With the 2025 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, it’s time to turn the page to the 2025 NFL season. And what better way to do that than with updated power rankings? Rosters will still change between now and September, but our 2025 NFL Power Rankings provide a snapshot of where all 32 teams stand as they navigate the offseason.
The Stats & Insights team combined last year’s PR+ metric with adjustments based on free agency moves, draft additions, and players potentially returning from injury. They serve as a rough measure of where teams currently rank relative to one another.
1) Baltimore Ravens
PFSN’s metrics had Lamar Jackson as the best quarterback of 2024 and the Baltimore Ravens as the second-best offense. While Jackson didn’t repeat as MVP, he remains one of the most impactful players in the NFL, and his presence almost guarantees the Ravens an elite offense.
Baltimore made an important re-signing to keep that offense intact, retaining left tackle Ronnie Stanley before free agency opened. Other moves were smaller in scale due to the Ravens’ lack of cap space, but Baltimore has the infrastructure to once again compete for a Super Bowl. That’s especially true if the eighth-ranked defense looks more like it did from Week 11 on, when Baltimore led the NFL in points per game allowed.
The Ravens added Georgia’s Malaki Starks to the back end of their secondary, and he should help. They also took advantage of Mike Green falling down the draft board, giving this defense more upside than it had in 2024, a season that came up short of their ultimate goal.
2) Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have focused on retention this offseason. The biggest re-signing was reigning MVP Josh Allen, who re-upped on a massive six-year, $330 million contract. However, Buffalo also took care of some in-house business by extending Christian Benford, Terrel Bernard, and Gregory Rousseau.
While Allen will again be asked to do the heavy lifting, the team has added some starting-level talent in free agency. Former Los Angeles Chargers Joshua Palmer and Joey Bosa should each be impactful players. Palmer can provide the Bills a sorely needed deep threat, while Bosa could improve a defense that had the lowest pressure rate of any playoff team in 2024.
Ultimately, Buffalo’s defense finished 18th in PFSN’s Defense+ metric, and improvement will be necessary for the Bills to finally usurp the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC. They drafted with this in mind, not touching the offensive side of the ball until the 37th pick of the fifth round (their sixth selection of the draft). However, this team has all the ingredients needed to cook up the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history.
3) Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions posted the best PFSN Offense+ grade of the 2024 season and recorded the third best in PFSN’s database dating back to 2019, trailing only the 2019 Ravens and 2020 Green Bay Packers, both of whom had MVP quarterbacks.
Detroit hasn’t had a chance to add much, but the Lions should still enter the 2025 season as one of the top NFC favorites as they seek their elusive first Super Bowl berth. The only offensive starter not returning is right guard Kevin Zeitler, though they addressed that hole in Round 2 with Tate Ratledge.
Defensively, the Lions recovered nicely from Carlton Davis’ departure by signing D.J. Reed. The Lions boasted a top-five defense until injuries overwhelmed the unit in the final month, which illustrates the team’s two-way upside if Aidan Hutchinson can stay healthy in 2025.
Ultimately, the biggest question may be on the coaching staff, where it’s unknown how the departures of coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn will impact Detroit next season. The impact of new coordinators will certainly be felt, but by addressing the trenches early and often at the draft, they should be able to sustain a high level of play.
4) Philadelphia Eagles
The Super Bowl champs were hit as hard as nearly any team in free agency. The losses were especially concentrated on defense, with Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and James Bradberry being among those to depart.
Still, the offense returns almost entirely intact (with the exception of right guard Mekhi Becton), which should enable them to improve upon their 14th-place ranking from 2024. Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts was PFSN’s fourth-ranked quarterback, and although he was the subject of a lot of pressure (the main reason behind Philly’s surprisingly low offensive ranking), the Eagles’ enviable skill-position talent was more than enough to overcome that.
Looking ahead, former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s departure is one of the few unknown variables that could impact an otherwise veteran-laden team that should make another deep playoff run in 2025.
