With the end of the NFL season upon us, many fans and franchises are already counting down the days until next September.
While this season may not have been the year for most organizations there are still plenty of reasons to be positive ahead of the 2023 NFL season.
Here, DailyMail.com analyzes which teams have much to be positive heading into the next campaign.
While it would be easy to pick all of the frontrunners in both the AFC and NFC, most of the following selections are franchises ready to take their next step – whether it’s from the basement to the pack, or beyond.
There are still plenty of reasons to be positive ahead of the 2023 NFL season for several teams
Detroit Lions
2022 Record: 9-8
Wins: WAS, GB x2, CHI x2, NYG, JAX, MIN, NYJ
Losses: PHI, MIN, SEA, NE, DAL, MIA, BUF, CAR
The Detroit Lions have been one of the most dangerous teams down the stretch this season
Detroit looked like it would be enduring another painful season through seven weeks with a 1-6 record. Though if you watched closely, the Lions were far better than a one-win team, competitive in almost every game aside from a 29-0 shutout at New England and an ultimately crushing 37-23 loss at Carolina.
Dan Campbell’s men roared to eight wins in the regular season’s final 10 weeks. The Motown franchise finished the year playing with a determination and spirit that should scare most of the NFC come September.
Irrespective of their narrow playoff miss, Detroit has immense reason for confidence given the play of Jared Goff, a strong run game and an emerging defensive front headed by No. 2 overall pick Aiden Hutchinson.
Detroit has two first-round picks in the upcoming draft, including the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from LA via the Matthew Stafford trade, and their own 18th overall choice.
Add to that, two second-round picks to go with another five later in the draft and Detroit should be one for all the league to watch this offseason.
While under pressure earlier this season, Dan Campbell has restored faith in his vision for DET
Jacksonville Jaguars
2022 Record: 9-8
Wins: IND, LAC, LV, BAL, TEN x2, DAL, NYJ, HOU
Losses: WAS, PHI, HOU, IND, NYG, DEN, KC, DET
Trevor Lawrence has shown why he was one of the most-coveted draft picks of this generation
While the AFC South is one of the more unfashionable divisions in football, the Jaguars are going some way to changing it.
Jacksonville could not be happier with their ascension from the NFL’s worst record last season to a playoff team.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has come into his own and has torched defenses since Week 9, throwing 15 touchdowns to two interceptions. Those incredible statistics came against respectable opposition, including Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, New York (Jets) and Tennessee.
Buried on the national television schedule, Jacksonville are a versatile roster with a variety of rushing and receiving. Don’t forget, Pro Bowl receiver Calvin Ridley will be a likely addition to Lawrence’s arsenal next season too.
The Jags’ defense is by no means formidable, but with eight picks in the upcoming draft, a scintillating offense and six wins in seven, hope should be plentiful.
Super Bowl winning coach Doug Pederson has built an immense spirit and grit in Jacksonville
Seattle Seahawks
2022 Record: 9-8
Wins: DEN, DET, AZ, LAC, NYG, AZ, LAR x2, NYJ
Losses: SF, ATL, NO, TB, LV, CAR, SF, KC
SEA were expected to be a basement team, but Pete Carroll has inspired a rapid renaissance
This was expected to be a bottoming-out year for the Seahawks after trading Russell Wilson this offseason.
Yet through sensational drafting and the renaissance of Geno Smith, Seattle has produced a season in which no one outside Lumen Field expected.
While Seattle have lost two of its last four, back-to-back wins confirmed a postseason berth – earning a trip to Santa Clara to face NFC West rivals, San Francisco.
Its future looks as prosperous as almost any other up-and-coming team in the NFL. Smith is a free agent this offseason and while it is likely he remains in the Pacific Northwest, the Seahawks would do well to avoid a bidding war.
Thanks to its trade with Denver, Seattle are positioned to have a war chest ahead of the Draft.
This includes the Broncos’ fifth, its own 18th pick plus seven more picks beyond that.
Given the likes of Tariq Woolen, Charles Cross, Kenneth Walker III, Coby Bryant and D.K. Metcalf arriving in recent drafts, the 12s have reason for glee.
Geno Smith’s impressive play has been integral to Seattle’s ascent to be an NFC playoff team
New York Jets
2022 Record: 7-10
Wins: CLE, PIT, MIA, GB, DEN, BUF, CHI
Losses: BAL, CIN, NE, NE, MIN, BUF, DET, JAX, SEA, MIA
Quinnen Williams (C) and the New York Jets defense have been a revelation this NFL season
The New York Jets had emerged as somewhat of a surprise threat in the AFC East for most of this season thanks to a fearmongering defense.
While the season ended with a characteristic whimper, to the tune of six straight losses, New York seems to be a select few pieces short of a serious run at the playoffs.
Already this season they have taken care of the Buffalo Bills and came close to doing so again at Orchard Park despite quasi-starting quarterback Mike White almost being broken in half.
