Baltimore’s offensive line might not boast the talent or depth it once did, but it appears to be solid.
The offensive line has undergone big changes, but it could be better in 2025.
A strong offensive line and solid tight ends round out a formidable unit.
Bo Nix probably exceeded most expectations for his rookie season, even appearing to briefly duel with eventual winner Jayden Daniels for OROY honors at a point relatively late in the season.
1 receiver in place ( Courtland Sutton ), a new TE who might prove to have been the missing piece ( Evan Engram ) and a top-five offensive line.
This offseason, they suffered free-agent losses appropriate for a Super Bowl champion and a team that has won 45 games (including playoffs) in the previous three years. Everyone aspires to be like the Eagles, after all. But because of GM Howie Roseman’s outstanding management, the team is still in position to contend for a championship even with a few departures, mostly on the defensive end.
With a fantastic blend of blocking ability and skill-position talent, the offense is still strong. Philadelphia’s offensive line has four reliable starters back. It ought to keep shielding Jalen Hurts and making room for Saquon Barkley, the current Offensive Player of the Year. When A. The J. Brown and DeVonta Smith remain healthy, and despite a slight lack of depth, the team is in great shape at wide receiver. It helps to have a good group of tight ends, led by Dallas Goedert.
The Eagles’ draft-and-development strategy will be put to the test this season as they rely on new pass rushers to emerge after losing a lot of players from their defensive line in the previous two offseasons. Linebacker depth will be put to the test because Nakobe Dean may start the season on the PUP list, and first-round pick Jihaad Campbell may take center stage right away. If rookie Andrew Mukuba isn’t ready to play right away, late-summer veteran assistance may also be an option at safety.
However, overall, Philadelphia has excellent top-of-the-roster talent, with at least ten players who could make the NFL Top 100 this summer, as well as plenty of depth at some positions. The Eagles have every reason to win the championship for a second consecutive year if their star players return to a comparatively healthy level.
Under John Harbaugh, the Ravens have maintained an exceptionally high level of consistency and success, and general manager Eric DeCosta has continued the team-building skills of Ozzie Newsome’s classic years. Few teams draft as well as the Ravens, and despite their modest free agency spending, they have a high hit rate. They have developed and kept a top-tier roster in this way.
In his prime, Lamar Jackson continues to be the focal point of a fantastic offense that, with Derrick Henry on board, found new momentum at times during the previous campaign. They have several playmakers at tight end and wide receiver. Although it may not have the depth or skill it once possessed, Baltimore’s offensive line still looks to be strong.
Last season, the defense took a step back before finding its rhythm in the closing minutes. It wouldn’t be shocking if the defense continued to be reliable this season with good injury luck and assistance from rookies Mike Green and Malaki Starks. Despite some doubts about who will be given the key pass-rush positions, the defense’s star player, Kyle Hamilton, is evenly distributed.
With Tyler Loop, a rookie, replacing Justin Tucker at kicker, special teams will be a priority, and this may not be the ideal group. Baltimore, however, has very few significant weaknesses and could easily be the envy of all but a select few NFL teams now that Jackson is playing at his best. Despite our recent playoff disappointments, the Ravens have the necessary equipment to win this season.
The Lions’ biggest offseason challenge is appointing two new coordinators after Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson were hired as head coaches. Helping the situation: Detroit still has a lot of talented people. Brad Holmes, the general manager, has assembled one of the league’s top rosters.
After what may have been his best regular season, Jared Goff had a terrible playoff performance in the Commanders’ loss, but he has made the Pro Bowl twice in the last three seasons. Along with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, who together form perhaps the league’s best 1-2 RB punch, the majority of his outstanding offensive line is back. Amon-Ra St. The top four targets are Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Gibbs; rookie Isaac TeSlaa is in the shadows. The offense should continue to hum even without Johnson.
In addition to adding players at all three levels, the Lions will improve defensively just by bringing back a number of injured players from the previous campaign, starting with Aidan Hutchinson. A strong two-deep up front is joined by first-round defensive end Tyleik Williams. D-dotJ. Avonte Maddox and Reed enhance the secondary depth. Detroit also boasts a strong group of linebackers when healthy.
The Lions have open positions on offense (guard) and defense (edge rusher opposite Hutchinson) because no lineup is flawless. The question of whether there is sufficient pass-rush juice seems to be very important. Nevertheless, the Lions have a strong roster overall. After the cutdowns in late August, I anticipate that other teams will raid their players.
They are still making adjustments to their offensive line and wide receivers. On defense, there will also be fresh faces. The 2025 Chiefs’ core, however, is similar to the squad that has made it to five of the previous six Super Bowls. Even though they just suffered a crushing defeat in Super Bowl LIX, I don’t think they’ll go into a sharp decline.
