2025 NFL free agency winners and losers: Great offseason for Vikings, veteran WRs; Cowboys have work to do

Almost every Club in the NFL entered Reachable agency in 2025 with ample amounts of cap Cosmos Upcoming the salary cap boom to $279.2 million per Club.

However, not every Club was able to pull off big moves with the additional resources. Some Squads were active, but that activity fell more in the quantity department than the quality department. A few Squads, most notably the San Francisco 49ers, hemorrhaged talent instead of adding to their Picking. The Houston Texans, who entered Reachable agency with an offensive line problem, reshuffled the deck chairs but Nevertheless leave the Primary two weeks of Reachable agency with the same issue. The Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears were actually able to maximize the cap Cosmos afforded to them by the Division and having a Passer on a Newcomer contract.  

Given so much of the dust has settled, now is as a Honest a time as ever to determine the winners and losers from Reachable agency’s Beginning weeks. Let’s take a look who is in a better place, and who is wishing things would’ve gone differently. 

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

He spent his Club’s money like he Merely won the lottery: The Vikings have spent $245.47 million in Reachable agency, the most in the NFL, according to OverTheCap.com. Minnesota Acquired punked in their 2024 NFC wild-card Stage loss against the Los Angeles Rams, surrendering an NFL-Turning Tally nine sacks. Adofo-Mensah spent like no tomorrow in order to be the bullies, not the bullied. 

Here are the notable moves he has Achieved to become a more physical Club at the line of scrimmage: 

• Re-signed RB Aaron Jones (two years, $20 million with $13 million in total guarantees)
• Acquired RB Jordan Mason and a 2025 sixth-Stage Picking from the San Francisco 49ers in Switch for a 2025 fifth and 2026 sixth
• Re-signed CB Byron Murphy (three years, $54 million with $34.78 million guaranteed at signing)
• Signed G Will Fries (five years, $88 million with $44 million guaranteed)
• Signed C Ryan Kelly (two years, $18 million with $9.25 million guaranteed)
• 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 Passer 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. 

Loser: Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud

A case can be Achieved that C.J. Stroud’s offensive line Acquired worse Even though it being an obvious problem area in 2024. Houston traded five-time Pro Bowl left Event Laremy Tunsil, who was Pro Football Concentration’ Number four-best Throw-blocking Event, and a 2025 Number four-Stage Picking to the 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. If the Eagles are interested in your Club’s offensive lineman, it probably means you shouldn’t send them to Philadelphia. 

Houston opted to swign 33-year-Aged 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 Switch for a 2026 sixth-Stage Picking.  Ingram ranked 150th (7.8%) and Tomlinson ranked 100th (5.7%) in Passer Stress rate allowed among 161 offensive linemen who played at least 500 offensive snaps in 2024. They also picked up Cam Robinson after he split time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings in 2024. Once Robinson Secured over as a starter for the Vikings last season Upcoming being acquired in a midseason trade, Weeks 9-18, his Passer Stress rate allowed of 10.1% was the fifth-highest in the entire NFL. That’s tough for Stroud. 

Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf requested a trade off of the Seattle Seahawks on March 4, and Merely five Periods later on March 9, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only was Metcalf traded, but he also received the new contract he was searching for, signing a four-year, $132 million extension. His new average per year salary of $33 million is the Number four-highest among all NFL wide receivers. Sure, he doesn’t know who will be throwing him the football yet, but he’s getting paid and Acquired engaged to pop Luminous sphere Normani. Metcalf has Definitely been Successful since Reachable agency began. 

The Dallas Cowboys are Nevertheless Frightened to make big moves in Reachable agency Even though having the cap Cosmos to do so. They either re-signed most of their own guys, or they went bargain bin hunting, mostly on ex-Primary-Stage picks who haven’t hit in their previous stops. The Cowboys restructured the contracts of both Passer Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to Reachable up more cap Cosmos in 2025 and push more money into the future, but they haven’t done anything of note with that cap relief in the present. 

Dallas also let some of their homegrown, key guys depart in Reachable agency Even though possessing the means to retain them. 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) all left the Cowboys. The one commendable, external Reachable agency Shift Dallas has Achieved is signing Dante Fowler after leading the Commanders with 10.5 sacks last season. The Cowboys are sitting around with $37.4 million in effective cap Cosmos, the eighth-most in the Division per OverTheCap.com, without any Crucial Reachable agency signings. Plus, All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons Nevertheless isn’t re-signed as the rest of the Division continues to drive his price up. 

