13 experts predict the 2025 NFL season: Super Bowl picks, offseason moves and breakout candidates

2025 NFL Offseason: Early Predictions and Expert Insights

The 2025 NFL offseason is officially underway, and the Philadelphia Eagles have just been crowned Super Bowl LIX champions. With free agency and the draft still on the horizon, it’s never too early to start thinking about next season and the battle for Super Bowl LX. As we look ahead, we asked 13 of our NFL experts to weigh in with their predictions for the upcoming season. These experts include Matt Bowen, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Kalyn Kahler, Pamela Maldonado, Eric Moody, Jason Reid, Aaron Schatz, Ben Solak, Mike Tannenbaum, Lindsey Thiry, Seth Walder, and Field Yates.

Our experts made predictions for the season’s Super Bowl matchup and MVP winner. They also shared their thoughts on offseason moves they would like to see, breakout candidates, and teams that could regress in 2025. Let’s dive into their early predictions, starting with whether the Eagles will run it back.

Super Bowl LX Predictions

• Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: Lions over Ravens. Despite losing their coordinators, Dan Campbell’s program remains strong. With Aidan Hutchinson anchoring a healthy defense, the Lions will edge out Lamar Jackson in Super Bowl LX.
• Jeremy Fowler, national NFL reporter: Bills over Rams. The Buffalo breakthrough will happen after key offseason additions. The Rams’ defense will be elite next season.
• Dan Graziano, national NFL reporter: Chiefs over Commanders. The Chiefs aren’t done winning Super Bowls with Patrick Mahomes. Expect two weeks of “Is Jayden Daniels the next Mahomes?” conversations leading up to the Super Bowl.
• Kalyn Kahler, national NFL reporter: Eagles over Bills. The Chiefs will fix their left tackle spot, but the Bills will finally have Kansas City’s number in the postseason. The Eagles, under GM Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni, can succeed despite losing coordinators.
• Pamela Maldonado, sports betting analyst: Bengals over Commanders. The Bengals are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2024 season, and the Commanders are an intriguing long shot after making the NFC Championship Game.
• Eric Moody, fantasy analyst: Bills over Lions. Many thought these two teams would make the Super Bowl this past season. Neither needs many changes roster-wise to make the leap.
• Jason Reid, Andscape senior NFL writer: Ravens over Eagles. Jackson can complete his ascent to the top of the league by dazzling throughout the playoffs and helping the Ravens dethrone the defending champs.
• Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst: Bills over Lions. America gets the Super Bowl it wanted the previous season, as Josh Allen finally wins the AFC and Detroit has another strong season despite new coordinators.
• Ben Solak, NFL analyst: Ravens over Packers. The Packers should only get better with time, as they’re a young team with enough resources to make one or two splash additions this offseason.
• Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst: Ravens over Lions. Arguably two of the best teams in 2024 get to the big game in 2025. Baltimore’s youth will greatly improve in the secondary, and Hutchinson will register 18 sacks to win Defensive Player of the Year.
• Lindsey Thiry, national NFL reporter: Ravens over Eagles. With the return of Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and several key players on a standout defense, the Eagles have the roster to make another Super Bowl run. But the Ravens will finally finish the job with bolstered protection around Jackson.
• Seth Walder, NFL analyst: Packers over Bengals. The Packers were the youngest team in snap-weighted age this season, and they were still pretty good! If they can find more of a pass rush and see growth from a couple of their wide receivers, the Packers can take that next big step.
• Field Yates, NFL analyst: Ravens over Eagles. The battle of the birds. Baltimore has the players in place to make a run, but it must prove that it has the capacity to get over the playoff hump.

MVP Predictions

• Bowen: Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals. Burrow should’ve received more MVP votes after leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns. With an improved Bengals defense in 2025, Burrow will take home the award.
• Fowler: Burrow. He was punished in MVP voting because of the team’s losing record for much of the season. He will ensure Cincinnati gets off to a hotter start in 2025.
• Graziano: Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders. Washington builds on Daniels’ rookie success and continues to ascend quickly.
• Kahler: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs. Mahomes’ two Super Bowl losses motivate him more than anything else. Expect Mahomes to return with a new level of focus and determination.
• Maldonado: Burrow. He elevates the Bengals’ offense every season. He just has to be Burrow, and the game follows.
• Moody: Daniels. He was recognized as the Offensive Rookie of the Year and finished seventh in MVP voting. The Commanders can continue to build around him.
• Reid: Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens. Jackson will produce the greatest statistical season for a quarterback in NFL history and win his third MVP award.
• Schatz: Josh Allen, QB, Bills. Allen would likely be coming off a great season, so let’s predict a second straight trophy for him.
• Solak: Jordan Love, QB, Packers. If the Lions take a step back, the Packers should push for a division title on the back of a productive Love campaign.
• Tannenbaum: Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers. He’ll be in his second season with coach Jim Harbaugh and coordinator Greg Roman. The Chargers will also sign Tee Higgins and draft Elijah Arroyo, boosting his MVP case.
• Thiry: Daniels. With a season of experience, including a postseason upset of the top-seeded Lions, Daniels will continue his meteoric rise.
• Walder: Mahomes. When in doubt, give me the best quarterback on the planet. The Chiefs will spend the offseason figuring out how they can get more out of early downs.
• Yates: Jackson. He nearly secured his third MVP this past season as an unstoppable force. The Ravens should be a wins machine again in 2025.

