Preview:
We’re just a couple of weeks removed from the Philadelphia Eagles thrashing of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX and we’re already glancing ahead at some possible future plays, as we try to figure out who’s most likely to win Super Bowl LX in 2026.
The impressive Super Bowl win last Sunday has the Eagles as the favorites to repeat with odds sitting around 6 to 1, depending on your sportsbook. There are some newcomers towards the top of the odds list, but overall it’s a lot of the names we’ve been accustomed to seeing here over the past handful of seasons. Is there value in a longshot, or will we see the same familiar faces hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Santa Clara next February?
Examining Super Bowl LX Early Odds
Every team will enter the spring and upcoming season with new life and high expectations, although some will certainly be higher than others. Las Vegas has released it’s initial compilation of odds for the next winner of the Lombardi trophy. Odds vary slightly so as always if you have a team you like, you’ll want to shop around with sportsbooks, but let’s take a look at what the DraftKings Sportsbook is opening with below:
It can be pretty exciting to get the conversation going about the upcoming year’s football season, particularly when you may be going through some early withdrawals. You might be tempted to place an early futures wager on your favorite team, or the one you think has the best shot at winning in 2025. Let us be the first to remind you that the NFL offseason is about as unpredictable as the foreign stock market in terms of the amount of roster fluctuation we’ll see before the start of next season. This offseason offers a lot of intrigue at the most important position of quarterback as the decisions of some of the games all time best have big decisions to make, and some other teams may be jockeying for a new veteran starter. The odds above will change dramatically after some of the QB musical chairs completes its rotation and the music stops.
With so much unknown this early does it make sense to place a futures bet and if so where is the best place to start? There are varying opinions on getting a ticket in at this stage, but depending on what you’re looking for you may be able to find some real value. If you’re thinking about making a play here’s what we would recommend:
Start by determining if there is a team you strongly believe has an opportunity to win the big game. Take a look at the potential payout from the odds and you can decide if it’s worth taking a flyer on. Before you punch that ticket though, do your homework on potential free agents and salary caps to determine which teams could lose valuable pieces and who should return most of their lineup. We provided a glimpse of the current salary cap situation for the respective teams, although that generally just provides an idea of who has some wiggle room to make moves they want, and who may be more limited in adding to their roster. Timing can be crucial, if firm news breaks about a key player’s movement, you can sometimes beat the book before the odds change. For the purpose of this article however, we’re simply looking at the factors we know today and determining which teams could provide an opportunity for a futures win. Here’s a look at the odds to win Super Bowl LX, headed up by the two teams we just watched the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
Breaking Down the Teams and Value
Philadelphia Eagles +600
CAP SPACE: $18,000,000
The Eagles definitely earned being favorites after that impressive beatdown of the former champs. We all know repeating isn’t easy in the NFL though as the combination of parity, injuries and luck tend to come and go with most teams. Philadelphia will assuredly be strong again behind good play in the trenches and some serious playmakers on both sides of the ball. They have some work to do with some key free agents and some voided cap money, but if any GM in the league has proven he knows how to retool, it would be Howie Roseman. Can he find a way to keep key contributors like Zack Baun around? How will the Eagles offense look with some new playcallers in the upcoming season? Just a couple of the questions that make a repeat appearance in the Super bowl not a slam dunk, despite the talent we’ve seen. At six to one odds, this seems about right on the money. They’ll be in the mix, but winning two in a row is tough.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Kansas City Chiefs +700
CAP SPACE: -$916,000
Despite the thrashing they absorbed in Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs are unlikely to fade away as long as Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Steve Spagnuolo are still setting the foundation here. Mahomes will come back eager to re-establish himself as a top talent of all-time after a horrendous showing on the big stage. The Chiefs will also get Rashee Rice back as a weapon, which could prove fun with speedster Xavier Worthy entering his second season. You never want to count this team out, and based on recent history, this +700 is probably fair, but something tells us the Chiefs are not going to be the Chiefs we’ve grown used to seeing. Travis Kelce and Chris Jones are nearing the ends of their productivity, if they return next year, and unless they can shore up their offensive tackles and improve their running game substantially, there’s no guarantee this offense can be elite as they once were. The draft will be important again in KC, as the team needs to add some pieces that can step in and play right away. With an improved AFC West, and some of the luster off of the Kingdom, these odds just don’t seem to have much value in our eyes.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Buffalo Bills +700