Although the defense had been carrying a greater portion of the load in recent years, the Super Bowl LIX thumping demonstrated that the unit needed reinforcements. It should help with depth to have four draft selections, including three on Day 2. The Chiefs have excellent playmakers across the defense in addition to their elite defenders, DT Chris Jones and CB Trent McDuffie. New CBs Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton ought to be helpful.
Although his output has somewhat decreased from its absolute peak a few years ago, Patrick Mahomes is still one of the game’s most dangerous quarterbacks going into his age-30 campaign. With plenty of talent at receiver and a better running back situation than the team had the previous season, Travis Kelce is back by his side. Weapons include rookie Jalen Royals, Marquise Brown, Xavier Worthy, and Rashee Rice. Despite significant changes, the offensive line may improve in 2025.
While some shakiness in the trenches prevents us from giving them a perfect score on the report card, Mahomes and a few other top players, along with strong middle-of-the-roster talent, make this team a top-10 lock in my opinion. There’s still enough left for another run, so drop them at your own peril following the Super Bowl rout.
I’m not sure if Bills fans will be happy that they didn’t place in the top four this time around after they rightfully chastised me for leaving Buffalo off of last year’s most-complete-rosters list. Nevertheless, the Bills used six of their first seven draft selections on the defensive line and dedicated a large portion of their free agency budget to that position.
Because Joey Bosa hasn’t mentioned any injury concerns with the move out east, and because Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht are serving six-game suspensions, the defensive line will start the season a little thin. However, Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver, and others should be able to hold the fort up front. Buffalo may need to improve internally in the back seven because they retained a lot of their linebackers and secondary players.
At 29, Josh Allen, the reigning MVP, is still in his prime and just finished what may have been his best season to date. An effective offensive line that returns all five starters protects him. In addition to his strong run game, he has a good group of tight ends (though Dalton Kincaid needs to do more). Though they can also rely on Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman to continue to improve, the Bills would surely be thrilled if one of their new receivers, like Josh Palmer or Elijah Moore, stepped up.
Buffalo has a solid roster—one that is almost exceptional. Although there is room for improvement on special teams and the defensive depth may raise concerns in the early going, this is still one of the more talented NFL teams.
Since the Vikings have a Formula 1 roster but a driver with a learner’s permit, it’s challenging to pinpoint their exact position. First-year starting quarterback J was out for the entire year of 2024 due to a knee injury. The J. With a quarterback who has only played 30 snaps in a preseason game, McCarthy probably has the key for this team, which is coming off a 14-win season. However, how do you rank a talented team?
McCarthy’s floor is enhanced by his history as a top-10 pick, his talented offense, and head coach Kevin O’Connell’s guidance. With a stable offensive line and a healthy T, he’s arguably in a better position than any of O’Connell’s previous quarterbacks here. J. . Hockenson, Jordan Addison, and Justin Jefferson make up an excellent 1-2 punch at receiver. In addition to Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason could be a cunning big addition to the backfield.
The defense can dominate games with its front seven. It’s more difficult to double anyone up front with the return of the majority of last year’s formidable crew and the addition of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. The biggest worry is the secondary, which may rely on players like Theo Jackson and Isaiah Rodgers for more extensive roles. If all goes according to plan, Brian Flores may have yet another potent defense.
This is by no means a flawless group, and the special teams may also be a source of concern. However, despite losing all three to playoff teams, Minnesota didn’t finish 14-3. The Vikings have one of the top NFL rosters as a result of their intense offseason efforts to surround McCarthy with a top-notch infrastructure.
The Bucs have skillfully navigated what might have been a challenging transition after Tom Brady, winning 57 games in the last five seasons (including playoffs). Although Baker Mayfield’s comeback is a big factor in their ranking in the top 10, the team’s general health may be at its best since Brady guided the Bucs to a Super Bowl victory five years ago.
Although Mayfield has had a mixed career overall and led the NFL in interceptions the previous season, his performance was a major asset to an offense that is starting to rank among the best in the league. The bar could be raised even further by adding rookie Emeka Egbuka to a wide receiver corps behind Chris Godwin (Todd Bowles told reporters Tuesday that they are hopeful Godwin will be healthy come Week 1) and Mike Evans. Along with emerging as the front-runner in a potent backfield, Bucky Irving could produce even more in 2025. A formidable unit is completed by a strong offensive line and reliable tight ends.
They are not as well-established defensively, but they have potential. Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, Day 2 draft selections, should make the secondary a strong group overall if injuries don’t hurt them again. There are strong players up front in Vita Vea and Yaya Diaby, and the defense’s mainstay, the timeless Lavonte David, is back. Finding additional pass-rush sources and depth in the front seven, however, will be essential to increasing the impact of a mediocre defense.
