With the 2025-26 NFL regular season around the corner, now is the time to compare how teams stack up to each other going into the year. Some teams are surely better than others, but no roster comes without its flaws. Football is a team sport, but sometimes one specific weakness can hold a team back when it matters most.
Every team has questionable parts of its roster, whether it be a position low on talent or simply unproven. Here are the biggest question marks on all 32 NFL teams heading into the new season.
Arizona Cardinals: Wide Receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. didn’t have a bad rookie season, but after falling short of 1,000 receiving yards, he didn’t live up to expectations in his first season with the Arizona Cardinals.
Aside from Harrison, Arizona’s receiving corps could use some improvement. Michael Wilson is a solid complementary piece, but they don’t have a star. With him, Zay Jones, and Greg Dortch competing for touches, one of them will need to take the next step.
Atlanta Falcons: Defensive Line
The Atlanta Falcons made significant steps to add talent off the edge, drafting Jalon Walker at No. 15 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and trading back up into Round 1 to add James Pearce Jr. to the mix. However, it’s Atlanta’s interior defensive line that provides concern.
The Falcons will be without Grady Jarrett for the first time since 2014, signing Morgan Fox to take his place. Fox, David Onyemata, and Zach Harrison look to be the three main defensive linemen in the Falcons’ rotation. They’ll need strong play up front to maximize their new edge rushers.
Baltimore Ravens: Linebacker
Roquan Smith is one of the best linebackers in the NFL today. Though he’s been a first-team All-Pro each of the last three years, the Baltimore Ravens could use an upgrade alongside him in the starting lineup.
The hope is that third-year linebacker Trenton Simpson will take the next leap and improve on an inconsistent 2024 season. However, the Ravens drafted Teddye Buchanan in the fourth round. He could push for a starting spot if he performs well enough in training camp and the preseason.
Buffalo Bills: Safety
The Buffalo Bills have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL. They’ve made the playoffs in each of the last six seasons, despite not coming out as AFC champions in any of them. If Buffalo wants to overtake the Kansas City Chiefs, keeping strong defensive play will be key.
The safety room isn’t nearly at the same caliber as the days of Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, and Cole Bishop are expected to take on big roles for Buffalo’s secondary, but they’ll need to step up to help the team take the next step.
Carolina Panthers: Cornerback
After dealing with injuries for most of his NFL career, Jaycee Horn stayed healthy and made his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2024. Outside of him, though, the Carolina Panthers’ biggest question mark comes at the position.
The Panthers invested heavily in their defensive line this offseason, but their entire starting cornerback room returns after a lackluster 2024. None of their cornerbacks finished with above-average PFF grades last season.
Chicago Bears: Running Back
There were 23 running backs in the NFL with over 200 carries last season. In his first year with the Chicago Bears, D’Andre Swift had the second-fewest yards per carry of that bunch at just 3.8. It was the least efficient season Swift has had in his NFL career to this point.
Teammate Roschon Johnson scored six touchdowns on just 55 carries, but his ypc average was even worse at 2.7. The Bears didn’t pick a running back until they took Kyle Monangai in Round 7 of the draft, either. Chicago’s run game should improve behind an upgraded offensive line, but there are plenty of question marks surrounding the RB room.
Cincinnati Bengals: Edge Rusher
Trey Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks in 2024, so the Cincinnati Bengals have star power rushing off the edge. But with his contract extension talks at an impasse, there’s no guarantee Hendrickson suits up for them this season.
“If I was the GM or I was the owner, take all of my money. I guess they don’t operate like that.” – Shemar Stewart on the Bengals not working out a deal with Trey Hendrickson yet. Stewart is still negotiating his rookie contract.#Bengals @WCPO pic.twitter.com/CQGK1bl3v7
— Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky) June 10, 2025
Outside of him, the Bengals don’t have much in the way of proven pass-rushing talent. Joseph Ossai has been a respectable rotational piece, but not much else. Myles Murphy hasn’t lived up to his first-round hype from 2023 yet, and rookie Shemar Stewart has yet to even see the practice field due to his own contract snafu.
Cleveland Browns: Quarterback
The Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback battle is one that remains highly contested, particularly since none of their options seems particularly flattering.
Both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders enter the fray as rookies, though neither was selected within the first two rounds. Between them, Kenny Pickett, and Joe Flacco, it remains to be seen which quarterback will lead the charge for Cleveland with Deshaun Watson out due to injury.
Dallas Cowboys: Running Back
The Dallas Cowboys’ backfield touches figure to be quite tricky going into 2025. The bigger problem is that they still don’t have a bona fide RB1. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders joined Dallas in free agency, but neither averaged four yards per carry last year. They also drafted Jaydon Blue in Round 5, but he was never a full-time starter at Texas.
The Cowboys figure to have a good passing attack to ease pressure off the backfield, but the ground game itself remains an issue.
Denver Broncos: Running Back
The Denver Broncos improved their RB room this offseason, drafting RJ Harvey in Round 2 and signing J.K. Dobbins. It just remains to be seen who the primary back will be.
