Articles

32 Teams in 32 Days: Indianapolis Colts

Indy plays host to the most riveting training camp quarterback battle across the NFL, but both paths probably lead to the same result: another mediocre Colts season.

Cover photo taken from DraftKings.

Welcome to 32 Teams in 32 Days, a daily series leading up to kickoff of the 2025 NFL season where I preview every team in the league as decided by a wheel spin and project what their season will look like. You can keep up with everything right here.

Because the wheel hates me and doesn’t want me to talk about a team that knows it wants to start the same QB for all 17 games, we head to Indianapolis, where the Colts are hosting arguably the most riveting quarterback battle of the summer.

Now two seasons removed from being drafted fourth overall, it’s make-or-break time for Anthony Richardson. With just 15 starts under his belt headlined by numerous injuries, laughable inaccuracy and tapping out of a game because he was tired, there is no more margin for error. He’s 8-7 in those games, which isn’t bad, but the 50.8% completion and 13 interceptions vs. 11 touchdowns tells the story. In 2024, Richardson ranked dead last in EPA+CPOE and completion percentage (he led the league by a solid margin in ADoT, though, which I find hilarious). Not great.

If you’ve been reading my stuff for a while, you’d know that I was pretty high on Richardson as a rookie. I liked what he flashed before being shut down for the year with a shoulder issue. And we all know the raw talent and ability is there. That’s why he’s the craziest rollercoaster in football; one second it’s a 70 air yard bomb for a touchdown, the next it’s the worst overthrow and interception you’ve ever seen. This was always a matter of whether or not he could have a Josh Allen-like development and turn into a superstar from a hypothetical.

Do you still believe? (h/t Draft Kings)

Head coach Shane Steichen is running out of patience. Moreover, he knows that consistent quarterback play is what’s holding the Colts back from being a playoff team. They damn near won the division in 2023 with Gardner Minshew, and they were in the hunt for all of 2024 with Richardson and Joe Flacco going back and forth — which is nuts considering they were 24th in offensive EPA/play and 27th in success rate. I don’t entirely love the idea of bringing in a guy who could supplant your rookie QB in a pivotal third season, but I was all for it if it’d light a fire under Richardson and accelerate that aforementioned development.

This, however, isn’t what I had in mind. When the Colts signed Daniel Jones — who had just been through the Kevin O’Connell washing machine — way back at the start of the offseason, we all thought, “Well, if AR can’t beat him out, then we have a problem.” Uh, guys. We have a problem. Between injury concerns and continued poor play, Jones appears to be on track to be Indy’s Week 1 starter.

It’s borderline unfathomable. When Jones was released from the Giants in the middle of last season, I thought we’d seen the last of him in the league — especially as a starter. He was 24th in EPA+CPOE, after all. I never could have seen this coming. And as much as I feel bad for Richardson because I really wanted this to pan out — a guy with his skills could’ve been the most dynamic QB in the league — I have to agree with Steichen here. Jones gives them the best chance to win now.

But then I ask, does that really matter? If the ceiling with Minshew and Flacco was eight or nine wins, that probably remains the ceiling with Jones. We know the Colts aren’t going to the Super Bowl with either of these guys, but shouldn’t that mean the tie goes to the young guy who could still develop into a franchise QB? I just don’t see what Indianapolis loses from continuing to trot out AR. If by Week 4 he’s still horrendous, then by all means, pull him. But you never know what could happen. It’s more than likely that he still can’t read a defense or throw with touch and/or timing, but showing some belief in him might help.

The illusion of choice. (h/t New York Times)

The rest of this passing attack is just alright anyways. Jonathan Taylor is a very, very good lead back, and this offensive line ranked fourth in the league in run block win rate a year ago. As such, this will remain a run-first offense, which has been pretty productive. A WR group of Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Adonai Mitchell and Anthony Gould doesn’t move the needle to change that. If anyone will, it’ll be first-round tight end Tyler Warren, who was an absolute force at Penn State and could turn into one of the league’s premier TEs. He can catch, he can run you over, he can block and apparently throw and run the ball, too. Regardless of who starts under center, building a rapport with Warren will certainly go a long way.

In any case, I still think Indy’s strength is the other side of the ball. Between some really solid draft picks and good work in free agency, defense has become a strength for the Colts, who ranked 14th in EPA/play last year and 10th in success rate — including fifth against the run. The front seven is pretty dang good; Kwity Paye has been quietly solid for them off the edge, DeForest Buckner is still an elite DT, Zaire Franklin has turned into a perennial tackles leader. Now, Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum are brought in to bolster a secondary that was a weakness for this unit a year ago.

This isn’t a team that’s going to win now. It doesn’t feel like they’re even trying to. Considering the QB mid-off of the century, it’s hard to feel like this team is going to be super competitive this year. That’s fine, considering they have the right head coach and the right pieces to be good in the future. This will simply be a nothing year because of the lack of direction under center. I think it’s safe to say that the Colts’ 2026 Week 1 starter isn’t currently in Indianapolis.

X-Factor: QB Anthony Richardson

Not going to beat a dead horse here. It’s make-or-break for AR this season; as much as I want it to all come together, it just feels like a pipe dream. I’d love to be proven wrong. But, in the likely event that I’m not, Richardson will be cut or traded after this season and either be somebody’s backup or the craziest quarterback the UFL has ever seen.

Team MVP: RB Jonathan Taylor

Taylor bounced back from an injury-plagued, down 2023 with an awesome year, going off for over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground — by far his best season since breaking out in 2021. Somehow, he was the 47th-ranked RB out of 47 last year by PFF’s grading metrics; not sure how that happens, but chalk that up as another reason why I don’t like that system very much. The dude can clearly still play and has a lot left in the tank. As I mentioned earlier, this will still be a run-first team, and Taylor should have another very productive season.

Breakout Candidate: EDGE Laiatu Latu

Latu was the first defensive player off the board in last year’s draft, and though it wasn’t the flashiest rookie season ever, you could see why. He’s got crazy length and athleticism with some quick twitch and burst off the edge. That only resulted in four sacks last year, but you’ve gotta figure that more production will come with more reps. I think Latu could be in for a massive 2025 and emerge as the defensive anchor for this team’s future — which is what I’m sure the Colts had in mind when they selected him last April.

Record Prediction: 5-12

Tough schedule. Division is getting better. No good quarterback play. It’s all setting up for a subpar 2025 for the Colts. Steichen has faced some QB adversity before, but this one might be too difficult to overcome. Besides, it might behoove the Colts to be this bad and secure a top pick in April’s draft. Who knows, it might just be another QB.

Next up: Detroit Lions

32 Teams in 32 Days: Cleveland Browns

The late, great John Madden once said: “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none.” So, what happens when you have four? The Cleveland Browns are about to find out.

Cover photo taken from Cleveland Browns.

Welcome to 32 Teams in 32 Days, a daily series leading up to kickoff of the 2025 NFL season where I preview every team in the league as decided by a wheel spin and project what their season will look like. You can keep up with everything right here.

The late, great John Madden once said: “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none.” So, what happens when you have four? The Cleveland Browns are about to find out.

Last year did not go to plan. Coming off a playoff berth with a really solid 11-win campaign, the Browns completely crashed and burned in 2024 with a 3-14 record due to horrendous quarterback play. Juggling between Deshaun Watson — who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 7 — Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe went about as you’d expect. Cleveland’s offense ranked dead last in — checks notes — EPA/play, success rate, dropback EPA, dropback success rate and scoring. They were so bad at quarterback last year that their dropback EPA/play was over three times worse than the 31st-ranked Giants. The defense wasn’t bad, clocking in at 18th in EPA/play and sixth in success rate, but nothing can overcome that poor of an offense.

So, the Browns entered the offseason in desperate need of a quarterback, considering their $230 million investment in Watson somehow got more embarrassing. Just when you thought Joe Flacco wasn’t walking through that door, he shows back up in Cleveland after leading them to the playoffs in 2023 and winning Comeback Player of the Year. But, every veteran needs some good competition behind him, especially when he’s coming off a subpar season in Indianapolis. So, the Browns also brought in Kenny Pickett, now on his third team in as many years after spending last season backing up Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia.

