NFL Power Rankings for Every Team After the 2025 NFL Draft

The 2025 NFL draft has come and gone. As is the case every year, it was a wild and wacky affair.

It wasn’t especially surprising that Miami quarterback Cam Ward went first overall to the Tennessee Titans. Or that Travis Hunter went at No. 2. But that pick was made by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who made a blockbuster trade to move up from No. 5.

That was the first surprise of the draft, but hardly the last. The Atlanta Falcons sent jaws to the floor by dealing a 2026 first-rounder to Los Angeles to move up for…an edge-rusher. Widely regarded as a first-round prospect heading into the festivities in Green Bay, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders fell all the way to Round 5 before the Cleveland Browns stopped his slide—after he was pranked by the son of an NFL defensive coordinator.

That last part is in no way made up.

There is admittedly no guarantee that prospects will succeed in the NFL, whether they are drafted in Round 1 or Round 7. But it’s not a huge stretch to say that the league’s pecking order has been altered by what happened at Lambeau Field.

Bleacher Report NFL Analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski have come together to examine just how much, by ranking the NFL’s teams from worst to first.

If you’re a fan of gold and black uniforms, you aren’t going to like how this starts off.

32. New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy

Tyler Shough

Let’s just put this out there—the New Orleans Saints are a mess.

Veteran quarterback Derek Carr not only has a shoulder injury that threatens his availability for 2025, but after reports surfaced that he was essentially faking it, Carr lashed out publicly.

At church, no less.

“Yes, I have to say this,” Carr said. “I hate that I have to say this, but I have to say this. Yes, I have a shoulder injury, despite what ESPN says. And what some lady on a podcast might think, OK? I have an MRI report to prove it. The team knows about it. We’ve been in constant communication. There’s nothing wrong. We’re figuring it out, and we’re gonna go forward with that. Is that OK? And I’ve been dealing with this, and I’ve been dealing with people lying about me and I’ve been dealing with them saying this and this and that, and I’m like, ‘Lord, why do I have to continue to deal with this nonsense? Like, what is going on?’ And I said that to a preface with you never know what someone’s really going through.”

The salary-cap situation in the Big Easy is 37 kinds of jacked up. Tyler Shough, Carr’s ostensible replacement, will be pushing 30 by the time his rookie deal is over. There are significant issues on both sides of the ball.

If Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has a plan, we wish he’d clue us in.

Because darned if we can see it.

Analyst’s Take

Does anyone know what the Saints are doing? The team's idea of trying to be competitive is drafting a 26-year-old rookie quarterback to fill the void left by veteran quarterback Derek Carr, who is dealing with a potentially season-ending shoulder issue. The Saints simply aren't a serious team right now, even if they have multiple established and quality veterans on the roster and tried to fix their offensive line with Kelvin Banks Jr.'s selection at No. 9 overall. -- Sobleski

31. Tennessee Titans

AP

There’s a new sheriff in town in Nashville—and his name is Cam Ward.

The Miami quarterback isn’t the only new face on the Tennessee Titans in 2025. But the first overall pick in the 2025 draft will all but certainly start from the get-go, and the NFL’s worst team from a season ago will go as far this season as their new young signal-caller takes them.

Titans head coach Brian Callahan told reporters that the Titans became more and more impressed with Ward as the pre-draft process progressed.

"He interacted with everyone in our building," Callahan said. "There wasn't a person in the building that didn't come away impressed. There's an aura to him. He draws people to him."

The Titans focused much of the offseason on preparing for Ward, whether it was strengthening an offensive line that struggled last year or attempting to improve a group of pass-catchers that appeared among the league’s weakest on paper.

The Titans should be an improved team in 2025. But there’s a large gap between “improved” and “good,” and Ward will more likely than not have his share of struggles in an uphill battle of a rookie season.

Analyst’s Take

The Will Levis experiment failed. The Titans responded by doing the right thing and selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Unlike other organizations in this year's draft, Tennessee understood that the longer a franchise waits to address the game's most important position, the further it falls behind everyone else. Ward still has to prove himself, of course. But he was worth the selection, giving the Titans the chance to actually compete in a conference that features Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. -- Sobleski

30. New York Giants

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Jaxson Dart

Not that long ago, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll was the NFL Coach of the Year.

Now, Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen enter the 2025 campaign on the hottest seat of any regime in the league.

The Giants have looked to both the present and the future under center this offseason. In the short term, the Giants are turning the offense over to Russell Wilson. But in the long term, the G-Men moved back into Round 1 of this year’s draft to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Schoen said the Giants did their homework on Dart before making the aggressive move on the draft’s first day while speaking to reporters.

"Yeah, again, we went through an extensive process and moved up for Jaxson. We're fired up to have him," Schoen said. "At the end of the day, we went through the process, we rank them, this is how we had them ranked and with Jaxson we thought the value matched up."

Dart may one day be a solid NFL quarterback. But whether Daboll and Schoen will be around to see it is another matter altogether.

Analyst’s Take

I don't know if Russell Wilson can make New York's offense threatening—or if he'll hold off Dart for the entire 2025 season. I do believe, however, that additions like Abdul Carter and Jevon Holland will prevent the defense from being an embarrassment. New York should be respectable this year, and Dart gives it hope for the future. We'll have to wait and see if those two things are enough for Daboll and Schoen to return in 2026. -- Knox

29. Cleveland Browns

AP

The Cleveland Browns like to keep things interesting.

There isn’t a team in the league that turned more heads during the 2025 draft than the Browns. First, the Browns traded the right to draft Colorado’s Travis Hunter to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a package that included a 2026 first-rounder. Then, Browns GM Andrew Berry committed maybe the draft’s biggest reach when they selected Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel in Round 3.

