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Every NFL Team's Biggest Reason for Optimism Heading into 2025 Training Camps
The 2025 NFL season is right around the corner. Players will report to training camps in the next few weeks, and the preseason will kick off with the Hall of Fame Game between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers on July 31.
While not every team will compete for a championship in 2025, that doesn't mean fans can't embrace the brief period of hope that is the NFL preseason.
Even if winning a Lombardi Trophy isn't a realistic goal, every team has a reason for optimism heading into training camp. Whether it's a potential rookie star, a possible game-changing addition, a critical front-office shift, a key player returning from injury or a realistic shot at a title, every franchise can find a reason for excitement.
Arizona Cardinals: Defensive Additions
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One could argue that the Arizona Cardinals have two big reasons for optimism heading into training camp. The first is that quarterback Kyler Murray made it through the 2024 season healthy after suffering a torn ACL the previous season. There's a good chance that the 27-year-old will be even closer to the Pro Bowl form he exhibited in 2020 and 2021 this season.
While Murray was exciting to watch early in his career, he never won anything of note. Combining a healthy Murray with an improved defense is the real reason why Arizona might have a shot at making some noise in 2025.
Last year, the Cardinals showed some defensive improvements, but they still finished just 21st in yards allowed. However, new additions like Calais Campbell, Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, Walter Nolen III and Will Johnson should improve that side of the ball considerably.
In fact, Arizona's new-look defense finally might be talented enough for head coach Jonathan Gannon to get the playoff-caliber results he had as the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive coordinator during their 2022 Super Bowl run.
Atlanta Falcons: Year 2 of Michael Penix Jr.
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Last March, the Atlanta Falcons took a swing on free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, hoping that the four-time Pro Bowler could help them return to relevance in the NFC South. Unfortunately, Cousins cooled off considerably after a strong start to the season—possibly due to shoulder and elbow injuries—and Atlanta fell short of the postseason.
Cousins was also benched toward the end of the season, which opened the door for 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. to take over. In his limited three-start audition, Penix impressed.
While the Washington product's numbers weren't jaw-dropping—he finished the year with 775 passing yards, three touchdowns and a 78.9 passer rating—the rookie did a tremendous job of pushing the ball downfield and connecting with targets like Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
Although Cousins is still on the roster, the Falcons are fully prepared to hand the reins to Penix and let him run with the offense.
"The style of play he plays matches our skill guys, and the skill guys love playing football with him," offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said, per The Athletic's Josh Kendall. "Just looking for all those guys to keep coming together. The guys on the team love him. He walks around with a swagger."
With a full offseason to prepare as the starter, Penix might be ready to carry the Falcons in a way that Cousins wasn't last season.
Baltimore Ravens: Defensive Improvements
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For most teams with an elite quarterback—which the Baltimore Ravens have in Lamar Jackson—it's easy to point to the signal-caller as their biggest reason for optimism. But in Baltimore's case other factors are involved.
Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP who easily could have won the award for a third time in 2024. However, the Ravens never had a real shot at earning the AFC's No. 1 seed because of a defense that experienced too many early-season struggles.
The Ravens lost their first two games of the season and had an inexplicable loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 8. However, the defense started to gel under first-year coordinator Zach Orr late in the season, and Baltimore won five straight before narrowly losing to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round.
The defense is highly unlikely to experience a slow start in Year 2 under Orr, and a few new faces—including cornerback Jaire Alexander and rookie safety Malaki Starks—may further boost the defensive improvement. If the Ravens can field a balanced team from start to finish, Jackson will have a great shot at reaching the first Super Bowl of his career.
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen, MVP
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In Buffalo's case, the presence of quarterback Josh Allen is the single biggest reason to believe reaching a Super Bowl is possible.
The Bills are entering their second full season with offensive coordinator Joe Brady. That's noteworthy because Allen finally emerged as the league's top quarterback under Brady last season. (Let's be honest: The NFL MVP is now strictly a quarterback award.)
Allen playing at an MVP level is how Buffalo came within a few plays of beating the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. The Bills will need him to do it again if they're going to overcome a defense that ranked 17th overall last season and a receiving corps with a serious lack of star power.
