In the ephemeral world of modern content churn, March's free agency frenzy already feels like a distant memory while April's draft is rapidly becoming old news.
So, as we sit here in mid-May, with most offseason talent acquisition in the rearview mirror, what lies ahead for football fanatics?
HYPE.
Four months from kickoff, 'tis the season to be jolly. All 32 franchises are awash in optimism, as spring is truly a time of renewal and rejuvenation in the NFL. With the coming summer to fully marinate in the positive vibes, this is when bandwagons form.
Which bandwagons will be worth the ride? Well, that's what I'm here to explore today, spotlighting a mix of teams and individuals with enticing upside in 2025. Hop aboard now before these eight hype trains fill to capacity!
THE TEAMS
Well, this is awkward. In the first two decades of this millennium, the Patriots dominated to a level that prompted widespread resentment, establishing themselves as an “Evil Empire” akin to the Yankees in Major League Baseball. And now I have the inconceivable gall to sell New England as an attractive bandwagon for the masses?!
Yup. Apparently I do. Admittedly, this was a difficult development to wrap my head around, too, so allow me to explain where I’m coming from …
Having posted losing records in four of the past five seasons -- including consecutive 4-13, last-place finishes over the last two -- New England suddenly looks like a fun team on the rise. The pitch begins where all analysis starts in contemporary football: at the quarterback position. As a rookie, Drake Maye showed so much while working with so little that it was impossible to not fantasize about his upside with a better supporting cast. This offseason, the front office has given him that upgrade. The effort began in free agency, when New England spruced up his receiving corps and offensive line with veteran signings like Stefon Diggs and Morgan Moses, but the Patriots fully showered Drake with support in the draft. Spending their first four picks on a blind-side protector (Will Campbell), two explosive playmakers (TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams) and the class’ best pure center (Jared Wilson), the Pats earned top billing on my draft report card. I’m excited to see what the franchise’s prodigal son, Josh McDaniels, can do with Maye and this offense. As for the other side of the ball? I’m even more bullish.
With significant free-agent additions on all three levels of the defense (SEE: Milton Williams, Harold Landry, Robert Spillane and Carlton Davis III), this unit is poised to make substantial progress from last season, when New England ranked 22nd in points and yards allowed, as well as 30th in Defensive DVOA. Check out the Patriots’ defensive depth chart -- it’s quite imposing. It’d be hot-takey to say the Pats will field the NFL’s top defense this coming fall, but I won’t be surprised if this group winds up in the league's upper crust, making a similar leap to the one we saw this past season from Denver’s D.
All in all, the Patriots head toward the 2025 campaign with a whole new energy. Given Mike Vrabel’s mostly impressive work in Tennessee, New England’s new head man seems like the kind of coach who can flip the switch in Foxborough.
Well, this is also awkward. The No. 2 entity in this year’s band of bandwagons was No. 1 on last year’s list. Yes, I gassed up the 2024 Bears, who started out 4-2 … before losing 10 straight games, costing Matt Eberflus his job in the process. In a banner year for the NFC North with three playoff participants, Chicago was the red-headed stepchild locked away deep in the divisional basement.
With that in mind, what has me doubling down on Chicago hope? Offseason wins, of course!
The Bears nabbed the hottest name of this year’s coaching cycle in Ben Johnson, giving Caleb Williams one of the most celebrated offensive architects in football today. In free agency, Chicago executed a much-needed renovation of its interior offensive line. In the draft, Ryan Poles spent his first two picks on a pair of playmakers -- mismatch tight end Colston Loveland and YAC monster Luther Burden III -- rounding out a diverse set of pass catchers that already featured DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet. Johnson and Williams can (and should) cook with these ingredients. Defensively, Dennis Allen was a wise hire. Like Eberflus, the former Saints head coach seems like he’s at his best in a coordinator role.
So, I encourage you to join me for another season on this bandwagon. If it careens off the tracks once again, we can all disembark together ... until the Bears win next offseason.
The Jonathan Gannon era got off to an awkward start in Arizona, with the head coach going viral for cringey sound effects and a mockable motivational speech, but the Cardinals have taken true strides during his first two years on the job, finishing just below .500 last season. Fronting a coaching staff dotted with young up-and-comers, including OC Drew Petzing and DC Nick Rallis, Gannon has this organization on the rise. GM Monti Ossenfort significantly upgraded the defensive roster this offseason via free agency (Josh Sweat, Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson) and the draft (Walter Nolen, Will Johnson). With respect to the offense? Well, therein lies the biggest question with this burgeoning bandwagon:
Is Kyler Murray a true franchise quarterback?
A former No. 1 overall pick, Murray already signed a five-year, $230.5 million extension. Nevertheless, he still leaves much to be desired. Boasting explosive traits, the 27-year-old has the ability to take over games, but the consistency just isn’t there on a weekly basis. He tends to disappear at times, which isn't ideal at the game's most important position. If Murray can take a real step forward in Year 7, the Cardinals should hit the playoffs for just the second time in 10 seasons.
THE INDIVIDUALS
The 2023 first-round pick has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first two NFL campaigns, leading the league in touchdowns this past season. Yet, it still feels like seats remain available on this bandwagon. Maybe it’s because Gibbs’ 2024 effort was overshadowed by the high-profile work from a couple of tenured RB luminaries (Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry) in a resurgent year for the position. But the Lions star left us with a staggeringly productive stretch in his final four games:
- Week 16 at Chicago: 23 rushes, 109 yards, 1 TD; 4 catches, 45 yards.
