Each NFL Division's Biggest 2025 Offseason Loser

Following the NFL draft, most fanbases are buzzing with optimism. Every team's offseason haul looks promising on paper. The free agents will make an immediate impact, and the rookies have the upside to contribute right away. 

Let's check back into reality. 

Some of the veteran signings won't play up to the billing. Most rookies will need time to develop. As is the case every year, teams will regress from the previous season.

After an in-depth look at the moves made across the league, we have tabbed the biggest loser in each division. These selections are determined by the team's key departures, coaching changes, signings and draft selections compared to its division rivals. 

In a few cases, a team didn't have a poor offseason, but its foes did more to improve over the last two months.

The Miami Dolphins have lost multiple key starters this offseason. Left tackle Terron Armstead retired. Safety Jevon Holland and defensive tackle Calais Campbell have signed elsewhere. 

The Dolphins haven't re-signed cornerback Kendall Fuller, which is a reasonable decision after he allowed a 97.7 passer rating in coverage last year. Still, the team needs someone to fill his role, and it didn't draft a cornerback until the fifth round.

Lastly, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe, Miami is expected to trade or release Jalen Ramsey in May or June, which compounds an unsettled situation at cornerback.

The Dolphins selected Kenneth Grant in the first round, and he should slide into a lead position on the defensive line. Jonah Savaiinaea could be an upgrade on the interior of the offensive line. 

However, if the Dolphins' goal is to close the gap on the Buffalo Bills, they have missed the mark so far. Their secondary is worse than last year's group, which won't help them against Josh Allen, who's 12-2, throwing for 37 touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 66.3 percent completion rate against Miami.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing the Aaron Rodgers waiting game, a risky gamble with Mason Rudolph as the front-runner for the starting quarterback position.

While on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers said there's "no deadline" on whether he plans to play or retire.

If Rodgers walks away from the game, Pittsburgh can turn its attention to Atlanta Falcons' backup signal-caller Kirk Cousins, who's looking for a starting job.

If Rodgers signs with the Steelers, he's a 41-year-old quarterback who has posted his worst QBR and passer rating in his last two full years as a starter with the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets.

Either way, the Steelers could take a step back with their current quarterback situation, which isn't ideal for a veteran-laden team in win-now mode. They have two explosive playmaking wide receivers, George Pickens and DK Metcalf, but the question is, will their starting quarterback be able to maximize that talent?

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said he would bring in competition for Anthony Richardson. The team signed Daniel Jones, who wore out his welcome in New York with his poor performances last season.

The Giants cut Jones within two years of signing him to a four-year, $160 million extension. On a one-year, $14 million deal, he'll have a chance at a career rebirth in Indianapolis.

Though Indianapolis is a good landing spot for Jones, the Colts have one of the league's worst quarterback situations with two former first-round picks.

In two injury-riddled seasons, Richardson has thrown more interceptions (13) than touchdown passes (11), completing 50.6 percent of his attempts. Over the last two years, Jones has also thrown more interceptions (13) than touchdown passes (10).

Going into a crucial third term with the Colts, head coach Shane Steichen is in a tough spot with his quarterback room. Ballard has a 62-69-1 record as the team's general manager. The Colts haven't made the playoffs since 2020. They may be hamstrung by two lackluster competitors at the most important position, which could cost Steichen and Ballard their jobs.

The Kansas City Chiefs should feel the walls closing in on their nine-year reign over the AFC West. 

The Los Angeles Chargers added size and firepower to compete with the Chiefs, signing guard Mekhi Becton, reuniting with wideout Mike Williams and selecting running back Omarion Hampton and wide receiver Tre Harris in the first two rounds of the draft.

The Denver Broncos upgraded at the tight end position, signing Evan Engram. They also added running back RJ Harvey and wideout Pat Bryant on Day 2 of the draft. Quarterback Bo Nix can build on a strong rookie year with those additions.

The Las Vegas Raiders have battled the Chiefs in one-possession games in their last three meetings with Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew under center. This offseason, the Silver and Black acquired Geno Smith, and its 32nd-ranked rushing offense should be a lot better with 2024 Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty leading the backfield. 

