Honestly, looking at an NFL depth chart in the middle of January feels a bit like trying to read tea leaves while someone is shaking the table. We’re sitting here in 2026, the playoffs are in full swing, and yet everyone is still obsessing over how the NFL depth charts 2025 actually shook out compared to what we expected back in August.
It was a weird year.
You’ve got teams like the Chicago Bears, who basically overhauled their entire offensive identity around Caleb Williams and a rookie class that actually lived up to the hype. Then you have the Pittsburgh Steelers, who decided that a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers was the missing piece to their puzzle. Spoiler: it sort of worked, until it didn't.
But if you’re trying to understand why certain teams fell off a cliff while others surged, you have to look past the "Starters" column. The real story is always in the "OR" designations and the guys who started the season on the practice squad.
The Rookie Takeover That Nobody Saw Coming
Every year, we talk about "impact rookies." Usually, that means a first-round wide receiver getting 800 yards. In 2025, it was different. We saw guys like Tetairoa McMillan in Carolina and Cam Ward in Tennessee not just "contributing" but literally carrying their depth charts.
McMillan wasn't just a starter; he became the focal point for Bryce Young, who finally looked like a real NFL quarterback. By Week 9, Young was back under center after a brief Andy Dalton stint, and the depth chart reflected a total shift toward McMillan and fellow rookie Xavier Legette. It’s rare to see a team's wide receiver room get younger and better at the same time, but Carolina pulled it off.
Then there’s the Tennessee Titans.
Cam Ward walked into that building as the No. 1 overall pick and never looked back. Most people thought it would be a "sit and learn" year behind a veteran bridge, but the depth chart on opening day told a different story. He had Elic Ayomanor, a fourth-round steal, listed as his WR2. That rookie-to-rookie connection became the backbone of Brian Callahan's offense. It’s a reminder that depth charts aren't static—they’re meritocracies, or at least they should be.
🔗 Read more: WWE Hall of Fame 2026: Why Stephanie McMahon and John Cena Are Changing Everything
Surprise Risers in the 2025 Season
- Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt (Commanders): This guy was a seventh-round pick. Nobody cared. Then the Commanders traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the 49ers, and suddenly Croskey-Merritt is fighting Austin Ekeler for touches. He started as RB4 and ended the year as a vital part of the rotation.
- Jaxson Dart (Giants): The Giants' QB room was a mess. Russell Wilson started, but Dart—a rookie—beat out Jameis Winston for the backup spot in camp. By December, Dart was the guy.
- Jonnu Smith (Steelers): Listed as a "co-starter" with Pat Freiermuth. It sounded like coach-speak, but Arthur Smith actually used them interchangeably in heavy sets all year long.
Why the "Backup" Label is Increasingly Meaningless
If 2025 taught us anything, it's that the "backup" label is kinda just for show in certain positions. Take the Jacksonville Jaguars’ backfield. Travis Etienne was the "starter," but Tank Bigsby and rookie Bhayshul Tuten basically turned it into a three-headed monster.
By the time we hit the mid-season mark, Tuten was actually getting the high-leverage goal-line carries. If you were just looking at the top line of the depth chart, you missed the fact that Etienne's snap share dropped to nearly 40%. The "starter" isn't always the guy who wins you games; sometimes he's just the guy who takes the first snap.
The same thing happened in Denver. Bo Nix had a revolving door of targets, but Evan Engram—who many thought was a "washed" release from Jacksonville—became the primary "Joker" in Sean Payton’s system. He was listed as a Tight End, but if you actually watched the tape, he was lining up in the slot, out wide, and even in the backfield.
The Rodgers Experiment and the Steelers' Defensive Depth
You can't talk about NFL depth charts 2025 without mentioning Pittsburgh.
They brought in Aaron Rodgers, which moved Justin Fields (who eventually left) and others down the rung. But the real depth was on the defensive side. They were rotating guys like D'Shawn Jamison and Jack Henderson off the practice squad into meaningful snaps during the Wild Card race.
Most teams' seasons end when their CB2 goes down. The Steelers just kept plugging in undrafted guys who had been marinating in their system. It’s a testament to why the "Bottom 53" of a roster matters just as much as the "Top 5."
The 2025 QB Carousel: A Final Look
As we stand here in January 2026, the quarterback landscape looks nothing like we predicted.
| Team | Week 1 Starter | Playoff/End-of-Season Starter |
|---|---|---|
| NY Giants | Russell Wilson | Jaxson Dart |
| Cleveland | Deshaun Watson | Shedeur Sanders |
| Las Vegas | Aidan O'Connell | Kenny Pickett |
| Miami | Tua Tagovailoa | Quinn Ewers |
It’s a brutal reminder of how quickly these charts move. Deshaun Watson's stint on the PUP list opened the door for a rookie revolution in Cleveland with Shedeur Sanders. Meanwhile, in Miami, the depth chart was basically rewritten in December when Quinn Ewers took the reigns.
Moving Forward: How to Read the 2026 Offseason Charts
If you’re looking at these lists to get a head start on 2026, don't just look for the big names.
First, check the contract status of the guys in the "Second String." A lot of the movement we saw in 2025 happened because teams were forced to play cheap rookies over expensive veterans who underperformed.
Second, watch the coaching changes. When Ben Johnson took over the Bears, he didn't care about "seniority." He put the best players on the field immediately, which is why Colston Loveland and Luther Burden saw so many targets right out of the gate.
Finally, pay attention to the "Inactive" and "IR" designations. Players like Christian McCaffrey and Kyler Murray spent significant time there in 2025, which fundamentally changed how their teams' depth charts operated. If a player is "Questionable" for three weeks straight, the guy behind him is effectively the starter. Stop waiting for the official announcement.
The 2025 season showed us that the paper version of a roster is just a suggestion. The real depth chart is written in sweat and injuries on Sunday afternoons.
Next Steps for Roster Analysis:
- Audit the "Out" and "IR" lists for playoff teams to see who actually stepped up in December—these are your 2026 sleepers.
- Cross-reference 2025 rookie snap counts against their depth chart position; many high-impact players like Oronde Gadsden (Chargers) finished with more targets than "starters."
- Monitor the coaching carousel specifically for teams like the Jets and Saints, where new schemes will likely trigger a total depth chart purge by March.