Who has the best roster in the NFL? Reaching the playoffs nearly every year requires outstanding player development, with a general manager who understands where to find talent in both free agency and the NFL Draft. So, it should come as no surprise that the best NFL rosters are orchestrated by some of the best NFL general managers right now..
Let’s dive into our rankings of the best rosters in the NFL entering the season.
1. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have the best NFL roster in 2025. It starts on offense with MVP candidates Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, both capable of taking over a game against even the best teams in football. They operate behind an excellent offensive line, with Jackson supported by a complementary group of pass-catchers in Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely. On defense, the Ravens have arguably the best secondary in the NFL and an excellent front seven. The three best rosters in the NFL are all close, but the edge goes to the club with a two-time MVP quarterback.
Related: Baltimore Ravens Schedule Predictions, Ravens Predictions 2025
2. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have the best roster in the NFC. Unsurprisingly, a team constructed by Howie Roseman boasts exceptional talent up front. Philadelphia is a factory for great offensive linemen, and the transition away from Jason Kelce last year highlighted that once again. It’s why we don’t have any real concern about Mekhi Becton’s departure. With the help of the offensive line, Jalen Hurts gets to pick his spots with Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert operating as great offensive weapons. Defensively, there are multiple players capable of earning an All-Pro selection (Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean) with quality starters around them. When it could be argued that the Super Bowl MVP might be the biggest ‘weakness’ on your roster, you’re a perennial Super Bowl contender.
Related: NFL Power Rankings 2025
3. Detroit Lions
Those skeptical of this team reaching the heights it did last season don’t question the Detroit Lions roster. After all, Detroit went 15-2 with a +222 point differential despite being rocked by injuries. Now, Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Amik Robertson, and Alex Anzalone are healthy, and Alim McNeil is expected to return before November. The talent is there for Detroit to field the top-five defense it had when everyone was healthy, and the other side of the ball features arguably the best cast of offensive skill players in the NFL. The lone thing that pushes Detroit behind the Eagles and Ravens is the new-look interior offensive line of Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge, and Graham Glasgow. If we see one area of regression from this Lions roster in the fall, it’s coming from that trio.
Read More: NFL Division Rankings 2025, See Where the NFC North Lands
4. Denver Broncos
There’s no reason to think that the Denver Broncos don’t have a real shot at winning the AFC this season. A team that routinely put on defensive clinics in 2024 went out this offseason and added Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, and Jahdae Barron. This can be the league’s best defense in 2025. Meanwhile, Sean Payton gets to run an offense with an outstanding offensive line that allows second-year quarterback Bo Nix to execute a system that generated a top-10 offense (0.085 EPA per play, ninth in the NFL) with a rookie signal-caller. Denver might not have an MVP-caliber quarterback, and it’s not loaded at wide receiver, but the overall talent and depth with the two play-callers rank right up there with the best rosters in the NFL.
Related: NFL Defense Rankings 2025
5. Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen isn’t the only reason this team is a Super Bowl contender. The Buffalo Bills roster also features an elite offensive line, a dynamic running back (James Cook), and a front seven that, if it can stay on the field, is as deep as it is talented. The depth on the defensive line should help keep everyone fresh this fall and give Sean McDermott some added flexibility. We also have to highlight Buffalo’s cornerbacks, specifically standouts Taron Johnson and Christian Benford. Safety is still a weakness on this Bills roster, and it’s not hard to find durability risks spread throughout, but the overall talent and depth (receiver, defensive line, and tight end) all give Allen the support he needs to make a run at the Super Bowl.
Related: Buffalo Bills Schedule Predictions 2025, Game by Game Bills Predictions
6. Kansas City Chiefs
Even with an aging Travis Kelce and a lot of inexperience on the offensive line, the Kansas City Chiefs still have one of the best NFL rosters in 2025. Rashee Rice is back this season, and he’s a game-changer for this passing game, pushing Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy into roles they’re more suited for. We also expect a rebound from running back Isiah Pacheco, who wasn’t the same in his late return after last season’s fractured fibula. As for the Chiefs’ offensive line, there’s a compelling argument to be made that offensive tackles Josh Simmons and Jaylon Moore give this unit a higher ceiling than it had in 2024.
Defensively, we’re a bit concerned about the pass-rushing depth behind George Karlaftis, and the offseason departure of Justin Reid creates a level of uncertainty for a new-look secondary that added Kristian Fulton. Even with those questions, Chris Jones and Trent McDuffie still make this an above-average defense at a minimum.
Related: Kansas City Chiefs Schedule Predictions, Game by Game Chiefs Predictions
7. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings roster is only being weighed down by uncertainty at quarterback and cornerback. At signal-caller, the doubt stems from J.J. McCarthy, who didn’t play a snap as a rookie due to a meniscus injury. He’s a perfect fit for Kevin O’Connell’s system, and Minnesota has surrounded him with an elite pass-catching corps (Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Jalen Nailor), along with a quality ground game and what we expect to be one of the best NFL offensive lines this season. McCarthy isn’t a guarantee, but he couldn’t ask for a better environment. On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Brian Flores operates with a phenomenal front seven that can create pressure and cause chaos. It’s just the individual matchups against receivers that give us pause with the Vikings’ secondary.
Related: Best NFL Receiving Corps 2025, see where the Vikings land
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
We remain inclined to believe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the most underrated Super Bowl contender entering the 2025 season. It starts up front with one of the five best offensive lines in the NFL, giving Baker Mayfield a clean pocket to operate from every week. Not only does Mayfield have an outstanding trio of receivers in Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Emeka Egbuka, but he is also supported by a phenomenal young talent at running back in Bucky Irving. There’s upside for a top-three offense in 2025. Defensively, we expect the Buccaneers’ defensive line to take a real step forward this season thanks to improvement from Yaya Diaby and the addition of edge rusher Haason Reddick. If Tampa Bay’s secondary stays healthy and turns things around, there’s a chance this is the NFC’s best team in the regular season.
Related: Bold NFL Predictions for 2025, including the Buccaneers
9. Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams roster has one primary health concern, as left tackle Alaric Jackson (blood clots) still doesn’t have a clear timeline for a return. If he starts, we feel a lot better about this Rams offensive line in 2025, and improvement there gives Los Angeles a shot at a top-five offense. We’re equally high on the Rams’ defensive line, led by 2025 DPOY candidate Jared Verse, with a talented group of linemen alongside him in Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, Kobie Turner, and Byron Young. All of these look like real areas of strength for Los Angeles. What holds the Rams back in our rankings of the best NFL rosters is the complete distrust we have in a cornerback room led by Darious Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., and Derion Kendrick.
Read More: Best NFL coaches 2025, see where Sean McVay placed
10. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins do plenty of the heavy lifting when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals roster. It also helps that other candidates for the 10th spot, including the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans. We do still expect Cincinnati to have All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson next season and there’s depth at wide receiver (Jermaine Burton, Andrei Iosivas), tight end (Mike Gesicki, Noah Fant) and defensive tackle (B.J. Hill, T.J. Slaton and Kris Jenkins Jr.). It’s just enough to crack the list, barely.
