With free agency in the rearview and the NFL Draft quickly approaching, it’s time to start looking ahead to the 2025 NFL season. And what better way to do that than with updated power rankings? A lot will 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.
These rankings combine PFSN’s PR+ metric from last season with adjustments based on free agency moves and players potentially returning from injury. They serve as a rough measure of where teams currently rank relative to one another.
1) Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson was the No. 1-ranked quarterback in PFSN’s QB+ metric last season, and the Baltimore Ravens posted the second-best offense in 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 in PFSN’s Defense+ looks more like it did from Week 11 on, when Baltimore led the NFL in points per game allowed.
The Ravens are once again well-stocked with draft picks as well, entering with 11 total picks. That’s tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the most of any team and will afford Eric DeCosta the opportunity to keep Baltimore’s contention window wide open for the foreseeable future.
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 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 them to finally usurp the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC. However, this team has all the ingredients needed to cook up the first Super Bowl champion 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 Packers, both of whom had MVP quarterbacks.
Detroit hasn’t had a chance to add much, but should still enter the 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, which does leave a hole that could be addressed via the draft.
Defensively, the Lions recovered nicely from Carlton Davis’ departure by signing D.J. Reed. The Lions were 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, as it’s unclear how the departures of coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn will impact the team next season.
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, and James Bradberry among those to walk while C.J. Gardner-Johnson also left via trade.
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 QB last year, and although he welcomed 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, 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, 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 they 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 to fall for the Chiefs this offseason, while they did maintain continuity by keeping Trey Smith, Hollywood Brown, and Nick Bolton.
The Chiefs have four picks in the top-100, with a premium third-round pick from the Tennessee Titans thanks to the L’Jarius Sneed trade. Brett Veach does need a strong draft class soon to replenish an aging roster, but Kansas City still has as high a floor as any franchise.
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. According to Offense+, the Commanders already had the sixth-best offense in the league last season and have as high a ceiling as any offense for 2025.
That should allow Adam Peters to focus his efforts on improving the 17th-ranked defense in the draft. 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). 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 only a matter of time before he leads 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 alongside Puka Nacua.
The Rams ranked 11th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric last year despite Stafford finishing 22nd among quarterbacks in QB+. A more typical season from Stafford could vault Los Angeles into the top-five range.
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 from 2024 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.
There are more questions on defense, which finished 16th but feasted on some poor competition in the second half of the season. Adding front-seven talent would be an enormous help. The pass rush ranked 24th in sack rate when not blitzing, while 35-year-old Lavonte Davis is back on a one-year deal 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 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 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.
The Packers were quiet in free agency. Nate Hobbs and Aaron Banks should start, but the Packers didn’t spend exorbitantly on either (particularly given the structure of Banks’ contract). That leaves Green Bay looking to the draft for impact talent, where they could use a high-level pass catcher and cornerback to replace Jaire Alexander (who will presumably not return in 2025).
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, with the rookie quarterback 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 are widely expected to draft one of the top running backs to further reinforce Nix’s supporting cast.
PFSN’s No. 1 defense from last year returns mostly intact, and they added some thump to the unit by signing former 49ers Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga. Along with the return of coordinator Vance Joseph, the defense has a high level of continuity that should enable them to repeat their 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 the Bengals 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 Defense+ metric. The Bengals haven’t made significant additions to the unit, with run-stuffing nose tackle Tedarrell Slaton being the most notable signing. Trey Hendrickson’s future with the franchise remains an uncertainty, as the 2024 sack leader is still seeking a new contract or trade.
Still, the Bengals surprised many by keeping Tee Higgins, giving them an elite offensive foundation of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Higgins. That trio alone virtually guarantees the Bengals will contend, but whether they can challenge the AFC’s elite depends on whether they can draft and develop impact defenders.
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, though losing Poona Ford and Joey Bosa may prevent another top-five finish.
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. Free agent signings Najee Harris and Mekhi Becton should enable Jim Harbaugh to play a more effective version of the smashmouth style he prefers.
The Chargers struck gold with their first two draft picks last year, adding a pair of offensive pillars in Joe Alt and Ladd McConkey. Now, they could use another home run pick with a perimeter receiver, which would provide a more well-rounded receiving corps and maximize Herbert’s 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 Darnold’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, where only left guard is a mild question mark in terms of who will start (though Blake Brandel could easily get the opportunity). If McCarthy can even replicate Darnold’s performance from 2024, the Vikings should be in a position to improve from last year’s 13th-place finish in Offense+.
