Every NFL Offense's Best- and Worst-Case Scenario in 2025

Offense sells tickets, wins games and, in the modern NFL, can win championships.

Just look at how much money and resources teams are willing to pour into finding a quarterback, building an offensive line and retaining a star receiver. It's an offensive league and every front office goes into the offseason with a vision for how it will improve the unit for the next season.

That's easier said than done in the NFL, though. Even the best-laid plans in the league come with a range of outcomes.

That's the topic we're set to explore here. We'll examine all 32 offenses by taking a look at what the most realistic ceiling is if everything breaks right for a group in 2025.

And we'll also break down what the worst-case scenario looks like to give the full range of outcomes for every offense in the league ahead of the 2025 season.

Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Alex Gallardo

Biggest Need: Right Guard

Best-Case Scenario: Marvin Harrison Jr.'s Breakout Creates a Top-Five Offense

Isaiah Adams takes the next step in his second season and the Cardinals don't have any glaring weaknesses up front. That would allow Kyler Murray to play behind one of the best offensive lines he’s had. Solid O-line play would also allow the running game to continue to thrive whether it’s James Conner or Trey Benson carrying the ball. 

Add in a Marvin Harrison Jr. breakout season and the Cardinals could be one of the best offenses in the league. They made a leap from 21st to the 10th in EPA per play during Drew Petzing’s second-year as an offensive coordinator. A top-five finish could be in store for Year 3. 

Worst-Case Scenario: The Run Game Breaks Down

Right guard is the most notable weakness on the offensive line, but it isn’t the only question mark. Jonah Williams has a long history of giving up sacks, and he only played in six games with a knee injury last season.

If Murphy’s Law prevails in the desert, then Arizona could wind up having serious issues with the entire right side of the line. 

Throw in the fact that Conner played 16 games for the first time in his career last season and the Cardinals could be leaning on Benson to make a leap in Year 2.

If that doesn’t happen and the run game is shaky, it’s going to be hard for the team to avoid falling back into the bottom-third of the league.

Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Biggest Need: Center

Best-Case Scenario: Michael Penix Jr. Hits Ground Running in Second Season

It might seem like an oversimplification, but where the Falcons offense winds up is entirely up to how good Michael Penix Jr. can be in his first year of starting.

The infrastructure in Atlanta remains ideal. The Falcons have a strong offensive line that is only replacing one starter in Drew Dalman at center. Drake London is a capable No. 1 receiver, while Bijan Robinson might be the best back not named Saquon Barkley.

Zac Robinson got the most out of the group despite 14 so-so starts from what's left of Kirk Cousins.

There aren't many reasons Penix shouldn't succeed, so we'll see how much he learned from sitting behind Cousins in Year 1. If he hits the ground running, the Falcons can be a top-10 offense.

Worst-Case Scenario: Can't Replace Drew Dalman and Penix Has Growing Pains

It's easy to overlook the loss of a center. Not only did Dalman help set pass protections and communicate for one of the league's best offensive lines, but he also graded out with the fourth-highest grade among centers for PFF last season.

Rather than draft or sign a replacement, the Falcons are turning to in-house candidate Ryan Neuzil.

The quarterback and center have to carry a lot of the communication for an offense. If the Falcons' new battery has some growing pains, then the offense could take a step back.

It's hard seeing the team not being able to run the ball well enough to at least be a middle-of-the-pack offense, though.

Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Biggest Need: Interior Offensive Line

Best-Case Scenario: Rinse and Repeat

The Ravens were No. 1in EPA per play, first in total yardage and third in scoring offense. They mostly took an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach.

They spent most of their draft capital on defense, showing their confidence that the offense will keep things rolling into 2025.

That's the beauty of having a dynamic quarterback like Lamar Jackson. As long as he's healthy, the Ravens will be among the most dynamic offenses in the league. There are few reasons to believe a repeat performance isn't coming.

Worst-Case Scenario: Derrick Henry Finally Ages and No Guards Emerge

The run game fueled the Ravens like few offenses in the league last year. Jackson was a big part of that, but Derrick Henry flirted with 2,000 yards on the ground in his age-30 season. It was a ridiculous feat considering his age and career workload.

If things go south for the Ravens, it's going to be some combination of Henry finally feeling his age, troubles on the offensive line and Jackson getting dinged up.

Henry is 31 years old with 2,355 career carries. Daniel Faalele needs to take a step in his second year at right guard, and Andrew Vorhees will need to prove he can be the left guard.

If neither of them do that, it's possible the Ravens lose their punch in the run game. Even so, as long as Jackson is healthy, they probably still finish around the top 10.

Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Biggest Need: Wide Receiver

Best-Case Scenario: Josh Allen's Supporting Cast Takes a Step Forward

Josh Allen has proved he doesn't need an elite supporting cast to create an elite offense. The Bills were second in EPA per play despite Khalil Shakir leading all receivers with 821 yards.

The Bills' group of playmakers was not elite, but it did work well together.

Dalton Kincaid, Shakir and Keon Coleman are all still early in their NFL careers. If each of them takes the next step and becomes an even more reliable target for Allen, then the team should be able to make a run at being the top offense in the league in every category.

Worst-Case Scenario: James Cook Holdout Leads to Watered-Down Version of 2024

James Cook had nearly 400 more scrimmage yards than any other player on the offense. His emergence as a dual-threat running back has been one of the reasons Brandon Beane deserves credit for putting together a supporting cast that works around Allen.

