It’s the beginning of the 2025 NFL Season! Week one of the regular season carries so much anticipation and raw excitement, that it’s easy to almost think of it as a national holiday. People across the country wake up early, excited to start preparing for the first full day of NFL football in a year. Some host parties, some meet their friends or family out at a restaurant to watch the game together, others tailgate, and some just watch on their televisions at home. Regardless of how you celebrate the reutrn of NFL football, you’ll be chomping at the bit in the final moments before the season has officially started, So, to celebrate this moment in football, I’ve decided to rank all 32 NFL teams and add my own personal thoughts to each one, for your personal reading pleasure. Feel free to leisurely work through this long post, absorbing my thoughts on each team that piques your interest.
So, without further ado, here is my Power Ranking for the beginning of the regular season:
32. New Orleans Saints
It’s a quarterback’s league, and the New Orleans Saints have the worst group of the bunch. Unproven and sloppy quarterback Spencer Rattler was named the Week one starter, which is more of an indictment on their roster than it is commendation of Rattler. They still do have workhorse tailback Alvin Kamara paired with a healthy Chris Olave, so offensive production under first year head coach Kellen Moore can certainly happen. Those quarterbacks are going to be a problem, though. And so is the defense, with no more Marshon Lattimore nor Paulson Adebo. They’re excited about their replacements, cornerbacks Kool-Aid Mckinstry and Alontae Taylor, but I’m sure not.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- RB Alvin Kamara
- DE Cameron Jordan
- LB Demario Davis
Projected 2025 Record: 4-13
31. Indianapolis Colts
Similar to the Saints, the Indianapolis Colts have a quarterback problem. The Anthony Richardson gamble seems to have officially failed after he was benched in favor of veteran signal caller Daniel Jones in week one.
Richardson was one of the most sought after quarterbacks of his draft class because of his raw physical traits, his athleticism, and his impressive, albeit brief college highlight reel that showcased all in action. Richardson was s elected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Colts, who were in desperate need of a reset at quarterback after the Matt Ryan swan song went up in flames. Two seasons and 15 starts later, time has apparently run out for Richardson. Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star
described how Richardson’s end came so abruptly:
The Colts drafted Richardson because his potential offered the promise of a Mahomes-style magician at some point, even if that possibility was inherently remote.
But the team’s offensive inconsistency in 2024, exacerbated by constant changes at the quarterback position and uneven play from Richardson, convinced [head coach Shane] Steichen he needed consistency from the team’s most important position. – Joel A. Erickson
Even though he’s mounted the starting job in Indy, Daniel Jones has his own history of disappointment dating to his time with the New York Giants. In an oddly similar light to Richardson, Jones was an athletic college quarterback that only had limited snaps of looking like a legitimate star. He wasn’t nearly the athlete Richardson was, but Jones had enough eye-catching performances to be sign as one of the top prospects at the position in the 2019 NFL Draft. He, like Richardson, was never able to grow past the weights that held him down in college: fumbling, bouts of poor decision making, poor pocket presence. So…if he’s the best option available, it’s going to be a long season. Indy still has some real playmakers on their team, like running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Michael Pittman, and wide receiver Josh Downs, but it won’t be enough to save them from the fumbles Daniel Jones will incur.
On defense, they still have stalwart tackles Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner, and they added to their backfield in free agency with cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Cam Bynum. Pair them with Kenny Moore II and Juju Brents, and you’ve got a spunky backfield that could give quarterbacks like CJ Stroud some trouble. That offense, however, will be their downfall.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- RB Jonathan Taylor
- DT Grover Stewart
- CB Juju Brents
Projected 2025 Record: 5-12
30. Cleveland Browns
It was just twenty months ago that the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans faced off in the wildcard card after the 2023 regular season had concluded. We all remember how that year treated the Houston Texans, but how many of us remember the Joe Flacco renaissance in Cleveland? The Browns entered that wildcard round on a heater thanks to Flacco of all people, but that magic didn’t last. Everything came crashing down in 2024, with the offense grinding to a halt under quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, only to be revived into Frankensteinien form by Jameis Winston.
The Browns will be trying to run it back with Joe Flacco, but if they have any hopes of being a good team this year, it’ll be because of the defense. They still have playmakers all over the place, but after a disappointing year from cornerback Greg Newsome the II, dominance isn’t as much of a certainty. Star linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is on the PUP list, as well, so the Browns will be hampered by injury right out of the gate. General manager Joe Barry thinks he found something with second round linebacker Carson Schwesinger, but if he and first rounder Mason Graham can’t make an immediate impact, it will be an ugly year in Cleveland.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- WR Jerry Jeudy
- DE Myles Garrett
- S Grant Delpit
Projected 2025 Record: 5-12
29. New York Jets
The poor, poor jets. Even adding a future hall-of-fame quarterback to their loaded defense wasn’t enough to prevent disaster in both 2023 and 2024. Head coach Robert Saleh was fired, Rodgers was let go in free agency, and in their place arrives new head coach Aaron Glenn and quarterback Justin Fields. Some relationships are destined to go down in flames, so maybe we should have seen this Jets and Aaron Rodgers divorce coming.
Besides the Rodgers drama, a genuinely shocking development of New York’s 2024 season was the decline of their defense. After two straight years of dominance atop the league in statistics under Saleh, the Jets’ defense declined a bit in 2024, notably after Saleh was fired and replaced by interim coach Jeff Ulbrich. That plug should be filled by former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, a coach that launched his last team’s defense from 31st to 7th over the course of his four years there. When the Lions encountered a rash of injuries along their defense and had to repeatedly sign veteran players during the season, Glenn kept the boat steady. However, he rocked the boat in New York a bit when he closed the door on the Aaron Rodgers experience, so instead of chancing the draft, the Jets decided to go shopping and sign free agent quarterback Justin Fields.
That could come into play…
@minakimes pointed out that Aaron Glenn &
#Jets DC Steve Wilks like to blitz &
#Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers struggled against the blitz last season:
‘Are they gonna heat him up? Because Aaron Rodgers was really bad against the blitz: 30th in QBR [and]…
pic.twitter.com/ZS0qfnk1fG
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25)
September 6, 2025
Fields is a very talented dual-threat passer that hasn’t completely ironed out the…passing part of his abilities. His highlights in Chicago include some of the best runs you’ll ever see from an NFL quarterback, but his time there ended with a trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers in ‘24. He showed modest improvement while in black and gold, but his time on the field there was ultimately cut short by quarterback Russell Wilson. In New York, Fields hopes to show that he has grown since his time in Chicago and is capable of becoming an NFL starter once again.
Unfortunately for Fields, the Jets rushing attack has been one of their enigmas in recent history. Lead tailbacks Breece Hall and Braelon Allen haven’t lived up to their collegiate billing, even though the Jets have assembled a decent offensive line in front of them. Glenn is hoping that the addition of free agent center Josh Myers, first round right tackle Armand Membou, and more depth at wide receiver will be the key to getting the offense back on track, but only time will tell if Fields will be able to exploit these improvements.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- WR Garrett Williams
- LB Jamien Sherwood
- CB Sauce Gardner
Projected 2025 Record: 6-11
28. Tennessee Titans
Here’s another AFC South rival of the Texans. Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk’s organizational philosophy seems to change with the weather, and this year’s flavor is #1 overall pick quarterback Cam Ward. The Will Levis experienced ended in disaster, way too much mayonnaise, and a offseason surgery that will ensure Ward will represent a reset of the team at large. While at Miami in 2024, he was one of the most productive passers in college football, and now he’ll be throwing to wide receivers Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, and rookie Elic Ayomanor. Lockett and Ridley give the Titans known quantities at the position, but Ayomanor is a big weapon that adds an unknown, potentially difference-making quantity at that position group. The tight ends room added rookie Gunnar Helm to join starting tight end Chig Okonkwo.