The Birds are a little more vulnerable with a thinned-out defense (though they did address this side of the ball with each of their first five picks), so Howie Roseman will once again hope to find some immediate contributors in the draft, akin to what Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean provided last year.
5) Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs didn’t make any splashy moves in free agency and do appear worse on paper. Kansas City lost more than it added this offseason, with Joe Thuney, Justin Reid, and Tershawn Wharton representing defections of varying importance. Their biggest addition was left tackle Jaylon Moore, a gamble on a young player who has never started full-time.
Still, if any team has earned the benefit of the doubt, it’s the one that has appeared in five of the past six Super Bowls. Travis Kelce delaying retirement was probably the most important domino for the Chiefs this offseason, while they maintained continuity by keeping Trey Smith, Hollywood Brown, and Nick Bolton.
The Chiefs kept their first two picks in the trenches, one on either side of the ball. As you’d expect, this team is building out along the fringes. Its foundation is solid, and they should once again be labeled as a true title threat.
6) Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders were the surprise of the 2024 season in reaching the NFC Championship Game. However, they won’t sneak up on anyone this year and are fully embracing the opportunity afforded by Jayden Daniels’ rookie contract to create a team capable of reaching the Super Bowl.
Trades for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel Sr. give Daniels more support than he had as a rookie, improving his protection and providing an important YAC weapon. Washington already had the sixth-ranked offense last season and has as high a ceiling as any offense for 2025.
Unlike on offense, the Commanders mostly supplemented the defense with low-cost complementary additions (with the notable exception of Javon Kinlaw, who received a head-scratching deal in free agency). They were able to get nice value on Trey Amos in the second round, a do-it-all corner out of Ole Miss who should be able to impact this unit sooner than later.
The Commanders are a tier down from the top Super Bowl contenders until the defense improves, but Dan Quinn’s track record suggests it’s a matter of time before he fields a strong unit.
7) Los Angeles Rams
No team has improved its outlook more from the start of the offseason than the Los Angeles Rams.
Sean McVay’s team looked like it might be headed for a rebuild while entertaining Matthew Stafford trade offers. Instead, Stafford is sticking around, and now gets to target one of the best receiver duos in the NFL with Davante Adams added to pair up with Puka Nacua.
The Rams ranked 11th in PFSN’s Offense+ rankings last year despite Stafford finishing 22nd among quarterbacks. A more typical season from him could vault Los Angeles into the top-five range, and that might be even likelier if Terrance Ferguson (LA’s first selection of the 2025 draft) can make an impact out of the gates.
The defense remains an extremely young unit that was boom-or-bust for much of 2024. However, the unit’s upside is higher than the 24th-place ranking would imply, particularly with a rapidly developing pass rush that piled up 16 sacks in two playoff games.
The Rams look like clear NFC West favorites, with the upside to potentially return to the Super Bowl.
8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Continuity was the theme of the offseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While they took a one-year flier on Haason Reddick in the opening minutes of the legal negotiating period, their other big free agent moves were re-signings.
Chris Godwin turning down more money to return keeps the core of last year’s No. 3 overall offense in place. With Jalen McMillan impressing down the stretch after Godwin’s season-ending ankle injury, the Bucs should once again be one of the best offenses if new coordinator Josh Grizzard can fill Liam Coen’s shoes.
Despite optimism on that side of the ball, Tampa Bay elected to draft Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka at No. 19 overall. They then focused on the defensive end, but electing to go the quality route on offense and quantity on defense was a surprise decision.
There are questions when it comes to this team’s ability to get stops. They finished 16th in Defense+ but feasted on some poor competition in the second half of the season. The pass rush ranked 24th in sack rate when not blitzing, while 35-year-old Lavonte David is entering the last year of his contract and doesn’t have a feasible in-house successor at linebacker.
9) Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have been the youngest team in the NFL for two years in a row. Taken on its own, that would seemingly make 2024 a very promising season, as Green Bay was one of the most well-rounded teams with the eighth-ranked offense and 10th-ranked defense.