One of the only major questions for the Bills this offseason has been what's going to happen with Cook. The fourth-year back showed up to minicamp, but there's definitely still tension as he seeks a new contract.

The 25-year-old is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, and running back hold outs can get messy. They typically have a smaller window to get paid, and the Bills haven't been willing to give him a new deal to this point.

If those tensions turn into a legitimate holdout, the Bills could be missing out on one of the few non-Allen reasons for their success.

Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Chris Carlson

Biggest Need: Wide Receiver

Best-Case Scenario: Tetairoa McMillan is the WR1 Bryce Young Needs

Bryce Young did enough down the stretch last season to warrant another shot at becoming the franchise quarterback in Carolina. What that looks like might ultimately come down to how well the receiver room shakes out, though.

Young has some flaws, but he hasn't really been helped by his receivers during his time in Carolina.

The Panthers' run game will provide a reasonable floor. Chuba Hubbard behind one of the better run-blocking groups in the league will give Dave Canales something to fall back on, but the best version of this offense can be above average if Tetairoa McMillan can be a trustworthy No. 1, Adam Thielen continues to be a reliable chain-mover and Xavier Legette makes real strides in his second season.

Worst-Case Scenario: The Young Receivers Struggle While Young Regresses

There's a lot of pressure on Young going into this season.

Not only does he still need to prove he's the franchise quarterback, but he's also likely to be in some shootouts. The Panthers spent resources to improve the defense, but there's still a long way to go before it's even above average.

So, while the run game is good, the offense will still have to be dynamic in the passing game. That falls on Young, but it also falls on a receiving corps that has a lot to prove. Thielen is going to be 35 by the time the season starts, McMillan is an unproven rookie, and Legette didn't wow during his rookie season.

If Young doesn't have real playmakers to get the ball to, then it's going to be hard for the Panthers to beat their results from last season.

Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Biggest Need: Running Back

Best-Case Scenario: Ben Johnson Unlocks Caleb Williams' Potential

The biggest objective for the Chicago Bears offense in 2025 is to come away from the season feeling much better about the No. 1 pick of the 2024 NFL draft.

That's why they needed to hire a great offensive mind in Ben Johnson as their next head coach. It's why they couldn't give Matt Eberflus another year at the helm.

From a personnel standpoint, the Bears made moves to address their biggest weaknesses last season. They are giving Williams a completely new interior trio on the offensive line with Jonah Jackson, Drew Dalman and Joe Thuney. They also added Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland through the draft.

If Johnson can seamlessly install his system, the Bears have the makings of a top-10 offense.

Worst-Case Scenario: Caleb Williams is the Problem

Williams was not a disaster as a rookie, but he didn't meet expectations. He was supposed to have the kind of impact Jayden Daniels did in his first year, but he finished 28th in total QBR and the Bears were 26th in EPA per play.

There were plenty of links on the chain of blame, but almost all of them have been changed. The coaching staff slate has been wiped clean. The offensive line has been remodeled.

The Bears would have to seriously reconsider their expectations for Williams if he doesn't thrive this season.

Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Biggest Need: Interior Offensive Line

Best-Case Scenario: The Offensive Line Unlocks More of the Offense

The Bengals are building their offense in a unique way. Joe Burrow has the massive quarterback contract. They're paying Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase $70 million a year in annual average value.

They're rolling the dice on that trio being able to carry whoever else they can afford into an elite unit.

It worked out last season, but they had to work around a bad offensive line. The Bengals were 32nd in pass-block win rate and 30th in run-block win rate.

There's a path to much improved play, though. Amarius Mims has to take a big sophomore leap, Lucas Patrick could step in at right guard, while rookie Dylan Fairchild could beat out Cordell Volson for the left guard spot.

That would all enable Burrow to have more time to get the ball to Chase and Higgins, allowing Cincinnati to be even better than last season.

Worst-Case Scenario: Offensive Line Hamstrings the Unit...Again

The Bengals were an offensive anomaly last season. In a league where offensive and defensive line play are crucial to success, they were somehow able to put together a unit that was seventh in EPA per play and sixth in scoring. That's a hard way to live in the NFL, though.

There might be a path to an improved offensive line, but it's fairly narrow. There are a lot of ifs involved.

If Mims isn't drastically improved, if Dylan Fairchild isn't ready to play right away as a third-round pick or if Lucas Patrick just isn't a real upgrade, then Cincinnati will again have to ask its dynamic trio to bail it out.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Biggest Need: Quarterback

Best-Case Scenario: A Quarterback Not Named Joe Flacco Emerges

The Browns' four-way quarterback competition might not be inspiring, but it will be riveting.

Shedeur Sanders is an incredibly polarizing prospect, but no one expected Dillon Gabriel to be drafted ahead of him. Kenny Pickett has not inspired confidence in his first three years in the league, and Joe Flacco is now 40 years old.

This is going to be a year of transition for the Browns offense. The Nick Chubb era is officially over and the once-dominant offensive line is starting to get older. The ceiling isn't as high as it once was, so the best-case scenario for the unit is to come out of the 2025 season with a potential answer at quarterback in 2026.

That could be Pickett, Sanders or Gabriel, but a full season with Flacco as the starter would be a depressing watch for Cleveland fans.

Worst-Case Scenario: Joe Flacco Leads the Offense to Mediocrity

The worst-case scenario for the Browns offense isn't actually for them to finish with a horrible offense.