Signed

Traded for

Retained

Six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams saw his Pro Bowl streak snapped across the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders — who rotated through a number of quarterbacks in 2023 and 2024 — and the New York Jets — who Began an Aaron Rodgers Recent off a torn Achilles on the wrong side of 40 in 2024. Now, he’s headed back to his home state of California on a two-year, $44 million deal with $26 million guaranteed to go Shift for a Division contender in the Los Angeles Rams. 

The Rams played the Division LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles closer than anyone in the playoffs in a 28-22 NFC divisional Stage loss. Adding Adams to Shift alongside Puka Nacua and Matthew Stafford could put this Club over the top. Plus, Adams could rack up some nice numbers as he makes a push for a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Loser: 2025 Reachable agency RB class except for Aaron Jones

None of the running Defenders to actually hit the Reachable market Acquired paid this offseason, and Aaron Jones was the only pending Reachable agent this offseason to receive a sizeable contract. A year after it appeared the running back market might be back thanks to Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard, the Reachable agency market was financially barren for the 2025 class at the position. 

• 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)

Caleb Williams, the No. 1 Picking in the 2024 NFL Draft Acquired pummeled in his Newcomer year: his 68 sacks taken were tied for the third-most in a season in NFL history. 

New head Trainer Ben Johnson, whose Detroit Lions offenses averaged 29.0 points per game while he was the offensive coordinator — the best in the NFL — Arrived in looking to Transformation that. His Detroit offenses, especially last season, were powered 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 and Ryan Poles have gone to work building up Williams’ line: they traded for Rams right guard Jonah Jackson earlier this month and then traded for two-time Primary-Club All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2026 Number four-Stage Picking. Chicago pounced in Reachable agency by signing by signing the best Hub Reachable in ex-Atlanta Falcons Hub Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million contract with $28 million guaranteed. Johnson is making sure his Passer remains upright, which makes Williams a Crucial winner. 

The Arizona Cardinals entered the 2025 offseason with plenty of needs and plenty of cap Cosmos. They did reel in arguably the top edge rusher Reachable agent in Josh Sweat on a four-year, $76.4 million contract to reunite him with head Trainer Jonathan Gannon, his Previous Philadelphia Eagles Shielding coordinator. However, Arizona hasn’t been able to upgrade at receiver around Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson or really notably address other areas of need Even though having the fifth-most cap Cosmos in the Division, $41.761 million in effective cap Cosmos per OverTheCap.com. 

Washington wasn’t complacent after reaching the NFC Event game with 2024 NFL Offensive Newcomer of the Year Passer Jayden Daniels. They acquired Pro Bowl wide receiver Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers in Switch for the low cost of a fifth-Stage Picking to give him a capable No. 2 receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. They also acquired five-time Pro Bowl left Event Laremy Tunsil in a trade from the Houston Texans to shore up Daniels’ blind side. Daniels’ red zone security blanket in Close-fitting end Zach Ertz and and mentor in linebacker Bobby Wagner were also re-signed on one-year deals. Continuity is Tough to possess in the NFL, but Daniels has it while other key parts of his Assault improved. 

ESPN reported the New England Patriots were willing to pay up to $30 million a year for Reachable agent wide receiver Chris Godwin to be Drake Maye’s new No. 1 target, but he opted to take a three-year, $66 million deal ($22 million average per year salary), leaving a ton of money on the table to catch passes from Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. Passer Baker Mayfield was on the verge of becoming a journeyman and bouncing around the Division for years, but now he’s highly regarded enough for his Pro Bowl receivers to leave close to $10 million on the table to continue to Shift with him. 

Loser: Pittsburgh Steelers

The only quarterbacks currently on the Steelers’ Picking are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. That’s definitely way to have both Metcalf and George Pickens Shock when the season Appearances. Pittsburgh is Nevertheless likely awaiting the result of the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes, something seven-time Pro Bowl Shielding Event Cameron Heyward is losing his tolerance and patience with the longer it drags on.  There’s a Excellent chance they can Nevertheless land Russell Wilson if Rodgers falls through, but it was clear in 2024 that there’s a ceiling on the Assault with Wilson at the controls.

