NFL power rankings 2025: Evaluating all 32 teams after NFL free agency

The Tennessee Titans offseason moves signal that Cam Ward will be the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Adding left tackle Dan Moore and guard Kevin Zeitler to the Titans offensive line makes this a better landing spot for a rookie quarterback, but the receiving corps leaves a lot to be desired. Tennessee also didn’t make many improvements defensively, so this could be a bottom-10 unit. As of now, the Titans are the worst NFL team in 2025 and not good enough to get Brian Callahan off the hot seat heading into his second season.

Related: Tennessee Titans earn poor grade for big move in NFL free agency

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis refuses to rebuild and it’s why this team sits at the bottom of our NFL power rankings after free agency. We liked the Kellen Moore hire and understand why the club didn’t move on from Derek Carr. However, Loomis’ refusal to do the one thing this team needs – rebuilding for the future – in an act of self-preservation is why we remain pessimistic regarding the Saints’ future.

Related: Insider details Mickey Loomis’ power in New Orleans Saints organization

The Cleveland Browns managed to make Myles Garrett forget about his desire to play for a contender with a record-breaking contract, but it doesn’t change the outlook for this team. Whether it’s Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson or Shedeur Sanders at quarterback in 2025, they’ll be stepping into a bad situation. The Browns’ offensive line and skill group aren’t good enough to consistently play quality football and this feels like a team that has a ceiling of eight wins. Naturally, if Cleveland doesn’t make the playoffs, Garrett could be disgruntled again next offseason.

Related: Myles Garrett reportedly broke multiple Cleveland Browns team rules

The New York Jets took a low-risk gamble with the Justin Fields contract. They are also thrusting him into a fairly good situation with a No. 1 receiver (Garrett Wilson) and a strong run game to support him. However, the Jets defense took some hits in NFL free agency and Fields’ volatility as a passer will limit the efficiency of this offense. Ultimately, the 2025 NFL season is more about Aaron Glenn creating a new culture and we do believe he’ll be successful in that regard. However, the Jets will be one of the worst NFL teams in 2025.

Related: 2025 NFL mock draft, see who the New York Jets pick

Milton Williams seemed to be the top player the Carolina Panthers wanted in NFL free agency, but they lost the bidding war. Instead, Carolina spread the money around to improve defensively – Tershawn Wharton, Christian Rozeboom and Tre’von Moehrig – which is fine but not significant. We’d have also been a lot more optimistic about this Panthers’ offense if they strengthened the receiving corps, but that will likely come from the 2025 NFL Draft. For now, the Panthers feel destined to be a seven-win team and that’s not quite good enough in Bryce Young’s third year.

Related: Concerning Carolina Panthers news on Jonathon Brooks’ future

The New York Giants seem to have struck out on Aaron Rodgers, with Russell Wilson likely to be the ‘consolation’ prize of their quarterback search. Wilson is certainly a far better starter than New York has had recently and improvements were made to the Giants defense. However, while the Giants’ organization might believe they are just a quarterback away, the talent level and lack of depth on the roster suggests otherwise. One thing that seems increasingly clear, though, is that New York will be standing pat with the third overall pick and taking the best defensive player available.

Related: New York Giants mock draft 2025

The Jacksonville Jaguars certainly made some improvements this offseason that give them a chance to climb a lot higher in our NFL power rankings this season. Liam Coen provides an upgrade as a play-caller, especially with the additions made (Patrick Mekari and Robert Hainsey) to the Jaguars offensive line. However, there are some concerns about whether or not one of the league’s worst defenses can be turned around with the limited work done on that side of the ball. Furthermore, Jacksonville’s receiving corps outside of Brian Thomas Jr. still isn’t good enough.

The New England Patriots offseason approach was surprising, but it makes sense with added context. Chris Godwin, Trey Smith and Tee Higgins were the club’s top targets in NFL free agency to help out Drake Maye. None of them ever truly hit the open market. So, with top offensive pieces off the board, New England loaded up to support Mike Vrabel’s defense. It’s a good starting point for a rebuilding team, but the lack of surrounding help on the Patriots’ offense for Maye remains alarming. It also clearly signals the team’s priorities in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Related: New England Patriots sign ‘biggest defender’ in NFL free agency

The Las Vegas Raiders trade for Geno Smith was one of the best moves of the NFL offseason. Smith played like an above-average starter behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL and he’ll have better pass protection with his new team. Now, Las Vegas has stability at quarterback for the first time in years and Smith will maximize both Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. With all that said, the Raiders’ secondary is an alarming Achilles’ heel of this defense and the overall talent on the Raiders roster still isn’t good enough to contend.

