In 2025, five NFL clubs are expected to suffer a significant setback: Commanders and Vikings seem ready for dropoff.

The NFL is one of the most competitive leagues in the world, where rosters, coaching staffs, and personnel change rapidly each year. While some teams continue to climb toward greatness, others face impending challenges that could see them take a step backward. In 2025, there are five NFL clubs that seem primed to experience significant setbacks, largely due to factors like aging rosters, lack of depth, management decisions, or overall inconsistency.

Among these teams, the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings appear particularly vulnerable. While both franchises have experienced flashes of promise in recent seasons, 2025 could be the year when these teams struggle to keep pace with the competition, due to looming challenges that are difficult to overcome in the unforgiving world of the NFL.

In this article, we will break down why the Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, and three other teams may experience setbacks in 2025. We’ll examine roster issues, potential management challenges, aging players, and other critical factors that could derail their progress. By analyzing these teams, we will gain a clearer understanding of which franchises may be heading toward a rough patch in the near future.

1. Washington Commanders: Stagnation and Organizational Uncertainty

The Washington Commanders have been mired in mediocrity for years, consistently struggling to find a stable identity both on the field and off it. While they have had sporadic flashes of success, they have not been able to build sustained momentum since their last playoff appearance in 2020. Heading into 2025, several factors indicate that the Commanders will struggle to keep up with other teams in the NFC East.

Aging Roster and Key Departures

Washington’s roster is aging in several critical positions, especially on the offensive and defensive lines. Players like Charles Leno Jr. and Brandon Scherff are crucial to the team’s success but are nearing the end of their careers. Without young players stepping up to fill these gaps, Washington’s offensive line could become a liability, impacting their ability to run the ball and protect their quarterback.

On defense, while the team has several promising young players, they lack depth at key positions. The secondary, in particular, has been inconsistent, and as more teams in the NFC East improve, Washington could be left behind. With a lack of impact players on both sides of the ball, the Commanders may struggle to keep up with the rising competition in the NFC East.

Quarterback Questions

Perhaps the biggest question mark surrounding the Commanders in 2025 is the quarterback position. Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke were supposed to provide stability, but neither player has proven to be a long-term solution. While Washington did invest in Sam Howell as a potential future starter, the jury is still out on whether he can handle the starting role in the NFL. The lack of a franchise quarterback will continue to hold the team back, and without one, Washington is unlikely to make significant strides.

Uncertain Ownership and Management

One of the most significant challenges for the Commanders in the coming years will be their ongoing ownership situation. The uncertainty surrounding Dan Snyder and the franchise’s potential sale has created an environment of instability that permeates throughout the team. When ownership is uncertain, it often leads to a lack of clarity in long-term planning and direction, which in turn can hurt performance on the field. With such organizational uncertainty, the Commanders will likely continue to struggle to keep up with other NFC teams.

2. Minnesota Vikings: Aging Key Players and Salary Cap Woes

The Minnesota Vikings have been a competitive team in the NFC North over the last several seasons, but 2025 could be the year that they face a significant downturn. Several key factors are converging that could lead to a setback for the Vikings.

Aging Key Players

While the Vikings have a wealth of talent, many of their core players are aging and could start to decline by 2025. Kirk Cousins, the team’s starting quarterback, has been a reliable leader for Minnesota, but at age 37, he may be on the back end of his career. Without a long-term plan in place for a younger quarterback, the Vikings could find themselves scrambling to replace Cousins in the near future, which could result in inconsistency at the most important position on the field.

Additionally, players like Adam Thielen and Harrison Smith are important leaders on the team but are also aging and may be in the final years of their careers. The decline of key veterans like these could significantly weaken the Vikings’ offense and defense, forcing them to rely on unproven players or costly veterans who may not provide the same level of impact.

Salary Cap Struggles

The Vikings are currently dealing with significant salary cap constraints, and in 2025, this financial reality could force them to part ways with several key players or limit their ability to add important pieces to their roster. Minnesota has invested heavily in players like Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Daniil Hunter, but the financial burden of maintaining these contracts could eventually impact the team’s ability to build depth in crucial areas.

In the NFL, teams with limited salary cap flexibility often struggle to maintain a balanced roster, and the Vikings could find themselves with holes in key areas like the offensive line, defensive backfield, or pass rush. With a talent-heavy NFC North division, the Vikings could be left behind if they are unable to fill these gaps.

Playoff Inconsistency

Another issue facing the Vikings is their recurring playoff inconsistency. While they’ve been able to make the playoffs in recent seasons, they’ve had difficulty advancing deep into the postseason. This trend is partly due to their inability to close out big games and perform under pressure. If they cannot overcome this hurdle in 2025, it will likely be a season of frustration for Minnesota, especially if they fall short of playoff contention.

3. Chicago Bears: Lack of Offensive Firepower and Youth Development Issues

Despite the rise of the Chicago Bears in recent years, their future remains uncertain heading into 2025. The team’s lack of offensive firepower, coupled with questions about their quarterback development, could lead to a significant setback.

Quarterback Development

Justin Fields has shown flashes of potential, but there are lingering questions about whether he can develop into the type of franchise quarterback the Bears need to succeed. Fields has struggled with consistency in the passing game, and although he’s an excellent athlete, his ability to lead the offense in a traditional pocket-passing system is still in question. If Fields doesn’t make significant strides in 2025, Chicago’s chances of competing in the NFC North will diminish.

Lack of Elite Playmakers

The Bears have a solid group of players, but they lack elite talent at key offensive positions. Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet are decent weapons, but Chicago is still searching for a true No. 1 wide receiver to complement Fields. Without dynamic playmakers, the Bears’ offense will continue to stagnate, and they may struggle to score consistently against stronger defenses in the division.

4. Arizona Cardinals: Declining Veterans and Uncertainty at Quarterback

The Arizona Cardinals are entering a period of uncertainty in 2025, with many of their key veterans aging and the quarterback situation up in the air.

Aging Roster

With players like J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins nearing the end of their careers, the Cardinals may begin to lose their edge on both sides of the ball. This aging roster could lead to a significant drop in performance, especially if Arizona cannot replenish its depth with young, talented players.

Quarterback Uncertainty

Kyler Murray remains the centerpiece of the Cardinals’ offense, but his injury issues and questions about his long-term development as a leader could impact the team’s future. If Murray doesn’t bounce back in 2025, the Cardinals could face another year of inconsistency at quarterback, which would prevent them from competing in a competitive NFC West division.

5. Los Angeles Rams: The Aftermath of the Super Bowl and Roster Overhaul

The Los Angeles Rams were able to secure a Super Bowl victory in 2022, but in the years since, the team has been dealing with the aftermath of that success. The Rams’ roster has undergone significant changes, and they may struggle in 2025 due to the following issues:

Aging Veterans and Salary Cap Constraints

The Rams’ reliance on veterans like Aaron Donald and Matthew Stafford could hurt their chances of staying competitive in 2025. The team is also facing salary cap constraints, limiting their ability to add talent or retain key players. This could lead to a roster overhaul, which may take time to fully gel.

Declining Offensive Power

The Rams’ offensive line and receiving corps have taken a hit in recent years, and while Cooper Kupp is still an elite talent, the team lacks depth in the skill positions. If Matthew Stafford can’t stay healthy and lead the offense effectively, the Rams may find themselves struggling to replicate their Super Bowl success.