The defense had a surprisingly strange defensive backfield, finishing last season ranked second in the league in yards allowed but 30th in points allowed. Their pass defense, led by safety Amani Hooker and cornerbacks Darrell Baker and fifth round pick Jarvis Brownlee, who tied with Hooker in leading the team with nine pass deflections. If, by some tremendous misfortune you became a Titans fan, there’s reason to be excited about the secondary, especially after they drafted uber-talented safety Kevin Winston in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. And, once again, Jeffrey Simmons was arguably the best interior defensive lineman in football. If they can get more juice against the rushing attack out of the linebacker group with free agent signee Cody Barton and 2024 drafted Cedric Gray, then the Titans could be in shape to be a spunky young team in 2025. But, as we’ve come to know the Titans, it’ll only be a matter of time until this core will encounter rough patches, and then get unceremoniously blown up by ownership determined to keep hitting the reset button until the paint rubs off.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- RB Tony Pollard
- WR Calvin Ridley
- DT Jeffery Simmons
Projected 2025 Record: 6-11
27. Carolina Panthers
If there was an NFC version of the Tennessee Titans, it would probably be the Carolina Panthers. Since current owner David Tepper stamped his foot down on the Panthers organization trying to scurry away from him in July 2018, they’ve been an exercise in mediocrity. He has gone through no more than seven different head coaches, three different general manager and never had a better season than in 2022, when the Panthers went 7-10. Tepper was also reportedly the voice behind drafting quarterback Bryce Young first overall in the 2023 NFL draft, which has yet to yield a passing season even remotely comparable to the production of the QB taken one pick after him, our very own CJ Stroud. Maybe with a new receiving corps, led by Xavier Legette, David Moore, Hunter Renfrow, and rookie first rounder Tetairoa McMillan, Bryce Young will finally be able to break through. The jury is still out on Legette and McMillan, so this group could get ugly real quick if they don’t perform to expectations.
Although, the suffering of Bryce Young has been less about his lack of ability, and more about the terrible prices around him. They spent a serious amount of resources shoring up the offensive line in 2024, and it became one of the better groups in the NFC. In the 2025 offseason, they targeted the defensive line instead, signing defensive tackle Bobby Brown III and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton, who will join established star Derrick Brown along the front seven. Joining them on defense will be free agent safety Tre’von Moehrig and free agent linebacker Christian Rozeboom, who should add additional help against the run in the secondary. If all this heavy spending in ‘24 and ‘25 works out, Bryce Young and the Panthers should be in position to take a big step this year, but I’ve learned to never trust David Tepper.
.
@_bryce_young turned some heads last season.
How will he kick off the 2025 season?
@TCL_USA
CARvsJAX– Sunday 1pm ET on FOX
https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/q4FAe5oOhF
— NFL (@NFL)
September 6, 2025
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Bryce Young
- RB Chuba Hubbard
- DL Derrick Brown
Projected 2025 Record: 6-11
26. New York Giants
The New York Giants have gone from one of the most well respected franchises in the NFL to a circus of Cleveland Browns-level proportions. The Daniel Jones experiment was declared a failure after six years of trying, multiple different coaches and coordinators, and a managerie of different linemen and receivers. After a gnarly first half the the 2024 season, Jones was released – yes, released – from the New York Giants in November and then picked up by the Minnesota Vikings to be there backup in the playoffs. With his departure, the Giants have hit the reset button at signal caller, and their new plan includes a stable of new quarterbacks: Jameis Winston, Russell Wilson, and rookie first round pick Jaxson Dart. Wilson will be the acceptable, consistent starter New York has been waiting for since Eli Manning retired, but Dart is the guy bringing in all of the moxie.
Transition at quarterback is a nice sign of progress, but the lack of changes along the offensive line fosters doubt about how much Giants brass are intent on getting more production from the signal caller. The line wasn’t exactly great in 2024, and it could become New York’s biggest problem if guard Greg Van Roten or tackle Andrew Thomas were to end up on the injury report. Free agent tackles Stone Forsythe and James Hudson III will provide meaningful depth on the roster, but they cannot save the team in a pinch. Much of the same can be said about the receivers room, Malik Nabers is the unquestioned #1 target on offense, but the Giants hope to balance the attack with the same guys from last year: Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson. They brought in reciever Lil’Jordan Humphrey for depth…but this isn’t exactly a galvanizing bunch. Maybe second-year tight end Theo Johnson will be the key to an improved aerial attack, but I have my doubts.
On the other side of the ball, the Giants have a much better situation going on up front. Led by star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and talented defensive end Brian Burns, New York will get even scarier up front with third overall pick Abdul Carter arriving in 2025. Fellow first round pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux hasn’t lived up to his billing, but if he can get back to first-round form this year, the Giants may be the best pass rush in the entire NFL. There’s no easy answer to this pass rush, so if the Giants were right in keeping everything in place on offense besides the quarterbacks, this could be a hard team to beat. Everything relies on the quarterbacks, though.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- WR Malik Nabers
- DE Abdul Carter
- DT Dexter Lawrence
Projected 2025 Record: 7-10
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
Every year of his football career has led Trevor Lawrence to this moment. Once the golden locked franchise savior or yore, Lawrence has seen his signature sheen fade since January 2023. He mowed through receivers like Calvin Ridley, Gabe Davis, Zay Jones, and Christian Kirk, but seems to have finally found his muse in Brian Thomas Jr. Over 1,200 receiving yards in his rookie year is fantastic, but it makes you aware of how infrequently he was targeting the other receivers. Jacksonville would be in much better shape if Parker Washington and tight end Breton Strangle improve even further in 2025, but if not, they’ve signed free agent receiver Dyami Brown and drafted two-way star Travis Hunter to level up the talent in that skill position. 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter has been the new star on Jaguars campus, showcasing in training camp that his athletic frame and instinctual ball skills will translate just fine into the professional league. He twitchy reactions and massive hands make him a natural at the sport, so he shapes up to be an immediate contributor for the Jaguars, and an immediate problem for the Houston Texans. Although, to start the year, Hunter will primarily be a wide receiver while only sparingly playing at cornerback, maybe hinting where Jaguars think their depth on the roster may be shallower. Besides Hunter, keep a look out for rookie third-round guard Wyatt Milum, who could end up taking one of the starting guard spots from veterans Ezra Cleveland or Patrick Mekari before the season is over.
That stimulus of talent should aid Trevor Lawrence and first year head coach Liam Coen, but how about the defense? Well, they looked to Texas: the Jaguars signed longtime Texans safety Eric Murray and longtime Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis to be their new starters in the backfield, who will pair with Tyson Campbell, Ronald Darby, and Jarrian Jones. Their talents combined with the two-headed pass rush of Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen could make for a scary defense, but it’s hard to recover from being ranked the second worst defense of 2024. New defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile will try to revive the pass rush and linebacker position, but he will be hard pressed to get them above league average in his first year.
Adidas has dropped a new ad featuring
#Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter and QB Trevor Lawrence — inspired by a scene from the 1984 movie Footloose.
This is
pic.twitter.com/HJv90K076p
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate)
September 4, 2025
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- WR Brian Thomas Jr.
