The 2024 NFL season just concluded, with the Philadelphia Eagles topping the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, ending the Chiefs’ chance at a three-peat.
Free agency and the NFL Draft can both shake things up. Franchise-altering quarterbacks can move around and star players can cause a change in power or expectations, but that’s in the future — albeit the near future.
For now, based on what we know, here are Carpenter’s way-too-early NFL power rankings for the 2025 season.
32. Tennessee Titans
The Titans finished the season at an abysmal 3-14, and they find themselves drafting first overall come April. The Will Levis experiment didn’t play out the way that they had hoped. Do they go for a QB? Do they go for the Heisman-winning hybrid in Travis Hunter? All we know is they need some major changes.
31. Cleveland Browns
The Browns need plenty. The infamous Deshaun Watson trade has been nothing short of a disaster, leaving them with no quarterback plan. All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett, the longtime face of the team, requested a trade on Feb. 3, leaving them with a potential huge hole to fill.
30. New York Giants
No quarterback plan. No steady offensive line. A coaching staff on the hottest seat possible. With seemingly everything on the table and possession of the No. 3 pick, they have a chance to address something.
29. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders recently brought in head coach Pete Carroll to bring some stability and proven winning to the franchise. Rookie sensation Brock Bowers is a stud at tight end, but they don’t have much else around him right now. Like the teams above them, they need a quarterback, among other things.
One bettor wagered $10K to win $1M on Raiders (+10000) to win the Super Bowl next season..
You believe in Pete Carroll’s new squad? 🤔
(Via @DKSportsbook) pic.twitter.com/hlSolQhv4H
— br_betting (@br_betting) February 12, 2025
28. New York Jets
What a roller coaster it’s been for this franchise. The team brought in Aaron Glenn as its new head coach, along with a new general manager. Aaron Rodgers brought Super Bowl aspirations, but they were nowhere close to being met. The team has high-end skill position players — primarily Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson — but with Rodgers leaving, who’s going to get them the ball?
27. New Orleans Saints
The Saints are tricky here. They have a QB in Derek Carr, they just brought in Eagles’ offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to take the helm as head coach, and they have some established talent. However, a shake-up among the entire coaching staff, age, injuries, and the salary cap leave questions about what this team will look like come Week 1.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars
New head coach Liam Coen’s introductory “Duuuuuuvaaaal” was trending, and not for good reasons. The team does have former No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence at QB, but at some point, that may not hold weight anymore.
25. Carolina Panthers
The team finished last in defense but played somewhat competitively toward the end of the season. Bryce Young looked better once he was reinstated, so let’s see if he can keep improving.
24. New England Patriots
Mike Vrabel is coming in as a proven head coach, and Drake Maye showed Patriots fans some excitement at the quarterback position. However, they need some playmakers to take it up a notch.
23. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are interesting. The team has inconsistencies at quarterback and the defense didn’t play particularly well on a consistent basis. Yet, they finished 8-9. They brought in former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to get some potential stability on that side, but they need to see a real third-year jump from Anthony Richardson.
Colts GM Chris Ballard on Anthony Richardson:
“We’ve got to have a competition at the position just for the fact that, one, competition makes everybody better. And then, two, Anthony Richardson has not proven he can play 17 games.” pic.twitter.com/ESqKSk3gWK
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) February 12, 2025
22. Chicago Bears
Bringing in the highly-touted Ben Johnson as head coach is exciting, and they have a lot of talent on offense. We just need to see it work.
21. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals, too, finished 8-9 last season. They can seemingly be competitive against anyone, but they also lose — badly. They have some holes, but with what they have on offense, they can try to avoid a collapse pre-playoffs like this past season.
20. Miami Dolphins
Not too long ago, the Dolphins were viewed as one of the better AFC teams. An explosive offense has been overshadowed by injuries and uncertainty regarding star receiver Tyreek Hill, so where this team stands — or may stand — is a little up in the air.
19. Atlanta Falcons
The Kirk Cousins era was short-lived, and rookie Michael Penix Jr. showed fans a little of what he can do. With a ton of talent all around, the team has the chance to take a step.
One of the best throws by any quarterback this season belongs to Michael Penix Jr.pic.twitter.com/YlDeO3prPl
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) January 7, 2025
18. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle went 10-7 last year, but players like Geno Smith and DK Metcalf need new deals. Will they both be back?
