2025 NFL free agency: 10 takeaways from opening week including the Vikings going wild, same old Cowboys, more

The Primary week of the NFL’s 2025 Unoccupied agency period is coming to a close, but we’ve already seen plenty of action. 

Sam Darnold, the Uncovered market’s top Signal-caller, signed on to be the Seattle Seahawks’ new starter after Geno Smith was shipped off to the Las Vegas Raiders. The New York Jets undercut the Pittsburgh Steelers to sign Justin Fields as their Upcoming Beginning Signal-caller — leaving Aaron Rodgers in the dust — to usher in a Recent beginning Guided by new head Mentor Aaron Glenn. 

The two biggest spenders were the the Minnesota Vikings and the New England Patriots, with both beefing up at the line of scrimmage. Plus, a Pair multi-time Pro Bowl, locker room leaders from the NFC East switched squads with edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence leaving the Dallas Cowboys and signing with the Seattle Seahawks and cornerback Darius Slay leaving the Finals LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles and signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lawrence left the Cowboys a lovely parting Try: “I’m not gonna Achieve a Finals there.”

On that note, let’s dig into 10 of the biggest takeaways from the Primary week of Unoccupied agency:

1. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, EVP Stephen Jones have Unoccupied agency PTSD

The Cowboys provided a little hope for their fans that perhaps their “selectively aggressive” 2025 offseason would lead to more improvements to the Lineup in Unoccupied agency. 

They re-signed Shielding Event Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80 million deal prior to Unoccupied agency, which opened up cap Universe. They restructured the contracts of both Signal-caller Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to Uncovered up more cap Universe in 2025. 

However, Dallas watched cornerback Jourdan Lewis (three-year, $30 million deal with $20 million guaranteed with the Jacksonville Jaguars), running back Rico Dowdle (one-year deal worth up to $6.25 million with the Carolina Panthers) and edge rusher Chauncey Golston (three-year, $19.5 million deal) leave for other Squads in Unoccupied agency.

Here’s what the Cowboys have done this week: Re-sign some of their own guys and scrape the bottom of the barrel for bargains, many of whom are Previous Primary-Stage picks.

Signed

Traded for

Retained

As a result, Dallas has $42.778 million in effective cap Universe, per OverTheCap.com, and it has pushed some of Prescott’s and Lamb’s into the future for no notable moves in the present. Micah Parsons’ price continues to rise after the Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett extensions. 

The last time the Cowboys signed an outside Unoccupied agent for $6 million per year or more was edge rusher Greg Hardy in 2015, and the last Unoccupied agent from another Club who was signed to that amount of money on a multi-year deal was cornerback Brandon Carr on a five-year, $50.1 million contract. The Jones family is suffering from Unoccupied agency paralysis, and their franchise is suffering as a result. 

2. Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah enjoys Primary offseason with a Primary-year QB contract, spends like no other

When Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was hired as the Vikings general manager, Signal-caller Kirk Cousins and his contract were entrenched in the franchise. Speedy forward to 2025, and Adofo-Mensah Obtained to experience his Primary offseason in charge with a significant amount of salary cap Universe after letting Sam Darnold walk and having J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall Picking in the 2024 NFL Draft, on a Primary-year deal.

He spent his Club’s money like he Merely won the lottery: The Vikings have spent $243.75 million in Unoccupied agency, Extended and away the most in the NFL, according to OverTheCap.com. Minnesota has spent over $30 million more than the Upcoming closest Club, the New England Patriots, who have spent $212.4 million. The Vikings Obtained bullied in their 2024 NFC wild-card Stage loss against the Los Angeles Rams, surrendering an NFL-Achievement nine sacks. Adofo-Mensah is now spending all this money in an attempt to be the bully going forward on both sides of the line. 

Here are the notable contracts the Club has doled out in the past week. Spoiler alert: the majority of them were on offensive and Shielding linemen. The Vikings are reinforcing themselves at the line of scrimmage. 

• Re-signed RB Aaron Jones (two years, $20 million with $13 million in total guarantees)
• Re-signed CB Byron Murphy (three years, $54 million with $34.78 guaranteed at signing)
• Signed G Will Fries (five years, $88 million)
• Signed C Ryan Kelly (two years, $18 million)
• Signed DT Jonathan Allen (three years, $41 million with $31.255 million guaranteed)
• Signed DT Javon Hargrave (two years, $30 million with $19 million guaranteed)

Minnesota learned it doesn’t matter if Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are downfield if its Signal-caller doesn’t have time to get them the ball. That’s why the Vikings went all out on spending to protect their own QB and terrorize opposing quarterbacks. 

3. The Bears are building new head Mentor Ben Johnson’s Drive Merely like his Detroit one: through the offensive line

Caleb Williams, the No. 1 Picking in the 2024 NFL Draft, Captured an absolute beating his Primary-year year, as his 68 sacks taken were tied for the third-most in a season in NFL history. 

