Rating 10 largest wild playing cards coming into 2025 NFL season: Can Justin Fields get away? Will Bengals ‘D’ enhance?

You hear that? It is the sound of the 2025 NFL common season inching nearer. We’ll get our soccer repair within the type of the Corridor of Fame Recreation this week, and we’re on the doorstep of the preseason, however that’s merely the appetizer. The principle course — the common season — is on the horizon, and it may’t get right here quickly sufficient. 

Till we arrive in Philadelphia, the place the Eagles will unveil their fitness Super Bowl banner and play host to the Dallas Cowboys to kick off the brand new season, we’re left to take a seat and marvel how the whole lot will unfold. As is the case for each season that got here earlier than, there can be issues that happen that we anticipated all alongside to occur. On the opposite facet of the coin, nevertheless, are the wild-card eventualities that nobody noticed coming by any means. 

Beneath, we’ll spotlight 10 of the most important wild playing cards coming into the 2025 season and clarify how they may form the upcoming 12 months relying on how they carry out. 

The number of Michael Penix Jr. within the 2024 NFL Draft was arguably essentially the most surprising decide of the complete three-day spectacle. Now, Atlanta has absolutely turned the keys of the group over to him, and the previous Washington quarterback will enter his second season within the league because the full-time starter. 

As he embarks on this 2025 marketing campaign, he is a reasonably polarizing prospect. For those who have a look at his numbers from his three begins on the finish of final season, you will not be blown away. He accomplished simply 58% of his passes and had a passer ranking of 78.9 over that stretch. Not precisely the kind of manufacturing that gives a ton of optimism, proper? Properly, they do not inform the complete story. Penix did appear to cross the attention take a look at when he was beneath heart, even when the statistical manufacturing did not jive with that notion. So, one thing might want to give. 

If Penix is the first-round expertise that the Falcons hoped he’d be after they took him No. 8 total, they’ve a group of skill-position gamers wo could make them a top-flight offense in the league. Nevertheless, if he struggles to finish half of his passes like he did a 12 months in the past, Atlanta may very well be within the acquainted QB purgatory they have been in ever since transferring off of Matt Ryan. 

There’s a ton of hype surrounding the Broncos coming into 2025, and for good cause. They’re coming off a 2024 marketing campaign the place they made the playoffs in 12 months 1 of Bo Nix and spent the offseason enhancing each side of the ball. Already, that they had the most effective defenses within the league, however doubled down on that energy this offseason with additions like linebacker Dre Greenlaw and security Talanoa Hufanga, together with first-round defensive again Jahdae Barron. Once more, it is a unit that held opponents to the second-fewest yards per play within the league a 12 months in the past and the third-fewest factors per recreation. On paper, they bought higher, which places a ton of stress on the Denver offense. 

A 12 months in the past, Nix dazzled with 29 passing touchdowns en path to a 10-7 file. Will he have the ability to comply with that up with a powerful sophomore 12 months? As for the backfield, it is a new solid of characters consisting of rookie RJ Harvey and veteran J.K. Dobbins. Will that group enhance what was a middle-of-the-pack dashing assault from final season? In the meantime, Evan Engram ought to resolve their lack of manufacturing from the tight finish spot, and Marvin Mims Jr. did appear to be unlocked down the stretch final season, creating much more weapons on the ability positions. However how does all of it come collectively? If Sean Payton can get the offense buzzing and the protection holds as one of many prime models within the league, Denver may very well be scary. If Nix endures a sophomore stoop, nevertheless, and the run recreation is nonexistent, it might get messy. 

Super Bowl 60 picks, futures bets, predictions, sleepers: NFL expert is high on Ravens, Lions, Steelers

Jimmie Kaylor

The San Francisco 49ers are primed for a bounce-back season. They have been hit laborious by accidents in 2024 and will by no means get the prepare again on the tracks, falling to a 6-11 file. Defensively, they noticed an exodus of gamers like Dre Greenlaw, Javon Hargrave and Charvarius Ward, who’re departures they will definitely want to soak up. Nevertheless, an underrated concern for the Niners resides on the huge receiver place. 

