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USA Today
a day ago
- Business
- USA Today
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour part of growing list of Black NFL limited partners
Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – It has been nearly 16 years since Richard Seymour felt the sting of a certain type of NFL business. In the prime of a Hall of Fame career, Seymour was abruptly traded from the NFL penthouse to what must've seemed like the outhouse. The week of the season opener in 2009, the New England Patriots shipped the dominant defensive lineman and his collection of three Super Bowl rings to the Oakland Raiders. Call it a classic Bill Belichick move. Cut ties too early rather than too late. Nothing personal, just cold NFL 'bidness' that fetched the premium return of a first-round draft pick. And Seymour never saw it coming. His world was flipped upside down to such a degree – Richard and his wife, Tanya, had four young children, and the new school year was starting – that it prompted then-Raiders owner Al Davis to fire off a 'five-day letter' threatening a season-long suspension when Seymour didn't immediately report. And look at him now. Seymour, 45, owns a piece of the Las Vegas Raiders. His deal to purchase a stake of the franchise from Mark Davis – reportedly a 0.5% slice – was approved by NFL owners in October 2024 at the same time Tom Brady's package with Knighthead Capital Management's Tom Wagner for a 10% share was finalized. Turns out, that stunning trade worked out much better than Seymour would have imagined at the time. Talk about another type of NFL business. 'Sometimes, you don't know what God has planned for you,' Seymour told USA TODAY Sports, reflecting during an expansive interview at a suburban Atlanta coffee shop. 'If I never got traded, I don't think I'd have become an NFL owner.' An NFL owner. Let that sink in. Seymour didn't generate the type of headlines that Brady did in buying into the Raiders, and his share doesn't compare to Brady's slice, yet it is so significant on multiple levels. In a league that has never had a Black majority owner, Seymour is part of a growing number of limited partners with stakes in NFL franchises who happen to be Black, the lineup including former athletes Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, Serena and Venus Williams, Warrick Dunn and Charles Woodson, in addition to financial power broker Mellody Hobson and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. That Seymour had significant support during his lengthy process from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, among other NFL heavyweights, is no coincidence. Goodell has repeatedly talked up the desire to increase ownership paths for minorities, and in Seymour's case apparently backed up the sentiment as a key resource. 'Obviously, it's important to have representation when we speak about a league that is 70% Black,' Seymour said, referring to the player population. 'You want representation at every level, from ownership to management, front office, whatever it is. You just want to make sure it's the right people and that voices are heard.' Now consider the pure business play. The Raiders ranked as the NFL's seventh-most valuable franchise in 2024 on Forbes' annual list with a valuation of $6.7 billion. That's nearly double what it was deemed worth when Seymour and Davis began discussing the possibility of doing business in 2020, the year the franchise moved from Oakland with a sweetheart deal that includes a swank, publicly-subsidized stadium. This, against the backdrop of a league – with an expanding international footprint and more media deals on the horizon -- that is approaching $25 billion in annual revenue. 'What we're seeing in terms of the growth in these valuations is only going up because of the impact of live sports in the entertainment space,' Derrick Heggans, CEO of Shepherd Park Sports Properties, told USA TODAY Sports. Heggans, a former NFL attorney who was not involved in Seymour's deal with the Raiders, matched Woodson with Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, leading to the Hall of Fame defensive back's recent purchase of a 0.5% stake in the Browns. Heggans also facilitated the deals that allowed former NBA stars Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, and former MLS star Jozy Altidore, to purchase stakes in the Buffalo Bills from Terry and Kim Pegula. And he brokered the transactions that resulted in former Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes and prolific film producer Will Packer buying stakes of the Atlanta Falcons from Arthur Blank. 'Think about it: It doesn't matter if you paid $50 million for a limited partner stake or if you're the controlling owner, you're an owner of the asset,' Heggans said. 'So, as it increases, whatever amount you put in increases. So, if I were looking at it purely as an investment and I could see that year-to-year, the growth could be anywhere from 15 to 20 percent, and there's a long history that this is only going to continue to go up, it's an investment that most people don't have the opportunity to get access to. But if you do, it can do tremendous things for you.' Flying beer cans. The NFC East. Super Bowl opponents. Nothing is stopping Howie Roseman Seymour said that Al Davis, who passed away in 2011, promised him a role in the front office after his playing career ended. The two developed a tight bond, including frequent chalk-talk visits, during Seymour's four seasons playing for the Raiders. Yet after he finished his 12-year career, Seymour was more committed to raising his children than working in the front office. He ultimately sought an equity stake instead. 