Granted, Josh Allen and Co. aside, the Jets have not beaten a team of note – Miami had third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson at the time – and cost themselves a postseason place with poor quarterback play vs. New England and down the stretch.
While New York is estimated to have just $16million in cap space next year per Spotrac, they may – and should – attempt to upgrade at the quarterback position.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Derek Carr, Geno Smith and dare we say, Tom Brady and Lamar Jackson, could all be on the free agent market. That is, if the franchise decides to go into a direction beyond Mike White and Zach Wilson.
With numerous quarterbacks imminently on the market, Zach Wilson’s looks on thin ice
New York Giants
2022 record: 9-7-1
Wins: TEN, CAR, CHI, GB, BAL, JAX, HOU, WAS, IND
Losses: DAL, SEA, DET, DAL, MIN, PHI x2
Tie: WAS
In a contract year, Daniel Jones has shown to be a stable force for the usually turbulent NYG
While perhaps not possessing the overall roster and star-power as its cross-town rival, the Giants surpassed their local rivals, the New York Jets, both in record and season progress.
Big Blue’s appearance in the playoffs is an incredible feat in Brian Daboll’s first season at the helm, given its previous cellar-dwelling years.
New York may have struggled against its rivals in Dallas and Philadelphia, but quarterback Daniel Jones has often had little-to-nothing to work with; a skill position group usually reserved for practice squads.
While he and Saquon Barkley are out of contract at the end of this season, and will need to be adequately compensated to stay, New York has the third most salary cap space next season, estimated to have $58m spare.
Offensive line has constantly been a problem point, but has drastically improved this year – evidenced in the Giants’ fourth-rated rush offense. While Wink Martindale has transformed its defense with fire, grit and a pass rush which could trouble the NFC in the playoffs.
With a united culture already established, and the habit of winning already starting to occur, New York could be a much bigger threat next season with a broader supporting cast for Jones.
Another year of development for promising youngsters like rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Xavier McKinney, Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal should leave the G-Men in the position for another playoff push, and perhaps far more.
Rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux has become a game-wrecker in his rookie season down the stretch
Philadelphia Eagles
2022 Record: 14-3
Wins: DET, MIN, WAS, JAX, AZ, DAL, PIT, HOU, IND, GB, TEN, NYG, CHI
Losses: WAS, DAL, NO
Jalen Hurts has had a phenomenal season at QB for the soaring Philadelphia Eagles franchise
While it may seem too obvious – and counter-productive – to grant Philadelphia a place on this list, it is important to convey just how extraordinary its near future could look.
Sure, a similar argument could be made with other top-ranking teams such as the Chiefs, 49ers, Bengals and Bills, but it is noteworthy that the Eagles have a draft haul much like a last-placed franchise.
While they have only have six picks – two of which are seventh-rounders – a pair of firsts will go a long way to asserting Philly’s dominance over the NFC.
At the time of writing, the league’s No. 1 team has the No. 10 and 32nd overall pick. Philadelphia won’t have a ton of cap space for next season, but nor is it overly needed for a 14-3 franchise.
Despite a difficult division, and the likelihood of all three NFC East opponents improving again next season, Philadelphia have more than enough to survive the looming onslaught.
With Jalen Hurts a candidate for league MVP, a No. 2 scoring offense, a No. 2 overall defense – first in passing – and overall excellence in each unit, the Eagles are here to stay.
Philadelphia’s secondary has been a strongpoint of a ferocious defense at each & every level
Chicago Bears
2022 record: 3-14
Wins: SF, HOU, NE
Losses: GB x2, NYG, MIN x2, WAS, DAL, MIA, DET x2, ATL, NYJ, GB, PHI
Justin Fields has led the way for Chicago and has been a force of nature in the running game
Hang on just a second. Chicago may have had the worst record in the National Football League, though there is reason to be positive.
The Bears traded away two of its foremost defensive stars to load up on draft picks and they suffered accordingly.
Though what they have done is secured the cornerstone piece of its future – and have the chance to do so again with the No. 1 overall pick.
An organization can only go so far without a consistently high-performer under center, just ask the New York Jets.
As the season has progressed, Justin Fields has come into his own, showcasing his devastating ability on the ground. Granted, he is 26th among his cohort for passing yards.
This season, he threw 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions is a troubling statistic but given the weaponry on offer for Fields, the numbers are understandable and by no means irreparable in seasons to come. Fields added eight rushing touchdowns.
Eight draft picks, potentially more if they trade out of No. 1, to work with also allow room for exponential grow in The Windy City.
While the record has been less than spectacular, the Bears were the best rushing attack in football. And by some distance, averaging 177.3 yards per game. Their spirit has not waned in spite of frequently disappointing results.
Five of its 11 losses came by less than a score — including a three-point loss to Miami, a one-point loss to in-form Detroit and a five-point defeat to Philadelphia. It may not be perfect, nor will it be next season, but Bears fans should have faith in next season being exponentially better.
The Chicago Bears have shown signs of great promise this season despite the lack of wins