Fortunately, Allen is back, healthy and with the knowledge that no one in the NFL is better when he's at his best.
Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young's Strong 2024 Finish
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Will the Carolina Panthers be a playoff team in 2025? Perhaps not, but they can possibly achieve a more important goal by establishing Bryce Young as the face of their franchise and an upper-echelon quarterback.
A year ago, the idea of Young being even an above-average quarterback seemed laughable. The 2023 first overall pick had a disastrous rookie campaign and an uncertain future paired with then-rookie head coach Dave Canales.
However, Young started to show impressive growth in Canales' system after an early-season benching. By the end of the season, he was playing like the star whom Carolina drafted him to be. Over Young's final three games, he threw for 612 yards, rushed for 100 yards, tallied 10 combined rushing and passing touchdowns, committed no turnovers and posted a passer rating above 100.0 in all three games.
The Panthers can legitimately believe that Young's strong 2024 finish is a sign of things to come. With another year under Canales and new weapons like Rico Dowdle and rookie first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan at his disposal, Young could be poised to explode.
Chicago Bears: The Arrival of Ben Johnson
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The Panthers ended up giving the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft to the Chicago Bears as part of the package to move up for Bryce Young the previous spring. Chicago used that selection on USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who was widely viewed as a sure thing.
"Williams is a fascinating prospect," Derrik Klassen wrote for the Bleacher Report Scouting Department in 2024. "The arm talent oozes off the film, and he is a special playmaker when things break down."
Unfortunately, Williams' rookie season left a lot to be desired—and it paled in comparison to that of second overall pick and Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. Of course, Williams didn't have a tremendous amount of help. While Chicago's skill-position group was impressive, the offensive line wasn't. Then-head coach Matt Eberflus, who was fired in-season, also failed to put Williams in positions to succeed.
The good news is that Williams' situation has changed dramatically this offseason. The Bears invested in the interior of their offensive line before adding rookie pass-catchers Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III in the draft.
Most importantly, Chicago hired a new head coach in Ben Johnson who should help Williams reach his potential. Over the last three seasons, Johnson helped create one of the league's most explosive and dynamic offenses as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator. If he can do the same in Chicago while also managing his head-coaching duties, Williams will be in a position to succeed.
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow Is Healthy
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Cincinnati Bengals fans can certainly hold out hope that firing defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and replacing him with Al Golden will lead to better results in 2025. The Bengals' 25th-ranked defense was largely the reason why they missed the playoffs last season.
However, the Bengals didn't add much talent on that side of the ball this offseason. Ongoing contract disputes with Trey Hendrickson and rookie first-round pick Shemar Stewart make it hard to envision them having a playoff-caliber defense.
But if the Bengals can field even an average defense, they could be back in the Super Bowl conversation. Why? Because quarterback Joe Burrow is one of the best in the business when healthy.
Burrow couldn't carry the Bengals to the playoffs last year, but he led the NFL with 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns. In his two other healthy campaigns, Cincinnati has reached the AFC title game. In Burrow's other two seasons, he's finished the year on injured reserve, and the Bengals have finished last in the AFC North.
Burrow is healthy heading into camp, and he has his two favorite targets, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, under contract long-term. If he can stay healthy, the Bengals will have a chance to win every single week and an opportunity to again go deep in the playoffs.
Cleveland Browns: A Full Rookie Class
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Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said the quiet part out loud early this offseason when he admitted that the trade for Deshaun Watson was a failure.
"We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun," Haslam told reporters.
While Watson is under contract through 2026, the Browns are prepared to move on. Fresh off a 3-14 season with a four-way quarterback competition looming, the early post-Watson era could be rocky. However, fans can look forward to the start of a new chapter that includes a complete draft class for the first time since Watson was acquired in 2022.
Cleveland's 2025 draft class is brimming with potential, as players like defensive tackle Mason Graham, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, running back Quinshon Judkins and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. could all be future mainstays of the roster. There's even a chance that third-round pick Dillon Gabriel or rookie fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders will beat out Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and finally give Cleveland a long-term answer under center.