'It was a dream for me,' said Seymour, a Gadsden, S.C. native who starred at Georgia. 'My relationship with Al opened the door to me and Mark's relationship.' There were times, though, when Seymour wondered whether his bid would fall through. At one point, he was aligned with a partner. Then, when other NFL franchises sold, the value of the Raiders – and conceivably the value of buying in – increased. Plus, with Brady pursued by Davis for a stake separate from Seymour's, there may have been questions about the value formulas and other conditions of the respective shares. And, of course, to pass muster with the NFL's finance committee, there was extensive vetting. Seymour, also co-founder of a venture capital firm, 93 Ventures, would not divulge financial details of his Raiders purchase, but allowed: 'It started one way, but then, in business, things kind of shift and change. Teams sell, whether it's the Broncos (a then-record $4.65 billion in 2022) or the Commanders (a record $6.05 billion in 2023), and the landscape of the NFL changes, too. So, I had to adapt to the new landscape. I stayed competitive to make sure we got a deal done.' He also leaned on a long-term relationship. Seymour said that Patriots owner Robert Kraft helped him navigate through the process. 'It was to the point that Mark even said we should get Mr. Kraft involved,' Seymour said. Kraft provided insight for big-picture matters, including long-term sustainability, Seymour said. And as a member of the finance committee chaired by Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, Kraft was crucial in helping to structure the financial terms of Seymour's deal. 'He made sure I had my ducks in order in terms of the legalities of what was going to be looked at, what they wanted and how,' Seymour said. 'Just the order of the process, and he kind of helped me streamline.' Heggans knows all too well about the NFL's strict standards and what can be involved in the vetting. 'It's very extensive,' he said. 'They asked one of my LPs recently about parking tickets when he was in college.' Of course, the conduct of NFL owners – the principal ones -- can be subjected to much scrutiny. And for far more serious matters than parking tickets. Buzz has escalated in recent days after it was revealed that a report from an independent arbitrator suggested collusion by team owners to resist fully guaranteed contracts for players. Stay tuned. In Seymour's case, though, the scrutiny of a different type was worth it to gain admittance in an exclusive club. When he was enshrined in Canton in 2022, he became Hall of Famer No. 360 – the Pro Football Hall of Fame assigns each inductee a number that undoubtedly amplifies the prestige of the honor – and now he's in an even more exclusive club. 'As I ask regular people, if you will, when was the last time you had access to 30 billionaires, most people can't say that they do,' Heggans said. 'But once you're approved by the NFL you are one of a very small number. Whether you have a limited stake or a controlling stake, you're in the same club. And there are a lot of people that do different types of business together.' As much as Seymour expresses pride in achieving a milestone, he hardly sees his Raiders stake as the ceiling. He is just getting started, while Davis and Larry Delson, a Raiders board member, have afforded him the opportunity to take a 'holistic approach' into the business of the franchise. He has visions of owning stakes in NBA and MLB franchises, which is what Johnson, the NBA legend with whom he has consulted, has done with a vast portfolio built over decades, which now includes the NFL. A rising star coach. Will the NFL let him shine? The ultimate goal? Seymour wants to someday become the majority owner of an NFL franchise. 'But you've got to take steps toward that,' he said. Asked if he has $10 billion laying around to make that happen, Seymour chuckled. Then, he replied, 'I know people that have it.' Seymour's calls multi-billionaire Robert F. Smith, a mentor. Smith has long been considered a leading candidate to become the first Black majority NFL owner, and was in the running to purchase the Broncos, which were ultimately sold to the group headed by Rob Walton. 'What I've learned about deals is that it's best to get in,' Seymour said. 'And once you get in, it's better to navigate from the inside instead of trying to fight from the outside. To grow and to get more. You've got to have a seat at the table first. I've done several other deals where it may not have been where I wanted to be in deal originally, but five years later you look up and can see where you're headed.' In other words, history has shown Seymour that trading up can be a great option. Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: On X: @JarrettBell On Bluesky:
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa faces massive pressure in 2025
Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. In many ways, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is a dream player. He's talented and tough. He's a strong leader. He's a good person. There are no issues off the field. He's thrown 73 touchdowns total over the last three seasons. Tagovailoa has done a solid job of being the face of a proud franchise trying to regain greatness it hasn't seen in decades. Offensive lineman Terron Armstead, who before going to Miami played with quarterback Drew Brees in New Orleans, said Tagovailoa and Brees have similar games. Armstead was, of course, careful to say that Tagovailoa has a lot more to prove. He made his comments on the "Rich Eisen Show." "I see similarities. I'm not saying they're the same player or same person, no two people are,' Armstead said. 'The anticipation, the accuracy, timing of throws, the ability to knock a wing off a fly repeatedly. Those guys throw darts. They don't throw to areas, they are very precise. And that's an elite talent, it's an elite trait. Very few people possess (it). He's one of them and Drew Brees is another." That's all the good part. And it's all quite good. The problem is that Tagovailoa hasn't broken through as an elite player. Lots of players aren't elite but Tagovailoa was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 draft. He's been injury prone, missing key games with a variety of ailments, most notably some frightening head injuries. Tagovailoa just hasn't broken through as a great player. A solid one. At times a really good one. But not a consistently great one. He's not alone. Look at some other quarterbacks in the league like Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence and the Chargers' Justin Herbert. But I have an obsession with Tagovailoa (a healthy one, promise) because he perfectly embodies all of the complexities of both the NFL overall and the quarterback position. He's been good, but not outstanding. He's had, at best, OK head coaches. Good receivers but one of them, Tyreek Hill, is a massive problem away from the field. Running game has had its moments. Same for the defense. But there's little that would cause you to look at the Dolphins and say: that team is on its way. They are extremely average and Tagovailoa hasn't been able to lift them above that mediocrity. All of this leads to a crucial juncture for him and the Dolphins. What will Miami do if Tagovailoa struggles in 2025? 'Yeah, he has narratives in front of him that have to be answered,' Armstead said. 'Not necessarily by me or in an interview form, it's from him, and his play, and getting the job done. Any quarterback or any team that (doesn't) hoist that trophy at the end of the year, you have questions, you have narratives, you have challenges, you have adversity, you have things to answer. Only team that don't really have that is Philly. Everybody else, they have their questions going into the season. Tua has his questions, and it's up to him to answer these questions — not me. 'Do I believe he can? I do. Do I believe he will? I do.' Coach Mike McDaniel spoke about the larger goals for Tagovailoa this coming season at one of the Dolphins' recent OTAs. 'He's the franchise quarterback of a team," said McDaniel. "His job is to lead men on each and every play, and find different ways to continue the process of evolution for him. That's always been the name of the game for him, whether that's getting the offense to the line of scrimmage faster out of the huddle or whether that's adjusting protections, doing sight adjustments, growing his game, working on progressions, escaping the pocket and getting rid of (the ball).' He added: 'All of the things a quarterback is asked to do, I think that's where he's at. He's dipped his toe in the water with everything, and now it's consistency and mastery. That's why it's a never-ending exercise.' More: Tyreek Hill says he doesn't deserve to be Dolphins captain, has to prove himself again McDaniel is saying exactly what I am except in a fancier, more coach-speak way. It's time for Tagovailoa to show true captaincy of the position. Miami has paid Tagovailoa well (and he's earned it). He'll make almost $150 million through 2026. The contract is costly but far from impossible to walk away from. Which makes this coming season for Tagovailoa and the Dolphins an interesting one to watch. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Some NFL players are excited about Olympic flag football. Others? Not so much.
Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. The idea of NFL players taking on the world in flag football just sounds cool, right? Players like Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson loves the idea. He called it a "dream" in fact. And that's how it's been portrayed throughout much of the media since it was decided NFL players will take part in the 2028 Olympics in flag football. This is a great thing. Players are jacked. Let's go kick some flag football butt, America! But what if players aren't actually all that excited to be flag football Olympians? There was a recent extremely under-reported remark from Bengals star receiver Ja'Marr Chase. He was asked about flag football and maybe spoke for more players than people want to acknowledge. "I don't know how I feel about it, if I'm being completely honest,' Chase said, via WPCO's Marshall Kramsky. 