The Big Five: Most improved NFL teams this offseason

The 2025 NFL season is almost upon us, with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles kicking things off next Thursday, Sep. 4.

From now until the end of the season, Yardbarker will highlight key trends, performances and stories in a weekly series we're calling "The Big Five."

With initial 53-man rosters set, this week we examine five teams who improved the most during the offseason.

5. Los Angeles Chargers

Biggest improvement: Offensive skill positions | It was somewhat overlooked because of the team's 2024 success, but the Chargers surrounded quarterback Justin Herbert with a mostly underwhelming supporting cast last season, albeit with a couple of exceptions.

Running back J.K. Dobbins, who signed with the division-rival Denver Broncos in free agency, was fantastic coming back from a season-ending torn Achilles, rushing for a career-high 905 yards, and rookie wideout Ladd McConkey was a revelation, ending the season with 1,149 receiving yards. But Los Angeles otherwise lacked reliable contributors, something the front office worked to rectify this offseason.

The Chargers used three draft picks, including their first two, on offensive skill-position players, selecting running back Omarion Hampton at No. 22 overall and wide receiver Tre Harris at No. 55.

Los Angeles also spent a fifth-round pick on speedy wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who ran a 4.37s 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.

This preseason, Harris caught six of 10 targets for 85 yards, while Lambert-Smith, who averaged a team-high 21.1 yards average depth of target, had four receptions, 109 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. (h/t Pro Football Focus)

Hampton only received six snaps but was promising in limited action, averaging 5.1 yards and one missed tackle forced per carry.

During training camp, the team reunited with veteran wideout Keenan Allen, who spent 2024 with the Chicago Bears after 11 years with the Chargers. His 1,000-yard seasons might be behind him, but the six-time Pro Bowler still raises the floor of what the offense is capable of. Paired with last season's No. 1-ranked scoring defense, big things could be in store for L.A. after last year's wild-card appearance.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

Biggest improvement: Front office/coaching staff | Jaguars head coach Liam Coen might be the offseason's true MVP by initially rejecting the Jaguars job offer over concerns about the front office, leading the team to fire former general manager Trent Baalke, who had long overstayed his welcome. 

Coen coordinated a top-five offense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, and he certainly has the firepower to construct another high-scoring offense in Jacksonville. Brian Thomas and rookie Travis Hunter form one of the league's most intriguing wide-receiver duos. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been up-and-down in his first four seasons, but after Coen coached Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield to a career-best season in 2024, the right infrastructure appears to be in place for the former No. 1 overall pick to thrive. 

3. Chicago Bears

Biggest improvement: Offensive line | In Ben Johnson's first offseason as Bears head coach, the front office invested heavily in the offensive line, acquiring two-time All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs and five-year veteran right guard Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams via trade and signing center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million contract in free agency. Chicago also used a second-round pick on massive 6-foot-8 tackle Ozzy Trapilo.

An improved offensive line should help quarterback Caleb Williams, as should playing in Johnson's prolific offense. In three seasons as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, the Lions ranked in the top five in total offense and scoring each season. 

2. New England Patriots

Biggest improvement: Offensive Line | As with the Bears, the Patriots spent this offseason building around their second-year quarterback. Drake Maye had a promising rookie campaign, and New England made significant strides in improving the roster around him heading into Year 2.

The Patriots have an almost entirely different offensive line from 2024, when the unit ranked No. 31 in ESPN's pass-block win rate rankings (and last in run-block win rate). In March, the front office signed center Garrett Bradbury and right tackle Morgan Moses in free agency. One month later, the Patriots selected left tackle Will Campbell in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft, followed two rounds later by interior lineman Jared Wilson, who has been competing for the starting left guard role.

Maye also has improved weapons on offense after the Patriots signed Stefon Diggs in free agency and selected dynamic former Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson at No. 38 overall in the 2025 draft. During the preseason, Henderson appeared in two games and averaged 7.6 yards per carry while also catching three of four targets for 12 yards.

1. Las Vegas Raiders

Biggest improvement: Quarterback, head coach | No team experienced a bigger upgrade this offseason than the Raiders did at both quarterback and head coach. Geno Smith and Pete Carroll are significant improvements over Gardner Minshew and Antonio Pierce, who were miscast in lead roles a season ago.

Smith has been one of the league's most accurate passers since his remarkable 2022 comeback season, while Carroll is a proven winner with a career 170-120-1 record and 12 playoff appearances in 18 seasons.

Last season, the Raiders entered nearly all of their games with a disadvantage at quarterback and head coach, but that won't be the case this year. Carroll and Smith should give Las Vegas a fighting chance most weeks.