David Helman
NFL Reporter
You know the way this goes.
The inexperienced confetti on the sector on the Caesars Superdome hasn’t been swept up but, and the celebration in Philadelphia will not be over for fairly a while. However the league should roll on. We have got to set the scene for 2025.
In fact, as typical, it’s miles too early to know what to anticipate to a certainty. The brand new league 12 months is a month away, and the twists and turns of free company and the draft are nonetheless to come back.
However that will not cease us from taking an informed guess within the instant aftermath of Tremendous Bowl LIX. Here is your way-too-early have a look at the 2025 NFL energy rankings.
32. New York Giants
It isn’t simply that the Giants have to massively improve their roster, and it is not simply that they performed their manner out of place for a high quarterback within the draft. I am additionally curious concerning the vibes in that constructing, as Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll narrowly averted getting fired in January. Coaches and executives with no job safety typically do dumb, determined issues to maintain their jobs. The Giants cannot afford a significant setback as a result of their mind belief is fearful concerning the mistaken issues.
31. Las Vegas Raiders
Love the Pete Carroll rent. Naked minimal, I believe Carroll can get the Raiders to a decent baseline of competent soccer. I nonetheless do not feel nice concerning the instant future. The Raiders have key free brokers throughout on protection, and no clear path to a quarterback. Carroll’s first 12 months might be bumpy.
30. New York Jets
Massive fan of Aaron Glenn, massive fan of the defensive expertise he’ll get to work with in New York. Nonetheless does not really feel like this will probably be a simple repair. Phrase got here down on Tremendous Bowl Sunday that Aaron Rodgers is out, which presumably means Davante Adams is, too. It is a dangerous 12 months to want a quarterback, and it appears like Glenn goes to have to attend to get his reply at a very powerful place within the recreation.
29. Tennessee Titans
Stepping out on a limb and assuming I am going to really feel higher concerning the Titans in Could than I do in February. They’ve the No. 1 total decide within the draft, and so they have a ton of cap house. A technique or one other, they will discover a new quarterback and put some new items round him. Not saying I be ok with any of this, however it should look higher than it did on the finish of the season.
28. Indianapolis Colts
Your opinion of the Colts most likely hinges on how a lot you belief them. I personally do not belief Anthony Richardson to make the required leap. Maybe extra necessary than that, I do not actually belief the group to place him able to succeed.
27. New Orleans Saints
My scorching take is that the Saints are a strong staff when everyone seems to be wholesome and obtainable. The issue is that Demario Davis is 36, Cam Jordan is 35, Derek Carr is 33, Tyrann Mathieu is 32 and Alvin Kamara is 29. How life like is it to anticipate everybody to be wholesome and obtainable?
26. Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott will probably be again within the huddle in 2025, however do not let that distract you from the truth that Dallas was a foul staff earlier than he received harm final fall. The Cowboys have half a dozen completely different wants, and their entrance workplace is legendary for being unwilling to spend cash to repair them. They’re going to be aggressive, as a result of they at all times are. Onerous to see the imaginative and prescient past that.
25. Cleveland Browns
The embarrassments are piling up in Cleveland. First, the Deshaun Watson fiasco; now, an all-time nice like Myles Garrett is demanding a commerce. The soiled little secret is that — regardless of all of that — the Browns haven’t got a foul roster. If they might by some means discover a good quarterback, maybe with the No. 2 total decide within the draft, they’d at the least have a shot.
24. Carolina Panthers
The excellent news is that the Panthers noticed sufficient from Bryce Younger within the second half of the season that they need to really feel comfy constructing the staff round him this spring. The dangerous information is that they’ve a ton of free brokers, wants everywhere in the roster and never a lot cap house to work with proper now. There’s motive for hope, however this won’t be an in a single day repair.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
Lord assist me, however I believe I am again on the Jags’ bandwagon. It isn’t simply that I believe Trevor Lawrence is an efficient quarterback, or that Liam Coen is an efficient coach. However the resolution to (lastly) hearth Trent Baalke ought to (hopefully) give Jacksonville some readability and unity within the entrance workplace. There are some sturdy items on this roster. This might be a fast turnaround if the Jaguars can get out of their very own manner for a change.