Related: Las Vegas Raiders add Pro Bowl running back to backfield

The Atlanta Falcons have done very little in NFL free agency to inspire confidence in a turnaround next season. Divine Deablo adds speed to the Falcons defense and Leonard Floyd provides a little more pass-rushing juice, but Atlanta is still weak at CB2 with a bottom-five pass rush. To make matters worse, the club now has to replace center Drew Dalman. Michael Penix Jr. will have a nice skill group and offensive line to support him in his first full season as the starter, but the current Falcons defense isn’t good enough to win the NFC South.

Related: Atlanta Falcons’ strategy with Kirk Cousins this offseason revealed

The Miami Dolphins made some quietly impressive moves this offseason. A healthy James Daniels (Achilles) will help the interior offensive line and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine provides a nice blocker at wide receiver. We could see an improved Dolphins’ run game in 2025, which would be nicely complemented by a defense that can be great if Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips and Ifeatu Melifonwu can stay healthy. With all of those positives acknowledged, we also still have serious doubts about Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa beating great competition in December and January.

Related: Miami Dolphins sign former first-round pick

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard finally splurged on the defense in NFL free agency. Charvarius Ward played like a No. 1 cornerback from 2022-’23 and safety Camryn Bynum is a playmaker. Consistency and playmaking have been added to the Colts’ secondary, providing ample reason for optimism. Unfortunately, what drags Indianapolis down in our NFL power rankings are the losses of Will Fries and Ryan Kelly. Daniel Jones has huge problems versus pressure and Anthony Richardson can’t stay healthy nor can he complete 60 percent of his passes. A question mark at the most important position in sports is the last thing a coach and GM on the hot seat can afford to have.

The Seattle Seahawks saw more value in having Sam Darnold and a third-round pick than extending Geno Smith, that’s fine. What seems to be missing from the Seahawks’ evaluation is that Darnold has been one of the worst quarterbacks in football when pressured and he needs a great supporting cast around him to excel. Trading DK Metcalf, releasing Tyler Lockett and striking out on the top offensive linemen in NFL free agency is putting Darnold in a position to fail. As high as we are on the Seahawks defense in 2025, this offense feels like a disaster waiting to happen.

Related: Seattle Seahawks’ free-agent signing blasts former team

Josh Sweat to the Arizona Cardinals always felt like a perfect match. Jonathan Gannon’s defense needed more pass-rushing juice and Sweat provides it and then some. While he’s more of a No. 2 edge rusher than a game-wrecker, being reunited with Gannon will help. Arizona also helped the interior with Dalvin Tomlinson. While the Cardinals’ secondary is still a weakness, the improvements to the front seven inspire confidence for this unit in 2025. Whether or not Arizona can compete for the NFC West comes down to improvements from Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr., far from a sure thing.

The San Francisco 49ers offseason started strong with a Robert Saleh reunion. That excitement was soon replaced by disappointment from the fan base, with the franchsie moving on from Dre Greenlaw, Deebo Samuel, Talanoa Hufanga, Charvarius Ward and Kyle Juszczyk. Purging the roster is all part of the steps needed before signing a Brock Purdy contract extension. However, what can’t be denied is the 49ers roster is even thinner than it used to be and there are now multiple holes in both trenches and on the perimeter for both the offense and defense. The 2025 campaign might not be the rebound season the fan base was hoping for.

Related: Insider reveals likely cost of Brock Purdy contract extension for San Francisco 49ers

It seems likely that Aaron Rodgers will be the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback in 2025, if he’s not, then this team’s outlook gets even worse. Acquiring DK Metcalf is nice, but he does the same things as George Pickens and now Pittsburgh just gave Pickens even more reason to be disgruntled. There are also red flags with a Steelers defense that allowed a 105.2 QB rating and 72.5% completion rate in its final six regular-season games. Maybe adding Darius Slay helps, but the history of 34-year-old cornerbacks who have already shown signs of regression doesn’t bode well for Pittsburgh. Right now, the best-case scenario for this version of the Steelers feels like a first-round playoff exit.