If they hand the reigns to Gabriel, Sanders or Pickett and the offense is bad enough to garner a top pick in the 2026 draft, it isn't the end of the world. That would actually get them closer to finding a franchise quarterback.

The worst-case scenario is that the coaching staff makes Flacco the starter as an act of self-preservation. The Browns wouldn't be any closer to finding out if their young QBs could do the job, and it could be enough to keep them out of the top five of the draft.

Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Jessica Tobias

Biggest Need: Running Back

Best-Case Scenario: Offseason Reinforcements and Brian Schottenheimer Spark Dak Prescott Comeback Season

Dak Prescott had a rough season before a hamstring injury ended his year. He had a career-low 45.3 QBR in the eight games he played with 11 touchdowns to eight interceptions.

The good news is the Cowboys have addressed just about everything they could. Brian Schottenheimer gets to call the shots as head coach now, they traded for George Pickens and remade the backfield by acquiring Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders before drafting Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah.

If it all comes together, Prescott should return to form and the Cowboys will have one of the most dangerous offenses in the league.

Worst-Case Scenario: Young Offensive Line Causes Frustration

A lot of attention is going to shift toward George Pickens, but it's the offensive line that will determine the ceiling for the Cowboys.

The group up front used to be one of the best in the league, but Zack Martin's retirement is just the latest shift away from that old group.

Rookie Tyler Booker will likely start at right guard. That gives them three starters (Booker, Cooper Beebe and Tyler Guyton) who are in their first two years in the league. Terence Steele is a serviceable starter, but he doesn't make up for the general lack of experience. Tyler Smith is the only sure thing in the group.

It's hard to see this being a good offense if the young offensive line doesn't take the next step. They have to clear run lanes for the revamped backfield and give Prescott time to find Pickens deep. If they can't do that, there's going to be a lot of frustration in Dallas.

Denver Broncos

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Biggest Need: Tight End

Best-Case Scenario: Bo Nix's Improvement Drives Offense into Top 10

The Broncos didn't spend a lot of resources on the offense this offseason.

They'll mostly be relying on progression and their few additions to carry the offense to new heights. The Sean Payton-Bo Nix pairing turned out to be a strong in Year 1. The quarterback finished behind Jayden Daniels and Brock Bowers in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Quarterback progression isn't always linear, but if Nix can build off his 2024 season, the Broncos offense will be in good shape.

Drafting RJ Harvey gives the Broncos another young running back to include in the run and pass game, while Evan Engram is essentially another wide receiver for Nix to work with.

There weren't a lot of changes to the personnel, which could be a good thing if continuity and progression drive improvement.

Worst-Case Scenario: The Supporting Cast Isn't Enough to Unlock a New Level

The term "sophomore slump" exists for a reason. The league is in a constant state of move and countermove. Now that the entire Broncos schedule has a year's worth of film on Nix, it's on him to take his game to the next level and stay ahead of the curve.

The Broncos added Harvey and wide receiver Pat Bryant in the draft. Engram and Trent Sherfield were the only notable offensive players added in free agency. There's a strong argument to be made that the Broncos are relying too much on two rookies to make an early impact.

The unit isn't that improved on paper, which leaves the possibility they'll be close to getting the same results in 2025.

Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Biggest Need: Interior Offensive Line

Best-Case Scenario: The Core Doesn't Skip a Beat

The major players for a Lions offense that has been a top-five unit in each of the last three seasons are all back. Jared Goff will still have Amon-Ra St. Brown as the focal point of the passing game, and the duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs will still challenge defensive fronts.

We're about to find out how much of the Lions' success on offense was due to Ben Johnson, though. New offensive coordinator John Morton was an offensive analyst for the team in 2022, but he was away the last two years as the passing game coordinator for the Denver Broncos.

If Goff and Morton can work together to figure out the play-calling, the Lions should continue to be a top-five unit.

Worst-Case Scenario: Brain Drain and Frank Ragnow's Retirement Cause Regression

In most cases, the three most important people involved in scheming an offense are the play-caller, quarterback and center. The pivot is an overlooked position, but the communication between the snapper and the QB is crucial to sorting out protections and making adjustments at the line.

Detroit will be working with a new play-caller and center this season, leaving space for some regression. Graham Glasgow, Christian Mahogany and second-round pick Tate Ratledge have all reportedly taken snaps at center.

The Lions will have to trust their ability to draft and develop, but there's definitely a version of this experiment that doesn't work out and takes the team from elite to just above average.

Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Derik Hamilton

Biggest Need: Interior Offensive Line

Best-Case Scenario: Jordan Love Builds on Late Stretch in 2024

From Week 1-11, Jordan Love threw at least one interception in every game he played. From Week 12 on, he didn't throw another pick.

The Packers were sixth in dropback EPA in that stretch and it helped them finish eighth in EPA per play. Unfortunately, Love reverted back to his early-season form in the playoffs, throwing three interceptions in the loss to the Eagles.

The best version of the 2025 offense would see Love continue to cut down on turnovers.

Inserting first-round draft pick Matthew Golden into the roster could help. He could emerge as the top option in an already deep group of young pass-catchers.

Worst-Case Scenario: Jordan Love Struggles Behind Shaky Offensive Line

The Packers upgraded Love's weaponry through the draft, but there are questions on the offensive line. They made a sizable investment to add Aaron Banks at left guard, but his pass-blocking grade ranked 77th among all guards graded by PFF.

