Week 1 of the 2026 season is almost here, and as the Jacksonville Jaguars are preparing to take on the Cleveland Browns, analysts are releasing the first power rankings of the regular season.
Throughout the offseason, the Jaguars have been overlooked and dismissed, with many arguing that the losses of Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd have left the team significantly weaker, despite having retained most of the roster and the entire coaching staff.
So instead, It is the Houston Texans who are assumed to be the AFC South champions this year, and Week 1 is the first chance Jacksonville has to start disproving that narrative.
Where are analysts ranking the Jaguars ahead of the season opener against the Browns? Read on.
Nate Davis, USA Today: #14 (+1)
While the Jags didn't draft Travis
Hunter second overall last year thinking he'd be their WR4, if he's able to function as their top corner, the investment into him will be worth it.
Nick Shook, NFL.com: #9 (-2)
I'm a little concerned with the Jaguars' situation along the offensive line, where tackle Cole Van Lanen (knee) is still working his way back toward being ready for Week 1 after spending most of camp on the physically unable to perform list. Jacksonville is also looking at starting third-round rookie Emmanuel Pregnon at guard, which is an accomplishment for the Oregon product but also a development that comes with uncertainty for the team. If that group coalesces quickly, the Jags will be fine. Fortunately, they host Cleveland in Week 1.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: #3 (+2)
Too many people are sleeping on this team heading into the season. They won 13 games last year, and they are a better team. Trevor Lawrence just might be the MVP.
Ralph Vacchiano, Fox Sports: #12 (-1)
The entire receiving corps was banged up in the preseason, and the RB room was questionable to begin with. Really, the only reason to have faith in this team at all is the wizardry of head coach Liam Coen.
Mike Florio, NBC Sports: #9
In Year 2 of the Liam Coen/Trevor Lawrence marriage, the sky is the limit.
Chad Graff and Josh Kendall, The Athletic: #13 (-2)
It’s easy to forget that this team won 13 games last season, and that was without do-it-all 2025 No. 2 pick Travis Hunter for much of the year. He lined up on defense more than offense in training camp, but we can expect a bounce-back season from the Heisman Trophy winner. Still, questions exist for the running game after the departure of Travis Etienne in free agency.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: #14 (+2)
The Jaguars have an easy start to the season, with a home game against the Browns. They better win. After that they have: at Denver, vs. Patriots, at Bengals, vs. Eagles, vs. Texans. It wouldn't be bad for the Jaguars to get out of that stretch at 3-3, but that is unlikely if they drop a game to Cleveland in Week 1.
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: #7
The Jacksonville Jaguars were already the NFL's best team over the second half of the 2025 regular season. Granted, Liam Coen's squad lost in the first round of the postseason. Even so, this year's squad can be even more dangerous.
Obviously, quarterback Trevor Lawrence finally lived up to his potential, with the chance to build off that performance. Travis Hunter is back and healthy after playing in only seven games as a rookie. Also, the Jaguars will now have a full season with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers in the lineup.
Despite last season's ending, the Jags should be excited about what they can do this fall. But the team needs a full season of consistent performance, not just half of one.
Bradley Locker, Pro Football Focus: #14
Jacksonville was a head-turning franchise in 2025, riding the arrival of Liam Coen paired with a fantastic defense to win the AFC South. Keeping both coordinators as well as the growth of quarterback Trevor Lawrence — who slotted eighth among qualified passers in overall PFF grade (83.7) — make the Jaguars scary yet again in 2026. How well the team can offset the departures of Devin Lloyd and Travis Etienne Jr. is a key storyline.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Where Jaguars rank across NFL power rankings entering Week 1