The Dallas Cowboys really only added depth pieces in NFL free agency. The right side of the Cowboys offensive line remains a weakness, Dallas doesn’t have a true No. 2 or even a No. 3 wide receiver and the current running backs room is all backups. Obviously, help will be coming through the 2025 NFL Draft. What we do like is this Cowboys defense, orchestrated by Matt Eberflus, with linebackers Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray Jr. providing a little help off the ball. Dallas should have a nice turnaround defensively in 2025 and with a healthy Dak Prescott, this is a playoff contender.

The Cincinnati Bengals seem prepared to go all-in for the offense, using the franchise tag again on Tee Higgins and re-signing Mike Gesicki. That’s great news for Joe Burrow, who can certainly lead an elite offense with his trusted pass-catchers. With that said, the Bengals defense was already abysmal and it could get even worse if Trey Hendrickson is traded. Cincinnati will be asking Burrow to win a shootout every week and while he’s capable of doing that 8-9 times, an MVP-caliber quarterback can only do so much. Barring unforeseen success in the NFL Draft from the Bengals, this team feels like it would max out with a Divisional Round appearance.

Related: Cincinnati Bengals blasted for absurd Trey Hendrickson trade asking price

The Chicago Bears are offseason champions again. They nailed the hiring of Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen, giving them two outstanding minds to orchestrate their offense and defense. Chicago also fortified its offensive line – Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney – giving Caleb Williams the pass protection he needs to be successful in this system. Even the front seven of the Bears’ defense was improved. Plenty is still riding on the Johnson-Williams combo, but the Bears have a legitimate shot at overtaking the Green Bay Packers in 2025.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got Chris Godwin to take a hometown discount and the cost savings helped them keep the offensive line together and strengthen the defense. Baker Mayfield will have a different play-caller once again, but a great offensive line and receiver tandem is more than enough for him to be a quality starter. On the other side of the ball, Tampa Bay finally upgraded its pass rush with Haason Reddick. All in all, the Buccaneers did an effective job of using NFL free agency to strengthen their grip on the NFC South and they are the clear team to beat in the division.

The Los Angeles Chargers simply didn’t take advantage of NFL free agency like they should have. Najee Harris is a cost-effective solution for the type of complementary rushing attack Jim Harbaugh wants to have, but he doesn’t improve a bottom-10 receiving corps. Los Angeles did retain Khalil Mack, but there’s still a glaring need for a No. 2 edge rusher and Donte Jackson isn’t a cornerback this team can depend on. Even with those concerns noted, the Chargers are well-coached and have a top-10 quarterback which is more than enough to contend.

The Green Bay Packers probably overspent on guard Aaron Banks, but the move does allow for Elgton Jenkins to shift to center where he has All-Pro potential. Green Bay’s offensive line should be a strength once again, but general manager Brian Gutekunst did nothing to address a pass rush that the team was openly critical of after the season. Between that along with issues in the secondary – Jaire Alexander’s future with the team is uncertain – and the clear absence of a No. 1 receiver, Green Bay doesn’t have the premium talent necessary to beat the best NFL teams in 2025.

C.J. Stroud faced the most hurries (66) and pressures (174) last season, which evidently told the Houston Texans that they needed to replace Laremy Tunsil. For those optimistic about the incoming guard tandem, as highlighted by Nate Tice, Houston moved on from a guard with the third-worst one-on-one pressure rate allowed (Kenyon Green) and brought in guards (Laken Tomlinson and Ed Ingram) with the worst- and fourth-worst pressure rates allowed. It’s a shame Stroud is being hung out to dry behind a porous offensive line, because Houston’s defense is phenomenal and the change in offensive play-caller would make Stroud a lot better in 2025 if he could stay upright.

What separates the Minnesota Vikings from the best NFL teams is J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings offensive line, a strength in 2024, is even better with the additions of Will Fries and Ryan Kelly paired with a healthy Christian Darrisaw. Already armed with a top-five defense, Minnesota upgraded at defensive tackle and brought in Isaiah Rodgers in addition to re-signing Byron Murphy Jr. The icing on the cake is an elite Vikings coaching staff with two of the best minds orchestrating each side of the ball. So, it all comes down to McCarthy and whether or not he’s ready to be a high-end starter. For now, he’s unproven and the X-factor who will determine if Minnesota is a Super Bowl contender or a one-and-done playoff team.

