On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
One New Year's resolution for every NFC team
Every team must set goals, some loftier than others. So, in the spirit of the season, Yardbarker NFL writers offer a New Year's resolution for every NFC team.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS (7-9) | Less chatter from the top | Owner Jerry Jones, 82, will never embrace the “less is more” concept, but his omnipresence with the Cowboys and the NFL overall often does more harm than good. Last offseason, he burdened the team by promising Dallas would be “all-in” for 2024 only to sign seven low-cost free agents, including five of the team's own.
NEW YORK GIANTS (3-13) | Find a QB | The Giants have no QBs signed beyond this season, and after the team’s 45-33 win over the Colts on Sunday, they have only a 5% chance of landing the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, per ESPN's Football Power Index. If New York can’t land Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders or Miami QB Cam Ward in the draft, it should explore a trade for Minnesota QB J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft, if Minnesota re-signs NFL fourth-leading passer Sam Darnold.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (13-3) | Run it back on defense | Zack Baun is a revelation at middle linebacker, leading the Eagles with 151 tackles (fourth most in the NFL), while edge-rusher Josh Sweat leads the team with eight sacks. Both pending free agents are having career years under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and must be re-signed.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (11-5) | Keep the OC in D.C. | Kliff Kingsbury disappointed with a 28-37-1 record as head coach of the Cardinals from 2019-22, but the Bears and Jets could give Washington’s offensive coordinator another shot after the job he’s done with rookie QB Jayden Daniels. It’s hard to say what it would take to keep Kingsbury, who still earns millions from the five-year contract extension Arizona gave him in 2022, but the Commanders should keep him around. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-9) | Develop the connection between Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. | It is not that Harrison Jr. has had a bad rookie season (57 catches, 822 yards, seven touchdowns). It’s just that Murray and his new prime target did not make the immediate impact that was expected. The 48.2% completion percentage on passes to Harrison Jr. ranked only fifth of seven Cardinals pass-catchers with at least 20 targets.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (10-6) | Get off to a better start | For the third year in a row, the Rams stumbled out of the gate (1-4 this season). In each of the past two seasons, they bounced back and made the playoffs, but they can make it a lot easier on themselves in the second half of the season with a better start.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-10) | Eliminate contract drama | The early part of the season was dominated by contract headaches involving WR Brandon Aiyuk and OT Trent Williams. The 49ers have another big contract issue to deal with this offseason with QB Brock Purdy. It would wise for team and player to make this a smooth negotiation.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-7) | Find a franchise QB | Nothing against Geno Smith (17 TDs, 15 picks), who has done a tremendous job turning his career around in Seattle, but he is not the guy to get the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. Seattle has one more year of him on a manageable contract, so it has time to develop somebody. The Seahawks must find a difference-maker at the position. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS (4-12) | Get a new gym membership | The Bears have struggled in the trenches on both sides of the ball this season, allowing 67 sacks — the fourth most to a single QB in a season in NFL history — and giving up the sixth-most rushing yards per game (133.4). Perhaps more time in the weight room could help Chicago resolve its issues on both sides of the line.
DETROIT LIONS (14-2) | Start a new diet | The Lions have fallen victim to one of the worst “injury bug” cases in recent memory with 18 players — including 13 defenders — on injured reserve. Injuries are unpredictable and mostly unavoidable, but maybe a new diet could help ensure their players are 100 percent healthy before the 2025 season kicks off.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-5) | Great QB karma | With Hall of Famer Brett Favre and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers at QB from 1992-2022, the Packers made three Super Bowl appearances. QB Jordan Love played well in the playoffs last season, but he'll need to be stellar for the Packers to return to The Big Game.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-2) | Vow to be smart with their cash | The Vikings have crucial decisions to make this offseason with 24 players set to enter free agency — including QB Sam Darnold, who could justifiably demand a hefty payday. Minnesota currently has the sixth-most available cap space in 2025 ($78 million), per Spotrac, and it will probably need every penny. — Josh Eaton
