2024-25 FTN NBA Power Rankings: Evaluating the NBA After the Trade Deadline
Marshall Gershon
The NFL offseason is like an exercise in the Butterfly Effect. Three teams chase Player A, Team 1 lands him, so Teams 2 and 3 chase Player B and Alternative X, Team 2 gets that, so Team 3 chases Player H and Alternative Q. But if Team 3 had landed Player A, then Team 1’s pivot might have been different, which would have changed things for Team 6, which would have had Player G going to …
It’s complicated. You get it.
Predicting how this particular Butterfly Effect will shake out is a fool’s errand, but trying to predict it is a nice exercise to get your brain prepared for the moves to come in the offseason. It’s not as simple as identifying every team that needs a receiver and saying “OK, the dream is for them to sign Tee Higgins.” There are a lot of teams that need receivers. There is one Tee Higgins. So you have to consider who can afford what, who will have the biggest desires, and what matches there are. And every move has a knock-on effect that affects the others.
So today and Wednesday, I’m looking ahead at the NFL offseason — to free agency, trades and the draft — and trying to complete the jigsaw puzzle. There’s obviously a fair amount of fan fiction here, because no one can predict the entire offseason, but it’s a good way to set the stage for what might come over the next few months.
In this exercise last year, we pegged the Cardinals drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey Benson, the Saints drafting Spencer Rattler as a wild card. We had the Colts, Texans and Buccaneers re-signing Michael Pittman Jr., Dalton Schultz and Baker Mayfield, respectively. We had the Bears drafting Caleb Williams and the Commanders, Patriots, Broncos and Vikings drafting rookie quarterbacks (though we got those four teams all mixed up). The point isn’t necessarily to get it right (but yay when we do!), the point is to identify who is most likely to target a certain spot in the offseason and how that might look.
This is fantasy-minded, so no defensive moves. You won’t find Myles Garrett’s new home here. But skill players and O-linemen who might help a team’s fantasy outlook? Let’s go.
AFC today, NFC Wednesday.
Fantasy Football Offseason Wish List: AFC
Baltimore Ravens
Re-sign Ronnie Stanley
Stanley played all 17 games in 2024, the first year of his career not missing a game. He made his second Pro Bowl despite playing the whole year at age 30. He might not return next season (the Ravens are not exactly flush with cash), but he’s more valuable to Baltimore than any other team. They need to find a way to keep him around.
Draft WR Jalen Royals (3.91)
Zay Flowers is good. Not great. Rashod Bateman finally had his career year, and it was good. Not great. The Ravens have used a first-round pick on a receiver every other year since 2019, starting with Marquise Brown, and they’ve gotten a combined two 1,000-yard seasons out of those three (Brown in 2021, Flowers in 2024). It’s a fine receiving corps. But it could use more, and Royals on Day 2 could be their next draft splash at the position.
Buffalo Bills
Trade 2.62 and 4.131 to the Seahawks for DK Metcalf
Most of the Bills’ offseason needs to focus on the defense. And with Josh Allen, James Cook, Dalton Kincaid and a good offensive line in place, that’s fine. But the team could use an anchor receiver that it lacked last year, and pairing the speed of Metcalf with the after-the-catch ability of Khalil Shakir — especially if Keon Coleman develops in Year 2 — would make for a very strong group. The Bills have two second- and two fourth-round picks, so they’d still have picks in each round. And with the Seahawks needing to clear cap space, Metcalf could be had.
Cincinnati Bengals
Trade 3.81 and 5.154 to the Rams for Cooper Kupp and 6.192
Like the Bills, the Bengals need to devote a lot of attention to the defense this offseason. But with the likelihood of Tee Higgins leaving, they could also use a new complement to Ja’Marr Chase. We know teams have a penchant for targeting guys who have eaten them up in the past, and of course Kupp earned Super Bowl MVP honors against the Bengals three years ago. He’s not likely to be expensive.