But wait, there’s more!

The Browns doubled down under center, stopping the slide of Hunter’s teammate Shedeur Sanders in Round 5. That leaves the Browns with a quarterback room that includes Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders. While speaking to the media after the draft, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said the team has a plan for sorting through the pile of signal-callers, although Flacco and Pickett’s NFL experience means they will open workouts atop the depth chart.

“There are ways to do both of those things,” Stefanski said. “Obviously, you may not divide the (reps equally) with 25 (percent to each player), but we feel really confident that we’ll have a plan that is fair to each player and fair to the team as well.”

Analyst’s Take

It'll be hard to convince me that Cleveland's decision to stop Shedeur Sanders' slide didn't come from ownership. Before then, it felt like the Browns were content to stockpile draft capital, take a flier on Dillon Gabriel, add some contributors and position themselves to make a run at a quarterback in 2026. I think trading away the rights to Travis Hunter was a sign that the front office didn't plan to be a playoff contender this season. I'm not so sure that adding Sanders to the mix changes that—though a training camp rise by Sanders or another run of Flacco Fever could change the outlook quickly. Cleveland was in the postseason two years ago, after all. It just feels like it’s going to take more than a single offseason to erase the stink of 2024 and the disaster that was the Deshaun Watson experiment. -- Knox

28. Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

It’s put up or shut up time for Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young in 2025.

After being benched for a time last season, Young showed some improvement down the stretch last year. Now, Young has a brand-new No. 1 wide receiver in Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, who the Panthers selected eighth overall.

McMillan, who played against Young in high school, said in his introductory press conference that he can’t wait for he and Young to start tearing it up between the lines.

"I mean, it's a blessing for me knowing that I have a young quarterback to grow with throughout in the league and just being able to have a quarterback that's reliable, being able to have a quarterback that trusted me. It's definitely someone I look up to growing up. So, being able to finally be on his team and fortunate enough to catch his passes, I mean, I feel like the sky is the limit for both of us in this offense," McMillan said. "I feel like even though we have never played together; I feel like our Cali chemistry will kick in, and as well as the receivers, you know, I feel like there's some vets in there and also some young guys that can teach me the way, teach me the ropes as far as, what it takes to be successful in this league and, at the end of the day, I know that we have good coaching in the facility to get this team where it needs to be."

Analyst’s Take

The Panthers will only go as far as quarterback Bryce Young takes them. Young emerged as one of the league's better storylines a season ago, when the former No. 1 overall pick didn't completely crumble after being benched early in the season. He returned to the lineup and played better. But he still has a ways to go before he looks like an actual No. 1 draft pick. Carolina helped his situation by drafting McMillan with this year's eighth overall pick. -- Sobleski

27. New York Jets

AP

Armand Membou

The Aaron Rodgers era was a two-season disaster for the New York Jets. Now, as they attempt to move forward, it will be with a new quarterback after the team signed Justin Fields to a two-year deal in the offseason.

New York’s second pick in the 2025 draft was a passing-game weapon for Fields in LSU tight end Mason Taylor. He told reporters that he can’t wait to get to work with Fields.

"He's been awesome to see on TV, so, to get to play with him and you know, and I've just seen his contract," Taylor said. "They don't pay bad players that type of money. So, he's a really good quarterback and I can't wait to go work with him and work with the guys in New York. It's gonna be awesome."

It’s so awesome that he feels that way.

New York’s first draft pick was a new tackle to protect Fields in Armand Membou, so it appears the team is doing all it can to put Fields in a position to succeed.

Now, the young signal-caller will need to show that he can sustain the success he had in winning four of six starts last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Analyst’s Take

The Jets were third in the league last year in total defense, and Breece Hall gives Fields an electrifying talent in the backfield. The wide receiver position behind Garrett Wilson is a question mark, but the cupboard for new head coach Aaron Glenn isn’t bare in the Big Apple. However, there’s a lot of losing to overcome in New York—the Jets’ last trip to the postseason came all the way back in 2010. -- Davenport

26. New England Patriots

AP

The New England Patriots appear to have found Tom Brady’s successor in second-year pro Drake Maye. And the team was wildly aggressive in the offseason in trying to build around the young signal-caller. The team gave big bucks to wide receiver Stefon Diggs to serve as New England’s new No. 1 receiver. Spent its first three draft picks on offensive tackle Will Campbell, running back TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Kyle Williams. And handed out the biggest contract of the offseason to a player who switched teams when it signed defensive tackle Milton Williams.

The Pats also added another offensive lineman (Jared Wilson) in Round 3 of the 2025 draft, and New England vice president of player personnel Elliot Wolf told reporters he expects New England’s first four picks to all contribute right away.

“We see all of them with the ability to come in and compete (for starting jobs),” Wolf said. “Obviously, with Coach (Mike) Vrabel, there’s going to be a clean slate. Everyone is going to have an opportunity. Certainly, we have some established players at some of these positions, but each player is going to come in and we’ll see what they can do.”

Analyst’s Take

There probably isn’t a team in the league that underwent a bigger transformation in the offseason than the Patriots, but on some level that just goes to show how much work the Pats had to do to become relevant in the AFC East again. The Patriots should be an improved team in 2025, but it will take a massive step forward from both Maye and his teammates for New England to actually matter in the division. -- Davenport

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

There’s a new head coach, general manager and several new players in Jacksonville this year, but after the team traded up in the first round of the 2025 draft, there’s only one thing Jaguars fans want to talk about—the arrival of Travis Hunter.