'I want to know the timing for us, offseason, in-season. I want to know if we're getting paid. I want to know where we traveling every other week or every day, like all that plays a part, because we have an offseason, we have a life. Also, how long would that be? I don't know. There's a lot of questions to it." The key part of that quote: We have an offseason, we have a life. This doesn't mean that there are players who aren't excited about participating in the Olympics. There are and will be. It does mean there will be players who don't see the same level of excitement about it the league office and fans have. When Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was asked about Olympic flag football, he went all Roger Murtaugh from "Lethal Weapon:" 'I'll probably leave that to the younger guys. I'll be a little older by the time that thing comes around.' Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford just openly cracked up when asked about the Olympics. "You talking about coaching, or what?" he joked. Speaking of coaches, Denver's Sean Payton has been talked about as someone who could lead the team. On June 6 he asked about the possibility of coaching the flag team and he was, well, noncommittal. For now. 'I don't want to answer questions in 2028 when I'm focused on Friday,' Payton said, laughing. In part, what you're seeing, I believe, is that some players (and others) don't see flag football as a vital thing to do. Or at least not on the level of, say, Olympic basketball. The world had caught up to us in hoops (and even surpassed America) mandating the arrival of the Dream Team. Basketball was our game, not the world's, and we had to retake the sport from the clutches of others. That's not the case with flag football. There's no nationwide call to beat everyone in flag football. There's also no need for people to dive into this now. It's three years away. You also hear in Chase's remarks the union and labor part of this. Players know the NFL will find a way to make tons of cash off of this, and Chase, understandably, wants to make sure players get their share. I respect him for that. Again, others will get into the flag football groove. There's no question about that. 'I feel like it's always an honor to play for your country,' Falcons running back Bijon Robinson told Cory Muse of KVUE. 'Like, you always want to play for your country. I would love to show my skillset on that type of stage. 'So, I think it's going to come down to our schedule and where it lies, and if the teams even let us go. But I would love to play if given the opportunity. We'll see. I don't want it to affect my team and what we've got going here.' 'Yeah, I think it's great," Rams coach Sean McVay recently told reporters. "I think that is so far away from me. Coaching years are dog years, you know that. You hear Justin Jefferson come out and talk about, 'Man, that would be really cool.' That's awesome. Like I think you give guys the opportunity to say, 'Alright, well what's your preference on it?' And I think whatever our guys are…there's going to be the availability for maybe one guy on each team to be able to do that. "And if that's something that players say they want to be able to do, then I think it's a really cool experience for them to be able to be a part of while also acknowledging that man, there are some other guys that have been doing it. I'm not going to pretend to understand the nuances tactically and what that game entails, but I think it's good. I think it's great.' There's definitely that sentiment out there. Still, there could be a lot more complexity to this flag football story than we know.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Flying beer cans. The NFC East. Super Bowl opponents. Nothing is stopping Howie Roseman
Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. Howie Roseman was not about to let a flying beer can spoil the moment. Never mind the blood gushing from the semi-circle gash on his forehead. There was a Super Bowl championship to celebrate. Besides, Roseman, 50, has absorbed more blows than that, at least figuratively, over the years in his love/hate role as the Philadelphia Eagles general manager. So, after the projectile connected while Roseman and his suddenly stunned family cruised on a float during the downtown parade in mid-February, it seemed natural that the fearless GM was determined to shake it off. Hey, it's tradition for champs to be showered in confetti. In Philly, they hurl beer cans, too. 'I saw one of my friends from college. He said, 'I can understand why you dropped it,'" Roseman reflected during a recent interview with USA TODAY Sports. 