Elgton Jenkins is slated to move to center, but he's holding in at Packers minicamp. Jordan Morgan could be starting at left tackle or right guard, but he'll have to show he can improve after a tumultuous rookie season.

Love is already willing to take too many risks as a quarterback. If the Packers offensive line doesn't jell and Golden doesn't add much to the passing game, we could see more of the ugly side of the signal-caller's game.

Houston Texans

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Biggest Need: Interior Offensive Line

Best-Case Scenario: C.J. Stroud's Supporting Cast Helps Him Get Back on Track

C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense were among the most disappointing elements of the 2024 season.

On paper, it appeared the quarterback was ready to go from good to great after a stellar rookie season. Instead, receiver injuries and offensive line issues halted his progression and the offense finished 23rd in EPA per play.

The Texans made moves to address the issues. They replaced offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik with Nick Caley. They traded away Laremy Tunsil but also brought in five veteran offensive linemen. They addressed their receiver depth issue by trading for Christian Kirk and drafting Iowa State duo Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.

If those moves work, Stroud should be able to take the Texans to the heights everyone expected last season.

Worst-Case Scenario: Offensive Line is Somehow Worse Than Last Year

The offensive line was the cause for a lot of the Texans' struggles last season. All things considered, they took an odd approach to fixing it.

Tunsil had his struggles last season, but he was still the surest thing they had up front and they traded him away. It allowed them to free up some money, but it also lowered the floor.

The Texans were able to sign Cam Robinson and Laken Tomlinson, but neither is an above-average starter at this point. Tytus Howard is now the surest thing they have, but they'll need Jarrett Patterson and Blake Fisher to make improvements this season.

They could be better, but it's still theoretical at this point. If they aren't at least approaching average as a unit, then Stroud is in for another rough season.

Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Biggest Need: Interior Offensive Line

Best-Case Scenario: Anthony Richardson Finally Makes a Leap

The Colts have made it clear they aren't putting all their eggs in the Anthony Richardson basket this season.

The one-year, $14 million contract they handed Daniel Jones says they'll pull the plug on Richardson as quarterback if they need to. Unfortunately, things aren't looking good as the 2023 No. 4 overall pick has missed early summer work with an AC joint injury.

Richardson had the worst completion percentage above expectation in the league last season at -11.3 percent. That highlights how much growth he needs as a passer. Still, his impressive athleticism and physical tools make a third-year leap the best possible outcome for the Colts. He has the receivers and running game in place for the team to be an above-average offense if he can just become a serviceable starter.

Worst-Case Scenario: Quarterbacks and Young Linemen Don't Rise to Occasion

The floor in Indy is ugly.

There's no Joe Flacco on the roster to come in and at least give competent quarterback play if Richardson has to be benched again.

Jones has the mobility to run some of the same RPO game Richardson can do, but he has 47 interceptions to 70 touchdowns in six years in the league. The Colts could be in trouble if neither learns to take care of the ball.

There's some bust potential on the offensive line, too. Quenton Nelson and Bernhard Raimann are great starters, but Tanor Bortolini is in his first year of starting at center, Matt Goncalves is making the move to guard, and Braden Smith is 29 with an injury history.

The Colts could at least rely on an average rushing attack last season. If they can't do that and the quarterbacks are bad, then this team could finish in the bottom five on offense.

Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/John Raoux

Biggest Need: Tight End

Best-Case Scenario: Liam Coen Unlocks a New Trevor Lawrence

The Jaguars did some important personnel things that could help their offense this offseason. They brought in Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari to solidify the interior of the offensive line and replaced Christian Kirk with Travis Hunter, but the most important thing they did was hire Liam Coen to be the head coach.

Coen was a driving force behind one of Baker Mayfield's best seasons and helped make Will Levis look like a first-round prospect at Kentucky. If he can help Lawrence rebound from his injury-riddled season last year, the Jaguars will be in a good spot.

Ideally, the team leaves this season with renewed confidence in Lawrence and one of the league's best young receiver duos in Brian Thomas Jr. and Hunter.

Worst-Case Scenario: Lawrence is Maxed Out and Travis Hunter is a Project

Lawrence was labeled a generational talent coming out of Clemson. Thus far, he's had just one Pro Bowl season and that was three years ago. It's a possibility that he has already shown us the best version of himself.

That's not a great outcome because even that version of him wasn't really able to elevate the talent around him. They finished 9-8 in 2022 and there's a case to be made that they had more overall talent then.

Hunter is a one-of-a-kind athlete, but pulling double duty throughout his career means he could take a while to master the route-running necessary to get open. If he doesn't emerge as a solid No. 2, the Jags don't have a great receiving corps.

Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Biggest Need: Left Guard

Best-Case Scenario: Improved Protection and Receiver Health Brings Back Explosiveness

The Chiefs have learned the hard way how important pass protection is during Patrick Mahomes' tenure. Both Super Bowl losses to the Buccaneers and Eagles could be chalked up to not protecting their franchise quarterback.

Hopefully, they've resolved the issues on the left side by signing Jaylon Moore, drafting Josh Simmons and moving Kingsley Suamataia inside to left guard.

Losing Joe Thuney at left guard is going to hurt, but improving the tackle spot while finding a suitable replacement on the inside could be enough. If Mahomes has time, he's going to make up for a lot of the Chiefs' shortcomings on offense.

Worst-Case Scenario: No Explosive Element Leaves Little Margin for Error

Just having Andy Reid and Mahomes is going to be good enough for the Chiefs to at least be above average.

