| Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com has a best case/worst case exercise for all 32 teams here. We put some of them below. |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOCody Benjamin with his range of possibilities for the Bears: Best-case scenario: Ben Johnson meshes with Caleb Williams, unlocking the quarterback’s gunslinging gifts while keeping him in check behind a much-improved front, and Chicago sneaks into the playoffs for the first time in five years. Worst-case scenario: No amount of veteran blockers and weapons can keep Williams on schedule against a tough schedule; the former No. 1 pick proves a dangerous caretaker of both the ball and his body as the Bears finish last again. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASCody Benjamin on the range of options for the Cowboys this season: Best-case scenario: Jerry Jones’ offensive investments (i.e. George Pickens, Tyler Booker) reinvigorate Dak Prescott, and new coach Brian Schottenheimer is a locker-room hit, launching Dallas to its first playoff win in three years. Worst-case scenario: Schottenheimer’s familiar messaging rings hollow, and Prescott leans into his worst instincts while trying to appease the volatile Pickens, forcing the ball as the always-dramatic Cowboys miss the postseason entirely. |
| PHILADELPHIADoes Cody Benjamin think the Eagles could miss the playoffs even in a worst case scenario? Best-case scenario: The all-world offense remains a force, and Vic Fangio’s defense gets even scarier with the growth of young stalwarts like Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, helping the Philly machine wins its third title of the last nine years. Worst-case scenario: Saquon Barkley breaks down after leading the 2024 charge, and their offensive leaders get chippy while trying to compensate under a new coordinator, resulting in a one-and-done post-Super Bowl hangover. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| CAROLINAAs Cody Benjamin sees it, 9-8 is the best the Panthers can hope for in 2025: Best-case scenario: Bryce Young parlays his confident 2024 finish into an even heavier workload under center, leaning on a deep rushing game and strengthened defensive front to eke out a winning record and hang around the wild-card picture. Worst-case scenario: Young goes backward, once again saddled with unproven weapons out wide, including two young starters in Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan, and Carolina is forced to consider a bigger-picture pivot. |
| NEW ORLEANSWe wondered what Cody Benjamin might think a “best case” scenario looks like for the Saints. Best-case scenario: Rookie Tyler Shough’s age and college experience, paired with veteran help (i.e. Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave), leads to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and a surprise playoff bid under new coach Kellen Moore. Worst-case scenario: Moore can’t find a reliable short- or long-term project under center between Shough, Spencer Rattler, etc., and New Orleans is once again stuck with aging cornerstones as it straddles the line of mediocrity. |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSCody Benjamin of CBSSports.com on the possible highs and lows for the Rams: Best-case scenario: Davante Adams’ team-up with Puka Nacua gives Matthew Stafford his best tandem in years, and the young Jared Verse-led defense helps Sean McVay reach another Super Bowl — his first since 2021’s triumphant finale. Worst-case scenario: Stafford’s age (37) catches up to him as he struggles to stay upright, forcing the Rams to lean on Jimmy Garoppolo for an extended time. The defensive secondary also proves too vulnerable to produce a playoff berth. |
| SAN FRANCISCOTE GEORGE KITTLE is a supporter of QB BROCK PURDY’s big contract. Eva Geltheim of SI.com: The San Francisco 49ers signed quarterback Brock Purdy to a $265 million extension last month, but not everyone felt Purdy was worth the contract that will now pay him $53 million per year. The 49ers gave Purdy the seventh-largest contract in the league and around the going rate for quarterbacks, but there were some that felt this was too much for him. There are a number of reasons some don’t feel that Purdy merits this high of a deal. He doesn’t necessarily have the arm talent of a Josh Allen or Matthew Stafford, or the running ability like Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts. Though Purdy has seen success with San Francisco, he has benefitted from an All-Pro supporting cast and an offensive mastermind in head coach Kyle Shanahan. Additionally, Purdy and the 49ers are coming off a down year in which they went 6-11. 