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS (8-8) | Move on from QB Kirk Cousins | The Cousins signing was a flop, as Atlanta benched the former Vikings QB after only 14 starts for rookie Michael Penix Jr. The next step for Atlanta is to jettison Cousins and give Penix an entire offseason as the team’s No. 1 QB.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-12) | Improve rush defense | Even with its offense struggling, Carolina’s biggest issue is its horrid defense, particularly the league’s worst rushing defense. Entering Week 18, the defense is last in rush attempts (554), rushing yards (2,830) and yards per carry (5.1), making improving in that area key to the franchise turning things around.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-11) | Make front-office changes | This is a pipedream for the Saints, whose GM, Mickey Loomis, has served in the post since 2002. After four consecutive non-playoff appearances and posting the franchise’s worst record since being displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans shouldn’t only be in the market for a new head coach.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-7) | Get the No. 3 seed | Despite being a win away from its fourth consecutive division crown, the Bucs could be one-and-done in the playoffs if they’re stuck with the NFC’s No. 4 seed. Based on the current standings, Tampa will play the loser of Week 18’s finale between the Vikings (14-2) and Lions (14-2), but they’ll have a more favorable matchup against the Commanders (11-5) or Packers (11-5) if they surpass the Rams for the NFC’s No. 3 seed. — Eric Smithling
More must-reads:
- Celebrating the NFL's 2,000-yard club with a look at each member
- 2025 NFL Draft watch: Patriots move into top spot; Raiders keep sliding
- The 'Most passing yards in an NFL season' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Raiders Pushed to Sign Ex-Cowboy, Pro Bowler as Christian Wilkins Replacement
Training camp has started for the Las Vegas Raiders, and Christian Wilkins still isn't on the practice field. He hurt his foot in Week 5 of last season and continues to be in recovery. Head coach Pete Carroll didn't exactly instill confidence when he revealed that there's still no timeline for his return. “It’s still uncertain,” Carroll said during his Tuesday press conference. “We sort of have to wait it out.” Wilkins appears to be out of the boot, so that's a good sign, but there's been no clarity on when he might be able to get back on the field. With that in mind, the Raiders might want to consider adding more defensive line help. Linval Joseph Could Be Fit for Raiders At this stage of the offseason, there aren't going to be great options in free agency, but the Raiders could find a dependable veteran. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes Las Vegas should target free agent defensive tackle Linval Joseph. "Joseph finished his 2024 campaign with two sacks, two tackles for loss and 19 total tackles," Knox wrote. "He'd be a solid addition for any team needing depth along the defensive interior, and there are a couple. "The Las Vegas Raiders may need another defensive tackle, as Christian Wilkins still hasn't fully recovered from last year's second-ending foot injury." Joseph spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys and had 2.0 sacks. He's 36 now, but was able to play in all 17 games in 2024. He also went to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2016 and 2017 when he was with the Minnesota Vikings.
Fabrizio Romano Drops Huge €25M Update on Sunderland Transfer Target
Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Sporting CP have agreed the signing of Almeria striker Luis Suarez, who was a transfer target for Sunderland. The journalist explained that the Portuguese club will pay €25m for the 27-year-old Colombian forward, and Almeria will keep a 10% sell-on clause. This way, Sunderland misses out on another of their market targets to strengthen their attack, so they will have to look for other alternatives. This operation is a consequence of a 'domino effect', generated by the almost official, according to Romano, purchase of Viktor Gyokeres (27) by Arsenal. Fabrizio Romano drops huge €25m update on Sunderland transfer target "Sporting CP have agreed deal to sign Luis Javier Suarez from Almeria, here we go!," Romano began writing. "Deal confirmed as exclusively revealed in June. €25m fee package plus 10% sell-on clause," added the journalist, through his Twitter (X) account. This isn't the only complication for Regis Le Bris' team in this transfer window, as another attacking target, Gonzalo Garcia (21), appears to be finally extending his contract with Real Madrid, according to AS reports. "Now Gonzalo threatens Endrick's status and is negotiating a professional contract with Madrid," they explained in the cited outlet, after the mentioned 18-year-old Brazilian forward got injured again. Additionally, the failed signing of Sassuolo's Armand Lauriente (26) also joins the list of 'failures' by the Lads board this summer, specifically in their objective to strengthen the attack. Therefore, we cannot rule out that in the coming days, new rumors will emerge linking other offensive players with Sunderland, because it's clear that Le Bris wants to add talent in that area. Other forwards previously linked with the Black Cats are Nantes' Matthis Abline (22) and OGC Nice's Evann Guessand (24), although there haven't been recent updates. Read More:
Yankees makes pair of roster moves following Phillies loss
