With rosters continuing to take shape as we move closer to the start of training camp, it's clear that the 2025 NFL season could be a career-defining campaign for certain players.
Some are clinging to past glory, while others are out to prove they're worth big-time money in 2026 and beyond.
Below, I've identified 17 of the most prominent players who must deliver in 2025.
Mark Andrews Baltimore Ravens · TE
With Andrews entering the final year of his contract after surviving an offseason of uncertainty , now is the time for the 29-year-old to give the team overwhelming evidence that it should retain him beyond 2025. From a roster-building perspective, it might make more sense for Baltimore to invest in the younger TE Isaiah Likely , whom head coach John Harbaugh is expecting