Still, there was a feeling of emptiness to the season. The Packers went a ghastly 0-6 against the Minnesota Vikings, Lions, and Eagles, and their season ended with a Wild Card round loss in Philadelphia. The 2023 Packers advanced one round further, so while the 2024 team was probably better on the whole, the lack of tangible progress was a slight disappointment.
As is their wont, the Packers were quiet in free agency. Nate Hobbs and Aaron Banks should start, but Green Bay didn’t spend exorbitantly on either (particularly given the structure of Banks’ contract).
By going WR-OT-WR with their first three picks, the Packers made it clear that they want to continue building a foundation around Jordan Love during the draft. The thought is that Matthew Golden can add a dimension that this offense has been missing to such a degree that Josh Jacobs noted it this offseason.
10) Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos surprised many by snapping their eight-season playoff drought in 2024. However, the Broncos return the core of their elite defense and improving offense, which will create higher expectations in 2025.
Bo Nix showed promise as a rookie, finishing 18th in PFSN’s QB+ metric. That doesn’t sound like much, but it reflects his strong finish after a rough start where many wrote him off.
Nix threw 10 touchdowns to one pick in his final four games, despite a lack of reliable weapons beyond Courtland Sutton. The Broncos signed Evan Engram (easily the top available tight end in free agency) and drafted running back RJ Harvey at the back end of Round 2 to further reinforce Nix’s supporting cast.
PFSN’s No. 1 defense from last year returns mostly intact, with former San Francisco 49ers Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga adding some thump to the unit. Along with the return of coordinator Vance Joseph, Denver’s defense has a high level of continuity that should enable the team to repeat its superb showing from 2024.
11) Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are the highest-ranked non-playoff team from 2024. While the Bengals’ 9-8 record was buoyed by a five-game win streak to end the season, Cincinnati also finished with a +38 point differential. That wasn’t far behind the 15-2 Chiefs (+58) and reflects how Cincinnati would have been more highly regarded with better luck in close games (4-7 in one-score games).
Of course, part of the reason for their close-game struggles was an abysmal defense that finished 28th in PFSN’s rankings. The Bengals didn’t make significant additions to the unit in free agency. Trey Hendrickson’s future with the franchise remains uncertain, as the 2024 sack leader is still seeking a new contract or trade.
Cincinnati drafted Shemar Stewart in the first round of the draft, a pick that was met with mixed reviews. While Stewart is a specimen with elite physical traits, his lack of production is concerning.
On a positive note, the Bengals made a surprising decision to retain Tee Higgins, which strengthens their elite offensive core alongside Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. This formidable trio offers a strong foundation for the team, indicating they will remain competitive.
The front office also landed a potential starter on the offensive line in Dylan Fairchild. Cincinnati’s ability to compete in the AFC will hinge on whether or not it can take a step forward defensively in 2025.
12) Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers were a defense-first team in 2024, ranking fourth in defense but 17th in offense. Los Angeles should still excel on defense with Jesse Minter staying for a second season as defensive coordinator. Losing Poona Ford and Bosa wasn’t ideal, but they added talent through the draft in defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell and edge rusher Kyle Kennard.
The real question is whether Justin Herbert and the offense can get back to the high-end production they haven’t had since 2021 (their one season as a top-10 scoring offense since drafting Herbert).
The run game struggled last year, with their 3.7 yards per carry from running backs ranking 31st. With free agent signing Najee Harris and first-round pick Omarion Hampton, this ground game should be much improved in 2025. The powerful backfield duo (plus Becton) should enable Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman to deploy a smashmouth style of football they prefer.
The Chargers struck gold with their first two draft picks last year, adding a pair of offensive pillars in Joe Alt and Ladd McConkey. This year, they added more legitimate pass-catching weapons in Tre Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, and Oronde Gadsden II. Making this a priority gives Herbert a more well-rounded receiving corps, which could maximize his potential.
13) Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings look well-equipped to support J.J. McCarthy. After much speculation about whether the Vikings would pay Sam Darnold and keep McCarthy on the bench another year, Minnesota instead reinvested the former’s money into additions on the offensive line (Ryan Kelly, Will Fries) and at running back (Jordan Mason).