'I didn't drop anything, bro. And it was with enough velocity and force that it put me down. My family, they got scared s---less. I was like, 'Get my trainers, let's clean it up and keep going,' and I'll deal with it after.' A short time later, Roseman turned it into a message for fans during his speech at the championship rally. As he aptly put it, 'I will bleed for this city!' The episode was not only classic Philly. It was also quite a metaphor for the resilience that Roseman has exhibited in climbing to the top of his profession. Roseman has spent his entire 25-year career in the NFL with the Eagles, but this is actually his second stanza as GM after he was stripped of roster-building power (a long time ago) during the Chip Kelly era in the mid-2010s. And look at him now. In assembling teams that reached the Super Bowl three times in seven years, twice claiming the crown, a strong argument can be made that Roseman – a wheeler-dealer grounded in the old-school principle that winning is built in the trenches -- is the NFL's best GM. After all, the team that blew out the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 in February contained just 21 players (and only 10 starters) from the 2022 team that narrowly lost to KC three years earlier. Last year, Roseman's free agent haul included 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley; Zack Baun, a former New Orleans Saints special teamer who blossomed into first-team All-Pro linebacker; and since-departed right guard Mekhi Becton, a New York Jets bust who switched from tackle. He traded for since-departed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who led the team in interceptions; traded up in the second round to draft cornerback Cooper DeJean and made Quinyon Mitchell the franchise's first first-round cornerback since 2002. 'He doesn't get enough credit for re-tooling,' Chiefs coach Andy Reid told USA TODAY Sports. 'That is so hard to do.' Reid sensed that Roseman was something special way back when. After Joe Banner, then the Eagles president, hired Roseman for his first job as a front office intern in 2000, Reid was the coach with GM power who ultimately found a role for him in the personnel department as his era evolved with the Eagles. 'Even when he was working with Joe, you could see that he was passionate about the personnel side of it,' Reid said. 'So, I brought him over to the personnel side and he jumped on, dug in and was willing to do anything and everything. I thought that was a positive.' In 2010, Roseman became the NFL's youngest GM at 34. But in 2015, Kelly (for whom Roseman led the search to bring to Philadelphia in 2013) was given the GM power. It was a huge test of his resilience. Roseman told his wife, Mindy, that it was likely that they would move on. 'It's the nature of the business,' Roseman reflected. 'I was resigned to that fact, but also at that time I realized that I wasn't being true to the vision that I thought was important to build a football team. And that if I ever got the opportunity again, I wasn't going to have any regrets.' Brandon Graham remembers. The longtime defensive end, who announced his retirement in March, was Roseman's first draft pick. 'That had to be a dark time,' Graham told USA TODAY Sports. 'I know inside, he couldn't wait to prove himself when he got another shot. That's what it's all about. It built that chip on his shoulder. 'And kudos to Mr. Lurie for keeping an ace in the hole.' Roseman looks back at the manner in which Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie handled his case as a 'a gift.' Lurie made Roseman an executive vice president, then gave him the freedom to find ways to grow personally and professionally. 'I wanted to do what a lot of fired coaches do, which is basically improve on myself,' Roseman recalled. 'He said, 'I'll support it; just bring everything back.' ' Roseman met with leaders of Fortune 500 companies. He picked the brains of executives and coaches of European soccer clubs, NBA teams and Major League Baseball teams. The connective theme was team building. He said insight gained from San Antonio Spurs president R.C. Buford – 'Maybe the best executive of all time,' Roseman said – was pivotal. 'It was really self-exploration,' Roseman said. 'And I certainly didn't count on coming back as Eagles GM in a year.' Yet that's exactly what happened. Kelly was fired before finishing his third season and Roseman regained the GM job. A rising star coach. Will the NFL let him shine? 'In a way, Jeff and the Eagles were lucky,' Banner told USA TODAY Sports. Sure, there have been high-profile hits and misses during both GM stints. Yet Banner's early impressions of Roseman – a fearless risk-taker with supreme confidence who reminded him of himself – have stood up over time. 'He took a lot of heat for a long time,' Banner said. Roseman knows. In some ways, the heat can fortify the resilience. Yet he is also quick to point out that there have been more hits than misses. And the criticism that came with the second-round selection of Jalen Hurts in 2020, followed by the stunning trade of Carson Wentz in 2021, turned into an NFL version of a rose garden. While Hurts has developed into a star, the Wentz deal parlayed into draft capital that resulted in receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and D-tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. In other words, heat can be so sweet. After preventing the Chiefs from achieving an historic three-peat, the Eagles are favored by oddsmakers to repeat as Super Bowl champs. Of course, now is not the time to plot any victory lap – or even to ponder look-out moments at a championship parade. 'This is such a humbling business,' Roseman said. 'We've had our struggles as well. So, you've just got to keep moving forward and figuring out the best ways to improve your team.' Which, given the track record, keeps the Eagles in very good hands. Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: X: @Jarrett Bell Bluesky:
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking all 32 NFL teams from most to least entertaining: Who will be most fun in 2025?
Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. Aesthetics are typically of little interest to NFL teams given the incessant pressure to deliver wins, regardless of what form they take. But maybe that whole "No Fun League" thing is a misnomer, as many of the league's most successful outfits have a knack for standing apart from the competition in more than just the standings. What qualifies as entertaining in the NFL isn't always clear. But there's a clear disparity between each organization in top talent, propensity for big plays and unique schematic elements that add a level of distinction. With that in mind, here's our early – and entirely unscientific – ranking of all 32 teams from most to least entertaining based on where they stand ahead of training camps: 1. Baltimore Ravens On its face, stability might not seem like the most enthralling trait for a team to boast. For the Ravens, however, continuity could mean the start of something special. An offense that by many measures was the NFL's most prolific and explosive attack returns all but one of its starters. The formidable defense also returns the overwhelming bulk of its core, while also adding Jaire Alexander to a secondary that will gladly welcome another starting-caliber cornerback. Lamar Jackson – one of the elite few players who keeps fans on their toes on any given snap – continues to reach new heights after nearly earning his third career NFL MVP in seven seasons, and Derrick Henry hasn't shown any signs of slowing down from his torrid pace. With some good fortune in staying healthy, Baltimore could see things click in a way that will set it apart from much of the rest of the league. 2. Buffalo Bills Falling just short of the mountaintop has become an uncomfortable throughline for Buffalo in many ways. At least that's not the case in MVP voting, where Josh Allen seized the award for the organization for the first time since 1991. Allen's place as one of the most exciting catalysts in the NFL isn't in question even as he enters the final season of his 20s. But for a true Super Bowl breakthrough, Buffalo might need someone from a receiving corps that has been merely good enough to emerge as great, and there's not one figure who appears to be a natural candidate to do so. 3. Philadelphia Eagles Perhaps the Tush Push vote was a harbinger of things to come, as the Eagles don't look prone to relinquishing their perch atop the league anytime soon. The franchise that set the bar for aggressiveness, both on the field and in roster construction, should remain one of the most fascinating collections of talent, even as new pieces are worked in after a handful of noteworthy departures. Perhaps the weightiest subplot: How will new offensive coordinator maintain what Kellen Moore set in place while building on it as a first-time play caller? 4. Detroit Lions The No. 1 scoring offense is a finely tuned machine, and the injury-ravaged defense should have more bite with the return of Aidan Hutchinson. Still, losing coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to top posts elsewhere is bound to send ripples through the respective units. Dan Campbell – quite possibly the league's most intriguing and entertaining head coach – has built his contender on a solid foundation, so don't expect the entire operation to topple. But some wobbling could be ahead, especially with the tone-setting offensive line suffering two major blows in Kevin Zeitler's exit and Frank Ragnow's retirement. 5. Kansas City Chiefs With the explosive plays running dry and "Chiefs fatigue" setting in for some, there's only so high that the defining franchise of the last decade can rank on this list. But Kansas City is still appointment viewing for many, and that's not merely a matter of branding. Regardless of how often he is able to pull off the otherworldly plays he became synonymous with, Patrick Mahomes remains on a singular plane in the NFL when it comes to tilting games in his favor. Travis Kelce, meanwhile, shouldn't be expected to merely fade away in the twilight of his career despite last year's relatively modest statistical output. More importantly, the return of Rashee Rice and Marquise "Hollywood" Brown unquestionably will alter the complexion of the offense for the better, even if protection questions remain after a reshuffling of the left side of the offensive line. More: Worst to first? Ranking 8 NFL teams' chances to jump to top of division in 2025 6. Los Angeles Rams A rejuvenated Davante Adams should be a scary proposition for the rest of the NFC, as Matthew Stafford could help the three-time All-Pro recapture the top form that other quarterbacks couldn't unleash since the receiver left Green Bay. But Alaric Jackson's availability could be a potential stumbling block for an otherwise high-powered outfit. The left tackle didn't travel with the team to Maui for minicamp due to blood clots in his lower leg, and he missed the final nine games of the 2022 season due to the condition. 7. Washington Commanders Arriving much faster to the contender class than anyone could have expected, Washington is no longer playing with house money – and its offseason moves reflected as much. The Commanders looked to capitalize on Jayden Daniels' dazzling debut by surrounding the Offensive Rookie of the Year with much more support, namely five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, first-round right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and versatile veteran receiver Deebo Samuel. So long as offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury keeps up the work that put him back on the head-coaching radar, all of the new additions should combine to be major assets in one of the most noteworthy sophomore follow-ups in some time. 8. Cincinnati Bengals Joe Burrow knows the deal, and so does everyone else. Cincinnati loads massive responsibilities on the plate of its signal-caller, who somehow steadily delivers on the outsized expectations. With Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase hauling in big bucks this offseason, the No. 6 scoring offense shouldn't falter. But after setting an NFL record by losing four games in which it scored 33 or more points, Cincinnati could be even more prone to shootouts in 2025 as bitter contractual disputes with NFL sack king Trey Hendrickson and first-round edge rusher Shemar Stewart linger well into the summer with no immediate sign of resolution. 