49ers tight end George Kittle refuted the narrative that Purdy isn’t worth his new extension, citing Purdy’s winning record with the 49ers. Kittle also debunked the idea that Purdy is simply a “checkdown merchant.” “I would say, I don’t know what his winning percentage is, but when you win a lot of games and then two years you go to the NFC championship or better, I think that’s decent,” Kittle said during a recent appearance on the Rich Eisen Show. “One of my favorite things about Purdy is that everyone calls him the checkdown merchant, and then the last two years he’s had the least amount of checkdowns in the NFL as a starting quarterback. So I think he’s doing pretty well.” The stats support Kittle’s points. The 49ers are 23-14 in regular season games Purdy that starts. As far as the checkdown label, Purdy has ranked top-three in yards per attempt and No. 1 in completed air yards per pass attempt over each of the last two seasons. In 2024, Next Gen Stats ranked Purdy top-10 in aggressiveness percentage, which finds how often quarterbacks throw into tight windows. Purdy does not do this alone of course. Shanahan is great at setting up yards after the catch and scheming pass-catchers open on down the field. Purdy has had a great stable of receivers to throw to over his three years with San Francisco. Still, Purdy did show a greater ability to extend the play or make off-schedule plays in 2024. He wasn’t perfect, but was also not just a product of the scheme on every single play. Ultimately, outside opinions on Purdy don’t matter much. From the front office to the coaching staff, current team, and even 49ers legends like Jerry Rice and Joe Montana, the entire organization has been consistent in their belief that Purdy is their quarterback for the long haul. He might not have the ceiling of the best quarterbacks in the league, but he is more than capable of helping them win. So here are the NFL’s top 10 quarterbacks in terms of contract value per year: QB TEAM APY Dak Prescott Cowboys $60M Josh Allen Bills $55M Joe Burrow Bengals $55M Trevor Lawrence Jaguars $55M Jordan Love Packers $55M Tua Tagovailoa Dolphins $53.1M Jared Goff Lions $53M Brock Purdy 49ers $53M Justin Herbert Chargers $52.5M Lamar Jackson Ravens $52M There are probably others who you like better than some on this list – QB PATRICK MAHOMES is obvious, maybe QB BAKER MAYFIELD of the Bucs fits your fancy. JALEN HURTS sits at 11 at $51 mil. But taking these 10, ALLEN, BURROW, JACKSON would go off the board first in a draft for 2025. Then after that, your order could very with HERBERT probably next and the DB would take GOFF. But then – LOVE, PRESCOTT, TAGOVAILOA, LAWRENCE and PURDY. What order would you have them in? Tough calls, although we have Lawrence (before Liam Cohen gets hold of him) at 10. |
| SEATTLECody Benjamin on the range of possibilities for the Seahawks: Best-case scenario: They get the best of both worlds: Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp make enough splash plays to get their short-term offense into the playoffs, while Jalen Milroe, Grey Zabel and their rookie class promise future stardom. Worst-case scenario: Darnold quickly flames out, his more skittish tendencies coming to light behind a work-in-progress front, and coach Mike Macdonald can’t squeeze enough out of his patchwork pass rush to sniff 2024’s 10-7 finish. |
| AFC WEST |
| KANSAS CITYThe State of Missouri has an “aide” package to keep the Chiefs from bolting to Kansas or elsewhere passed, signed and ready to go. The AP: Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a legislative package on Saturday, approved by Missouri lawmakers earlier in the week, that includes hundreds of millions of dollars of financial aid intended to persuade the Chiefs and Royals to remain in the state. Kehoe, a Republican, had called lawmakers into a special session, and they approved of the package Wednesday. The Chiefs and Royals currently play at the Truman Sports Complex on the east side of Kansas City, where Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium share parking facilities. But their leases with Jackson County, Missouri, expire in January 2031, and the two franchises have been trying to decide the best route forward for the past several years. Last year, Jackson County voters defeated a sales tax extension that would have helped finance an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead Stadium — the home of the Chiefs — and a $2 billion ballpark district for the Royals in downtown Kansas City. The slow movement by those on the Missouri side of the state line in supporting the franchises prompted lawmakers in Kansas to authorize bonds for up to 70% of the cost of new stadiums in their state. The Royals have bought a mortgage for property in Kansas, though the team also has continued to pursue other possible sites in Missouri. The offer from Kansas is scheduled to expire June 30, and both teams have indicated they will hope to have a plan formulated by then. Missouri’s legislation authorizes bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments. If they choose to stay in Missouri, the Chiefs have floated plans for a $1.15 billion renovation of Arrowhead Stadium. The Royals have insisted all along that they intend to build a replacement for Kauffman Stadium. The stadium subsidies already were a top concern in Missouri when a deadly tornado struck St. Louis on May 16, causing an estimated $1.6 billion of damage a day after lawmakers had wrapped up work in their annual regular session. Disaster relief tied to stadium funding had widespread support. On Wednesday, Democratic state Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins described to lawmakers how she had witnessed the tornado rip the roof off her house and damage her St. Louis neighborhood. “Homes are crumbled and leveled,” Collins said, adding: “It hurts me to my core to see the families that have worked so hard, the businesses that have worked so hard, to see them ripped apart.” The Chiefs, in a statement to The Associated Press, described the legislative vote this week as a “significant step forward” that enables the team to continue exploring options to remain in Missouri. The Royals described the legislation as “a very important piece of our decision-making process” but made no site-specific commitment. “Our focus remains the same: to prioritize the best interests of our team, fans, partners and regional community as we pursue the next generational home for the Kansas City Royals,” the team said in a statement to the AP.