That gives the Vikings a very complete picture on offense. Entering the draft, left guard was the only remaining OL question mark, and the front office answered by taking Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson in Round 1. If McCarthy can even replicate Darnold’s performance from 2024, the Vikings should be in position to improve from last year’s 13th-place finish in Offense+.
The defense has more questions despite finishing third. Brian Flores’ unit had tons of defensive back free agents and has seen Camryn Bynum, Stephon Gilmore, and Shaquill Griffin either depart or remain unsigned.
Minnesota didn’t have many draft picks this year. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was able to add valuable depth on the defensive side of the ball, but unlikely that any will make an immediate impact.
14) Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears had everyone buzzing as potential breakout contenders in the 2024 preseason, but they stumbled during a frustrating stretch, setting a franchise record with a 10-game losing streak. Nevertheless, following a bold offseason strategy, the Bears seem ready to make a serious push for contention if they can get out of their own way.
After fielding the third-cheapest offensive line by cash spending last season, the Bears splurged heavily on the interior. Chicago will start three new players there after trading for Thuney and Jonah Jackson while signing Drew Dalman.
On the defensive side, the Bears added Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo. Ryan Poles also added high-upside players through the draft in offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo and defensive tackle Shemar Turner — indicating that the Bears should be much better in the trenches.
Of course, Chicago’s biggest addition could be Johnson, who led three straight elite offenses in Detroit. General Manager Ryan Poles wasted no time giving his new coach more exciting playmakers to work with, landing tight end Colston Loveland and dynamic wide receiver Luther Burden III.
Johnson is one of the most hyped first-time coaches in recent memory. While that guarantees nothing, his arrival and new shiny weapons should give Caleb Williams every opportunity to make good on his promise as the first overall pick.
15) Arizona Cardinals
The Josh Sweat signing was a statement of intent from the Arizona Cardinals. After doubling their win total from four to eight, Jonathan Gannon’s team seems intent on improving a defense that ranked 27th in Defense+ last year to snap the team’s three-year playoff drought.
Arizona continued that trend in the draft, using six of seven picks on defensive players. Walter Nolen and Will Johnson are highly touted prospects who could make an impact from Day 1 if they can stay healthy.
The Cardinals quietly fielded an elite offense as well, ranking fifth in Offense+. Kyler Murray was PFSN’s 16th-ranked quarterback, but could improve if Marvin Harrison Jr. takes a step forward in his sophomore year.
With the 49ers taking a step back, the Cardinals now have a prime opportunity to clinch their first division title since 2015. After starting strong at 6-4, Arizona struggled down the stretch and finished 2-5. However, this year’s squad appears better positioned to cross the finish line, especially following a solid draft.
16) San Francisco 49ers
After years of high-level Super Bowl contention, the 49ers underwent a transition offseason. No team lost more in free agency based on total contract value handed out, and no team took on more dead money. Without Samuel, Javon Hargrave, Charvarius Ward, Greenlaw, or Hufanga (among many others), San Francisco won’t look quite the same in 2025.
Clearing the books provides the 49ers with an opportunity to rebuild around their new core players. A key figure in this process will be Brock Purdy, whose anticipated contract extension is one of the final significant decisions the team needs to make. This move will also allow John Lynch to shift his attention to other upcoming free agents he may want to keep, such as George Kittle and Jauan Jennings.
In the meantime, the Niners needed a big draft to offset many of their losses. They attacked the defensive line early, landing edge rusher Mykel Williams and defensive tackle Alfred Collins. San Francisco is also hoping Oklahoma State’s Nick Martin can help replace Greenlaw. The NFC West is getting stronger, and the 49ers will need to be better defensively (26th in Defense+ last season) if they want to compete.
17) Houston Texans
The Houston Texans loaded up on receivers last offseason to build around C.J. Stroud, but injuries derailed their progress. Their Offense+ grade dropped from 70.2 to 64.7 (28th overall), reflecting the impact of those setbacks.