Not everyone may believe that Mayfield is a genuine winner and difference-maker, and the Bucs may lack true blue-chip talent at a number of positions. However, everything is in place for a second division title run, if not more. If the explosive offense performs at its best, this could rank among the league’s highest-scoring attacks.
The Packers have selected 80 players in Brian Gutekunst’s eight drafts since he was promoted to general manager in 2018—an average of ten per year, for those who are not majoring in math. They have been able to field one of the league’s most reliable and competitive rosters up and down thanks to this volume-heavy strategy. Naturally, that depends on your opinion of Jordan Love.
Love, who signed a long-term extension last summer, was arguably the most contentious of those 80 selections among fans and analysts, as he was selected 26th overall in 2020. He replaced Aaron Rodgers in 2023, had two inconsistent seasons as the starting quarterback, and now needs to demonstrate that he can improve even more. Green Bay has a strong offensive line, a plethora of wide receivers, Tucker Kraft, a rising tight end, and Josh Jacobs, who just finished an incredible first season in Green and Gold. This offense is in the top ten if first-round wide receiver Matthew Golden can immediately become a threat.
Can the defense fulfill its commitment? The front line, which includes four former first-round picks and numerous other draft picks, needs to perform well if this unit is to succeed. The future of CB Jaire Alexander is still up in the air, but there are plenty of playmakers in the secondary. Additionally, there is talent even though linebackers may not be particularly deep.
This ranking is complicated by the evaluation of Love, and some defensive areas may not be in the best of shape. Packers supporters might also experience less suffering if the team’s ongoing special teams issues are resolved. However, overall, this team is quite strong and shows no serious warning signs. If Love shows improvement, Green Bay’s ranking would be confirmed.
The collapse from the previous season and the significant offseason departures on both sides of the line and in the secondary cannot be disregarded. The 49ers’ core group of players, however, should help them climb the standings if they recover medically.
He earned his new long-term contract, Brock Purdy. Operating behind what should be at least a strong offensive line, the 49ers are better off with him than they would have been with any other plausible option, despite some skeptics questioning whether he is a top-10 quarterback. George Kittle is still one of the league’s best tight ends, despite turning 32 this season, and Christian McCaffrey is among the best when healthy. Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall seem prepared to take on more responsibility following Deebo Samuel’s departure, but Brandon Aiyuk, who recently suffered a knee injury, is still in doubt.
Their linebackers are strong, and they have a real pass-rush difference-maker in Nick Bosa. They also added six draft picks to their defense, all of whom could contribute as rookies, particularly first-round pick Mykel Williams, DTs Alfred Collins and CJ West, and LB Nick Martin. The defensive interior is shallow, and there are still many unanswered questions in the secondary. Can Robert Saleh perform his magic now that he is back in the defensive coordinator position that he held from 2017 to 2020?
This season, it was more difficult to defend the 49ers’ inclusion on this list given their serious special teams concerns. Nonetheless, they should benefit from a good schedule, and their talent wasn’t abruptly taken away. In the end, this team should regain its prominence if the pendulum swings back and San Francisco experiences significantly less misfortune in terms of injuries.
As long as they added the appropriate skill-position pieces, I thought the Broncos would be a lock for this list going into the draft. This call turned out to be closer than I had anticipated. Even though I enjoyed some of their choices, the rookie crop didn’t quite deliver the boost I was hoping for, and they could have gotten better value out of some of their selections. Thanks to a strong offensive line, an up-and-coming quarterback, and an outstanding defense, Denver managed to defeat the Commanders and Rams and advance to the top division.
Bo Nix likely surpassed most predictions for his rookie campaign, even making an appearance at a relatively late stage to compete briefly for OROY honors against eventual winner Jayden Daniels. Nix has an excellent no. Courtland Sutton, a new tight end who could have been the missing link, Evan Engram, and a top five offensive line are all in place. That is an excellent template to start with. Although mainly untested, the remainder of the offense has promise. RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Audric Estimé in the backfield might not blow anyone away, but it might work. However, Denver needs its young receivers to take on more responsibility.
I wouldn’t push back too much if you were to say that the Broncos’ defense is the best in the league. They rank in the top five. A very strong secondary led by reigning DPOY Pat Surtain II added rookie Jahdae Barron and Talanoa Hufanga this offseason. Although there is room for another pass rusher to join Jonathan Cooper and Nik Bonitto, Hufanga’s injury concerns exist, and Dre Greenlaw, Alex Singleton, and Drew Sanders will be the linebackers, this defense performs about as well as any in the league overall.
On the schedule, it will also be put to the test during a challenging early period. Additionally, there is no assurance that Nix will advance significantly in Year 2—don’t be duped into believing that young quarterbacks will inevitably do so—or that the skill talent will be on par with the league’s top teams. But because of the Broncos’ strengths on both sides of the ball, this ranking is justified.