It’s the beginning of the 2025 NFL Season! To celebrate this momentous occurrence, I’ve decided to rank all 32 NFL teams and added my own personal thought to each team. 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 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. Jones has his own history of disappointment, 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 and wide receiver Michael Pittman, but it won’t be enough to save them from the fumblers 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 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 and with star linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on the PUP list, they’re limited right out of the gate. General manager Joe Barry thinks he found something with second round draftee Carson Schwesinger, but if he and first rounder Mason Graham can’t make an immediate impact, it might be an ugly year in Cleveland.
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 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 new quarterback Justin Fields.
One of the most surprising events of New York’s 2024 season was the decline of their defense. After two -straight years of dominance under Saleh, the Jets’ defense declined a bit in 2024, notably after Saleh was fired. That plug should be filled by Aaron Glenn, who opened a new hole under center when he closed the door on the Aaron Rodgers experience. In comes 2021 first round quarterback Justin Fields, a very talented dual-threat passer that hasn’t completely ironed out the…passing part of his abilities. The rushing attack hasn’t lived up to expectations either, both Breece Hall and Braelon Allen have lived up to their collegiate billing. Glenn is hoping that a retooled offensive line 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 Record: 6-11
28. Tennessee Titans
Here’s another AFC South rival of the Texans…it’s starting to look like the division isn’t going to challenge Houston very much. 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. Ward was one of the most productive passers in college football the last two years, 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 the 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 rookie fifth-rounder Jarvis Brownlee, who tied with Hooker in leading the team with 9 pass deflections apiece. 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 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, they’ve been an exercise in mediocrity since. Tepper has gone through no more than five different head coaches, and never won more games than seven in 2022. Tepper was also reportedly the voice behind drafting Bryce Young first overall, 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.
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 officially declared over after six years of trying when he was released – yes, released – from the New York Giants in the middle of the 2024 season. In his place steps 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 in the group. Although, the offensive line has not been retooled much at all, which could be a 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 better depth than last year, but not by much. 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 this year, this 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.
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, 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 wide receiver 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. Also, keep a look out for rookie third-round pick Wyatt Milum, who could end up taking the starting guard job 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 Darnell Savage Jr. 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.
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 why I would transport you to Miami and put you in a stadium and not on the beach, and that’s because I’m a dork, okay? Today’s the day the Miami Dolphins beat the Buffalo Bills, go 3-0, and christen the bandwagon with this fantastic clip of Bills offensive coordinator freaking out moments after losing the game:
This was the first year of head coach Mike McDaniel’s tenure in Miami, the first season in Miami for wide receiver Tyreek Hill, left tackle Terron Armstead’s first year there, and Jaylen Waddle’s second year. At the onset, this new era in Miami football was bursting with excitement and one of the most exuberant three-game winning streak 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, we’re back to 2025 now, and it didn’t work out for the Miami Dolphins in 2024. 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. They did improve down the stretch once Tua returned to the field, but his moonshots to Hill and Waddle were not landing in their hands 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 fly out of 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 to make his return to Miami? Yeah, the Dolphins are still a little quirky, but Minkah’s addition 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 to the mix.
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.
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.
Projected 2025 Record: 7-10
22. Dallas Cowboys
Now without Micah Parsons, the Dallas Cowboys go from a fringe playoff team to a top ten pick contender. Their defense will rebound just fine without Parsons, but his presence will be missed on every outside run and crucial third down the Cowboys’ defense will face all season long. Daron Bland and Trevon Diggs are still there, Dak Prescott and Ceedee Lamb are still there, and now they have George Pickens. 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 Record: 6-11
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 Record: 8-9
20. Chicago Bears
Will the Chicago Bears finally become competitive, again? First-year head coach Brian Johnson 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. If the rushing attack and offensive 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 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. 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 from LSU, and former Texan Stefon Diggs coming into the building, 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 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 taking the Falcons back to the playoffs with his heroics.
That’s a lot of good news coming into the offseason, which is uncharacteristic of the Falcons. As a counter, 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.
If Penix is able to stay healthy and fully utilize his skill position players’ strengths, Atlanta may finally return to the playoffs. They still need to prove the pass-rush dilemma has been resolved, though.
Projected 2025 Record: 9-8
17. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals thought they had exercised their purgatory demons when they drafted quarterback Kyler Murray first overall in 2019, but it’s hard not to conclude that they’ve remained in that same limbo ever since. 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.
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 (especially DT) has been thickened up, ideally bringing the front 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 start pass rusher.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.
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 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 Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson be able to back him up?
