Rich Eisen didn’t hold back when discussing how the Titans, Jaguars, Giants, Patriots, and Browns, the top five pick holders in 2025, could flip the league on its head. According to Eisen, three of these teams will break through and make the playoffs this season, continuing the NFL’s historic trend where roughly 50% of the playoff field turns over each year.
Rich Eisen Predicts Three Teams From Top Five Picks Will Make Playoffs
Starting with the Giants, Eisen emphasized that New York should start Jaxson Dart right away. Dart’s readiness and upside, in Eisen’s eyes, make him a strong candidate to energize an offense that badly needs it. The Giants’ faith in their rookie could be rewarded with a surprise playoff berth if he hits the ground running.
For the Browns, Eisen boldly predicted that Shedeur Sanders will start the most games at quarterback this season. Despite Cleveland initially trading up for Sanders and facing high expectations, Eisen suggested that Sanders’ dynamic playmaking could help the Browns remain competitive in a tough AFC North, especially with uncertainty surrounding Mike Tomlin’s Steelers as they gamble on waiting for Aaron Rodgers.
The Jaguars, however, are where Eisen sees the most promise. Jacksonville’s haul, which included standout prospects Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr., gives them explosive playmakers on both sides of the ball. Eisen pointed out that Jacksonville was competing for a top seed just two seasons ago, and with Cam Ward’s arrival, despite being overshadowed by the Sanders-Hunter buzz, the Jaguars are poised to return to playoff relevance.
Eisen even called selecting Ward a “franchise-altering move,” noting that many missed the significance because Ward’s post-selection interview was overlooked on live broadcasts.
While Eisen is bullish on three teams, he was cautious with the Patriots. Despite praising New England’s draft (particularly the addition of Will Campbell), he admitted that the Patriots’ path back to the playoffs could be more difficult, given how far they fell last year.
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Overall, Eisen’s analysis suggests that the 2025-26 NFL season could see major power shifts. Between young quarterbacks stepping into the spotlight and teams reloading with top talent, don’t be surprised if the playoff picture looks dramatically different come January.
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