Early Tremendous Bowl LXI odds: Favorites, contenders and 2026 NFL outlook

The 2025 NFL season is formally within the books with the Seattle Seahawks elevating the Vince Lombardi trophy as Tremendous Bowl LX champions with a 29-13 win over the AFC champion New England Patriots. 

Whereas Seattle will relish within the candy, candy victory of profitable the Tremendous Bowl at Levi’s Stadium, the remainder of the league has turned the web page towards their preparations towards 2026 with a watch towards buying and selling locations with the Seahawks in a 12 months’s time. 

In our first actual preview of the offseason, let’s examine which groups enter the 12 months as Tremendous Bowl LXI favorites whereas additionally spotlighting some key franchises and storylines to control throughout the following few months. 

Tremendous Bowl LXI odds

Odds by way of DraftKings Sportsbook.

5 groups to look at this offseason

Minnesota Vikings 

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wager massive on 2024 NFL Draft tenth total decide quarterback J.J. McCarthy in 2025, and it price him his job because the Minnesota Vikings normal supervisor. Minnesota went 14-3 in 2024 with Sam Darnold because the crew’s beginning quarterback. After he melted down of their final two video games of the season, a 31-9 loss on the Detroit Lions with the NFC North title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the road and a 27-9 opening spherical playoff loss on the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota let Darnold stroll in free company. 

A 12 months later, Darnold is hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy. McCarthy was actually the league’s worst quarterback in 2025: he ranked final within the NFL in completion share (58%), touchdown-interception (11-12) and passer ranking (72.6). Because of this, 2022 NFL Offensive Participant of the Yr large receiver Justin Jefferson had career-lows in receiving yards (1,048) and receiving touchdowns (2). That is why Jefferson made positive anybody who was prepared to hear throughout Tremendous Bowl week that life would have been higher in 2025 if that they had simply re-signed Darnold as a substitute of letting him stroll. 

J.J. McCarthy’s future as Vikings QB is way from assured after Minnesota fires GM who picked him

Tyler Sullivan

So how will the Vikings deal with the quarterback place this offseason? One would think about, even when it is only for the morale of their offensive gamers like Jefferson, that Minnesota want to herald a veteran quarterback on this offseason to compete with and/or mentor McCarthy. Aaron Rodgers is about to be a free agent, and former Viking Kirk Cousins may hit the open market with the Atlanta Falcons reportedly set to chop him to get out of his contract. 

Following Minnesota’s offseason shall be fascinating particularly since they will not rent a brand new GM till after the draft. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is in agency management of the Vikings’ offseason. 

Cincinnati Bengals 

After profitable the AFC within the 2021 season and being the AFC runner-ups within the 2022 season, the Bengals have missed the playoffs for 3 consecutive seasons — an extended drought for the likes of quarterback Joe Burrow and large receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. 

In 2025, Burrow missed 9 video games after having surgical procedure for turf toe, however the protection nonetheless remained the issue. Cincy additionally grew to become the primary crew for the reason that 1966 New York Giants to lose consecutive video games whereas scoring no less than 38 factors in defeats in opposition to the New York Jets (39-38 in Week 8) and the Chicago Bears (47-42 in Week 9). 

The Bengals have allowed 23.2 factors per sport in Burrow’s begins, the fifth-most for any quarterback with a profitable file in his profession since no less than 1950, per CBS Sports activities Analysis. Cincinnati initiatives to have $47.4 million in efficient cap house this offseason, the seventh-most within the league in keeping with OverTheCap.com. Maybe the Bengals can overhaul their protection in free company in an effort to lastly return to the playoffs in 2026.

Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are an NFL-worst 6-28 throughout the final two seasons, however issues seem like turning round in Nashville. The crew employed former New York Jets head coach and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to be their subsequent head coach, and he was capable of rent former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll to be his offensive coordinator.

Daboll was Josh Allen’s OC from 2018 to 2021 in Buffalo when Allen made the leap to changing into one of many league’s greatest passers. That is nice information for 2025’s first total decide Cam Ward, who closed his rookie 12 months effectively with 11 complete touchdowns to only two turnovers throughout his ultimate 9 begins. Tennessee can also be set to have $93.3 million in efficient cap house, essentially the most within the NFL this offseason in keeping with OverThe Cap.com. 

The 2025 AFC champion Patriots spent an NFL-record $364 million in free company final offseason and ended up within the Tremendous Bowl in 2024 third total decide quarterback Drake Maye’s second season and Mike Vrabel’s first as New England’s head coach. Maybe Tennessee may comply with the Patriots’ blueprint to return to relevance as quickly as subsequent season. 

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders are the homeowners of the 2026 NFL Draft’s first total decide after producing a 3-14 file in 2025, which led to Pete Carroll being fired as head coach after only one season in cost. 

The Raiders are reportedly set to rent Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, the very best younger offensive thoughts accessible within the teaching carousel this offseason, they usually have the the third only house within the NFL at $76.991 million, in keeping with OverTheCap.com. 

With Geno Smith main the NFL in each sacks taken (55) and interceptions thrown (17) in 2025 on the age of 35, Indiana Hoosier Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza will definitely be the decide for Las Vegas. Will probably be intriguing to see if the Raiders can fill out a top quality offensive line in addition to the remainder of the roster for Mendoza. There are a number of items — Ashton Jeanty, a first-round decide from a 12 months in the past, and 2024 first crew All-Professional tight finish Brock Bowers on offense, and five-time Professional Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby on protection — however there’s nonetheless a methods to go. 

If the Raiders add spend their free company cash wisley and if Mendoza is capabale in Yr 1, Kubiak have the Raiders within the combine for a playoff spot from the soar. 

