The NFL season begins on Thursday as the Dallas Cowboys visit their rivals and the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Of course, much to the shock and dismay of Cowboys fans (and perhaps a large portion of the rest of football fans), they'll take the field without Micah Parsons — and somehow with Kenny Clark as a key part of the shocking trade with the Green Bay Packers.
It's rare that we see something as world-shifting in the NFL as the Parsons trade this close to the start of the regular season. But the Cowboys lost their one true game-changer on defense, while the already near-contending Packers turned their weakness, a shallow pass rush, into one of the best pass-rush duos in the league. That's the type of move that shakes up any NFL Power Rankings we had before them.
And that's what happened. I had been working on the NFL Power Rankings entering Week 1, after all of the offseason moves in free agency, the draft, and with trades, for some time trying to refine the right order for all 32 teams. Then I had to go back to the drawing board after the Parsons trade.
So, where do the Packers now end up? How far should we be dropping the Cowboys? Before we get into the season (and before the chaotic nature of football makes this all look entirely stupid), let's rank all 32 NFL teams and divide them into tiers.
Even 'there's always next year' might be a stretch
32. New Orleans Saints
Man, starting Spencer Rattler at quarterback is never a place you want to be, especially after the Saints just drafted Tyler Shough in the second round. That's just the start of the issues for a New Orleans team that seems lacking in the trenches and is in dire need of a complete tear-down and rebuild.
31. Indianapolis Colts
The fact that Daniel Jones beat out Anthony Richardson says more about the latter than Mr. Dimes. In either case, though, it's hard to have any semblance of confidence in the Colts given their quarterback issues and the fact that this defense only looks marginally improved. This could go south fast in Indianapolis this season.
30. Cleveland Browns
After an offseason QB battle was settled quite uninterestingly — namely, without Shedeur Sanders being meaningfully involved at the top of the depth chart — the Browns just feel like they're punting on the season. Joe Flacco may help water find its level offensively, but the ceiling is so low it's hard to imagine this team making any real meaningful noise.
Eyes on the future
29. Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward entering the fray is massive for the future of the Titans. I'm a believer in the rookie, but let's also not pretend that there won't be a lot of growing pains in Nashville this season. The O-line remains a concern and the defense, though it has pieces, is still a work-in-progress. There will be flashes from Tennessee this year, but it's all about the future. If Ward has a good rookie season and the foundation is set for the offense, that'd be considered a win for this franchise.
28. New York Jets
Consider me quite skeptical that the Jets' gamble on Justin Fields is going to prove any kind of fruitful. This Jets roster isn't a complete disaster, but there are enough holes at quarterback and even in parts of the defense to think that new head coach Aaron Glenn has things trending in the absolute right direction, but perhaps it'll take some time to reach the final destination.
27. New York Giants
While Abdul Carter and this Giants defense will showcase some elite playmaking this season, the Giants quite clearly aren't in their finished form yet. I don't know how anyone is convincing themselves that Russell Wilson is going to help elevate this offense, but I'm already starting to count the days until New York officially hands the keys over to Jaxson Dart, who looked like the real deal throughout the preseason. In a season that should largely be about future building blocks, the rookie QB needs to be given the keys to the car sooner rather than later.
26. Carolina Panthers
Given the late-season surge from Bryce Young right when everyone had written off the former No. 1 overall pick, there is reason to think the Panthers could make a push back closer to relevance this season. The defense gives you more than enough reason to remain skeptical of that, of course, but having Young make strides and continue those as they improve the offensive skill positions meaningfully with the likes of Tetairoa McMillan could make Carolina frisky this season, and more importantly give Dave Canales and Co. strong footing to walk forward on with this team.