22. Miami Dolphins
Just like the Steelers, the Dolphins are a greater staff than this rating suggests. It is simply exhausting to get enthusiastic about them. They’ve 30 free brokers this 12 months and are nearly $12 million over the wage cap. Tyreek Hill ruffled feathers on the finish of the common season when he mentioned he may need out. Tua Tagovailoa’s well being is a query that may proceed to linger. This can be a strong sufficient staff, however it’s exhausting to think about them being something greater than that as at the moment constructed.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
That is most likely a bit of low for a staff that hasn’t had a dropping season since 2003. It is simply exhausting to purchase into Steelers optimism proper now. The late-season collapse left a foul style in my mouth, and proper now we do not even know who will play quarterback. Does Mike Tomlin admire Aaron Rodgers sufficient to present him a shot within the Metal Metropolis?
20. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons’ funds aren’t as thrilling as you’d anticipate from a staff beginning a rookie quarterback — which is clearly a byproduct of signing Kirk Cousins to an ill-advised contract. Nonetheless, Michael Penix confirmed sufficient flashes to make me intrigued about what the longer term holds.
19. New England Patriots
Prepare for the Pats to make a soar on this rating when the offseason actually will get underway. They have an NFL-best $120 million in cap house and the No. 4 total decide within the draft. Here is guessing they’ll do a number of work to enhance the expertise degree round Drake Maye.
18. Chicago Bears
I am not keen to blindly belief the Bears on potential alone, as a result of that received a number of us into bother final 12 months. However I do imagine in Ben Johnson, and he’ll have the sources to enhance the roster instantly. Let’s have a look at the place that will get us.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Very like the Rams, I will be glad to push the Bengals up my rankings in the event that they deal with their offseason correctly. Three of their 4 largest stars at the moment want a brand new contract, and their franchise quarterback is clearly aggravated that he has to marketing campaign to maintain the staff collectively. The Bengals might be a contender in 2025 in the event that they deal with these subsequent few months appropriately. Whether or not they may is anybody’s guess.
16. Seattle Seahawks
My largest concern for the Seahawks is that they should discover some spending cash. They’re at the moment $13 million over the 2025 wage cap, which might make it robust to enhance the roster. Personally, I believe they need to handle that difficulty by extending Geno Smith. He is a lot ok to win with — particularly if the Hawks can enhance their offensive line this offseason.
15. Los Angeles RamsÂ
I would have the Rams ranked larger if I had extra readability about their future. We all know they’re shifting on from Cooper Kupp, however we do not know what they may do to exchange him. For that matter, we do not even know for certain whether or not Matthew Stafford will probably be their quarterback this fall. I am glad to re-visit this after we know extra, however proper now I am simply unsure.
14. Arizona CardinalsÂ
The Cardinals doubled their win whole from 2023 to 2024. That will not occur once more in 2025, however there’s some critical room for development right here in the event that they play their playing cards proper — pardon the pun. They’ve finished an exceptional job revamping their offense in two years; now, they should do the identical for his or her protection. They have the cap house essential to make it occur.
13. Denver Broncos
Bo Nix’s arrow is firmly pointed up, and the Broncos have loads of wage cap house. There’s motive for optimism — I would similar to to see some consistency earlier than I blindly imagine in it.
12. Minnesota Vikings
Doing my finest to be taught my lesson from this previous 12 months, which is that quarterback uncertainty won’t matter as a lot if Kevin O’Connell is your head coach. The Vikings’ roster is unbelievable, and KOC can get good outcomes irrespective of if the quarterback is Sam Darnold, J.J. McCarthy or another person — Daniel Jones, anybody?
11. Houston Texans
The struggles this offense confronted all 12 months had been disconcerting, however the Texans addressed that difficulty by swapping out their offensive coordinator. Hopefully that call pans out, as a result of they have the quarterback and the protection to go far. Some assist at receiver would not harm, although.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After three straight division titles, the least we are able to do is imagine within the Buccaneers for a change. It does concern me that Todd Bowles needed to exchange one other profitable offensive coordinator. For that matter, it considerations me that Bowles does not appear to have the job safety you’d anticipate for a man who’s made three-straight playoff journeys. However the Bucs nonetheless seem like the category of the NFC South in 2025.
