They name it NFL Christmas as a result of there is no telling what surprises are ready within the draft. And the fantastic thing about the draft is that, whether or not it is the primary general choice or choose No. 199, anybody might go on to change into the league’s subsequent legend.
All of that enjoyable rhetoric apart, no two drafts are created equal. Many NFL golf equipment are already primed for rivalry, it doesn’t matter what occurs on the finish of April, and an unfortunate few are in all probability nonetheless not less than another draft away.
Then there are these with essentially the most to achieve. Each draft presents a chance for also-rans to leap to the forefront, and this 12 months isn’t any exception.
Listed here are eight groups who can change into contenders (to various levels) by nailing their 2025 draft.
Mickey Loomis’ refusal to take a step backward can be admirable if it did not really feel so reckless. The Saints’ common supervisor has as soon as once more pushed his chips in, restructuring Derek Carr’s deal and signing Justin Reid in free company. New Orleans will as soon as once more attempt to win the NFC South in 2025, which can imply counting on a (very) veteran core of 34-year-old Carr, 30-year-old Alvin Kamara, 36-year-old Cam Jordan, 36-year-old Demario Davis and 33-year-old Tyrann Mathieu to each keep wholesome and get the job completed.
It is technically doable. The Saints regarded fairly good final 12 months earlier than your entire roster acquired harm, and key items like Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Erik McCoy will hopefully be more healthy in 2025.
You already know what’d assist lots, too? An infusion of productive younger gamers for this vet-heavy roster. They’ve seen this earlier than. The Saints had been caught within the cycle of mediocrity in 2017, when Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, Marcus Williams, Kamara, Alex Anzalone and Trey Hendrickson confirmed up on the identical time, turning them right into a contender nearly in a single day.
It is a bit unfair to check anybody to that 2017 haul, which may be the most effective draft class in historical past, however there’s nonetheless precedent for a fast turnaround. The Saints have 4 picks inside the highest 100, highlighted by the No. 9 general choose.
Add a few quick difference-makers into the combo, and the Saints very nicely might win their division for the primary time since 2020.
2025 draft picks (9): Nos. 9, 40, 71, 93, 112, 131, 184, 248, 254
Denver might have put collectively essentially the most thrilling offseason that nobody is speaking about.
Contemporary off a playoff look, the Broncos infused their protection with angle by raiding San Francisco’s pantry for 2 proficient tone-setters, Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufunga. The addition of Evan Engram on offense did not flip any heads, but it surely supplies Bo Nix with a dependable weapon at a place that head coach Sean Payton values tremendously.
The Broncos have clearly upgraded their roster with out doing so recklessly. How a lot farther can they take it?
It may be difficult. Because of their surprising success, the Broncos choose within the again half of every spherical. However there nonetheless ought to be ample alternative for enchancment.
Go forward and guess that Payton will probably be looking out for playmakers. Whether or not it is a new prime operating again or pass-catcher depth, Nix nonetheless wants extra weapons. The defensive entrance might use some depth, as nicely.
The Russell Wilson commerce set the Broncos again a bit, however their previous two first-round draft picks are Nix and Patrick Surtain II. If they’ll preserve that monitor document rolling, we might see them change from a pleasing shock to a real power within the AFC.
2025 draft picks (7): Nos. 20, 51, 85, 122, 191, 197, 208
Should you squint, you’ll be able to see the imaginative and prescient for the Seahawks’ pivot to Sam Darnold.
Mike Macdonald’s protection seems to be prefer it’s rounding into kind. If everybody stays wholesome, the defensive entrance goes 5 or 6 deep with guys who can rush the passer, Ernest Jones was a revelation at linebacker final 12 months, and the secondary is suffering from younger skills. This can be a unit that ought to be capable to take some stress off its quarterback, very similar to the Vikings did for Darnold in 2024.
The difficulty is with the offense, which does not appear to be it has as away from a plan as the opposite facet of the ball. The Seahawks signed Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to offset the losses of Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, however that does not precisely really feel like an improve. That is with out mentioning the offensive line, which was one of many NFL’s worst in 2024 and hasn’t added a lot in the best way of latest items.
