In the entirety of the Power Rangers franchise, every team has a Red Ranger. Starting way back with original Red Ranger Jason Lee Scott in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the Red Ranger is the team leader. There are a few exceptions, like when a sixth ranger takes over the role, or when a different color designation has actually been with the team longer— but most often, it's the Red Ranger inspiring their teammates and calling the shots.
Not all Red Rangers are created equal, however. Some of them are much stronger in a fight and more capable leaders than others. They all have their own strengths, and though they all have the safety of the world as a heavy weight on their shoulders, some Red Rangers come up a little short.
10 Strongest: Leo (Lost Galaxy)
Leo almost wasn't a Red Ranger. If he hadn't stowed away on a mission with his big brother on Terra Venture, he never would have ended up with the Red Ranger power in Power Rangers Lost Galaxy. It's a good thing he did, because it is clearly meant for him.
Despite not having a mentor to help the team, Leo manages to keep them all together and working toward a common goal. Even when he makes horrible decisions, he owns up to them and puts himself in harm's way before he does any of the other members of his team. When Leo and Damon end up captured, they spend plenty of time alternately supporting each other and picking on each other to keep themselves alert and ready for a fight. Leo might not be the most conventional of Red Rangers, but he gets the job done.
9 Weakest: Troy (Megaforce)
In theory, Troy should be one of the strongest of Power Rangers. After all, the Megaforce team has access to the powers of all of the Rangers who came before them. Unfortunately, that's about all Troy has.
He doesn't really take any initiative or inspire a lot of confidence in his team. Instead, Jake and Gia do that more than he does. Troy relies heavily on the powers of the past instead of focusing on his own inner strength as well.
8 Strongest: TJ (Turbo)
TJ has to fill some pretty big shoes when he joins Power Rangers Turbo. He, along with most of his team, are chosen by the previous Rangers as their replacements. Tommy Oliver handpicks TJ to become the next Red Ranger after TJ shows himself as willing to make sacrifices to save people he doesn't even know.
It's also important that TJ is one of the few characters that's able to hold his own against the enemy without being a Power Ranger first. Even as the team starts to see that they might not win, TJ holds firm, sacrificing the Megazord and being willing to go down with the ship to save the world.
7 Weakest: Jayden (Samurai)
Like Leo before him, Jayden isn't the first person chosen to take on the role of Red Ranger. While Jayden tries his best, he weakens his team by keeping secrets from them that are actually in their best interest to know.
Though he does appear in most of the Power Rangers Samurai run, Jayden is a place holder— and he knows it. Though he tries his best, he isn't nearly as strong as the rightful Red Ranger.
6 Strongest: Lauren (Super Samurai)
Lauren doesn't spend a long time as a Red Ranger because she spends most of the Samurai seasons in hiding. Her team isn't even all that interested in working alongside her because they're used to working under the leadership of her brother Jayden.
The truth is, however, that Lauren is much stronger than Jayden. She masters the sealing ritual needed to get rid of the big bad, uses her Zord to take out a monster the Megazord couldn't defeat on its own, and helps her brother heal from his injuries. Lauren makes the team see how capable she is, wanting to do what's best for everyone instead of wasting time arguing about her place on the team. She also happens to be the very first female Red Ranger in a main storyline.
5 Weakest: Rocky (Mighty Morphin)
When the original Red, Yellow, and Black Rangers leave the team, some new friends step in to fill their shoes. Rocky becomes the Red Ranger, but he's not the team leader as that spot is reserved for White Ranger Tommy.
Rocky gets a lot of hate from fans because he doesn't have the same style as Jason, and while he's not as strong of a Red Ranger as the original, he is a great support system for the team. What he lacks as a Red Ranger, he makes up as a Blue Ranger during the Power Rangers Zeo season, always ready to help.
4 Strongest: Tommy (Zeo, Turbo)
Tommy is originally the Green Ranger before losing his powers and becoming the White Ranger. By the time Power Rangers Zeo comes around, he gets another color change and becomes the team's Red Ranger. He retains his Red Ranger status into the Turbo season as well.
He's one of the best team leaders the franchise has ever seen as he inspires loyalty, no matter what incarnation of the team he's on. Tommy learns from his past mistakes and finds creative ways to use his powers, always willing to put himself on the line to keep the rest of the team safe.
3 Weakest: Grace (Boom Studios Comics)
Not every Power Ranger is introduced in the television series. The universe has expanded thanks to Boom Studios. In their "Shattered Grid" event, the comics revealed that there was a one-time team put together by Zordon in 1969 to go to the moon.
The Red Ranger on that mission is Grace. Her team doesn't survive the mission. Grace isn't able to command the power successfully, and most of her team is killed in action as she can't get them to follow her lead.
2 Strongest: Jason (Mighty Morphin)
The original Red Ranger remains one of the most beloved Red Rangers of all time. He's an incredible leader, able to inspire his team to take huge risks. Jason doesn't just get his team to follow him into battle, however; he's also willing to go to battle on their behalf.
Jason is one of the few Rangers who is able to take on Goldar alone and live to tell the tale. He regularly stands up to Rita Repulsa's henchman alone in order to prolong Tommy's power.
1 Weakest: Nick (Mystic Force)
Nick is destined to be the Red Ranger. He's also destined to be an incredibly powerful magic user. The trouble is, Nick runs scared.
He doesn't gain his power, or his Ranger status, until after the rest of the team. Nick even tries to walk away from the fight completely and his team has to bail him out. It's difficult to have confidence in Nick's strength when he doesn't display it.