The defense has more questions despite finishing third. Brian Flores’ unit had a ton of defensive back free agents, and Camryn Bynum, Stephon Gilmore, and Shaquill Griffin either departed or remain unsigned. Minnesota has a league-low four draft picks, which could force Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s hand in trading down from the 24th overall pick.
14) Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears were sexy preseason sleepers in 2024, but fell flat amid a franchise-record 10-game losing streak. However, after an aggressive offseason, the Bears once again look primed to contend 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 Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson while signing Drew Dalman. Coupled with defensive additions Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo, the Bears should be significantly stronger in the trenches than they were last season.
Of course, their biggest addition could be new head coach Ben Johnson, who led three straight elite offenses in Detroit. Johnson is one of the most hyped first-time coaches in recent memory. While that guarantees nothing, his arrival gives 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.
The Cardinals quietly fielded an elite offense as well, ranking fifth in Offense+. Kyler Murray finished 16th in QB+, but could improve if Marvin Harrison Jr. takes a step forward in his sophomore year. Adding a true X receiver in the draft could really round out the passing game and create a dangerous trio of pass catchers alongside Harrison and Trey McBride.
With the San Francisco 49ers potentially taking a step back, the door is open for the Cardinals to win their first division title since 2015. Arizona appeared primed to do so after a 6-4 start, only to fall apart with a 2-5 finish. This year’s team looks better equipped to run through the finish line, particularly with 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 Deebo Samuel Sr., Javon Hargrave, Charvarius Ward, Dre Greenlaw, or Talanoa Hufanga (among many others), the Niners won’t look quite the same in 2025.
Clearing the books does give the 49ers a chance to build back up around their new foundational pieces. Chief among those will be Brock Purdy, whose expected extension is one of the team’s last big dominoes to fall. That would also enable John Lynch to focus on other impending free agents he may want to retain, such as George Kittle and Jauan Jennings.
In the meantime, the Niners need a big draft to offset a lot of their losses if they hope to retake the NFC West from the Rams and the improving Cardinals. The defense has notable holes at all three levels, so multiple rookies should have a chance to contribute to last year’s 26th-ranked unit.
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 (which ranked 28th overall), reflecting the impact of those setbacks.
The biggest issue was the team’s 31st-ranked offensive line. That unit still comes with lots of questions after Houston traded away left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The Texans did get a bounty of draft picks from Washington in return, and will likely pick multiple offensive linemen in hopes of better protecting Stroud.
Still, this team should have a relatively high floor between their weak division and elite defense. DeMeco Ryans’ unit finished seventh overall last season and could be even better with every starter returning except safety Eric Murray (and trade acquisition C.J. 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 a lot of 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 Falcons’ 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. After shockingly passing on a pass rusher to take Penix last year, the Falcons may need to make up for that with a defense-heavy draft (albeit with only five total picks).
Six of the Falcons’ nine losses came by a single score in 2024, as this team 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, which has left this team with a ton of holes entering the draft. The Dolphins could conceivably target defensive tackle, offensive tackle, guard, or cornerback as their top need. That’s the consequence of a veteran roster 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, and Tagovailoa’s performance was shaky against winning teams for the most part anyway in 2024. A more reliable run game after Miami ranked 28th in yards per carry would help take the pressure off of Tagovailoa.
The top-end talent is still there, leading many to project a playoffs-or-bust mandate for the upcoming season. In reality, though, hitting in the draft to create a more sustainable and versatile roster moving forward would be the biggest win for the Dolphins in 2025.
20) Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season unraveled after Dak Prescott’s injury, but even when healthy, this team 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 are still present after another quiet free agency period for the Cowboys. Dallas opted to add around the margins in free agency with the likes of Javonte Williams and Dante Fowler Jr., both of whom will likely play supporting roles at best. Meanwhile, Zack Martin’s retirement leaves a huge void at right guard, while Jourdan Lewis and Demarcus Lawrence were also important defections.
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 another strong class could enable them to return to playoff contention with better health in 2025. For now, though, the roster appears overly reliant on its stars and could fall victim to the same depth concerns as the 2024 team.
21) 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. As a result, the Raiders have a higher offensive floor than last year’s unit, which ranked 29th amid shoddy quarterback play.
