Every NFL season delivers surprises, teams that rise from the basement to contention, sparked by savvy front office moves, breakout players, and the ever-growing impact of the NFL Draft. Since expanding to 14 playoff teams in 2020 under the new CBA, the league has seen at least 5–7 new playoff teams per season. In 2024, six franchises returned to the postseason after missing the previous year. That trend is no coincidence; it’s a byproduct of roster turnover, aggressive free agency, and teams capitalizing on draft capital.
So, who’s next?
After evaluating offseason transactions, draft hauls, and coaching changes, here are five teams that missed the 2024 playoffs but are primed to break through in 2025.
Honorable Mentions: Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots entered the 2025 offseason in full reset mode and made a splash by hiring Mike Vrabel as head coach. Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker and proven leader with the Tennessee Titans, brings a reputation for changing cultures and building physically tough, disciplined teams. With deep ties to New England and a track record of success, Vrabel’s return feels like the perfect match to steer this franchise back on course.
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye showed real promise as a rookie despite minimal help around him. Now heading into 2025 as the unquestioned starter, Maye has a much stronger supporting cast on both sides of the ball. The Patriots were aggressive in upgrading their roster, beginning with a draft class that sent a clear message: build around the quarterback.
New England made 11 total picks and used its first four selections on offense, a clear sign of its commitment to giving Maye better protection and playmakers. With the 4th overall pick, they selected All-American left tackle Will Campbell from LSU. A three-year SEC starter, Campbell steps into a glaring need on a line that ranked dead last in run-block win rate and 31st in pass-block win rate last season. Expect Campbell to set the tone up front, just as he did in Baton Rouge.
The Patriots weren’t done rebuilding the trenches. They traded up in the third round to draft Georgia center Jared Wilson, who will compete with veteran free agent signing Garrett Bradbury. They also added Morgan Moses, bringing steady experience at right tackle.
In terms of skill positions, New England drafted Kyle Williams, an elite route-runner from Washington State, in the third round, a savvy pick who complements the offseason’s biggest splash on offense: the signing of Stefon Diggs. When healthy, Diggs remains one of the league’s premier wideouts and gives Maye a proven No. 1 target. Paired with Williams, Kendrick Bourne, and Demario Douglas, the wide receiver room looks significantly stronger than a year ago. With Josh McDaniels returning to call plays, expect a more structured, quarterback-friendly system in Foxborough.
Despite the offensive focus in the draft, the Patriots spent the bulk of their league-high $127 million in cap space on defense and made it count. They upgraded at nearly every level. Here are some of the huge defensive signings they made:
CB Carlton Davis, coming off a strong year with the Lions, brings veteran pedigree and forms a formidable duo with rising star Christian Gonzalez.
EDGE Harold Landry, reunited with Vrabel, fills a crucial need as the team’s top pass rusher.
DT Milton Williams may prove to be the most impactful addition to pair up with Christian Barmore. Just 25 years old, he brings rare interior pass-rush ability as he showcased coming off a strong Super Bowl run with the Eagles.
With a revamped coaching staff, a franchise QB entering his second year, and major roster upgrades on both sides of the ball, New England is well-positioned to surprise in 2025. The rebuild may not be complete, but the blueprint is in place and the Patriots look ready to compete again.
Carolina Panthers
Despite a rough 2024 campaign, the Panthers ended the year with signs of life, winning two of their final three games. Bryce Young showed flashes of the franchise QB Carolina hoped for, and the front office responded by loading him up with weapons.
No. 8 overall pick Tetairoa McMillan brings size and contested-catch ability, while third-rounder Jimmy Horn Jr. offers speed and versatility. Pair those rookies with veterans like Adam Thielen and breakout WR Xavier Legette, and suddenly the Panthers’ receiving room looks dynamic.
They also addressed the run game by adding Rico Dowdle to pair with Chuba Hubbard. The offensive line is stable with the spending they did last offseason, and Young has far more support than in his rookie year.