The membership traded away Deebo Samuel to the Commanders this offseason, and Brandon Aiyuk — who was paid $120 million on a four-year extension final summer time — remains to be recovering from a torn ACL and MCL he suffered final season. That leaves Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall as the highest two on the place if Aiyuk misses time through the common season. 

Jennings broke out in 2024 with 975 yards and 6 touchdowns final season, and Pearsall was a first-round decide in 2024, so that they each are in idea of taking over the workload in a pinch to maintain the offense afloat. Nevertheless, there’s additionally a world the place San Francisco comes up a bit quick on the place, which lowers their ceiling offensively. 

The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a 14-3 season in 2024, which was the second-highest win complete in franchise historical past. Regardless of that, the franchise enters 2025 with a large query mark at quarterback. After letting Sam Darnold — who threw for over 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns final season — stroll in free company, the group is handing the offense over to 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy. The Michigan product was sidelined for his total rookie season resulting from a knee harm, eliminating the opportunity of him difficult Darnold for the beginning job. 

Quick ahead to in the present day, McCarthy is again to full energy and the unquestioned starter. Whereas his standing as QB1 is not up for debate, how he’ll carry out as soon as he is beneath heart definitely is. Luckily for McCarthy, the Vikings are arguably the best-equipped group within the NFL to usher in a younger quarterback due to their elite skill-position gamers, sturdy offensive line, stout protection, and guru of a coach in Kevin O’Connell. That units him up properly to hold the baton from 2024 and possibly even deliver the Vikings to new heights if he is as marketed. Nevertheless, we can’t really know what Minnesota will/might be in 2025 till he is taking snaps. 

6. Dallas Cowboys

All the eye within the NFC East is on the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders, and rightfully so. In spite of everything, they have been each within the NFC Championship a season in the past, and the Eagles ended up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Philly and Washington ought to once more be main gamers within the NFC, but when the items fall into place, so ought to the Cowboys. 

On paper, there’s rather a lot to love. Offensively, they’ve a quarterback in Dak Prescott, who completed second in MVP voting when he final performed a full season in 2023. In the meantime, Dallas lastly discovered a working mate for CeeDee Lamb on the receiver spot, buying and selling for George Pickens, including a brand new aspect for the passing assault. Defensively, Micah Parsons (assuming he inks an extension) provides them arguably the perfect younger cross rushers within the NFL. If Trevon Diggs and rookie Shavon Revel can get wholesome, they’ve an interesting one-two punch at nook. The elements are there for the Cowboys to proceed having a top-tier passing offense and a feisty protection. Whether or not or not first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer can prepare dinner it as much as a aggressive soccer group, nevertheless, is anybody’s guess at this juncture. Nevertheless it’s not out of the query that Dallas emerges as a critical participant within the division, given the expertise on the roster, supplied it stays wholesome. 

5. Texans offensive line

Houston’s offense took a large step again in 2024, thanks largely to lackluster play alongside the offensive line. Together with firing former OC Bobby Slowik, the Texans additionally revamped the road in an try to keep away from C.J. Stroud being sacked 52 occasions like he did a 12 months in the past. Here is a side-by-side have a look at the Texans offensive line on the finish of final season and what the projected beginning unit is for 2025. 

As you may see, the complete left facet of the road is new, and if second-rounder Aireontae Ersery emerges all through coaching camp, he may very well be one other new face inside this beginning lineup. If the unit can enhance the safety in entrance of Stroud, Houston’s ceiling is tremendously excessive. In spite of everything, the Texans have an elite quarterback with a ton of weapons on the ability positions, coupled with a protection that has top-five upside. Their success hinges on whether or not or not Stroud is working for his life for the second 12 months in a row. 

The Chicago Bears did an amazing job enhancing the roster round 2024 prime decide Caleb Williams this offseason. After a rookie marketing campaign the place he was sacked a jaw-dropping 68 occasions, the membership completely reshaped the inside of the offensive line with guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, together with heart Drew Dalman. In addition they added tight finish Colston Loveland and wideout Luther Burden III within the NFL Draft, giving him much more weapons. Defensively, in addition they added the likes of Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo alongside the defensive position. 