Okay, two quarterbacks who are not exactly the answer. How do we improve this situation? Well, through the draft of course! It’s the third round and we’re on the clock, let’s shoot our shot at a potential franchise guy in… Dillon Gabriel? But Shedeur Sanders was right there! No matter, we can develop Gabriel into the next Tua!

Wait a second — it’s now the fifth round and Sanders is still there? Screw it, let’s take him too! We could use the media circus! Why not let it fly?

So, here we are. Flacco. Pickett. Gabriel. Sanders. Four quarterbacks. No quarterbacks. No solid options. No direction. No future. Same old Cleveland.

More is less. (h/t Cleveland Browns)

The good news for the offense? Jerry Jeudy has emerged as a WR1 and the offensive line remains a strength. But the lack of a true RB1 after Nick Chubb’s time came to a close could hold them back even more. Jerome Ford is a solid option, but with rookie Quinshon Judkins dealing with legal troubles and still being the lone 2025 draftee to remain unsigned, he can’t shoulder everything alone. I guess taking a second back in Dylan Sampson worked out after all. Gosh, this franchise was lost in April’s draft.

At least the defense is still solid. Myles Garrett wound up signing a massive four-year, $160 million extension after flirting with a trade, a trade down from the No. 2 to No. 5 pick in the draft netted standout DT Mason Graham from Michigan — and a first-rounder in 2026, which could be significant! — and Denzel Ward remains a super solid No. 1 corner. I also liked the second-round selection of Carson Schwesinger from UCLA, who could be an excellent complement to Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah. Together, they could be a top-tier linebacker duo. Jim Schwartz knows what to do with this defense. They were fifth in pass rush win rate and first in run stop win rate, after all.

And, at the end of the day, Kevin Stefanski can coach the hell out of a football team. He’s got an awful situation on offense, but his leash is long enough that he’ll have a couple of years to figure this thing out. If the Browns move off him after this disaster of a season that’s about to unfold, it’d be a disgrace.

X-Factor: Whoever Starts At QB

Let’s get two things out of the way. First, Flacco will start the season under center in Cleveland. He won’t start all 17 games, but he will be their guy for the first month or so before giving way to one of the rookies. Second, the Browns obviously aren’t contending for anything this season, so this X-factor isn’t exactly going to be the key to success. It’s more of seeing what you have and taking stock of that. I don’t have high hopes for either rookie; Gabriel is undersized with a weak arm and Sanders has the talent, but perhaps lacks the maturity and mental to succeed in this league. Cleveland is probably in a position where they’ll be drafting a quarterback early in the 2026 Draft. But maybe, just maybe, it’s one of the rooks who gets the nod instead.

Team MVP: EDGE Myles Garrett
Run. (h/t AP News)

Garrett deserved the bag, but I almost feel bad that he’s staying in Cleveland. Yes, loyalty is great, but this dude deserves to win (for who he is on the field, not necessarily off it). I contend that he’s the best defensive player in football, which is a touchy subject for Steeler fans, but I won’t budge on that take. This dude has been first-team All-Pro four of the last five years, has seven straight years of 10-plus sacks — including 14+ in the last four! — and is just an absolute force of a man. He might be the best edge rusher I’ve ever seen. As such, he’s the epitome of the Bugatti in the run-down house meme. Because no matter how amazing he is, there’s nothing he can do to fix this franchise.

Breakout Candidate: DT Mason Graham

Graham was an absolute stud at Michigan and is one of the better tackle prospects we’ve seen in recent years. If it wasn’t for Jalen Carter, he’d probably be the best DT we’ve seen enter the league this decade. There’s only so much that a tackle can do to make an instant impact, but the potential is sky high for a kid who’s good enough to go in the top five. With Garrett demanding so much attention, I imagine he’ll be much more effective as a pass rusher than he was at Michigan. But, in any case, he’ll be a force in the middle of the line that AFC North guard-center-guard combos will have to deal with for many years to come.

Record Prediction: 3-14

It’s going to be a circus. Regardless of who’s under center, this thing is going to be a disaster. When Sanders isn’t playing, the media will clamor for him. When he does play and underperforms, the heat is going to be scorching. If Gabriel gets a shot and plays poorly, the front office will be torn into. By the end of the season, the Browns will have started their 41st, 42nd and 43rd different QBs since 1999. That’s freaking insane. Considering the circumstance, I don’t think a lot of jobs are on the line — I already said Stefanski should be safe, and I think GM Andrew Berry is too. Things are going to get worse in Cleveland before they get better. This is a very rough, treacherous first step towards a hopefully brighter future.

You know what? It’s Cleveland. Who am I kidding?

Next up: Indianapolis Colts

32 Teams in 32 Days: New York Jets

The wheel keeps us in the AFC East as we head to the eternally grief-stricken Meadowlands, where the Jets are entering yet another rebuild. This one, however, seems a little more promising than the others.

Cover photo taken from Imagn Images.

Welcome to 32 Teams in 32 Days, a daily series leading up to kickoff of the 2025 NFL season where I preview every team in the league as decided by a wheel spin and project what their season will look like. You can keep up with everything right here.

The wheel once again wants to keep us in the same division as we head to the eternally grief-stricken Meadowlands where the New York Jets are entering their 785th new era of the century.

I’m going to try to keep this brief seeing as though I’m running late on this and the Jets are the Jets. But I’ll also start by saying that I like what this franchise has done. Rebounding from the two-year Aaron Rodgers debacle wasn’t going to be easy, but I think they’ve done all the right things so far.

Getting rid of GM Joe Douglas was long overdue, and though Robert Saleh got the short end of the Rodgers stick, it wound up working for New York as Aaron Glenn takes over the head coaching job. He was an awesome DC in Detroit and brought some serious juice to a unit that was decimated by injury and still wound up playing some solid ball down the stretch. He’s an all killer, no filler type of coach from the Dan Campbell tree, and I think that’s just the mentality that the Jets need.

That side of the ball figures to continue being New York’s strong suit with the addition of Steve Wilks as DC. It helps to have studs like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams holding down the secondary and defensive line. The Jets were just 21st in defensive EPA/play a year ago, but I put that on coaching — the talent was there to be successful. The defensive line is what holds everything together, ranking in the top 10 in both pass rush and run stop win rates. It just never materialized in anything substantial.

If the Jets are to fully rebound from the damage that ARod caused them, they’ll have to figure out the other side of the ball. To be quite frank, I like pretty much everything they’re doing outside of quarterback. Bringing in Justin Fields on the QB equivalent of a prove-it deal is a solid idea in theory, but it certainly puts a ceiling on your offensive capabilities. For what it’s worth, the Jets offense ranked in 17th in EPA/play last year with Rodgers clocking in at 22nd among QBs. He was also 25th in QBR with a 48.0 mark while Fields was at just 50.8 in limited action last season with Pittsburgh. I love Justin and always will, but there’s little to no hope of him becoming a franchise quarterback at this point in his career. I wouldn’t mind being proven wrong.

Who knows what’s in store for this guy on his third team in as many years? (h/t Imagn Images)

The good thing for Fields is that the Jets have built some pretty solid offensive personnel. Garrett Wilson is a legit stud at WR, Breece Hall has plenty of juice out of the backfield — and the young buck Braelon Allen is coming on strong behind him — two first-round tackles man the line in Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, and Mason Taylor has some promise at TE in his rookie season. I worry about the rest of the pass catchers — Tyler Johnson and Josh Reynolds don’t exactly make for the greatest WR2 and 3 — but this is a run-first team with Fields and Hall anyways.

To put it plainly, this is a rebuild that’s off to a solid start, but is seemingly lacking an early direction. We’ll see if they can find any with Fields under center.

X-Factor: QB Justin Fields

As such, Fields is the easy answer for the Jets’ X-factor. If he plays up to his highest potential — which is being effective and efficient as both a runner and a passer — New York could flirt with being .500 this season. It just remains to be seen if he can do that consistently over the course of a season.