Potential doesn't win games, but a fresh start with several new faces will provide a lot more optimism than another year of trying and failing to make it work with Watson.
Dallas Cowboys: An Unexpected Coaching Change
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At some point, Dallas Cowboys fans may have to accept the fact that owner Jerry Jones is more interested in selling tickets and staying relevant than actually chasing a Super Bowl. The Cowboys haven't made it past the divisional round since the 1995 season, and while Jones has been happy to pay his biggest stars, he hasn't invested heavily in problem areas.
Despite Jones' claim of being "all-in" on the 2024 season, Dallas did next to nothing in free agency last year. The Cowboys were a bit more active this offseason, though their marquee additions were players like running back Javonte Williams and inconsistent trade acquisition George Pickens.
At first blush, it could be easy for Cowboys fans to expect more of the same in 2025—a Cowboys team that is good enough in the regular season to dominate radio shows and the prime-time schedule but largely irrelevant in the postseason. However, fans can at least hope that things will be different this year. That's because Dallas isn't running it back with the same coaching staff it had in 2024.
After opting not to re-sign Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys instead pivoted to Brian Schottenheimer. While there's no guarantee that Schottenheimer will deliver better results than McCarthy did, he'll at least bring something different to the table.
At least for now, the Cowboys can hope that something different is all they need to go from being regular-season stars to legitimate contenders.
Denver Broncos: Offensive Additions
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Both the Denver Broncos and rookie quarterback Bo Nix qualified as surprises in 2024. Denver rebounded from an 8-9 campaign to make the playoffs, while Nix exceeded expectations as the sixth quarterback taken in the draft.
While Nix didn't produce the gaudiest of numbers (3,775 yards, 93.3 passer rating), he played the game-manager role well enough to complement Denver's third-ranked scoring defense. He also showed glimpses of playmaking ability that should have fans excited about what comes next.
Up next could be Nix's graduation to the rank of franchise quarterback. Denver improved its receiving corps by signing tight end Evan Engram and drafting wideout Pat Bryant. It also bolstered a ground game ranked 21st in yards per carry last season by adding J.K. Dobbins and rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey.
With a more balanced offense and a stronger overall supporting cast, Nix can be even better in his second season. If he is, Denver will have a real shot at stealing the AFC West crown.
Detroit Lions: A Healthier Roster
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A year ago, the Lions entered training camp with one of the best and most complete rosters in the NFL. They were coming off of an appearance in the NFC title game and carried extremely high expectations.
During the regular season, the Lions largely met those expectations. Despite suffering a plethora of injuries on defense—Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Carlton Davis and Marcus Davenport were among those who ended the year on the sideline—Detroit still achieved an NFC-best 15-2 record. Unfortunately, those injuries were too much to overcome in the playoffs, and the Lions experienced an early exit at the hands of the upstart Washington Commanders.
The good news is that the Lions are far healthier now than they were at the end of last season. While McNeill (torn ACL) may miss the start of the season, Davis (broken jaw) was replaced by D.J. Reed, and both Davenport (triceps) and Hutchinson (fractured leg) should be healthy.
"I’m exactly where I need to be," Hutchinson recently said on the With the First Pick podcast (h/t Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper).
The Lions will have to stay healthy to compete for a Super Bowl. But with a mostly healthy roster heading into camp, they have little reason to believe that they can't make their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history next February.
Green Bay Packers: New Pass-Catchers
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Over the past two years, the Green Bay Packers have established themselves as one of the NFL's most exciting young teams. Led by 26-year-old quarterback Jordan Love, the Packers have posted back-to-back playoff appearances.
To take the next step and become a legitimate title contender, Green Bay needs Love to start performing like the $55 million-per-year quarterback that he is. The Utah State product has proven himself to be an above-average starter, but he hasn't become elite yet.
That could change in 2025 now that the Packers have injected some much-needed talent into their receiving corps. Green Bay used first- and third-round picks on wideouts Matthew Golden and Savion Williams, respectively. They'll join a young receiving corps that has had talent but has long lacked true go-to options.
