Which NFL teams will be next year's Patriots?

The New England Patriots took the NFL by storm in 2025, improving from four wins to 14 and making it all the way to Super Bowl LX.

But the work started last offseason.

New England nailed its head coaching hire with Mike Vrabel, after Jerod Mayo failed to be the successor to Bill Belichick.

The Patriots then brought in some big names to surround sophomore quarterback Drake Maye, such as Milton Williams, Stefon Diggs and TreVeyon Henderson.

This season proved that, Super Bowl champs or not, New England made all the right decisions.

With most fans’ eyes toward 2026, it’s time to start thinking about the big question. Who could be next year’s Patriots and take the big leap?

Here’s one team from each conference that could do so.

AFC: Tennessee Titans

When you look at the 2025 New England Patriots model, three things stand out: a quarterback entering his sophomore year, a good head coaching hire or staff, and resources to spend or improve.

The Tennessee Titans check all of those boxes.

While Robert Saleh may not be the best head coaching hire of the offseason, Tennessee nailed his offensive coordinator by bringing Brian Daboll in the building.

Cam Ward had an up-and-down rookie season, but showed plenty of flashes, posting 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

With Ward already in place at quarterback, the Titans will have the responsibility of building up the rest of the offense around Ward and receiver Elic Ayomanor, who impressed fans this season.

Luckily for them, they have the most cap space in the NFL with nearly $105 million to spend.

They also have the fourth overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft after going 3-14 in 2025.

It’s going to be an interesting but crucial offseason in Tennessee. If the Titans want to get back toward the top of the AFC hierarchy, GM Mike Borgonzi will have to get creative, just like Patriots’ GM Eliot Wolf did a year ago.

NFC: New York Giants

You can argue that the Giants are in just as good a position to improve, if not an even better one.

After a 4-13 season, which featured the firing of head coach Brian Daboll halfway through, the Giants hired the legendary John Harbaugh to be their next leader.

That aforementioned 4-13 season earned the Giants another top-five pick, fifth overall to be exact, but there’s still plenty to be excited about.

New York decided to trade back into the first round of last year’s draft and select Jaxson Dart, and that decision paid off. Dart threw for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He was also named a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Alongside Dart, the Giants have plenty of pieces on offense, such as Cam Skattebo, Malik Nabers (returning from injury), and Theo Johnson.

The defense is stacked as well, with names like Abdul Carter, Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence.

After down years from both the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders, the Philadelphia Eagles are the only true threat in the Giants’ way. Watch out for New York in 2026.

Adam Pietrzak is a fifth-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email app5940@psu.edu