9. Los Angeles Chargers
Clown on the Chargers for his or her playoff collapse if you wish to, however I see a staff that is forward of schedule. It is actually unbelievable that this staff received 11 video games with the expertise that they had on the offensive ability positions, and now they’ve a ton of sources with which to repair that. That, plus the Jim Harbaugh impact, goes a great distance.
8. Washington Commanders
Cautious optimism appears like the precise perspective for the Commanders. Jayden Daniels seems to be like an authorized Dude, and the entrance workplace has a ton of cap house with which to enhance the encircling roster. Nonetheless, we all know that it may well typically be exhausting to maintain a breakout season just like the one we simply watched. No one’s hating on the Commanders; I simply need to see a bit of bit extra.
7. San Francisco 49ersÂ
An ideal storm of tragedy hit the 49ers in 2024, and so they had been nonetheless mathematically within the hunt till Christmas. I am comfy betting that they’re going to have higher luck in 2025. There’s work to do right here, do not get me mistaken. Deebo Samuel may get traded, there is a slew of necessary free brokers on protection and Brock Purdy wants a brand new contract. However that is nonetheless an upper-echelon roster with a high quality teaching workers. I am not prepared to surrender on them but.
6. Inexperienced Bay Packers
I will get yelled at for believing so strongly in a Packers staff that did not really take a step ahead in 2024, however that is OK. I am a agency believer in Jordan Love — particularly if he is more healthy subsequent 12 months. I additionally suppose the Packers have a number of cap house and never a lot in the best way of significant free brokers. There’s a number of potential for them to enhance a staff that simply received 11 video games, after which they will take the step that eluded them this 12 months.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Fascinating to see what the Ravens prioritize this spring. It seems to be like their offensive line goes to get shuffled (once more), and it appears like they might use one other receiver (once more). However the mixture of Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and a strong protection ought to put them on the shortlist of contenders, it doesn’t matter what.
4. Buffalo Payments
The heartbreak of the AFC Championship Recreation should not distract from the truth that the Payments had been nonetheless technically forward of schedule. Not many anticipated them to get so shut in 2024, and most of their starters needs to be again. Their largest problem will most likely be navigating their wage cap state of affairs properly sufficient to enhance the staff, however having an NFL MVP at quarterback provides them an enormous leg up in that division.
3. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Tremendous Bowl LIX confirmed us the Chiefs have some work to do if they’ll maintain their dominance shifting ahead. Their offensive line was a problem for many of the season, and it received uncovered in opposition to elite competitors. They do not have sufficient juice on the ability positions. Key items like Trey Smith, Nick Bolton and Justin Reid could be strolling out the door. The muse for a Tremendous Bowl championship remains to be in place, however there must be some aggressive tinkering in 2025.
2. Detroit LionsÂ
It is a Massive Deal, with capital letters, that Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn departed Detroit on the similar time. However do not let the teaching turnover distract you from the truth that that is nonetheless among the finest rosters in soccer. The Lions return all their firepower on offense, and the protection will get Aidan Hutchinson again on the sector in 2025. The window remains to be open.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
The one factor extra thrilling than a Tremendous Bowl championship is that the Birds look poised to proceed this run. There are some massive free brokers like Zack Baun, Josh Sweat and Milton Williams. They’re going to possible have to discover a new offensive coordinator once more. However the overwhelming majority of this roster is younger and locked in for years to come back. The Eagles ought to have each expectation of contending to maintain their crown.
David Helman covers the NFL for FOX Sports activities and hosts the NFL on FOX podcast. He beforehand spent 9 seasons protecting the Cowboys for the staff’s official web site. In 2018, he received a regional Emmy for his function in producing “Dak Prescott: A Household Reunion” concerning the quarterback’s time at Mississippi State. Observe him on Twitter at @davidhelman_.
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