Last season, the Carolina Panthers’ defense was historically bad, finishing dead last in total defense (404.5 yards allowed per game), rushing defense (179.8 YPG), and scoring defense (31.4 points per game). With those numbers, it was no secret that fixing the defense had to be the franchise’s top offseason priority, and they responded accordingly.
The Panthers overhauled their defensive line, starting with the return of star defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who was limited to just one game in 2024 due to injury. His presence alone should elevate the unit’s physicality and consistency up front. Carolina also added former Chiefs pass-rushing tackle Tershawn Wharton, who brings proven interior pressure ability.
But the real emphasis was on the edge. The team spent multiple draft picks on pass-rushers, including Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, both of whom project as high-upside rotational players with starter potential. To round out the group, they signed Patrick Jones II from the Vikings, an underrated move that adds veteran depth to a previously toothless pass rush.
Altogether, the defensive line looks completely transformed, and with healthier personnel and a stronger front, the Panthers should take a significant step forward on the side of the ball that hurt them the most in 2024.
In a wide-open NFC South, there could be a surprise playoff team.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears might be one of the NFL’s most exciting breakout candidates heading into the 2025 season. After an aggressive and calculated offseason, they’ve positioned themselves to turn last year’s growing pains into real playoff contention.
It starts at the top. The Bears hired Ben Johnson, the architect of the NFL’s No. 1-ranked offense in Detroit the past two seasons. His arrival brings a modern, creative offensive identity and, more importantly, a system built to elevate second-year quarterback Caleb Williams.
Despite flashes of brilliance in his rookie campaign, Williams spent much of the year under siege. He was sacked 56 times, the third-most ever by a rookie, and often forced to carry the offense with limited support. Multiple reports out of Halas Hall detailed his elite work ethic, from breaking down film to absorbing the playbook on his own.
This offseason, the front office made sure he won’t have to do it alone.
The Bears invested heavily in protecting their franchise QB, adding proven interior linemen Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson. They also selected Boston College tackle Ozzy Trapilo, a high-upside rookie who brings toughness and athleticism to the trenches.
On the perimeter, Chicago added weapons built to shine in Johnson’s scheme. First-round pick Luther Burden III brings elite YAC ability and natural hands, while tight end Colston Loveland offers a rare combination of size, route polish, and versatility. Both are expected to contribute from day one.
With an improved offensive line, a legitimate playmaker core, and a coach tailored to his strengths, Caleb Williams is primed to take a massive Year 2 leap. Add that to a defense returning key pieces like Montez Sweat, Jaylon Johnson, and Jaquan Brisker, and the Bears suddenly look like a complete football team.
If everything clicks, don’t just pencil the Bears into the playoff conversation, they could be one of the NFC’s biggest risers in 2025.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons’ 2024 season came down to the final two games, both losses that ultimately cost them a spot in the NFC playoffs. Despite finishing 8–9, the pieces were in place for something bigger. The most critical realization down the stretch? Kirk Cousins wasn’t the long-term answer, but rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. might be.
With Penix flashing upside and composure late in the season, Atlanta enters 2025 with a clear offensive identity and a young quarterback to build around. The talent surrounding him is undeniable: Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and a top-12 offensive line give the Falcons one of the most complete offensive units in the league. Offense isn’t the issue.
Defense, specifically the pass rush, was the Achilles’ heel. In 2024, Atlanta ranked: 31st in pass-rush win rate,29th in total QB pressures 31st in sacks.
Those numbers demanded immediate attention, and the Falcons’ front office responded aggressively in the 2025 NFL Draft.
With their first selection at No. 15 overall, Atlanta landed Jalon Walker, a versatile edge rusher out of Georgia. Walker’s combination of length, range, and flexibility gives him the ability to contribute on all three downs — whether rushing the passer, setting the edge, or spying mobile quarterbacks.
