The Top 3 Most Improved NFL Teams This Offseason

The Top 3 Most Improved NFL Teams This Offseason

The NFL offseason is all about stepping back, rethinking, and retooling, and a few teams have really made the most of it. Whether it’s landing key players through trades, making smart draft picks, or just reshaping their overall approach, some squads have clearly leveled up. As we gear up for what should be an exciting season, here’s a look at three teams that made the biggest jump this offseason.

1. New England Patriots

Since Tom Brady’s departure in 2020, the New England Patriots haven’t quite been the same, making just one playoff appearance in the past five seasons and coming off back-to-back 4-13 campaigns. Determined to turn things around, the Patriots made a major move by replacing head coach Jerod Mayo with former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. Vrabel brings leadership and playoff experience, having led Tennessee to three straight postseason appearances from 2019 to 2021 and earning 2021 AP NFL Coach of the Year honors.

New England also added a key offensive weapon, acquiring veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Texans. Diggs is expected to be a valuable asset for young quarterback Drake Maye, who has shown flashes of potential. In the draft, the Patriots focused on building around Maye, starting with first-round pick Will Campbell, a tackle out of LSU, to help fortify the offensive line.

They continued to stockpile offensive talent by selecting Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson, Washington State wideout Kyle Williams, and Georgia center Jared Wilson—all of whom are expected to contribute immediately. Overall, it was a strong draft class and a clear step in the right direction for a Patriots team looking to rebuild around their young quarterback.

Prediction: New England Patriots Under 8.5 Wins +100

2. Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders have struggled for a long time. They went 4-13 last season and haven’t won a playoff game since 2002. In 2024, they had one of the league’s worst offenses, averaging just 18.2 points per game (29th in the NFL) and a league-worst 79.8 rushing yards per game.

But this offseason, they made major moves to fix that starting with the draft. Vegas selected Boise State star Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for a staggering 2,497 yards last season the 4th-most in FBS history behind only Barry Sanders, Melvin Gordon, and Kevin Smith. Jeanty added 29 touchdowns and averaged 7.3 yards per carry on 344 touches. He was also the Heisman runner-up, and it’s fair to say the Raiders may have landed a generational talent to jumpstart their ground game.

They didn’t stop there. Vegas made a coaching change, parting ways with Antonio Pierce and bringing in longtime Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. To run the offense, they hired Chip Kelly, a move that could bring some creativity to a unit that badly needs it.

They also traded for Seahawks QB Geno Smith, who finished 4th in the league in passing yards last season with 4,320.

With Jeanty in the backfield, Geno under center, and coaching staff changes with Carroll and Kelly, the Raiders might finally be on track to turn things around, especially on offense, where they were bottom 5 in every offensive category.

Prediction: Las Vegas Raiders Over 6.5 Wins -145

3. Arizona Cardinals

 Coach Jonathan Gannon has done a pretty solid job in his first two years with the Cardinals, getting the most out of a defense that’s been short on talent. But heading into Year 3, Arizona looks ready to take a big step forward thanks to some major offseason upgrades.

It started in free agency with the signings of edge rusher Josh Sweat and veterans Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson to beef up the defensive line. But the real splash came in the draft. The Cardinals landed a potential game-changer at defensive end Walter Nolen in the first round and got a steal in the second with cornerback Will Johnson, who dropped due to injury concerns.

They also added some nice depth with picks like linebackers Jordan Burch and Cody Simon, and cornerback Denzel Burke—guys who could all see the field as rookies.

On offense, it’ll come down to growth from within. Arizona’s hoping for a big jump from Marvin Harrison Jr. in Year 2 and a healthy, bounce-back season from Kyler Murray.

Prediction: Arizona Cardinals Over 8.5 Wins -110