9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Maybe it's the lackluster division. Maybe it's operating in the shadow of the Tom Brady era. But the four-time defending NFC South champs still haven't received their rightful recognition on a national level. Last year's group established an offensive balance seldom seen in today's NFL, becoming the first unit in league history to complete at least 70% of its passes while averaging 5.0 or more yards per rush. But even if new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard keeps everything humming, a little something extra is needed to push this group into the NFC's top tier. 10. Green Bay Packers Matt LaFleur has been a master of concocting chunk gains, but a lot is riding on Matthew Golden finding his footing right away. In a receiving corps that too often failed to stretch the field and routinely let down Jordan Love with the NFL's highest drop rate, according to ESPN, the franchise's ultra-rare first round pass catcher will be called on to invigorate an aerial attack that faltered late last season. With designated deep threat Christian Watson still possibly facing an extended timeline for a return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in the regular-season finale, it might take some time before Green Bay's offense settles in. 11. San Francisco 49ers Kyle Shanahan's singular play-calling acumen was on full display last season, with the 49ers generating more pass plays of 20-plus yards (66) than any other team despite major injury hits to Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams, among others. If all three return to top form, this team could easily rank in the top three of this list. But the reset isn't a foregone conclusion given the many exchanged parts, so San Francisco slots in behind some more established entities. 12. Pittsburgh Steelers Fool me once? Given how the Jets debacle went down, any football fan might be wary of investing too much energy in following how Aaron Rodgers will mesh with yet another team looking for a quick fix behind center. Yet there's something unquestionably delectable in seeing how master chemist Mike Tomlin will handle his most volatile concoction yet, with the four-time NFL MVP making for a strange fit at quarterback alongside fellow marquee offseason addition DK Metcalf in Arthur Smith's typically rigid offense. Something eventually has to give, and swarms of people will be waiting to see what it will be. 13. Minnesota Vikings Handing over a 14-win team to a quarterback who hasn't taken a regular-season snap is quite the move, even if Kevin O'Connell and Co. have plenty of reason to believe in J.J. McCarthy as the 2024 first-rounder returns from last August's torn meniscus. But will Minnesota keep the training wheels on for a little while as he acclimates? With a high-flying receiving corps powered by Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison along with a capable offensive line buoyed by the return of Christian Darrisaw and a remade interior, McCarthy might not be boxed in for too long. Brian Flores' defense, meanwhile, should remain as vexing and captivating as ever. 14. Houston Texans It's not often that a division winner detonates a sizable part of its operation, but Houston did just that in firing offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and reconfiguring the offensive line. The former move might pay immediate dividends, with Nick Caley installing a system that will empower C.J. Stroud with what the quarterback has said is "full ownership" of the offense. The latter might be dicier, as none of the replacement parts are particularly inspiring, and the whole front probably will require time to jell. 15. Los Angeles Chargers Jim Harbaugh's teams tend to be as subtle and surprising as a battering ram, which also seems to be Greg Roman's vision for the offense. But there's room for this group to grow beyond its punishing identity if rookies Tre Harris and Oronde Gadsden II – as well as a familiar figure in Mike Williams – can open up a passing attack that has to ease its reliance on Ladd McConkey. 16. Miami Dolphins No other team can match Miami in its range of potential outcomes on this list. If everything breaks right, the Dolphins have demonstrated they can reel off big gains as easily as anyone, with Mike McDaniel routinely positioning elite speedsters Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane to outrace the competition. But between Tua Tagovailoa's health, the offensive line holding up and the secondary needing to produce a capable starter once a long-awaited Jalen Ramsey trade becomes complete, there are too many X-factors at play to feel confident in the rosiest scenario coming to fruition. 17. Denver Broncos Sean Payton's crew might be the embodiment of a team with a dichotomy between its widespread appeal and its competitive credentials. Bo Nix very well could continue the steady ascent he began in his rookie season, but a shortage of skill-position difference-makers could put somewhat of a ceiling on his short-term growth. 18. Chicago Bears This is the Ben Johnson boost at work. The offensive mastermind has stirred as much excitement as there's been for the Bears in nearly two decades, and his pairing with Caleb Williams will assuredly be one of the NFL's most fascinating partnerships to watch this season. Still, with so many new elements that need to coalesce and a downright diabolical division, there could be a lot of headwinds in the Windy City. 19. Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones might not enjoy it, but a Brian Schottenheimer offense likely to be rooted in the run game and play-action passes might give Dallas a somewhat dull vibe. But the George Pickens trade guaranteed some sparks – for better or worse. 