The NFL season is 11 weeks in and the playoff picture is beginning to take shape. However, some struggling teams are already looking forward to the offseason. Five teams have just two wins through Week 11. Let’s take a quick look at each club, and assess their biggest need heading into the 2025 offseason.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9) – Head Coach
Doug Pederson is on his way out. It’s only a matter of time until the Jaguars decide to cut ties with the Super Bowl-winning coach. Pederson found instant success with the Jaguars in his first season with the team but has endured a 3-14 record over the last 17 games. The Jaguars don’t have a perfect roster, and their highly paid quarterback needs to be better, but the talent is evident on this team.
Through 11 games last year, this group was 8-3 and looked to be on its way to a second straight AFC South crown. Getting them back on track might not be as difficult as some bottom-dwelling teams as the Jaguars aren’t too far removed from being a good football team.
New York Giants (2-8) — Quarterback
There’s a case to be made that all five teams on this list need a new quarterback. However, the Giants might be the most desperate. They’re the furthest removed from competent QB play. Daniel Jones’ last string of good games was over two years ago. The team gave Jones 10 starts this season before pulling the plug.
Heading into next season, the Giants have a good coach, a No. 1 receiver in Malik Nabers, and a talented defense. More than anything, they need a QB who will step up and become the face and leader of this franchise. The Giants will pick a quarterback in April with their first pick, which they cannot afford to miss.
Las Vegas Raiders (2-8) — Offensive Play Caller
The Raiders need to address key areas of its roster. Quarterback is an obvious need and something they’ve had since Derek Carr was let go two seasons ago. There are rumors the team has tried to trade up in each of the past two drafts but to no avail. Rookie TE Brock Bowers is a building block offensively, but they need help at receiver and running back. Defensively, the team has taken a massive step back from where they finished last year. However, any potential roster changes won’t matter unless they get the right playcaller.
Raider fans saw this team struggle with a skill group that included Davante Adams, Darren Waller, Josh Jacobs, and Hunter Renfrow. The team hired Luke Getsy last offseason and fired him after nine games. HC Antonio Pierce and GM Tom Telesco need to nail the OC hire for this team to flourish.
Tennessee Titans (2-8) — Skill Players
Will Levis has shown flashes at QB, but the Titans have failed to build a competent offensive roster around any passer. This team has given away A.J. Brown, Derrick Henry, and DeAndre Hopkins. They spent high draft picks on RB Tyjae Spears and WR Treylon Burks who have been hurt and underwhelming. How Levis ends the season and where the Titans land in the draft could determine their desire to select a quarterback in the first round.
Most of the bad teams in the NFL need a QB and there isn’t an unlimited supply of first-round graded quarterbacks in the upcoming draft. Ultimately, the Titans must build a better offensive ecosystem around whichever passer they decide to go with heading into 2025.
Cleveland Browns (2-8) — Organizational Buy-In
The Browns were done before the season even started. Utilizing Deshaun Watson as the team’s starting quarterback was never going to end well. He’s regressed as a player and isn’t capable of performing at the level that he did with the Houston Texans. It never seemed like the decision-makers in Cleveland were on the same page about the quarterback position. Rumors have circulated that HC Kevin Stefanski would have preferred a different option under center.
However, higher-ups in the organization opted for Watson who still has two years remaining on a massive deal. A season-ending injury ultimately ended Watson’s season, but the Browns were 1-6 by then. This roster is good enough to compete. Getting everybody in the building — players, coaches, and executives — in sync will be the top priority as the Browns attempt to claim a spot as an AFC playoff contender.
