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Sam Darnold is prepared to mentor new rookie QB Jalen Milroe<\/p>\n
Seattle’s new quarterback Sam Darnold will have a chance to become a veteran mentor to his new teammate and rookie QB Jalen Milroe.<\/p>\n
Sports Seriously<\/p>\n
Editor’s note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps.<\/p>\n
There was the discussion about things that could go wrong in the NFL in 2025,<\/a> so it’s only fair to be more positive, because we are all laughs and giggles in these parts. So we need to discuss what we think will go right.<\/p>\n As is often the case with the NFL, there’s a lot, including the league doing what it does best: make a lot of money.<\/p>\n 5. Quarterbacking<\/p>\n No, we’re not in the stratospheric time of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Those two were so historic, they form their own era.<\/p>\n So, it’s not that big, but this moment in NFL quarterback time is still really impressive. The depth of the great players at the position is near the best we’ve ever seen, if not at the tippy of that top. Start with Patrick Mahomes.<\/a> Go to Lamar Jackson.<\/a> Then Josh Allen.<\/a> Throw in Joe Burrow.<\/a> Look at those names. That first one will go into the Hall of Fame. The next one is well on his way. The other two aren’t far behind. We haven’t even talked about Jalen Hurts<\/a> yet.<\/p>\n There’s Jayden Daniels from Washington and watch out for nuclear growth from Denver’s Bo Nix.<\/p>\n And I have shown massive disrespect to players like Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford by mentioning them so low.<\/p>\n But you get the point. We saw some great quarterback play last year and could see even better in 2025.<\/p>\n 4. Ratings<\/p>\n There was a small dip<\/a> in the ratings last season but who are we kidding. The NFL remains the biggest, baddest monster on the television block. It will likely be that way for years, if not decades. We are all NFL addicts.<\/p>\n I haven’t felt this confident (barring injury) about a team’s chances of repeating as Super Bowl champions (barring injury) since Jimmy Johnson’s Dallas Cowboys<\/a> won their first one. So (barring injury) I love the Eagles’ chances.<\/p>\n Why? The main reason is that Hurts is a vastly underrated player. Not just quarterback. Player. Because Hurts has such a low-key demeanor (and many in the media demand their quarterbacks to be boisterous) he gets shorted.<\/p>\n Also, the “tush push”<\/a> is returning. It will still be unstoppable, maybe like the Eagles.<\/p>\n 2. Sean Payton<\/p>\n This will sound crazy (not the first time) but it wouldn’t stun me if the Broncos made a serious Super Bowl run in 2025.<\/a> Payton has his Drew Brees in Nix and when Payton has that, he is extremely formidable.<\/p>\n Told you this was crazy (not the second time, either). But the Broncos<\/a> have many of the elements to make such a push. Most of all, they have Payton.<\/p>\n 1. The 18-game season<\/p>\n Wait, there is no 18-game season in 2025, you goober.<\/p>\n No, but there’s a steady march to one, and this season will further push the league towards that goal. This season will again see tons of ratings and good play on the field. We’ll see it all and the desire for the NF$ to make even more cash will grow. The best way for the league to do that is go to 18 games. So that talk will continue.<\/p>\n