After all of the wheeling, dealing and drafting this offseason, NFL groups have sparked volumes of phrases, each written and spoken. However typically one phrase says all of it.
In order the league breaks for the summer season, we’re assigning one phrase to encapsulate what every crew has completed over the previous a number of months. And we clarify why every phrase sums up the place every franchise stands going into the 2025 season.
Right here’s the breakdown:
Atlanta Falcons
Mishandled: The Falcons might have an enormous downside if Kirk Cousins remains to be on the roster come the common season. What occurs if 2024 first-round decide Michael Penix Jr. struggles, and Atlanta is tempted to return to the veteran?
Kirk Cousins’ continued presence on the Falcons’ roster might develop into a difficulty for the event of second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. (Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Pictures)
Arizona Cardinals
Anticipation: We all know the Cardinals’ offense might be explosive, however precisely how far they go may very well be depending on the leap that Marvin Harrison Jr. makes in Yr 2. Arizona additionally obtained two studs within the draft in defensive sort out Walter Nolen III (No. 16 total) and cornerback Will Johnson, a top-10 expertise who slid to Day 2 due to damage issues.
Baltimore Ravens
Roused: At minicamp, Lamar Jackson spoke of the “vengeance” that will likely be on the Ravens’ minds getting into 2025, following their divisional-round loss to the Payments final season. Additionally they have star receiver Zay Flowers getting back from damage and added the form of depth on protection (Malaki Starks and Mike Inexperienced within the draft; Jaire Alexander in free company) that ought to give them loads of confidence getting into the brand new 12 months.
Buffalo Payments
Important: Losers of 4 straight playoff video games to the Chiefs, the Payments should determine tips on how to recover from the hump to succeed in a Tremendous Bowl. The stress in Buffalo has ramped up with Josh Allen, in his prime, coming off an MVP season.
Carolina Panthers
Optimism: After a difficult begin to his profession, 2023 No. 1 decide Bryce Younger began to flash because the Panthers’ franchise quarterback within the second half of final season, producing hope for what he might do in Yr 2 with Dave Canales. Carolina drafted Tetairoa McMillan eighth total to be a brand new prime goal for Younger, and has additionally made vital upgrades to its protection.
Caleb Williams didn’t have the form of rookie season that many league observers anticipated from the No. 1 total decide, however there’s optimism about what’s to come back for him below new head coach Ben Johnson. The Bears have bulked up their offense across the former Heisman Trophy winner, elevating intrigue about what’s doable for them in a aggressive NFC North.
Cincinnati Bengals
Drama: Not solely are the Bengals in a stalemate with All-Professional defensive finish Trey Hendrickson, who’s looking for an extension, however they’re additionally in a messy dispute over contract language with first-round rookie edge rusher Shemar Stewart.
Cleveland Browns
Crowded: The Browns have 4 gamers within the combine to be their beginning quarterback — 5 should you embody Deshaun Watson, who’s recovering from a torn Achilles. How the competitors will shake out is anyone’s guess, however Cleveland now has two first-round picks in 2026, which may very well be leveraged to take a quarterback and begin over once more.
With quarterback Dak Prescott again wholesome, the Cowboys will look to return to the playoffs in 2025. They traded for receiver George Pickens and a pair of former first-round defenders (linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., cornerback Kaiir Elam) to provide their crew a lift below new coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Denver Broncos
Revamped: Denver added to an already elite protection by signing security Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who’ve Tremendous Bowl expertise with the 49ers, and drafting versatile defensive again Jahdae Barron within the first spherical. Bo Nix additionally has extra assist in the offensive supporting forged. The Broncos look poised to construct off their wild-card look final season.
The Lions will get star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who missed 12 video games after breaking his leg final season, again this 12 months. Additionally they added a powerful alternative for cornerback Carlton Davis III in veteran D.J. Reed. However they misplaced Professional Bowl heart Frank Ragnow (retirement) and star coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, who accepted head coach jobs with the Bears and Jets, respectively. These are large holes to grapple with because the Lions nonetheless hope to be in rivalry for a Tremendous Bowl.
The Packers are an excellent crew that isn’t but nice. They’re overshadowed by not solely the higher groups in their very own division, but additionally the NFC’s elite. (Inexperienced Bay suffered two losses to the Eagles final season, together with within the wild-card spherical.) Jordan Love must take the following step as a franchise quarterback. Maybe the addition of Matthew Golden, a uncommon first-round rookie receiver in Inexperienced Bay, helps the QB on that quest.
Houston Texans
Underwhelming: After C.J. Stroud was the second-most sacked quarterback in 2024, the Texans entered the offseason in dire want of retooling their offensive line. However their strikes to handle the group, together with buying and selling away perennial Professional Bowl left sort out Laremy Tunsil, really feel disappointing.
Indianapolis Colts
Competitors: Anthony Richardson Sr. and newcomer Daniel Jones will battle for the QB1 job. With the previous out indefinitely resulting from ache in his surgically repaired proper shoulder, Jones has the early lead within the competitors forward of coaching camp.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Daring: New coach Liam Coen, common supervisor James Gladstone and coordinators Grant Udinski and Anthony Campanile vary between 29 and 42. Jacksonville additionally traded up within the prime 5 of the draft for Travis Hunter, a two-way unicorn however a non-quarterback nonetheless. It’s all an enormous danger — one which Jacksonville clearly believes can repay.
