Ranking NFL's worst-to-first candidates for 2025

The NFL's parity has long allowed teams to turn things around quickly after a poor season. While no club went from worst to first in its division last year, 25 franchises have achieved the feat since the league transitioned to eight four-team divisions in 2002.

Here are this campaign's worst-to-first candidates ranked by their chances of winning the division in 2025 after placing dead last in '24.

8. Cleveland Browns

2024 record: 3-14

Notable additions

Don't expect much success for the Browns. Cleveland finished last in points scored in 2024 and enters this season with arguably the NFL's least talented roster. The team's depth chart features five notable quarterbacks, yet it's hard to get excited about any of them. Deshaun Watson is unlikely to play this year due to an Achilles injury, so Flacco, Pickett, Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders are projected to compete for the QB1 role. Flacco is 40, Pickett hasn't proved he can be an NFL starter, and Gabriel and Sanders are rookies.

Even if the Browns somehow find stability under center (maybe Sanders will prove everyone wrong after his shocking fall in the 2025 NFL Draft), it's unlikely that Cleveland will beat out the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers in the always-tough AFC North. The Browns haven't won a division title since 1989. Their drought won't end this year.

7. New York Giants

2024 record: 3-14

Notable additions

The Giants addressed their biggest needs, but did they do enough to stand out against the league's hardest strength of schedule? We should expect defensive improvements with Holland and Carter in town. New York's front seven will have no excuse not to step up, with Carter joining Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, among others. Still, Brian Daboll's outfit isn't nearly as talented offensively.

The Giants have an unreliable offensive line and a major question at football's most important position, as it remains unclear if Wilson (or eventually Dart) can elevate the offense. Wilson, 36, is past his prime and on his third different team in as many years. Dart has no NFL experience and should be a long-term project. Regardless of who plays QB for N.Y., there's a huge gap among the Giants and Jalen Hurts' Philadelphia Eagles, Dak Prescott's Dallas Cowboys, and Jayden Daniels' Washington Commanders in the East.

6. New Orleans Saints

2024 record: 5-12

Notable additions

The Saints have major roster holes despite their offseason moves, and New Orleans' quarterback concerns increased after Derek Carr retired due to a shoulder injury. First-year coach Kellen Moore is left with three unproven passers in Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener.

Even the Saints' more established players are aging or have injury concerns. New Orleans ranks ahead of a couple of teams on this list because the NFC South isn't as tough as the East or North. However, Moore would need to get the absolute most out of an unimpressive roster for the Saints to have any chance of competing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers this season. Seems unlikely.

5. Las Vegas Raiders

2024 record: 4-13

Notable additions

Don't blame the Raiders for not being ranked better here. Las Vegas did a solid job improving its roster, in addition to hiring Pete Carroll as head coach. Smith is a significant upgrade at quarterback, and Jeanty could help take this offense to the next level. The problem for the Raiders is the rest of the AFC West.

Las Vegas lagged far behind after all of its division rivals reached the playoffs last season. While the new-look Raiders could fight for a postseason spot and leave the division's basement, outplaying the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and especially the Kansas City Chiefs - winners of nine straight divisional titles - seems too big a task in Year 1 with Carroll and Co.

4. Tennessee Titans

2024 record: 3-14

Notable additions

Tennessee becoming competitive months after drafting first overall isn't as crazy as it may sound. Granted, the Titans need to improve on both sides of the ball, and their main offseason acquisitions come with questions. But Brian Callahan's outfit addressed its main needs, including the offensive line and quarterback. Ward can change everything if he lives up to the hype.

The No. 1 pick comes with high expectations and provides an immediate upgrade for a team that started Will Levis and Mason Rudolph under center last year. The revamped offensive line is expected to improve, as is the defensive unit. Pro Bowl lineman Jeffery Simmons lost weight to elevate his form, while star corner L'Jarius Sneed is returning from injury. Yes, a lot has to go right, but there's hope in Nashville.

And it's not like Tennessee is in a division filled with contenders. The Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars haven't made the playoffs in a combined six seasons. Even the back-to-back AFC South champion Houston Texans looked vulnerable in '24. In fact, the three-win Titans beat them 32-27 in November.

3. Chicago Bears

2024 record: 5-12

Notable additions

Chicago nailed its offseason as it tried to improve the supporting cast around quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears hired an offensive mastermind in head coach Ben Johnson and added a handful of key starters, including three offensive linemen. The expectation is that this team will take off with Williams after his inconsistent rookie season. Can it win the division right away?

It's hard to envision the Bears claiming the 2025 NFC North title, considering the division's three other teams reached the playoffs last campaign. However, the Detroit Lions have lost both of their coordinators and two starting linemen, the Minnesota Vikings are relying on the inexperienced J.J. McCarthy to lead them under center, and the Green Bay Packers have yet to win the division in the Jordan Love era. Let's not count Chicago out entirely.

2. New England Patriots

2024 record: 4-13

Notable additions

Don't be surprised if the Patriots become the Buffalo Bills' biggest threat this year. Sure, a lot has to go right for the new-look Patriots to click, including second-year passer Drake Maye elevating the league's 30th-ranked offense. But would anyone be shocked if the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets post subpar campaigns again after what we saw from them in '24?

There's optimism in New England following an exciting offseason, with Maye as the full-time starter, the experienced Mike Vrabel as head coach, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels back in town. This could be the Pats' best team of the decade so far. Taking down Josh Allen and the Bills - winners of five consecutive East titles - won't be easy, but New England and Buffalo have split their season series in the past two years (the Bills rested their main starters in one of those games).

1. San Francisco 49ers

2024 record: 6-11

Notable additions

Not only is San Francisco projected to have the NFL's easiest strength of schedule, but it did a similar turnaround not long ago. After their gut-wrenching Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs in 2020, the 49ers slipped down the standings the next season - a pattern that repeated following their heartbreaker to Kansas City in the Big Game in 2024. But do you know what the Niners did in the 2021 campaign? They bounced back by winning 10 contests and reaching the NFC title game.

No other team suffered more from injuries than last season's 49ers, but Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, and Nick Bosa are healthier now. Although Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from a torn ACL, the Niners should have enough weapons with wideouts Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings, tight end George Kittle, and McCaffrey. The defense was another concern, so San Francisco used four top-100 draft picks on defensive players and brought back coordinator Robert Saleh, who built a top-10 unit in his first stint with the team.

If healthy, San Francisco is the NFL's strongest candidate to go from worst to first. Winners in 2022 and '23, the 49ers are ahead of at least two division rivals. The Arizona Cardinals haven't conquered the West since 2015. The Seattle Seahawks could fight for the division crown if Sam Darnold can prove his success in Minnesota wasn't a fluke. The dangerous Los Angeles Rams are the reigning West champions, but they won the fewest number of victories for a division champ last year and only four more than the Niners.