- CB Jarrian Jones
- DE Josh Hines-Allen
Projected 2025 Record: 6-11
24. Miami Dolphins
Lightning flashes, your vision blurs, you regain consciousness inside Hard Rock Stadium on September 25th, 2022. You may be wondering, if I was able to teleport you to anywhere in the world at any moment in time, why I would transport you to put you in Miami’s football stadium and not on the beach instead, and that’s because I’m a dork, okay? Today’s the day the Miami Dolphins beat the Buffalo Bills, get to their 3-0 start under new head coach Mike McDaniel, and christen the Dolphins bandwagon with this fantastic clip of former Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey freaking out moments after losing the game:
The moment Ken Dorsey will be remembered most for in Buffalo:
pic.twitter.com/x1WcoSTY1c https://t.co/TvziXfsKyR
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate)
November 14, 2023
This was Mike McDaniel’s first year as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. This was also the first season in Miami for wide receiver Tyreek Hill and left tackle Terron Armstead, joining wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in just his second year on the team. At the onset, this new era in Miami football was bursting with excitement, creating one of the most exuberant three-game winning streaks in recent NFL history. Their true breakout game was the week before in Baltimore, but this victory against the Buffalo Bills was when Dolphins Mania was underway. After this game, the Dolphins had established themselves as the Future of the NFL; championship contenders with a core on offense that was capable of anything.
Now that three years have passed, the bandwagon for the Hot and New Dolphins has had a few bumps along the road. That 2022 season, as magical as it was, derailed at the end of the season due to concussion injuries sustained by Tagovailoa, ultimately leading to the Dolphins starting Skylar Thompson at quarterback in the Wildcard round. In 2023, the Dolphins continued to succeed with their high-flying offense, and exercised a few demons by ensuring Tagovailoa stayed healthy all season. They finished 11-6 and just one game away from stealing the AFC East crown from the Bills, a big step forward and a proof-of-concept for the Mike McDaniel era, but they still fell short in the wildcard round to the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs in one of the coldest playoff games in NFL history. Two crushing finishes to this young core of superstars (besides Armstead), but maybe 2024 can be the year they break through!
Well, now in the year 2025, I regret to state that the Miami Dolphins didn’t just stagnate 2024, they got worse all around. Things just sort of fell apart. Tyreek Hill got hurt and had his worst season in Miami, and Tua Tagovailoa was placed on IR and missed six games because of a concussion. The team actually started 2-6, only scoring over 25 points twice in the entire first half of the season, a far cry from the prolific offenses Mike McDaniel had staked his name on. They did improve down the stretch once Tua returned to the field, but his moonshots to Hill and Waddle were not arriving in stride like they were in years past. They made it to 8-9 that year, the highs of September 25th, 2022 a distant memory…
In 2025, Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier are determined to escape this purgatory. Gone are guards Robert Jones and Liam Eichenberg, and here to replace them is big free agent signing James Daniels and 2025 second round pick Jonah Savaiinaea. Both will be starting immediately, and 2024 second rounder Patrick Paul will replace Terron Amrstead at the left tackle position. The only established starter on this list is Daniels, but the Dolphins are expecting big things from the next generation of linemen. And, y’know, if Patrick Paul doesn’t work out, they always have former Texan Kendall Lamm to fall back on. Of course, if bad luck were to strike again and Tua were to end up back on the injury report, the Dolphins also invested in new backup quarterbacks: former first rounder Zach Wilson and 2025 seventh round pick Quinn Ewers, who impressed in the preseason.
Running back De’Von Achane was one of the few bright spots of 2024, and he’s now supported by rookies Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II. The Dolphins also signed free agent receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but…traded tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick? Yeah, the Dolphins are still a little quirky, but Minkah’s return to Miami after being drafted there in 2018 will go a long way to improving their secondary. Speaking of defense, the Dolphins decided to let ageless wonder Calais Campbell go in free agency for some reason, now fully reliant on young edge rushers Chop Robinson and Jaelan Phillips, with a dash of Bradley Chubb to add some spice in the mix. Underrated defensive tackle Zach Sieler and 2025 first round pick Kenneth Grant will add the pressure up the middle, which should be enough for the Dolphins to get a few more sacks in 2025.
If the Dolphins can stay healthy and keep Tua in lockstep with his favorite receivers, they should be able to get back to those highs the offense reached in ‘22 and ‘23, even if it involves more rushing. Although, if these new guards don’t succeed, or if any of the core players are injured, they won’t be far from another finish outside of the playoffs.
De'Von Achane making super cool plays as a receiver for four minutes
https://t.co/mtel6qKdZk pic.twitter.com/aPKidiEbrc
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23)
August 2, 2025
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- RB De’Von Achane
- WR Jaylen Waddle
- DT Zach Sieler
Projected 2025 Record: 9-8
23. Las Vegas Raiders
You’ll be hard pressed to find an NFL team that has gone through as much change as the Las Vegas Raiders have in the past year. Even though Raiders players nearly mutinied at the idea of 2023 interim head coach Antonio Pierce not getting a spot permanently, the reality of his one-year tenure there leaves much to be desired.
So, another offseason at rock bottom yet again for the rudderless Raiders, that means it’s time to hit the reset button! Head Coach Pete Carroll, quarterback Geno Smith, and safety Jeremy Chinn are just some of the many new faces in silver and black. Carroll and Smith has a recent history of moderate success together, which is exactly what the Raiders need after all this generational suffering. They hope that tight end Brock Bowers and 2025 first round pick Ashton Jeanty will cover the warts of what is a barebones roster on both sides, especially after defensive tackle Christian Wilkins was released. If Pete Carroll can replicate the offense he had in Seattle with Geno Smith, then the Raiders may just be a frisky team this year. However, teams that go through massive overhauls like this usually don’t hit the ground running, and need to wait till the following year to realize their aspirations.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Geno Smith
- TE Brock Bowers
- DE Max Crosby
Projected 2025 Record: 7-10
22. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys cannot get out of their own way. A great offensive line blocking for a pro-bowl caliber quarterback with several good options? Owner Jerry Jones orders it must be squandered with yearly poor financial decisions. Way pay quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb less now when we can wait, sit on our hands, and pay them both more in the future? Why try and get ahead of the market when you can just wait for the market to come to you? Why hold your nose and pay Micah Parsons when you can just…trade Micah Parsons?!
The
#Cowboys are trading All-Pro Micah Parsons to the
#Packers & they agreed to a 4-year, $188M deal done by
@DavidMulugheta and
@AndreOdom of
@AthletesFirst including $136M gtd, per me,
@TomPelissero &
@SlaterNFL.
At $47M per year, Parsons is the highest-paid non-QB…
pic.twitter.com/kBjqMTcHJ3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
August 28, 2025
This move has completely derailed any other opinions I could possibly have on the Dallas Cowboys. Micah Parsons was asking for a lot of money, but – unlike many other star NFL players – he was
worth the money! Parsons is on a short list of the best edge rushers in recent NFL history, often compared to players like T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, or even Lawrence Taylor. This decisions, this trade, has broken me.
Now without Micah Parsons, the Dallas Cowboys go from a fringe playoff team to a top ten pick contender. Their defense will rebound adequately without Parsons thanks to the talent elsewhere, but his presence will be missed on every outside run and crucial third down the Cowboys’ defense will face all season long. Cornerbacks Daron Bland and Trevon Diggs are still there, Dak Prescott and Ceedee Lamb are still there, and now they have wide receiver George Pickens to sweeten the pot. Under new head coach Brain Schottenheimer, the offense could flourish, but even if he surpasses everyone’s expectations, the defense will prevent Dallas from becoming a legitimate threat in the NFC.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Dak Prescott
- WR CeeDee Lamb
- CB Trevon Diggs
Projected 2025 Record: 7-10
21. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have fully moved on from the Pete Carroll era and embraced a new brand of smashmouth football under head coach Mike McDonald. He and general manager John Schneider hope new quarterback Sam Darnold would pilot a similar offense that he had in Minnesota with recievers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and free agent signing Cooper Kupp. The center of the offense will be Kenneth Walker III, who should get the bulk of attention while Darnold manages key third downs.
