The basement can be a cold, dark and lonely place that is also forgotten. Luckily for theNFL teamsstuck at the bottom, they are given the opportunity to move up. They are awarded a higher draft pick and sometimes have more money to spend thanks to a roster that isn't loaded with as much talent. They are given an easier schedule, on paper, since they match up against other last-place teams. TheNFLwants those teams to compete. After all, it's good for business. For the first time since 2019, an NFL team didn't go from worst to first in 2024. Here is our ranking of the last-place finishers from 2024 and how likely they are to accomplish that feat in 2025. The bottom of the list is a crowded place of mediocrity. While theGiantscould easily surprise – and they certainly have the talent for it – the path to winning the NFC East is about as tough as it gets this year. Barring something catastrophic to one of the three teams in front of them, it seems almost impossible that the Giants get out of the basement in 2025. Already armed with the toughest schedule, perSharp Football Analysis, there are far more questions than answers for Big Blue. Will Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen last through the season? WillRussell Wilsonbe the starting quarterback or willJaxson Darttake over at some point? There are reasons for Giants fans to be optimistic given their young core. That doesn't mean they're ready to get through thePhiladelphia Eagles,Washington CommandersandDallas Cowboys. Cleveland was close to stealing the bottom spot from New York here, but wins out in a division that has a little more uncertainty. Outside ofLamar Jacksonand theBaltimore Ravens, the AFC North is littered with questions. What willAaron Rodgersbring to the Pittsburgh Steelers? Can theCincinnati Bengalsfinally figure it out? TheBrownshave a roster that requires plenty of work before they can truly make some noise. However, a young running back room andMyles Garrettwreaking havoc on defense could be the recipe for controlling the clock and stealing some wins. Still, don't hold your breath. Pete Carroll andGeno Smithare bringing a piece of Seattle with them to the desert, yet they face an uphill climb in a loaded AFC West.Ashton Jeantycan easily transform an offense that also featuresBrock Bowers, but to expect the four-win Raiders to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs while leapfrogging the Los Angeles Chargers andDenver Broncosis a bridge too far. The schedule is also unforgiving with matchups against the NFC East on tap, so don't expect a soft launch for the silver-and-black. Vegas is trending up, but not up enough. New Orleans might be one of the worst teams in the NFL next season, which should've put them closer to the bottom of this list. However, they benefit from playing in the NFC South – a division that is far from a juggernaut. Barring a surprising rookie year fromTyler Shough, theSaintswill likely finish in the same spot next year. There is talent on this team though. The offense still featuresAlvin Kamaraand a solid trio of receivers withChris Olave,Rashid ShaheedandBrandin Cooks. With Kellen Moore taking over the head coaching job, perhaps he can get the Saints on the right path. Bottom line, unless the rest of the division falls apart, they won't be NFC South champions this year. What should we make ofCam Ward? He's flown under the radar throughout the draft and the offseason, quietly working in the shadows ahead of his rookie season. All eyes have instead been onShedeur Sanderswith the Browns, allowing Ward that freedom to be shielded from the media spotlight. And just like the NFC South, the AFC's version won't be flush with wins in 2025.C.J. Stroudis already dealing with a shoulder injury in Houston and nowAnthony Richardsonis battling Daniel Jones for the starting quarterback job in Indianapolis.. That leavesTrevor Lawrencein Jacksonville, who is coming off a shoulder injury that ended his 2024 season. Ward will hope to avoid that trend amongst AFC South quarterbacks. His Titans might not possess the talent to compete with those other teams on paper, but the door is open if things break right and the rookie performs as advertised in Tennessee. Jerod Mayo is out and Mike Vrabel is in as the Patriots look to author a new chapter in 2025. The first season in the post-Bill Belichick era was certainly a culture shock in the New England area, but it didn't come without hope for the future. WhileJacoby Brissettenjoyed the starting quarterback spot for longer than he should've,Drake Mayeproved that there is reason to believe in the young signal caller. Now with Vrabel taking over to stabilize a young squad, the Patriots are ready to turn the corner after a short stay in NFL irrelevance. A lot would have to go right for the Patriots to dethrone the Buffalo Bills, but this crop of last-place finishers doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence heading into 2025. The Patriots feel like they're a year away from being competitive. Perhaps we'll be saying they were right on time if things break right. If you want to be technical, thePanthersfinished third in the NFC South. However, they did tie with the Saints for last place at 5-12 and that qualifies them for this list. Another year of improvement fromBryce Youngand a second season under Dave Canales is more than enough to give the Panthers a chance in what profiles as a weak division. That weak division can lead to some shocking results, especially if Carolina's young core takes a big step forward. The defense may hold them back, but we aren't ready to rule out some funny business in the southern states. TheBearshave rid themselves of a disastrous coaching staff and loaded up on talent, hoping that better days lie ahead. Ben Johnson has seemingly pushed all the right buttons in the Windy City since being hired as the head coach and he's the reason why the Bears could take a drastic leap forward in 2025. His hiring weakened the division rivalDetroit Lionsas the revolving door keeps turning out of the Motor City. The Lions are poised for a step back next season and theMinnesota Vikingsare featuringJ.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury. TheGreen Bay Packersare consistent, but the Bears were 5-12 as a dumpster fire last season. It won't take a 10-win improvement to catch this year's Lions and talent hasn't been the question in Chicago. A second-year leap fromCaleb Williamscould be all it takes to put the Bears back in the conversation as NFC North contenders. Injuries and more derailed the 49ers in 2024, but they are back and loaded for another potential postseason run.Brock Purdy got his contract extension,George Kittle was also taken care ofand Robert Saleh has returned as defensive coordinator. In many ways, San Francisco is getting the band back together and this team will go as far asChristian McCaffreytakes them. Concerns surrounding his injuries can easily hold them back, but it's easy to forget that they were a Super Bowl runner-up two years ago. Outside of the Los Angeles Rams, the competition in the division remains uninspiring. After finishing in last place at 6-10 in the NFC West, San Francisco not only has the easiest schedule in the league, but they also stand the best chance of flipping the script in 2025. All the NFL news on and off the field.Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ranking teams that could go worst to first in 2025 NFL standings