The two-way star and Heisman Trophy winner cost the Jaguars a lot—including their first-rounder in 2026. Jaguars GM James Gladstone said that Hunter will begin by focusing on playing wide receiver, but he’ll see time at cornerback this year as well.

"His intent is on playing both sides of the ball, as is ours," Gladstone told ESPN. "When it comes to his onboarding process we’ll give him a heavy dose of offense, and sprinkle in the defensive side of the ball, knowing that by the time we get to the regular season, those should be balanced out. But that’s the initial onboarding plan as it stands today. The on-field talent speaks for itself. The idea that he has the capacity to play on both sides of the ball is certainly unique. But when you get a chance to understand who he is as a person ... He's got a joyful personality, but when he talks, there are some things that hit you in a way that are jaw-dropping."

Analyst’s Take

Once again, the Jaguars are starting over, this time with a 30-something general manager in James Gladstone and head coach in Liam Coen. To their credit, the organization's latest incarnation favors being bold. A trade-up, which included giving up next season's first-round pick, to select the 2025 NFL draft's No. 1 prospect in Colorado's Travis Hunter shows a completely different approach. Jacksonville needed to shake things up. Maybe Gladstone and Coen really will make a difference.  -- Sobleski

24. Indianapolis Colts

AP

Legendary head coach John Madden reportedly once said, “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none.”

Shane Steichen of the Indianapolis Colts may be about to find out the veracity of that statement—the hard way.

Regardless of what has (or will) happen this offseason in Indianapolis, the dominant storyline is going to remain the competition at quarterback between third-year pro Anthony Richardson and free-agent signee Daniel Jones.

Since being drafted fourth overall in 2023, Richardson has struggled both with injuries and accuracy. But while appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said that Richardson fully intends to win what is being billed as an open competition with Jones.

“I talked to somebody in Richardson’s camp at the combine about this whole dynamic, and I brought up Daniel Jones and some of the things I was hearing. And he said, Anthony doesn’t care if they bring in Joe Montana – like, he’s going to go win that job. And I did – maybe that’s just talk, but I did find it interesting,” Fowler said. “I think, talking to some people there in Indy, they did feel like he was trending slightly up by the end of the year,” Fowler continued. “He had regrouped a little bit, was playing a little better, but it’s the inconsistent play with the durability where they’re like, we have to get somebody, and we have to spend a little bit of money.”

Analyst’s Take

The Colts can fire defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and bring in Lou Anarumo. They can finally be more aggressive in free agency since general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen are now firmly planted on the hot seat. The front office can draft a fantastic offensive weapon in tight end Tyler Warren. None of it matters. Why? The 2025 season is all about quarterback Anthony Richardson's development. If the athletic signal-caller finally shows legit improvement, the Colts will be hellacious to handle. If not, an organizational reset is forthcoming. -- Sobleski

23. Las Vegas Raiders

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

It’s not that often that fans of a team coming off a four-win season are brimming with enthusiasm. But Raider Nation is pretty stoked right now.

The team has a Super Bowl-winning head coach now in Pete Carroll. The Raiders have arguably their best quarterback in a decade-plus in Geno Smith. And with the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, Vegas selected an electrifying young running back in Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty—the earliest any team has taken a back since Saquon Barkley went second overall in 2018.

Jeanty told reporters that he’s excited to be headed to Sin City.

"I am super duper excited,” Jeanty said. “I gotta shout out Mark Davis, (John) Spytek, Pete Carroll. There is lot of history in the Raiders building and I am excited to be a part of that."

The Raiders have addressed several needs but have just as many more. And while improvement isn’t an unreasonable expectation, a postseason run in a division that fielded three playoff teams in 2024 may be asking a bit much.

Analyst’s Take

The Raiders should be significantly better than last year's 4-13 squad, which is a low bar to clear. Nonetheless, the club upgraded its coaching staff, hiring head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, and at the quarterback position, acquiring Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks. More importantly, the Raiders can forge an offensive identity while featuring All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers and first-round running back Ashton Jeanty. Las Vegas can field a dynamic offense that can grind opponents down with two young playmakers who are tough to bring down on first contact. Its offensive line is still a work in progress, though. -- Moton

22. Arizona Cardinals

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

There was more than a little enthusiasm in the desert last year at this time—the Arizona Cardinals had just drafted Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., and the hope was that he and Kyler Murray would immediately mesh and jump-start the Cardinals passing game. That didn’t happen, but Murray told Arizona Sports recently that while Harrison’s ascension to stardom may have been delayed, it’s still coming.

"For him to have eight touchdowns and feel like he didn't even scratch the surface, that's saying something," Murray said. "Obviously, me and him have to be better and we will be better. But I loved where he was mentally at the end of the season. Being more open, being more comfortable with the guys in the locker room, being more comfortable with me, being more comfortable just to speak his mind within the receiving room with (quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork and passing game coordinator Drew Terrell)."

The Cardinals aren’t without talent, and first-round pick Walter Nolen should help a front seven that also added edge-rusher Josh Sweat in free agency. But it’s still going to be an uphill climb for the Redbirds to contend in a deep NFC West.

Analyst’s Take

Arizona didn’t have a bad draft—Michigan cornerback Will Johnson could be a massive steal if he can stay on the field. The work the team has done on defense should help this year. But linebacker, the middle of the offensive line, wide receiver behind Harrison and cornerback are all weak spots, and that’s a lot of holes in a division with little margin for error. -- Davenport

21. Miami Dolphins

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Not that long ago, the Dolphins appeared to be a team on the rise. Head coach Mike McDaniel was gaining a reputation as one of the league’s better young offensive minds. Southpaw quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had just received a massive contract extension.