If Love can improve and become a top-10 or even top-five passer, the Packers should be in the title hunt. They already boast a defense that ranked fifth overall in 2024 and a rushing attack that ranked sixth in yards per carry last season.
Houston Texans: The O-Line Shuffle
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Though the Houston Texans managed to repeat as AFC South champions in 2024, they never felt like as much of a postseason threat as they were the previous season. That's largely because quarterback C.J. Stroud battled a second-year regression, possibly caused by injuries at receiver and poor pass protection.
Houston reloaded its receiving corps this offseason by drafting Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. That should help ease the departure of Stefon Diggs and the likely season-long absence of Tank Dell, who suffered a torn ACL along with other torn knee ligaments late in 2024.
More importantly, Stroud might enjoy better pass protection than he did in 2024, a campaign in which he took 52 sacks. There's no guarantee of that after Houston traded longtime left tackle Laremy Tunsil early in the offseason. However, the lineup will be different, as the Texans added the likes of Laken Tomlinson, Cam Robinson, Ed Ingram and Trent Brown before drafting Aireontae Ersery in Round 2.
Different doesn't always mean better. But if it does in this case, Stroud should return to Pro Bowl form, and the Texans may be ready to challenge teams like Baltimore and Kansas City in the AFC.
Indianapolis Colts: A True QB Competition
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is heading into a make-or-break season. The 2023 No. 4 overall pick has shown glimpses of elite upside but has yet to establish himself as a reliable starter. He has thrown for only 2,391 yards with a 67.8 passer rating in 15 starts.
Richardson hasn't truly been pushed for the starting job heading into either of his two seasons. He got the nod over Gardner Minshew as a rookie before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury after four games. Last year, he was essentially handed the job, though he was eventually benched in-season for Joe Flacco.
This offseason, the Colts added 2019 first-round pick Daniel Jones after deciding that they needed to either push Richardson to be better or replace him outright.
"We want to create real competition. I think it's good for the team, I think it's good for Anthony," general manager Chris Ballard said before the offseason even started, per JJ Stankevitz of the team's official website.
We'll have to wait to see if the competition between Jones and Richardson yields a more positive long-term outlook at quarterback. Heading into camp, Indy should be optimistic that it will.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Trevor Lawrence and Liam Coen Pairing
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The Jacksonville Jaguars have spent the past four seasons operating as if Trevor Lawrence is a top-five quarterback. The Jags drafted him first overall in 2021, and they gave him a contract worth $55 million annually as soon as he was extension-eligible in 2024.
Unfortunately, Lawrence's potential has been far more impressive than his production to this point. He did have a Pro Bowl season in 2022 and has flashed elite tools. However, he's battled injuries in each of the past two seasons and has only carried Jacksonville to the postseason once.
The good news is that Lawrence, who suffered an AC joint injury last season, appears to be recovering well heading into training camp. He was spotted wearing a sleeve during minicamp but explained that it wasn't related to the shoulder injury.
"Just a little bit of soreness," Lawrence said, per John Oehser of the team's official website.
Lawrence will also be paired with new head coach Liam Coen, who may finally get the Clemson product to play up to his potential. Coen spent last season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator and created a dynamic offense that helped Baker Mayfield reach his second career Pro Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are Still Leading the Offense
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There are reasons to believe that the Chiefs will bounce back after losing convincingly in Super Bowl LIX. (Yes, a conference championship has become a disappointment in Chiefs Kingdom.)
Wideout Rashee Rice, who missed most of last season with an LCL injury, should be back. Kansas City also threw a couple of darts at its problematic left tackle spot, signing Jaylon Moore and using a first-round pick on Josh Simmons.
Of course, bouncing back is a relative term for the Chiefs, who haven't missed an AFC Championship Game since Patrick Mahomes became their full-time starter in 2018. Mahomes and Andy Reid have since become one of the top coach-quarterback duos in modern NFL history, and fans are always going to have a sense of optimism as long as those two are running the offense.