The defense will need to be good to make this philosophy work, and they’ll be lead by cornerback Devon Witherspoon and an attacking defensive line. I have my doubts about their depth and ability to keep the pressure on all season long, but they should be alright with Darnold.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- RB Kenneth Walker III
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- CB Devon Witherspoon
Projected 2025 Record: 8-9
20. Chicago Bears
Will the Chicago Bears finally become competitive, again? First-year head coach Brian Johnson arrives from a successful tenure as offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions, and is doing everything he can to exercise the demons that have haunted Chicago since the infamous double-doink of 2018. He’s brought in new coaches, new linemen, and a whole new philosophy on defense. Former Saints head coach Dennis Allen arrives with a plan to make the defense more aggressive while Johnson focuses on developing quarterback Caleb Williams. Although, if you want to start rebuilding a team, you need to start at the trenches. Some of the biggest moves Chicago made since Johnson arrived was trading for guard Joe Thuney, signing center Drew Dalman in free agency, signing guard Jonah Jackson in free agency, and then signing both defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo. That’s three new starters on offensive line and two on the defensive line, and massive refresh to the core of the team before a the first snap of the 2025 season. These new linemen should give Caleb Williams far more stability in the pocket than he had in 2024, but they also aren’t the mightiest bunch of linemen, either.
On defense, the refreshed defensive line will be buoyed by a star-studded defensive backfield, led by cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon and safeties Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker. This backfield has experienced plenty of success in the past, so hopefully with a refreshed defensive line and a more complete Montez Sweat, the whole defense can improve. If the offensive line and defensive line can become league average, the Bears can be a playoff team. If not, Caleb Williams will need to play like an MVP to give Chicago a chance at a good season.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Caleb Williams
- WR Rome Adunze
- DE Montez Sweat
Projected 2025 Record: 9-8
19. New England Patriots
Even though this is ultimately a low spot, I am very bullish on the New England Patriots this season. Quarterback Drake Maye had so many exceptional moments in his rookie season that he was named to the pro-bowl, and he should only get better in 2025. A better head coach in Mike Vrabel, a top pick at LT with Will Campbell arriving to protect Maye’s blindside, and former Texan Stefon Diggs coming into the building all will ensure Maye is more prepared entering every game and more capable of passing the ball downfield. On the ground, the Patriots will still employ plenty of Rhamondre Stevenson rushes, but rookie tailback TreVeyon Henderson was one of my very favorite players in the draft this year. He’s extremely agile, has a great top speed, and pass blocks like he’s Jason Kelce. He and rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams will be weapons for Drake Maye this year, and they may just push him another tier closer to the elite quarterback class.
On defense, head coach Mike Vrabel sought to spend heavily to patch up a suspect defense. Super Bowl champion defensive tackle Milton Williams arrives in New England, along with cornerback Carlton Davis III, linebacker Harold Landry III, linebacker Robert Spillane, and safety Marcus Epps. This wide cast of playmakers should dramatically improve New Englands strength along the line of scrimmage, their tackling, and their coverage against top receivers.
Maye will have a lot more at his disposal coming into the pivotal second year at the helm. There’s still some holes at offensive line and a suspect wide receiver room, but New England should be much improved in 2025.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Drake Maye
- DT Milton Williams
- CB Christian Gonzalez
Projected 2025 Record: 9-8
18. Atlanta Falcons
One year ago, the Atlanta Falcons were a laughing stock because of their decision to draft quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft mere weeks after signing veteran Kirk Cousins to a multi-year deal. At the time, it seemed like a waste of a draft pick, but Penix would eventually take the starting job away from Cousins, nearly sending the Falcons back into the playoffs with his late-season heroics. He looked better and better week after week, getting more production out of Atlanta’s young core of playmakers than Cousins had since October.
Excellent play from their new quarterback is a good sight going into the offseason for Falcons fans, which is actually pretty uncharacteristic of the team. Usually the Falcons are the NFL teams that are always receiving bad news, not good news. So, maybe in an effort to restore balance to the universe, the Falcons traded their 2025 second round pick and 2026 first rounder in order to obtain two first round picks in the 2025 draft – which were both used to draft project defensive ends. A very…unique way to go about improving on the roster’s weak spots, but honestly, I can’t blame them considering the state their pass rush has been in – without a double-digit sack master since 2016. They’ve lost longtime Falcon Grady Jarrett as well, so a full transition on the defensive line is underway.
Michael Penix and Bijan Robinson made for a formidable duo in the backfield, especially when Penix’s connection with Drake London or tight end Kyle Pitts is hot. If they’re all about to produce in 2025 along with solid seasons from linebacker Kaden Elliss and defensive tackle David Onyemata, the Falcons could sneak into the playoffs as an NFC wildcard team. If Penix and the rookie first round defenders all hit their stride in 2025, the Falcons could be even better. The pass-rush dilemma won’t be seen as fixed until the general public sees results, though.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- RB Bijan Robinson
- WR Drake London
- LB Kaden Elliss
Projected 2025 Record: 9-8
17. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals thought they had finally found the franchise guy when they drafted quarterback Kyler Murray first overall in 2019, but it’s hard not to scan over their results since he’s arrived and conclude that they’ve remained in that same limbo ever since that draft pick. Kyler Murray has been consistently good and occasionally spectacular as the Cardinals’ franchise passer, but has still yet to win even a single playoff game entering his seventh season on the team. Between disappointing draft picks and injuries, Kyler and Co. just haven’t been able to make that first big step. The Cardinals were able to improve his efficiency after getting tight end Trey McBride and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. on the team, but it still hasn’t been enough to convince the public Murray is on the even of an MVP campaign.
really nice anticipation from Kyler Murray to Marvin Harrison Jr. here. Lets the ball go well before MHJ clears the LB.
pic.twitter.com/JceRGwUIFk
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice)
August 10, 2025
Third-year head coach Jonathan Gannon has sunk a significant amount of resources into improving the defense, which looks like it’s finally there. The defensive line has been thickened up with 2024 first rounder Darius Robinson and free agent ageless wonder Calais Campbell jumping into the starting lineup, ideally bringing the front seven up to par with the secondary. Defensive end Josh Sweat departs Philadelphia and reunites with Gannon in Arizona, both with the goal of making him their star pass rusher. Behind the big guys will be a secondary significantly improved by the guiding hand of Gannon, sporting star safety Buddha Baker, budding star nickelback Garrett Williams, and rookie second round cornerback Will Johnson.
This will be a pivotal year for both Murray and Gannon, who both should have the surrounding cast and the stability to improve on last year’s disappointing finish. If Kyler Murray, running back James Connor, and Marvin Harrison are able to this their ceiling, the Cardinals may just be on the doorstep of being elite. If not, however, and they could find themselves stuck in the middle for even more years to come.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Kyler Murray
- TE Trey McBride
- CB Garrett Williams
Projected 2025 Record: 10-7
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
Welcome to year four of the post-Roethlisberger experience, where veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers now assumes the job of ringleader for the ever changing Steelers circus. He’s piloting an offense led by newcomer wide receiver D.K Metcalf, who’ll be Rodgers’ favorite target in 2025. Rodgers should also be able to enjoy more time in the pocket than he had with the Jets, but with starting running back Jaylen Warren the only proven rusher to join the backfield, it might be a busy season for Rodgers. Metcalf will help, but will fellow receivers Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson be able to back him up?