Now, both head into 2025 on thin ice after the Miami offense sputtered in 2024 and Tagovailoa struggled once again to stay on the field.

In fact, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, there are rumors that McDaniel may have lost the Dolphins’ locker room. Veteran players like cornerback Jalen Ramsey and wide receiver Tyreek Hill have requested trades, although the latter has changed his tune since.

Before the draft, general manager Chris Grier told reporters that the team remains headed in the right direction.

“Would I say I’m perfect?” Grier said. “No, I’m not. There’s no GM that’s perfect, but working with our scouts and our coaching staff and what we do in the scheme that they believe in and finding the fits for players is always important and it’s been a pretty smooth process the last couple years.”

Um…OK.

Analyst’s Take

The Dolphins had a rocky draft—the selection of Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant at No. 13 was one of Round 1’s bigger reaches. And that just contributes to the feeling that the Dolphins are an average team with no direction. Tagovailoa has a cap hit in 2026 well over $50 million, and a dead cap hit of nearly $100 million makes releasing him even then nearly impossible. Miami appears headed toward a mediocre (at best) season, a regime change, and then the new coach and general manager will be saddled with a quarterback they didn’t draft or extend. Good times. -- Davenport

20. Chicago Bears

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

You have to give the Chicago Bears credit—the team has done just about everything it can to help second-year quarterback Caleb Williams take a step forward in 2025.

The Bears hired an offensive-minded head coach in Ben Johnson. Bolstered the offensive line in the offseason. Added two more passing-game weapons in the early rounds of the 2025 draft in Michigan tight end Colston Loveland and Missouri wideout Luther Burden III.

It has been such a successful offseason that ESPN’s Dan Graziano went so far as to say that Williams could be in the MVP conversation this year.

“If the protection holds up, Williams is going to have a ton of places he can go with the ball on any particular play, and with Johnson drawing the plays up, this could be as exciting an offense as there is in the league,’ he said. “There's always a team that goes from last place to first place in its division from one year to the next. And while the presence of the Lions, Vikings and Packers in their division might well prevent the Bears from being that, if they improve enough to contend for a playoff spot, it'll probably be because Williams and all of those offensive targets have lit up the scoreboard week in and week out.”

Analyst’s Take

The Bears are ready for a significant leap if head coach Ben Johnson brings his play-calling genius to the Windy City. Chicago has completely remade its offense for a new-and-improved balanced attack. In free agency, the Bears added interior offensive linemen Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman. In the draft, they selected tight end Colston Loveland, wideout Luther Burden III and tackle Ozzy Trapilo in the first two rounds. If Trapilo is the draft steal B/R scout Brandon Thorn thinks he can be, Caleb Williams will have the pass protection to stand in the pocket and carve up defenses with his talented pass-catching group. -- Moton

19. Atlanta Falcons

AP

The Atlanta Falcons entered 2025 with one massively glaring need—for the second time in the past three seasons, the Falcons amassed the second-fewest sacks in the league in 2024. Atlanta signed veteran Leonard Floyd in free agency, but the team was only getting started.

First, the Falcons selected Georgia “tweener” Jalon Walker at No. 15. Then the team went all-in, sending a package of picks (including a first-rounder in 2026) to the Los Angeles Rams to move up and draft Tennessee edge-rusher James Pearce Jr.

The Pearce pick wasn’t especially well-received, but general manager Terry Fontenot defended it while speaking to the media.

"Well, if you look at the trade from yesterday,” Fontenot said, “basically what we did is we used our first-round pick this year, right? When you really think about it, what we gave up for it is we went from the second round to the third round, if you really put it in a nutshell. It's about who the player is, and we're not being irresponsible about it. We're making decisions based on conviction and love for players and knowing the impact they're going to make on this team."

Of course, not everyone hated the deal.

That may be foreshadowing.

Analyst’s Take

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. can be the difference in the Falcons finally pulling themselves out of the muck of mediocrity and actually compete for a division title and possibly more. The offense has had significant talent for years. Now, Atlanta finally understood the assignment and loaded up on defensive talent during the 2025 NFL draft, with Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. bringing legitimate pass-rush juice. -- Sobleski

18. Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Gareth Patterson

Tyler Booker

This is not where the Dallas Cowboys want to find themselves in Power Rankings. The Cowboys are a team that enters every season with aspirations of playing in the Super Bowl—and right now, those aspirations smack of a pipe dream.

With that said, the Cowboys actually had a decent draft, headlined by the selection of guard Tyler Booker and edge-rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku. After the draft, Dallas grand poobah Jerry Jones praised the class the team assembled.

"These guys are influencers with their work ethic and their understanding of, what's the word for it today? Woke," Jones told reporters. "Seriously. What is that? That's having some good instinct. That's looking ahead. That's understanding, that's caring when maybe others don't. Some woke. These guys, all of them really, they've demonstrated that they've got the ability to not only feel it but use it to help their teams."

Yes, Jerry Jones used the word “woke.” No, we don’t know what that means for the future of humanity.

Analyst’s Take

This felt like a needs-based draft for the Cowboys, and Dallas actually put a little effort into free agency this year. However, I'm not sure it'll be enough to fill the holes created earlier in the offseason. I'm also not convinced that Brian Schottenheimer is enough of an upgrade over Mike McCarthy to make a difference in 2025. The Cowboys may be playoff-relevant if they can get and stay healthy, but they still feel like the third-best team in the division. -- Knox

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

AP

Kaleb Johnson

The good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers is that the team hasn’t had a losing season in two decades. The bad news is that the team hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016.

Oh, and as things stand right now, Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback is Mason Rudolph.

