The Micah Parsons trade was probably the biggest preseason shakeup since the Bears pulled off a stunning deal to land pass rusher Khalil Mack nearly seven years ago to the day.
Mack signed a deal to become the highest-paid non-QB in the league, was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year runner-up that year, and the Bears took the NFC North title with 12 wins, their most in more than a decade. But they also lost their opening playoff game on the famed “double doink” kick.
Can Parsons lift Green Bay beyond what Mack could fuel in Chicago? Perhaps, but with today’s NFC North, we’re talking about arguably the toughest division in football. It’s a fascinating trade that certainly shook up the NFC hierarchy, lifting the Packers and sinking the Cowboys further.
But the Parsons trade is only one of several fascinating headlines heading into the 2025 NFL season, including the Eagles attempting to repeat as champs while trying to fend off the threatening Commanders in the division, along with other contenders. Can the sneaky-good Buccaneers or dormant 49ers rise up to challenge in the conference?
On the AFC side, there are storylines galore. Most prominently, the Chiefs are trying to keep the dynasty alive, with the Bills, Ravens, Broncos and others nipping at their heels. The North will be must-see TV again, with the Ravens chasing rings, the Bengals trying to bounce back, Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh and the ever-interesting QB situation in Cleveland.
These rankings have been refreshed since the start of the preseason, factoring in everything that has occurred, including all the cutdown moves. There are a few notable shifts from the last version.
The good news? If you don’t like where your team is ranked, just check back next time, and it’ll probably be somewhere different. That’s only one reason to stick with me here all season — tracking the weekly franchise stock watch — and please be sure to check out the Power Rankings Podcast every week. NFL Network’s Mike Yam and I will break down the ups and downs throughout the 2025 NFL campaign, all the way through Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California.
NOTE: Up/down arrows below reflect movement from the preseason edition of the Power Rankings.
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