The defense has improved down the stretch two years in a row, but ranked in the bottom half of the league due to poor starts. The Raiders will need to make some major investments in the secondary to prevent that from happening again, as losing Tre’von Moehrig and Jack Jones leaves Vegas with very little defensive back talent.
Last season, Las Vegas was the only AFC team that failed to win a single divisional game. The Raiders are better than last year’s dysfunctional team, but in arguably the most difficult division in the league, climbing out of the basement will be no easy feat.
22) New York Jets
The New York Jets cut bait on the Aaron Rodgers era, moving on from Rodgers and Davante Adams and turning the offense over to Justin Fields. A Fields-Breece Hall-led rushing attack should be fearsome, but it’s unclear if that will offset likely regression in the passing game. For all the off-field dysfunction, Rodgers did finish with a 71.2 QB+ grade, a mark Fields only eclipsed once in his career (76.6 in 2022).
New York does have a lot of talent on defense, and the hiring of Aaron Glenn should lead to an aggressive unit that employs lots of man coverage and extra pass rushers. That’s a different philosophy than what Robert Saleh brought to the table, but the Jets certainly have the talent to improve from last year’s 15th-place finish in Defense+.
The Rodgers-led Jets were 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, as Glenn will be the latest Jets coach hoping to undo the foibles of the prior regime and establish a sustainable contender.
23) Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are undergoing as much turnover as nearly any team this offseason. After trading away Geno Smith and DK Metcalf (along with a host of veteran defensive releases), the Seahawks are betting big on Sam Darnold and Mike Macdonald to keep a younger team in contention.
Seattle acquired Cooper Kupp as a running mate for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, the team’s biggest issue from last year remains: the Seahawks’ 30th-ranked offensive line, which has issues at all three interior spots (or at least both guard spots) as well as a pair of tackles entering contract years.
The Seahawks did take a big step forward on defense last year, finishing sixth in PFSN’s Defense+ metric. 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 without a strong draft to bolster the new-look offense, Seattle will have a tough time improving on last year’s 10-7 record.
24) 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.
Of course, the most important factor for the franchise is Drake Maye’s development following a promising rookie season. The 26th-ranked offense from 2024 still needs plenty of work, despite some veteran offensive line additions (Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury) and the signing of Stefon Diggs. Left tackle remains the biggest hole, and the Patriots have the misfortune of a high draft pick in a year where no consensus franchise left tackle prospect is available.
Still, with Mike Vrabel around as head coach, this should be a more competitive team than the one that’s gone 8-26 over the last two seasons. Providing Maye with more support (particularly from the 32nd-ranked offensive line) should be the team’s first and only goal of the draft.
25) Pittsburgh Steelers
Without clarity at quarterback, the Steelers are one of the hardest teams to evaluate. On one hand, the DK Metcalf-George Pickens duo gives the passing game more upside than its had since 2018, the final year of the Antonio Brown-JuJu Smith-Schuster partnership. However, the interminable Aaron Rodgers dance has left the 2025 starting quarterback spot uncertain, leaving open the possibility that the Steelers will draft a rookie passer early.
That move would be incongruous with the rest of the roster, though. Like it or not, the Steelers are committed to remaining a competitive playoff-level team every year, even if their ceiling is firmly below that of the AFC’s elite. The defense slipped to 12th in 2024, and aging stalwarts like Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt could use more support for the unit to reclaim its former elite status.
For now, we’re taking a cautious approach with the Steelers, fearing their floor rather than dreaming about their ceiling. This ranking presumes Mason Rudolph or a rookie like Jaxson Dart is starting in Week 1. Adding Rodgers wouldn’t make Pittsburgh a high-level contender, but it would be enough to vault them into the teens as a fringe playoff team yet again.
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.
However, Chris Ballard will need a huge draft to facilitate Richardson’s success. The Colts lost offensive line starters Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency. They do have some young options to plug in with Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves, respectively, but both were just part-time starters as rookies. Adding an impact tight end like Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland in the first round would be a nice boost as well.
Defensively, a once-solid unit has begun to trend 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 stagnant under Gus Bradley, and it helps that Ballard finally spent in free agency via the Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum signings.
27) Carolina Panthers
This ranking might feel low after the Carolina 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.
Bryce Young’s progress is the biggest reason for hope. The Panthers understandably opted to focus on their historically abysmal defense in free agency. However, if Young’s development is the most important factor for the franchise, they would be wise to invest in another pass catcher for him in the draft (preferably one who can create after the catch).