To complement the offense apparently going all-in on Rodgers, Pittsburgh has filled the defense with playmakers at all three levels, signing cornerback Darius Slay and safety Juan Thornhill to replace Donte Jackson and Minkah Fitzpatrick, respectively. I’m fan of Slay, but did the Steelers legitimately improve themselves by letting Donte Jackson go? The Steelers also used their first round draft pick on a meaty defensive tackle Derrick Harmon from Oregon, who will make that line even deadlier. I remain cautiously optimistic about the Steelers’ potential this year, but if his tenure at New York is any indication, Aaron Rodgers will be looking for ways to gum up the works. It’ll only be a matter of time until he’s upset about something, again.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- WR D.K. Metcalf
- C Zach Frazier
- DT Cameron Heyward
Projected 2025 Record: 9-8
15. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are in an odd, disjointed state entering 2025. They still have their star-studded defense, headlined by defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, but lost defensive end Leonard Floyd and linebacker Dre Greenlaw. They’ve brought back their great offensive line, but lost Deebo Samuel and are awaiting Brandon Aiyuk’s return from injury. And then, there’s the great debate surrounding star running back Christian McCaffrey. Will he be able to return to pre-injury form? It has been an offseason full of questions for the niners, so many are hoping the second-year wide receiver Ricky Pearsall can put a lot of the high-strung hearts to ease. A connection between he and quarterback Brock Purdy could cover some of the warts on offense, but losing Christian McCaffrey to another season of nagging injuries would be too much to overcome.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the 49ers hope to have refilled the holes on their defense by drafting defensive end Mykel Williams in the first round, defensive tackle Alfred Collins in the second round, and then linebacker Nick Martin in the third. They used their first three picks to replace three starters from last year in the exact same positions! They’re certainly trying to make it a quick-and-dirty rebuild, but I fear what the loss of cornerback Charvarius Ward means for the team. Maybe his replacement, second-year corner Renardo Green, will be able to take the starting reps in stride, but most teams struggle to replace a long-term #1 cornerback like Ward. To me, this 49ers team is trying to build the plane while flying it, so I expect a few rough patches this season as they figure things out.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Brock Purdy
- DE Nick Bosa
- LB Fred Warner
Projected 2025 Record: 8-9
14. Minnesota Vikings
Say goodbye to quarterback Sam Darnold, and hello to 2024 draftee J.J. McCarthy! McCarthy had his rookie season erased by a torn meniscus suffered during the 2024 preseason, so he got to enjoy the Sam Darnold renaissance from the sidelines. Darnold made the offense sing to the tune of over 4,300 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns, and a league ranking of ninth in points scored. Despite that, Minnesota still moved on from him, apparently eager to get that new first-rounder on the gridiron.
They’ve signaled a lot of trust in McCarthy, who’s been handed the keys to a truly loaded offense: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones are just some of the names he will be targeting this year. In front of him is potentially the best offensive line in the NFC, led by tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. On the inside are two solid free agent linemen signed away from the Indianapolis Colts in free agency, guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly. On defense,they’ve added some pass-rush on the inside with the additions of defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, which will complement their stout secondary. If it wasn’t obvious already, the Vikings are going all-in on the 2025 season, so if McCarthy and Christian Darrisaw are able to remain upright this year, Minnesota should be one of the top teams in the NFC. It’s just too bad they’re in a gauntlet of a division: the NFC North.
Not too late to get on the JJ McCarthy bandwagon.
pic.twitter.com/Ir3kGKP6S9
— Fantasy Farmer (@TFFDudes)
August 15, 2025
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- LT Christian Darrisaw
- WR Justin Jefferson
- DE Jonathan Greenard
Projected 2025 record: 11-6
13. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers’ first year under head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz was a success, albeit cut short in the wildcard round by our beloved Texans (thank you, DeMeco Ryans and CJ Stroud!) Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter were able to resurrect L.A.’s defense in 2024, and this year they hope to complete the smashmouth transition by becoming a dominant run-heavy offense. Free agent tailback Najee Harris and 2025 first round pick Omarion Hampton have the Chargers’ coaching staff dreaming about Harbaugh’s 2023 Michigan squad. However, multiple roadblocks have gotten in their way already: left tackle Rashawn Slater is done for the season, Najee Harris has been working himself back to game-form after a fireworks injury, and debate still rages on whether or not Los Angeles effectively improved the receiving corps for Justin Herbert. 2025 draftees Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith are unproven depth behind established receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, but I’m not in a position to cast doubt after hyping myself up for the debuts of Texans rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel…
The Chargers sought to improve the trenches in year two under Harbaugh, and he did so with free agent signings like guard Mekhi Becton, defensive end Da’Shawn Hand, and defensive tackle Teair Tart. But, besides that and the addition of the rookie wide receivers, not much else has changed. This may still be enough for a playoff berth, but in the extremely crowded AFC West, their defense will be put to the test by the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. I see a balanced team that just doesn’t have quite enough juice on offense to beat the elite offenses.
Projected 2025 Record: 9-8
12. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals offseason has been more of the same: nothing but drama. Sam Hubbard retired and fellow starting edge rusher Trey Hendrickson engaged in a testy contract holdout with the Bengals’ brass all offseason, appearing to reach a point of no return…until Hendrickson received a
one-year pay raise. This will probably be his last year with the Bengals, so the pressure is on head coach Zac Taylor and new defensive coordinator Al Golden to get this team back to the playoffs. One side of the ball is ready to go all the way, and the other needs a complete makeover.
The Bengals witnessed a dramatic decline in defensive pressure and coverage last year, leading to an extremely disappointing 9-8 finish and out of the playoffs. The front office thinks they’ve patched up the holes by signing defensive tackle T.J. Slaton in free agency, drafting defensive end Shemar Stewart in the first round, then linebacker Demetrius Knight in the second round. Those will probably be the only major changes on the defense, though…so it’ll be up to Al Golden to work his magic to get everything ship-shape.
Quarterback Joe Burrow and wide reciever Ja’Marr Chase had career years last season, both leading the league in yardage at their respective positions in 2024. Fellow wide recievers Tee Higgins and Andrew Iosivas create a deadly starting lineup of wideouts, while tight end Mike Gesicki practically adds another fast and tall receiver to the bunch. So long as the defense regresses to the mean, the Bengals should be a legitimate AFC challenger once again. It was hard watching former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense go up in flames last season as I was once a fan of the Germaine Pratt/Logan Wilson linebacker combo, but sometimes it’s better to go down with a bang than to fall apart slowly.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Joe Burrow
- WR Ja’Marr Chase
- DE Trey Hendrickson
Projected 2025 Record: 10-7
11. Los Angeles Rams
L.A. continues to be the place to be for impressive quarterback seasons. Imagine having two NFL teams in your city, and their starting quarterbacks are Justin Herbert and Matthew Stafford! An embarrassment of riches, I say, and what makes it even more interesting is that it’s the older guy that’s been the more prolific passer! Stafford’s tenure as the Rams’ quarterback has transformed their offense into a sort of artistic expression on the gridiron, orchestrating award-winning performances from wide receiver Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. But, with Kupp now joining the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams will be looking for another leading receiver to support Stafford. Enter Davante Adams, a one-time superstar receiver down on his luck with the New York Jets. Perfect for the picking of a deal-happy Rams team ready to make a push to another Super Bowl.
They got closer than many expected last year too: pushing the eventual champion Philadelphia Eagles to their limit in a snowy divisional round game. That young Rams defense, led by first round pick defensive end Jared Verse and undrafted(!) linebacker Omar Speights, took many opposing teams by surprise by how good they got so quickly. Los Angeles made a name for themselves in 2021 by trading away draft picks, but in recent years they’ve effectively rebuilt the team by finding starters at all levels of the NFL Draft. Throw in free agent defensive tackle Poona Ford, and you’re looking at a team that’s ready to make you forget Aaron Donald retired!
If Matthew Stafford can stay healthy and running back Kyren Williams can continue his run as one of the premiere backs in the NFC, there’s no reason not to think the Rams can return to the Super Bowl in 2025. But, considering Stafford’s history with health issues and the lack of a great slot receiver option, the Rams remain balanced on top of the thin line between good teams and great teams.