Related: Love Minnesota Sports? Check Out MinnesotaSportsFan.com

The Denver Broncos already had a top-five defense and they made it stronger through NFL free agency. Dre Greenlaw might not be an All-Pro, but he is everything Vance Joseph needs in the middle of the field. As for Talanoa Hufanga, he’s an aggressive playmaker whose penchant for risk-taking can be mitigated by great coaching and Patrick Surtain II. Combine a potential top-three defense with further improvements from Bo Nix in Sean Payton’s offense and you have a Broncos team that might be ready to go toe-to-toe with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Los Angeles Rams made a significant upgrade with the move from Cooper Kupp to Davante Adams, both in terms of availability and schematic fit. Matthew Stafford should have even better support than he did in 2024, especially if the Rams offensive line can stay healthy. We remain skeptical of the Rams’ secondary, especially for potential NFC playoff matchups against the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles, but the defensive line is a force to be reckoned with. As of now, Los Angeles seems good enough to make the NFC Championship Game but that feels like the ceiling.

This is the most skeptical we’ve been of the Kansas City Chiefs in years. From trading away All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to trusting Jaylon Moore to hold up at left tackle, Kansas City is taking massive risks. Even if you want to be optimistic about the Chiefs’ receiving corps with everyone healthy, a Rashee Rice suspension is still coming. There’s also reason to be skeptical of the Chiefs’ pass rush, especially with Chris Jones entering his age-31 season and the lack of depth behind him on the interior. It’s fair to believe in Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, but this is starting to feel like the season when the Chiefs experience a real setback.

Related: Insider details plans for Kansas City Chiefs offensive line in 2025

The Washington Commanders weren’t aggressive in the way many expected this offseason. Instead of splurging in NFL free agency, the team traded for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Tunsil ‘kills two birds with one stone’ in that it gives them a Pro Bowl blindside protector and allows for Brandon Coleman to replace right tackle Andrew Wylie. As for Samuel, while he’s no longer an All-Pro talent, his skill set does perfectly fit into Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and it gives Jayden Daniels another quality weapon. The Commanders’ offense should be better in 2024 and if some home-run picks are found for the defense in the NFL Draft, maybe winning the NFC is possible.

What matters for the Baltimore Ravens is that they re-signed left tackle Ronnie Stanley and it’s a testament to the franchise that he took a team-friendly deal. We believe the Ravens defense we saw after Marcus Williams was benched – a top-10 unit – is replicable and this offense could be even a little better in 2025. Baltimore will dominate the regular season and the roster is good enough to win the AFC. However, we’ve seen time and time again that this team implodes in the playoffs and it’s up to the Ravens to reverse that narrative in January.

Related: Latest on Mark Andrews’ future with the Baltimore Ravens

For all of the talk heading into the offseason about the number of ways the Buffalo Bills roster could be improved, the results to this point are underwhelming. Joey Bosa hasn’t been any better than Von Miller over the last two seasons and Joshua Palmer was reportedly a disappointment last season to the Chargers coaching staff. However, the Chiefs roster got worse early this spring and Buffalo already has proven it can beat the Ravens. As long as Josh Allen, James Cook and this offensive line remain healthy, the Bills are the best team in the AFC.

A healthier Detroit Lions roster is what matters most. The departure of Carlton Davis was immediately taken care of with the D.J. Reed signing and Detroit re-signed Levi Onwuzurike along with Derrick Barnes. As for Kevin Zeitler’s departure, Christian Mahogany seems ready to fill the void at left guard. On paper, the Lions roster is ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone and take this team to the Super Bowl. However, the history of what happens to teams who lose both coordinators isn’t on the Lions’ side. It’s the only reason why Detroit finishes second in our NFL power rankings but this team is absolutely capable of defeating the Philadelphia Eagles anywhere.

The talent and depth advantages that helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl. Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Darius Slay, Kenneth Gainwell, Isaiah Rodgers and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson are all gone. Of course, the real Super Bowl MVP (Howie Roseman) is still around and he’ll have his dominant offensive line with excellent skill players and a top-3 defense out there on the field already. Plus, Roseman’s track record with the NFL Draft speaks for itself, so there’s no reason to believe the Eagles aren’t the best NFL team right now.