The Chiefs didn't make any boneheaded offseason moves, but they're no longer head and shoulders above their division rivals. The Chargers, Broncos and Raiders are equipped to knock them off their AFC West pedestal.

The Dallas Cowboys parted ways with former head coach Mike McCarthy, lost lead running back Rico Dowdle in free agency and right guard Zack Martin retired. 

One can argue that the Cowboys downgraded from McCarthy to a far less accomplished replacement in Brian Schottenheimer, who will be a full-time head coach for the first time in his career.

Even though the Cowboys selected first-rounder Tyler Booker to succeed Martin at right guard, their personnel doesn't spark much optimism for an improved ground game. Running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders will lead the backfield.

Williams and Sanders are both coming off down years. The latter had his least productive season in an injury-riddled 2024 campaign with the Carolina Panthers.

If quarterback Dak Prescott avoids the injury bug, the Cowboys should be a better team than last year's group with backup signal-caller Cooper Rush under center. However, he may not have much help from the ground game, and his inexperienced head coach will need to find an offensive balance.

When a team levels up in the NFL, it can lose key contributors in free agency and the coaching hiring cycle.

Head coach Dan Campbell has transformed the Detroit Lions into a playoff contender after the club finished last in the NFC North for four consecutive terms between 2018 and 2021.

Campbell had help, though. He propelled the Lions to postseason contention with Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn as his coordinators, and they both took head-coaching jobs this offseason. Johnson went to a divisional rival, the Chicago Bears.

In 2022, Campbell promoted Johnson from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator, a key move in turning around the franchise. As a play-caller, Johnson led a top-five scoring offense for three seasons. 

Glenn turned a defensive unit that was a liability into a strength last season. In his first year with the club, Detroit gave up the second-most points. The Lions ranked seventh in points allowed for the 2024 term.

Campbell built a foundation with his coordinators, and it won't be the same without them. Detroit must reinvent itself in 2025.

The New Orleans Saints have the biggest question mark in their division, and its at the most important position.

Quarterback Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury that clouds his availability for the start of the 2025 season. According to NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill, the team knew about the injury before NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported it publicly.

Yet, general manager Mickey Loomis backed Carr as his starter for the 2025 season, and the Saints restructured the 34-year-old quarterback's contract (h/t NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Rapoport), securing his short-term future with them.

New Orleans selected quarterback Tyler Shough in the second round of the draft. Nonetheless, Loomis said Carr will be the starter if healthy. 

However, Underhill said he would be "flabbergasted" if Carr played for the Saints this year.

At the least, the Saints have an awkward quarterback situation, and a new coaching staff is tasked with sorting it out while Loomis publicly backs an ailing veteran on the back end of his career.

Shough had an extensive injury history in college, though. He's only played through one full season as a starter. The Saints made a mistake passing on Jalen Milroe, who has a higher upside, and pro-ready Shedeur Sanders, for a one-year collegiate starter with spotty availability. 

The Saints could be in line for a top-five pick in the 2026 draft.

This offseason, the Seattle Seahawks added older or less established players at key positions.

The Seahawks traded 27-year-old wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers and signed Cooper Kupp, who will turn 32 in June. While this is a homecoming for Kupp, he's missed 18 games over the last three seasons. 

Seattle also signed defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who sat out 13 outings last season due to a foot injury. He's entering his age-33 term. 

The Seahawks tried to re-sign Geno Smith, but he balked at a reasonable offer, and the club traded him to the Las Vegas Raiders. Seattle signed Sam Darnold to replace him.

On one hand, Darnold is coming off his best year, a Pro Bowl campaign with the Minnesota Vikings. Yet he only has one quality year in a full-time starting role. The Seahawks had limited options on the free-agent market and added the best available quarterback. Still, Darnold could be primed for regression with a lesser supporting cast than he had in Minnesota.

The Seahawks need a couple of older players to find the fountain of youth and their gamble on Darnold to pay off to match or improve on their 10-win 2024 season. 

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.