– – -Cody Benjamin’s worst case scenario for the Chiefs is still much better than the one the DB could dream up. Best-case scenario: Patrick Mahomes’ O-line recovers from an ugly Super Bowl, a freshened-up pass catching corps led by Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice reignites the deep attack, and the dynasty captures yet another championship. Worst-case scenario: The line is reworked but no less unstable, forcing Mahomes to scramble more than he’d like, and Andy Reid’s scheming can’t undo lingering injuries. They fail to make the Super Bowl for the first time in four years. The DB would say: Worst-case scenario: The Broncos and Chargers both continue their improvement with outstanding QB play and coaching, while the Chiefs start losing the close games they won last year. Patrick Mahomes decline, whether from his play or a less-than-stellar supporting cast, continues – and he misses a half dozen games with an injury. The 9-8 Chiefs don’t make the playoffs and just edge out the Raiders for third in the NFC West. Not saying its going to happen. But we think it is in the realm of possibility. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CINCINNATICody Benjamin on the Bengals: Best-case scenario: Joe Burrow keeps slinging it to Ja’Marr Chase, this time behind an even more settled-in front, and gets real defensive support from Al Golden’s direction, to surge all the way to their second Super Bowl in five years. Worst-case scenario: One of Cincinnati’s “Big Three” — Burrow, Chase, Tee Higgins — misses extended time yet again, and Golden’s touch can’t offset an overmatched pass rush, as the Bengals play second fiddle to the Ravens. |
| CLEVELANDThe Browns love all four of their quarterbacks so much, they might not even put one on the practice squad. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: The quarterback-challenged Browns have a different kind of challenge at the quarterback position. They have too many. At a time when many outsiders presume they won’t take Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders to training camp, the team is putting out the word that it will strongly consider carrying four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that there’s a chance they’ll enter — and exit — the 2025 regular season without moving on from any of them. “Thanks in part to low base salaries and cap numbers for all of them, they can afford to keep all four from a financial standpoint, and it also makes sense from a roster building standpoint,” Cabot writes. It’s definitely doable from a cap standpoint. The quartet of QBs has a combined cap number of $7.6 million, roughly one-fifth of Deshaun Watson’s $35.971 million cap charge for 2025 (next year, Watson’s cap number spikes to more than $80 million). But the impact of having four quarterbacks on the active roster shouldn’t be minimized. Although Cabot downplays (surely because the Browns have downplayed to her) having four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster by saying “the Browns can find a way to keep all four QBs by borrowing a spot from another position, even if it’s just until the trade deadline,” giving up a roster spot along the offensive line or defensive line or running back room or some other position is a pretty big deal — especially as players suffer short-term injuries that make them unavailable on a given Sunday. Few if any teams ever have four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Most stick with two. It’s entirely possible that the Browns are putting out the notion that they plan to take all four quarterbacks to training camp in order to create some/any trade leverage. If no one believes they’ll keep quarterbacks in the fold for camp (one of them surely won’t get the reps he needs to compete), no one will be willing to offer anything for the odd man out (we continue to think that, if there is one, it’s Pickett). If the Browns do indeed bring all four to camp, the question of whether they’ll keep four will linger through the deadline for cutting the rosters to 53 and until the trade deadline. If the Browns don’t get an acceptable offer for Pickett before it’s time to cut the roster from 90 to 53, one potential short-term approach could be to cut Flacco, sign him to the practice squad, and bring him up to the active roster every week. It’s the 54-man roster trick, where a vested veteran who doesn’t have to pass through waivers (until the trade deadline) plays along with the approach. Regardless, the Browns need a plan for the kind of quarterback complication they didn’t expect when they committed $230 million to Watson. With Watson injured (again), the question isn’t whether they have a replacement. The question is whether they have too many. At least they employ a Chief Strategy Officer. Even if, more often than not, that position seems to be cover for the whims of ownership. |
