Every team in the league is going into the year with very high hopes. For the NFC, it’s all about challenging the defending champs in Philly. For NFC teams to make the playoffs and challenge the Eagles, they’ll need to fire on all cylinders. Here is one player from each team that could be a sneaky X-factor in their team making a deep playoff run or achieving their goals in 2025. I’ll go through each team and division one by one and identify an X-factor for their 2025 campaign.
Los Angeles Rams: Davante Adams, WR
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who have been following the Rams’ offseason. Seeing Davante in a number other than 17 is kinda strange, but he seems to be taking to it based on the necklace. Not only is he giving up 17 to Puka Nacua, but he is also giving up his normal spot as a #1 WR. The coverage will probably slant towards Puka, giving Davante some nice 1-on-1’s. If Davante can adjust to this role and capitalize on his opportunities, he will help the Rams’ offense thrive.
Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT
Not exactly an X-factor to want contributions out of your first-round pick, but Nolen is especially key to the Cards’ success. They had one of the worst rush defenses in the league (ranked 22nd) and their pass defense was just barely top half (14th). Nolen will be the new anchor of their defensive line and if he can improve the run defense, they can make the playoffs and have a great 2025. While we also need to see more consistency from Kyler and MHJ, that’s obvious. Nolen will have a slightly subtler but just as important impact on the Cardinals’ success in 2025.
San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall, WR
What happened to Ricky at the beginning of last season was awful, and no one is to blame for the impact that it had on his year. Ricky and the 49ers generally had a year from hell, much of which was due to off-the-field factors they couldn’t control. However, the roster is still aging, especially on the offensive side. Besides Brock Purdy and backup RB Isaac Guerendo, Ricky Pearsall is the only young player on the offense. With both Aiyuk and CMC coming back from injury, it’s unclear how much of the offensive burden Ricky will have to shoulder. Long term, he’s the future of the 9er’s weapons. But if he can break out early this year and help Purdy earn all that money, it could set the 49ers up for success this year.
Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold, QB
Picking the quarterback is kind of cheating, as their impact on the team is always outsized. But I think in this case it’s the only right answer. They’re embarking on a huge experiment with Darnold. If he can reproduce the success he had last year in Minnesota (easier said than done), he will be an incredible leader for this team. The surroundings aren’t quite as good, but they do have a talented #1 in JSN, a reliable vet in Cooper Kupp, and two talented young backs. He has some of the weapons he had in Minnesota, but nothing on the level of Justin Jefferson and Kevin O’Connells scheme. I’m rooting for him as a USC Trojan, and I hope he can revitalize his career a la Baker or the previous Seahawks QB, Geno Smith.
Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker/James Pearce Jr, EDGE
Okay, I’m cheating here by picking two players, but just like the Falcons did, I’m doubling up on pass rush. We all know the Falcons’ pass rush has been one of the worst in the league for a while. They knew this, and that’s why they spent all this draft capital to beef it up. If these guys improve that unit from Day 1, it will have been worth the picks. We know the Falcons offense is stacked, and if Penix can maintain the momentum he had last year, they’ll be fine. The defense’s improvement is the most important thing for the Falcons, and these two rookies are the key. The Falcons traded with the Rams for these picks, and they’ll need a Jared Verse/Braden Fiske-esque impact to make it worth their while.
New Orleans Saints: Kelvin Banks Jr, OT
Another rookie who needs to start strong to help the Saints succeed this year. The Saints will either start rookie Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler, neither of whom is super exciting. However, keeping them upright will be the only path to success for the Saints’ offense and new head coach Kellen Moore. Banks will probably play tackle in year one and take some load off Trevor Penning. Even if he has to flex to guard, it still improves the Saints’ line and will be key to starting the Kellen Moore era off right.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vita Vea, DT
Big V has been the anchor of the Bucs D for a long time, and they’ll need a few more great years out of him to be competitive. I chose him to stand in for the Bucs defense in general, which is aging a bit. Antoine Winfield and Lavonte David will also have to continue to be ageless wonders if the Bucs are gonna make a run this year. But Vita is the spine the whole defense is built around, and he might be the most key to their success. I wish him the best of luck this year.
Carolina Panthers: Xavier Legette, WR
It’s a make-or-break year for Bryce Young, and he needs all the help they can get. They added Tet McMillan in the draft, and he will be a big focus for the offensive game plan. Legette will get more 1-on-1’s and open looks, and he needs to capitalize on them. He had an okay year last year with almost 500 yards and 4 touchdowns, but he should look to build on that and do much better this year. Bryce Young showed a lot of flashes, and he now has yet another great receiver to throw to. Legette needs to establish himself as a solid #2 option to bolster the Panthers’ offense.
