Top Three NFL Teams That Could Go From Worst To First In 2025

The 2025 NFL season is officially here. With the draft now complete, the offseason is essentially over. The next step is offseason workouts and minicamps before training camp opens near the end of July. For some teams, the new season will be about picking up right where they left off and continuing to build toward the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl. But for other teams, 2025 will be about turning the tables and going from one of the worst teams in the league to being a playoff contender.

There are a few teams, however, that put together such a strong offseason that they can already be considered potential contenders in an otherwise loaded league. So let’s take a look at three teams that have the potential to go from worst to first in the NFL.

Chicago Bears

When the Bears drafted Caleb Williams No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft last year, the expectation was that he would come in and provide an immediate spark. While Williams showed flashes of his potential, he was never really able to fully grasp things last season. The Bears not only finished 5-12, but he was the most sacked quarterback in the league. It was clear thought that even though Williams was a rising star, the franchise would need to do more to set him up for success in the NFL.

It all started with the hiring of Ben Johnson, the former offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions and a major piece of their success the last two seasons. Since the Bears hired Johnson, they have been super aggressive both in free agency and in the draft. Signing free agent center, Drew Dalman, and acquiring both Joe Thuney and Joe Jackson in trades, the Bears have made major upgrades to their offensive lin.

They have also added more playmakers for Williams, drafting Colston Loveland from Michigan and Luther Burden III from Missouri. While it is always difficult to predict how rookies will do, the Bears have shown that they are ready to win and if the players that they got pan out, the NFC North could turn into quite the dogfight.

Las Vegas Raiders

Raiiiiderrrrssss. Raider Nation has experienced some highs and lows over the years, with last year being a tough season. But since Tom Brady became a partial owner last season, things have started to look a little different. Finishing 4-13 and missing the playoffs for the third straight season, the franchise fired Head Coach Antonio Pierce and replaced him with two-time national champion and Super Bowl champion, Pete Carroll.

So far in the Carroll era, the Raiders have made many splash moves, trading for Quarterback Geno Smith, drafting Boise State star Ashton Jeanty sixth overall, and drafting former TCU star, Jack Bech. The quarterback has been a problem for the Raiders for the last couple of seasons, and in acquiring Smith followed by giving him an extension, the Raiders have some long-term stability at that spot. Jeanty and Bech are two players who have the potential to take the NFL by storm. Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world. If the Raiders find success this season, football could be the talk of “Sin City.”

New York Giants

Some teams choose to be more aggressive in free agency than the NFL Draft while others opt to put more focus on drafting players. But for the Giants, coming off of a 3-14 season warranted being aggressive in both. Arguably the winners of the entire NFL offseason, the Giants did not shy away from making big moves. Upgrading the roster on both sides of the ball, the Giants signed both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to join their quarterback room while also bringing in guys such as Paulson Adebo, Jevon Holland, and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles to bolster their defense.

When draft weekend came, the Giants made headlines again, not only drafting Penn State edge rusher, Abdul Carter, but they also traded back into the first round to draft Ole Miss Quarterback Jaxson Dart. He is a player that had been climbing up the draft rankings since the combine. At one point having a major quarterback issue, the Giants now have an influx at football’s most important position with a defense that has the potential to surprise people. If the Giants live up to the hype, they could very well give the Washington Commanders, the presumed favorites to win the NFC East, a run for their money.

Final Thoughts

While it is still way too early to know for sure how good these teams are going to be, their offseason moves proved that they are serious about returning to prominence. All three of these teams have had success at some point in their history. They are ready to go back to being a major threat in the NFL that has talent all across the board.