Team MVP: WR Garrett Wilson
This guy’s pretty good. (h/t NFL.com)

Garrett Wilson deserved every penny of the four-year, $130 million contract extension he received a few weeks ago (so did Sauce Gardner for that matter, even after a down year). In his three short years in the NFL, he’s already become one of the most athletic, well-rounded receivers in football, consistently flexing his ridiculous catch radius and elite speed. The start to his career reminds me of Terry McLaurin, notching 1,000 yards or more in each season despite average to subpar QB play. Last year was his best yet with career highs in yards (1,104) and touchdowns (7). I don’t know if those numbers will improve with Fields in over Rodgers considering the whole offensive identity is going to change. I considered putting Sauce or Quinnen here instead for that reason. But I’ll give the nod to Texas’ finest and hope that reuniting with his Buckeye QB bears some good results.

Breakout Candidate: WR Malachi Corley

If anyone is going to emerge as the WR2 in this offense, I think it’ll be last year’s third rounder Malachi Corley. He was a stud at Western Kentucky, using his size and speed to become a solid slot receiver. He barely got any touches last year — one of which being when he dropped the ball before crossing the plane — and wound up missing the back half of the season, but he has the skillset to be an effective piece of this offense. More than anything, I just see that happening more than Reynolds, Johnson or Allen Lazard being reliable targets. But, I do think Braelon Allen will become a solid, reliable piece of this offense as well, especially if Hall does wind up being traded like he’s always rumored to be.

Record Prediction: 6-11

It’s not the hardest schedule, but it certainly ain’t easy either. And considering how the Jets are on the wrong side of being mid, this feels like an appropriate record: an improvement from last year, but nothing crazy. Again, I like the direction this team is going in, but this just isn’t the year.

Next Up: Cleveland Browns

32 Teams in 32 Days: Miami Dolphins

It’s a make-or-break season in South Beach as the Dolphins need to bounce back from a letdown season, or come face-to-face with a full-fledged implosion and rebuild.

Cover photo taken from FOX.

Welcome to 32 Teams in 32 Days, a daily series leading up to kickoff of the 2025 NFL season where I preview every team in the league as decided by a wheel spin and project what their season will look like. You can keep up with everything right here.

We remain in the AFC East and head on down to southern Florida where the Miami Dolphins sit as one of the more polarizing teams in the league in terms of how this season could go. The ceiling is a return to 2023 form, while the floor is as low as a complete overhaul of the roster and/or coaching staff.

A year removed from being a proper Super Bowl contender, Miami was an up and down mess in 2024, starting 2-6 thanks to countless injuries — including another scary concussion for QB Tua Tagovailoa — en route to an underwhelming 8-9 finish. Considering how many resources have been poured into this window, that’s not going to fly. Now, the Dolphins are in a position where another subpar season could lead to plenty of changes to a core they once thought could bring them great success.

Things were messy for a once high-flying offense as the Dolphins finished 22nd in EPA/play, including 31st in rush EPA/play. The offensive line was a disaster, clocking in at 28th in pass block win rate and 26th in run block win rate — can’t blame Tua for that, can you? Tagovailoa was actually pretty solid, going 6-5 in his starts while ranking 7th in EPA/play and EPA+CPOE, despite having the lowest ADOT in the league. I will always contend that Tua is one of the more needlessly overhated players in the league; I understand that a lot of what he does seems simple, but not anyone can be as decisive and accurate as he is, even in that system. He deserves some respect for being elite at what he does. I just wish he was able to stay on the field more consistently.

It was a down year for these two after a scintillating 2023. (h/t FOX)

There just wasn’t much that stood out on that side of the ball. Tyreek Hill had a quiet year with 81 catches, less than 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. Jaylen Waddle caught just two scores. Jonnu Smith emerged as Tua’s go-to weapon, catching a whopping 88 balls and eight touchdowns, but he got shipped off to Pittsburgh, so Hill and Waddle figure to bounce back in ’25. De’Von Achane had another productive season behind a bad line, rushing for 907 yards and five touchdowns while hauling in 78 passes for 592 yards and six more scores. For reasons I can’t really explain, Miami traded for Darren Waller after he decided to come out of retirement, which feels like one of those stories we forget about when he re-retires after six weeks.

In a shocking turn of events, the defense was actually better than the offense, ranking in the top 10 in EPA/play. They didn’t play many offenses worth a damn, so that plays a role. Losing Jevon Holland hurts the secondary, but Miami has completely remade that unit, trading Jalen Ramsey to Pittsburgh to bring Minkah Fitzpatrick back in addition to signing Mike Hilton, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Kendall Sheffield. There’s still plenty of talent up front as well with the likes of Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Jordyn Brooks, and first-round DT Kenneth Grant figures to bolster the interior.

The talent is still in Miami. So, what gives? Well, coaching still might be a weakness. I think Mike McDaniel is definitely an elite offensive innovator, but the ending to 2023 and most of last year proved that he might be in over his head on the big stage as a head coach. I like Anthony Weaver as DC, and last year’s defense proved that he’s going to be a good coordinator in this league. But, more than anything, I think it’s a matter of all the picks and money that has gone into building what’s supposed to be a contender resulting in… nothing. A couple of trips to the playoffs with no wins to show for it. It’s disappointment after disappointment. The next letdown from this regime could prove to be its last.

X-Factor: HC Mike McDaniel/QB Tua Tagovailoa

It’s make-or-break for this tandem. Tua needs to stay healthy for the whole season and deliver a season closer to what we saw in 2023, and McDaniel needs to prove that he can actually be an NFL head coach. If neither of those things happen, the Dolphins likely won’t hesitate to move off both of them. This is a franchise that’s starved and desperate to win, always looking to snap their NFL-leading playoff drought (hard to believe they’re the only team to not win a postseason game in my lifetime). Tua was paid handsomely and McDaniel has been given a long leash, but they’ll only so accept so much mediocrity. The good news for these two is that we’ve seen how successful they can be when they’re clicking. Yes, Hill, Waddle and Achane will each need to do their part as well, but the onus is on McDaniel and Tua to right this ship. Otherwise, they’ll be thrown overboard.

Team MVP: RB De’Von Achane
Lightning in a bottle. (h/t PFF)

Achane has proven himself as one of the league’s most dynamic tailbacks with his quick twitch and ridiculous speed. An absolute weapon on the ground and through the air, he’s shown that as long as he’s able to stay on the field, he’s going to make a difference. I think that’ll continue in a big way this season. And, for reasons I’ll get into shortly, I think he’s going to be the offensive cornerstone that this franchise continues to invest in while some others get sidelined and/or shipped away.

Breakout Candidate: WR Malik Washington

This might be the first time in the series where you’ve read this and gone, “Who the heck is that?” And that’s fair — Washington was a sixth-round pick a year ago who didn’t see a ton of action. But now, he’s the clear WR3 and should see a lot more targets now that Jonnu Smith is out of the picture. He was a catch machine at Virginia, setting the ACC single-season record for receptions in 2023 with 110. He feels like a perfect fit in this offense with its quick hitters. Though speed and quickness are often prioritized with guys like Hill and Achane, Washington can provide a level of technique and sharpness that otherwise might be lacking. And, again, if my vision comes to fruition where the Dolphins blow it up — almost getting there, I promise! — then his role could become much bigger as the season winds down.

Record Prediction: 5-12

Okay, here we go. Of all the teams on the playoff bubble, the Dolphins are my candidate to have the disaster 2025 and blow it up. This schedule isn’t easy, but more than that, I just see things falling apart in Miami this season. That means no one is safe — Tua, McDaniel, Hill and maybe even Waddle could all be elsewhere this time next year.

So, here’s the sitch. I think the Dolphins will enter their Week 12 bye on a four-game losing streak, which will cause all the turmoil. McDaniel gone, Tyreek probably traded, and Tua on the market. I know what you’re thinking: how can they make those last two moves considering the financials? Well, Hill has an out after this season, counting for about $15.5 million in dead money. Tua has one in 2027, which has a whopping $34.8 million in dead cap. It’s not impossible that they both get shipped. I think Hill makes a lot more sense for an in-season trade, whereas Tua would get moved off in the winter. I’m sure there would be a number of suitors for him despite what you might think. Maybe the Colts, Browns or Jaguars come knocking.