Detroit Lions: Graham Glasgow, C
After a disappointing one-and-done in the 2024 playoffs, the Lions lost a lot in the offseason. After the departure of both coordinators to head coaching positions, it was just announced that Frank Ragnow, their 4-time Pro Bowl center, has just retired. Graham Glasgow has huge shoes to fill as he steps up to the center position. After losing Ben Johnson, it’s unclear how good the Lions’ offense will remain. Anchoring one of the best O-Lines in the league is not an easy job, but if Glasgow can do it the Lions can make another deep playoff run.
Green Bay Packers: Romeo Doubs, or Jaydin Reed, or Christian Watson, WR
Yup, here I go cheating again. But it’s kind of hard to talk about one of these receivers without talking about the other two. They’ve all had mixed results in their short careers, and none of them have stepped up as Jordan Love’s clear #1. That’s probably why the Packers drafted Matthew Golden in the first round to take up that #1 mantle. So now it’s up to one or more of these three young receivers to step up as the #2. Whichever one does will not only help the Packers offense succeed, but likely earn themselves a ton of money in their second contract. It will be fun to see these guys compete and work together in 2025, and I’m curious to see who steps up to the plate.
Minnesota Vikings: Christian Darrisaw, LT
Christian Darrisaw suffered a season-ending injury in Week 8 of 2024. He should be healthy to return to the Vikings in Week 1, but he’s returning to a brand-new offensive line. The Vikings nabbed center Ryan Kelly and Will Fries from the Colts in the offseason, and they drafted G Donovan Jackson in the first round. This is a brand new O-Line room, and it will be up to Darrisaw to set the tone of the Vikings’ O-Line and mesh the new additions into a strong unit. He just signed a huge extension, he’s their cornerstone left tackle, and if he gets this group together to play to its potential, the Vikings can make a deep run (assuming the JJ McCarthy question is answered in the affirmative).
Chicago Bears: Joe Thuney, G
Another guy who has to step up and anchor this new Bears O-Line. We all know their protection struggled mightily in 2024, and they brought in Joe alongside center Drew Dalman and guard Jonah Jackson to improve on that. Thuney is a three-time Super Bowl Champ and easily one of the best protectors in the league. We saw him play left tackle just to bolster the Chiefs’ struggling O-Line. He shouldn’t have to move positions, but he does need to bring his veteran and playoff expertise to help the Bears go on a run this year.
Dallas Cowboys: Javonte Williams, RB
The Cowboys went out and got new running backs in the offseason, and Javonte is currently listed at #1 in the depth chart. The numbers are clear with Dak; he needs a strong run game to succeed. Williams is new head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s best option to establish the run. After losing Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle to free agency the past two years, at least this year they picked up some replacements. If Williams (and Miles Sander) can help the Boys establish the run, it should help Dak be able to get the ball to their brand new WR duo. An explosive Cowboys offense could get them right back to where they were when they were winning 12 games 3 years running.
Washington Commanders: Laremy Tunsil, LT
Tunsil was one of the biggest pickups for the Commanders this year, and he will be key to the offense’s success this year. Jayden Daniels shined last season, and we all expect him to build on that this year. Having a strong veteran to anchor their offensive line will be hugely helpful to Jayden’s development. If Tunsil plays at the high level he’s maintained for his whole career, even as he gets older, he will be a perfect protector for Jayden for years to come. Perhaps they can even repeat the NFC Championship run with their bolstered offense.
New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR
It’s not clear who exactly will be the Giants’ starting QB in Week 1, I know exactly who they’ll be looking for when they drop back. Nabers had an insane rookie season even catching passes from Daniel Jones and Tommy DeVito, and Russ, Jameis, and Jaxson Dart can’t possibly be worse than that. If Nabers doesn’t have a great 2025, it’s a blaring alarm bell for the Giants and probably means some folks will be losing their jobs. But if Nabers can keep the Giants offense pumping, their defensive line could be very scary and they will not be an easy out.
Philadelphia Eagles: Saquon Barkley, RB
Saquon is coming off arguably the best running back season of all time, and certainly the best playoff RB season. If he can prove that wasn’t just a fluke and run it back, the Eagles could be on the way to defending their title. This hurdle will be on the cover of Madden, and if Saquon avoids the Madden curse and puts more incredible runs on tape, the Eagles will be very scary to play.
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