The Steelers have been dancing with Aaron Rodgers for some time now. Team owner Art Rooney said in a recent radio appearance that the team remains hopeful that the four-time MVP will eventually decide to play in the Steel City.

"We're still kind of getting the same signals that we've been getting recently," Rooney said. "He does want to come here, so I do think we may get word soon."

The Steelers did draft Ohio State’s Will Howard, but spending a sixth-rounder on Howard doesn’t indicate a ton of confidence in his ability to start in the NFL right away.

With Rodgers, the Steelers are a legitimate contender in the AFC North, even if they aren’t a real threat to the AFC’s heavyweights in the postseason.

Without him? Tomlin’s streak of non-losing seasons is going to be in serious jeopardy.

Analyst’s Take

At some point, being "good enough" won't be enough for the Rooney family in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, it feels like the Steelers are staring down another "good enough' season in 2025. I like the addition of DK Metcalf, but I think he'll ultimately be just a long-term replacement for George Pickens. The Steelers addressed some big needs at the top of the draft, but Derrick Harmon and Kaleb Johnson will pretty much replace Larry Ogunjobi and Najee Harris, who departed in free agency. Aaron Rodgers represents a quarterback plan I don't like, and we still don't even know if he'll play in 2025. Pittsburgh won't be a Browns-level embarrassment in 2025, but the franchise is probably looking at another 10-win season, mid-first-round pick and no shot at a true franchise quarterback early in the draft. The question is whether that will lead the Steelers to make meaningful changes. -- Knox

16. San Francisco 49ers

AP

Mykel Williams

The San Francisco 49ers suffered through a miserable 2024 season—and the offseason that followed may have actually been worse.

With Brock Purdy’s extension looming, the 49ers underwent a massive roster purge, with a handful of starters leaving for other teams. However, despite all those departures, general manager John Lynch insisted to reporters that the team has a plan.

“The bottom line is you’re always looking at years out (from now),” he said. “And we forecast it, and we’ve got some big things coming our way. And you have to clear the requisite room to be able to do that. And you don’t want to get to a point where you have to do things to keep your roster afloat. You want to have that flexibility.”

Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are widely regarded as two of the league’s best at their respective jobs. And just two years ago, the 49ers had a lead in overtime of the Super Bowl. But this feels a lot like a team whose Super Bowl window slammed shut after last year’s injury-riddled disaster of a season.

Analyst’s Take

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is gone. So is linebacker Dre Greenlaw. And safety Talanoa Hufanga. And guard Aaron Banks. And cornerback Charvarius Ward. And edge-rusher Leonard Floyd. And tackle Jaylon Moore. Running back Christian McCaffrey turns 29 in June and is coming off another major injury. And the team is about to make a massive financial commitment to a quarterback who may just be slightly above average. The Niners have a reputation as a perennial contender, but the reality of this team doesn’t fit that rep. -- Davenport

15. Seattle Seahawks

Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini

There are big changes galore in the Pacific Northwest this year.

Quarterback Geno Smith is in Vegas, replaced in Seattle by Sam Darnold. The Seahawks traded wide receiver DK Metcalf to Pittsburgh, replacing him with veteran Cooper Kupp.

Per the team’s website, head coach Mike Macdonald said those seismic changes were what’s best for a franchise that hasn’t been able to get past marginal contender status in recent years.

"It wasn't like you just snapped a finger and like, OK, hey, now we lost those two guys," Macdonald said. "It's a process. And so, at the end of the day, yeah, that's what ended up and that's where our team's going. But I think we had the mentality throughout of, 'OK, why are we making this decision? If we go down this road, what's it going to look like, because it's best for our team.' And that's kind of the decision criteria we faced and followed the whole time, and it seemed like it happened really quickly, but it felt like we went through the process the right way and made the best decisions for us."

Analyst’s Take

The Seahawks had a solid draft, adding offensive line help in Round 1 and a punishing young safety in South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori in Round 2. But the offensive line in Seattle remains a sizable question mark, the team’s edge-rushers aren’t especially imposing and the swap from Metcalf to Kupp is a downgrade. The Seahawks may be good enough to win 9-10 games. They might even make the postseason. But this team isn’t markedly better than last year’s iteration. -- Davenport 

14. Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Joe Maiorana

Shemar Stewart

There isn’t a team in the AFC that wants more badly to put 2024 in the rearview mirror than the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals are loaded on offense again after bringing back wide receiver Tee Higgins and making Ja’Marr Chase the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback. But the team’s defense was atrocious, and the Bengals missed the playoffs altogether.

There’s a new defensive coordinator in Cincinnati in Al Golden, and head coach Zac Taylor told reporters he has every confidence Cincy’s new defense will be markedly improved in 2025.

“Tremendous belief in Al. I think he’s got great conviction in what he wants to do on defense and how he’s going to do it, who he needs to do it with," Taylor said. “That defensive staff, as well — I think we’ve got great teachers, guys that believe in what they believe in and are excited about the players that we have in the building. That’s all important. That makes me really excited, and can’t wait to see these guys get to work, get these guys in the classroom first, get them on the field.”

It had better be—or Taylor may be looking for work in 2026.

Analyst’s Take

Cincinnati finally paid to keep some of its best players. That's great, but the team has remained too passive in other areas—waiting until Round 3 to address a problematic offensive line was not ideal. I see the Bengals' 2025 season going in one of two ways. If new defensive coordinator Al Golden can actually solidify his side of the ball, Cincinnati should be in the Super Bowl hunt. If he doesn't—and/or if Burrow suffers another significant injury—I think we could see a coaching change. I'll split the difference and consider Cincinnati a borderline playoff team that could be one of the league's biggest stories for either good or bad reasons late in the season. -- Knox 

13. Denver Broncos

AP

The Denver Broncos were a surprise playoff team in 2024 under rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Now, it’s a matter of building on that success and ending Kansas City’s decade-long run of dominance in the AFC West.

