Training camp creates a lot of noise. One great practice does not change how we see a team. A major injury, a real quarterback change or a starting job that changes the shape of a roster absolutely can.
That is why these five teams are worth watching closely. The PFM NFL Team Rankings already show where each team is strong and where the concern sits. Camp can start answering whether those weak spots are getting better, getting worse or staying exactly where they are.
Carolina has already given us a good example. The Panthers dropped after losing Nic Scourton and learning Taylor Moton will miss the start of the season. That is the kind of camp development that matters. A viral catch in one-on-ones is not.
| Team | PFM Rank | Current Strength | Camp Question |
|---|---|---|---|
 Chicago Bears |
No. 12 | Offense — 85.8 | Can the protection and new pass-catcher order keep the offense rolling? |
 Dallas Cowboys |
No. 21 | Offense — 86.0 | Can Christian Parker get enough out of a defense rated 73.9? |
 Pittsburgh Steelers |
No. 18 | Defense — 83.4 | How much trust should PFM put in the quarterback room beyond Aaron Rodgers? |
 Carolina Panthers |
No. 29 | QB Stability — 74.9 | Can the roster absorb major losses at pass rusher and offensive tackle? |
 Arizona Cardinals |
No. 27 | QB Stability — 77.9 | How quickly can Mike LaFleur settle the offense around Jacoby Brissett? |
Chicago BearsChicago Is Close Enough to the Top 10 That Camp Matters
Chicago is not trying to figure out whether Caleb Williams can play. That question was answered last season. Williams set a Bears single-season passing record, Ben Johnson’s offense helped win the NFC North and the Bears finally looked like a team that could put real pressure on a defense in more than one way.
The 2026 question is whether that offense can hold its shape after a few important changes. DJ Moore is gone. Drew Dalman retired. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III move into bigger spots in the receiving group, while Garrett Bradbury has to settle in at center. Left tackle is another camp battle worth watching.
This is where camp can tell us something useful without overreacting to every rep. If the offensive line settles quickly and Williams looks comfortable with Odunze, Burden and Colston Loveland handling more of the passing game, Chicago has a real chance to push higher. If protection becomes a weekly issue, the 85.8 offensive grade starts to feel less secure.
A meaningful offensive-line injury, a clear starting change at left tackle or center, or another roster move that changes Williams’ protection or pass-catching support.
Dallas CowboysDallas Has One of the Easiest Rankings to Explain
Dallas is No. 21 because the offense and defense look like two totally different teams. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens give the Cowboys enough firepower to score with almost anyone. PFM has the offense at 86.0. The defense however sits at 73.9.
That large gap is the whole story. The Cowboys finished last in points allowed in 2025, and now Christian Parker takes over the defense with a new staff and a revised group of players. The first thing I want to see is not an interception in a July practice. It is whether Dallas has enough pass rush to stop making the secondary cover forever.
Dallas does not need the defense to become Seattle overnight. It does need enough pressure, tackling and communication to stop wasting good offensive football. If Parker gets that group into the middle of the league, No. 21 will look low in a hurry. If the same problems follow them into September, the offense will be carrying too much again.
A major defensive injury, a roster addition, or a starting-role change that clearly raises or lowers the talent available to Parker. One strong practice from the defense is not enough.
Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh’s Defense Is Ready. The Quarterback Timeline Is Not.
Pittsburgh is one of the stranger teams on our board. The Steelers have an 83.4 defensive grade and an 83.2 Coaching Direction grade, but QB Stability is only 75.8. That is how a team with plenty to like lands at No. 18 instead of comfortably inside the playoff-contender group.
Aaron Rodgers is back for one final season, so there is not much mystery about who should open the year at quarterback. The bigger question is what comes after him. Pittsburgh also has Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar in the room, and Mike McCarthy now gets a full camp to work with all four quarterbacks.
PFM would not raise Pittsburgh because Allar throws a pretty deep ball in Latrobe. That is exactly the kind of camp trap worth avoiding. But if one of the young quarterbacks clearly becomes a trusted No. 2, or if Rodgers’ health changes the short-term outlook, the quarterback grade has a reason to move.
The Steelers do not need more proof that the defense can keep them in games. They need the quarterback picture to become less fragile. That is the part of this team that can change the ranking fastest.
Any verified change to Rodgers’ availability, a meaningful quarterback roster move, or enough clarity behind him to change the depth and succession outlook.
Carolina PanthersCarolina Already Showed Why Training Camp Can Change a Ranking
Carolina is the exact example that shows what can change a team ranking in training camp. The Panthers did not drop because somebody had a bad practice. They dropped because the roster changed in a real way.
Nic Scourton tore his ACL and went to injured reserve. Taylor Moton is expected to miss the start of the season. Ikem Ekwonu is also working back from a major knee injury. PFM moved Carolina down 0.31 on July 24 because those losses hit the pass rush, offensive line and roster depth at the same time.
There is still upside here. Bryce Young gets another year with Dave Canales, Tetairoa McMillan is coming off a strong rookie season, and the defense added Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd. But Carolina is already asking younger linemen and new defenders to take on more than expected.
That is why the Panthers can still move in either direction before Week 1. Good health news at tackle would help. Another major loss at a thin position would hurt. The roster does not have much room left for bad injury luck.
More verified injury news, a meaningful return timetable for the offensive line, or a roster addition that changes the depth at tackle or edge rusher.
Arizona CardinalsArizona Has More Questions Than One Quarterback Contract Can Fix
Arizona settled one issue Sunday when Jacoby Brissett received a reworked deal and moved back toward the starting job. That matters. It removes some immediate uncertainty for a new offense that already has enough to install under Mike LaFleur.
It does not solve the whole quarterback question. Brissett is still scheduled to become a free agent after the season, Gardner Minshew is behind him and rookie Carson Beck is part of the longer-term conversation. That helps explain why PFM can give Arizona a respectable 77.9 QB Stability grade and still keep the Cardinals at No. 27 overall.
The more interesting camp question is what LaFleur can build around Brissett, Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride and first-round running back Jeremiyah Love. Arizona’s offense is rated 73.6 and the defense 72.2. There is room to climb, but there is no single strength carrying this team yet.
If the quarterback order settles and the offense comes out of camp healthy with clear roles, Arizona can start closing the gap on the middle of the league. If the new offense still looks unsettled or the defense loses more depth, No. 27 may be exactly where the Cardinals belong.
A verified quarterback-status change, a major injury, a roster move, or a starting-role decision that changes the way LaFleur’s offense or Nick Rallis’ defense should be graded.
What Actually Changes a PFM Rating During Training Camp?
This is the part that matters most. Training camp is useful, but it is also where one good rep can become a week of headlines. PFM will not chase that.
What can move a rating
- Significant injuries or verified return timelines
- A starting-quarterback change
- A meaningful roster addition or release
- A confirmed starting-role change that affects team strength
- Health or availability news that changes depth at an important position
What will not move it by itself
- One great practice
- One interception or one dropped pass
- A viral one-on-one clip
- Generic praise from a coach
- An unofficial depth chart before the competition is settled
PFM ratings referenced in this article were updated July 24, 2026. Training-camp news and roster context were reviewed July 27, 2026.
Sources reviewed for current training-camp context
PFM reviewed current team and NFL reporting for the roster, injury and quarterback details used above. The PFM rankings remain the source for the ratings and ranks.
Leave a comment