Draft RB Trevor Etienne (4.118)
Chase Brown was a revelation in 2024, but the Bengals clearly had no intention of using him as a bell cow, and even if his Week 17 injury was a fluke, it’s going to stick in minds. It’s not enough to draft a back super early, but someone like Etienne on Day 3 could be the complement they need.
Cleveland Browns
Sign Kirk Cousins
This is predicated on the Falcons not finding a trade partner for Cousins and wanting to get out of his deal more than they want him to back Michael Penix Jr. up. And … both seem likely. Cousins reuniting with Kevin Stefanski is the fit.
Trade 1.02 to the Patriots for 1.04, 3.77 and their 2026 second-rounder
Draft WR Tetairoa McMillan (1.04)
The Browns aren’t going to fix their future in 2025. They shouldn’t even really try. Even a Cousins addition would be a stopgap. So instead of taking a Shedeur Sanders or a Travis Hunter at 1.02, they should trade down just a little, still get maybe the best receiver in the draft and add future assets. Jerry Jeudy was just fine in 2024, but him as your WR2 is much more appealing than him as your WR1.
Sign Cam Robinson
Re-sign Nick Chubb
After a generation of having an above-average (or better) offensive line, things have started to slide for the Browns. Enter Robinson, who saved the day in Minnesota after the team added him in the wake of Christian Darrisaw’s ACL tear.
Meanwhile, Chubb wasn’t his old self last year, but if there’s any back who could offer “the year after the year after” value given his knee history, it’s someone like Chubb, and of course he’s more valuable to the Browns than he is to anyone else.
Denver Broncos
Draft RB Ashton Jeanty (1.20)
So many people want to pair the Broncos with a receiver this offseason, but everything out of Sean Payton’s mouth has indicated that he’s happy with their receivers and would prefer to build up their backfield and tight ends. Enter Jeanty. He’s popularly linked to the Cowboys, but the Cowboys have too many needs to devote a first-round pick to a running back (right, Jerry? Right?). After the Cowboys, there’s no team with a first-round back need until the Broncos, who could keep Jeanty out west and as a “Bronco.”
Sign Juwan Johnson
The Broncos need a tight end. Sean Payton loves his guys. Sean Payton originally signed Juwan Johnson as a UDFA in 2020. The pieces connect themselves.
Houston Texans
Sign DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins probably isn’t done as a contributor, but he does appear to be done as a team’s WR1. Let’s send him back to where it all started (the people in control when he was traded away are gone now, so the hard feelings should have dissipated) as the No. 2 to Nico Collins‘ very-extremely-obviously-the-WR1 as a last hurrah for one of the best receivers in the team’s history.
Indianapolis Colts
Trade 4.116 and 6.191 to the Falcons to for Kyle Pitts
The Colts haven’t had a tight end score 100 PPR points since 2019, haven’t had one score 75 since 2021. They have a depressed asset at quarterback that they desperately need to make work, but they have enough competent receivers that there isn’t an obvious add to make there. Instead, they can trade for another depressed asset at tight end. If it works out, great. If it doesn’t … well, they will need to start over after Anthony Richardson anyway, so they can jettison both together.
Sign Marcus Mariota
Joe Flacco’s run in Cleveland was exciting and all, but it led to the Colts bringing him in as the backup to a toolsy, run-first quarterback, the single silliest QB1-to-QB2 pairing ever. Wouldn’t you want the backup to at least superficially resemble the starter, so if you have to make a change you can stick with something like your offensive game plan? Mariota was good in two games spelling Jayden Daniels in Washington last year, and he would have more value in Indianapolis than anywhere short of being a starter.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trade Christian Kirk to the Chiefs for 4.132
Sign Amari Cooper
The Jaguars have plenty of reason to move on from Kirk and his salary this offseason, especially given how redundant he is with Evan Engram from a production standpoint. But Brian Thomas Jr. still needs a running mate, and that isn’t Gabe Davis. So ship Kirk to a Kansas City team that loves flyers on veteran receivers and bring in Amari Cooper, who disappointed in Buffalo last year but could thrive as the No. 2 target behind Thomas.
