NFL’s 6 most interesting units in 2025, starring Jets, Dolphins, Cardinals, Patriots, and more

The NFL’s mandatory minicamps have wrapped up and we inch closer and closer to the 2025 preseason beginning. School is out for the summer for NFL franchises, which means all that’s left for us to do is ponder and speculate on which teams will surprise, which will falter, and who will win it all.

I’m intrigued by the possibilities of specific units in the NFL, whether it be sides of the ball that finished the season strong or units that have completely overhauled their staff and roster. So which ones have me the most intrigued going into 2025?

New York Jets’ offense

Starting off a list of unit I’m interested in with … the Jets’ offense? What a time to be alive!

I’m not sure if the Jets are going to be spectacular in Year 1 of the Aaron Glenn era, but through their free agency and draft moves, it looks like they know what their identity is on both sides of the ball. The biggest question I have is if offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand can build an offense around QB Justin Fields, and what does that look like? While Fields has many deficiencies as a passer, he’s one of the most dynamic run threats in the NFL. If their draft and free agency moves told us anything, it’s that they’re going to hammer the run game in 2025. They drafted Missouri RT Armand Membou in the first round, to solidify a young, but incredibly athletic offensive line group that can get out in space. Add in a tight end like LSU’s Mason Taylor, who is a smooth route runner and reliable in the short to intermediate areas, and what this tells me is that the outside zone and QB run game will take priority in MetLife Stadium. RBs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen are a nice pair, and adding Fields’ legs to that creates a dangerous rushing attack.

The Jets could lead the NFL in rushing attempts this season, and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Arizona Cardinals’ defense

If you hang out in the hipster areas of football social media long enough, you’ll probably find me or someone else talking about the Arizona Cardinals’ defense. A petri dish of moving parts, shifting fronts and changing pictures, the Cardinals finished the back half of the season in the top ten of defensive EPA per play and sixth in Dropback Success Rate. With their three-high safety defense throwing pocket sand at people, it was hard to diagnose their pass defense. However, they would get run over last season to the tune of a 44.6% Rushing Success Rate because they lacked a lot of size up front.

Safe to say the Cardinals want to flip the script this season. Arizona paid big money to EDGE Josh Sweat, brought back DT Calais Campbell and drafted DT Walter Nolen to help rebuild their defensive line. Nolen might be the most boom or bust addition, with his speed and explosiveness making him a tantalizing prospect when he wants to be. In addition, they took a worthwhile swing on CB Will Johnson in the second round to bring in competition in the secondary. I’m a big fan of defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, and now the Cardinals have given him a worthwhile canvas to work with.

Miami Dolphins’ defense

Two spots above the Cardinals in EPA per play allowed over the back half of the season sit the Miami Dolphins, who are one of the most interesting teams in the league in total. However, we’re talking about sides of the ball here, and I’m a big fan of what that defense can become. Despite missing premier EDGEs Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips for most of the season, the Dolphins still finished fifth in Dropback EPA per play allowed and 17th in ESPNs Pass Rush Win Rate. EDGE Chop Robinson is a budding star, and adding him to a hopefully healthy duo of Chubb and Phillips makes this defense have a lot more bite. Outside of them, the roster has talent up front. DT Zach Sieler is one of the more underrated players in the league, as his LB Jordyn Brooks. Adding DTs Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips to the roster helps give the Dolphins more physicality against the run as well. I have questions about what they’re going to do in the secondary if CB Jalen Ramsey does get traded, but that’s what makes them interesting!

Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense

The Jaguars’ offense is going to be a unit that I tune in to watch every week on film. No, not just because I’m a Jaguars’ fan. With head coach Liam Coen pulling the strings, it’s easy to see how this offense could become one of the best in the NFL. Tampa Bay finished second in the NFL in explosive plays behind the Baltimore Ravens last season with Coen as the playcaller, and he’ll bring that to a team that has the skill position talent to make things happen. WR Brian Thomas Jr. is growing into a superstar, and adding top pick Travis Hunter to the group gives them more explosiveness in that offense. In addition, the Jaguars have four capable running backs who can fill out roles in the run game. The biggest point where I’m interested is with QB Trevor Lawrence. It’s been an up and down career for him so far, but he’s still immensely talented. Coen has did wonders with QB Baker Mayfield, masking his inefficiencies by maximizing his strengths, and it’s safe to say that he can do the same thing with Lawrence.

New York Giants’ defense

Two New York teams on here? For most interesting?

I can assure you that it’s not opposite week, because the Giants’ defense has the bones of what could be a very good unit. It all starts up front, where DT Dexter Lawrence leads a group that has the potential to get after the QB in many different ways. A trio of EDGEs in Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux could help the Giants play matchup ball with the offensive line, picking and choosing who gets the isolated matchup over the worst offensive linemen. Winning football games starts in the trenches and the Giants could be very good up front.

Where this really gets interesting is in the secondary, where New York poured a lot of resources in the offseason. Signing CB Paulson Adebo and S Jevon Holland give the group more veteran experience, on top of two rookies in S Tyler Nubin and CB Dru Phillips (who was VERY good in the slot last season) that make this secondary have a lot of promise. CB Deonte Banks has to figure it out, however. The former first round pick has struggled since being drafted, and having more experience around him could help him out.

New England Patriots’ offense

Look, I know Pats’ head coach Mike Vrabel doesn’t exactly come off as some offensive guru or even enthusiast, but I’m cautiously intrigued by what this offense could be in 2025. It starts with QB Drake Maye, who showed flashes of his potential last season for New England–when he was kept upright. The Patriots went into the offseason wanting to build around their young QB, so they drafted LT Will Campbell, RB Trey’Veon Henderson and WR Kyle Williams. They also added to the offense via free agency, with RT Morgan Moses making his way to New England along with WR Stefon Diggs (pink powder not included).

Why I’m intrigued by this unit stems from OC Josh McDaniels, though. As purely a coordinator and designer of offense, I like what he does and how he wants to win in 2025. Big personnel, physical ground game and some more mixed in QB runs for Maye (who is more than good enough as a runner). It didn’t look pretty the last time he was on the sideline, but maybe he’s more fit to be an offensive coordinator. With a young QB he can trust in Maye and some explosiveness now in the offense, I’m curious what this form of Patriots’ offense will look like.