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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
A few weeks before the kickoff of the 2026 season, Eric Edholm, NFL.com's lead draft writer, released his ranking of the ten most complete rosters in the league. An exercise that measures not only raw talent, but depth at every position, the absence of weak links, and a roster's resilience against injuries. The Los Angeles Rams take the top spot, ahead of the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Rams, a lightning-fast return to the top
Champions in 2022, in painful reconstruction as early as 2024 after Aaron Donald's departure, the Rams are back in a big way.
Champions in 2022, in painful reconstruction as early as 2024 after Aaron Donald's departure, the Rams are back in a big way. Their roster combines a rebuilt offensive line around Matthew Stafford, still performing at 38, and a rejuvenated defense where young picks from recent drafts now carry weight. Edholm highlights the absence of any clearly deficient position—a rare commodity in an NFL where the salary cap forces every franchise into constant compromises.
Behind them, the Seahawks confirm that the NFC West has regained its colors. Geno Smith, in full maturity, orchestrates a balanced offense, while Seattle's secondary remains one of the toughest in the conference. The running game, long a weak point, has gained consistency, giving the team a versatility it previously lacked.
This ranking of the Rams may surprise those who haven't followed their rebuild closely. After Donald's retirement, many predicted a trip through the desert. General manager Les Snead responded with remarkable draft work, finding starters in the fourth and fifth rounds. The "fuck them picks" philosophy of the title years has given way to a more measured, but equally effective, approach.
Eagles and Bills, the elite that confirms
Philadelphia, third, embodies the patient construction dear to general manager Howie Roseman. Jalen Hurts, extended at a high price, retains an elite offensive line and one of the deepest receiver arsenals in the league. The defense, driven by a devastating pass rush, compensates for a sometimes improvable secondary. Edholm notes that the Eagles may no longer be as dominant as during their 2024 campaign, but their lack of glaring holes keeps them in the leading pack.
The Buffalo Bills (4th) and Baltimore Ravens (5th) continue their quest for a Super Bowl that eludes them. Josh Allen remains the engine of an explosive offense in Buffalo, while Lamar Jackson finally has a receiving corps in Baltimore worthy of his progress as a passer. Two franchises whose hopes rest, as often, on the health of their star quarterback.
On paper, the Bills and Ravens tick all the boxes. Buffalo strengthened its defensive line via free agency, Baltimore drafted a cornerback in the first round. But these two teams drag the same anchor: the inability to beat Kansas City in the playoffs. No roster ranking measures mental resilience, and yet that's where their season will be decided.
Detroit, the progression that impresses
In sixth place, the Lions embody the best story in this ranking. Jared Goff averages over 4,500 yards and 30 touchdowns over the last four seasons—elite quarterback numbers that few predicted for him upon his arrival from Los Angeles. Around him, a monstrous offensive line, a complementary running back duo, and a defense that has stopped being the team's weak link.
The bottom of the table holds some confirmations: the Denver Broncos (7th) capitalize on a defense that has become stifling again, the Houston Texans (9th) show that the C.J. Stroud hype was not misplaced, and the New England Patriots (10th) prove that the post-Belichick rebuild is progressing faster than expected. The San Francisco 49ers, eighth, remain an enigma: eternal title contenders, but whose depth raises doubts. The upcoming season will tell whether Edholm had a good nose—or whether a complete roster doesn't always make a championship team.
