Fourteen teams made the NFL playoffs last season, leaving 18 others to devise an offseason plan to get back to the postseason.
Now that we've arrived at training camp, the vast majority of the roster-building process is in the rearview with franchises re-signing holdovers, acquiring new players in free agency and selecting young talent in the draft over the last several months. Teams have until Aug. 26 to set their 53-man rosters.
Before we arrive at that deadline, let's look back at what those 18 teams that didn't make the postseason did to improve and ask the question:
Which non-playoff team has made the biggest leap since the end of the 2024 season?
PICK: Chicago Bears
Sometimes the easy answer is also the correct answer. The Bears completely revamped their biggest areas of weakness in one offseason: The coaching staff and offensive line. Ben Johnson brings the potential to unleash the most dynamic offense Chicago has ever seen -- not hyperbole. A year ago, the offensive line was full of question marks that inevitably wouldn’t pan out. General manager Ryan Poles went out and paid handsomely for proven veterans. If they stay healthy, the line goes from a liability to an asset. It’s all set up for Caleb Williams. For the Bears to capitalize on all the positive offseason vibes, the second-year quarterback needs to have a Year 2 leap.
PICK: New England Patriots
The Patriots improved on all levels this offseason, starting with hiring a proven head coach in Mike Vrabel. They then went on a spending spree in free agency, signing DL Milton Williams, CB Carlton Davis, OLB Harold Landry and WRs Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins. New England selected two immediate starters early in the draft (first-round pick Will Campbell and second-rounder TreVeyon Henderson), both of whom should help Drake Maye take a step forward in Year 2. I see Vrabel's squad finishing second in the AFC East behind Buffalo and making the postseason for the first time since 2021.
PICK: San Francisco 49ers
The Bears and Patriots have their respective fan bases feeling pretty optimistic right now, and rightfully so. But I’m shining a spotlight on a sleeping NFC giant that’s ready to re-emerge from the shadows after an underwhelming injury-marred campaign, scarred by defectors, distractions and an uncharacteristically poor run defense. The 49ers spent the last several months putting those issues behind them. They’ve rebuilt morale (by taking care of their own and welcoming back one of their most beloved leaders), fortified their defensive front and -- most importantly -- enjoyed a full offseason to just get right. Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Ricky Pearsall, Brock Purdy and Nick Bosa -- all of whom missed significant time last year or battled nagging injuries for a chunk of it -- should be back to 100 when September hits. Plus, the team should eventually get Brandon Aiyuk (ACL and MCL) back, too, which would provide a meaningful boost after the campaign is underway. With a bit of good fortune, and one of the league’s more favorable schedules, the Niners have the potential (best-case scenario!) to double last season’s win total.
PICK: Chicago Bears
It's hard to find any franchise that did more to improve itself than the Bears. They hired a bright offensive mind in Ben Johnson to help quarterback Caleb Williams reach his potential. They rebuilt the interior of the offensive to make sure Williams is protected after he was sacked 68 times as a rookie. Finally, the draft supplied two more talented weapons, with tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III coming in the first two rounds. In short, Chicago should have better coaching and a better roster. That should be enough to help the Bears find a playoff spot despite playing in the ultra-competitive NFC North.
PICK: Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence has acknowledged he needs to "turn it on" this fall after an injury-marred season that saw him go 2-8 as a starter. He knows it. The Jags know it. Hell, the whole (football) world knows it. That's why the franchise spent the offseason building around its franchise quarterback. Jacksonville hired proven play-caller Liam Coen to help jump-start the offense, retooled the offensive line and brought in more playmakers, including two-way star Travis Hunter, who could make a legitimate case to win both rookie of the year awards in 2025. If the defense improves at all -- it should -- there's a good chance the Jags double their 2024 win total (four). And let's face it, winning the division isn't out of the question because, well, the AFC South isn't exactly brimming with elite quarterbacks right now.
PICK: Las Vegas Raiders
The four-win Raiders entered this offseason with a long to-do list. Perhaps their biggest move was hiring Pete Carroll, who previously revived a franchise and turned it into a perennial winner. Reuniting with his former coach to take care of "unfinished business," Geno Smith is an upgrade over both Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew. Also, the Raiders landed one of the top players in this year's draft in running back Ashton Jeanty. They added young talent to the WR corps in second-rounder Jack Bech and fourth-rounder Dont'e Thornton. Smith should have no shortage options with this young group, led by all-world tight end Brock Bowers. At least on paper, this looks far from the offense that ranked 29th in scoring and 27th in yards a year ago.
The defense looks much improved, too. The Raiders are hoping for the healthy return of Christian Wilkins, who was limited to five games last season due to a foot injury that currently has him on the PUP list. (UPDATE: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that the Raiders are releasing Wilkins after one season of a five-year deal.) They signed Germaine Pratt, Elandon Roberts, Jeremy Chinn and Eric Stokes in free agency.
If you're not yet a believer in a Vegas turnaround in 2025, I'll leave you with a comment Carroll made earlier in the week:
"We are going to win a bunch of games. I can't even imagine anything else. I've been winning 10 games a year for 20 years or something. I mean, what are my expectations? We are going to win a bunch, and I don't care who hears that."
PICK: Chicago Bears
After wasting Caleb Williams' rookie year, the Bears attacked the offseason with the mindset of building around their franchise quarterback. Williams has to feel confident with Ben Johnson calling the plays, a revamped offensive line and several new weapons at his disposal, including first-round TE Colston Loveland. With those major changes to the coaching staff and offense, and the defense adding key pieces to its front, Chicago is in good position to vie for first place in a loaded division.