| PITTSBURGHWith QB AARON RODGERS on board, what does Cody Benjamin see as the best and worse case scenarios for the Steelers: Best-case scenario: The legendary mishmash of Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin proves magically gritty, with A-Rod’s gravitas, DK Metcalf’s playmaking and Tomlin’s defense resulting in Pittsburgh’s first playoff win in nine years. Worst-case scenario: Rodgers can’t move going on 42, requiring relief under center, and the reality-TV headlines that lately accompany both he and the organization exacerbate another dismal Steelers finish, this time without playoffs. |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOThe Bills still make the playoffs in Cody Benjamin’s “worst case” scenario: Best-case scenario: Josh Allen’s Superman act is even better supported by the growth of youngsters like James Cook, Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid, and Buffalo finally exorcises playoff demons to reach — and win — the Super Bowl. Worst-case scenario: The absence of a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver plagues Allen as he tries to carry Buffalo’s offense, and Sean McDermott’s shuffled secondary can’t hold up as the Bills go one-and-done for the first time since 2019. |
| NEW ENGLANDThe DB actually thinks the Patriots could have a pretty high best case scenario (say, 11-6, Wild Card win). What does Cody Benjamin think? Best-case scenario: Drake Maye confirms himself as the face of the franchise with Stefon Diggs as a safety valve, and Mike Vrabel’s touch maximizes a reloaded defense, vaulting the Pats all the way back into the playoffs. Worst-case scenario: Maye’s big-play upside is overshadowed by loose ball control alongside a still-unreliable supporting cast, and Vrabel is once again set into a cycle of overseeing scrappy if totally unspectacular wild-card hopefuls. |
| NEW YORK JETSCB SAUCE GARDNER likes the new Jets regime and aspires to land a new deal. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com: New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner wants to stick around for the long term, hoping he can be a catalyst for a dramatic turnaround. It sounds like that wish will come to fruition. The two sides are engaged in contract discussions, according to Gardner. “My main focus has been being the best football player I can be, but my team and the Jets have been talking and, you know, I feel pretty good about how the talks have been going,” he said Thursday at the conclusion of the team’s mandatory minicamp. Gardner, 24, a two-time All-Pro and the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, said it was important for him to be at minicamp. “Man, I just wanted to show my teammates, show my coaches how much I’m bought into this now,” he said. “I want to win. I want to change the organization. I want to be a part of changing the organization.” Gardner’s fifth-year option was exercised in May, so he has two years remaining on his rookie contract. The Jets never have extended a former first-round pick after three seasons, but new general manager Darren Mougey has talked about locking up their top young players. The team is also in talks with fourth-year wide receiver Garrett Wilson, another 2022 first-round choice. Houston Texans star Derek Stingley Jr., drafted No. 3 in 2022 (one spot ahead of Gardner), raised the ceiling for corners earlier this offseason with a three-year, $90 million extension. Gardner declined to say whether he wants to surpass Stingley as the highest-paid corner. “I don’t really want to get into the numbers,” he said. In Gardner’s first three seasons, the Jets compiled a 19-32 record, which led to an organizational reboot. Gardner praised Mougey and new coach Aaron Glenn, himself a former corner who played with the Jets from 1994 to 2001. “I feel like they’re doing a great job and changing the culture for sure,” Gardner said. Gardner and Wilson were part of a blockbuster 2022 draft class, which also included defensive end Jermaine Johnson (first round) and running back Breece Hall (second round). Johnson missed 15 games last season with a torn Achilles, but his fifth-year option was exercised. Hall is entering the final year of his contract. The Jets expect a big year out of Gardner. “He’s one of the top corners in the league, but that consistency of being that dominant player each and every week, that’s what we’re looking for,” defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. “That’s been his challenge this offseason.