Following their humiliating Tremendous Bowl LIX loss to the Eagles, the Chiefs are anticipated to have an edge within the new season. Not solely did Travis Kelce decide to play in 2025, however Kansas Metropolis may even have Rashee Rice again from an injured knee that value him all however 4 video games in 2024.
Las Vegas Raiders
Energized: Although he is the NFL’s oldest coach at age 73, Pete Carroll has introduced new life to the Raiders together with his youthful, aggressive spirit. With Geno Smith, Las Vegas additionally has respectability at quarterback for the primary time since Derek Carr’s departure.
Los Angeles Chargers
Bodily: Already a run-heavy crew with Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have doubled down on that emphasis by drafting UNC’s Omarion Hampton within the first spherical and signing veteran Najee Harris to a one-year, totally assured $5.25 million deal. Each have a bruising working type.
Los Angeles Rams
Curiosity: How way more elite-level soccer does 37-year-old QB Matthew Stafford have in him? Can new Rams receiver DaVante Adams stave off the inevitable steep decline for an additional 12 months, forming a prime tandem with Puka Nacua? The Rams might be on the prime of the NFC in the event that they get what they want from Stafford and Adams, contemplating how nice their younger protection is changing into.
Miami Dolphins
Uncertainty: The Dolphins say they’re making an attempt to win in 2025, however their secondary stays a big concern with Jalen Ramsey on his approach out the door. The offensive and defensive traces are a piece in progress, too.
The Vikings are certainly optimistic about their prospects with J.J. McCarthy, who’s tasked with changing Sam Darnold and elevating a 14-win crew from a 12 months in the past. Minnesota can have a powerful offense across the 2024 No. 10 total decide. However ups-and-downs are anticipated, as McCarthy missed his complete rookie season resulting from damage.
New England Patriots
Ascending: With promising second-year quarterback Drake Maye and a confirmed head coach in Mike Vrabel, the Patriots are poised to take a significant leap in 2025. Their large free company interval and a universally revered rookie draft class might set a powerful basis for years to come back.
New Orleans Saints
Unfilled: Within the wake of Derek Carr’s retirement, the Saints have an enormous void at QB1. Second-round rookie Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler are the front-runners to succeed Carr, with the injured Jake Haener additionally within the combine.
The Giants would be the newest crew to aim a redshirt rookie season for a first-round quarterback (Jaxson Dart). Additionally they occur to have what seems to be a loaded pass-rush unit with the addition of No. 3 decide Abdul Carter, bringing curiosity about what New York can do in 2025 with a troublesome schedule.
New York Jets
Restart: New coach Aaron Glenn and common supervisor Darren Mougey head the post-Aaron Rodgers Jets, seeking to set the tone for a brand new tradition. Former first-round decide Justin Fields is seeking to show that he generally is a long-term beginning quarterback after stints with the Bears and Steelers.
The Eagles could have misplaced key gamers on their defensive position, like Josh Sweat and Milton Williams, however they’ve added Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari on low-risk, high-reward contracts as replacements. Former first-round decide Kenyon Inexperienced additionally enters the image for guard depth after Mekhi Becton’s departure in free company. With the core of final 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl-winning crew returning and the anticipated progress of younger gamers, Philadelphia must be a risk to repeat.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Delusional: The Steelers’ endurance was rewarded earlier this month when Aaron Rodgers lastly signed after a months-long courtship. However they’ve their hopes set too excessive in the event that they consider the 41-year-old makes them a Tremendous Bowl contender.
Most of the Niners’ key contributors of the previous a number of years are gone, together with Deebo Samuel (commerce), Talanoa Hufanga (free company) and Dre Greenlaw (free company). However San Francisco nonetheless has a number of of its core gamers (Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa, George Kittle), combined with youth. After lacking the playoffs final season, will this show to be the reset that the 49ers wanted?
Seattle Seahawks
Gamble: Sam Darnold had a resurgent 2024 with the Vikings, however there’s an enormous danger the Seahawks are taking within the former No. 3 total decide, who replaces Geno Smith as QB1. In Seattle, Darnold received’t have Kevin O’Connell or almost the identical caliber of an offensive forged that he had in Minnesota.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Adaptability: Baker Mayfield can have his third offensive coordinator in three years with the Bucs this season in Josh Grizzard, who was Tampa’s move recreation coordinator in 2024. The problem will likely be to take care of the explosive offense the crew featured with Liam Coen as OC final season.
Tennessee Titans
Hopeful: With No. 1 total decide Cam Ward within the image, Tennessee is banking on the previous Miami star to be its franchise quarterback for years to come back. That may alter the trajectory of the Titans, who’ve registered three straight shedding seasons.
RELATED: No. 1 decide Cam Ward reveals Titans he’s a ‘gunslinger’ who received’t again down
Jayden Daniels is on a famous person trajectory after probably the greatest rookie quarterback seasons in league historical past. The Commanders have been savvy about constructing round him (and his low cost contract) too, buying and selling for left sort out Laremy Tunsil and large receiver Deebo Samuel. Washington additionally added a first-round offensive sort out in Josh Conerly Jr. and re-signed tight finish Zach Ertz. It is a crew set to compete for Tremendous Bowls for a few years to come back.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a 12 months and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to transferring to Tennessee. You’ll be able to comply with Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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