Following the Seattle Seahawks’ victory as champions of Super Bowl LX, the 2026 NFL offseason is officially underway. A lot remains to be decided as we approach the 2026 season with free agency and the draft on the horizon, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead.
We gathered insights from 11 of our NFL experts — Matt Bowen, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Pamela Maldonado, Eric Moody, Jason Reid, Aaron Schatz, Ben Solak, Mike Tannenbaum, Seth Walder, and Field Yates — regarding predictions for next season’s Super Bowl showdown and MVP choice. Each expert also shared one significant prediction about the offseason and/or the upcoming season.
Will the Seahawks repeat their success, or will another team claim the Lombardi trophy in a year? Who might emerge as the next MVP? Let’s delve into our early forecasts, starting with our picks for the upcoming Super Bowl LXI champion.
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Super Bowl LXI picks
MVP picks
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What’s your early Super Bowl LXI pick?
Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: Bears over Bills. Chicago needs to bolster its pass rush, but they have key offensive players in place under coach Ben Johnson. With quarterback Caleb Williams’ playmaking skills, I predict the Bears will defeat Josh Allen and the Bills to win Super Bowl LXI.
Jeremy Fowler, national NFL reporter: Rams over Broncos. Last season, Los Angeles had one of the best matchups against Seattle and aims to finish strong this time. The connection between Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay continues to evolve. With the secondary needing enhancements, expect L.A. to address that for overall roster balance.
Dan Graziano, national NFL reporter: Chiefs over Packers. A single down year and a torn ACL won’t deter me from believing in Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid. With Mahomes back, the Kansas City offense will recover, leading the Chiefs to their third Super Bowl title in five years.
Pamela Maldonado, sports betting analyst: 49ers over Bills. The 2025 season was difficult, with injuries to key players like edge rusher Joey Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner, and tight end George Kittle. still, the 49ers secured 12 wins and captured a playoff game. A roster already familiar with adversity should contend once their health stabilizes.
Eric Moody, fantasy analyst: Broncos over Seahawks. The Broncos are undervalued given their AFC West title and a tie for the best league record last season. The Seahawks have proven defense still wins titles, but history shows that repeating is challenging — with only nine teams achieving back-to-back championships, often losing key players to free agency.
Jason Reid, Andscape senior NFL writer: Chiefs over Rams. Mahomes is determined to return to top form this season. With him moving into his age-31 year, team executives believe the Chiefs’ chance to win remains broad. They’ll support Mahomes in his quest for the fourth Super Bowl title since 2019.
Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst: Rams over Chargers: That’s right! I’m calling for a clash of Los Angeles teams at SoFi Stadium. The Rams had a dominant offense this season, which remains more consistent than defense. The Chargers regain their offensive tackles and have brought in Mike McDaniel to lead the offense, alongside ample cap space for offseason moves.
Ben Solak, NFL analyst: Texans over Rams. I see promise in the Texans with a cohesive defense and an offense showing growth under a new coordinator and a revamped offensive line. Improved running game prospects set Houston up for success.
Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst: Commanders over Bills. A healthy Jayden Daniels will bounce back and shine next season. I predict he will outscore Allen and the Bills in a thrilling 45-42 matchup in L.A.
Seth Walder, NFL analyst: Chargers over Packers. Am I falling for the Chargers again? okay! But I believe this time will be different! With health returns for their two excellent tackles (Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater), plus the addition of McDaniel, my confidence grows.
Field Yates, NFL analyst: Rams over Broncos. These two teams reached the conference championship games last season, now ready to rise above in 2026. The Rams will triumph at SoFi Stadium, making history as the third team to win a Super Bowl in their home venue (they previously won it at SoFi after the 2021 season).
Who’s your pick for next season’s MVP?
Bowen: Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys. Prescott exceeded 4,500 passing yards and 30 touchdown throws last season. With the Cowboys likely to keep wide receiver George Pickens through the franchise tag, I expect Prescott to maintain top-notch performance for a team contending for the NFC East crown in 2026, supported by a stronger defense.
Fowler: Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons. Raheem Morris may have been spot-on in claiming Robinson is the best in the league. His striking talent and another season with over 2,000 total yards could attract voter attention — especially if Atlanta pursues a playoff position. Expect a significant impact in Kevin Stefanski’s wide-zone approach.
Graziano: Caleb Williams, QB, Bears. With the Bears advancing faster than expected and under Ben Johnson, I see Williams flourishing. His clutch performances in the fourth quarter are notable; even with a fortified defense, he’ll find opportunities to exhibit his skill in a challenging NFC North.