One can assume Denver will use a committee backfield. The Broncos also have Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, and Tyler Badie fighting for roster spots. Denver doesn’t have a bona fide bell-cow back, but it has depth. The question remains if that will be good enough to give the Broncos a strong run game.
Detroit Lions: Interior Offensive Line
Kevin Zeitler predictably left the Detroit Lions this offseason, leaving an opening at right guard. What was less predictable was the late retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow.
Graham Glasgow stays in Detroit’s starting lineup along the interior, though he was the weak link of the line last year. Entering the fray are guard Christian Mahogany and center Tate Ratledge: two talented prospects coming out of college, but both head into 2025 unproven as NFL starters.
Green Bay Packers: Wide Receiver
The running joke is that the Green Bay Packers have an entire group of WR2s in their wide receiver room. The hope is that this changes with the selection of Matthew Golden in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
.@minakimes loves the Packers drafting WR Matthew Golden 🤩@danorlovsky7 believes the addition of Golden makes the Packers the “deepest WR group in the NFL.” pic.twitter.com/pHP5ylP04x
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 25, 2025
Green Bay has good depth, but they still don’t have a true WR star in the mix. Between Golden, Jayden Reed, and Christian Watson, the hope is they’ll get a 1,000-yard receiver since Davante Adams’ last season with the team in 2021.
Houston Texans: Offensive Line
C.J. Stroud was the second-most sacked quarterback in the NFL in 2024, and the Houston Texans didn’t do much to improve their offensive line.
Projected starters Cam Robinson and Laken Tomlinson join the fray, but neither project to be major upgrades up front. After trading Laremy Tunsil to Washington, the Texans have an even bigger OL issue. The hope should be that second-round pick Aireontae Ersery breaks into the lineup and develops quickly.
Indianapolis Colts: Quarterback
Going into the 2025 season, the Indianapolis Colts face a QB battle between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones for their starting job.
Jones is coming off a brief stint as the Minnesota Vikings’ backup after the New York Giants ran him out of town. Richardson is just 23 years old but has struggled significantly with inaccuracy and injury issues. The Colts need one of them to live up to their potential if they are to make the playoffs this year.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Safety
Before they lost Andre Cisco in free agency this year, the Jacksonville Jaguars already had concerns at safety. After his departure, it’s arguably their biggest question mark on the roster.
Eric Murray steps into Cisco’s place in the starting lineup, and he doesn’t figure to be a massive upgrade, if one at all. He and Darnell Savage both disappointed in 2024. The Jaguars should hold out hope that Antonio Johnson or third-round rookie Caleb Ransaw can take over and prevent them from being one of the worst safety tandems in the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs: Offensive Tackle
The Chiefs did plenty to invest in offensive tackle this offseason. It just remains to be seen if their moves will pay off.
Kingsley Suamataia slides inside to left guard, with Jaylon Moore and Josh Simmons competing for the left tackle spot. There’s reason to be excited about both, but Moore was a backup in San Francisco, and Simmons is unproven in the NFL. With Jawaan Taylor still at right tackle, there’s no guarantee Kansas City will be better at tackle this year.
Las Vegas Raiders: Cornerback
Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones are no longer on the Las Vegas Raiders. Eric Stokes and Darien Porter figure to take their places in the starting secondary, but there’s no guarantee it’ll work right away.
Stokes struggled with injuries and inconsistency during his time in Green Bay. Porter had a tremendous 2024 with Iowa State, but he’s only been playing cornerback since 2022. There could be some bumps in the road for the duo, as physically gifted as they both are.
Los Angeles Chargers: Tight End
All things considered, the Los Angeles Chargers have done a good job of adding talent to the WR room the last two offseasons. That said, the tight end position arguably remains LA’s biggest question mark.
Both Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin had over 50 receptions last year, though neither averaged 10 yards per reception. The two are good rotational pieces, but the Chargers lack a true receiving threat. The hope should be that fifth-round pick Oronde Gadsden II eventually develops into that role, though it might not come right away.
Los Angeles Rams: Cornerback
The Los Angeles Rams retain the same starting cornerback trio they had in 2024. That’s good for continuity, but none of them were particularly great last year.
All three of Ahkello Witherspoon, Cobie Durant, and Darious Williams had pedestrian PFF grades last season. The Rams got good interception production from their safeties, but none of their cornerbacks had more than one pick all year.
Miami Dolphins: Cornerback
Jalen Ramsey’s trade situation currently remains one of the bigger ongoing storylines in the NFL. Assuming the Miami Dolphins part ways with Ramsey, it will put a questionable secondary into a deeper hole.
Kader Kohou is a solid nickelback, but the Dolphins are unproven at cornerback outside of him. Cam Smith, Storm Duck, and rookie Jason Marshall Jr. are all young players with talent, but none of them has proven yet to be capable NFL starters.
Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback
With just one pick in the top 100 selections of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Vikings didn’t have many chances to upgrade their roster. Cornerback was the position that arguably suffered the most from that.
Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin are no longer on the team, which makes way for Isaiah Rodgers, who was a backup in Philadelphia, and either Jeff Okudah or Mekhi Blackmon. Either way, Minnesota’s CB room is arguably its biggest question mark heading into 2025.
New England Patriots: Wide Receiver
After adding Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, and Mack Hollins this offseason, the New England Patriots certainly improved at wide receiver. It remains to be seen exactly how the target share will play out, though.
Hollins has totaled just 49 catches over the last two seasons, and Williams is a rookie. Diggs is an elite talent, but coming off a torn ACL and a controversial offseason. There’s hope that either Ja’Lynn Polk or Javon Baker breaks out in Year 2, but both were practically nonexistent as rookies.
New Orleans Saints: Edge Rusher
There’s talent rushing off the edge for the New Orleans Saints this season; the group just happens to have more questions than answers at this point.
No defensive end on the Saints had more than 5.5 sacks last year. Carl Granderson and Chase Young are a talented, yet inconsistent starting duo. Cameron Jordan remains on the team, but at 35 years old, his best days are behind him. Pressure will be heavy on Isaiah Foskey, New Orleans’ 2023 second-round pick, who has yet to tally an NFL sack.
New York Giants: Quarterback
The Giants were aggressive in adding talent to the quarterback room this offseason, signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency. They then traded up to draft Jaxson Dart near the end of Round 1, but it remains to be seen if this new group will be any good in 2025.
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: #Giants QB Jaxson Dart has impressed early, and it’s not hard to see coach Brian Daboll is a believer. pic.twitter.com/9MQz20qGTf
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 17, 2025
Wilson finds himself on his third NFL team in the last three years, his Hall of Fame-caliber prime behind him. Winston is an experienced veteran, but he threw 12 interceptions in just seven starts for Cleveland in 2024. Dart has the highest ceiling of the three, but he enters the league as a major work in progress.
New York Jets: Quarterback
After starting just six games in Pittsburgh last season, Justin Fields heads to the New York Jets as the undisputed starter for 2025. Is that something to be comfortable with?
Fields went 4-2 as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starter last year, and he showed flashes as a dual-threat playmaker in Chicago. But Pittsburgh didn’t bring him back, and Chicago sent him out of town.
The Jets figure to be a worse team than Pittsburgh was last year, as well. Fields’ talent is obvious, but he has yet to look like a consistent starting QB.
Philadelphia Eagles: WR3
As the defending Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles have arguably the best roster in the NFL. One question mark they have coming into the 2025 season is their third wide receiver slot.
The Eagles haven’t had a WR3 finish with over 400 receiving yards in a single season since 2017. The likes of Jahan Dotson, Ainias Smith, Terrace Marshall Jr., and Johnny Wilson put together an uninspiring group of receivers to pair with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers finally signed with the Steelers, though it’s coming off a season in which he went 5-12 as the Jets’ starting quarterback. Rodgers isn’t at his MVP level of play anymore, but he still came close to 4,000 passing yards in 2024.
The Steelers haven’t finished below the .500 mark in the 18 seasons Mike Tomlin has been their head coach. Does that change in 2025?
San Francisco 49ers: Interior Offensive Line
Aaron Banks departed for Green Bay this offseason, leaving a hole at guard for the San Francisco 49ers in 2025. They seem to have trust in Ben Bartch taking over, seeing as though they didn’t draft an offensive lineman until Round 7 this year. However, Bartch and center Jake Brendel have yet to solidify themselves as quality NFL starting offensive linemen.
Seattle Seahawks: Interior Offensive Line
Though Grey Zabel was a good addition for the Seattle Seahawks in the draft, their offensive line still has work to do.
Two of the Seahawks’ starting interior OL spots remain arguably the biggest question marks on the roster. They don’t have a strong, proven starting center or right guard yet. The hope is that Olu Oluwatimi and Christian Haynes will step into those respective roles and improve.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Linebacker
Lavonte David is still a good starting linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he took a slight step back in 2024. At 35 years old, he’s in the twilight of his career.
K.J. Britt left in free agency, opening a starting path for SirVocea Dennis to start in Year 3 of his NFL career. With the latter coming off a major injury, though, there’s no guarantee he’ll be an upgrade.
Tennessee Titans: Linebacker
The Tennessee Titans underwent a major facelift at linebacker, with their top five players in defensive snap count at the position all departing this offseason.
Former Broncos linebacker Cody Barton was one of Tennessee’s bigger signings, but outside of him, the Titans no longer have much proven talent at linebacker. Players like Otis Reese IV, Cedric Gray, and James Williams all figure to be in the rotation. However, those three players have only a combined six starts at the NFL level.
Washington Commanders: Running Back
Coming off a tremendous 2024 season, the Washington Commanders don’t have many needs going into 2025. Yet, arguably, their biggest question mark is running back.
Brian Robinson Jr. has been Washington’s primary back the last three years, but he’s yet to top 800 rushing yards in a single season. Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols are merely depth at this stage, too. Keep an eye on seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt as a potential sleeper.