Offseason Moves to Watch

Our experts also shared their thoughts on the offseason moves they would like to see:

• Bowen: Tee Higgins signs with the Commanders. Adding another perimeter target for Jayden Daniels should be an offseason priority for Washington.
• Fowler: The Browns trade Myles Garrett to the Bills. Buffalo’s lack of pass-rush prowess showed in key moments of the playoffs.
• Graziano: The Bengals extend Ja’Marr Chase and re-sign Higgins. They need to rebuild their defense, but the offense is special.
• Kahler: The Browns trade Garrett to the Lions. Imagine Aidan Hutchinson and Garrett playing together.
• Maldonado: The Giants trade up for the No. 1 pick to draft quarterback Cam Ward from Miami.
• Moody: Chris Godwin signs with the Jaguars. The breakout of Jalen McMillan and Cade Otton makes Godwin expendable.
• Reid: Higgins signs with the Commanders. Daniels can take a big step forward with the help of Higgins.
• Schatz: Higgins signs with the Bills. Bills fans deserve a championship team.
• Solak: Higgins signs with the Patriots. The Patriots need a star receiver fast to maximize Drake Maye’s rookie window.
• Tannenbaum: The Browns trade Garrett to the Lions. This move would give Detroit the best pass-rushing duo in the league.
• Thiry: Davante Adams signs with the Chargers. Justin Herbert needs a true No. 1 receiver, and Adams fits the bill.
• Walder: D.J. Reed signs with the Commanders. Reed has consistently been a strong corner for the Jets over the past three seasons.
• Yates: Trey Smith signs with the Bears. Smith figures to be one of the most coveted free agents and could cash in on the richest guard contract ever.

Breakout Candidates for 2025

Our experts also identified players, coaches, and teams poised for a breakout in 2025:

• Bowen: Rome Odunze, WR, Bears. Under Ben Johnson, Odunze will elevate his game as a three-level target for Caleb Williams.
• Fowler: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Falcons. Everything is set up for him in Atlanta.
• Graziano: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Cardinals. Harrison still has all the skills that made us love him heading into the draft.
• Kahler: Caleb Williams, QB, Bears. If the Bears improve their offensive line, Williams will have the season we all thought he would in 2024.
• Maldonado: The Broncos. After exceeding expectations in 2024, the Broncos are well-positioned for success.
• Moody: The Bears. Pairing Johnson with Williams could pay immediate dividends.
• Reid: Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs. Worthy delivered during his rookie season and will have a sensational sophomore year.
• Schatz: Drake Maye, QB, Patriots. The Patriots will significantly upgrade their offensive line this offseason.
• Solak: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Packers. Cooper looks faster than every other player on the field at his best.
• Tannenbaum: Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders. With a full offseason, he’ll vault into superstar status.
• Thiry: Ricky Pearsall, WR, 49ers. Pearsall will prove why the 49ers took him in the first round.
• Walder: Keion White, DL, Patriots. White’s 21% pass rush win rate at defensive tackle was astounding.
• Yates: Williams. I’m bullish on the immediate impact Johnson will have in getting Williams on track this season.

Regression Candidates for 2025

Finally, our experts shared their thoughts on teams that might take a step back in 2025:

• Bowen: Steelers. The late-season fade creates concern, as does the quarterback position.
• Fowler: Vikings. A slight step back. They will remain playoff-caliber, but it’s tough to replicate a 14-win season.
• Graziano: Texans. The offensive coordinator change felt like a panic move.
• Kahler: Buccaneers. Carolina and Atlanta will take a step up this season.
• Maldonado: Lions. Losing both their offensive and defensive coordinators presents a major challenge.
• Moody: Buccaneers. The NFC South won’t be as easy for the Buccaneers in 2025.
• Reid: Vikings. It’s difficult to imagine they will have as many things break their way.
• Schatz: Commanders. When a team pulls off a magical run, you usually see a step back the following season.
• Solak: Chiefs. They were 12-0 in one-score games throughout last season.
• Tannenbaum: Vikings. It will be hard to replicate that kind of quarterback success.
• Thiry: Lions. Expect to see some growing pains early.
• Walder: Broncos. It’s just so hard to repeat defensive success year after year.
• Yates: Lions. The Lions are going to be excellent next season, but they have the most room to fall.