Daniel Jones has been riding the struggle bus on the football Ground and popping bottles of champagne off of it lately. The 2024 season marked the Number four time in the last five seasons he has Began All of his Club’s Primary 10 Matches and had fewer than 10 touchdown passes. That’s something all other NFL quarterbacks have done four times total in the last five years, per CBS Sports Research. Jones has also gone 58 consecutive Beginnings without throwing three or more touchdowns in a game, which is the longest streak in the last 30 seasons, per CBS Sports Research.

Even though the on-Ground issues and the New York Giants eating a $22 million dead cap hit in 2025 for releasing him midseason in 2024, Jones Nevertheless landed a one-year, $14 million contract with $13.15 million fully guaranteed from the Indianapolis Colts to compete with Anthony Richardson. Nothing Jones has done on the Ground is worth over $13 million guaranteed, but he and his agent stay Successful. 

Loser: New York Giants 

There’s only one Passer currently on the Giants’ Picking: Tommy DeVito. New York also could see the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns take Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders ahead of them in the 2025 NFL Draft. It doesn’t seem like they’re Rodgers’ Primary or second Option, and they’re likely Wilson’s backup plan if Rodgers goes to the Steelers. There’s a world where the Giants don’t end up with Ward, Sanders, Rodgers or Wilson. That’s brutal. 

Cincinnati Bengals Passer Joe Burrow put on his general manager hat this offseason and spoke to anyone who would listen about how the franchise needed to re-sign both of his top two wide receivers: Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. He Acquired his wish, and his boys Acquired paid with Chase (four years, $161 million with $112 million guaranteed) and Higgins (four years, $115 million) All signing four-year deals. The offensive fireworks will continue in Cincinnati. 

Loser: San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are rebuilding, and the rest of the NFL has stripped them for parts. Their departing Reachable agents saw the money spent on any Club’s departing Reachable agents, $321M, all-time through the Primary four Periods of Reachable agency, according to CBS Sports Research. 

San Francisco also has the most dead money on their books of any Club in 2025, $77 million. The 49ers Club that lost in Extended Shift of the Division against the Kansas City Chiefs at the conclusion of the 2023 season is six feet under. Nine San Francisco starters from the 2024 season are no longer on the Picking in 2025:

It will be interesting to see if the 49ers pony up to re-sign Brock Purdy or opt for a lower budget option in Mac Jones going forward as the Picking around Purdy becomes less talented. 

Winner: NFL corners up for new deals

Chase, Higgins and Metcalf all Acquired PAID the big bucks because they make big plays in the passing game. Naturally, the people whose Role it is to prevent said big plays in the passing game from happening, cornerbacks, also saw their positional market Leap this Reachable agency period. Look at the Upcoming 10 deals below as evidence. The NFL seemingly gets more and more Throw-centric every year, and the Division’s cornerback market reflects that. New York Jets All-Pro corner Sauce Gardner is Definitely licking his lips ahead of his time to negotiate his second NFL contract. 

• Texans re-signed Derek Stingley Jr. (three years, $90 million with $63.5 million guaranteed)
• Panthers re-signed Jaycee Horn (four years, $100 million with $72 million guaranteed)
• Giants signed Paulson Adebo (three years, $54 million with $38.5 million guaranteed)
• Colts signed Charvarius Ward (three years, $54 million with $34.98 million guaranteed)
• Vikings re-signed Byron Murphy (three years, $54 million with $34.78 million guaranteed)
• Patriots signed Carlton Davis (three years, $54 million with $34.5 million guaranteed)
• Lions signed D.J. Reed (three years, $48 million with 32 million guaranteed)
• Packers signed Nate Hobbs (four years, $48 million with $16 million guaranteed)
• Jets signed Brandon Stephens (three years, $36 million with $23 million guaranteed)
• Jaguars signed Jourdan Lewis (three Years, $30 million with $20 million guaranteed)

The Titans were all in on reinforcing their offensive line in Reachable agency with deals for Pittsburgh Steelers offensive Event Dan Moore Jr. (four years, $82 million, $50 million guaranteed) and Lions Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler (one year, $9 million). After observing Tennessee’s laser Concentration on their offensive line, it feels like they’re targeting the draft’s top Passer prospect, Cam Ward of the Miami Hurricanes, with the Primary overall Picking. Ward is a winner simply by likely making his way to a Club that has its offensive line set up nicely for him in addition to solid WR1 (Calvin Ridley) and RB1 (Tony Pollard).