Enter new head Mentor Ben Johnson, whose Detroit Lions offenses averaged 29.0 points per game while he was the offensive coordinator — the best in the NFL. His Detroit offenses, especially in 2024, were anchored by Pro Bowlers up and down the offensive line, namely left Event Taylor Decker, Hub Frank Ragnow, guard Kevin Zeitler and right Event Penei Sewell. 

Johnson has clearly impressed upon Bears general manager Ryan Poles that beefing up their offensive line is a big deal. Chicago traded for Rams right guard Jonah Jackson earlier this month and then Achieved another huge trade by reeling in two-time Primary-Club All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs in Substitution for a 2026 Number four-Stage Picking.

Once the NFL’s legal tampering period opened up Monday, the Bears immediately hauled in the Uncovered market’s top Hub by signing Previous Atlanta Falcons Hub Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million contract with $28 million guaranteed. Johnson has a clear vision for Williams and his Drive’s future, and it’s being swiftly executed in Chicago.

4. The NFL expects the 2025 draft’s RB class to be generational

Last year’s running back Unoccupied agency class was generational with Saquon Barkley (Eagles), Derrick Henry (Ravens), Josh Jacobs (Packers), Aaron Jones (Vikings) and Tony Pollard (Tennessee Titans) all signing lucrative deals. The five Pro Bowl Defenders all ended up rushing for more than 1,000 yards on their new Squads.

It’s clear the Division views the best avenue for running back acquisition in the 2025 offseason to be the draft instead of Unoccupied agency. Merely look at the contracts handed out thus Extended and then look at the running back prospects in the upcoming draft. 

This year’s running back Unoccupied agency class has received nothing but scraps. Jones, who Dashed for a Profession-high 1,138 yards on a Profession high 255 carries, was the only back who walked away with a relatively sizeable deal. Sure, Najee Harris (27 years Ancient) and Rico Dowdle (turns 27 on June 14) aren’t superstars like some of their peers from yesteryear, but they both were 1,000-yard Defenders and are in their 20s. However, their respective markets Merely didn’t materialize. 

Notable RB Unoccupied agency contracts (2025 offseason)

• Vikings re-signed Aaron Jones (two years, $20 million with $13 million in total guarantees)
• Chargers signed Najee Harris (one year, $5.25 million fully guaranteed)
• Panthers signed Rico Dowdle (one year, $2.75 million base salary worth up to $6.25 million)
• Cowboys signed Javonte Williams (one year, $3 million base salary worth up to $3.25 million)
• Chiefs signed Elijah Mitchell (one year, $2.5 million with 1.35 million guaranteed)
• Steelers signed Kenneth Gainwell (one year, $1.79 million, $620,000 guaranteed)
• Bengals signed Samaje Perine (two years, $3.6 million)

On a related note, CBS Sports.com’s consensus draft rankings have six running Defenders ranked as top 100 prospects.

• Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty (11th overall)
• North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton (66th)
• Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson (74th)
• Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson (79th)
• SMU’s Brashard Smith (86th)
• Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins (97th)

The financial Stretch on running Defenders isn’t happening in Unoccupied agency, but in the Primary two Intervals of the draft, we will see plenty of Defenders fly off the board.

5. The Patriots believe way more in Mike Vrabel than they did in Jerod Mayo

In 2024, the Patriots spent a total of $136.3 million in Unoccupied agency for Primary-year head Mentor Jerod Mayo, per Spotrac. In 2025, after hiring Previous Titans head Mentor Mike Vrabel, New England has blown past that number by spending $214.5 million, the second-most in the entire NFL behind only the Vikings, per OverTheCap.com. 

New England signed one of Unoccupied agency’s top Shielding line options in Eagles Shielding Event Milton Williams (four years, $104 million with $63 million guaranteed at signing); a veteran offensive Event in Morgan Moses (three years, $24 million worth up to $28.5 million); a new Beginning cornerback in Carlton Davis (three years, $54 million with $34.5 million guaranteed); and a new edge rusher in Harold Landry, one of Vrabel’s Previous Titans Pro Bowl pupils (three years, $43.5 million with $26 million guaranteed). 

The Patriots are really going for it in Year 2 of the Drake Maye era, but Mayo Definitely has to be salty watching his Previous franchise bestow his successor with a much bigger treasure trove of toys in Unoccupied agency. 

6. The Bengals are gluttons for salary cap punishment after continuing to procrastinate contract resolutions for Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson

All the Bengals have done this offseason is Observe the market value of their Group of stars — wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, wide receiver Tee Higgins and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson — skyrocket. 