Another season-ending knee injury for Tank Dell and the loss of Stefon Diggs meant Houston needed to add talent to its WR room. Houston did so by drafting a pair of Iowa State wideouts: Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
The biggest issue was the Texans’ 31st-ranked offensive line. That unit still comes with several questions after Houston traded away left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The Texans did get a bounty of draft picks from Washington in return, and they were able to land a high-upside prospect in Aireontae Ersery, who could push for a starting job in Year 1.
Houston should have a relatively high floor between its weak division and elite defense. DeMeco Ryans’ unit finished seventh overall and could be even better with every starter returning except safety Eric Murray (Gardner-Johnson should be an upgrade there anyway).
If Stroud can rebound behind better protection, there’s still an opportunity for the Texans to break through and become the top-shelf AFC contender many expected last year.
18) Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons finished with the 10th-ranked offense in 2024, but that unit still has much uncertainty. That’s solely due to the unknown ceiling of Michael Penix Jr., who fared reasonably well in his three-game cameo to end last season but will be the unquestioned starter for 2025.
What’s certain is that Penix will likely need to perform at a reasonably high level given the defensive shortcomings. Atlanta dropped from 11th in 2023 to 29th in 2024, with the pass rush once again serving as the team’s inexorable weakness.
The front office made it a priority to address that weakness through the draft, taking Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. with their first two picks. Both players possess enticing physical traits and join Leonard Floyd, Arnold Ebiketie, and Bralen Trice in a group that should perform better in 2025. The Falcons also added a bona fide playmaking safety in Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts to solidify the back end.
Six of the Falcons’ nine losses in 2024 came by a single score, as Atlanta was in control of the division most of the year. That suggests they could be a surprise playoff team if Penix develops quickly, particularly given the NFC South’s perpetual weakness.
19) Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins stayed quiet in free agency, leaving them with several holes entering the draft. The Dolphins addressed a few of their biggest needs early on, grabbing defensive tackle Kenneth Grant and offensive guard Jonah Savaiinaea — injecting some much-needed talent in the trenches.
Overall, the Dolphins are a veteran roster that’s beginning to age out, with left tackle Terron Armstead retiring and cornerback Jalen Ramsey seeking a trade. Next season could still look better if Tua Tagovailoa simply plays all 17 games. However, that’s far from a guarantee, plus Tagovailoa’s performance was shaky against winning teams for the most part.
A more reliable run game after Miami ranked 28th in yards per carry would be helpful in taking the pressure off of Tua. There’s still elite talent on the roster, prompting many to assume that the Dolphins are heading into a playoffs-or-bust situation for the upcoming season. However, they need to continue to create a more sustainable and versatile roster moving forward.
20) Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season unraveled after Dak Prescott’s injury, but even when healthy, they had some major flaws. Dallas had the 25th-ranked defense, and the offense was 20th in points per game and 23rd in EPA per play even during Prescott’s eight starts.
Many of those holes were still present heading into the draft after another quiet free agency period. Dallas opted to add around the margins in free agency, with the likes of Javonte Williams and Dante Fowler Jr. more likely to play supporting roles at best.
Zack Martin’s retirement leaves a huge void at right guard, which they potentially filled in Round 1 with Alabama’s Tyler Booker. Dallas also replaced Jourdan Lewis and DeMarcus Lawrence through the draft with high-upside playmakers Shavon Revel Jr. and Donovan Ezeiruaku.
The draft is the one area where Dallas deserves the benefit of the doubt. The Cowboys have been a tremendous drafting team for years now, and securing another strong class could enable them to return to playoff contention with better health in 2025.
21) New York Jets
The New York Jets cut bait on the Aaron Rodgers era, moving on from him and Adams and turning the offense over to Justin Fields. A Fields-Breece Hall rushing attack should be fearsome, particularly paired with new right tackle Armand Membou. Second-round tight end Mason Taylor filled a big need and adds a secondary pass catcher beyond Garrett Wilson, giving Fields some much-needed support in the passing game.
