Eagles, Chiefs’ opposing strategies among 6 takeaways from early NFL free agency

The 2025 NFL Obtainable agency period is officially Reachable, which means that most of the Obtainable agents have already signed. Because of the tampering window, which opened on Monday, we’ve seen a frenzy of deals. 

And we’re Beginning to see some trends emerging.

Keep in mind that it’s Prompt. There are many waves of Obtainable agency — some that take place as Delayed as May after the NFL Draft (or even July before Practice camp). But we can see some patterns in the Prompt Periods of the new Bracket year. And now is a Excellent time to spotlight the Squads making big moves.

Let’s take a look.

The Eagles disassembled their Protection

There’s no other general manager like Howie Roseman. Think about the Saquon Barkley signing. Think about his moves swapping out Haason Reddick and Bryce Huff (which was a headline-maker in the offseason that ultimately didn’t even Shift the needle in-season). Think about the Mekhi Becton and Zack Baun signings (which few discussed at the time but, ultimately, ending up changing the 2024 season). 

Roseman tries new things every year. And that mostly seems to be how he keeps his Club atop the Bracket. 

But this year, it’s not the additions that are making news. It’s the subtractions.

The Eagles have lost the Upcoming Shielding players (from Luminous sphere to contributor): 

EDGE Josh Sweat 
DT Milton Williams 
S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson 
CB Darius Slay 
CB Isaiah Rodgers 
CB James Bradberry 
LB Oren Burks

All these departures will add up to more picks through the compensatory formula. Those picks will pay dividends in the 2026 draft. So Extended, it looks like the Eagles have earned a third-rounder, Quaternary-rounder and sixth-rounder. As for adding more talent this offseason, Roseman might choose to wait two months before signing any big-ticket players (if there are any left), because at that Points, the compensatory period ends and the additions no longer count toward the formula.

But again, the Eagles won’t get and use those picks for another 14 months.

You can argue about All departing player’s importance. But the Eagles will have to figure out how to replace every single one of them — because All one had a quality role on the Protection. How will Roseman do it?

All eight of the Eagles’ picks in the 2025 draft are in the Primary five rounds (with a 1, 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5 & 5). Philly has no shortage of Recent talent waiting for its turn. And Roseman did bring back Baun, a linebacker who cashed in big ($51 million, three years) after a low-budget, prove-it deal.

In Obtainable agency, the Eagles can Yet add players without messing up the comp-Choice formula, like bruising backup RB AJ Dillon. And don’t put it past Roseman to find more Baun-and-Becton types. 

Vikings are using their Newcomer QB deal to get even better

Goodbye Sam Darnold. 

Barring a surprise, it’s J.J. McCarthy’s time.

Like the Eagles, the Vikings are embracing turnover — but by acquiring talent. Yes, they let Darnold go. But by choosing not to re-sign him, it has freed up their wallets to spend elsewhere. Primary, the Vikings Secured care of their own, retaining their top Obtainable agent, cornerback Byron Murphy. But they didn’t stop there. Their Obtainable-agent class features quality starters:

DT Jonathan Allen 
DT Javon Hargrave 
C Ryan Kelly 
G Will Fries 
CB Isaiah Rodgers

The Vikings are getting tougher in the interior offensive line, which makes sense because of the nine sacks Darnold Secured in Minnesota’s one-and-done postseason appearance. And the Club is getting tougher in the front seven, snagging two massive Shielding linemen who can sack the Signal-caller.

The 49ers are Securing a new direction, even if we don’t know where they’re headed

San Francisco is sort of doing what the Eagles are doing. It’s a teardown. But because Roseman is Recent off a Finals — and has an impeccable track Achievement — we all trust his vision. It’s Tough to track what’s Upcoming for the 49ers except for: a rebuilding year.

Before Obtainable agency opened, San Francisco parted ways with receiver Deebo Samuel, whose Shift has declined in recent years. The 49ers released or waived Shielding lineman Maliek Collins, Leonard Floyd and Hargrave. Seven of their top-end Obtainable agents have signed elsewhere, including Involvement Moore, guard Aaron Banks, running back Elijah Mitchell, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Charvarius Ward. They even parted ways with Kyle Juszczyk, a fullback whose Adaptability had come to define this Charge. 