20. Seattle Seahawks Putting Sam Darnold behind a shaky offensive front seems like a dangerous setup. But between coach Mike Macdonald demanding the offense be centered on the ground game and the receiving corps swapping in Cooper Kupp for DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, Seattle seems to be actively embracing a more vanilla identity, though Macdonald's complex defense will remain. 21. Atlanta Falcons If Michael Penix Jr. can properly harness his aggressive downfield mentality and fire the deep strikes that helped him become the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Atlanta will be a significant draw. But his accuracy can come and go, and some growing pains seem inevitable for a passer who still has a ways to go in making full-field reads and handling pressure. 22. Jacksonville Jaguars First-year head coach Liam Coen's savvy play designs could unlock something special for Trevor Lawrence, burgeoning superstar Brian Thomas Jr. and two-way standout Travis Hunter. Meanwhile, new general manager James Gladstone has vowed to assemble a defense that's "urgent and explosive." Rapid change seems within reach for a team that had 10 losses in one-score games – setting a record in the Super Bowl era – but there might not be enough along either line for the vision to truly take hold in Year 1 of the new regime. 23. Arizona Cardinals Shouldn't a team with Kyler Murray, a rugged run game and some stellar options in the receiving corps be ranked higher? After a serious talent infusion on defense, maybe Arizona's breakout season will be just a year later than most expected. Still, until offensive coordinator Drew Petzing finds a way to utilize Marvin Harrison Jr. more creatively, this feels like a team that might be stuck in the middle of the pack in several respects. 24. Las Vegas Raiders The Silver and Black began last season as one of the league's most unwatchable outfits. After dumping Davante Adams and trying out three uninspiring starting quarterbacks, the Raiders ended the campaign as essentially irrelevant – Brock Bowers' historic debut notwithstanding. Geno Smith, Pete Carroll and Ashton Jeanty give the franchise one of its first glimmers of hope since the team arrived in Las Vegas five years ago, but the early portion of the climb back to functionality might not be particularly captivating. 25. New England Patriots Maybe this seems high for a group that seemingly couldn't muster a reason for fans outside of the Northeast to tune in last season. But it's probably time to buy low on Drake Maye, at least from this perspective. The No. 3 overall pick in 2024 navigated his trying rookie season with aplomb, and his scintillating playmaking skills should shine through more often now that he's equipped with better support. 26. Carolina Panthers No team has embodied NFL anonymity more in recent years than the Panthers, who were the only team held out of prime time in last season's initial schedule release. But not only has the franchise shaken some of the pervasive dysfunction, it also is giving outsiders a reason to follow along thanks to the resurgence of Bryce Young and a receiving corps on the upswing. Still, the gains here might be incremental. 27. Tennessee Titans No one will accuse Cam Ward of being boring, and the No. 1 overall pick could be the right steadying force for an offense that reached its breaking point with Will Levis' myriad blunders. Yet it's entirely too early to put Ward on the Jayden Daniels or C.J. Stroud trajectory, and Tennessee might not have sufficient help around him to make this team compelling in the short term. 28. Indianapolis Colts The Anthony Richardson rollercoaster was certainly wild, as the Colts chucked the ball deep so frequently that they averaged an astonishing 10.58 average depth of target, according to SumerSports, yet completed a league-worst 56.3% of their passes. That experience seems to have given the stakeholders some indigestion, however, and it seems likely that a blander brand of football could be in store with Daniel Jones threatening to seize the starting reins. 29. New York Jets Owner Woody Johnson attempted to microwave a contender by adding Aaron Rodgers and instead set his franchise on fire. Now Aaron Glenn has been tasked with cleaning up the mess. But even with a more viable blueprint, this year's iteration of Gang Green will likely serve a reminder that the right way of building isn't always the fun way – at least at first. 30. New York Giants Yes, Russell Wilson's installation as starer means more deep shots are surely ahead for Big Blue, which tied for the fewest pass plays of 20-plus yards with 34. But the 13-year veteran also posted an NFL-high checkdown rate of 19.2% percent last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and a highly suspect offensive line could make dumpoffs the defining play of the Giants' season. 31. New Orleans Saints The Saints and Titans are the only two teams not given an exclusive broadcast window this season. It's easy to see why the NFL had trouble buying into New Orleans, one of the few teams in the league lacking much momentum for improvement. Second-round quarterback Tyler Shough can uncork some surprising throws, but the notion of watching him – or second-year passer Spencer Rattler – try to figure things out alongside an overall subpar collection of talent isn't exactly enticing. 32. Cleveland Browns A cringeworthy quarterback competition might be the only facet of the Browns worth wider attention. Once that gets settled over the summer, Cleveland will seemingly try to minimize its shortcomings behind center by emphasizing a ground-and-pound approach that might grow dull before the leaves turn. Having dealt away a shot at Travis Hunter to acquire an additional first-round pick in 2026, even the team itself seems to be letting everyone know to check back next year. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