New York does have a lot of talent on defense, and Glenn’s hiring should lead to an aggressive unit that employs lots of man coverage and extra pass rushers. Day 2 CB Azareye’h Thomas should challenge free agent signing Brandon Stephens for a starting spot opposite Sauce Gardner. The Jets defense became a mess after Robert Saleh’s mid-season firing, but certainly has the talent to improve upon last year’s Defense+ 15th-ranked finish.
The Rodgers-led Jets expected to snap the longest active playoff drought in the NFL, or at least post the franchise’s first winning season since 2015. That pressure won’t be there in 2025, which might enable them to surprise if Glenn can imprint his defensive identity and return that side of the ball back to its elite form from 2022-23.
22) Las Vegas Raiders
The perpetually rebuilding Las Vegas Raiders made some win-now moves this offseason.
Trading for and extending 34-year-old Geno Smith and hiring 73-year-old Pete Carroll signals an intention to win in the short term. Drafting Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 overall is the type of move you only make if you feel you’re on the verge of contention. At the very least, the Raiders’ offense is far more exciting than the 2024 unit that ranked 29th amid shoddy QB play.
The defense improved down the stretch two years in a row, but ranked in the bottom half of the NFL due to poor starts. The Raiders still have major question marks on that side of the ball, particularly in the secondary after losing Tre’von Moehrig, Nate Hobbs, and Jack Jones this offseason. Third-round cornerback Darien Porter might have to start right away, but this still looks like a potentially leaky pass defense.
Last season, Las Vegas was the only AFC team that failed to win a single divisional game. The Raiders are better than that dysfunctional team, but in arguably the league’s most difficult division, climbing out of the basement won’t be easy.
23) New England Patriots
The biggest lock of free agency was that the New England Patriots would be massive spenders with a new head coach and nine figures in cap space. Sure enough, the Patriots shelled out a league-high $227.6 million in guaranteed money.
Most of that was spent on defense, which should be vastly improved after ranking 30th last year with new acquisitions such as Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Harold Landry III, and Robert Spillane anchoring the unit. That freed up the Patriots to focus on supporting Drake Maye in the draft.
New England used its first four picks on four different offensive positions, all of whom should help Maye’s development. Will Campbell and Jared Wilson might immediately start on the offensive line, with the latter potentially moving to left guard to challenge disappointing former first-rounder Cole Strange.
After all the free agent spending and draft investment, the Patriots should be a more competitive team than the one that’s gone 8-26 the last two seasons. Mike Vrabel’s teams in Tennessee had a history of outperforming expectations, and while New England probably has too many holes to challenge for the postseason, the expectation should be a decisive step forward.
24) Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks underwent as much turnover as nearly any team this NFL offseason. After trading away Geno Smith and DK Metcalf (along with a host of veteran defensive releases), the Seahawks are betting big on Darnold and Mike Macdonald to keep a younger team in contention.
Seattle made a smart first-round pick in Grey Zabel, who should help improve last year’s 30th-ranked offensive line by PFSN’s metrics. Elijah Arroyo also helps Darnold as a seam weapon, adding a vertical element to complement Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.
Still, Seattle’s offense feels a little incomplete without a true X receiver. Jalen Milroe is as interesting as any QB prospect beyond Cam Ward, but is unlikely to contribute much to the 2025 team.
The Seahawks did take a big step forward on defense last year, finishing sixth in PFSN’s metrics. Much of the young core is back in place after Macdonald found the right personnel levers to push following the team’s Week 10 bye.
On its own, that unit should keep the Seahawks competitive. But unless Darnold shows he can thrive outside of the Kevin O’Connell ecosystem, Seattle could be hard-pressed to improve on last year’s 10-7 record.
25) Jacksonville Jaguars
No team made a bigger splash in the draft than the Jacksonville Jaguars, as rookie general manager James Gladstone showed no fear by trading up for Travis Hunter. With Hunter reportedly set to focus on offense, that gives Trevor Lawrence one of the most fearsome receiver duos between the Colorado rookie and Brian Thomas Jr.