Sign Drew Dalman
The Jaguars need interior offensive line help. Drew Dalman is comfortably the best center on the free agent market. This one doesn’t need much explanation.
Kansas City Chiefs
Trade 4.132 to the Jaguars for Christian Kirk
Sign Darius Slayton
Marquise Brown is a free agent. Travis Kelce turns 36 in October and might retire. Rashee Rice could be back, but he’s returning from a torn ACL and still might face a suspension. The Chiefs aren’t going to make a huge splash at receiver this offseason, but getting Kirk for the slot and Slayton as the new memorial Mecole Hardman would be nice support for Xavier Worthy/whatever they get from Rice and Kelce.
Draft T Cameron Williams (2.63)
The problems at tackle weren’t the entire reason the Chiefs lost Sunday, but it certainly didn’t help things. Williams alone won’t fix the line, but it’s a big move to bolster the weakest unit on the team.
Las Vegas Raiders
OK, I have to roll up my sleeves on this one.
Draft Shedeur Sanders (1.07)
This might require a trade-up, but I believe there will be some Eli Manning-esque murmurs out of the Sanders camp that he’s not going to want to sign anywhere but Las Vegas and wants to partner up with the Tom Brady/Pete Carroll duo. Right or wrong, players are going to want to link up with Brady, and that’s good news for Las Vegas.
Sign Aaron Jones Sr.
The Raiders backfield was a disaster last year, and while Jones isn’t as good as he once was, he immediately becomes the dominant force in Vegas and the team then just needs a competent backup.
Trade 3.68 to the Steelers for George Pickens
Is there risk in bringing someone with warts like Pickens’ into Las Vegas? Of course. But a trade would tell the young receiver that he’s running out of chances, and Brady would be able to bring Patriots-like discipline into the equation. Pickens as the lone big-time talent in Pittsburgh isn’t a good fit. Pickens alongside Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers makes for an elite group.
Trade Michael Mayer to the Eagles for 5.162
Mayer has all but lost his job in Las Vegas. More on why the Eagles would want him in the NFC half of things.
Los Angeles Chargers
Sign Tee Higgins
Exactly where Higgins lands was the key part of this entire exercise, and while this is obviously guesswork (of the top five teams in 2025 cap space, four of them — Patriots, Raiders, Commanders, Chargers — are likely to be aggressive in pursuing him), this pairing looks best on paper. Higgins would want an elite quarterback, which knocks out the Raiders (and maybe the Patriots?). He’d want to have his role to himself, which might be tougher alongside Terry McLaurin than slot guy Ladd McConkey. And of course, who wouldn’t want to move to Southern California? Give me a Justin Herbert/Higgins/McConkey trio for all the production.
Re-sign J.K. Dobbins
Dobbins got less efficient the more he ran last year (he ran for 4.64 yards on the season, but 3.80 if you take out Weeks 1-2). But in Los Angeles, with Gus Edwards still around and with a coaching staff that knows him well, he can get the rest he needs to perform.
Draft G Tyler Booker (2.55)
The Chargers have a fine tackle duo in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, but the interior needs help. Booker, maybe the best guard in this year’s draft class, would be a very strong addition.
Miami Dolphins
Sign Teven Jenkins
Assuming the Tyreek Hill situation has been ironed out, the Dolphins set of offensive weapons is fairly set, with Tua Tagovailoa throwing the ball to Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Jonnu Smith and RB De’Von Achane. Maybe they could use a competent No. 3 receiver (Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t work out), but that’s a tertiary concern. Instead, this team should once again look to build up the offensive line. Jenkins has had trouble staying healthy in his Bears career (which, let’s be honest, helps him fit in in Miami), but he’s been very good when he has been on the field, and he’d bolster the Dolphins’ unit.
New England Patriots
Trade 1.04, 3.77 and 2026 second-rounder to the Browns for 1.02
Draft Travis Hunter
No team has been more active in turning players into positionless “weapons” than the Patriots this century, and while sure, a lot of that was Bill Belichick, the entire selling point around Mike Vrabel is that he’ll bring the Belichick aura back. The Patriots could move up a couple of spots to get Hunter and immediately make him their WR1 with some creative usage allowing him to work on the defense as well.
