Ranking the next five-year windows for each NFL team

For the Chiefs, it all comes back to Patrick Mahomes. The 25-year-old Mahomes is the face of the NFL, and still has elite players Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce in great condition. The offensive line was rebuilt with youth last offseason, which seems like a smart investment to protect Mahomes. The defense could be set for an identity crisis in the next few years with the potential for Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark to depart, but the team will have Chris Jones and promising youngsters on the second and third levels. After making four consecutive AFC Championships, the Chiefs are on the cusp of a true dynasty.

Josh Allen has quickly become one of the top young quarterbacks in the league, creating optimism that Buffalo isn't far from a Super Bowl appearance. To get there, recent defensive draft picks like Gregory Rousseau will need to pan out and help fellow foundational players Tremaine Edmunds, Ed Oliver, and Tre'Davious White.

The Cardinals have reason to be optimistic with Kyler Murray and a host of talented weapons around him, including DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, and Rondale Moore. The bigger concern is the defense, with a core on the backend of their careers. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury could also be on the hot seat after another late-season collapse.

The Rams have a unique roster, bypassing draft picks to acquire stars like Jalen Ramsey and Matthew Stafford. That strategy requires them to draft well in the later rounds, and GM Les Snead has done just enough. Of course, the team's depth has also taken a hit with the lack of recent first-round picks. Stafford and star Aaron Donald are on the wrong side of 30, while star wideouts Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp are also nearing 30. With head coach Sean McVay, the current window of opportunity is excellent but it could also be brief.

Joe Burrow established himself as a star on the road to a Super Bowl appearance, and the Bengals have an embarrassment of riches around him with Joe Mixon, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and Ja'Marr Chase. The defense has solid talent at all three levels, including Jessie Bates, Sam Hubbard, and new edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. Big questions still surround the team's offensive line, but the team now has the cap space to address the problem.

The Chargers roster has been one of the most impressive in the league on paper seemingly for the last 10 years, yet they only have two playoff appearances in that time to show for it. It's clear the team hit on 2020 first-round pick Justin Herbert and has invested heavily in an offensive line to protect him. The defense also has star power with Joey Bosa and Derwin James in their mid-20's, but the pair have also been injury-prone early in their NFL careers. With the right coaching and a little luck, the Chargers have a chance to be Super Bowl contenders soon.

The 49ers advanced to the Super Bowl just three years ago, and came terribly close to doing it again in 2021. The team's window comes down to the development of third overall draft choice Trey Lance, but he has incredible talent around him. Young weapons are ample on offense with George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Elijah Mitchell, along with head coach Kyle Shanahan, established as one of the top play-callers in the game. The defense also has young stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. If Lance pans out, the 49ers could be in as good a position to make a run as any team.

Mobile quarterbacks can have an early decline, but Lamar Jackson should have plenty of time left. The team is hoping J.K. Dobbins can return healthy from a knee injury next season, and also have some interesting, young receivers. The elite defense is a mix of youth and experience, but 25-and-unders Marlon Humphrey and Patrick Queen provide reason for optimism.

Dallas finally paid Dak Prescott, for good reason, but the depth of the roster has suffered. The team has other young stars like CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, but staples like Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, and DeMarcus Lawrence could be past their primes. The Cowboys have time to reboot with Prescott, but the window with the current group is closing. 

The Patriots let Tom Brady walk and missed the playoffs in 2020 for only the third time this century. The team responded by spending big in free agency and drafting quarterback Mac Jones in the first round. Pairing Jones with former college teammate Damien Harris and a bevy of veteran receivers revamped the offense, and the defense has been consistently outstanding under Bill Belichick. The bigger concern is Belichick's age (69), as the possibility of retirement could promptly hinder the team's Super Bowl window.

After years of bad teams and high draft picks, the Browns have finally started to get the draft right for the most part. Former No. 1 overall draft choice Myles Garrett is a clear franchise players, but the young talent around them is also elite, including a great offensive line and multiple building blocks in the secondary. The biggest question now is if Baker Mayfield is the long-term answer at quarterback after a terrible 2021 season.