They didn’t stop there. The Falcons traded back into the first round, sacrificing a future first-round pick to move up to No. 26 and select James Pearce Jr., a dynamic pass rusher out of Tennessee. Pearce brings elite speed off the edge and instant third-down value, with the potential to develop into a full-time starter.
In free agency, the Falcons added veteran Leonard Floyd, coming off an 8.5-sack campaign with the 49ers. His experience and production should complement the rookie duo while providing leadership in the locker room.
Atlanta fell just short of the playoffs in 2024, but they’ve addressed their biggest weakness: the pass rush. The Falcons ranked 31st in pass-rush win rate and 29th in sacks last season, simply not good enough for a playoff-caliber defense. To fix it, they doubled up in the draft, selecting Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., two elite edge prospects. Pearce, in particular, has All-Pro upside. The Kirk Cousins–Michael Penix Jr. QB transition will be closely watched, but the infrastructure is strong. If the defense steps up, Atlanta could be a top-7 seed.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks wrapped up the 2024 season with a 10-7 record, the best mark of any non-playoff team. That alone made them my top candidate to crash the postseason party in 2025.
Seattle didn’t sit idly this offseason. Instead of simply running it back, the front office made bold, calculated moves to reshape the roster, getting younger, cheaper, and in some cases, better. That mindset, combined with an already promising young core, puts them in a prime position to make the leap this fall.
Seattle’s defense is built around one of the most exciting young cores in the league. Cornerbacks Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen, outside linebackers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall, inside linebacker Tyrique Knight, safety Coby Bryant, and defensive tackle Byron Murphy II make up a fast, physical nucleus that’s not going anywhere.
To bolster that unit, the Seahawks brought in veteran edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence a proven leader and disruptor, and used a high draft pick on Nick Emmanwore, an athletic and instinctive safety with playmaker potential. With new head coach Mike Macdonald, one of the sharpest defensive minds in the game, at the helm, Seattle’s defense could flirt with top-five status in 2025.
Critics pointed to the offensive side of the ball as Seattle’s biggest question mark, especially after parting ways with former 4,000-yard passer Geno Smith and perennial 1,000-yard receiver DK Metcalf. But the Seahawks didn’t panic. They pivoted.
They brought in Sam Darnold, fresh off a career year in Minnesota, where he threw for 4,000 yards, 35 touchdowns, and led the Vikings to 14 wins. While some viewed the Darnold-Smith swap skeptically, it made sense for Seattle: they got younger and cheaper at quarterback while also picking up a valuable third-round pick, used to select high-upside prospect Jalen Milroe.
Darnold’s resurgence last year finishing 14th in QBR after ranking 39th over his first six seasons, suggests real growth. While he won’t have Kevin O’Connell’s scheme anymore, he’ll reunite with a similar offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who coached him 2023 season with the 49ers. Even more important, he’ll now be supported by a top-10 defense rather than having to carry the load.
Perhaps the most underrated addition was wide receiver Cooper Kupp. While Metcalf’s departure left a void, Seattle filled it with a Super Bowl MVP, giving Jaxon Smith-Njigba a savvy veteran mentor and route-running technician to line up alongside. The position group might not be flashy, but it’s more balanced and arguably more dependable.
Seattle’s offensive line was a problem last season, particularly on the interior. Instead of overspending in free agency, GM John Schneider played it smart and waited for the draft, landing Grey Zabel with the 18th overall pick. Zabel, a versatile and physical guard, is expected to start immediately and solidify the line’s interior. His presence alone should ease pressure on Darnold and help ignite the run game.
Schneider emphasized throughout the offseason that a guard was needed. Zabel was widely viewed as one of the most complete linemen in the class, tough, technical, and scheme-versatile.
The Seahawks didn’t just patch holes; they strategically rebuilt. They replaced key veterans with younger talent and invested in the trenches. With a revamped offense, a dominant young defense, and a playoff-caliber coach in Macdonald, this team isn’t taking a step back. Seattle is ready to take that next step, and I fully expect them to return to the playoffs in 2025.