After a crushing 12–5 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night, the New York Yankees made a pair of roster changes aimed at strengthening a bullpen that surrendered 10 earned runs in the loss. Right-handed reliever Scott Effross and infielder Jorbit Vivas were both optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, clearing space for immediate reinforcements. Effross, 31, bore the brunt of the damage late in the game. Entering in the ninth inning with the Yankees trailing 8–5, he gave up four runs on four hits, failing to record the shutdown frame the team desperately needed. His ERA ballooned from 5.59 to 8.44 after the outing. Across 11 appearances in 2025, Effross has allowed 10 runs on 16 hits in 10.2 innings, striking out six and walking three. The outing proved costly, both in the game and for his place on the roster. Vivas, 24, didn’t fare much better this season. Used sparingly, he appeared in 29 games while slashing .161/.266/.250 with one home run and five RBIs. He entered Friday’s game as a late substitution at third base and flew out in his lone plate appearance. In their place, the Yankees activated third baseman Ryan McMahon, acquired earlier in the day from the Colorado Rockies. The 30-year-old 2024 All-Star brings experience and a needed defensive upgrade to the hot corner. Through 100 games this season, McMahon is hitting .217 with a .314 on-base percentage and .403 slugging percentage, while adding 16 home runs and 35 RBIs. Discussing McMahon’s fit with the Yankees, Paul Goldschmidt celebrated the addition, noting how exciting he fits within New York’s defensive identity. “He’s a really good player, great defender,” Goldschmidt said of McMahon. “He’s a good hitter, and he’s going to help us.” Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that McMahon would be active for Saturday’s matchup against the Phillies. The Yankees, currently 56–47, trail the Phillies, who improved to 59–44 with Friday’s win. Boone also acknowledged the bullpen’s ongoing struggles. The relief corps entered Friday ranked 20th in the league with a 4.07 ERA and has been thinned by injuries to Mark Leiter Jr., Fernando Cruz, and Ryan Yarbrough. With Clarke Schmidt out for the season and Luis Gil still recovering, reinforcements are expected before the July 31 trade deadline. The Yankees are expected to call up a fresh arm Saturday morning. Whether that move stabilizes the bullpen or not, more changes could be imminent.
Rumored Targets to Fill 'Marner-Sized Hole' on Maple Leafs’ Roster
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made several moves this offseason, including the high-profile sign-and-trade that sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights. While the team added forwards Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Matias Maccelli to help shore up its depth, NHL analyst Shayna Goldman of The Athletic believes the Leafs still have a major issue to address. “There is still a Mitch Marner-sized hole in the top six,” Goldman wrote, noting that while Marner’s playoff production often fell short, his ability to produce 100 points during the regular season hasn’t been replaced. Captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander remain elite offensive weapons, and John Tavares re-signed on a more team-friendly deal, but Tavares is expected to take on a reduced role. Young forward Matthew Knies is developing nicely, but Goldman argues internal improvements alone won’t fill the void left by Marner. “With most top-tier free agents signed and just $2.9 million in cap space remaining, Toronto’s only real path to addressing this gap may come via trade,” she added. Who Might the Maple Leafs Be Targeting? The Maple Leafs have a few options still out there on the trade market. First, they might be eyeing Evan Rodrigues as a potential trade target amid the Florida Panthers’ cap crunch. With Florida $3.7 million over the cap, Rodrigues’ $3 million AAV and playoff pedigree make him an appealing, affordable top-six option to help fill the post-Marner scoring gap. Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report has predicted a major trade deadline move that could see the Leafs landing Anders Lee from the New York Islanders. Lee, 35, is in the final year of his eight-year, $7M AAV deal. While the Islanders insist they aren’t rebuilding, Lee could become a trade chip if they slip from playoff contention. His 29 goals and 25 assists last season should draw interest across the league. With Yegor Chinakhov requesting a trade out of Columbus, the Maple Leafs have emerged as a potential suitor. The skilled winger could help fill Toronto’s top-six void. Nick Robertson may be a trade chip, though his value is uncertain. Chinakhov’s upside and affordable cap hit make him an intriguing target for GM Brad Treliving. According to Nick Kypreos, Nazem Kadri may be willing to help facilitate a move to Toronto if the Calgary Flames are open to a deal. Kadri is a center, but his production certainly would help. Finally, the Maple Leafs may target Penguins winger Rickard Rakell to fill their top-six hole. Rakell, coming off a 35-goal season, fits Toronto’s cap structure and could thrive alongside Matthews or Tavares. However, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas will demand significant value, likely starting with Easton Cowan.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
