NFL power rankings with the 2025 preseason set to begin July 31 (previous rank in parentheses):
1. Philadelphia Eagles (1): The offense returns virtually intact, former coordinator (and new Saints head coach) Kellen Moore a notable exception. Coordinator Vic Fangio is back for a second year running the defense, though that unit will need to adapt from significant losses in free agency. Last year’s club was one of the very best of the past quarter century and seems to have an excellent shot at repeating − especially when you consider proven NFL players like RB AJ Dillon, CB Adoree’ Jackson and OLBs Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche are all projected to be among the backups.
2. Baltimore Ravens (2): How talented is this secondary? Chidobe Awuzie, a Round 2 pick in Dallas eight years ago, projects as the dime back after former Green Bay Pro Bowler Jaire Alexander joined up as the fifth first-rounder likely to play ahead of him on this unit. Stopping the pass was a big problem here a year ago but could be a strength as QB Lamar Jackson and Co. make their latest run at a Super Bowl.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (4): With G Trey Smith and DE George Karlaftis extended, the only piece of semi-pressing team business remaining is a new deal for All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie − and that may have to wait. Resolution on WR Rashee Rice’s post-legal status would also be nice, but even having him back for some portion of this season is a win over his injury-aborted 2024 campaign. K.C.’s biggest issue, the O-line notwithstanding, could be a quickly narrowing gap with their AFC West competitors.
4. Buffalo Bills (5): The only franchise to play in four consecutive Super Bowls − all infamous losses in the 1990s − is now the only team with 78 wins (playoffs included) over a six-season stretch without reaching a Super Bowl. Will Josh Allen’s (and the Mafia’s) suffering finally end in 2025?
5. Los Angeles Rams (3): No team pushed Philly closer to the precipice in the 2024 playoffs than the Rams. No team might be more heavily reliant on a seemingly brittle component − Matthew Stafford − than the Rams, their 37-year-old quarterback sidelined so far this summer by a balky back. He’s missed 11 starts over the past three seasons. But if he’s generally available in 2025, LA could wind up in SF for SB60.
6. Green Bay Packers (8): They bring a compelling mixture of young talent but also continuity, an aspect that could distinguish them from their NFC North rivals, who are all undergoing some measure of major upheaval at a key spot.
7. Washington Commanders (6): If you’d told their fans a year ago that the 2025 Commanders would reach the divisional round of the postseason, imagine what the excitement level would have been. Now? That might seem like a major disappointment for a team led by a quarterback, albeit the amazing Jayden Daniels, heading into just his second season.
8. Denver Broncos (13): While coach Sean Payton and QB Bo Nix might be this team’s most recognizable faces, a defense that ranked seventh overall in 2024 might wind up being its strength.
9. Detroit Lions (7): The departures of coordinators Ben Johnson (Bears) and Aaron Glenn (Jets) for head coaching gigs have drawn deserved offseason focus for the impact in Motown. But HC Dan Campbell also lost six other assistants as other teams try to replicate Detroit’s recent success. Most of the Lions’ copious talent remains, but it remains to be seen if the revamped staff can maximize it following a 27-7 regular-season mark over the past two seasons.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (16): If the Aaron Rodgers era lasts eight months, this season could be the sterling silver Stairway to Seven. If the Aaron Rodgers era lasts seven months, this season will be a slag pile that could land some folks on the scrap heap. But it seems off to an encouraging start in steamy Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
11. San Francisco 49ers (14): With many of their top players, like RB Christian McCaffrey and LT Trent Williams, healthy again − and armed with a last-place schedule that is the league’s easiest based on opponents’ collective winning percentage (.415) in 2024, they’re well positioned for a major rebound. Still, with WR Brandon Aiyuk still on the mend from his 2024 ACL/MCL tear, WR Jauan Jennings seeking a raise, and the defense trying to recover from several departures, the beginning of the season could be something of a speed bump.
12. Arizona Cardinals (17): Below average under rookie coach Jonathan Gannon in 2023 to average last season, the Cards are hoping to sustain the upward trend into the postseason.
13. Houston Texans (10): Will they regret building their ground game around RBs Joe Mixon, Nick Chubb and Dameon Pierce, who are all in various states of disrepair?
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9): With LT Tristan Wirfs (knee surgery), arguably the Bucs’ best player, and WR Chris Godwin (ankle) stuck on the PUP list amid yet another offensive coordinator change, it’s worth wondering if the perennial NFC South champs fall into an early season hole.
15. Los Angeles Chargers (11): While the eye injury to RB Najee Harris and retirement of WR Mike Williams have generated the summer headlines, the main concern here might be the defense given the Bolts allowed an average of more than 25 points over their final five games of last season … and that was before they lost Joey Bosa and several others in free agency.
