Biggest Question Facing Every NFL Team After 2025 OTAs

Alright, buckle up, people. We’ve just survived another round of OTAs, aka the only time NFL players willingly show up to work before contracts start threatening their ankles. Every team—you heard me—every damn one—has at least ONE question dangling over their head like Aunt Karen at Thanksgiving asking why you’re still single. And I’m here to drag those skeletons out of the closet (and maybe give up some hope, too).

So let’s sleuth our way through the NFL’s biggest mysteries heading into the 2025 season, team by team. Spoiler alert: It’s grim for some, barely hopeful for others, and downright hilarious for a few.

AFC East: The Division Of “Will It Work?”

Buffalo Bills: Is Maxwell Hairston Actually Ready to Cover Folks?

Okay, Bills fans. You have Josh Allen, the one-man nuclear football factory who basically does everything but make your breakfast (at least if we dream hard enough). Christian Benford? Solid as ever at No. 1 corner.

But there’s that other corner spot, the one that haunts Buffalo’s dreams. Enter Maxwell Hairston, the shiny rookie with enough raw talent to impress Tre’Davious White himself (yes, that Tre’Davious White who’s basically the cornerback Yoda). White’s quoting magical stuff like, “God-given abilities from the womb,” so either Hairston’s destined for greatness or maybe nature’s got some catching up to do.

If Hairston pans out, this could be a giant relief. If not… well, you better learn the names of your other corners, Bills fans.

Miami Dolphins: Who’s Actually Staying Round Here?

The Dolphins are putting the “turn” in “turnover,” making moves like a reality show contestant trying to keep their cool. Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith are reportedly auditioning for other teams faster than you can say “trade rumors.” ESPN’s insiders say Ramsey’s probably packing bags for the Rams like it’s a mid-season vacation.

Meanwhile, Coach Mike McDaniel loves Jonnu so much he’s practically dating him. No trade talks there, at least for now. So, if Miami had a roster party, Ramsey’s probably already at the afterparty, RIP.

New England Patriots: How Quickly Can This Frankenstein’s Monster Gel?

Ten new starters. Ten! Almost half your starters are new faces, and your offensive line could easily go from Cousin Itt to a rotating door situation by week 3. Wes Schweitzer and Jared Wilson are duking it out with Cole Strange for those guard spots, and honestly, it feels like someone threw a bucket of Lego bricks at the roster and shouted, “Build!”

The last time the Pats did a roster overhaul like this, they finished 4-13, which is less “New England Patriots” and more “sad puppy having existential crisis.” If things don’t click quick, Brady’s statue unveiling will be the only celebration all season.

New York Jets: Justin Fields—Can We Trust Him This Time?

Justin Fields has now become that high-maintenance boyfriend who can never quite get it right but keeps coming back. He’s playing for his third team in three years, which is the NFL equivalent of musical chairs, only everyone’s hoping he finally sits still.

During OTAs, Fields looked sharper, hitting 6/6 on full team drills, no interceptions, no touchdowns (let’s not get crazy), and even pulling off a slick run or two. So…parental advisory: cautious optimism. He might actually stick.

NFC East: Welcome to the Greatest Hits of Question Marks

Dallas Cowboys: Left Tackle or Left Overs?

Tyler Guyton got benched as a rookie, and this offseason the Cowboys didn’t exactly stockpile left tackles like a compulsive coupon collector. His redemption depends on turning that benching into motivation (or maybe just another tryout).

Guyton admits last year was a dumpster fire and vows to come back with a “different attitude.” Lest we forget, Dak Prescott’s blindside is the most precious real estate in Dallas, so if Guyton trips up, it’ll be a skin-crawling season for the Boys.

New York Giants: When Will Jaxson Dart Finally Be Ready to Fly?

Russell Wilson plus Jameis Winston has been a 2024 Combine of Confusion. So, the Giants took a swing by drafting Jaxson Dart in the first round, hoping he’s the quarterback to finally end the quarterback funk.

The rookie reportedly hasn’t looked like a baby guppy learning to swim. He’s making some throws and showing off athleticism, which in literal football speak means, “Don’t sleep on this kid.”

Philadelphia Eagles: Can the Defense Survive Without Its Stars?

Last year’s Super Bowl champs lost several defensive studs this offseason, leaving questions in the air thicker than a Philly cheesesteak.

The biggest worry is safety. Reed Blankenship has half a spot, but who fills his partner role? Rookie Andrew Mukuba? The jury’s out, but if either one flops, expect Jalen Hurts to start selling tickets as a defensive back.

Washington Commanders: Is Trey Amos Ready to Roll?

Cornerback was the Commanders’ weak spot last season, and the midseason addition of Marshon Lattimore was supposed to be the band-aid. Now, Washington wants rookie Trey Amos to jump in and basically be a brick wall—no pressure, kid.

Judging by reports, Amos has a frame built to bully receivers and looks promising early on. The question: Can he hold the fort without toppling and keep Washington’s secondary from looking like Swiss cheese?

AFC North: Welcome to the Furnace of Pressure

Baltimore Ravens: Starting Guards—Who’s Gonna Hold the Line?

Ah, the offensive line. The battered backbone of any NFL team that no one notices until it breaks.

In Baltimore, the right guard spot has a semi-settled Daniel Faalele. The left guard? Oh, boy. Training camp is going to be a gladiator arena with veterans and hopefuls like Ben Cleveland and rookie Garrett Dellinger duking it out. The guy who actually started last year got hurt, so this is a HUGE question mark.

Cincinnati Bengals: What’s the Backup Plan at Edge?

Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart are stuck in contract limbo. Stewart, the first-round pick, is basically the team’s defensive prince waiting to be crowned, but sitting out OTAs isn’t exactly a power move.