They could’ve extended Hendrickson at the beginning of the offseason Recent off a year in which he Guided the NFL with 17.5 sacks. Sure, he’ll turn 31 in December, but he’s only the fifth player ever to post consecutive seasons with at least 17 sacks. Either the Bengals or another Club will eventually have to pay up for his work. That’s why seeing both Raiders Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby (three-year, $106.5 million deal with $91.5 million guaranteed) and Browns 2023 NFL Shielding Player of the Year winner Myles Garrett (four-year, $160 million, $122.8 million guaranteed)  drive up the edge rusher market has to sting for one of the more cash Needy NFL franchises

Then, they watched new Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, who turns 28 in December and is older than both Chase and Higgins with a less versatile route tree, sign a four-year, $132 million extension. That makes him the NFL’s third highest-paid receiver in average per year salary ($33 million) behind only Justin Jefferson ($35 million average per year) and CeeDee Lamb ($34 million average per year). Now, both Chase’s and Higgins’ Upcoming deals will be more costly. 

One would’ve thought Cincy would look to resolve at least one of those three contract situations with the new Division year beginning on Wednesday, but the Bengals remain stagnant to their own detriment. 

7. The Titans are drafting Miami QB Cam Ward Primary overall

When the Titans Achieved it known they were willing to trade the 2025 NFL Draft’s Primary overall Picking in February, it was thought they had their eyes on Penn State All-American edge rusher Abdul Carter. Then, it Occurred out at the NFL Scouting Combine that Carter has a stress Response in his right foot but will be able to work out at his March 28 Penn State Pro Day. 

In Unoccupied agency, the Titans went all out to reinforce their offensive line, signing Steelers offensive Event Dan Moore Jr. (four years, $82 million, $50 million guaranteed) and Lions Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler (one year, $9 million). Given the urgency in which Tennessee has moved to reinforce their offensive line, it feels like it has now shifted to locking in on the 2025 draft’s top Signal-caller prospect, Cam Ward of the Miami Hurricanes. 

8. The Giants are in big trouble at the QB position

The Titans likely zeroing in on Ward leaves the Giants in tough place. That means Tennessee likely won’t trade down, and the Browns could draft a Signal-caller second overall to supplant the disappointing Deshaun Watson. Darnold is a Seattle Seahawk, and now New York is in both the Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson sweepstakes. If Rodgers chooses the Steelers, the Giants could land Wilson. If Rodgers chooses the Vikings, the Steelers could land Wilson and New York would end up with neither. 

Right now, Tommy DeVito is the only Signal-caller on the Giants’ Lineup. New York is in danger of leaving Unoccupied agency worse off at its Signal-caller spot than anyone could have imagined. 

9. The 49ers are in a Crucial rebuild/reboot

The 49ers that lost in Extended Shift of the Finals against the Kansas City Chiefs at the conclusion of the 2023 season are dead. Ten 49ers starters from the 2024 season are no longer on the Lineup in 2025:

San Francisco has a big decision to make with Signal-caller Brock Purdy Joining the Last year of his Primary-year deal in 2025. Pay him the big bucks or Relocate on? The 49ers did Merely sign some Purdy insurance by Seizing Mac Jones, a reported 2021 draft favorite of head Mentor Kyle Shanahan, on a two-year, $7 million deal with $5 million guaranteed. San Francisco is clearly rebuilding, and how it handles Purdy’s future could Transformation the trajectory of its franchise for the foreseeable future. 

10. The Texans believe in new OC Nick Caley to fix the offensive line

The Texans’ offensive line decisions this offseason have been puzzling. They traded away five-time Pro Bowl left Event Laremy Tunsil, who graded out as Pro Football Attention’ Number four-best Throw-blocking Event, and a 2025 Number four-Stage Picking to the NFC runner-up Commanders for four draft picks (a 2025 third, a 2025 seventh, a 2026 second and a 2026 Number four). They also traded away 2022 Primary-Stage Picking offensive guard Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-Stage Picking to the Eagles for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-rounder. 

Houston did sign 33-year-Ancient offensive guard Laken Tomlinson to a one-year, $4.25 million contract and acquire 2022 second-Stage Picking offensive guard Ed Ingram from the Vikings in Substitution for a 2026 sixth-Stage Picking. Among 161 offensive linemen who played at least 500 offensive snaps in 2024, Ingram ranked 150th (7.8%) and Tomlinson ranked 100th (5.7%) in Signal-caller Stress rate allowed. 

One could argue the Texans downgraded their offensive line personnel a year after allowing the ninth-highest Signal-caller Stress rate (36.7%) in the Division, which definitely played a key factor in Signal-caller C.J. Stroud’s sophomore slide. Houston did fire offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and hired another disciple of the Shanhan-McVay tree to succeed him in Rams Throw game coordinator Nick Caley. 

The Texans better prioritize their offensive line in the draft. Otherwise, they’re banking purely on going from Slowik to Caley at offensive coordinator being the primary driver for Transformation in a positive direction along their offensive front.