- Week 17 at San Francisco: 18 rushes, 117 yards, 1 TD; 4 catches, 46 yards.
- Week 18 vs. Minnesota: 23 rushes, 139 yards, 3 TDs; 5 catches, 31 yards, 1 TD.
- Divisional Round vs. Washington: 14 rushes, 105 yards, 2 TDs; 6 catches, 70 yards.
Now, it should be noted that Gibbs received an increased workload during that period, due to David Montgomery’s MCL injury in Week 15. “Knuckles” should be back to full health this fall, but I won’t be surprised if “Sonic” establishes himself as more of the 1A in this dynamic duo. Squarely in his prime at age 23, Gibbs is one of the most electric playmakers in the game.
Fresh off a career year that saw him tie for second in touchdown passes (41) while finishing third in passing yards (4,500) and completion percentage (71.4), Mayfield is about to play under his fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons. On the plus side, Tampa Bay maintained continuity with an internal hire, promoting former pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard to the OC post following Liam Coen’s departure to become head coach of the Jaguars. Furthermore, Mayfield’s protected by one of the best offensive lines in the league. And he’s supported by a deep group of pass catchers and ball carriers, with the Buccaneers’ first-round pick, Emeka Egbuka, only adding to those riches.
Egbuka was my WR1 in this draft class, even though I view him as a WR2 in the NFL. He just offers such a reliable, well-rounded game. Joining a receiving corps that already includes Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan -- who closed his rookie campaign with seven touchdowns in the final five weeks of the regular season -- Egbuka was a luxury pick for GM Jason Licht. But Baker ain’t complaining!
With the Jets posting a 30-64 record during Joe Douglas’ five-plus seasons with the team, the former general manager clearly didn’t assemble a winner. But he collected plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. Glancing at the Jets’ roster today, it doesn’t look like a hopeless team that just went 5-12. In fact, given some of the targeted additions in free agency and an impressive draft haul, Gang Green appears more like a prime turnaround candidate with the right guy in charge. I think Aaron Glenn could be that guy.
Dan Campbell’s right-hand man in Detroit for the past four seasons, Glenn knows what it takes to lift a program from the depths of despair. And he specifically knows what success looks like in New York, having twice earned Pro Bowl honors as a cornerback for the Jets. He was a member of the 1998 team that set the franchise record for regular-season wins (12) and made it to the AFC Championship Game.
Now, these Jets face the same quarterback question that has defined most of the franchise’s existence, but on that front, I can appreciate the new regime’s first stab at addressing the issue. Signing Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal, new GM Darren Mougey made a relatively low-stakes bet on a playmaker who gave Glenn some fits during his time as Detroit’s defensive coordinator.
The first off-ball linebacker selected in last year’s draft, Cooper missed the entire preseason with a hip injury, limiting his playing time in September. But he forced his way into steady snaps in October as a rangy playmaker in Jeff Hafley’s defense, stuffing the stat sheet with tackles, sacks and takeaways. A hamstring injury cost him three games as the calendar flipped from November to December, but by season’s end, Cooper was the kind of impact defender who jumped off the screen. Just ask Hafley, who provided the following assessment in early January.
"I totally see what everybody sees,” Green Bay’s defensive coordinator said after the Week 17 game at Minnesota, in which the ‘backer logged season-highs in snaps (83), tackles (11) and tackles for loss (4). “If you turn on the TV copy of that guy, you can make a 12-play cut-up and it's just like, 'Whoa.' The way he runs people down, the way he weaves under gaps and shows up behind the line of scrimmage … He's got a lot of natural ability, and he's getting better and better.”
Indeed. I sent him flying up the board in the final Rookie Rankings of last season, and his No. 12 spot still felt too low. If the 23-year-old can avoid soft-tissue setbacks, full-fledged stardom awaits.
Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: Cam Ward isn’t going to replicate the transcendent debut we just saw from Jayden Daniels. That’s not what this is about. Tennessee’s roster remains underwhelming, and frankly, Ward just isn’t as polished a prospect as Daniels was entering the NFL. But that last part is kind of the draw here.
Despite being the least-discussed No. 1 overall pick since Eric Fisher and the least-discussed No. 1 overall quarterback in memory, Ward has authored a compelling rags-to-riches tale. A zero-star recruit in high school, the signal-caller steadily ascended from Incarnate Word to Washington State to Miami. How will he fare in his most difficult transition yet? That’s what I’m fascinated to follow!
Ward’s pure arm talent can drop your jaw, but some of the decision-making brings palm to face. He’s an ambitious gunslinger who loves to extend plays, for better or worse. Now, that description might make some Titans fans squeamish, given the Will Levis experience, but I think Ward enters the league with more clubs in the bag than his predecessor and a superior overall feel for the position. Sometimes, the soon-to-be 23-year-old is just a little too confident in his arm and general playmaking ability. It’s on Brian Callahan to help Ward find the right balance between hero ball and game management, a process that will take time. But me? I’m here for the fireworks.
Long story short: This absolutely could be the bumpiest bandwagon on the list, but a thrill ride of peaks and valleys can make you feel alive. ALLLLLL ABOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRD!!