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are competitive and they’re good, but they’re aging. Veterans Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are the top two wideouts and, while Evans will be back next year, Godwin may go elsewhere.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have an elite defense, led by T.J. Watt. But they need another weapon at wide receiver. And with either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields leaving — or both — who will their quarterback be?
15. Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott will be back from injury, CeeDee Lamb is an all-world receiver, and Micah Parsons is a star on defense, but that’s about all they have. What will this team look like with a new coaching regime? Could their ranking be impacted by the fact they’re the Cowboys? Sure, whatever that may mean.
14. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings had a great season, going 14-3 behind Sam Darnold‘s resurrection. Will J.J. McCarthy take over the reins, or will Darnold, set to be a free agent, come back? Even if he returns, how much confidence is behind him replicating what he just did?
13. San Francisco 49ers
This may come as a shock to people, but the 49ers went 6-11 last year for a reason. Sure, they’re the 49ers and they’re associated with winning, but Brock Purdy needs to be paid, Deebo Samuel is seeking a trade, and the team has some unanswered questions.
The 49ers have granted Deebo Samuel and his agent Tory Dandy permission to find a trade partner for the wide receiver, Samuel told ESPN. This comes after Samuel asked San Francisco to trade him during the players’ exit meetings after the season.
“It was a hard conversation to… pic.twitter.com/uuEsxgFHIJ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 9, 2025
12. Denver Broncos
The Broncos exceeded all expectations, finishing 10-7 and making the playoffs. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix had a great season but was just overshadowed by fellow rookie Jayden Daniels. The defense is great, but they need a little more help on the offensive side. The future is bright.
11. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams were the closest team to bringing down the Super Bowl champion Eagles in the playoffs. They have an aging yet still top-tier quarterback in Matthew Stafford. Longtime Ram Cooper Kupp will most likely be traded, but they have otherwise young talent and are poised to win now.
10. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers were formidable in 2024, Jim Harbaugh’s first season back as an NFL head coach. Justin Herbert played well and rookie Ladd McConkey was a standout. They also made the playoffs at 11-6, but they lost to the next team on this list. Expect them to contend for a playoff spot again.
9. Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud had a down year compared to his breakout rookie season, but the team still won 10 games and a playoff game. Don’t expect Stroud to struggle any more than he did, especially if they are healthy on offense this time around.
8. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals just missed out on the playoffs, despite Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase lighting defenses on fire. We need to see if they can bring Tee Higgins back, but as long as the defense gets better — it can’t get any worse — they’ll be right back at the top.
7. Washington Commanders
Talk about exceeding expectations. The Commanders tossed all expectations out the window and became one of the most exciting stories of the NFL season. Jayden Daniels had arguably the greatest rookie season ever, and the team was one win away from the Super Bowl. The future is as bright as could be.
W’s all year long for Jayden Daniels 🏆 #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/M2t4cYFUgw
— NFL (@NFL) February 7, 2025
6. Green Bay Packers
The Packers had the misfortune of playing in the toughest division in football in 2024. The team needs a little help at wide receiver, but with a star quarterback already paid and a strong defense intact, this team will continue to be a contender.
5. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have seemed so close for so long, but they just can’t get over that hump. Clean up a few things, upgrade the offensive line, and another year of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will carry this team far.
4. Detroit Lions
The Lions for the longest time seemed like world beaters. Then the injuries started, piling up at an unprecedented rate. A healthy Lions team — even with both top coordinators gone — will be right back as a top contender.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have made five of the last six Super Bowls, winning three. Their constant winning is historic, but their shortcomings caught up to them in the big game this year. They have some holes to fill, and Travis Kelce‘s future is uncertain. But they’re the Chiefs and they’ll be back.
2. Buffalo Bills
How can the Bills be ranked ahead of the Chiefs even though they never beat them when it counts? Because they currently have the best quarterback in football in Josh Allen. They did more this year with less, and when they inevitably add talent in the offseason, they’ll be dangerous and the potential AFC frontrunner.
1. Philadephia Eagles
You saw this coming, right? The defending Super Bowl champions, overly rich with talent, will be going nowhere. Can Saquon Barkley replicate his monstrous season? Most likely not. But the Eagles might still be the next dynasty.
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