Quarterback has rarely been a concern in Green Bay over the last 30 years between Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, but that could change this offseason if Rodgers is ready to move on. Jordan Love might not be the future despite being selected in the first round last year, and Davante Adams is also a free agent. The defense has enough young talent with stars like Jaire Alexander and Kenny Clark, but the team's prospects for the near future will be determined by Rodgers' decision.

The Titans were all-in after acquiring veterans Julio Jones, Janoris Jenkins, and Bud Dupree last offseason. That makes sense considering the usually limited football lifespan of an elite running back like Derrick Henry. Ryan Tannehill likely has some good years remaining, especially with elite A.J. Brown, but is he good enough to win it all in the competitive AFC? The team has some young franchise players on defense in Jeffery Simmons and Rashaan Evans. Young head coach Mike Vrabel also continues to establish himself as a difference-maker with four consecutive winning seasons.

The Colts had one of the best up-and-coming rosters early in GM Chris Ballard's tenure, but Andrew Luck's retirement was a monumental setback. Quarterback remains an obvious question mark, with the team potentially moving on from Carson Wentz. Young players like Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., and DeForest Buckner give fans reason for hope. However, linebacker Darius Leonard is already 30. If the team is going to win a Super Bowl in the next few years, it will take great quarterback play.

The Broncos struck out on Drew Lock at quarterback, but have a bevy of strong, young weapons elsewhere. Receivers Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, Tim Patrick, and Noah Fant show the embarrassment of riches if the team can find their long-term signal-caller, while 2021 draftee Javonte Williams is also promising. Tthe team still has young defensive talent intact with Bradley Chubb, Patrick Surtain Jr. and Justin Simmons, but the quarterback questions remain since Peyton Manning's retirement.

Pittsburgh has plenty of talent, but huge voids at quarterback and the offensive line. Otherwise, the offensive weapons are in place with Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson, , as well as first-round running back Najee Harris. The defense is also loaded with young superstars, including T.J. Watt, Terrell Edmunds, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. If the team can find its quarterback post-Big Ben, they should remain major contenders.

Russell Wilson is perhaps the most underappreciated quarterback of the last 10 years, still playing at an elite level. There remain questions about his status on the team after trade rumors, but the team is a surefire playoff contender as long as he's in Seattle. He has elite weapons with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. The defense has been unable to completely rebound from the elite Super Bowl teams they had in the last decade, but Bobby Wager, Jamal Adams, and draft picks have been enough to keep the unit serviceable. Like Bill Belichick in New England, there remain questions about 70-year-old head coach Pete Carroll's future that cloud the team's status down the road.

Is Jalen Hurts the answer at quarterback? He certainly showed flashes, but not everyone is convinced. He does have several young, interesting weapons around him, including Miles Sanders, DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins, and Dallas Goedert. The offensive and defensive lines remain strong, albeit with several older players.

Miami underwent a nearly complete rebuild only three years ago. Strong free agent moves and drafting have already turned the team into a contender, and they could be set up for a Super Bowl run if Tua Tagovailoa continues to develop. He has a young offensive line blocking for him, as well as former Alabama teammate Jaylen Waddle catching passes. The defense has a lot of elite players nearing 30 (Xavien Howard, Byron Jones), but youngsters Christian Wilkins, Raekwon Davis, and Jevon Holland are young building blocks. 

Minnesota had three playoff appearances in five years before missing the playoffs over the last two seasons, and there are some signs the defense needs a complete reboot. Quarterback Kirk Cousins should have some good years remaining, and he has elite, young weapons with Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson. The offensive line has also been addressed in recent drafts, but the defense could be on its last leg while the team relies on players with injury and age concerns like Danielle Hunter, Anthony Barr, and Harrison Smith.

The Jaguars have the first overall pick in consecutive drafts for a reason, and the rebuild could take several years. Trevor Lawrence seemed like a can't-miss prospect based on his college performance, but he experienced growing pains. He has some attractive, young talent around him, including D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault, and James Robinson, but that's much more than the defense can say. Josh Allen could very well be the only keeper on that side of the ball, and head coach Doug Pederson is a major improvement over recent hires.

