More moves will be made leading up to the season, but wholesale changes from the 2025 offseason are largely done after the NFL Draft. These five teams appeared to do a great job of improving on areas of weakness from last year.
Falcons: Pass rush
While it got going a bit down the stretch, the pass rush of the Falcons was almost nonexistent for much of 2024. They likely solved that this offseason, and the draft played a major role—without reaching for the sake of “need.” Georgia defender Jalon Walker dropped to No. 15, when some felt he had a case to be the best defensive player in the draft. Then they traded a 2026 first-round pick to double up and grab Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr. Add in veteran signing Leonard Floyd, and the edge rush at least should be much improved. (Though the Falcons did release defensive lineman Grady Jarrett.)
Steelers: Physicality
During Day 3 of the draft, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin joined NFL Network and said he wanted to establish a “big-man presence and physicality” across the entire team—highlighting how that includes wide receiver DK Metcalf, who was acquired in a trade with the Seahawks. That trend continued in the draft, with the first six of their seven selections coming from the Big Ten. The first two picks—defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and running back Kaleb Johnson—sacrificed the ability to draft a quarterback who might have been a strong fit in Jalen Milroe. But it’s clear the offseason got Pittsburgh in a more favorable spot in terms of the physical aspect Tomlin wanted to improve when walking off the field in January.
Raiders: Run game
It’s odd, the Raiders went into the last season under Antonio Pierce thought of as a team that wants to run the ball to stay in games and knock off opponents—a formula that worked during Pierce’s interim tenure in 2023. But the opposite happened. Since-fired general manager Tom Telesco didn’t bring back tone-setting running back Josh Jacobs, and the team eventually finished last in the NFL in rushing. The moves Vegas made this offseason will remedy that. Geno Smith is an upgrade at quarterback, which should help spread the field. And they drafted Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick in the draft. With Pete Carroll as the head coach and Chip Kelly as the offensive coordinator—two guys who want to run the ball whenever possible—the Raiders should be far from 32nd in rushing this year.
Bills: Defense
Like the Steelers, the Bills felt they had to improve something and did so in the draft. For them, it was as simple as adding to the defense—and they also (coincidentally or not) targeted a conference, with the first four picks of cornerback Maxwell Hairston, defensive tackle T.J. Sanders, edge defender Landon Jackson, and defensive tackle Deone Walker all coming from the SEC. Also on defense, Joey Bosa headlined a few signings up front, and Buffalo brought back former All-Pro Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson at cornerback.
Bears: Quarterback support
Finally, the Bears have a promising young quarterback in 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, and they did everything in their power to surround him with a supporting cast to have success this season and beyond. You can disagree with some of the moves—and running back is still arguably a need (keep an eye on Nick Chubb)—but totally revamping the interior offensive line, drafting tight end Colston Loveland at No. 10, and adding Luther Burden III as a third receiver to go along with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze gives Williams more firepower on offense.