16. Seattle Seahawks (15): As a member of the Vikings, QB Sam Darnold dealt the 2024 Seahawks a death blow last December in Lumen Field. Now the 12s can only hope he’s the real deal and won’t serve a self-inflicted coup de grâce in November.
17. Minnesota Vikings (18): Maybe it’s apples to Granny Smith apples, but let’s attempt some contextualization. QB J.J. McCarthy attempted an average of 22.1 passes during his final (championship) season at Michigan in 2023. During his rookie absence in 2024, Darnold never threw fewer than 24 in a game for Minnesota on the way to his first Pro Bowl honors. Should be interesting to see how long HC Kevin O’Connell keeps the training wheels on McCarthy.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (12): In case you were wondering just how bad this defense might get without All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson − though he’s at least ready to end his holdout and stop getting fined − no one else had more than five sacks or 23 pressures in 2024. He had a league-leading 17½ and 54, respectively.
19. New England Patriots (20): Highly regarded new coach. Talented second-year quarterback. An offseason loaded with major moves. Don’t be surprised if their 2024 win total (4) doubles.
20. Chicago Bears (19): Highly regarded new coach. Talented second-year quarterback. An offseason loaded with major moves. Don’t be surprised if their 2024 win total (5) doubles.
21. Dallas Cowboys (22): Tyler Guyton, last year’s first-rounder, avoided a catastrophic camp injury and could be ready by Week 1. But whether he’s in the lineup or not, this team needs much better play from the left tackle spot if QB Dak Prescott is going to survive the full season.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (26): The attention is understandably focused on WR/CB Travis Hunter, the second pick of the 2025 draft. Much more should be focused on QB Trevor Lawrence, the first pick of the 2021 draft − and upon whose shoulders, surgically repaired and otherwise, this franchise’s fortunes will rise or fall.
23. New York Jets (25):They’ve got certifiable stars, a new coach who seems to be galvanizing the entire organization, a compelling haul of rookies and ample buzz around new QB1 Justin Fields. But given how often potential and production are inversely related in the New York market, Glenn and Co. have plenty to prove despite all the promise.
24. Atlanta Falcons (27): Amid the runaway speculation about QB2 Kirk Cousins’ future here … it might be here. With all of 230 snaps as a rookie, QB1 Michael Penix Jr. hasn’t played much more than 2024 draft mate McCarthy, who also effectively replaced Cousins. But now two years removed from his Achilles tear plus arm and shoulder woes in 2024, don’t be surprised if “KFC” comes out of the bullpen at some point and plays much better than he did late last season.
25. Carolina Panthers (23): If third-year QB Bryce Young is to sustain last year’s late-season momentum, he’ll need what was by far the league’s worst defense to put him in far fewer compromising positions.
26. Las Vegas Raiders (21): Maybe the departure of DT Christian Wilkins proves to be addition by subtraction. But it also leaves the defense in an even more precarious position while further incentivizing opponents to double- and triple-team DE Maxx Crosby.
27. Miami Dolphins (24): Speaking of defenses that have shed Wilkins − and CB Jalen Ramsey and S Jevon Holland and DL Calais Campbell − if the Fins’ pass rush can’t live up to its dominant potential, then this offense might have to win a lot of shootouts.
28. Tennessee Titans (31): They got QB Cam Ward atop the draft and, to the degree it wasn’t already, it’s full speed ahead with the rookie now that backup Will Levis has opted for season-ending shoulder surgery. Could be a rough, if hopeful, ride in Nashville.
29. New York Giants (28): They didn’t get QB Cam Ward atop the draft − but reportedly tried − instead coming back into the bottom of Round 1 for Jaxson Dart. But it’s currently full speed ahead with veteran Russell Wilson … even if he’s unable to get this offense into third gear.
30. Indianapolis Colts (30): Legend has it that legendary coach and analyst John Madden uttered the phrase, “If you’ve got two quarterbacks, you have none.” Not sure many folks will be playing “Madden NFL” with this Colts team.
31. Cleveland Browns (29): Given the open question here at quarterback, the offense would most obviously benefit from a strong rushing attack. But Chubb left and rookie second-rounder Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned due to ongoing legal issues. Jerome Ford, who rushed for a team-best 565 yards in 2024, stands to get a heavier workload than the DUDE Wipes that seem to underpin much of the team’s marketing efforts.
32. New Orleans Saints (32):Derek Carr − gone. Tyrann Mathieu − gone. The core of what was a top-10 scoring defense four of the past five seasons − gone. Hope at the outset of the 2025 season − a camp holdout.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL power rankings: Preseason starts with challengers eyeing Eagles