Biggest challenge facing each team entering the 2025 NFL season

Biggest challenge: Turning Marvin Harrison Jr. into a superstar.

The second-year wide receiver had a decent rookie season, catching 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. The problem is Arizona didn't use the fourth overall pick in last year's draft for a decent season. Harrison possesses elite traits, and the Cardinals need to maximize those talents. He had enticing flashes in 2024, with two 100-yard games as evidence. He also had his struggles, as he only surpassed 65 yards once in his last nine games (with the Cards competing for a playoff spot). That can't happen in Year 2. Arizona could've added another weapon to take some pressure off Harrison. The team instead chose to double down on last year's core, and MHJ showed up for camp with 11 more pounds of muscle. The message from both sides is obvious: There's going to be more weight placed on Harrison's broad shoulders this fall. He needs to be ready to deal with it.

Biggest challenge: Developing Michael Penix Jr.

Penix was able to start the final three games of last season after Kirk Cousins morphed into a turnover machine. Atlanta won one of those contests, but the number that really stuck out about Penix's rookie campaign was his completion percentage: 58.1. Some of those accuracy issues likely were the result of Penix being thrust into a starting role after most assumed he might not play at all for possibly a couple years with Cousins under center. Penix will come into this season better prepared and with a clearer sense of how to succeed. The key for him will be taking care of the football and relying on a bevy of weapons -- including running back Bijan Robinson and wide receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney (who's going to miss a few weeks with a shoulder injury) -- to make plays. If Penix limits his turnovers, then the Falcons should be much improved.

Biggest challenge: Breaking in a new kicker.

The Ravens are looking to replace Justin Tucker, which means this is the first time in over a decade that they’ll have major questions at kicker heading into a season. Tucker was released in May amid allegations of improper conduct during massage therapy sessions. (He received a 10-game suspension from the league in June.) Tucker connected on a career-low 73.3 percent of his field goal attempts last season, but even that decline left his career accuracy at 89.1 percent, ranking first in NFL history. Now the Ravens are trying to assess whether sixth-round pick Tyler Loop or undrafted rookie John Hoyland can come close to being that reliable. There isn’t much to criticize about the roster Baltimore has assembled. That also won’t matter if the kicking game can’t deliver in high-pressure situations.

Biggest challenge: Being reliable on defense when it matters most.

The Bills have been championship contenders for each of the last five seasons, but a similar theme annually seems to emerge: Their defense falls apart in the playoffs. That can’t be the case again for a team that has plenty of reasons to believe it can finally get past the Kansas City Chiefs for AFC supremacy. The Bills have added new faces to the defensive front, both through free agency (edge rusher Joey Bosa and interior DLs Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi, though the latter two are each suspended six games) and the draft (edge rusher Landon Jackson and interior DLs T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker). They bolstered the secondary by using a first-round pick on cornerback Maxwell Hairston and reuniting with veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White. All in all, it looks promising on paper. The bigger question -- for a team that has allowed an average of 33.2 points to opponents in its last five playoff losses -- is how it will look come January.

Biggest challenge: Improving the supporting cast around Bryce Young.

The Panthers were thrilled by the way Young evolved in the second half of last season, as he bounced back from an early-season benching to play more like a former No. 1 overall pick down the stretch. For that momentum to continue, the team needs some young, talented receivers to improve as quickly as possible. Tetairoa McMillan, this year's first-round pick, is exactly the type of long, big-bodied target that makes life easier on young quarterbacks. His 6-foot-5, 212-pound frame will be a welcome sight for Young. Xavier Legette, last year's first-round pick, also has impressive size (at 6-3 and 227 pounds) but needs to avoid the drops that plagued him during parts of his rookie year. The Panthers have more veteran options at receiver -- like 30-year-old David Moore and 34-year-old Adam Thielen -- but it's these younger players that will determine how high Young ascends in Year 3.

Biggest challenge: Fostering significant growth from Caleb Williams.

