The most exciting parts of NFL free agency are unfortunately over, and I do hope you had the time of your life. We saw the quarterback carousel spin in unanticipated directions, the Minnesota Vikings loaded up on talent for new starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy and the Carolina Panthers revamped their defense.
It was a defensive lineman that signed the largest contract in free agency this year, as former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams is headed to the New England Patriots on a four-year, $104 million deal. Sam Darnold’s $100.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks is the second-largest contract in total value that was not a re-signing, but how it’s structured is reportedly like a one-year deal. It would appear the former No. 3 overall pick did indeed cost himself money and long-term security with how the 2024 season ended.
Who has had the best offseason thus far, and who has had the worst? I’m glad you asked. Let’s grade each team through two weeks of free agency, beginning with Jonathan Gannon’s squad out in Glendale.
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Arizona Cardinals: B-
Key additions and re-signings: EDGE Josh Sweat, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, EDGE Baron Browning, OL Evan Brown
Key departures: None
Josh Sweat joining Gannon in Arizona was a chalky prediction among analysts, but it came to fruition in the form of a $76.4 million deal. Bolstering the pass rush was a goal for the Cardinals this offseason, and they also kept Baron Browning in the fold — who was a trade-deadline addition. We’ll see if the Cards use the draft to adjust the offensive side of the ball. They have a need at wide receiver, but there weren’t too many intriguing options on the market.
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Atlanta Falcons: D+
Key additions and re-signings: LB Divine Deablo, EDGE Leonard Floyd, CB Mike Hughes
Key departures: C Drew Dalman, DT Grady Jarrett
Not much to be excited about with the Falcons in free agency, especially when you consider the fact that the Chicago Bears poached both Drew Dalman and Grady Jarrett. Maybe the Falcons’ lack of movement in free agency was to be expected since they had about $9.6 million available. In the draft, Atlanta should add to the defensive line and in the secondary.
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Baltimore Ravens: B-
Key additions and re-signings: WR DeAndre Hopkins, LT Ronnie Stanley
Key departures: OL Patrick Mekari, CB Brandon Stephens
The big storyline from Baltimore’s free agency was the re-signing of left tackle Ronnie Stanley, but the Ravens did lose Patrick Mekari to the Jags. DeAndre Hopkins is an intriguing addition, but he’s probably not some game-changing 1,000-yard Pro Bowl receiver anymore. At the same time, it doesn’t take a game-changing receiver to guarantee a Super Bowl for Lamar Jackson and Co. Maybe Hopkins is more of a “move-the-chains, possession” guy, but that’s big for this offense. Next up, the Ravens need to focus on pass-rush help and the secondary.
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Buffalo Bills: B+
Key additions and re-signings: WR Josh Palmer, EDGE Michael Hoecht, EDGE Joey Bosa, DT Larry Ogunjobi
Key departures: EDGE Von Miller, CB Kaiir Elam
The Bills’ offseason was more about extending current players, like quarterback Josh Allen, wide receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard and pass rusher Greg Rousseau. However, they did make some notable additions like the young wide receiver, Josh Palmer, and defensive linemen Michael Hoecht, Joey Bosa and Larry Ogunjobi. However, Hoecht and Ogunjobi will unfortunately have to miss six games due to PED suspensions. Buffalo also picked up a 2025 fifth-round with a late-pick exchange to ship off a cornerback it didn’t very much trust in Kaiir Elam. The Bills still have some needs in the secondary, but as far as the current additions go, Palmer’s best football may be ahead of him and Bosa could thrive with this change of scenery despite the high price tag.
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Carolina Panthers: B+
Key additions and re-signings: S Tre’Von Moehrig, EDGE Patrick Jones II, DT Bobby Brown III, DL Tershawn Wharton, RB Rico Dowdle, C Austin Corbett
Key departures: S Xavier Woods
The Panthers entered free agency needing to address the defensive side of the ball, and that’s exactly what they did with Tre’Von Moehrig, Patrick Jones II, Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton. I view Moehrig and Brown as underrated players who should be immediate contributors to help the unit that gave up the most yards per play in the NFL last season (6.0). Dave Canales also scored arguably the best running back in free agency with Rico Dowdle to pair with Chuba Hubbard as Jonathon Brooks heals from another torn ACL. All in all, I like what Carolina has done.
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Chicago Bears: A
Key additions and re-signings: OL Jonah Jackson, OL Joe Thuney, EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, DT Grady Jarrett, C Drew Dalman
Key departures: OL Coleman Shelton
The Bears have been aggressive in free agency in the Ryan Poles era, but it hasn’t exactly translated to wins. That may change in 2025. Chicago needed to improve the offensive line that surrendered 68 sacks last season, and the Bears did that by trading for Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney and then signed center Drew Dalman. This will give Caleb Williams a chance to develop. Dayo Odeyingbo also appeared to be a sought-after free agent, and the Bears landed him to rush the passer opposite of Montez Sweat.