That leaves a heck of a job for common supervisor John Schneider to do on the finish of the month. Like a number of different GMs on this checklist, Schneider has been on this place earlier than — which might be why he is comfy turning to the draft to deal with his issues. Schneider drafted Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Ok.J. Wright, Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson in a three-year interval, serving to to show the Seahawks from a mediocre afterthought to a group of the last decade. And whereas he hasn’t loved a run that good ever since, the Seahawks’ three most up-to-date drafts have produced a strong group of younger gamers.
There is no time like the current for one more grand slam. Seattle netted a second-round choose within the Metcalf commerce, and a third-round choose once they despatched Geno Smith to Las Vegas. They’ve 5 top-100 picks with which so as to add to this roster and hopefully give Darnold a greater supporting solid.
The Seahawks have completed with a successful document for 3 straight years, however they’ve but to legitimately break by within the post-Russell Wilson period. This draft might assist them accomplish that.
2025 draft picks (10): Nos. 18, 50, 52, 82, 92, 137, 172, 175, 223, 234
It is an annual adage that the draft is the life blood of the NFL. No group takes that extra actually than the Dallas Cowboys.
To be honest to them, the Cowboys did barely extra throughout 2025 free company than they did in 2024. Doing barely greater than completely nothing is not actually value celebrating, although.
The Cowboys have star energy, however additionally they have a roster filled with holes. There is not at present a No. 2 receiver behind CeeDee Lamb, there is a sizable query mark at proper guard after Zack Martin’s retirement. Trevon Diggs may not be recovered from knee surgical procedure in time for the beginning of the season and Jourdan Lewis left in free company, so cornerback is an enormous concern. Even with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders on the roster, a proficient new operating again feels mandatory.
That is a number of stuff to deal with, and solely so many draft picks to go round. However that is how the Cowboys select to function, and typically it really works. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott gave them a shot within the arm with their phenomenal rookie seasons in 2016. Micah Parsons had an identical impact in 2021.
So, the mission is evident: discover not less than one All-Professional, ideally two, on this 12 months’s draft, and the Cowboys would possibly make the soar from middling group to contender. Sounds easy sufficient.
2025 draft picks (10): Nos. 12, 44, 76, 149, 171, 174, 204, 211, 239, 247
If you max out your bank card restrict on veteran stars, the draft can shortly change into your solely choice.
No shade to the Dolphins for pushing their chips in. They tried to construct a Tremendous Bowl roster aggressively by buying and selling for Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb and Jalen Ramsey, and paying marquee free brokers like Terron Armstead.
The spending spree raised the Dolphins’ profile and acquired them to the postseason, however they stalled out in 2024 with no more cash left to spend.
If Tua Tagovailoa is wholesome, that is in all probability ok to be related. If the Dolphins wish to matter much more so, it is going to take some good drafting.
That is been powerful to do not too long ago. The Dolphins gave up their first and second-round picks in 2022 for Hill. They forfeited their first-round choose in 2023 and fourth-round choose in 2024 for violating the league’s tampering guidelines. They usually traded away a separate 2023 third-round choose for Ramsey, for good measure.
This 12 months, Miami has 10 whole draft picks and three of these fall within the prime 100. Not having the assets is not an excuse. The Dolphins want a shot within the arm if they’ll evolve right into a roster that is able to doing greater than dropping within the wild-card spherical.
2025 draft picks (10): Nos. 13, 48, 98, 116, 135, 150, 155, 224, 231, 253
Many of the groups on this checklist are middle-of-the-pack models making an attempt to achieve the playoffs, or playoff groups making an attempt to take the following step and actually contend.
Not the case right here. Tennessee has been a large number for the previous three years, coping with energy struggles, firings and unhealthy soccer. The Titans have not had a successful document since 2021 and personal the No. 1 choose within the draft.