Lawrence and the offense suffered myriad injuries in 2024, but still ranked a respectable 18th in Offense+, suggesting this unit has way more upside to end up in the top 10 with better health.
Wyatt Milum and Bhayshul Tuten were also intriguing long-term additions, with the former potentially starting at guard immediately. Lawrence has only averaged positive EPA per dropback once in his first four seasons, but there’s no excuse to not have a career year in 2025 now.
Defensively, the Jaguars have talent but still had the second-worst unit in 2024, ahead of only the Carolina Panthers. The flip side of picking Hunter was passing on a more stable option like Mason Graham. Jacksonville mostly added potential role players like Caleb Ransaw and Jack Kiser in the draft, which could leave its defense struggling again if the stars aren’t more consistent in 2025.
26) Indianapolis Colts
The only thing that truly matters for the Indianapolis Colts is getting workable quarterback play. If that doesn’t happen, Anthony Richardson and Shane Steichen could be done with the franchise after three seasons, with the latter only having a chance to maintain his job if Daniel Jones breaks out on his second team.
The Colts did invest in a true TE1 for the first time since Jack Doyle’s retirement with first-rounder Tyler Warren. However, this still looks like an offense with holes along the line after losing Kelly and Fries in free agency.
Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves must step up as second-year pros after being part-time rookie starters. It’s plausible that either is fine, but betting on both to be plus starters right away isn’t a sure thing.
Defensively, a once-solid unit has also been trending the wrong way. After ranking 18th in 2021, the Colts fell to 22nd in both 2022 and 2023 before dropping another spot to 23rd last season.
Perhaps new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo can turn around a defense that grew static under Gus Bradley. New edge rusher JT Tuimoloau will look to help turn around a pass rush that ranked 28th in pressure rate last season and badly needs to create more disruptive plays.
27) Carolina Panthers
This ranking might feel harsh after the Panthers won two of their final three games, while also being competitive in losses to the likes of the Chiefs and Eagles. Carolina undeniably showed progress late in 2024, ranking 11th in offensive EPA from Week 9 on, with Bryce Young finally exhibiting promise down the stretch.
The Panthers did invest in facilitating Young’s development in the draft, picking Tetairoa McMillan No. 8 overall. That gives Carolina a far more well-rounded receiver room, as McMillan gives them the type of vertical ball-winner that hasn’t been consistently present in Charlotte for years.
The main factor keeping Carolina this low is its defense, which graded out as the worst since the 2020 Lions by Defense+ and allowed the most points in a season in NFL history. The Panthers did double down on edge rushers in Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmeilen, and Lathan Ransom, with a chance to start right away, was a nice Day 3 selection.
Still, if this is again one of the worst defenses in 2025, it’s easy to imagine the Panthers losing several shootouts and picking high again in 2026.
28) New York Giants
The New York Giants have produced two of the nine worst Offense+ seasons in PFSN’s database — and they’ve done it in back-to-back years. That makes it hard to believe that Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen still have their jobs.
For the sake of Jaxson Dart’s development, though, you would hope the Giants can string together a competent 2025 season so he doesn’t waste his rookie season learning a system that won’t be around for 2026.
Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston should provide more competent QB play compared to Jones and friends, giving Dart time to develop behind the scenes after playing in Lane Kiffin’s Air Raid offense.
However, the bigger issue is the offensive line, which ranked 27th by PFSN’s metrics in 2024. The Giants largely eschewed adding to the line in the draft, leaving this as one of the weakest units across the entire NFL (especially if left tackle Andrew Thomas again has problems staying healthy).
New York’s defense is in better shape thanks to one of the highest sack rates in the NFL. The Giants doubled down on that strength by drafting Abdul Carter and Darius Alexander. Added to the existing Big 3 of Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants suddenly appear to have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL on paper.
That should keep New York in plenty of games this year, though the Giants’ ultimate upside will depend on finally receiving competent QB play.
29) Pittsburgh Steelers
Without clarity at quarterback, the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the hardest teams to evaluate. To be clear, this ranking is considering only the team’s current quarterback situation. If Mason Rudolph starts and Rodgers never joins the Steelers, this looks like one of the worst offenses and an even worse unit than the one that ranked 24th in Offense+ last year.