Projected 2025 Record: 10-7
10. Denver Broncos
We’ve made it to the top ten, where we kick off with the red-hot Denver Broncos. Second-year quarterback Bo Nix caught everyone by surprise last year when he challenged rookie phenom quarterback Jayden Daniels for rookie-of-the-year honors, sending Denver back to the playoffs for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 with Payton Manning. Big additions were made in free agency this year too. Tight end Evan Engram, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and safety Talanoa Hufanga are all now Broncos. Denver’s secondary is currently manned by safety Brandon Jones, safety P.J. Locke, cornerback Riley Moss, cornerback and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, and rookie first round pick nickelback Jahdae Barron. Once Denver adds Hufanga to that mix, they may have the only other secondary in the AFC that can legitimately challenge for Houston’s as top dog in the conference. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph now has everything he needs to be a dominant defense all season long, so if Bo Nix can repeat his 2024 success, the Broncos will be a shoe-in for the playoffs.
Speaking of Nix, how does he follow up a rookie season like that? If he can accomplish 3,775 passing yard and 29 touchdowns with his #2 receiver (Marvin Mins) having less than half the receiving yards of his top receiver (Courtland Sutton), imagine what he may be capable of with an improved Troy Franklin and Evan Engram joining the mix! The sky is the limit for the up-and-coming Denver Broncos, but, unfortunately for them, the Kansas City Chiefs are in their division.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Bo Nix
- WR Courtland Sutton
- CB Patrick Surtain II
Projected 2025 Record: 11-6
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay had one of the most successful transitions to a new quarterback I’ve ever seen with Baker Mayfield in 2023. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin immediately clicked with his gunslinger mentality, sending the team all the way to the divisional round thanks to the high-flying offense and stingy defense. In 2024, they showed that success can be replicated and improved upon with the addition of tailback Bucky Irving. In 2025, they gave Mayfield everything he could need to be an MVP contender. He has a quality stable of running backs, an embarrassment of riches at wide receiver, a reliable offensive line, and a defense he can expect to get turnovers.
2024 first round center Graham Barton changed the timbre of the entire offensive line in 2024, which is now one of the very best groups in the NFL. 2024 fourth-round running back took advantage of this improved interior line and quickly became Tampa Bay’s lead tailback, breaking over 1,500 yards from scrimmage in his rookie year! Throw rookie wide receiver and route technician Emeka Egbuka into the pot, and you’re cooking one of the deadliest offenses in the NFL.
On the other side of the ball, their defense is similarly as dominant, led by defensive pass-rushing duo of tackle Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. Both players can simultaneous cause havoc on the line of scrimmage, and behind them come pursuing linebackers Yaya Diaby Haaason Reddick. Safety Antione Winfield Jr. and cornerback are now the most recognizable DBs at Tampa Bay, joined by conerback Zyon McCollum and safety Tykee Smith. McCollum, Smith, and edge rusher Logan Hall make up the youth on the Bucs’ defense, but it remains to be seen if they can be the keys to another championship run. If Mayfield can continue to get better, they may just have a chance of making their way to the NFC Championship game.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- WR Mike Evans
- RB Bucky Irving
- DT Vita Vea
Projected 2025 Record: 10-7
8. Washington Commanders
Washington’s rapid ascent up the NFL standings in 2024 is a testament to both how quickly a rebuild can be done in the NFL, and also how much of a difference and top-tier quarterback can make. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels had practically no drop off in performance between his Heisman campaign at LSU in 2023 and his rookie year in the pros in 2024, passing for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, and rushing for a team-high 891 yards and 6 touchdowns. Daniels, star wide receiver Terry McLaurin, and running back Brian Robinson Jr. made up the three-headed monster that led the Commanders to the playoffs. In the playoffs, the Commanders got hot – wide receiver Dyami Brown and veteran tight end Zach Ertz made the difference in the wildcard and divisional round games. Normally, you don’t expect a rookie quarterback to get the best out of the pile of also-rans surrounding him at the skill positions, but, somehow, Jayden Daniels made it all work immediately.
Unfortunately for Daniels, both Brian Robinson Jr. and Dyami Brown are no longer on the team, so nearly 1,300 yards on offense will need to be found elsewhere. Former 49ers star Deebo Samuel arrives to save the day and become Washington’s multipurpose receiver. He was really the only big move on offense the Commanders made this offseason…oh, besides TRADING FOR TEXANS LEFT TACKLE LAREMY TUNSIL!
TRADE: Texans trading LT Laremy Tunsil and a fourth-round pick to the Commanders for second, third and fourth-round picks. (via
@Rapsheet)
pic.twitter.com/eL6YaAZdCt
— NFL (@NFL)
March 10, 2025
It’ll take me awhile longer to completely over this trade, but here’s hoping Aireontae Ersery speeds that process up. Tunsil will be an immediate upgrade at tackle for the Commanders, who will need more than just McLaurin and Samuel as the top receivers. They’ll need to see more from 2024 third-round wide receiver Luke McCaffrey and 2024 second-round tight end Ben Sinnott, because if these guys don’t start producing, Daniels may be running around even more in 2025. The Defense is a little suspect as well, with little done to improve the talent around cornerback Mike Sainristil. Marshon Lattimore didn’t live up to the trade value last year, but that doesn’t mean he and rookie cornerback Trey Amos can’t make a good team with a full offseason together in D.C. in 2025. Defensive tackle Daron Payne and linebacker Bobby Wagner will lead the front seven, again, but defensive end Dorance Armstrong added a signifiant amount of pressure, as well. Washington hopes to make the line even more dangerous with the depth additions of Javon Kinlaw and Deatrich Wise Jr., but neither signings gives me a significant amount of confidence they’ll be any better than average.
Jayden Daniels will be able to cover up a lot of the shallower spots on this team, but Washington sure didn’t try very hard to improve their secondary or pass-rush in free agency or the draft. They’ll be relying on a lot of unproven prospects at skill positions this year, so it could get messy for the Commanders if the injury bug were to strike.
Projected 2024 Top Performers:
- QB Jayden Daniels
- WR Terry McLaurin
- LB Bobby Wagner
Projected 2025 Record: 11-6
7. Green Bay Packers
Here come the Green Bay Packers! After the blockbuster trade for Micah Parsons right before the beginning of the 2025 season, the Packers have put themselves firmly within a Super Bowl window. They’ve got their franchise quarterback, they’ve got their generational pass rusher, they kept 19 or their 22 starters from last year, and they even have a first-round wide receiver! What more could the packers need?