However, the lack of an explosive element left the offense leaning completely on efficiency last season. The Chiefs were seventh in success rate, but 27th in passing plays over 20 yards.

Getting Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown back from injury should help with that. Xavier Worthy potentially getting better at tracking down deep balls could make a difference. But this has been an issue since Tyreek Hill left and it's capping the Chiefs' ceiling.

Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

Biggest Need: Wide Receiver

Best-Case Scenario: Pete Carroll's New Look Offense Hits the Ground Running

The Raiders offense might be the most transformed unit of the offseason. The days of a Gardner Minsew II-Aidan O'Connell quarterback battle feel like ancient history with Pete Carroll reuniting with Geno Smith.

Ashton Jeanty's arrival gives the unit an old-school Carroll feel, with the Boise State star potentially filling the Marshawn Lynch role from from some of the coach's best Seahawks teams.

The Raiders don't have a ton of receiver depth. They'll need second-round pick Jack Bech to be a contributor right away. However, Brock Bowers has to be considered as part of the equation. It's not hard to see the Raiders as a vastly better unit than the one that finished 31st in EPA per play last season.

Worst-Case Scenario: Geno Smith's Decline Continues, Carroll Loses Touch

Smith reviving his career in Seattle has been one of the most fun NFL storylines at the position, but the Seahawks may have gotten out at the right time.

The 34-year-old earned Comeback Player of the Year in 2022, but his production has waned since. The 15 interceptions he threw last season were his most since his rookie year in 2013 when he threw 21.

Smith threw 20 touchdowns to nine interceptions with an 8-7 record as starter in Carroll's final season as Seahawks head coach. That was with DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at receiver. Now Carroll is 73, the Raiders don't have that kind of lineup at receiver, and Smith is another year older.

There's a chance the trade for Smith doesn't give Las Vegas the stability it was looking for in this regime.

Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea

Biggest Need: Tight End

Best-Case Scenario: Offseason Tweaks Create Elite Rushing Attack

It's no secret Jim Harbaugh wants to run the ball. The Chargers just weren't as good at it as you would expect last season. They were 18th in EPA per rush.

There are a lot of reasons to believe that will be better in Year 2 of Harbaugh in L.A., though. They signed Mekhi Becton to play guard beside Joe Alt. Najee Harris and first-round pick Omarion Hampton will now replace J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards in the backfield.

All those changes should allow this offense to be more in the image of Harbaugh. A dominant ground game paired with Justin Herbert's ability to play cleanly with few mistakes would make the Chargers a threat for the middle of the top 10.

Worst-Case Scenario: Ladd McConkey Has to Do Everything in the Pass Game

Ladd McConkey had a phenomenal rookie season. He has the makings of a star receiver, but the best passing games in the league have a whole cast of receivers who can make plays.

Last season, Quentin Johnston (91), Josh Palmer (65) and Will Dissly (64) finished out the top targets. That's a good recipe for finishing 18th in success rate despite having Justin Herbert at quarterback.

The Chargers lost Palmer, but brought back Mike Williams and drafted Tre Harris in the second round. If neither becomes a solid No. 2, then this offense still doesn't have the firepower to truly take advantage of Herbert's skills.

Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Biggest Need: Offensive-Line Depth

Best-Case Scenario: Davante Adams Ignites a Return to the Top 10

Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua and Sean McVay's play-calling were enough to keep the Rams in the middle of the pack in most offensive metrics.

Cooper Kupp's production fell and he only played in 12 games, so the Rams moved on and acquired Davante Adams. The 32-year-old put up 1,000 yards last season while playing with the Raiders and Jets.

A healthy Nacua and Adams could again give Matthew Stafford one of the best receiver duos in the game. If Williams can put together another dominant season on the ground, the Rams would have everything they need to get back into the top 10 in most metrics.

Worst-Case Scenario: Matthew Stafford Hits Age Cliff Behind Ailing Offensive Line

The Rams starting offensive line looks good enough on paper. They brought back Alaric Jackson and the unit was in the middle of the pack with a 21.9 pressure rate allowed last season.

However, Jackson has never played a full season and Rob Havenstein is 33 years old. The Rams don't have much proven depth behind their tackles.

The organization appears to be taking a year-to-year approach to Stafford as its quarterback. That's an admission that things could go south quickly if the 37-year-old suddenly loses his fastball.

Elite weaponry and McVay's play-calling might not even be enough to overcome that scenario.

Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Biggest Need: Left Tackle

Best-Case Scenario: A Healthy Tua Tagovailoa Reignites the Offense

Tua Tagovailoa played 17 games for the first and only time in 2023. The Dolphins finished fourth in EPA per play.

Tagovailoa's injury history is well-known at this point. It's also the tipping point for the Dolphins offense. When he's healthy, he's capable of orchestrating one of the league's fastest offenses and it's hard to stop.

If Tagovailoa can stay on the field and Tyreek Hill hasn't lost a step, they could again be in the league's top-10 offenses.

Things need to break right on the offensive line, but it mostly comes down to Tagovailoa enabling Hill and Jaylen Waddle to torture secondaries again.

The Dolphins just handed Tagovailoa a four-year, $212.4 million extension, so it's critical they feel good about that decision at the end of the season.

Worst-Case Scenario: Shaky Offensive Line Leads to More Tagovailoa Injuries

Here's the scary part of the Dolphins offense. They desperately need the quarterback to stay healthy and be able to run the ball, but they just lost Terron Armstead to retirement. Second-year tackle Patrick Paul will have to fill the vacated spot.