General, it is a higher roster, however how will it fare with Ben Johnson now steering the ship as its coach? Johnson arrived in Chicago as some of the sought-after head teaching candidates over the previous few years after a stellar tenure because the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. Whereas all of us suppose Johnson will transition into being head coach, we do not know that. We have seen loads of extremely touted offensive coordinators ascend to the pinnacle coach spot solely to battle taking up the complete operation. If Johnson suffers an analogous destiny, the Bears can be again to sq. one. If he turns into the pinnacle coach that many of the NFL-watching world thinks he might be, the group is on a critical rise, and possibly as quickly as this season. 

May we critically provide you with an inventory of untamed playing cards and NOT deliver up Aaron Rodgers? The 41-year-old quarterback was the wild card of the 2025 offseason, and he’ll proceed to fit into this class as soon as the common season arrives. What sort of model of Rodgers is Pittsburgh getting? Is it the one that’s coming off a 2024 season the place he tallied career-worst marks in yards per try (6.7) and passer ranking (90.5)? Or is it a extra invigorated Rodgers, who’s trying to exit with a bang in what may very well be his closing season within the NFL? 

Rodgers did appear to rekindle a few of his magic down the stretch final season, so if it is that model the Steelers are getting, it might make them a darkish horse within the AFC North. 

One of many attention-grabbing variables with Rodgers as he transitions to Pittsburgh is how he’ll mesh along with his skill-position gamers. Throughout his tenure in New York, Rodgers leaned towards acquainted faces like Davante Adams and Allen Lazard resulting from their rapport with the Green Bay Packers, and began to shrink back from the likes of Garrett Wilson. Wanting on the Steelers roster and there aren’t any ex-Packers to talk of, so Rodgers might want to change into quick pals with DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith, and others, or else this offense can be a bit bumpy out of the gate. 

I is likely to be within the minority, however I beloved the choice to signal Justin Fields for the New York Jets. At two years, $40 million, it is a low-risk transfer to see whether or not or not the previous first-round decide can change into the fitness veteran quarterback to get pleasure from a late breakout like Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield and Darnold earlier than him. If he does comply with in these footsteps, the Jets may very well be the shock group of 2025. They’ve a real No. 1 wideout in Wilson (who has a built-in relationship with Fields from their days at Ohio State), and a protection that was tied with Denver for second within the league a season in the past in yards per play allowed. We have seen Fields make affect performs along with his legs, and if he can develop as a passer, New York all of the sudden has a succesful quarterback to pair with its stout protection. If he continues to battle via the air, nevertheless, the Jets’ ceiling can be lowered. 

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off an offseason the place they inked Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to profitable extensions, retaining Joe Burrow’s top-two cross catchers in-house for the foreseeable future. Whereas they need to be recommended for that, Cincinnati nonetheless has main questions on the defensive facet of the ball. The Bengals lastly got here to a decision with first-round cross rusher Shemar Stewart on his rookie contract, however are nonetheless in limbo with fellow edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. Regardless of coming off a league-leading 17.5 season in 2024, Hendrickson has been unable to get a decent contract extension from the Bengals, leaving his future doubtful. That casts a giant query over the Bengals and their prospects of getting again into the playoffs in 2025. 

A 12 months in the past, the Bengals allowed 25.5 factors per recreation, which ranked within the backside third within the NFL. They have been additionally third-worst in purple zone effectivity as opposing offenses discovered the top zone on 67.9% of their journeys into the purple space. These defensive deficiencies have been the direct reason behind lacking the playoffs, as they have been unable to win video games even when the offense was piling up factors. In 2024, Cincy misplaced six video games the place it scored at the very least 25 factors (tied for essentially the most in NFL historical past).

If that occurs once more in 2025, we’ll doubtless see an analogous end result. Nevertheless, if the Bengals can merely change into a median protection, it might fully change the vibe across the group, probably as excessive as them being within the Super Bowl dialog.