BREAKING: Cowboys trading DE Micah Parsons to Packers and agreed to a 4-year, $188M deal including $136M guaranteed. (via
@RapSheet,
@TomPelissero,
@SlaterNFL)
pic.twitter.com/4r275BvmCf
— NFL (@NFL)
August 28, 2025
Well, maybe a better season from Jordan Love. Don’t get me wrong, he was still a great quarterback last year, but they’ll need to have a higher scoring offense if they want to get past the likes of Philadelphia or Detroit. They’ll also need improved route-running and fewer drops from their stable of quality wide receivers – Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks made several critical errors when Love had targeted them in 2024, and Christian Watson tore his ACL in week 18 so he likely won’t see the field much in 2025. Despite the difficulties with receivers, the Packers have successfully built a more complete offense around Love, largely thanks to a revitalized rushing attack centered on 2024 free agent signing Josh Jacobs. The Packers front office may be hoping they can put some of these wideout woes to rest with the drafting of Matthew Golden in the first round, giving Love a long-term, speedy, multi-talented receiver. If Josh Jacobs, Matthew Golden, and Green Bay’s fantastic offensive line can’t get Jordan Love back to 2023 form, I’m not sure what will. If these new developments on offense don’t work, they’ll be relying on their defense much like Houston was in 2024. In this respect, Micah Parsons is going to have a tremendous affect on opposing teams.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- RB Josh Jacobs
- WR Jayden Reed
- DE Micah Parsons
Projected 2025 Record: 11-6
6. Buffalo Bills
We’re entering the top-tier of the NFL, now. The Buffalo Bills have been on the doorstep of the Super Bowl virtually every year since 2020, but have been exterminated by the Kansas City Chiefs or Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs every single time they get close. The curse instilled on them when they went 0-4 in the Super Bowl int he 1990s may still be lingering, causing misfortune for Buffalo at the most critical moments of the season. Buffalo now has the bragging rights of having the league’s 2024 MVP as their quarterback, but will that be enough to stop Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes from appearing in his nightmares? Probably not, but maybe a better season for wide receiver Keon Coleman can! Coleman had a solid, if underwhelming rookie campaign where he compiled 556 receiving yards and two touchdowns. More yards from him, free agent receiver Joshua Palmer, and tight end Dalton Kincaid would go a long way to balance Buffalo’s offense. Running back James Cook became the star of the show in 2024, so keeping him as fresh as possible for as long as possible would benefit everyone on the team. His emergence has revealed Buffalo’s exceptional strength on the offensive line, which rookie tailback Ray Davis will benefit from, as well.
On defense, Buffalo sought hog mollies for the line, signing Joey Bosa, Michael Hoecht, and Larry Ogunjobi in free agency, then drafting defensive tackle T.J. Sanders in the second round and edge rusher Landon Jackson in the third round of the 2025 draft. Behind them is a dominant secondary led by cornerback Christian Benford and nickelback Taron Johnson, but they’ll be counting on second-year safety safety Cole Bishop and former Bills star cornerback Tre’Davious white to hit the ground running. If they can, the sky is the limit for the Buffalo Bills, at least, until they have to face the Kansas City Chiefs.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Josh Allen
- DE Gregory Rousseau
- LB Matt Milano
Projected 2025 Record: 11-6
5. Houston Texans
We have finally arrived to the team of honor! You know the story of the 2024 Houston Texans – a statistically complete defense that was held back by a streaky offense that couldn’t give its quarterback enough weapons or time in the pocket to excel. General manager Nick Caserio found the bell cow back he’d been looking for when Joe Mixon arrived, but besides that, the offense as whole declined in 2024. Out goes former apple of Caserio’s eye Bobby Slowik, in comes former Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots offensive coach Nick Caley. As the Passing Game Coordinator/Tight Ends coach last year in L.A., Caley led an offense that churned behind tailback Kyren Williams, who had nearly 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns. The passing offense did not have a 1,000 yard receiver due to Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp missing time, but had four receivers eclipse 500 yards and Stafford experiencing one of his most statistically efficient years in his career. Really, though, his hiring is all about one thing: getting the quick-pass offense to work in Houston. They’ll be relying on faces like Xavier Hutchinson and rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to get that going, which is a risk, but theoretically a step above what they had with John Metchie and Robert Woods. The key to this new room working out is Christian Kirk and Xavier Hutchinson, whether or that’s better or worse than 2024’s version of Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell is entirely up to interpretation, and after 2024’s disappointing result, I’ll take the athletic rookies that will hopefully stay healthy all season long.
Besides the wide receivers, the offensive line have been the talk of the offseason. Stalwart left tackle Laremy Tunsil is GONE, banished to Washington! Shaq Mason is gone, Kenyon Green was traded, and in their place arrives four new starting linemen: right guard Ed Ingram, center Jake Andrews, left guard Laken Tomlinson, and rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery. Ersery has been a revelation in practice and the preseason, but now the curtains have opened the regular season is here, in all of it’s monstrosity. Ingram and Tomlinson know all about suffering in the regular season, but remember! Quick pass offense! They don’t need to be world beaters; as long as they can keep Stroud clean for three seconds, Nick Caley’s offense should motor along.
Texans New OC Nick Caley Mic’D Up at Training camp courtesy of the
@HoustonTexans YouTube channel
pic.twitter.com/NPSQ83U93H
— Harley Dugan (@TheLead_HOU)
August 15, 2025
On defense, head DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke are still cooking! Last year, the defense took a genuine, Super Bowl-caliber step forward. Defensive end Danielle Hunter added pass rush intensity that was arguably unstoppable all season long, and the same can be said for teammate and 2023 third overall pick Will Anderson Jr. Behind them is the best defensive backfield in football, led by cornerbacks Derek Sintgley Jr., Kamari Lassiter, nickelback Jalen Pitre, safeties Calen Bullock, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson (who avoided a serious ACL injury recently). Johnson is the new star in the loaded backfield, arriving from Philadelphia to replace the hole left by Eric Murray/Jimmie Ward. Houston were one of the best pass defenses in the league last year, and with all major players returning and for most part, healthy, they look to do the same this year. The unsung hero of last year was linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, who filled in for an injured Christian Harris and became the Texans’ leading tackler. This year, they’ve improved the depth at all major positions through free agency and the draft, so I expect much of the same dominance in 2025.
Even with the turnover on offense, the Houston Texans are Super Bowl contenders this year. If quarterback CJ Stroud can meld into this Stafford-esque scheme, and the rushing attack can get production even with Mixon on IR, the Texans will be nearly impossible to beat.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB CJ Stroud
- WR Nico Collins
- DE Will Anderson Jr.
Projected 2025 Record: 12-5
4. Detroit Lions
If it weren’t for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Lions would be the envy of the league. Head coach Dan Campbell redefined what it meant to be a Detroit Lions player, and the entire city has responded. Quarterback Jared Goff, wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and tight end Sam LaPorta make this one of the most dangerous passing offenses in the league, while the one-two punch of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs has made them one of the best rushing offenses, as well. Unfortunately for the Lions, they’ve been a little too successful. Both coordinators left for head coaching jobs in 2025, so Detroit’s new coordinators this year will be John Morton on offense and Kelvin Sheppard on defense.
Fortunately for John Morton, the Detroit Lions have one of the very best offensive lines in the league. They have all-pro right tackle Penei Sewell, left guard Christian Mahogany , pro-bowl left tackle Taylor Decker, former left guard turned center Graham Glasgow, and rookie right guard Tate Ratledge. Everything on Detroit’s offense revolves around this line, and the best players from the group last year have stayed on the team. The intrigue at this spot will be Mahogany, finding his way to the starting lineup due to Frank Ragnow’s retirement in June. Mahogany was a sixth-round pick by the Lions in the 2024 NFL Draft, and only played 144 snaps in his NFL career at this point. He did have a fantastic performance against the Washington Commanders in the divisional round playoff game, but that’s ultimately only one game.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:
@Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs is ranked No. 27!
@NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/M4aWU8Ohyj
— NFL (@NFL)
August 19, 2025
The more interesting side of the ball this year will be the defense. Last year, 2022 second overall pick Aidan Hutchinson broke his leg in week six, joining fellow star Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport with a season ending injury in 2024. They both return healthy in 2025, and with first round defensive tackle Tyleik Williams joining the bunch to pair with D.J. Reader, this defensive line might be the best in the conference. Behind them, there’s only one new player on the team: free agent cornerback D.J. Reed arrives from the New York Jets and replaces cornerback Carlton Davis’ spot, who signed with the New England Patriots earlier in the year.