They'll also be relying on rookie Jonah Savaiinaea to start at one of the guard spots.

The Dolphins don't have the best track record for drafting and developing linemen. That will have to change for Miami to avoid the nightmare scenario where Tagovailoa gets injured again and it has buyer's remorse on his new contract.

Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

Biggest Need: Running Back

Best-Case Scenario: J.J. McCarthy is Instant Upgrade Over Sam Darnold

There aren't many weaknesses to speak of for the Vikings offense on paper. They dropped Sam Darnold into their ecosystem last year, and he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.

One of the only things that could slow them now is J.J. McCarthy's development. The 22-year-old missed his rookie year with a meniscus tear, clearing the way for Darnold's comeback season.

Theoretically, the environment is set up even better for McCarthy, the Vikings added Will Fries, Donovan Jackson and Ryan Kelly to form a new trio on the interior of the offensive line.

If McCarthy can step into the role behind that offensive line with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson and Aaron Jones at his disposal, Minnesota will be formidable.

Worst-Case Scenario: Run Game Struggles Behind New Interior Offensive Line

The Vikings clearly felt they needed to upgrade the interior offensive line this offseason. Creating a new starting trio in one offseason is a drastic move that should make the offense better.

But there are some questions inside the tackles. Jackson will need to prove himself as a rookie and Fries is "on track to be ready for camp," but still recovering from the fractured tibia he suffered last season. Kelly is 32 and hasn't played all 17 games in a season the last two years.

That trio will be blocking for a 30-year-old Aaron Jones. Jordan Mason is behind him on the depth chart, but there's a world in which the Vikings' run game is not good enough to help McCarthy as he navigates his first season as starter.

That would put too much on the second-year quarterback and result in an offense that is much closer to average than it should be.

New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Biggest Need: Wide Receiver

Best-Case Scenario: Drake Maye Takes a Leap with Real Supporting Cast

Life as a rookie quarterback in the NFL isn't easy. It's even more difficult when you are playing with one of the worst supporting casts in the league.

That's where Drake Maye was last season. Despite that, though, he did plenty to show he's the future in New England.

Now we'll get to see what he can do with a real supporting cast. In a perfect world, Stefon Diggs will be able to be the veteran in the room who helps their young receiving corps grow around their quarterback.

Rookie TreVeyon Henderson will give the run game a new layer of explosiveness and Maye can take the offense to a level of respectability it hasn't had in a while.

Worst-Case Scenario: Diggs Doesn't Come Through and Maye Hits Sophomore Slump

Let's just say Diggs' run in New England isn't off to the best start. He was at camp despite the viral video that has sparked rumors he could be released.

He's also still working his way back from the ACL tear that he suffered last season. The Pats also signed Mack Hollins, but his skill set isn't the same as Diggs'.

If Diggs doesn't work out, then the Patriots are relying a lot on younger receivers to take the next step. If that doesn't happen, then Maye will again be trying to make a subpar supporting cast a league-average offense.

New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Matthew Hinton

Biggest Need: Quarterback

Best-Case Scenario: A Long-Term Answer at Quarterback Appears

Kellen Moore is not stepping into the easiest job. The coach who has been fortunate enough to work with the likes of Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert is now at the helm of a quarterback competition between Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler.

The Saints' goals on offense shouldn't have anything to do with where they finish in any metric. Instead, the primary objective season is to come out of the year with a quarterback they like for 2026. Based on draft capital, that's going to be Shough.

Ideally, the offensive line will come together with first-round pick Kelvin Banks Jr. slotting in at left tackle, Taliese Fuaga at right tackle and Trevor Penning kicking inside to guard. That could enable someone like Shough to thrive enough to garner momentum for 2026.

Worst-Case Scenario: Young Offensive Line Doesn't Give True Look at Quarterbacks

Having a young offensive line in front of a young quarterback can be the foundation for a strong future. It can also be an unmitigated disaster.

That's what Moore is going to have to navigate. The offensive line could be breaking in three starters at new positions. That means center Erik McCoy and right guard Cesar Ruiz are the only sure things up front.

If the offensive line doesn't provide adequate protection, then it's going to be hard to tell if Shough or Rattler can be the quarterback of the future. That means a wasted year for the entire offense and few things to be excited about in 2026.

New York Giants

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Biggest Need: Quarterback

Best-Case Scenario: Brian Daboll Proves He Can Develop Jaxson Dart

The New York Giants were a quarterback wasteland in 2024. Daniel Jones, Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito each had opportunities to start and finished a combined 3-14. Head coach Brian Daboll was able to keep his job because it was easy to point to his lack of talent at the position.

Now, it's time to prove he can develop a QB. Starting Russell Wilson and getting the offense to a respectable position early in the season is a good outcome, but the best-case scenario should include Dart getting an opportunity to play at some point.

Daboll made his reputation for his role in helping develop Josh Allen. Now he can save his job and get the Giants going in the right direction by doing the same with Dart.

Worst-Case Scenario: Dart Gets Forced Into the Lineup Too Early

Daboll has a tightwire to navigate this season.

B/R's Dame Parson noted in his scouting report that the Ole Miss product struggled to get past his first read quickly. Playing in Lane Kiffin's simplified offense might mean there's a learning curve that he has to navigate.

So, while it would be ideal for Dart to see action by the end of the season, it would be ideal for Wilson to play well enough that Daboll has time to get Dart acclimated.

