Every NFL season begins with hope, but not every franchise enters September carrying the same expectations. As teams prepare for the start of the 2026 campaign, CBS Sports NFL writer John Breech released his annual season predictions, projecting final records for all 32 teams.
While contenders such as the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens are expected to battle for playoff positioning, Breech sees a much different future for three franchises: the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans. According to his forecast, those teams will finish with the league’s worst records in 2026.
Miami Dolphins: 2-15
The bleakest outlook belongs to the Dolphins, whom Breech projects to finish 2-15. Such a record would place Miami firmly in contention for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and further intensify questions surrounding the franchise’s post-Tua Tagovailoa rebuild.
Miami underwent sweeping changes during the offseason. The organization moved on from several cornerstone players, including Tagovailoa, while handing the quarterback position to Malik Willis. Although Willis showed flashes during limited opportunities earlier in his career, he entered the season with only a handful of NFL starts on his résumé.
The Dolphins also face one of the league’s most challenging schedules, a factor that has contributed to widespread skepticism about their chances of a quick turnaround. Miami will suffer every weekend, but hopefully they can change that in a couple of years.
Arizona Cardinals: 3-14
Arizona is not projected to fare much better. Breech predicts the Cardinals will finish 3-14, matching their record from the previous season. The franchise enters a new era after moving on from longtime quarterback Kyler Murray and hiring Mike LaFleur as head coach.
While the Cardinals have added young talent and hope to establish a stronger foundation, many analysts remain unconvinced that the roster is ready to compete in a difficult NFC West. The bright side of the season will be the rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, who can become a key piece of the offense.
Tennessee Titans: 3-14
The Titans also landed near the bottom of Breech’s projections with a 3-14 record. Tennessee continues to search for stability after several disappointing seasons and organizational changes. Despite efforts to reshape the roster and coaching staff, the AFC remains crowded with playoff-caliber teams, making a climb up the standings difficult.
What makes these projections especially noteworthy is the potential impact on the 2027 NFL Draft. If Miami, Arizona and Tennessee finish where Breech expects, all three franchises could find themselves in prime position to select elite quarterback prospects or other blue-chip talent.
Early draft discussions have already centered on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and other highly regarded college stars expected to headline next spring’s class. Of course, preseason predictions rarely unfold exactly as expected.
Injuries, breakout performances and surprise contenders emerge every year. Breech himself acknowledged that forecasting an entire NFL season months in advance is an imperfect exercise. Still, his projections offer a snapshot of how difficult the road ahead may be for several rebuilding franchises.
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