25. Las Vegas Raiders
No team has me torn quite like the Raiders entering the season. On one hand, I have immense respect for Pete Carroll as a head coach, and the fact that new GM Jon Spytek made such wholesale changes to try and hand his new coach a functional roster is admirable. At the same time, I still have my reservations that this defense is good enough outside of Maxx Crosby and a few others, and there's a chance that the Geno Smith-led offense is the epitome of steady-but-not-great throughout the year, even with the addition of Ashton Jeanty to the backfield.
Purgatory's Risers and Fallers
24. Miami Dolphins
As we get closer to the start of Week 1, there's a slowing growing swell of optimism for the Dolphins. After all, whenever Tua Tagovailoa has been healthy, this team has been an above-average group. That's probably still going to be true of this offense, though I do wonder if we see some decline given some uncertainty with Tyreek Hill at this stage of his career. But frankly, I think this defense might be a certified problem this season, one that the offense can't fully overcome.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
Is this the first functional situation that we've seen Trevor Lawrence in since he joined the Jaguars? There's undeniably a real question about Liam Coen and what he looks like as a head coach, especially considering he's surrounded by a largely inexperienced staff. At the same time, Jacksonville has assuredly improved the talent on this roster and, if Lawrence is going to live up to his No. 1 pick status, this might be the first real signs we see it now that he's joined by adults in the room.
22. New England Patriots
Mike Vrabel might be able to change a culture like you and I change a t-shirt at 4 p.m. on a sunny July day. The vibes out of New England could not be stronger given what this team has been mired in over recent years. There is a substantially improved offensive group around Drake Maye now, and we could see the Patriots start to take off. What could define their ceiling is how much of a leap they and even the defense are able to make under Vrabel, though, but it's not far-fetched to put the Patriots among the legitimate rising sleepers in the NFL.
21. Dallas Cowboys
In the wake of the Micah Parsons trade, it would seem to me that the best-case scenario for the Dallas Cowboys in the 2025 season is that they are the Bengals from a year ago. A healthy Dak Prescott means that this offense, especially with former OC Brian Schottenheimer now the head coach, should mean this team can score a ton after adding George Pickens. But without Parsons, this defense has fundamental issues that I don't think Matt Eberflus is capable of overcoming. Expect the Cowboys to be in a ton of shootouts that, ultimately, turn into coin-flips.
20. Chicago Bears
Don't be too mad to see the Bears this low on this list. I'm actually fully a believer in Ben Johnson and, by proxy, what Caleb Williams is going to look like in this offense. The revamped offensive line might be an even bigger reason to believe in the Chicago offense. However, I have questions about the defense that persist, especially for a group that, at least from where I'm sitting, looks a little too thin on the depth chart. I'd be happy to be proven wrong, but I do believe that could hold Chicago back from a full-on breakout in Johnson's first season.
19. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta winding up at the end of the "Purgatory" tier is fitting, because it absolutely does seem as if the Falcons are well on their way to climbing out of this spot. This is Michael Penix Jr.'s team now, and the upside prospect that brings to this talent rich offense is enticing. With the offseason additions to this defense, there's also now more hope than ever for the defense as well. It's not a guarantee that everything clicks immediately, but the positive signs are too numerous to ignore for the Dirty Birds.
Finally, Pure 'Mid'
18. Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans has proven that the Texans defense is going to remain rock-solid or better at just about any point, especially as the young leaders of that group only continue to blossom in their respective careers. And the skill positions led by C.J. Stroud on offense are obviously nothing to scoff at. I'd be lying, however, if I said the reshaping of the offensive line on the fly doesn't absolutely terrify me. Are we sure that's going to work? Until that question is answered, I can't put Houston any higher than this.
17. Los Angeles Chargers
Losing Rashawn Slater threatens some of what I feel about Jim Harbaugh's Charges, without question, You can't lose a franchise tackle in August and expect to not feel any adverse effects from that, no matter how good Justin Herbert is. At the same time, the rest of the offense feels much more reliable than a year ago, and the hope is that the defense isn't too far behind in that capacity either. Playing in the loaded AFC West doesn't make life easy on the Bolts, but it's hard to bet against a Harbaugh-coached team, especially one entering year two.
