May 1, 2025 

Cleveland Browns: The Browns can be described as a dysfunctional rollercoaster. Fans were worrying all throughout February and early March on if and when Myles Garrett will be traded or not. Fans felt the sigh of relief as soon as they heard the defensive end wearing number 95 was getting paid…and I mean paid. Now the Browns are on a financial landslide with little to no money to pay key players like Nick Chubb. Good news! The Browns have the second pick in this year’s draft with the potential to take a franchise quarterback like Cam Ward or pair Myles Garrett with Penn State alumni Abdul Carter. Even though the Browns had a disappointing year, I am optimistic that they will be back in the playoffs and rise to the peak of the roller coaster.

Cincinnati Bengals: As a fan, this may have been the most confusing season that the Bengals have had in franchise history. The 9-8 record does not tell the whole story. You would think a team with a top-five offense would make the playoffs, well you thought wrong because even though the offense was so dominant, the defense was a heaping pile of…disappointment. Enough about last season, now let’s get to the future of this franchise. The Bengals going into the offseason had a few goals in mind with a good amount of money to spend. They re-signed key players like Mike Gesicki and most of the money was spent on extending the best wide receiver duo in the league (Ja’marr Chase and Tee Higgins). To help bolster the defense, the Bengals have added linebacker Oren Burks and defensive end T.J. Slaton Jr. to help with that poor excuse for a defense. 

New England Patriots: If I got a dollar for every free agent the Patriots have signed, I would have retired my parents by now. The Patriots have spent over $280 million with $164 million guaranteed in the 2025 free agency. Some of those notable free agents are Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Super Bowl champion cornerback Carlton Davis. The Patriots will be the dark horse of the NFL next season. They have cleaned up so many problems and with the addition of head coach Mike Vrabel, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the Pats back in the playoffs. The Patriots also have an excellent draft pick in this year’s draft (fourth). I know that I can’t see into the future but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Travis Hunter repping the navy blue and red next season. 

Washington Commanders: I am honestly still surprised that a team can go from being 4-13 and having the second pick in the draft to going all the way to the conference championship and having a 12-5 record with a rookie quarterback! The offense and defense were excellent at both ends and honestly I did not know what moves the commanders will make this offseason but, they did make some moves. The trade for Laremy Tunsil and the signings of key role players wide receiver Michael Gallup and cornerback Jonathan Jones really made the Commanders a contender for the upcoming season. I don’t know what the Commanders will do in the draft but don’t be surprised if you see the Commanders back in the playoffs again.