Los Angeles Chargers

Issues are positively trending in the fitting route for the Chargers. They simply made the playoffs for consecutive seasons for the primary time for the reason that late 2000s and Justin Herbert’s 24,820 passing yards rank because the second-most in a participant’s first six seasons all-time behind solely Peyton Manning, and that is regardless of being the most-sacked QB within the league since Herbert started in 2020. 

There have been indicators of a stallout, although, and that is why Herbert now has a high-end play caller with the Chargers hiring Mike McDaniel, the previous Miami Dolphins head coach, to be his offensive coordinator. The 5.78 yards per play common the Dolphins had with him as their play-calling head coach rank because the seventh-most yards per play amongst head coaches within the Tremendous Bowl period. If offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt can stay upright, Los Angeles’ offense may very well be particular — particularly for the reason that Chargers are projected to have the second only house within the NFL, $79.23 million in keeping with OverTheCap.com. 

Los Angeles may spend vital money on upgrading Herbert’s offensive line whereas nonetheless having loads of cash left over to deal with different roster wants. The Chargers may make a leap in 2026 by way of a free company spending spree just like the Patriots did in 2025. 

5 offseason storylines

Will the Cardinals commerce Kyler Murray? 

Murray, the primary total decide within the 2019 NFL Draft, performed simply 5 video games within the 2025 season due to a foot harm. His placement on injured reserve served as a gentle benching of types as a result of it got here proper Murray had begun making ready to return. 

Murray is a uniqute expertise and a two-time Professional Bowl quarterback who led Arizona to their final playoff look within the 2021 season, however the Cardinals also can save $37 million in cap house by buying and selling him as he enters his third 12 months of a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension.

We’ll learm within the subsequent month or so what new coach Mike LaFleur, who comes over to the Cardinals after spending the final three years as Sean McVay’s offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams, desires to do on the crew’s quarterback place. 

How easy will Cowboys’ talks with Pickens be?

Large receiver George Pickens had an enormous breakout in his first season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. He earned each his first Professional Bowl choice and his first All-Professional crew choice, a second crew nod, in his first 12 months catching passes from Dak Prescott. 

Pickens ranked inside the highest 10 in primarily each key receiving metric, and now his rookie deal is full. Dallas proprietor and normal supervisor Jerry Jones will reportedly slap the franchise tag on the 24-year-old this offseason with the purpose of re-signing Pickens to a long-term extension. 

Nonetheless … Jones additionally supposed to re-sign All-Professional edge rusher Micah Parsons final offseason, and that saga concluded with Parsons being traded to the Inexperienced Bay Packers every week earlier than the 2025 season kicked off. A hilarious irony is that Pickens is represented by the identical energy agent, David Mulugheta, who additionally reps Parsons. Jones’ method struggled to interrupt by with Mulugheta and Parsons. Let’s examine if he tries a unique tactic with Pickens. 

May the crew that indicators Malik Willis make an enormous leap?

Willis, a 2022 third-round decide of the Tennessee Titans, spent the final two seasons revamping his sport below the tutelage of Matt LaFleur whereas backing up Jordan Love on the Inexperienced Bay Packers. When thrust into motion due to accidents to Love the final two years, Willis accomplished 79% of his passes for 10.9 yards per go try, six passing touchdowns, no interceptions and a 134.6 passer ranking. 

If one extrapolated his three Packers’ begins into what it could seem like over a 17-game season, that may end in a tempo of three,473 passing yards, 986 dashing yards, 34 complete touchdowns and simply 5 turnovers. It’s a tantalizing skillset and in a weak class of free agent QBs, the 26-year-old Willis is the prize. 

This may increasingly really feel like a surreal flip of occasions for a QB who struggled with the Titans and was forged apart in favor of Will Levis, however as evidenced by Darnold profitable a Tremendous Bowl, a QB’s success has as a lot to do together with his scenario because it does his expertise. 

The place will EDGE Trey Hendrickson go? 

Previous to being restricted to seven video games in 2025 due to a hip harm, Hendrickson led the NFL with a mixed 35 sacks from 2023 to 2024, producing precisely 17.5 in every marketing campaign. He is the fifth participant in NFL historical past with no less than that variety of sacks in consecutive seasons. 

Moreover, informal followers could also be stunned to study Hendrickson’s 74.5 sacks this decade are the third-most within the league behind solely Myles Garrett (95.0) and T.J. Watt (80.5). He’s 31-years-old, however he’ll nonetheless have loads of curiosity as the very best edge rusher on the free company market and top-of-the-line go rushers of the 2020s. 

How a lot he’ll make on a brand new deal is intriguing after the Bengals selected to play hardball with him the final two offseasons regardless of Hendrickson’s historic manufacturing. 

And at last: Will Travis Kelce retire? 

Kelce, who accomplished his thirteenth NFL season on the age of 36 in 2025, has a retirement choice to make. 

His two-year contract extension is completed, so he enters 2026 and not using a contract. Kansas Metropolis will definitely re-sign their all-time chief in catches (1,080), receiving yards (13,002) and receiving touchdowns (82) if he signifies he desires to proceed taking part in soccer in 2026. If information imply something to the three-time Tremendous Bowl champion, he ranks third in all-time catches by a good finish, third in receiving yards all-time by a good finish and fifth in receiving touchdowns all time by a good finish. 

He’ll definitely should weigh actually having nothing a lot left to show apart from stuffing the stat sheet forward to cap what’s already a Corridor of Fame profession with the possibility of struggling a serious harm. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes additionally could or is probably not prepared to start the 2026 season in Week 1 after tearing his ACL and LCL in Week 15 in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers. 

If Kelce does hold it as much as pursue whateve profitable choices await him in his second profession, the Chiefs will sorely miss him, even when Father Time has clearly caught as much as him.