New Orleans Saints v Atlanta Falcons - NFL 2025
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The season has come to an end for more than half of the league's top teams, which kicks off the season of hope. A year ago, the Patriots were one of the league's worst teams and the Saints did not know who was going to be the quarterback of the future. A lot can change in a year, but it is all about how a team executes its plan. 

Each team has a reason to be optimistic for the future and hope that next year is different. Here is that reason for each team who fell short of the playoffs: 

Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta has a quarterback on a rookie deal. There is an opportunity to build around Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons have to get the head coaching hire right and that could bring a rejuvenated energy to the building. They have two of the best skill players at their respective positions: wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson. 

The pass rush has finally been improved with rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. both exhibiting promise. 

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona has drafted and developed well in the secondary, but there are also reasons to be excited about the front seven. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen was a disruptive player when available this season. If he, as well as Darius Robinson, can continue developing, perhaps that will lead to turnover opportunities for the likes of Will Johnson Jr., Garrett Williams, Max Melton and others on the back end.

Baltimore Ravens

The conversation is similar to that of the Chiefs and the Bengals. As long as Lamar Jackson is around and healthy, Baltimore should always be in the conversation. John Harbaugh and his staff have always put that roster in a position to compete, but this year fell short of expectations.

They just need to find a few more guys who fit the culture on defense. Fortunately, they do as well as anyone stockpiling draft assets and giving themselves more bites at the apple.

Cincinnati Bengals

If Joe Burrow is healthy for the full season, then Cincinnati will be competitive. The Bengals possess two of the best wide receivers in the game and have one of the most explosive offenses in the league. The leading voices in that operation are returning, which can be good based on how one wants to look at it. 

If they can find a few players on defense capable of impacting the boxscore, then the bounce back could be higher than anticipated. 

Cleveland Browns

Cleveland has a lot of talent on defense: edge rusher Myles Garrett, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, safety Grant Delpit, defensive tackle Mason Graham, etc. If the Browns get some pieces in place on offense, including the position that has eluded them for more than two decades, then there is an opportunity to rise quickly.

Additionally, the team has ample draft capital, including two first-round picks in 2026, to make those improvements or move up for a quarterback. There is little room for error and making the wrong move could set them back long-term when considering the age of key players like Denzel Ward, Maliek Collins and Garrett. 

Dallas Cowboys

The majority of the offensive infrastructure is in place. Quarterback Dak Prescott's ceiling may fluctuate but he is a competent performer at the game's most important position. They could potentially return talented pass catchers CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Jake Ferguson. Running back Javonte Williams was an impactful free agent signing. The offensive line should be in relatively good shape given the sheer number of early draft picks of which it is comprised. 

The defense needs a lot of work, but defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and eye-catching moments from rookie pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku ensure that the depth chart is not totally barren. 

Detroit Lions

There is always going to be a high floor in Detroit as long as Dan Campbell is the head coach and Jared Goff is the quarterback. The talent drain was real in the offseason but another year of stability and possessing their own pick in the first round will give them an opportunity to find an impactful performer whose play demeanor matches the expectations in the Motor City. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta are among the best at their respective positions. 

Indianapolis Colts

The hope is that Daniel Jones returns to form and can pick up where he left off this season. If he can, Indianapolis will have a starting quarterback at a discount. Offensive line development has been good and there are quality pass catchers on the roster: tight end Tyler Warren, wide receiver Josh Downs and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. 

There are pieces to an effective defense, such as cornerback Sauce Gardner, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and edge rusher Laiatu Latu. The outlook on the overall roster is more promising than it had been last year. 

Kansas City Chiefs

The reasons for optimism should be pretty straightforward. If Patrick Mahomes is on schedule to return next season, Kansas City will once again be in the mix to contend for the AFC. The offensive line has banked a year of experience working together and the hope is that rookie left tackle Josh Simmons is able to stay on the field. 