CAP SPACE: -$14,175,000
The Bills were yet again heartbroken after an oh-so close battle with the rival Chiefs to get to the Super Bowl. They have a couple of things going for them heading into the 2025 season, which starts with what appears to be a much softer schedule on paper than they had a year ago. There are a few games against the top dogs, but there are also some potential light weeks, something they didn’t have much of outside of their division last year. Additionally, quarterback Josh Allen really seems to have figured the game out mentally, which combined with his physical talents, gives the team a chance to win virtually any game they play in. Despite moving on from dead cap money with the Stefon Diggs trade, they’re still not in a great spot in terms of adding talent as they have a core of their own players they need to make decisions on, including James Cook, Khalil Shakir, Christian Benford, Greg Rousseau and more. We mentioned the draft being important for the Chiefs, but it’s even more important for the Bills. As much as they need and want to take a swing at a true talent like Myles Garrett or Maxx Crosby, that seems unlikely to materialize. They haven’t drafted as well as their main rivals in the AFC, and Josh Allen alone can’t overcome that. One final note, the Bills moved to a “small ball” type of offense last year to limit turnovers, and they forced plenty on defense. It’s tough to count on that formula year in and year out, and it actually seems counter-productive in an effort to maximize their best player on the field. It worked in 2024, as they beat some teams that were honestly better than them, but will that work again in 2025?
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Baltimore Ravens +700
CAP SPACE: $5,900,000
Teams may have some time to analyze how to stop this Ravens offense after a year of film with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, however that doesn’t mean they’ll be able to stop them. The Ravens tend to be the team that epitomizes the statement “only the Ravens can beat the Ravens”. That has held true, and will be the same heading into next season, as this is one of the most complete teams in the league. If their defense can play all season they way they did in the second half of 2024, watch out for this group. They’d undoubtedly like to add some depth on the offensive line, and possibly at receiver, and another pass rusher to help some veterans would be nice, but even if they ran it back with what they have, they’d still be knocking on the door of the playoffs yet again. Perhaps the biggest thing holding this team back is their own mental fortitude, with so many playoff duds and blunders. Assuming they take care of business in the AFC North, which isn’t easy, can they get that monkey off of their back regarding their performances in the playoffs? Overall, if Lamar Jackson is healthy, this team has a very legitimate chance to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LX.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Detroit Lions +900
CAP SPACE: $45,694,000
As dominant as the Eagles were during their remarkable run to champions, you’ll never convince us the Lions wouldn’t have captured their first Super Bowl if it weren’t for their insane bad luck of injuries in 2024. Yes, all teams deal with injuries, but this team was simply massacred with top talent leaving, to the point where it just could not be overcome. There’s this weird sentiment among many that the Lions window has closed, which really doesn’t make sense at all. Yes, replacing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will not be easy, so it’s possible it may take the offense a little more adjusting early in the year. That’s not enough to bury this team though, that should be a top two or three seed when it comes around to playoff time. In addition to having some cap space to maneuver with, they’ve drafted well recently, and if they can have a decent offseason, the return of impact defensive players like Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeal make this a scary and balanced team, even in the vicious NFC North.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
San Francisco 49ers +1500
CAP SPACE: $44,225,000
The San Francisco 49ers should be competitive next season, and probably the favorites to win the NFC West. After a disappointing year that saw key stars shelved with injury, they’ll look to bounce back once again. We say once again, because we’ve seen this routine with the 49ers in the recent past. A really good season, followed by an injury plagued season, followed by a really good season. There has to be at least a little bit of concern though when you really look at the upcoming campaign. First off, just how good is quarterback Brock Purdy? Despite all this tape we now have, it’s still a very legitimate question. Offensively, this unit that looked unstoppable just 18 months ago, now has some serious decisions and questions moving forward. Can Christian McCaffrey get back to a full workload and stay healthy? How much does left tackle Trent Williams have left in the tank? And with Deebo Samuel asking for a trade, Brandon Aiyuk coming off of a serious injury, and JaJaun Jennings seeking a new contract extension or payday, how good will this passing game be? Defensively, despite having some All-Pro talent like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, there have been challenges in the secondary, and the team will miss former star Dre Greenlaw next to Warner in that defense. There’s certainly a high ceiling with this San Franciso team, but the floor could also give out too if things don’t fall into place in the offseason. Even with the dropoff from the top favorite numbers, we have this team more in the +2000 range, so not enough value as far as we’re concerned.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Washington Commanders +1800