With a record like this and a late-season plunge, the Dolphins would be squarely in position to draft a new QB of the future — think LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier or Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, if not Arch Manning if he decides to not return to Texas. I think that’s the direction they’d choose to go in. Build around a new QB with Achane and Waddle, find a new head coach who’s capable of getting results, and start over.

I’m wary of this prediction, because the last time I predicted something of this magnitude was with the Rams in 2023. They wound up making the playoffs that season. So, we’ll see you in January, Miami!

Next up: New York Jets

32 Teams in 32 Days: Buffalo Bills

It’s Super Bowl or bust in Buffalo as Josh Allen and the Bills once again have all the ingredients to win an elusive title — so long as things don’t turn upside down in January again.

Cover photo taken from WROC.

Welcome to 32 Teams in 32 Days, a daily series leading up to kickoff of the 2025 NFL season where I preview every team in the league as decided by a wheel spin and project what their season will look like. You can keep up with everything right here.

It took longer than I expected, but we’ve finally reached a 2024 playoff team with the Buffalo Bills, who still have their sights set on their first Super Bowl after once again experiencing the agony of a playoff exit at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Honestly, there’s not much to say about the Bills that we don’t already know by heart. Reigning MVP Josh Allen is an absolute unicorn of unicorns at QB who finally got his recognition with that elusive award last season (even though I would’ve given it to Lamar Jackson), ranking first in EPA/play and QBR. They won the AFC East for the fifth season in a row, doing so faster than any team has won any division in league history. They were truly elite across the board last year, finishing second in EPA/play on offense and 12th on defense, along with ranking in the top six in both pass rush and run stop win rates.

This was pretty damn cool. (h/t WROC)

In the end, it wasn’t enough. Despite 2024 being tabbed as the year that Buffalo finally got over the Mahomes hump, a 32-29 loss in the AFC Championship sent the Bills to a drab 0-4 playoff record against the Chiefs. This team is still trying to get back to their first Super Bowl since 1993 and capture that elusive first Lombardi, but the best player of the generation continues to stand in their way.

It’s no one’s fault — Allen now sits atop NFL history in playoff yards per game and TD-INT ratio and these teams are built to keep up with and defeat the Chiefs. It’s not like the 13 seconds or Damar Hamlin fake punt debacles. Blame a fourth down spot if you want, but if you can’t get a yard convincingly enough with the season on the line, maybe you don’t deserve to win. Especially if you get the ball back and can’t get a first down. It’s the little things. It always is with the Bills.

So, is this the year? It certainly might be. The offense essentially remains the exact same, returning a full offensive line that ranked fourth in pass block win rate a year ago while getting some more juice at WR with Josh Palmer replacing Amari Cooper. Khalil Shakir will continue to be a menace in the slot while Keon Coleman hopefully develops into a true WR1. James Cook led the NFL in touchdowns a year ago with 18 out of the backfield; hopefully he’ll be on the field amidst a contract dispute.

All the while, the defense also remains largely similar, just younger — the Bills spent their first five draft picks on that side of the ball. Unc replaces unc as Joey Bosa replaces Von Miller off the edge while Tre’Davious White returns to the secondary. This unit is eventually what unraveled the championship hopes a year ago, giving up 44 to the Rams, 42 to the Lions — albeit in a win — and 32 to the Chiefs in the final six weeks of the year. Seems like something that HC Sean McDermott should have more buttoned up by now, but alas.

So, Josh will still be amazing. The offense should continue to be a well-oiled machine. The defense has the blend of young studs and veteran talent to rank towards the top 10 once again. They’ll sleepwalk to an AFC East title and will be in contention for a 1-seed. That’s the expectation. That’s the standard.

The only remaining question: is it enough to finally get it done?

X-Factor: The Football Gods
Not again… right? (h/t The Playoffs)

The Bills are easily one of the most snakebitten franchises in professional sports. Wide right. The Four Falls. The Music City Miracle. 13 seconds. Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, Josh Allen. Nothing to show for it. It’s almost like they pissed off some higher entity that’s constantly punishing them for it. The fact of the matter is this: the Bills are Super Bowl or bust every year. And they seemingly always have the talent to get it done. But something stupid happens in the playoffs, and it ruins everything. If they can play that one clean game — that one game with no supernatural craziness to spoil the season, they can and will win it all. We’ll see if the Football Gods allow it.

Team MVP: QB Josh Allen

There’s not much more I can say about Josh, who’s simply one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever watched. Every single week I sit down and watch the Bills, there’s one or two plays where I go, “Oh, that’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.” Between his arm, legs, strength and size, he’s probably the most unique quarterback the league has ever seen. It’s honestly pretty cool to see how he’s completely shattered the ceiling of the potential he had when coming out of Wyoming six years ago. The best and most recent part of that development has been the long-awaited departure of the horrible turnovers. Gone are the days of forcing throws for no reason and trying to make everything into a big play — Allen only threw six picks last year! So, this selection needs no explanation. The only thing to look out for is how much better he can be after a 3,731-yard, 28-touchdown season (with 12 rushing touchdowns to boot!). Despite a subpar receiving core, the sky remains the limit.

Breakout Candidate: WR Keon Coleman

I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t big on Coleman coming out of Florida State last year. I’m honestly still not very high on him. I didn’t think he should’ve been a first round pick, and I doubt his ability to become a true WR1 in this league. But, if there was a time to prove me wrong, it’s now. A rookie season with 29 catches, 556 yards and four touchdowns can be a launching pad to a sophomore campaign with closer to 50-60 catches and perhaps even 1,000 yards. Shakir is still probably the main target for Allen — and even Cook catches a ton of balls out of the backfield — but you could argue that if the Bills are finally going to get over the hump, Coleman turning into a stud would be a huge reason why.

Record Prediction: 14-3

The Bills have the ninth-easiest schedule in football based on 2024 winning percentage in large part thanks to the AFC East being an absolute joke. But, it’s also very manageable outside of the division — Buffalo somehow gets Kansas City, Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Cincinnati and Philadelphia all at home. The toughest road trip is probably at Houston, where I have them dropping a game due to how poor Allen played against that elite defense last year. Anything lower than 12 wins would probably feel like a disappointment. Whether or not 14 is good enough for the 1-seed is an irrelevant issue. The Bills’ schedule starts in the postseason, where they need to beat whoever whenever and finally put themselves in a position to bring a title to Buffalo.

Next up: Miami Dolphins

32 Teams in 32 Days: Cincinnati Bengals

As the Bengals continue to prioritize their offense and ignore their defense, they remain in a position that isn’t conducive to winning. Even with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase setting the league on fire.

Cover photo taken from AP Photo.

Welcome to 32 Teams in 32 Days, a daily series leading up to kickoff of the 2025 NFL season where I preview every team in the league as decided by a wheel spin and project what their season will look like. You can keep up with everything right here.

The wheel has finally taken us to the AFC — and to one of its most fascinating, polarizing teams in the Bengals. And as much as I’d love to do a deep dive into everything going on in Cincinnati, I don’t really need to. You know what there is to know.

The skinny is this: Joe Burrow is amazing. Ja’Marr Chase might be the best receiver in the league. Tee Higgins is probably the best WR2 alongside him. The offensive line isn’t great. And the defense can’t stop a single gosh darn nosebleed.

Burrow probably would have won MVP last year if his defense was anything resembling competent, having the third ever season with over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns with less than 10 interceptions. The other two quarterbacks who accomplished that feat — Tom Brady in 2007 and Aaron Rodgers in 2011 — each took home the award and went a combined 30-1 in the regular season. The 2024 Bengals went 9-8.

