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Is Myles Garrett the top player in the NFL? Stephen A. weighs in (2:03)

Aaron SchatzSep 6, 2026, 06:00 AM ET
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In February, ESPN will televise the Super Bowl for the first time. We will count down to the big game with Super Bowl-centric stories every month.

There are teams in the NFL that are building for the future with youth, and there are teams that are investing to win it all right now.

Whether it is because of age, contracts or future draft capital, some teams just have a better chance to win this season's Super Bowl than they will in 2027 or 2028. From the ever-so-obvious Rams (the current Super Bowl favorites) -- who've added star power this offseason -- to teams such as the Bills and Ravens that are built around MVP-winning quarterbacks, here's a look at the five franchises that are the most "all-in" for the 2026 season.

(As a reminder, just because a team appears to be "all-in," that doesn't mean it is guaranteed to contend; anything can happen across 17 games.)

Note: "Average age of starters" is based on the top 12 players considering both 11 and 12 personnel on offense, as well as base and nickel personnel on defense.

1. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are the most obvious all-in team in the NFL this season after their blockbuster offseason moves, like trading for Myles Garrett and pulling Aaron Donald out of retirement. But it actually starts with the fact that they are rolling with a 38-year-old Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Stafford is still at the top of his game -- he just won the MVP award -- but there's a general feeling around the league that he's close to retirement, especially if the Rams manage to win Super Bowl LXI.

The Rams' defense is also older, but it is loaded with star power. Donald is returning from retirement at 35, while Garrett and Poona Ford are both 31. The starters' average age of 28.1 is tied for sixth oldest in the NFL.

Will the Rams be able to refresh their talent in next year's draft? It's going to be hard, because their first-round pick went to the Browns in the Garrett trade, while their third-round pick went to Kansas City as part of the package for cornerback Trent McDuffie. The Garrett trade also cost the Rams their second-round selection in 2028. On top of that, young stars Puka Nacua, Byron Young and Kobie Turner are playing on the final years of their rookie contracts.

This really is a win-now situation for L.A.

2. Denver Broncos

The Broncos are older than most people realize, which is why their Super Bowl window might be closing. Denver is one of the oldest teams on both sides of the ball, but you might not notice because it has a younger quarterback in 26-year-old Bo Nix. The average age of the Broncos' projected offensive starters is 29.1, which ranks second. Left tackle Garett Bolles is now 34, and the whole offensive line is 28 or older. Plus, receiver Courtland Sutton is 31 and tight end Evan Engram is 32.

On defense, the Broncos' average age of starters ranks fourth at 28.3. Linebackers Alex Singleton (32) and Justin Strnad (30) are both at least 30 years old, and defensive linemen D.J. Jones (31) and Zach Allen (29) are also on the older side.

Despite the age of this group, it is still very capable of winning. Denver made it to last season's AFC Championship Game before suffering a 10-7 loss to the Patriots. And the Broncos recorded 68 sacks in 17 games, which left them just short of the 1984 Bears' single-season record of 72.

With the offseason trade to acquire receiver Jaylen Waddle and re-signing key contributors on defense, the Broncos appear to be building for another playoff run this season.

3. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are also a veteran team, although they've gotten younger on defense.

Last season, San Francisco ranked third in the NFL in snap-weighted age overall. This season, the average age of their projected offensive starters is 30.3, the oldest mark in the NFL. Left tackle Trent Williams is 38. Center Jake Brendel is 34 (and his contract voids after 2026). Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is 35, while tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Mike Evans are both 33. Running back Christian McCaffrey is 30.

The projected starting defense averages 26.2, with linebacker Fred Warner (30) as the oldest player. San Francisco is also currently 29th in projected cap space for 2027, according to OverTheCap, although a lot of that can be solved by cutting Brandon Aiyuk and then extending Warner and Nick Bosa.

Back in January, quarterback Brock Purdy reaffirmed his belief in the team, saying that he "100 percent" believes the 49ers can win as soon as the 2026 season.

4. Buffalo Bills

The Bills are currently 30th in the league in 2027 cap space, and they're going to have difficulty climbing out of that hole. The only obvious candidate for a restructuring is left tackle Dion Dawkins, 32, so there will need to be cuts.

The good news is that the Bills won't have many of their own free agents to re-sign after the 2026 season. No player who played at least 50% of snaps for the Bills last season is still on the roster with a contract that ends after this season.

As quarterback Josh Allen, 30, approaches his ninth NFL season, the pressure is definitely on him to help Buffalo finally get over the hump. The Bills added reinforcements for him this offseason, including wide receiver DJ Moore and new coach Joe Brady.

5. Baltimore Ravens

According to OverTheCap, the Ravens have the least cap space for 2027, needing to cut $41.5 million to get under. The good news is that this can all be handled with an extension for quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose cap number for 2027 is an astonishing $84.3 million.

But the Ravens have to actually get that deal done, and so far it just hasn't happened. Jackson represents himself without an agent, and the two sides couldn't reach a deal this offseason. Is it possible that Jackson -- a two-time MVP -- could actually leave Baltimore? Stranger things have happened, but that is certainly not what Baltimore would want.

Even though the Ravens missed the 2025 playoffs, they've worked this offseason to make sure that doesn't happen again. They invested heavily on defense, signing star defensive end Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million deal after a trade for Maxx Crosby famously fell through.

Is the pressure on Baltimore to make a run for the Super Bowl in 2026? Yes.

Which NFL teams are all-in on the 2026 season and Super Bowl LXI? Five franchises in win-now mode

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