CAP SPACE: $75,210,000
You may have felt the Commanders overachieved in Dan Quinn’s first season leading the organization, and it’s certainly a possibility. Despite some shortcomings, we’re buying this group heading into season number two with Quinn and offensive rookie of the year Jayden Daniels. The main reason is we’re all in on the young quarterback, and not expecting a big sophomore slump, like we saw with C.J. Stroud a year ago. The physical talents that Daniels has, and his approach to the game make that falloff a lot less likely, as he’s already considered a top five QB in a lot of discussions. The Commanders need to get better in a few areas if they’re going to be a serious contender, but look what they did with what they already have? Beef up the offensive line, find a strong receiver opposite Terry McLaurin, maybe add some pass rush, and and speed on defense, and they’re right there. That may sound like a lot, but they have a lot of cap room to play with, if they want to swing for some of the higher end free agents on the market. Owner/Coach/QB… The Commanders have that now, and they could certainly give the Eagles and Lions a run for their money if Daniels can repeat and or improve on what he did as a rookie.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Green Bay Packers +1800
CAP SPACE: $42,140,000
If you need proof that football is the ultimate team game, the Green Bay Packers are one of the best examples you can study. This team is pretty much average all over the place, yet because they don’t have a lot of holes, they’re able to be really competitive. The problem this group has, seems to be getting over the hump against the really top tier units in the league. They play well together, and when they’re facing inferior squads they often look pretty darn good. It’s when they face the big dogs that their lack of elite talent really seems to bite them. That starts with quarterback Jordan Love, who is certainly a good quarterback, he’s just not Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers good. We talked about floor/ceilings with the 49ers, and it’s kind of the opposite with this Packers unit. They have a pretty high floor, they’re going to win some games. But their ceiling really seems limited. It’s tough to envision them getting past the Lions in the division, or really any of the big three in the NFC at this point. They did bring in a difference-maker last season in Josh Jacobs, so maybe they can find another big addition, perhaps on the defensive side of the ball?
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Cincinnati Bengals +1800
CAP SPACE: $46,267,000
We heard it over and over again all season from Bengals fans. No one wants to play this team in the playoffs. Yeah, when you can drop 40 points that kind of goes without saying, but no one was afraid of this team because their defense was absolutely putrid, outside of Trey Hendrickson. If the Bengals are going to make a legitimate run in the upcoming season, two big things really need to happen. First, they cannot start the season painfully slow, and losing games they should win. This is something that has plagued them each season under Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow. Second, they have to figure out a way to rebuild at least a mediocre defense without longtime defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. These two critical keys do not even take into account they need to try to keep Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson. Not only because of their stellar performance on the field, but to keep Joe Burrow from taking the Carson Palmer approach and saying see ya later as the face of the franchise. It looks as though the Bengals have the wiggle room to make some things happen with Higgins, and to keep that core of Burrow, Chase and Hendrickson together, but does that leave them anything left to address the other areas we mentioned above? I mean after all, they had that core four last season and it resulted in a whole lot of nothing, including missing the postseason. Depending on how the offseason goes, this team should find their way back into the playoffs, but for a team that has a lot of holes on defense, +1800 offers very little in terms of excitement and value.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Los Angeles Rams +2800
CAP SPACE: $38,331,000
The Los Angeles Rams are tough to preview this early in the offseason because there is just simply too much unknown with this team. The biggest piece we have to wait on, is whether or not Matthew Stafford will be the starter in 2025, or if the team will decide to go a different direction at the position in a bit of a rebuild? It appears they’re planning to move on from Cooper Kupp, so anything is possible. They have a good young defense, particularly on the defensive line as we saw, but need to do some work on the back end there. Offensively, they’re pretty good with Stafford, but who knows what they’d look like without him? We had the Rams as a high value team a season ago under the thought that if they were healthy, they’d be able to beat anybody. It worked out last year, but this year just seems a lot shakier and uncertain. They should probably have a medium value ranking, but this team just doesn’t seem to have a clear direction on where they’re headed next season. As they say on Shark Tank, for that reason, we’re out.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Los Angeles Chargers +2800