However, Lou Scataglia of Predominantly Orange came away from the 2025 draft unimpressed with Denver’s draft class.

“They clearly loved (cornerback Jahdae) Barron that much to take him at 20, and we heard afterwards that they did consider a running back and even a trade-back from that spot,” he said. “Guys like TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Omarion Hampton and Matthew Golden were still on the board, but none went to the Broncos. The team then got a bit cute in the second and third round, trading down twice and landing on Pat Bryant, a WR prospect who was closer to a fourth or fifth-round prospect, and Sai'vion Jones, who is a fine DE prospect and may eventually take over for John Franklin-Myers.”

There are admittedly questions on offense, but the Denver defense could be among the league’s best. And that will keep the Broncos in a lot of games.

Analyst’s Take

So far this offseason, the Broncos have done more for their defense than for second-year quarterback Bo Nix. Denver's third-ranked scoring defense will remain stout with the addition of safety Talanoa Hufanga, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and rookie first-round cornerback Jahdae Barron. Though Nix will have a new safety blanket in pass-catching tight end Evan Engram, B/R's Brent Sobleski sees second-round running back RJ Harvey and third-round wide receiver Pat Bryant as Day 2 reaches for the Broncos. -- Moton 

12. Los Angeles Chargers

AP

It’s hardly a secret that Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh lives in the trenches. That he loves running the ball. As such, it was no huge surprise when the Bolts used their first pick on North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton—despite also signing Najee Harris in free agency.

General manager Joe Hortiz told reporters that the Hampton pick was an easy one to make.

“He was just this big, physical runner with breakaway speed punishing people and making guys miss, and you’re just like, ‘Wow, this is a heck of a back,’” Hortiz said. “Getting to watch him do it again this year. Two years of production, durability, high character, work ethic off the charts, pride, everything about him, the way he approaches it — that’s what makes him stand out.”

The question now is whether the team’s other offseason acquisitions will help Los Angeles close the gap in the AFC West with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Analyst’s Take

The Chargers are ahead of their rebuild schedule under head coach Jim Harbaugh, which isn't surprising given his track record. They added the pieces to build on an 11-6 campaign this offseason. Los Angeles will be more consistent than last year in running the ball. The club signed guard Mekhi Becton and drafted running back Omarion Hampton in the first round. The Chargers also added competition for the center spot with the addition of Andre James. Quarterback Justin Herbert will have serviceable tight end Tyler Conklin to target in the passing game, and he reunites with Mike Williams, whom the team signed in free agency. The Chargers are a legitimate threat to challenge the Chiefs for the AFC West title in 2025. -- Moton 

11. Minnesota Vikings

AP

Donovan Jacksonm

It’s J.J. McCarthy time in the Twin Cities.

The Minnesota Vikings won 14 games last year, but that was with Sam Darnold under center. Now Darnold is in Seattle, and after missing his entire rookie year with an ACL tear it’s McCarthy’s team now.

Veteran running back Aaron Jones told reporters that he likes what he’s seen from the young quarterback so far this offseason.

"He looks great," Jones said. "I've seen him today moving around. He looks good in the weight room, looks good, confident. I'm very confident in him. He has all the support around him and we're here to lift him up and he's going to be ready to go."

The Vikings used their first draft pick to help protect McCarthy with the selection of Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson, and the acquisition of veteran backup Sam Howell should be the end of the Aaron Rodgers rumors.

McCarthy’s the guy now, for better or worse. And after last season’s success, the expectation is that McCarthy will lead the Vikes to the postseason in 2025.

Analyst’s Take

Under head coach and offensive play-caller Kevin O'Connell, Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold posted numbers worthy of Pro Bowl recognition. If O'Connell helps J.J. McCarthy get that accolade, he deserves to be on the same tier as Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay in terms of his play-calling acumen. Realistically, we should expect McCarthy to experience rough patches in his first full season in a starting role, assuming he outperforms Sam Howell through training camp. The Vikings revamped the interior of their offensive line, signing Ryan Kelly and Will Fries and drafting Donovan Jackson in the first round. McCarthy just needs to play within himself and trust a defense that could be better than last year's fifth-ranked scoring unit with the addition of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. -- Moton 

10. Houston Texans

AP Photo/Ed Zurga

C.J. Stroud

In each of C.J. Stroud’s first two seasons as the quarterback for the Houston Texans, the team has won the AFC South and a playoff game.

The 2024 draft was all about improving things around Stroud. In the second round of the draft, the Texans added Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins and offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery. Houston took another receiver in the third round in fellow Cyclone Jaylin Noel.

The team also added a veteran receiver in Christian Kirk, and while speaking with reporters Stroud said that new offensive coordinator Nick Caley is giving him more control of the offense.

"Taking control and being a little more pre-snap, having tools to put my guys in the best position. That is something that we really didn't work on these last two years," Stroud said. “So, I will be able to put my swag on it, have fun with it. He is all about me taking full ownership, running the show, and that's what I want. So, it's really been really cool just to see that he's bought into me, and he doesn't really know me well yet. He talked about today having blind trust and I have a lot of trust in him already. Just how he talks and how he presents in the room is really cool to see."

Houston is a heavy favorite in its division again. But the Texans will go as far in the postseason as their young quarterback takes them.