We all know the 2024 season didn’t go as Williams had hoped after being the first overall pick in last year’s draft. This season should be decidedly better if everything goes according to the plans new head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles laid out during the offseason. Williams now has better protection behind a rebuilt offensive line. He has more weapons, as Poles selected tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III in the first two rounds of this year’s draft. Most importantly, Williams has Johnson, who has been focused on improving his quarterback’s fundamentals and helping the 23-year-old see the value of playing within the structure of the offense. The Bears basically have done everything possible to ensure success here. It’s up to Williams to deliver that.

Biggest challenge: Fixing the defense.

This has been an ongoing story for the Bengals throughout the offseason, and it won’t stop until we see how this unit fares in real games. Cincinnati finally got first-round pick Shemar Stewart under contract, but reigning NFL sack king Trey Hendrickson remains in a holdout. The Bengals also said goodbye to one defensive leader (defensive end Sam Hubbard retired) and released another (linebacker Germaine Pratt). Should we also mention that new defensive coordinator Al Golden is trying to improve a group that finished 25th in the league in both points and yards allowed? For a team that is known for starting the season slowly, it’s hard to believe this defense will come together fast.

Biggest challenge: Picking the right quarterback.

There is no team in the league with a more interesting quarterback derby than the Browns. Head coach Kevin Stefanski is trying to decide between a 40-year-old who led Cleveland to the playoffs two years ago (Joe Flacco), a former first-round pick who's on his third team in four seasons and is now dealing with a balky hamstring (Kenny Pickett), an undersized third-round pick in this year’s draft (Dillon Gabriel) and a highly polarizing fifth-round pick (Shedeur Sanders). It will be fascinating to see how Stefanski handles this competition, and who ultimately emerges. However it plays out, this will be the most watched quarterback battle in the league over the next few weeks.

Biggest challenge: Building a reliable running game.

Dallas has done a nice job of adding young talent to its offensive line, drafting three first-round picks for the unit over the last four years, including this year’s selection, guard Tyler Booker. Now we need to see how the players carrying the ball behind those blockers operate. The Cowboys' running back room isn’t going to blow anybody away at this stage. The two most accomplished players -- Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders -- haven’t averaged 4 yards per carry since the 2022 season. Texas product Jaydon Blue is promising but he’s still a rookie. There’s a good chance that Dallas' passing attack -- with George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb paired at wide receiver -- can force opponents to lighten the box for more effective rushing opportunities, but it would be better if the runners were to become true difference-makers. The 'Boys must be creative here because new head coach Brian Schottenheimer likes a balanced offense. A dependable running attack would help immensely. 

Biggest challenge: Keeping key players healthy.

The Broncos made some impressive moves in free agency -- and those acquisitions will look even better if they can stay on the field all season. Tight end Evan Engram produced 114 receptions for Jacksonville in 2023 and then played in only nine games last season because of hamstring and shoulder injuries. Dre Greenlaw was one of the best linebackers in the league before he ruptured his left Achilles in Super Bowl LVIII. He played in two games for the 49ers last year before leaving and signing a three-year, $35 million deal with Denver. Another free-agent signee from San Francisco, safety Talanoa Hufanga, has played in only 17 games over the last two seasons, missing 17 contests due to injuries. The Broncos can be scary if all three players leave their woes behind, but there’s a chance that each of them ends up disappointing because of health issues.

Biggest challenge: Adjusting to coaching staff changes.

This has been a talking point around the Lions since January, and it will remain so until we see how this team looks with new coordinators on offense and defense. John Morton certainly will face more scrutiny as he takes over for Ben Johnson as the offensive play-caller. Johnson is one of the most creative offensive minds in football today, and the Lions produced the league’s most prolific offense under his guidance in 2024. Kelvin Sheppard actually has a better shot of succeeding former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn because of the available personnel. The Lions lost so many key players to injury last season -- including defensive end Aidan Hutchinson -- that Sheppard should be able build a more resilient unit in his first year on the job. But don’t get it twisted: Lions head coach Dan Campbell knows a thing or two about finding good assistants. It wouldn’t be surprising to see both these coordinators thrive in their new roles.