CAP SPACE: $63,409,000
One team we missed on last year was the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that we simply didn’t buy the hype with. Jim Harbaugh did what he does, which was take a team and get them to believe, and have them playing good football week in and week out. The defense was drastically improved, and despite some questionable weapons, the offense made it work with J.K. Dobbins and rookie Ladd McConkey leading the way. A year ago, we figured the Chargers were still a season away, but they hit the ground running, and now they could be primed for a serious glow up. Justin Herbert was fantastic, and with a very good offensive line in place, this team really just needs to add another playmaker opposite McConkey, and possibly another running back into the mix, depending on what happens with Dobbins. Defensively, they have some money to spend, and if they can add a contributor in the front seven and possibly some help in the secondary, this team could be really good. The biggest hesitation in wagering on this team is the same reason many are fearful of pulling the trigger with the Ravens. Will Justin Herbert be able to take a leap in the playoffs and cancel the myth that he isn’t a clutch performer? If any coach can get him and the team there, it’s Harbaugh. LA may be worth a flyer at this number or anything better.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Houston Texans +3000
CAP SPACE: -$99,447
For the second time in as many tries under head coach Demeco Ryans, the Houston Texans found themselves in the playoffs as winners of the AFC South. Their season started out strong, before injuries on both sides of the ball, mixed with some inconsistent play slowed their momentum down. Looking ahead, there’s going to be some some decent value in backing the Texans for the simple fact they’re playing in a division that currently just doesn’t have a lot of firepower in it. Why they don’t have high value really comes down to the fact we’re not buying quarterback C.J. Stroud. After his ridiculous rookie season, we saw what we thought we might have with the young QB in his sophomore season. We’re stamping him as a mediocre quarterback in the league, which makes a trip to the Super Bowl pretty difficult, although as we’ve seen, not impossible. Houston kind of swung big with Stroud’s rookie contract, with adding players like Stefon Diggs, and they’re not well positioned to do a lot in the offseason. If they can keep the core together, they’ve got enough talent, but they will have to find someone beyond Nico Collins for the passing game. A new offensive coordinator will need to take a different approach from what Bobby Slowik was doing that soured quickly. It’s unlikely the Texans can overtake the big guns in the AFC, but they should at least be a part of the playoff puzzle again.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3500
CAP SPACE: $2,239,000
Looking ahead to the 2025 season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves in a similar situation to where they’ve been in recent years. This is a good football team, they’re just not great. Baker Mayfield has been an excellent acquisition at quarterback, and the Bucs found a gem in Bucky Irving to run the football. Realistically, this team is not too far off from really being a legitimate contender, but they need to patch some pretty obvious holes. The first is on the defensive side of the ball where they need to beef up their secondary and find a consistent pass rush. The other is at a position that has been a strength for them over the last half a dozen years, and that’s at the wide receiver position. Mike Evans isn’t getting any younger, and it’s possible we won’t see Chris Godwin back with the team next year. Can the Bucs toughen up their defense and rebuild the passing game with some younger weapons? This team will play hard and can probably compete with anyone, they just need a little more before they can be a serious Super Bowl threat.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Denver Broncos +3500
CAP SPACE: $34,776,000
The Sean Payton experiment sure looked a lot better with rookie Bo Nix at quarterback than it did with Russell Wilson. Broncos fans should be excited with what they were able to see from Nix and Payton in a year where they overachieved expectations. Those expectations are a little higher heading into the 2025 season, however Vegas still isn’t giving them the respect of the top teams in the league. Sure, Nix will need to avoid a sophomore slump, but it’s very possible with Payton, that he actually makes a leap in his second season as starter. The Broncos really need to find another receiving weapon, and could run the ball better as well. Heading into the offseason there really are only a few holes to patch though. That’s a good spot to be in, and with these odds, this is a team that should overperform expectations again.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Minnesota Vikings +4000
CAP SPACE: $58,012,000
