It has been a busy start to the offseason with quarterback news surrounding the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen and Geno Smith; as well as high-profile wide receiver moves featuring Davante Adams, D.K. Metcalf and Deebo Samuel. Then there are the defenders who struck big-time deals in Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett and Zack Baun.
And things will kick into a higher gear this week. While the new league year doesn't officially begin until Wednesday March 12, teams can announce intended deals from Monday March 10 from 4pm UK time. So, stay tuned for all of the offseason drama to come!
Before I give you 10 free agents worth watching in the coming days, here are some quick thoughts on the offseason news that has come thick and fast in recent weeks.
Receivers on the move
Samuel was traded from the San Francisco 49ers to the Washington Commanders and I think he will still be a very intriguing chess piece. The attack around Jayden Daniels just got better. Teaming Metcalf with George Pickens should instantly upgrade Pittsburgh's passing attack. But at what price? Metcalf only cost a fifth-rounder in terms of draft collateral, but the Steelers then handed him a $150 million contract extension, making him the fifth-highest-paid receiver in the game. That seems steep. Now, we wait to see who will be throwing him passes in 2025. It was widely felt that Adams would wait to land wherever Rodgers plays quarterback next season. But he has signed a two-year deal with the Rams, which will essentially be a one-season trial run as he sets out to replace Cooper Kupp alongside Puka Nacua. Adams has gas left in the tank and could be great in Sean McVay's offense. I'm really excited to see how that particular move pans out.
Defenders get rich!
So, Myles Garrett didn't want out of Cleveland that badly after all! The All-Pro defensive end spent all of Super Bowl week telling us he didn't want to remain a Brown. Until they made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a new deal worth $40 million per year. Cleveland needed some positivity heading into 2025, but did they just over-spend on a disgruntled veteran who turns 30 in December? They probably needed some franchise player to hang their hat on and that was to Garrett's financial benefit. The price is huge, but so is Garrett's impact so it's hard to argue too hard against this move. Just days before Garrett re-upped with the Browns, Maxx Crosby had become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. He remains a cornerstone of the Silver and Black and well worth his new deal of $35.5 million per season. And credit the Eagles for making the smart and sensible play to bring back their All-Pro linebacker in Zack Baun. He turned his one-year free agency gamble from 2024 into a new three-year deal worth $51 million.
Seahawks cleaning house?
The Seahawks won 10 games last season and were very close to making the NFC playoffs. There were lots of positive vibes after Mike Macdonald's first season as head coach. So, it may seem like a weird time to offload proven veterans in quarterback Geno Smith – who was traded to Las Vegas – and the aforementioned Metcalf. But it could be that the Seahawks feel they are in mid-tier purgatory. Too good to ever secure a long-term answer at quarterback via the NFL Draft, but not good enough to actually compete for a Super Bowl. Maybe they should be applauded for not accepting life in that middle class of the NFL? Only time will tell. It depends how much short-term pain they have to endure and if the pay-off is worth it down the line. If they are not thinking about a poor season, followed by a high draft pick spent on a quarterback in 2026, they surely have to be in the mix for Sam Darnold this year. If that happens and he proves to be an upgrade on Geno, they've only really lost Metcalf at receiver. These are fascinating and slightly-scary times for the Seahawks and their fans.
Re-signing their own
The headline move here is technically not a re-signing, but an extension as the Buffalo Bills handed league MVP quarterback Josh Allen a new deal that will reportedly pay him north of $60 million per year. It will make him the highest-paid player in NFL history – for now – and I have no problem with that. Very few – if any – are better than Buffalo's on-field leader. Also, the Bills have been shrewd here. Allen had four years left on his existing deal and any delay in securing a new one was only going to get more and more expensive for Buffalo. There were other key re-signings that made total sense. Aaron Jones returns at running back for the Minnesota Vikings, guard Trey Smith remains with the Kansas City Chiefs, who could not afford to take a hit on an already-under-fire offensive line. And the Baltimore Ravens were not willing to roll the dice along their offensive line for the second offseason in a row, preferring to re-sign tackle Ronnie Stanley to a three-year deal worth $60 million. And in a move that makes total financial sense, Saquon Barkley is now the highest-paid running back in the NFL as the Philadelphia Eagles are giving him more than $20 million per season. That position, thanks to the efforts of Barkley and others such as Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry, is enjoying a resurgence.
I'm sure there have been other headlines that I have missed, but let's have a look at 10 key players who could be on the move once the free agency negotiating period opens later on Monday.
