With the 2026 NFL season approaching, only 100 days remain. Traditionally, this period offers hope for most fan bases, believing their teams can succeed. Yet this year feels different. The league’s parity—a longtime cornerstone—appears diminished.
In the NFL today, only a few teams seem poised to win the Super Bowl, mirroring the NBA’s trend. Some franchises focus on future prospects while many stay stuck in the middle.
The Major Trade: Myles Garrett to the Rams
On Monday, the Cleveland Browns traded defensive star Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. The deal included a first-round pick, Jared Verse, and other draft assets. Cleveland got a significant haul but lost one of football’s top defenders.
Last season, Garrett’s performance was outstanding. He achieved 23 sacks, setting a new NFL record. The Rams, already Super Bowl favorites, increased their odds to +600 after acquiring Garrett. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Bills, Ravens, and Seahawks rank second at +1000.
The Rams: Building a Superteam
The Rams appear to have assembled a rare superteam in the NFL. This roster might be the most talented since the 2007 Patriots. Last season, Los Angeles reached the NFC Championship Game, largely impeded by special teams errors, which they addressed by hiring a new coordinator. They also bolstered their squad with Pro Bowl talent during the offseason.
Additions included cornerback Trent McDuffie and signing Jaylen Watson. McDuffie ranks among the top cornerbacks in the league, while Watson could be a top corner for many teams. Both enhance an already strong Rams lineup.
The Rams possess elite talent across nearly all positions: quarterback, pass rush, and more. Such dominance challenges the NFL’s designed parity. Yet, issues surrounding competitive balance existed before this year’s events.
Shifting Power in the NFL
In the past decade, nine franchises participated in the last 10 Super Bowls. Out of 32, 23 teams haven’t appeared in a Super Bowl since then. The Chiefs and Patriots dominated the AFC Championship Game for years. Four franchises combined to win 10 of the last 13 Super Bowls.
Now the Rams have a shot to join them, working toward their second Super Bowl win in five seasons, showcasing elite aggression in the offseason. Teams like the Chiefs and Eagles followed suit with key additions.
Teams Eyeing the Future
Cleveland, joining teams like the Dolphins and Cardinals, seems to prioritize upcoming draft strategies over current season success. Such approaches leave many teams mediating mediocrity—struggling to transform playoff hopes into championship realities.
General Managers Leading the Way
The primary architects of team successes in recent years are their general managers. Figures like Les Snead, Howie Roseman, and Brett Veach have shaped their franchises with adept strategy, courageously managing resources to form competitive teams.
The NFL’s competition, American sports’ cultural backbone, relied on unpredictability. However, that essential quality has waned over the last decade. As fans are pushed into investing more in this increasingly fragmented experience, they notice the shift.
Fixing this imbalance is challenging. The NFL cannot compel changes in spending or prevent teams from strategic losing. Similar issues persist in other professional leagues. The Rams’ acquisition of Garrett only highlights these challenges.
The NFL, akin to the NBA’s predictability, now casts an early sense of inevitability as the 2026 season nears.
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