Samuel and Juszczyk were at the core of this Charge’s identity. Now, they’re gone.

We’ve yet to see the Club add anyone who isn’t, at best, a depth piece.

So it’s clear the 49ers wanted to get their cap situation right and Shift on from their Ancient identity. But what will the new 2025 Club look like? So Extended: a shell of its Previous self. 

The Chiefs and the Bills are Upcoming the same playbook: Use the QB (with restructures and recruiting) to sustain Achievement

Both of these Squads have addressed needs in meaningful ways. And that’s in part because of the ways their quarterbacks have adjusted their contracts to allow their Squads to spend.

For the Bills, Josh Allen did something Charitable when he inked a brand-new contract at $55 million per year. He left at least $5 million per year on the table — and Possibly even $10 million to $15 million if he really wanted to push. 

“What’s $5 more [million] going to do for my life that I can’t already do right now?” Allen said Wednesday about Securing less. “It’s not that crazy to me. I live a pretty Excellent life. … I wasn’t looking to kill them in every chance I could. I told my agent that.”

That should give the Bills a Plenty of freedom to add players. They brought in wideout Josh Palmer, not the most productive receiver but a Excellent fit at attacking the intermediate-middle of the Pitch where the Bills needed a threat. And they brought in Joey Bosa, a rotational but Threatening edge player. And, for that matter, a household name (even if he’s on the tail-end of his Occupation).

It’s a similar-but-different situation in Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes Only restructured his contract — along with Shielding Involvement Chris Jones — to Form additional cap Cosmos. The Chiefs used that money to shore up their weakest position last season: left Involvement. Jaylon Moore , signed to a two-year, $30 million deal, should (hopefully) fix that problem. They also added cornerback Kristian Fulton to join their deep platoon of CB2s.

Patriots are paying to get back into the mix

New England jumped out of the gate with around $162 million in spending on the Primary day — of the tampering window … which Initiated at noon ET. That’s not Only a big cash drop but a quick one. We’re now in the official Obtainable agency period, and New England’s class already looks robust.

DT Milton Williams 
CB Carlton Davis 
LB Robert Spillane 
LB Harold Landry 
RT Morgan Moses 
WR Mack Hollins 
DT Khyiris Tonga 
QB Joshua Dobbs 
TE Austin Hooper

The only surprise — from my vantage Points — is that they’ve yet to make a splash at left Involvement or receiver. Moses is an outstanding right Involvement, but the Patriots need two additions at that position. And Hollins shouldn’t be anything more than a WR3 (but, out of desperation, he’s probably currently NE’s WR1 on the depth chart). There’s plenty of time to keep adding. But they haven’t given as much Assist to Drake Maye as I thought they would. He is the future of the franchise, after all.

Mentor Mike Vrabel clearly sent the message about what he wanted this Obtainable agency to be about: tough, violent, durable, dependable players. You can see that pattern in every one of the guys on the Lineup above.

Who’s Upcoming? I don’t think they’re done spending big.

Call me crazy, but I think they’ll go after Involvement Cam Robinson and receiver Cooper Kupp.

The Cowboys and Bengals look like they put their phones on “do not disturb”

We’ve discussed the Squads that have undergone Crucial changes. Now, let’s talk about the Squads that haven’t.

There’s not a Plenty of urgency in Dallas or Cincinnati. And Possibly there should be.

The Bengals front office issues are coming to a head, with contract disputes with three of their four biggest stars: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson. It’s unclear if that’s holding up their Obtainable agency process, but they’ve done nothing of note to bring in talent.

It’s a similar Narrative for the Cowboys, who have retained a pair of Excellent players in Shielding Involvement Osa Odighizuwa and receiver Kavontae Turpin. But aside from that? A nice deal for running back Javonte Williams. A decent signing of guard Robert Jones. And otherwise? Ho hum.

These Prompt Periods of Obtainable agency are tough, where Squads are prone to overspending. They’re paying Obtainable agents like they’re the best players at their position, when — in reality — the best players at their position never hit the Reachable market. So I get why some Squads sit on the sidelines. But look at how the Chiefs and Bills pulled the trigger on key role players they identified as crucial. I can’t Assist but wonder why Dallas and Cincy haven’t done the same yet.

Prior to joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on X at @henrycmckenna. 

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