Is Kansas City a lock to make an eighth straight conference title game? Of course not. But with Mahomes and Reid at the helm, the Chiefs have to like their chances.
Las Vegas Raiders: A Proven Coach-QB Combination
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Since head coach Jon Gruden was traded in 2002 and the Las Vegas Raiders lost the Super Bowl in the ensuing season, they've been searching for stability at two of the game's most important spots.
The Raiders have lacked consistently good play at quarterback, aside from a three-year Pro Bowl stretch by Derek Carr, whom they dumped in 2023. Gruden, who returned for a three-and-a-half-year stretch in 2018, is the longest-tenured Raiders head coach this century.
Las Vegas' new duo of Pete Carroll and Geno Smith likely won't be a lasting one. Carroll will turn 74 in September, while Smith will turn 35 in October. However, the two could open a very good (albeit brief) period of stability for the Raiders.
Carroll and Smith are both proven NFL commodities. Carroll coached in two Super Bowls with the Seattle Seahawks, winning one. Smith is a two-time Pro Bowler who has experience playing under Carroll from his time in Seattle.
Having two of the most important pieces in place should allow other stars like Maxx Crosby, Brock Bowers and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty to shine. It may also help pave the way for Las Vegas' first playoff win since the 2002 campaign.
Los Angeles Chargers: Offensive Additions
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It was hard to call the Los Angeles Chargers a surprise playoff team in 2024 because head coach Jim Harbaugh has a track record of delivering early positive results. However, L.A. winning 11 games despite having the league's 20th-ranked offense was unexpected.
In recent years, the Chargers had leaned heavily on Justin Herbert and their passing attack. With a lack of reliable receiving options behind rookie Ladd McConkey last season, Harbaugh instead leaned on a good-not-great rushing attack and the NFL's top-ranked scoring defense.
Things should be a bit more balanced this year, as the Chargers brought back Mike Williams, added Tyler Conklin and used a second-round pick on Tre Harris. The running game also might be stronger after L.A. signed guard Mekhi Becton and used a first-round pick on running back Omarion Hampton.
Chargers fans have seen how good Herbert can be in the past, and they got a taste of a top-tier defense last season. Now, they should be eyeing a more well-rounded roster and a squad capable of being more than just a wild-card participant.
Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford Is Back
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There are quite a few reasons for the Los Angeles Rams to feel optimistic heading into training camp. They're coming off their second straight playoff appearance. They boast exciting young stars like Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. They added standouts like Davante Adams and Poona Ford this offseason. And in 2024, they overtook the San Francisco 49ers as the team to beat in the NFC West.
However, Matthew Stafford's return is the biggest reason why the Rams should believe they can make a serious run this season.
The quarterback's return wasn't always a guarantee. He was even given permission to speak with other teams about a possible trade. But Stafford eventually reached an agreement with Los Angeles that will have him running the offense for at least another year.
It's hard to win a championship in the NFL without a top-tier signal-caller. Stafford remains that at 37 years old. Los Angeles wasn't going to find a superior alternative for this season had it allowed Stafford to go elsewhere.
Since Stafford is back in the fold, the Rams can have realistic dreams of hoisting another Lombardi Trophy.
Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa is Healthy
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Miami Dolphins fans may have a hard time embracing optimism with a pivotal 2025 season looming. Head coach Mike McDaniel could be inching toward the hot seat after three seasons without a playoff win, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa needs to prove he can stay healthy for a full 17-game campaign.
"Tua is our quarterback, he's going to be our quarterback, but we need to find a way to just keep him healthy, especially at the end of the year when you have to win games to get in the playoffs," Hall of Famer and Dolphins advisor Dan Marino said on The Pat McAfee Show (h/t ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques).
The good news is that Tagovailoa—who suffered a concussion and a hip injury in 2024—is currently healthy. He was a full participant at mandatory minicamp and even sported a new, slimmer physique.
The Dolphins know what they can accomplish when Tagovailoa is healthy. Two years ago, they won 11 games, and he led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards.
If he can stay healthy in 2025, there's a good chance that Miami will be right back in the postseason picture.
