The NFL offseason is often a time for hope.
Each workforce makes its new hires and indicators its new gamers and brings in its long-term constructing blocks within the draft, and this time of yr, everybody needs to suppose that all the pieces goes to work out simply nice. That is the case even as soon as we get rolling into the preseason video games, as a result of there may be nonetheless time for all of the kinks to be labored out.
However in fact, we all know that issues do not all the time work out for the most effective. There are all the time challenges that pop up or issues that should be overcome. That is why we’re right here at this time. We would like to check out a few of the greatest challenges or points dealing with every NFL workforce this upcoming season.
We’ll start at this time by trying on the NFC and shut issues out with the 16 AFC groups on Tuesday.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: Run protection
Dallas has struggled to cease opposing run video games for years now, and did not do all that a lot to improve on the defensive inside this offseason. Until former first-round choose Mazi Smith takes a step ahead (and it will be powerful for him to take action enjoying in a scheme that does not match his talent set), it’s going to be as much as guys like Solomon Thomas and Perrion Winfrey to deal with vital roles, whereas linebackers Marist Liufau, Kenneth Murray, Jack Sanborn, Damone Clark and rookie Shemar James must choose up the slack till Demarvion Overshown returns from his grotesque knee harm.
New York Giants: Quarterback play
The Giants mercifully ended the Daniel Jones period in the midst of final season and can finally make a transition to Jaxson Dart, however earlier than then, there’s going to be an entire lot of Russell Wilson — and that is a significant query mark. When Russ is working scorching on the deep ball, issues can look fairly good, like they did for a stretch in the midst of final season in Pittsburgh. With Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton as perimeter threats, there is a chance of replicating a few of that. However when Russ is not hitting the bombs, he simply would not carry all that a lot else to the desk at this level, and it is there the place the Giants’ offense might run into greater than a little bit of hassle.
Philadelphia Eagles: Replicating outcomes
The Eagles gained the Tremendous Bowl final yr, which is clearly very tough to do twice in a row. However even past that, it would show tough to copy what they did on either side of the ball in 2024. Philadelphia was so overwhelmingly dominant within the run sport that it nearly cannot fairly occur once more. (And there are already some offensive line query marks with Mekhi Becton leaving in free company and Landon Dickerson getting an MRI. Plus, there’s Saquon Barkley’s huge workload.) On protection, the turnover within the defensive backfield is a possible situation. They already added Jakorian Bennett to hopefully shore that situation up. They need to be fairly good, however taking a small step backward from final yr ought to in all probability be anticipated.
Washington Commanders: Cross rush
Even after signing Von Miller, the Commies nonetheless haven’t got a lot in the way in which of juice coming off the sting. Miller himself slumped to solely six mixed sacks and 11 quarterback hits over the past two seasons, and he is more likely to fill the same rotational position to the one he did in Buffalo. Dorance Armstrong has all the time been a greater complementary rusher than one on whom you possibly can depend for steady strain, and after dropping Dante Fowler Jr. again to Dallas, the remainder of the group is wholly uninspiring. Plus, they changed Jonathan Allen inside with Javon Kinlaw, the latter of whom brings little or no within the pass-rush division. Washington has excessive expectations on offense, however the protection is extra of a query mark.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: Assembly excessive expectations
Regardless of having nearly no success final yr, expectations for the Bears’ offense in 2025 are fairly excessive. That’ll occur whenever you rent a wunderkind former offensive coordinator as your head coach in Ben Johnson, then completely remake your offensive line by buying and selling for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and signing Drew Dalman, then draft tight finish Colston Loveland within the first spherical and each broad receiver Luther Burden III and sort out Ozzy Trapilo within the second. Abruptly, Caleb Williams and Co. look like they haven’t any excuses heading into simply the second yr of his NFL profession. And that is a troublesome place to be within the first yr of a sophisticated new system.
Detroit Lions: Offensive turnover
Talking of Johnson, he is not working the present in Detroit. Former Broncos assistant John Morton (who was a particular assistant to Johnson in Detroit in 2022) is now the offensive coordinator. And that is not the one vital change. The dominant offensive line on which the workforce’s id has been constructed is all of a sudden in flux. Kevin Zeitler left the workforce in free company and Frank Ragnow retired shortly earlier than coaching camp opened. The Lions anticipated to make use of second-round choose Tate Ratledge at heart however have already moved him again to protect, with Graham Glasgow shifting from guard to heart and Christian Mahogany stepping in on the different guard spot. Which means new starters at every inside OL spot, two of whom have nearly no expertise.
Inexperienced Bay Packers: Extensive receivers (once more)
Inexperienced Bay drafted Matthew Golden to hopefully clear issues up right here, however there are nonetheless loads of query marks relating to this room. Will Jayden Reed ever be allowed to play in two-receiver units? Can Dontayvion Wicks truly catch the ball when he will get open? If and when Christian Watson will get again on the sphere, can he be greater than an occasional deep-shot artist? Will Romeo Doubs be sad once more now that there is one more mouth to feed? And might Golden carry out at the next degree than his (comparatively) mediocre school manufacturing profile suggests he can? (And can he ditch that No. 22 jersey that makes him look horrible?) The Packers want to seek out solutions for all of those questions and extra so Jordan Love can attain his ceiling.
Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback
There is a purpose we named free-agent signing Isaiah Rodgers because the Vikings’ most necessary non-quarterback for 2025. “The Vikes misplaced a number of gamers from final yr’s secondary, and can be relying on Rodgers to man one of many exterior cornerback spots. He fared pretty properly the previous few years when counted on to step into the lineup for the Eagles, however he is more likely to be a full-time starter now — and in probably the most complicated, tough conditions within the league. Brian Flores walks a decent rope together with his defensive scheme, and if Rodgers is not as much as the duty, issues may change dramatically on that aspect of the ball.”
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: Cross rush
What else is new for the Falcons? They have not discovered a method to rush the passer since roughly 1957 — they usually did not even exist till 1966, so that you go forward and determine that one out. Atlanta double-dipped on go rushers within the first spherical of this yr’s draft by bringing in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., and it’ll want these guys to play a major position in Raheem Morris’ protection as a result of there may be truthfully not that a lot go rush juice elsewhere on the roster. If they cannot persistently get after the quarterback, the Falcons are more likely to once more wind up in a bunch of shootouts.
Carolina Panthers: Cross protection
The Panthers checked in second-to-last in anticipated factors added (EPA) per dropback allowed final season, by way of Tru Media, with opposing quarterbacks sitting fairly in clear pockets and choosing their secondary to items. Carolina acquired strain on simply 25.2% of dropbacks (useless final) and likewise ranked useless final in common time to strain (2.75 seconds). There was no degree of disruption to something that opposing passers wished to do on any degree. In consequence, Carolina yielded first downs on 38.7% of passes (additionally useless final) and explosive performs on 8.6% of dropbacks (twenty seventh within the NFL). If issues do not change this yr, enchancment on offense may not matter as a lot because it appears.
New Orleans Saints: Quarterback play
So, this workforce goes to begin certainly one of Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener and second-round choose Tyler Shough beneath heart. They is perhaps higher off with head coach Kellen Moore strapping on the pads once more and giving it a go himself, given what we noticed from Rattler and Haener of their alternatives final yr and what the experiences are like about Shough popping out of Saints camp. Issues might get very ugly on this entrance.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Offensive accidents
That is somewhat-recently growing problem for Tampa, which was already going to must navigate the lack of offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who took the head-coaching job in Jacksonville and is being changed by Josh Grizzard. Tampa noticed star sort out Tristan Wirfs have knee surgical procedure just a few weeks again, and we do not but know if or when he’ll get again on the sphere. Chris Godwin remains to be working his manner again from the dislocated ankle that ended his 2024 season. And now passing-down again Rachaad White is coping with a groin harm. The Bucs have appropriate replacements for Godwin (Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan) and White (Sean Tucker), but it surely stays to be seen how they deal at sort out (Charlie Heck?) if Wirfs has to overlook video games.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: Passing sport creativity
The Cardinals have been in a position to run the ball pretty efficiently in the course of the Jonathan Gannon period. James Conner has been extremely efficient and an undermanned offensive line has been in a position to clear the way in which for him with larger holes than anticipated. With run-game coordinator Klayton Adams now in Dallas, issues might get a bit harder on that entrance, which implies the passing sport must step up. The Cardinals had been wildly uncreative with their utilization of Marvin Harrison Jr. final yr and it turned the aerial assault into “Marvin please win 50-50 balls” or “Trey McBride, go do stuff.” That may’t occur once more. Drew Petzing and Co. want higher solutions this yr.
Los Angeles Rams: Age and accidents
You may need heard that Matthew Stafford is coping with a again harm. Again accidents and 37-year-old quarterbacks go collectively like lamb and tuna fish. If he has to overlook time, this whole operation falls aside, even for those who suppose Jimmy Garoppolo is a succesful backup. The Rams want Stafford to remain wholesome as a result of his arm and his thoughts open up a lot of what they need to do offensively. In addition they cannot afford for Puka Nacua to overlook time once more, and clearly Davante Adams is getting up there in age as properly. Oh, and Alaric Jackson is coping with harm problems with his personal. This all feels very fragilely constructed, even when the ceiling is excessive.
San Francisco 49ers: Defensive turnover
As we wrote in our burning questions sequence: “Defensive coordinator Nick Sorenson was swapped out for former Jets head coach (and former Niners defensive coordinator) Robert Saleh, whose defenses confirmed enchancment with every passing season that he was in San Francisco. However the Niners additionally simply have an absolute ton of recent gamers on that aspect of the ball. Stalwarts like Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga and Charvarius Ward all moved on in free company, and the Niners added gamers like Tre Brown, Richie Grant and Jason Pinnock in free company, Bryce Huff by way of commerce, and Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, Nick Martin and CJ West within the draft.” How will all of this come collectively in 12 months 1?
Seattle Seahawks: Offensive line
Talking of the burning questions… We wrote in regards to the Sam Darnold expertise and the way inclined he has been to strain behind porous offensive strains, in contrast with what he was in a position to do for a lot of the yr in Minnesota. “Darnold can be enjoying in the same offensive system to the one he was in beneath Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota now that Klint Kubiak has taken over because the offensive coordinator in Seattle, however he will not have the identical kind of infrastructure he was afforded with the Vikings. He has Jaxon Smith-Njigba, however not a duo like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison — and the Seahawks’ clear weaknesses alongside the offensive line will go away him susceptible to strain, which has been a significant situation for him previously. How he and the remainder of the offense navigate that actuality will clearly be necessary to look at.”