If you aren’t sure how important the quarterback position is in the NFL, look no further than the Vikings odds resting at +4000 after nearly being the top seed in the NFC last season. The uncertainty with the Vikings at the QB spot has to be the only legitimate reason as to why a team that was so good last season is being given this little respect. They have some free agents to deal with in the secondary, but really their key players are mostly intact. Will Sam Darnold end up back with the team, or will they opt to go to J.J. McCarthy or a different direction altogether? It’s hard to handicap a team without knowing for sure who will be leading the offense, but for the Minnesota Vikings, it’s tough to say how much that really matters. This team is built to allow really any competent quarterback the opportunity to guide them to victory. The offensive line is above average, they run the ball decently, and have as strong of skill position players in the league. The defense is going to be good behind coordinator Brian Flores. They’ve got quite a bit of cap room, so it’s possible their roster could actually improve from what we saw finish the season. Imagining Sam Darnold or a rookie winning the Super Bowl may be tough to envision, but the Vikings should be a lot closer to +2500 than they are to +4000. There’s some value here.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Chicago Bears +4000
CAP SPACE: $62,968,000
The Bears had a rather interesting season that imploded after giving up that dreadful Hail Mary against the Commanders. There were some bright moments, and at times they were competitive, but there were more instances of looking like they don’t belong in the upper tier of the NFL. The Bears are still in their perennial rebuild, but the good news for them is they still have a lot of money to play around with. The questions around this team really center more around the organization itself and the coaching. And most tangibly, how quarterback Caleb Williams will perform in his second season as the starting quarterback. Perhaps the biggest challenge the Bears will face is they’ll be competing in the same division as the Lions, Packers and Vikings. At this moment, all have an expected edge over this Chicago team. The Bears should improve a bit, depending on how their offseason turns out, but having the same odds as the Vikings heading into the season seems really off base.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Dallas Cowboys +6000
CAP SPACE: -$2,848,000
The past few years the Cowboys have been near the top of the odds heading into the offseason for the upcoming season. Some of that probably had to do with them being a publicly backed team, but most of that had to do with the fact they were a pretty good football team. Entering 2025 at +6000 seems almost unbelievable, yet there’s no value in backing this Cowboys team in their current state. Yes, they will get quarterback Dak Prescott back, which will make them more competitive, but other than their big three of Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons, this is really not a very good football team at all. The once strength of the team in the offensive line, is now a weakness, and an area they will need to try to rebuild in the draft. If that were all they were rebuilding they might be alright, but a running game and some more explosiveness at wide receiver are also needed. Even though their defense played decently at the end of last season, it’s a unit that really struggles, outside of Parsons. We can talk about the team on the field, however we can’t ignore the elephant in the room, and that’s the organizational leadership. A questionable new coach, along with ownership that has not done well with contracts and the salary cap offers little hope. Jerry Jones may not have a ton of seasons left as the person running the show in Dallas, and that may be what it takes for them to get competitive again.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Miami Dolphins +6500
CAP SPACE: -$5,437,000
Will we ever see a season under head coach Mike McDaniel where Tua Tagovailoa is completely healthy for 17 games? If that could happen, it might be possible to put the Dolphins in the category of high value as the team really is competitive with Tua under center. There failures have come when Tua is either not in the lineup, or they’ve had to take on a top five team in the league. Entering the 2025 season, this team will look a little different as some veterans will become cap casualties and they look to get younger. The wild card will be wide receiver Tyreek Hill, as it looks like that honeymoon may be coming to an end sooner rather than later. Even if Hill is in Miami to start the season, one has to wonder how effective he can be as he enters the twilight of his career? The Dolphins could be fun to watch as always on offense, and if Jaelan Phillips can return from another devastating injury, he and Chop Robinson could form a nice pass rush tandem. The Dolphins desperately need some help in the trenches on both sides of the ball however. The surprising release of cornerback Kendall Fuller makes them a little thin in the secondary with Jevon Holland likely to bolt in free agency. How this season plays out will determine at least the future of head coach Mike McDaniel, if not others in the building in Miami. A healthy team and quarterback should keep them respectable, but respectable may not be enough for the current bunch in the organization.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Atlanta Falcons +6500
CAP SPACE: -$11,147,000
The Atlanta Falcons took some heat when they drafted Michael Penix with their top pick a year ago having just signed Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback. Turns out that move may have been correct after all, as Penix relieved a struggling Cousins to finish up the season. As they look ahead to next season, there are definitely some things to be excited about if you’re Atlanta, Penix potentially being one of them. While he wasn’t an instant star, he did show some signs that his upside could propel him to be a really solid franchise type quarterback. The Falcons have some weapons in place on the offensive side of the ball, and their defense was better than it’s been, even if not great a year ago. This team will definitely be in the mix for a playoff spot in 2025, with the NFC South really being a bit of a toss up. How far they go will probably come down to just how well Penix can be at the QB position. It’s tempting to look at these odds for a team that has a strong chance to be in the playoffs and jump on them, but temper those expectations just a bit. This team could be good, but they won’t be elite.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Seattle Seahawks +6500