Analyst’s Take

A reset became necessary in Houston after the Texans and quarterback C.J. Stroud took a slight step back in 2024. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs and left tackle Laremy Tunsil are gone. The Texans brought in veterans Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson and Trent Brown to solidify the offensive line. Meanwhile, the Day 2 draft additions of wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel reshaped the team's wide receiver room around Nico Collins. This fall, Houston should look more like the team in 2023, not 2024. -- Sobleski

9. Green Bay Packers

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

In the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers did something the franchise had not done since 2002—the team selected a wide receiver in Round 1. In fact, the last time the Packers did that, said pick (Matthew Golden of Texas) hadn’t been born yet.

The pick elicited roars from the hometown crowd, but being the first Round 1 wideout in over two decades in Titletown brings with it more than a little pressure. But the Longhorns speedster said via the team’s website that he’s ready to be “the guy” for the Packers.

"In critical situations, I always showed up," Golden said. "When our back was against the wall, they could count on me to come out with a big play, and that's something I kept doing continuously. Coming here, that's definitely the same mindset I'm bringing – to make big plays and come out here and win games."

That Green Bay circled back at wide receiver again in Round 3 for TCU’s Savion Williams was interesting given the team’s other needs.

But quarterback Jordan Love certainly isn’t hurting for young targets to throw to.

Analyst’s Take

The Packers heard the chatter about their need for a No. 1 wide receiver and broke a 23-year streak of not taking a prospect at that position in the first round of the draft. Packers CEO Mark Murphy acknowledged the end of the Day 1 receiver drought when he announced Matthew Golden as the team's selection at No. 23. However, Golden has a lot to prove to be considered a go-to playmaker. He didn't rack up 1,000 yards in any of his three collegiate seasons and topped out at 58 catches in his lone year at Texas. -- Moton

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Emeka Egbuka

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the four-time defending champions of the NFC South. But since the team’s victory in Super Bowl LV, the Bucs haven’t gotten out of the Divisional Round.

While addressing the media, Tampa general manager Jason Licht made it clear that he knows the Buccaneers need to get better to get over the hump and past teams like the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC.

"It is an ongoing process and an evolving process of just trying to get better as an evaluator and like those cases, I was the one running up the mountain with the flag on some of those guys and you are not always right," Licht said. "I think I have grown in my profession, in my job, to know that you can't always be right but I think as a group we look and see what some of the traits were on some of those guys and we try to tweak it a little bit.”

By most accounts, the Bucs have had a solid offseason, and it’s not a stretch to call them the clear favorites in the NFC South once again.

Analyst’s Take

The Buccaneers offense has the potential to be spectacular in 2025, with Baker Mayfield getting better each year, Chris Godwin's return and the first-round acquisition of Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka to make the team's group of wide receivers deadly. The Bucs finished third overall in total offense last year. They're now aiming for that No. 1 spot. -- Sobleski

7. Los Angeles Rams

Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead must really hate the first round of the NFL draft.

Since drafting quarterback Jared Goff first overall in 2016, the Rams have made one first-round pick—edge-rusher Jared Verse in 2024. And sure enough, on the draft’s first day Snead sent this year’s first-round pick to Atlanta for a package that includes the Falcons’ first pick in 2026.

While addressing the media after Round 1, Rams head coach Sean McVay said he wasn’t surprised by what transpired.

“I had a feeling that this was a possibility that this could happen tonight,” McVay said. “Had a bunch of great dialogue with teams throughout and ended up exactly where we wanted to be. To be able to get a future (first-round pick) is a big deal to just move back 20 spots. The next couple days will be exciting, but feel really good about the way that tonight unfolded for us.”

At this point, it’s safe to say that none of us should be surprised.

Analyst’s Take

On one hand, the Rams have to be viewed as the team to beat in the NFC West—Los Angeles has a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, no shortage of offensive weapons and a stout young front seven defensively. On the other hand, the Rams have issues at linebacker, in the secondary and on the interior of the offensive line. The Rams may be a playoff team, but I don’t see them as a real threat to make it to Santa Clara. -- Davenport

6. Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez

Josh Conerly Jr.

After a stunning run to the NFC Championship Game last year, the enthusiasm and pressure in the nation’s capital have both ratcheted up exponentially. In 2025, Washington has something it hasn't had in some time.

Expectations.

The Commanders have been aggressive this offseason, making a pair of trades for accomplished veterans in wide receiver Deebo Samuel and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. The team added another potential starter on the offensive line in Round 1 of the 2025 draft in Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr.

Running back Jeremy McNichols told reporters that the Commanders plan to show that last year’s postseason success was in no way a one-off.

"I think it brings a lot of confidence, we have something to build upon," McNichols said. "We started to build a solid foundation last year, and I think with the guys coming in, the expectation you have when you come to the Commanders and the expectations we have when we go play on Sunday, but nobody holds higher expectations than we do in this building."

Analyst’s Take

A slight regression may be inevitable for the Commanders, who largely overachieved with a patchwork roster comprised of older veterans and short-term deals. The process of getting younger and finding stability began this offseason, and there could be growing pains. That said, Washington should remain a contender for as long as Jayden Daniels remains healthy, and throwing a couple of big darts at the offensive line (Tunsil, Conerly) was a smart approach. -- Knox

5. Baltimore Ravens

AP

Lamar Jackson has had a remarkable career to date—one that has included a pair of MVP awards. However, that individual success has yet to translate to a Super Bowl run—the 2024 season once again ended in disappointing fashion in the playoffs.

Of course, a leaky Ravens secondary had more to do with that than anything Jackson did (or didn’t do). And that makes the gift that was Georgia safety Malaki Starks falling to Baltimore at No. 27 overall all the more impactful.

While speaking to reporters, Ravens head coach John “I Beat My Brother in the Super Bowl” Harbaugh lauded the versatility Baltimore will have at safety with Starks joining Kyle Hamilton.

