Now that Micah Parsons is on the Green Bay Packers, let's power rank the NFC and see what changed.
In an ending that not many of us saw coming initially, the Dallas Cowboys traded Micah Parsons and were unable to agree to an extension with their former franchise player. It's a giant mistake from Dallas, and the trade is going to work out as most of us think it will.
Now that the Packers have themselves an elite pass rusher, you get the sense that they got that much closer to the top of the NFC. Let's roll out some updated NFC power rankings following this massive trade.
NFC Power Rankings after major Micah Parsons trade
16. New Orleans Saints
Not only are the New Orleans Saints the worst team in the NFC, but they might also be the worst team in the NFL with virtually no reasons for optimism in the 2025 NFL Season. Could they be the first winless team in the 17-game era?
15. Carolina Panthers
With a lot to prove in 2025, the Carolina Panthers are 15th in our power rankings, but Bryce Young did play well down the stretch in 2024, so at least there is that.
14. New York Giants
With a fierce defensive line, the New York Giants might be able to hang around in most contests, but the offense is a giant question mark, and this coaching staff might not be legitimate, either, so the Giants are quite low in our power rankings.
13. Dallas Cowboys
After trading away Micah Parsons, the Dallas Cowboys might only have three things going for them with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens. If nothing else, Dallas is going to gain a ton of yards in the 2025 NFL Season.
12. Atlanta Falcons
A frisky team for 2025, the Atlanta Falcons have to prove themselves, but they have all the makings of a breakout team if second-year QB Michael Penix Jr can hit his stride.
11. Chicago Bears
On paper, the Chicago Bears are better than the 11th-best team in the NFC, but with many of these teams ranked low, there is just a lot of unknown that has to shake itself out, but with Ben Johnson in as the head coach, offense might be a lot easier in 2025.
10. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers said goodbye to key former players this offseason in Deebo Samuel, Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga, so this is definitely a different team than we are used to seeing, and it feels like they've got an uphill battle in 2025.
9. Seattle Seahawks
Somehow getting worse in the offseason despite winning 10 games in 2024, the Seattle Seahawks are going to struggle with consistency on offense and surely aren't going to attain double-digit wins this year. Seattle is ninth in our updated NFC power rankings.
8. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are close and can breakout a bit in the 2025 NFL Season. They were 6-4 at one point in the 2024 NFL Season and do have a path to a Wild Card seed given they have improved their defensive line, which was a weak spot in 2024.
7. Minnesota Vikings
JJ McCarthy being an unknown is bringing down the Minnesota Vikings in our updated NFC power rankings, but he could absolutely be the 'guy' for the franchise for well over a decade; we just do not know yet. On paper, Minnesota is one of the better teams in the NFL, but let's pump the brakes until McCarthy takes the field.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The most 'good not great' team in the NFL, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are again going to win around 10 games and will likely capture the NFC South title, but they just do not have a Super Bowl team and are still a few elite players away from that. However, this franchise is run the right way and in a very good spot.
5. Washington Commanders
Another team kind of limited by their top-end roster talent, the Washington Commanders have an old roster but a budding star at QB in Jayden Daniels. This team came within one game of the Super Bowl, but they could regress in 2025. For now, they are fifth in our NFC power rankings and are a very good football team.
4. Los Angeles Rams
A healthy Matthew Stafford is dangerous. The LA Rams have a top-tier roster and a QB still at a high level, but Stafford might not have a ton of time left. The Rams could have another year or two left in them before the team has to figure out who to replace Stafford with.
3. Detroit Lions
Third in our NFC power rankings, the Detroit Lions have ascended to the top of the NFC but seem to be trending toward a bit of a regression in 2025. We'll see if this team can rebound from losing both Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson to head coaching jobs.
2. Green Bay Packers
Adding Micah Parsons has given the Green Bay Packers a legitimate chance to become a contender in the 2025 NFL Season. Yes, they have pushed their chips in for the next few years, but that's how it works in the NFL, as Super Bowl windows do not stay open for a long time in most cases.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
The defending Super Bowl champions are first in the NFC in our updated power rankings, but they have all the makings of being a Super Bowl-hangover team in 2025, as they lost some players in the offseason and have yet another new offensive coordinator.