If he's forced into the lineup early, his confidence could take a hit while Malik Nabers grows frustrated and the Giants are again one of the worst offenses in the league.

New York Jets

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Biggest Need: Wide Receiver

Best-Case Scenario: Justin Fields Finally Proves Himself as a Long-Term Starter

The Jets signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract this offseason, so it would be pretty easy to move on after this year. He's going to get every chance to show they don't have to, though.

Fields wasn't in the best position to succeed when he was drafted in Chicago, and he ended up splitting the starting role with Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh last season.

The Jets have a promising trio of backs in Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis.

If offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand can emulate some of the dynamic running game from the Lions, then the Jets could overcome their lack of receiving options outside of Garrett Wilson to be an above-average offense.

Worst-Case Scenario: Fields-Engstrand Pairing Never Gets off the Ground

The Jets might not be that committed to Fields financially, but they're more or less committed to giving him this season. Turning things over to Tyrod Taylor would be a worst-case scenario. That being said, the fit between Fields and Engstrand is hypothetical at this point.

Engstrand was able to contribute along with Ben Johnson in Detroit, but Jared Goff is a much different quarterback than Fields.

While Fields is a dynamic athlete, he isn't the best at playing within the timing of an offense. Engstrand will have his work cut out to find the perfect balance between catering to his strengths and getting the New York playmakers the ball.

If not, the Jets are going to be back to square one heading into the 2026 offseason.

Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Biggest Need: Wide Receiver Depth

Best-Case Scenario: Sustained Greatness While Shifting Responsibility Back to Jalen Hurts

The Eagles owed a ton of their offensive success to Saquon Barkley and the run game last season. He had a transformative season, and Jalen Hurts went from 31.6 pass attempts per game in 2023 to 24.1 in 2024. The only problem is that the approach just doesn't seem sustainable.

Barkley had 345 carries and led the league with a total of 378 touches. Going into his age-28 season, there's legitimate concern about his workload.

The ideal situation for Philadelphia would be to put a little more back on Hurts' plate. They have the offensive line to be a ground-and-pound team, but it's in the long-term interest of the unit to get a little more into the passing game this season. Finding a third receiver after A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith would help.

Worst-Case Scenario: Barkley Breaks Down and Too Much Goes to Hurts

It's hard to see how things could go completely off the rails, but the Eagles are putting quite a bit into the Barkley basket. He already has an injury history and he's coming off the biggest workload of his career. Should he break down, then the team might have to lean a little too much on the pass game.

Hurts had a career-high 538 passing attempts in 2023, and it played a role in the Eagles' late-season collapse. They know firsthand how important it is to nail a coordinator hire and Nick Sirianni's decision to promote Kevin Patullo could be tested if Barkley can't hold up for 17 games.

Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Biggest Need: Wide Receiver

Best-Case Scenario: Something Close to 2021 Aaron Rodgers Shows Up

Aaron Rodgers isn't the long-term answer for the Steelers, but he certainly raises the ceiling for unit in 2025. He is 42, but he was still one of the better deep-ball throwers in the league last season.

The problem is that Rodgers' ability to hit the intermediate parts of the field were nearly non-existent. The last time we saw him really be able to hit that part of the field was in 2021 when he threw for 37 touchdowns to four interceptions.

It's not realistic to expect he'll become that player again, but the Steelers need him to be more than he was for the Jets last season.

Pittsburgh is breaking in a lot of new parts with DK Metcalf and rookie Kaleb Johnson replacing George Pickens and Najee Harris. A solid season from Rodgers would allow the Steelers to at least be a middle-of-the-pack offense and a bridge to the next quarterback.

Worst-Case Scenario: Something Close to 2023-2024 Rodgers Shows Up

The Jets found out over the last two years how scary it is to rely on Rodgers at this stage in his career. He only played one game in 2023 before a ruptured Achilles ended his season. He stayed healthy in 2024, but his limitations didn't help the offense rise above league average.

The worst case is that he is an even more watered-down version for the Steelers. That could leave Metcalf with a frustrating first year in Pittsburgh and an offense that doesn't allow its young guys to develop.

San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn

Biggest Need: Interior Offensive Line

Best-Case Scenario: A Healthy Offense is Among the League's Best

Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey combined to play 11 games in 2024. Jake Brendel and Dominick Puni were the only two starters to play all 17 games and Trent Williams missed seven games.

In short, the Niners faced the added challenge of getting into a rhythm offensively while constantly shuffling lineups and adjusting to injuries.

Despite all of that, they still finished ninth in EPA per play. That speaks to how high the ceiling is if San Francisco can just have better injury luck.

Deebo Samuel is gone, so Ricky Pearsall needs to have a breakout season and Brandon Aiyuk needs to successfully recover from the knee injury that ended his 2024 campaign. But all of the ingredients are in place for another dominant unit.

Worst-Case Scenario: Age and Injuries are Too Much to Overcome

The ingredients are there on paper, but there's something precarious about the way the offense is built right now.

Aiyuk is not expected to be back by the beginning of the season and could miss at least the first four games of the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list. That could put a lot of pressure on a 31-year-old George Kittle to be the focal point of the passing game.

Williams might plan to play into his 40s, but the list of 37-year-olds who have remained healthy and played at an elite level isn't very long. He is a special player so it's possible, but it's just another thing that feels like it could go wrong.

That being said, it's hard to envision this offense finishing in the bottom half of the league.

Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/John Froschauer

Biggest Need: Interior Offensive Line

Best-Case Scenario: Sam Darnold Proves He's More than a Product of Environment

Sam Darnold was 21-35 as a starter with a career completion percentage right around 60 percent and a nearly even touchdown to interception ratio before last season.

Then he got dropped into one of the best quarterback situations in the league last season, went 14-3 as the starter with a completion percentage of 66.2 percent and a career-high QBR of 60.4.

There are some good things in Seattle. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is an ascending talent and the Seahawks brought in Klint Kubiak to revamp the offense. If the interior of the offensive line can coalesce and Darnold can prove he can be successful without Justin Jefferson, Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings offensive line, then the team could make a serious leap in all metrics.

Worst-Case Scenario: Sam Darnold Regresses Behind Shaky Offensive Line

Former offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and quarterback Geno Smith caught a lot of the blame for the Seahawks' woes last season. The truth is that the offensive line was behind a lot of the problems.

Seattle's interior trio wasn't good last season and is still on shaky ground. First-round pick Gray Zabel should help, but Olu Oluwatimi is not a strong pass-blocking center and the other guard spot is a question.

Darnold struggled to play when under duress early in his career. Playing under O'Connell alleviated a lot of those issues last season. However, they crept back in at the end of the season.

If the Seahawks' protection isn't good and he starts seeing ghosts, Seattle's Darnold era could be one season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Biggest Need: Left Guard

Best-Case Scenario: Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard Picks Up Where Liam Coen Left Off

The one downside of having a defensive-minded head coach like Todd Bowles is that he has to consistently get the offensive coordinator hire right.

Bowles is on a hot streak right now. Dave Canales was good enough to get a head coaching gig with the Panthers two years ago and he lost Liam Coen to the Jaguars head coaching job. This time, he promoted passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard.

Tristan Wirfs called Grizzard a "wizard" this offseason. He'll need to be to keep the magic going that helped the Bucs finish third in success rate and fifth in EPA per play last season. They re-signed Chris Godwin and drafted Emeka Egbuka so Baker Mayfield could have one of the deepest receiving corps in the league.

Worst-Case Scenario: New Coordinator Triggers Baker Mayfield Regression

Mayfield has been on an upward trajectory since joining the Bucs in 2023, but it's worth noting that year-to-year consistency has been an issue for him. His Browns career was marred by his inability to be the best version of himself every year.

Unfortunately, a lot of that could be tied to turbulent coaching situations. The Browns didn't give him a lot of stability, and he hasn't enjoyed much of it since then. On one hand, that means he's used to working with a new coach just about every year. On the other, there seems to be a pattern of Mayfield only performing well when he has a good coach orchestrating the offense.

That's going to put even more pressure on Grizzard to pick up where Coen left off. Things will get ugly if Mayfield regresses with this much talent around him.

Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Biggest Need: Tight End

Best-Case Scenario: Cam Ward Immediately Lifts the Offense to Respectability

There's no way around it. The Titans offense was a mess last season. It was 30th in EPA per play, Will Levis was making ludicrous decisions under pressure and the offensive line gave up a lot of pressures.

Fortunately for the coaching staff and front office, drafting Cam Ward resets the clock for the unit. Brian Callahan and Ward don't have to drive a one-year turnaround like Jayden Daniels last season, the Titans just need to be a respectable NFL offense.

That would also mean Dan Moore Jr. proves to be a good signing at left tackle, Tyler Lockett has enough in the tank to help the receiver corps, and the run game is rejuvenated.

Worst-Case Scenario: Supporting Cast Isn't Good Enough to Help Ward

The Titans made a lot of moves, but that doesn't mean they are in the clear. The issues were widespread last season and there's no guarantee the players they brought in will help.

Dan Moore Jr. put together a solid season in Pittsburgh, but he was still charged with giving up 12 sacks by PFF. Tyler Lockett is going to be 33 years old. Van Jefferson doesn't move the needle, and the Titans' rookie receivers might not be ready for a big role.

If those moves don't work out, then it's going to be hard for Tennessee to be that much better than it was last season.

Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Biggest Need: Tight End

Best-Case Scenario: Veteran Additions Push the Offense Even Further

Jayden Daniels was a one-man transformational figure last season for the Commanders.

Even the most avid Daniels fan would have a hard time saying they saw his ascent to the top coming. The Commanders went from 27th to fourth in EPA per play and 25th in scoring to fifth.

The Commanders got aggressive to make sure Daniels has a better support system around him next season. If Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel can live up to their reputations, they are going to fill the team's biggest needs.

Tunsil will create a real solution at left tackle, while Samuel can be the sidekick Terry McLaurin hasn't really had in Washington.

If those guys can help Daniels continue his development, then there's nothing stopping Washington from competing to be the league's best offense.

Worst-Case Scenario: The 2025 Commanders are the 2024 Texans

C.J. Stroud wasn't quite as impactful as a rookie as Daniels was. He did, however, lift the Texans offense from the worst in the league to at least above-average as a rookie.

The Texans then got aggressive and signed Stefon Diggs and traded for Joe Mixon. It looked like they were set to become a top-five offense.

Until they didn't make that jump.

Tunsil and Samuel are big names, but they carry risk. Tunsil is a five-time Pro Bowler, but he'll turn 31 before the season. Samuel is 29 with a history of injuries and was not as explosive last season. If neither ends up being who the Commanders thought they were getting, then Daniels will still be shouldering a lot of the load.