Minnesota Vikings: The Pieces Are In Place to Support J.J. McCarthy
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The Vikings never got to see J.J. McCarthy on a regular-season field in 2024, as the first-round pick out of Michigan suffered a knee injury that required surgery during the preseason. However, Minnesota still managed to win 14 games after turning to Sam Darnold and seeing the former draft bust reemerge as a Pro Bowl quarterback.
Now that Darnold has departed for Seattle in free agency, it's time for McCarthy's inaugural NFL campaign. While that could lead to an offensive regression, the Vikings should be confident that it won't cause them to fall out of the playoff picture.
If there's a team equipped to support a first-year quarterback, it's Minnesota.
The Vikings have a terrific offensive head coach in Kevin O'Connell and a trio of star pass-catchers in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. Minnesota added players like Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen to a defense that ranked fifth in points allowed last season.
Minnesota also bolstered an offensive line that may get left tackle Christian Darrisaw (torn ACL, MCL) back early in the season. The Vikings added Ryan Kelly, Will Fries and rookie second-round pick Donovan Jackson to the interior of their offensive line.
None of this means that McCarthy will be an instant success, of course. However, it makes it more likely than not that he won't be a first-year failure.
New England Patriots: Drake Maye's Improved Supporting Cast
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The New England Patriots didn't have a successful season in 2024, at least not in the traditional sense. They stumbled to a 4-13 record and fired head coach Jerod Mayo shortly after the season ended. Along the way, though, the Patriots may have found their franchise quarterback in third overall pick Drake Maye.
Despite being surrounded by one of the worst supporting casts in the NFL, Maye played well enough to make the Pro Bowl as an alternate. Heading into training camp, Maye appears poised for a big second-year jump thanks to an improved supporting cast.
It starts at the top, where the Patriots hired an experienced head coach in Mike Vrabel and an experienced offensive play-caller in Josh McDaniels. While Mayo probably deserved a longer audition—especially given New England's overall lack of talent last season—Vrabel and McDaniels are better-equipped to ensure that Maye can succeed.
The Patriots also improved their roster considerably by adding the likes of Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Garrett Bradbury, Morgan Moses, Will Campbell, TreVeyon Henderson, Kyle Williams and Jared Wilson this offseason.
With these new pieces in place, New England can expect Maye to become a bona fide star in 2025.
New Orleans Saints: The Promise of a QB/Coaching Change
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The New Orleans Saints have spent the last few seasons trying to maintain a roster capable of contending in the NFC South. Despite losing head coach Sean Payton in 2022 and future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees in 2020, the Saints repeatedly kicked contract dollars down the road in order to keep key players.
While this offseason didn't bring a full-on rebuild to New Orleans, it did bring changes at quarterback and in the front office. Kellen Moore was hired to replace head coach Dennis Allen, who was fired in-season last year, while quarterback Derek Carr retired shortly after the NFL draft.
Moore isn't a proven head coach, but he's had multiple successful stints as an offensive coordinator. The Saints don't have an established quarterback yet, but they'll have an intriguing competition between youngsters Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough.
It remains to be seen whether these changes will yield positive results. However, they do mean that the days of trying to contend with a holdover head coach and bridge quarterbacks like Carr and Jameis Winston are over.
New York Giants: An Actual Plan at Quarterback
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There's no guarantee that the New York Giants' plan at quarterback will yield success in 2025 and/or beyond. There's certainly no guarantee that it'll save the jobs of head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, who should be on the hot seat entering their fourth season at the helm. However, it's worth noting that the Giants finally seem to have a QB plan that makes sense.
Two offseasons ago, Schoen handed quarterback Daniel Jones a lucrative contract extension on the heels of his first good season as a pro. Daboll then spent the next two seasons trying to make it work with the Duke product, whom the Giants ultimately wound up releasing in November.
Last year, the Giants should have had an insurance policy at quarterback behind Jones, who was coming off a torn ACL and who had played poorly when healthy in 2024. They didn't, and the result was a 3-14 record, the third overall pick in the 2025 draft and a whole lot of questions regarding the quarterback position.