16. Cincinnati Bengals
Locking up Trey Hendrickson, even if only for this year, gives you a lot more faith in the Bengals than you otherwise would've had. After all, considering that Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati offense had to be almost superhuman to win games a year ago, it stands to reason that anything that can be done to not make the defense fall off even further had to be done. That said, Al Golden still might not be the panacea for the defensive side of the ball, and that's going to hold the Bengals back just a bit from being a Super Bowl contender, at least for right now.
15. Seattle Seahawks
We might be underrating how drastic the improvement for the Seahawks offense might be this season. That's not a comparison of previous QB Geno Smith to newcomer Sam Darnold, to be sure, but rather a statement of the upgrade made at coordinator from Ryan Grubb to Klint Kubiak. This should lead to an upswing on that side of the ball, and the defense has been on an upward trajectory. The NFC West is going to be a dogfight, though, and I'm not entirely sure that I believe Seattle has the soldiers to be able to emerge from that group when it's all said and done.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers
It's easy to poke fun at Aaron Rodgers being north of 40 years old and Steelers fans thinking that he's going to be the savior of the offense. There might be some credence to that, though. Rodgers isn't the MVP candidate he once was, but it's not at all crazy to think that he's an upgrade from the Kenny Picketts and Russell Wilsons of recent years. Mike Tomlin had those teams above .500 and mostly in the playoffs too, so it should be taken seriously that Rodgers still might be a good enough upgrade to push the Steelers to another level in the 2025 season.
Almost Contenders
13. San Francisco 49ers
Despite my ever-persistent skepticism about Brock Purdy, he's paid and this 49ers team is going through some changes as a result. The simple fact of the matter is that San Francisco has had to sacrifice some pieces to pay their quarterback. Yet, Christian McCaffrey should be healthy, the wide receiver corps is deep enough to start the year without Brandon Aiyuk, and the defense should still be quite good. It's not a certainty that the Niners are back in contention, but it feels safe to say they're closer to that point than not.
12. Minnesota Vikings
As a card-carrying member of the J.J. McCarthy Believers, I'm going to continue to think that the Vikings aren't about to fall off in any meaningful way, despite the change at quarterback. Kevin O'Connell might simply be the best coach in the NFL and the reviews out of Minnesota for McCarthy this offseason have been stellar. We know the weapons are there, the offensive line is back healthy, and the defense might be the only question — good thing they have Brian Flores! There have been changes, but sleeping on the Vikings seems wildly foolish to me.
11. Arizona Cardinals
Serious question: Has anyone actually talked about the Cardinals in the offseason and preseason? That's hyperbolic, but it feels like Arizona is sliding entirely under the radar as we approach Week 1. They shouldn't. Things started to coalesce for Jonathan Gannon's team last season and the talent level has now improved substantially. We've not seen a roster this fully formed in some time, and I don't think it's unrealistic to have the Cardinals as a legitimate threat to win the NFC West this season. They still have to prove it, sure, but the pieces are in place.
10. Detroit Lions
We might never get a better test case for how much coaching matters than this year's Lions. Was the magic in Detroit emanating from Dan Campbell all along, or is it going to start to show cracks now that Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn aren't around any longer? I, unfortunately, probably lean a bit more to the latter, especially after the preseason gave me what I think is reasonable cause for concern. It's impossible still to argue with the talent that's on this roster and what that is always capable of, but the truth of the matter is that the Lions might be taking a notable step back.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Liam Coen might be gone, but I don't the Buccaneers are going anywhere. Navigating roadblocks like the Tristan Wirfs injury will be important in what could be an improved NFC South this season, but the Bucs still feel like they're ultimately still in great hands. Baker Mayfield and this offense should keep humming and betting on a Todd Bowles defense remains an enticing proposition. Much like the Lions, there's a risk for some coaching turnover, but I'm more confident in the infrastructure with Tampa Bay than I am in Detroit simply because the changes to the staff aren't quite as wholesale.
