To get a better sense of how the league stacks up right now, we tiered all 32 teams based on their current trajectory, from the no-doubt perennial contenders to the full rebuilds. And for each club, we took a closer look at the franchise’s current state — and what needs to be done in the coming months. We get started with the two teams that are on cruise control atop the NFL. (Note: Teams are organized alphabetically within each tier, cap space is via Roster Management System and projected draft picks do not include potential compensatory picks.)
What’s next: One game won’t diminish Kansas City’s presence — thanks to five Super Bowl appearances and three Lombardi Trophies in six years — as the gold standard in modern football. But Sunday’s ugly Super Bowl loss shook Kansas City to its core and highlighted the shortcomings of a team that greatly overachieved in 2024. How it pulled off 17 wins, including the playoffs, is a testament to the franchise’s culture of greatness. But the holes got exposed, particularly along the offensive line. On offense, getting Rashee Rice back will help, but the Chiefs need more than that. They can’t Band-Aid their way to a championship. And Patrick Mahomes holds the sort of clout that he can now start asking for these things, if he isn’t already. If Travis Kelce (scheduled to receive $17.25 million in 2025) retires, getting more explosiveness over the middle will be paramount. Assuming the Chiefs lose guard Trey Smith to free agency, it would be wise to retain linebacker Nick Bolton and/or safety Justin Reid.
