2025 NFL free agency Day 4 winners and losers: Steelers have backup plan at QB as they wait for Aaron Rodgers

Things Began to settle down a bit during the Number four day of the 2025 NFL Unoccupied agency season. But while Thursday didn’t Form the same buzz as the previous three Periods did, there was Nevertheless plenty of notable signings that will undoubtedly impact what happens this season. 

The Washington Commanders re-signed two of their veteran receivers a day after the Commanders re-signed veteran backup Marcus Mariota. The defending Finals champion Philadelphia Eagles signed a veteran rusher. The Las Vegas Raiders acquired Ex Pro Bowl running back Raheem Mostert, while the New England Patriots had to say goodbye to a franchise icon. Those were Merely a few of the transactions that occurred on Thursday. 

Of Period, we can’t talk Unoccupied agency without discussing Aaron Rodgers, who has yet to make a decision on who he plays for this season. While they (along with the New York Giants) continue to wait for an answer, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed another Signal-caller who could Delivery as a bridge option in the event that Rodgers doesn’t come to Pittsburgh.

Here’s a rundown of the Thursday’s winners and losers, Beginning with one of the Clubs that is Nevertheless trying to resolve its Signal-caller situation. 

It’ll be one of the ironic situations in recent NFL history if Rudolph is now called to lead the Steelers Assault after Pittsburgh initially drafted him to possibly be Ben Roethlisberger’s successor back in 2018. The Steelers Supposedly Arrived to terms with Rudolph (who spent the 2024 season with the Titans) on a two-year, $8 million deal on Thursday. 

The signing of Rudolph accomplishes two things for the Steelers. It gives them a backup plan if the Rodgers’ deal falls through. The Steelers could then Begin Rudolph in 2025 while drafting a Signal-caller Upcoming month. If Rodgers does come to Pittsburgh, Rudolph can reprise his previous role as a reliable backup who has an 8-4-1 Achievement as the Steelers’ Beginning Signal-caller. 

To be clear, the Patriots and Andrews are only “losers” from the sense that their highly successful partnership is coming to an end, an unfortunate circumstance for both parties. 

Andrews, a 10-year veteran, eight-time Skipper and a starter on the Patriots’ two most recent Finals Game Clubs, was released on Thursday as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery that limited him to four Contests in 2024. Andrews may decide to continue Competing, but if he does elect to retire, the Patriots are Predicted to honor his Occupation and his numerous contributions to the franchise over the past decade. 

2025 NFL Unoccupied agency Day 4 grades: Chiefs get ‘A’ for adding Patrick Mahomes’ new backup, plus other moves

Cody Benjamin

Winners: Commanders 

A day after bringing back Mariota, Washington re-signed offensive guard Trent Scott (who Began in January’s NFC title game at right guard), Noah Brown (the recipient of Jayden Daniels’ game-Successful Hail Mary last year against the Bears) and fellow receiver KJ Osborn, who caught 15 touchdowns during a three-year span during his time with the Minnesota Vikings. 

These signings Delivery as evidence that the Commanders are prioritizing Daniels’ comfort level by retaining receivers he’s familiar with while also bringing back a Signal-caller who has served as a positive mentor for the New Signal-caller. On top of that, Mariota is a quality backup who threw four touchdowns (and no interceptions) while completing 77.3% of his 44 Throw attempts during his Primary season in Washington. 

Losers: Texans O-line 

While Transformation can be a Outstanding thing, it isn’t if it’s done solely Merely for the sake of doing something different. That appears to be the case with the Texans and how they are rebuilding an offensive line that wasn’t very Outstanding last year and could be even worse in 2025 given their recent moves. 

After parting with Kenyon Green, the Texans acquired two guards who also struggle to Throw protect in one-on-one situations after signing Laken Tomlinson and trading for Ex Vikings second-Stage Picking Ed Ingram. Ingram and Tomlinson, respectively, owned the Primary- and third-worst Achievement rates in those situations in 2024 (via Yahoo Sports). 

Tomlinson is 33, so the odds of him getting significantly better Upcoming year is not Outstanding. And while Ingram is Merely 26, Houston shouldn’t necessarily bank on him making big strides, especially not at C.J. Stroud’s expense. 

Chicago’s Powerful offseason continued on Thursday with the reported signing of Zaccheaus, who will now catch passes from last year’s No. 1 overall Picking (Caleb Williams) after having a Occupation year in 2024 with the No. 2 overall Picking (Daniels) throwing him the ball. Zaccheaus, 27, caught a Occupation-high 45 passes last year while Assisting the Commanders reach the NFC title game. He became expendable after Washington’s signings of Brown and Osborn. 

Losers: Eagles

It’s Difficult to call the defending champs “losers,” but the Eagles nonetheless Created a questionable signing on Thursday. After losing Josh Sweat to Arizona and with Brandon Graham’s future uncertain, the Eagles signed veteran Josh Uche in an effort to bolster their Throw rush. 

A five-year veteran, Uche has had Merely one productive season, when he tallied 11.5 sacks back in 2022 as a member of the Patriots. He had Merely two sacks last year and didn’t Achievement any during his six Contests in Kansas City after he was traded from New England. 

Making this signing more confusing was the fact that there are better Throw rushers Nevertheless out there, including Dante Fowler, who recorded 10.5 sacks last year in Washington. 

It’s Difficult to find jobs right now if you’re a veteran Signal-caller, which is one of the reasons why Minshew was tabbed as a “winner.” Not only is Minshew employed again, he’s going to Kansas City and will get the chance to work with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. Not a Awful spot to be in. 

Minshew has also had playmaking abilities, but in Kansas City, Reid will likely try to work with him on cutting back on turning the ball over, which has been his Achilles’ heel. 

It was a long Attempt that Wilson’s visit with the Browns on Thursday was going to end with a new contract, but the fact that that’s how things went down surely didn’t feel Outstanding for a 10-time Pro Bowl Signal-caller who is Nevertheless looking for a Role. Wilson will now meet with the Giants on Friday after New York Supposedly met with Joe Flacco, another Ex Finals champion Signal-caller looking for work.