The 2025 NFL offseason is nearly at an end, with every team participating in voluntary mini-camps and OTAs at this point. Most of the major moves that are going to occur have happened already, and while a trade or two could change the outlook for some teams, we have a rough idea of how every roster is going to look when the season begins in September. So, it’s now fair to judge just how every team did in improving their roster for the 2025 season.
Whether teams improved through free agency, trades, or the draft, there are some teams that have a much better chance at competing in 2025 than they did in 2024. Not only that, but there are a few teams that are looking quite strong for Madden 26, and should blow their Madden 25 ranking away.
Today, we’ll be looking at our top five most improved NFL teams for 2025, as well as going over whether the moves a team made will actually have a big impact in Madden.
1. New England Patriots
No NFL team had a better offseason than the Patriots. New England completely revamped its coaching staff, bringing in a new head coach (Mike Vrabel), defensive coordinator (Terrell Williams), and offensive coordinator (Josh McDaniels). The team also made massive splashes in free agency, signing huge names such as DT Milton Williams, CB Carlton Davis, WR Stefon Diggs, RT Morgan Moses, LB Harold Landry, and a slew of other impactful players.
The Pats crushed the 2025 Draft as well, solving their left tackle problem by selecting Will Campbell, bringing in offensive speed with RB TreVeyon Henderson and WR Kyle Williams, and getting superb value out of the lower rounds. On paper, the Patriots have a chance to go worst-to-first in the AFC East (mainly thanks to a generous schedule). At the very least, they’ll be a more competent and enjoyable football team to watch than the mess we saw week in and week out in 2024.
As for how New England’s moves transfer over to Madden, you can expect the Pats to be 10x better and more fun to play as. QB Drake Maye is entering his second year, the offense has bonafide weapons and stability, and the defense might just be one of the league’s best thanks to a formidable defensive line and a top cornerback pairing of Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis.
2. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears could have made the move of the offseason, but it wasn’t for a player. The Bears were able to land coveted head coach candidate Ben Johnson, luring him away from the Detroit Lions. The offensive guru is seen as one of the best minds in football and should be able to immediately help Chicago reach new heights with its high potential offense. Of course, that offense revolves around second-year QB Caleb Williams, who is set to benefit greatly from Johnson’s playcalling.
In addition to its new head coach, the Bears also traded for All-Pro LG Joe Thuney and signed RG Jonah Jackson to ensure Williams isn’t sacked nearly as much as he was in 2024. Staying on the offensive side of the ball, Chicago drafted TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden III, both of whom should be able to contribute immediately.
While the Bears had a fantastic offseason, a majority of the moves are better in real life than in Madden. A new head coach and offensive line won’t make the Bears too much stronger when it comes to the virtual world, but the new offense and defensive weapons on the roster will make them a tougher opponent, regardless.
3. Washington Commanders
It’s not often that a team that played on Championship Weekend is also one of the most improved teams for the following season, but that’s where the Washington Commanders find themselves. The Commanders made a couple of huge splashes during the offseason, trading for perennial All-Pro LT Laremy Tunsil and star WR Deebo Samuel.
The Commanders also had a decent draft and signed some other valuable players, such as CB Jonathan Jones, DT Javon Kinlaw, and WR Michael Gallup. However, Tunsil and Samuel alone make the Commanders arguably the top team in the NFC, with the reigning champion Eagles likely still edging them out in the initial Madden 26 rankings. With the Eagles losing so many high-profile players in the offseason, though, Washington is set up for a Super Bowl run in real life and in Madden.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders had a similar offseason as the Patriots, revamping the coaching staff and several key position groups. While the Raiders didn’t make as many splashy moves as the Pats, they’re still looking much better on paper than they did in 2024.
For starters, the Raiders brought in one of the winningest coaches in football history in Pete Carroll. Then, Vegas paired Carroll with his former QB in Geno Smith through a trade with Seattle, as well as Heisman candidate RB Ashton Jeanty in the draft. These offensive pieces alone make the Raiders a better team, but the Raiders could also see contributions from rookie WR Jack Bech. We also can’t forget year two of TE Brock Bowers, who might explode for even more yards with Smith throwing to him now.
Overall, Vegas could now be a threat for the AFC Wild Card, but they still play in a daunting AFC West. Of course, Madden 26 won’t take that into account, and should rank the Raiders at least a few spots higher than where they finished in Madden 25.
5. New York Jets
It feels strange to say the New York Jets have improved in any way after moving on from a surefire Hall of Fame QB in Aaron Rodgers, but that’s where we are in 2025. The Jets replaced Rodgers with Justin Fields, who is on his third team in three years. Fields might be in the best position of his career now, and needs to make the most of his opportunity if the Jets want any chance of competing in the AFC.
Aside from Fields, New York brought in a new head coach in Aaron Glenn, who should be able to get the most out of a talented Jets defense. Glenn turned in a fairly decent offseason after he was hired, signing a plethora of players on defense and a few offensive weapons. The Jets also scored highly in the draft, bringing in RT Armand Membou and TE Mason Taylor with their first two picks. Both players will be able to contribute right away, but their effectiveness is going to largely depend on how well Fields does at the QB spot.
While the Jets should win more games in real life, not much has changed for them on the Madden side of things. Fields is going to be a lower-rated QB than Rodgers, even with his running ability, and the other major additions on offense are rookies who won’t be rated highly either. The Jets should have a fun virtual defense, but all the key players from 2024 remain in place in 2025.
That does it for our list of the top five most improved teams in the NFL and Madden 26. What did you think of the list? Let us know down in the comments below.