Overall, it should be more of the same for the Detroit Lions, but there is some undeniable added juice to their defensive line that can’t be ignored. Just by staying healthy, this group might be the best in the country, but when you add their draft picks? Not even a competition! As long as new guards Mahogany and Ratledge perform adequately, this should be one of the best NFL teams once again.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs
- RT Penei Sewell
- DE Aidan Hutchinson
Projected 2025 Record: 13-4
3. Kansas City Chiefs
It may seem odd putting the runners-up in third place on my regular season power rankings, but that is less a disservice to the Chiefs and more a service to the teams in front of them. The Chiefs, despite losing the Super Bowl, are still the standard that every other NFL team aspires to. They are the quintessential contemporary NFL offense, unbeatable at the quick pass and deadly on the ground. They can be deadly through midfield passes thanks to tight end Travis Kelce, or they can target deep downfield with recievers Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown. They can really do anything they want, and it’s all because of the one person: quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes is still the best quarterback in the NFL. He can excel within any kind of offensive scheme, and has shown that his scrambling ability is his secret sauce that cannot be countered. Your best linebacker cannot bend his hips like Patrick Mahomes, or plan for him to volleyball throw it over his head. You cannot plan for him to throw perfect passes while parallel to the ground. With Mahomes, he can make any receiver look good, but give him a player like first round pick Xavier Worthy and a similar speedster like Marquise Brown to line up on the opposite side, and the game is basically over. If your team somehow manages to cover these two track stars, now you have to worry about Kelce. He may be older and slower, but he still picks up third down conversions like a bad habit, and if your somehow figure out how to compensate for Kelce, good luck trying to plug any holes Mahomes himself will run through. His kyptonite in 2024 was the Chiefs’ offensive line, which fell apart in Super Bowl LIX against a loaded Eagles pass rush. Kansas City has kept four of the five starters from last year, but former tackle Kingsley Suamataia is moving to guard to replace the Joe Thuney after he was traded to Chicago. In the vacant left tackle spot will go 2025 first round pick Josh Simmons, a prototypical NFL tackle who, knowing Kansas City’s luck, immediately excel as an NFL left tackle despite only being 22 years old.
On defense, defensive tackle Chris Jones, defensive end George Karlaftis and linebacker Drue Tranquill lead a dominant defense against the run, while cornerback Trent McDuffie and safety Bryan Cook lead a stingy secondary. They lost defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton to free agency, but now look towards rookie Omarr Norman-Lott to plug in and take his place. Charles Omenihu and Mike Danna both return to the line, great depth pieces behind the starters. Basically, If the Chiefs can stay healthy, they’ll be right back in Super Bowl contention, unless Stroud or Jackson can take that next step in the playoffs.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Patrick Mahomes
- DT Chris Jones
- CB Trent McDuffie
Projected 2025 Record: 14-3
2. Baltimore Ravens
I mean, do you need to hear about these guys anymore? All you need to know about the Ravens is their Christmas Day game against the Houston Texans last year. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens arrived at NRG stadium, home of the very talented and competitive Houston Texans football team, and completely wiped the floor with them. Lamar Jackson, much like Patrick Mahomes, is a uniquely difficult player to cover because of how his running abilities blend with his passing abilities. He baited Texans defenders into trying to tackle him, only to throw the ball over their heads. He would pretend to throw the ball, then hit the accelerator the turn the corner around the defender. He’s can stiff arm you to the ground and then throw a touchdown pass across his body. He is an MVP contender once again, and with running back Derrick Henry back in purple, it’s going to be a year of dominant offense once again. When Henry signed with Baltimore in the 2024 offseason, some joked by calling it cheating. Now that we know what they’re capable of together, we know it’s cheating to allow them to be on the same team. This is what former NBA commissioner David Stern feared when he nixed the Chris Paul trade to the Kobe Bryant Lakers.
On defense, the Ravens are slightly less unbeatable. With cornerback Brandon Stephens and safety Marcus Williams departing Baltimore, they’ll be relying more on young players like cornerback Nate Wiggins and rookie safety Malaki Starks to make plays in the backfield. It’s still the same pass rush manned by Odage Oweh and Kyle Van Noy, so it’ll be interesting to see what element of the defense will suffer because of the new players becoming starters. Don’t worry though, it’ll still be a serious challenge for any quarterback to mount a scoring drive on this team thanks to cornerback Marlon Humphrey, linebacker Roquan Smith, and safety Kyle Hamilton. All these players are arguably the best in the country at their position, so just like the offense, the defense feels almost unfair going up against.
Taking all of this talent and depth into consideration along with the existence of Lamar Jackson, it’s hard not to put the Ravens in the #1 spot all of the time. Except, despite their regular season dominance, Jackson’s Ravens always seem to crumble as the playoffs approach. I don’t entirely understand why, but their offense seems to slow down by December, and Lamar is forced to play hero ball more frequently. Because of this inconsistency that has led to multiple playoff losses, I’ve kept them in the #2 spot. Which means there’s only one team left, and you can guess what team it’s gonna be!
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- QB Lamar Jackson
- RB Derrick Henry
- S Kyle Hamilton
Projected 2025 Record: 13-4
1.Philadelphia Eagles
As much as the Kansas City Chiefs have laid waste to similar AFC competition, the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t very far behind. Since quarterback Jalen Hurts became the starter in 2021, they’ve gone 46-17, won the NFC East twice, won the NFC twice, and have now conquered the mighty Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Their all-pro cast of linemen consisting of left tackle Jordan Mailata, left guard Landon Dickerson, center Cam Jurgens, right guard Mekhi Becton, and right tackle Lane Johnson, have been a perfect to Jalen Hurts talents, allowing him opportunities to take advantage of his arm when targeting star wide receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, and his legs when running behind Jurgens and guard Dickerson. And he wasn’t even the star of the show in 2024! That honor goes to the #1 player in the NFL as voted by his peers: running back Saquon Barkley.
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@Eagles RB Saquon Barkley is ranked No. 1 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025!
@NFLFilms @Saquon pic.twitter.com/HU2x7kL8r2
— NFL (@NFL)
September 2, 2025
Since signing with the Philadelphia Eagles on March 11th, 2024, Barkley has been a revelation for his new team. The Eagles were already excellent at running the ball, but now they had access to one of the strongest, fastest, and most atheltic tailbacks in recent NFL history. In a very similar fashion to how Derrick Henry transformed an already dominant Ravens offense, Barkley added another weapon to an Eagles backfield that was already impossible to contain. 2,005 rushing yards later, and Saquon Barkley was crowned a Super Bowl Champion in just his first year on the Eagles.
On defense, the Eagles will seek to replace the production of defensive tackle Milton Williams, linebacker Josh Sweat, cornerback Darius Slay, and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who all left after the Super Bowl victory. Fortunately for Philadelphia, they’re already loaded in young talent at all of these positions! Jordan Davis will fill in for Milton Williams, Jalyx Hunt will replace Josh Sweat’s role, the Eagles already have two good young cornerbacks in Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, and then C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was traded to the Houston Texans, will be replaced by 2025 second round draft pick Andrew Mukub or Sydney Brown. The Eagles are an exceptionally well managed team thanks to the genius of general manager Howie Roseman, so as long as these players perform to their expectations, the Eagles defense shouldn’t experience much of a drop off at all. Milton Williams is a big hole to fill, but Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter both garnered reputations for being extremely disruptive in the middle of the defensive line, so I trust them to fill in just fine.
Projected 2025 Top Performers:
- RB Saquon Barkley
- DT Jalen Carter,
- LB Zack Baun
Projected 2025 Record – 15-2
And that’s my list! There’s always so much feverish anticipation for the regular season to arrive, so I just had to get my own thoughts down on every team. Once the regular season has ended, I’ll return to this article to see how close I got to nailing every team with my predictions (spoiler: I’m not going to be close).
What did you think of my personal power rankings, though? Are there any teams you think I grossly overrated, or underrated? Let us know who you’d rank where down in the comments below!
GO TEXANS!!!
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Derek Stingley Jr., Texans – 93.18