This year, the Giants grabbed two potential bridge quarterbacks in Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson before trading back into the first round to draft Jaxson Dart. New York now should have the ability to develop Dart for most or all of his rookie season before thrusting him onto the field.
Whether that stays part of the plan remains to be seen. Daboll might decide that playing the rookie is best for his job security. But at least it's a plan that the Giants can embrace.
New York Jets: A Fresh Front Office and QB
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There's no denying that the New York Jets' 2024 season was a complete mess. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was healthy but couldn't carry an offense that lacked cohesion. Head coach Robert Saleh, and interim coach Jeff Ulbrich after him, struggled to keep the locker room together throughout the struggles.
"That locker room is completely fractured," WFAN's Boomer Esiason said in November. "It makes me think that I don’t know how the Jets can come back with [Rodgers] next year. I really don’t."
The Jets can feel good about having a fresh start in 2025, even if there's no guarantee they'll be better. Rather than bring back Rodgers, they instead replaced him with free-agent Justin Fields. The Jets also hired head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey to replace Saleh and Joe Douglas, respectively, whom they fired in-season last year.
New York has an opportunity to build a new, better culture in 2025, which could lay the foundation for future (if not instant) success.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Chance to Repeat
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The Eagles are coming off a convincing win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Why wouldn't they be optimistic about their chances in 2025?
There are potential issues that Philly could face. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore left to take the Saints' head coaching job job. Saquon Barkley carried a very heavy workload in 2024. Key contributors like C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Mekhi Becton, Josh Sweat and Milton Williams departed in the offseason.
However, the core of Philadelphia's Super Bowl roster remains intact. Few teams have been as good at drafting and developing players in recent years as the Eagles. If there's a team that can backfill its roster with young players like Jalyx Hunt, Sydney Brown, Tyler Steen, Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba, it's Philly.
The Eagles have every reason to believe that they can reach their third Super Bowl in four years and possibly repeat as champions. If that's not a reason for optimism, what is?
Pittsburgh Steelers: One Shot with Aaron Rodgers
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The Pittsburgh Steelers might be the most frustrated good franchise in the NFL. Under head coach Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh has never experienced a losing season. It has also made the playoffs in four of the past five years. However, the Steelers haven't notched a postseason victory since the 2016 season.
The Steelers are hoping that this year will be different, and the arrival of quarterback Aaron Rodgers helps to provide that hope. While the 41-year-old isn't a long-term answer under center, he's better than any quarterback they've had since Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022.
Pittsburgh got mostly good QB play from Justin Fields and Russell Wilson early last season, but Wilson slumped toward the end of the year, and the Steelers faded. If Rodgers can stay healthy and bring more stability to the position, Pittsburgh will have a chance to go on a postseason run.
While this will probably only be a one-year run with Rodgers, the Steelers have made efforts to maximize it. They traded for DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith while targeting draft prospects like Derrick Harmon and Kaleb Johnson who can potentially contribute right away.
San Francisco 49ers: A Full Offseason to Regroup and Recover
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After reaching the NFC title game in four of the previous five seasons, the San Francisco 49ers stumbled to a 6-11 record in 2024. Injuries to key players like Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams played a large role in San Francisco's 2024 decline, but fatigue may have also been a factor.
By reaching the Super Bowl during their 2023 campaign, the 49ers played an extra three games and played into February. They played an extra three games in 2022 as well, which means they played roughly two-and-a-half seasons over those two years.
This year, San Francisco has had a full offseason to get healthy, rest and reload. Players like McCaffrey and Williams should be ready to go by the start of the season, and an influx of rookie talent—the 49ers' first five draft selections were defenders—should help replenish a defense that ranked 29th in points allowed last season.
San Francisco also brought back defensive coordinator Robert Saleh this offseason.
Aiyuk (torn ACL, MCL) is likely to miss regular-season time, but if the rest of the offense is and can stay healthy while the defense rebounds, San Francisco should be back in the Super Bowl mix. The 49ers have done it before, as they followed an injury-impacted 6-10 campaign in 2020 with an appearance in the NFC Championship Game the following year.
Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold's Upside
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The Seahawks took a substantial risk when they traded away quarterback Geno Smith and replaced him with Sam Darnold in free agency.
Smith was a two-time Pro Bowler for the Seahawks who went 28-24 during his time as their starter. Darnold had a Pro Bowl campaign with the Vikings in 2024 but had never been a dependable starter before that campaign. Seattle also lacks the strong supporting cast that Minnesota gave Darnold last season.
Seattle's new-look receiving corps headlined by Cooper Kupp, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jaxon Smith-Njigba has potential. However, it isn't as proven as a Minnesota group headlined by Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson.
There's no guarantee that Darnold will replicate the success he had with the Vikings last season. There are reasons to believe that he'll instead revert to the subpar form (83.9 career passer rating) he showed before joining Minnesota. But if Darnold does pan out, Seattle might have itself a top-10 signal-caller for the next decade-plus.
The 28-year-old flashed his elite physical tools early and often last season. If offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak—who previously coached Darnold as the 49ers' passing game coordinator—can play to Darnold's strengths as Kevin O'Connell did, there's a real chance that Seattle's gamble will pay off in a big way.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Band is (Mostly) Still Together
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While most expected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to experience a major drop-off following Tom Brady's retirement, that didn't happen. Instead, the Bucs found their new franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield and have picked up two more NFC South titles.
While the Falcons and even Panthers may be ready to challenge within the division—expectations should be lower in New Orleans—the Buccaneers should be considered the favorites entering camp. Why? Because general manager Jason Licht once again made it an offseason priority to keep top players in the fold.
Mayfield, Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs and 2024 breakout back Bucky Irving were always going to be back for the coming season. However, Tampa also re-signed standouts like Chris Godwin and linebacker Lavonte David while adding new contributors like Haason Reddick and rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka.
Licht has struck a brilliant balance between keeping players and adding new contributors through the draft. While there's no guarantee that Tampa will be better in 2025, it's highly unlikely to be worse. That's reason enough to believe the Bucs could be sleeper Super Bowl contenders.
Tennessee Titans: No. 1 Overall Pick Cam Ward
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Heading into the offseason, the 2025 rookie quarterback class was largely viewed as an underwhelming group. Though the Tennessee Titans had earned the No. 1 overall selection, there was no obvious choice for them at the top of the draft.
Tennessee ultimately decided to take Miami quarterback Cam Ward over Colorado corner/receiver Travis Hunter or Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter, the top two prospects on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final draft board.
As is always the case when a quarterback is drafted highly, Tennessee's new signal-caller brings with him a surplus of optimism. While the 23-year-old wasn't viewed as a can't-miss prospect in the mold of Joe Burrow or Caleb Williams, he has the tools to eventually be a star.
"Ward is among the most gifted throwers in the NFL draft class," Dame Parson of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "The combination of arm talent, mobility/athleticism, and accuracy is what the NFL is looking for in potential franchise QBs. He has superstar potential if he can cut down on mistakes/risky decisions."
While the Titans might not be particularly good this season—they didn't "earn" the No. 1 pick by accident, after all—Ward's arrival marks the start of a thrilling new chapter for Tennessee fans.
Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, The Sequel
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It would probably be easier to list reasons why the Washington Commanders shouldn't be optimistic about the 2025 season. After all, they found their head coach in Dan Quinn last season, reached the NFC title game and uncovered their franchise quarterback in reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels.
With new additions like Laremy Tunsil, Deebo Samuel and Josh Conerly Jr. in the fold, Washington has a great chance to meet its raised expectations.
However, the potential upside of Daniels' second act is what should really have Commanders fans excited about the coming campaign. The LSU product was phenomenal as a rookie, finishing with 3,568 passing yards, 891 rushing yards, 31 combined touchdowns and even a handful of MVP votes.
With another offseason under his belt and an improved offensive cast (on paper, anyway), Daniels could be in store for the sort of second-year jump that NFL signal-callers often make. Considering how great the 24-year-old was last season, that might be enough to put the Commanders firmly in the Super Bowl conversation.
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