The Steelers do have an improved receiving corps, with Metcalf joining George Pickens, so signing Rodgers would make sense, given the team’s commitment to remain competitive every season.
The defense doesn’t seem capable of solely carrying the team to the playoffs anymore after ranking 12th in 2024, though Derrick Harmon was an important selection as a long-term successor for Cameron Heyward.
For now, we’re taking a cautious approach with Pittsburgh. Adding Rodgers might not give much of a long-term ceiling, but it’s plausible they could be a roughly league-average offense after also drafting Kaleb Johnson to run in Arthur Smith’s wide-zone scheme. Signing the 41-year-old would be enough to vault the Steelers into the low-20s.
30) Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are back in a rough patch, winning nine games the last two seasons combined after averaging nine wins per season from 2016-2022. However, hope is here via Miami quarterback Cam Ward, the lone highly regarded quarterback in this year’s draft.
Ward arrives to a shaky offense, but one that at least has an improved OL. The 2024 Titans ranked 28th in PFSN’s OL metric, but signed starters Dan Moore Jr. and Zeitler in free agency. The team also added Tyler Lockett the day before the draft and took Florida wideout Chimere Dike with the first pick of Day 3. That fills out a WR depth chart that looked very thin beyond Calvin Ridley.
The defense still looks like a weak spot after finishing 22nd in PFSN’s rankings last year. Tennessee did add a pair of potential early starters in Femi Oladejo and Kevin Winston Jr. in the draft, though this unit was likely in need of a multi-year rebuild. Regardless, the defense should benefit if the offense isn’t a negative-play magnet like last year’s was.
31) New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are stuck in a cycle that’s hard to escape. They have an aging offense and a declining defense — a combination that typically requires a full rebuild. Their Defense+ grade dropped from 84.8 in 2023 to 71.6 in 2024, which ranked 19th. However, the real reason they rank so low is because of their uncertain quarterback situation, which the draft didn’t really solve.
If Derek Carr’s shoulder forces him to miss the entire 2025 season, this team could be non-competitive. New Orleans went 0-7 in Carr’s absence last year, averaging 13.3 points per game with a -17.6 PPG differential. Second-round rookie Tyler Shough may be more experienced than most rookies, but his lack of mobility could hurt behind a line that ranked 23rd in PFSN’s metrics last year.
It doesn’t sound like the Saints are really entertaining a Rodgers arrival, so it could be Carr or bust for 2025. Whoever’s playing under center would benefit from better skill-position health, as Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed both suffered season-ending injuries in 2024.
Even if that’s the case, though, the Saints once again look like a team stuck in NFL purgatory, albeit with a much lower floor than in past seasons.
32) Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns entered the draft with arguably the worst QB situation in the NFL. They exited in a far more interesting state, but one that isn’t assured to deliver better play.
Cleveland was in a tough spot as the team picking No. 2 overall in a one-quarterback draft. But after seemingly passing on Shedeur Sanders in favor of Dillon Gabriel, the Browns finally stopped the Colorado QB’s fall in the fifth round.
Of course, given how little they invested in Sanders regarding draft capital, it’s no sure thing he starts at all with Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett also on the roster. Still, this immediately becomes the most fascinating training camp QB competition, especially since most draftniks ranked Sanders above the third-rounder Gabriel.
Defensively, the Browns kept Myles Garrett rather than moving the former Defensive Player of the Year for draft capital. Whether that’s a wise long-term move is debatable, but it does give the defense a high floor. Cleveland led the NFL in pressure rate last year, largely due to Garrett’s presence, and has ranked in the top 10 in Defense+ each of the last two years.
Still, the offense is so dysfunctional that anything less than a historically great defense and special teams makes the Browns a non-contender. Cleveland ranked last in many offensive metrics in 2024, including Offense+. Unless Sanders proves his many doubters wrong, a repeat is entirely possible in 2025.