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Cincinnati Bengals: C
Key additions and re-signings: DT Tedarrell Slaton, LB Oren Burks, DT B.J. Hill, TE Mike Gesicki, WR Tee Higgins, EDGE Joseph Ossai
Key departures: RG Alex Cappa, EDGE Sam Hubbard, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither
The Bengals are riding high after signing Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to lucrative multiyear extensions, but then there’s the issue of Trey Hendrickson. Chase and Higgins are great pass catchers, but this defense was the reason Joe Burrow missed the playoffs last year. Re-signing B.J. Hill was important and then the addition of Oren Burks is interesting, but this unit isn’t improved just yet.
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Cleveland Browns: C-
Key additions and re-signings: QB Kenny Pickett, DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, DT Maliek Collins
Key departures: DT Dalvin Tomlinson, OL James Hudson
The biggest move for Cleveland so far was retaining Myles Garrett by making him the highest-paid non-QB in the league. I wondered if trading him for draft capital and getting his contract off their books would be the best course of action since he doesn’t make the Browns a Super Bowl contender by himself, but I guess the front office chose to have two monster, historical contracts on their books while they search for their next quarterback and try to upgrade the other trouble spots on their roster. I can’t imagine the kind of season the Browns are in for if it’s Russell Wilson or Kenny Pickett behind a shaky offensive line.
NFL free agency matchmaker for top 10 remaining veterans: Stefon Diggs to Cowboys, other big-name proposals
Cody Benjamin
NFL free agency matchmaker for top 10 remaining veterans: Stefon Diggs to Cowboys, other big-name proposals
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Dallas Cowboys: C-
Key additions and re-signings: RB Javonte Williams, EDGE Dante Fowler Jr. EDGE Payton Turner, OG Robert Jones, DL Solomon Thomas, CB Kaiir Elam, LB Kenneth Murray, DT Osa Odighizuwa, RB Miles Sanders, WR KaVontae Turpin
Key departures: CB Jourdan Lewis, EDGE Chauncey Golston, OT Chuma Edoga, EDGE DeMarcus Lawrence, RB Rico Dowdle
Re-signing Osa Odighizuwa to an extension was a priority, but so is signing Micah Parsons to what will surely be a historical extension. The longer the Cowboys wait, the more the price goes up. The Cowboys targeted some low-cost former first-round picks — and that’s not the worst thing in the world. Payton Turner and Kaiir Elam could find their footing with this change of scenery. However, Jourdan Lewis and DeMarcus Lawrence are legitimate losses, and Lawrence threw some salt in the wound on his way out. Really when it comes to this offseason, Cowboys fans are waiting on the Parsons extension. That hasn’t happened yet.
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Denver Broncos: A-
Key additions and re-signings: S Talanoa Hufanga, LB Dre Greenlaw, TE Evan Engram, DT D.J. Jones, CB Ja’Quan McMillian
Key departures: Cody Barton, RB Javonte Williams
I’m a fan of what the Broncos have done in free agency with the additions of Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw on defense, plus the re-signing of D.J. Jones as well. Back in 2022, Hufanga was a first-team All-Pro with 97 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions, and Greenlaw is an upgrade from Cody Barton. The X-factor addition could be Evan Engram, since he’s the perfect fit for Sean Payton’s “joker” role. Denver still needs some more weapons to place around Bo Nix, but this 2024 postseason surprise should be even better in 2025.
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Detroit Lions: B
Key additions and re-signings: CB D.J. Reed, DT Levi Onwuzurike, LB Derrick Barnes
Key departures: CB Carlton Davis, EDGE Za’Darius Smith, DB Ifeatu Melifonwu
The Lions lost Carlton Davis, but did score a top free agent in D.J. Reed. Detroit clearly values the defensive front, and the re-signings of Levi Onwuzurike and Marcus Davenport were worth it. That doesn’t mean the Lions should be done adding on the defensive line, and I wouldn’t mind another weapon added in the draft.
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Green Bay Packers: C-
Key additions and re-signings: OG Aaron Banks, CB Nate Hobbs
Key departures: DT Tedarrell Slaton, CB Eric Stokes, RB AJ Dillon, C Josh Myers
Green Bay splurged for one of the top offensive guards available, giving Aaron Banks $77 million over four years. It’s a lot of money, but protecting Jordan Love is important. Banks has surrendered just one sack over his last 897 pass-blocking snaps. Nate Hobbs is a starting defensive back who can play outside or in the slot, but the Packers need another cornerback. And pass rushers. And wide receivers. And the offensive line needs a look. Naturally you don’t have to account for all these positions in free agency, but Green Bay definitely has some needs to address.
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Houston Texans: D
Key additions and re-signings: WR Christian Kirk, DT Sheldon Rankins, EDGE Darrell Taylor, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, OG Laken Tomlinson, EDGE Mario Edwards Jr., OG Ed Ingram, LT Cam Robinson
Key departures: LT Laremy Tunsil, S Eric Murray, OG Kenyon Green
The Laremy Tunsil trade was arguably the most shocking move of free agency, but if Houston wanted to go in a different direction with one of the best left tackles in the game, there was obviously a reason why. I don’t know if that was contract related or locker room related, but the Texans decided to sell as high as they could on this star. I think the biggest problem with this decision is that the offensive line was the most important area where the team wanted to upgrade this offseason. They lost their best player on the offensive front, and traded Kenyon Green to the Eagles. That move is a win for Houston, since CJGJ could fit in nicely under DeMeco Ryans, but are Cam Robinson and Ed Ingram upgrades over Tunsil and Green?