The Raiders had a remarkable 2021 season under scrutiny to make the playoffs, but now start a new era with Josh McDaniels and a new front office. There's no doubt Derek Carr has improved, and Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller has emerged as stars. However, the team's recent draft results have been suspect, including two first rounds picks from 2020 released already. The offensive line was also somewhat gutted last offseason, and the defense needs more secondary talent.

The Bucs brought back all 22 starters from their championship team, but now they have to regroup. Tom Brady is gone with no clear heir apparent, and several other veterans could also exit. To the front office's credit, the Bucs have drafted extremely well recently, so players like Tristian Wirfs, Vita Vea, Devin White, Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Antoine Winfield Jr. will make the inevitable reboot much easier.

Bears fans couldn't be more optimistic about the addition of Justin Fields, but the team still needs to build around him. David Montgomery had a breakout 2020 season, and Darnell Mooney is a young star, but the youth and talent elsewhere on offense is lacking. The defense is also getting long in the tooth, including Khalil Mack.

The Washington head coach job has been a revolving door during Daniel Snyder's ownership, but perhaps Ron Rivera can stick around for a while. He certainly has the young talent on defense, with an incredible defensive line that includes first-rounders Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, and Daron Payne. There are also interesting offensive weapons with Antonio Gibson and Terry McLaurin, but the team's lack of long-term clarity at quarterback could hold them back.

Now entering his fourth season, it's time for Daniel Jones to show he's an NFL starter or else. The team has provided him with all the weapons he needs, though the offensive line remains shaky. The defense has enough young talent to be strong, but it doesn't mean much if Jones can't improve under new head coach Brian Daboll.

The move to Sam Darnold in 2021 was a true disaster, so head coach Matt Rhule is back to square one with his back against the wall. Christian McCaffrey has also become injury prone, but wideouts D.J. Moore and Terrace Marshall could produce in Carolina for a while. The defense has plenty of raw, young talent led by Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, and Jeremy Chinn.

The Jets are just getting out from under the setback that is Adam Gase, and the almost annual rebuild will take time. New York moved on from Sam Darnold in favor of 2021 draftee Zach Wilson, and the team hopes he can make a quick improvement in his sophomore season. Former first-rounders Mekhi Becton and Quinnen Williams also show promise. Elsewhere on the defense, the long-term keepers are few and far between, which exemplifies just how long the Jets have to go.

The Saints successfully rebuilt their roster in recent seasons, particularly on defense. With the retirement of Drew Brees and Michael Thomas' injuries, the defense is clearly the team's biggest strength, and youngsters like Marshon Lattimore, Marcus Williams, and Marcus Davenport could give that unit longevity. The bigger concerns now are the loss of Sean Payton, no clear long-term quarterback, and a brutal cap situation.

The Lions seemingly did a reboot last offseason, trading Matthew Stafford and remaining quiet in free agency. That could make for an interesting few years ago, and the team does have much of their offensive line future on the squad, including Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow, and Taylor Decker, to go along with tight end T.J. Hockenson. Despite his history as a Super Bowl quarterback, Jared Goff might only be a placeholder, and the defense clearly needs a revamp beyond former first-rounder Jeff Okudah, who missed 2021 to an Achilles injury.

There remains speculation the Falcons will move on from Matt Ryan, and the 36-year-old quarterback has clearly slipped a bit. Calvin Ridley has also been mentioned in trade rumors, leaving only tight end Kyle Pitts as an offensive building block. Unfortunately, cap issues and poor recent drafts have left the defense without much of an identity, but 2020 first-round cornerback A.J. Terrell has shown promise.

What a difference a few years make. Houston had the makings a potential powerhouse, led by star quarterback Deshaun Watson. However, some head-scratching win-now trades and signings by Bill O'Brien helped ruin the franchise's future, and Watson's off-field issues could prevent the team from rebuilding. The one bright spot is the late development of Davis Mills in his rookie season, but the promotion of Lovie Smith to head coach didn't create much optimism around the league.