CAP SPACE: -$13,463,000
The Seattle Seahawks don’t have a lot of major weaknesses when you look through their depth chart. This is a team that on any give week can look really good, and also really bad. Seattle isn’t in great shape to make a lot of moves during the offseason, but a good draft would position them to fight for supremacy in the NFC West as they did a season ago. They desperately need to find a pass rusher, and upgrading some talent on the offensive and defensive lines wouldn’t be horrible for them either. Head coach Mike McDonald seems to have a plan, so we’ll see how this team develops in his second year as head coach. For McDonald, he has to make a determination on how far he wants to go with Geno Smith at quarterback. Smith has been a capable starter in Seattle, but does anyone inside the organization really believe he can lead this team to a Super Bowl? The challenge with moving on from a player like Smith is, you may end up going backwards, which is always a scary thought. Much like some of the other teams around this range of odds, the Seahawks can be a good team, they just have a ceiling they’re not likely to break through.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Pittsburgh Steelers +6500
CAP SPACE: $40,703,000
The team that feels like they’re constantly stuck somewhere in purgatory is the Pittsburgh Steelers. This team plays hard for Mike Tomlin, and they find ways to win games, which of course leads to a winning record each season. Unfortunately, it stops there as they simply can’t beat the top teams in the conference. This feels like another run-it-back season upcoming as the Steelers are sticking with Mike Tomlin, despite some fan restlessness there. The biggest decision to keep an eye on is if they run it back at QB with someone already on the roster, or if they try to go a different direction? The Steelers need another wide receiver, and probably some depth on defense at a minimum. At the end of the day though, they simply have to find the replacement for Ben Roethlisberger, something they’ve been trying to do for over four seasons now. These odds may feel like a good wager for a quality football team and organization, but unless this team finds a way to land a Matthew Stafford type of player at QB, they’re destined for another 9-8 type finish in the AFC North and early playoff exit.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Arizona Cardinals +7000
CAP SPACE: $71,733,000
Things are looking up in Arizona as they’ll enter the 2025 season with a healthy quarterback in Kyler Murray, a wide receiver in Marvin Harrison, Jr. entering his second season, and some good momentum after overachieving last year. The expectations will be a little higher, and they should be as this team could really improve with a good offseason. The defense really needs an overhaul at all three levels, but if they can grab a couple of ballers on that side of the ball, things could get interesting in Arizona. Although their offensive line was improved, they could stand do upgrade there a bit as well, and really need a viable threat opposite of Marvin Harrison. If they can find that, it could be really tough to defend this offense with tight end Tre McBride becoming a star, and Kyler Murray’s ability to create plays with his legs. There are a lot of “ifs” in that sentence, and it’s not as though the Cardinals were knocking on the door last year, but this has the potential to be a good and fun football team if things fall into place.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
New England Patriots +8000
CAP SPACE: $119,801,000
It was a rough showing post Bill Belichick in New England, but the Patriots might not be down for very long. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye showed enough during the course of the season to make most people believe he is the real deal. If he is, this team could make a big jump in a hurry. The Patriots brought in new head coach Mike Vrabel to lead them, and they’ve got a lot of firepower to use during the offseason. In addition to a top draft pick, they’re over $100 million under the salary cap and can not only lock in a couple of their young players, but can spend for some help in free agency as well. And make no mistake about it, they do need a lot of help. The offensive and defensive lines are both pretty terrible, and Drake Maye desperately needs a top-notch weapon to throw the football too. New England will be one of the most improved teams in the league next season, and could even snag a playoff spot. They’re still a couple of years away though as they need to really re-stock the talent and develop into Vrabel’s new offenses and defense.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Las Vegas Raiders +10000
CAP SPACE: $92,526,000