Trade 2.38, 5.145 and 7.240 to the Saints for Chris Olave
Would the Patriots really make this many trades for receivers? Maybe, maybe not. But at this point, the franchise’s fortunes are entirely tied to Drake Maye’s future, and giving him Travis Hunter and Chris Olave to throw to is worlds better than DeMario Douglas and whatever else they can salvage from last year’s group. And while Olave has been excellent as a pro, he’s better suited as a WR2 to an elite WR1 than the guy who has to lead things.
New York Jets
Sign Justin Fields
There isn’t an easy answer at quarterback for the Jets this offseason. They need to get out of the Aaron Rodgers business, only they are too dysfunctional and pick too late to get a sure starter in the draft. Tyrod Taylor can (probably) be a bridge quarterback, but Fields is (probably) a better one. Go with Fields, build up the line, and make this a run-first offense.
Draft Josh Simmons (1.07)
In the mocks I’ve seen, the Jets have mostly been linked to defensive players at 7 overall, but give them Simmons, who just anchored the line of the national champions, and he can start building the outside of this line, which is losing both tackles (Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses) to free agency.
Trade Garrett Wilson to the Packers for 2.54, 3.87 and a 2026 second-rounder
Trade Davante Adams to the Steelers for 3.83
Getting Fields (with Taylor as backup) would signal a shift to a run-first (run-only?) offense, and both receivers are likely to want no part of it. The Jets — who aren’t likely to compete in 2025 no matter what they do — can instead look to their next good team by getting a host of picks for these two stars. Getting two more picks in the first two days would jump-start a rebuild that could kick into overdrive with a quarterback in 2026.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Re-sign Russell Wilson
Like many teams in this exercise, there isn’t a perfect solution for the Steelers at quarterback this offseason. Unlike many teams in this exercise, they (a) have at least seen what they have in one of the options, and (b) they have a defense that is more or less in its window. Maybe you aren’t excited about another year or more on the Russell Wilson trade, but he keeps the window open. Especially if you improve his weaponry…
Trade George Pickens to the Raiders for 3.68
Trade 3.83 to the Jets for Davante Adams
The Steelers need to get out of the George Pickens business, but they desperately need to remain in the “have good receivers” business. This pair of moves would let them improve at WR1 while also moving up 16 spots in the draft, owing to Pickens being 23 and Adams being 32. It wouldn’t push open the window in Pittsburgh for a long time, but it would maximize 2025. For the longer look, we go to…
Draft RB Omarion Hampton (1.21)
The Steelers are watching their last first-round running back leave in free agency this offseason after declining his fifth-year option, as the Najee Harris pick from 2021 didn’t really work out. But Hampton is a better back than Harris was entering the NFL, and he’s capable of being the bell cow if running mate Jaylen Warren misses time. Hampton could be the RB1 in Pittsburgh for five-plus years.
Tennessee Titans
Draft QB Cam Ward (1.01)
Is Cam Ward the quality of a typical overall No. 1 pick? Probably not. Is he good enough to warrant moving on from Will Levis when you’re not guaranteed to pick first again anytime soon? Yep. Ward would get a long leash in Tennessee with a coaching staff and front office that can’t afford to get it wrong.
Sign Chris Godwin
When Godwin broke out in 2018, it made the prior Buccaneers’ slot receiver, Adam Humphries, expendable, and he left Tampa to take on a similar role in Tennessee. While things didn’t really work out for Humphries (he had 602 yards in two years as a Titan), history could repeat itself here, where the Titans have a big need for a slot receiver. Tyler Boyd filled the role last year — per the FTN Fantasy StatsHub, he ran 82.2% of his routes out of the slot last year (most in the league among qualified receivers), and it resulted in only 390 scoreless yards. Assuming Godwin is healthy after his 2024 injury, he and Calvin Ridley could form an elite 1-2 punch.