To complement 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. 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 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 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 offseason woes 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 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 knee injury suffered in training camp, 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 an offense ranked ninth in the NFL. Despite that, Minnesota still moved on from Darnold, 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.
Projected 2025 record: 11-6
13. Los Angeles Chargers
The first year under head coach Jim Harbaugh was a success, albeit cut short 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 run-heavy offense. Free agent tailback Najee Harris and 2025 first round pick Omarion Hampton have the Chargers hoping their investment in the ground game will remind all of us of Harbaugh’s 2023 Michigan squad. However, multiple roadblocks have gotten in their way already: 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, but besides that, not much else has changed. This may still be enough for a playoff berth, but in the extremely crowded AFC West, they’re 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 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 and then 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.
Joe Burrow and JaMarr Chase had career years last season, so as long as the defense regresses to the mean, the Bengals should be a legitimate AFC challenger once again. It was hard watching the Lou Anarumo 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 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 they’re 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 gone, 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. 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 Karen Williams can continue his fantastic play, 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 Jayden Daniels for rookie-of-the-year honors, sending Denver back to the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50. They made big additions in free agency this year too, signing tight end Evan Engram, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and safety Talanoa Hufanga. Hufanga has the opportunity to turn the Broncos secondary, 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. 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 free agent tight end 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 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.
Their defense is similarly as dominant, led by defensive tackle Vita Vea and safety Antione Winfield Jr. They’ve reloaded at these positions as well with DT Kalijah Cancey and edge rusher Logan Hall, but it remains to be seen if they can reach their 2020-21 highs again. If Mayfield can continue to get better, they may just have a chance of making their way to the NFC Championship game.
Projected 2025 Record: 10-7
8. Washington Commanders
Washington’s rapid ascent of 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. He, star wide receiver Terry McLaurin, and running back Brian Robinson Jr. were the three-headed monster that led the Commanders to the playoffs, which is where wide receiver Dyami Brown and veteran tight end Zach Ertz woke up. 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 he 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. In comes former 49ers star Deebo Samuel to save the day, who was really the only big move on offense they made this offense…oh, besides TRADING FOR TEXANS LEFT TACKLE LAREMY TUNSIL!
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 their 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 quite 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.
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 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, and they even have a first-round wide reciever! What more could the packers need?
Well, maybe a better season from Jordan Love. Don’t get me wrong, he was excellent last year, but they’ll need to have a higher scoring offense if they want to get past the likes of Philadelphia or Detroit. If he can get back to 2023 form, they’ll be cooking, but if not, they’ll be relying on their defense much like Houston was in 2024.
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 year since. Buffalo now has the bragging right of having the league’s 2024 MVP as their quarterback, but will that be enough to stop 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 Trey Palmer, and tight end Dalton Kincaid would go a long way to balance Buffalo’s offense. Running back James Cool became the star of the show in 2024, so keeping him as fresh as possible for as long as possible would benefit everyone in offense.
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 Record: 11-6
5. Houston Texans
We’ve 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 Karen 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 led to 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.
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. Danielle Hunter added pass rush intensity that was arguably unstoppable all season long, and the same can be said for 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. They were one of the best pass defenses in the league last year, and they look to do the same this year. The unsung hero of last year was linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, though, filling in for an injured Christian Harris and becoming 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 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, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and tight end Sam LaPorta make this one of the most dangerous defense in the entire NFC.
The problem will be the defense. They have one of the best defenses in the country, but only when they’re healthy. If they can avoid the injury bug that struck them last year, they’re Super Bowl contenders once again.
Projected 2025 Record: 13-4
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Ugh, here we go again with the Kansas City Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes is still arguably the best quarterback in the NFL, and there’s no denying that the Chiefs successfully built their defense with rookie after rookie so that they, like the Texans, will be dominant for years to come. The difference between them and the Texans is…they have Patrick Mahomes, and Houston does not. He can excel is almost any kind of offense, and has shown his scrambling ability to be nearly impossible to counter. First round pick Xavier Worthy and a now healthy reciever Marquie Brown hope to benefit from Mahomes, while Kelce is still there and still dangerous
On defense, Chris Jones, George Karlaftis and
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 is an MVP contender once again, they kept the surrounding cast around him extremely talented, and the defense remains a problem with linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton.
Projected 2025 Record: 13-4
1.Philadelphia Eagles
Do you need to hear about these guys much, either? This team is all about Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts, and they can ride this offensive line back to the Super Bowl. The defense will be relying more on young playmakers like Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell now that CJ Gardner-Johnson is in Houston, but, of course, they’ll still be great.
Projected 2025 Record – 15-2