Biggest challenge: Improving the pass rush.

It would be easy to go with quarterback Jordan Love here, but he’s had enough promising moments in his career to believe he’ll overcome the inconsistency that plagued him in 2024. The Packers’ ability to harass quarterbacks is a different matter. This was a major problem last season, and Green Bay didn’t do much to address it in the offseason, except to say that better results are expected. The Packers need edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, their 2023 first-round pick, to be more than the player who has amassed just seven sacks in two seasons. They need Rashan Gary to play more like the dominant presence who earned a $96 million contract extension in 2023. They also need one defensive tackle to rebound from a down year (Kenny Clark), another to stay healthy (Devonte Wyatt) and rookie Barryn Sorrell to grow up fast. Green Bay's defense improved substantially in the secondary last year with the arrival of coordinator Jeff Hafley. It’s time for the guys up front to do more.

Biggest challenge: Stabilizing the offensive line.

The O-line was the No. 1 reason why the Texans didn’t live up to the lofty expectations that followed them into the 2024 season. They couldn’t protect quarterback C.J. Stroud consistently -- he was sacked 52 times last year, compared to 38 in his rookie season -- and his performance declined. Houston enters this fall with several new faces as a result. The team traded its best lineman, left tackle Laremy Tunsil, while also dumping former starters Shaq Mason and Kenyon Green. To fill those voids, the Texans added some veterans -- tackles Trent Brown and Cam Robinson and guard Laken Tomlinson -- as well as second-round pick Aireontae Ersery, a promising OT. Throw in the replacement of former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik with Nick Caley, and Houston has a lot to figure out up front.

Biggest challenge: Picking the right quarterback.

The Colts spent the last two years hoping Anthony Richardson could live up to the potential that made him the fourth overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Since that hasn’t happened -- he completed 47.7 percent of his passes last year and lost his starting job for a couple games -- he’s now facing a competition with former Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, who fell out of favor in New York due to his own failure to meet expectations. It’s not wrong to think Jones has a good shot at winning this job. After all, we’ve seen a few highly drafted quarterbacks resurrect their careers in recent years with a change of scenery and different coaching (SEE: Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith). It’s also worth noting head coach Shane Steichen is heading into his third year on the job. I expect him to worry less about long-term potential and more about short-term gains.

Biggest challenge: Taking Trevor Lawrence’s game to the next level.

Lawrence has become one of the more perplexing quarterbacks in the league. He’s had some success in Jacksonville (the team won the AFC South in his second season) and he has a monster contract (signed a five-year, $275 million deal last year). He also has the same problem that has dogged other quarterbacks like the Chargers’ Justin Herbert and the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa: He’s not the kind of signal-caller who can outduel the elite class of AFC quarterbacks, the group that includes Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. Maybe that changes with the arrival of new head coach Liam Coen, who did a great job of running an elite offense in Tampa Bay and helping Baker Mayfield enjoy a career year. Coen might do the same things for Lawrence, who missed seven games in 2024 due to injury. Lawrence has all the talent in the world. It’s time to see him take full advantage of it.

Biggest challenge: Fixing the offensive line.

The Chiefs are hoping the offensive line issues that plagued them in the second half of last season are finally behind them. Whether that actually is true remains to be seen. The most pressing issue is obviously left tackle, where Kansas City used a first-round pick on Josh Simmons and signed former 49ers backup Jaylon Moore. The team has been encouraged by how Simmons has recovered from a season-ending patellar tendon injury at Ohio State, but there’s no way of knowing how he’ll handle life as a rookie coming off major knee surgery. The Chiefs also are hoping that last year’s failed solution at left tackle, Kingsley Suamataia, can find a new home at left guard. If Simmons and Suamataia work out, then Kansas City should be thinking about a fourth straight Super Bowl appearance. If they don’t, then K.C.'s run of nine straight AFC West championships could very well end.