The main factor keeping Carolina in the bottom 10 is their defense, which last season graded out as the worst since the 2020 Lions. The Panthers missed out on most of the marquee free agents, though Tre’von Moehrig should stabilize a safety position that has been a revolving door for years. Adding an impact pass rusher and more secondary talent are also key tasks on the Panthers’ draft checklist.
28) Jacksonville Jaguars
The Liam Coen hiring should inspire some optimism after his work with Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. Trevor Lawrence is another former No. 1 overall pick rapidly arriving at the same crossroads. As much promise as he showed in 2022, that year remains the only one in his four-year career in which Lawrence has averaged positive EPA per dropback.
After losing Evan Engram and Christian Kirk, Jacksonville’s passing game seems somewhat one-dimensional, though. Both Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown are better suited as vertical threats, leaving the team in need of a possession receiver. That could come via a slot receiver or tight end, as both represent holes on the depth chart.
Defensively, the Jaguars have talent, but still had the second-worst unit ahead of only the Panthers in 2024. Recent draft whispers have suggested Jacksonville might not go chalk and pick defensive tackle Mason Graham at fifth overall. If that’s the case, the Jags do need secondary and defensive tackle additions to this unit at some point in the draft.
29) 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, though they have one more chance to make good after a surprise playoff run in 2022.
Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston should provide more competent quarterback play compared to Daniel Jones and friends. However, the bigger issue is the offensive line, which ranked 27th by PFSN’s metrics in 2024. Every spot besides Andrew Thomas at left tackle looks like a weakness, leaving the Giants as one of the likeliest teams to draft multiple offensive linemen this year.
The defense is in better shape thanks to one of the highest sack rates in the NFL. The Giants converted 22.5% of their pressures into sacks, the fourth-highest rate last season. The secondary should also be better after Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo arrived in free agency. While that might make New York more competitive, it won’t lead to more wins without vastly improved play on offense.
30) Tennessee Titans
The Titans are back in a rough patch, winning nine games over the last two seasons combined after averaging nine wins per season from 2016-2022. However, hope is coming shortly via Miami quarterback Cam Ward, who is the presumptive first overall pick.
Ward will arrive in a shaky offense, but one that at least has an improved offensive line. The 2024 Titans ranked 28th in PFSN’s OL+ metric, but signed starters Dan Moore Jr. and Kevin Zeitler in free agency. The team still badly needs to add a receiver for Ward to target beyond Calvin Ridley, but that can be a Day 2 and Day 3 problem.
The defense still needs a lot of work after last year’s veteran-laden unit flopped. Tennessee declined as the year went on, seemingly cracking after the turnover-prone offense repeatedly put the defense in bad spots. There’s enough talent to finish higher than last year’s 22nd-place ranking, but some of that will depend on Ward and the offense looking competent.
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. New Orleans continued to work around its mortgaged cap situation to add talent this offseason, but a major pre-draft curveball could nullify those efforts.
If Derek Carr’s shoulder forces him to miss the entire 2025 season, this team will be non-competitive without a quarterback addition. New Orleans went 0-7 in Carr’s absence last year, averaging 13.3 points per game with a -17.6 PPG differential. Some of that was due to poor skill position health as well, but there’s no reason to believe Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener are NFL-level quarterbacks.
The Saints could entertain drafting Shedeur Sanders or signing Aaron Rodgers instead. The former would make for an intriguing pivot into a long-overdue rebuild. Sanders’ short-area accuracy could make for an interesting pairing with new head coach Kellen Moore, particularly if Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed can stay healthy. Apart from that, though, the Saints once again look like a team stuck in NFL purgatory.
32) Cleveland Browns
Almost nothing went right for Cleveland in 2024, and there’s little reason to believe 2025 will be much better with the current quarterback situation. The Browns were the worst offense of 2024 by virtually any metric (including Offense+). Even if Cleveland can finagle a Kirk Cousins trade with Atlanta, Cousins’ ineffective 2024 season doesn’t guarantee he’ll represent a meaningful upgrade over the Kenny Pickett-Joe Flacco duo.
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. The Browns led the NFL in pressure rate last year largely due to Garrett’s presence, and Cleveland has ranked 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. If Cleveland doesn’t draft a quarterback this year, they might very well have another crack at picking at the top of the draft come 2026.