And they had to struggle to get there. After once again starting the season looking like they were in training camp with an 0-3 start, Cincy had to climb out of 4-8 hole to stay in the playoff race. They were able to do that, winning their final five games, but it wasn’t enough, inexcusably missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.

You can point fingers at anyone but Burrow, Chase — who won the receiving triple crown — and Higgins. Though the Bengals had the second-highest dropback success rate in the league, the offensive line ranked dead last in pass block win rate and 30th in run block win rate while the defense sat at a measly 27th in EPA/play and 30th in success rate. Trey Hendrickson should be absolved from blame as well, considering he ranked second among all edge rushers in win rate while racking up 17.5 sacks for the second season in a row.

But apparently the Bengals front office disagrees. While fully content to pay Chase and Higgins a combined — and deserved — $70 million per year for the next several seasons, Cincy has completely neglected to play ball with Hendrickson, who’s being paid pennies on the dollar compared to the other pass rushers in his class. While Myles Garrett, TJ Watt and Maxx Crosby have each been rewarded with over $30 million AAV deals, Trey is set to make $15.8 million this season before becoming a free agent. It’s obviously in his and the team’s best interest to pay him like he deserves to be, but here we are on August 8, and there’s still no deal.

Pay the man. (h/t Bleacher Report)

It’s impossible to make it make sense. This defense has been so abysmal that they are defying logic; the Bengals lost four games last year in which they scored 30 or more, the most in NFL history. It’s a unit that has held generational QB and WR play back from even getting to the playoffs, let alone back to the Super Bowl. But no, let’s not pay the best player we have on that side of the ball and risk somehow being even worse than we were a year ago, even if we’ve replaced Lou Anarumo with Al Golden at DC. And don’t even get me started on the Shemar Stewart drama from this offseason.

It’s not just Hendrickson. Go look at the Bengals’ defensive depth chart and find me a single player worth recognizing in this preview. BJ Hill is the only one I’d hear out considering the entire second level of the defense is filled with players who are clearly out of their element. But this team made no moves of note to bolster that side of the ball, choosing instead to continue investing in the offense. Cincy better hope that draft picks Stewart, Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter turn into elite defenders, because they’re otherwise hopeless.

So, it seems like the Bengals are content to have another season of losing games 41-38 and 35-31 while watching other teams with QBs on Burrow’s level aspire to win the Super Bowl. Remember after 2021 and 2022 when we thought this organization was finally free from incompetence and ready to cash in on having generational talent on offense? Those were the days.

X-Factor: The Whole Defense
We can only pray that all hope is not lost for this unit. (h/t New York Times)

I can keep going on and on about this side of the ball, but I won’t. I’ll put a button on it with this — this Bengals team can only go as far as this defense doesn’t prevent them from going. That sounds like word jumble, but what I’m trying to say is that this unit will hold this team back no matter what. It’s just a matter of how much they do so. If they can keep teams to 24 points instead of 28 or 30 instead of 35, Burrow and company might be able to do the rest and get this team to 10 or 11 wins. I’d love to believe that’s going to happen. But I need to see it to believe it. And I don’t have high hopes.

Team MVP: QB Joe Burrow
Pocket God. (h/t AP Photo)

I love Joe Burrow. He’s truly a delight to watch, and it’s a shame that we haven’t seen him in a playoff game in nearly three years. When healthy, he’s arguably the best QB in the entire league — I certainly think that’s true from a pocket perspective. From the pocket, nobody is on his level. It’s the closest thing to Tom Brady I’ve seen in this new generation of quarterbacks. And his deep ball is simply untouchable, delivering the highest percentage of catchable balls on throws over 20 yards in the league. There’s no doubt about how Burrow will perform as long as he’s on the field and Chase and Higgins are lining up on the outside. League MVP is certainly back on the table this year, but with how his defense is set to perform, no amount of individual success is going to be enough. Reminds me of another legendary No. 9 I grew up watching who won a championship in Louisiana.

Breakout Candidate: RB Chase Brown

You can make the argument that Chase Brown already broke out with his awesome sophomore campaign last year, but the casual NFL fan probably still doesn’t know who he is. I think that’ll change this year. Coming off a season with over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns from scrimmage, Brown is primed for another season as a Swiss army knife out of the Bengals backfield. He’s reliable in the passing game and has some real juice on the ground — enough to keep defenses honest while still having to worry about Chase and Higgins. A solid run game is paramount in this offense, and Brown has proven that he’s a worthy successor to Joe Mixon. If the new additions to Cincy’s offensive line prove to be true upgrades, then Brown should have his first 1,000-yard rushing season and perhaps cement himself as a top-10 back in football.

Record Prediction: 10-7

I hate to continue beating the deceased horse, but 10 or 11 wins feels like Cincy’s ceiling considering their defense. The schedule is hard, don’t get me wrong, but a better D would mean more wins sheerly based on the Bengals’ offensive output. This team won’t be able to stop the likes of Minnesota, Denver, Buffalo, Baltimore or even Green Bay. Heck, Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers might mess around and beat them once or twice. If Cincinnati can flip some of those into wins, the division title might be within reach. If not, anything but a playoff berth is unacceptable. And if the Bengals are once again on the outside looking in, then it’s time for a massive, massive change.

Next up: Buffalo Bills

32 Teams in 32 Days: New York Giants

Coming off arguably the worst season in franchise history, the Giants are staring down the barrel of another trainwreck, putting jobs everywhere in the building at stake.

Cover photo taken from Pro Football Network.

Welcome to 32 Teams in 32 Days, a daily series leading up to kickoff of the 2025 NFL season where I preview every team in the league as decided by a wheel spin and project what their season will look like. You can keep up with everything right here.

Our first venture outside of the NFC West takes us to the Big Apple with the New York Football Giants. And I’m going to level with you guys here — it will not be easy to be nice to this team.

2024 was one of the worst seasons in Giants history as a franchise record 10-game losing streak led to cutting ties with $60 million QB Daniel Jones and a drab 3-14 record.

Let’s get the ugliness out of the way. As detailed by what’ll likely be the lone version of the offseason’s Hard Knocks, the Giants let their two best players in RB Saquon Barkley and S Xavier McKinney walk in order to uphold the Daniel Jones era only for Barkley to win Offensive Player of the Year and be the best player on the Super Bowl-winning Eagles while McKinney led the league in interceptions in Green Bay. Oh, and GM Joe Schoen couldn’t take his own son’s advice and make a move for a QB in the draft, though I doubt any teams in the top-3 would’ve budged.

So, they already went into the season behind the 8-ball. And boy, did it show. In the EPA/play department, New York finished 28th on offense and 29th on defense. Shuffling between Jones, Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock under center, they finished 31st in dropback success rate and scoring, only in front of the Browns in each department. Not the greatest company to keep.

The worst part? A meaningless win against the Colts in Week 17 threw away their chance at the No. 1 overall pick, dropping them to No. 3 to miss out on QB Cam Ward or the Heisman-winning unicorn Travis Hunter.

That being said, I do think New York made out of the draft with arguably its best player in Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter, who promises to be Micah Parsons 2.0. He rounds out what could be a top-5 defensive line in football, paired up with Brian Burns while Dexter Lawrence holds down the middle. And, for what it’s worth, I liked the Giants’ offseason on defense; Jevon Holland was a great pickup to replace McKinney — albeit a year too late — and Paulson Adebo was brought in to complement Dru Phillips and bolster a secondary that has missed on countless draft picks like Deonte Banks and Tyler Nubin.

Having Abdul Carter in the division for years to come isn’t my idea of fun. (h/t Reuters)

But the real story of the offseason was on the other side of the ball, as it seemingly always is under supposed offensive guru Brian Daboll. With Jones now in Indianapolis, Daboll and Schoen have been given one last shot to figure this out and prove that 2022 wasn’t a fluke. And they have put their faith in… Russell Wilson? Jameis Winston? Maybe not exactly. Russ is in town for one last ride, now on his fourth team in the last five years to be a stopgap for Ole Miss product Jaxson Dart, who the Giants traded back into the first round to select at No. 25 overall. Dart fits the mold for what Daboll wants far more than a 36-year old Wilson, but it’ll be a while before he sees the field. He still has a long way to go as a prospect, and Russ was always going to be the guy to get the ball rolling in the first couple of months.

