2025 NFL Free Agents: Predictions for Steelers, Packers, Buccaneers After Playoffs

The opening of the NFL's Wild Card Weekend has run a little light on the wild aspect.

Four of the five games were decided by 12-plus points, and the only home team to lose were the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who came into the contest with two fewer victories than their opponents, the Washington Commanders.

What these tilts did more than anything, though, was prove that there's a gap between the haves and the have-nots even among postseason participants. The losers might feel down in the dumps at the moment, but this should propel their front offices to find some fixes over the offseason.

As they start plotting their paths to hopefully more fruitful playoff ventures ahead, we'll shift our attention forward, too, and provide one free-agency prediction for three of the most notable teams sent packing this weekend.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Russell Wilson Leaves, Justin Fields Stays

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Justin Fields #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scrambles during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Russell Wilson and Justin Fields both started games for the Steelers this season. They also each saw action in Saturday's 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, though Fields saw just two snaps, while Wilson handled the rest.

There is clearly a higher comfort level with Wilson's leadership and experience, but if Pittsburgh views free agency through the long game, then it's hard to see the team taking the 36-year-old over the 25-year-old Fields, who was the first overall pick in 2021.

Fields, of course, has yet to prove he can be as a prolific of a passer as Wilson, but the former's rushing ability adds a different dimension to the this offense. And that's an offense that produced just two scoring plays on Saturday (both scored when Pittsburgh was already 21 points in the hole) and averaged a middle-of-the-pack 22.4 points during the regular season.

The Steelers need more out of this attack, and they don't have really compelling reasons to believe Wilson can provide them. Perhaps that's true of Fields, too, but at least his age and raw ability point toward the potential to do more. There are scenarios in which the Steelers run it back with both or let both walk in free agency, but our crystal ball sees Fields being re-signed, Wilson heading elsewhere and Pittsburgh bringing in competition for Fields either during the draft or free agency.

Green Bay Packers: Win the Tee Higgins Sweepstakes

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PITTSBURGH, PA - January 04: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches the ball and runs toward the sideline in the fourth quarter during the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on January 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Packers appeared like legitimate Super Bowl contenders for a big chunk of this season, but they skidded out late in the season and never got back on track. Their 22-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday was their fourth loss in their last six games, underscoring the need to improve going forward.

Luckily, the league's youngest roster offers ample paths to potential internal improvements. Still, there are issues that this roster probably can't correct on its own, like the absence of a true No. 1 target for quarterback Jordan Love, who had three interceptions and zero touchdowns in the wild card loss.

Since Green Bay doesn't have many key contributors entering unrestricted free agency, there should be an opportunity to splurge on a No. 1 receiver. Why not Tee Higgins? He is overqualified for the support role he fills alongside Ja'Marr Chase on the Cincinnati Bengals, and it could easily prove too costly to keep both, particularly when this defense, which allowed the eighth-most points in the regular season, needs serious attention.

Higgins missed five games this season to injury and served as the second option when healthy, and he still found his way to 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. Those numbers could all see significant spikes if he went somewhere else to be the top target, and the Packers should be ready to pony up the funds needed to give him that opportunity.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Can't Afford to Keep Chris Godwin

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ATLANTA, GA OCTOBER 03: Tampa Bay wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) runs with the ball after a reception during the NFL game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons on October 3rd, 2024 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Before a dislocated ankle prematurely ended his season, Chris Godwin appeared headed toward a full-fledged breakout. In seven games, he had 50 receptions on 62 targets for 576 yards and five touchdowns.

In a perfect world, Tampa Bay would welcome him back with open arms and prepare to once again have him, Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield wreaking havoc on opposing secondaries.

Reality isn't perfect, though. Not when the Buccaneers are a bottom-third team in terms of cap flexibility and may not have the money needed to keep Godwin while also addressing needs on defense and the offensive line.

Perhaps the market holds Godwin's ankle injury against him and doesn't offer what his production says he's worth, and the Buccaneers find a way to extend his stay in Tampa. What feels more likely, though, is that teams with needs at receiver who don't win the Tee Higgins sweepstakes will consider Godwin a high-end consolation prize. With bigger needs at other spots and a seemingly ready-made replacement in rookie third-rounder Jalen McMillan, Tampa probably won't have the flexibility needed to bring back Godwin.