Biggest challenge: Building a winning culture fast.

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll recently said he’s been used to winning for a long time and doesn’t expect that to change in his new job. It’s a great goal, but one that will be tough to pull off quickly in Las Vegas. The Raiders should be better because Carroll is a Super Bowl-winning coach, Geno Smith is the team’s best quarterback in years and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty could be a superstar in Carroll’s run-heavy offense. The tough part for Vegas is that the AFC West keeps improving. It was difficult enough to deal with a Chiefs team that has won three Super Bowls since 2019. Now the Broncos and Chargers are legit contenders, as well. The Raiders will make strides, but the wins won’t come as quickly as Carroll hopes. 

Biggest challenge: Providing weapons for Justin Herbert.

It was conventional wisdom to think the Chargers would aggressively bolster the targets around Herbert, especially after a season in which rookie slot receiver Ladd McConkey was his only consistent pass catcher. So much for that idea. The Bolts will go into this season with McConkey, third-year veteran Quentin Johnston and rookie Tre Harris as the primary wide receivers. That doesn’t mean this group won’t be good. It’s just that McConkey still remains the most trustworthy option in that room. It also means there should be little mystery about how head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to play offense this season. The team used a first-round pick on running back Omarion Hampton and signed running back Najee Harris in free agency (although the latter is recovering from an eye injury sustained in a fireworks accident). The Chargers will be running a lot this fall.

Biggest challenge: Getting quality cornerback play.

There's a reason why the Rams were openly interested in bringing Jalen Ramsey back to their franchise before Miami traded the star cornerback to Pittsburgh: Los Angeles could use help on the back end of its defense. GM Les Snead didn't select a cornerback in the draft and the team is relying heavily on a couple of aging veterans (32-year-old Darious Williams and 30-year-old Ahkello Witherspoon) and a younger player entering the final year of his rookie deal (Cobie Durant). The Rams might be able to keep opposing offenses from exploiting this group because of their dominant front, but it's a gamble that could hurt them against better attacks. This is the one glaring weakness on a team that doesn't have many of those.

Biggest challenge: Stabilizing the cornerback position.

The Dolphins finally made the trade that took almost an entire offseason to complete, as cornerback Jalen Ramsey landed in Pittsburgh with former Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick returning to Miami as part of the deal. Now comes the even tougher part for the Fins: deciding how to play pass defense with the players currently on the roster. Former second-round pick Cam Smith is squarely in the mix for a starting spot, as the franchise desperately wants to see him break out in his third season. With Artie Burns landing on injured reserve last week following an ACL tear (and Kader Kohou currently dealing with a less severe knee injury), Miami signed a pair of veteran cover men, one outside (Jack Jones) and one inside (Mike Hilton). The Dolphins also have second-year pro Storm Duck, journeyman Kendall Sheffield and rookie Jason Marshall Jr., a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft. It’s an understatement to say Miami has to figure this out fast. It’s hard enough to compete in the AFC, where so many elite quarterbacks operate. Attempting to do so with questions at cornerback? That's infinitely more difficult. 

Biggest challenge: Having J.J. McCarthy hit the ground running.

The Vikings have just about everything a team could want when it comes to being a championship contender ... except for experience at quarterback. McCarthy spent his rookie campaign watching from the sideline as Sam Darnold enjoyed a magical season that led to the Vikings winning 14 games. That could have been McCarthy leading that ride if he hadn’t sustained a season-ending knee injury in the preseason, but there were benefits to him sitting in Year 1. He got to learn about life in the NFL at a more comfortable pace and see how a former first-round bust (Darnold) went about his business to achieve a post-hype breakout. It’s now time for McCarthy to take advantage of the same blessings Darnold had in that job: tremendous coaching, a talented supporting cast and a defense that should rank among the league’s elite once again. Darnold rebuilt his career with all that help; McCarthy can jump-start his in a similar fashion.