The Bengals need these guys on the field because waiting for contracts to get done is like watching paint dry on a rainy day—painfully slow and full of anxiety.

Cleveland Browns: Quarterback Tug-of-War

Four quarterbacks, zero clarity. It’s like the Browns invited all their quarterbacks to a dance and told them only one can keep dancing at training camp.

Coach Stefanski is squeezing every rep they can, mentally and physically, because whoever wins gets to lead the franchise’s biggest WTF moment. Buckle up, fans.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Is Aaron Rodgers Coming or Ghosting Again?

It feels like Aaron Rodgers is playing a long, drawn-out game of peekaboo with the Steelers. Everyone’s holding their breath—mostly to avoid hyperventilating—because no signed contract means nothing is for sure.

Rodgers talks up the team, hangs with DK Metcalf, chats with Mike Tomlin. But he hasn’t said, “Yeah, see you in Pittsburgh.” Welcome to the weirdest soap opera in football.

NFC North: Land of Quirks and Questions

Chicago Bears: Can Caleb Williams Carry This Mess?

Williams and his crew weren’t thrilled with last year’s staff (shocker!), and now with two new head-coachsicles, he’s the franchise’s hope to not suck quite as bad.

So far, he’s taking notes, asking questions (smart move), and learning to throw tight spirals instead of butter knives. The Bears are pinning their hopes on this kid being the real deal.

Detroit Lions: Who’s the Next Center of Attention?

Frank Ragnow’s retirement left a void bigger than the Lions’ playoff hopes. Tate Ratledge, a rookie, is getting the first crack, but veteran Graham Glasgow is lurking, ready to slide over and remind everyone he still exists.

This battle will define Detroit’s offensive identity. Spoiler: It feels like a toss-up between rookie magic or vet magic.

Green Bay Packers: Jaire Alexander—Stay or Go?

Jaire Alexander has been dangling over the edge of a trade kettle longer than most of us have had phone contracts. The Packers want to keep him—so they say—but he hasn’t signed, and this offseason’s financial math says cashed-out is just as likely.

If they cut him, they save $17 million. Oof. But if they keep him, maybe Packers fans get to sigh with relief. At least one of these things has to happen.

Minnesota Vikings: Is J.J. McCarthy Ready for Showtime?

Fresh off a knee injury, McCarthy’s got a mountain to climb. Reports say he’s getting thrown at with razor-sharp coverage from cornerboys like Byron Murphy Jr., which means this kid’s gonna either be great or get great at ducking.

Early OTA throws have been messy, with interceptions galore. But hey, at least he’s not phoning it in.

AFC South: The “What the Hell” Division

Houston Texans: Can the O-Line Stop Being Swiss Cheese?

Houston’s offensive line was a sieve last year, and rather than fix it, they traded away Laremy Tunsil, their best lineman. Brilliant.

Coach DeMeco Ryans is basically playing musical spots with players, hoping five random humans somehow become a cohesive wall. If that doesn’t happen, look out for Stroud looking like a pinball machine.

Indianapolis Colts: Who’s the Real Starter, Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson?

The Colts added Daniel Jones to stir the pot. Richardson had a bumpy ride last year and now has to up his game or be up in the “bench warming” section. It basically boils down to footwork and mechanics, which, apparently, Jones has been drilling into Richardson’s brain.

This QB saga promises to be messier than your grandma’s holiday fruitcake.

Jacksonville Jaguars: How Much Can Travis Hunter Handle?

Hunter is a unicorn teenager playing both offense and defense. Most teams would gently float him in pool noodles; Jacksonville’s throwing him into the deep end.

He’s already snagged one-handed interceptions and looking like the start of something wild. His usage will be a litmus test in creativity and sheer audacity.

Tennessee Titans: Is Cam Ward a One-Man Show or Not?

Ward has some decent targets in Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett, but the supporting cast is mostly grizzled veterans who feel like they’re auditioning for a retirement home football league.

So, will Ward thrive or drown in the trenches? Early OTAs say they vibed well, so fingers crossed.

NFC West: The Land of Hope and Heartbreak

Arizona Cardinals: Can Will Johnson Bounce Back?

Johnson, a cornerback with potential and an injury history, could be the secret weapon Arizona’s been praying to find. OTAs say he looks smooth—which in NFL-speak means he might actually play more than one series this year.

Los Angeles Rams: Is Jalen Ramsey Coming Back or Just Taking a Long Nap in Miami?

Ramsey has been on the trade block longer than some of you have been in relationships. The Rams want him badly, and a certain ex-teammate dropped hints that playing opposite him is like having a cheat code in Madden. Rams fans, keep your fingers and toes crossed.

San Francisco 49ers: Does the Offense Have a WR Problem?

After trading Deebo Samuel, the 49ers’ receiving corps looks like a Jenga tower on its last block. Brandon Aiyuk is rehabbing from an ACL and was AWOL at OTAs. Ricky Pearsall, the second-year pro, is suddenly the big deal.

If Pearsall can’t keep up those last-game-of-the-season numbers, watch out for Shanahan pacing like a caged lion.

Seattle Seahawks: Which Sam Darnold Will Show Up?

Darnold went from tragic to Pro Bowl last year. Now he’s in Seattle trying to prove that wasn’t one giant fluke. OTA reports say he threw two interceptions in three plays—which is kinda the opposite of Pro Bowl vibes.

Coach Macdonald is calling questions about benching him “crazy,” but if Darnold can’t keep the ball secure, even crazy sounds reasonable.

So there you have it. Every team is holding their breath, fingers crossed, and probably Googling “how to survive 17 weeks of emotional whiplash.” The 2025 NFL season is shaping up to be a wild ride, full of heartbreak, heroics, and way too many opinions from guys like me.

If you’re a fan, stock up on popcorn and maybe some antacids. It’s gonna get real.