However we have seen 12 months after 12 months that the distinction between dysfunction and rivalry could be one good draft. The Houston Texans had been essentially the most hopeless franchise within the NFL till they drafted C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. with back-to-back picks. Washington had been essentially the most poisonous group within the league for a quarter-century till a brand new entrance workplace drafted Jayden Daniels. Each of these groups had been drafting No. 2 general the identical 12 months they went on unbelievable playoff runs.
The identical may very well be doable for the Titans — supplied they nail these upcoming picks.
Quarterback is the apparent one. Sensible cash says Cam Ward will probably be a Titan in a single month, and if he is the franchise quarterback they hope he’ll be, the training curve may not be too steep. Tennessee has already sunk a fortune into its offense, with first-round picks and high-priced free brokers all around the offensive line. Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are a good sufficient ability group for a group with the worst document within the league. The membership additionally holds the No. 35 choose, which may very well be used to safe a much-needed starter on both facet of the ball.
Nobody is making an attempt to promote the Titans as a Tremendous Bowl contender in 2025, even when Ward is a star. But when he hits the bottom operating, we should not be stunned if Tennessee is within the combine faster than anticipated and pushing for an AFC South crown this 12 months.
2025 draft picks (8): Nos. 1, 35, 103, 120, 141, 167, 178, 188
I am not shopping for the favored rhetoric that the 49ers have utterly fallen off. Sure, there have been a number of large losses in March, however there are nonetheless seven All-Execs on this roster. To not point out some thrilling younger items like Deommodore Lenoir, Malik Mustapha, Dominick Puni and Ricky Pearsall.
The 49ers ought to nonetheless be a great group, however the subject is they do not appear to be the juggernaut they as soon as had been. It was a luxurious to have two star receivers, two star linebackers and a defensive entrance filled with productive veterans. That is not the case anymore.
However the enjoyable factor concerning the Niners’ feast-or-famine historical past is that it advantages them come draft time. That is method too good of a roster to be choosing No. 11 general, but right here we’re.
San Francisco kick-started a Tremendous Bowl run below related circumstances. Accidents helped land the 49ers on the prime of the 2019 draft order, and so they responded by including Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw to a roster that was already strong.
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan must do one thing related right here. The 49ers want assist in the secondary and on the offensive line. Bosa might use some assist speeding the passer.
This group ought to be good. They should add a future All-Professional or two to the checklist they have already got if they’ll be nice.
2025 draft picks (11): Nos. 11, 43, 75, 100, 113, 138, 147, 160, 227, 249, 252
They simply may be the obvious group on this checklist, after their busy March.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are lastly below contract for the long run, and there is optimism in Cincinnati that Trey Hendrickson could be retained, as nicely. Throw in Mike Gesicki, and Joe Burrow’s marketing campaign to maintain the Bengals’ key items within the fold was profitable.
It is a formidable improvement for a group that traditionally hasn’t beloved to spend cash. However now the exhausting half begins.
If you are going to pay that many marquee gamers, you merely need to hit in your draft picks. It is Soccer Economics 101. However the issue for the Bengals is not simply that they should discover low-cost manufacturing, it is their struggles to take action.
The previous few drafts have not been as much as snuff in Cincinnati. Between the previous 24 gamers drafted by the Bengals, solely a handful have crammed significant roles this far. In reality, Burrow and Chase are the one Bengals first-round picks to achieve a Professional Bowl up to now decade.
That may’t proceed if Cincinnati goes to maximise the prime years of those nice gamers. The Bengals want to seek out starters, they should discover Professional Bowlers, they should discover the following crop of men that may need large contracts. And they should do it shortly, earlier than they’re left questioning why they did not win extra.
2025 draft picks (6): Nos. 17, 49, 81, 119, 153, 193
David Helman covers the NFL for FOX Sports activities and hosts the NFL on FOX podcast. He beforehand spent 9 seasons masking the Cowboys for the group’s official web site. In 2018, he gained a regional Emmy for his function in producing “Dak Prescott: A Household Reunion” concerning the quarterback’s time at Mississippi State. Comply with him on Twitter at @davidhelman_.
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