The 2026 NFL season is approaching fast, and DraftKings Sportsbook has released "Make the Playoffs" odds for all 32 teams. With 14 teams earning a postseason berth each year (seven from each conference), nearly half the league will be playing in January. The question is which half? All odds below represent the "yes" side of the "Will X team make the playoffs"
To help break down where every team stands, we've organized all 32 teams into four tiers based on their current DraftKings odds to make the playoffs:
🔒 Locks (odds of -225 or shorter): These teams would need a catastrophic season to miss the postseason.
⭐ Favorites (-220 to -100): Expected to make the playoffs, but far from guaranteed.
🏈 Contenders (+100 to +200): Right on the bubble, with a realistic but uncertain path to January football.
🎯 Longshots (+200 or longer): Facing an uphill battle, but stranger things have happened.
These are the teams the market views as virtual certainties to make the playoffs. Barring a rash of injuries or a stunning collapse, these squads should be playing in January.
Note: The Rams chances to make the playoffs jumped from -300 to -440 after the reported trade for Myles Garrett on June 1st. On June 15th, these increased to -460. The Rams are the current Super Bowl favorite.
These teams are expected to make the playoffs but aren't quite at the "lock" level. One or two things going wrong could push them to the outside looking in.
These teams are right on the bubble. They have the talent to make a run, but also have enough question marks that missing the playoffs wouldn't be a surprise.
These teams face significant obstacles to reaching the postseason. Whether it's a rebuild, a weak roster, or a brutal division, the path to January is narrow. But in a league defined by parity, upsets happen every year.
Note: All odds sourced from DraftKings Sportsbook as of the writing of this article. Lines are subject to change.
The Panthers won the NFC South last season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2017. They added impact defenders in Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd and drafted offensive tackle Monroe Freeling in the first round. The NFC South remains wide open, and if Bryce Young takes another step forward, Carolina has a legitimate shot at repeating as division champs. At plus-money odds, there's value here on a team that already proved it could win the division.
The Saints feel good about their trajectory thanks to the emergence of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough at the end of last season. They invested in getting him weapons by signing Travis Etienne and using the eighth overall pick on Jordyn Tyson. The NFC South is up for grabs, and if Shough builds on his strong rookie finish, New Orleans could surprise.
The Cardinals sit at the very bottom of the odds board for good reason. Arizona tied for the league's worst record at three wins last season, hired a new head coach, and moved on from Kyler Murray. This is a full-scale rebuild, and making the playoffs would require a near-miracle. Save your money here.