Sam Darnold – Quarterback – Minnesota Vikings
A magical 2024 season ended with two miserable showings against Detroit in Week 18 and the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs. Both defeats. That has some questioning if the old Sam Darnold will rear his ugly head when not being coached by Kevin O'Connell in the future. But I saw a player who made some very special throws for most of the season and who looked much more assured and confident. I have to believe that Darnold can get one of those $40 to $45 million per year contracts and help a team out. And I would expect that team to be the Seahawks.
Josh Sweat – Edge Rusher – Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are deep on their defensive line, but that means the Super Bowl champions might get raided and have to take some hits. Sweat is likely to chase one life-changing deal at the age of 28 after taking a pay cut to remain with the Eagles in 2024. And now would be a good time for him to strike and cash in. Sweat registered eight sacks in the regular season and could very easily have been the MVP of Super Bowl 59 with two and a half sacks of Patrick Mahomes.
Milton Williams – Defensive Tackle – Philadelphia Eagles
One team is about to spend big to find out if Milton Williams is a rising star in the NFL… or a defender in the right place at the right time. One who registered two sacks of Mahomes in Super Bowl 59 as others raced him into the backfield against a porous offensive line. I would argue that Williams was one of Philadelphia's brightest stars in that Super Bowl win and in the NFC title game demolition of Washington. At 26, he is in his prime and ready to build on a regular season in which he recorded five sacks. But you know what makes me nervous? Why is Howie Roseman okay letting him test the free agency market?
Chris Godwin – Wide Receiver – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It's not a great free agency class at wide receiver and it was further weakened when the Cincinnati Bengals slapped the franchise tag on Tee Higgins. Godwin is coming off a dislocated ankle in 2024 and his best spot might still be in Tampa with the Bucs. At 29 and with a torn ACL also on his medical records, the sure-handed Godwin has one last chance to strike it rich. And the Pro Bowl receiver with four 1,000-yard seasons to his name is going to attract serious interest.
Khalil Mack – Edge Rusher – Los Angeles Chargers
He may be 34 and preparing for a 12th season in the NFL, but Mack can still get after the quarterback. The nine-time Pro Bowler has recorded 23 sacks in the past two seasons and could be a valuable veteran addition for a team looking to get over the hump and into the realms of playoff or Super Bowl contender. And there should be no concern over durability and age. Mack – who is also strong against the run - has played in 50 of a possible 51 regular season games over the past three years. His new team will just need to manage his snaps effectively.
Byron Murhpy – Cornerback – Minnesota Vikings
No cornerback had more interceptions than Byron Murphy (six) in 2024. At 27, Murphy is in the sweet spot of his career. He now has veteran smarts, but also the athleticism to make plays when lining up on the inside or the outside of a defensive formation. The Pro Bowler will bring great value to a team in a league where you can never have enough versatile cornerbacks. But will he be as effective outside of Brian Flores' very successful scheme?
Jevon Holland – Safety – Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are strapped for cash and cannot afford to re-up with a playmaking 25-year-old safety who should be in demand when the new league year opens. Holland, who was chosen in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, was one of the best safeties in the NFL in his first two seasons and into the first 10 games of 2023. But a knee injury was followed by other ailments and there is now a worry he is not going to be that same dynamic player again. Some team is about to take that risk (could it be the Carolina Panthers?) to find out, but it won't be the Dolphins.
Charvarius Ward – Cornerback – San Francisco 49ers
Early in the 2024 season, Ward held on to his status as one of the most reliable and talented cornerbacks in the NFL. But the Pro Bowler who won a Super Bowl with Kansas City before joining San Francisco had his entire world ripped apart following the October death of his one-year-old baby daughter, Amani. Needless to say, Ward did not play at the same level the rest of the way. But this is a sticky corner who registered five interceptions in 2023. A fresh start will do him the world of good.
Cam Robinson – Offensive Tackle – Minnesota Vikings
I don't believe that Robinson is the best offensive tackle in the business. He's not even top five. But the value of the position and the need to keep quarterbacks upright means that offensive tackles are at a premium. Especially those who are 6-foot-6, 335 pounds and who have been starting in the league since 2017. Robinson has previously been franchise-tagged by Jacksonville and traded for by the Vikings. So, decision-makers see his value. Could he be the long-term answer in New England or perhaps a shorter-term fix in Kansas City?
Evan Engram – Tight End – Jacksonville Jaguars
There are others who should rank higher on boards across the NFL, corners such as D.J. Reed (New York Jets) and Carlton Davis (Detroit Lions), for example. But Engram could be one of those free agent signings that has the biggest impact in 2025. The reason? In the right system and with the right quarterback, Engram can be a pass-catching machine. Injuries affected his 2024 campaign in Jacksonville but in 2023, the Pro Bowler caught a club record 114 passes for the Jags. That is going to make Engram very tempting indeed.