Regardless of what happens at QB, the rest of the offense isn’t much to look at. Leading the charge is last year’s first-round WR Malik Nabers, who proved his worth with a ridiculous debut campaign, racking up 109 catches — second-highest tally in history for rookies behind Brock Bowers — 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns with horrible QB play. Darius Slayton has proven himself as a solid complement to Nabers as well and decided to run it back in New York this season. And Tyrone Tracy had a solid rookie season of his own to emerge as the lead back, but not exactly a Saquon Barkley replacement (who is, anyways?). Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt have potential, but there’s no clear WR3 in the building. Andrew Thomas has proven himself to be a top-tier left tackle, but the rest of the line leaves a ton to be desired.

With QB play having a low ceiling or and an incredibly low floor and the rest of the roster continuing to lack in clear, blue-chip talent outside of Thomas and Nabers, things aren’t going to get better overnight in New York. Combine that with a brutal schedule, and the Giants could be staring down the barrel of another abysmal season. Daboll and Schoen’s seats are scorching.

X-Factor: QB Jaxson Dart

But not in the way you might think. The reason I list Dart as an X-factor is because a lot of jobs rely on his success this season. Let’s say he takes over the starting job in Week 6. If he performs similar to Drake Maye last season with no eye-popping stats but clear talent and an ability to make plays, that’s a success. If he exceeds expectations and puts together a solid season for himself, that’s even better. He’s not going to be Jayden Daniels or CJ Stroud, but no one is. But for the Giants to have made the deal they did to get Dart, it has to work. It’s the last trick that Daboll can pull before being shipped off to be an offensive coordinator somewhere. I have my doubts about it working sheerly based on the uphill climb facing New York this season, but it’s not impossible.

Team MVP: WR Malik Nabers
This guy is absurd. (h/t northjersey.com)

I already touched on it, but Nabers is truly a remarkable player. I had him as my WR2 in last year’s draft, but I didn’t expect this. For him to have the rookie season he did with the QBs he played with is a testament to his skills. He’s also the only real pass-catching threat on this team, which is proven by leading the NFL in target share last year with a whopping 34.9%. He’s big, long, athletic, ridiculously fast and aggressive at the catch point. There aren’t many corners who can take him one-on-one. When I watch him, I see Ja’Marr Chase 2.0. That speaks for itself. If Dart pants out, they could prove to be a very good duo for years. If not, he’ll still be a great outlet for Russ, who will surely be connecting with him on a number of deep shots this season. In any case, I’m thrilled to watch his sophomore campaign — just maybe not in Weeks 1 and 15.

Breakout Candidate: RB Tyrone Tracy

As I mentioned earlier, Tracy is a pretty solid back who flashed a lot of potential in 2024. With 839 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, he emerged as the lead RB over Devin Singletary by October, and it definitely gave this offense a boost in the run game. Again, he’s no Saquon, but he can definitely be the solidified RB1 in New York for the next several years. Despite the offensive line continuing to be a weakness, Tracy should take a leap this season as the full-time lead back. That being said, rookie Cam Skattebo could eat into that if he proves that he can play in the big leagues, which I still have questions about.

Record Prediction: 2-15

This isn’t an indictment on how poor this roster or coaching staff is. This is more about the absolute gauntlet of a schedule. Just go take a look at it, then come back here and tell me I’m wrong. The NFC East has to play the NFC North and AFC West this season, which is awful news for the Giants in particular as those other two divisions are pretty good at the bottom. Oh, and they have to play San Francisco, who finished fourth last year, but should be much improved. There genuinely might not be a Giants win until the calendar year 2026. Their best chances are at New Orleans in Week 5, at Vegas in Week 17 and the finale against Dallas in Week 18. I gave them the Raiders win, and for some reason I have them beating Minnesota in Week 16 as well. There’s gotta be Ws in there somewhere. But if the Giants become the first team to ever go 0-17, do not color me surprised. Another top draft pick is on the fast track to the Big Apple.

Next up: Cincinnati Bengals

32 Teams in 32 Days: San Francisco 49ers

Coming off their worst season in three years, the 49ers had a tumultuous offseason ahead of a 2025 campaign littered with question marks, but softened by an easy schedule.

Cover photo taken from Deseret News.

Welcome to 32 Teams in 32 Days, a daily series leading up to kickoff of the 2025 NFL season where I preview every team in the league as decided by a wheel spin and project what their season will look like.

Our journey continues with our third NFC West team in as many days as we head out to the Bay Area, where the 49ers are seemingly facing some uncertainty for the first time in several years.

After three straight trips to the NFC Championship game — including an OT loss in Super Bowl LVIII agains Kansas City — San Francisco had a drab 6-11 campaign last season plagued by the injury bug that bit them all over in 2020. Entering the year as the favorite to win a title in perhaps the final season of a clear window, the Niners wound up finishing at the bottom of the division thanks to guys like Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams, Deebo Samuel and others missing extended playing time due to serious injuries.

The offense was able to stay afloat, finishing 5th in total yards per game and 11th in EPA/play, but the defense simply fell apart, being largely unable to stop a nosebleed by the end of the season. The 49ers’ once proud unit finished bottom five in scoring, 26th in EPA/play and 29th in success rate, performing particularly awful against the run.

Thus, San Francisco entered the offseason with a lot of business to handle. The Niners lost a whopping 17 players in the first week of free agency, most notably having DB Charvarius Ward signed away by Indianapolis, trading Samuel to the Commanders for a fifth-round pick and losing both LB Dre Greenlaw and S Talanoa Hufanga to the Broncos. The defensive interior was also weakened by the departures of Javon Hargrave and Maleik Collins.

But the biggest business to handle was that of QB Brock Purdy, who has become one of the more polarizing signal callers in football. I personally think that the former Mr. Irrelevant has become so “overrated” that he’s now underrated. Why he receives the hate he does is beyond me. I used to be in the camp of recognizing him as a product of his environment — and that still very well be true — but he gained a lot of respect last season. To deal with the slew of injuries they had with the worst defense of his career, he still finished 9th in EPA+CPOE and 7th in QBR. That was largely without the likes of CMC, Deebo and Aiyuk. So much for being a product of the system.

GM John Lynch and the Niners front office seemed to agree, giving Purdy a whopping five-year, $265 million contract extension to complete one of the coolest stories in the league. Don’t get me wrong, I still have my doubts about whether you can win a title with Brock under center, but he deserved this payday and deserves to be this team’s franchise QB.

He’s much better than you think. (h/t Deseret News)

Because of that massive payout, they turned to rebuild through the draft and smaller, more team-friendly deals, particularly on defense. Each of the first five rounds saw San Francisco draft a defensive player, headlined by first-round edge rusher Mykel Williams, second-round tackle Alfred Collins and third-round corner Upton Stout. Other selections like Nick Martin, CJ West and Marques Single will help provide depth at key positions to help rebuild what was once an elite defense.

Still, the unit isn’t a very strong one. Even with Nick Bosa leading the charge off the edge and Fred Warner locking down the middle of the field. The secondary is a massive concern with no clear replacement for Ward; guys like Jason Pinnock and Renardo Green don’t inspire a ton of confidence, though I am a fan of Deommodore Lenoir and Malik Mustapha. Williams could develop into a force off the edge to complement Bosa, but I still don’t know what the interior will look like without Hargrave. Collins is pretty raw, but could become a very solid player in due time.

The offense has its fair share of question marks as well, but at least we know what to expect. Trent Williams may be old, but he’s still one of the best tackles in fotball. However, there’s not many other bright spots on the line — though, Jake Brendel had a solid season last year. If healthy, CMC should be the dog he always is. Hopefully Brandon Aiyuk can bounce back from a torn ACL and play up to the potential we saw in 2023, which garnered him his massive contract. Behind him, last year’s first-round pick Ricky Pearsall is bound for a breakout and Jauan Jennings remains one of the best WR3s in football. And then there’s George Kittle, who continues to be an absolute delight to watch at TE, coming off a remarkable season with 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns, resulting in a massive four-year, $76.4 million extension. He’s showing no signs of slowing down and will undoubtedly have another huge year as Purdy’s top target.