Maldonado: Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers. He is the backbone of the 49ers’ offense, achieving 1,202 rushing yards and 924 receiving yards despite injury struggles. If San Francisco stays healthy and achieves another 12-plus win season, expect voters to honor this multifaceted offensive player.
Moody: Josh Allen, QB, Bills. Buffalo’s window for a Super Bowl won’t be open indefinitely, but they’re in a solid position. Since Joe Brady was promoted to offensive coordinator in Week 11 of the 2023 season, they have averaged 29.1 points per game. Allen, who already secured his first MVP in 2024, remains a strong contender — particularly if the Bills recruit a top-tier receiver this offseason.
Reid: Jordan Love, QB, Packers. Love’s fourth season under Matt LaFleur, following his promising start, points to increased success. Proving the Packers were right to make him foundational, I believe Love is on track to elevate his game and claim the MVP award.
Schatz: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs. I still see Mahomes as the league’s premier player, making him a justified MVP pick every year. His odds look promising, assuming he returns by Week 1 from injury.
Solak: Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens. Jackson now has a full offseason to recuperate with new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. When healthy, Jackson consistently enters MVP conversations.
Tannenbaum: Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders. After a difficult 2025, Daniels will rebound strongly, asserting himself as the top quarterback from the 2024 draft. A healthy performance will position him for a rejuvenated career, potentially making offensive coordinator David Blough an attractive coaching candidate.
Walder: Allen. He’s the best player in football and consistently bears a heavy obligation for his team. This makes him a perennial MVP candidate, especially if he enhances his performance in 2026 for a chance at a second MVP within three years.
Yates: Jackson. As the Ravens embark on a new chapter, Jackson will find motivation in Doyle’s leadership, who many consider a future NFL head coach. In my view, Jackson remains the league’s most dynamic talent.
Make one more big prediction about this offseason or next season.
Bowen: Trey Hendrickson will join the Colts. General Manager Chris Ballard will make a significant move to secure the top free agent available. Hendrickson, who recorded 17.5 sacks in 2024, would greatly enhance Indianapolis’ pass rush.
Fowler: The Giants will reach the playoffs. Historically, a Year 1 improvement with an elite coach has worked wonders, as seen with New England’s Mike Vrabel, Chicago’s Ben Johnson, and Jacksonville’s Liam Coen. With John Harbaugh leading the way, adding a few smart pieces could make New York contenders.
Graziano: The Steelers may face their first losing season since 2003. This roster has required a deeper rebuild for years, a fact that became evident during the late stages of Mike Tomlin’s coaching. 2026 might reveal that he was crucial to maintaining team cohesion.
Maldonado: The Bills could overhaul their offense by acquiring Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown in a key move. His addition would place Buffalo at the top tier of Super Bowl contenders. With elite QB play, a competitive roster, and a pressing need for receiver help, a major deal could change everything.
1:21
Will A.J. Brown still be with the Eagles next season?
Jeff Saturday and Dan Graziano discuss A.J. Brown’s future with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Moody: Running back Travis Etienne Jr. will join the Chiefs as a free agent. Etienne presents an appealing option as a versatile back, having surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in three out of four healthy seasons, including 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. His dual-threat capability would greatly enhance a Chiefs backfield that struggled with their rushing game last season.
Reid: Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones will return to his All-Pro form. As a critical presence during Kansas City’s successful stretch, Jones faced challenges in 2025. After some rejuvenation, he’s poised to earn first-team All-Pro honors for the fourth time in five years.
Schatz: The Giants will make a substantial leap, potentially going from last to first, thanks to coaching from John Harbaugh, returning wide receiver Malik Nabers, and notable progress from quarterback Jaxson Dart and edge rusher Abdul Carter in Year 2. Their previous performance suggests they were more a 7-10 team than 4-13.
Solak: The Falcons will clinch the NFC South, as Kevin Stefanski steps in as an effective head coach for a team that just needs competent guidance and quarterback assistance. His ability to tailor an offense will catapult the Falcons to 10 wins, enough to secure the division.
Tannenbaum: The Chargers will make significant strides and win the AFC West. With healthy offensive tackles and the added spark from Mike McDaniel, Justin Herbert & Co. will finally conquer the division.
Walder: The Cowboys will take the NFC East. Dak Prescott led the Dallas offense effectively last season, but their defense was notably poor. Improved performance should naturally occur, and a fortified defense could turn the Cowboys into strong contenders swiftly.
Yates: Caleb Williams will achieve All-Pro status. After an impressive second year, there’s much growth potential. I anticipate a significant improvement in his completion percentage. The stability of the Bears’ offense in 2026 will be vital for the development of their franchise quarterback.
