnson and Jacksonville’s Liam Coen. John Harbaugh hopes to have the same influence, and New York’s roster is on the upswing. A number of savvy additions this offseason would make the Giants contenders.
Graziano: The Steelers may have their first shedding season since 2003. For just a few years now, this roster has wanted a extra in depth rebuild than the staff has been keen to endure. For all the problems Steelers followers had with Mike Tomlin by the top of his tenure, there is a good likelihood 2026 exhibits that he was truly holding issues collectively in Pittsburgh.
Maldonado: The Payments will lastly repair their offense with one decisive transfer — buying Eagles broad receiver A.J. Brown. They might instantly be on the highest tier of Tremendous Bowl contenders in the event that they added Brown. Buffalo’s prime precedence is receiver assist, and pairing him with Allen can remedy its greatest limitation in a single day. Buffalo has the uncommon mixture of an elite QB, a playoff-ready roster, a transparent singular want and a transparent desperation to fill it. All that’s lacking is the blockbuster deal to place it collectively.
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Will A.J. Brown nonetheless be with the Eagles subsequent season?
Jeff Saturday and Dan Graziano debate whether or not A.J. Brown will nonetheless be taking part in for the Philadelphia Eagles subsequent season.
Moody: Working again Travis Etienne Jr. will signal with the Chiefs throughout free company. Etienne could be intriguing as a confirmed, versatile again who has surpassed 1,000 dashing yards in three of his 4 wholesome seasons, together with 1,107 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2025. His capability to contribute as each a runner and receiver (5,136 profession all-purpose yards with 32 touchdowns) would increase a Chiefs backfield that averaged much less 4.0 yards per carry final season and failed to supply a operating again with a minimum of 200 receiving yards.
Reid: Chiefs defensive sort out Chris Jones will revert to All-Professional kind. Mahomes’ defensive counterpart all through Kansas Metropolis’s dynastic run, Jones was not as disruptive within the inside or off the sting throughout the staff’s nightmarish 2025 season. Reenergized, the longer term Corridor of Famer shall be chosen as a first-team All-Professional for the fourth time in 5 seasons.
Schatz: The Giants will take an enormous leap, going from worst to first because of the teaching of John Harbaugh, the return of broad receiver Malik Nabers, and steps ahead from quarterback Jaxson Dart and edge rusher Abdul Carter in Yr 2. Like Jeremy alluded to above, it is not as huge a leap as you would possibly suppose, as their underlying play-by-play efficiency final season recommended a 7-10 staff as a substitute of a 4-13 unit.
Solak: The Falcons will win the NFC South, as Kevin Stefanski instantly steps in as a top quality head coach with a roster that simply wants competent teaching and quarterback assist. However Stefanski can scheme an offense round a quarterback effectively, and he pushes the Falcons to 10 wins (which is all it might take to win the South, anyway).
Tannenbaum: The Chargers will take an enormous step and win the AFC West. With offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater wholesome, and Mike McDaniel bringing some power, Justin Herbert & Co. recover from the hump and win the division.
Walder: The Cowboys will win the NFC East. Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense performed extraordinarily effectively final season, which went underneath the radar partially as a result of the protection was so unhealthy. The latter ought to enhance via regression alone. If Dallas can get its protection to be simply OK, the Cowboys may turn into contenders in a short time.
Yates: Caleb Williams will turn into an All-Professional. There was a ton of fine in Williams’ second professional season however nonetheless a lot room for development. Williams’ completion proportion would be the space that almost all level to, and I’m bullish that quantity will enhance dramatically subsequent season. The Bears’ offense ought to return principally intact in 2026, and that familiarity shall be instrumental of their franchise quarterback’s improvement.