As seemingly always is the case with this squad, health remains the biggest thing separating this team from reaching its potential. But it’ll be the answers — or lack thereof — to the other questions that will show whether the Super Bowl window has closed or is slowly but surely being reopened.

X-Factor: RB Christian McCaffrey

I was on the record several times in 2023 saying that CMC deserved to be in the MVP conversation over Purdy, and I still believe that I was right. That season, McCaffrey was just so impactful in so many ways, just as he was in 2022 after being acquired from Carolina. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the most dynamic playmakers in football. The problem is remaining healthy. Last year was the first he’s had in San Francisco with injury concerns, so hopefully it doesn’t become a trend like it was with the Panthers. Only four games with no touchdowns isn’t a recipe for success for this team. So, I guess more than CMC himself being the X-factor, his health is. Because so long as he’s on the field, this team is much better. Here’s to hoping that’s the case.

Team MVP: QB Brock Purdy

I wanted to put Kittle here, but I’m gonna continue putting respect on Purdy’s name. If he continues his form from last season, he’s in for another big year. San Francisco will need it if they want to return to the postseason, and I think he can provide it.

Breakout Candidate: WR Ricky Pearsall

We all want Ricky Pearsall to succeed. After getting shot before the start of last season, he was able to come back and have a decent rookie campaign, particularly when he was thrust into action following so many WR problems with Samuel and Aiyuk. He was drafted in the first round for a reason — he’s got a solid frame with great hands and he’s fearless at the catch point. Maybe not as polished of a route runner as Aiyuk, but definitely a good complement to him and Kittle in the passing game. In the Kyle Shanahan system, I think Pearsall is bound for a big year two, where he should see upwards of 70-75 targets. If nothing else, with the sheer amount of attention that Aiyuk, Kittle and McCaffrey should and will receive, the door will open for Ricky P to make his mark in 2025.

Record Prediction: 12-5

San Francisco doesn’t feel like a 12-win team until you look at their schedule. Courtesy of finishing in last place, the Niners have the luxury of playing the Browns, Bears and Giants this year in addition to cycling through the two worst divisions in the league — the NFC South and AFC South. Most of those games alone should get them to double digits, and they should be able to compete for a division title. But, that still implies good health and good performance. The former should hopefully come regardless, but the latter remains to be seen. I simply have enough faith in this system and the blue-chip talent they still possess, even after the mass exodus of this offseason. All in all, it’ll be a very telling season to see what the future of this franchise is going to look like.

Next up: New York Giants

32 Teams in 32 Days: Arizona Cardinals

Despite a disappointing end to last season, the Cardinals have put themselves in a position to break through in 2025. But how far can Kyler Murray and a desperately-needed defensive revamp take them?

Cover photo taken from NBC Sports.

Welcome to 32 Teams in 32 Days, a daily series leading up to kickoff of the 2025 NFL season where I preview every team in the league as decided by a wheel spin and project what their season will look like.

Our second leg of the journey keeps us in the NFC West with the upstart Cardinals, who have flown under the radar for quite some time now and could be poised for a breakthrough season.

I’ll start by saying this: Arizona was as good of a sub-.500 team as you’ll find in the league in 2024, at least offensively. They were 10th in the league in offensive EPA/play, Kyler Murray was 9th in QBR and the team was sixth in dropback success rate — notably above each of the league’s final four teams in Buffalo, Washington, Kansas City and Philadelphia. The team was 6-4 heading into their bye before falling apart, losing five of their next six, including very winnable games against Minnesota and Carolina.

What did the Cards in was their defense, which was 24th in defensive EPA/play and a drab 31st in success rate. Considering the defensive nature of head coach Jonathan Gannon, that won’t fly for the redbirds in ’25.

As such, defense seemed to be the emphasis of the offseason in the desert. While the offense gained no new starters, five of the team’s six draft picks were spent on that side of the ball — notably including DT Walter Nolen in the first round and DB Will Johnson in the second, who could each be franchise cornerstones if they stay healthy and live up to their potential. DB Denzel Burke, LB Cody Simon and LB Jordan Burch could also develop into solid pieces and at least provide some defensive depth.

Josh Sweat was signed away from the Eagles to a lucrative deal to bolster the pass rush which was 28th in win rate a year ago. Calais Campbell was brought back home to provide a veteran presence and maybe give the interior some juice. All things considered, this should be an improved unit this season; at least DC Nick Rallis hopes they’ll be in what’s essentially a make-or-break year for him.

Again, this team is practically the same offense as it was a year ago, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing considering the stats, but I do have some question marks.

For starters, I’m not overly fond of OC Drew Petzing — particularly his lack of emphasis to feed the ball to Marvin Harrison Jr. Yes, it apparently isn’t necessary, but it seems like something that could surely elevate the unit. Critics and TikTokers would have you believe that Harrison’s rookie year was a disappointment; I’ll admit that might be true statistically, but film would tell the story of a kid who simply didn’t see the ball enough.

Throw this guy the ball, please. (h/t AZCentral)

Having a star TE in Trey McBride certainly plays a big factor there, considering led all tight ends in target share with over 29% — good for sixth among all pass catchers. For reference, MHJ ranked 42nd, lower than guys like David Njoku and Michael Pittman Jr.

Call me crazy, but I’m in favor of getting the ball to the generational talent you took fourth overall.

I won’t put the blame on Kyler, because I actually think he’s a pretty solid quarterback who gets a little too much hate. But there were numerous occasions where Marv would be wide open streaking down the field and not even get looked at. It’s the small things like that which prevent this offense from being one of the best in the league — which, considering the solid offensive line and pretty good skill position group, is entirely possible.

This was already a solid roster that improved greatly in the areas it needed to. But the fact remains: I need to see it to believe it. I want to believe in this offense, and I’m excited to see what the defense looks like. But, for now, the glass is neither half-full nor half-empty. It just has some water in it.

X-Factor: QB Kyler Murray

If the Cardinals want to return to the postseason, you’d have to picture Kyler returning to a form like we saw pre-ACL tear. Again, last year wasn’t bad for him by any means — in fact, he posted the highest QBR of his career — but it wasn’t enough to get over the hump. That’s not all his fault. But if he can get just a little closer to the peak of his potential, it’ll be good enough to make up for this team’s shortcomings. We all know he has what it takes to be a top-10 signal caller. It just remains to be seen whether or not he can get there.

Team MVP: TE Trey McBride
Who runs a better corner route than Trey McBride? (h/t Reuters)

To put it plainly, Trey McBride is a damn stud. He has clearly emerged as a top-three tight end in football, and on his best day, he’s probably the best in the league. His route running is wildly polished for his size, he’s almost unguardable at the catch point and fairly effective after the catch. McBride has developed into the ultimate safety blanket for Kyler Murray and one of the biggest ball-demanders in football with 111 receptions last season — good for fourth in the league. Only Brock Bowers was a more productive TE last season, which is pretty good company to keep. For his efforts, McBridge was given a four-year, $76 million extension, making him the highest paid tight end in NFL history. So, this was a pretty easy choice. Entering year four, he’s showing no signs of slowing down and should continue to be the primary weapon in this offense. That is, unless, something in particular happens…

Breakout Candidate: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

This is the year. There should be a much more conceited effort to get Marv the football, and it’s going to pay dividends. I always thought he was the best receiver in the 2024 class; hell, I thought he was the best player in the draft and one of the most unique talents I’ve ever watched. I still believe that potential is within him, and I still think this is a perfect situation for him to be in. If he consistently sees targets — of which there should be at least 80 or 90 — he should explode this season and become the type of receiver we all expect him to be. He may not eclipse his ’24 draft counterparts in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. just yet, but it’s only a matter of time before that happens. A player of his skillset and athleticism doesn’t dwell for long.