It would benefit the team to identify a deep ball threat for which the opposition has to account. In theory, that would allow Rashee Rice the freedom to continue operating underneath. Key pieces, such as tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones, may be nearing the end of their tenure with the franchise and it is important to identify the building blocks of the next title run. Fortunately, the Chiefs are strapped with premium draft capital which they have not seen in quite some time. 

Las Vegas Raiders

Las Vegas made all the wrong moves last offseason. The Raiders aggressively invested in a roster that was not built to contend. The byproduct of those decisions, however, is the ammunition to potentially find a quarterback of the future. 

If Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is the pick at No. 1, then it is exciting to think about the collection of young skill players, including running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers. Sure, there are big needs to fill along the offensive line and on the defense, but teams like Washington and Houston have shown in recent years that finding the quarterback can rejuvenate a franchise overnight. 

Miami Dolphins

Miami had won four consecutive games after looking like one of the league's worst teams, but then finished the season losing three of its final four. For the time being, it seems as though Mike McDaniel will be back, so continuity can be a positive. Running back De'Von Achane and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle are two of the most explosive players in the league with the ball in their hands. 

Minnesota Vikings

J.J. "9'' McCarthy showed growth in the final weeks of the season. If the offensive line can stay healthy and develop more chemistry with another year together then Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison should be beneficiaries downfield. 

Brian Flores is going to be a head coaching candidate over the next few weeks but, if he returns, then they will once again have an aggressive defense capable of playing better than the sum of its parts.

New Orleans Saints

Tyler Shough's success to end the season has already begun to alter the threads of the franchise. They are expecting to compete, if not win, each week. It cannot be overstated how advantageous it is to have a competent quarterback in place entering the offseason and the Saints have found theirs. 

New Orleans needs to find another weapon or two, but has an early pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to facilitate those needs. The defense also remains a work in progress with veterans like Cam Jordan and Demario Davis presumably nearing the end of their respective careers. 

New York Giants

New York's roster, as a whole, may need some work, but there are foundational pieces. With a full offseason entrenched as the starter, the team will be able to properly evaluate Jaxson Dart as a viable starting quarterback. He had some success upon initially joining the starting lineup but injuries and leadership changes brought the operation back down to earth. 

Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo should be fully recovered in 2026. Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence form one of the league's best defensive lines on paper. They also have a top-5 overall selection, which could be propositioned to the highest bidder and bring back an even larger return or, at minimum, lead to the addition of another blue-chip talent.

New York Jets

The Jets are better equipped than any other team to add impact players. Over the next two years, New York has five first-round picks as a result of the Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner trades. The offensive line is in good shape because of the investment in the unit through the draft and wide receiver Garrett Wilson should return healthy in 2026. 

Execution is paramount, but the Jets could become an entertaining offense, at the very least, with improved quarterback play. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay has a collection of pass catchers who rival almost anyone in the league when healthy. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is as consistent as any in the league, but there was clearly something bothering him in the second half of the season. Assuming he returns to full health, there is no reason to think that team could not return to form in 2026.  

They also did a good job identifying and drafting a few impactful pieces in the secondary over the past few years. There is another premium pick in 2026 to bolster the team even further.

Tennessee Titans

Titans fans should take solace in the fact that they will not be wandering the quarterback wilderness this offseason. While the Browns, Jets and other franchises seek the player who can bring life to the game's most important position, Tennessee has its guy. Cam Ward had some truly awe-inspiring moments this season and that is why he was the quarterback selection on the All-Rookie team.

The franchise made the mistake of spending to surround quarterback Will Levis with better talent a year earlier and the vision did not come to fruition. At least in 2025, Tennessee was realistic with its goals. For that reason, they can continue building from the ground up rather than wasting time unraveling past mistakes. 

Washington Commanders

Washington needs to be realistic with where it is in the rebuilding process this offseason. Last year, the Commanders followed Houston's model of trying to speed up the rebuild process with the acquisitions of players like Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil. The Commanders have legitimate question marks on defense.

With a top-10 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft and the presumptive return of a healthy Jayden Daniels, Washington could more closely resemble the team that went to the NFC Championship less than a year ago.