Sliding Door 2025 NFL Storylines To Watch Unfold This Season

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Before Week 1 kicks off and all that's left in our memories of what was possible is just what actually happened, I'd like to propose some of the more interesting storylines I'm excited to watch play out. And why not, throw in my take on which door history will chose. There's a few that fascinate me from a quasi-scientific perspective and we start with one that seems like was a straight up experiment from the football gods.

Is Caleb Williams any good or what? 

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I did a stand alone blog on this so I'll keep it short here, but we have what people believed to be the best prospect since Andrew Luck get placed on a team with perhaps the literal worst NFL coach in history with an OC of the same stature. That was the situation in 2024. 

Let's call this the control group. 

Now let's place Williams with the best coaching prospect since… I didn't know… Kyle Shanahan? And ditto for OC since he's the same person (yes I know the Bears OC is actually Declan Doyle, but is it really?? Easiest job in America right now) 

I can't remember anything close to this switch of fate from one year to the next. Let's not forget an absolute overhaul at offensive line as well. Here's my take on what I think we'll happen. Hypothesis if you will. Caleb is going to break out and we're going to look back and say, "of yeah, duh of course he did! Best prospect in years with best coach in years. Everyone knew that was going to work".

That doesn't mean he isn't going to have issues too. He'll take some bad sacks waiting for something to develop or miss some reads. But the talent and coaching behind him are going to make up for it. Maybe they get boxed out of the Playoffs being in the toughest division by a mile, but Chicago let me tell you this…

Get ready to learn 4,000 yards passing, buddies.

Is Calvin Ridley washed or about to be freed from quarterback incompetence?

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Someone's got to bet on Calvin Ridley, so it may as well be me. I mean it can't be him. Again. I feel like he's just been a forgotten man. Once the best wide receiver in fantasy football, now a popular value pick. 

I'll take a stand on this issue as well. I think he's still got it. The route running seems to still be there. And there's no one else in Tennessee worthy of much competition. The fact of the matter is Will Levis erased Ridley from the NFL conversation. An impressive trick, really. If Cam Ward is any bit as good as a #1 overall pick usually is, I think we're about to hear some daytime "Is Calvin Ridley a top receiver again?" takes. The answer is yes, guys. 

Will Trevor Lawrence (re)take that next step?

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I heard Aaron Schatz talk about Lawrence needing to take that next step again after initially taking it, then taking a step back. Dude is out there line dancing leaving everyone confused if he's any good. But now he has a hotshot offensive mind helping him too and a brand new #2 overall pick receiver. And defender too, I guess. 

This one I don't really see happening. Lawrence couldn't find Calvin Ridley when he was there and if I'm going to stand up for Calvin, I have to fade Trevor. I think we'll probably have some four touchdown games that get fans excited, but there's going to be too many duds overlapping. Same old story.

Is Dan Campbell a good coach or just the Wizard behind the curtain?

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Remember when Dan Campbell was hired, went on some meathead spiel about biting off knee caps in his opening presser and everyone in the media was like "hey, he's a meathead, he won't be a good coach".

There might still be a chance the media was right. 

Think about this. The Lions went 3-13 his first year in 2021. The same old Lions who were actually just a touch better the year before (5-11). Then Ben Johnson showed up. They wouldn't have a losing season again through three years later. What if Dan Campbell is just the "RAH-RAH" guy without the brains backing him up anymore?

I'll take a stab here too. I think the anti-meathead media might have been right all along here. Dan Campbell is great at a lot of things a head coach needs to be. But if he's not part of the operating system of either side of the ball, then the fate of the Lions is going to be in the play sheet of John Morton.

George Pickens will rank #2 in the all time Mike Tomlin Tree of Cancerous Wide Receiver Fruit

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No one is topping AB. Let's get that out of the way. He's in a tier of his own. But so is George Pickens right behind him. Who could have seen that coming?

It's like Tomlin looks for these people on purpose. Pickens makes me want to trust Chase Claypool as my power of attorney in comparison. Nuts is nuts. And this man is nuts. And now he's been released from Shutter Island, Pennsylvania to see if he can behave like a real person without the craze ball master, Mike Tomlin, to shepherd him around. Instead - he gets the guidance of one Jerry Jones (speaking of power of attorneys). 

This will be fun to watch. I think. Or a colossal train wreck. Good luck Dallas. Lord knows y'all need some.

JJ McCarthy is in a very unfair position

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I was thinking about this. Everyone is excited to see if JJ McCarthy is good since he never stepped foot on the field in his rookie year and yet walks into a team that went 14-3. But even if he looks good. How do we really know? How do we know if he's good or if Kevin O'Connell is just a true QB whisperer? And it's all Sam Darnold's fault. 

Here's how I see it. One of four outcomes is possible. Just one. 

A - Darnold sucks and McCarthy sucks = (sucks)

B - Darnold is good and McCarthy sucks = sucks

C - Darnold sucks again and McCarthy is good = (we don't know and may never know)

D - Darnold is good and McCarthy is good = good

Only choice D means McCarthy is good. Don't blame me. I don't make the rules. Oh, I did? Well blame my power of attorney then. But we got Sam Darnold out in Seattle trying to prove he can play without being under O'Connell's Limitless aura. This matters because if he sucks at all, then we know it was all McConnell. Therefore, even if JJ plays well, there's no way to know if it's because he's any good. That's just a fact. 

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So JJ has to root for Darnold this year. That's the only way anyone can ever figure out if he'll be good in Minnesota. 

What's my take on this one? Well, I'll put it to you this way. I didn't make a "Will Sam Darnold be good or not?" segment of this blog. I think we already know…

@Stathole