It feels like we say this every season with the Raiders, but it feels like this team is finally turning the corner a bit. It’s just a vibe they give off as they bring in wily Pete Carroll as the new head coach, a move that seems like a good fit. Carroll is a winner, and especially in a new situation, he will give this team a boost. The boost can only be so high however, as the roster really needs some work. The Raiders need to hit well in the draft, as they did a season ago grabbing Brock Bowers, a player they can really build the offense around. They’ll need to get another star somewhere, and also a lot of contributing players. You can argue that they have needs at nearly every position on the field, except for that tight end spot. We’re placing an average value based on the +10000 number for the simple fact the Raiders seem poised to add a veteran quarterback like Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers or maybe even a Matthew Stafford. If they were able to plug in a proven player, this team could prove feisty under Carroll in year one. If they end up going the route of the draft or with who they have one their roster this number would really be more of a low or non-existent value. The Raiders could be a team to watch moving forward, but they’re not quite there yet.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Jacksonville Jaguars +10000
CAP SPACE: $32,276,000
Things started out slowly in Jacksonville, and really just never gained traction as the Jaguars season fizzled away quickly under Doug Pederson. New head coach Liam Cohen has his work cut out for him in the Duval, but he believes the cupboard isn’t bare, for the simple fact that he has quarterback Trevor Lawrence. If Lawrence is ever going to be considered a star in the league, and avoid being labeled a bust, he really needs to step up. He also needs some help. The Jags have tried unsuccessfully to put an offensive line in front of him, and to bring in playmakers for him. They’ve missed on their offensive line picks, and the skill position players have been a combination of injured and inconsistent. None of these even takes into account a defense that was bad against the run, and even worse against the pass. Let’s see what the new combination coach and GM can bring to a new era of Jacksonville Jaguars football. A playoff berth would be a great start and isn’t impossible, but the odds are literally stacked against them.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Indianapolis Colts +10000
CAP SPACE: $28,247,000
The Indianapolis Colts tend to be one of the tougher teams in the NFL to handicap week in and week out. Are they good? Are they bad? Are they average? It really just seems to depend on the week. That inconsistency is really the sign of a bad team, and even though they just seem to live in the “in the hunt” playoff graphics during the second half of each season there isn’t enough to like with this group. For starters, Anthony Richardson is just not going to become the type of player they wanted him to be when they drafted him. Yes, the world knows he’s athletic, but his ability as a quarterback ranks near the bottom of the league, at least among starters. The defense always looks decent on paper, yet they simply get throttled even when the starters are on the field. Is that a matter of coaching or overrated players, or both? The handicap for us here is pretty easy. As long as they’re rolling with Anthony Richardson as their starter, which appears to be the trajectory for 2025, there’s no value in betting this football team for a prize like the Lombardi Trophy.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
New York Jets +13000
CAP SPACE: $16,858,000
The New York Jets suffered through yet another disastrous year, and on top of things did some small mortgaging of the future along the way. The team decided to cut bait with Aaron Rodgers, which means they’ll be on the hunt once again for a new face of the franchise. This team still has some talent with guys like Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner, but they’ve got some work to do in addition to finding their next quarterback. The defense was not as stout as they had planned, and they’ll go into the offseason with some important players as free agents, like cornerback D.J. Reed. Right now, the team lacks a little bit of an identity, which seems obvious when you don’t know who is going to be playing quarterback. This team honestly could be decent, but you start to think the term “cursed” actually may apply to this organization. It’s probably not so much cursed, as it is dysfunctional at the top with owner Woody Johnson. New head coach Aaron Glenn is likely to be a player favorite, but he’s got a tall task in front of him if he wants this team to find it’s way back into the playoffs. Until this team can prove itself, they’re really not worth betting on. With that being said, they’re potentially a lot better than several of the teams ahead of them, so if we’re talking pure value only, this number speaks.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Carolina Panthers +13000
CAP SPACE: $20,328,000
One of the best feel good stories of last season was the resurrection of the young career of Carolina quarterback Bryce Young. He was essentially benched and left for dead, before returning and putting together some quality performances in the second half of the season. Maybe it was the lack of pressure, or perhaps Young just needs some time to develop, as quarterbacks not named Jayden Daniels usually do. Heading into next season Young will look to continue his improved play, and will hope to take a Panthers team that turned in some admirable performances to an even higher level. The good news is he’ll attempt this in the NFC South, one of the softer divisions in the league. The other encouraging signals for this team will be a defense that presumably starts the year healthy and ready to go. The Panthers defense was decimated by injuries last season, forcing a lot of younger and backup players into the lineup. Carolina needs to find a pass rusher and probably some help at the corner position, but by default this defense could improve just by being healthier. Offensively, the team ran the bell well and should be able to continue that. The Panthers desperately need to find an explosive wide receiver and or tight end to help Young out in the passing game. Adam Thielen put in some great work as a target, and can be a nice possession guy at this stage in his career, but this team needs some explosiveness. The Panthers are on the right track, it’s just going to take a while longer.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