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| ANTONIO BROWNFormer WR Antonio Brown has been on the lam from Florida police for four or five days. This from Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com on June 12: Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown faces a charge of attempted murder with a firearm, according to a warrant reviewed by several media outlets. The charge is based on a shooting Brown was allegedly involved in during a celebrity boxing event in Miami last month. Brown was detained by police after gunshots were fired at the boxing event, which was hosted by online streamer Adin Ross. Brown was seen fighting with several people on a video posted to social media, and gunshots could clearly be heard after the altercation. Police released Brown after a few hours, and he posted an explanation to social media the following day. “I was jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me,” he wrote on his X account. “Contrary to some video circulating, Police temporarily detained me until they received my side of the story and then released me. I WENT HOME THAT NIGHT AND WAS NOT ARRESTED. I will be talking to my legal council and attorneys on pressing charges on the individuals that jumped me.” According to the warrant, witnesses told police officers that Brown was the shooter, and two shell casings were found at the scene. Brown was unarmed at the time he was detained, but the man he allegedly punched during the altercation told police that Brown “began to run toward him with a firearm” after the fight had already been broken up and shot at him twice. The man identified Brown on surveillance footage and also said he has known him since 2022. When asked Friday about the arrest warrant, a spokesperson for the Miami Police Department declined to comment, citing an “open investigation.” The spokesperson told ESPN that Brown has not turned himself in or been arrested. According to reports, the warrant also instructs Brown to post a $10,000 bond and remain on house arrest until trial. This is the latest in a string of on- and off-field incidents involving Brown after the abrupt conclusion of his NFL career. Once seemingly on a fast track to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the four-time All-Pro was traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019 to the Raiders after nine seasons with the team. However, Brown was released by the Raiders before playing a game; he injured his feet by entering a cryotherapy chamber barefoot, refused to wear his issued helmet and posted a recorded voicemail from then-coach Jon Gruden online. Brown was picked up by the New England Patriots and played one game before he was released again, this time after a former trainer filed a lawsuit against him alleging sexual assault. In June 2020, he pleaded no contest to a felony burglary with battery charge and two lesser misdemeanor charges related to an incident with a moving truck company outside his home. He served no jail time but received two years of probation and 100 hours of community service as part of the plea. Brown played two seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, signing with them in October 2020 and winning his first Super Bowl. However, he walked off the field in the middle of a game in 2021, effectively ending his career in Tampa and the NFL. |
| PARK AVENUE STATUS QUOBrian Rolapp, presumably second in the NFL hierarchy, departed last week for the PGA TOUR. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com on the new landscape under The Commish. With one of the top executives at 345 Park Avenue vacating his office, his office won’t be filled. Well, someone will probably move in. But Brian Rolapp’s title will remain vacant. Per multiple reports, Commissioner Roger Goodell will not replace Rolapp, who had served since 2014 as chief media and business officer for the NFL. He will become the CEO of the PGA Tour. As explained by Brian Fischer of Sports Business Journal, executive V.P. Hans Schroeder likely will continue in his role as the top remaining media executive, while also possibly taking on more duties. Chief revenue officer Renie Anderson, who has overseen sponsorship/consumer products since 2019 and who reported to Rolapp, “appears likely” to be in line to report directly to Goodell, Fischer reports. Rolapp, we’re told, was indeed regarded as a potential successor to Goodell. With Goodell showing no signs of moving on and Rolapp now 52, it apparently was time for him to do his own thing. Whether he’ll be a candidate when Goodell eventually steps down remains to be seen. Who is this Renie Anderson? She went to Ole Miss and has been in her current role since 2019 after eight previous years in other Vice President roles. Ben Fisher of Sports Business Journal with more: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will distribute departed Chief Media & Business Officer Brian Rolapp’s portfolio to other senior execs and not replace him with a single person, sources said. Rolapp, who left to become CEO of the PGA Tour after 22 years with the league, oversaw the NFL’s media rights licensing, owned-and-operated media, NFL Films, the 32 Equity investment fund and sponsorship/consumer products. Divisions under Rolapp generated roughly $13B annually. NFL insiders and external observers already considered it highly unlikely that any one person would inherit all Rolapp’s duties, as SBJ reported Friday. Underneath Rolapp, EVP/Media Distribution Hans Schroeder oversaw the league’s