There could be a few teams ready to breakout in the 2025 NFL Season. Let's power rank them by how likely they are to do so. Typically, NFL teams typically breakout due to an emerging QB. We saw this first-hand in the 2024 NFL Season when Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix took the NFL by storm.
This type of thing could continue in the 2025 NFL Season, as there could be a handful of teams prepared to put the NFL on notice and shock the world. We've actually identified four of the most likely breakout teams for 2025.
We power ranked by them by just how likely we feel like they are to breakout. Let's get into it here.
Power ranking most likely breakout teams in the 2025 NFL Season
4. Chicago Bears
I am high-ish on the Chicago Bears for the 2025 NFL Season. Two major things stick out to me as being reasons why this team's ceiling might be limited. Firstly, the NFC North is just flat-out stacked, as the Bears might still be, comfortably, the worst team in the division. They do have Ben Johnson as their new head coach, and he seemed to be the top prize this offseason.
The other concern I have is whether Johnson can reign-in Caleb Williams a bit. Williams was a sloppy mess during his rookie season. He struggled with remaining within the structure of the offense. He also took way too many sacks and just did not get into a rhythm most of the time. A lot of those qualities stay with players for most of their NFL careers, but Chicago has the talent on paper to breakout.
3. Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix Jr got some action late in the 2024 NFL Season and is now entering 2025 as the guy for the Atlanta Falcons. With a ton of talent on offense and a remade defensive line, the Falcons could surprise in the NFC South and perhaps squeak out nine or 10 wins if Penix makes a leap in year two.
2. Arizona Cardinals
I have been higher on the Arizona Cardinals for a while now. They were a good football team in the 2024 NFL Season and are honestly a well-coached operation. At one point last year, the Cardinals were 6-4 and firmly in the NFC West race. Well, with mounting injuries already for the San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks being a non-factor with Sam Darnold at QB, and the Los Angeles Rams not having Matthew Stafford out there, the Cardinals might become the favorites to win the division.
Heading into the 2025 NFL Offseason, this team's primary weakness was along the defensive line, so what did GM Monti Ossenfort go out and do? He improved the defensive line with players like Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson, Josh Sweat, and Waler Nolen in the 2025 NFL Draft.
This is a rock-solid roster and one ready to compete for the division title. They won eight games in 2024 and absolutely have a clear path to a 10-win season in 2025. Bank on it.
1. New England Patriots
The one team I have been the highest on approaching the 2025 NFL Season is the New England Patriots. The Patriots have a special QB on their hands in second-year passer Drake Maye, who was a lot better than the stats indicate during his rookie season.
The Pats hired Mike Vrabel as their head coach, and he brought back Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator. Those two additions alone are enough to thrust this team into breakout status, but the offensive line is a lot better, and Maye has some encouraging weapons on offense as well.
This is an up-and-coming franchise just one year after going nowhere with Jerod Mayo running the show. The New England Patriots are coming, and they're coming quickly.