8. Washington Commanders
Anyone who would argue that Jayden Daniels isn't simply incredible is just a hater of the highest order. Moreover, while Deebo Samuel's end in San Francisco wasn't all too pretty, his fit with Kliff Kingsbury's offense feels as natural as could be, and that unit should keep making waves. That's especially true with the O-line improvements. Even with Dan Quinn, though, does thi team actually have the horses to compete meaningfully atop the NFC again, or was last year still somewhat of an outlier? That's the only question I need answered to fully buy in on the Commanders.
Cream of the Crop
7. Los Angeles Rams
When it comes to the Rams, I don't even fully understand why you could be doubting them at this point. Sean McVay has proved time and again that, even if this LA franchise doesn't necessarily operate in the way that many other teams do, their process is perfectly made for the head coach to find success routinely as long as he's on the sideline. Matthew Stafford's back is a major concern that could make this a house of cards ready to tumble down, but this group looks more dangerous than even last year, by my estimation.
6. Denver Broncos
My trepidation with Bo Nix from his college tape and the draft process hasn't fully gone away, but damn, Sean Payton can coach. Now, we have Nix with another year of experience under his belt and a much better roster around him too. Denver was one of the most impressive defenses in the league a season ago, and if the offense improves in the way that it seems like it's going to with the new pieces, there's a viable chance that the Broncos could not only threaten the Chiefs in the division, but are a legitimate dark horse in the AFC at large.
5. Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen and the Bills have been a bankable commodity for years at this point, and that's not going to stop. Yes, the offense on paper might not look like a world-beater by any stretch of the imagination, but that was the case last year and Allen delivered an MVP-caliber performance to prove that it's just going to keep rolling. I'm not the biggest fan of the overall defensive personnel, but Sean McDermott has continued to make do there as well. The AFC East still runs through Buffalo. However, the defense could determine whether or not the AFC as a whole is in the same spot or not.
4. Green Bay Packers
I was already looking at the Packers as part of the top tier of teams that can contend to win a Super Bowl before they added Micah Parsons. The addition of Matthew Golden and the offensive line finding its right group should have this offense on the cusp of taking another step, but the defense is now a bonafide strength. Green Bay's biggest question on that side of the ball was the pass rush outside of Rashan Gary, so they just added maybe the best edge rusher in football who's not even reached his prime if you look at his age. The Packers might have their best Super Bowl window in years now.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Josh Allen may have won MVP, but Lamar Jackson actually had the better season. The Ravens adding Derrick Henry is a cheat code offensively, and we know at this point with Lamar in his current form that Baltimore is going to be one of the most impossible offenses in the league to defend. But don't sleep on this defense either, as the young pieces and veterans are now all coming into their own at the right time. I wouldn't argue with you having Baltimore at No. 2 or 1 in your power rankings, either, but this is a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl for the Ravens no matter how what you have going into the year.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
Frankly, I think that anyone trying to poo-poo the Chiefs coming into the season is just still overreacting to a disastrous Super Bowl loss to the Eagles. But when you look at that game, the offensive line was the biggest issue, and all signs indicate that Josh Simmons might actually be a cure for that. I fully believe Patrick Mahomes and this offense are finally going to get back to another gear this year, and the Steve Spagnuolo defense remains a force to be reckoned with. The Chiefs aren't going anywhere.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
The champs are the champs until they're not. What more can you say about the Eagles at this point? Jalen Hurts is supremely underrated, Saquon Barkley is a monster behind this top-tier offensive line, and the rest of the skill positions are playmakers waiting to strike. Oh yeah, the defense has undergone a facelift but still looks the part of one of the NFL's best, too. The only argument I can come up with for why the Eagles shouldn't be the top-ranked team entering their title defense is the possibility of a Super Bowl hangover, but that's about it.