Biggest challenge: Building the supporting cast around Drake Maye.

We saw enough from Maye in his rookie season to believe his future as a franchise quarterback is bright. This year, we’ll learn more about how effectively the Patriots can add pieces to help him grow. New England used its first-round pick on left tackle Will Campbell, which was a sensible move. What’s harder to determine is how good Maye’s receivers will be. Stefon Diggs is the most accomplished player on the roster, but he’s also turning 32 in November and returning from a torn ACL he sustained last October. After that, there’s an assortment of less-heralded names that include Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne and rookie Kyle Williams. The upside here is that Josh McDaniels has returned as New England’s play-caller and he found ways in the past to generate effective offense with receivers that didn’t have the most impressive credentials. The downside is that Tom Brady was the guy throwing the passes in those years.

Biggest challenge: Picking the right quarterback.

The retirement of Derek Carr left the Saints trying to figure out how to move forward at a position that hasn't produced much success since Drew Brees called it a career. The team used a second-round pick on Tyler Shough, which might give him an advantage, as his career is now aligned with new head coach Kellen Moore. Spencer Rattler has the most experience in the quarterback room -- he started six games last season -- while Jake Haener is moving into his third season after being a fourth-round selection in 2023. Moore has earned a reputation as a quarterback whisperer, so the Saints certainly are hoping he can maximize the talents of whoever emerges from this competition.

Biggest challenge: Finding steady quarterback play.

Russell Wilson will start the season as QB1. Whether he finishes in that same position is something that is much harder to predict. Wilson started fast when getting his opportunity with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 before declining deeper into the second half of the season. The Giants also signed veteran Jameis Winston as an option, but he’s known for his erratic play. The former No. 1 overall pick could throw four touchdown passes one week and four picks the next. This all points to plenty of speculation about how first-round pick Jaxson Dart will develop and how quickly he could become a threat to take over the starting job. After all, the G-Men signed both Wilson and Winston with the knowledge that neither player was going to be their future. If the vets can’t impress early, Dart could be playing sooner than expected.

Biggest challenge: Unlocking Justin Fields.

The Jets had an early scare, watching medical staff cart their new quarterback off the field on the first day of training camp practice. Fortunately, the team avoided disaster -- Fields missed just one day of practice -- but there are ample questions that come with him, dislocated toe aside. Fields couldn’t keep his job after three seasons in Chicago, and Pittsburgh gave up on him as a starter after six games last season. The Jets didn’t make a huge investment in the 26-year-old -- he received a two-year contract worth $40 million -- but they see the same upside that has intrigued other teams in the past. Fields can generate explosive plays with his legs. The question remains whether he can be consistent enough as a passer to elevate an offense. As much as Aaron Glenn believes in veteran backup Tyrod Taylor, Gang Green's new head man has to hope he can strike gold with Fields in ways that have yet to materialize.

Biggest challenge: Acclimating new faces on defense.

The Eagles lost some valuable veterans on that side of the football after stomping the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. They said goodbye to two edge rushers in Josh Sweat (signed with the Cardinals) and Brandon Graham (retired), an underrated interior D-lineman in Milton Williams (Patriots) and two playmakers in the secondary in cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (Steelers) and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (traded to Texans). As is usually the case, Philadelphia has been grooming players to move into all these positions, but change isn’t always easy. The edge-rusher situation is particularly interesting to watch, as third-year pro Nolan Smith is the only player in that group without major questions attached to him. That said, these are the Eagles. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will make it all work.

Biggest challenge: Betting on Aaron Rodgers.