"The ability to move all those pieces around and get them in different positions is pretty exciting," Harbaugh said. "The offense isn't going to know who's going to be back there on any given play."

If Baltimore’s defense can play at close to the same level as the offense in 2025, this could be the AFC’s best team. And given that the Ravens also added 2024 FBS sack leader Mike Green, they just might.

Analyst’s Take

This might finally be Baltimore's year. I really like the additions the Ravens made in the draft, and DeAndre Hopkins should finally give them a reliable third receiver. More importantly, we should see a better defense in Year 2 under Zach Orr. As long as Jackson remains healthy and Derrick Henry avoids the dreaded cliff, Baltimore should win the AFC North and have a legitimate shot at the AFC's No. 1 seed. -- Knox

4. Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

The Buffalo Bills have come oh so close to the Super Bowl in recent years, but to date the team hasn’t been able to get over the hump. Buffalo was 18th in sacks last year and 29th in third-down defense, so the team clearly prioritized that side of the ball in this year’s draft.

All of Buffalo’s picks on the first two days were defenders—Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston, South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders and Arkansas edge-rusher Landon Jackson.

While addressing the media, Bills general manager Brandon Beane said the organization is happy with how the draft class shook out.

"Athletic ability, speed, power, all the things that you're looking for (we got)," Beane said. "To get the guys we've been able to add, there's a lot of excitement upstairs."

The question is whether that excitement will last into January—or whether the Bills will once again come up short in the postseason.

Analyst’s Take

The Bills aren’t a team with many holes on the roster, and after another solid draft there are that many fewer on the defensive side of the ball. Granted, Buffalo isn’t without some question marks—unless Keon Coleman steps up, the Bills don’t really have an “alpha” wideout. But any team led by Josh Allen with a stout defense is going to be dangerous, and it would be a massive upset if anyone else wins the AFC East. -- Davenport

3. Detroit Lions

AP

Tyleik Williams

Last year, the Lions had their most successful regular season in franchise history but were stunned at home by the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round.

While talking to reporters, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said his team is ready to take another run at the franchise’s first Super Bowl with quarterback Jared Goff steering the ship offensively.

"He doesn’t get high,” Campbell said, “he doesn’t get low, he’s just the same guy every day. He’s very consistent that way, but I love it because we get out here in practice, you see him in the games, in critical (situations), that’s when he’s at his best. When things don’t go right, you have to be able to say, ‘I can take it for what it is.’ Look at the substance in it."

Of course, Goff and the offense weren’t what got Detroit bounced from the playoffs last year. It was the NFC’s worst pass defense—a pass defense that remains the team’s weak link in 2025.

Analyst’s Take

The Lions are tough to evaluate after losing their offensive and defensive coordinators, though they're equipped to maintain a similar winning script on both sides of the ball. Detroit beefed up its offensive line with the addition of second-round guard Tate Ratledge. The defense can continue to improve with cornerback D.J. Reed joining the secondary and first-round defensive lineman Tyleik Williams bolstering the league's fifth-best run defense from last year. -- Moton

2. Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

Josh Simmons

After watching Patrick Mahomes get beaten to a pulp in Super Bowl LIX, it was abundantly clear that the Kansas City Chiefs needed help along the offensive line—especially at tackle.

The Chiefs addressed that need in both free agency and the draft, but while addressing the media quarterback Patrick Mahomes admitted that this offseason's motivation is all about washing the stink of that blowout loss to the Eagles off.

"I'm pretty motivated anyways, but I think when you get some of those tiring sets or tiring reps that you're in the workout, you have something in the back of your mind that you're kind of pushing towards," Mahomes said Wednesday, via team transcript. "You have that bad taste in your mouth from the last time you stepped on the football field and you kind of have to hear about it all offseason, so it gives you the push that you want to go out there and be better and show what we're really about."

Given how the Chiefs have dominated the AFC of late, an extra-motivated Mahomes should terrify the rest of the conference.

Analyst’s Take

After the Eagles pummeled the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, general manager Brett Veach had one major objective in the offseason: solidify the offensive line. Kansas City traded guard Joe Thuney and added first-round tackle Josh Simmons, who's coming off a knee injury. If Simmons is ready to play early in the upcoming campaign, the Chiefs may have a draft steal with the 32nd pick. On the flip side, Patrick Mahomes may feel the consequences of Kansas City's decision to trade Joe Thuney if Kingsley Suamataia or Mike Caliendo struggles to fill the vacant spot at left guard. -- Moton

1. Philadelphia Eagles

AP

Heading into the 2025 draft, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman told reporters that the Eagles would continue to be aggressive in getting the players they want.

"For me,” he said, “I think that being aggressive has always been part of my DNA, and I feel fortunate that I have people around me who support that in Coach [Nick Sirianni] and [chairman/CEO Jeffrey Lurie], and it allows us to take chances and to try to be aggressive."

Sure enough, Roseman stayed true to that credo, making his 11th trade involving first-round picks since 2015. This time, it was Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who will help reinforce a front seven that lost some pieces in free agency.

Staying on top can be even harder than getting there. But Roseman is one of the best in the business—and the Eagles are well-positioned to be a force again in 2025.

Analyst’s Take

The Eagles have done nothing this offseason that makes me believe they won't remain in the Super Bowl mix. Losing players like Milton Williams and Josh Sweat hurts but felt inevitable. Incoming rookies like Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba should help the defense adjust. My biggest concern is the departure of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and that concern largely stems from the double-coordinator change that sunk Philly in 2023. The Eagles may very well be better equipped to handle this shift. -- Knox