critical relationships with media rights holders and therefore is most likely to continue in that role as the top remaining media executive, and possibly take on more duties in a reworked org chart. But sponsorship/consumer products has been run since 2019 by CRO Renie Anderson, who reported to Rolapp. She also oversees media sales on NFL-owned platforms. Her work is well-regarded, and she appears likely to report directly to Goodell in the post-Rolapp area. “They’ve got a lot of talent already doing the work, and I would expect that Roger is going to be more directly involved in managing the people, and maybe even add some direct reports to him,” said Marc Ganis, a consultant with close ties to Goodell and several NFL owners. “They’re very talented people, and we’re going to see how this talent steps up.” Other people to watch are Rolapp’s three other direct reports: David Jurenka, SVP/NFL Media; Dhruv Prasad, SVP/Business Development & Strategic Investments (and head of 32 Equity), and Ross Ketover, NFL Films senior executive. Part of Prasad’s job is business development in media outside of the core live rights deals, which is something that would fit logically under a more-empowered Schroeder. But the 32 Equity investment platform fits less obviously in media. Jurenka is well-regarded – and the league’s highest ranking employee outside of N.Y. — but NFL Media could be divested soon. Meanwhile, Rolapp is expected to phase out the hard to phase out Jay Monahan at the PGA TOUR. Mark Harris of Outkick.com: It appears that Jay Monahan’s time as PGA Tour commissioner is coming to an end, and his final day in charge could be approaching very soon. As first reported by James Colgan of GOLF, the Tour is expected to “sunset” Monahan as commissioner while making way for Brian Rolapp to take over operations of the PGA Tour. According to Colgan’s sources, Monahan could be out as commissioner by the end of 2025, but no later than the end of 2026. Monahan became the fourth commissioner of the PGA Tour in January 2017 after serving as executive director of The Players Championship. The 55-year-old played a key role in brokering a framework agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sole funder of LIV Golf, in 2023. Monahan also played a part in the PGA Tour finalizing a deal with Strategic Sports Group, a consortium of American billionaires, worth a reported $3 billion in January 2024. He’s helped the Tour navigate through incredibly unique times with the emergence of LIV Golf, although talks between the Tour and the Saudis appear to have gone silent in recent months. So, who is Brian Rolapp? Rolapp is the Chief Media and Business Officer of the NFL and has long been linked to becoming the first ever CEO of the PGA Tour. He is expected to be formally named CEO of the Tour after a board vote at this week’s Travelers Championship. Rolapp has served many roles under the NFL umbrella, having first moved to the NFL Network in 2003 as the Director of Finance and Strategy before making his way near the top of the operations chart with the league and being named as a potential successor to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. |
| MOST IMPROVED TEAMS OF 2025Let’s see who Nick Shook of NFL.com likes: We can say now that these seven organizations, arranged in alphabetical order, jumped out as the most improved on paper heading into the 2025 NFL season: Arizona CardinalsLike another team on this list (New England), Arizona had some money to spend and needs to address. That’s how the Cardinals landed edge rusher Josh Sweat, reuniting him with Jonathan Gannon, who helped Sweat enjoy his best seasons in Philadelphia while serving as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator. DE Calais Campbell returns to the team with which he spent the first nine seasons of his career. He provides a veteran presence, as does Dalvin Tomlinson, helping to revamp the defensive front in one offseason. Rookie DT Walter Nolen (drafted 16th overall) will play a part, too, along with CB Will Johnson, a first-round talent who slid into Round 2 (No. 47) because of concerns about his knee, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, though Johnson later said he’s healthy. Keep an eye on linebacker Cody Simon, who enters the NFL as a fourth-round pick (No. 115) after enjoying an incredible run through the College Football Playoff with Ohio State, starring in a dominant Rose Bowl win over Oregon and juicing his draft stock along the way. Chicago BearsChicago added in key places this offseason, picking up top-tier linemen (Joe Thuney and Drew Dalman) and a solid veteran (Jonah Jackson) to protect Caleb Williams. The Bears drafted another target for Williams in Luther Burden III, a first-round-caliber talent who dropped to Round 2 (No. 39 overall). It’s fair to wonder how much gas Grady Jarrett has left in the tank heading into his 11th pro season, but his presence alone figures to improve the defense’s ability to stop the run. First-round pick Colston Loveland should pair excellently with Cole Kmet, creating a tight end duo that will receive plenty of exposure under new coach Ben Johnson, who is expected to lean heavily on 12 personnel. The Bears’ rebuild was always