The Steelers waited most of the offseason for Rodgers to decide if he wanted to choose them or retire. He made his commitment right before the team’s mandatory veteran minicamp. The question now is whether all that time Rodgers missed out on this past spring will be a detriment as the season progresses. There’s no doubt he’s the best option this organization has employed at quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired. It’s also fair to wonder if he can find more success in Pittsburgh than he achieved with the Jets over the past two seasons, after he'd arrived as a highly touted savior for that franchise. The AFC is filled with Super Bowl contenders, including the reigning AFC North champion Ravens. It will take a lot for Rodgers to elevate this team past the 10 wins it reached in 2024. 

Biggest challenge: Dealing with the wide receiver situation.

It wasn't an encouraging sign recently when 49ers general manager John Lynch said he doesn't have a timeline on the return of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who tore his ACL and MCL last October. That admission created one more bit of uncertainty for a position that is rife with that. The 49ers traded their other star wide receiver, Deebo Samuel, earlier this offseason. They're hopeful that second-year pro Ricky Pearsall can have a breakout season, but he started training camp on the PUP list. Add in Jauan Jennings (who is looking for a new contract) and Demarcus Robinson (who could receive a suspension for a DUI conviction), and there isn't a player in that 49ers receiver room without a question hanging over him. It's not the ideal way to head into a season after giving quarterback Brock Purdy a $265 million extension in May.

Biggest challenge: Molding the right supporting cast for Sam Darnold.

The Seahawks signed Darnold in the offseason with the hope that he will continue to ascend after the breakout year he enjoyed in Minnesota in 2024. The important thing to remember here is how much his renaissance came down to the structure the Vikings offered him. Minnesota had great quarterback coaches, dynamic receivers and a reliable offensive line. The Seahawks do have a coach that knows Darnold well -- the quarterback worked with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in San Francisco in 2023 -- but there are a lot of questions after that. One wide receiver, Cooper Kupp, hasn't played a full season since 2021. Another, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, is on his fourth team since 2023. Yes, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a blossoming star, but those other two have to play at a high level. There also will be questions about an offensive line that has been problematic for years, even with first-round pick Grey Zabel moving in at one of the guard spots. This isn't a prediction of impending failure, by the way -- just a way of saying there's a lot to sort out here.

Biggest challenge: Improving the secondary.

Tampa Bay had one of the worst pass defenses in the league last season, ranking 29th in passing yards allowed and producing just seven interceptions. The team responded by aggressively addressing the most obvious concern in the draft: cornerback. Second-round pick Benjamin Morrison will compete with veterans Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum on the outside, while third-round pick Jacob Parrish has a real shot at earning the job at nickel. The Bucs will face a series of talented receivers in the first month of the season -- Atlanta's Drake London, Houston's Nico Collins, New York's Garrett Wilson and Philadelphia's A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith -- so the young players will have to grow up in a hurry.

Biggest challenge: Developing Cam Ward.

This isn’t a shot at Ward. He’s a rookie quarterback -- there are always going to be challenging moments for guys in that position. The good news for Ward is that his head coach, Brian Callahan, worked with Joe Burrow in Cincinnati when he was the top pick in the 2020 draft. That experience had to help Callahan learn some things about developing quarterbacks who enter the league with such lofty status. Ward also comes to Tennessee with a reputation for working hard and fighting through whatever setbacks he encounters. He became a star at three different colleges after hardly anybody recruited him in high school. He has the proper makeup to handle the ups and downs that will come his way in Year 1.

Biggest challenge: Improving the defense.

There’s been so much excitement about the way quarterback Jayden Daniels captivated the NFL in 2024 that it’s easy to forget about the issues Washington had on defense. Only two teams in the league ranked worse when it came to stopping the run. The only player who produced double-digit sacks for the 2024 Commanders, Dante Fowler Jr., will be playing for the Cowboys this fall. Washington head coach Dan Quinn is a skilled tactician when it comes to designing defensive schemes, and the Commanders were able to overcome their deficiencies in 2024 with their ability to outscore teams. That might have to be the case again. Washington has added some new faces to the defensive line -- edge rusher Von Miller signed recently, while defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw came aboard earlier in the offseason -- but the unit still looks pretty suspect.