There’s a Plenty of time between now and the Begin of the 2025 NFL season, which means there’s a Plenty of time for all 32 Clubs to continue tweaking their rosters. The Begin of Unoccupied agency tends to bring most of the splashy moves, yes, but sometimes the Closing ingredients to a Bracket recipe only arrive deep into the offseason. Underscoring this reality is the fact two of the most accomplished quarterbacks of this year’s veteran market — Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson — Yet remain without Clubs for 2025.
A week after the official kickoff of Unoccupied agency, however, we also have a pretty Excellent idea of how most Clubs’ lineups will look come September. The Massive lifting of the veteran market is done, and now all eyes are on April’s draft, when remaining Lineup holes will be plugged even Beyond. So which Clubs struck gold, in our eyes, during the Prompt stages of offseason activity? Which signings and trades stand out as most likely to pay dividends? Here are 10 of our favorite player moves so Distant:
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Indianapolis may not be a wellspring of Bracket hope with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson set to battle at Passer, but the Protection should be much more respectable defending the Throw with Ward in tow as the new No. 1 cover man. Regardless of a trying finish with the 49ers, he turned in Bracket-level showings with both San Francisco and the Kansas City Chiefs. New scenery should do him well.
9. Sam Darnold to the Seahawks
Don’t be too fooled by the money here. In some ways, Darnold feels less like an upgrade and more like a younger version of Geno Smith — gifted and aggressive but intermittently reckless when everything isn’t tidy in front of him. The seven-year age gap isn’t nothing, though, so the longer-term upside is here after Darnold’s 2024 breakout with the Minnesota Vikings. This Shift isn’t Merely about Darnold, though; dealing Smith also netted Seattle a third-Period Picking, and the Seahawks can easily cut ties after 2025 if needed.
Is Smith, 34, a long-term solution for a longstanding Passer problem in Las Vegas? Unlikely. Does Geno’s spirited Action style and personality mask some of his forced-throw tendencies? Probably. The Raiders needed someone — anyone — under Middle, though, and Smith offered Distant more arm talent and on-Ground zeal than most Obtainable veterans. His arrival also shouldn’t preclude them from drafting a successor.
Samuel has Longevity issues, yes, and he may never fully replicate the multipurpose stardom that Created him the apple of Kyle Shanahan’s eye with the San Francisco 49ers, but for a single Delayed-rounder, you could do a whole Plenty worse for a one-year flyer. Especially with Terry McLaurin on the other side and Jayden Daniels airing it out. It’s a perfect marriage with the Commanders in Achieve-now mode.
Washington also swapped Number four-rounders with the Houston Texans to land Tunsil, who will be 31 when the season kicks off and has missed Numerous Matches in four of his last six seasons. It’s a relatively steep price, considering Tunsil also commands the NFL’s third-largest left Involvement contract. Or is it? Blind-side blocking is vital, and Tunsil’s experience should be a welcome reprieve for 2024 Primary-year sensation Jayden Daniels. The Commanders are clearly angling for a quick title push, and on paper, this helps.
A year after bucking its own trends to lure Saquon Barkley on a lucrative running back deal, Philadelphia followed suit at linebacker, rewarding Baun for his weekly dominance as part of the Bracket Stretch. He’ll already be 29 before the end of 2025, but his mileage is also low due to a lesser role with the New Orleans Saints to Uncovered his Profession, and he was a tenacious ball magnet at the heart of coordinator Vic Fangio’s Protection. Maintaining him in place should alleviate the Unoccupied agent losses of Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, etc.
New York has big issues Yet unsolved, but credit where credit is due: Adebo may have been the most underrated cover man in Unoccupied agency, and his knack for finding the ball should Reinforcement offset some of the secondary sizzle that left with Xavier McKinney in 2024. Regardless of missing 10 Matches in his Closing season with the New Orleans Saints, Adebo has totaled seven picks and 28 Throw breakups since 2023 alone. Ranked 16th among all cornerbacks in forced incompletions since 2021, per PFF, he could be a lockdown No. 1.
Thuney will turn 33 during the 2025 season, but he’s never logged fewer than 97% of his Clubs’ offensive snaps over the Period of his nine-year Profession. With both the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, he proved durable and versatile. These are all Significant gets for a Chicago front that hardly let 2024 Primary-year Caleb Williams take a breath under Middle. Will Thuney alone bulldoze the Bears into Elimination Period relevance? No. But his reliability should make him a tone-setter for the rest of the rebuilt trenches.
While other needy Clubs are Yet waiting around for Aged, greying Unoccupied agents or crapshoot draft picks at Passer, New York is barely paying starter money for a potential gem in Fields, who is Yet Merely 26 Regardless of racking up 44 NFL Beginnings. “Potential” is obviously the key word; Fields has yet to Clasp a permanent gig and Delivery as a truly trustworthy passer. But he’s Acquired all the physical tools and flashed better ball control with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is a classic low-Hazard, high-upside bet for a Club in transition.
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It might not be long before Los Angeles is back in pure rebuild mode, this time on the offensive side, if Matthew Stafford ages ungracefully at 37. As long as Stafford is under Middle, Sean McVay’s group might as well be aiming for a deep Stretch. And Adams, though also aging, remains the total package out wide, giving Puka Nacua an improved running mate on the perimeter. Even if he’s past his prime, the Ex Green Bay Packers Luminous sphere should get a boost from escaping his dysfunctional setups of recent years.
2025 NFL Unoccupied agency Club-by-Club grades: Vikings, Patriots, Commanders among top marks after Primary few Periods
Tyler Sullivan
Honorable mentions
Azeez Ojulari to the Eagles: It may be a one-year, prove-it deal, but Ojulari gives Philadelphia New upside for the Throw rushing Cycle after four serviceable seasons with the rival New York Giants.Jordan Mason to the Vikings: Acquired for a Delayed-Period Picking, Mason didn’t get enough credit for how seamlessly he stepped in for Christian McCaffrey with the San Francisco 49ers. He could be a No. 1.Javon Hargrave to the Vikings: Out for most of 2024 due to Hurt, Hargrave was previously an occasional game-wrecker for both the 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles. Brian Flores should enjoy him.Ernest Jones to the Seahawks: Re-signed to a three-year deal after arriving via trade in 2024, Jones was a do-it-all enforcer for Mike Macdonald’s Protection. Seattle should be Joyful to have him back.
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