going to require multiple seasons; the 2025 campaign might be the first in which we see notable progress, because of how they strategically sifted through the offseason. Las Vegas RaidersThe March trade for quarterback Geno Smith improved the Raiders drastically and would have been enough by itself to earn them consideration for this piece. But they didn’t stop there, going on to draft a much-needed replacement for Josh Jacobs (whose departure via free agency last offseason left a void at running back in 2024) with the sixth overall pick (Ashton Jeanty) and adding receiver Jack Bech in Round 2 (No. 58 overall). Guard Alex Cappa brings high-level experience from his time with the Buccaneers and Bengals, while DL Leki Fotu, LB Elandon Roberts, S Jeremy Chinn and CB Eric Stokes should bolster a defense that lost S Tre’von Moehrig in free agency. The jury is out on the overall outlook on that side of the ball, but frankly, again, Smith’s arrival alone will make me want to watch the Raiders in 2025. Minnesota VikingsMany analysts (including this one) panned Minnesota for the absence of a clear plan under center and a perceived lack of talent heading into what many deemed to be a transitional year in 2024. Boy, were we wrong. Instead, the Vikings won 14 games while looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender, until it all fell apart in the postseason. There’s reason for skepticism entering 2025: Sam Darnold is gone after cashing in on the free-agent market following his career turnaround, leaving unproven 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy, who missed all of his rookie season with a knee injury, in position to take over at QB. But the cast around McCarthy has undoubtedly improved, especially in the trenches, where the Vikings added Ryan Kelly at center. At guard, veteran Will Fries and first-round pick Donovan Jackson are on board, while tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave joined up on D. As someone who places a high value on both sides of the line, I support this approach. But it still all comes down to whether or not McCarthy can get the job done. New England PatriotsThe Patriots had an absurd amount of cap space entering the 2025 offseason, which was a good problem to have, because in 2024, they were one of the worst teams in the NFL, finishing 31st in yards per game (292) and 28th in point differential (-128). They had needs everywhere except at quarterback and spent like it. Yes, they paid DL Milton Williams at a rate ($104 million over four years) that might never match his production (he has 11.5 sacks over four career seasons), but with money to burn, the move made sense. Carlton Davis and Christian Gonzalez should make a fascinating cornerback tandem, while second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson will form quite a two-headed monster in the Patriots’ backfield with Rhamondre Stevenson. Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins will provide Drake Maye with experienced pass-catchers, and New England’s new-look offensive line will have plenty of options when it comes to assembling the starting five, including veterans Morgan Mosesand Garrett Bradbury, plus first-rounder Will Campbell, with my favorite being third-rounder and former Georgia center Jared Wilson. Plenty of changes — including at head coach, where Mike Vrabel takes over — should give Patriots fans reason to feel optimistic. New York JetsI’ve loved the Jets’ approach since they hired Aaron Glenn as their new coach in January. For the first time in years, New York did not strike a false offseason note, at least to my ears, bolstering the defense with veterans like DL Derrick Nnadi and S Andre Cisco while using a first-round selection on Armand Membou, who should pair with 2024 first-rounder Olumuyiwa Fashanu to give the team a nice set of bookend tackles. The Jets’ best pick of this year’s draft might end up being tight end Mason Taylor (Round 2, No. 42 overall), a polished pass-catcher with the potential to make a difference from Day 1. The big question mark is Justin Fields, a quarterback who needs to prove himself now that he’s with his third NFL team in as many years. Then again, this feels like his best opportunity to do so, compared to previous situations in Chicago and Pittsburgh. Washington CommandersWashington’s stunning 2024 turnaround breathed new life into a franchise that had trudged through plenty of losing in the 21st century. The Commanders entered the offseason with a clear goal: capitalize on their newfound success, and do so fearlessly. Trades for Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil gave them two proven veterans to bolster an offense headlined by 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. Now, there are ways things could go awry. Samuel struggled to stay healthy enough to consistently produce in San Francisco in recent years, and Tunsil allowed 52 pressures in 2024, the most for him in a season since 2018, according to Next Gen Stats (with a pressure-allowed rate of 8.3%, fourth-highest for him in that span). But if everything works out, the Commanders should be better than they were a year ago, when they sprinted all the way to the NFC Championship Game. |