New York Giants +15000
CAP SPACE: $43,380,000
If you’re poaching players off of a team, the New York Giants have a few that you’d love to have. Guys like Malik Nabers, Andrew Thomas, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux are all Pro Bowl caliber players on this roster, which gives them a good starting point. The problem here is they have so many guys on this depth chart that have no business starting in the NFL, particularly on their offensive line and in their secondary. That’s not even their biggest worry however, as they have no one capable to play quarterback as they head into free agency and the draft. Most signs point to them drafting one of the top QBs with their first pick, but the concern here is there aren’t a lot of believers in the abilities of this year’s quarterback class. A new quarterback paired with Malik Nabers could be exciting, but this team is simply too deficient right now to compete at a high level. A successful season for the NYG will be finding their franchise quarterback, and climbing out of the cellar in the NFC East. Sorry New York fans, it’s just not your time yet.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
New Orleans Saints +15000
CAP SPACE: -$54,112,000
The New Orleans Saints have been playing kick the can down the road with the salary cap, and it may finally be time to pay the piper. If the Saints can move forward with the roster they had last year, healthy, they could be semi-competitive. At least in the NFC South. The problem is they’re most likely going to have to make some difficult decisions on some veteran players and high salaries as they’re forced to go younger at a lot of positions. While new head coach Kellen Moore will certainly have his sights set on winning right away, the same may not be said for the organization as a whole. Could a potential of Arch Manning to this team in the future be on the horizon if they lose enough games? No conspiracy theories regarding tanking, but the Saints just find themselves in a very difficult spot. These odds could change quite a bit depending on what the offseason holds when we find out the future of some of the familiar faces in the Big Easy. For now, there’s zero reason to take a lottery flyer on this Saints team.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Cleveland Browns +15000
CAP SPACE: -$30,168,000
Even though the Browns don’t have the the worst odds (see the Titans below), they potentially have the worst value of any team heading into next season. For starters, they’re playing catch up in the AFC North, so the road would be treacherous enough, even if the team was in good shape. Of course, if you’ve followed Cleveland at all, you know they’re pretty much the opposite of in good shape. Like many of the teams at the bottom of the odds, there are issues at the quarterback position. The team is trying to do what they can to restructure Deshaun Watson, but his contract is a mess, and it’s tough to say if he’ll even be healthy enough to play. That is, if they want Watson on the field at all. Speaking of players who publicly have stated they don’t want to be on the field for the Browns, Myles Garrett may or may not be on the roster heading into next year. The Browns have a handful of talented players on the roster, but with their cap situation, they’re probably wise to just start over. It’s going to be another rough year for the Cleveland Browns, and another year missing the playoffs.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Tennessee Titans +20000
CAP SPACE: $44,076,000
We don’t need to spend a whole lot of time discussing the Tennessee Titans, at least for the 2025 season. What don’t the Titans need as they look ahead? Figuring out the quarterback position has to be the top priority. Whether or not they feel that player is in the draft, or if they try to go another direction, it’s puzzle piece number one for the franchise. Make no mistake about it though, they need a lot more than a quarterback if they’re going to get back into the Super Bowl discussion. It’s possible this team could fire sell the last bit of its remaining talent they have as they enter full rebuild mode. New general manager Mike Borgonzi will have his work cut out for him in relief of the terminated Ran Carthon. The Titans are currently so far away from contention it’s difficult to even develop what a successful 2025 campaign would look like. Even with these insane odds, the Titans shouldn’t be considered.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
WHAT WE’LL BE FOLLOWING:
You can spot from the teams we have listed as high value which plays we think are worthy of a ticket, or at least consideration. We always like to give five of our top teams here, even if we may not be betting them just yet. We’re eyeing a few teams, but aren’t necessarily eager to get involved until we see how certain things play out this season. The AFC West really seems to be the interesting division as both the Chargers and Broncos could be ready to pounce if the Chiefs stumble. If you’re looking for a longshot, consider the Minnesota Vikings, although they’re a true longshot by definition. There is a lot that can happen between now and week one, so enjoy the offseason and start thinking about your wagers sooner rather than later!
Who’s your early pick for next year’s Super Bowl champ? Let us know!
