Free agency has run its course, the drama of the NFL Draft is behind us, and teams are officially starting up voluntary minicamps. As team rosters come closer to finality, it is a great time to take a look at some of the big offseason risers and which teams have the chance to significantly improve on their team record in 2025.
Las Vegas Raiders (6.5)
It is hard to find a team that has undergone a more significant change in leadership, both on the field and off, than the Las Vegas Raiders. After the failed coaching experiment that was Antonio Pierce, Mark Davis made the decision to go with a tried and true option in Seahawks great Pete Carroll. Under the guidance of new minority owner Tom Brady and first-time GM John Spytek, the Raiders brought in Carroll to win immediately, and their offseason player moves reflect the same quick-ascension mindset.
Las Vegas struggled mightily last year at the quarterback position, flip-flopping between journeyman Gardner Minshew and second-year signal caller Aidan O’Connell. Neither quarterback showed much promise, with Minshew throwing ill-timed interceptions and O’Connell playing safe, uninspiring football. So, shortly after bringing in Carroll, the Raiders continued to pull from the Seahawks by trading a third-round pick for Geno Smith. While some question how far Smith can really take this team, it is hard not to imagine a significant step forward with a veteran, proven performer at the NFL’s most important position.
To pair with their new quarterback, the Raiders took a big swing in this year’s draft, selecting Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. The ultra-talented running back was a Heisman runner-up and put together one of the most impressive college highlight reels of the past five years. While there is always debate around the value of drafting a running back high in the first round, there is also a clear trend back toward the run game as offenses look to exploit the smaller defenses of the modern NFL. The Raiders ultimately had a quiet free agency but a strong draft, and with the addition of Geno Smith, they are a team to watch, especially if you are considering season win total bets.
Denver Broncos (O/U 9.5)
The Denver Broncos were one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 to 2025 season and likely saved Sean Payton’s late-career reputation. After the previous season’s Russell Wilson debacle, many assumed Denver was headed for a long, painful rebuild. But then, surprisingly, rookie quarterback Bo Nix got hot and pushed the Broncos to the playoffs. Still, the roster was incomplete, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
John Elway wasted no time addressing that, targeting defensive upgrades in both free agency and the draft. The Broncos capitalized on San Francisco’s salary cap crunch by signing linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga. Two of the 49ers’ strongest defenders, Greenlaw and Hufanga will instantly improve Denver’s pass defense and bring much-needed strength to the back seven.
Adding in their first-round pick, cornerback Jahdae Barron, the Broncos will look to bring a more balanced team to the field this year. If Nix and Payton can consistently score and build leads, they now have a much better chance of holding them.
New England Patriots (O/U 8.5)
Mike Vrabel is back, Drake Maye is ready to impress, and Stefon Diggs is hoping for a career resurgence.
The Patriots are, surprisingly, the darling of the NFL right now after being the nemesis of basically everybody for two decades. Drake Maye came in as an intriguing but polarizing prospect, with some seeing the UNC quarterback as a risk or a reach. However, after a strong rookie season, the consensus is now that with a better roster around him, Maye can bring the Patriots back to contention. Enter Mike Vrabel.
The former Tennessee Titans head coach was a strong leader during his time in Nashville, and the difference in the Titans’ play during and after his tenure is stark. Now, returning to New England, where he played during the Brady and Belichick dynasty, Vrabel has a chance to prove he is the coach people hoped he was.
So how has the roster improved? They made one of the biggest steals of the draft in TreVeyon Henderson. The running back out of Ohio State fell to the second round purely because of the depth of this year’s running back class. Will Campbell, arguably the best player in the draft, dropped out of the top three solely because of arm length, and that was it. His tape is outstanding, and his strength and football intelligence are elite. Campbell will be key in keeping Maye upright. With Henderson offering stability in the backfield and Campbell protecting the edge, there is a lot to like about the near future in New England.
New York Giants (O/U 5.5)
This may surprise some, especially since I was not a huge fan of the Giants’ draft strategy, but let’s be real, this team was incredibly bad last year.
The Giants finally moved on from Daniel Jones, cutting him and handing the offense to Tommy DeVito to finish out the year. It was ugly, it was borderline criminal football, and it was honestly surprising that Brian Daboll kept his job.
So why are they on this list? Because it is hard to go anywhere but up, and even though the Jaxson Dart pick felt like a reach, the Giants have given themselves multiple options at quarterback. With Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart all in the building, they at least have depth and flexibility. Will one of them pan out? I am not sure. Dart is a boom-or-bust prospect, Wilson had an underrated season in Pittsburgh, and while Jameis is wildly inconsistent, he usually keeps you in the game.
Outside the quarterback room, Abdul Carter could be a major factor for the New York pass rush. His obsession with trying to wear retired numbers might be odd, but he has the physical tools and instincts to be a real disruptor. The Giants also quietly made one of the better free agent pickups in the league, signing safety Jevon Holland from the Dolphins. Holland brings veteran leadership, top-end athleticism, and excellent ball tracking to the back end of the defense.
In the end, this team will only go as far as its quarterback play allows. It is not guaranteed, but with the options they have created and the urgency Daboll must be feeling, I would not be surprised to see a solid step forward for the Giants in 2025.
Closing Thoughts
The NFL offseason always brings change, but not every team turns that change into real progress. These four franchises, whether through coaching moves, quarterback gambles, or smart roster additions, have at least positioned themselves to take a meaningful step forward. Will it lead to playoff runs? Time will tell. But for now, they have given their fanbases something they have not had in a while: hope. And that alone makes them worth watching in 2025.
Enjoyed this article? Follow us for more!
📸 Instagram: @EnterSandmanSports
📘 Facebook: @EnterSandmanSports
🐦 X (Twitter): @EnterSandmanSports
📺 YouTube: @EnterSandmanSports
🎵 TikTok: @EnterSandmanSports
📨 Join our newsletter for weekly updates and picks!