Record Prediction: 8-9

Like I said with Seattle yesterday, this is a very middle-of-the-pack type of schedule. But with too many unknowns on defense, it’s hard to hand out wins in toss-ups where the tie goes to a clearly better, more well-rounded squad. Road games at Dallas, Tampa Bay, Houston and Cincinnati also stand out as steep hills to climb, and the divisional road games figure to be chalked up as losses as well. A double-digit win season is entirely possible. It just needs to be seen to be believed.

Next up: San Francisco 49ers

32 Teams in 32 Days: Seattle Seahawks

An offensive overhaul creates questions that loom larger than the rainclouds over Seattle. What’s in store for the Seahawks in year two under Mike Macdonald?

Cover photo taken from DraftKings.

Welcome to 32 Teams in 32 Days, a daily series leading up to kickoff of the 2025 NFL season where I preview every team in the league as decided by a wheel spin and project what their season will look like.

The squad with the distinct honor of captaining our maiden voyage is the Seattle Seahawks, a team that I once had quite a disdain for, but have grown to respect quite a lot.

That being said, not everything going on in the PNW is making a lot of sense these days.

Seattle was the only 10-plus win team to not make the playoffs in 2024, missing out by a hair courtesy of some wonky tiebreakers in the NFC. The Seahawks were simply so-so on both sides of the ball with EPA/play on offense of -0.013 and -0.018 on defense, clocking in at 20th and 10th in the league, respectively. Losing a couple of very winnable games — namely against the Giants and Vikings — didn’t help either. Still, it felt like a success of a first season under new head coach Mike Macdonald, and one that could be built upon.

But, the big story of the offseason was a recalibration — there’s a word former Seahawks DC Dan Quinn would be proud of — of the offense, spearheaded by trades that sent away QB Geno Smith and WR DK Metcalf to the Raiders and Steelers, respectively. Those two were the anchors of that side of the ball ever since Smith got there in 2022, connecting for 3,380 yards and 24 touchdowns. I’ve always considered Geno wildly underrated and DK rather overrated, but regardless of subjective perception, there’s no denying that the decision to simultaneously move off both was a little puzzling.

The puzzle got slightly harder to decipher when the Seahawks decided to replace Smith with Sam Darnold, giving the former first-round pick a three-year, $100.5 million contract after a career-rejuvenating season in Minnesota that ended with a whimper. To me, that’s a downgrade. I do like Darnold, but one good season that ended with two of the worst games you’ll see in big moments wouldn’t convince me to move off a consistent guy like Geno, even after a 15-interception campaign. Darnold had an incrementally higher EPA+CPOE at 0.121 compared to Smith’s 0.110, which says more about Geno considering that Seattle’s offensive line was 21st in pass block win rate last year. For reference, Minnesota was 2nd. And, of course, the Vikings have arguably the best receiver in football in Justin Jefferson and an upper echelon WR2 in Jordan Addison.

Whether or not the Seahawks upgraded at QB remains to be seen. (h/t NFL.com)

To that end, the Seahawks do still have a solid group of weapons for Darnold to play with, even with the departure of Metcalf — which isn’t as impactful as it seems. DK worked with Geno because of each of their affinities for the deep ball. With Darnold, things will be more short and intermediate with the ball coming out quickly and decisively. That plays right into the hands of third-year WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba — who is poised for one of the league’s biggest breakouts in 2025 — and newcomer Cooper Kupp who returns home to Washington looking for a new spark. Jake Bobo and Marquez Valdes-Scantling don’t round out the world’s greatest WR room, but Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet make up for that out of the backfield. Plus, second-round rookie TE Elijah Arroyo could prove to be another solid safety blanket.

Unfortunately for that side of the ball, the offensive line still figures to be a weakness. The Seahawks spent a first round pick on standout NDSU lineman Gray Zabel to bolster the interior, but the rest of that group still has many questions to answer. Is Charles Cross capable of being a franchise LT? Is Olu Oluwatimi able to live up to his potential? Will the right side be able to stop a gentle breeze from sneaking through? There are just too many questions.

Fortunately for Seattle, the defense shouldn’t have too many questions to answer. At least no new ones. Again, it was a very middle-of-the-pack lineup across the board, but nothing was as offensively bad as the OL (see what I did there?). Leonard Williams found new life off the edge and Demarcus Lawrence will look to do the same, Byron Murphy II has all the potential in the world to be a top-tier tackle and if healthy, Uchenna Nwosu can make a real impact on and off the ball. Losing Dre’Mont Jones hurts, and I wish there was more of an effort to improve the pass rush, but that effort seemed to go to the secondary instead, drafting athletic freak Nick Emmanwori to bolster a unit that was already pretty solid. Devon Witherspoon is an absolute stud on the boundary, Coby Bryant can play at a high level and Julian Love has been consistent. If Riq Woolen can find his old self, this defense can easily find themselves in the top-10 in passing.

Overall, Seattle might not have done enough to make a true jump from year one to year two under a new regime. If anything, this will be the transition year for the Seahawks when we all thought 2024 was. If that’s the case, then this season could go any which way.

X-Factor: QB Sam Darnold

The Seahawks go as Sam Darnold goes. That probably goes without saying. My big question remains: how does he bounce back from the putrid ending to the 2024 season which saw him lose tens of millions? Because while it might seem like Seattle is trusting him to take over for the next few years, that might not be the case. He could be dropped at the first sign of trouble in favor of rookie QB Jalen Milroe, who was selected in the third round out of Alabama. You’ve got to figure that the Seahawks see more of a future in the athletic monster Milroe, perhaps hoping to shape him into their own version of Jalen Hurts. I’m a fan of his, and I can see a path to him starting late in 2025 — maybe after Seattle is knocked out of playoff contention — and even to begin 2026. Darnold needs to play at the level he was at for the majority of last year with the Vikings and not have the falloff. That’s easier said than done. Jefferson and Addison aren’t here; neither is TJ Hockenson or that offensive line or even that defense. Kevin O’Connell isn’t in his ear anymore. This is more of a prove-it situation than it seems for Sam. Will he fold under the pressure again or find away to make it work?

Team MVP: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Draft JSN in fantasy. Thank me later. (h/t DraftKings)

You thought I was going to go this whole time only talking about JSN one brief time? Negative. The breakout was inevitable last year — 100 catches for 1,130 yards and six TD as an alleged WR2 in year two was something to behold. Now, Smith-Njigba is the clear-cut top option in an offensive scheme which will benefit him much more than last year’s. I can easily see JSN being a 115-plus catch receiver with over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’ll get 10-to-15 targets a game, many of which coming in the quick game, but he can still take the top off the defense for the big play — especially more than any other receiver on the roster. I think he figures to be a consensus top-10 WR in football in six months. And I get to say “I told you so.”

Breakout Candidate: S Nick Emmanwori

You could see what the vision was when Seattle drafted Emmanwori out of South Carolina in the second round. With Woolen, Witherspoon and Bryant, they’ve been trying to rebuild the Legion of Boom. Now, the hope is that Emmanwori can be their Kam Chancellor. No one has ever tested like him, clocking in with the greatest RAS score for a safety in the history of the Scouting Combine, but his lack of polish outside of athleticism caused his slip into the mid-second round. But, if there’s anyone who can mold him into a truly elite safety, it should be Mike Macdonald. I have high hopes for the kid in this system, and I hope it works out. Because we could all use another Kam Chancellor in our lives.

Record Prediction: 9-8

The schedule ain’t hard, but it ain’t easy either. The NFC West is challenging enough as is, especially with the 49ers looking to get back on track and the Cardinals being sneakily improved. Playing the AFC South helps for what should be three free wins, and Houston has to go up to Seattle in the middle of the year. The NFC South also isn’t too difficult, but who knows what Carolina and Atlanta could be? The point remains: this Seahawks team doesn’t show enough improvement — if any at all — to inspire the confidence that they’ll make a jump into the postseason. Nine wins honestly might be generous here. It all comes down to the man under center. And that’s far too big of a question mark.

Next up: Arizona Cardinals