Everything about the AFC heading into the 2026 season points to a conference that could look a lot different than it did a year ago. The expectation is that some of last season’s breakout teams can stick around, while a few of the familiar powers try to get back on track. That combination could make this one of the deepest and most competitive AFC races in recent memory.
With Week 1 here, the final AFC power rankings bring two teams into focus at the bottom of the list: the Cleveland Browns at No. 16 and the Miami Dolphins at No. 15.
The Browns land in the last spot, and even with talent on the roster, the outlook feels more about the long view than immediate results. Todd Monken is in a position where the hope seems to be that he can get the group moving in the right direction, even if the early stages are more about learning to crawl than anything else. It’s difficult to see Cleveland as a surprise contender when the head coach and quarterback situations both feel squarely in the “placeholder” category.
There’s also no hiding the fact that Cleveland is treating 2026 like an evaluation year. In an ideal setup, it would also be a year to lay a foundation for what comes next, with the 2027 NFL Draft already on the radar. But Deshaun Watson is slated to start at quarterback to open the season, and that only adds another layer of uncertainty.
Miami checks in one spot ahead of Cleveland, and the Dolphins are not pretending this is a rebuild. This is the first year of the Jon-Eric Sullivan/Jeff Hafley era, and the team is putting serious faith in a big rookie class. The most intriguing swing, though, is at quarterback, where Malik Willis gets his chance.
Willis has earned this opportunity after being solid as Jordan Love’s backup over the last couple of seasons. Now he has to do more than just manage games - he’ll need to lift the talent around him and keep mistakes down if he wants to hold the job beyond this year. Even so, the Dolphins should bring plenty of entertainment, whatever the record ends up being.
In Other News...
Dolphins Open This Season With A Brutal Outside Message
The Dolphins head into their season opener against the Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 13, carrying a harsh national view of where this team stands before a snap has been played. ESPNs Adam Schefter has even pointed to Miami as a favorite for the first pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, while preseason projections have the Dolphins landing somewhere in the 3-14 to 5-12 range.
Joe Schads preseason NFL power rankings slot Miami at 30th, a reminder of how little margin for error the team is getting from outside observers. Even with Malik Willis noted as a key offseason addition, the message from the broader league is clear: the Dolphins will have to prove they are better than the expectation attached to them from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Be Turning A Lingering O-Line Weakness Into A Strength
Jonah Savaiinaea spent his rookie year learning the hard way, but the Dolphins have seen a different version of the second-year guard this offseason. The added comfort has shown up on both sides of the line, and center Aaron Brewer has noticed the growth in pass protection and in the run game as Miami tries to firm up a spot that was too often a concern a year ago.
Kadyn Proctor has also given the Dolphins reason to believe there is more help coming on the interior, though the real test will arrive once the regular season starts and the pressure changes. For a team that has been looking for stability up front, the encouraging part is not just that one young lineman is progressing, but that there may be multiple options pushing the unit toward becoming a strength instead of a question. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Suddenly Have A Veteran Receiver Decision To Make
The Giants release of Darius Slayton created an immediate ripple across the veteran receiver market, and Miami is the kind of place where it naturally gets noticed. Slayton brings seven seasons of production with New York, along with 296 catches and 4,435 yards, and he also has a built-in connection to Dolphins wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert from their time together with the Giants.
For a Miami offense that can always use more proven depth at receiver, the fit is at least easy to picture. No move has been reported, but Slaytons availability gives the Dolphins another experienced option to weigh as they sort through their roster and look for help around a passing game that values reliable veterans as much as upside. [Read more 🡒]