Predicting the 2025 NFL Playoff Picture After Free Agency

Contributing Sports Writer

🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.

While the NFL draft has yet to occur and a lot can still change, the top teams are starting to become clearer. Many teams have done a good job of differentiating themselves as playoff contenders, while others have stayed in place, for better or worse.

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After an eventful NFL free agency that is winding down but more signings can still happen (mainly Aaron Rodgers), here is a prediction for the playoff picture next year in both the AFC and NFC.

AFC Playoff Prediction:

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Buffalo Bills
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Houston Texans
5. Denver Broncos
6. Cincinnati Bengals
7. Los Angeles Chargers

The AFC shouldn't have significant changes next year in the playoffs. The top three teams are obvious, the Broncos seem like a clear playoff team, and the Chargers should be back. The biggest question marks are what the Steelers will look like next season and who will win the AFC South.

The easy decision is to keep the Texans as winners of the AFC South, but realistically, any of the four teams have a shot at the division and what would likely be the fourth seed.

The Bengals are the pick to replace the Steelers. They struggled to stay healthy last year and had some unlucky losses. They improve their defense enough to make the playoffs once again, while the Steelers falter a bit with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders attempts to break a tackle against Cooper DeJean #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

NFC Playoff Prediction:

1. Washington Commanders
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. Detroit Lions
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. Philadelphia Eagles
6. Chicago Bears
7. Green Bay Packers

The NFC is a bit more interesting than the AFC, with more depth in the conference (the NFC North is loaded) and more potential shuffling at the top.

The top two teams are different, with the Commanders and Rams vaulting the Lions and Eagles due to their great offseasons and overall young rosters getting better next season.

The Eagles could have the second-best record in the conference and finish with the fifth seed, just as the Minnesota Vikings did last season if the Commanders go on to win the division.

Speaking of the Vikings, they are probably the top team out of the playoffs in this scenario, mainly due to their difficult division and potential slow start with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback making his first career starts.

They are replaced by Ben Johnson and the Bears, who helps Caleb Williams play like the first overall pick in his second season.

The Falcons also manage to overtake the Buccaneers for the division with Michael Penix under center in what is a similar battle to the AFC South.

Even with the NFL draft being in late April, the playoff picture seems to be forming already. A lot can change still due to trades and injuries, but for now, this seems like the most likely outcome for the NFL playoffs next season.

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